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| Saturday, August 19, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Statue review
panel Drinking water scarce in rural areas Review rural link roads outlay: Punjab Punjab Ordinance challenged VC to attend World Peace Summit in NY Missing paddy |
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Rinwa rules
out mid-term poll
PSEB raids
own top officers Free power to
farmers challenged Adamant devotees continue stir Ropar-Nawanshahr road
to be four-laned Lukewarm response to voter I-card in cities Gas agency flouting DC’s orders Need for new dist complex Punjab to ask rice millers to lift paddy VIP visits cost BBMB dear Claimant of Maharaja’s chariot wheels Hike in octroi resented 3.50 lakh new
phones by year-end Telecom engineers hold dharna
Immigration firm man held Probe urged into duping of Cornhill
depositors
Tap your potential, VC tells students Academic exchange programme Education Secy
holds meeting with VCs Computer study must: Jacob
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Statue review
panel CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — The Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Punjab unit of the BJP will submit their viewpoint separately to the Commission for the Review of the Working of the Constitution (CRWC) set up by the Union Government. No memorandum will be submitted by the Punjab Government to the CRWC, it is learnt. Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, a senior leader of the BJP, told TNS here today that he and other leaders of the BJP had discussed the issue with the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal a few days ago. He said he had suggested that memorandums to the CRWC should be given at the party level as was being done in other states and not at the government level. It is significant to mention here that Mr Badal had set up a committee of senior ministers belonging to the SAD and the BJP to prepare government’s memorandum to the CRWC. In fact, two meetings, of the state government’s panel to prepare the draft of the memorandum were held. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal and Mr Tikshan Sood, both ministers were representing the BJP in the state government panel. It is a known fact that there were serious differences between the BJP and the SAD over the inclusion of certain points in the memorandum which was to be submitted to the CRWC. While the SAD was for the deletion of Article 356, a change in the preamble of the Constitution, the appointment of the Governor from the state government’s approved panel and for autonomy to states, the BJP was opposed to such provisions. In fact, there were several other issues on which the SAD and the BJP had serious differences. There was no scope of a consensus between the two on a joint document for submission to the CRWC. Because of differences on such vital points, the BJP and the SAD have preferred to submit separate representations to the CRWC, sources said. |
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Drinking water scarce in rural areas CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — Hundreds of water outlets in rural Punjab have gone dry, making the availability of drinking water very scarce, reports say. More are likely to follow. The Punjab Government supplies free drinking water to 14.66 lakh households through water standposts in 7,413 villages. It is yet to cover roughly 5,000 villages where there is no potable water supply. But even in these villages covered under rural water supply scheme, the water availability is becoming scarce each passing day. According to public health engineers, one major reason for taps going dry is that the state government does not have funds to repair and maintain the water supply system. “If the electric motors or pumps are in order, there is no money to buy diesel and if diesel is there, the pumps are not in working condition. Hence the dry taps”, they said. The department had estimated a total of Rs 72 crore as operation and maintenance costs. A population of over one crore is served by this vast network, built over the years. But the fiscal crisis has hit this system hard and right now there is an acute shortage of money. While 2.10 lakh houses have their individual connections, 14.66 lakh households have to depend on the public water outlets. Individual households pay Rs 40 every month to have this water supply and thus the government collects Rs 10.08 crore per year. Officials here said that Rs 18 crore is spent on the salaries of the staff each year. Electricity bills take away another Rs 18.5 crore, bleaching powder Rs 1.25 crore and canal water costs another Rs 1 crore. The department has to spare Rs 7.25 crore for repair of motors, pumps, diesel engines, distribution system and the standposts. In addition, Rs 46 crore, the regular work charge staff has to be paid Rs 26 crore. It is here where the crunch has hit hard. The department desperately needs Rs 28 crore to run the scheme. Public Health Minister Raja Narinder Singh had proposed to the Cabinet early this month that each household should pay Rs 10 per month for water supply from the standposts. The Chief Minister aware of the acute shortage, also blessed this move. But some ministers who did not agree, succeeded in shooting down this proposal. The revenue collected did not meet even electricity costs, the Cabinet was informed. The number of villages under operation and maintenance plan is increasing each year, but the availability of funds has been decreasing and more so under the pro-rural Akali government. During 1999-2000, the shortage of funds resulted in the denial of wages to the workers. Other liabilities like clearing the electricity bills, canal water supply and repair of machinery amounted to Rs 18 crore remained pending. So the real demand from the department this current financial year is Rs 90 crore. “We do not expect more than Rs 60 crore. If the government had accepted the user charges plan, created the user committees under panchayats, there would have been some relief. Also, when you supply free water, much of it gets wasted as the water standposts rarely have tabs,” a senior engineer commented. The Cabinet note said: “Provision of rural water supply services has an economic value not only to society but also to private users. Continued subsidisation of sector by the government distorts signals to users. It also undermines any efforts to promote a more efficient and sustainable use of water”. Without an effective programme to recover costs of providing water services, the objective of coverage of entire rural population in the state with potable water may remain unattainable in the next 10 years. The major objective in the present scenario should be to achieve the full (cost) recovery of operation, maintenance and replacement costs in a phased manner, which will be a step in the right direction for enforcing reforms in the “water sector”. Operation and maintenance activity of rural water supply schemes needs to be reoriented on a commercial pattern. The necessary first step will have to be the realisation of substantial part, say, around 40 per cent of operation and maintenance costs. As per central government norms, most of the rural water supply schemes in the Punjab State have been designed with a service level of 40 litres per person per day and with these norms, the water supply is required to be provided through street outlets only. However, due to high demand, individual house connections were sanctioned, keeping in view, the availability of water from a particular scheme and its impact on downside distribution system. |
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Review rural link roads outlay: Punjab CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — The Punjab Government has urged the Union Government to review the allocation made to the states for providing link roads in the rural areas. Disagreeing with the criteria adopted by the Union Rural Development Ministry with regard to the allocation of funds to the states, the Punjab Government has told the authorities concerned that Punjab should be given a share from the allocation on the pattern adopted by the Union Surface Transport Ministry. Out of the allocation of Rs 2,500 crore for the states made by the Union Rural Development Ministry, Punjab has got only Rs 3 crore for rural link roads. The Union Government had collected Rs 5,000 crore from the states by levying a special cess on diesel and petrol for developing the road infrastructure in the country. The Union Government had distributed Rs 5,000 crore among the Rural Development, Surface Transport and Railways Ministries for distribution among the states to lay the rural road network and improve state and national highways. The Railway Ministry had been allocated money to provide railway over bridges on important national and state highways. Punjab had contributed Rs 250 crore in the special cess. Official sources said that the Rural Development Ministry changed the pre-agreed criteria while making allocation to the states for rural roads. This ministry had been given the lion’s share, from the cess money to the states which had negligible road network in the rural areas. States like Punjab which had already an elaborate network in the country had been allocated just Rs 3 crore. Official sources said that while the Rural Development Ministry had given priority to under-developed states, the Surface Transport Ministry had allocated the money from the cess amount on the basis of the contribution made by the states concerned in it. Sources said Punjab would get about Rs 60 crore for the state highways from the Surface Transport Ministry. What has surprised the government was the two ministries of the Union Government had adopted two different criteria for the allocation of funds to the States. Urging the Union Rural Development Ministry to reopen the allocation case, the Punjab Government has taken a plea that though the state has a widespread road network in the rural areas but investment to lay the same had been made by the state over the years from its own sources. Secondly, roads in the rural areas needed to be widened and upgraded. The existing road network in the rural areas in Punjab is not as per the standards laid down by the Indian Roads Congress and the Union Ministry of Surface Transport. Roads in the rural areas in the state were constructed to provide just a minimum facility as people have been facing difficulty in absence of such a provision. However, as far as standardised road network is concerned, a lot is required to be done, says a senior PWD (B&R) official. The PWD officials said the government had prepared a plan to spend Rs 4,000 crore to build new roads, to improve the existing road network. But on the other side, the Union Government was denying the state its legitimate share from the
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Punjab Ordinance challenged CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — The Punjab Government Ordinance dated May 24, 2000, and issued under Section 3 of the Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962, was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court today by Mr Bimal Kumar Kaushal, a resident of Patiala. The Act provides that a prisoner undergoing sentence of life imprisonment may be released for a period of six months or less in parts for any sufficient cause if it is desirable to do so. Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta comprising a Division Bench issued notice of motion to the Secretary, Legal and Legislative Affairs, Punjab, and Home Secretary, Punjab, and others for September 12. It was submitted by the petitioner that his son posted as SDO at Moga was kidnapped and murdered on December 18, 1998, and his body was recovered on December 29, 1998, from a ditch near Jagraon. After investigation the police found Junior Engineer Gurpreet Singh and his family involved in the kidnapping and murder. The petitioner alleged that the said Gurpreet Singh is a relative of Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, Punjab, and Mr Sujjan Singh, Minister of State, Punjab. Gurpreet Singh and his accomplices were convicted and sentenced under Sections 302, 120-B and 404 IPC and the Arms Act and all were sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 each. Taking cognizance of a news item in the press which appeared of September 25, 1999, titled “Murder accused being given special treatment in Faridkot Medical Hospital”. The High Court directed the District and Sessions Judge, Faridkot, to inquire into the matter. The petitioner alleged that Dr Sohan Singh of the Medical College in his confessional statement stated that Gurpreet Singh was kept in the hospital due to the influence of his political bosses. The District and Sessions Judge in his report stated that Gurpreet Singh was never seriously ill and there was no justification for his being kept in the hospital. The petitioner submitted that the State of Punjab issued the impugned Ordinance and exercising this power Gurpreet Singh was released for 15 days on June 22, 2000, within one month of his conviction and thereafter on July 31, 2000, for three months. The petitioner contended that the Ordinance was ultra vires the provisions of the 1962 Act and the Constitution of India and the same was being misused for releasing persons who had committed heinous crimes and it may be quashed. |
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VC to attend World Peace Summit in NY PATIALA, Aug 18 — Eminent Sikh scholar and Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia has been invited to attend the Uno-sponsored Millennium World Peace Summit in New York from August 28 to 31. At the summit, prominent international scholars of religion as well as spiritual leaders would explore the possibility of working closely with UN agencies on programmes to counter threats to world peace, eliminate poverty and address critical environmental issues. The main purpose for bringing world’s religious leaders and scholars on one platform is to promote inter-religious dialogue, ethno-religious understanding, and international cooperation. The opening address will be delivered by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Dr Ahluwalia will address the summit’s concerns from the Sikh perspective. The Vice-Chancellor will also sign a memorandum of understanding with Yogi Harbhajan Singh for a multi-crore research project funded by the latter’s organisation in the USA relating to nutrapharmaceutical products. The proposed areas of studies are the scientific basis of traditional empirical remedies mentioned in alternative systems of medicine with an objective to develop nutrapharmacutical products. He said besides this, the project would develop new dosages for indigenous drugs to facilitate better patient compliance. Under this project, Indian medicinal plants of potential therapeutic value would also be identified. An official press note said this was in pursuance of the visit of Dr Manjit Singh, Head of
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research Department of the university, who held detailed discussions on the project in the USA. The project, the first of its kind in any Indian university, has been named National Institute of Nutrapharmaceutical and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala. The note said during his visit, Dr Ahluwalia would also deliver a special lecture on “Sikh Renaissance: The Future Approach And Its Reach To The Western World” on August 25” at Espanola, New Mexico, under the auspices of the Sikh Dharma, a Domain of the western hemisphere. It said Dr Ahluwalia would also interact with eminent Punjabi personalities in different fields so as to involve and associate them in developing the university’s Damdama Sahib Regional Centre at Talwandi Sabo into a world centre of higher learning to be later turned into a full-fledged open university. |
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Missing paddy FATEHGARH Sahib, Aug 18 — On the receipt of inquiry report into the alleged embezzlement of rice worth Rs 15 lakh by District Manager Marked in connivance with a rice mill owner of Sirhind, highlighted by The Tribune, Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner today ordered registration of a criminal case against D.M. Marked and Babu Ram owner Dashmesh Rice Mills Sirhind for causing huge loss to Marked. He said that he had written to the SSP to register a case after seeking the legal opinion from District Attorney. Earlier Mr Ashok Singla ADC (G) in his report had mentioned that he had found the complaint of Mr Harbans Singh Mahmoodpur, Senior Vice-President, SAD (B) and member district Grievance Committee against the DM Marked as correct. He has submitted after going through the relevant record, contents of the complaint and statements of officers concerned, it was found that DM Marked had not performed his duties diligently and effectively because the stock was always in the joint custody of the DM and the mill owner. He has revealed that the mill owner sold out the rice of the Marked in an open market with the connivance of DM Marked and in lieu thereof broken rice was purchased from open market just to equate the pending balance. Moreover the certificate relating to the Ware Housing Corporation regarding dumping of five wagons in their godown, was a fabricated one and signed by the rice mill owner himself as the wagons were never dumped in the godown of the PWHC, because when the wagons are dumped in the godown of any corporation, gate pass are issued, when the wagons enters the godown, but the DM failed to apply his mind and he being a party procured a certificate from the mill owner, to cover up their activities, which caused heavy loss to the corporation. He has also mentioned contradictory physical verification done by the DFSC and the DM Marked of the stock of the mill. The DFSC in his report had mentioned that broken rice is lying there, whereas DM mentioned that paddy is lying there. The ADC had mentioned that keeping in view the sensitivity of the contents of the affidavit submitted by the mill owner, in which he has alleged that he paid Rs 2.5 per bag to the DM for storing paddy in his mill, requires a thorough probe by the Vigilance Department as the contents corroborate the truth of the miller. He has also suggested that in the paddy season monitoring of the procuring agencies be made, so that the poor farmers, commission agents and rice millers were not harassed. |
Rinwa rules
out mid-term poll PHILLAUR, Aug 18 — The Punjab BJP President, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, and the organising general secretary, Mr Avinash Jaiswal, ruled out the possibility of a mid-term poll in Punjab and predicted that the SAD-BJP Government would not only complete its full term but also come to power again after the next Assembly elections in the state. Mr Rinwa said here today the BJP’s relations with the Shiromani Akali Dal were strong as these were based on “principles and not on selfish politics”. Replying to a question on the coordination of committees, Mr Rinwa said these committees would be formed soon at the block and district levels in the state. The appointment of the president of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha would be done shortly, he said, adding that the work of lifetime cooperation fund had been accelerated. Mr Rinwa said the BJP wanted to change its image as an “urban-based” party and had therefore decided to expand its work in villages also. |
PSEB raids
own top officers PATIALA, Aug 18 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Operations Department today conducted a surprise check on the electricity connections of all its senior officers, including Members of the board and the Secretary, besides other employees residing in Power Colony Number One, here. Teams of board employees led by Executive Engineers and Subdivisional Officers (SDO) conducted checks on the residences of top officials around 8.30 a.m. Meter connections of the officers, including the Member Operations, Mr Kirpal Singh, Member Generation, Mr Suresh Gupta; Member Transmission, Mr A.K. Kundra; and Board Secretary, Mr D.K. Tewari, were checked. The raids were conducted by the Chief Engineer, Operations, Mr G.S. Hara. The PSEB authorities did not disclose the details of the raids and stated that the Chief Engineer, Operations, would submit his report in due time. The Member Operations, Mr Kirpal Singh, said he had not received any report about the outcome of the raids. He said he expected to get the feedback from the Chief Engineer soon. Mr Kirpal Singh said the raids had been conducted as a self-inspection exercise so that the general public did not gain an impression that PSEB officers were immune to checking. He said there had been some apprehensions in this regard and the PSEB managment had decided to set an example by checking its own officers first. The Member, Operations, said most officers did not know about the raid and were
caught unawares. He said similar checks had been conducted all over the state today. All Chief Engineer (Operations) had been directed by the authorities to conduct checks in all power colonies in the state. He said the emphasis during checking was to detect whether seals on meters at the residence of officers were intact and to ascertain whether there had been any tampering. He said the electricity load in the residence would also be verified. Interaction with colony residents revealed that some discrepancies came to light during the raids. However, this could not be verified officially. The board Chairman, Mr G.S. Sohal had held a meeting with board union leaders yesterday, in which the menace of theft was discussed. The Chairman had urged the union leaders to come to the forefront in stopping pilferage and assured that any board employee found helping a consumer pilfer electricity would be persecuted. The board has also decided to go in for a massive awareness exercise to ensure that the message of preventing theft of electricity reaches the consumers. |
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Free power to
farmers challenged CHANDIGARH, Aug 18 — Mr Nirvair Singh, a former member (Power) of the Bhakra Beas Management Board, and Mr K. Ashok Rao, Deputy General Manager, Bharat Heavy Electricals, today preferred a public interest petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioning the policy of the Punjab Government of providing free power to farmers in the State. Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta, before whom the petition was listed for hearing, issued notice of motion to the respondents for December 14. The petitioners stated that the policy of giving free power to farmers rebelled against the Punjab State Electricity Board Act. This concession to farmers would lead to the doom of the PSEB. The government intends to privatise the PSEB on the ground that the PSEB was suffering heavy losses. The privatisation of the PSEB would lead to 10-time increase in the power
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Adamant devotees continue stir SANGRUR, Aug 18 — The indifferent attitude of the state government towards the ongoing tussle between PUDA and the Yuvak Mandir Sudhar Sabha of the local Mangla Devi Temple over the possession of a building adjoining the temple may make the situation worse, which is tense but under control so far. Devotees and members of the Sudhar Sabha have been agitating to get possession of the building officially for the past several days, claiming that the building in question is a part of the temple where priests lived during the days of the Jind State. The relay fast by the devotees and the members of the Sudhar Sabha today entered the seventh day. Talking to TNS here today, Mr Chand Parkash Maghan, a patron of the sabha said, the devotees were losing patience and warned the state government that the situation might take an ugly turn any time if the government failed to honour the religious feelings and sentiments of the devotees. Mr Maghan said PUDA had a proposal to demolish this building. The building had also a well which with the passage of time was converted into a sewage dump as it was allotted to officers for residential purposes, he said. The sabha had been demanding possession of this building for the past more than 15 years. The sabha had also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, on the Independence Day. A few days ago, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Punjab minister, also visited the temple and the building in question where “path” of Shri Ramayana is in progress for the past several days. Mr Garg assured the Sudhar Sabha that he would take up the matter with the Housing and Urban Development Minister, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ranjit Singh Balian. Meanwhile, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, in a
communiqué to the Sabha has sand that the demand of the Yuvak Mandir Sudhar Sabha is genuine and he has asked the Punjab Chief Minister to look into the matter for favourable action. |
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Ropar-Nawanshahr road
to be four-laned NAWANSHAHR, Aug 18 — The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, addressing a “sangat darshan” programme at Tah Palace, Banga, 13 km from here, today after inaugurating civil hospital, Banga, constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore, said that his government was taking steps to provide basic civic amenities like roads, drinking water, educational and health facilities etc. The SAD-BJP government was committed to all-round development, peace and prosperity and had prepared a comprehensive plan to accelerate the pace of development in the state. The government had been developing infrastructure, which included bridges, roads, bus-stands, schools, hospitals, administrative complexes, etc. on priority for the
convenience of the public. He said that Rs 80 crore would be spent on the road and bridge over Sutlej river near Rahon to boost industrial
development of the area. Now, project of four-laning of the Ropar-Nawanshahr Banga-Phagwara road would be undertaken. Mr Badal said that during the past three years 2200 km of new roads had been constructed and a plan had been prepared for making a number of roads four-laned in the state. Mr Badal heard problems of the 57 panchayats falling under the Banga constituency and distributed grants for various development works. He also promised construction of rest house, new sheds at Sabji Mandi, bridges across the Banga-Dopalpur drain. |
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Lukewarm response to voter I-card in cities JALANDHAR, Aug 18 — There is lukewarm response to ongoing process of making of voter identity cards by residents of cities of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Patiala while there is great enthusiasm to such cards among rural voters. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr K.B. Prasad, Secretary of the Election Commission of India and Dr Brajindra Singh, head of the state Elections Commission, said it was strange to note that people of urban areas were not coming forward to get their identity cards made, while on the other hand rural people were responding to the process in a big way. They said though identity cards have been issued to 80 per cent eligible voters of nearly 100 rural and semi-urban Assembly constituencies, percentage was on a lower side in 17 Assembly constituencies. Dr Brajindra Singh said
in spite of it, the state was much ahead and the total percentage of those who have got their identity cards was around 69 per cent as compared to 64 per cent of the entire country and people, particularly ruralites were getting themselves registered at camps being organised by the authorities concerned. Dr Brajindra Singh said keeping in view a large number of people who were yet to get their cards made, the last date for making of the cards was being extended up to August 31. Mr Prasad said nobody without a voter identity card would be allowed to cast vote in the forthcoming Assembly polls in Punjab in 2002 and in five other states in 2001. UNI: Punjab would require about 23,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) to conduct state Assembly election due in early 2002. Stating this at a press conference here today, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Dr Barjendra Singh said each EVM would be put in operation I about 20,000 polling booths in 117 Assembly constituencies and about 15 per cent would be needed in reserve to replace breakdowns, if any. Dr Barjendra Singh said Punjab at present had only 3000 EVMs and another 2500 EVMs were borrowed from Bihar to conduct electronic voting in these parliamentary constituencies of Faridkot, Patiala and Tarn Taran last year. The Chief Electoral Officer said 69 per cent of the total
electorate in Punjab had been issued identity cards before ongoing phase of preparing new ID cards was launched a few months ago. About seven lakh new ID cards had already been prepared, raising the percentage of ID card holders in the state to about 74 per cent. He said ID card holder whose name has been struck off the electoral rolls would have to get himself enrolled afresh by filling form number six to become a voter because more possession of ID but name missing from the roll would not entitle him to exercise his franchise. |
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Gas agency flouting DC’s orders PATIALA, Aug 18 — Orders of the Deputy Commissioner regarding the supply of cooking gas in the city are being flouted as cylinders are still being offloaded and sold from godowns in residential areas. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, had ordered a few days back that gas cylinders should be delivered at home to all consumers and that they should not be brought into the city in vehicles of the agency owners nor distributed from the public places. Even as the District Food and Supplies Controller Office is in the process of implementing these orders, investigation by TNS revealed that while cylinders continue to come into the city from the godowns outside, one agency owner is offloading and selling cylinders in a residential area near Harbans Theatre. Harbans Theatre lane residents said the sale of cylinders was continuing from the godown of the agency as well as nearby areas despite protests by them. The godown and distribution of cylinders close to it was a public nuisance which should be stopped, they added. Residents demanded that the entry of trucks in the residential colony be stopped forthwith as they were mainly responsible for the poor state of roads. The District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC), Ms Ranjit Pawar, when contacted disclosed that her department was taking steps to ensure cylinders were not sold in residential areas or close to public places. She said though all gas agencies had stopped sale of cylinders at public places, there could be isolated cases contrary to this. She said her department had recently stopped sale of cylinders near the Yadvindra Public School and had also checked all major eateries in the city to ensure domestic gas cylinder were not used for commercial purposes. She said the commercial establishments had been directed to revert to commercial connections immediately. Meanwhile, gas agency owners feel the new directions if implemented strictly would only cause inconvenience to the consumers. They said a similar exercise had been conducted by the administration two years back also but was discontinued after protests from the public. They said they were ready to provide home delivery of gas to the public but bringing cylinders on
trolleys will put a financial burden on them. The agency owners said they provided the facility of collection of cylinders from a common spot for the convenience of the public and had no problem in giving delivery of cylinders from their godowns. The owners feel if this practice is to be stopped the district administration should provide a common safe place in the city where consumers can collect their cylinders. Need for new dist complex GURDASPUR: The district administrative complex here does not house all important government offices, creating problems for residents. The tehsil and other offices are located far away from the office of the Deputy Commissioner. People waste time and face inconvenience going from one office to another, especially in hot weather or when it rains. The office of the Deputy Commissioner is also rather congested. Verandahs in the building have been covered to accommodate staff members. There is also a shortage of space in the office wing of the SSP. The government treasury is close to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. People visiting it often have to wade through stagnant water to reach it. Old-age pensioners face difficulties when they go there to get their pensions. There is ample space around the building of the office on the Deputy Commissioner. However, that area has also become congested as more than 150 offices of advocates have come up there. About two years ago the then Deputy Commissioner made a proposal to the government authorities concerned to construct a new administrative complex. A sum of Rs 10 lakh was received by the district administration for the purpose, but the amount was too small to take up construction work. After the Deputy Commissioner was transferred, matters slowed down. Mr B. Vikram, the present Deputy Commissioner, has taken up the project with the government. The Chief Engineer PWD ( B&R) submitted an estimate of Rs 16.84 crore in this regard. It was felt that the amount was on the high side because similar complexes in other districts were constructed at a cost of about Rs 10 crore. The office of the Deputy Commissioner has also represented to the government to shift the offices in the present complex to the premises of the Animal Husbandry Department where 36 kanals of land is lying vacant. It has also been suggested that the complex, spread over 7.3 acres in the heart of the city, can be given to PUDA for commercial exploitation. Moreover, PUDA can be asked to study a proposal for the commercial exploitation of vacant government land elsewhere, included about 99 kanals at Gurdaspur, 53 kanals at Batala and 57 kanals at Pathankot. These sites are stated to be worth more than Rs 30 crore. Mr Vikram says the blueprint of the new district administrative complex is ready. The buildings in it will be five storeyed and the complex will also have chambers for advocates. 
Punjab to ask rice millers to lift paddy ROPAR, Aug 18 — The Punjab government would encourage rice millers to procure paddy in the coming season to reduce the burden of procurement on the state agencies, Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said while talking to this correspondent. During the initial discussions, the millers have responded positively to this proposal of the Punjab government, but they have laid certain conditions for procurement, said the minister. The millers have demanded more storage space, better levy rates and interest on money they would invest, said Mr Mittal. He was at Nurpur Bedi to attend the “Jinder Pir shaheed fare”. After consultations with the millers the state government would send a proposal in this regard to the Union Ministry for Food and Civil Supplies, he said. About the problem of storage due to non-movement of foodgrains by the FCI from the godowns in Punjab, Mr Mittal said that till date, only 50 per cent of the required storage space had been evacuated. If the FCI did not move the grains from Punjab to other states in the next two months, the state would face an acute shortage of storage space for paddy, he said. Regarding the reported theft of paddy by the millers in the state, he said that the cases of thefts were being examined, and the agencies and millers responsible for it would be strictly dealt with. Moreover, the policy of allotting paddy quota to the millers was also being made transparent to avoid such incidents, said Mr Mittal. Earlier, the millers were allotted fresh paddy even if they had previous year’s paddy, owned by the government, lying with them. However, now a decision has been taken that a miller should first give the entire account of the previous year’s paddy and should justify the loss of paddy, if any, before he is allocated fresh paddy, he said.
VIP visits cost BBMB dear ROPAR, Aug 18 — Bhakra, the backbone of the northern power grid, is attracting tourists, especially VIPs and VVIPs, for its scenic beauty. The VIPs come on the pretext of official tours and spend the public money on picnic with their relatives and aides. In the past one year, 376 VIPs, including 21 IAS officers, 13 judges ranging from Session Judges to Chief Justices of various High Courts, IPS officers, Governors and 338 MLAs, MPs and ministers have visited Bhakra. The number excludes the relatives and subordinates who accompany them. A 10-member party of the Central Water Commission, a 150-member party of the Minister for Power, Government of India, a party of six BJP MPs led by Ms Rama Behan, a five-member team of the high-ranking officials of the Ministry for Power, a nine-member deputation of Deputy Secretaries of the Rajya Sabha, a 45-member party of the Assembly Estimates Committee of the Rajasthan Government, a six- member party of the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Energy, a 60-member Parliamentary Committee on power and a 12-member party of former secretaries of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha have visited Bhakra in the recent past. The local district administration and the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB), who play host to these expensive guests, spend lakhs on hospitality. The BBMB treats most members of Parliamentary and the Assembly committees as its guests and no stone is left unturned to please them. When a huge team of 150 members accompanying Mrs Jayawanti Mehta, State Minister for Power, comprising mostly her relatives and high officials of the power ministry, visited Bhakra this year, the cash-starved BBMB spent more than Rs 6 lakh to please the VIPs. The officers of the IAS, IPS and Judges who are not considered board guests, are looked after by the local district administration, including police officials and tehsildars. A local administrator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they had to raise resources from legal and illegal means to appease the important guests on the orders of superiors. In some cases members of the Assembly or parliamentary committees summon the entire district officials at Nangal, about 60 km from the district headquarters to discuss petty matters or to gather information, thus wasting time and resources of the administration.
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Claimant of Maharaja’s chariot wheels AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — Mrs Paramjit Kaur wife of Mr K.S. Randhawa advocate and former Director Youth Welfare, Guru Nanak Dev University has “claimed” to be the legal heir of Sardar Gujjar Singh, a General of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who lived in the “fortress-type house outside Ram Bagh gate”. Mrs Paramjit said “one day while Sardar Gujjar was strolling on the roof of the building his enemies managed to push him over the edge of the terrace, he died after falling from a height of nearly 40 feet. These “wheels” mentioned in the story published in The Tribune on August 13, she claims actually belong to the “chariot of Sardar Gujjar Singh — a two-horse driven carriage as mentioned in the press release”. Sardar Gujjar Singh had two other brothers Sardar Lehna Singh and Sardar Ranjodh Singh, all three were the sons of Sardar Desa Singh, a general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh along with his three sons (all Generals of Maharaja Ranjit Singh) while Gujjar Singh died issueless Sardar Lehna Singh was succeeded by Sardar Dyal Singh, founder of the Dyal Singh College, Dyal Singh Library and The Tribune. Sardar Dyal Singh died issueless while Sardar Ranjodh Singh was succeeded by Sardar Gajjinder Singh, who further was succeeded by Sardar Gurcharan Singh alias Sardar Raj Bhadur Singh. Mrs Paramjit Kaur claims to be the direct descendent of Sardar Raj Bhadur Singh. Mrs Paramjit Kaur in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Chief Secretary, the Deputy Commissioner, Mayor and Municipal Commissioner has demanded legal rights over the property left by Sardar Gujjar Singh and has requested the same be given to her.
Hike in octroi resented PATIALA, Aug 18 — The Lok Sabha member from Patiala constituency, Ms Parneet Kaur, today demanded that the state government must withdraw the recent hike in octroi. Stating this in a press note here Ms Parneet Kaur alleged that private contractors who were entrusted with the responsibility of collection of octroi were using unethical tactics. Speaking on increase of power tariff on domestic and commercial sector, she said the PSEB should increase it’s efficiency and cut down the power tariff rates because it effects the common man. Regarding the establishment of check posts at the entry points in
Punjab where a copy of invoice is obtained from the truck operators and later sent to the concerned Excise and Taxation Offices for co-relating it with the corresponding entries made by the tax payers. Ms Parneet Kaur said the procedure of visiting the office of the Excise and Taxation Officer fortnightly is too hazardous and needs to be changed. |
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3.50 lakh new
phones by year-end BATHINDA, Aug 18 — To exhaust the waiting list the Telecom Department authorities will give 3.50 lakh new telephone connections by the end of the year 2000. Stating this at a press conference held here today, Mr Prithipal Singh, Principal General Manager, Telecom Department, Punjab said that telecom facilities were being updated as the demands of the customers were rising. He added that keeping in view the competition which the Telecom Department would face from the private companies, Internet facilities were being set up in each district of Punjab while all zones were being connected with local call facility. With the introduction of Internet facility in all districts the Telecom Department authorities expected that number of Internet connections would go up from the present 12,000. He said that in the current year about 25,000 new telephone connections would be given in Bathinda and Mansa districts and waiting list would be exhausted. The number of applicants in the waiting list was about 11,500 at present. From the month of September, all telephone numbers of Bathinda district would in seven digit and telephone numbers of its town would be in six digits. Mr Rakesh Kapur, General Manager, Telecom, Bathinda, said that for the rural area subscribers, the facility of registering the complaint had been introduced in Bathinda district. the applicants had been given the facility to know the status of application regarding the new connection. He added that Rs 65 crores was being spent in Bathinda and Mansa districts on these facilities.
Telecom engineers hold dharna AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — A dharna was held in front of the office of the General Manager, Amritsar by the members of the Telecommunications Engineering Service Association (Tesa) (India) Amritsar to press acceptance of their demands. Mr G.S. Sangarpal, secretary TESA branch Amritsar informed that the trade union action programme started on December 22 last year was put off to February 2, 2000 on the assurance given by the Minister of Communications, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan. FEROZEPORE: Addressing a rally of the Telecom Department employees, Mr R.L. Moudgil, Circle Secretary, All India Telecom Employees Union, Punjab said that the decision of the Union Government to convert the Telecom Department into corporation would not only affect the basic functioning of the department but would also have a retrogressive impact on already backward areas of the country. He said that the Telecom Department was earning maximum revenue for the Government in India and has been expanding much within its own resources and without any budgetary allocation, more than 1.70 crore new telephone connections have been given in the last five years and now the total connections stand at 2.70 crore. He started that the annual income of the department in 1997-98 only was Rs 7646.1 crore which increased to 8991.99 crore in 1998-99 and only this amount was being utilised for the development and expansion works. He said that nor private company was ready to provide telephone services in rural areas, only 12 connections have been given against a target of 4 lakh in the rural areas. He said that the Defence Ministry was also against the privatisation as there was security risk but the government has kept mum.
Auditorium work to start after 10 years KAPURTHALA, Aug 18 (PTI) — The construction of an auditorium named after Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia will begin after a gap of 10 years. This was disclosed here today by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr V.K. Singh, while talking to mediapersons. The construction work was abandoned due to paucity of funds about 10 years ago and the government had spent Rs 15 lakh on the foundation of the building. Former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral will inaugurate the construction work at a function to be held on August 25. Step up I-card
drive: EC Secy AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — Expressing concern over the slow pace of processing of voters’ photo identity cards in the state, the Union Secretary of the Election Commission, Mr K.R. Prasad, said here yesterday that there was an urgent need to increase the rate from the current 73 per cent to the targeted 90 per cent. He was presiding over a meeting of assistant election officers of the 16 Assembly segments of the district. An awareness campaign in this regard had been launched on the electronic and print media, he said. He said the next elections would witness voting through electronic voting machines. Information regarding those persons who had either died or left their locality, town or state should immediately be given to the Election Commission Department, he added.
A clarification Apropos the news item, “ 2 students drowned in
sarovar” published in these columns on August 6, the Principal of Police Public School, Amritsar, has clarified that the drowned students had not gone to the gurdwara concerned on a picnic, as mentioned in the report. No picnic had been arranged by the school. |
Immigration firm man held GURDASPUR, Aug 18 — The Police has arrested Sukhminder Singh of Daroli Bhai village in Faridkot district, who is presently working with M/S Knock Immigration Consultancy Services Private Limited, New Delhi, for allegedly extorting huge amounts from people on the promise of sending them to the USA. Other member of the gang, Hardeep Kaur, wife of Sukhminder Singh, and her father, Mohinder Singh, were arrested earlier under Sections 420/120-B of the IPC in a case registered at Purana Shalla police station June 29, 2000. Mr Mohinder Kumar, SSP, said that Sukhminder Singh, the kingpin of the gang, was arrested yesterday from his house in Kashmir Avenue, Amritsar. During preliminary interrogation, the accused said that, since the past four years, he had been working as Managing Director of Knock Immigration Consultancy Services Private Limited, New Delhi. Twentyeight boys were sent-to the accused by a friend for sending them to Korea. The accused allegedly charged Rs 16 lakh from them for sending them to Korea through Akarshal Finlies Services Private Limited, Rajoury Garden, New Delhi, but failed to do so. All these victims belong to Amritsar and they had no choice but to come back to their native villages. In March, he allegedly charged Rs 4 lakh each from Gurjinder Pal Singh of Suderh in this district and Kashmir Singh of Daburji in Amritsar district for sending them to the USA. The SSP said that the accused sent Gurjinderpal Singh and Kashmir Singh to Thailand instead of the USA. They were kept as captives in Thailand and were not allowed to move out. They neither got any job nor food to eat for many days. Somehow both managed to reach their village and narrated their tale of woe to their parents. The SSP said that Sukhminder Singh had confessed to having cheated innocent persons on the promise of sending them abroad. |
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Probe urged into duping of Cornhill
depositors AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — The District Consumer Welfare
Forum has requested the Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen (retd) JFR Jacob, to order a CBI inquiry into the duping of depositors of crores of rupees by Cornhill Auto Investment MD Tarwinder Singh Madaan and others. A criminal case was registered against the Managing Director and others last year but the police had taken no action so far. The forum said the accused persons had filed an insolvency case in the Civil court to evade the payments. The forum said the 122 depositors were shown in the insolvency case as “bogus companies” whereas the majority of the depositors were “individuals” and not “firms” who were given post-dated cheques against their deposits. The amounts shown against the “bogus companies” were also less than the actual deposits. |
Tap your potential, VC tells students PATIALA, Aug 18 — The Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, gave a clarion call to the students to adopt the slogan — Dare to be yourself. Dr Ahluwalia was addressing the new students. He stressed that students should not run after obtaining degrees, but should try to tap their potential for overall development of their personality. He added that though the present situation was not up to the mark, students with their excellent performance in different fields could play an effective role in cleaning the system. Dr Ahluwalia urged the students to work tirelessly for achieving their objectives. He appealed to the students to get in touch with their culture and tradition so that they could become an asset to the nation and torch-bearers to the next generation. Earlier, Dr D.S. Dhillon, Dean Students, emphasised the need for a disciplined life and hard work. He assured the students that the university would devote all resources at its disposal to help the students to grow physically, emotionally, intellectually and culturally. Dr Kuldip Singh Dhir, Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr S.S. Khaira and Prof Harjinderpal Singh Walia also spoke. Refresher course Inaugurating the refresher course on recent advances in botany on the university campus yesterday, Dr Ahluwalia highlighted the importance of quality research in the life on an institution and also stressed that a university was known by its research contributions rather than by its administration. He also pointed the role of information technology in updating the knowledge about recent developments in various disciplines. Dr J.S. Dargan, Head of the Botany Department, presented the nature of the 21-day refresher course, being held from August 17 to September 6. The participants of the refresher course are Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Dr B.S. Bhatia, Dean, Research, and Registrar, and Dr T.A. Sarma, Dean Life Sciences, also spoke. Results declared Punjabi University declared the results of M.A. Psychology part II, M.A. Sociology part II, M.A. Religious Studies part-I and II, M.A. English Part -I, M.A. Philosophy Part-I, M.Sc. Statistics Part-I, LL.B. Part-III and MBA (IB) fourth Semester on August 18. Giving this information, Mr Paramjit Singh Khaira, Controller of Examinations, said in a press note that the result gazettes of these examinations would be available at the enquiry counter in the evening the same day. Editor appointed Dr R.N. Pal, Professor in the Department of Political Science, has been appointed Editor of
Gantanter Ki Virasat, on the republican traditions in India, by the Union Ministry of the Culture and Tourism. The communication to this effect was received by the university today. |
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Academic exchange programme PATIALA, Aug 18 — “We broadened our horizons, our mindset and confidence levels” was the spontaneous reaction of students of Yadavindra Public School here who went abroad to New College in Telford in the United Kingdom last month as part of an exchange programme. Twelve Yadavindrians visited Telford under the programme. The three-week programme, under the supervision of three staff members, enabled the young students to interact with “A”-level students of New College, besides gaining an insight and making an endeavour to understand their culture and traditions. Talking about this unique experience, Mrs Dipwinder Kaur Sidhu, a faculty member of the school, said that the interaction between the teachers and the students was the main essence of the European education
system. The career counselling facilities provided by the school authority helped channelising the talent at an early stage, she said. Sonam Bains, the only girl in the team, appreciated the concept of summer jobs undertaken by the students. The students enjoyed more social freedom there, she said. Sherbir Singh Thind, another team member, said that the trip was an eye-opener as it threw light into the culture, education system and lifestyle of the British which were very unlike the image depicted in the western movies. The European system of education provided more choice of subjects, said Ankrit Arora, one of team members. The education was more practical-oriented as compared to the Indian system. However, the Europeans were less social than their Indian counterpart, he said. The students took part in special classes in arts, fashion designing, sculpture, sound recording, information technology and other related subjects. A cultural exchange programme was also organised where the Indian students performed traditional Bhangra. Two goodwill matches were played between the YPS and New College teams. The team visited Oxford, Stratford, Wolverhamton University, Iron Bridge and Alton Towers, besides London and
Birmingham. The team was accompanied by Mrs Sangeeta Malik, Mr Bhim Inder Singh and Mrs Dipwinder Kaur Sidhu. |
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Education Secy
holds meeting with VCs AMRITSAR, Aug 18 — Mr G.P.S. Sahi, Secretary, Higher Education, presided over a high-powered-meeting to seek suggestions and discuss implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and
streamlining of education in all universities of Punjab. Mr R.M. Goel, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, were present to discuss the implementation of 180 days’ teaching as per UGC rules and minimising the holidays. The meeting called for measures to curb the trend of unnecessary holidays and increase the working days. A prominent decision was regarding identification of suitable colleges and institutes to introduce information technology right from the basics. |
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Computer study must: Jacob MUKTSAR, Aug 18 — Lt-Gen (retd) J.F.R. Jacob, Punjab Governor, today said that it was the need of the hour to introduce a job-oriented education policy in the state to overcome the problem of unemployment. Addressing a function organised in connection with the foundation laying ceremony of a modern bus stand in this city, he said that computer education was a must for the youth of the state to enable them to face global competition. Lt-Gen Jacob said that the education policy should enable youths to start their own vocation after finishing college. The Punjab Government had introduced computer education in 700 high schools of the state, he added. He pointed out that the Punjab Government had made a comprehensive plan to provide facilities to travellers by setting up modern bus stands in all major towns of the state. Under this scheme, old bus stands would also be renovated to quip them with all modern facilities. The local modern bus stand would be ready within one year at a cost of Rs 5.29 crore.
Modern shelters and bathrooms would be part of this bus stand, he added. The Governor pointed out that families of those soldiers who had laid down their lives for the country during the Kargil conflict last year had been given monetary grant and other facilities, as per the rules. He added that it could be claimed with pride that Punjabis always contributed a lot in defending the
frontiers of the country and about 170 Punjabis laid down their lives in the Kargil conflict. After the function, Lt-Gen Jacob met ex-servicemen and widows of Army personnel and police personnel and listened to their grievances. He assured them that their problems would be solved on a priority basis. Mr Sujan Singh, state Rural Development Minister, and Mr Harnirpal Singh Kuku, MLA, was present. |
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