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SAD expels rebel Simarjit, his brother
Lambi RO transferred
Jalalabad MC former chief in SAD fold
Hectic lobbying for Patiala Rural
Slowdown keeping NRIs away from elections
Promotion of four Punjab ADGPs may fall through
Poll officials ‘manhandled’
Constituency
Watch
Constituency
Watch
Jobless linemen to gherao SAD-BJP candidates
Industry threatens to boycott poll
4,500 police personnel promoted, 5,000 recruited
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POLLUTION
Fund shortage and lack of concern, or at times will, on the part of the government were among the hurdles in the setting up of sewage treatment plants. Certain environmentally critical steps seen as ‘farmer unfriendly’ were also avoided
The Planning Commission, which is keen to include environmental performance as a parameter in the criteria for the allocation of Central assistance, devised a model last year to build an Environmental Performance Index of various states. Punjab was down at the 27th spot, barely escaping being the bottom of the pile. Another dubious distinction for the state is that it figures among states with the lowest forest cover. Against the national policy of having at least 33 per cent of the land area under forests, Punjab has only 5.1 per cent. There is, thus, little doubt that Punjab’s environmental ecosystem is highly disturbed. And the ruling political class has to take the blame for that, as environment depends heavily on policy. The SAD-BJP government, despite taking certain initiatives, failed to tackle certain larger issues related to pollution. EFFLUENT EFFECT Pollution generated by industries remained a major issue throughout the government’s tenure. Even as rivers received heavy dose of effluents, affecting vast areas downstream, the only sewage treatment plant (STP) set up in the entire Malwa region was in Ludhiana. Of the five big cities — Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Bathinda and Patiala — only the first two have partially working STPs. A rivulet carries the entire sewage of Amritsar city into Pakistan. The government failed to fulfil its manifesto promise of making all major rivers free of effluents by November 30, 2011. “It hurts me when I see toxic effluents flowing into the Kala Sanghian, Budha Nullah and other drains. Even the treatment plant set up at the Leather Complex in Jalandhar at a cost of Rs 19 crore is not functioning properly,” Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, a noted environmentalist, said. Of the 137 municipal towns and cities, there was a programme to install municipal-waste STPs in 50, at an estimated cost of Rs 2,300 crore, which was to be given by the Centre. The process has been set in motion, though much remains to be accomplished. Most of these towns are located close to the Sutlej or the Beas river, the polluted waters of which have remained a major environmental concern. Another Rs 3,000 crore is required to cover the remaining towns and cities. Earlier, towns had income from octroi, which was abolished years ago. Alternative funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission could not come as the SAD-BJP government did not impose water and sewer charges and property tax on certain sections of society, as required under the scheme. There is 4,200 tonne of solid waste generated in various towns and cities of the state. For its scientific handling, the government proposed to divide the state into eight clusters to gather, segregate, process and dispose of the waste. The process of acquiring land at eight places to set up dumping grounds was also completed. However, the scheme could not be implemented owing to lack of will on the part of the government, which failed to convince a section of sanitation employees that their jobs would not be threatened by the handing over of waste collection to contractors.
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The Green Revolution, with its concept of heavy use of fertilisers, pesticides, and other chemicals,
has caused a serious imbalance in the environment. To raise levels of production, farmers often indulge in injudicious use of such inputs, the use of which in the state is almost double the national average. The spray of pesticides on crops has hit hard the population of common birds and wild animals, such as peacock, sparrow and fox. Traces of pesticide are also found in humans, especially in southern Punjab, which is more affected by this menace. Food grains are also affected. Presence of uranium beyond the acceptable limit has been found in subsoil water. There is a strong suspicion that the presence of toxic substances in the subsoil water is responsible for the high incidence of cancer, especially in the Malwa belt. However, there has been no sustained effort on the part of the state government to educate farmers on judicious use of chemicals. Besides chemicals, burning of paddy stubble in the farms is another major source of air pollution. Every year, about 20 million tonne of paddy residue is left behind after the crop is harvested. Of this, only about 1 million tonne is used as fuel in “co-generation” plants to produce electricity. The remaining is set on fire by farmers during October-November, triggering breathing problems in a large section of the population. A few months back, the Punjab Pollution Control Board forwarded a draft for a Bill to ban the burning of paddy residue. However, there has been no response to it from the government, which fears a negative response from the farming community. Many experts say this fear is unfounded.
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SAD expels rebel Simarjit, his brother
councillors quit Three Akali councillors, Sunita Rani, Parminder Singh Soma and Swarandeep Singh Chahal, have resigned from the primary membership of the party. — Simarjit
Singh, expelled Akali Dal
leader
Ludhiana, December 29 Balwinder Singh, who was party candidate for the Ludhiana (South) constituency, will be replaced by another candidate, said SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema. Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura is the frontrunner for the party ticket from this constituency. The Bains brothers were expelled after Simarjit Singh announced that he would contest as an Independent against Cabinet Minister Hira Singh Gabria from the Atam Nagar constituency “at any cost”. Simarjit Singh met Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal at Jalalabad this afternoon, making it clear that he would contest against Gabria. A couple of hours later, Simarjit Singh and his brother were expelled from the party. Simarjit Singh said: “I told Sukhbir that the residents of the Atam Nagar constituency are fed up with the corruption that Gabria unleashed during the past five years. I also told the Deputy CM that my fight was not against the party, but Gabria.” Simarjit Singh had announced on December 25 that he would contest as an Independent against Gabria. Efforts to convince him otherwise proved futile. Simarjit said he was a relieved man. “Along with my brother, I will continue to work for the betterment of the people. Earlier, we were focussing on Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South, now we will support ‘good’ candidates in Ludhiana East, Ludhiana West and Gill constituencies,” he said. Simarjit Singh is one of those accused of assaulting tehsildar Gurjinder Singh
Benipal.
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Zero tolerance to dissidence: Cheema
Chandigarh, December 29 The SAD president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, today expelled both Balwinder Singh Bains, party candidate from Ludhiana (South), and his brother Simarjit Singh Bains from the party- a clear signal to the dissidents. The SAD has already released its first list of candidates and is,thus, grappling with dissidence.The BJP and the Congress are yet to release their lists of candidates. Leaders of both these parties are camping in Delhi to prevail upon the central leadership to allot ticket to their supporters. The SAD is facing dissidence in Mohali where youth leader Bubby Badal is threatening to contest as an Independent if the party does not reconsider its decision to field Balwant Singh Ramoowali from Mohali. In Dhuri the SAD has announced Gobind Singh Longowal as its candidate, but former parliamentary secretary Surinder Singh has been campaigning against the party decision. Surinder Singh accuses senior SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of helping Longowal to get the ticket. When Manpreet Badal broke away from SAD last year, Sant Ajit Singh followed suit only to be persuaded back into the SAD fold. He, too, has been denied the SAD ticket from Ropar.The SAD is contemplating strict action against him if he fails to mend his ways. In Fatehgarh Sahib, Didar Singh Bhatti, considered a close to the Badals, has announced that he will quit the party since he has been denied the party ticket. He has announced that he would contest as an Independent against the party’s official candidate.
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Lambi RO transferred
Chandigarh, December 29 Kandhola’s transfer apparently comes after a SAD delegation met Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi with a complaint that the official was related to an aide of PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh and demanded his transfer. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu confirmed Kandhola’s transfer. Besides, several other ROs were shifted on “personal” as well as “administrative” grounds. The fresh postings include: Amit Dhakha, ADC (Development), Amritsar; Ranbir, SDM, Ropar; Chander Gaind, ADC (General), Moga; Ritu Aggarwal, Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Amritsar; Kuldeep Singh, ADC (Development), Muktsar; Gurpreet Singh Khaira, SDM, Bagha Purana; Puneet Goyal, SDM, Gidderbaha; Gurpal Singh Chahal, SDM, Malout; Amandeep Kaur, ADC (General), Patiala; Sandeep Rishi, District Transport Officer, Muktsar; Hargunjeet Kaur, SDM, Anandpur Sahib; Rishi Pal Singh, District Transport Officer, Patiala and Daljeet Kaur, Joint Commissioner, Municpal Corporation, Ludhiana. Meanwhile, the EC has received 15 complaints against seven senior police officials, including Commissioner of Police (Ludhiana), Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ludhiana), Bathinda IG, SSPs of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Mohali and Bathinda and all SHOs and DSPs in Gurdaspur. “We are adopting a wait and watch policy for the time being. We will get the allegations checked and if there is some truth, action will be taken,” said Sidhu. Special Chief Electoral Officer Usha R Sharma said 129 complaints had been received till date, of which 21 had been resolved. Unaccounted money totalling Rs 47 lakh was seized today, taking the sum to Rs 5 crore so far.
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Gill’s roadshow jams traffic in Moga
Moga, November 29 The traffic police remained a mute spectator to the traffic chaos caused by the roadshow even as more than 20 cops were present on duty. Accompanied by local BJP leaders and a few councillors, the cop-turned-politician went shop to shop in the main bazaar requesting for their vote and support. A crowd of 100 people, including his security personnel, were with him. Anil Bansal, a local BJP leader and vice-president of the Moga Municipal Council, for the first time came out in support of Gill. He said the BJP was committed to supporting the SAD candidate as the party had a poll alliance with the Akali Dal. However, the local civic body president, Barjinder Singh Brar, a Shiromani Akali Dal leader popularly known as Makhan Brar, and his close associates did not accompany Gill during his campaign today. This has led to rumours that the local Shiromani Akali Dal leadership is divided over their support to Gill. Brar was among the frontrunners for the Shiromani Akali Dal ticket from here. Son of senior party leader Jathedar Tota Singh who is a member of the core committee of the ruling party, Makhan has been sulking for the party’s denial of ticket to him. The Tribune tried to contact Brar on his mobile phone several times for comment but he did not respond.
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Jalalabad MC former chief in SAD fold
Fazilka, December 29 On his maiden visit to the constituency after the announcement of his candidature, Badal conducted a whirlwind tour of about a dozen villages and visited the residence of Aneja to induct him into the party fold. He also presented a ‘siropa’ to Aneja. Sukhbir said when he was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister for the first time, he was initially reluctant to contest poll from Jalalabad. He said he had almost made up his mind to seek by-election from Majitha, the home turf of his brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia. But Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya and BJP stalwart and Jalalabad former Municipal Council president Prem Valecha persuaded him to contest from the constituency. He said he won by a record margin of over 80,000 votes. The Deputy Chief Minister also promised to set up a large industrial unit in the border belts of Jalalabad and Fazilka by offering special concessions to industries. Regarding revolt by a few party workers, Badal said there were some initially, which would be resolved. Sukhbir, meanwhile, took a U-turn on his party’s “earlier stand to oppose some hard decisions of the Election Commission”.
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Hectic lobbying for Patiala Rural
Patiala, December 29 After the delimitation exercise, a new constituency Patiala Rural - was carved out. This constituency comprises major chunk of villages from Nabha and Samana besides residential areas of Patiala city, including the densely populated Tripuri belt. According to senior Congress leaders, Patiala Rural is one of the most safe as well as high-profile constituency. Though none of the ticket aspirants is ready to discuss the issue, fearing disciplinary action, but preferring anonymity, some senior party leaders have confirmed that the ticket aspirants have initiated the exercise to impress upon the central party leadership for securing the ticket. Insiders in the Congress have said that Nabha MLA Randeep Singh has staked his claim from Patiala Rural on the grounds that Nabha has become reserved and maximum number of the villages in Patiala Rural have come from Nabha. Being a two-time MLA from Nabha, Randeep is making efforts to get the ticket banking on his clean image, contribution towards the party and the fact that major chunk of the Nabha villages have come under Patiala Rural post delimitation. On the other hand, Samana MLA Brahm Mohindra has brought to the notice of the party leadership that large number of voters in the Patiala Rural are urban. "Before 2002, when Capt Amarinder contested from the Patiala City, it was Brahm who had won the Patiala seat during 1980, 1985 and 1992 assembly elections. Now, when Patiala Rural has been carved out comprising densely populated urban areas, Brahm is best suited to contest from the Congress", was what majority of Brahm supporters said. Another Congress heavyweight Malvinder Singh is also one of the front-runners for the ticket from Patiala Rural. Apart from him, former Patiala Mayor Vishnu Sharma is also trying his best to get the ticket. However, in the wake of fact that Vishnu is no more close to the Amarinder camp, his chances of getting the ticket are bleak. Another ticket aspirant, former Patiala Improvement Trust chairman KK Sharma enjoys a good rapport with senior Congress leaders but sources in the party have said that he too is unlikely to get the ticket.
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Cuts expose power corp’s hollow claims
Patiala, December 29 During the past one week, the PSPCL has imposed four to five-hour unscheduled power cuts in the domestic sector across the state. Apart from the domestic power consumers, the industrial units in the state are suffering on account of the three-day weekly off imposed on the arc/induction furnaces and two-day weekly off on other industries (category-II feeders). Data available with The Tribune reveals that at present the power demand in the state is about 900-925 lakh units (LUs) whereas only 860-885 LUs are available as of now. In order to bridge the gap of about 40 LUs, power cuts are being imposed in
the state. PSPCL sources said hour-long power cuts are being imposed in the state whereas power regulatory measures have been imposed on the industry. While interacting with TNS, people from various walks of life asserted that power demand in the winters was low as compared to the summer but still four-hour unscheduled cuts were being imposed. "Erratic power supply in the state has made it clear that claims of the PSPCL authorities of providing uninterrupted power has proved hollow", majority of the domestic consumers said. President of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association, Badish Jindal said the Power Corporation had miserably failed to meet the power requirement of the industry. "There has been complete lack of planning on the part of the PSPCL to ensure power to the industry",
he said. However, PSPCL Director Distribution Arun Verma said there had been a shortfall of power (40 LU) as the power demand of the agricultural pump sets had gone up. He further said unlike the past, there had been no rainfall in Punjab this year because of which the power demand from farm sector had gone up. "Further, during last year, the power purchased by the industrialists through open access was on an average 125 LU but this year it is varying from 70-75 LU. In order to bridge the gap between demand and supply, we have started purchasing power from the open market. Yesterday, 29 LU power was purchased, whereas today the figure stands at 40 LU", said Verma, adding that from today, the power scenario in the state had started improving.
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Slowdown keeping NRIs away from elections
Jalandhar, December 29 Though the Central government had accepted the NRIs’ demand of giving them voting rights, they have hardly displayed any interest to take part in the electoral process as only 165 NRIs have got themselves registered as voters in Punjab so far. Punjab elections have always remained a centre of attraction for politically aware and sensitive Punjabi NRIs who have been flocking to their home state in hordes in the past to vote and support their favourite candidates and parties. It is for the first time that NRIs have decided to stay away from the poll process, thanks to near-recession in the West, particularly in Canada, the US, the UK, euro zone countries, besides Australia and New Zealand. Just one delegation of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), led by its chairman Dalwinder Dhoot and president Satnam Chahal, has landed in Punjab so far. “Many NRIs have decided to contribute to political funds in the range of $2000 to $3000 by staying back in North America instead of spending double the amount on air-tickets for visiting the state along with their families,” said Dhoot and Chahal. Meanwhile, the annual NRI convention to be held in Jalandhar in January may be postponed due to elections. “We have written to the EC to seek permission to hold the convention on January 15. We are
awaiting for a reply,” said NRI Sabha director Khushi Ram.
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Promotion of four Punjab ADGPs may fall through
Chandigarh, December 29 A screening committee headed by state Chief Secretary SC Agrawal and members, including Principal Secretary (Home Affairs) DS Bains and Financial Commissioner (Revenue) AR Talwar, had cleared the promotion of four ADGPs, including Sanjiv Gupta (Railways), Suresh Arora (Intelligence), Rajinder Singh (Policy and Welfare) and Sumedh Singh Saini (Chief Director Vigilance Bureau) to the rank of DGP on December 23. However, before Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal could clear their file, the model code of conduct was enforced in the state on December 24. State Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Kaur Sidhu said today the Election Commission was yet to receive any communication from the government requesting approval of the promotions. Sources said the government was hesitant to approach the Election Commission on the issue as it had shown undue haste while going through the promotion process. They said even though the four ADGPs, all of the 1982 batch, would have been eligible for being considered for promotion only on January 1, 2012, the Home Department initiated the case even before this date. According to Union Home Ministry norms, an IPS officer must clear 30 years in service before being elevated to the post of DGP. All the four officers will complete 30 years in service only on January 1 next year.
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Police to downsize security of VIPs
Chandigarh, December 29 On the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, the pilot escort facility to over 250 VIPs was withdrawn.The High Court had then observed that certain persons were using security as a "status- enhancing tool". The fresh orders will now hit ministers, legislators, bureaucrats, police officers and SAD leaders. Several relatives and friends of the CM have also been given security personnel.
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Poll officials ‘manhandled’
Muktsar, December 29 The officials were reportedly held captive at the sarpanch’s house. However, one of the team members, Inderjeet Singh, managed to make a call to the Assistant Returning Officer, Lambi, who immediately informed the police and got them released. Parveen Kumar, Assistant Returning Officer, Lambi, said: “On getting a call from Inderjeet Singh, I immediately sent the police there and got them released.” He did not give any details, saying he had been transferred to Barnala with immediate effect. The police and the civil administration remained mum on the issue.
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Constituency
Watch
Khanna is one of the biggest towns in Ludhiana district. This constituency was reserved for a long time but post-delimitation, it has been placed in the general category. Candidates of the SAD and the Congress have been elected from here alternately. With the SAD announcing former SGPC president Jagdev Singh Talwandi’s son Ranjit Singh Talwandi as its candidate from Khanna, the voters are expecting a tough fight with the late Beant Singh’s son Tej Parkash Singh or his grandson Gurkirat Singh Kotli likely to contest from here. Former PCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo is also eying this constituency. The People’s Party of Punjab is likely to field Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, another heavyweight. This primarily urban constituency has around 85,000 votes in Khanna town. promises: When Bikramjit Singh Khalsa contested from here, he had announced at an election rally in the presence of Parkash Singh Badal that he would work towards getting district status for Khanna. But the promise has not been kept. A senior secondary school for boys has been another major demand of the area, which remains unfulfilled till date. There is no government college in the town, despite the fact that Khanna is one of the prominent towns in Ludhiana district. VOX POPULI: Residents say no MLA has worked towards district status for Khanna even though most of the MLAs elected had been from the ruling party. “Still they did not manage to get anything concrete for the overall development of this constituency,” say residents. LOOKING BACK: During the 2007 assembly elections, Bikramjit Singh Khalsa of the SAD defeated Congress heavyweight Shamsher Singh Dullo. In 2002, Dullo’s wife Harbans Kaur won the seat for the Congress while Bachan Singh of the SAD was victorious in 1997. Shamsher Singh Dullo won the seat in 1992 as well as in 1980. Sukhdev Singh Libra, who at that time was with the SAD, represented the constituency in 1985. Sad’s Bachan Singh won from here in 1977. — TNS
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Constituency
Watch Constituency
Watch
For the last four assembly elections since 1992, the Congress and the SAD have been winning from the erstwhile Valtoha assembly seat alternately. Though post-delimitation the name of the constituency has been changed to Khem Karan, the overall constituency profile remains the same. After delimitation, a few villages in the erstwhile Patti constituency have been included in the Khem Karan constituency and some shifted to the nearby Tarn Taran constituency.
The constituency is represented by SAD’s Virsa Singh Valtoha. The Congress is likely to field Gurchet Singh Bhullar, who has been a minister twice. With Sarwan Singh Dhun, a former aide of Youth Akali Dal president Bikramjit Singh Majithia, shifting allegiance to Manpreet Singh Badal’s PPP, the battle has become tougher for the SAD. A hotbed of militancy once, Valtoha has been a SAD stronghold. If there is one thing the residents of the constituency are indebted to the ruling MLA, it is the ease with which they managed to get licences for arms. “This is a constituency where if you ask 10 persons on the street if they have a pen, the probable answer will be ‘no’. But ask them about a pistol or a gun, at least seven will show it to you,” says a local resident. The backwardness of this border constituency can be assessed from the fact that Bhikhiwind, the biggest township in the constituency, does not have a single dhaba or eatery. However, residents complain that drugs are readily available in the constituency. promises: For development, the local SAD MLA has two new colleges to his credit, besides water purifying RO systems in 16 villages. The MLA can also take the credit for a new sub-tehsil office at Bhikhiwind. Also, several roads have been made pucca with bricks. “A large chunk of the population in this constituency lives in farmhouses. Till date, we have provided pucca roads to 60 per cent of the residents,” says the MLA, adding that he has been motivating youngsters to stay away from drugs. VOX POPULI: Most residents feel the government has failed to check the rampant sale of drugs. They say the schools are in a pathetic state. The MLA says: “A special border area cadre of teachers and doctors is the need of the hour. Not many people are ready to work in these areas and, hence, there is a staff crunch.” The Opposition, on the other hand, claims that whatever little that has been done in the area has been through Central funds. LOOKING BACK: The SAD and the Congress have been the main contenders in this constituency. The CPI also has a committed support base here. In the 2007 elections, the CPI candidate secured 3,088 votes. This time, the CPI has announced support for the PPP. Sitting MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha was elected from here in 2007 after SAD’s Gurdial Singh, who had lost to Bhullar in 2002, died shortly after the elections. In 2002 Bhullar had defeated Gurdial Singh with a margin of 4,945 votes. In 2007 Valtoha emerged victorious with a margin of 11,350 votes.
— TNS
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Jobless linemen to gherao SAD-BJP candidates
Bathinda, December 29 Talking to TNS here today, acting state president of the union, Rajinder Singh Gurdaspur said though the PSPCL had issued an advertisement in the mid-January this year to recruit 5,000 linemen on contract basis, the power corporation “intentionally” delayed the recruitment process for several months on one ground or the other, due to which the entire recruitment process could not be completed in time. So, all 5,000 unemployed linemen could not get jobs and only 1,000 had got jobs till now, he added. He said now the government was saying as the High Court had granted a stay on the recruitment of the remaining 4,000 linemen, it could not recruit them. He said the government had assured them that it would file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court to get the stay vacated. He said the SLP had been filed, but with some “defects”, which showed the intention and sincerity of the government towards their demand. Rajinder Singh further said they along with their families would expose the SAD-BJP government in the Assembly constituencies for its “anti-people” policies. Meanwhile, the dharna and hunger strike by the members of the union outside the mini secretariat here today entered the 25th day.
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Industry threatens to boycott poll
Chandigarh, December 29 "We may think of boycotting the assembly elections if the EC does not rollback the directive on cash seizures," Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal secretary Mohinder Aggarwal said. "We have written to the EC in this regard," he added. The confiscation of "unaccounted" cash by surveillance teams to curb "money power" in the elections has evoked a sharp reaction from trade and industry. State Static Surveillance teams have seized over Rs 5 crore from various places across the state so far. Aggarwal said Ludhiana’s hosiery sector which got orders from buyers across the country had been adversely affected because of the directive.
— PTI
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4,500 police personnel promoted, 5,000 recruited
With so much achieved in one year, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds Home portfolio, took credit for turning around the morale of the force as well as making it leaner and better. However, the SAD-BJP government also took the rap for politicising the police force and allowing it to be run on the dictates of its legislators and leaders who were appointed as ‘illaqa incharges’ or constituency managers after failing to win the last assembly election. These politicians changed the SHOs and even senior officers at their whim and fancy resulting in increased corruption and dissatisfaction among the public. The year also saw the then DGP PS Gill simultaneously working on improving the police force as well as his chances of winning the Moga seat, which he nurtured like a politician while in police uniform. Many of the initiatives on the law and order front revolved on improving the chances of the SAD-BJP government in the forthcoming elections. The government also wooed the police personnel. There is a feeling in Akali circles that the police by its actions can help a particular party in the elections. The force, sources claim, can stop distribution of money and liquor of one party and turn a blind eye to the other. Of the measures taken by the force this year, around 4,500 personnel were promoted removing stagnation at all levels. Around 5,000 personnel were recruited, including intelligence personnel and women, to man the new Sanjh Kendras started by the police. The Sanjh Kendras are set to improve the police functioning by allowing community participation. Police stations were also modernised and police officers at the thana and subdivison levels were provided new vehicles. The concept of e-beats and e-investigations has also been initiated. The crime branch headquartered at Chandigarh has also been given its own special police station at Mohali. Crime figures have also gone down substantially this year with the State recording a reduction in the number of murder, dacoity, kidnapping and robbery cases even as opium seizures have increased. Compared to last year figures, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in dacoity cases and a 25 per cent reduction in kidnapping and abduction cases. Instances of robbery have decreased by 18 per cent. There has been a 22 per cent increase in the recovery of opium and 295 per cent increase in case of
charas.
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Poll Snippets
Chandigarh: On a complaint by Congress leaders from Malerkotla, SDM Sonali Giri, who had been eulogising Anna, has been chided by Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu. “I called her up and advised her to refrain from the same. She is a young officer and has a long career ahead,” said Sidhu. “It is strange that such a complaint has been made against me. There is no group in Malerkotla that supports Anna. So, how can I support him,” she said. Malerkotla is Sonali’s second posting. Earlier she was SDM, Dhuri. She was transferred a month ago. — Kanchan Vasdev Website bloomer
Muktsar: Is it Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) or Babar? This query comes to mind when one opens the homepage of website www.sukhbirbadal.com. The website, giving details about Sukhbir’s political career, states: “Sukhbir was first elected as working president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Babar) in 2007 and then
re-selected as president in January 2008.” The obvious error provokes a chuckle.
— Archit Watts
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Chandigarh, December 29
n
The PPCB has been unable to rein in the dyeing industry, which continues to release effluents into rivulets. The government has offered these units 32 acres in Ludhiana to set up a treatment plant, but they have failed to pool the funds required.
Industry is the first to be blamed for pollution. However, in Punjab, which has only a modest industrial base, a major part of the total pollution comes from agriculture.
Leaders from our group will be contesting as Independents from the Ludhiana East, Ludhiana West and Gill constituencies. I am contesting from Atam Nagar and my brother Balwinder Singh from Ludhiana South
