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Regularising Illegal
colonies
Patients leave as strike paralyses services at Rajindra Hospital
Neglected patients outside the Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on Wednesday.
Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar |
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Govt sitting on payment to local artistes
Will approach EC on narco-politics, Kant tells HC
Industry captains pledge investment in state
Cong prepares to take on govt
Tewari backs Capt’s statewide tour
Village sinks in
sorrow as 2 brothers die in road mishap
Basmati farmers in Fazilka at mercy of private traders
Heaps of basmati at the Fazilka grain market. Photo by writer
Tributes paid to ’62 war hero
Conference on educational
intelligence begins today
Team to assess paddy damage arrives
today
New govt appointees may get old grade pay
Camelot Project
Message on FB: SGPC told to act against culprits
HC raps state for dragging ex-employee into litigation
HC gives state three weeks for
report on mining in
Pathankot
Verdict in school board recruitment scam soon
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Regularising Illegal
colonies
Chandigarh, October 23 The rules clearly state that any housing colony spread over 50 hectares, or a building with more than 20,000 square metres of covered area requires clearance from the Environment Impact Assessment Authority. Even as the state government has announced its policy for regularisation of colonies and started accepting applications for the same, it seems to have overlooked the environment clearance norm. Not only is the policy silent regarding environment clearance for the illegal colonies in urban settlements, but the government is also accepting applications for regularising colonies that have come up in eco-sensitive zones, especially in Anandpur Sahib and Hoshiarpur, said sources. A Venu Prasad, Secretary, Housing, when contacted, accepted that environment clearance would be required for all colonies applying for regularisation. “So far, we are only collecting the applications and have not raised the issue of environment clearance. Once the applications have been assessed, we will have to ask the applicants to get environment clearance,” he said. People who had built houses in villages which were later included in the MC limits have now been asked to get their houses/plots regularised by paying a compounding fee. Ashwani Kumar Joshi, a resident of Nawanshahr, said this was unfair. “We are now challenging the categorisation of such settlements as illegal colonies in the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” he said. At least two officers posted as Deputy Commissioners said the notification to exclude illegal colonies built before 1995 from paying compounding fee had came only in the first week of October. By then they had already collected applications and 10 per cent of the compounding fee from plot-holders and colonisers. “However, in its present form, the regularisation policy does not have any provision of refund. Also, the policy says that the compounding fee be imposed on a per acre basis, as it was originally framed to target illegal colonisers. Now, with the individual plot-holders coming forward for regularisation, we have sought a clarification on how the compounding fee can be charged on a per square yard basis,” he said. The Secretary Housing said the money collected from those living in colonies established before 1995 would be refunded.
Anomalies galore
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Patients leave as strike paralyses services at Rajindra Hospital
Patiala, October 23 Since contractual staff constitute around 90 per cent of the employees at the hospital, services at the hospital have come to a grinding halt. There are over 1,100 contractual paramedical staff against the 15 regular employees at the hospital. Patients have now started shifting to private hospitals. “My uncle had to wait for hours before he was diagnosed. So, I have decided to shift him to another hospital,” said Surinder, a patient’s relative. The contractual staff have been protesting for their demands for several days now. Nursing and Paramedical Association president Karamjeet Kaur Aulakh said, “While we are made to slog day and night for a mere Rs 7,500, regular staff members have lesser workload and draw a salary of over Rs 50,000. We are not even paid expenses in case of a medical emergency.” To keep the hospital running, the hospital authorities have deputed trainees from various private nursing colleges. The onus was now on postgraduate students and regular staff to handle emergency services along with others. Sources said the hospital authorities with skeletal staff were now turning away a large number of patients. The Punjab Government had assured the contractual employees of automatically regularising their services after three years of working at the hospital. Meanwhile, Principal Dr KD Singh said with the regular staff, resident doctors and trainees working round the clock, the situation was under control. Medical Superintendent of Rajindra Hospital Dr VK Sharda said Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Medical Education and Research Department, had asked assocation members to prepare a seniority list of contractual staff so they could be made regular.
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Govt sitting on payment to local artistes
Bathinda, October 23 Information gathered under the RTI Act reveals that though the payments are not much, the artistes are feeling the pinch as unlike the Mumbai artistes, they solely survive on such performances. Some payments have been pending since 2012. Dhaddi Harnek Singh, who performed at the anniversary of Shaheed Udham Singh in July 2012, is yet to be paid. He has also not been paid for performing at Jor Mela at Fatehgarh Sahib in December 2012. Legendary Yamla Jatt’s son Jasdev Yamla Jatt too is yet to be paid for his performance at the oath-taking ceremony of panches and sarpanches at Pathankot on August 5. “It was the first time that I performed at a government function. Since I went abroad soon after, I could not get in touch with the officials or send them a reminder about the payment,” he said. The Public Relations Department had booked the singer for Rs 15,000. During the swearing-in ceremony of zila parishad and block samiti members on July 19, where CM Parkash Singh Badal was the chief guest, the department had booked three dhaddi jathas. None have been paid their dues. When contacted, the Director, Public Relations, Ashwani Kumar, said it was for the first time that the matter had come to his notice. He promised to look into the matter. Dhaddis Gurmukh Singh and Harnek Singh performed at the oath-taking ceremony of panches and sarpanches on August 4, but have still to be paid the promised sum of Rs 1,500 for the same. The Public Relations Department have endorsed the bill of these "dhaddis" and sent it to the state government for approval. Dhaddi Gurmukh Singh Mohanpur’s jatha performed at the oath-taking ceremony of panches and sarpanches at Nawanshahr on August 6 but is yet to be paid Rs 5,000 for the same. Dhaddi Harjinder Singh’s jatha too is awaiting payment for performing at the swearing-in function of panches and sarpanches on August 7 where Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal was the chief guest. Dhaddi Gurmukh Singh who twice performed at Ludhiana functions has not been paid. “I was told that my bills had been sent for clearance but I have not heard from officials after that,” he said.
FACT OF THE MATTER
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Chandigarh, October 23 As the issue came up for hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court this morning, Kant told the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih that the election process “gets affected by the menace” and that he proposed to approach the Election Commission on the issue. Taking note of his assertion, the Bench said: “We are sure that the information/representation would receive appropriate attention at the hands of the Election Commission.” Kant had written to the Chief Justice: “ A number of well- known politicians of various political parties have also joined the select band of top-rung dope smugglers. With the increasing cost of running electoral campaigns, individual contenders as also political parties are getting increasingly dependent on drug money. “Whereas drugs and narcotics are being used by political parties with impunity to woo voters, with our Election Commission sitting like the proverbial monkeys of Gandhiji, the drug money is also being increasingly and massively used in politics by way of donations to political parties as also by individual contenders, both for electoral and individuals purposes. Now it is the era of narco-politics.” Counsel for Centre submitted that the BSF, the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Ministry of Home Affairs could be impleaded as respondents in the case. The counsel for Union of India and Punjab sought more time to examine the matter with the departments concerned and undertook to file affidavits within four weeks. Ex-DGP claims...
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Industry captains pledge investment in state
Mumbai, October 23 The Deputy CM said M&M would establish a world-class university, called Mahindra University, in New Chandigarh. The group will also invest in providing end-to-end solutions in marketing and agro-processing of fruits and vegetables. Earlier today, Sukhbir met Anand Mahindra, head of the group, and briefed him about the Knowledge City coming up at Mullanpur. Mahindra University would be an umbrella institution for five engineering colleges being established by the Mahindra group in different parts of the country in technical collaboration with Ecole Centrale Paris of France. Adi Godrej, chairman, Godrej group, who met the Deputy CM, evinced interest in housing and biomass power. Adi Godrej deputed a team to visit Punjab to work out the modalities even as Sukhbir appointed his special secretary Manvesh Singh Sidhu to work as a point man on behalf of the state, a statement said. Industrialist Ashok P Hinduja also offered to establish a university in Punjab, besides solar power plants, wheelhouses and cold storages to benefit farmers to sell their produce and reduce wastage. Hinduja also agreed to sign an MoU with the Punjab Government during the Investment Summit in December for establishment of a driver's training institute in Punjab. Later at a meeting with Vodafone officials, Sukbir promised that all mobile towers would be provided with 24-hour power connection and that the government would regularise all towers as a onetime measure. Vodafone chief operating officer Sunil Sood assured to provide broadband connectivity in rural areas. Another investment by Adlabs includes setting up of theme parks. Adlabs chairman Manmohan Shetty evinced interest to set up a theme-based tourist entertainment hub near Ludhiana along the
Sutlej.
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Cong prepares to take on govt
“There are numerous issues such as charging fee to regularise illegal colonies, levying of various taxes, payment of taxes in advance and the government’s failure to fulfill its promises like unemployment allowance. Besides, there are issues of unemployment, poor performance on development front and fiscal crisis. We are all set to take on the ruling alliance,” said Congress Legislature Party Leader Sunil Jakhar
(pic). When asked whether the party would boycott the session as it did during most period of the Budget Session, he said: “No, we have no such plans. We will confront the government from the Opposition benches.” Jakhar alleged it was unfortunate that the SAD-BJP thrown all democratic and parliamentary traditions to the wind. “We have learnt that the government will introduce some Bills. But, we have not got a copy of any such Bill even as the session is just four days away,” said Jakhar. “I will meet the Speaker tomorrow”, he added.
Action against Sarkaria unlikely Sources said the party high command my not take any major action against Rajasansi MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria for speaking against PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa. He may get away with a reprimand and may be warned against going to the media on any party issue, the sources said.
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Tewari backs Capt’s statewide tour
Ludhiana, October 23 The statement assumes significance at a time when Amarinder Singh is reasserting himself within the party. At the Sangrur rally addressed by AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi recently, the differences between PPCC chief Partap Singh Bajwa and the Captain had come out in the open. The Union Minister said the state was on the verge of bankruptcy. The state government was burdening the people with unnecessary taxes. He said the SAD needed to clarify its stand on the "eviction and harassment" of Sikh farmers in Gujarat.
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Village sinks in
sorrow as 2 brothers die in road mishap
Sangrur, October 23 Both were killed last night after the motorcycle they were on was hit by a car at Khanal Kalan village. While Gurmeet died on the spot, Amarjit breathed his last while being shifted to a hospital. An agriculturist, Amarjit had been putting up at his in-laws’ house in Khanal Khurd village (near Dirba). He is survived by his wife and two sons (22 and 20 years old). Gurmeet, living at Bassi Arak village, was a constable in the Punjab Home Guards at Sangrur. He is survived by his wife and two sons (20 and 15 years old). His current posting was as a gunman with the District Commandant. It took a while for the message to sink in for the family when a villager broke the sad news to them. They said Gurmeet was going to drop his brother from Baasi Arak to Khanal Khurd when the mishap occurred. Karamjit Singh, a nephew of the deceased, said the family was in a state of shock and was unable to speak to anyone. The cremation took place at Baasi Arak in the presence of hundreds of mourners, including Punjab Home Guards District Commandant Rai Singh Dhaliwal and Dirba Deputy Superintendent of Police Sewa Singh Malhi. Station House Officer Subeg Singh said after the accident, a crowd gathered at the spot and tried to nab the two occupants of the car. But the latter opened fire at the mob, leaving a villager, Sukhdev Singh of Khanal Kalan, with an injury on his arm. The accused fled the scene of the accident, leaving their car behind. The police has booked the accused, identified as Sandeep Singh of Dhuri and Parminder Singh of Bhadson, under IPC sections 307, 304, 109, 506 and 34 and Section 25 of the Arms Act. Motorcyclist killed, six injured in accident Sangrur: A motorcyclist was killed in an accident on the Malerkotla-Khanna road near Jabomajra village on Tuesday. He was hit by a bus. The deceased has been identified as Vijay Kumar. Six passengers travelling on the bus also sustained injuries as the vehicle overturned while its driver tried to avert a collision with the motorcycle. The injured have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in Malerkotla. — TNS
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Basmati farmers in Fazilka at mercy of private traders
Fazilka, October 23 Private traders, rice mill owners and exporters are bulk buyers of this fine variety. No minimum support price
(MSP) is announced by the government for this variety, leaving farmers to the mercy of traders.
Parduman Kumar Beganwali, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Fazilka district, said: "The government has no concrete policy on this basmati variety which consumes less water as compared to other varieties. Farmers switched over to this variety on the persuasion of the government which has now let them down," he said. Lakhwinder Singh of Hasta Kalan village deplored the "apathetic" attitude of the government. After the farmers raised a hue and cry, the basmati was purchased at Rs 3,607 per quintal this evening. "Traders from outside and exporters have been purchasing basmati at a higher price. The Market Committee shall not allow the exploitation of farmers at the hands of private traders," said Salodh Kumar
Bishnoi, secretary, Market Committee, Fazilka. Fazilka is one of the major basmati belts in the state. Official sources said 1,65,750 quintals of basmati had arrived at the local grain market and its 20 purchase centres so far.
OFFICIALWORD Traders from outside and exporters have been purchasing basmati at a higher price. The Market Committee shall not allow the exploitation of farmers at the hands of private traders — SK Bishnoi, Secy, Market Committee, Fazilka
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Tributes paid to ’62 war hero
Moga, October 23 Born on September 28, 1921, at Mahla Kalan village in the district, Joginder Singh served in the first battalion of the Sikh Regiment. He joined the Army on September 15, 1941. He was posthumously decorated with Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award. He had died fighting the Chinese in the 1962 war. Recently, renowned Hindi film producer JP Dutta had also announced to make a film on the heroic saga of the Subedar, who sacrificed his life to defend the Indian territory. Brigadier Sushil Sharma of the 48th Infantry Brigade, District and Sessions Judge Karamjit Singh Kang, District Magistrate Arshdip Singh Thind, Senior Superintendent of Police KJS Dhillon, daughter of the war hero Kulwant Kaur and several other serving and retired Army, civil and police administration officials were among those who paid tributes to him. A contingent of the Army presented a guard of honour to their hero and a two-minute silence was also observed.
Died fighting the Chinese in Tawang Sector
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Conference on educational
intelligence begins today
Chandigarh, October 23 Renowned speakers, including Dr Steve Cox, MIS Director, RIO Grande University, USA, Dr Frances Levine, ex-Dean, Santa Fe Community, USA, Dr Chuck Dull, Dean Cleveland College, USA, Prof SNS Nagra, President, Asia Pacific, StudentSpace, USA, and Sunil Gulati, business intelligence expert and founder of ZX Consulting Group, will discuss the issues. Briefing media personnel, Prof SNS Nagra said, “We are targeting students and institutions. In India, there aren’t enough jobs generated for the thousands of youths graduating every year. This conference is being organised to bridge the gap. It is a long term process but we want to start working on it.” On the involvement of institutions in the project, Nagra said, “Students and institutes from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Haryana and Rajasthan will participate in the conference.” A panel discussion on NRI Punjab Tech Vision will also be held at the conference with members speaking on start-ups in robotics and
nanotechnology.
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Team to assess paddy damage arrives
today
Chandigarh, October 23 The team has been asked to assess the damage/discoloration of grain. In case of excessive damage, it is likely to recommend to the government that some relaxation in specifications be given for paddy procurement. In case, the central team, which will be assisted by officers from the regional office of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state procurement agencies, finds that a large quantity of paddy is damaged, it has the mandate to recommend that the parameter of accepting only 4 per cent of damaged or discoloured paddy be relaxed. Official sources said over the next two days, the team would visit mandis in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib. Most complaints of distress sale have been reported from these three districts. There are reports that farmers in these districts have been selling paddy at Rs 200 per quintal less than the MSP of Rs 1,310 per quintal. It is learnt that as against a target of procuring 130 lakh tonnes of paddy this year, the procurement till date has been 51 lakh tonnes. The FCI, which has been given the target of procuring 10 per cent of the paddy, has so far procured just 2.25 lakh tonnes. The remaining 48.75 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured by state government agencies.
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New govt appointees may get old grade pay
Chandigarh, October 23 A proposal in this regard was brought before the Punjab Cabinet in its meeting on Monday. But, because of some technical issues, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to examine the matter again and bring it before the next meeting of the Council of Ministers, scheduled for October 25. Sources familiar with the developments told The Tribune that the state government, which is all set to recruit teachers and doctors, besides administrative staff, now proposes to recruit staff in the 2009 grade pay, which is before the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission. Even appointees on compassionate grounds will get the old pay grades. As a result, all those recruited as superintendents and above ranks will be given the grade pay of Rs 5,000, those recruited as superintendent grade 2 Rs 3,800-Rs 4,999, assistants and clerks Rs 1,900-Rs 3,799 and class IV employees Rs 1,900. Since the implementation of recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission in 2011, Punjab spends almost 37.22 per cent of its total expenditure on salaries, wages and pension. The wage bill has been increasing at a rate of 18.54 per cent. As against the wage bill of Rs 7,688 crore in 2006-07, the same was Rs 21,149 crore last year. “Since the grade pay will be lower, the Subordinate Services Selection Board can expeditiously recruit new staff,” said an official.
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Camelot Project
Chandigarh, October 23 The MLAs have been asked by the department to pay capital gain on more than Rs 2 crore allegedly earned by entering into a deal with Tata for construction of Tata Camelot Housing project. Reacting to the demand, no less than 10 former and current Punjab MLAs, including Punjab's former Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, had earlier claimed that the Income Tax Department had wrongly issued notices to pay "capital gain" on amount they were yet to receive. The development is significant as Punjab MLAs' Cooperative House Building Society with nearly 100 members was formed way back in 2000-01 by pooling in Rs 5 lakh each. The members were each entitled to 500 sq yard plot. As per the agreement with Tata, each MLA was to get Rs 82.5 lakh and a flat each in lieu of their plot.
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HC raps state for dragging ex-employee into litigation
Chandigarh, October 23 The strictures by Justice Mahesh Grover came on a petition filed some 13 years ago by MP Aggarwal against the State of Punjab and other respondents through counsel Harsh Aggarwal. He was seeking release of Rs 33,116, along with 12 per cent interest, on the ground that the amount was wrongly deducted from his gratuity. Going into the background of the controversy, the petitioner had contended that he retired in July 1996, but some amount was deducted. The reason cited by the authorities concerned was that according to the provident fund authorities, excessive amount was credited to his account. His counsel contended excess amount was not credited on account of misrepresentation. In any case, he could not have been burdened with interest while making the recovery, even if excess amount had been deposited. Allowing the petition, Justice Grover asserted: “The petitioner has been unduly harassed and wronged due to the action of the respondents. It was not the fault of the petitioner, when the respondents started crediting his account with excess amount. It is their fault. The petitioner, who had made no misrepresentation, cannot be burdened with liability which occurred on account of the fault of the respondent/officials themselves. “Even when the petition was filed in year 2000, the respondents could have rectified this unwarranted and unjustified action, but they persisted with the petition. Even though attempts were made to settle the issue by resorting to the Lok Adalat, the respondents did not settle the matter…. “Clearly, on account of the erroneous action on part of the respondents, the petitioner has been unnecessarily dragged into litigation and the courts, similarly, he has been burdened with controversy, which ought to have been settled by the respondents themselves by taking a just decision. “In fact, when the case was taken up, the respondents persisted with their stand….It is a case where costs ought to be imposed upon the respondents for unnecessarily and stubbornly sticking to a stand which can at best, be termed as unjustified. “Consequently, the petition is allowed and the petitioner is held entitled to
the entire amount of Rs 33,116….. The respondents are also burdened with costs of Rs 10,000 which shall be paid to the petitioner”.
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HC gives state three weeks for
report on mining in
Pathankot
Chandigarh, October 23 As the case came up for resumed hearing, Punjab Additional Advocate-General sought additional time to file a status report. He submitted that the area was on the border of the states of Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. As only 20 per cent of the riverbed fell within the state of Punjab, there was possibility that mining operations carried out in other states resulted in material being brought by the stone crushers in Punjab. He said verification had been carried out to find out whether these stone crushers were using material legally mined. The case will now come up on November 18. Taking suo motu cognisance of illegal mining in Punjab, the Division Bench had earlier put on notice the State of Punjab and its Principal Secretary. Referring to the news-item on the issue carried in an English daily, the Bench had observed: "In the news-report, it is stated that heavy JCB machines crawl right into shallow waters competing for the wet sand gravel natural mixtures and despite official probe report, the illegal mining has continued unabated. It has also been stated that the Punjab Industries Department in its probe on illegal mining has acknowledged at least 55 such giant machines running illegally, but their owners continue to use them once again unabated, including with the facility of diesel pump station at the entry point".
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Verdict in school board recruitment scam soon
Mohali, October 23 After the completion of the proceedings, the Mohali Additional District and Sessions Court has set October 30 as the next date for hearing of the case. The Vigilance Bureau had booked Tota Singh under corruption charges after it found irregularities in the recruitment of 134 clerks and 60 helpers in the PSEB during his tenure from 1997 to 2002. Toady, the other accused in the case, the then PSEB joint secretary Paviter Pal Kaur, former secretary Jagjit Singh, Amar Singh and Tirath Singh were also present in the court. An official of the Vigilance Bureau said the arguments of both the defence and the prosecution
had concluded. “We are expecting the verdict soon,” he added.
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As talks between the Government Rajindra Hospital and the striking contractual paramedical staff failed, the latter boycotted all duties here today.
Cultivators of the popular 1121 variety of basmati in Fazilka allege that they are being fleeced by private traders who are lifting their produce at lower prices.
"The farmers are being offered a price of around Rs 3,220 per quintal as
compared to Rs 3,500 per quintal in the adjoining grain markets of Malout and
Muktsar.
Chandigarh, October 23
In the 1962 India-China war,
Subedar Joginder Singh commanded a platoon in Tawang sector on a ridge in Tong Peng La area on Bum La axis