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| Friday, September 22, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Barnala to consult supporters Cong tug-of-war
persists A
Tribune survey (Part-II) Agencies reluctant to buy
paddy
3 killed, 5 hurt in cracker blast
Govt for decontrol of fertiliser sector by 2007 Punjab’s financial health
improves |
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Bhakra, Pong water levels low Probe finds DIG
guilty
Cong banking on
split vote: Garg
Drain water, sewage
enter houses Suspend SGPC
Secy, says Pannu
Killer nabbed after 23 years Cop booked for abetting
suicide Fake driving licence racket busted DIG moots plan to curb drug peddling
Secretariat staff
reject anomalies panel report DC holds sangat darshan
Girl student’s expulsion
recommended Private tuitions
pose threat: minister Students want UGC
centre back HC dismisses plea
against transfer
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Barnala to consult supporters LUDHIANA, Sept 21 — Former Chief Minister and senior Akali leader Surjit Singh Barnala is yet to forgive his archrival in the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa for his role during the last parliamentary elections during which he (Mr Barnala) lost. Mr Barnala finished a poor third from Sangrur following open opposition to him by Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who was Secretary General of the party at that time. Mr Barnala, a former Union Minister for Food and Supplies, who was here in connection with the annual kisan mela being organised by Punjab Agricultural University, in an informal conversation with mediapersons conveyed his anger and resentment against Mr Dhindsa and his son, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who is the SAD-BJP candidate for the Sunam byelection. He said Mr Sukhdev Singh had met him on September 19 at Chandigarh and sought his cooperation and support for his son Mr Parminder Singh for the byelection. “I told him that this situation would not have arisen had you and your son not opposed me during the parliamentary elections”. However, Mr Barnala said he was yet to take a decision on whether he would join campaigning or not. The former Union Minister did not mince words while charging Mr Dhindsa and his son for opposing him during the last parliamentary elections. “Despite being the secretary general of the party, he (Mr Dhindsa) and his son opposed me, which is not done”, he said, evading queries whether he had forgiven Mr Dhindsa for this. Mr Barnala said he would take a decision on the issue only after meeting his supporters at Barnala tomorrow. He claimed, his supporters and well-wishers were upset over the role of the father and the son during the last parliamentary elections. “They need to be pacified, before I take any decision”, he remarked. To a question on the prospects of the SAD-BJP candidate in the byelections, Mr Barnala evaded a direct reply. He said, “I would like that my party emerges victorious as I have served all my life in the Shiromani Akali Dal”. Significantly enough, Mr Barnala said the widow of the late Bhagwan Dass Arora, who has been fielded by the Congress, could get sympathy votes. Mr Barnala went to the extent of saying that the late Arora had made considerable contribution towards the development of the constituency. Mr Barnala was non-committal about his support to Mr Parminder Singh. “I am not opposing him”. That is all, he said. He claimed he had no hold in the Sunam Assembly segment and could hardly play a role in the final outcome. Although Mr Badal literally forced him into his car for onward journey to Sunam after the inaugural function of the kisan mela, Mr Barnala got down at the local Circuit House. While Mr Badal and Senior Vice-President of the Shiromani Akali Dal Jagdev Singh Talwandi held a closed-door meeting on the Sunam byelection, Mr Barnala stayed away. The former Chief Minister denied he was trying to strike a bargain with Mr Badal for getting a gubernatorial assignment in return of his support to Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa. He said he was above these temptations. |
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Cong tug-of-war
persists LUDHIANA, Sept 21 — A silent power struggle is on in the Punjab Congress whose outcome will be decided by the result of the Sunam byelection to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha slated for later this month. Although all principal leaders of the state Congress, including the PCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, the former Chief Minister, Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, leader of the Congress group in the Punjab Assembly, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, and senior party leader and M.P. Jagmeet Singh Brar, have descended on the constituency to jointly campaign in favour of the party nominee for Sunam, Mrs Parmeshwari Devi, antagonism among them and their supporters remains. It is no secret that all three top leaders of the Congress in Punjab — Capt Amarinder Singh, Mrs Bhattal and Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar — have been pulling in different directions on several issues. The PCC chief’s camp complains that irrespective of their public utterances, neither Mrs Bhattal nor Mr Brar have fully accepted Capt Amarinder Singh as the President of the PCC and they seldom lose an opportunity to snipe at him. Therefore, the main issue at stake at Sunam as far as the Congress is concerned is the continuance of Capt Amarinder Singh as the President of the Punjab PCC along with, of course, the victory in Sunam. If the Congress loses the Sunam byelection, Capt Amarinder Singh is likely to come under pressure to quit as the party chief, making way for someone else to lead the party. The byelection was preceded by an interesting tug-of-war between Capt Amarinder Singh and his detractors in the party including Mrs Bhattal and Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar over the date of organisational elections. While Capt Amarinder Singh wanted to prepone the organisational elections slated for next month, Mrs Bhattal and Mr Brar reportedly felt that the elections should be held on schedule after the Sunam byelection. Capt Amarinder Singh who also met members of the party high command in Delhi in this connection, argued that the Badal government could go in for a mid-term poll any time after the Sunam byelection. This would leave little time for the Congress to hold elections and reorganise itself to face the poll. Therefore, it would be prudent to prepone the organisational elections in Punjab and hold these before the Sunam election. Capt Amarinder Singh’s camp also let it be known that given the large number of delegates registered by the PCC chief’s followers, there would be no difficulty in getting Capt Amarinder Singh re-elected as the PCC chief. But things could change if the Congress does not win the Sunam byelection. This would provide an easy handle to the PCC chief’s detractors to mount a campaign against him and press for a change in leadership. The PCC chief’s camp complains that they are not getting due cooperation from Mrs Bhattal and Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar during the party electioneering in Sunam. This is, of course, is denied by both Mr Brar and Mrs Bhattal. As a matter of fact, Capt Amarinder Singh’s camp blames Mrs Bhattal for the current problems the Congress is having with the CPI which has also put up its candidate in Sunam. It is pointed out that Mrs Bhattal’s equation with the CPI leader, Mr Joginder Dayal, is wellknown and it is she who has egged on Mr Dayal to break with the Congress to ensure a division in Congress votes. A Congress defeat would undermine the position of Capt Amarinder Singh as the PCC chief and give Mrs Bhattal and Mr Brar a chance to stake claim to the presidentship of the party. Mr Joginder Dayal’s bitter attacks on Capt Amarinder Singh during electioneering in Sunam must be seen against this background. Mrs Bhattal’s camp, while denying these allegations, points out that the former Chief Minister was unceremoniously removed as the PCC chief after the party lost the Assembly and parliamentary poll in 1997 as also the Sham Chaurasi byelection to the Vidhan Sabha. The same criterion was expected to be applied by the party high command with regard to Capt Amarinder Singh if the party was unable to win the Sunam seat. Aware of the gameplan of the PCC chief, his camp followers have already conveyed to the party high command that Sunam has traditionally been an Akali seat which was one by the Congress in 1992 because the Akalis did not contest at that time and again in 1997 because the Akalis were divided between groups led by Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Mr Surjit Singh
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Tribune survey (Part-II) Commission agents in Punjab are not happy with the way “kutchi” mandis had been authorised to function under political pressure on the eve of the paddy procurement season. Most of the rural grain markets lack the basic
infrastructure. Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, a former president of the Bharti Kisan Union, said that no procurement agency was present in 90 per cent of the markets visited by him on the first day today. He said that at Moga only 3,000 quintals of paddy was procured against the total arrival of one lakh
quintals. The situation was no different at Khanna, where only 1,500 bags were procured out of a total arrival of 70,000
bags. At Sahnewal, no procurement agency was present, he claimed. For the Patiala district administration and the procurement agencies, storage of the procured paddy and ensuring that combine harvester operators do not work at night are the main points of concern. Commission agents want an end to “kutchi” mandis and the provision of proper facilities for the installation of power cleaners at the procurement centres. Farmers and even commission agents feel the allotment of procurement centres in the district has been “politicised” excessively. “ Such centres are opened overnight with the sarpanch concerned getting a letter in this regard”, says the Punjab Arhtiya Association president, Mr Bal Krishan Singla. He says this causes problems for commission agents as they have to procure a licence to operate at the centre. Sometimes, the procedure takes around 15 days and only helps encourage corruption, alleges Mr Singla. Farmers want procurement centres to be opened in villages where produce is received every season. Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said it had come to his notice that some centres did not receive any produce last year but continued to be on the list of the authorised centres this year also. He said this situation was being
rectified. While the district administration says 101 out of 106 procurement centres in the district are “pucca”, commission agents say the number of “kutcha” centres is more. The commission agents said the facilities left a lot to be desired. Mr Devi Dayal said an additional yard needed to be provided at the Patiala grain market. The roof of the present shed leaked and the sewerage in the grain market was inadequate. Similar is the position in the Dakala and other mandis close by which cannot cope with even light
showers. Farmers at many procurement centres also have to go without basic facilities. There are no proper seating arrangements for them besides power cleaners have not been installed
there. The Deputy Commissioner said the district administration had also appealed to all combine harvester operators not to run their machines in the late evening and night. He said the running of these machines at such odd hours increased humidity in the harvested paddy. Action would be taken against those not obeying the directive.
Farmers and commission agents in Patiala are also apprehensive about the role of the FCI as it is more strict than the state procurement agencies on the issue of
moisture. Paddy has started arriving in Asia’s largest grain market for over a month now. While in the beginning farmers resorted to distress sale, now they are waiting for the government agencies to offer than Rs 540 per quintal, the minimum support price. On an average 10,000 quintals of paddy is arriving in Khanna daily. The arrivals are likely to pick up after the government agencies start purchases. There is already a heavy rush of farmers
there. The authorities do not appear to be prepared for the huge arrivals at the mandi every day. The problem has been further accentuated with farmers bringing their paddy and stocking it there without selling it in the absence of the government agencies. As September 21 approaches, the stocks have
increased. Farmers appear to be satisfied with the arrangements as they did not find any difficulty in transportation, loading or unloading of paddy in the grain market. In the Khanna grain market, about 10,000 migrant labourers are working round the clock. The number is likely to grow as the quantity of paddy arriving every day is likely to
increase. Farmers and millers are unhappy over the delay in the fixing of the rice prices by the government. One commission agent pointed out that while the government had fixed the minimum support price for paddy, it was yet to fix the rates for rice. This has made the millers apprehensive as they may face losses when it comes to selling rice after purchasing paddy at the rates fixed by the
government. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, Mr S.K. Sandhu, there are 110 paddy purchase centres. Of these, the FCI has been allotted 48 centres, Punsup 14, Markfed 12, the Food and Supplies Department seven, the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation six and the Punjab Agro Industrial Corporation two. At the remaining 21 centres, the purchases will be shared by different agencies. Mr Sandhu said that paddy procurement was expected to cross 13.5 lakh tonnes against 11.8 lakh tonnes last
year. In Bathinda 101 purchase centres have been set up. The centres have been provided with electricity, shelters, drinking water and
toilets. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said that all purchase centres had been cleaned. The state and central procurement agencies had arranged the required number of
bags. The FCI would purchase about 40 per cent, Markfed and Punsup 16 per cent each, the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation 12 per cent, Punjab Agro 6 per cent and the Food and Supplies Department 10 per
cent. He said that flying squads had been constituted to check the evasion of tax by traders, ensure that the arrival of paddy was recorded in the registers and the crop procured according to the prescribed norms. Payments to farmers would be made within 24
hours. He said that rice mill owners were also being motivated to make purchases of paddy at the minimum support price. Up to September 15, about 429 MT of paddy had been purchased by traders. He pointed out that last year the arrival of paddy was 4,47,000 MT in the whole
district. A quick survey of some grain markets in Ferozepore revealed that paddy is being purchased by millers for anything between Rs 450 and Rs 480, depending on the
quality. Some farmers, whose land falls across the security fencing along the Indo-Pak border, brought their crop into the market apprehending attacks by wild boar from the other
side. While a few farmers are hoping to sell their produce to the government agencies, those camping at mandis for the past several days have partly sold their paddy to millers. Most of them criticised the government agencies for “delaying” the procurement
operations. However, the authorities on their part say that the farmers are resorting to distress sale on account of the high moisture content in their crop due to the early sowing of paddy. While appreciating the problems of the farmers, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, gave an assurance that the procurement would start from September 21. The Sangrur district administration has set up 240 procurement centres throughout the
district. The FCI will look after 93 procurement centres, Punsup, Markfed and the Warehousing Corporation 32 centres each, the Punjab Food and Supplies Department 16 centres and Punjab Agro five centres. In the remaining 30 centres, all government agencies will procure
paddy. About 17 lakh tonnes of paddy will be procured by the government agencies and traders this year as compared to 16.25 lakh tonnes last year. Mr Anirudh Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, said the procurement agencies had adequate “bardana” but there was some shortage of wooden
crates. Paddy started arriving in the grain markets from September 11. As the government agencies are still to begin the procurement operations, the farmers have been getting low prices for their crop, between Rs 400 and Rs 500 per quintal. The Deputy Commissioner has appealed to combine harvester operators not to harvest unripe paddy and at night. He has also urged arhtiyas to use power
cleaners. Mr Pardeep Kumar Singla, general secretary of the local Arhtiyas Association, demanded that the state government should provide additional “pucca”yards, especially for the paddy and wheat crops, at various grain markets and procurement centres in the
district. The Ambala district administration is facing a problem of plenty. The acuteness of the problem is evident from the fact that there is a lack of storage
space. According to a senior district officer, the capacity of godowns in Ambala district is 1,01,271 tonnes. “During the rabi season, the procurement agencies had bought 1,21, 272 tonnes of wheat. Consequently, the godowns are overflowing with wheat,” he
said. The acting Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Mr Mohinder Kumar, said that all efforts were being made to ensure that storage space was created before the procurement started. “We are conscious of the problem and steps in that direction have been taken by us. Already about 25,000 tonnes have been lifted and a similar quantity is expected to be lifted again very
soon.” Mr Mohinder Kumar said that out of the 15 grain markets, paddy procurement took place at 12. “According to estimates for the kharif season 2000-2001, paddy was sown on about 73,000 hectares and the yield is expected to be about 2,09,000 tonnes. To ensure that there are no problems when procurement starts, arrangements for ‘bardana’ and polythene covers are being made and directions have been given to the procurement agencies in this regard,” he said. He said he expected paddy procurement to be 70,000 tonnes to 75,000 tonnes.
According to directions, “all district Food and Supplies controllers shall keep a constant watch on the prices of paddy in the mandis situated within their respective jurisdictions.” They must contact the procurement agencies concerned at once wherever and whenever the prices tend to fall below the support price and ensure that the procurement agencies enter the market so that there is no distress sale by
farmers. In Ambala, the estimated production of paddy is 2,09,000 MT and the estimated arrivals in the mandis will be 2,00,000 MT. The estimated procurement of paddy by the state agencies will be 70,000 MT. The storage capacity of the state agencies is 65,241 MT. The storage capacity of the FCI is 36,030 MT. The total storage capacity is 1,01,271 MT and at present there is no vacant space
available. The past president of the Arhtiyas Association of the Ambala Cantonment Mandi, Mr Lal Chand, said that ‘bardana’ was a major problem. “Even this year, during the wheat season, there was a short supply of ‘bardana’. We had to pay from our own pocket for ‘bardana’. The story was same during the paddy procurement period last year and we don’t expect much improvement this year,” he
said. Mr Lal Chand pointed out that last year local farmers had preferred to sell their paddy stocks in the neighbouring mandis in Punjab. “For example, the PR-3 paddy variety was being bought for Rs 440-450 here while the price was Rs 520 there. So many farmers preferred to go there because of the higher price,” he
said.
With inputs from Vimal Sumbly (Ludhiana), Jangveer Singh (Patiala), Chander Parkash (Bathinda), Gurpreet Singh (Ferozepore), Sushil Goyal (Sangrur) and Rahul Dass
(Ambala). |
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Agencies reluctant to buy
paddy BATHINDA, Sept 21 —Even as paddy in huge quantities has started arriving at purchase centres of Muktsar, Faridkot, Mansa, Bathinda, Moga and Ferozepore districts, state and Central procurement agencies have been showing reluctance to purchase the crop in the absence of adequate milling capacity. Due to the custom milled rice policy (CMRP) announced by the state government, more than 50 per cent rice mills have become defaulters and, hence, ineligible for shelling paddy on behalf of various procurement agencies. Official sources said that on the first day of the procurement season of paddy in 2000-2001, today officials of procurement agencies could buy only a small quantity of the crop, despite the fact that thousands of tonnes had arrived in various permanent markets and temporary purchase centres in the region. Sources said in Muktsar, the native district of Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, 85 per cent rice mill owners district had become defaulters. Under the CMRP, these rice mill owners had been barred from milling the paddy belonging to any agency. Similarly, in Ferozepore and Bathinda district, the milling capacity had been decreased by 30 and 10 per cent, respectively. The procurement agencies had been facing a similar problem in Mansa district. On account of non-availability of adequate milling capacity in each district, the procurement agencies had started making plans to shift the procured paddy from such places to those where milling capacity was easily available. The procurement agencies, however, had been finding it difficult to execute the plan as the entire exercise required crore of rupees for transportation. On the other hand, farmers, who have unloaded their paddy crop in the markets, allege that paddy is not being procured by officials of the state as well as Central agencies deliberately. They point out that though their crop meets the specifications laid down by the concerned authorities, officials of the agencies have been rejecting their heaps on one pretext or on the other. However, Mr Amarjit Singh, Deputy Director, Food and Supply Department, said only paddy which did not meet the specifications laid down by the government was not being procured. He pointed out that is certain pockets the farmers had cut the crop prematurily and unloaded it in markets. It had high moisture content which exceeded the prescribed limits. Sources said in Bathinda district the procurement of paddy had been done at about two places though 101 purchase centres in the entire district had been set up. Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted, said any official found rejecting paddy on invalid grounds would be taken to task.
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3 killed, 5 hurt in cracker blast PATIALA, Sept 21 — A man and his two children were killed and two other members of the family and three neighbours were injured in a cracker blast in Guru Nanak Nagar here today evening which brought down the roof of a first storey house. Rakesh Kumar , a tailor by profession , who was also engaged in the manufacturing of fire crackers along with his family, was killed along with his eight-year-old daughter Preeti and 12-year-old son Sunny when some crackers caught fire and resulted in the blast on the first floor of his rented premises in Street Number 9 in Guru Nanak Nagar around 4.30 p.m. The blast created a scare in the area as its effect was felt three to four streets away. Other members of the family who were injured were Rakesh Kumar 10-year-old Mani and his 70-year-old father Jugraj. While Jugraj was discharged from Government Rajindra Hospital after being administered the first aid, Mani has been admitted to the hospital in a serious condition. The others injured included a girl who was driving a two-wheeler and was hit on the head with a flying brick. Doctors attending to her in the hospital said she was in a serious condition. Two others were hit by flying bricks. Ms Amarjit Kaur, who lives in Street No 13, said the impact of the blast was such that window panes rattled even in their house which was four streets away. Debris and twisted metal pieces could be seen on the floor of contractor Surinder Singh’s house which is next to the blast site. The first presented a gory scene with blood and crackers intermingling with each other. Even though the nearby residents of the thickly populated locality knew that the family of Rakesh Kumar was engaged in manufacturing fire crackers, they had apparently not objected to it. Mr Surinder Singh said even the licence of Rakesh allowing him to manufacture crackers had expired some time back. He said Rakesh was preparing crackers on the first floor in his rented accommodation even though he had shown in his licence that he was manufacturing crackers at Safabadi Gate.
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Govt for decontrol of fertiliser sector by 2007 CHANDIGARH, Sept 21 — The Union Government proposes total decontrol of the fertiliser sector by 2007 in a phased manner as a part of its new fertiliser policy. Though the draft policy does not say anything on subsidising the fertiliser industry, some of the northern States, including Haryana, want the subsidy to stay. Speaking at a one-day seminar on draft national fertiliser policy here this afternoon, the Union Minister for Chemicals and fertiliser, Mr Suresh P. Prabhu, said that a high-power committee has been set up to suggest a comprehensive fertilizer policy in which interests of producers, fertiliser manufacturers, states, distributors and farmers are taken into consideration. The objective of the comprehensive policy, he said, was to provide quality fertiliser to the farmers at the minimum affordable cost besides enhancing indigenous production, giving incentives to producers and to remove distribution controls so as to generate competition among producers. Mr Prabhu said that the decontrol of fertiliser industry would be completed in a phased manner. The economic liberalisation has affected every sector and the fertiliser industry had also to fall in line. The level of subsidy on fertilisers had reached nearly Rs 14,000 crore which was difficult to sustain for the nation. Under the new policy, the role of the Government would be restricted to a regulatory authority. The Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mr Ramesh Bais, said that the Government was keen to encourage use of blue algae, green manure and organic fertiliser to cut consumption of chemical fertilizers. He said that the transition to the era of total decontrol had been planned in a phased manner to avoid political and economic problems. The Union Fertilisers and Chemicals secretary, Mr Ashok Pahwa, said that there was need to improve fertiliser supply to the farmers and check excessive use of Nitrogen. Stressing the need for undertaking a major exercise of soil testing to find whether Nitrogenous fertilisers was actually required more in some of the irrigated areas of the country. The Agriculture Ministry, he said, has set a target of doubling the production of food grains in next 10 years. To achieve this target, there were two essential inputs — irrigation and fertiliser. He said that new fertiliser policy could not be drafted in isolation and has to be in total agricultural scenario of the country. He also did not rule out the possibility of joint ventures, both in India and on foreign soils, or imports if necessitated to maintain buffers besides encouraging the indigenous manufacturers. “After I took over we have not imported urea worth a naya paisa,” he said when asked whether import would form a component of the new fertiliser policy. The Haryana Agriculture Minister, Mr J.S. Sandhu, advocated that farm inputs should continue to be supplied to farmers at subsidised rates as the farming community in both Punjab and Haryana was heavily in debt. The Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister, Mr Vidya Sagar, said that transportation charges in Himachal Pradesh were almost double than the rest of the country and the Union Government must take this into consideration while finalising a long term fertiliser policy. Mr Dinesh Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, National Fertilisers Limited, Nangal, said that it was for the first time that such an comprehensive exercise was being undertaken to formulate country’s first ever long term fertiliser policy. Mr D.S. Bains, Managing Director, Markfed, speaking at the seminar said that at the time of formulation of new policy some of the shortcomings and malpractices of the fertiliser industry and the trade must be rectified. Mr Suresh P. Prabhu invited all those present to send their views on the proposed draft policy and said that it was for the first time that four seminars had been organised earlier on the subject at different places earlier. Chandigarh was the fifth venue for such an interactive seminar. |
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Punjab’s financial health
improves CHANDIGARH, Sept 21 — A mid-term review of the financial situation in Punjab reveals that the process of “consolidation” started last year is now showing results. It has partially reversed. The review is to be presented to the Cabinet soon after the Sunam byelection, scheduled for September 29. A modicum of fiscal performance is visible because of the financial discipline. Though revenue receipts have gone up following a clutch of measures in respect of sales tax, stamp duty and registration and motor vehicle taxation, these do not take the state very far. A lot more remains to be done. The trend of revenue receipts for the first quarter (till August-End) available with the Finance Department reveals that these are up by at least 40 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year. At the close of the present financial year on March 31, 2001, the revenue from sales tax is expected to be Rs 3,000 crore compared to Rs 1,980 crore last year. Likewise, the revenue income from stamp duty and registration will be around Rs 450 crore against Rs 375 crore last year. The motor vehicle revenue expected is Rs 350 crore against Rs 300 crore last year. Unlike in 1999-2000, when Rs 560 crore supplementary budget demands were sought after the passage of the general budget, in the current year there is no demand from the departments for any supplementary budget. Had this improvement not been there, the state would have been in serious trouble, says the Principal Secretary, Finance, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal. “We are now afloat”. He hopes to reduce the revenue deficit significantly by March 31 next. In the last financial year, (1999-2000), against the revised estimated deficit of Rs 3,106 crore, the actual deficit was Rs 2,683 crore. For the current year, against the revenue deficit budget of Rs 2,486 crore, the reduction may be to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore. “Normally, the converse is true”, he adds. Following a representation by the Chief Ministers of some of the developed states, the 11th Finance Commission has earmarked Rs 7,500 crore to Rs 8,000 crore for states which showed “financial discipline and performance in terms of tax revenue realisation”. The recommendation will go to Parliament. Punjab, because of its claimed performance, is hopeful of getting a good share from that devolution to the states. In fact, Mr Lakhanpal told TNS in an interview today, Punjab was not dependent on either overdrafts from the Reserve Bank of India or special ways and means advances . In 1998-99 Punjab was in overdraft for as many as 226 days.This dependence was reduced to 81 days in 1999-2000. In the current year, the total dependence in the past six months was for just seven days. It is interesting to note that this happened (in September) on account of two irregularities: clearing of the food account sum of Rs 280 crore and a wrong deduction of Rs 168 crore by the Accountant-General on account of the loan and interest payable to the Centre. Though the Centre has waived the payment of the special term loan and interest thereon, the cut was made by the AG inadvertently. After a long time, Punjab has now some money available from its own sources for development, which had been put on the backburner. For the first time, the state is now releasing the money for the intended purposes which accrued to it from, say, NABARD, the World Bank, centrally sponsored schemes or borrowed from various financial institutions. The state was adding its own share as well. The state’s money, by and large, plus the one from the above sources, had all along been diverted to the payment of salaries and pensions (Rs 400 crore every month) and debt servicing. These two were still the “grey areas”, admitted Mr Lakhanpal. The other two grey areas were unlocking capital and assets in the public sector undertakings (PSUs) and improving the quality of public expenditure. These four were a source of constant worry. For these, hard reforms were needed which would show results in the longrun and not instantly. Punjab has a Rs 30,000 crore debt burden. This has to be reduced. Likewise, Rs 7,000 crore is locked in PSUs . Of that sum, Rs 1,500 crore is due from the Punjab State Electricity Board alone. In fact, in Punjab the debt burden accounts for 50 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). In other words, for every rupee earned by way of tax and non-tax revenue, 35 paise go for the payment of interest. “The state has the highest debt servicing ratio in the country”. A narrow revenue base and a broad expenditure base are a mismatch. Therefore, the reverse process that is now seen is only partial. An example has to be set at the top. There are no signs as yet of any reduction in the kind of expenditure the army of ministers incurs. There is neither financial discipline nor any savings at their level. How far can the Finance Department continue to impose restrictions and ceilings on spending down the line on items like petrol, oil, lubricants, telephone bills, office requirements, etc? There is, of course, a ban on recruitment (no new posts are being created and advertised) as also on the purchase of vehicles. It is another matter that Rs 4 crore is earmarked for replacing ministers’ Contessa cars with Ambassador cars. One wonders why the ministers cannot do with one security vehicle rather than two? The performance of the social sector, which guzzles money by way of subsides, etc, is no better than that of the PSUs.There is no accountability anywhere. The concept of “user charges” has not yielded results. And the services are hardly commensurate with the charges levied. “Unless the spending is confined to the approved budget, the leaking budget bucket is fixed and system improvements made, Punjab will again bleed financially”, cautioned Mr
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Bhakra, Pong water levels low CHANDIGARH, Sept 21 — The levels of water in the reservoirs at the Bhakra and Pong Dams have been recorded at 33 ft and 42 ft below normal as the official filling season ended last night. Engineers of the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) have put the use of water on the “caution and care” mode to have optimum utilisation till May-end next year when the filling season begins again. The irrigation as well as power generation requirements have to be kept in mind. This morning the level in the Bhakra reservoir was 1,647 elevation ft, 33 ft less than the optimum filling level of 1,680 elevation ft and 21 ft less than the level achieved last year. In the reservoir at the Pong Dam the level was 1,348 elevation ft, 42 ft below the optimum level of 1,390 elevation ft besides being 36 ft less than the level attained last year. BBMB engineers say there is no need to panic. The present levels can rise. This had happened in the past when the levels had kept on rising till the first week of October. The present inflow levels are between what is classified as dependable and mean under BBMB parameters. Just about a month ago the BBMB had categorised the inflow as “dry season”. This year the reduced inflow of water, especially in the Sutlej, due to very poor rainfall in the catchment area, had caused a drop in the water levels. In the past the BBMB has managed with even lower levels of water. In 1993 the level was at 1,628 elevation ft — the lowest ever — and even then everything was managed well without hitting dead level, which is 1,462 elevation ft at the Bhakra Dam. Below that level, the turbines do not work. Normally, the reservoirs fill up to a few feet short of the optimum level. In the recent past, 1998 was the best period when the levels recorded were close to and even above the optimum. The end of the filling season last night does not mean that the inflows have ended. Today the inflow into the Bhakra reservoir was 23,000 cusecs. Actually the inflows carry on throughout the winter, but the flow is much less than during the peak season between June 1 and September 20, sources say. The lower levels of water also mean that Punjab, Haryana,
Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh will have to make do with lesser shares of power and water in the coming months. The shares of water and power of the partner states are fixed on the basis of three parameters that change according to the water inflow. The parameters are dry, dependable and mean. The last is the best followed by dependable and dry conditions. The loss of power generation cannot be quantified, but there will be a drop. This year the Central Electricity Authority has fixed the BBMB generation target at 11,000 million units. |
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Probe finds DIG
guilty HOSHIARPUR, Sept 21 — Mr A.S. Aulakh, Inspector-General of BSF, Punjab frontier, said he had completed the inquiry relating to the charges against Mr Barjinder Singh, DIG, BSF, Ferozepore range, and found him guilty. The charges were regarding selling 200-250 trees of the border area, excess amount found in the official chest and possession of an unlicenced pistol. He said during the probe Mr Barjinder Singh was attached with Faridkot range in October 1999. But he remained absent from duty for 156 days. He said he had sent his report to the Director-General of the BSF. In case any action was to be taken against Mr Barjinder Singh according to his report then the BSF court would hold proceedings in this regard. Mr Aulakh was talking to mediapersons at the BSF subsidiary training centre at Kharkan, 12 km from here, today. He said due to the barbed wire fencing on the Indo-Pak border in Punjab, the setting up of the five cobra points on the fencing and vigil on the 554-km long distance in the area by BSF jawans infiltration by the smugglers and anti-national forces had decreased to a great extent. The smuggling of firearms and narcotics had also decreased tremendously. The IG said two terrorists who were recently arrested by the BSF in Dera Baba Nanak sector revealed during their interrogation that they were ISI agents and were on way to Jammu and Kashmir. He appreciated the BSF jawans for performing 18 hours’ duty to protect the Indian border and providing security cover to the farmers in the border areas. He said the BSF had arrested one unidentified person in Ajnala sector while he was trying to cross over to Pakistan from the border last night. His interrogation was being done. |
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Cong banking on
split vote: Garg BATHINDA, Sept 21 — Punjab Science and Technology Minister Chiranji Lal Garg today said the Congress had been convessing in Sunam without finding any issue to be raised. Mr Garg, who is in charge of the election campaign of the SAD-BJP alliance candidate, Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, talking to mediapersons here, said the Congress leadership was only trying to cash in on the division in Akali votes. He pointed out that the Congress was hoping its candidate, Mrs Parmeshwari Devi, would win in the Sunam byelection as Akali votes would get divided among the candidates of the SAD-BJP, the SHSAD and the SAD (Amritsar). He claimed the SAD-BJP candidate would register a thumping win in Nawanshahr. He alleged that the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) president and former Prime Minister, Mr Chander Shekhar, along with former Speaker Ravi Inder Singh and SHSAD President G.S. Tohra was trying to “topple” SAD-BJP government by “hook or by crook”. He said their “anti-Punjab” designs had been exposed. The people of Punjab had realised that “such elements created hurdles in the development activities of the state”. Asked whether the Punjab Government would make arrangements for procuring paddy, he said no farmer of Punjab would be allowed to suffer on account of non-purchase of paddy by the Central and state procurement agencies on the minimum support price (MSP). Punjab Food Minister Madan Mohan Mittal was monitoring paddy procurement arrangements in the state, he explained. Mr Garg said the SAD-BJP government in Punjab had done historic work in the past three years and the victory of Mr Dhindsa in the coming byelection would be a mandate of the people on the good performance of the state
governement.
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Charges baseless, says CM LUDHIANA Sept 21 — Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today lashed out at Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, for levelling “baseless charges” of misuse of official machinery in the Sunam byelection.
Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the annual kisan mela organised by Punjab Agricultural University here today, Mr Badal claimed he had deposited the fuel expenses of the vehicles being used by him during campaigning. |
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Debar Badal, SHSAD
urges CEC NEW DELHI, Sept 21 (UNI) — A delegation of the Sarb Hind Akali Dal today urged the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to debar Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal for his blatant misuse of official machinery while canvassing for his party candidate in the Sunam Assembly byelection.
The party delegation which included former DSGMC President Paramjit Singh Sarna and SGPC member Harinderpal Singh said Mr Badal had deputed his entire ministry into the constituency. |
Drain water, sewage
enter houses FATEHGARH SAHIB, Sept 21— Hundreds of residents of Sirhind town today protested against the failure of the municipal council to clear drain water and sewage water, which entered their houses three days ago, causing great inconvenience to them. Mr Harvinder Pathak, municipal councillor of the ward, alleged that due to the negligence on the part of the council this stage had come. He said the council had hired a plot from some private man for the disposal of the sewage. At the last meeting of the council it was decided unanimously to release the lease amount to that party for further period, but the council authorities failed to release the amount for reasons best known to them. As a result of the non-payment the owner of the plot stopped the release of sullage in his plot with the result that drain water and sewage entered, sewage entered the houses of the residents. He demanded some permanent arrangement regarding the disposal of sullage. Meanwhile residents of the Anaj Mandi area and certain municipal councillors have protested allegedly against the substandard material being used by contractors in the ongoing construction work and the rampant corruption in the construction wing. In a complaint to the Chief Minister they alleged the contractors in connivance with the municipal authorities were using sub-standard material and cracks had appeared in the newly constructed roads within two days, after they were opened to traffic. Certain councillors made a complaint to the Vigilance Department about the irregularities. The then Executive Officer on August 28 wrote to the AME and the Subdivisional Officer to stop the construction work as the approval was yet to come from the Deputy Director. The contractors completed the work by September 10 whereas sanction for the work came on September 11 by memo no. 13379. On September 12, the Chief Vigilance Officer from Chandigarh conducted an inquiry about the allegations levelled in the complaint. Surprisingly the payments for these specific roads were made on September 15 by cheque no. 103396 for Rs 2,65,000 and by cheque no 103397 for Rs 1,82,000 to the contractors without awaiting the inquiry report from the officer concerned. Moreover, according to law the payments are made after a month of the completion of the work. They have alleged the payments of various other projects, which were completed years ago, are yet to be made by the council. The council owes lakhs of rupees to the contractors. when contacted, the Executive Officer, said he had recently joined and had no knowledge of the dates and detail about these roads. He said it was better to contact the Subdivisional Officer for information.
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Suspend SGPC
Secy, says Pannu AMRITSAR, Sept 21 — The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, which is locked in a ‘do or die’ battle in the Sunam byelection is reportedly worried over the recent developments in the SGPC. Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, Senior Vice-President, SGPC who had locked the SGPC strongroom in the presence of other functionaries of the SGPC on September 18, has sought the suspension of Mr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, Mr Harjit Singh, personal assistant to the SGPC chief, Mr Kashmir Singh Gandiwind, a member of the SGPC and the cashier on payment of Rs 2 lakh for violation of rules. Mr Pannu alleged he had found a voucher for Rs 2 lakh in the pocket of the cashier during checking. ‘‘The cashier wanted to enter the voucher in the cashbooks’’, Mr Pannu alleged. He said the sum which was ‘‘illegally’’ withdrawn from the cashier, had been deposited in a bank. However, Mr Bachan, Secretary, denied any ‘pilferage’ of cash. He said he had served various departments for more than three decades without any complaint. Meanwhile, the inquiry committee held a meeting at an ‘unknown’ place to ascertain the facts. A member of the committee, Mr Jaswinder Singh, said the report would be submitted tomorrow. |
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Orphanage gets computer PATIALA,
Sept 21 — The State Bank of Patiala has installed a computer at the Yadvindra Bal Niketan, an orphanage for more than 40 girls in Patiala. The bank has also arranged to provide computer training to the children.
The installation was inaugurated by Mrs Veena Batra, wife of the Managing Director of the State Bank of Patiala and was graced by Mrs Susheel Murty, wife of the bank’s Chief General Manager.
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Pleasure resort
to be set up CHANDIGARH, Sept 21 — The Punjab Government today decided to develop a portion of the land situated near Taranwala Pili adjoining the UBDC canal near Sultanpur village on the outskirts of Amritsar as a pleasure resort.
This resort is to be developed on the pattern of a tourist resort developed at the holy city of Hardwar in Uttar
Pradesh. An official spokesman said this decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the Principal Secretaries of both the Irrigation and Local Government Departments which was presided over by the Local Government Minister, Mr Balramji Das
Tandon.
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Killer nabbed after 23 years ABOHAR, Sept 21 — Lending weight to the adage that you can run but you can’t hide from the law, a murderer was nabbed 23 years after the crime by the police Makhan Singh alias Makhni stabbed to death a relative with a kirpan near the railway track at Ladhuka in this district on October 23, 1977. He later raped the wife of the victim and fled. The railway police registered a case under Sections 302, 376, 366, 368, 212, and 120B and a manhunt was launched. But it failed to yield anything and the culprit was eventually declared a proclaimed offender by the trial court and the case confined to police files. Until 23 years later when
SHO, Gurcharan Singh Purewal acting on a tip off, raided a village near Bathinda and arrested the culprit. During preliminary interrogation here the man reportedly revealed that the murdered man, Goma Singh had abducted the wife of the culprit and sold her to an unidentified person interestingly, Goma Singh was married to Makhan Singh’s wife’s sister. A humiliated and angry Makhan Singh decided to take revenge and eventually confronted Goma Singh near the railway track and killed him with a
kirpan. Not satisfied with this he raped Goma’s wife, his sister-in-law before fleeing to Faizabad district of Uttar
Pradesh. He later moved to Nainital district, where he married a Rai Sikh woman before migrating to Bathinda a few years ago. He was operating a flour mill in a village on the outskirts in anonymity here before the police found out about him and arrested him. |
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Cop booked for abetting
suicide BATHINDA, Sept 21 — In a bizarre incident, constable Baljinder Singh allegedly forced his wife and two children to burn themselves to death late last night at their official residence at Power House Road here. Sources said the victims — Paramjit Kaur (26), Ranjit Singh (7) and Harmandeep Singh (3) — were found dead in their house this morning. Their bodies were charred beyond recognition. Constable Baljinder Singh, was present in the house when the tragedy took place. Police sources said Mrs Mohinder Kaur, mother of Paramjit Kaur, alleged that her daughter and grandchildren had been forced to commit suicide by her son-in-law. She also alleged that constable Baljinder Singh would beat up her daughter frequently. A case under Section 306, IPC, has been registered against the accused who is yet to be arrested. The bodies have been sent to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College for post-mortem. The accused, however, told the police that he was asleep in his house courtyard and when at 1 am he heard screams. He got up to see his wife and children in flames. |
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Fake driving licence racket busted FEROZEPORE, Sept 21 — The district police claims to have busted a fake driving licence racket, operating out of here. At least three men were booked and several licences, besides fake papers and stolen seals of the Transport Department were recovered from them. Confirming this to the TNS, the DSP (Sub-division), Mr Joginder Kumar, identified the middlemen as — Naresh Kumar, Pardeep Kumar and Amandeep Mehta. While two of the accused have been arrested, their third accomplice is still at large. Sources in the Police Department revealed that the three agents were functioning from near the District Transport Office here and are believed to have been in business for the past four years.
They allegedly charged anything between Rs 600 to Rs 1,000 from their clients for a driving licence. |
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DIG moots plan to curb drug peddling PHAGWARA, Sept 21 — Mr Suresh
Arora, DIG, Jalandhar Range, today stressed the need for snapping the nexus between drug peddlers and some persons within the police force, strong political will and greater police effectiveness for curbing
drug peddling and smuggling. He mooted the three-pronged strategy at an inter-college declamation contest on drug abuse and AIDS awarness organised at the local Guru Nanak College by the Rotary Club, Phagwara (Central). Expressing concern over the growing number of cases of drug and alcohol addiction in the Doaba region, he said during the past two years, 25 cases of drug smuggling had seen convictions.
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Crushed under train JALANDHAR, Sept 21 — A 90-year-old woman was crushed to death by a train here this morning.
According to police sources, Beena Rani, a resident of Gandhi Camp here, was run over by a train at the Jalandhar-Kapurthala railway line. |
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Secretariat staff reject anomalies
panel report CHANDIGARH, Sept 21— The Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Civil Secretariat Staff Associations today rejected the report of anomalies committee implemented by the Punjab Government. Representatives of both associations here today held a joint meeting to discuss the report. As the Himachal Pradesh Government follows the Punjab pattern in case of pay scales of employees, representatives of Himachal Pradesh Civil Secretariat participated in the meeting because of this reason. Mr Kanti Parsad and Mr Oma Kant Tewari, President of the Himachal Pradesh and the Punjab Civil Secretariat Staff Associations respectively, said that great injustice had been done to III and Class IV employees while implementing the report of anomalies committee. Pay scales of these categories have been downgraded. Both leaders have urged the Punjab Chief Minister to intervene and get justice done to Class III and Class IV employees. Both Associations have urged the Chief Minister to give bonus to employees before the beginning of the festival season. Employees were facing financial difficulties due to rising prices of essential commodities and the Government should come to their rescue by giving the bonus. They have also decided to form a Confederation of Secretariat Employees of northern states to protect the interest of employees in these states. Next meeting of the Associations would be held soon at
Shimla. |
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DC holds sangat darshan PATIALA,
Sept 21 — The association of the inmates of Raghubir Marg, in a sangat darshan, urged Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, to build a flyover above the 22 No. railway crossing and to take up the work of broadening the road. They said the traffic on both sides of the crossing, when it is closed, amidst the illegal encroachments by the shopkeepers on the two sides, made it difficult for the pedestrians to pass. It also added to the air and sound pollution. The residents of Rajpura colony requested the DC to ensure clean supply of water. They sought his attention to the broken doors and windows of the colony quarters. The president of Vikas Colony complained that the residents were facing pollution due to the discharge by the illegal occupants of Kaulan wala toba. He informed that the matter was lying with the nagar nigam since 1995. The inhabitants of Sanor Block said the depot holder was not weighing the kerosene oil and sugar fairly. He was also charging more than the decided amount.
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Girl student’s expulsion
recommended AMRITSAR, Sept 21 — Dr R.S. Bawa, Registrar, Guru Nanak Dev University, recommended the possible expulsion of a girl student who was allegedly caught with a boy near the D-type quarters of the university while both were in a Tata Indica car to deter students from such activity on the campus. The girl, a student of B.Sc (Chemistry) first year and the boy from MCBA Khalsa College were found in a compromising position in the car when someone from the area reported the matter to the university authorities. The boy allegedly managed to go past the university guards when he made his way through the back entry of the university. Later, the university staff traced the boy to a city workshop where he was getting his damaged car repaired. A case has been registered at the sadar police station against the two. The Registrar said the university authorities were going to press the Principal of Khalsa College, Dr M.S. Dhillon, for rusticating the boy involved in the incident. |
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Private tuitions
pose threat: minister PATIALA,
Sept 21 — Punjab Minister for Higher Education, Master Mohan Lal, addressing the principals of colleges affiliated to Punjabi University at Senate Hall today, urged upon the educationists and especially principals to rise to meet the new challenges in the field of education. He stressed that private tuitions posed a serious threat to the whole system of education. The Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, in his presidential speech, remarked that the fees charged from students was nowhere more than two per cent of the total expenditure. He emphasised that it was the duty of the government to provide financial support to the needy and interested students in higher education. Others who spoke on the occasion were Dr Harbhajan Singh Deol, Director, Public Relations, Punjab, Mr Amarjit Singh, Special Secretary, Higher Education, Punjab, and Dr Janak Raj Gupta, Dean, College Development Council. In the evening session, the college principals discussed the problems of their colleges and gave suggestions for 20-year plan being prepared by the university.
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Students want UGC
centre back PATIALA,
Sept 21 — The University Grant Commission’s (UGC) — National Enterance Test (NET) examination centre was abolished in Punjabi University, Patiala around three years ago amidst great confusion. Eversince the students are grumbling and blaming the university authorities for its closure. Prior to the close down all NET examinations relating to arts subjects were held on the campus and the science subject examinations were held at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Now the whole bunch has been directed to the centres in Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Amritsar. An insider revealed that the step was taken by the UGC following some unpleasant incident while the examination was in progress a few years ago. The UGC gave orders of the closure of its centre with immediate effect and the faculty members working in the cell who were university employees were shifted to other departments. The Registrar, who is also in charge of the UGC cell, Dr B.S. Bhatia, claimed that the centre was abolished during the rationalisation process. He emphasised, “Many centres were scrapped around two-three years ago as a result of this process. The UGC authorities wanted to cut down on the expenditure and streamline these centres according to the distance.” He further said: ‘’Chandigarh and Ludhiana fall in the proximity of the city and I feel the students should have no difficulty in travelling this distance.” However, he could not reply when asked to mention other centres that were dropped during the same time. Commenting on the possibility of the university having back the examination centre he replied, “We have been writing regularily to the UGC but so far nothing has been achieved and we do not feel they will give it back to us.” The Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr Dhir, expressed complete ignorance over the abolition of the UGC cell in the varisity. He said he was not aware of any such happenings and assured to have it back now as it was brought to his notice. Meanwhile various student organisations have placed the demand for reopening the UGC examination centre on the top of their agenda. Nimrat Kaur, a postgraduate student in the university said, “While one is a student on the campus one must recieve all facilities one is entitled to. We have to travel a long distance to and fro. The whole day is wasted in commuting.” “It is ridiculous that the campus does not have an examination centre and in case we want to contact the authorities for some clarifications it becomes very difficult to approach them,” laments Rajinder Singh.
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HC dismisses plea
against transfer AMRITSAR, Sept 21 — A petition against the transfer of the Principal, Mata Ganga Khalsa College for Girls, Kota (Ludhiana), was dismissed today by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Dr Amarjit Kaur Tiwana had got a stay against the SGPC orders for transfer.
The case was dismissed on the grounds of fraudulent intentions’, claimed the SGPC.
The SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, had signed the transfer orders of Dr Tiwana to Mata Sahib Kaur Girls College, Talwandi Sabo. |
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Workshop on
teaching maths CHANDIGARH,
Sept 21 — Dr R.P. Bambah, a former Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, will inaugurate a workshop on ‘Teaching mathematics at the kindergarten level’ by Ms Sheetal Chaudhary on September 23 at the Nehru Bhavan from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., organised by the Durga Das Foundation.
Ms Sheetal Choudhary is the author of Number Fun series of books for children of the primary level and has been working with children for more than four decades. She has participated both in national and international conferences on education.
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