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Rising prices
DCs to ensure process is smooth: Guru
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NRI gets blanket bail
PSEB gears up for paddy season
DRM for upgrading public amenities at rly stations
Patwaris to partially strike work on Feb 18, 25
Principal accused of thrashing students
Sriganganagar lad shine
4 held for attempt to murder
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Rising prices
Mansa, February 16 The state government was doing its best for the development of the state, she claimed. Speaking on the rising prices of essential commodities, she said the wrong policies of the UPA were responsible for it. She visited eight villages and distributed grants worth Rs 40 lakhs for various development works. —
OC
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DCs to ensure process is smooth: Guru
Bathinda, February 16 Guru, who is on a whirlwind tour of the state to tie up loose ends in the way of procurement, was hopeful that all bottlenecks would be removed before the procurement began. He said CM Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had made it clear that the DCs would be responsible for making arrangements for hasslefree procurement operation. Guru said 150 lakh tonne of wheat and rice of the previous season was still lying stored and estimates were that fresh procurement of wheat to the tune of 115 lakh tonne would be made in the coming season. Resultantly, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had been asked to lift the previous stocks to create space for the fresh grains. The FCI would lift 25 lakh tonne of previous stock of grains this month and an equal quantity in the next month. The DCs have been asked to immediately identify focal points, rice mills, industrial sheds and panchayat land in their respective jurisdictions to store wheat. He said the DCs had been asked to see that payment was made to the farmers within 48 hours of lifting of wheat and steps weren taken to provide for equipment in the procurement centres to de-moisturise the grain. The DCs had been told to prevent under-utilisation of resources available with them. Guru said the CM had asked Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar to order the FCI to lift the previous stocks of wheat and rice in the states that were facing drought, so as to create space for the new crop that was expected in plenty. Guru said he had covered 11 districts of Punjab and was satisfied with the arrangements being made for procurement and storage of the coming crop. The Mandi Board and the food and supplies department had been sanctioned additional staff for the procurement. He said a team of experts of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) recently visited Punjab to look into the problems in lifting of the PAU 201 variety of paddy. The laboratory report of the variety had already been sent to the agriculture ministry. The CM raised the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and union ministers for agriculture and health and some favourable response was expected. Later, Guru held a meeting with DCs, district transport officers and officers of various procurement agencies of Bathinda, Muktsar and Mansa districts to monitor the arrangements for procurement. He has already held meetings in this regard at Ludhiana and Patiala and would visit Ferozepur and Amritsar tomorrow and Thursday, respectively.
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NRI gets blanket bail
Moga, February 16 The NRI had filed a petition before the High Court last year demanding to refer this case to the CBI for investigation and protect his life and liberty as the DGP of the state was personally involved in registration of false and fabricated cases against him. Justice Gurdev Singh while taking up this matter had declined to refer the cases registered against him to the CBI stating that at this stage there was no need to refer this case to the CBI but the court had made it clear that it would monitor the ongoing investigations against him and fixed April 22 as the next date of hearing in this case, revealed BS Bhalla and Ramesh Grover both legal counsels of the petitioners. The DGP's father was murdered in 1991 and an FIR under sections 302, 307, 120 B, 34 of the IPC; sections 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act and sections 5, 6 of the TADA Act was registered against Jagdev's family members including mother Pritam Kaur, brother Hardev Singh, sister Paramjit Kaur and three others. Jagdev's name was included in the list of accused persons during the course of investigations. However, the Supreme Court had acquitted all his family members from the charges of murder except Jagdev Singh who did not file a petition in the apex court. After the controversial murder, Jagdev left the country and went to the US and then finally settled in Canada where he was given the Canadian citizenship. After coming back to the home country, he surrendered before a local court in the murder case, last year. In the past few months after Gill became the DGP of the state, the Moga police had allegedly registered separate cases of fraud, corruption and theft, which were pending against him in various courts of the town.
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PSEB gears up for paddy season
Bathinda, February 16 Sources in the PSEB informed that at present, the state was facing 38 per cent shortage during the peak hours and about 18-20 per cent in normal condition. As the officials have been finding no ray of hope about the commissioning of any of the proposed power generation plants in the state, the PSEB is considering a drive to set up new grid sub-stations as well as increasing the capacity of already existing ones by installing 100 MVA transformers at various points. To provide at least the scheduled power supply for running tubewells in the coming paddy season, work on seven major grid sub-stations having capacity of 220 KV each has been initiated. PSEB officials said the board was committed to commission at least four grid sub-stations at Himmatpura, Sadiq, Malout and Jhunir before paddy season. Among these, work on Himmatpura grid sub-station was in full swing and the sub-station was expected to be commissioned by March this year. Further, the PSEB is planning three more 220 KV grid sub-stations in Tarn Taran, Lalru and Kapurthala. Efforts are on to quickly set up the plants during the paddy season but reliable sources disclosed that it was unlikely that the PSEB would achieve the target. Meanwhile, the PSEB is focusing upon enhancing the capacity of already existing grid sub-stations with the installation of 100 MVA transformers at Botianwala, Ghubaya, Mandi Gobindgarh, Kohara, Sahnewal, Lehragaga and Ludhiana. The replacement of some of the transformers was also on the scheduled tasks of the PSEB. Talking to TNS over phone, PSEB chairman HS Brar said, “Efforts are being made for the proper scheduled supply to tubewells in particular and other consumers in general, during the coming paddy season. Moreover, with the commissioning of such sub-stations, the problem of overloading in various pockets of the state would end, which will enhance the efficiency in future.”
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DRM for upgrading public amenities at rly stations
Bathinda, February 16 The DRM said there was no point for not utilising the structures meant for public convenience. The DRM along with senior officials of the division was here to inspect of the Sriganganagar-Rajpura section excluding Sriganganagar. Singh just after getting down from the DRM special went straight towards the booking counters and parking areas. Taking serious note of unauthorised hoarding at the Main Gate of the station, the DRM instructed officials concerned to ensure their removal at the earliest. He also asked officials to make proposal to make the areas around booking counters and parking beautiful besides making more arrangements for passengers’ convenience. Later, replying to the queries of media regarding provision of subway or ramp, the DRM said proposal in this connection had been made. He said that for Bathinda station, proposals for lift or escalators could also be made. Senior officials of Ambala division, including SDOM Gulshan, SDCM Karn Singh, SDOM (G) Nar Singh and others accompanied the DRM during the inspection that lasted for about 45 minutes. ATM Bathinda Sher Singh, station superintendent SN Rai, RPF Post commander MK Panwar and others officials were present during his visit. Raj Sadosh adds from Abohar: The railway staff here was virtually left high and dry as the DRM YP Singh stepped down from his coach and straightway moved to inspect the toilet block at the local railway station. During one-hour inspection, the DRM inspected even the stinking corners of the railway complex which were used by passengers for urination that too in the neighborhood of railway police quarters. He was prompt in expressing concern over poor maintenance that was visible from growth of wild shrubs, accumulation of dust touching boundary wall of residential quarters. The DRM told the station superintendent to ensure presence of staff at the enquiry counter round-the-clock. Meanwhile, social activists from Malout including Brahm Parkash Arya, Gurmeet Singh Makkar and Kalu Sidana submitted a memorandum to the DRM demanding early completion of the RoB at Malout. They also urged him to sanction extension of shed at the platform, provision of ATM at the Malout station.
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Patwaris to partially strike work on Feb 18, 25
Bathinda, February 16 The patwaris said though the state government had already accepted some of their demands in principle, it had been adopting dilly-dallying tactics to implement the same. Talking to TNS over the phone this evening, state president of the Revenue Patwar Union Punjab Amrik Singh Rai said the government had forced them to paralyse the work on February 18 and 25, as it had not been responding to their demands. He said in October 2009, a meeting between the union and revenue minister Ajit Singh Kohar had been held but to no avail so far. He said they were getting Rs 35 per month as office rent, Rs 25 per month for stationery and Rs 25 per month as ‘basta’ (record keeping bag) allowance. He termed it as a cruel joke being played on them during the times of rising prices. In case the government “failed” to accept their demands even after holding the scheduled protest dharnas, the union would hold a meeting on March 6 at Ludhiana to chalk out the next course of action, including strike and chain fast, to get their demands implemented, he added. The main demands of the union are Rs 1,000 per month as office allowance for every patwari, Rs 500 per month as stationery allowance, Rs 1,500 per month as travelling allowance, Rs 500 as ‘basta’ allowance and Rs 1,000 as special allowance to assistant office kanungo. Another major demand of the patwaris was a technical grade for them. They are also demanding facilities of electricity, water supply and a peon in each Patwar Khana of the state. President of the Bathinda Patwar Union Kaur Singh said they would also organise dharnas at Bathinda, Talwandi Sabo and Phul Tehsil Headquarters of this district to compel the state government to accept their demands at the earliest.
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Principal accused of thrashing students
Abohar, February 16 Supporters of the warring factions however clashed again in the hospital premises yesterday. The principal was quoted telling the city police that “the students Ashish Bhateja and Rahul Sharma had not attended classes for three days during the past week. On asking for an an explanation for absence, they misbehaved. They were asked to go home. After a few minutes the students returned along with their parents and started manhandling. They damaged office furniture also.” On the other hand, Om Parkash Bhateja alleged that the principal thrashed Ashish and Rahul using a stick when they tried to explain that they had not been able to attend the school due to some marriage functions. “Beating is evident on the body of my son,” he added recalling that the principal had been under such controversies earlier also. The city police is investigating the matter, sources said. — OC
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Sriganganagar/Abohar, February 16 Interestingly, Sumit has defeated Sanjeev Singh of Punjab. Having entered the semi-final as “Voice of Rajasthan” Sumit had recently visited hometown Sriganganagar. The panel of judges during the final episode at Studio Filmistan, Mumbai included legendary music directors Khayyam, Ismail Darbar, Bappi Lahiri and Kavita Krishnamurthy. Amit Nagpal informed that the final episode is likely to be telecast on March 1. The Sumit Khatri Fans Club has decided to accord a heroic welcome to the lad on his return to home town. — OC
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4 held for attempt to murder
Bathinda, February 16 Giving this information here today, Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said the mastermind of the crime was Gursewak Singh, who had remained active in militant activities in the past. The police was investigating the case and was expecting detection of some important clues related to the case, he added. The SSP said one Gurmail Singh, who had been working as an employee at a liquor vend situated on village Marhi Bhaini road, had been returning to his home at Marhi village with cash of the vend on November 9, 2009. When he reached near the canal bridge in the village, some unidentified persons quarrelled with him while two of them opened fire, injured him, looted cash and fled the scene. On the statement of Gurmail Singh, the Nathana police on November 10, 2009 had registered a case against unidentified persons under sections 307, 392 and 34 of the IPC, and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.
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Faced with acute shortage for storage of the coming wheat crop in Punjab, DS Guru, principal secretary to the Chief Minister, today told the deputy commissioners (DCs) to ensure smooth procurement of the grain and they would be held personally responsible in case there was any lapse.
