Chandigarh, March 14
Haryana Finance Minister Ajay Singh Yadav today described his Budget as “growth-oriented and people-friendly as it was free of any fresh taxes”. Replying to the debate on the Budget, Yadav said the state would become revenue surplus by 2012-13. 

However, when Leader of the Opposition Om Prakash Chautala wanted a categorical assurance from him that the government would not impose any new tax after the Budget session, Yadav said it was a hypothetical question as nobody knew about the future. Coming down heavily on the Opposition, Yadav began his reply by criticising Chautala for “having failed to read the Budget carefully” and the Opposition for not being vigilant.

Asserting that the state was marching ahead speedily, he said the total revenue receipts had increased from Rs 11,149 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 32,018 crore in 2011-12, showing an increase of 187 per cent. Setting at rest the Opposition apprehensions about the revenue receipts, Yadav outlined various heads from which the government expected additional revenue in the next financial year. He also claimed that the total loan raised by the present government was less than what was raised by the INLD government.

Speaker Kuldeep Sharma did not allow Opposition members to interrupt Yadav as he ordered that anything said without his permission would not go on record.

Yadav, who also holds the Forest portfolio, admitted that a departmental committee had found “procedural lapses” in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The issue was raised forcefully by Leader of the BJP Legislature Party Anil Vij. Yadav said the government had ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the matter. The Opposition was not satisfied with his reply. Vij alleged that the government was protecting the guilty despite adverse reports by two Additional Deputy Commissioners. Chief Minister BS Hooda shook hands with Yadav after the latter’s speech.

Earlier during the debate, former Finance Minister Sampat Singh praised the financial management of the state. Sampat Singh, who spent almost three decades in the INLD before joining the Congress, had many digs at Chautala, whom he described as feudal and arrogant. He revealed that in 1999, HVP MLAs had agreed to support Chautala only after former minister Dhir Pal and he (Sampat Singh) had stood security for the conduct of the INLD leader.

He said, amid a loud protest by INLD MLAs, that as a minister in the INLD government, he had to repeatedly apologise for the mistakes of others (read Chautala).

Chandigarh, March 14
Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Gopal Kanda said today that the state government had a proposal to set up solid waste management plants in big cities, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohtak and Panipat. He was replying to a question in the state Assembly asked by Congress MLA Anand Kaushik.

To a question by INLD MLA Pradeep Chaudhary regarding inadequate number of routes of state roadways buses plying between Pinjore and Nalagarh, Transport Minister OP Jain said the Haryana Roadways buses had “five return routes” and other state roadways buses had “30 return routes”.

He said there was a proposal to ply minibuses of state roadways in hilly areas of Morni, Pinjore and Raipur Rani.

When Congress MLA Savitri Jindal drew the attention of PWD (B&R) Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala towards the closure of the railway overbridge on National Highway No 65 in Hisar because the bridge was weak, he said the Bikaner division of the Railways had informed him that the bridge would be repaired in six months at a cost of Rs 46.50 lakh.

BJP MLA Kavita Jain asked about the sewer system in Sonepat city, for which Public Health Engineering Minister Kiran Choudhry replied that two projects of the sewer treatment plant were being expanded at a cost of Rs 95.63 crore. The works to lay sewer pipelines in particular pockets would be completed in two months.

Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal, replying to a question asked by INLD MLA Kali Ram Patwari, concerning Government Women’s College in the Safidon constituency, said the college was being set up over 13 acres and its foundation stone was laid on February 17 by the Governor.

The college was being constructed by the government, therefore, so far, there was no proposal to name the college.

The Haryana Irrigation Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, while admitting that there was a possibility of flood in Gulha-Cheeka, said Rs 1.52 crore siphon would be constructed at the BML canal. He said the Kaushalya dam was being constructed to check floods and the left bank of the Ghaggar river in the area had been strengthened.

In reply to a question by Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed on ban on plastic bags, Yadav said the Haryana State Pollution Control Board had taken action against four plastic manufacturing units in Faridabad. The state government has also written to the governments of the neighbouring states of Delhi and Rajasthan to apprise them about the notification so that they remain vigilant about the supply of material from the adjoining cities. 

Jind, March 14
The blockade on the Jind-Ferozepur railway track near Narwana town here entered the third day today. Over 30 women of nearby villages joined the protest at the track today.

The dharna on the track has resulted in complete halt of the movement of a total of 40 trains, including 25 passenger and express trains. Some of the important trains have been diverted to alternative routes leading to an increase in the travelling time.

According to a spokesperson for the protesters, the stir would be intensified in case the state and the union government failed to resolve the issue.

Claiming that the protest had been peaceful, he said the blockade of the rail track was the last option left for them to press for their quota demand.

Sources said while a huge loss was suffered on account of suspension or diversion of trains, the movement of goods to various stations in the region has also come to a halt due to the blockade.

“No official has contacted the protesters so far for resolving the issue,” claimed Nafe Singh Nain, heading the dharna here. Meanwhile, a sit-in was also launched at Sir Chottu Ram Memorial at Sampla town in Rohtak district here today. The dharna would continue till the demand was accepted, claimed a local resident, who said as many as 50 to 60 persons participated the dharna.

REWARI: Extending full support to the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, Jats of Bawal Chaurasi (a cluster of 84 villages) blocked the Delhi-Jaipur track near Ranoli-Pranpura village, 3 km from Bawal station, here on Monday. The protesters pitched tents on the track.

The blockade has led to disruption and diversion of over 50 passenger and goods trains running between Delhi and Jaipur via Rewari.

Senior civil and police officials of the district failed to move the protesters, who remained firm on blockade. FATEHABAD: Activists of the Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti intensified their agitation on Monday by starting an indefinite fast at Mehuwala near Bhattu Kalan and at Gajuwala near Tohana.

Four members of the samiti sat on fast at Mehuwala on the Bathinda-Rewari track, while two members sat at Gajuwala on the Ludhiana-Hisar railway line.

Chandigarh, March 14
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that the Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner has to ensure the implementation of an order against the sale of non-vegetarian food items in the holy city.

The directions by Justice Ranjit Singh of the High Court came on a civil writ petition filed by Jai Bhagwan against the state of Haryana and other respondents.

After going through the contents of the petition and hearing the contentions raised by Jai Bhagwan’s counsel, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “The petitioner has already filed a representation with the Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra.

“Primarily, it will be the responsibility of the Deputy Commissioner to ensure the implementation of the order and see that no non-vegetarian items are sold in the holy city of Kurukshetra.”

Refusing to directly intervene in the matter at the current stage, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “At this stage, no case for invoking writ jurisdiction is made out”.

But before parting with the order, Justice Ranjit Singh added: “The Deputy Commissioner may look into the same (Jai Bhagwan’s representation) and take appropriate action in accordance with law. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of”.

The petitioner, through his counsel, Karamveer Singh Banyana, had contended that the sale of meat and liquor was banned within the municipal limits of the holy city. Yet, the prohibitory orders were being violated with impunity.

One of the accident victims being treated at the trauma centre in Karnal on Monday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

Karnal, March 14
Two persons were killed while 21 others sustained serious injuries when a bus of the Haryana Roadways collided with a truck near Indri on the Karnal-Yamunanagar road this morning.

The drivers of both vehicles died on the spot. The injured were taken to various hospitals at the district headquarters.

According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Jaipal (bus driver) and Vipan Kumar(truck driver), a resident of Panipat. The conductor of the bus, Ved Prakash, also sustained serious injuries in the accident.

Two seriously injured persons - Satinder Kaur and Priyanka - were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.

The police, quoting eyewitnesses, said the accident occurred due to dense fog that had reduced visibility on the road. 

Bhiwani, March 14
Demanding impartial inquiry into the murder case of Anup, irate relatives and villagers held a protest at the local Devi Lal Chowk here today. Holding the police responsible for not arresting the accused, the villagers alleged that the police had not done anything even after a lapse of two months.

Raising slogans against the police, the villagers blocked the Dadri-Narnaul and the Bhiwani-Loharu-Rajasthan road.

Anup, a resident of Haluwas village, was allegedly abducted on January 10 and a complaint was lodged at the Sadar police station on January 11.

Anup’s mother Santosh Devi and brother Billu alleged that the police did not register a case despite their complaint.

Later, Anup was found murdered in the fields at Lalawas village on January 26. The postmortem report revealed that Anup was murdered around January 20.

According to the relatives, the police had registered a case against Anil Singh and others of Haluwas, but they all were given clean chit by the police after a few days. Now, the matter is with the crime branch of the police department.

Anup’s uncle Anil Kaushik alleged that the police had got several clues on the basis of the call details of Anup’s mobile phone, but it was hand in glove with the accused.

The dharna continued till the filing of the report.

Fatehabad, March 14
Activists of the Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, the Delhi Platform, the Azadi Bachao Andolan and some other organisations working in the field of people’s science and environmental issues have landed in Fatehabad district and have launched a campaign against the proposed Gorakhpur Atomic Power Project.

The activists, led by Prof Soumya Dutta, convener of the Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, Asit Das, convener of the Delhi Platform, and Rajinder Sharma of the Azadi Bachao Andolan today visited several villages falling in the vicinity of the proposed nuclear plant being set up by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to campaign against the project.

The activists informed villagers about the dangers associated with nuclear projects and termed the proposed plant as a health hazard.

The activists also visited the agitating Gorakhpur farmers at their dharna site and offered their support for their cause.

“We will remain here for three days during which we will cover all surrounding villages of the proposed power plant and will address meetings of lawyers and the intelligentsia to make them aware of our concerns,” said Rajender Sharma.

Dutta said from 1950 till date, as many as 50 accidents had occurred all over the world, where heavy loss of lives and exposure to radiations had taken place.

Meanwhile, Hans Raj Siwach, president of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, maintained that one more village panchayat had adopted a resolution against the Gorakhpur Atomic Power Plant.

Fatehabad, March 14
Residents of the local Ekta Colony today rejected an appeal by the district authorities to end their relay fast and dharna outside the mini-secretariat. SDM JK Abhir and Tehsildar Naurang Dass today met the striking residents of the colony at the dharna site and appealed to them to end their agitation.

They also arranged a meeting of the agitating families with the Deputy Commissioner and the authorities tried to impress upon them that they could not give them any relief at the local level.

The authorities told them that only the HUDA authorities could take a decision on the release of their houses from the land acquired for a residential sector and they added that they had already sent their case to them.

The authorities assured them that they could arrange their meeting with the Administrator of HUDA at Hisar for this purpose.

However, efforts by the authorities failed to yield any results and the families announced that their agitation would continue till their houses were released.

Residents of Ekta Colony have been sitting on dharna against the acquisition of their houses for a HUDA sector for the past 21 days.