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Fiscal shock for Power Corp
Punjab weighing options, may file revision plea
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Master plans for 7 towns approved
SGPC ex-member among 60 SAD workers join PPP
BJP to oppose assembly resolution on Bhullar
Shanta Kumar
SAD ticket for Kariha’s widow likely
Finally, rural doctors get salary after 5 months
Jail inmates clash with staff
in Kapurthala
Gobindpura under police siege again
Farmers pitch in to bail out cash-starved
PAU
Fight over rare replicas of Holy Granth
Owners accuse govt of usurping land, move court
Villagers threaten to demolish toe wall
Punjab only state to have three-language teaching formula
Kaushik set to be new DGP
Anil Kaushik
E-governance project inaugurated
Steel rolling mill sealed for violating norms
HC quashes clause in
CMC prospectus
Insurance co directed to pay
Rs 17,819
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Fiscal shock for Power Corp
For, the two utilities, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), have been at present facing one of the worst-ever financial crisis. So much so that the PSPCL does not have funds to even make payments for coal, railway freight and electricity purchased from other sources. Already running into loses amounting to thousands of crores, the recent denial of loans by banks to the PSPCL has left the Power Corporation authorities worried. The plea for fresh loans was turned down after the Reserve Bank of India issued fresh guidelines regarding providing loans to power companies that were into losses. On April 16 last year, the state government had bifurcated the erstwhile PSEB. The PSEB was under a debt of approximately Rs 8,000 crore at that time. Then as well, the power sector experts had appealed the state government to prepare a roadmap for improving the fiscal condition of the Power Corporation, but nothing concrete has been done till date. Padamjit Singh, an expert in the field, said the demand that post-unbundling the new power utilities should be given a clean balance sheet and that the state government should take care of the accumulated losses had not been accepted till date. "And what’s making things worse is that the state government is, in sheer violation of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) instructions, still not releasing the full amount of the monthly advance payment for power subsidy (Rs 394.08 crore) to the PSPCL," he said. PSEB Engineers' Association president HS Bedi said one way to improve the fiscal health of the Power Corporation was that the state government should infuse some equity to bail the PSPCL out from the debt trap. PSPCL’s Chief Managing Director KD Chaudhri claimed that they had got a government guarantee and were hopeful of getting loans from banks. "I think the present financial crunch should be over by next month. As far as the stopping of payments is concerned, it’s no big issue as the Power Corporation will clear them by October." Also, he told the Power Corporation staff not to be panicky as “their salaries would be disbursed on time”. Compounding the Worries
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Punjab weighing options, may file revision plea
Chandigarh, September 23 The CM said the state would explore all legal avenues to protect the interests of the people of Punjab. The state was in the process of eliciting the opinion of legal experts and would act accordingly. Official sources claimed that this could take the form of a revision petition. The SAD is likely to step up pressure on the Centre with sources claiming a party delegation could call on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Besides, the party could resort to a public agitation to highlight the ‘injustice’ meted out to Punjab. Meanwhile,PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh has blamed the Badal government for failing to protect the interests of the state. Amarinder claimed the government did not plead its case properly and adopted a wrong course with the intent to exploit the issue for political gains. He said the issue should have been treated separately instead of being clubbed with that of construction of the Hansi Butana canal. He also claimed Punjab failed to raise the issue of construction of siphons which Haryana was supposed to make. The former Chief Minister criticised the role played by the Central Water Commission (CWC) on the issue which, he said, had changed its 2006 stand. He said, the state could not even point out the variance in the CWC stand on the issue. Irrigation expert GS Dhillon said the construction of the toe wall would compound the problem of flooding in Patiala district. Calling for a consensus on the issue, he said siphons could be constructed below the toe wall being built by Haryana so that floodwaters could flow below the Hansi Butana canal at that specific point. SC Verdict The govt did not plead its case properly and adopted a wrong course with the intent to exploit the issue for political gains. The issue should have been treated separately instead of being clubbed with that of construction of the Hansi Butana canal. Also, Punjab failed to raise the issue of construction of siphons which Haryana was supposed to make — Amarinder Singh, PCC chief
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Master plans for 7 towns approved
Chandigarh, September 23 A decision to this effect was taken at the 23rd meeting of the Punjab Regional Town Planning and Development Board under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence this morning. A government spokesperson said that Badal had directed PUDA to “accommodate” objections received by the general public. It was also decided that GMADA would invite objections to the mix land use policy for agricultural land on one side of the Zirakpur-Banur road near Chhat village, that had been included in the master plan as agriculture land earlier. With a view to regularising various facilities for Zirakpur residents, it was decided to fix the upper limit of population density at 300 persons per acre. Meanwhile, the Council of Ministers, at its meeting today, approved the hike in the honorarium paid to nambardars from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month from October 1. The government has appointed 31,684 nambardars, who are discharging various duties defined under Rule 20 of the Punjab Land Revenue Rules, 1909, which mainly include matters related to land revenue. Other Cabinet decisions... Age for women for old-age pension lowered to 58 Nod to multi-discipline academies at Khunimajra, Bhikhiwind, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Batala, Rajpura, Dinanagar and Sultanpur Lodhi by PTU Go-ahead to filling 100 posts of Agriculture Development Officer
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SGPC ex-member among 60 SAD workers join PPP
Jalandhar, September 23 Jaimal said: “Manpreet has a vision to take Punjab ahead. He has resolved to eradicate the menace of corruption…so we decided to join him.” His supporters said they were feeling “gagged” in the SAD. Manpreet alleged that the SAD coerced and intimidated the voters during the recent SGPC polls. “It was for the first time that an observer had to order a re-poll in the SGPC elections in Gidderbaha constituency. I don’t understand why the SAD leadership was so desperate to win a seat where there was no competition?” he questioned. Tie-up with Left likely on Sept 27 PPP chief Manpreet Badal has said that the poll alliance with the Left parties was in the offing. A formal announcement in this regard, it is learnt, was likely to be made on the death anniversary function of Harkishan Singh Surjeet at his native village on September 27.
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No more heading ministry, so no right to write ACRs
Chandigarh, September 23 Chawla, who now holds the portfolio of Social Welfare, had quit as Health Minister on May 12. A few days later, she was inducted into the Cabinet again but her earlier portfolio (of Health) was allocated to another BJP Minister. Even after assuming charge as Social Welfare Minister, Chawla directed the authorities concerned in the Health Department that the ACRs of the officials who served under her (when she was Health Minister) be sent to her for remarks. Obeying her orders, the Health Department sent the ACRs to her and she recorded her remarks on August 11. In the meantime, the Personnel Department overruled Chawla’s right to write the ACRs of health officials. In its opinion given to the Health Department, the Personnel Department made it clear that the Minister could not record her remarks on ACRs after quitting her office. The Personnel Department quoted the relevant ACR guidelines in this regard. Agreeing to the Personnel Department’s opinion, the Health Department authorities have directed the officials concerned to ignore the remarks of the former Health Minister on ACRs. Notably, any adverse remarks in the ACR of any official can affect his or her promotion. Meanwhile, Dr DC Sharma, general secretary of PCMS Association (Class I), has welcomed the decision.
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BJP to oppose assembly resolution on Bhullar
Chandigarh, September 23 BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar, when questioned on the issue during an interaction here, said there could be no compromise on the issue of terrorism and the law must take its own course in Bhullar’ case. Asked as to how the party would react in case the SAD tabled a resolution in the forthcoming assembly session starting October 3, the BJP leader said: “We will oppose the move both outside and inside the assembly”.Though the BJP’s national stand on the issue is clear, there was a feeling that the SAD could bring around the Punjab BJP , keeping in view the forthcoming assembly elections.These hopes have been belied with the BJP making it clear that there was no way it could support any resolution demanding leniency for Bhullar. Meanwhile, sources said the BJP had initiated formal talks to exchange three seats with the SAD following its core committee meeting yesterday. Shanta Kumar met the Chief Minister after the meeting to brief him about the development. Party sources said the BJP was ready to exchange Garhshankar, Batala and Amritsar West seats held by it with three seats from the SAD quota. The party has lost the Garhshankar seat twice. As far as Batala is concerned, there is a feeling that party legislator Jagdish Sahni’s performance has been less than satisfactory. The character of the Batala constituency has also changed post-delimitation with the seat becoming rural in character. In case of Amritsar (West), the party has lost the seat three times. Moreover, the seat has been declared reserved. For giving away these three seats, the party is keen to get the Ludhiana West seat for former party president Rajinder Bhandari. The SAD legislator, Harish Dhanda, holds this constituency. The BJP is also keen to contest from Amritsar East and Ludhiana East, that have been created post-delimitation. On allegations that the BJP’s popularity had nosedived due to increased factionalism, Shanta said there could be minor differences, but these were being sorted out. Party begins talks on swapping Garhshankar, Batala and Amritsar West seats with SAD Party keen to get the Ludhiana West seat for former party president Rajinder Bhandari The BJP also keen to contest Amritsar East and Ludhiana East seats created post-delimitation
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SAD ticket for Kariha’s widow likely
Jalandhar, September 23 There is a political vacuum in the constituency. Kariha’s political rival, former Congress MLA Parkash Singh, also passed away in March. His widow has expressed her ambition to don the mantle of her deceased husband. There are indications that Badal may hint at the candidature of Kariha’s widow at the the MLA’s bhog ceremony tomorrow. The PPCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, has already hinted at the candidature of Guriqbal Kaur, widow of Parkash Singh, from Nawanshahr. Kariha’s widow Satinder Kaur is not new to politics. Her father, Ajit Singh Mann, had contested the parliamentary elections against former MP SS Mann from Amritsar in 1984. Also, he has been a vice-president of the
SGPC.
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Finally, rural doctors get salary after 5 months
Patiala, September 23 Sending pay details to all Zila Parishads of Punjab and instructing all ADCs to pay the salaries to the RMOs who had been working without salaries for the past five months. There are 1,186 posts of RMO in the state and nearly 950 are in the job. The services of Rural Medical Officers were regularised in March by the Punjab Government and rationalisation of certain condition of the Services Act, 2011, was imposed on them under which the monthly salaries were reduced from contractual money of Rs 27,500 to Rs 15,600. This decision did not go well with these officers and they expressed resentment. Meanwhile, seeing the resentment brewing against the government, the government withdrew its decision in July, giving relief to the rural doctors who had been serving in the peripheral rural areas from the past five years and promised to pay the doctors on par with the doctors working under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. The Director of Rural Development and Panchayats has also issued instructions about pay parity of the RMOs with that of the Medical Officers of the Health Department and clearly mentioned that pay bill of the RMOs be made according to the Medical Officers of the Health Department working in that area indicating that the Rural Development Department is standing by the RMOs on the issue of all benefits on par with the PCMS doctors. State president of the Rural Medical Services Association, Punjab, thanked the government for regularisation of their services and giving them all benefits on par with the PCMS doctors.
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Jail inmates clash with staff
in Kapurthala
Jalandhar, September 23 The injured have been identified as Head Constables Balbir Singh and Tejpal Singh and prisoner Pritam Singh. The latter was admitted to a local Civil Hospital. His condition was stated to be serious. Sources said trouble began when the staff recovered a cell phone and some intoxicants from two prisoners, identified as Paramjit Singh and Ratu. The incensed prisoners gathered in no time and attacked the jail staff, ignoring all warnings by senior officers. A police force was requisitioned from the local police station which quelled the unruly inmates. On learning about the incident, relatives of Paramjit and Ratu assembled outside the jail and lodged a protest against the authorities. Ratu’s mother was allowed to go inside to persuade her son to return to the barracks. Head Constable Balbir Singh said it was Ratu who started the brawl by attacking him and his colleagues with water pipes and bricks when questioned on the recovery of the intoxicants. The DSP, Kulwant Singh, visited the jail to probe the incident. The authorities are likely to register a case against the prisoners, say sources. The recovery of intoxicants is nothing new. Friends and kin of prisoners use the tomb of a Muslim saint adjacent to the jail to throw the same over the jail boundary wall. Ratu is a history-sheeter and is serving a life sentence. He was brought here from the Ludhiana Central Jail a few days ago on the orders of Jails Minister Hira Singh Gabria. The Trigger nTrouble began when the staff recovered a cell phone, intoxicants from prisoners Paramjit, Ratu A police force was requisitioned from the local police station to handle the unruly inmates Ratu is said to have started the brawl, attacking jail staff with bricks and water pipes He was brought here from the Ludhiana Central Jail a few days ago on the orders of Jails Minister Gabria
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Gobindpura under police siege again
Mansa, September 23 The police staged a flag march several times during the day in Gobindpura and the adjoining villages. The 17 farmers’ unions have given a call to farmers throughout the Malwa region to assemble here for a rally. — TNS
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Farmers pitch in to bail out cash-starved
PAU
Ludhiana, September 23 They maintained that since the PAU had done a lot for improving and updating farming skills in Punjab, they too needed to watch the PAU’s interests. They also encouraged other farmers to donate to the cause. MS Grewal, a farmer from Kanganwal village, who has been associated with the PAU for the past over 40 years, said he had benefited a lot from the PAU. He donated Rs 1.05 lakh to the university. “PAU scientists are doing impressive work. It is because of the PAU that the country is getting enough foodgrain. It is our duty to help the PAU tide over this crisis,” he said. Sukhpal Singh Bhullar from Bathinda donated Rs 31,000 to the PAU corpus fund. Punjabi poet Surjit Pattar also donated Rs 25,000 to the PAU while former VC PAU, Dr Amarjit Singh Khaira, donated Rs 1 lakh. A former teacher, Dr RS Dhillon, also donated Rs 1 lakh to the fund. On the sidelines
At least 150 farmers from J&K evince keen interest in the mela Young women take part in various competitions organised by the home science department Guava, pomegranate plants sell like hot cakes five honoured at varsity kisan mela Village: Bhure Kalan in Ferozepur district Award: Dalip Singh Dhaliwal Award Contribution: Is producing vegetables such as cucumber, chilly, capsicum and bitter gourd and has devised a method to protect these against frost Village: Ladhana Jhikka in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district Award: Surjit Singh Dhillon Puraskar Contribution: Has developed expertise in growing garlic, has been honoured by Agri Dept for this; is an expert in agricultural diversification, raising nurseries and judicious use of water and other resources Village: Allawalpur in Jalandhar dist Award: Parvasi Bharti Award Contribution: Has been promoting agricultural diversification; on his 30-acre farm, he has been growing different crops Village: Samrala (Ludhiana) Award: Ujagar Singh Dhaliwal Award Contribution: Has achieved distinction in growing mushrooms, vegetables and fruits; has made efficient use of water resources by adopting modern methods Village: Kiri Shahi in Tarn Taran district Award: Ujagar Singh Dhaliwal Award Contribution: Has excelled in the cultivation of different crops; he grows wheat, peas, potato, tomato, onion, maize, cabbage, chilly, brinjal, bottle gourd, capsicum, basmati etc; has successfully adopted beekeeping too
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Fight over rare replicas of Holy Granth
Patiala, September 23 Colonel Gurnam Singh (retd), grandson of renowned Sikh historian and scholar Baba Prem Singh, has alleged harassment at the hands of certain police officials posted in the district, alleging that these officers have connived with a local SGPC employee in trying to usurp rare olden replicas of Guru Granth Sahib and have raided his house thrice. “The block printed replicas, which were brought to India by noted Sikh scholar Baba Prem Singh who was personally invited by the Maharaja of Patiala to settle in Patiala after the Partition, are under threat to be usurped,” claims Gurnam Singh. Badungar claimed that he would visit the house of Gurnam Singh in a couple of days and ensure that no one harasses his family. “This is a religious issue and I would ensure that justice is done,” he added. Father of Gurnam Singh, Manmohan Singh Bhalla was a freedom fighter According to Gurnam Singh, he had two very old replicas of the sacred holy book and as he was staying alone in the house with his mother Rajinder Kaur (90) a freedom fighter and holder of the Tamra Patra, they decided to donate one book to a religious shrine almost a month ago. “A few people came to get the sacred book from me but as we doubted their integrity, we refused”, claimed Rajinder
Kaur.
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Owners accuse govt of usurping land, move court
Chandigarh, September 23 In a petition filed and argued through senior advocate ML Sarin and Harpreet Singh
Giani, Jagtar Singh and other petitioners alleged the decision was "in direct violation of the stated and agreed purpose for which the land was purchased from the petitioners, under threat of forcible and compulsory acquisition of land". A direction has now been sought to quash the action. Taking up the petition, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab and other respondents. Going into the background of the controversy, the petitioners said they were in possession of land situated on Talwandi Road,
Faridkot. In 1998, the respondents announced "decision to set up a university of academic excellence for the purpose of advancing education and research in the medical field". The petitioners said: " It was also announced that the university would not only be located in the city of
Faridkot, but would be dedicated to revered saint Sheikh Baba Farid and would be named the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. The Punjab Government has transferred the petitioners' land to the
PUDA, which has been mandated to utilise it along with some other land belonging to the respondents for setting up a housing colony on the commercial lines.
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Villagers threaten to demolish toe wall
Patiala, September 23 The protesters threatened to resort to “violent”protests to stop the construction of the toe wall. The protesters, who had gathered at Dharmheri village, 45 km from
Patiala, announced that they had no option but to demolish the under-construction wall. The protesters blocked the Patiala-Kaithal highway for a few hours this afternoon, which lead to a traffic jam.
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Punjab only state to have three-language teaching formula
Mohali, September 23 While talking to the mediapersons here, he said the PSEB had achieved such standards that could be equated with any top-level school education system of the nation. Introduction of the bar code system and various security features in the examination and the certification processes had included the board in the chain of national-level institutions while computerisation of board records had modernised it further. He further said teaching of three languages at the matriculation level had made students of Punjab eligible to get jobs in any state of the country. The Board had also enhanced the qualification standards for various appointments. The board was revising the syllabus and 85 books had been completed in this regard. Duplicate roll numbers for semester exams are available on PSEB website. For the convenience of candidates appearing in the first semester of 10+2 exams beginning from September 26, the board authorities have decided to open the examination branch at the board headquarters in Mohali on September 24 and September 25 so that the candidates can obtain duplicate roll numbers. — TNS
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Kaushik set to be new DGP
Chandigarh, September 23 Sources said the government had taken a decision to appoint the seniormost police officer to the post to ward off any objection by the Election Commission in view of the forthcoming assembly elections in February next year. Among those in the running for the post were Shashi Kant, an IPS officer of the 1977 batch posted as DGP (PAP), Rajan Gupta of the 1978 batch who is DGP (Law and Order) and SM Sharma of the 1980 batch who is DGP (Security). Sources said Rajan Gupta was not inclined to take on the responsibility because he has a number of years left in service and does not want to be part of a possible ad hoc arrangement. Shashi Kant was interested in the post, but did not make the cut because of opposition to his candidature from a group close to Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh
Badal.
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E-governance project inaugurated
Patiala, September 23 Under the project, the dealers will allot vehicle numbers on the spot and the Registration Certificates (RCs )will reach on the addresses of the buyers within three days of the purchase through courier. Aggarwal said the project had been initiated in order to make the system of registration of vehicles simple. “This will not only save the effort of going to the district transport offices, but will also make the entire process quick,” he added.
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Steel rolling mill sealed for violating norms
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 23 A team headed by Environment Engineer Avtar Singh raided the premises of M/s SB Steel Rolling Mills, Mandi Gobindgarh. The team took samples of the smoke and found that the banned contents were much higher than the specified norms. “The mill has been sealed under the Pollution Act-1981, as the owners failed to submit satisfactory reply,” he added.
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Admission to MBBS course
Chandigarh, September 23 The directions came on a petition filed by Joel D. Masih against Baba Farid University of Health Sciences and other respondents. In his petition filed through counsel Ramneek Vasudeva, Joel, a candidate for admission to MBBS course offered by the CMC in the category of Christian Minority Punjab candidates, had sought the quashing of clause 11(a) of the prospectus. Elaborating, he had asserted that the clause requires “a Christian candidate to obtain a mandatory sponsorship letter from sponsoring bodies/churches, referred to in the prospectus, failing which admission shall not be granted”. Vasudeva asserted the petitioner’s father is a priest in a church. With his help, the petitioner approached sponsoring bodies, but was denied a sponsorship letter as he could not meet their demands. “The petitioner, therefore, left the column, relating to sponsorship, blank while submitting his form, for the entrance examination. The college did not raise any objection, issued an admit card and allowed the petitioner to sit for the qualifying examination held on May 27. The petitioner secured third position in the category of Christian Minority-Punjab and was asked to appear for counselling on July 18. But, he was denied admission on the ground that he has failed to produce a sponsorship letter from any of the sponsoring bodies/churches referred to in the prospectus. Taking up the matter, Justice Rajive Bhalla asserted: “By requiring a candidate to obtain a sponsorship letter from named churches/bodies as a pre-condition to admission, the respondents have conferred the power to render ineligible a candidate otherwise eligible and duly qualified… “The condition requiring a candidate to obtain a sponsorship letter, in my considered opinion, imposes an eligibility condition that does not stand the test of fairness, is arbitrary, exploitative and, therefore, cannot form part of the eligibility criteria. "As a consequence, the part of the prospectus that requires a candidate to obtain a sponsorship letter from bodies/churches referred to in the prospectus and Clause 11(a) of the prospectus are unfair, exploitative, arbitrary and have to be quashed".
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Insurance co directed to pay
Rs 17,819
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 23 The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum comprising Sashi Prabha Aggarwal, president, Sher Singh Sidhu and Veena Chahal, members, in its order stated that complainant Sanjiv Jindal got his Honda City car insured from United India Insurance Company for a sum of Rs 7.20 lakh and a premium of Rs 15,433 was paid. When the complainant’s car got damaged in an accident, he approached the insurance company and supplied all the documents required but the company put off the matter on one or the other pretext. The complainant paid the repair charges on his own. The company repudiated the claim of the complainant by alleging that the complainant does not have insurable interest in the matter of accident claim. The company stated that as per Registration Certificate, the owner of the vehicle was M/s Modern Alloys, where as vehicle was insured in the name of Sanjiv Jindal just to commit fraud with the company. After hearing the arguments, the forum observed that they don't find any justification in rejecting the claim on the basis that Sanjiv Jindal has claimed the claim not M/s Modern Alloys.
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Chandigarh, September 23
Two wardens and a prisoner were injured in a violent clash between the staff and inmates of the district jail here today. The police had to fire in the air when the rampaging inmates tried to set on fore LPG cylinders in the kitchen area.
The Gobindpura village near here is virtually under police siege to thwart the tomorrow’s march by farmers there following failure of their talks with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the issue of de-notification of 186 acres of fertile land that has “forcibly” been acquired for constructing a thermal power plant.
Chandigarh, September 23
Seventeen months after the bifurcation of the cash-strapped Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) into two power utilities, the claims made by the Punjab Government that the unbundling would improve the fiscal health of the new bodies have fallen flat. 
What Power Corp CMD says
Jarnail S Bhullar
Jaswinder Singh
Subhash C Misra
Jasvir Singh
Gurdial Singh