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| Tuesday, July 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Decentralisation of powers CM gets assurance
on US Nagar Patiala-Sangrur row over regulator Floods damage crops in 23 villages Rift comes to fore after Surjewala’s visit
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Rally held
against power tariff hike Overarching development Act on anvil Punjab to complete 18 tourism projects Where civic amenities get the go by Pepsi maker told to pay compensation Border residents
for end to hostilities Power plant based
on cattle waste Steps to control flood Cancer hospital for
Talwandi Sabo
BSF shifts staff, to probe smuggling Husband, in-laws booked in dowry case
GND
University M.Sc. results out New interview dates
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Decentralisation of powers CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal has started a quiet dialogue on decentralisation of powers to the states and Centre-state relations with like-minded parties which are constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). An indication to this effect was given here today by Mr Badal. He was in Delhi last evening to attend a meeting of the NDA convened by the Prime Minister. Mr Badal said he had informally discussed the issues with leaders of the two regional political parties in Delhi. Mr Badal said the SAD wanted that the Anandpur Sahib resolution should be made the basis for determining Centre-state relations and for the decentralisation of powers to the states. Mr Badal today held a meeting here with a seven-member panel set up by him to prepare the party’s viewpoint for submission to the commission for the review of the Constitution by the due date (July 31). Mr Badal said he was happy that more powers to the states had become an issue in the country. The SAD was the first party to take the initiative on this front in the 70s . He said he was talking of the Anandpur Sahib resolution passed in 1978 in Ludhiana. At that conference the resolution was moved by former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra and endorsed by Mr Badal. There is a strong feeling within the party ranks for summoning a convention of the leaders of like-minded parties for discussing the issues of Centre-state relations and more powers to the states and for forming a sort of front in this connection to press the Union Government to accommodate the opinions of states on these issues. In fact, certain senior leaders of the Akali Dal feel that Centre-state relations and more powers to the states were political issues and should be dealt with accordingly. Certain senior Akali leaders say that the commission set up for the review of the Constitution will not serve any purpose. They argue that already the Sarkaria Commission report is gathering dust in the corridors of the Union Government. No one has cared to implement it. It is significant to mention here that only yesterday the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, had sought the implementation of the Sarkaria Commission report. Emphasising the need for a political initiative by the leadership of the SAD, Capt Kanwaljit Singh says that there is a no mention of more powers to the states in the terms of references of the commission on the review of the Constitution. He says that one should not expect much from the commission. He told TNS that he would take up the matter with Mr Badal for calling a convention of like-minded parties which were votaries of more powers to the states. Meanwhile, talking about the preparation of a memorandum for submission to the commission, Mr Badal said that he had discussed the issue with senior party colleagues at the meeting today. He said Centre- state relations was a vast subject. Besides, there were nine other subjects on which the commission had sought the opinion of the state governments, political parties and experts. He said that though the basis for preparing the memorandum would be the Anandpur Sahib resolution, other matters could also be part of the memorandum. He said the party would ask if the date for the submission of viewpoints could be extended. Mr Badal said the SAD would not follow any other political party as far as the preparation of the memorandum was concerned. |
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CM gets assurance
on US Nagar CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has taken up the issue of Udham Singh Nagar with the Union Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, convener of the three-member committee set up by the Centre to decide the issue. He also raised this issue at the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Delhi last evening. Mr Badal told mediapersons here today that he had conveyed his viewpoint to Mr Fernandes in Delhi last evening. No decision with regard to Udham Singh Nagar would be taken without taking the SAD in confidence. This had been assured by Mr Fernandes, Mr Badal said. Besides, Mr Badal and Mr Fernandes, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pardesh is also a member of the committee. They have been asked by the Centre to meet the people of the Udham Singh Nagar to ascertain whether they wanted to be a part of the new Uttrakhand state or stay within the Uttar Pradesh. |
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Patiala-Sangrur row over regulator PATIALA, July 24 — The Sangrur district administration tried to lift the regulators of the Jhambowali Choe at Khannawal in Patiala district and later also attempted to breach the Choe at Banga in its district yesterday evening to “save” few of its villages from being flooded. However both moves were aborted by resistance from the people of the area. Officials of the Patiala district administration prevailed upon the Sangrur authorities not to go ahead with the first move by representing to the Chief Secretary. A stalemate continued till the evening with the villagers of Patiala district and a small police force of Patiala not allowing a large contingent of the Sangrur police which included three Superintendents of Police, several Deputy Superintendents of Police and 10 Station House Officers from lifting the regulators at Khannawal. Sources said a large police force had arrived at the spot after a small one could not get the regulators opened in the morning. At Banga also people of villages who would have been affected by any breach there resisted any attempt to breach the banks of the Choe. While Patiala district administration officials revealed that a large police force from Sangrur made both attempts in an effort to save their villages from the flood waters, no one wished to be quoted on the issue saying the matter was in the notice of the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister. Divisional Commissioner R.N. Gupta also held a meeting at Khanauri today to inquire into the matter which was attended by Patiala Range Deputy-Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Gupta, Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Anirudh Tewari and Patiala Additional Deputy Commissioner among others. Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Anirudh Tewari when contacted at Khanauri however denied that any attempt had been made to lift the regulators at Khannawal or make any other breach in the Choe. Explaining the police force deputed at both places, he said as many villages in the area were seriously affected by floods police personnel were needed to tackle any eventuality. He however said the force was not so large as claimed adding there had been an “amicable” settlement at Khannawal with him, the SSP, Sangrur and the ADC, Patiala taking a collective decision in the matter. When asked about his statement a day back that the Sangrur administration was thinking of breaching the Jhambowali Choe, he said the move had been considered earlier. Patiala ADC R.S. Randhawa disclosed that it had been agreed that opening the regulators at Khannawal would unnecessarily flood 7000 to 8000 acres of land in Patiala and would not give much relief to flooded village lands in Sangrur district as water had already headed up over a 20 km long and 2 km width area. He said following this decision he had left the area. Samana SDM Manjit Singh Chhatwal when contacted at Khanauri said with the arrival of a police force from Sangrur early in the morning yesterday and talk of opening of regulators to ease pressure on villages in the district, the people of villages in Patiala district who would have been affected by the move collected at the spot. He said a similar situation happened at Banga village . Sources said the reason behind the incident was the suspicion of villagers of Sangrur that the Patiala district administration had breached a disputed bandh at Hotipur. This bandh has not allowed water to flow into the ‘Batisdara’, a natural drainway of the Ghaggar, since 1995 due to which water heads up at Khanauri and submerges crops in Patiala district. This year more water is flowing through the ‘Batisdara’ than through the syphons at Khanauri. The Patiala administration however claims nothing of the sort happened and that water was flowing into the ‘Batisdara’ and Sangrur after the Ghaggar breached its banks at Sadharanpur and Badshahpur. The immediate provocation yesterday was the accumulation of flood water between the Patran-Khanauri road and the Bhakra Main Line and the Jhambowali Choe after passing through the ‘Batisdara’ affecting several villages in Sangrur and a few in Patiala. |
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Floods damage crops in 23 villages KHANAURI (Sangrur), July 24 — The flood situation in the Moonak and Khanauri areas is still grim as Ghaggar water has spread in the fields of 23 villagers, out of the 26 flood-prone villages of the Moonak subdivision. Besides, the flood water has also entered in the inhabited areas of five villages — Moonak, Hotipur, Nawan Gaon, Surjan Bhaini and Mandvi — till this afternoon. Out of 26,000 acres of land of the flood-prone villages, the standing crops like paddy, chari (fodder), maize and Bajra etc in 22,000 acres were affected so far by the flood water. The flood water has also cut off road link between Moonak and Khanauri via villages as link roads at several places have been covered by the flood water two to three feet or damaged. Though the water level has started decreasing in the Ghaggar yet the water is still touching the gauge at 751.7 feet mark at RD 460 and 748.2 at RD 455 (Battidara) till this afternoon near here. Despite this the flood water has been creating havoc in the Moonk and Khanauri areas. Tension prevails among the residents residing on both sides of the Jhambowali drain over the issue of Jhambowali bundh built on the side of Banga and Bushera villages. The villagers of Hotipur and Nawan Gaon villages want that the bundh should be breached by the administration to save their lives as water has already entered in their houses while the villagers of Banga and Bushera side are opposing it on the plea that about 10 villages including Moonak on their side will be inundated if the bundh is breached. The power supply to several villages, including Hotipur and Nawan Gaon in the flood-hit areas, has also been cut off by the authorities on the plea that electricity current may cause loss of several lives at any time. Out of the flood-prone villages, the flood water has not yet spread in the fields or inhabited areas of only three villages namely Ghamaur Ghat, Ganauta and Karrel while the flood water has inundated the standing crops of 23 villages namely Moonak, Surjan Bhaini, Bhunder Bhaini, Salemgarh, Kabirpur, Wazidpur, Hamirgarh, Bushera, Rampur Gujjran, Handa, Kudni, Fulad, Chandu, Shahpur Therri, Andana, Baopur, Banarsi, Khanauri Kalan, Makror Sahib, Banga, Nawan Gaon, Hotipur and Mandvi. This correspondent today toured some flood-hit areas and talked to villagers. At Hotipur village, Balwinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh, Hotipur, said the power supply to their village and Nawan Gaon had been cut off due to which they could not protect the ring bundh at night built on the boundary of the village. They said the flood water was now in their houses but the administration had failed so far, despite assurance in breaching the Jhambowali bundh whose breaching could only save the Hotipur and Nawan Gaon villages. Gurnam Singh, a resident of Nawan Gaon village and general secretary of district unit of the SAD (A) said the Jhambowali bundh had ruined them financially as their crops and houses were inundated by the flood water. Mr Jugraj Singh Hotipur also said they would file an PIL in the high court to get justice. They today also met the Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, in the Khanauri canal rest house in this regard. Talking to mediapersons at the local canal rest house this afternoon Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, said the administration would take a decision by tonight about the fate of Jhambowali bundh including any type of breach to save the villagers. He said the relief operations in the Hotipur and Nawan Gaon villages were in progress. Food packets through voluntary organisations were distributed in these villages while the administration had also arranged 700 milk packets to distribute the same in low lying bastis especially of the dalits. Mr Tiwari also said the administration would also order a special girdawari to assess the loss to standing crops. He further said the administration had opened five relief camps at Badalgarh, Moonak, Rampur Gujran, Khanauri and Mandvi for the flood affected persons. He said (DC) along with the SSP, Mr Jatinder Singh Aulakh, was camping here to monitor and supervise all flood protection operations and boost morale of the affected people and the officials. Meanwhile, Mr R.N. Gupta, Commissioner, Patiala Division, and Ranjiv Gupta, DIG, also held a meeting with the officers here today to review the situation and take further protective measure at a grand scale. Flooding of Ghaggar blamed on Haryana FEROZEPORE, July 24 — Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon has said that the flooding of the Ghaggar and the subsequent devastation in several villages of Patiala and Sangrur districts is the doing of Haryana. He told this reporter here yesterday that excess discharges from two Haryana rivulets — Markanda and Tangri, besides Bibipur lake — into the Ghaggar flooded it to an alarming level. He said that in a report submitted to the Chief Minister, he had recommended a master plan to tame the rivers and the lake by constructing headworks somewhere near Pinjore. Mr Sekhon said he had urged the Chief Minister to take up the matter with his Haryana counterpart. Although the two states had discussed a proposal earlier also, the matter was hanging fire. It was for the first time in 40 years that the Ghaggar had been flooded by 2 lakh cusecs of water, he said. “Special girdawaris” of the submerged fields had already been ordered to compensate the affected farmers. Reacting to the allegation that the flood protection works along the Ghaggar were delayed for political considerations, Mr Sekhon said: “How can we be blamed for this when the issue was allowed to linger on for years by the previous Congress regime?” Referring to the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal issue, Mr Sekhon said the matter was pending in the Supreme Court. He, however, rejected the Eradi Tribunal’s recommendations and said that Punjab did not have surplus water for Haryana.
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Rift comes to fore after Surjewala’s visit JALANDHAR, July 24 — The visit of the All-India Youth Congress President, Mr Randip Singh Surjewala, to the city on Saturday has virtually left the Punjab unit of the organisation a divided house with two groups, one led by the state unit president, Mr Davinder Singh Babbu, and the other by the recently appointed National General Secretary, Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa, going public about their ongoing war for supremacy. Mr Dimpa, who is a former president of the state unit and wants to reactivate himself in the state unit also with the help of his supporters, including Mr Tejinder Bittu, an organising secretary of the PPCC, had organised a function to felicitate Mr Surjewala but the rival group did its best to thwart the programme. The drama started around 9 p.m. at the local railway station, where Mr Surjewala was received by Mr Dimpa and Mr Bittu. As per schedule, the former had to be escorted straight to a local marriage palace, where eminent citizens and Congress leaders, including Chaudhary Jagjit Singh and Mr Balbir Singh, MP, were waiting for him. However, Mr Surjewala virtually took the steam out of the function by not reaching there directly. Instead, leaving everybody waiting for him at the venue, Mr Surjewala, went somewhere else for about an hour. This led to speculation that during this time, Mr Babbu, who claims to be a staunch supporter of Mr Surjewala and who felt that the success of the function would be his failure, had been able to indirectly persuade Mr Surjewala to cold shoulder his rivals by not attending the function. Though Mr Surjewala attended the function, due to his late arrival mediapersons staged a walkout, which again is being projected by Mr Babbu and his supporters as their victory and as a failure for the rival group, which was planning to dub the function as a “show of strength” and to stake their claim for the presidentship of the state unit at an “appropriate time”. Political pundits consider that day’s developments as a temporary breather for Mr Babbu. Earlier, during the first week of July, Mr Babbu along with his supporters had organised a series of rallies at all district headquarters in the state and had burnt effigies of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, in protest against the arrest of Mr Surjewala and supporters by the Delhi Police. All these efforts of Mr Babbu in the recent past to show himself as a Surjewala loyalist might have worked towards a last-minute change of programme by Mr Surjewala. However, Youth Congress sources said it is yet to be seen whether Mr Surjewala is able to contain the rising strife among state unit leaders. |
Rally held against power tariff hike FATEHGARH SAHIB, July 24 — The Punjab Congress Sewa Dal organised a massive rally against the recent hike in electricity tariff and the worsening law and order situation at Nandpur Kalaur village in the district today. The electricity bills were also burnt on the occasion. Addressing the rally, Dr Harbans Lal, MLA, Chairman, Punjab Congress Sewa Dal said the government had failed on all fronts. Instead of providing relief to the citizens, it had burdened them with heavy taxes. A steep increase had been made in the domestic category of electricity consumers. There was an overall increase in electricity tariff by 9 per cent. He said only an exemption of Rs 200 had been given on each tubewell connection on the name of free electricity. This amount had been recovered from domestic consumers. A new tubewell connection costs Rs 1 lakh, whereas it was available only at Rs 10,000 during the Congress regime. He demanded that the rates of the produce of the farmers should be linked with price index so that their financial condition could be improved. He said the government should install tubewells at its own cost in the remote rural areas where the level of water was very low. He further said the government should install small scale industrial units in the rural areas so as to provide them employment. Overarching development Act on anvil CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The draft of a comprehensive infrastructure development Act is ready for being placed before the Punjab Council of Ministers. The proposed Act is aimed at providing a level playing field to private entrepreneurs and investors in developing infrastructure in selected areas (b) ensuing transparency in operations (from the calling of tenders to the commissioning of projects on a built-operate-transfer or built-operate-own basis) (c) integrating urban infrastructure development and (d) setting up a special-purpose vehicle to execute the projects. The Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, told TNS today that three technical members had been nominated on the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board. They were Mr Nasir Munji (Managing Director, Infrastructure Development Finance Company); Mr V. Suresh (Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Housing and Urban Development Corporation); and Mr Rakesh Mohan (Director-General, National Council of Applied Economic Research). The first meeting of the board is slated for August 3, when Mr Parkash Singh Badal will outline various projects ranging from key road corridors to overbridges, flyovers, ring roads and bypasses involving a financial outlay of about Rs 2,800 crore. The board is expected to give its formal approval to selected projects, firm up related operations and fix milestones. Projects are to be executed on a turnkey basis. Work on some of these is expected to begin in October-November. Mr Lakhanpal said financial resources for the projects would come from the issuing of bonds, the levy of infrastructure cess, the raising of money through the optimum utilisation of vacant government land scheme, loans from the Centre and financial institutions, alternative assets, Nabard, private investment and the state’s own budgetary support in terms of the payment of compensation for the land to be acquired for the projects. Initially, the following projects are to be decided upon and works allotted: A ring road to link National Highways 21 and 22. It will be an urban corridor. It will take off from near Dera Bassi (Ambala-Chandigarh road) and will be connected to Kharar going around SAS Nagar. At least seven bypasses are proposed besides 15-odd flyovers. For Ludhiana city, an elevated 2.5 km road is proposed taking off from the Jagraon overbridge and ending near the Chand cinema. The city itself will have flyovers on the Dhuri and Dandari Kalan level-crossings and one replacing the existing Lakkarwala footbridge, besides, of course the ambitious Rs 456 crore 60 km ring road to ease congestion. Three bridges are planned on the Rahon-Sutlej-Machhiwara Sidhwanbet-Shahkot roads and the Mukerian-Gurdaspur road. The projects conceived include three major corridors: Ropar to Phagwara via Nawanshahr and Banga; SAS Nagar to Moga via Samrala and Ludhiana; and Zirakpur to Sangrur via Patiala. The government is yet to find a suitable person to become the Managing Director of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board.  |
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Punjab to complete 18 tourism projects The Punjab Government is planning to complete 18 tourism projects worth Rs 3.77 crore during this fiscal year, the State Minister for Culture and Tourism Chaudhry Swarna Ram said in Delhi on Monday. “The state government would put in Rs 1.05 crore for the project and the Centre’s share would be to the tune of Rs 2.72 crore,” he told reporters. The projects include the installation of 12 km-long ropeway between Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi at a cost of Rs 77 lakhs. While 13 projects are in Punjab, five projects are in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and Uttar Pradesh, the minister
added.
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Where civic amenities get the go by RAMPURA PHUL (Bathinda): Civic amenities in this sub-divisional town remain dismal. Inadequate water supply, poor sewerage, encroachments, potholed roads, power cuts, heaps of garbage (almost everywhere) — these are some of the problems that are being faced by residents of this town, noted for blood donations. The apathy of the Municipal Council is visible in every aspect of civic life. Nearly half of the population of this town living in bastis has been denied even the minimum civic facilities. Most of these bastis are without water supply, sewers, street lights, brick-lined roads etc. Wherever facilities exist these are not properly maintained. The problem lies in lack of coordination between various bodies of the MC. The worst affected areas are Gandhi Basti, Mehraj Basti, Truck Union area, Farid Nagar, areas along Mehraj road, Phul road, near the Bus Stand and the railway line. Safe and regular supply of drinking water is still a mirage for local residents. They have to depend on ground water, declared unfit for human consumption due to the excessive fluoride content. Low water pressure is another complaint. The rainy season has brought many miseries to several areas, which have been inundated due to lack of proper drains. Sewers are choked in various parts of town. Residents complain that uncollected garbage on the streets has flowed on to their doorstep during the recent rains. They fear that the situation would worsen in the coming days due to forecast of heavy rains. Roads are full of potholes. Bus Stand road, Gill Kalan road, Factory road, Ajit Mill road and even Main Bazar have been submerged under knee-deep water. Residents allege that in the rainy season there is always the chance of incidence of gastroenteritis, jaundice and other water-borne diseases. “Last year dengue and water-borne diseases spread in the Gandhi Basti, but the Municipal Council and health authorities failed to learn from the past and hardly bothered to take any preventive measures this time,” lamented Mr Rajwinder Singh, a resident of the locality. Mr Pawan Kumar, another resident, alleged that the garbage collected in trolleys was dumped in parks and spaces near electric transformers, where it rotted for days and pigs and cattle would be seen wallowing in these heaps. Parks are also in bad shape. Absence of proper site for sewage disposal is a chronic problem. Some residents opine that this problem could be solved by linking the sewer with Mandi Kalan drain. While admitting that civic amenities such as supply of drinking water and sanitation are poor, the civic officials blame the problem on shortage of funds and lack of civic sense among the people. People, however, say the misappropriation of funds and inefficiency on the part of the civic authorities is the cause of their woes. Recently, residents held demonstrations against the poor performance of Municipal Council, but failed to move it. Mr Bhupinder Singh, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, when contacted, was not available for comments. Besides the Municipal Council, the Punjab State Electricity Board, too, has its share of woes. Power failure and cuts have made the situation unbearable. There has been an increase in the number of vehicles plying on its roads, causing traffic jams and accidents. |
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Pepsi maker told to pay compensation FEROZEPORE, July 24 — The Muktsar District Consumer Redressal Forum has ordered M/s Dhillon Kool Drink Beverages Ltd., Phillaur, and M/s Kataria Agencies, Muktsar, manufacturer and supplier respectively to pay Rs 5,000 each to Mr Sunil Kumar Khera of Muktsar. The president of the forum, Mr D.R. Singh Thakur, said today that the manufacturer had been directed to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to the complainant, Mr Khera, within two months of the receipt of the order. The manufacturer had disowned a sample of Pepsi bottle sent for analysis. The forum also held liable the supplier to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 to Mr Khera as it had not put in any defence that it sold sealed material. According to a complaint, the complainant on May 7 last year had purchased from M/s Kataria Agencies, two crates of 300 ml Pepsi bottles at Rs 192 each. On May 9, the complainant served his guests with Pepsi from the crates. After drinking it, the wife of the complainant started vomiting. Mr Khera examined the remaining softdrink and felt it was contaminated. He later examined a sealed bottle and found dust particles floating in the upper layer of the bottle. Mr Khera then filed a complaint with the Consumer Forum and produced a Pepsi bottle as a sample for analysis. The bottle was sent to the Punjab Food Laboratory, Chandigarh. On December 8, the forum received a report from the laboratory, saying that the contents of the bottle contained suspended matter which might be due to the disintegration and precipitation of caramel, the colouring matter used in making Pepsi. Counsel for the complainant said negligence on the part of the manufacturer could have taken the life of Mrs Khera had prompt action not been taken. The complainant had spent Rs 800 for getting the sample tested. The complainant had demanded a compensation of Rs 50,000. The forum in its judgement said: “The facts of the complaint and the seriousness of the matter have been critically examined and to our mind it is clearly established from circumstances and the evidence that the opposite parties have been negligent in manufacturing and supplying the lot of Pepsi”. |
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Border residents
for end to hostilities FEROZEPORE, July 24 — With no sign of fresh negotiations to end Indo-Pak hostilities in sight, uncertainty prevails among those living along the border. People from all section of the society in this border area have expressed reservations over the BJP-led coalition government’s policy not to hold dialogue with the military rulers in Pakistan. After having witnessed devastating affects of the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, the civilians in this border district do not want to see another battle breaking out, especially when both sides possess nuclear arsenal. All they prefer is that the negotiations be held to ensure peace in the region. Their reservations to the Indian position stems from the fact that Punjab would be the worst hit in the event of war. The Akali Dal, being an ally of the BJP should press upon the Centre for a dialogue with Pakistan in the larger interest of Punjab. While businessmen want reopening of the Hussainiwala route to put the Indo-Pak trade back on rail, the farmers living along the border fear devastation of their agricultural land in the event of a war. Not to be left behind, social organisations want cultural exchange. The Sikh organisations have their religious reasons to prefer cementing of ties with Pakistan, which houses important historical gurdwaras. Mr Manohar Lal, a trader, who earlier used to import dry fruits from Pakistan and export fresh vegetables from here lamented that previous wars have led to closure of the Hussainiwala route. “This had subsequently affected the prospects of Ferozepore from growing into a flourishing trade centre. What we have earned of political hostilities,” he asked. Mr J.P.S. Khanna of the Moga based Agro Industries Association expressed similar feelings. He pointed out that an early dialogue with Pakistan can ensure export of farm implements being manufactured on this side of border. Mr Sakattar Singh, a landlord from Muthianwala village, close to the international border said that the Badal government being a constituent of the NDA, should press upon the BJP for a dialogue with Pakistan. Mr Harpal Singh Bhullar of the International Bhai Mardana Yadgari Society that frequently take “jathas” to the Pakistani gurdwaras urged that the Akali Dal should not forget the aspirations of the Sikhs who want direct access to their shrines in Pakistan. |
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Power plant based
on cattle waste CHANDIGARH, July 24 — The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), will set up one mw power generation project, based on cattle and dairy waste, at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore, at Haebowal Dairy Complex, Ludhiana. It will be the first of its kind in the country. Disclosing this here today, Mr Charanji Lal Garg, Science and Technology Minister, said the cost would be shared equally between PEDA and the Union Government. This project was being funded by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) under the UNDP/GEF programme. The project proposal for this “environment-friendly” project was accepted by the National Bio-Energy Board, MNES for 50 per cent funding by the Central Government. The Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, has allocated 2.5 acres for this project on a lease basis for a period of 30 years. The Dairy Owners Association has agreed to provide sufficient quantity of cattle dung waste for the project for which a separate purchase agreement had already been executed. Referring to Haebowal Dairy Complex, the Minister said the complex housed over 1.5 lakh cattle approximately. It could be used for generating over 10 mw power besides preventing pollution. Steps to control flood TARN TARAN, July 24 — The local district police has identified the points on the banks of the Beas, Satluj and Ravi which pass through this border area to provide help in case of floods to the affected people. Mr Jagdish Kumar, the local SSP, told this Correspondent here today the police has identified vulnerable points of these rivers The SSP said a round-the-clock vigil was being kept on thee points. These points were connected through wireless to the district headquarters. Cancer hospital for
Talwandi Sabo BATHINDA, July 24 — Mr Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Shri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, said the government had directed the department concerned to prepare a project report of the cancer hospital to be set up in Talwandi Sabo as early as possible so that the people of the surrounding areas could get treatment. Addressing a Press conference here today, Jathedar Kewal said the Dharam Parchar Committee of the SGPC would organise a month-long “Gurbani santhia path-bodh and Shabad Guru parchar smagam” from August 1. When asked about the historical gurdwaras of Pakistan, he said the SGPC should be given the responsibility to undertake the “sewa” of the gurdwaras. He said, on the first day of the function Jathedar of Akal Takht, Kesgarh Sahib, head granthis of Patna Sahib Gurdwara and of the Golden Temple would be present. About 2000 granthis, students of religious colleges and employees of religious institutions would participate in the function. |
BSF shifts staff, to probe smuggling FEROZEPORE, July 24 — The Border Security Force (BSF) is learnt to have shifted its staff from the Mohamdiwala post here following reports of heroin worth over Rs 60 crore having been smuggled through fencing near it recently. Highly placed sources in the BSF revealed an Inspector and some other personnel were shifted after a smuggler arrested by the Kapurthala police last month demonstrated how he smuggled in 80 odd packets of heroin from a gap below the fencing near the Mohamdiwala post. In order to fix responsibility an inquiry has also been ordered. Although BSF officers are tightlipped about the development, the Inspector-General of the Punjab frontier, Mr Avtar Singh Aulakh, confirmed shifting staff from the controversial post. While the Inspector, identified as Mr Amolak Deep, has been shifted to Mamdot, the BSF officials are not willing to disclose the identity of others. The whole matter is being kept under wraps. However, connivance on part of the staff posted at Mohamdiwala is not being ruled out and all aspects of the matter are likely to be examined. This follows interrogation of Gurlal Singh, a smuggler arrested by the Kapurthala police last month. During questioning, Gurlal had disclosed that with the help of Waaris, a Pakistan-based smuggler, he had exchanged packets of heroin on two separate occasions from below the fencing near the Mohamdiwala post at Palla Megha village here in May. On both the occasions, he claimed a guard on the nearby observation post was missing and he managed to slip through the fencing to catch hold of the packets handed over by a courier from the other side of the border. Initially, both the police and the BSF did not believe this and suspected Gurlal of cooking up a story to conceal the actual route of smuggling. However, on being brought to Mohamdiwala for verification Gurlal demonstrated how he slipped through the fencing, which also is supported by a live “cobra” wire. Gurlal’s version that the BSF guard was missing on the both occasions, on the nights of May 17 and May 19, sounds unbelievable but points the needle of suspicion on the BSF staff. Although a possible human error cannot be ruled out, both the BSF and the police do not agree that this happens frequently. |
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Husband, in-laws booked in dowry case TARN TARAN, July 24 — A case under Section 498-A, 506 IPC has been registered against Gurbhej Singh, his father Gurdial Singh, mother Harbhajan Kaur, sister Ranjit Kaur, all residents of Basti Danishmandan, Jalandhar for demanding dowry and harassing Gurbhej Singh’s wife. Mr Sawaran Singh, resident of Sabhra village has lodged an complaint and blaming that his daughter was married to Gurbhej Singh in 1994 and gave dowry according to his capacity. But Gurbhej Singh and his other family members kept on demanding more dowry and his daughter was often tortured for the same. Now Gurbhej Singh and others have thrown her out of their house and she residing with her parents. Police sources said that the case was registered on Sunday and the culprits would be arrested. Police parties have been despatched for the purpose. |
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Five
held MALERKOTLA: The Malerkotla police has arrested Mohammed
Aslam, Mohammed Sadiq, Tahir Hussain, Sonia Arora and Kamal Kaur, in a case of profligacy. According to Mr Surinder Singh
Saini, DSP they were arrested from a cafe situated near the bus stand. A case has been registered. |
GND
University M.Sc. results out AMRITSAR, July 24 — The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Harbhajan Singh Soch, has appointed Dr T.K. Chadha as Dean of Faculty of Sciences and member of the Senate and Syndicate of Guru Nanak Dev University from July 1 to March 3, 2001. Mrs Chadha is a senior professor in the Department of Mathematics of the university. M.Sc. results: The results of M.Sc. (hons school-economics) (second semester), M.Sc. chemistry (I A) part-I, M.Sc (hons school) industrial economics (improvement) part-I and II, M.Sc. (H.S.) economics (improvement) part I and II,
MCA fourth semester and B Tech textile chemistry third year examinations conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University in April/May this year were declared on Monday, according to the Registrar of the university. |
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New interview dates PATIALA, July 24 — Owing to the clash in admission dates with Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, for NRI-sponsored and industry-sponsored categories, Punjabi University has rescheduled the interviews for these categories. In a press note, Dr K.S. Dhir, Dean, Academic Affairs, said as per the new schedule the interviews for MA and M.Sc courses would be held on July 26. Interviews for professional courses on the Punjabi University campus in Patiala would be held on July 27 and for courses at other centres of the university would be conducted on July 27. All these interviews would be conducted at the office of Dean, Academic Affairs, on the campus. |
Interviews for
MBBS course FARIDKOT, July 24 — Interviews for admission to MBBS course in all government medical colleges and Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana and Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar, which were scheduled to take place from July 21 to July 23 will now be held as follows: open merit candidates (July 31), reserved category candidates (Aug 1) and NRI candidates (Aug 2). |
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