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NH-22 turns into a death trap
State wants share in Renuka Dam project
Jind roads in bad shape as nod for repairs awaited
Challenges in spreading mass awareness discussed
Dura vows to end farmers’ woes
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Three villagers duped of cash, gold ornaments
Traders to meet CM over shop tax
Truck rams into DC’s camp office
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NH-22 turns into a death trap
Chandigarh, September 9 The number of accidents has gone up tremendously on the Panchkula-Kalka stretch resulting in bottlenecks and frequent roadblocks. “The travelling time between Panchkula and Kalka which used to take about 15 to 20 minutes has been doubled, besides exposing commuters to a hazardous road leading to many accidents,’’ according to one Ashok Kumar, who travels on the road daily. Travelling on NH-22 results in inordinate delays and traffic jams on a daily basis, sometimes these jams can stretch up to two hours or beyond. Sources in the Haryana Government admit that the situation has become rather grim following the recent monsoon and there has been an alarming rise in road accidents on this stretch. “The ongoing apple season has increased road traffic - mainly trucks carrying apple crop to the mandis across the region, this has led to further wear and tear of the road”. It is learnt the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has already allotted the four-laning work on the highway on a build operate and transfer (BoT) basis for part of the National Highway 22 from Zirakpur to Kalka. Meanwhile, no other agency of the State or central government is interested in carrying on any patch work on the road. The government would shortly start work of acquiring land required for four-laning of this highway and handed over to a private contractor. The private contractor (Jaiparkash Industries) would in turn upgrade the existing two-lane section to four-lane divided carriageway, improve the existing pavements and construct major and minor bridges, culverts, road intersections, interchanges and drains. It is expected that it will take another six months before the work on this highway can be started. Till the highway is four-laned, commuters cannot expect the road conditions to improve. The condition of the road stretch passing through Pinjore and Kalka towns is pitiable. In some stretches there is no sign of any mettled road, the earth too has been depressed with the heavy weight of the vehicles causing many heavily overloaded trucks to turn turtle with
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State wants share in Renuka Dam project
Chandigarh, September 9 ''Haryana wants this project to be made a shared project among co-basin states. If this demand is not conceded then Haryana will not co-operate in the delivery of water from this project to Delhi,'' irrigation minister Ajay Singh Yadav told at a press conference here. Yadav said a draft agreement for the construction of Renuka dam across river Giri in Himachal Pradesh was prepared by five states in 1994. It remained ineffective because Rajasthan did not sign it. ''It was signed by the Chief Ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, but not by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan,'' he said. He said the draft stipulated that the entire cost of the dam would be borne by Delhi, while Himachal Pradesh would construct, operate and maintain the project. It was also mentioned that the entire water from this dam would be given to Delhi and all other economic benefits of this dam including generation of hydro power would go to Himachal Pradesh. He said at a meeting held in Delhi on December 20, 2006, Haryana irrigation minister and his counterparts from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh pointed out that the agreement had not come into being demanded that all the co-basin states must get their respective shares from the water and power of this project. It was also made clear that the co-basin states were willing to give their share of the cost of the project. He said the meeting of December 20, 2006, was followed by written communication from Haryana reiterating its views. Yet, an agreement was worked out between the union government, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi in accordance with the old draft agreement. He said a meeting was called by the secretary, union ministry of water resources, on September 5, 2007, to get endorsement for abiding by the 1994 draft. But Haryana strongly reiterated at the meeting its views given in December 2006 and stated very clearly unless this project was made a shared project between the co-basin states, it would not co-operate in the delivery of water from the project to Delhi.
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Jind roads in bad shape as nod for repairs awaited
Jind, September 9 This has led to inconvenience not only to the people, but also caused a some resentment at the official and political circles. Earlier, the authorities concerned could meet the demand of repairs at their own level. The matter has been raised by some ruling Congress leaders, but to no effect. Jind is among the districts where the pace of development works has not been up to the expectations of the people though it has been represented by some senior leaders, including a former Chief Minister. At present, two senior cabinet ministers and one MP hail from the district. According to sources, some elected representatives had recently taken up the matter at various levels to demand the revocation of this direction, claiming that it had posed as a hurdle in speedy results. It had hit various maintenance works, including those of roads in the district. The potholes caused by the rains had been only filled up with earth or stones and had not been properly laid due to awaiting of the required sanction by the office at Chandigarh, claimed an official, on condition of anonymity. While the total budget under the non-plan expenditure of the eight circles of the Public Works Department (PWD) in the state comes out to more than Rs 125 crore in a year, each of the circle had an average budget of about 15 to 17 crore for the repairs. But the state government had last year attached the condition of prior approval on works connected with Non-Plan fund (maintenance), which included budget received under the 12th Finance Commission. “While it is not known why such a decision was taken, the delay in repair and maintenance works could irk both the people and the elected representatives,” observed a political activist here. A majority of the roads in the district are in poor shape and required immediate repairs, he claimed.
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Challenges in spreading mass awareness discussed
Rohtak, September 9 We have to move forward by tackling new trends and learning from shortcomings of the past. This was stated by progressive writer-journalist and former adviser of the National Literacy Mission, Asad Zaidi, while addressing a state-level seminar on mass awareness and literature organised by SEARCH State Resource Centre, Haryana, here today. Dr Manmohan, Reader at the Hindi Department of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), here presided over the seminar. Throwing light at the background of the seminar, he observed that people’s desire to contribute their mite for the betterment of society needed to be translated into actual social work at the grassroots level. The Director of SEARCH, Pramod Gauri, informed the gathering that the centre, with the cooperation of the National Book Trust, New Delhi, had arranged a mobile exhibition of books in Haryana. The exhibition went to 63 places in various parts of the state, he said, adding that the experience showed that the people of the state had taste and craved for good literature. Dr R.S. Dahiya maintained that there was ample energy in the masses, which needed to be channelled towards social uplift. The chairperson of the Haryana Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Shubha, also expressed her views on the occasion. Around 250 educationists, litterateurs, literacy workers, volunteers and social activists from different parts of the state participated. Such seminars go a long way in creating awareness among the people.
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Dura vows to end farmers’ woes
Fatehabad, September 9 Dura Ram, who has been given the portfolios of agriculture and jails, said he would strive hard to mitigate the hardships of farmers and common people. Talking to mediapersons at his native Mohammadpur Rohi village, the parliamentary secretary, who is a nephew of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, said ever since Hooda has taken over the reins of the government, development activities had received a new impetus in the state. He said he was grateful to the Chief Minister for giving him an opportunity to serve the people. — OC
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Three villagers duped of cash, gold ornaments
Rewari, September 9 Sources said Maman Singh, Krishan and Dharmender gave their old jewellery, along with the desired cash, for renovation to the gold smiths who occupied a rented accommodation in the village. Their crafty business went on for over a fortnight after which they, along with the cash and jewellery, abruptly disappeared on Sunday (September 2). |
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Traders to meet CM over shop tax
Ambala, September 9 Talking to mediapersons here today, he said shop inspectors harassed shopkeepers and if the shop tax discontinued, the shopkeepers would get a major relief. He said the Chief Minister had extended some relief to the business community in the state. He said the traders were terrorised during the regime of former Chief Minister Chautala. He said the Haryana Viopar Mandal had been preparing a list of corrupt officials that would be submitted to the Chief Minister. He said a meeting of the traders would be convened soon in which the Chief Minister would listen the problems of the traders. President of Ambala DCC Arun Garg was also present. |
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Truck rams into DC’s camp office
Yamunanagar, September 9 |
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