Kaithal, September 30
The Haryana government was moving fast towards achieving its goal of generating 5000 MW additional power. The Yamunanagar power plant will start generating 300 MW from November 1 and the second unit will start power generation before the end of current financial year.

This was stated by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda while addressing a largely attended public meeting at Rajound 35 km from here today.

The chief minister said the successive governments during the past 40 years did not care to increase power generation in the state. He said at present the generating capacity in the state was 1587 MW against the demand of 8000 MW but after completion of the power projects, the problem would be solved.

He said the government was committed for equitable distribution of canal water in every region of the state. The ongoing canal projects in the state will be completed in time and government would also construct Mewat canal.

Hooda said that previous government had ignored the interests of the people of the state and it merely tried to politicise the SYL issue.

He said he was ready for an open discussion on the canal issue even on the floor of the Assembly.

Hooda said his government took some historic decisions like the waiver of Rs 1600-crore power bills of farmers and the waiver of Rs 830-crore interest on cooperative loans were some such decisions.

He said no compromise could be made regarding the maintenance of law and order and peace in the state. The government had taken tough measures against criminals and anti social elements following which the criminals fled from the state while others were in Jails.

HPCC president Phool Chand Mullana said implementing the rural employment guarantee scheme in the country was the biggest achievement of the Centre.

Power minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said it was very important for the people of the state that power projects worth thousands of crore were being set up in a very short time. He said it would provide employment opportunities to youth and improve the economic condition of the people. Tranport and education minister Mange Ram said the government has speeded up the development process in the state.

Jai Parkash, MP from Hisar, Prof Virender Singh, political adviser to the Chief Minister, Satinder Rana, Tajinder Mann , Geeta Bhukkal, Prof Dinesh Kaushik and Jai Singh Rana, MLAs, also addressed the meeting.

Chandigarh, September 30
The alleged attack on a team of Haryana Forest Department officials by members of the mining mafia at Shekhopur village in Gurgaon district on September 17 has taken a murky turn.

Not only has the police failed to arrest any of the accused persons named in the FIR lodged by the conservator of forests, South Circle, Gurgaon, R.P. Balwan, so far, an effort to sabotage the case against the mafia by an employee of the Forest Department itself has also come to light.

According to informed sources, a forest ranger posted in Kurukshetra district allegedly approached the driver of the team, which was attacked by the mafia, with financial allurement in a bid to persuade him to change his statement before the police.

The sources say the ranger offered Rs 20,000 to the driver Sukhbir Singh if he changed his statement. It was Sukhbir Singh who was assaulted by the members of the mafia by iron rods when the team intercepted trucks carrying stones to a crusher installed in Shekhopur village. The truck driver had no documents with them to prove that the stones they were carrying had been legally procured and tax had been paid on them.

Sukhbir Singh dismissed the offer of Rs 20,000 with the contempt it deserved.

The sources say as soon as minister of state for forests Kiran Choudhary came to know how Sukhbir was offered Rs 20,000 for changing his statement, she directed the department to honour him with an appreciation letter as well as to give him Rs 20,000 as reward. She also ordered an inquiry against the ranger who had tried to sabotage the department’s case against the mining mafia.

The incident bears testimony to what The Tribune had earlier reported.

The Tribune had reported how the mining mafia was quarrying stones and other building material from the forest land in an illegal manner and was also evading taxes. It was also reported that the mining mafia was bringing stones from the Rajasthan areas bordering Haryana under the patronage of a Congress MP from the state.

The police failure to arrest the accused persons so far is being attributed to the influence of the MP.

A spokesman of the Gurgaon police, however, said that special teams had been constituted to arrest the accused.

The sources say the state government should immediately install weighing bridges to check the quantity of building material being quarried by the mining contractors so that proper tax could be levied on that. 

Karnal, September 30
The state agriculture minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha said here yesterday that farmers were getting more than the MSP of Rs 675 for their paddy crop and were happy.

He was here to visit the local grain market to inspect the procurement of paddy and listen to the grievances of the farmers.

“The CM has bought power from outside the state so that the farmers could reap a rich harvest,” he said. He said the production of paddy had been more than what was estimated and the MSP offered to the farmers was the highest ever.

“Farmers have earned really well this year as the rates they got for their crop are better than what they expected,” Chattha said.

He said the government will relax rules regarding the procurement of paddy which has high moisture content. “We will not let the farmers suffer loss on this account,” he said.

Chattha said for proper weighing of paddy crop at mandis at night and ensure everything was being done in a transparent way, generators will be provided in case of a power failiure, so that farmers were not duped.

Chandigarh, September 30
Chairperson of the Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation Chandravati today blamed the previous governments in the state for power shortage and claimed that it was due to the efforts made by the present regime that power situation was improving.

“Had previous regimes taken any interest in generation of power, the situation would have been much better today. However, the fact that state would require more power as it would develop never dawned upon them,” she said, addressing a press conference at her residence here.

She said there had been several agitations in the state on power issue and alleged many political leaders had even tried to garner votes by making false promises.

“I am sure that within next couple of years people of Haryana will get uninterrupted power supply,” she said.

Chandravati said former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal had always ruled with the support of the Centre. He had never been able to lead the party to victory on his own. When asked how she could say that in view of the Congress victory in 2005 when Bhajan Lal was heading it, she said in 2005 the situation was different. “The Congress would have won the elections irrespective of the fact who was heading it. The people were tired of the INLD misrule and had, therefore, decided to vote for the Congress,” she added.

Meanwhile, taking up the issue of alleged discrimination being done with country’s hockey players, she said they deserved more than what they had been getting. “Hockey is our national game, it is our pride. We should not run only after cricket at the cost of other games,” she said.

She said she had written to union sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar that sports like hockey should be given due recognition in the country.

Kurukshetra, September 30
Visually challenged students from Haryana, who have passed class XII, will be given admission to the University for Disabled, Chitterkoot Dham, Uttar Pradesh, free of cost. The admissions will continue till November.

An announcement to this effect was made by the chief guest, Jagat Guru Rambhadra Charya, chancellor, University for Disabled, at a two-day state-level conference for disabled, organised by the SSS World Disabled Welfare Society and Trust on the premises of Panchayat Bhavan here today.

In his inaugural address, he stressed the need for having a positive approach in life.

Earlier, he paid floral tributes to Louise Braille, inventor of the Braille script, by lighting a lamp.

Welcoming the chief guest, the founder president of the trust, Shyam Sunder Shukla announced that a school for 25 blind girls would be established at Kurukshetra. 

Rewari, September 30
Two persons were killed while two others sustained injuries when a Rajasthan Roadways bus collided head-on with the camel cart, on which they were riding, on the Rewari-Narnaul road near Padla village, 26 km from here, last night. The camel also died on the spot.

Chhote Lal (46) and Gajraj (42), residents of Hudia Khurd village of Alwar district of Rajasthan, died on the spot while Mahender Singh, son of the deceased, Chhote Lal, and Ramesh sustained injuries.

The mishap occurred when they were returning to Hudia Khurd, 30 km from here, and the bus was on its way to Delhi.

The Khol police has registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the bus driver, who reportedly absconded after abandoning the bus at the mishap site.

Hisar, September 30
The trading community in Haryana has decided to participate in the October 7 “bijli rally” at Jhadli in Jhajjar district to be addressed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Stating this here today, Haryana Confed chairman Bajrang Das Garg said the business community in Haryana was aware that the Hooda government had created an atmosphere conducive to economic growth. The fear of criminals, who “operated under political patronage in the previous regime”, had become history.

He said traders, industrialists and businessmen had been extended several benefits by the government because of which thousands of businesses, which were on the verge of closure, were now flourishing.

Garg said just over two years ago industrial plots in Haryana went abegging whereas people were now queuing up to buy these plots. This was a clear indication of the changed business environment in Haryana under the Hooda regime.

He said the government had taken big steps to generate more power and making Haryana self-reliant in this sector. The Jhadli power plant and other similar projects would enable round-the-clock supply of power in about three years.

Garg, who also heads the Haryana Pradesh Beopar Mandal, said a meeting of the executive committee of the mandal had been convened here for October 2 to discuss the arrangements for the proposed rally.

Fatehabad, September 30
Rebel Congress MP from Bhiwani Kuldeep Bishnoi today pooh-poohed the proposed “bijli rally” of the party to be held at Jhajjar on October 7 and said the rally was nothing but another attempt by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to mislead the people of the state.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Bishnoi alleged that Sonia Gandhi had a long history of misleading people and people had now started realising this.

Bishnoi said when the issue of special economic zones (SEZs) was raised by him, Sonia Gandhi had declared at Nainital that not a single inch of farmers’ land would be acquired by the government for the purpose. However, that assurance proved wrong as later it was said that the government would acquire up to 25 per cent of the land required for the SEZs.

The dissident Congress MP alleged that Sonia Gandhi was not coming to Haryana to address the “bijli rally” out of any emotions for the sufferings of the people of Haryana but she would use this as another opportunity to befool the people.

He said Sonia Gandhi and Hooda were afraid of the increasing popularity of Bhajan Lal and the purpose of the rally was to mislead people by some false assurances.

To a question, Bishnoi said he was prepared for a mid-term poll, if the need arose.

Rejecting the claims of Hooda on the power situation in Haryana, Bishnoi alleged that the power situation was the worst during the present regime and added that lack of vision on the part of the Chief Minister was responsible for this. 

Fatehabad, September 30
Local MLA Dura Ram, who was recently appointed parliamentary secretary by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is being felicitated by his electorates, and particularly by people belonging to his Bishnoi community.

Ever since he has come to Fatehabad after being elevated, not a day has passed when he has not attended a public reception in his honour in some village or the other.

Residents of Baropal village, one of the biggest villages and having predominantly Bishnoi population, today felicitated Dura Ram.

Dura Ram, who is a nephew of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, has been backing Hooda ever since his cousin Kuldeep Bishnoi launched a tirade against the state government.

The villagers honoured Dura Ram with turbans and a silver 'mukut'.

Dura Ram’s son Sandeep Bishnoi, who has returned from the USA to help his father in politics, was also present on this occasion.

Dura Ram was all praise for the style of working of Hooda. He said the Haryana government had been working ovetime for the welfare of the people.

He invited the people to attend the 'Bijlee Rally' of the party to be held at Jhajjar on October 7.

The rally will be addressed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 

Chandigarh, September 30
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) today declared five more villages as 100 per cent CFL villages in Narnaul operation circle under its ongoing campaign for replacement of electricity guzzler incandescent bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for energy conservation.

While stating this here today, a DHBVN spokesman said now the total number of villages having replaced all traditional yellow bulbs with CFLs in this circle had increased to 57. The five new villages, which were included in the list of all CFL villages, were Shima, Jatwas, Palwari, Sangwari and Kulhawas.

He said in Shima village with the use of energy efficient lighting appliances, load on the transformer of 63 KVA capacity, supplying power to the village, reduced from 143 ampere to 102 ampere.

Similarly, in Jatwas village, load on the transformers had reduced by over 35 per cent. In Palwari village the average load had reduced by five amperes, he added.

The spokesman said in Sangwari village, which had 90 houses and 40 regular connections, load on their transformer reduced from average 77 ampere to 53 amperes with the change of old bulbs. The load on the 100 KVA transformer feeding Bidawas village had reduced by over 20 amperes.

DHBVN officials had organised CFL stalls in the villages and went from door-to-door along with sarpanches and other members of panchayats to persuade the residents to replace the traditional yellow bulbs with the energy efficient CFLs.

This awareness campaign proved immensely beneficial in encouraging the people to shift from electricity guzzler incandescent bulbs to energy efficient CFLs, the spokesman said. — UNI

Yamunanagar, September 30
The District Consumer Redressal Forum has found the Yamunanagar branch of Citi Financial Consumer Finance India and its New Delhi office (through its managing director\chairman) engaged in unfair trade practice as it was charging 34 per cent interest per annum from a Model Town resident. It has asked the company to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to the consumer, besides depositing Rs 10,000 in a government head.

The forum also directed that a copy be sent to the Reserve Bank of India so that the latter could take appropriate action against Citi Financial.

Surinder Kumar of Model Town had taken a personal loan of Rs 50,000 and given 35 post-dated cheques for Rs 2,806 each to the company as instalments.

After paying a few instalments, he decided to make a one-time payment of the loan. In the petition before the forum, Surinder Kumar alleged that despite his repeated requests, the company did not give him a statement of his account. In December 2005, he asked the bank (whose cheques he had given) to stop payment.

He said even after paying eight instalments, he was told that the amount he was supposed to pay to Citi Financial was between Rs 45,000 and Rs 47,000 which, according to him, was illegal and against the instructions of the RBI.

On the other hand, counsel for Citi Financial said the customer had entered into an agreement with the company after going through all terms and conditions.

In his order, president of the forum Subhash Walia said the company was charging 34 per cent flat interest on the loan amount. He said the prevailing rate in the market was 10 per cent.

The forum directed the company to issue a statement of account on 10 per cent interest rate as prevailing in the market.

The forum also directed the company to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to Surinder Kumar on account of mental agony and harassment as well as litigation expenses and unfair trade practice.

Karnal, September 30
Haryana public health and power minister Randeep Singh Surjewala yesterday laid the foundation stone of four pump houses to be built at a cost of Rs 50 lakh in the Jhundla constituency. The scheme will provide clean drinking water to 8,000 villagers of the area.

The villages in which the pump houses will be set up are Manchori (Rs 9 lakh), Hathlana (Rs 15 lakh), Sirsi (Rs 10.50 lakh) and Shahpur (Rs 15 lakh).

Later, while addressing the gathering, the minister said Haryana was the first state in the country to implement the Indira Gandhi Drinking Water Scheme. Under the scheme, piped water supply would be made available to 8 lakh Scheduled Caste families free of cost. They would also be provided a 200-litre water tank. People of Other Backward Classes would also get free of cost water supply under the scheme.

In Manchori village, 30 Scheduled Class families were provided connection and a water tank free of cost. About 176 families belonging to Other Backward Classes were also given free of cost connections. Similarly, in Hathlana village 79 SCs and 350 OBCs families, in Sirsi village 30 SCs and 150 OBCs families and in Shahpur 79 SCs and 220 OBCs families were provided free of cost connections.

Sonepat, September 30
Agitated residents of a Dalit basti in Ward no 3 here today blocked the road between the bus stand and Murthal Chowk for more than two hours in protest against the alleged misbehaviour and manhandling of Surender Nayyar, son of Dalit municipal councillor Mahender Kaur, by the old city police station in charge ASI Krishan.

DSP Hari Kailash reached the spot and persuaded the people to lift the blockade, assuring them of necessary action.

According to information, a complaint was lodged in the police station last evening following a dispute between Jaggan and Krishan of the locality.

However, both parties reached a compromise and along with Surender Nayyar went to the police station to submit a copy of the compromise. Nayyar alleged ASI Krishan demanded bribe to entertain them. But when Surender resented, the ASI allegedly misbehaved and manhandled with him. — OC

Kurukshetra, September 30
Markanda National College on the Shahabad-Markanda road, 25 km from here, yesterday organised talent-finding competitions for this academic session.

While inaugurating the competitions, the college principal, Dr Vinay Kumar Malhotra, motivated students, especially freshers, to participate in extra co-curricular activities to improve their talent.

Competitions were held in singing, dancing, acting, poetry, playing musical instruments, speech and painting.

The competitions were organised by Dr Harjit Singh, convener, cultural activities of the college. Cash prizes were given away to the winners by Dr Malhotra.

Chandigarh, September 30
The Haryana Congress has welcomed the union government’s decision to extend the National Employment Guarantee Act to the entire country from April next year.

In a resolution, the HPCC said the implementation of the programme in the country was the fulfilment of a key promise made by the Congress in its manifesto. It also figured in the common minimum programme of the UPA, the resolution said.

Phool Chand Mullana, MLA and president of the HPCC, said the extension of the scheme would enable all 20 districts of Haryana to benefit. He said the step would go a long way in improving the lot of villagers. 

Sirsa, September 30
Rebel Congress MP Kuldeep Bishnoi today said he feared threat to his life as everyday he was getting calls threatening him to quit politics or face the consequences. The details of the calls had been submitted to the ministry of home affairs, he said after addressing a rally here today.

However, he did not point a finger towards anybody, stating that it was for investigating agencies to find out.

Bishnoi ruled out the possibility of going back to the Congress even if he was offered the Chief minister’s post.

“There is no question of looking back now. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has let us down. There is no place for real workers in the party and only sycophants are being rewarded,” he said.

He claimed that many Congress MLAs were in touch with them and had assured that they would join their camp at an appropriate time.

Bishnoi was here as part of his statewide campaign to garner support for the rally to be held on December 2, where his father and former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal will announce a separate political party.

An associate of Bhajan Lal and MLA Dharam Pal Malik said the INLD was nowhere in the scene. He said in the next assembly elections, it would be a contest between “our party and the Congress”.

Others who spoke on the occasion included MLA Rakesh Kamboj and former MLA Mani Ram Keharwala.

Faridabad, September 30
The ruling Congress today launched an attack on former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and his son Kuldeep Bishnoi through its state working president Kuldip Sharma.

The Congress leader challenged Bishnoi for a debate on the issue of corruption. He also came out in strong defence of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, saying that he was the “most honest public personality”.

Addressing a workers’ meeting here in connection with his party’s October 7 Jhajjar rally to be addressed by Sonia Gandhi, Sharma alleged that corruption was started in the state by Bhajan Lal and it was not right on the part of Bishnoi to level such charges against the Chief Minister and Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress’ attack on Bishnoi comes on a day before the latter is to address his workers in Ballabgarh in this district.

According to reports, there is enthusiasm among workers of Bishnoi with regard to the meeting tomorrow.

Having a dig at Bhajan Lal, Sharma referred to the Yamuna accord which was signed by the former as Chief Minister when the Congress came to power in 1991. The Chief Minister signed the accord which reduced Haryana’s share in the Yamuna waters by about 27 per cent to what the Cabinet had resolved, he alleged.

In a Congress-related development, the parliamentary secretary of the Haryana assembly,

Sharda Rathore, today organised an Iftar in Ballabgarh assembly constituency, about

7 km from here.

Although the Iftar was ostensibly a social occasion, it was used by leaders of the district, including Rathore, to sing paeans to the Chief Minister.

Rathore said Hooda was the best Chief Minister the state had ever had. She also used the occasion to galvanise support for the Jhajjar rally.