Friday, September 18, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, September 18, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Punjab
to sponsor Sewa
Dal office Returning
Officer replaced |
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 Infrastructure
Irate
parents oppose
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Tohra to
flag off "chetna march"
GNDUTA
holds dharna
Farm
projects with Japan's aid |
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Infrastructure board on anvil CHANDIGARH, Sept 17 — To step up economic development, Punjab proposes to go in for a strong, viable infrastructure in terms of power, education, transport, roads and bridges and communication. In fact in the Annual Plan (1998-99) a provision of Rs 956.17 crore exists for the vital sectors in need of an infrastructural support base to attract investment as well as for inflow of raw material and outgo of products: industrial and agricultural. To achieve this, says the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, an infrastructure development board is on the anvil. A formal proposal will be placed before the Council of Ministers, shortly. Aware that finance is a major need as well as a constraint, efforts are on to attract private capital, besides the state building up its own corpus. In an interview Capt Kanwaljit Singh told TNS today that he had urban and rural infrastructure development in mind when he proposed an "economic infrastructure cess" at the rate of 1 per cent of the consideration price of all transactions of foodgrains in the market committees of the state. A separate legislature for its imposition, collection and utilisation is to be enacted. This was stated in his Budget speech on June 24 last. So far, though paddy arrivals have started, the system of levy and collection of the proposed cess remains to be worked out. Capt Kanwaljit Singh hopes to net around Rs 100 crore from the cess for exclusive use to build economic infrastructure for speedier development. Market committees already realise a fee of 2 per cent and collect rural development fund at the same rate. There is also a purchase tax on foodgrains: 4 per cent and arhtia commission is 2.5 per cent. While much homework remains to be done on this proposal, the Finance Minister has already invited senior experts to visit the state to suggest ways and means to go about with developing the infrastructure . In fact the promised and proposed additional resource mobilisation needs to be tightened to ensure there was no mismatch between revenue inflow and outflow. To this end Capt Kanwaljit Singh is convening a meeting of administrative secretaries concerned to take interest in tax collection. He admits that the financial position is "serious" but it was not a "crisis" situation. The government, he said, was negotiating with certain agencies to commission a "credit rating survey" in the state to know how much could be extracted without hurting. Such a rating, he justified, would raise Punjab’s rating when it comes to borrowing money from international and national financial institutions. As a step to cap "wasteful" expenditure instructions had gone to all departments and public sector undertakings that "state guarantee" for any loan for any project would not be given unless the proposed projects were viable and contained an "inbuilt system" whereby the department or PSU concerned would pay the loan from its own resources. Another step towards "better" financial management was that in future the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General and those of the internal audit (departmental and PSU included) must match and tally. This was one way of fixing accountability to improve financial discipline. Though a tall order, the
Finance Minister was hopeful of saving at least Rs 75
crore by cutting down on "wasteful"
expenditure. |
Sewa Dal office wall demolished PATIALA, Sept 17 — The Shiv Shakti Sewa Dal today alleged that the district administration was forcibly trying to occupy the Dal offices located in the Kali Temple complex here. The chairman of the Dal, Mr Ajay Sharma, the president, Mr Swatantar Raj Passi, and the general secretary, Mr Meen Kumar Jaggi, alleged that the administration had today demolished a portion of the wall in which the office of the Sewa Dal was located in the Kali Devi temple and had thrown out all its furniture and records. The Dal leader alleged this had been done at the behest of the general assistant to the Deputy Commissioner and all attempts of the Dal to meet the Patiala Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner had been futile. They said the Dal had approached the Chief Minister and sought his intervention in this regard. Dr Sharma alleged that the collection tables of the Sewa Dal at three points in the temple had been removed about two years ago by the administration on the plea that the funds collected there were being misused. The tables were however later reinstalled after the Dal submitted its account books to the administration, he added. Dr Sharma said that this was an attempt on part of the administration to force the closure of the langar (community kitchen), being run by the Dal and a bid to remove the Sewa Dal from the complex. He said the authorities wanted the Dharmarth Board, which was running the affairs of the temple, to be "supreme". He alleged that the functioning of the board was such that most of its 41 employees were working at the residences of the district officers. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Vishwajeet Khanna said the charges levelled by the Sewa Dal leaders against the administration were baseless. He said the administration had drawn up ambitious plans to beautify the temple but the Sewa Dal had not been handing over the possession of the rooms of the complex for the past. Three days, despite a promise made to the Commissioner in this regard. He said the three rooms in
question were never used by the Dal and it had designs to
take control of the temple. He said nobody would be
allowed to take illegal control of any portion of the
temple complex. |
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Returning Officer replaced BATHINDA, Sept 17 —Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, has replaced the Block Development and Panchayat Officer-cum-Returning Officer of the Sangat block allegedly for not conducting elections in certain villages in free and fair manner. In a report sent to the state Election Commissioner, Mr Ladhar has recommended appropriate action against the BDPO-cum-Returning Officer, Mr Baljinder Singh, He had also appointed SDO, Panchayati Raj, Rampura Phul, as Returning Officer of the Sangat block for conducting panchayat elections of certain villages. Official sources said on a complaint of Mrs Baljit Kaur, a resident of Bazak village, in which she alleged that her nomination papers had been rejected by the Returning Officer without any valid reason, the ADC (Development), Mr Alok Shekhar, ordered an inquiry. Mr Sadhu Ram Kushla, APO, was entrusted with the task of holding the inquiry. In his inquiry report, Mr Kushla found that the Returning Officer had not filled the scrutining certificate which was violative of Section 11 of the Punjab Panchayat Election Rules-1994. The Returning Officer had also not supplied the copy of orders of rejection of nomination forms to Mrs Baljit Kaur which was against the direction the state Election Commission. It was also found that the Returning Officer frequently changed his statement. In his first statement, he stated that 21 nomination papers had been rejected while in the later statement, he said only 19 nomination papers had been rejected. On the basis of the above
report, the District Magistrate found the Returning
Officer unfit for conducting the panchayat elections in a
free and fair manner and replaced him. |
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Tohra to flag off "chetna march" JALANDHAR, Sept 17 (UNI) — Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gurcharan Singh Tohra will flag off a "chetna march" as part of the tricentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on October 16. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the All-India Minorities and Dalit Front presided over by its president Sewa Singh Sekhwan here today. Aimed at promoting brotherhood and religious harmony in the state, the march would conclude at Chandigarh the following day after traversing various towns. It would be addressed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Sekhwan, who is also Minister of State for Public Relations, in Chandigarh. After the flag-off at Amritsar, participants would pay homage at the Flame of Liberty at Jallianwala Bagh and then pay obeisance at Durgiana Temple. The participants would
plant saplings at various halts along the march route,
besides organising a blood donation at Surranussi in
Jalandhar. They would also visit religious places. |
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Where officers sit on public problems AMRITSAR, Sept 17 (UNI) — "Hum dhekhe gein" (We will look into the matter) seems to be the favourite answer to various problems by those seated in the office at the District Courts complex here. Whether it concerns matters related to non-payment of old-age pension or monthly stipends to the next of kin of terrorist victims, the same adage is repeated over and to numerous "faryadis" who throng the courts complex everyday. A majority of them are illiterate dissatisfied with the reply by one answer, they move to the next officer, but to no avail. They return with their problem after a couple of days and if perchance they meet the same officer, pat comes the reply: "We have told you that we are looking into your case". It is not always the illiterate rural folk who are subjected to harassment at the courts complex. Newly appointed clerks at the Deputy Commissioner's office who had not received their salaries also witnessed the "hum dhekhe gein" attitude of the officials. Some clerks who took their grievances to former Communist Party of India (CPI) legislator Vimla Dang said they were told by the officers that the problems of non-payment of salaries was being "looked into". All clerks are wards of those gunned down by terrorists. Likewise, a number of
persons who became eligible for old-age pension this year
have been running from pillar to post to get the
necessary papers completed so as to open their bank
accounts. Each time they visit the office of the
officials concerned, the reply is: "Baba ji hum case
dhek rahe hain" (we are looking into your case). |
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Gang duping finance companies
busted GURDASPUR, Sept 17 — The police has busted a gang involved in the sale and purchase of cars. It is likely that hundreds of vehicles sold and purchased by fraudulent means shall be recovered. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, talking to mediapersons here today said Rajiv Kumar Aggarwal of Ludhiana had been arrested. A case under Sections 379, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at Pathankot. One car had been recovered from his possession. Another eight cars, almost all of them new, have also been recovered from various persons in Pathankot. Mr Yadav said the gang targeted reputed financial companies and banks who had launched schemes for financing of new cars. City Bank, SRF Finance, Grindlay Bank, Kotak Mohindra, ILD, MGF and others were targeted. Cars financing offered by them offer loans for purchase of cars up to 75 per cent of the value of the car at 10 to 12 per cent interest per year which is returnable on easy instalments. Mr Yadav said car financing companies look into the sound financial status of the person approaching it for loan. Various parameters applied in this regard included the income tax returns of the applicant, his telephone number, proof of his residence and guarantee. If the applicant meets these criteria the loan is granted. Mr Yadav said the accused applied for these loans under fictitious names and fake addresses. Some applications for loans were made in real names but with non-existent addresses. Documents such as income tax returns and addresses were supplied to the company. The involvement of certain officials of these car financing schemes has also come to the notice of the investigating officer. The SSP said once the loan was granted the money released was used to purchase a car. This car was immediately resold to another dealer involved in the racket at a price much lower that its real price. This car dealer would further sell it to another car dealer after making his margin of profit. The third car dealer would then prepare fake registration certificate and sell the car in the open market at the full rate. Mr Yadav said a large number of car dealers involved in the racked were based at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Pathankot. He said the gang did not bother to change the engine number or chassis number of the car. The SSP said a special
investigation team had been formed to supervise the
investigation of the case. The team is headed by Mr Shiv
Kumar, SP, Pathankot, and included Mr Gautam Cheema, ASP,
Mr Charanjit Kumar, DSP, Mr Rajinder Kumar, Inspector. A
large number of car dealer have been identified but their
names are not being disclosed. More arrests and recovery
of large number of cars was expected to take place in
near future. |
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Restoring harmony in families LUDHIANA: Kanchan Sharma (28) has been married for 11 years. She has two children but happiness in marriage has eluded her. Her husband drinks heavily and is constantly short of money. Frequently, Kanchan becomes the target of his wrath for refusing to hand over money for his drinks. Some time ago, moved by her plight, her brother bought her a small house in New Deep Nagar. Now her husband wants her to hand over to him the registration papers of the house for "scrutiny". But she knows that he will sell off the house the day she gives him the papers. Desperate for help, she contacted the local branch of ASHI (Association for Social Health in India), headed by Mrs Anita Goel, wife of the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, which lost no time in summoning her husband and asked him to mend his ways. ASHI also forbade Kanchan to give the registration papers to her husband. Since then he has shown some improvement in his behaviour. But Kanchan says that he turns violent when under the influence of liquor. He is remorseful the next morning and promises never to do it again only to repeat it every evening. After several rounds of counselling, ASHI concluded that her husband needs to be sent to a de-addiction centre. The local Red Cross Society will pay partly for his treatment. Hope of a better life ahead has rekindled in Kaushalaya. Varinder Singh (29) and his wife, Naveen (22), were not pulling on well because the husband suspected her fidelity. They together approached ASHI which within a few sittings was able to bring about reconciliation between the two. ASHI forbade Naveen from ringing up or meeting people objected to by her husband. They are now a happy couple. There are numerous such cases which have been handled and mostly resolved by ASHI during the past few years. "We have no legal sanction", says Mrs Goel. "But moral force is aplenty. Patient counselling and tactful handling backed by a subtle pressure have been able to resolve what at first seemed to be intractable cases...." The fact that the wife of the Deputy Commissioner is the chief of local ASHI and she personally attends its meetings lends it with a lot of authority and respect. Mrs Goel has with her a team of dedicated social workers, including Dr Parveen Narang, Mrs Pappu Avinash, Mrs Vanita Prashad, Mrs Ruby Oberoi, Mrs Sunita Mittal, Ms Ruby Fernandez and Mrs Avtar Kaur who is a public notary and advises ASHI on legal aspects of cases. They meet every Tuesday at Red Cross Bhavan and deal with up to half a dozen cases at every sitting. Alcoholism, interference by in-laws, extra-marital affairs and economic hardship have been found to be the most common causes of marital discord. During the past four
years, 182 cases have been handled by ASHI. Of these, 105
cases have been settled and husband and wife now live
together happily. Twentysix cases have been sent to
court. Several others are under process. |
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GNDUTA holds dharna AMRITSAR, Sept 17 — The Guru Nanak Dev University Teachers Association (GNDUTA) has endorsed the call given by the PFUTA to continue the struggle for the implementation of UGC recommendations regarding pay scales. In response to the call, the executive of the GNDUTA sat on dharna outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office. They were also joined by other teachers of the university. In a joint press statement issued by Dr R.K. Bedi and Mr Devinder Singh, president and secretary, respectively, of the association, teachers vowed to continue the struggle till the UGC recommendations got implemented and rejected the agreement reached by AIFUCTO. AIFUCTO was also charged with having betrayed the struggle of university and college teachers. At an emergency meeting, the GNDUTA executive also condemned the recent circular of the Punjab Government whereby all faculty appointments in the universities of Punjab have been banned. It was felt the ban would not only affect the teaching programmes but was also in blatant violation of the autonomy of the academic institutions. This would lead to politicisation of the faculty appointments and ruin the institutions. The GNDUTA appealed to the Chancellor of the university and Punjab Chief Minister to withdraw this blanket ban immediately. Meanwhile, the Radical Teachers Forum, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, has taken strong note of the order of the state government banning all new faculty appointments in the university. It termed the order as gross interference and a blatant attack on the autonomy of academic institutions. Guru Nanak Dev University had introduced many new courses and in the absenceof teachers the teaching programmes would suffer a setback, it noted. PATIALA: The teaching faculty of Punjabi University observed a protest here on Thursday against the non-acceptance of pay scales recommended by the UGC by wearing black badges on a call given by the Punjab Federation of University Teachers Association (PFUTA) and the Punjab University Teachers Association (PUTA.) The PUTA president, Dr
S.S. Khataria, and the secretary, Dr Narender Singh Atri,
in a statement said university teachers throughout India
were continuing their agitation for UGC recommended pay
scales against the central government under the
leadership of FEDCUTA. |
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Punjab to sponsor farm scientists LUDHIANA, Sept 17 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today announced that the state government would sponsor regular visits of agricultural scientists and farmers to advanced countries to study the latest techniques in the field of agriculture and acquaint themselves with these. Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a two-day state level kisan mela at Punjab Agricultural University here, the Chief Minister said farm scientists and farmers must keep themselves abreast of the modern hi-tech methods for getting maximum yield. Farming was no longer a paying proposition in Punjab and the shrinkage of land holdings and over-spiralling cost of production was putting even more pressure on small farmers. Hence, the need for employing new technology to boost production and marketing was very essential, he said. The Chief Minister said refresher training centres would be opened in each block of the state where the farmers could be given training in adopting new scientific technology. Exhorting farmers to change the cropping pattern and adopt new crops, Mr Badal said the traditional crops like rice and wheat were no longer in demand. Most of states in the country had now begun to produce enough to meet their own requirements. Punjab rice, especially from the last year’s crop, was going abegging because other states felt the rice grain was damaged and below specifications. In this connection, he pointed out that farmers had insisted on marketing even wet paddy last year. Mr Badal wanted that each farmer should shift at least 10 per cent of his farm to the production of vegetables or fruits etc. Farmers should, instead of depending solely on the farm output, also diversify into allied activities like dairying, fisheries, poultry etc. In most foreign countries, only 5 per cent of the population was engaged in agriculture while in India, this dependence was of the order of 80 per cent. This needed to be reversed. The Punjab Government had planned to set up a rural employment centre in each village by giving training facilities, intrastructural support and financial assistance to the unemployed youth and women folk. Construction work on two demonstration centres, one at Kaljharani in Bathinda district and the other at Padhri Kalan in Amritsar district was in progress. These would be commissioned on November 1. He asked farm scientists to pay special attention to the production of new seeds and high yielding varieties in vegetables and fruit cultivation. Mr Badal said central state farm at Ladhowal near Ludhiana would soon be handed over to the PAU for carrying out research activities. The Agricultural Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, announced that the farmers of Punjab would now be the proud owners of half of the trees on the sides of roads and rivers along their fields. He declared that the Punjab Government had decided to decrease the price of wheat seed to be provided to the farmers of the state. The Agricultural Minister disclosed that the government was enacting a law whereby the sugarcane growers would get the payment from the sugar mills immediately after the delivery of their crops. In case any mill delayed the payment beyond 15 days, it would have to pay atleast 15 per cent interest to the farmers. Mr Ajit Singh Kohar, Minister of State for Agriculture, laid emphasis on supplying standards seeds and unadulerated fertilisers, pesticides etc to the farmers in the state. Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, PAU said in Punjab about three fourths of the population was directly dependent on agriculture. The Chief Minister inaugurated Punjab Horticulture post-harvest technology centre on the university campus. The Punjab Government has given a grant of Rs 4 crore for the centre. The university wore a
festive look today. The entire mela route was tastefully
decorated with balloons and flags. Different departments
of the university put up stalls and demonstrations
depicting latest agricultural technology. The theme of
this year's mela is "increase productivity through
scientific agriculture. |
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Irate parents oppose school move DERA BASSI, Sept 17 — Parents of students studying in Sri Sukhmani International Public School here are a worried lot as the management proposes to run a polytechnic from the school premises from the present session. The school has as many as 500 students on its rolls. Admissions to the Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology were in progress today and the school was a beehive of activity with workbenches being shifted to various classrooms under the supervision of the staff. Posing as admission seekers when a Tribune team contacted the principal, Mr S.S. Grewal, he said the institute was affiliated with the Punjab Technical University (PTU) and had been granted recognition by the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). They have been allotted 180 seats. Mr Avtar Singh, chairman of the polytechnic, was away in Jalandhar in connection with the admission process. Asked about the functioning of a school from the premises, he pointed out that the school would be shifted to two buildings hired in the town. However, the building of the institute was under construction near the railway line and once it was complete the campus would shift there. When the identity of the team was revealed, he refused to answer further queries. The opening of the institute has not gone down well with parents of students who allege that the standard of education imparted at the school had gone down over the past months, and the school authorities were not paying any attention to their repeated complaints as they were busy with the opening of the institute. The main issue that is disturbing the parents is what would happen to their wards if the school decides to shut midway? Mr H.S. Kohli, a parent who has been in the forefront of taking up the issue with the authorities, told TNS that the chairman had on many occasions assured them that things would be back to normal as soon as a new principal came in. In this manner many principals had been changed over the past one year. Other parents who did not want to be named for obvious reasons, said that 20 days ago an inspection team of the PTU had visited the school to see the infrastructure at the institute and many children were asked to go home. The others were taken to a place some distance away from the school during the stay of the team. Many parents who went to enquire about the reason for the sudden leave encountered teachers who had been recruited for the polytechnic and the classrooms full of equipment found in polytechnics like computers, workshop materials, technical data charts and laboratories. The furniture of the school had been shifted and the numbers of various classes had been covered with posters, showing the new classes of the institute, they added. Not only this, the name of the school had been covered with a big banner with the name of the school which was removed only this morning. "We want that the same facilities should be provided when our children were admitted to the school, and they would be missing if the school is, shifted elsewhere", parents demanded. Meanwhile, parents have
decided to form a committee to oppose the opening of the
institute from the school premises. |
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Two more colleges get the nod PATIALA, Sept 17 — Even as the controversy regarding two Deans of Punjabi University who sanctioned two vocational colleges to parties including their sons continues, the university has given permission to a private society to start computer courses, besides allowing an established college of the city to begin courses. Permission has been given to the newly set up Guru Harkrishan College of Management and Technology and the local Modi College to run vocational courses in bachelor in computer application (BCA), bachelor in business administration (BBA) and a postgraduate diploma in computer application (PGDCA). The issue of awarding affiliation to Harkrishan College had become controversial as the college had applied for the affiliation when Vice-Chancellor Dr Joginder Singh Puar was abroad. The Dean (Colleges), Mr Balkar Singh had received the application for affiliation while keeping it pending for consideration of the Vice-Chancellor, he had gone ahead with the processing of two other applications of societies with his son and the Dean (Academic Affairs) Dr B.S. Bhatia, as members. Dr Balkar Singh had then said there was no time to process the application in view of the admission process. The Harkrishan College Society now says that it will be in a disadvantage vis a vis other two private colleges which had been granted provisional affiliation by a sub-committee which included the two Deans besides officer on special duty to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr S.S. Pahal, as admissions were over. A society spokesman said provisional affiliation had been denied to the college despite a request that the society was ready to get its college premises inspected immediately after submission of application. Vice-Chancellor Puar, when contacted, said the case of Harkrishan Society had been kept pending by the sub-committee although there were no apparent discrepancy in the application. He said he had got the case expedited after his return from abroad. The Vice-Chancellor also said the university had offered vocational courses in computer sciences to all established colleges. When there was no response, it was decided to encourage private colleges and societies wishing to open such courses. This, Mr Puar said, was consistent with the aims of the UGC to encourage computer education. He said certain established colleges had started evincing an interest in computer courses now. Modi College Principal
S.R. Sahani said his college had not applied earlier as
it first wanted to establish facilities needed to run the
courses. He said the college aimed at providing computer
teaching by qualified persons at rates cheaper than those
charged by private colleges. |
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Train delayed by 36 hours PHAGWARA, Sept 17 (UNI) — The weekly Chennai-based 6032-Dn Madras-Jammu Tawi train today left Jammu Tawi railway station 36 hours behind schedule as its corresponding train had reached 33 hours late, according to railway sources here. They said the Amritsar-bound 8237-Up Chhattisgarh Express left here 15 hours behind schedule, while the 6687-Up Navyug Express left for Amritsar nine and a half hours late. The Delhi-bound 4660 Superfast Express left Amritsar railway station eight and half hours behind schedule, the sources added. The Daily Passenger
Association, secretary, Mr Lokesh Narang, urged the
railway authorities to pull up staff for frequent late
running of trains. |
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BATHINDA, Sept 17 (UNI) — Low-lying areas of the town and surrounding areas were today inundated after a heavy downpour. Farmers were finding it difficult to store and transport the cultivated paddy to procurement centres due to the heavy rain that lashed the region after many days. The low-lying areas of the
city, including District Courts, the Mall, Gurunanak Pura
Mohalla, Ganesha Basti and Power House Road, were
flooded, making it difficult for commuters to move. |
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JD
to contest Adampur seat ROPAR, Sept 17 — The Punjab unit of the Janata Dal has decided to contest the byelection for the Adampur assembly seat which fell vacant following the death of Mr Sarup Singh, Housing and Urban Development Minister. Stating this here today, Mr Jagir Singh Ganesh, state convener of the Punjab Janata Dal, said Mr Bakshi Ram would be the party candidate for the Adampur assembly seat in Jalandhar district. Mr Ganesh said the party
would hold a state-level rally from September 28 next for
awakening the masses. |
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Students
boycott classes AMRITSAR, Sept 17 — On a call given by the coordination committee, students of Guru Nanak Dev University boycotted classes and resorted to three-day traffic blockade in protest against the hike in fees and funds by the university. The students were demanding immediate withdrawal of 300 per cent hike in fees from this session. They also urged the university authorities to announce elections to the student body. Among those who addressed
the protest rally were Harinder Paul Singh Hundal,
Ravneet Kaur, Ramandeep Singh, Deepak Prashar, Bikramjit
Singh Bhullar, Vishal Sharma and Mandeep Singh Verka. |
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Police
postings CHANDIGARH, Sept 17 —
Mr Rajan Gupta has been posted as DIG (Crime), in Punjab,
place of Mr P.M. Das, who has been posted as DIG
(Patiala) Range. Mr Rajinder Singh has been posted as DIG
(litigation), Punjab, according to an order issued here
today by the Punjab Government. |
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Farm projects with Japan's aid JALANDHAR, Sept 17 — The State Forest Corporation with a 410 crore grant from Japan will soon launch agriculture projects for the betterment of farmers. The corporation chairman, Mr Manjinder Singh Kang, said here today that the corporation would provide "rose plants" at controlled rates this year to the farmers while advising them to grow more fruit and vegetables. The corporation would also
grow trees on riverbeds, in government schools,
government offices and roadsides, he added. |
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Sikh
Council trust for needy AMRITSAR, Sept 17 — For the benefit of the economically backward and needy persons, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, the World Sikh Council has decided to constitute "Sarbat Da Bhala Trust" on September 19. According to a press note
issued by the newly established office of the Akal Takht
here today, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president, SGPC,
Justice Kuldip Singh, Mr Baldev Singh Sibia,
vice-president, World Sikh Council, Mr Jaswant Singh
Sethi, president, Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,
and Baba Sarbjot Singh of the Sant Samaj would attend a
function to mark the occasion. |
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MOGA, Sept 17 (UNI) — Over 275 complaints were considered for redress at the first "sangat darshan" held in the district. The forum, which concluded at Rode last evening, was attended mostly by aged-rural folk of Angiana Nawan, Langiana Purana, Demru Kalan and Demru Khurd village besides Rode. As many as 125 pension-related petitions were sorted out during the on-the-spot assessment chaired by Deputy Commissioner Kulbir Singh Kang. The meeting was convened on the lines of a recent order by the State Government which hoped that such fora would help restore confidence among the local people in the wake of the lynching of head constable Tarsem Singh here on September 3. At yesterday’s meeting, the Deputy Commissioner was assisted by various department heads, including the Additional Deputy Director, the Baghapurana Subdivisional Magistrate, the District Development and Panchayat Officer and the District Social Welfare Officer among others. Mr Kang announced grants
of Rs 1 lakh for the repair of a high school building in
Rode and Rs 50,000 for renovation of a primary school in
Langiana. He also sanctioned Rs 21,000 for two sports
clubs in the two villages for the benefit of the rural
youth. |
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Timber dealers oppose market fee MOGA, Sept 17 (UNI) — The Punjab State Timber and Firewood Dealers Association has expressed resentment over the proposed decision of the State Government to bring this industry under the purview of the Agriculture Marketing Board by imposing market fee. An emergency meeting chaired by the association president, Mr Walaiti Ram Sewan here last evening appealed to the state government to withdraw the notification issued on May 22 regarding the market fee on timber and firewood. The association spokesman, Mr Vipen Kumar said that the meeting unanimously elected Mr Ram Singh, president, Malout nagar council, as chairman of the association and authorised him to take steps for the withdrawal of the notification. The association observed
that neighbouring Haryana levied no market fee on this
trade. If the fee was not withdrawn, the timber and
firewood industry would be ruined. |
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Area under maize may go up JALANDHAR, Sept 17 — The cultivation of maize, which used to be a major kharif crop in Punjab before the introduction of high-yielding dwarf rice varieties in the mid-sixties, has again started picking up in the state. According to Dr R.S. Kanwar, a farm scientist, the yield of these hybrid varieties is as high as 25 to 30 quintals per hectare. With this improved yield level of the crop, the area is likely to increase further. The local maize varieties, composites and hybrids developed were totally replaced by paddy because of their low yield potential. The old wheat-maize cropping system can thus be revived the production of maize in Punjab is necessary to sustain the developing poultry and dairy farming, besides its industrial use and human consumption. There is also considerable
scope for growing spring maize in Punjab, provided
suitable hybrid varieties could be developed for the
season and the winter maize is taken as an inter-crop in
autumn. |
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Training scheme for wards of
ex-servicemen JALANDHAR, Sept 17 — The Zila Sainik Board here has disbursed Rs 6,41,577 among ex-servicemen, widows of ex-servicemen and their children from the grants received from the Punjab Government, the Centre and the Army Wives Welfare Association, HQ 11 Corps. The Deputy Director Sainik Welfare Board, said yesterday that Rs 7,80,000 was disbursed among ex-servicemen and their widows. Loans worth Rs 1.80 lakh were also obtained from banks. He also said a pre-recruitment training scheme for the wards of ex-servicemen and other weaker section of society was being conducted at the District Sainik Welfare Office here. Besides this, courses in stenography, typing and computer applications were also being conducted. Pre-recruitment coaching for applicants to the ASI post was also being given. The District Sainik
Welfare Office is also operating a legal cell which
functions every Monday and provides free legal advice to
ex-servicemen or their widows. |
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