 |
|
| Sunday, October 8, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Arhtiyas directed to give receipts to farmers Central team takes paddy
samples Jagir Kaur evading Punjab
cops? CM’s project fails to come
up Maluka
‘accused’ of interference |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PSEB introduces smart
cards Probe rape bid case,
HC tells police
BJP seeks Bibi’s
resignation Only women may vie for Mayor’s post Left, Morcha leaders
to hold meeting
No scalpel vasectomy for
men A mini health centre on verge of collapse Brick-kilns being
monitored Lakhs spent on draglines never
used Ban on sale, storage of
crackers Kidnapped boy
rescued Near stampede at
Dasehra function KMC demands cop’s
arrest 70 men sterilised at NSV camp 154 health centres to be opened Reward for former cop sought Deadlines on milk dairies not met Dasehra celebrated with gaiety RSS unit takes out
procession RSS to organise
‘janjagran abhiyaan’ Call to hold rallies on Oct 11
Lawyer succumbs
to burns Labourer’s murder
solved, one held Cops booked on
NHRC direction 34 bags of poppy husk
seized
Move to lease out
ITIs opposed NSUI demands
scholarships Rs 5 lakh for
village school Seminar on child development
Sports goods units in dire
straits
|
|
Arhtiyas directed to give receipts to farmers FEROZEPORE, Oct 7 — To prevent the distress sale of paddy by farmers, the administration has directed various market committees to ensure that all commission agents purchasing it issue a receipt to the seller. The move is aimed at preventing the commission agents from pocketing the minimum support price of Rs 540 by purchasing the paddy at power rates from the farmers. This follows
complaints of distress sale of paddy on account of the delay in the procurement process. The delay is said to have prompted the farmers to dispose their produce for as low as Rs 420 to private agencies. Confirming the move, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, said that this would enable the farmers to contest the procurement process. Although it is mandatory for commission agent to issue the J-form or an authentic receipt to the farmers, the norm is not being adhered to. This will enable the administration to keep a check on the distress sale. Commission agents avoid giving J-forms to the farmers and issue an ordinary slip before stocking the paddy for profitable sale to the agencies with immunity. However, a section of the farmers feel that the instructions should have come much earlier. As the farmers began arriving at the mandis before September 21, the official date
for the procurement process, the authorities can seal the records of the commission agents and market committees to find the quantum of distress sale. Mr Jitender Aggarwal, a progressive farmer, feels that this would enable the administration to compare the actual stock position of paddy with the agents and their sale. In an another significant development, the Chief Secretary has authorised all deputy commissioners to effect any changes required to be made in the allotment of individual mills to the procurement agencies under exceptional circumstances. This was necessitated, where an already allotted miller refused to accept the paddy. According to Mr Sidhu, this shall give teeth to the authorities to deal with defiant millers. Meanwhile, agitated farmers staged a demonstration in protest against the delayed procurement near the Sher Khan area. The farmers were pacified only after the SDM rushed to the site to ensure quick procurement. Mr Sidhu made it clear that there would be no holiday on Sunday or Dasehra for those engaged in the procurement process. |
|
Central team takes paddy
samples FARIDKOT, Oct 7 — A 10-member high-level Central team headed by Mr K.M. Sini, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Food, visited various grain markets and purchasing centres in this district yesterday to make an on-the-spot assessment of the paddy procurement position. Among the other prominent members were Mr V.B. Patnaik Joint Commissioner, Storage and Research, New Delhi, Mr D.P. Reddy, S.R.M., FCI, Chandigarh, and Dr G. Vajralingam, Director, Food and Supplies, Punjab. Mr A. Venu Prasad and Mr Sukhdev Singh Aulakh, Deputy Commissioner and District Food and Supplies Officer, respectively, also accompanied the team. The Senior officers visited the Deep Singhwala and Sadiq village purchase centres. During the tour, they took samples from different heaps of paddy and listened to the grievances of the farmers. Mr Pritam Singh, member of the Executive Committee, Punjab Kisan Union (Lakhowal), Mr Binder Singh and Mr Angrez Singh, president and vice-president, District Kisan Union, respectively, criticised the statement of Mr Bhure Lal, Chairman of the F.C.I., who said that 80 per cent of the paddy was discoloured and below specification. They alleged that it clearly indicated that the F.C.I. had made up its mind not to purchase the paddy, causing panic among the farmers. They urged the team members to take remedial steps to break the current paddy purchase impasse to save the farming community from destruction. It is learnt that Mr Sini will submit his report on the tour of Punjab mandis to the Prime Minister at New Delhi tomorrow. It was further learnt that Mr Sini also held detailed discussion in connection with the paddy problem with the Deputy Commissioner, who requested the Additional Secretary to tackle the issue amicably in the interest of the farmers. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has formed small committees comprising farmers, commission agents and officers of market committees at each centre to determine the price of paddy below specifications in the district. The Deputy Commissioner, claimed that about 1.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been purchased in the district till yesterday. |
|
Cotton procurement
yet to start MANSA, Oct 7 — After the paddy growers it is the turn of cotton growers to face harassment in mandis. Despite the announcement by the government, the procurement of cotton has not started. The administration busy in handling the procurement of paddy does not have time for cotton purchase. In the absence of government procurement, private agencies are doing a brisk business. The farmers are unwillingly selling their crop at lower prices. Some farmers unable to sell their produce in Punjab have turned towards Haryana as Rori, a famous cotton mandi, is not very far from here. They are hoping to get a higher price there. Approximately 10,000 bales of cotton are arriving daily in different mandis of the northern region comprising Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. |
|
BKU, farmers stage dharna KHANNA, Oct 7 — Activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union and farmers staged a dharna in front of the market committee office to protest against the slow procurement of paddy here today. Hundreds of farmers gathered at the local grain market under the leadership of Mr Netar Singh Nagra, district president of BKU, Ludhiana and started raising slogans against the state government and the FCI for not procuring their paddy. Later, they held a rally in front of the market committee office. The rally was addressed by Mr Netar Singh Nagra and Narinder Jit Singh, among others. The speakers threatened the government that if the agencies did not start procurement soon, the dharnas would continue and they would gherao the officers of procurement agencies. Later on, they blocked traffic at the main gate of the grain market at GT Road, Khanna. |
|
Paddy
allotment: probe sought PHILLAUR, Oct 7 — The Punjab Rice Millers Association President, Mr Bhagirth Lal Singla, has urged the government to order an inquiry into alleged irregularities committed by government officials while allotting paddy to the rice shellers of the state. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Singla alleged that the work should have been completed by September 20 as procurement began on September 21, but even after 17 days the work could not be completed. He alleged that the allotment was being done alphabetically to rice millers which was the main cause of the present situation in the state. He said a few selective rice shellers were renamed with fresh licences. The rice millers were ready for milling of paddy according to the FCI specifications. He urged the state government to negotiate with the union government to safeguard the interests of rice millers and farmers of the state. |
|
CM’s project fails to come
up BADAL (Muktsar): Even as the authorities concerned have been evolving the strategy to make the building of Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology (MIMIT)-a dream project of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal - safe, another project of setting up a
gymnasium in the village has failed to complete in scheduled time. Mr Parkash Singh Badal had started the project to promote sports in rural areas and to produce players of international standard. The construction of indoor
gymnasium hall was started on December 9, 1999. The Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) was entrusted with the work and the project was to be completed by March 31, 2000. Initially the project cost was worked out to be Rs 132 lakh which was later revised to Rs 185 lakh as a provision of double teak flooring was made in it instead of single layer flooring. The project money was to be shared by the Punjab Government and the Central Government on equal basis. The size of the hall which was to be fitted with modern facilities was 110 feet by 200 feet. A visit to the spot revealed that so far only boundary walls of the
gymnasium hall had been constructed while the floor and roof were yet to be completed. Official sources said the project work had come to a halt due to shortage of funds. The Punjab Government had so far released Rs 60 lakh for the project. Sources added that Central Government had released Rs 48 lakh for the project which would reach the authorities concerned in a week or so. Mr K.J.S. Cheema, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted, said that there was no shortage of funds and the gymnasium hall was coming up fast. |
|
Maluka ‘accused’ of interference PATIALA, Oct 7 — The Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers Association today accused Minister of Power Sikander Singh Maluka of grossly violating the notified transfer policy of the board by giving lists of his favourite engineers to be transferred and given ‘’ plum ‘’ postings . In a statement here , association secretary Anil Miglani said that an executive committee meeting of the association held yesterday felt that this single step was responsible for adversely affecting the revenue of the board . The executive felt that under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1948 the board was required to function autonomously and the government could not interfere in the day-to-day working of the board, particularly in the matter of postings and transfers . He said ‘’ this illegal and unlaw- ful” interference had been pointed out in March this year when an association delegation handed over a memorandum to Mr Maluka where a specific demand was made to end interference in the board’s day-to-day working , particularly in postings and transfers . While the Power Minister had been violating the Electricity Act by interfering in the board’s functioning , he had also grossly failed to implement policy matters. When the Punjab Government decided to give free power to tubewells, it also decided to compensate the board on this account . If this was not done, the government should allow the board to reintroduce tariff on tubewells but this was also not done, it added . It was for the Power Minister to ensure that the PSEB functioned within the provisions of the Electricity Act, particularly Section 59 which prescribes a minimum rate of return of 3 per cent against which the PSEB was actually operating at minus 31 per cent and cash loss of Rs 1,088 crore per year . It was the view of not only the power engineers and technocrats but also of a wide section of people , including farmers, and economists that free power to tubewells went against farmers , against society and against the government but still the government had failed to address the issue and forced the PSEB deeper into bankruptcy at the rate of Rs 5 crore per day . The association also alleged that the Minister went out of the way to criticise the working of the Ropar thermal plant which it said was the backbone of the state’s power system and economy. The present State Secretariat dealing with power was manned by non-engineers and the press statement of Mr Maluka demanding the removal of Energy Adviser N S Vasant who was responsible for getting the Ranjit Sagar dam commissioned after removal of snags was uncalled for. |
|
PSEB introduces smart
cards PATIALA, Oct 7 — “Smart Cards” offering pre-paid electricity facility are being introduced by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) on an experimental basis in the state to collect instant revenue and make the distribution business compatible with the manufacturing of power. The “Smart Cards”, which are likely to be introduced in 10 to 15 power sub-divisions, are projected to gradually do away with the present billing system under which the board gets money for power given to a consumer after two months. The introduction of smart cards would help the Board to quickly recoup money paid in advance for the purchase of coal and electricity from Central Generating Companies. Under the system special energised meters alongwith a smart card will be given to consumers. The consumers will be able to receive power after inserting the card in the meter. Computers installed at the sub-station will have details about the meter connection, sanctioned load and average load per billing cycle of the consumer. The smart cards offer the consumers the facility of rationing their power by fixing quota to be released every day or every week. Besides this, there is an alarm facility when only 10 per cent of the purchased units are left. There is also a 10 per cent overdraft facility. The PSEB Chairman, Mr G. S. Sohal, told TNS that the concept of pre-paid power had to be adopted to make the board financially viable. He said the smart card scheme would be implemented in 10 to 15 sub-divisions with each sub-division catering to around 10,000 to 15,000 consumers. He said talks were in the final stage with three Indian companies who were collaborating with foreign companies of France, South Africa and Israel to implement the scheme in Punjab. He said the scheme had already been demonstrated successfully. The Chairman said the only problem in the speedy implementation of the scheme was that of finance. He said though the special meters needed for the operation of the smart cards were not very costly at Rs 3,000 per meter, the scheme needed computerisation of all business at the sub-division level . He said due to this, talks were now going on with companies to start the scheme on lease financing basis. He said under this scheme the company involved would lease out computers and meters for a fixed leasing fee besides share in the increased revenue. He said if this comes through the board it would pass on the leasing fee to the consumer. He said the consumer as well as the board would benefit from the system. He said while the board would get advance money for electricity supplied by it, the consumer would not have to bother about the problems associated with faulty meters. Mr Sohal said the scheme had been tried on an experimental basis in Gujarat and was also being introduced in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. He said the scheme if expanded could make the board financially viable besides stopping theft of electricity through manipulation of meters by unscrupulous elements . He said the board would also continue its scheme of increasing the use of electronic meters in the state alongwith the introduction of the smart card scheme. |
|
Probe rape bid case,
HC tells police GURDASPUR, Oct 7 — Mr Justice VM Jain of the Punjab and Haryana High Court while disposing a complaint of a B.A. (I) student of Pathankot in this district filed on August 28 has directed the SSP, Gurdaspur, to look into the matter and dispose the complaint according to law. The complaint said that Surjit Singh, Swaran Singh, Vikram and Ramesh of Pathankot attempted to rape the girl student on August 26. But when the complainant along with her neighbours and relatives approached the police station division No. 2 Pathankot to act in the matter, the police humiliated them and did not take any action against the accused. It is said that a dispute arose between Surjit Kumar and Ravi Kumar father of the girl, on May 1 over the repair of a window of a house of Ravi Kumar which opens into the plot of Surjit Singh. When Surjit Singh stopped Ravi Kumar from repairing his window, Ravi Kumar reported the matter to the police, which instead of taking any action, allowed Surjit Singh to raise a wall against the window. Again in August, Surjit Singh closed the water outlets of Ravi Kumar’s house, which fell in the open plot owned by Surjit Singh without resorting to the legal proceedings. When Ravi Kumar complained against this in the police station, the Station House Officer of P.S. Division No 2, ex-parte challaned Ravi Kumar, his wife Rani and son Deepak under Sections 107 and 151 to maintain peace. Again on August 26, the SHO challaned Ravi Kumar and his family under on the plea of maintaining peace. The victim, alleged that Surjit Singh, his relative Swaran Singh and municipal councillors Vikram and Ramesh entered their house at 12 on the night of August 26 and attempted to rape her. When she raised the alarm after, her mother and brothers woke up and raised a hue and cry to save her. She said Surjit Kaur, a neighbour who was sleeping in their house that night also woke up and noticed the accused while they were fleeing. The victim said that after trying all legal channels locally and having failed, she approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said that directions of the high court had been received and SP (Operation) deputed to hold an inquiry. |
|
Jagir Kaur evading Punjab
cops? JALANDHAR, Oct 7 — Has Bibi Jagir Kaur been evading Punjab police officers after the registration and arrest of five persons in the Harpreet death case? The answer could well be in the affirmative if police officers of the state are to be believed. A number of Punjab police officers said they were not aware of the whereabouts of the Bibi since she had been “avoiding” them. Inquiries with the staff at her Jalandhar residence revealed that she had left the city in a private car for Chandigarh along with her personal security officer Nishan Singh on the night of Thursday, leaving behind her official ambassador car. So much so, she has been avoiding the Punjab police security cover and has been
preferring her private security personnel, who have been travelling with her, sources said. Though the CBI has formed six teams to locate Bibi Jagir Kaur, the Punjab police is not aware of the activities of the CBI in the state, since it is not taking the police into confidence as far as the Bibi Jagir Kaur case is concerned, sources said. “The CBI has not informed us about the formation of teams or anything else relating to the Jagir Kaur episode,” said a senior police officer. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said Bibi had been” hiding” herself in a farmhouse of her confidant in Nawanshahr district. Mr Harjit Singh, a personal secretary to the SGPC chief, said she was performing her duties as the head of the “mini-parliament” of the Sikhs and clarified that she had not been questioned by CBI officials at a Kartarpur hotel. He, however, denied knowledge of the whereabouts of Bibi Jagir Kaur. |
|
|
BJP seeks Bibi’s
resignation AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, has sought immediate resignation of the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Talking to TNS, Ms Chawla said, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister and President of the SAD should immediately expel her. Meanwhile, senior SGPC members, Mr Puran Singh Josh, who belongs to the ruling party has also demanded the resignation of Bibi Jagir Kaur. He asked Mr Badal to expel her in case she refused to tender her resignation. |
|
Only women may vie for Mayor’s post AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — In a countdown to the race for the election of the city Mayor, women are emerging as a formidable force. Whereas the combined strength from all parties gives the women councillors a whopping strength of 20 in the house of 60
councillors, which is almost equivalent to the BJP’s strength of 22 members and 21 of the Congress. The internal bickerings in the BJP-Akali combine and the unconfirmed support of the CPM for the Congress candidate, Mr Sunil Datti, too has left the field open for a woman candidate. Dr Renu Goel, Ms Jaishree Gulati and Ms Jasminder Kaur are bidding for the post which is lying vacant following the resignation of former Mayor Subhash Sharma. While the first two are the BJP the latter belongs to the SAD. The BJP is keeping its cards close to the chest by not finalising any name for the post. It is also learnt that Mr Bakshi Ram Arora, Chairman, Improvement Trust, who is also a councillor, is a strong contender for the post. He is likely to face an uphill task as few BJP councillors fear that he might call for the review of the activities of the former Mayor. In view of such a scenario few BJP councillors are likely to cross vote. A senior BJP members, Mr Brij Mohan Kapoor, is also facing opposition due to his closeness to the former Mayor. |
|
Left, Morcha leaders
to hold meeting CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 — A joint meeting of leaders of the CPI, CPM and the Sanja Morcha will be held here on October 9 at Cheema Bhavan. Important issues like distress sale of paddy, increase in the prices of petroleum products and alleged bungling in the Sunam byelection will be discussed. This was stated in a press note issued here today by Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of the Sarab-Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD). |
Kaku new Amritsar
youth Cong chief AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, President of the Indian Youth Congress, has appointed Mr Maninder Singh Kaku the district unit President of the Amritsar
(Rural) Youth Congress, according to a press note issued by Mr Surjewala in Delhi on Friday. |
No scalpel vasectomy for
men PATIALA, Oct 7 — To popularise the concept of male participation in family welfare and to impart training on no scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) a four-day training camp was organised at the Model Town Government Dispensary here. Dr Baljeet Kaur, who is the State Trainer for NSV, demonstrated this no-cut, no-stitch method of male sterilisation to six PCMS doctors who participated in the
camp. More than 70 men got sterilised during this camp. No scalpel vasectomy is a simple and uncomplicated method where the whole procedure is done through a puncture which is skin deep, said Dr Baljeet
Karate complication rate has been found out to be. 4 per cent which is minimal in comparison to other methods and they require a short period to recover, she added. This revolutionary method can bring male sterilisation to the forefront, said Dr Baljeet Kaur. Considering the fact that in Punjab only 30,000 men shoulder the responsibility of family planning in comparison to 1,30,000 women every year, NSV method can relieve women from high risk sterilising methods, she added. Dr Ajat Shatru Kapoor, a surgeon who is being authorised to carry out the NSV in Patiala, said it was the responsibility of men to take up the responsibility of family planning. With popularisation of the painless technique, there should not be any hesitation from the male
population to shoulder the responsibility of family planning, he added. Dr S P. Singh, incharge of a local NGO who participated in the training camp said NSV ought to be promoted heavily both by the government agencies and the local non -government organisations (NGOs). Talking about providing incentives to lure menfolk into sterilisation, Dr Singh said that the whole procedure of NSV itself was an incentive for the men. It was just a matter of generating awareness among men about NSV and imbibing a sense of responsibility in them, he said. |
|
A mini health centre on verge of collapse GURDASPUR: The mini primary health centre, Purana Shalla, under the Ranjit Bagh health centre is at present operating in a
dilapidated panchayati raj building. The building has developed cracks and has been declared uninhabitable. The staff of the mini primary health centre was working in the building before the monsoon. But during the rains, the roof of the building was damaged and one day a brick from the roof fell and hit a medical officer. Since then the staff of the health centre has started examining the patients in the open in front of the building. The staff of the health centre comprises seven employees including a medical officer, a staff nurse and a pharmacist. Since the medicines have to be kept inside the building, the patients collect them from the staff nurse and the pharmacist inside the building. But they remain in constant fear that the building may collapse any time. According to official sources, the mini primary health centre was built at the Purana Shalla focal point long back. After its completion in 1992, the Punjab Police occupied the building. Initially the police took its possession temporarily but continued because of terrorist activities in the area. Official sources said the Health Department had repeatedly requested the Punjab Government to get the building vacated by the police. The matter of vacation of the building was taken up by the SSP, and the Civil Surgeon and as well as the Director of Health Services, but in vain. The Senior Medical Officer of Ranjit Bagh health centre requested Mr B. Vikram, Deputy Commissioner, to help the department in getting the mini primary health centre building vacated. Though he responded positively, action is yet to be taken. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, said the building would be vacated as soon as another site is found at Purana Shalla. The alternative is to close the police station which can be done only by the state government. |
|
Brick-kilns being
monitored CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 — The Punjab Government today decided to monitor and regulate growth of brick kilns in clusters which caused air pollution. An official spokesman said there were as many as 2685 kilns in the state. Out of which 1000 had pollution control devices. He added that pollution control devices were being installed at other 1400 brick kilns also. The spokesman said the Pollution Control Board, Punjab, for the first time, had taken the initiative to get the air pollution control devices installed in brick kilns, rice shellers, cupola furnaces and hot-mix plants. He said the board had engaged the
Punjab State Council for Science and Technology to control air pollution. He said other than brick kilns there were about 1000 cupola furnaces out of which 150 were provided with air pollution control devices. Out of 1766 rice shellers, 1087 units had been provided with such devices. The spokesman said the adoption of improved combustion practices in these industries resulted in coal saving and also reduction in emission level at the source. |
Lakhs spent on draglines never
used NABHA: Every year the state and the central governments make provisions in their budgets to reduce deficit. One of these provisions is reducing the government expenditure and cutting subsidies. But a look at the implementation of its programme shows the government’s abject failure in this respect. Most schemes made have been kept on the files only. Inept officers and inadequate policies are the major cause of this failure. One example is the functioning of the drainage wing of the Irrigation Department. Owing to negligence of the department, officers huge sums of money are being squandered. About ten years ago the department bought draglines to dig up canals at Tunga village near Nabha. These scrap have never put to work and have been gathering rust since then. At best, these can fetch some thousands being turned into rubbish. These have been rusted beyond use. One dragline costs the government from Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore. To maintain these machines, the department has appointed a peon and a helper. Both of them stay at the places provided by the villagers and their salaries amount to about Rs 12,000 a month. Similarly at Ladhaheri village, 4 km from here near milestone No 374, another dragline is gathering dust for the past seven years. It is said to have cost around Rs 80 lakh. When this reporter contacted local residents, they revealed that for several years they had seen this machine lying idle . Mr Harvinder Singh of Achal village said the machine was bought before the 1993 floods to dig up a cho. But the officials left the machine due to floods in the cho and these remained submerged for over three years and no officer of the department bothered . Mr Bhagwan Singh pointed out that he had seen the machines near Rajpura and Mansa as well in a neglected state. An employee of this department, on condition of anonymity, said they were bound to follow rules even if they were asked to look after useless machines. He admitted that at several places such machines were damaged beyond repair. Though their cost as scrap is a few thousand rupees, but the government is spending lakhs. Residents opine that these losses should be recovered from the officers of the department instead of imposing higher taxes. |
|
Ban on sale, storage of
crackers KAPURTHALA, Oct 7 — Mr V.K. Singh, District Magistrate, today banned the sale and storage of crackers and other explosive materials in the district without prior
permission till December 3. The magistrate has directed all Station House Officers of the district to conduct raids to ensure that the directive was not violated by anyone. In another order the District Magistrate also directed all Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Executive Officers of municipal councils to check the illegal construction of marriage places in the district. Directions have been issued not to allow the construction of marriage palaces without prior permission of Town Planning Department authorities . HOSHIARPUR: Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, District Magistrate, Hoshiarpur, has prohibited the storage and sale of crackers of explosive materials in the district keeping in view the ensuing Divali festival. He has, however, authorised concerned SDMs to issue permission for sale of crackers. The order would remain in force upto November 30, 2000. |
|
Kidnapped boy
rescued FEROZEPORE, Oct 7 — A 10-year-old school boy, who was kidnapped yesterday by unidentified persons while going to school, was rescued by the police today. Yesterday at 7 am, Rajan alias “Raja”, son of Mr Baldev Raj, a resident of Gali No. 6, Basti Bhattianwali, was on his way to Jai Bharat Middle School when he was allegedly kidnapped. When he did not return home after the closure of school, lodged a complaint with the police. The police today rescued the boy when he was being taken towards a river near Alike village. According to sources, his hands were handcufed. A case has been registered against Shaminder Singh, alias “Chinda”, a resident of Patti Khasi Sirhali in Amritsar under Section 364 of the IPC. The motive behind the kidnapping is not known. According to Rajan, who seemed to be still terrified, the kidnapper allegedly threatened him with dire
consequences if he refused to accompany him. |
Near stampede at
Dasehra function AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — A near stampede took place at Dasehra Grounds here when the stage on which Ram Lila was being performed before the burning of effigies almost collapsed during the performance. Several VIPs were seated on the stage. Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Minister For Health, and Mr Balramji Das Tandon, chief guest, were, however, not on the stage. Mr R.L. Bhatia, former minister, and Mrs Laxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, both were on the stage just before the effigy of Ravana was consigned to the flames. The 10,000-strong crowd did not notice the incident, although a few persons seated at the VIP gallery rushed out in panic. No one was injured. It was learnt that some miscreants lighted the effigy Meghnath before time. |
|
KMC demands cop’s
arrest AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — The Khalra Mission Committee has demanded the immediate arrest of Hawaldar Sarvan Singh. In a statement, Mr Surinder Singh Ghariala of the KMC said eight years ago, Onkar Singh, son of Daljit Singh, a resident of Ghariala, was kidnapped by Punjab Police personnel and was declared missing. It was alleged that Havaldar Sarvan Singh, at present a reader with the SSP, Patiala, extorted money in lakhs from Onkar Singh’s parents giving them false information that their son was alive. An FIR was subsequently lodged at police station Division ‘C’ on May 26 this year against Sarvan Singh and his woman accomplice, Kuljit Kaur. Mr Ghariala said although bail for the accused had been cancelled, no arrest had been made so far. He claimed now when the pre-arrest bail of the two, too, had been cancelled by the High Court, the accused had fabricated a story that Onkar Singh’s father had molested Kuljit Kaur. Mr Ghariala has demanded the arrest of the accused till October 20 failing which he said a dharna would be staged at the police station on October 21. |
|
70 men sterilised at NSV camp PATIALA , Oct 7 — To popularise the concept of male participation in family welfare and to impart training on no scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) a four-day training camp was organised at the Model Town Government Dispensary here.Dr Baljeet Kaur, who is the State Trainer for NSV, demonstrated this no-cut, no-stitch method of male sterilisation to six PCMS doctors who participated in the camp.More than 70 men got sterilised during this camp. No scalpel vasectomy is a simple and uncomplicated method where the whole procedure is done through a puncture which is skin deep, said Dr Baljeet Kaur.The complication rate has been found out to be. 4 per cent which is minimal in comparison to other methods and they require a short period to recover, she added. This revolutionary method can bring male sterilisation to the forefront, said Dr Baljeet Kaur. Considering the fact that in Punjab only 30,000 men shoulder the responsibility of family planning in comparison to 1,30,000 women every year, NSV method can relieve women from high risk sterilising methods, she added. Dr Ajat Shatru Kapoor, a surgeon who is being authorised to carry out the NSV in Patiala, said it was the responsibility of men to take up the responsibility of family planning. With popularisation of the painless technique, there should not be any hesitation from the male population to shoulder the responsibility of family planning, he added. Dr S P. Singh, incharge of a local NGO who participated in the training camp said NSV ought to be promoted heavily both by the government agencies and the local non -government organisations (NGOs). Talking about providing incentives to lure menfolk into sterilisation, Dr Singh said that the whole procedure of NSV itself was an incentive for the men. It was just a matter of generating awareness among men about NSV and imbibing a sense of responsibility in them, he said. NSV was invented by Dr Li Shun Quiang of the Chong Qing Family Planning Scientific Research Institute in China, in the year 1974. This method came to India when Dr Ram
Kaza, Professor, Urology, LNJP, New Delhi took training from Dr Li a couple of years back. Dr Kaza is the master trainer of the NSV project who has trained 500 doctors all over India.  |
|
154 health centres to be opened SAHNEWAL , Oct 7 — Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, visited Tibba village situated near Sahnewal to educate villagers about the health care programmes initiated by the government.Addressing a rally of BJP activists, Mr Chawla said, "We are heading towards self-dependence.As many as 155 health centres are to be opened shortly in Punjab. Two mobile vans carrying two senior doctors will operate in almost all villages of Punjab. These will provide every health facilities and medicines so far not available in the remote areas. Mr Chawla further said that the government would arrange a fixed deposit of Rs 4500 for every newly born girl-child and it would amount to nearly 1.25 lakh at the time of her marriage. The rally was addressed by Mr Balbir Chand
Kapila, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Grewal, Mr Vipin Chanderpal,Mr Jai Kumar,Mr Pawan Kumar, Mr Suresh Arora. |
|
Reward for former cop sought PATIALA Mr Shabdal Singh, who passed away on September 30 this year, was one of the most brilliant investigative officers of the Punjab Police and had successfully investigated a number of cases with political overtones. In addition to this he was a football and kabaddi player. He brought laurels to the Punjab Police in the field of sports also. Mr
A.S. Kooner, SP (retd.) said a meeting of the association had taken place in which it was decided that Mr Shabdal Singh deserves to be presented with the award. |
|
Deadlines on milk dairies not met PATIALA The latest official position is that the local Improvement Trust has applied for a No Objection Certificate from the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, so that it can acquire 32 acres of land identified by it at Ghalouri village on the outskirts of the city and resettle all dairies there. The trust, which had three months earlier claimed that the shifting of the dairies would be completed in six months, has now again given itself another six months to complete the job. The Executive Engineer of the trust, Mr Manmohan Singh, said that the land identified at Ghalouri village on the Devigarh road would be given to dairy owners at a reserve price to facilitate their movement out of the city. He said various rounds of meetings had been held between the trust Chairman, Mr Manmohan Singh Bajaj, and dairy representatives and the latter had conveyed their agreement to move out. He said the dairy owners had been convinced that the move would be in their benefit in the long run. He said the dairy owners would be offered common facilities for disposing off dung, bathing of animals and as well as provision of electrical supply through use of dung for which a special plant was also in the offing. He said other facilities envisaged included provision of a market and a common place from where they could sell their milk. The trust on the demand of the dairy owners is also examining a proposal to develop another dairy area on the Sirhind road which is at the other extreme of the present area identified by it so that dairy owners practicing their trade near it can shift there instead of putting up shop at Ghalouri. However, this is likely to wait for sometime as there is intense reservation on the part of small-dairy owners to shift out of the city. Ajaib Singh, who runs a dairy in the inner city, said he would be forced to stop plying his trade if asked to shift out. He said presently the likely prices proposed by the Improvement Trust were beyond the reach of small-dairy owners like him. He said it would be impossible for him to start off again after buying a plot, building a shed upon it and then hiring people to look after the animals there. He says it would only be possible to shift out if plots are given at nominal rates and easy installments are fixed for repayment. Other dairy owners feel shifting out of the city would result in an increase in the price of milk as the inputs of the dairies would also increase. Residents of Patiala say they would put up with the increase in milk price. ''Come and see out streets '', says Vijay of Bishan Nagar. He says the ground can barely be seen in several streets in his locality as they are permanently covered with dung. The dairies have caused other problems also besides that of hygiene which is non-existent in most of the outer colonies and parts of the inner city where dairies abound. Chief among these is blocking of the sewerage lines. The dairy owners have come out with ingenious methods to dispose off dung. This includes flushing out the dung into the sewer lines by use of jet pumps after diluting it with water. This leads to frequent choking of sewer lines. Corporation Commissioner
K.S. Kang said efforts were being made to regulate the functioning of dairies and make them follow civic norms. He said the corporation was challaning four to five dairy owners everyday for violating civic norms, including tying cattle on roads, not throwing dung at assigned places and use of pumps to dispose off dung in sewers. |
|
Dasehra celebrated with gaiety DERA BASSI : Dasehra was celebrated with enthusiasm among the resident of the town as a glider hired from the Haryana Civil Aviation Club, Pinjore, hovered over the local Ramlila Ground for over 10 minutes. It showered multicoloured pamphlets over the crowd gathered from different parts of the subdivision. Besides the residents of the town, thousands of residents from surrounding villages gathered to join the function, jointly organised by the Dera Bassi Ramlila Committee and the Rotary Club, Dera Bassi.The ground was packed to capacity and the residents of the houses around the ground climbed atop their roofs to enjoy the fair. A number of boys even perched on the trees to have a better view. Kids who came from faraway villages, were seen enjoying the festival. Colourful jhankis on the theme of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata were also taken out. Band competitions, lucky draws and Punjabi folk songs were also organised to mark the function. Mr Zohra Singh, Political Secretary to Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, was the chief guest. He lit the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnada. A large number of residents of Bartana village and various colonies also celebrated Dashera. Zirakapur market gave a deserted look from 5 to 7 pm as the shopkeepers and other residents joined the Dashera celebrations at Bartana. Residents of Lalru celebrated the festival at functions organised by the members of the Baba Prithavi Singh Azad Memorial Sports Club and the Shaheed Bhagat Sing Sports Club separately. No untoward incident was reported as the police had made elaborate security arrangements. |
|
RSS unit
takes out procession BATALA, Oct 7 — The local unit of the RSS took out a procession today. Starting from Dharampura Colony, it passed through Achligate, Kandh Sahib Gurdwara, Chakri Bazaar, Nehru Gate, Cinema road and Krishananagar Road and terminated at Bal Vidya Niketan School. On this day in 1925, Dr K.B.R. Hedgewar founded the RSS. Processionists were attired in the traditional uniform of the RSS. They were led by Mr Jagdish Sawhney, local BJP MLA, along with the Gurdaspur district chief of the RSS, Mr Tilakraj Aggarwal. |
|
RSS to organise
‘janjagran abhiyaan’ PHILLAUR, Oct 7 — The RSS will organise a nationwide ‘Rashtriya Janjagran Abhiyaan’ from November 5 to November 25 to mark the
platinum jublee of the RSS. Stating this, the RSS divisional assistant president, Lala Balwant Rai Gupta, and district general secretary, Dr Yoginder Paul Sharma, told this correspondent here today that the Sangh activists would contact people in every basti, town and village of the country in its sarb saparshi” campaign. They said poster campaigns and corner meetings would be launched from October 15 to October 26, and contact programmes would be launched in all bastis and towns from October 26 to November 10 and Sangh activists would go to every village of the country from November 10 to November 16. Dr Sharma said the Sangh would organise “root march” in Phagwara on October 8 followed by a public meeting in the Hargobind Nagar which would be addressed by RSS state assistant general secretary Kasmiri Lal. The rally would be presided over by JCT, Phagwara, senior vice-president Raj Mohan Singh. |
|
Call to hold rallies on Oct 11 CHANDIGARH, Oct 7 — Four major trade unions — CITU, AITUC, INTUC and the HMS — today appealed to the people to hold rallies and processions on October 11 at industrial centres of Punjab in protest against the hike in the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene and LPG. In a joint statement, issued here after a meeting of state representatives of these unions, said the hike in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG would affect the working class and other weaker sections of the society who were already reeling under the impact of costly essential commodities. Castigating the NDA Government the trade union leaders said the prices of petroleum products could be checked by reducing customs duty and other
taxes. They said the prices of other necessities of life would also go up as the hike in petroleum products was bound to effect the expenditure on transportation. |
Lawyer succumbs to burns JALANDHAR, Oct 7 (UNI) — City lawyer Kundan Singh, who was burned while sleeping at his home in nearby Khusropur village past midnight yesterday, succumbed to the injuries in a Ludhiana hospital last night, the police
said. Kundan Singh, a Congress activist, in his dying declaration, named Tarsem Singh and his father Pritam Singh, as suspects. Police sources said the crime seemed to be an outcome of a suicide pact by Baljit Kaur, a niece of Kundan Singh, and Tarminder Singh, son of Tarsem Singh, a few months ago.
Kundan Singh, who did not approve of the relationship of his niece with the village youth, had sent her away to his sister’s house, but bodies of both the boy and girl were later found in Tarn Taran, with the police suspecting it to be a case of ‘suicide by pact’. The police, who had earlier registered a case of attempt to murder, had since converted it into a case of murder. Members of the District Bar Association had observed a strike here yesterday in protest against the murderous attempt on the member of the Bar. In another incident, Yogesh Kumar, 22, was killed and his friend, Ashok Kumar seriously hurt in a clash with another group of youths over cycle-scooter collision near Teliawal mohalla on the Aaliwal road in the city last evening, the police said. The police has registered a case of murder against Anil Kumar and his brother, Arun Kumar, both of whom have absconded. |
|
Labourer’s murder
solved, one held KAPURTHALA, Oct 7 — The district police claims to have solved the blind murder of Munshi, a migrant labourer in Sheikhupur village near the town, with the arrest of Banwari of Kuruann village in Bahreich district of Uttar Pradesh. In a press note issued by the police, Mr Iqbal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police said that on the midnight of September 2, 1999, some robbers attacked the farm house of Didar Singh in Sheikhupur village and inflicted injuries on Munshi and Raju, who were sleeping near the tubewell. They threw two in to the tubewell and fled with a generator and tractor engine. Later, Munshi
succumbed to his injuries. The police arrested Banwari during a naka held at the chowk of Sheikhupur village on September 27. He tried to flee on seeing the police. During interrogation, he confessed to having committed the crime along with his accomplices, Dilbahar Adhari, Ram Gopal and Des Raj, all of his district, with the aim to commit a robbery at the farm house of Didar Singh, with whom he was working earlier in 1998-99. After leaving the job with Didar Singh, he and his accomplices went to the tubewell in a tractor-trailor to commit the crime. The police recovered the generator and engine. Police parties have sent to Uttar Pradesh to arrest the accomplices of Banwari. |
|
Cops booked on
NHRC direction KHARAR, Oct 7 — The Kharar police has registered a case under Sections 342, 325 and 323, IPC, against Inspector Didar Singh (then SHO of Kharar), ASI Malhi and others on the directions of the National Human Rights Commission, on a complaint of Mr Rajiv Bhardwaj, who alleged that he was illegally detained and tortured for 13 days in 1995. According to information, Mr Bhardwaj, clerk-cum-cashier of Shivalik Kashetriya Gramin Bank at Sahoran village, complained that he was taken from his residence on March 6, 1995, by Didar Singh, SHO, Kharar, and others in connection with a theft case in the bank and detained him for nearly 13 days. He complained that though he was on leave from February 21, 1995, after handing over the charge to the Manager, yet the police had arrested him. He has written that he was tortured and sustained grave injuries that culminated in the fracture of the neck and the femur bone. The commission has written in his order that it received an interim report from the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, Punjab, in August 1996 which suggested that the fracture sustained by the complainant could have been caused due to an accidental fall in the bathroom. According to this report the complainant was produced before the SHO on the same date and he was let off on the same day. According to information, the commission directed the DGP, Punjab, to investigate and submit the report on July 9, 1999. Meanwhile, Inspectors of the NHRC carried our investigations between August 9 and August 13, 1999, and submitted the report that the Ropar police had illegally detained and tortured the complainant by which he sustained grave injuries. The commission has written that the Government of Punjab in their reply on August 19, 1996, has attempted to cover-up the action of the police brutality by suggesting that the complainant might have suffered much before the police had called him for questioning. The commission has recommended that the Punjab Government should pay Rs 2.50 lakh as interim compensation to the complainant and conduct an in-depth inquiry and initiate criminal proceedings against the officers responsible. The commission has recommended that the Punjab Government should send compliance report within four weeks. |
|
34 bags of poppy husk
seized PHAGWARA, Oct 7 — The Sadar police on Friday seized 34 bags containing 11.90 quintals of poppy husk worth Rs 3040 lakh from sugarcane fields of nearby Sunra Rajputan village. In a press note issued here today Mr Satinder Singh, DSP, said a case under the NDPS Act had been registered against Manjit and Shiri, both brothers belonging to listed Sansi tribe. However, the duo managed to escape. In another case at least 13 grams of smack was recovered from Onkar Nath of Amritsar at nearby Manawali village. The culprit has been arrested. |
Move to lease out
ITIs opposed NAWANSHAHR, Oct 7 — Mr Gurdev Singh Nagra, state president of the ITI Employees Union, has opposed the move of the Punjab Government to lease out newly constructed ITIs and polytechnics to the private sector. Mr Nagra today criticised the government for failing to make the new ITIs and polytechnics operational even after spending crores of rupees on them. The panchayats had donated land for setting up the ITIs. The failure amounted to a betrayal of the aspirations of people. The proposal to lease out ITIs and polytechnics to the private sector would make industrial and vocational training costlier. He said the union had asked the Director of Technical Education to compare the training standards of private ITIs and polytechnics with the government training institutes before implementing the move. He said the ITIs at Phagwara, Jalandhar and Amritsar, being run by private managements faced allegations of exploiting students and poor training standards. |
|
NSUI demands
scholarships AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has voiced concern over the denial of scholarships to financially backward children. In a statement Mr Arun Munna, president, and Mr Sachin Mehra general secretary of the union, said earlier scholarships of Rs 40 and Rs 30 per month for girls and boys, respectively, were given uptil Class VIII. Similarly, students of Classes IX and X were given additional money in scholarships on the basis of their performances in the previous class. This amount was of Rs 75 and Rs 65 per month according to the percentage of marks while the rest of them were given Rs 50. The NSUI observed that for the past three years, since the BJP-Akali combine came to power, no scholarships had been given to poor students. It demanded the restart of the practice of scholarships for poor students immediately. |
|
Rs 5 lakh for
village school TARN TARAN, Oct 7 — Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura Minister for Cooperation, Punjab, gave a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to the sarpanch of Sakhira village, Mr Mukhtar Singh, for a new block of the village Government High School at a function organised here yesterday. Mr Swarn Singh Pannu, Headmaster, presided. Speaking at the occasion, Mr Brahmpura said a “faulty system” was the root cause of the problems being faced in paddy procurement and advocated a federal system in the country to give more powers to states. A cheque for Rs 1 lakh was given to Mr Sukhdev Singh, sarpanch of nearby Jandoke village, for development works. Miss Vibhu Raj, local SP (O), Mr Gurinderpal Singh Sahota, SDM, and others were present at the occasion. |
|
Seminar on child development PATIALA Dr Singh also said child labour is a form of exploitation and in some cases they are ill-treated. He informed that in Punjab, positive efforts were being made to protect the rights of children and to provide them with basic education along the Indo-British lines. He further informed that Punjab was the first state in the country where an all-round literacy programme had been finalised. A series of talks and meetings with regard to awareness among children about their rights has been initiated in Punjab. On this occasion,150 students participated in a drawing and painting competition. Many doctors, teachers and parents participated in the seminar. Other eminent persons who spoke at the function were Mr Rashpal Singh Hara, Deputy Superintendent of Traffic Police, Mr Krishan Kumar Garg, Chairman, Malwa International School and Mr Shiv Sanera, Principal of the school. A film by UNICEF on childrens’ rights was also exhibited. |
Sports goods units in dire
straits JALANDHAR Oct 7 — While a drop in the supply of mulberry and willow wood has hit Jalandhar’s sports goods industry, the abundance of these two types of wood has made Pakistan a top exporter of sports goods. Kashmir willow and mulberry wood have been the backbone of the sports industry here since 1948 when the industry was shifted from Sialkot ( Pakistan) to Jalandhar after Partition. Everything went well and the industry flourished till 1988 when the Jammu and Kashmir Government imposed a ban on the export of willow. Another blow to the industry came as a result of the dwindling of mulberry trees in Punjab and Himachal during the past one decade on account of lack of replantation after cutting these trees. In the absence of any government effort to save the sulking industry, the situation has come to such a pass that while more than 50 per cent of the manufacturing units have put down their shutters during the past one decade, the remaining ones are surviving on the mercy of either smugglers or middlemen, who charge exorbitant rates for supply of willow and mulberry wood, thus rendering the trade uneconomical. “Actually, so acute is the problem that only a small number of mulberry trees are there in Himachal and Punjab and we have to send spotters so that we can purchase the wood. In the case of willow, we have to use either poplar wood as a substitute though it is not suitable for cricket bats or purchase willow clefts from smugglers at high prices. If a willow cleft is available in Srinagar for Rs 30, smugglers sell it here for not less than Rs 150. This leads to a hike in the manufacturing cost but the consumer is not ready to pay that high prices, which have registered a 200 per cent hike during the past one decade”, said Mr Ravinder Dheer, President of the Sports Forum, Jalandhar. Sports goods manufacturers maintained that in spite of knowing that the industry was in the doldrums nothing had been done by either the state or central governments to save it. They maintained that though the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister had assured them last year that the supply of willow would be restored, nothing had moved beyond promises. Instead, the Union Minister of state, Mr Omar Abdullah, reportedly told representatives of the industry to shift their units to the valley where all facilities would be provided to them. Mr Jagdish Kohli, Chairman of the forum, said that the industry had urged the Punjab Chief Minister and Forest Minister Master Mohan Lal to provide them land for growing mulberry trees but nothing except promises had come their way. “We had even suggested that a piece of 15-20 sq km of land could be given to the industry in the infertile mand area where we could grow quality mulberry trees. But I think promoting industry is not on the agenda of the government,” said Mr Kohli. The sports industry, sources said, was on the brink of closure on account of vast gap between demand and supply of wood. According to an estimate, about 12 main hockey manufacturing units needed 8,000 quintals of mulberry wood a month while the availability was just 1,500 quintals .Same was the case with willow. According to Mr Kohli, the number of cricket manufacturing units has come down from 30-35 to just 10-12 during the past one decade due to a shortage of wood. The decline of the Indian sports industry has put Pakistan in the top position as far as the export of sports goods is concerned. Industry sources said unlike India, concerted efforts were being made by the Pakistan Government. For example, planned plantation of mulberry trees had been undertaken on a large scale in Changa Manga forests near
Sialkot. |
 |
| 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 | |
