Fatehabad, August 21
Farmers from Gorakhpur village, whose land the government intends to acquire for the upcoming nuclear power plant, have threatened that they would not allow any government functionary to enter their fields for a survey or any other purpose.

A large number of women today took positions near the “Karan Singh Ki Dhani”, which falls on the land for which a notification has been issued by the government under the Land Acquisition Act.

Wielding lathis, the women warned that they would not allow anyone to come near their agriculture land. Some others were holding “gandasas” and other sharp-edged agricultural implements.

Farmers maintained that they and their ancestors had been tilling the land for generations and now the government wanted to separate them from this land.

They said they would be rendered landless, in case the government succeeded in its plan to acquire their land.

While womenfolk have been holding the fort in the village, male members of their families have been sitting on an indefinite dharna outside the local mini-secretariat since Wednesday.

The state government published a notification for acquisition of over 1,300 acres agriculture land of the village for the plant being set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

Earlier, land from the nearby Kumharia village was to be acquired for the plant, which was initially named as Kumharia Nuclear Power Plant.

However, a team of the NPCIL that visited the area selected Gorakhpur land due to its strategic location near the Fatehabad branch of the Bhakra Canal.

The farmers, who have announced that they would not allow acquisition of an inch of their land, today declared that they would not allow entry to any government officials in the land sought to be acquired.

“Teams of villagers, including women, have been constituted to guard the “dhani” where the land notified is situated. They will stand guard and
will stop the entry of government officials to the place,” said Om Parkash Mehta, a former sarpanch of the village.

Meanwhile, the villagers are sore over the fact that no government functionary has cared to contact them though they have been sitting in dharna for the past three days.

Local leaders of the INLD as well as the Haryana Janhit Congress have been visiting the dharna site to convey their support to the agitating farmers.

Chandigarh, August 21
Rainfall over the last two days and excess water flow caused a breach in the Markanda river while over 2,000 cusecs of water spilled over from the Zahidpur dam on the Krishnawati river to inundate Narnaul town and the surrounding agricultural land today.

The Markanda river, passing through Shahbad and joining the Ghaggar at Gulha, too, is also flowing to near-capacity and is being monitored for any increase in water level.

Sources in the Irrigation Department said a breach on the Markanda river took place this afternoon south of the Naraingarh-Sadhaura road near Kurukshetra. However, while the “abadi areas” are safe, the water flowed back into the river owing to the gradient without causing any damage. The situation is under control in the area and the breach, too, is being plugged on a war footing.

However, the Markanda river which is at present carrying 40,000 cusecs of water could pose a flood threat in the districts of Kurukshetra and Kaithal if the water level goes beyond 50,000 cusecs owing to rainfall or sudden discharge of water. The department officials are keeping a close watch on the situation.

The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Irrigation, SS Dhillon, said though the situation was completely under control, some pockets along the course of the river are especially vulnerable even at the 40,000 cusecs mark. “However, since the Markanda empties into the Ghaggar, we are not overly worried because the latter is not carrying too much water,” he said, adding that rivulets of the Markanda river were also flowing to capacity.

Heavy rainfall in Sikar district of Rajathan has flooded the two seasonal rivulets, Dohan and Krishnawati, flowing through Narnaul district. This has resulted in the spilling over of 2,000 cusecs of water in the adjoining fields as also flooding of Narnaul town. The department maintained that there was no damage from the spillover and the water level had already begun to recede.

Meanwhile, owing to the heavy rainfall in Rewari over the last couple of days, water has accumulated in many parts of the town, causing hardship to the residents and resulting in power failure which is adding to their woes.

Chandigarh, August 21
The Punjab and Haryana High Court believes women have stormed into yet another male bastion - corruption.

A Division Bench of the High Court has categorically ruled, contrary to the earlier perception, that the fair sex is no more fair in its dealings; and is certainly not immune to corrupt practices.

The observations on women and corruption came on an appeal against reversion orders filed by an assistant sub-inspector with the Haryana police.

Taking up ASI Bimla Devi’s appeal against the state of Haryana and other respondents, the Bench of Justice MM Kumar and Justice AN Jindal ruled: “The menace of corruption is spreading even among employees of the fair sex, as is illustrated by this case”.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Kumar asserted: “There was a time when it used to be believed that employees belonging to the fair sex do not indulge in these types of practices. However, that belief has also suffered a setback on account of such illustration”.

Bimla Devi had challenged the punishment of reversion from the post of sub-inspector, after being chargesheeted for accepting illegal gratification. The allegations were proved in a regular departmental inquiry, even as witnesses deposed before the inquiry officer that “they do not want to prosecute the complainant since ill-gotten money has been paid back to them”.

Turning down her initial appeal against the reversion order, a Single Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court expressed the view that the appellant had been treated lightly as punishment of reversion alone had been awarded to her.

As she again moved the High Court, the Division Bench dismissed her plea against the Single Judge’s orders. In its detailed order, the Bench ruled: “We are satisfied that the order of reversion passed by the authorities of the respondent state does not suffer from any legal infirmity and the view taken by the learned Single Judge deserves to be upheld. There is, thus, no merit in the appeal.

Yamunanagar, August 21
As many as 40 villages situated in the low-lying areas of Radaur, Jagadhri and Chhachhrauli subdivisions of the district were today put on flood alert due to rise in the water level of the Yamuna late this evening. The water level of the Yamuna increased at 8pm to 65,000 cusecs at Hathnikund barrage due to continuous rainfall in the catchment area of the river in Himachal Pardesh and also in Uttarakhand.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Sangwan, told The Tribune that the villagers of the low-lying areas were being informed about the water level of the Yamuna after every two hours.

Bahadurgarh, August 21
INLD secretary-general and MLA from Dabwali Ajay Singh Chuatala yesterday said farmers residing in the NCR region would be given Rs 1 crore per acre in lieu of their land acquired if the INLD came to power in the next Assembly poll.

Addressing a public meeting at Aasudha village here, he charged the state government with “ruining farmers” by acquiring their valuable land on “nominal prices”.

“The Congress had made tall promises about giving compensation to farmers equal to the market price of the land acqured from them, besides providing them employment if industrial units were set up on their land. However, the government has failed to keep the promises,” said Ajay Chautala, adding that the government was “conniving with capitalists” to render farmers landless.

Alleging that the state government as well as the Centre had failed on all fronts, he said the governments had particularly failed in controlling the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and had not been able to provide ample employment opportunities to the youth.

“People have been left with no option but to block roads following acute shortage of power and water in the state. The law and order situation has deteriorated and not a single day passes when major incidents of murder, kidnapping and robbery do not happen,” said the MLA, alleging that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was concentrating his entire attention on “minting money” instead of paying heed to the development of the state.

Chandigarh, August 21
With a view to further improving education facilities, Kaithal will soon have a university and a blueprint for it has been prepared.

This was stated by Haryana Public Works (Building & Roads) Department Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala while addressing a workers’ meeting at Kaithal today.

The minister said that proprietor of the Microsoft company Bill Gates would set up a centre in the existing Industrial Training Institute, Kaithal, which would be helpful for students who wanted a career in computer engineering.

He said 22 new courses had been introduced at the ITI, Kaithal. Surjewala said a hospital would also be set up at Kaithal to treat cancer patients which would have all the latest facilities.

He said 100 acres had been acquired for setting up a new grain market and a vegetable market in Kaithal.

The minister said a new bypass having three bridges would be constructed from Titram Mod to Kyodak. Besides, an overbridge would also be made near the new bus stand.

To save the town from floods, the Manas drain would be made of concrete at a cost of Rs 6.5 crore and the work would be completed soon, he added.

Hisar, August 21
Veterinarians and other employees of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Haryana, working under the Plan Scheme have not received their salaries since March.

Ram Phal Kundu, joint secretary of the Haryana State Veterinary Association, said here that this had affected a large number of officers all over Haryana. These included 34 officers posted in Hisar district.

Blaming the senior bureaucracy for its failure to allot the budget for the Plan Scheme in time, he said a similar situation was being faced every year. He said the employees were facing a financial crunch as they had to meet additional expenses on the education of their children in the first few months of the financial year.

Kundu said the Chief Minister had announced at a function in Sonepat recently that the government had increased the Animal Husbandry budget three times. However, even the higher allocations had proved insufficient for their salaries to be paid.

He demanded that the government release their salaries immediately and ensure that the funds were allocated well in time.

Sirsa, August 21
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh today appeared before the CBI Court through video-conferencing from the local District Courts in a case pertaining to the murder of scribe Ram Chander Chhatarpati.

The Dera chief arrived in the local courts at 9.50 am amidst tight security and remained there for about five hours to present himself before the CBI Court that recorded evidence of a surgeon and a radiologist at Ambala today.

The case was later adjourned to September 17.

The Dera chief also has to appear before the court on August 27 and 28 in case of sexual exploitation of a former sadhvi and on September 7 in connection with the Ranjit Singh murder case.

The security arrangements were tight in view of the recent threats to the Dera chief’s life. A large number of dera followers could be seen standing on both sides of the Barnala road in front of the court complex.

Karnal, August 21
While the Union finance ministry has turned down a proposal to link wages paid under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MANREGA) to inflation and a hike in daily wages is still under consideration, the Haryana Government has increased the daily wages of unskilled labourers to Rs 167.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dharam Vir Singh, who was here to preside over the grievances committee meeting, said Haryana was paying daily wages of Rs 167, Rs 172 and Rs 177 to unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers, respectively, which were the highest in the country.

The Union government had capped the daily wages at Rs 100 under MANREGA and states of Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala were paying that amount but Haryana was way ahead.

Singh said as the gap between the daily wages fixed by the Centre and the state had to be paid by the state government, the revised wages would not be applicable to workers engaged under MANREGA.

Singh said the process of allotment of 100-sq yard plots to poor under the Mahatma Gandhi Gramin Basti Yojana, which was halted due to panchayat elections, would be speeded up and the remaining 3.5 lakh eligible families would be allotted plots soon.

Replying to a question, he said a fresh survey had been launched to revise the list of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families to ensure that no eligible person would be left out.

Chandigarh, August 21
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has found fault with the way the Haryana Public Service Commission has been carrying out the process of recruiting lecturers in school cadre. Its advertisement inviting applications has not found favour with the high court. The advertisement had mentioned reservation of posts for both women as well as men.

The Bench comprising Justice M.M. Kumar and Justice Ritu Bahri has ruled: “The department concerned may direct the commission to issue a corrigendum by correcting the advertisement dated June 18, 2009.”

The reservation issue was brought to the high court’s notice by Ruchi Manglik and other petitioners. The Bench asserted 33 per cent of the posts have been reserved for women and 67 per cent for men for posts of lecturer in school cadre (group-B).

“The advertisement has specified the number of posts for numerous subjects. As per the terms of advertisement, for example in the subject of chemistry, out of the 21 posts meant for general category, 14 posts have been reserved for men and seven for women candidates. It clearly conveys the impression that reservation is not only for female but also for male (candidates),” the Bench observed.

Referring to the state’s reply, the Bench observed: “It conveys in unmistakable terms that any women having a higher merit would be entitled to be considered as a general candidate in their respective subjects and would be entitled to appointment if her merit is higher.”

“In other words, women could also exceed the limit of 33 per cent and if they are in merit, they are to be given appointment on any of the 67 per cent posts set apart for general category. There is, thus, no reservation for male candidates, but reservation to the extent of 33 per cent is to be made for the female candidates.”

The Bench ruled: We are of the considered view that this petition deserves to be allowed”. The Bench added the state has conceded the legal proposition. But to put any doubt at rest it would be appropriate to quote the principle of law laid down in Apex Court judgments.

Referring to the verdicts, the Bench asserted: “When selections and appointments to public offices are to be made along with post reserved for various categories, proper course required to be adopted is to first prepare the merit list of all the candidates without any regard to reservation.