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Day of bonanza for MLAs
Future lies with youth: Vohra
Experts suggest ways to combat power crisis |
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Debate on Budget
Question
Hour
Gurgaon water woes to continue
No move to raise retirement age: CM
Judicial services results declared
Sahitya akademi announces awards
15 birds found dead in fields
Aphid Attack
Judgement on Bhajan reserved
Huda Sites
Road blocked over labourer’s electrocution
Foot-and-mouth Disease
2 sadhus attack man, held
BKU holds rally
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Day of bonanza for MLAs
Chandigarh, March 24 INLD members today staged a walkout when the parliamentary affairs minister introduced the Haryana State Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2008, here today. The INLD members opposed the Bill saying that it had been brought to benefit particular persons. The Bill, which repeals the Haryana State Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Ordinance, which was issued on November 13, 2007, provides that the office of chairman, Haryana State Administrative Reforms Commission, should be included in the list of those offices of profit, the holders of which would not be disqualified from being an MLA. Congress MLA from Palwal Karan Singh Dalal had been appointed chairman of the Haryana State Administrative Reforms Commission and enjoys the cabinet rank. The ordinance was issued before he became the chairman. While the Bill was being debated, an amendment was moved to make the holder of the office of deputy chairman of the 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee immune from disqualification as an MLA. Haryana Congress President Phool Chand Mullana is the holder of this office these days. Later, the Bill and the amendment were passed by a voice vote. The House also passed the Haryana Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, which increased the additional pension for every year, or part, served by a member as an MLA beyond five years from Rs 600 per month to Rs 1,000. However, the part of a year should not be less than 90 days. The Haryana Special Economic Zone (Amendment) Bill was also passed by the House. |
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Future lies with youth: Vohra
Ambala, March 24 He was delivering the convocation address at SD College (Lahore), Ambala Cantt, today. He was the chief guest on the occasion. Vohra, an alumnus of the college, said he was extremely happy to be here today. “I am extremely happy to be back in my alma mater after 55 years. I am proud that I am here today as a former student of the college and not just because I held one or the other post while I was in government service in the years gone by,” he said. Recalling his student days, he stated: “I joined the college in 1949, the difficult period after the partition of India. At that time, the college did not have a proper building and a number of our classrooms were under tin sheds. All our senior faculty members, who had come from Lahore, were eminent persons and highly reputed in their respective fields. Not withstanding many shortcomings and constraints, some of the top positions in the university examinations were secured by students of the college. I have always been proud to have had the opportunity to obtain a degree with honours in English from the college.” He said the country looked towards young leaders of tomorrow to ensure that the spirit of competitive efficiency and increasing productivity spreads speedily to cover each and every sector of human and economic development. He stated that there was a conspicuous mismatch between what the educational system produced and what business, commerce and industries required. “It is necessary that very high priority is accorded to reforming the existing education system and undertaking time bound expansion to meet the demands,” he added. Holding the institutions responsible, Vohra said it was the duty of all educational institutions to devote systematic attention towards moulding the character of the youth to inculcate strong and lasting values and secular convictions in their minds. The principal of the college, Dr Desh Bandhu, read out the annual report and highlighted the college’s achievements in the past one year. As many as 719 students, including 34 postgraduates, were given degrees. Out of the total number of students, who received degrees this year, 409 were girls and 310 boys. General secretary, SD College Managing Committee, R.P. Vij, vice-president Ajay Kishan, joint secretary Dr R.C. Sharma were also present on the occasion. Vohra also unveiled a painting of Lord Krishna and released a book, “Women Consciousness and Indian Ethos”, edited by Dr Alka Sharma at the convocation.
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Experts suggest ways to combat power crisis
Rohtak, March 24 This was stated by D. Raghunandan, director, Centre for Technology Development, New Delhi, in his keynote address in the inaugural session of a state-level seminar on “Energy scenario in India: A future perspective” on the premises of the Government College for Women here today. The two-day seminar, organised by the physics department of the college, is being sponsored by the Directorate of Higher Education, Haryana. “The wide gap in the demand and supply of power poses a serious challenge to scientists, policy-makers and other functionaries working in the field,” the expert said, adding that a holistic approach involving technical, socio-economic and environmental issues was required to tide over the crisis situation. Raghunandan said in view of the present scenario, improved energy generation technologies, more emphasis on producing power from renewable sources, increased end-use efficiency, demand-side management and shift from private to public transport were the need of the day. Elaborating, he maintained that employment of technologies like coal gasification, combined-cycle plants, super-critical and ultra super critical devices, besides construction of energy-efficient buildings and other such means could be mid-term solutions. Prof Surinder Kumar, dean (academic affairs) at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) here, who was the guest of honour on the occasion, stressed that combating power thefts and other transmission and distribution losses could go a long way in reducing the demand-supply gap in the power sector. Asserting that coal was going to remain the dominant source of commercial power in the country, Prof Kumar pointed out that the scientists and technologists working in the sector faced an enormous challenge to develop more efficient technologies to generate power from coal. The physicist-economist exhorted the scientists to be more sensitive towards the social surroundings. He advised them to develop better and commercially viable ways of producing power using biomass and solid waste, besides tapping the immense solar energy. Earlier, the college Principal, Dr Ram Kirti Arora, explained the significance of the subject to the participants. The seminar was convened by department faculty member S.C. Sahni and coordinated by another lecturer Deepa. Ms Neelam Sheoran of the host department conducted the proceedings. |
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Oppn highlights power
shortage, farmers’ debt
Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 24 Unlike the first day of the debate which saw an “ill-prepared” Indian National Lok Dal give banal speeches on varied issues, Dr Sita Ram today said the Congress government had “attempted to give a good budget which had failed to live up to people’s expectations”. He said though revenue receipts were up, it was essentially due to VAT, stamp duty and collector rates. Maintaining that the INLD government had added to the power generated in the state contrary to claims of the Congress government, Dr Sita Ram said there was no power crisis of the kind being faced by people now. He said the present government has entered into an agreement for gas-based power despite knowing that no gas would be available till 2009 while suggesting solar energy to a greater extent. Stating that though crop production had increased in the state, farmers had to burn diesel in their fields to generate power since power supply was erratic. He said the quality of water used in the fields was not tested. Quoting from the CAG, he remarked that Haryana’s agriculture university was ailing and diversification had not been adopted for low pricing. He suggested that farmers should be allowed to sell their produce wherever they desired. Another important point he raised was that the Rs 3,510 minimum wages had remained confined to papers only and labour was drawing Rs 1,500-2,000 only, urging the government to implement it properly. He said the 5 per cent benefit to Scheduled Caste candidates had not been given to them in recent appointments of judiciary officers which should be looked into. INLD MLA Shahida Khan raised the pitiable condition of Mewat which, he said, was lagging behind despite getting the status of a district. He said there was “jungle raj” in Mewat, farmers were forced to commit suicide due to the debt burden, they were forced to buy fertilisers on the black market, water and power was a problem and the BPL list was a bundle of manipulations. He said Mewat did not have anything in the name of education which could be gauged from the fact that the district did not have a senior secondary school and guest teachers played truant. While Congress MLA Nipender Sanghwan emphasised that health services had virtually collapsed and doctors were unwilling to work in rural areas, he stated that another sainik school in Bhiwani would go a long way in meeting the needs of Army personnel and ex-servicemen. Anand Singh Dangi said unlike pervious Chief Ministers who made false promises, Bhupinder Singh Hooda openly admitted that there was a power crisis in the state while Sukhbir Jaunpuria said the strides in development after the Congress government took over were commendable.
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Overseas bureau managed only 11 placements
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 24 The question, which figured towards the end of the list of questions for today’s question hour, could not be taken up for discussion owing to time constraints. The written reply stated that more than 7,000 applicants had registered with the bureau. The 11 persons, helped by the bureau to get overseas jobs, got their placements in Dubai, it said. In reply to a question asked by INLD member Sita Ram on inspection of jails, the written reply of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said 464 inspections were made in various jails during the past one year. Thirtynine mobile phones were recovered during these checks, the CM’s reply said. The question also prompted parliamentary affairs minister Randeep Singh Surjewala to launch an attack on the previous regime for its alleged nexus with criminals. INLD chief and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was not present in the House. While Sita Ram tried to defend his party and accused the Congress regime of failing to control criminals lodged in jails, Haryana Congress chief Phool Chand Mullana wanted the detailed information about the previous regime’s links with the criminal elements to be tabled in the house. No such information was, however, presented but it gave another chance to Surjewala to again go after the INLD for the patronage allegedly bestowed on hardcore criminals by the government headed by Chautala. Finally, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is also holding the portfolio of home, got up and said Haryana was no more considered a safe haven for criminals. In reply to a question asked by Congress MLA Anand Singh Dangi, PWD minister Ajay Yadav replied that a proposal was under consideration to shift the headquarters of Madina water services subdivision to Meham. Some areas of Bond water services division, Bhiwani and water services division, Bhiwani, which formed part of Meham constituency, would also be attached to the proposed Meham subdivision, Yadav said and added that the new subdivision would be opened by June. Parliamentary affairs minister Surjewala assured Congress member Ranbir Singh Mohindra that the proposed subdivision would not hamper the existing supply of water to Bhiwani in any way. Despite transport minister Mangeram Gupta’s claim that all bus stands in the state were functional, Sushil Indora alleged that Julana, Bawani Khera and many other bus stands in the state were in a defunct state.
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Gurgaon water woes to continue
Gurgaon, March 24 Claiming this here today, deputy commissioner Rakesh Gupta said the repair work on the Gurgaon Water Channel was on and it was expected to be repaired by today evening. After the repair, water in small quantity would be discharged in the channel from Monday night itself so that the repaired portion of the channel did not collapse due to pressure of water on it. This water would be stored in water treatment plant at Basai, from where it would be supplied to all parts of the city from Wednesday. Till then, consumers of affected areas would have to rely on water tankers for their needs. He said he was in touch with Jhajjar deputy commissioner Vijay Dahiya, who was monitoring the repair work of the channel. The state government had directed the Jhajjar district authorities to prevent further disruption of water in the channel. The deputy commissioner appealed the general public not to waste water and use it judiciously. He warned that if any person was found selling water on higher rates by taking advantage of water scarcity in Gurgaon, stern action would be taken against the guilty. He urged the public to lodge a complaint against such persons in the control room or his office. The district administration had made elaborate arrangements to supply water in affected areas and 400 tankers from neighbouring districts had been requisitioned for the purpose. Gupta revealed that four control rooms had been set up by the administration where the consumers could contact for their water-related problems. |
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No move to raise retirement age: CM
Chandigarh, March 24 The Chief Minister was replying to questions of mediapersons in the press lobby of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. He said the state government had already provided Rs 1,500 crore in the budget of the state for 2008-09 for the implementation of the report of the Sixth Pay Commission. When his attention was drawn towards the statement of the union law minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj that he did not feel the need for a separate high court for Haryana, Hooda said he was in favour of the state’s high court in the same building and there had been no change in his stand. Asked to comment on the resolution adopted by the Punjab Assembly to rename the Chandigarh airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Hooda said he would be very happy if the airport was named after a martyr. However, he made it clear that he would not let the airport be renamed as Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport, Mohali, but had no objection to it being called Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport, Chandigarh. To a question on the problem of drinking water in Gurgaon city, Hooda said the Gurgaon canal was first breached on March 19, but it was plugged. It was again breached on March 22 and the issue was being investigated. He maintained that an FIR had been lodged against some persons on this issue. On the issue of byelections in two districts, he said the Election Commission had been informed about the two vacancies in the state assembly and there was a possibility of these byelections being held along with those of Karnataka in May.
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Judicial services results declared
Chandigarh, March 24 The roll numbers of candidates, not in order of merit, eligible for viva voce for the posts of Additional District and Sessions Judges in the state are 1007, 1074, 1109, 1498, 1186,1833, 1670, 1330, 1766, 1426, 1116, 1148, 1565, 1218, 1671, 1342, 1032, 1076, 1114, 1154, 1198, 1613, 1771, 1350, 1811, 1436, 1815, 1155, 1206, 1622, 1806, 1356, 1405, 1084, 1119, 1540, 1210, 1626, 1303, 1361, 1057, 1088, 1132, 1557, 1604, 1238, 1309, 1746, 1059, 1092, 1138, 1179, 1835, 1652, 1311, 1371, 1846, 1095, 1491, 1185, 1217, 1657, 1321 and 1372. The viva voce is likely to be held shortly and intimation regarding date, time and place would be provided to the candidates. A press statement by the High Court added that roll number 1604 had been included provisionally. He is being called for viva voce subject to the final decision concerning his eligibility. Meanwhile, the roll numbers of candidates belonging to the categories of in-service (out of turn promotion) are 1859, 1865, 1889, 1895 and 1897.
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Sahitya akademi announces awards
Chandigarh, March 24 Haryana education minister Mange Ram Gupta, who is also senior vice-chairman of the akademi, said 97 books in Hindi and haryanavi were received, out of which nine books were selected for awards. The books are Mei Ayodhya, a poetry book by Hareram of Faridabad, Amma Ka Chashma, a story book by Kamal Kapur of Faridabad, Khokhle Pedho Ke Shahar, a novel by Ashok Kumar Sharma, Machola, Dhai Natak, a play by Amritlal Madan of Kaithal, Aisa Desh Hamara, a children book by Ghamandi Lal Aggarwal of Gurgaon, Swatantratra Sangram Ki 51 Boonde, an essay book by Madan Lal Kapoor of Karnal and Haryana Ki Sanskrit Dharohar by Om Parkash Kadian of Hisar, Chah Chodhar Ki, a book in Haryanavi by Rajbir Singh Dhankhar of Rohtak and Sadabahar Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, a poetry book in Haryanavi by Mahenderpal Sarsvat of Pai. An award of Rs 21,000 would be given for each of these books. Four stories were also selected for awards while 24 manuscripts were selected for providing grant-in-aids, Gupta said.
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15 birds found dead in fields
Jind, March 24 The birds reportedly became a victim of poisoning caused due to pesticides used by farmers. Wildlife officials, who recovered the bodies of the birds, have sent the viscera for laboratory test after postmortem examination to ascertain the real cause behind the incident. The dead birds include a sparrow and duck. According to information, the spot where the incident took place is located in the vicinity of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. The security guard of the school noticed the birds’ bodies when he went for a routine stroll on the campus this morning. In a complaint lodged with the authorities concerned, he stated that the dead birds had been found lying in the nearby fields, which were watered by their owners last night. Sources said the birds had consumed water from the fields, which had got mixed with pesticides sprayed a day earlier, and died within an hour of drinking the poisonous water. A final report of the test is awaited. No case has been registered. |
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Experts rubbish liquor spray theory
Tribune News Service
Karnal, March 24 The vice-chancellor of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Dr J.C. Katyal, emphasised on the use of scientific techniques, including spraying of endosulphan insecticide, to combat aphid attack on wheat plants. He was today here to inaugurate “Rabi kisan mela”, which was organised on the 39th founder day of the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), where several informative programmes were organised for the farming community. “When insecticides are available then where is the need to spray country liquor or use any other unscientific technique,” he added. Dr Neeraj Kulshreshthta, wheat breeder at the CSSRI, said: “The insect leaves behind black secretion marks on plants and farmers should resort to insecticide for complete relief as it breeds very fast.” The deputy director, agriculture, Dr S.S. Dahiya, brushed aside the reports that liquor was used as insecticide in the district. He said the aphid attack was under control.
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Judgement on Bhajan reserved
Chandigarh, March 24 The absence of Bhajan Lal from the hearing had been indicated by him in a statement issued yesterday in which he had accused the speaker of being biased against him and his colleagues, Dharam Pal Malik and Rakesh Kamboj, who have already been disqualified. Kadian closed the evidence of Bhajan Lal today and reserved his judgement. |
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Auction put off following protest
Our Correspondent
Kaithal, March 24 The auction process began in Sector 20 of HUDA this morning. HUDA administrator Neelam Kasni and local SDM Hawa Singh were among those present. However, a large number of protesters reached the site raising slogans against the government policy of auctioning commercial sites. They said they could not get the shops and other sites in auction due to the high prices. Interestingly, only five persons had deposited the earnest money and three of them hastily withdrew from the proposed auction. Keeping in view the angry mood of the protesters, the administration postponed the auction.
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Road blocked over labourer’s electrocution
Yamunanagar, March 24 The body of the labourer, Chander Mohan (25), a resident of Chagnauli, remained struck in the wires for more than five hours. The body was brought down at around 7 pm when the SDM, Jagadhri, reached the spot and pacified the crowd. About 10 labourers were employed by the contractor to lay power cables in the area. As the news of the electrocution spread, villagers and acquaintances of the deceased gathered on the spot and blocked the traffic. The mob demanded that senior officials of the district administration and company, which was laying the cables, should reach the spot. Sources said the labourer died when he came into contact with live overhead cables. The incident took place around 3 pm. |
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Vaccination drive from today
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, March 24 This was stated by Dr O.P. Chhikara, deputy director (AH&D), here today. He said 41 teams had been formed to carry out the door-to-door campaign in the rural as well as urban areas. “Cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs will be vaccinated during the 15-day programme in the district,” Dr Chhikara said, adding that proper monitoring would be done by department officials to ensure proper vaccination, storage and handling of the vaccines. The deputy director has appealed to all animal owners of the district to get their animals vaccinated against the disease.
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2 sadhus attack man, held
Kurukshetra, March 24 Confirming this here today, district police chief Amitabh Dhillon said Swadesh Kumar, in a compliant lodged with the police, had alleged that he was injured when two sadhus attacked him from behind when he was strolling with his German guests on the bank of
Brahamsarover. The police has arrested the alleged accused. Condemning the incident, president of the Senior Citizen Forum Jagjit Singh Virk said the district administration should vigilantly take care of all religious places so that pilgrims and citizens could feel safe and visit these places fearlessly. |
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BKU holds rally
Ambala, March 24 National president of the union Bhupinder Mann advocated the farmers not to return the loan they had taken from banks. He said the BKU would fight the upcoming elections and would field their own candidates. He also announced Madal Pal Rana as the prospective candidate for MLA from Naraingarh. |
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