Chandigarh, August 3
In view of the mushroom growth of polytechnics in Haryana, the state technical education department has come down heavily on institutions which do not comply with the mandatory norms laid down by the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).

The department received about 140 applications for opening new polytechnics this year by December 2007, the last date for receiving the applications. None of these applicants has been given approval till date to start the institute for the current academic session (2008-09), though 41 applicants were issued letters of intent (LOI).

When Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda learnt that so many people had applied for opening new polytechnics, he ordered the department to ensure that the quality of education was not compromised with under any circumstances.

Following the directive of the Chief Minister, the department constituted an expert committee to inspect all existing private polytechnics in the state to know if they had adequate infrastructure, laboratory facilities and the staff so as to impart quality education.

The committee found various deficiencies in several institutions. Show-cause notices were issued to the defaulting institutions asking them to explain why action should not be taken against them.

Another high-level committee of three additional directors, D.K. Gupta, Ram Pal Keshwar and K.K. Kataria, was constituted to physically verify the claims made by the defaulting institutions of having removed the deficiencies and also to see whether these institutions deserved extension of their approval.

Following the recommendations of the additional directors, a state-level committee headed by financial commissioner, technical education, Ajit Mohan Sharan decided to put three institutions in “no-admission category” for the current academic session. These institutions are Apex Polytechnic, Bidhai Khera village in Fatehabad district; RCM Polytechnic, M.P. Majra, Jhajjar; and Guru Nanak Polytechnic, Tohana.

The final decision in regard to the Shree Ram Mulkh College of Technical Education, Khura-Bhura village in Ambala district, was deferred and re-inspection ordered.

The committee also ordered a reduction in student intake in 13 institutions. The maximum reduction was 220 seats of the 300 seats in C.D.R.Z. Polytechnic, Beri village in Jhajjar district.

Impressed by the infrastructure and laboratory facilities of certain institutions, the committee increased the student intake in three institutions - the Shree Ram Institute of Technical Education, Mouli village in Panchkula district (120 seats), S.G.N. Polytechnic, Chourmastpur in Ambala district (120 seats), and Mukhi Polytechnic, Gohana (60 seats). However, the committee ordered reduction of 50 seats of mechanical engineering and electrical engineering courses of Mukhi Polytechnic.

Shree Ram Institute, which had opened last year, was allowed two new courses in automobile engineering and mechanical (tool and die) engineering with a student intake of 60 each. 

Sirsa, August 3
The state government has decided to provide compensation to victims of the July 18 Dabwali violence in which a Sikh was killed and more than 60 shops of dera followers were gutted in the Dera Sacha Sauda-Sikh clashes.

Deputy commissioner V. Umashankar told mediapersons here today that the government would pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of Harminder Singh, who died during a clash over “naam charcha”. He said in all 64 houses and shops of dera followers were burnt by the mob after the death of Harminder Singh.

The deputy commissioner said 13 families whose loss had been assessed at Rs 2 lakh or more would get Rs 50,000 each as compensation. Eighteen others whose loss had been assessed at Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh would get 25 per cent of the actual loss.

Twenty-three shopkeepers suffered losses ranging between Rs 20,000 and Rs 75,000 and they, too, would get 25 per cent of the actual loss.

Umashankar said one shop was found locked and hence the loss could not be ascertained. No decision had been taken with regard to nine other shops as the loss in these was found to be negligible.

Badhra (Bhiwani), August 3
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to upgrade Badhra as a tehsil headquaters and also to upgrade the Badhra civil dispensary to a 30-bed hospital. He was addressing a rally at Badhra in the district.

The Chief Minister said south Haryana had remained neglected in the matter of development, particularly in sharing of canal waters.

The people of this region had not got their due so far, he pointed out, promising that he would ensure that the region was given its due, not only in development but also in canal waters.

“Water will flow in southern districts of the state through the Hansi-Butana link canal, which has been constructed at a cost of Rs 360 crore,” he said.

Stating that electricity, water and education were important for speedy development and all-round progress of society, he said the government had given priority to these fields.

On the statement of Kuldeep Bishnoi, suspended Congress MP, that he was offered Rs 100 crore for voting in favour of the nuclear deal, the Chief Minister dared Bishnoi to disclose the name of the person who gave this offer and said it was merely a political stunt.

Regarding the demands of the area, he announced to set up a sub-yard at Badhra for providing cold storage facilities to tomato growers of this region.

Besides announcing to make Jhojhu Girls College a government-aided college, he accepted the demand for the construction of a bus stand at Badhra and a sports stadium in Kadma village. Deepender Singh Hooda, MP from Rohtak, chided opposition parties, mainly the BJP, for misguiding the people on national issues, particularly the nuclear deal.

Chief parliamentary secretary Dharambir Singh said the government had commenced new power projects at an estimated cost of Rs 23,000 crore and the commissioning of new projects would help improve the power situation in the state.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of an industrial training institute in Balali-Kalali village. He also visited Kanya Gurukul Panchgava and announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the gurukul.

Hisar, August 3
Officials of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) have been directed to call complainants randomly every day to enquire if their complaints have been satisfactorily attended to.

A spokesman for the nigam said here yesterday that the management had received complaints from consumers that their complaints registered at bijli suvidha kendras were not being attended to promptly and properly. In view of these complaints, officers had been asked to make the complaint handling system more efficient.

Accordingly, it had been decided that each assistant general manager would take up two complaints randomly daily and verify if the complaint had been attended to satisfactorily. He would in turn report to the deputy general manager concerned, who would then check with these complainants.

The DGM would also call at least one complainant and ensure if the complaint had been attended to. He would send his own and the AGM’s report daily to the general manager concerned, who would counter check randomly.

The general manager would in turn report to the head office of the nigam regularly for appraisal of the complaint management system.

The spokesman said the DHBVN had already computerised bijli suvidha kendras in all district towns where consumers could register their supply-related complaints. All line staff had been provided with mobile phones.

The nigam had asked the staff to be polite and explain to the complainant the reason for power cut or failure and estimated time of restoration of supply.

In order to make it easy for consumers to register complaints, the nigam had provided one single interface toll free telephone number (1912) for the purpose.

Yamunanagar, August 3
The two units of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant here have been unable to meet the target of generating a total of 600 MW of power every day due to the supply of poor quality of coal and tripping of the plant triggered by frequent damaging of various equipments.

The coal being used in the thermal plant is said to be of low calorific value than the designated.

Moreover, as the thermal plant has been unable to produce the required power, the generation cost has increased much more than the expected and has caused losses to the tune of Rs 26 crore so far. Besides, there are no equipments to measure how much coal the thermal plant was getting from mines. The performance of the unit 1 of the plant has been rated as much poor.

These facts came to light after a meeting of officials of the thermal plant headed by the managing director of the Haryana Power Generation Corporation, Sanjeev Kaushal, was held in the conference hall of the thermal plant here yesterday.

The meeting was attended by newly appointed chief engineer S.K. Bansal along with all senior officials of the plant.

In addition to it, the officials of the plant brought to the notice of the managing director that the thermal plant did not have the facility to check the quality of coal being used in the thermal plant. Therefore, there was no estimate of the transit losses and the quantity of the coal used to generate daily power.

The thermal plant was not taken over by the Haryana Power Generation Corporation from Reliance Energy because the performance guarantee test of unit 2 is yet to be completed.

The officials recommended that some of the Chinese engineers, who had come here, should be retained by the HPGC to look after the plant for about a year. Besides, the thermal engineer should be trained properly and the demand for shortage of staff should be fulfilled.

Rohtak, August 3
Different state-level as well as local organisations of chemists and pharmacists have opposed the decision of the Rohtak PGIMS authorities to discontinue the diploma course in pharmacy from the new academic session.

A joint meeting of the State Pharmacists Association, Rohtak, the District Chemists Association and the State Drug Manufacturers Association held here today demanded that the aforesaid course be continued.

“The course had been running successfully at the local PGIMS for the past about 43 years and had enabled thousands of youngsters of the region to get employment…as such, there seems to be no point in scrapping the course,” said I.D.Aghi, patron of the state chemists’ association, while addressing a joint press conference after the meeting.

The pharmacists maintained that the PGIMS was the only government institution in the state offering a diploma course in pharmacy and they would not allow the course to be abolished.

They refused to accept the PGIMS authorities’ assertion that the diploma course in pharmacy had been discontinued in the wake of the introduction of the B.Pharmacy course from the last academic session at the institute. The PGIMS authorities have maintained that the diploma had been upgraded to a degree course and not abolished.

Later, a delegation comprising Rohtak-based representatives of various organisations of pharmacists, including State Pharmacist Association president Anil Parmar, Satish Katyal, Tarsem Jain, Subhash Dua, D.P. Sharma, Shami Verma and Gulshan Batra, submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in this regard.

Chandigarh, August 3
Farmers in the region will suffer heavy losses because of the blanket ban by the government on export of non-basmati paddy, in order to strengthen the supplies in the domestic market. Farmers are now demanding that the government ban only those varieties in non-basmati that are required for public distribution.

The paddy growers in the region are unable to cash in on the prevailing high global prices of paddy and forced to sell in the domestic market at lower prices.

These paddy growers will suffer losses not just this year, but also in the next season as the prevailing domestic prices, and not the high global prices, will be the basis on which these farmers sell their produce next year.

Jagtar Singh, a paddy grower in Karnal, says that the government should identify the paddy varieties like PR 106 and IR 8, which are required for public distribution, and continue with the ban on their exports. “However, the hybrid variety of paddy and Sharbati, which fetch a good price in the international market, should not be banned. As of date, we are getting just Rs 30 per kg in the domestic market, while the price in the global market is Rs 48 per kg. Before the ban was imposed, we were getting almost Rs 40 a kg in the domestic market, but the prices have come down after the ban was imposed,” he said.

With the government having fixed the minimum support price of non-basmati paddy at Rs 850 per tonne, the superior varieties of non basmati, too, will sell at this rate. This will cause huge losses to the farmers.

Vijay Setia, president of the All India Rice Exporters Association, said, “The government should balance its act so that farmers benefit from globalisation. The current policy of total ban on non-basmati exports and a Rs 8 per kg export tax on basmati is going to spoil farmer’s income. Since rice traders, millers and exporters plan their sales and purchases as per the prevalent government policy, under the present scenario, all premium non-basmati varieties will be treated at par with varieties meant for public distribution”.

He suggests that the government should immediately withdraw export tax from basmati varieties and fix quantitative limit for non-basmati exports. “The minimum export price can be used as a tool to control the outflow of rice and maintain proper domestic supply,” he adds.

Chandigarh, August 3
Poor persons can now avail themselves of quality treatment in private hospitals. The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has framed policy guidelines for providing free treatment to them at hospitals set up on land given at concessional rates.

Under the policy, 20 per cent of the outdoor patients will be treated free of cost in all such private hospitals which have been provided land by the authority. Under the policy, 10 per cent beds will be reserved for indoor patients from weaker sections and the authority has made it mandatory for the hospitals to maintain records and registers of the beneficiaries.

Chief administrator, HUDA, T.C. Gupta said the terms and conditions of the policy had been circulated to all its administrators for immediate implementation.

Gupta said the policy of treatment of poor patients at hospitals given land at concessional rates was consequently placed before the authority at its meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Any person having a BPL card, class IV employees of the state government or undertakings or any other person having a monthly income not exceeding Rs 5,000 would be classified as belonging to weaker section of society and would be entitled for treatment.

The patients entitled to these concessions may be referred by the CM, the health minister, the civil surgeon or the nodal officer of the district or the Red Cross Society after approval by the president-cum-deputy commissioner.

Chandigarh, August 3
The Haryana State Dental Council has issued notice to all dental surgeons registered with the council to undergo continuing dental education (CDE) courses offered by CDE providers, who are approved by the Dental Council of India (DCI) for the purpose.

A spokesman for the council yesterday said as per the statutory guidelines issued by the Dental Council of India, it had become mandatory for the dental surgeons from June 1 to undergo continuing dental education (CDE) courses.

He said all registered dental surgeons would have to accomplish 100 CDE points in five years, 20 points of CDE per year. It would be essential for them to achieve a minimum 15 and a maximum of 25 CDE points a year in order to continue pursuing the profession of dentistry.

He said all dental surgeons registered with the council were also required to inform the council about their having undergone and obtained CDE points every year in a self-assessment pro forma duly filled in by them in the format prescribed by the DCI at the end of each assessment year beginning from June 1. 

Sirsa, August 3
Dera Sacha Sauda followers have announced to organise a protest march tomorrow with the deadline to arrest those responsible for Dabwali riots and repair of the Dhukianwali Dera ending today.

Warning of strong reactions issued by the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha in case any of their representatives was arrested or the wall of Dhukianwali Dera was repaired has put the authorities in a tricky situation.

The Action Committee and Youth Welfare Federation of the dera had reportedly organised a demonstration in the town on July 28.

They had handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner serving an ultimatum to the authorities to meet their demand by Sunday or face an indefinite dharna from August 4.

“We will hold a protest march tomorrow in which thousands of dera followers will pass through markets of the town,” said Ramesh Chahal, spokesman for the Youth Welfare Federation of the dera said.

“We had appealed to the authorities to arrest those responsible for Dabwali and Dhukianwali violence by Sunday, but nothing has been done so far,” he alleged.

Talking to mediapersons in Gurdwara Dasham Patshahi here, Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa, president of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha, appealed the authorities to maintain the status quo in the area.

He also warned the authorities against arresting innocent Sikhs in the Dabwali riots and Dhukianwali Dera case. He alleged that the police had arrested an innocent person, Gurdeep Singh, from Dhukianwali village.

Deputy commissioner V. Umashankar, however, exuded the confidence of resolving the entire tangle amicably.

“The authorities have made adequate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident in view of tomorrow’s demonstration by dera followers and all issues will be resolved in a day or two,” the DC added. Meanwhile, Ved Parkash and Rakesh Kumar, members of the 25-member committee of the dera, today appeared before the Dabwali SHO in response to the notice issued to the dera.

In a notice served to the dera under Section 160 of the CrPC, the police had required the attendance of dera representatives in the case of Harminder Singh’s death.

“We have told the dera representatives that we have definite information that Gurdeep Singh, Darshan Singh, Jagtar Singh, Mander Singh, Harcharan Singh and Gurjant Singh, wanted by the police in the case of Harminder Singh’s death, have been hiding in the dera,” said Dabwali SHO Sheesh Ram. He said the dera representatives had neither admitted nor denied the fact and has told the police that it was difficult to find them in such a large area of the dera.

Jhajjar, August 3
Taking serious view of the incidents of damage to the statue of peasant leader Sir Chhotu Ram at Aheri village here, the district administration has issued an order that able-bodied persons will patrol streets from 8 pm to 6 am every day.

The aim behind the order is to prevent any loss of human life, public and private property and disruption of peaceful atmosphere and safety in the jurisdiction of the district.

A copy of this order has been circulated to all tehsildars, block development and panchayat officers, local bodies and panchayats in the district. The order will come into force with immediate effect and remain effective for the next three months.

According to the order issued under Section 3 (1) of the Punjab Village and Small Town Act (VIII) of 1918, the gram panchayat constituted under the Gram Panchayats Act, 1994, would be responsible for patrolling and ensuring the performance of patrolling as envisaged in the Act.

The Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM), district development and panchayat officer (DDPO) and block development and panchayat officers would make sure the regulation of requisite patrol through the village panchayats.

Two incidents of vandalising Sir Chhotu Ram’s statue have already occurred in the village. On July 10, the statue of Sir Chhotu Ram installed in the Chhotu Ram Memorial was damaged by some persons. Villagers lodged a written complaint in this regard, but no arrests were made. Later, on July 25, the damaged statue was immersed in the Ganga river in Hardwar. The new statue of Sir Chhotu Ram installed in the Chhotu Ram Memorial by villagers was also damaged within a couple of days.

Kaithal, August 3
The arrest of Guhla block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) in a corruption case by a team of State Vigilance Bureau on Friday has evoked a strong reaction from the public, including sarpanches, panches and office-bearers of some organisations.

The BDPO was caught red-handed while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from the sarpanch of Dera Bajigar in Guhla subdivision here Amarjit Singh.

The official was produced before CJM Ajay Parasher, who sent him to a 14-day judicial custody.

A large number of representatives of panchayats yesterday told deputy commissioner Vikas Gupta that the official had become victim of a conspiracy and he was known for his honesty. They alleged that the complainant had been facing an inquiry, which was being conducted by the BDPO.

Jind, August 3
Four members of a family of Kalwa village here were booked under the Dowry Act after a young married woman committed suicide last night.

The victim aged about 19 years had come to her in-laws’ house for the first time after her marriage, which took place six years ago. She was minor at the time of marriage.

According to police reports, the deceased identified as Bhateri Devi, daughter of Harikesh of Kaithal district, got married to Azad of Kalwa village here when she was just 13 years old.

The relationship was solemnised along with the marriage of her elder sister, who had been married to Pappu in the same family.

It is stated that Bhateri committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling in the house when her husband refused to take her along to the PGIMS hospital, where her elder sister had been undergoing treatment. She was alone in the house at the time of incident.

The police has registered a case under Section 304-B and 43 of the IPC against the husband of the deceased and three other members of the family, including her mother-in-law and a brother-in-law. No arrest has taken place so far.

Faridabad, August 3
Smugglers involved in ferrying of beef and slaughtered cows allegedly opened fire at a police party pursuing them in Ballabgarh area here today.

Though the police personnel did not receive injuries on the account of firing, two of them were injured when the dumper, in which the criminals were ferrying beef and skinned cows, banged into a PCR van.

The Gau Raksha Samiti, a voluntary organisation, informed the police about the smuggling. The dumper was coming from Mewat and was heading towards Delhi.

The heavily armed criminals opened several rounds of fire at the police and escaped in a car after abandoning the dumper.

However, before escaping they banged the dumper into the PCR van. The driver and an ASI received minor injuries. The van was totally damaged in the incident. They also left the car behind.

According to the police, 10 tonnes of beef and some skinned cows were recovered from the dumper and the car.

According to president of the Gau Raksha Samiti Ashok Malik cows were slaughtered in a number of villages in Mewat and beef smuggled out to Delhi.