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Moga police crack down on sand mafia, 13 held
The Moga police have registered close to 100 cases of illegal mining so far this year. Tribune photo
Setback to food scheme; depot holders on strike
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Kairon at a meeting with depot holders in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph
Drug lord Kandola names two police
officers
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Serving Sikh soldiers want more Indians in US army
Cotton farmers in for relief as central agency procures crop at higher rates
No seat-swap with Akali Dal,
says BJP
Cong: Money being wasted on kabaddi
Teen accuses SHO of assault
Jakhar wants goods transport mafia taken to task for ‘jazia’
Reliance all set to provide 4G services in state
Sale of properties nails govt lie on economy: Tewari
Abohar traders to oppose property tax
Government to modernise all nine milk plants 2 more technology parks on anvil
Bindra lays stone for rifle shooting range
3 devotees taken ill after eating ‘parshad’
20 years on, HC orders reinstatement of ex-serviceman discharged from police
Set up solid waste plant in a year: HC
Frame policy for vendors, state told
Attack on RTI activist: HC seeks report from SSP
BSF officials with packets of heroin seized from Udhar Dhariwal border post on Monday. Tribune photo:
Vishal Kumar
Councillor booked for thrashing MC inspector
Missing Muktsar toddler’s body found in tank
Kidney scam: 2 more doctors booked
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Moga police crack down on sand mafia, 13 held
Moga, December 2 A senior police officer told The Tribune that the trucks were coming from Shahkot side after crossing the Kanwan Wala Pattan bridge on the Jalandhar-Moga highway when a police team intercepted them. Those driving the vehicles were arrested. They were identified as Gursewak Singh, Kala Singh, Harjinder Singh, Balwinder Singh, Surjit Singh, Amrik Singh, Jagtar Singh, Thana Singh, Sanjog Singh, Amandeep Singh, Manpreet Singh, Buta Singh and Karamveer Singh. Another driver who fled the spot has been identified as Balwant Singh of Bhaura village in Mansa district. An FIR under Sections 379 and 411 of the IPC and various sections of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957, has been registered at the Dharamkot police station. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused, all members of the sand mafia, had been engaged in illegal mining for the past several months. They had been selling sand in Moga, Barnala, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa and other districts. The Moga police have registered close to 100 cases of illegal mining this year so far. It may be mentioned that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had banned sand mining in the state in tandem with the Supreme Court's order of February 27, 2012. Mining is allowed only from approved sites after sanction for the same is obtained from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
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Setback to food scheme; depot holders on strike
Chandigarh, December 2 “Since we have not made any deposit for picking the December stocks, the poor will not get any supplies this month,”he said. The depot holders are demanding a salary of Rs 20,000 per month. Buta Singh, union cashier, said the government would not be able to implement its food scheme, at least at this juncture, without the support of the depot holders. Kairon said he had asked the union to constitute a seven-member committee and “send us the recommendations which shall be taken up at the appropriate level.” The central Food Security Act is not clear on the mode of payment to depot holders. An inspector with the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, said: “The total number of food inspectors in the state is less than 2,000. The government cannot expect us to deliver the services. We have already sent a representation to the department in this regard.” An Akali Dal office-bearer, Joga Singh, from Ghanaur Kalan village near Dhuri said though he backed the SAD Government, “we will continue to fight for our rights.” Jagjit Saini from Amritsar said the matter had been nearly sorted out by the minister who had sought recommendations on increasing the list of items on the depot list such as ghee, salt and cooking oil. “As we have decided to go on a strike, there is no question of setting up a panel for negotiations,” said an adamant Sandhu. Depot holders pointed out that people were being forced to shell out Rs 20-Rs 30 for obtaining a form for the Atta Dal Scheme which the government claimed was free.
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Drug lord Kandola names two police
officers
Jalandhar, December 2 The names of Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Inspector General (IG) , Bathinda Range, and Balwinder Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP), Detective, Mohali, have surfaced in the confessional statement of Raja Kandola submitted during the ongoing investigations. The ED will hand over the questionnaire to the officers within a week. The latter will be given a week to submit their replies, ED sources said. The Punjab Police had arrested Kandola last year. The ED had attached Kandola’s four properties worth over Rs 20 crore. He and his wife Rajwant Kaur had never filed any Income Tax return. The ED has initiated an investigation into the properties and other assets of the two police officers in the light of written disclosures by Kandola before ED sleuths. “If it is found that no drug money has been used, we cannot invoke the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the officers,” said an official. Kandola, in his statement to the ED, has reportedly described the two police officers as his “friends”. He has not named any other police official and politician so far. Umranangal and Balwinder Singh have denied any links with Kandola and his drug trade. The ED has not issued summons to the officers at this stage as no case has been registered so far. It is, however, in the process of seeking a detailed clarification from the officers in respect to their properties and bank accounts. The motive is not to determine whether Kandola was known to these two officers, but to ascertain if any drug money was used by them. With the surfacing of the names of two senior officers in the multi-crore Kandola drug racket, the Punjab Police has initiated an “in-house” investigation into the possible links between police officers and Kandola and the nature of these links. Raja Kandola, it is learnt, has told the ED that Balwinder Singh was not only a “regular’ visitor to his farmhouse in Samrala, but would also stay there for a long time. “We will act only if we find out they were working together to earn drug money,” said an ED official. Kandola’s Samrala farmhouse has been attached along with his other properties at Ropar and Gurgaon. The ED, it is learnt, is in the process of attaching 10 more properties on the basis of his confessional statement. Kandola was arrested by the Jalandhar police in June last year along with synthetic drug “ICE” worth over Rs 200 crore. Among 21 others arrested for being involved in the trade were his wife Rajwant, paramour Vanya Khanna and son Balley Singh.
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Serving Sikh soldiers want more Indians in US army
New York, December 2 Having shattered stereotypes, the three have won awards and commendations for their service, including postings in Afghanistan. They now want to see a change in the federal policy that allows not just Sikhs but other Indian-Americans to join the
military and serve without having to compromise on their religious beliefs and practices. "It is just a matter of time. This is an issue
of diversity. If people of all colours and races can join the military so can Indians, be it Sikhs, Hindus or Muslims," said Kalsi, a doctor. The first turbaned US Sikh soldier in over 30 years, Kalsi received the Bronze Star Medal, the fourth-highest combat award for his meritorious services in Afghanistan
in 2011. "We are all in this together. Diversity is a strategic imperative. If we want
to make this a stronger and a more beautiful country, we have to commit to diversity and we need a military that looks like the people it protects," he said. Lamba, who was recruited in 2010 for his special language skills in Hindi and Punjabi through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest programme, shared a similar view. "Sikhs are a part of the country. They, too, are Americans like everybody else here. We need the support of everyone from the community and other Indians to change the policy," he said, adding he is privileged to be serving in the US army. Rattan, who was appointed Detachment Commander of the US Army Dental Activity at Fort Drum in July 2010, said Indian parents in the US were not inclined towards sending their children to join the
forces. He said they wanted their children to opt for lucrative and comfortable professions. He said he had shared his experience of serving in the army with other Indian families so that they encourage their children to look at the military as a career option. He has also served in Afghanistan and received an Army Commendation Medal and a NATO Medal for his service. "If you keep on pushing the little brick in the wall, it will drop. With perseverance, the mental mindset will change," he said. Rattan was accepted in the military service after having applied four
times. — PTI
Time for change
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Cotton farmers in for relief as central agency procures crop at higher rates
Abohar, December 2 The Central Government has fixed cotton minimum support price (MSP) at Rs 3,900 per quintal, but the CCI is offering more than the market price. CCI official TS Dhillon said 1.5 lakh bales were expected at the Abohar market. Last year, 1.75 lakh bales reached the market. Private companies have so far purchased nearly 50,000 bales. Farmers said cotton prices were likely to stabalise with the CCI entering the market. “Our problem is that prices are no better in markets of Rajasthan,” a farmer from Kallarkhera village in the district said. Abohar was once rated as the Manchester of Punjab, but gradually lost its sheen with the closure of cotton spinning mills in the private and co-operative sectors. The century-old cotton ginning and pressing factories that attracted traders from Bahawalpur and Minchanabad in West Punjab (now in Pakistan) had to be abandoned a few years ago owing to “unfriendly” policies of the Punjab government. Residential colonies have now come up over land that was used by the factories. “The cotton production in the Abohar sub-division has declined by 10 per cent. The area under cotton has also reduced, as farmers can no more afford expensive insecticides and fertilisers,” association president Kalani said. The Cotton Association of India has raised its estimate for India’s 2013-14 (October-September) cotton output to 38.05 million bales from 38.01 million bales last month, as crop conditions have improved. The country had produced around 35.7 million bales in 2012-13. The association pegged carryover stock of cotton on October 1 at 4.3 million bales and imports during the season at 1.5 million bales. Carryover stocks and imports added to the next season’s output of 38 million bales would take total supplies in the country in 2013-14 to 43.8 million bales, up from last year’s 42.6 million. The demand in 2013-14 is estimated to be 30 million bales, which would leave a surplus of 13.8 million bales for the next season. Cotton prices are expected to trade steady-to-lower on supplies from the new season harvest and estimates of record crop amid slow demand for exports, though some buying from mills at lower levels is seen supporting prices. Sources said the number of cotton ginning and pressing factories in Abohar had come down from 34 to 10 during the past few years since the government had overburdened the units with taxes that included minimum charges for electricity connections. Cotton factory owners had met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal earlier this month, but result of deliberations was awaited.
Titbits
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No seat-swap with Akali Dal,
says BJP
Sangrur, December 2 Sharma said the BJP was gearing up to contest all the three Lok Sabha seats — Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur — that it had contested in the 2009 elections. Addressing a gathering in Jagraon, the BJP state president said if required, the alliance partners may go in for seat-swapping at a later stage. On any change in candidates from Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur seats, he said it would be decided by the party’s central election committee. About Modi’s rally, Sharma said it would be a “massive” show of strength. He said BJP president Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would be present, among others.
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Cong: Money being wasted on kabaddi
Amritsar/ Tarn Taran, Dec 2 Talking to mediapersons after holding a meeting as part of his mass contact programme at Patti in Tarn Taran, Bajwa said, “The state’s financial condition is in a mess and the government has been mortgaging public properties to manage its daily affairs.” The PCC chief also addressed a rally. He said all MPs from Punjab would meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to demand a probe by the Narcotics Control Bureau into the synthetic drug racket. He alleged SAD leaders and some police officers were not only directly involved in drug smuggling but also patronised drug lord Jagdish Bhola and his aides Maninder Singh Bittu Aulakh and Jagjit Chahal. He accused the government of hampering the probe due to “involvement of SAD leaders”.
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Teen accuses SHO of assault
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 2 The blockade was lifted only after Deputy Superintendent of Police Hardevinder Singh and senior officers reached the spot and assured the protesters of an “unbiased” inquiry into the case. The girl, a resident of Sirhind and a student of class X, alleged SHO Gurmeet Singh had summoned her to the police station on November 25. She said when she along with her mother Harjit Kaur reached the police station, the SHO called her to his office. She said he told her that there was
a complaint pertaining to prostitution against her. When she rebutted the allegations, the SHO allegedly held her arm
and starting “physically assaulting” her. She alleged that there was no woman police officer present during the inquiry, which was mandatory as per law. She said her mother came to her rescue when she raised an alarm. She said she had reported the matter to the Superintendent of Police (headquarters) but no action had been taken against the SHO and alleged that the latter was threatening them to take back the complaint. Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Balwant Singh said the SHO had called the girl to the police station “to ask her not to indulge in prostitution”. He said the police had also received affidavits about the girl’s neighbour complaining about the illegal activity being carried out by the girl and her mother. He said the matter was being investigated.
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Jakhar wants goods transport mafia taken to task for ‘jazia’
Abohar, December 2 Office-bearers of the truck and canter (mini-truck) operators’ unions allegedly attacked Taneja, who is also a kinnow waxing plant owner, last night for not paying ‘jazia’ (tax). There have been similar incidents in the past few weeks. The protesters resented that the ruling parties (SAD and BJP) in Punjab had vitiated the atmosphere by installing “criminals” as office-bearers of the unions. They alleged that the “puppet administration” had allowed such elements to take law in their hands. Jakhar accompanied by former city Congress president Sudhir Nagpal and other senior workers alleged that the members of the unions had been collecting ‘jazia’ from poor operators, failing which they attacked drivers, cleaners and owners. It is said that unions fund political activities of the ruling parties. The unions had neither been registered nor maintained account books, the Congress alleged. The protesters slammed the administration for allegedly giving a free hand to unauthorised unions to collect tax from small-scale vehicle operators by creating terror. Jakhar demanded a ban on unauthorised recovery of fee from operators, besides streamlining the functioning of kinnow market. The party warned that the situation might go out of control if measures were not taken immediately. Meanwhile, protesters said party worker Rohtas Gupta was yesterday booked for removing a dry wood tree outside his shop.
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Pak media delegation on Amritsar tour
Amritsar, December 2 They evinced keen interest in trade infrastructure and facilities available on the Indian side. The delegation was given a presentation at the ICP. They also had an interaction with leading businessmen who have been doing business with Pakistan. The journalists will visit historic places like the Golden Temple and Jallianwalla Bagh tomorrow. They will also take a tour of Khanna Paper Mills, the largest paper production unit in the region. Amina Amir from Geo TV said they were happy to be in India and hoped that their visit would be a great learning experience. She said both the countries realised that trade was the key to get rid of various evils and move forward. Rashid Obaid from The Balochistan Times said both nations shared a similar culture. He said they were looking forward to their interactions with businessmen, political leaders and journalists in Amritsar.
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Reliance all set to provide 4G services in state
Chandigarh, December 2 They said following the problems encountered by RIL, other telecom operators had been pressing the government to come up with a definite policy for raising telecom towers and poles. A committee had been set up for the purpose under the Chief Secretary. However, the government wanted to sign the deal for laying the network with Reliance during its Investors’ Meet next week.
Tech parks in Ludhiana, Amritsar
Punjab is seeking Centre’s help to develop two new Software Technology Parks at Ludhiana and Amritsar. The state has one park at Mohali and will be setting up another one at Amritsar soon. Information Technology Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said that he had sought permission for two new parks at Jalandhar and Ludhiana.
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Sale of properties nails govt lie on economy: Tewari
Ludhiana, December 2 “No government can be run this way… Denial mode is no defence,” he said. The Minister, who represents Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, said it was not a matter of political posturing but a “harsh reality that the Punjab economy was progressively declining, and that day is not far when the state goes bankrupt”. He said instead of continuously remaining in denial mode, the government should produce a ‘white paper’ on the state’s economy and spell out measures for reviving it. “This government either appears to have given up or is blissfully ignorant about the economic crisis that is staring the state on its face,” he said.
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Abohar traders to oppose property tax
Abohar, December 2 The traders said there had been complaints that 52 unauthorised residential colonies had come up, but the MC and the Punjab Urban Development Authority
(PUDA) failed to collect the development charges and change of user transfer charges from the developers, as they had political connections. Had the MC collected taxes, it could have paid off its debts, traders said. In violation of norms, electricity, water and sewerage connections were released, traders alleged. The meeting questioned the rationale of populist schemes offered to rural beneficiaries at the cost of urban tax payers and termed the Punjab government anti-urban and
anti-trader.
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Government to modernise all nine milk plants
Chandigarh, December 2 Stressing on the need for diversification, the Chief Minister said dairy farming could be a viable sector, official sources said. He claimed that the allied farming sector had seen a tremendous growth in Punjab because of the strong presence of livestock. Expressing the state government's commitment to multi-faceted development in the dairy sector, Badal urged the NDDB to chalk out a comprehensive plan to improve milk procurement across the state. He also said that workers of milk cooperatives
must be helped to upgrade their technical and marketing skills. The Chief Minister sought liberal assistance for modernisation its all nine milk plants. This, he said, would provide the much-needed impetus to the state’s rural economy. The NDDB has prepared a project report for modernising plants on a turn-key basis. Rath assured Badal of support and cooperation. Badal asked Milkfed to initiate an awareness campaign to strengthen the marketing network for the sale of milk and milk products not only within the state but across the country and abroad. He said Milkfed should help ensure remunerative prices for milk producers.
— PTI
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2 more technology parks on anvil Chandigarh, December 2 The minister said the Punjab Government was coming up with a host of incentives under the new industrial policy for the IT sector. He said though the Punjab Government was developing Mohali and Amritsar as IT hubs, the incentives for the IT sector would be offered to IT companies coming up in any city of the state. Omkar Rai, director-general, STPI, said the park at Amritsar would come up on 2.75 acres of land with a grant-in-aid from the Punjab Government to the tune of Rs 5 crore. He said that IT exports from Punjab had touched Rs 2,200 crore.
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20 years on, HC orders reinstatement of ex-serviceman discharged from police
Chandigarh, December 2 The High Court has further directed payment of back wages and other consequential benefits. The strictures and directions by Justice Dr Bharat Bhushan Parsoon came on a petition filed in 1993 by Bhagat Singh against the State of Punjab and another respondent. He had challenged the order discharging him from service issued in August 1992. Having served the Army as havildar from June 1974 to March 1991, he was undergoing training with the Punjab Police when he was dismissed from service. Defending the action, the respondents claimed he was unlikely to emerge as an efficient police officer. Taking up the matter, Justice Parsoon observed the report concluded “he is not fit for becoming a good police officer” solely on the ground that “he was in the habit of remaining absent and was negligent during duty.” But the report did not mention the dates on which he was found to be absent and the nature of negligence in performance of duty during training. Justice Parsoon asserted: “If he had remained absent, such dates could very well be mentioned. Even if he was negligent in performance of duty, the nature of the duty assigned and details of negligence shown by the official were also to be mentioned.” Justice Parsoon observed that a surprise check during training had revealed medicines in the petitioner’s box, leading to the conclusion that he was practising medicine without permission as he was qualified for the purpose. A departmental inquiry was initiated and a charge sheet duly served before the inquiry officer submitted his findings. But the proceedings were aborted and the respondents discharged him from service relying upon the training centre report. “It transpires the whole procedure was short-circuited clearly with a view to dispense with the services of the petitioner without following proper procedure. Malafides of the respondents in getting rid of the petitioner by taking a very short and easy route, though the same was illegal, are clear from the stand of the respondents which got exposed when the inquiry was abandoned.”
Passport case: Henry appears in court Former state Congress minister Avtar Henry on Monday appeared in the court of Judicial Magistrate Harpreet Singh (Jalandhar) in connection with the passport case. The city police had on October 4 presented a criminal complaint against him under Section 125-A of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, in the district court here. The next date of hearing is January 3. SHO of Nawi Baradari Police Station Subhash Chander contended in court that there was sufficient evidence against the accused.
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Set up solid waste plant in a year: HC
Chandigarh, December 2 The Bench added the concessionaire, given 51 acres for setting up of the plant in pursuance of an agreement dated November 30, 2011, would complete the process of installation and operation expeditiously, preferably within a year. The state and other respondents would obtain all clearances and no-objection certificates (NOCs) wherever required. It would not be necessary to obtain an NOC from the airport authority. The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation or the
concessionaire would also make arrangements for erecting a boundary wall to prevent garbage from spilling on to the road or adjoining properties and to restrict the entry of unauthorised persons. The concessionaire would daily spray a herbal sanitiser at the Jamalpur dump site to prevent environmental hazards and to cut stench. Melathene fogging would also be carried out every week at the site to kill insects and flies. The concessionaire would neither burn garbage, nor allow its burning at the Jamalpur dump site. A green belt with a dense cover of trees and shrubs would be developed along the boundary of the Jamalpur plant/dump site for ensuring fresh air, greenery and a healthy environment. Finally, covered vehicles would be used for shifting waste to prevent stench. This would also ensure that garbage is not littered on roads. The commandments came on petitions by Karamjit Singh and other petitioners against the State of Punjab and other respondents. Residents of different residential colonies situated at Hambran Road in Jainpur village of Ludhiana district, they were seeking directions to remove the garbage dump from the vicinity. In its statement, the Municipal Corporation stated that Ludhiana city generated approximately 850 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. The corporation had engaged 3,100 safai sewaks who worked under the supervision of 282 sanitation supervisors, apart from 1,600 safai sewaks on regular employment. Solid waste was transported to two dumping sites at Jamalpur and Jainpur. Both the sites were more than 30 years old and approximately 67 acres was being used for dumping garbage. In its detailed judgment, the Bench added: “The Jamalpur dumping site is in use for the past 25 years or so. The plant is expected to diminish garbage heaps and reduce the cluttering of garbage... “If the airport authority has not raised any objection for the past 25 years, it is not understandable how such an objection is being raised at this stage.”
Towards cleaner Ludhiana
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Frame policy for vendors, state told
Chandigarh, December 2 Taking up the matter
suo motu, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih set January 20
as the deadline for the purpose. The directions follow Supreme Court’s recent orders to the High Courts in this regard. In its judgment in the case of Maharashtra Ekta Hawkers Union versus Municipal Corporation, Greater Mumbai, the Supreme Court had on September 9 asserted
that the problems of vendors were getting aggravated because of the lackadaisical attitude of the administration.
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Attack on RTI activist: HC seeks report from SSP
Chandigarh, December 2 Taking up Jindal’s petition for directions to the SSP to grant him security, Justice Daya Chaudhary issued a notice to the Punjab government, deputy commissioner and SSP for January 28. In his petition, Jindal said he had exposed a scandal on the evasion of stamp duty and registration fee worth Rs 200 crore. On August 6, the petitioner said, four unidentified people had attacked him. Though police arrested three assailants, the main accused was absconding, Jindal said.
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Bid to smuggle heroin foiled
Udhar Dhariwal (Amritsar), December 2 At the Udhar Dhariwal post, the BSF jawans noticed three persons inserting a plastic pipe in the electrified barbed fence. When challenged, the three opened fire. The BSF jawans retaliated in self-defence, injuring two. The following morning, they found 14 packets of heroin inside the pipe. Farooqui said the matter was raised with Pakistani Rangers during a flag meeting. The BSF has confiscated 295 kg of heroin this year compared to 288 kg last year.
SGPC suspends two Amritsar: Two SGPC employees have been placed under suspension after a powdery drug was recovered from them. Storekeeper Balwinder Singh and driver Goldy, posted at Gurdwara Baath Sahib in Pathankot, had come to the SGPC headquarters here on November 29 for official work. An SGPC flying squad made a surprise check and recovered 150 gm of powder from them. — TNS
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Councillor booked for thrashing MC inspector
Patiala, December 2 Municipal Corporation officials are demanding the resignation of the councillor. They observed a pen-down strike today and dumped garbage in front of the councillor’s house and at the site where illegal construction was being done.
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Missing Muktsar toddler’s body found in tank
Muktsar, December 2 The police said the family of the deceased smelt something wrong in water today and when they went to check the tank, they spotted Ekam’s body. “The body was taken out after breaking the 16-inch-wide water pipe,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Surjeet Singh. Sources said when the boy went missing, the water tank was not open, thus ruling out the possibility of his slipping into the tank. The police said the exact reason would be known only after a post-mortem examination.
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At least 13 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal mining from the Sutlej basin in the district during the past 24 hours.
Adesh Partap Kairon here today, depot holders across the state decided to close shop with immediate effect.
Two senior Punjab Police officers may be in trouble for their alleged links with drug lord Raja Kandola. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has decided to seek a point-by-point clarification from the two officers about their bank accounts and properties.
Abohar, December 2
Ace shooter Abhinav Bindra laid the foundation stone of a rifle shooting range during Delhi Public School’s first annual athletic meet here yesterday. The Olympic gold medallist assured the school management of providing guidance and technical
support. A parachute display, alley cat song dance, Rajasthani and Punjabi folk dances mesmerised one and all. School chairperson Dr Ravi Sher Singh Toor read out a school’s report. Bindra advised the students to work hard to achieve success.
— TNS
The policy was prepared after the company, aggressively wooed by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, was stopped by Local Bodies officials from laying the optical fibre networ, without having paid the requisite charges to the government. Sources said the problem appeared as different government departments - Local Bodies, PWD, PUDA and GMADA, had different charges for allowing the laying of the network or erecting telecom towers.