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No imports from Pak via ICP, decide traders
Babus can soon track their ACR online
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Disinvestment in three PSUs put on fast track
State Youth Congress begins
'Adhikar Yatra'
Give grievances in writing, Jakhar to Rajasansi MLA
Eye on poll, CM to launch string of welfare schemes
US rights group to serve summons on PM in
Delhi
Ranike slams Cong for 'doing nothing' for SCs
To discuss waterlogging, Badal to meet PM tomorrow
Mittal visits Bathinda refinery, inspects expansion work
Malerkotla tense, schoolboy detained for questioning
3 lakh tonnes rice worth Rs
700 cr yet to be milled
Millers fail to deliver rice worth
Rs 120 cr
Few farmers opt for direct payment scheme
Bizarre messages fuel sanitation drive
Cancer cases up in Muktsar district
Vet staff on indefinite fast near Dhindsa’s residence
Teachers to gherao Maluka on October 5
New twist in Abohar rape case
Moga paddy farmers reap rich harvest
Unemployed youth take to beekeeping in Sangrur
Milkfed looks to increase profit through exports
Chinese products may swallow Ludhiana cycle market
Resolve disputes amicably, Sessions Judge tells lawyers
Robbers attack ASI in Gurdaspur
Missing woman found dead
Another BSF man held in drug haul case
Clerk held for embezzlement of funds
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No imports from Pak via ICP, decide traders
Amritsar, October 2 This was decided in a joint meeting of all the members of the Chambers, including cement and gypsum importers, who strongly opposed the steep hike and urged the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) to immediately revisit the enhanced tariff regime. The trading community had earlier unanimously decided to stop the imports of cement and gypsum from Pakistan, while the import of all the commodities would come to a halt from October 7. These two commodities (cement and gypsum) constitute bulk of Pakistan trade. A Chamber spokesman pointed out that the exorbitant charges increased unilaterally by the LPAI were not acceptable, as it would impact costing and render the trade totally unviable. The Chamber had been crying hoarse for the last 18 months to upgrade the infrastructure, including platform for gypsum and other loose material, besides added storage space for dry fruit and other goods, but nothing has changed since the ICP was inaugurated in April last year. The LPAI had proposed to expand the ICP by building a second phase for the future, but the existing facilities were woefully short for trade, he said. The hike in storage tariff should be withdrawn immediately and the LPAI should invite the trade for consultations, demanded the traders while urging the authorities to initiate steps to mitigate the grievances of the traders. The cement traders had already stopped imports from Pakistan to protest against the LPAI move, while the gypsum traders had yesterday decided to stop imports from October 10. However, now traders of all commodities have decided to stop imports from October 7. Cement, gypsum import halted Cement and gypsum traders have already stopped imports from Pakistan in protest against the decision of the Land Port Authority of India to increase storage tariff and weighing charges
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Babus can soon track their ACR online
Chandigarh, October 2 The move follows large-scale complaints that senior officers often bully their juniors over the filing of their ACR. There have been cases where reporting or the reviewing authorities have taken a long time to file the ACR and where some officers have allegedly arm twisted their juniors to succumb to their wishes to ensure that their ACR is filed on time and with no adverse remarks. In other cases, officers would themselves delay filing personal appraisals in case they did not get along with their reporting or reviewing authority, or feared that the ACR would carry remarks of any "misconduct", in the hope that the senior would be transferred and they would then file the ACR to the new officer. The project of online filing of ACRs is a brainchild of Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, who has already successfully implemented the same for PCS officers. "This will ensure complete transparency in the filing of ACRs. At every level, the officer whose ACR is being filed can see the remarks given by his superiors and its route till the ACR is accepted. In the new system, we have set the duration for which the ACR can be kept at each level. This will ensure that the ACRs are filled on time," Rakesh Singh told The Tribune. Under the new system, an officer will first file a personal appraisal form on his ACR online, which will be sent to the reporting authority. The latter would then assess it and forward it to the reviewing authority. After the ACR is reviewed by the department head, it will be sent to the accepting authority. Sources said initially objections were raised by a section of administrative officers on the pretext that it would require permission from the Union Government. However, it has now been clarified that the Centre is only concerned with the timely filing of ACRs rather than the method adopted for it. Welcome move There are complaints that senior officers often bully their juniors over the filing There have been cases where officials have taken a long time to file ACR There are also reports of officers arm- twisting their juniors to succumb to their wishes
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Disinvestment in three PSUs put on fast track
Chandigarh, october 2 Top officers in the Punjab Government told The Tribune that the decision to fast track the disinvestment had been taken because the government felt these companies were performing well. Therefore, it felt that it was the right time to disinvest its share in these. The private consultants, Indian Finance Corporation (IFC), hired by the government for the disinvestment process have already submitted their report to the state government. A meeting of the core committee on disinvestment, headed by the Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, was held today in order to discuss the progress made by the committee in the disinvestment process. Talking to The Tribune, Rakesh Singh said that the first company in which the state would reduce its stake was PACL and IFC had already submitted its report to the state government. “We are now all set to invite the Expression of Interest for proceeding with the disinvestment,” he said. The other company in which the state is eager to withdraw its stake is Punjab Agro Juices Limited, which has set up two multi-purpose processing units. In fact, the government had started selling its entire shareholding in PAJL through competitive bidding in January this year, but the project was later put on hold. PAJL had established two multi-fruit and vegetable processing plants in Hoshiarpur and Abohar districts with a processing capacity of about 80,000 metric tonne (MT) per annum each, for Rs 84 crore to give a fillip to diversified crops but the plants failed to live up to farmers' expectations. Sources also said that the disinvestment of Puncom would also be initiated soon. In fact, the government has been trying to disinvest its stake in these companies for almost a decade now, but has somehow not been successful. The disinvestment of PACL had reached quite an advanced stage in 2010, before it got caught in controversy and was later put on hold. Raising funds Government to disinvest in Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (PACL),Punjab Communication Limited (PUNCOM) and Punjab Agro Juices Limited
(PAJL) The decision has been taken because these companies were performing well The government has been unsuccessfully trying to disinvest its stake in these companies for almost a decade now
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State Youth Congress begins 'Adhikar Yatra'
Amritsar, October 2 He was addressing members of the Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) here. He later flagged off ‘Adhikar Yatra’ from Jallianwala Bagh. The yatra is being led by Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, PYC president, and Vikas Soni, President, Youth Congress, Lok Sabha. Among others present were Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar and PPCC vice-president OP Soni. The yatra began with showering of flower petals and distribution of sweets. Bajwa said student elections in Punjab had not been held for the past three decades.The Supreme Court in 2006 had issued directions that elections to student bodies across the country be held within five years. Bajwa said while the Panjab University in Chandigarh had carried out the directions, the Punjab Government had yet to take a decision so far. Student elections in Punjab were banned in the late eighties because of terrorism. The PPCC chief called upon the youth to play a pro-active role in politics to make democracy more vibrant. “Student union elections will strengthen democracy in the state," he observed. Vikramjit said the objective of holding ‘Adhikar yatra’, was to establish a direct contact with the people, acquaint them with the policies of the UPA regime and to enlighten them about their constitutional rights. “Sadly, the SAD-BJP government in the state has made every possible attempt to mislead the masses by claiming undue credit of welfare schemes initiated by the Central Government,” he said. Vikas Soni spoke of the need to eradicate social evils such as female foeticide. The significance The yatra will cover all 13 parliamentary constituencies It will pass through 60 assembly constituencies It will cover a distance of about 30-35 km daily The yatra will culminate at Jalandhar on Oct 31
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Give grievances in writing, Jakhar to Rajasansi MLA
Amritsar, October 2 Sarkaria had written to the party High Command, expressing his dissatisfaction over the working of the PPCC chief. Prior to that, he had publicly criticised the party leadership in the state. Jakhar has been entrusted with the task of looking into the entire matter. To quell dissidence, the CLP Leader today met Sarkaria and some other Congress leaders who have been feeling ignored by the PPCC leaders. The meeting was held at the residence of Congress MLA and Vice-Chairman of the Scheduled Caste Commission Raj Kumar Verka. Jakhar was in town for the launch of 'Adhikar Yatra' of the Punjab Youth Congress. It is learnt that Jakhar reprimanded Sarkaria for making his woes public rather than discussing it at a party platform. Talking to The Tribune, Sarkaria said he had apprised the Jakhar about his grievances and had been asked to submit these in writing. “I will submit my viewpoint to the CLP Leader within two days. The latter has assured me that all my grievances will be looked into,” he said. When approached, the CLP Leader said that he had heard Sarkaria's side of the story. "I will have to submit a report to the in-charge of Punjab Congress affairs, Shakeel Ahmad, by October 5.This issue should not have been made public through the media," he said. Sarkaria in his letter to Sonia Gandhi had alleged that the Bajwa had been ignoring traditional Congress workers and that the PPCC was being run like a corporate. He had sought that former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh be re-appointed PPCC chief. After meeting Sarkaria, Jakhar met some other disaffected leaders like Prof Darbari Lal and Tarsem Singh.
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Eye on poll, CM to launch string of welfare schemes
Chandigarh, October 2 The state government is set to re-launch its Atta-Dal Scheme by offering wheat at Rs 1.50 per kg, 50 paise less than that promised by the UPA under its Food Security Programme. Beneficiaries of the Atta-Dal Scheme will be entitled to Bhagat Puran Singh Medical Insurance Scheme under which they will be given health cards. Between October 15 and December 8, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is scheduled to attend special programmes on Dr Hargobind Khurana Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme at Jalandhar, Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme at Ludhiana, the Atta-Dal Scheme at Tarn Taran and Medical Insurance Scheme at Bathinda. He will also commission thermal plants at Talwandi Sabo (660 MW) and Rajpura (700 MW) during the period. The projects are expected to significantly improve power availability in the state. Reliable sources said Class XI students in government schools scoring more than 80 per cent marks would be given a scholarship of Rs 30,000 annually under Dr Hargobind Khurana Post-Matric Scholarship. More than 1.50 lakh bicycles are being distributed among girl students under Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme.
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US rights group to serve summons on PM in
Delhi
New York, October 2 Sikhs
for Justice had planned to serve the summons on Singh during his visit to
Washington last week but could not do so due to "high security
detail.""Due to the high security detail, the rights group could not
serve outstanding US Federal Court summons on Prime Minister during the Obama-Singh
meeting at the White House," SFJ legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pennon
said here. — PTI
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Ranike slams Cong for 'doing nothing' for SCs
Mohali, October 2 Ranike, who is also president of the scheduled caste Wing of the SAD, was here to for a district-level meeting of the wing’s activists at Gurudwara Amb Sahib, Phase 9. Slamming the Congress, Ranike said the party had socially and economically exploited backward and scheduled caste people. “We have been given nothing other than false promises,” said Ranike. Lauding the atta-dal scheme of the SAD government in Punjab, Ranike claimed that the scheduled caste and backward classes were major beneficiaries of the scheme. “So far, about 14 lakh families have benefited from the scheme. We are trying to double the number soon,” said Ranike. He also announced that the construction of Bhagwan Balmiki Temple at Amritsar would begin on October 18. “We will spend Rs 125 crore on the temple,” added the minister. —OC
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To discuss waterlogging, Badal to meet PM tomorrow
Muktsar, October 2 Addressing a rally of anganwari workers here, Badal said: "The UPA government is not serious towards the issues related to the public. The SAD-BJP government wants to increase the amount of compensation for flood victims, but the Centre has not shown its willingness so far. I will meet the PM in this regard. I will also raise the demands of anganwari workers who are not even getting wages to sustain their families." Badal directed the Director, Social Security Department, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, to fulfill all pending demands of the anganwari workers. Hargobind Kaur, president, All Punjab Anganwari Workers' Union, thanked the Chief Minister for increasing their wages. She urged Badal to attach the anganwari staff with the Health Department. She also raised the demand of their promotion as supervisors, to which the Chief Minister agreed and assured them of timely action. Later, the Chief Minister went to Maharaja Ranjit Singh College, Malout, to attend the Panjab University's Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival. Jalandhar: Badal said the letter written by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to the state governments asking them to avoid detaining innocent Muslim youth was "unwarranted". The Chief Minister was in city to attend a function today. Terming AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi's apology to the Prime Minister on the issue of the ordinance to reverse Supreme Court ruling on convicted leaders as a "political drama", Badal said had he been in place of Dr Manmohan Singh he would have resigned. He said by using derogatory language against the ordinance Rahul had shown no confidence in the PM and the Union Cabinet.
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Mittal visits Bathinda refinery, inspects expansion work
Bathinda, October 2 LN Mittal, well-known steel magnate, who owns Hindustan Mittal Engineering Limited (HMEL), which has 49 per cent share in the refinery visited it after a gap of nearly 18 months. His last visited the refinery during its inauguration ceremony in April last year. Mittal along with other board members flew to the refinery in his helicopter. Sources said after meeting the management and workers, he inspected the refinery to finalise the process of doubling the capacity of the refinery. The capacity of the refinery will be increased to 14 mmt and then eventually to 18mmt in the next few weeks. The refinery has been mired in various controversies this year. Residents of nearby villages, Kanakwal and Phulokheri, protested against the pollution caused by the refinery and demanded to be relocated. Eventually, the government notified the relocation of the Kanakwal village and assured Phulokheri residents of checking the pollution. The refinery was also in the news this week with Congress and Akali leaders vying to claim credit for setting up the refinery in the region.
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Malerkotla tense, schoolboy detained for questioning
Sangrur, October 2 The police has formed five teams to investigate the murder. These teams have rounded up 12 persons for questioning. The authorities have deployed 2,000 police personnel in Malerkotla. At least 50 PCR motorcycles are patrolling sensitive areas, especially religious places. Members of a particular community gathered in strength at Jarag Chowk on the Sangrur-Ludhiana highway in the morning to protest against the detention of the schoolboy who, they claimed, was being falsely implicated. They lifted the blockade at 10.30 am after Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu assured them that the boy, if found innocent, would be let off. Mufti-e-Aazam Mohammad Ertiqa-Ul-Hasan Raqi Kandhlavi also urged the community members to remain calm. At this the crowd dispersed only to re-assemble after some time. As members of another community began to collect at the main bazar, the situation turned extremely tense. This compelled Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Indu Malhotra and SSP Sidhu to jointly take rounds of the city to ensure peace. At the PWD Rest House, a group of citizens met the Commissioner, Patiala Division, AS Pannu, seeking that a curfew be imposed. It is learnt that the parents of the detained schoolboy submitted documents to the district administration to prove that at the time of the murder, he was in school. When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner said the situation was under control and that there was no need to impose curfew. Additional DGP Dinkar Gupta, IG Ishwar Singh, Patiala Division Commissioner AS Pannu, the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP stayed put at the PWD Rest House throughout the day. Mounting tension Members of a community gather on the Sangrur-Ludhiana highway Claim the detained boy is innocent and that he be released forthwith Lift blockade at 10.30 am; re-assemble later Stage dharna at the railway crossing on Raikot road in the evening Members of another community collect at the main bazar, situation turns precarious Sangrur DC & SSP undertake rounds of the city Shops in Malerkotla remain shut for third day
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3 lakh tonnes rice worth Rs
700 cr yet to be milled
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 2 The date of milling expired on September 30 and still 3 lakh MT rice worth Rs 700 crore is likely to be prepared, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon to a delegation of the Rice Millers’ Association, which called on him today under the leadership of national president Tarsem Saini. He assured the delegation that he would pursue the matter for acceptance. Addressing the mediapers ons, press secretary Nakesh Jindal said the Punjab Rice Millers’ Association had welcomed the decision of the minister. The delegation brought to the notice of the minister that rice mill owners had been served notices for the recovery of levy rice worth Rs 350 crore. The minister assured the delegation that one month would be given to the rice mill owners for levy recovery and during this period, the Punjab Government would contact the Food Corporation of India for exemption of the levy recovery. Jindal said the delegation also brought to the notice of the minister that the cost of gunny bags against crop in 2012-13 was being demanded from rice mill owners with immediate effect. The delegation demanded that they should be given three months to pay back the money. The minister said the state government had to seek prior permission of the Centre after which he would take up the matter with the officials.
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Millers fail to deliver rice worth
Rs 120 cr
Moga, October 2 No legal action has been initiated against the defaulting mills yet. Instead, their owners have reportedly been lobbying to get fresh paddy for milling during the current season. An official in the FCI said 17,973 tonnes of paddy allotted by the Punjab Agro-Food Corporation (PAFC) to various rice mills was pending for delivery to the central pool from the last year’s crop. Other Punjab agencies, including Markfed (10,973 tonnes), Punsup (7,023 tonnes), Punjab Warehousing Corporation (6,849 tonnes) and Pungrain (1,819 tonnes) also have rice pending for delivery to the central pool. There are over 300 rice mills in the district and most of the defaulting mills are located in Dharamkot, Nihalsinghwala and Baghapurana sub-divisions.
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Few farmers opt for direct payment scheme
Ludhiana, October 2 An official of the Punjab Mandi Board said, "Only 2,000 farmers across the state filed the S form to get direct payment for their crop. Meanwhile, only 22 farmers came forward for the same in Ludhiana district and all are from the Sahnewal Market Committee.” With the amendment of the Punjab State Agricultural Produced Markets Rules, farmers of the state will now can get direct payment from the procurement agencies. The farmers have to fill the S form at the Market Committee office 45 days before the beginning of the crop procurement season. The farmers and Punjab Mandi Board have fought a long battle in court to get this provision in order to get rid farmers of commission agents
(arhtias). The department of economics and sociology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, had conducted a study on the exploitation of commission agents in the 2011. In his study, funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Sukhpal Singh revealed that there were 20,232 commission agents in the state, who earned Rs 2,406 crore annually by exploiting the
farmers. Jagmohan Singh, a farmer leader from the Bharatiya Kisan Union,
Dakonda, said, "No farmer wants that his money goes to the commission agents. That’s why, the farmers are ready to get payment from the procurement agencies directly. A majority of farmers are unaware of the recent amendment in rules." Dr Sukhpal Singh, economist at
PAU, said, "The Mandi Board should tell the farmers that if anyone does not want direct payment, then they should inform the board about it."
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Bizarre messages fuel sanitation drive
Muktsar, October 2 The posters may be offending, but if the officials of the department are to be believed, then it was the only method available to appeal to those who have not constructed toilets in their houses. Yadwinder Singh Dhillon, Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Muktsar, who has designed these posters, said, "The posters have been put up at public places in the town and villages to make a public appeal that not only should people construct toilets in houses, but also use them.' "We have learnt that in some villages, toilets made with financial assistance from the Centre were not being used by the people. So, such weird posters were the need of the hour to spread the message of total sanitation," he added.
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Cancer cases up in Muktsar district
Muktsar, october 2 The health authorities said that as many as 942 people were examined during the camp and a majority of them had come for follow-up. During the camp, the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) test was done on 96 persons. Besides, blood tests were done of 170 people, X-ray examination of 72 people, ultrasound test of 134 and pap smear test of three persons. “In the clinical examination, seven new cases of breast cancer have been detected, five of larynx cancer, three of prostate cancer, four of esophagus cancer, two of basal cell carcinoma, one each of blood cancer, ovarian cancer, uterus cancer and two people have been detected with pre-cancer conditions,” said Dr Gulshan Rai, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar. “The number of cancer patients may increase, as 24 suspected women have been referred for mammography test. Besides, the reports of blood, pap smear and FNAC tests are yet to come,” he said. It may be mentioned that Muktsar district in the Malwa belt of Punjab has recorded 136 cases of cancer per lakh population - the highest in the state. In the past 10 years, over 1,100 people have died of cancer in the district. The poor and rich both have been afflicted by this deadly disease. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal lost his wife Surinder Kaur to cancer Former Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar’s son Kanwarjit Singh Brar Sunny, ex-MLA, Muktsar, too died of cancer. Though doctors claim that cancer is curable, if detected early, in Muktsar district, no government hospital is fully equipped to detect cancer at an early stage.
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Vet staff on indefinite fast near Dhindsa’s residence
Sangrur, October 2 Kala Singh Chhajla, Aasa Ram Dhandial and Sukhjit Singh Mansa started an indefinite fast near the residence of Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Member of Rajya Sabha Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa yesterday, demanding regularisation of the AI workers. Several other AI workers also staged a protest and raised slogans against the state government for not meeting their demands. District president of the union Shaukat Ali said they had been working under the Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab, for long. Despite getting assurance from a number of ministers, their problems had not been redressed. He said they would not lift their dharna till their demands were accepted by the state government. Ali said it was a matter of concern that despite the second day of the fast, no official had visited them.
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Teachers to gherao Maluka on October 5
Patiala, October 2 State president of the union Gurcharan Singh Chahal said due to the destructive policy of the state government, aided schools were on the verge of closure. The state government had not filled the vacant posts in these schools since 2003 and almost 60 per cent posts in all schools are lying vacant," she said. District president of the Patiala union Jagmohan Lal Bansal said the government should take immediate steps to fill up the vacant posts. In case it was not possible for the government to fill up the vacant posts, it would be beneficial for the government to merge the staff of the aided schools with the government schools under the same civil service rules, he said. General secretary of the union Ashwini Sharma said a meeting was held between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and a delegation of the union, in which it was decided that the employees of the aided schools would be extended the benefit of increased house rent and fixed medical allowance at par with their government counterparts.
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Abohar, October 2 It testifies that the marriage of the principal accused Kuldeep Kumar of Daulatpura village was solemnised by Ummaid Singh Purohit with the girl on September 13. Her age has been referred to as 18 years and that of Kuldeep as 21 years. The girl studying in a village institution had reportedly alleged that Kuldeep Kumar allegedly raped her in a hotel with the help and connivance of Raja of Shergarh village and another friend. Initially, the date of birth of the girl was reportedly quoted as April 1, 1997 to ascertain that she was a minor. This has now triggered a row. — OC
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Moga paddy farmers reap rich harvest
Moga, October 2 Though five state-owned government procurement agencies and central food agency Food Corporation of India (FCI) have failed to purchase paddy for the second consecutive day in Moga district, rice millers were busy purchasing the crop. They are short of 75,000 mt paddy. Farmers have already brought in 10,000 mt of paddy to 50 of the 105 grain markets set up in the district. Farmer Mukhtiar Singh at Ghal Kalan grain market was elated at the prices he got for his produce. Over 12 lakh mt of paddy is expected to arrive in the district as against 11.58 lakh mt last year. This year, farmers have cultivated paddy on 1.62 lakh hectare in the district. District Mandi Officer Dhanvir Singh said at least 3.6 crore gunny bags were required to purchase the crop in the current season. Local Agriculture Development Officer Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar said the paddy was expected to be of good quality as no bug attacks had been reported in the district. “It will be a bumper crop this year with at least 10 per cent more yield compared to last year,” he added.
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Unemployed youth take to beekeeping in Sangrur
Sangrur, October 2 At the Krishi Vigiyan Kendra (KVK), Kherri, Sangrur, training is imparted in beekeeping four times a year. For every batch of 35 that is trained for six days, an equal number of people are on the waiting list. Under a scheme of the National Horticulture Mission, new beekeepers are given 50 per cent subsidy on every bee colony (box) that cost around Rs 3,000. There are over 100 beekeepers in Sangrur district, who produce more than 5 lakh kg of honey every year from more than 22,000 bee colonies. Malerkotla has the maximum 41 beekeepers, followed by 21 in Ahmedgarh, 15 in Sangrur, 10 in Dhuri, 9 in Sunam, 4 in Bhawanigarh and 2 in Sherpur. Sukhwinder Singh, a young beekeeper from Gaggarpur, said he extracted around 20 kg of honey from a bee colony in a year that he sold for Rs 70 to 80 per kg. As the seasons change, the beekeepers in the state take their bee colonies to Uttar Pradesh (UP), Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to maximise their produce. In November and December, they go to UP and Rajasthan where coriander and mustard crops are grown. They bring the bees to Punjab in March when eucalyptus flowers bloom and later sunflowers in May and June. Dr Hardeep Singh, Horticulture Development Officer (HDO), Sangrur, said most of the honey was sold in Doraha, Rajpura and Ahmedgarh. Dr Mandeep Singh, Deputy Director, KVK, Kherri, said training would next be imparted from October 1 to October 9.
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Milkfed looks to increase profit through exports
Chandigarh, October 2 The milk cooperative is already exporting ghee to countries in West Asia, New Zealand and Australia. With Milkfed all set to export lassi and UHT milk from this year itself, the cooperative is hoping to see a massive jump in its export earnings. As against 625 tonnes of ghee exported during the last fiscal, the cooperative is targeting to increase its exports to 750 tonnes this financial year. A senior Milkfed officer told The Tribune that the Export Inspection Agency of the Government of India was expected to certify the Chandigarh plant this month. “Once this is done, we can start exporting more quantities of milk products. At present, ghee is being exported from Milkfed units at Ludhiana and
Bathinda,” he said. The milk plant at Chandigarh is the only one where the co-operative processes tetrapack products like UHT milk and
lassi. “So far, we are processing115-120 lakh litres of UHT milk per annum at the Chandigarh plant, of which 80- 85 lakh litres is supplied to defence forces. The remaining UHT milk is supplied to Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi. "With the Chandigarh plant getting EOU certification, we will be able to process much larger quantities of UHT milk and lassi for exports. Verka Lassi is quite popular in the domestic market and we hope that it will do well in the export market too,” the officer said. At a time when raw milk prices are soaring and there is a huge demand for skimmed milk powder
(SMP) in the export market, Milkfed is not planning to export SMP. “We had huge stocks of SMP last year. “But this year, the demand for milk has surpassed availability. As against a demand of 9.50 lakh litres of milk a day, the supply is 8.75 lakh
litres. “We are meeting this gap by reconstituting milk from SMP. As a result, we are unable to process SMP for the export market,” the officer added. Milky way The cooperative is already exporting ghee to countries in W Asia, New Zealand & Australia Milkfed will now start exporting ultra high temperature processed milk and lassi The cooperative aims to increase its ghee exports to 750 tonnes this financial year Milkfed is not planning to export skimmed powder milk
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Chinese products may swallow Ludhiana cycle market
Ludhiana, October 2 Not only the cycle industry but also the bicycle parts industry of Ludhiana has been hit hard due to import of cycle parts from China. As a result, nearly 250 units have shut down their operations in the recent past. What worries the manufacturers more is the fact that Ludhiana dry port receives at least 100 containers of Chinese cycle parts each month. The overall export of the same has also fallen to Rs 500 crore from Rs 950 crore while on the other hand imports have increased to Rs 1,000 crore from just Rs 100 crore in the last two years. "I used to make cycle chains but the business is no longer lucrative as customers prefer buying the cheap Chinese products. I would sell one chain that cost me Rs 82 at my factory for Rs 89, whereas China is dumping its chains here for Rs 66. Almost all cycle parts are now imported from China,” said Gurmukh Singh, a manufacturer of cycle chains. Cycle parts such as hub cones, spoke, chains, baskets, chain wheels and cranks, steel balls, plastic handle levers, saddle parts, pedals, pumps, pedal axles and caliper brake parts are imported from China. Some of the manufacturers have turned to importing cycle parts from China rather than manufacturing these locally. "We are left with no other option but to import the products. Unable to sustain in the existing circumstances, we have begun importing parts from China and then selling these in the local market,” said Davinder Kumar, another cycle parts manufacturer. More than 10 big industrial houses, including Hero Group, Eastman, Safari Cycles and Sadem Cycles, have even opened up their offices in China to source cheap bicycle components for export to markets in developing countries. Question of survival Nearly 250 units have shut down in the recent past Bicycle parts export has fallen to `500 crore from `950 crore Imports have increased to `1,000 crore from just `100 crore in the last two years A number of cycle manufacturing companies have even opened their offices in China to source cheap components
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Last rites of missing sailor performed
Amritsar, October 2 The naval forces had earlier claimed that the dead body of Seaman First Class Atul Sharma could not be found. A contingent of navy came here in the afternoon with his belongings. The uniform and other personal belongings of the martyr were consigned to flames as army personnel sounded the last post. A large number of Army, Navy and Air Force officials and jawans were present on the occasion. However, no district administration official or state government representative was present at the cremation ground. National SC Commission Vice Chairman Raj Kumar Verka visited the martyr’s residence at Tandon Nagar to pay his last respects. While speaking to the media, Geet Kamal Gujral, an officer from Atul’s unit, said, “The navy would always remember Atul and other sailors who had lost their lives in the mishap.” In the INS Sindhurakshak blast, 18 sailors had lost their lives. The bodies of only 10 sailors could be found. Atul Sharma, son of a local Sanskrit teacher, Hem Raj had joined the navy two years ago.
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Resolve disputes amicably, Sessions Judge tells lawyers
Ludhiana, October 2 This was stated by the District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairperson of the Legal Services Authority, Ludhiana, GS Matharoo, while addressing a gathering of lawyers at the District Court Complex here today. He was speaking at a seminar organised by the district Legal Services Authority in order to sensitise the lawyers to mediation and reconciliation on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He said it would help in reducing bitterness among the litigants, as both would be in a win-win situation. Nobody would prefer an appeal once the matter was settled amicably. He said the stress was not laid on the number game of settling cases but on ending bitterness among litigants, said Matharoo. Speaking on the occasion, Additional Sessions Judge Kamaljit Singh Lamba said, “We should follow the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi and make our best endeavour to settle the disputes of litigants through mediation.” He urged the lawyers to put in more efforts when the dispute was between business relationships. It was often seen that litigation were dragged on for years due to ego or absence of opportunity of interaction on one platform, added Lamba. Vice-Chairperson of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana Parupkar Singh Ghumman said in the western countries, majority of the disputes were being settled through mediation. “This system can become popular if all of us work sincerely in this direction,” he said. Former Bar Council Chairperson Balwinder Goel, CJM-cum-secretary of DLSA KK Singla, ex-DBA presidents Jagmohan Singh Warraich and Hemant Kalia participated in the seminar.
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Robbers attack ASI in Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur, October 2 Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police Sukhwant Singh Gill said a search had been launched to nab the accused. Sources said on September 30, two armed motorcyclists reportedly robbed Surjeet Singh of Rs 80,000 at gunpoint near Balwanda village in Gurdaspur police district. The police registered a case on Surjeet Singh’s complaint. After tracking the calls made from the mobile phone of Gopi of Dhawa village, a police team led by ASI Sukhjeet Singh arrived at Dera Baba Nanak to nab him. When they tried to arrest Gopi, he and his accomplice Jaggi attacked the ASI with sharpedged weapons. The ASI, who was profusely bleeding, was rushed to Dera Baba Nanak Civil Hospital.
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Missing woman found dead
Tarn Taran, October 2 The woman was allegedly murdered and then buried in the fields by her brother-in-law Sucha Singh and four others on May 24. After killing Sarabjit, the accused kept her 14-year-old daughter in confinement for three weeks. — OC
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Another BSF man held in drug haul case
Amritsar, October 2 Vikramjit Singh, a resident of Muglani village near Khadoor Sahib, was handed over to the police by the BSF authorities after his role came to light during the interrogation of the peddlers. The accused allegedly used to pick drug consignment from the border and pass it on to Rashpal Singh of Ramuwal village, the alleged kingpin, and his aides Gurwinder Singh of the same village and BSF constable Gurpreet Singh of Chuslewar village. Rashpal Singh had also revealed the names of several other smugglers. A manhunt has been launched to arrest those named, said Ishwar Chander, IG Border Range. Sources in the BSF said both the constables were recruited about six months ago. Gurpreet Singh had gone on a leave on September 4. He was to rejoin the duty on September 24, but he did not, said a BSF official, adding that Vikramjit Singh had recently returned from his leave. Both the jawans belonged to the Mandot Battalion deputed in the Ferozepur sector. RPS Jaswal, DIG, BSF, termed the incident as unfortunate. He said new ways would be devised to keep tabs on BSF personnel deputed at the border outposts. The incident is not an isolated one wherein BSF jawans deputed at the Indo-Pak border were found indulging in cross-border smuggling. Corruption within the law enforcement agencies has been a cause of worry for the BSF and other authorities as it helps flourish the illegal trade. Earlier incidents May 30, 2013: Gurdev Singh, Superintendent, Central Excise and Customs, posted at the Attari railway station, was caught with 10 kg of heroin in Kartarpur April 2011: BSF constable Gurcharan Singh posted at Daoke arrested for allegedly facilitating smuggling of around 75 kg of heroin from the Indo-Pak border 2010: Harpreet Singh, Deputy Commandant, BSF, arrested in 2010 with 1 kg of heroin. He was earlier arrested in 2005 for smuggling 23 kg of heroin
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Clerk held for embezzlement of funds
Patiala, October 2 Patiala SSP Hardial Singh Mann said Col (retd) Karminder Singh, the president of the Society for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, had filed a complaint on September 3 that clerk-cum-cashier Lal Singh, a resident of Kheri Gandian village, had misappropriated funds worth Rs 2.68 lakh. The SSP said during investigation it was found that after leaving the NGO, Lal Singh was arrested by the Haryana police in an extortion case. The police has recovered the embezzled funds from his possession.
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Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Partap Singh Bajwa today said he favoured student elections in Punjab colleges and universities on the pattern of those held in Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on October 4 to seek a permanent solution to the problem of waterlogging and apprise him of the losses caused due to it in the state recently.
Tension prevailed in Malerkotla this morning as the police took a schoolboy into custody for questioning in connection with the killing of 13-year-old Vidhu
Jain, who was burnt alive on September 30.
An indefinite fast by three members of the Veterinary Artificial Insemination (AI) Workers’ Union, Punjab, entered second day today.
Rising unemployment and initiatives of the Horticulture Department to promote beekeeping have driven youth in Sangrur to take up the profession. At the Krishi Vigiyan Kendra
(KVK), Kherri, Sangrur, training is imparted in beekeeping four times a year. For every batch of 35 that is trained for six days, an equal number of people are on the waiting list.
