Yamunanagar, February 11
A naib tehsildar and nine others have been booked by the police for an alleged land scam in Shampur village here.

A resident of Pinjore had committed suicide last year after he came to know that he was cheated of several crores by the naib tehsildar and the others.

The case was registered under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and section 13 (1) of the CrPC after a team of the Chief Minister’s flying squad investigated the matter.

Naib tehsildar Bahadhur Chand and the others had allegedly sold 50 acres of shamlat (common) land to Ram Chander of Pinjore. Ram Chander later came to know that he had been cheated and committed suicide.

His son Gurmeet had told the police that Ram Chander had sold his entire property to buy the land and could not stand the shock of being cheated and ended his life.

Charan Kaur, wife of Ram Chander, had made a complaint to the Chief Minister regarding the land scam.

Mandoli (Yamunanagar), February 11
“My son telephones me in the morning and informs that his Sanju bhaiya is formally tying the knot with Manyata bhabhi in Mumbai today. Finally, good things are taking place in the family. We are very happy. The marriage took place a few days ago in Goa when Sanjay was shooting for a film there. Manyata is a wonderful woman and will make an excellent wife to Sanjay Dutt.”

Som Dutt, uncle of bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, said this when asked why he was not in Mumbai to attend the ceremony.

He was in Mandoli village (native village of Sanjay Dutt) today with his wife Puneeta Dutt. They distributed sweets to celebrate the occasion in the village. Villagers too joined the celebrations.

“We are all happy”, said Hukmo Devi, a villager. The Dutts hope that the newlyweds would soon visit the village.

“Life in the film industry is very busy. Even the late Sunil Dutt did not know for months in a row where Sanjay Dutt was and which film he was shooting for”, said Som Dutt, brother of the late Sunil Dutt.

The Dutts said good things had now started happening in the family. “Sanjay was released from jail, Priya Dutt had her second child and now we have a bride in the family”, said Puneeta Dutt. His uncle and aunt would be soon going to Mumbai to bless the couple.

Regarding Manyata, Puneeta Dutt said, “She is a very homely type. She had touched our feet when we had met her in Delhi during a book release function.”

“Our children are busy these days but they have respect for their elders”, said Som Dutt adding that “I know Sanjay Dutt smokes, but he has never smoked in front of me and always stubs out the cigarette, the moment he sees me.”

Fatehabad, February 11
In what could prove to be a setback to the pulse polio campaign in this district, an infant died after he was administered polio drops at Kulan today.

However, the health authorities, while admitting that polio drops were administered to the victim, have maintained that the child died due to pneumonia.

The authorities have begun investigation in to the matter and sealed the vial from which the polio drops were administered to him.

According to reports, father of the child Jagseer Singh, a resident of Roopanwali village in this district, was waiting for the bus to Fatehabad with his family members at the Kulan bus stand, when a team of the Health Department approached him and asked whether their eight months old child had been administered polio drops.

When Jagseer Singh replied in negative, the health official administered him polio drops from a vial.

The condition of the child, according to eyewitnesses, started deteriorating within few minutes of taking the polio drops.

The parents rushed the child to the community health centre (CHC) situated at Kulan, but doctors declared him dead.

Dr A.P. Sodhi, deputy director, Health Services, Haryana, who is nodal officer of the district for pulse polio, however, maintained that the child was suffering from pneumonia for few days.

He said parents of the child were going to some doctor for the treatment of the child and were waiting for bus when his team accosted the family for giving polio drops to the kid.

He maintained that the child died of illness and not because of the polio drops. He, however, added that the vial from which polio drops were given to the child has been sealed and would be sent for testing.

Gurgaon, February 11
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) will initiate stringent action against industrial units violating pollution-control laws in their units.

This was revealed by HSPCB chairman A.S. Chahal while interacting with industrialists of the Gurgaon Industrial Association here today.

The chairman said directions had been issued to all district pollution-control officials to monitor the functioning of treatment plants in their areas.

He said they had also been asked to conduct surprise checks on industrial units and collect samples at regular intervals.

If any discrepancy was found in the samples, suitable action should be taken against those units.

He said in most small-scale industries, treatment plants had not been set up and where they existed, they were not in a functional condition.

He warned that now the board would take appropriate action against units not using treatment plant to control pollution.

He said the board had also taken measures to decentralise power at the lower level. Now, district-level offices had been empowered to issue an NOC up to Rs 5 crore.

Chahal said the board was also considering a proposal for setting up a common treatment plant for a cluster of small industries, which would be economical for them.

V.P. Bajaj, president, Gurgaon Industrial Association, stressed the need for setting up a waste hazard plant for the Gurgaon industries so as to dispose of their waste properly.

Bhor Saidan (Kurukshetra), February 11
Call it official apathy or sheer bad luck of 21 crocodiles that state wildlife authorities do not possess any data of the gender-wise breakup of the population of reptiles kept in the only crocodile breeding centre in the state for the past 28 years for breeding.

“No effort has ever been made to determine the gender of the reptiles,” said chief wildlife warden of Haryana R.D. Jakati. Water level had drastically decreased due to hyacinth and other weeds present in the pond and no de-silting work had ever taken place here.

Sub-inspector (wildlife) Ishwar Singh told The Tribune that due to severe cold this year, a large quantity of fish, meant for crocodiles, had reportedly died in the pond, but top officials claimed that everything was perfect at the wildlife park.

The department has also failed to determine the age of the reptiles claiming that the animals were here even before the department took over it in 1980. As many as three crocodiles died in the past one month due to age.

Located on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road on a six-acre land here, adjoining Bhureeshwar Temple ---one of the pilgrimage sites in Kurukshetra --- the crocodiles were believed to be brought by one of the ‘mahants’ of the temples in 1930s. In 1980, the panchayat gave the land to the state to start the breeding centre.

The convener of the International People for Animals (IPFA) and the chairman of the Haryana Chapter of the Animal Rights Organisation, Naresh Kadyan, has demanded the immediate closure of the park, adding that the crocodiles should be released in forests.

A female crocodile laid about 150 eggs and such places should be well protected from poachers as an egg costs about Rs 70,000 in the international market, he added.

“There is absolutely no point in running crocodile breeding centres as it is not an endangered species. Moreover, instead of providing protection, the ill-equipped Haryana wildlife authorities are posing threat to the lives of the reptiles,” Kadyan said.

Jakati said owing to the space constraint, successful efforts had been made to stagnant the breeding by not providing the required climatic conditions.

“We have stopped regulating temperature artificially around crocodiles’ eggs during its breeding days, between March and April, so that the eggs do not mature,” he added.

When The Tribune visited the centre, black patches were found around the water body, which confirmed that grass and other vegetation was burnt on its banks. Jakati blamed the lower staff for not informing him about the conditions of the centre.

“I cannot go everywhere and certain staff members do not work to create an unsavoury atmosphere against their superiors,” he rued. The weeds would soon be cleared from in and around the water body, he added.

Hisar, February 11
Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) has developed three promising varieties of different crops.

These varieties are bajra hybrid HHB-197, field pea variety HFP 9,426 and wheat variety WH-1025.

Disclosing this here today, university vice-chancellor J.C. Katyal said the seed sub-committee of Haryana had released these varieties for general cultivation in the state. He said these varieties would prove a boon to farmers.

Highlighting the qualities of these newly developed varieties, director of research B.S. Chillar said the HHB-197 variety of bajra performed well under rain as well as irrigated conditions and was quite responsive to advanced production technologies.

It was capable of yielding 50 quintals per hectare of grains and 100 quintals per hectare of fodder, he said adding that being early maturating varieties, farmers can harvest crops within 68-72 days.

Equally, the HHB-197 variety is the only hybrid that is tolerant to downy mildew, smut and ergot diseases.

He said the field pea variety HFP-9426 gave higher seed yield of 16 quintals per hectare. It is resistant to powdery mildew and tolerant root rot disease. Its seeds are green, round and bold.

The wheat variety WH-1025 has been recommended for cultivation in the state under rain and low-input conditions.

Dr Chhillar said the university would supply their foundation seeds to the seed agencies of the state. — PTI

Panipat, February 11
With the arrest of five members of a gang, the Karnal police claims to have solved 100-odd cases of theft of electricity transformer equipment from Karnal and adjoining districts.

The police has recovered 26 quintals of coil and one quintal of iron plate from their possession. The members were arrested from Gharaunda, near here, last night.

A white Indica car (HR-26-Q-2977) used by them in the crime was also impounded.

The police spokesman said the gang members had confessed to stealing the coils and other metallic items from transformers in Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts.

The accused have been remanded in police remand for five days by the illaqa magistrate.

Chandigarh, February 11
Amitabh Bachchan’s fans, who may be fuming over Raj Thackeray’s recent outburst in Mumbai against the aged actor, will be sorry to know that their icon has apparently lost his spell over politicians of all hues and not Raj Thackeray alone.

Conversations with two young politicians of Haryana about the problems recently faced by Bachchan in Mumbai from Thackeray and his supporters brings to the fore Bachchan as a political entity who is hand in glove with Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, cabinet minister of Haryana and member of the generation kept spellbound by the blockbusters turned out by Bachchan in his heyday, admits to having seen “Deewar and all those movies” but says an emphatic “no” on being asked whether he considers himself an Amitabh Bachchan fan. “No, I do not consider myself a fan of Bachchan”, he says categorically.

Abhey Chautala, INLD heavyweight and younger of the two sons of party supremo Om Prakash Chautala, has no hesitation in proclaiming himself a Bachchan fan.

The running feud the actor is having with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, coupled with the fact that he has thrown his weight behind the Congress party’s adversaries in UP, has ensured that Surjewala distances himself from being called a Bachchan admirer, however much he may have enjoyed watching Bachchan’s movies in his youth.

The tribute being paid by Abhey Chautala to the actor is also not free from politics. The Samajwadi Party and the INLD are partners in the UNPA.

The senior Chautala was actually present in the rally recently organised by the allies in Mumbai which, according to some reports, had some bearing on the recent violent events in the city.

Surjewala, despite his “Amitabhesque” air, shows no sympathy to the actor for the problems he is facing in Mumbai.

Bachchan, Surjewala says, is not only an actor anymore as he has openly thrown himself with a party. “He cannot be both at the same time (actor and politician)”, he says.

Abhey Chautala, who, incidentally, does not have the air of being a Bachchan fan, says the actor has taken Indian cinema to new heights and has come to be known even internationally.

“It is very bad to trouble a person who is such a great actor”, he says.

Chandigarh, February 11
The Haryana government has launched an ambitious scheme for setting up of community tanks so that optimum use of water can be made, especially in the arid areas.

A sum of Rs 25.20 crore has been earmarked to implement the scheme during the current financial year.

While giving this information, Haryana agriculture minister H.S. Chatha said the farmers were being motivated for diversification of crops in the field of horticulture so that they could get remunerative prices of their produce.

While giving the details of the scheme, Chatha said under the National Horticulture Mission a provision of 100 per cent subsidy had been made on setting up of community tanks under the component of water resources management.

A sum of maximum Rs 10 lakh would be given to irrigate 25 acres of land under horticultural crops.

Keeping in view the non-availability of water, particularly in the dry spell, community water is the only alternative to irrigate the plants throughout the year.

Chatha said as many as 380 water tanks had been sanctioned in the state up to December 2007 and out of these 243 community tanks were also under construction.

He informed as many as 137 such community tanks had already been completed.

He expressed hope that after the implementation of the community tanks scheme, the horticulture crops would get a special boost in the state.

Chandigarh, February 11
Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai has said efforts should be made to popularise adventure activities of the National Adventure Club (India).

He has added that maximum participants from different parts of the country can show their talent in the National Adventure Festival.

Kidwai was speaking here last evening at the prize distribution function on the concluding day of the 14th National Adventure Festival.

It was organised by the National Adventure Club (India) from February 2 to 10.

Rohtak, February 11
Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai has exhorted the state farmers to form cooperatives to become self-sufficient.

He was addressing Chhotu Ram Jayanti Samaroh organised by the Chhotu Ram Memorial Trust here today.

Paying tributes to Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, Kidwai recalled that the late leader had set an example by enacting laws in favour of the farmers during the British rule.

The Governor said on the pattern of Maharashtra, the farmers should form their own cooperative units for arranging facilities like supply of agriculture inputs directly from the companies, storage, processing and marketing of their produce and setting up agro-based units.

“By adopting cooperative units, the farmers can directly avail the benefits of subsidy without any role of middlemen,” he said, adding that they could even open their own banks to meet their financial requirements.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram would be remembered as a messiah of farmers for saving them from exploitation of moneylenders and restoring their respect and dignity.

“Chhotu Ram was not the leader of any particular caste, region or religion, rather, he raised his voice for the welfare of society,” Hooda said.

He added that born in a poor family, Deenbandhu was well aware about the problems of the farming community.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government was committed to the welfare of the farmers.

Haryana finance minister Birender Singh, who is also the president of the trust, said Sir Chhotu Ram had created a new awakening among the farmers.

He, however, pointed out that 65 per cent population in the country was dependent on agriculture, whereas, only 6 per cent people depended on it in the developed countries.

Later, the Governor, alongwith Hooda and the finance minister visited the ancestral house of Chhotu Ram in Garhi Sampla village and interacted with his family members.

Hisar, February 11
Haryana Governor A.R. Kidwai said here today that since agriculture had become a commercial activity in the post-WTA era, scientists and farmers needed to change their perspectives accordingly.

He was addressing the opening session of a three-day workshop and training course on safeguarding intellectual property and agricultural technology licensing at Haryana Agricultural University here.

The workshop has been organised jointly by the directorate of human resources of HAU and the Michigan State University of the US.

Kidwai said post-WTA only those nations would find a place in the agricultural products markets, which maintain quality.

This could be achieved only if the agricultural scientists devised new technology and trained farmers to use it.

He emphasised the need for appropriate utilisation of natural as well as human resources for sustainable agriculture in the future.

He said India had no dearth of natural and human resources and scientists need to not only develop new farm technology but also produce professionally competent agricultural graduates to give India its due place in the world agricultural market.

The Governor lauded both HAU and the US varsity for collaborating on scientific issues. He said the workshop would prove to be a milestone in developing relations between scientists of the two countries.

HAU vice-chancellor J.C. Katyal pointed out that whereas agriculture accounted for 18.5 per cent of the gross domestic produce, the country was spending 0.4 of the GDP on agricultural research and education.

Yamunanagar, February 11
The Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan engaged in a movement to revive the Saraswati river for past several years, has welcomed the move of the Irrigation Department in inviting tenders for earth work and construction of pucca structures for reviving the Saraswati river from Mustafabad here to Murtzapur in Kurukshetra district.

President of the sansthan Darshan Lal Jain said it was a step in the right direction on the part of the Haryana government to solve the water problem of the state.

Regarding the move of diverting the water from the under construction Dadupur Nalvi canal to the Saraswati channel, Jain said it would solve the problem to an extent.

According to him, to solve the problem on permanent basis the government should contact the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO, Johdhpur), which has mapped the Saraswati paleao channels flowing in Haryana, to identify the spots along the Saraswati channel route where digging merits to be undertaken.

The ONGC had set up an ‘ONGC project (Sararwati)’, under which a deep bore was dug in Jaisalmer last year which is yielding 76,000 litres of fresh drinking water every hour.