Chandigarh, January 23
The Haryana government has decided to construct a 65.6-km long National Capital Region (NCR) water supply channel at a cost of Rs 225 crore to meet the growing demand of water for drinking, industrial and other purposes in Gurgaon and other proposed townships of the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) and SEZs by corporate developers in the area.

Haryana PWD and irrigation minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav here today said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would lay the foundation stone of this channel on January 28 at Kakroi village in Sonepat district. The construction of this channel would be completed by June 2009.

He said initially the channel would have water carrying capacity of 500 cusecs, but a provision would be made to increase its carrying capacity to 800 cusecs.

The channel would off take from Delhi branch and pass through the districts of Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar.

The channel would cross the Delhi-Rohtak railway line, National Highway 10, Kundli-Manesar Palwal expressway, KCB drain and Diversion drain no 8. He said the channel would be constructed in such a manner that it would not only prevent theft of canal water through siphoning, but also considerably reduce maintenance cost. — PTI

New Delhi, January 23
The Supreme Court today asked the centre to try to resolve the water dispute amicably between Delhi and Haryana to ensure that the people of Delhi do not suffer a water shortage because of the reduction of water flow by Haryana to Delhi.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and J.M. Panchal asked the centre to intervene in the issue.

Counsel for the Delhi government said Delhi faced an acute power crisis this season as it did not get its share of water from Haryana.

Counsel for Haryana, however, denied the allegations and said Haryana required water for drinking and irrigation and could not release water for Delhi at the cost of inconvenience to its own people.

The court, however, requested the centre to intervene and resolve the controversy as such disputes were not for the courts to settle and the dispute should be settled at the political level. — UNI

Gurgaon, January 23
After missing several deadlines, the much-awaited Rao Tularam Marg-Palam (RTP) flyover, which will make the journey from Delhi to Gurgaon signal-free, was thrown open to traffic today. This will reduce the distance from RTR Marg (Delhi) to IFFCO Chowk crossing (Gurgaon) by 15 km and the journey will take only 15 minutes as against 45 minutes to an hour earlier.

Although it is a toll road, commuters will not have to pay the toll for a few days till DS Constructions (DSC), the company that has built the expressway, gets completion certificate from RITES, the independent consultants.

Talking to Tribune, Vivek Suri, power project manager, said the usage of toll-free road was just like having a test drive before someone bought a car to check how comfortable it would be. But on a serious thought, he remarked that by opening this stretch, the daily commuter would be benefited in terms of time, money and energy used for driving on this road.

Another commuter, Anil Duggal, IT consultant, said with the opening of the expressway, his journey to Delhi would hopefully be cut by over 30 minutes. As he would be using the expressway every day, having a monthly pass would save him some money and the hassle of paying the toll daily.

An industrialist, who is a regular commuter on the highway, said along with unmistakable advantages of the expressway, there was also uneasiness about a few aspects related to safety along the 28-km-long expressway. He said there was concern over narrow exit roads to smaller destinations like Udyog Vihar and DLF. 

Chandigarh, January 23
The Haryana School Education Board has taken several decisions to improve the examination system.

Stating this here today chairman of the board Rajan Gupta said from the next academic session subjective- type examinations for the first semester would be held instead of the objective type on the pattern of the second semester as suggested by academicians. Gupta said it had also been decided to give equal weightage of 50-50 per cent to both semesters from the next session and the results would be declared on the basis of the combined performance and total marks obtained in both semesters.

The pass formula of the middle and secondary examinations would also be modified from the next academic session. In the secondary examination, there would be five compulsory subjects --- English, Hindi, maths, social science and science. The sixth subject would be optional and passing in that subject would not be compulsory. However, the examination of this subject would also be conducted by the board. According to the new pass formula for the middle class examination, it would be compulsory to pass in six subjects--- English, Hindi, maths, social science, science and technology and the third language. Merit would be decided on a total of 600 marks. After the implementation of the new formula, the candidates getting “re-appear” up to two subjects would be eligible for temporary admission to the next class. However, the candidates having “re-appear” in more than two subjects would be ineligible for promotion. He said that it had also been decided to teach the subject of environment along with general knowledge in classes VI to XII. It had also been decided to give temporary admission to the students of secondary classes who had not obtained 40 per cent or the plus C grade in maths and science to the commerce and science streams of class XI on the condition that they would improve their rating.

Chandigarh, January 23
An application moved by Haryana MLA Karan Dalal for the inspection of HCS selection records has reportedly opened the Pandora’s box.

Nine years after an advertisement was issued by the Haryana Public Service Commission to fill 67 vacancies in the HCS and allied services, the scrutiny of records carried out with the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s permission has resulted in startling revelations.

Petitioner’s counsel-cum-Haryana’s former advocate-general Mohan Jain said detailed information on the same was expected to be furnished to the High Court within a day or so.

Jain also refused to comment on alleged award of marks for questions not even attempted, increase in the awards of written test and after-attempts. He, however, made it clear that selected candidates were given liberal marks.

Apparently, the interview board members were aware of their lower ranking in the written tests.

The development is significant, as Dalal, in the writ petition, had alleged that the impugned selection was totally manipulated to favour relations of the then Chief Minister, Om Parkash Chautala, the then HPSC chairman, Dr K.C. Bangar, and the then DGP, M.S. Malik, along with other politicians.

Jain, appearing before High Court Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, had contended that the whole of selection was manipulated in utter violation of the rules, procedure and regulations prescribed for the purpose.

He had also placed on record a list of candidates with marks obtained by them in written test and interview. He had claimed that those having marks less than 536 in the written were given 76 to 90 per cent in the interview, whereas candidates with more than 536 marks were given less marks in the interview.

The HPSC had issued an advertisement on January 29, 1999, to fill 67 vacancies in the HCS and allied services.

The written examination was conducted from December 25, 1999, to January 7, 2001, and the final result of selections was declared on May 4, 2002.

Chandigarh, January 23
Haryana’s move to acquire land for extension of Surajkund Tourist Complex has hit a roadblock. Taking up a petition, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed Haryana’s notification vide, which it had initiated move to acquire land from private company Eros City Developers for extension of the complex. In its petition taken up by the Bench comprising Justice M.M. Kumar and Justice T.P. S. Mann, the company, involved in the business of real estate and development, had sought quashing of the notifications by Haryana for acquiring its land at Lakarpur village in Faridabad district.

The company was initially given land to develop Lakewood City in over 125 acre. Later, permission was granted to the company after it applied for change of land use for developing land into a hotel complex. The state government, subsequently, initiated move to acquire land on the ground that it was required for expansion and systematic development of tourist complex at Surajkund, which had assumed international importance.

Chandigarh, January 23
Haryana’s move to acquire land for extension of Surajkund Tourist Complex has hit a roadblock. Taking up a petition, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed Haryana’s notification vide, which it had initiated move to acquire land from private company Eros City Developers for extension of the complex.

In its petition taken up by the Bench comprising Justice M.M. Kumar and Justice T.P. S. Mann, the company, involved in the business of real estate and development, had sought quashing of the notifications by Haryana for acquiring its land at Lakarpur village in Faridabad district.

The company was initially given land to develop Lakewood City in over 125 acre. Later, permission was granted to the company after it applied for change of land use for developing land into a hotel complex. The state government, subsequently, initiated move to acquire land on the ground that it was required for expansion and systematic development of tourist complex at Surajkund, which had assumed international importance.

Taking note of contentions, the Bench ruled that the petitioner company was entitled to the cost quantified at Rs, 20,000. The Bench also held the impugned notification in the present case suffered from legal malice and directed that the notification regarding acquisition be quashed.

The Bench further directed Faridabad MC to furnish zoning plan to the company for enabling it to undertake construction activity in accordance with law. 

Faridabad, January 23
The District and Sessions Court has held four persons, including the husband, guilty in a dowry death case. It will announce the quantum of punishment on Monday.

Dil Chand had alleged to the police that his daughter, Harwati, was murdered by her husband and in-laws for not fulfilling their persistent demand for dowry.

According to the complaint, the victim was married to Fauju Mehak Singh of Alika village. Immediately after the marriage, her in-laws started pestering her for dowry. She was murdered on December 5, 2003.

The complainant alleged that his daughter’s in-laws wanted to purchase a plot in Palwal and were insisting that she bring a sum of over Rs 2 lakh from her parents. They were also demanding a motorcycle.

Those who have been held guilty are the woman’s husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law and  brother-in-law.

Yamunanagar, January 23
The police has registered a case of threatening, assaulting and hurting public servant while performing duty and causing damage to property against around 300 persons at Sant Nischal Singh Public School here yesterday.

Parents of students of the school had allegedly damaged the school property and the police had to resort to a lathicharge after a five-year-old girl, Khushi, was crushed to death under a school bus on the school campus. Another nursery student, Aastha, was hurt in the accident.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Nitin Yadav has asked the superintendent of police to enquire what provoked the crowd in the school. There was a complaint that certain police personnel did “something unexpected” which added to the anger of the crowd. The police registered the case against Daljit Singh, Rupinder Singh and around 300 other persons. 

Gurgaon, January 23
Radhika, a relationship manager with Royal Sundaram International Insurance Company, Delhi, was allegedly molested and looted by a taxi driver, from whom she had taken a lift today.

A case of snatching and molestation has been registered against the unidentified taxi driver. Radhika told the police that her husband after dropping her at Bristol Chowk went to his office. From there she took a lift from the accused. The driver allegedly took the cab to a lonely place in Sector 42 and snatched her bag, which contained her mobile phone, debit card, and Rs 25,000, after hitting her.

Chandigarh, January 23
If the news of yet another retired official finding a place in a state government commission saddens a conscientious observer, he can find some solace in the restraint shown by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda while proposing names for the Padma awards to be conferred by the union government on the coming Republic Day.

The previous Om Prakash Chautala-led state government’s act of offering post-retirement assignments to bureaucrats had drawn much criticism. But Hooda has certainly surpassed all past records as far as giving jobs to retired officers is concerned with bestowing his generosity on too many senior officers retiring from the service.

The latest beneficiary of Hooda’s generosity, however, is not a bureaucrat. A technocrat, R.P. Lather, who retired as a chief engineer of the irrigation department, was recently inducted as a member of the newly constituted Administrative Reforms Commission.

Terms and conditions of the appointments of Lather and other members of the commission are yet to be notified. In all likelihood Lather and academic D.R. Chaudhry will be permanent members of the commission getting fixed honorariums and other facilities from the government.

Prem Prashant and M.C. Gupta, retired IAS officers, will be the away members and will be compensated for their participation in the commission meetings.

Congress MLA Karan Singh Dalal is the chairperson of the commission.

A large number of bureaucrats (more than eight) will be retiring this year and the joke in the official circle is how all those reaching the age of superannuation will be “adjusted” by the CM so that the retired officers continue to get their perks and privileges.

In this atmosphere of cynicism, a glimmer of light, however, can be seen in the names recommended for the Padma awards. Despite suggestions by bureaucrats, who are ever alert to capitalise on such opportunities, the CM refused to recommend his father’s name for the coveted Bharat Ratna award. “It does not look good”, Hooda told when he was urged upon to recommend the name of his father, a member of the constituent assembly, for Bharat Ratna.

There was a demand for recommending the name of Hooda’s father, Ranbir Singh, for Bharat Ratna. Supporters of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal had demanded the top civilian award for the disgruntled Congress leader who gave resignation from the Assembly today with two fellow MLAs.

However, the fact is that Haryana has not recommended anybody’s name for the Bharat Ratna award and the Padma awards to be announced on January 26.

Hisar, January 23
Former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal returned home here today after remaining abroad for several weeks for his medical treatment.

He was given a warm welcome by his close aides, supporters and family members.

He refused to answer questions regarding his reported post-dated resignation from the Haryana Assembly, saying this was the time to devote all energies to the strengthening of the new political outfit they had planned to float.

He said he had not yet considered any poll alliance with any other political party should there be a mid-term poll to Parliament. Asked how many candidates his proposed party could field if there was a mid-term poll, he said he would answer that only when such a situation arose.

Meanwhile, his close associates said with the return of Bhajan Lal the proposed party would resume its activities in full swing shortly. The first priority was to set up units at all levels and appoint office-bearers.

Simultaneously, the party would try to energise its support base.