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Cabinet approves new housing policy
Kalkat panel wants big role for pvt sector in agriculture
Central Government has given free hand to sugar lobby: CM
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Fund delay clogs operation clean up
Property tax lowered due to Cong campaign: Bajwa
2,806 panchayats yet to get promised grant, says Congress
Zirakpur
Drug Haul
In debt, Moga farmer ends life
‘Sadda Haq’ unit cries foul
Who cleared the film?
Buy notebooks from any shop: Education Dept to pupils
10 per cent quota for NRIs in industrial plots: Sukhbir
Rajindra Hospital docs perform rare surgery
Sangrur civic body to sell its land to meet expenses
PRTC to move HC against IOC
High Court chides NCB
Badshahpur
case
Man held with 41 gold biscuits at Amritsar airport
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Cabinet approves new housing policy
Chandigarh, April 5 An official spokesman said the policy would also focus on rationalising norms for housing projects and spell out procedure for the same. It would ensure uniform buildings rules, incentives for construction of affordable houses/ green buildings and the timeline for approval of projects. The policy emphasises on the need to evolve a mechanism by including "land pooling" and making landowners partners in development to avoid delays in land acquisition. In a significant decision, the decks have been cleared for the setting up of the Directorate of Maize Research in the state. The Cabinet approved the transfer of 100 hectares of land in Ladowal near Ludhiana to the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) free of cost. This will give a major thrust to the agriculture diversification programme. The endeavour will also help develop new hybrid and high-yielding varieties of maize. The Cabinet decided that vacant land of the Irrigation Department be transferred to the Housing and Urban Development Department for optimum utilisation. The revenue generated from it will be used for strengthening, revamping and creating infrastructure in the Irrigation Department. The Cabinet also approved amending the Punjab Superior Judicial Service Rules 2007, thereby changing the percentage of promotion to superior judicial services from 50 per cent to 65 per cent and out-of-turn promotion (based on exam) from 25 per cent to 10 per cent. To mop up additional revenue, the Cabinet gave approval to levying stamp duty at the rate of 2 per cent on the power of attorney given for sale/transfer of land to non-family transferees. Taking serious note of increasing litigation, the Cabinet decided to appoint senior law officers with the Principal Secretaries of nine major departments and four with the Director General of Police. In addition, 22 posts of District Attorney and Deputy District Attorney in the offices of Deputy Commissioners across the state have been created. The Cabinet okayed the action-taken report on the recommendations of the Fourth Punjab Finance Commission for panchayats and municipal councils from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016. It also approved amending Sections 18 (2) and 19 (ii) of the Punjab Infrastructure (Development and Regulation) Act 2002 to induct the Deputy Chief Minister as co-chairman of the Board of Punjab Infrastructure Development Board.
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Kalkat panel wants big role for pvt sector in agriculture
Chandigarh, April 5 The committee has recommended roping in the private sector to promote high-tech agriculture and forging industry-farmer linkages. It says the state must introduce contract farming and a supportive taxation regime for private investment. In view of the declining water table, the committee has recommended steps to ensure efficient use of sub-soil water and power. It has suggested metered power supply to the farm sector and a water regulatory authority to ensure the judicious use of water. The committee has said there should be a law to stop the burning of paddy straw to stop pollution. To tackle increasing rural indebtedness, it has suggested regularising the informal money-lending system. It has recommended reducing the area under paddy to 16 lakh hectares from the existing 28 lakh hectares and growing maize, cotton, sugarcane, soyabean, pulses and groundnut instead. The committee has suggested creating a support price fund of Rs 5,000 crore over a period of five years for those switching over to these crops. It says that to increase the demand for maize, its processing for ethanol should be encouraged. An ethanol production plant should be set up by Markfed or Punjab Agro Industries Corporation. The area under fruit and vegetables should be enhanced both for diversification and for improving the farmers’ income. Special efforts should be made to develop the kandi area into a horticulture belt. The committee has laid stress on integrated development of farm forestry and wood-based industry. The policy document has drawn the government's attention to the challenges ahead in the marketing of foodgrain with deficit states gradually becoming self-sufficient. The committee wants a big push be given to dairy farming, milk marketing and processing, fish farming, poultry, piggery and goat farming. It says the Agriculture Produce Market Committees Act should be amended to set up private markets and facilitate contract farming.
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Central Government has given free hand to sugar lobby: CM
Tohra (Patiala), April 5 On the Supreme Court rejecting the District Magistrate's report on the Tarn Taran incident, he said his government had done its best in the case by suspending erring policemen and registering a case against them. Badal defended the decision to ban ‘Sadda Haq’, saying this had been done to maintain communal harmony. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal asked party leaders to stay united for the coming panchayat poll and “give up groupism.” The Chief Minister said that by decontrolling the prices of sugar, the Congress-led government at the Centre had given a free hand to the sugar lobby. “The Congress is taking decisions that will create problems, both internal and external, for India”, he said. Sukhbir claimed that by 2014, the state would overcome the problem of power shortage and be in a position to sell power to other states and earn money. The revenue thus earned would help bring down the power rates in the state. The Chief Minister inaugurated a community centre constructed at a cost of Rs 45 lakh in memory of Bibi Joginder Kaur Tohra. Prominent among those present on the occasion were Speaker CS Atwal, minister SS Rakhra, MLA Justice (Retd) Nirmal Singh and former minister Harmail Singh
Tohra.
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Fund delay clogs operation clean up
Ludhiana, April 5 Out of the five “green bridges” to be constructed on the nullah, only one has been completed so far. If payment is not released soon, the project may hit a roadblock as it would become impossible to construct these bridges once the monsoon arrives, say officials. A total of five “green bridges” are to be constructed at a distance of 500 metres each on the nullah. Microbes will be released only once in these “V” shaped bridges. When water will pass through these bridges, the microbes will consume all pollutants present in the water. Enclosures have been prepared and the microbes will remain there for a long time. The contractor, Probir Singh, alleged that ever since work began on the project in December last, he had not been paid even a paisa whereas work worth Rs 2 crore had already been done. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials, who are monitoring the project, claimed that after clearance from their end, the bills were sent to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for release of payments (on January 17). They claimed the CPCB was responsible for the delay. Probir Singh stated that he would stop the work if the pending payments were not released within a week. “I cannot bear more expenses. It seems the CPCB is not serious about this project,” he rued. PPCB officials also claimed the initial bills raised by the contractor had some discrepancies, which led to the delay. Krunesh Garg, Senior Environmental Engineer, PPCB, said, “The CPCB is to make payments directly to the contractor. The PPCB chairman has even written a letter to the CPCB for early release of the funds.” After having stayed on papers for more than 20 months, the Rs 16-crore bio-remediation project to clean the Budha Nullah waters finally started when the first set of microbes were released into the drain near Jainpur village on December 4. A total of 70 tonnes of microbial culture were released into the nullah. Each tonne of microbes costs around Rs 3 lakh, which means microbes worth around Rs 2 crore were released into the nullah on December 4. Once completed, it is estimated that the pollution level in the nullah would come down by around 50-80 per cent.
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Property tax lowered due to Cong campaign: Bajwa
Chandigarh, April 5 Congratulating the Punjabis for the victory, Bajwa said instead of bringing the facts to the attention of the people, the government had tried to divert their attention by misquoting the factual position and the JNURM guidelines. He said it was actually under the garb of these guidelines that the SAD-BJP alliance was planning to impose heavy property tax to fill their empty
coffers. Bajwa said under the JNURM guidelines, the centre had directed that tax should be imposed on properties in the local bodies. He said house tax was already imposed on Punjab residents and the government just needed to rename house tax as property tax and rationalise it. The PCC president said his stand that the Centre had not set any quantum for levying property tax had been vindicated. He said rather than taxing the people, the government should first release the outstanding funds to the municipalities for the last six years. He said if the local bodies had got these funds, their financial health would have been substantially better and they would have been able to provide basic civic services.
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2,806 panchayats yet to get promised grant, says Congress
Chandigarh, April 5 In a statement here, senior Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had during his earlier regime (2007-12) promised grants worth Rs 3 lakh to each panchayat that was elected unanimously. The promise had not been honoured. Rana Gurjit said the SAD-BJP Government seemed to be in two minds over the best way for electiing sarpanches.In the 2008 panchayat poll, the system of electing the sarpanch directly was done away with and a new system introduced under which the panches elected their sarpanch. This system was introduced by the ruling alliance to ensure the election of its own men as sarpanches, Rana Gurjit alleged. The Congress leader said in the coming panchayat poll, the government had resorted to yet another tactic to give Akali workers unfair advantage. Village wards had been formed in such a manner so as to ensure the election of "chosen" workers. This had led to intense groupism. Rana Gurjit said the ruling alliance should opt for the earlie formula under which the Zila Parishad Chairperson was nominated Chairman of the district rural development agency to fast-track development.
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Fund-starved PPP to skip Baisakhi rally
Muktsar, April 5 “The party is short of funds. So, no political conference at Talwandi Sabo this year,” said Manpreet, who was here for a party meeting. The PPP chief, however, said not holding the conference did not mean that they did not enjoy public support. “We are getting huge support from the public and we will surely make our presence felt in the coming local body elections. A large number of Sanjha Morcha members will get elected panches and sarpanches.” Manpreet said the PPP’s statewide membership drive was already on and would conclude in mid-June. “But this time, we have increased the membership fee from Re 1 to Rs 100. This will not only ensure more funds, but genuine members too,” he said.
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Zirakpur Drug Haul
Chandigarh, April 5 Sources said the Director of the forensic science laboratory of the state police had recommended that this could be done either at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Hyderabad, or the CFSL at Kolkata or the CFSL (CBI) in Delhi. The state police had requested the Director to be more specific. The sources said that this had been done on the advice of the Fatehgarh Sahib district attorney who was expected to move an application in court, requesting that the boxers made themselves available for being tested by one of the three laboratories. Vijender had earlier refused to give any sample after his name appeared following the arrest of drug lord Anup Kahlon. Ram Singh, who is in police custody, has also refused to give his hair sample for testing. In a departure from its earlier strategy, the Punjab Police is banking more on nail tests of the boxers than the hair tests. Reliable sources said while heroin traces could remain in hair follicles till three months, these could be traced in nails even four to six months after consumption. Meanwhile, the interrogation of Ram Singh has revealed that the boxer’s brother-in-law Ravi Deol, from whose Sangrur house synthetic drugs were seized, had cordial ties with various singers and celebrities. Police sources said Deol, who is based in Mumbai, used to make videos of Punjabi artistes. The state police is now investigating this angle and may widen the scope of investigation.
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In debt, Moga farmer ends life
Moga, April 5 The deceased had reportedly taken multiple loans from the primary agricultural development bank, cooperative society and local money lenders, which he was unable to repay, said Balwant Singh Brahmke, BKU’s state unit general secretary. Brahmke said Angrej had availed the loans for purchasing agricultural equipments, seeds and fertilisers and for the studies of his children. The deceased is survived by his wife and two children. While his daughter in Class XII, his son is a Class VIII student. He owned 2.25 acres of land and was struggling to make both ends meet. It was learnt that bank officials and the local money lenders were pressurising him to repay the loan amount, due to which he slipped into depression. The local police was yet to investigate the matter.
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‘Sadda Haq’ unit cries foul
Chandigarh, April 5 Terming the ban “unfair”, film producer Dinesh Sood said a group of eminent personalities from various fields related to art and culture should have screened the movie prior to the imposition of the ban. “A battery of bureaucrats and police officers met and hastily called it curtains for the film in Punjab even before its release. If the decision is not reconsidered, we may have to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” he said. The production team, including director Mandeep Benipal and producers Kuljinder Singh Sidhu and Sood, were unanimous in their questioning of the ban. “The film is based on an event from the history and we have presented a detached view, which could have been debated. But, the ban is totally uncalled for. After all, we had a clearance from the Censor Board…. We feel gagged,” said Sidhu. Benipal said their movie was on the lines of ‘Maachis’, a film released in 1996. “But, ours was a different story and from a different angle. As several years have passed since militancy was weeded out of Punjab, there is nothing wrong in having a re-look at the dark era and re-evaluating it,” he said. Sidhu said the basis of the ban was a “similarity” of a few characters in the film with militants and certain police officers and bureaucrats of Punjab. “As the film characters have been shown belonging to a specific period, there is some possibility of an overlap. But, we have not targeted anybody in particular,” he said. Sadda Haq was earlier scheduled to be released in October last, but was delayed due to certain objections raised by the Censor Board. After amendments, the film was all set for release across the country today.
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Who cleared the film?
New Delhi, April 5 The film is based on the dark days of militancy in Punjab. The FCAT is headed by Lalit Bhasin, a senior advocate. Other members on the panel are Deepa Dixit, Tom Vadakkan, Gurjit Singh and Vipin Gogia. The producer held a special screening of the film for FCAT members on December 30 after which the film was cleared. At least one member on the panel is learnt to have raised objections with the FCAT on how the movie could be cleared without the movie having been watched by all five members. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) youth leader Damandeep Singh today criticised the Punjab Government for imposing a ban on the film, saying this had exposed the ‘double standards’ of the state government which claimed to be fighting for the rights of the Sikh community.
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Buy notebooks from any shop: Education Dept to pupils
Chandigarh, April 5 He said students at government schools affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board were free to make the purchase from anywhere. Kamal Kumar Garg, Director of the Education Department, said, “The confusion had arisen because of certain contradictory orders. We are not promoting any specific shopkeepers. “We had only suggested the names of specific shops in order to provide notebooks of good quality at affordable prices.” The controversy has arisen following a recent order from the head office of the District Education Officers (Senior Secondary) which ‘reiterated’ that the students from Classes VI to XII should purchase their notebooks from specified shops only. The head office was informed that only 8,000 copies were purchased from specified shopkeepers in Patiala; 5,000 in Mohali; 8,000 in Jalandhar; 2,000 in Muktsar; 1,500 in Faridkot; 1,000 in Fatehgarh Sahib; and 1,500 in Bathinda. No sale has been reported from any other district. The office had justified its orders asking schools to ensure that students purchased from specific shops, saying these were better in quality and cheaper. However, following complaints that the notebooks were poor in quality, a writ petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The office of the Director Education had sent a reply to Advocate HC Arora that said, “Taking notice of the facts in the legal notice that the notebooks were of bad quality, a committee had been constituted to look into the matter. “Preliminary inquiry has found faults with the products and the firms have been issued show-cause notices.” Garg said, “Strict action will be taken against the defaulter publishers. The policy decision to give names of specific shopkeepers was only to offer students notebooks of a good quality at low prices. This does not mean we were promoting any cheap publishers. The matter will be decided shortly.”
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10 per cent quota for NRIs in industrial plots: Sukhbir
Chandigarh, April 5 Similarly, all new colonies of PUDA, GMADA and other Urban Development agencies would also have 10 per cent quota in residential plots for NRIs. Expressing concern over fraudulent marriages by NRIs, Badal said Punjab was the first state in the country that had made registration of marriages by NRIs mandatory. He said the Punjab Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act-2012 had been notified and the district authorities had been instructed to ensure its total compliance.—TNS
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Rajindra Hospital docs perform rare surgery
Patiala, April 5 Led by Dr SK Bhatia, the team performed the surgery in around two hours. —TNS
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Sangrur civic body to sell its land to meet expenses
Sangrur, April 5 Meanwhile, the council today also passed its budget of Rs 25.34 crore for the financial year 2013-14. Of this, Rs 10.97 crore will be spent on paying salaries and retirement benefits of employees. — TNS
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PRTC to move HC against IOC
Patiala, April 5 PRTC took this decision following the Madras High Court’s interim order wherein it had asked the IOC not to charge more from the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation for the bulk supply of diesel. The price of diesel per litre in bulk is Rs 11 more expensive than the diesel available in the market. This has increased the expenditure of PRTC by Rs 10 lakh per day. Perturbed over this, the Punjab Government directed the PRTC to purchase diesel from private oil pumps situated close to their depots. Thereafter, PRTC had been purchasing from pumps offering the biggest discount. This increase in price of diesel available in bulk has added to the PRTC’s woes. It has liabilities of more than Rs 50 crore with payments against the GP Fund, Motor Vehicle Tax, revised pay scale, Km-Scheme buses, revised gratuity and revised pension. The PRTC is yet to receive Rs 25 crore. The Punjab Government has agreed to pay the corporation annually. The payment is meant to help PRTC pay pensions to its employees. DPS Kharbanda, Managing Director of PRTC, said the administration had already completed the paper work and would file the petition next week. “We don’t have any other option but to move court against IOC as my request to the chief divisional manager of IOC at Chandigarh to comply with the Madras High Court’s order was turned down,” he added.
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High Court chides NCB
Chandigarh, April 5 The NCB claimed that it reached the premises and property in possession of one Rajinder Singh and Wasawa Singh as a follow-up action of the Bombay zonal unit. At the time of the search, the premises were found locked. Though nothing incriminating was found, the factory was sealed and the keys were handed over to Rajinder Singh and Wasawa Singh. The NCB claimed the two were required for investigation. Meanwhile, factory owner Gurmeet Singh filed an application for “release of property” in the Industrial Area, Patiala. The Judge ordered that the property be handed over to the owner. The NCB then claimed its representative’s intention was to make a statement to hand over the property to the occupants/tenants. But the Judge directed that it be handed over to the owner. The High Court questioned: “How could the premises be searched and even if searched, how could it be sealed if nothing incriminating was found?”
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Badshahpur
case
Patiala, April 5 There are two FIRs registered in this case. The one filed in Ghagga pertains to rape and the other to suicide committed by the victim in Samana. The court framed charges under Section 217 (public servant disobeying direction of law), 218 (framing incorrect record) and 201 against Nasib Singh while discharging him under Sections 376 (for rape) and 120-B (conspiracy). The court framed charges against the other accused named in the rape case, including Balwinder Singh, Sandeep Singh, Shinder Kaur and Gurpreet Singh under Sections 376, 363, 366-A, 328, 120 B and 34 of the IPC. The next date of hearing has been fixed for April 15. On November 13, 2012 Daljit Kaur (name changed) was kidnapped by two youths around 7 pm in a Swift car and allegedly raped many times. From November 14 to November 27 the victim tried her best to get a case registered but the local police allegedly did not pay any heed to her complaint. An FIR was ultimately registered on November 27. After the FIR was registered, the police did not arrest the accused and instead summoned the victim and her relatives to the police station and misbehaved with them. On December 26, the victim consumed poison due to continuous harassment by the accused and left a suicide note blaming the accused for her extreme step. The police later registered a case against the accused named in the FIR and further against Nasib Singh.
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Man held with 41 gold biscuits at Amritsar airport
Amritsar, April 5 Sources said each biscuit weighed 116 grams. The market value of these biscuits, weighing 4.756 kg in all, comes out to be around Rs 1.4 crore. Though the authorities were tightlipped about the person’s identity, sources revealed he had been identified as Raja Kumar, a native of Amritsar who was currently residing in New Delhi. They said he had concealed these gold biscuits in cavities inside his waist belt and also under his feet. Sources said the man during interrogation revealed that he was merely working as a courier and the consignment wasn’t meant for him. — TNS
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To mitigate the hardships being faced by developers and clients regarding allotment of plots and approval of projects, the govt has decided to set up a regulatory authority which will settle disputes between plot holders and developers. The government will also set up an appellate tribunal
