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Nod to regularise illegal colonies
Reserved assembly seats may soon rise
PSEB to keep question papers in bank lockers
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Farmers rejoice even as rain delays sowing
District officials told to collect samples of supplements promising body growth
PEDA finalises allocation of 250-MW solar power projects
Rights violation: US Sikh group challenges court relief to Badal
Nanakshahi Calendar row set to end soon
Memorial row: Sarna gets Calcutta’s backing
Main accused in YC leader’s murder held
Cop dismissed for ‘sodomising’ boy
Mystery shrouds BSF man’s death
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Nod to regularise illegal colonies
Chandigarh, June 15 For the past several months, realtors had been lobbying hard to get their illegal colonies regularised from the state government. The move, though, would defeat the very purpose of setting up bodies like the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) for ensuring planned growth of cities. A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said the policy approved today would provide relief to about 5,000 colonies and 2 lakh individuals plot holders/building owners across the state. It would facilitate basic civic amenities to the residents of these areas. The policy would be applicable for a period of one year: from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014. Only those unapproved colonies or buildings constructed before April 1, 2013, would be considered under the policy. This would be a one-time opportunity for the colonisers and plot holders to get their violations regularised. However, colonies or buildings constructed on the land belonging to the state or the Union Government or the area covered under the Punjab Land Preservation Act or Waqf Board would not be considered under the policy. Applications for regularisation would be accepted within 60 days from the date of notification of the policy. The colonisers will have to pay composition fee for at the rate of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per acre. Similarly, individual plot/building owners will have to shell out Rs 50 to Rs 500 per square yard. The money so collected would be used for providing basic amenities in the affected area. If any coloniser fails to apply within 60 days, legal proceedings through registration of an FIR would be initiated. In case of individual plot or building owners, the penalty would be snapping of their power, water and sewerage connections. Travelling allowance of legislators set to be hiked The Cabinet decides to amend the Punjab Ministers’ Travelling Allowance Rules 1953 and the Chief Parliamentary Secretary/ Parliamentary Secretary Travelling Allowance Rules 2006 Once amnded, the MLAs’ allowances will be enhanced from Rs 12 to Rs 15 per km in case the legislators use their private vehicles It approves creation of posts for new sessions divisions at Pathankot and Barnala Gives nod to amend the Punjab Mechanical Vehicles (Bridges and Roads Tolls) Act 1998 to rationalise levy and collection of toll
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Reserved assembly seats may soon rise to 37
Muktsar, June 15 Political bigwigs, including Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Hans Raj Josan, Cabinet Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, Dr Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Vardev Singh Mann and former MP Jagmeet Brar, will have to find other constituencies to represent in the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat and three Assembly constituencies under this seat are likely to be reserved for the SC community as Rai Sikhs form the majority of the population here. Gurdip Warwal, former Deputy Ambassador and President of All India Rai Sikhs Samaj Sudhar Sabha, said, “Parliament passed 11 bills for the inclusion of over 550 SC and ST castes between the years 2002 and 2012. Rai Sikhs were recognised as an SC community in Punjab on August 30, 2007. Mochi, Barwala, Mazhabi Sikhs, Ravidasia, Ravidasia Sikh, Ramdasia and Ramdasia Sikhs were also included awarded SC status in 2002. But, Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Punjab were last reserved in 2008 on the basis of Census, 2001. Therefore SCs in the state were not properly represented.” Warwal said, “A Bill was introduced in this regard on March 14 in Rajya Sabha by the then Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, after it was cleared by the Union Cabinet that was chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. “The purpose of the Bill is to empower the Election Commission of India to readjust the reserved seats as per the revised population of SC/ST lists in India and it was referred to the Standing Committee on March 18. The Standing Committee headed by Shanta Ram Naik, had placed its report before Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on May 2,” Warwal said. He said the Budget session was shortened by two days and adjourned on May 8. Then, the President of India issued an ordinance in this regard and the Election Commission began working on the issue, Warwal said. He further said as per the Census, 2011, SC community increased to form 31.9 per cent (88,60,179) of the population in Punjab. “Rai Sikhs population is estimated at 8.5 lakh in Punjab as per Census, 2011. Therefore, of the total 117 seats in the state, the existing 34 reserved seats for SCs are to be increased to 37,” claimed Warwal. He said that in the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat, 42.2 per cent of the total population was SC. In the state, this seat represents the highest number of people belonging to the SC community and the second highest in the country, he said. “So, as per the Constitution, it has to be reserved the SC community. Interestingly, during the last parliamentary elections the last MP seat (among 132 reserved MP seats) to be reserved had 24 per cent SC population.” When contacted, MP Ferozepur, Sher Singh Ghubaya of the SAD, said, “It is a big achievement for the community that an ordinance has been issued for the readjustment of representation of SCs and STs in Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies. Besides others, nearly 3 lakh Rai Sikhs of Ferozepur will benefit from this move.” Ghubaya said that the process of readjustment of seats had begun and the constituencies will be reserved on the basis of the figures in Census, 2011.” Probable changes The existing 34 reserved seats for SCs in the state may be increased to 37 Fazilka,
Jalalabad, Guruharsahai assembly constituencies and Ferozepur Lok Sabha constituency to be reserved Politicians to be hit Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, Hans Raj Josan, Cabinet Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, Dr Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Vardev Singh Mann and former MP Jagmeet Brar
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PSEB to keep question papers in bank lockers
Mohali, June 15 The decision is reported to have been taken at a meeting of District Education Officers and Chairperson of the board Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal. Sources said the decision would be implemented during the supplementary examinations for Classes X and XII. The board had taken a serious note of question papers being leaked during the examinations in March. In the new mechanism, the question papers will be kept in lockers at various branches of Punjab and Sind Bank and HDFC Bank. Sources further said superintendents of the examination centres would take the question papers from the lockers half an hour before the commencement of the examination. The sealed packets would be opened in the presence of the supervisory staff and distributed among the examinees. The earlier practice of sending the question papers to the controllers of the examination centres two days in advance has been stopped. Even though the packets containing the question papers were marked with three seals earlier, papers were still leaked. New mechanism n The question papers will be kept in lockers at various branches of Punjab and Sind Bank and HDFC Bank n Superintendents of the examination centres will take the question papers from the lockers half an hour before the commencement of the examination
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Farmers rejoice even as rain delays sowing
Jalandhar, June 15 Soon after the start of paddy sowing season, the rain has brought smile on the faces of farmers as the crop requires a lot of water for its cultivation. At least 20 per cent of total water is required at the time of its transplantation and the requirement has been fulfilled by an early arrival of rain. The Meteorological Department said 54.7 mm rain was recorded in Jalandhar and its neighbouring areas on Saturday. Parwinder Singh of Shikarpur village of Kapurthala said, “I started sowing paddy on June 10 and the rain has saved a lot of money to be spent on diesel for running motors for irrigation.” However, all the paddy growers are not as lucky since several feet high water has accumulated in the low-lying fields which damaged a portion of the sown paddy crop. Besides, some farmers have yet not sown paddy and their fields are inundated as a result of which they have been forced to delay transplantation of paddy. Sardool Singh of Jainpur village said, “My fields are located in a low-lying area and several feet high rain water has accumulated in the fields. I have yet not started sowing of paddy and the rain has further delayed the crop transplantation by several days.” Agriculture Director Mangal Singh Sandhu said, “The rain has proved a boon not only for the paddy growers but for all other farmers who have sown other crops, including cotton and sugarcane.” “This is for the first time in the past several years that rain has coincided with paddy sowing season. The only problem that farmers will face due to a heavy rain is of excess weed but there are several ways to get rid of it.”
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tribune impact
Sangrur, June 15 In a letter written on June 13 to all civil surgeons, designated officers (Food Safety) and food safety officers, Dr HS Bali, State Nodal Officer, Food Safety, Punjab, has asked them to submit the action taken report within three weeks. All six samples of the powdered food supplements taken in Sangrur district in the past two months had failed to meet the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) norms in a test conducted by the Food Analyst, Punjab. The powdered food supplements are very popular among the youth for rapid growth of their body. “The department is well conversant to regulate the sale of ethical food supplements but keeping in view the present scenario, you are directed that samples of food supplements must be seized in appropriate numbers under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules 2011, and must be got analysed from the State Food Health Laboratory, Chandigarh,” Dr Bali has directed the district health authorities in his letter. He has also told the officials that action against the defaulters be initiated under the Act, if any sample is found below the prescribed standards. District Health Officer (DHO)-cum-designated officer, Food Safety, Sangrur, Dr Surinder Singla today said they had already taken a lead in collecting the maximum number of samples of body growth food supplements. He said as all the six samples taken by them had failed to meet the FSSA norms, they would now further intensify their drive against such food supplements.
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PEDA finalises allocation of 250-MW solar power projects
Chandigarh, June 15 Punjab Non Conventional Energy Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said the projects would be allocated to 27 companies whose financial bids were opened yesterday under the Reverse Tariff-based bidding carried out by PEDA. Majithia said big companies such as Lanco Solar, Punj Loyd, Asopus and Azure would set up solar power projects ranging from 10 to 30MW. Smaller companies have also been allocated projects ranging from 1-4MW. Majithia further said that the tariff quoted for these projects ranges from Rs 7.20 to Rs 8.71 for projects of 1 to 4 MW capacity and Rs 7.56 to Rs 8.74 for projects above the capacity of 5.30MW. The companies would sign the Long-Term Power Purchase Agreement for 25 years with PSPCL at the tariff quoted by them. He said these projects would be completed and commissioned by December 31.
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Rights violation: US Sikh group challenges court relief to Badal
Washington, June 15 A month ago, a US District Court in Wisconsin had dismissed the case against Badal noting that he was never served the summons by the Sikhs for Justice (SJF) and SAD (Amritsar), which had filed the rights violations case against him. Challenging the order of the Wisconsin Court, the alleged victims of human rights violations by Badal, represented by the Chicago-based Pavich Law Group, filed the review petition yesterday. Urging the US Court of Appeals to hear the Sikh human rights violations case against Badal, the SFJ, in a statement, said it will present the contemporary evidence showing witness tampering, obstruction of justice and harassment of US-based victims of human rights violation by Badal administration. — PTI
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Nanakshahi Calendar row set to end soon
Amritsar, June 15 In a major turnaround, the PSGPC has softened its stance and hinted it was willing to follow the amended version of the calendar. The SGPC too has responded positively. Talking to The Tribune on the phone from Pakistan, PSGPC president Sham Singh said, “We are ready to follow the amended calendar if the Akal Takht intimates us in writing that the amended version has been approved by it.” He said they would have even observed the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev on June 12 (as per the amended calendar) had the SGPC intimated them a month in advance. He alleged the SGPC didn't keep them in the loop and tried to sabotage their programme by applying for visas from June 4 to 13 despite knowing they will be observing gurpurab on June 16. On the other hand, he said, they extended an invitation to the Sikh Sangat for the event three months in advance. He said the Akal Takht was the supreme authority for the Sikhs and they would never defy it. He said the SGPC should take along the Sikhs living in other countries like Pakistan, the US, Canada and the UK on key issues, including the Nanakshahi Calendar, concerning the religion. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar denied the allegations. He, however, said they were willing to put in efforts to get the PSGPC to follow the amended calendar. He said the SGPC would soon extend a formal invitation to the PSGPC for holding talks over the issue. "We are willing to help them in every possible way in following the amended version of the calendar. We will also provide them all the relevant documents and literature," he said. The two Sikh bodies have been at loggerheads over the issue for the last two years. Due to this reason, an SGPC jatha was twice denied visa to Pakistan to observe the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev.
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Memorial row: Sarna gets Calcutta’s backing
Amritsar, June 15 In the letter, a copy of which was released to the media here today, Calcutta, a former minister, said the Sikh community could never forget how thousands of Sikhs were massacred on the streets of New Delhi in 1984 and a memorial should definitely be built to commemorate the tragedy. But, he said, it should not be inside the gurdwara premises. He said the Akal Takht belonged to the entire Sikh Panth and its decision, therefore, should be in the interest of the community and not in that of political leaders. The Takht has summoned Sarna on June 17 for allegedly opposing the memorial’s construction.
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Main accused in YC leader’s murder held
Tarn Taran, June 15 Sukhraj was shot dead on May 8. Senior Superintendent of Police RS Hundal said efforts were on to arrest the remaining accused, Hardeep Singh and Ranbir Singh Rana. Congress leader Harminder Singh Gill, who had launched an agitation, said the real motive behind the murder should be brought out. Punjab Youth Congress president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhry said they would continue their fight in the court for ensuring justice to the bereaved family. — OC
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Cop dismissed for ‘sodomising’ boy
Jalandhar, June 15 Kumar, who was posted at Police Station Division Number 4 under the Commissionerate Police, has been arrested by the Jalandhar Rural Police and dismissed from services. The victim, son of a migrant labourer, was admitted to the Civil Hospital last evening. Victim’s father Arjun Pandey, belonging to a village in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, had rented a room from Kumar at Gadaipur locality near Focal Point here. The accused, hailing from Sheikhupura village of Kapurthala, reportedly has had a strained relationship with his wife for over 13 years and has a 14-year-old daughter. The boy’s both parents were away at work when Kumar called him to his room and allegedly sodomised him. The boy, bleeding badly, managed to flee to his parents. Kumar fled once he realised the boy had told his parents about the incident. Doctors at the Civil Hospital said the traumatised boy was stable now. A case under Section 377 (unnatural offences) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC was registered at Maqsudan Police Station. The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Poice confirmed the development. Rajinder Singh, Superintendent of Police, said Kumar had admitted to the offence.
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Mystery shrouds BSF man’s death Fazilka, June 15 He was shifted to the local Civil Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The police has registered a case under Section 174 (unnatural death) of the CrPC. “The viscera of the deceased has been sent to government laboratory at Kharar for chemical examination. The exact cause would be ascertained after the post-mortem report is released,” said Dr Narinder Kumar Sethi. — OC
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Former SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh Calcutta has come out in the support of DSGMC ex-chief Paramjit Singh Sarna by writing a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar and terming the move to construct the 1984 Sikh Genocide Memorial in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib premises as a step against the tenets of Sikhism and a violation of the historic traditions.