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Monsoon fury unleashed
Gurdaspur, June 15 The roof of a house in ward number 12 collapsed. Traffic on interior roads of this border town was affected due to waterlogging. A large number of localities were inundated, exposing the poor maintenance of the drainage system. Drains and sewerage have been chocked with silt and garbage for the past many years. The localities, including Shakti Khui, Geeta Bhawan Road, Gopal Nagar, Prem Nagar, Onkar Nagar, were submerged in one or two feet water. Water entered many houses. However, it started receding after the rain stopped in the afternoon. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said machinery of four stone-crushers alongside the Ravi in Sujanpur got damaged due rising level of the river. Our Correspondent adds from Hoshiarpur: As many as 250 jhuggis of migrant labourers, constructed illegally on the banks of Bhangi Choe (seasonal rivulet) here, were inundated, while household articles of more than 24 of them were washed away in flash-floods today. A causeway on the rivulet, connecting Bassi Gulam Hussain village and the Bahadurpur bypass, was damaged, leading to traffic snarls. Dev Muni said more than 275 families living in these jhuggis had been affected due flash-floods. Not to speak of providing any relief to them, no government official visited the spot. The heavy downpour that started 2 am last night continued till 1 pm today, throwing the normal life out of gear here. Almost all roads in the city have been badly damaged. The entire Jalandhar road and almost all lanes were flooded. Flow of water in all rivulets in the region, including Mehngrowal, Arniala and Dhobi, has increased to alarming levels. The soil erosion (around 200 ft) in a protection bundh on the Mehngrowal rivulet has posed a threat to the Bagpur village area.
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Reservoirs full, PSEB upbeat
Patiala, June 15 The power demand as of today was 1,323 LUs, which has been met by 152 LUs from own hydro generation, 447 LUs from own thermal generation, 136 LUs from BBMB, 2 LUs from non-conventional energy sources and 586 LUs through purchases from Central sector stations and banking from other states. The chairman said the water level in the reservoirs of hydro plants had also reached almost last year’s levels.
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Paddy: Sapling shortage negates early-rain gain
Chandigarh, June 15 Many farmers, especially in the Malwa belt, who are already facing labour shortages, are now also faced with another problem in unmatured saplings. In various parts of Patiala district, farmers have not even started transplanting paddy as saplings are not ready yet. “We usually sow our nursery between May 15 and 20, but this time due to a delayed time schedule announced by the government as well as early rains, the sowing in paddy nurseries got delayed in our area”, says Charan Singh of Mardanpur village in Ghanour subdivision. Farmers were also resigned to paddy transplantation after June 15 even though the government had allowed plantation from June 10 for the PSEB had schedule for uninterrupted power to the agricultural sector starts from June 15. The PSEB has started supplying assured power from June 10 only to border districts. Continuing rain has only added to the labour problem as every one wants to take advantage of it. “However the hands are just not there”, says Jagir Singh of Sangrur who has been camping at the Rajpura station since the past two days. Farmers said the ban on early sowing had sent a wrong message to migrants who come to Punjab annually. They said labourers usually planted paddy in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Sangrur and part of Fatehgarh Sahib district between May 20 and June 10 and then moved to other parts like Patiala, Ropar and Mohali where paddy is planted a little late. They did not come to Punjab this year, as they knew the season had been shortened and they would not get extended employment.
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Career counselling for 10+2 students
Chandigarh, June 15 This landmark decision aimed at improving both quality education and human resource development was taken here today at a high-level meeting that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had with all vice-chancellors of the universities in the state. Giving details of the new scheme, the Chief Minister’s media adviser Harcharn Bains said in a press statement that this exercise would also help the students to choose subjects in view of their scope and vocational potential. The counselling exercise for students securing first division or above would be held from June 20 to July 3 in the government colleges affiliated to the university concerned. This would be held under the direct supervision of secretary, School Education, Punjab, and the vice-chancellor. Other students would be provided career counselling by the principals of their respective colleges. Special counselling sessions would be organised at the district headquarters. Badal ordered that the schedule for counselling be prepared and advertised today itself. Accordingly, the government notified the schedule as per details given below. Punjabi University, Patiala, will hold counselling of first divisioners at Dashmesh College, Badal, Muktsar district, on June 20, Government Mohindra College, Patiala, on June 23, Govt College, SAS Nagar (Mohali), on June 24, Govt Ranbir College, Sangrur, on June 25, Mata Gujari College, Fatehgarh Sahib, on June 26, Govt Rajindra College on June 27, Govt College, Ropar, on June 28 and SD College, Barnala, on July 2 and Govt College, Mansa, on July 3. Similarly, Guru Nanak Dev University will conduct counselling at Government College, Kapurthala, on June 23, Khalsa College, Amritsar on June 24, Govt College, Gurdaspur, on June 25, DAV College, Jalandhar, on June 26. Panjab University, Chandigarh, will undertake the programme of counselling at Government College for Boys, Ludhiana, on June 23, DM College, Moga, on June 24, RSD College, Ferozepur, on June 25, Govt College, Hoshiarpur, on June 26 and DAV College of Education, Nawanshahr, on June 27. Badal further asked the VCs to regularly convene the meetings of the principals of the affiliated colleges to update them on the various ongoing Centrally-sponsored and University Grants Commission's schemes in the field of higher education. At the behest of Badal, vice-chancellor, Panjab University, Dr R.C. Sobti agreed to host the meeting at Chandigarh in mid-July. Today’s meeting was also attended by Chief Minister's media adviser Harcharan Bains, chief secy R.I. Singh, principal secy D.S. Guru, principal secy technical education-cum-vice-chancellor, PTU, Jalandhar, Tejinder Kaur, principal secretary, Animal Husbandry, Subodh Aggarwal, secy, Industries, S.S. Channy, secy, Higher Education, Iqbal Singh Sandhu, secy, School Education, K.B.S. Sidhu, secy, Social Security, Narinderjit Singh and additional director, Social Security, Lakha Singh.
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10 pc seats for bright poor students in pvt colleges
Chandigarh June 15 According to a press note here today, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked the managements of private engineering colleges to provide education for free, covering fee, books and board and travelling expenses to poor meritorious students. The Chief Minister offered government support to colleges adopting this scheme. Responding to the CM’s proposal, the management of the engineering, pharmacy and architecture colleges group agreed to reserve 1,600 seats in degree courses and 2,000 seats in diploma courses. The CM also asked the management of these colleges to start evening courses for the poor students. Badal also asked the Social Security Department to advertise all scholarship schemes for Schedule Castes, backward classes and minority students in leading newspapers so that maximum students could benefit from the schemes. Badal also directed all vice-chancellors to introduce the scheme of free education for the single girl child on the pattern adopted by Panjab University, Chandigarh.
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Cop deployed to catch smugglers, joined them for easy money
Ludhiana, June 15 He does not go to cinema houses to watch the latest releases. Instead, he sits with family before his home-theatre boasting of expensive sound system, an LCD TV and a projector providing wide-screen experience. He has been a kabaddi player and won 70 medals in national and international tournaments. His got police job from
the quota reserved for sportsmen. But he is in the news today for corruption and misusing authority earlier said to be usually associated with senior or very senior police officers. Rachan Singh of Dirba village in Sangrur district is now in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Punjab. Detailed in counter- intelligence to check smuggling of narcotics and arms, he allegedly became friendly with those he was to chase and catch and kept pumping all alleged ill-gotten money in his house at Dirba. Dheeraj Rastogi, joint commissioner, anti-smuggling wing of the DRI, said they were surprised when Rachan was caught, along with an NRI and two others, two days ago with over 200 kg of drugs and chemicals used in the manufacture of intoxicants, recovered from them from near the border. "We were more surprised on seeing in his house expensive items of
utility or entertainment," said Rastogi. Rachan was caught with Canadian NRI Arvinder Singh and two others. They were on way to Delhi to supply the booty.
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Big price gap to hit petrol station owners
Chandigarh, June 15 A member of the Punjab Petrol Pumps Dealers Association said there was a difference of about Rs 5 per litre in the price of petrol in Punjab and Haryana. Earlier, diesel was about Re 1 cheaper in Punjab compared to Haryana. Owing to this, petrol station owners in the Punjab area along the boundary used to have a better sale of diesel. Many people from adjacent areas in Haryana used to procure diesel from the Punjab area along the boundary. But now owners of pumps in Punjab have also lost this advantage, as Haryana has brought down VAT on diesel, almost on a par with Punjab. Now, the price of diesel is about 10 paise per litre higher in the Haryana area compared to Punjab. Dealers in Haryana can sell the diesel at a price on a par with Punjab by forgoing 10 paise from their commission on diesel. A petrol station dealer said on the sale of each litre of diesel, the pump owner was given 60 paise as commission. Even if a dealer passes on 10 paise from his commission to customer, he will be earning 50 paise from a litre. The dealer said the Punjab government should do something to save fuel pump owners in the state’s territory along the Haryana area.
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Bathinda: SAD to expel rebels today
Bathinda, June 15 Giving rife to speculations about Badal family’s willingness to win MP seat from Bathinda, Sukhbir said: “For the development of the area, I am working as a municipal councillor, Mayor and MLA of Bathinda, so cast your vote keeping my efforts in mind.” “Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, chief of the PPCC, is frustrated as she could not even settle the tussle with former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who has been smartly playing role of her rebel,” answered Sukhbir, when asked about the allegation levelled by Bhattal over the Students Organisation of India, a student wing of the ruling SAD, performing the role of Sukhbir’s Green Brigade. “My priority is the development of the city and the completion of the projects I have been personally monitoring,” said Sukhbir while talking to The Tribune sparing a few moments from party canvassing.
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Bhawanigarh: Allies announce names
Sangrur, June 15 Earlier, at a meeting of SAD and BJP leaders, it was decided that the SAD and the BJP would contest 10 and three seats, respectively, in Bhawanigarh. The BJP demanded 1, 7 and 11 ward seats, but the SAD declined ward No. 1 to the BJP. Due to this, talks ended in a deadlock. District president of the BJP Jatinder Kalra said today that the BJP had announced its candidates for seven wards (1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 13) of the Bhawanigarh MC so far, while candidates for remaining wards would be declared by tomorrow. He said the BJP could also support two to three independents who had expressed inability to contest on BJP symbol (lotus), but they would support the BJP in the council, if they won. Parkash Chand Garg, area in charge of the SAD for the Sangrur Assembly constituency, said this evening that though the candidates of the SAD were contesting all 13 wards of the Bhawanigarh MC, the SAD and the BJP would contest MC elections in Bhawanigarh like friends.
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MC Poll
Bathinda, June 15 On the other hand, the Congress camp appeared a demoralised lot with not even a single top leader coming here in support of the party candidates on the first day. However, Sukhbir managed to cover 10 wards before lunch, but had to abandon his public meetings in the remaining 20 wards with the roads waterlogged due to the downpour that continued till evening. The Congress was a house divided as the four of the five sitting MLAs of this district, belonging to the Amarinder Singh camp, have reportedly stayed away from the campaign. Harminder Singh Jassi, the lone MLA belonging to the camp of Bhattal, was not accessible, many candidates of the party lamented.
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BJP to contest 14 seats in Nabha
Nabha, June 15 He was talking to mediapersons at the residence of former Cabinet minister Raja Narinder Singh of the SAD. He said the BJP candidates would contest on 14 seats, and on the remaining seats, the SAD had fielded its candidates. He said the alliance would win all 23 seats in the Nabha Municipal Council. Raja Narinder Singh said he would extend all possible help to the BJP candidates to ensure their victory.
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No sangat darshan
Chandigarh, June 15
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Cong puts off rally
Chandigarh, June 15 Raj Pal Singh,
general secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said the rally
was fixed for this date before the announcement of the municipal
elections. The new date of the rally will be announced shortly.
Margaret Alva, general secretary, All-India Congress Committee, will
address the Doraha rally when it happens.
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Regular power for vegetable exporters
Chandigarh, June 15 A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting with a delegation of individual exporters of perishables with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The entire expenditure for the shifting of the electricity line from rural to urban feeders will be borne by the Punjab Agri Export Corporation (PAGREXCO). Similarly, power for the cooling chambers and refrigerated vans will be supplied as per agriculture rates instead of commercial as at present. The Chief Minister also informed the delegation that he would take up the issue of the certification of Animal Quarantine Centre to be set up at the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar district with the Ministry of Agriculture. He also assured them that he would meet Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to seek preferential status for Punjab for vegetable exports. The Chief Minister would also press for expanding the present scale of trade through the Attari-Wagha border to turn it into a full-scale commercial zone, according to the Chief Minister’s media adviser Harcharan Bains. The Chief Minister appreciated the initiatives taken by the exporters to promote the concept of diversification of agriculture in true spirit and asked the other farmers of the state to replicate the experiment.
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Disciplinary proceedings against ex-DC dropped
Chandigarh, June 15 The order to drop disciplinary proceedings was issued by chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh following an inquiry conducted by financial commissioner (Revenue). The financial commissioner has said Grewal had ordered the mid-term transfer of two patwaris in public interest on a demand made by people of the area and he had acted in terms of provisions enlisted in the instructions issued by the state government in 2005. Hence, he seemed to have acted in public interest and did not violate government instructions with regard to the transfer of the government employees. The chief secretary has stated that considering the comments received from the financial commissioner and the reply of the officer, it had been decided to close the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the officer. It had been alleged that while working as deputy commissioner, Ropar, Grewal had issued orders in December 2005, effecting mid-term transfer of two patwaris in violation of government instructions.
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Former Takht chief defies directive of Sikh clergy?
Amritsar, June 15 Akal Takht had directed the Sikh sangat not to whip up any controversy about Dasam Granth. The meeting of the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht here on June 6 had also directed Prof Darshan Singh to desist from speaking against Dasam Granth. G.S. Lamba, an office-bearer of the International Human Rights Organisation, has alleged that it was unfortunate that former Jathedar, Akal Takht, Prof Darshan Singh, has written foreword of the controversial book on Dasam Granth. The former Jathedar has also used derogatory language against Dasam Granth . The hymns from Dasam Granth are recited at Takht Hazoor Sahib and Patna Sahib and by a number of Sikh organisations. Certain Dasam Granth hymns are recited at the time of Amrit Sanchar. However, the former Jathedar claimed that Dasam Granth was not authored by the 10th Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. In the booklet, Prof Darshan Singh alleged Dasam Granth was being equated with Guru Granth Sahib under a “deep-rooted” conspiracy. Earlier, Prof Darshan Singh was declared permanent “tankhaiyya” (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Sikh clergy of Patna Sahib. However, the meeting of Akal Takht had adopted a middle path and reversed the decision of Takht Patna Sahib. The Akal Takht meeting had imposed an undeclared ban on Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Takht Patna Sahib, debarring him from attending meeting of the Sikh clergy here.
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Administrators destroying heritage structures: NRI
Amritsar, June 15 In an e-mail to The Tribune today, Dr Amarjit Singh alleged that the historical structures were being demolished by the administrators under the garb of celebrating Gurgaddi Divas, 300th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib. He also alleged that P.S. Pasricha, recently appointed chairman of the managing committee of Takht Hazoor Sahib, was responsible for the demolition of the historic Baradari and Ramgarhia Bunga built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Many innocent Sikhs protesting against the demolition were killed in the police firing last year, he added. The leader said the administrators were implementing the agenda of the Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena-dominated ruling elite, who claimed that the egalitarian monotheistic Sikhism is a branch of polytheistic Hindutva. He said crafty rulers over the years had made the “pliable Sikh priests” to reject the Sikh Rehat Maryada and Nanakshahi calendar. He said these agents had now even challenged the supremacy of Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs. These “government-friendly Sikh priests” made sure that a number of Brahmanical practices like havans and aarti were continued, he added. He urged the Sikhs to be wary of the cultural genocide being carried out at Takht Hazoor Sahib in Maharashtra by agents of the government like Pasricha, who were also touring North America for making provocative speeches there.
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Majithia seeks package for industry in border dists
Amritsar, June 15 Addressing party workers at a meeting here yesterday, Majithia said the units from the state were shifting to Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand due to the special tax concessions provided there by the Central government. Decrying the Centre for announcing lower minimum support price (MSP) for paddy Majithia said, “If we take into account the contribution of Punjab farmers alone, the Central government has been able to save Rs 10,000 crore from the produce”. He said the government should announce Rs 1,300 per quintal as MSP of paddy to give relief to farmers from the burden of debt. The minister said Rs 65 crore announced by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the revamp of Amritsar would turn the city into a modern one. Inderbeer Singh Bolaria, MLA, Ajaybir Singh Randhawa, deputy mayor, Amirtsar, Gurpartap singh Tikka, Ranjeet Singh Wariam Nangal and members of the Zila Parishad and Block Samitis were among those present.
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Dhindsa’s plea to Centre on ‘black list’
Kanjhla (Sangrur), June 15 Secretary-general of the SAD Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said here on Thursday that the SAD had never demanded deletion of names of those Sikhs from the “black list” who had taken part in anti-national activities. He urged the Centre to delete the names of all innocent Sikhs from the list. Dhindsa was here to participate in a function organised by in charge of the SAD for the Sherpur Assembly constituency Gobind Singh Kanjhla to honour newly elected members of Block Samitis, Zila Parishad and panchayats of the constituency. Kanjhla said 79 panches, 30 members of Block Samitis and a member of the Zila Parishad were honoured at the function.
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Stop cuts on farmers: Mann
Chandigarh, June 15 He said instead of promoting the concept of open market, the government had even disallowed big corporations to procure wheat in states like Punjab to deny competitive price to farmers. Mann said his party would launch a stir to seek justice for farmers. The farmers were not allowed to take wheat beyond Punjab boundaries during the wheat procurement season.
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Quota in SGPC-run Engg Colleges
Amritsar, June 15 The examination was conducted by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (BBSB) Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib, at three centres today. The other two centres were Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, and Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Science and Research, Amritsar. Result of the examination has been compiled and uploaded on the college website: www.bbsbec.ac.in/sreresult Avtar Singh, president, SGPC, said of the total candidates who appeared for the quota seats, 1,375 candidates competed for 392 engineering seats at BBSB Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib and Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana. The remaining 956 candidates competed for 372 seats in diploma in the above polytechnics.
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Junior professor’s elevation opposed
Amritsar, June 15 The teachers union has raised the matter with the vice-chancellor. According to the university rules and regulations, in the absence of the principal, only the senior-most professor of the college can perform duties as officiating principal. However, Dr R.S. Bawa, registrar, said there was no provision in the calendar to appoint a vice-principal, adding that it was the prerogative of the principal or the college management to appoint any senior person to look after the charge in his absence. He said generally the senior-most professor was appointed officiating principal. The sources said the union had also raised the issue with the DPI (Colleges), but to no avail. The association was contemplating writing to the Chancellor and Governor, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. They alleged that the college management had even failed to pay the salaries to the staff by 7th of every month. Dues on account of gratuity and provident fund to six employees, who had retired recently, had not been paid even though the management had received a grant of Rs 60 lakh from the university.
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