 |
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| Sunday,
November 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Talwandi
willing to head SGPC Badal
shielding Bibi: Mann BSF-Pak
Rangers ties under strain Work to
start on 2 canals Flash
strikes in IT units banned |
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Population
census from Feb 9 Tussle over
octroi disputes continues Number of
migratory birds rises at Harike Terrorism course for NGOs
concludes Midnight
drama over house Punjabi fiction
yet to come of age
Cong poll
meeting on Nov 7 Only
Amarinder can lead party in Punjab: Mohi
Dr M.S.
Randhawa Best Book Award
Intellectuals back demand for dist status Bhinder’s
son ready to don father’s mantle 1 killed, 2 hurt in
road mishap
Probe into death of
undertrial Amarjit Singh Chawla
sworn in
Plant set to double generation capacity Licences of 43
arhtiyas suspended Stone laid for 66 KV
grid Encroachments removed Seven shops
demolished Tandon sanctions site
for blood bank
Joint Director faces
criminal case
Dr Choudhury opens
youth fest
HUDCO clears Rs 140
crore projects
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Talwandi
willing to head SGPC CHANDIGARH, NOV 4 — The chairman of the disciplinary committee of
the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, today said that
he was ready to replace Bibi Jagir Kaur as the SGPC chief.
Mr Talwandi, who is a member of the executive committee of the SGPC,
told The Tribune that there was a need to improve the image of the SGPC
and this could only be done by a leader like him (Talwandi), he added.
When asked if he was a candidate for the presidentship of the SGPC,
Mr Talwandi said he would be happy to be one. He said decision in this
regard would only be taken after the return of Mr Badal from the USA
next week.
Mr Suchha Singh Langah, PWD Minister, Punjab, whose name is also
figuring in the party circles as a candidate for the SGPC presidentship,
told The Tribune today that he was not interested. Mr Langah is a member
of the SGPC and a Badal loyalist. The name of Mr Mal Singh Ghuman,
Chairman, Punjab Mandi Board, is also being mentioned for the SGPC top
post.
The election of the SGPC president is scheduled to be held before
month end. A 21- day notice for holding the election is mandatory. The
notice for the election would have to be given by November 10.
The party has started a search for a candidate for the SGPC
president. The general body SGPC elections are scheduled for November
next year. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections are to follow the SGPC
election. The results of the SGPC elections will have an effect on the
Vidhan Sabha elections. |
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Badal
shielding Bibi: Mann DADUWAL (Sirsa), Nov 4 — The President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar),
Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, while accusing the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir
Kaur, of killing her pregnant daughter, Harpreet Kaur, alleged that the
Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had helped her in destroying all
evidence of the alleged crime.
Mr Mann, who was here to attend the “parkash divas” of Guru
Granth Sahib organised by Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal at the local
historical gurdwara, said Bibi Jagir Kaur should resign from the
presidentship of the SGPC and Mr Badal should stop protecting her.
He alleged that both Mr Badal and Bibi Jagir Kaur were following the
path which was neither legally nor morally right. He added that the
Punjab police and state government were deliberating keeping ASI Nishan
Singh away from the CBI. Nishan Singh, who was a close relative of Bibi
Jagir Kaur, was also an accused in the FIR registered by the CBI in
connection with the death of Harpreet Kaur.
He pointed out that activities of Bibi Jagir Kaur had brought bad
name to the Sikh community. Bibi Jagir Kaur should step down from the
post of SGPC president.
He alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Badal had destroyed the
evidence relating to the murder of Harpreet Kaur in order to stop any
legal action against Bibi Jagir Kaur and her associates. He added that
even the post-mortem of the deceased was not allowed.
Mr Mann disclosed that his party had made all preparations in
connection with the forthcoming SGPC elections and would field its
candidate for the post of president. He added that his party would also
contest the Assembly elections whenever these would be held in the
state.
He criticised Mr Badal for using the SGPC for personal gains and
added that with the frequent change of Jathedar of Akal Takht their
dignity was being lowered.
Mr Mann alleged that two Sikhs had been deliberately involved in the
Kanishka bomb case in a bid to defame Sikhs all over the globe by the
BJP government. He added that he personally knew one of the accused,
Ripudaman Singh Malik of Ferozepore, who was running a school at
Vancouver in Canada and was not involved in this crime.
He pointed out that one of Punjab ministers had also met Malik at his
school about three years ago but the same minister was now denying this
meeting.
Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal, said his jatha was leaving no stone
unturned to serve the suffering section of society. He added that his
jatha was trying to motivate the youths to get themselves baptised so
that they could be saved from drug- addiction.
He said apart from preaching religious values, the jatha was also
organising blood camps, immunisation camps, eye donation camps and
medical check-up camps. |
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BSF-Pak
Rangers ties under strain HUSSAINIWALA (Ferozepore), Nov 4 — The Indo-Pak hostilities have
affected the once cordial ties between the Border Security Force (BSF)
and Pakistani Rangers.
If The Retreat ceremony held here daily is any indication, soldiers
participating in the parade exchange hostile gestures during flag
lowering ceremony every evening.
Recently, the two sides have even started asking the civilians to
raise slogans in favour of their respective countries. In case any
animal or a civilian accidently strays into the enemy territory there is
little room for leniency.
Brief greetings shared between the officers on either side is only a
formality now. Until the 1965 Indo Pak war broke out, the frontier areas
were manned by the Punjab Armed Police and its staff had good social
interaction with the force on the other side.
The sentries from two sides often played volleyball, kabaddi and
cards. “At times the officials used to barge into the enemy territory
for fun”, a veteran BSF officer remembered. Even until the 1971 war,
the soldiers also bartered gifts. While Pakistanis loved Indian liquor,
Indian sentries mostly wanted electronic goods from Pakistan.
Greetings were also exchanged during festivals on either side. Joint
patrolling was also common during those days and getting back a civilian
straying into the enemy’s territory through persuasion was not
difficult.
With emergence of terrorism in Punjab during the 80s, an atmosphere
of mistrust had set in. As Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism was
proved beyond doubt, the Indian Government decided to raise security
fencing along the international border to prevent infiltration. This had
drastically changed the social equation between the two forces. |
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Work
to start on 2 canals CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — Even as the Dasmesh Canal project is yet to
take off, is to start on a new Hithar Canal and the Uppar Bari Doab
Canal (UBDC) system.
While the former will benefit Ferozepore district in the Malwa
region, the latter is for the Majha region, Gurdaspur and Amritsar
districts.
One also wonders what happened to two hydro-electric projects on the
Sutlej-Yamuna link canals.
The Dasmesh canal will start from Bhakra Main Line near Ropar. Its
length including branch canals and distributaries will be 375 km. The
project cost is Rs 450 crore. The clearance from the Central Water
Commission is awaited.
It will irrigate fields in Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala
districts. Through deep-bore tubewells it will irrigate upper regions.
The intended benefits will reach to Sialwa Majri, Chamkaur Sahib, Kharar,
Bassi Pathana, Rajpura, Ghanaur and Dera Bassi. The alignment of the
canal is along the Shivalik foothills.
Both the Hithar canal and the UBDC systems’ remodelling projects
were prepared during the tenure of Chief Engineer, Canals, Mr P.K.
Singla, who retired on October 31.
The Hithar canal will cost Rs 53.02 crore and the UBDC Rs 177.80
crore. Informed sources say that Hithar will start from Mallanwala. The
canal length is 31.30 km and shall have a discharge of 1,303 cusecs.
Once completed it will irrigate 329,024 acres.
The remodelling of the UBDC will mean restructuring of the 2,500-odd
km network in Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts. It will have a gross
command area of 6.17 lakh hectares. The proposed area to be irrigated is
4.72 lakh hectares against the existing 3.54 lakh hectares. This would
increase irrigation intensity from 65 per cent to 87 per cent.
The UBDC system starts from Madhopur headworks on the Ravi.
Henceforth the system will draw water from the reservoir built at Thein.
Thus assured water will be available for the system. The water allowance
for the system has been enhanced from 3.50 cusecs to 5.50 cusecs per
1000 acres at distributory head in “khara” Majha and from 3.50
cusecs to 4.50 cusecs per 1000 acres at the distributory level in the
remaining tract.
The project will mean the remodelling of 383 km-long unlined main
canals and 2,370 km network of distributories and minors. Some of these
channels even catered to Punjab areas (now in Pakistan). Those have
bigger cross-sections than required. The same will be reduced to achieve
full supply levels and proper irrigation.
Unless completed expeditiously, Ranjit Sagar’s potential will
remain under utilised. In fact the project has cleared the Akali
government of a pro-Malwa charge now that attention has been paid to
Majha.
The Hithar canal will run parallel to the Sirhind feeder, constructed
in 1955-56. Initially, its capacity was 4,762 cusecs. Later it was
increased to 5,264 cusecs. The decision to remodel and line the canals
was taken in 1994 to enhance their carrying capacity by 20 per cent.
Poor maintenance of the Sirhind feeder forced the authorities to
reduce its capacity. Repairs were deferred due to shortage of time for
closure. While Punjab areas suffered even Rajasthan could not get due
share. A parallel canal has been proposed to contain upheaval at the
Harike headworks. |
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Flash
strikes in IT units banned CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — The Punjab Government has amended the relevant
sections of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947, to “flash strikes” in
information technology units.
Addressing a press conference, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Labour and
Employment Minister, Punjab, said today that this step had been taken as
these units were “public utility service.”
Mr Tandon said henceforth women workers can work round the clock in
the service-oriented IT units. This industry would be treated on a par
with the health care services. Further, in respect of the manufacturing
units in the information technology sector, the women workers would be
able to work from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. while earlier it was allowed from 6
a.m. to 7 p.m. He said the working hours in the IT industry had been
increased to 12 hours from the existing nine hours a day and from 48
hours to 60 hours a week. The limit of overtime limit has also been
raised from 60 hours to 75 hours a quarter.
Mr Tandon said the government had also exempted all shops and
commercial establishments in the state, which did not employ labour,
from the Section 9 and 10 of the Punjab Shops and Commercial
Establishments Act, 1958. Now these shops or establishments can remain
open round the clock without a close day.
The minister said instructions had been given to the field officers
to hold single-visit inspection of an establishment once a year. He said
all the field officers would go together. Instructions have been given
to file one challan for all the violations.
All business establishments have been directed to maintain a common
inspection book for recording inspections done under various business
related laws.
All these initiatives, according to the minister, will encourage
entrepreneurs to set up labour-intensive units rather than
capital-intensive units.
Mr Tandon said the Competent State Authority and site appraisal
committee, which approved sites for medium and large scale industries
and for hazarduous units, have been merged and named the Competent State
Authority-cum-Site Appraisal Committee (CSA). Entrepreneurs would have
to submit only one application to the Udyog Sahayak and the clearance
for the same would be given on behalf of all departments by the CSA.
He said the building plans of the factories would be cleared by the
department within a period of two months from the date of submission of
the application. The period would be further reduced to one month in
case the applicant agree to pay the double fee fixed for the clearance
of the building plan. |
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Population
census from Feb 9 AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — More than 100 crore population of India and
nearly 10 crore households would be covered during the “Population
Enumeration Census of India-2001”, scheduled for February 9 to 28,
2001 throughout the country.
Stating this here today, the Registrar-General-cum-Census
Commissioner, Government of India, Mr J.K. Banthia, presided over a
district-level conference-cum-training of census officers of Amritsar
district and the municipal corporation held here.
He said forthcoming census will be the 14th in a regular series and
the sixth after Independence.
The data produced is multi-dimensional in its extent and scope as it
contains information of demography, economy, social and cultural
characteristics, fertility, mortality, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes, language, religion, migration, health, employment, ageing,
housing, household amenities and urbanisation etc.
Dr Inderjit Singh, IAS, Chief Principal Census Officer and Director
of Census Operations, Punjab, said more than 51,000 enumerators and
supervisors would be appointed to complete the census operations in the
state. District officers at different levels have been designated as
census officers to supervise census operations. The Deputy Commissioners
and Commissioners of the four municipal corporations of Amritsar,
Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala have been designated as Principal Census
Officers. ADCs will be the District Census Officers, Assistant
Commissioners of municipal corporations will be City Census Officers
while SDMs will hold the function of Subdivisional Census Officers in
their respective jurisdiction.
For special areas under the occupation of defence, the CRPF, the BSF
etc are to be grouped as special charges/areas and for whom charge
officers will be appointed from among the officials of such forces.
Mr Inderjit Singh disclosed as per the 1991 census the Punjab
population stands at 202.81 lakh, out of which 107.78 lakh are males and
95.03 lakh are females. As many as 142.88 lakh are from rural areas and
59.93 lakh are urbanites.
Houselisting operations were conducted from May 3 to 24. Population
enumeration will be undertaken throughout the country from February 9 to
28 next year with a revisional round from March 1 to 5, 2001. |
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Tussle
over octroi disputes continues ROPAR, Nov 4 — Nine councillors of the Ropar Municipal Council,
expressing dissatisfaction at the working of the President, Mr Inder Sen
Chatwal, through a resolution last evening delegated powers to settle
disputes regarding the octroi to the Senior Vice-President, Mr Gurvinder
Singh Mottu. The resolution was passed by nine against five votes.
The councillors supporting the President, however, later passed a
proceeding note that the resolution was not valid.
The dispute over the octroi between the two rival groups in the
council supported by the two ruling party ministers — Mr Madan Mohan
Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, and Master Tara Singh Ladal,
Minister for Education — has been going on for quite some time.
The ruling party councillors, who are against the President, had
earlier alleged that the octroi contract was ‘benami’. The work was
allegedly allocated to relatives of the Junior Vice-President of the
council. These councillors had also led a procession of members of the
Ropar Beopar Mandal that had ransacked the office of the octroi
contractor.
The president of the council, who is being supported by Master Tara
Singh Ladal had, however, termed the charges as baseless.
The Punjab Government has, meanwhile, instituted an inquiry into the
alleged irregularities in the octroi contract allocation on a complaint
by eight municipal councillors. The Chief Vigilance Officer of the local
bodies, Mr LC Sharma, yesterday raided the office of the Ropar Municipal
Council and confiscated certain records. He also recorded the statements
of certain employees and municipal councillors. |
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Number
of migratory birds rises at Harike FEROZEPORE, Nov 4 — At least six varieties of migratory birds have
arrived at the Harike wetland. Significantly, the number of these birds
is almost double than the one witnessed during previous years.
The Punjab wildlife officials stated that Pintail, Chinese Coot,
Brahmni Duck, Spot Bill, Vijion and Shovler are some of the migratory
birds witnessed in big number at the wetland. Attributing their big
arrival to the sources of the Army operation that was launched here to
weed out hyacinth from the wetland lake, they observed that the arrival
rate was almost double than the one witnessed during the last migratory
season and expected it to rise further.
Earlier the thick hyacinth cover had prevented the movement of these
birds in the wetland, the Wildlife Inspector, Mr Rupinder Singh, told
TNS. He observed that the bird arrival was significantly high this time.
He also stated that the birds had arrived a little early this time
and expected more migratory ducks to reach Harike by the November-end.
Bird watchers from far-flung areas were also expected to reach here
anytime, he said.
Adequate arrangements are being made to protect the area from
poachers and the wildlife staff has stepped up its vigil. The wildlife
staff has also been on the lookout for the distillers of illicit liquor
on the islands of the wetland. |
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Terrorism
course for NGOs concludes PHILLAUR, Nov 4 — A five days’ sepcialised course on “Terrorism
and related issues (latest trends in terrorism)” for NGOs concluded at
Punjab Police Academy here today. As many as 20 NGOs from Punjab Police
and the CISF and Tripura have attended this course.
The valedictory address was delivered by Mr Chander Shekhar, IPS, IGP,
PPA. He stressed on the need to enhance the image of the police and
emphasised the necessity to use scientific investigative techniques. He
also said the police officers should be honest and impartial and advised
the participants of this course to perform their duties in keeping with
the law in an impartial manner. The IGP had first-hand interaction with
the participants to get the feedback on the usefulness and utility of
the course. The participants acknowledged the usefulness of the course.
The focus of the course was on terrorism related issues.
The objectives of this course were to enable the participants to have
better understanding of terrorism and its causes highlight the legal
framework for tackling terrorism and acquaint the participants with the
latest trends in terrorism and linkage with other illicit activities and
future challenges.
The course has been designed by Mr A.A. Siddiqui, IPS, ADGP-cum-Director,
PPA, Phillaur. He said it was necessary for police officers to re-orient
themselves towards normal policing in the state and acquaint themselves
with the latest trends of terrorism.
At the valedictory function, Ms Anita Punj, IPS course
Director-cum-Deputy Director (Indoor), PPA, Phillaur, welcomed the chief
guest and read out the course report. Mr Praveen Sinha, IPS, Deputy
Director (Outdoor), and other senior officers of the academy were also
present. |
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Midnight
drama over house PATIALA,
Nov 4 — Punjabi University witnessed a drama last night, with the
university authorities taking back the house allotted to the daughter of
an Akali Dal functionary, which was locked earlier in the day by the
institution’s teaching association. This was followed by a dharna by
teachers outside the disputed house, before a compromise was effected
between the groups at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. The
university authorities swung into action late in the evening yesterday
by breaking open the locks put by the Punjabi University Teachers
Association (PUTA) executive earlier in the afternoon. PUTA had locked
the house allotted to Ms Amarbir Kaur, daughter of Mr Kirpal Singh
Badungar, Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister, claiming the
university authorities had flouted all norms while making the allotment.
Ms Amarbir is a junior proof-reader in the Department of Punjabi
Development and the house is earmarked for teaching staff. According to sources, the University
Security Officer, the Dean, Students, and the Registrar assisted
university officials in breaking open the lock put by PUTA. The sources
said the breaking of the lock resulted in 70 to 80 teachers starting a
dharna on the spot. The PUTA President, Dr Bhupinder Singh Khaira,
apprised the Vice-Chancellor of the situation late in the night,
following which a delegation of the executive met the Vice-Chancellor to
resolve the issue. They said the dharna was lifted after midnight. The
university authorities, in a press release, said the PUTA president
asked for a meeting last night to defuse the situation. It said during
the meeting at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, it was made clear to
PUTA that in no case would the house be allotted to the teacher whose
claim was pressed by PUTA. It was also made clear that the teacher
concerned would not be given any other house. The release said Ms
Amarbir would be allotted another house on her own request as she did
not want to be involved in the controversy. A PUTA executive committee
member said it had been agreed in the meeting with the Vice-Chancellor
that the allotment in the name of Ms Amarbir would be cancelled and she
would not be given any house earmarked for teaching staff. He said it
was wrong for the Vice-Chancellor to claim that the teachers had agreed
to any arrangement which would deprive the forensic science teacher, who
had earlier been given the disputed house, from being allotted any other
house on the university campus. The university authorities today also
claimed that the two teachers — Dr Sukhdayal Singh and Dr D.K. Verma
— who had been rejected by the selection committee for promotion under
the Career Advancement Scheme, had disassociated themselves from the
PUTA stand that all teachers standing for interview under the scheme
should be selected. It said following this, the Vice-Chancellor had
assured both teachers that they would be given a second chance to avail
themselves of promotion under the scheme. PUTA had made rejection of the
two teachers an issue in its executive meeting yesterday. It said both
teachers, who were PUTA members, had not given any such notice to the
organisation. It also claimed that it did not understand the sense
behind the disassociation as a teacher could not disassociate from the
decisions of the PUTA executive while remaining its member. |
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Punjabi fiction
yet to come of age PATIALA, Nov 4 — If the popularity of Punjabi language is to
be linked with the sale of Punjabi fiction read by the common man, the
language is far behind its other regional cousins, with few Punjabi
writers striking a chord with the masses. This may be one reason why
Punjabi is not supreme even in Punjab, with English and Hindi holding
their sway in the region, feel writers and the people participating in
the “Punjabi Week” celebrations being held at the state language
department headquarters here. Punjabi fiction is also not faring well
in the exhibition being held at the ‘Bhasha Bhavan’ here. The
exhibition has private book publishers selling fiction, non-fiction and
general knowledge books, besides books published by Punjabi
University. Most of the publishers, who have been exhibiting their
books since November 1, have hardly registered any sales at all. Talking
to them, it was revealed that the readers were not taking to fiction in
a big way. It is this category which rakes in the maximum money through
large sales, says Mr Satish Jain of Lok Geet Prakashan. Fiction works of
only five to six novelists sold well, with there hardly being any market
for others in this category . Among those who have made a mark for
themselves and are the favourite fiction writers of the masses are
Jaswant Singh Kamal, Gurdial Singh, Ram Swarup Ankhi, Dalip Kaur Tiwana,
Amrita Pritam and Kartar Singh Duggal, besides a few others. Mr Jain
said while books of these authors had been sold, there was little sale
of works of fresh talent. He said the major book houses of the state did
not risk publishing new talent. The book exhibitionists say the main
reason why Punjabi literature is not able to establish deep roots in
Punjabi society is the lack of reading culture. “We as a people lack
taste for reading”, says Amarjit Singh, an avid reader himself. He
says youngsters are not encouraged to cultivate this habit, with a
largely agrarian society considering it to be a feminine trait. “Our
aim to become successful in earning money also discourages cultivation
of any such tastes”, he added. Others who had come to view the
exhibition complained that most texts on non-fiction books were of poor
quality and were neither imaginative nor were put together in a
systematic manner. “Why will I read a general knowledge book in
Punjabi when I am assured of much better quality fare in English and
Hindi”, says Sunita Rani, a school student. Languages department
director Madan Lal Hasija said Punjabi fiction lagged behind works in
other languages, particularly Kannada and Bengali. He said in both the
latter languages, particularly Bengali, the regional language had become
a vehicle for disseminating popular fiction as well as latest trends of
the outer world. He said Punjabi needed to be taken to the grassroot
level, where people should be encouraged to adopt it as a learning as
well recreational medium. Dr Hasija said this would only be possible if
Punjabi language was made simpler. He added that there was need to shun
Sanskritisation of Punjabi and not to get into the trap of finding
equivalent words for commonly used English words. He said writers should
adopt the language of the common villager so that he could empathise
with the written work. The languages director said some progress had
been achieved in the field of children literature in Punjab. He said
writers were being encouraged to write for children so that the
department did not need to translate the works of foreign authors in
this field. He said workshops organised by the department had led to
greater maturity and increasing interactive value in children literature
in Punjabi. |
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Cong poll meeting on
Nov 7 BATHINDA, Nov 4 — The election authority of the Congress has called
a meeting on November 7 to redress the grievances of the party workers
of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh in connection with
the delegates of the pradesh Congress committees (PCCs) in the recent
past.
Party sources said the election authority was forced to call the
meeting on November 7 when it came to know that resentment prevailed
among workers over the election of delegates of PCCs. This could cause
trouble in the smooth election of Mrs Sonia Gandhi as AICC president on
November 12.
Highly placed party sources said senior Congress workers of Punjab,
who had been ignored in PPCC delegates’, list would rush to Delhi on
November 6 to put forth their grievances before the election authority.
The sources added that a number of senior Congress leaders, including
former MLAs and ministers, had lodged a complaint against their
exclusion from the list of the recently made delegates of the PPCC.
They alleged that it was done as the PPCC poll was hijacked to Delhi
by a section of party leaders to adjust their kith and kin and other
favourites. They added that some of the members of the PPCC were new to
the party while those who had served the party for decades had been
ignored.
They pointed out that senior leaders, who had not been taken as PPCC
members included Chaudhary Darshan Singh, Mr Anil Dutta, who was
readmitted to the party rank and file with the special orders of Mrs
Gandhi, Mr Surinder Kapoor, Mr Gulzar Singh, Mr D.P. Sabarwal, Mr Naresh
Thakur (all former ministers) and scores of the other senior workers.
A senior Congress leader pointed out that there was a similar
situation in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. The infightings
in the state units of these states had led to some senior leaders openly
supporting Mr Jitendra Prasad, who is contesting against Mrs Gandhi for
the presidentship of the AICC.
He added that the party high command might also postpone the
elections for presidents of different state units till Mrs Gandhi became
the president of the AICC.
He added that senior workers had brought to the notice of the
election authority names of those party leaders who had figured twice in
the list of PPCC delegates in different capacities and who were having
different political backgrounds. |
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Only
Amarinder can lead party in Punjab: Mohi PATIALA, Nov 4 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Organising
Secretary, Dr Satwant Singh Mohi, today said the Pradesh Congress
President, Capt Amarinder Singh, was the only person who could lead the
party to victory in the coming Assembly elections . In a statement
here, Dr Mohi said Congress workers at the grassroot level were
whole-heartedly with Capt Amarinder Singh and were working for the
victory of Ms Sonia Gandhi in the forthcoming presidential election. He
urged Mr Jitender Prasada to withdraw from the contest and said Mr
Prasada was inciting anti-party feelings by contesting for the AICC
president’s post. |
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Dr M.S. Randhawa Best
Book Award
MOGA, Nov 4 (UNI) — The book titled “Reducing Soil Water
Evaporation with Tillage and Straw Mulching” by Dr S.K. Jalota and Dr
S.S. Parihar has been selected for Dr M.S. Randhawa Best Book Award for
the year 1998.
The book, which has been published by the Ohio State University
Press, USA, has been approved for the award by the Vice-Chancellor,
Punjab Agricultural University on the recommendations of a committee
consisting of Dr M.S. Bajwa, Director, Research, Dr K.S. Sekhon, Dean,
Dr H.S. Garcha, former Dean, and Dr S.S. Gill, Additional Director,
Extension Education (Communication Centre).
Dr S.S. Parihar, who is a soil scientist of international repute, has
written the book after retirement. Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU,
congratulated the authors and said the book carried a cash award of Rs
5,000 and a certificate.
Elaborating the need for a book on saving water, the authors have
said that availability of fresh water supplies is likely to be a major
limiting factor in meeting the future agricultural needs of the growing
world population.
Conservation and efficient use of water held the key to saving this
precious resource. |
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Intellectuals back demand for dist status BATALA, Nov 4 (PTI) — The local Zila Banao Sangharsh Committee got a boost when political, social and religious organisations, besides intellectuals, extended their support to the Bar Association, members of which have been observing a chain fast to press the Punjab Government to accord district status to Batala police district. The chain fast entered its ninth day today. Bar Association members Rajinder Sarup, Gurinder Singh Dhaliwal, Vinodh Mark and Pritam Lal and Journalist Pradeep Luthra, President, Working Journalist Union (Batala), sat on a chain fast in front of the office of the SDM today. Meanwhile, the rally of the Bar Association got a momentum when children from B.R. Ambedkar Little Flower School and representatives from political and social organisations participated in the rally organised on court premises. Later, they blocked traffic on Gandhi Chowk for an hour. Former CPI MLA Gurnam Singh Dhirowali, former Akali MLA Kulwant Singh Boparai, CPI District Secretary Mohinder Singh, CPI’s Assistant Secretary Iqbal Singh Bajwa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee’s intellectual cell chairman Madan Mohan Singh Cheema, Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress General Secretary Manorma Khullar, District Bar Association (Nawanshahr) President Mehnga Singh, city Congress President Kasturi Lal Seth, Rural Congress President Rajinder Julka, BJP District President Dev Raj Chachowalia, SAD (Amritsar) executive member Jagdish Mahli, and Mr Pardeep Luthra have announced their support to the Zila Banao Sangharsh Committee. |
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Bhinder’s
son ready to don father’s mantle AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — The tragic death of his father S.S. Bhinder, a
co-pilot of the ill-fated Kanishka aircraft has not deterred his son
Ashamdip Singh Bhinder (23) from joining the profession of his father.
Young Ashamdip is ready for the sortie.
He has completed the last leg of his commercial training at the local
aviation club with broad smile on his face. Ashamdip Bhinder wants to
join the Air India where his father was working till his death in the
crash in which 329 persons were killed in 1985 due to bombing by some
Canadian Sikhs. While talking to the TNS here today, he said Air India
had looked after the family in a nice way and he would give top
preference to this airlines. In case Air India refused to give him job
then he would try for another airways.
Ashamdip had already got training from various places, including the
USA as commercial pilot. He, however, said he had preferred to complete
his training in Amritsar and it was a matter of great satisfaction for
him.
Ashamdip was only eight-year-old when his father was killed in the
air crash near Ireland. He said he was motivated by his mother to take
up flying as a career.
The young pilot expressed satisfaction over the arrest of Ripudaman
Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri — the main accused — in the case
of bombing of the Air India jumbo jet by the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP). When asked that the relatives of both accused had claimed
that they were (innocent) and were not involved in world’s one of the
greatest human tragedies, he said the RCMP had taken 15 years to arrest
the accused and hence investigations were bound to be fool proof. He
added that at one time Bhinder family had lost all hope of getting
justice. However, there was a ray of hope when the Canadian police
announced a huge award for anyone providing a clue to the bombing.
Ashamdip said exemplary punishment should be given to the accused. |
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1 killed, 2 hurt in
road mishap
GURDASPUR, Nov 4 (UNI) — A 25-year-old man died while his parents
were injured in a road accident near Babri village on the outskirts of
the town past midnight today, the police said.
Manav died on the spot while his father, Purshottam Arora, and
mother, Veena, were injured when the car driven by Mr Arora hit a
roadside tree at around 1.30 p.m.
Mrs Veena has been shifted to a private hospital in Jalandhar city,
while Mr Arora escaped with minor injuries, the police added. |
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Probe into death of
undertrial GURDASPUR, Nov 4 — Mr Husan Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner
(G), has ordered an inquiry into the death of Surinder Singh an
undertrial in the local central jail. Surinder Singh died on November 1
evening allegedly due to the negligence of jail authorities. The
tehsildar who is an inquiry officer in this regard, is likely to submit
his report in this week.
Meanwhile, Mr Harbhajan Singh, Superintendent (jail), is also probing
into the cause of the death of Surinder Singh, and is likely to submit
his report to the Inspector-General (prison) by tomorrow.
Inmates of jail yesterday staged a protest on the premises of the
jail against the alleged negligence of jail authorities leading to the
death of the undertrial at the Civil Hospital here on November 1. |
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Amarjit Singh Chawla
sworn in CHANDIGARH, NOV 4 — Mr Amarjit Singh Chawla, was sworn in as a
member of the Punjab Public Services Commission today. The Punjab
Governor, Lieut Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), administered the oath of office
and secrecy to Mr Chawla at a simple ceremony at Punjab Raj Bhavan this
morning.
The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Union Minister, Mr
Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and other Punjab ministers like Raja Narinder
Singh, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mr Sucha Singh Langah and senior Akali
leader, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder were
present on the occasion.
Mr Chawla has been a frontline leader of the All India Sikh Students
Federation. He was arrested during Operation Bluestar and remained in
the Jodhpur jail for five years. After doing B.Sc. (Agriculture) from
Khalsa College, Amritsar, Mr Chawla did MA in political science.
After release from jail, he became a staunch supporter of Mr Parkash
Singh Badal. |
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Plant set to double generation capacity CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — The Guru Hargobind Power Plant at Lehra Mohabbat (Bathinda) is all set to double its power generation capacity with the Ministry of Environment, Government of India, giving its final nod for setting up the second stage of the thermal plant. The thermal plant will now have two more units producing 500 MW of electricity in addition to two already existing units generating 420 MW. The permission comes after two years in the wake of a request of the project authorities and it has been accorded after inspection by a committee appointed by the Central Government. The clearance has been given under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the project authorities will be required to comply with the relevant conditions under this law. The conditions include a check on air and water pollution due to chemicals used by the plant, provision for the control of fire, creation of a green belt around its premises and the utilisation of fly ash to the maximum. “If the authorities fail to comply with the conditions, the permission can be withdrawn anytime,” says Mr Dinesh K. Sharma, Conservator of Forests, Northern Region. The thermal plant authorities have already erected a 220 metre-high chimney and have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with certain cement companies to lift the fly ash. A team of experts from the office of the Conservator of Forests led by Dr K.K. Garg, a scientist, will monitor the newly set up units to keep a check on pollution. The plant will not require any additional land to set up the new units and hence no forest area will be occupied. The authorities in the office of the Conservator of Forests say the major factors of concern are fly ash followed by water and smoke mixed with chemicals used by the thermal plant. The fly ash in particular will demand attention as the thermal plant is already generating eight lakh tonnes of the same per year. The ash needs an electrostatic precipitator so that it does not enter the environment direct. Moreover, it occupies 30 to 40 per cent of the plant area and the land used for the purpose is wasted. Ironically, the utilisation of fly ash is not more than 1 per cent as far as the Bathinda thermal plant is concerned while as per the Act 75 per cent of the ash should be utilised. |
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Licences of 43
arhtiyas suspended SANGRUR, Nov 4 — Licences of 43 arhtiyas in the grain markets of
this district have been suspended by the District Food and Supplies’
authorities while suspended licences of 32 arhtiyas have been restored
during the current paddy procurement season so far on account of various
irregularities, including purchase of paddy without bidding and no
markings on the filled paddy bags.
Conferming the suspension of licences, sources in the Food and
Supplies Department here told TNS that licences of 43 arhtiyas were
still under suspension which were being examined by the authorities for
further action while suspended licences of remaining 32 arhtiyas had
been restored after considering the facts in each case. The authorities
had also claimed fines worth about Rs 24,000 from the ‘erring’
arhtiyas.
During raids, the departmental authorities suspended licences of 26
arhtiyas in Malerkotla subdivision while licences of 23, 14 and 12
arhtiyas in Sunam, Sangrur and Barnala subdivisions, respectively, had
been suspended.
Meanwhile, the Sangrur Food and Supplies Department, as a procurement
agency, had procured paddy worth about Rs 103 crore out of which it had
made payment worth about Rs 82 crore to the arhtiyas in the district so
far. The sources claimed that the remaining payment to the arhtiyas
would be made by November 6.
According to the sources, the Sangrur district has topped the state
in paddy procurement by procuring 16,78,423 metric tonnes of paddy till
November 3. The authorities claimed the district may touch 17,25,000
metric tonnes paddy procurement this year as the procurement in the
grain markets was still continuing.
The Sangrur Food and Supplies Department stated that the government
agencies had procured 94.64 per cent paddy so far while the traders had
only procured 5.36 per cent paddy. They claimed this showed that about
95 per cent farmers had got MSP of Rs 540 per quintal in the grain
markets.
Till November 3 the break up of the local procured paddy (16,78,423
MT) was Foodsup-1,70,888 MT, FCI-5,15,784 MT, Markfed-2,79,161 MT,
Punsup-2,93,292 MT, Warehouse-2,12,721 MT, Punjab Agro-1,16,676 MT and
traders-89,901 MT. |
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Stone laid for 66 KV
grid RAMPURAPHUL, Nov 4 — Mr G.S. Sohal, Chairman, Punjab State
Electricity Board (PSEB), said the construction of two units of stage II
of the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant would start in December.
Addressing a function organised in connection with the stone-laying
ceremony of 66 KV grid here yesterday, he said two units of 250 MW each
would be set up at the cost of Rs 1800 crore for which the sanction had
been given by the Central Government.
He said the PSEB would set up the two units on its own, while two
units of 250 MW each at Goindwal Sahib would set up by an Andhra
Pradesh-based private company.
He added that all formalities had been completed for the setting up
of an power plant in the Patran area in Patiala district. The Central
Government had agreed in principle for the project and two units of 250
MW capacity each would be set up in the first phase and later on the
capacity of the plant would be increased.
He said the grid, which was being set up here, would start
functioning by May 31, 2001, and it would case the power supply position
in the area.
Mr Baldev Singh Mann, administrative member, and Mr A.K. Kundra,
member, Generation, PSEB, were present on the occasion. |
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Encroachments removed jalandhar,
Nov 4 (pti) — Under its
ongoing demolition drive against encroachments on government land, the
local Municipal Corporation demolished shops and kiosks at several
places in the city today.
The corporation staff led by Joint Commissioner Krishan Kumar started
the drive at 10 am in the morning which continued for about seven hours.
The corporation authorities demolished seven shops at Old Sabzi
Mandi. Though shopkeepers alleged that they were not issued any notice
before the demolition, the civic authorities refuted the allegation and
said they had been served notices several times before the drive was
launched.
The civic staff demolished encroachments on Jyoti Chowk Road and
removed the dhabas. The encroachments on the busy Civil Line Road were
also removed.
Gurbaksh Singh, who owns a garment shop alleged that he had suffered
a loss of Rs 8 lakh since the authorities did not allow him to take out
his business items from the shop.
“I have been running this shop since Independence, but the civic
authorities did not serve me with any notice and this anti-people drive
has virtually brought me to the roads,” he said. |
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Seven shops
demolished JALANDHAR, Nov 4 — Under an ongoing demolition drive the municipal
corporation authorities demolished seven shops on government land at the
old sabji mandi today.
Municipal Corporation staff led by Joint Commissioner Krishan Kumar
started the demolition drive at 10 am which continued for about six
hours.
Shopkeepers had allegedly encroached on five to six feet of the road
in front of their shops.
Though the shopkeepers alleged that they were not issued any notice,
civic officials said had been served notices several times.
Gurbaksh Singh, a garment shop owner, alleged that he suffered a loss
of Rs 8 lakh since the authorities did not even allow him to evacuate
items from his shop. “I have been running this shop since
independence, but this demolition drive has virtually brought me on the
road,” he said.
Ashwini Kumar, another shopkeeper said he was told by the civic
authorities that encroachment up to 3 feet would be demolished, but they
demolished 7 feet inside the shop.
However, Mr Krishan Kumar said the shopkeepers had been served with
notices several times for the past three years, but they had failed to
file their replies.
“They were allowed to evacuate their belongings from their
respective shops, an hour before the demolition drive began and there
was no financial loss to them,” he added. |
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Tandon sanctions site
for blood bank PHAGWARA, Nov 4 — Punjab Local Bodies Minister Balramji Das Tandon
today drew lots of 30 plots for Scheme No. 3 (Shaheed Bhagat Singh
Nagar) of the local Improvement Trust, measuring 150 to 500 square
yards. These plots are to be allotted to victims of terrorism and riots.
Mr Tandon sanctioned a site for a blood bank here. He handed over its
sanction document to Mr Kuldip Sardana, president, Local Environment
Association, and Mr Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, an NGO, Mr K.L. Gabha,
President, Municipal Council, Phagwara, announced Rs 5 lakh for the
blood bank to come up at the plush Hargobind Nagar locality.
Mr Tandon said parking enclaves would be created in cities for
regulating traffic. Councils, trusts and PUDA would work towards this
end. He said the power sector would be privatised. Flats for all
categories would be constructed in cities.
Mr Om Gupta, Chairman, Local Improvement Trust, announced various
development projects, including a commercial plaza, a community hall and
a parking lot in the town. Former Punjab BJP President Daya Singh Sodhi
also spoke. |
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Joint Director faces
criminal case GURDASPUR, Nov 4 — The Financial Commissioner Development, has
directed the district police to register a criminal case against Mr M.S.
Chahal at present Joint Director, Agriculture and owners of UNITECH and
Competent Engineers for their involvement in the misappropriation of
government funds during the installation of tubewells in 1995-1999. Mr
Chahal was the then Chief Agriculture Officer, who executed the tubewell
project and UNITECH and Competent Engineers, both Pathankot-based
companies, were the suppliers.
Mr Chahal has already been placed under suspension.
Mr Husan Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, (General), conducted
the inquiry in this regard about two months ago and found the said
officer and the said companies guilty on various counts.
According to official sources, 18 tubewells were to be installed in
the district at Kalijpur, Jharoli, Rasulpur, Khude Lalowal, Chackalia,
Panjoli, Chack Madhopur, Chhourrian Bangar, Beri, Jagowal Bangar,
Jalalpur Bedian, Maan, Kahnuwan, Habowal, Sikandar, Dhakki and Chounta.
Each tubewell was to be installed by a village cooperative society,
which had to contribute 25 per cent of the total cost that came out to
be Rs 70,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh depending upon the cost of the tubewell. The
subsidy in this regard varied from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 6.5 lakh per
tubewell. The contribution of the government by way of subsidy amounted
to Rs 1.08 crore and that of rural cooperative societies to Rs 27 lakh.
It may be recalled that most of the tubewells are either not
operational or running below capacity. It is alleged that the accused
had supplied sub-standard material as well as less material at certain
places. Payments against all tubewells had been made by the then Chief
Agriculture Officer without following proper rules.
At a sangat darshan during the said period, the farmers had raised a
hue and cry against the misappropriation of funds regarding the
tubewells. This led to the higher authorities to take prompt action.
The official sources said the misappropriation in this regard
totalled more than Rs 50 lakh. If the material supplied and the laying
of pipes was accounted for, the misappropriation would be much more.
The official sources said the involvement of the assistant
development officers related with the installation of tubewells could
not be ruled out. |
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21 gold biscuits
seized
GURDASPUR, Nov 4 (UNI) — Officials of the Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence (DRI) seized 21 gold biscuits from a car they intercepted
at the Madhopur barrier on the Punjab-Jammu and Kashmir border last
night, DRI sources said.
Baldev Singh, a resident of Clock Tower, New Delhi, was arrested
after the recovery of the gold from the car he was driving, the sources
added. |
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Dr Choudhury opens
youth fest AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — Dr R.S. Choudhury, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra
University, inaugurated a four-day zonal youth festival for women
(A-zone) of Guru Nanak Dev University here today with the lighting of
candles.
Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr R.S.
Bawa, Registrar, and Mr Baljit Singh Sekhon, Director, Youth Welfare,
were present on the occasion.
Dr Choudhury said youth festivals provided a platform to youth to
express their hidden talent which could be useful for their overall
development.
Punjab and Punjabis, he said, were the backbone of India. Punjabis,
he said, always pray for the welfare of all as “Sarbat da bhala”
is an important rendition in gurbani.
Dr such said Kurukshetra and Amritsar are historical places and are
the great centres of religious, spiritual and cultural heritage. He
emphasized that Kurukshetra University and Guru Nanak Dev University
would shortly take some concrete measures for cooperation in the fields
of academics, spiritualism and propagation of culture so that students
and scholars could undertake study and research work in this area.
The Registrar addressing the participants wished they would bring
laurels to the university and institutions concerned by competing in the
national level inter-varsity youth festival.
Mr Baljit Singh Sekhon, elaborating on the festival, said the
four-day festival in which more than 1000 students hailing from 45
affiliated colleges of ‘A’ zone comprising. Amritsar and Gurdaspur
districts would participate in music, dance, theatre and fine arts
competitions. Competitions in music and fine arts were held today.
The festival, he said, would conclude on November 7. |
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Kairon heads school
management TARN TARAN, Nov 4 — Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, a former MP and a
relative of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, was elected
president of the managing committee of the local SGAD Khalsa Senior
Secondary School today.
The other office-bearers are: Patron —Mr Manjit Singh Tarn Tarani;
senior vice-president-cum-acting president — Mr Harmeet Singh;
vice-president — Mr Jaswinder Singh; and manager — Mr Kirpal Singh
Shahabpur. |
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Correction
Teachers working in colleges of Bhatinda, Mansa, Rampura Phul,
Goniana Mandi, Budhlada and Damdama Sahib will go on strike on November
7 and not today as was reported according to a communication of Prof
Charanjit Chawla, general secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh
Teachers Union. The error is regretted. |
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HUDCO clears Rs 140
crore projects BATHINDA, Nov 4 — Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Minister for Science and
Technology, Punjab, said the Housing Development Corporation (HUDCO) had
cleared projects worth Rs 140 crore for the development of water and
sewerage systems in Bathinda, Patiala, Nawanshahr and Rampura, while
speaking at Amarpura Basti in the city.
Mr Garg today inaugurated the drinking water and sewerage project for
the Amarpura Basti at Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and
Technology to be completed at a cost of Rs 85 lakh. He said projects
worth Rs 40 crore had been cleared for water and sewerage projects for
the trans-railway colonies. The driving school by the Tata would soon
come at Jhumba village with an estimated cost of Rs 36 crore and a B.Ed.
college would be opened in the city soon, he added.
The gathering was also addressed by Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhullar,
President, Municipal Council, Bathinda, and a number of municipal
councillors. |
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