On a Different Front
Eco-battalions to conserve forest land
Gurgaon, July 19
The government is constituting eco-battalions of retired defence personnel in order to maintain greenery and extend the green cover in the state. This initiative has been taken by the state government keeping in view the Union Government’s decision to observe the current year as resettlement year for defence personnel in the country.

Thermal power project steams up locals
Bhiwani, July 19
The proposed coal-based thermal power plant project of Bhiwani Textile Mills has become the target of locals. Residents and local bodies members, who consider it a threat to the environment, have opposed the project. Several municipal councillors have submitted a memorandum to finance and labour minister Birender Singh.

Two districts turn 10
Fatehabad lacks education facilities, big industry
Fatehabad, July 19
Although there has been some development work in Fatehabad district, which completed 10 years on July 15, much still remains to be done. It was in 1997 that Fatehabad, a nondescript town at that time, was accorded the status of a district.

Jhajjar town yet to measure up
Jhajjar, July 19
People of this small, dusty town must have had big dreams about development when it became a district headquarters in 1997. Today, a comparison of "then and now" brings a sour expression on their faces.

Inside Babudom
Where you sit is what matters in secretariat
Chandigarh, July 19
The new additional principal secretary to the Chief Minister, K.K. Khandelwal, and special secretary, general administration department Sumita Misra are set to be new entrants to the fourth floor of the Haryana secretariat here.

Rewari govt schools in doldrums Students fret over poor exam results Rewari, July 19 The lackadaisical approach of the authorities to school education in the district has adversely affected the performance of government schools. The new building of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 4, Rewari. — A Tribune photograph

Four state-level institutes for Rohtak
Chandigarh, July 19
Rohtak will soon get four state-level institutes, which will be set up there at a cost of Rs 60 crore. The institute of art, the institute of fashion design, the institute of professional studies for women and the institute of film and TV will start functioning at a common complex from the next academic session.

Young Achiever Marginal farmer, hefty earning Chandigarh, July 19 Two years after his matriculation in 1995, when Sushil Kumar lost his father it was time for him to grow up overnight. Being the eldest, the responsibility fell upon him to take care of the family. Sushil Kumar, who successfully took to fish and mushroom farming on his small holding of 2 acres in Kamalpur Roran village in Karnal district.

Money power rules roost in Karnal jail, says ex-inmate Chandigarh, July 19 For P. P. Kapoor, a trade union activist who spent over 60 days in the district jail at Karnal last winter, the most important challenge during the period of his incarceration was how to while away time. The Karnal jail and (inset) P.P. Kapoor, a trade unionist who spent over 60 days in the jail. — A Tribune photograph

Ambala dairymen reluctant to shift
Ambala, July 19
Owing to the unplanned and slow working of the administration, the dairies of Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment could not be shifted outside the urban areas even after five years when it was first proposed. The state government has already sanctioned crores of rupees for this project.

Settlement date for water dues extended
Chandigarh, July 19
The state government has extended the one-time settlement scheme launched to recover the arrears of water and sewerage charges in the municipal areas for two more months. Public health minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said here today the scheme had been extended up to September 10.