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Rajasthan has no claim over Ghaggar waters: Punjab
Chandigarh, September 25 Punjab has asked Rajasthan to get the matter resolved, failing which it would be constrained to pursue appropriate action as per the law. In a letter to his counterpart in Rajasthan, Punjab chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh has pointed out that Rajasthan has taken up schemes worth Rs 101.69 crore for utilisation of the Ghaggar waters despite the fact that the Bhakra Nangal Agreement, 1959, expressly forbids it from utilising water from the Ghaggar river. Quoting from the agreement, the chief secretary said, “In consideration of the fact that the area of Rajasthan served by the Ghaggar river has been included in the project, Rajasthan shall have no claim whatsoever on the supplies of the Ghaggar river.” The letter says during the third review meeting of the “Committee on Long Term Availability and Utilisation of Waters of Eastern Rivers” held by ministry of water resources in November 2006, the principal secretary, Irrigation, had pointed out the state’s position on the issue. It said even though the chairman of the committee claimed that only review of progress was being made in the meeting and that it was up to the Ghaggar Standing Committee to take a decision on inter-state subjects, Punjab had recorded its views. The chief secretary said Punjab had again recorded its views on the subject at the meeting of secretaries taken by the cabinet secretary in July this year regarding the “Action plan on full utilisation of waters of western and eastern rivers flowing to Pakistan”. He said flood control measures of Rajasthan on the Ghaggar had been approved by the Union Government in violation of the Bhakra Agreement even though the right of Rajasthan to utilise the Ghaggar waters was extinguished in lieu of Rajasthan areas having been included in the Bhakra Nangal project. The chief secretary said in case Rajasthan wanted to utilise the Ghaggar waters, it should surrender its allocation of Sutlej waters under the Bhakra Nangal Agreement to the extent of the utilisation of Ghaggar waters done by it.
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Rahul’s visit lifts morale of Cong workers
Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 25 The SAD President may have called Rahul a “tourist to Punjab”, but the “Punjab Discovery” trip of the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family has serious implications not only for the Congress, but for the SAD-BJP alliance. The visit will lead to changing of Rahul’s perception of Punjab and people’s perception of Rahul. Besides, the impression the Gandhi heir carries and conveys in Delhi will alter the way Delhi looks at Punjab, SAD-BJP governance and the strategies it will adopt to counter the SAD-BJP in the next parliamentary poll. The Congress workers have got a big boost by the presence of Rahul Gandhi amid them. Their sagging morale due to “political vendetta” has been lifted and they now feel that there is someone beyond the local Congress leaders whom they can look up to for help. Besides the manner in which Rahul behaved and interacted with the commoners has boosted his image manifold and people feel reassured, at least for the time being, thinking that the “Delhi durbar” has come to them to ask about their well being. Rahul, in turn, has given out a clear message to the party’s ageing leadership that his priorities lie with the youth. This, in turn, is likely to trigger the panic button among the seasoned leadership, which will now have no option but to bury their differences and work together unless they want to be overruled by the younger lot within the party. The issue assumes more significance in the light of the fact that Rahul has not ruled out the possibility of his being a candidate “for prime ministership”. The Akalis, too, have been very guarded in issuing any statements or making any comments about the overwhelming response Rahul has been receiving in Punjab. This can primarily be seen as a “strategy” to ensure that Rahul’s visit passes off without notice. This perhaps is one reason why the Akalis did not even try to embarrass the Congress by demanding that Rahul apologises for his grandmother’s ordering of “Operation Blue Star” in 1984. The Akalis, for a change, are behaving maturely and concentrating on strengthening themselves rather than trying to attack the Congress. All the appointments of chairmen of Improvement Trusts and the various boards and corporations are aimed at getting these people to start political mobilisation at the grassroots level. Now what remains to be seen is how Rahul has perceived the ground realities for the Congress in Punjab and the suggestions he makes before the party high command in Delhi. Since he has not disclosed his mind, the near future may see some developments on the Congress front. Besides, now the Congress leadership will not be able to say just anything to him to protect their vested interests; Rahul has seen some of Punjab and will be able to discriminate between a genuine and a not-so-fair feedback.
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His popularity worries SAD-BJP alliance
Jalandhar, September 25 Senior leaders of both parties, insiders say, have been closely observing the visit and its political impact in the state. Already, the BJP has planned its youth rally here on September 28. BJP national chief Rajnath Singh will address the rally, obviously, to counter the Rahul effect in the state. “The way Rahul endeared himself to younger generation and connected with people by talking with them on social issues such as education, health, employment, level of income, etc, has left a lasting impact on politicians in the state”, said a professor of political science. “As a politician, Rahul is raw and that is why he seems to be pure and honest in a murky world of Indian politics. His innocent demeanour is proving his political asset at the moment”, said the professor. Rahul’s preference was visits to colleges, schools and to meet common people standing on roadsides, who had come to see him out of curiosity. His purpose is to connect the party with those who are not connected with it so far. At every function, he not only avoided to spend time with senior Congress leaders and listen to their speeches but also preferred to have a direct dialogue with people in the absence of his party leaders.
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Nod to Punjab ETT teachers’ appointment
Chandigarh, September 25 Modifying its previous orders, a Division Bench has ruled that the state of Punjab and other respondents “may appoint 8,865 ETT teachers who have been selected”. The Bench comprising Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Rajan Gupta, however, made it clear the remaining posts of 1,133 ETT teachers shall not be filled up without the court’s prior approval. The high court had told the state and other respondents to carry on with the selection process, but had directed that the candidates claiming five marks on rural area basis were not to be given appointment letters. Pronouncing the orders today, the Bench added: “As far as the selection of 4,000 secondary education providers is concerned, the candidates have already been selected and these candidates may also be appointed by the respondents. It is made clear that all appointments, which have been ordered vide this order, shall be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition. A stipulation to this effect will be incorporated in the appointment letters that are to be issued to the selected candidates”. The issue of five per cent weightage will now come up for final hearing on February 26.As the petition challenging the grant of marks-weightage to the candidates passing middle and matric examinations from rural areas came up for hearing, Advocate-General Hardev Singh Mattewal said in all, 9,998 posts of teaching fellows were there. In pursuance to the earlier order, 8,865 candidates had been selected as teaching fellows. There were 4,000 posts of secondary education providers. Candidates against these posts, too, had been selected, but their appointments had not been made. Mattewal added that 1,133 posts of teaching fellows were still lying vacant. In case the petitioners succeeded, they would be given appointment within two months from the decision date, subject to their merit. He further added the court might direct interim arrangement as there was an acute shortage of teaching staff in schools in Punjab. The petitioner had earlier raised question- whether candidates passing middle and matric examinations from rural schools could be given additional weightage over and above their original merit. Counsel Kapil Kakkar added it was not in conformity with the provisions of Article 14 and Article 16 of the
Constitution.
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No plan to join SAD, says dera chief’s kin
Amritsar, September 25 Talking to The Tribune today, Jassi said he was a loyal worker of the Congress and had been elected to the Punjab Assembly four times. Hence I cannot even think of leaving the party under any circumstances, he said. He alleged that reports about his joining the SAD were being spread by his opponents to tarnish his image. He accepted the fact that he had mediated between Sikh leaders and Dera Sacha Sauda with the sole aim of creating a thaw in the region. Answering a question, Jassi said it was mischievous to say that he had reached any sort of understanding with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal before the previous Assembly elections. “It is a fact that Badal had been campaigning intensively in Bathinda to ensure my defeat because the Akali Dal always considered it as its most prestigious seat”. Jassi said it was the Congress which had made him a minister, then chairman of Markfed. He said during his recent visit to the Malwa region, Rahul Gandhi, general secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, held a closed-door meeting with him. He said he would work for streamlining the party as per the guidelines given by Rahul Gandhi. He denied having met Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, SAD, in a long time. To a question, Jassi said he was not party to the decision of Dera Sacha Sauda to vote for the Congress during the previous Assembly elections.
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Sonia should’ve sent package for state: CM
Bathinda, September 25 He said Sonia Gandhi should have sent some economic package for the cash-strapped state through Rahul Gandhi in case she had any love for the people of state. The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had failed to provide financial help worth a single penny to the state that had witnessed floods and natural calamities. Badal said the next three years of his SAD-BJP coalition government would be “development oriented”. A sum of Rs 5,500 crore would be spent during this period on potable water supply, sewerage and roads in all cities. Of this, Rs 3,000 crore would be spent on water supply and Rs 2,500 crore on
roads. He said on an experimental basis, infrastructure work in 10 towns would be assigned to private parties. He said that three sites at Tungwali, Gehridevigarh and Kuda in Bathinda district had been identified for setting up the central university. The state government would provide land for this purpose, whereas the Centre would provide funds for development of the campus.
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Kisan mela proves a mess
Bathinda, September 25 Farmers from the Malwa region and Haryana belt thronged the mela in huge numbers to purchase the recently introduced wheat seeds (550). Many farmers even after braving scorching heat, standing in long queues, returned empty-handed. There were only two windows for money transactions for thousands of farmers. Even after getting receipts, receiving seed bags remained a tough job as the same were being directly distributed from trucks standing inside the premises. Gurdeep Singh of village Mandi Kalan, Parteek Singh of Sirsa district in Haryana and Sukhdev Singh of village Vada Bhai Ka, all leaving the mela, appeared unhappy with the arrangements at the mela. They said they had been standing in queue to pay money and get receipt since 10 am, but could not get success in the effort, and moved out empty-handed. Jagtar Dhiman, additional director communication, PAU, said there were 4,000 bags weighing 40 kg each of the wheat seeds (number 550) on sale at the mela and one farmer was allowed to have only one bag at the cost of Rs 800 per bag. He parried questions over the arrangements for the sale of the bags. Further, there were a number of stalls, selling farming tools, seeds, pesticides, animal medicines, etc, but hardly a stall was having invoice book to issue bills to customers. When the matter was brought to the notice of the director of the research station, G.S. Buttar and Jagtar Dhiman, additional director, communication, PAU, they said: “What if the invoicing is not going on, one must be focused over the crowd thronging the venue.” Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was to be the chief guest of the mela, couldn’t make it to the function.
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Farmers protest govt policies
Amritsar, September 25 Various farmer leaders demanded immediate lifting of paddy that has arrived in grain markets besides fixing Rs 1,200 as the minimum support price. They also raised their voice against privatisation of the PSEB, asked the government to waive the farmers’ loans and give Rs 5,000 per acre as compensation to farmers whose land lay across the Indo-Pak border fence. Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala, state president of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, alleged that even as more than 20 days had passed, the government had not started the procurement of paddy that had already reached the grain markets of the state. He urged the government to give Rs 15,000 per acre as compensation to the farmers who suffered huge losses due to rains and hail. Meanwhile, on a call given by the Left parties, the Janata Dal (S) and the Telugu Desam Party, the activists of the CPM and CPI today held a dharna outside the DC’s office in protest against the Indo-US nuclear deal.
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BBMB says no loss of generation
Chandigarh, September 25 A spokesman for the board said here today that the BBMB projects were not run with the sole purpose of power generation but these were multi-purpose projects. As per the decision taken in consultation with all the partner states, the maximum filling level of the Bhakra reservoir should not be more than 1,680 ft. He said due to torrential rains in the catchment area of the dam in Himachal Pradesh as well as in the plains of Punjab from September 18 to September 21, the level of Bhakra rose to the level of 1,681 ft. on September 21. While the rains were still continuing, the meteorological department had forecast further rains in the catchment areas for September 22. Under these circumstances, a conscious decision was taken in consultation with the Punjab government in the evening of September 21 to release some water gradually so as to have some cushion in the reservoir for absorbing extra water. Since all the power-generating units were already running to the full capacity, about 13,800 cusecs of water had to be released.
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Wild beast devours animals
Anandpur Sahib, September 25 Nirmal Singh, a resident of Changar village, today claimed that a wild beast devoured his buffalo at around 4 am. He had been guarding his animals for the whole night. At dawn, he went to fetch a utensil to collect milk. When he returned, he saw his buffalo bleeding profusely. Later the animal died. Villagers said the beast had so far killed many animals, including dogs and cattle. Many claim to have seen an adult animal and two cubs a couple of times. Wildlife officials said the animal was either caracal or a wolf. They added that nothing specific could be said as pug marks were not easily identifiable. Also the animal seems to have descended from the jungle of Himachal Pradesh and it was not an inhabitant of the area. Officials have also ruled out the possibility of any animal from
Jhajjar-Bachauli sanctuary finding its way into human habitation.
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Minister warns against food adulteration
Mohali, September 25 Sharing these views with the members and representatives of various food and dairy associations of Punjab here today, the health minister urged the participants to ensure that any kind of food adulteration did not take place at any cost. Around 250 members of various halwai, confectionery, milk vendors and grocery associations of the state were present during the meeting organised here by the health department.
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Dental counselling deferred
Patiala, September 25 It was made clear that the counselling would be held for the vacant seats and the candidates who had participated and got admissions in the first counselling would not be eligible to participate in today's counselling. This infuriated the candidates who alleged that those who had got admission in management category seats would suffer as they would have to pay higher fee and those lower in merit to them would get seats in the open category in the two Government Dental Colleges at Patiala and Amritsar. This would mean that the candidates with lower merit would get open category seats while candidates with higher merit would have to get management quota seats. Fresh counselling would now be held on September 27 and 28.
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Wasu is legal adviser to CLP
Chandigarh, September 25
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High Court Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 25 Taking up a petition filed by a human rights organisation through president Ranjay Lakhanpal, the court also issued notice to the DGP and the state home secretary for October 17. The directions were issued after a video clip, showing the beating up of the boy, was played on a laptop. Cost imposed The high court today dismissed a petition seeking directions to set aside the exclusive contract between the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and ETC channel for live telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple, Amritsar. The Bench also imposed costs of Rs 20, 000 on the petitioner, Mohali-based Guru Nanak Dev Universal Brotherhood Society. The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Surya Kant, while dismissing the PIL, observed the matter should have been raised under Section 142 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, before the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission, Amritsar.
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