tribuneindia... Punjab

P U N J A B

Wednesday, July 22, 1998

weather n spotlight
today's calendar

Liquor contractor held
ABOHAR, July 21 — The city police last night arrested Inderjit Bhatia, alias Pinky, a partner in L-1 (wholesale) wine depot, under Sections 307, 382, 347, 326, 353, 286, 147, 148, 149 of the IPC and 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act following a complaint filed by Mr Lajpat Jakhar, Excise and Taxation Officer, here...

Minister 'provoking' Canadian Sikhs on
langar issue
AMRITSAR, July 21 — The controversy over the implementation of "hukamnama" pronounced by the Sikh clergy on July 20 to partake "Guru ka langar" while sitting on the floor, today took a fresh turn ...

Man kills family, himself
JALANDHAR, July 21 — A man killed five members of his family, including three daughters aged between five and 13 and son aged 16, and then committed suicide by hanging himself ...

CM under pressure to review hike
CHANDIGARH, July 21 — Mr S.K. Tuteja today took over as Chairman of the PSEB...
Panchayati raj institutions to get more financial autonomy JALANDHAR, July 21— More than 12,000 panches and sarpanches from Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr were administered the oath of secrecy and office by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at an impressive function here today...
Water unfit for consumption
FEROZEPORE: Five hundred residents of Vikas Vihar — a colony which came up in the municipal council area here a few years ago, have been living without civic amenities...
Power on PPCC meeting agenda
PATIALA, July 21 — Senior Punjab Congress leader Birdevinder Singh today said a meeting of the Pradesh Congress Committee would be held at Chandigarh on July 24 to take stock of the hike in power tariff besides revision in bus fares and college fees and "failure" of the law and order machinery in the state...
SSPs oppose officer's plea for absorption
CHANDIGARH, July 21 — Several Punjab cadre IPS officers have moved applications before the local Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal contesting the petition preferred by Mr Rajwant Singh, an Andhra cadre IPS officer, seeking his absorption into the Punjab cadre...
Markfed field staff hold protest rally

PSEB staff stir hits life

Jawaharlal Nehru Award for PAU scientist

Applicants for MBE left high and dry

Traders resent power tariff hike

ADGP completes probe in Kaonke case

Ex-servicemen meet DC

Minister suspends radiographer

Community security scheme launched

Tandon rules out SAD-BJP rift

Liquor contractor held
From Our Correspondent
ABOHAR, July 21 — The city police last night arrested Inderjit Bhatia, alias Pinky, a partner in L-1 (wholesale) wine depot, under Sections 307, 382, 347, 326, 353, 286, 147, 148, 149 of the IPC and 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act following a complaint filed by Mr Lajpat Jakhar, Excise and Taxation Officer, here. Five employees of Inderjit, including Hans Raj, Satpal Setia and Raju were absconding.
The arrest was stated to be the outcome of ongoing confrontation among the local liquor/wine contractors. The police and the Department of Excise and Taxation, had allegedly ‘delegated’ powers to the local retail contractors for carrying on searches in the vehicles entering the sub-division, laying ‘nakas’ at sensitive points.
The unlisted employees of the local contractors had been allegedly humiliating even citizens on account of suspicion. They had been ‘kidnapping’ bootleggers, illicit liquor consumers who were later allegedly tortured at the‘third degree interrogation centre’ set up by the contractors. Last month vehicular traffic was blocked and noisy protests were staged by residents when the contractors’ employees reportedly ‘caught’ and ‘punished’ a folk singer from Kallarkhera village.
Sources said the contractors had put up a naka outside the wholesale liquor depot on the Abohar-Fazilka road yesterday. The vehicles entering the wholesale depot complex were reportedly checked by the naka party. Neither the Punjab Police nor excise staff was present there. The SHO was checking two-wheelers on the College Road when a message was flashed to him that some shots had been fired inside the wholesale depot complex.

The entire police force rushed to the site.
However, Mr Inderjit Bhatia pleaded that the employees of the contractor had intercepted his sister and brother-in-law who had come to meet him. Their car was searched. When he protested over this act, the naka men allegedly entered the depot premises. They were detained there. One of the employees of the retail contractor reportedly informed his boss and the excise staff on the phone. The ETO, Mr Lajpat Jakhar, rushed in from the Gaushala Road office, close to contractor’s office, along with his staff and allegedly brandished his service revolver at Mr Bhatia. He intercepted and got the revolver emptied. Later, the police reached there and controlled the situation.
The ETO alleged in his complaint that Mr Bhatia and others had snatched his revolver when he reached there to rescue the employees of the local retail contractor from the custody of wholesalers. The ETO was accompanied by two Inspectors, Mr Balwant Singh and Mr Ramdass. The musclemen rescued by the excise staff were later admitted to the Civil Hospital here. Refuting the allegations Mr Bhatia said the police had falsely implicated him and others at the behest of the contractors and the excise staff.
The second liquor-related firing took place at the Abohar Club. A member, Mr Rajinder Kalani, today faxed a complaint to higher authorities alleging that certain non-members had been frequently visiting the club at late hours. One such person had allegedly fired a shot while Mr Kalani and his friends were winding up a kitty party. The club has no licence to serve liquor, sources said. The police has been deployed at the entrance of the club.

Man kills family, himself
JALANDHAR, July 21 (UNI) — A man killed five members of his family, including three daughters aged between five and 13 and son aged 16, and then committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Nagar on the city's outskirts on the Pathankot road last night. The crime was detected in the forenoon by neighbours who informed the police.
A police spokesman identified the killer as Harmadan Singh, 43, who slit wind pipes of his wife Geeta, 41, son Parminder Singh, 16, three daughters, Raman, 13, Chanda, 11 and Dimple 5, with a sword which has been seized.
Residents of the area said while the bodies of Geeta and Parminder were lying in the verandah, bodies of three daughters were found inside a room. Harmadan Singh was found hanging dead from a ceiling fan when police broke open the room bolted from inside. Neighbours learnt of the tragedy by peeping into the rooms from ventilators.
Harmadan Singh, who earlier owned a house in the same locality, had sold it sometime ago as he had lost heavily in some financial transaction. Originally hailing from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur district, the accused, who now lived in the rented house, Ran Gogna Watch Centre at Pathankot Chowk, but did not earn much, neighbours said.
The police has removed all the six bodies to the Civil Hospital here for the postmortem.
The Sadar police has registered a case of murder under Section 302 of the IPC against the dead accused and also a case under Section 309 of the IPC against him for committing suicide.

Minister "provoking" Canadian
Sikhs on langar issue
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service
AMRITSAR, July 21 — The controversy over the implementation of "hukamnama" pronounced by the Sikh clergy on July 20 to partake "Guru ka langar" while sitting on the floor, today took a fresh turn when Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, alleged that certain SAD and SGPC leaders, including Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, senior vice president, SGPC, and Mr Sucha Singh Langhah, a state minister, were responsible for provoking the Canadian Sikhs to defy the "hukamnama" for their 'vested interests'.
The Sikh clergy which had declared an Editor and four functionaries of Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Surrey, Canada, tankhaiya for defying the hukamnama pronounced on the institution of Guru ka langar on June 25, said that Akal Takht would deal with defiant leadership sternly.
A group of Canadian Sikhs had yesterday announced that they would not appear before Akal Takht on July 25 as directed by the Jathedar. They had also urged Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC president to take appropriate action against Bhai Ranjit Singh for issuing "hukamnama" on the institution of langar.
Talking to TNS, Bhai Ranjit Singh said any Sikh who defied the "hukamnama" on the 500-year-old institution of langar (community kitchen) launched by the Guru would be excommunicated from the 'Panth'. He said the Guru had directed his followers to partake the langar by sitting on the floor. It was highly objectionable that a group of Canadian Sikhs were insisting on serving langar on tables and chairs he added.
In a categorical statement, the Sikh clergy said nobody would be allowed to mediate between Akal Takht and the Canadian Sikhs on the issue of the langar. He said some SGPC and SAD leaders were interfering in the matter. He asked the parties concerned to approach Akal Takht directly.
Ridiculing yesterday's development, Bhai Ranjit Singh said if it was the approach of the moderate group of the Sikhs then what would be the approach of hot-headed persons.
The Sikh clergy, however, expressed the hope that he would be able to solve the controversy with the help of Sikh sangat.
Replying another question, Bhai Ranjit Singh said facts were being collected against Mr Bhaur and Mr Langhah for provoking the Canadian Sikhs for defying the hukamnama.
When asked about the demand of a group of Canadian Sikhs for seeking his resignation, Bhai Ranjit Singh said they had no moral right to speak on the issue as they were not following the Sikh traditions.
It may be mentioned here that the Sikh clergy pointed out that the hukamnana on April 20 directing the Sikhs to partake langar, while sitting on the floor was being defied by Mr Balwant Singh Gill, president, G.N. Gurdwara, Surrey, Canada, Giani Harkirat Singh, Mr Tara Singh Hayer, Editor, Indo-Canadian Times, Mr Jarnail Singh, senior vice-president, Khalsa Diwan, Vancouver, and Mr Kashmir Singh, record secretary of the diwan. These persons had been declared "tankhaiya" and directed to appear at Akal Takht on July 25 at 11 a.m. In case of the non-compliance of this directive action would be taken against them in accordance with the Sikh maryada.
Mr Bhaur when contacted at his residence at Banga (Nawanshahr) denied that he had provoked the Canadian Sikhs for defying the hukamnama on langar. He, however, said he and other SAD leaders had rather appealed to the Canadian Sikhs to implement the hukamnana in toto. He said perhaps the Jathedar was given distorted facts about our visit. He said Akal Takht was supreme for the Sikhs.
Mr Langhah was not available for comments.

CM under pressure to review hike
By P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 21 — Mr S.K. Tuteja today took over as Chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), he has assumed charge at a critical period.
In view of the sharp reaction to the board's decision on Monday to effect a 33 per cent, across the board, hike in power tariff, the first task before the new chairman will be to undertake a "damage control exercise."
Even before the ink had dried on the notification on power tariff increase, both the SAD-BJP government and the PSEB have received only brickbats. Business and industry associations have mounted pressure on the government and the board to reduce the tariff. May it be the Confederation of Indian Industry, the PHDCCI or Industries' associations of Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar etc or the political leaders, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress) and Mr Hardev Arshi (CPI), all have issued strongly worded comments against the hike.
The industry says a 33 per cent hike in just "one go" is totally unjustified for a "land-locked" state where due to "locational disadvantages" new entrepreneurs were reluctant to invest. The hike has been announced when there is "deep recession" in the market. Punjab primarily has small-scale industry, which will be rendered "incompetitive and unviable" with the new power hike. Some organisations have suggested the setting up of an "electricity regulatory authority or commission" some others want the PSEB to follow the Haryana Electricity Board pattern. "Why burden us for the board's incompetence or the government's decision to supply free power to the agriculture sector and up to 30 units to the weaker sections in urban areas?"
Asked how much respite was expected, a cross-section of representatives of the industry told TNS that the hike should not have been more than 20 per cent presuming that the board did not effect any increase in the past two years. The last upward revision was in July, 1996. That time it was 25 per cent, which was later reduced to somewhere around 18 per cent to placate the industry.
It is on this analogy that the industry expects the government and the board to reduce the hike from the present 33 per cent to somewhere around 25-30 per cent. It is learnt, the Chief Minister, under pressure to "review and revise" the tariff, is expected to shortly convene a meeting of the representatives of the industry and the PSEB on the subject.
For the moment, the Department of Industries and the PSEB are engaged in an exercise to "cool" the industries' associations and convince them of

the need for the effected hike.
Mr Tuteja told TNS in an exclusive interview that his first task as Chairman would be to ensure "quality" supply of power to paddy growers and industry for balanced agro-industrial growth. On the power tariff hike, he remarked that what had been done was done after "careful consideration" of all factors, including inflation and cost of inputs involved in power generation, transmission and distribution. "The hike is appropriate. But those protesting must realise that consumers, other than the agriculture sector, were not being burdened as a way to cross-subsidise the loss on account of free supply of power to irrigation or weaker sections. The government is financially supporting the board to the tune of Rs 300 crore, annually, due to the relief given to the agriculture sector".
Nevertheless, Mr Tuteja said that his interaction with the PSEB at the "macro-level" as secretary, Finance , gave him a feeling that the "productive skills" of the employees could be better used. "Power is a service industry. But the organisation must run on commercial lines for still better service to consumers," he added.

Mr Tuteja brings with him his commerce background; he topped Delhi University in M.Com. He has professional qualification of a company secretary. He has done courses, both in India and abroad, on public sector management and financial management. He has experience of industry, education and finance.
He served as Secretary, Public Sector Entrepreneurs Selection Board, New Delhi. As Managing Director, Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation, he gained insight into financial and technical negotiations. He belongs to the 1968 IAS batch. He concedes his new assignment is "difficult" and "enviable".

Panchayati raj institutions to get
more financial autonomy
Tribune News Service
JALANDHAR, July 21— More than 12,000 panches and sarpanches from Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr were administered the oath of secrecy and office by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at an impressive function here today.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the panchayati raj institutions would be given more financial autonomy to carry out development works so as to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas.
He said the panchayat samitis and zila parishads, for which elections would be held shortly, would also be given more powers for them to act with a purpose in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), he said, was the first party in the country to advocate the concept of more powers to the states and to grass-root level bodies.
It was unfortunate that previous governments at the Centre and the state had not paid any attention to this aspect which had weakened the democratic fabric leading to economic imbalances, backwardness, unemployment, poverty and illiteracy, he said.
The Chief Minister said that under the focal point scheme, an important composite programme to give all services under one umbrella to the rural areas, 667 focal points, old and new, were under construction. Out of these, 138 had already been commissioned. With the objective of eradication of unemployment from the rural areas, an ambitious scheme was on the anvil under which demonstration centres in each district would be opened to train and give financial support to rural youth to enable them to set up self ventures, he added.
Exhorting the panchayat members to shed the policy of confrontation in the villages, the Chief Minister said panchayats were the common bodies and all members should work collectively, irrespective of their political affiliations, and by forgetting all past differences.
Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats said results of the recently conducted panchayat election in the state had revealed that the people of the state had full faith in the policies and programmes of the state government.
Of those sworn in today, 3908 were women panches and 609 panches belonged to backward classes, while 1,472 were scheduled castes women panches. Mr Surjit Kumar, Minister of State for Rural Development, also spoke.

Water unfit for consumption
From Manoj Dhiman
FEROZEPORE: Five hundred residents of Vikas Vihar — a colony which came up in the municipal council area here a few years ago, have been living without civic amenities.
The residents claim that the lay-out plans of the houses were passed by the council, which also charged development charges from them.
The residents use water from handpumps. Various ailments of eye, teeth, skin and stomach, greying and loss of hair and jaundice have spread because of the ground water, the residents allege.
In June this year, the District Health Officer, informed the Vikas Vihar Welfare Society president, Mr S.N.Malhotra, that five samples of water taken from the locality, had been found unfit for human consumption. He had asked the residents to make alternative arrangements for drinking water.
The residents have constructed temporary sewerage systems. A few of them have constructed septic tanks. Health experts say septic tanks may further contaminate the ground water.
The colony has kucha roads and lanes which are flooded after a few minutes of rain
After several requests, the council authorities have provided a set of 15 tube-lights for the area. Residents not only bore the installation cost but also pay electricity bills for those.
On the demand of residents, the Municipal Council has put up a garbage container in the locality. But, residents complain that the container is not cleaned daily.
The PSEB has given connections to a few houses, but violated safety norms. Live wires hang from many poles. The Deputy Commissioner has asked the local Municipal Council President and the PSEB superintending engineer to look into the matter and inform him accordingly.

Power on PPCC meeting agenda
Tribune News Service
PATIALA, July 21 — Senior Punjab Congress leader Birdevinder Singh today said a meeting of the Pradesh Congress Committee would be held at Chandigarh on July 24 to take stock of the hike in power tariff besides revision in bus fares and college fees and "failure" of the law and order machinery in the state.
Addressing a Press conference here, the former chief whip of the party, said the meeting would be held under the presidentship of the PPCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, and would discuss the unprecedented fiscal mismanagement of the state government.
Mr Birdevinder Singh said the very concept of providing free power to farmers was a jugglery of figures. While claiming that farmers had to pay more for tubewell and motor connections after the decision on free power was implemented. He said before the Akali government took over farmers had to pay Rs 4000 per tubewell connection for general category,Rs 3000 for yellow card holders and Rs 2000 per connection in Kandi areas. He said now farmers have to pay Rs 3000 per horse power for general category connection, and Rs 2000 per horse power for yellow card holders. This step alone ensured that if a farmer took a minimum five horse power connection he would have to deposit a security of Rs 15,000, he added.
The Congress leader said a backlog of three lakh applications for tubewell connections were pending with the government which meant if all of them installed a five horse power connection the PSEB would garner Rs 450 crore through security deposit alone.
Giving another example of how the farmers had been burdened further, the Congress leader said before February, 1997, when the decision to give 'free' power to farmers was implemented, they were charged Rs 70 per metre for length of service line if it was beyond 500 metres. He said now, farmers had to pay Rs 125 per metre for service line.
Mr Birdevinder Singh said the 23 paise per unit increase as fuel surcharge coupled with the 33 per cent increase meant their had been an altogether 56 per cent increase in power since the Akali-BJP government took over in the state. He said the agriculture sector consumed 33 per cent power while 18 per cent power was wasted in transmission losses and theft.
Mr Birdevinder Singh alleged Faridkot and Muktsar districts were being supplied three-phase electricity, even when other districts were facing severe power supply curbs and cuts for more than eight hours daily. He alleged that two districts were getting this preferential treatment because to the chief minister hails from the area.
The Congress leader said the government should draw up a comprehensive plan to check the menace of floods in Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa districts. He suggested building of one dam on the Ghaggar near Panchkula with the collaboration of the Haryana government. He said another dam could be built downstream of the Khanauri at Jakhal to deal with the problem effectively.
Mr Birdevinder Singh also suggested construction of embankments along the sides of the Ghaggar and the need to channelise the Tangri. He also suggested that syphons on the Ghaggar should be desilted every year. Work on the Ghaggar had been suspended as a result the Khanauri area got flooded. Moreover Rs 3 crore which Patiala district received every year from NABARD for the work had been diverted to Muktsar.

SSPs oppose officer's plea for absorption
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 21 — Several Punjab cadre IPS officers, including Mr C.S.R. Reddy, SSP of Chandigarh, Mr Jasminder Singh, SSP of Tarn Taran; Mr Dinkar Gupta, SSP of Ludhiana; and Mr Gurdev Singh, SSP of Majitha, have moved applications before the local Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal contesting the petition preferred by Mr Rajwant Singh, an Andhra cadre IPS officer, seeking his absorption into the Punjab cadre.
Mr R.K. Nehru and Mr Vaish, who constituted the Bench, directed Mr Rajwant Singh to file reply to the petitions filed by the Punjab cadre IPS officers and adjourned the case to August 7 for arguments.
Mr Rajwant Singh had assailed the order of the Punjab Governor ordering his reversion to his parent state. In his petition he claimed that he was sent to Punjab on the recommendation of the then Director-General of Punjab Police, Mr K.P. S. Gill.
He claimed that when the militancy was at its peak, he manned several sensitive police districts and played an affective role in curbing militancy.
Even Mrs Jaswant Kaur, widow of slain Chief Minister, Beant Singh and Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal favoured his absorption into the Punjab IPS cadre.
He claimed that Mr Badal shot off letters to former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral and Union Home Minister L.K. Advani recommending his retention in Punjab.
Counsel for the Centre as also of the Punjab Government, opposed the plea of Mr Rajwant Singh. Their contention before the tribunal was that Mr Rajwant Singh had overstayed in Punjab on deputation. Even the Union Home Ministry had turned down his case for absorption into the Punjab cadre. Moreover, Mr Rajwant Singh had not accrued any legal right for being absorbed in the Punjab cadre.
Counsel further revealed to the tribunal that the petitioner had been accepted in Punjab while on deputation at his own request when he had pleaded that his mother was seriously ill.
The IPS officers, who sought to be impleaded as parties in the case, stressed that the absorption of Mr Rajwant Singh into the Punjab cadre would adversely affect their chances of promotion. Mr Rajwant Singh had never been posted on such a post where he could have come in direct conflict with the militants.

Markfed field staff hold protest rally
Tribune News Service
PATIALA, July 21 — Markfed field staff from various districts in the state today held a rally in front of the district office here in protest against the "failure" of the management in conceding the already agreed demands of the employees.
The Markfed Field Employees Union state president, Mr Bhupinder Singh said though the management had agreed to concede demands of the employees at a meeting on September 23, 1997, but nothing was done. He said subsequently union representatives held a number of meetings with top officials of the management without success.
Mr Bhupinder Singh said the union was forced to launch the agitation to get its demands accepted. He said divisional-level rallies would be held on July 24 and July 27 at Faridkot and Jalandhar and a state-level rally would be held at Chandigarh on August 12. Following this chain dharnas would be held at Chandigarh in front of the Markfed head office from August 17.
The union general secretary, Mr Ashwani Kumar, criticised the "faulty" paddy policy of the government. He said the moisture content allowance should be raised as also driage allowance keeping in view the long milling period which usually extended till August. Mr Kumar said this issue was however, made a plank to harass frontline employees.
He said the joint custody policy worked out by the state government existed on paper only and the employees had virtually no control over the stock of paddy stored on the premises of the millers. The unauthorised lifting and milling of paddy of millers was beyond the control of field employees and they had to face victimisation on this account, he added.
Leaders from Punsup and the State Warehousing Corporation demanded that the Mandi Board authorities should ensure the strict enforcement of marketing bylaws by arhtias during procurement of foodgrains. They said necessary infrastructure of providing mechanical cleaners, tarpaulins and proper dunnage of wooden crates must be provided by the arhtias in the mandis.
The union has demanded the immediate withdrawal of illegal chargesheets issued to Markfed field employees regarding paddy crop 1994-95 and 1995-96, at least three time-bound regular promotions and time-scale to each employee of Markfed during service, end to victimisation of employees, the enhancement of conveyance allowance and medical allowance, the creation and filling of post of additional district managers at each district headquarters and lifting of long stored paddy crop on actual weight basis with loss in weight due to moisture being borne by Markfed itself.

PSEB staff stir hits life
From Our Correspondent
JALALABAD, July 21 — The tool-down and pen-down strike by the joint action committee of the Technical Services Union, the Junior Engineers Council and the Ministerial Services Union here has crippled power supply down.
A heavy downpour yesterday has further aggravated the situation.
The strike was called by the joint action committee against the alleged police inaction on complaints of PSEB staff against a consumer who had allegedly manhandled and abused a junior engineer (JE).
According to a representative of the unions, Mr Ramesh Maker, JE, was allegedly abused by a consumer Sarup Singh when he was implementing the disconnection order of the said consumer. Mr Ganesha Singh ALM, was allegedly beaten up by the same consumer when he went to implement the order both these complaint had been lodged with the police.
However, according to police sources the said consumer had also lodged a complaint against the two PSEB official.

Jawaharlal Nehru Award for PAU scientist
Tribune News Service
LUDHIANA, July 21 — Dr O.P. Jhorar, Assistant Professor, Agrometeorology, Punjab Agricultural University, has been awarded the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for the 1997 for outstanding postgraduate research. The award, instituted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, carries a citation, a certificate, a gold medal and Rs 10,000 in cash.
Dr Jhorar is the first student to obtain Ph D in Agricultural meteorology and also the first to receive the award in India. Earlier Dr Jhorar developed Karnal bunt disease for casting model for which he was awarded "Pesticides India Award-1992" by Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology.
Dr Jaigopal Sharma, an alumni of the PAU, presently senior scientist to the Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla has also been awarded this award for his outstanding Ph D thesis in genetics.
Dr Sharma is a recipient of MS Randhawa Medal and Vasant Rao Naik Memorial Award also.
Dr PN Takkar, a former senior soil scientist in the Department of Soils, and Director Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS) Bhopal, has been honoured with the SN Ranade Memorial Award for life-time achievement for excellence in micronutrient research for the year 1998.
The award was instituted by the SSR Memorial Trust, Pune, in 1997 in the memory of Late Dr SN Ranade, a pioneer in the field of micronutrients in India.

Applicants for MBE left high and dry
Tribune News Service
AMRITSAR, July 21 — The students who appeared for the Masters in Business Economics (MBE) entrance test in response to an advertisement inserted by the local Khalsa College were left high and dry when they were informed that the course would not start from the current academic session.
They returned home disappointed as the college authorities refused admission after the group discussion and written test. Instead, they were asked to take admission in MA (Economics).
Mr M.S. Dhillon, Principal, Khalsa College, said the MBE course could not be started from this session as Guru Nanak Dev University had not approved the syllabus for it.

Traders resent power tariff hike
From Our Correspondent
AMRITSAR, July 22 — Representatives of trade and industry have expressed their deep shock over the "unprecedented" hike in power tariff announced by the Punjab Government.
The president of the Amritsar Printers and Processors Association, Mr Narinder Kumar Jain, said here yesterday that after the imposition of sales tax of 4 per cent on textiles the 33 per cent increase in power rates had come as a bolt from the blue. He pointed out that an emergency meeting of all the associations had been convened here tomorrow to take stock of the situation.

ADGP completes probe in Kaonke case
From Our Correspondent
LUDHIANA, July 22 — The Additional Director-General of Police Mr B.P. Tiwari, yesterday completed the field enquiry in the alleged case of torture to death of Bhai Gurdev Singh Kaonke by the Jagraon police in January 1993.
The IHRO chairperson, Mr D. S. Gill, and general secretary, Mr Mohinder Singh Grewal, alleged that certain district police officers had threatened the family members of Bhai Kaonke not to depose before the enquiry being held on July 18. Bibi Gurmail Kaur, widow of Bhai Kaonke urged the ADGP to take a serious note of this and sought the officers' transfer from Jagraon and Ludhiana. Mr Tiwari, assisted by Mr Hartej Singh Sekhon SP, recorded the statements of about over 20 persons and also visited Kaonke village from where the jathedar was allegedly picked up, the police stations where he was detained and Kanian village from where his body was recovered.

Ex-servicemen meet DC
From Our Correspondent
ROPAR, July 21 — A deputation of the ex-servicemen met the Deputy Commissioner and president of the District Sainik Welfare Board. They demanded opening of a medical inspection room here. Such a step would benefit 30,000 ex-servicemen and their families in the district, they said.
The deputation also apprised the Deputy Commissioner since there was no military hospital in the district, ex-servicemen and their families had to go to either Chandi Mandir or Patiala Army hospitals for treatment.
The Deputy Commissioner held a meeting with a Brigadier of the Western Command, Chandi Mandir and discussed the medical inspection room issue.
A medical check-up camp will be organised in the last week of September at the local Sainik Rest House.
A lady doctor will also be made available to check-up the widows of war martyrs.
Meanwhile, Capt Rajdip Singh Kamboj, Deputy Director, District Sainik Welfare, here, said that the third course of Punjabi shorthand and type for wards of defence personnel and ex-servicemen was being started in August 1998, for which applications could be submitted in the office of Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare, Ropar.

Minister suspends radiographer
From Our Correspondent
ROPAR, July 21 — Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, Health Minister, Punjab, today made unannounced visits to the Rural Hospital, Kurali, at 12.30 p.m. and Primary Health Centre, Boothgarh, at 1.45 p.m.
Mr Zira found the SMO Boothgarh, Dr Meena Arora, also in charge of the Rural Hospital, Kurali, and the Medical Officer (Dental) Boothgarh, Dr Varinderjit Kaur and Radiographer Premjit Singh absent from duty. The minister issued orders of suspension of Premjit Singh on the alleged ground that he was wilfully absent from the duty for the past some days.
The minister said that disciplinary action would be take against the absentee doctors.
On the request of residents of Kurali, the minister ordered posting of two staff nurses — Jarnail Kaur and Sawarn Lata at the Rural Hospital, Kurali. These staff nurses were now on deputation at Mohali and Landran, respectively.
During his tour, the minister also inspected Homoeopathic Dispensary at Kurali and expressed his satisfaction over the functioning of the dispensary.

Community security scheme launched
From Our Correspondent
PATIALA, July 21 — In view of the mushrooming of residential colonies in the urban areas and a rise in the number of migrant labourers and the subsequent problems like loafing, eve-teasing and thefts, the police has launched a community security scheme for the protection of residents of various colonies in the city.
Under this scheme, four to five responsible persons will be in charge of their respective area and recruit two or more members of their community as security guards, keeping in mind the recruitment and size of their area.
These guards will be paid by the residents of that locality/community by collecting contributions of about Rs 10 each. They will be deployed only in their locality for night patrol and provided arms by the police.
Before their recruitment the police will verify their antecedents. The arms will be delivered to the guards only during duty time and collected again by the police station. The community security committee of that area will have full powers to supervise the guards and retrench them in case they did not deliver the goods.
Mr Rajinder Singh, DIG, Patiala range, has requested responsible residents to contact police stations and police officers for early implementation of the scheme.

Tandon rules out SAD-BJP rift
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 21 – Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Punjab Local Bodies Minister, said here today that there were no differences between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the state unit of the BJP on any issue.
He said there was a complete understanding between the two on all issues, including Udham Singh Nagar issue and the state unit of BJP, had fully endorsed the stance taken by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on the Uttar Pradesh issue.
Certain vested interests were trying to create a wedge between the SAD and the BJP but such people would not succeed in their "mission", he said.
He said the alliance between the SAD and the BJP was based on certain principles and values and it was not a union just to be in power in the state.
Mr Tandon said that he was misquoted at Amritsar on the issue of Udham Singh Nagar district. "I never said what was attributed to me by print media at Amritsar", Mr Tandon claimed.
He said that BJP leaders, including ministers almost meet Mr Badal, daily to discuss various issues and both parties take a united stand on such issues after discussion. The question of misunderstanding do not arise, he added.