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Villagers block rail track, road leading to Bathinda refinery
Subordinate courts to have more judges: Ashwani
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Muktsar pensioners not paid benefits for months
Wheat harvesting picks up as day temperature rises
BJP frowns on Sidhus’ outburst against party
Govt schools to witness hectic campus activity
Free power to farm sector to stay: CM
Commotion at CM’s function
It is up to the party to restore his honour
DSGMC wants SIT to probe Tytler case
Soon, Kisan Huts in each district
Denial of visa
Sangrur school staff detect rat droppings in mid-day meal
20 yrs on, govt directed to pay benefits to employee
Canteen food ‘kills’ Jalandhar factory worker
Rajindra Hospital to get own parking
Activist’s stories part of Punjabi course books
Radiotherapy unit to be set up in Sangrur
Moga DTO arrested in bribe case
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Villagers block rail track, road leading to Bathinda refinery
Kanakwal (Talwandi Sabo), April 11 "We want the government to relocate our villages," said a protester. Already, 25 families had migrated to Talwandi Sabo or Bathinda, deserting their ancestral homes, he claimed. The villagers, protesting against noise and air pollution caused by the refinery, decided to step up their agitation after three blasts inside the refinery in the past two months. One of the blasts shattered the windows of the village gurdwara. "Nearly 30 per cent Kanakwal residents (numbering 2,700) fled their homes, fearing a repeat of the Bhopal gas leak, after five gas tankers exploded a few weeks ago. Refinery officials warned the residents against lighting gas stoves, claiming the gas may have spread in the area," said Sukhdev Singh Chahal, general secretary of the state Youth Akali Dal. He said the residents had been forced to block the rail track and the road leading to the refinery. "We knocked at all doors. Although Bathinda Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal took the district administration and refinery officials to task for the pollution, yet no action was taken." Octogenarian Kattar Singh, who has participated in several kisan morchas, said the villagers feared for their life. A village youth, Lal Singh, agreed with him. Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav said he had has asked Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials to check the pollution level. Executive engineer Nazar Singh said a team led by Sub-Divisional Officer Ruhi Sidhu was collecting samples from the refinery as well as the village to ascertain if these were within permissible limits. He said action would be taken accordingly.
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Subordinate courts to have more judges: Ashwani
Gurdaspur, April 11 "This will help reduce pendency of cases from 3 crore to 1.5 crore in the next five years,” said the minister, who was here to attend a series of functions, including the one organised by the Gurdaspur District Bar Association. He said information communication and technology platforms were being established at High Courts across the country. This would enable the Chief Justice of every High Court to monitor the disposal of cases in subordinate courts. He said the state-of-the-art judicial complexes being constructed at Gurdaspur and Pathankot were almost ready and would be inaugurated soon. Maintaining that parliamentary elections would be held as scheduled in May next year, he said the Opposition, including the BJP, was just trying to deflect attention from vital issues facing the nation by "raising the bogey of early Lok Sabha poll." Admitting that there were differences on some issues within the UPA, he said: "All UPA constituents are working in unison and in the same direction." On comparisons being made between AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi, he said: "It is an intrinsically flawed comparison as Rahul Gandhi represents the secular forces while Modi belongs to forces that are communal”.
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Muktsar pensioners not paid benefits for months
Muktsar, April 11 The state government had decided to pay Rs 250 per month to every pensioner registered under various categories such as old age, widows etc. Sources said not a single penny had been disbursed among the beneficiaries since February 5, when they were paid for the months of November and December. The government has started the electronic benefit transfer
(EBT) system to check embezzlement but has failed to achieve the basic purpose of providing pension to benef-iciaries in time. An employee with the social security and welfare office claimed the situation was almost similar in other districts. Harpal Singh, District Social Security Officer,
Muktsar, Ferozepur and Fazilka, said: “The higher-ups are aware of the issue.The pension amount will be disbursed shortly.” Awaiting funds
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Wheat harvesting picks up as day temperature rises
He said about 5,000 tonnes of wheat had been procured by the agencies. "We expect that in the next few days, the daily arrival of wheat will cross 1 lakh tonne and it will touch a figure of 5-6 lakh tonnes by the third week of this month", said Johal. DS Grewal, Secretary, Food and Supplies, said about 2.75 lakh bales of gunny bags (each bale containing 500 bags) had arrived. It would be enough to stack about 70 lakh tonnes of wheat. Besides, one lakh bales of plastic bags were on way to Punjab in trucks from various manufacturing centres, he said. Earlier, owing to a shortage of gunny bags, the state government had placed an order to procure 4.48 lakh bales with an agency of the Central Government. However, because of non-availability of adequate stock of gunny bags, the state government also placed order for plastic bags. "Our officials are in touch with bag suppliers. They are also monitoring the movement of trucks on way to Punjab," said Grewal. "We are hopeful that if anything unusual such as strike by truckers happens, there would be no problem in the arrival of bags on time," he said. As the demand of gunny bags has gone up in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, it has caused a shortage in the market. Madhya Pradesh would be contributing about 130 lakh tonnes of wheat, almost equal to Punjab, to the central pool this year. Rajasthan is expected to contribute more than 20 lakh tonnes. Both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Governments give bonus on wheat to farmers from their own treasuries. Officers deputed for wheat procurement
The Punjab Government on Thursday deputed six IAS officers for the smooth procurement of wheat in the state. An official spokesman said as per the orders SR Ladhar had been allotted Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts; Ajit Singh Pannu would handle Patiala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana; Anurag Verma would look after Mohali, Rupnagar, SBS Nagar and Hoshiarpur; and Saravjit Singh had been allotted Bathinda, Mansa and Barnala disticts. A Venu Prasad had been allotted Moga, Faridkot, Kapurthala and Jalandhar; and Vikas Partap Singh had been allotted Ferozepur, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts. Taking stock About 5,000 tonnes of wheat has been procured by government agencies. The daily arrival is expected to touch 5-6 lakh tonnes by the third week of this month
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BJP frowns on Sidhus’ outburst against party
Officially party spokespersons dismiss as “non-issue” the open defiance by Sidhu’s wife. But in private senior leaders wonder the reason for Navjot Kaur’s public rendition, especially when “the BJP has done so much” for the cricketer-turned-politician and his wife. Speaking on behalf of her husband, who is seemingly upset over being neglected by party president Rajnath Singh in the organisational rejig, Dr Sidhu had yesterday expressed disillusionment with the political system in which her husband had been “sidelined” despite his hard work and clean image. The BJP leaders, however, wonder the reason behind this “disillusionment”, considering that Sidhu is the party MP and his wife not just the MLA but also Chief Parliamentary Secretary. “He seems more interested in cricket commentary and participating in programmes like Bigg Boss,” they maintain. Sources say his lack of interest in party affairs was also pointed out by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is becoming a force to reckon with in the BJP organisation. Perhaps, what also worked against Sidhu was his proximity to former BJP president Nitin Gadkari. During his tenure as secretary, his name was being floated for the post of general secretary. When Rajnath Singh finalised his team, he was removed from the post of secretary, a move attributed to Modi’s displeasure on account of his “lack of involvement” in party activities. Dismissing allegations that Sidhu was ignoring his constituency and political responsibilities for television shows, Dr Sidhu says her husband had been keeping himself busy in the television world because he felt “suffocated in the system for his honesty.”
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Govt schools to witness hectic campus activity
Chandigarh, April 11 The initiation of extra curricular activities in government schools has gained importance in the recent past. Though the neatly designed calendar has not been circulated to all the schools as yet, the information on changed work profile has travelled all over. A large number of schools have started working on activities to suit the events on the calendar. Surinder Kaur, officiating headmistress, Government High School, Sangrur district, said: "We have got information about the schedule from the head office. But we are yet to get the calendar officially". Amarjit Singh, general secretary, Punjab Gazetted School Services Association, said: "After initial resistance, a majority of the teachers have appreciated the new work schedule. Many have already commenced preliminary work on exercises relating to their subjects. The schools will hand out the entire work chart to its staff and students after a few days so that the entire exercise is streamlined throughout the session". Certain activities and occasions marked on the academic calendar include health, heritage, technology, earth, basic education, blood donation, AIDS, environment and sports, besides others. The calendar has also marked days related to lives of leading personalities, including Mahatma Gandhi, Dr BR Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh and Dhyan Chand. Social evils and career opportunities are certain topics expected to be taken up in the morning session. Other activities include debates, declamation contests, extempore speeches, quiz and other literary events. In a related activity, hundreds of schools, both primary and secondary, produced school magazines during the just concluded academic session. Meanwhile, the Education Department has appointed coordinators at the district and block levels. Each school will be liable to forward its records showing compliance with the academic calendar. Welcome move
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Free power to farm sector to stay: CM
Kauli (Patiala), April 11 He said 70 per cent of the farmers in the state were marginal and the government was committed to provide free power to them. Replying to a query whether the commercial and industrial consumers were being made to pay more due to free power to farmers and weaker sections of society, Badal said his government was sharing the burden to a large extent. "The BJP has been taken into confidence on the issue. Moreover, the 9 per cent increase in power tariff was less as compared to 12 per cent in Haryana," he said. Badal was here today to attend a function to mark the death anniversary of former Akali MLA Jasdev Singh Sandhu. He termed the Goa conclave of the SAD-BJP leaders as "fruitful as many important decisions pertaining to the upcoming parliamentary elections have been taken". It provided the leaders an opportunity to discuss government functioning and departmental hiccups, he added. The Chief Minister welcomed the decision of a Delhi Court to reopen the anti-Sikh riots case against senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. He said Sikhs still had hopes for justice. On the issue of sharing seats with their coalition partner BJP for the Lok Sabha elections, Badal said a formal discussion on the issue was yet to take place. Others present included Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, SAD leader Tejinder Singh Sandhu, Baba Lakha Singh (Nanaksar Kaleran) and chief of Sant Samaj Baba Harnam Singh. Roll back tariff hike: bajwa Moga: The state Congress has demanded an immediate roll back of power tariff hike, terming it a huge burden on domestic and industrial consumers. PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa said the state government should explain the rationale behind a sharp increase in power tariff. He said the move was bound to hit the industrial and domestic consumers. The Congress might consider the legal option to protect the consumers, he said, adding the party would launch a statewide agitation against the power tariff hike. — TNS
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Commotion at CM’s function
Bhagta (Bathinda), April 11 The official managed to meet the CM while he was boarding his SUV. He complained that an Akali activist was sheltering the “kidnappers” because of which the police had not taken any action even after nine months of the incident though he had filed an FIR with Bathinda’s Civil Lines police station. Badal ordered the Deputy Inspector-General and the Senior Superintendent of Police to take immediate action. Vinod Kumar alleged that his 16-year-old daughter was kidnapped while she was returning home from a tuition
centre.
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It is up to the party to restore his honour
Dr Sidhu, talking to The Tribune, said she used the social media to tell the people that Sidhu had not let them down and that he hadn’t run away from Amritsar. She said it was up to the party to “restore his honour,” clarifying that he did not intend joining any other party. Asked whether Sidhu would reconsider his decision to “stay away from politics” if approached by his party, she said it was all up to him. She maintained that Sidhu would not contest the 2014 parliamentary elections. Justifying his participation in the Bigg Boss, she said one needed money to contest elections. Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma denied that Sidhu had been sidelined or was being given a raw deal. He said Sidhu was always invited to party meetings but he was “too busy with his occupational engagements.” He declined further comment. Dr Sidhu alleged that almost all of her husband’s projects were scuttled by the Union or the state government. Among these were solid waste management project, green drive, heritage status and Amritsar airport. In the past nine years as Amritsar MP, Sidhu’s ties with various leaders have not been too good. For example, PSIEC Chairman Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina remained close to him till 2004, but the two fell apart later. A few years back, Sidhu had protested against Chhina’s appointment as Amritsar Improvement Trust Chairman and demanded his removal from the post, contending that he had not helped him in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. He had left Amritsar in a huff, saying he would return to the city only when Chhina was removed. The BJP had to finally give in to Sidhu’s demand. Sidhu is also not on good terms with Punjab Industries Minister Anil Joshi with whom he had a good understanding when Joshi first contested the assembly polls in 2007. Their ties turned sour after Sidhu lost from Joshi’s Amritsar North constituency by 5,000 votes in the last Lok Sabha elections. Also, Sidhu was reportedly not getting along well with Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia, who has emerged as a key Akali leader in the Majha area. They had engaged in a war of words during the local elections last year with Sidhu accusing the SAD of not following the “coalition dharma.”
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DSGMC wants SIT to probe Tytler case
New Delhi, April 11 The DSGMC president, Manjit Singh (GK), said that on the basis of the report of the SIT, constituted on the directions of the Supreme Court, a number of those accused in the Godhra riots had been punished. But 29 years after the anti-Sikh riots, not a single accused had been punished. Manjit Singh said he would meet Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and submit his demand. “The CBI filed its closure report in 2009, giving Tytler a clean chit. The then CBI Director was later appointed Nagaland Governor. This shows the government was favouring those accused in the case,” Manjit Singh alleged. Pointing out that Tytler and Sajjan Kumar had been given Z category security, he said the governnment should withdraw the same “as they are accused persons who do not deserve governmnent security.” On Tytler’s charge that advocate HS Phoolka had charged the DSGMC crores of rupees for fighting the case,Manjit Singh said that Phoolka had not charged a single rupee from the committee.
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Soon, Kisan Huts in each district
Muktsar, April 11 “After the success of four Kisan Huts in Patiala, Nabha, Ropar and Nurpur Bedi, we are in the process of establishing these in all other districts of the state. A detailed project report has been submitted to the departments concerned for approval,” said Mangal Singh Sandhu, Director, State Agriculture Department. He was here to attend a farmers’ training camp at the local grain market. Sandhu said: “Farmers are ready to opt for organic farming but the sale of organic products is a major hurdle. We have decided to open Kisan Huts in all districts. These will be run by a group of farmers.” Speaking further on organic farming, Sandhu said at least 10,000 farmers across the state had taken to it. “Though in the initial years organic farming is not profitable, in the long run it results in greater profit than conventional farming.” Several farming tools were displayed at the camp. The farmers were told about ways to save their crops from various diseases.
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Denial of visa
Amritsar, April 11 He said the High Commission's argument that the SGPC submitted the passports late was wrong as they had sent the passports to the department concerned in February. He said Sikh jathas were sent to Pakistan every year on Baisakhi, Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary, Guru Arjan Dev's martyrdom day and Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary, but other organisations were issued visas by the High Commission while ignoring the SGPC. — TNS
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Sangrur school staff detect rat droppings in mid-day meal
Sangrur, April 11 The meal is supplied to this school by an agency ‘Istri Shakti’ from nearby Badrukhan village. After the headmistress of the school complained about the matter to the authorities concerned, the Additional Deputy Commissioner asked the health authorities to take samples of the foodgrain from the store of the agency ‘Istri Shakti’. A team of officials from the health department, led by District Health Officer Dr Surinder Singla, visited the store at Badrukhan village yesterday and collected samples of rice, atta, refined oil and cooked food. The samples were collected under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Dr Singla said they had sent the samples for testing to the public analysts of Punjab and Chandigarh. Further proceeding would be initiated on the basis of the results of the samples, he said. Teja Singh, District Manager, Mid-day Meal, Sangrur, said they had taken serious note of the complaint as it was a matter related to the health of schoolchildren. Earlier, in the first week of January, Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul had checked the mid-day meal at Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Sangrur and had found the quality of cooked rice and the curry very poor. Later, a sample of turmeric powder taken by the health authorities from the store of mid-day meal supplier agency was found to be substandard.
"We have sent the samples for testing to the public analysts of Punjab and Chandigarh. We will proceed further on the basis of the results"
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20 yrs on, govt directed to pay benefits to employee
Chandigarh, April 11 “It is clear from the sequence of events that the petitioner has been condemned unheard and his period of suspension from April 16, 1992, to August 18, 1993, has been wrongly treated as leave of kind due,” Justice GS Sandhawalia asserted while taking up a petition filed by HK Sood against the State of Punjab Allowing the petition, Justice Sandhawalia asserted the Government had failed to pass a reasoned order. “In normal circumstances, the matter would have been remanded back for fresh consideration, but keeping in view the fact that the order is of the year 1994 and almost two decades have passed by, therefore, no useful purpose would be served by remanding the matter back,” Justice Sandhawalia said. Sood had earlier contended that his services as Assistant Controller (Finance & Accounts) were placed under suspension in April 1992 “on account of passing some bills”. He was chargesheeted on July 27 the same year, but was reinstated vide order dated August 18, 1993. Subsequently, impugned order dated May 2, 1994, was passed, wherein the period of suspension was treated as leave of the kind due. Later, order of punishment was passed on February 27, 1996, whereby an increment was stopped. “The judicial mind which had to be applied by the competent authority was not done and the decision which had to be made in a quasi judicial manner after giving notice was also not done. In fact, the order whereby the period of suspension was treated as leave of the kind due was more damaging than the stoppage of one increment which has been imposed upon the petitioner. Thus, it was necessary for the government to issue notice to the petitioner before passing such an order and affording an opportunity of hearing…. “In the present case, even the appeals and representation filed by the petitioner against the order had been disposed of by passing a totally non-speaking order whereby the petitioner had given his detailed representation”. Quashing the impugned order, the Bench asserted: “The petitioner shall be entitled for his consequential benefits during his period of suspension”.
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Canteen food ‘kills’ Jalandhar factory worker
Jalandhar, April 11 The unit is a part of the Shital Group of Industries, run by Shital Vij. Minutes after having lunch, most workers, the owner's wife and his son started vomiting. The victims were rushed to Sri Devi Talab Charitable Hospital, run by a trust that is headed by Vij. Vij claimed that most of the victims had been given timely medical assistance. A team of health officials, including Dr Tarsem Lal, epidemiologist Dr Harjot Singh, Food and Safety Officer and Dr Sukhjiwan collected food samples from the canteen. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sarabjit Singh said contractor Rajbir Singh and his three employees, Rohit, Karan and Pradeep, had been arrested. He said a case had been registered against them.
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Rajindra Hospital to get own parking
Patiala, April 11 While the government rate for parking a cycle or a scooter is Rs 2 and a car is Rs 5, the contractors charge Rs 10 for scooters and Rs 20 for cars. Moreover, for multiple entries they charge Rs 20 for scooters and Rs 40 for cars. There have been instances in the past when the contractors have manhandled people who have refused to pay such inflated parking rates. Even attempts by the hospital administration to resolve the problem have been futile as the contractors didn’t pay any heed to the requests of the administration. The contractors allegedly wielded some influence in the district administration. Taking note of these complaints, Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary of the Medical Education and Research Department, has now directed Dr KD Singh, Principal of the Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital to construct a multi-storey parking of its own. Dr KD Singh said he had already written a letter to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board regarding the construction of the parking and the process would begin soon. “This parking will be constructed at a cost of Rs 3 crore and we have already identified the site,” he said. Singh said the matter was brought to the notice of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Medical Education and Research Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat and they agreed that people should be charged government rates for parking their vehicles. He said majority of the people who visited the hospital were poor and could not afford to pay such inflated parking fees. Patiala Deputy Commissioner GK Singh said he would soon direct all government institutes to auction the contract at low prices so that contractors do not have to charge higher fees and then make up for the cost by charging excessively.
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Activist’s stories part of Punjabi course books
Patiala, April 11 The stories are called “Jado Dand Bol Paya” and “Mummy 55 Ki Hunda”. Another story of hers “Bhroon Hatya” (female foeticide) has been incorporated in the Punjabi University BEd course books. She has written 22 books on various topics. Dr Harshindar Kaur said she was delighted that her writings had been acknowledged. “Though I mainly write on female foeticide, these stories were an attempt to connect with children. — TNS
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Radiotherapy unit to be set up in Sangrur
Sangrur, April 11 T Ambumani, TMH project consultant, said the land for the establishment of the radiotherapy unit would be provided by the Punjab Government. The TMH would build the infrastructure and install the machinery at a cost of Rs 20 crore in a phased manner, he said. Dr Atul Budukh, Assistant Professor and epidemiologist at the TMH, said the population-based cancer registry (registration of cancer patients) was a continuous process. He said they had already appointed staff in Sangrur and Mansa districts for the registration. Dr Budukh said the cancer registry programme would help in the documentation of cancer cases and be useful for planning cancer control activities.
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Moga DTO arrested in bribe case
Moga, April 11 On a complaint, a Vigilance team, led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Hargobind Singh, laid a trap to nab the DTO in his office at the district administrative complex here. Avtar Singh of Punjab Gujarat Roadlines, a transport company based at Rampura Phul (Bathinda), had alleged the DTO had been harassing him as his trucks passed through the district on way to Gujarat. The complainant had alleged the DTO demanded Rs 32,000 per month from him, including Rs 5,000 for his staff. A settlement was made at the rate of Rs 400 per truck, revealed a senior Vigilance officer. When the transporter came to deliver 50 per cent of the monthly amount to the DTO, the Vigilance officials allegedly caught the latter red-handed.
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Sangrur, April 11
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