Patiala police probing ex-chief’s role in
 criminal case
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, July 29 — The Patiala police has started investigations into the role of its former district chief Harinder Singh Chahal, who is presently posted as Commandant of a commando battalion at Bahadurgarh, near here, in a criminal case registered by a Nabha resident alleging hench men of the police officer fractured his leg with an iron rod after he failed to do their bidding in a court case involving Chahal’s relative.

The accused officer has, however, claimed that his name had been dragged into the case three months after the incident which took place in July last year as the present Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, was a classmate of one Bambi, who was the son of Karanvir Singh, who was involved in litigation with his relative Surinder Kaur .

Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu in a signed statement here without mentioning the name of Mr Chahal said two assailants, who had fractured the leg of Nabha resident and court technical expert in a case involving a relative of a serving senior police officer, had confessed to their crime after being arrested on July 16 this year. He said the assailants in their statements before the Illaqa Magistrate had clearly mentioned the role of those involved, including the serving police officer.

Mr Sidhu said the role of the serving police officer had been uncovered following "sincere" efforts of the district police and that the efforts would go a long way in assuring the public that nobody who broke the law would be spared even if he was highly placed. He said the role of the senior officer would be investigated and he would be proceeded against as per the law.

Seventy-year-old Shamsher Singh, who is a qualified engineer and had been appointed as technical expert in a court case between Chahal’s relative Surinder Kaur and one Karanvir Singh, told TNS today at his home in Nabha that Chahal had allegedly conspired with two police personnel close to him and two of their relatives to cause physical harm to him on July 7 last year so that he could not give his expert report in the property dispute involving the officer’s relative.

Mr Shamsher Singh alleged that he was approached by two police personnel Manminder Singh alias Neel and Naib Singh on behalf of the former district chief in April last year when the court appointed him as technical building expert to measure the disputed property. He said the police personnel requested him to help Surinder Kaur in the case but he refused to do so. He said he was taken to the house of the police officer in Patiala forcibly on April 25 where Chahal asked him to give a report in favour of Surinder Kaur.

He said following this he was prevented from taking measurement of the property once but measured it on the directions of the court on June 6. He said the police personnel who had contacted him earlier demanded that he file the report only after showing it to the police officer but he declined to do so. He claimed he was also offered money for this purpose.

Mr Shamsher Singh alleged that an assailant struck him thrice with an iron rod while he was returning from the gurdwara near his house on July 23 last year, adding the assailant was helped in his escape by another person astride a scooter. He said he suffered a severe fracture and had been terrorised by the attack due to which he did not record any FIR for some time and named the police personnel who had been pressurising him to do the bidding of the police officer in a supplementary statement afterwards. He said he had not disclosed the police officer ‘s role in the attack on him earlier has he feared for his life.

Mr Chahal denied he had ever approached Shamsher Singh or was in any way involved in the attack on the latter. He said the case in question was twenty years’ old. He said he had informed the SSP, Patiala, last year itself that Karanvir Singh was trying to get a false case registered against him. He had met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the issue who had directed the state police chief to inquire into the matter following which the Crime Branch had absolved Maninder Singh and Naib Singh of any role in the matter. He said two alleged assailants picked up by the Patiala police — Bagga Singh and Surjit Singh — had been tortured and forced into making a confessional statement. Bagga Singh had subsequently also appealed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court claiming he had been forced into making a statement by the Patiala police.

Minister’s effigy burnt, rally held
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, July 29 — Hundreds of general category employees and others today burnt the effigy of Mr Swarna Ram, Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, performed his ‘siapa’, took out a protest march in the town and held a rally to express resentment against the minister for his opposition to the Janjua Commission report and the alleged blackmailing and arm twisting politics being pursued by him and others.

The protest was organised by the Punjab General Category Employees Welfare Federation backed by the Brahman Sabha, Khatri Sabha, SHSAD, Peace Committee and others.

An awkward situation arose when Mr Balbhadar Sain Duggal, the BJP councillor, also joined the protesters against the minister belonging to his own party.

Protesters got a boost when two Congress councillors, Mr Manmohan Sharma, Ms Kusam Sharma, Mr Rajwant Singh Jhikka, district president of the SHSAD, Dr Des Raj Sharma, president of the peace panel, also joined them and addressed their rally. They demanded dismissal of Mr Swarna Ram from the Badal Ministry for his opposition to the Janjua report approved by the Cabinet of which he himself was a part and a signatory.

They also demanded implementation of the report against reservation in promotions. Mr Sham Sunder Sharma, federation’s state president, Mr Nirmal Singh, Mr Narinder Sharma, district president and general secretary of the federation, respectively, were among those who addressed the rally at Hargobindnagar — the locality where the Minister resides.

On the other hand members of the Scheduled Castes Employees Welfare Federation faced a lot of embarrassment when the minister did not turn up at a function held to felicitate him at the time of filing this report this afternoon. Though the federation had decided to hold the function at the minister’s residence, it had to shift the venue to Town Hall since the administration did not allow both sides to go near his residence to avoid any face-off between the organisers of rival functions. The SC federation wanted to honour the minister for opposing the Janjua report.

However, the district BSP president, Mr Ashok Sandhu, said his party had kept away from the SC federation’s function because Mr Swarna Ram had shed crocodile tears for Dalits and the party’s stand stood vindicated with the minister’s today’s ‘volte-face’ on the report.

Meanwhile, the Minister’s residence was cordoned off by the police for security reasons.

Telecom Dept directed to complete probe
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — Directing the Chief General Manager Telecom Department and other respondents to complete the inquiry into the alleged multi-crore telephone installation scam within six months, the Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of a public interest petition after counsel for the Union of India and others stated that guilty officials would be charge-sheeted shortly.

Pronouncing the orders, Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta observed: "Counsel for the respondents has placed on record an inquiry report dated January 27 conducted by the Sub Divisional Engineer (Vigilance) Mr Ashish Kumar, in the Department of Telecom, Patiala".

The judges also observed: "He states that on the basis of the report, the persons, who have been prima facie found guilty of the alleged acts of omission and commission are going to be charge-sheeted shortly".

The judges concluded: "We do hope that the entire process of regular inquiry will be concluded within six months. The writ petition stands disposed of with these directions".

In his petition, Mr Tara Singh of Samana tehsil had alleged that the contract for installing new telephones was given to private contractors in Patiala Telecom district "only on papers".

He had added that the work was "got done by the linemen of the Telecom Department and bogus bills were prepared to get payment for the installation of new telephones".

Claiming the scam to be of Rs 50 crore, he had added that 30 per cent of the telephone sets, bundles of telephone wire and G.T. poles were also sold in the open market.

The petitioner had also stated that no action was taken even though he had complained to the Prime Minister, besides the Telecom Minister, Mr Ram Bilas Paswan. A Sub Divisional Engineer (Vigilance) had recorded his statement on September 7, 1999 and November 25, 1999".

Move on Writers Home opposed
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, July 29 — Agitated writers here today prevailed on the Punjab Government to desist from the move to let out few rooms in the Writers Home to the Small Savings Department.

A meeting convened by the Language Department Director here to discuss the issue, which was attended by Principal Secretary, Higher Education and Languages, and representatives of various organisations of writers, saw the writers severely resisting any move to let out any part of the premises.

The writers pleaded that the Writers Home built next to the Language Department main building was the only such guest house built exclusively for writers in the state. They said the facility in which writers could come and stay in case they wanted to pursue any creative activity would lose its uniqueness if used for some other purpose by any other government department.

Among those representatives of writers who attended the meeting were Dr Dalip Kaur Tiwana of the Punjabi Sahitya Academy, Prem Singh Bajaj of the Punjabi Sahitya Academy, Ludhiana, Dr S. Tarsem of the Kendriya Punjabi Lekhak Sabha and Dr J.S. Narula of the Punjabi Lekhak Sabha. The writers handed over a resolution to the Principal Secretary opposing the move.

Later they also decided that they would take up the issue through their organisations also. Mr Tarsem said writers would also meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and apprise him of the facts. It was also suggested that the Small Savings Department could take up vacant rooms in the Central Library if it wanted some accommodation in the city.

The problem of funds to maintain the Writers Home figured prominently in the meeting, with the government representative saying, giving a few rooms to the Small Savings Department would solve this issue. Writers, however, said the Language Department should devise ways to raise its own funds for maintaining the guest house. It was suggested that funds could be generated through the publication wing of the Language Department.

Later Mr Sahi said that funds would be provided for any renovation work needed to be conducted in the Writers Home. He said the government would also not insist on giving part of the guest house to the Small Savings Department.

Sources said the genesis of the problem lay in the huge electricity bill which stood outstanding against the Language Department. They said the state electricity board had billed the Writers Home according to the number of connections in it which had been protested by the Language Department. The issue could not be solved and the electricity board cut the connection of the Writers Home. The matter has been lingering for nearly a year and now around Rs 1 lakh was standing outstanding against the department.

Sources said the Small Savings Department, which came under the Finance Department, had assured that it would look after the electricity bills of the guest house in case it was given a few rooms. Following this, a formal request was made in this regard to the Language Department around six months ago.

Presently, the Writers Home is in a shabby condition. Most of the carpets in the rooms have been eaten by termites. The curtains have not been washed since the guest house came up in 1993. The furniture is giving way due to lack of maintenance. There is only one chowkidar presently at the Writers Home, who is posted in the main building.

SAD to oppose US Nagar’s inclusion
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, July 29 — If the central government were to present a Bill in the Lok Sabha relating to the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal the Shiromani Akali Dal would oppose it in Parliament, said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Minister for Finance, while talking to The Tribune here today.

He said the decision of including any area into any state should be left to its people.

He said it was wrong to include Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal as the people of the area were against this inclusion. He said the Akali Dal had always stood by its principles.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said his party would advocate its stand on autonomy before the Constitution Review Committee forcefully. He said none of the other parties had ever struggled for the cause of Punjab and Punjabis. It was only the Akali Dal which had always stood by them. He accused the Congress of being responsible for all problems of the state. He said the Congress had never bothered about the development of the state, whereas during the Akali regime a record development had taken place.

Later, Capt Kanwaljit Singh inaugurated the office of an industrialist at Mandi Gobindgarh.

BBMB employees not paid salaries
From Lalit Mohan

ROPAR, July 29 — The BBMB management failed to pay salaries to its employees yesterday which provoked the employees to take to the streets.

Union leaders held a protest rally and threatened to disrupt power supply if their salaries were not given on August 1. It is for the second time since the past one year that the BBMB management has failed to give salaries to its workers on time. Earlier in November 1999 the BBMB had failed to give salaries after it got the central government’s directive to keep its public ledger account (PLA) positive.

Now once again the same directive has restrained the BBMB from paying salaries to its employees.

The Financial Adviser of the BBMB, Mr Satish Loomba, who is the Chief Accounting Authority in the organisation, said the partner states owed Rs 89 crore to the BBMB which amounted to 28 per cent of the total expenditure paid to the board. At present the Punjab Government owed Rs 36 crore, the PSEB Rs 25 crore, the HVPNL Rs 18 crore and the Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB) Rs 10 crore to the BBMB.

Mr Loomba said the BBMB had not been able to release salaries to its employees due to the financial crises persisting since the past one year.

The BBMB was managing by overdrawing from its PLA account. However, now the Government of India had restrained the BBMB, resulting in a situation where the organisation had no fund to release salaries for the current month to its employees. Since the BBMB had no resources of its own, the expenditure was supposed to be given in advance to the board, he added. Mr Loomba also declined to give a timeframe for the release of salaries to employees by saying that the salaries would only be released if the money came from the partner states.

Meanwhile, the sources told the Chairman of the BBMB, Maj-Gen R.R. Oberoi (retd) had rushed to Delhi to appraise the Ministry of Power of the financial situation of the BBMB. The Secretary, Power, had also faxed messages to the Chief Secretaries of the partner states to release the dues to the BBMB.

Excise Dept targets liquor cartels
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — As liquor cartels continue to financially hit each other by resorting to "undercutting" the sale price of the liquor in the State, the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department has decided to strike hard against them.

Certain liquor cartels in the State, especially in Ludhiana city, are resorting to "illegal" sale of liquor to harm each other. The department authorities have received several complaints from certain contractors based at Ludhiana in this connection. They have requested, second time this week, to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and to the Excise and Taxation Department authorities to set the things right.

In Ludhiana city, the Garcha group, which is considered close to the CM’s son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, has felt that entire auction exercise had been planned against it. The group had almost monopoly over liquor trade in Ludhiana city, but it got only a small number of shops this year.

However, Mr Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister, says that there was neither politics behind the auction nor had any specific group been targetted. He said he had implemented the excise policy approved by the Cabinet. "I was told to end the monopoly of liquor magnates and to involve the maximum number of liquor contractors to enhance excise from liquor sale. Ending the monopoly would be very beneficial for the State in the long run", he asserted.

The anti-Garcha group says that they have suffered a huge loss in the past four months because of the "illegal" sale of liquor. Ludhiana is divided in 11 groups as far as liquor trade is concerned. While two groups are with Garcha, nine are with other contractors. Anti-Garcha contractors say that many of them have only paid the installment for the month of April and May. The installment for June was due against them. Certain anti-Garcha groups have suffered a loss of Rs 45 lakh to Rs 50 lakh each per month. A member of the anti-Garcha group told TNS that each group was supposed to pay about Rs 90 lakh as excise per month. As these contractors were suffering such a loss, they were unable to pay installments by the due date.

He said members of the anti-Garcha group have offered the keys of their shops to the officials of the Excise and Taxation Department. "We have told the officers concerned to put their own men at the shops for collecting the proceeds of daily sale in the evening and depositing in the treasury. Otherwise the government authorities would not believe that we are really suffering a loss. The government has been told that there was no exaggeration in what they say pertaining to the loss and illegal sale of the liquor".

Senior officials of the department have tried twice for a patch up among the liquor cartels. A week ago many meetings were held with both the opposing groups, but it made no difference as far as under pricing is concerned. Department officials are trying for a patch up.

Mr Y.S. Ratra, Financial Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, Punjab, told The Tribune that he had told his officials to strike hard against those involved in the undercutting of the sale price and illegal sale of liquor.

Mr Ratra said he had told Excise officers not to allow the lifting of "Uchanti " quota for Ludhiana city from the various distilleries. By lifting such quota, contractors resort to illegal sale and undercutting of price. "Uchanti" is a word related to liquor trade. If a contractor has a daily allotted quota of 2000 bottles and the sale of liquor at his shop is only of 1200 bottles, the unsold quota is called "Uchanti". Such quota is often sold by the contractor concerned to other contractors on whose shops the sale of liquor is more than the allotted quota.

Anti-graft drive ‘fruitful’
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, July 29 — The government campaign against corruption has started bearing results but the government alone can’t wipe it out. People’s cooperation is a must. This was stated by Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Minister for Irrigation, while talking to mediapersons here today.

He said since he had taken action, more and more information on scams and corruption has started pouring in. He said in a raid at the Dhusi bandh, he had found embezzlement totalling Rs 32 lakh and had suspended an SDO and two JEs on the spot.

He said 80 per cent water logging had been controlled in Muktsar. Bathinda and Faridkot districts at a cost of Rs 250 crore. The Thein Dam, a major project of the state, would start functioning in September.

He said with the commissioning of this Rs 800 crore project, the state would get 600 mw more electricity. So there would be no shortage of power. He said the surplus staff would be employed at the Shahpur Kandi barrage project which would be completed in a record time at a cost of Rs 200 crore.

Later, addressing a gathering at Jameetgarh village where a function was organised to honour him, he said the state had awarded a project worth Rs 370 crore to NABARD for a 25 per cent increase in the capacity of irrigation water in canals and minors for better irrigation facilities.

He said Dashmesh Canal from Ropar to Patiala was being constructed so that the problem of drinking water and irrigation could be solved in Ropar, Patiala and Sangrur areas.

Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner, highlighted various ongoing projects in the district.

Earlier, Mr Sekhon laid the foundation stone of three link roads in the district and gave cheques worth Rs 17 lakh to 32 panchayats for various development projects.

Mr Didar Singh Bhatti and Mr Rajesh Paul Singh Lalli, senior Akali leaders, Mr Gurmeet Singh, sarpanch, and Mr Karamjit Singh Bhagrana also addressed the function.

Interestingly, the district SAD president and an Akali group did not participate in the function.

POLITICS

Rift in PPCC comes to the fore
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, July 29 — Many former ministers, MLAs and office-bearers of the PPCC hailing from the border belt have written to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, president of the Indian National Congress, to take disciplinary action against Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a former Chief Minister, for criticising PPCC chief Amarinder Singh.

Addressing a joint press conference, Master Jagir Singh, Vice-President of the PPCC, Maj Rajbir Singh Ajnala, organising secretary, Mr Sardul Singh, a former minister, Prof Darbari Lal, a former MLA, and Mr Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, president, District Congress Committee (Rural) alleged that Mrs Bhattal had violated party discipline by criticising the PPCC chief in public.

Mrs Bhattal had stated in a section of the press that Mr Amarinder Singh should refrain from projecting a "communal" image. She had stated that though Mr Amarinder Singh had an Akali background, he must now adopt the Congress culture.

The leaders criticised Mrs Bhattal for not attending protest rallies being organised by the PPCC. They said her utterances at a time when there was a possibility of mid-term elections could harm the party.

Interestingly, Mr Amarinder Singh had yesterday denied dissension within the Congress. He had stated that the PPCC was ready to fave mid-term elections unitedly.

The Congress leaders said most of the eminent Congress leaders had come from the Shiromani Akali Dal, Master Jagir Singh, vice-president of the PPCC, said he himself had an Akali background. The Congress leaders claimed that Partap Singh Kairon, Mr Gurmukh Singh Musafir, Giani Zail Singh — all former Chief Ministers — and many other senior Congress leaders had an Akali background. They said all had contributed a lot to the Congress after joining the party.

They said Mr Amarinder Singh had strengthened the party after taking over as the PPCC chief. The Congress candidate had won the Adampur byelection after 32 years. Apart from this, the Congress had won eight Lok Sabha seats during the presidentship of Mr Amarinder Singh.

Bhattal’s statement criticised
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — Several former Congress ministers and senior leaders today took strong exception to the statement issued by Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a former Chief Minister, with regard to" Sikhivad" in the Congress.

Releasing a statement on behalf of four former Congress ministers, two former MLAs and three senior leaders, Mr Jasjit Singh Randhawa expressed surprise over the reported statement of Mrs Bhattal that "Sikhivad" would not be allowed in the Congress. Mr Randhawa further said to be a part of Sikhism amounted to spreading the message of equality among all human beings irrespective of their religion, caste and creed, etc.

Talking about the killings of 38 Sikhs in Udham Singh Nagar district in recent weeks, Congress leaders said it was unfortunate that the killers had not been arrested so far. They said Mr Parkash Singh Badal was maintaining silence on this issue as he did not want to annoy the BJP government in UP and at the Centre.

The leaders said the party leadership had been urged for advancing the organisational election in Punjab as it was expecting mid-term assembly poll in the state any time. They said the observations made by Mrs Bhattal with regard to demand for advancing the organisational election had no substance.

The statement has been issued on behalf of Mr Harnek Singh Gharuan, Col C.D. Singh Kamboj (retired), Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar, Mr Mahinder Singh Kaypee, Mr Mahinder Singh Rinwa, Mr Surinder Pal Singh Sibia, Mr Tej Partap Singh Bath, Mr Raminder Singh Babbal and Mr Hans Raj Joshan.

COMMUNITY

SPIC MACAY to enthral Punjabis

AMRITSAR, July 29 (UNI) — Perhaps for the first time since Independence, the people of Punjab will have a rare opportunity to be a part of ‘Virasat’ — a month-long festival comprising of classical music and dance, art, literature, crafts, theatre, cinema and yoga.

Beginning on August 28 in this holy city, ‘Virasat’ will be spread over 14 cities and towns of the state. In all, 150 programmes or shows projecting the rich cultural heritage of India will be stated in educational institutions, thereby providing a rare opportunity to both the old and the young to get an insight into the richness of Indian classical music, dance and theatre.

‘Virasat’ will be a confluence of living legends like Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Jasraj, Pareen Sultana, M.S. Subhalakshmi, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Amjad Ali Khan, Bismillah Khan, Birju Maharaj, Mallika Sarabhai and Leela Samson. All these artistes and a number of others are expected to take part in this festival, which will end on October 1.

This cultural festival is being staged by SPIC MACAY, a non-governmental organisation which has in the recent years been at the forefront in promoting Indian art and culture. Though there have been a number of cultural festivals in Punjab in the past, a show of such magnitude has never been staged here.

Mrs Manveen Sandhu, the Punjab coordinator for SPIC MACAY here today said ‘Virasat Punjab’ would be dedicated to Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Bhai Vir Singh, father of modern Punjabi literature.

Besides this, the festival would also be a tribute to Ustad Allah Rakha Khan who was born in Gurdaspur and passed away just recently, she added.

Mrs Sandhu said ‘Virasat’ was first organised in Punjab in 1996 but it was on a very small scale. This is for the first time that a festival of such a magnitude featuring some of the leading exponents of Indian art and culture will set foot in this border state, she added.

SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture amongst Youth) would also hold yoga camps at all 14 places where ‘Virasat’ would be staged. Talks by eminent people like artist Manjit Bawa, musicologist Raghav Menon and archaeologist Gurmit Rai would also be held to benefit teachers and students, she said. A film festival on Satyajit Ray’s films would also be held, she added.

According to Mrs Sandhu, the inaugural show of ‘Virasat’ on August 28 would be held at the local Khalsa College with instrumentalists Hari Prasad Chaurasia and Niladri Kumar and kathak danseuse Uma Sharma giving their performances.

Inaugural nights at each of the 14 centres of the state would be the main attraction with maestros in classical music giving night-long performances, she added.

Excise offices to be computerised
From Our Correspondent

HOSHIARPUR, July 29 — Computerisation of the Excise and Taxation Department offices at all district headquarters in Punjab will be done next year to streamline the sales tax work in the state.

This was announced by Mr Tikshan Sud, State Minister for Excise and Taxation, while addressing a press conference at the PWD Rest House here today. He said the computerisation at the department headquarters had already been done.

Mr Sud said that on the persistent demand of the sales tax assessees, the period of the deemed assessment scheme had been extended to December 31, 2000. Any sales tax assessee could file his return for assessment of his sales tax case for 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1997-98 under this scheme.

After detection of sales tax evaders, the annual sales tax revenue had been increased to 33 per cent during the last financial year.

It would be further increased from Rs 2000 crore to Rs 3000 crore during the current financial year.

The facility for sales tax exemption to certain industrial units in state had also been withdrawn.

Mr Sud, who represents Hoshiarpur segment in the state assembly, explained various projects for the development of the city.

Punjab to set up 500 solar tubewells

PATIALA, July 29 (UNI) — The Punjab Government has drawn an ambitious plan to set up 500 solar tubewells at highly subsidised rates for the farmers in the state.

Stating this here today, Punjab Minister for Science and Technology Chiranji Lal Garg, said that each solar tubewell would cost farmers as low as Rs 35,000, while the state government would bear Rs 60,000 per unit. The rest of the cost would be paid by the Union Government, the Minister added.

A survey conducted by the Water Resource Department had identified 36 blocks of Bathinda, Muktsar, Amritsar, Patiala, Faridkot and Moga districts for this ambitious plan, he said adding that the project would initially be started in 12 blocks.

Mr Garg said 130 mini-hydel projects ranging from one mw to 7 mw were being set up in the state and the power from such units would be added to the state electricity board grid. Big companies like TATAs and BHEL have come forward to set up these mini-hydel projects which would ease power position in the state, the Minister added.

Enhance house rent allowance: Walia
Tribune News Service 

PATIALA, July 29 — The Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Punjab State Employees Federation President, Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, has said the people of Patiala were “irritated” with the state government for not giving fifteen per cent House Rent Allowance to government employees of the city, adding that his federation would be forced to agitate if the allowance was not enhanced in two months.

Addressing a press conference, here, to give details of the various district level conventions being held by his federation in the state, Mr Walia said the people had a right to feel irritated with the state government for not enhancing house rent of government employees of the city despite the city having been upgraded to a corporation since two years.

He, however, said the Akali Dal was committed to implementing the promise which had been made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal two years earlier. He said the federation had also met the Chief Minister in this regard.

Mr Walia said his federation was undertaking a vigorous membership drive to enroll government employees, corporation employees and unorganised labour.

The federation leader disclosed that his organisation had also pursued the case of getting the recommendations of the pay commission as well as those of the Anomaly Committee report implemented fully. He said steps were also being taken to ensure a uniform promotion policy in the Punjab State Electricity Board.

Rice millers condemn Centre’s decision
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, July 29 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association has condemned the Union Government’s decision of not allowing the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure paddy during the Kharif season in Punjab.

In a press note, the association president, Mr Tarsem Lal Saini and organising secretary, Mr Gian Chand Sofat, have urged the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal and the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr M.M. Mittal to take up the issue with the Union Government to reconsider its decision, as the state and its agencies would not be in a position to bear the entire burden to procure the huge stocks as they had already suffered heavy losses in the paddy milling operations over the last 5 years due to natural calamities.

Mr Saini suggested that instead of disallowing the FCI from purchasing paddy in Punjab, the corporation should be entrusted with the responsibilty of procurement as it was equipped with the necessary technical expertise and staff, whereas the state government did not have any such resources. Moreover, Mr Saini said that the FCI had its own godowns for storage of paddy while the state agencies would have to store the paddy in the open.

He has further alleged that custom milling of paddy was not viable as the driage allowance was reduced to 1 per cent milling charges, while the expenditure on electricty, labour and transportation had increased manifold.

Mr Saini has said that neither the levy route was viable to the rice millers, nor the custom milling of paddy, which meant that the millers were left with no option except to close down their premises during the coming Kharif season with the result that the farming community would be facing a lot of hardships.

Pensioners’ panel seeks PM’s help
From Our Correspondent

JALANDHAR, July 29 — The All-India Central Government Pensioners Association has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for issuing of a government notification granting status of senior citizens to all Indians, who are 60 years of age or more in view of the policy decision taken by the Central Government in January, 1999, while formulating the national policy for older persons.

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had conveyed this policy decision to Mr V.S. Jolly, general secretary, Central Government Pensioners Association (North India region). Mr Jolly said that in a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister today, the association expressed apprehension that the government was trying to go back on the policy decision taken in January last year.

Panther creates panic

ROPAR, July 29 (PTI) — A panther has created a panic in about a dozen villages in and around Morinda and Chamkaur Sahib towns of Ropar district.

The police has started patrolling villages of the area. The panther has so far eaten two goats.

The Forest and Wildlife Department has been informed about the panther.

Govt not recruiting blind: panel
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, July 29 — The National Federation of the Blind, Punjab, has alleged that some of the government departments were recruiting candidates who were not completely blind. In a press note issued here yesterday, Mr Gopal Krishan Kaushal, president of the NFBP, said blind candidates were not being recruited and the jobs were being given to others. He alleged that the Department of Education of the Punjab Government was not giving jobs to blind candidates for whom the seats were reserved.

Scribe dead
Tribune News Service

SANGRUR, July 29 — Mr Dev Raj Garg (50), a local correspondent of Dainik Tribune and the Hind Samachar group of papers, died of cardiac arrest at the DMC, Ludhiana, this morning.

He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Sarpanches allege threat to life
From Our Correspondent

ROPAR, July 29 – The three sarpanches of villages falling in Anandgarh area have alleged that they were being threatened by the members of the Anandgarh Bachao Sangharsh Committee.

Mr Avtar Singh, sarpanch of Chakra Majra village, Jag Givan Lal of Triah and Mrs Ved Vatti of Thoga village alleged that the members of the committee had threatened them with dire consequences if they attended the Price Fixation Committee meeting called upon by the Deputy Commissioner on July 26.

Doctors shifted
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — Dr Malkiat Singh, Principal of Government Dental College, Patiala has been shifted in the same capacity to Government Dental College, Amritsar. He has assumed the charge.

Dr R.L. Jain has been transferred as Principal of Government Dental College, Patiala, on a promotion. He has also assumed the charge, according to informed sources.

CRIME

Two brothers held for murder
Tribune News Service

MUKTSAR, July 29 — Two brothers have been held for the murder of Jagbir Singh, a resident of Bathinda district, whom they suspected of having ties with their sister.

Iqbal Singh and Sukhwant Singh used a sharp-edged weapon in the crime and severed the head of the deceased from the body. They threw the body cut into pieces into a canal.

Mr Kultar Singh, SSP, said today that on July 25 Iqbal Singh came to the house of the deceased and took him to Muktsar on the pretext that he needed his help in the cultivation of cotton crop.

Suspecting no danger to his life, the deceased accompanied the two brothers to Muktsar. All three took liquor and when the deceased became drunk, the accused killed Jagbir Singh with a sharp-edged weapon. Two days later when the deceased did not returned home, his family started searching for him and approached the police.

On July 28, the police questioned one of the brothers who confessed the crime. On his disclosure, a part of the body was recovered from the canal.

The SSP said Sukhwant Singh had been arrested while Iqbal Singh had absconded. A case under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC had been registered.

3 women held in pension scam
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, July 29 — The police today arrested three women in a ‘pension scam’ involving employees of the District Social Welfare Department and banking staff.

Fake accounts were opened in different banks for the purpose of drawing out money from another fake account of the DSWD.

The three women arrested today were among 27 fake account holders.

Charno Kaur, wife of Jagira, Gurmeeto, wife of Milkha, and Darshno, wife of Kabul, all belonging to Pandori Sidhwa village in Chabal, were arrested from the village.

Mr Lakha Singh Sandhu, DSP (Detective), said another suspect, Kaushalaya, would be arrested in this connection in a day or two.

He smuggled arms for Rs 4,000

BATALA, July 29 (PTI) — He had been crossing the Indo-Pakistan border from Pakistan to India for the past 20 years and brought gold and powder (heroin) a number of times for which he was given Rs 400 per crossing by Pakistani smugglers. But this time he brought arms and ammunition from Pakistan for the first time as they gave him 10 times more money (Rs 4,000).

These were the views of Mohammad Hanif (35), a Pakistani intruder who surrendered before the security forces during an encounter in which two intruders were killed.

Akubullahn, another intruder, surrendered with him at the border village of Rattar Chhattar in Dera Baba Nanak sector on Thursday night.

Mohammad Hanif a son of Mohammad Din, a resident of Bassi Kalan village under Narowal police station in Pakistan, who is aged around 35, had been crossing the international border and working as a courier of smugglers of the two countries for the past 20 years.

He was doing the job to support himself and widowed mother.

Being a good swimmer, the flow of the Ravi could not stop him from crossing the river.

Talking to newsmen here, Hanif said that he had been crossing the Indo-Pakistan border before the military rule there and was getting Rs 400 per crossing and at that time he brought the consignment of gold and heroin for Indian smugglers and in return, he took silver to Pakistan. He used to cross the border thrice in a month.

He said that he crossed over to India for the first time in 1980.

He was much aware about Punjabi culture, civilisation, language and lifestyle so he mixed up with border residents easily.

He was caught by the police earlier while bringing a consignment at the border in 1988 and was lodged in Central Jail, Amritsar for eight years.

Pepsu staff up in arms against GM

KAPURTHALA, July 29 (PTI) — Employees of the Kapurthala depot of Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation owing allegiance to four unions are up in arms against the "dictatorial attitude" and working of the depot’s General Manager, Mr H.S. Dhillon, by demanding an inquiry and suspension into certain serious allegations.

In a joint conference here today by depot union leaders Rashem Singh, state senior vice-president of INTUC, Karamchari Dal general secretary Malkiat Singh, Rakesh Kumar, general secretary of the SCBC Employees Union and Vijay Kumar, president of INTUC, serious allegations were levelled by giving photocopies of proofs against the General Manager.

The union leaders also met the corporation Managing Director on July 21 and presented him a written complaint along with proofs of allegations.

EDUCATION

Pbi university results on July 31
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, July 29 — The results of B.A. (part II), M.A. Persian, dance (part II), M.Sc. geography, M.Sc. bio-technology (part II), M.J.M.C. (part II), M.A. Persian, psychology, music, theatre and T.V. (part I), B.P. Ed. (part I, II, and III), B.A. — (honours) — political science (part I), B.A. honours — history (part II) and M.P. Ed. (part II) examinations will be declared on July 31.

 This was stated by Mr Paramjit Singh Khaira, Controller (examinations), Punjabi University, here yesterday.