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monsoon mayhem
State govt to revise Atta-Dal Scheme
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Govt keen to implement e-trip from Sept 1
Sidhu responds to poster campaign with one-liner
SAD, Congress MPs spar over flood relief efforts
Akali councillors in Muktsar protest against MC chairman
Scheme for cancer-hit
Career counselling centres to shut down
Ricky Dullat murder case
Six months on, staff of aided schools without salaries
Defiant Makkar defends decision to promote education
Sirhind gets Rs
16.70 cr for revamping power supply
Ministerial staff to meet Finance Minister today
Dera chief exempted
from court appearance
Gurmit Ram Rahim
Creation of cadre domain
of executive: High Court
Heroin worth Rs 50 cr seized
Four held with 8-kg opium
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monsoon mayhem
Kakkar (Indo-Pak Border), August 27 The flood has devastated standing crop over 900 acres in this border village. Crestfallen farmers Jang Singh and Mangal Singh said: "We get one-fourth of the normal produce from our agricultural land across the border fence owing to restrictions by the BSF. The floods have ruined whatever little crop we were expecting to harvest this season. Our children are unemployed. We can't do dairy farming as there is a ban on growing fodder along the fence in view of the security concerns. We don't know how we will survive now?" Satnam Singh, another farmer, said besides the loss of crop, what was worrying them was the fact that sand had made way to their fields along with water from the Ravi. "Most of us don't own tractors and therefore we can't clear sand from our fields on our own. We need government help," he said. The farmers also lament indifferent approach of local politicians as well as the government. "The SDM and the tehsildar had visited the area a few times when the water level was up. However, nobody came after that," said Jagjeet Singh. Another resident Rajwinder Singh said no political leader visited their village. "They only come to seek our votes at the time of elections," he said. The scenario is equally dismal at the border village of Chhan Kalan. Darbara Singh, a farmer from the village, said around 350 acres of their paddy crop had been destroyed while 127 mud houses belonging to small farmers and farm labourers had collapsed. Joga Singh said most of the villagers owned small landholdings and had no alternative source of livelihood, which had made life difficult for them. "Some of us have livestock but their milk is just enough to cater to domestic needs." Here too the villagers lament government apathy. "Once a patwari had come to the village but he didn't bother to meet the affected persons," said Swaran Singh, adding that they had counted the number of collapsed houses and prepared a list on their own, which they would submit to the SDM. Many of them had shifted atop dhussi bundh along with their cattle when river water flooded the village. They demanded that villagers whose houses had been damaged should be given an immediate compensation of Rs 30,000 each. They rejected the government formula of compensation for crop loss, contending that Rs 5,000 per acre was too less an amount as it hardly made up for the amount they spent on inputs for sowing crop. Sahab Singh from Thatthi village said around 40 to 45 houses had collapsed in their village. "My house has developed cracks. We are putting up outside as children fear to go inside the house," he added. The farmers of these villages also apprehended that factionalism prevailing in most of the village panchayats might hit their compensation prospects. Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal denied the charge of apathy while stating that their officials were very much on the field. He said a report on the loss of property, including houses, was being prepared by the SDMs. He, however, clarified that the assessment of crop loss could only begin after around 10 days as it was not possible to certify the quantum of crop loss at present. Muktsar: After the flood fury, residents are now grappling with health problems. Of the total 4,074 persons examined by district medical teams on Monday, 1,455 were found suffering from various skin infections, 796 fever, 175 gastroenteritis, 137 diarrhoea and 85 conjunctivitis. Besides, 188 persons were found with malaria symptoms. In Sherewala area, most patients were suffering from skin infections and in Alamwala area, from gastroenteritis. A senior official said 105 medical teams had been formed in the district and medicines were being distributed among the people. Fogging machines were being used to kill mosquitoes, he added. Dr Gulshan Rai, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, said: "The number of cases is normal in this season. Not a single case of malaria, jaundice or dengue has been reported in the district so far." He, however, admitted that the cases of skin infection were increasing due to floodwater. Paramjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, today visited flood-affected villages of Gidderbaha, which were not covered by the Chief Minister during his recent visit. Though the district administration has been trying to drain out rainwater by installing 212 water pumps in Muktsar, 113 in Malout, 88 in Lambi and 60 in Gidderbaha, the work is moving at a slow pace. — Archi Watts CM unveils scheme Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday unveiled a scheme for the rehabilitation of waterlogged areas in the Malwa belt. Under the scheme, ponds would be constructed for fisheries. He also sanctioned Rs 2 crore for initiating the project. The CM also gave his approval for the setting up of two ultra-modern goat breeding centres in the state. He also asked MARKFED authorities to support the bee keepers. — TNS Flood of sorrow The floods have devastated crop over 900 acres in Kakkar village along the border With floodwaters, sand has made way to their fields Farmers need government help to clear fields They get one-fourth of the normal produce owing to restrictions on farming They can't do dairy farming as there is a ban on growing fodder along the fence due to security concerns
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State govt to revise Atta-Dal Scheme
Chandigarh, August 27 With the Lok Sabha passing the Food Security Bill last night, the state government is all set to work out the details of its implementation. The SAD-BJP Government’s Atta-Dal Scheme is believed to have been largely responsible for the alliance retaining power in the 2012 assembly elections. Sources said though the Food and Civil Supplies Department was still working on the details of the revised Atta-Dal Scheme, it had been almost decided that wheat would be given to the beneficiaries at Rs 1.50 per kg. With the money for distributing wheat at Rs 2 per kg coming from the Centre, the state will incur an additional expenditure of just Rs 0.50 per kg on buying pulses. With the number of beneficiaries under this scheme rising to 35 lakh families, the state will have to spend a mere Rs 4 crore per month from its kitty. Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh said details for implementing the scheme were being finalised. “Punjab will implement the scheme once the Bill becomes a law.” It is learnt that of the Rs 350 crore earmarked for the Atta-Dal Scheme in the state Budget, the government has already spent Rs 140 crore. Though the prices of pulses being supplied under the scheme have gone up, the state government has made it clear that it will continue to supply dal not only to the current beneficiaries but also to those covered under the food security law.
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Govt keen to implement e-trip from Sept 1
Patiala, August 27 The move came after plans and modalities regarding implementation of the system were discussed in detail with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal by the trade unions concerned backed by the BJP top brass. The government is expected to be richer by Rs 200 to 300 crore every year by way of improved tax collection. The Deputy Chief Minister had in principle taken the decision despite some resistance from the BJP. Only six commodities, namely cotton, sarson, plywood, iron and steel (excluding scrap), yarn and vegetable oil (edible and non-edible) have been included in this system. The only difference is that earlier it was optional for all commodities but now it is mandatory for a few commodities. Sources said almost all industry unions had met senior officials of the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department to discuss the issue in detail and seek clarifications. “The only change is that the department has agreed to charge Rs 12 lakh per press from the plywood units. The units are presently paying Rs 2 lakh per press. However, the manufacturers are demanding that this be brought down to Rs 9 lakh, a demand which is yet to be accepted,” they said. Last month, the state government had postponed the e-trip till September 1, to let the industrial units to install IT infrastructure to file e-trip information through Internet. Initially, the industrialists said computers and Internet were not installed in their factories, a majority of which were located in villages where Internet connectivity was a problem. “We have given almost a month and it is enough time to sort out these issues in a state like Punjab, where Internet connectivity is not a major issue,” said a senior taxation official. As per rules, the taxation department will be fully equipped to take suitable action against the industrialists who ignore the new system starting Sunday. “Trade and industry organisations are requested to start using e-trip facility at the earliest. Field surveys and raids will be conducted and penalties will be imposed (if required) from September 1, 2013,” reads the public notice on the department’s website. Punjab Excise and Taxation Commissioner Anurag Verma said now there would be no compromise on the new rule as ample time had been given to the traders. “After the Deputy Chief Minister heard the grievances of the industry and passed instructions, we are now sure to implement this new anti-tax evasion measure,” said
Verma. Step to check tax evasion E-trip has been launched as earlier there was no provision for recording a huge number of intra-state transactions made by traders or taxable persons in Punjab. Taking undue advantage of this, many persons evade tax by deleting or destroying the bills after the goods reach the destination. To check this menace, the state government has decided to introduce e-trip for recording the intra-state transactions. Under this system, the traders will be required to upload the information regarding intra-state transactions above a particular value on the departmental website.
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Sidhu responds to poster campaign with one-liner
Amritsar, August 27 Sidhu's reaction was released to the media through an e-mail by his political secretary Aman Sharma, who also launched a scathing attack on "incredulous and rootless leaders for their malicious campaign" against the three-time MP. Though Sharma released the statement in his own name, it is being construed that Sidhu apparently chose to do the talking through his political secretary. Sharma made it clear that Sidhu, who repeatedly roared like a lion in Parliament and raised demand for the holy city status for Amritsar, had observed silence keeping in view the party discipline. "Let the party get executed all his projects and restore due respect of his genuinely deserving supporters, my boss would immediately spring into action in his constituency," he said. In his statement, Sharma said Congress leaders involved in anti-Sidhu poster campaign should start such a campaign against anti-Amritsar leaders, who had brought disrepute to the city by indulging in corruption and patronising drug-smuggling. "Sidhu is a leader of masses who had won three consecutive elections. Sticking to his oath, he avoided visiting his family in his hometown Patiala for three years. He even sold one of his two houses in Patiala to build a house in Amritsar. If he is not coming to the city these days, there might be some valid reasons for it," he averred. He said people were aware that certain elements in the SAD-BJP alliance had created circumstances to "force an exceptionally honest politician to stay away from his constituency". Sharma alleged Sidhu's pet projects, including a solid waste management plant, two flyovers, expansion of Bhandari Bridge, city sports complex at Ranjit Avenue and installation of CCTV cameras in the city had been scuttled and around Rs 200 crore available with the Amritsar Improvement Trust were diverted elsewhere to meet some vested interests.
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SAD, Congress MPs spar over flood relief efforts
New Delhi, August 27 During zero hour, Lok Sabha members voiced their concern over the flood situation in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. Gurdaspur MP Pratap Singh Bajwa criticised the Punjab Government for its poor handling of the situation. This triggered a war of words between the Congress and SAD members. Bajwa said flood waters had submerged a large number of villages in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Taran Taran, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Fazilka and Pathankot districts. He said an estimated 4.5 lakh acres of land had been damaged in Punjab. He sought the deployment of paramilitary forces for rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. Amid interruptions from the Akali members, he said the state government should award a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre for the damage to crops. As Bajwa spoke, all four SAD members rushed to the well of the House to counter Bajwa.They were pacified after Speaker Meira Kumar assured them that one of them would be allowed to speak. Slamming the state government, Bajwa said: “The tall claims of the state government that it has spent several crores on flood protection measures have turned out to be a big untruth”. Last year almost Rs 3,300 crore had been allocated to the state for lining of canals and strengthening bundhs, he said. “These floods have become a recuring phenomena in the border belt, causing irreparable loss to the standing crops, houses and whatever little infrastructure that exists. “These border villages have been getting a step-motherly treatment from the state government though the Central Government has allocated huge sums under the Border Area Development Programme,” he alleged. While Bajwa blamed the state government, Akali MPs put the blame on the Centre. Sher Singh Ghubaya, SAD MP from Ferozepur, accused the Congress-led government at the Centre of not giving funds to the state. He claimed that the state government was distributing free foodgrain to the affected people. Since the state did not have enough funds, the UPA Government must announce a package for the flood-affected areas of Punjab, he said. Charges and counter-charges Floods have become a recurring phenomena in the border belt... Border villages have been getting a step-motherly treatment though the Centre has allocated huge sums under its Border Area Development Programme — PS Bajwa, Cong MP The state government is distributing free foodgrain to the affected people. Since it does not have enough funds, the UPA Government must announce a relief package for the flood-affected areas of Punjab — SS Ghubaya, Akali MP
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Akali councillors in Muktsar protest against MC chairman
Muktsar, August 27 Later, they were joined by more councillors of the SAD and the BJP, including senior vice-president of the MC Satpal Pathela. Akali councillors Daleep Singh (Ward 16), Sukhdev Singh Sukha (Ward 12), Surinder Chhinda (Ward 15) and Surjit Kaur (Ward 21), addressing the area residents from a public address system installed on a rickshaw, alleged that neither the MC officials nor its president were paying any heed to their demands. "Everyday the public vents its anger on us over heaps of garbage all around and choked sewers. We have brought the issues to the notice of the council president a number of times, but in vain," said Daleep Singh, a SAD councillor, who spearheaded the protest. Another councillor Sukhdev Singh Sukha said: "The MC chief always boasts of development. He must visit our wards to for a reality check." Joined by other councillors, Manohar Lal Bhateja and Randeep Kamra of the BJP and Rajinder Singh Raja and Jagdeep Singh Kaka of the SAD- the protesters marched towards MC chief Mitt Singh Brar's office. However, the latter had left by then. Naib Tehsildar Sukhpinder Kaur Brar accepted a memorandum from the protesting councillors and pacified them. Some councillors claimed that they had remained mum till now since Brar was close to the Badal family with his son Gagandeep Singh special principal secretary to the Chief Minister. Brar claimed the council meeting today was attended by 16 members and all decisions were taken unanimously. “Those who held a protest seem to have been provoked by some mischievous elements.They forget that the city's sewerage system is under the Public Health Department and not the MC,” Brar said.
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Scheme for cancer-hit
Chandigarh, August 27 At the same time, a review team of the Tata Memorial Cancer Institute, Mumbai, is learnt to have once again recommended that Dayanand Medical College (DMC), Ludhiana, be put back on the list of approved hospitals.The team is relooking into the working of the ambitious project. Refusing to comment on the report findings, Vinnie Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, said the recommendations had been sent to the Chief Minister’s office. “We are carrying out a check on the facilities and services available at the empanelled hospitals. Empanelment had been accorded to a majority of the applicant hospitals, 36 in all. A rate contract on cancer-specific medicines is being worked out with the help of the Tata Institute”. The review committee comprised two experts from the Mumbai hospital and the principals of Government Medical College and Hospitals in Amritsar and Patiala. The Thakur committee earlier had recommended that all ill-equipped hospitals be delisted. As many as 19 hospitals, including the DMC, Ludhiana, were struck off the list for not having infrastructure and medicare facilities as envisaged under the scheme. The empanelled hospitals are Government Medical College, Chandigarh, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Grecian Super Specialty Hospital, Ajitgarh, lndus Super Speciality Hospital, Ajitgarh, Behgal Hospital, Ajitgarh, Max Health Care, Ajitgarh, Patel Hospital, Jalandhar, Governemnt Medical College, Amritsar, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Oswal Hospital, Ludhiana, Max Hospital, Bathinda, Adesh Charitable Cancer Hospital, Muktsar, Government Medical College, Patiala, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, GGSGMC, Faridkot, AIIMS, New Delhi, and Acharya Tulsi Dass, Bikaner. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced the Cancer Rahat Kosh Scheme in June 2011 for poor patients who did not have an insurance cover.
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Career counselling centres to shut down
Bathinda, August 27 Set up in Punjab in 1950, these centres were aimed at helping students choose courses best suited to them. The orders were issued yesterday and the teachers were told to wait for their new field postings. Sources said that a district guidance counsellor, a master cadre teacher, was posted in every District Education Office across the state. The counsellor advises weaker students to take up various vocational courses offered in both state-run and private institutions. Students wishing to go abroad are also advised to pursue courses in demand abroad. For instance, there were plenty of jobs available in the construction and hospitality sector in the Middle East, sources said. In addition to this, students were informed about the various centres that trained candidates for the armed forces, sources said. They said students living in rural areas, who did not have access to the Internet, would be greatly affected if this decision was not reversed. Sources said, one counsellor per district was not much of a drain on the resources of the department. Some affected teachers met the Education Minister this evening who assured them of reviewing the decision.
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Ricky Dullat murder case
Sangrur, August 27 Ricky Dullat, an organising secretary of district Congress committee, was murdered on November 13, 2011. His brother-in-law Parveen Kumar, who is the eyewitness, had come to Sangrur to testify in the murder case in court today. Prem Chand, father-in-law of Ricky Dullat, said the four assailants tried to break into the house to kill his son Parveen. But, as the mohalla residents gathered, they fled from the spot after firing two shots. He said their lives were in danger and that they be provided with round-the-clock security. Chand said he resided in the house with his wife while his three sons stayed in other cities. NS Dhaliwal, Parveen Kumar’s counsel, said Parveen had been given full protection at the time of deposing in court today. He said the next date of hearing in the case was September 25. Station House Officer (SHO) Harinder Singh said on the complaint of Parveen Kumar, the police had registered a case against unidentified persons under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 427, 458, 506, 120-B, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act. The accused were still at large.
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Six months on, staff of aided schools without salaries
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 27 Upjit Singh Brar, president, Government Aided Schools Progressive Front, Punjab, said their salary bills were pending with the office of the District Treasury Officer (DTO) and he had expressed his inability to pass these bills without orders from the higher authorities. He said they were finding it difficult to run their houses and pay school fees of their children. He said the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a judgement had stated that the salaries of the aided staff were to be paid by the managing committees, if the government failed to release grant for six months. He said due to the negligence of the DEO office, claims of salary papers were not submitted to the DPI office in time, which caused delay in release of the grant. He urged the managing committees to pay the salary to the staff till the government released the grant.
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Defiant Makkar defends decision to promote education
Patiala, August 27 A few days ago, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister had questioned SGPC’s logic of stressing more on education than propagating religion. Makkar, who was in the city to attend a function at the SGPC-run Khalsa College, said, “The government-run institutes in state cannot match the performance of SGPC-run educational institutions.” Makkar’s retort came in response to Sukhbir’s accusation that the SGPC was not doing enough to tackle the widening grip of deras in the state. On the community langar being served in the memory of Parkash Singh Badal’s wife Surinder Kaur Badal at the Golden Temple, Makkar said it was the responsibility of the Shiromani Akali Dal to make sure the langar was resumed. The langar was started at the Golden Temple Amritsar by Surinder Kaur Badal but was discontinued after her death.
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Sirhind gets Rs
16.70 cr for revamping power supply
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 27 While addressing mediapersons here today, SAD general secretary and area in charge Prem Singh Chandumajra said the money had been sanctioned under the Restructure Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme. He said the tender process had been completed and the work had been allotted to two different agencies. Public Works Department Minister Saranjit Singh Dhillon would inaugurate the project on September 5, he added. He said it would end all power related problems of the residents of the town. He said it was unfortunate that the transmission and distribution loss of the electricity in the state was 20 per cent, whereas in Sirhind town it was 32 per cent. He said two new 11KV feeders at Attewali and Sirhind would be set up. Chandumajra said 96 new transformers would be set up and the capacity of the already existing 29 transformers would be increased. He said all electric equipment and gadgets would be replaced with new ones. The SAD general secretary said PSPCL would open two new complaint centres at Sirhind and Hamayunpur for the convenience of the consumers and electricity bills would also be received there. Earlier, MLA Kuljeet Singh Nagra had claimed that he got Rs 13.45 crore sanctioned under a Prime Minister's programme for Sirhind town to overhaul the electric supply system in the area by replacing 100 transformers and wires and conductors to provide uninterrupted power supply but nothing has been done so for.
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Ministerial staff to meet Finance Minister today
Sangrur, August 27 Union president Sukhwinder Singh said they had postponed their programme after the union agreed to hold talks with the Finance Minister for resolving the issue amicably. He said the minister would meet them tomorrow at his residence here. He said the entire leadership from the state would attend the meeting to get demands of the employees accepted. He said the state body would discuss the outcome of the meeting and if the union felt that they got nothing for the employees, they would chalk out the next course of action.
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Dera chief exempted
from court appearance
Bathinda, August 27 The Baba was supposed to appear in the court on August 31 in a seven-year-old case. Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim was booked for hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs after he had worn a robe similar to that to the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, at a function at Salabatpura dera in Bathinda. An application under section 205 of the CrPc for exemption from appearance in court was forwarded in the court yesterday by the Baba’s counsel. His counsel, Kewal Brar, said that the exemption was given on the ground that a quashing petition-challenging the February 2, 2013 orders passed by Additional Session Judge, Bathinda, and April 2, 2012 orders of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bathinda-was pending in the High Court. The quashing petition in the High Court is to come up for hearing on September 27, 2013. The Chief Judicial Magistrate in April 2012 ordered the Baba to personally appear in court, while in February 2013, the Additional Sessions Judge upheld these orders by cancelling his petition. The Baba has got exemption from the court four times in the past seven months.
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Creation of cadre domain
of executive: High Court
Chandigarh, August 27 The High Court also refused to direct the State of Punjab to carve a separate cadre for District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET). The ruling came on a petition filed by Jean Paul Singh Sekhon and other petitioners. They were seeking directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents to create a separate cadre for manning institutes such DIET. Dismissing the plea, Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa asserted: “This court is of the considered view that irrespective of the merit of the submissions and contentions raised by the counsel, functions in the nature of creation of cadre/posts, bifurcations of cadre etc. would strictly lie within the domain of the executive. “Creation of a cadre would require an intricate exercise at the hands of the executive/state by taking into account relevant parameters in the nature of need-based requirement for proper functioning of such District Institutes of Education and Training, efficacy and administration thereof, financial constraints of the state etc. These are decisions within the realm of policy making. No writ of mandamus can be issued for directing the State Government for creation of a separate cadre. The petitioners, working as lecturers in different district institutes across the state of Punjab, had earlier pleaded that their essential function was to impart training and education to students, who in turn wished to join the institutes as teachers. Such institutes were wholly funded by the Central Government. Their counsel had added a separate cadre for manning such institutes was not in existence; and the posts were being filled up by way of transfer from “different categories of incumbents” working in the Department of School Education. The counsel also referred to a document issued by the Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of School Education, whereby a proposal for creation of a separate cadre was awaiting the Council of Ministers’ approval. Before parting with the order, Justice Dhindsa gave the petitioners the liberty “to follow up their claim and grievance with the appropriate government authorities in the light of the proposal said to be already in place and which is waiting approval from the Council of Ministers”.
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Heroin worth Rs 50 cr seized
Amritsar, August 27 While patrolling the area, BSF jawans found several packets lying across the Indo-Pak border fence. RPS Jaswal, DIG, BSF, in a press statement issued here, said the BSF jawans also found nine cartridges of .9mm pistol and a mobile phone from the spot. He said the border guarding force was on a high alert and had been strengthened in view of the rainy season to effectively check narcotic smugglings. He said the BSF had seized 174 kg of heroin and fake Indian currency worth over Rs 52 lakh so far this year. Meanwhile, the anti-narcotic wing of the Border Range also seized 4 kg of heroin and 5 kg of white powder following the interrogation of two smugglers who were arrested a couple of days ago.
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Four held with 8-kg opium
Patiala, August 27 Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Lakhwinder Singh arrested Fakir Chand and Gurjeet Singh, who were riding a motorcycle, when they tried to flee after they were signalled to stop at a naka in Rajpura. “We are trying to verify if the two had earlier also supplied the contraband,” the police said. Addressing mediapersons, Rajpura Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhupinder Khatra said in another case, Jaswinder Singh and Tara Singh were arrested from a naka near Rajpura. “Tara Singh has some other similar cases pending against him in Haryana,” he added. Khatra said they were relying on sources to nab the smugglers trying to sell contraband in Rajpura. "We are holding a special drive and trying to reach the masterminds pushing the drugs into Punjab," he added.
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The flood situation in the border districts of Punjab came into focus in the Lok Sabha today with Congress and SAD representatives trading charges on relief measures and compensation for the flood-hit.
Bathinda, August 27
Besides the loss of crop, farmers have lost the roof over their head