Latest news with #AnuragRastogi
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Haryana govt says accounts cadre officers must ensure thorough checks before sending proposals to finance dept
1 2 3 4 Chandigarh: The Haryana govt has issued fresh directives to streamline financial scrutiny and enhance administrative efficiency, directing State Accounts Service (SAS) cadre officers to undertake thorough internal checks before forwarding proposals to the finance department. In a letter circulated to all administrative secretaries, chief secretary Anurag Rastogi — who also serves as additional chief secretary (finance) — flagged concerns that numerous financial proposals were reaching the finance department without proper vetting, causing delays and adding to the department's workload. Under the new guidelines, SAS officers, including section, accounts, senior accounts, and chief accounts officers, must now closely examine each proposal's compliance with existing policies, circulars, budget provisions, and delegated financial powers. They are required to provide written observations, marking recommendations or objections clearly, and ensure all requisite documents and approvals accompany the file. Finance department officers posted within administrative departments must further evaluate each proposal's fiscal viability, verify budget availability, and determine whether any re-appropriation is needed. They will assess compliance with austerity and procurement norms, while identifying whether the expenditure is recurring or one-time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Proposals involving new schemes must include a background note and detailed classification under the six-tier budgetary format. A formal certificate from the department's finance officer confirming compliance is now mandatory for concurrence. MSID:: 122813709 413 |
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Haryana gets govt staff to vacate 34 houses, 24 others in Panchkula served notice
The Haryana government has intensified efforts to get houses allotted to its officials in Panchkula vacate in order to re-allocate them to judicial officers and employees, as per a recent direction of the high court. A senior government officer told The Indian Express on Thursday that '34 out of the 58 identified houses have already been vacated by government staffers,' and 'notices have been issued to the occupants of the remaining 24 houses.' The officer added, 'They have been asked to vacate the houses by July 22 to ensure compliance with the high court's orders.' On Tuesday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the state government to reallocate 58 government quarters — currently occupied by employees from other departments — to judicial officers and staff within a week. 'To the extent of the Chief Secretary admitting that 58 houses are deficient in the 15 per cent pool reserved for judiciary, contempt appears to be, prima facie, made out,' the Bench had observed. The court warned that failure to comply would result in the dismissal of the Haryan Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi's appeal against contempt proceedings. The court's direction came alongside an order for charges to be framed against Chief Secretary for non-compliance with a 2011 court ruling that mandated the reservation of 15% of general pool government quarters for judicial officers and court staff, in in line with recommendations of the Shetty Commission and the Supreme Court. Following these directions, the Haryana Public Works Department (PWD) got 30 houses vacated in a jiffy. Sources said the department has reported the vacancy of 27 houses to the District and Sessions Judge of Panchkula. A senior officer stated, 'We have issued vacation notices to current occupants based on the 'last come, first go' principle. The notice period is about to end. These employees live with their families and, naturally, need time to find alternative accommodation, which may be the reason for the delay in vacating the houses.' The contempt petition was filed by Rajesh Chawla, an employee of Panchkula District court, in October 2016, alleging wilful defiance of the high court's September 7, 2011, order directing the Haryana government to implement the Shetty Commission's recommendations and earmark 15 per cent of general pool government housing for judicial employees. Chawla had alleged that the government misrepresented facts by claiming to have allotted 38 houses from the district pool in Panchkula, whereas the directive pertained to the general pool comprising quarters in both Panchkula and Chandigarh. Arshdeep Bhullar, counsel for Chawla in the High Court, reiterated that 'as per the order, the 58 houses must be vacated within one week.' Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Aravalis under attack: Haryana urges SC to ban mining 5km inside Rajasthan; leaseholders under lens
GURGAON: Acknowledging that illegal mining was rampant on the Haryana side of the border with Rajasthan, the state govt has urged Supreme Court to prohibit mining up to 5km inside Rajasthan to prevent further damage to Aravali ranges, reports Ipsita Pati. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In an affidavit filed on Wednesday, Haryana chief secretary Anurag Rastogi accused mining leaseholders from Rajasthan of encroaching on Haryana territory, blasting Aravali hilltops near the border, and displacing boundary pillars to misrepresent mining zones. The hearing is on in SC, which had earlier this year rebuked Rastogi for not doing enough to prevent destruction of Aravalis after miners brought down a hillock in Basai Meo village along the border. Mining is banned on the Haryana side of the Aravalis under a 2009 SC order. It's allowed, however, on the Rajasthan side. Survey to demarcate buffer zone in Raj proposed by Hry Assuring the court of full compliance with its orders, the affidavit says: "Illegal road construction, misuse of forest land and cross-border mining activity represent not just an environmental crisis but a breakdown of regulatory coordination." The Haryana affidavit proposes a Survey of India exercise to demarcate a 5km-wide no-mining buffer zone inside Rajasthan, which will serve as a protective barrier for Haryana's vulnerable Aravali landscape. The affidavit also claimed that interstate boundary markers had been systematically displaced, allowing leaseholders to extract minerals from Haryana's protected Aravali zone. "Despite multiple requests from Haryana, Rajasthan authorities have failed to share leaseholder details or participate in joint boundary demarcation," the affidavit notes. Both Haryana and Rajasthan now have BJP govts. Investigation by the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (SVACB) revealed two illegal forest roads were constructed from Basai Meo to villages in Deeg (Rajasthan), directly connecting to active mining and crusher zones. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "These roads reduced transport distance to Rajasthan's mines from 25-30 km to just 2-3 km, allowing dumpers to bypass mining, transport and police checks," the affidavit states. An estimated Rs 13 crore was spent on building these roads, allegedly with the former Basai Meo sarpanch's connivance. The sarpanch has been suspended from the post. "...it is clear that leaseholders, crusher owners, illegal mining material transportation occurred through these illegally constructed roads as it not only reduced the distance and transportation cost but also resulted in loss to govt exchequer (royalty, toll, overload, etc). To address this issue, a Demi-Official (DO) letter No. 3925/MB dated June 9, 2025, was sent by Deputy Commissioner, Nuh to the District Collector, Deeg (Rajasthan) for strengthening the vigil at the interstate border. Regular meetings shall be held on a regular basis (sic)," the affidavit states. SVACB filed an FIR in June 2025 against multiple officials and private persons, including the former sarpanch of Basai Meo, who remains absconding with a Rs 50,000 bounty on his arrest. Four revenue officials are among five persons who have been arrested so far. A committee has, meanwhile, been formed under the conservator of forests, Gurgaon, to oversee Aravali restoration and monitoring, supported by monthly satellite reports and drone mapping. "The forest department has constituted a committee for satellite surveillance and monitoring of Aravali landscape. HARSAC will provide satellite image-based monthly reports of illegal non-forestry activities in Aravali of Nuh district. Drones are being arranged through Drone Imaging and Information Service of Haryana Limited (DRHSHYA)," the affidavit says. HARSAC is acronym for Haryana Space Applications Centre, which is based in Hisar. Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, appearing for the petitioners in the case, said, "The situation in Basai Meo is a textbook case of ecological injustice. Rampant illegal mining, unauthorised road carving, and blatant destruction of wetland ecosystems are not isolated violations, they represent a consistent failure of governance." On Dec 23 last year, TOI reported around 6,000 metric tonnes of stones were illegally mined after a hillock in Rava was blasted into pieces on the night of Dec 19. This was done just days after Haryana mining department officials inspected the area and noticed new excavations in Rava. Another TOI report from January this year noted that the forest department ordered action against three revenue officials for allowing illegal construction of the road in Basai Meo.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Haryana Chief Secretary reviews 25 high-value projects
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting and reviewed the progress of projects exceeding Rs 100 crore with the respective Administrative Secretaries here. The Administrative Secretaries presented detailed updates on 25 high-value projects, collectively of over Rs 28,000 crore, spanning sectors like urban development, transport, home, health and industrial growth. Chief Secretary Rastogi directed the officials to proactively resolve bottlenecks and complete the projects on prescribed timelines. A standout achievement is the Rs 100 crore project under the Home Department for installing CCTV cameras across police stations and posts, which has been fully completed and is operational. This initiative significantly strengthens public safety and law enforcement capabilities. Similarly, the Cooperation Department's Rs 179.75 crore mega food park in Rohtak, managed by HAFED, has achieved an impressive 97 per cent completion. With most milestones met, including the setup of the Central Processing Centre and Primary Processing Centres, this project is poised to boost agro-processing and create rural employment opportunities. The Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Department showcased progress in civic infrastructure. Projects such as the Rs 248.33 crore sewerage systems in Faridabad's Pratapgarh and Mirzapur, the Rs 133.78 crore sewerage network in Ambala Sadar, and the Rs 109.13 crore water supply initiative in Rohtak have all reached 100 per cent completion. Additionally, the Rs 130.21 crore sewerage project in Karnal, including a 142-km network and two sewage treatment plants, has been fully completed, significantly enhancing urban sanitation. The Rs 129.30 crore MCG Office Building in Gurugram, at 84 per cent completion, and the Rs 123.47 crore modernisation of Raja Nahar Singh Stadium in Faridabad, at 60 per cent completion, further highlight the department's strides in improving urban amenities. In the Town and Country Planning sector, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) reported progress on various projects. The Rs 110 crore 100 MLD water treatment plant at Chandu Bhudera was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday. The Rs 679.80 crore Shree Sheetla Mata Devi Medical College and Hospital in Gurugram is advancing steadily and will soon serve as a cornerstone of healthcare infrastructure. The Rs 226.31 crore sewerage pipeline project in Gurugram's Sector 58 to 115 has also been fully completed, ensuring robust urban sanitation, an official statement said. The Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) updated the meeting on transformative transport projects, including the Rs 5,453 crore Gurugram Metro (HUDA City Centre to Cyber City), the Rs 6,056.70 crore Faridabad-Gurugram Metro link, and two Regional Rapid Transport Systems (RRTS) projects: Delhi-Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror (Rs 6,436 crore) and Sarai Kale Khan-Panipat (Rs 4,699 crore). Additionally, the Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority's Rs 217 crore Ranney Wells project is progressing to ensure a sustainable water supply.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Unauthorised roads reduced Rajasthan-Nuh journey by 25 km to facilitate illegal mining: Haryana in SC
Two roads cutting across forest and agricultural land in Nuh district reduced the distance to the Rajasthan border by about 25 km and helped illegal stone miners escape authorities, Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi said in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. These roads were constructed over the past two years in connivance with the then sarpanch and local officers of various government departments, the affidavit further stated, listing the following findings of a special investigation team formed by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, which conducted a drone-based survey: (1) From Basai Meo to Chhapra village in Rajasthan's Deegh district, a road with a length of 2,050 m, a width of 12.19 m, and a depth of 3 m was constructed. (ii) From Basai Meo to Nagal village, a road with a length of 1,950 m, a width 12.19 m, and a depth 1.52 m was made. The affidavit was filed after a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on May 29 accused the state government of shielding errant officials and the mining mafia, while taking exception to an affidavit the chief secretary filed, deflecting responsibility to the forest department. The bench then remarked that the mafia appeared strong enough to protect both its members and colluding state officers. It directed the chief secretary to take immediate action against such mafias and guilty officials, and also ordered him to file a detailed affidavit by July 16. 'It is clear that illegal mining material transportation occurred through these illegally constructed rastas as it not only reduced the distance and transportation cost but also resulted in loss to Government exchequer loss (royalty, toll, overload etc) … Approximately an amount of Rs 13.26 crore has been incurred on the construction of these roads,' reads the latest affidavit. The roads were illegally carved out during consolidation proceedings on farmers' lands, which have since been returned to them along with proposed compensation for three crop seasons. Nuh Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena removed the sarpanch from his post on July 1. However, the sarpanch is absconding. He has filed pleas in the district court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court for bail and quashing an FIR registered against him, respectively. 'Mohammad Hanif alias Hannah, the then Sarpanch could not be arrested, till date as he is absconding and for his arrest, an award of Rs. 50,000/- has been announced by the police,' the affidavit read. The case stems from reports that rampant illegal mining takes place in Basai Meo village, facilitating illegal stone transport across state borders. Mining in the Aravallis, Nuh, Gurgaon, and Faridabad has been banned since 2002, with the Supreme Court in 2009 extending it to all of southern Haryana. It remains allowed in neighbouring Rajasthan through leases. The latest affidavit points to the effects of this anomaly. It states that the Rajasthan government's mining department has issued mining leases in the border areas in the villages of Chapra, Dhulet, and Nangal. 'Policy divergence in two states helps illegal mining' 'There are licensed crasher zones in these areas. Haryana also has a crasher zone in Bewan village at Rajasthan Haryana border. The leaseholders have mined beyond their lease boundary damaging nearby areas. Also the inter-state boundary is cutting through Aravali hill top so miners blast towards Rajasthan side illegally damaging Haryana Aravali system also,' the affidavit stated. The divergence between the policies of the two states has led to widespread illegal mining in border areas, which is exploited by the mining mafia operating from Rajasthan, which extracts resources in Haryana, the affidavit added. 'Despite continuous enforcement actions-raids, seizures, FIRs, and surveillance through drones the mining mafias persist, especially in remote and nocturnal operations, causing substantial environmental damage .. It was also found that Rajasthan leaseholders often displace demarcation pillars to encroach into Haryana, misrepresenting mining locations and causing loss of mineral wealth and revenue to Haryana,' it said. Rajasthan-based miners, while encroaching on prohibited Haryana land, claim that the area where they are mining is part of their allotted land. 'The minerals extracted this way are then illegally transported into Haryana. This not only results in significant revenue loss but also poses a serious threat to the environment. This has been reported by the Mining Officer Nuh from time to time … the unresolved demarcation dispute between the Haryana and Rajasthan governments remains a critical factor enabling persistent illegal mining activities. Due to the dispute of the boundary area, it is challenging for either state to effectively enforce laws and prevent unauthorized extraction,' the affidavit stated. Clear-cut demarcation of boundaries In the absence of a clear-cut demarcation of boundaries, mining activity takes place illegitimately on the Haryana side of the border, according to the affidavit. The Haryana government proposed in the affidavit that all mining activities up to 5 km into the Rajasthan side of the border be banned. 'Survey of India may be directed to delineate this buffer zone of 5 kilometers', the State government seeks.
