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Sukhbir accepts Hooda’s offer of talks on water disputes
water woes |
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Bid by SAD chief to quell ‘rebellion’
Five youths rape woman in Ajnala
No payment for unapproved foreign trips, officers told
Suspended Sikh varsity VC submits resignation
Fazilka jail official suspended
SGPC to make plan to maintain historical Sikh shrines in Pak
Punjabi folk contest in Delhi a crowd puller
Farm suicides: Ex gratia payment to families soon
PAU releases two new basmati varieties
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Sukhbir accepts Hooda’s offer of talks on water disputes
Moga, February 9 Sukhbir said, "I welcome the initiative of the Haryana Government. We are ready to sit together and solve the issues pertaining to water disputes. However, he did not divulge any details." Hooda had expressed his desire to solve the water issues with Punjab at a function held in Gurgaon yesterday. Disputes relating to the Hansi-Butana canal, Dashmesh canal, Sutlej-Yamuna link canal and channelisation of the Ghaggar have been pending between the two states for the past several decades. The Congress government in Punjab headed by the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had, in 2004, annulled all water agreements between the two states by bringing in the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act 2004. It also resulted in termination of agreements related to the Ravi-Beas waters, which was signed by the chief ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in 1981. Haryana has long been maintaining that due to this, the state was not getting its share of 3.5 MAF of water due to non-completion of construction work on Sutlej-Yamuna link canal. There is another dispute between the two states on the construction of Hansi-Butana canal by the Haryana Government. The apex court has stayed the linking of this canal with the Bhakra Management Line (BML) on a case filed by the Punjab Government. Punjab went to the apex court because Haryana had gone to the Central Water Commission against the proposed Dashmesh canal, which was also to be linked with the BML and was meant to irrigate thousands of acres of land in Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala districts. Pending issues
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water woes
Chandigarh, February 9 A spokesperson for the Chief Minister’s office said Badal had informed Hooda in a letter that a recent survey of Ghaggar conducted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board revealed that from Nada Sahib Gurdwara in Panchkula district, the colour of water was found to be changing downstream because of sewage and industrial effluents from Panchkula, Mohali, Ambala, Shahbad Markanda and about 100 villages of Haryana. Even the Saraswati, which carries waste water from Pehowa town and Kaithal district, pollutes the Ghaggar near Rasauli village at Patran tehsil in Patiala district, he said. Badal stated that they had taken various measures to stop the discharge of industrial effluents into the Ghaggar and that presently, none of the industries of Punjab was discharging its waste into the river. However, the spokesman quoted Badal of having said, the waste from industries of Panchkula and Kaithal districts of Haryana was being discharged into the river through Singh Nallah, Saraswati drain and Saggarpara drain. He said in addition to this, waste water of Jakhal and Ratia towns of Haryana was also being discharged into the river. Seeking Hooda’s intervention to make the Ghaggar pollution-free, Badal stated that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board.
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Moga, February 9 His father, the late Sathi Roop Lal, spearheaded the socialist movement in Punjab. A mass leader, he represented the Moga constituency twice: in 1969 and 1977. He was also a member of the legislative council for one term. The Sathis have to their credit more than six decades in electoral politics. The locals still remember a number of stories about Roop Lal and his association with people. There is a popular saying in Moga: ‘Roop Lal tan cycle de dande te baike lokan de kam karvaon janda si’ (Roop Lal used to sit on the front rod of a cycle and go along with people to get their works done). Vijay Sathi studied in the local Arya School and after doing his graduation in arts, he obtained a degree in law from DAV College, Dehradun. He lives in a small house located in the New Town locality. He started his political career from the grassroots level. He was elected a municipal councillor in 1977 and contested the assembly election for the first time in 1992 from Baghapurana constituency on the Janta Dal ticket. He had defeated Gurcharan Singh Nihalsinghwala, a Congress heavyweight. Later, he was made president of the Janta Dal’s state unit. In 1997, he contested from Moga constituency as an Independent candidate and stood second. In 2002, he joined the Congress and fought the election from Moga, but was defeated by Akali stalwart Jathedar Tota Singh by a margin of just 305 votes. In the Congress, he has remained loyal to Congress Working Committee member Jagmeet Singh Brar who advocated the party ticket for him in the ensuing by-election by taking Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh into confidence. The religious combinations in a Hindu-dominated urban constituency also made him a strong contender for the ticket. But above all, his association with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is said to be the biggest factor that worked in his favour. During a recent visit of Rahul at Adampur, Sathi discussed with him the current political scenario and pressed upon him to take initiatives for cleansing the politics. Talking to The Tribune, Vijay Sathi said, “Rahul was so much impressed that he remembered me when I met him at the Congress conclave in Jaipur last month. I congratulated him for advocating reforms within the party and his elevation to the number two position in the party. Suddenly, he embraced me and asked me to go back home and begin the poll campaign.” He has always opposed corruption, dishonesty and double standards in public life. “My life is an open secret. My family has always been at the service of the people and due to this, people of my city give me respect,” he claims. The only weakness he has come across in his political career was his aloofness from the local people for the past 10 years after losing the 2002 elections. “Those who made money through unfair means stepped up on the ladder of politics and I, striving on pension, was left behind. But, I lived with a hope that the time will come when my values and principles will pay for me,” he said. The Punjab Youth Congress has deputed its leaders and workers, who had arrived here from all parts of the state, for the ensuing Moga assembly bypoll to garner support for Vijay Sathi, the party candidate. State unit president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary said they would not only monitor the booths but also reach out to the constituency people. — TNS
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Bid by SAD chief to quell ‘rebellion’
Moga, February 9 Seeking votes on the development card while addressing a gathering of commission agents at the new grain market here today, he said the SAD-BJP government had carried out massive development works. Sukhbir said the electorate of the area was educated and would vote for Joginder Pal Jain, who recently left the Congress and joined the ruling party. Lashing out state Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh, the latter had hardly visited Moga when he was the Chief Minister. Later, Sukhbir presided over a meeting of the former SAD and BJP councillors of the local municipal council and asked them to vote for the SAD candidate. Senior Akali leader Jathedar Tota Singh along with his son Barjinder Singh Brar were also present. However, former Director General of Police PS Gill, who joined politics after his retirement, was not present. Later, Sukhbir went to the DGP's house along with Jain and addressed a nukkar sabha apart from holding a meeting with him. A similar meeting was also held with Jathedar Tota Singh at his residence in the presence of Jain. It was learnt that Sukhbir had tried to solve the personal dispute of Jain with the two leaders. It may be mentioned that there were strong rumours going on in the local circles that both Gill and Tota Singh were annoyed with Jain's inclusion in the SAD and were not working wholeheartedly in his poll campaign. Sukhbir is learnt to have held these meetings in order to dispel such
rumours.
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3 surrender in gang rape case
Jalandhar, February 9 Butta Singh had alleged that his 14-year-old daughter was gang-raped by three youths of their locality on January 28. Balwinder Singh, who runs a computer centre at Lohian, surrendered before the police last evening while Sher Singh and his brother Charanjit Singh, who own a printing press, surrendered this afternoon. Sources said the victim's father had lodged the complaint only after the doctors attending to the ailing girl at the Lohian government hospital informed the police regarding the case. The girl was first referred to the Civil Hospital, Nakodar, and later to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar. She was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, after her condition worsened. While addressing media persons, Jalandhar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Yurinder Singh Hayer said preliminary investigations showed that the girl was reported unwell after medical practitioners Dr Bagicha Singh and Dr Bakshish Singh treated her from January 26 to January 31. No rape was reported till then. The sources said in her statement to local mediapersons, girl's mother had on Friday evening alleged the accused had been raping their daughter for the past over three months. The SSP, however, claimed that no such statement was given by the victim's mother to the special investigation team. On reports that the victim's condition deteriorated due to abortion by unskilled persons, the SSP said he could not comment till the victim's medical report was received. Faridkot: The Kotkapura police has registered a case against Angrej Singh of Kotkapura for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl. Amarjit Singh Kular, SHO, Sadar, said the victim, a Class X student, had been admitted to the Civil Tarn Taran: Vinod Kumar (27) has been arrested for allegedly rapingQ a 14-year-old Dalit girl of the same locality. The victim has been admitted to the local Civil Hospital for a medical examination.
Victim still critical
Amritsar: The condition of the 14-year-old gang-rape victim is stated to be stable, but still critical. Dr Tejbir Singh, Medical Superintendent, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, said the girl's condition was still serious. "Though she is stable, we cannot say that she is out of danger," he said. The girl has been under observation in the ICU for the past two days.
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Five youths rape woman in Ajnala
Amritsar, February 9 Though the incident took place on February 3, the family lodged a complaint yesterday evening after identifying the accused at their own level. The culprits have been identified as Harvinder Singh, his brother Davinder Singh and Jagtar Singh of Harad Kalan village, Jagtar Singh of Kohala village (Lopoke) and Sukhdev Singh of Moga. Jasdeep Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP), Amritsar rural police, said except Davinder Singh, all the accused had been arrested. Sources said the victim, a resident of Kotla Gujran village in Majitha, and a widow, had come to her parents' home in Chamiari village in Ajnala. She along with her brother-in-law Sahib Singh was going to Harad Kalan village when the motorcycle they were riding on developed a snag due to rain. While they were walking towards the village, five motorcycle-borne youths stopped them. The SP said according to the complaint, the accused first looted Rs 10,000 and a mobile phone from Sahib Singh and they later took them to a tubewell room located nearby and tied Sahib Singh. The accused then raped the woman, the SP added.
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Women protest rising crime
Faridkot, February 9 Gathered at a public park in Faridkot under the banner of the BKU
(Ekta-Ugrah) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, the protesting women blamed the nexus between criminals, politicians and police for the deteriorating law and order in the state. The speakers included Harinder Kaur Bind, Kuldeep Kaur
Kusha, Paramjit Kaur and Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan. A few days ago, the main culprit in the Faridkot abduction and rape case had made threatening calls to the girl’s family from prison, asking them not
to depose against him in court. “In this case, the police initially did not take action against the accused and tried to sully the girl’s image and even released her photographs to the media,” alleged Harinder
Kaur. Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan alleged: “The police sent the minor to Nari
Niketan, Jalandhar, in order to pressure her not to depose against the accused.” All this showed how justice was elusive for the common man. Criminals have no fear of the law which is why crimes against women were increasing in leaps and bounds, alleged Laxman Singh
Sewewala, general secretary, PKMU. Criminals connected with politicians were given a preferential treatment inside jails. The Faridkot case was one such example. The judiciary should dispose of cases faster, demanded Kuldeep
Kaur.
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No payment for unapproved foreign trips, officers told
Chandigarh, February 9 This means the expenditure on travel abroad, stay and daily expenses will not be compensated in case permission is not sought, which is a common practice. The state Department of Personnel has written to all its officers that bills for reimbursement of expenditure on foreign travel without permission would not be cleared. The officers were required to take permission for trips abroad at least 15 days before the commencement of the trip, the communication said. A senior government officer said several trips by officers and ministers were communicated just before the commencement of the travel. Since the matter involved financial implications, the department faced complications in clearing the bills, he said. The official said late approval was common in case of senior officers and politicians. The matter had been communicated to the authorities concerned several times earlier as well, he added. Meanwhile, questions are being raised whether a formal clearance has been sought by Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal and Chief Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu for attending a healthcare conference in London later this month. Both have separately claimed that they had been invited to the conference. A senior officer said: “Both Mittal and Navjot are claiming to have personal invites for the event. But they must seek a formal permission from the government”.
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Suspended Sikh varsity VC submits resignation
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 9 Ahluwalia’s decision came after SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar constituted a five-member sub-committee to decide the former’s fate. A meeting to discuss the issue was held at Kalgidhar Niwas in Chandigarh this afternoon. Makkar, who is also the chairman of the university’s managing trust, chaired the meeting. The sub-committee, comprising Punjabi University Vice Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh, RS Mann, Dr Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Prabhjit Singh Virk and Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, who are also members of the managing trust, would submit its report to Makkar. Makkar said the committee had been directed to submit its report within a week. He said the committee would also consider the resignation submitted by Ahluwalia soon after the dismissal of his petition by the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently. The SGPC chief had suspended Ahluwalia on July 31 last year on the charges of embezzlement of funds and mismanagement of the university affairs. Ahluwalia had challenged his suspension in the High Court, accusing Makkar of forcing him to justify 92 illegal appointments conducted in the university in 2011 when he (Ahluwalia) was on medical leave.
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Fazilka jail official suspended
Fazilka, February 9 The action followed the seizure of narcotics and other banned items from jail inmates during a scheduled checking on February 7. Sucha Singh, Deputy Superintendent, Patiala Central Jail, has been transferred to Fazilka. He assumed the charge today.
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SGPC to make plan to maintain historical Sikh shrines in Pak
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 9 SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said this after inaugurating the five-day ‘Inspire’ internship camp sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College here today. Makkar said the decision had been taken after the recent judgment of the Pakistan Supreme Court fixing responsibility of the government there for the maintenance of religious institutions of the minorities. He said they would present the draft proposal to the Pakistani authorities so that ‘kar sewa’ of Sikh shrines could be taken up as early as possible. He said the SGPC was also ready to provide funds for the repair of the shrines. Makkar said a five-member committee had been constituted by the SGPC for the purpose. The committee includes Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh and historian Dr JS Grewal. SGPC secretary Roop Singh is the co-coordinator of the panel. He said the elections to the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee would be held on February 25. Lashing out at the Sarna brothers for objecting to the Nanakshahi calendar, he said he hoped those objecting to the calendar would accept the ‘hukumnama’ issued by the Akal Takht. Earlier while addressing students, Makkar said science played an important role in each and every sphere of our lives and that it was a tool to decode beautiful principles put in place by nature.
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Punjabi folk contest in Delhi a crowd puller
New Delhi, February 9 They competed in various categories, including Punjabi folk singing, folk orchestra and folk dances. Students performed in front of a jam-packed audience. Members of the Folk Orchestra Group from Panjab University, Chandigarh, said: “It was a great experience. The audience was amazing.” The team came second after Punjabi University, Patiala. “Other dance forms such as Sammi and Jhoomar were also included in the event. The Punjabi culture is so much more vibrant than what is projected in the media. True Punjabiat is about being connecting to your roots,” said, Satish Kumar Verma, Director, Youth Welfare, Punjabi University, Patiala, which won most of the competitions today. The event was organised by the Punjabi Academy, Delhi, along with Mata Sundri College. Elaborating more on the event, Punjabi Academy Secretary Rawail Singh said: “The turnout and the participation in such events has increased tremendously over the last couple of years. Participating students are now more confident and the universities are much more supportive.”
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Farm suicides: Ex gratia payment to families soon
Sangrur, February 9 The state government had announced the compensation for the bereaved families when the late Capt Kanwaljit Singh was Finance Minister in the late 1990s. Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said the families of 1,664 farmers and agriculture workers, who had committed suicide in Sangrur and Barnala districts, would get the compensation soon. He said Rs 30 crore had been earmarked for this purpose in the state Budget for the current fiscal year. The funds had already been released to the authorities concerned for further disbursement to the families, he said. Dhindsa said the second installment would be released during the next financial year. Suicides by farmers were first reported in Sangrur district in the mid-1990s. However, the government did not admit the fact for long that farmers were committing suicide. Social activist Inderjeet Singh Jaijee had documented all such cases. Recently, Punjabi University, Patiala; Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar; and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; conducted a study in this regard.
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PAU releases two new basmati varieties
Chandigarh, February 9 The two varieties, Punjab Basmati 3, developed by a team of scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and PUSA Basmati 1509, developed by Indian Agriculture Research Institute, will not only help the farmers in getting disease-resistant crops, but also help in getting higher yield from their produce. Though the yield of the new varieties is expected to be a bit higher than the yield of the popular PUSA 1121, these varieties are expected to have a niche export market, which PUSA 1121 was not able to capture. This would mean that the farmers growing these varieties will get a much higher price for their produce. Since the yield would also be higher than the other basmati varieties, farmers will have higher gains by cultivating Punjab Basmati 3 and PUSA Basmati 1509. Though PIUSA 1121 is the most commonly cultivated variety in Punjab and Haryana now, and is largely exported to West Asian countries, the grains fall before time and it is also susceptible to diseases like Bakani. Punjab Basmati 3 was released earlier this month and is improvised version of traditional basmati variety (Basmati 386). As against the traditional basmati, which is susceptible to bacterial blight disease, this variety is dwarf and the first variety to be resistant to bacterial blight. Dr Kuldeep Singh, director, Biotechnoloy, PAU, who was part of the team that has developed Punjab Basmati 3, said they had used the DNA marker technology to develop those genes in this variety which would be resistant to the disease. “This variety also has an almost similar yield to the PUSA 1121 (14 quintals per acre as against 15 quintals per acre for PUSA 1121). The biggest advantage for this variety is that it will be able to capture the European market, which buys only traditional basmati varieties and not PUSA 1121. So, farmers adopting this variety will get much higher remuneration as the produce will be acceptable in the niche European market,” he said, adding that this is likely to be adopted in the traditional basmati growing areas of Jammu, Dehradun, and Sonepat-Rohtak belt. The other variety, PUSA Basmati 1509, is superior to PUSA 1121 as it matures 20 days earlier than PUSA 1121. Since this is non-shattering, non-lodging and superior grain and cooking quality, it will help farmers get better returns because of higher yield. Vijay Setia, a rice exporter from Haryana, said this was the first short-duration basmati variety. “Since it will mature faster, it will help in timely sowing of wheat and, therefore, help in higher wheat yield. It will also not have any lodging as proved in field trials and the yield is 5-7 tonnes per hectare (depending on whether fertilisers have been applied), as against 4.5 tonnes per hectare of PUSA 1121,” he said, adding that this will find a market in Europe, besides Middle East, as the European Union has agreed to export the newly developed basmati varieties. Punjab Basmati 3
PUSA Basmati 1509
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Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to take immediate steps to control the discharge of pollutants into the Ghaggar.
There is some good news for basmati growers in the region. Two new varieties --- an offshoot of the traditional basmati and another disease-resistant and high-yielding version --- have been released this month, which will change the dynamics of basmati cultivation, its milling, marketing and exports from the region.