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Minor among two gang-raped
Hooda wants PM to resolve water issues between Haryana, Punjab
Economy buckles under debt
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Foetuses discovered near hospital
School girls to train in martial arts
State demands more coal to feed thermal plants
Pak delegation calls for greater synergy with India
KU Vice Chancellor Lt Gen Dr DDS Sandhu presents a memento to Speaker of Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly Rana Mohammad Iqbal Rana in Kurukshetra on Friday. A Tribune photograph
Protest against land acquisition
INLD demands Rs 2,000 as MSP for wheat
Police steps up vigil to check crimes against women
Govt promotes metered water supply in villages
Man sustains burn injuries in car fire
Three of family killed in accident
DC takes stock of rural job scheme in Sirsa
Probe sought into overcharging for subsidised weedicide
One held for rape
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Minor among two gang-raped
Sonepat, December 28 In the first case a 36-year-old local resident, a native of Uttar Pradesh, lodged a complaint with the police alleging that a photographer and two others raped her when she went to his shop at Mehlana Chowk to get photographed today. Two of the accused identified Praveen, as owner of the shop and Anil of Mehlana were arrested within three hours of the incident while the police has sent a special team to arrest the third accused. In another case, a minor victim of Kabir Dass Colony lodged a complaint with the police that two motorcycle-borne youths allegedly kidnapped her on Monday. She alleged that she was raped by the three accused. The police has arrested Vijay of Bhatgaon. The police also recovered the car used in the crime from his possession. The motorcycle-borne accused have also been identified and special police teams have been sent to arrest them, the police said.
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Hooda wants PM to resolve water issues between Haryana, Punjab
New Delhi, December 28 Speaking at the National Water Resources Council, in the National Capital, Hooda said the Council should deliberate on the modalities to resolve inter-state water related issues and discuss such matters. Yesterday Hooda had raised the water-dispute issue at the National Development Council meeting. Haryana has been suffering on this issue, he claimed today. “It is neither getting water through the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal despite orders of the Supreme Court, nor is it getting its lawful share in the Ravi-Beas waters. The final award of the Ravi-Beas Tribunal has not been published even after 25 years, Hooda said. Hooda said Punjab had enacted a law (in 2004) terminating water-related agreements and the Centre had allowed the Presidential Reference on the subject to linger for more than eight years. It is unfair to the people of Haryana, he rued. Although the state has its legitimate share in the Ravi and Beas rivers, as part of the erstwhile Punjab, but it has been denied its share in the power generated from the Ranjit Sagar Dam constructed unilaterally on the Ravi. We have been raising this issue at various forums, but no resolution has been passed on it yet. Hooda said over the past one decade, the per- capita water availability in India had reduced. It was 1,816 cubic meters in 2011 and now stands at 1,588 cubic meters, he pointed out. The situation in Haryana is much more worrisome, as the water availability in the state is only 14 million acre feet (MAF) as compared to the requirement of 36 MAF. The storage projects on the tributaries of the Yamuna river-at Renuka, Kishau and Lakhwar Vyasi have been pending for a long time, resulting in the escalation in cost and wastage of water. Hooda requested the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter. Such issues should have been listed for discussion at this Council meeting, he said. He went suggested that a National Fund should be set up, which should promote measures for protection and conservation of all kinds of water, including waste water. Welcoming the proposal to set up a permanent Water Disputes Tribunal at the Centre, Hooda said it was important to ensure timely implementation of the orders and directions of various tribunals and courts. |
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Economy buckles under debt
Chandigarh, December 28 The dip in revenue and increase in committed expenditure all through the year also meant that the state is unlikely to cut its revenue deficit by March 2013, as envisaged by the government in the Budget for 2012-13. This means that the rising debt burden on the state and higher servicing of debt, coupled with revenue and expenditure do not match and will not let the state meet the fiscal consolidation roadmap laid for it by the 13th Finance Commission. The fiscal consolidation roadmap outlined that Haryana, which was a revenue surplus state till 2007-08, had to eliminate its revenue deficit by 2011-12 and maintain a revenue balance or attain surplus thereafter. The state has already missed this target, but was hoping to eliminate its deficit by March. However, officials in the state Finance department admit that even this financial year the state will have a revenue deficit of Rs 2,400 crore. This year, the state expected total revenue receipts of Rs 38,827 crore, including the additional supplementary budget calculations and revenue on foodgrain procurement. This would be an increase of almost Rs 6,000 crore over the revenue receipts for the previous financial year. However, the state suffered a setback because of the strike and closing down of the Maruti plant at Manesar, which caused a huge loss to the state exchequer in terms of VAT. Also, the VAT from the sale of petroleum products has not been as high as expected as there has been no appreciation in demand of petroleum products. The excise collections, too, is lower than the target of 10 per cent hike over last year’s excise collections. Though the revenue collections picked up again in November, it seems difficult for the state to achieve the target set for the total revenue receipts. On the other hand, as against the expenditure of Rs 39,783.52 crore (as in the Budget proposals for the current fiscal), the expenditure this year has increased because of an additional demand as fuel surcharge adjustment and rural electrification subsidy. Though initially, it was expected that the power subsidy in Haryana would be around Rs 3,873 crore,
it now appears that the state’s subsidy bill would be Rs 4,300 crore. The state’s committed expenditure too has been rising, mainly on account of higher salary and pension bill. The committed expenditure of the state has risen to almost 60 per cent of the total revenue, with salaries and pensions alone accounting for 36.7 per cent of the total revenue. The state’s debt too has soared to Rs 60,200 crore and servicing of debt takes an additional RS 5,000 crore per annum. With the poll- bound state unwilling to take any harsh steps in the next year as well, and continue playing to the gallery, it would not be long before the state slips in the red. |
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Foetuses discovered near hospital
Kurukshetra, December 28 While the police managed to pull out one of the foetuses, the other was lost due to the flow of water. The recovered foetus was shifted to the mortuary of the civil hospital here. “It seems to be a case of unwanted pregnancy as the sex of the foetus is male, which was 16 to 20 weeks old. Therefore, we can’t say it was a case of female foeticide," said Civil Surgeon Dr Vandhana Bhatia. "A four-month old foetus can be delivered only by means of induced labour or surgical intervention. This simply proves that a premature baby was delivered under the supervision or guidance of a medical expert,” said an expert, on the condition of anonymity. “The hospital authorities say someone from outside must have thrown this foetus near the hospital instead of garbage dumps, drains, cesspools etc. It suggests that the baby was delivered somewhere near the hospital or on its premises,” said a resident. SHO Parveen Kumar said a case had been registered against unknown persons under Section 318 of the IPC.
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School girls to train in martial arts
Fatehabad, December 28 Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad, ML Kaushik, said this after presiding over a meeting of senior officials of the district to discuss methods to check crimes like eve teasing, rape and sexual assault. "Centres to provide training in judo and karate will be opened in all schools of the district so that children can take up the training as a sporting activity and at the same time learn the art of protecting themselves,” Kaushilk said. He said the District Education Officer has been directed to take steps in this direction and direct the school heads to motivate children to learn martial arts during their morning prayers. He said directions have also been issued to the senior police officers to ensure that there is enough police deployment near the bus stands, railway stations and other public places to stop such crime. He said he had also ordered deployment of women police personnel near schools and colleges for girls to make the students confident and safe. SHOs of various police stations in the district will also visit educational institutions in their respective areas and communicate with the students on the issue of their safety.aA special drive would be launched to check shops selling CDs to stop the sale of objectionable material.
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State demands more coal to feed thermal plants
Chandigarh, December 28 Even as the state government has been taking up the issue with the Centre at regular intervals, the Chief Minister used the platform of the National Development Council (NDC) in New Delhi yesterday to reiterate state’s demand for more coal. “The power situation in the state is suffering for want of proper policy guidelines for supply of coal and gas. Due to short supply of coal, the existing power plants are lying idle. The Centre has proposed allocation of new coal blocks to power utilities. Haryana, which is bereft of both hydro and thermal sources for power generation, should be considered on priority in the new proposal,” Hooda demanded at the NDC meeting. Sources said adequate coal supply and stocks at major thermal power stations-the Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Project at Yamunanagar, the Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Project (RGTPP) at Khedar (Hisar), the Indira Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project, Jhajjar, and Tau Devi Thermal Power Station, Panipat, and the Mahatma Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project, Jhajjar, had always faced problems which hampered the production capacity at these power plants. Inadequate coal supply, coupled with technical snags on account of the installation of the alleged sub-standard Chinese machinery, led to the power plants working under par during last summer. With the rise in the demand for power, unannounced power cuts led to electricity riots across the state in the summer season. The state government also had payment issues with the Coal India Limited (CIL) regarding the supply of coal, as the financial condition of the power utilities was also precarious in the backdrop of these being in the red. Sources said in the wake of the shortage of coal, the state was moving away from thermal power in recent years. Work on the country's largest 2,800 mw nuclear power plant at Gorakhpur in Fatehabad district is set to start. Besides, Hooda recently visited Bhutan to explore the possibilities of the 2000-MW hydro power supply from Bhutan. Currently, the state depends on the coal block at Mara-to-Mahan in Madhya Pradesh which were jointly allocated to Haryana Power General Corporation Limited (HPGCL) and the Delhi government.
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Pak delegation calls for greater synergy with India
Kurukshetra December 28 This was stated by him during a press conference at the Kurukshetra University here. He called for a greater Indo-Pak synergy in business and other spheres and lauded the ongoing political, diplomatic, academic and cultural efforts in this regard by both countries. Rana said the cultural heritage of the two countries was already same and they could best join hands in the agro-scientific field. “We should forget the past and make need-based efforts,” he said. He was accompanied by Salman Iqbal, Rana Abdula Khan, Sayad Dilawar and Mohammad Raza Hussain. Later, the Pakistani delegation visited the Kurukshetra Utsav Gita Jayanti Samaroh’s crafts mela and exhibition on the northern banks of the Braham Sarovar. While welcoming the guests, Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Sharma said there was a wide scope to make the relations normal through political, diplomatic and cultural platforms. He said organising tours related to academics, art and culture would go a long way in making the relations cordial. The delegation visited the Haryana Dharohar Museum of the KU and appreciated the efforts of the university in creating a unique cultural museum in the campus. On the occasion, KU Vice Chancellor Lt Gen Dr DDS Sandhu presented mementos to the members of the delegation. DC Mandip Singh Brar, SP Rakesh Arya, KU registrar Suriender Singh Deswal, DSW Dr Anil Vashisth and District Information and Public Relations Officer Dev Raj Sirohiwall were among those present on the occasion.
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Protest against land acquisition
Sonepat, December 28 Accompanied by their ward's Municipal Councillor Rakesh Sharma, they handed a memorandum to the Estate Officer, HUDA-cum-SDM, Sonepat, Jag Niwas, to seek release of the houses and a temple. Addressing the protesters, Jain said in the last year’s budget session, the state government had assured that residential pockets falling within the HUDA’s residential sectors would be released from acquisition. Jain said the land acquisition process for HUDA’s sector-23 had started in 1988 and it was
very unfortunate that these people were given an acquisition amount at the rate of Rs 30 per square yards after such a
long period. |
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INLD demands Rs 2,000 as MSP for wheat
Karnal, December 28 The members also burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to express their ire. Terming the increase of Rs 65 per quintal as "cheating", the protesters led by Youth INLD leader Amandeep said the farmers would accept nothing less than Rs 2,000 per quintal as the MSP. He said the increase was not justified keeping in view the steep hike in prices of agricultural inputs and diesel. He urged the government to ensure remunerative returns to farmers. Amandeep said the Swaminanthan committee report, which recommended the MSP to be cost of production plus fifty per cent profit, should be implemented immediately to save the farmers in distress. He said injustice to farmers would not be tolerated and that the MSP of Rs 2,000 per quintal was reasonably fair and would provide succour to farmers reeling under debt due to the "anti-farmer policies of the government".
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Police steps up vigil to check crimes against women
Faridabad, December 28 The police has increased patrolling at public places, including bars, pubs, hotels, malls and academic institutes. It is also keeping a tab on buses to check whether they are conforming to the rules like keeping pertinant record about drivers and other helpers. The drive has been intensified in the wake of the recent gang rape in Delhi which triggered public outrage throughout the country. The authorities have sought recommendations for curbing crimes against women from non-government organisations. A meeting in this regard was convened yesterday. Kapur said records suggested that 90 per cent of the sexual assaults in Faridabad were committed by persons known to victims. The culprits ranged from family members, relatives and friends. In such a social milieu, he said, women should be bold enough to resist the culprits. He said most of the culprits were residents of slums and therefore, the police had stepped up vigil in these areas. He said the "beat system" for policing in the district had been comparatively effective in checking crime against women. A committee has been constituted in each of the 800 beats in the city to deal with crimes against women. Kapur said since March this year, about 20,000 vehicles had been challaned for having tinted glasses.
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Govt promotes metered water supply in villages
Panipat, December 28 Executive engineer Vikas Sinhroha said under the scheme, consumers could also get their illegal connections regularised. However, he said, after March 31, action would be taken against those having illegal connections. The engineer said a campaign to sanction new water connections would be launched from January 1 and teams of the Irrigation and Public Health Department would visit every village to persuade locals to get water connections. The teams will also make the villagers aware about the need for conservation and judicious use of water. The department will provide taps in the houses of consumers opting for metered water supply.
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Man sustains burn injuries in car fire
Sirsa, December 28 A fire engine had to be called to extinguish the fire. Meanwhile, Neeraj was rushed to a local hospital where his condition is said to be stable. The car belongs to Ajay Narang, a resident of Delhi, had come to visit his relative in Agarsen Colony here. |
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Three of family killed in accident
Rewari, December 28 The mishap took place when Anil Pandey along with his wife Archana and children Ankita and Shubh were on their way to Bhiwadi after a shopping excursion at Dharuhera. The driver of the other vehicle sped away after the accident. Anil, who works in a private company at Bhiwadi town of Alwar district in Rajasthan, was admitted to a private hospital at Dharuhera.— OC
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DC takes stock of rural job scheme in Sirsa
Sirsa, December 28 Deputy Commissioner J Ganesan said out of Rs 73 crore allocated for providing jobs to villagers under the scheme, a sum of Rs 27.78 crore had been spent and the rest would be utilised in the last three months of the current fiscal year. The DC today presided over a meeting of the committee constituted for supervising the development works under the MNREGS in Sirsa. He said the Irrigation Department had taken up a record 349 projects under the rural employment scheme, out of which 240 works had already been completed. Ganesan said a sum of Rs 4.73 crore had been spent on these works. As many as 30 projects of the Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) and 42 of the Public Health department have been sanctioned. A sum of Rs 5.18 crore has been spent on these departments. Under the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), works costing Rs 8.68 crore have been completed in Sirsa so far in this financial year. The authorities have spent Rs 4.56 crore in Baragura block, Rs 4.04 crore in Dabwali block, Rs 3.87 crore in Ellenabad block, Rs 4.19 in Nathusari Chopta block, Rs 4.96 crore in Odhan block, Rs 3.23 crore in Rania block and Rs 2.82 crore in Sirsa block. |
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Probe sought into overcharging for subsidised weedicide
Chandigarh, December 28 Former secretary of the Haryana Congress Sat Pal Kaushik has written to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh to order a high-level inquiry into the case. The state government had announced that the farmers would be given 50 per cent subsidy on a particular weedicide, which was purchased in bulk by a state government agency and sent to the field offices of the agriculture department to be sold to the farmers. The 500 gm packet of the weedicide is being sold to the farmers for Rs 149 while its market price is Rs 190. farmers allege the price is not 50 per cent of the market rate. Sources say the company from which the government agency bought the weedicide supplies the same to bulk purchasers at Rs 175 per packet. Sources say the government agency purchased the weedicide from the company at Rs 280 per packet and added Rs 18 as its
commission, making the total cost of one packet at Rs 298. After deducting 50 per cent subsidy, which the government has promised, the agency is supplying the weedicide at Rs 149
per packet. fact file * Unable to get a weedicide at 50 per cent subsidy as announced by the state government farmers in the state are feeling cheated at the hands of government agencies. *
Former secretary of the Haryana Congress Sat Pal Kaushik has written to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh to order a high-level inquiry into the case. *
The state government had announced that the farmers would be given 50 per cent subsidy on a particular weedicide, which was purchased in bulk by a state government agency and sent to the field offices of the agriculture department to be sold to the farmers. |
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One held for rape
Ambala, December 28 Medical examination of the victim has confirmed the allegations. |
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The once robust economy of the state continued its downward slide through 2012- thanks to slow revenue generation, rising subsidy bills and rising committed expenditure. With the Congress government in the state unwilling to go in for any major additional revenue mobilisation; industrial labour unrest; shortfall in excise and VAT collections
Speaker of Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly Rana Mohammad Iqbal Rana today said India and Pakistan had gone through the doldrums of wars, which had proved to be futile, but now the need of the hour was to let people of both sides come together to make progress in all spheres together.
