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CAG shock to power corporation
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‘One-way’ Budget debate a dull affair
Govt readies to roll out red carpet for investors
Govt imposes cess on big investors
After contempt notice, CRPF provides security to assault victim
...but family has no space to accommodate 7 jawans
Hola Mohalla begins today, security beefed up
Cong to put up united face at Bajwa’s installation today
Martyr Sukhdev's nephew quits PPP to join SAD
7 students of Sikh varsity hurt in attack by outsiders
Violation of norms
Ex-MP meets PM over rail demands
PCMS doctors intensify agitation
Expert: TB is a leading cause of infertility in women
Eminent agriculture scientist to be honoured
Patiala Abduction Case
Violence at exam centre: 2 held, erring students to be expelled
20 kg sedative powder seized
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CAG shock to power corporation
Chandigarh, March 22 In its report released earlier this week, the CAG pointed out the PSPCL's failure in carrying out timely inspections during the installation of equipment, a process that could have avoided the losses. The CAG has also suggested that the corporation should streamline its inspection process and introduce suitable clauses in its contracts to protect its financial interests. The report says that the PSPCL had awarded a contract for design, erection, testing and commissioning of the 2x250 MW Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (stage-2, unit-III and IV) at Lehra Mohabbat near Bathinda on turn-key basis to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited ( BHEL). The unit-IV was commissioned on January 25, 2010, and it tripped with months on April 20 due to the bursting of a turbine pipe. Later, BHEL itself accepted that the damage could have been averted had it used alloy steel pipes in place of carbon steel pipes. The carbon pipes probably were not able to bear the pressure. But instead of initiating action against BHEL under the warranty clause, the PSPCL got the damaged pipes repaired at a cost of Rs 2.90 crore. The unit was resynchronised on June 9, 2010. The CAG observed that the PSPCL did not carry out proper inspections during the installation of the plant. Post-tripping, the unit remained shut for 50 days, resulting in a loss of Rs 64.92 crore on account of power generation. When pointed out by the CAG, the PSPCL paid Rs 2.90 crore (the repair cost) to BHEL in August 2011. But, it failed to take any action for the recovery of Rs 64.92 crore from the company. Also, the PSPCL failed to indict any of its officials for the faux pas. The CAG even reported the matter to the state government as well as the PSPCL, but it did not receive any response. The CAG has also questioned the awarding of consultancy work to certain firms without concrete planning by the PSPCL, which resulted in waste expenditure of Rs 6.27 crore and loss of power generation. The CAG has also highlighted avoidable damage to two power transformers, resulting in expenditure of Rs 2.87 crore; non-recovery of arrears of the cost of dry fly ash to the tune of Rs 10.61 crore from certain companies; excess payment of Rs 1.92 crore in purchase of metal meter boxes and failure regarding enforcing warranty clause in case of turbine spare runners, which were damaged within warranty period, thus resulting in a loss of Rs 6.50 crore (on account of cost of spare parts) apart from power generation losses worth Rs 25.09 crore. Lo(ss)g book
Top official quits
Jalandhar:
Director (Distribution) of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited
(PSPCL) Arun Verma has resigned from his post. Though in his
resignation Verma has cited personal reasons behind his move to quit
from the post, sources in the power corporation said he has resigned
under “political compulsions”. Despite repeated attempts, Verma
was not available for comment. Power Secretary Anirudh Tiwari said
Verma had put in his papers and his resignation was sent yesterday to
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who also holds the power
portfolio. "Following the acceptance of the resignation, Verma
has relinquished his charge today,” Tiwari said. — Umesh Dewan
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assembly in session
Chandigarh, March 22 Leading the attack against the SAD-BJP alliance, Jakhar said the state government had hoodwinked the people by fudging figures to show a reduction in the fiscal deficit. Instead of trying to reduce the burden of inflation on the common man, he government had played a cruel joke on the people by reducing VAT on brooms and clips. Jakhar said the problem of waterlogging was acute in his constituency, Abohar, and 80,000 acres of land under kinnow would be rendered useless if no steps were initiated to arrest the rising water table.
Sardulgarh MLA Ajit Inder Singh Mofar said it was shameful that Punjab had witnessed a growth rate of only 5.19 per cent in comparison to 7 per cent in Haryana, 6.24 in Himachal Pradesh and 7.1per cent in Jammu and Kashmir. "The governemt is fooling the people in the name of investment because without manpower particularly in the education and healthcare sectors, the entire exercise means nothing. Computers without teachers is meaningless," Jakhar said. He pointed out that the juice manufacturing units in Abohar and Hoshiarpur had closed down.
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‘One-way’ Budget debate a dull affair
Chandigarh, March 22 Bains, unlike other senior leaders who resorted to a lot of rhetoric while speaking on the Budget, stuck to speaking about his constituency and succeeded in putting across his views in a lucid and logical manner. The Ludhiana South legislator first spoke about the positives in the Budget. But urged that more be done in the context of his constituency. He said his constituency had a number of hosiery units. He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced that the government would open a treatment plant at its own cost. However, work on the same had not be started. With an attentive Chief minister noting down his demands, there was no stopping the legislator. He urged for shifting of the Ludhiana bus stand and spoke about the plight of the Ludhiana international airport which, he said, did not have cargo facilities so far. Bains claimed that students in his constituency were being made to eat cauliflower with gravy. He pleaded that various parent-teacher associations be allowed to recruit trained cooks or make vegetables for which the government could pitch with funds. The legislator had Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal on his feet. The minister said that what Bains had said about cancer victims being made to pay more for radio-therapy treatment in Ludhiana's private hospitals was correct and that the matter was being looked into and action would be taken accordingly. BJP MLA Dr Navjot Sidhu urged that fair price shops be opened at all district headquarters and that medicines could easily be sold at a 50 per cent discount at such shops. Dr Sidhu called for more drug inspectors and providing them vehicles to carry out their Others who participated in the debate were Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and former minister Manoranjan Kalia. The latter urged that a NIFT be started in Jalandhar. He also sought a flyover at Kapurthala Chowk.
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Govt readies to roll out red carpet for investors Chandigarh, March 22 The incentives will include relief in electricity duty, change in land-use charges and waiver in stamp duty. Making a departure from the past, wherein the government seemed primarily concerned about wooing only big investors and reserving all incentives for them, the new industrial policy will offer incentives to even micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which made an investment of around Rs 5-10 crore. While small investors will get 5 per cent relief in electricity duty, the medium-size investors (making Rs 10- 40 crore new investment) will get relief in electricity duty and a waiver in stamp duty. Those making an investment of over Rs 40 crore will get exemption in change in land-use charges, besides other above-mentioned incentives. The government will not offer any cash incentive or reduction in value added tax (VAT) rates. The government seems keen on ensuring that the investors do not simply avail themselves of various benefits, but also set up their projects in a time-bound manner. Industries Minister Anil Joshi said the Industries Department would continue to monitor the progress of each project and if the project failed to take off in a time-bound manner, the incentives would be withdrawn and the investor would be asked to pay all duties retrospectively. To ensure that the land allotted for industry was not used for real estate purposes, each unit would have to start commercial production within three year from the date of land allotment, or else, the land would be resumed. The land will be transferable in another person’s name only after the industrial unit has completed six years of production. Also on offer is a land-pooling scheme, aimed at social equity, where the landowners offering land to the industrial investors become equity partners in the project. This will allow potential investors in the state easy access to relatively cheap land, while at the same time offering landowners some stake in the industrial project coming up on their land. The land-pooling scheme will be helpful in setting up new industrial parks and focal points, especially in the industrially condensed areas of Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. For other districts, where the concentration of industry is less, the government is busy developing land banks. Village panchayats in all these districts have been told to identify vacant land (in dry and arid areas) that can be used for creating land bank for the industry. The industrial sites carved out of these land banks will be put on the website of the Industries Department. Investors can zero in on the location for their units. Once an investor has decided the location for his project, the Industries Department will expedite his proposals for investment through a single-window clearance, within 30 days. Yes Bank and Assocham, which have helped the state government in framing the industrial policy, also released their list of recommendations for the new policy.
ON OFFER
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Govt imposes cess on big investors Chandigarh, March 22 This money will be used for setting up a cancer treatment fund, promised by the stategovernment in the Budget for 2013-14. Each of the investors will be paying a minimum 0.25 per cent and a maximum 1 per cent of the project cost towards the corporate social responsibility cess under the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Act. The government hopes to collect Rs 300 crore per annum through this cess to fund cancer treatment and facilitate drug de-addiction. Other than the cess, the government is also looking at collecting Rs 80 crore through the VAT hike
on cigarettes. The state proposes to set up three cancer treatment facilities at Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot government medical colleges and at the Sangrur and Bathinda hospitals.These hospitals will have modern equipment and training facilities.
Payback time
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After contempt notice, CRPF provides security to assault victim
Chandigarh, March 22 Events began to unroll dramatically when advocate GS Sandhu appeared before Justice Ranjit Singh this morning with a plea that the previous orders for providing protection to the Tarn Taran victim and her family have not been complied with. In view of the urgency involved, Justice Ranjit Singh accepted the application in the court itself, with a direction to the Registry to complete the legal processes. As Justice Ranjit Singh took up the matter, standing counsel for the Union of India Onkar Singh Batalvi admitted that security had not been provided, despite the order dated March 19. He added the security could be given to the victim and her family from the “complete battalion” provided by the CRPF to the Punjab Government. Refusing to accept the suggestion, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted the same proposal was turned down on the previous date of hearing also, after counsel for the State of Punjab apprised the court that the battalion was detailed for VVIP duty. Attempts to withdraw a contingent would affect their security cover. “At that time, it was made clear to the counsel that the CRPF is required to comply with the orders and will fail at its own peril. The direction to provide the security to the CRPF was issued when the Assistant Solicitor-General raised no objection in this regard,” Justice Ranjit Singh asserted. Before parting with the order, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “Notice be issued to the IGP, CRPF, as to why proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act be not initiated against him for not complying with the order”. Soon after a copy of the order was handed over to Batalvi, arrangements to provide security to the family were made. The “section” of CRPF personnel, and the family, were called to Batalvi’s house in Sector 38-West at about 3.30 pm, from where they departed for Tarn Taran. The matter was initially placed before Justice Ranjit Singh after the victim, her father and other relatives moved the High Court. They were seeking necessary action against police “not only for blatant violation of their basic human rights” and outraging the victim’s modesty in full public view, “but also for threats being advanced to them for withdrawing the complaint”.
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...but family has no space to accommodate 7 jawans
Amritsar/Tarn Taran, March 22
Talking to The Tribune on the phone, Usma village sarpanch Sukhraj Singh, who accompanied the victim and her father to Chandigarh, confirmed that they had got eight CRPF jawans as part of their security cover. He said they were on their way back to the village. “We had started from Chandigarh in the morning without security, but were later called back, stating that the security to the family has been facilitated,” he said. However, back home in Usma village, the remaining family members of the victim are worried as to how they will accommodate eight security personnel in their two-room house. The family, having 11 members of its own, lives in a two-room house which also has a shed for livestock. The victim’s brother, Laadi, said though they are happy to have got the security, they are clueless about accommodating the CRPF jawans. He also admitted that they were constantly living under fear, which was taking a toll on their livelihood. He said he and his two brothers were not going for work ever since the incident took place on March 3. He revealed that he worked at a rice sheller while his younger brother was a member of a band party. The youngest one looks after the livestock. The assault victim, her father Kashmir Singh and her cousin Jagjeet Singh, who had shot the video footage of the incident, were in Chandigarh for the last over a week. The incident had led to a ruckus in the Punjab Assembly when the Congress MLAs tried to take the victim inside the Assembly to corner the SAD-BJP government over the law and order situation in the state on March 13. Since then, the family was apprehensive to return to the native village and had moved the HC seeking security for themselves.
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Hola Mohalla begins today, security beefed up
Ropar, March 22 While a close watch will be kept over the place from 14 towers in the area, 14 temporary dispensaries have been set up to provide first aid and emergency treatment to the needy. Over 20 ambulances will remain stationed at different spots. Even veterinary dispensary will also be available on the occasion, said Ropar Deputy Commissioner PK Aggarwal. For the convenience of devotees, 25 shuttle bus services are introduced in the area, he said. In order to avoid traffic congestion during the festival, trucks from Ropar heading towards Kiratpur Sahib and Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh will be diverted from Ghanauli to proceed towards Nalagarh and Swarghat before reaching the destination. Similarly, the trucks plying on the Ropar-Anandpur Sahib road will go through Nurpur Bedi via Agampur and Chandesar. The trucks plying between Anandpur Sahib and Nangal will also be diverted to other routes via Chandesar. These routes will also be followed by buses on March 27. The most hectic day of the festival will be March 27 when three political parties — Congress, SAD (B) and SAD (M) — will hold political conferences at Anandpur Sahib. Gearing up
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Cong to put up united face at Bajwa’s installation today
Chandigarh, March 22 Sources said a large number of legislators and senior leaders were likely to congregate at Capt Amarinder Singh's residence in Sector 10 and then proceed to the Congress Bhawan with him. A legislator said he had asked the former PCC president about tomorrow’s programme and had been told “we will go together”. Sources said this showed that Amarinder Singh was very much a leader in his own right and that a number of senior leaders still looked up to him. Though Amarinder Singh could not be contacted, his loyalists said senior leaders were merely showing solidarity with him and that nothing else should be read in the gesture. A Bajwa loyalist said that such gestures did not matter. Party spokesman Fatehjang Bajwa said the PCC president would visit Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr tomorrow to pay respects to martyr Bhagat Singh on his death anniversary. He would reach the Punjab Congress Bhawan here at noon for his installation. Prominent among those expected to attend the ceremony were Union Ministers from punjab Pawan Kumar Bansal, Preneet Kaur, Ashwani Kumar and Manish Tewari. Fatehjang said all party MPs from Punjab and senior leaders, including former PCC presidents Capt Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, would attend the ceremony and so would Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Supporters of the new PCC president are keen to make the ceremony a memorable affair. Duties have been assigned to senior leaders to ensure party workers arrive in Chandigarh in large numbers for the event. On the guest list...
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Martyr Sukhdev's nephew quits PPP to join SAD
Chandigarh, March 22 Apart from Thapar, PPP’s former spokesman Arunjot Singh Sodhi as well as general secretary Harjiwanpal Singh Gill joined the Akali Dal. Both Thapar and Arunjot were reportedly having a feud with Manpreet for the last few months. The meeting at Sukhbir Badal’s residence was organised at the instance of Charanjit Singh Brar, a former PPP leader who had joined the SAD in the run-up to the last assembly elections. An official statement said Bharat Bhushan had also put forward his demand for developing Shaheed Sukhdev’s house as a memorial. He said his family had never asked for any pension or any other benefit from the government and that their only demand was to establish a memorial for the late martyr. Sukhbir has assured action in the matter. SAD (Longowal) women wing president for Punjab and Chandigarh Gurdeep Kaur Brar also quit the party and joined the SAD.
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7 students of Sikh varsity hurt in attack by outsiders Fatehgarh Sahib, March 22 The incident occurred at 4.30 am inside the university complex when 32 MCA-II students, including girls, were boarding a bus to Amritsar for a tour. Three of the injured students and the security official were admitted to the Civil Hospital. The rest were discharged after first-aid. Sources said as the bus was about to leave, students wearing masks from a private engineering institute barged into the university campus and attacked Jasmeet Singh, tour coordinator. Terrified, students fled from the bus to save themselves. Security official Kirpal Singh rushed to the rescue of the students. He too was attacked by the intruders.The police was informed. It arrived on the scene within 15 minutes and took the injured to the Civil Hospital. Jasmeet Singh was hit on the head and elbow.
Kirpal Singh received bruises on the leg. Some girls received minor injuries. The sources said trouble began last evening when a group of university students attacked Maninder Partap Singh with sharp-edged weapons at a fast food shop. A student of MTech, Nano-Technology, he had objected to a student from Jammu and Kashmir being ragged. His friend Iqbal Singh, studying in a private engineering college, tried to intervene but was hit with iron rods. The two were admitted to a hospital. The students of the engineering institute, who learnt of the incident, decided to retaliate and attacked Jasmeet Singh. Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia said an inquiry committee headed by the Dean, Academic Affairs, had been set to probe the matter. He said action would be taken against the students found guilty. He said he would ask Senior Superintendent of Police Hardial Singh Mann to set up a police post outside the university. Earlier, the then VC, Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, was shot at and seriously injured near the university gate on August 1, 2011.
The Trigger
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Violation of norms
Jalandhar, March 22 The PPCB has started the process for registering cases against the proprietors of these defaulter health facilities (in case of private hospitals) under the Environment Protection Act 1986. Once that done, the Board is likely to issue closure orders. Among the violators are Civil Hospital, Phillaur; Civil Hospital, Nawanshahr; GB Hospital and Maternity Home, Phagwara; Pashricha Hospital and Maternity Home, Jalandhar; IVY Hospital, Nawanshahr and Gulab Devi Hospital, Jalandhar. Apart from this, the PPCB has seized bank guarantees worth lakhs of rupees of 12 other hospitals and nursing homes for not complying with the Act. Following surveys, the PPCB had, a few days ago, issued notices to 45 establishments for violating the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998. The penalty was ordered by Board chairman Ravinder Singh at a hearing with the representatives of these facilities in Patiala today. Senior Environmental Engineer, Jalandhar, SP Garg confirmed the development. The PPCB will also revisit the premises of the hospitals and nursing homes that had filed documents claiming that they were complying with the guidelines. Rules suggest that all hospitals must segregate bio-medical waste into different containers as per colour-coding prescribed under the Act.
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Ex-MP meets PM over rail demands
New Delhi: Former Punjab MP Virendra Kataria met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on unmet railway-related demands. A former state Congress chief, Kataria alleged that Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had ignored the demands of the Malwa region. In a meeting earlier this week, Kataria drew the Prime Minister's attention towards an unimplemented announcement in last year's Budget regarding increasing the frequency of the Nanded Sahib-Sriganganagar express from weekly to tri-weekly. He also demanded converting the tri-weekly Sarai Rohilla-Sriganganagar train to a daily. — TNS
Special trains on martyrdom day
Phagwara: The Railways will ply over 10 special trains between Ferozepur and Hussainiwala on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on March 23. The trains would facilitate convenient travel to people who want to pay tributes to the trio at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Hussainiwala, officials said. — TNS
Youth arrested for raping minor
Patiala: The police has arrested a 20-year-old youth, Sonu Kumar, for allegedly raping a 5-year-old daughter of a migrant labourer. The accused, also a migrant, was residing in the victim's neighbourhood in Nabha Gate area. On Thursday, he allegedly lured the minor to his house and committed the crime. A case has been registered at Kotwali police station. In another incident in Moga, 60-year-old Jagan Nath has been held for allegedly trying to rape a minor girl in Ajit Nagar area of the town. — TNS
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PCMS doctors intensify agitation
Ludhiana, March 22 Dr Hardeep Singh, state president of the association, said the protest week is the first phase of their agitation. He threatened to intensify agitation if the government failed to accept their demands. The association demanded pay parity with Central government doctors and roll back of the new eligibility policy for admission to the post graduate courses. He said the state health services are facing acute shortage of doctors as many posts are lying vacant due to the wrong policies of the government. Dr Nishan Singh, working president of the PCMS Association, demanded more manpower of doctors for the smooth functioning of health services, more posts of EMOs and specialists. The association is struggling for better management of health manpower in government-run health care delivery system for the poor. The government should provide justice to encourage more doctors for PCMS service, he said. Dr Gagandeep Shergill, state general secretary of association, demanded pay parity with Central government doctors, dynamic assured career progression (ACP) of 20 years, separate pay scales for the specialists with 2 and 6 years ACP, senior administrative grade for SMOs, higher administrative grade for Civil Surgeons and conveyance allowance for all PCMS doctors. Dr Sukhdeep Singh, state press secretary, demanded that instead of Deputy Commissioners, Civil Surgeons should head health programmes. The demands The PCMS association demands pay parity with Central government doctors and roll back of the new eligibility policy for admission to the post graduate courses.
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Expert: TB is a leading cause of infertility in women
Sangrur, March 22 Stating this at a TB awareness programme organised by the District TB Control Society at the district administrative complex here today, chest specialist-cum-district health officer Dr Surinder Singla said in the case of infertility due to TB, a woman could easily conceive after getting anti-TB drugs. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul, who was the chief guest, said over one lakh children, affected by TB directly or indirectly, left schools last year in the country. He also stressed upon regular treatment of the disease. District TB officer Dr Parveen Pal Jindal spoke about symptoms of the disease. He said cough or fever for more than two weeks, loss of appetite, loss of weight, blood in sputum etc were indications of the disease. He said in 2012, over 2,700 patients were put on TB treatment in the district. Civil Surgeon Dr HS Bali said, “In 2012, as many as 167 patients were tested for multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB in the district. Of them, 39 were suffering from MDR TB and were put on treatment.”
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Eminent agriculture scientist to be honoured
Chandigarh, March 22 Dr Prabhu has earned the honour for giving the farmers of the state the short-duration and water-saving ‘Pusa Punjab Basmati-1509’ rice variety. The variety takes 110 days to ripen and is planted towards July end when the monsoon begins. The widely grown Pusa Basmati-1121 variety matures in 140 days. Dr Prabhu is instrumental in breeding crop varieties with improved productivity and has been eager for strengthening the cultivation of high-value aromatic rice aimed at increasing farmers’ income.
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Patiala Abduction Case
Patiala, March 22 An FIR in the case was registered under Sections 365, 368, 343, 384 and 120-B of the IPC for abduction, extortion and conspiracy.Three others accused in the case, Ajaib Singh Kaleka (retd AIG), Inspector Hajura Singh and Sub-Inspector Sham Lal, were earlier acquitted by the CBI court while retired Superintendent of Police (SP) Madanjit and Inspector Gurnam Singh died during the course of the trial. Joginder Singh was held guilty under Sections 365, 368 and 342 of the IPC and awarded five year in jail. Counsel for the accused objected, arguing that the CBI court was not competent to award imprisonment above three years and the matter be referred to a competent court. The CBI court then referred the matter to the CJM's court. An FIR in the case was registered on the orders of the High Court in January 1998 in which Dharam Singh, a resident of Partap Nagar, alleged that his sons, Balwinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh, were abducted by a team of six police officers.
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Violence at exam centre: 2 held, erring students to be expelled Amritsar, March 22 Director General of School Education Kahan Singh Pannu said, “We have decided to expel the boy as well as his sister. Two of the culprits are reported to have been arrested. Also, extra staff has been deployed at the examination centre.” Pannu said the Education Minister had also directed the police to take strict action against the culprits. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Manmohan Singh said the main accused, Vikas, and his father Pran Nath have been arrested while 10 others booked in the case were yet to be identified.
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20 kg sedative powder seized
Fatehgarh Sahib, March 22 Fatehgarh Sahib police station SHO Devinder Attri said 10 kg sedative powder was seized from Chaheru village on the information provided by Kulwant. The police also seized 10 kg powder from the car of Harpreet. Attri said the raids were being conducted in various parts of the country to nab former DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola, besides Anuj and Gaurav, the two accused in the heroin case. Meanwhile, the former DSP of Uttar Pradesh, who was arrested from Meerut, has been remanded in judicial custody.
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The Punjab Congress continued with its attack on the SAD-BJP alliance in the parking lot of the House complex, demanding that a financial emergency be imposed in the state to save it from “utter financial ruin”.
Chandigarh, March 22
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has come down heavily on the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for its failure to adopt measures to avert losses worth several crores.
Jakhar said the Industry in the state was fleeing. Instead of remedial measures, the state had chosen to keep its eyes shut. Instead for looking for alternatives, it was openly promoting the liquor business as was evident from the astronomical collections through auction of liquor vends.
