Chandigarh, February 18
In yet another populist decision ahead of the Lok Sabha and the state assembly elections, the Hooda Government has unveiled a policy aimed at regularising thousands of illegal constructions in nine municipal corporations (MCs) — Gurgaon, Rohtak, Faridabad, Ambala, Panchkula, Karnal, Panipat, Hisar and Yamunanagar.

“The policy is aimed at checking the rampant problem of illegal constructions which have come up in violation of the zoning and building regulations within the MC limits over the years,” official sources said.

They said the composition fee for compounding of offences had been conveyed to MC Commissioners.

Under the new policy, Rs 20 per square feet (PSF) will be charged from the owners of the illegal constructions in the residential colonies for the constructions raised without approval of the building plans.

For the group housing societies, the penalty for this offence would be Rs 40 PSF while for the industrial buildings, it would be Rs 10 PSF. The penalty for raising a sanctionable construction without getting the revised plan approved would be Rs 10 PSF, an order of the Director, Urban Local Bodies, said.

The area added during the course of construction will invite a penalty @ Rs 10 PSF while the extra covered area beyond the permissible limit within the zoning line (up to a maximum of 5 per cent) will invite a fine @ Rs 200 PSF up to 2 per cent and Rs 800 PSF beyond 2 per cent.

For commercial sites, the constructions raised without getting building plan approved will attract a penalty of Rs 100 PSF. The sanctionable construction, which has been raised without getting the revised plan approved, will attract a penalty of Rs 40 PSF.

In case of excess area added during the construction, the penalty will be Rs 20 PSF. The excess area covered beyond the permissible limit, but within the zoning line (up to a maximum of 5 per cent) will be regularised after paying Rs 1,000 PSF up to 2 per cent and Rs 4,000 PSF beyond 2 per cent.

No stair winder will be allowed in the public buildings and group housing societies. Similarly, a reduction in the number of stairs, ramps and lifts as approved in the building plan would be a non-compoundable violation.

Meanwhile, the construction of roads and parking areas by the developers without the approval of a layout plan will be charged @ Rs 10 PSF of the metalled portion for residential, institutional, industrial and commercial buildings.

Legalising illegal constructions A comprehensive policy to regularise illegal constructions in nine MCs Rs 20 per square feet (PSF) compounding fee for residential areas For group housing societies, the penalty is Rs 40 PSF For commercial sites, the charges will be Rs 100 PSF Construction of roads, parking constructed without sanctioned plan to be charged @Rs 10 PSF

Ambala, February 18
The power utilities of Haryana today withdrew the revised promotion following widespread protests by state power engineers.

The utilities today issued orders reversing its decision to implement the new merit-cum-seniority for promotions to the posts of Superintending Engineer and Chief Engineer. The engineers had recently held a number of protests across the state demanding withdrawal of the policy.

In the orders issued today, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, the authorities stated that the notification issued by the nigam on January 28 regarding the promotion policy/selection criteria for the post of XEN to SE and SE to CE on the basis of merit-cum-seniority was hereby held in abeyance.

It was claimed by engineers that the new policy announced by Haryana Discoms would lead to corruption, nepotism and favouritism. Last week, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Haryana discoms had agreed with the contention put up by the engineers that the new policy was flawed, but had not agreed to withdraw the same. However, the authorities have now decided to abandon the policy and continue with the time-tested policy based on seniority.

VK Gupta, secretary, Finance, NIPEF, welcomed the move of management and hoped the management would resolve other issue of the engineers amicably.

Rewari, February 18
Under fire for their ‘outlandish’ edict, especially in matrimonial issues, the khaps have decided to form women units at the district level across the state to bring a change in the people’s mindset about their.

Dr Santosh Dahiya, chief of Women Group of Sarv Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat, told The Tribune that educated women would be part of these units. “They will not only make women aware of their rights, but will also give them a platform to express their opinions on social evils. Besides, they will give an image makeover to the khaps,” she said.

“Women khap units have been formed in Jind, Kaithal, Rohtak, Sonepat, Ambala and Hisar districts. Efforts are on to constitute such units in the other districts as well,” said Santosh.

She said a significant numbers of women activists would participate in the khap mahapanchayat to be held at Dabauda Khurd village in Jhajjar tomorrow to present their opinion on female foeticide, amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act and the role of khaps in redressing social issues.

Kurukshetra, February 18
A large number of guest teachers gheraoed the residence of Haryana Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha and burnt his effigy here today.

The protesters, led by district president of the Haryana Guest Teachers’ Association Inderjeet Sharma gathered near the new bus stand here and took out a protest march.

“Eleven guest teachers, including three female teachers, have been sitting on a hunger strike since February 9 at Jantar Mantar, but the government hasn’t taken any step in this respect,” said Sharma.

“The guest teachers want Chattha to put their demand before the Chief Minister, but he is not even listening to their plea,” he said.

“The government should regularise services of the guest teachers without further delay. We will continue our protest till our demands are met,” said Sharma.

Karnal: The guest teachers of the district today burned an effigy of Karnal MP Arvind Sharma in support of their demand of regularisation. Jarnail Singh, member of the state body, said guest teachers had been on an infinite hunger strike in Delhi but no government representative showed up to assure them.

Chandigarh, February 18
Haryana is fast emerging as the centre of political activity. Major political parties are planning rallies in the state in the next few days.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already announced that its next target after Delhi is Haryana.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has announced the launch of his party campaign from Rohtak on February 23. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will sense the mood of farmers in the country at Ganaur in Sonepat district the next day.

Left parties have announced a state-level rally at Hisar some time next week. It will bring national leaders to the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started its national campaign by holding a rally for ex-servicemen addressed by Narendra Modi at Rewari on September 15 last year.

AAP national executive member Yogendra Yadav is the party candidate from Gurgaon. As a prelude to the campaign in the state, the AAP has started a 'jharu sandesh yatra' from Sirsa, from where Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar is the sitting MP.

BJP Kisan Morcha president Om Prakash Dhankar has posed 10 questions to Rahul Gandhi on the eve of his visit to Ganaur. About 400 farmer unions from across the country will meet Gandhi here. He has announced that the inputs he receives will find a place in the party manifesto.

Dhankar has demanded an explanation for the police action on 30 poor farmers protesting to save their land, water and crops’ minimum support price at Maval, Sangli and Indapur in Maharashtra, Beshimri in Assam, Shrikakulam in Andhra Pradesh and Tatpal, Bhatta Parsaul and Shekhri in Uttar Pradesh.

The morcha has demanded reasons behind not implementing recommendations of any farmers’ commission in the last 50 years, including the Swaminathan Commission.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) have started aggressive campaigns. The INLD is targeting the Congress leadership. HJC president Kuldeep Bishnoi has completed his 'rath yatra' across the state.

Sirsa, February 18
Activists of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a 'jharu sandesh yatra' against corruption, nepotism and dynastic rule here today.

Prahlad Singh Bharu-khera, a member of the state committee of the AAP, said the common man's life had become miserable due to these.

Former District Bar Association president Suresh Mehta, municipal councillor Ramesh Mehta and AAP spokesperson Pradeep Sachdeva participated in the campaign.

Raising slogans, the volunteers appealed to the people to support the party for cleaner politics. Similar 'yatras' were carried out in Fatehabad, Dabwali, Rania, Ellenabad and Kalanwali.

Karnal: Activists of the Aam Aadmi Party took out a ‘jhaadu chalao yatra’ in the city on Tuesday against corruption in the political system.

Leading the yatra, state secretary Paramjeet Singh said they intended to clean up the corrupt system.

He said over 450 villages of the state had been covered and the remaining will be covered before February 23.

Meanwhile, the party activists handed over a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Balraj Singh for demanding regular bus services for college students on rural routes.

Chandigarh, February 18
Anirudh Devilal, grandson of Choudhary Devi Lal, today joined the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) in the presence of Naveen Jai Hind, an executive member of AAP.

Jai Hind supported the demands of Yuva Bolega, a non-political movement started by Anirudh.

The campaign is pleading for transparency in public life, particularly in the interviews for government jobs.

Chandigarh, February 18
The INLD today submitted four more CDs to the Haryana Lokayukta showing Congress leaders and their close relatives demanding bribes in the alleged cash-for-CLU scam.

The CDs of Sajid Khan, son of Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Jaleb Khan, Gaurav Singh, son of MLA and former Finance Minister Sampat Singh, MLA Naresh Selvel, and former NSUI chief Sanjay Chhokar were submitted to the Lokayukta by Kalka MLA Pardeep Choudhary. The Lokayukta fixed the next hearing for February 25.

On September 6 last year, senior INLD leader Abhay Chautala released a video CD of CPS Ram Kishan Fauji, in which he was allegedly demanding Rs 5 crore for the CLU along the Delhi-Jaipur highway, 8 km from Gurgaon.

Karnal, February 18
The nomination of former Union minister Kumari Selja as a Rajya Sabha member could harm the prospects of the Congress in the upcoming elections, said former Union minister and Ambala MLA Venod Sharma, who has visited 450-odd villages in around 90 days.

Venod Sharma said there was a feeling among the people that politicians only served personal interest and the development of people and the state took a back seat.

About the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, he said he would continue to serve people as an MLA and "I have no interest in contesting the Karnal Lok Sabha seat.

He said there was no regional bias regarding development in the state.

On the issue of reservation, Venod Sharma said he favoured reservation on an economic basis but opposed any cut in the quota percentage of any caste.

Earlier, the former union minister addressed a public meeting at Jundla, Ardana, Salwan and Gharonda.

Karnal, February 18
As many as 48 INLD leaders, including seven women, today submitted their applications for the Karnal seat to the nine-member Lok Sabha selection committee.

Sitting MLA from Gharaunda Narinder Sangwan, national general secretary Brij Sharma, district spokesman Harpal Kalampura, former district president Ram Kumar Abla are among the applicants.

“We are collecting applications from two constituencies everyday. We would submit the final list to INLD chief Om Parkash Chautala on February 24,” said Ranbir Gangwa, Rajya Sabha MP, who is heading the committee.

Kaithal, February 18
Arjan Gulati, a member of the Haryana Backward Commission, was killed in a road accident in Rajasthan this afternoon. His driver and gunman and another person from Cheeka were also killed.

The 64-year-old Kaithal resident was a former chairman of the local municipal council. A pall of gloom descended on the town and people rushed to Gulati's residence.

Gulati and others were returning after paying obeisance at the shrine of Balaji Mehandipur. Their Innova collided with a tanker between Churu and Rajgarh, after which it caught fire.The Kaithal police got information about the accident from the Rajasthan Police. Gulati is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. — OC

Matanhel (Jhajjar), February 18
The state government has formulated a policy on accepting donations in order to strengthen infrastructure in government schools.

Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal stated this after interacting with members of the School Management Committees and students at the Government Senior Secondary School here yesterday. The session was aimed at getting direct feedback about functioning of the school from villagers.

“Under the policy, businessmen and people working in social sector will now be able to donate either in cash or other things like furniture, water coolers, desks, tables, computers etc directly to the school,” said Bhukkal, adding that the contribution of corporate houses would also be ensured under their social responsibility programme.

The minister said the policy would not only be instrumental in connecting the people with schools but also be useful in generating funds to carry out various motivational activities in the schools.

In reply to a question, Bhukkal said Haryana was the first state in the country to have the teacher-student ratio as required under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. “The state government has implemented the RTE Act effectively and special orientation programmes are being organised for the teachers to equip them to provide quality education to the children,” said the minister.

Sirsa, February 18
The Sikhs staging a dharna outside the Sirsa residence of state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar today announced that a volunteer for the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (HSGPC) would start an indefinite fast in support of their demand of a separate gurdwara panel for the state from February 21.

The committee would announce the volunteer’s name later.

Jagdish Jhinda, state president of HSGPC, said their struggle for a separate gurdwara panel would continue till the government redressed their demand. Sukhchain Singh Kotli, Jarnail Singh Brar, Bhim Sen, Balwinder Singh, Major Singh, Harjinder Singh, Jaswant Singh, Bachan Singh, Surjit Singh, Swaran Singh and others Sikh leaders alleged that the Congress had shown that it was not committed to its words.

Ambala, February 18
The Ambala police have formed a motorbike riders' squad of police commandos to provide immediate help to victims. The squad will remain in contact with the police control room.

As soon as the squad receives the information of any criminal activity, the motorbike riders will immediately reach the spot. Named as “cobra”, the squad consists of five motorbike riders.

Ambala DCP Surinder Pal Singh said the squad would be available for help round the clock. — OC

Jind, February 18
The two recent incidents to insult Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda despite full security have made the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) form special teams to assist security agencies in protecting the CM from future attacks.

A youth tried to slap Hooda during a roadshow in Panipat on February 2 and later Raja Ram hurled a shoe at the CM at Dabwali on February 16 . HPCC leaders believe that more such attacks cannot be ruled out as despite best security arrangements, cops are not able to differentiate between suspected and genuine Congress workers.

The HPCC wants to assist cops by forming special teams to pinpoint suspected troublemakers at functions.

“Opposition parties are creating trouble by paying money to criminal-minded persons. Both incidents could have been prevented had some Congress leaders helped cops in keeping the suspects away from the CM,” said Karmbir Saini, a spokesman of the HPCC, here today.

“In future, HPCC teams will form their own ring of security around Hooda, without creating any problem for the common man, CM and security agencies. Our special teams will only point out suspects present at functions,” said Saini.

Kurukshetra, February 18
Employees of the District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) would hold a demonstration in Chandigarh on tomorrow.

The employees demanded merger with the Rural Development Department.

Haryana DRDA Staff Welfare Association general secretary Darashan Lal Sharma said the association had urged Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda several times to merge the services of the DRDA employees with the Rural Development Department, but to no avail.

Sharma said the DRDA employees had already been merged with the rural department in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

“Moreover, it would not add any financial burden on the state exchequer as the administration cost is borne by the Central and state government in the ratio of 75:25, respectively,” he added.

Yamunanagar, February 18
A 50-year-old man consumed acid here today. He was taken to a private hospital where he was declared dead.

The police said Ashok Kumar of Yamuna Vihar colony was an alcoholic and consumed acid mistakenly.

Rajesh Kumar of the Yamunanagar police said postmortem was conducted at the Civil Hospital, Yamunanagar. The body was handed over to his kin. — OC