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RTI reply exposes govt claims
Education Dept yet to find suitable candidates
Ranbir Singh Hooda’s statue unveiled
Hooda to meet farmers today
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Agitating farmers hold mahapanchayat today
Mullana questions Chautala’s silence
Guv lauds Kunjpura Sainik School for achievements
HC: Take action on removal
MP for education based on Vedic values
One killed, 4 injured as car overturns
7 booked for dowry death
Villagers lock power substation
3,858 cases of power theft detected
Sewadar, driver caught stealing money from gurdwara
Decision on land acquisition hailed
Control room at Sirsa to fix pension delay
Special chance for MPhil students
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5 years on, Reliance yet to set up SEZ in Gurgaon
Sunit Dhawan/TNS
Gurgaon, July 24 Replying to an RTI application, the Department of Industries and Commerce of the Haryana Government has said that between 2004 and 2010, the state authorities had acquired land measuring 1,484 acres, 4 kanals and 19 marlas in the revenue estates of Khandsa, Narsingpur, Mohammedpur Jharsa, Garoli Khurd and Harsaru villages in the district for developing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by the HSIIDC. However, of this, land measuring 1,383.68 acres was transferred to Reliance-Haryana SEZ Limited, a joint venture company of HSIIDC and Reliance Venture Limited (100 per cent owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited). While no SEZ has been developed on the land even after the lapse of five years, the cost of the land in question has multiplied during the period. “Thus, the Haryana Government’s move has served no other purpose than acquiring land from farmers and other original owners at low rates and handing it over to big companies like Reliance, which have benefited a great deal due to price escalation without having to put in any efforts,” asserted noted RTI activist Subhash, who is also the state convener of Haryana Suchana Adhikar Manch and on whose RTI application the information has been furnished. Subhash further pointed out that according to the RTI reply, nearly 1,484 acres of land had been acquired for the Reliance-Haryana SEZ, while about 1,383 acres were finally given for the project. “Hence, where the remaining 101 acres of land (the present market value of which is about Rs 500 crore) went is also not clear from the RTI reply. Even if it was neutralised/released by the state government after acquisition, it also makes the whole deal questionable,” he maintained.
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Improvement in School Curriculum Geetanjali Gayatri/TNS
Chandigarh, July 24 The department, earlier this year, had decided to provide an internship opportunity to postgraduates like MBA or mass communication and journalism or media and B.Tech from the universities or institutes affiliated to the universities in the state. The idea was to get a first-hand report on the “failings” within the system by “employing” these interns to study its working closely and preparing a subject-wise feedback on their findings. For the purpose, the department had decided on the payment of a monthly stipend of Rs 15,000 for up to a year and a laptop with Internet facility to the selected interns. “We wanted to employ an intern for nearly one year. Every district would have been allotted to one intern, meaning thereby that we required 21 interns in all. Though we received a good response, we were unable to find ‘suitable candidates’ who met our requirements,” Vijayendra Kumar, Director-General, school education, said. The department was on a lookout for fresh passouts for its projects such as quality initiative coordinators, community mobilisers and information communication technology coordinators. At the recently concluded interviews conducted by department officials, the candidates who had applied for the programme were rejected after their knowledge in the subject they had passed out in was found “inadequate”. “We have not given up yet. We will invite applications for second time,” he added. The plan is that once candidates clear the interview, they will be provided induction training. The aspirants for these assignments will be exposed to various aspects in the Human Resource Development like quality initiatives and manpower requirements, budgeting and financing, community mobilisation training programmes and management during the induction training. This will give them clarity on what the department is expecting of them. However, this is only once that the department is able to zero in on the “right candidates”. For now, the hunt is still on.
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Ranbir Singh Hooda’s statue unveiled
Karnal, July 24 While unveiling the statue installed by Satish Sharma, president, Sarswat Brahmin Sabha, and his associates, Sumita Singh, MLA and president Haryana Mahila Congress, said the country could never forget freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for independence. She said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is son of Ranbir Singh Hooda, was also following his father’s footsteps and had raised the freedom fighters pension from Rs 1,100 to Rs 5,100 besides giving a grant of Rs 51,000 for marriage of daughters and granddaughters of freedom fighters. She said a library would be set up in his memory. Local MP Arvind Sharma announced to give Rs 1 lakh from MPLAD fund for the library. |
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Hooda to meet farmers today
Ambala July 24 The farmers have been sitting on a relay fast for the past 64 days to protest against the acquisition of their 1,852 acres of land for setting up an Industrial Model Township (IMT) there. The secretary of the Jameen Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Bhupinder Singh, while confirming it today said the samiti had received a message through a former MLA, Nirmal Singh, in this regard. The latter had contested the last Assembly election from Ambala Cantt. The maximum part of the acquired land fell in this constituency, he added. It is learnt that Nirmal Singh will reach the dharna site that is continuing in front of the civil secretariat at Ambala City, on Monday morning and will take the farmers with him to Chandigarh to the Chief Minister’s residence. Congress sources said the Chief Minister might announce the cancellation of the IMT project to be set up on the acquired land and the notification of section 4 issued with regard to the said land could also be withdrawn. The Chief Minister had announced on Friday that section 6 of Land Acquisition Act would not be issued with regard to the land on which section 4 was issued on or after February 1, 2011.
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Agitating farmers hold mahapanchayat today
Sushil Manav Tribune News Service
Fatehabad, July 24 While the farmers opposed to the project have announced a ‘mahapanchayat’ on Monday against the acquisition of their land, the NPCIL as well as the district authorities have launched a campaign to justify the project. The Haryana Government had issued a notification on July 29 last year for the acquisition of 1,313 acres, 5 kanal and 8 marla land of Gorakhpur village, 4 acres, 3 kanal and 14 marla land of Kajalheri village and 185 acres, 3 kanal and 17 marla land of Badopal village for setting up of the plant. The notification under section 6 has to be issued before July 28, as it has to be announced within one year of acquisition notice under section 4. Deputy Commissioner Ashok Meena today claimed that in all 1,009 farmers owning 922 acres of the total land had agreed to give their chunks of land in writing. He said that owners of 187 acres have given their oral consent to the acquisition, and only 98 farmers having 208 acres of land are against the acquisition of their land. Sanjay Gumasta, Chief Engineer and Project Manager of the GAPP, today said that post- Fukushima accident; the corporation had constituted four task teams to review the safety of existing Indian nuclear power plants. Besides, two task forces were set up to review the safety of two plants under construction — 1,000 MW Light Water Reactors at Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) and 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors at Kakrapar in Gujarat and Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. He said the detailed safety evaluation reports titled “Safety Evaluation of Indian Nuclear Power Plants, post-Fukushima Accident” along with the implementation status of the recommendation of the earlier safety reviews of Indian Nuclear Power Plants post-national and international events — Narora incident, Chernobyl incident and Three-Mile Island accidents — have been posted on the NPCIL website www.npcil.nic.in for the information of public. Gumasta said the Gorakhpur project would cost Rs 12,000 crore and it would have four reactors of 700 MW each. Meanwhile, the police is gearing up for tomorrow’s ‘mahapanchayat’ announced by the agitating farmers. SP Vivek Sharma said that elaborate arrangements had been made and the police was fully prepared to handle any situation.
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Mullana questions Chautala’s silence
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 24 In a press statement issued here, Mullana said the objectionable conduct of Akali Minister Sekhon threatening a Haryana officer with a criminal case for putting up the case of the state on Hansi Butana Canal and ‘toe-wall’ issues and unusual silence of Chautala family on the issue has exposed the deep collusion of Chautala and Badal family. It has proven that there was unholy alliance of personal interest between the two families. Mullana said if Chautala had the slightest faith in democracy, he should clarify his stand on the issue and dissociate himself from the ‘inappropriate behaviour’ of the Punjab minister, who had threatened to file a criminal case against the officer once Chautala comes to power, Mullana said, adding that Akalis knew that Chautala and his family did not care for state’s interest and would use strong arm and illegal tactics against their own officer to appease them, which is highly objectionable and expose their least concern for the state of Haryana, he added. Mullana said earlier also Chautala had used the Badal family’s tone and language to torpedo Haryana’s case on the crucial Hansi-Butana canal . He asked Chautala not to act like a ‘political puppet’ of the Akali Dal for the sake of some Assembly seats in Punjab.
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51st Founder’s Day Celebrations Bhanu P Lohumi/TNS
Karnal, July 24 The Governor, who was the chief guest at the 51st foundation day function of Sainik School, Kunjpura, near here, described the sainik schools as a "nursery" for preparing future soldiers and stressed that hard work alone was the key to success. Congratulating the school for glorious achievements, he said it had been rendering yeoman service to the nation since its inception on July 24, 1961, by grooming future defence officers. “It is a matter of great pride that the school is the proud recipient of the ‘Prestigious Rakshamantri Trophy’ seven times for sending the maximum number of cadets to the NDA, Khadavasla. The school also earned the distinction of having alumni like Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Chief of Army Staff Deepak Kapoor. Several Lietenant-Generals and their equivalents in the IAF and Navy have passed out from the school. The Governor honoured the distinguished students and former staff and alumni. The Governor also paid homage to the martyrs. Highlighting the achievements of the school, Col Arun Dutta, Principal, said it had got additional facilities like a neurobic lab, science park, skating rink, mini-stadium, volleyball courts, drill square, four tennis courts. The “Chief of Army Staff” best cadet trophy was bagged by cadet Jai Singh while Thaneswar House was adjudged as the best house. The NDA trophy was lifted by Kurukshetra House while Thansewar House in seniors and Chillianwala House in juniors lifted the academic trophy for the academic session.
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HC: Take action on removal
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 24 The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Adarsh Goel and Justice AK Mittal directed the Director-General to take a decision within two months on the legal notice sent by the rape victim, a peon in Government Middle School, Khirbi, Palwal district, demanding removal of Sukh Ram, a social studies teacher serving in the same school. The petitioner asserted Sukh Ram was convicted and sentenced to four-and-a-half-year imprisonment on October 20, 2010, and was currently on bail, but has not been removed from the service so far despite a legal notice having been sent three months ago.
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MP for education based on Vedic values
Hisar, July 24 He said Indian cultural traditions and modern education complimented each other. Vedic values were pertinent even in this age. Lauding the role played by the Arya Samaj he said the movement began with a view to rooting out social evils like the caste system and establishment of a truly secular society based on Indian cultural traditions. The MP said he had forwarded a proposal to the Railway Ministry to directly link the Hansi-Rohtak-Delhi route, something which would prove a lifeline for this part of the state. |
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One killed, 4 injured as car overturns
Jhajjar, July 24 According to reports, the accident took place when Krishan Lal of Gannaur town (Sonepat) along with his four family members- Vinod, Roshni, Sangeeta and Murti-was on his way to Bahadurgarh. Krishan Lal died on the spot. |
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7 booked for dowry death
Karnal, July 24 Seven persons, including husband Mukesh, brother-in-law Praveen, sister-in-law Kamini, mother-in-law Usha, and father-in-law Sita Ram, have been booked under Sections 304 B and 498 A, IPC. However, Shabnam’s in-laws maintained that she had hanged herself to death. Ravi, the deceased’s brother, said Shabnam’s in-laws used to torture her for dowry. Their demands were met many times but there was no end to their greed. The matter was even taken at the panchayat level but nothing came of it. |
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Villagers lock power substation
Sushil Manav Tribune News Service
Fatehabad, July 24 Villagers led by zila parishad vice-chairman Deepak Bhirdana and sarpanch Harbans Singh assembled outside the powerhouse this morning and locked its main gate in protest against the irregular power supply “We get power supply for two hours each in the morning and evening for our drinking water needs while in the night the authorities impose a cut from 3 am to 6 am besides several unannounced cuts,” alleged Bhirdana. He alleged that villagers could not sleep in the night due to mosquito bites without electric equipment. He maintained that the villagers had given land for the setting up of the 33-KV power substation on the assurance that they would get regular power supply. But the power situation had gone from bad to worse, he alleged. The zila parishad vice-chairman, who is also a senior Congress leader of the district, alleged that the villagers had met the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam authorities several times in the past, but nothing had been done to mitigate their problems. Later, the villagers opened the locks on the intervention of the DHBVN authorities on the promise that they would get uninterrupted power supply in future. The SDM, Baljit Singh, who also rushed to the village, assured them that he would bring their problem to the notice of senior officers. The villagers have threatened that they will not hesitate to damage the property of the DHBVN, in case their problem was not solved by tomorrow.
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3,858 cases of power theft detected
Hisar, July 24 A DHBVN spokesman said here that the field officials raided 26,248 premises out of which 3,858 consumers were found stealing power. The officials in the Operation Circle Hisar detected the highest number of 1,207 cases of theft cases followed by Faridabad 843, Gurgaon 836, Bhiwani 587, Narnaul 359 and Sirsa 26. He said that complaints against those 2,062 consumers who did not pay the penalty in time were sent to the police for registering criminal cases. The officials in the field have been directed to intensify the campaign against theft of electricity and officials in the Enforcement Wing have also been given targets for detection of theft. He said that since theft of electricity was the main reason of interruption in power supply the DHBVN was determined to curb the menace. Complaints would be lodged in special courts against the erring consumers under the provisions of the Electricity |
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Sewadar, driver caught stealing money from gurdwara
Taraori (Karnal), July 24 According to sources, sewadar Jaskaran Singh, alias Jassa, and driver Punjab Singh, regular employees of the SGPC, would apply adhesive to a cloth hanger and lower it into the “golak” and pull out whatever currency got attached to it. Partap Singh, president of gurdwara management committee, said CCTV cameras were recently got installed on the gurdwara premises, including the “golak” room. However, the accused turned away the face of the camera so that their activities were not recorded. Following that, the management asked a pilgrim to record their activities on a mobile camera. The recording showed driver stealing money from the “golak”, while Jasssa recited writings from the holy book. A special committee has been formed to recommend further action against them. A case has also been registered. — TNS
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Decision on land acquisition hailed
Hisar, July 24 In a statement issued here he said the step had been taken in the national interest so that any further acquisition of land in public interest could be done under the new central law which would be applicable to the entire country. Batra said Haryana’s land acquisition policy ensured that the farmers whose land was acquired ended up with enough funds to find an alternative means of livelihood. It was because of this feature that there had been no controversy over acquisition of land anywhere in Haryana. |
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Control room at Sirsa to fix pension delay
Sirsa, July 24 “The work of making smart cards and opening accounts of the beneficiaries is in the final phase now and over 95 per cent persons have been covered,” said Yudhbir Singh Khyalia, DC. Khyalia said he had appointed the City Magistrate, Sirsa, as the nodal officer for this purpose and the SDMs had been made overall in charge in their respective subdivisions. He said the pension of senior citizens, widows and physically differently abled persons would be transferred to their accounts from the headquarters in future, and the beneficiaries would be able to withdraw money from ATMs. The authorities would pay interest to all those whose pension had been delayed.
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Special chance for MPhil students
Sirsa, July 24 The academic council of the university that met here yesterday decided to allow submission of dissertation by 2006-07 batch students with a fine of Rs 3,000 and for the students of 2007-08 batch with a fine of Rs 2,500. — TNS |
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Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has summoned the agitated farmers of Panjokhra and five other villages for negotiation on Monday at Chandigarh.
Karnal, July 24
Fatehabad, July 24
