No hike in grants to varsities
CHANDIGARH, Nov 26 — Finding itself in financial straits, the Punjab Government has decided to, henceforth, limit its non-plan budget, which will not be higher in 1999-2000 than that of the current financial year.

Institutions fail to serve purpose
GURDASPUR, Nov 26 — Institutions being financed by the Union Ministry of Social Welfare continue to suffer from gross neglect and have failed to serve the purpose for which they were started.

Double murder in dera
MOGA, Nov 26 — Reports of a double murder in Wander village under Baghapurana police station of this district were received here last night.

Teacher's award to be withdrawn
AMRITSAR, Nov 26 — The Punjab Government has decided to withdraw the state award given to Mr Puran Chand, a teacher, following complaints.

Allegations fabricated, says Sukhbir
NEW DELHI, Nov 26 — The Minister of State for Industry, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, today said allegations against him having manhandled Congress activists in Adampur constituency yesterday were "misleading and politically motivated".

Rs 2 cr worth of paddy damaged in Moga
MOGA, Nov 26 — Paddy stocks worth over Rs 2 crore belonging to farmers have been damaged in the district during September, October and November due to inclement weather and the alleged non-cooperative attitude of the government procurement agencies.

Lawyers observe protest day
SANGRUR, Nov 26 — Members of the local Bar association today abstained from work to protest against the non-implementation of Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961, according to Mr Gurtej Singh Grewal, Secretary of the association.

Road safety camp held
SANGRUR, Nov 26 — The Rotary Club, Sunam, the district transport authorities and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) organised a road safety camp at Sunam, 15 km from here, today.

NSUI members boycott classes
PATIALA, Nov 26 — On a call given by the National Students Union of India, students of Government Mohindra College boycotted their classes here today in protest against the recent fee hike made by Punjabi University.

Centre to compensate farmers with land across border
From Navjot Sidhu

AMRITSAR, Nov 26 — The villagers along the Indo-Pak border in the three districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore who have land across the fence and face hardships in cultivation, will heave a sigh of relief as the Central Government has decided to pay them Rs 3,000 per acre annually as compensation. According to official sources, the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved this proposal.

Punjab has 553-km Indo-Pak border spread over three districts. In order to check the increased traffic of infiltrators, the work of fencing and lighting of the border was undertaken in 1988. It created problems and hardships for people along the border, especially those owning land across the fence. Residents in the border areas suffer economic hardships and face lack of infrastructure , industrial growth and employment.

The fence is 1 km beyond the border at some places and a little more or less at other points. The fence has created a lot of problems for farmers. In many cases the land has been divided into two parts, rendering the portion across the fence into an uneconomic holding. The cultivators have to waste a lot of time to go across the fence to cultivate land. They first have to report at the entry gates every day for checking and frisking. The cultivators load their produce from their fields and unload it at the observation post for checking. Apart from this, women are not allowed to go as the BSF has no lady staff for their checking. Even hired labourers are not allowed to go.

The supply of power across the fence is erratic. They are not allowed to grow tall crops like sugarcane due to security reasons. The working hours are fixed due to a curfew every night. Thus in view of the handicaps faced by the farmers, it was decided to pay suitable compensation to them. The compensation is the difference between the rent (theka) available in the area per acre minus the net return they are at present earning per acre. It was estimated that a farmer whose land is not in this belt earns a gross income of Rs 12,000 per year per acre. After deducting his input costs, the net income from one acre is between Rs 7000 and Rs 8000. If the land falls between the border fence and the international border, the income is roughly half which, after deducting the expenses, comes to Rs 4000 per acre. It was because of this that a proposal was sent to Ministry of Home Affairs that farmers should get Rs 4000 as compensation per acre per year.

Concern over water table imbalances
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 26 — The Chairman, Central Water Commission, Mr A.D. Mohile, expressed concern over the rise and fall of water tables in various parts of the country and called for remedial measures. In certain parts of the country such imbalances of water tables had assumed alarming situations, he said.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Mohile said that Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu were some of the worst affected in terms of over exploitation of ground water resources. The depletion of these resources was further supported by the long-term decline in water-level data.

As many as 249 blocks or mandals in the country were categorised as "over-exploited blocks". The ground water development in these blocks was more than 100 per cent of the annual recharge. Similarly 179 blocks or mandals in the country had recorded ground water development between 85 per cent and 100 per cent, and hence classified as "dark" blocks. The prominent states affected by water-logging included Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab.

He expressed concern that there was no organisation to monitor the side effects of irrigation. He stressed on the need to develop such institutional mechanism at the state and national-level for the scientific study of the extent of the problem and for taking up the reclamation of the affected land, thereafter.

Giving ground water resources scenario of Punjab, Mr J.S. Dhingra, and Mr R.P.S. Chopra, Joint Director, Water Resources and Environment Directorate, Punjab, said that immediate remedial measures were required to be taken to check the falling ground water table in central districts and rising ground water table in south-western districts of the state. In areas where the water table was falling, measures such as augmentation of ground water through artificial recharge methods, utilising the rainfall run-off and crop diversification should be adopted. The rising trend of water table can be checked by adopting conjunctive use of ground water with surface water and crop diversification.

Chandumajra threatens to disrupt LS work
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Nov 26 — A senior Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader and Lok Sabha member, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, today warned that his party would paralyse the functioning of Parliament with the cooperation of like-minded parties if government agencies did not pay farmers the rate of Rs 470 per quintal for the entire paddy procured from them.

In a statement issued here, Mr Chandumajra said the party would disrupt parliamentary proceedings on its second day if this demand was not met in toto.

He alleged that the Central Government was doing injustice to the farming community by not paying it the right procurement price for paddy. The entire economy of the state had been shattered with farmers not being able to sell their produce at remunerative prices after a spell of incessant rain damaged and discoloured the crop to some extent.

Mr Chandumajra said he would persuade the Central Government to implement the crop insurance scheme from this year itself. He demanded that all market yards should be made pucca so that farmers could be saved from future floods.

The Akali leader said he also take up the long-pending issues of the state in the winter session of Parliament. These included the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, transfer of Punjabi-speaking areas in Haryana to the state and upholding of the principle of riparian rights in river water disputes.

He would also press Parliament to pass a condolence message castigating the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi. A resolution in this regard had been presented by him in the previous Parliament session, but it had been returned by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Nayak, who said it would be discussed with other parties and could be presented in the next session.

The Akali leader thanked the Central Government for giving the state a special grant of Rs 100 crore to celebrate the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa.

PM to inaugurate Thein Dam on Feb 12
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 26 — The multi-purpose Rs 2000 crore Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam), which is behind the schedule, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on February 12 next year to mark the completion of the two years of SAD-BJP government in the state.

Talking to TNS, here today, Mr Bikramjit Singh, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Power, said that funds won't come in the way of the completion of the mega project. With its completion, the state would become 'power surplus' "even today we are selling a large quantity of power to the other states," He said. He further said that the foundation stone of the Goindwal thermal project would be laid soon. The Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant's second unit would be completed very shortly. Mr Bikramjit Singh said that the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had already urged the prime minister to release Rs 150 crore more for the completion of the Ranjit Sagar dam. To a question, Mr Bikramjit Singh said that Rs 400 crore were being spent on the Ranjit Sagar Dam annually. He, however, admitted that there were slippage of targets in the completion of the dam due to some unavoidable circumstances.

Ranjit Sagar, a multipurpose hydel project earlier known as Thein dam, was first planned way back in 1948, but could not be taken up for years. Later, also when it was started seriously the funding was always erratic. It would have been completed in mid-eighties and then it was shifted to mid-nineties and now to this year. The cost got escalated from a mere Rs 8.5 crore to over Rs 2000 crore. Several chief ministers made their best efforts and at least four Prime Ministers intervened to see the project through.

Mr Bikramjit Singh said that an escape route of the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) had been constructed in a record time at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore. It would help producing 90 MW more.

On water-logging in Muktsar, the home district of Chief Minister, Mr Bikramjit Singh said the menace would be totally eradicated by the end of June next year with a cost of Rs 250 crores. As many as 307 km of drain had been dug in the Muktsar district so far. He, however, said Mansa district was facing some problems of water-logging etc which would be taken up on priority basis. To yet another question, he said that there was no problem of irrigation water supply even at the tail-end of canal in the Malwa region.

Mr Bikramjit Singh said the Punjab Government had taken up the matter with the Haryana Government to sort out common problems being faced by both the states, particularly regarding floods.

No hike in grants to varsities
By PPS Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 26 — Finding itself in financial straits, the Punjab Government has decided to, henceforth, limit its non-plan budget, which will not be higher in 1999-2000 than that of the current financial year.

While a detailed exercise on enforcing financial discipline, subject to approval of the Council of Ministers, stands completed, the State Finance Department has written to the Vice-Chancellors of all four universities making its intentions clear and enunciating the "norms" the universities must observe while preparing their budgets for next year.

The universities are expected to adhere to the same norms as applicable to other departments of the government. The detailed letter gives facts and figures of grant and excess money released to the universities since 1992-93. It also reminds the universities of the "agreement" reached between the Vice-Chancellors and the government in January, 1993, on the subject of "financial self-sufficiency" of the universities and mobilising additional resources within the universities by effecting economy and streamlining financial management, so that the universities functioned on "professional and commercial lines."

The Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr Rajan Kashyap, has listed the following five norms which universities are to keep in view when preparing the budgets for 1999-2000:

— The grant from the government for the current year will be limited to the budgetary figures, plus, additional money paid as part of the liability on account of enhanced pay scales for the employees. This departure is allowed as a special case only for 1998-99; (Pay scale liability alone is Rs 14.55 crore for 1998-99).

— The grant for 1999-2000, however, will be at the same level as budgeted for the current financial year. Over the coming years universities should programme for additional resource mobilisation. As an incentive, the government will not make any "cut" in the grant and allow the universities to utilise the additional resources thus mobilised;

— Each university should bring up a plan of gradual reduction in dependence on the government;

— Insofar as filling up of posts, the universities have full autonomy in respect of "teaching" posts provided they adhered to financial norms. Regarding "non-teaching" posts, the universities must seek prior approval of the government, which will apply the same policy for non-technical posts as is in the case of departments of the government; and

— In future the universities would be required to absorb all such new expenditure in their routine budgets.

A detailed statement of grants to various universities make interesting reading. The actual grant released to various universities between 1992-93 and 1998-99 is as follows: Punjabi University, Patiala, Rs 142.71 crore; Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Rs. 104.24 crore; Panjab University, Chandigarh, Rs 97.66 crore; and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Rs 250.06 crore. The "excess" amount paid to universities adds up to Rs 25.77 crore.

As per the 1993 agreement between the Vice-Chancellors and the government, there has to be a limit on the increase of annual grants to the universities. The increase in grants was limited to 8 per cent in 1993-94; 7 per cent in 1994 -95; and 6 per cent in 1995-96. Thereafter, annual grant was not to exceed 6 per cent of the previous year's grant.

In respect of Panjab University, Chandigarh, 60 per cent grant is from the Human Resource Development Ministry, New Delhi, through the Chandigarh Administration. This is as per the 1976 agreement. Punjab's share is the remaining 40 per cent. Both Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had stopped grants then.

Now Mr Kashyap has sent copy of the letter (addressed to the Vice-Chancellor) to both the Finance and the Home Secretary (looking after Education as well) of the UT Administration "advising" that it may also adhere to the same norms in respect of the central grant.

The Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. MM Puri, when contacted was furious. Such an "advice" he said was totally "misplaced" and tantamount to "influencing the Chandigarh Administration. What the Centre gave by way of grant was not in the purview of the Punjab Finance Department, he added.

Professor Puri said the proposed meeting of the board of finance scheduled for today was postponed because members could not attend the same. "When the letter of Mr Kashyap is processed and put up to the board we will consider it," he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Kashyap said the government fully respects the "academic autonomy" of the universities. It is also just and fair that the universities should exercise the same financial discipline as did the government departments.

Institutions fail to serve purpose
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Nov 26 — Institutions being financed by the Union Ministry of Social Welfare continue to suffer from gross neglect and have failed to serve the purpose for which they were started. The Ministry is financing the local deaf and dumb school and drug de-addiction centre. As many as 10 per cent of the total expenses of the institution are met by the District Red Cross Society while the balance of 90 per cent is financed by the Union Ministry of Social Welfare.

A woman social worker said that there was a communication gap between the management of these institutions and the Ministry of Social Welfare, due to which the grants were delayed, thus affecting the functioning of the institutions. She said even some of the appointments made in these institutions, particularly the deaf and dumb school, were more than the actual requirement.

She said the salaries paid to the staff were meagre and were far lower than their counterparts in government institutions. Moreover, the staff had not received their salaries for more than one year. The post of principal was lying vacant for the past five years.

The hearing-aids in the school stocks were not functional and there was hardly any provision of funds to get these repaired, she added.

Absence of a hostel in the school is another handicap.

Double murder in dera
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Nov 26 — Reports of a double murder in Wander village under Baghapurana police station of this district were received here last night.

According to the reports Hardev Singh of Dera Jaimalwala in Wander village, and a 20-year-old-woman, with whom he allegedly had illicit relations, were beaten to death by several persons in the dera.

The police has registered a case and sent bodies for a post-mortem examination.

Teacher's award to be withdrawn
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 26 — The Punjab Government has decided to withdraw the state award given to Mr Puran Chand, a teacher, following complaints.

In a letter, Mr Sarvesh Kaushal, special secretary to the Chief Minister, has informed Mr Satya Pal Dang, a veteran CPI leader, that the secretary, Department of Education, has already instructed the Director, Public Instructions (DPI), to charge-sheet and issue show-cause notice to the teacher concerned for taking back the state award which was given to him in 1994.

Mr Dang said the action against the teacher was being taken on a complaint by CPI MLA Vimla Dang that Mr Puran Chand's name was included in the list for the state award under political pressure. She also alleged that the adverse annual confidential reports of the teacher were replaced in the official record and also levelled serious charges of corruption against the teacher.

However, Mr Puran Chand alleged that he was harassed by the department on flimsy grounds. He offered to surrender his state award in protest and also refuted the charges of corruption.

Allegations fabricated, says Sukhbir
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 — The Minister of State for Industry, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, today said allegations against him having manhandled Congress activists in Adampur constituency yesterday were "misleading and politically motivated".

In a statement issued here, he said the Congress had brought a large number of workers from various parts of the state and they had indulged in intimidation "despite peace and calm maintained" by workers of Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP and Bahujan Samaj Morcha.

He said the Congress had deliberately tried to provoke violence and "fabricated allegations" to create pretext for their ‘forthcoming’ defeat.

Rs 2 cr worth of paddy damaged in Moga
From Our Correspondent

MOGA, Nov 26 — Paddy stocks worth over Rs 2 crore belonging to farmers have been damaged in the district during September, October and November due to inclement weather and the alleged non-cooperative attitude of the government procurement agencies.

Former President of the Punjab BKU Kuldip Singh Sandhu said as all government procurement agencies had stopped procurement, huge paddy stocks belonging to farmers were still lying in certain purchasing centres in this district.

Under the prevailing circumstances, farmers are forced either to burn the stocks or dump these for use as fertilisers. He urged government to compensate the farmers fully.

Lawyers observe protest day
From Our Correspondents

SANGRUR, Nov 26 — Members of the local Bar association today abstained from work to protest against the non-implementation of Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961, according to Mr Gurtej Singh Grewal, Secretary of the association.

ROPAR (FOC): Local advocates observed a "protest day" on Thursday.

The advocates wore red badges on their coats to express their resentment.

FAZILKA: Members of the local Bar association observed a "protest day" on Thursday. According to Mr Anil Kumar Jain, President of bar association, all lawyers here put on badges on their coats.

Mr Jain pleaded that any advocate enrolled by any High Court of the country should have the right to practice anywhere in the country.

SAMRALA (FOC): On the call given by the Bar Council of India and the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, all lawyers of the local Bar association observed a strike here on Thursday. In this connection all members of the Bar put red ribbons on their coats.

Earlier at a meeting held by the President, Mr H S Diwajit it was decided to observe a strike on December 4 on a call given by the Bar Association, Hoshiarpur. The members also condemned the action of the Hoshiarpur police.

Road safety camp held
From Our Correspondent

SANGRUR, Nov 26 — The Rotary Club, Sunam, the district transport authorities and the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) organised a road safety camp at Sunam, 15 km from here, today.

Dr B.C. Gupta, Secretary, Transport, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the camp. About 500 tractor-trailers were fitted with such reflectors at the camp which help in minimising road accidents during night.

Dr Gupta stressed the need to avoid overspeeding, driving under the influence of liquor and the need to follow traffic rules to minimise road accidents.

He sought the cooperation of social organisations to hold more such camps to create awareness among people regarding the observance of traffic rules. He announced that a direct bus from Sunam to Delhi would start plying within a week.

Mr Anirudh Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, assured that in the district all tractor-trailers, numbering nearly 2000 would be fitted with these reflectors.

Mr Tej Partap Singh Phulka, District Transport Officer, also organised camp for issuing driving licences on the spot.

NSUI members boycott classes
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Nov 26 — On a call given by the National Students Union of India, students of Government Mohindra College boycotted their classes here today in protest against the recent fee hike made by Punjabi University.

The students also staged a rally on the college campus. They demanded that the university should immediately withdraw the fee hike otherwise students of the colleges in the district would go on an indefinite strike.

Later, in a press statement Mr Devinder Singh Rehal, President, district unit of the NSUI, said the students have refused to pay the increased fee.

However, Dr Balkar Singh, Dean College Development Council Punjabi University, has defended the fee hike. He said that organising a strike in November seems to be politically motivated as the university had notified the fee hike in August this year. Moreover, the universities are facing a serious resource crunch. There has been only an 8 per cent rise in grant to the universities.