Chandigarh, February 26
After last night’s talks between the Jat protesters and the Haryana Government broke down, the latter, today, roped in the breakaway faction of the Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti led by Hawa Singh Sangwan to broker peace and defuse the escalating tension.

While seeking cooperation of the faction in convincing the agitators to withdraw their ongoing protest in Hisar, Sangwan said they were assured of a review of pending cases against “innocents”, registered during the Jat agitation in Mayyar last year.

“The Chief Minister has asked us to put in an application for the same. As far as the ongoing protest goes, we plan to visit the villages and appeal to the common Jat protester to refrain from joining the protest. We will tell them to await the lifting of the model code at the Centre, imposed due to elections, and propagate that the Haryana Backward Classes Commission set up by the government is on the job,” he said.

Though this faction has no locus standi since the protest is being spearheaded by the Yashpal Malik faction of the Jat Arakshan Sangharash Samiti and supported by the khap panchayats, Sangwan is hopeful they will make a headway. “The common Jat is not bothered about a Malik or a Sangwan heading the protest. He is committed to the cause of reservation. We intend to inform him to give up protesting for at least a fortnight. If the demands are still not met, we will begin the agitation with renewed vigour by March 23,” Sangwan maintained.

Meanwhile, disclosing the failure of last night’s talks with the Chief Minister, Suresh Koth, a part of the delegation, said the Chief Minister failed to give a clear assurance on their demands.

“We went with two queries and got satisfactory answers to none. We wanted to know by when can we expect the reservation for Jats to be in place. We also wanted to know what the government intended doing with the commission’s report. We asked them if they planned to implement reservation in the state and forward recommendations to the Centre or send the report to the Centre. It seems the government has gone back on its promise of at least implementing the reservation in the state,” Koth said.

Following this, at the meeting which went on till 12.30 am last night, the talks failed and the Jat delegation is back to planning a fresh round of protests. Though the agitation is being led by the Malik faction, Koth said that the khaps, too, were extending their whole-hearted support to the cause of the Jats. Sources in the government said that Sangwan had been invited for talks with the Chief Minister today because he was instrumental during last year’s Jat agitation and a part of the Malik group.

“The delegation led by Sangwan wanted cases against some innocents re-examined. I told them to put in an application for us to take cognisance because it is their right. They offered to intervene and convince the protesters to call off the agitation till the commission submits its report. We couldn’t agree more,” the Chief Minister said.

Chandigarh, February 26
Blame it on populist politics or the ever-increasing salary bill of the Haryana Government, the fact is that the once financially robust state is slowly slipping in the red. Haryana’s debt burden is increasing and there are yet no signs of the state doing away with its revenue and fiscal deficit.

The state’s total debt burden by the end of this financial year is expected to cross Rs 50,000 crore with over Rs 5,000 crore of debt incurred during the current financial year alone. The state’s revenue deficit is estimated at Rs 2,660.68 crore during the current fiscal, and the fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 8,008.60 crore.

Till four years ago, Haryana was a revenue-surplus state. Haryana had a surplus budget for three consecutive years (2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08). But with the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and the pre-budget sops announced by the Hooda government in its budget proposals for 2008-09, just before the state went to the polls, has cast its shadow on the state’s economy. The Pay commission recommendations impacting the state by Rs 2,000 crore per annum on account of revised salaries and pensions besides the Rs 6,000 crore that the state has had to pay as arrears.

Add to this the additional annual burden of Rs 1,300 crore through pre- election sops announced in 2008, in terms of various social pensions, thus taking the total allocations for these pensions to Rs 1,700 crore per annum. With the state relying completely on the additional revenue generated through VAT and excise collections besides stamp duty and change in land use fees, without imposing any new taxes, populism has taken over fiscal prudence. In projecting its populist face, for many years the state government has been presenting “tax free” budgets -- thus ensuring that there has not been much resource mobilisation besides the expected hike in VAT and excise collections.

In the past couple of years besides the populist schemes announced by the government, the state exchequer is also being drained by a whopping power subsidy bill. Though unlike neighbouring Punjab, Haryana does not offer free power, the power subsidy bill in the state is much higher than Punjab at Rs 3,600 crore per annum. This is mainly on account of supplying highly subsidised power to the agriculture consumer.

Of the 22 boards and corporations in Haryana, 17 are bleeding the state exchequer by incurring annual losses totalling to Rs 1,600 crore. The non- plan expenditure, too, has been growing at almost 20 per cent per annum, mainly on account of higher wages and dearness allowance.

But the picture is not all that gloomy. Though very small, efforts are being made to introduce some fiscal prudence over the past two years. Efforts are on to bring down the administrative expenditure as was the case in the current year, when the government tried to curtail this expenditure by 10 per cent. The state is also on target to repay its debt of Rs 6,600 crore besides an interest repayment of over Rs 4,300 crore. “We are also hopeful that the revenue deficit will be brought down by over Rs 1,700 crore over the last financial year (2010-11) and the fiscal deficit to be brought down by Rs 700 crore,” said a top official in the Finance Department.

(To be concluded)

Chandigarh, February 26
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has slammed the Haryana Government for not spending Rs 376.98 crore on the welfare of building and other construction workers with funds remaining unutilised.

In its latest report, which was tabled in the Haryana Assembly for 2010-11, the CAG rapped the state authority for not achieving the objective of regulating the employment and service conditions of building and other construction workers.

In its audit finding, a government auditor found that the Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (HBOCWWB) had received Rs 383.70 crore from the government departments and public sector undertakings as proceeds of cess during 2007 till February 2011.

However, the department spent a meagre sum of Rs 5.62 crore on welfare schemes while the balance amount of Rs 376.98 crore besides interest of Rs 17.24 crore earned on bank deposits during 2007-10 was lying unutilised in the banks, the report said.

The amount so collected was to be spent on the welfare of construction workers’ schemes like maternity benefits, pension, advances for purchase of construction of houses, disability pension, loan for tools, payment of funeral assistance, death benefits, medical assistance, financial assistance for education and marriage of children etc.

The construction workers between the age of 18-60 years who registered themselves was required to contribute Rs 5 per month to become eligible for availing these benefits.

The Haryana Government constituted the HBOCWWB in 2006 to carry out welfare schemes and imposed cess in February 2007. The cess was to be deducted at source on building or other construction works of the government or public sector undertakings from the bills paid and the proceeds of the cess collected were to be transferred to the HBOCWWB.

The scrutiny of the implementation of the scheme in the Ambala region revealed that only Rs 15.46 lakh was spent on only 90 workers, less than one per cent workers registered under the programme. Moreover, only two welfare schemes- kanyadan and death benefits, out of 19 were implemented in the region, it said.

After being pointed out, the Haryana's Labour and Employment Department reasoned that the beneficiaries were not coming forward because most of construction workers belonged to other states who went back to their native places once work was complete. — PTI

Sirsa, February 26
The district authorities here have given a go by to an old practice under which the identification of the parties by a nambardar was necessary for the registration of the sale deeds of immovable properties.

As per the orders issued by Deputy Commissioner Dr J Ganeshan, the parties to the sale deeds will have to produce their photo identity cards, ration cards, passports or any other proof of identity issued by the authorities.

Earlier, their identity was testified by nambardars, who sat in the registration office throughout the day and signed each attestation by charging money for these. Although these nambardars did not know the parties to the sale deed personally, yet they identified all of them, once their fees was paid. This practice sometimes led to frauds, where some fake parties managed to sell out properties belonging to others.

The DC, who is also registrar of the district for the purpose of registration of the sale deeds, said in cases where the parties failed to produce documents of their identification, only nambardars of their respective village would be allowed to testify their identity. In case of urban people, the municipal councilor’s identification will be considered valid.

Jhajjar, February 26
A large number of government school teachers across the state today organised a state-level rally under the aegis of the Haryana Master Varga Association at Jahan Aara Stadium here to mount pressure on the state government for getting their demands met.

The protesters submitted a memorandum of their demands to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda through the district authorities.

They have also threatened the government that they would start taking out a silent procession in Jhajjar every Sunday to register their protest against the government’s “lethargic” attitude towards the teachers if their demands were not fulfilled soon.

Ramesh Malik, state president of the Mater Verga Association, said the teachers were carrying out their agitation from a long time in protest against delay in paying salary to the teachers, non-release of the LTC and not permitting change in classes in the name of new policy but the state government was not paying any heed to their agitation.

“We have met the Education Minister several times and also submitted the memorandum to the Chief Minister for apprising him the problems being faced by the teachers due to non-fulfillment of their demands but no one is ready to sort out their problems,” said Malik.

Karnal, February 26
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Haryana (HRAH) has hailed the new excise policy of the state government and said that it would not only help in breaking the cartels and reining in the liquor mafia but also promote moderate drinks, giving a boost to tourism.

“Giving wholesale licences to retailers, establishing a transparent system of allotment of retail outlets, issuing licences, retail sale of indigenously manufactured wine to local wineries and slashing VAT on liquor from 25 per cent to 15 per cent will go a long way in meeting the emerging requirements and enhancing customer satisfaction,” president of HRAH Manbeer Choudhary said.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said that allowing opening of pubs on payment of the licence fee of Rs 4 lakh per annum at Panchkula, Gurgaon and Faridabad would promote consumption of low-content alcohol drinks while issuing of separate licence S-1A for retail sale of wine to local wineries on payment of licence fee of Rs 5,000 and opening of wine taverns in the vineyards on a meagre fee of Rs 1,000 would wean away the youth from hard drinks.

With the vibrant desi wine industry flourishing in the country due to a shift in focus from hard drinks to moderate drinks and a wine culture picking up fast and foraying into hospitality, introducing the concept of wine taverns in the vineyards was a major initiative which would boost tourism, he added.

He also welcomed the introduction of holograms approved by the Department of Excise and Taxation on bottles of country liquor and IMFL and said that it would check the sale of spurious liquor effectively.

Panipat, February 26
The recommendations made by the working group report on animal husbandry and dairying for the 12th Five-Year Plan, which includes recommendations to lift the ban on beef exports from India, has not gone down well with the UN-affiliated International Organisation for Animal Protection (OIPA) chapter in India along with the People for Animals (PFA) Haryana, who have raised objections against the recommendations.

Both NGOs have demanded that the government should withdraw the report and apologise to the nation for hurting the “religious sentiments”.

Abhishek Kadyan, a representative of the OIPA, said export of beef could result in widespread butchering of cows, which are considered sacred by the Hindus across the nation. He said the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department under the Agriculture Ministry had recently sent a report to the Planning Commission in which lifting the ban on beef exports had been recommended.

OPIA Director Sukanya Kadyan said the suggestion made in the report was more inclined to slaughtering of the animals rather than protecting them.

Naresh Kadyan, founder chairman of PFA Haryana and Indian representative of the OPIA, said the directive principals under Article 48 of the Constitution of India prohibit the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle. He said the Union Agriculture Ministry was supposed to protect and promote cows instead of slaughtering them.

He said the NGOs had already taken up the matter with the President of India along with the Director-General (Animal Husbandry), Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Haryana, and the Director, NDRI, Karnal.

Chandigarh, February 26
Suicide is not an accidental death and the deceased’s family is not entitled to benefits accrusing from the life insurance policy by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), the Haryana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled.

The order was pronounced by the commission president, Justice RS Madan, on an appeal filed by the LIC against the orders of the District Consumer Forum, Rewari, which had allowed the claim of the widow of Kanwar Singh for payment of all accident benefits under the LIC policy taken by her deceased husband.

CRPF constable Kanwar Singh was employed with 14th Battalion at Assam and died of a gun-shot wound on January 1, 2006. His family claimed his death as “accidental” as he died while fighting the terrorists in the Assam area. However, the post-mortem report and a report of the Commandant of the battalion confirmed it to be a case of suicide.

In the Clause 10.2 of the LIC policy, it was clearly mentioned that accidental benefits were not allowed in case of death occurring due to intentional self-injury, attempted suicide, insanity or immorality.

The Commission observed that “it is a well-settled principle of law that while settling the claims of the parties, the terms of the insurance policy have to be construed strictly and no relief can be given to any of the parties beyond those terms and conditions”.

Chandigarh, February 26
The total installed power generation capacity in Haryana is likely to go up to 14,374 MW by the 2013-14, Tarun Bajaj, MD, the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN), said while addressing the 24th meeting of the technical coordination subcommittee (TCC) of the Northern Regional Power Committee here.

Bajaj said the peak demand in Haryana was hovering around 5,000 MW at present, which transformed into 1,000 lakh units a day. By the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan, the demand was expected to peak at 11,155 MW with a 15 per cent annual growth. Keeping pace with the growth, Haryana is set to execute a programme to add about 5,000 MW installed generating capacity during the 11th Plan. According to present indications, state’s generation capacity is likely to increase to 9,700 MW by the end of 11th Five Year Plan and to about 14,374 MW by the year 2013-14. The state has supplied two-and-a-half to three times extra power during the last decade to meet the growing demand of consumers. The main reason of growth of load in Haryana is its proximity to Delhi, he said.

Bajaj said the state had entered a new phase of developing and augmenting the power transmission system with the signing of first ever transmission agreement in the country with the Viability Gap Funding support from the Central Government. This is also the first project in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in any sector in Haryana with the Viability Funding Gap.

He said the mounting demand of power, expanding network, voltage up gradation and technological sophistication called for bigger financial commitments. The need was felt for attracting private finance and technical inputs by taking the PPP route for development construction and operation & maintenance of power projects.

Over 50 delegates from Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, HP, the Power Grid Corporation of India, Central Electricity Authority, National Thermal Power Corporation, Nuclear Power Corporation, National Hydro Power Corporation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, IP Gas Power Company Ltd and the BBMB are participating in the two-day meeting to resolve inter utilities issues.

YK Raizada, chairman of the TCC, said most of the northern states had witnessed fewer disturbances this winter season due to better maintenance of the system as compared to recent years. He said the northern states had a peaking shortage of 11 to 13 per cent and energy shortage of 13 to 15 per cent due to all-round development, which has been a challenge for the power producers.

Faridabad, February 26
The industry has received a jolt with HUDA categorically refusing to grant it any concession with regard to transfer of an industrial plot from its present owner to a successor.

BS Kalliraman, Faridabad’s Estate Officer of HUDA, said there was a clear-cut rule in the matter in the state’s 2011-Industrial Policy.

A fee had been prescribed for transfer of a plot even if the sale deed or registry in favour of the successor party had been effected as per the law. The two issues were different guided by separate laws.

He said the department had to verify the records, including dues and liabilities of its present owner towards it, before allowing the transfer.

“There is not much that the department or the district administration can do on the issue when the details have been specified in the law book,” he added.

The Faridabad Industries Association (FIA) has been pursuing with the district administration since end of last year in favour of transfer of old plots in industrial Sectors 4,6,24 and 25 on the basis of the sale deed only.

The district administration had assured the FIA to take up the issue with HUDA.

Sirsa, February 26
The authorities in Sirsa have set up a “District Criminal Injuries Relief and Rehabilitation Board” to provide financial assistance and support services to rape victims.

The board has the Deputy Commissioner, Dr J Ganeshan, as its chairman.

The board has six other members, including SP Devender Yadav, Civil Surgeon Daya Nand, among others.

Besides these, Anudeep, a member of the District Juvenile Justice Board, and Suresh Rani, a member of the District Child Welfare Committee, are also members of the board.

“The district board will decide the claims made under the scheme and provide financial assistance and order other support services to the affected person. The board will have the powers of summoning and recording of evidence for carrying out its functions. It will also arrange shelter for the affected woman for such period as may be required and arrange for education or vocational or professional training as the case may be for the victim under the ongoing schemes or programmes,” said Ganeshan about the functions of the board.

He said the government had already set up a state criminal injuries relief and rehabilitation board under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, which coordinated and monitored the functions of district boards of various districts in the state.

The state board entertains appeals against decisions of district boards with regard to rejection of applications filed under the scheme, delay in granting interim or final assistance, adequacy or otherwise of quantum of assistance provided in the form of support services and any other issue. The state board also undertakes the issues relating to enhancing the compensation amount up to Rs 1 lakh subject to a maximum limit of Rs 3 lakh in special cases on receiving a reference from district boards.

It also disburses funds to district boards transferred by the Ministry of Women and Child Development as a grant to the state government.

Sirsa, February 26
Three motorcycle-borne youths snatched a bag containing money from a local trader and made good their escape in the Agarsen Colony late last evening.

The youths fired in the air when the victim tried to chase the miscreants with the help of a motorcyclist.

The incident occurred at 9 pm, when the victim Sanjay, a tea dealer from Bhadra Bazar, was returning home on his motorcycle after closing his shop.

Three youths, who had their faces covered with clothes, came on a motorcycle and snatched the bag containing money from him.

Sanjay fell from his bike and the miscreants sped away on their motorcycle.

In the meantime, Sanjay sought help from another motorcyclist and tried to chase the miscreants.

However, the desperadoes fired in the air to scare them away and made good their escape.

The bag had Rs 16,000 in cash and some other documents.

Sanjay and members of the local Vyapar Mandal lodged a complaint with the police.

Faridabad, February 26
A man and his parents have been booked for allegedly torturing his wife for bringing dowry.

Tabasum, the victim’s wife, has complained to the police that her husband and his parents were putting pressure on her to bring a Alto car and Rs 3 lakh from her parents as dowry. She alleged that she was subjected to physical and mental torture and when she did not obey them they had threatened to kill her.

Finding herself insecure she came back to her parents but the demand for dowry from her in-laws continued.