he Statements being made by opposition parties regarding electricity bills as false and misleading .

Chandigarh, October 6- Haryana Forest Minster, Rao Narbir Singh said that the conservation and preservation of wild life is of utmost importance  for the expansion of forest area and ensuring natural balance in view of the changing landscapes and increasing air and water pollution.

            In a statement issued here today, Rao Narbir Singh said that Van Mahotsav and Wild Life Week are organized every year by the officials of Forest Department for spreading the message of importance of forests.

            He said that the State Government has taken concrete steps for the conservation and preservation of rare wildlife species. Peacock and Chinkara Breeding Centre has been established in Jhabua Reserve Forest area in Rewari. Similarly, in order to check the declining number of vultures and increase their population, Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre has been established in Pinjore. In Pheasant Breeding Centre located in Morni, the species of Red Jungle Fowl are successfully being bred. In Bhiwani, Chinkara Breeding Centre has been established in Kairu village and Crocodile Breeding Centre in Bhor  Saidan.

            He said that the State Government has established three zoos and one deer park in order to inform the people, especially students about wildlife. Besides this, two national parks, eight wildlife sanctuaries and two wildlife conservation areas have been established.

            He said that in order to generate love for wildlife among people, a scheme for the adoption of birds or animals has also been initiated. Under this scheme, any person from the State could adopt any bird or animal kept in zoos or deer parks by giving certain amount for a fixed period of time. The name of adopter of bird or animal is displayed on the board outside the related zoo or deer park and the adopter and his family are allowed free entry in any zoo or deer park in the State for 12 times in a year, he added.

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Ruchi/Prem Sagar

Chandigarh, October 6- Haryana has bagged the ‘Destination Stewardship Award’ at a function organised by the World Travel and Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII), in association with HVS, in New Delhi today.

          During the function, Mr Manav Thadani, Chairman, HVS, Asia Pacific, announced these awards that acknowledge and recognize initiatives taken by the different Indian states in policy impetus and prioritization of Travel and Tourism. Haryana has been chosen for the best Destination Stewardship Award in the India State Ranking Survey 2015 edition, a biennial publication compiled by HVS in association with the WTTCII that aims at analysing the state-wise potential of Travel and Tourism in India.  Haryana chosen for this award implies the best management and leadership for new initiatives in Tourism across states in the country. The survey adopts an analytical approach to assess the competitiveness of various States of India from the Tourism industry’s viewpoint.

            The awards were presented by Mr Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Tourism, Government of India, and the function was well-attended by various state governments. Expressing delight on being conferred the award, Dr. Sumita Misra, Principal Secretary, Haryana Tourism, stated that it is an honour to be lauded for the initiatives undertaken to brand Haryana as a preferred destination in the international and domestic travel market.

            Dr. Misra further added that Haryana is endowed with many religious and historical attractions which create immense possibilities of growth in the tourism sector. “Sincere efforts are being made to promote sustainable tourism by encouraging a constructive and mutually-beneficial partnership between public and private sector for economic development and employment generation,” she said.

            Haryana has rich heritage sites at Panipat, Kurukshetra, Surajkund, Pinjore and other places, which are being developed at a steady pace, added Dr. Misra. She further appealed to the domestic and international tour operators to include Kurukshetra—the birthplace of the Bhagvad Gita and the much-acclaimed Surajkund International Crafts Mela prominently in their tourist itineraries.

          Haryana Tourism took the initiative to introduce the concept of Farm Tourism in India. The Department of Tourism, in partnership with 14 farm owners in Haryana, is aggressively promoting the rural experiences that are being offered at these chosen farms in Haryana and around Delhi.

          Haryana Tourism, a trailblazer in Highway Tourism has currently got a network of 42 Tourist Complexes equipped with 838 comfortable air-conditioned rooms, multi-cuisine restaurants, well-stocked bars, state-of-the-art Convention Centres and facilities like banquet, conference and multipurpose halls.

          It is also a pioneer in organising various fairs and festivals for promotion of the heritage art and crafts and folk traditions. The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is held every year from February 1 to 15 in Faridabad has grown by leaps and bounds and this year 20 countries participated in the Mela.

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Chandigarh, October 6- Haryana Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Mr Krishan Kumar Bedi described the statements being made by opposition parties regardielectricity bills as false and misleadingng . Terming the statements as an attempt to grab news headlines and for the survival of their parties, Mr Bedi said that BJP government was working for the welfare of people belonging to all sections of the society.

          In a statement issued here today, Mr Bedi said that the Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal himself has taken note of the increased electricity bills and has issued directions to the officers of Power Utilities to open special Electricity Bill Centres for settling the bills of consumers. The Power Utilities have opened 246 Electricity Bill Centres where the consumers could get their bills settled. The Power Utilities have given option for payment of bills in two to three installments.

          He said that for the first time a special category has been formed for the people of economically weaker sections. In this category, subsidized electricity at the rate of Rs 2.85 per unit has been fixed for consumers with electricity consumption within 50 units whereas in the neighbouring state New Delhi, the rate is Rs 5.25 per unit and in Punjab it is Rs 5.21 per unit. As many as 20 lakh consumers would be benefitted under this category.

          He said that the previous government did not heed the recommendations of Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission   whereas the rate of electricity bills are fixed every year under the directions of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission by State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, by holding meetings and taking suggestions from public. On May 7, 2015, the Commission had announced the rates of electricity bills for various categories, for 2015-16, effective from April 1, 2015.

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