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| Tuesday, September 12, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Thein ‘incomplete’ sans 3 other projects No dilution of entry standards: Malik BBMB to cut beds in hospital Monsoon — nightmare for rabbits
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Morcha projects Ravi Inder as CM Cong candidate files
papers as Independent Federation to support
SAD-BJP in Sunam Allegations against
BJP leader refuted PPCC not to
allow political conference
Martyrs’ parents
flay government New
fundamental rights
suggested Ramps in colonies a traffic hazard 50,000 grant for
kin of deceased Eye bank trust to form ward-level panels Forest officers to
intensify stir
More trains, facilities sought Ad hoc promotions in
police may be withdrawn
FIR filed against bank MD Irrigation
Department violates HC order Man injured by ‘kale
kachchhewale’ dies
ETT pupils’ fast
enters fourth day Badal congratulates
literacy awardees
Roller flour mills face closure Good response
to PUDA auction
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Thein ‘incomplete’ sans 3 other projects CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — Commencement of power generation at the Thein Dam is the beginning and not the end of the exploitation of the basin of the Ravi. The multi-purpose project, which has cost of Rs 3,890 crore, can be considered complete only when three projects — the Shapur Kandi dam (168 MW), the Upper Bari Doab project, State III (57 MW) and the Shapur Kandi extension hydel project (75 MW) — are taken up right away and completed. This will make the execution cost-effective and enable the optimum use of the available manpower (experienced and technical) and machinery. The Thein Dam project itself has had a chequered history ever since the Willey Committee report in 1926-27. The Punjab Irrigation Department first submitted a project report way back in 1957. With the passage of time the project underwent several technical changes and eventually a 600 MW scheme was prepared. The teething troubles were both manmade (political, technical, administrative and financial) and natural, like the devastating floods of 1988 when 5.8 lakh cusecs of gushing water inundated the project site or the snag in the power tunnels which developed when the reservoir was in the process of being filled up in July, 1999. That had put a question mark on the fate of the project. For a change, the SAD-BJP government took a quick decision and changed the General Manager and brought in Mr
J.S. Randhawa. The services of Mr R.S. Gill were requisitioned. The manner in which a taskforce was constituted and the snag tackled ahead of schedule itself point to the engineering and technical skills of the workers now engaged at the project site. From most of what earlier went wrong at the Thein Dam project two issues emerge: First, among those engaged at the top level of the administration and execution, experienced and qualified men were missing; and second, cadre management was improper. In fact, all through the construction years the management failed to assess the actual requirements in terms of escalation of costs of material and machine and rise in wages etc which inflated the project cost exorbitantly. For record, Mr Randhawa recalled that despite resistance from within the organisation, the task was executed under the most trying circumstances. The entry to the work site for repair in the two tunnels was through a 24-inch diameter manhole. To repair the snag in the tunnels men as well as material (often in a dismantled state) were transported through this manhole. The machinery was reassembled down under. The work itself was being carried out at least 500 ft below the top level of the dam. A new technique of repair was adopted, omitting the steel lining plate and replacing it with “epoxy concrete”. “This was used extensively for the first time in India”, he added. The General Manager said that by not entrusting the work to a private agency, cost and time overruns were saved. Efforts are being made to invite the Prime Minister to formally dedicate the project to the nation and also to seek financial help for the other three projects without which the Thein Dam will remain a lame duck. The project, Mr Randhawa said, would be considered “complete” only when the remaining important construction activity, the closure of irrigation outlets, was done. The reservoir was also to be filled up to the mandatory EL 518 level to make the “floating derrick” operational. In his view raising the water level in the reservoir now, when the requirement for paddy had tapered off, was imperative. To a question, Mr Randhawa said the 160-metre earth core-cum-gravel shell dam, involving 15.2 million cubic metres of fill placement, made it the highest dam of this type in India. The foundation gallery under this rock-fill dam had been provided for the first time in the country. There were four units of 150 MW each, thus making the 600 MW power plant the second biggest hydro turbine in India. The Ranjit Sagar reservoir is spread over 87 sq km with a catchment area of 6,086 sq km. The project is a symbol of cooperation and coordination among Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The reservoir has affected 63 villages in these three states where 25,979 acres have been acquired. Even resettlement and rehabilitation schemes have been approved which, besides other benefits, ensure that one member of each of the identified families gets employment on the project. As to the benefits, it is pointed out that the generation of 210 crore units annually and an additional irrigation potential of 3.48 lakh hectares will accelerate agricultural and industrial production. That will be worth Rs 550 crore per year, as per the estimates. From the sale of power a revenue of Rs 500 crore is envisaged. Thus, with storage in the reservoir having begun in February, 1999, and power generation in August, 2000, the project in more ways than one is complete. Yet, a lot more remains to be done. |
No dilution of entry standards: Malik S A S Nagar, Sept 11 — The number of soldiers killed by landmines and improvised explosive devices has been on the increase over the past few months as the use of such devices suits militants because there is no face-to-face confrontation with the Army. Stating this here today, the Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, added that the average monthly rate of neutralisation of mercenaries by the Army during the past four months was 150. He was speaking to mediapersons after laying the foundation stone of the building of the Army Institute of Law (AIL) in Sector 68. This was part of his two- day farewell visit to Headquarters, Western Command. General Malik reiterated that the Kashmir problem was not just a military affair and it required a politico-military solution, adding that the ministry of External Affairs, too, had an important role to play. He said that the Army was also looking after the interest and welfare of the local population and, despite limited resources, was running 16 schools in the valley. On the issue of the Army reportedly lowering entry standards for officers, General Malik said that the intake had been increased to meet the shortfall of officers. He said that while there had been no dilution of standards, the increased intake had resulted in a longer merit list where, consequently, the cut-off marks were lower than before. He said that this was the only way to overcome the shortfall, which had crossed 13,000 officers. He said that the selection procedures were very stringent and the high standards were evident from the performance of young men and women during the Kargil conflict. He dismissed the notion of improper selection as the cause of the recent suicide by two cadets at the IMA. He said that such incidents were reported from all walks of life. Earlier, addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of the AIL, he expressed sadness over the problems faced by the Army in the execution of various welfare projects. He said that while the construction of religious institutions or encroachments on defence land raised no eyebrows, the Army had to face problems if it was establishing educational institutes. He added that people should realise that schools and colleges were more important than temples or gurdwaras. The AIL, funded by the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) was set up in 1999 and is functioning at an interim location in Patiala. It is expected to move here in 2001. A 6 acre plot has been allotted by the Punjab Government at a cost of Rs 2.4 crore for the building. The building will be constructed by the Military Engineer Services at an estimated cost of Rs 9.7 crore. It will be a self-contained campus, with hostels for students, accommodation for staff members besides a multipurpose hall with a capacity of 500, a clinic, an STD booth, a cafeteria and a bank extension counter. General Malik said that the institute would have an integrated BA LL.B course with 300 students besides a diploma course for 150 students and an LL.M course for 40 students. He added that the AWES was already running 110 schools and five professional colleges in the country. The sixth professional college, a dental institute would start from the next session at Secunderabad. General Malik also called on the Punjab Governor, Lt-Gen J F R Jacob (retd), and the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in the evening. Meanwhile, the president, Army Wives Welfare Association, Dr Ranjana Malik, attended a family welfare meeting in Chandimandir. Earlier, on their arrival at Chandigarh airfield, General Malik and his wife were received by the GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt-Gen Vijay Oberoi and his wife, Daulat. The Army chief also visited the residence of Brig B.S. Shergill, who was killed in a landmine blast in Kashmir last month and expressed his condolences. |
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BBMB to cut beds in hospital ROPAR, Sept 11 — Due to the continuous financial crunch since the past one year the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is planning to cut its 100-bed facility at its Canal Hospital at Nangal to just fifty beds. The board office of the BBMB has asked the primary medical officer of the hospital to provide data about potential savings if the facility at the hospital is reduced. Earlier, the BBMB had written to the Punjab Government to take over two hospitals being run by the organisation at Nangal and Talwara. Since the Punjab Government has not shown any inclination to take over the hospitals. The BBMB is considering other options to reduce the financial burden due to these hospitals. However, this latest step has come in for severe criticism from various worker unions and local leaders. They have alleged that since the BBMB Canal Hospital was catering not just to Nangal but the adjoining districts of Bilaspur and Una besides the employees, it would hurt the interests of patients from the entire area. The worker unions of BBMB in protest letters to the Chairman alleged that at a time when the organisation was spending lakhs on VIPs, it was unjustified to cut down on the essential services like health. They also expressed the apprehension that the 24 hour emergency service might be
stopped if the facility was down-graded as, according to norms a round-the-clock emergency is not maintained is a fifty-bedded hospital. The acting Chief Engineer of BBMB (Irrigation), when asked said reduction in the facility was still at the planning stage. He also added that due to the financial crunch, BBMB was also planning other economy measures including reduction in the number of rest houses, postponement of purchase of new vehicles and abolition of posts which had been lying vacant for more than six months. The BBMB has been in a financial crisis since the past one year due to the nonpayment of dues by partner states. Last month the organisation couldn’t pay salaries to its employees on time and it was only after help from the government that the salaries were paid. Sources in the BBMB said that partner states owed the board over Rs 100 crore, about 33 per cent of its total budgeted expenditure of Rs 330 crore. The Punjab Government and PSEB owe the major share of this amount. The financial crunch is also hampering the various development plans of BBMB. |
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Monsoon — nightmare for rabbits HOSHIARPUR, Sept 11 — Come monsoon and it brings a nightmare for the common rabbit, who are being hunted in the Kandi area falling in Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Ropar districts of Punjab. Killing of rabbits during the night with guns and hunter dogs has become more of a sport among farmers and others, who even engage “saansis”, who are known for their hunting skills and go deep into the woods for hunting for days together. The hunting game is popular among people of the entire Kandi area, but of late a few places in Hoshiarpur district like Nara Dada, Kukaner, Takhni, Hariana and the hills in the upper-Dasuya area are also known for rabbit-hunting during monsoon when hordes of farmers venture out on their tractors to hunt their “favourite” animal. “Actually, you can get the best of them either in November, December or during the monsoon,” said Gurnam Singh of Chohal village near Hoshiarpur, who said he and his friends go out on a hunting spree during this part of the year. “Not only farmers, a number of police and civil officers also camp in villages during monsoon to relish rabbit meat,” he said. When this correspondent visited Chohal village and some adjoining villages to verify whether hunting of rabbits actually took place on such a large scale, he came across gun-totting farmers, who were accompanied by a few “saansis”. One of them, who was carrying a dead rabbit which had just been shot down by one of them, tried his best to avoid being photographed. While talking to TNS, farmers and hunters said though normally they were able to track and shoot down four or five rabbits during one night, at times their efforts went waste. Bali Ram, a “saansi”, who was accompanying the group along with his dog, added that he was in their company just for the sake of fun. “I and my friends are not charging anything from them, except for a rabbit or two in return of my services,” he said and confessed of having accompanied a few police and civil officers, who had come to the area for hunting recently. Meanwhile, a number of farmers complained that rabbits damaged crops during monsoon for which they had no alternative but to kill them. Joga Singh, a farmer, said, “The situation is such that hordes of them attack our fields during night.” Sampuran Singh, another farmer of Kukaner village, demanded that something should be done by the state government to curb the rabbit menace in the area. |
Morcha projects Ravi Inder as CM SUNAM, Sept 11 — Though it was an election rally of the newly formed ‘Sanjha Morcha’ in support of its candidate, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, for the Sunam Assembly byelection all the main speakers of the morcha gave more emphasis on projecting Mr Ravi Inder Singh, MLA form Morinda, as the next Chief Minister of Punjab. They claimed that if Prof Chandumajra, who belonged to the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), won the Sunam
byelection, Mr Ravi Inder Singh would be Chief Minister of the state by October-end. They also predicted victory for Prof Chandumajra on the plea that all sections of the society and professions were unhappy with the Badal government as it had “failed” on every front. The rally was organised here today on the occasion of filing of nomination papers by Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra. Besides Prof Chandumajra, Mr Sampuran Singh of the CPI also filed nomination papers today. The speakers of different political parties, raised different issues but those which were high-lighted prominently were ‘parivarwad’ of the SAD leaders like Mr Badal and Mr Dhindsa, unprecedented defeat of SAD candidates, anti-people and anti-farmer policies of the SAD-BJP government, emergence of the third front in Punjab. and corruption in political and administrative circles. Addressing the rally, Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of the SHSAD, called upon the people to defeat the SAD and the Congress to take revenge for the “atrocities”,
committed on them. Mr Tohra also urged the people to ensure the victory of the ‘sanjha morcha’ candidate to dethrone the Badal government and pave a way for the installation of Mr Ravi Inder Singh as the next
C.M. He denied allegations that the ‘sanjha morcha’ was in the fray to benefit the Congress. He also warned leaders of his party not to play hide and seek in this
byelection, saying if they did and even if Mr Chandumajra was defeated, he himself would continue as president of the SHSAD even after September 29. Prof Chandumajra alleged that SAD won the Nawanshahr Assembly byelection by using “unethical methods”, but it would not be allowed to repeat the same here. He asked the people to elect him
to make Mr Ravi Inder Singh the next Chief Minister. Mr Ravi Inder Singh urged the people to vote for Mr Chandumajra for change in Punjab politics and asked voters not to bow before government pressure while
exercising their a right to
franchise. Jathedar Kuldip Singh Wadala, Convener of the morcha also said if Prof Chandumajra emerged victorious here, Punjab would see a new Chief Minister in a month. Among others who
addressed the rally were Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, president of the SAD
(Panthic); Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, president of the Delhi unit of the SHSAD; Mr Prem Singh
Lalpura, a senior Akali leader; Mr Harminder Singh Gill, president of the AISSF; Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann, Ex MP; Mr Teja Singh Tiwana, president of Punjab Janta Dal; Mr Harish Khanna, president of Punjab Janata Dal (Secular); Mr Kiranjit Singh Sekhon of the
MCPI; Mr Darshan Singh Jeeta, president of Punjab unit of the Janata Party
(Chandersekher); Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal (BKU), Mr Pishora Singh (BKU
Ekta) and Mr Gurpreet Singh Lakhmir-Wala, district president of the SHSAD (Kisan cell). On this occasion, the Mansa and Ropar units of the SHSAD handed over Rs one lakh each as election fund to Jathedar Tohra. |
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Cong candidate files
papers as Independent SUNAM, Sept 11 — In a significant development the Congress high command today changed its covering candidate for the Sunam assembly byelection while its official candidate Parmeswari Devi today also filed her nomination papers as an Independent candidate, for reasons best known to the party high command. According to official sources, Mr Kamaldeep Arora, son of late Bhagwan Dass Arora, today filed nomination papers as a covering candidate of the Congress candidate, Mrs Parmeswari Devi, in place of Mr Raj Vashist. Besides, Mr Kamaldeep Arora, Mr Rajinder Deepa, elder son-in-law of late Bhagwan Dass Arora also filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate today. When TNS contacted Mr Deepa in this regard, he claimed that he had filed the papers only to withdraw later on. About the papers of Mrs Parmeswari Devi as an Independent candidate, he said she had filed her papers as an Independent to remove fear with regard to rejection of her papers as a Congress candidate on one ground or the other. As many as 22 persons had filed nomination papers for the Sunam byelection. The candidates who have filed their nomination papers are Parmeswari Devi, Raj Kumar and Kamaldeep Singh (Congress), Parminder S Dhindsa, Harjeet Kaur and Surinder Kaur (SAD), Prem Singh Chandumajra and Gurpreet Singh ( SHSAD), Samopuran Singh Chajli and Hardev Singh (CPI); Sukhjinder Singh, Surinder Kumar, SAD(A); Kartar Singh (RPI); Hakam Singh, Narinder Kumar, Lajpat Rai, Krishan Lal, Manohar Lal, Deepa, Pardeep Kumar and Manjeet Singh (All Independents). |
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Federation to support
SAD-BJP in Sunam PATIALA, Sept 11 — The Punjab State Services Federation
(PSSF), under the Chairmanship of Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, a former member of Parliament, has decided to extend support to the SAD-BJP candidate, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, in the Sunam assembly
byelection. In a press release, the PSSF General Secretary, Mr Harpal Singh, said that the federation was extending support with the support of the Punjab Mazdoor Sangh. The primary reason for extending support to the ruling coalition, said Mr Harpal Singh, was that the Punjab Government had given benefits to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore to the employees and the working class during its present tenure. Meanwhile, the All-India Government Primary Teachers Association will be holding its all-India level conference on September 14 and 15 at Anandpur Sahib. The conference will be inaugurated by the Vice-President of India Mr Krishan Kant, and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, will preside over the function. |
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Allegations against
BJP leader refuted AMRITSAR, Sept 11 — The allegations regarding the “misdemeanour” of a senior BJP leader took a curious turn today with local BJP president Om Parkash Kalia refuting, allegations regarding the BJP leader as just a “purported means to undermine”. The city development activity undertaken during the BJP’s tenure. He refused to institute a fresh probe into the “escapades” of the BJP terming the allegations as unfounded, baseless and without any ground and being used to sully the name of the ruling party. While answering further queries by newspersons here today, he said if any allegation was proved against any functionary of the party he would not be spared. However, it is reliably learnt that a two-member probe committee, reportedly deputed by the BJP state chief, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, had arrived here and invited eight BJP woman councillors to probe into the charges of allegations against the senior BJP leader. Only four of the eight attended the meeting held on
September 8 by the probe committee at the Circuit House in the morning while two woman councillors were reportedly out of station. Each woman councillor was invited separately to record her views on the said allegation against a party leader and his behaviour towards woman councillors. |
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PPCC not to
allow political conference CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee today declared that it would not permit any parallel political conference at Khadoor Sahib. A press note issued by the PPCC said the All-India Congress Committee had already directed all Congressmen that if any conference was to be held it must have the explicit approval of the PPCC president. The press note added that the PPCC had been organising a political conference at Khadoor Sahib every year. This year the conference would be held on September 18. It would be presided over by the PPCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, and would be addressed, among others, by Mr Moti Lal Vohra, general secretary of the AICC, and a number of state party leaders. Any parallel conference would attract disciplinary action, the press note added. Meanwhile, in a separate press release, the PPCC mourned the death of 12 persons in a road accident near Kharar yesterday. Capt Amarinder Singh conveyed his heartfelt condolences to members of the bereaved families. |
Martyrs’ parents
flay government JALANDHAR, Sept 11 — The Central Government came under criticism for its alleged indifferent attitude towards parents of Kargil martyrs, when they criticised the government for using the Kargil conflict only to benefit its electoral prospects in the last general elections. Addressing a press conference today, Major Ravi Dada (Retd), who lost his son Major Raman Dada during an Army operation in Assam, said: “The widow of a martyr is provided with a class I government job along with Rs 30 lakh as compensation but the parents are being ignored.” “Though we met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, during his visit to Jalandhar on February 6 with a charter of demands, nothing concrete has been done in this regard,” he said. Major Kartar Singh (retd) said: “We were asked by the government to submit applications for the allotment of petrol stations and gas agencies last year, but were later told to get the assent of our daughter-in-law who under the influence of her parents left the house immediately after the last rites of my son were over. The parents of martyrs were critical of the reported statement of the Adjutant-General, Lt-Gen S.S. Grewal, that there would be no change in the Army compensation rules as some parents-in-law had forced their daughters-in-law to leave the house. They said they were promised compensation by the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, during his visit here on July 31. Major Ravi Dada said the Punjab government had announced compensation packages for the parents of the martyrs, however, nothing had been done in this regard. |
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New
fundamental rights
suggested PATIALA, Sept 11 — For making the Indian Constitution more effective to the changing needs, the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation has suggested some new Fundamental Rights to the national commission, according to a press release issued here today. Based on a comprehensive exercise for overview of the
Fundamental Rights with a view to updating them in the context of social, political, economic and cultural scenario and in particular the movements all over the world, the foundation drafted comprehensive proposals, both for amplification of the existing Fundamental Rights as well as incorporation of the new ones. Suggesting the right to
livelihood provided under Articles 39(e) and 41 as directive principles, which now has been declared as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court should be included in Part III of the Constitution, the proposal also suggested right of every child to full development, right to pollution-free air, water and environment, right to health and medical
assistance, legal aid and speedy justice. The proposal also suggested some additional Fundamental Rights like the right to information with the necessary safeguards and right to privacy should be included in Part III of the Constitution. It also said that the presumtion of innocence should be incorporated in Article 20 of the
Constitution. Preventive detention not being a regular feature of any democratic system of governance of the world should be removed from Part III of the Constitution, the proposal suggested. |
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Ramps in colonies a traffic hazard PATIALA, Sept 11 — Concrete ramps and hedges outside the boundary walls of various colonies in the city are a traffic hazard and cause the accumulation of rain water on inroads. Almost all new colonies in the city are facing this problem. Citizens say that one of reasons for constructing these ramps is the raised plinth of houses built in the past 5 years. This had been done after the flood of 1993. Citizens say that the raised plinth and ramps have now become traffic hazards in many colonies. Some of these ramps cover one-third of the road. Residents complain that the ramps hinder parking of vehicles in the area and it is difficult for two four-wheelers to cross these roads together. About the drainage problem that has been caused due to such ramps in his locality, Wg Cdr S.S. Aujla of New Officers Colony said, “About two years ago, there was no problem of rain-water drainage here. The water used to flow into a drain about hundred yards from my house. Recently, three houses have been built along the drain route. The house owners have raised concrete ramps in front of the gates, besides hedges along the walls. This has blocked the flow of rain-water into the main drain.” He said, in the last monsoon, his house had been flooded one night and he had to dig channels to drain out the rain water. He said he had approached the municipal authorities, after which, some of the earthwork had been removed, but the ramps had remained intact. He said the problem could not be solved without removing the ramps. Col
G.B. Singh, Regional Chairman of the Lions Club, said the raised ramps in various localities were also causing damage to inroads. He said the club had initiated an awareness drive to highlight the problem. He said the other social organisations and the Municipal Corporation could also launch similar drives. Mr Akhilesh Kumar, a resident of Model Town, said hedges along the boundary walls of houses in the area were also causing problem. He said it was surprising that the Municipal Corporation was allowing people to encroach on
the government land. The MC Commissioner, Mr
K.S. Kang, said the plinth levels in most unplanned colonies were not the same. He said the houses were also not aligned symmetrically. He said the corporation demolished all ramps whenever any road was built or relaid in any locality. |
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50,000 grant for
kin of deceased CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today expressed deep shock over the bus accident near Kharar last night in which 12 persons lost their lives and 26 were injured. The Chief Minister has directed the state Transport Department and the Ropar district administration to ensure the transportation of the bodies to the homes of the families concerned and proper medical treatment to the injured. He announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs 50,000 each to next of the kin of the deceased and compensation as per the rules to the injured, says an official press release. He also conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the members of the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery to the injured. |
Eye bank trust to form ward-level panels FARIDKOT, Sept 11 — The local Bharat Vikas Parishad Eye Bank Charitable Trust has decided to constitute ward-level committees at Jaito, Kotkapura and Faridkot to motivate people for donating eyes after death to provide vision to patients suffering from corneal diseases. Stating this at a press conference here on September 9, Dr S.P.S. Sodhi, general secretary of the trust, said the trusts which came into existence a year ago, had set up its eye bank at the local Government Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital. Expressing concern over the non-availability of suitable donors, he said more than 20,000 patients were suffering from corneal diseases every year in the country. Out of a total of 170 eye banks, only 50 were functioning properly in the country, he alleged. He urged Punjab and Central Governments to solve the problem. Dr N.K. Singla, eye specialist at the local medical college, talked about the history of the eye donation movement and the establishment of eye banks in the country. |
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Forest officers to
intensify stir FEROZEPORE, Sept 11 — Agitated over the state government’s failure to provide protection to its staff from the timber mafia, the Punjab Non-Gazetted Forest Officers’ Union has threatened to intensify its stir. Their resentment stems from successive attempts on the lives of forest officials, allegedly by the timber mafia, in various parts of the state. The recent attacks on three forest officials, allegedly by encroachers in Dharamkot, has fuelled the resentment further, with the union now planning to hold processions from today onwards. The attacks have revived the memory of the murder of Sant Ram, a forest guard at Garhshankar, in 1998, by the mafia. Despite repeated assurances, the state government had allegedly failed to provide them with security and weapons to effectively check tree felling by the influential mafia. Meanwhile, the Union Press Secretary, Mr Mohinder Singh, has demanded that special environment courts be constituted to try such offenders more effectively |
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‘Dispel myths on eye donation’ AMRITSAR, Sept 11 — Touching upon a humane issue, Mr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, Punjab, has advocated the setting up of camps to describe various aspects of eye donation. The camps would serve to dispel misconceptions about donating eyes and emphasise its importance to those who were either born without vision or lost it in later years. Addressing a gathering on the concluding day of a seminar on “Prevention of Blindness,” he said about 30 lakh Indians and about 70,000 Punjabis were in the grip of eye diseases leading to blindness. About 500 forms were filled for voluntary eye donation during the
seminar. Dr U.S. Dhaliwal AMRITSAR, Sept 11 — Dr U.S. Dhaliwal has been appointed Director-cum-Principal of Shri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Sciences here. A former Professor in the Department of Surgery at Government Medical College, Amritsar, he specialises in button hole surgery. Homoeopaths flay
Punjab govt CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — The Punjab Civil Homoeopathic Medical Services Association today expressed its resentment against the step-motherly treatment given to homoeopaths by the state government by not implementing the recommendations of the Punjab Pay Anomly Committee. Dr P.P.S. Grewal, President of the association, said the Central government had already given parity to homoeopaths with allopathic doctors in giving the scale of Rs 7880-13,500. However, the committee recommended the scale of Rs 7220-11,660.
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More trains, facilities sought BATHINDA: The number of passengers at the local Railway station has been increasing day by day but the facilities are proving inadequate to cope with the rush. Residents say as the town is developing fast and has the biggest cantonment of Asia, a fertiliser plant, a thermal plant and oil depots, more express trains connecting it to the national Capital and other cities are required immediately. In fact, two express trains — one from Fazilka to New Delhi and the other from Jodhpur to Dehra Dun — had been sanctioned by the Central Government but have not been started yet. The residents say that due to the coming up of an oil refinery and a cement plant in the area, the number of passengers has been on the rise. The Public Grievances Association has urged the Union Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, to take the necessary steps to make the railway station one of the best in the region. Mr Dharamvir Walia, association president, and Mr Sadhu Ram Kushla, general secretary, said that more coaches should be attached with the Sriganganagar train. It had been attracting passengers as it was the only superfast train in this area. There was also immediate need for more coaches in the Sriganganagar-Hardwar train as thousands of devotees visit Hardwar every day from places like Sriganganagar, Abohar, Malout, Bathinda, Tapa, Barnala, Patiala and Ambala. They demanded that the schedule of this train should be framed in a way that suited commuters the most. Due to inadequate computer booking counters, long queues can be seen in the waiting hall of the Railway station from morning till evening. The computer, which sometimes develops problems, creates difficulties for those who want to book berths. The Railway station, the biggest junction in this region, has no platform with facilities to help handicapped, infirm and sick passengers to move about easily. The association has brought the problems relating to booking to the notice of the Union Railway Minister several times. It has demanded that a special reservation counter should be opened for defence personnel. Besides, computerised reservation counters should be set up in other parts of the town. Mr Harbans Lal, Station Superintendent, said two trained persons had been put on the job at the computer reservation counters. Efforts were being made to make travel comfortable for passengers, he added. |
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Ad hoc promotions in
police may be withdrawn CHANDIRARH: Punjab’s Director-General of Police in a letter produced before a Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.L. Singal, through the Deputy Advocate-General, told the court that it had been decided that all out-of-turn ad hoc promotions of police officers might be withdrawn immediately. The letter was produced on a writ petition filed by Mr Jasmer Singh, ASI of Jagraon, and 12 other policemen, who were aggrieved by the out-of-turn promotions in the Punjab Police. The Punjab Government’s order further stated that such police officers might be given their own rank pay (ORP) posting of the same rank they were now holding. They would also draw their pay against their substantive posts and not against the higher post. It was added that such police officers, however, would get their regular promotion when their turn came acquiring the eligibility as per their seniority. |
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Five promoted
ADGP CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — The Punjab Government has ordered the promotion of all five IPS officers of the 1971 batch to the rank of Additional Director-General of Police. Those promoted yesterday are Mr Lalit Bhatia, Mr D.R. Bhatti, Mr S.C. Jain, Mr G.S. Aujla and Mr M.P.S Aulakh. The newly promoted officers are yet to be given postings. |
FIR filed against bank MD AMRITSAR, Sept 11 — Staff members of the Amritsar Central Cooperative Bank have lodged another FIR against the Managing Director (MD) of the bank at the Kotwali police station alleging embezzlement of Kargil Fund
collected from 35 branches of the bank. Rs 3.5 lakh was collected to be forwarded to the families of Kargil martyrs by ACC staff. The complainants said Mr Surinder Singh Chhina, MD was given the entire amount for depositing with the Government of India but the money never reached the aggrieved families or the defence fund. An enquiry was initiated in April into the alleged embezzlement, which was entrusted to the public Grievances Officer, Amritsar. Some staff members alleged that in the wake of the enquiry the MD had adopted a threatening attitude towards those employees who gave adverse statements or evidence against him and is trying to collect favourable statements under coercion in a bid to hush up the matter. Even political influence is being used to intimidate the staff, they said. They demanded an enquiry by an independent agency into the matter. Meanwhile, in a press meet today Mr Harpal Singh Sandhu, former chairman of ACC Bank said most of the 430 employees had contributed a minimum of Rs 100 each while clerks had paid Rs 800 each and peon Rs 600 each to collect total of Rs 3.5 lakh for Kargil martyrs. Mr Harpal alleged that the MD had the political backing of Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Minister for Cooperatives and this factor was obstructing the enquiry. He alleged that 20-25 employees who refused to give affidavits in favour of the MD were given transfer orders to remote areas. The former chairman sought an impartial enquiry into the matter. Meanwhile, Mr Chhina, in a statement refuted the allegations against him and said the enquiry against him by Public Grievance Officer, Amritsar, was already complete and the executive magistrate had cleared him of all charges. In a counter-allegation he alleged that a conspiracy was on to defame him as he had won the elections of the board. He said that SHO kotwali was related to Mr Harpal Singh Sandhu, who had lodged the new FIR dated August 25, by using the statement of seven disgruntled employees against whom disciplinary action was taken by the bank. He said he had registered an FIR on August 28 to quash the FIR by the staff of ACC Bank and had urged for disciplinary action against the SHO. |
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Irrigation Dept violates HC order BATHINDA, Sept 11 — The state Irrigation Department has initiated the process of sale of a piece of land situated adjoining the canal bridge near the local thermal plant to its illegal occupants instead of holding an open auction. Official sources said that move to transfer the ownership of nine shops constructed on Irrigation Department land was initiated at the instance of ruling party politicians. Sources added that the Irrigation Department authorities had started the exercise to transfer ownership despite the fact that proceedings against the occupants had been launched under Public Premises (PPA) to get the land evicted. The eviction proceedings were launched after the occupants failed to deposit the annual rent in 1999-2000. Official sources said that instead of depositing the annual rent last year occupants had moved the High Court to ask that the plots on which they had set up their business establishments be allotted to them. The Punjab and Haryana High Court instead held that the respondents i.e. Irrigation Department, were bound to dispose of the property by way of sale, gift, lease, licence etc by auction so as to enable all eligible persons to participate and submit bids. Mr J.R. Garg, Executive Engineer (XEN), Irrigation Department, when contacted, said that the move to transfer ownership of the land to the occupants had been initiated at the instance of ‘higher authorities’. He said some ruling politicians wanted that ownership of the land be transferred to the occupants at market price. He added that the district administration had fixed a rate of Rs 4,000 per square yard and before transfer of the land to occupants the entire amount due would be recovered from them. When asked whether the allotment would be a violation of the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he said that he would apprise the higher authorities as ultimately the decision would be taken at the state-government level. |
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Man injured by ‘kale
kachchhewale’ dies BHUCHO MANDI (Bathinda), Sept 11 — Although no new incident of the suspected ‘kale kachchhewale’ gang has been reported in the past few day yet their misdeeds are taking a toll. The suspected gang which struck on September 3 at this town and killed one woman and injured five other
members of the family are yet to be nabbed by the police. Mr Madan Lal who was one of the injured died yesterday in a hospital at Ludhiana. Residents of the town are gripped by a wave of fear as the police authorities are without any clue about the gang and their whereabouts. |
ETT pupils’ fast
enters fourth day SUNAM, Sept 11 — A relay fast by five unemployed protesting against the Punjab Government’s indifferent attitude towards their demand entered fourth day here today. They demanded that ETT should be recruited against vacant JBT teachers’ posts in the state. They are also demanded that no B.Ed candidate should be considered against JBT posts and the withdrawal of “false cases” against members of the ETT union when they were going to meet the Punjab Chief Minister, at his ‘sangat
darshan’ programme at Gaga village near here. They sought action against the “erring” police officers responsible for the lathi charge on ETT pupils at different places in the state. Mr Jaspreet Singh, Punjab co-convener of the Unemployed Elementary Teacher Union, said the relay fast would continue till the acceptance of their demands and a state-level conference would be held at Sunam on September 17 to discuss the future course of action. Members of the union took out a protest march at Duggan,
Bahadurpur, Kundran, Kilaraipur villages and through the main bazar of Sunam today. Mr Sukhjinder Singh
Chahal, president of the union, said here today that they would gherao Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, if he would come to Sunam to support Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, a SAD-BJP nominee for the Sunam
byelection. |
Badal congratulates
literacy awardees CHANDIGARH, Sept 11 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today congratulated the District Administration of Nawanshahr, NGOs and village-level Sakharta Committees on conferment of the “Satyen Maitra Memorial Literacy Award” by the National Literacy Mission of India for achieving first position in literacy campaign in the country. A team of volunteers, led by Deputy Commissioner Roshan Sunkaria and MLA of Nawanshahr, Jatinder Singh Kariha called on the Chief Minister today and presented him the trophy and the certificate awarded by the Vice President of India at New Delhi on September 8. The campaign in the district was evaluated by independent external agency based in New Delhi. More than 10,000 persons, including 3,500 voluntary instructors, key resource persons, master trainers, joint block and area project coordinators, NGOs and the village-level Sakharta Committees worked for 21 months with commitment. The entire campaign was more like a people’s movement which in the words of evaluation agency, was “rare” to be seen elsewhere, says an official. |
Roller flour mills face closure GURDASPUR, Sept 11 — Roller flour mills in Punjab are facing worst ever crisis and are on the verge of closure in view of wheat policy of the central government. Mr Raman Aggarwal, vice-president Punjab Roller Flour Millers Association said, half of the flour mills had been closed in the state. Some of the mills had got their power connections disconnected because of their inability to make payments of minimum charges of power connections which on average comes to be Rs 40,000 per month. Mr Aggarwal said the flour mills which were functioning were not utilising their full capacity. Most of the mills were utilising 20 per cent of their total capacity which had led to unemployment among the labour force working in these mills. As many as 4,000 persons were getting direct and indirect employment from these mills, which has been reduced to 800. Mr Aggarwal said the food policy of the central government was also responsible for the ill fate of the flour mills. The central government before the beginning of the wheat procurement season had announced that the FCI would issue wheat for custom milling to flour mills at the rate of Rs 900 against the minimum support price of Rs 580 per quintal. The millers and the traders hoarded wheat at the minimum support price. In May the FCI opted out of the market. The situation worsened when the FCI announced the issue price of Rs 7.50 per quintal followed by Rs 700 and ultimately Rs 650 to flour mills for custom milling. It may added that the millers while procuring wheat had to spend another 15 per cent on storage. The charges included 4 per cent purchase tax, 4 per cent market fee, 1 per cent infrastructure, 2.5 per cent commission and another 3 per cent as miscellaneous charges. Mr Aggarwal said the millers and traders procured wheat at a rate of Rs 680 per quintal approximately. In addition they had to spend another Rs 10 per quintal per month as interest for the utilisation of their bank limits. It may be added that the rate of wheat at present in the open market is between Rs 500 to 520 per quintal and only a liberal policy by the Centre can prevent their ruin. Mr Aggarwal further said the storage charges and the treatment of wheat against termite and other diseases had added another Rs 150 per quintal. Part of the stocks lying in the open had been damaged and the price of wheat procurement came to be about Rs 800 per quintal which meant loss of several thousand crores. He said the government should fix minimum support price taking into consideration the international market. To compensate the farmers the government should announce adequate bonus to the farmers. |
Good response
to PUDA auction AMRITSAR, Sept 11 — The auction by Punjab Urban Planning Development Authority (PUDA) of prime land in the city met with an overwhelming response today. For the over 6.8 acres of land behind the Ram Lal Eye and ENT Hospital. A sum of Rs 13.71 crore was garnered although PUDA was expecting to raise Rs 10 crore said Mr Harbhupinder Singh Nanda, Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA at Jalandhar. Out of a total 74 plots sold, the maximum was an amount of Rs 10,000 per square yards fetched for a 200 sq yard plot. Commercial sites of shop cum offices, SCOs and booths fetched a maximum of Rs 14000 and Rs 42,500 per square yard respectively. Mr H.S. Nanda announced that the site “Sehaj Enclave” would be fully developed within six months and would include a special park besides other civic amenities. |
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