Chandigarh, September 11
Protesting against yesterday’s alleged assault on public health subdivisional officer Dharamvir Singh in Bhiwani, the employees’ association of the department today threatened to cut off water supply and sewage disposal of the district if the guilty were not brought to book by tomorrow. Officials of the district administration, meanwhile, said an inquiry on the complaint had been initiated in the matter.

Speaking to TNS, the Bhiwani zonal secretary of the Diploma Engineers Association, Satinder Yadav, said following a day-long token protest, the association, supported by the workers’ union and the clerical staff union, had submitted a memorandum to senior officials of the department and the Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Meena, and Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Nain.

“We have decided to give them time till tomorrow to take action on the subdivisional officer’s complaint, failing which we will be forced to cut off water supply and sewerage of Bhiwani. The entire district administration has been informed of our decision, taken at an emergency meeting, and there will be absolutely no compromise. We have stated in our memorandum that the administration will be responsible for the snapping off of the water supply,” Yadav said.

He said according to the complaint, the incident took place at the behest of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ram Kishen Fauji.

The “victim”, Dharamvir Singh, submitted a copy of the complaint to the police station late last night. He is admitted to the government hospital.

The Deputy Commissioner said a written complaint about the incident had been received and the police was looking into the matter. However, Nain said the Deputy Commissioner’s office was conducting an inquiry.

Meanwhile, Indian National General Lok Dal general secretary and Dabwali MLA Ajay Singh Chautala condemned the incident and demanded the arrest of Fauji and those guilty of assaulting the official. He said the government had failed on all fronts and the ministers and the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, instead of owning responsibility for the failure, were targeting government officials.

During a tour programme of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ram Kishen Fauji at Ninan village in Bhiwani yesterday, Dharamvir Singh was allegedly beaten up by Fauji’s supporters after they were dissatisfied with his reply to the chronic water and power problem in the village. In his complaint, the subdivisional officer has mentioned that Fauji “instigated” his supports to attack him. 

Hisar, September 11
The cotton crop in several villages of Hansi subdivision have been hit by sudden wilt and leaf curl diseases. The affected villages included Ramayan, Dhanderi, Depal, Mamanpura, Umra, Sultanpur, Kanwari, Bhatol, Garhi and Menhda.

Officials of the State Agriculture Department said the diseases had been noticed in about 12 villages. They said the diseases had been caused by the weather conditions marked by a prolonged dry spell followed by rain and then hot weather.

They said sudden wilt most commonly occurred in mid-season when the final cultivation was followed by rrigation or rainfall and then hot weather. The plants wilted suddenly and dropped their leaves. Affected plants are usually found in patches extending along rows, especially in low-lying areas of a field. All plants in a patch were affected simultaneously. Symptoms included a brown discolouration of the vascular tissue just below the bark on the lower stem and roots.

Sudden wilt was not common and only occured spasmodically. It did not recur in the same patch in subsequent years. A pathogenic fusarium had been found associated with the condition. The pathogen infected the roots and lower stem.

Scientists of Haryana Agricultural University said the leaf curl disease was characterised by small vein thickening (SVT) type symptoms on young upper leaves of plants. Upward or downward leaf curling were other important symptoms.

They said farmers should immediately contact the university scientists for measures to control these diseases.

Gurgaon, September 11
Troubles are far from over for the Manesar facility of Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), which is yet to recover from the July 18 mayhem.

After sacking 500 permanent workers, the company had expected to do away with the staff crunch by month-end but it is having a tough time getting trained staff for the Manesar plant which saw a month-long lockout.

Senior company officials said a majority of the applicants who took the written recruitment test had not been found up to the mark.

“The process is taking longer than we had expected and we will not be able to meet the September deadline for getting the full workforce. Only a few applicants who took the test have been found up to the mark,” revealed an official involved in the recruitment process.

Post-violence Maruti had decided to do away with its external recruitment agency and its Human Resources (HR) Department undertook recruitment for the first time to get ‘non-violent’ trained workers.

“The idea of having a written test has proved to be a failure though an average literate worker can clear it. Moreover,while we expected a whopping response to recruitment it was not exciting as workers have apparently become wary of the Manesar facility after the violence and mass sacking,” revealed an official. 

Chandigarh, September 11
The draft development plan of the Gurgaon-Manesar Urban Complex-2031 has been notified and published in the Haryana Government Gazette on September 4. Any person can submit objections or suggestions, if any, till October 3, 2012, to the Director General, Town and Country Planning, Haryana.

The Gurgaon-Manesar Draft Development Plan-2031 has been made keeping in view projected population of 42.50 lakh. A total of 33,276 hectares of land has been proposed, including 16,010 hectares for residential purpose, 1,616 hectares for commercial activities, 4,613 hectares for Industrial, 4,420 hectares for transport and communication and 626 hectares for public utilities. Similarly, 2,035 hectares for public and semi-public (institutional), 2,775 hectares as open spaces, 114 hectares for special zone and 633 hectares as defence land have been proposed. In addition to this, 406 hectares for existing town and 478 hectares for village 'abadies' have been proposed.

At least 215 hectare land has been reserved for university in Sector-68 which will be exclusively developed by the government. Seven new residential sectors -- 36A, 88A, 88B, 89A, 95A, 95B, 99A-- and part sectors 37D and 68 have been proposed in the plan. There would be three small commercial belts in sectors 37D, 88A and 88B along northern peripheral road and part sector-99A for wholesale market, which would be exclusively developed by the government. Sectors 36B and 37B would be developed as industrial sectors.

Also, sector 89B has been proposed to be developed as public and semi-public. Also, 50 hectare land has been reserved for affordable housing in sector 68 of Gurgaon with population density of 1,125 persons per hectare or 450 persons per acre. There would be a 90-m wide Greater Southern Peripheral Road starting from Sohna Road (Sector-68) upto National Highway-8 near National Brain Research Centre. Fifty hectares of land has been reserved for shifting of dairies from existing town near village Dhankot. About 48.5 hectare land has been reserved for setting up of a wholesale market of building material, grain, fruit and vegetable in Sector-99A.

Chandigarh, September 11
The state government has decided to install close-circuit TV cameras in observation homes and special homes for security of juveniles residing in there, Sumita Misra, Director-General, Women and Child Development Department, said here today. She said directions had already been issued to District Programme Officers and superintendents of these homes to take necessary action in this regard. She said one of the cameras would be installed at the entrance to check those coming to these homes while other cameras would be installed at other vulnerable points for better security.

She said a proposal had also been mooted for provision of video-conferencing in the observation homes so that juveniles could be examined through e-conferencing by magistrates. 

Sonepat, September 11
Irked by the disruption in the power supply for the past many days, residents of Kathura village today locked the power substation in the village this evening and sat in dharna in front of its main gate.

Naresh Dhillon, SDO, reached the spot and tried to assure them that their grievances would be redressed. However, the villagers refused to unlock the gate and lift the dharna till the power supply was streamlined.

The villagers alleged that there had been no power supply for the past many days and it had disrupted their routine. Several complaints were lodged with the authorities, but there was no solution of the problem.

Earlier, the villagers assembled in the chaupal and unanimously decided to lock the substation and stage a dharna till their grievances were redressed.

The dharna was continuing till the filing of the report. 

Chandigarh, September 11
The Haryana Power Distribution Corporations have increased the duration of power supply to rural domestic consumers by one hour. The villages will now get electricity supply for 11 hours a day.

A spokesman for the power utilities said here today the electricity would be supplied in two groups in the morning and afternoon to domestic consumers of villages. The first group will get power from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The second group will be fed from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Chandigarh, September 11
The INLD today reiterated its demand for the resignation of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on “moral ground” against the backdrop of two judgements of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in cancelling the allotment of land to film director Subhash Ghai and scrapping the recruitment of 1983 PTIs in the state.

In a statement issued here today, INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala claimed that the Hooda government had no right to remain in office following several judgements by the Supreme Court and the high court cancelling allotment of land to big builders and influential persons by the Haryana Government. The state government was virtually playing into the hands of the land mafia as far as the allotment of land was concerned, he alleged.

On the recruitment of the PTIs by the Haryana Staff Selection Board, Chautala alleged that the board was headed by Hooda’s close associate, Nand Lal Poonia, whose appointment had raised many eyebrows at that time. It is unfortunate that Poonia is now heading the Haryana Teacher Recruitment Board, he added. 

Chandigarh, September 11
*For years, Satish Sharma, a resident of Samdo village in Jind district, has been commuting about 20 km to the nearby Amrari village for all banking transactions. Depositing and withdrawing even a small amount of money was a time-consuming and tedious job. However, his life changed for the better with FINO Paytech Limited posting a business correspondent (BC) at the village under the financial inclusion programme of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bringing the bank to his doorstep and a smile on his face.

Rural Haryana, where penetration by the public sector and private banks is negligible, has finally woken up to financial empowerment.In an innovative financial inclusion programme, nearly 5.53 lakh households across 17 districts of Haryana are reaping the benefits of ‘doorstep banking’ through authorised business correspondent (BC) offering an array of services like banking transactions, insurance, PAN cards and utility bill payments at their doorstep.

Started as a part of the financial inclusion programme of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of several banks by FINO Paytech Limited, the unique programme relies on an elaborate BC network comprising the local population, primarily shopkeepers who act as the ‘village banker’ with a portable equipment.The banking transactions are done through a biometric smart card, which acts as a passbook and ATM card for the account holders.

“With access to bank accounts made possible by BC agents, people in Haryana, particularly in the remote areas, will now get a bouquet of financial services at their doorstep,” Gaurav Chakraverty, zonal head, FINO Paytech, told The Tribune.

Company officials asserted that awareness of financial services is the key to improving the financial health of poor families in the rural areas. In fact, the addition of more financial services would increase the earning potential for BCs making this model viable and self-sustaining, they added.

Meanwhile, the PAN card would be issued within 25 days of registration at a nominal fee of Rs 122 per card. Beside, services like mobile and direct to home (DTH) TV recharges and train ticket booking are being extended to all villages.

Except four districts--Gurgaon, Faridabad, Hisar and Rohtak--the company, which is mandated by ICICI Bank, the Union Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce, to carry out enrollments under the programme, all other 17 districts have been covered so far.

Faridabad, September 11
The HJC-BJP, at public meetings held in this district, today criticised the functioning of the Haryana government and said the UPA government at the Centre was mired in controversies on account of which it had no moral authority to be in power.

The meetings were addressed by HJC chief Kuldip Bishnoi and BJP state president Krishanpal Gurjar in Asaawati, Nariala, Sikrona, Dudola and Chaisa villages, all belonging to the Prithla constituency, which was won by the Congress in the last Assembly election.

The meetings were a part of the HJC-BJP’s ongoing ‘Jan Jagran’ campaign.

Kuldip Bishnoi alleged that senior elected functionaries of the government, including former Minister of Home Gopal Kanda, were involved in criminal activities. The government had lost credibility among the masses, he added.

Gurjar said the Haryana government had failed to fulfil its poll promises like providing adequate power. The law and order situation had deteriorated during the Congress rule, he added.

Gurjar claimed that the BJP’s public meeting here on September 28 would set the political agenda in the state.

Kurukshetra, September 11
Members of the INLD youth wing and the INSO demonstrated and burnt the effigies of industrialist-turned-politician Member of Parliament (MP) Naveen Jindal and other Congress leaders in protest against the illegal allotment of coal blocks to the companies of Jindal in front of the Mini-Secretariat here today.

The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Mandeep Singh Brar addressed to the Haryana Governor, demanding a judicial enquiry into the illegal allotment of coal blocks to the companies of Jindal.

Earlier, they assembled at the Panchayat Bhawan here from where they marched in a procession led by INLD youth wing district president Kuldeep Jakhwala to the Mini Secretariat. They were carrying the effigies of Naveen Jindal and other Congress leaders.

They alleged that Jindal, who had misused his political influence, committed a big scam by getting allotted coal blocks illegally to his companies. Jakhwala demanded that the Lok Sabha membership of Jindal and Vidhan Sabha membership of his mother Hisar MLA Savitri Jindal be cancelled.

Sonepat, September 11
A large number of Municipal Councillors (MCs) and BJP activists staged a dharna in front of the council’s gate in support of their demand for vigilance inquiry in the corrupt working of the Sonepat Municipal Council.

MLA Kavita Jain alleged that the corruption and bribe in every wing of the council had become a routine matter. Even those seeking the birth certificates were also not being spared, she said and added that the complaints against the corrupt practices were not being entertained by the higher authorities.

Jain said because of corruption, the low quality material was being used in the construction activities. As a result, the durability of the works hardly stands even for two months.

On the behalf of the MCs, Sunaina Bhardwaj declared that the dharna would continue till their demand for vigilance inquiry was not accepted by the authorities.

Mahendergarh, September 11
Residents of Pali and Jant villages in this district have threatened to stop construction of the Central University building if their demand for reservation in university jobs and admissions for local residents was not met in 10 days.

The villagers, who have been staging a dharna for preference in admissions and jobs for local residents at the Central University coming up on their land for more than 40 days, have served a 10-day ultimatum on the Haryana government and the university authorities in this regard.

“We will stop the ongoing construction work on the university campus located on land of Jant and Pali villages if the authorities concerned do not accept our demand by September 21,” said Laxman Singh, a former sarpanch who presided over a panchayat organised to discuss the matter.

Residents of the villages have been staging a protest demonstration under the aegis of the Aarakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Pali-Jant, since July 30.

The villagers maintain that nearly 500 acres of panchayat land of their villages had been given for the university on a 99-year lease at a token rate of Re 1 per acre per year.

They allege that the village panchayats passed resolutions to this effect under government pressure and on assurance that local residents would get preference in admissions and jobs at the university.

However, after the university was set up, they were denied any reservation/preferential treatment on the ground that the Central Universities Act did not have any provision for granting quota on the basis of domicile.

“We granted him 10 days instead of a week, but if the state authorities still fail to do the needful even by then, we will have no option but to step up our agitation and stop the construction work at the university site,” maintained Kailash Pali, a prominent figure among the protesters.

Rohtak, September 11
With lakhs of applicants banking on their fate to have a plot allotted in the proposed draw of lots for the 400 plots in the newly carved out Sector 5 here in the next couple of weeks, the real estate sector here appears to have taken a beating. With still a ban on registration of land in unapproved colonies the options left for the common man to own a house have nearly disappeared.

"I have been running from pillar to post to get a plot registered that I had bought in Shastri Nagar here about a year back, but the officials concerned turn me away every time I approach them to get the work telling me that a ban had been there and any registration required prior clearance by the district authorities. The latter have also refused to entertain my application citing the ban imposed by the state government in this regard," said a local resident.

He said while the land rates in colonies like Shastri Nagar had still been affordable for a person like him who earns around Rs 15,000 per month, but he could not afford to pay a rate of Rs 25,000 to 40,000 per square yard prevailing in authorised colonies and sectors carved out by HUDA in the city. "HUDA was offering only around 440 plots, including those reserved for various categories in Sector 5, whose draw was expected on September 19 this year, while the number of applicants were 2.5 lakh," said Parveen Kumar, a property consultant. He added that the system of allotment had also become faulty as there had been many who had submitted multiple applications forms in different names, thus reducing the chance of allotment for the applicants who had applied on a single form.

"The ban on the registration of land in the city had only aggravated the problem for the common man as he or she would not be able to buy a plot in authorised colonies where rates had been hiked artificially," he claimed. Asking the government to remove the ban, Sanjay, another property advisor said it had only brought miseries to the common man as the idea behind the move stands defeated in view of land mafia carving out new colonies and even offering registration facility at extra payment, due to their political connections." Several colonies, which had still been unauthorised but carved out by influential persons had been demanding over Rs 20,000 per sq yard, he added. "At least 34 colonies, which had been more than 10-year old and were having more than 50 per cent constructions were awaiting regularisation but due to wrong moves the process had been stuck in a legal tangle, thanks to poor planning and decision by the state government," said Suresh Kumar, a local resident.

Kurukshetra, September 11
Tension gripped Kurukshetra University here today when students affiliated with the Students Federation of India (SFI) boycotted classes and held a protest in front of the VC’s office and shouted slogans against the management.

The police was called by the Registrar to maintain law and order.

SFI leaders said the university authorities were trying to burden the students by increasing the exam form fees.

They said since educational institutions were not commercial bodies, they should plead their case for more funds from the government.

However, the university authorities denied the charge. “The examination fee was increased by the Kurukshetra University Executive Council in May from Rs 300 to Rs 380. The university has taken major welfare steps to allow the students who apply for promotion to the next class to apply on a form costing Rs 40 instead of purchasing a prospectus worth Rs 300. For SC students, the cost of form for promotion to next class is Rs 10. Earlier, they used to purchase prospectus worth Rs 80,” said Surender Deswal, Registrar.

Rohtak, September 11
Agitating girl students of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) staged a dharna at the main gate of the university this morning in support of their demands which include the sacking of the warden of a hostel for girls. The protesters later met the Vice-Chancellor in this regard.

The protesting girls, mainly hostellers, said they would not accept the accused official as warden. She was shifted to another hostel by the authorities soon after the girls began their stir on Friday.

While the authorities have ruled out any foul play in the incident related to a missing hosteller recently, the protesters stuck to their claim that something was suspicious and the authorities ought to come out clean by setting up an independent probe committee into the matter and remove the warden concerned from her job.

Around 90 girls staged a dharna in front of the main gate of MDU for over an hour this morning. The girls had boycotted the meeting convened by the Provost (girls hostel) on the issue yesterday.

The students announced that the agitation would continue till their main demands were met by the authorities.

On the other hand, the university officials claimed that the grievances of the students would be resolved amicably.

Chandigarh, September 11
A three-member neo-literate team of women of Haryana has won the first position in the national-level quiz programme known as “Shiksha Ka Suraj” organised by the National Literacy Mission Authority (NLMA) under the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development held on the occasion of the International Literacy Day at Luknow from September 7 to 9.

A spokesman of the State Literacy Mission Authority (SLMA) said the first position was bagged by the three-member neo-literate team of Kavita from Narnaul and Sona and Bubbly from Karnal. — TNS

Chandigarh, September 11
The Central Government has approved Rs 5.35 crore for burn units in three districts of Haryana of which Rs 1.73 crore has already been released.

Narveer Singh, Director-General, Health Services, Haryana, said this at a state-level workshop organised here today. The workshop was jointly organised by the Haryana Health Department, Central Health Education Bureau of the Central Health and Family Welfare Department with a view to creating awareness about prevention and treatment of burn injuries.

He said this national programme had been started in Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Haryana on a pilot basis.

A full-fledged 12-bed burn unit had been set up at the PGIMS, Rohtak . Similarly, six-bed units each had been set up in the General Hospital, Gurgaon, and the General Hospital, Panipat .

Yamunanagar, September 11
Even five days later, the district police has not been able to trace the boy who went missing from the Bal Kunj children shelter home in Chhachhrauli village of the district.

The 10-year-old boy, Amarjit, was brought here from Delhi on September 3 and he went missing on September 6.

The police has now sought help from the general public for any information about the boy.

Senior officials of the district police said special police teams had been constituted to trace the boy.

After conducting a search around the shelter home, the local authorities reported the matter to the police, expressing apprehension that the boy could have been kidnapped and a case of kidnapping was registered by the local police.

Sirsa, September 11
A 70-year-old man was stabbed to death by miscreants in his house at Kalanwali in Sirsa last night

The victim, Nazar Singh, lived alone in his residence near Raniwala pond in Kalanwali.

A milkman, who went to his house to deliver milk in the morning, went back as he did not receive any response.

Later, an 11-year-old boy from a neighbouring house went inside and found the victim lying on a cot.

He called his family members, who found stab injuries on the victim’s body. 

Rohtak, September 11
Three incidents of loot at gunpoint in the city during the past 36 hours have caused a scare among the residents. While one incident took place near the office-cum-residence of the IG (Rohtak Range) here this morning, other two took place under the cover of darkness during this period. The police has registered the cases.

It said two unidentified persons snatched a vehicle loaded with two milch cattle and a cash of Rs 28,000 from a trader in the wee hours yesterday. The victim, Mahender Singh, was coming towards Rohtak and had just reached the flyover near the IG’s residence, when some persons intercepted him and snatched his vehicle and cash at gunpoint. It is alleged that chilli powder was also thrown in his eyes.

In another incident, Harnam Singh of Shastri Nagar was looted of his car, mobile and cash at gunpoint by four youths on the bypass near Kanehali village this morning.

In the third incident, two motorcycle-borne youths looted Rs 5,000 from a shopkeeper near the busy Durga Bhawan here last night. 

Kaithal, September 11
Additional District and Sessions Judge RS Choudhry has sentenced three robbers, Sonu, Anil and Pardeep, to seven-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on each. The judge ordered that if the accused fail to deposit the fine they would have to under go imprisonment for two years more.

A police spokesperson said Pritam Singh of Khanouda lodged a complaint with the police on October 12, 2009, that while he was passing through HUDA Colony in Kaithal town, three youths signalled him to stop his car. Before he could understand the situation all three swiftly boarded his car, one of them carrying a pistol forced him to back seat and another took control of the steering wheel. The accused looted cash and mobile phone from him. Later, they forcibly dropped him at Urlana village and took away the car.