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Consortium partner to blame for PIMS crisis, says Society director
2013 Review
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Knives out in Congress a day after party releases list
PPCC vice-president KP Rana (2nd left) and former minister Ramesh Dutt Sharma (3rd left) in Ropar on Saturday. tribune photo
It’s nepotism: Beant’s daughter
Cong prefers experience over youth
Khaira official spokesman, clarifies AICC
Big rise in number of migratory birds at Ropar wetland
BSF, Pak Rangers agree on peace steps
PPCB conducts surprise checks at sugar mills
Had lost hope to reunite with family: Released detainee
Will continue struggle: Khalsa
EcoSikh to launch ‘Clean Nanded’ drive
Govt yet to release monthly ration quota: Depot holders
Post-retirement extension raised for varsity teachers
Ludhiana acid attack victim cremated
Several questions remain
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Consortium partner to blame for PIMS crisis, says Society director
Jalandhar, December 28 Rajashekhar Kothapalli, Director, PIMS society, today claimed that interference by the Dhesis has led the doctors to stay away from active participation in the PIMS working. The nature of the Dhesis’ involvement in the consortium is largely administrative since they do not have any medical expertise. “The Dhesis wanted to control the administrative working of the institute without interference from our side. They wanted to interact with the government machinery instead of us. All this was creating a lot of confusion,” he said. “Towards the end of last year too, a similar situation had arisen. But, we handled the crisis and things were back to normal by the end of March. The OPD had again started getting a large number of patients. However, by May, there were hints that the Dhesis want to run the institute so we let them run the show,” he said. Rubbishing rumours regarding government plans to remove US-based doctors from PIMS, Rajashekhar said their removal alone wasn’t possible. “We can’t be removed singularly. We, the Dhesis and the Dhaliwals together form the private consortium. So if we go, they go too,” he said. On reports that the government might introduce a clause to bring in Fortis and remove NRI doctors from the PIMS management, Rajashekhar said: “We have spent Rs 56 crore on PIMS and our doctors had given personal guarantees worth Rs 180 crore for the institute. How can we be moved out?” SAD top brass, including PIMS society head Surjit Singh Rakhra, have so far remained tightlipped on the matter. MLA Pargat Singh, who has supported the protesting staff, had said that professionals and doctors had failed to deliver during the crisis and that they were equally responsible. Reacting to this, Rajashekhar said: “It is surprising that the government feels we failed. Though we have full confidence in the Badal government, it never called us for talks. Our doctors cleared three medical inspections and we got two batches cleared. We have experience in running two medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh.” On the upcoming management meeting, he said: “Our NRI doctors have started arriving. The meeting will be held in two to three days.” “The NRI group has a moral responsibility towards students. Concrete plans will be out in a couple of days. We believe that the PIMS will be back on track soon.” Doctors and staff at PIMS have also often said they wanted NRI doctors, the experienced (medical) hand of the consortium, to run the institute. About PIMS *
The PIMS Medical and Education Charitable Society, is run jointly by the state government and a private consortium *
The society is headed by Rural Development Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra *
The consortium comprises the Dhesi group, the Dhaliwal group and the NRI group (mainly doctors)
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2013 Review
Bathinda, December 28 Sugarcane farmers, hit by delayed crushing by mills, too had a bitter experience. They are yet to be paid pending arrears. Potato prices remained high throughout the year while the basmati variety, PR 1121 fetched a good price. Cotton initially picked low prices but things improved after the CCI (Cotton Corporation of India) stepped in. Malwa farmers, especially those with fields at the tail-end of the extensive canal network in the belt, were relieved with the state launching a major exercise to re-line water channels and minors to increase their carrying capacity. This had been one of the long-pending demands of the farmers. Tube well connections
Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal announced that 1.5 lakh tube well connections would be released in six months. However, it was not clear whether these connections would comply with the government policy to prevent exploitation of groundwater. The Punjab Electricity Regulatory Commission has asked the government to decide on the number of connections to be released each year. Diversification
The much flaunted crop diversification policy did not find many takers owing to lack of marketing mechanisms in the state. The few success stories that have been are owing to the efforts made by enterprising farmers and not because of any help of the state government. Efforts to popularise drip/micro irrigation, especially among vegetable and fruit growers, to save water remained futile. Declining water table
The depleting water table is alarming. Owing to the reckless use of groundwater, 45 blocks in Punjab have been marked as "over-exploited" by the Central Ground Water Authority in its latest report. Myopic planning
Pulses distributed under the government's ambitious Atta-Dal scheme are being bought from the open market instead of buying these from the farmers directly. State procurement agencies have the wherewithal to undertake this task, but none seems to have given it a thought. Labour pangs
Punjab farmers had to grapple with an acute labour shortage with migrants opting to stay back home and survive on the central employment schemes in their states.
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Knives out in Congress a day after party releases list
Ropar, December 28 Addressing a press conference here today, the leaders said if the party leadership did not rollback the decision they might resign from the party. Others present included Sukhwidner Singh Whisky, the outgoing DCC chief, Amarjit Singh Saini, former district president and newly appointed secretary, Mohan Singh Bhasin, district president (SC cell), and block presidents Karnail Singh, Rachpal Singh and Desraj.
Rana said the local party workers were not ready to accept Harbhag Singh as the district president as he did not belong to the district. At a press conference earlier this afternoon, Harbhag Singh said he would take on the rivals with the help of all party workers. He said though he was residing at Desu Majra village in Mohali district at present, he was a resident of Ropar and had polled his vote in the town during the last assembly elections.
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It’s nepotism: Beant’s daughter
Jalandhar, December 28 Gurkanwal, daughter of the late Chief Minister Beant Singh, said Bajwa had made his brother Fateh Jung a general secretary. “I had met Bajwa some time ago. He told me the party had already adjusted two members (Ravneet Singh Bittu and MLA Gurkirat Kotli as Anandpur Sahib MP and Khanna MLA) from Beant Singh’s family and it is not possible for him to adjust one more member. Now, he himself is an MP from Gurdaspur and also the PPCC chief while his wife Charanjit Kaur is an MLA from Qadian. Despite this, he has nominated his brother Fateh Jung as the PPCC general secretary. Why these double standards?” she said. “Does the norm of adjusting two members from a family apply only to the family the late Beant Singh who had sacrificed his life for bringing normalcy in Punjab,” she asked. Gurkanwal also criticised the PPCC chief for appointing Jagbir Singh Brar as the Jalandhar (rural) DCC chief, saying the decision would further worsen the party’s prospects in Jalandhar. The Congress had lost all nine seats in the district in the last assembly elections. “A turncoat like Jagbir who joined the party on poll eve after quitting the PPP has been rewarded with the DCC chief’s post even though he could not win his own seat (Jalandhar Cantonment),” she said. Gurkanwal alleged that even former PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh had harmed the party by giving the ticket to Jagbir, “and now Bajwa had followed his predecessor’s footsteps by nominating him the DCC chief”. When contacted, Jagbir said, “I am thankful to the high command for giving me new responsibility.” The Jalandhar Cantonment seat used to be a Congress bastion and even Beant Singh had contested from here in 1992. He represented the seat when he was assassinated in Chandigarh in 1995. Two years later, his son Tej Prakash Singh successfully contested from the constituency. Gurkanwal won in 2002 but lost to Jagbir (then a SAD candidate) in 2007. Ignoring Gurkanwal, the Congress gave the ticket to Brar in 2012. But, he was defeated by SAD nominee Pargat Singh.
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Cong prefers experience over youth
Bathinda, December 28 Only two of the 27 DCC chiefs are under the age of 40 while most others are over 55. The party’s “go young for 2014” policy seems to have been ignored for the time being. Bikram Mofar and SS Bhullar, appointed heads of Mansa and Tarn Taran, are the only young faces, about 36 years of age. Almost all other district chiefs have grandchildren. The district chiefs have a challenging task ahead. On one hand, they have to handle infighting within the party and on the other, they have to take on the district heads of the SAD, who are sitting firm in their saddle. In Bathinda, the newly appointed Congress urban area head Mohan Lal Chhumba and rural area head GS Tungwali have to match the skills of Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, who is SAD district president. Political analysts feel that the Congress could have opted for someone from the trading class for the urban leadership. Besides Maluka, the Akalis have sitting MLA Sarup Chand Singla to handle urban votes of the trading community. Both the Congress leaders are considered close to former MLA Harminder Jassi, who is pitching hard to bag party Lok Sabha ticket from Bathinda. In Muktsar, the party has showed trust in GS Khudian, who was formerly with the SAD (A). He is a good organiser who can take on the Badals. He was inducted into the Congress two years ago by Capt Amarinder Singh at the instance of Mahesh Inder Badal, a known adversary and brother of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Darshan Singh Brar, Moga DCC chief, has to check the inclination of Congress leaders and workers towards the SAD. He is considered a balanced choice for arresting party infighting as the Congress needs a fresh lease of life in the district especially after there sitting MLAs joined the Akali Dal. “The Congress has chosen experience over youth,” said a political observer, adding that the party had shown faith in former MLAs or sitting MLAs than introducing new faces. Defies party’s ‘Go young’ policy *
Only two of the 27 District Congress Committee chiefs are under the age of 40 years *
Most of the other appointees are over the age of 55 years * Bikram Mofar and SS Bhullar, appointed heads of Mansa and Tarn Taran DCC units, are the only young faces, about 36 years of age *
Almost all other district chiefs have grandchildren
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Khaira official spokesman, clarifies AICC
New Delhi, December 28 In a statement, Harish Choudhary, AICC secretary in charge of Punjab, said there was no cause for speculation over the status of Khaira who continued as official PPCC spokesman, as appointed by Congress general secretary in charge of organisation, Janardan Dwivedi, on April 8 this year. “Sukhpal Khaira continues to hold the position and I wish to put to rest all speculation emerging in the media in this respect,” Choudhary said, adding Khaira had been designated after due concurrence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The speculation arose after Khaira's name was not mention in the jumbo PPCC list released yesterday.
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Big rise in number of migratory birds at Ropar wetland
Ropar, December 28 Ropar Deputy Commissioner PK Agrawal said more efforts were required to raise awareness on conservation of forest and wildlife.
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BSF, Pak Rangers agree on peace steps
Attari, December 28 After holding deliberations during the five-day biannual meeting of the two border guarding forces at Lahore, the BSF delegation, headed by Director-General Subhash Joshi, returned from the Attari-Wagah land route this evening. The Pakistan side was led by Major General Khan Tahir Javed Khan, Director-General, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab). The meeting was held after one-and-a-half years. Both the sides have decided to hold regular meetings at the level of commands, besides facilitating the visits of schoolchildren to each other’s country and initiate sporting activities between two forces. They also decided to hold sector-level meetings at Amritsar and Lahore which earlier used to be held at Attari and Wagah. Both the sides reiterated their stand to adopt zero-tolerance towards smuggling and infiltration activities by anti-national elements while exercising leniency towards inadvertent crossers and repatriate them immediately. Officials of the Narcotic Control Bureau who were also part of the delegation exchanged information on prevailing trends of drug trafficking along the Indo-Pak border. They assured co-operation between the narcotics wings of both the countries. Claiming that the meeting was held in a “cordial, positive and constructive atmosphere”, Joshi said consensus was also developed to strengthen and re-energise the existing mechanism. He said the two sides agreed to utilise all the available communication channels to control violations at the zero line. Both the sides also consented to stop illegal constructions, removal of wild growth and maintenance of boundary pillars, he added.
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PPCB conducts surprise checks at sugar mills
Patiala, December 28 He said AB Sugar Mills, Dasuya, was found bypassing the effluent treatment plant, whereas Chaddha Sugar & Industries Pvt Ltd, Kiri Afghana (Gurdaspur), was not operating its effluent treatment plant. The aeration tank of Wahid Sugar Mills, Phagwara, was in a poor condition, he said.
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Had lost hope to reunite with family: Released detainee
Patiala, December 28 While Shera greeted everyone with warm wishes, his daughter Sarabjeet Kaur and wife Baljinder Kaur were trying to hide their tears and joy, assuring themselves that he was finally among them even if for few days. Speaking to The Tribune, Shamsher Singh said he had no words to thank Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa who took up their cause. He said it felt great to meet his family after 18 years without any police presence. He said he had applied for parole twice earlier, but his request was turned down. “When my daughter Amandeep Kaur got married in 2009, I was allowed to come for two days, but only during daytime. But, people were not willing to talk to me since I was always accompanied by heavy security and they did not want to get into any controversy,” he said. In a heavy voice, Shera said: “I had lost all hope of freedom and reunion with my family. I am thankful to the Punjab Government and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh for giving us a chance to spend sometime with our family,” he added. He today again went to Gurdwara Amb Sahib to thank
Khalsa.
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Will continue struggle: Khalsa
Mohali, December 28 Speaking at Gurdwara Amb Sahib here today, Khalsa said the release of four detainees on parole was a victory of the Sikh panth. He thanked the Sant Samaj and other organisations for their support and called for unity to solve the problems facing the panth. Gurpreet Singh Randhawa, SGPC member from Fatehgarh Sahib, honoured Khalsa and kin of released detainees, including Lakhwinder Singh’s sister Sukhjinder Kaur, Shamsher Singh’s wife Baljinder Kaur and Gurmit Singh’s mother Surjit Kaur with siropas. Harpal Singh Cheema, acting president of the SAD (Panch Pardhani), said a demand for freeing all the four persons released on parole was made today. The authorities concerned should extend the parole till the administrative formalities to release them were completed. He said it had been planned to hold a seminar to discuss the contradictions related to the life sentence. A large number of persons were languishing in jails because of different interpretations of the law. Clear guidelines in connection with life imprisonment should be framed, he said.
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EcoSikh to launch ‘Clean Nanded’ drive
Chandigarh, December 28 The city is famous for Hazur Sahib, situated on the banks of the Godavari, is considered one of the five most important spiritual sites for Sikhs. This is where Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, was installed by Guru Gobind Singh, the last Sikh Guru. Dr Rajwant Singh, president of EcoSikh, while addressing a media conference, here today, said the Godavari was highly polluted with stench emanating from the water. He further said Nanded’s roads were also choked with traffic with lakhs of pilgrims visiting the place every year. “We are working on faith-based environmental activism and have facilitated the inclusion of Amritsar and Nanded in the international Green Pilgrimage Network, which has major pilgrim cities of world religions included in it. EcoSikh has accordingly given priority to target Nanded for environmental work,” he said. Singh said they had joined hands with another international organisation -International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), which has over 1,200 cities and towns in 84 countries across the globe as its members. ICLEI, which works with local governments providing them technical consulting, training in implementation of sustainable objectives at local level, will undertake the clean-up drive in coordination with gurdwara authorities and the local administration. “Nanded receives over 25,000 pilgrims on an average day, which puts a lot of pressure on all the environment resources such as water, air, energy and transport. Hence, it is important for all of us to reduce pollution here for our future generations. We also have to sensitise the pilgrims to play a role in preserving the natural resources of this site," he said. EcoSikh undertook a reconnaissance trip recently along with Nanded Gurdwara Board members and ICLEI officials of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib and other historic gurdwaras in Nanded to understand the extent of the environmental problem. A series of meetings were held by EcoSikh with Takht Management Board and the officers of the Municipal Corporation. “The gurdwara board shared the top issues and challenges faced by the pilgrimage site and its surroundings. Power and water shortages are major concerns but cleaning the Godavari would still be our top priority, which is highly polluted with city sewage,” Singh said. During this observatory tour, ICLEI South Asia Deputy Director Emani Kumar promised to identify all available national and international sources of funding for this sacred city. Major issues to be included in the action plan are: Restoration of Godavari, sanitation and sewage system, city mobility plan and renewable energy.
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Govt yet to release monthly ration quota: Depot holders
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 28 Addressing mediapersons, the district president of ration depot holders, Vasakha Singh, said they had been on strike for the past 25 days but the government had not bothered to redress their problems. He said consumers were the worst sufferers as December was nearing its end but the government had not yet released the monthly quota of ration for distribution. He said they had met Food & Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Kairon in this regard but to no avail. Vasakha said ration depot holders were the “backbone” of the ration supply system and without them, ration could not be distributed. He said as per the Food Security Bill, they were supposed to supply ration to a large number of people, which had increased their expenses manifold. — TNS
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Post-retirement extension raised for varsity teachers
Patiala, December 28 The approval to raise the post-retirement extension period for teachers from 63 years to 65 years was taken at a meeting, which was chaired by Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh, here. At present, a university teacher after getting retired at the age of 60 years can be granted an extension up to three years. The meeting also took a decision to hike the salary of the university’s contractual non-teaching staff. — PTI
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Ludhiana acid attack victim cremated
Ludhiana, December 28 As soon as the vehicle carrying Harpreet’s body entered Barnala, hundreds of residents from different walks of life joined the family in the mourning. They raised slogans against the government for not providing help to the victim's family. Civil society members formed “Harpreet Kaur Acid Attack Action Committee" and demanded registration of a case against Honey, who was to be married to Harpreet, and his family members. They demanded Rs 5 lakh as compensation and a government job for victim's brother. They said the case should be heard in a fast track court. Paramjit Kaur Landran, chairperson, Punjab State Woman Commission, state Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Barnala Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu were also present on the occasion. Dhindsa announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for family and assured that the case would be taken up in a fast track court. The DC said keeping in view the qualification of the victim's brother, he would be offered the job of a sewadar in a Suvidha Centre. He said as demanded by the victim’s family members, their meeting with the Ludhiana Police Commissioner had been arranged for Sunday. Bowing to pressure *
The Barnala DC said the victim Harpreet's (in pic) brother would be offered the job of a sewadar in a Suvidha Centre *
He said as demanded by the victim's family, their meeting with the Ludhiana Police Commissioner had been arranged for Sunday
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Several questions remain
Ludhiana, December 28 What was Harpreet's fault and why was she made the target? And what sort of benefit did main accused Amitpal Kaur alias Pari, divorced wife of groom’s brother, derive? “The acid attack case is a classic example of how people take a bizarre decision that not only ruins their life but also devastate that of others. Pari, by all probability, would spend the rest of her life in jail along with her five accomplices. Pari's two little children would live with the stigma of what she has done. The victim's fiancée may marry some other girl but the loss that her family suffered is irreparable,” said lawyer Munish Purang. While everyone, including the police, was suspecting that the acid attack would be handiwork of some jilted lover, the planner of attack turned out to be a woman. The police said on her arrest, Pari told them that she was envious of seeing happiness in her former husband's family. “Out of jealously, she orchestrated the attack,” the police said.
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much speculation about what caused the shutdown at the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences
(PIMS). The PIMS Medical and Education Charitable Society, also referred to as
private consortium, comprises the Dhesi group, the Dhaliwal group and the NRI
group comprising mainly doctors.
Local Congress leaders, including former PPCC vice-president KP Rana and former minister Ramesh Dutt Sharma, have opposed the appointment of Harbhag Singh
Saini, a native of Kharar, as Ropar district president, terming him an outsider.
There has been a substantial increase in the number of migratory birds at the Ropar international wetland. A bird survey was conducted by members of Jagriti Sanstha Nangal, Avian Habitat and Wetland Society, Chandigarh, and Environment Society today. It was conducted in association with the state Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation.
Villagers and relatives thronged the house of Beant assassination convict Shamsher Singh
Shera, who was released on 28-day parole from Burail jail yesterday, at Dera
Kanwarpur, Uksi Jattan village, near Rajpura today.
Nanded, a well known pilgrimage centre of Sikhs, will soon be a clean city with
EcoSikh, an international ecology organisation that is based in the USA tying up with UK-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation for making the city environment friendly.
Guar farmers were in a soup this year with the crop fetching abysmally low prices. Against the price of Rs 16,000 per quintal last year, the crop fetched a maximum Rs 4,500 this season. 
Dr Ramesh Dutt Sharma said the PPCC had sidelined loyal Congress workers while those who kept shifting their loyalties and worked against the interests of the party were rewarded. KP Rana said the selection process was not followed properly. 
*
Punjab Finance Minister announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for family and assured that the case would be taken up in a fast-track court