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Govt to boost food processing industry
Gas leak in Nangal creates panic
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Restrictions delaying harvest: Border farmers
Zila parishad poll likely on May 12
Wheat bags pile up at grain markets
Procurement arrangements poor: Bajwa
Sikh bodies submit memo to President Pranab
Casteist remarks: Verka
visits medical college
Bio-drainage project to check waterlogging in Muktsar dist
3 dists to have new DCs
Working on feasibility of railway factory in state: Pawan Bansal
Abetment to Suicide Charges
Smuggled sandalwood worth
Rs 5.50 cr seized in Ludhiana
College teacher held with smack
4 booked for abducting girl
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Govt to boost food processing industry
Chandigarh, April 19 Sources said the Food Processing Department had made a proposal for doing away with a majority of the taxes on durum wheat and basmati meant for export and processing purposes. The proposals will be presented to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal tomorrow and day after during a two-day session being held by him to change the government policy. Badal is holding this session to make diversification a reality in the state. He is scheduled to hold meetings with the Food Processing Ministry as well as Industry and Agriculture Department officials. There is a sense of urgency as far as the proposals to give tax benefits to certain industries as far as wheat and basmati are concerned. The government wants to encourage private procurement of wheat in Punjab, which is presently negligible at one lakh tonnes against the government procurement of 105 lakh tonnes. Wheat is already being procured in the mandis. It also wants to increase the area under basmati cultivation with nursery for basmati paddy plants is set to be sown in May. According to the food processing industry proposal, the tax structure in the state must be rationalised especially for the raw material which is to be acquired by the food processing industry. Food processing is very low because of high taxes of 13 per cent on wheat purchased in the state. This includes four per cent Purchase Tax, three per cent PIDB (Punjab Infrastructure Development Board) Tax, two per cent Rural Development Fund (RDF), two per cent market fee and 2 per cent Arhtiya Commission. Among the proposals which are likely to be recommended by the food processing industry is removing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on branded and non-branded flour. Proposals to make flour mills more competitive by offering them certain concessions are also being discussed. In the new draft policy, the government also proposes to allow contract farming of durum wheat. The state will also offer subsidies on various food processing units as a number of central mission mode projects have been transferred to it. Sources said reduction in taxes for core food processing industry was likely to increase private procurement of wheat in the state from the present one lakh tonnes to eight lakh tonnes. Similarly, the government wants to encourage farmers to grow more basmati through tax breaks for export and special processing industry. This, the sources said, was likely to increase the area under basmati in the state by two to three lakh hectares this season. Presently basmati is grown on around five lakh hectares in Punjab. Meanwhile, Badal is set to finalise a separate investment policy for wheat, paddy and maize as part of the effort to get diversification started on the ground. Union Government officials will also participate in the exercise. Reform Measures The state is to give tax benefits on wheat and basmati to encourage private procurement The reduction in taxes is likely to increase private procurement of wheat from the one to eight lakh tonnes The food processing industry also wants the government to remove VAT on branded and non-branded flour The government is planning to give tax breaks for export of basmati to encourage farmers to grow it more It also proposes to allow contract farming of durum wheat
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Gas leak in Nangal creates panic
Nangal, April 19 Luckily, a school located near the factory was closed because of Ram Navami, he said. Punjab Pollution Control Board officials who visited the area confirmed the leakage. Board Executive Engineer Joginder Singh, who arrived at 11 am, met the residents. "I spoke with the company's chief general manager, JS Talwar, who told me that gas from the plant had leaked at 5.30 am following which the plant was shut down and the leakage plugged." immediately,” he said. Acute exposure to chlorine could lead to chest congestion and in some cases prove fatal, he added. When contacted on the phone, Talwar denied any leakage. "The plant was started at 2.30 am and after frosting was noticed on pipes, it was shut down at 5.20 am," said
Talwar.
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Restrictions delaying harvest: Border farmers
Amritsar, April 19 Talking to The Tribune, Mahal Singh, a farmer who owns around 10 acres of land across the fence adjoining Rodawala village, said the farmers had been facing problems for a long time. "We never get adequate time to cultivate our crop properly. The same is true when it comes to reaping the harvest. Though the time allowed to us is from 8 am to 5 pm, in reality, we get much lesser time. We are allowed to cross the fence a little late and we reach our fields by 10 am. The BSF starts calling us back at 3.30 pm," he said. Raghubir Singh, another farmer, said they could not afford to harvest their crop manually as it was a time consuming exercise. "We have to hire combines to reap the harvest at one go. But at times, we are called back even before their crop is harvested. We have to pay double the rent for combines. Besides, the machines are not easily available in the peak season and the owners charge more for working across the fence," he said. Jamhuri Kisan Sabha leader Rattan Singh Randhawa said the farmers should be allowed to work for at least 10 hours during the harvesting season. "The sun sets at 7 pm and the farmers should be permitted to work till 5 pm. The BSF should press into service its additional force for facilitating the process," he said. Border Area Sangharsh Committee state vice-president Rasal Singh claimed the BSF had tightened the timing restrictions in view of the recent seizures of heroin from the area. He also claimed that only one combine was allowed to cross the border fence as compared to three earlier. A BSF official said they were allowing farmers to work from 8 am to 5 pm, although there might be a problem in some areas. "We will look into the matter and get it redressed," he said. He denied that there were more restrictions after heroin seizures and said it had no impact on the timings for the farmers.
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Centre’s Bihar package angers SAD
Chandigarh, April 19 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had yesterday sanctioned a special package for the JD-U led Bihar Government. With differences between the BJP and the JD-U on the possibility of naming Narendra Modi as the NDA's prime ministerial candidate growing, the Congress was trying to fish in troubled waters. "There is a vested interest behind this package to Bihar," said SAD spokesman Daljeet Singh Cheema. He said Punjab, which had been pressing for a package for long, had been denied the same. "The state's case for a debt waiver had been deliberately referred to the 14th Finance Commission to keep the matter pending for more years," he alleged. He accused the Centre of discriminating against Punjab. Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said Punjab's political leadership should lobby hard, like the Bihar leaders, to secure a debt waiver for the state. " Without lobbying in the right earnest, nothing is possible. There is a need to sit across the table with the Union Government to seek a debt waiver," he said. Punjab's debt burden would cross Rs 1,00,000 crore this year. The state's interest liability would be about Rs 7,300 crore this year. "The only way to put the state back on the development path is to get its debt burden off," Manpreet added.
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Zila parishad poll likely on May 12
Chandigarh, April 19 Panchayat elections are expected to be conducted a week later. An official notification with regard to the elections is expected on May 26. The office of the Election Commissioner is learnt to have communicated to the state authorities that no employee on election-related duty should be transferred. The entire process will be completed by May 31. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, said, “We have tentatively decided to conduct polling for panchayat samitis and zila parishads on May 12 . Panchayat elections are likely to be conducted by the month-end. A formal announcement of dates will come only from the Election Commission.”
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CM:Wealth tax will spell ruin for farmers
Jalandhar, April 19 Badal said the provisions of the tax were being examined and he would take up the matter with the Union Government at the earliest. “This unfortunate step of the UPA Government has exposed its anti-farmers stance. It has become my biggest worry,” he said while interacting with the media during his visit to the office of Jang-e-Azadi Foundation here. He said the the farmers in the state were already on the crossroads because of the "adverse" policies of the Centre, such as hike in agricultural inputs and non-remunerative MSP. Questioned on property tax, the CM said: “The tax proposed is minimal and surely no burden on anyone.” He said the state government was mulling giving cash relief directly to cancer patients, instead of routing it through hospitals, under the Chief Minister’s Cancer Relief Fund. Accompanied by Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, ministers Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Ajit Singh Kohar, Bhagat Chunni Lal, Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Kamal Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries KD Bhandari, Pawan Tinu and Som Parkash and legislators Manoranjan Kalia and Pargat Singh, the Chief Minister took part in the Ram Navami Shobha
Yatra. Pay up, IT Dept tells Akali leader Circle president of the SAD Rajinder Singh Nagra and his brother Gurdeep Singh Nagra have been asked by the IT Department to pay up Rs 25 lakh each for their 30-acre land in the MC limits.They have been issued recovery notices. The brothers say they have lost their case in the Supreme Court and would now be able to pay the tax only after selling off their land. Badal has asked SAD (Urban) president Gurcharan Singh Channi to make a fresh appeal. In districts like Jalandhar, wealth tax is to be imposed on agricultural land falling within 8 km of the MC limit.— TNS Work on memorial soon, CM Construction work on Jang-e-Azadi Memorial, to be set up at Kartarpur, will begin in a few months, said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his visit here. Chief Executive Officer of the memorial-cum-MC Commissioner Vinay Bublani said there would be several galleries showcasing history. A replica of the Komagata Maru ship was likely be installed at one of the galleries. — TNS
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Wheat bags pile up at grain markets
Sirhind, April 19 Owing to slow lifting, farmers arriving at the grain markets are not finding adequate storage space. Even though the state government had directed the purchasing agencies to lift the crop within 72 hours of its arrival, the main purchasing agency, Food Corporation of India, has lifted 3,170 tonnes of the 1,3167 tonnes. Pungrain has failed to lift even 10 per cent of the purchased wheat. Punjab Agro has failed to lift a single bag from the grain market. Sources say 80,911 tonnes of wheat purchased by various agencies is lying in the grain markets. Some arhtiyas said they were finding it difficult to dump fresh arrivals in the grain market. District Market Officer Rupinder Singh Mann said some had failed to float the tenders in time, resulting in slow lifting of wheat. “Now these agencies have completed the tendering process, resulting in speedy lifting. The department is closely monitoring the lifting process” he said. Sorry state of affairs The state government had directed the agencies to lift the crop within 72 hours of its arrival But in Fatehgarh Sahib, the FCI has lifted 3,170 tonnes of the 1,3167 tonnes so far Pungrain has failed to lift even 10 per cent of the wheat purchased Punjab Agro has failed to lift a single bag from any grain market
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Procurement arrangements poor: Bajwa
Khanna, April 19 Pointing at heaps of wheat bags lying in the grain market, said lifting should be done expeditiously to avoid a glut. Bajwa appealed to the state government to announce a compensation bonus for the farmers as the wheat crop had been hit by bad weather.
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SAD’s stand on Bhullar issue has been inconsistent
Chandigarh, April 19 The SAD think tank feels guarding the Panthic agenda is most important, especially when the Punjab Congress has decided to focus on its traditional Hindu urban and Dalit vote bank. It is also aware that it had lost part of the Panthic vote bank in the rural Malwa heartland when Capt Amarinder Singh headed the Pradesh Congress. In this context it is not only important for the party to be seen as standing up for a Sikh cause in Punjab but nationally too as the SAD wants to be seen as a party representing the Sikhs nationwide. However, even as the party has taken up the case for commuting Bhullar’s death sentence to life imprisonment with the Prime Minister and with the President, it has simultaneously opened itself to allegations of double standards.This is because the SAD seems to have twice failed Bhullar, whose cause it now espouses. The first time was in 2009 when the SAD-BJP Government led by Parkash Singh Badal refused a request to shift the militant from the Tihar Jail to a jail in Punjab, citing security reasons. This despite the fact that Bhullar’s counsel had petitioned the court, saying his client was dying a “slow death” in the small cell in which he was confined in Tihar. The second time was again in 2009 when while defending an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court in a case involving the present Director- General of Police (DGP), Sumedh Singh Saini, the government called Bhullar a “hardcore and an experienced criminal”. The SAD has little to say on both the issues. Party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said as far as the affidavit in the Saini case was concerned, it was a part of a “routine police exercise” and there was no politics in it. He said it was strange that Saini, earlier presented by the Congress as a national hero, was being denigrated by it now. Cheema also maintained the SAD was only asking for what was possible under the Constitution. Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa has accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of shedding “crocodile tears” on the Bhullar issue. He said the SAD and the BJP stood exposed on the issue with BJP national secretary Laxmi Kanta Chawla and Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma opposing the clemency demand. Bajwa demanded that the CM should give a public clarification on the "double standards". The SAD is caught in a cleft as the public stance it has taken on the Bhullar issue as it is against the essence of the "inclusive" politics being propounded by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal who gave the party ticket to a number of Hindu candidates in the last assembly elections. Though the party feels that sticking to the Panthic agenda would get it votes, the fact that it has not been consistent on the Bhullar issue has sent out mixed feelers to the electorate, say observers. DoubleSpeak In 2009, the
Badal-led SAD-BJP Govt refused a request to shift the militant from the Tihar Jail to a jail in Punjab, citing security reasons. This despite the fact that Bhullar’s counsel petitioned the court, saying his client was dying a “slow death” in the small cell in which he was confined in Tihar In 2009, while defending an affidavit submitted to the SC in a case involving DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, the government called Bhullar a “hardcore and an experienced criminal”
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Sikh bodies submit memo to President Pranab
New Delhi, April 19 The activists gathered at Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, offered “ardas’ and then marched towards Jantar Mantar. At the gurdwara, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh (GK) made an appeal for a peaceful march. Members of the SAD (Badal), SGPC, Damdami Taksal, Sikh Students Federations, SAD (Amritsar), Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) and Sant Samaj participated. Bhullar's wife Navneet Kaur also took par in the demonstration. “I believe that respecting the sentiments of the Sikhs in India and abroad, the Centre will convert the death penalty to life imprisonment," she said. Manjit Singh (GK) said they would also approach the Canadian Embassy to ask the Government of India to commute Bhullar's sentence. Jaspal Singh Hera, president of Punjabi daily “Paheredar” said: "The government should respect the sentiments of 80 lakh Sikhs who have pleaded that Bhullar should not be hanged.” Former MP Dhyan Singh Mand said death penalty should be abolished.
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Sikh pilgrims ‘harassed’ in Pak
Amritsar, April 19 Talking to mediapersons, Satpal Singh Laddi of Ferozepur said the Pakistan agencies pestered them during the visit and particularly targeted those in the age group of 30 to 35. He alleged the agencies interrogated them when they visited Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and Lahore. Laddi alleged the staff of these agencies even reached the Wagah railway station in Pakistan today and took away SIM cards and memory cards from their mobile phones. Kanwaljeet Kaur of New Delhi said though they did not face any problem while paying obeisance at the holy shrines, they were hassled at the railway station where the Pakistan agencies kept the special train stranded for around four hours. Balwinder Singh Jhabal of Khalra Mission Committee said they celebrated Baisakhi at Gurdwara Panja Sahib during which Pakistan Minorities Minister Jamil Shahzad participated as the chief guest. He said the Sikhs demanded that Gurdwara Beri Sahib in Sialkot should be thrown open to the pilgrims and Kartarpur Sahib Corridor be facilitated. Besides, a sarai should be constructed to provide accommodation to the pilgrims in Lahore, he said.
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Casteist remarks: Verka
visits medical college
Patiala, April 19 Verka met the college principal Dr KD Singh, Dr Dharamvir Chalia, Head of the Eye Department, the complainant and three witnesses. However, he did not meet the accused, Dr Harsimram Singh, during the investigation. Verka said he had a copy of the report submitted by the college investigating committee and therefore did not need to meet the accused. He assured the complainant that suitable action would be taken against the guilty and directed the Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Gill to carry out the probe swiftly. Gill said he had already directed his team to investigate the matter. “We will visit the spot and meet all the individuals concerned, including the accused and the complainant. Thereafter, based on the final report we will take suitable action,” Gill said. Dr Harsimran Singh alleged he was being victimised and that Dr Verka’s visit was an eyewash. He blamed Chalia of keeping him out of the investigation to settle personal scores. Dr Chalia was not available for comment. College principal Dr KD Singh said, “It is Dr Verka’s prerogative who he wants to meet. I have only submitted the report prepared by the college investigation committee to Dr Verka and the Punjab Government.” Unsatisfied with the inquiry conducted by Dr Verka, the All India Equality Forum, Government Medical/Dental Colleges, Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala have constituted a seven-member Fact Finding Committee to probe into the matter.
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Bio-drainage project to check waterlogging in Muktsar dist
Muktsar, April 19 The project, costing nearly Rs 8 crore, will be funded by NABARD. Under the project, the state Forest Department will plant nearly 3 lakh saplings of clonal eucalyptus over 3,000 hectares of waterlogged area in the district. Talking to The Tribune, a senior NABARD official said the first installment had been released to the department to achieve the target of plantation within a year. He said the department officials would approach farmers suffering losses due to waterlogging in their fields. After getting their approval, the officials would plant clonal eucalyptus trees in their fields without charging any amount. "The process will rehabilitate the waterlogged land. Besides, farmers can also make money by selling the grown up trees. In the initial stage, the department will maintain the plants," the official said. He said the system would be launched only in those areas where drains had been constructed by the Irrigation Department. "In other areas where water is accumulated to a height, some platforms will be raised and water will be stopped from flowing to other pockets to plant saplings," he claimed. Sanjay Bansal, Divisional Forest Officer, Faridkot, said: "The plantation will start in July. Nearly 100 saplings will be planted in a hectare for reclamation of the waterlogged land. The bio-drainage system consists of fast-growing tree species like clonal eucalyptus which is known for luxurious water consumption". Gulshan Nagpal, Executive Engineer, Drainage circle, Gidderbaha, said: "Our department has already launched an effective sub-surface drainage system, besides constructing new drains for reclamation of waterlogged areas. The bio-drainage project will also help in maintaining the underground water table." Rattakhera, Babanian, Channu, Husnar, Lundewala, Lakhmirewala, Pakki Tibbi, Bhai Ka Khera and Mahni Khera villages are among the worst affected waterlogged areas of the district. The problem Nearly 86,000 hectares land has been affected with waterlogging in Muktsar since 1997 So far around Rs 1,000 crore have been spent to check the problem in the district Measures to check waterlogging include constructing drains, installing pumps to lift water, laying pipes beneath the ground under sub-surface drainage project and installing pumps along the Rajasthan Feeder canal The major causes are leakage from Rajasthan Feeder canal and intensive irrigation by farmers The project NABARD will fund the Rs 8-crore project The Forest Dept will plant 3 lakh saplings of clonal eucalyptus, known for luxurious water consumption, over 3,000 hectares The plantation will start in July. Nearly 100 saplings will be planted per hectare
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3 dists to have new DCs
Chandigarh, April 19 Varun Roojam, Deputy Commissioner of Mohali, has been transferred to Hoshiarpur while the Director Information and Public Relations, DS Mangat, will assume charge as Kapurthala DC. TPS Sidhu, Chief Executive
PEDA, has been transferred as Mohali DC. Rajat Aggarwal, Amritsar DC, has been given additional charge of Tarn Taran DC. Manasvi Kumar will take charge as the CEO of the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), Sarvjit Singh is secretary, personnel and Alaknanda Dayal will be the new Managing Director of MILKFED. HS Sidhu is the Labour Commissioner.
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Working on feasibility of railway factory in state: Pawan Bansal
Chandigarh, April 19 Bansal today inaugurated the New Morinda-Sahnewal-Ludhiana section of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana track. Talking to mediapersons, Bansal said the ministry was in the process of commencing multi-mode transportation for Vashno Devi where passengers would be facilitated with train and bus services to reach Vashno Devi by a single ticket. The commuters would travel by train where the facility was available and the rest of the journey would be covered by bus, he said. The minister said for the past 12 years, there had been no increase in the rates of food served in the trains due to which its quality was declining. He said the food rates would be revised soon especially for the Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains. He said in the next four months, the pantries of these trains would be renovated and no welcome drinks would be served to the commuters. He said the railway authorities planned to start one more train from Chandigarh to Amritsar within the next two months.
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Abetment to Suicide Charges
Amritsar, April 19 Those booked are identified as Sub-Inspector (SI) Vidya Sagar, in charge of Batala CIA staff, and Head Constable Baljinder Singh Mand. Masih had taken the extreme step after being allegedly harassed by the CIA staff. The harassment began after two persons known to him had beeen arrested by the CIA over a monetary dispute. Masih’s family members, along with their supporters, blocked the Amritsar-Pathankot railway line and staged a demonstration. They kept Masih’s body on the railway track and demanded that a case be registered against the erring policemen. Several trains were stranded due to the protest. The Amritsar-Pathankot train was stuck at Kathunangal, the Pathankot-Amritsar train and Tata Mori Express were stranded at Batala. Senior police officers from Amritsar rural police and Batala reached the spot and tried to pacify the agitators. But the residents continued the protest till 2.30 am. After DIG border range Paramraj Singh Umranangal gave the protesters an assurance, the protest dharna was lifted. Government Railway Police authorities said a case under Section 306 of IPC had been registered against the two accused. No arrest has been made so far. Sources said Masih’s son Happy had a monetary dispute with Harmandeep Singh of Riali (Batala) village, following which the CIA staff of the Batala police arrested Happy along with Bhunga Masih. Following the intervention of Rajinder Kumar Jaintipur, chairman, Zila Parishad, Amritsar, in the matter, both groups reached a compromise in the presence of residents of the village on April 14. When Furman Masih’s family members went to meet the CIA staff along with a copy of the compromise, they refused to release him and allegedly threatened to arrest all of his family members. Dejected, he ended his life by jumping before a train.
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Smuggled sandalwood worth
Rs 5.50 cr seized in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, April 19 According to information, a Jalandhar-based firm dealing in nuts and bolts was sending a consignment to Dubai. The order was placed within a short period by the Dubai-based client who offered to bear the expenditure of transportation and even sent his representative for getting the containers to Ludhiana dry port. Getting suspicious, the firm owner (the sender of consignment) asked one of his employees to follow the consignment and as the containers were on way to Dhandari dry port, it stopped midway at a godown on Sahnewal-Doraha Road. The owner (the sender) informed the Customs department. Sources said: "The agent of the Dubai-based firm tampered with the seals of the consignment and replaced the actual consignment material with sandalwood. Nearly five tonnes of sandalwood was filled in the container while about 22 tonnes of sandalwood was lying in the godown." According to sources in the Customs department, "Detailed inquiry into the matter is yet to be done but it seems the Jalandhar-based firm has no hand in this as they themselves informed the department about the incident. The exact value of the sandalwood can be known only after the forest department starts measuring the sandalwood. The sandalwood filled in the container and that stored in the godown has been confiscated by the department." SHO Kulwant Singh Sahnewal said, "We went for providing security cover to the area as Customs department conducted a raid at the godown located on Sahnewal-Doraha road where sandalwood was lying. No arrest was made in this connection."
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College teacher held with smack
Muktsar, April 19 The police said during a naka, an Innova vehicle was intercepted. On a search, Prof Gurpreet Singh alias Gogi of Malout was found carrying the contraband. “The vehicle and the contraband have been seized and a case has been registered against the accused,” said the police. The accused was earlier involved in some cases of assault, it claimed. Dr BP Garg, Director Principal of the institure, said: “Gurpreet has not been coming to college for the last four days.”
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4 booked for abducting girl
Ferozepur, April 19 Sources said a boy identified as Jasbir Singh, who belongs to Guruharsahai, along with his three other friends, entered the girl’s residence on the outskirts of Zira during late night hours yesterday and allegedly took away the girl with him following a brawl with her relatives. In the brawl, when the two uncles of the girl identified as Nachattar Singh and Harbhajan Singh tried to prevent them from abducting the girl, they were brutally thrashed.
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The Punjab Government is considering reducing taxes on both wheat and basmati in certain thrust areas to make diversification a reality in the state besides giving a fillip to the food processing industry.
Farmers in the border belt are finding it difficult to harvest their wheat crop due to time restrictions for tending their land across the border fence.
Talking to The Tribune, Mahal Singh, a farmer who owns around 10 acres of land across the fence adjoining Rodawala village, said the farmers had been facing problems for a long time.
Activisits of various Panthic bodies, that came in a rally from Fatehgarh Sahib, held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar here and submitted a memorandum to the President. The memo carried the signatures of 81 lakh Punjab Sikhs. Attached with the memo was a resolution passed by 8,000 panchayats demanding that the death penalty to Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar be converted into life imprisonment.
After effective results shown by the bio-drainage system in checking waterlogging in
Haryana, the Punjab Government is all set to launch the system in Muktsar district.
The project, costing nearly Rs 8 crore, will be funded by NABARD. Under the project, the state Forest Department will plant nearly 3 lakh saplings of clonal eucalyptus over 3,000 hectares of waterlogged area in the district.
Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had offered land for setting up a railway factory in the state. The railway ministry was working on the feasibility of the project, he said.
Customs department seized 27 tonnes of red sandalwood worth Rs 5.40 crore in Ludhiana from a container which was being sent to Dubai. The estimated value of the sandalwood in international market is around Rs 14
crore. The sandalwood was seized from a godown on Sahnewal-Doraha road.