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| Saturday, August 26, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Doubts on paddy procurement persist Gujral: Musharraf can’t deliver peace Ravi action plan sent to Centre Rs 3000-crore
project for roads, bridges 6 engineers suspended for making inflated estimates Delay in arrests fuels speculation |
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Intra-party issues to be solved amicably: Badal Amarinder does balancing act Cong memo on
nagar panchayat poll
Punjab to go in for more hospitals Meeting in memory of Hardial Bains Sikhs have distinct identity: Mittal 35 artillery shells
defused
Cop’s dismissal set aside Power plant unit operational PUDA gets Rs 1.29 cr through auction
Four killed
in mishap Murder case solved Inquiry against ex-SHO resumed
Ayurvedic college faces closure ‘Seats lying vacant in medical colleges’ Govt to take over
ITI building Parents oppose shifting of school Diploma in family
medicine sought
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Doubts on paddy procurement persist CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — Doubts persist on the procurement of paddy by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Punjab despite a meeting between the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Mr Shanta Kumar, and the Punjab Minister of Food and
Supplies, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal. Rather than clearing the doubts, their reported statements have further compounded the confusion. A July 3 official letter of the FCI Zonal Manager, Mr Alok Sinha, to the Principal Secretary, Food and Supplies, Mr P. Ram, is still on record. In that letter Mr Sinha had, inter alia, told Punjab that “for the forthcoming kharif procurement season, the state government alone should procure paddy under MSP (minimum support price) and that this task should not hereafter be shared with the FCI”. The FCI wanted to concentrate on proper inflow and outflow management for the central pool. It preferred the procurement of rice only through the “levy route”, emphasising that rice millers procured more paddy so that the MSP operations were to that extent reduced, with the state agencies not having to procure too much paddy. After the two BJP ministers had met, Mr Mittal reportedly said the FCI had agreed to procure 40 per cent of the paddy arrivals. Mr Shanta Kumar was reported to have stated that rice millers should be forced to purchase at least half of the marketed paddy. He even suggested the taking of stern action against them under the Essential Commodities Act. He preferred the “levy route” for the FCI. It is reliably learnt that a meeting on paddy procurement has now been convened in New Delhi in the first week of September. Enquiries by TNS here revealed there was no change in the FCI stand on paddy procurement. Repeated attempts today to contact the FCI Chairman, Mr Bhure Lal, and the Managing Director, Mr Jai Singh Gill, in New Delhi, also did not succeed. The preconditions put forth by Mr Shanta Kumar have put a spoke in the FCI’s wheel. Knowledgeable sources in the state Food and Supplies Department concede that rice millers cannot be forced to buy half of the total paddy arrivals. The Essential Commodities Act, to which a reference was made by Mr Shanta Kumar, has a provision for the punishment (arrest and fine) of offenders. Under the Act, the government can search, seize and arrest those who violate orders. “But how can anyone be coerced under the Act to essentially make purchases under adverse business terms and conditions?” asked an official, who preferred anonymity. Punjab already faces an acute problem of storage space for the new paddy and rice. The rice millers, given the existing trade conditions in respect of specifications, price of levy rice, non-payment of storage charges, moisture loss discount, tip damage of the grain, gunny-bag rates old arbitration cases, etc., would prefer “job work” than actually buying paddy from their own pocket. It is the statutory duty of the state to ensure the minimum support price to farmers and remunerative prices for levy rice to rice millers. At present, the rice millers are engaged in a feud with the Ministry headed by Mr Shanta Kumar. His brand of politics and the BJP’s internecine war has already cast a shadow on Punjab paddy procurement much to the discomfort of the farmer-oriented Akali government. Therefore while it is possible to prevent a person from doing a particular job by the operation of a drastic law, can a person be compelled to incur losses in a voluntary business? The stubborn stand of Mr Shanta Kumar, political consequences notwithstanding, is a known fact. Despite pleas by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, he has not yielded to his request to increase the godown rent to bring it on a par with the prevailing market rates. Another instance of his rebuff to Mr Badal is on Punjab’s demand for the reimbursement of the losses incurred by the state procurement agencies when the FCI disposed of unmilled paddy in 1994-95. Punjab claimed Rs 273 crore. After Mr Shanta Kumar intervened, the Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, released Rs 120 crore. When Mr Badal again drew the attention of the two ministers to the remaining amount of Rs 153 crore it was Mr Shanta Kumar who wrote back (on June 14) saying: “A considered view has been taken that a sum of Rs 120 crore be released to the Government of Punjab in full and final settlement of the claims relating to losses on account of the disposal of unmilled paddy of the 1994-95 season. I request you not to press for further reopening of the issues”. Even after Mr P. Ram replied to a letter by Mr Sinha protesting against the FCI decision not to purchase paddy, there has been no reply. Mr Ram had taken the stand that it was on the state and FCI’s repeated insistence that Punjab had provisionally agreed to share paddy procurement with the FCI, whose primary duty was to ensure the implementation of the MSP. In fact, over the years the FCI has been consistently reducing its procurement share. Last year it was less than 30 per cent against the agreed 40 per cent. This year, too, Mr Mittal’s contention that the FCI would procure 40 per cent of the expected 120 lakh tonnes of paddy is merely wishful thinking. Though the FCI talks of inflow and outflow management for the central pool, the fact is that while it has got its paddy milled it has sent vigilance squads to rice mills and blocked the acceptance of rice offered by the state agencies. This has led to the pressing of the panic button among rice millers. It is said that after Mr Shanta Kumar’s “flop show” on open wheat sale it is time for the “paddy muddle” at a time when the Akalis are busy preparing for the Sunam byelection to the state assembly. Punjab wants the FCI to follow policies which are conducive to encouraging levy procurement. Both the FCI Managing Director, Mr Gill, and the Senior Regional Manager, Mr D. P. Reddy, are from Punjab. It is difficult for them to say “no” to Punjab’s requests. But they are helpless. Punjab procurement agencies still have four lakh tonnes of unmilled paddy with them amidst reports of pilferage and misappropriation, caused due to the delay in milling. It is for Mr Badal and Mr Mittal to take a bold political initiative to protect the interests of the state. |
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FCI to buy paddy from Oct 1 LUDHIANA, Aug 25 — Setting aside reports of its refusal to buy paddy Punjab Minister for Food and Supplies, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal today said, the FCI will start paddy procurement from October 1 and the role of the state government will be very limited. In an informal conversation with reporters at Talwandi Khurd village, about 25 km from here, the minister said the FCI had already agreed to procurement and will start from October 1. Mr Mittal said he had detailed discussions with FCI officials on the issue. Predicting a bumper paddy crop this year also, the minister said, paddy production was likely to cross 1.2 crore metric tonnes this year. Last year it was 1.08 crore metric tonnes. However, he did not specify measures taken for of procurement as saying procurement was the FCI’s prerogative and the state government was only a supporting agency. Replying to a question on huge stocks of grain lying in FCI godowns in the state the minister claimed the FCI had agreed that these will be shifted to other states and space made available for fresh arrivals. However, there are reports that other states in the country haven’t the required space either. The minister expressed ignorance about a possible increase in the minimum support price of paddy for this year. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who was also present at the function, said his government will make its recommendations to the Centre on the issue of raising the minimum support price. He appeared hopeful that the minimum support price for paddy would be raised. Regarding concessions to millers for the direct procurement of paddy, Mr Mittal said he had invited members of the rice shellers association to deliberate on the subject. He assured the gathering that farmers will not be made to suffer and they will not need to resort to distress sale of paddy. |
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Gujral: Musharraf can’t deliver peace JALANDHAR Aug 25 — Endorsing India’s foreign policy in the changed South-East scenario, the former Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, today said that the expansion of the Taliban base and the internal changes in Pakistan were the two biggest threats to peace in the South East Asia. Expressing concern over the developments in South East Asia, Mr Gujral said it was sad to note that the base of the Taliban militia was increasing in South Eastern countries like Chechnya and leading to criminalisation which could destabilise peace and harmony. At the same time, changes in Pakistan were likely to cast their shadow on its neighbours and adversely affect the peace prospects there. “Earlier, during the Zia-ul-Haq’s regime, it was the military which was controlling the fundamentalist forces, now it is the other way round”, Mr Gujral said, adding that in the changed circumstances the Pakistan CEO Pervez Musharraf would not be able to deliver peace since he was “controlled” and surrounded by fundamental forces. He suggested that India should apprise the rest of the world about the perils being posed by the rise of the Taliban. “What I fear the most is not religion, but medievalism, which is being propagated and spread by the Taliban,” he said. Expressing concern over the rise in militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir and endorsing the government’s stance regarding talks with militant groups, he said: “During my tenure as Prime Minister, we had applied the same formula in Nagaland and the results were good,” . The approach and policy of the BJP government towards the Kashmir problem and its invitation to militants to come to the table for talks was good in the prevailing circumstances. “I think we are following a correct policy,” he said, adding that nearly 50 former Prime Ministers and Presidents were going to deliberate on the Taliban issue during a conclave in Indonesia in the first week of September. Mr Gujral who was here to inaugurate a cultural centre on the premises of the district library, said he would try to set up such complexes at all district headquarters to promote Punjabi culture and to stimulate creative activities in the state. Mr Gujral also sought to create awareness among Punjabis about the sharp fall in foreign investment and their lagging behind in the ongoing “knowledge revolution” by saying that if such a gloomy state of affairs continued, Punjab would be one of most backward states in the country within the next 50 years. Mr Gujral said it should be a matter of concern for Punjab that the graph of foreign investment had been falling during the recent years, whereas foreign countries were preferring Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for making investments. He said about 90 per cent of foreign investments was being attracted these days by just five southern states. He said only 56 per cent of the Punjabis were literate which was nothing in
comparison with Kerala or even Himachal. “One of our biggest problem is illiteracy. If we achieve success in this area, we will achieve a number of successes, including population control,” he said while addressing members of the Rotary Club at the circuit house here. KAPURTHALA (FOC): Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, former Prime Minister, laid the foundation stone of an auditorium being constructed in memory of Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, founder of the erstwhile Kapurthala princely state. Addressing the function, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, said a state-level committee of eminent persons would be set up for the development of cultural activities in the state. |
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Ravi action plan sent to Centre AMRITSAR, Aug 25 — To counter the objections raised by the Pakistan Government, the Ravi action plan project comprising Rs 150 crore has been submitted to the central government for an early sanction. Three treatment plants under the scheme will be installed at Mahla, Fatahpur and Ghumanpura villages in the Chhehharta area of Amritsar. The river passes through Madhopur, Dera Baba Nanak and Amritsar. Mr Satpal Mahajan, Chairman, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, said here today that Pakistan had raised objections as highly polluted effluents were carried over to its side through the Tung Dhab drain. Mr Mahajan during the course of interaction stated that even after 53 years at least 17 towns in Punjab still had no sewerage system, 109 towns only had a workable system. The Chairman, who was in Israel recently, announced that the water-treatment plants would be built on the pattern of Isreali technology. The technology involves no wastage of land to make storage tanks and links direct pipelines in the river-bed fitted with filters and computerised chemical wash for water purification. This not only saves the land but money needed for such a large project. Mr Mahajan promised to mitigate the problem of drinking water. He said about 60 per cent of population was having access to safe water, but now the percentage would be increased to 75 per cent and soon reach 90 per cent. During 1997-98 the board spent Rs 30 crore on development, which was increased to Rs 46 crore in the next year and Rs 67 crore last year. This year the board plans to execute development works worth Rs 150 crore of which 75 crore is proposed to be sent on works of Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, and Rs 20 crore each on works of Municipal Corporation, Amritsar and Jalandhar, and Rs 12 crore on works of various improvement trusts. The Punjab Works Water Supply and Sewerage Board has undertaken work worth Rs 100 crore under HUDCO assistance in towns. The most important project under this is the extension and augmentation of water supply and sewerage facilities in Amritsar at the cost of Rs 50 crore and another scheme in Moga for Rs 15.74 crore. Similarly the board is planning to undertake water supply and sewerage schemes in Bathinda, Rampuraphul, Bhadni Kalan, Bhawanigarh, Malout, etc. In few towns such schemes are being executed under the 10th Finance Commission. Rupees 8.52 crore will be spent in Khanna and in Hoshiarpur Rs 8 crore. In Fazilka, Abohar, Kotkapura, Batala, Malout, Gurdaspur and Pathankot, etc. the works have already been executed. Funds have also been given for providing safe drinking water to the people of smaller towns where population is less than 20,000. These towns are Chimma, Khanouri, Ghagha, Ghanoli, Rahon, Jandiala, Ramdass, Majitha, Fatehgarh Churian, Raikot and Sanour. Announcing the Sutlej action plan, he said the project includes the laying of sewers for cleaning of Budha Nullah and setting of sewerage treatment plants in Ludhiana, Phillaur, Phagwara and Jalandhar. Moreover, seven treatment plants are to be installed, three in Ludhiana, two in Jalandhar and one each in Phagwara and Phillaur. The Punjab Government, he said would spend Rs 50 crore on the acquisition of land required for setting up of sewer-treatment plants. With the completion of the Sutlej action planed the problem of disposal of untreated sewerage water of these four towns will be solved alongwith the environmental problem. The construction of 72 community lavatory blocks for the slum areas was also under progress. In the four towns improved wooden crematoriums have been constructed which will reduce wood consumption and economical also. For extension and augmentation of the water supply facility to outer areas of Amritsar the execution of water supply scheme amounting to Rs 40 crore is already underway. This year 22 new tubewells in Ludhiana, 17 in Jalandhar and 14 in Amritsar have been installed whereas 25 have been installed in various state municipal committees. |
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Rs 3000-crore
project for roads, bridges GURDASPUR, Aug 25 — Mr Sucha Singh Langah, PWD Minister, talking to newspersons here said today that his department would launch a Rs 3,000 crore project in the state this year. A blueprint of four laned roads and bridges over railway lines and rivers had been prepared. He said Rs 1,000 crore would be provided by the state government and Rs 300 crore by the Central government as per the terms of the project. As much as Rs 1,700 crore would be raised by issuing bonds. Mr Langah said 29 flyovers would be constructed over railway lines. Out of these, 15 would be financed by the Punjab Government and 14 by the Central government. Bridges across the Beas near Naushehra and over the Sutlej near Rahon had been planned and the construction would start this year. An amount of Rs 45 crore would be spent on the construction in two phases. The minister said the roads which were being four-laned included those from Ludhina to Chandigarh, Zirakpur to Anandpur Sahib, Zirakpur to Patiala, Ludhiana to Moga, Phagwara to Chandigarh, Jalandhar to Amritsar and Jalandhar to Pathankot. Mr Langah said all roads leading to border fenching in Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepore districts would be repaired on priority during the current year. The Rs 300-crore project would be financed by the Central government. The agreement between the Punjab Government and the Central government in this regard had reached the final stage, he said. Pointing out the poor condition of roads in the state he said the government had decided to improve them. Fresh encroachment on either side of roads and on the PWD lands would not be allowed, he added. |
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6 engineers suspended for making inflated estimates PATIALA, Aug 25 — The Punjab Government has suspended six engineers, including four Executive Engineers, on charges of making inflated estimates and permitting excessive expenditure on horticulture works in the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), Urban Estate, here, which resulted in money being spent on maintaining imaginary trees and shrubs. The government has also ordered holding of a general inquiry in all urban estates in the state to check expenditure being incurred on the maintenance of horticulture works. Horticulture maintenance works at Mohali are also expected to be scrutinised thoroughly. The suspensions have come about following an inquiry into the matter after local PUDA Additional Chief Administrator Arunjit Miglani pointed out the irregularities to the department. The local PUDA authorities disclosed that the suspended Executive Engineers are — Mr Paramjit Singh, Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Mr K.K. Jain and Mr K.B. Passi. The other two officers who have been suspended on the orders of Housing and Urban Development Minister Upinderjit Kaur are Sub-Divisional Officer Rajinder Singh and Junior Engineer Manjit Singh. The entire issue, which had been detected last month and was highlighted by The Chandigarh Tribune, came to light after an informal test check was done regarding the quantities shown in the estimates for maintenance of the Rose Garden Park in Phase I. The case had been placed for the administrative approval of the office of the Additional Chief Administrator here by the Engineering Wing. The test check resulted in shocking revelations. As per the estimate there were 293 trees and 1200 shrubs of Rose plants in the Rose Garden. However, on the ground there were only eight trees and 500 rose shrubs. Following this, a committee was constituted to physically verify the number of trees and other horticulture works of the entire Urban Estate. The committee, which conducted a check on all the parks in the Urban Estate this month, reported a similar scenario everywhere. At the Special Park in Phase I while 325 trees and shrubs were reported to be maintained, a check revealed that there were only 191 trees and shrubs being maintained by the Wing with 162 trees and shrubs having been planted three days earlier only. Similarly while 1.25 acres of good quality grass was claimed to be maintained, the committee found only the jungle variety of grass on the spot. According to the report submitted by the committee in the case of Urban Estate Phase I and Housing Colony, a gross inflation had been shown in case of trees being maintained by the department, with there being 235 trees less than those said to be there on the spot. At the Special park in Phase II 508 trees were said to be there on the spot but the team found only 334 trees. While good quality grass was claimed to have been planted in 4.65 acres the team found large patches without any grass and the other area covered with the jungle variety. It has been calculated that from 1997 to 2000 PUDA has suffered a loss of Rs 13.41 lakh on account of excess payments made due to inflated estimates. Furthermore the estimates prepared for the year 2000-2001 regarding maintenance of horticulture works in the Urban Estate would have resulted in a loss of Rs 4.6 lakh if they had been approved. |
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Delay in arrests fuels speculation FEROZEPORE, Aug 25 — More than a month after the sensational killing of a Congress leader Kapil Saluja inside the city police station, BJP activists allegedly involved in the crime continue to elude the police, leading to speculation of the police shielding the guilty. Apart from Rajesh Mehta alias Bittu and Suresh Tully who have been arrested eight of the total 10 suspects are still at large. These include BJP activist — Ashwini Mehta alias “Tiddi” and Bachittar Singh, the PA of the party’s legislator, Mr Girdhara Singh. While the police claims that the remaining accused are absconding, both the relatives of the deceased and the opposition Congress charges the police with shielding their political masters. This suspicion has strengthened with the case now being examined afresh by the Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Mr N.P.S. Sidhu, although the enquiry was initially entrusted to the DSP (City). Accusing the police of deliberately delaying further arrests, they apprehend a plan to drop the eight names from the FIR. The widow of Kapil Saluja accused a judge of sheltering Tiddi, while Bachittar has been often seen in public places. Tiddi is even in touch with friends in the BJP and is learnt to have guided them on poll strategy for the election of Municipal Council president held here recently. Although both Tiddi and Bachittar Singh claim they are innocent their names figure in the case. Tiddi is prominently named in the FIR, Bachittar Singh is among unnamed assailants, later identified by a witness. The Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Mr N.P.S. Sidhu denied any political pressure in not arresting the two BJP activists, sources in the party, however, reveal that ordering of the fresh inquiry itself has surprised police circles and there is speculation that the fresh enquiry is aimed at helping Tiddi. Mr Sidhu is related to Lok Sabha member, Mr Zora Singh Mann, who had initially assured support to
Tiddi. |
Intra-party issues to be solved amicably: Badal PHAGWARA, Aug 25 — The Punjab Chief Minister and SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today declared that Intra-party ministerial issues would be sorted out amicably. He was talking to some newspersons who had buttonholed him when he was about to leave the residence of Mr Jagjit Singh Chahal where he had gone to condole the death of Mr Chahal’s mother. Mr Badal gave this reply when his attention was drawn to the open bickerings between some state and Cabinet ministers, particularly the outbursts of Mr Ranjit Singh Balian, Minister of State for Urban Development and Housing who had alleged on August 21 that senior minister Upinderjit Kaur had slighted him at an official function. When asked whether the seven chief ministers who had met recently at Delhi had formed a pressure group, Mr Badal, who had attended the conclave, said they had met to raise their voice for the rights of their respective states. When asked whether Mr Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, who had called meeting, and other chief ministers were indulging in arm twisting tactics to influence the Vajpayee government, Mr Badal said fighting for state’s rights should not be dubbed arm twisting politics. “We had simply opposed the recommendations of the 11th Finance Commission and demanded appropriate fiscal powers,” he added.  |
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Amarinder does balancing act NABHA, Aug 25 — Punjab Pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh today did a balancing act to maintain equilibrium between rival groups at a large ‘kisan rally’ here even as he demanded a categorical statement from state Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal clarifying whether the Akali-BJP government had assured the Planning Commission and the World Bank that it would withdraw free power facility in the state or not. Capt Amarinder defused a potential showdown between supporters of Pradesh General Secretary Ramesh Singla, who organised the show and former Minister Gurdarshan Singh’s son Randeep Singh who is a close family friend, by visiting the house of the latter before proceeding to the rally. Even at the rally the PPCC chief said he understood the people apprehensions about which of the two would get the Congress ticket in the forthcoming assembly elections. However, this could be decided only at the time of the polls and working for the party was more important at this juncture. There had been apprehension of a possible showdown between the two groups as Randeep’s group was miffed at the importance given to Singla, who was given responsibility for organising the show. There had also been talk that Randeep may be sidelined at the rally. However, Capt Amarinder ensured this did not happen by taking Randeep to the rally with him, where his mother, Satinder Kaur, also spoke from the stage. Speaking at the rally, the PPCC Chief said the Chief Minister must clarify whether his government was withdrawing the free power facility extended to farmers. He said the Chief Minister was trying to mislead the people of the state by being deliberately vague on the issue. He alleged the Akali-BJP government wanted to opt for mid-term polls before withdrawing the facility. He said the government was willing to take this risk rather than risk the wrath of farmers of the state after withdrawing the facility . Earlier, while talking to newsmen, the PPCC Chief declined to say whether the Congress, if voted to power in the state, would withdraw the facility. He said this issue would be discussed before framing the party manifesto for the polls. The rally, which was held to highlight the misery of the farming community, gathered a substantive crowd. However senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and party MP Jagmeet Brar kept away. Among those who spoke on the occasion were former PPCC Chief Santokh Singh Randhawa, Congress Legislature Party leader Choudhary Jagjit Singh and former Minister Lal Singh. Others present on the occasion included senior leader Birdevinder Singh who has recently been readmitted into the party, former ministers Mohinder Singh Gill and Tej Prakash Singh, former MP Amarjit Kaur. |
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Cong memo on
nagar panchayat poll KAPURTHALA, Aug 25 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has demanded holding of elections to the posts of president and vice-president of nagar panchayats of Bholath and Dhilwan within 48 hours. A deputation of senior leaders of the Congress under the leadership of Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Secretary, of the PPCC, met Mr V.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, at his office yesterday and submitted a memorandum demanding elections at the earliest. Later, talking to newsmen here, Mr Khaira said the Congress had eight out of 11 members in the nagar panchayat, Bholath. Mr Khaira accused Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, SGPC and MLA of Bholath constituency, of postponing the elections in order to indulge in horse-trading and engineering defections among Congress councillors just as she did during elections to the posts of president and vice-president of nagar panchayat, Begowal. In an election held on August 22, a Congress councillor, Mrs Harbans Kaur, defected to SAD and became president of the nagar panchayat, Begowal with the support of five Akali councillors, he alleged. |
Punjab to go in for more hospitals CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — With a view to providing better medical care to the people of Punjab, particularly those living in rural areas, the State government today decided to spend Rs 422 crore on the construction of new hospital buildings, equip them with latest medical equipments and better medicines during the current financial year. Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said this decision was taken after a meeting she had with medical officers and other members of the staff at Punjab Bhavan in Delhi today. She revealed that the Punjab Health Corporation had already started construction work on 134 of the 152 hospital buildings. Work on the remaining buildings will be undertaken soon and completed during the current financial year. The Minister said more emphasis would be laid on the cleanliness of health institutions. She said the Punjab government was committed to providing better health facilities to every citizen in the state. She said keeping in view the fact that 4 lakh persons were
T.B. patients in the state, the Punjab government had constituted a
T.B. committee to look after these patients. |
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Meeting in memory of Hardial Bains CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — A meeting in memory of Hardial Bains who headed the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), until his death in 1997, will be held at Punjab Kala Bhawan on Saturday at 5 pm. Born on August 15, 1939, in Mahilpur, Punjab, Hardial Bains was a fearless fighter and was persecuted by both the Canadian and Indian states. He could not enter India during the Naxalbari days and was denied Canadian citizenship for 30 years. He did his post-graduation in microbiology from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, from 1960-65. He was involved in the student movement at that time He established ‘‘The Internationalists’’ in 1963 and was elected President of the BC Students Federation in 1964. He taught at the prestigious Trinity College, Dublin, from 1965-67. During this period, he founded ‘‘The Internationalists’’ in Dublin in 1965. He was the founder member of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), which he led until his death on August 24, 1997. Hardial Bains played a key role in building important organisations like the East Indian Defence Committee in 1973 and the People’s Front Against Racist and Fascist Violence in 1980. |
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Sikhs have distinct identity: Mittal ROPAR, Aug 25 — The Sikhs have a different identity, which was recognised by the BJP, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, said when asked to comment about his statements in the media asserting that the Sikhs were an extension of Hindu religion. He further added that the BJP recognised the distinct identity of Sikhs and respected their religious feelings. The rights of the Sikhs had also been protected under Article 25 of the Constitution. Mr Mittal was here to express sympathies with the family members of the pilgrims who died when the ill-fated truck carrying them overturned on the Kalma Mod near Nurpur Bedi. While criticising the statement of the leaders of the SHSAD, who had alleged that the BJP was trying to damage the Sikh institutions, he claimed that Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee was the first Prime Minister to visit Anandpur Sahib which showed the respect the BJP had for the Sikhs. Besides, it was a BJP Chief Minister, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, who constituted an inquiry and brought to book the people responsible for violence against Sikhs in the 1984. Dismissing the idea of mid-term elections, he said that the present government would complete its tenure. He criticised the Congress for trying to divide the people of Punjab on urban and rural lines. About the alleged opposition of the BJP to the SAD idea of the review of the Constitution, Mr Mittal said that their could be differences between the parties on certain issues but it would not have any effect on their alliance. |
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35 artillery shells
defused AMRITSAR, Aug 25 — The Army today diffused 35 artillery 5shells, which were found at the border village of Atalgarh. Although the shells estimated to have been buried for 35 years during the war of 1965 against Pakistan. The work of digging at the site was stopped and the area cordoned off. Mr Nihal Singh Dhillon, SHO, Gharinda police station, and Mr Karamjit Singh, in charge, Kahangarh police station, said the shells were handed over to Major M.L. Sharma in the presence of DSP Sukminder Singh Mann. Later, Subedar Bhadur Singh of 15 Infantry Div used the help of jawans to diffuse the shells. Top Army and civil administration officers were present on the site, including Brig Sunil Arora, Col Kuldip Singh, Col Mohan Singh, Magistrate Mr Parampreet Singh, and members of the panchayat of the border village. |
Cop’s dismissal set aside CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — Four years after a constable was dismissed from service, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the Haryana High Court today allowed a writ petition and directed the state of Punjab and other respondents to take him back with all consequential reliefs. Quashing the order dismissing constable Gurshinder Singh, Mr Justice Gill ruled: “The petitioner will forgo 75 percent of the back wages and is entitled to 25 per cent of the same”. The direction was issued following a statement to this effect by the petitioner’s counsel. The constable, posted as a driver at Police Lines in Mansa, was dismissed from service after Sub Inspector Mukhtiar Singh alleged that the petitioner was taking petrol out of a jeep and setting it on fire. Delivering the verdict, Mr Justice Gill ruled: “From the statements of eye-witnesses, it is clear that the occurrence had taken place at the Mansa Police Lines , which had a lot of police officials roaming around, yet no one saw the jeep catching fire nor anyone saw the petitioner taking petrol from it”. |
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Power plant unit operational PATIALA, Aug 25 — The first unit of the Ranjit Sagar Power Plant started generating electricity yesterday, according to a press note issued by the PSEB Engineers Association here today. The unit which generates 36 lakh units per-day is expected to contribute to the peak-hour requirements of the region. The project which was to begin functioning a year back, got delayed due to a few serious defects which developed in the tunnels supplying water to the plant, said Mr Padamjit Singh, spokesman of the PSEB Engineers Association. All the four units of the plant will be commissioned by the month of October this year, he said. However, the Ranjit Sagar Power Plant with a capacity ranging from 36 lakh to 72 lakh units per day is not sufficient to handle the growing need for electricity in Punjab, which is to the tune of 1000 lakh units per-day. The lack of water availability is the main drawback in this plant, preventing work at it’s maximum capacity, said Mr Singh. The amount of water carried by river Ravi is much too less to feed all the four units, so the plant will be working only to meet the peak hour requirments, he added. PUDA gets Rs 1.29 cr through auction AMRITSAR, Aug 25 — The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) today fetched more than Rs 1.29 crore through an open auction for eight residential plots in the posh Green Avenue area of the civil lines. The Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA, Mr Harbhupinder Singh Nanda, said although the reserve price per square yard was kept at Rs 5,100, it fetched an average of Rs 9,000 per square yard. He said there was a plan to auction a 6.5 acre plot carved out of the ENT Hospital on the Majitha road on September 11. The plot comprised 64 residential plots, besides 18 shop-cum-flats and eight booths. The reserve price of the plots had been kept at Rs 4,500 per square yards.
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Embezzling case:
bail plea dismissed PATIALA, Aug 25 — Special Judge Sabeena yesterday rejected the bail application of two Vigilance Department employees accused of embezzling money deposited under various heads in the department treasury here . The Special Judge rejected the bail application of assistant accountant head constable Gurcharan Singh and cashier Inderjit Kaur accepting the plea that they were needed for further investigation in the case by the police . Earlier, both the employees had been granted a three-day police remand following which they had been remanded to judicial custody till September 4. Audition for
musical show CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — In its search for new talent, the Zee TV network will conduct auditions for the musical show “Sa Re Ga Ma Punjabi” in various cities. According to the episode director of the show, a team led by noted singer Nirmal Sidhu will conduct the audition at Hotel Park near the District Courts, Amritsar, tomorrow. Similarly, on August 27, auditions will be held at the Central State Library, Patiala, and the Rabab Music Institute, Green Park, Jalandhar for the third and fourth schedules of the show which is telecast on Alpha TV. |
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Seminar on religion PATIALA, Aug 25 — The Punjabi University will organise a national seminar on the theme of “Inter faith religion: challenges in the 21st century” at Dr Balbir Singh Sahit Kendra, Dehradun, an Institute of Advanced Studies established by Punjabi University. This was stated by the Vice-Chancellor of the University Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, while presiding over a meeting of the advisory committee of the Sahit Kendra at Dehradoon. The seminar is scheduled to have three business sessions on religion and social conflict, religion and human rights and religion and modernisation. Dr Ahluwalia further said that eminent scholars belonging to various religions would be invited to participate and to deliver lectures. The Punjabi University has also decided to prepare microfilms of the rare manuscripts. The University in collaboration with a research institute of America would prepare compact discs for use by scholars, added Dr.
Ahluwalia. Federation opposes
electricity Bill PATIALA,
Aug 25 — To oppose the Electricity Bill 2000, the All India Power Engineers Federation presented a memorandum to the Secretary (Power), Mr
A.K.Basu. The National Coordination Committee of power engineers and employees covering the entire work force in SEBs of country has chalked out a nationwide action plan, including state-level rallies on November 15 and nationwide strike on December 12, according to a press note issued by the AIPEF General Secretary, Mr Padamjit Singh, here today.
Kshatri Tonk Sabha
holds protest BATHINDA, Aug 25 — The Kshatri Tonk Sabha (KTS) organised a march in the city against the use of derogatory words in books on Baba Namdev circulated in Punjab and Haryana. In a press note issued here today, Mr Major Singh Sidhu, a spokesperson for the sabha, said derogatory words had been used in the history book of BA I on the life of Baba Namdev by the Punjab and Haryana Government. The activists of the sabha gave a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.
WB team reviews
anti-AIDS plan CHANDIGARH, Aug 25 — A five-member World Bank team headed by Dr Salim Habayeb from the USA visited the Punjab State AIDS Control Society to review the National AIDS Control Programme here today. The other members of the team were Ms Hnin Hnin Pyne, public health specialist for the South Asia region, Mr Sudhakar, Mr Mam Chand, senior procurement specialist, and Mr Rajat Narula from the World Bank. The team was accompanied by Mr N.S. Kang, Director, Finance, National AIDS Control Organisation, New Delhi.
Gate meeting
organised PATIALA, Aug 25 — The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Association, Patiala, organised a gate meeting at the workshop gate here today. The association demanded constitutional amendment for inclusion of reservation policy in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution for the safeguard of the policy from judiciary. It also demand reservation in the private sector and government undertakings. Issuing a press note, the association president, Mr Shalik Ram, said that the privatisation of different departments need to be
stopped.
Villagers force
dentists to flee PHAGWARA, Aug 25 — A mobile dental team had to bear the brunt of
rumour-mongering here. Dr Jaswant Singh and Dr Maninder Kaur went to a government school at Khatti village yesterday to conduct a check-up of students. However, someone spread the rumour that “miscreants” had come to drug children. Villagers rushed to the school, virtually forcing the dentists to run for their lives. Some villagers reportedly even roughed them up. Chief Medical Officer Butaram Gill confirmed the incident.
Musharraf’s effigy burnt PHAGWARA, Aug 25 — The Shiv Sena (Rashtrawadi) today burnt the effigy of Pakistan military ruler Gen. Parvez Musharraf in protest against the ISI-sponsored killings of Hindus and Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir. Led by local unit president Vinod Sharma, protestors took out a procession in the town. They also demanded a ban on the plying of the Lahore bus. |
Four killed
in mishap PHAGWARA, Aug 25 — Four persons, including Rajesh Kumar (30), the driver of the ill-fated Tata Sumo, Swaran Kaur, (60), Balwinder Singh (18) and Gurdev Kaur, died when their vehicle collided with a private transport company bus near Khurampur village 5 km from here, on the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road today. The driver of the Tata Sumo and Swaran Kaur died on spot, while two others Gurdev Kaur and Balwinder Singh succumbed to their injuries on the way to a Ludhiana hospital. They were going to dispose off the mortal remains of Gurnam Singh, his wife Jaspal Kaur of Paragpur who had died in road accident near Banga on August 22. Sources said they had changed the route for Kiratpur Sahib via Banga. |
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Murder case solved AMRITSAR, Aug 25 — The Majitha police has solved a murder case of a boy after a year.
On August 14 last year the boy’s body was fished out from the Rayya Canal. The body bore multiple injuries allegedly inflicted by sharp-edged weapons. The body was sighted by Mr Moti Lal of the Canal Department. The body remained unidentified for long. An FIR under Section 302 of the IPC was registered at Beas police station on the statement of Moti Lal. According to Mr Lok Nath Angra, SSP, Majitha, neighbouring villages were informed about the incident as also reports were published in the media. Mrs Nirmaljeet Kaur mother of the boy identified her son Harpreet Singh, alias Jimmy by his clothes. Nirmaljeet was employed in the Indian Air Force after her husband was killed in 1991 while serving in the IAF. A special investigation team headed by Inspector Balbir Singh arrested Surjit Singh, alias Sabi, a resident of Dhianpur on August 23. On August 13 last year Harjinder an adopted son of Nirmaljit hatched a conspiracy with Surjit Singh, alias Sabi of Dhianpur village. The two took Jimmy to a dhaba in Rayya. After getting him drunk they took him towards the canal side and
stabbed him and threw his body in the Rayya Canal. Efforts are afoot to arrest Harjinder Singh. His accomplice Surjit has already been arrested. |
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Inquiry against ex-SHO resumed ABOHAR, Aug 25 — Mr Shiv Kumar, SP (D) Moga resumed the departmental inquiry against Babu Ram Sharma, a former SHO of the city police who had been booked under Section 306 IPC by the GRP (Government Railway Police) after the suicide of Mrs Saroj Bajaj, wife of an Army officer. She had jumped before train allegedly after being tortured by the police officer in June last year. Witnesses who deposed before the inquiry officer yesterday reportedly stated that Mrs Bajaj and other citizens had allegedly been falsely implicated in a case to extort money from them. The case was quashed following an inquiry ordered by the IGP (Crime). Mrs Bajaj had named nine persons, including two police officers and a journalist in her diary written before committing suicide. Babu Ram Sharma’s pre-arrest bail plea has already been rejected by the special court, but he could not be arrested due to alleged non- cooperation of senior GRP officers. |
Ayurvedic college faces closure PATIALA, Aug 25 — The future of the oldest ayurvedic college in the northern region based here since 1952 has become uncertain with the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) threatening to close down its five year BAMS course if the institution does not fulfil the conditions laid down by the central body by December 31 this year. At present 30 students are enrolled for the five-year BAMS course which is a graduate level course. The CCIM has only granted provisional permission for the BAMS course this year and will review the permission in case the conditions set by it are not implemented by December. Besides threatening the career of the students, the new communication from the CCIM has resulted in erosion of the credibility of the institution which has already witnessed discontinuance of its postgraduate courses. Permission for admission to the postgraduate courses of dravyaguna and ras shastra was disallowed by the CCIM this year. The conditions stipulated by the CCIM for compliance to ensure continuance of the BAMS course include ensuring only qualified teachers teach the relevant subjects besides an appropriate teacher strength. At present there are not enough postgraduate teachers in the college. Besides this the college has a teaching strength of only 24 out of which four teachers will retire by December. If the CCIM norms are to be followed the college needs a faculty of 63 teachers. Besides this other anomalies listed in a communication to the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences following an inspection of the college by a CCIM team include the need to designate all demonstrators in the college as lecturers. Besides this the team noted that there were only 115 plants in the college herbal garden whereas there should be at least 400 plants . The team also stressed the need for increasing the bed occupancy of the college besides improving its Pharmacy. The report of the team has created panic amongst the teachers of the college. The College Teachers Association General Secretary V.K. Rehni alleged that the indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government was responsible for the present state of affairs. He said the state government did not amend rules according to CCIM guidelines which vide Act 48 of 1970 needed amendment as long back as 1989. He said this had become a stumbling block in the functioning of the college adding that earlier Punjabi University had also stopped admissions to postgraduate courses in the college on the same ground . He said although the CCIM was continuously pressing the state government since 1996 to amend the rules it did not have the desired effect. He said postgraduate courses which started in 1972 had been closed from 1994 to 1997 following which postgraduation in dravyaguna a was allowed by Punjabi University. He said presently even this course had been discontinued. The association has alleged that the government did not implement the decision of allowing the UGC scales to the teachers recommended by a committee headed by the Chief Minister in 1998. It said the government implemented the decisions with regard to medical and dental teachers but left the matter unimplemented with regard to ayurvedic teachers. |
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‘Seats lying vacant in medical colleges’ PATIALA, Aug 25 — The PCMS Association, Punjab, today urged the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal to intervene in the functioning of the State Medical Colleges. The Association alleged that the Education Minister was disinterested in the proper functioning of the department and maintenance of the academic standards in the state medical colleges. In a press note issued here today, the General Secretary of PCMS Association, Dr D.C. Sharma; the press
secretary Dr Ajay Bagga; and senior leader, Dr Hardeep Singh, alleged that almost a 100 posts of senior residents, who are precursors to the medical teachers’ cadre, were lying vacant in the state medical colleges for the past several months. These senior residents are to be selected from the parent PCMS cadre as per a notified criteria. Though a talk was initiated last year to fill up the vacant teaching posts , nothing has been materialised so far, the press note added. The PCMSA alleged that due to these large number of vacant posts of Senior Residents, Senior Lecturers, Asstt. Professors and Professors in the state medical colleges, not only the concerned doctors were being adversely affected but the patient care in the allied hospitals was also suffering, besides affecting the quality of the doctors produced in such institutions. |
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Govt to take over
ITI building GURDASPUR, Aug 25 — Mr Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, addressing SAD-BJP workers at
Sathiali, 15 km from here, after inaugurating the construction of Ujagar Singh Sekhwan memorial dental college building at
Sekhwan, yesterday said the Punjab Government had decided to take over the ITI building at Nainakot to start the regional centre of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. The building had cost the government Rs 5 crore, however, it had been lying vacant for the past three years. There were 13 other such buildings in the state which were lying
unutilised. Mr Mohan Lal, ruled out the possibility of any mid-term poll in the state and claimed that the Badal government would complete its full term. Mr Sewa Singh
Sekhwan, Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister, said measures would be taken to prevent waterlogging in the district. He said a Rs 2.35-crore project was launched last year to check this menace and Rs 80 lakh had been earmarked this year for the
purpose. |
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Parents oppose shifting of school BATHINDA, Aug 25 — The action committee of parents of students who are studying at Saint Paul’s High School have urged the authorities concerned not to allow the Principal to shift the school building from the power house road to Adarsh Nagar East, Goniana road, till the new session. In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, member of the committee said the Principal had sent letters to the parents informing them about the shifting of the school. They said the place where the school was being shifted was far away from the city. Most of the students studying in the school lived in the city so it would be difficult for small children to go to the school, they said, adding that the place was about 7 km away from the city and they could not afford to send their children by bus. Mr A.K. Lawrence, Principal, when contacted, said the building of the school was unsafe and moreover the new building where the school was being shifted was their own. During the rains, the school would be filled with water, he added. Diploma in family
medicine sought PHAGWARA, Aug 25 — The Indian Medical Association College of General Practitioners, Punjab, today asked the state government to include family medicine in the undergraduate syllabus and start postgraduate degree/diploma in general practice/family medicine at all medical colleges in Punjab. In a representation to the Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister, Dr Raman Aggarwal, Chairman, IMA College General Practitioners, Punjab faculty, told the minister that family medicine was the backbone of society and the knowledge of family physicians should be updated through proper facilities. The Medical Council of India and the National Board of Examination have already approved it as a speciality but no university has started PG diploma in it, continued Dr
Aggarwal.
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M.Sc results today PATIALA, Aug 25 — Punjabi University will declare the results of M.Sc Food and Nutrition ( Part I and II), M.Sc. Forensic Science (Part II), MA Punjabi (Part I), M.P.Ed. (Part I), MBA campus (Semester 2),M.Tech (Semester 2), B.Ed (CC) Part I, B.Pharmacy (Part III) and BA honours school in history (Part I) on Saturday, according to a press note issued here today. Giving this information, Mr Paramjit Singh Khaira, Controller of Examinations, said that the result gazettes and detailed marks cards had been dispatched to the departments and colleges concerned. |
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Fee hike
condemned AMRITSAR, Aug 25 — Mr Sachin Mehra, general secretary, National Students Union of India, yesterday condemned the hike in tuition fee of schools, colleges and universities. He also demanded free travel passes for students commuting from villages situated at a distance of 40 to 70 km. |
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