Page 44 - Haryana

After communal tension, Section 144 imposed in Haryana's Nuh district

Police lobbed teargas shells to disperse crowds and summoned reinforcements from other areas as the two sides hurled stones at each other

Brij Bhushan Singh meets Haryana wrestlers, says will solve their problems

Top Indian wrestlers like Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have protested against Brij Bhushan Singh this year, levelling allegations of sexual harassment against them

Haryana govt applies 'no work, no pay' principle on striking clerks

The Haryana government on Thursday decided to apply the "no work, no pay" principle for clerks who have been striking for a revision of their basic pay. According to an order issued by the finance department's additional chief secretary, the strike is causing inconvenience to the public. "Accordingly, the government has decided that the principle of 'no work, no pay' shall be made applicable and the salary of such employees who are taking part in the strike shall not be released for the period they remain on strike," the order said. "Therefore, all the drawing and disbursing officers of all the departments are hereby directed that the salary of the employees who are on strike should not be released till further orders," it added. Nearly 15,000 clerks of various departments have been on strike for more than three weeks to demand a revision of their basic pay from Rs 19,900 per month to Rs 35,400. Two rounds of talks between government representatives and the clerks have failed to f

Former Haryana minister Gopal Kanda acquitted in air hostess suicide case

Geetika, a former air hostess with Kanda's MLDR airlines, who was later promoted as a director of one of Gopal Goyal Kanda's companies, was found dead on August 5, 2012

Ex-Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda acquited in air hostess suicide case

A Delhi court on Tuesday acquitted ex-Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda in a case of abetment of suicide of air hostess Geetika Sharma. Special Judge Vikas Dhull also acquitted co-accused Aruna Chadha in the case, saying the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond all reasonable doubts. The accused were facing charges under various sections, including 306 (abetment of suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (destruction of evidence), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 466 (forgery). The trial court had also framed charges of rape (376) and 377 (unnatural sex) against Kanda. The Delhi High Court, however, later quashed the charges under 376 and 377 of the IPC. Sharma, who was earlier employed with Kanda's MLDR airlines, was found dead on August 5, 2012 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi. In her August 4 suicide note, Sharma had said she was ending her life due to harassment by Kanda and Chadha. Kanda was forced to resign from his post of minister of state for

Manufacturers of scientific instruments in Ambala hit by recent floods

One of the country's oldest hub of scientific instruments in Haryana's Ambala has been severely affected by recent floods, with manufacturers staring at losses running into crores of rupees. According to various traders' associations, the scientific instruments manufacturing units suffered an estimated loss worth more than Rs 300 crore. Most of these units supply the instruments to educational and technical institutes, while some are meant for export. The recent heavy rainfall in the region inundated vast tracts of agricultural land as well as many residential and commercial areas in the twin towns of Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment. The famous scientific instruments industry of Ambala Cantonment had to face huge losses as floodwaters entered a number of instruments manufacturing units, bringing work to a standstill and rendering machines and equipment worth crores of rupees almost defunct and raw material damaged. They said around 100 manufacturing units were submerged under 4

The politics and economics of MLA defecting to rival parties

One party gets the most number of turncoat lawmakers; regional players are affected most

3-fold rise in unemployment in Haryana under BJP rule: Deepender Hooda

Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda said the unemployment rate has increased three-fold in Haryana under BJP rule and slammed the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the "appalling" situation. In a reply to a question in Parliament, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli on Thursday said the unemployment rate in Haryana was 2.9 per cent in 2013-14 (when Congress was in power), which increased to 9.0 per cent in 2021-22, the Congress leader said in a statement here. "If we look at the unemployment rate at the national level, it is 4.1 per cent, which is less than half the unemployment rate in Haryana," Deepender Hooda, son of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said. "This appalling situation despite the fact that Haryana is surrounded by the national capital from three sides. Haryana is the only state in the country where the unemployment rate has increased three times during the BJP rule," he said. He claimed Haryana has become number on

Air hostess Sharma's suicide case: Delhi court to pass verdict on July 25

A Delhi court will deliver its verdict on July 25 in the case of abetment of suicide of former air hostess Geetika Sharma in which controversial former Haryana minister Gopal Goyal Kanda is an accused. Special Judge Vikas Dhull, who was scheduled to pass the order on Thursday, adjourned the matter for July 25. Sharma, a former air hostess with Kanda's MLDR airlines, who was later elevated as a director of one of his companies, was found dead on August 5, 2012 at her Ashok Vihar residence in North West Delhi. In her August 4 suicide note, she had said she was ending her life due to harassment by Kanda, 46, and another person. Kanda, an influential politician and businessman, was a minister in the erstwhile Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government. He was forced to resign as minister of state for home following the registration of the case. Kanda is facing charges under various sections on IPC, including 306 (abetment of suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation), 201 (distruction o

Records related to Robert Vadra's company destroyed in bank basement

Union Bank of India has claimed that crucial documents between 2008 to 2012 were destroyed due to water flooding the bank basement

Haryana planning to erect pillars in Aravalis to prevent illegal mining

The government officials said that when intercepted, these illegal miners pretend that they did not realise entering Haryana and that they have the required permit to quarry stones in Rajasthan

Rain fury: At least 55 killed in Punjab, Haryana; relief work underway

Floodwaters have started receding from several places in Punjab and Haryana, battered by heavy downpour earlier this week, even as relief works were underway in flood-hit areas of both states on Saturday. With 14 districts in Punjab and 13 in Haryana hit by the recent downpour, at least 55 people have died in rain-related incidents in both states. A total of 29 people died in rain-related incidents in Punjab while the death toll in Haryana stands at 26, according to official data. Over 25,000 people have been evacuated to safe places from waterlogged localities in various flood-hit districts of Punjab and more than 5,300 in Haryana. The flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana's Yamunanagar was 53,370 cusecs at 6 pm and 54,619 cusecs at 8 pm. Meanwhile, two breaches occurred along the Ghaggar river in Punjab's Mansa district on Saturday, following which many villages bordering Haryana stare at a flood threat. The first breach occurred in an embankment near the Chandpura dam

VAT on diesel rose by Rs 3/litre in Himachal, cheaper than Punjab: CM Sukhu

In a bid to enhance revenue, the Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday increased the value added tax (VAT) on diesel by Rs 3 per litre to Rs 10.40 per litre. VAT on diesel has been increased from 9.90 per cent to 13.9 per cent, an increase of Rs 3 per litre from Rs 7.40 to Rs 10.40 per litre, as per the notification issued by the State Excise and Taxation department. Justifying the increase, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said the previous BJP government had reduced the VAT by seven per cent on the eve of the last assembly polls held in November 2022 and the increase was imperative for mobilising resources along with other measures. He said the state has suffered huge losses due to heavy rains and resources have to be mobilized in this hour. The roads, water supply schemes and electricity have been restored temporarily and it would take almost a year to restore the damaged infrastructure. In spite of an increase in VAT, diesel is cheaper in the state as compare

Floodwaters recede at many places in Punjab, Haryana; relief work underway

Floodwaters have started receding in several places of Punjab and Haryana, battered by heavy downpour earlier this week, and relief work is underway in affected areas in both states, officials said on Saturday. With the threat of water and vector-borne diseases looming large in flood-affected areas, health department officials have been directed to take appropriate steps to prevent any such outbreak, they said. The officials also said that medical camps have been set up in flood-hit areas and medicines are being distributed to people. At least 39 people have died in rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana. According to official data, 19 people have died in rain-related incidents in Punjab while the death toll in Haryana stands at 20. Over 22,000 people have been moved to safety from waterlogged localities in various flood-hit districts of Punjab. In neighbouring Haryana, 4,495 people have been evacuated. Fourteen districts Patiala, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali, Jalandhar, Sangrur

Chautala writes to Centre seeking permanent NDRF battalion for Haryana

The Haryana government has asked the Centre for a permanent battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to deal with "disaster situations", an official statement said here on Friday. Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard. Haryana was battered by heavy rains over the past few days with floods reported from several parts of the state. In his letter, Chautala said that with the availability of a permanent battalion of the NDRF in Haryana, immediate relief can be provided at the time of disaster. He said that land for the battalion could be provided by the state government near the Hisar airport. Chautala said that there are 1,149 jawans in a battalion and in such a situation, Haryana will become more capable to deal with floods, earthquakes or other crisis situations. At present, NDRF teams have to be called from other states in case of any disaster, he wrote.

Gurgaon residents file plea in SC against jungle safari park in Aravallis

The petitioners said the activities within the Aravalli Hills will harm the ecology and also destroy the wildlife and its habitat in the mountain range

Flood situation: Haryana govt can't escape blame, says Cong's Hooda

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday attacked the Haryana government over the flood situation in the state, alleging that it did not make adequate preparations, despite warnings of heavy rain. The former chief minister, who has in the past two days visited some flood-affected districts, including Ambala, said that "but the failure of the BJP-JJP government is also clearly visible in this as there was early warning of heavy rains, but the government did not make proper preparations to deal with the situation". "Was a meeting of the Flood Control Board held or not? What decisions were taken in the meeting? How were those decisions implemented at the ground level? Where was the flood control budget spent? These are questions people are asking and are not getting any answer to this," the leader of opposition in the Haryana assembly, said. Hooda said it is the responsibility of the government to get the drains and sewerage cleaned before every rainy season. "Also, the ...

Holding excess water in Hathnikund barrage could lead to damage: Minister

Amid the blame game over water flow from the Hathnikund barrage increasing the Yamuna level in Delhi, Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal Thursday said not releasing excess water from the barrage could lead to a "bigger damage". "When there are floods or heavy rains as we not releasing excess water from the barrage could lead to a "bigger damage".saw in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and even our state in the last few days, there is no option but to release water. If we stop the water, the situation will be disastrous," the minister said. Pal said the Hathnikund barrage does not have a mechanism to store large volumes of water like a reservoir, adding that if water is held in the barrage beyond a permissible limit, a "bigger damage" could be caused. His comments came a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a letter to Union Home Minister had requested that if possible, the water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana be released in limited speed and pointed out that Del

Water released from Himachal has reduced, will impact Yamuna: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat has informed him that the volume of water being released to Haryana from Himachal Pradesh has reduced, which in turn will impact the water level in the Yamuna. However, he said it will take some time for the water level in the river to recede. The Yamuna in Delhi swelled to 207.71 metres at 4 pm on Wednesday, breaching its all-time record of 207.49 metres set in 1978, flooding several areas and prompting Kejriwal to call an emergency meeting on the situation. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kejriwal requested that "if possible, the water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana be released in limited speed" and pointed out that Delhi is set to host the G20 Summit meeting in a few weeks. "Following my letter, I got a call from Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who said that Hathnikund is just a barrage and there is no reservoir to store water and limit the water speed. The wat

Focus shifts to rescue efforts as rains abate in parts of north India

As the weather improved in parts of north India, which was pummelled by heavy rains for days, authorities on Wednesday worked on a war footing to rescue stranded tourists, restore vehicular traffic on arterial roads and prevent floodwaters from entering new areas. In Punjab and Haryana, at least 15 people have died in rain-related incidents, according to government data. As many as 2,000 tourists stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Kasol were evacuated and more than 300 tourist vehicles stuck in Lahaul following landslides and flash floods left for their respective destinations, the state government said. In Delhi, the Yamuna swelled to 207.55 metres on Wednesday, breaching its all-time high of 207.49 metres recorded in 1978, according to government agencies. Delhi has recorded a rapid increase in the Yamuna water level over the last three days. It shot up from 203.14 metres at 11 am on Sunday to 205.4 metres at 5 pm on Monday, breaching the danger mark of 205.33 metres 18 hours earlier