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| Friday, July 28, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Review decision of FCI: Punjab Minister attacks government Advance party poll, says PCC chief Vigilance Bureau fights with hands tied
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| Police to prepare list of KZF activists JALANDHAR, July 27 — With a view to nailing down the culprits responsible for the Tuesday’s bomb blast in a private bus near Ballan village, the Punjab Police has decided to make lists of all smugglers, border crossers and activists of the Khalistan Zindabad Force in Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Hoshiapur districts. Surinder Kairon accused of patronising criminals
YAD crisis: Aliwal for mending fences No groupism in
Congress: Atwal Congress rally in Bibi’s stronghold
Action against PUDA men okayed FIR in Harpreet case
sought Fernandes panel
to visit US Nagar on July 29 Doctors demand
risk allowance Civic body plans demolition drive
Part of missing records found
Thrashing without bruises SP to probe ‘beating’ of woman tenant Businessman robbed of Rs 2 lakh
Library employees await salaries
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Follow-up CHANDIGARH, July 27 — The Punjab Government has urged the Union Government to review the decision of the Food Corporation of India regarding not procuring paddy in the state in the forthcoming kharif season. The Punjab Food and Supply Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, today contacted the Union Food Minister, Mr Shanta Kumar, on phone in Delhi to seek an appointment with him to discuss the paddy procurement issue. Mr Shanta Kumar will be here on July 31 and Mr Mittal is expected to meet him on that day. Mr Mittal said he had discussed the issue with the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, also and he was also interested to meet Mr Shanta Kumar. The Punjab Government is trying to ascertain whether the decision pertaining to non-procurement of paddy by the FCI had been taken at the Union Cabinet-level, the Ministry level or by the FCI on its own. Punjab is a rice surplus state as Punjabis are not habitual rice eaters. Mr Mittal said it was not possible for the state government agencies and rice millers to procure the entire stock of paddy and the Union Government would have to procure some quota of paddy in the state. Meanwhile, the state government has also urged the Union Government to extend the date for milling the remaining stock of paddy till August 31. Punjab is supposed to supply 3.35 lakh tonnes of rice in the national pool. It is to be prepared from the five lakh tonnes of paddy pending for milling in the state. The state government has said paddy could not be milled by the due date (July 31) because of various reasons. The state government is pressing hard to shift the wheat and paddy stock from Punjab to other states as it is worried about the stacking of the forthcoming kharif crop of paddy. No space for storage of the paddy is available in Punjab. It has a stock of foodgrains to the tune of 130 lakh tonnes in its stores. |
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Minister attacks government CHANDIGARH, July 27 — The Food and Supply Department was in for a bad day yesterday. At a Cabinet meeting, the Minister of Law and Justice, Mr Charanji Lal Garg, came down heavily on his colleague, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supply Minister, alleging that the Food Department had failed to streamline its procurement system and had been singling out “arhtias” and accusing them of indulging in nefarious activities, sources here said. Mr Garg defended commission agents, a vital link between farmers and procurement agencies, and said if they were corrupt, then those they were bribing were equally at fault. Sources here pointed out that when the Food and Supply Secretary, Mr P. Ram, presented the report of the Cabinet sub-committee that had gone into the purchase, marketing and milling of paddy which targeted arhtias, Mr Garg lost his cool. He is stated to have remarked that “arhtias” were always singled out while the officials who connived with them ware given a clean chit. He said while the Secretary was an honest officer, could he vouch for other officers down the line. Mr Mittal had a hard time defending himself and the department. He agreed that the department should be cleansed and all those connected with the procurement, storage, milling of paddy and the sale of rice to the Food Corporation of India should be made accountable. It may be recalled that The Tribune had exposed the nexus among various agencies that forced farmers to go in for distress sale of paddy in the kharif procurement season of 1998. Following this the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, constituted a committee of senior officers headed by the then Financial Commissioner, Development, Mr Ram Naresh Gupta, which made some important recommendations. Later a Cabinet Sub Committee under Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal was formed to study the report and make recommendations. This report was under discussion by the Cabinet at yesterday’s meeting. Mr Garg stated that in para nine the committee had singled out arhtias for collection of ‘illegal money’. Why and for whom is this money collected and where does this money finally land, he asked angrily. Mr Garg was Minister of State for Food and Supply until quite recently and Mr Garg and Mr Mittal were often at loggerheads. The sub-committee had said, “With a view to curbing the illegal collection of money by the arhtias from farmers, it was recommended that an extensive education of the arhtias should also be undertaken to make arhtias more responsible in conducting themselves in various marketing operations. Some other recommendations suggested that planting of varieties like Pusa-44, 103, which have a low yield should be discouraged and farmers educated to sow only accepted/recommended varieties. “The farmers should also be educated not to sow paddy seedlings in advance or undertake transplantation of paddy before the 10th of June every year and it should also be made clear to the farmers that the procurement season would start only from October 1 every year and under no circumstances, would be preponed”. A large number of purchase centres are ‘katcha’ and a number of purchase centres are opened in an haphazard manner during the procurement season, as a result of which the produce is not properly marketed and the procurement agencies find it difficult to manage procurement operations. There should be a well defined criterion for opening of purchase centres devised by the Marketing Board/Department of Agriculture on a permanent basis. To reduce the glut in mandis during the procurement season cleaning of produce at the farm-level needs to be promoted on a long term basis and bulk handling-systems introduced. Department and procurement agencies should ensure that only competent contractors be given the job of transportation and wherever any difficulty is faced due to inefficiency of the contractors, arhtias should be allowed to use farmers trailers for quick lifting of stocks as was done during the last paddy procurement season. Advance party poll, says PCC chief LUDHIANA July 27 — The Punjab Congress has requested the party high command to advance the organisational elections scheduled to be held in November by about two months to be ready for the “mid-term poll to the state assembly which might be ordered by the Badal government any time”. This was disclosed here today by the Punjab PCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, in a talk with TNS. He said his party was proceeding on the assumption that the mid-term poll to the state assembly was imminent. There were several indications that the ruling SAD-BJP might be preparing for an early poll. For instance, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal had already started addressing a series of rallies and distribute largesse among different sections of people to woo them. This was also the reason, Capt Amarinder Singh claimed, why the Badal government was not withdrawing doles to different sections, including free of cost power to the farming sector, despite opposition from within the Cabinet and outside. A deputation of the Punjab Congress also met Mr Ram Niwas Mirdha, a member of the high command, in New Delhi, the other day and apprised him of the latest political situation in the state. The deputationists urged Mr Mirdha who is chairman of the election committee of the AICC to advance the organisational elections of Punjab PCC in view of a distinct possibility of the Badal government going in for a mid-term poll in the state around February next year. The organisational elections to the PCC are due in November for which enrolment of fresh members and other preparations have already been completed. But the PCC chief, as also other party leaders are of the view that the process should be completed by September so that the party is ready to face any eventuality on the poll front next year. Informed sources in the party told TNS on Thursday that the recent spurt in the activities of leaders like Mr Jagmit Singh Brar and the former Chief Minister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal did not pose any threat to the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh. Meanwhile, the PCC chief was given a warm reception on arrival here this morning by a large number of Congress leaders talking to TNS, Capt Amarinder Singh launched a frontal attack on the Badal government for its alleged failure to check the deteriorating law and order situation, including incidents of terrorist bomb blast. The PCC chief said the rising number of rapes, murders, thefts and attacks by gangs of criminals in the cities and villages of the state was indicative of the downturn in the situation. The recent bomb blast in a bus near Jalandhar in which many lives were lost showed that the threat from the ISI-sponsored terrorism was very much alive. It was regrettable that the Badal government, instead of dealing with such serious issues, was busy harassing Congress workers and registering false cases against them in areas like Ferozepore, Faridkot, Dharamkot and Baghapurana. He also criticised the Akali government for failing to take up issues like the transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab, the distribution of river waters and the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed Uttrakhand state. He complained that instead of coming to the rescue of residents of Udham Singh Nagar district, Mr Badal had sold off his big farm near Kashipur and abandoned the Punjabis of the area to their own fate.
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Vigilance Bureau fights with hands tied CHANDIGARH, July 27 —”Streamlining” of the vigilance machinery in Punjab was effected in March last. While corruption continues, the Vigilance Bureau seems to fight it with its hands tied behind its back. The new system, approved by the Council of Ministers, was intended to speed up the disposal of vigilance inquiries and cases and make the bureau more responsive and effective. The “streamlining” was based on a study of models operative in other states to fight corruption. The views of the Vigilance Bureau, created in 1972, were sought on the proposed changes in the existing system, but were ignored. It had pointed out that in several respects the proposed amendments were violative of the provisions of the CrPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Moreover, investigations done by Vigilance officials were often on behalf of courts to which the bureau submitted its reports. Under the new system, reports were to be submitted to two committees constituted to “scrutinise” complaints and also oversee the performance of the investigating officers. Is this against natural justice? In fact, no direct complaint can be made to the bureau. If it receives any fresh complaint, it shall forward it to the Secretary, Vigilance, who will submit it to either of the two committees, one for gazetted and the other for non-gazetted officers, as the case may be. Only after a committee clears a complaint will the bureau process it. The options with the committees: are file it, forward it to the department concerned for action or send it to the bureau. This has rendered the bureau totally “jobless”. In the past six months, says sources in the government, there has been only one meeting of the committees. Of the 50-odd cases selected by the Secretary, Vigilance, the committees considered around 30. Less than half a dozen were to be sent to the Vigilance Bureau. Around 1,400 complaints were received between January 1 and June 30, but not a single inquiry was conducted or case registered due to the new cumbersome procedure which is said to be loaded in favour of the accused. It is common knowledge that departments and officials (the political executive included) adopt a “sympathetic” attitude towards the person against whom corruption cases are registered by Vigilance officials. Even the system of appointing chief vigilance officers in the departments has not worked. “The experience has been that the vigilance agencies of the respective departments are more or less dysfunctional as due attention is not paid to the organisational form and nomination of chief vigilance officers and adequate supporting staff”, reads the report. In respect of IAS and IPS officers who were in the vigilance net at one or the other almost all cases are now “closed”. There are half a dozen PCS and other such officers against whom no further action is possible because the administrative departments concerned have refused to accord sanction to prosecute them. Some cases are as old as 1993. Many pertain to 1997-98. Should the Vigilance Bureau not function on CBI lines? Interestingly, there have been two or three instances where ministers called vigilance officers in the districts, asking them to register corruption cases. When informed of the new system, approved by the Council of Ministers, they expressed their
surprise. At other times vigilance officers received “threats” from powerful politicians. The “accused are more resourceful than the complainants”, rued an IAS officer. The dilatory tactics defeated the purpose of all enquiries and investigations. Even making the investigation process time-bound has not helped. On the contrary, against 300-400 complaints received per month earlier, the inflow of fresh complaints now is far less. Owing to procedural wrangles or loss of faith in the system, the bureau has taken a back seat with there being no fear of the law, say sources. Most of the cases pertain to the Revenue, Public Works, Health and Medical Departments. |
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Police to prepare list of KZF activists JALANDHAR, July 27 — With a view to nailing down the culprits responsible for the Tuesday’s bomb blast in a private bus near Ballan village, the Punjab Police has decided to make lists of all smugglers, border crossers and activists of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) in Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Hoshiapur districts. Even as the Director-General of Police, Punjab, Mr Sarabjit Singh, who had formed a high-level inter-district team, headed by the Jalandhar Range DIG, Mr Suresh Arora, to probe the blast on Tuesday had hinted at the KZF’s involvement and not ruled out the possibility of the hand of other militant groups in the incident. It is suspected that the Jammu based KZF, headed by Ranjit Singh Neeta, had been involved in similar blasts in the region. The outfit is also said to be closely linked with different separatist groups active in Jammu and Kashmir. The inter-district team, comprising the SSPs and SPs (Operation) of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar districts, has decided to zero in on all of those, particularly anti-social elements belonging to Gurdaspur district, who have reportedly been crossing the Indo-Pak border in the past. After spotting and making a list of such persons, suspects would be shortlisted, detained and questioned. The job of making the list has been entrusted to the Gurdaspur police, reliable sources said. The team will also track down former terrorists who have settled down in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur districts. All those who have been associated with the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) in any way will be spotted. All suspects among those will be shortlisted, and questioned in connection with the case. In addition to this, the team has also decided to launch an operation to know the whereabouts, of Ranjit Singh Neeta, a Pakistan-trained militant and Manjit Fauji, one of the top Babbar Khalsa activists, for both of them were reportedly spotted in different parts of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir early this year. Even as after a lapse of four days, the police is still clueless about those responsible for the incident, which left seven dead and nearly 24 injured. Forty persons have already been questioned, but none of them has been rounded up so far. Unlike in the past, the authorities have desisted from going in for any activity which could be dubbed as witch-hunting. So much so, most suspects were questioned at their residences. The questioning revolved around their activities on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the district police has made elaborate security arrangements, aimed at preventing occurrence of any such incident in the future. In addition to an increase in the vigil on the activities of anti-social elements, the security network in the district has been strengthened by setting up “pucca” nakas on all entry points to the city. Mr Gaurav Yadav, SSP, said such nakas, with seven to eight police officials on a round-the-clock duty, have been set up at Pathankot Bypass Chowk, Rama Mandi Chowk, Adhi Khui Chowk, T-Point near Bholath and on the Nakodar road. Officials on duty headed by an ASI would check vehicles at random. Security has been enhanced at the local bus stand and the railway stations. Passengers have been advised not to touch any unclaimed object. Mr Yadav said these measures have been taken so as to instill a sense of confidence among the residents. These measures would act as a psychological barrier for unscrupulous elements. Meanwhile, a team of the economic cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee headed by its chairman, Mr R.R. Bharadwaj, visited the local Civil Hospital and enquired about the health of the injured. Mr N.S. Sahota, the president of the district unit of the cell, demanded that payment of the compensation amount to the injured should be made immediately so that they could get proper treatment and medicines in time. |
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Surinder Kairon accused of patronising criminals AMRITSAR, July 27 — A recent case of hooliganism at the Nehru Plaza complex by a policeman and others has left shopkeepers of the area shocked and angry. All associations of the area unanimously demanded the arrest of prime accused ASI Muktiar Singh and his brother, an Excise officer Karanbir Singh and seven others who had misbehaved and broken the shop’s property. Again on Monday, July 24 the alleged accused came the second time with about 20 to 25 persons armed with soda water bottles, sticks etc and threatened the owner of Surjit chicken shop, Mr Surjit Singh. Speaking to reporters here today Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Ram Lubhaya Sobti, president of the Nehru Shopkeepers Association, and secretary, Mr Ashok Kakkar, accused the Punjab Government of having a politician-police nexus to oppress citizens. Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, accused Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, a relative of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal of creating terror among citizens by intimidation, fear, and violence supporting the guilty etc. She pointed out that the “boxer” and “Mannah” gang alias Jagtar Singh was behind all these incidents of hooliganism, etc who is supported by Mr Kairon. She revealed that at least eight FIRs were registered against these gangs at different police stations. Six FIRs are lodged in the Civil Lines police station while one each in Islamabad and A Division area. Meanwhile other cases of police atrocity and negligence were highlighted in the meet. One case is of a missing four-year-old daughter of a newspaper hawker Vijay Dutt and wife Neelam. Their daughter Mamta (4) has been missing since June 12 from the Shivalaa Bhaiyan area. The police, Ms Kanta claimed had made no efforts to trace the child. Another case relates to Patti police station where Mr Shamsher Singh a member of the BJP Yuva Morcha executive committee was severely beaten up last night by SHO Mr Swarn Singh as he reportedly gave a statement to a warrant officer of certain prisoner’s presence in jail the day before, who was found missing later. Ms Kanta accusing the SSP, Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, of negligence and delay in action has demanded immediate arrest of all accused in cited cases. Meanwhile, SSP Parampal Singh Sidhu speaking to this correspondent said that two persons in the ‘hooliganism’ case at Nehru Place had been arrested so far. Investigations are on by DSP Chaman Lal. However, he said ASI Muktiar Singh was absent from duty and absconding. Reaping 2 paddy harvests each year CHANDIGARH, July 27 — Punjabi farmers known for innovations are reaping an unbelievable two harvests of rice each year. This has propelled the yield from an average of 22-23 quintals per acre to 50 quintals per acre in one paddy sowing season. Thanks to a new variety of fast-growing rice named after Bollywood actor “Govinda”, the farmer is sowing two crops between middle of April and October. Each cycle needs about 80 days to ripen. The variety has come from Karnal and is being used by farmers in Haryana and some parts of Punjab. Over the years, education among farmers, besides extensive research and latest equipment, has made this possible. This new development is the latest in the series of agricultural revolution in Punjab. Sampuran Singh of Raipur Gujran village, near Fatehgarh Sahib, who has sown the variety in 7 acres of land on a trial basis said: “I reaped the crop which I had sown in mid April. The yield of the crop sown in the first cycle is 25 quintals which is two quintals more than the yield of other varieties of rice. Moreover, the rice quality is comparatively good ”. He transplanted paddy saplings on upper level fields in the month of April and harvested them in mid July. The second crop is now being transplanted and will be ready for harvesting in October. “After a gap of 10 days, I will transplant the sapling which will be harvested in October. Earlier, I used to sow in June and harvest in October and the yield was only 23 to 24 quintals per acre. I was earning Rs 11, 000 for the rice crop over an acre every year,” he said. The new variety of rice sown on an acre of land would fetch Rs 25,000 every year. Moreover, there were no power cuts in the months of April and May and paddy fields could be irrigated properly, he said. Some farmers who were harvesting the first crop near Fatehgarh Sahib district today claimed that the cultivation of the crop is much economic if there was no rain which helps in harvesting. Moreover, approach roads should be pucca so that harvestors could be taken to far away fields. Though pesticides and fertilisers were required for each crop, the bulk yield of grain compensated for the expenses. “Aahratias of Rajpura and Khanna grain markets had started approaching the farmers and offering over Rs 500 per quintal, the farmers said. “The earning is almost double in sowing the new variety of rice. The labour is also available on reasonable rates for harvesting paddy in April. The water requirement in July is taken care of by the rains and there is hardly any need for power for cultivation purposes’’, he
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YAD crisis: Aliwal for mending fences LUDHIANA, July 27 — The stand-off between the ruling Youth Akali Dal chief, Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal and Mr Sukhbir Badal, former Union Minister, and son of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has taken a new turn with the Aliwal camp making a renewed attempt to mend fences with the CM’s son. Highly placed sources in the party revealed to The Tribune that a senior Delhi-based
SAD (B) leader, who claims to be very close to Mr Badal has been entrusted with the job of taking up the matter, with the Chief Minister and his son. The brief of the intermediary also includes, arriving at an amicable settlement, under which Mr Aliwal is allowed to continue in his post, at least for the time being, and at the same time, providing the dissident group, enjoying the tacit support of Mr Sukhbir Badal, with a face-saving formula in order to bring them back under the leadership of Mr
Aliwal. As things stand today, bringing about a rapprochement between the warring factions in the YAD appears a very tall order because having parted ways only a month ago, the ruling and the dissident factions have never let any opportunity go to denigrate each other. That Mr Sukhbir Badal had started it all, is almost a certainty, when one of the general secretaries of the YAD Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon rebelled against the leadership of the party president, charging him with ‘anti-party activities, failing to take the rank and file along and pursuing policies and programmes to further his personal political ambitions’. Claiming support of many other office-bearers of the party, Mr Dhillon had asked the
SAD (B) leadership to remove Mr Aliwal and replace him with someone ‘dynamic’, person who was acceptable to all. What happened thereafter was the usual retaliatory steps — the YAD president, convened a meeting of district presidents and other office bearers and announced the expulsion of five activists, including Mr Dhillon with the plea that discipline had to be maintained and the dissidents challenged the authority of Mr Aliwal to expel them. Not only this, a few other supporters of those expelled, resigned on their own, which deepened further the organisational crisis. Sources in the
SAD (B) and the YAD point out that Mr Sukhbir Badal is unhappy at being described as ‘extra-constitutional authority’ and accorded VIP treatment just because his being the Chief Minister’s son. In his over-ambition to gain legitimacy and some sort of political acceptance, he has been pulling strings to create a crisis-like situation in the YAD, so that as a damage-repair exercise, he could take over the reigns of the party. Whether the political move by Mr Badal junior, enjoys the approval of his father is anybody’s guess, but as is his wont, the Chief Minister did not take sides openly. If the ‘expelled’ general secretary of the YAD Mr Dhillon shared the dais with Mr Badal at one of the functions in this district earlier this month and even made a speech, it was Mr Aliwal, the other day, at another function, who was eulogising the Chief Minister and committing the YAD ranks to propagate the government policies. The Aliwal camp, which was more than confident of unstinted backing of the party leadership, did suffer a setback when Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar
SAD (B) general secretary and OSD to the Chief Minister said in one of his statements that the YAD president had no authority to expel any office-bearer and it was for the leadership of the main party, or the disciplinary action committee to initiate any such action. Having found that the party leadership, including the
SAD (B) chief Mr Badal, may not fully go along with them and in order to put an end to wranglings and fierce faction-fighting, the party might evolve some compromise formula and replace the YAD president, the Aliwal camp is now out to garner support of Mr Sukhbir Badal. How will they do it, is a different matter because the former Union Minister has lot at stake. First of all his ambition to secure political power in a legitimate manner and then the loyalty of
anti-Aliwal group, which had raised the banner of revolt against their own president at the instance of Mr Sukhbir Badal. In any case, if the ongoing war within the YAD comes to an end and a compromise arrived at, at least the Chief Minister Mr Badal, who the insiders say, is deeply upset at the battle of one-upmanship, being fought between his son and the son-in-law Mr Adesh Pratap Singh
Kairon, will be a much relieved person. |
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No groupism in
Congress: Atwal PHAGWARA, July 27 — Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Minister G. S. Atwal yesterday asserted that Capt Amarinder Singh, PPCC President, was the undisputed leader of the party and would be the next Chief Minister of Punjab. Talking to reporters here, he claimed that there was no groupism in the Congress. When reminded that party MP Jagmeet Singh Brar had staked his claim to the PPCC presidentship, Mr Atwal quipped that it was just a gimmick on the part of Mr Brar. When his attention was drawn to a parallel group headed by the former CM, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Mr Atwal remarked that there was a world of difference between Capt Amarinder Singh and Ms Bhattal. Under the dynamic leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh, who would certainly be re-elected state party president, the Congress was poised to win the coming Assembly elections, added Mr Atwal. |
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Congress rally in Bibi’s stronghold NADALA (KAPURTHALA), July 27 — Foreseeing of mid-term poll in February, the Punjab Congress virtually launched its poll campaign by organising a “chetna rally” in the Bholath Assembly constituency, a stronghold of the SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur. A number of populist resolutions seeking relief for farmers, compensation to common man by way of waiving a part of their domestic power bills, relief to traders and against vices like corruption were also passed on the occasion. Capt Amarinder Singh president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, predicted that despite the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s claim to the contrary, the mid-term poll was going to be held in the state. He said envisaging the poll in the month of February, his party was thinking to advance its organisation poll, otherwise due in November. Lashing out at the Badal government, Capt Amarinder Singh said the former had falled on all fronts. He denied that there was any rift in his party. A 10-point resolution was passed by way of waiving of hands by workers and leaders. The resolutuion demanded that to provide a respite to farmers from rising prices of farm inputs, rates of power motor tariff and fertilisers should be decreased and a waiver of 100 units per month should be given to Dalits and the weaker sections of society on their power bills. Condemning the rising unemployment, the party demanded that a strategy should be evolved to check the trend. The party also demanded a revising of the power tariff hike in the industry sector and urged the government to ensure the all around development of the state. Others who spoke included Mr Sukhpal Singh Khalra, the leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Jagjit Singh Chaudhary and the Punjab Youth Congress president Davinder Singh
Babbu. |
Action against PUDA men okayed CHANDIGARH, July 27 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has approved the action recommended against certain officials of the Engineering wing of PUDA in connection with a construction scandal at the Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology( MIMIT). The estimated cost of the MIMIT complex is over Rs 10 crore. Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for Urban Development, Punjab, told TNS here today that the action had been recommended by him to Mr Badal, who had asked him to probe this scandal. Mr Balian said that he had discussed the entire matter with the Chief Minister at the time of submitting the inquiry report to him Apart from recommending the return of a superintending engineer to his parent Public Works Department and also his suspension, Mr Balian had also recommended the suspension of an executive engineer, a subdivisional engineer, a junior engineer and certain other officials. Holding the engineering staff concerned responsible for the substandard construction work undertaken on the MIMIT building, Mr Balian recommended the recovery of the financial loss caused to the state from them. He favoured putting the amount under miscellaneous advances. He also recommended the blacklisting of the consultancy institute, Technical Teacher Training Institute, Chandigarh, which had provided the structural design of the MIMIT building, and of the construction agency, the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC), a Union Government organisation. Mr Balian said that the PUDA engineers failed to produce the relevant design calculations and the even TTTI, which had been engaged as consultant for the design job, failed to supply the relevant data although it had been paid for the work and was bound under contract with PUDA. Mr Balian got the design checked from a reputed architect and designer who declared that the design was grossly inadequate and the building constructed as per the design was totally unsafe. He also recommended that till further instructions the building should be closed. Mr Balian said that after his inspection, the design of the building was also got checked by a Roorkee-based design institute which also declared the building unsafe and the design inadequate. Mr Balian had examined structural drawings of the computer hall (academic hall), and the community and recreation centre and also inspected these buildings. Columns and beam sizes provided in the design were found grossly inadequate. Reinforcement provided in beams, particularly in mid-span, was inadequate ranging from 200 per cent to 600 per cent. The structural design of these buildings had failed on account of the insufficient size of columns and beams as well as reinforcement steel provided which was only 16 per cent of the requirement. The minister observed that the building might have to be dismantled and reconstructed as per a safe design. The architectural design of the MIMIT complex was provided by the office of the Chief Architect of the Punjab Government. The minister found that the agency engaged for supplying the structural design was not competent for this purpose. The senior engineers of the PUDA were duty bound to check the competency of the agency before entrusting the job of supplying the structural design of a prestigious institution like the MIMIT to it. Further more officers concerned should have got the designs and drawings checked before clearing the starting of construction. The NBCC was given the construction work without inviting any fresh tenders. The earlier firm engaged for the project had left the work incomplete. The NBCC further “sub-let” the construction work to some private contractors. The Principal of the MIMIT had pointed out defects in the construction of the building from time to time, but he was ignored.  |
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FIR in Harpreet case
sought CHANDIGARH, July 27 — Accusing the CBI of acting in violation of High Court orders directing investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur’s daughter Harpreet Kaur, her “husband” Kamaljit Singh today demanded the registration of a first information report in the case. In an affidavit before the High Court, Mr Kamaljit Singh stated that no meaningful purpose would be served by conducting an inquiry as the investigating agency “would not be in a position to arrest or interrogate the persons involved and as such they would escape the rigours of the law”. Elaborating on the difference between an inquiry and investigation, the petitioner added that direction for the registration of an FIR was required to be issued. The petition is likely to be taken up tomorrow. Directing the agency to conduct an investigation into the circumstances leading to Harpreet Kaur’s death, Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill had earlier ordered CBI’s Superintendent of Police at Chandigarh to proceed with the investigation. In his judgement, Mr Justice Gill had also asked Punjab IGP (Crime) K.K. Attri to hand over “all the material collected so far by the inquiry team” to the CBI officer. Mr Justice Gill had further directed the handing over of the sealed parcel containing the video tape and true copies of the affidavits filed by the respective parties to the investigating agency . Mr Kamaljit Singh too was directed to make full disclosure of the facts and produce each and every material in his possession in respect of his allegations to the CBI. Allow councillors to vote in MC poll Just a few hours before the elections to the post of president and vice-president of the Dharamkot Municipal Council, the High Court today directed Moga’s Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police to ensure that the petitioners, claiming to be elected councillors, are allowed to cast their vote. Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal also directed that the petitioners, even if detained in police or judicial custody, would be allowed to vote in the elections. “An apprehension has been expressed by the petitioners that they shall be prevented from taking part in the elections fixed for July 28 on account of their implication in false cases at the behest of the opposite parties who were being supported by state agencies”, the Judges observed. |
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Fernandes panel
to visit US Nagar on July 29 CHANDIGARH, July 27 — A three-member committee headed by Mr George Fernandes, Union Defence Minister, will visit Udham Singh Nagar district on July 29 to ascertain the views and feelings of the residents of that area on the question of their joining the proposed state of Uttaranchal. The other members of the committee are the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the UP Chief Minister, Mr Ram Parkash Gupta. The committee was set up by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, after Mr Badal took up the issue with him. Sikh farmers of Udham Singh Nagar district, opposed to their area being part of the new state, had approached Mr Badal last year for taking up their cause with the Union Government. Other political parties including the Congress and the Lok Bhalai Manch, had also raised this issue at various platforms. Mr Badal had expressed his concern regarding the delay in fixing a date for the visit of the committee to Udham Singh Nagar at a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance held in Delhi on July 23. |
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Doctors demand
risk allowance SANGRUR, July 27 — The Punjab unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will chalk out a strategy to fight for the rights of in- service doctors at its state council meeting to be held at Mandi Gobindgarh. Giving this information here yesterday, Dr Surinder Singla, Chairman of the in-service doctors’ wing of the unit, said the strategy would be chalked out in view of great injustice being done to in-service doctors by the state government with regard to pay scales, promotions and service conditions. He also demanded risk allowance to the tune of Rs 2000 per month for the doctors and permission to the doctors once in a year to attend one national-level academic conference to update their knowledge along with the reimbursement of all expenses involved. |
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Civic body plans demolition drive PATIALA, July 27 — The Municipal Corporation, Patiala, is planning a massive drive against the vendors who have encroached the Adalat Bazar roadside from the Anardana Chowk side towards the Quila Chowk. The Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Mr K.S. Kang, said that it would take a month’s time to remove the concrete extensions made by shopkeepers. However, the rehris clogging the market would be removed in a few days. The corporation, which has planned a demolition drive in phases, would start from the busy area of Adalat Bazar and then to the nearby areas like Nam Dar Khan road and Tripuri, besides other places, according to the Corporation’s Executive Officer, Mr J.S. Punia. The drive would cover both
permanent structures erected by the shopkeepers and the rehris. The corporation is also planning to stop the movement of cycles and
rickshaws in the market. Mr Kang said the one-way traffic system imposed by the authorities remained largely ineffective due to lack of proper implementation on part of the traffic police. Apart from creating a chaotic situation during the peak
hours, the concrete structures constructed by the shopkeepers on the roadsides have also obstructed the drainage system, leading to overflow of water in the rainy season. |
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Power hike
condemned PATIALA, July 27 — The Small Scale Industries Association, Patiala, condemned the steep hike in power tariff by PSEB, a press
release issued by the association President, Mr S.D. Bharat, said here today. Saying that the hike will adversely affect Punjab’s economy, in general, and the small scale industrial sector in particular, the association has demanded immediate withdrawal of the new tariff rates. |
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Booklet
released CHANDIGARH, July 27 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, today released a booklet, “Punjab di Chardikala de Tin Vare”, based on the achievements, policies and programmes of the state government. It has been published by the Information and Public Relations Department in Punjabi and Hindi.
AMRITSAR, July 27 — The 476 Battalion of the CRPF with its headquarters here celebrated its Raising Day today by organising sports events, a debate on national security and human rights and a cultural show under commandant Kirpal Singh. The chief guest, Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, gave away prizes to the winners. |
Part of missing records found FATEHGARH SAHIB, July 27 — The campaign launched by the Deputy Commissioner to recover the missing revenue records in the district has started bearing results. Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner, said with consistent efforts out of the lost 184 jamabandis, 73 had been recovered. Ninetyfive out of the lost 218 girdawaris, and 138 out of the 455 lost roznamchas had been recovered. He said one more week has been given to the circle revenue officers for recovering the lost record failing which criminal as well as disciplinary action would be taken against officers responsible for the loss. Circle revenue officers have prepared a list of these officials. The list has been submitted in his office. |
Thrashing without bruises AMRITSAR, July 27 (UNI) — The Punjab Police seems to be well trained in the art of beating up a person in a manner so as not to inflict any internal or external injuries on him. Young television mechanic Shamsher Singh of sub-divisional town of Patti in the district got a taste of this art, when he was allegedly thrashed by cops at Patti police station yesterday morning. His only fault was that he had appeared before the warrant officer appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to recover his uncle Lakhbir Singh who had illegally been detained by the Patti police on Monday last. After the warrant officer left the police station, Shamsher was summoned to the police station by the station house officer (SHO), who ordered his staff to teach the mechanic a lesson so that in future he does not commit such errors. Thereafter the cops thrashed the television mechanic using their fists and a leather strap (patta) which the cops in their language call ‘’aan milo sajana’’. The cops beat up Shamsher with such expertise that he, who appeared before newsmen here today could not show any bruises on his body. He, however, had a lot of difficulty in sitting and while walking. According to Shamsher, after the illegal detention of his uncle on Monday he had himself gone to the police station and given him food and tea. He had brought this fact to the notice of the warrant officer yesterday. The warrant officer had been appointed after the relatives of Shamsher Singh filed a complaint before the high court on Tuesday alleging that the Patti police had illegally detained Lakhbir Singh who was involved in a judicial case with a Patti-based goldsmith. The uncle as per Shamsher’s claim was released by the police on Tuesday at an unknown place after they came to know of the appointment of the warrant officer by the court. Shamsher, who is also a member of the state executive of the BJP’s Yuva Morcha, has shifted his family from Patti to the city as he fears that the police would harass him further. |
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SP to probe ‘beating’ of woman tenant KAPURTHALA, July 27 — Mr Iqbal Singh, SSP, today ordered an inquiry into the alleged beating up of a woman tenant by a lawyer. He deputed Mr Tulsi Ram, SP (Detective), to look in the case and submit his report soon. Mrs Renu Verma, who is a tenant and is running a clinic in one of the shops of the lawyer, alleged that on the evening of July 24, the lawyer hurled abuses at her for ‘causing damage’ to the drinking water pipe leading to the house of the lawyer. She alleged that the lawyer also gave her blows and dragged her on the ground. On the complaint of Mrs Verma the police has registered a case under Section 323 (causing hurt), 354 (to outrage the modesty of the woman), 506 (giving threats) 148 and 149 of the IPC against the lawyer, his father and his companions. On receipt of the information of registration of case against the lawyer, the members of the bar association went on indefinite strike today and boycotted the courts. In a notice circulated among the members of the Bar and judicial officials on behalf of Mr Tej Paul Singh, president of the Bar Association, the lawyers expressed anguish over the registration of a case levelling the charge of molestation against their colleague. A deputation of lawyers led by Mr Tej Paul Singh met the SSP. |
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Businessman robbed of Rs 2 lakh KHANNA, July 27 — Four Maruti car born youths in police uniform looted Rs 2 lakh from a businessman of Malerkotla here yesterday. According to information Mr Abdul Shakoor of Malerkotla was returning from Mandi Gobindgarh with Rs 2 lakh in cash. He left his bus at Khanna bus stand to take lunch at the back side of the bus stand. A Maruti car stopped near him and two youths wearing police uniforms nabbed him and asked him to came to police station for some inquiry. They took him near Doraha at Sirhind canal towards Rara and snatched Rs 2 lakh from him. He came to Doraha police station to lodge an FIR but they asked him to go to Khanna police station as he was nabbed from there. He met the SHO Khanna Mr Balbir Singh and narrated him the whole incident.
In spite of taking any action he gave him a severe beating and asked him to leave the police station. They met the SSP Khanna, Mr R.L. Bharat, who ordered registration of an FIR u/s 382/34 IPC. and 25/5459 of the Arms Act. SSP Khanna when contacted said that the police was investigating the matter and a special team, comprising SP (H), DSP (H) DSP Khanna, inspector CIA staff and SHO Khanna has been formed to bring out the truth. |
Library employees await salaries SANGRUR, July 27 — Since the retirement of Librarian of the Sangrur district library on April 30 two class four employees of the library have not received their salaries so far for the months of May and June as no one has been given drawing and disbursing powers since then. It is also expected that these employees will also not be able to get their salaries for the month of July as their salary bills have not yet been sent to the treasury. Besides this, the payment of wheat loan could also not be made to them as its entitlement lapsed on June 14. In the absence of anyone holding the drawing and disbursing powers Mr Om Parkash Goel, the retired librarian could also not receive payments of his retirement benefits like leave encashment and GPF despite sanctions from the authorities. Besides, payments to the newspaper agents for the bills of newspapers and magazines, arrears to the part-time sweeper, payment of electricity bill have also not been made. Meanwhile, the library is being virtually run by two class IV employees and the retired librarian who visits the library everyday as no one has yet taken charge of about 50,000 books despite repeated requests to the DPI (Colleges) and the Secretary (Education), Punjab. The two posts of librarian in this library are lying vacant. Due to this, new members cannot be enrolled and old members cannot get books from the library. |
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