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| Wednesday, August 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Plan for rally fizzles out Finance panel report ‘disappointing’ 17 school kids hurt as roof collapses Missing coal at Ropar
plant Drive against travel agents Teacher’s disappearance: SAD seeks action
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SHSAD youth
wing to hold rallies on Aug 10 12 hurt in police
lathi charge SHSAD to launch
“nyaya yudh”
Notice to CBI in Harpreet case Row over move to demolish kothi Rai Sikh voters suspect govt drive High tension power lines pose danger Engineers hold protest Punjab transfers CM transfers 2
docs, others Grant released for Siswan bundh breach victims Trust gets four shops vacated, others let off Punjab SC officers
form body Naik Mohinder Singh cremated
Paddy procurement arrangements
reviewed Special girdawari
in 24 villages
Two killed in accidents DSP injured in
accident
MSc Physics (Part I)
results today
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Plan for rally fizzles out PATIALA, Aug 8 — An anti-Amarinder outburst in the city planned for tomorrow by dissidents in the Punjab Pradesh Congress has fizzled out with most of the leaders having fallen in line and expressing faith in the leadership of the PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh. Dissidents in the pradesh Congress had planned to turn observance of the Quit India Movement anniversary into an anti-Amarinder show by paying obeisance at the statue of Praja Mandal leader Sewa Singh Thikriwala. By paying obeisance to Thikriwala and resolving to follow the ideals set by him the dissidents aimed to embarrass the PPCC chief in his hometown as Thikriwala fought against the feudal system represented by the former princely state of Patiala and the forefathers of the PPCC president. However, the PPCC chief has been successful in making the proposed rally a non-starter after wooing party general secretary Ramesh Singla who had announced holding of the rally a fortnight back while submitting his resignation to the party president. However, Capt Amarinder Singh, was able to woo Mr Singla back in his camp by refusing to accept his resignation and saying that the general secretary had successfully carried out assignments given to him. Mr Singla had threatened to take part in the rally besides submitting his resignation due to his marginalisation in the Nabha Assembly constituency in favour of former minister Gurdarshan Singh’s son Randeep Singh who is a family friend of the PPCC chief. To placate Mr Singla the PPCC chief did not attend a function convened by Randeep in memory of his late father recently. The PPCC chief ‘s son Raninder Singh was deputed for the task who spent a little time at the religious ceremony and more time later at the residence of Mr Singla in an attempt to woo Mr Singla back into the fold. After Mr Singla formally attended a press conference called by the PPCC chief where he was praised by Captain Amarinder Singh no other dissident has come out openly in favour of holding the rally. Besides neutralising Mr Singla, the PPCC chief has also
co-opted former expelled leaders Birdevinder Singh and former minister Prem Gupta back into the party, ensuring that they are not part of any such plan. Former Patiala Improvement Trust Chairman Nirmal Singh Bhattian, who was also part of the dissident team earlier, has also formally joined the PPCC president ‘s camp. Other leaders have also distanced themselves from the proposed rally. Former minister Brahm Mohindra, who is by far the only important dissident leader left in the city and has also announced his candidature for the post of pradesh Congress president, when contacted said as the rally programme had been announced by Mr Singla he should be asked about its present status. He said he had only read in the newspapers that Congress workers would start from his house, adding that if anyone came he would offer them a cup of tea. Former Lok Sabha member Gurcharan Singh Dadhahoor, who had also spoken in the press on the issue, said he had only urged the PPCC to dedicate this year’s Quit India Movement anniversary to the memory of Sewa Singh Thikriwala. He said he had made his appeal unilaterally and was not in league with anyone in getting a rally held in front of the statue of Thikriwala in Patiala. The dissidents had earlier also planned to persuade senior state leaders to take part in the rally. They had hoped that senior leader and MP Jagmeet Brar would attend the rally but that also came a cropper, dashing their hopes effectively. |
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Fight Sunam
poll, PPCC chief urged PATIALA, Aug 8 — Former Patiala District Congress (Rural) president Harinderpal Singh Mann today joined senior Congress leader Jagmeet Brar in urging Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh to contest the Sunam Assembly
byelection, saying the move would strengthen the party in the state. In a statement, the former DCC (Rural) president said here today that Capt Amarinder would be the ideal choice as his family had considerable influence in the constituency. Moreover, the Assembly constituency was a traditional Congress seat. Even in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Congress candidate and the PPCC chief’s wife, Mrs Parneet Kaur had led in the Assembly segment. Mr Mann said the results of the assembly byelection could have far reaching consequences and there was a possibility of a split in the Shiromani Akali Dal once Capt Amarinder Singh was elected from the seat. He said as the PPCC chief enjoyed support from a cross-section of
Akalis, there was every possibility of a split in the Akali party before the next Assembly elections. The Congress leader said the state Congress would be strengthened if Capt Amarinder accepted the wishes of Congressmen and stood for election from Sunam. He said the party would benefit as all important leaders, including former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Jagmeet Brar, had supported his
candidature. |
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Finance panel report ‘disappointing’ CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 — The 11th Finance Commission (EFC) has encroached upon the “financial rights” of states like Punjab. This is the perception of the Punjab Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh. The recommendations made by the EFC and accepted by the Union Government were totally against “our endeavour to seek more financial powers for the states”, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said while addressing a press conference here today. There was no alternative except to go all out for seeking fiscal autonomy as constitutional bodies like the EFC would continue to discriminate against and punish progressive and developed states like Punjab. The recommendations of the EFC were not only surprising but also disappointing, he added. While bodies like the EFC were punishing the developed state, it had rewarded states whose policies had led to an increase in poverty by enhancing their allocation. From the recommendations, of the EFC, the inference was clear that states should not make any development efforts. That was the only way of garnering a larger chunk of funds from the Centre. The control of the Centre over the distribution of funds had further been tightened at the cost of the states. Punjab was expecting more funds, but even its earlier share based on the recommendations of the 10th Finance Commission, had been cut drastically. The recommendations of the EFC would also hit states like Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that the state government would approach the Chief Ministers of the adversely affected states to build up collective pressure to get the implementation of the report stalled. The state government wanted that the share of the states in the funds released through the Planning Commission should be enhanced to 52 per cent, but it had been brought down to 37.5 per cent against the provision of about 44 per cent made by the 10th Finance Commission. With the implementation of the recommendations of the EFC the state would be loser by Rs 1,557 crore during the five-year tenure of the commission ending on March 31, 2005. The loss during the current financial year alone would be Rs 197 crore. The criteria had been prepared in such a way that the developed states had been hit hard. Even grants to be given to local bodies (panchayats and municipal councils) had been made conditional. Punjab was expected to get Rs 817.93 crore during the next five years as grant for these bodies. But the grant money would be released only if the state government implemented the provisions of the Constitution (73rd and 74th Amendments). Through these amendments about 28 government departments were to be put under the control of the panchayats and municipal councils. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that as the implementation of these amendments was fraught with “serious consequences”, it was necessary to examine all aspects. He said with the implementation of these amendments, state-cadre employees would become panchayat and municipal-cadre employees and there could be a big agitation on this county by employees. Not only had the recommendations of the EFC hit Punjab, the criteria determined by the Centre for the devolution of the cess collected from the sake of diesel and petrol had also made the state cry foul. The state was expecting to get Rs 250 crore on the basis of the consumption of petrol and diesel, but it had got only Rs 3 crore out of the total allocation of Rs 2,500 crore so far. The Union Government had collected Rs 5,000 crore from the cess. While it had retained Rs 2,500 crore for constructing national highway, the remaining Rs 2,500 crore had been allocated to the states. The state government had said that the devolution criteria adopted in the case of cess was not acceptable to it. Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has written to the Union Government for stopping the implementation of the recommendations of the EFC. He said these should be discussed by convening a meeting of the National Development Council and the Inter-State Council. |
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17 school kids hurt as roof collapses AMRITSAR, Aug 8 — At least 17 kindergarten (KG) students sustained injuries when a roof of a private school in the Haripura locality collapsed today. While six students were discharged after first aid, the rest of the injured students were rushed to local private hospitals. Mr Narinderjit Singh, District Magistrate, said the school had been sealed and a preliminary inquiry had been into the mishap. Parents of victims alleged that a private middle school, which was operated from a lane had insufficient place to accommodate the students. Most of the students sustained head injuries, However, except for one child, Sunny, condition of the rest of victims is stated to be out of danger. The Deputy Commissioner said that the district administration would bear expenses of the treatment of victims. Though the management claimed that the school was established in 1951 yet proper infrastructure was not available in the school. The police station, Islamabad, has registered a case under Sections 336, 337, 338 and 408 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). City residents alleged that some government schools were reportedly closed to help ‘mushrooming of such educational shops’. Many such ‘educational shops’ have come up even in underdeveloped areas. The parents have to pay large amounts of money as fees and donations. |
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Missing coal at Ropar
plant CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 — The Punjab Power Minister, Mr Sikander Singh Maluka, has directed the Chairman of the Punjab State
Electricity Board to submit a detailed report with regard to missing coal worth Rs 30 crore. Mr Maluka told TNS that he had asked the PSEB authorities to submit a fact-sheet to him in this connection immediately. He said that it was a very serious matter that coal worth Rs 30 crore was missing from the Ropar Thermal Plant. Informed official sources said that the PSEB authorities had got the coal stock lying in the plant’s yard weighed. As per the records, there should have been 3.24 lakh tonnes of coal on the day it was weighed. But it was found to be about 96,000 tonnes, according to the sources. Mr Suresh Gupta, Member (Generation) of the PSEB, had visited the plant in this connection a few days ago. Following his visit, a special technical audit team was deputed to weigh the available stock in the coal yard. The plant authorities had got the stock weighed separately. The audit team has also submitted its report to the authorities concerned in the PSEB. The team was reportedly told that about 75,000 tonnes of coal had turned into coal dust because of unloading at an unpaved point in the coal yard. Even after deducting this quantity, coal has been found short to the tune of 1.60 lakh tonnes. Sources said that earlier the per unit consumption of coal at the Ropar plant was about 640 gm. But now it is being stated that the consumption was around 700 gm per unit. Why has the consumption gone up all of a sudden? This question is being debated among employees and others concerned at the plant. Mr Maluka said he would take appropriate action after getting the report from the PSEB authorities. He said that he had also come to know that the quality of coal being procured for the thermal plants was not up to the mark. He said this also required to be investigated. Sources said that Coal India Limited and the Railway authorities were the first to point out the missing coal. As the authorities at the plant were pressing the Railways to allocate more wagons for transporting coal to the Ropar plant, the officials concerned of Coal India and the Railways pointed out that as per the records enough stocks of the coal were available at the plant and priority would be given to other plants where coal was required immediately. However, actually there was very little stock of coal available. At one stage some units had to be run on oil as coal was not available. Following this, physical verification of the coal began at the coal yard. Meanwhile, Mr Maluka said that he would submit his report to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, with regard to his visit to hydropower houses and thermal plants in Canada, Germany and the USA. He said that there was need for drastic changes in the power sector in the state. |
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Drive against travel agents NAWANSHAHR: Unfortunate incidents like the Malta boat tragedy in which about 70 Punjabi youth trying to enter Europe clandestinely were sent to their water graves notwithstanding continues to haunt a large number of families in the Doaba region. In their desperate bid to go abroad, the Doaba youth not only fall an easy prey to swindlers, who in the guise of travel agents duped them on the pretext of sending them abroad. They do not hesitate even to throw all social, moral and ethical values to the wind by getting married to their close relatives. Even parents do not hesitate to ‘sacrifice’ one of their daughters by marrying her to an NRI in a bid to help settle the family abroad. Now there are reports of an increase in extra-marital affairs by girls who have to wait for years to get back to their husbands settled abroad and increase in number of cases of polygamy by
NRIs, property related disputes and the problem of rehabilitation of the duped or deported youth who often lead a life of deprivation and humiliation after losing everything at the hands of the travel agents. This trend of settling abroad among Doabites started about four decades ago, mainly due to the factors, which include small land holdings, absence of employment opportunities, lack of social security and availability of plenty of menial jobs in the western countries and lure of western life style. This ultimately led to the mushrooming growth of bogus travel agents, who have a well-organised network and contracts in foreign countries. While discussing all these factors the SSP, Nawanshahr, who has launched a ruthless drive against unscrupulous travel agents here, said 19 cases involving about 30 bogus travel agents had been registered in various police stations in the district. This was just a tip of the iceberg as a large number of people who had been cheated to the tune of lakhs of rupees feel that lodging a complaint with the police may delay the return of their money from the agents, said the SSP. The majority of victims of the travel agents are under debt. Balbir of Sahabpur village had paid Rs 5.97 lakh and Rs 6.95 lakh to a lady travel agent, who is also a noted Punjabi film actress. She promised to take them to Canada in the guise of press reporters or a member of her film unit but deserted them in
Malaysia. Rajinder Singh of Mehandpur village revealed that he had paid Rs 7 lakh to a Delhi-based travel agent. Mr Balbir Singh of Beerowal village who had paid a sum of Rs 1.97 lakh to a travel agent of Balachaur in 1994 said that his entire family had been a complete financial and mental wreck since then. As a result of the poor financial conditions neither he nor his elder sister could be married off, he said, adding that such travel agents should be severely punished. Ram Parkash said he had paid Rs 5 lakh to a lady travel agent of Rahon for sending his son to the USA. He had borrowed Rs 2 lakh as loan at 36 per cent annual rate of interest. The lady just ‘disappeared’ in October 1999 after returning Rs 1.50 lakh only. She had also taken away the passport of his son. He said he had reported the matter to the police as he feared that the passport could be misused by her. Besides duping the youth of lakhs of rupees and rendering helpless in the foreign countries the travel agents have become so much unethical and merciless that in some cases they do not even hesitate to murder illegal immigrants. The SSP says that strict immigration laws in development countries coupled with the desperation of the youth here to go abroad is mainly responsible for this state of affairs. |
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Teacher’s disappearance: SAD seeks action PATIALA, Aug 8 —- Former Minister and Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harmail Singh Tohra today demanded that the Punjab Chief Minister should take personal interest in finding out the whereabouts of Poonam Oberoio, a teacher of Government Senior Secondary School , Sanaur, who had been missing from Haridwar since July 22. In a statement here , Mr Tohra said the state government should coordinate with the Haridwar district administration in Uttar Pradesh to ascertain whether she had been picked up and if so, to launch a manhunt to nab the kidnappers . He said it was strange that she had been kidnapped on the same day on which she lodged a complaint against some antisocial elements who were trying to harass girl students in her charge who had gone to Haridwar to attend a scout camp . Mr Tohra said the incident would have an effect on the scout movement in the state and would discourage people from going on pilgrimage to Haridwar . He said the state government should ask for a high level inquiry into the matter, if necessary . Earlier, teachers from allover the district assembled in front of the Deputy Commissioners office here on August 4 to demand that the Punjab government should take up the case of disappearance of the teacher .The teachers , who have formed a '' Poonam Oberoi case Action Committee '' after the name of the missing teacher , criticised the Punjab Government for not taking up the case with the Uttar Pradesh Government. They also criticised the Uttar Pradesh Government for not apprehending the culprits and demanded a CBI inquiry into the case . The Action Committee said if the culprits responsible for apprehending Poonam were not arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police
speedily, it would be forced to launch a state-level agitation . |
SHSAD youth
wing to hold rallies on Aug 10 FATEHGARH SAHIB, Aug 8 — The youth wing of the SHSAD will organise protest marches and dharnas and burn the effigies of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister on August 10 at all district headquarters in protest against the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttaranchal. This was stated by Mr Karnail Singh
Panjoli, state president of the wing, in a press statement issued here yesterday. He said both leaders had deceived the Punjabis and Sikhs settled in Udham Singh Nagar by including it in Uttaranchal. He said it would be for the third time that Sikhs would be uprooted. Earlier, they faced such a situation in 1947, when India and Pakistan were separated, then in 1984 during riots and now Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr Parkash Singh Badal would be responsible for that. He alleged that Mr Badal had become a puppet in the hands of the Central Government and that he wanted to make Mr Sukhbir Badal leader of the Akali Dal and the Chief Minister of Punjab with the help of the Centre. He said the panth would not tolerate the highhandedness of the Central Government and atrocities on the Sikhs settled there. Mr Panjoli urged all other Sikh organisations and student federations to join the
dharnas. |
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12 hurt in police
lathi charge JALANDHAR, Aug 8 — At least 12 residents of Pholriwal, Dhina and Chetewali villages, who were protesting in front of Shakti Sadan here today against erratic power supply in these villages, were injured when the police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the protesters. At least 80 residents of these villages, including women, converged at Shakti Sadan, the office of the Punjab State Electricity Board office on the GT Road, at 11 am and started shouting slogans against the PSEB for frequent power failure in these villages. They alleged that on an average these villages were not receiving more than three hours’ power supply in a day due to which they had to face a number of difficulties. Everything went on smoothly and peacefully till somebody from among the crowd hurled a stone, resulting in damage to some glass panes and some flower pots in the PSEB building, forcing police officials to resort to a lathi charge at the crowd. At least 12 protesters were injured and as many as 18 persons, including a woman, were detained by the police division no 4 authorities. |
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SHSAD to launch
“nyaya yudh” CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 — For cornering the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal on the issue of Udham Singh Nagar district, the Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra will start a “nyaya yudh” (war to seek justice) from Sunam. Making an announcement in this connection here today, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of the party, said that a meeting of Akali activists belonging to Sangrur, Patiala and Mansa would be held at Sunam on August 17 where the programme for the “nyaya yudh “ would be finalised. Mr Chandumajra said the Chief Minister had not got justice for the people of Udham Singh Nagar. Mr Badal had also failed to get the price of diesel reduced. He had also failed to get Punjabi-speaking areas and the control of headworks transferred to Punjab. He said the SHSAD was in touch with like-minded political parties for launching the “nyaya yudh” jointly. Mr Tohra would preside over the meeting of the Akali activists at Sunam. A byelection is scheduled to be held in the Sunam constituency in the coming months and the SHSAD wants to make its presence felt in that area. |
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2 JD (S) leaders join
Samajwadi Party AMRITSAR, Aug 8 — The Punjab unit of the Samajwadi Party today welcomed Mr Ashok Sharma and Mr Puran Chand, senior leaders of the Janata Dal (Secular), who had joined the Samajwadi Party. They were formally welcomed at a party gathering here today. |
Notice to CBI in Harpreet case CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 — On an application seeking the registration of a first information report in the Harpreet Kaur murder case, filed by her “husband” Kamaljit Singh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to CBI’s standing counsel. The notice for September 6, issued by Mr Justice V.M. Jain was accepted by the investigating agency’s standing counsel, Mr Rajan Gupta. Taking up the case, Mr Justice Jain also fixed August 16 as the next date of hearing on another application filed by Kamaljit Singh seeking a vehicle for security guards escorting him. Accusing the agency 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, Kamaljit Singh had earlier demanded the registration of an FIR in the case. In an affidavit, he had 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 had added that direction for the registration of an FIR was required to be issued. Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill while directing the agency to conduct an investigation into the circumstances leading to Harpreet Kaur’s death, had also ordered CBI’s Superintendent of Police at Chandigarh to proceed with the investigation. In his judgement, the Judge had also asked IGP (Crime) K.K. Attri to hand over “all the material collected so far by the inquiry team” to the CBI officer. Lifer’s plea
dismissed The High Court today dismissed an appeal filed by a Ferozepore district resident, Prem Singh, against the trial court’s order sentencing him to life imprisonment for murdering a fellow villager after suspecting him of having illicit relationship with his wife. Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.S. Garg also dismissed the appeal filed by his brother, Teja Singh. The Judges, however, acquitted two other brothers, Makhan Singh and Balbir Singh, in the case. The four were booked by the Punjab Police for murder under Sections 302 and 34, IPC, on November 2, 1992 after Balbir Singh succumbed to his injuries following an attack with a kirpan on him. According to the prosecution, Balbir Singh was crossing the fields on his cycle when he was attacked by Teja Singh. The reason behind the crime, the prosecution had stated, was that six months before the incident, Prem Singh had suspected his wife of having illicit relationship with Balbir Singh. The accused, when confronted with the incriminating evidence, had, however, denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, they had asked for a trial. In his statement before the trial court, Prem Singh had stated that he had attacked Balbir Singh after being provoked on seeing his wife in a compromising position with Balbir Singh in the fields. PUDA auction
allowed Our Legal Correspondent adds: On a writ petition challenging the auction of sites by Punjab Urban Development Authority for corporate and other offices at Jalandhar scheduled to take place tomorrow, the High Court, while issuing notice of motion for November 15, allowed the auction to go on but restrained its confirmation. The writ petition taken up by Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice K.S. Garewal, against the advertisement dated July 23, was filed by the Nakodar MLA, Amarjit Singh Samra, whose land measuring 10 kanals and eight marlas was acquired through urgency provisions by the Punjab Government for expansion of the Roadways bus stand. In November 1993, the land was handed over to PUDA. However, the appeals concerning the compensation awarded by the government were still pending before the Supreme Court. The petitioner submitted that he had neither been paid full compensation for the land acquired nor had the entire land been utilised in the declared scheme. He also demanded that the unutilised land be returned to him. |
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Row over move to demolish kothi SANGRUR, Aug 8 — Resentment prevails among local residents against the state government over the proposed demolition of a kothi, adjoining the local Mangla Devi temple, in an old fort here. The Yuvak Mandir Sudhar Sabha of the temple claims that this kothi is a part of the temple where priests lived during the regime of Jind rulers and their queens entered the temple from that side to worship the “devi”. The portion of the building in the fort was in the possession of judicial officers for the past several years. This was recently vacated and handed over to PUDA for demolition as part of a plan to demolish the old fort. The Mangla Devi Committee is opposing the decision on the plea that this portion has many religious signs which prove that it belongs to the temple. A large number of people held a protest march from the temple to the residence of the Deputy Commissioner, raising slogans against the Punjab Government in support of their demand. A deputation comprising Mr Vinod Kumar Vodha, president of the Yuvak Mandir Sudhar Sabha, Thakur Jagdish Rai, district president of the BJP, Mr Chand Parkash Maghan, patron of the Mangla Devi Committee, Mr Pawan Kumar Sharma, advocate, besides others met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anirudh Tiwari, to get their demand accepted. Official sources say that the Deputy Commissioner did not give any assurance to them regarding handing over of the portion of the fort in question. On the contrary, he condemned the action of the sabha to demolish a wall of the temple to enter the kothi. Mr Vodha, however, claimed that the Deputy Commissioner assured them that he would examine the case. Meanwhile, tension gripped the Mangla Devi area on Sunday evening after an altercation between the police and committee members over the demolition of temple’s wall. The president of the sabha was taken to the local police station but was let off after about half-an-hour. Mr Vodha said the administration had deployed police force in the adjoining complex (kothi) of the temple where a
Ramayana “path” was in progress. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the police force from there. He said that the “path” would continue till the government allotted the portion to the temple. He said after a fortnight, they would start a fast-unto-death to get “justice”. Rai Sikh voters suspect govt drive ALI KE (Ferozepore), Aug 8 — A section of Rai Sikhs in more than six-odd villages see a political conspiracy behind the irregularities in the voter identity card drive. Traditionally a Congress votebank, they charge that these irregularities are aimed at dissuading the community from exercising franchise in the next Assembly elections. The villagers alleged that fearing negative voting, the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine is allowing the official machinery to tamper with the voters’ list and delay the delivery of the voter identity cards. Even photographers assigned with the job to prepare these cards are reluctant to visit the villages across the river. While the authorities deny these allegations, villagers allege that many of them have not received their identity cards although the government documents show them to have been delivered. In some cases the voting card number is different than the one on the voters list, raising doubts. Sources in Dulchi-ke panchayat under which these villages fall, apprehend that there is a conspiracy to dissuade the Rai Sikhs from voting. The recent standoff between Rai Sikhs and the Punjab Government due to the latter’s bid to sell off the Irrigation Department land earlier allotted to them on a lease could be another factor. Since the government move had evoked protests from the Rai Sikhs in these villages, sources in the panchayat and the opposition Congress fear a gameplan to arrest a possible anti-establishment wave during the election. The villages from where such complaints are pouring in are Ali Ke, Kilche, Lotharan Wali Basti, Kaluwara, Nihanganwali Basti and Morsingh Wala. The PPCC secretary, Major Harminder Singh Bhullar has warned that if the complaints are not looked into, his party will approach the Election Commission for necessary action. However, the SDM, Mr D.P.S. Kharbanda, denies the charge saying there is no political conspiracy. He says he has not received any representation from these villages. 
High tension power lines pose danger PATIALA, Aug 8 — Cluttering of high tension and low tension wires perilously close to residences and each other in Urban Estate Phase two claimed its first victim when a labourer working on a roof lantern was electrocuted yesterday evening. The faulty laying of high tension wires around one year back by a private contractor assigned the job by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority ( PUDA ) has become a source of attrition between the residents and the urban authority . The residents have been agitating against the faulty laying since nearly one year and even represented to the concerned minister but all in vain as no action has been taken in the matter . Labourer Shiv Charan was electrocuted while he was taking down a iron piece used in laying the lantern of the top floor of house number 2244. As the high tensions wires pass very close to the residence being constructed, the labourer was severely singed in the legs and the hands when the girder touched the high tension wire . The labourer fell down into a water pit established to help in construction on the ground floor. Phase Two Ekta Welfare Association Residents Society President S L Bansal told TNS that the association had been fighting to get the faulty line laying rectified for long but to no effect . He alleged the lines were laid in the phase as the main contractor had sub let the contract and that neither the PUDA authorities or the PSEB had checked the entire process . He said in fact the Electrical Department of PUDA had passed the lines before they were commissioned . Showing various anomalies which can be seen with the naked eye , Mr Bansal and other colony residents showed high tension lines and low tensions line laid closed to each other in many areas of Phase Two . They said at places the lines were two to three feet away from each other while regulations said they should be around 10 feet away . Besides this they also showed the residence of Mr Baljit Singh where an electrical pole stay has been embedded right in front of his house gate . Mr Baljit Singh said he had made various representations to get the stays removed but had not been successful . The residents also complain that at various places PUDA in its wisdom has planted sapling just below the electric lines which would cause problems later . They said besides this around 35 transformers had been installed last year many of which had not been electrified . They said in many cases the transformers were not functioning now and would have to be repaired and recharged . The residents said even the earthing system with regard to the poles was not done properly. Part of the houses , including the four , five and six marla ones , are also facing an acute electricity shortage . This is because they are connected with the rural Bahadurgarh feeder while those with bigger houses are connected with the Patiala feeder . The residents say they do not get electricity for hours together and feel the PUDA should have made some provision for a grid or even a sub station in the urban estate so that residents did not face electricity shortage . They said the problem was likely to become more acute in the future as many houses were yet to come up. PUDA Additional Administrator Arunjit Miglani disclosed that he had received a specific complaint regarding electric pole stays having been embedded in front of a house gate and that the authority was tying up with PSEB to have it shifted . He said sly lines of high tension wires might be passing close to some residence but he did not know of it . He said the engineering wing had apprised him that earthing had been done properly in case of the electricity poles and that there was no substance in the charge regarding this being made by the colony association.
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Engineers hold protest ROPAR, Aug 8 — The engineers of the Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant (GGSSTP) stayed away from work from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. today to protest against the transfer of the Senior Executive Engineer, Mr Chaba, from Ropar to Lehra Mohabbat in Bathinda. At a rally organised in protest against the plant management the representatives of the PSEB Engineers Association threatened to go on an indefinite strike from August 11, if the transfer orders of Mr Chaba were not withdrawn. The members of the association allege that Mr Chaba was being victimised for exposing corruption in the board and protecting the interests of the organisation. In a message to the Chief Minister, Punjab Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the other worker unions of the GGSSTP, including the RTP Employees Union, RTP Contractor Workers Union and the Council for Junior Engineers have demanded the immediate cancellation of the transfer orders of Mr Chaba. They have also demanded a CBI inquiry into the charges levelled by the PSEB Engineers Association against the board management. |
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Punjab transfers CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 — The Punjab Government today shuffled three IAS one PCS officer. Mr S.S. Rajput, Commissioner of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation, goes as Special Secretary of the Food and Supplies Department, while Mr Vilas Garg, Assistant Commissioner, Gurdaspur, will be the new Subdivisional Magistrate, Dhar Kalan. Mr Sumer Singh Gurjar, Assistant Commissioner (under training) at Sangrur, will take over as Subdivisional Magistrate at Sardulgarh. Mr H.R. Gangar, a PCS officer who is Additional Secretary in the Food and Supplies Department, will take over as Additional Secretary in the Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Department. CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 — Taking a serious view of reported absenteeism among doctors and some other members of staff at the Raikot Primary Health Centre and rural hospital in Ludhiana district, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today ordered the immediate transfer of two Medical Officers, Dr Rupinder Kaur and Dr Puneet Girdhar. He also directed that the basic health worker, Mr Avtar Singh, and driver Gurmail Singh should be shifted to a “far-off district” on administrative grounds. These persons were absent from duty on August 3 when the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana made a surprise visit. Mr Badal also ordered departmental action against Dr K.K. Jindal, SMO in charge of the primary health centre, for lack of control on the staff. The Chief Minister also took serious note of the non-performance of supervisory duties by the Ludhiana Civil Surgeon and ordered his transfer from his present assignment. |
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Grant released for Siswan bundh breach victims ROPAR, Aug 8 — Punjab Government has decided to release a grant of Rs 16.96 lakh for flood victims of the Siswan river breach. Giving this information the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr G.S. Grewal, said the survey work for assessing the loss to crops and land in the flood-affected areas had been completed and the grant would be given to the victims within one week. The breach in the earthen bundh of the Siswan river on July 19 had inundated nine villages. Though the breach has now been plugged but the floods have rendered the lands in many flood-affected areas useless for agriculture. Mr Grewal said about 90 acres had been rendered useless for agriculture due to the deposition of silt. Out of it 70 acres had about 3 to 4 feet of silt deposition while about 20 acres had 1 to 2 feet of silt. It has been decided to release a grant of Rs 15000 per acre for the land that has a deposition of 3 to 4 feet of silt and Rs 7500 per acre for the land with 1 to 2 feet of silt. Overall about 12 lakh would be given to clear the silt from the affected lands, Mr Grewal said. Besides this Rs 4.65 lakh would be paid for the damage to the crops in the flood-affected areas and Rs 27000 for the damage to the pucca and kucha houses. According to the official estimates, crops in 268 acres have been damaged. This includes 20 acres in which the damage to crops is less than 25 per cent, 6 acres with 25 to 50 per cent damage, 23 acres with 50 to 75 per cent damage and 219 acres with more than 75 per cent damage. He said that no compensations would be paid for less than 25 per cent damage to crop, Rs 700 per acre will be paid for 25 to 50 per cent damage, Rs 1000 acre for 50 to 75 per cent and Rs 2000 per acre for more than 75 per cent damage. |
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Trust gets four shops vacated, others let off AMRITSAR, Aug 8 — The Improvement Trust authorities today got four shops vacated in the trust owned Nehru Plaza Complex at Lawrence Road here. Other four shop owners reportedly negotiated with the trust authorities to work out a compromise. A shop owner Mr Parvesh Chopra paid an instalment of Rs 5 lakh as the shop’s ownership dues to stall proceedings against him whereas another owner of shop Surjit Chicken too entered into a monetary compromise with the trust. However, owners of Chadha House Capital Services (shop number 92) which was being used as a bar and liquor shop, was forced to close down following public demand and the fact that more than Rs 22 lakh was the pending payment against the owner. Sources among shop owners disclose that many shops targeted for action had already removed their goods to avoid the goods from being confiscated in case of the breakdown in negotiations with the trust authorities or their personal inability to pay a sufficient payment towards shop ownership dues. According to Trust Chairman Bakshi Ram Arora, the action was “not ” to victimise shop owners but was used as a deterrent to set an example that the trust authorities could not be taken for granted. Punjab SC officers
form body CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 —Officers of various government departments belonging to the Scheduled Castes have formed an organisation, the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Officers Association, to fight against the “wrong implementation and interpretation of the Janjua judgement by the Punjab Government.” Mr Rakesh Ahir, who has been elected as President of the association, said today that a convention of members of the association would be held here on August 12 to chalk out the programme to press the government to stop the “wrong implementation of the judgement.” He said that the association would also seek action against the government employees who issued threatening statements against ministers and officers belonging to the Scheduled Castes. |
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Naik Mohinder Singh cremated BHUNDER (Bathinda), Aug 8 — A large number of residents of villages near here came to attend the cremation of Naik Mohinder Singh who attained
martyrdom on August 6 while flushing out terrorists and foreign mercenaries from a hideout in the Chandrala area of the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Master Ramandeep, the elder son, lit the pyre amid the slogans “Pakistan murdabad” and “Mohinder Singh amar rahe”. The cremation took place before noon and thousands of residents of this and surrounding villages attended it to salute their ‘hero’. “I will join the army to fulfil the dreams of my father who is my ‘hero’ now”, said master Ramandeep, 8-year-old son of the martyr who was recently admitted to Army School, Thikriwala, near Barnala town. Chand Singh, martyr’s uncle said “Mohinder Singh used to say that he would not return to village till he flushed out Pakistani intruders from the Kargil sector. Mrs Parminder Kaur, wife of the deceased, said she though had turned widow, she had decided to make her elder son a soldier.
CHANDIGARH, Aug 8 — The Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, today
reviewed the paddy procurement arrangements for kharif with the heads of various procurement agencies, including the Food Corporation of India. An official spokesman said Mr Mittal was told by the Agriculture Department that during 2000-2001 25.25 lakh hectares of land was under paddy against 26.4 lakh hectares during 1999-2000. It was estimated that 125 lakh tonnes of paddy would arrive in Punjab mandis. Last year 108 lakh tonnes of paddy was purchased by various government agencies in the state. The minister said procurement shares had been fixed for various procurement agencies, including the FCI. The state agencies would procure 60 per cent and the FCI 40 per cent. Procurement would start from October 1. On a request of the heads of state procurement agencies, the minister extended the date for the physical verification of paddy stocks by 15 days. |
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Special girdawari
in 24 villages SANGRUR, Aug 8 — The Sangrur Deputy Commissioner has ordered a special girdawari to assess the losses to standing crops in 24 flood-hit villages of Moonak subdivision in this district. Talking to TNS here this afternoon, Mr G K Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Sangrur, said there were 26 flood-prone villages in Khanauri and Moonak areas. Barring Rampur Gujran and Ganauta, the special girdawari would be held in 24 villages. As per initial estimates, at least 20,000 acres were flooded in these villages in Moonak subdivision. The special girdawari will be conducted in a fortnight by patwaris and kanungoes under the supervision of the Circle Revenue Officer. Parmanand to visit Punjab on Aug 20 MALERKOTLA, Aug 8 — The Governor of Haryana, Babu Parmanand, will visit Punjab on August 20. According to sources, he will participate in the 77th birthday celebrations of a Jain saint, Acharya Vimal Muni, as a chief guest at Kup Kalan, 10 km from here. The function is being organised by the Vimal Sanmiti Charitable Trust, Kup Kalan.
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Two killed in accidents PATIALA, Aug 8 — Two persons were killed and an old woman was injured in two accidents in the city since last night. Twentyone-year-old Mandi Gobindgarh industrialist Rohit Garg was killed and his mother was injured when a car in which they were travelling rammed into the back of a stationary truck near here last night. Rohit was coming to Patiala from Mandi Gobindgarh . Government Medical College Associate Professor O.P. Aggarwal disclosed that Rohit died on the spot due to head injuries. He said Rohit’s mother, Sarla Garg, was in a critical state and had been shifted to Dayanand Medical College in Ludhiana . In another accident, Amar Singh (50) was hit by a Haryana Roadways bus today. He died on the spot. A case under Section 304 of the IPC has been registered against the bus driver, Ashok Kumar, in the Kotwali police station.
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DSP injured in
accident BATHINDA, Aug 8 — Mr Kaka Singh, DSP, Punjab Police, and three more were injured when a truck loaded with pipes dashed against their vehicle on the Bathinda-Goniana road near the NFL crossing this afternoon. Two policemen, Mr Mangal Ram (driver) and constable Kuldeep Singh were shifted to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Their condition was stated to be serious. Sources said the victims were returning from the NFL plant where activists of the BKU had staged a dharna. Mr Vinod Mittal, an employee of the NFL, was also in the vehicle. He was admitted to the NFL Hospital. Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, who reached the spot within minutes of the accident, made arrangements for shifting the injured to the Civil Hospital. The driver of the truck escaped abandoning the vehicle. A case had been registered. |
Cop killed in mishap JALANDHAR, Aug 8 — Head Constable Amarjit Singh posted at Bhogpur police station as a Munshi, who was riding a scooter, was killed when a run away vehicle hit his vehicle near Malsian township last
night.
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MSc Physics (Part I)
results today AMRITSAR, Aug 8 — The second counselling (undergraduate) in the science stream for admission to B.Pharmacy, BSc (Hons School), chemistry, physics, botany, human genetics and BSc (Industrial Microbiology) at Guru Nanak Dev University will be held on August 11 at Guru Nanak Bhavan Auditorium here. The results of MSc (Physics, Part I) and MSc (Hons School, Physics Part I) conducted by the university will be declared on August 9, according to Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar. Meanwhile, Guru Nanak Dev College for Girls, Chogawan, is starting computer courses from September this year. |
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