Chandigarh, April 1
Demanding a rollback of the power tariff hike announced by the Haryana Government, opposition parties of the state termed it as an outcome of “incompetence and complete mismanagement” in managing the affairs of the distribution companies (discoms).

The INLD supremo and the Leader of the Opposition, Om Prakash Chautala, said the government’s incompetence in handling financial affairs and rampant corruption in the two discoms were to be blamed for the hike in tariff.

He claimed that the government was conveniently “misleading” the public by maintaining that it had effected a hike of 10 to 15 per cent only. However, contrary to this, the hike effected for domestic consumers varied between 18 to 38 per cent, that of non-domestic consumers was 17 to 22 per cent and the industry would have to shell out 13 to 21 per cent more than what it was paying.

Chautala said while the government had failed miserably to keep its promise of 24-hour power supply to the consumers of the state, it was passing the burden of its own mismanagement to the consumers. He demanded a roll back in the tariff, saying there was no justified ground to hike the rates especially since the government had failed to keep its word of improved power supply in the state.

The BJP, too, sought a roll back with the president of the state unit of the party, Krishan Pal Gurjar, stating that the hike had “exposed the mismanagement” of the government at all levels.

He claimed that the regular bill payer was at the receiving end with the government shying away from taking the errant consumers to task for non-payment. “The entire brunt of the hike would be borne by the common man who religiously pays his bills. He is already burdened with spiralling prices of necessities but the Congress government is not bothered. Also, let the government tame the non-payers who have got away with impunity so far,” Gurjar remarked.

The only MLA of the HJC, Renuka Bishnoi, too, condemned the hike, terming it as “anti-common man”. She said the distance between the government and the people was increasing because everything was gradually getting out of reach. “This hike will not only impact the middle class but all sections of society. It seems the Congress hasn’t learnt what spiralling prices can do to the party and its fortunes from the recent Assembly elections in five states. If this is the way the government keeps going, it will soon dig its own grave,” she said. 

Karnal, April 1
The panchayat of Padha village in Karnal district has taken a lead by saying no to liquor and boisterous music at marriages, often leading to hooliganism.

“Austerity in marriages and no to drinks is the panchayat’s message. It will impose a fine of Rs 11,000 on drunkards for creating nuisance during a marriage. The panchayat has succeeded in changing the old mindset and creating awareness among villagers. It has also decided to ban DJs at marriages,” says village sarpanch Ravinder.

“We do not intend to interfere in anyone’s personal life but rowdyism after consuming liquor will not be tolerated,” he said, adding that the villagers were keen to make the village drug-free and make the environment conducive to bringing about positive social changes in society.

“Our kids must grow in a healthy and pollution-free environment and stay away from drinks and drugs and all our efforts are directed at achieving this essential social goal,” the sarpanch added.

The village with a population of 6,500 has emerged as a model in the Jatland, known for a skewed sex ratio, with its balanced sex ratio and a change in the mindset of people about girl child is discernible. The village panchayat has also urged Neelam P Kasani, DC, to shift a liquor vend outside the village.

The mindset of villagers in this part of Haryana is slowly changing as they are becoming more concerned about social issues now. Earlier, in November last year farmers of 10 villages launched an agitation against the opening of a liquor vend in the area and also opposed the setting up of a liquor factory between Talheri and Jundala in Indri.

In April last year, members of the backward Sikligar community of Premnagar village in Gharaunda set a new trend by defeating the designs of some vested interests to open a vend in the village. The village started a campaign for closing down the liquor vend three years ago and the gram panchayat also joined the campaign. Villagers not only made the village liquor-free but also imposed a fine of Rs 500 on a person for selling illicit liquor. 

Panipat, April 1
Haryana Power Generation Company Limited (HPGCL) has decided to lease four units of the Panipat Thermal Power Station (PTPS) on long-term basis.

The HPGCL’s board in its 86th meeting held on March 15 decided to engage an agency, which would take over the PTPC on long-term basis on lease, rehabilitate units 3 and 4 while operate unit 1 to 4 for 10 years on the basis of competitive bidding.

The board while discussing the proposal for renovation and modernisation of the four units concluded that spending a huge amount of money on the project was financially unviable and decided to lease the four units, which had been adding to the losses of the power utilities due to the high cost of generation due to decreased efficiency.

The sources said the board in its early meeting held on January 4 had accepted the proposal to renovate and modernise the units 3 and 4, which included increasing the capacities of the units to 120 MW from the present 110 MW.

The sources said the power utility had also got a report prepared in which renovation of modernisation projects executed at Bhatinda, Tanda and Kothaguedum thermal stations were studied. On the basis of this report, the board of directors decided that the renovation and modernisation of the four units was financially not viable and thus decided to lease the units to a private player.

As per a report, the performance of two units at Bhatinda was not in consistent after renovation. At the Tanda thermal, the NTPC did not go for comprehensive renovation and modernisation but adopted short-term, medium-term and long-term need-based replacements and at Kothaguedum units were running at full load but the poor coal quality was effecting generation.

The sources said the renovation experience of first two units of the Panipat thermal was not found satisfactory and thus the proposal was rejected altogether. The sources said by leasing the four units, the power utility intended to bring down the continuing losses of the Panipat thermal power station as generation cost at units 1 to 4 is Rs.3.77 per unit, while, the other units generate electricity at a cost of Rs 2.75 per unit.

The units 1 and 2 (110 MW) of the PTPS were commissioned in stage one of the power plant. While, the 117.8 MW unit no. 1 became operational on November 1, 1979, the 110 MW unit two started generating power on March 27, 1980. The 110 MW units 3 and 4 were commissioned in stage two of the plant and became operational on November 1, 1985 and January 11, 1987, respectively.

However, with the time, the efficiency of these units came down which made the authorities contemplate their renovation and modernisation, which according to the sources would have cost the power utility anywhere between Rs 526-554.

According to the official documents, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, the board of directors also discussed the phasing out of unit 3 and 4 to save losses to the HPGCL along with other options, including that of renovation and modernisation of the two units or continuing generation after carrying out need-based renewal and replacement on which a cost of around Rs 150 crore was to be incurred.

Fatehabad, April 1
Haryana Janhit Congress supremo and Hisar MP Kuldeep Bishnoi today rubbished allegations that his father and former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal had ever sought nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur in Fatehabad.

Bishnoi was reacting to Congress leader Sampat Singh’s accusation that Bhajan Lal was the first Chief Minister to have demanded a nuclear power plant in Haryana.

The Congress MLA had stated that Bhajan Lal wrote to the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, on July 20, 1984 in this regard.

Kuldeep Bishnoi, who was here in connection with laying the foundation stone of a Bishnoi temple, was asked to comment on Sampat Singh’s allegations.

“I can not comment on the letter as I am not privy to its contents. My father may have some uninhabited areas of Haryana in mind while writing this letter, but Bhajan Lal was the first leader to have visited the dharna of Gorakhpur farmers and offer his support to them after the government announced this project,” the HJC MP maintained.

Bishnoi said that if the state government was too keen to go ahead with this project, it should choose some alternative site, which is not as densely populated as Fatehabad.

He said after the Fukushima incident in Japan, the apprehensions of people had increased manifold. Predicting mid-term polls for Parliament, Bishnoi said the HJC-BJP alliance in Haryana was well prepared for it. He said he along with BJP state president Krishan Pal Gujjar had already started a mass-contact programme in Haryana.

Earlier, addressing members of the Bishnoi community after inaugurating the temple, the Hisar MP said he drew his strength from them.

Fatehabad, April 1
Six cops of the Delhi Police have been booked for negligence leading to the escape of a notorious criminal, Baljinder Singh, from their custody.

The cops were taking the offender, lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, to Bathinda for producing him before a court. While they were travelling in Punjab Mail, the cops fell asleep and Baljinder made good his escape near Jakhal in Fatehabad.

The cops were arrested and produced before a court in Tohana, where they were released on bail.

The ASI, Phool Chand, of the Delhi police, who lodged the FIR, is among the six cops booked for negligence.

The others are head constable BP Appa Rao, constables Sushil Kumar, Satinder Kumar, Bahadur Singh and Manzur Ali. 

Fatehabad, April 1
Farmers’ struggle against acquisition of their land for a nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur in Fatehabad entered its 600th day today.

The farmers, who launched their agitation immediately after the state government issued a notification for the acquisition of land in July 2010, today, reaffirmed their resolve to continue their struggle till the government annulled the project.

“Our members have braved biting cold, scorching heat and heavy rain during these 600 days. We have lost two of our colleagues to this agitation, but all these tribulations have not been able to dampen the spirit of farmers,” said Hans Raj Siwach, president of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading the agitation.

He reiterated his stand that the farmers would not yield an inch of their land and if the government decided to go ahead with the project, it would be built on their dead bodies. The state government has already assessed the price for 1,503 acre four kanal and 19 marla of land for which the notification was earlier issued.

The government had fixed the price at Rs 20 lakh per acre as compensation for this land, which after the addition of 30 per cent solatium, 12 per cent per annum interest and 20 per cent no-litigation amount totalled to Rs 34 lakh per acre. 

Rohtak, April 1
The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI), the apex body for private real estate developers in the country, has envisaged to launch a “Mission Transparency” initiative to promote transparent real estate transactions.

Through this drive the members will affirm to practice internal discipline while adhering to the code of conduct that protects the interest of all stakeholders especially the home buyers, as the CREDAI strives to achieve this mission by “enforcing ethical business practices for building a credible real estate industry.”

A media spokesperson said the roadmap included that the members signed the code of conduct for transparent and ethical business practices and adoption of the Mission Transparency logo to engage with policy holders. The regulatory body was for a single- window system for transparent business practices and a consumer-redressal system to connect with the end-customer. He said the federation had promulgated a stringent code of conduct for the members’ compliance before assimilating them under the CREDAI banner. 

Chandigarh, April 1
Former spokesman of the Haryana Congress Ved Prakash Vidrohi said here today that the Jats had no case for demanding reservation in the state, particularly when top political posts and administrative posts were being held by representatives of their clan.

Vidrohi, who was earlier close to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and has now come close to Gurgaon MP Inderjeet Singh, said it was a rare coincidence that the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police belonged to the same community.

He said there was no doubt that political posts were given by the people and the administrative posts were occupied by the officers by dent of their hard work. But this fact, he said, obliterated the demand of the Jats to be declared other backward class and given reservation in jobs and educational institutions.

Vidrohi said the Haryana Backward Classes Commission and the Central Backward Classes Commission should keep in view this fact while taking a decision on the demand of the Jats in Haryana. 

Chandigarh, April 1
Travel on the busy Gurgaon-Faridabad road has become costly with the government hiking the toll by Rs 10 to Rs 20 per trip for different categories of vehicles.

While owners of cars, pick-up vans and three-wheelers will have to pay Rs 10 more---up from Rs 30---bus operators, including school bus operators, will pay Rs 170 per trip against the current toll of Rs 150. Trucks up to 10 tyres will now pay Rs 300 against Rs 280 now.

Light commercial vehicles will have to pay Rs 140 as against Rs 130 per trip. Multi-axle vehicles having more than 10 tyres and other heavy vehicles such as cranes, dozers, earth movers and road rollers will continue to pay Rs 350.

Tractor-trailers carrying building material will now have to pay Rs 80 as against Rs 70. However, tractor-trailers carrying agricultural produce have been exempted from toll.

As a special gesture to domestic vehicles making multiple trips, commuters will be charged only one-and-a-half times the specified rate. However, in the case of commercial vehicles, the users will be able to avail return journey the same day by paying one-and-a-half times the toll, the notification added.

Palwal, April 1
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here today amidst show of unity by party leaders at a rally that his government was contemplating “orbit railway” service to connect the areas of the state bordering with Delhi.

Attending a Nav Nirman rally, Hooda appreciated the show of unity made by the Congress leaders and asserted it would enable the party to win in all Assembly seats in Faridabad and Palwal district, as well as Faridabad parliamentary constituency in the next elections.

Hooda expressed disappointment at the loss of the Congress in all Assembly seats in Palwal in the last Assembly elections. The seats were lost on account of the leaders working at cross-purposes. This was in spite of the fact that the people of Palwal are pro-Congress, he added.

“I am happy that the leaders have realised their mistakes and have decided to work unitedly in the interest of the party,” he observed.

Hooda’s comments were in the backdrop of former Haryana minister Karan Dalal, the organiser of today’s rally and Congress MP from Faridabad Avtar Singh Bhadana, who spoke earlier, admitted the mistakes committed by them, which resulted in bad showing of the party at the hustings.

Responding to a list of demands made by Karan Dalal, the chief minister said his government was contemplating linking the areas of the state bordering with Delhi with orbit rail services. Haryana Metrol Rail Corporation has already been constituted by the state, he added.

The salient feature of the rally was presence of large chunk of females.

Hooda announced, among others, setting up of YMCA University, a girls school, a sports stadium, railway overbridges at Rasolpur and Bamni Khera villages. The government has already approved a proposal to set up a private university named Mvian University, he added.

He also announced a new women college in nearby Hathin, and a new building for the college at Hodal. Hooda also laid the foundation stone of railway overbridge at Alawalpur village, which would cost 
Rs 36 crore. The bridge was demanded by residents of 26 villages surrounding Alawalpur.

Faridabad, April 1
The district authorities have granted permission to six industrial units to continue with their operations, but deferred decision on 14 others. Applications of 225 units have been turned down.

The applications were considered by the District Clearance Committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Gupta. Representatives of several departments, including the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Town Planning and HUDA, took part in the meetings of the committee. The Joint Director, District Industries Centre, is the member-secretary of the committee.

Official sources said the applications were rejected or deferred as the units failed to fulfil statutory obligations like clearance from some departments and lack of documentation. The committee considers two kinds of applications for the NOCs from entrepreneurs who want to set up new units, and the consent-to-operate by units already in operation.

It is mandatory for units to obtain consent-to-operate every year from the Pollution Control Board. The decisions on the applications, however, are taken by the committee.

Karnal, April 1
While the chorus for clemency to Beant Singh’s killer is becoming shriller and even the Punjab BJP has toed the line of the SAD in demanding abolition of the capital punishment, Haryana state BJP executive member and BJP leader Chander Prakash Kathuria said personal and petty political interests should not dominate the larger national interest as integrity and unity of the country was most important.

“It appears that we are heading towards balkanisation like the former Soviet Union (Russia) and personal, community and regional politics are dominating the nation that does not augur well for the country,” Kathuria said.

Deviating from the line adopted by the Punjab BJP, Kathuria said: “No clemency should be given to Beant Singh’s killers as it will set a wrong precedent and the demand for clemency to killers of Rajiv Gandhi and dreaded terrorists like Afzal Guru and Kasab will also gain momentum”.“How will you face the mothers, widows, and children who have lost their near and dear ones in terrorist attacks as clemency to killers will only be like sprinkling salt on their wounds and create an impression that the government is spineless and lacked courage to act against the killers,” he added.

Observing that national interests have taken a backseat and personal and political interests have overshadowed all other interests, he said it was shocking that a top-secret letter written by the Army chief to the government had been leaked. There should be countrywide protests to press the demand for capital punishment to terrorists immediately after the apex court verdict and no time should be given to launch any campaign in support of the convicts, he asserted.

Jhajjar, April 1
Haryana Education, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Geeta Bhukkal said the Right to Education (RTE) Act would be implemented strictly in the state from the new academic session and no child would be denied education for want of funds.

She was interacting with mediapersons after listening to public grievances at her house here today. The state government was serious about the RTE Act and the government was fully prepared to execute the Act across the state, said the minister.

Bhukkal said work was in progress to identify the neighbourhood schools for imparting school education to needy children free of cost under the RTE Act.

“The foremost aim behind the RTE Act is to ensure school education to every needy child so that the blot of illiteracy could be wiped out soon. The state government is making all-out efforts to promote education. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda wants to make Haryana a hub of education. Many national and international-level institutions are being opened in the state. The teacher-training institute in Silani village will turn out best teachers in the country," she maintained, adding that technical education was being linked with the industrial sector to facilitate placement of students.

Bhukkal said a board had been constituted for the recruitment of teachers. The process to fill thousands of posts of teacher lying vacant in government schools across the state would be initiated soon. “The government is doing all that is necessary to provide a separate identity to the state in the field of education,” said she.

For taking benefit under the Old Age Samman Allowance scheme, the minister said, the annual income limit for the beneficiaries had been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. 

Sirsa, April 1
Notwithstanding a ban on forward trading, the price of guar seed has witnessed a surge in the past two days, bringing cheer to the farmers.

The price of guar seed touched Rs 31,000 per quintal mark on Friday to register a slight decline to Rs 29,500 on Saturday in Sirsa, one of the big producers of guar in Haryana.

Earlier, the price had fallen steeply from Rs 31,500 per quintal (March 21) to Rs 24,000 (March 22) after the Forward Marketing Commission (FMC) banned trading in guar seed and guar gum on complaints of price manipulations.

The price of guar seed, which sold for Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,000 per quintal until last year, witnessed unprecedented upward trends this year.

From Rs 3,500 per quintal in first week of October 2011, the price Rs 4,900 by November-end, Rs 6,200 by December-end, Rs 1,3000 on January 30, 2012, Rs 18,700 on February 28, Rs 25,000 on March 18 and Rs 31,500 on March 21, when it fell steeply by Rs 7,500 per quintal after ban on forward trade.

“We are told that there is a strong export demand of guar in view of its use in the oil-drilling industries,” said Gurdial Mehta, a former president of the Sirsa Grain Market Traders Association.

“The price is even higher, though slightly, in the neighbouring Rajasthan mandis,” Mehta added.

Meanwhile, various grain markets of the district have received 5.50 lakh quintals of guar during this season and it has resulted in a revenue receipt of more than Rs 4.26 crore for the government, said J Ganeshan, Deputy Commissioner, Sirsa.

The crop was cultivated over an area of 52,000 hectares in district this year and it was expected that more area would be brought under the crop in the next season, said agriculture experts. Recently, the Haryana Agriculture University had also announced to increase the production of guar seed in future in view of its demand. The sowing would commence from June 15 and would continue in the month of July.

The Agriculture Department has suggested the farmers to cultivate some specific varieties of Guar like HG-75, HG-365, HG-563, RGC-936. Guar is largely dependent upon monsoon.