 |
|
| Monday,
October 2, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
A remedy for
depleting ground water Murdered couple’s kin await justice
Punjab paddy lands in Haryana |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Reconsider hike in
petro prices, says Badal Deputy Director (Pensions)
meets Dang Flying club official grounds joy ride FCI staff to hold
protest on Oct 5 Chemists to observe
bandh on Oct 5 PWD union expels 5 office-bearers Minister promises new airports Martyr cremated
Woman kills
husband to save daughter Fraud case against scribe, 2 others ‘Kidnapping’ case
solved: police
Traders for opening of Hussainiwala route
|
|
Poor ‘corrupt’ food inspectors FAZILKA, Sept 23 — Food Inspectors are expected to be corrupt and many are. In fact in Faridkot and Ferozepore districts there is hardly an inspector of Punsup against whom departmental or court proceedings are not pending for alleged misappropriation of wheat worth lakhs of rupees. Apart from FCI staff most inspectors of other government procurement agencies are also facing similar charges. While the charge itself may not be surprising it does raise the question whether are all the inspectors could be guilty of misappropriation of wheat? A few of them have even committed suicide in recent years following the serving of chargesheets. While inspectors may have a significant role in misappropriating wheat and some are guilty a survey indicates that this mass indictment has more to do with policies of the government rather than individual inspectors. According to official sources the godowns of Fazilka town and surrounding areas house some 36 lakh bags of wheat (each bag weighs 95 kg), worth about Rs 200 crores at current prices. The stocks constitute wheat purchased as far back as 1997-98 along with wheat from the previous two years, by FCI, Markfed, the Food and Supplies Department, Punsup, Punjab Agro Industries and Punjab State Warehousing Corporation. Barring the FCI’s purchases wheat procured by all the other agencies is stocked in the open. Sources maintain that according to Indian Grain Storage Institute standards it is not appropriate to store wheat in the open and if at all it is to be stocked in the open the period of storage should not exceed 6 months. This process is called temporary CAP storage system. But with three year old wheat still in storage in the open it is easy to see why the government is facing huge losses. Interestingly, the department provides tarpaulins for wheat stored in the open, the life of which is assessed as two years. But due to the extreme weather conditions here these wear out in one year. The government also provides fumigation tablets thrice a year and DDT and other insecticides to protect the stock from pest infestations. Despite this open-storage wheat can not be protected for more than a year at the maximum as keeping the wheat stocks waterproof and air tight is essential, which is impossible once the tarpaulin covers wear out. Surprisingly, in some procurement departments the government does not even provide money for spraying insecticides. But while it is the government which slips up on storage and protection it is often inspectors who must make good the losses. According to rules inspectors responsible for storage of wheat have to give 800 gms of extra wheat per bag to the department for wheat purchased in April, at the time of delivery after August that year. This rule was formulated when wheat was harvested manually and it gained and weight during the months of July and August. But now with harvesting done by combine harvestors , there is more moisture or weight in the grain that comes to market and it does not gain much more moisture or weight in the monsoon. According to the new policy of the government after the first year of storage the weight increase is 800 grams per bag followed by 500 and 300 grams in the second and third year which is to be added on at the time of lifting. Similarly the weight of the empty wheat bag should be 1 kg. However, this is seldom the case in practice as purchase officials from different agencies often purchase sub-standard 800 gram wheat bags after accepting bribes. Even if at the time of purchase the weight of the new bag is one kg once it dries its weight is reduced to around 800 grams. Wheat damaged due to storage in the open for more than 6 months is divided into 4 categories: with one per cent damage by weevils-category ‘A’, 2 per cent damage — category ‘B’; 4 per cent — category ‘C’; up to 8 per cent damage — category ‘D’. Beyond this it is declared unfit for human consumption and rejected. Since the wheat is procured for the central pool the responsibility for lifting it lies with the FCI However, the FCI lifts its own wheat first. As a result wheat procured by other agencies continue to lie in the open for years on end. But when due to the prolonged storage in the open, wear and tear on wheat bags, underweight bags or the failure of the wheat to gain weight or loss in weight through weevil, infection the quantity of wheat is less than expected it is the inspector who is expected to make good the loss. Interestingly by several openwheat godowns are often entrusted to one inspector, who is expected to be responsible for each. Frequently he will have to make good any losses out of his pocket if he is to avoid charges of misappropriation. The survey found that most inspectors chargesheeted for misappropriation of lakhs of rupees were living in squalid conditions not much better than the wheat they were paid to protect. |
|
A remedy for
depleting ground water CHANDIGARH, Oct 1 — The existing network of surface drains
in Punjab and Haryana dates back to the sixties. These were
constructed to control waterlogging and floods. At present
overdrawals in the two states are depleting the watertable. But very
little is being done to recharge it. It is known that these drains are
a good source for recharging. The drains become “live” during the
monsoon acting at escape channels for overflowing canals or flooded
paddy fields. Scientists feel that silt-free run-off water can be
used to recharge the declining watertable. Experiments have been done
to do this through a recharge shaft installed in the drain bed. This
was done by using horizontal filters, which got choked easily and
early. Now a retired Chief Engineer, Irrigation, Mr S.P. Malhotra,
has come up with “vertical’ filters” of “gates”. These
filtration devices are made up of hassien cloth, coconut fibre and
sand. Mr Malhotra discussed his idea with scientists at Punjab
Agricultural University, Ludhiana, whose response was
positive. Consequently, laboratory experiments were carried out on
the use of Mr Malhotra’s vertical filters. Later an experiment was
done in the field. The testing site was at the Raipur drain, near
Ludhiana. The method suggested by Mr Malhotra was used to filter the
drain overrun and recharge the ground water. “The results are
encouraging and the testing of the filtration devices is likely to be
completed soon,” say scientists at PAU. The octogenarian scientist
explained his device to TNS today. He claimed that it was for the
first time that such a device was being tested in the country. If the
two neighbouring states were to use the method it would be of immense
benefit. In simple words, the silt-free stations are to be
constructed at appropriate sites in the existing drains. The chances
of these vertical filters getting choked are low as it will be
difficult for silt particles to stick to a vertical surface. This can
be more difficult if the surface is made of a non-sticking material
like polythene. Sand sticking in the filters can always be dislodged
by casual brushing or by inducing a high water velocity in the
drain. No land is required to be acquired outside the drain. A wall
is constructed alongside the drain bank and small columns (with
grooves) constructed to fit in the vertical filters. Pipes are used to
collect and carry the water to cavity (bore) wells for recharging the
ground water. The filters can also be used in channels for drinking
and industrial purposes. Mr Malhotra was confident that the Raipur
drain experiment would achieve two objectives: check the declining
watertable and wash off sand, etc, to ensure that filtered water went
into cavity wells for recharging the ground water. |
|
|
Murdered couple’s kin await justice LUDHIANA, Oct 1—More than a month after his young son and daughter -in-law were gruesomely murdered in Judge
Nagar in Amritsar, Mr Mukhtiar Singh Gill , a resident of this city, is virtually running from pillar to post to get the culprits arrested. the accused in the case are still at large in spite of having been identified. None other than two senior police officials of Amritsar have been quoted in news reports as saying that the police had identified the alleged murderers. The role of the police is being questioned after the hapless father and other relatives levelled allegations that the accused had been ‘invited’ by the CIA police ,but instead of arresting them, the policemen had served them tea and snacks . The accused were allegedly allowed to leave
without questioning. The style of investigation in this case has allegedly been quite different from the routine procedure, wherein the police usually questions the relatives of the accused to pressurise
them (the accused) to surrender. It is also ‘normal’ for the police to arrest the accused once they have been identified and then interrogate them for getting evidence. However in this case, the police has allegedly allowed the suspects to roam about
freely. This led the relatives of the murdered couple to suspect that the police is shielding the accused. Mr Mukhtiar Singh told The Tribune that he had made all efforts to get the accused behind bars but in
vain. He has been regularly visiting the police station concerned, the SSP and other senior officials and even the Chief Minister ,Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, but the accused were still at large. He said his son ,Gurbir Singh, and
daughter-in-law, Tejinder Kaur, were murdered on August 18 at their residence in Judge Nagar,
Amritsar. The murderers had mercilessly strangulated the young couple. According to news reports, the
SSP, Mr Parampal Singh Sidhu, had stated on September 5 that the murder case had been solved and police parties had been dispatched to arrest the culprits. However, no one was arrested. Five days earlier, the SP
(city), Mr Kewal Kumar ,had been quoted as making an almost identical statement. The police had said that a Raagi and his woman accomplice were the main accused and it had found evidence against them. It also said that evidence found from the scene of the crime
suggested that the murderers were known to the victims as they had entered the house through the main door . The police later even called the accused to the CIA police station on September 15 ,but the accused ,out of their own sweet will, came on September 18. It has been alleged by Mr Gill that the visit was almost a picnic for the accused as the police offered them tea and snacks and allowed them to leave. The SSP and the SP (city) could not be contacted as they were not available at their residence telephone numbers at Amritsar.
|
|
|
Punjab paddy lands in Haryana BATHINDA, Oct 1 — Fed up with the “indifferent attitude” of the authorities concerned and procurement agencies, farmers of Bathinda and Mansa districts have started taking their paddy to grain markets and purchase centres of Haryana. For the past three days, paddy-laden trucks have been reaching Dabwali town of Haryana from Punjab. The owner of M/s Radha Om Parkash, a commission agent firm, told TNS that on September 29, six trucks of paddy reached Dabwali from various parts of Punjab, while today, nine trucks of paddy from Punjab had been unloaded. He pointed out that commission agents, traders and officials of procurement agencies were very selective and purchased only that paddy from Punjab which was according to specifications. He added that the rate which the farmers were getting for the best quality of paddy was Rs 540. Another commission agent, owner of M/s Mehta Brothers of Dabwali, said the paddy from Punjab could create problems for them as they were facing hardships in selling paddy of their own state. A farmer, Mr Buta Singh of Naruana village in the district, who had unloaded 350 quintals of paddy in the local grain market 11 days ago, today started loading it again in his tractor-trailer to take it to Dabwali. Another farmer from the same village, Mr Resham Singh, said he would also do the same if his paddy was not procured by the government agencies. Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhillon, vice-president, Arhtiya Association, Bathinda, alleged that government agencies had been making token purchases because of which farmers had been sitting in grain markets and purchase centres for the past over a week. Commission agents alleged that at times, the officials of procurement agencies rejected paddy on invalid grounds. They added that if the situation continued, the paddy would start decaying in the grain markets and purchase centres. They said due to the huge quantity of paddy which had been unloaded in the markets, no space had been left for cotton growers to unload their produce. Mr Surinder Kumar, general secretary, Rice Shellers Association, Bathinda, said private traders had been finding it difficult to meet the specifications laid down by the Central Government for the acceptance of rice which was the main reason why they could not make bulk purchases. He pointed out that while overhead charges of running rice mills had increased many folds due to escalation in the rates of labour and electricity units, the government had failed to revise the rate of milling of paddy for the past 10 years.
|
|
Arhtiyas stop auction
of paddy SANGRUR, Oct 1 — On the call of the local Arhtiyas Association, the auction of paddy by arhtiyas has been stopped from today in the grain market and 12 procurement centres in the nearby villages. Giving this information here today, Mr Pradeep Kumar Singla, general secretary of the association, said a decision not to auction the paddy had been taken to force the government to lift the procured paddy and make the payment for the same. He said the arhtiyas would not resume the auction of paddy till the payment of procured paddy was made to them and the paddy was lifted by government agencies. He said the payment had not been made and the paddy had not been lifted since September 21. MOGA: A large number of organisations and workers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, labour unions, Kirti Kisan Sabha, the CPI and other parties on Sunday sat on a dharna in protest against the failure of the government to procure paddy stocks valued at crores of rupees which were rotting in fields and grain markets all over the state. MANSA: The procurement of paddy from the mandis has not begun here. Neither the government agencies nor rice millers are showing interest in lifting the paddy. The millers are not lifting paddy in absence of a suitable government policy. They said power tariffs and other expenses had increased manyfold but milling rates had not been increased. TARN
TARAN: Farmers who had been staging dharnas for the past nine days near Goindwal Sahib and Khadoor Sahib have decided to lift the dharnas from Sunday. The BKU was staging dharna in protest against the non-procurement of paddy by the government agencies. Mr Charanjit Singh Vice-President of the state unit of the BKU, Fatehbad, said the union had decided to lift the dharnas keeping in view the inconvenience caused to people.
|
|
Rice millers flay
govt policy PATIALA, Oct 1 —The Punjab Rice Millers Association has alleged that the Punjab government instead of raising the genuine demands of the milling industry with the central government, wants to store paddy in their mill premises by issuing them threats. Stating this in a press note, president of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, Mr Tarsem Saini, said if the attitude of the Punjab government remains the same the association would start a state wide agitation. Alleging that the union government has failed to protect the rice millers right, Mr Saini, said reduction of driage allowance from 2 per cent to 1 per cent, non-enhancement of milling charges, non-inclusion of cess in the levy price, non-availability of space with Food Corporation of India for acceptance or rice was adding woes to the rice cultivators. He also alleged that during
the finalisation of rice specifications, the rice producers of Punjab were not taken into confidence by the union government. |
|
Reconsider hike in
petro prices, says Badal CHANDIGARH, Oct 1 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today appealed to the Prime Minister to reconsider the Centre’s decision to hike petroleum prices, particularly those of diesel and cooking gas. Persons in the lower middle income group were already hard pressed and making both ends meet was difficult for them. According to a press release of the government, Mr Badal said he was aware of the oil price hike in the international market, which had necessitated the upward revision of the prices of petroleum products in India. In his view farmers in Punjab would be hit hard by the hike in the diesel price. The farmers were already under a heavy debt. The terms of agricultural trade were unfavourable. Mr Badal suggested that the Centre opt for cross-sectoral subsidisation to keep diesel, kerosene and cooking gas prices at a low level. |
|
|
Deputy Director (Pensions)
meets Dang AMRITSAR, Oct 1 — Mr S.L. Kajil, Deputy Director (Pensions), Social Security Department, met Mr Satya Pal Dang, a former MLA, to discuss his allegations about widespread corruption in the matter of old-age and widow pensions. Vide two letters to the Chief Minister, Mr Dang had alleged that pensions were being sanctioned and arrears were being promptly paid to those who paid Rs 500 to an agent and 25 per cent or even more of arrears due to an agent or sub-agent even if they were not eligible. A large number of genuine pensioners/applicants were not being paid arrears/sanctioned pensions for one to two years. A list of 50 such cases, all relating to Chheharta was also submitted. Mr Kabul Singh, sarpanch of Basarke Bhaini village, told the Deputy Director of one such agent who had many sub-agents. He alleged that this agent had made a lot of money through such practices. The Deputy Director said there was no dearth of money which came from a social security cess and the trouble was due to the shortage of staff. Mr Dang suggested deterrent punishment to those found guilty in the Social Security Department. Mr Dang also criticised the manner in which camps were held and certain officials would praise the agents. Mr Kabul Singh said the agents had kept bogus stamps of doctors, sarpanches etc. The Deputy Director assured Mr Dang that some concrete steps would be taken in this regard. |
|
Flying club official grounds joy ride PATIALA, Oct 1 — The behaviour, of a Northern India Flying Club official, led to a couple
abandon their plan of having a joy ride, at the Northern India Flying Club here today. What in fact infuriated the couple, Mr Pawan Pandit and his wife, was that the Northern India Flying Club official, assistant
secretary Mr Vijay Kumar Sharma, had insulted the couple in front of an IAS officer, who incidentally had reached the club to log in his flying hours. Mr Pawan Pandit and his wife, along with their two sons, Russi and Bunny, were going to Chandigarh from Malout when enroute they stopped at the airfield to enable their children have a joyride in a Pushpak
aircraft. However, their plan was dashed to the ground when Mr Pawan Pandit demanded a
receipt for the payment of Rs 900 he had given for the joyride. However, Mr Vijay Kumar Sharma, assistant secretary of the club, having its camp at Patiala, did not give the
receipt to Mr Pawan Pandit. Mr Pandit got infuriated on Mr Sharma's reluctance to give the
receipt and entered into an heated argument with him. However, an senior IAS officer who had gone to the club to log in some flying hours intervened and asked Mr Pandit to register a complaint against Mr Sharma in writing. Mr Pandit lodged a written complaint, with copies of the letter addressed to the Punjab Chief Minister, and the Civil Aviation Minister Raja Narinder Singh. Mr Sharma, was not available for comments despite repeated efforts by this
correspondent. |
|
|
FCI
staff to hold protest on Oct 5 PATIALA, Oct 1 —The FCI
Employees Democratic Front has said that in an attempt to reduce the
fiscal deficit the Centre was trying to wrongfully dismantle the
corporation. Issuing a press note here today, the convenor of the
front, Mr Raghbir Singh, said that FCI was being dismantled under the
guidelines of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World
Trade Organisation. The work of FCI has already been slashed, he
added. The front has given a call to hold a protest rally at
Chandigarh on October 5. |
|
|
Chemists to observe
bandh on Oct 5 BATHINDA, Oct 1— More than 6 lakh chemists will raise their shutters on October 5 to observe a bandh in protest against the “indifferent” attitude of the authorities concerned towards their demands. Mr R.D. Gupta, president, Punjab Chemists Association, talking to mediapersons here today said the decision had been taken at a meeting of the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists held recently at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. He said chemists had been urging the Central Government for the past six years to bring uniformity in the rates of medicines throughout the country. He said the organisation had also been pressing the government to enforce the lowest rates of each medicine. |
|
PWD union expels 5 office-bearers JALANDHAR, Oct 1 — Five office-bearers of the Punjab PWD Field and Workshop Workers Union were expelled from the Union here today for indulging in anti-union activities. A conference held at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall unanimously adopted a resolution seeking the expulsion of Mr Ved Parkash (Ropar), Mr
Gurmej Singh (Kapurthala), Mr Manjit Singh (Hoshiarpur), Mr Balwinder Singh (Amritsar) and Mr Tarsem Singh (Gurdaspur). According to Mr Suresh Sharma, president of the union the expulsion would help strengthen the union. He said union had decided to stage a dharna in front of Head Office, PWD (B&R), Patiala, on October 25 since the department had failed to accept their long-pending demands. |
Minister promises new airports PHAGWARA, Oct 1 — Union Minister for Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta said here that new era belonged to civil aviation and the Indian Government was planning to expand its operation. Speaking to reporters he said the Union Government had already added seven more international airports. He said small airports would be established in Pathankot, Adampur and Phillaur. Security arrangements at these places were being examined, he said adding that the government would soon buy five more aircraft for its fleet. |
|
Martyr cremated TARN TARAN, Oct 1 — Subedar Charan Singh (44) of 25 Punjab Battalion who was killed in an ambush installed by terrorists in the Ranbirsinghpura sector of Jammu and Kashmir on September 29 was cremated today at his native Rakh-Sheron village, near here, with state honours. The body was brought this morning by a convoy of the regiment by Subedar Shangara Singh on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff. Lieut Col
D.P. Roy, Member of Parliament, Mr Tarlochan Singh Tur, Mr Vinay Sharma, Tehsildar, Mr Tejinder Singh, DSP (D), Mr Paramjit Singh Pannu, village Sarpanch, and other prominent personalities of the area laid wreaths on the body of the martyr. |
|
|
8 injured in accident KAPURTHALA, Oct 1 (PTI) — Eight persons, including five women, were injured, three of them seriously, when the jeep in which they were travelling collided with a tractor-trailer near Amritsar octroi post here on Saturday, the police said. The injured have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital. The condition of three victims — Dalip Kaur, Bhajan Kaur and Gurmej Kaur — is stated to be serious. The police said the victims were residents of Lasuri village and were going to Beas when the accident occurred. |
|
Roadways staff
block traffic PHILLAUR, Oct 1 — Punjab Roadways staff blocked traffic on the Phillaur-Ludhiana road for about an hour on Friday in protest against the alleged high-handedness of private toll-tax collectors. The blockade was lifted after assurances were given by police officials. The employees alleged that toll-tax collectors misbehaved with them. |
|
|
Woman kills
husband to save daughter KAPURTHALA, Oct 1 — The Bholath police claims to have solved the blind murder of Sukhdev Raj of Maitla village, falling under Bholath police station with the arrest of his wife Reeta in this connection. Sukhdev Raj was found murdered at home on the night of September 27 with injuries on his neck and other parts of the body. His wife had at the time claimed that unidentified intruders had murdered his husband. She later confessed to having murdered her husband with a ‘toka’. Giving details she told the police that she was first married in Kandhala Guru village in 1987, but divorced her drunkard husband after some years. She had two daughters from the first marriage. After her divorce she married Sukhdev of Maitla village. She told the police that of late Sukhdev Raj had been pressuring her to allow him to develop illicit relations with her elder daughter, who is 13. She refused. Then when she noticed that her husband had begun to lure her daughter and fearing the worst she decided to kill him. On the night of September 27, when he was asleep, she slew Sukhdev with a toka (fodder cutter).
The police has arrested the woman. |
|
Fraud case against scribe, 2 others MOGA, Oct 1 (PTI) — The Punjab police has registered a case of fraud and cheating against three persons, including a correspondent of a Hindi daily published from Jalandhar, for allegedly fraudulently taking a housing loan of Rs 9 lakh from the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), Ludhiana. According to a complaint lodged by the HDFC, Jagdish Mittar, Parmod Kumar and Raj Kumar Kalra secured a loan by submitting forged documents and making false statements regarding the financial status of Mittar, on whose name the loan was secured. The police said today that in a separate complaint, Mittar had stated that the fraud was committed at the instigation of Kalra and Parmod Kumar. The HDFC in its complaint, has confirmed that Kalra had introduced Mittar as his uncle and business partner. Parmod Kumar had introduced himself as a chartered accountant and Jagdish Mittar as his client. According to the complaint, Mittar had also submitted a letter of guarantee by one Satish Kumar Sethi. The police said Sethi submitted a complaint, stating that he had not executed any guarantee for any loan and the signatures on the guarantee letter were not his. |
|
‘Kidnapping’ case
solved: police GARHSHANKAR, Oct 1 — The Mahilpur police claims to have solved the case of a girl allegedly kidnapped from Badowal village near here, on September 13. In a complaint lodged with the police, her mother, Charan Kaur, had alleged that her daughter, Soma Rani, had been kidnapped by three women. Then the police failed to locate the women, the mother was interrogated. She confessed that her daughter had run away with a boy named Sonu. She had concocted the story, to escape humiliation she said. |
|
|
Traders for opening of Hussainiwala route FEROZEPORE, Oct 1 — To revive trade with Pakistan through this border district, the Beopar Mandal will ask the Central Government to open the Hussainiwala route which was closed after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The route was a lifeline for traders dealing in dry fruits, cloth and fresh vegetables. Once a flourishing trade centre, the Ferozepore now legs behind Amritsar that has the Wagah border route for import and export between the two sides. This is despite Ferozepore having shortest road distance (11 km) from the Hussainiwala border. The local Beopar mandal president, Mr Ashwani Mehta, said sugar, tea, fresh vegetables, paan leaves and farm implements have a ready market in Pakistan and can be sent through the city. Likewise, Pakistani dry fruit, cloth and grapes have a demand in India. Mr Mehta lamented that the closure of the Hussainiwala route had grounded the proposal of big hotels in the city. Besides, local cinema halls attracted visitors from Pakistan during the pre-war days, he said. Although the Lahore Bus journey by the Prime Minister had raised some hope, the subsequent Kargil war eclipsed war eclipsed the dreams. The Beopar Mandal alleged that the powerful exporters’ lobby of Amritsar had influenced the Union Government to not open the Hussainiwala route.
|
 |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 120 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
