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Govt okays Rs 7,500 cr diversification plan
Maluka says he is ready for inquiry into book scam by third agency
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A Badal loyalist, Maluka on a slippery wicket
No senior leader accompanies Jagmeet to Lambi
Allot Amritsar LS seat to Majithia, demands his uncle
2 BSP workers suspended for indiscipline
Issue white paper on drug menace: Khaira
High VAT in Punjab forces steel units to shut down
Four years on, Sirhind canal bridge not ready
Rich heritage on verge of ruin in border belt
Welfare package for farmers, labourers soon, says Sukhbir
Farmers in Doaba to get RS 200 cr more for acquired land
Bathinda escape: Month on, no trace of third fugitive 25,000 new connections to be released under tubewell policy Power corporation engineers threaten to resume stir Excise Inspector dismissed for fudging records Fatehgarh Sahib
hospitals have no women specialists
CCTV cameras to be installed at bus stands
Explain delay in widening of
road: HC to Amritsar admn
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Govt okays Rs 7,500 cr diversification plan
Chandigarh, May 26 The Centre is then expected to extend help, both in terms of money and mechanism, to Punjab to help it achieve the crop diversification target over the next five years. Through crop diversification, the government mainly wants to achieve three goals: check the rapidly falling sub-soil water table, control the mounting power subsidy bill and break the stagnation in terms of yield in the wheat-paddy cycle. Currently, 28 lakh hectares of land is under paddy cultivation in Punjab. The state government wants to bring it down to 16 lakh hectares over the next five years. The average paddy yield in the state since 1999-2000 has been 38 quintals per hectare. The wheat yield stands a bit higher at 45 quintals. Both these crops occupy 77 per cent of the cultivated area in Punjab. As far as the water level is concerned, it has gone down to 20 metres or even below in 50 per cent areas of the state. In central Punjab, the figure stands at 10 metres or more in about 92 per cent of the area. In 1973, there was only 3.7 per cent area with sub-soil water at 10 metres. The action plan includes increasing the area under cotton and basmati cultivation by 2 lakh hectares each; both the crops consume less water as compared to traditional paddy. Besides, the area under maize has been proposed to be increased by 4 lakh hectares, sugarcane by 1.70 lakh hectares, pulses 0.70 lakh hectares, fruits and vegetables by 0.85 lakh hectares, agro forestry by 1.45 lakh hectares and green fodder by 0.50 lakh hectartes. Prepared by Financial Commissioner (Development) Suresh Kumar and Agriculture Adviser to State Government Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu (with the help of other officials of various departments), the plan has eight major components. It includes extensively explained proposed action plan for agriculture, horticulture, agro-forestry, water management, agro-processing, marketing infrastructure, livestock sector and research and development. Providing subsidy on seed, agriculture equipment, plant protection material, fruit saplings, cold store chains and other required infrastructure is also part of the programme. Funds have also been sought for strengthening the research sector at the Punjab Agricultural University and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (both in Ludhiana). At the policy level, the state government has sought regular revision of the minimum support price of alternate crops such as maize, cotton, oilseeds and pulses. It wants that a central agency should procure alternate crops. The state has sought re-determination of the price of ethanol (prepared from maize), special package for the rehabilitation of sugar mills in the cooperative sector, setting up of a regional centre for research in pulses and a centre of excellence for fruits and vegetables, a supportive national export policy, especially through the Wagah and Hussainiwala border posts to Pakistan, Middle East and Central Asia. It also envisages regular cargo flights from Amritsar and Chandigarh, special programme for rural industrialisation to promote agro-processing industry and income tax exemption to dairy, poultry, piggery and other allied sectors. Besides, the plan entails inclusion of eggs and chicken in G-I list to allow export to Pakistan and review of food safety standards in case of cow milk and duty-free import of machinery for the farm, dairy and other allied sectors. For its part, the state government has decided,, besides other measures, to amend the Agriculture Produce Market Committees Act to allow direct marketing and setting up of private markets for the farm and allied sectors.
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Maluka says he is ready for inquiry into book scam by third agency
Chandigarh, May 26 Maluka held a press conference here today. With the Director General of School Education (DGSE), Kahan Singh Pannu, absent, he relied on the Chief Minister’s media adviser Harcharan Bains to carry the day. The minister put up a brave face, saying a hype was needlessly being created about some irregularities committed by a few committees. He maintained that he had been busy in the panchayati raj elections. But as soon as he was told about the irregularities, he had disbanded the committees concerned. Maluka stressed that it was wrong to say that a scam of Rs 9.28 crore had been unearthed with regard to the supply of books to libraries in primary, middle, senior and senior secondary schools from Central Government funds. He said the task of making purchases had been assigned to local committees and that a state-level committee had been set up only to ensure the right selection was done and books were purchased at the right rates. He maintained that books worth only Rs 22 lakh had been purchased and that the entire exercise had been put on hold now. The minister also denied any difference of opinion between him and the DGSE or that the DGSE had been bypassed by the purchase committee formed by him. Bains maintained that the minister was within his rights to form a committee on any issue for the sake of “transparency.” Maluka said the DGSE had conducted a preliminary inquiry into the purchase of books and had issued show-cause notices to all committee members as well as the Sardulgarh- based firm responsible for supplying the books to the schools. He said the respondents had been given a week to respond. Criminal cases would be initiated against them, if need be. When told that his own role in the issue was suspect, Maluka said he was ready for an inquiry by a third agency into the book supply issue as well as his role. He said he would request the Chief Minister for the same at once. Even as the minister played down differences with the DGSE, he targeted an officer, Devinder Singh Boha, who is considered close to Pannu. He claimed Boha had earlier been responsible for objectionable literature which had invited action by Akal Takht and that it was surprising that the same officer had been deputed to write important books again. He claimed that Boha had a clique with a few mediapersons, which he would “prove”. The minister claimed that the State Language Department had supplied substandard books but no one was complaining about the same. Maluka denied that lab manuals had been purchased by the department. He said five firms had only been nominated to supply the manuals and that a final decision on their purchase was yet to be taken. He denied that his daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur, posted as additional state project director, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, had been given any financial powers.
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A Badal loyalist, Maluka on a slippery wicket
Chandigarh, May 26 Maluka is also the district president of Bathinda. Though his constituency Rampura Phul is now attached with the Faridkot parliamentary constituency, Maluka has been an aggressive Akali leader in the Bathinda belt. He proved his worth during the Manpreet Badal crisis when the party needed strong regional leaders by its side. Maluka wears his loyalty on his sleeve. In the runup to the last assembly elections, he had slapped a woman protester who was heckling Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal. Upon his elevation to the Education Ministry, Maluka was among the few ministers who were given a free hand initially. However, he courted controversy when he approved the deputation of his daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur from the Rural and Panchayati Affairs to his department simply on the basis of an application. Parampal Kaur was appointed additional state project director of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, an office which manages crores of rupees coming from the Centre. Parampal Kaur’s boss, Kahan Singh Pannu, was appointed Director General of State Education (DGSE). Considered close to the Chief Minister, Pannu checkmated Maluka on several issues. Selective leaks from the DGSE’s office did not help Maluka’s cause. Sources claim that given these facts, the minister constituted a committee to select books worth Rs 9.28 crore to be purchased under the SSA programme for distribution to schools. This committee, which is said to have bypassed Pannu, took the plea that the State Language Department could not supply such a large number of books and invited quotations from companies through “largely unseen” advertisements. A firm, Friends Enterprises, which had no expertise in such a business and registered as a pipe factory, was chosen for the task. In another scandal, five firms from Ambala were nominated for the supply of lab kits worth Rs 7.5 crore by a committee formed by the minister. As per rules, the DGSE was to disburse the Rashtirya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan grants.The supply of lab kits has now been stopped by the Education Department though kits have reached schools. Earlier, the Education Department had issued a circular making it mandatory for students to purchase practical books from a particular publisher. Sources said the CM was in two minds as serious issues have emerged which need to be redressed. However, the government has to reckon with the fact that Maluka’s dismissal from the Cabinet will give a boost to Congress claims on all-round corruption. Maluka is Chief Minister’s loyalist. His going down will not augur well for the Badal family.
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No senior leader accompanies Jagmeet to Lambi
Muktsar, May 26 Accompanied by district Congress president Gurdas Girdhar and a few others, Brar met the families of about 150 Congress workers booked for their alleged involvement in the May 19 poll violence in which nine vehicles were damaged. Neither Congress’ Lambi assembly constituency in charge Maheshinder Singh Badal, nor his deputy, Gurmeet Singh Khudian accompanied Brar. Brar, who spent 45 minutes in the village, assured the families that justice would be done. He gave an aid of Rs 10,000 to cancer patient Paramjit Kaur. Her husband Gurbhej Singh is among those who have been arrested. A senior Congress leader of Lambi said: “Jagmeet Brar called up yesterday to inform us that he would visit Mann village today. We opposed the decision, telling him PCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa had already announced that he would visit the village on May 27. But he was not willing to change his plans. So we did not accompany him today.” When contacted, Khudian said: “I am not aware if Jagmeet Brar visited Mann village today. I was in Muktsar to attend the bhog ceremony of a party worker.” Jagmeet, however, maintained that since a number of Congress workers were in Muktsar to attend the bhog ceremony of a party worker, they could not accompany him to Mann village. “But the panchayat samiti candidate from Mann did accompany me. Since I had to be in Delhi tomorrow to attend a party meeting, so I came today.” He said the Congress would hold a protest march from Muktsar to Mann village on June 1. Meanwhile, the police last evening arrested five more persons, including a woman, of Mann village. So far, 10 persons have been arrested on the complaint of an Akali worker. Congress’ Malwa zone vice-president Gurpreet Singh Kanger today visited Badal village to make arrangements for Bajwa’s visit to Mann village.
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Allot Amritsar LS seat to Majithia, demands his uncle
Amritsar, May 26 He said the young Majithia had proved his credentials as a legislator and had successfully guided the party to various electoral victories. He said Majithia could put up the demands of border area residents, especially farmers, in Parliament. Raj Mohinder also demanded that heads of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation and the Improvement Trust must belong to the SAD. At present, BJP’s Bakshi Ram Arora is Amritsar Mayor while a PCS officer, Sandeep Rishi, heads the Improvement Trust. But BJP leaders said these appointments had been made after an understanding between senior SAD and BJP leaders and both parties were duty-bound to follow the coalition dharma. Majithia, who is president of the Youth Akali Dal, addressing the rally, said the SAD had made history with its 12th consecutive electoral victory in the past six years. “These wins have paved the way to Delhi.” He claimed the parliamentary elections in 2014 would sound the death knell of the Congress. Majithia said for the Lok Sabha poll, the ruling alliance would field a strong candidate from Amritsar “worthy of Minister’s post in the Union Cabinet.”
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2 BSP workers suspended for indiscipline
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 26 Earlier, while addressing the workers at a meeting Brahman Majra Singh exhorted the members to spread awareness among the people about the policies of the party so that more people could join. BSP state secretary AN Singh, district president Bhim Singh also urged the workers to work hard on increasing the membership of the party. Office Secretary, Ram Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Mohinder Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Naresh Kumar, Bhajan Singh, Darshan Singh, Gurmukh Singh and Major Singh were among those present at the meeting.
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Issue white paper on drug menace: Khaira
Ludhiana, May 26 Talking to The Tribune during his visit to Gill village here today, he said sensational disclosures made by former DGP (Prisons) Shashi Kant on this nexus made it imperative for the government to issue a white paper on the matter. The former DGP has prepared a detailed report on the involvement of politicians and police officials in the drug trade. “The public needs to know the truth,” he said. Demanding resignation of Education Minister SS Maluka in the book scam, he said besides embezzlement of public funds, there had been a large-scale misappropriation of central funds. Seeking a CBI enquiry into the scam, he said the Congress had no faith in the state Vigilance Bureau or the police. Khaira said the Congress lost the zila parishad elections due to “rigging” by the ruling alliance.
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High VAT in Punjab forces steel units to shut down
Unable to bear heavy losses, around 15 to 20 per cent of the manufacturers have been trying to find buyers for their furnaces. Those still operating have decided to cut down on the production by 50 per cent to minimise losses. Mandi Gobindgarh Induction Furnace Association president Mohinder Pal Gupta said over a year ago they had pleaded with the state government for reduction of VAT from 5 per cent to 2 per cent to enable them to continue with the manufacturing process. Gupta said the government until now had failed to initiate any action in the matter. He rued that the state government had done nothing in this regard for the past six years but had only been making announcements that they would introduce a new industrial policy. Gupta said more than 30 per cent of the furnace units had already closed down as high taxes in the state had made business unviable. He said the town was also facing a labour crisis as the number of labourers coming into the state from Bihar had reduced drastically. Gupta further said they had pleaded with the Union Government to give tax concessions to the industries in Punjab on a par with Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh so the industry could survive but to no avail.
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Four years on, Sirhind canal bridge not ready
Ropar, May 26 The bridge that is 134 metres long and 40 metres wide was to be built at a cost of Rs 8.50 crore within 18 months. The bridge using free cantilever technology was to increase connectivity to the Chandigarh-Jalandhar state highway. Since the old bridge has been declared unfit to take the load of heavy vehicles, these can now only enter the town through the mini secretariat route. The upcoming bridge had collapsed on May 30, 2011, when nearly 70 per cent
of the work had been completed. The PWD has missed the deadline twice on December 31 and later on March 31. Bhupesh Sharma of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar said work on the bridge had drastically slowed down in the last six months due to reasons best known to the officials concerned. Ropar PWD Xen Inderjit Singh said the work was almost complete and the load-testing trials were to be undertaken within a couple of weeks. “We hope to open the bridge to
the public next month,” he added.
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Rich heritage on verge of ruin in border belt
Attari (Amritsar), May 26 As of now, those visiting the walled city prefer to leave in a day or two after following the routine trail of the Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the Retreat Ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border. In the absence of any preservation plan, most of these sites have either been damaged or are on the verge of ruin. Ancient frescoes The frescoes inside the ancient Hindu temple at Bhakna village in Attari offer a picture of neglect. Despite being a priceless work of art, it lies in a shambles. So far, neither the state or Union governments nor its caretaker have cared for its heritage value. Several of these frescoes have either been whitewashed or have got buried under modern tiles, both the acts in the name of renovation. Once considered a significant landmark in the border belt, the temple has now lost its original look. Its name, due to its magnificence, often used to find a mention in Punjabi folk songs. But now, it appears to be a modern concrete structure from outside. The temple complex, housing the shrines of Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna and Lord Hanumana, has been built with Nanakshahi bricks. Holy Talab Adjacent to the temple lies the magnificent Talab (holy tank), which has also been constructed with Nanakshahi bricks. It also lies in a dilapidated condition. That it is the ancestral village of Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna, the founder president of Ghadar Party, which played a pivotal role in the freedom struggle, has filed to make any difference. Kumedan tomb Similar is the case at the ‘samadh’ (tomb) of Sardar Punjab Singh Kumedan at Rasulpur village, 25 km from Attari. Kumedan used to be a commander in Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s army. The frescoes here also have been damaged beyond repair. An attempt to restore the wall paintings by cleaning them ruined the frescoes. Several of them have disappeared after the lower portion of the samadh was whitewashed. In sync with the belief that secularism was the hallmark of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh's rule, the frescoes depict paintings of Sikh gurus as also Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman. Naushehra Dhalla site The heritage structures at another border village, Naushehra Dhalla, also reflect the indifferent approach of the authorities. The residence of the once-illustrious Chaudhary family of the area cries for renovation. A royal palace also used to be here once, but it disintegrated over the past few years. It used to be enclosed within four ‘burjs’ (small watch towers), out of which only one remains now. The village is associated with Bibi Sukhan Jee, daughter of Baba Gurbaksh Singh who was the descendant of Baba Budha Ji. She was married in the Chaudhary family. The village is also known for its association with Baba Jallahn Ji, a saint and renowned Punjabi poet of the 16th century. Historic mosque There is also a historic mosque opposite to the burj. This structure also lies deserted and is used by the locals for storing fodder. At a distance of a few metres is an ancient well; its condition is no better either.
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Welfare package for farmers, labourers soon, says Sukhbir
Goraya (Jalandhar), May 26 Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a religious congregation organised to mark the 107th birth anniversary of Sant Tirlok Singh here, Sukhbir said details of the package were being worked out by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. "The Chief Minister will himself announce the package within a fortnight after tying up the loose ends," he said. On the power front, he said by December, the thermal plants at Talwandi Sabo, Goindwal Sahib and Rajpura would get operational. “After that, Punjab will become power-surplus.” Sukhbir said the state government had chalked out a Rs 10,000 crore plan to strengthen the power infrastructure in Punjab. Assuring uninterrupted eight-hour supply to the farm sector for sowing of paddy, he said the power corporation had already made related arrangements from different sources. On the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee’s announcement to build a memorial for the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, he said it was their “internal matter”. ‘Yet to see ex-DGP’s report on jail drug menace’ On the statement by former Director General of Police (Prisons) Shashi Kant that he had, during his tenure, filed a report pointing to the involvement of 185 jail employees in the supply of drugs to inmates, Sukhbir Badal said he was yet to see the report. "But, I assure there will be not let-up in the state government's intensified drive against the drug mafia," he said. While speaking on the alleged nexus between the drug mafia and politicians, Kant had yesterday claimed that he had "names of bigwigs who were facilitating the drug trade".
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Farmers in Doaba to get RS 200 cr more for acquired land
Jalandhar, May 26 Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar has written to the Secretary, Department of Surface Transport, New Delhi, and the Project Director, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Jalandhar, to ensure compliance with the order. It came in the case of Sadhu Singh versus the Union of India. As the acquired area measures just 30 acres 6 kanals and 4 marlas, the solatium and the interest to be given is likely to pinch the NHAI. It will now have to pay an additional Rs 200 crore, over and above the Rs 650 crore it had already paid during acquisition.
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Bathinda escape: Month on, no trace of third
fugitive Bathinda, May 26 The accused, Jaswinder, had made good his escape from Behniwal village despite being surrounded by a police team from all sides. His accomplice and elder brother Kulwinder Singh and Nahar Singh were shot dead in an encounter. Baldev Singh, Jaswinder’s father, alleges there is some mystery behind the disappearance of his son. “We fear he was killed in the encounter. It is surprising that he escaped from the police net despite being surrounded”. He said he had met senior police officials to know the whereabouts of his son. “The police is asking us to produce him, but we do not know his whereabouts. We hope he is alive as our elder son has already been killed,” he said. IG Nirmal Singh Dhillon said the police was conducting raids to trace him. “We suspect he might be hiding in Haryana and Rajasthan. We will nab him soon,” he said.
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25,000 new connections to be released under tubewell policy Chandigarh, May 26 An official release here said to clear the backlog of general category applications pending since long, an additional 50,000 connections would be released through outsourcing in view of financial constraints of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). It said connections registered under this category could not be released in 2012-13. Giving category-wise breakup of 25,000 AP connections to be released in a year, the spokesperson said the general category would be allotted 15,000 connections, priority categories 7,500 and miscellaneous categories 2,500. The policy stipulated that under the general category, 60 per cent of the AP connections (9,000) would be allotted to the applicants comprising small farmers having land holding up to 2.5 acres and without any tubewell connection, 20 per cent (3,000) connections to marginal farmers having land holding of between 2.5 acres and 5 acres whereas the remaining 20 per cent (3,000) connections would be given to big farmers having land holding of more than 5 acres.
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Power corporation engineers threaten to resume stir Jalandhar, May 26 Sanjeev Sood, PSEB Engineers' Association general secretary said the PSPCL authorities had been sitting on their main demands, including a coal management organisation to monitor fuel requirements of private generators and revision of norms for vehicles outsourced. Association president Baldev Singh Sran said: "We feel that there is a deliberate attempt to not to fulfill the commitments made to engineers. This callous attitude of the management has caused a deep unrest among the engineers." Association leaders said the engineers had suspended their agitation on the assurances given by the power corporation management.
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Excise Inspector dismissed for fudging records Patiala, May 26 Verma said Dharminder was posted at ICC, Nangal, and had wrongfully declared that a vehicle with registration number RJ-07-GB-7659, that was noticed at ICC, Kallerkhera, would cross into Himachal Pradesh from ICC, Nangal. “But, the truck filled with tiles did not go to Nangal and unloaded the tiles in Jalandhar and reloaded with rice. It later tried to move out of the state through the ICC, Kallerkhera,” Verma said. However, Excise & Taxation Inspector Jagdev Singh, posted at Kallerkhera, found that the vehicle had not crossed the ICC, Nangal, and so could not have come back to Kallerkhera. He questioned the truck driver who confessed to having unloaded the tiles in Jalandhar. “Later, when the records were checked, it was found that Dharminder Singh had made the bogus entry,” said Verma. The matter was probed by retd IAS officer MMObroi who found the allegations to be correct. Dharminder was later dismissed. Verma said that a few instances had come to his notice where the dealers were getting such bogus entries made at the ICCs. “A strict warning has been issued to all the Excise & Taxation Inspectors posted at ICCs to refrain from indulging in such malpractice,” he said.
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Fatehgarh
Sahib hospitals have no women specialists Fatehgarh Sahib, May 26 But, there is no gynaecologist or a pediatrician posted at the district civil hospital. The patients therefore have to rush to private nursing homes at the last minute. There is only one gynecologist in the entire district. There are hospitals at Bassi Pathana, Khamano, Sanghol, Mandi Gobindgarh, Chanarthal Kalan, Nand Pur Kalour, Khera and Amloh. Majority of these hospitals have only two doctors, a Senior Medical Officer and a Medical Officer. Doctors requesting anonymity said under the Mata Kaushalya Scheme for institutional deliveries, the government provided free medicines, tests, transportation and cash awards to the patients. They said funds were available but patients could not avail the benefits as there were no gynaecologists posted at the hospitals. The staff crunch has also affected the OPD and Emergency services for the worse. Of the 23 sanctioned posts for doctors in the 100-bedded Fatehgarh Sahib Civil Hospital, only nine are filled. It hasn’t had a gynaecologist or a pediatrician for the last two years. The doctors available are put on emergency duty round the clock. They are asked to attend court cases, conduct postmortems, prepare medico-legal reports and attend VVIPs. The patients suffer the most as the doctors are not available. There is shortage of medical officers, para-medical staff, technicians, staff nurses, ward assistants and sweepers. Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal had declared that the hospital would be made a model hospital in the state.
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CCTV cameras to be installed at bus stands
Patiala, May 26 DPS Kharbanda, PRTC Managing Director, said 16 cameras had been installed at the Patiala bus stand. LED screens will also be installed at the bus stands. These will display the arrival and departure timings, counter numbers and bus routes for the convenience of the passengers. “The details of the time table of the buses stationed at the Patiala bus stand along with the video footage could be downloaded from its official website www.patialabusstand.dyndns.tv," said Kharbanda. Kharbanda said CCTV cameras would curb the nefarious activities of anti-social elements and ensure the safety of women passengers as each installed camera would cover at least three counters. He said the GPS (Global Positioning System) would be installed on the
buses to find out the exact number of buses plying.
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Explain delay in widening of
road: HC to Amritsar admn
Amritsar, May 26 Acting on a petition filed by Amritsar resident Manmohan Singh, the High Court has questioned the delay in widening the road leading from GT road to the Golden Temple passing through Ghee Mandi even as a compensation of Rs 8.98 crore has been awarded to 105 affected property owners. The court also took notice of the old buildings in deplorable conditions on both sides of this route. Under the project, the 1.5-km stretch opposite the momentous Jallianwala Bagh till Ghee Mandi is to be widened up to 40 ft to ease congestion on the way to the Golden Temple. The administration had issued notices to residents and traders, asking them to shift their belongings to a safer place. But due to political intervention, the authorities have so far failed to take possession of the required land despite awarding compensation. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said: “We will comply with the directions of the High Court”. The Golden Temple is located in the centre of the walled city. Approach to this Sikh shrine, which receives over 1 lakh visitors daily, is through two main roads. Via Hall Bazaar: Hall Bazaar is a commercial hub of the city. Temporary shops have come up outside Dharam Singh Market and loading/unloading of goods is a common sight in the narrow Katra Ahluwalia. Haphazard parking and encroachments on pedestrian paths in Bazaar Pappara, Brahambuta Market are traffic hazards. Via Ghee Mandi, Sheranwala Gate: Main approach from the GT road. Both these roads are in a deplorable condition. On the Sheranwala Gate road, a flyover has been made, but it ends at Saragarhi parking meant for personal vehicles. Encroachments and parking of heavy trucks on the road below the flyover lead to chaos. The only alternative for a hassle-free ride to the Golden Temple is left with widening of the Ghee Mandi road, adjoining the Sheranwala Gate.
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Keen to shift 12 lakh hectares of land from water-guzzling paddy to other crops, the Punjab Government has finalised a Rs 7,500 crore action plan.
With the Punjab Congress baying for his removal owing to various scams in his ministry, Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka is in a damage-control mode.
Congress Working committee (CWC) member Jagmeet Brar today met the aggrieved families of Mann village. No senior leader of Lambi accompanied him. Pradesh Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa is to visit Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home turf tomorrow.
Be it the frescoes of ancient temples or the centuries old tombs, this border belt of Punjab has lots to boast about in terms of heritage. All these sites could have been a huge draw for tourists visiting Amritsar had the state government chalked out a plan to preserve and promote them.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the state government would soon announce a comprehensive package for the welfare of farmers and
labourers, including those in the farm sector.
Taking cognisance of traffic congestion and hassles en route the Golden Temple, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice of motion to the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner and the Executive Officer of the Improvement Trust, directing them to furnish affidavits by May 29 and explain why the road widening project on this route could not be executed till date.
Mandi Gobindgarh, May 26