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Delay in completion of thermal plants
Operation Bluestar Memorial ready
The Operation Bluestar Memorial in Amritsar. Photo: Sameer Sehgal |
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Act on Chinese intrusion: Badal
Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal gives a memento to a member of a village committee in Chandigarh on Thursday. A Tribune photograph
Coalition MPs protest outside Parliament
Ban on ‘Sadda Haq’
Two months gone, Vijender's hair samples yet to be tested
Porters end stir; trade resumes
Builders can’t use groundwater: HC
Two-day police remand
for Ludhiana ACP, aide
1% cultural cess on projects above Rs 50 cr
‘Biased’ Jail Supdt pulled up
PSEB to change syllabi of all classes
Sarovar issue: Dhindsa meets both factions
Honey Singh told to appear before HC on May 14
Ludhiana ACP
Chauhan, aide in two-day police remand
One held for firing
Tehsildar booked
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Delay in completion of thermal plants
Bathinda, April 25
The government, which is seeking more allocation of coal from the Centre, is not inclined to open the doors of the coal mine to private companies, saying the mine is meant exclusively for state-run thermal plants at Bathinda, Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat. Sterling Ltd of the Vedanta Group, which is developing the 1,920 MW Talwandi Sabo thermal plant, and Larson and Toubro, which is developing 2,100 MW Rajpura thermal plant, are seeking the supply of coal from the Pachwara mine, which became operational in 2006. Larsen & Toubro had first sought relief from the Punjab State Energy Regulatory Commission (PSERC). It has now approached the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, the national body for settling energy-related disputes. The company said the state government and the PSPCL had failed to honour its commitment of arranging coal for the thermal plant. In December last year, the PSERC had asked the company to make its own arrangements for coal supply. Sterling Ltd has raised the demand informally. The Talwandi Sabo thermal plant, developed by it at Banawali village in Mansa district, has already missed several deadlines due to the coal shortage. Coal from Coal India Ltd and the Pachwara mine is cheaper than the open market or through imports. The PSPCL has so far refused to oblige the companies. It argues the coal reserve will deplete faster if the production is increased. Moreover, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while seeking allocation of more coal for the state had explained in detail that production from Pachwara coal mine was about 9 million tonnes (MT) against the need for 14 MT for the state-run power plants. Even if the Pachwara coal mine is fully exploited, it can generate up to 15 MT, the PSPCL says. A revised plan of production, finalised last year, stated the production of coal should be ramped up to 15 MT gradually in the next seven to eight years. The 1 Talwandi Sabo thermal plant needs over 7 MT of coal. Larson and Turbo will need lot more if it runs its plant at its full capacity of 2,100 MW. Refusing to comment on its demand for a share from the coal mine, a spokesperson of Larson and Toubro said the group was exploring all propositions to complete and run the thermal plant. PSPCL officials reiterated the coal mine was meant for the state-run projects only. It also cited the recent coal scam after which Coal India Ltd had become strict on the diversion of coal supply to a third party. cause of conflict
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Operation Bluestar Memorial ready
Amritsar, April 25 Talking to The Tribune, Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa said the memorial would be dedicated to the Sikh community on April 27. The Sikh clergy and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar are expected to attend the event. The foundation stone of the memorial was laid on June 6 last year, the 28th anniversary of the army operation, though its "kar sewa" had begun on May 20 last year. It took the Damdami Taksal, which was entrusted with the "kar sewa" by the SGPC, just around 11 months to complete the construction work of the memorial. The memorial building is octagonal in shape and has doors in three directions. The area of the memorial complex is 60 feet x 65 feet, out of which the building has been constructed on 31 feet x 31 feet area. The memorial's height has been kept 2 feet shorter than the adjacent Gurdwara Thara Sahib building to maintain the status of the gurdwara. A dome has not been built atop the memorial as Gurdwara Thara Sahib too doesn't have it.
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Act on Chinese intrusion: Badal
Chandigarh, April 25 Badal spoke on the sidelines of a function jointly organised by the State Water Supply and Sanitation Department and the World Bank to honour 22 Village Water Supply and Sanitation Committees at Kisan Bhawan here. He said the Centre should not be complacent on the issue of safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity. He claimed the Congress-led UPA government had miserably failed in checking the growing cult of internal as well as
external aggression. Citing the problem of Naxalism and incidents of terrorism in different parts of the country, the CM said the country’s sovereignty was in peril. Badal slammed the Centre for imposing wealth tax on agricultural land within the jurisdiction of municipal limits. He termed it as a retrograde step. On the proposed investments by the Tata group in the state, the Chief Minister said Cyrus P
Mistry, chairperson of Tata Sons, had evinced keen interest in infrastructure, tourism, IT and agriculture sectors.
Badal said a joint committee of senior officers of the state government and representatives of the Tata Group would work out modalities in this regard in due course of time. He said out of 15,170 villages and
Dhanis, 14,313 had been covered under the various drinking water schemes and the remainder 857 would be covered this year. In his address, Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary Water Supply and Sanitation, said that the department was committed to providing quality safe drinking water in every part of the state.
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Coalition MPs protest outside Parliament
New Delhi, April 25 The chargesheet has been pending for the past 21 years. The MPs, holding placards, sat on the stairs of the main entrance of the House. “This case is about four murders committed during 1984 riots. The charge sheet prepared by the police in 1992 has not been filed for the last 21 years,” Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Bathinda MP, told mediapersons. Accompanying her were Akali MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Rattan Singh Ajnala, Sher Singh Ghubaya and Paramjit Kaura Gulshan and Avinash Rai Khanna of the BJP. “The government continues to openly and shamelessly shield the accused (Sajjan Kumar). We are forced to sit on a dharna in protest against this high-handedness,” Harsimrat said. The charge sheet relates to an FIR filed at the Nangloi police station on the killing of Tirlok Singh, husband of complainant Updesh Kaur, Mahinder Singh and his two sons Kuldeep Singh and Uttam Singh. Most of the investigations were conducted during the tenure of the VP Singh government. However, by the time these were completed, the government at the Centre changed with the Narasimha Rao government assuming power. The police charge sheet has been lying in the files and has not been filed in court. “We demand from the Union Home Minister to immediately register a criminal case against DCP Rajiv Ranjan ( the policeman who has 'suppressed' the charge sheet) and place him under suspension. We further demand that the charge sheet be filed in court immediately,” said an MP.
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Ban on ‘Sadda Haq’
New Delhi, April 25 A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir formed the committee after hearing arguments on behalf of the movie producers and officials who have slapped the ban. Additional Solicitor-General Indira Jaisingh (subject to her consent) and Rebecca John are the other members on the committee. The committee will view the movie tomorrow and submit its report. The Bench of Justices Anil Dave and Vikramajit Sen might also watch the movie as it has asked for a print for itself. During the arguments today, the producers’ senior counsel, Colin Gonsalves, contended that the police and the state governments had no business in stopping the screening of a movie cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). However, Punjab’s Additional Advocate-General Ajay Bansal and standing counsel Kuldeep Sigh sought to justify the ban, arguing that the movie glorified terrorism and the demand for a separate nation by sending out such messages as “yesterday’s militants will be tomorrow’s freedom fighters.” The ban was imposed on the recommendations of a high-powered committee and intelligence reports apprehending law and order problem in the event of the movie being screened. The Shiv Sena and the Hindu Mahasabha were also against the movie, the state said. The movie sought to project the assassins of Chief Minister Beant Singh as heroes, it was contended.
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Two months gone, Vijender's hair samples yet to be tested
Fatehgarh Sahib, April 25 The samples need to be tested within 90 days for an accurate result and the boxer is believed to have consumed heroin in the last week of February. The delay is also creating problems for the Olympian who has had to skip two international boxing events in Cyprus and Cuba. His team-mates, who do not want to be identified, say that he is likely to miss the next boxing championship to be held in Kazakhstan from October 4. Senior Superintendent of Police Hardial Singh Mann said the crime branch of the state police had already sent a reminder to the SFSL. He said as soon as the police was informed about the lab identified to conduct the hair and nailtests, the police would move the court seeking that Vijender be summoned. The police had earlier moved the court for summoning Vijender asking him to give his hair and nail samples. However, the district attorney on March 31 returned the file seeking information as to which lab would conduct the tests, the validity and certainty of such a test and the duration within which the drug could be detected in a hair sample. About hair drug test
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Panchayat Samiti, ZP poll on May 19
Chandigarh, April 25 Brar, who held a meeting with officials of various districts with regard to the conduct of the elections here today, said the election notification would be issued on May 3 and the polling would be held on May 19. Earlier, the notification was to be issued on April 26 and the polling was slated for May 12. “In view of the fact that there was a delay of a few days in publishing the roster of reserved and general category seats and the request made by the contesting political parties, it has been decided to reschedule the poll,” said the commission in a statement. There are 145 panchayat samitis and 22 zila parishads in the state. After the assembly poll, this will be the biggest electoral exercise in which all rural voters will take part. Some of the parties have already announced their decision to contest the elections on their party symbol. The date for the village panchayat elections will be announced later but the process for the same will be completed in the first week of June, well before the beginning of paddy transplantation in mid-June. Brar has directed poll officials to provide electoral rolls to the representatives of political parties as per the rules. Welcoming the commission’s decision, Punjab Pradesh Congress president PS Bajwa said there was no rationale in holding the elections in the middle of the harvesting season. He said there was a need to remove anomalies in the voters' lists and to check “arbitrary changes” in panchayat samiti and zila parishad zones.
Poll schedule
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Porters end stir; trade resumes
Amritsar, April 25 The porters decided to end their strike after the day-long deliberations between them and the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) in the presence of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manmohan Singh Kang. Porter leaders Bhajan Singh and Sukhdev Singh claimed that they decided to end their strike after the labour charges for loading/unloading were increased from existing Rs 2.5 per 40 kg to Rs 3.5 per 40 kg. However, this has been completely denied by the CWC authorities who say that the porters have agreed to work on the existing rates. The one point on which both the parties agreed was that the porters would continue to get labour charges on perishable goods on the existing pattern. SDM Kang said that the porters would be extended risk cover which they have demanding for a while. Besides, they will also be provided proper drinking water facility and parking sheds for their bicycles and two-wheelers. There was jubilation among the porters after the agreement was reached late in the evening. Earlier, the traders had softened their stand on the issue and said that they were ready to pay labour charges to porters in case of gypsum and perishable goods on the existing pattern till a final solution was worked out. Meanwhile, in a major breakthrough towards ensuring ‘free trade’ at the ICP, the joint working group formed by Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia today resolved the contentious issues between the traders and the truck union of Attari. Talking to The Tribune, Confederation of International Chambers of Commerce and Industry spokesman Rajdeep Uppal said it was decided in the meeting to immediately scrap the “chit system” followed by the truck union. It has also been decided that the traders will now be allowed to hire trucks from any transporter in the country to load their material both for imports and exports. He said a computerised token system would also be introduced at the ICP gate and all the drivers would get their token after following the norms and the trucks would cross over on first come first serve basis. “No one would be allowed to deviate from this system approved by the committee with the help of the ICP authorities and the BSF providing the security at the land port,” he added. The traders appreciated the efforts of Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and Majithia in getting the issue resolved amicably
key issues
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Builders can’t use
groundwater: HC
Chandigarh, April 25 The directions follow notifications issued by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), placing restrictions on the use of underground water for construction purposes in 35 blocks in Punjab. As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Jain further directed PUDA to impose terms and conditions, for ensuring underground water was drawn and used by the builders only for drinking purpose while approving construction work. The directions came during the hearing of a PIL by advocate HC Arora. He was seeking directions to state of Punjab to comply with directives issued by the CGWA, restraining the use of groundwater for construction purposes in about 35 blocks of Punjab.
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Two-day police remand
for Ludhiana ACP, aide
Ludhiana, April 25 An aide of the police officer, Pappu, who allegedly used to act as a middleman in Chauhan's office, was also sent on remand for two days. Preliminary investigations reveal Pappu was hired
by the officer, who was paying him Rs 150 per day. His job was to give
information to the officer about industrialists who could be targeted for seeking bribe. Senior Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Satinder Singh today said they had received four more complaints of corruption against Chauhan. Sources said the ACP, who was a professional wrestler, had indulged in corrupt practices soon after joining the office on April 3. In 20 days since Chauhan joined duty, the Commissioner's office was flooded with complaints against him, they said. They alleged a ruling party leader had managed to get him posted as ACP South. Earlier in 2010, the Vigilance Bureau had conducted raids at his office when he was posted in Patiala. SSP Satinder Singh
said more revelations were likely to come to the fore during the course of investigation.
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1% cultural cess on projects above
Rs 50 cr
Chandigarh, April 25 The notification of the Department of Cultural Affairs has made it mandatory to levy and collect 1 per cent cultural cess with immediate effect on the project cost of roads, bridges, flyovers, over bridges/under bridges, undertaken by the PWD, Mandi Board, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and the Punjab Roads and Bridges Development Board. The cess shall also be levied on all buildings costing more than Rs 50 crore constructed by agencies of the state. The notification, dated April 18, reads the tax will be levied from the date of its publication in the official gazette. The board has been created to provide for a dedicated fund for the conservation and preservation of heritage buildings of the state as well as operation, maintenance and upkeep of heritage memorials. "No one denies working for the preservation of heritage. But, the move signifies that the state coffers are empty and there is not enough money for development works," said a senior officer.
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‘Biased’ Jail Supdt pulled up
Patiala, April 25 Meena said, “I will not tolerate any such nuisance inside the jail. Rules apply to all inmates.” The accused was held by the CBI on April 4 for accepting a bribe of Rs 6 lakh from the complainant. Sources said at the insistence of politicians, the jail staff transferred the accused to the jail hospital from the barracks, where inmates are lodged. Inmates can only meet family members and friends on two fixed days of the week, but the accused was allegedly allowed to meet his kin anytime. Meena told The Tribune that no inmate could be provided preferential treatment as it caused resentment among the other jail inmates and could cause trouble. Virk denied that any VIP treatment was extended to the accused, saying, “His wife was here for the first two days but later was told to come only on the designated days. We have lodged him in the hospital room as the barracks are overcrowded.” DS Bains, Principal Secretary, Home, said he will take strict action against the culprits. “No one can be given any VIP facilities inside the jail. I will not let it continue.”
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PSEB to change syllabi of all classes
Mohali, April 25 She said Punjab School Education Director General Kahan Singh Pannu would also be present in the meeting. Apart from education experts, experienced school teachers are also being roped in for discussions in this regard. Dr Dhaliwal claimed that they were aiming at lifting the standard of education here above that of the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education. She said new books of all classes would be printed as soon as the syllabi is changed. She said the exercise would be completed in two phases. The Punjab School Education Board has also decided to hold seminars and workshops on a regular basis for its teachers to apprise them of new teaching techniques, activity-based study and other advanced aspects of
the field. When questioned about the unavailability of PSEB books for the current session, Dr Dhaliwal said
all the books would be readied and supplied to the schools by the first week
of May.
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Sarovar issue: Dhindsa meets both factions
Sunam, April 25 He said no one would be allowed to disturb peace and asked the people to be wary of antisocial elements. Dhindsa said he had also talked to the Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. — TNS
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Honey Singh told to appear before HC on May 14
Chandigarh, April 25 The directions came during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by a Nawanshahr-based non-government organisation (HELP). Taking up the matter, the Bench expressed shock and dismay over the lyrics of the song. Accepting the request of petitioner's counsel HC Arora, the Bench directed that Honey Singh be impleaded as a party in the case and directed him to appear before the High Court personally. The petitioner wants an effective mechanism to check lewd songs. It has referred to a news report on vulgar songs being recorded and played by Punjabi singers with a specific reference to the "balatkari" song. The petitioner-NGO has said that all limits of decency are being violated by such songs. Referring to Section 294 of the IPC, it has said that rendering lewd songs at public places is an offence. "Women have a right to protect their dignity, as a corollary of the fundamental right to life. The fundamental right to dignity, as such, cannot be violated under the garb of right to freedom of speech." The petitioner has blamed the Punjab Government for not taking steps to curb the menace.
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Ludhiana ACP
Chauhan, aide in two-day police remand Ludhiana, April 25 An aide of the police officer, Pappu, who allegedly used to act as a middleman in Chauhan's office, was also sent on remand for two days. Preliminary investigations reveal Pappu was hired by the officer, who was paying him Rs 150 per day. His job was to give information to the officer about industrialists who could be targeted for seeking bribe. Senior Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) Satinder Singh today said they had received four more complaints of corruption against Chauhan. Sources said the ACP, who was a professional wrestler, had indulged in corrupt practices soon after joining the office on April 3. In 20 days since Chauhan joined duty, the Commissioner's office was flooded with complaints against him, they said. They alleged a ruling party leader had managed to get him posted as ACP South. Earlier in 2010, the Vigilance Bureau had conducted raids at his office when he was posted in Patiala. Satinder Singh said more revelations were likely to come to the fore during the course of investigation.
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One held for firing
Ropar, April 25 Gulzar had allegedly resorted to firing yesterday when Kuldip, along with others, tried to plough a land belonging to him as well as his sister Jaswinder Kaur. Gulzar alleged that Kuldeep was trying to take possession of the land forcefully while Kuldeep said he had bought the land from Jasvinder. Kuldip, Amarpreet, Amarjit, Jatinder and Charanjit were injured in the incident, following which they were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.
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Tehsildar booked Ludhiana, April 25 The girl was rescued by residents from an MIG flat in Dashmesh Nagar and rushed to hospital. She told the police that tehsildar and her daughter had locked her up before leaving for work. The girl, who had injury marks on her body, said the tehsildar’s daughter had tortured her with iron bars.
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Amidst all the controversies sparked by it over the last one year, the Operation Bluestar Memorial has taken the final shape much before its June 6 deadline.
The occasion was marked by starting an "akhand path" at the memorial this morning after installing the Guru Granth Sahib there.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Centre to act swiftly to prevent any further movement of Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Badal spoke on the sidelines of a function jointly organised by the State Water Supply and Sanitation Department and the World Bank to honour 22 Village Water Supply and Sanitation Committees at Kisan Bhawan here.
The investigating agencies are in a fix as the State Forensic Science Laboratory
(SFSL) has failed to identify a laboratory where hair and nail samples of Olympian Vijender Singh can be tested to determine if he has used heroin.
The samples need to be tested within 90 days for an accurate result and the boxer is believed to have consumed heroin in the last week of February.
The delay is also creating problems for the Olympian who has had to skip two international boxing events in Cyprus and Cuba.
Chandigarh, April 25
Private companies are seeking a share in the coal produced from the mine. The under-construction thermal plants are running behind schedule due to a stand off between the state government/PSPCL and the companies on the supply of coal.