Friday, December 25, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, December 25, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Bhai Ranjit
Singh may intervene Problems
that plague power sector Cong
assails Governor for shirking responsibility |
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Financial
crisis hits milling |
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State owes
Rs 9 crore to petrol dealers A
festival steeped in Dhrupad Mata
Bhago Khalsa march ends Notice
issued to State Residents
demand removal of khokhas Vigilance
Bureau to give cash awards |
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Bhai
Ranjit Singh may intervene AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — While the Sikh Panth seems to be sharply divided over the intervention of Akal Takht to bring about rapprochement between Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Bhai Ranjit Singh, Akal Takht chief has said that he was keeping a 'constant watch' on the ongoing tussle. Talking to TNS here today, Bhai Ranjit Singh, said he would act as per the 'wishes' of the Sikh Panth to resolve the matter and had himself agreed to bury off his differences with Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedars of Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib) and Takht Damdama Sahib respectively at least until April 13, 1999 on the appeals of Mr Badal and Mr Tohra. Similarly I expect a reciprocal gesture from Mr Badal and Mr Tohra for the sake of the panth. Bhai Ranjit Singh even hinted at appropriate action against those who violated his appeal and said the "appeal made by Akal Takht has some meaning and hence it could not be ignored." To a question, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that he won't act in a partisan way in the ongoing tussle. He said the SAD came into being because of the blessings of the Akal Takht and hence 'it is my duty to keep the Panth united. "I am for the united Panth", he observed. Bhai Ranjit Singh said he had received a number of requests from Sikhs within and outside India, for issuing a directive to the leaders to bring about rapprochement. To a question, he clarified that he won't summon Mr Badal and Mr Tohra to Akal Takht at least in the near future. He welcomed the decision of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee to celebrate the tercentenary celebrations of Khalsa Panth. However, he said he had asked Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, vice-president PPCC not to derive political mileage from the celebrations. Bhai Ranjit Singh said that Mr Brar had assured him that Congress party won't use its party flat or put up banners or deliver political speeches. Mr Brar had a one-hour-long meeting with Bhai Ranjit Singh at his residence here today. Bhai Ranjit Singh said that Mr Brar had not discussed any political issues with him. Meanwhile, the All India
Sikh Students Federation, led by Mr Harminder Singh Gill
has urged the Akal Takht chief to intervene in resolving
the tussle between Mr Badal and Mr Tohra. On the other
hand, the Youth Akali Dal (Kahlon) chief Mr Kuldip Singh
Kahlon has warned Mr Tohra against using the services of
Akal Takht and urged Bhai Ranjit Singh not to intervene. |
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Akali
leaders ‘have double faces’ CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — Mr Surjit Singh Theri, an Akali leader from the USA, addressing a press conference here today said that certain Akali leaders were having double faces. He said that when such leaders go to the USA, they promise even the moon to Punjabis settled there. But on returning here, they turn their backs towards Punjabis abroad settled and forget all what they had said. Mr Theri, who remained Deputy Leader of the Akali Dal in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 1962 to 1965 and also President of the Shiromani Akali Dal in North America for some years, said that NRIs, especially Punjabis among them, had several problems which required to be settled at the Punjab Government level. He said that at certain places their property in Punjab had been grabbed by anti-social elements or organised gangs or their houses were not being vacated by such elements. He said that the Punjab Government headed by the Akali Chief Minister should pay proper attention towards such problems. He said the NRI Sabha constituted by the Punjab Government to take up the problems faced by NRIs had not proved its worth so far. He said that Akali leaders play with their emotions when they go abroad and promise that the interests of Sikhs were safe in their hands. But now they were not raising issues pertaining to Punjab. He said that Punjabis
especially Sikhs were exercised abroad over the issue of
Udham Singh Nagar district and they wanted that it should
remain in Uttar Pradesh. Akali leaders, who had gone to
the USA, had also stated that they were making all-out
efforts to retain this district in UP but according to
him nothing was being done in this connection. |
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Problems
that plague power sector CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — Slippage in targets, more dependence on thermal power and slow pace of structural reforms are turning the electricity sector sick. The declarations to reform, complete the targets and end the heavy subsidies remain just wishes, both at the national and the state level. There are only certain exceptions like Haryana, Orissa, Andhra and Goa where some reforms have been initiated. Other States are just thinking about the reforms. The country's total installed capacity is 89,979 MW and the share of hydroelectric generation is just 24.5 per cent. Hydel power is not only eco-friendly and dependable, but cheaper too. But thermal power based on fossil fuels has been preferred by the States. Indeed, some praise for those who went on to create this generation capacity contrary to the declared policies. One reason is that every elected political executive in a state has a short tenure and the state governments liked projects which could be installed during the shortest period. But quick solutions, as the country finds to its discomfiture, are not always the best ones. Even against the target of installing 30,538 MW, only 16,422 mw was installed. This is just 54 per cent of the target and here again the hydroelectric sector could complete its target up to 26.1 per cent against the 67 per cent achieved by the thermal sector. How dark is the power sector is best illustrated by the fact that the annual losses by State Electricity Boards, excluding subsidies, rose from Rs 1,565 crore in 1985-86 to Rs 9,800 crore in 1996-97. The period 1997-98 saw it rise to Rs 10,000 crore. Transmission and distribution losses in India are quite large compared to many other countries. In 1980-81 such losses accounted for nearly 20.6 per cent of the total electricity available. These further increased to 21.8 per cent in 1985-86 and to 23.3 per cent in 1989-90. The transmission and distribution losses have since started declining and were 22.9 per cent in 1990-91. In 1996-97, the losses were reported to be 20.6 per cent. A significant proportion for these losses is attributed to pilferage. There are indication that transmission and distribution losses are actually higher than what are being reported. Notwithstanding the general improvement in the overall plant load factor (PLF) in the country during the eighth Five Year Plan the low level of PLF in a number of stations and generally higher transmission and distribution losses obviously reflect sub-optimum utilisation for existing assets. At the beginning of the eighth plan, the energy shortage was 9 per cent. It increased to 11.5 per cent by the end of the Eighth Plan. The major reason for increase in the shortage has been failure to achieve the targeted capacity addition. the shortage would have been still higher had the PLF of thermal plants not improved to 64 per cent. However, at the end of 1997-98, the energy shortages were reduced to 8.1 per cent. It has been assessed that in India hydel power resources of about 84,000 MW are available. Out of this, only 18758 MW has been developed/is under development, which accounts for only 22.32 per cent of the available potential. In the north-eastern region, only 625 MW capacity has been developed/is under development, which is just about 2 per cent of the assessed potential. To speed up development of hydel resources, a hydel policy has been announced by the Ministry of Power. The average cost had increased from 42 paise per unit in 1980-81 to 109 paise per unit a decade later. In 1996-97, it is estimated to be 208 paise per unit. the cost of power purchased from outside agencies, fuel cost and the interest cost are the major components of this cost. There are wide inter-State variations. Sales revenue as a ratio of cost declined from 76.6 during 1995-96 to 76 during 1996-97 but increased to 80.5 during 1997-98. Against this the average tariff has increased from 32 paise in 1980-81 to about 82 paise in 1990-91 and further to 158 paise in 1996-97. The ratio of tariff to cost was 77 per cent in 1980-81. It has shown large year to year fluctuation, being 76 per cent in 1996-97. The burden of tariff is unequal. Whereas the average tariff for agricultural and domestic sectors works out to 22 paise/Kwh and 104 paise/Kwh respectively for the year 1996-97, the industrial sector on an average paid 263 paise/Kwh. This has resulted in disproportionately lower contribution by agricultural and domestic sectors to the revenue of state electricity boards. The agriculture sector accounted for only 4-5 per cent of total sales revenue of the state electricity boards as against a third of their total sales. the domestic sector accounted for 10-11 per cent share in sales revenue as against 16-17 per cent sales of the boards. This resulted in escalation in the commercial losses of the boards, as the cross subsidies and the subsidies provided by the State Governments are not sufficient to make up for the losses on account of sales to agriculture and domestic sectors. The effective subsidy (difference between the cost of supply and the revenue realisation) to agriculture and domestic sectors worked out to Rs 5,651 crore in 1990-91. In 1996-97, it increased to over Rs 19,200 crore. However, cross subsidisation (mainly from commercial and industrial sectors) also increased from Rs 1296 crore, representing 22.9 per cent of the subsidy to agriculture and the domestic sectors in 1990-91 to Rs 8035 crore in 1996-97 representing about 42 per cent of the subsidy provided to these sectors. The outstanding dues payable by the State Power Board to various central power sector corporations stand at about Rs 17,000 crore as in September, 1998. It is evident that the
high levels of commercial losses and the negative rates
of return even at PLF of 64 per cent and above are mainly
on account of absence of rational tariff structure,
whereby large subsidies are provided to certain sectors,
without corresponding recovery from other sectors. |
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Saka Sirhind a source of inspiration FATEHGARH SAHIB: There are certain events which leave an indelible mark on the minds of the people forever. ‘Saka Sirhind’ is one such historical event. The martyrdom of two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh is unique in the annals of world history. The barbarous incidents of bricking the two sons alive took place on December 25, 1704. To commemorate the event, Shaheedi Jor Mela is held every year from December 25 to 28. The Guru’s two sons were presented in the court of Nawab Wazir Khan, the Governor of Sirhind. He ordered Baba Zorawar Singh (9) and Baba Fateh Singh (7) to embrace Islam, but they flatly turned down his command. Baba Zorawar Singh said in a soft but determined voice that they had been taught to bow before the Guru and none else. As for accepting Islam he said: “We have in our veins the blood of Guru Hargobind, Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh. None can force us to renounce the faith of our forefathers.”Everyone in court was impressed to hear their bold reply. Wazir Khan ordered the two boys to be taken to prison and to bring them before him the next morning. Efforts were made to frighten them into submission, but the two boys remained firm.The next day they again behaved in court with dignity and firmness. The Nawab was mad at them and wished to give them the severest punishment. Nawab Sher Mohammd Khan of Malerkotla, who happened to be there earnestly pleaded that the children were young and too innocent to be punished, but on the advice of Sucha Nand, Nawab Wazir Khan ordered Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh to be bricked alive. When the wall came to the chest, they were told that they could still save themselves by giving up their faith, but they remained firm. Ultimately they were bricked alive.Diwan Todar Mal broke this news to Mata Gujri, which proved fatal to her. A wave of anger swept the nation. It soon burst like a volcano and the people joined hands to wage a relentless struggle against Mughal tyranny.When Guru Gobind Singh came to know about this incident, he did not betray any emotion and remained unshaken. He made up his mind to punish the culprits. He did not allow this wave of protest to cool down and prepared the Sikhs mentally to take on the Mughals. The situation reached such a pass that within the next four years the entire Sikh community cried for revenge.Guru Gobind Singh chose Baba Banda Singh Bahadur to lead the Sikhs to take the revenge on the Mughals. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur marched like a hurricane from Nanded. After defeating the Mughals en route he reached Sirhind. A decisive battle was fought against Wazir Khan on May 12, 1710, at the historical place of ‘Chapar Chiri’, 12 miles from Sirhind. Wazir Khan paid for the sin and was killed. Sikh forces entered Sirhind on May 14 and raged the city to the ground.Now the Sikhs had gained ascendancy and they scored several victories over the Mughals. The foundation of sovereign Sikh state was laid which ultimately culminated with the rise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. However, the Sikhs continued to express their gratitude to the Muslim rulers of Malerkotla, whose ancestors had disapproved the forcible conversion and killings of the Sahibzadas. The eastern gate of
Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib has been dedicated to the memory
of the then Nawab of Malerkotla. Saka Sirhind remains
even today a source of inspiration and strength to the
Sikh masses and will continue to remind them of their
rich heritage of being ready to make any sacrifice for
their faith.Lakhs of people are expected to pay their
obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib on Friday. |
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Businessmen
allege coercion FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 24 — All is set for the annual Saheedi Jor Mela. But petty shopkeepers and stall-owners allege that they are being fleeced by a private contractor and the administration. The contractor had taken land around the gurdwara on a contract of Rs 7 lakh from the SGPC is allotting land to traders at high prices. Mr Bipan Jindal (Kala), Managing Director of Jindal Amusement said 16 of his employees had been put behind bars for the last seven days for unloading their trucks with circuses and swings on private land. He said the authorities demanded a big donation for the Red Cross. It was only after he paid Rs 40,000 as donation to the Red Cross that his workers were released. When contacted, Mr Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Asstt Commissioner (G.A. to D.C.) flatly denied that the Red Cross had demanded a donation. However, most stall
owners, alleged that they had paid heavy amounts both to
the Red Cross and to the private contractor for land. |
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Congress
assails Governor PATIALA, Dec 24 — Punjab Pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh today accused the Punjab Governor of shirking his responsibility in not recommending imposition of a financial emergency in Punjab. Addressing a meeting of the Patiala district Youth Congress before inaugurating its office in the city, he said the state government was resorting to heavy overdrafts and the Governor should make use of his powers to set matters right. The Pradesh Congress chief said the Akali-BJP government should be suspended and the Assembly kept in suspended animation. Capt Amarinder Singh said things had come to such a pass due to populist policies pursued by the state government. All development funds had also been concentrated at Gidderbaha and Lambi areas which the Chief Minister and his family represented in the Assembly. Attempts by the state government at fiscal management had also not borne fruit and had instead hurt industry in the state, while many industries were going sick due to such policies. New entrepreneurs were not investing in the state. Capt Amarinder said a need-based expansion of the pradesh Congress would be effected soon. The list of new office-bearers was with the high command and would be cleared soon. Congress General Secretary Birdevinder Singh attacked the Akali-BJP alliance for not protesting when the Bill for creating a new state of Uttaranchal was introduced in the Lok Sabha. He said this was in sharp contrast to the public posture taken by the Chief Minister. Mr Birdevinder Singh also said SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra could become a rallying point for former militants. He also accused the SGPC chief of having links to former militants. The SGPC chief had attended bhog ceremonies of slain militants and never condemned terrorism. He said Akal Takht Jathedar should not interfere in the ongoing fight and Sikhs did not want the Akal Takht to become an "Akali Takth". A large number of party leaders including PPCC general secretary Sant Ram Singla, organising secretary Sanjeev Garg and district urban and rural unit chiefs Ved Prakash Gupta and Hardial Singh Kamboj addressed the meeting. Sanjeev Sharma, president
of the Patiala district Youth Congress, presented a shawl
and a sword to Capt Amarinder Singh on the occasion. |
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State
owes Rs 9 crore to petrol dealers AMRITSAR, Dec 24 — The State Government/Police Department owes more than Rs 9 crore to petrol dealers for supply of petrol/diesel which has caused resentment among the dealers. The State has not even made payments to the dealers against the supply of petrol/diesel etc made during the previous parliamentary elections. In a strongly worded letter, addressed to the State Election Commissioner, the Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association has resented that the state government was not paying on the pretext of the financial crunch. Mr J.P. Khanna, President of the association, warned if the dealers were not paid their dues, the association would resort to harsh means. The letter reads that despite financial constraints, the dealers had supplied the petrol for the election machinery on a priority basis. But ever since, they have been going from pillar to post to get their payments released. No interest is paid for the inordinate delay. He urged the Election Commission to direct the returning officers to release the payments without further delays. He said that the Punjab
dealers were also in dire straits due to the disparity of
tax structures prevailing in northern India. Some petrol
stations, especially those near Chandigarh, were on the
verge of closure. |
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Financial
crisis hits milling GURDASPUR, Dec 24 — Farmers arhtias and rice millers of the district are facing a financial crisis following the government's orders to district treasuries to delay payments. All payments have allegedly been stopped. According to Mr Raman Aggarwal, a spokesman of the rice millers, the district Food and Civil Supplies Department has issued cheques for Rs 15 crore to various rice millers against stocks supplied to Food Corporation of India. But when the cheques were presented to the State Bank of India for encashment, they bounced as payment had not been cleared by the district treasury. Mr Aggarwal said rice millers of this district at present have rice stocks of more than Rs 200 crore. Unless their cheques were cleared and rice stocks are lifted by the FCI, the millers would not be able to pay arhtias. This could lead to an agitation by the arhtias and farmers, the ultimate sufferers. Mr Aggarwal said farmers have already suffered because of the Food Corporation of India not lifting rice stocks. Mr Aggarwal said the financial crunch would not ease till relaxations regarding lifting of rice announced by the Punjab Government were not enforced for paddy purchased from September 15 instead of October 20. Mr Aggarwal said
rice-millers forced to sell rice to the exporters as a
short term measure to make payments to arhtias were being
fleeced by them. |
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A
festival steeped in Dhrupad JALANDHAR: The Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, the most prestigious music festival organised at Devi Talab Mandir here, has an unparalleled status in the heart of renowned artistes as well as music lovers. A performance by artistes at the feet of Baba Harballabh during the sammelan is considered as the crowning glory of their career. Baba Harballabh was born in Bajwara village of Hoshiarpur district in the early 19th century. His grand parents brought him to Jalandhar after the death of his parents when he was young. He was a staunch believer that music was an important means of access to God. Baba Harballabh gave evidence of his prowess in classical music at an early age. He chose the Dhrupad style of singing bhajans. The Dhrupad is a modern form of ancient "Choksha" and is sung in simple, sober and conservative tones of a raga. The artistes are not permitted to change any tune at all. It was also the favourite of Swami Haridas and Tanseen. Baba Harballabh started the glorious tradition of Harballabh sangeet in 1875 in the memory of his guru, Baba Tuljagiriji. He thought that the best way of paying homage to the great soul was through music. He invited sadhus and fakirs to a congregation. It started with a yajna in which langar was served and food was distributed among the participants as well as the poor. Sadhus recited bhajans in the traditional Dhrupad style in the glory of God. The disciples and the devotees of Baba Tuljagiri would sit through the day and the wintry cold nights with rapt attention and reverence. Such congregations soon became a regular annual feature. Up to 1885 the participants in these congregations included only sants and sadhus. Baba Harballabh died in 1885, but not before he had laid the foundation of a great tradition of sangeet which has been carried forward with great devotion and dedication by the Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Mahasabha till date. His samadhi is situated at Devi Talab Mandir. After his death, his disciple, Pandit Tola Ram, carried on the tradition to keep his Guru's memory alive. He first started organising this programme for four days. In the beginning saints and artistes from Punjab used to take part in the sammelan but slowly it started gaining popularity and artistes from outside Punjab also started participating without accepting any fee. In 1922, a committee was constituted to organise the programme in a proper manner which was named Shree Baba Harballabh Sangeet Sabha. Rai Bahadur Devi Chander was its first president. The expenditure incurred on the organisation of Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan is met from contributions made by philanthropists, businessmen, industrialists and music lovers. Over the years, eminent musicians of this century like Pt Krishna Rao Shankar, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Onkar Nath Thakur, Kumar Gandharva, Ustad Amir Khan, Bhim Sen Joshi, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pandit Jasraj and Hari Prasad Chaurasia, have performed here. Many other renowned exponents of Hindustani classical music have deemed it to be their privilege to perform at the sammelan. The Harballabh sammelan
has been recognised as a 'national festival' by the
central government. |
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Mata
Bhago Khalsa march ends ROPAR, Dec 24 — The three-day Mata Bhago Khalsa march, organised by the Shiromani Istri Akali Dal from Muktsar to Anandpur Sahib in connection with the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, ended at 9 pm last night at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib. The march, which was organised by Mrs Surjit Kaur Barnala, President of Shiromani Istri Akali Dal and wife of Union Minister Surjit Singh Barnala, covered more than 500 km, passing through Jaito, Barnala, Raikot, Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Machhiwara, Chamkaur Sahib, Ropar and Kiratpur Sahib before reaching Anandpur Sahib. Mata Bhago Khalsa march was received at Takht by Giani Tarlochan Singh, Head Granthi, Mr Dalmedh Singh, Additional Secretary of the SGPC, Mr Udham Singh, manager of takht, Mr Shamsher Singh Bala, secretary of the tercentenary celebrations committee of the SGPC, and Mr Narinder Pal Singh Hundal, President of the Youth Akali Dal, UK, and the Sikh sangat. The Head Granthi performed ardas and presented siropas to the Panj Piaras who led the march. This is the first march organised by Sikh women independently. Guru Granth Sahib was placed in a flower-bedecked palanquin and the shastras (two kirpans) of Mata Bhago ji, brought from Hazoor Sahib, were also displayed. More than 1,500 persons who were in Tata Sumos, jeeps, cars, buses and trucks, took part in the march. Some women SGPC members were also among the participants. Mrs Barnala said she would perform ardas at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib for the Panthic unity and 'chardi kala' of the Panth. The marchers paid their
obeisance chanting of slogans, 'Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri
Akal'. |
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Punjab
postings CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 —
The Punjab Government has transferred two IAS officers.
The services of Mr Jaspal Singh, Additional Deputy
Commissioner (Development), Patiala, has been placed at
the disposal of the Department of Tourism for appointment
as Additional Managing Director of the Punjab Tourism
Development Corporation and in addition Executive Officer
of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation. Mr R.K. Verma,
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Nawanshahr,
has been appointed as Director Tourism, Punjab. |
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Badal
welcomes decision on JP CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today hailed the decision of the Central Government to bestow "Bharat Ratna" on Loknayak, Jaya Prakash Narayan. He said that it was the nation's humble tribute to its most outstanding and ablest sons. Mr Badal recalled the
close bonds between the Loknayak and the Shiromani Akali
Dal and said that the party shared his idealism and moved
by his inspirational leadership participated in a
movement against the Emergency launched by various
Opposition parties. |
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CM's
Christmas greetings CHANDIGARH, Dec 24 —
The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal has
felicitated the people of the state, especially
Christians on the sacred occasion of Christmas. In a
message issued on the eve of the festival, Mr Badal said
that Christmas symbolised peace, harmony and human
brotherhood. |
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Notice
issued to State KHARAR, Dec 24 — Ms Seema Dhillon, Civil Judge (Junior Division) Kharar, today issued notices to the State of Punjab through its Collector, Ropar, Municipal Council, Kharar, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), Ropar, and SDO, PWD (B&R), Kharar, for January 7, 1999, in a petition filed by Mr Ashwani Kumar Sharma of Kharar for taking action against the respondents for dis-obedience of the order of this court passed on July 20, 1998. He has written in his complaint that the applicant has field a mandatory injunction against the respondents in March 1997 in which he has asked them to provide civic amenities in Kharar. The court had passed an order on July 20, directing that covers should be provided for existing dustbins, to have the open nullah and drains cleaned periodically and to ensure unobstructed flow of water, the toilets should be cleaned daily and the speedbreakers constructed according to specifications, and to provide sewerage connections at the earliest where the money has been deposited. The court ordered that the provision and rules regarding cleanliness, encroachments and spitting should be enforced. He pleaded that the court gave three months for compliance of this order and it expired on October 20 but the same was not done. He pleaded that the
property of the respondents should be attached to get the
above order executed. |
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Ludhiana
JD dissolved LUDHIANA, Dec 24 — Mr Rajinder Dutta, president of the Ludhiana District Janata Dal, has dissolved the district unit with immediate effect. In a signed statement issued here today, Mr Dutta said the step had been taken in view of the fact that certain members of the committee were indulging in anti-party activities. Mr Kartar Singh, who was the general secretary of the district Janata Dal (Urban), had levelled serious allegations against the state coordinator of the party Mr Harish Khanna. A show cause notice had already been issued to him, Mr Dutta said and added that till a new committee was constituted, no one was authorised to go to the Press and issue any statements on behalf of the district unit of the party. Meanwhile, the Punjab Janata Dal has demanded that the state government should take a firm stand on the Udham Singh Nagar issue. The SAD should bear in mind that the Bill to include Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed state of Uttaranchal had already been introduced in Parliament which only proved that the Vajpayee Government was working against the interests of Punjabis, Mr Harish Khanna, state coordinator of the party said in a statement here. He urged the SAD to
immediately withdraw support to the Vajpayee Government
and sack all BJP ministers in the state government. |
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Residents
demand removal of khokhas PATIALA, Dec 24 — The Patiala Colonies Welfare Federation has demanded immediate removal of rehris and khokhas around from the main roads and areas of the city so as to streamline traffic and make the city clean. In a statement issued here today Mr Avtar Singh Brar, president of this federation of nearly 50 colonies urged the Municipal Corporation to clear encroachments from main areas of the city like Sheranwala Gate, Dharampura Bazar, Arya Samaj, Tripuri, 22 No. Phatak Market, Bus Stand, Guru Nanak Nagar and Gurbax Colony. It also demanded that slum-dwellers be allotted space at a convenient place inside or outside the city. It also welcomed the drive
launched by the Municipal Corporation to remove
encroachments from government land, parks etc. |
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Vigilance
Bureau to give cash awards JALANDHAR, Dec 24 — The Vigilance Bureau here has received Rs 2 lakh to distribute among persons who have helped the bureau nab corrupt government officials redhanded accepting bribes in eight cases. A reward of Rs 50,000 would be for the arrest of gazetted officers and Rs 25,000 each in the case of other employees. Giving this information in a press release here yesterday Mr R.P.S. Bajwa, S.P., Vigilance, said the bureau had previously distributed Rs 5,25,000 for 20 cases. The following have been
rewarded: Mr Jagtar Singh (Hoshiarpur) has been
sanctioned a reward of Rs 25,000 for the arrest of Prem
Nath, SDO, electricity board, Khandhala Jattan village,
Hoshiarpur; Mr Darshan Singh (Kartarpur) had been
sanctioned a reward of Rs 25,000 for the arrest of Ramesh
Chander, JE, electricity board, Tahli Sahib, Kartarpur;
Ashwani Kumar (Dhilwan) had been sanctioned a reward of
Rs 25,000 for the arrest of Naresh Kumar, senior
assistant, Telecommunications Department, Kapurthala. A
reward of Rs 25,000 each would be given to five other
persons. |
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