Chandigarh, October 4
The Union Government today relaxed the specifications for the procurement of paddy, thus paving the way for the various government procurement agencies to quicken the process of procurement of farmers’ produce in Punjab. Obviously, the relaxation in the specifications has come as a relief for the beleaguered Punjab Government that was facing the anger of farmers for the past one week.

Under the relaxed specifications, the government agencies have been allowed to procure paddy having damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains up to 8 per cent without any value cut.

The procurement was hampered in because of the presence of high percentage of damaged and discoloured grains in paddy brought to various markets by farmers. Farmers had turned violent at certain places because of the non-procurement of their produce.

Before relaxation, the damage limit was 3 per cent. As the Union Government has agreed not to impose any value cut up to the damage limit of 8 per cent, there will be no financial loss to farmers.

If the government had imposed value cut, farmers would have suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 450 crore, according to an assessment made at the official level. Almost all stock of paddy is procured by the state government agencies for the central pool.

A Punjab Government spokesman said that on the directions of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, the Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Avtar Henry, today held a meeting with the Union Government authorities concerned to get the specifications relaxed.

Mr Henry was accompanied by senior officers of the Punjab Food and Supplies Department at the meeting.

Capt Amarinder Singh had yesterday contacted the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, on the phone to request him to relax the specifications regarding the procurement of paddy.

Informed sources said that the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, also spoke to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today in this regard.

Bathinda, October 4
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has written to the Vigilance Bureau to carry out raids at paddy purchase centres across the state.

According to sources, the SRM of FCI’s regional office, Mr TC Gupta, has written to the Vigilance Director, Mr AP Pandey, asking it to take stock of the paddy purchase in markets across the state and ensure its procurement as per the specifications.

Sources said the CBI raids on FCI godowns had made its officials apprehensive.

The FCI has successfully dealt with the state government’s pressure and its officials are not prepared to compromise on specifications while making purchase.

The FCI has refused denie to purchase discoloured paddy. The FCI had been allotted about 24 markets in Bathinda and eight days after the procurement began, it had started purchase at only two centres.

While other agencies have purchased thousands of tonnes of paddy, the FCI has only procured 102 tonnes. At the purchase centre of Maur, the FCI official “disappeared” after purchasing only two tonnes of paddy. It purchased 42 tonnes paddy from Mandi Kalan and 60 tonnes from Rampura Mandi. In Raman Mandi too, the FCI had purchased two tonnes of paddy.

Sources said the district administration put a lot of pressure on the FCI, but its officials didn’t budge.

Finally, the DC has today written to the Chief Secretary on the matter. Sources said 34,473 tonnes of paddy had arrived in the markets of the district, of which 23,443 tonnes had been purchased.

Bathinda, October 4
Cursed by untimely rain and subsequent failure to satisfy government agencies on the quality of their produce, a section of farmers has been awaiting purchase of paddy for the past five days at the grain market here.

Talking to The Tribune here, Sukhdev Singh, a farmer from Bibiwala village, said he had been in the market for the past four days and trying to reduce moisture content to bring it to the level of satisfaction of procurement agencies. He said four members of his family were looking after his produce at the market, while there was no one to care for the remaining crop in his village. He rued that he had been shelling out Rs 200 daily in the market and still didn’t know when his paddy would be procured. Joginder Singh, another farmer from his village, came to the market three days back. According to him his paddy was okay, but he was told to dry it further to bring down the moisture within permissible limits. Teja Singh from Bir Behman village had a different problem. His foodgrains had turned black and he was unsure as to what price it would fetch. Balbir Singh from Tyona village and Pargat Singh of Jodhpur Pakhar village alleged that the agencies didn’t procure their crop stating that they had gone for premature harvesting, which was not the fact. Similarly, Karnail Singh, who had brought 16 quintals of paddy to the market, had been awaiting procurement for the past five days.

Meanwhile, according to the information available, 27,500 quintals of paddy arrived in the local grain market since September 19, of which 24,500 quintals paddy has been procured. However, the share of government agencies in this figure was only 11,000 quintals, while private buyers purchased the remaining 13,500 quintals. Out of 11,000 quintals, Punsup purchased 2,100 quintals, Punjab Agro 4,850 quintals, Warehouse 600 quintals, Pungrain 2,450 quintals, and Markfed 1,000 quintals.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Bhandari, said he had received a complaint about Warehouse on paddy procurement and had asked its officials to speed up the process. He said though he was satisfied with the work of other agencies, still he would ask them to expedite procurement to ensure that the farmers didn’t have to wait long for it. He said the FCI was not cooperating in paddy procurement and he had written to the Chief Secretary about it. 

Kapurthala, October 4
The farmers who came to the city grain market to sell paddy got a relief when rice millers of the area purchased almost all the paddy, while the purchase in other mandis of the district remained subdued as the government procurement agencies strictly followed the instructions of the Centre Government and FCI here today.

The decision of rice millers to enter the markets to purchase paddy after their statewide strike since September 26 proved a boon to farmers when the 30,000 bags of paddy lying in the new grain market in the city was bought by the rice millers.

The farmers were more than happy by selling their produce to the millers and sela rice-unit owners as they got the same price declared by the government.

“My 100 bags of paddy were bought by rice millers today at the same rate which I was expecting to get from the government agencies,” said Randhir Singh, a farmer of Nurpur Lubhana village.

Due to the strike of rice millers in the state, not even a single grain of the IR-8 variety of paddy was sold in the district till today.

Earlier in the morning, the inspectors of all procurement agencies held a meeting at the new grain market and decided not to buy the substandard paddy which had arrived in the markets of the district and requested the administration to get the relaxation in the parameters of procurement from the Centre Government rather forcing them to buy the paddy which does not fulfil the conditions laid down by the Centre for paddy procurement.

Ropar, October 4
Farmers camped in various anaj mandis in the district are not getting their payment even after procurement of paddy by procurement agencies. The reason for the non-payment of dues was said to be non-lifting of the paddy from the mandis. Farmers are also unhappy with the Rs 10 rise in the price of paddy per quintal this year.

As per guidelines, after the purchase of paddy, the payment has to be made within 72 hours and the paddy should be lifted within the same period. The procurement of paddy began on October 26 but no farmer in the district has been made the payment so far.

The mandis at Chamkaur Sahib, Morinda and Ropar have over 1 lakh quintal of paddy.

While farmers are in the dark about the payment, Markfed, PUNSUP and Punjab Agro said following a strike by rice mill owners, the paddy could not be lifted from the mandis. As a result, payment could not be made to the farmers.

Jaswinder Singh of Mianapur, who brought 50 quintal of paddy for sale, said the cost of production of paddy had increased manifold following a hike in the price of diesel and labour charges but the government had increased its price only by Rs 10 per quintal. It had become difficult to survive in these conditions, he said.

Daulat Singh of Haveli village said, “Even after so much hardwork, we are getting no profit. I have produced 15 quintal of paddy and have no other source of income. Delay in the payment is making our life miserable. The government had promised to make the payment in time.

Indersen Chhatwal, an arhtiya at the Ropar mandi, said the government should ensure the payment to the farmers in time otherwise farmers could take the extreme step to end their life as a farmer did in Kapurthala yesterday.

The in charge of PUNSUP in the Ropar mandi, Nand Lal, said as per the government directions, the payment to the farmers would be made after the lifting of paddy and that was only possible after the strike by the rice millers was called off.

Phagwara, October 4
Farmers blocked traffic on the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road near Rihana Jattan village to protest against the non-lifting of paddy in different mandis in Phagwara sub-division today.

Farmers parked tractor trailer on the road and held a rally. The blockade was lifted later following intervention by Phagwara SDM Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal who assured early action will be taken in the matter. — UNI

Bathinda, October 4
Four days after the launch of cotton procurement by government agencies, scores of cotton growers are selling their produce below the MSP for Rs 1,835.

While the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and Markfed are yet to enter the market in Mansa and Kotkapura, the cotton price in Muktsar hovered around Rs 1,800 today.

Mr Vijay Kumar, president of the Kacha Arhtiya Association, said cotton prices had touched the MSP yesterday, but it had come down by Rs 20 to Rs 35 today.

He said the quality of cotton was improving with time, as the stock with a high moisture content was being sold and cotton from the second phase of picking was arriving in the market.

Sources said 3,500 quintals of cotton arrived in Malout today, of which the CCI purchased 300 quintals and Markfed 400 quintals at the rate of Rs 1,746 to Rs 1,801 due to high moisture content.

Similarly, 3,000 quintals of cotton arrived in Gidderbaha, of which the CCI procured around 350 quintals at Rs 1,750 to Rs 1,800, while the average rate in private purchase was Rs 1,725.

In Fazilka, 300 quintals of cotton arrived in the market today and the rate ranged between Rs 1,800 and Rs 1,820.

The cotton market in Abohar also witnessed the arrival of 7,000 quintals of cotton.

Of this, the CCI procured 500 quintals at the rate of Rs 1,750 to Rs 1,800, while the average price in private purchase was Rs 1,735.

Arhtiya Association president in Kotkapura Surinder Sachdeva said 300 bales of cotton arrived in the market today and the prices ranged between Rs 1,750 and Rs 1,790. Sources said the CCI, which was to make purchases in 14 centres, had started procurement in 10 centres.

Meanwhile, in Bathinda, the district administration is literally sweating it out to ensure fair prices to the cotton farmers.

The ADC, Mr Harjeet Singh, has been visiting the cotton market for the past three days and today cotton fetched a price of as high as Rs 1,862. Mahinder Singh of Kotfatta village, whose cotton was below average quality, invited a bid of Rs 1,400, but the ADC ensured Rs 1,550 for his produce.

However, the government agencies were not making much of the purchase due to an exceedingly high moisture content.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Bhandari, today asked the officials to visit different markets of the district to ensure smooth procurement of paddy and cotton.

Batala, October 4
Three children were killed and many others injured in a fire at a house in a busy locality where crackers were being manufactured illegally. The incident took place last evening in the house of Kuldeep Messih, resident of Bhullar village near Batala.

Kuldeep had allegedly stored potash used for making crackers in his two-storeyed house. Yesterday, while he was away the crackers in the house caught fire. The house got filled with smoke, leading to a blast.

The blast was so severe that the entire two-storeyed house collapsed. Some buildings adjoining the house were also damaged. At the time of the blast three daughters and one son of Kuldeep and his wife Shanti were present in the house.

Two children including one-year Robin and 12-year Rita, died on the spot. Two other children — Kindo (4) and Usha — and his wife were admitted in the Civil Hospital, Batala, with severe burn injuries. Kindo died in the hospital late in the night. The doctors attending on Usha said she had suffered 70 to 80 per cent burn injuries. The chances of her survival were very low.

The neighbours of Kuldeep alleged that a few years ago his one child was killed in a blast of a similar kind. However, the authorities concerned did not take any action. Kuldeep continued manufacturing crackers in the busy residential area, leading to yesterday’s accident.

They claimed that they had reported to the local authorities many times about the illegal manufacturing of crackers in their area, but the authorities failed to take action. They demanded compensation for the damage caused to their house due to blast.

The Batala police has registered a case under Sections 304 and 338 of the IPC against Kuldeep Messih.

The Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur, Mr Vivek Pratap Singh, said the district administration had arranged for the medical treatment of the injured.

He said since Kuldeep Massih was carrying out an illegal activity in the house, he would not be given compensation. About compensation to the neighbours whose houses have been damaged, he said only one house adjoining the main building had been damaged. The owner of house was a kin of the main accused in the case Kuldeep Massih. He was aware of the fact that crackers were being manufactured illegally by Kuldeep but did not inform the authorities. So, immediately no compensation was being announced for him.

Teams under the respective SDMs had been formed to raid different parts of the district to desist traders or manufacturers of crackers from storing them in or near residential areas, he said.

Batala is the main centre for manufacturing fire-crackers in the area. Many people manufacture fire-crackers in their houses. With Divali approaching, the trade picks up and so do chances of accidents.

Amritsar, October 4
After expressing shock over the large-scale encroachment on the land of historical gurdwara in Bangladesh and disappearance of three Sikh shrines, as mentioned in a report, tabled by two-member committee, the SGPC executive today urged the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to take up the matter with the Bangladesh Government during his forthcoming visit next month.

Dr Manmohan Singh is proposed to visit Gurdwara Nanakshahi at Dhaka during two days SAARC conference, scheduled to be held from November 15. A meeting will be fixed with the Prime Minister in this regard shortly.

After presiding over the executive meeting, Bibi Jagir Kaur, president SGPC said that the sub-committee’s report had pointed out startling picture of the gurdwaras in Bangladesh, which was a matter of grave concern. She said the SGPC had earmarked Rs 1 crore for the maintenance of the gurdwaras in Bangladesh. The two-member committee, comprising Mr Waryam Singh, and Mr Harbir Singh Bhanwar, secretary and media advisor, SGPC, in the six-page report said the land of Nanakshahi Gurdwara was forcibly usurped by the Dhaka University which need to be cleared. A cinema and flats had come up after demolishing two historical gurdwaras in Pakistan. It is believed that the compensation to the tune of more than Rs 50 lakh was deposited by the Dhaka University which could not be claimed at the earliest.

Interestingly, the two-member committee stated that since the survey of Bangladesh gurdwaras in 2002 by the SGPC, no follow-up was taken, resulting in deterioration of the shrines there. The management of Bangladesh gurdwara had handed over the management to the SGPC in 2002. However, the SGPC executive today decided to appoint granthis and other required staff in the gurdwaras.

The SGPC chief also lamented over the large-scale encroachment over the land of Dera Baba Nanak Gurdwara and urged people to clear the same in the larger interest of the Sikh Panth. She said the Punjab police was not cooperating in clearing the land of a gurdwara in Kotkpura in Faridkot district.

In yet another development, the SGPC executive sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for the family of a farmer of Kapurthala district who had committed suicide yesterday. She said Capt Amarinder Singh should resign as Chief Minister on account of distress sale of paddy in the state. She said the rising trend of suicides had brought shame to the state which was most prosperous in the country.

To a question, SGPC chief said that the Government of India was not sincere to enact All-India Gurdwara Act to bring all the historical Sikh shrines under the umbrella of the SGPC.

Goraya, October 4
The post of Goraya Nagar Panchayat president went to Mr Kamaldeep Singh Bittu, here, yesterday.

In just concluded Nagar Panchayat elections, the common opposition front by the SAD-BJP to which the BSP also joined, gave tough fight to the Congress in Goraya. The Congress won seven of the 13 seats while the opposition front won six seats with one seat going an Independent with the support of the opposition.

Here stakes of Revenue Minister Amarjit Singh Samra and senior Akali leader Gurmit Singh Daduwal, who had lost the last Assembly elections to Mr Samra, were involved.

Firstly all elected councillors took the oath of office. Then a Congress faction proposed the name of Kamaldeep Singh Bittu for the post of Goraya Nagar Panchayat president while the opposition proposed the name of Mr Resham Singh, also of the Congress for the said post. Local MLA Amarjit Singh Samra cast his vote in favour of Mr Kamaljit Singh Bittu, resulting in a tie as both ruling and opposition camps claimed seven votes each.

After a tie, a decision was taken to go in for the ‘toss’. Mr Kamaldeep Singh Bittu regained presidentship of the Guraya Nagar Panchayat. Mr Rajinder Singh Gola and Mr Resham Singh were appointed senior vice-president and vice-president, respectively.

Nakodar SDM Gurpreet Singh Khaira, District Congress (Rural) president Baba Rajinder Johal, Goraya Market Committee Chairman Gurpal Samra, Phillaur SDM S.M. Sharma and Naib Tehsildar Kulwant Singh Sidhu were also present on the occasion.

MLA hurt in clash

Moga, October 4
A sitting legislator of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was today injured in a clash between Akalis and Congress workers following the declaration of result of Dharamkot Nagar Council election.

There was a clash between Congress and Akali Dal workers when the Congress members allegedly started throwing chairs and also exchanged blows.

Akali Dal (Badal) MLA Seetal Singh was injured as he received serious nose injury, the police said.

He alleged that three Congress Councillors attacked him.

However, in the election for the Dharamkot Nagar Council, president of the Akali Dal defeated Congress sponsored candidates. — PTI

Gurdaspur, October 4
The encounter, in which the Pathankot police killed two alleged kidnappers about a week ago, was getting murkier. Allegations are being levelled by the parents of those who killed in the encounter and political parties of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. They alleged that the encounter was fake.

Meanwhile, one of the main accused Bodh Raj has been arrested by the Katra police in Jammu and Kashmir. The Punjab police has despatched a party to bring him to Pathankot.

The president of the SAD (A), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, said he would take up the case with the amnesty international.

The SAD (A) activists would also stage a dharna in front of the residence of the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to demand a probe into the matter either by the CBI or a sitting judge of the court.

Mr Mann and the parents of one of the deceased alleged that the body of Gajinder Singh had four bullet injury marks. They further alleged that there were torture marks on the bodies of the deceased.

Officials of the police while speaking on the condition of anonymity said the area through which the alleged kidnappers were running during the encounter was densely infested with bushes. They might have received injuries on the bodies.

Mr Mann demanded that the body of Arun Meesih should be exhumed from his grave and fresh post-mortem should be conducted to bring out the truth behind the matter. He alleged that the abducted contractor and Bodh Raj had some dispute over property. They abducted the contractor to get their money back. The police caught both and killed them in the encounter.

Ropar, October 4
Members of the General Categories Welfare Federation (Thermal unit) Ropar today protested against the implementation of the 85th Constitution Amendment.

The members of the federation submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr H.I.S. Garewal, for the Chief Minister, Punjab.

The members of the federation carrying banners raised slogans against PPCC chief.

Fair dedicated to Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 4
The Shah Mohammad Memorial International Cultural Fair will be held on November 13 at Vadala Veeram Bhoma village. The fair will be dedicated to the memory of Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, founder of The Tribune.

In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Manjit Singh Bhoma, president of the trust, said the day of the fair coincided with the birth anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Chandigarh, October 4
In a major setback to former Punjab Rural Development Minister Nirmal Singh Kahlon, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday dismissed with costs the applications through which he and a deputy director of the Department of Rural Development had challenged the legality of the May 2, 2003 notification issued by the Punjab Government.

By the notification, the government had handed over investigation of the case relating to irregularities in the selection of 909 panchayat secretaries by the Akali Dal-BJP government to the CBI.

In the application, Mr Kahlon, whose houses were recently raided by the CBI, and the officer had claimed that the Punjab Vigilance Bureau had already presented a challan against them in the same case. They had stated since they had already been investigated and challaned in the case, a second inquiry did not make any sense. They had sought quashing of the notification.

Tarn Taran, October 4
A scooterist died and his two companions were injured when a vehicle hit their scooter near Sanghar Kot village on Tarn Taran-Khadoor Sahib road last night. A case under Sections 304A, 279, 338, 427 of the IPC has been registered against the driver of the vehicle who is of the same village to which the deceased belong.

The deceased have been identified as Gulzar Singh (35) of Miglani village near Khadoor Sahib his companions Sarabjit Singh and Sukhdev Singh. The injured were admitted to the local Civil Hospital where their condition is said to be critical.

Deceased Gulzar Singh was coming from Khadoor Sahib at 9 pm on his scooter (PB-02P-3486) with his companions Sarabjit and Sukhdev when their scooter was hit by a fast-moving (HR-01-F-5368) driven by Rattan Singh of the Miglani village.

Ropar, October 4
The CIA staff of the Ropar police today arrested five members of a gang active in Ropar and its surrounding areas, including Chandigarh. The gang was involved in theft, snatching and dacoity. Sukhwinder Singh, Sukha, Satnam Singh, Jasvir Singh and Sikander Singh were arrested while they were planning a dacoity.

The SSP, Mr Surinder Pal Singh, said after getting a tip-off that a gang was planning to commit dacoity, a CIA team held a naka at the Lutheri bus stand. The gang was preparing to commit crime at a place situated between Ramgarh village and Eund. Rods, sickle, and four cycles were seized from their possession.

They confessed during interrogation that they had committed theft in Chandigarh. They also confessed to their involvement in other cases.

Hoshiarpur, October 4
Over 3,500 subscribers, whose telephone connections were disconnected when they failed to deposit their bills would be benefited with a new scheme of the local circle Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The Hoshiarpur circle of the nigam has decided to wave off the rent period of disconnection for the period for the defaulters who could not pay their phone bills. Moreover, the subscribers (both landline and mobile phones) who are still unable to pay their dues can avail of the facility of payment of bills in instalments.

This was disclosed by Mr Vinod Prakash, General Manager, Telecommunication, Hoshiarpur. While talking to The Tribune, Mr Prakash said the schemes were launched for the benefit of the BSNL subscribers. He disclosed that online billing of telephone bills was started in the district, including Balachaur, a part of Nawanshahr district.

For better connectivity, about 44 new mobile BTS sites would be commissioned. In addition to existing nine, three more customer care centres would be opened in telephone exchanges at Naloyian, Prabhat Chowk and Telephone Bhavan, Railway Mandi.