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Illegal mining rampant in border villages
All decisions being taken jointly with BJP: Sukhbir
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PEDA shifts focus on bio mass projects
Rajindra Hospital docs refer tests to private labs
SAD: Language bias behind unemployment among Sikhs
Minor’s rape: NCW seeks report from police
7 years on, state yet to enforce amended rights Act
SGPC wants no vehicles in Golden Temple’s vicinity
Punjab schools barred from promoting films
Despite thefts, security yet to be stepped up at Patiala hostel
Public Health Dept tops list of defaulters
Identify NGOs with names similar to govt bodies, HC tells Punjab
NRI medical students can appear for counselling, says HC
PG courses: RMOs can compete for vacant quota seats, says HC
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Illegal mining rampant in border villages
Amritsar, July 29 Concerned over the ecological damage, various farmer organisations in the border district have now taken it upon themselves to wage a war against the sand mafia. They have been staging protests outside the Ajnala Sub-Divisional Magistrate's office as part of their statewide agitation. Jamhuri Kisan Sabha Punjab president Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala said there were at least 30 to 35 sites in Ajnala sub-division where the sand mafia was resorting to illegal mining. “Rules suggest they cannot excavate sand beyond 10 feet, but here they are going as deep as 35 to 40 feet. This is not only damaging the ‘dhussi bundh’, thus making the area vulnerable to floods, but also the approach roads to the villages,” he said. Ajnala claimed the mafia was also excavating sand beyond the permissible limit at the legal mining sites. The Tribune team also visited Raipur Kalan, Sarangdev villages and nearby areas and found that illegal sand mining was on with trucks and trailers queuing up for their turn. Alleging that those wielding political clout were behind the illegal activity, Ajnala claimed the mafia was fleecing the sand contractors who in turn were charging exorbitant rates from customers. He said every 100 cubic feet of sand should ideally cost Rs 357, which included Rs 97 as royalty to the government, Rs 97 as ‘maalkana’ to the land owner, Rs 121 to the labour and Rs 45 to the contractor. “However, it is costing Rs 600 to Rs 650. Besides, the land mafia is extorting another Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600 per trailer from the contractors,” he added. Consequently, the farmer leader said, a trailer-load of sand was being sold at double the genuine price in Amritsar. He claimed 500 to 600 trucks and trailers of sand were being illegally excavated daily in Ajnala. He also alleged that the sand mafia was forcing the contractors to pay labour charges as well as ‘maalkana’ twice for a single consignment. The BSF too is bearing the brunt of the illegal mining in the border villages of Ajnala as approach roads had got damaged due to the heavy movement of trucks loaded with sand. As such, the BSF was finding it difficult to ensure the smooth movement of its personnel along the border with Pakistan, an official said. Sources said the BSF had taken up the matter with the district administration a few months ago and subsequently, some police officials in the affected area were also shifted. Though the illegal mining (along the roads used by the BSF) had been stopped, the roads were still in a bad shape. On the other hand, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said they were acting tough against illegal sand mining activities and that there was no let-up in the vigil to curb the menace. On the mining department facing staff crunch and alleged non-availability of police to counter the sand mafia, he said they did not let these issues affect the drive against illegal mining. On the BSF’s problem, he said they were getting the crucial roads redone under MNREGA. “The BSF has no operational problem in the border area,” he claimed.
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All decisions being taken jointly with BJP: Sukhbir
Jalandhar, July 29 Speaking on the sidelines of a function here at the PAP complex related to the promotion of 997 police personnel, he claimed that "every decision is taken by the SAD-BJP Government unanimously". He failed to give a satisfactory reply on the need to set up a review committee for regularising the colonies, if the decision was taken unanimously. Sukhbir tried to play down the e-trip issue. "I do not want to comment on the matter," he said. On the setting up of a special investigating team (SIT) to probe "fake encounters" during the days of militancy, the Deputy CM was evasive, saying the matter was yet to be discussed. Earlier, 997 police personnel given out-of-turn promotion were decorated by the Deputy Chief Minister at an impressive ceremony. As many as 39 Deputy Superintendents of Police
(DSPs) have been promoted as SPs, 136 Inspectors as DSPs, 246 Sub-Inspectors as Inspectors, 305 Assistant Sub-Inspectors
(ASIs) as Sub-Inspectors and 271 Head Constables as ASIs. Sukhbir announced the promotion of 300 more Head Constables. In September 2011, as many as 5,199 police personnel were promoted. State police chief Sumedh Singh Saini said a record 20,000 policemen had been recruited at different levels. Police jawans put up an impressive motorcycle stunt show on the occasion.
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PEDA shifts focus on bio mass projects
Chandigarh, July 29 The state's Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy had recently allocated solar power projects worth Rs 2,500 crore to both large and small players in a bid to give a fillip to green energy in the state. The state has an installed solar power capacity of a mere 10 MW. To add value to paddy straw and ensure that farmers are able to get a good remuneration for the same, the ministry has decided to encourage bio mass projects in a big way, Non-Conventional Energy Minister Bikram Majithia said here today. The state has an installed capacity of 62 MW as far as bio mass projects are concerned even as an additional 60 MW capacity bio mass projects are underway. Majithia said PEDA had been asked to study the technology challenges of bio mass projects using paddy straw. This was because paddy straw was available for a limited period. He said the agency had come up with a viable alternative in which it had recommended the use of mixed fuel, including cotton stalks and lantana, to make the projects viable throughout the year. Giving an example of the cascading effect bio mass projects could have on the state's rural economy, Majithia said a 10 MW project would be inaugurated by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal at Khokhar Khurd village in Mansa district on July 31. It would come up at a cost of Rs 64 crore. He said the project would give direct employment to 250 persons and indirect employment to at least 1,000. He said the project would need raw material, including paddy straw, which would be sourced from 50 neighbouring villages. The farmers would be ensured an income of around Rs 1,500 per acre by way of sale of paddy straw alone, Majithia said.
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Rajindra Hospital docs refer tests to private labs
Patiala, July 29 Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary of the Medical Education and Research Department, during her recent visit to the hospital, had directed the hospital authorities to conduct all tests at the hospital. One of the security guards, requesting anonymity, said doctors allowed the technicians in when they tried to
stop them Even the Principal had ordered doctors not to refer patients to private labs, warning that serious
action would be taken against violators. Another guard said the matter had been highlighted several times but to no avail. He said several doctors connived with owners of private laboratories and referred patients to
these labs and shared the revenue generated from the tests. One of the senior doctors said the hospital was not fully equipped to conduct all the tests. “Tests such as Prothrombin Time Index and Hepatitis A and C markers are not available at the hospital and when the technicians are called to collect the samples, they persuade the patients to get the
tests done from outside,” he said. Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr VK Sharda, said, “Though I have not received any complaints, I will ask security guards to contact me when they notice such cases. We will take strict action against those who violate the rules.”
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SAD: Language bias behind unemployment among Sikhs
The party said one of the key reasons for the Sikhs being the most unemployed religious group in urban areas was disregard for the Punjabi language in official circles. A survey by the NSSO says that the unemployment rate among the Sikhs has gone up from 4.6 per cent in 2004-05 to 6.1 per cent in 2009-10. Party spokesman Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said it was disturbing that the Punjabi language was not being accorded due recognition in the state capital, Chandigarh. He said the Chandigarh Administration was to recruit 246 conductors in the CTU and the aspirants were to apply for the job by August 26. They were required to have a conductor’s licence. However, the department concerned maintained that those who had passed the matric exam with Punjabi, not Hindi, as the main subject were not eligible for the licence, Ramoowalia said. He alleged this decision had been taken by the authorities concerned to deny jobs to unemployed youths who had preferred Punjabi to Hindi in the matric exam. Ramoowalia said all Punjabis, irrespective of their political affiliations, should come together to fight against such discrimination against the Punjabi language in Chandigarh. “When countries like Canada and UK are giving Punjabi due space in their administrative setup, the language is being pushed out from government institutions in our own country,” Ramoowalia alleged. He said the SAD would fight against such“discrimination” being perpetrated in the name of language. He said the Delhi University too had diluted the importance of Punjabi. Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) spokesperson Jaswant Singh Mann said owing to the failure of the ruling SAD, the Punjabi language was being sidelined in the country. “Parkash Singh Badal and his son have failed to protect the interest of the Punjabi language and Punjabis in the country,” he alleged. “The Central Government should give reasons why the unemployment rate in the country is the highest among the Sikhs,” he demanded, adding that it was because of unemployment that young Sikh youths were migrating abroad in large numbers.
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Bajwa for poll truck with Manpreet
Doda (Muktsar), July 29 “One seat may be given to the Sanjha Morcha, although it is too early to comment in this regard. All secular parties must get united to fight the Lok Sabha elections,” said Bajwa. The PCC president today, as part of his mass contact programme, visited Doda village in the Gidderbaha assembly segment. Speaking on the occasion, Bajwa claimed: “There is no factionalism in the party. I am getting support from all levels.” He targeted the Badals a number of times in his speech. “The Badal family is holding 27 of the 40 departments with them. They have failed to fulfill even a single promise made in their election manifesto,” alleged Bajwa while showing a copy of the SAD manifesto. On the state Congress executive team, Bajwa said the list had been delayed as party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed had gone abroad for 15 days. The PCC president also hinted that he might not contest the Lok Sabha elections. “The decision has to be taken by the high command. At present, I am busy touring the state. I will thus be having less time for the area represented by me”. When asked to comment on the statements by Union leaders that one-time meal can be bought by Rs 5, Bajwa said: “Those giving such statements are far from reality. They have studied at Harward University and not aware of the facts”. Bajwa later went to the house of party worker belonging to the Scheduled Caste at Doda village and had lunch there. He also visited a community health centre in the village to take stock of the situation. No doctor was present at the centre. Local MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also accused Badal of ignoring his constituency
Gidderbaha.
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Minor’s rape: NCW seeks report from police
New Delhi, July 29 The NCW will also visit Jagraon for an on-the-spot inquiry into the case. The key accused, Parminder Singh, sarpanch of Kothe Fatehdin village, has absconded. Strangely, the victim’s aunt is behind bars for abetting the crime. The 16-year-old victim has since stopped going to school and remains confined to her house. Daughter of a rickshaw-puller, she lost her mother some time ago and was residing with her aunt and uncle at Kothe Fatehdin village. The NCW took up the case today after a public hearing organised by the All-India Agricultural Workers Union, the farmers’ support wing of the CPM, in Jagraon yesterday. The joint secretary of the union, Suneet Chopra, who attended the public hearing, petitioned the NCW and sought safety for the girl, considering the prime accused has not been arrested despite the fact that he possessed arms. “The village has a 95 per cent Dalit population. But the sarpanch, elected as the SAD nominee, is a non-Dalit. The police is just not acting against him,” Chopra told The Tribune, pointing towards a pattern of Dalit violence across Punjab, especially after the panchayat elections. Leaders of the union met the victim yesterday. “She told us she is afraid that the accused may not be arrested. She fears for her life. We have recorded testimonies at the public hearing of how the Akalis are mobilising support for the accused,” Chopra said.
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7 years on, state yet to enforce amended rights Act
Chandigarh, July 29 Taking exception, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed that the state of Punjab “must examine the issue of bringing into force the amended provisions of Section 21”. Section 21 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, provides that a “state government may constitute a body to be known as the Human Rights Commission”. In terms of the Amending Act, various provisions were sought to be amended, including Section 21. Clause 12 of the Amending Act sought to amend Section 21. The provision for a minimum of seven years' experience as a district judge for one of the members was sought to be incorporated in Section 21. At the same time, the clause added “with effect from such date as the state government may by notification specify”. During the hearing of a PIL challenging the appointment of LR Roojam as Punjab Human Rights Commission member, the counsel for the state of Punjab asserted that the state was yet to issue a notification “to bring into force this aspect of the amending Act”. Dismissing the petition, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih asserted: “We are of the view that the petitioner has a conception that the composition of the Commission stands modified as per the Amending Act while the fact is that as per the Amending Act itself it has been left to the state government to notify the date from which the composition was to be changed and the state of Punjab has not changed the composition by notifying the same as yet. “We may, however, add in the end that the state of Punjab must examine the issue of bringing into force the amended provisions of Section 21, for which the right has been conferred on the state of Punjab by the amended enactment”. Roojam’s appointment was challenged by petitioner Amandeep Singh. In his petition filed in public interest, he had sought the quashing of an order issued on October 27, 2008, appointing him as the member. The petitioner had contended that Rojam did not possess the requisite experience of seven years in Punjab. In fact, his experience in the state was four years, five months and 21 days.
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SGPC wants no vehicles in Golden Temple’s vicinity
The suggestion came during the hearing of a petition for ensuring the Golden Temple does not lose its sheen to pollution. In its reply, the SGPC also made it clear that it proposed to give subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas for gurdwara langar to reduce the use of wood. The
SGPC, in fact, recommended a ban on diesel, kerosene and petrol-operated autorickshaws in the area. In alternative, it suggested the use of CNG or battery-operated rickshaws. It also recommended installation of smoke-control devices at the cremation grounds and factories in the city. It also suggested the construction of
multi-storeyed parking for heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses, tempos and tractors. The case will now come up for further hearing on September 10. The havoc environmental pollution is playing with the Golden Temple had come under the judicial scanner about two years back, with the court calling for putting in place some mechanism to check pollution in the vicinity. The matter was placed before the Bench after Justice Ranjit Singh had taken suo motu cognisance of a letter written by one Gursewak Singh to the Prime Minister, with a copy addressed to him. Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “One Gursewak Singh has addressed a letter in Punjabi to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, sharing concern about pollution being caused to Sri Harmandar Sahib at
Amritsar…. “I have received a copy of this letter through post, which is enclosed in original. As per the letter, the industry in and around the area is causing pollution to the gold plates fixed on the domes of the Gurdwara Sahib. “There has also been discolouration of white marble. As per this letter, even some invaluable mural paintings are getting spoiled.”
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Punjab schools barred from promoting films
Faridkot, July 29 In a letter (No 10/183-2013 SS, dated July 11) issued to all District Education Officers (DEOs), the director has warned the schools against any such film promotion in the school buildings. The director even asked the school authorities to desist from making use of school buildings for any other public function as it disturbs the studies of the students. The director said in case a school violates the orders, the DEO is supposed to bring the matter to the notice of the DC and the SDM of the area for necessary action. The director's warning came following a complaint by Jaspal Singh, a resident of Tarn Tarn. In a complaint to the Grievances Redressal Cell of the Education Department on March 19, Jaspal Singh alleged that for the last few years, film makers, producers, heroes and heroines were going to colleges, schools and universities for the promotion of their films. He called this trend ridiculous and said that it was causing disturbance to the studies of students and promoted vulgarity. In his complaint to Grievances Redressal Cell, Jaspal Singh also sent a copy of a letter of the Director General School Education (DGSE), Punjab, which the latter had sent to all DEOs on February 24 this year. In this letter ( No. 2013/DGSE/Coordination/003880), the DGSE had asked the schools to discontinue all local functions/rural sports fair in the school buildings as it was disturbing the studies of students. Directing that henceforth no school building be allowed for private and public functions or sports fair, the DGSE said only a sports event could be held on a holiday. In his complaint, Jaspal Singh said despite the directions of the DGSE, programmes of film stars were being organised in educational institutions in Punjab for the promotion of their films.
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Despite thefts, security yet to be stepped up at Patiala hostel
Patiala, July 29 These incidents have unnerved the girls, whose requests for additional security have fallen on deaf ears. One of the girls, on condition of anonymity, said, “When the thief broke in, the girl raised the alarm but as no security personnel turned up, the thief stole her laptop. We have complained to the college authorities, but no action has been taken on the matter.” Another girl said she found one of the guards drunk when she had gone to inform him about a trespasser walking in the corridors. "We had to persuade the guards for about 10 minutes to confront the trespasser and in the meantime he escaped. We are scared and are thinking of shifting to a guesthouse.” The girls said they had to work in the night at the hospital, especially in the Paediatrics and Gynaeocology Department, and there were hardly any security guards around at that time. The shift timings were from 6 pm to 2 am and 2 am to 10 am. “The authorities should at least provide some security when the shift changes,” they rued. College Principal Dr KD Singh said he had already reported the theft incident to the police. “We have asked the office of the Director of Research and Medical Education to provide us with five more security guards for the hostel. We plan to install grills in the windows and erect a wire fence around the boundary wall of the hostel. Moreover, we have begun to keep a record of every person visiting the hostel,” added Dr Singh.
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Public Health Dept tops list of defaulters
Jalandhar, July 29 The Public Health Department tops the defaulters’ list with arrears amounting to more than Rs 22.21
crore. Its offices in Hoshiarpur owe over Rs 13.47 crore to the power utility, those in Nawanshahr Rs 5.82
crore, in Kapurthala Rs 2.40 crore and in Jalandhar district Rs 51.18
lakh. Government hospitals and dispensaries in the Doaba region owe over Rs 1.65 crore to the utility. Hospitals in Hoshiarpur owe Rs 91.41
lakh, those in Nawanshahr Rs 34.29 lakh, in Kapurthala Rs 31.89 lakh and in Jalandhar Rs 7.69
lakh.
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Identify NGOs with names similar to govt bodies, HC tells Punjab
Chandigarh, July 29 The PIL, filed by advocate HC Arora, seeks directions to the Punjab Government to investigate the conduct of one Sikander Singh, self- styled chief of Mohali-based “Rashtriya Sarv Sikhsha Authority, Mohali” and Delhi-based organisation called “Rashtriya Sarv Sikhsha Authority”. Arora had earlier alleged that the society had invited applications for filling up 2,529 posts of computer personnel across Punjab and collected money by way of application fee. The society stated in its public notice that it was a Government of India undertaking. The society operating from Mohali had also issued public notices for employment to unemployed youngsters by opening computer centres all over Punjab. It had also issued appointment letters to unemployed candidates and collected a security of Rs 20,000 each. They were neither allowed to join, nor paid the salary. In fact, the society did not open any computer centre. During the course of hearing, the Bench was also informed that the Mohali Police had registered an FIR against Sikander Singh on the allegations of committing fraud on unemployed persons. The Bench also directed Delhi-based “Rashtriya Sarv Sikhsha Abhiyan” to deposit the amount collected by it from Sikander Singh-its franchise, or to face further action, including custodial interrogation, in pursuance of the FIR. The PIL will now come up for further hearing on August 23.
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NRI medical students can appear for counselling, says HC
Chandigarh, July 29 The permission came after the university counsel said that the application forms of the petitioners would be accepted and merit prepared accordingly. In one of the petitions filed through counsel Prabhjeet Singh Sullar, NRI student Simran Hayer and other petitioners had sought directions to the State of Punjab and the university to consider them for admission to MBBS and BDS, without appearing in the national eligibility-cum-entrance test (NEET-2013). Sullar said the petitioners were aggrieved by the notification dated June 5, as it “eclipsed their right to take admission”. Going into the background of the controversy, he contended that the admission to MBBS and BDS courses in Punjab colleges were earlier being conducted on the basis of pre-medical entrance, as prescribed through notification dated March 31, 2008. As per the notification, 15 per cent seats were earmarked for NRIs. The candidates for NRI seats were to be admitted on merit, determined on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examination; and they were not required to take the entrance test. But, they were not even considered for admission to MBBS/BDS course “on the pretext that they had not appeared in the national eligibility-cum-entrance test, as stipulated in the notification dated June 5. Sullar said the notification was issued on June 5, while NEET had taken place on May 5. As such, it was virtually impossible for the petitioners to appear in the examination. He said till the holding of NEET 2013, the respondent State of Punjab had not issued notice for adopting the June 2013 notification for regulating the procedure for filling seats falling in the NRI category. Rather the procedure prescribed in the prospectus continued to remain operative. As such, there was no requirement for the NRIs to take the entrance test.
Case details
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PG courses: RMOs can compete for vacant quota seats, says HC
Chandigarh, July 29 The Bench clarified that there would be no disturbance of the already allocated seats in the general category. But whatever seats remain vacant and/or spill over from the 60 per cent seats reserved for in-service doctors, the RMOs would also compete. The High Court has already made it clear that rural medical officers, working with zila parishads in Punjab, cannot be equated with PCMS in-service doctors. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih observed that the cadre was different for both posts and the rural medical officers would be given benefit of the rural service rendered by them under zila parishads after their selection in the PCMS. Similar findings were earlier given by a Single Judge. The ruling is significant as the RMOs are, as such, not entitled to be considered for 60 per cent seats in post-graduate degree/diploma courses in the health sciences institutions. These seats are to be filled from among eligible in-service doctors. The ruling by Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik came on a bunch of six petitions filed by Dr Manu Gupta and others against the state of Punjab and others. Their counsel had said: “Since the petitioners were serving as rural medial officers under zila parishads, they were entitled to be treated on a par with PCMS doctors for the purpose of admission to post-graduate courses in question”.
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Despite directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to check the menace, illegal sand mining continues unabated in Ajnala sub-division of the district.
alliance partner (BJP) over the e-trip initiative and policy for regularising illegal housing colonies, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today claimed that all decisions by the government were being taken in consultation with the
BJP.
Chandigarh, July 29
Chandigarh, July 29