|
|
|
|
|
Is power tariff increase in the offing?
Basant Panchami
SGPC poll rolls finalised |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 Mann seeks Nandgarh’s support
Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), February 8 SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann today visited Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh at his residence on the premises of Takht Damdama Sahib and sought his support for the coming SGPC elections.A meeting between Mann and Nandgarh lasted for nearly 40 minutes. Curiosity among people gathered there to know about the actual exchange between the two was quite visible. Besides politicos, some CID officials were also seen eager to get first-hand information about the meeting.
Health insurance scheme for cops from April
‘Withdraw decision to open 125 Adarsh schools’
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
YAD prepares for rally
Staff Crunch
Sensing trouble, govt takes over Peer Khana
Policemen deployed in strength outside the Makbara Meera Sahib Peer Khana in Bathinda on Tuesday.
Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
CPI demands census of cancer patients
Delay in promotions, pay hike
Takht Jathedar asks Sikhs worldwide to plant saplings
HC relief for TV channel
Selection of 9 Addl District & Sessions Judges upheld
MD of milk producers’ federation in dock
4 held for shopkeeper’s murder
|
Is power tariff increase in the offing?
Begowal, February 8 He was talking to mediapersons before laying the foundation stone of development works worth Rs 65 crore in areas falling under Bholath constituency in Kapurthala district on Tuesday. When asked about the demand of the consumers to exempt the PSPCL from entry tax of Rs 50 per ton imposed on coal about three months ago, Sukhbir said Punjab has only a few areas to impose taxes. The entry tax on coal will cost PSPCL nearly Rs 100 crore extra per annum, which has been cited as one of the reasons in the proposal of a hike in the power tariff, he added. Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia and Technical Education Minister Swarna Ram of the BJP accompanied him. While the BJP had protested against power tariff hike a few years ago, both Kalia and Swarna Ram kept mum. Sukhbir said while the Centre was collecting most of the taxes from Punjab, the latter was getting only 1.29 per cent share in the central taxes whereas even the non-performing states like UP were getting more than 20.7 per cent share. He evaded a query on higher price of petrol in Punjab due to a state tax. Kalia and Swarna Ram remained silent on this question too. Earlier, Sukhbir said the way the Comptroller General of India is unveiling multi-crore scams of the Congress-led UPA Government, it seems that the Congress party is aiming for a slot in the Guinness Book of Record for looting the exchequer. Former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, MLA Sarbjit Singh Makkar, and former minister Balbir Singh Miani were also present.
|
|
Basant Panchami
Ferozepur, February 8 People belonging to all walks of life and age groups celebrate Basant Panchami every year. The passion for kite flying is so much that residents remained on the rooftops of their houses and business establishments from dawn to dusk. There are many takers for the passion among women too.People belonging to the town come here from far off places to join in the celebrations. To add to the festivities many residents had decorated the rooftops of their houses in the cantonment area and had installed music systems while a few others had even set up dance floors. The sale of kites and kite strings had crossed that of last year, according to the shopkeepers. Businessmen from other parts of Punjab and UP had also set up shops of kites and strings. The day also saw Rekha and an engineering student from Moga Anil Vij suffering injuries after coming into contact with China-made kite strings. Both were discharged after receiving treatment at the local Civil Hospital.
|
|
SGPC poll rolls finalised
Amritsar, February 8 In November last year, the Gurdwara Election Commission had announced that there will be no further extension beyond November 12 for filing of objections to the voter lists, which had automatically pushed the date for the final publishing of voter lists to January 12. Going by that count, the final publication of the lists is already late by almost a month, which is bound to have an impact on the pace of the poll process. Talking to The Tribune, Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Election Commission, Justice HS Brar, said the rolls had been finalised and they were now awaiting reports from various district headquarters in this regard. “As soon as we receive reports from them, we will write to the Union Home Ministry to fix the poll dates. It takes nearly one and a half months to hold elections after the final electoral rolls are published,” he said, hoping that the elections would be held in March-April. On the demand for photo ID cards from some quarters, he said it had become too late to take a measure like it, adding that adequate steps had been taken to check bogus voting. However, former SGPC secretary and Shiromani Panthic Council chairman Manjeet Singh Calcutta said the ruling SAD didn’t seem inclined to face the SGPC poll, as they were focusing on the state Assembly poll. “Moreover, the Manpreet factor too is playing on their minds, though he will not directly contest the SGPC poll,” he added. While the elections in March don’t seem possible now, April and May would be ruled out on account of harvesting season in Punjab, he said, adding that the only possibility now was June and that too if the SAD was ready to face the electorate. Alleging the entry of bogus voters on voter lists, he said they would approach the Punjab Governor as well as the Union Home Minister, seeking the conduct of the SGPC elections with photo ID cards, and if it didn’t yield the desired result, they would move the Punjab and Haryana High Court. If Calcutta or any other Panthic leader took legal recourse, it could further delay the poll. The SGPC elections were last held in July 2004 and the present House completed its term in July 2009, which means the poll is already delayed by over one and a half years.
|
|
Mann seeks Nandgarh’s support
Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), February 8 A meeting between Mann and Nandgarh lasted for nearly 40 minutes. Curiosity among people gathered there to know about the actual exchange between the two was quite visible. Besides politicos, some CID officials were also seen eager to get first-hand information about the meeting. After the meeting concluded, Mann said he apprised Nandgarh of the vision and strategy of his party and sought his support for the candidates that his party was fielding in the poll. “Nandgarh gave one-line reply that he has made commitment to no party and will support only those candidates who stood firm over the principles of Sikhism. As our candidates thoroughly follow the tenets of Sikhism, we expect Jathedar Sahib would support us,” said Mann. In reply to a query, Mann said the SAD (A) had planned to contest the SGPC poll for all 170 seats. As many as 112 candidates had been declared and the process of finding suitable candidates for the remaining seats was on, he added. About his own candidature, Mann said he would contest from Fatehgarh Sahib. He was accompanied by party leaders, including Barinder Singh Mann and Gursewak Singh Jawaharke. Later speaking to the media, Nandgarh said: “Mann had come to enquire about my health and also asked for support to his candidates in the coming SGPC poll. I have made it clear to him that I will not support any political party. I am only with those persons who follow the principles of Sikhism.”
|
|
Health insurance scheme for cops from April
Ferozepur, February 8 Gill, accompanied by senior functionaries of district police, was here to award International Standard Organisation (ISO) certificates to the city and Sadar police stations of this town. He said a proposal to carry out an annual health examination of policemen was under consideration. Gill, with reference to reformation of police functioning, said the police stations were being computerised, equipped with latest technological and other infrastructure. The police is being constantly educated about their duties towards commoners. When asked about any terror threat to the state, Gill said though anti-national elements, based in Pakistan and several countries of the European Union, were trying to create unrest in Punjab, the state police was capable enough to tackle the situation. He said as of today, there was no threat to Punjab. When asked the interference of ruling politicians in the police functioning, he said police was following the rules and dispensing justice to people on the basis of merit. “According to law, the functioning of police force has been bringing criticism from various political quarters,” he said. He said police force was being increased with the induction of 11,000 constables.“After 11,000 constables are recruited, the state police authorities will go for direct recruitment of assistant sub inspectors (ASI),” he said. Suvidha centres were also being opened for the people at different stations, he said. He said corruption by police functionaries would not be tolerated at any cost. Those policemen, who had been caught, had been dealt with according to law of land. Gill said 50 police stations would be awarded ISO certificates as per the guidelines and their functioning would be examined periodically.
|
|
‘Withdraw decision to open 125 Adarsh schools’
Jalandhar, February 8 Badal had stated that Adarsh schools will be opened in the state with the assistance of village panchayats at the cost of Rs 1,000 crore. The union has termed the decision as irrational as there are more than 18,000 government schools in the state. The union members had gathered here for the release of a calendar in memory of former union president Sukhdev Singh Bareke. “To build an Adarsh school, the government acquires eight acres of the village common land, which can erode the panchyats of the only source to generate revenue at the village level. It thus affects welfare works,” president of the union Harminder Singh Maavi said. The union also issued a week’s ultimatum to the government to punish the guilty in the case of the harassment meted out to the woman sarpanch of Kangarh Gharachon village in Patiala district by the police at Dirba in Sangrur, Maavi said. Panchayat members from across the state would gherao the Dirba police station next week if the demand was not fulfilled, he said.
|
|
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
Patiala, February 8 Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dipinder Singh said the latest Education Service Report mentions that Patiala figures at the first position in undertaking the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
(SSA) in an effective manner. It may be mentioned that the Department of Transfusion Medicine (Blood Bank) of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital,
Patiala, achieved the number one position among the blood banks in Punjab in terms of voluntary blood collection. DC said this year, artificial limbs, crutches, wheelchairs, tricycles and other such equipment has been provided to 313 physically challenged students. He said two primary schools have also been upgraded to upper primary level and as many as 45 rooms and 26 toilets have been constructed in the government primary schools. Under the Alternative Innovative Education
(AIE) scheme for 2010-11, the district administration had set a target to impart education to 3,104 children, who were not going to school. We have exceeded the target by ensuring admission of 4,481 children in government schools”, added
Dipinder.
|
|
|
YAD prepares for rally
Patiala, February 8 The leaders are hopeful about the announcement of the new body of the YAD and are aspiring to get good
posts. YAD Patiala (Urban) president Ajit Pal Singh Kohli claimed that it would be one of the biggest rallies being organised by the YAD in
Patiala.
|
|
|
Staff Crunch
Chandigarh, February 8 The state government has established five citrus estates in Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Muktsar districts, each covering area in the 10-kilometer radius around it. All the estates aim to provide extension services to the farmers and lease out equipment out to the farmers. Laboratories for leaf and soil testing have also been established at these estates. While the measure has resulted in an increase in kinnow propagation in the state over the past few years, all other fruit and vegetable estates planned by the Department of Horticulture have not started. The department has also demarcated estates for litchee and pears in Pathankot and Amritsar districts, besides a chilly estate in Hoshiarpur. However, none of these estates are functioning due to a shortage of technical manpower as well as the allocation of funds to establish infrastructure and extension services. It also promotes diversification from paddy especially in areas where the latter is not a natural crop. In Punjab horticulture produce is spread over 3.2 per cent of the area of the state but equals a total value of 8.3 per cent, which is worth Rs 5,000 crore. Joint Director, Department of Horticulture, Gurkanwal Singh, says the area under horticulture could be increased further but it was not possible to do so without technical personnel. He said horticulture crops involved technology like net and poly houses and that the farmers had to be hand held in the transition phase. According to sources, no post in the department has been filled since 1999. There is shortage of 70 Horticulture Development Officers. Having been hired on contract, the technical staff recruited in the citrus estates switch jobs often due to which the functioning of laboratories in these Estates suffers. The department has taken up the issue of recruitment of regular technical staff with the state government.
|
|
Sensing trouble, govt takes over Peer Khana Bathinda, February 8 The Committee Makhbra Baba Nikka Shah (led by Muslims) and the Makbra Meera Sahib Peer Khana Committee (led by Hindu-Sikhs) had been contesting the claims over the management and donation of the Peer Khana but the situation turned tense on February 3 when the Hindu-Sikh group led by Sukhpal Sran warned the Muslims to leave the Peer Khana or face the consequences. However, members of the latter announced that they would not leave the place at any cost. Meanwhile, the Hindu-Sikh group formed a Peer Khana Action Committee to pursue the case. A number of meetings between the administration and the two groups took place but the deadlock remained. The Hindu-Sikh group today sent their representative Baba Mangat Rai Bansal to negotiate with the Muslim group. He offered some percentage of donations and the income generated through other sources of the Peer Khana but sought to possess the premises, which the latter flatly refused. Later, the district administration decided to impose Sections 145 and 146 of the CrPC and took the Peer Khana in its possession and also appointed an executive magistrate (tehsildar Avtar Singh) as the receiver of the donations and income. Confirming the facts, Bathinda SDM KPS Mahi said, “Sensing that the dispute may breach the peace, we have taken the possession of the Peer Khana giving an opportunity to both the groups to lodge their claims and objections in a legal way.” Bid to disturb peace thwarted
Bathinda, February 8 There were enough policement to check their move but after the group leaders assured of not making any attempt to enter the Peer
Khana, they were allowed to go and sit outside the Peer Khana for a few minutes. After interacting with the media, they left the place in a peaceful manner. — TNS
|
|
CPI demands census of cancer patients
Bathinda, February 8 The census should be conducted, on the pattern of population census, after every five years, he said. A member of the national executive of the CPI Joginder Dayal said while conducting census of the cancer patients, the patient’s sex, age, economic conditions, stage of the disease and on-going treatment must be noted by the enumerator so that effective steps could be initiated in this regard. Dayal said the Punjab government and the Centre should raise a special fund for the cancer-afflicted patients to provide sufficient amount to the needy patients on a monthly basis. He said due to costly treatment many families were facing great hardships on the economic front. He also asked the Centre to declare six districts of this Malwa region as cancer-prone for making a huge amount available to the state government from the central funds. He also asked the Punjab government to set up cancer hospitals at all district headquarters of the state so that the patients do not have to go to major hospitals in Bikaner (Rajasthan), Delhi, Chandigarh and Ludhiana etc.
|
|
Delay in promotions, pay hike
Ludhiana, February 8 The association will join hands with the veterinary doctors, engineers and other PCS officers of Punjab who are also waiting for their promotions and salary hike for years. The above categories of professionals are entitled to promotions after four, nine and 14 years of their service. In the absence of requisite posts, professionals are entitled to get the monetary benefits. Expressing resentment over tactics of the state government in implementing the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, Dr Hardeep Singh, state President of PCMS association and Dr Ajay Bagga press secretary said, “The eligible doctors are not being able to perform due to discouragement”. Under the Assured Career Progression (ACP), the commission has recommended the grade pay of Rs 6,600, Rs 7,600 and Rs 8,600 for the doctors who have put in four, nine and 14 years of regular service. Alleging that the department of health and family welfare, Punjab, was dealing in unfair practices, Dr Hardeep Singh said, “Instead of supporting the cause of doctors the department of health and family welfare is creating hurdles in processing cases of ACP in the revised scales”. In addition, the doctors have also been deprived of benefits like accommodation allowance, telephone allowance and study allowance, alleged the PCMS doctors. The Association urged Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to give an early notification in the favour of doctors and professionals or they would be forced to unite on a common platform and initiate an agitation against the government.
|
|
Takht Jathedar asks Sikhs worldwide to plant saplings
Amritsar, February 8 In his message, the Jathedar said, “The teachings of the Sikh Gurus describe air as the Guru, water as the father and the earth as the mother, besides telling us to respect and take care of these three elements. I congratulate all followers of Guru Nanak around the world on the occasion of Gurta Gaddi Diwas of Sri Guru Har Rai ji and appeal that every Sikh should plant at least one sapling on this auspicious occasion.” He appreciated the initiative of EcoSikh, a US-based organisation, to celebrate March 14 as Sikh Environment Day. Dr Rajwant Singh, convener of EcoSikh, said, “This is an important step forward for Sikhs to show our passion to save the environment and the message from Akal Takhat will inspire many Sikhs all over the world to become eco-warriors. This will be an implementation of Guru Har Rai ji's teachings.”
|
|
HC relief for TV channel
Chandigarh, February 8 In the meantime, its signal would neither be disrupted nor the audio muted, Justice Surya Kant of the High Court ruled. In its petition, Kansan News Private Limited through director and managing editor of Day and Night TV Kanwar Sandhu had earlier sought directions to Fastway Transmission Private Limited, Creative Cable Network Private Limited and Hathway Sukhamrit Cable & Datacom Private Limited to “provide uninterrupted signals and reconnect the audio and video signals to its full strength and clarity”. Directions were also sought for a CBI probe and the setting up of a monitoring committee. The petitioner claimed: “After the exit of Manpreet Singh Badal from the Punjab Government and the SAD in October last year, the coverage accorded to him was either blacked out or tuned out. In one instance, the cable company patched the audio of a cartoon channel on Day & Night News. Again, on December 15 last year, the cable carrier switched off the news station after Day & Night News showed audience walking out after Youth Akali Dal patron and former state minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia’s started addressing a rally at Mohali. On December 22, Day & Night News was blacked out for showing Amarinder Singh’s road show in the state. — TNS
|
|
Selection of 9 Addl District & Sessions Judges upheld
Chandigarh, February 8 In his petition against the State of Punjab and other respondents, petitioner Dharam Chand had earlier contended that the ADSJ’s were selected on the basis of discussion by an interview committee on July 3 and July 4, 2008. Seeking the quashing of the selection, he had added that the committee had not been validly constituted, as it was without the Full Court’s sanction. The petitioner had added that the viva-voce was conducted by the committee of Justice JS Khehar, Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, Justice KS Garewal, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Ashutosh Mohunta, without the participation of the Chief Justice. Going into the background, the petitioner had added the advertisement inviting applications from bar members for the direct recruitment to the Punjab Superior Judicial Services was issued on February 2, 2008. — TNS
|
|
MD of milk producers’ federation in dock
Chandigarh, February 8 Following their failure to file a reply despite five opportunities, Justice Surya Kant has directed the issuance of a show-cause notice asking them to explain “why exemplary costs of Rs 25,000 each, to be personally recovered from them, be not imposed, if they fail to reply before the next date of hearing”. The general manager has also been asked to remain present before the court. In his petition, Kulwant Singh had earlier sought directions to the respondents to consider and promote him as a packing supervisor after giving him the benefits of reservation available to a scheduled caste. Directions were also sought to re-fix his seniority over and above another packing supervisor. — TNS
|
|
4 held for shopkeeper’s murder
Anandpur Sahib, February 8 Addressing mediapersons yesterday, SSP Jatinder Singh Aulakh claimed that all four accused arrested had gone to commit theft in Rajesh’s shop. One of the accused identified as Gaurav Kumar from mohalla Fatehgarh Sahib was a frequent visitor to Rajesh’s place and was is his friend as well. Rajesh was a wholesale distributor of cigarettes and beedis.Gaurav and other accused, including Lokesh Kumar from mohalla Fatehgarh Sahib, Jaswant Singh, alias Nadda, from mohalla Badi Sarkar, Malkit Singh Malli from mohalla Kuraliwala, Neeraj Kumar from mohalla Badi Sarkar and Monu from Bani village killed Rajesh. While four accused have been arrested, two of them, Lokesh Kumar and Monu, are still at large. SHO Manvir Singh Bajwa claimed that acting on secret information, the accused have been arrested, while efforts are being made to arrest other two as well. All accused are of 19-25 years and are known notorious. — TNS
|
|
|
|
| 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 | |
Begowal, February 8
Bathinda, February 8