Chandigarh, January 16
The phenomenon of parliamentary secretaries has come full circle in Haryana with the state government recently vesting them with more power than what is enjoyed by a minister of state or a deputy minister attached to a cabinet minister.

Standing orders issued three decades ago on how to conduct government business (“cases shall be ordinarily disposed of by the minister in charge”) were amended to give the two chief parliamentary secretaries (CPSs) and eight parliamentary secretaries of Haryana the power to handle every case coming before their respective departments.

The CPSs and parliamentary secretaries would have been ministers now had there been no restriction on the size of the council of ministers. The Congress government in Haryana took the parliamentary secretary route to circumvent the stipulation on the number of ministers.

Till recently, parliamentary secretaries (including CPSs) in Haryana got work only when the minister concerned assigned something to them. This put them in the same league with ministers attached to a cabinet minister. However, a recent government directive has done away with the restriction imposed on them with regard to work.

The CPSs and PSs of Haryana continue to remain attached to ministers but they do not have to wait for the ministers to assign cases to them any more. The administrative secretaries have been asked to put up all department files before them from now on.

The original “instructions” on CPSs and PSs passed in 2006 said administrative secretaries would communicate with the CPSs or PSs only in respect of cases where the minister had given a general or specific direction. The latest government order dated December 14 and addressed to the administrative secretaries said “files should be routed through the chief parliamentary secretaries/parliamentary secretaries, as the case may be, and for this purpose, the departments may amend their standing orders accordingly after obtaining the orders of the minister in charge”.

The 2006 instruction saying that at no stage the CPS or the PS should take a decision independently, however, appears to continue to remain in force since the December order does not mention the subject.

For the record, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has the maximum number of parliamentary secretaries attached to him. Five PSs and one of the two CPSs are attached to him. Irrigation, power, revenue and health are some of the other departments having a parliamentary secretary or a CPS. CPS Dharam Vir and some of the parliamentary secretaries have been allotted more than one department.

Yamunanagar, January 16
Contrary to the repeated announcements and claims by Haryana ministers and government functionaries that the first unit of the Deenbandhu Chottu Ram Thermal Plant here will start the commercial production of power from January 15, the first unit may take several more days before it starts producing its optimum power of 300 MW.

Originally, the first unit of the plant was scheduled to start from November 20, 2007. Prof Virender Singh, political advisor to the Haryana Chief Minister, after inspecting the plant last week had announced that the plant would start the commercial production from January 15. Haryana agriculture minister H.S. Chatha made similar announcements here yesterday. No official of Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) was ready to comment on the delay.

It is to be mentioned here that the state has been facing an acute power shortage and the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has imposed seven-and-a-half-hour-long power cuts in urban areas from tomorrow.

The government was counting on the 300 MW of power from the thermal plant to improve the power situation but it would have to wait for a few more days, said sources in the HPGCL.

It might take few another days before the unit erected by Reliance Energy Limited (REL) would start producing 300 MW of power, they said, adding that the second unit of the plant of 300 MW too would not be able to start on the schedule date.

However, the government had been announcing that the second unit would start producing power in February. A senior official of the HPGCL demanding anonymity said the second unit would not be ready by March. It would be ready by March end, give or take a week. Sources said a process called “coal firing” for the first unit of the plant started on January 11.

Chandigarh, January 16
Contrary to popular belief that rural areas account for maximum incidence of power theft and non-compliance in payment of bills, the rural domestic and agriculture consumers in Haryana have come out in large numbers to set their records straight by availing the Electricity Arrear Waiver Scheme (EAWS).

Interestingly, consumers in urban areas of the state have failed to avail the benefits of a similar scheme that sought to bring the defaulting domestic consumers within the ambit of billing cycle. Of the total outstanding dues of over Rs 130 crore, a meagre Rs 5 crore has been recovered so far. A mere 40 per cent of the urban defaulters have opted for the scheme.

The Haryana Power Utilities had been in the red because of pending arrears to the tune of Rs 1,781 crore from its consumers. In order to realise these arrears, the government had introduced the EAWS for its rural consumers and the Surcharge Bill Waiver Scheme for Domestic Consumers in urban areas. Officials said here today the authorities have received an overwhelming response for the EAWS with pending dues worth Rs 931.48 crore being realised after almost 64 per cent of the defaulters opted for the scheme.

The number of total defaulters in the rural areas is around 13.86 lakh, of which 9.21 lakh consumers had opted for the scheme. Officials say the response has been overwhelming in Jind and Rohtak - the two districts that have gained notoriety for having the highest incidence of power theft. In these two districts alone, almost 70 per cent of the pending arrears have been realised.

However, a sizeable number of these defaulters (3.31 lakh) again defaulted in making the payments and only 5.90 lakh consumers are now availing this scheme. An official survey is now being conducted to reassess the number of defaulters. It is now believed that with the declining farmland in the state, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR), has led to a number of agriculture defaulters being misplaced. With urbanisation of these areas, these persons who had defaulted in paying bills for their tubewell connections are no longer consuming power as they have sold off their land.

Kurukshetra, January 16
Expressing concern over the reported official figures, which showed that a large number of educated persons are not exercising their right to vote, the election commissioner of India has strongly favoured a mass campaign against the alarming trend.

The Election Commissioner of India, Dr S.Y. Quraishi, while talking to The Tribune here today, said this trend of not voting was used as a fashion statement among members of the “so-called” educated class.

On the contrary, the rural population with a comparatively low academic background was showing keen interest in voting, he added.

Quraishi was here to attend a national seminar at Kurukshetra University.

Meanwhile, ruling out any possibility to make voting a compulsory act like in Australia, he said educative programmes should be launched regarding the issue.

“It is unfortunate that people from urban areas are taking pride in not participating in the democratic election procedure.

There is dire need to evolve a system to deal with such ‘irresponsible’ persons,” added Quraishi.

Lauding the role of Haryana, he said it had become a model state in view of making photo electoral cards and electoral reforms.

Commenting on the emerging election trend in which certain newspapers charged prescribed fees for writing in favour of or against politicians, he said in such cases the Press Council of India should be approached to initiate suitable action.

Citing examples from the HP Assembly poll, he said it was unfortunate that certain political parties advertised in an objectionable manner in newspapers and notice was served on the now ruling BJP party. On the delimitation of constituencies, he said the process was in the final stages and notifications would be issued soon.

However, he clarified that no immediate fresh elections would be held after reconstituting these new segments.

The next scheduled poll would be held from the updated constituencies.

Rohtak, January 16
The management of the Saini Education Society here, which has nearly 15,000 members and runs eight educational institutions in the town, has cautioned people not to be misled by a misinformation campaign launched against them by some vested interests.

Addressing a news conference here today, the president of the society Vijay Kumar Saini asserted that these vested interests had issued misleading statements in the local media to tarnish the image of the management. Saini maintained that legal recourse was being adopted against the persons who were behind this drive.

Clarifying the management’s stance regarding the matter, the society president pointed that contrary to the reports appearing in a section of media, the B.Ed college being established by the society had not been given on lease to anybody.

“It is just that the land on which the college building is being constructed has been brought under the name of the college. And it has been done because it is mandatory as per the provisions of the NCTE,” he pointed out.

Regarding the issue of conducting elections of the society office-bearers, Saini said the matter was under court’s consideration and they would accept its verdict in this regard.

Kurukshetra, January 16
Historians and thinkers, who participated in the national conference on Kurukshetra University campus today, stressed upon the need to re-document the historical events from the Indian perspective.

The scholars had gathered at the conference named “1857: Revisited” to discuss various aspects of the 1857 uprising, which is also known as the first battle of Indian independence. The three-day long event was organised by the department of history of KU.

Haryana Governor Dr A.R. Kidwai and election commissioner of India (ECI) Dr S.Y. Quraishi also spoke on the occasion and asked the scholars to work on the new dimensions of research.

Kidwai said several historical events were written with the British point of view. There was a need to redo it with the Indian angle,” he stressed.

Participants said several historical events, including the uprising of 1857, were distorted to suit British rulers. They said no serious efforts were done to ascertain the undercover facts on the subjects.

Chairman of the history department, KU, Prof R. Tanwar said it was quite a challenging job for historians to know the factual historical accounts. He said contradictory versions of activities related to 1857 uprising were recorded in the then British-dominated press.

Quraishi appealed the historians to make efforts to popularise the subject among students.

He said there was a need to ascertain the role of martial communities, including that from Punjab.

He said the historical events, including the revolt of 1857, were restricted just to the ruling communities and the documents lacked various aspects of the involvement of the masses.

Supporting the viewpoint forwarded by the scholars, vice-chancellor of KU Rajan Gupta said India was loosing its rich heritage, as it was not protecting the monuments.

The Governor also inaugurated a painting exhibition on different events related to the 1857 uprising, which had been prepared by renowned artists.

Rohtak, January 16
As if in retaliation against the Congress leadership’s decision to suspend Bhajan Lal and two of his loyalists from the party membership, members and sympathisers of the party recently floated by the former Chief Minister have stepped up their protest against the state government.

Supporters of the Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) staged a protest against alleged irregularities in the BPL survey, acute shortage of electricity and water and slackness in the execution of various development works here today.

The protesters, led by former Haryana ministers Subhash Batra and Krishan Murti Hooda, marched in protest from the local railway station to the mini-secretariat, raising slogans against the government. District bar association vice-president Wazir Singh Khokhar and municipal councillor Tarun Verma were among the protesters.

They submitted a memorandum addressed to the Haryana Governor to the deputy commissioner. In the memorandum, the HJC alleged that the Congress regime in the state had got the names of its workers and supporters included in the BPL list in an unfair manner.

The memorandum also drew the attention of the Governor to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state and the shortage of electricity. 

Gurgaon, January 16
Haryana power scenario will be very crucial in the coming two years due to shortage of power and increase in demand resulting in increased power cuts in the state. The deficit of power would be around 2,400 mw per day this year.

According to reports of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, the demand of the electricity this year would be 7,335 mw per day, whereas the proposed capacity of the power is about 4,873 mw per day. Similarly, in the year 2009-10 the demand would shoot up to 8,362 mw and the capacity would increase to 6,616 mw.

While talking to The Tribune, managing director, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd, P.K. Das said the demand of power is increasing by more than 25 per cent every year in some districts of the state, which includes Gurgaon, Faridabad and Bahadurgarh. But on the other side the gap of net deficit of power in the state is also at higher side in comparison to the production sources, which have not been able to increase its production as per the demand. He said the internal generation system in the districts is at very slow pace and the hydel power plants could fail to generate enough power due to bad monsoon this season.

He said the nigam has also introduced an open access policy under which the consumer could purchase power from the private distributor directly with nominal surcharge rather from government agencies. He said if the nigam purchases power it would serve only one or two segment of the people, but the cost would have to be borne by the whole state. But through open access the customer would pay for its purchase. He said with this measure industry which is suffering most because of shortage of power would not only get regular power supply, but would also lower down the cost of power for an industrialist.

Das said to contain the situation of power shortage, the nigam is looking forward to its Yamunanagar thermal power project of 600 mw, 150 to 200 mw through central sector project in which state has its stake, purchase from surplus power states and by open access policy for the consumers.

He said plans have also been formulated to control electricity wastage in agriculture sector where the consumption of power through tubewells is around 40 per cent. He said in most of the districts farmers were using inefficient tubewells machinery, which resulted in high consumption of power. He said the nigam is chalking out a plan under which a tubewell would be provided to the farmer with the guarantee of five years, for which he has to pay half of its cost and the nigam would pay the rest. The nigam would take care of any problem in the machinery for five years.

Gurgaon, January 16
An expo-convention centre will be set up in Haryana to organise trade fairs and a committee has been constituted to identify suitable land for this purpose.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced this while speaking at the inaugural function of three-day ‘Partnership Summit 2008’ organised jointly by the Haryana government, Union ministry of commerce and industry and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Gurgaon today.

The Union commerce and industries minister Kamal Nath, who was also present on the occasion, announced a contribution of Rs 15 crore from his ministry to enable Haryana to set up the expo-convention centre.

While addressing the conference, Prime Minister of Hungary Ferenc Gyurcsany, the chief guest of Partnership Summit 2008 expressed satisfaction at the modernisation of the Indian industry as per the international market, but stressed that the skills of the manpower engaged in the industry need to be focussed. He stated the credibility of Indian products were increasing day by day due to their quality.

He said that on every platform in Europe the success stories of Indians were discussed to motivate the people of that country. He revealed that globalisation is benefiting both the developed and developing countries.

Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath said India is known for its diversity in culture, but at present the major diversity is in the income of population in the country. He stated the country is expected to have 9 per cent GDP in the coming years, but on the other side we have a population of 100 million, which earn less than one dollar a day.

Chandigarh, January 16
An application filed by a rape victim from Ferozepur Jhirka in Mewat district has not only brought the CBI's functioning under the high court scanner, but has also raised a vital legal issue.

In her application, the victim has sought permission to withdraw the petition initially filed by her for CBI investigation to bring the accused to the book on the grounds that the premier investigating agency was harassing her. The application has been filed after the handing over of the case to the CBI.

Taking up the application, Justice T.P.S. Mann of the high court has observed: The petitioner has filed the present application under Section 482 of the CrPC with prayer for withdrawing the main petition for the transfer of investigation.

"It may be worthwhile to mention that on November 9, 2006, the main petition filed by her was allowed and the investigation was handed over to the CBI. It would be debatable as to whether after allowing the petition and passing the final order, this court has jurisdiction to recall the same and permit the petitioner to withdraw the main petition".

The Judge added: “Counsel for the petitioner prays for some time so as to study the relevant law and the subject. The matter is adjourned to February 29".

In her application, the victim had earlier claimed that the CBI's action was not satisfactory. She was unnecessarily being harassed and was called for narco test, along with the finger print test.

She had added that the CBI had colluded with the accused and was, in fact, treating her as an accused. The investigating agency was, rather, not fair and wanted money through illegal means.

The petitioner had added that otherwise also the purpose behind seeing CBI probe had been served after the summoning of five other persons as accused in the matter.

Earlier, during the proceedings, CBI's superintendent of police, and a deputy superintendent of police submitted a status report to the court in a sealed cover. The CBI claimed that steps had been taken by it for fixing the identity of an accused. A month's time was also sought to complete the probe. The case dates back to October 2004. The petitioner was allegedly kidnapped and raped repeatedly by the accused at different locations and kept in illegal confinement

Chandigarh, January 16
The Haryana prisons department has taken a number of steps to further improve the functioning of prisons.

Director-general, prisons, John V. George said here today that warders and head warders would be deputed on duty daily through draw of lots in view of complaints regarding corrupt practices in prisons and the connivance of jail staff members with prisoners and also in view of the continuous duty of jail staff at one place.

George said a new system was being introduced to enable visitors to meet prisoners. Under this system, entry passes bearing the photographs of the visitors would be issued so that complete details of the visitors could be recorded in the computer. The prisoners could get registered the names of five or six relatives and friends so that their visitors might not face any difficulty in meeting them.

In case any other person whose name had not been registered by the prisoner happened to visit the prisoner, their meeting would be arranged with the permission of the jail superintendent.

He said the meeting of visitors with family members of the prisoner, who might also be in jail as prisoners, would be arranged without the alphabetic system, but their meeting would be arranged only twice a week.

The visitors had also been prohibited from supplying cooked food to prisoners. However, they could give ghee and packed items like biscuits and fruit to the prisoners.

Committees would be constituted to ensure the effective management of the canteens in the jail complexes. Prisoners would be able to deposit up to Rs 1,000 with the superintendent per month and in turn could purchase items of up to Rs 250 per week from the jail canteen.

He said storekeepers for jails would be selected through the lottery system for three months, after which a new storekeeper would assume charge.

George said a committee would also be constituted to bring rations from the store for prisoners and cook meals for them. Its term would be for three months.

In all big jails where the number of prisoners was 1,000 or more, there would be a separate kitchen for 500 prisoners.

In those jails where the number of prisoners was 500 or 600, there would be a separate kitchen for 250-300 prisoners. He said that out of 13,135 prisoners in 19 jails of the state, 20 to 25 per cent of them were illiterate.

Hisar, January 16
A deputation of residents of Budhlada in Punjab, led by their legislator Mangat Ram Bansal, met the SP here today seeking arrest of all accused in the alleged murder of Poonam.

The deceased was the daughter of Ashok and was married to Vikas, a resident of Barwala in this district.

Poonam’s body was found in a canal near here a few days ago. Her two-year-old son Nonu is untraceable since his mother’s death.

Ashok alleged that Vikas and his parents had been harassing her for dowry after her marriage, three years ago. They had even yielded to their demand for a motorcycle and cash gifts on her husband’s insistence.

He said the Barwala police was not taking up the case seriously and had arrested only the victim’s husband. He also demanded that his grandson be traced immediately.

The SP gave them assurance that there would be a fair investigation under his own supervision. Later, Bansal said he would meet Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Chandigarh tomorrow to apprise him of the facts.

Rewari, January 16
War widows of the martyrs of the 19 Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment as well as ex-servicemen of the same battalion from various parts of Haryana and Rajasthan participated in an ex-servicemen’s “Meet of the Battalion” held here today.

The Rezang La Shauriya Samiti (RLSS) extended assistance to the ex-servicemen in organising the meeting.

Col Virendra Vats, commanding officer of the battalion, was the chief guest. Colonel Vats interacted with the serving as well as retired personnel of the battalion. He said it was a matter of pride for all of them that the battalion was awarded a citation plaque by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Deepak Kapur, at a special function held yesterday in Delhi in appreciation of its outstanding, valiant and dedicated services rendered in curbing the insurgency of ULFA militants in the border region of Tinsukhia in Assam from June, 2006, to September, 2007. He added it was all the more creditable that 19 Battalion was the only battalion of the Kumaon Regiment which had won the unique honour for the second time in a row during the past decade.

The battalion was awarded the citation plaque in 1999 as well for its dedicated and efficient services provided in curbing militancy in Jammu and Kashmir during “Operation Rakshak”.

In order to gain first-hand knowledge of their problems, Colonel Vats had a one-to- one interaction with ex-servicemen present at the meeting.

He also announced some sops, which included the provision of free college and university education for the girl children of the martyrs of 19 Battalion as well as free schooling for one son each of the martyrs and ex-servicemen of the battalion at the Army School at Ranikhet (Naini Tal). He gave an assurance to recruit physically fit sons of the martyrs and ex-servicemen of the battalion.

Colonel Vats also presented a cheque for Rs 5,000 to the RLSS by way of financial assistance.

As many as seven war widows of the martyrs of the battalion were honoured by Colonel Vats and his wife Namita Vats on the occasion.