Demolition drive Illegal buildings on NH-1 identified Ambala, July 12 Demolition of buildings located close to the National Highway has turned out a major issue. While owners of buildings are up in arms against the demolition drive, which they say was unexpected, the officials concerned are clear that they have to follow Punjab and Haryana High Court order on the issue.

A demolition drive in progress on the G.T. Road near Ambala Cantt. —Tribune photo by K. Sachar

Karnal bus stand victim of official apathy
Karnal, July 12 As the authorities have failed to construct a new bus stand here, the existing one continues to witness severe traffic congestion. Karnal is the only town located on the GT Road where the bus stand is located away from the national highway. Chaos at the Karnal bus stand, which is located in the middle of the city. — A Tribune photographer

Laser-guided implement to level fields Chandigarh, July 12 To save the declining groundwater level and to increase the crop yield at reduced cost, the department of agriculture, Haryana, has started a campaign in the state to educate farmers about the importance of a laser-guided land-levelling implement. A demonstration of the laser-guided land-leveller implement. — A Tribune photograph

Once hot spot, Badkhal Lake cries for attention Faridabad, July 12 The famous Badkhal Lake, once a hot spot on the state’s tourist map, is now a dried up and deserted place, thanks to the gross neglect and apathy of the local administration. The lake has been relegated to just a barren patch of land. There is hardly any tourist here even on weekends. The dried up Badkhal Lake in Faridabad district. — A Tribune photograph

‘Millennium city’ has a dark side
Old Gurgaon areas in state of neglect
Gurgaon, July 12
The city, consciously projected by government machineries and builder lobby and land mafia as “millennium city”, has a big underbelly in the form of its old areas which have been left miles behind in comparison to the newer parts in terms of developmental parameters.

The high-rise buildings depict modernisation in the new areas of Gurgaon city (left) while the older areas are in a state of neglect. — Tribune photos by Mukesh Aggarwal

Kaithal, the laggard Solid waste project fails to make headway Kaithal, July 12 The solid waste management scheme, introduced partially in this district about four years ago, has become the victim of utter mismanagement and lack of proper coordination among various government departments. The Kaithal MC turns a blind eye to an overflowing garbage container. — A Tribune photograph

Inside Babudom
Reshuffle leaves many a droopy face
Chandigarh, July 12
The recent administrative reshuffle has left many officers long-faced in the state's bureaucracy. Certain officers are sulking because they have been shifted from “cushy” and “prestigious” jobs. There are others who feel that they have been doubly humiliated.

Sikh museum at Kapal Mochan awaits exhibits
Yamunanagar, July 12 To procure martial art weapons related to the Sikhs, the state public relation and culture department has decided to approach the archaeology department so that Guru Gobind Singh Martial Arts Museum at Kapal Mochan, Bilaspur, here, can be opened to the public. Guru Gobind Singh Martial Arts Museum at Kapal Mochan, Bilaspur, in Yamunanagar. — A Tribune photograph

Sewage treatment plant needed for Ambala Cantt
Ambala, July 12
The lack of a sewage treatment plant in Ambala Cantt has put a question mark on the state of public health. While the situation in Ambala City is going to improve considerably after sewer lines are laid and a treatment plant set up soon, in Ambala Cantt, particularly in the Sadar area, there is an urgent need for a sewage treatment plant.

Sanitation drive in full swing in Faridabad
Fatehabad, July 12
The District Rural Development Agency is implementing the total sanitation campaign under a programme funded by the World Bank with an aim to make the district free from open defecation.

Admission rush Many takers for English, biotech courses at MDU Rohtak, July 12 Some clear-cut trends have been observed in the admission process in progress at Maharshi Dayanand University here. For instance, in humanities (arts stream), an increasing number of students are showing inclination towards MA in English. Admission seekers at MDU, Rohtak, fill forms. — Photo by Amarjeet

Maths, chemistry a draw at GJU Hisar, July 12 Even as information technology is attracting youngsters, traditional MSc courses in basic sciences like physics, chemistry and mathematics continue to be the most popular among science graduates in Haryana. Students at the CDLU campus in Sirsa. — A Tribune photograph

Chaudhary Devi Lal varsity campus abuzz
Sirsa, July 12
Chaudhary Devi Lal University has come to life again with the beginning of process for admissions to various courses. The campus is buzzing with activities, as a number of students visit the campus every day.

Young Achievers Topper par excellence Yamunanagar, July 12 Ishan Aggarwal of Mukand Lal National College here has set up a record by scoring 93.3 per cent marks in B.Sc. (non-medical) examination (April-May 2007) conducted by Kurukshetra University. Done the family proud: Ishan Aggarwal of MLN College, Yamunanagar, who topped in Kurukshetra University by securing 93.3 per cent marks in the B.Sc. (non-medical) examination. — A Tribune photograph

Master of all awaits 13th degree Hisar, July 12 He is a teacher by profession but a perpetual student by choice. Kashmir Chand Sapra holds a doctorate in Sanskrit and has done his Master’s in 12 subjects. He has just finished the examinations for his 13th MA degree in ancient Indian history and is awaiting the result. Working as the headmaster of Government High School in Shikarpur village, near here, Sapra was a student of class VIII when one of his classmates commented that he would never be able to go beyond school. Stung by the wry comment, he decided he would continue studying all his life. Kashmir Chand Sapra

Vasectomy becoming popular
Chandigarh, July 12
The painless, faster and less invasive procedure of male sterilisation known as no-scalpel vasectomy is becoming popular in Haryana. While in 1998, vasectomy was only about 1 per cent of the total sterilisation operations in the state.

Power defaulters face disconnection
Chandigarh, July 12
The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has disconnected power supply to over 62,000 consumers up to June 30 this year for the non-payment of their bills. An official spokesman said the supply was disconnected to 14,564 non-paying consumers in Ambala and Panchkula districts.