M A I N   N E W S

Fee exemption for martyrs’ wards
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 20
Panjab University has decided to grant exemption in the tuition and hostel fees to the wards of the Kargil martyrs from the forthcoming session.

The university also resolved recently to create additional seats for the direct descendants of the martyrs.

At a special meeting it was decided to allow certain concessions to the direct descendants of the Kargil martyrs, who include the wife, daughter and son. The decisions are to be applicable to the university teaching departments and the affiliated colleges.

The proposal comes up at the forthcoming Senate meeting.

The university also proposes to give concessions to the wards of Kashmiri displaced persons.

It will give 5 per cent weightage to those who fulfil the minimum prescribed qualifications (including the entrance test). Significantly, the merit determined will be applicable to all courses, including professional and technical, in the university teaching departments and affiliated colleges.

The university has also decided to increase by 5 per cent the intake of students, subject to a maximum of three seats, of the wards of Kashmir migrants. These will be treated as additional seats at the entry point of all undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The university has further decided to create for the migrants an additional seat “over and above the sanctioned intake” in the professional courses available at the university and affiliated colleges. The courses include BEd, MEd, LLB, BLib, MLib, M Pharma, MMC, MCA, UBS,M Tech (Instrumentation), M Tech (Micro-electronics), M Tech( Energy Management), M Sc (Bio-tech) and BE.

Mumbai, May 20
Undeterred by the issuance of the preliminary termination notice (PTN) by Enron-promoted Dabhol Power Company, the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) has decided to go ahead with its decision to slap yet another Rs 400 crore penalty on the US energy major.

“PTN or no PTN, in first week of June, the MSEB will slap one more Rs 400 crore penalty on the DPC for misdeclaration and default on the availability of power, a review for which will be taken next month”, MSEB sources said here today. The proposed penalty is in wake of DPC’s inability to produce power on February 12 and March 13 as per MSEB’s demand in stipulated time of three hours as per the power purchase agreement, they said.

“In fact, we would pay the Rs 139 crore April bill on May 23 and this will be the last payment from MSEB’s side, rest of the due amount should be adjusted in the penalty”, sources added.

Earlier, the MSEB had slapped a Rs 401 crore penalty on the DPC for ‘not generating’ required power for January 28 demand. PTI