Now waterlogging grips Mansa
MANSA, April 23 — Major roads in this district, including the Mansa-Sardulgarh, Mansa-Talwandi Sabo, Sardulgarh Jhunir and Mansa-Maur roads had been becoming wavy as waterlogging has affected the area suddenly.

Breakdowns plague GHTP unit
LEHRA MOHOBBAT, April 23 — The unit I of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant which was recommissioned after seven months after large-scale repairs, in the last week of March 1999, has been still keeping engineers on tenter hooks.

Faults remain in Sutlej plan
LUDHIANA, April 23 — Serious faults in design in the underground sewerage system of Ludhiana which created enormous difficulties in retrieving the body of a local school teacher who died when she fell into an open manhole here on Sunday evening, are being repeated in a new underground sewerage system being laid in the city under the Sutlej action plan.

Radical Akalis framing plan
JALANDHAR, April 23 — President of the Akali Dal (Democratic) Kuldip Singh Wadala today dissociated himself from the separatist demand raised by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann at a congregation in Anandpur Sahib earlier this month but said radical Akali factions were working on a joint political strategy.

Police told to book BDPO, JE
MANSA, April 23 — Mr Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, has ordered the local police authorities to register a criminal case against Mr Jagvinderjit Singh, Block Development and Panchayat Officer, and Mr Vinod Kumar, Junior Engineer, for embezzlement of the grant released by the Punjab Government under the atta-dal scheme.

Magistrate pulled up for "taking law for ride"
CHANDIGARH, April 23 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a serious note of the order of Judicial Magistrate of Malerkotla imposing a fine of Rs 2500 on a person in a motor accident case instead of sentencing him to jail.

15th Lok Adalat inaugurated
HOSHIARPUR, April 23 — Mr Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman, Punjab Legal Services Authority, inaugurated a permanent Lok Adalat in the district and sessions court complex here today. This is the 15th Lok Adalat in Punjab.

Badal may review his strength
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 23 — Supporters of the Akali Dal President and Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, want to once again repose full faith in his leadership. They also want that the Akali leader from the district to the state level should formally register their appreciation regarding the good work done by him during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa.

It is for this purpose that the Akali Dal chief has summoned a meeting of all MLAs, MPs, district jathedars, working committee members and, of course, Political Affairs Committee members at Anandpur Sahib on April 29.

Mr Badal not only wants to review the response of the supporters of former SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, but would like to measure up his loyalists. He needs some input for two reasons. One, Mr Badal has to plan his next move on Mr Tohra and his supporters. Second, he has to expand his Cabinet.

The Tohra supporting MPs and MLAs and other district-level leaders if they attend the meeting, they would be critical. Mr Tohra has already been openly talking about a different course of action for the Akali Dal. He has been in touch with Mr Kansi Ram, BSP president, and Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD leader. He has also been highly critical of the BJP and its Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee and wishes to draw away the Akali Dal from the present political line. While his problem is that he can not even be seen even an inch close to the Congress, these parties willy-nilly, have some political arrangement with that party. Mr Badal, on the other hand is clear and does not want to disturb the present arrangement. He, in fact, snubbed Mr Tohra yesterday for talking about a new political line-up. "I am the Akali Dal president and the present political arrangement has been finalised by the Akali Dal. Who is Mr Tohra to talk about all this change"?, was his curt remark. This showed his belligerent mood.

Mr Badal is also in the process of deciding what action he has to take against Mr Tohra and some of his supporters. One view is that he would go slow and give them a long rope. Another is that he should throw them out, possibly one by one. It could be started with Mr Tohra himself. But Mr Badal may go slow. He needs MPs and MLAs and does not have to quicken the formation of the another Akali Dal. But some of his loyalists, now egging to have a berth in the ministry want him to finish Mr Tohra once and for all. They argue that Mr Tohra would be reduced to a rump once he floats another Akali Dal. But at the back of their minds is the fear that Mr Badal and Mr Tohra might one day patch up and devalue them.

Akali leaders also say that the Anandpur Sahib meeting may not have any detailed discussion as it would be fairly large, but it would certainly help Mr Badal take harsh action if he wished to, and in that case, Tohra supporters do not turn up, the lines would naturally be more clearly drawn.

Rally against Punjab's economy drive
By P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 23 — Following instructions issued by the Department of Finance to all administrative secretaries on the implementation of the economy and austerity measures as enunciated in the Punjab Budget for 1999-2000, several employees' associations have adopted a belligerent posture in protest against the government's 'anti-employee' policies and protect their interests.

While a detailed "action plan" has been sent to all administrative secretaries for immediate compliance, the Finance department has also issued an order on the revision of payment of house rent by all those occupying government accommodation.

Peeved at the government steps, which the employees perceive as a means to deprive them of certain perquisites, on a call by the Punjab Civil Secretariat Staff Association (recognised) a rally was today held during lunch hour and later a two-minute silence was observed outside the office room of the Secretary (Expenditure) on the seventh floor. The government and semi-government employees' coordination committee (affiliated to the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh) has also submitted a detailed 29-point charter of demands to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary for action.

Both, association president, Mr Uma Kant Tewari, and general secretary, Mr Karnail Singh Saini, told TNS that today's rally was a success in which staff of the financial commissioner's office, the Stenographers' Association, Class III class IV employees participated. While seeking a "stay" on April 22 office order on enhancing house rent from 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the basic pay and withdrawal of free government accommodation and supply of water and power, the association has informed the Chief Secretary that any such orders in future will only be adding fuel to the agitation.

Mr Tewari and Mr Saini contested the government claim that the Punjab employees were the "highest paid" and their emoluments had been enhanced further with the acceptance of the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission. They reminded that even the guillotine had been applied to the employees alone while IAS and other officers enjoyed all perks and whose promotions, etc, were all time-framed.

The Finance department while fixing norms on effecting economy and austerity has identified five specific areas and designated departments concerned which are to take action required. Progress is to be intimated to the Chief Secretary and there will be a Cabinet review every month. It is also explicitly stated that if rules, etc, are to be amended to implement the intended measures the same should be done within 30 days.

The five specific areas are 1, economy in petrol, oil and lubricants and vehicles; 2. curtailment of expenditure on telephones; 3) office expenditure (including furnishing of residences); 4 expenditure on perquisites; and 5. expenditure on advertisements and publicity.

While imposing a total ban on purchase of new vehicles by all departments, public and cooperative sector and on replacement of condemned cars and ordering removal of air conditioners from vehicles of those officers not entitled and asking officers and officials to plan and minimise tours and preferably take their own private cars assuring them suitable mileage and allowance, the Finance department has fixed the following limits on POL (petrol, oil and lubricants) inclusive of "maintenance and repair" charges: jeep - Rs 3,500 per month; jeep diesel Tata Sumo - Rs 1,500 pm; Gypsy car and any other vehicle - Rs 4,000 each, per month.

Nankana Sahib nearer home
By Amardeep Bhattal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH: Sikhs yearning for a glimpse of Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan, usually remains unfulfilled, thanks to visa restrictions. But L.S. Pabla's Punjabi film "Door Nahin Nankana" will, to an extent, be realisation of this dream by the devout who have not been able to visit the place in the past over 50 years. Set for release on April 30 at four major places — Ludhiana, Amritsar, Nawanshahr, and Kot Kapura — "Door Nahin Nankana" is, perhaps, the first film in Punjabi shot partly in the vicinity of the holy shrine in Pakistan.

The theme, as in so many films screened earlier, remains the same. The trauma of Partition, broken homes, search for the missing, communal amity amidst insanity and friendship transcending religious barriers constitute the script. The film starts with a scene depicting three graves which are to be demolished to straighten a road and ends in a tragedy.

Lehmbar Singh Pabla is not a new name in Punjabi cinema. After the successful launch of "Deson Pardes," which was shot in Los Angeles, California, and San Diego in the USA, he began working on his new project. But the task of this NRI has not been easy. Ever since the shooting commenced last year, the project was beset with problems.

"We went to Pakistan with high hopes after permission was granted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's secretariat but at Nankana Sahib we faced innumerable difficulties," recalled the modest Pabla, during interaction with the media here on Thursday.

"Frequent intervention by the police at the "behest of groups" opposed to the shooting proved to be a major hindrance. But what compounded our miseries was the harassment we faced at the Customs checkpost," said the film producer, who is a prosperous farmer settled in California since 1980.

"The carton containing key shots of Nankana Sahib was seized and the film exposed by Customs personnel. The rest of the material had to be 'smuggled' in parts. Last month I undertook another trip to Nankana Sahib to take fresh shots to make up for the earlier loss," said Pabla, who originally hails from Langroya village in Nawanshahr district.

Pabla had initially planned to include actors from Pakistan in the cast. For this purpose he selected Mustaffa Qureshi but subsequent pressure at home forced Qureshi to opt out of the venture.

Pabla's love for cinema and the theatre dates back to the late sixties when he migrated to the United Kingdom. He soon became the owner of Ajanta Cinema in Derby which he sold before shifting to California to take up farming. Today, besides cultivating 300 acres, he is actively engaged in promoting Punjabi cinema for which he is ready to "forego luxuries".

In 1992-93, Pabla patronised religious plays, including "Chandni Chowk Ton Sirhind Tak", "Asin Doon Sway Hoye" and "Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Simriye" which drew large crowds during 28 shows throughout the USA.

Another play, "Singh Soorme," is scheduled to be staged at Chandigarh's Tagore Theatre on May 5.

Pabla is hopeful that "Door Nahin Nankana" will be received well in Punjab and elsewhere. The film is also being released in London, the USA and Canada simultaneously and four prints each have been despatched to these countries.

The cast includes Dara Singh, Rama Vij, Sardool Sikander, Mehar Mittal, Kartar Singh Dhadi, Joginder and Shivendra Mahal. Written by Harbans Bhaur, the film has Krishan Sahani and Rajesh Soni as directors. The playback singers include Sardool Sikandar, Amar Noori, Sarbjeet, Ali Parvez and Sant Anup Singh.

CM releases Japji Sahib's translation
Tribune News Service

BADAL (Muktsar), April 23 — Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today released the translated works of the holy book, the Japji Sahib, in English and Hindi languages at an impressive function here today. The Chief Minister also released a CD and an audio cassette of "Gurmat Sangeet" brought out by Music Today and a wall calendar on Sikh history published by Thompson Press. All these works were dedicated to the tercentenary year of the birth for Khalsa. Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the SGPC, and famous Punjabi film heroine Divya Dutta were also present.

Mr Badal called on writers, poets and intellectuals to portray the real picture of rural Punjab by visiting the villages and communicating with poor people. He said there was a big communication gap between the common masses and planners, writers and other top functionaries in the system as most of the policy formulation generally was not based on ground realities. The schemes prepared in Delhi or the State capitals did not match the actual requirements of the people and thus did not bring the desired results.

Mr Badal urged Mr Khushwant Singh, eminent writer who was present on the occasion, to motivate the intelligentsia and the writers' community to make visits to habitations of the poor and highlight their problems for attracting the government's attention at different levels.

The Chief Minister appreciated the effort of Mr Khushwant Singh in translating the Japji Sahib in English and Hindi. This would help in propagating the message of the gurus to non-Punjabis. He said the values enshrined in Gurbani should be carried to the present and future generations in an effective way to make them perfect human beings. He urged the SGPC President to launch a movement for spreading the universal message of the gurus which would immensely help in promoting peace, harmony and mutual trust in society.

Bibi Jagir Kaur expressed concern over the degradation of value in society as the persons heading previous management of the supreme body of the Sikhs SGPC took no interest in propagating the philosophy of Sikhism. She revealed that when she took over, she was pained to find "jungle raj" in the SGPC and totally unfit people appointed in medical and engineering colleges and other educational institutions being run by the SGPC. There were great irregularities in every section and sincere efforts were being made to set the house in order, she said.

Bibi Jagir Kaur complimented the efforts of Mr Badal for the successful conduct of tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa which had gone a long way in glorifying the image of Sikhism in the whole world. She announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for Dasmesh Public School, Badal, for carrying out the goals of Sikhism.

Mr Khushwant Singh in his brief remarks said he had inherited love for "Gurbani" from his grandparents and he undertook the challenging job translating the Japji Sahib in English and Hindi for the benefit of people of other states and countries. He said he had made sincere endeavours to translate the message of the gurus to devotees.

Mr Manpreet Singh Badal, MLA, who was instrumental behind this effort welcomed the guests. Mr Chander M. Rai from World Media proposed vote of thanks.

The CD and cassettes contain shabads recited by Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi.

Now waterlogging grips Mansa
From Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

MANSA, April 23 — Major roads in this district, including the Mansa-Sardulgarh, Mansa-Talwandi Sabo, Sardulgarh Jhunir and Mansa-Maur roads had been becoming wavy as waterlogging has affected the area suddenly.

On the other hand, thousands of acres of land of 48 villages of this district have become unfit for cultivation due to waterlogging.

Official sources said out of total 8,000 acres of farm land which had been waterlogged, about 4,000 acres of land become waterlogged in the past two years. Waterlogging was severe in villages falling in the Sardulgarh and Jhunir areas of the district.

Official sources said the problem of waterlogging started in the area in 1990 and it was mild nature. But now waterlogging had been acquiring alarming proportions.

Major roads of the district had become so bad that travelling on them had become dangerous. The roads had developed deep depressions and had become unfit for the plying of vehicles.

Sources said villages where the problem of waterlogging was severe were Khusla, Bhame Khurd, Jorkian, Jatana, Wandra, Kotra, Bulewal, Sahspali, Todarpur, Kishangarh, Satike, Kulrian, Kulana, Sada Singhwala, Fattamolooka, Khokhar Kalan, Makhewala, Anupgarh, Bhalai K, Kot Dharmu, Bhaini Bagha, Kharar Singh Wala, Joga, Gurthali, Dausundia, Bhadurpur, Dryapur and Dattewas.

Link roads in these villages had also been hit hard by waterlogging. It was second district in the Malwa region after Muktsar where the residents were feeling the pinch of waterlogging.

Mr Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted said the problem of waterlogging was being checked on a war-footing by digging drains and installing lift scheme in affected areas.

He added that a comprehensive plan for tackling waterlogging in the entire district had been prepared and it would cost about Rs 47 crore. He added that it had been sent to the Punjab Government for sanction.

Mr Kumar said at present five lift schemes were being installed at Sadasinghwala, Khokhar Kalan, Khusla, Makhewala and Fattanmalloka. He added that about 19 lift schemes were already functional in the waterlogging areas.

He disclosed that a drain encircling the entire district would be dug and waterlogging areas treated by draining out the water through seepage action. He added that these drains would be used also for carrying out the city waste to the Ghaggar river passing through the district.

Mr Kumar said after tackling waterlogging the work of repairing of roads would be started.

Breakdowns plague GHTP unit
Tribune News Service

LEHRA MOHOBBAT, April 23 — The unit I of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) which was recommissioned after seven months after largescale repairs, in the last week of March 1999, has been still keeping engineers on tenter hooks.

The unit was closed for indefinite period on August 14, 1998 after a major fault developed in it and its turbine got jammed. It was commissioned again in the last week of March 1999 after major repair in the turbine was carried out by engineers from BHEL.

However, the unit, having capacity of 210 MW was again closed about a week ago when a fault developed in the turbine oil cooler. The unit was producing about 130 MW electricity daily when the fault developed.

Official sources said that unit I of the GHTP had been developing faults frequently since it was commissioned. On April 28, 1998, the unit was closed due to fire which broke out in the boiler and damaged it. Apart from it, the unit I had been troubling plant engineers as minor faults were a routine affair in it.

Official sources said that unit I had suffered loss of crores of rupees due to stoppage of generation of electricity for the past about eight months. The unit had been suffering generation loss of rupees one crore daily.

Official sources said that engineers now were waiting for the turbine to cool down to rectify the fault that had developed in the turbine oil cooler. The fault would be rectified within two hours after the trubine cooled down.

Mr Jagdish Rai, Chief Engineer, Construction, when contacted said that unit would be again put to generation before the start of month of May. He added that development of minor faults in the thermal power units was a natural thing.

He, however, declined to disclose the amount of loss that the unit had been suffering on account of its repeated closure due to frequent faults.

Official sources said that though the unit I was synchronised in December, 1997, it could not be put on commercial generation so far. The unit I always suffered tripping whenever its load approached its full capacity of 210 MW.

Faults remain in Sutlej plan
From A.S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, April 23 — Serious faults in design in the underground sewerage system of Ludhiana which created enormous difficulties in retrieving the body of a local school teacher who died when she fell into an open manhole here on Sunday evening, are being repeated in a new underground sewerage system being laid in the city under the Sutlej action plan.

The new system, costing Rs 164.22 crore, is due to be completed by the year 2001. However, it is designed for a population of 14 lakh whereas the actual population of the megacity has already crossed 27 lakh.

With the result, the problems which plague the existing sewerage system will not only be present in the new system, but are likely to be multiplied.

Like the old system, the new system, too, has neither grills to trap those who may fall into an underground sewer, nor any method to segregate storm sewers from domestic sewers.

According to a status report prepared by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, the sewers, especially outfall and intercepting sewers which are designed to run only three-fourth of the size, are actually always surcharged, except for the period from 2 am to 5 pm. This, denies the maintenance staff any opportunity to inspect and maintain the sewers.

Little wonder then it was discovered during the three-day search operation mounted by the corporation for Mrs Sarita Ahluwalia that none of the employees of the maintenance department had ever entered the sewerage system eversince it was commissioned a year ago.

Only 10 per cent of the city has a separate stormwater sewerage system. In the rest of the city, stormwater also passes through domestic sewers. Since the domestic sewers are already choked, the stormwater frequently forces its way through toilets in houses of the local residents during the rainy reason.

The main sewer has been laid in a serpentine manner with as many as 236 bends which, together with misuse by residents, restrict flow. The disposal at Shingar cinema house, Transport Nagar and Kidwai Nagar can be eliminated. The Sutlej action plan, which is designed along the same lines, therefore, needs to be reviewed.

Essential parameters, which ought to have been taken note of have been ignored. According to informed sources in the corporation, even the designed discharge for disposal and treatment for 2000 AD is grossly inadequate.

As against the designed discharge of 50.35 mld at Jamalpur, 111.40 mld at Bhatia and 151.66 mld at Baloke, the present discharge is 100 mld at Jamalpur, 250 mld at Chand cinema and 150 mld at Haibowal.

Similarly, there are 500 open drains. Discharge from Phases VI, VII and VIII of Focal Point have not been taken into account. Areas beyond the bypass have also been ignored.

It has, therefore, been suggested that a technical agency such as Engineering College, Roorki or Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, be engaged for a proper study and fixing the sizes of sewers along with the disposal capacities.

Radical Akalis framing plan

JALANDHAR, April 23 (PTI) — President of the Akali Dal (Democratic) Kuldip Singh Wadala today dissociated himself from the separatist demand raised by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann at a congregation in Anandpur Sahib earlier this month but said radical Akali factions were working on a joint political strategy.

"The separatist demands raised by Mr Mann, president of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) represents the programme of his own party," Mr Wadala told mediapersons here.

On reports that Mr Wadala was asked by the Sant Samaj and certain political leaders to prevail upon Mr Mann not to make any separatist demand from the stage shared by "suspended" Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh, he replied in the affirmative. But he defended Mr Mann's right to make any statement.

He said radical Akali factions led by him, Mr Mann and Mr Jasbir Singh Rode were trying to hammer out a joint strategy on the basis of a common programme.

Castigating Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for lending unconditional support to the BJP, Mr Wadala said the plea by Mr Badal to the President asking for yet another chance for the Vajpayee government was against the nations security interests.

"Adding a couple of MPs to its kitty after a defeat on the floor of the House and indulging in arithmatic should not obfuscate the fact that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was voted out on the issue of national security, he added.

Reacting to Mr Badal's suggestion to switch over to a presidential system o governance, Mr Wadala said the aspirations of minorities could not be met under any other system except the current one.

He said the Chief Minister was indulging in "unscruplous political machinations" which would result in the return of the Congress to power.

Meanwhile, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann today justified his demand for a separate Sikh state. Reterating his demand for "Khalistan," he said leaders Reiterating who were "distancing" themselves from his demand had lost political gumption.

He said the "separate state" could act as a "buffer" state, leading to a "tension free" zone between India and Pakistan.

Flesh trade racket busted
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, April 23 — The police claims to have busted a major flesh trade racket operated by a mother-daughter team which had raised almost an army of prostitutes and taken over nearly an entire mohalla in the Gagandeep Colony in the Jodhewal area here.

The kingpin of the racket has been identified as "Nimmo (50) who, along with her daughter Babli (22), had turned her house on the Rahon road into a den of immoral activities for the past about 10 years. She had lured young girls living in the nearby area in the trade.

They were paid a pittance varying between Rs 100 and Rs 200 per night out of the hefty amounts collected from the customers. The customers ranged from ordinary factory workers, college students to sophisticated businessmen. While the factory workers were entertained at her own place, girls were sent to plush hotels of the city to entertain businessmen. Their service charges varied between Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 per night.

The customers were solicited both by the word of mouth as well as through a sophisticated network of agents, covering the local bus stand, railway station and major eating establishments in the city. On spotting an outsider, they would approach him, suggesting places where he could spent the night. These agents were paid commission for every customer roped in by them. Which varied according to the economic profile of the customer.

The credit for busting the racket goes to SI Joginder Singh, SHO, Jodhewal. In a raid last evening, he arrested not only the kingpin but also seven other girls engaged in the flesh trade. Seven customers were also taken into custody.

The police officer said the operation was still on. Two more customers, who rang up Nimmo's house, were lured into the police net today.

He said Nimmo had shifted to Gagandeep Colony nearly 10 years ago and expanded her network. She had purchased nearly half a dozen houses in the locality. Their occupants were scared into leaving when repeated complaints to the police brought no action.

Nimmo would often boast that the police was on her pay roll. A couple of attempts by the police to break the racket in the past failed. A police officer of the CIA was beaten up and his uniform torn by thugs hired by Nimmo when he went to the colony to inquire into the racket, some time ago.

Another police raiding party also had to beat a retreat in the face of opposition from Nimmo's gang. According to Mr Joginder Singh, such was her terror in the colony that none of the residents dared to speak out against her. One by one they began shifting and their houses were "purchased" by Nimmo.

Nimmo and her husband, Buta Ram will among those arrested by the police while Babli, had absconded.

Police told to book BDPO, JE
Tribune News Service

MANSA, April 23 — Mr Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, has ordered the local police authorities to register a criminal case against Mr Jagvinderjit Singh, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), and Mr Vinod Kumar, Junior Engineer (JE), for embezzlement of the grant released by the Punjab Government under the atta-dal scheme.

Official sources said both Mr Jagvinderjit Singh and Mr Vinod Kumar put Rs 1.90 lakh of the grant to their personal use after withdrawing the amount by issuing cheques in their own names when they were posted in Jhunir block of this district.

Both the accused who withdrew the amount in 1996 deposited Rs 1.65 lakh again in the banks in 1996 and 1997. However, Rs 25,000 of the grant was still lying with Mr Jagvinderjit Singh and Mr Vinod Kumar.

Official sources said according to instructions issued by the Punjab Government for the distribution of grant under the atta-dal scheme the beneficiaries were to be given cheques in their names directly by the BDPO.

Mr Sanjay Kumar when contacted said both the BDPO and the JE were found guilty in the grant of the atta-dal scheme. Both had violated Rule 2.33 of financial instructions of the Punjab Government.

He added that both the accused had also been found guilty of misplacing the records of the scheme to cover up their embezzlement. He added that Mr Jagvinderjit Singh had already been placed under suspension by the state government.

Official sources said in a letter written to the SSP, Mansa, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) had proposed that both Mr Jagvinderjit Singh and Mr Vinod Kumar could be booked under Section 13(1) (C) of the PC Act and Section 409 of the IPC.

Magistrate pulled up for "taking law
for ride"
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 23 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a serious note of the order of Judicial Magistrate of Malerkotla imposing a fine of Rs 2500 on a person in a motor accident case instead of sentencing him to jail.

Allowing an appeal by the Punjab government against this order of the judicial magistrate, Mr Justice R.L. Anand of the High Court held: "The sentence which has been awarded by the learned Magistrate is highly disproportionate to the offence proved. He has clearly taken the law for a ride. Such casual approach on the part of the Magistrate shall never be warranted."

According to the prosecution, jeep driver Ajit Singh knocked down Hero Majestic rider also named Ajit Singh on June 1, 1991. A case under Sections 304-A, 279 and 427 of the I.P.C., was registered against the jeep driver for causing the death of the moped driver. "The occurrence stands proved and substantiated from the statements of Balbir Singh and Sukhwinder Singh who clearly attributed the negligence to the respondent. Their statements have also been corroborated by the statement of the doctor.

Setting aside the order of the Magistrate, Mr Justice Anand sentenced the convict to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three months under Section 304-A and to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month for the offence under Section 279, of the I.P.C,. Both sentences shall run concurrently.

The Judge ordered that a copy of this judgement be circulated among all judicial officers of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh bringing to their notice that "while awarding sentence in such cases, the aspect of loss of life always be kept in view as in the opinion of this court there is no substitute to human life."

15th Lok Adalat inaugurated
From Our Correspondent

HOSHIARPUR, April 23 — Mr Justice H.S. Brar, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman, Punjab Legal Services Authority, inaugurated a permanent Lok Adalat in the district and sessions court complex here today. This is the 15th Lok Adalat in Punjab.

Mr Justice Brar said the Lok Adalats had proved very effective in providing cheap and speedy justice to the litigants. He said 24,689 applications had been received by the Punjab Legal Services Authority till March 1999 out of which legal aid to 19,617 had been given. Besides, legal advice to 3,411 applicants had also been given and in 437 cases compromise had been reached.

He said as many as 867 Lok Adalats had been held in Punjab so far in which 95,619 cases came up for hearing. As many as 69,396 cases had been disposed of in these Lok Adalats and compensation of Rs 75,76,80,477 had been released to the aggrieved parties. He added that to provide information to the people about free legal services 954 seminars and para legal literacy camps had been organised in state.

Mr Justice Brar said permanent Lok Adalats had already been set up at Bathinda, Patiala, Ludhiana, Ropar, Amritsar, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts. These would be set up in all remaining districts of Punjab very shortly. In case of increase in cases at any place a second permanent Lok Adalat would also be opened in that district. He appealed to Sarpanches and police officials to refer all dispute cases to Lok Adalats for their immediate disposal.

Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi, Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who presided over the function, said there was no adverse impact on the work of regular courts and advocates. Lok Adalats had legal status now. He appealed to advocates to give priority to Lok Adalats instead of regular courts.

Mr R.M. Gupta, District Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur said as many as 2,882 cases had been disposed of through Lok Adalats in Hoshiarpur district. Compensation of Rs 4,41,35,600 had been released to the aggrieved parties. Besides free legal aid had been given to 1,144 persons, he added. Mr R.P. Dhir, President of the Bar Association, assured full cooperation for the functioning of Lok Adalat by advocates.

Mr R.P. Mittal, SSP, Mr G. Romesh Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), and Mr S.S. Arora, Member Secretary, Punjab Legal Services Authority, also addressed the gathering.

BJP men gherao DC office
From Tribune Reporters

ROPAR, April 23 — Workers of the BJP, led by the district unit president, Mr Surinder Nath Sood, today gheraoed the office of the Deputy Commissioner here and raised slogans against him.

Mr Sood said they had to take this step when he did not turn up to receive the memorandum for about an hour though he was present in the mini secretariat complex here.

The memorandum urging the formation of the BJP government at the Centre was to be forwarded to the President.

In a press note, Mr Kanwal Nain Kakkar, general secretary of the district unit, said the party had condemned the attitude of the Deputy Commissioner.

When contacted the Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.S. Sidhu, said at that time, he had been holding a meeting with the SSP in his office. He claimed that party workers had not waited for him for more than 10 minutes.

BATALA: A procession was taken out by BJP workers who assembled here on Friday at Qila Mandi. The procession passed through Chakri Bazaar, Nehru Gate, Hansli Bridge, Gandhi Chowk and then went to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate office where they handed over a memorandum to Mr K. Sinha SDM. The procession was led by Mr Jagdish Sawahney, MLA. The memorandum said the BJP had certain major achievements to its credit.

SE suspended for negligence
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, April 23 — The Punjab Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, today announced the transfer of Mr Ashok Kumar, Superintending Engineer (Sewerage), Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, for this alleged negligence leading to the death of Sarita Ahluwalia. A local school teacher, due to a fall in an open manhole.

The minister told newsmen that he sympathised with the members of the family of the deceased and concrete steps were being taken to ensure that there was no recurrence of such an incident in the city. All 300-odd manholes found without covers were being provided covers on a war footing.

An official of the corporation would also be sent to Bombay to study the sewerage system there and provide for the installation of jails or grills in manholes to arrest the fall of those stumbling into them, he said.

Lack of funds stall water supply, sewerage work
From Our Correspondent

SANGRUR, April 23 — Work on the expansion augmentation of water supply and sewerage in Sunam town, 15 km from here, which was started in July 1998 when the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal released Rs 50 lakh for it has been stalled for want of more funds promised by the Punjab government.

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industry while presiding over a function at Sunam on December 26, 1998 had announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh on behalf of the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal to enable the district Water Supply and sewerage board authorities to continue work on the expansion work.

But the announced amount has not been received so far.

Several areas of Sunam town including Indira Basti, area adjoining Patiala road, Mauranwali Basti, old grain market, area adjoining government college and Naya bazar lack facilities of water supply and sewerage facilities.

According to official sources, to provide these facilities to the entire population more than Rs 5 crore are required but there are no funds, admit official sources.

Payment of pension to terrorist-hit soon
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, April 23 — Mr JR Kundal, Secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation, Punjab yesterday held a discussion with the district administration regard on the delayed payments of pension to dependants of terrorist victims families. The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner. Baljit Singh Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, MLA, Mr Jagir Singh Assistant Commissioner (Grievances) and other officers of departments concerned.

Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, MLA and some victims of terrorists had brought the problem of non payment of monthly pension for past some months to the terrorist affected families to the notice of authorities.

Mrs Chawla, a BJP MLA and some widows had urged the government for immediate payments.

After having detailed discussion with the local officers. Mr Kundal assured that the arrears of pension up to March 31,1999 would be paid within a next two weeks. He urged the officers to ensure that pensions be released after the receipt of funds.

Pact on waste management
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, April 23 — The Punjab government has entered into an agreement with a private sector company for solid waste management in the three major cities of Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar.

The company will turn the solid waste generated in these cities — 850 tonnes at Ludhiana, 500 tonnes at Amritsar and 350 tonnes at Jalandhar — into manure.

The scheme will be launched at Jalandhar on May 2 followed by Ludhiana within a fortnight.

The Government has decided to introduce a single transit pass for truck operators in the state with effect from May 1.

This pass will allow truck operators to pay octroi at one point for transit across the length and breadth of the state. At present, a truck entering Punjab has to stop twice at the entry and exit of every town en route.

The Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will inaugurate the scheme at Rajpura on April 25, according to Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Minister for Local Bodies.

The government has decided to ban the use of polythene bags, according to official information. A decision in principle has already been taken in this regard. The matter has been referred to the Legal Remembrancer.

Blind man killed in mishap
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, April 23 — An unidentified blind man was today knocked down to death by a vehicle on the GT road near Mauli village on the out skirts of Phagwara.

In another accident, truck driver Mohan Singh of Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir was killed on the GT road near Khajuria village near here when his truck turned turtle last evening.

12 to be honoured by Ramgarhia organisation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 23 — The International Ramgarhia Organisation (IRO) has decided to honour a dozen personalities mainly from Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi for their contribution in different fields as part of its tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa, Mr Kirpal Singh Sangatpuri, president of the organisation, said.

Those who will be honoured with national awards include Mr Bhure Lal (Secretary Central Vigilance Commission), Mr U.S.Jolly and Mr R.D.Kapur Mr U.K. Bhanot, Special Correspondent of The Tribune, a writer on consumer issues, Dr J.S. Jogi (Secretary, Consumer Federation of India) Mr G.C.Khanna, Mr Bhagat Singh and Mr P.S. Bhogal, Industrialist, and Mr Kishore Bhai Zaveri, jeweller.

The awards will be given at a function to be held at the FICCI Auditorium on April 25.

Mangat repatriated to Punjab
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 23 — Punjab's Financial Commissioner Forests and Wildlife, Mr A.K. Dubey, will look after the work of planning, Advisory Council and Special Economic package in addition to his present assignment till Ms Kusumjit Sidhu, remains on leave.

Mr Daljit Singh Mangat, DPI(Schools), Union Territory, Chandigarh, stands repatriated to Punjab with immediate effect.

Mr Vivek Aggarwal, is posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, against a vacant post with immediate effect.

Mr R.K.Ganta, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, will officiate as Deputy Commissioner till Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, remains on training.

Mr Manjit Singh, Joint Secretary, Finance, will look after the work of the post of Joint Secretary, Finance-cum-Secretary, Anomalies Committee, in addition to his present assignment till Mr Ashok Kumar, is on training, according to an official press note.

SGPC meeting at Chandigarh
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, April 23 — The venue of the SGPC executive meeting proposed to be held on April 28 has been shifted from Amritsar to Chandigarh, according to Mr Kulwant Singh, secretary of the committee.

The issue of dismissal of Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht is likely to be taken up at the meeting.

1 lakh bags of wheat lie unlifted
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, April 23 — Nearly one lakh bags lie unlifted in the main mandi here. The district Food and Supplies Department stopped lifting wheat one day after it stopped purchasing it.

The District Food and Supplies Department has given its purchase share to PUNSUP even at it is making efforts to give payment to farmers for their produce. District Food and Supplies controller M.S. Sahota told TNS that while Rs 5 crore had been released recently, Rs 12 crore was received today for making payment to farmers totalling Rs 34 crore. Most of the other agencies had made payments for as much as 70 per cent of the purchased stock.

Punjab Arhtiyas Association President Harjit Singh Sheru said nearly one lakh bags of wheat was lying in the main mandi here. The District Food and Supplies Department was not lifting wheat as it did not have the required storage capacity. The lifting of wheat by other procurement agencies was also slow.

MARKFED Managing Director G.S. Sandhu visited grain markets of Patiala yesterday to supervise procurement arrangements. MARKFED was leading in Patiala district, having purchase 27 per cent of the procured wheat till now. Mr Sandhu claimed that MARKFED possessed sufficient storage capacity, besides funds, for smooth conduct of the remaining procurement period.

MC offers land for memorial
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, April 23 — The local municipal committee at a meeting held here today unanimously passed a resolution in which they have offered required land to the Punjab government for setting up a memorial in the memory of Maj Harminder Pal Singh at Kharar who laid down his life while fighting with militants in Kashmir on April 13.

The Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who had visited the family of Maj Singh had declared yesterday that a memorial at Kharar in memory of all military personnel of Punjab who laid down their lives while fighting with militants in Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.

Members of the municipal committee kept two minutes' silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul. They requested the Punjab government to release necessary funds for setting up the memorial. They also requested the government to offer a suitable job to the Major's widow.

Patient jumps to death
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, April 23 — A woman admitted in the local Christian Medical College here for heart and kidney problems, committed suicide by jumping out of the window of her third floor ward on April 21.

According to information Shiv Kumari (25), from Theora village near Shimla, was admitted in the hospital a few days ago. It is learnt that both her kidneys had failed and she also had a heart problem, which was incurable. On the night of April 21, Shiv Kumari, jumped out the window. Her parents, were sitting next to her. When her relatives rushed to the ground floor, they found her dead.

A case under Section 174 of the IPC had been registered.

Cultural night case: Collector summoned
Tribune News Service

ROPAR, April 23 — Mr Dharam Singh, Civil Judge, (Senior Division), here, has summoned the defendants — the Punjab State through Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate of SAS Nagar in his court on June 2, 1999, in a case relating to the cancellation of a cultural night of Punjabi singer Daler Mehandi.

In this case, Mr Ravi Datt, the organiser of the cultural night, has filed a suit through his father Mr Gurdial Singh Saini for the recovery of Rs 70 lakh as damages, along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent for the loss suffered by him on account of cancellation of cultural night of Daler Mehandi on December 5, 1998 at SAS Nagar due to the revocation of permission, given by the SDM, at 5 pm on December 4 last.

According to information here today, this case is transferred to the court of Mr Dharam Singh by the District Judge, Ropar. Originally the case was filed in a court at Kharar presiding officer of which sent the case to the District Judge. The Judge, Mr Dharam Singh, ordered the issuance of summons to the defendants on Wednesday last.