|
|
|
|
|
HPSC recruitment Scam
War on Power, Water Theft
38 lucky poor allotted plots in Fatehabad
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
14,835 MT wheat damaged due to open storage: Confed
Bumper crop expected
New policy for group housing licence up to 10 acres
Mullana ridicules Chautala’s claim
INLD not to let Gorakhpur N-plant come up
Nine held for misappropriating iron rods
Chemist shop sealed in Rohtak
Over 70,000 take HCS exam
1 more Sonepat jail escapee held
2 youths flee with Innova
|
|||||||||||||
|
HPSC recruitment Scam
New Delhi, March 26 Dey said the CBI had already recorded the statements of 50 witnesses and collected 160 documents. However, the agency would require three more months for completing its investigation, he said. The scam relates to illegal relaxations in the age and marks granted to some candidates in the HCS (Executive) examination. The affected candidates had challenged the selection process in the Punjab and Haryana High Court following which the HC ordered a CBI probe into the recruitment in September, 2005. The Supreme Court had stayed the HC order in November, 2005, but vacated the stay in October, 2011, clearing the way for the CBI to pursue its probe. The Bench had then asked the CBI to finish
its investigation in three months. What is the scam about?
|
|
War on Power, Water Theft
Chandigarh, March 26 Sources said that the police stations, to report and deal exclusively with cases of power and water theft, similar to the one inauguarted in Gurgaon in January , would be set up at Ambala, Karnal, Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani, Rewari and Hisar in April. However, owing to paucity of funds with the Power Department, the staff strength at these police stations has been cut to half of what was initially proposed, though officials maintain that the personnel deputed would be increased on the basis of the public response. The territorial jurisdiction of eight police stations has been decided in such a manner that the entire state is covered. Sources said that while the take-off plan for the seven police stations was in place. Against an approved strength of 350, only 175 personnel will be deputed for the time being. With nearly 30,000 cases detected by the power utilities each year, the incidence of power theft is high . The setting up of these police stations to deal with offences relating to all cases of theft of power and canal water under the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act and Sections 379, 430 and 431, IPC, the Power Department is hoping, will prove to be a deterrent and check power and water theft at the tail-end of canals. The operation would be supervised by an ADGP (Irrigation and power). A post of DIG would also be created. The headquarters of the superintendent of police would be at Rohtak, while the DIG would operate from Panchkula. So far, other than imposing penalties, the nigam had also started lodging FIRs against those involved in power thefts under various Sections of the Electricity Act, 2003. Special courts were set up to hear these cases. Meanwhile, at the only such police station inaugurated at Gurgaon in January, it has been an “actionless existence” though the police station has received about 25 complaints pertaining to power theft. With no funds at its disposal and no budget sanctioned in its name since it was inaugurated, the police station has not been able to get the required manpower on deputation to serve the purpose with which they were set up. Sources said that contrary to the belief that these police stations register FIRs and make arrests as soon as the complaints come in, nearly 48 hours are given to the consumer to deposit the due penalty, failing which the accused is arrested. It is learnt that funds have been allocated to make these police stations functional, but the department is yet to receive a formal communication in this connection. How will these help curb theft?
|
|
38 lucky poor allotted plots in Fatehabad
Fatehabad, March 26 Reshma is one of the 38 individuals belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS), to be allotted 65-yard plots for Rs 500 per square yard through a draw of lots at a function organised here today. In the open market, the price of plots in AICF is over Rs 10,000 per square yard. Arjun, a peddler, who ekes out his living by purchasing scrap from houses and then selling it to big scrap dealers, also got one residential plot in the township. The draw of lots was held in the presence of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Baljit Singh, Senior Town Planner Ajit Singh Kundu, District Town Planner (Headquarters) Sunita Sethi, District Town Planner, Fatehabad Arvinder Dhull and members of the local media today. While issuing licenses for private townships, the Haryana Government imposes upon them a condition that they will give a certain percentage of residential plots to the people of economically weaker sections on highly subsidised rates. “The allotments are in accordance with tehe Haryana government’s guidelines in this regard for government approved townships. Under the same guidelines, 39 residential plots have been already handed over to the Haryana Housing Board for allotment of constructed houses to the EWS,” said Subir K Pal, Project Head of
the AICF. “We received a total of 2,321 applications from individuals with BPL status and out of these, 454 were found eligible by the authorities,” he said. The winners of the plots include daily wage earners, labourers and domestic helps. |
|
14,835 MT wheat damaged due to open storage: Confed
Chandigarh, March 26 Information sought under the RTI Act from Haryana State Federation of Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Stores Limited (Confed) showed that heavy procurement and slow movement of wheat to the FCI resulted
in the stock lying in the open for the past three years 2008. Saying that unprecedented procurement of wheat in recent years led to the storage of foodgrains in
the open, RTI information said that longer storage of the wheat stock was also one of the reasons for the damage to the wheat stock. “Due to longer and open storage, it was not possible to maintain the quality of wheat stock even after taking preventive and curative measures”, the information sought by Jasdeepak Singh, a Mohali resident, said. In fact, Confed tried to pass the buck to the FCI for the loss, alleging that the latter failed to implement the “first in, first out”(FIFO) system regarding storage and related aspects leading to the huge loss. Confed is the state government’s wholesale nominee for the transportation and handling of foodgrains from the FCI godowns to the primary schools’ mid-day meal scheme and the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) for below poverty line (BPL) families and fair price shops. Owing to the damage to the wheat stock, Confed had to sell this stock at a considerable loss. Meanwhile, Jasdeepak Singh wanted strict action against the guilty. What led to damage
|
|
Bumper crop expected
Karnal, March 26 The arrival of crop normally starts on April 1, but this year, the arrival of wheat is expected in the second week of April. The timely rains ensured a good crop, but the crop did not mature due to extreme cold conditions and low temperatures, especially during the nights. The situation is no different from last year when
the arrival of wheat started on April 10. Farm experts who visited the major wheat growing areas pointed out that the colour of wheat was still green and it had not turned 'golden-yellow', which is the sign of maturity. The prolonged cold
conditions in north would help increase the yield of the wheat crop and the production would also be more, said a scientist at the Directorate of Wheat Research (DWR), Anuj Kumar. Haryana targeted wheat procurement of 7 million tonnes during the current season against 6.5 million tonne last year and farmers are enthusiastic as the Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been raised by Rs 165 per quintal from Rs 1,120 per quintal in 2011-12 to Rs 1,285 per quintal in 2012-13 and the production was more in spite of the marginal fall in area under wheat. The state food and supplies department would procure 33 per cent, Hafed 30 per cent and Confed 7 per cent while Food Corporation of India (FCI), the Haryana Warehousing the Corporation and Haryana Agro Industries Corporation would procure
10 per cent wheat each, officials said. The government has made arrangements for the procurement of wheat
and set up 371 procurement centres, four more than last year. |
|
New policy for group housing licence up to 10 acres
Chandigarh, March 26 An official spokesman said here today as per the licensing policy at present, licence for development of a group housing colony could be considered in any residential sector up to 20 per cent of the sector (net planned) area. There were instances where the licence application for independent group housing at the threshold of such 20 per cent sector area limit, in spite of being equal to or more than 10 acres, does not get considered since the available area left within the 20 per cent area limit falls below 10 acres. The present policy parameters had been formulated to consider such projects subject to certain conditions and safeguards. He said in order to provide equal opportunity to all project proponents in any given sector, this policy would be applicable with prospective effect, i.e. any licence application pending before this policy comes into effect would not be allowed the benefit of this policy. Only such applications, which were received specifically in terms of the present policy, along with an undertaking to conform to the present policy parameters, would be considered. He said any licence application would be considered as per the present policy parameters only after all licence applications received prior to such application stood decided. Any application against which either letter of intent (LOI) had been issued or a licence had been granted or stands rejected or returned would be considered as “decided” for the purpose of the present clause. The minimum net planned area available within the 20 per cent sector area limits should not be less than five acres. Thus, no independent group housing licence would be considered in sectors where the balance threshold net planned area available within the 20 per cent sector area limits was less than five acres. He said the total area for a licence under the present policy would be restricted to 10 acres. The benefit of ground coverage, FAR etc would be allowed only against the balance net planned area available within the 20 per cent |
|
Metro to reach YMCA Chowk in Faridabad
Faridabad, March 26 The document was signed by the Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department, Haryana, SS Dhillon, and the Director (Project and Planning), DMRC, Kumar Keshav, in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Managing Director, DMCR, Mangu Singh, said the project was scheduled to be accomplished by end of 2014. “We are prepared to start the work from today. Signing of the MoU has removes the hurdle in acquiring land and cutting of trees for the project,” he added. He lauded the Chief Minister of Haryana for getting the project through. The project was estimated to cost Rs 2,494 crore, including cost of the land. While the Haryana Government will bear Rs 1557.4 crore of the expenditure (including the cost of the land it would provide to the DRMC on lease basis), the union government will provide Rs 536.6 crore. The DRMC will bear Rs 400 crore of the total cost in the form of purchase of ‘rolling stock’ —the trains. The 13.8-km route would be an extension of the operational Line 6 of the Delhi Metro, i.e the 20.16-km long Central Secretariat-Badarpur corridor. The rail link to the YMCA will all cover nine stations in linear order: Sarai, NHPC, Mewla Maharjpur, Sector 27A, Badkhal Mor, Old Faridabad, Ajronda, Fridabad New Town and YMCA Chowk. A train maintenance depot will be constructed near near Sector 20 A here and will be called the Ajronda Depot. A DMRC official said the journey by Metro from Badarpur to the YMCA would be completed in less than half an hour. On the contrary, the time taken by road was more than an hour( provided there was no jam). According to an official version, more than two lakh commuters are expected to use the Metro service on the Faridabad corridor everyday. Hooda said Metro rail to Faridabad will provide a safe and reliable mode of travel to the people of Faridabad and Delhi and would boost the economic development in Faridabad. Also, efforts will be made to link the Metro line with the new areas being developed in the trans-canal part of the city. “The Metro link to Faridabad will be yet another milestone for all of us,”
he added. He said Airport Express Line from IFFCO to Sector 21 and Dwarka (Delhi) and Metro Link from Sikandepur Station in Gurgaon to NH-8, and towards 56 in Gurgaon, andd Bahadurgarh Metro were some other Metro projects coming up in Haryana. |
|
Samiti helps 13 poor girls tie nuptial knot
Sonepat, March 26 The District and Sessions Judge Kuldeep Jain was the chief guest on the occasion and the former chairman of the zila parishad, Raj Singh Dahiya presided over the ceremony. BLP legislator from Sonepat Kavita Jain and the state media in charge of the BJP, Rajiv Jain, participated as the chief patron in the programme. Blessing the couples, the judge said it was a good convention to marry daughters of poor and destitute families and such conventions would apply a brake on such social evils like female foeticide, dowry etc. He also administered the couples the oath against female foeticide. Dahiya recalled that he had been participating in such mass marriage programmes of the samiti for the past many years and these marriages were being solemnised in a family atmosphere. “Such practices create a feeling of social amity and brotherhood among the people and these must be encouraged,” he added. Mrs Jain praised the samiti for organising welfare programmes. Terming female foeticide as a heinous crime, she exhorted for total elimination of the social evil. General secretary of the samiti Prahlad Goyal listed the welfare activities being undertaken by the samiti which included the organisation of free health camps, opening of a free homoeopathic dispensary, blood and eye donation programmes, seminars against female foeticide, creating awareness about eye donation and providing financial help to needy persons. |
|
46 women achievers felicitated
Jhajjar, March 26 Asha Hooda said women could play an important role in preventing the heinous crime of female foeticide and in building a healthy society. The Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti Award was conferred upon Jaswanti while the Kalpana Chawla Shaurya Award was given to Ruchi Sangwan and Bhain Shanno Devi Panchayati Raj Award to Kailash Bai. Among others honoured were Sunita Chokan, Kanta Devi and Sushma Kaushik, Sumeda Bansal, Seema Verma, Sneha Tasniwal, Purvi Mukherjee, Monika Kasturia and Pankhudi Saxena. Sportspersons Jyodeep Kaur, Ritu Rani, Gagandeep Kaur, Rani and Nirmala Devi were also honoured for their outstanding achievement. Babita Chaudhary, Seema, Rajni and Sudesh Rani, Kamla Dahiya, Indirawati and Satto Devi were among others honoured on the occasion. The award for the best sex ratio in 2011 was given to Ambala, with Bhiwani and Mewat securing the second and third positions, respectively. The first prize for reduction in the number of malnourished children went to Sonepat district. |
|
Mullana ridicules Chautala’s claim
Chandigarh, March 26 Mullana said it was a matter of record that 1999 was the last election when the INLD could send its members to the Lok Sabha. In 2004, all INLD candidates, including two sons of Chautala, were defeated in the Lok Sabha elections. Similarly in 2009, none of the INLD candidates could make it to the Lok Sabha. He said if a party, which had performed so badly in the elections talked of the third front, it only showed its nervousness. Mullana said it was Chautala’ habit to change political partners to suit his interests. In 1998, the INLD had contested the elections in alliance with the BSP. But as soon as the results were out, Chautala had extended support to Atal Behari Vajpayee of the BJP. He also alleged that Chautala had always worked against the interests of Haryana to help the Akalis in Punjab, whose leader Prakash Singh Badal had close families ties with the
Chautalas. |
|
INLD not to let Gorakhpur N-plant come up
Hisar, March 26 Chautala said even developed countries had realised the dangers such plants could pose to their population. The recent accident in Japan involving a large nuclear power plant was an eye opener. The INLD would not let the government expose thousands of villagers to dangers of radiation. He assured residents of Gorakhpur village that the entire cadre of his party would support their demand with all its might. Accusing Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of “ruining” farmers in the National Capital Region (NCR) by acquiring their land, he said the government was now bent upon uprooting thousands of farmers from their land by proposing projects like the Gorakhpur nuclear plant. |
|
Nine held for misappropriating iron rods
Rewari, March 26 The police has registered a case of criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy against them. They were produced before the Duty Magistrate who remanded Amit in police custody while the remaining were sent to 14-day judicial custody. A senior police official said the drivers of the two vehicles, which were laden with iron rods, were apprehended by the police on a tip-off when over 11 quintals of rods were unloaded illegally in collusion with Amit and his three accomplices at Dharuhera yesterday. He said the iron rods, which belonged to a factory of neighbouring Khushkhera town of Rajasthan, were to
be delivered to iron merchants in Delhi. |
|
Chemist shop sealed in Rohtak
Rohtak, March 26 This is the first such raid in the city though 14 drug shops have been raided in the region in the recent past. Senior drug inspector Manmohan Taneja said over 50 bottles of Corax and Rexcof syrups had been seized from the shop, besides sapasmos proxivon tablets. He said the shop was found having stored some of the drugs in a neighbourhood shop sporting a juice counter signboard. |
|
Over 70,000 take HCS exam
Chandigarh, March 26 The examination was held at various centres in six districts of Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Yamuna Nagar, Ambala and Panchkula. The Haryana Transport Department plied special bus services for the candidates. |
|
1 more Sonepat jail escapee held
Sonepat, March 26 According to police spokesman Ramesh Dalal, Vijay was accused in the Rs 15-lakh bank robbery at Punjab National Bank’s Barhi branch on November 23, 2010, and in many other cases of loot and robbery. |
|
2 youths flee with Innova
Faridabad, March 26 They asked the driver to halt the vehicle near Palli crossing on the Faridabad-Gurgaon road. When the driver stopped, they attacked him and fled with the vehicle. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
