Yamunanagar, February 18
The state government has taken up the issue of illegal mining, especially in the area of Yamunanagar, with the government of Uttar Pradesh, said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today.

The Chief Minister told mediapersons here today that a written communication to this effect had been sent to Uttar Pradesh by the Chief Secretary of Haryana.

Hooda said there was no dearth of funds for strengthening the network of roads, but there was shortage of construction material because the Supreme Court had banned mining and the issue was pending with it. Efforts were being made to get the issue resolved as the Supreme Court was also being apprised of the situation.

When asked to comment on the formation of a separate Gurdwara management committee for Haryana, Hooda said the Chattha Committee had already submitted its recommendations which were being examined.

In reply to a question about theft of electricity, Hooda said steps were being taken to check this menace by launching a special campaign, and action was being taken on receiving complaints.

He said since the formation of Haryana in 1966 and till 2005 only one power generation plant had been set up. The power generation capacity of the state was 1,587 MW. During the last five years, the process to set up four new power generation plants was initiated and efforts were made to add additional generation capacity of 5,000 MW which would be available by the end of this year. Hooda said Haryana’s Land Acquisition Policy was the best not only in the country but also in the world where such policies are followed.

Various state governments were following this policy which was farmer-friendly. He said according to a new survey, Haryana was at the top in per capita investment and was second after Goa in per capita income.

He said Haryana was the first state where 18 lakh children in government schools were being given scholarships of Rs 500 crore per year. Foundation has been laid to give quality education and in days to come Haryana would emerge as an education hub. On house tax, Hooda said the government would try to ensure that the poor did not bear any burden.

When asked to comment on the budget for the next financial year, Hooda said it would be progressive and development-oriented and would also focus on the priority areas.

Sirsa, February 18
A 74-year-old widow, Sursati Devi, has been running from pillar to post to prove that she is still alive. The Social Welfare Department, which is responsible for the identification of eligible persons for all kinds of social pensions and their distribution, has not only discontinued her pension, but has also shown her dead in the official records.

The department has now asked her to give a proof that she is alive. Sursati Devi’s husband Sohan Lal died in January last year. Her grief compounded when the department discontinued her old-age pension, the only source of her livelihood, three months after her husband’s death. Since then she has been trying hard to get her pension released.

Now, the authorities concerned have told her that she is no more alive as per the records of the department. The department has maintained that they have taken this action on the recommendations of the village sarpanch. The Social Welfare Department has asked her to furnish an affidavit as a proof that she is alive so that they can proceed further in the matter.

District Social Welfare Officer Satyawan Dhilor said the actual payment receipt (APR) register of the department showed the word “dead” against the name of Sarusati Devi.

He maintained that the department deleted the names of the beneficiaries on the report of the sarpanch of Sarusati’s Sahuwala Pratham village. He said perhaps the sarpanch might have reported her “dead” at the time of her husband’s death.

He said he would get the matter inquired. Sarpanch Angrez Singh denied having sent any report of the woman’s death.

Chandigarh, February 18
The government’s recent closed-door peace deal with protesters, demanding re-investigation into the Mirchpur violence, has left several questions unanswered. The people now want to know what transpired during the negotiations and the details of the “secret pact”.

At a convention on “Social Justice and Social Harmony in Haryana”, speakers from various walks of life were of the opinion that the government needed to come out in the open about its “understanding” with the protesters who had held the entire state to ransom.

The participants decided to organise “unity processions” to rebuild the fragmented social fabric in the state and bridge the growing chasm between communities.

Raghubir Singh Hooda, president of the All-India Lawyers Union, Haryana, minced no words in condemning the “casual” approach with which the protest was dealt by the government. “The government mishandled everything from the very beginning and there is no explanation for it,” he said, bitterly criticising “Prince” Rahul Gandhi, for making such a noise about his visit to Mirchpur. Hooda said the dominant Jat community was not able to accept the growing power of the subjugated community (Dalits), leading to the conflict. “Social consciousness has remained unchanged while the subjugated community has begun to resist dominance,” he explained.

A social activist from a research centre in Kurukshetra, Dr Subhash Chander, said that vested interests within the government were responsible for creating situations of caste conflict. “They do so for political gains. What does the government want to convey by holding closed-door meetings,” he asked. Critical of the leadership and politicians taking refuge in the “social issue” argument when faced with such situations.

A member of the Haryana Administrative Reforms Commission, Dr DR Chaudhary, maintained that the government functioning should be transparent while insisting that such incidents were the handiwork of the “nouveau-rich” trying to make their presence felt on the political landscape of the state.

Senior journalist Gobind Thukral said that economic equality would bring about social equality in society. 

Rohtak, February 18
Climate change and global warming have emerged as major threats to biodiversity and biologists must come forward to suggest effective measures for conserving biodiversity, said Prof AK Bhatnagar, Botany Department, University of Delhi, in his inaugural address at a conference that commenced at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) here today.

This two-day event on “Biodiversity: Challenges and Opportunities” is being organised by MDU’s Department of Botany.

In his keynote address, Prof Bhatnagar said a large number of gases released into the air had had a vital impact on atmospheric conditions. This was known as the “Greenhouse effect”. These gas emissions had had an impact on the survival of several types of plant species.

He also highlighted the dangers of elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) in the atmosphere vis-a-vis plant resources.

Dr Bhatnagar called for an effective national-level action plan for conserving biodiversity. He advocated technological intervention for the purpose.

The Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, MDU, Prof SN Mishra, underlined the importance of biodiversity management at the grassroots level.

He cautioned against the emerging trend of bio-piracy. The Head of the Botany Department, Prof Pushpa Dahiya, welcomed the participants.

Prof SN Mishra cautions against the trend of bio-piracy, advocates technological intervention

As many as 87 papers on various aspects of biodiversity to be presented at the seminar

Chandigarh, February 18
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld that since the Jain community is a minority in Haryana, the state government cannot interfere in the internal working of educational institutions run by it, even if these receive 95 per cent grant-in-aid. Dismissing an appeal by the State of Haryana, the Bench upheld the order passed by a Single Judge, allowing the writ petition filed by Atma Nand Jain College, Ambala, against instructions issued by the state on the composition and functioning of the college’s managing committee.

Appearing before Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih, Haryana Additional Advocate-General Randhir Singh contended that the government was within its jurisdiction to issue instructions on the constitution and working of the managing committee.

Satya Pal Jain and Dheeraj Jain, arguing on behalf of Atma Nand Jain College, said the government could not impose unreasonable conditions in the internal management of the college since the Jain community was a religious minority in Haryana. This would be in violation of Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution.

The Bench ruled: “The decisions of the Apex Court lay down the law which in substance is that there can be no governmental control over the affairs of a minority institution established under Article 30 of the Constitution… We do not find any merit in the appeal. 

Gurgaon, February 18
Haryana’s Labour and Employment Minister Shiv Charan Lal Sharma’s “gesture” towards security guards Vijay Singh and Bijender trapped under the debris of a building that collapsed yesterday has left local officials dazed. Sharma, who inspected the mishap site in Udyog Vihar Phase-I here today, announced that the next of kin of the guards would be granted Rs 5 lakh in addition to regular relief.

“In case the guards are found alive, they will be provided medical treatment free of cost,” Sharma said in an official statement. It is, perhaps, the first instance when monetary compensation has been announced in anticipation of the death of victims.

The minister directed the officials of the Industrial Health and Safety Department to conduct an inquiry into the building collapse and send the report to him by tomorrow evening.

He also ordered that samples of the construction material be sent for testing. The building was being constructed by Millennium Construction Company. Owner of the construction company, Parkash Ahuja, claimed that the construction material was of good quality.

Karnal, February 18
Women from Karnal have secured a place for themselves in the Guinness World Records for having converged on one place to push 446 prams for a 1.8 km-long pram walk.

The event was organised by the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA) on January 13 this year to propagate gender equality.

Held on the occasion of Lohri, it saw more than 500 women carrying children in prams, braving the chill to walk the distance. Finally, 446 could complete the walk. More than 65 per cent of the participants were from rural areas.

The earlier record of 306 prams was held by the Mother Center Hviezdicka, Slovakia. Chairman of NIFAA Pritpal Singh Pannu said an official communication had been sent by the Guinness World Records, approving NIFAA’s claim under the “Most People Pushing Pram”category.

In order to set the new record, the NIFFA had appointed 10 observers as per the guidelines of the Guinness World Record (GWR) during the pram walk. The NGO had sent the records and a video CD of the event along with testimonials of observers to the Guinness Book.

Karnal MLA Sumita Singh and Deputy Commissioner Neelam Pardeep Kasni congratulated the NIFAA team on this achievement. Karnal police chief Rakesh Arya, who is on leave, also called up the NIFAA chairman to congratulate him.

Speaking to mediapersons, Pannu said he was especially happy at the feat as it was dedicated to promoting gender equality.

He said NIFAA would be holding a special function on the Women’s Day next month to honour all those who had participated in the pram walk.

They would be given replicas of the Guinness World Record Certificate. 

Sirsa, February 18
The Haryana State Council for Child Welfare (HSCCW) will soon start a child helpline on 1098, a toll free number.

Indu Dahiya, honorary secretary of the council, who was here to give away prizes to special children and those studying under the “street children project”, said the council officials would reach out to the child in distress immediately after receiving his or her call. She said initially the helpline would be started in Karnal, Panipat, Yamunanagar and Faridabad. Paediatricians, psychiatrists and psychologists would be appointed in these districts to provide all kind of help to the distressed children.

She said childcare centres would be set up in these districts where children could be lodged if need be.

Dahiya said to encourage people’s participation, the council would enroll 525 life members throughout the state. Each of the 25 districts would have 25 life members.

Dahiya said the council had initiated a programme to adopt discarded children and an infant care home had been set up at Panchkula.

ADC Pankaj Chaudhary, city magistrate HC Bhatia and state child adoption officer Poonam were among those present on the occasion.

Sirsa, February 18
The police has provided protection to a runaway couple on court directions.

Vinod Kumar, a resident of Bakrianwali village in this district, married Sunita of Jogiwala village in Punjab on February 8.

In their petition to the local court, the couple had alleged that they faced threat from Sunita’s relatives who had lodged an FIR against Vinod. The police has lodged the couple in a protection home.

Earlier, a Sirsa girl and Jind boy was provided police protection on the intervention of the court.

Meanwhile, a report from Fatehabad said the blood-stained body of a farm worker, with the head smashed, was found at a farmhouse in Bhuna village in this district on Thursday night.

Rewari, February 18
Members of the Dalit Samaj as well as distinguished citizens participated in a commemorative conference held to mark the 634th birth anniversary of the legendary saint, Guru Ravi Das, in Adarsh Nagar colony here today.

The Finance, Irrigation, Forest and Environment Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, was the chief guest at the conference.

Paying homage to the illustrious Sant, Capt Yadav said in medieval times, like other celebrated saints, Guru Ravi Das also dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of humanity while relentlessly fighting against untouchability and superstitions. Enumerating the various projects launched by the state for the amelioration of the samaj, the Minister also announced a financial assistance of Rs two lakh, which would be available to the organising committee in the next financial year.

Dr ML Ranga, Vice-Chancellor of GJU, Hisar, highlighted the noble teachings of Guru Ravi Das. 

Kurukshetra February 18
An AIDS victim, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver at his brother’s residence situated in College Colony, near Kirmach road here today.

Stating this to mediapersons, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kurukshetra, Bhupender Singh said Sudhakran (24), who was residing with his wife at Lodh Khera village of Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh, had been working as a truck driver and used to visit other states while on duty. While visiting other states, Sudhakran had come in contact with prostitutes and became a victim of AIDS. Though he started treatment immediately, the fact that it was incurable made him desperate and he shot himself dead with a revolver.

Immediately he was rushed to local LNJP Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

After getting this information, SHO Satish Kumar, SI Manish Kumar, ASI Mangeram and Head Constable Ranbir Singh reached the site of the incident.

Crime specialists had been called for further investigation of the case.

The police registered a case under the Arms Act and the body of Sudhakran was given to the relatives after a postmortem, said Bhupender Singh. 

Sirsa, February 18
Three motorcycle-borne youths today stopped a bus belonging to a Kalanwali-based nursing college as it reached Desu Malkana village, beat up the driver and molested the girl students.

The police has registered a case under Sections 323 (causing hurt), 342 (illegal confinement), 294 (obscenity) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC against Kuldeep and Tidda, both residents of Desu Malkana, and a third youth yet to be identified.

Ashok Singla, MD, Mata Shanti Devi Institute of Nursing run by the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Social Welfare Trust, told mediapersons that a bus of the nursing institute started from Ramsara village near Rama Mandi in Punjab each morning and reached Kalanwali after collecting students from several villages en route.

He said as the bus reached Desu Malkana village today, the three youths forced it to halt. They then began harassing the girls.

When the driver, Jagtar Singh, objected to their conduct, they beat him up. The three fled when they saw some villagers coming to the rescue of the driver.

Singla said though the police had registered a case, no arrest had been made. This had left the girls insecure who feared retaliation by the miscreants.

Renu Sharma, state president of the Mahila Morcha of the BJP, has threatened a bandh in Kalanwali if the accused are not arrested within 24 hours.