Wednesday, October 28, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, October 28, 1998 |
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10 die of water-borne
diseases KOTKAPURA, Oct 27 — At least 10 persons, including women and children (according to official sources eight) have died in the past one week from diarrhoea and vomiting.
People's
Commission notices 'illegal' Dalit
families’ 25-year |
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 Tohra defends Sikh personal law JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra today clarified that an SGPC resolution for a separate Sikh personal law did not amount to revival of the earlier Akali demand for excluding Sikhs from the purview of Article 25 of the Constitution. Live telecast of Gurbani
from November 1 Hans
gets BSP (A) ticket Recommendations
on farm reform accepted |
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Badal
reviews work on power projects Probe
ordered into pension fraud Plan
to desilt Budha Nullah
20
SC families given houses Drowned
Army man’s daughters to be given govt jobs Infantry
Day celebrated
Medical
college to run mental hospital SAD's
charge against Mayor Scheme
to improve health of mothers
Badal
greets President |
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10 die of water-borne diseases KOTKAPURA, Oct 27 — At least 10 persons, including women and children (according to official sources eight) have died in the past one week from diarrhoea and vomiting. Official sources said that a diarrhoea epidemic struck the town often contamination of the drinking water supply with sewerage leading to the hospitalisation of more than 200 persons in this town and at hospitals in Ludhiana. More than 700 persons have been affected by water-borne diseases. Interestingly, the district administration failed to make arrangements for the supply of safe drinking water even though six samples of drinking water were found to be unsafe. Official sources said that contamination of drinking water with raw sewage took place on October 10 when water supply in the pipes was restored after two weeks from the water works. Mr Gurinder Singh Grewal, Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot who was here to address a special meeting of district officials in connection with the deaths, talking to TNS said that action against the executive engineer and sub-divisional engineer of the Punjab Sewerage Board had been recommended. He said most of the victims of diarrhoea died because they fell prey to quacks running unauthorised 'medical shops' in slums and other localities. To check such incidents in the future, health authorities had been asked to make raids in the town and close all such shops by today's evening. He said that the sewerage system of the town had collapsed about eight months ago and he had called a special meeting of the municipal council officials and Punjab Sewerage Board officials about five months ago to preempt water-borne disease, but the attitude of officials of the Punjab Sewerage Board was uncooperative. Municipal council sources said that drinking water was also contaminated as the water course bringing the water from the canal to the water works was open and filth and waste was dumped into it at many points. The sources alleged that even though the municipal council was paying Rs 30 lakh to the sewerage board per annum for maintenance of the water supply and the underground sewerage system little attention was being paid to it by the officials concerned. Sources said that water-borne diseases and other diseases that grew due to insanitation could not be tackled as the municipal council was facing a severe financial crises. Due to lack of funds, it could not engage a sufficient number of sweepers to keep the town clean. On the other hand Mr Grewal said that underground connections of water supply to those areas where the problem of contamination was severe were being cut and so far 54 connections had been cut and 150 more would be cut by tomorrow. Sources said that at
present six persons affected with diarrhoea had been
admitted to the civil hospital and 20 persons were in
private hospital. The district administration had also
launched a door to door survey for detecting more cases. |
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Khalra's death anniversary AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — After the first-ever collective public appearance of more than 200 families of slain militants at the "peoples convention" held here on October 17, the Punjab police has sounded the Intelligence agencies to keep a vigil on the activities of the militant and human rights organisations. The police fears these might use the first death anniversary of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist of the Shiromani Akali Dal, being observed at his native village Khalra on November 8, to embarrass the state government on the eve of Adampur byelection for not taking any action against the "erring" police officials allegedly responsible for "fake encounters" in the past. Khalra was allegedly kidnapped by the police in plain clothes in 1995 from his residence here and then "eliminated" under mysterious circumstances for raising the issue of the cremation of hundreds of unidentified bodies during the hey-days of militancy. Though Khalra was "eliminated" about three years ago, yet his "death" was confirmed only a few months back by special police officer Kuldip Singh who was an eyewitness to the "cold blood murder." Director General of Police PC Dogra has already stated that the public appearance of more than 200 families of slain militants in the border area was a cause for worry for the police as the platform could be exploited to revive terrorism in the state. Mrs Parmjit Kaur Khalra, wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra, while addressing the convention had called upon the families of the slain militants to form an organisation to fight for their genuine rights. Mrs Khalra while talking to TNS said families of the slain militants would highlight their grievances on the death anniversary of her husband. Mr Dogra had already taken a serious note of the failure of the intelligence agencies for not providing advance information to the state police about the proposal of the Dal Khalsa International Akal Federation, human rights organisations and Akali Dal (Amritsar) for bringing the families of the slain militants on a single platform on October 17. Mrs Khalra to another question said there was a proposal to announce a trust for the welfare of the families of slain militants as the state government had done nothing for them. It is pertinent to mention here that it was after the assembly of orphans and widow of the slain militants on October 17, Mr Dogra had announced that the state police would give free education to the wards of those militants who had joined give free education to the wards of those militants who had joined the national mainstream. This proposal of militant and human rights organisation which criticised the state for doing nothing to book the police officials responsible for the killing of innocent people in the past. Mrs Khalra said the Punjab Human Rights Organisation had invited Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC chief, Justice Ajit Singh Bains (retd), Chairman of the organisation, Justice Kuldip Singh (retd), Chairman, World Sikh Council, and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), to address the gathering on the death anniversary of Khalra. On the other hand,
dissident leaders of the SAD (Badal), would also use the
platform to settle scores with Mr Parkash Singh Badal for
ignoring them. |
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Agriculture reforms CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The Punjab Government has accepted, in principle, the recommendations of an experts' committee on reforms in the agricultural marketing system, it is learnt. These are aimed at reducing the number of intermediaries and helping farmers get remunerative price on their produce. The intermediaries (middlemen) and institutions involved, between primary producers (farmers) and ultimate consumers, profit at the cost of both. Besides the wholesalers and retailers are the commission agents (kutcha and pucca arhtiyas) acting as middlemen. The elimination of these intermediaries may not be possible, phasing out perhaps is. This is because of "social" relationship between them and farmers. The arhtiyas act as "money-lenders," meeting 60 per cent of the credit requirements, of the farmers, though at a high rate of interest. The cooperative banks meet only 34 per cent of their credit needs. The commercial banks offer more lip sympathy and less money. The committee, it is learnt, has recommended steps to loosen the stranglehold of the intermediaries and suggested a greater role for the state procurement agencies, despite some even playing foul with farmers. The role envisaged for the agencies is simple: direct dealing with farmers, rendering intermediaries superfluous. While dealing direct with farmers, the agencies will save on commission and other incidental charges, in the range of 3.3 to 4 per cent. The Food Corporation of India can also effect savings by way of incidentals, commission (2.5 per cent and valorem), labour, transport charges etc, says the committee report. The money, thus saved, by the agencies can be paid to farmers as "incentive" to encourage them to have a direct dealing with the agencies, rather than the one remaining at the mercy of intermediaries. For this credit system other than the one operated by "arhtiyas" will have to be strengthened and existing traditional marketing practices reoriented. The recommendations include certain amendments in the Market Produce Act. The committee has recommended separate licences for kutcha and pucca arhtiyas and weeding of bogus licences and commission agents by fixing a minimum annual turnover. Wheat procurement operation being quicker and cleaner than paddy, the committee suggests Markfed and Punjab State Warehousing Corporation to be allotted 10 markets each in 1998-99 wheat procurement season to purchase directly from farmers bypassing intermediaries. Both agencies have experience, expertise and wherewithal. The three silos of the FCI, having 20,000 tonnes capacity each, are to be declared "purchase centres",where farmers could directly take their produce. These silos are at Moga, Mandi Gobindgarh and Jagraon. Private, national and international companies are to be encouraged to buy direct from farmers "quality" wheat (durum and triticale) and paddy (basmati rice) for export. These will be allowed to bypass normal marketing system and auction purchase through appropriate amendments in the Act. In this Punjab Agricultural Export Corporation and Agro-Industries Corporation will play a part. To provide an alternate channel to farmers and for value addition to their farm produce, it is recommended that "processing units": roller flour mills (45 in number), oil mills and fruit and vegetable processing units be also declared "purchase centres" for direct sale by farmers. There will be an appropriate system to ensure market committees, prescribed "market fee" and "rural development fund" is not lost. Strengthening of "apni mandi", discouraging non-farmers participation in such mandis and setting up of "retail" markets, where only producers will sell to retailers, rehriwalas and ordinary consumers is also recommended on an experiment basis. The committee, however, does not find favour with setting up of "private" wholesale markets at this stage. It hopes processing units will automatically develop into such markets in due course of time. Setting up of a chain of cold stores, cool rooms, washing and grading lines, packaging houses and even separate market yards alongside regular markets for fruits and vegetables is also recommended besides strengthening present market infrastructure. In the cotton belt commission agents illegally charge 1 per cent commission on cotton, while it is 2 per cent on basmati rice in Amritsar, says the report. The committee members were
Dr P.S. Rangi, a senior economist (marketing) PAU,
Ludhiana; Mr S S Sodhi, Managing Director, COSAMB, New
Delhi;Mr Wassan Singh Nijjer, a progressive farmer; and
Mr Lakhvinder Singh, honorary executive secretary, Rice
Millers' and Exporters' Association, Amritsar, besides
Chairman and Secretary, Punjab Mandi Board, Mr R. N.
Gupta and Mr P. S. Aujla, respectively. |
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Punjab
MPs-PM meeting put off NEW DELHI, Oct 27 — A proposed meeting of a delegation of Punjab MPs with the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, here today was deferred in view of the Centre’s decision to relax specifications for paddy procurement by central and state agencies. Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP, told TNS that the delegation decided to defer the meeting as the relaxation on paddy specifications was one of its main demands. The MPs have urged the Prime Minister to convene a separate meeting with the delegation to take up other pending issues, including the Punjab Government’s demand for a Rs 300 crore assistance to provide relief to farmers in the state who suffered losses due to heavy untimely rains. The Union Food Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, had last night announced that specifications on paddy procurement was being relaxed from the present 3 per cent to 8 per cent. Meanwhile, the Union Food Ministry today directed the Punjab Government to give priority to the milling of paddy procured under the relaxed norms. Priority should be given preferably to parboiled rice, the ministry said. The state administration has also been asked to maintain a separate account for the stocks procured under the relaxed norms. The move by the government to maintain the stocks of paddy with relaxed specifications follows the reluctance by several states to buy such rice procured by the central procurement agencies last year. The Food Ministry had yesterday convened a meeting of Food Secretaries of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Assam, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal and Maharashtra to discuss market intervention strategy to regulate market prices. While the Food Ministry said that 30 lakh tonnes of additional stocks of grain were available for distribution to the states, several states, particularly Tamil Nadu and Kerala, insisted that they should be given only quality rice or wheat which met the stringent norms of the government. A majority of states were
against open sale of rice and they wanted additional
allocations instead. |
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Paddy
procurement picks up CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — While the ruling Akali-BJP coalition in Punjab will like to be more liberal in the purchase of damaged, rain-soaked and discoloured paddy lying in tonnes in the mandis, the officials of the agencies are still tedious. Officials here admit that the purchase of paddy of poor quality was not up to the mark. Farmers at times wanted the minimum support price of Rs 440 per quintal for ordinary variety and Rs 470 per qunital for A grade paddy for damaged paddy and were not willing to accept the lower prices offered by the agencies or the millers. Secondly, the officials feared that loss of rice later could be blamed on them and hence the resistance in certain areas. But the orders passed yesterday lowering the specifications from 3 per cent to 8 per cent would surely help. At least the Food and Supply Secretary, Mr P Ram thought so. He told TNS that during his tour yesterday to the mandis of Nabha, Sangrur and others in Patiala district, he found that the farmers resisted the purchase at a lower price. "But once persuaded, they agreed to sell", he added. While the state agencies were buying some quantity of discoloured paddy for the past five days, the Food Corporation of India has started buying from today keeping in mind the new specifications announced by the Centre. The concession announced by the Centre, though late in the day, would still help, Mr Ram said and added that Deputy Commissioner had been told to assign the supervision of mandis to senior officers. Each officer would look after a set of mandis and see that no stock was left unsold. Lowering of specifications would definitely help, but equally important was that the agencies and the millers should buy those stocks which were not covered even now. "We have decided to help each farmer and ensure that he gets a fair price. There will be no dithering on that. We will also see that the millers cooperated. They have been given the required incentives", the secretary said. Mr Ram also said that this would ensure a check on corruption. "When officers are around, there is more discipline and this is also required to build confidence that the government which has otherwise done well is very serious about the plight of the farmers", he added. In fact, some Deputy Commissioners who had been touring the mandis and personally taking interest had already deputed officers to supervise the mandis. Reports from Khanna, the biggest market, suggested that as yet all was not well. The authorities had shed some lethargy, but were showing the ire on these commission agents and millers who had been a bit vocal. The Secretary promised, that he would look into each complaint. This mandi still has unsold stocks. So far, a total of 68.20 lakh tonnes of paddy has arrived in the mandis. The government agencies which lagged behind earlier, had now purchased 40.16 lakh tonnes while the millers had bought 28.03 lakh tonnes. Punjab agencies have
purchased 60.1 per cent and the Food Corporation of India
39.9 per cent. The prevailing rate varies from Rs 310 to
Rs 500 per quintal. It is clear that the hue and cry has
made the agencies move. The arrivals last year for the
corresponding period were 76.52 lakh tonnes. |
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People's
Commission notices 'illegal' CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — In a written statement filed today in the Punjab and Haryana High Court as reply to the writ petition against the People's Commission, the Union of India contended that the High Court should take cognisance of the extra-constitutional nature of the functions and activities of the commission and restrain it from doing anything which may amount to encroaching on the judicial functions of the state. The writ petition, which will come up tomorrow before the high court for hearing, was filed as a PIL by Mr Sudarshan Goel, a Chandigarh-based advocate, against the commission. The Union of India through the Under-Secretary (Home) stated that some of the activities of the People's Commission tend to encroach on the judicial functions of the state and had no force of law and that the action of the People's Commission in issuing notices to public servants in the state of Punjab to depose before it was illegal. It was further stated that after obtaining the state government's views, it would ask its officers to ignore its notices. The official stated that he had sought a report from the state Government in the matter. On the other hand, the Committee for coordination on Disappearances in Punjab, an intervener in the case, and which has sponsored the People's Commission, stated in its affidavit filed today that work of the commission derived its legitimacy under Article 19(1) of the Constitution and the intervention of social activist and their organisations in matter involving the right to life and liberty were judicially recognised principles and were also in consonance with the universal declaration of human rights and other statutes. It was further stated by the intervener that in India and abroad inquiries into human rights violations by the People's Commission were routine and that there was no compulsion by any group to recognise or participate in the commission's work. The intervener, however,
commenting on the role of the judiciary in the last part
of the reply stated that it was acknowledged that the
judiciary with its backlog of cases was in an unenviable
position. "Many international organisations like
Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have commented on Indian
judiciary — lacking the teeth or will to bring
justice in extraordinary situations that obtained in
places like Punjab" the intervener submitted. |
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Live telecast of Gurbani from November 1 AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — "Gurbani" will be telecast-live from the Golden Temple from November 1. For this the SGPC has entered into an agreement with Punjabi Television Private Limited (PTPL). The Punjabi world channel will telecast live "Gurbani" in the morning and evening. Justice Kuldip Singh (retd) and Dr Yashpal Kapoor signed the agreement on behalf of SGPC and PTPL, respectively. The agreement will be for six years. The time for the direct telecast will be from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The television company has installed five ultra modern cameras, recorders, mixers and other required material. SGPC secretary said initially pre-recorded Gurbani will be telecast. However, arrangements were being made to make the live telecast at the earliest. However, he said that the "wak" from the holy book will be live from day one. He said though the Gurbani
programme will be telecast from November 1. The formal
inauguration will be done on November 12 by SGPC chief,
Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra.
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Memorial complex model unveiled CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, today unveiled the model of the proposed Khalsa heritage memorial complex. Approved by the Anandpur Sahib Foundation, the complex is to come up at the birthplace of the Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib, as part of the tercentenary celebrations beginning April next. The complex has a 70-acre spread and will cost over Rs 250 crore; a major part of the finance coming from the State Government itself, amounting to Rs 160 crore. The complex has been designed by Moshe Safdie, a distinguished architect, who designed the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem and the Jewish museum in Los Angeles, USA. The hallmark of the complex is a 60-metre tall "Nishan-e-Khalsa" rising from a pool. The steel shaft which will pierce the sky will symbolise an eternal reminder of the indomitable and undying spirit of the Khalsa. The unique "khanda" (double-edge sword) is being designed by the world famous team of structural engineers Ove Arup. It has been designed by Chandigarh architect Satnam Singh. The complex will house a museum which will reflect the Sikh history. This museum is to the done up by Dr Saroj Ghosh, President, International Council of Museum for UNESCO (1992-98). He is consultant and adviser to the Anandpur Sahib Foundation. Capt Kanwaljit Singh explained the salient features of the complex and detailed the programme chalked out for laying of the foundation stone on November 22 next. The stone itself in white marble will be 15 feet high. Elaborate arrangements for the occasion have been planned, including participation of elephants and 300 horses and traditional sword-fencing (ghatka) display. The celebrations for the foundation stone laying will begin after bhog of Akhandpath, a procession and prayer (ardas) by Jathedar Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Manjit Singh. It is the "panj piaras" (the five beloved ones) who will lead the procession. These five are the ones who administer "amrit" (baptising) to the people at Takht Keshgarh Sahib. Political and religious leaders will participate. There will be two-hour live telecast by Doordarshan besides a display of fireworks. The complex will take four
years to complete. A big model of it will be permanently
displayed at the site. The foundation expects voluntary
donations. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the foundation stone
laying ceremony would mark the beginning of two years of
celebrations. He gave a call inviting
"sarab-dharam" to participate in the
celebrations. |
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Badal reviews work on power projects CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 —The most prestigious 600 MW Ranjit Sagar dam project will be dedicated to the nation on February 12 next year the day on which the present Akali Dal-BJP Government completes two years in office. This was announced today by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, while reviewing the progress of different power projects in the State, including Ranjit Sagar dam (Thein dam), Lehra Mohabat thermal power plant, Goindwal Sahib thermal plant, naptha based power project and micro hydel power projects. The Chief Minister told the Ranjit Sagar (Thein) dam engineers that there should be no further slippage of time schedule and all the components on the Ranjit Sagar dam must be completed well before December 31. Mr Badal will meet the Union Finance Minister in the next few days for immediate release of Rs 150 crore as had already been agreed to by the Planning Commission for speedy completion of this project. The Chief Minister also directed the Thein dam authorities to make a detailed study of the equipment and machinery spared from the Thein dam project to gauge their performance capacity for its utilisation for other projects. The Chief Minister, while reviewing the progress of the 500mw Goindwal project said that the work on this project should also be undertaken immediately. He said coal linkage from suitable coal mines had already been committed by the Union Government and asked the officers to personally follow up the matter. He also directed the officers to execute the second stage of the 500mw Guru Hargobind thermal plant at Lehra Mohabat after obtaining the necessary clearance from different quarters. Mr Badal said that since Punjab would be self-sufficient on the power front, after availability of 600 mw of power from the Thein dam the possibility of launching a 'tatkal' power connection release scheme may be explored for giving priority connection to the agriculture sector by charging extra tariff and line charges. The Chairman, PSEB, Mr S.K Tuteja, told the meeting that 10,000 power connections were being released by the PSEB. He said that modalities would be chalked out soon to launch 'tatkal' power connection scheme as desired by the Chief Minister. Mr Y.S. Ratra, Principal
Secretary, Science and Technology told the meeting that
two micro hydel projects at villages Kanganwal and Dhalla
in Ludhiana district were ready for commissioning and two
more hydel power projects would be ready in the next two
months. He said that 140 sites had been identified for
micro hydel projects which would add 140mw of power in
the state's power grid. |
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Tohra defends Sikh personal law JALANDHAR, Oct 27 (UNI) — Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gurcharan Singh Tohra today clarified that an SGPC resolution for a separate Sikh personal law did not amount to revival of the earlier Akali demand for excluding Sikhs from the purview of Article 25 of the Constitution. Talking with UNI here, he said the SGPC sought only certain amendments in the "hurriedly-legislated" Anand Marriage Act to incorporate certain tenets of Sikh "Rehat Maryada". Asked if the SGPC also sought amendment in law relating to inheritance of property rights by women, Mr Tohra replied in the affirmative adding "we want only daughters-in-law to inherit property". Such an amendment, he added, would not only check the further dwindling of land-holdings in Punjab but also curb the menace of dowry deaths. Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh, too, demanded that only daughters-in-law should inherit properties on similar grounds. But CPI state secretary Joginder Dayal today categorically opposed separate Sikh personal law, claiming that it would strengthen the feudal social order in the society to the deteriment of women. "Let women inherit properties of both their parents and in-laws" in the larger interest of curbing gender inequality," he added. He said the CPI was against the Muslim personal law "but since it has been there for centuries it will take time to enlighten the community to drop it." Minorities in the country should launch social awareness campaigns against "repressive" provisions in personal laws instead of perpetuating such laws, he added. Dr Dayal said "we (CPI) are for a common civil code but the objective should be achieved through persuasion and not through coercion like the BJP. If the Sikh clergy and SGPC were genuinely interested in curbing the menace of dowry deaths in society, they should launch a social awakening campaign to educate the society instead of demanding a separate personal law. PTI adds: He strongly criticised the Badal governments decision to "blow up millions on Khalsa tricenetenary celebrations" saying such actions would only lead to turning the secular polity into a theoratic one. "At a time when secular parties were demanding a uniform civil code the Akal Takht Jathedar was making a retrogressive demand like ending a girl's right to a share in her parents property;" Mr Dayal said. Slamming Mr Badal for spending millions in the garb of Khalsa tricentenary celebration related projects when the state was going through a massive resource crunch and depending on the Centre for compensating its farmers, he said while we have nothing against celebrating the 300 years of Khalsa and preserving the Sikh heritage, it does not fall within the ambit of the secular democratic government to splash crores on strictly religious functions and projects" he said. The development has only vindicated our stand that the SAD-BJP combines stay in power fraught with dangers of turning the country into a theocratic state. "The BJP is showing similar tendencies by insisting on a ‘Sarawati’ at government function" he said. Accusing the government of
presiding over a reign of corruption, he said while Badal
was busy in politicking the state was hurtling towards an
economics abyss. |
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Dalit families’ 25-year wait for
land GURDASPUR, Oct 27 — Nineteen Dalit families allotted 4 marlas of land each for construction of houses in Wara village under Dinanagar development block on July 17,1973 are still seeking possession of the land 25 years later. The land measuring 3 kanal 16 marlas is in the illegal possession of Narinder Singh an executive member of the Shiromani Akali Dal and his brothers Joginder Singh and Inder Singh. In the revenue record the mutation of the land is in the name of the provincial government although. The revenue records show the land in the possession of the brothers. In 1978 the court here had rejected an application for stay to the illegal holders who then filed a writ in the court of District Judge in this regard which was rejected in 1980. The High Court rejected the plea for stay on December 8, 1991. The plot holders, with orders from the High Court, met the Deputy Commissioner on July 26 this year for prompt action in the matter. The Deputy Commissioner directed the B.D.P.O. Dinanagar to conduct an enquiry and file a report within 15 days. But the B.D.P.O. put off the report on the plea that the land was under paddy and possession was possible only after its harvesting. Meanwhile, the B.D.P.O. was transferred and the enquiry report is still pending. The villagers, who met
this correspondent today said that the three brothers
were in illegal possession of another 28 marlas of land
of the village. Khasra No. 52, 53. |
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Hans gets BSP (A) ticket JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — The General Secretary of the Bahujan Samaj Party (Ambedkar) Mr Vijay Kumar Hans has been announced as the party candidate for the Adampur byelection. The party president, Mr Devi Dass Nahar, while briefing the media, said that only his party has chosen a Dalit while others merely projected a pro-Dalit image to cash in on Dalit votes. The party will make corruption and soaring prices its poll plank. Mr C.D. Kamboj state president of the BSP, (Kanshi Ram) inaugurated the party’s office at Adampur. Later, briefing the media in Jalandhar he, alleged that the party had delayed the announcement of its party candidate as the CPI was trying to form an alliance with the Congress and the BSP, to field a common candidate. However, the Congress went ahead and announced its party candidate. Criticising the Congress betrayal he said that in the last parliamentary elections the BSP had a poll alliance with the Congress only in the Punjab. But while the BSP sincerely worked for the Congress, the latter did not help BSP candidates and worked against them. Admitting that senior
Congress leaders had met Mr. Kanshi Ram to forge an
alliance in the state he however charged the general
secretary of the AICC, Mrs Meira Kumar, with making
derogatory statements against the BSP. The projection of
C.H. Jagjit Singh as a Dalit leader was also a political
gimmick, he said. |
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Probe ordered into pension fraud AMRITSAR, October, 27 — A high-level probe has been ordered into the listing of "bogus" old-age pension cases by the Social Welfare Department. Most of the 'bogus' cases listed through 'agents' has been found in Patti subdivision — the assembly constituency of Mr Adesh Partap Singh, son-in-law of the Chief Minister. The racket came to light when members of the grievances committee raised this point in the meeting of district grievances committee, Chaired by Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh has constituted a three-member committee constituting subdivisional magistrate, Patti, Assistant Commissioner (Grievances) and Dr S.P.S. Dhillon, District Health Officer. The committee sought a detailed report from banks. During investigations, it was found that in many cases the lists of the beneficiaries was incomplete. In some cases incomplete addresses were given. Veteran CPI leader, Mr
Satpal Dang, talking to TNS alleged that the officials of
the Social Welfare Department indulged in corruption and
favouritism while most genuine cases were not cleared. |
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Plan
to desilt Budha Nullah LUDHIANA, October, 27 — The Irrigation Department has prepared a comprehensive plan to clean and widen the Budha Nullah and raise the height of its banks. Giving details of the plan, Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner, in a press release here today said that the Budha Nullah would be desilted before the next monsoon. He said in the normal
season, the water in the nullah flowed five feet below
the surrounding areas and sewage and industrial effluents
were discharged into it through pipes put up by cutting
the nullah banks. |
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Two
extortionists arrested GURDASPUR, Oct 27 — The police today arrested Vijay Kumar and Rakesh Kumar and recovered two pistols, some live cartridges and Rs 4650 from them. According to the police the two had extorted Rs 5000 from Joginder Singh an ex-army personnel, who had drawn his pension on Friday from local branch of the SBI. The accused also threatened to kill him if he raised the alarm. The police said Vijay Kumar, one of the accused, was a special police officer posted at Batala and had been absenting himself from duty for the past 3 months. As many as 6 fake identity cards of different departments were recovered from him. A case under Sections 382
506 49 467 468 47 and 25 54 59 of the Arms Act had been
registered against the accused. |
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Women
held in murder case BATHINDA, Oct 27 — The police has arrested Ranjeet Kaur, alias Preeti, in connection with the death of a Canadian citizen, Sukhdarshan Singh Dhillon, on the night of October 19 in the Model Town area. The police said the body of Sukhdarshan Singh Dhillon was found wrapped in a "khes" in the courtyard of his residence. The police arrested Ranjit Kaur on October 25 in the local Thermal Plant Colony for allegedly poisoning Sukhdarshan Singh Dhillon. This was stated by Mr Harnek Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police. According to the police, Ranjit Kaur, who was married to a driver and was later left by her husband, started living in the town after coming from Dehradun. The woman developed contacts with Sukhdarshan Singh after coming to this place. During interrogation, Ranjit Kaur reportedly confessed to having mixed poison in the glass of wine of Sukhdarshan Singh Dhillon. According to the police, she did this in order to take revenge from the deceased, who had forced her to have sex with two other persons on the night of October 19. The Chief Judicial
Magistrate has remanded Ranjit Kaur to police custody
till October 28. |
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Man
dies in police custody MANSA, Oct 27 — Bhola Singh, resident of Matti village allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a city police station here. According to the SSP, the deceased was arrested last night in connection with a case and he died after some time. He said that information regarding the death of Bhola Singh in police station had been sent to the National Human Rights Commission. A board of doctors had also been constituted for conducting a post mortem. Mr R P Singh, Sub
Divisional Magistrate, Sardulgarh, was conducting an
enquiry into the death. The members of the family of the
deceased has been informed. |
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Dharna
by traders LUDHIANA, Oct 27 — Representatives of various trade and industry organisations here today staged a dharna in protest against the alleged harassment by taxation officials. Meanwhile, a two-member
team of excise and taxation officials from Chandigarh
held a series of meetings with leaders of different trade
and industry bodies, including Mr Agyapaul Singh, Mr
Amarjit Singh Bhatia and Mr P D Sharma. They also visited
the site of the factory which was raided by sales tax
officials a couple of days ago leading to the present
agitation. They will submit their report to the
government tomorrow. |
||
Subsidy
on new wheat variety HOSHIARPUR, Oct 27 — The Punjab Agriculture Department has introduced a PBW 343 a new wheat variety, for this rabi season said Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Agriculture Minister, Punjab, at a one-day farmer training camp at Krishi Bhavan here today. As many as 2.05 lakh tonnes of the new variety would be distributed during the current season and a Rs 200 per quintal subsidy would be given. He said around 33 lakh
hectares of land would be brought under wheat this season
with a target of 138 lakh tonnes against 128 lakh tonnes
produced last year. |
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Trucker-miller
row ends MALERKOTLA, Oct 27 — The deadlock between the local rice millers and the truck union ended today after a four-hour meeting between the millers and the truck union representatives. At the meeting, the truck union agreed not to gherao any private truck of the rice millers and also agreed to give trucks to the rice millers for transporting paddy and rice. The rice millers also put
off their strike and started unloading paddy of
government agencies in their shellers immediately after
the meeting. |
||
20 SC families given houses ROPAR, Oct 27 — The keys of 10 houses each in two villages, Dangoli and Chak Karma, about 10 kilometres from there were handed over to the heads of 20 Scheduled Caste houseless families by Mr Tara Singh Ladhal, MLA, Anandpur Shib, today under the state government’s free houses for Scheduled Castes scheme. The houses are being constructed at a cost of Rs 50,000 each. Earlier the Scheduled Castes were given Rs 15,000 for the purpose. Mr Ladhal, addressing a function at Dangoli village in this connection, said that as many as 220 houses had so far been handed over to eligible families. A total of 375 houses were to be built in the district. Mr Ladhal was of the view
that SAD-BJP government was fully committed and dedicated
for the overall welfare of the Scheduled Castes. |
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Cane
growers threaten ‘direct action’ PHAGWARA, Oct 27 — Cane growers of this area yesterday threatened "direct action" in case the local sugar mill did not announce a date for starting cane crushing. A meeting of the Phagwara Cane Growers Cooperative Society has decided to hold a convention here on November 6. The society said they would gherao the mill, or organise a "chaka jam" on the GT Road if their demand was not met. The society rejected the
Cane Commissioner’s offer to send sugarcane of this
area to other mills. It also flayed the decision of the
management to keep the mill closed. |
||
Traders
resent lack of representation AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — In the gazette notification published by the Agriculture Department, Punjab, regarding the constitution of the market committee, Amritsar, no representation has been given to the traders of perishable fruits and vegetables. Traders said it was the first time that no representative of trade had been nominated to the committee. Similarly no
representation has been given to the Ghalla Arhtia
Association, the Anaj Mandi Association and the Rice
Millers Association, Amritsar. It seems that the
Akali-BJP alliance government of Punjab has debarred from
representation all three big associations which are
directly involved with the market committee affairs being
licensees, said Mr Harish Taneja, a former councillor, in
a press note issued here yesterday. |
||
PCCTU flays Badal government JALANDHAR, Oct 27 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), representing nearly 5,000 teachers working in 160 non-government aided and unaided colleges, has resented the "apathy" shown by the Badal government in implementing the accepted demands of the union. Dr V.K. Tiwari, union general secretary, said here today that the union would highlight the government’s failure through public meetings in November. He said more than 1,000 teachers retired after 1.4.92 had been suffering as the pension-gratuity scheme had not been notified. The scheme had been passed by the Punjab Cabinet in January, 1996, detailed orders issued on December 18, 1996, but was blocked by the Badal government, he said. Dr Tiwari said even the corpus fund by way of depositing the provident fund lying with the managements, was not created in spite of two letters of the government. The PCCTU sought the
implementation of the revised pay scales for teachers
from January, 1996. The 25th annual academic conference
of the All-India Federation of University and College
Teachers Organisations (AIFUCTO) would be held from
November 1 to 3 in Calcutta, Dr Tiwari informed. |
||
Syndicate
meeting put off PATIALA, Oct 27 — The meeting of the Syndicate of Punjabi University scheduled for today was postponed for the second time as the three nominees of the Punjab Government whose names were announced last evening could not attend the meeting. A university official said the meeting of Syndics will now take place some time in November. The meeting was originally scheduled for October 9 but was postponed to October 27 as a new Education Secretary, who is also a member of the Syndicate, had just assumed office. The government has
re-nominated Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP and Mr Ajaib
Singh Mukhmailpura, MLA for the successive second term on
the Syndicate. Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, MLA from the
Gidderbaha constituency, is the new face. |
||
Drowned Army man’s daughters
to be given government jobs FEROZEPORE, Oct 27 — The two daughters of Hawaldar (retd) Mohan Singh who along with his wife and a son were drowned in a boat tragedy in Jalandhar district on October 18 will be provided government jobs. This assurance was given by Deputy Commission Gurdev Singh Sidhu to Rajwinder Kaur (19) and Kulwinder Kaur (17), the two daughters of the deceased man, at Kaniankhurd village, near Dharamkot town, yesterday when he went to their place to express his sympathy. Mr Sidhu gave a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the girls. Mohan Singh was a retired pensioner from the Army and had fought in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Mohan Singh along with his
wife, Jasvir Kaur, and son, Simranjit Singh (8), were
drowned on October 18 when their boat overturned in the
Sutlej. |
||
Infantry Day celebrated FEROZEPORE, Oct 27 — Infantry Day was celebrated by all infantry battalions and formations here today. Major-General K.C. Padha, VSM, GOC, Golden Arrow Division and serving and retired infantry officers held prayers for those who laid down their lives in the service of the motherland. According to an Army
spokesman, it was on this day, 51 years ago, that the
first infantryman landed in the Kashmir valley to throw
out Pakistani raiders from the vicinity of the Srinagar
airfield, which saved Srinagar. |
||
Medical college to run mental
hospital AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — After numerous complaints about the pitiable working conditions at Dr Vidyasagar Mental Hospital which caters to Northern India including Punjab and Haryana. The state government has decided in principle, to transfer the institute to the government medical college to restore its reputation. The state government has constituted a three member committee, including Dr BK Sharma, Director PGI, Dr Manmohan Kaur Director Health Services and Dr NN Wig, former advisor mental health, WHO. The committee will submit its report within a month. It may be mentioned that the working of the mental hospital was raised by Ms Vimla Dang, a former MLA and patron, Punjab Istri Sabha after an inmate of the hospital was allegedly raped. Its working has been the focus of public criticism earlier too. Mr Maheshinder Singh
Grewal, Minister, Medical Education and Research had also
announced that the administration of the hospital would
be taken over by the medical college. |
||
Fellowship
for Urdu poet CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Dr Naresh, an eminent Urdu poet and scholar, has been offered fellowship in Urdu in the Department of Persian, Urdu and Arabic by Punjabi University, Patiala. An official spokesperson of the university said today that Dr Naresh has to his credit 55 publicised books in Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi. He is now holding Bhai
Veer Singh Chair for Modern Literature at PU. |
||
SAD's charge against Mayor AMRITSAR, Oct 27 — An emergency meeting of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Urban) held here today alleged that the Mayor was meting out a stepmotherly treatment to the SAD workers.. He belongs to the BJP, which is a political ally of the SAD in Punjab and at the Centre. The meeting, presided over by Mr Pardeep Singh Walia, SAD (Urban) chief, alleged that "illegal" constructions in the city were going on with impunity. Mr Walia said that on the complaint of workers a fact-finding committee would be formed to enlist the grievances against the Mayor which would be sent to the party high command.
|
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Scheme to improve health of
mothers CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, inaugurated a state-level awareness generation workshop on re-productive and child health here today. The newly launched country-wide five-year project envisages a package of health services aimed at not only improving the reproductive health of mothers but also ensuring the better health of children below five years of age. Mr Kalia, while addressing the delegates from various government departments, non-government organisations and UNICEF, said that although the Government was committed to ensure better health for all citizens but special measures were being initiated to improve the health of women in the reproductive age and small children. He stressed upon the need for making these integrated services need-based, client-centred, demand-driven and of high quality with the objective of installing confidence in parents that children born to them would not only survive but also lead a disease-free life. Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, was emphatic about catering to the needs of people in the remote villages and urban slums of the state. He said that in spite of an impressive network of health institutions in the state the outreach of services still needed improvement. Mr Rajesh Chhabra, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, while revealing the details of the project said that there were two components of the project. Under the first component 24 districts had been selected from all over India. Punjab's Sangrur district had been selected and the project would be started there soon. The remaining 16 districts would be covered under this project in a phased manner. In the first phase five districts of Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Moga, Ferozepore and Fatehgarh Sahib would be taken up. Dr Puran Singh Jassi,
Director, Health Services and Family Welfare, said that
although family planning and maternal and child health
services were already being provided to the people, but
the new integrated approach would ensure better results.
|
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Badal
greets President CHANDIGARH, Oct 27 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has congratulated the President of India, Mr K R Narayanan, on his birthday and wished him a happy and long life. Lauding the contribution
of Mr Narayanan in preserving and enriching democratic
traditions, Mr Badal expressed the hope that the
President would continue to guide the destiny of the
nation for many many more years to come. |
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