Thursday, October 1, 1998
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Thursday, October 1, 1998 |
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 CPM blames government on crop damage CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Mr Balwant Singh, secretary of the Punjab State Committee of the CPM, has demanded a probe into the funds spent in the Muktsar-Lambi belt on drainage system. |
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 Ambulance
network for LudhianaLUDHIANA: This megacity of 2.5 million is all set to become the first city in Punjab to acquire an integrated ambulance services network which will put a fleet of ambulances just a phone call away from its citizens. Gowda
dismisses Advani's proposal Cong-BSP
talks on Adampur
Three
Bhakra turbines renovated Scientists
warn against 2329 wheat Two
gangs of robbers busted, nine held |
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| Telecom staff hold rally |  |
Tohra criticised |
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Offering to resign and accept any punishment if any of the allegations was proved true, Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh said that an impartial investigation should be held by "neutral gursikhs" and their findings would be acceptable to them without any hesitation. "We would bow our heads before the decision of Gursikhs", they added. However, they refused to resin in existing controversies. Addressing a joint press conference here today, Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh said though they had given detailed clarifications with regard to allegations levelled earlier about the affairs of the World Sikh Council but now allegations had started about the trusts. Prof Manjit Singh said some obvious and hidden forces and agencies were working to sabotage the programmes and preparations made and planned in connection with celebrations of 300th birth anniversary of the Khalsa. Such forces did not want that such celebrations which would highlight the Khalsa Panth the world over should be held in a peaceful atmosphere. The controversy generated in connection with Sikh institutions was a handiwork of such forces, Prof Manjit Singh added. He said that several world dignitaries, including Prince Charles, spiritual heads of various religions from abroad had assured all help in connection with the celebrations but the controversy started before the holding of functions in connection with the anniversary would dampen the real spirit behind celebrations, he added. Making his position clear about trusts at Anandpur Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh said there was only one Gurmat Sagar Trust at Anandpur Sahib and not three as was alleged by Bhai Ranjit Singh. He said there was neither Gobind Sagar Trust nor Anand Sagar Trust. He said none of his blood relations was a member of this trust and allegations that his close relations had captured the trust were completely false. He said the Gurmat Sagar Trust was founded on December 17, 1993, and top religious personalities like Bhai Jasbir Singh Khannewale, Bhai Sahib Harjinder Singh from Sri Nagar, Giani Jagjit Singh Sidqi, Mr Avtar Singh and Giani Kewal Singh were among its founder members. Later on five other members, including Mr Inderjit Singh, Mr Harinderpal Singh, Mr Inderjit Singh Baghi and Mr Didar Singh, were taken on the trust. He said that work on the International Spiritual Research Centre, the Mata Sahib Yadgari Trust and the de-addiction centre had been taken up. The foundation stone of the Mata Sahib Yadgari Trust was laid by SGPC chief, Mr G.S. Tohra, while the foundation stone of the research centre was laid by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The foundation stone of de-addiction centre was laid by the "panj piaras." Prof Manjit Singh said that some persons had levelled allegations of his being a coloniser were also untrue. If anybody proved that he had sold any plot from the property owned by the trust he would be ready to accept any punishment ordered by the Panth. He said that plots had been given only to those persons who had made contribution for the development of the land owned by the trust. Prof Manjit Singh also gave clarification about the land donated to the trust near Nawanshahr by one Bhag Singh and his three sons. He said he had made every thing clear to Mr Bhag Singh and his sons about the trust and they voluntarily donated the land. He said that he would
attend the meeting of the World Sikh Council which would
be held tomorrow here. Mr Tohra had sent a message to me
with regard to the meeting. Prof Manjit Singh said,
"I would like that all issues pertaining to the
council get resolved at the meeting", he added. |
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Give accounts or face probe:
Takht chief AMRITSAR, Sept 30 — Akal Takht Chief, Bhai Ranjit Singh has asked Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar, Sri Kesgarh Sahib to submit all accounts relating to the World Sikh Council (WSC) in the proposed meeting of the council to be held at Chandigarh tomorrow. Talking to TNS at his residence here today, Bhai Ranjit Singh said that he would be happy if Prof Manjit Singh submitted the accounts in the meeting in a transparent manner to resolve the present stalemate. However, he said that if Prof Manjit Singh failed to clarify his position, he would be forced to constitute a fact-finding committee to probe the whole matter as he (Bhai Ranjit Singh) could not keep the 'Sikh sangat' waiting. In that case, he would constitute a five-member committee of experts to unearth facts about the collection of funds in the name of the WSC. He said that this committee would also probe charges of his (Bhai Ranjit Singh ) 'concealing' his identity while registering a land deed at Mohali. Bhai Ranjit Singh said that the report of the 'committee' would be implemented in toto so that every thing should be clear before the 'sangat'. He said the case of Gurmat Sagar Trust, constituted by Prof Manjit Singh, would also be referred to the committee. Bhai Ranjit Singh reiterated that he wouldn't allow Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh to attend future meetings at Akal Takht unless they clarify their stand on certain Sikh issues. He said that the next meeting at the Takht would be held after the Gurpurb of Guru Ram Das in the second week of next month and the next meeting would take up issues referred to it by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Meanwhile, sources pointed out that the meeting of the World Sikh Council to be held at Chandigarh is unlikely to be successful as the rival faction of the WSC has already raised an objection over calling of the meeting. Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, a former general secretary of the WSC, has already described the calling of the meeting as "illegal". He had said that those who had called the meeting had no legal authority to call the meeting. On the other hand, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is endeavouring to resolve the present stalemate and has reportedly met office bearers of both factions of the WSC. The All-India Sikh
Students Federation, led by Mr Harminder Singh Gill,
however, has said that the WSC itself should be scrapped
as it has been a source of controversy ever since its
inception. Mr Gill had demanded electing Mr Tohra as the
new chairman of the WSC instead of Justice Kuldip Singh
(retd) for resolving the matter once and for all. |
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CPM blames Badal government on CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Mr Balwant Singh, secretary of the Punjab State Committee of the CPM, has demanded a high-level probe into the funds spent in the Muktsar-Lambi belt on drainage system. Addressing a press conference here today at his party office, Mr Balwant Singh said that the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, ignored all other flood-prone areas in the state and utilised maximum part of the funds for providing drainage system in the Muktsar-Lambi belt which was his political constituency. Alleging that it was a misuse of power by Mr Badal, the CPM leader alleged that the Badal government was squarely responsible for the floods in the various parts of the state and damage caused to paddy and cotton crops. Mr Balwant Singh who was accompanied by his party's farmer wing president, Mr Rachhpal Singh, at the press conference, said due to overspending of funds in the Muktsar-Lambi belt, proper flood protection measures could not be taken in other parts of the state. He said farmers in the state during the rain in past weeks had suffered a heavy loss and the Punjab Government had not showed any concern in this connection. He said it was the duty to provide tarpaulin in the grain markets by the Punjab Agriculture Marketing Board to cover the paddy brought by farmers for selling but the board failed to make any such arrangement. Asking about waiving loans of farmers, Mr Balwant Singh said Mr Badal had no time to listen the problems faced by farmers in the state. He said his party had written several times to Mr Badal for holding a meeting with its farmer representatives but no time was granted for such meeting. He said it would have been better if Mr Badal had convened a meeting of all farmer bodies, including farmer wings of political parties, to discuss in detail the problems faced by the farming community in the state and the issue of farmers suicides. Alleging distress sale of paddy in various parts of the state, Mr Balwant Singh said that what was faced by Punjab farmers in the past days was not a natural calamity but a political and official negligence on the part of the state government. Mr Balwant Singh said that large old stock of paddy was lying unmilled in Punjab and most part of it was damaged. He said that the Punjab Government was putting blame on government employees for the damage caused to paddy which was wrong step. Mr Balwant Singh urged the
government to provide compensation to the tune of Rs 7500
per acre to farmers who suffered loss during recent rains
and also financial aid for the repair and reconstruction
of the houses damaged by the rain. |
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Ambulance network for Ludhiana LUDHIANA: This megacity of 2.5 million is all set to become the first city in Punjab to acquire an integrated ambulance services network which will put a fleet of ambulances just a phone call away from its citizens. The brainchild of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel, the service will fill a major gap in the administration of the Health Services in Ludhiana. Modelled on a similar service introduced in Chandigarh some time ago, it will be formally launched by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, here tomorrow. According to the district police chief, Mr Dinkar Gupta, the traffic police carried out an analysis of road accidents taking place in Ludhiana city in the past five years. It showed up certain startling facts. The number of road accidents have been increasing in the city by 15 per cent every year. The number of fatalities in road accidents have also increased steadily. As many as 103 persons died in road accidents in the city. About 60 to 70 per cent fatal road accidents took place either at 15 intersections or at some vulnerable road stretches like Jalandhar bye-pass and the road stretches from Sherpur Chowk to Dhandari Kalan. Overspeeding on the highways was one of the main causes of road accidents. Heavy vehicles like trucks, buses and tractor trailers were found to be responsible for a large number of road accidents. Pedestrians, cyclists and scooterists are the most vulnerable sections of road-users. A large number of cyclists get knocked down by the heavy vehicular traffic flow on the national highway from Sherpur Chowk to Dhandari T-point. Most of these cyclists are factory labourers . The maximum rush is in the morning and evening hours and at the time of change of shifts. Ironically, most of the biggest cycle manufacturers have their factories and offices along this highway. A directory of all ambulances in the city has been prepared. This directory lists the number and type of ambulance available in hospitals and nursing homes. It also has the name and the phone number of the person who is to be contacted in order to avail of their ambulance service. This directory will be circulated free of cost among the citizens of Ludhiana after the Chief Minister releases it on Thursday. According to Mr Goel, an emergency services control room has been set up in the local civil hospital. It is to be manned round-the-clock by qualified doctors, and wireless and telephone operators. The control room will have 39 ambulances belonging to 28 organisations available to it on call. It has been equipped with the latest means of communication, so that an emergency call can reach it without any delay. In addition to the four lines of telephone, it will have wireless sets connected to the police network. A person in need of an ambulance can either directly call up the emergency control room at 102, or in case of any difficulty call up police help number 100, from where the call would be conveyed to the control room over the wireless. The whole idea behind this
scheme, says Mr Goel, is to ensure that there is a
minimum time gap in the ambulance reaching the needy
persons during emergency. During the second phase, it is
proposed to link all the ambulances by radio trunking
wireless network so that their response period is further
reduced. Already some of the hospitals, including
Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Christian Medical
College and Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital and
Oswal Hospital, have, on their own, purchased the latest,
state-of-the-art pro-call wireless sets for their
ambulances so that they can be reached by the control
room even when they are in the field area. Sponsorship
for linking all the ambulances in the city through a
common network is being sought. Since it is a
humanitarian task, many of the NGOs and philanthropic
organisations have expressed their desire to sponsor
these wireless sets, says Mr Goel. |
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Cong-BSP talks on Adampur MUKTSAR, Sept 30 — The Punjab Congress is holding talks with the BSP, CPI and CPM for putting up a common candidate in the forthcoming byelections for the Adampur assembly segment in the state. This was announced by PPCC president, Mr Amarinder Singh and vice-president, Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar while addressing a joint press conference here today before staging a dharna and holding a rally in front of the deputy commissioner's office in protest against the failure of the state government to procure paddy at the minimum support price (MSP). They said that the initial phase of talks with the leaders of other parties was over and a formal alliance was expected any time. They said that the Congress party had put up its claim for fielding its candidate as it was the oldest party in the country and in the last assembly elections the Congress candidate polled more votes than the BSP candidate. In another significant statement they demanded a CBI probe into the 'siphoning' of Rs 1400 crores of state government funds by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal under the garb of eradicating water logging by diverting this money to Gidderbaha and Malout. Alleging that there was family rule in Punjab and the state government was being run by Mr Badal, Badal and Badal Private Limited Company, they said that the state government had borrowed huge sums of money from an American bank and some commercial banks of India at very high rates of interests in order to commit a financial fraud. They disclosed that the Punjab Congress had engaged a lawyer to find ways for filing PIL in the high court against the financial bunglings of Mr Badal. They said AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi would visit Punjab in October and the date of her visit would be announced in a day or so. They made it clear that the Punjab Congress had already said that it was against the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed Uttaranchal state and Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab whenever the Congress come to power. Regarding the People's Commission, they said that if it was not banned it would create anarchy in Punjab and if the state government was not taking any step in this regard the Centre should act according to the Constitution. They said that the present Lok Pal was not acceptable to the Congress as the Lok Pal and his relatives were very close to Mr Badal. They said that in absence of procurement agencies in the grain markets farmers were resorting to distress sales even at Rs 200 per quintal against the minimum support price of Rs 470. Earlier, a massive rally was held at the grain market in front of the deputy commissioner's office and a memorandum given to the DC. Mr Umrao Singh, former MP,
Mr Sajjan Jakhar, Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, former Chief
Minister, Mr Opinder Sharma, Mr Gurbet Bhullar, Mr Abul
Khurana, Mr Gurdas Girdhar, Mr Avtar Singh, president,
district Unit of Congress and Mr Gurbir Singh Brar,
former joint secretary, Punjab Youth Congress were
present at the rally. |
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Gowda dismisses Advani's proposal JALANDHAR, Sept 30 (PTI) — Former Prime Minister and senior Janata Dal leader H.D. Deve Gowda today dismissed the proposal by Union Home Minister L. K. Advani for initiating a national debate on Article 356, saying it would be "futile" since the stance of all political parties was already known. "While the BJP thinks Article 356 was redundant if it could not be imposed on Bihar, Congress wants to retain the clause. If these are the bottom lines, then where is the need for debating the issue," he told reporters here. Mr Gowda, who was on his maiden visit to the city, said he could not "morally" join the debate since his government had used Article 356 earlier to dismiss the Suresh Mehta government in Gujarat. Asked if the statements by senior BJP ministers defending the recommendation for dismissal of the Bihar Government even after President KR Narayanan’s rejection would lead to a confrontation between Rashtrapati Bhavan and the government, he said this would be determined by the stance adopted by Prime Minister AB Vajpayee on his return to the country tomorrow. He refused to comment on
the differences within the party high command over the
issue, but said the JD political affairs committee had
decided to take into confidence the party state unit,
which had demanded dismissal of the Rabri Devi
government, before reaching any final decision. |
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Adampur seat: Akalis, Cong woo BSP CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Different political parties have begun their search for suitable candidates to contest the coming byelection to the Adampur Vidhan Sabha. The seat fell vacant due to the sudden death of Akali leader and Urban Development Minister, Mr Sarup Singh. An interesting development is that both, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress supported by the two left parties are trying to woo the Bahujan Samaj Party. The Akalis, according to well placed sources, have already sounded the state BSP president, Mr C.D. Singh Kamboj, and urged him to field his candidate. The idea is that a triangular contest suits the Akalis as it divides the opposition votes. The Congress and the left parties, on the other hand, are keen that there should be a consensus candidate to snatch the seat from the Akalis. "I have suggested to the Congress, the CPI and the BSP to agree on a common candidate and he or she should contest as an independent. This would help forge unity of the Opposition and surely defeat the Akalis. We are not keen to contest on our own, but would like to defeat the ruling alliance" , the CPM state secretary, Prof Balwant Singh said here today. But he conceded that this job was arduous as both the Congress and the BSP may not agree to contest without their party symbols. In any case, he suggested that there should be one opposition candidate. Prof Balwant Singh has already met the CPI secretary, Dr Joginder Dayal, in this connection. Similarly, the State Congress president, Mr Amarinder Singh, had also met Mr Kamboj and impressed upon him the need to unite the Opposition parties. Since one common candidate could upset the Akali applecart, the Akali leadership is keen that both the Congress and the BSP should contest. For this purpose, the Chief Minister, and the Akali Dal president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal has been in touch with Mr Kamboj. Informed sources said that SAD would not mind providing funds in case of need to that political party. A triangular contest can only ensure an Akali victory as was the case in Sham Chaurasi. Mr Badal has summoned the district jathedars of the SAD here on October 2 to chalk out the future programme. Other issues would be to decide about the Akali Dal's claim for assembly seats in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. "We are preparing the list of seats where Sikhs and Punjabis are in dominant position and we can legitimately claim those seats from our alliance partner, the BJP. The seats by and large fall in Rajasthan, particularly in Sriganganagar district, besides Alwar and many seats in Delhi. There could be two to three seats in Madhya Pradesh. The Akali Dal is keen to be a contesting partner and would like something in return for our support", Akali Dal general secretary and Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh told TNS. He said that the Akali Dal must assert its own independent existence outside Punjab so that the stigma of being just a Punjab party is washed away. "We count very much in at least 50 Lok Sabha seats countrywide and we should assert this. Also, we have presence in Delhi and Rajasthan and should not allow it to be appropriated by others," he said. He felt that if the Akali Dal succeeded in getting its due share from the BJP, both parties would benefit. And in future, the Akalis could open the doors for more representation in several Vidhan Sabhas and in Parliament. "We must spread out. It would be healthy politics. We must strive for more national participation", Capt Kanwaljit Singh said. These issues would
dominate the next meeting. Besides, the Dal would also
debate the merger of Udham Singh Nagar district in the
proposed hill state of Uttaranchal, in the light of the
decision of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly decision to
include it while excluding Hardwar. The Akalis would be
recalling their nominees in the Union Council of
Ministers and also vote against the Bill if that district
is included , the Dal sources point out. |
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Three Bhakra turbines renovated NANGAL, Sept 30 — Three of the five turbines of Bhakra Right Wing Power House (PRWPH) have been renovated and generation capacity of these has been increased from 132 MW to 157 MW. According to Chief Engineer (Power Wing) Satish Mittal. The renovation of two remaining turbines will be completed within two years which will increase generation capacity of Bhakra by a total of 125 MW. Renovations process at BRMPH has been going on since 1991 with the help of Russian Engineers from Techno Prime Expert (TPE) a Russian firm, nearly 15 Russian Engineers have been putting up a Nagal since the start of work. BRWPH turbines were originally supplied by the TPE in 1966-68. There they had installation capacity of 120 MW per unit. But in light of the future power requirements a study was entrusted to BHEL to look into the possibilities of increasing the generation capacity of turbines. BHEL in its report in 1977 suggested three alternatives: increasing the capacity of existing units to 132 MW without effecting any change in them, increasing the capacity from 120 to 140 MW affecting minor changes in machines and from 120 to 160 MW effecting major changes. Due to techno economic reasons the BBMB following the first suggestion and increased the generation capacity of turbines to 132 MW. In July 1991, however an agreement was reached effected between the State Trading Corporation (STC) acting agent of autonomy on behalf of the BBMB and TPE a parallel body in Russia to renovate the turbines. The deal was made under the Indo-Soviet Trade pact, signed in 1987. Under this agreement the TPE agreed to supply turbines at the cost of Rs 54.64 crore. The other attraction of the agreement is that the amount is to be paid on barter basis i.e. in lieu of the Machines, Indian goods worth Rs 54.64 crore are to be supplied to Russia. There would not won't be enough water to generate 157 MW of electricity per unit. Clarifying the position of
the BBMB on this issue, Mr Mittal admitted the shortage
of water. He, however, added that these machines can be
used to generate extra electricity during peak hours viz
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. when the demand was maximum and during
the monsoon period when enough water is available. |
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Scientists warn against 2329 wheat GURDASPUR, Sept 30 — More than 10,000 farmers from the districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur participated in a regional Kisan Mela held here today by the Regional Research Centre of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor presided. The farm scientists of the university, addressing the farmers emphasised timely farm operations including sowing and watering and spraying of crops, balanced use of fertilisers and insecticides and frequent use of literature published by PAU, Ludhiana. They discouraged late sowing of wheat and early sowing of paddy because both were disease prone. Dr Kalkat said the farmers should produce fruits and vegetables for their daily use on their own farms. This will end scarcities and provide them articles at cheaper rates. Dr Kalkat said that the sowing of paddy and wheat alone is no more profitable and farmers should diversify into dairying bee-keeping and fish, and pig farming to supplement their income. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the university provided training for these trades. Dr Aulakh, Director Research opposed sowing of HD 2329 variety of wheat and Pusa 44 of paddy because they were prone to rust and bacterial leaf blight respectively. Dr Jaspinder Singh Kaolor
said global marketing has brightened the scope of high
value crops like Basmati, durum wheat and oil seeds. |
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Two gangs of robbers busted,
nine held PATIALA, Sept 30 — The police here yesterday claimed to have busted two gangs of robbers and vehicle thieves behind several crimes in the city. Disclosing this here, district police chief Parampal Singh Sidhu said nine members of a gang of robbers had been arrested while two still were absconding. He said stolen goods worth Rs five lakh had been recovered from them. He said three members of a gang of vehicle thieves had also been arrested and five stolen scooters recovered from their possession. Both gangs, he said, had been busted following a special operation concentrating on burglaries committed in the peripheral colonies. The arrested robbers have been identified as Goldi alias Vinod Kumar resident of Lehal, Vijay Kumar, Suresh Kumar Sethi, Varinder Kumar alias Rods, Sukhbir Kumar all resident of Lehal colony, Jass Singh resident of the Reasolpur village Saidan and Laddi of Yadvindra Colony. The district police chief said Rs 4.5 lakh worth of cash and jewellery were recovered from the gang. The gang had confessed to about 20 burglaries, committed in the district in the recent past. The gang had committed day time burglaries in Dashmesh Nagar, Friends Colony, Upkar Nagar, Bachitter Nagar, New Officers Colony, Guru Nanak Nagar, Patrat Nagar and Adarsh Colony Area, he added. Mr Sidhu said the vehicle
thieves arrested were Malkiat Singh of Machrai Kalan,
Kulwinder Singh of Bhadson and Rohit of Tej Bagh colony
Patiala. Five scooters of different makes along with
master keys had been recovered from them. This year the
recovery of stolen goods had been 84 per cent, Mr Sidhu
added. |
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Telecom staff hold rally BATHINDA, Sept 30 — The All-India Employees Union (Class III) and National Federation of Telecom Employees today urged the telecom authorities to fill the vacant posts in telephone exchanges and other offices falling here and Mansa district. Addressing a rally of the union in front of the office of the General Manager (Telecom), Mr N.K. Jeet, district secretary, AITUC, said all employees should be given incentives for achieving the target of installing new telephone connections in the districts. He alleged that though the
telecom department had increased the rent and
installation charges of telephones in the urban and rural
areas, the telephone services were poor. He said the
present telephone exchange buildings and other offices
lacked drinking water facilities. |
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Tohra criticised CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Mr B.S. Danewalia, President of the Punjabi Party, said here today that the controversy raised by the Jathedar of Akal Takht had divided the Sikhs everywhere but it was made worse by the alleged irresponsible conduct of the SGPC chief, Mr G.S. Tohra. He said Mr Tohra was
sending his confidants to create problems at a seminar
held at Chandigarh recently. He said what Mr Tohra said
about various Sikh issues was not acceptable. |
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Arrangement to disburse salary CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — A spokesman of the Punjab Government said here today that in view of the strike by the Punjab Ministerial Staff Union, the state government had made suitable arrangement for the disbursement of salary of the staff. Instructions had been given to the Department of Finance (treasury branch) to release salary of various departments on the basis of salary bills for the last month in case it was not possible to prepare the salary bills for the current month. The spokesman said the no
work, no pay rule would be strictly implemented and
instructions had been given to withhold the salary of the
period for which employees had been on strike and the
responsibility to implement this order would be solely of
the drawing and disbursing officers of the department
concerned. |
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Local holiday CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 —
The Punjab Government has declared local holiday in
Amritsar district on October 7 on account of the birth
anniversary of Guru Ram Dass, according to a press note
issued here today. |
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NRI organisation set up PATIALA, Sept 30 — An organisation for the welfare of non-resident Indians was set up here today. Disclosing this, Patiala Divisional Commissioner, R.P.S Pawar said the decision had been taken at a meeting of Deputy Commissioner of the division here today. All NRIs had been invited to the first meeting of the organisation which would be held on October 8 at Red Cross Bhavan here. The election of president and the executive committee would also be held at the meeting. Narrating the objectives
of the organisation, Mr Pawar said it would work for the
welfare of the NRIs and solve the problems being faced by
them. It would also motivate and encourage the NRIs to
invest in Punjab, especially in their home towns. |
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Farm technocrats for pay parity BANUR (Patiala), Sept 30 — Agricultural technocrats teamed up with farmers today to launch the first of a series of rallies to impress upon the state government to enable the agricultural extension services to cope with present-day needs and rejuvenate the ruined farm economy of the state. On a call of the Agriculture Technocrats Action Committee (AGTAC), farm technocrats of the Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Soil Conservation Departments of Patiala held a rally along side farmers in which they claimed the wrong policies of the state government were running the economy of Punjab farmers. Speaking on the occasion, AGTAC general secretary, Dr Satnam Singh said farmers had incurred heavy debts trying to cope with the continuous increase in production costs and stagnation in farm productivity. He said in 1974-75 per acre production cost of wheat was Rs 425. This had escalated to Rs 2810 over six times by 1996-97 whereas the support price of wheat has increased only four times. AGTAC Joint Secretary Balwinder Singh Sohal said a deep-rooted conspiracy was being hatched to privatise agricultural services and deprive farmers of free technical know-how provided at their door steps by farm technocrats. This would impoverish them. The leaders highlighting their demands, said farm technocrats should immediately be put at par with other technocrats by restoring their 'unjustifiable disturbed professional-pay-parity, grant of conveyance allowance for quick diagnosis and treatment of crops effected by various insect-pest-diseases etc, introduction of academic allowance grant of advance increments for higher qualification to compensate for mental fatigue, provision of rent free accommodation, and providing employment to unemployed agriculture graduates and post graduates by posting one plant doctor and other staff per thousand hectare of land. Farmer leaders demanded that requisite infrastructure be made available in the concerned departments to increase production. Farmer leaders also lambasted the government for 'loot' in the mandis where they were not even being paid the minimum support-price. They demanded that the agriculture marketing scheme be strengthened, and sugarcane development scheme and pulses scheme be revived. Addressing the rally,
state Congress kisan cell president Harinderpal Singh
Mann appealed to the government to immediately accept the
demands. |
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Govt urged to release grant for
SC stipends BATALA, Sept 30 — A meeting of headmasters and principals of government aided privately managed schools of Gurdaspur district here yesterday at Guru Nanak Khalsa Senior Secondary School Batala under the chairmanship of principal Harbhajan Singh Bajwa expressed resentment against the non-release of stipend to the Scheduled Castes and backward caste students by the Punjab government for 1996-97 and 1997-98 till September 29, 1998. The meeting resolved to urged the Finance Minister Punjab, Mr Kanwaljit Singh to release the grants of stipend of these SC students studying in various government aided privately managed schools of Gurdaspur district. Principal Bajwa disclosed
that the rate of stipend was Rs 30 per boy and Rs 40 per
girl per month in the middle standard and Rs 50, Rs 60
and Rs 70 per child per month as per third second and
first division in the high standard examination.
Principal Bajwa said that earlier these students used to
get stipend regularly and on time. |
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Cong workers block traffic FATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 30 — Workers of the Congress led by the Sadhu Singh, former minister, today blocked traffic for an hour and sat on fast in front of the market committee office at Amloh, 15 km from here, in protest against the non-purchase of paddy by government agencies. Talking to media persons, Mr Sadhu Singh said more than 25,000 bags of paddy were lying in Amloh mandi. He demanded that the paddy should be purchased immediately and farmers compensated for the loss due to rain. He also demanded that the genuine demands of rice millers should be accepted. Meanwhile, Mr Surjit Singh
Sahi, district president of the Arhatia Association has
alleged that in spite of the assurances given by the
government, no procurement agency had yet started the
purchase of paddy in Sirhind, Nahinur, Rhamarsi,
Peerjain, Badali, Bassipathana and Khamanon mandis. |
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Strike hits work in treasury
office GURDASPUR, Sept 30 — Work in Government offices remained paralysed due to strike by the Punjab State Ministerial Services union in support of its demands. The employees paraded through the main bazaars of the city raising anti government slogans. They also burnt an effigy of Mr Parkash Singh Badal Chief Minister Punjab. Earlier when the Deputy Commissioner directed the Superintendent of the District Treasury office to ensure payments of salary pension and other bills, ministerial staff in large number gathered in front of the District Treasury office and held a demonstration. No payment of any sort was made from the treasury. According to Mr Ashok
Kumar, Press Secretary Punjab unit of the union the
pen-down strike would continue till their demands were
met. |
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