The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Bijli Nigam to launch VDS from November 1 Tribune News Service Hisar, October 24 In view of the persistent demand of consumers, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has decided to launch a voluntary disclosure scheme (VDS) for domestic, non-domestic and industrial consumers to declare their unauthorised extension of load voluntarily without paying any penalty. The scheme will be available for two months from November 1 to December 31. An official spokesperson for the DHBVN said here that a very simple procedure had been laid for declaring the load under the VDS. The domestic and non-domestic consumers might declare the extended load by submitting an “Application and Agreement (A&A)” form along with advance consumption deposit (ACD). They need not submit any terms and conditions forms or affidavits. The consumers were not required to submit any fresh test report also up to 20 KW load. They might submit a self-declaration form. However, for extension of load beyond 20 KW, a fresh test report was required to be submitted. Their load would be regularised without any penalty charges. He said the industrial consumers might declare their unauthorised load on the A&A form along with revised test report and consumption security and service connection charges for extended load. They also need not submit any terms and conditions forms and affidavits. The extension of load would be regularised with the existing system if lines and transformers could take up the extended load. In case the existing system could not take up the declared load, the consumer would be asked to remove the unauthorised load. In case the extended load caused change in category of consumers from low tension to high tension, the consumer would be required to declare his contract demand and change to HT pressure of supply by completing all other necessary formalities. If extended load necessitated installation of metering equipment of higher rating the consumer would be provided the same, if not available with the Nigam. He said the change of category among DS, NDS, LT, HT or Bulk Supply would be allowed provided the consumer deposited the consumption security. He said the extension of load would be deemed to be regularised from the date of submission of the A&A form by the applicant in the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer concerned. As such, the consumers need not go to the office after completing the formalities in the beginning. However, the benefit of the scheme would be permitted to the consumers who were not defaulters or who had made entire payment of their all outstanding dues. The scheme would also be available to the consumers who had already applied for extension of load and their application were under process.
	Admn to launch drive to check child, bonded labour Our Correspondent Kurukshetra, October 24 The district administration has decided to initiate steps to curb child and bonded labour. A special checking campaign will be launched to detect child and bonded labourers working at brick-kilns as well as dhabas and shops situated on national highways. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner Mandeep Singh Barar while addressing the district officers at a meeting held here recently. Directing the district officers, Barar said the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) concerned, accompanied by Labour Department officers, would conduct the checking operation by raiding brick-kilns, construction sites as well as dhabas and shops on national highways to check child and bonded labourers and register cases against the culprits. Barar asked all the block officers, block development and panchayat officers and the executive officers of municipal councils and municipal committees to ensure that all the manholes had been covered within their respective jurisdictions and submit certificates by October 31 certifying that none of the manholes under their respective areas remained uncovered. He directed the municipal council and municipal committee officers to take steps to remove encroachments in the urban areas. He asked them to bring reports of the illegal encroachments on government lands and that of the illegal encroachments removed from the government lands in their respective areas when they attend the next meeting so that a decision could be taken on the removal of the illegal encroachments. Directing municipal committee, Public Works Department and HUDA authorities, Barar said the construction and repair of different roads in the district should be initiated on a war-footing because people were facing inconvenience due to bad condition of the roads in some areas. He invited proposals to be executed under the MNREGA scheme til October 31. Laying stress on mutual cooperation among different departments, Barar said all the departments should complete the developmental works at the earliest because it had been observed that sometimes the completion of some important developmental projects were delayed due to lack of mutual cooperation among the departments. Keeping in view the ensuing Diwali festival, the Deputy Commissioner also directed the officers concerned to take samples of sweets and send them for testing to a laboratory. He also reviewed the working of various departments, including electricity, agriculture, irrigation, education and revenue, and district rural development agency.
	Karnal village emerges as model of rural development Bhanu P Lohumi/TNS Gharaunda (Karnal), October 24 The non-descript village of Batsara in the Gharaunda block of Karnal district has emerged as a model of rural development and is vying with the urban areas in basic facilities being provided to the people. Situated along the National Highway, the 700-year-old village is making a steady progress to fulfil the dream of former President APJ Abdul Kalam to have urban facilities in the rural areas. A sum of Rs 62 crore has been spent on the village during the past two years and a number of development works are in progress and the village can boast of having all facilities available in the urban areas. The village has adequate water supply, concrete alleys, primary health centre, and delivery hut for expectant mothers and total sanitation with toilets in more than 99 per cent households. The implementation of the Indira Gandhi Water Supply Scheme (WSS) has improved the availability of potable water and the government has provided a water connection and 200 litre tank free of cost to each Scheduled Caste family. “The village has made spectacular progress and received adequate grants from the government, but some works are still to be done,” says village sarpanch Rajendra Singh. He said in addition to the installation of 220-KV power house constructed at a cost of Rs 60 crore over 16 acres, development works worth crores of rupees had been completed during his tenures and every child in the age group of 6-14 years was enrolled in schools. The village has earned a name in sports also and to promote sports, a stadium covering an area of six acres has been constructed at a cost of Rs 45 lakh and women self-help groups have been formed to empower women and make them self-reliant.
	Campaign to check drunken driving launched Sunit Dhawan /TNS Gurgaon, October 24 As part of its road safety campaign, the Gurgaon police launched a “Respect the Road, Don’t Drink and Drive” programme to educate the masses against the ill-effects of drunken driving here today. Addressing mediapersons on the occasion, Haryana ADGP-cum-Gurgaon police Commissioner Surjeet Singh Deswal said motivating the residents to follow road safety rules was vital to traffic management. He said, “Especially during the festive season and early winters, the practice of consuming liquor increases, which leads to a rise in the number of road accidents”. “A drunk driver is like a suicide-bomber, who puts his own as well as others’ life in danger,” Deswal said, adding that the Gurgaon police had launched the programme to educate the masses through the media and a concerted awareness campaign. “Road accidents claim more lives than murders,” he said. He added that while it was not within the reach of the police to bring down the number of murder cases, the occurrence of accidents could certainly be checked with some extra care and caution. He said in past nine months, 10,592 challans had been issued for drunken driving in Gurgaon and 60 persons had been arrested. Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Mittal and DCP (Traffic) Bharti Arora were also present.
	Fitness Drive by Police department Overweight cops lose kilos Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 24 The Haryana police is laying emphasis on fitness of its personnel and as result of the fitness drive launched by the Police Department, the overweight police personnel have lost weight up to 5 to 10 kg. While stating this here, a spokesman of the Police Department said under the fitness drive, overweight police personnel had been identified and deputed in the police line where they were subjected to various kinds of physical exercises to reduce their weight. He said the department was focusing on the fitness of police personnel. Health check-ups were conducted periodically for the convenience of the police personnel and proper treatment was given to those found suffering from any disease. He said the Central and the state governments had launched a number of schemes for the welfare of police personnel and their families. The state government had decided to provide various commodities to the police personnel at concessional rates on the pattern of CSD canteen. A central police canteen (CPC) would be opened at police line, Gurgaon, from November 1 where all kinds of commodities would be available at concessional rates to the police personnel, he said. Sri Ram Police Public School had also been set up recently at the Bhondsi Police Training Centre to provide quality education to the wards of police personnel, he added.
	Haryana PWD engineer becomes Indian Buildings Congress chief Yoginder Gupta/TNS Chandigarh, October 24 In a rare honour to the Haryana Public Works (Buildings & Roads) Department, its engineer-in-chief Mahesh Kumar has been selected as the president of the Indian Buildings Congress. This honour was bestowed on Mahesh Kumar during the 17th annual convention of the Congress held in Delhi recently. It is for the first time that any Haryana PWD engineer has been honoured for this assignment. The Indian Buildings Congress is a prominent national body of buildings and built environment. Structural engineers and all the professionals connected with built environment, like administrators, financiers, planners, developers, architects, engineers of all disciplines, horticulturists, builders, researchers, teachers and manufacturers of building materials are members of this organisation. Earlier, Mahesh Kumar was selected as senior vice-president of the Congress in 2010 and as vice-president in 2009. Normally, the Indian Buildings Congress is headed by the engineer-in-chief of the CPWD or some other Central engineering department. In his presidential address, Mahesh Kumar said in next one year through the aegis of the Indian Buildings Congress, a large number of seminars on current topics like earthquake-resistant buildings, appropriate use of water in construction, re-engineering in buildings and retrofitting of buildings would be held. He said stress would be laid on the adoption of public-private partnership methodologies in building construction. A large number of technical committees for drafting various construction codes and state-of-the-art reports would be constituted. Besides a large number of expert consultants throughout the country would be appointed, who would certify the quality of the buildings. He said an online advisory service to answer individuals’ queries on building construction or built environment would be started. Mahesh Kumar (51) joined the Haryana PWD as sub-divisional engineer in February 1983 and served in various positions. He was declared an outstanding concrete engineer of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana by the Indian Concrete Institute in September 2008. Mahesh Kumar has also written several technical and research papers relating to building infrastructure, especially relating to protection against seismic forces. He has been very innovative in bringing new ideas for improving the working and quality of the works of the Haryana PWD. One such example is the mobile maintenance highway vans, which have been developed within the department to repair the potholes and patchwork.
	No-Confidence Motion Rewari Zila Parishad chief gets stay Nawal Kishore Rastogi Rewari, October 24 A stay granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court has provided reprieve to the Rewari Zila Parishad chairperson Pramila Yadav, who has been facing a no-confidence motion, recently initiated by 12 of the 16 councillors of the parishad. A meeting of the councillors, which had been convened by Deputy Commissioner CG Rajini Kaanthan in his office here on October 21 to decide the fate of the chairperson, was eventually called off in view of the high court’s injunction. The meeting was attended by 11 councillors - Anuj Bala, Ekta Yadav, Raj Bala, Geeta Kumari, Seema Devi, Suresh Devi, Sushma Yadav, Kanwar Singh, Niranjan Lal, Dalbir Singh and Bijender. Later, they made it known that their unity against the chairperson was unshakable. Interestingly, zila parishad chief Pramila Yadav, who had earlier been elevated to the post with the blessings of local minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav and MP Rao Inderjit Singh, lost Capt Yadav’s backing recently after she ignored Capt Yadav and sought the Chief Minister’s sponsorship in the wake of “differences” cropping up between the Chief Minister and Capt Yadav following his losing the finance portfolio in a recent reshuffle by the CM. Recently when the Chief Minister attended a tea party hosted by Pramila Yadav at her residence here, things went haywire and the zila parishad councillors owing allegiance to Capt Yadav initiated a no-confidence motion against the parishad chief. Under such circumstances, apparently with the covert support of the CM’s camp, Pramila Yadav filed a petition in the high court, which issued an injunction while posting the matter for hearing on January 10, 2012.
	TERI holds environment educators’ meet Sunit Dhawan Tribune News Service Gurgaon, October 24 With a view to promoting education for sustainable development (ESD) and reorient society towards sustainable environmental practices, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) organised a conference for environment educators here recently. “It aims at promoting development that is environmentally sound, socially equitable, culturally sensitive and economically just,” said Ranjana Saikia, director, Educating Youth for Sustainable Development (EYSD) Division, TERI. Schoolteachers and principals from various parts of the country attended sessions on “Teachers’ competencies for ESD”, “Carbon Neutralisation in a School”, “Integrating Essential (Environmental) Concepts in Curriculum” during the three-day conference. School educators, experts, academicians and government officials also discussed their concerns, practices followed by them and practical aspects of environment education and policymaking. “The underlying idea was to sensitise all stakeholders of schools, including teachers, principals, students and parents, about the eco-friendly practices in the key areas like waste management, energy conservation, water harvesting and other ‘green’ practices,” said Livleen Kahlon, area convener of the EYSD division at TERI. Government policymakers as well as the senior functionaries of the CBSE and the NCERT were also roped in for such events for their worthwhile contribution and guidance, she added. The organisers maintained that environment education and awareness area at TERI was engaged in the task of creating an informed group of young citizens for whom healthy environmental practices were part of their daily lives. Rajiv Seth, Register, TERI University, said: “Environment education is now becoming an integral part of our school curriculum and this conference is an effort to initiate a larger movement of educators where dangers of climate change are discussed and their solutions sought. For sustainability, development should not come at cost of environment. Inclusive development is the need of the day and for this, teachers and students need to be the torchbearers”.
	German prof visits Murthal varsity Our Correspondent Sonepat, October 24 Prof Rainer Haag from Fiere University of Berlin in Germany visited Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology (DCRUST), Murthal, on an invitation from the Chemistry Department of the university. He met HS Chahal, Vice-Chancellor of the university, and discussed about the new extensions in chemistry like nanotechnology and nanomedicine. The Vice-Chancellor desired for signing an MoU with Berlin University saying that it would facilitate the exchange facilities and new techniques as well as benefit the faculty and students of the two institutions. RK Arora, registrar of the university, and Prof BP Singh, chairman of the department, were also present on the occasion. Later, Prof Haag delivered an expert lecture on the use of nanomaterials in nanomedicines at a workshop organised by the department. “Chemistry is being used in every field nowadays and as a result of it, the field of nanotechnology and nanomedicine is continuously increasing,” he said and added that forming of a group and availability of equipment was necessary for the success of any research work. The Chemistry Department also organised a one-day national workshop on Recent Trends in Chemistry (RTC-2011) earlier. Prof AK Gangoli from IIT-Delhi, who was the keynote speaker on the occasion, delivered a lecture on nanotechnology and its techniques. Prof AK Prasad and Prof SK Sharma from Delhi University delivered their lectures on enzymatic actions and drug delivery. Dr Anil Kumar from BITS-Pilani explained the applications of the recent research made on ionic liquids in biological activities.
	This Diwali, bakery gifts replace sweets Attar Singh Tribune News Service Ambala, October 24 Demand of bakery gift packs has witnessed nearly 20 per cent increase during the current festive season due to an increase in cases of adulteration in milk products and other sweets. Ajay Gulati, president of the Sadar Bazar Market Association, Ambala Cantt, said most of the sweets manufacturers in the town had expressed concern over the fall in demand of sweets this year as a majority of people had switched over to gift packs and attractive bakery products during the Diwali. He said nearly 2,500 retailers in the district were selling gift packs, including bakery products and dry fruits, during the current festival season. He added that dry fruits worth Rs 1.25 crore were sold during the festive season every year in the district. Gulati said the prices of dry fruits had gone up by 40 to 65 per cent in the past one year and were beyond the reach of most of the people. He said the confectioners in the town were getting good orders for bakery gift packs in affordable price ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 300 each. According to sources, sale of gift packs containing crockery and decoration pieces are also attracting buyers. Bihari Lal, a local sweetshop owner, said the production of synthetic milk had emerged as the biggest problem due to which the confidence of the consumers was waning from dairy products.
	Play Safe This Diwali Dos While bursting firecrackers: Avoid loose and synthetic clothes Opt for an open area and avoid narrow lanes Elders should accompany their children Keep a bucket full of water nearby In case of a burn injury, use toothpaste, if any medicine is not available and rush to a doctor, if needed Don’ts Don’t burst firecrackers Near any oil or petrol deposit Near haystacks and wooden stocks and other combustible material Inside the houses Near factories, industries and educational institutions Near forest
	Recover tax arrears: Kiran Choudhry Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 24 Haryana Excise and Taxation Minister Kiran Choudhry recently directed all District Excise and Taxation Commissioners (ST) to ensure recovery of arrears, both old as well as current. She also warned the officers concerned those who had less than 33 per cent of the recovery during the current financial year till now would have to explain the reason. Choudhry, who was presiding over a meeting of the District Excise and Taxation Commissioners (ST) here, said there were areas where there was growth but the recovery of arrears was less. Expressing concern over the issue of pending arrears, she asked them to prepare a list of arrears which had been pending from April 1, 1990. She also directed them to prepare a list of arrears which had been pending for the past seven years and submit it to her by December 31. Reviewing the inter-district checking under the supervision of JETCs (Range), the Minister said it should be more frequent and be monitored very closely by the JETCs (Range). She directed them to submit monthly progress reports of inter-district checking. Choudhry said the checking of transport vehicles should be strict so that more revenue could be generated.
	Haryana Urdu Akademi’s mushaira 17 poets enthral audience SD Sharma Panchkula, October 24 “Meri peshani (forehead) pe ugti ye paseene ki kli, Mujh ko din raat ke sab raaz btaa deti hai/Voh jo asraar (secrets) chhupe rehte hain nazron se meri, gosh-e-ehsaas ko chupke se btaa deti hai.” The credence of the otherwise rich couplet reflecting intuitive consciousness gets glorified as it comes from a super police cop by profession and a poet by passion, Rajbir Deswal, IG (CID), Haryana, chief guest at a mushaira organised by the Haryana Urdu Akademi here recently. Appreciating the grandeur of the Urdu language, he emphasised on its promotion and propagation linking it with employment as it is on the verge of extinction. As many as 17 poets enthralled the audience by reciting their choicest poems on varied themes of socio-cultural relevance, besides satirical ones on the issues ailing the society, governance and depraving ethical values. Defying his age, 90 plus poet Padmashri KL Zakir expressed his romantic zeal in “Safar mein chalte huye khush adaaon ki shokhiyan pakadte hein, ham iss umar bhi yaro titliyan pakdate hein?”. Emulating him, akademi director Dr Desraj Sapra too uttered “Mohabbat ke geeton ko gaata guzar jaa, khshi ke taraano ko gaata guzar jaa...” Expressing his ultimate desire and dedication, Dr Nafas Amabalvi recited “Mere khyal ki parwaaz bas tumin tak thi, phir uske baad mujhe mera aasman naa mila”. The acclaimed poet of humour TN Raz, on the rising number of devout disciples of so-called yog gurus expressed his concern as “Yoga asan aur pranayaam hi ke zor perr, bhakatno ko leke swami ek din udd jayeinge” and won lofty applause. Dr Namita Rakesh, Saba Hoshiarpuri, Sunita Raina, Dr Ayub Khan, Dr Usman Ulhaq Siddiqi, Shams Tabrezi,Siraj Paiker, Atit Zia, Mikash Ambalavi, Kulwant Singh Rafiq and ND Khushdil also recited their poems. Akademi secretary Shams Tabrezi conducted the mushaira with admirable competence. Earlier, a memento and souvenir were presented to the chief guest, Rajbir Deswal, who honoured the poets. Kashmiri Lal Zakir, honorary deputy chairman, Haryana Urdu Akademi, also addressed the students enrolled for diploma course in Urdu.
	Saraswati Kala Sangam celebrates foundation day SD Sharma Panchkula, October 24 The Saraswati Kala Sangam, an organisation engaged in the promotion of classical music and performing arts, celebrated its 15th foundation day with a variety programme held at the open-air stage of Satluj Public School recently. Amateur artistes in the age group of seven to 70 years participated in the programme. Saraswati Kala Sangam president Col Inderjit Ahluwalia presented Ganesh vandana, which was followed by Saraswati vandana and bhajan by Piyusha Mitra, a national HRD scholarship holder in classical music. Ghazals and Punjabi songs by Charu Sharma, Gagandeep, Kaushiki, Satinder Trikha and Achla Dungle and dances by Deevasnhi, Muskan, Molina, Rishi and Dhwani were appreciated. Noted music maestro of Rabindra sangeet and Gargi Harder regaled the audience with semi-classical songs and ghazals like “Aaj jaane ki zidd na karo” and more.
	Tributes paid to police martyrs Nawal Kishore Rastogi Rewari, October 24 Police personnel from various parts of the district participated in a district-level function held to mark Police Commemoration Day at the Police Lines here recently. KK Sharma, Inspector-General of the Southern Police Range of the state, was the first to place a wreath at the Police Martyrs’ Memorial here. DSP Mahender Singh Rana and others followed him in paying floral tributes to the police and paramilitary forces’ personnel who lost their lives while serving the country. Highlighting the genesis of Police Martyrs’ Day, DSP Rana gave a graphic account of the fierce encounter that took place between a police party, headed by DSP Karam Singh and comprising 20 other police personnel, and the Chinese army at Hot Springs in the Ladakh region on October 21, 1959. He said among the 10 policemen who had lost their lives in the attack, two jawans, Beg Raj and Makhan Lal, were from the Rewari district. He read out the names of those police and paramilitary personnel who sacrificed their lives in the service of the country during the past one year. On the occasion, a camp was also held in which 20 police personnel, including Mamata Sauda, DSP (under training) and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ran Singh, donated blood.