|
|
|
|
|
Auction of 4 quarries put on hold
Punjab Cong to seek central probe into illegal mining
I-Day means little to this border village
|
|
|
State govt set to sweeten its atta-dal scheme
Members of an NDRF team search for the body of a man drowned in the Sutlej on Wednesday. A Tribune photo
Sweets offered to BSF at Wagah
Dal Khalsa for consensus on new Takht Keshgarh Sahib chief
Govt files reply in book scam report
Satguru’s attacker charged with attempt to
murder
Cop mowed down by car at naka
Injured policemen under treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana on Wednesday. Tribune
photo: Himanshu Mahajan
|
|
Auction of 4 quarries put on hold
Chandigarh, August 14 The breakdown had prevented some contractors from making bids towards the end of the e-auction of 20 quarries held on August 12. Senior officials in the Industries Department told The Tribune that they had issued the letter of intent to 13 successful bidders who had participated in the auction of 13 other quarries, asking them to deposit 50 per cent of the bid amount with the government, within the next two days. While the e-auction of the four quarries had been kept on hold, there were no bidders for the three quarries in Pathankot — Karoli, Jandroi and Ghoh. During the August 12 e-auction, some contractors had alleged that they were “blocked” from putting their bids at the last minute to help some powerful persons win the mining contracts. These contractors alleged that minutes before the e-auction was to end and after they had put in their bid, competitors were allowed to make another competitive bid. Thereafter, the server refused to accept their bids, thus allowing the final bids in favour of the latter. Sources said Punjab Infotech had been asked to conduct an inquiry into whether there was a technical glitch in its server that prevented some bidders from making a bid. “Once we receive the report, we will decide on whether successful bidders for these sites are to be considered or whether a re-auction is required,” said a senior official. The government had kept a reserve price of Rs 22.29 crore for these quarries. The total bids received were worth Rs 28.68 crore. Officials in the Industries Department said that with the auction of four quarries in Ropar and Mohali kept on hold, the total bids that the government would now receive
for the auction would be Rs 25.02 crore.
|
|||||
|
Punjab Cong to seek central probe into illegal mining
New Delhi, August 14 “The police, the bureaucracy and the political powers in the state are all shielding the sand and gravel mafia in the state. Justice Kuldip Singh, a former judge of the Supreme Court, has probed the mining issue himself and has given scathing observations on the same,” Bajwa said. Led by Bajwa, the state Congress delegation will meet Environment and Forest Minister Jayanti Natarajan to demand a central inquiry into the issue. “We want a central team to probe the illegal mining being carried out in the state. Ultimately, a CBI inquiry into the plunder of resources will be required. That is the only way to expose the mining mafia-bureaucracy-politician nexus in Punjab,” Bajwa said. Punjab Congress leaders allege that nothing has changed despite the e-auctioning of mines introduced recently. There are reports of illegal quarrying in almost all districts of the state with contractors yet to pay several village panchayats, they allege.
|
|||||
|
I-Day means little to this border village
Rania (Indo-Pak Border), August 14 Independence Day will be just another day in the lives of these villagers who have been struggling to make both ends meet. A majority of the houses in the village, dominated by Rai Sikhs, are made of mud which start seeping even after a moderate rainfall. Women have to walk miles to fetch drinking water from tube-wells installed in agricultural fields. Many families from this village have started migrating to nearby villages. The houses deserted by them are either locked or are lying in a shambles. Hand-pumps are installed in the village, but the water is not fit for drinking as it tastes sour and turns yellow after sometime. The villagers do not find it apt even for washing their clothes. Though the government had built toilets in the village, these are lying unused due to faulty construction. The village had a two-room elementary school whose boundary wall was caved in some time ago while its entrance gate is lying in one of the rooms. There is no dispensary in the village. The villagers also lament lack of employment opportunities due to which they are forced to work as daily wagers. The village doesn't even have a crematorium and the people are forced to perform the last rites of their near and dear ones at a random place. Talking to The Tribune, Balwinder Singh, a villager, said women had to fetch water from tube-wells in agricultural fields or at times from neighbouring Awan village. "We have taken up these issues with local political leaders several times, but they only make false promises," he added. Former sarpanch Kashmir Singh said their concerted efforts seemed to have started yielding results recently when the PSPCL had erected some electricity poles in the village, but nothing happened afterwards. Sarpanch Inder Singh expressed hope that the village would get power supply soon while stating that they were making efforts for drinking water too. Iqbal Singh Mann, Chief Engineer (Border zone), PSPCL, initially said he was not aware about this village, claiming that 100 per cent villages in the border zone had access to power. However, he reverted after his staff told him that the village indeed had no electricity. He said 22 houses out of 40 in the village had applied for a power connection and they would soon be provided the same. In a shambles
|
|||||
|
State govt set to sweeten its atta-dal scheme
Chandigarh, August 14 The state government is preparing ground to refine its atta-dal scheme by lowering the rate at which wheat is to be sold to the beneficiaries from Rs 4 per kg now to Rs 1.50 per kg. Under the Food Security Act, the UPA government is set to sell wheat to 68 per cent of the country’s population at Rs 2 per kg. The new atta-dal scheme of the state government is set to be announced during this week itself before the UPA launches its scheme on August 20. Atta-dal scheme is considered to be largely responsible for swaying the public opinion in favour of the SAD-BJP combine during the last assembly elections in 2012. Ever since the UPA announced its decision to launch the food security measure, the Chief Minister and his deputy had been accusing the Centre of “stealing” their scheme. Punjab had launched this scheme on August 15, 2007. It covers 15.40 lakh families having an income of less than Rs 30,000 per annum. In its new avatar,the scheme will cover 30 lakh families (around 1.82 crore individuals). Under the scheme, the government distributes 5 kg of wheat per person (a maximum of 25 kg for a family) at Rs 4 per kg, besides 500 gm of pulses per person (a maximum of 2.5 kg per family) at Rs 20 per kg. It distributes 27,000 tonnes of wheat and 3,100 tonnes of pulses to the poor each month. Food and Supplies officials told The Tribune: “The state will not have to incur any additional expenditure if it were to lower the price. Since the Centre will give the money for wheat at Rs 2 per kg, the state will now have to incur the differential cost which comes out to Rs 0.50 per kg. For 30 lakh families, the state will have to spend just Rs 3.75 crore per month from its kitty,” said an official. It is learnt that the state spends an average of Rs 25 crore per month on the atta-dal scheme. Of this, Rs 7 crore to Rs 10 crore per month is spent on buying pulses. With the number of beneficiary families under the scheme set to rise to 30 lakh, the amount spent on pulses will go up from Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore per month. However, the amount Punjab will have to spend on wheat at rates lower than the UPA’s food security scheme, will be just Rs 3.75 crore, thus ensuring that there is no extra burden on the state exchequer.
New version
|
|||||
|
President’s Police Medal for Dhillon, Mittal
President's Police Medal The Chief Minister's Medal
Social Service Art & Culture
Science & Technology Literature Professional Excellence
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
LS
elections
Sangrur, August 14 Roop Singh said he would contest the elections as an independent candidate from Sangrur with the support of SAD (Delhi). He said he would welcome support from all like-minded parties and persons in the elections. Roop Singh, resident of Longowal’s native Gidarriani village (near Lehragaga), further alleged that the SAD had forgotten the ideology of the late Longowal. The SAD observed his death anniversary just to gain political mileage. He said former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had honoured Longowal’s heirs by offering jobs to six members of his family. He also asked people to recognise Longowal’s heirs so that his ideology could be spread.
|
|
Floodwater submerges crops
over 6,000 acres in Fazilka
Fazilka, August 14 Water from the Sutlej, which is in spate, has flooded 18 border belt villages, including Ghurka, Hasta Kalan, Walleshah Uttar, Walleshah Hithar, Dona Sikandari, Mahatam Nagar, Chack Rohela, Teja Rohela and Mohar Jamsher. "Cotton, paddy, moong and green fodder crops have been submerged in 4,620 acres of land in Fazilka and 1,369 acres in Jalalabad sub-divisions," said Maan. It was likely to cause extensive damage to cotton and moong crops. If more water was released, it would affect the paddy crop as well, he added. Fazilka MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani and Maan today visited the flood-hit areas. Jyani said he had directed the administration to work out a comprehensive plan to ensure minimum damage due to flood. Meanwhile, a team of 20 members of the National Disaster Reserve Force (NDRF) was summoned to locate the body of Shambhu Singh (50), a resident of Gaganke village, who was reportedly swept away in gushing waters of the Sutlej last evening.
|
|
|
Sweets offered to BSF at Wagah
Amritsar, August 14 MF Farooqui, DIG, BSF, accepted the sweets from his Pakistani counterpart. The event remained a low-key affair due to ongoing tension between the two countries over the recent killing of five Army soldiers in Poonch. Earlier, Eid celebrations had remained subdued as even the media was not allowed at the zero line where sweets were exchanged by the two border guarding forces. Farooqui said: "We accepted the sweets and greetings as per protocol. The BSF will also give sweets to the Pakistani Rangers on our Independence Day tomorrow". He, however, refused to comment on the prevailing tension at the border.
Cultural fest Ferozepur:
Showcasing the spirit of unity in diversity, folk artistes drawn from various states presented a cultural programme during the Sanskritik Yatra organised by the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, in collaboration with the Border Security Force at the Hussaniwala Joint Check Post today. Manjit Narang, Deputy Commissioner, Ravi Joseph, DIG, BSF, Vivek Puri, District and Sessions Judge, were among those present.
|
|
|
Dal Khalsa for consensus on new Takht Keshgarh Sahib chief
Amritsar, August
14 Kanwar Pal said the SGPC had “wrongly presumed that it was the sole representative of the Sikh
Panth”. The Panth comprised all Sikh institutions, organisations and bodies, be it political, social or religious, and irrespective of their ideological leanings, he said. He reminded the SGPC president that there had been a demand time and again for the SGPC to lay down procedures for appointment of Takht chiefs.
|
|
Govt files reply in book scam report
Chandigarh, August 14 The committee was set up by the Union HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju after reports of misuse of funds under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). Anjali Bhawra, Education Secretary, said: "We have offered our reply on different issues pointed out by the central team. I cannot comment on the content since the matter is under perusal of the government." The three-member committee of the Centre had pointed out that the procurement procedure for library books and science kits did not confirm to the one prescribed in the Manual on Financial Management and Financial Rules and Regulations, 2004, adopted for the SSA,
Punjab. In another development, the department has denied receiving any communication from Ambala-based suppliers of science kits. The suppliers had claimed that he had sent a communication to the department, pointing out "arbitrary and illegal withholding of its payment of Rs 58 lakh." In May, one of the suppliers had said "in case the department did not want the supplies, we will take the stock back". When questioned as why a fresh bill was sent to the government, the supplier said: "We have already delivered the kits. We have sent a fresh bill in case the government wants to keep our supplies".
|
|
|
Satguru’s attacker charged with attempt to murder
London, August 14 No application for bail was made. Toor has been remanded in court for a preliminary hearing later this month. A non-Namdhari Sikh, Toor was caught by members of the congregation at the gurdwara as he, wrapped in a blanket, moved towards the sect chief with a Punjabi farming tool aimed at his head. The Satguru suffered injuries on his face and arm. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary in Leicester and discharged after stitches on his nose and treatment for a broken wrist. — PTI
|
|
Cop mowed down by car at naka
Ludhiana, August 14 Head Constables Gurjant Singh and Kuldeep Singh and constable Jaspal Singh, who sustained multiple injuries, were rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. They are said to be out of danger. The car driver, who was drunk, has been identified as Karanvir Singh (28) of BRS Nagar here. He too was hospitalised. Harpal Singh Grewal, Station House Officer (SHO), Sarabha Nagar, said Karanvir had been booked under Section 304 of the IPC for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Head Constable Gurjant Singh said as he was checking the documents of a Maruti car at a naka and constable Munish Kumar searching the boot, "Karanvir, who was driving a Hyundai I-20 at high speed, hit a Mahindra Scorpio, smashed the police barricade, tossed a PCR motor cycle and rammed into the Maruti car.The car was thrown on to the middle of the road." Constable Kuldeep Singh said fortunately, no one was in the Maruti car. "Fours of our colleagues were lying on the road unconscious. Security personnel of a nearby mall helped us take them to a hospital. Karanvir tired to flee, but we overpowered him," said a policeman. When caught, Karanvir claimed that he was a nephew of a high-ranking police officer and threatened to get the policemen suspended. Constable Munish Kumar was declared "brought dead" by the hospital doctors. Balwinder Kaur, the accused's mother, denied that her son was drunk. "He may have consumed liquor but that does not mean he was drunk. He was not overspeeding either. The accident occurred because his car tyre exploded and he lost control over the vehicle," she said. Karanvir is a national-level basketball player. A graduate from Delhi's St Stephen's College, he got married five months ago. He was doing MBA from Sikkim's Manipal University. Veer Chand and Sandeep Kumar, brothers of the deceased constable, both with the Punjab Police, have sought strict action against the accused. Gurpreet Kaur Purewal, Assistant Commissioner of Police -West, visited the injured policemen. She said state police chief SS Saini and Commissioner of Police PS Gill had expressed grief over the constable's death while on duty.
How it happened
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Police constable Munish Kumar (24), a resident of Shanti Nagar in
Ferozepur, was killed and his three colleagues injured as they were hit by a car at a naka (check barrier) on the Ferozepur road here late last night.
Head Constables Gurjant Singh and Kuldeep Singh and constable Jaspal Singh, who sustained multiple injuries, were rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. They are said to be out of danger.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa said there was evidence of sand mining having been carried out up to a depth of 30 ft in certain river-beds.
