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Power demand dips, 2 units shut at Panipat
State steers clear of NDA-SP electricity battle
No potable water in Kejriwal’s hometown
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KU daily-wage staff suspend strike
Govt job for next of kin of defence martyrs
Cong to fight Assembly poll alone: Tanwar
8 HCS officers redesignated
delayed payments under central scheme
Delhi HC notice to CBI on Chautala’s bail plea
Mid-day meal workers protest in Jhajjar
Man shot dead in Sonepat
Chowkidars protest against non-payment of allowance
Villagers struggle to make state toll-free
TV artiste booked for seeking dowry
Trader selling spurious seeds gets notice
Student drowns
4-member panel to fix lawyers’ fees
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Power demand dips, 2 units shut at Panipat
Ambala, June 2 Units no. 7 and 8 at the Panipat plant have been shut down till Wednesday when the utility will review the power situation in the state and decide the next line of action, sources said. Frequent shut down and restarting of thermal unit leads to additional oil consumption of about 80 KL that only adds to the utility’s expenditure, it is learnt. The state is now surviving on power from the 300-MW unit at Yamunanagar Thermal Power Plant, the 600-MW plant at Khedar Thermal Power Station and from private players with whom the power corporation is in long and short-term purchase agreements. The two 660-MW units at Jhajjar in which the state has 90 per cent share in generation have not been generating power. One of the units has been put under forced outage for reduced demand while the other is down due to boiler leakage. Unit 2 at Yamunanagar is also out of order following a leakage in its boiler. As of today, there was a demand for 5,574 MW in the evening and the state was overdrawing around 150 MM from the Northern Grid. Total availability of power on Monday morning was 4,380 MW while only 1,187 MW was being generated from state-owned thermal units as against 1,814 MW last week. All 8 units now closed, review on Wednesday
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State steers clear of NDA-SP electricity battle
New Delhi, June 2 The Utility won’t make a pitch for its share of power from the Jhajjar plant of Central generator NTPC. It has no intention to purchase power from the coal-based thermal power plant in Jhajjar’s Jharli Khurd village, according to sources. The gesture stems not from benevolence, but from its cost-benefit prognosis. The utility has been surrendering its share of power on account of high price and, instead, opting for cheaper sources. The cost of electricity generated by the plant is, on an average, about Rs 5 a unit. Haryana has 60 other power sources, including its own plants that have a cumulative generation capacity of 3,160 MW and Gujarat-based Adani Power that supplies power at Rs 2.90 a unit. Sources said the state already has made ample arrangements, sans the NTPC, of electricity at cheaper rates during the ongoing summer and the ensuing paddy season. The state presently meets its demand of 14 crore units a day. It is also said to have taken care of the expected rise in demand that could shoot to about 17 crore units a day in the paddy season. Just after Modi assumed charge as Prime Minister, a crisis-like power situation sprang up in UP where the BJP decimated its opponents, including the Samajwadi Party, in the recent election. Modi was elected from both Varanasi (UP) and Vadodara (Gujarat). The state shares its border with the National Capital at Noida and with Haryana from the Mathura sector. Haryana found itself in the middle of the Centre-UP political controversy following the UP Power Utility asking NTPC for 325 MW from its Jhajjar plant last Friday. The power generated by the plant’s three units of 500 MW capacity each is meant to be equally shared between Haryana and Delhi. Each state’s share comes to 750 MW. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Union Power Minister Piyush Goel got into a spat in the middle of the power crisis in the state. Akhilesh, on Thursday, attributed diminished supply from Central power plants and coal shortage for widespread blackouts in his state, ranging from nine-11 hours in some cases. He had insinuated devious politics by the BJP-led NDA government against his government. Goel pointed out enough electricity was available for the state to make purchases. The Congress government in Haryana, sources said, could have played “political spoilsport” by queering the pitch but and played “malevolent umpire” between the warring Centre and the UP Government by rooting for its share of 750 MW. The reason being one of the three units of the Jhajjar plant is presently shut down resulting in reduced generation capacity. How it started
Haryana found itself in the middle of the Centre-UP political controversy following the UP Power Utility asking NTPC for 325 MW from its Jhajjar plant last Friday. |
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No potable water in Kejriwal’s hometown
Siwani Mandi (Bhiwani), June 2 Such is the situation that locals have to purchase water even for their basic needs from the private operators as the government-based water supply system is unable to fulfil the day-to-day demand. Come summer and water becomes a scarce commodity in this mandi township, which has a population of over 20,000. As this is a recurrent problem here, local resident Prem Kumar says the residents have taken up their demands at the highest levels in the state government, but there is no hope in sight. “Salty groundwater is the main problem behind this crisis. Unlike other villages where hand pumps and tubewells in surrounding fields fulfil the needs, we are totally dependent on the canal-based water supply for potable water”, Kumar informs. Repeated protests by the residents have fallen on deaf ears. The women folk of the town locked the Public Health Office, two days ago, as a mark of protest while describing it as a ‘useless office’. There are about 30 private tankers that supply water on demand to the people at a price of Rs 400 per tanker. “Most of the families have constructed storage facilities to store the water, which is used for days. While the 3-4 poor families’ pool in money to buy water”, says Saroj Devi, a resident of ward numbers six in the town. She adds that the Public Health Department run Waterworks, supply water only twice a week. “The water supply is erratic and available only for a short duration,” Saroj says. The Executive Engineer of the Public Health Department, Yudhvir Singh Malik admitted that water supply facilities were not up to the mark in the town. Malik says, “Presently, we are unable to run the water supplies due to power failure, as some electric poles were uprooted in the recent squall”. He maintains that the town has a requirement of three million litres of water per day as per the population needs, but presently the water supply scheme has a capacity of only around 1.5 million
litres. |
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KU daily-wage staff suspend strike
Kurukshetra, June 2 Nearly 1,600 of the varsity’s non-teaching employees were on an indefinite strike since Wednesday to press their demand of salaries as per the rate fixed by the DC. Kuruskhetra University Registrar Dr KC Relhan, who reached the Mini-Secretariat along with Haryana Labour Welfare Board Vice-Chairman Ramswaroop Jaanbaj to pacify the agitating employees, said “I admit that your salaries are very low. There were some technical issues with the previous tender following which it was abandoned. A fresh tender has been floated for which the bids will be accepted till June 16 and the tender would be opened on June 17. I assure you that all employees would get salaries as per the rate fixed by the DC.” Subhash Chander, president of Kurukshetra University Daily Wages Employees’ Association, said “We have submitted a memorandum to Kurukshetra DC Nikhil Gajraj, Thanesar SDM Rajesh Kumar and Haryana Labour Welfare Board Vice-Chairman Ramswaroop Jaanbaj in this regard. The authorities have promised to fulfill our demand by July 1, but we will wait till July 10 and in case the KU authorities fail to deliver as they did last year, we will renew our agitation.” The move came after the varsity floated a tender to hire employees on salaries fixed by the Deputy Commissioner. Nearly 1,600 non-teaching employees were on indefinite strike since Wednesday |
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Govt job for next of kin of defence martyrs
Chandigarh, June 2 The families of martyrs who are domiciles of Haryana are eligible for this benefit. Besides, the bereaved family would also get other financial benefits, stated instructions issued by Chief Secretary SC Choudhary. The martyr means "a person serving in the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) or in paramilitary forces (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, Assam Rifles, Rapid Action Force etc) under the Home Ministry on a permanent basis, and is killed in action in border skirmishes, terrorist attacks or riots and is declared a martyr by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs respectively".
— TNS |
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Cong to fight Assembly poll alone: Tanwar
"We welcome the Lok Sabha mandate but we will respond aggressively (in coming Assembly poll). Though the Lok Sabha results were against us, the Congress will form the government in the state for the third time," he said. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who has been facing the allegations of skewed development, said the state government was not responsible for any leader's personal development. "Development has taken place everywhere in the state. The state government is not responsible for personal development of those who raise such issues (biased development). The government is responsible towards the state's development," Hooda said. To strengthen the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections, Tanwar said the party would reach out to the common man in each block and constituency and highlight public welfare policies and decisions taken by the state as well as and UPA-led government. "We somehow could not connect with beneficiaries of (welfare) schemes," Tanwar said. He said a missed call number facility would be launched in all Assembly constituencies (90 seats) whereby the party would try to connect with voters. The state Congress chief said the state, district
and block committees would be reconstituted before July 31. Tanwar said a mass contact programme would be launched across the state on June 5 till June 28 wherein he, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other senior party leaders would visit each district to strengthen the party. To a query, Hooda said he did not have any official account at social networking site Twitter or Facebook. |
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NDRI produces clone of Murrah buffalo
Karnal, June 2 Earlier, the scientists had produced a clone of a female buffalo ‘Purnima’ from a high-yielding animal on September 6, 2013. It survived for only 21 days. AK Srivastava, director, NDRI, said the scientists produced ‘Lalima’ through the institute’s ‘hand-guided cloning technique’ on May 2. “After DNA profiling by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and month-long monitoring of the clone’s health, we are happy to announce that it is keeping good health and weighing 42 kg. As ‘Purnima’ had some complications after birth, the scientists are serious about Lalima’s health,” the director said. “This is the first time in the world that a calf is born by way of normal parturition (or natural delivery). It weighed 36 kg at the time of birth,” Srivastava claimed. “To increase progeny-tested bulls and high-yielding animals in India, the NDRI scientists had been working on the cloning technique for the past 16 years. For this, the credit must go to scientists SK Singla, MS Chauhan, RS Manik, P Palta, Shiv Parsad and Basanti Jyotsana,” the director said. Srivastava emphasised that the ‘hand-guided cloning technique’ could go a long way in multiplying the number of best milch buffaloes in the country. “Though the world’s largest population of buffaloes is in India and they contribute about 55 per cent of the total milk production in the country, the percentage of elite buffaloes is less. There’s an urgent need to increase its population,” the director said. S Ayyappan, secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), congratulated the team on its achievement. “The landmark of producing a cloned calf from an adult lactating animal by the ‘hand-guided cloning technique’ will facilitate faster multiplication of elite germplasm and help the country face challenges of increased demand for milk,” he added. Milestones in buffalo cloning
Though the world’s largest population of buffaloes is in India and they contribute about 55 per cent of the total milk production, the percentage of elite buffaloes is less. There’s need to increase its population AK Srivastava, Director, NDRI
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‘India must achieve milk production of 190 million tonnes’
Tribune News Service
Karnal, June 2 These points were presented during a one-day national conference “Dairy Business 2020” held World Milk Day. It was organised by National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) and the Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) at NDRI here today. Addressing farmers, industrialists and scientists, Dr AK Srivastava, Director and Vice-Chancellor, NDRI, emphasised on knowledge initiatives in the livestock and dairy sector. He said, “We have to reduce the count of animal but increase their productivity to retain India as a pioneer in the dairy sector. We have to increase the number of elite bull with good-quality semen to produce best animals.” He also stressed on increasing green fodder, water availability and better livestock management practices for improved productivity by 2020. In addition, milk processing and quality assurance should top the agenda of the dairy sector for developing quality dairy products. Dr SV Bhave, Deputy Chairman, CLFMA, presented a welcome address and Dr Dinesh Bhonsale, Chairman, said research organisations such as NDRI should work for the betterment of dairy farmers.
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Son an MP, but father continues shoemaking
Panchkula, June 2 While Kataria goes to work in a red beacon car, his 87-year-old father makes shoes at a small temporary hut a little distance from his humble home at Ladwa in Kurkushetra. “I have repeatedly asked my father to discontinue this work, but he says he doesn’t want to forget his roots,” says Kataria, who lives in Sector 4 of Mansa Devi Complex here. “I don’t want to give up the work that helped me raise my children and look after my family. It reminds me of the struggle we went through. It is in this very hut that Rattan would make plans to do something for the country. This work is respect and a lucky charm for me,” says Jyoti Ram. “More than that, it keeps me fit or I would grow old,” he adds with a twinkle in his eye. Kataria’s political journey began when joined the RSS as a student of Class III at a school in Ladwa. “When I was in Class V, I saw some boys beating up our teacher. I went to the police station and asked the policeman to take action, but he did not. I revolted and got summons from the court. This incident was a turning point in my life,” says the MP. As a young lawyer, Kataria contested the election in 1987 and was elected Radaur MLA at the age of 32. In 1999, he became the Ambala MP and settled down in
Panchkula. Big plans for P’kula I want to bring a university or an IIM to Panchkula, as the city is currently dependent on Chandigarh for education. I want maximum job opportunities to be created here and I will talk to Modiji to make the city a tourism and industrial hub as wel. Rattan Lal Kataria, Ambala MP
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Pratap Chautala cremated
Sirsa, June 2 Former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who is serving 10-year imprisonment in Tihar Jail after his conviction in the JBT recruitment case, came on a parole for a few hours to attend his younger brother's cremation. Jitender Singh Chautala, the deceased's eldest son lit the funeral pyre in the presence of a large number of native villagers and INLD activists from all over the state. The former Chief Minister was brought to Chautala village by jail officials in an ambulance. Since Chautala is suffering from heart ailment and asthma, a team of doctors also accompanied him to Chautala village. Chautala who went up to the funeral ground was taken back to Delhi after the cremation. |
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8 HCS officers redesignated
Chandigarh, June 2 Umed Singh Mohan, SDO(Civil), Ratia, has been re-designated as SDO(Civil)-cum-Additional Collector; Varsha Khangwal, Joint Director(Admn), Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, as Additional Director(Admn); Satyender Duhan, SDO(Civil),
Jhajjar, as SDO (Civil)-cum-Additional Collector; Amrita Singh, SDO (Civil), Jind, Managing Director, Coop.Sugar Mills, Jind, and Estate Officer, HUDA, Jind, as SDO(Civil)-cum-Additional Collector, Managing Director, Coop. Sugar Mills, and Estate Officer, HUDA; Yogesh Kumar, Joint Director(Admn), Medical Education and Research, and SDO(Civil), Naraingarh, as Additional Director(Admn), Medical Education and Research and SDO(Civil)-cum-Additional Collector; Satyawan, SDO(Civil), Hodal, as SDO(Civil)-cum-Additional Collector; Subhash Chander Sihag, Deputy Secretary, Finance Department, as Joint Secretary; and Yogesh Kumar Mehta, SDO(Civil), Hansi, as SDO(Civil)-cum-Additional Collector. |
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delayed payments under central scheme Tribune News Service
Karnal, June 2 As per the scheme, five members of a BPL (below poverty line) family are entitled to cashless treatment in empanelled hospitals. Later, the Centre reimburses the hospitals. To air their voice, private doctors have formed the RSBY Forum. “Nearly 35 private hospitals in the city have been treating BPL patients under the scheme for the past five years. But several of them have not received payments from the Centre,” forum coordinator Dr BK Thakur told the media here today. “The due payment of members of the forum stands at Rs 34 lakh. The forum had forwarded their demands to the Principal Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner, Labour Department, on May 26, but no action has been taken so far,” Dr Balbir Singh Virk said. “In spite of repeated reminders to officials concerned, no action has been taken,” Dr KB Jain, another coordinator, said, adding that several of their cases had been rejected. The members decided not to treat the patients until their grievances were met.
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Delhi HC notice to CBI on Chautala’s bail plea
New Delhi, June 2 A division bench of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice VK Shali issued notice to the CBI, which sought time to verify the status. The court posted the matter for June 3. Chautala, chief of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), was sentenced to 10 years in jail for irregularities in appointment of teachers in 2000. Moving the bail application, Chautala pleaded that his younger brother died on June 1 and being the eldest member in the family, he has to conduct the final rituals. A trial court in the capital had sentenced Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala and eight others to 10 years in jail. One convict was sentenced to five years in jail, while 45 others were each handed out four-year jail terms in the case. Chautala and the other accused were found guilty of illegally recruiting 3,206 junior basic trained teachers in Haryana in 2000.
— IANS |
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Mid-day meal workers protest in Jhajjar
Jhajjar, June 2 Addressing the protesters, Saroj Dujana, workers’ leader, said they had called on the state authorities many times to meet their long-pending demands, but to no avail. Saroj said their demands included salary for one year instead of 10 months. , implementation of the minimum wage scale, six-month’s maternity leave, release of salary in the first week of every month and reinstatement of sacked workers. — TNS |
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Man shot dead in Sonepat
Sonepat, June 2 The police have arrested two of the assailants, identified as Sumit and Pawan of Bhainswal Kalan village. Their accomplice, Naveen, of the same village managed to escape. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Darshan Lal Malik told the media that during interrogation, the accused confessed to have killed Rajiv to avenge the murder of Gurdeep of Khanpur Kalan village. Rahul had allegedly murdered Gurdeep in January at Kharkhoda. The accused reportedly told the police that they were provided with weapons and a motorcycle by Praveen, Pinku and Vikas of Bhainswal Kalan. Sonepat Superintendent of Police (SP) Arun Singh visited the crime spot and praised the police personnel for arresting the two gangsters. He announced to reward the police personnel concerned. Two gangsters held
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Unsafe Jind: Village women want
permission for female foeticide
Jind, June 2 Participants of the woman panchayat at Dadakhera chaupal said girls and women were not safe in Jind as the police did not take crime against women seriously. They said it was better to kill their unborn girls in the womb than lose them to kidnappers. The working of senior Jind police officers also came under severe criticism and slogans were raised. Women alleged there was no progress in investigations despite repeated requests more than a month after the woman went missing. “Our daughter went missing on May 1 from Safidon where she had gone to collect her roll number. Villagers, including her family members, have repeatedly met various senior police officers, but there is no progress in the investigations. The police is not taking the case seriously,” alleged Sunita Rani, a village elder. Though the woman has been missing for over a month, the police formed two teams and started investigations on Sunday after villagers blocked the Jind-Safidon road for four hours. One of the accused allegedly consumed poison during police questioning on Monday and he was admitted to the Safidon Civil Hospital where he is stated to be out of danger. “We have formed two special teams and are trying to crack the case. An accused told our team he had consumed poison, but when we admitted him to hospital we found that he was lying,” said DSP
Jind (Headquarters) Virender Dalal. Why anger prevails
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Chowkidars protest against non-payment of allowance
Sonepat, June 2 They also handed over a memorandum of demands to BDPO Rakesh Vohra, who said fund for the arrears had so far not been received from the Social Welfare Department. As for the pension distribution allowance, he said if any amount was found pending, its payment would be arranged. Jain said an arrear amount of Rs 1,94,35,000 for 2013-14 was released by the government for making payment to 460 chowkidars in the district and each chowkidar was to get 42,250. However, they were paid Rs 21,250 and the remaining Rs 21,000 was yet to be paid, he alleged. He said every chowkidar got a monthly payment of Rs 100 as pension distribution allowance and this payment had not been paid to them for the last two years.
— OC |
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Villagers struggle to make state toll-free
Rewari, June 2 The panchayat, under the aegis of Toll Tax Virodhi Committee, Rewari, (TTVCR), also decided to handover these resolutions to the state government. Earlier, they had held several protests at Gangachai Ahir toll booth in Rewari, Dighal toll booth in Jhajjar and Makdauli toll booth in Rohtak as well. The panchayat presided over by Jai Narayan has also threatened to convene a mahapanchayat in July next in case the government fails to take any step in this regard. Earlier, chief of TTVCR Rajender Singh, while addressing the gathering, said: “The campaign against toll taxes cannot be effective without the contribution of gram panchayats of those villages which are situated 25 km around the toll booths. Hence a special campaign should be run to ensure the participation of gram panchayats in this social work.” Virender Hooda, chief of Toll Hatao Sangharsh Samiti Haryana (THSSH), said: “Struggle against toll taxes has started evoking good response as the people are coming forward to extend their support to the toll agitation. But a state-wide mass movement is required to force the government to make Haryana toll-free.” Dr Ashok Dixit, general secretary of the THSSH, said: “The voice against toll taxes is getting louder as people have started opposing the government openly for imposing hefty toll taxes.” Former sarpanch Krishan Kumar, Durga Prashad, Vijay Somani, Satish Pahalwan, Ravinder Yadav, Dushyant, Anil Yadav, were among those who spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the villagers had staged a protest at the toll booth and sat on
dharna. RWA asks Gurjar to intervene
Faridabad: The issue of removal of toll plazas from the highways has gained momentum, with the Resident Welfare Associations' (RWAs) here reminding the newly inducted Minister of State for Roads and Transport, Krishan Pal Gurjar, to fulfill the promise of providing relief from the menace. Gurjar who is an MP from here, had 'assured' of taking up the issue in the next meeting of the Union Cabinet. The RWAs asked both Gurjar and the state government to ensure immediate measures to provide relief to the commuters in the NCR and the state. Gurjar assured to take up the issue in the next meeting of the Cabinet. |
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‘Mahendragarh, Bhiwani to get medical colleges’
Rohtak, June 2 "Yours is a young university and as it grows, there may be simmering discontent due to a wide range of factors. But your duty is to make full use of the available resources and don't let such things dilute the performance of the institution as a whole. This institute deals with human lives and this is a sensitive and delicate aspect to be remembered all the time," she said while addressing a gathering of university faculty members, staffers and students. Asserting that nurturing the nascent institution was a collective responsibility of all stake-holders, Khandelwal assured the university authorities of all possible help and support at her end. Bhiwani and Mahendragarh districts would also have medical colleges soon, she disclosed. Earlier, UHS Vice-Chancellor SS Sangwan shared the vision and mission behind the establishment of the university while PGIMS Director Chand Singh Dhull proposed the vote of thanks. A delegation of the Haryana State Medical Teachers Association also met the Principal Secretary and apprised her of their longstanding demands regarding revision of pay scales, allowances and administrative grades. |
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TV artiste booked for seeking dowry
Yamunanagar, June 2 In her complaint, Shobhit’s wife Neesha, a resident of Labour Colony in Jagadhri, said she was married to him on January 30, 2012. She said her parents had spent Rs 25 lakh on her marriage. However, her husband and in-laws started harassing her sometime after their marriage. She said her husband had gone to Mumbai a few months after their marriage.
— TNS |
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Trader selling spurious seeds gets notice
Kurukshetra, June 2 The agitating farmers lifted their blockade after an assurance of action given by the police officials and the District Horticultural Officer. DHO Manjeet Singh said, “The victim farmer had approached the Agricultural Department and the seeds were found to be spurious. The department has served a notice to the accused
shopkeeper.” — TNS |
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Student drowns
Fatehabad, June 2 Somveer and Vishal jumped into the canal. Manoj did not bathe in the canal as he was slightly indisposed. Somveer came out later, but Vishal was swept away in the strong current. All three were students of Kalpana Chawla Group of Educational Institutions in Chikanwas village near here. |
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4-member panel to fix lawyers’ fees
Chandigarh, June 2 It will also consider the fees to the panel of advocates for conducting cases of the state government in the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court, subordinate courts in Delhi, the Central Administrative Tribunal and other tribunals. |
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Chandigarh, June 2
‘Lalima’ was produced through the NDRI's ‘hand-guided cloning technique’ on May 2