Chandigarh, September 10
Heavy rain in Himachal has reduced depletion of water level in Bhakra and Pong dams, but may not be enough for optimum level. The three-day depleting water level trend at Bhakra was broken today with report of heavy rain in its catchment area yesterday. 

The rain, which is continuing, resulted in inflow of 70,000 cusecs of water recorded this afternoon. The water level of the dam has risen by two feet since yesterday, being recorded at 1,621 feet.

The late rain spell has brought cheer for the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which had reached water level of 1,620 feet for Bhakra at the end of the filling season on September 20.

This figure has been revised to 1,625 on basis of present trends. However, even this figure will be nowhere near the water levels reached last year. The dam recorded water level of 1,673 feet, 53 feet more than the present level on the same day last year. The dam had level of 1,674 feet at the end of the filling season despite large-scale discharges made to ensure safety.

In case of Pong dam, the position has become better with the water level increasing by 11 feet in last two days. The dam recorded inflow of 60,000 cusecs and level of 1,320 feet today.

The BBMB expects level at the Pong to increase to 1,333 feet by the end of the filling season on September 20. It had registered level of 1,385 feet, 65 feet above the present mark, on September 20 last.

In Punjab, the rain was limited to Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar and Patiala districts.

State Agriculture Director Dr BS Sidhu said the rain was beneficial for late-sown paddy. He, however, added because it did not occur beyond Gobindgarh, it had limited effect.

The rain has resulted in reduction in power cuts from average of seven hours daily to only one hour today.

The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) System Operations Wing disclosed demand still was more than supply by 300 lakh units today.

The industry continues to have one-and-a-half-day compulsory weekly off while the same is for two days for arc furnaces.

Meanwhile, the local weather office has forecast heavy rain in eastern Haryana and Himachal as well as at isolated places in rest of Punjab and Haryana in next 12 hours. Moderate to heavy rain is predicted in most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal.

Bhiwani today recorded the heaviest rainfall at 90 mm, followed by 80 mm in Ambala, 57 mm in Chandigarh, 59 mm in Shimla and 19 mm at Bhuntar.

Jalandhar, September 10
The Punjab government has extended the date to September 30 to accept applications on prescribed proforma for the grant of scholarship under various schemes to students belonging to minorities such as Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Bodhis and Parsis in the state. 

There are three scholarship schemes for students belonging to the minority communities in Punjab. The union government has kept a provision to give scholarship to 2 lakh students belonging to the minorities in the state.

Earlier date to submit the applications was August 31. However, as most District Education Officers and Deputy Commissioners did not take interest to get the forms filled from students concerned in the state, the Welfare Department had to request the Ministry of Minority Affairs to get the scheme extended till September 30.

Under the pre-matric scholarship scheme for students belonging to minority communities, a student is entitled to a tuition fee of Rs 350 per month besides maintenance allowance of Rs 600 per month for students living in school hostels and Rs 100 per month for day scholars. There is also a provision of Rs 500 per annum as admission fee. Students with parents having income up to Rs 1 lakh are eligible to apply under this scheme. 1,77,650 students will be given scholarship and only 10,000 have applied so far in the state.

Under the merit-cum-means scholarship scheme for students belonging to the minority communities, a hostler student will be entitled to get Rs 10,000 per annum and day scholar Rs 5,000 per annum. The government would also pay Rs 20,000 as a part of course fee to each student selected under the scheme. Under the scheme, there is also provision for full reimbursement of course fee for students who are enrolled in about 70 institutions such as Thapar College, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal, etc. Students with parents having income up to Rs 2.5 lakh are eligible under this scheme.

Under the post-matric scholarship scheme for students belonging to the minorities, there is a provision of scholarship of Rs 7,000 per annum for hostlers. Besides, Rs 7,000 per annum for students enrolled in general courses and same amount for those enrolled in technical courses. Apart from it there is a provision to give Rs 140 to Rs 510 per month, depending on the nature of course, per month to students selected under the scheme. More than 20,000 students are to be given scholarship under this scheme.

A senior officer of the Welfare Department said that students could find full details with regard to these schemes on the webesite: minoritiesaffairs.gov.in.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 10
The Chinese have beaten Punjabis by capturing the market and are ahead of them in learning Punjabi too. Weight to Punjabi-knowing persons in interviews for jobs in Canada has encouraged more non-Punjabis, including foreigners, to learn Punjabi as second language in that country.

Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh has agreed to start online courses in the language for NRIs.

Dr Harjinder Pal Singh Walia, Chairman, Global Punjab Foundation and don from here, said a large number of non-Punjabis, including Chinese students, had shown interest in learning Punjabi as second language in Canada. Some Chinese students had performed better than Punjabi students studying in various universities of that country.

Quoting Senator of Vancouver University Bikkar Singh Lalli, Walia said two Chinese students had won the first and second positions in examination in Punjabi language conducted by the university for Indo-Canadian students recently.

Worried about the poor performance of their wards in Punjabi, some NRIs had urged Dr Walia during a Ru-B-Ru to impress upon the authorities in Punjabi University to start some online courses.

“I took up the matter with our Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh and he agreed to organise online programmes to enable NRIs to learn Punjabi,” said Walia, adding a committee would be formed for it.

Amritsar, September 10
Strained ties between Sikhs and Dalits, particularly the Ravidasia community, following murder of Sant Rama Nand in Vienna got accentuated with alleged removal of Birs (replicas of Guru Granth Sahib) by certain Dalits from gurdwaras named after Guru Ravidas in the Doaba region.

The Doaba region which witnessed widespread violence after the death of Sant Rama Nand has the largest population (about 45 per cent) of Dalits in Punjab.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has asserted the Sikhs would not allow any such development to take place. “The leaders of a faction of Ravidasias are coming to meet and discuss the matter tomorrow. We are not going to allow any such deviation to take place. Minor differences can be sorted out through dialogue. Both communities have old ties, which should remain intact. Not only this, we are also going to call leaders of Udasi and Nirmala sects to iron out differences or misunderstandings, if any,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh. He, however, said he was not aware about the alleged removal of Birs from gurdwaras of Guru Ravidas.

“Ravidasias are anguished over what had happened in Vienna and afterwards. A section of them have even removed Birs from 100 gurdwaras named after Guru Ravidas in Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Nawanshahr districts in Doaba. While certain Dalits are supporting the move, we are not in favour of this as it is a matter of religious faith and understanding between the two communities. It is only for this feeling we have sought time from Akal Takht Jathedar for discussion on the issue. We are all for peace in Punjab,” said Gian Chand, a leader of Ravidasias and head of the Samaj Bachao Morcha, adding he had a list of gurdwaras from where Birs have been removed.

“We will give this list to the Jathedar. Our delegation is meet the Jathedar at Akal Takht at 4 pm on Friday. Besides, we are also holding discussions with 10 religious leaders of the Dalit community on the issue,” said Gian Chand.

He also confirmed a large number of Ravidasia families had started adhering to the recitation of just 40 shalokas of Guru Ravidas in place of the recitation of the paath of Guru Granth Sahib. “In fact, Ravidasias are too hurt over the Sant Rama Nand’s killing,” he added.

“We are also going to probe the removal of Birs from Guru Ravidas gurdwaras in Doaba,” he said.

Chandigarh, September 10
To ensure better health care and discourage doctors from doing private practice besides claiming non- practising allowance (NPA), the Punjab government may order government hospitals to continue clinics from 9 am to 4 pm and again in the evening from 5 pm to 7 pm daily. The government has sought opinion of the doctors in this regard.

Medical Education and Research Minister Tikshan Sud stated this today at a meeting of senior officers of the department. For transparency in the procedures of medico-legal and post-mortem cases, the minister directed the medical superintendents and the principals of the government medical colleges to redress grievances of either of the two parties not satisfied with the medico-legal or the post-mortem reports. The minister also issued instructions to get all clinical tests done only in the government hospitals only and referred only those tests to clinical laboratories outside which were not available in the hospitals.

He said to monitor working of the medical officers, quarterly review meeting would be held and action taken against erring officers.

Nangal, September 10
National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), Nangal, has entered into an agreement with Carb-Invest Consortium of USA for installation of a secondary catalyst in the nitric acid plant to reduce emission of nitrogen dioxide.

The project named as N2O Abatement Project. In this connection, a meeting of the stakeholders was organised yesterday at Naya Nangal guest house wherein all the prominent citizens of vicinity such as presidents of markets, representatives of BBMB/ PACL/ municipal council, principals, teachers, students, village heads etc were invited.

KK Chaturvedi, DGM (production), who is also the in charge of the project, briefed gathering about the global warming, its impact and benefits of the project.

TK Batra, a senior manager, gave a presentation on topic and put up important data before people.

Mohali, September 10
Resentment is brewing among several SHOs and other officers on probation in the district police against the out-of-turn promotions given to the personnel from the armed battalion and sports quota. Many of the beneficiaries who joined PAP as constable in 1991 had got promoted up to the rank of Inspectors.

The affected officers, who joined in the rank of the ASI since 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1999 batch, have been holding meeting among themselves before giving a representation to the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab Police. There are around 800 such probationers in the entire state.

On the condition of anonymity, a number of affected cops told the Tribune that denial of promotion to probationers even after prolonged litigation in different courts had demoralised them. The benefit to the sportspersons had disturbed the general seniority and hierarchy.

“Had the government been really concerned about the sportspersons and uplift of sports in the state, then they should have been employed in the Sports Department with attractive salaries, so that they would have guided the budding youngsters in rural Punjab ”, said an affected SHO.

They mentioned that a committee under the senior IPS Officer did an exhaustive exercise to streamline this mess in the department but the report containing committee finding is still gathering the dust. The probationers, who are well qualified are feeling aggrieved and looking for justice from the present regime. 

Jalandhar, September 10
People were tattooed with unhygienic needles at the historic Baba Sodal Fair. It may spread HIV infection. The practice went on for two days in the fair where scores of vendors with machines and other equipment injected indelible colours in body parts, especially arms and wrists of youngsters.

While queues of devotees from the region, mostly women carrying infants, were seen outside the temple to offer prayers, young men found time get tattooed on body parts. People from Haryana, Himachal, Punjab, Chandigarh and other states throng the temple every year.

Scores of young visitors, unaware of consequences, got tattooed without giving thought to chemicals, unhygienic conditions and instruments vendors used.

A visit to the fair revealed roadside vendors surrounded by school and college boys and girls awaiting their turn and suggesting shapes and designs of tattoos to the vendors. There were nearly 10 vendors in the fair. They were hardly seen sterilising needles and using antiseptics.

Randhir Kumar (15) of Kartarpur said: “I have been getting tattooed on arm to save memory of Baba Sodal Fair for life. I am not aware if this can cause some infection,” claimed Jasbir Singh another boy.

Jalandhar Civil Surgeon SS Walia said: “We found no vendor involved in the practice in two days of the fair. Tattooing with unhygienic needles to so many persons could definitely spread the infection,” he admitted. 

Ludhiana, September 10
Additional Sessions Judge Munish Singal today refused bail to Akali youth wing president and councillor Simarjit Singh Bains, prime accused in stripping and assault on tehsildar GS Benipal.

Six co-accused Gurpreet Singh, Sarabjit Singh, Jaspreet Singh, alias Sahil, 
Roopinder Singh, alias Honey, Satnam Singh and Jasbir Singh, alias Jassa, were also denied bail.

Disallowing their bail pleas, the judge said : “The investigation is in progress and many of the accused are yet to be arrested and if the accused persons are released on bail they may hamper the investigation and influence the witnesses”.

Perusal of earlier complaints of the tehsildar makes it clear he (tehsildar) was many times forced by these councillors (Bains and Karwal) to do illegal registries and on refusal they had threatened to kill him. In those complaints, the complainant had even sought police protection, says the court.

“It is matter of record Bains is facing trial in four criminal cases. The allegations , the two councillors instigated the public in furtherance of their illegal acts with the intention to kill the complainant are very serious in nature. The councillors are custodians of law and the public look up to them for protection of their rights and development of the city,” remarked the court.

Ludhiana, September 10
Chief Judicial Magistrate Lachmman Singh today extended police remand of Daljit Singh Bittu, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) for a day. The court also extended police remand of co-accused Jaspal Singh Manjpur, spokesman for the party, Palwinder Singh Shatrana and Gurdeep Singh Raju for a day.

Additional Public Prosecutor Sukhchain Singh had sought extension of their police remand pleading they wanted to know the identity of persons funding the accused for reviving militancy.

Meanwhile, supporters of the accused persons blocked the Ferozepur road for an hour. They lift the dharna only after SDM Prem Chand received a memorandum from them.

Moga, September 10
Indian-born Canadian citizen Jagdev Singh, who faces charges of murdering former MLA Nachattar Singh Gill, the father of Paramdip Singh Gill, DGP, was sent to two-day police remand by a local court in a case of corruption registered against him a few days ago.

He had surrendered before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Karunesh Kumar Kakkar on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday.

The police demanded a seven-day remand of the NRI for further investigations.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Lakhvir Singh argued the NRI’s custodial interrogation was necessary so as to find out modus operandi of the corrupt practice adopted by him to procure police clearance certificate for getting Canadian citizenship.

Defence counsel Ramesh Grover pleaded before the court that the contents of the FIR registered under Sections 7, 13 (2) and 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988 against his client were almost the same as in the previous FIR registered against him on August 4 under Sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC.

“He has already remained in police custody for 12 days in the previous FIR and there seems to be no need of police custody in the fresh FIR as the police has nothing to recover from him accept for verifying the documental evidences,” 
he added.

However, the court passed directions to the police to take the NRI to the bhog of his mother on Friday from 12 noon to 4 pm for four hours.

Faridkot, September 10
After 12 years of trial, the district and sessions court of Faridkot today sentenced SHO of Kotkapura and two other persons to life imprisonment for burning a woman dancer to death.

SHO Hardip Singh, who was then ASI, along with his colleague ASI Gurcharan Singh (retd) and a local businessman Subash Chander murdered 18-year-old dancer Jaswinder Kaur by burning her to death on June 14, 1997. 

Gopal Singh, the father of the dancer, had alleged DSP Gurmail Singh, Hardip, Gurcharan and Subash came to his house with the intension of developing physical relations with his daughter, but she refused. They poured kerosene on her and burnt her. She died at a government hospital. 

Gopal’s younger daughter recorded her testimony before the court against the accused. DSP Gurmail Singh was acquitted of the charges in the absence of any solid evidence against him.