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| Wednesday, January 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Grant halt cripples private colleges Bonded labourers allege kidnapping Officials ‘rush’ to minister’s reception
Trust to build flats in heart of city |
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Badal to launch ‘revolutionary’ scheme soon 150 sarpanches tender resignations CM inaugurates bridge Railway overbridge next year : minister
Bhai Ranjit Singh condemns hijacking Teachers oppose school head’s transfer Nagar kirtan held Courts functioning in unsafe building New ministers visit Golden Temple
Gang of thieves busted, 3 held Missing girl found in Delhi Four arrested for stealing vehicles 2 Pak nationals arrested Road safety week begins
MC shelves shopping complex plan Urea bag scam: 10 served with notices Rice millers’ threat
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Suspension unwarranted, say supporters PATIALA, Jan 4 — Former Punjab Minister Prem Gupta and other Congressmen today said the suspension of senior leader Birdevinder Singh from the primary membership of the party was a "shallow and unwarranted" act as he had only given his reaction on a policy issue. In a statement here, Mr Gupta said the suspension of Mr Birdevinder Singh was unfortunate as the latter had only enlightened the Congress workers and people on the implications of the imposition of financial emergency. He said instead of resorting to such a harsh measure the state Congress chief should have replied to the points raised by Mr Birdevinder Singh as they involved a major policy issue. Mr Gupta said he wanted to make it clear to the PPCC chief that such steps would not help the Congress which was a democratic party in which the voice of workers could not be throttled. Other Congress leaders, including PPCC member Rawail Singh Sethi, Mr Parkash Chand Mittal, former district Congress general secretary Harjit Singh Sheru, Punjab Youth Congress vice-president Krishan Pal Singh Thakur and former municipal committee chief Raj Kumar Malhotra described the suspension as a vindictive act. They said it reflected the frustration of the PPCC chief. They said instead of debating valid constitutional provisions highlighted by Mr Birdevinder Singh, the PPCC chief had chosen to gag democratic values in the party. They appealed to the Congress high command to intervene to save the Punjab Congress from disaster under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Birdevinder Singh, while talking to TNS, said senior leaders had expressed their solidarity with him and condemned the suspension. He said there would be a change in the Congress in the future when other leaders taking up positions in the next few days. He said he had not received any show-cause notice till yet. Meanwhile, the District Congress Committee (Rural) today expressed faith in the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh. In a statement here, DCC chief Hardyal Singh Kamboj said the Congress had been strengthened in the state after Capt Amarinder Singh took over its reins. He said some persons were trying to weaken the party at the instance of the state government and they had also not supported the Congress parliamentary candidate from Patiala. He welcomed the action taken against Mr Birdevinder Singh and appealed to all Congressmen to boycott people who were trying to divide the party. Organising secretaries Vishnu Sharma, Kabir Das and Sanjeev Garg also welcomed the suspension of Mr Birdevinder Singh. They said Mr Birdevinder Singh had a history of betraying the successive state Congress chiefs and the Congress Chief Ministers due to his lust for power. JALANDHAR: Addressing a joint press conference here on Tuesday, Chaudhary Jagijit Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Vice-President of the PPCC, Mr Balbir Singh local MP, Mr Davinder Singh Babbu chief of the Punjab Youth Congress, welcomed the step taken by PPCC chief Amarinder Singh and dubbed the outburst of Mr Birdevinder Singh against the former as a "gross act of indiscipline". Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and others alleged that Mr Birdevinder Singh had been "hobnobbing" with the Akalis to undermine the party’s poll prospects in the forthcoming Nawanshahr byelection. "He has been creating problems for the party from the day he joined the party", they said. The congress leaders expressing solidarity with the PPCC chief whom they said had been instrumental in giving a right direction to the party in the state. They also supported the demand for imposition of financial emergency in the fund-starved state and asserted that the memorandum to the President in this regard was given after due discussion at the party forum. In a separate statement, Mr Tejinder Singh Bittu, organising secretary of the PPCC, also welcomed the suspension of Mr Birdevinder Singh. On the other hand in a tale-conference from Patiala, Mr Birdevinder Singh demanded Capt Amarinder Singh’s expulsion from the party for "mishandling the recent visit of Ms Sonia Gandhi to the Golden Temple". He charged Capt Amarinder Singh of undermining the glory of Akal Takht by projecting the Takht and the Golden Temple as two separate institutions. He said Capt Amarinder Singh’s logic that a visit to Akal Takht by Congress President Sonia Gandhi was not a part of the itinerary was paradoxical as it was Akal Takht which was damaged during the Operation Bluestar and a visit to it could have assuaged the injured feelings of the Sikh community. Meanwhile, it was learnt that the centre of the factional fight has shifted from Chandigarh to New Delhi as Mr Motilal Vora, AICC General Secretary, postponed his Chandigarh visit today. Both factions of the PPCC were planning to hold separate "closed door" meetings with Mr Vora during his visit. |
Grant halt cripples private colleges GARHSHANKAR: There are 162 private colleges in Punjab. But out of these, only 139 colleges get 95 per cent of their deficit grant from the Punjab Government. This deficit grant is paid in respect of posts held by these colleges in 1982. For posts created thereafter, colleges do not get any grant. As a matter of fact, these managements are expected to raise their own resources to run their colleges but as donors are far and few, therefore, managements expect the principals to create a resources by raising fees to cover not only the 5 per cent deficit but also to pay salary to staff appointed to posts created after 1982. The annual salary bill of private college teachers works out to Rs 54 crore. However after the announcement of University Grants Commission grades, the salary bill has shot up to Rs 80 crore. The Punjab Government had given grants to private colleges only up to May, 1999 and more than six months have passed, but private colleges have not received any grant, resulting in the non-payment of salary to the teachers working in most colleges for three to six months. If the flow of grants to private colleges remains erratic, and if the government cuts this grant, then colleges run by managements like DAV and the SGPC would survive but the rest would collapse one after another. Though the UGC scales have been given by most colleges, the difference between the new and old grades for three and a half years is also yet to be paid by the government. As regards arrears & also difference between the new and old grades, 80 per cent is to be paid by the UGC & only 20 per cent paid by the state government. Besides usual grant, college teachers also allege delay in disbursement of this grant. They have started the agitation by skipping a few periods. The managing committees have threatened the government that if they do not receive their grants from last June, they would be forced to boycott the annual examinations. This attitude would prove disastrous not only for students and teachers alone but also for the state. It is high time the state government formulates a clear-cut policy for funding private colleges. Adhocism will only prove counter-productive. |
Bonded labourers allege kidnapping FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 4 — The heads of 13 bonded labourer family, who were released yesterday, recorded their statements before the Deputy Commissioner here today. Mr Om Parkash, a bonded labourer, alleged that after a raid on Mr Charanjit Singh’s brickkiln and the release of several labourers, three of his family members, including his father and brother, had been kidnapped. He said the owner enjoyed government security as he had two gunmen in police uniform and other private armed guards who occasionally threatened them of dire consequences. He said the families consisting of 70 members had gone without food for the past six days. He said they wanted to go to their native village in Muzaffarnagar, but said they would leave only when the three were released by the owner. The Deputy Commissioner after recording their statements urged them to go to their native place and also provided them with a truck, but they refused to go without the other three. They were later kept at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and given langar. Deputy Commissioner V.K. Janjua said efforts were being made for the victims’ released and that they would be sent to their native village under tight security. He said action would be taken against the kiln owner. Meanwhile, Mr Purshotam Singla, president of the District Brickkiln Owners Association, alleged that the labourers adopted such means to grab advance money. He urged the district administration to probe the incident. |
Officials ‘rush’ to minister’s reception FEROZEPORE, Jan 4 — Throwing protocol to the winds, administrative officials lined up at Talwandi Bhai, about 30 km from here yesterday to accord reception to Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon upon his elevation to the Cabinet rank. As this was Mr Sekhon’s first visit to the city after his elevation ruling party workers and other residents organised a civic reception at Tawandi Bhai. However, govt officials including then Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu too lined up at the ceremonial welcome, sparking a debate in the official circles. A section within the administration feel that bureaucrats should have restrained from attending the reception accorded to Mr Sekhon outside the district headquarter. This should have been left to the ruling party workers as the protocol demands officials of the district administration should have accorded him reception at the state run canal rest houses or circuit house. Yesterday’s incident was summed up by certain officials as a bid by ‘sycophants’ to please their political masters. This amounted to flattery, lamented one officer — who had attended the reception at Talwandi Bhai. Since, Mr Sekhon represents the Ferozepore cantonment assembly segment in the Vidhan Sabha, sources in the administration pointed out that such reception by the officials should have been accorded at the local PWD rest house or the canal rest house. "This will set a wrong precedent for all times to come", a very senior administrative officer said. The presence of officials at the Talwandi Bhai function was ‘unofficial’, said another senior officer. While, the Deputy Commissioner was not available for comments, Mr Sekhon when contacted said, the function was customary and had been a convention. "There is nothing controversial about it". |
Trust to build flats in heart of city PATIALA, Jan 4 — Flats are going to come up in the heart of the city near the posh 22 number railway crossing as part of an Improvement Trust scheme. The Improvement Trust has invited applications for high income group and high income group super flats in Bachhittar Nagar. A commercial area is also being developed under the same scheme. Trust engineer Manmohan Singh in an exclusive talk with The Tribune said a draw of lots for 80 residential units, including 32 HIG flats and 48 HIG-super flats would be taken out on January 21. He said the trust was already getting forms filled for both categories with January 6 being the last date for submitting applications. Mr Manmohan Singh said while the covered area for HIG flats was 1755 square feet, that of HIG super flats was 1884 square feet. He said the first category would have a drawing room, dining, kitchen, three bedrooms, three toilets, store, balconies and a car garage, the second category would have an additional facility of a servant room and toilet. He said there was facility for a swimming pool, a community centre and a green patch in the complex. He said prospective owners would have to deposit Rs 1 lakh with the application form, and 15 per cent of the cost of their respective flats at the time of allotment. He said the approximate cost for both categories was between Rs 11 and Rs 12 lakh. A unique feature of the scheme was the total transparency. The date for allotment as well as that for opening tenders was January 18, and the start of construction will begin in the first week of February. Mr Manmohan Singh said another unique feature was that allottees would be given their serial number at the time of allotment and if they wished they could oversee and check construction of their flats. When asked about the number of applications submitted till now, he said about 50 applications had been submitted for residential flats. The number was low as there had been a few holidays, and the response was likely to pick up. A total land of three-and-a-half-acres was being developed under the scheme. About 50 per cent of the land would be developed for commercial purposes along the Bhupindra road. Double-storey shops would comp up along the Bhupindra road with underground and overground parking. A ground floor shop and basement would be sold as one unit. The trust engineer said construction on the site had started and the first unit would be auctioned by January end. While the trust would be spending Rs 6 crore on the construction of the commercial section of the project, it envisaged a profit of Rs 1 crore. |
Badal to launch ‘revolutionary’ scheme soon LUDHIANA, Jan 4 — The Badal government is to unveil a new "revolutionary programme" for implementation during its remaining two year term. "The programme will reshape the destiny of the state". Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, claimed while addressing a big public meeting held today to mark the martyrdom of two Sahibzadas. of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. He also said pensions would be given regularly every month along the lines of salaries. He asserted that the Akali-BJP government had fulfilled 90 per cent of the promises and listed various schemes launched for the welfare of different sections of society. He blamed successive Congress governments for the present financial crisis in the state and said they had borrowed recklessly for unproductive ventures and the present government was forced to clear the mess. |
150 sarpanches tender resignations FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 4 — The supporters of Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur, the lone Akali MLA from the district, today held a protest meeting at his native village Shahpur, 20 km from here. Hundreds of persons including sarpanches and panches participated in the meeting. They criticised Mr Badal for not inducting him into the Cabinet. Various sarpanches offered to resign in protest. Later, talking to this correspondent, supporters of the MLA said more than 150 sarpanches had tendered their resignations for not giving representation to the district. They said these resignations would be forwarded to the Chief Minister. The leaders said it was due to the efforts of Mr Balwant Singh that the stronghold of Mr Tohra had converted into a Badal stronghold as was evident in the recent elections and political conferences. The leaders said Mr Badal had promised to give him a ministerial berth when he switched loyalties from the Tohra camp. Mr Balwant Singh said Mr Badal should honour the sentiments of the people. |
CM inaugurates bridge Jalandhar, Jan 4 — The Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today inaugurated a bridge constructed by people through ‘kar seva’ at Manko Jabbar village near Adampur. The Rs 5 crore bridge on the Nasrala choe has been constructed by residents of the area under the guidance of Sant Malkit Singh of Dera Santpur Manko Jabbar. Addressing the gathering Mr Badal said saints had been contributing to the social uplift and development and people should follow their path and should work for the welfare of the fellow human beings. He said his government would provide help in such ventures. Mr Sarabjit Singh Makkar, a local Akali leader, presented a charter of demands to the Chief Minister. |
Railway overbridge next year : minister BATHINDA, Jan 4—Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Cabinet Minister, said today that railway overbridge to link the trans railway colonies with the main city would be built next year. Addressing a press conference here, he said the Railway Ministry would allocate necessary funds in the next Railway Budget. He added the site plan for the bridge was being finalised. Mr Garg, who was accorded a warm welcome by residents here on his elevation as Cabinet Minister, said the Punjab Government had drawn up a plan to cover the entire city with main sewerage. He added that branch sewerage would be laid in the uncovered area as per the demands of the residents. Mr Garg, who is in charge of the SAD for election to the Nawanshahar Assembly seat, claimed that the party would win the seat with a handsome margin. Declining to comment on the possibility of Mr Sukhbir Badal being a candidate for the Nawanshahar seat, he said it was the prerogative of the party president, Mr Parkash Singh Badal to select the candidate. He pointed out that the Punjab Government was holding talks with NRIs to start a medical college at Talwandi Sabo in district. |
Bhai Ranjit Singh condemns hijacking HOSHIARPUR, Jan 4 (UNI) — Former Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh today described the recent hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane as sad and unfortunate but held the central government’s incompetence responsible for it. Talking to reporters after attending the 17th death anniversary of Sant Baba Harnam Singh at Gurdwara Khera Sahib near Garshankar, he said the Punjab Government, too, could not absolve itself of its mishandling of the crisis at Amritsar’s Raja Sansi Airport. But at the same time he asked why the three released militant leaders had not been tried in all these years. He reiterated his opposition to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal alleging he was anti-panthic, adding the Khalsa panth must be rescued from his clutches. |
Teachers oppose school head’s transfer BATHINDA, Jan 4 — The local unit of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) held a rally in front of the District Education Office (Secondary) in protest against the transfer of Mr Karnail Singh, head teacher of Government Middle School, Phus Mandi village, to Govt. School, Rajowalla village, in Amritsar District, allegedly for reporting copying cases of wards of influential persons. Mr Madan Pal Bhagte, president, of the unit, alleged that Mr Karnail Singh was pressurised to hush up the case. He warned the government that the DTF would start an agitation if the transfer was not cancelled. He said the DTF had opposed the move of the state government to privatise the system of education in the state. ‘The sikhiya karmi’ scheme is a step towards privatisation of education in the state," he said. |
Courts functioning in unsafe building PATIALA, Jan 4 — The district courts continue to function in an unsafe building and lawyers work amidst unfit surroundings as the judicial complex-cum-mini secretariat remains under construction for the last nine years. The complex project okayed in year, 1991, seems to be stuck from day one as one obstacle or the other blocked its progress. First it was the usual procedural delay in movement of files, then there was confusion on whether it should be built near the present district courts in the city or at the outskirts on Patiala-Chandigarh road. If all this was not enough, a fierce controversy arose over transfer of Mata Kaushalya Hospital’s land to the proposed complex. When last year the issue was finally resolved, work began on a war-footing but then again it slowed down to paucity of funds faced by the government. As the financial crunch grew, the funds’ supply further trickled down. The latest is that the work is at a standstill since June this year as no funds have been provided by the cash-starved state government. According to sources Rs 2 crore had already been spent on the six-storey complex, whose construction has reached up to 2 stories only with continuous delay the estimated cost has gone much higher than the original planned expenditure of Rs 4 crore. But apart from the rise in expenditure on the project, it is the continuous inconvenience of the Judges and the lawyers and all persons concerned with the legal matters that requires the complex to be completed at the earliest. According to Mr Sabh Singh Dhindsa, Vice-President, District Bar Association, “the present district court building had been declared unsafe a few years ago by the PWD, yet the court functioned from the same buildings.” Mr Dhindsa said the roofs of the present court leak during rainy season and the judicial work is obstructed, further the lawyers sit all crammed up in the centre area of the court premises. The lawyers’ chambers look more like a rehri market than a court room. Mr Dhindsa said during rainy season water accumulates in the place and it is difficult to even reach one’s chambers. Mr Dhindsa said the lawyers and the petitioners or others requiring some legal help are facing a lot of problems due to the non-construction of the judicial complex. “In the proposed building all types of courts — consumer, labour or tehsil — would be housed. Even the treasury store which issues stamp papers would be there. All these are now situated far away from each other in the city, due to their scattered location, valuable time of both the petitioners, and the lawyers is lost. Mr T.B.S. Gill Executive Engineer, when contacted said two storeys of the complex were near completion, he said funds for the first quarter of the current financial year were received but for the second or third quarters no money has been received. He said the government is committed to the construction work and assured that work would start soon. |
Nagar kirtan, langar PATIALA, Jan 4—The traditional nagar kirtan, held a day before every Gurpurab, was organised today in the city even though confusion remains on whether Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday falls on January 5 or 14. The city was decorated with colourful lights hung from one end to the other in all the main bazaars. School children followed the traditionally attired Panj Piaras in various costumes, all endeavouring to outsmart teams of other schools. Jhakis and Gatka playing children were the main attractions of the procession. Langar was served at several places in the city. The procession participants also distributed prasad. The procession began from Gurdwara Singh Sabha in afternoon and travelled across the old walled city to end again at the same Gurdwara. Mr S.S. Deewan, general secretary of the gurdwara, explained that the SGPC had decided to observe Gurpurab on January 5 but according to the traditional Bikrami calendar, Gurpurab falls on January 14. He said they followed the SGPC decision, even though other cities in the country may celebrate Gurpurab on January 14. |
New ministers visit Golden Temple AMRITSAR, Jan 4 — Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Mr Sucha Singh Langha, both of whom were inducted as cabinet ministers recently, visited the Golden Temple today and paid obeisance at sanctum sanctorum. Six new Ministers of State, Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Ms Mohinder Kaur, Mr Jagdish Singh, Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike, Chaudhary Balbir Singh, Mr Ranjit Singh Balia also paid obeisance at the Golden Temple. The ministers were accompanied by party workers and family members. They were honoured by the SGPC at its information office. |
Nagar kirtan held AMRITSAR, Jan 4 — Thousands of devotees took part in a colourful nagar kirtan near the Golden Temple here today on the eve of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. The religious procession which started from Akal Takht passed through Ghanta Ghar, Mai Sewan Bazaar and Chowk Chatti Khui and culminated in the evening at the Gururam Das serai. The Guru Granth Sahib was taken in a golden palanquin. Devotees showered rose petals on the palanquin which was accompanied by the head granthis of the Golden Temple and Akal Takht Giani Mohan Singh and Giani Bhagwan Singh respectively, SGPC members, religious leaders and representatives of various Sikh organisations, among others. The procession also consisted of school children in colourful dresses, brass bands, Gurbani reciting groups gatka parties and horse riders. BATALA: A religious procession was taken out on Tuesday on the eve of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. Thousands of villagers from nearby villages participated in the procession. Processionists were led by the "panj piaras". Volunteers of the Congress, the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal also participated. The procession started from Gurdwara Kandh Sahib and passed through the main bazar. The police had made eleborate arrangements to meet any untoward incident. Langar was also served at some places in the city. NAWANSHAHR: Religious and Educational institutions took out a nagar kirtan on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary eve. It started from Gurdwara Singh Sabha and passed through the main bazaars of the town before culminating at Gurdwara Singh Sabha. Thousands of devotees paid their obeisance at various gurdwaras of the town. |
Sareen is Cong leader in civic body AMRITSAR, Jan 4 — Mr Dharam Veer Sareen was today appointed leader of the Congress in the 60-member Amritsar Municipal Corporation. The district Congress President, Mr Jugal Kishore Sharma, announcing this in a statement said he had taken the place of Mr Inderjit Sharma who had resigned his post due to domestic circumstances. He claimed that Mr Sareen was made leader of the Congress as desired by the majority of Congress councillors. |
Official promoted CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — The Punjab Government has promoted Mr Paramjit Singh Rai as Director, Prosecution and Litigation and Additional Secretary to the Government of Punjab, an official press note here today said. |
Follow teachings of Guru: Jacob CHANDIGARH, Jan 4 — The Punjab Governor, Leiut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal in separate statements have called upon the people to follow the teachings and the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru. Mr Badal in his message said the creation of Khalsa by the Guru had universal significance. |
Power cuts hit life NAWANSHAHR, Jan 4 — Residents here have to face a lot of inconvenience due to the unannounced power cuts, especially in the morning and evening. Working couples are the worst hit. The erratic power supply has also been adversely affecting drinking water supply which further adds to the woes of residents. |
Gang of thieves busted, 3 held AMRITSAR, Jan 4 — The police claimed to have busted a gang of thieves by arresting three of the four members of the gang today. The SSP, Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, in a press release said the gang was responsible for many thefts in the city for the past six months. The recovery from the gang included gold ornaments valued at about Rs 1 lakh. Three members of the gang arrested were identified as Rajesh Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, alias Ashuand and Chanan Singh. The fourth member, Jathinder Singh, has absconded. |
Missing girl found in Delhi JALANDHAR, Jan 4 — The district police has rescued a 17-year-old girl from the clutches of a city boy who had allegedly kept her at his maternal grand-parents’ house in New Delhi for over three weeks. The girl, a resident of Jyoti Nagar here and a plus one student of the local MGN Public School, had been missing since December 16 after she left her home for school. According to Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, the girl was recovered from the New Delhi’s Hari Nagar residence of the grand-parents of Deepak Prabhakar, a resident of Model Town here, after Abhishek Sharma, a cousin of Deepak, who was arrested by the police, provided a tip-off that she was being kept under illegal confinement in his house. |
Four arrested for stealing vehicles ABOHAR, Jan 4 — Four members of two different gangs responsible for stealing vehicles in Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, have been arrested. All of them belonged to Abohar subdivision. Two cars and three motor cycles have been recovered so far. Mr Gurmit Singh Randhawa, DSP, said today that two Maruti cars were stolen from different locations during the new millennium eve. A police party intercepted a car heading towards Rajasthan. The occupants identified as Ravinder Pal and Paramjit Singh were allegedly going to sell the stolen car, owned by Mr Naveen Kumar of Sunder Nagar. An interrogation led to the recovery of another car. Two members of another gang reportedly headed by Sunil of Sirsa have been arrested by the Sriganganagar police. They have been identified as Charanjit Singh and Subhash, both residents of Patrewala village near here. A stolen Hero Honda motor cycle has been recovered. |
2 Pak nationals arrested BATALA (Punjab) Jan 4 (PTI) — Two Pakistani nationals were apprehended by the BSF near the Gania ke Bet border outpost in the Dera Baba Nanak sector in Punjab on Sunday night, BSF officials said here. Mustaq Mahmood, a resident of Sarafpura in (PoK) and Muqball Ahmad, a resident of Sialkot, were caught at the outpost without any valid documents, the officials said. The apprehended persons had been handed over to the local police, they said, adding that a case under the Passport Act had been registered in this connection. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Rangers have repatriated Surinder Singh, who was caught on the international border while he was going to cut elephants grass on November 29. |
Road safety week begins PATIALA, Jan 4 — A road safety week began from today in the city. In the proposed programme, district administration in collaboration with police and transport authorities would launch a drive to teach traffic rules to the masses by way of seminar and camps. Additional Deputy Commissioner R.S. Randhawa presided here today over a meeting of officials concerned with the week-long programme. It was decided that school children will organise traffic education camps at various places in the city. Special seminars about safe driving and traffic rules will also be held. Mr Randhawa said a number of accidents occur in the fog due to the absence of reflectors on the tractor-trolleys and rehras. The road safety week would install reflectors at the rear of such means of transport. Further, buses, three-wheelers found overloaded would also be challaned. Special pollution checking posts would also be erected. Mr Randhawa said the week-long road safety exercise would culminate on January 11 at a district-level function to be organised at State College of Education. A declamation contest, painting and slogan-writing competition on the theme of road safety would be organised. |
Traffic cops ‘flouting’ HC directions PATHANKOT, Jan 4 — The traffic police here is reportedly not following the directions of the court pertaining to the challaning of drivers. Even cycle riders are being challaned by the police. There are no fixed norms for one-way traffic. Some times the traffic is opened on one-way traffic lanes and at other times the same is closed without prior publication, causing inconvenience to people. Mr Sham Behal, president of the city Congress committee, in a press statement demanded the SSP to adopt a uniform traffic principle. |
Pilgrim killed in accident NANGAL, Jan 4 — One woman, Bholi was killed and 11 other pilgrims were injured when the jeep carrying them collided with a tanker near Dasgrah village here toady. They were coming from Jawalaji. Seven of the injured have been admitted to Anandpur Hospital and the other three have been referred to the PGI The driver of the tanker has been arrested and a case under Sections 304A, 210, 337 and 338 of the IPC has been registered against him. |
MC shelves shopping complex plan PATIALA, Jan 4 — Even as the project to shift the Municipal Corporation offices from the busy Dharampura Bazar and disposing the building of seems to be jinxed, the corporation has now decided not to go ahead with the construction of a shopping complex after demolishing its building as envisaged earlier. Now it is thinking in terms of creating a secure parking lot at the site. The change of mind has apparently come about as the corporation could not auction off its building at the rate fixed by it. While the corporation had kept a reserved price of 30,000 per square yard in the auction planned for last year, prospective bidders were not ready to go beyond Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. Besides, there was the problem of demolishing 35 shops built around the corporation building to make the shopping complex project a reality. As it would have to accommodate the owners of the demolished shops in the new complex, it was not turning out to be a sound venture. Corporation Commissioner K.S. Kang in an exclusive talk with TNS said there was also the social factor. He said a parking lot was needed to cater to the needs of Dharampura and other adjoining markets. He said he envisaged that the project could be given on a build-and-operate basis. He had called the architect of the project for a meeting to finalise the proposal as the corporation wanted to give relief to the people by creating a parking lot in the bazar. Mr Kang said a proposal to construct a three-storeyed parking structure with the possibility of a basement was being considered. He said he was waiting for the disposal of PUDA land in the city to calculate the realistic cost at which the reserve price for auctioning the site could be worked out. While admitting a resource crunch in the shifting of the corporation offices, Mr Kang said nevertheless a site for the new building had been identified and the Secretary, Local Government, would visit Patiala soon to decide the issue. He said the new site was near the National Institute of Sports (NIS). He said though this land had been earmarked for showrooms, it was the best possible site for the corporation keeping its future needs in view. He said though the Municipal Employees Union wanted to shift to the Fire Brigade office, it was not convenient for the public as building had only one entry. He said once the corporation was set up near the NIS, the adjoining land would be developed commercially more easily. The corporation has wasted a substantial sum on temporary and permanent accommodations which were now not suitable. While the corporation took up temporary accommodation in Chhoti Baradari on rent earlier, it has also payed Rs 68 lakh to the Improvement Trust for space in Chhoti Baradari whose total cost is Rs 1 crore. The Commissioner said while the office space purchased in Chhoti Baradari had cost Rs 1 crore, the corporation needed another Rs 50 lakh to develop it. He said it was not a well-thought proposition to buy the building and that it would be disposed of to some government department for which negotiations were on. |
Urea bag scam: 10 served with notices NANGAL, Jan 4 — Ten officials, who were the members of the committee for sampling and testing bags in National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL), Naya Nangal, have been transferred and served show-cause notices in the urea bag scam. In the notices served to the officials, the General Manager, Mr B.M. Ritolia, has asked them to explain why disciplinary proceeding should not be initiated against them for the lapse in their checking. The urea bag scam came to the fore in October 1999, when the recognised union of the NFL, the Fertilizer Karamchari Sangh, during a surprise check found the bales (a pack of 500 bags) of urea bags to be under weight. The company procures about 27 lakh urea bags, at a cost of Rs 2.39 cr per annum. The union had alleged that the NFL was suffering a loss of about Rs 1 crore per annum due to the supply of the underweight bags, besides the loss due to the poor quality of bags. It had demanded an inquiry into this alleged scam. Mr Ritolia in his statement to The Tribune had stated that the bales found under weight by the union were already rejected by the committee appointed for the purpose. He had also asserted that the charges of the union were baseless. However, now the transfer and show-cause notices to all members of the committee for sampling and testing of bags, has caused a flutter among the opposition union leaders and local leaders of the political parties. The local leaders, including Mr Ravinder Dewan, district general secretary of the Congress, and Mr Ashok Nayar, ex-president of the local municipal council, had alleged that these notices were an attempt to hush up the matter and a CBI inquiry should be held into this urea bag scam. One of the committee members, said they were being victimised. According to the norms laid down in the procedure for checking of bags, only five randomly selected bags out of a lot of one lakh were tested. This sample was too small to be valid. If this sample failed the effected party could get it resampled by paying a Rs 5000. Even after that if the sample again failed, the party could get it approved by paying Rs 1 lakh. The General Manager, declined to comment about the matter. |
Rice millers’ threat JALANDHAR, Jan 4 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association has decided to stop milling of the paddy of all government agencies from January 7 if the government failed to provide them with storage space and to concede their other demands. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Tarsem Saini, president of the association, said the decision had been taken in view of the indifferent attitude adopted by the state government towards a number of problems being faced by them. "Though different procurement agencies have purchased about 85 lakh tonnes of paddy during the season, only 15 lakh tonnes has been milled by rice millers for want of space to store the rice. According to an agreement with the government agencies, we have to shell the rest of the paddy by March 31. But as there is no space and due to slow movement of rice to other states, we would not be able to do so even till February," he said. The association demanded that the prolonged storage of the paddy would result in a moisture loss. Hence, the moisture loss limit should be enhanced from the current 1 per cent to 4 per cent. |
An orphaned road in Punjab PATHANKOT: The 22-km portion on the Pathankot-Jalandhar national highway has become a traffic hazard with problems, making the vehicular traffic movement disastrous. The condition of the bridge over the Beas whose spans have been damaged and the concrete connecting the spans have broken. Potholes have developed on the road, resulting in traffic moving on the bridge at a snail’s pace. Fear grips the bus passengers and others as vehicles move on the road. The condition of the dusty road is that heavy vehicles move on this portion for almost an hour and this is also an accidental zone. Official vehicles pass through this portion in full speed, polluting the atmosphere. The Punjab Government has been ignoring the condition of the road and no funds have been provided the reason being that this portion of the road falls in the territories of Punjab and Himachal. The Himachal Government has established two multi-purpose barriers to check ST evasion. The government is collecting a big sum everyday from vehicles that pass by. But it is paying no heed to development or betterment of the road. * * * Mr Kartar Singh, a Padmashree recipient, has expressed his concern over the indifferent attitude of the government for not providing adequate facilities to promote wrestling. Addressing a function here on the occasion of the 31st Senior Punjab wrestling championship, Mr Kartar Singh, a renowned wrestler, urged the government to provide all kinds of facilities to promote wrestling. * * * A two-day medical conference and workshop "On to the millennium with endo-surgery and CME-99" concluded here with success. More than 400 doctors from the country and abroad attended the workshop. Asia’s first-ever laproscopy surgeon Dr T.E. Udvedia; Brig V.K. Ohri, Commandant 167 MH civil surgeon, Gurdaspur, Dr SPS Sohal, Dr G.L. Kukreja, President, IMA, Dr A.K. Sharma, Dr Y.P. Gandotra and Dr Yash Pandey attended the meet. Dr Udvedia urged the participant doctors to take the noble profession as a dedicated work for humanity. He urged the doctors to adopt the endo-surgery system as it had become a vital need for developing nations like India. He ridiculed the concept of this surgery being the surgery for the rich. Mr Mohal Lal, Forest Minister, Punjab, appealed the doctors to serve people with dedication. * * * A one-day environmental awareness workshop was organised at the local Gulmohar tourist complex for the teachers. The Institute of Ecology and Environment organised the programme. Under the programme 20 schools have been selected for imparting education to students and promote awareness for healthy and pollution-free environment. * * * The World Economic Development Federation honoured Mr Suresh Gupta, Managing Director, Hindu Urban Cooperative Bank, for his contribution in promoting cooperative movement in Punjab at a function held in Andhra Bhavan in Delhi. Mr Bachhi Singh Rawat, Union Minister of State for Defence, presented a memento and commendation certificate to the banker. Mr Gupta told this correspondent that all the five branches of the bank at Pathankot and Sujanpur are being computerised in order to streamline the working. * * * Bewas Kumar emerged the topper in the top 10 singer artistes competition held here in the memory of an artiste Ashwani Kumar, who died at the age of 25. The organisers of the competition announced the setting up of an organisation, Madhuban, in memory of the late singer. A spokesman of the newly set up organisation told this correspondent that Madhuban would promote young and upcoming artistes in various fields. The organisation would also help them financially to enable them to achieve excellence. Vibha and Ina stood second and third in the top 10 singers competition while Miss Rakhi Sharma, Sohan Lal, Shally Mahanan and Jyoti Thakur were placed fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. |
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