Sirsa, May 19
The Ottu Lake “scam”, for which the government has suspended 30 engineers of the Irrigation Department here, involves allegations of payment of excessive rates to contractors and also payment of more money than the work actually executed.

Thirty engineers, including a Superintending Engineer, five Executive Engineers, three subdivision engineers and 19 junior engineers, were suspended by the government for “procedural irregularities” in the execution of earthwork for increasing the capacity of the sprawling Ottu Lake, spread over nearly 1,000 acres, in this 
district.

The inquiry report on which the action has been initiated reveals that rates ranging from Rs 54 to Rs 73 per cubic metre were approved for contractor agencies in phase I and phase II of the work.

However, the rates approved in the third phase (after a re-tendering process) came down to Rs 36 to Rs 48 per cubic metre, pointing to the likelihood of a fraud similar to the infamous 2-G scam.

Similarly, the area of the lake where earthwork was carried out, was measured as 758.24 acres by Total Station, a third-party measurement agency hired by the department, which was lesser than the area shown by the erring 
engineers.

Likewise, the inquiry report has mentioned certain entries made in the record and money paid on that basis, which, the report says, was not feasible given the quantum of work and the time mentioned against these works.

For instance, 6,848 cubic metres of earth was taken out and dumped at other places on a “reach distance” (RD) of 1,000 to 2,000 in four days.

At an RD 6,000 to 7,000 likewise, 54,591 cubic metre earthwork has been shown to have been executed in 14 days, then 16,046 cubic metres in the next seven days and 20,741 cubic metres during the next nine days.

At an RD 8,000 to 9,000, the engineers of the department have shown execution of 29,715 cubic metres in seven days and 47,332 cubic metres in the next 20 days.

The report also points to excessive payments to made to agencies for some work.

Though the engineers against whom the action has been initiated refuse to speak on the issue on record, sources in the department claimed that no financial irregularity was involved and some of the figures mentioned in the inquiry report were “contrary to the facts.”

Referring to the figures mentioned in the reply against the inquiry report filed by the Superintending Engineer of the Bhakhra Water Services Circle here to his Chief Engineer, the sources maintained the Total Solutions measured the area as 758.24 acres at the bottom of excavation and 761.43 at the mean level, while the department made the actual payments for 758.74 acres.

As for the unreasonably higher rates allowed to the agencies in the first two phases, the sources in the department say that when the first phase started, the issue of dumping the estimated 70 lakh cubic metres of earth was the biggest problem before them.

Such huge quantities of earth could not have been dumped on the banks, as it would have rendered the banks several metres high and the soil would eventually have been washed away into the lake again during the rains.

Jind, May 19
The recent development of two girls undertaking "ghurchari" at the time of their marriage has not gone down well with elders of the Jat community, who have condemned it. The Vaish community has described dance by women in the public at the time of marriages as "unacceptable" and has called for imposing a ban on it.

A meeting of the Haryana Joint Action Committee for Jat Reservation held at Jat Dharamshala here on Sunday, which was chaired by Nafe Singh Nain, adopted a resolution condemning the act of girls undertaking "ghurchari" at the time of their marriage.

Monika of Kaparwas village in Bhiwani district had become the first girl in the state to undertake "ghurchari" on May 4, while her namesake, a resident of Chappar village in the same district, undertook "ghurchari" on 
May 10.

While a section of women and some social organisations with a modern outlook had welcomed the development, some representatives of the Jat community and khaps had expressed anger.

They had claimed that this activity was promoted by certain individuals or groups who wanted cheap publicity in name of development of the fair sex.

The meeting, which announced a sub-committee of six members to push for the demand of reservation for the Jat community denounced "ghurchari" for girls, claiming that it served no purpose. The meeting called for a boycott on such an activity.

The Vaish community, under the banner of the Haryana unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Aggarwal Samaj, which also held a meeting in the town on Sunday, also came out with a similar "diktat". The samaj described dance by women in the public at the time of marriages as "unwanted and undesired".

Chaired by former Haryana minister Mange Ram Gupta, the meeting called for imposing a ban on it. The samaj welcomed the withdrawal of a controversial advertisement from TV channels in which a person belonging to the Vaish community was shown as a tax offender.

Rohtak, May 19
Has the PGIMS, Rohtak, has become unsafe over the years as far as the security aspect of the institution is concerned? This question is agitating everyone’s mind after last night’s incident of firing that left not only patients but also the medical fraternity shocked.

With the cases of violence and manhandling rising here, security has acquired the centrestage at the premier medical institute. This was the main focus of the strike by resident doctors of the PGIMS last month, claims Dr Gunjan Chaudhary, president of the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) which asked the authorities concerned to install CCTV cameras and post well-trained guards at all sensitive points. He said the main trigger of the strike were repeated incidents of manhandling and threatening of doctors on duty, especially those in the casualty wing.

“Security at the campus and in the hospital had been dissatisfactory managed as it was by a contractor close to influential persons and the authorities concerned had no control over him, claims a senior doctor. He said the situation was unlikely to improve unless security was handed over to professional persons with a surety of work freedom.

“The firing incident speaks volumes for inadequate police security and vigil, which was perhaps meant for VIPs only,” claimed Yoginder Dahiya, a lawyer and social activist. He lamented that the PCR van present near the firing spot failed to act in time and arrest the accused.

One surely did not expect such incidents of violence or clashes inside the medical institute meant to provide care and solace to patients, said local resident Jagmati. The government should ensure such incidents do not recur. Dr CS.Dhull, Director of the PGIMS, said two armed cops of the Haryana police would henceforth be posted in the emergency ward. CCTV cameras and metal detectors would also be installed soon. 

Chandigarh, May 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today made it clear that it wanted private schools in Haryana to display on the notice boards the rules to reserve 25 per cent seats for the economically weaker strata of society.

As a petition filed in public interest seeking the implementation of the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003, came up for hearing before the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Adarsh Goel and Justice AK Mittal, counsel Satbir Singh Hooda suggested that the relevant portion of the rules should be displayed on the notice board. It would enable the students in the category to apply.

The Bench took on record his suggestion and fixed August 18 as the next date of hearing in the case.

Hooda had earlier contended that rule 34-A of the rules made it mandatory for private schools in Haryana to reserve 25 per cent seats for the EWS. But this was not being done. 

Chandigarh, May 19
The government has decided to increase the special camping and regular activities grant money paid to NSS volunteers and hold a state-level NSS camp every year in the state. While the special camping grant has been hiked from Rs 300 to Rs 450, the regular activities grant has been raised from Rs 150 to Rs 250.

This was conveyed by Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal while presiding over a NSS State Advisory Committee meeting held here today.

It also decided to organise state and district-level NSS youth integration camps on the pattern of youth festivals in the state. Expressing concern over the committee meeting being held after a couple of years, Bhukkal directed the officers concerned to hold at least two meetings in a year.

The committee decided that a state-level NSS camp would be organised by Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, in October.

She suggested that NSS volunteers, like NCC volunteers, should be included in the state Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations and trained for the purpose.

Sirsa, May 19
Demanding stern action against cops responsible for allegedly beating up teachers and keeping girl students in illegal confinement in a police station, the dharna and boycott of examination duties by lecturers, technical officers, workshop instructors and foremen instructors working in two government polytechnics continued today.

The agitating teachers have been agitating for the revision of their pay scales as per the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) norms for the lecturers and the sixth pay panel for the workshop instructors and the foreman instructors.

Ugly scenes were witnessed when the police acted against teachers on Monday and took six of them into custody.

The teachers have also demanded the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against them and stern action against the cops who allegedly beat up the teachers and alleged took away five girls to a police station by “dragging them from their hair” and kept them in illegal custody there for the whole day.

The staff of the government polytechnics are holding an agitation throughout the state on a call of the Technical Officers Welfare Association, the Polytechnic Lecturers Welfare Association, the Workshop Instructors and the Foremen Instructors Association for the revision of their pay scales.

Representatives of these associations today went to meet the Financial Commissioner of the Technical Education Department, Ajit M Sharan, for talks on his invitation.

Taj Mohammad, a spokesperson for the associations, said the teachers were particularly sore at the atrocious attitude adopted by the police in dealing with the peacefully sitting agitators.

Six teachers were arrested and criminal cases for preventing public servant from performance of official duty, rioting, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation were registered against 11 on Monday.

A woman teacher of the Government Polytechnic for Girls alleged requesting anonymity that five girl students of the polytechnic were picked by the police from their hostel room at on Tuesday and were kept under illegal confinement in the police station throughout the day.

The police however, later let off the five girls in the evening, but showed the arrest of the teacher, who was also taken away along with the girls.

A spokesperson for the district police today said the police had registered a case under Sections 341 and 342 of the IPC against five girls - Pankaj, Jyoti, Beenu, Anshul and Sapna - and a teacher, Bhajan Lal, as they were trying to stop others from appearing in an exam.

Ellenabad (Sirsa), May 19
Demanding immediate arrest of those responsible for the gruesome murder of a woman and her granddaughter in their residence here on May 5 and handing over investigation into the case to the CBI, the sangharsh samiti of local residents started an indefinite relay dharna at Panchmukhi Chowk here today.

Eleven residents sat on the first day of the relay dharna today.

Former INLD MLA Bhagi Ram, Congress (Urban) president Niranjan Talwaria, Abhey Singh Khod and several other prominent persons of the area were present in the sit-in today.

The local police had not only so far failed in identifying the culprits, it had rather acted in a barbaric manner by torturing the family members of the victim in the CIA police station, alleged Bhagi Ram, a former MLA.

The protestors maintained residents of Ellenabad had lost trust in the local police. Local resident, particularly women, were feeling unsafe, they added. The agitators said local residents wanted the matter to be handed over to the CBI immediately.

The sangharsh samiti leaders said their peaceful protest would continue till the culprits were nabbed.

Chandigarh, May 19
The Haryana Agriculture Department has advised the farmers to withhold the sowing of cotton crop due to the possibility of light rain with moderate winds on May 20 and 21, said AK Yadav, Director, Agriculture, here.

According to the weather forecast released by the India Meteorological Department, Chandigarh, a few pockets and locations in Haryana would have light-to-moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by hailstorm and thunder squall from May 19 to 22.

He advised the farmers to save “tura” of wheat during this period. Other stakeholders were advised to save wheat grain lying in the open. He said farmers should also take advantage of the forecast for agricultural operations and activities.

Rewari, May 19
Surender Singh Phogat, SHO of Kosli, has been sent to the Police Lines here by SP Sanjay Kumar.

The SHO faced this action owing to his inability to apprehend the culprits who had looted Rs 6 lakh from trader Om Prakash Bansal at his shop in the Grain Market, Kosli, on May 3.

Ellenabad (Sirsa), May 19
Demanding immediate arrest of those responsible for the gruesome murder of a woman and her granddaughter in their residence here on May 5 and handing over investigation into the case to the CBI, the sangharsh samiti of local residents started an indefinite relay dharna at Panchmukhi Chowk here today.

Eleven residents sat on the first day of the relay dharna today.Former INLD MLA Bhagi Ram, Congress (Urban) president Niranjan Talwaria, Abhey Singh Khod and several other prominent persons of the area were present in the sit-in today.

The local police had not only so far failed in identifying the culprits, it had rather acted in a barbaric manner by torturing the family members of the victim in the CIA police station, alleged Bhagi Ram, a former MLA. The protestors maintained residents of Ellenabad had lost trust in the local police. Local resident, particularly women, were feeling unsafe, they added. 

The agitators said local residents wanted the matter to be handed over to the CBI immediately. The sangharsh samiti leaders said their peaceful protest would continue till the culprits were nabbed.