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Govt keen to diversify in power sector, mulls gas-based plant
Haven for inter-caste couples reels under financial crunch
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Sans salary, it’s ‘black’ Diwali for teachers at CM’s alma mater in Ferozepur
142 docs to be enrolled under WB project
Amarinder says he and Charak will jointly lead ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’
Barjinder Brar back as Moga MC chief
Wheat MSP a cruel joke, says Badal
MAKA Trophy selection comes under fire
welcome lesson
Question paper ‘leaked’, Board cancels exam in Ludhiana dist
Guru Nanak Dev University to have Satguru Ram Singh Chair
‘Saint’ dies of cancer
4 held guilty in ‘honour’ killing case
Big heroin haul baffles authorities
Woman kills three kids, self
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Govt keen to diversify in power sector, mulls gas-based plant
Chandigarh, October 25 The gas is to be transmitted through proposed Dadri-Bawana-Nangal pipeline, for which an agreement has already been signed with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The state government has urged the Centre to direct GAIL to start work on the pipeline project at the earliest. However, the state government has failed to make up its mind on the setting up of a nuclear power plant for which a site was proposed near Patran, about 60 km from Patiala. After a discussion at the top official level, it was decided to raise the issue of allotment of a nuclear power plant to the state at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting held on October 22. Apprehending that such a demand at the council meeting could trigger public protests in the state on the lines of those in Tamil Nadu, the authorities concerned decided not to raise the issue at the meeting. At some distance from Patran, Haryana Government has planned to set up a nuclear power plant near Gorakhpur village. In Punjab, there is no political consensus on setting up of the nuclear power plant. A sizeable section of the Congress leaders is opposed to the nuclear plant. At present, Punjab has coal-based thermal plants at Bathinda, Lehra Mohabbat (Rampura Phul) and Ropar. These are all in the public sector. In private sector, a coal-based thermal plant is coming up at Vanawala village near Talwandi Sabo and another one at Goindwal near Kapurthala. One coal-based thermal plant in private sector is to come up at Rajpura. At Gidderbaha, there is a proposal for installation of a coal-based thermal plant by the NTPC. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had recently announced that such a plant at Mukerian would be set up by the Punjab State Power Corporation. Hydro power comes from BBMB projects and some state-owned projects. Punjab has planned to generate energy from biomass, especially crop residue, garbage etc. The Punjab Government has been criticised for approving setting up of a large number of coal-based thermal plants. These plants are not considered eco-friendly and are a big source of pollution, especially in and around Bathinda, where these have high concentration. Moreover, thermal plants in some parts of the country have been facing problems owing to short supply of coal from mines.
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Haven for inter-caste couples reels under financial crunch
Faridkot, October 25 While the state government is not releasing any funds for boarding and lodging of these couples, their stay in the state government rest houses apparently makes for financial burden on the district administration. In the last five months, 14 couples reached Faridkot to seek protection and stayed in Sainik and PWD rest houses. While the stay of these couples, up to 25 days in some cases, escorted by police guards in the rest houses, created a space problem for government guests, another problem area is provision of food to these couples and the police guards accompanying them. As there is no financial provision to foot these bills, some revenue officials are bearing the expenses, hoping there would be reimbursement by the state government. But the chances of reimbursement look bleak. In the last two months, the Faridkot Deputy Commissioner’s office has written three letters to the Home Affairs and Justice Department Punjab for payment of the bills, but so far, there has been no response. “We are hopeful of getting the funds in the coming days,” said Ravi Bhagat, DC Faridkot. “So far, there is no provision of funds for payment towards boarding and lodging for these couples, so we have written to the state government,” said the DC. DS Bains, Principal Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice Punjab, said he was not aware of the problem. “I don’t know whether the state government is supposed to bear the food expenses for the stay of the couples in the government rest houses. Until I go through the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders, I can’t comment on this issue,” he said. The scenario follows many honour killings in Haryana and Punjab and many inter-caste couples rushing to the High Court, seeking police security to escape the wrath of their family members. To prevent honour killings, in March 2011, the High Court had directed the state government to provide protection to such couples. The protection umbrella includes provision of accommodation at government rest houses and police protection to save them from any attack by their relatives or family members. Another problem area for the district administration is shortage of space for government guests. “While eight rooms of Circuit Rest House in Faridkot have already been allotted to the Commissioner’s Office for official work, the long stay of newly wed couples has further created space shortage for government guests,” said a supervisor. A senior officer in Home Affairs and Justice Department in Chandigarh said keeping in view the shortage of space in the rest house, the department has decided to provide accommodation to these couples for a maximum of 10 days, with the couples having to pay a minimum fixed amount. Moreover, the couples will have to foot the food bills, he added. In August last year, the state government issued directions to all district police chiefs in the state to constitute five-member district-level counselling cells to assist imperilled lovers. The cell was meant to guide parents in resolving differences due to caste, creed or social status barriers. Over a year down the line, these cells are a mere formality. There was not even a single meeting of this cell in the last one year and no case was referred to it for counselling, said Vishav Jyoti Dhir, a noted short story writer who is also a member of the District Honour Killing Counselling Cell in
Faridkot.
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Sans salary, it’s ‘black’ Diwali for teachers at CM’s alma mater in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, October 25 School principal Jagmohan Singh Patwal said, “Is this the ‘guru dakshina’ (fee paid in return for teachings) that the Chief Minister is giving to his alma mater?” Badal had done his matriculation from here. Jagmohan, who is also general secretary of the Government Aided School Teachers Union, says the school staff was forced to borrow money on interest from financiers to meet their day-to-day expenditure. “We are suffering heavy financial losses. I had to take a loan to pay the college fee of my daughters who are pursuing B Pharmacy,” he said. Notwithstanding umpteen reminders to the state government, nothing has been done so far, he says. Not only the Chief Minister’s alma mater, the situation is no different in more
than 400 government-aided schools in the state where the staff has been reeling under financial crunch due to non-payment of salaries for months together. “In some schools enjoying 95 per cent grant-in-aid from the state government, the salaries have not been paid since January,” says Anil Bansal, another teacher. ”Earlier, we were told that the Education Department is not releasing our salaries. Now, the Finance Department is putting obstacles for reasons beyond our comprehension,” he adds. Gurcharan Singh Chahal, president of Government Aided School Teachers Union, says though the government implemented the Fifth Pay Commission, however, neither the arrears have been released nor the medical and HRA allowance is being paid as per the new scale. “The Education Department has failed to fix the pay of elementary teachers according to the Fifth Pay Commission,” he says. Chahal says the pension benefits that the Capt Amarinder Singh government banned in 2003 though have been revived following a meeting with Badal, no further action has been taken yet. He says after reaching at a compromise with the state government last year, Badal promised us release of pension benefits from April 2011. “However, we are yet to receive the benefits,” he adds, demanding the teachers belonging to aided schools should be absorbed as regular employees so that at least there salaries are paid on time.
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Fauja Singh’s kin livid as Guinness looks the other way
Jalandhar, October 25 The officials refused to list Singh’s name as the world’s oldest marathon runner, while questioning his birth and age records. This, despite the fact that the British Government had issued him a passport and had been recognising his achievements as a marathon runner. Fauja Singh became the first centenarian to complete the Scotia Bank Toronto Waterfront Marathon held on October 16. He had broken the record of a 98-year-old British citizen after reaching this benchmark. Fauja Singh’s family, relatives and neighbours back home in Beas village in Jalandhar termed the British Government as ‘hypocritical’ and using ‘double standards’ when it came to endorsing his name upon his having achieved the landmark. A dejected Harwinder Singh, son of Fauja Singh, questioned the rationale of the Guinness Book of World Records on his age and birth saying, “My father was born on April 1, 1911 at village Beas in Jalandhar. He was brought up in a family of agriculturists and never went to school. My father is illiterate and just knows how to sign in Urdu language.” He said, “My father took up running as it was his passion and not for making or breaking records. We are surprised — Where was this British Government when my father kept on raising money for charity events in England and while his previous marathon records were set?” Paramjit Singh Patar from Patar Kalan village in Jalandhar, a relative of Fauja Singh, said it made world news when Queen of England, Elizabeth-II had honoured Fauja Singh when he turned 100 recently. “The British Government is challenging its own authority by not supporting my father’s achievement. Why did they honour him if they were suspicious about his age records?” he questioned. He also highlighted that the Indian Government started registering names after 1928. “That was a time when India was being ruled by the British. In fact, one of the villagers, a retired Indian Army personnel, who is 85 years old, told us that Fauja Singh was older to him by more than 15 years and they grew up together in village Beas. We had sent an application of his date of birth duly signed by a notary long time ago, which is proof of his age,” he added. Paramjit also pointed out that Fauja Singh never ran for gaining popularity or earning money. “He hails from a well-to-do family of farmers in village Beas while his son Sukhjinder Singh is well off and resides in London. Fauja Singh is a name synonymous with passion and zeal for marathons and the British Government should acknowledge it,” he said.
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142 docs to be enrolled under WB project
Bathinda, October 25 This was revealed by project coordinator Dr Deepak Bhatia recently. He was here to attend the sixth annual conference of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine Punjab chapter, at Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. Dr Bhatia said already 90 per cent of health centres had been sending their disease data to the IDSP. “Initially, it was difficult to convince private practitioners, private medical colleges and clinics to be a part of the project. Slowly and steadily we have managed to enroll 100 private doctors. Our aim is to take this figure to at least 142 with one doctor from each block,” he said. The project was started in the state in 2007. At present, Punjab ranks second in terms of implementing this project successfully while Gujarat, where the project was started 15 years ago at the time of the Surat plague, is number one. Dr Bhatia said that data collection played an important role in forming health policies. “With the advent of IT-enabled services and penetration of the telephony network, collecting data has quickened and so has the pace of action to curb epidemics. But we still have a long way to go to ensure that epidemics do not occur.” He said the proposed clinical establishment Bill will make it mandatory for the private practitioners to share their data with the government. Under IDSP, there are four referral labs in 20 districts, including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala. Three labs are being funded by the state government at Moga, Bathinda and
Hoshiarpur.
preventing epidemic
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Amarinder says he and Charak will jointly lead ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’
Referring to the reports in certain sections of the media quoting some anonymous leaders and unconfirmed sources that the party high command had not nominated any particular leader and it would be a collective effort, the PPCC president made it clear that the programme had been chalked out in due consultation with the party incharge and he along with Charak would be leading the yatra and addressing public meetings across the state.
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Barjinder Brar back as Moga MC chief
The Punjab Government issued a notification to constitute Municipal Corporation in this town in July this year. As such, the elected body of the ‘erstwhile’ council at that time was automatically dissolved after the issuance of this notification. District Magistrate Ashok Singla was made officiating commissioner of the corporation. But on October 17,
the High Court granted a stay against this notification to convert the status of the council into corporation reacting to a petition moved by a few councillors Surinder Singh Goga
and others. After assuming the office, Brar said that he did not want to take charge of this post again because his father and senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Jathedar Tota Singh made personal efforts to raise the status of the local body hoping better development of this town. “I and my colleagues, the elected representatives of both the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party, sacrificed our positions for the betterment of this town,” he said. “However, I respect the orders of the court, which has forced me to again take charge of this office,”
he added.
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Wheat MSP a cruel joke, says Badal
Badal claimed the decision would not only deal a crushing blow to the farm sector but also seriously endanger the country's food security. The Chief Minister asked the Centre to view its decision in the light of the prevailing market ground realities at this time or "else the country could once again be plunged into an era of food shortage, forcing it into expensive and untenable food imports. He asked the Union Government to immediately review the decision and announce an upward revision in the MSP. "The decision shows how insensitive policymakers at the Centre are towards the agony of the farmers already reeling under the impact of back-breaking hikes in the prices of farm inputs,” he said. The Chief Minister reiterated that although a minimum support price of Rs 2,200 per quintal was necessary to give a boost to agriculture and secure food security in the country, the Centre could at least have gone by the report of farm experts that quoted Rs 1800 as the barest minimum.
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MAKA Trophy selection comes under fire
New Delhi, October 25 The committee, headed by M Bela Bhaskar, held its meeting at Shastri Bhawan, the headquarters of the Sports Ministry, on October 11 and after going through claims and counter-claims by the contenders, put Punjabi University on top, followed by Guru Nanak and Kurukshetra University. The MAKA Trophy was not awarded during this year’s National Sports Awards investiture ceremony in August as the Ministry could not arrive at a consensus. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) had invited performance details from the member universities on June 7, 2011 for the award of the MAKA Trophy for the year 2010-2011, stipulating that all the relevant details should reach the AIU office by June 30, “failing which no claim shall be entertained, thereafter”. According to Guru Nanak registrar Prof. (Dr) Inderjit Singh, Punjabi University had not submitted its claim till July 12. “Accepting the claim beyond the date (June 30) by the concerned authority/organisation is in violation of the above mentioned rule,” he said. “In case of violation of the last date for submission of performance details for MAKA Trophy, the universities have the right to move the court of law for justice in this regard,” Dr. Singh wrote to former joint-secretary of the Sports Ministry, Injeti Srinivas, on July 13. After the Scrutiny Committee finalised the names in order of priority, the universities concerned were asked to submit their objections and suggestions within 15 days, i.e. by October 25, which Guru Nanak has complied with. Dr. Singh said Guru Nanak had logged 41955 points, which were the highest among all the universities who have staked their claims. In a letter addressed to the AIU secretary-general, dated October 24, Dr Singh warned that “considering the claims of Punjabi University after the June 30 deadline is highly objectionable and GNDU registers strong objection to Punjabi University, Patiala, being considered for the MAKA Trophy 2010-2011”. The objections filed by Guru Nanak Dev University and others will be taken up by the Grievances Redressal Committee, headed by under-secretary in the ministry, Chinappa Reddy, before the matter is brought before the committee once again, for a final resolution.
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welcome lesson
Speaking to The Tribune, Surinder Singh Pehalwan, chairman of the Punjab Mulazim Welfare Board, claimed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had "taken this decision to uplift the standard of education in state". "The government schools in Punjab have already undergone a drastic change in the past few years with the government launching various schemes to encourage more and more students to join government schools. Right from making education free for girl child to distributing free bicycles to encourage them to continue their studies till Class XII, the government has done a lot and these appointments will further help government schools to come on a par with private institutes," he claimed. Many students and teachers seem to have given the thumbs up to this decision saying this would not only fill vacant posts throughout the state but also provide an opportunity to the youngsters to join government jobs. "Whatever the trend may be, the craze for government jobs is never going to end in India. With many educated youngsters protesting throughout the state against the state government for not providing them jobs, this decision would certainly bring a new ray of hope to them," added a Punjabi university student, Charanjit Kaur. Government school teachers, too, feel that this would certainly help in smoothening the functioning of the schools. Besides providing jobs to youngsters, it would also reduce the pressure on the teachers who are currently working with the Education Department. "Many posts in various schools have been lying vacant and it was really difficult for teachers to teach such a large number of students. Therefore, it will lessen their burden and they will be able to deliver better results," said government teacher Malwinder Kaur.
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Question paper ‘leaked’, Board cancels exam in Ludhiana dist
Mohali, October 25 PSEB Chairman Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon said the exam would be re-conducted only in Ludhiana district. The fresh date for the exam would be notified later. Yesterday, the Board authorities had dismissed the complaints regarding the paper having been leaked. However, a flying squad was later sent to Ludhiana to ascertain the truth. It has been learnt that a few of the questions in the English question paper matched those in the guess paper that was being sold by a shopkeeper, thus, leading to reports that the paper had been leaked. But a day later, the Board authorities decided to straightaway cancel the paper. Meanwhile, the PSEB authorities have also cancelled the paper of Punjabi History and Culture for the first semester of Class XII after complaints regarding out-of-syllabus questions were received. The fresh date of the exams would be notified later, the PSEB officials said. Correction Course
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PPCB gives saplings as Diwali gift to staff
Patiala, October 25 Addressing the officials and employees last evening, PPCB chairman KS Pannu said that Diwali was celebrated by millions of people in different parts of the world and it must be ensured that the festival does not become a source of pollution. Pannu said, "During the past few years, Diwali and pollution have become synonymous because of bursting of crackers at a large scale. Bursting of the crackers leads to so much air pollution in just a day that it adversely affects the flora and fauna of the region. Therefore, he appealed, everyone should desist from bursting of crackers and set an example by celebrating eco-Diwali. "When the Board employees will plant the saplings gifted to them, they will nurture that plant and it will keep reminding them throughout their life about the need to take environment-friendly initiatives and not to indulge in any activity that deteriorates the environment," he added.
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Guru Nanak Dev University to have Satguru Ram Singh Chair
Chandigarh, October 25 A decision to this effect was taken by Badal while presiding over a meeting of Kuka Martyrs Memorial Trust led by its president Baba Surinder Singh Namdhari at his official residence here late last evening. Badal reviewed the progress of various programmes initiated by the state government to commemorate the 150 years of martyrdom of the great Kuka martyrs during the freedom struggle. The Chief Minister told the Finance Department to release a grant of Rs 20 lakh for the existing chair at GNDU during the current financial year and also asked it to make regular budgetary provision from next fiscal year to ensure smooth functioning of the chair.
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‘Saint’ dies of cancer
Moga, October 25 He was the founder of Gita Bhawan, an architecturally well-designed temple, and a school in Moga, besides the famous Pawan Dham at Haridwar. A local social thinker and Arya Samaj activist, Ajay Sood, who was close to the deceased, said that Swami Vedantananda was a great liberal and visionary saint who was respected by
all communities.
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4 held guilty in ‘honour’ killing case
Faridkot, October 25 The quantum of punishment to those convicted is likely to be announced on October 28. Among those convicted are Gurmukh Singh, Gurnaib Singh, Resham Singh and Kulbir Sharma. The court pronounced the decision on Monday. The Faridkot police had booked four persons in a murder case on complaint of Kuldeep Singh, a brother of the deceased.
Gurpreet eloped with the girl and the two had a court marriage. For the next 11 months, the husband and wife stayed at different places to escape the wrath of the latter’s family members, Gurpreet’s brother alleged. After some time, Gurpreet started living with his wife in a rented room in Guru Nanak Colony in
Faridkot. Kuldeep further alleged that on the evening of September 20, 2009, when he, Gurpreet and one of their cousins were riding back on their motorcycles from Baba Farid
Mela, Gurpreet was waylaid by four persons in a car. The accused allegedly attacked Gurpreet with sharp-edged weapons, a hockey and a double-barrel gun and killed him after chasing him in the colony.
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Big heroin haul baffles authorities
Fazilka, October 25 Upon thorough probe of the track record of the accused by The Tribune, it was found that he was booked under sections 379 and 411 of IPC on June 1, 2000, for allegedly stealing two bikes and one scooter from Fazilka. All the vehicles were later recovered from him. In another case, Khan Singh was booked under sections 307, 323, 553, 186, 380, 148, 149, 25, 54 and 59 of IPC on May 5, 2005 for allegedly committing dacoity in Markfed foodgrain godown with other gangsters. Khan Singh and his accomplices, wielding different arms, had then assaulted the watchman of the godown. “This criminal case is under trial at a Sessions court at Ferozepur, said Fazilka DSP Karamjit Singh. Surjeeto Bai, wife of Khan Singh, said her husband had been implicated by their relatives who had handed over some packets a few days back, saying they would carry them back after some time. Sources say Khan Singh has been remanded to DRI custody up to November 7. Senior officers of other law enforcing agencies are keeping their fingers crossed as they are apparently still groping in the dark over transit of such huge quantity of heroin probably from across the border to village Hasta Kalan. It is pertinent to mention here that some of the residents of the village have a criminal record. DIG BSF Vimal Satyarthi said BSF personnel are examining the post-heroin recovery situation and working on different theories. “Surveillance along the border has been stepped up. Around 20 per cent additional forces have been deployed on the border to check infiltration during the festival season,” he said.
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Woman kills three kids, self
Sriganganagar, October 25 According to information, Naini Devi, 30, wife of Om Parkash Jat, yesterday reached her native village Kesar Desar Boran along with daughter Tema, 8, to celebrate Diwali and Bhaiyya Dooj. This morning, her brother Raju and his wife went to the fields, leaving behind their son Suresh, 3, and 18-month-old daughter Pinky. It is believed Naini Devi took along with her the three children to a water reservoir at about 9 am and allegedly threw them into the reservoir. Later, she also jumped into it. Family sources said Naini Devi was distraught after the death of her son a few months back.
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Chandigarh, October 25
At the same time, he averred, all the senior leaders of the party were being involved and associated with the yatra and they would be a part and parcel of it. The former Chief Minister pointed out, “It is quite natural that the PPCC president should and will be leading any and all the programmes of the party in the state in coordination and consultation with the party incharge and other party colleagues in the state. Any confusion or misinterpretation is quite unwanted and undesired and can lead only to confusion, which the party can ill afford at this time.”
Moga, October 25
Chandigarh, October 25
Patiala, October 25