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Aravalli Range
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BJP Ticket to Swami
Beacon trouble for MP
CPM keeps options open
Venues identified for holding poll meetings
Fake IPS officer arrested
Two get life term for murder
Use public as eyes, ears: DGP to SPs
Villagers to boycott LS poll
530 students awarded diplomas
Swimming banned in canal
Lensman bags coveted award Probe sought
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Aravalli Range
New Delhi, March 18 “The CEC is of the view that the broad principles and recommendations made by it in its January 15, 2009, report with respect to Aravalli hills area in Faridabad are equally applicable in respect of Aravalli hills area falling in Gurgaon,” the report, submitted to the court yesterday, said. The committee, set up to review project proposals pertaining to forest areas across the country, said it had come to the conclusion after examining all relevant information and maps of 55 of the 58 villages in Gurgaon district. Amicus curiae Ranjit Kumar today told the three-member Forest Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan that Haryana’s mining department had accepted the CEC’s proposals for allowing mining activities in Faridabad. The CEC has suggested that mining should be restricted to an area of 600 hectares and extraction of minor minerals such as sand and stone used by the construction sector. In his day-long submissions, Kumar said mining and construction activities had blocked the flow of rainwater into the Badkal and Surajkund lakes, the two tourist destinations in the NCR region, drying up the water bodies. Justices Arijit Pasayat and SH Kapadia are the other two judges on the Forest Bench. The CJI suggested that the mine owners should be allowed to carry out mining only in a portion of the area allotted to them initially. Mining in other portions should be allowed only after they restore the mined area to its original position. Justice Pasayat said the court would not stop Haryana if it went ahead with implementing the CEC’s recommendations without waiting for any judicial order. However, this may not be possible for the state in view of the 2002 order of the apex court that had imposed a total ban on mining in the Aravalli region and the 2004 judgement. Under the CEC proposals, 600 hectares, located in two areas of Faridabad, and 1,500 hectares in Gurgaon would be earmarked for extraction of only minor minerals with a view to protecting the ecology such as ground water and environment. The CEC had been asked to suggest whether mining and construction could be resumed in the Aravalli region of Haryana and related modalities if these were to be allowed. Damdama, Ghamdhauj and Manesar are the three villages that were not covered by the Forest Survey of India due to inadequacies in the maps. The arguments by the Amicus Curiae, which remained inconclusive today, would continue tomorrow. |
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Violation of Poll Code
New Delhi, March 18 An INLD delegation, led by Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Singh Chautala, met the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami here this afternoon. Emerging from the meeting, Chautala told the media that the “INLD had submitted concrete and tangible proof” against the Congress-ruled state government. State INLD president Ashok Arora, Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh, Sher Singh Badshami, Rao Ajit Singh and former MP Kailasho Saini were part of the delegation. Chautala alleged Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, his ministers and parliamentary secretaries have been flouting the code of conduct and using the official machinery. He alleged that Congress MP Atma Singh Gill attempted to distribute Rs 40 lakh out of his MPLAD funds after the code of conduct came into force. Another compliant of the INLD was against the forcible painting of flags that looked like the Congress’ on the main gates and front walls of homes of about 7 lakh below poverty line (BPL) families in the state. He alleged such flags had been compulsorily painted on front walls of houses of all BPL families at the government expenses in all villages of the state to influence the voters in favour of the ruling party. The government’s justification about these Congress flags couldn’t be accepted, the INLD said. The INLD said the Chief Minister’s Office was working overtime to manage the election campaign of the Congress party. KV Singh, OSD to the CM, was openly addressing the public meetings, INLD leaders claimed. The INLD said charges against MLA Dura Ram had already been proved that he had publicly distributed a grant of Rs 2 lakh from his discretionary funds to a local society after the announcement of elections. The party also complained that the government continued its advertisement campaign on various modes of media even after the announcement of the LS polls. The INLD complaint said a large number of hoardings having the photograph of the Chief Minister, his son, other ministers, chairperson UPA were still continuing at various public places. |
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BJP Ticket to Swami
Karnal, March 18 Local RSS leaders had made it clear to the BJP that the ticket be given to some other candidate this time as Swami was not acceptable to a large section of the workers but it chose to renominate Swami, ignoring the sentiments of the cadre, a senior RSS leader said. Insiders in the party confided that the attempt of Swami to placate the RSS cadres had received a
cold response and he was both “upset and annoyed” over the indifferent attitude of a powerful section of
the RSS. The local RSS leaders are reportedly planning to pass a unanimous resolution, opposing the candidature of Swami and will decide the future strategy in case the party high command refuses to yield. A section of the RSS is so agitated over the allotment of the ticket to Swami
that it is not averse to fielding some suitable candidate with a strong RSS background to play spoilsport. Swami had lost from Karnal in the 2004 elections with a huge margin and did precious little to build bridges with workers who were not happy with his style
of functioning. He had shot into limelight by defeating a former Haryana Chief Minister from the Karnal Lok Sabha seat in the 1996 elections. He was defeated in the 1998 polls but avenged his defeat in 1999. However, he was again humbled in 2004 polls but his supporters claim that going by arithmetical circle, he must win
this time. |
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Beacon trouble for MP
Fatehabad, March 18 The authorities have served him a show-cause notice after they received a direction to this effect from the state election office. “The red light has since been removed from the MP’s vehicle and a show-cause notice has been served on him under the laws,” District Election Officer JS Ahlawat told The Tribune. RP Munjal, District Development and Panchayat Officer, Fatehabad, who has been appointed nodal officer for the implementation of the model code of conduct in the Ratia Assembly segment by the District Election Officer, has served a show-cause notice to Gill calling upon the MP to explain his position with regard to the reports of use of red light atop his vehicle by appearing before the District Election Officer in person or through a representative. The MP has also been asked to explain why action under the provisions of the election laws as well as for the violation of the prohibitory orders with regard to the use of red or blue light not be taken against him. Sources in the district election office said if found guilty of the violation, Gill could face legal action under the election laws, which include fine and even imprisonment. The action under the election laws was initiated by the Election Commission of India, the sources said. Gill, who is again seeking the Congress ticket from Sirsa, was earlier embroiled in a Rest House controversy at Narwana sometime ago. Now, he was allegedly found campaigning with a red light atop his vehicle by some Haryana Janhit Congress workers this Sunday and they had gheraoed his vehicle. The HJC had taken up the matter with the Election Commission. Meanwhile, District Election Officer JS Ahlawat has appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena as the nodal officer for the implementation of the model code of conduct in the district. Besides Meena, the district authorities have appointed District Development and Panchayat Officer RP Munjal, District Revenue Officer OP Verma and General Manager, Haryana Roadways, OP Bishnoi as nodal officers for the Ratia, Fatehabad and Tohana Assembly seats, respectively. |
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CPM keeps options open
Sirsa, March 18 This was stated here by Inderjit Singh, state secretary of the CPM, while addressing a convention of party workers. The convention was attended by over hundred activists of the Sirsa Assembly segment of the Lok Sabha constituency. He claimed that the Left parties would play a more significant role in the formation of a third alternative of parties other than the Congress and the BJP in the aftermath of the parliamentary polls. Presided over by Avtar Singh, the convention was part of a series of such meetings of workers that have already been held in the Narwana, Fatehabad, Tohana and Ratia Assembly segments of the Sirsa parliamentary seat. The CPM is contesting this seat while the CPI is to contest the Karnal parliamentary seat. The party has nominated Ram Kumar as its candidate from the Sirsa (SC) seat. Inderjit Singh claimed that the party had taken an early initiative in the formation of booth-level committees in all nine Assembly segments of the parliamentary seat. He clarified that it was not necessary for the party to support only BSP or HJC candidates and it could support independents too if they were found more suitable. |
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Venues identified for holding poll meetings
Karnal, March 18 Addressing a meeting of representatives of all political parties and the officials concerned here, Chander Prakash cautioned that holding of election meetings at places other than these notified places would attract strict action and violation of the instructions issued by the administration would be viewed seriously. The District Election Officer has also earmarked places for hoardings and display of publicity material and gave a list each of all such places to representatives of various political parties attending the meeting. Senior Superintendent of Police AS Chawla said adequate police force would be deployed at all polling booths to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in the district. As many as 1,258 booths have been set up for 12, 14,475-strong electorate in the Karnal parliamentary constituency, which includes 6, 69,050 men and 5, 54,425 women
voters. SONEPAT: District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner,
Sonepat, Ajit Joshi has notified 12 sites in different towns of the district for holding election rallies. As per the directions of the EC and the Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, City Magistrate Sumita Dhaka has been appointed the nodal officer for the implementation of provisions of the Haryana Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1989. |
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Fake IPS officer arrested
The victim, who is a lecturer in a university, has lodged an FIR against the imposter Abhishek Sharma, his father Sham Sunder, mother Daya Rani, brother Nitin Sharma, brother-in-law Deepak and a friend Sumit Goyal. Abhishek was produced before a local court today and was remanded to police custody for a day. The police is investigating whether other persons named in the FIR had any complicity in the crime. Abhishek propagated in May 2007 that he had been selected for the civil services and had got IPS with the Punjab cadre. He was honoured by several local organisations for bringing laurels to the town and was even called by some local educational institutions for sharing his experiences with their students. Attracted by his “new found position,” the victim fell in love with Abhishek and married him in a temple at Hisar in October 2008 without taking her kin in confidence as desired by the accused. But, she soon realised that she had been cheated and brought the matter to the notice of her parents, who lodged an FIR with the police yesterday. “I was apprised of the facts in December last year by my daughter, who wanted the accused to be brought to book, but it took me time as I was securing information about Abhishek’s claims from the Union Public Service Commission under the Right to Information Act,” said the girl’s father, adding it was not an easy decision to go for a complaint considering the social stigma involved with it. City SHO Ajay Sharma said a case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 376 and 120-B of the IPC had been registered against six persons and the police was investigating the role of others in the crime. “During investigation, I have found that some Abhishek Sharma from Jaipur had got 225 rank in the civil services examinations held in 2007, which the accused misused and started claiming that he had been selected to the IPS,” said Sharma. |
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Two get life term for murder
Rewari, March 18 In the judgement pronounced here yesterday, a fine of Rs 8,000 was also imposed on each of the two convicts. However, their third accomplice Subodh Mandal is still at large. He was previously declared a proclaimed offender by the court. The trio, Pramod, Shiv and Subodh, who were employed at different shops here, had hired a Sumo from a taxi stand here on August 28, 2005, for Jharkhand. Pooran Mal of Bithwana village was the driver of the vehicle which belonged to one Shiv Kumar. They reached the Batia Ghati area in Jharkhand in the night on August 30, 2005, where Pooran Mal was strangled to death after which the body was thrown at a deserted place. Thereafter, when they reached their village next morning, their blood-stained clothes as well as the possession of car made the villagers skeptical, who then informed the police. Consequently, the police impounded the vehicle and apprehended Pramod and Shiv while Subodh managed to escape. Subsequently, the body of taxi-driver was also recovered. After getting information in this regard from the Jharkhand police, the duo — Pramod and Shiv — were brought to Rewari by the
district police. |
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Use public as eyes, ears: DGP to SPs
Yamunanagar, March 18 In this procedure “public as eyes and ears of the police”, the SPs have been asked to train people from different domain, including vendors, citizen welfare associations, owner of the makeshifts shops, security guards, car-parking attendants, three-wheeler drivers, barbers, STD owners, bus drivers and conductors, mobile phone card dealers and also workers at petrol pump and use them as great intelligence information gathering sources. The orders were also send to the commissioner of police, Gurgaon, for its implementation. Giving details in his order, a copy of which was available with The Tribune, the DGP said the Delhi police had formulated the standing order titled “eyes and ears of the police. This contains various measures being adopted for gathering of information about criminals and also helps us prevent the terrorism like activities. This is a very useful instrument to strengthen the day-to-day policing. “The individuals of different fields would help us to find out the movement of criminals and terrorists from the railway stations, roads, pavements. These individual resourceful persons can also provide us the modus operandi of criminals”, the DGP said. “Besides it, the SPs have also been ordered to start special helpline so that anyone can directly pass on any information which would be useful to the police. |
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Villagers to boycott LS poll
Gurgaon, March 18 They feel that none of the Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha representatives has ever visited the village in the past 50 years. Thus they have decided not to vote this time as no one has thought of improving the structure of the
oldest village after which the cyber city has been named. Gurgram village lacks basic amenities. People here have to live without electricity and water. Besides, there is no sewarage. Although a sewer system had been prepared five years ago, it is not functional as yet. Sixtythree-year-old Dhanpati, the oldest resident of the village, said she came here when she was just 13 years old and according to her the condition of the village is almost the same as it was then. “I’m not going to vote this time. None of the representatives thereafter come here to manage and improve the things.” |
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530 students awarded diplomas
Gurgaon, March 18 Chairman of MDI Board of Governors and Member of Parliament NK Singh conferred the doctoral degree on eight students and declared them as Fellows of the MDI. He then awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Management to 530 students of various programmes at the MDI. Congratulating the students, Singh said, “No doubt they have difficult times ahead, but the skills learnt by them at the MDI will hold them in good stead.” Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, was supposed to be the chief guest on the occasion. However, due to sudden illness, he was unable to make it. Santrupt Misra, Director HR and Business Head for Carbon Black Business of Aditya Birla Group, delivered the convocation address on his behalf. |
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Swimming banned in canal
Sonepat, March 18 The DC has also directed the irrigation department to erect fencing on both sides of every bridge on these canals at a distance of around 25 feet from them. |
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Lensman bags coveted award Chandigarh, March 18 Sapru is a PRO with the Haryana government. This Photo Travel Circuit has been recognised by the Photographic Society of America. His four more photographs have been accepted in the same circuit, which would conclude next month.
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Probe sought Chandigarh, March 18 Elaborating, he alleged “regionalism and nepotism under the guidelines of his political boss - the Chief Minister”. The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta issued notice of motion for April 29 on it.
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Sirsa, March 18