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Despite HC order, no action against MC officials for misuse of funds
Security beefed up for I-Day function
Amritsar’s only cricket ground dug up for CM’s I-Day function
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Four to get President’s Police Medal for gallantry
Ban lifted on screening of ‘Aarakshan’
Punjab Govt wants NREGS wages on par with Haryana
Assembly poll real test for SAD, says Amarinder
Peaceniks gather for candlelight vigil at Attari
Sukhbir surprises hospital patients
Stranded Nawanshahr families evacuated
Sutlej waters enter Moga villages
JEs seek CM’s intervention for promotion
High Court clears way for treatment plant at Goraya
Appointment by consumer panel upheld
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Despite HC order, no action against MC officials for misuse of funds
Chandigarh, August 14 The department has not only committed contempt of the order passed by Justice MS Sullar (writ 8,929) on May 19, 2011, but has also overlooked Municipal Account Code Rule 17.18 to protect some persons enjoying political patronage. According to Code Rule 17.18, a criminal case is to be registered against any person found guilty of misusing an amount of Rs 1,000 or more. Sources say the Municipal Committee, Hoshiarpur, had violated the provision of inviting competitive tenders by ‘exploiting’ a notification dated August 24, 2008, that allowed it to get emergency works worth Rs 20,000 done without inviting tenders for quick redressal of public grievances. An internal departmental inquiry conducted by the office of the Chief Vigilance Officer, Local Government, has revealed that an emergency was created almost everyday to bypass the procedure and make fraudulent withdrawals. The Hoshiarpur MC undertook 244 works worth Rs 20,000 between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2010, and again 260 emergency works between April 1, 2010, and February 15, 2011. All these works were shown as “emergency” to bypass the tendering procedure. When the matter was raised on the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in March this year, the then Minister for Local Bodies Manoranjan Kalia had assured the House that he would look into the matter. On March 31, 2011, the Secretary, Department of Local Bodies, SS Rajput, ordered the suspension of Ramesh Kumar, XEN, Pawan Sharma, municipal engineer, Harpreet Singh, assistant municipal engineer, Harish Kumar and Kuldeep Singh, JEs and municipal accountant Ram Parkash. Instead of framing charges against them, all were reinstated within a month. The matter was reported by The Tribune on March 18 in a story titled “Flouting rules, Hoshiarpur MC dips into exigency funds”. Based on the report, one Mohal Lal, a resident of Hoshiarpur, approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court pointing out that politicians were shielding the corrupt and huge amounts of money were being siphoned off. Mohal Lal also pointed out that action had been taken against some employees, but none against Shiv Sood, the MC president.The High Court then directed the Director, Local Government, to take action within a month. The Director, Local Bodies, when contacted, by mediapersons said he could not comment on the issue without going through the file. The Local Bodies Minister said action was being initiated as per the court orders, but would not say what kind of action.
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Security beefed up for I-Day function
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 14 Meanwhile, the police held nakas and vigil, conducting surprise raids at all hotels in the city. Security arrangements have been tightened ahead of the district-level Independence Day function. “We have deployed policemen at important places in the city to ensure that no untoward incident takes place”, said the police. Earlier, Mata Gujri College ground today witnessed the full-dress rehearsal of the Independence Day parade under a thick security blanket while the administration claimed to have made the necessary arrangements for the civilians to attend the celebrations. Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Family Welfare Avinash Chander will be the chief guest and unfurl the national flag. “The state police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed at all strategic positions around the stadium and other strategic locations”, claimed the senior police officers.A cultural programme will also be held by school students.
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Amritsar’s only cricket ground dug up for CM’s I-Day function
Amritsar, August 14 And incidentally, Badal, who had tendered an apology for causing damage to the Mohali ground then, would be the chief guest at tomorrow’s function. Leaving Guru Nanak Stadium (at Guru Nanak Dev University), the traditional site for holding I-Day functions, the district administration chose the cricket ground this time, which comes under the Amritsar Games Association (AGA) -- it is affiliated with the PCA. PCA secretary MP Pandove said: “The ground is meant for holding professional matches. Apart from the pitch area, the grass happens to be of very sensitive nature. Once damaged, it would take it months to be grown again. The administration should refrain from holding functions at such sensitive places.” For its part, the authorities concerned say the cricket ground had to be selected as the university ground was considered unfit for security point of view. They, however, claim that damage control measures had been taken in advance to save critical areas of the ground. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said, “The university stadium is under renovation and, thus, not suitable to house VVIPs who would be present on the occasion. If any damage is caused to the ground, it will be repaired on priority.” Unaware of the importance of the cricket ground and the pitch, the participants, with their heavy sole shoes, were busy doing parade rehearsal today, thereby leaving pits on the ground and damaging its grass.Also, the PWD (B&R) and corporation teams broke the wall of the ground to erect a new gate, apparently to give VVIPs an access to the main stage, which has been erected on the pavilion area. The sitting area in the pavilion has been altered to build a perch to unfurl the Tricolour. The iron grills on the boundary have been cut to facilitate the VVIPs to have “clear vision” of the activities to be held on the ground. But, AGA secretary Mohit Khanna thinks otherwise: “We all got independence on this day and it’s a jubilant time for all. As the function where the CM will be the chief guest could not be held anywhere else, there is no harm if it’s organised here.” “Confident” of his “expertise”, he advocated: “I am an expert pitch-curator. I will not let it get spoilt. Even if some damage is done, we have equipment and heavy power roller machines that will set the ground back to its original shape within 45 minutes.”
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Four to get President’s Police Medal for gallantry
The list includes DSP Rajinder Singh, Sub-Inspector Bikramjit Singh Brar and Head Constables Sher Singh and Balwinder Singh. The four were chosen for their acts of courage in taking on dreaded criminals. On June 29 last year, a team of officials from the Rajpura city police station chased five hardcore dacoits who were wanted in different cases. The accused and the cops exchanged fire but the police managed to arrest three of the five accused. During the operation, Sher Singh and Balwinder Singh received bullet injuries. Two more officials, Rajpal Meena and Paramjit Singh Gill, both Inspector Generals of Police, have received the President’s Police Medal for meritorious service. Besides, 10 officials have been awarded the Police Medal for meritorious service. They include MS Chhina, AIG Welfare and Litigation; Shashi Prabha Dwedi, DIG Crime; Pramod Ban, IG, Patiala Range; MF Farooqi, DIG, Ropar Range; SK Kalia, DIG, Jalandhar; HS Gill, Commandant, Bathinda; PS Thind, SP (Detective), Sangrur; Mahi Pal, Inspector, Police Commandos; Ajay Kumar, ASI and Malwinder Kaur, ASI. Punjab to honour 37 The Punjab Government will honour as many as 37 prominent personalities of the state at a state-level function at Amritsar tomorrow for their outstanding contribution in the fields of bravery, social work, education and sports. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesman said Dr Kanwaljit Sohi, Rajesh Kumar, Mandeep Singh, Buta Singh and Col Bhartinder Singh Kesar would be honoured for bravery. Ramnik Singh, Rachna Sharma, Nikhil Sangar, Salim Khan, Surinder Pal Singh Oberoi, Satnam Kaur, Pawan Kumar Batara, Baba Sewa Singh, Sant Baba Labh Singh and Narinder Kumar will be honoured for their contribution in the field of social work. The spokesman further said Chahat Sahota would be honoured for painting, Shiv Singh for sculpture, Puran Shahkoti for sufi vocal, Bhai Baldeep Singh for gurbani and classical music and Bhai Pinder Pal Singh for katha vachak, Bhai Harjinder Singh Srinagar wale for gurmat sangeet. Urvi Manocha for music and dance, poet Amarnath Kaustubh for poetry, Prem Singh for fine arts and Gursewak Singh for arts. He further said Dr Ramesh Kumar Guber, Er Balkar Singh and Dr Malkiat Singh Saini would be honoured for their contribution in the field of science and technology. The spokesman said Gurpreet Singh Joshan would be awarded as vocational expert. He also said that Rahul Duggal would be awarded for education, Mehak Gupta for sports (skating), SK Sharma, Sandeep Riat, LD Mittal, AR Sharma, Rajinder Mittal and Pankaj Dhir for entrepreneurship.
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Ban lifted on screening of ‘Aarakshan’
The Punjab Government had suspended the screening of ‘Aarakshan’ in cinemas theatres in the state under Section 6 of the Punjab Cinemas (Regulation Act, 1952) on the basis of intelligence reports that some scenes and dialogues could cause social tensions. The Principal Secretary, Home, wrote to movie producer Prakash Jha on the objections raised by the committee. Jha replied that all the objectionable scenes had been cut. The committee viewed the movie again and decided that it should be allowed to be screened.
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Punjab Govt wants NREGS wages on par with Haryana
Chandigarh, August 14 During the current fiscal, the state would get about Rs 200 crore from the Centre. It would have to contribute Rs 20 crore (10 per cent share) as its own share. Till date, over 6 lakh persons have been issued job cards under the scheme. Last time, the state had received Rs 166 crore. Meanwhile, Vikram Chaudhary, a Youth Congress leader, has alleged that the state government denied unemployment allowance to many people who were entitled for it under the scheme. He claims the state government had been misleading the Centre on the issue of unemployment allowance. Following a complaint made by Chaudhary, the Centre had sent a senior official, Jagdish Kumar, to monitor the implementation of the scheme in the state. Chaudhary claims he had pointed out flaws in the implementation of the scheme in various districts to the official. He alleged that the government had also been denying special allowance to daily wage workers who had been employed beyond the limit of 5 km from their permanent home. However, a senior official of the state government claimed the relevant guidelines were being followed in the implementation of the scheme.
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Assembly poll real test for SAD, says Amarinder
Chandigarh, August 14 The PPCC chief pointed out that of the total Punjab population of about 2.75 crore, about 1.7 crore were Sikhs. And of the 1.7 crore Sikhs, only 52 lakh had SGPC voting rights.
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Peaceniks gather for candlelight vigil at Attari
Amritsar, August 14 These were the demands raised by peaceniks of India and Pakistan who gathered in this border village for a candlelight vigil at Zero Line (Attari-Wagah joint checkpost) to mark the 65th Independence Day celebrations. The programme is organised annually by the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, the Punjab Jagriti Manch and the Folklore Research Academy in association with SAFMA. The celebrations started with “Aman Karavan” from the Jallianwala Bagh with Tara Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, lighting the torch. Pakistani singer Shaukat Ali said that people-to-people contact would help heal old wounds of Partition. “We are doing what the governments of the two nations should be doing. It is up to the people of India and Pakistan to usher in peace,” he observed. Veteran journalist and president of the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch, Kuldip Nayyar, said the activists would continue their efforts to promote friendship between India and Pakistan. He said the governments of the two countries viewed each other with suspicion and urged them to stop the arms race and create an atmosphere of mutual trust. “Money being wasted on arms can be utilised for better health and education facilities to the people and for creating more employment channels,” he pointed out. In the morning, officials of Pakistan Satluj Rangers headed by Mian Mohammad Hialal Hussain, Director-General, offered sweets to the BSF personnel led by Sanjiv Bhanot, DIG, BSF, at the Attari-Wagah joint checkpost to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day. In the evening, prominent Pakistani singers Shaukat Ali and Mubarak Ali and Indian singers Harbhajan Mann, the Noora sisters, the Ali brothers, Masha Ali and Diljan enthralled the audience at the Attari grain market.
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Sukhbir surprises hospital patients
Bathinda, August 14 The Deputy CM came with a few commandos. There was no senior administrative official or local politician accompanying him. —
TNS
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Stranded Nawanshahr families evacuated
Nawanshahr, August 14 Trade Unions ( AIFTU. "We were saved by Param Singh Khalsa, member of the District Planning Board who brought a boat to evacuate the affected families. Also, some youths from the nearby Mehndipur village have been working with a missionary zeal to rescue the people,” said another resident who lauded the help extended by NGOs, gurdwara committees in various villages and the local Snehi Sakirtan Mandal , Mandir Devi Devilaya. The rescued are being provided food and shelter by various religious and social organisations. The PPCC member, Gur Iqbal Kaur Babli, and Youth Congress leader Angad Singh visited a number of affected areas. They criticised the “apathetic” attitude of the district administration towards the flood-hit. Deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh could not be contacted despite repeated efforts.
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Sutlej waters enter Moga villages
Moga, August 14 The flow of water in the Sutlej in the 32-km stretch in the district was 55,000 cusecs in the morning, which crossed 68,000 cusecs at 5.00 pm and it was further likely to rise between 85,000 cusecs to 90,000 cusecs during the night time. The district administration has claimed that there was no threat of a breach in the river up to one-lakh cusecs. Jaswinder Singh Aulakh, a resident of Takhtuwala village, said the river water had started entering a few settlements in Sanghera, Sherewala, Mehruwala, Kamboh Khurd and a couple of other villages. Ludhiana PWD officials booked Ludhiana: The local police has filed a case under Section 304-A of the IPC against municipal corporation and Public Works Department officials for causing death by negligence after a truck driver was killed when his vehicle fell into a large crater caused by a road collapse near Ferozepur Road on Friday evening. The case was registered on the complaint by the truck owner. — TNS Bridge collapses Ferozepur: Following the collapse of the rail bridge on the Chakki river near Pathankot, rail services on the Pathankot-Joginder Nagar section have been affected. Traffic has been partially restored but the services on the Pathankot-Nurpur section remain suspended. Vishwesh Chowbey, Divisional Rail Manager, said rail officials were working round the clock to ensure that passengers did not face inconvenience. Meanwhile, senior rail officials have reached Pathankot to inspect the damaged bridge on the Chakki river. —
TNS Traffic diverted Phagwara: Traffic remained disrupted due to waterlogging, overflowing canal waters and breaches in drains near the under-construction bridge between Phagwara and Ludhiana on Sunday. Phillaur SDM said light vehicles had been allowed to ply between Goraya and Ludhiana. Heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks, were being diverted from Phagwara to Dosanjkalan-Mukandpur-Nagar-Phillaur and Ludhiana. Heavy vehicles bound for Jalandhar were being told to take the Ludhiana-Jagraon-Nakodar route. —
OC
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JEs seek CM’s intervention for promotion
Chandigarh, August 14 State president of the association Sukhwinder Singh Bangowani said today the issue of promotion of 55 JEs as SDOs had been hanging fire for the past two years. Since then seven junior engineers had retired awaiting promotion. They did not get even a single promotion in their entire career lasting for more than 30 years. —
TNS
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High Court clears way for treatment plant at Goraya
Chandigarh, August 14 The directions came on a petition filed by Darshan Ram and others. In the petition, residents of Boparai village, comprising ward nos 11 and 12 of the Goraya Municipal Committee had contended that they had installed a self-sufficient treatment plant in the village. They alleged that the state and the Goraya MC were bent on destroying the infrastructure of the water treatment plant built by the villagers and the sewerage of Goraya was being brought into Boparai village. On the previous date, the Bench had granted a stay on the installation of the plant. The Sewerage Board then filed an application for vacation of the stay order. Counsel Vijay Kausal appeared for the Sewerage Board and Additional Advocate-General VK Jindal represented the State of Punjab. Acting on the plea, the Bench modified the stay order and allowed the XEN and others to go ahead with the project in public interest. The petitioners have been granted the right to represent their case before the XEN, Project Implementation Agency.
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Appointment by consumer panel upheld
Chandigarh, August 14 In his petition placed before Justice Ritu Bahri, Dinesh Bagga had earlier sought directions for setting aside the appointment order dated December 29, 2009, of Amarpreet Sharma as “whole-time lady member”. The petitioner had contended that eight woman candidates had appeared for the interview before the selection committee after the advertisement was issued on October 16, 2009. Among other things, the advertisement said the applicant should have an “experience of at least 10 years in dealing with problems relating to economics, law, commerce, accountancy, industry, public affairs or administration.” Appearing for the petitioner, counsel Atul Lakhanpal argued her appointment was not as per the qualification prescribed in the advertisement or under Section 16 of the Consumer Protection Act. Referring to her application, Lakhanpal said her teaching experience was shown to be of five years. Experience of another five years in giving tuitions was also mentioned in an attempt to show a total experience of 10 years. Dismissing the petition, Justice Bahri ruled: “As per Section 16, apart from the educational qualification, the last condition is that the person should be of ability, integrity and standing and have adequate knowledge and experience of at least 10 years in dealing with problems relating to economics, law, commerce, accountancy, industry, public affairs or administration.
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Chandigarh, August 14
Chandigarh, August 14
The Union Government issued the notification raising the wage. A few weeks ago, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had met the Union Rural Development Minister to demand that the wage rate in the state be on a par with Haryana because of various similarities between the two states. While the Centre had approved Rs 179 as daily wage rate in case of Haryana, it was Rs 123 for Punjab under the scheme.
