Bathinda, October 8
Probing the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the principal-cum-secretary of the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), the three-member investigation committee found the accused partially guilty and has recommended action against him, besides getting him relieved from the post.

Receiving the report late in the evening, Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari forwarded it to the director, cultural affairs and archeological department, with recommendation of action against the accused principal-cum-secretary SK Banerjee.

As per the 25-page detailed findings of the report, the inquiry committee comprising the ADC (General) Shruti Chaudhary, Civil Surgeon Neelam Bajaj and District Revenue Officer Kiran Jain, stated that women employees of the IHM, during the investigation, maintained their charges against the accused and accused him of touching them and using improper language.

The committee members have expressed surprise about ‘extra-care’ like accommodation and transportation, being provided by the accused to the women staff, during the initial days of the placement.

Further, it is mentioned in the report that the women staff in their versions repeated the incidents when the accused physically touched them, which was also verified by the male staff of the IHM.

Recording their statements in front of the committee, some of the women staff narrated the incidents, when the accused called them to his house.

About the allegation of clicking their photographs in a mobile phone, the report stated that a male computer operator of the IHM confirmed it saying the accused used to ask him to upload such photographs in his laptop.

The report further mentioned that the women staff alleged that the accused attempted to place erotic and vulgar story books in front of them, two of them even quoted and narrated the scene also. One of the women staff even accused the principal of showing a vulgar photograph on the computer.

It was also mentioned that the general attitude of the accused SK Banerjee was against the staff and the staff used to call him a dictator, proud and quarrelsome.

In the last columns of the report, the committee members said the physical harassment could not be actually proved and it was a very sensitive allegation, which needed a lot of strong evidence. However, the report mentioned that though it was a complicated matter, there could be no ill-motive on the part of the women staff making the allegation. So it could not be assumed that had lied just to gain publicity.

The members recommended, “When the whole staff is against him, the accused should not be the principal of the institution, which is a very prestigious and important post in such a dignified institute, which was recently inaugurated.”

Confirming the facts, DC Bathinda, Rahul Tewari said that he wrote to the department concerned for taking action against the accused principal-cum-secretary of the IHM.

Bathinda, October 8
The already over-priced onions are bound to bring more tears to consumers’ eyes as its price is expected to rise further. However, a good news is that the situation would be under control in the first week of November when onions from Rajasthan would start arriving here.

“Apart from fresh supply from Rajasthan, even Madhya Pradesh is likely to chip in its share of fresh supplies in November. Another advantage of supplies from MP and Rajasthan is that the quality of onions would be much better than what the market is getting today,” informed Mahinder Kumar, a trader at vegetable market here.

Mahinder said acres of onion bulbs got damaged in areas like Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh due to floods, which hit its supply badly.

On the other hand, onions from Karnataka could not reach here as the roads were damaged due to flood water. More than 65 per cent of onions are supplied from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka every year.

The city’s daily onion consumption totals to 400 bags of 50 kg each and it is getting difficult to meet the demand that is bound to increase with Diwali around the corner. Another problem is that the onion stock available at the ‘mandi’ is of inferior quality.

“The prices of onions have been changing regularly for the past one week. It was Rs 10 per kg a week back and now it is Rs 20 per kg,” Mahinder added.

Apart from the fluctuating rates for onions in domestic market, the government has increased the minimum export price for onions.

Bathinda, October 8
Refuting the allegations of harassing and rounding up Darshan Singh Jaga Ram Tirath, the general secretary of the SAD (Panch Pardhani), the Bathinda police today claimed that he was not wanted and nothing happened as alleged by his kin before the media on Wednesday.

Speaking to TNS, SP (D) Ajay Maluja said Darshan was under their surveillance as he was having a criminal record and had organised the departure ceremony of Marjeevade — radical Sikhs ready to sacrifice their lives — from Takht Damdama Sahib towards the state headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda at Salabatpura on every Sunday.

Maluja said that Darshan was a government employee but was allegedly involved in anti-establishment moves. In this regard, the police would be writing to all officials concerned to get him suspended at the earliest.

He doubted Darshan had a role in the Dera-Sikh clash that took place at Mehraj village on Sunday.

The SP said Darshan’s kin was being over-cautious and using media as a shield.

Maluja said that only the steps permissible under the law would be taken. — TNS

Bathinda, October 8
India is busy making umpteen efforts to avoid China from stepping on the Indian land but Indian markets are flooded with Chinese goods. So deep is the invasion that its products can be seen in the remotest towns.

Come Diwali and Chinese firecrackers step in giving a tight blow to the Indian manufacturers. In the local markets, Chinese firecrackers can be seen at several retail outlets and shopkeepers are making a good business.

Bunty, a local shopkeeper, said, “It does not matter to me whether the firecrackers I am selling is Chinese or Indian. My concern is money and these firecrackers are preferred by customers because they come at almost half the price of the India-made.”

Significantly, the China-made firecrackers don’t bear details like manufacturer’s name and place, price of the pack, net weight, expiry date and chemicals used to prepare the firecrackers.

Shyam Mohan Gupta, another retailer, said, “Not only Chinese firecrackers are being sold in Indian markets but China-made decorative lights and accessories are openly being sold.”

It has been appearing in media almost daily that Chinese firecrackers are very poisonous, made of cheap products and the effluents generated by them are dangerous for the environment as well as public health. Still, these are preferred to those made in India.

Importantly, the concept of a green Diwali is forgotten by a majority of people and every year the environment is polluted badly on the festival alone.

Bathinda, October 8
Ravinder Paul Bector has been appointed as the new Chief Engineer (Construction), Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat.

Bector, who took his new assignment today, has worked in various capacities in the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). He joined as apprentice engineer in 1976 and during his stint as assistant engineer, he handled the computerisation of PSEB stores.

Bector, who has also contributed in the fields of systems operations, has also worked as Director (Transmission Design). — OC

Patiala, October 8
The Centre has approved in principle to allot the “Centre of Research and Vocational Training for Physically Disabled (CRVTPD)” to Punjabi University. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has conveyed the decision to the state government. The centre would be set up on the university campus and the project would be funded by the Union Government.

Dr Jaspal Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said Punjabi University would become the only university in Punjab to have such a centre. “The centre is aimed at empowering physically challenged and ensuring their 100 per cent employability against the posts reserved for them,” he said. He also revealed that they had already submitted the proposal for the centre to the ministry.

“We have prepared a project report of Rs 7 crore. It will be up to the Union Government how much it approves,” university authorities said. According to the varsity authorities, they were hopeful that the Centre would finalise the proposal in around five months.

Dr Jaspal said the students admitted to the centre would be provided vocational training so that they could become skilled workers in various fields. The next step would be to explore the possibilities of creating avenues for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and eradicating the menace of child labour.

Bathinda, October 8
Despite promising smooth procurement of paddy, the state government is failing on all fronts. Due to the failure of arrangements for lifting the produce, about 16 mandis in Bathinda district got choked today.

According to a late report, after the main grain market of Bathinda city, which was choked on Wednesday, now all mandis under the Goniana market committee, except Nehianwala, witnessed the same situation, today.

Sources informed that the situation was in the notice of all officials concerned but no action was being taken as the officials had been finding themselves to be helpless as the rice millers had been on an indefinite strike. As a result, the administration could not arrange for adequate storage space.

Besides accusing the political leaders of not paying attention towards the grave situation, farmers have been cursing their fate.

According to details collected, about 3.52 lakh quintals of paddy had reached in the mandis of the district till evening. Out of this, 2.76 lakh had been procured but 1.82 lakh quintals could not even be weighed. Further, about 75,620 quintals of paddy was lying unsold in the mandis.

The details stated that hardly any of the government procurement agencies could lift half of their total purchase.

It has been informed that Pungrain procured about 67,550 quintals of paddy but 48,850 quintals was still in the mandis. Further, the FCI procured 18,800 quintals but 8,250 quintals were in the mandis, waiting for being weighed and packing. Markfed, which has its own sheller in Goniana, purchased 44,610 quintals of paddy but 29,610 quintals were still in mandis. Warehouse purchased total 43,390 quintals and it is yet to lift 26,580 quintals of paddy.

Meanwhile, Punsup has purchased total 38,250 quintals of paddy but could lift only 380 quintals. In the same way, despite purchasing 46,450 quintals of paddy, Punjab Agro lifted only 1,287 quintals of paddy till date.

When contacted, DC Bathinda, Rahul Tewari said, "The situation is being monitored at various levels. We are taking all measures to check the menace. As a makeshift arrangement, all officials of government agencies have been directed to store the procured crop at their plinths."

"But it can not be stretched beyond an extent. We will be in a trouble if rice millers do not call off their strike soon and start receiving paddy for processing," the DC added.

Fazilka, October 8
Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, KK Yadav, on Wednesday visited the Fazilka grain market for an on spot assessment of the procurement process of paddy and cotton. He conducted a meeting with the farmers and commission agents in Fazilka grain market and focal point falling under the Fazilka area.

The commission agents pointed to the problem of traffic in Fazilka town. They said that following the construction of road over bridge (ROB) on Ferozepur railway crossing here, the heavy traffic at present has been moving through the grain market causing great inconvenience to the farmers and arhtiyas.

They demanded that in view of the peak paddy season, traffic should be diverted from areas other than the grain market. They have suggested that traffic should be diverted from Abohar road to Ferozepur road via Kanshi Palace, Army road, Dera Sacha Sauda Road and Malout road. — OC

Abohar: Even as Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishor Yadav expressed satisfaction over the purchase of cotton and paddy in the new grain market here on Wednesday, the commission agents demanded that the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) be asked to engage more cotton ginning and pressing units on a contract basis to ensure lifting of cotton from the yard on the same day. At present, it takes more than two days, they said.

The visiting officials were told that more than 45,000 quintals of cotton had so far been purchased and the heat had substantially reduced moisture in the crop. — OC

Ferozepur, October 8
Misuse of welfare schemes meant for the economically backward strata is rampant as more often than not, people who do not deserve it reap their benefit while concealing their true economic status.

The fact came to the fore after one Ajit Singh, a resident of village Tulsiwala filed a complaint wherein he alleged that Sher Singh, a resident of village Jhugge Tulsiwala Mohan Ke Utar, who possesses 27 kanal of agricultural land, and his son who owns 103 kanal of land, had deviously taken advantage of the shagun scheme.

According to the information received, the marriage of Sher Singh's daughter had been solemnised on February 16, 2008, and thereafter in March, he applied for an amount of Rs 15000 under the said scheme, regarding which he moved an application before the welfare department.

In the said application, Sher Singh allegedly showed his income as less than Rs 16000 per annum, besides only 8 kanals of land. As the application was enclosed with all necessary documents attested by the revenue officials, he got the shagun scheme amount in February 2009.

Officials from the welfare department said that though Sher Singh has already been given the shagun amount. However, as per the process, if the facts submitted by the applicant are found to be false at any moment, the given amount can be taken back along with the interest.

The case of Sher Singh is reportedly being looked into by the anti-fraud cell of the Punjab police who have sought details of the land owned by him and his family from the revenue department.

Darshan Lal, Tehsil Welfare Officer said that if the details submitted by Sher Singh at the time of filing the application for shagun scheme were found to be wrong, the department will recommend the registration of a case against him and all those who connived with him in getting the money.

Departmental sources said that the case of Sher Singh was only the tip of an iceberg and that very often, moneyed people were also taking undue benefit of these schemes. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, October 8
The northwest districts of Rajasthan are in turmoil once again with farmers in Phase I areas of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project reviving their agitation for irrigation water after a gap of three years at Gharsana.

Even when the state government had offered three turns for the farmers connected with the project, the Rajasthan Kisan Sangharsh Samiti led by former CPM legislator Het Ram Beniwal sounded the bugle for Mahapadav today for an indefinite period.

The district administration had tried to prevent the movement of farmers from other areas by putting heavy barricades on most of the entry points. Yet the CPM and its allies not only succeeded in mobilizing the farmers at Gharsana but also organised a protest march in Suratgarh and other sub-divisions. Hundreds of farmers were staying put in the area till evening.

Beniwal said the state government had not implemented the agreement, in letter and spirit, which was signed three years back. "The present government too does not want to find a solution to the farmers' problems on irrigation water," he alleged. 

Abohar, October 8
Thirty-two out of 60 youths who appeared for the interview have been selected under the skill development initiative programme for training in assembling and maintenance of inverters slated for October-December this year, Vijay Arora, chief manager and Prince Gandhi, deputy manager of NITCON, informed today. The training camp is to be conducted jointly with the National Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (NABARD) in Abohar block.

Others present during the process of selection here included NABARD district manager Amrik Singh, NITCON vice-president Balbir Singh, RC Gawri, district manager of the Fazilka Central Co-operative Bank, HR Riwar, manager, Punjab National Bank and industries inspector Sukhdev Singh. The central government offers 25-35 per cent subsidy to duly trained youths under self-empowerment plan. The banks will provide loans for the projects. 

Abohar, October 8
This Diwali, the citizens will have to light more candles and earthen lamps to make the festival worthwhile since nearly one-third of the about 2000 streetlights are out of order.

Lambasting the municipal council over this, the Durgiana Market Association, representative body of over 500 shopkeepers of Nai Abadi area, said streetlights on the main bazaar road too had been non-functional for the past two months.

The road connects the locality to the outlived railway footbridge (RFB). Recently pieces of concrete structure of the RFB had fallen down. All representations made to the council authorities in this connection had fallen on deaf ears.

Association chairman Prem Kalra, a councillor, said the council had got three employees to maintain streetlights but none of them proved to be effective. They lament that the council has not got even tube-starter in its store. This raises many eyebrows over the purchase of streetlight material worth Rs 5 lakh by the council a few months back. The Association had last year sponsored material to make dead streetlights functional but the situation has again worsened.

While resolving to stage over failure in maintenance of streetlights, on Monday inside the municipal council, the association hoped the executive officer will take note of the resentment of the affected people. — OC