 |
|
|
Row over paddy variety
Farmers urged to transplant paddy after June 15
Rodent menace: PAU experts give tips
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Akali MLA, sarpanches threaten to resign
‘Community participation in policing lacking’
Prices of essential commodities jump
Panchayat not to allow sale of liquor
Delegation of MPs meets Krishna
Bus conductors must behave, says rights panel
Vienna Backlash
Vienna Attack
Security beefed up in Jalandhar
High Court
Customs Duty Scam
|
Row over paddy variety
Ludhiana, June 1 Amrinder Singh, a farmer of Kohara said, “We have already planted the crop and are confident the government will intervene in case rice-shellers create problems when we sell the yield”. Parshotam Khalifa, Jagraon-based rice-sheller , said, “We deal with the crop and know the ground realities. We have nothing against farmers. We only want to tell them procurement agencies will create problems while lifting the yield because the quality is more damaged than the set standards”. Rice-sheller operators argue the percentage of damage in the rice yield in the variety, under question, ranges from four to eight whereas the Food Corporation of India (FCI) does not accept the damage in rice grains beyond 3.5 per cent. Raunki Ram, a farmer from Mullanpur, said, “When the Agriculture Department in the Centre has cleared the variety, the rice-sheller owners should not have reservations against the yield”. Mahavir Bansal, vice-president, Mullanpur Rice Shellers Association, said, “We know farmers in the state have gone ahead and planted paddy nurseries. Let the procurement agencies, particularly the FCI, give us assurance and we will have no problem in rice procurement”. At the same time, the PAU has clarified the food value of the variety was very high and in fact better than many distributed under PDS schemes. The Central Rice Research Institute, Hyderabad, had tested the rice sample and cleared the same when the variety was tested by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, following request from the Punjab Agriculture Department. Manish Goyal, rice-sheller operator based at Jagraon, said, "I fail to understand what standards the government had seen to clear the PAU 201 variety, this time. The procurement agencies show reservations in procuring the yellowish-coloured rice saying it was highly damaged”.
|
|
Farmers urged to transplant paddy after June 15
Moga, June 1 He said after June 15, dry heat wave conditions would probably ease out with expected pre-monsoon showers in the region. As such, from the second half of this month less water would be required for irrigation. “It will help in checking groundwater depletion”, he said. May and June are hot and dry months when evaporation of water is the maximum. The early transplantation of paddy during these months leads to groundwater depletion. He has also asked the farmers to sow paddy seeds directly instead of traditional method of first preparing the saplings and then transplanting them. Agricultural scientists have advocated this new technique, which had shown good results. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the district administration has revealed that in most parts of this district the groundwater had depleted at an alarming rate of 60 cm to 85 cm per year between 2001 to 2006. The main cause of this had been early transplantation of long-duration varieties of paddy. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, has been running the “Save Water Save Punjab” campaign since 2005. It has resulted in an average of 64 cm rise in groundwater table during 2006-08 throughout the state. Last year, more than 80 per cent of the farmers transplanted paddy after June 15.
|
|
Rodent menace: PAU experts give tips
Bathinda, June 1 The Head of the Department of Zoology, Dr Ranjit Kaur Parshad, has suggested the use of rodenticide. She says at seedling stage, rodent burrows could be easily located. She suggests burrow baiting either with 2 per cent zinc phosphide or 0.005 per cent bromidiolone. For the preparation of the bait, one kg of cracked wheat or bajra grains (or their mixture) with 20 gm of groundnut or sunflower refined oil and 20 gm of powdered sugar should be mixed either with 25 gm zinc phosphide powder or 20 gm of bromadiolone powder. All burrows should be closed in the evening. The next day, a paper boat containing about 10 gm of the bait should be inserted six inches deep into the burrow. She cautions that water should not be added in the zinc phosphide bait and that it should be
freshly used. During maturity stage of the crop, 10 gm of the poison bait on a piece of paper should be kept at 40 baiting points per acre on dry sites and inside the crop throughout covering activity areas of rats. Pre-baiting for two-three days with plain bait (without poison) is essential before zinc phosphide baiting
in the crop. Highlighting other methods of rodent management, she says weeds should be removed regularly as these provide shelter and food for rodents. Highly infested water channels and field pavements should be periodically re-built to destroy permanent rodent burrows. During irrigation of vacant harvested fields, rats should be killed with sticks or they can be caught using traps and killed by drowning
in water. In his recent statement, Chief Agricultural Officer, Bathinda, Paramjeet Singh had said for the past couple of years the Agricultural Department had not provided them rodenticide.
|
|
|
Akali MLA, sarpanches threaten to resign
Amritsar, June 1 Lodhinangal said today all 187 Akali sarpanches of his constituency would submit resignations if administration failed to withdraw "false cases" against Akali leaders/ workers by June 4. He alleged the police registered the cases against Akali workers following a telephone call by senior BSP leader. The police has registered a case against Harapal Singh and 15 others under Sections 452, 427, 336, 323, 148, 149 of the IPC and the Arms Act. The police did not invoke the provisions of the SC/ST Act or 307 of the IPC. Dr Naresh Kumar, SSP Batala claimed 25 Akali workers who induged in stone-pelting / violence were booked since senior government officials including tehsildar were eyewitness to the incident. He said SDM Batala, Rahul Chabba was investigating the case and action would be taken on the basis of his report. He claimed being a revenue case, the police had nothing to do with it. However, he rubbished corruption charges, levelled by the Akali MLA against Batala police . The SSP said the police had been working on "merit". However, Lodhinangal alleged earlier too the DC Gurdaspur and the SSP Batala had been favouring opposition parties . He said he had already brought the matter to the notice of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He said if his sarpanches submitted resignations, he would also follow the suit. Rivalry between the SAD and the BSP took ugly turn and 10 persons were injured in a clash over the construction of village pond. However, the BSP alleged the village sarpanch Harpal Singh belonging to the SAD along with his supporters allegedly clashed with the fellow villagers who had supported BSP candidate from Hoshiarpur district in Lok Sabha elections . Lodhinangal claimed the Deputy Commissioner Gurdaspur came under pressure following a telephone made by a Rajya Sabha member of the BJP who sought action against the Akali workers including village sarpanch. However, supporters of the BSP alleged the Akali workers had been threatening them since they had supported the BSP candidte in elections . The police alleged the houses of Mohan Singh, Saroop Singh and Amrik Singh were vandalised and fridges, washing machines, wash basins, windows were broken by the miscreants.
|
|
‘Community participation in policing lacking’
Chandigarh, June 1 The commission, in a report on the Delivery of Citizens Services in the state, has called for revamp of the Suwidha project aimed at delivering essential services under one roof. The commission, headed by Dr Pramod Kumar of the Institute for Development and Communication, Chandigarh, in its report mentions district-level steering committees are a unique feature of the CPRC project, but these have become ceremonial and ineffective. According to standing orders, each centre shall be registered under the Societies Act and function as an autonomous organisation. It says though registration of most centres has taken place, these are yet to acquire financial autonomy. The centres are only performing the usual work of the Police Department through single window. It says only one unit, Community Service-cum-Information Centre, is working and others like Grievance Redressal Unit, Victim Relief Centre and Children’s Protection Unit are simply not part of the project. The commission has called for creating time lines for all services provided by the centres and also recommended the time lines. It has also disclosed unavailability of an ombudsman and delay and reluctance to acknowledge and redress public grievances were the main complaints against the Police Department. It has recommended Grievance Redressal Units (GRUs) be established to deal with these issues. The commission has also recommended the CRPC in charge should take action on public complaints in one week and that all complaints should be properly recorded and action taken reports should be submitted to the district-level steering committees of CPRCs. It has also been proposed online police service delivery systems be introduced at all CPRCs and a system of incentive be built into the police set up to promote community policing. It has also called for opening of Community Policing Suwidha Centres at the subdivision level to enhance police services outreach to the lowest administrative units. The commission recommends that a Community Service Division (CSD) be also set up at the Punjab Police Headquarters here to design, develop, implement and monitor programmes of community policing.
|
|
Suvidha kendra becomes ‘asuvidha’
Pathankot, June 1 One can see people standing in the long queue in sweltering heat near the Kendra. Only a single window has been set up for the registration of vehicles, making of licenses and other jobs. There is also lack of basic facilities like drinking water and toilets. The visitors could be seen visiting railway tracks nearby to ease themselves. There is no place for parking and people park their vehicles on the road leading to the complex. Vijay Kumar of Kailashpur village near Sujanpur said he had come to the Kendra a number of times for registration of his motorcycle but whenever his turn came, the centre gets closed. He alleged that certain persons were directly entering the centre through back door to get their jobs done on priority basis. Vijay Mahajan of Mirthal village also alleged that certain touts were active in the area who stand in the queue and offered their place after charging Rs 50-100. He alleged these persons again stand in the queue making a mock rush at the Kendra. Mahajan said the authorities should ask the applicants to deposit their files and issue coupons to them after checking all the necessary documents for the RC or license. He said this would also help in restraining those indulged in unfair practices.
|
|
Prices of essential commodities jump
Patiala, June 1 These commodities have become costlier and contents reduced by producers to maximise profit. This was noticed in the case of tea and detergents. Prices have increased with simultaneous and drastic reduction in contents. A study of markets in the state revealed almost all ‘dals’ have registered 10 per cent hike in retail prices in two weeks. Earlier one kg of ‘arhar’ was available for Rs 60, now it costs Rs 66. Similarly ‘moong’ was priced at Rs 58 a kg 15 days ago; now one has to pay Rs 68 for it. Price of ‘masoor’ has jumped from Rs 54 a kg to Rs 76 while the price of red ‘rajmah’ has increased from Rs 56
to Rs 62. Shailendra Kumar, owner of a store in Jalandhar attributes price hike to short supply from lentil -producing states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Hike in the prices of leading brands of detergents has shocked the
consumer. The detergent companies have increased prices, and reduced contents . A month ago, a four-kg pack of detergent of two major companies was priced at Rs 385, now the price of 3.3o kg pack has been increased to Rs 450. “ I have been told the price of oil used as major ingredient in detergents has increased,” said Sohan Lal Gupta, a store owner in Patiala. Similarly, if one kg detergent of a leading company was priced at Rs 163 a month ago, now it is priced at Rs 199. “I was not aware of reduction of contents but price enhancement was surprising ,” rued
Manju, a housewife. Moreover, sizes of one kg tea packets have also been reduced to 950 gm by most tea-producing companies. Also, the price has been increased from Rs 260 kg to Rs 297 for 950 gm pack by two major companies. Similarly, if 250 gm packet of tea was earlier priced at Rs 112, reduced 250 gm pack could be purchased now for Rs 126 in case of these two brands. Price of another essential edible item - ‘desi ghee’ - has also been hiked from Rs 175 a litre to Rs 195 a litre by a company, while another Punjab-based firm has increased prices from Rs 185 a litre to Rs 203 a litre despite dip in the demand due to summer and health consciousness . However, there is relief to the consumers in the form of reduced refined oil prices. Earlier, a five-litre refined packet was priced at Rs 400, the same could now be purchased for Rs 350.
|
|
A day after, another bridge gives in
Nurpur Bedi, June 1 At around 11.30 pm on Sunday night, a group of Nihangs on their way to Nurpur Bedi, was surprised to find the temporary structure “missing” from its place. They later saw that with the gush of water, the bridge structure had swayed by around 8 to 10 meters from its original location. PWD department was told about the incident. As per PWD authorities on site, one of girdles of bridge broke away. Also ropes tied to bridge failed to withstand the gush of water. While a permanent bridge is under construction near Saran Pattan, it will take another eight months before it was operational. The PWD authorities said had they been informed in advance about the heavy flow of water, they would have managed to save the bridge. They claimed that no such warning had come in the past few days. Earlier, on May 30 night, a makeshift bridge over the Sutlej collapsed near Burj village in Anandpur Sahib. It is pertinent to mention here that excess water is being released to meet the irrigation requirement of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. RK Garg, director, water regulation, BBMB, said as much as 29,000 cusecs of water was being released which included 6,000 cusecs released in the Sutlej and rest in the canals. The schedule will run for the entire month. “BBMB had released water, gradually increasing its quantity so as to acquaint people that excess water will be a regular feature. Two days ago XEN, canal, Punjab, was duly informed about the excessive flow of water,” he said. Meanwhile, Priyank Bharti, Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, too agreed that a message had come from the state government, warning of excessive water. “We had sounded all concerned departments about it and a plan was worked out. I will look into the issue. As for the damaged bridge, it will be repaired soon,” he said.
|
|
|
Panchayat not to allow sale of liquor
Sangrur, June 1 The resolution says the panchayat has come to know that no liquor shop has been allotted to contractors for Jalan village (near Ghabdan village) and has been allotted for nearby Kherri Chandwan village, but the contractors were selling liquor by keeping a kiosk in Jalan village. This action of the contractors is being opposed by the Naujwan Sabha, panchayat, respectable persons and women of the village. Two Panches Harwinder Singh and Rajpal Singh said today the villagers would not allow sale of liquor in the village. They also said they would meet the Deputy Commissioner tomorrow to submit him the copy of the resolution and other documents to express the resentment over the opening of liquor shop in Jalan, 9 km from Sangrur. President of the Panthic Vichar Manch Parshotam Singh Phaguwala said they were supporting the ‘anti-intoxicants’ campaign of the villagers and the panchayat. The village has pledged not to allow opening of liquor shop. The Panthic Vichar Manch will also compel the authorities to respect sentiments of the panchayat and villagers.
|
|
Delegation of MPs meets Krishna
New Delhi, June 1 The delegation, consisting Praneet Kaur; Mahender Singh KP; Pratap Singh Bajwa; Santosh Chaudhry; Vijender Singla; Manish Tiwari; Lal Singh; Chaudhry Jagjit Singh; Chaudhry Santokh Singh; Ajit Inder Singh Mofar and Malkit Singh, held discussions with Krishna in his South Block office, party spokesman Tiwari said. “We asked the minister to ensure that a senior official of the Indian embassy in Vienna accompanies the body. We also suggested to the government to coordinate with the state government to ensure proper funeral for the saint in his hometown,” he added.
|
|
Bus conductors must behave, says rights panel
Chandigarh, June 1 On a complaint of a handicapped couple from Pathankot alleging a conductor of Punjab Roadways, Nangal, had ill-treated them, the commission has asked SSP Gurdaspur to file a report. The couple had also asked the commission to ensure conductors did not misbehave with handicapped travellers. Passing orders in the case, member of the commission, Avinash Rai Khanna, has asked the general manager, Nangal depot, to monitor behaviour of Bachan Ram, conductor number 128, Punjab Roadways, Nangal depot, and send his conduct report to the complainant for her
satisfaction. He also said this order of the commission should be placed on the notice board of the office of the Punjab Roadways, Nangal depot, so that others should get a lesson and not repeat the mistake.
|
|
Vienna Backlash
Patiala, June 1 Manvesh Sidhu, managing director, PRTC, told The Tribune here today that the corporation, which was already reeling under financial crisis, had suffered a serious setback when it had to suspend operation of its buses on many
important routes in the wake of violence and arson directed against private and public property. The suspension of bus services by the corporation on many important routes led to a loss of Rs 70 lakh by way of revenue which adversely affected the financial health of the PRTC. If this was not enough, many of the PRTC buses were targets of mob fury and the loss to property during incidents of arson during Vienna backlash had been pegged at Rs 75 lakh. At least 10 buses of the corporation had been damaged or attacked during the violence. Sidhu said in view of the financial losses suffered by the corporation, the PRTC was not in a position to manage its finances as of now unless the state government bailed it out by way of financial assistance or permitting the corporation to increase its bus fares. Sidhu said the corporation had sought permission from the state government to revise the bus fares by 10 paise per km. He said the corporation losses had been mounting in view of the non-revision of bus fares while cost of spares and other inputs had increased manifold. The pay bill of the corporation, Sidhu disclosed, was a whopping Rs 6 crore, which included the salary of the staff and pension of the retired corporation employees. The corporation has a number of ongoing development and expansion plans which include a state-of-the-art bus stand in Patiala and addition of new airconditioned buses in the existing fleet of the corporation.
|
|
Vienna Attack
Chandigarh, June 1 An all-party meeting for peace was hosted by Radio India where the supporters and the members of all main political parties unanimously condemned the murder of Sant Rama Nand. They demanded thorough probe into the incident besides urging the government to bring those responsible for the clashes to the book. They also demanded investigation to expose the motive behind the attack. The gathering also deplored subsequent violence that shook parts of Punjab and Haryana and assailed the disruptive and anti-national forces disturbing peace in Punjab. They also resolved to issue a joint declaration against systematic discrimination against the Dalits in India and elsewhere, which they felt was the root cause of present crisis. Treatment of the Dalits by the upper caste groups was one of the reasons which was alienating them from the Sikh mainstream and turned them into the followers of other sects. Overseas Congress spokesman, Lucky Takhar said dialogue was solution and not the gun. BJP NRI cell’s leader, Vikram Bajwa said even the atheists had the right to live and practise their faith. “Nobody has right to take anyone’s life’’. BSP leader Surinder Singh Sandhu demanded thorough probe into the murder of Sant Rama Nand. ``The real culprits should be exposed. I believe true Sikhs cannot do this’’. He pointed out the Khalistan Zindabad Force, a Sikh separatist group, had already denied its involvement in the attack while other separatist groups have also condemned it. Khushi Ram, another BSP supporter, urged Punjabi music that glorified upper castes, including Jats, and violence, should be stopped. SAD leader, Harbans Singh Aujla wanted those who incited violence in Punjab following the Vienna incident should also be exposed.
|
|
Security beefed up in Jalandhar
Jalandhar, June 1 Heavy police force from police districts of Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Khanna and Jagraon have been deployed in the areas dominated by the followers of the dera, which is headquartered at Ballan, near here. Entry points to the city, including national highways, highways, and internal roads besides other links to the city, have been barricaded.
|
|
High Court
Chandigarh, June 1 The son of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s media adviser, Chahal has now moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking the grant of blanket anticipatory bail; or 14 days prior notice in any case likely to be registered by any wing of the Punjab police. Chahal, currently in Scotland, has asserted he left the country after his father BIS Chahal was arrested by the police on June 10, 2007, and has been out of the country for almost two years now. Chahal added he has now landed up with the job of “manager finance” with New Delhi-based Punjab Stainless Steel Industry; and has been asked to report for duty on June 8. But, in light of the conduct of the police in his father’s case, his apprehension is that he shall be implicated in a case, as soon as he steps on the Indian soil. The petition is expected to come up for hearing before the high court on
Tuesday.
|
|
Shots fired in clash of truckers, workers
Moga, June 1 Later, members of the truck union blocked national highway. Heavy police force was rushed to the spot and the blockade got lifted. However, the situation remained tense. Jagtar Singh, SHO of the police station (rural), said: “We have dispatched a police team to record the statements of injured persons admitted in the district hospital and accordingly a case will be registered against the culprits”. Claiming that the situation was under control, he said a few persons had been rounded up and investigations were in progress. Preliminary investigations revealed that the owners of a local industrial unit had hired trucks from outside the town to transport their goods. The truck union opposed the hiring of outside trucks, leading to the conflict. As the industrial unit was about to send the trucks loaded with goods, the truck union members reached the spot and tried to stop the trucks by force. Those injured in the clash had been identified as Krishan Lal, Chamkaur Singh, Jasvir Singh and Balwinder Singh. The industry owner had alleged that the truck union had refused to give them the trucks to transport their goods.
|
|
Customs Duty Scam
Amritsar, June 1 The scam led to the suspension and transfer of 32 superintendents and inspectors for dereliction of duty. Commissioner Customs Talkeshwar Singh said here today the department was contemplating to move court for freezing his property. Sources said the department came to know about the scam when a large amount being siphoned off to a particular account after Amandeep secured password as he had access to the offices working as customs clearing house agent in Ludhiana office.
— OC
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
