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Gurgaon Mayor’s post
Labour welfare schemes
Free uniform: Rs 400 per student ‘not enough’
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Repeating history
Rs 200 cr to boost tourism infrastructure
Sirsa leads in wheat procurement
Entrepreneurs resent industrial policy
Supplying blood free of cost not feasible: Docs
HC rap for insurance firm
Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana
Govt sanctions Rs 39.14 cr for bypass in Sirsa
Corruption case
MDU
results
minimising environmental
pollution
World Museum Day celebrated
Roll back petrol price hike: Surjewala
Officials told to remove pressure horns from vehicles
LETTER
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Gurgaon Mayor’s post
Gurgaon, May 19 As 25 of the 35 newly elected councillors are independents, all political parties need their backing to get the number required for a deciding majority in the corporation. The INLD and the BJP, which fielded nominees on their party symbol, have won six and four seats, respectively. On the other hand, the Congress, which did not contest the MCG elections on its symbol, is now the frontrunner in “arranging” the magical figures through its local leaders. Such smalltime politicians, who happen to be fulltime sycophants owing allegiance to their respective party bosses, have thus got a golden opportunity to prove their utility and faithfulness before their superiors. As of now, these “leaders” are busy luring the victorious independent candidates and parading the willing ones before the “high-ups” in the party. What sorts of measures (horse-trading et al.) are adopted to convert “independent” members into “party loyalists” in the present-day political scenario is anybody’s guess. It, therefore goes without saying that whosoever eyes the top MCG post and power has to be a master of such political “skills” to grab it.
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Labour welfare schemes
Panipat, May 19 Making an appeal to the industrialists, he said the government had already set up ESI hospitals at various places across the state and the entrepreneurs needed to promote this scheme amongst the workers. He said more ESI hospitals were also being set up to provide better health care to the working class. He said after Faridabad, Gurgaon and Ambala, ESI hospital were constructed at Panipat, Yamunanagar and Rohtak. Sarup said the board was making efforts to make certain that all manufacturing units put up placards outside their units highlighting the welfare schemes so that the workers could be made aware of these. He said labour inspectors had already been asked to implement the schemes in the true spirit. The official said Haryana was the first state in the country to have come up with a labour policy for the benefit of the working class.
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Free uniform: Rs 400 per student ‘not enough’
Jhajjar, May 19 The SMCs are finding themselves in a sticky situation as an amount of `400 per child fixed by the government for buying school uniform is turning out to be much less. Though the managements are taking a round of the markets to buy the uniform within the allocated amount, they seem to have failed to make it as the cost of a complete uniform comes around `600. According to the information, the Education Department had shot off a communiqué to the district education authorities wherein the school managements were directed to provide uniform free of cost to all students of up to class VIII. An amount of `400 per student was also set for the purpose. With the amount, the school managements have been directed to purchase a pant, shirt, jersey, shoes with laces, socks, tie and a belt for every male student while salwar-kameez, dupatta, shoes, tie, belt, socks and a sweater for every female student. Moreover, the managements have also been asked to buy the dresses after inviting quotations from at least three shops. “We have received more than three quotations for school dresses but the prices of all quotations are much higher than the fixed amount. In this situation, we don’t know what to do,” said a principal of a government school here, adding that they had also contacted some more shops for the same, but none of the shop quoted price in the range of `400. Ramesh Kumar, a shopkeeper, said a set of uniform, excluding shoes, for a student of primary class was being prepared for over `550 and it was more for students of higher classes. “It is not possible to buy all the items selected for a complete school dress in just `400,” he said. Meanwhile, Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal, while interacting with mediapersons during her Jhajjar visit recently, admitted that the amount was less for buying the uniform, but she informed that this was just supportive money and parents should get add more money from their personal account and get their wards a proper uniform. “Now, it depends on the SMCs that which way they utilise the supporting money for getting the uniform made available to the students. Instructions in this regard will also be issued soon so that the SMCs could spend the amount as per their convenience for benefiting the parents,” the minister maintained.
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Repeating history
Hisar, May 19 Hundreds of villagers armed with firepower and improvised petrol bombs are daring the police to arrest former INLD legislator Balbir Singh Balli, alias Balli Pehlwan, who has been booked for murder and is ensconced in his house at Mokhra village, which is guarded by his armed supporters. So far, the police has shown restraint. The drama has been going on for the past several days. A similar situation had arisen in Madina village in 1990 when the present Congress legislator from Meham constituency, Anand Singh Dangi, was booked on similar charges following the death of Amir Singh, one of the candidates against Chuatala who was seeking election to the Vidhan Sabha from Meham after his father Devi Lal vacated the seat to take over as Deputy Prime Minister. Dangi's supporters had similarly surrounded his house and dared the police to arrest him. Unlike, this time, the then police officers had not shown any restraint and had stormed Dangi's house hastily resulting in the death of several youths guarding the house in a bloody clash. The violence led to the ouster of Chautala under pressure from the then Prime Minister VP Singh. The resignation led to the parting of ways between Singh and Devi Lal that ultimately drove the former out of office. Dangi won from Meham in 1990 decimating Chautala. But he lost the next two elections in a row. Balli is one of the 22 accused in a case of murder that took place on May 5.
An associate of a commission agent was killed in firing and the FIR mentions the presence of Bali at the crime spot and the police wants him to join the investigation. Bali, of course, terms this as pure "political vendetta" and is determined to exploit the situation to the hilt. What is surprising is that the people of Meham seem to have learnt no lessons from the incidents of 21 years ago. The villagers tend to take law in their own hands at the slightest pretext. Be it a power cut or water shortage, the villagers of the Meham area are apt to block roads as a matter of routine. They build massive speed-breakers on the national highway at will. The tendency of the successive governments to turn a blind eye to the goings on has led to a total erosion of the respect for the law and the fear of the law enforcing agencies.
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Rs 200 cr to boost tourism infrastructure
Kaithal, May 19 He said government efforts made during the past years to boost tourism in the state had started showing results and development of Yadvindra Garden in Pinjore had brought it on the international tourism map. Similarly, the famous Surajkund Mela had been attracting a large number of tourists both from India and abroad, he said. The minister invited mediapersons to visit Pinjore gardens during the annual Mango Mela, which will begin from June 15 . He said now there was a lot of positive changes in the garden and tourists could now avail more facilities like battery-operated small vehicles that had been provided for aged people. Throwing light on the existing transport facilities in the state, Jain said 700 new buses were added to the state fleet during the recent past, raising the number of buses to 4,000 and with the allotment of new permits to 2,700
private bus operators, the number of buses would increase to 6,700, following which every village would be connected with bus service.
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Sirsa leads in wheat procurement
The district is way ahead of Fatehabad, which ranks second in the matter of wheat procurement with arrival of 6.78 lakh MT. Sirsa has been leading other states in agriculture production and cotton production, the district accounts for almost 40 per cent of the total cotton produced in the state. A spokesperson for the Food and Supplies Department said the state had procured over 63.47 lakh MT of wheat during the corresponding period last year. He said over 67.13 lakh MT of wheat had arrived in various mandis of the state till Tuesday. Out of the total arrival of wheat this season, 4,084 MT has been procured by traders. The highest wheat arrival of 69.24 lakh MT was recorded in 2009-10. Giving details of the wheat procured by government agencies, the spokesperson said over 23.49 lakh MT of wheat had been purchased by HAFED alone. The Food and Supplies Department procured over 17.66 lakh MT while over 8.19 lakh Mt has been procured by the Food Corporation of India. With the procurement of over 6.72 lakh MT, the Haryana Agro Industries Corporation is ranked third while over 6.05 lakh MT have been procured by the Haryana Warehousing Corporation and over 4.96 lakh MT by CONFED. Fatehabad district has received over 6.78 lakh MT of wheat in its mandis during this season. Jind received over 6.27 lakh MT whereas in Karnal over 6.3 lakh MT of wheat arrived in mandis and in Kaithal over 5.85 lakh MT, in Kurukshetra over 4.48 lakh MT, in Hisar over 4.62 lakh MT, in Palwal over 4.19 lakh MT, in Sonipat over 3.74 lakh MT, in Panipat over 2.6 lakh MT, in Bhiwani over 2.02 lakh MT, in Rohtak over 1.93 lakh MT, in Ambala over 1.8 lakh MT, in Yamunanagar over 1.64 lakh MT and in Faridabad over 1.12 lakh MT of wheat arrived in mandis, he added.
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Entrepreneurs resent industrial policy
Yamunanagar, May 19 President of the Yamunanagar-Jagadhri Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurs Kapil Gupta said here that the memorandum was given to senior manager SP Mehta against the government’s new industrial policy and the HSIIDCs estate management procedures (EMP-2011) terming them as anti-MSME (members of small and medium enterprises) and unlawful. The new industrial policy and EMP-2011 were declared on December 30, 2010. Entrepreneurs are aggrieved by certain provisions in the policies, which they feel will harm the growth of small enterprises in the state. Gupta said property was allotted by the HSIIDC as freehold, but as per the new policy, conditions of freehold right had been restrained. Entrepreneurs were being forced to sign an undertaking declaring that provisions of EMP- 2011 would be applicable and original agreement at the time of allotment would not apply anymore. There was no provision in the new EMP for registering the title deed of ownership and allottees. If an allottee leased out his premises, he would be required to pay 50 per cent of rentals to the HSIIDC, he added. Properties, including buildings constructed by entrepreneurs, are being subjected to resumptions by HSIIDC for minor defaults. Entrepreneurs demanded that the management and maintenance of industrial areas should be handed over to the Municipal Corporation. The memorandum was submitted by Yamunanagar-Jagadhri Chamber of Commerce, which includes the Haryana Copper and Copper Alloys Association, Haryana Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Estate Association and the Confederation of Commerce and Industry.
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Supplying blood free of cost not feasible: Docs
Karnal, May 19 Dr Mahipal Singh maintained this at a meeting convened by deputy commissioner Neelam Pradeep Kasni to review the functioning of blood banks. The deputy commissioner wished that blood should be supplied free of cost as donors were giving it free. However, it did not find favour with the doctors managing the blood banks because of cost factor. Dr Mahipal informed that the blood bank was supplying blood at the rate of Rs 250 per unit to patients in government hospitals and Rs 500 per unit to patients in private hospitals, but free blood is supplied to BPL families, patients of thalassaemia, pregnant women, accident victims and patients undergoing surgery. He said the requirement of blood was 14,000 to 15,000 units, but only 40 per cent requirement was met through voluntary donations. The deputy commissioner told the blood bank to ensure that no harassment was caused to patients, rate lists should be prominently displayed and waiting time for getting blood should be clearly mentioned. She directed the blood bank officers to prepare calendar for the whole year for organising blood donation camps and give impetus to blood donation drive. She took exception to the absence of representatives of private blood banks at the meeting and said they should have made it a point to come to the meeting as the issue also concerned them.
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HC rap for insurance firm
Chandigarh, May 19 Though the petitioner fulfilled all the requirements, the destination was nowhere in sight. Despite entitlement, the insurance money was just not released, compelling him to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court. His plea has not only found favour with the High Court, but has also lead to the imposition of Rs 10,000 costs on the "respondents" for making him approach the Bench despite entitlement and eligibility. The respite came within an year of his moving the high court. Taking up Anjani Kumar's petition against the state of Haryana, Reliance General Insurance Company and other respondents, Justice Ranjit Singh observed: "The son of the petitioner died on March 9, 2009, in a railway
accident. "The petitioner made an application for the payment of Rs 1 lakh under the policy formulated by the government known as Rajiv Gandhi Parivar Bima Yojna. The petitioner fulfilled all the requirements and made an application, but still the amount due was not released. Ultimately, he filed this present writ petition on March 31, 2010". Justice Ranjit Singh added: "A reply has been filed by the respondent-state as well as private respondent Reliance General Insurance Company. In the reply, the insurance company has stated that the petitioner was held entitled and eligible for payment. "The respondent-insurance company had also undertaken in the reply that an amount of Rs 1 lakh would be disbursed within four months. This reply was filed on February 25". Justice Ranjit Singh added: "The entitlement not being disputed, it is not understood as to how the person has been forced to approach this court for the release of the insurance money. Since the petitioner has been unnecessarily made to approach this court despite being fully entitled and eligible, I deem it appropriate to allow this writ petition with costs of Rs 10,000." The scheme was introduced on April 15, 2008. Citizens between 18 and 60 were covered for Rs 1 lakh, payable on account of accidental death. For implementing the scheme, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd for one year with effect from March 28, 2008, on certain terms and conditions. Income tax payees and employees are excluded from the scheme.
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Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana
Sirsa, May 19 Selja said her ministry had implemented the scheme for the poor in many cities of the country under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and now, Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana would be implemented. She said once the survey to identify the beneficiaries was completed, the scheme would be implemented in all towns and cities of the state, thereby providing shelter to the poor. Referring to Uttar Pradesh Bhatta Parsaul issue, she said the matter of land acquisition fell within the jurisdiction of the state government and as such, the state governments formulated their own land acquisition policies. The UP government, she said, should formulate better policies keeping in view the interests of the common people and farmers. The Bhatta Parsaul land acquisition issue had claimed the lives of poor people and the UP government, she said, should formulate a farmer-friendly land acquisition policy.
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Students design bike with 150 km mileage
Rewari, May 19 Further, with an enhanced use of brown gas as fuel, the mileage of the motorcycle is expected to go up to 200km per litre. It is noteworthy that with an appropriate replacement of its handle, chassis and front tyre, the students have admirably reduced its weight from 120 kg to 55 kg. While some valuable adjustment has also been executed into its carburetor to decimate the use of fuel while maximising the use of air. While its chain-drive transmission has been altered from 14:38 to 15:38, aerodynamics has also been put to use to reduce the air pressure. The motorcycle has been converted into a single-seater bike as well. DAVCET principal Paramjit Singh Sehra has felicitated Prof. Kuldeep Singh as well as the students on the accomplishment of their typical project leading to the emergence of a motorcycle with an enhanced mileage.
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Govt sanctions Rs 39.14 cr for bypass in Sirsa
Sirsa, May 19 He said the bypass would be constructed at a cost of Rs 39.14 crore and water works would cost Rs 18.75 crore. The announcement regarding the bye-pass in Sirsa was made by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in “Badhte Kadam Rally” in Sirsa recently. The bypass would be constructed at the national highway No.10 from Bazekan to Meerpur, he said. He added that the process of acquiring land for 10.39-km-long bye-pass had already been started at Bazekan, Vaidwala, Nezadelakalan, Jhompra and Meerpur. The bypass would ease the congestion of traffic in the city and add to its beauty, he added. The DC said that the water works at Ellenabad would be constructed over an area of 18 acres and HUDA had been directed to transfer this land to Public Health Engineering Department. After the completion of transfer formalities, the construction work of this water works would commence.
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Corruption case
Chandigarh, May 19 The ruling by Justice Ranjit Singh came on a petition filed by Electricity Department employee Mathura Dass. The petitioner has claimed his services were placed under suspension after he was implicated in a case on December 27, 1993. An order terminating his service was passed on December 20, 1996, with a retrospective effect from 20.12.1995, the date of his conviction by a trial court. On November 9, 2005, the petitioner's conviction was set aside and he was acquitted of the charges. The state of Haryana, subsequently, withdrew the termination order, but denied him salary and allowances for the period his services were placed under suspension, as well as for duration his services remained terminated. Exception was made for the subsistence allowance already paid. Justice Ranjit Singh ruled: "The petitioner was available for work but was denied the same. The termination was on the basis which is now not found justified and proper. Can the principle of no-work, no-pay strictly apply in this case, once the termination on the basis of his conviction, has subsequently been set aside? "The petitioner cannot be made to suffer the consequences of his conviction. The principle of no-work no-pay may not appear to apply in this case". Justice Ranjit Singh added: The normal rule of no-work no-pay is not applicable to such cases where the employee, although he is willing to work, is kept away from work by the authorities for no fault of his. This is not a case where the employee remains away from work for his own reasons.
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MDU
results
Sonepat, May 19 According to college principal Dr Jyoti Arora, Aditi Jain with 523 out of 600 marks topped the university merit list and she was closely followed by Ashu Gupta for getting second position in the merit list with 521 marks. Pratibha Mishra secured the fourth position with 493 marks and Sonam stood at the fifth position with 492 marks. Neeru Dahiya with 487 marks, Arti with 485 marks and and Pooja Thakar with 472 marks were listed at the sixth, seventh and eights positions, respectively, in the university’s merit list. Bharti Dhiman with 467 marks got the 10th position, whereas Priti with 464 marks remained at the 11th position. Dr OP Pruthi, chairman of the college management, congratulated the students and remarked that their success would inspire the students of other classes also to do better in the next examinations.
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Kavi sammelan held
Rewari, May 19 While Vijay Sharma, a prominent social activist of South Haryana, was the chief guest, veteran poet Halchal Haryanavi presided over. Paying homage to the poetic genius of late Shyam Lal Sharma, Vijay asserted that Alhar Bikaneri was a satirist-cum-humorist par excellence. Similarly, narrating several interesting memoirs of his mentor, Halchal Haryanavi paid tributes to Alhar Bikaneri in graphical verses. Besides, Dr. Shivtaj Singh, chairman of the Parishad, an upcoming humorist Alok Bhandoria, Sanjay Pathak from Alwar (Rajasthan), prominent sonneteer Ramesh Siddharth, Haryanavi poet Satyavir Naharia and others also recited poems while glorifying the poetic brilliance of Alhar Bikaneri. Besides, Rajesh Bhulakkar, Mahashay Kedarmal, Ram Kishan Arya, Desh Ram Karolia, Gautam Allahabadi, Ahmana Bhardwaj, Ramesh Kaushik Anjan and several others also regaled the audience with their typical satirical verses.
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New Verna launched
Yamunanagar, May 19 Available in both petrol and diesel versions and with four engine choices between them, the new Verna is loaded with premium features. It has an engine start/stop button, rear parking camera and sensors, auto dim rear view mirrors and dual chrome-tipped exhausts. For safety, it also features six airbags and impact sensing auto door unlock technology. The Verna sports a coupe-like side profile with a hexagonal grille, eagle eye headlamps and ‘L' shaped fog lamps at front. Engine options include 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre petrol power plants putting out 107PS and 123 PS of power, besides two diesel engines of similar capacities giving 90 PS and 128 PS of power. There is an option of a four-speed automatic transmission, though the diesel variant is available with a six-speed gearbox, he added.
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minimising environmental
pollution
Sonepat, May 19 Besides students of the university, about 50 faculties and experts from different states are taking part in the workshop. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bhardwaj said the release of radiation through increasing use of electronic implements had been polluting the environment. He asked the students to invent and discover such instruments which could help in saving the energy and have minimum effect on environment. Minimum use of electrical equipments, tendency for recycling and reuse of articles and proper disposal of waste could help a lot in minimising environmental pollution, he added. HS Chahal, vice-chancellor, Murthal University, said the participants of the workshop and students should list the problems coming up in the workshop and these should be addressed through researches by specialists, he added. RK Arora, registrar of the university, stressed the importance of organising such training programmes to deal with new issues in these fields and said more such specialised training programmes would be organised in future also. Dr SK Gupta, chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department, and Dr RB Patel, chairman of the Computer Science Engineering Department, explained the purpose of organising the special training programme on the new emerging issues before scientists and engineers and the need to search the solutions.
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World Museum Day celebrated
Kurukshetra, May 19 Professor Girish Chopra, dean, Academic Affairs, Kurukshetra University, who was the chief guest on the occasion, gave away the prizes to the students who won positions in the quiz competition. Professor Brajesh Sawhney, chairman, Department of English, and director, Public Relations, KU, was the guest of honour and Anoop Lather, director, Youth and Cultural Affairs, KU, inaugurated the competition. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Chopra said: “Museums play a crucial role in imparting information about the culture, history and civilisation of a nation or a state”. Prof Chopra further said: “Dharohar Haryana Museum is one-of-its-kind in the country as it is the only museum on a university campus that helps students, scholars and common citizens of Haryana to know about their past through culture and provides an opportunity to people from outside the state and the country to know about the rich and varied culture of Haryana. Professor Sawhney said: “Museums have been a part of human civilisation since the third century B.C. Traditionally, museums served the elite class, but now they have become highly democratic as they are based on the values of openness, public involvement and pragmatism”. “Museums are cultural soul and conscience of a nation or a state. They can teach lessons of democracy, peace and transparency to visitors. An educational system that is devoid of cultural education is empty and incomplete. Thus, museums play an important role in holistic education of students,” said Sawhney. Inaugurating the quiz competition, Lather said: “Dharohar Haryana Museum is a cultural window to Haryana. We must love our heritage as we love our mothers and try to presume our cultural heritage”. While the first prize in the competition was clinched by the team of Kurukshetra University Senior Secondary Model School, the second prize went to the team of BR College of Education, Kurukshetra. The team of University Teaching Departments, KU, won the third prize.
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Swami Jayendra Saraswati visits Rewari
Rewari, May 19 While Finance, Irrigation, Forest and Environment Minister Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav was the chief guest, former minister Prof. Ram Bilas Sharma, noted industrialist of Faridabad Het Ram Sharma and Mahesh Chand Patsaria of Shridham Vrindavan were the distinguished guests on the occasion. At the outset, Swami Jayendra Saraswati was accorded a rousing reception by thousands of Brahmin Samaj activists, citizens and women devotees. Eulogising the achievements and objectives of the Mahasabha, Swami Jayendra Saraswati appreciated the participation of people of all sections of society in Parshuram’s commemorative conference, whose teachings and ideals, he asserted, had vital relevance even today. Besides recalling Brahmins’ role as a societal guide in the past, Swami exhorted them to put in strenuous efforts to revive and restore their pristine glory. Simultaneously, endorsing a proposal put forward by the Mahasabha, Swami condescended to the establishment of a modern Vedic educational institution in Rewari, whose entire operational responsibility would be borne by the Kanhchipuram Peeth and in which children from all sections of society would be imparted modern education while children of the Brahmin Samaj would receive traditional ritualistic indoctrination (education) as well. Paying his obeisance to Shankaracharya, Capt. Yadav assured that he would personally urge the Chief Minister to provide a suitable piece of land for their institution here. Besides, he also complimented the Mahasabha for affording a valuable opportunity to the citizens to have a glimpse of Shankaracharya and also to listen to his gospel. Noted Art of Living vocalist Seema Chawala and her choir enthralled the audience with their hymns. While Capt. Yadav announced a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh out of his discretionary fund for the Mahasabha, Prof. Ram Bilas Sharma, Het Ram Sharma and Mahesh Chand Patsaria also presented a donation of Rs 21,000 each to the
Mahasabha.
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73 get allotment letters for 100 sq yard plot
Kaithal, May 19 The deputy commissioner also
laid the foundation stone of the Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra at Deora
village. Addressing the villagers, the Deputy Commissioner asked them to
start construction work for their houses. The Deputy Commissioner said
till the end of April, plots had been allotted in as many as 198
villages. Physical possession had been given in 104 of the 143 villages
where land had been demarcated.
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Roll back petrol price hike: Surjewala
Kaithal, May 19 He also urged the Union government not to enhance the prices of diesel and LPG in near future as it would overburden the common people who are already reeling under high inflation and prices rise of essential commodities. He said if the government decides to increase the prices of diesel and LPG, it would adversely affect the credibility of the government. Surjewala also suggested the government to ask oil companies to curtail their unnecessary expenditures. Surjewala also demanded the inclusion of Congress workers in various development works-related committees at the district level. The inclusion of Congress workers in such committees would ensure the smooth and expeditious implementation of welfare schemes launched by the government, he added. He also demanded action against officials who were responsible for unnecessary delay in implementing government welfare schemes launched for the benefit of common people. He said due to the indifferent attitude of senior officials, their subordinates also become lethargic which adversely affects the system. Surjewala also urged UP Chief Minister Mayawati to make suitable changes in the land acquisition policy on the Haryana pattern.
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Officials told to remove pressure horns from vehicles
Jind, May 19 This is perhaps the first time that such orders have been issued to the traffic police, which otherwise was seen as a silent spectator in the matter of traffic rules violations. At a meeting held here yesterday, the deputy commissioner asked the Police Department to start the work of removing pressure horns from all type of vehicles in the district. He said the use of such horns was illegal under the traffic rules and the police ought to ensure that there was no violation. Anyone who was found to be using such equipment in vehicles should to brought to book. He said pressure horns violate the permissible limits of noise pollution and had harmful affects on human beings and animals. He directed the police and the district authorities to start the drive immediately by setting up teams to check vehicles at various points in the city and the district. Pressure horns, considered illegal under the Motor Vehicles Act, are freely available in the district and the state. But the worst of it is that vehicles of senior government officers, including those whose job is to prevent the use of these horns, flaunt them openly, said sources in the department. These horns produce a harsh, shrill and alarming noise. Section 119 (2) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules reads: “No motor vehicle shall be fitted with any multi-toned horn giving a succession of different notes”. Blowing horns unnecessarily in silence zones, junctions, using multi-toned horns and pressure horns aided by engine pressure were illegal, said an official. “While such a violation attracts a fine, which could be up to Rs 300 at places like Delhi and Chandigarh, there was no such provision in the district so far,” claimed a local resident.
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Ensure early elections to new MCs The much awaited first general elections to Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) were finally held on May 15. With this, the second MC in the state has been formally constituted, the first being in Faridabad. The Hooda government in March, 2010, had notified proposed formation of seven new MCs viz. Ambala, Hisar, Karnal, Panchkula, Panipat, Hisar and Yamunanagar. Unfortunately, the notification in respect of Panchkula MC was quashed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the matter is now sub-judice before the Supreme Court. There are apprehensions that the other MCs might face the same fate. Amidst all this, the state government owes explanation as to why did it issued a notification only at the eleventh hour when the elections to erstwhile municipal councils/committees and PRIs situated within the limits of these new bodies were due? Why didn’t it initiated the whole exercise earlier so as to ensure completion of all formalities well in time? The lackadaisical attitude of the government has resulted in indefinite delay in holding of civic elections at these places. It is hoped that the Chief Minister would act seriously by ordering expediting the whole process along with rectifying all shortcomings so as to ensure early elections to these newly carved MCs. The provisional figures of Census 2011 have come out which may become handy for state government in convincing the courts for need of new MCs. HEMANT KUMAR, Ambala City Readers are invited to write to us. Send your mail, in not more than 200 words, at haryana@tribuneindia.com or write in at: Letters, Haryana Plus, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030.
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Sirsa, May 19