Wednesday, December 23, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, December 23, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Infrastructure
cess Bill passed Jathedar
must not intervene: Amarinder Don't
work from home: DC |
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Punjab
to file SLP in Supreme court |
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Trade
unaffected, says Australian envoy Councillors
join protest Action
plan for Adarsh Schools Father
kidnaps daughter Plea
to declare Anandpur Sahib district Non-teaching
depts closed tomorrow Board
'not to hit' milk traders |
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Vidhan Sabha session ends CHANDIGARH, Dec 22 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which adjourned sine die, ending its two-day winter session here today, passed by voice vote several Bills or amendments thereto. But, as already reported in these columns, the Punjab Municipal Bill, 1998, was referred to the House Select Committee after the Minister in charge, Mr Balramji Das Tandon, introduced the Bill in the House. The legislative business pertained to Punjab Motor Spirit (Taxation of Sales) Repeal Bill, 1998; the Punjab General Sales Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 1998; the Punjab Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 1998; and the Punjab Infrastructure Development Bill, 1998. The resolution moved by the CPI member, Mr Hardev Arshi, seeking to "disapprove" the infrastructure Bill was rejected by the House. The Speaker, Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, was asked to constitute a select committee of the House to examine the Punjab Municipal Bill. The Minister in charge desired that the task should be completed by March 15 next. He briefly explained the aims and objectives of the Bill. The main Bill pertained to the infrastructure development, which was opposed by the Opposition members who were against raising loans to meet development expenses. They felt that non-Plan or unproductive expenditure must be curtailed to find money. The Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who had moved the Bill, replied to the Opposition. At times he provoked some of them to interrupt him during his reply justifying the need for the Bill. The Bill seeks to provide an opportunity to the private sector to invest in infrastructural development in the state in specified fields like transport, communication (roads and bridges), industrial parks and townships, urban water supply and sewerage, upgradation of municipal facilities, housing, tourism etc. The Bill provide for a levy of 1 per cent infrastructure cess on only two items: one, agricultural commodities (excluding fruits, vegetables and pulses) and the two, petrol. Such measures, the Finance Minister said,were required to achieve and sustain a growth rate of 7 per cent per annum in the state economy in the next five years. Punjab needed at least Rs 5,000 crore annually. One of the clauses in the Bill gives ample "protection" to those who will administer the finances in "good faith". The relevant clause says that "no suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the government or any other officer of the government or the board in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of the provision of the Bill, rules or regulations made or any order issued thereafter". The government expects to collect at least Rs 100 crore in a financial year by levy of 1 per cent cess on agricultural commodities and petrol. Funds will be placed at the disposal of the Government to be spent on identified institutions, called as "special purpose vehicles" for infrastructure development. In his reply the Finance Minister also referred to Thein Dam. He stated power generation would commence by September next year. Earlier in the day, the Opposition members walked out of the House during zero hour. Most of what the Congress, the CPI and SAD (Mann) members said was expunged by the Speaker, who at the very outset of the start of the morning session had remarked that the Press should not report what he does not say or expunges. The Opposition, however, did not give specific reasons for the walkout. The CPI member, Mr Arshi, was opposed to sine die adjournment of the House. He said several "burning issues" needed to be discussed and raised in the House in the interest of the people and the State. He regretted that the government was not serious. If there was to be no constitutional obligation to call the House, he wondered if the SAD-BJP government would ever summon the House. The Speaker remarked that the replies to questions were not being received in time. This was particularly in respect of PWD, Local Bodies, Revenue and Education. He warned the Government to be careful or he would take action. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal repeatedly reminded the members to speak in Punjabi and not in English. There were two calling attention notices given by Mr Sat Pal Saini, which were replied to by the Minister in charge, Mr Sikandar Singh Maulka. These pertained to Shahpur Kandi project. On a suggestion from
Master Mohan Lal (treasury benches) the House applauded
the achievements at the Asian Games. The Chief Minister
said those connected with Punjab who had done wonders
would be suitably honoured with gifts and financial help.
The House passed a resolution congratulating the
participants. |
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Tohra-Badal fight PATIALA, Dec 22 — Punjab Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh today said Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh should not interfere in the ongoing fight between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Talking to newsmen after addressing a large gathering on the occasion of 99th birthday of Shaheed Udham Singh here, Capt Amarinder Singh, however, refused to give his view on the present infighting saying he did not want to comment on internal matters of the SAD. Capt Amarinder Singh also made it clear that the Punjab Congress was not associated with the recent remarks of its Vice-President Jagmeet Brar on the infighting. Whatever Mr Jagmeet Brar has said in the matter is his personal view and not that of the Congress party, he added. The Congress leader however pointed out that the Akalis were not able to complete their term in the past and their present term was also in danger because of infighting. He said as in the past there was a danger of extremist elements coming to the fore in Akali politics. "The Congress will, however, not allow the peace of the state to be disturbed at any cost", he added. The PPCC president said it was wrong for the SAD to appropriate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa as its own by excluding other parties. He said the Congress was, however, celebrating the occasion at the national level with party President Sonia Gandhi directing all Punjab Congress units to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner. Capt Amarinder Singh said the PPCC would be meeting on January 3 to chalk out its plan for the occasion. Earlier, while addressing the congregation, Capt Amarinder Singh played glowing tributes to Shaheed Udham Singh and said the party would endeavour to install his statue in one of the chowks of the city. Speaking on the occasion,
Congress General Secretary, Birdevinder Singh, called for
setting up of a national monument in Punjab to
commemorate the sacrifices of freedom fighters from the
state. |
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Badal-Tohra rift reaches
grassroots KHANNA, Dec 22 — The Badal-Tohra rift has started showing its effect at the grassroots level also. Certain councillors of the Tohra faction led by Lakhbir Singh Kalalmajra boycotted the Municipal Council meeting yesterday. As a result the Congress group, though in a minority, succeeded in getting their resolutions and estimates passed. After attending the meeting Akali and BJP councillors alleged that the Tohra faction councillors had betrayed the alliance for the second time. Earlier these councillors had vote in favour of the Congress nominee for the council president. A day before the meeting, at a Akali-BJP councillors' meeting Mr Kalamajra said that after seeking a direction from Mr Tohra he would decide whether to support the Akali-BJP alliance or not. On the very next day they boycotted the meeting and the Congress group succeeded in getting its resolutions passed. It is pertinent to mention here that the wife of Mr Kalalmajra is the chairperson of Land Mortgage Bank, Khanna, and was also elected with the Congress support. Mr Kalalmajra said that
they had boycotted the meeting as they were not invited
to the function of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal at Khanna. |
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Punjab to file SLP in Supreme
court CHANDIGARH, Dec 22 — While the Punjab Government has made up its mind to file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Curt against the judgement delivered by a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the V.K. Khanna case yesterday, there is no immediate proposal to expand the Punjab Cabinet, according to highly placed sources in the State Government. Sources revealed today that there were a number of legal issues involved in the judgement which required to be placed before the apex court through SLP. Already, the process had begun at the government level. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had quashed the charge sheet served by the state government on Mr Khanna, a former Chief Secretary, and had indicted the State Government and its top officials involved in getting the charge sheet issued to Mr Khanna. When asked whether any changes in the top echelons of the state bureaucracy would be effected in the wake of the judgement, the sources said that there was no proposal to make any changes at the top level as yet. The sources said that there was no proposal to expand the Punjab Cabinet immediately. The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had stated a few days ago that he would expand his Cabinet soon after the winter session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The session ended today. Already, Ministers who quit recently, have told the authorities concerned to inform them when they ought to vacate their official bungalows. In fact, sources said that one ex-Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Kohli, has already vacated his official residence and returned his official car. Meanwhile, there has been is no headway in the efforts started for a patch up between Mr Badal and the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, by certain wellwishers of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Mr Harsajan Singh Balli, Chairman of the Legislative Council of Jammu and Kashmir and Mr Sukdarshan Singh Wazir, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Gurdwara Board, who claimed to be emissaries of the J&K Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, held separate meetings with Mr Badal and Mr Tohra today. After meeting Mr Badal, Mr Balli told TNS that they had come to understand the viewpoint of the two leaders — Mr Badal and Mr Tohra — about the ongoing feud. What transpired at the meetings with Mr Badal and Mr Tohra would be conveyed to Dr Farooq Abdullah, who is scheduled to reach London tomorrow. Mr Balli said that Mr Badal told him to convey to Dr Forooq Abdullah that on his way back from London to Srinagar to return via Chandigarh. Mr Balli said that Mr Badal had expressed a desire to meet Dr Abdullah who would return after one week from London. It is almost clear that the Badal camp is not much interested in the patch-up talks and very tacitfully is cold-shouldering such efforts. This is also evident from the willingness shown by pro-Tohra ex-Ministers to quit their official residences. When asked whether Mr
Badal had accepted the appeal of Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai
Ranjit Singh with regard to stopping the war of
statements, the sources said that Mr Badal had not
uttered even a single word against Mr Tohra before the
appeal made by the Jathedar. Neither would he speak about
the party fued now, sources added. |
AIR
Bathinda
falls silent BATHINDA, Dec 22 — Owing to the development of a major fault in its transmitter the local station of All India Radio (AIR), went off the air for 33 minutes on December 19. This is the second major breakdown of the radio station in the past five months. It had gone of the air on July 9 too for about 23 minutes (from 7.27 pm to 7.50 pm) following a technical fault in the transmission report. Official sources said that the faults which hit transmission frequently were due to poor upkeep of equipment. According to the transmission report prepared by Mr M.S. Bhatti, Programme Head on December 19, a news broadcast was interrupted from 7.38 pm to 7.40 pm and overlayed by AIR’s signature tune. Mr J.P. Singh, Station Engineer, when contacted told TNS that due to erratic power supply a fault developed in the transmission equipment and programmes could not be aired for 33 minutes on December 19. He, however, claimed that during a technical inspection on October 10, 1998 by the Chief Engineer (zonal), Bathinda radio station was declared one of the best stations in the northern zone. Official sources said that apart from frequent disruption in transmission, two expensive microphones used for recording and one cash book had been stolen from the premises of the radio station. Mr Singh said that he had reported the theft of the microphones to the district police chief. He declined to comment on the theft of the cash book. Mr T.N. Kaushal, D and D
officer of the radio station when contacted told TNS that
the theft it was an internal matter of the radio station
and he would not like to comment on the matter. |
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Don't
work
from home, DC tells officers PATIALA, Dec 22 — Patiala Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir today took officers to task for working from their homes and directed them to attend to their duties punctually, besides listening to grievances of the people at fixed hours. Addressing a meeting of officials of the district after taking over as Deputy Commissioner, Mr Bir said he would not brook anyone working from his residence. He told the officers to arrive in their offices punctually at 9 a.m. and listen to the grievances of the people from 12 noon to 1.30 p.m. everyday. The Deputy Commissioner also ordered that no officer would go on tour from Monday to Thursday without his permission. He also directed that complaint boxes be placed in the district offices as well as at the sub-division level which would be operated by him directly. Mr Bir directed the officials to complete all development schemes in a time-bound manner and said all schemes would be reviewed periodically to ascertain their progress. Talking to newsmen after the meeting, he said the would get work related to granting of arms licences in his office and that of driving licences in the office of the District Transport Officer computerised. Mr Bir said the aim behind this was to streamline the exercise of grant of these licenses besides ensuring transparency. He said the office of the Deputy Commissioner would also be linked with the Internet facility. Detailing his priorities, Mr Bir said a plan would be initiated to build a flyover at the railway crossing No. 22 as mushrooming of a market besides it had resulted in regular traffic jams. He said attempts would also be made to widen the other railway crossings in the city. Mr Bir said the vegetable market, which was situated in the city and caused congestion, would be shifted to the outskirts. The Deputy Commissioner
disclosed that the district had urged for grant of Rs 1
crore for the setting up of a state level museum where
many priceless artefacts, including medals which were not
housed properly, could be exhibited. He said Rs 3 crore
had also been requested for the maintenance of protected
monuments, including Qila Mubarak, in the district. |
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Trade
unaffected,
says Australian envoy AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — Notwithstanding Australia's strong condemnation of nuclear tests conducted by India in May this year, the trade between the two countries is more than Rs 2.8 billion annually. Talking to reporters here today, the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Rob Laurie, said his endeavour was to increase business at all levels. Presently, Australia was the major supplier of wool to the Indian shawl and knitwear industry. Besides, large quantities of superior quality coal, uncut diamonds, while India was exporting handicrafts, machine parts and other products, he added. Mr Laurie pointed out that he was looking forward to a greater interaction on bilateral issues, including trade and commerce. The High Commissioner, while addressing a reception organised by the Woollen Shawl Club here, said the Indo-Australian wool trade was poised to increase manifold in the coming years. He added that the higher import duty tariff of wool imports was working as a damper, and said ways were being found to get the duty reduced to raise the quantum of import of wool. He added that presently wool worth $ 175 million Australian dollars was being bought by India. He complimented the shawl industry in Ludhiana and Amritsar which was primarily using their wool. Earlier, the Director of Wool Secretariat, Dr S.K. Chaudhuri, lauded the contribution of Australia to the woollen industry in India. He pointed out that the reduction in the import duty would further help to boost the shawl and knitwear industry in Punjab, which was primarily in the small-scale sector. The Chairman of the Wool
Club, Mr J.S. Madan, welcomed the High Commissioner and
his wife. Mr Laurie also visited the Golden Temple, the
Retreat Ceremony at the Wagha checkpost, OCM Mills and
Guru Nanak Dev University. |
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Councillors join protest PHAGWARA, Dec 22 (UNI) — Tension gripped the local municipal council office today following a vigilance raid which led to a dharna by the staff in which at least seven councillors across the political spectrum joined the protest and raised slogans against the vigilance party. Local DSP Pritam Singh, reached the council office but the protest by a 100-strong staff continued. Council Safai Karamchari Union president Ashok Kumar Mattoo threatened to suspend water supply, sewerage and sanitation services in the town if clerk Vijay Kumar was "implicated" in a corruption case. The trouble began shortly after lunch when a vigilance party headed by DSP Malwinder Singh raided the birth and death section of the council office after the clerk was allegedly paid Rs 2200 by registered medical practitioner (RMP) Ravinder Kumar for his birth certificate. The complianant alleged that the clerk, while asserting that his (Ravinder) birth record was untraceable, suggested that he (Vijay) could arrange for the same provided he was paid Rs 5000. However, the deal, according to the complainant, was settled for Rs 2200. Ravinder Kumar in the meantime tipped off the local Vigilance Department which raided the clerk's office but failed to trace the "bribe" money. The staff went on a
lightning strike in protest against the raid. |
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Action plan for Adarsh Schools SAS NAGAR, Dec 22 — A time-bound, multi-pronged action plan to tone up Adarsh Schools was drawn up at a meeting today between principals of these institutions and the Punjab School Education Board Chairman, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia. Work under the plan will be completed by March 31 next year. The plan has been prepared as a follow-up to decisions taken at a high-level meeting held some time ago by the Chief Minister. The plan, through various strategies and measures, envisages making the schools ideal institutions in terms of quality of education, methodology of teaching and modern teaching aids, including the use of computers. Computer education is being introduced as a pilot project from April 1 next year from Class VI onwards. At the plus two stage, computer education will be so designed as to enable the students to set up enterprises and get employment. By effecting saving under various heads, Rs 1 crore would be earmarked exclusively for the purchase of computer hardware. Software will be got prepared from certain computer institutions which maintain international standards. This amount is in addition to Rs 2 crore to be spent on school infrastructure, including up to date libraries by March 31 next year. In service training of
principals and the teaching staff gets a high priority
under the action plan. Exposure will be given to students
through specially designed student exchange programmes,
camps and tours. A calendar of extracurricular activities
for the whole year has also been proposed. Besides, the
plan provides for the publication of a house journal by
each school. |
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Father kidnaps daughter TARN TARAN, Dec 22 — A case under Sections 364, 120B and 34, IPC, in Patti police station has been registered against Joginder Singh and three others for kidnapping his own daughter with the intention of killing her. She is a student of class IX. Police sources told this correspondent here today that the case has been registered on the complaint lodged by Mr Panjab Singh, resident of Patti. He said the daughter of Joginder Singh, his neighbour, fell in love with his son Satnam Singh, a Class XII student, which was disliked by the girl's father and other members of his family. But, he alleged, that when
the girl did not listen to her family in the matter, on
October 7, she was shifted to her mother's parental
village Pangota near Topatti. Since then, the girl has
disappeared. |
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Plea
to
declare Anandpur Sahib district ROPAR, Dec 22 — To pay tributes to the creator of the Khalsa, the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh on the occasion of the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa, the government should declare the historic town of Anandpur Sahib a district. Making this demand, a former Punjab minister and senior Congress leader, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang said it was the right time to declare the town a district. He said after acquiring
district status, the historic town would remain a centre
of development even after completion of the tercentenary
celebrations. |
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Non-teaching depts closed
tomorrow AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — All administrative offices and non-teaching departments of Guru Nanak Dev University will remain closed on December 24. The closure is in lieu of
November 24, a public holiday on which the university
offices remained open due to the 29th annual foundation
day celebrations, according to Dr RS Bawa, Registrar of
the university. |
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Bhatti
visits
border post HUSSAINIWALA (Ferozepore), Dec 22 — Satirist and TV personality Mr Jaspal Bhatti, today, visited a joint checkpost here here and distributed sweets among security personnel of India and Pakistan, as a gesture of goodwill. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Savita Bhatti and daughter Rabia. Later, talking to mediapersons, he said that the purpose of his visit was to promote harmony between the two countries. Regarding his first
Punjabi film-"Mahaul Theek Hai" released a few
days ago, he expressed satisfaction over the response
given to it in Punjab. "I plan to dub the movie in
Hindi language too," he said in reply to a question. |
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Udham Singh Nagar 'to stay in
UP' CHANDIGARH, Dec 22 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is confident that Udham Singh Nagar district would be retained in Uttar Pradesh. Talking to mediapersons in the lobby of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha after the conclusion of the winter session, Mr Badal said that the meeting of the committee headed by Mr George Fernandes, Union Defence Minister, which would decide the fate of Udham Singh Nagar would be held in New Delhi on January 8. The other members of the committee are Mr Badal and Mr Kalyan Singh, Chief Minister of U.P. Mr Badal said that no Bill with regard to creating a new state of Uttaranchal by including the Udham Singh Nagar district would be passed in Parliament before the committee submitted its report. When his attention was
drawn towards the reports emerging from Delhi that a Bill
with regard to creating Uttaranchal state had already
been presented in Parliament today, Mr Badal said that it
might had been introduced but it would not be
"considered" in Parliament until the committee
submitted its report. |
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Katia case CHANDIGARH, Dec 22 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today recorded the statement of Gurkirat Singh, one of the suspects in the Katia molestation case. The statement was recorded under Section 313 of the Cr PC. In his statement, Gurkirat Singh said that he had been falsely implicated in the case due to political rivalry. Mr Sant Parkash started
recording the statements of the suspects after concluding
the prosecution evidence. |
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Polytechnic
scheme
for rural youth AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — A community polytechnic scheme has been launched in the district with the assistance of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India and the Technical Education Department of the state government. According to Mr Nirmaljit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, the main objective of the scheme is to provide employment outlets to rural youth. The Deputy Commissioner said that these efforts would be supplemented by industry apart from Rotary International and other voluntary organisations. About 500 youths will be
given training each year. |
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Board
'not
to hit' milk traders CHANDIGARH, Dec 22 — The Punjab Government has strongly refuted the claims of "self appointed leaders" of milkmen that the constitution of the Punjab Dairy Board would render milkmen jobless and their allegation that it would also adversely effect the milk producers of the state. Dr Rattan Singh, Minister for Animal Husbandry, said the Punjab Government had been making it clear from time to time that with the constitution of the proposed Dairy Board, the activities of the milk traders handling up to 10,000 litres of milk per day would not be affected in any case. There was no proposals of the Government to put any restriction on the sale and purchase of milk by milk producers or by middlemen. The objective of the proposed board was to bring coordination between various agencies engaged in dairy development in Punjab and to uplift the economic status of dairy farmers. Dr Rattan Singh further
said that the Punjab Government had not influenced any
members of the dhodhi unions for toeing the government
line in this regard and consensus decision had been taken
on constituting of the Dairy Board after a delegation of
duly elected Dhodhi Unions had met Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab. |
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3-day workshop on human rights PHILLAUR, Dec 22 — Dr Pandav Nayak, Director, Human Rights Projects, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, inaugurated a three-day workshop on human rights for gazetted police officers of Punjab at the Punjab Police Academy, here today. Mr A.A. Siddiqui, Director of the academy, presided over the function. In his inaugural address, Mr Nayak said human dignity was critical in understanding and observing human rights. He said today's pre-eminent focus on human rights arised out of moral insecurity which was pervading, humanity. The entire world was seized of this importance and our Prime Minister and President clearly focused on the importance of human dignity as well as social-economic rights, he added. Moreover, the police in Punjab were in a dilemma as they had to stand between preventive detention, laws to be respected and enforced on one hand and terrorists on the other. Giving details about the
course, Dr D.J. Singh, Deputy Director of the academy and
the course director stated that during the workshop
experts and scholars and like Mr M.M. Puri,
Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Mr A.P.
Bhatnagar, ADGP, Punjab State Human Rights Commission, Dr
G.S. Bajwa and Dr Manohrma Kohli, Punjabi University,
Patiala would participate. |
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Octroi
post
auction postponed again FEROZEPORE, Dec 22 — The auction of octroi posts within municipal limits here, was put off second time yesterday as the bidders did not bid even at the reserve price. Earlier the auction was to be held on December 12 which was postponed in view of protest by local traders. On a demand of the local traders, the Municipal Council authorities held a meeting with representatives of the traders on December 18 and fixed the auction date for yesterday. Talking to reporters, the Deputy Director, Local Government, Ferozepore, Mr G.K. Singh said the octroi posts were to be auctioned for the period between January 1 and December 31, 1999. The minimum reserve price for the same was fixed at Rs 1,63,85,000. Only three bidders came
for the auction. But, they asked Mr Singh to give some
concession in the minimum reserve price. |
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Sahit Trust to honour writers LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — The Sahit Trust, Dhudike, in collaboration with the Punjabi Sahit Akademi, Ludhiana, is organising a function on December 25 at Punjabi Bhavan here to honour Punjabi writers. Prof Pritam Singh of Patiala is being awarded the Manohar Singh Memorial Prize, two PAU teachers, Mr Gurbhajan Gill and Dr Joginder Singh Nirala will be presented the Bawa Balwant Memorial Award and the Balraj Sahani Memorial Award, respectively. Jaswant Singh Kanwal,
general secretary of Sahit Trust, Dhudike, informed that
Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, will give away
the awards and Mr Amrik Singh Pooni, IAS (retd)
President, Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana will preside. |
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Kutcha arhtiya demand plots PATIALA, Dec 22 — The Federation of Arhtiya Associations of Punjab today flayed the state government for framing policies which has made kutcha arhtiya ineligible for allotment of plots in grain markets. In a statement here, Association Secretary Swaran Singh said the policy was not according to directions of the Supreme Court that kutcha arhtiyas be allotted plots at reasonable rates in markets. Mr Swaran Singh said the executive committee of the association had decided to take up with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal this and other issues like commission on unsold agriculture produce, amendment to the notification on single-point market fee and parity of tax between Chandigarh and Punjab. He said in case no positive response was received the arhtiyas would demonstrate in front of the District Commissioner's office at Ferozepore, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur and Bathinda and present memorandums of their demands. If the demands were still not met arhtiyas of Punjab will hold a demonstration at Chandigarh. The association also
resented the manner in which a few arhtiyas were using
the name of the association to create misunderstanding
between the arhtiyas and the government by giving
irresponsible statements. |
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Hindu Shiv Sena threatens stir AMRITSAR, Dec 22 — The All- India Hindu Shiv Sena has threatened to launch an agitation, if the Punjab Government fails to ban the controversial peoples' commission. In a press note released here today, Mr Surinder Kumar Billa, President, Shiv Sena, alleged that the state government, led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal had failed to check the alleged activities of people spreading communalism and reviving militancy in the state. Demanding immediate arrest
of Justice Kuldip Singh Billa, said the Supreme Court
should review all the judgements pronounced by him. |
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Tandon's
assurance
on notification LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — Mr Balramji Das Tandon, the Local Bodies Minister, Punjab, has conceded to withdraw the notification regarding levying development charges at the rate of Rs 350 per square foot. This was informed by Mr Ramesh Sharma, Press Secretary of the Ludhiana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He informed that this decision was taken recently when a deputation of BJP workers, including Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, Lala Lajpatrai, member of the Rajya Sabha, Mr Jagdish Loomba, Senior Deputy Mayor, Mrs Santosh Aneja, Deputy Mayor, and Mr Shakti Kumar met the local bodies minister. The Director, Local Bodies, Mr Mandeep Singh, and the Municipal Commissioner, Ludhiana, Mr S.S. Sandhu, were also present on the occasion. Development charges will now be imposed on the basis of size of plot at the rate of Rs 20 to Rs 80 per square yard as passed by the corporation. It has also been decided to reduce the fine on illegal construction to Rs 12.50 per sq yard on residential complexes and Rs 25 per sq yard on commercial complexes. However, no changes have
been promised on the licence fee charged on commercial
complexes, marriage palaces, cinema halls, restaurants
etc. |
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