Chandigarh, September 27
In a major setback to the Hooda government, the Centre has virtually turned down the government’s demand for a special drought package to Haryana, claiming that “there was no drought in the state”.

The remote possibility of any financial bailout for Haryana farmers was indicated to state officials during the recent Rabi 2012 conference in Delhi by Union Agriculture Ministry officials.”In fact, the late monsoon, which sustained major crops in the state seems to have washed away our claim for a special financial bailout for farmers,” a senior government official told The Tribune here today.

However, it is learnt that the Centre had proposed bonus on paddy and other crops to compensate the farmers. The Haryana Government has demanded
Rs 200 bonus per quintal for paddy and Rs 100 for other crops.

At a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on August 10 , Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had demanded a special financial bailout of Rs 4,052 crore from the Centre with Rs 1,500 crore alone being demanded for providing 17,000 lakh units to the farm sector during the kharif season (May-October). An amount of Rs 1,100 crore was demanded as compensation for the enhanced cost of cultivation, unsown area and other support measures for the agriculture sector.

While the union ministers were non-committal on drought relief, Ramesh announced Rs 230 crore interim relief for the augmentation of drinking water supply and watershed management. On September 12, the Union Government announced a grant of Rs 115 crore under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) out the Rs 160-crore relief package for the augmentation of drinking water supply in the state.

However, the state government is not going to take the Centre’s decision lying down. Revenue Minister Mahender Partap Singh said the state government would take up the matter with the Central Government again as the farmers had spent thousands of rupees more per acre to sustain their crops owing to deficient rainfall till July.

Only 21.64 lakh hectares could be sown against the target of 30.75 lakh hectares due to deficient rainfall pegged at 73 per cent in July-end. Subsequently, in September the rainfall deficiency came down to around 30 per cent.

Karnal, September 27
Come January 2013, and the world would witness the first calf born from a cloned buffalo, Garima-II. The cloned buffalo is pregnant and all set to usher in a revolution in the dairy sector by delivering the calf.

Weighing between 4 and 4.5 quintals, the clone is five-and-a-half month pregnant and healthy. Garima-II was artificially inseminated with the semen of an elite bull having dam milk yield record of 4,000 litres per lactation.

The clone is being given the best possible feed, including 25-30 kg green fodder, more than 2.5 per cent of dry fodder and 3 kg of concentrate, said the Director of the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), AK Srivastav.

“All necessary precautions are being taken. The temperature of her room is maintained at 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. The buffalo is kept with pregnant buffaloes for around four hours everyday,” he added.

He said the delivery would take place after three-and-a-half month.

Dairy scientists at the NDRI believe that the New Year would script a new history in dairy development, with a cloned buffalo delivering a calf. It would facilitate the multiplication of cloned calves, resulting in increased milk production and yield. It would be a breakthrough in the dairy sector, paving the way for a second white revolution.

Garima was born on August 22, 2010 at the NDRI through the advanced ‘hand-guided cloning technique’ by using an embryonic stem cell isolated from an 8-day-old blastocyst and cultured up to 29 passages (117 days).

“Garima-II was born through a Caesarian operation. Disease-resistant stem cells were used for buffalo-cloning. The clones produced would be disease-free and facilitate faster and safe multiplication of elite clones which would go a long way in ushering in a second white revolution in the country,” NDRI scientists said.

Karnal, September 27
To bring culprits to book, the Karnal police has taken the lead by announcing awards for providing information about criminals in three cases of heinous crime.

The Director-General of Police (DGP), Haryana, has announced awards of Rs 2 lakh in the three unsolved cases and assured that the identity of the informer would be kept secret.

The police announced an award of Rs 1 lakh in a case registered in Bhutan police station in which an old couple was murdered by some unknown miscreants. The identity of the culprits has not been established till date.

The FIR was registered on May 22, 2012 under Sections 302, 201, 34 of the IPC on the complaint of Romesh Kumar, son of Balkrishan, who alleged that his mother Ajmero was attacked by some persons and her body was thrown into the pool while his father was hit by some sharp-edged weapon and he had succumbed to the injuries.

The police has announced an award for getting clues to identify the culprits.

Another case in which a 14-year-old was subjected to unnatural intercourse and killed by hitting on the head, a case was registered under Sections 302 and 377 of the IPC at Indri police station on November 1, 2011. The police has announced award of Rs 50,000 for information about the culprits.

The complaint lodged by Ilam Singh says that some unknown persons had unnatural intercourse with his 14-year-old son Kuldeep and killed him by hitting on his head and threw the body near a school. The case is yet to be solved.

In the third case, the body of an unidentified woman with marks of injuries on her neck was found near the dam of a canal under Uchhana police station on January 25, 2012. An FIR was lodged under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC at Karnal sadar police station on information given by Maan Singh.

The bangles of the left arm were broken, the skin where her name was tattooed was erased and the victim, aged around 25-26 years, was wearing a saffron colour suit and a dupatta was tied on her head. The body was wrapped in a quilt and has not been identified till date. The police has announced an award of Rs 50,000 in this case.

Fatehabad, September 27
Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar and Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Prahlad Singh Gillankhera had to face the ire of a group of villagers at Dhingsara in Fatehabad, who showed them black flags accusing them of adopting a partisan stand in the matter of encroachment of a village common land by some influential persons.

The villagers raised slogans against Gillankhera and alleged that his near relatives have usurped ‘gochar land’, a village common land kept aside for collective purposes.

A group of villagers has been opposing Gillankhera every time he visits Dhingsara, though the CPS has been maintaining that his kin were legitimate owners of the land in question through a court order. Some women were seen carrying black flags and raising slogans as Tanwar and Gillankhera entered the village.

Later, the two leaders inaugurated the building of a subsidiary health centre in the village. Unfazed by the opposing villagers, Tanwar said the FDI on retail introduced by the Central Government would benefit farmers a lot. He said the FDI would provide employment to youths and fetch remunerative price to farmers for their crops.

Gillankhera said Fatehabad had witnessed an unprecedented development in the present regime, when Rs 30.38 crore had been spent from the Haryana State Marketing Board. Meanwhile, Gillankhera alleged that those opposing him had been instigated by his political opponents and maintained the issue of the alleged land had already been decided by the courts.

Sirsa, September 27
The authorities today razed illegal structures in Hari Vishnu Colony near the Air Force Station here on Dabwali road. A team headed by District Town Planner Swati Anand demolished illegal structures with the help of JCB machines. The team also uprooted the foundations of some plots in the colony.

“The district authorities were receiving requests from the IAF authorities that illegal structures were mushrooming in the vicinity of the Air Force Station,” Swati said.

The victim told on camera to a private news channel on Thursday that the police was trying to shield the main accused as the one arrested was not involved in the crime.

Identifying the accused who had gangraped her with their sub-caste, she claimed that while one of them was a Jat, the other two hailed from the Dhanak (Scheduled Caste) category.

She claimed that the family of the one of the accused, identified as Sandeep, had been trying to pressurise her to withdraw her complaint and go for a compromise as they (family) were ready to mete out punishment to him since he had a criminal background.

Police officials, on other hand, said they were unaware of any such allegation levelled by the victim. 

Panipat (Samalkha), September 27
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today called for a “collective and collaborative” strategy to expand the milk collection centre network to rural areas for the benefit of both the milk producers and investors.

“It will be a win-win situation for both the producers and investors if a collective and collaborative strategy is adopted in this regard jointly by the Animal Husbandry Department, the Dairy Federation and the private sector players,” he said while inaugurating the second unit of Nestle today at Samalkha.

Appreciating Nestle for working closely with the farmers and providing them the knowhow to help increase productivity and the quality of milk in a sustainable manner, Hooda said with a 100-year presence in the country and 20 years in Haryana, Nestle had become a household name synonymous with chocolates, milk products, coffee, Maggi noodles etc.

The company has succeeded in bringing about a marked change in the milk processing industry through its modern technology.

It has invested Rs 600 crore in the new unit which will benefit not only Haryana, but also the whole country.

During the last seven years, the state economy has grown at an average annual rate of 9.4 per cent, which is higher than the rate at the national level and the exports of Haryana crossed the Rs 48,530-crore mark during 2010-11.

The Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India, Antonio Helio Waszyk, said there were eight units of Nestle in India with a turnover of Rs 7,500 crore.

Chandigarh, September 27
The Haryana Government’s policy of granting the benefit of maternity leave to contractual employees has found favour with the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A Division Bench has ruled that it is a welfare policy and has to be interpreted in a liberal manner.

The Bench also indicated that the condition of serving continuously for three months before proceeding on leave would not be the determining factor as reasons for the time off were beyond the woman employee’s control.

The ruling, benefiting women employed on contract, by the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice RP Nagrath came on an appeal filed by the state of Haryana and other appellants against guest teacher Pooja Devi. The appeal was directed against the order dated May 10 passed by a single judge allowing Pooja Devi’s writ petition and granting her the benefit of maternity leave.

The Bench asserted: “The short question that arises for consideration is whether respondent Pooja Devi was eligible for grant of benefit of maternity leave in terms of the government instructions dated December 27, 2010, and whether she was deemed to have completed three months’ continuous service on a contract basis before seeking benefit of maternity leave.

As the case came up for hearing, the Haryana Additional Advocate-General argued there was a break in continuity of her service; and she was re-engaged on a contract basis on August 1, 2011. “Since she proceeded on maternity leave on September 4, 2011, it is evident that she did not serve continuously for three months before proceeding on maternity leave,” he argued.

After hearing the arguments, the Bench asserted it was of the view that interference with the single judge’s order was not required?. The break in contractual service of the respondent is not attributable to her as it was beyond her control?.

“The government policy granting the benefit of maternity leave to contractual employees, being a welfare policy, deserves liberal and beneficial construction,” the Bench asserted while dismissing the appeal.

Ambala/Yamunanagar, September 27
The poor performance of thermal plants in Haryana has worried the central power authorities.

As per the latest report by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the country had fallen short by 26.1 billion units of thermal generation and the thermal power plants in Haryana had been major contributors in this shortfall.

The main reason cited for the shortfall were nil generation at the Yamunanagar thermal plant, which had been facing turbine problems in both unit 1 and unit 2, less generation at the Indira Gandhi Thermal Plant, Jhajjar, caused due to forced outages and a smaller amount of generation at the Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Plant, Khedar, where the units have been facing turbine problem.

According to a highly placed source in the power utilities, the 1200-MW Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Plant, Khedar, was scheduled to generate 3,030 million units (MU) but it produced only 2193 MU with shortfall of 45 MU due to boiler tube leakages.

Similarly, in the 1,320-MW Jhajjar thermal plant, the plant load factor (PLF) was 45 per cent in August and 21.46 per cent from April to August due to coal shortage problem. The PLF of thermal stations during August, this year, was reduced to 61.41per cent against the target PLF of 65.33 per cent, which was recorded, last year. The PLF of coal-based stations registered a steep fall from April till August this year as it was reduced to 61.05 per cent in August from 69.67 per cent in April.

Meanwhile, the CEA report mentioned that during August, 90 per cent of the total requirement of coal was available. The thermal power stations received about 31 million tonnes (MT) of coal against the demand of 34.4 MT. The report also stated that Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) was assigned target to import 2,000 MT of coal but has practically imported nil coal.

Chandigarh, September 27
The Haryana Government is ensuring strict enforcement of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act in the state so as to check the declining gender ratio. So far, inspections of 14,576 clinics had been carried out by the health authorities, 346 licences had been cancelled and 30 persons, including 24 doctors, had been convicted by court for violating the PNDT Act in the state.

While stating this here today, Health Minister Rao Narender Singh said 203 ultrasound machines were seized or sealed and licences of four practitioners had been cancelled in the state.

Apart from this, 82 court cases were pending in lower courts and 41 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against those who violated the Act.

The minister said certain new initiatives taken for effective implementation of the Act included registration of ultrasound machines used at veterinary hospitals and incentive up to Rs 20,000 would be given to informer for providing information regarding violation of the PNDT Act. Besides, residence identity proof of pregnant women for ultrasound had been made mandatory. The District Task Force had been constituted to review PNDT activities in the districts. He said awards for district PNDT teams had been started to curb the female foeticide.

Hisar, September 27
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam(DHBVN) has launched a month-long campaign against theft of electricity in its area.

A DHBVN spokesman said here today that 14 special teams had been constituted for the purpose. Each team would have at least two officers of the wings other than operations, one junior engineer, one lineman and two police personnel.

The teams would work independently of the operations staff. Officers of the enforcement wing would coordinate with the teams in their respective areas and provide police personnel to the teams. Two teams would operate in each operation circle. The Additional Managing Director, Directors and Chief General Managers posted at the head office would monitor the teams. These senior officers would remain in their areas for at least two days in a week.

This month the teams will check at least 11,000 meters or premises where theft is suspected. They have been provided the billing record and sanctioned load of all consumers of their respective areas.

The teams will prepare inspection reports even if no theft is detected. In case meter tampering is suspected, it will be sent to the meter testing laboratory. Complaints will be lodged in the police station concerned about each case of theft of electricity. 

Rohtak, September 27
As many as 3,000 brick kiln owners seem to be on a collision course with the state government on the new norm for an NOC for brick preparation. Both state and district-level brick kiln owners’ associations have threatened to strike work from October 1 in case the NOC condition was not withdrawn.

The district unit of the association has also announced a hike in the rate of the bricks from October 1 to Rs 5,000 per thousand bricks from Rs 4,500. The Rohtak District Brick Kilns Association, which held a meeting here recently has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda seeking his intervention on the issue.

A spokesperson of the association said the brick kilns whose work was regulated by the Department of Mines and Geology would now be required to get an NOC from the Ministry of Environment and Forests after submitting a written consent of the owners of the fields or land from where soil was to be taken or purchased by the brick kilns. While most brick kilns entered into lease agreements of one to two years with the field owners, the department concerned had asked the NOC for five years, which was impossible on technical grounds.

Dilbagh Singh Dangi, president of the district unit of the union, said seeking a written permission and an NOC from each and every farmer was impossible as the land holdings had shrunk sharply and getting permission from several farmers at one time was a tough task. 

Chandigarh, September 27
The state government has decided to provide 100 per cent medical reimbursement for treatment, including plastic surgery, to the acid attack victims in all hospitals.

Sumita Misra, Director-General, Women and Child Development Department, said here today that earlier this facility was available for treatment at the PGIMS, Rohtak; PGI, Chandigarh; and the AIIMS, New Delhi.

The approved hospitals included Escorts Hospital, Batra Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Indraprastha Apolo Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Maharajja Aggarsen Hospital and Charitable Trust, New Delhi, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Drishti Eye Hospital, Sector 11, Panchkula; and Saket Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula.

The state government had earlier amended the relief and rehabilitation of women acid victims scheme.The state government had earlier launched this scheme to provide ad hoc relief, medical reimbursement and rehabilitation services to women acid victims in May, 2011.

Chandigarh September 27
The Haryana School Education Board, Bhiwani, has cancelled the first semester social science examination of the secondary examination scheduled to be held in the morning session (11a.m. to 1.30 p.m) on September 29.

A spokesman of the board said the examination would now be held on October 7 at the same place and time.

Sonepat, September 27
The Special Investigating Team (SIT) has nabbed a youth identified as Jitender of Saboli in Panipat district and seized around 28 fake stamps, six fake driving licences, one fake registration certificate and other papers of different vehicle registration authorities and motor companies from his possession.

Some of the seized fake stamps were in the name of RTA, Sonepat, Licensing Authority, Sonepat, Executive Magistrate, Sonepat, RTA, Haryana, District Police Inspector, Sonepat, Sub-Registrar, Sonepat, Nagar Parishad, Sonepat, Licensing Authority, Rewari, Jag Mohan Motors, Sonepat, and SIRB, Madhuban.

The police said after receiving information that a person allegedly involved in issuing fake registration certificates and driving licences was coming to Sonepat in an Accent car, a naka was put up on the Bahalgarh road.

During checking of vehicles, the car was stopped and the police seized fake stamps and other papers from him.

After his arrest, a case was registered against him in the local civil lines police station.