The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Delhi rape: Netizens express anger online
Say need to revamp legal structure; seek strict action against accused
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, December 20
The gang rape of a Delhi medical student, which has led to an uproar in the Parliament and outcry on the streets, has also disturbed social websites’ users.

Facebook is flooded with comments depicting anger and outrage, which netizens have felt after the incident.

“The gang rape in Delhi and its details are simply unmentionable… punish the culprits, with the most severe punishment ever ... But also let us introspect! What is going wrong with our society, our people. Naari ke roop mein hum pooja karte hain, Durga, Kali, Lakshmi ki… jo shraddha hum yahan pradaan karte hain, apne desh ki mahilaon pe kyun nahin karte...!!! Somewhere the fear of justice of the system, of our morals and our upbringing has given rise to a freedom that perpetrates such crimes!! An intolerance has set in! And unless we move fast and sure footedly to rectify this, there can be no correction. Let every Indian become a vigilante, a soldier, a commander that shall fight such heinous crimes with strength and conviction,” wrote megastar Amitabh Bachchan on his FB page.

DR Chaudhary, a former chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission and a former member of the Haryana Administrative Reforms Commission, said, “The horrific incident of gang rape of a girl in a moving bus shows the lowest ebb of moral sensitivity touched by a section of Indian society. The girl and her companion were attacked with rods and the girl in highly injured state was gangraped and then both thrown out of the bus. This is not animality… much worse than that. Animals can never be that cruel. The incident shows that there is no fear of law in our society. Our legal system is too cumbersome, slow and prone to clever agreements of lawyers”.

“There is a need to revamp our legal structure to make it quick in delivering justice. Secondly, our society is getting dehumanised. In a male-dominated society, a woman is a commodity at the disposal of the man. This mind is behind rapes, domestic violence against woman, dowry deaths, honour killings and other forms of persecution of the woman in our society. There is need of a powerful social reform movement to build a counter culture to dismantle the patriarchal structure of the society,” Chaudhary added.

“Ma, what else do we do to not get raped? Even after following everyone's advice, don't step out late, don't be alone, don't wear that, Delhi girls say they're still public property on the roads. They never forget to tell us that Delhi is not safe. We have been reminded time and again about what can happen if we become 'adventurous' by stepping out late, walking on secluded streets or daring to step into the general compartment of the Metro. So, we're always cautious. We have grown up with warnings, lessons, and guidelines for surviving in the city. Go out only if a guy drops you home, go to a place where there are other people around, don't dress too ‘provocatively’, etc etc. But was the girl who was gangraped in the South Delhi bus alone? No, she was with a male friend. Were they in a deserted area? No, they were picked up at a busy Munirka bus stop and were driven all around South Delhi, while the men had their fun. Every time such an 'unfortunate incident' happens, all these 'tips' are proven grossly wrong, all the myths for surviving in Delhi are busted,” said a Facebook post by Dr Rajeshwari Jaglan, an associate professor in the Geography Department of Kurkshetra University.

Roma Sheel Kochhar, a writer and blogger, wrote, “Bad night… Couldn't sleep… Thinking of a girl battling for life… God bless her and hope she recovers soon”.

“Such a terrible thing...I have friends calling from London, who are supposed to visit Delhi in the New Year, whether it is safe to come. Every time I walk out of home, there's a horrible feeling inside: will I get back safe? High time we said goodbye to complacence,” Roma added.

“Let every Indian become a vigilante, a soldier, a commander who shall fight such heinous crimes with strength and conviction,” wrote megastar

Every time such an 'unfortunate incident' happens, all these 'tips' are proven grossly wrong, all the myths for surviving in Delhi are busted,”

Battle of Rezang La ‘unique’ in annals of war
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

Rewari, December 20
Ex-servicemen, politicians and distinguished citizens participated in a Shauraya Samman Samaroh held under the auspices of the Vijay Divas-cum- Rezang La Shaheedi Samaroh Samiti (RLSSS) to commemorate Vijay Divas here recently.

While Anil Shastri, late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s son, a former union minister and a member of the Congress Working Committee, was the chief guest, the Power, Forest and Environment Minister and patron of the RLSSS, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, presided over its proceedings.

While noted saint Swami Sharnanand, founder-director of Bhagwat Sewa Ashram, Daroli (Rewari), graced the samaroh, former minister Shakuntala Bhagwaria was a guest of honour.

Paying tributes to martyrs of the 1971 Indo-Pak War and other such armed hostilities, Shastri specifically recalled the historic battle of Rezang La in which 114 Ahir jawans, including the company commander Major Shaitan Singh, of the Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon, had made the supreme sacrifice while valiantly fighting the Chinese at the Rezang La post in the Chushul Sector of Ladakh on November 18, 1962.

Stating that the battle of Rezang La, in which our jawans fought to the proverbial ‘last man, last round’, was unparalleled in the annals of war, Shastri asserted that like our heroic jawans, the Indian peasants too were diligent and doughty.

Besides, he exhorted all to work in unison for the unity and integrity of the country while keeping the banner of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ aloft before them.

Similarly, paying homage to the martyrs who made sacrifices for the sake of the motherland, Power Minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav proudly said the Ahirwal region was an acclaimed nursery of soldiers and every 10th jawan in the Indian Army was a Haryanavi.

Simultaneously while showering accolades on late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri for his impeccable honesty, clean image and his genuine sympathy towards the poor and the downtrodden, Captain Yadav enumerated schemes initiated by the state government for the welfare of ex-servicemen, war widows and freedom fighters.

War widows, gallantry award winners, distinguished achievers and meritorious students were also honoured on the occasion.

Aayakar kendra opened
Tribune News Service

CBDT member Dr Sudha Sharma inaugurates the Aayakar Sewa Kendra (ASK) at the Income Tax office in Gurgaon. Tribune photo: Sayeed Ahmed

Gurgaon, December 20
Dr Sudha Sharma, member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), inaugurated an Aayakar Sewa Kendra (ASK) on the premises of the local Income Tax office recently. ZS Klar, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Panchkula, was also present at the inaugural ceremony.

Addressing a gathering comprising former as well as serving officials of the Income Tax Department, members of the District Tax Practitioners Bar Association and top taxpayers of Gurgaon, Dr Sharma said ASK was a one-stop computerised shop for the taxpayers to obtain time-bound services promised by the department in its Citizens Charter.

There are 60 such ASK centres proposed to be set up in the first phase, Gurgaon being one of the locations.

The stage for the inaugural function was conducted by Mamta Bansal, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, while Neena Kumar, Commissioner of Income Tax (Faridabad), proposed the vote of thanks.

Hooda’s clout as party leader growing at national level
Ravi S Singh

Faridabad, December 20
After playing a major hand in the success of the Congress’ recent national-level rally in Delhi in favour of the FDI in retail trade, Haryana also left footprints on the party’s campaign for the just-concluded Assembly election in Gujarat.

In order to call the bluff of Narendra Modi-led BJP government’s alleged rhetoric on “development”, the Congress poll managers at the Centre banked on Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for the party’s electioneering in Gujarat where elections were held in two phases.

Political analysts say the fact that the Congress chose Hooda to take on the development plank of Modi was a testimony to the growing clout of Hooda as a party leader and as an administrator at the national level. It is another issue that no Congress trick worked in Gujarat before the ‘Modi magic’.

There is a growing recognition among political observers about Haryana emerging as the best-administered Congress-ruled state in the country. Hence, the Congress’ central leadership fielded Hooda to counter Modi, whom the BJP has descibed as a “man of development”.

Significantly, Hooda, on the eve of his tour to Gujarat, addressed a rally here on November 9 in which he had said that he would expose the “hollowness” of Narendra Modi’s government during his election campaign in the state.

Hooda, who was apparently in a combative mood, had asserted at the rally that Haryana was ahead of Gujarat in all the parameters of development.

Reports suggest that Hooda’s presence in Gujarat attracted a responsive crowd. In his speeches, he juxtaposed the developments in Haryana with that of Gujarat to drive home the point to electorates that they should usher in a Congress government in the state.

He also invited people from Gujarat to visit Haryana to compare the growth and development in his state with the development works undertaken by the Narendra Modi government.

Congress insiders said apart from bolstering the Congress campaigning in Gujarat, Hooda, as a Chief Minister, had an occasion to be even with Modi. The latter while addressing a BJP rally in Faridabad on September 28 after the party's Surajkund conclave, had a dig at Hooda government.

Modi in his speech had also touched the raw nerve of the Congress by commenting on the land acquisition policy of its government in Haryana and in this context, he commented on the differences between Hooda and his Cabinet colleague, Ajay Yadav.

Hooda proved his worth to the party by ensuring a large turnout from Haryana at its FDI rally in Delhi, which was organised last month. According to many, a large assembly of people at the rally went a long way in strengthening the position of the Congress and the UPA on the issue. The rally was organised at a critical time, when the opposition parties had galvanised themselves in a big way across the country.

Hanging High-Tension Wires
DHBVN preparing report
Tribune News Service

Fatehabad, December 20
Responding to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) notice on a complaint filed by the Human Rights Cell of the BJP in Haryana on a report in The Tribune, the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Nigam is in the process of “investigating the matter and preparing a report”.

The Tribune had published a report “Bane of Sirsa, Fatehabad residents” in the Haryana Plus on February 28, 2012, under a special campaign on hanging high-tension wires in the towns.

Taking note of the news item, RP Malhotra, state convener of the Human Rights Cell of the BJP, wrote to the Human Rights Commission along with a clipping of The Tribune story.

According to the records available with The Tribune, the NHRC listed this complaint as case number 966/7/18/2012/OC and issued notice to the Secretary, Department of Power, Haryana, on May 14, 2012, asking him to file a report within four weeks.

Deduction from salaries shocks guest teachers
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, December 20
As many as 32 guest faculty members working in Chaudhary Devi Lal Memorial Engineering College at Panniwala Mota in Sirsa were in for a rude shock when the college authorities deducted from their salaries an amount of Rs 25 per period against recess facility granted to the college staff.

Teachers, who were earlier getting Rs 300 per period, as per the guidelines of the state government, were given their emoluments as per Rs 275 per period when they received their salaries for September and October 2012.

The college authorities gave them a “strange explanation” that the deduction was because of 40 minutes recess period given to them from the eight-hour schedule. Guest teachers alleged that they had earlier been getting salaries as per Rs 300 per period of one hour, according to the government guidelines.

In the beginning of the current semester, the college authorities started giving a recess of 40 minutes from the usual 9 am to 5 pm schedule on the demand of permanent teachers, who are less than 12 in numbers.

Even after the authorities started recess, the guest teachers received salaries for August 2012, according to the government schedule.

However, this month, when they received their salaries for September and October 2012, the college authorities deducted Rs 25 per period because of the recess.

The guest faculty members are yet to receive their salaries for November, though they have already been relieved from work for this semester on December 10. Sudhir Gilhotra, officiating principal of the college, said government norms provided salary of Rs 300 per hour.

“Earlier, we had a period of one hour and hence, we paid salary as per Rs 300 per period. But now, when the period has been curtailed to 55 minutes due to the recess, there is nothing wrong in paying for 55 minutes only,” he added.

Fete at Ambala school
Our Correspondent

Ambala, December 20
The Convent of Sacred Heart School, Ambala Cantt, organised a school fete, ‘Global Carnival 2012’, in the senior block of the school. The school also celebrated the annual day of the kindergarten block. The fete was inaugurated by Gian Prakash and his wife, the trustees of the school.

There were about 50 stalls of entertainment, eatables, fun, games, art and craft. Dance and singing competitions were held, which were open for all. Skills of self-defence were also demonstrated by students.

Talk on self-defence for women
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, December 20
Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee women cell general secretary Bimla Saroha called upon women to learn martial arts like judo and karate to defend themselves against crimes committed against women.

She was addressing the Congress women workers at a meeting held on the premises of Congress Bhavan.

Saroha said women should become mentally as well as physically strong to face anti-social elements so that they would not do such crimes in future. Condemning the gang-rape incident of a paramedical student in Delhi recently, she said instead of indulging in politics, we would have to change the mental make-up of our society and make women strong enough to face such incidents.

Earlier, District Congress Committee women cell president Darshana Nandal suggested that the guardians of the culprits instead of hiding the mistakes committed by their wards, should come forward to get their wards punished so that such incidents could be curbed.

Women Congress senior leader Ram Kumari Sharma from Shahabad gave tips on self-defence to women.

District Congress Committee women cell general secretary Satya Sharma, Ladwa block president Sunita Malli and Pehowa block president Priyanka Kashayap also spoke.

Munni Saroha, Bedo Devi, Hasin Fatima, Uma Devi and Mahima Singh were among those who were present on this occasion.

Army holds placement drive at SSGI
Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, December 20
An on-campus placement drive was organised by the Indian Army for the pre-final year engineering students of Shree Siddhivinayak Group of Institutions, Bilaspur, near here. Lt Col P Chakravarthy and Major Jaiprasad from the Indian Army conducted the interviews for short-listing to SSB. In the beginning, Lt Col Chakravarthy very comprehensively explained about the careers in the Indian Army for engineering graduates.

He also explained in detail the career growth opportunities, career progression, foreign assignments etc.“The Indian Army provides ample opportunities for general activities like sports, paragliding, river rafting, sailing, horse riding, golf, polo etc besides socialising,” said Lt Col Chakravarty.

On the career front, Lt Col Chakravarty explained that on completion of training of one year at the Indian Military Academy, the person is absorbed as Lieutenant, a group A gazette officer, and within 13 years reaches the highest pay band, PB-4, according to the Central Government pay package. There are several allowances according to government rules and the defence services officer is also entitled to accommodation, free ration, transport, medical, travel allowances for self and family. Several cantonment areas are established all over the country with full security and having facilities of housing, canteen stores, schools and club houses.

Dr MK Sehgal, CEO and Chairman, appreciated the efforts of the Training and Placement cell and said that discipline and time management was the key in the Army.

The Director-General, Dr Rajni Sehgal, thanked the team for their inspiring words which motivated the students of SSGI to serve the country. She said, “Last year, our students have been placed in more than 20 companies across various sectors. It is a team effort by students, teachers and the Department of Placement and Training”.

Prof Vipon Chopra shared his experience with defence officers during his career as central civil services officer and asserted that defence officers were certainly enjoying a better life style as compared to their counterparts in civil services, though both the services have their own professional hazards. He also said that an opportunity had knocked at our doors and we must take full advantage of the placement drive.

Water Resource Management
Japanese experts visit Karnal college
Shekhar Singh
Tribune News service

Karnal, December 20
A delegation of Japanese experts on Water Resource Management visited Dyal Singh College, Karnal, recently. The team was welcomed by the college Principal, Dr Rakesh Bhardwaj, and other members of the staff.

The team, under the leadership of Professor Hideki Harada, of University of Tohoku, Japan, expressed its willingness to extend their support and co-operation to work with the college for wastewater technologies.

A pilot project DHS-Bio Tower, of 1 MLD capacity, is under operation at Karnal, since 2003. Hari Om Sharma, the coordinator of the project, said the project had been a success.

Professor Hideki said water pollution was a serious problem. Even if some serious steps were taken to fight the problem with immediate effect, it will take 20 years for the situation to normalise. The people of India had to suffer a lot due to environment pollution. Still nothing worthwhile was being done to check it, he added.

The Government of Japan is helping India, Ethiopia, Thailand, Indonesia and Egypt in the operation of water-purifying plants through the technique of DHS (hanging-on system) so that the problem of water contamination may be checked.

The delegates said in their country, the permissible level of BOD was 7 mg/L for wastewater drained out by industrial units, while in India the BOD level had crossed 200 mg/L mark.

Now the students and teachers of the college will attain knowledge of the DHS plant run by Japan, Prof Hideki added.

Postal wrestling tourney in Ambala
Subhash Chauhan

Ambala, December 20
The 26th All-India Postal Wrestling Tournament organised by the Haryana Postal Circle began at Rukmani Devi Memorial Hall, Ambala Cantt, on Tuesday. As many as seven teams from various postal circles are participating in the tournament.

Indu Gupta, Chief Postmaster General, Haryana Circle, Ambala, inaugurated the tournament. Manisha Bansal Badal, director, Postal Services (HQ), Ambala, welcomed all the teams, managers, coaches and referees.

Gupta said many players from the state had won various medals at the London Olympics. She said as the Postal Department connected the world from one corner to another, similarly, games also worked to connect the world. She appreciated the sports policies of the Central government.

Col Subhash Chander, director, Army Postal Services, said last year, the All-India Postal Wrestling Tournament was held in Patna, Bihar, in which Rajesh Kumar, a wrestler from the state, had won the Dak Kesari Award.

More than 70 wrestlers are participating in the tournament. The results (Day 1): In 55-kg weight category, Shakti Parshad (Rajasthan) won the first prize, while SG Solanki (Gujarat) won the second prize and Ralesh Kumar (Haryana) and Satosh Nimbalkar (Maharashtra) won the third prize.

In 66-kg weight category, Amlesh Yadav (UP) won the first prize, while SB Magdum (Maharashtra) won the second prize and Shyam Sunder Mahapatra (Odisha) won the third prize.

In 84-kg weight category, Vinay Kumar (UP) won the first prize, Rohtash (Rajasthan) won the second prize and Sunil Kumar (Haryana) won the third prize.

Price of basmati rice may rise during Jan-Feb
Potato to see decline in prices
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, December 20
The Department of Agricultural Economics, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, has issued price forecast of potato and basmati rice.

A spokesperson of the university said that keeping in view the price trend, an opinion survey of the traders and the analysis of the past 10-12 years’ prices, it is expected that there might be a decline in the price of potatoes during January 2013 to Rs 450-500 per quintal due to fresh crop arrival and the prices may further decline to the levels of Rs 350-400 during February 2013. Thus, farmers may take a decision accordingly to sell their stock of potatoes in the coming season.

The spokesperson said during 2012-13, the area under basmati rice had exceeded by 60 per cent of the total area under the rice crop, mainly due to inclusion of PUSA 1121 under the category of basmati.

He said it was estimated that about 7.50 lakh hectares were covered under basmati rice out of about 12 lakh hectares of land.

Basmati rice exports topped largely because of a bumper local harvest and strong demand from Gulf countries, particularly for the newly classified PUSA 1121 variety.

He said Haryana was contributing about 60 per cent of the total basmati exports from India.

Keeping the price trend in view, an opinion survey of the traders, a good harvest of the basmati rice crop in the state as well as rise in state export was expected.

He said that after the analysis of the past 12 years prices, it was expected that the price of basmati rice, during the month of December, 2012 would be Rs 2,500-3,000 per quintal and in January-February 2013, the price may increase up to Rs 3,050-3,200 per quintal. However, the price trend of basmati rice would also depend upon the export-import policies and the global market scenario. Thus, farmers may take a decision accordingly to sell their produce, he added.

Meeting focuses on curbing heinous crimes
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

Rewari, December 20
With focus on curbing incidents of heinous crimes in the four districts of Rewari, Mahendergarh, Palwal and Mewat, Inspector-General of Police OP Singh, who is the chief of the police administration of the South Range, held a crucial meeting of senior police officials of these four districts here recently.

The SPs, DSPs and chiefs of the CIA staff of these four districts participated in the deliberations.

In the backdrop of heinous crimes generally perpetrated by hard-core criminals on parole, the IGP said that now any imprisoned culprit, involved in crimes like murder, loot and robbery, would have to deposit a surety of Rs five lakh in a government treasury before being released on parole.

Similarly criminals, undergoing imprisonment for lesser crimes, would be required to deposit a surety of Rs two lakh in government coffers prior to their release on parole.

He also stated that the scheme, which had already been implemented in Palwal district, was paying good dividends.

Besides, the IGP informed that a purposeful scheme, based on the SMS technique for tangible coordination among police personnel of these four districts to track and apprehend absconding perpetrators of thefts, loot and robberies, was on the anvil.

Thus while police chiefs of these four districts highlighted their recent achievements, OP Singh distributed cash rewards and citations among ten police officials of these districts for their meritorious services while describing the police as a significant component of the state governance.

Civil Hospital in bad shape
Shekhar Singh /TNS

Kurukshetra, December 20
Given the state of affairs at the Civil Hospital it would not be wrong to say that its functioning and security is being left at the mercy of the Almighty.

The problem is grave as the security measures at the hospital are almost negligible. The hospital apart from the main entrance is open from various places, hence giving easy access to thieves and criminals.

Even the security system at the 100-bedded hospital is weak as it just has a handful of gate-keepers. However, the hospital requires around three to four guards per ward.

As if this was not enough, it has become common to hear about cases of cycles and motorcycles getting stolen. Since parking on the hospital premises is haphazard, it becomes difficult for those on duty to check who parked the vehicle and who took it away.

Medical sources said the security of the hospital was indeed a serious issue and they had been planning to recruit more security guards. “We have cleared one of the open paths near the trauma centre and would be taking strict measures to ensure security at the hospital,” they added.

Sources said that keeping in mind the increasing theft cases and crimes that had happened in the Gurgaon hospital recently, there is a need to put a security guard on every section.

“Efforts are on to plug the loopholes in the hospital so that there are no thefts and crimes,” they maintained.

5th Power India Conference
Integrate renewable sources of energy
Our Correspondent

Dhanpat Singh, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Haryana, inaugurates the 5th Power India Conference at the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, on Wednesday. Photo: BS Malik

Sonepat, December 20
The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Haryana, Dhanpat Singh, stressed the need for integration of the renewable sources of energy as the worldwide power-system networks had grown in size and complexity over the years.

He was inaugurating the 5th Power India Conference on ‘Grid Integration of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Sources’ at the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, on Wednesday.

Singh said “There is a strong need of strengthening the electricity network to meet the growing demands and enable its competition in the deregulated electricity market and integration of intermittent renewable energy sources”.

Singh said power was an integral part of life and keeping all these in mind, there was a need for the development of power sector for the benefit of mankind.

He said though the state was primary agricultural, but equal importance had been given to industry as well. Keeping in mind the power requirements of these sectors, the power generation had increased from 1545 mw in 1985 to 5050 mw and as a result of it the annual export from industrial sector in the state had increased up to Rs 7,000 crore, he added.

In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor of the University, HS Chahal stressed on the need for integration of energy along with its generation, transmission and distribution and said the conservation of energy was the most important factor in the fast growing field.

He claimed that the university’s efforts in energy conservation and use of renewable energy sources had been widely acknowledged and university had bagged the first prize at the state level for its efforts, last year. He stressed the need for short-term refresher courses for power engineers in government and private sectors to get acquainted with the latest technologies in the field.

The organising committee had invited papers for presentation and general participation as well as support, from academicians, researchers and development organisations.

Prof presents research work in Malaysia
Tribune News Service

Sirsa, December 20
Prof Deepti Pandita, Head of the Pharmaceutical Department in the Jan Nayak Chaudhary Devi Lal Memorial College of Pharmacy, Sirsa, was invited to present her research work in an international conference ‘Pharmatech-2012’ held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia.

A large number of participants from different parts of the world participated in the conference. Dr Pandita in her presentation entitled, ‘Proniosomes as a drug carrier for trans-dermal delivery of Bromocriptin’ focused on application of Proniosomes as a promising alternative to the oral route treatment.

Ambala railway awarded
Tribune News Service

President Pranab Mukherjee honours RK Gupta, Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer, in New Delhi. A Tribune photograph

Chandigarh, December 20
The Ambala division of the Indian Railways has been awarded by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, for ensuring optimum energy conservation in its working. In a function held recently at New Delhi, Ambala division, Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer RK Gupta was awarded for saving 19 per cent electricity annually. The Ambala division has been devising various methods in the field of energy conservation for saving maximum energy.

The building of the Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala, has also been adjudged as the best and got the first position in energy conservation. The annual consumption in this building was 4,14,828 units which has now been reduced to 3,22,119 units resulting in a net saving of 92,709 unit annually.

This building has already received a five-star rating from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Gupta said various measures, including solar panels, LED lighting, energy efficient fans and lights, had been installed in the building for energy saving.

Rohtak mini zoo a shambles
Bijendra Ahlawat

The dilapilated condition of the main road leading to the mini zoo; and (below) a deer at the zoo, in Rohtak. Photo: Manoj Dhaka

Rohtak, December 20
The mini zoo here appears to be a shambles, thanks to lack of proper upkeep and adequate attention on part of the officials concerned. The mini zoo is not only faced with shortage of animals, but also funds for the maintenance of the park infrastructure here.

The zoo is one of the three zoos maintained by the Wildlife Department in the state at present. The zoo, spread over 42 acres of land, is in the vicinity of the famous Tilyar lake tourist resort, located on the Delhi road here. This spot, it has been announced, will have an amusement park in the near future, which will be developed on the pattern of the world-famous Sentosa island of Singapore.

Besides Rohtak, similar zoos have been functional at Bhiwani and Pipli in Kurukshetra. Though the zoo premises has around 14 enclosures, their condition is poor due to irregular maintenance. At present, the zoo has only selected animals, including panther, tiger and a crocodile, whereas there is no bear as of now.

Sources said the number of animals who were to be put in the enclosures meant for some other species, including water birds and monkeys, had decreased over the years. Though reports say the zoo authorities had prepared a master plan about two years ago for the improvement and renovation of the zoo, but the work was yet to begin.

The annual budget of the zoo here has been around Rs 1 crore at present, which is claimed to be inadequate in view of the maintenance requirements. "The condition of the main road to the zoo premises, which has been lying broken for the past three years, showcases the overall condition of the zoo and its upkeep", claimed Manoj Kumar, a regular visitor to the place.

He further added that the visitors did not even find drinking water during the summers inside the zoo. The zoo authorities claimed that the master plan had been approved according to which a fund of Rs 80 lakh was proposed to be spent on the development works. They said the number of animals and birds would be going up in near future.

"The sale of tickets priced at Rs 5 and Rs 10 has been generating a monthly income of over Rs 1 lakh suggesting that the number of visitors could be at least 20,000 each month", claimed an official.

Professor honoured for solar energy research

Hisar, December 20
Dr Yogender Kumar Yadav, Professor, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, has been honoured with the Excellence Award-2012 for Research and Innovation in recognition of his research in the field of solar energy.

The award was presented to him during an award ceremony held at IIT, Delhi recently.

Dr Yadav's selection for this award has been made on the basis of research and feedback by Knowledge Resource Development and Welfare Group (KRDWG) Expert Panel comprising Prof RK Shevgaonkar, Director, IIT, Delhi, Dr Subhan Khan, NISTDS, GOI, Dr SN Naik, IIT, Delhi, Dr Indu Bhasker, DST, GOI, Dr CK Ghosh, Director, IGNOU, Dr Ashwagosha Ganju, Director, DRDO, among other scientists from India and abroad.

Dr. Yadav, who is also a recipient of the distinguished service award of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers for Energy in Agriculture, has made significant research contributions in the field of renewable energy in general and solar energy in particular such as development of integrated rural energy systems, bio-energy systems, solar crop drying systems, solar refrigeration & air-conditioning systems etc.

He has published more than 100 research papers in national and international journals of repute.

He had been the Project Coordinator of Haryana State for the Government of India sponsored Integrated Rural Energy Program since 1992.

He had participated as the official delegate of India in the first International Workshop on Integrated Rural Energy Programme and presented an invited paper on ‘Role of Energy in Rural Indian Life’. He is also the Indian Member of International Steering Committee of World Renewable Energy Forum.—TNS

Prepare next year’s budget estimates: Govt tells depts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 20
The Haryana Finance Department has issued instructions to all government departments regarding preparation of budget estimates for the year 2013-14.

Stating this, a spokesman of the Finance Department said that all Head of Departments, Commissioners of Ambala, Hisar, Gurgaon and Rohtak Division and all Deputy Commissioners and Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) in the state have been asked to send expenditure budget for plan as well as non-plan schemes online to the Finance Department through Online Budget Allocation, Monitoring and Analysis System (bamsharyana.nic.in). All departments have been advised to ensure compliance of instructions and send their proposal to Finance Department for budget estimates for the financial year 2013-14. Revised estimates for 2012-13 should be accompanied with a report of budget proposal generated through this system. He said that the budget requirement proposal should be sent to Finance Department only after sending the budget online to the Finance Department.

In case manual budget proposal has already been sent to the Finance Department, the concerned department has to put it online so that their budget demand could be considered.

He said that in case the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) fail to submit their non-plan budget requirements online by December 18, they will not be able to draw any payments from the Treasury with effect from December 19. He said that if any Budget Controlling Officer (BCO) failed to send budget requirements by December 24, all DDOs created by him in his user lD would not be able to draw any payment from Treasury with effect from December 25.

He said that in case the budget controlling authority fails to send non- plan budget requirements to Finance Department by January 2, the DDOs created by him in his user lD will not be able to draw any payment from the Treasury with effect from January 3.

He said that timelines be provided to DDOs and BCOs to fill up the budget requirement data online. If DDO fails to act within specified time, the BCO could prepare budget at its level without waiting for the DDO and the budget controlling authority could also act if BCO fails to act timely.

DGP introduces measures to protect women
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 20
The Director General of Police (DGP), Haryana, SN Vashishat said that controlling crime against women was one of the top agendas of the police and a number of steps had been initiated in this direction in the recent past.

He was talking to mediapersons here late last evening. The officers investigating the cases relating to this nature of crime had been directed to submit the challans in the court within 30 days, he said and added that the courts were also being requested for the trial of these cases in fast-track courts.

In cases of serious nature like rape, molestation etc against women, he said, special public prosecutors would be appointed for a speedy trial of these cases in the courts, if required.

The DGP said that every district in the state would be provided a ‘Mahila PCR Van’ under the charge of a Sub-Inspector rank Mahila police officer by January 1 and the PCR would have a special toll free number. “The PCR can be contacted by any one at any time and from anywhere by the victims,” he added.

He opined that the criminals had started using new techniques of information technology in committing the crime and for speedy investigation of cyber related crimes; the police had decided to install Criminal Tracking Network System at Panchkula, Ambala and Faridabad. A cyber laboratory at Madhuban had already been set up and it had also been decided to enroll two cyber officers of DSP rank in near future, he added.

Earlier, he addressed the annual prize distribution function of the local Hindu Vidya Peeth and distributed prizes among the talented students.

Tae Kwon Do champions

Rewari, December 20
Ten of the 12 girl students of the local Jain Girls Senior Secondary School, who recently participated in the Haryana State Tae Kwon Do competitions at Sonepat, have performed creditably.

Rinki Lamba, Kiran, Ashu, Sanju and Swati have bagged gold medals, Deepika Yadav and Vandana have secured silver medals while bronze medals have been won by Bhavana, Mamta and Preeti. The medallists were honoured at a samaroh in the school on Saturday by Principal Renuka Devi, whereas Abhey Jain, president, and Dinesh Jain, manager of the school, felicitated them on their bright performance. — OC

Bhagvad Gita panacea for all ills, says KU don
Our Correspondent

Kurukshetra, December 20
"The sole objective of the Gita Jayanti festival every year is to reach out to the modern society and teach it the relevance of the Bhagavad Gita as a panacea for every ill in the global knowledge and economy of today,” stated MM Goel, an economics professor in Kurukshetra University and president, Antarjyoti, in a press note issued here on Tuesday.

Professor Goel believes that the rate of progress in spiritualism for peace and prosperity is faster than the rate of progress in materialism for prosperity and peace. “We need to accept a spiritually guided materialism (SGM) strategy, as a solution of various problems caused by panic and fear (false evidences appearing real) of global economic crisis.

The Sarasvati has dried up because the totality of knowledge was complete and no more to come after the Bhagavad Gita. The flow of the spiritual river is necessary to be revived, believes Professor Goel.

Positive thinkers overcome obstacles in life
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 20
A positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible. The power of positivity can take an individual to great heights. Positive thinkers overcome obstacles in life and achieve success.

This was stated by Rajbir Deswal, IGP, Haryana, while inaugurating a 21-day inter-disciplinary refresher course of Academic Staff College of Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, recently.

The IGP urged teachers to motivate students for inculcating positivity so that they could bring a change in society. He said evolution of human being was dependent upon quality of thoughts and such efforts must be made to develop positive thoughts and humanity.

He shared his literary experiences with the teachers and urged them to relate to literature as it made people humane.

Dr Pankaj Mittal, Vice-Chancellor of the university, presided over the function and threw light on the development journey of the university.

Quiz, debate contests mark science exhibition
Our Correspondent

Rewari, December 20
As many as 266 students of 20 senior secondary schools of Gurgaon, Rewari and Jhajjar participated in the 3rd Annual Science Exhibition held at Pathfinder Global School (PGS), Pataudi, 24 km from here, recently.

Navin Adlakha, principal, GIMT Engineering College, Bilaspur, and Dr Sunita Sharma, principal, College of Education, Pataudi, were the guests of honour. Senior functionaries of the PGS Management and staff of various schools also participated in the exhibition.

The programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp by Adlakkha, while Pawan Bali, senior coordinator of PGS, said the main objective behind holding the event was to develop scientific temperament among students.

While senior and junior level quiz, debate and scientific model contests were held at the event, young scientists, who devised 200 different models, mostly out of biodegradable waste, presented a glimpse of the scientists of tomorrow.

The results:

Quiz contest (senior): Karan Yadav and Awshesh Sharma of PGS, Pataudi, bagged the first position, while the second position went to Deeksha Dalel and Akanksha Patel of Blue Bells Public School, Gurgaon.

Quiz contest (junior): Aryan Kapoor and Soham Mukherjee of Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok, won the first prize, and Pradyuman Singh and Shruti Garg of Amity International School, Gurgaon, won the second position.

Scientific model contest (senior): Shailesh of and Manisha of PGS, Pataudi, bagged the first prize, while the second position went to Jai Gupta and Mansi Madan of Blue Bells Public School, Gurgaon.

Scientific model contest (junior): Jevant Chaudhary and Rohan Tank of DPS, Sushant Lok, secured the first place, while the second position went to Ashima Neha and Abhinav Vibha of SN Sidheshwar Senior Secondary School, Gurgaon.

Debate contest (senior): Prakash Yadav of Blue Bells Public School, Gurgaon, Pawan of Rao Lal Singh Public School, Sidhravali (Gurgaon), and Abhishek Dubey of Somany Vidyapeeth Public School, Masani (Rewari) were adjudged the best speaker (defence), best speaker (against) and best interjector, respectively.

Debate contest (junior): Tamanna and Sandhu of Amity International School, Gurgaon, were declared the best speaker (defence) and Nilay Asawa of the same school was declared the best speaker (against), while Nancy of PGS, Pataudi, was declared the best interjector.

Dr Sunita Sharma distributed prizes among the winners, while Jagriti Sharma, principal, PGS, thanked the guests and the participants.

DHBVN sets up control rooms to redress grievances
Sushil Manav/TNS

Hisar, December 20
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has set up control rooms at headquarters of its six of the seven operation circles to attend the grievances of the consumers, to get the grievances redressed promptly and keep the public informed about the power supply position proactively.

Consumers from all over the related circle can get registered their complaints at the control room and if their complaints registered at complaint centres is not attended timely, they can contact at the control room for prompt action.

A spokesperson of the DHBVN said here yesterday that the Haryana Power Distribution Utilities had set up these control rooms to get the grievances redressed promptly. Vehicles have also been provided at the control rooms to attend complaints day and night.

The telephone numbers made available in the control rooms are 01666-238488, 9812101111, 9812102222 at Sirsa; 9812221712, 9992221912, 9355501912 at Hisar; 01664-254998, 9812063033 at Bhiwani; 01282-251247, 8059888209, 8059888361 at Narnaul; 0124-2300334 at Gurgaon and 0129-2235252, 9540954708 at Faridabad.

He said the facility of control rooms would be in addition to the call centre, where complaints could be got registered by dialing toll-free telephone 18001801615, and old system of complaint centres which have already been revived.

The officials at the control rooms will not only register the complaints of all rural as well as urban consumers but will also inform the public about reasons in case of any type of power cut proactively through resident welfare societies and other sections of consumers.

He said a computer-based Consumer Grievance Redressal System (CGRS) is also available to register their grievances online.

Under this system of grievance redressal, the employees are bound to redress the grievances within stipulated time. After the specified time, the grievance will automatically escalate to the senior officer. Each grievance will have set number of days in which the grievance needed to be redressed, failing which the grievance will escalate to the immediate senior of the officer. The next officer will also get the predefined number of days for redressal of the grievance, failing which the grievance will move up the hierarchy.

Eventually, the grievance will reach the inbox of the officer, highest in the hierarchy.The system has the facility of tracking also through a unique complaint ID generated at the time of registering the complaint.

Movie This Week
Dabangg 2

A still from the movie “Dabangg 2”

Directed by: Arbaaz Khan
Salman Khan’s brother Arbaaz Khan makes his directorial debut with ‘Dabangg 2’. The film is produced by Malaika Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan. The promos of the film have already created a lot of interest among audience. Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha play the lead roles. The original Munni (Malaika Arora Khan) is replaced by hot and sizzling Kareena Kapoor for an item song ‘Fevicol se…’.

Five peppy numbers of the movie are composed by Salman’s favourite music duo Sajid-Wajid.

A complete celebration of cinema, ‘Dabangg2’ is a continuation of the amazing exploits of Chulbul Pandey. The notable facets of the character include his nonchalance, his sense of humour and his tongue-in-check dialogues.

‘Dabangg’ marked a return of action films in Bollywood, while ‘Dabangg 2’ promises to take it by notches with some of spectacular action scenes conceptualised on screen. Watch it at theatres near you all over Haryana.
— Dharam Pal