Samrala, Patiala get flood relief
Samrala, July 9
Punjab Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Romila Dubey today announced relief for the flood-affected areas of Samrala and Patiala. After visiting a few flood-prone villages, she said a grant of Rs 11 crore has been released for flood-affected villages of Samrala and Rs 2.10 crore grant for the villages of Patiala.

Govt School Students
Fee, funds waived up to Class VIII
Jalandhar, July 9
Students up to Class VIII will not have to pay any fee or fund henceforth. Principal Secretary (School Education) Mandeep Singh Sandhu has issued an order to all government schools in the state in this regard. Earlier, students had to pay Rs 28 per month as fee and funds, which included Rs 15 as amalgamated fund, Rs 10 PTA fund and Rs 3 as sports fund.

Patiala, July 9
Even as relief operations are on, nearly 24 villages here are still submerged in water. Since roads leading to these villages have been washed away by floods, the administration is finding it difficult to conduct the rescue operations there.

According to reports, since there has been no rainfall in the past 24 hours, the situation has improved and the water level has gone down in the Ghaggar that wreaked havoc in hundreds of villages here. Five persons have lost their lives in Patiala due to floods so far.

Patiala DC Dipinder Singh and SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra visited Budhmor, Rohar Jageer, Bibipur, Harigarh, Dudhan Sadha, Prempur, Ganeshpur and several other affected villages in the Devigarh area and supervised the rescue operations. The SDMs of Samana, Patran, Nabha and Patiala have been deputed in other flood-affected areas of Patiala. Officials of the PWD and the Mandi Board have been directed to ensure that vehicular movement on the Patiala-Pehowa and other link roads is resumed.

Talking to TNS, DC Dipinder Singh said: “Since the water level in some flood-hit villages has receded, rescue teams faced difficulty in movement of boats. But efforts are being made to provide eatables and other necessary things, including medicines and fodder for the cattle, in all affected areas.” He added that due to power failure on account of floods in 20 villages in Devigarh, there was an immense problem of drinking water in these villages.

“The district administration is providing clean drinking water in the affected villages. In the entire district, 65 medical teams have been deputed, which are visiting waterlogged villages to provide medical care to the people,” he said.

The Patiala SSP said he himself visited all affected villages on the Patiala-Haryana border and claimed that the district police in coordination with officials of other departments were carrying out rescue operations.

Meanwhile, officials claimed that besides langar, the affected people are being provided with milk powder, sugar, tea, flour and pulses. Nearly 50 teams of the Animal Husbandry Department have been sent for the treatment of animals in flood-hit villages.

Samana (Patiala), July 9
Punjab today urged the Central Water Commission (CWC) to send a “neutral” team to assess the damage caused by flood waters along the Hansi-Butana canal in this subdivision even as thousands of acres still remained inundated due to slow movement of water through the siphon of the canal where it intersects the Ghaggar.

While the water level has reduced by around one foot in the area, about 30 villages around this town and in Devigarh still remain affected. Movement of water down to villages in Patran, around 20 km from here, has marooned half a dozen villages there. The contrast on both sides of the Hansi Butana canal is immense. On the Punjab side of the canal, a virtual lake has developed encompassing thousands of acres. On the other side of the canal in Haryana territory, there is no standing water.

State Irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon said his ministry had not only approached the CWC but also the Haryana government yesterday to find a solution to the crisis. He claimed the devastation in Ambala and Kurukshetra districts had also occurred due to the canal.

Irrigation Secretary Arun Goel, who inspected the canal site today, said discharge in the Ghaggar had swelled up to 1.9 lakh cusecs at Samana as it was also carrying the waters of the Tangri and Markanda seasonal rivulets.

Goel said the siphon built by Haryana on the Ghaggar near Dharmheri village could only handle a discharge of 20,000 cusecs. “What it effectively means is that water which would have otherwise taken one to two days to pass out has not passed out even after four days,” he added.

Haryana Irrigation engineer in chief Harmail Singh said the state had built a siphon which had a discharge potential of two lakh cusecs and that the siphon had been approved by the CWC. “We have data to prove that water levels in the affected areas in Samana have been higher than the present levels earlier,” he added.

Chandigarh, July 9
Train services on the New Delhi-Ambala section that were severely hit during the past four days due to flooding of tracks near Markanda in Kurukshetra district, were restored this morning.

Talking to The Tribune, GM Singh, senior divisional commercial manager, Ambala division, said the up line was restored this morning for the smooth movement of rail traffic, adding that the down line had also been opened later.

The train traffic was stopped on Thursday by the railway authorities after the track started sinking near Shahbad Markanda in Haryana.

At the Chandigarh railway station, Kalka-Chandigarh-Delhi Shatabdi Express (2006) and Jan Shatabdi (2058) were cancelled for the second day today. Trains on this busy route, which connects New Delhi with Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, were restored today after the 5-km stretch of track near Ambala got damaged after monsoon’s heavy downpour waterlogged the track on Wednesday. A few trains were cancelled while all other trains were running much behind schedule.

“Keeping in view the safety of passengers, we have advised the trains’ crew to cross the newly laid 5-km track with a speed of only 10 km as the new track takes time to strengthen its base. It will take another day or two when the trains will run at their normal speed, GM Singh said.

A railway official said the track had started sinking as flood water had accumulated in the fields on both sides of the railway line, leading to loosening of the track embankment. Railway authorities had put up hundreds of sandbags to strengthen the railway track and stop it from sinking further. Several express trains, including the Delhi-Amritsar-Delhi and Delhi-Chandigarh-Kalka Shatabdi Express, use this stretch daily to connect major cities of north India with the national capital.

The trains that got delayed were Delhi-Chandigarh Shatabdi (2011) by five hours. The train, which usually reaches at the city railway station at 11 am, arrived at 4 pm and the Himalayan Queen (4095), which was to reach the city at 10.27 am, arrived at 1.30 pm, late by about three hours.

Meanwhile, Chandigarh-Bandra Pashchim Express left the city railway station at its usual time at 3.52 pm. Kalka-Chandigarh-Delhi Shatabdi Express (2012), Chandigarh-Delhi Himalayan Queen (4096), Chandigarh-Lucknow Sadbhavna Express (2232), Chandigarh-Allahabad Unchahar (4218) and Chandigarh-Barmer will leave the city railway station at its right time, Railway sources said.

Nangal, July 9
With the monsoon just in its first week, the Bhakra and Pong reservoirs have registered an increase in the water levels by 16 ft and 19 ft respectively, as compared to the same day last year.

Experts say that if the monsoon does not weaken in the next few weeks, both reservoirs can fill up to their adequate capacity, thereby fulfilling the last year’s shortage arisen out of a drought-like situation.

Today the level of the Pong dam stood at 1291.70 ft with water inflow of 25,837 cusecs and outflow of 7,400 cusecs. Last year the same day, the level of water was 1291.57 cusecs. The Pong dam’s capacity is 1,390 ft.

Similarly, the Bhakra water level was 1546.19 ft today with an inflow of 45,765 cusecs and outflow 15,349 cusecs. Last year, the level was a mere 1530.46 ft and water inflow into the reservoir was 33,215 cusecs and controlled outflow of 26,130 cusecs. It has capacity of 1,680 ft.

With the increase in the water levels, power generation has witnessed an upswing. Today total power generation from BBMB powerhouses was 124 MU from Bhakra, 21 MU for Ganguwal and Kotla, 121 MU from Dehar and 19 MU from the Pong. “This is higher as compared to the last year’s total generation for the month of July at the Bhakra (524 MU), Ganguwal and Kotla (89 MU), Dehar (464 MU) and the Pong (59 MU),” sources in the BBMB said.

Director (water regulation), BBMB, RK Garg pointed out that as of now, there was nothing to worry about regarding the water level. “As per our past experiences, the BBMB has set guidelines that state that levels in the Bhakra should not be beyond 1,650 ft on August 1, beyond 1,670 ft by August 15 and beyond 1,680 ft by August 30. at present, we are at much lower level than this but in comparatively better situation than last year,” Garg said.

However, the Ropar administration has asked people in areas around the Swan rivulet and the Sutlej to remain alert.

In September 2008, the BBMB had ordered opening of Bhakra dam gates stating that water had crossed the danger mark of 1,680 ft, leaving several villages of Anandpur Sahib inundated.

Jalandhar, July 9
Students up to Class VIII will not have to pay any fee or fund henceforth. Principal Secretary (School Education) Mandeep Singh Sandhu has issued an order to all government schools in the state in this regard. Earlier, students had to pay Rs 28 per month as fee and funds, which included Rs 15 as amalgamated fund, Rs 10 PTA fund and Rs 3 as sports fund.

Sandhu has also instructed the schools concerned to refund fee and funds to students charged during the current academic session. The order had been issued in the light of the Right to Education Act passed by the Centre a few months ago.

“We have implemented the Act in the state for which the deadline fixed by the Centre was June 30,” said Dr SS Randhawa, DPI (Elementary Education), Punjab.

As a majority of children belonging to the poor section of society go to government schools, it was difficult for them to even pay a fee of Rs 28 per month. There were complaints that students were being made to pay much more than the fee and funds fixed at the government level. Moreover, some of the schools were taking funds and fee without issuing any receipt to the students.

About two weeks ago, The Tribune had carried a story about Ramandeep Kaur and her two brothers who had spent their summer vacation transplanting paddy as daily wagers to earn money to pay their fee and other charges in Raipur Gujran village in this district.

It is learnt that the Union Government would compensate government schools to meet various expenses. Funds in this regard had been kept by it under the Rashtriya Madhayam Sikhya Abhiyan.

Sandhu said the DPI (Elementary) and DPI ( Secondary) had been told to implement the order with immediate effect. Instructions had also been sent to the DEOs.

However, no change has been made in fee and funds charged from students of Classes IX to XII. They will have to pay almost the same fee and funds which they were paying earlier.

Devigarh (Patiala), July 9
After scathing attacks by Minister of State for Extrenal Affairs Preneet Kaur on the SAD-BJP government today, Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon strongly lambasted Congress for playing politics even on the issues of natural calamities and asked the Congress leaders to refrain from issuing baseless statements.

Speaking to The Tribune after visiting the flood-affected areas of Devigarh, Sekhon said it was really unfortunate that instead of coming to the rescue of the affected people and extend its helping hand, the Congress leaders were trying to play dirty politics on the issue.

Ridiculing the statement issued by the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, wherein she had accused the state government of not utilising the funds to the tune of Rs 200 crore for the Ghaggar project given by the Centre, Sekhon said till date the state government has not received any such fund.

“Earlier, the Congress got started the SYL project and now this Hansi Butana canal project has spelt doom on the people of the Punjab,” he rued. He said the state government has already directed the officials to get the girdawari done within 10 days, so that compensation could be given to the affected persons at the earliest.

Ferozepur, July 9
One person was killed when his Bolero jeep was hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing of the Ferozepur-Ludhiana rail section near Ittawali village today. The deceased has been identified as Manvir Singh.

The jeep, which got damaged beyond recognition, was dragged to a distance of about 300 m by the train before it came to halt. The passenger train was heading towards Ludhiana from Ferozepur.

Manvir was rushed to a nearby hospital by residents of the village, but was declared brought dead by doctors. Manvir, who belonged to Karmuwala village, was going to deliver a lunch box to his aunt, a teacher in a neighbouring village.

This is the second accident that has taken place at an unmanned railway level crossing in the Ferozepur railway division in the past three weeks. Earlier, three persons lost their lives when a bus was hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing near Chak Shakur on the Jalandhar-Jammu highway on June 18.

Safety Officer, Ferozepur Railway Division, RV Singh said according to preliminary inquiries, Manvir was talking on his cellphone when the incident took place. He said a three-members panel of officials of the Railways would hold a probe to find out the exact reason. A case in this connection would be registered by the Railway Police, he added.

Jalandhar, July 9
By openly and firmly siding with the Governments of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal on the issue of further continuation of the industrial package for hill states, the BJP high command has put the SAD-BJP government in an awkward situation.

Commenting on the development, member of the national executive of the CPI Joginder Dayal said “it was shocking and hurting to see that the BJP high command has stood with Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal and has ditched Punjab”.

He said the SAD-BJP government should explain to the people of state the stand taken by LK Advani and others in support of HP and Uttaranchal, leaving Punjab in the lurch.

Punjab, Haryana and even Uttar Pradesh have been opposing the continuation of the package, which includes exemption from excise duty and income tax, etc, to the industrial units to be set up in the hill states. Punjab and Haryana had told the Centre that because of the package to the hill states, the industrial growth of both states had been impeded.

Ignoring Punjab and Haryana, industrialists preferred to set up units in the hill states because incentives given to them gave many advantages vis-à-vis industrial units in neighbouring states without the provision of incentives. Punjab had also stated that some of industrialists had shifted base to the neighbouring hill states.

Following pressure built by the Punjab and Haryana Governments, the Centre had not extended the package beyond March 31 this year. The then Vajpayee government had announced the industrial package for the hill states in 2003 for 10 years. In the first phase, it was given up to March 31, 2010, and was to be renewed till March 31, 2013. However, till date the Centre has not extended it for three years.

On Wednesday, top leaders of the BJP, including LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, accompanied by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Uttaranchal Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhrial met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi to urge him to extend the industrial package incentives till 2013. Himachal and Uttaranchal are ruled by the BJP.

Meanwhile, Dayal said he had urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that an all-party delegation from Punjab should meet the Prime Minister on the package issue.“Badal did not pay heed to my suggestion on the all-party delegation”, he said, adding that the package to the hill states should continue but on the same pattern it should also be given to Punjab.

Amritsar, July 9
Members of the Youth Akali Dal, the Students Organisation of India (SOI) and people from different areas of the district here today donated blood on the occasion of the 49th birthday of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The blood donation camp was organised at a resort on the outskirts of the city.

MLA Bikram Singh Majithia said donating blood was a way to serve humanity.

MP Rattan Singh Ajnala, Cabinet minister Guljar Singh Ranike and SOI president Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna were also present on the occasion. — TNS

Anandpur Sahib, July 9
Twelve municipal councillors of Anandpur Sahib Municipal Council today moved an application to the municipal council executive office demanding no-confidence motion against their president Karnail Singh during next house meeting.

The councillors accused him of not doing much for the development of the area and demanded that Karnail Singh be removed immediately. They stated that he had not started development works of road and sewer laying in stipulated time period and added that the president had also not taken any grant from the government for initiating public works at Anandpur Sahib.

The issue of removal of the president has made municipal councillors from the SAD, BJP, Congress and independent candidates strange bedfellows. Demanding no-confidence motion against Karnail Singh, who belongs to SAD, the municipal councillors expressed dissatisfaction over his working.

For the last 10 months, discontent has been brewing up in the municipal councillors with posts of senior vice-president and vice-president lying vacant for this period of time. Meetings have been convened to fill these posts several times, but due to incomplete quorum no decision could be taken.

Former president Jathedar Ram Singh led the group of municipal councilors, including Manpreet Kaur Arora, Mahinder Kaur Rana, Rampiari Ganga, Master Hans Raj, Ravinder Singh, Swarn Kaur, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Bassi, Bihari Lal, Narinder Saini and Inderjit Singh Bedi.

New Delhi, July 9
The Supreme Court today warned Punjab over the continued incidents of children falling into abandoned borewells.“If this menace is not stopped, we will take action,” a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia remarked after amicus curiae PS Patwalia informed the court about the death of a child in Punjab recently.

Taking a serious view of Punjab’s failure to file an action-taken report (ATR) on the issue to the court, the Bench asked Additional Advocate-General Jayashree Anand how much time the state would take for the purpose.

She assured the Bench, which included Justices KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, that the state would file the ATR on the SC guidelines in two weeks.

On February 11 this year, the apex court had directed the state governments to hold the district authorities responsible for the closure of all abandoned bore/tube wells.

It had also ordered registration of all drilling agencies with the district administration. Passing the order on a PIL, the court said the district collectors/magistrates should be empowered to monitor the implementation of the safety measures and that they should file status reports periodically.

Among the states named in the PIL are Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, besides agriculture-intensive Punjab which has a large number of such wells.