Khattar terms Punjab decision unconstitutional
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Tuesday termed as “unconstitutional” the Bill against the construction of Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) Canal passed by Punjab Vidhan Sabha a day before. The Chief Minister said this Bill was against the spirit of the Constitution, thus in a way it is unconstitutional. Commenting on the meeting of Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on SYl canal land de-acquisition bill, Manohar lal said, “We appeal to the Governor not to sign it.” He said that after it was discussed in the all party meeting, they had met the Governor and explained to him its details. Manohar lal added that he is hopeful that the Governor would take a decision by rising above the Constitution. Haryana Assembly had on Monday passed a unanimous resolution condemning the passage of the Bill by the Punjab Assembly de-notifying the land for the SYl as “unilateral, unconstitutional and denying the authority of the Supreme Court, a step only to draw political mileage,” and requested the Union Government to annul this illegal and unconstitutional action. The bill entails returning to the owners the land acquired by Punjab for the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) canal project that was started in the 1980s to give water to Haryana. The SYl canal has been stuck as Punjab says it does not have a drop to spare while Haryana insists on having right over the water.
Haryana to set up solar power plant
Chandigarh: Haryana Power Generation Corporation will set up a Solar Power Plant over an area of 151.78 acres of the Thermal Power Plant, Bata Chowk in Faridabad, which has been closed. Besides, 27.25 acres land of thermal colony in sector-22 would be developed by Haryana Urban Development Authority, informed Transport Minister Krishan lal Panwar while replying to a question about utility of the land of the closed thermal power plant. It was informed that this plant was closed in 2010 and out of 341.55 acres land, 256.93 acres is under the ownership of HPGCl. Out of the remaining land, 11.01 acres has been taken on lease from Municipal Corporation, Faridabad and 73.61 acres from the Rehabilitation Department.
Panchkula capable to get smart city status
Chandigarh: Haryana Urban local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain said that Panchkula is capable to get the status of a Smart City and hoped that it would be included in the list of smart cities project of Central Government in the second phase. While replying to a question, she informed the State Assembly that the city was a contender for the same in first phase, but could not find a place in the list of smart cities. The matter regarding delay caused in sending its nomination to the Central Government would be examined and action would be taken against the defaulters, she said. The Minister also informed that two cities namely Faridabad and Karnal have been shortlisted under the Central Government’s smart city mission. The State Government had decided that Gurgaon would also be developed as a smart city. The funds for Faridabad and Karnal were to be shared by the State and Central Governments in the ratio of 50:50 with Government of India funding limited to Rs 500 crores each. The entire cost for Gurgaon would be jointly shared by State Government and Municipal Corporation, Gurgaon, she added.
Ban on gutka, pan masala would continue
Chandigarh: The manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutka, pan masala, flavoured or scented tobacco, kharra and other similar products containing tobacco would continue to remain banned in the State and instructions have been issued to confiscate products containing tobacco from godowns and selling points, informed Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij in a reply tabled in the House. The Health Minister said that The Food and Drugs Administration had issued a notification on September 3 last to ban sale and purchase of tobacco products. The ban also included heavy metals, anti-caking agents without specifically permitted ingredients, silver leaf, binders and prohibited chemicals.
Haryana constitutes three-member committee
Chandigarh: Haryana Revenue Minister Capt. Abhimanyu informed that with a view to ensure uniform development of the State, a three-member Sub-Committee under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar has been constituted to update the status as per the demand of all four divisions, 21 districts, 62 sub divisions, 83 tehsils and 48 sub-tehsils in the State. Capt Abhimanyu was replying to a question regarding upgrading Tehsil Rania as sub-division in Rania Assembly Constituency during the question hour on the second day of ongoing Budget Session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here on Tuesday.
508 water sources in Haryana contain fluoride
Chandigarh: During the tests conducted by Haryana Public Health Engineering Department to assess fluoride and arsenic levels in the water at its sources, 508 water sources have been found containing fluoride. Alternative safe water sources have been identified in maximum affected villages, said Haryana Public Health Engineering Minister Ghanshyam Saraf. Saraf informed the House that a sum of Rs 905.58 lakh has been sanctioned for increasing water supply from 40 liters per capita per day to 55 liters per capita per day in rural areas. Apart from this, an amount of Rs Rs 119.36 lakh had been spent on 12 schemes.