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Abuzz with migratory birds
Chandigarh, November 6 According to officials, so far six species have arrived from Siberia and Central Asia. The officials are hopeful that 100 odd varieties that used to flock the park few years ago, may be seen again. The Sultanpur Lake is the place around which the bird sanctuary had been developed. The lake is a picnic spot with boating facilitiy. As the lake has a good number of reptiles, it attracts a lot of migratory birds during winters. The sanctuary is the home to a large range of birds, both resident and migratory. Migratory geese and Siberian cranes spend the winter here. There are also the demoiselle cranes, ruddy shelducks, pelicans, flamingoes, bar-headed geese, gray lags, gadwalls, mallards, pochards, shovellers and teals. Local species include plovers, red-wattled lapwings, herons, cormorants, white ibises, spoonbills and painted storks. Other wildlife in the park includes blackbuck, nilgai, hog deer, sambar, wild dog or dhole, caracal, wildcat, hedgehog, mongoose, striped hyena, Indian porcupine, rattle/honey badger, leopard, wild pig, and four horned antelope. The Sultanpur bird sanctuary was one of the favourite haunts of the birdman late Salim Ali. Innumerable bird watchers come here to observe bird antics. There are hideouts, watchtowers and a museum for those keen on serious study. The winter months from November to March offer an excellent opportunity for the school groups, corporate houses, family groups and individuals to visit this renowned bird sanctuary and enjoy the weekend in the lap of nature. The shallow lake and scrubby woodland is an ideal get away. This park was established in 1972 and upgraded to a national park in 1991. Located just 50 kms from Delhi, on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, this reserve for the winged visitors has both winter and summer migratory birds like Siberian cranes, demoiselle cranes, ruddy shel duck, rosy pelican, mallard, pochard, teals, black winged stlit, greenshank, yellow and white wagtail, wood and spotted sandpiper northern pintail, long billed pipit, parakeets and many more. Other wild life includes black buck, hog deer, stripped hyena, antelopes and money.
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Maya turns the heat on
Gurgaon, November 6 At the same time, the BSP chief has underlined her poll strategy of making an attempt to polarise non-Jat voters, who form a sizeable chunk of the state electorate. Like the five BSP Lok Sabha nominees announced earlier, these three candidates approved by the party chief also come from the non-Jat segment. Mayawati had made her intentions clear during the rally held at Karnal in March this year by openly announcing that if her party came to power in Haryana, the state would get a non-Jat Chief Minister. Reaffirming her stance, she had chosen all LS candidates from the non-Jat segment. The BSP chief has put her foot down and sent out a clear message that her party was firm on its decision to go alone in Haryana, at least in the approaching Lok Sabha elections. Nonetheless, for the over-optimistic political observers, the BSP’s silence over two crucial LS seats of Bhiwani and Sirsa still leave hope of a possible tie-up alive. Though it appears to be a far-fetched possibility, but as they say, politics is a game of possibilities and no possibility could be ruled out in it. Going by the outcome of the past elections and assessment of psephologists, though the BSP is not likely to spring a surprise by wresting a considerable number of seats, it may affect the electoral prospects of the other parties, including the ruling Congress. Whether the BSP chief’s new social engineering formula especially crafted for Haryana succeeds at the ballot box office, still remains to be seen. However, by openly challenging the leaderships and think tanks of the other parties by taking the lead in finalising LS candidates, Mayawati has at least managed to put them on the defensive.
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Alternative road between Karnal, Delhi
Sonepat, November 6 The new road between Munak in Karnal district and Bindroli in Sonepat district will be 24 ft wide. The area on both sides of the road will be brick-lined and there is a proposal to erect iron railings on both sides of the common link area as a safety measure against any chance of the vehicle falling into the canals. According to superintendent engineer S.K. Lamba, the construction work of the CLC in Haryana has already been completed, but the construction work of the CLC in about 22 km length in Delhi territory is in progress which is likely to be completed by December end. Lamba said the main purpose to construct the new road was to maintain vigil over the uninterrupted flow of water in both these canals. The road will also be helpful in reaching the site without any problem in case of any breach or other unexpected incident, he said. Lamba stated that it would also serve as alternative route between Delhi and Karnal as well as in reaching to the villages located on both sides of the canals in Delhi territory and in Sonepat, Panipat and Karnal districts. The estimated cost of the road is around Rs 70 crore, which is borne by the Delhi government, he added.
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It ain’t easy to call Gurgaon cops
Gurgaon, November 6 This is the number that the city police has publicised for receiving complaints from citizens so that they could call or a leave message immediately in case of any crime. While launching the scheme few months back, the police had claimed that on receiving the calls on this number, its message would be immediately delivered to the department concerned and also to high officials. Action would be taken immediately and the name of person who informs the police regarding any criminal activity would be kept secret. However, on trying the number many times, the standard response one receives is that the destination is not reachable. Commissioner of police Mohinder Lal said, “We are still under trial and the numbers will start within a week where people can send their messages.” On the other hand, joint commissioner of police Manjit Singh Ahlawat mentioned that they had started this scheme 15 days back and message could be left on dialling 100, which would be responded back immediately.” “This has been started by Airtel and Relience and we are in process of starting this service with other operators too,” he added. According to sources, the police started the SMS service a year back but they have been unable to fulfil all requirements. The numbers provided by the police either do not work or being issued in the name of others. The police had few months back announced to start a new intelligent policing scheme, which would help to stop the crime in the city and also to keep in touch with the residents in case they face any problems. It was also said anyone going out of the city could message ‘locked house’ with house address on that number and security guards would be kept outside your house for that night. The police had also claimed that they had full details of mobile users in the city and would be informing the public regarding natural disasters, roadblock and even change of routes. A local marketing engineer Kapil had a bad experience with the local police. He said, “One evening, I was going on my bike and four boys came to me and asked for way. Suddenly, one of them brandished a pistol and took away my cash and mobile. I got a passerby’s mobile and tried calling up the police helpline number but it was not working. Then I called up 100 where they lodged my complaint but it was of no help.” While Kapil had a bad experience, Sonam, who works in a call centre, had a pleasant experience. “One day while returning home, I noticed two boys following our cab. I immediately called up 100 and was pleasantly surprised to see the police reaching in time for help”, she said while adding she does not have any idea about the SMS service available on a police helpline mobile number.
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In dire straits
Karnal, November 6 The potters, commonly known as “kumhars”, are facing acute financial problems due to the decline in demand for earthenware pottery on one hand and reluctance of the government to allot land to them for the excavation of earth. Land was allotted to the potters way back in 1947, and the government issued a revised notification in 1991, directing the panchayats to allot up to five acres to potters but only 20 to 30 out of over 6,700 village panchayats have made such provision. Earlier, such issues were settled in khap panchayats which are now reluctant to allot land and are passing the buck to the government, says Bhagat Ram Kandewal, vice-president of the Haryana Kumhar Sabha. The potters belong to poor and backward class with low literacy rate and almost nil employment in the public sector and as such the onus to save this community from impending doom is on the government, he maintains. “Our children are shy of writing their casts and are using other surnames to hide their identity and turning away from the family avocation creating an identity crisis,” laments a potter from Tawari. The community is upset over the indifferent attitude of the government and is planning to come on the streets to get their demands accepted. The sabha has given representations to all governments and chief ministers during the past 18 years, but to no avail. Besides the allotment of land in every village by the government instead of panchayats, the demands included special reservation in educational institutions and concrete measures for the promotion and propagation of art and craft of pottery.
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Spurious pesticide makers beware
Chandigarh, November 6 Senior officials in thedepartment informed that a huge casualty of the traditional basmati crop had been reported in the state because of white backed hopper and grasshopper attack. It is estimated that of the 11.15 lakh hectare area under paddy cultivation, the plant hopper attack has damaged crops on 1.12 lakh hectares. Though the farmers had been using the requisite dose of pesticides, their standing crops fell prey to these pests. “This has prodded us to ensure that the pesticides supplied to the farmers are of high quality,” said the officer. The department has now rated the pesticide manufacturing/supplying companies into four categories (A,B, C&D), depending on their performance in the state during the past five years. The companies with the worst performance have been categorized as D and the enforcement staff has been asked to draw 40 per cent samples from their stocks. For the companies in other categories, 20 per cent samples from their stocks have to be drawn and tested. The department has also decided to increase the strength of the notified insecticide inspectors from the present 102 to 323 and fertiliser inspectors from 82 to 185. These inspectors will now have to draw samples from stocks of each and every company operating in the state. Flying squads have also been constituted for checking the premises of these companies. Besides, the department has decided to establish a new state pesticide testing laboratory at Panchkula, which will be commissioned by the end of this financial year. There is a laboratory at Rohtak, whose pesticide analysis capacity has been increased from 2200 to 3300 samples per annum. With the new laboratory in Panchkula, the state will have a capacity to analyse 4400 samples a year.
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Encyclopaedia of state’s culture
Hisar, November 6 According to the encyclopaedia’s editor Shamim Sharma, when all the six volumes are out by January next year, this would the most exhaustive publication about all aspects of Haryana. Sponsored by the state government, the encyclopaedia is being published by Vaani Prakashan, a Delhi-based publishing house. The first volume covers subjects that include Haryana’s long and ancient history of music, sculpture, gurukul tradition, lifestyle and culture, festivals, places of worship, saang, ragni, jogi and snake charmers. It also provides detailed information on state’s rich tradition of drama and dance from ancient times right up to the advent of Mallika Sherawat in Bollywood. The archival section includes old forts and palaces, havelis and bawris. This volume introduces readers to various personalities who have made mark in various fields. They include Pandit Jasraj, Johrabai Ambalvi, K.A. Abbas, Yog Joy and Raghu Rai. The pictorial volume will include rare pictures covering all aspects of the state. It will have over 600 pictures contributed by late Yog Joy, famed lensman, Ragh Rai, Ranbir Singh and Om Parkash Kadian. Sharma says she has roped in 250 writers to provide a peep in to the state’s history and present. She says over 500 educational institutions, 800 corporate and business houses, 150 departments and 2,500 individuals are involved in the project. When complete, this will be the first such exhaustive publication about any state in India. The first two volumes were released by Governor A.R. Kidwai and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on the Haryana day. Governor A.R. Kidwai and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda release the first volume of Haryana
Encyclopaedia.
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An endless wait for revised wages
Chandigarh, November 6 After an announcement by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on the floor of the House in March about pay parity with the doctors of Punjab, the mood in the medical fraternity was upbeat. However, the delay in its notification and implementation is beginning to stir some frustration. Stuck at the final stage, it was given a go ahead by a committee chaired by the Chief Minister in August this year and subsequent clearances by the finance department in the first week of October. “However, instead of a notification, these recommendations have now been routed to a four-member committee headed by the chief secretary, causing frustration in the HCMS cadre. In mid-October, at the state executive committee meeting in Fatehabad, the HCMS doctors decided to submit conditional resignation to the president for onward submission to the government if our demands were not met,” says president of the HCMSA Vijay Kumar Dahiya. This move was stalled after the Chief Minister assured a state-level delegation that they would be given better scales than Punjab, as already declared by him. The government doctors in the state were getting pay scales equivalent to their counterparts at the centre and in Punjab before implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission in 1996. “Unfortunately, on implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission in the state, the scales of the HCMS doctors were down-graded. Also, the number of assured career progression (ACP) was kept at two, on completion of five year and 11 year instead of three at four years, 9 years and 14 years in Punjab,” Dahiya explained. The doctors are also sore that the second ACP at 11 years was restricted to only 20 per cent of the cadre. This means that on an average the HCMS doctors get a second ACP only after 20-22 years of service instead of eleven years. He maintained that the HCMS doctors are drawing nearly Rs 10,000 to 12,000 per month less salary as compared to their counterparts in Punjab for last 13 years. Also the non-practicing allowance is on an average of 15-16 per cent instead of 25 per cent as in Punjab and even at
PGIMS, Rohtak. “These anomalies have not been removed despite repeated assurance by various governments and our cadre is shrinking because of this shabby treatment meted out to us. Almost one-third of cadre strength of HCMS doctors are lying vacant and fresh doctors do not join service even after selection” he maintained. The only apprehension the HCMS doctors have is that if their anomalies of the Fifth Pay Commission are not removed before implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, they would not be able to get scales at par with Punjab, when the Sixth Pay Commission is implemented there.
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Farmers reap profits as Pusa 1121 prices soar
Sirsa, November 6 Pusa 1121 variety fetched a price of up to Rs 3,400 per quintal in the local grain market early this week although the prices cooled down a bit. The prices of basmati varieties, though these are not produced in this area, range between Rs 2,800 and Rs 3,200 per quintal, according to Gurdial Mehta, a former president of the local Beopar Mandal. The prices of the Muchhal and Sugandha varieties have also showed an upward trend. The prices are much higher than the expectations of farmers, millers as well as traders, who are all perplexed at the sudden rise. “It is not the real hike but a created one,” maintained Radhey Sham Jindal, president of the Rice Sheller Association, Sirsa. “We fail to understand the reason behind this sudden spurt as these are not in accordance with the deals made by exporters recently,” Jindal added. He maintained that the exporters had entered into deals for $1,100 per tonne in the international market before the start of the season and the recent deals have been made at $1320 per tonne. Given the fact that they have to shell out $200 per tonne towards export duty, they are not left with any margin by purchasing the paddy at the current rates. Nevertheless, farmers who had sowed duplicate basmati varieties in abundance this year are reaping a rich harvest. Meanwhile, most of the 12 millers of the town and 27 millers of the district have started milling of basmati varieties from this year. Earlier, the millers did not have the machinery to mill long grain varieties and milled parmal varieties only. “This year most of the millers have upgraded their machinery to make it fit for milling long-grain varieties,” informed Jindal. The benefit of the bonus declared by the government, meanwhile, is not reaching the farmers, who have sold their crops prior to the announcement of the bonus. “The millers had announced before the start of the season that they would not give any bonus on the paddy purchased without bill,” said a local trader, adding that the purchase without bills is more than than estimated and all this is done in collusion with the authorities,” he revealed. Surprisingly, the millers are benefitted the most from purchases without bills as they save on market fees while poor farmers, who are being denied bonus, gain nothing from such sales.
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Chaos rules Yamunanagar, Jagadhari markets
Yamunanagar, November 6 The situation has aggravated more in the absence of the traffic police. People also do not bother to follow traffic rules as the roads are almost jam-packed in the evenings and there is no check upon them. There are many offices, banks, educational institutions and eating joints in these markets. Visitors park their vehicles in front of the shops on either side of the roads. Neither the traffic police nor the municipal council has ever spared a thought to spread awareness among people or made proper arrangements. There is an urgent need to deploy traffic cops to control and organize the vehicular movement. In Yamunanagar, heavy flow of traffic is witnessed in model town market. People coming for evening walk park their vehicles outside the Nehru Park on the already congested road adding misery to the commuters. Markets along the Piara Chowk, Fountain Chowk, Meena Bazaar, Yamunanagar-Jagadhari road, Yamunanagar-Radaur road are also facing similar problems and lack of parking space. Jagadhari witnesses heavy rush on the roads due to its utensil’s market. However, commuters face hard time while passing through these roads. The situation also worsens in the pathronwali market and the railway road.
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Work on power project at snail’s pace
Karnal, November 6 The comprehensive plan for reduction in aggregate technical and commercial (AT and C) losses of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and the Dakshin Haryana Bijili Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) by about 15 per cent by 2011-12 would help save 700 MW of energy. The plan envisages reduction in combined AT and C losses of two power utilities from 29.32 per cent at present to 15 per cent in 2011-12. Talking to The Tribune, financial commissioner and principal secretary (power) Ashok Lavasa said the state had made a remarkable achievement by bringing down the intra-state transmission losses from 4.11 per cent in the year 2002-03 to 2.44 per cent during 2007-08 and targeted to bring down the losses to 2 per cent by end of current financial year. These losses stood at 36 per cent in 2001-02 and directions were issued to bring down the losses in a planned manner by adopting technical and managerial solutions. The technical solutions included ensuring shifting of consumer meters outside premises, creation of high voltage distribution system or aerial bunched cable-based system, augmentation of high tension and low tension lines, installation of new distribution transformers, bifurcation/trifurcation of lengthier and overloaded 11 KV feeders and replacement of worn out cables. Simultaneously, steps were taken to ensure proper meter reading, energy audit, timely distribution of bills, bill collection and disconnect supply of non-payers. The instructions regarding dealing with the cases of theft of power were made stringent in view of the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, and its subsequent amendments. Pilferage of power, inadequate and obsolete distribution infrastructure, inadequate collection efficiency, improper meter reading and non accounting of energy supplied to APL tubewell consumers are the main reasons for losses. He said it was observed that the losses of UHBVN stood at 34 per cent as compared to 26 per cent losses incurred by the DHBVN while the combined losses were worked out to be 29.32 per cent. The government had directed the UHBVN to reduce the existing losses to 28 per cent during current year, 22 per cent during 2009-10, and 17 per cent during 2010-11 and to 15 per cent during 2011-12. Similarly, the target fixed for the DHBVN is 22 per cent during current year, 19 per cent during 2009-10 and 16 per cent during 2010-11 and 15 per cent during 2011-12. The installed capacity of power projects was 4068 MW while the government had signed agreements with central government power utilities and independent power producers (IPP) for purchase of 4638
MW power.
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Ambala police complex dons new look
Ambala, November 6 Around two years back, the SP office was situated in a century old building close to the court complex in Ambala City. The building was later dismantled as it was declared unfit. Initially, the SP office was shifted to the police complex temporarily but later it was found that this complex is more approachable and suitable for public dealing. Now, the department has decided to keep the SP office in this complex parentally. A huge sized main entry gate is being constructed at the police complex. On both sides of the gate around banners conveying the message of brotherhood, communal harmony, unity and nationality are embossed. An artist has been engaged by the department to beautify the complex. Similarly, the police line ground is also being embellished with sculptures of various famous players of football and cricket. A few years back, two of the double storey buildings located in this complex were declared condemned but now these have been renovated in a fine way. All cells related to police department, including the women crime cell have been shifted to the new complex. SP Sibash Kaviraj said all basic amenities would be made available to the staff and the people visiting this office. He said recently a canteen had been set up. He said he was of the view that the gap between the police and public should be bridged. He informed that the DGP, Haryana, Ranjeev Dalal, would soon inaugurate this new police complex.
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Y’nagar industry seeks better facilities
Yamunanagar, November 6 Forty small-scale industries have been getting power supply from urban feeders as a result they have to face major power cuts, which means heavy losses in terms of production every year. “It is the duty of the HSIIDC to provide basic infrastructure to the industrial estates developed by it so that the power utility could arrange supply to the units as per industrial schedule. The corporation has not provided such infrastructure here. So the UHBVN supply power to as many 40 small-scale units from urban feeder, complains Paramjit Singh, who runs fabrication and engineering units here. He aggrieved at the fact that small-scale industries situated at industrial estate here have been put on double whammy. The stepmotherly treatment by the corporation to its plot holders has added to the woes of the industrialists. Similarly, industrialists Avinash and Vinod rue that the matter of concern is that “we have been getting power supply from Chandpur feeder which is meant for supply to the urban area. All this has created an anomaly that has been causing huge losses to the units here. The UHBVN usually imposes large power cuts on urban feeder as a result local units suffer. Rajesh Arora says the HSIIDC has spent Rs 84 lakh for electrification of the industrial estate developed in 2001 at Manakpur-Jagadhri, which is just 10 km away from here. Meanwhile, Hari Chand, manager, HSIIDC, Yamunanagar, says, “The local industrial estate was developed long time back and I have no information whether those days there was a provision of providing power infrastructure to industrial estates. But now we have been providing such facilities to new areas”.
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Power utility extends VDS till Nov 30
Chandigarh, November 6 The scheme would now remain open till November 30 next and no penalties would be charged from the applicants for regularisation of their unauthorised load. An official spokesman said here recently that the procedure of regularisation of unauthorised load had been simplified for the convenience of consumers. For regularisation of domestic and non-domestic load, the applicants would be required to submit the application and agreement form. However, the applicant would give an undertaking that he would abide by all the terms and conditions of the power utility. For regularisation of extended load up to an extension of 20 KW of load, there would be no need to submit the test report. The extended load would be regularised after having necessary certificates from the applicants. They would be required to deposit the consumption security, fixed connection charges etc. and the extended load would be considered as regularised immediately. The unauthorised load of the tube-well consumers would also be regularised on receiving the application and agreement form. The applicants, who had extended the existing electricity supply to the new bore, would also be covered under this scheme. In such cases no unauthorised use of electricity case or theft of energy would be initiated against the applicants and the supply to the new bore would be regularised as per instructions. The applicant would be required to submit a test report along with advance consumption security. The extension of load would be regularised with the existing system. However, if the existing system could not take up the additional load, the nigam would augment the system. In case, the capacity was not available with the feeding sub-station, the applicant would be asked to remove the unauthorised load. Referring to the procedure of regularisation of load of industrial category consumers, he said the applicants would be required to submit the A&A form, test report, advance consumption security and service connection charges for the extended load. In case of high-tension (HT) connections, the consumer should submit revised contract demand undertaking. The extension of load would be regularised with the existing system i.e. lines and transformers etc., if they could take up the extended load. If the existing LT system could not take up the extended load declared by the industrial consumers, the existing equipment or transformers would be augmented after observing the required formalities. In case, the capacity would not be available in the feeding substation, then the consumer would be asked to remove the extended load. And if the extended load causes a change in category of consumers from LT to HT, the consumer would be required to declare his contract demand and change to HT pressure of supply by completing all the related formalities. And if the extended load necessitated installation of metering equipment of higher rating, the consumer would provide the metering equipment if it was not available with the nigam.
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Ambala admn launches cleanliness drive
Ambala, November 6 “Main bus stand is a testimony of the fact that how garbage has become an integral part of the landscape here. So much so that it might make residents feel odd if it does not exist here,” comments a senior official. Though the garbage processing plant at Patwi, inaugurated recently, is a step forward in ensuring garbage disposal in an organised manner, the collection and disposal of household waste is still an issue to be addressed. Talking to The Tribune, local MC councillors assured that the matter was a priority and they would take it up in the house meetings. A recent initiative taken to spruce up few parks by the MC in Ambala Cantt has also run into rough weather with many councillors opposing the move and stating that no rules have been followed in allotting the tender. However, wherever one looks, one is welcomed by heaps of garbage. The bus stand opposite to the entrance of the railway station has thousands of visitors every day. Also despite the district being home to many from across the country due to the large presence of the Army, Air Force, Railways, postal service and BSNL head office, no special efforts are being made to keep the city clean.
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Movies This Week
Producer: Popcorn Motion Pictures Pvt Ltd. Emi, a satire that looks at the life of people in urban India opens this Friday at Fun-ambala City, Fun-Panipat, Cinemax-Panipat, Everest-Rewari, OHM-Sirsa, Liberty-Rohtak, PVT MGF, PVR Ambience, PVR Sahara, SRS OMAXE, ADLABS, DT City Centre, DT Mega Mall (All Gurgaon), INOX, SRS, SRS Prinstine, PVR Crown Plaza, Movie Time Movie Time City Mall, Cinemax (All Faridabad). What to watch out for: A bitter-sweet comedy based on the urban trends of incurring loans, Sanjay Dutt's performance, Saurabh Kabra's direction plus Chirantan Bhatt's music. EK VIVAAH AISA BHI
Producer: Rajshri Productions Young director's Kaushik Ghatak family film opens today at Payal-Gurgaon. What to watch out for:
The plot, lead stars performance, direction, unabashed celebration of music and love. — Dharam Pal
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