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Fur flies at municipal corporation meeting
Car parking plan crashes after panel roadblock
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Hoteliers can’t afford tax luxury, on strike today
Pay panel report to come in force from April 1
At ITI, students peeved over absence of basic facilities
Consumers forum imposes penalty on tehsildar
Meet reviews agri affairs
Stone for Rs 45-cr sewerage project laid in Moga
10,262 cases settled in Mega Lok Adalat
‘Govt ignoring problems of youth’
Prestigious award for school dean
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Fur flies at municipal corporation meeting
Bathinda, December 22 The meeting could not even start discussing the agenda as the both the BJP and Congress councillors boycotted it. In such a situation, councillors of the SAD (B) passed all matters listed in the agenda without any objection. Unprecedently in BMC history, councillors levelled allegations of "divide and rule"against each other. The main target was Master Harmander Singh, who is known as a close ally of the constituency in-charge of the SAD (B). However, it was the issue of emergency powers for the finance and contract committee that added fuel to fire. The Zero Hour discussions at the general house meeting stretched for a couple of hours during which, besides the councillors of the Congress and the BJP, those belonging to SAD (B) also lodged their complaints about the disrespect allegedly being shown to them by the BMC officials. A SAD (B) councillor Manjeet Singh, while ruing the careless attitude of BMC officials, allaged that they (officials) were being paid salaries without doing any work. He also alleged that the officials had become corrupt and disclosed that he had planned to come to the meeting hall with his face covered, as a mark of protest. Krishan Garg, giving a detailed list of the percentage-wise corruption in the allotted tenders, said that in the much hyped Rs 40 crore project, launched for the beautification of the city, at least 50 per cent of the amount had been wasted and a lot of names were involved in it. He demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter which was supported by the other councillors, barring a few. BMC Commissioner K.K. Yadav however reacted to the allegations saying, "It would be better if you set limits while speaking and do so only with proof. Otherwise, it will amount to disrespect for the positions we have been serving." Parshotam Gargi, Krishan Garg, Mithu Ram Gupta, Jagroop Singh Gill, Santosh Mahant, Basant Bhatia, Tek Singh Khalsa, Rajan Garg and Bhupinder Singh Bhullar were among those who prominently expressed their grudges against the slow pace of development. The councillors also requested the media to bring the matter to the notice of Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal. |
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Car parking plan crashes after panel roadblock
Bathinda, December 22 The project, for which even bids were opened, had been hanging fire for the last three months pending sanction from the BMC general house. But despite the efforts, the councillors could not be convinced to give their sanction for it even at today's meeting. In the third meeting which had taken place on October 8, it was mentioned that the already existing municipal fire brigade complex would be shifted to some other place and the land would
be given to some private company. It was mentioned that the land would be given on 90 years lease on design, build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis, where a facility of 250 cars parking would be provided. Moreover, 1000 square feet ground floor area would be given to the BMC while the already existing shopkeepers would be adjusted on some terms. Due to objections raised by the councillors, the matter was deferred and handed over to a nine-member committee, including Mayor Baljeet Singh Bir Behman as the chairman, Tarsem Goyal, Gurinder Pal Kaur Mangat, Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, Raj Kumar Garga, Mithu Ram Gupta, Rajbans Kaur, Parshotam Gargi and Tek Singh Khalsa. The sub-committee members, after holding a series of meetings, today came up with a detailed report in the house. Senior deputy mayor, Tarsem Goyal, who was the first to raise objection over the project, today read the decision of the committee that respecting the feelings of the citizens, it had been decide by all the members that the piece of land should not be given for a 90-year lease on BOT basis. If the period can be fixed for around 25-30 years, then the project could be considered. Goyal further said that with the unanimous decision, the scheme had been declared null and void and the
BMC should take up the car parking project on its own rather than giving it to someone else. In the report, it had also been mentioned that after getting approval from the state government, facility for car parking could be given at the premises of the Government Primary School (Girls) located on the Mall road. After the decision was announced, the BMC councillors thumped the desk in approval and termed it as a victory against the plan of the BMC officials. |
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Hoteliers can’t afford tax luxury, on strike today
Bathinda, December 22 The association members said that due to lack of vision on the part of the taxation department and faulty industrial policy, hotel industry was on the verge of collapse. The state government has notified that it will now charge 10 per cent luxury tax, 12.36 service tax and 12.50 VAT from banquet hall owners. Hoteliers feel this will be a burden on hotels as well, as most of these have banquet halls in hotels. They feel luxury tax should be applicable to three-star to five-star hotels and not on small or budget hotels. Kamaldeep Singh, general secretary of PHRRA has asked the government for a waiver of luxury
tax and value-added tax for the next two years. "Luxury tax is a state subject and all the hotels want it to be waived off. We want the government to charge the taxes on the actual rates being charged and not the printed rates. Since the hotel occupancy is on a decline, the tariff is high when rooms are given at a lower price," Kamaldeep Singh said. "We have also asked the government to make funds available to hotels at a lower rate of interest," he added. "Considering the current economic slowdown and the recent terror attacks, people will avoid visits to restaurants in hotels. This will affect the revenue of hotels from the food and beverage segment, which makes up for around 30 per cent of a hotel's business,'' said a Bathinda-based hotelier. He said this luxury tax would have a shattering impact on the entire hospitality and tourism industry. In a memorandum, the association urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to intervene in the matter as the delay might force them to close their units. Meanwhile, A.P.S. Chatha general-sceretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Association had also said in Amritsar a day earlier said the tourism industry in the country had been under strain after the Mumbai strikes with considerable fall in tourist traffic and it was out of context to impose heavy taxes on hotel industry. Industries were already shifting from Punjab to neighbouring Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the government must intervene to protect tourism industry in Punjab from a similar fate, they added. |
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Pay panel report to come in force from April 1
Bathinda, December 22 Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal today said that the report is expected to be submitted by the commission next month. He said implementation of the report enhancing salaries and allowances of the employees would put an additional burden of Rs 2,000 crores on the exchequer. He launched a Rs 23 lakhs pilot project for cleanliness of the village ponds at Hari-ke-Kalan in his Gidderbah constituency in the Muktsar district and said such works would be taken in hand in other villages of the state in case the project succeeded. Allocation for the projects has been enhanced to Rs 4.26 crores from the earlier Rs 2.64 crores. Village ponds in the entire state would be cleaned. The finance minister said that with success of the pilot project of potable water in Gidderbah, similar projects would now be taken up in Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar where water was contaminated. The project was also being extended to border districts of Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurdaspur. He announced a grant of Rs 2.40 crores for constructing sports stadiums in eight villages of his constituency. Each stadium would cost Rs 30 lakhs. He also sanctioned Rs 1.20 crores for improving lanes, ponds in these villages. |
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‘Youth must set an example’
Bishnandi (Faridkot), December 22 Quoting examples of Canadian politicians, he said, "It is the responsibility of the young political leaders of this country to come forward and set examples before others and avoid showing off by moving in a huge cavalcade and wasting the money and resources of the nation." While talking to TNS, Dhaliwal opted to refrain from commenting on terrorist activities allegedly being conducted from the soil of Pakistan. "I have not gone through the report but I condemn the Mumbai incident in which several innocents lost their lives. I had talks with senior officials of Pakistan, who repeatedly assured me of eschewing violence." "As Canada and United States enjoy open borders for trade, I suggest that if India and Pakistan too want to achieve progress, leaders of both the nations should sit across the table and make their best efforts to make the relationship cordial," he said. When asked about Canada's possible reaction if India seeks support in declaring Pakistan a "terrorist state", for which it has already started a move, Dhaliwal parried the query saying, "Such issues can be commented upon only by the executive committee members or the President." Sharing his personal life and experience, he said, "I joined politics as I had the goal of serving humanity, socially and culturally, for which I found the political stage to be the best." On the issue of turban, Dhaliwal said, "Being an MP in Canada, I can say that Canada is much tolerant on liberty related matters." An engineer by qualification, Dhaliwal said that at the international or national level, in the era of globalisation, a mere degree alone can not serve the purpose. Acquiring practical knowledge is must, he pointed out. When asked about the difference between the development status of India and Canada, he said that both the countries have their own advantages and disadvantages, as India is still finding it hard to overcome the population explosion. So, comparison is not desirable. Mantar Brar, former MLA from Kotkapura, who was also present, hailed Dhaliwal for his contribution to his country and also shared some his experiences of his recent Canada visit. |
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At ITI, students peeved over absence of basic facilities
Bathinda, December 22 "The boundary wall is broken, which allows stray cattle and dogs to easily enter the premises of ITI. No sports facilities have been provided to the students and the ground has wild grass, which makes it impossible to use it for sports. The furniture available is outdated. It was brought in the 70s and is in a worn out state today. New furniture is urgently needed,” Manpreet Singh, state general secretary of the union, said. Drinking water in the Malwa belt is already polluted and people are installing RO system at various places. But in ITI, students do not even get drinking water and RO remains a distant dream here. "There is only one water cooler for boys and even that is out of service. There is a tap at the ITI for girls but the entry of boys is prohibited there. So, over 600 students have to stay without drinking water and those who get it are prone to several water-borne diseases in the absence of filtered water," another student added. Students alleged that the washrooms in ITI are too dirty to be used. A student told The Tribune that press photographers, who came to click the pictures of ITI, refused to enter the washrooms because of their bad condition. "Every students pays Rs 1800 as fee for the practicals which is included in the course fee. But many students do not get any material for the practicals. The situation gets worse because at times the practicals do not take place at all. Last year, the number of sewing machines for girls was half in number. At the time of practicals, they were asked to arrange for things on their own because machines for practicals were not available," Manpreet added. Summers in Bathinda are scorching and the ITI has no generator. Students complained that summers were unbearable because of frequent power cuts in the city and some classes did not have fans also. The classes do not have enough tubelights either. Some sources stated that a plan to privatise ITI was in the pipeline, which was protested strongly by the teachers and students. Following this, three teachers were transferred. Out of them, two have been retained but the composite machinist has still not been called back. His post lies vacant and students do not get lectures for this course. Many trades here have no instructors. If a teacher gets transferred or retires, then his trade is removed from the ITI. No admissions are conducted for that course because the government is not filling them up. A student alleged that no class for maths has taken place for one year. The reason was that the maths instructor was taking classes in the modern ITI, which is recognised by the government and is a private institute and the fee is three times more than the ITI. All the students have reportedly been charged Rs 3400 in excess for this session and the authorities stated that they would either return the money or adjust it later in their fee, but they have not followed it. Students said their money has got blocked because no one is returning it. Funds are taken for library but ITI has no library facility and no book or even a newspaper is given to the students. Rs 50 is taken as medical fee from every student which amounts to about Rs 25,000 for every session but the institute lacks basic medical facilities as well. Principal of the ITI, Hardeep Kumar, when contacted, said, "There is a lot of groupism prevalent in all institutions today. The government was planning to privatise the ITI and many students and teachers had opposed it. Those who led this opposition were transferred and they are the ones who instigate such thoughts in the minds of our students. We have proper drinking water facility on our campus. Funds have been sanctioned for the betterment of infrastructure and the work would start soon." |
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Consumers forum imposes penalty on tehsildar
Moga, December 22 Revealing this to The Tribune, J.S. Chawla, president and Bhupinder Kaur, member of the consumers' forum said that Karamjit Singh Gill a resident of this town had filed a complaint against the then Tehsildar-cum-sub-registrar Jasbir Singh Mahi before the forum in March this year levelling allegations that he refused to register his sale deed without assigning any reason and also did not return it on the same day with a copy of the reasons for refusal as per the registration manual under the influence of two persons of the town who according to him had no title in the land. The complainant alleged that he also made complaints to the local sub-divisional magistrate and the district magistrate in this regard but he did not get justice from them. The tehsildar returned the unregistered sale deed through a registered letter to the complainant after more than six weeks by concealing certain facts and documents. The complainant demanded compensation on account of loss for refusal to register the sale deed and for purchasing the stamp papers worth Rs 22,500 but the consumers' court held the view that the complainant was not entitled for compensation on account of these losses. However, the consumers' forum took a serious view against the said tehsildar for unnecessarily delaying
in sending the copy of sale deed to the complainant and passed an order that that the complainant was entitled to a compensation of Rs 7,500 for the same and this amount would be paid by the tehsildar from his own pocket along with Rs 2,500 on account of litigation costs. This compensation would be paid by the tehsildar to the complainant by the first week of January, next year. |
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Play highlights problem of alcoholism
Abohar, December 22 The troupe had actually arrived here to participate in the Career and Education Fair that was organised by Satyam Career and Education Consultants headed by Bal Krishan Soni. "Theke khul gaye ne that ha te, Ghar jake ki karma, Biwi kardi hai ka ka ve" two drunkards were happily singing these lines amidst beating of traditional instruments dholaki and chimta because to their delight taverns and "ahatas" had sprung up in each corner of the state. The wife of one of the drunkards made a scene by beating him in public as he splurged his child's school fee in drinks. Scripted by Jaspal Bhatti, the play takes a close look at how the entire region is slowly being submerged in the wave of liquor and drugs. The nexus between police, politicians and smugglers have the youngsters trapped in their grip, thereby putting their future at stake, Lalli Gill, head of the production, said. Directed by Anoop Sharma the play has Bunty, Amrinder, Navdeep, Rajani, Harsimran and Nachiter in the lead roles. Charanjit and Gursharan provided musical support. Students from the Government Model High School greeted the artistes by raising slogans as "Nashe chhado kohad kadho". A former municipal councillor Narinder Verma, social activist Dharminder Rataulia and Raj Narula secretary of NGO Punjabi Sabhyachar Manch said such educative plays if staged in major villages would certainly bring awareness among the people of this drug infected sub-division. Interestingly both the local policemen who were deployed to control the crowd preferred to slip silently as they found an artiste in uniform making merry with the drunkards and demanding illegal gratification from them. Later in the afternoon the team staged the same play at Dr Ambedkar Chowk at Sriganganagar also. |
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Ex-servicemen flay SPC, want one rank, one pension
Bathinda, December 22 Lashing out at the Central government, Captain Bhagwant Singh urged the government to implement 'one rank, one pension' for ex-servicemen so that the old pensioners can get justice. He also cautioned the ex-soldiers to be aware of the indifferent attitude of the union government towards ex-servicemen. Coming down heavily on the Congress regime for its failure on all fronts, Capt Bhagwant Singh alleged that the Congress government had not fulfilled its promise of "one rank, one pension". Implementation of successive pay panel recommendations has led to wide disparity in the pension of armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank but at different times. Ex-servicemen were strongly demanding "one rank, one pension", but defence minister A.K. Antony stated in Parliament that it was not acceptable to the government. "The plea of the government that a separate pay commission for armed forces personnel was not feasible and tenable is wrong as we already have a separate commission for judicial services," said Havildar Balbir Singh Sidhu, general secretary of the union. Capt Bhagwant Singh also cautioned the government at the Centre that ex-servicemen had a big vote bank and they can tilt the tables in the
forthcoming parliamentary elections. |
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Meet reviews agri affairs
Bathinda, December 22 Paramjit Singh Sandhu, chief agriculture officer, Bathinda, informed that wheat had been sown on 2.50 lakh hectares in Bathinda and more than 11 MT of wheat yield was expected this season. Last year, 10.77 MT of wheat was cultivated out of the 2.47 lakh hectares, he added. The department had been organising camps to impart latest technical knowhow to farmers at district, block and village levels. The department had also collected nine samples of duplicate fertilisers, insecticides and spurious seeds from various shops of the district and had been sent for testing at a laboratory in Chandigarh and action would be taken against erring shopkeepers, he added. Free water and soil testing samples were also collected from various villages of the district and these samples had been sent to laboratories in Bathinda, Rampura Phul and Talwandi Sabo, Sandhu informed. Sandhu further informed that 165 farmers from Bathinda also visited the Agrotech Fair in Chandigarh to know about new techniques in the field of farming. |
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Annual function at SSD College
Bathinda, December 22 The day began with 'Saraswati Vandana' and 'Shaheedon Ko Pranam' was another programme which was liked by the audience in which tributes were paid to the Mumbai blast victims and those who lost their lives while fighting the terrorists. Vice-president of the college Amarnath Goyal welcomed the guests. Principal Parminder Kaur Tanghi read out the annual college report and the prize distribution began with the teachers of the college. Two teachers, Sharanjit Kaur and Neelam Gupta, were given a token of appreciation for completing 25 years at the college. Those who excelled in academics in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 session were given prizes. Promila Midha proposed the vote of thanks at the end of the function. Others present on the occasion were S.K. Mittal, deputy commissioner, income tax, Bathinda and Tarsem Goyal, deputy mayor of the city. |
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Stone for Rs 45-cr sewerage project laid in Moga
Moga, December 22 Speaking on the occasion, he said that the project would be completed within two years. The state government had already released a sum of Rs 10 crore as the first instalment to start with this project, he said. The Akali leader said that there was a dire need of the new sewerage project for this town as the old sewerage system could not work effectively due to manifold increase in population of the town during the past couple of decades. Under this project, main sewerage lines would be laid down along the highways, besides, improving the existing lines in the inner localities of the town. All the small lines would be connected with the main disposal pump on Bukkanwala road. He said that construction work on the proposed 18-feet wide link road from national highway near Duneke village to Lohara roundabout along the canal had already started, which would ease out traffic blues from the town. He further said that the local body headed by his son Barjinder Singh Brar has come out with many projects to provide basic amenities to the people. Yogesh Goel, chairman of the Improvement Trust, Amarjit Singh, chairman of the market committee, Anil Bansal, vice-president of the local body, and local leaders of SAD and BJP were also present on this occasion. |
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10,262 cases settled in Mega Lok Adalat
Ferozepur, December 22 Sudan said that in Ferozepur district alone, 2850 cases related to revenue courts were settled whereas in Moga and Muktsar districts, 1587 and 1379 cases were settled respectively. He said that besides the cases pertaining to revenue courts, 5816 cases related to revenue department of Ferozepur division besides 170 criminal cases were also solved amicably. Sudan said that in
Bhatinda, Faridkot and Mansa districts, 3951 cases belonging to revenue department were solved to the satisfaction of either party besides 226 criminal cases were also settled in these districts, he said. Sudan said that Mega Lok Adalats have really helped to settle the cases which were pending before various courts in these districts for a long time. In all, 10,262 cases were settled, he added. |
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‘Govt ignoring problems of youth’
Mansa, December 22 He announced that the party would the agitation of ETT teachers and Panchayat secretaries. He said the youth of Sangrur parliamentary constituency would hold a rally at Sangrur on January 11 in support of SAD (A) candidate Simranjeet Singh Maan. The youth wing also held a meeting of district presidents and working committee members of Mansa, Bathinda, Sangrur and Barnala today. |
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Prestigious award for school dean
Bathinda, December 22 The award was given to her by the Association of Economic Growth and Social Development. The chief guest was Haryana's Governor A.R. Kidwai. Janice Darbari, consul general for republic of Montenegro, Joginder Singh, former CBI director and Marten N Kapewasha, high commissioner of Namibia in India.
— TNS |
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