Sirsa: The state government has announced Rs 100 bonus on select varieties of paddy brought to the market from September 26, 2007, to December 31. V. Umashankar said here today that all commission agents had been directed to pay Rs 100 against a quintal on "leviable' and grade A paddy, which were procured at Rs 645 and Rs 675 per quintal, respectively.

Its good news for the farmers of Haryana, who have to bear burgeoning losses, amounting up to Rs 55,000 crore per year, due to lack of proper post harvest management system in the state. The Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) has planned to develop collection centres, commodity hubs and terminal Markets across the state to reduce these losses and increase the price realisation for the farmers.

In the district of Sirsa in Haryana, wage rates have increased appreciably after the nregs started being implemented there. Being a cotton-producing district, the daily wage for cotton-picking workers was around Rs85 when the scheme was launched. While the scheme offered Rs95, workers shifted to projects run under the scheme.

Forests, fields are all vulnerable

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has sanctioned 15 solar power plants of 1 kilo watt power each in 13 sub-divisions of DHBVN, Sirsa and in two sub-divisions of DHBVN, Faridabad. This step would help to meet the power requirements, besides creating awareness among the masses about the generation of power through solar photovoltaic technology.

Chandigarh In the agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana, power cuts have been the order of the day for years. This, in turn, has affected economic development in these states. While the two states have decided to spend almost one-third of their five-year Plan for 2007-12 on power projects, they have also realised that the immediate need was to save energy. With that in mind, Punjab has tied up with a US major, Econoler International, to light the streets of municipal areas of the state.

The Haryana's Command Area Development Authority (CADA) has decided to implement a scheme to improve the water table in those areas of the state, where it has been depleting continuously.

Residents of Panihari village are now a happy lot. They are celebrating freedom from floods for the first time in living memory. Agricultural wages have incresed across the district in the past one year. They say their lives have improved because of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

Residents of Panihari village are a happy lot. They are celebra-ting freedom from floods for the first time in living memory. Agricultural wages have increased across the district in the past one

Sirsa: Several functions and rallies marked National Energy Conservation Day here today. A three-day energy conservation fair organised by the authorities concluded here today. TK Dhingra, project direct director of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, said energy conservation was a movement that needed participation of all.

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