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| Wednesday, October 11, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
FCI: 7.36 lakh
tonnes of paddy procured
Badal
shielding Bibi: CPI Evidence destroyed at CM’s behest:
Cong Pensioners sore with Punjab
Govt |
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Enteritis hits 30 persons at Maur Khurd Punjab to
allow captive power plants Fake abduction case: 3 held Licence work still at snail’s
pace
Parminder Singh sworn in CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who won the Sunam byelection, was today sworn in as an MLA of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha by its Deputy Speaker, Mr Satpal Gossain, in the presence of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and other ministers and MLAs.
‘Gold Medalist’
quacks rule the roost Migratory birds back in
Harike Cong men hold dharna, violate Section
144 Plan to sell hospital
land revived Foundation joins
hands with US organisation
Corpn officials to surrender vehicles DC against construction along fort
Tantrik admits to
kidnapping boy Man kills
‘bhabhi’, attempts suicide 4 held, arms seized
School for mentally
challenged kids Education
board has no admission forms
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FCI: 7.36 lakh
tonnes of paddy procured CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — The Food Corporation of India (FCI) in a statement said here today that it had procured 7.36 lakh tonnes of paddy, which was 31.30 per cent of the total paddy procured by the government agencies, till yesterday. Though the Centre had directed the FCI to procure 30 per cent of the paddy to be procured by the government agencies, this had been enhanced to 40 per cent by the state government, the FCI said.Mr D.P. Reddy, Senior Regional Manager, FCI, Punjab Region, said that as against the arrival of 35.89 lakh tonnes of paddy during the current year, the arrival in the corresponding period last year was about 63.10 lakh tonnes. Out of this, the government agencies had procured 46.01 lakh tonnes and the FCI 12.81 lakh tonnes which worked out to 27.84 per cent. He said that compared to last year, the FCI’s performance was better this year.He said the FCI could not afford to procure paddy which did not meet the prescribed standards. The rice stocks procured from the substandard paddy would meet tough resistance from the consuming states.  |
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Badal
shielding Bibi: CPI MALERKOTLA, Oct 10 — Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura, MP and CPI leader, has accused Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, of shielding Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the SGPC, an accused in the mysterious death of her daughter, Harpreet Kaur. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Mr Bhaura said the continuation of Bibi Jagir Kaur as the SGPC President showed that Mr Badal was not interested in getting her removed from the post of the SGPC President despite an FIR registered by the CBI against her. Mr Bhaura said the CBI should not spare the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Badal either and the then Kapurthala SSP in whose presence Harpreet Kaur had been cremated in a hasty manner. He alleged that both knew that there was something wrong in her death but allowed the cremation to proceed. This showed that Mr Badal had shielded Bibi Jagir Kaur at that time and later on. Expressing his concern over the distress sale of paddy, Mr Bhaura lashed out at the SAD-BJP Government for not taking adequate steps in time. He also held the Badal government responsible for not declaring a clear policy with regard to paddy procurement and storage. |
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Evidence destroyed at CM’s behest:
Cong JALANDHAR, Oct 10 — Breaking its silence after long, the human rights department of the All India Congress Committee has alleged the Punjab Police had tried its best to destroy evidence in the Harpreet case at the behest of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. In a statement issued here today, Mr Umrao Singh, Chairman of the Punjab unit of the human rights department of the AICC and a former MP, said the circumstances and recent developments were proof that an effort was made by the special investigation team headed by an IG of the Punjab Police to hush up the matter by conducting the probe in a half-hearted manner at the “instance” of the Chief Minister. He further said though an effort had been made by Mr Badal to prove his innocence about the incident but ideally he should have been in the know of a number of developments in his capacity of the state’s Chief Minister. Mr Umrao Singh, who is a former member of the SGPC said the role of Mr Badal, who also holds charge of the Home portfolio, came under cloud since the Punjab Police officials had failed to investigate the matter and it was the CBI officials alone who had come out with an array of new evidence which had established that the death of Harpreet was not natural. He said the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, should resign to save the Panth from disgrace. He however, did not specify what was being done or has been done by the Punjab unit of the human rights department of the AICC in this regard. |
| Pensioners sore with Punjab
Govt CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — Despite repeated assurances held out to pensioners by both the Punjab Chief Minister and the Finance Minister regarding the early implementation of recommendations of the Punjab Pay Commission concerning pensioners, nothing has been done so far. It has dismayed the pensioners. More than two and a half years have elapsed since the report, containing 10 major recommendations concerning pensioners, was submitted to the state government on February 20, 1998. However, the SAD-BJP government has so far implemented only one recommendation — the revision of pensions. The other recommendations remain unimplemented. These relate to old-age allowance at the rate of 5 per cent and 10 per cent cut on attaining the age of 65 and 75 years, respectively, 97 per cent dearness allowance admissible on July 1, 1993, to be counted for gratuity, benefit in pension for service rendered beyond 33 years, restoration of commuted pension after eleven and a half years, reservation of plots and flats in PUDA colonies, at least 50 per cent pension to the retiree of the minimum of the revised grade of the post held at the time of retirement and increase in the expenses incurred on dentures, spectacles and hearing aids. According to the Government Pensioners Association additional general secretary, Mr Yash Paul Ghai, it was deplorable that Punjab, despite having the highest per capita income in the country, was dilly-dallying in implementing the recommendations. There was no point in setting up a pay commission if its recommendations were not to be accepted. Pensioners expected a fair deal from the Badal regime, he said. Pensioners complain that a fixed medical allowance of Rs 250 per month being paid to them since January 1, 1998, was inadequate to meet the ever-increasing cost of medicare. Prices have registered an increase of 25 per cent as per the consumer price index since January, 1998. Hence, it should be raised to Rs 300. The pensioners are also sore over a government notification (September 1, 2000) regarding the reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by pensioners on the treatment of chronic diseases. “It is a cruel joke. The notification in itself suffers from a chronic disease — the government’s negative attitude. The number of chronic diseases has been reduced. Secondly, there will now be no reimbursement up to Rs 6,000 i.e. expenses incurred in excess of Rs 6,000 will only be reimbursed . It is unjust. It needs review,” he added. The association sought the restoration of travel concession to both husband and wife pensioners. It was withdrawn from one of the spouses from January, 1995. “When all other concessions are allowed to both, why is it being denied to one of them? asked Mr Ghai. He also pointed out that as serving employees, they were getting House Rent allowance, city compensatory allowance and rural area allowance. However, after retirement, they had been deprived of all these. “In all fairness, pensioners should be granted house rent allowance at a flat rate of Rs 100 per month,” he suggested. The pensioners have yet another grouse. Punjab government employees who retired between January 1, 1986, and September 30, 1986, are perturbed over the faulty formula for determining their pension. They have suffered a loss of Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month in their pension for the past 15 years. The association sought the recomputation of their pension also as was recently done in the case of those who retired between January 1, 1996, and September 30, 1996. Another important issue relates to the reimbursement of expenses incurred on treatment at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Mohan Dai Oswal Hospital ( all in Ludhiana) and other approved private hospitals in the state and in other states. In the case of a serious accident or disease, treatment at these hospitals should not require the permission of the Chief Medical Officer or the district medical authorities. |
Farmers block
rail track DHURI, Oct 10 — Agitated over the non-procurement of paddy by the government procurement agencies for the past couple of days in the area, more than100 paddy growers under the banner of Punjab Kisan Sabha blocked rail track for more than four hours on the Bathinda-Dhuri section here today. The farmers organised a dharna and held a rally on the rail track at the railway-level crossing, called Bathinda railway phatak, here. Their blockade though did not affect any passenger train but it affected three goods trains which remained parked at the Dhuri railway junction and near the railway level-crossing. The blockade of the rail track started at 11.30 a.m. and was lifted at 3.45 p.m. on the persuasion of Mrs Gurmeeet Kaur, District Food and Supply Controller, Sangrur, who assured them that their paddy would not remain unsold in the grain markets and the nearby procurement centres. Mrs Gurmeet Kaur accompanied by Mr Bagga, DFSO, Dhuri, and two naib-tehsildars, Mr Gurnam Singh and Mr Sat Pal. Addressing the farmers, Mr Baldev Singh Dhandra and Mr Sukhwinder Singh Bhola, president and secretary of the Dhuri unit of the Punjab Kisan Sabha, respectively, announced that on the call of five kisan organisations they would take part in ‘road roko’ and ‘rail roko’ programme on October 14. Talking to TNS here this afternoon, Mr Bipin Meena, Station Superintendent of the Dhuri Railway Junction, said that no passenger train was affected by the blockade as no such train passed through Dhuri on Bathinda-Dhuri section during the blockade hours. However, three goods trains were stranded here due to blockade, he added. |
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Irate farmers of 150 villages block traffic LALRU (Patiala) The helpless passengers shifted restlessly in their seats as long-route buses lined along the road side behind trucks and cars, while the farmers, sitting in the middle of the highway, raised anti-government slogans. After being informed about the dharna, a large number of commuters opted for the Lalru-Jarot link road to rejoin the highway at Ambala, while the Kurli-Jharmari link road was used to reach Dera Bassi. Passengers also preferred the Dera Bassi-Joli link road to reach Ambala. The agitating farmers, who had brought their paddy to the Lalru mandi for being procured by the agencies, were also joined by the farmers from Dera Bassi, Humayunpur Tasimbli and Jarot. They were seen arguing with the police which was trying to disperse the crowd. Apart from raising slogans against the "strict specifications" laid down by the government, the farmers also criticised the Chief Minister, Mr Prakash Singh Badal, and the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, for not intervening in the matter. Local political leaders and villagers also joined the agitation. They alleged that the BJP government was playing in the hands of big traders and ignoring the interests of the common man. The sky-rocketing prices of daily use commodities and the hike in the petroleum prices had put an extra burden on their pockets, they complained. While addressing the gathering, a former Chairman of the Patiala Zila Parishad, Mr Ravinder Singh Sohi, criticised the Centre and the Haryana Government for their "indifferent attitude". The block President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Mr Bhag Singh Jandali, said that the farmers would be forced to set their crops on fire this year. The speakers included Mr Sardara Singh, block President of the BKU
(Lakhowal), Mr Amrik Singh Malikpur of the SHSAD, Mr Kartar Singh of the SAD, Mr Ratan Singh, CPM, and Mr Krishan Pal, General Secretary of the District Congress Committee, Patiala. Later, a memorandum was handed over to the SDM, Dera Bassi. |
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Border villages
wait for agencies ZERO LINE, (Ferozepore), Oct 10 — It has been an endless wait for procurement agencies for farmers of over a dozen frontier villages, who have been camping at Rajo ke Mandi with their paddy for more than 20 days now. Perhaps the agencies are not aware of the extraordinary difficulties these farmers face in growing paddy along the sensitive Indo-Pak border. The delay in procurement has forced many farmers to dispose off their produce for prices below the minimum price of Rs 540 to rice millers. The headmen of two villages — Hazara and Rajo Ke, and other farmers said the absence of agencies at Rajo ke Mandi which caters to more than 12 border villages had prompted distress sale of paddy. Mukhtiar Singh, the Sarpanch of Hazara said his village had the maximum land under cultivation across the security fencing. “The farmers face extraordinary difficulties due to limited cultivation hours imposed by the BSF and the threat of wild boar to the paddy crop across the fencing”, he said. Makhan Singh, the Sarpanch of Rajo ke Gatti complained that “the babus, who are quick to get away by branding our paddy as defective do not take into account our difficulties”. On being contacted for comment, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu said that he was aware of the difficulties and grievances of the frontier farmers and had received reports of delayed procurement from border villages. He said the District Mandi Officer had been sent as a special emissary to ensure speedy procurement. |
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Congress workers stage
dharnas AMRITSAR, Oct 10 — A protest rally was staged by Congress workers here today. About 300 Congress activists proceeded to Kacheheri Chowk to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. The gates leading to the DC’s complex were closed on the rallyists. Rallyists raised slogans against the police who had been deployed to avert any untoward incident. Rallyists included Mr Jugal Kishore Sharma, President, Master Jagir Singh, vice-president, and Dr Raj Kumar, general secretary, of the Punjab Congress. A memorandum was presented to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinder Jit Singh, to be forwarded to the President of India. The memorandum demanded a compensation of Rs 200 per quintal of paddy to the Punjab farmer. BATHINDA:
Activists of the District Congress Committee, organised a dharna at the district court complex. Mr Harmander Singh Bassi, MLA and the former minister of Punjab, alleged that the farmers were being compelled to halt the trains, buses and stage dharnas in protest against the policies of the government. After the dharna, Mr Bhagat Singh Dhaliwal, president of the DCC, sent the memorandum through Deputy Commissioner to the Governor of Punjab. GURDASPUR: Farmers from all over the district converged in Congress Bhawan here and later marched into procession to hold a dharna at Kahnuwan-Kalanour crossing here. Mr Raghunath Sahai Puri, General Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and Mr Chander Pal Singh Randhawa led the procession. Meanwhile the paddy arrival in this district has crossed 2.75 lakh MT and procurement of paddy by govt procurement agencies accounts for less than 25 per cent of the total arrivals. SAMANA: A large numbers of farmers and Congressmen under the leadership of Mr Sant Ram Singla, former MP and general secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), sat on a dharna at Bhakra bridge on Patiala-Samana road. PHILLAUR: Hundreds of Congress activists led by Congress MLA Amarjit Singh Samra blocked road traffic for more than an hour in protest against the non-procurement of paddy by government agencies. A rally was also organised at dharna site near Goraya bus stand on GT road. PHAGWARA: Congress activists today blocked vehicular traffic for about an hour on GT road at the local Hoshiarpur crossing. Long lines of vehicles were seen on both sides of the GT road, Hoshiarpur road. |
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Cong to launch
‘Pagri Sambhal...’ stir again AMRITSAR, Oct 10 — As part of the Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee would resort to “Jail Bharo and rail roko andolan” in protest against the apathy of state government which drove farmers to suicide. The “Pagri Sambhal Jatta” movement had forced the British government to take certain steps to improve the deteriorating economic condition of the farmer about eight decades ago. Talking to TNS, Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, a former minister and general secretary of the PCC, has alleged that farmers of Punjab would suffer net loss of more than Rs 2000 crore during this season due to distress sale of paddy. Mr Bajwa said the state party president, Mr Amarinder Singh, would give a call of state-wide “rail roko” shortly in protest against the distress sale of paddy. The PPCC general secretary said his party would write a letter to Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, the Jathedar Akal Takht, for summoning of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Bibi Jagir Kaur, the SGPC chief for denigration of Akal Takht. He said Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti should either quit as jathedar or summon both Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Badal for allegedly destroying evidence in the Harpreet murder case. |
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Procurement: two officials suspended ROPAR, Oct 10 — The Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Mr G.S. Grewal, has suspended the branch manager, Mr Charan Singh Longia and the Field Officer, Mr Sardana Singh both of Markfed, for not conducting paddy auction on time. The district manager has been directed to carry out the orders and submit report. He has also issued the transfer orders of the Punsup Inspector, Mr Jang Bahadur Singh, deputed at Kharar mandi. Local arhtiyas had complained against the inspector that he had not cooperated in procuring paddy. |
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Licences of four
arhtiyas cancelled FARIDKOT, Oct 10 — The district administration has cancelled the licences of four arhtiyas for committing various irregularities in the purchase of paddy in different parts of the district. Similarly the licences of three rice millers have been suspended for creating hurdles in the unloading of the produce in their premises, Mr A. Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner said here today. Mr Prasad who accompanied Mr Sukhdev Singh Aulakh visited various grainmarkets and purchasing centres and directed officials of different state agencies to ensure the smooth purchase of paddy to avoid. He expressed satisfaction over unloading arrangements of paddy at rice shellers. The Deputy Commissioner said that 1.80 lakh metric tonnes of paddy against an expected arrival of nearly 4 lakh metric tonnes had been purchased till 2 pm today. |
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Enteritis hits 30 persons at Maur Khurd MAUR MANDI (Bathinda), Oct 10 — Gastroenteritis has affected 30 persons at Maur Khurd village of this district last evening. Out of 30 persons, who have been affected with the gastroenteritis, three children were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda while two to a local private hospital. About 12 persons were getting treatment in the local Civil Hospital. Official sources said the condition of three children, who were rushed to the Bathinda Civil Hospital, was stated to be out of danger. The 12 patients in the local Civil Hospital was also responding to the treatment. Sources added that the first case of the gastroenteritis was reported in the local Civil Hospital last evening and after that there was a long line of people who were complaining of abdominal pain with vomiting and
diarrhoea. Dr Manmohan, Senior Medical Officer (SMD), Civil Hospital, Maur Mandi, the situation was under control. The people were being educated to drink safe water and they were also being supplied chlorine tablets. He added that preliminary investigations had revealed that gastroenteritis had spread due to mixing of dirty water with the drinking water. He pointed out that as the underground water pipes which ran parallel to the open drains had developed cracks at various places from where the mixing took place. He said case of gastroenteritis had not been reported from any other pocket. The samples of drinking water of this village have been sent for chemical examination. |
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Punjab
to allow captive power plants CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 —The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today directed the Punjab State Electricity Board authorities to allow industrialists and businessmen to set up their own captive power plants in the state. Presiding over a meeting of senior officials of the PSEB and the Punjab Power Ministry, Mr Badal said that the board authorities should encourage industrialists to set up such units. After the meeting, Mr Sikander Singh Maluka, Punjab Minister, said that the government had also decided to pursue the case relating to the setting up of an atomic power plant at the Union Government level. The state government wanted to set up such a plant near Patran in Patiala district. Mr Badal would approach the Prime Minister, after his return from hospital in Mumbai, for the inauguration of the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The government had planned the inauguration in the first fortnight of next month. The date would have to be confirmed by the Prime Minister. Mr Maluka said that Mr Badal had expressed satisfaction over the synchronisation of the power units equipment installed at the dam. One unit was producing 25 lakh units daily, he added. The state government had spent Rs 1,028 crore for the speedy completion of the project. Mr Maluka said that previous governments did nothing to complete this project. The level of water in the dam’s reservoir was about 508 metres at present. It should be 527 metres to run all four power generation units having a total capacity of 650 MW. The PSEB had been directed to take steps to start work on Unit III and Unit IV of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabat. The Union Government had already given technical clearance to these units. The government was expected to give a counter-guarantee in the case of the 500 MW Goindwal Sahib Thermal Plant. |
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Fake abduction case: 3 held JALANDHAR, Oct 10 (UNI) — A case of abduction has turned out to be the case of self-abduction with a motive of falsely implicating rivals involved in a civil litigation with the complainants, the police said today. SSP Gaurav Yadav said mystery surrounding the alleged abduction of Manjit Singh and Iqbal Singh has been solved with their own arrest and the arrest of the complainant in the case, Karnail Singh, who is father of Manjit Singh. The SSP said Karnail Singh, Manjit Singh and Iqbal Singh, all residents of Randhawa village, were arrested last evening while trying to flee in a car after they learnt the police had come to know of the self-managed abduction and its motive. The car was intercepted near Paddi Jagir village, the SSP said. He said preliminary interrogation of the three accused revealed that they had concocted the story of alleged abduction with the objective of falsely implicating Amrik Singh and his brother Surinder Singh, Kuldip Singh and Shingara Singh, all residents of Randhawa village, in a criminal case. Karnail Singh, in his allegedly false complaint about the abduction of his son Manjit Singh and Iqbal Singh, had named the four rivals in an FIR registered under Section 364/34 (abduction with the intention to kill) on October 6, two days after the self-abduction. The police found out that Karnail Singh had hatched the conspiracy with Sohan Singh and Kuldip Singh in order to implicate the four in a false criminal case. The police officer said now a case of cheating and fabricating false evidence have been registered against five persons, including Karnail Singh, his son Manjit Singh and Iqbal Singh, while Sohan Singh and Kuldip Singh were absconding. The SSP said when the police did not find sufficient evidence to the substantiate allegation of abduction of Manjit and Iqbal, they made discreet inquiries and learnt that both had been hiding with Jasbir Singh at the latter’s house in Indna Kalas Ke village since October 4 when they allegedly stage-managed their own abduction. Mr Yadav said when the police learnt that the self-abductees might shift to another hiding place to shake-off the police, they registered a case of cheating and fabricating false evidence against them and three others, including the complainant. Their subsequent arrest and preliminary interrogation revealed that Manjit and Iqbal, after attending the court at Phillaur on October 4, parked their scooter at a stand and left for Chachrari by bus. He said since Manjit knew Jasbir because both are taxi drivers, the accused went and stayed with Jasbir but did not tell him the purpose. When they learnt the police were onto them, they decided to shift but were caught as soon as they ventured out with Karnail Singh. The police said all three accused, including the complainant, have been remanded for further interrogation to trace the absconding conspirators in the case and the process to get the false FIR of abduction quashed initiated. |
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Licence work still at snail’s
pace JALANDHAR: The tall claims of the authorities regarding improvement in the working of the office of the District Transport Officer
notwithstanding, people still have to wait for an inordinately long time in queues to get their work done. The district transport authorities had installed computers in September at the office here and introduced the token system with a view to streamlining and speeding up work connected with the issuance of licences and vehicle registration
certificates. An electronic display system had also been introduced to show the token numbers of the applicants on a first-cum-first-served basis. Under the new
system, it was planned to issue 150 learner's licences and registration certificates each
day. Besides, 300 persons could deposit cash daily. When this correspondent visited the transport office on October 5,a number of persons present there had complaints regarding the functioning of the office. Sohan Singh, a resident of Behram Sarishta
village, said he had applied for a learner's licence on August 19 and had been asked by the authorities to collect it on September 9.However, even after visiting the office six times he had had not been given the
licence."They told me that my licence had been despatched by post on September 15.What should I do now?" Lalli, a resident of Dhogri village,was surprised to see that the counter from where he was to get his learner's licence was
closed. A notice stated that the clerk concerned had gone on government duty to courts at
Nawanshahr."I could not collect a token yesterday and was asked to come again
today. The authorities should have deputed another clerk in his place so that licences could be
issued," said Lalli. There was also resentment among several persons who had come to collect their vehicle registration certificates as they were bluntly told by officials to come again after a month. "I was told to collect the registration certificate for my scooter on August 26 but it has still not been issued to me even though I have made several rounds of this
office," said Swaran Kumar,a resident of Basti Guzan. Yash Pal Jain of Tagore Nagar said he was told to collect his scooter registration certificate on October 4 but the office had now extended the date till October 20."Why have these computers been installed? Nobody is interested in serving people." Sahib Singh,an Army
man, said he had deposited the relevant documents for the transfer of ownership of his scooter at the office on August 11, but the officials concerned had been time and again extending the date of
delivery." Today, the clerk told me that my documents had been misplaced and I would have to wait for some more time." Interestingly, the rooms of the DTO and both Additional DTOs were closed till 11.30 a.m. and people had no choice but to wait for them to redress their grievances. When
contacted,Mr G.S.Khera,DTO,said all officers had gone on routine inspection that
day. He said there was a shortage of staff and it was not possible to depute a clerk in place of the one who had gone on duty to Nawanshahr. "Since the computers had been installed only last
month, it will take some time to streamline the working of the office," he
added. |
Parminder Singh
sworn in CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — Mr Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who won the Sunam byelection, was today sworn in as an MLA of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha by its Deputy Speaker, Mr Satpal Gossain, in the presence of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and other ministers and MLAs. |
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‘Gold Medalist’
quacks rule the roost PATHANKOT, Oct 10 — Despite the campaign against “private medical practitioners” in Punjab, with hundreds of these unregistered doctors arrested and facing trial in various courts under Section 15 of Medical Council Act quacks continue to thrive. Some of these quacks, who claim to be gold medalists and dispense medicines consisting of diamond extract, gold extract, and silver extract as a cure for impotency are doing a roaring business. These doctors claim they are ‘sex specialists’. In Pathankot itself a number of ‘clinics’ have mushroomed around the bus stand, the railway station and major hotels. These quacks openly tour the state and advertise their ‘qualifications’ in various media, including roadways buses. They cash in on the ignorance of the common man regarding sex and are known to charge large sums of money from gullible patients, often, without issuing a prescription slip or a receipt. Many of them administer home-made drugs and concoctions to their patients. Their network is so strong that while the drug authorities may raid licensed chemists they turn a blind eye to these “gold doctors”. |
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Migratory birds back in
Harike HARIKE (Ferozepore), Oct 10 — The early arrival of migratory birds at Harike sanctuary here has marked the success of three-month-long Army operation to clear the wetlands of water hyacinth. The operation was officially flagged off in August has cleaned the wetland. A visit at the lake revealed that flocks of Cotton Teal and Common Pochard, besides Coots have begun arriving at the wetland. Wildlife Department officials had expected migratory birds to begin arriving in mid-November. The arrival of these species coincides with the completion of the Army operation. The spread of hyacinth had substantially affected the arrival of birds in previous years. Of the 10 km stretch of the lake the Army was assigned to clear under the pilot project, only 2.3 square kms is left to be cleared. “We can safely say that 70 per cent of the area has been cleared”, remarked a senior defence officer of the Golden Arrow Division which is monitoring the operation. Four Army teams with 12 boats, rakers, motorised winches and trucks were pressed into service under a comprehensive plan in November last year. An innovative technique, dynamic booming was used to prevent the spread of hyacinth. The hyacinth cover around islands has been left untouched to absorb industrial pollution. The effluents are soaked up as nutrients by water hyacinth. Over one lakh tonne of the hyacinth is estimated to have been flushed out of the lake. The fish population is also expected to multiply as the hyacinth cover was choking acquatic life as well. Besides, opening up four channels in the lake, the Army has made accessible 33 islands. These include Waryan, the only island with a name in the lake. In all, 750 saplings of various trees have been planted on these islands. |
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Cong men hold dharna, violate Section
144 ROPAR, Oct 10 — Congress workers who organised a dharna outside the Mini Secretariat, here today, to protest against the rise in the petroleum prices, violated Section 144 of the Cr PC implemented by the district administration as about 50 workers barged into the secretariat building raising slogans against the Punjab Government. The police officials on duty to prevent their entry could only manage to reduce their strength at different entrances after 100 workers led by a former minister, Mr Jagmohan Kang and the district Congress President, Mr Harminder Singh Saini, started moving in a procession to the Mini Secretariat to present a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. In the memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, the Congress leaders alleged that the three time increase in the petroleum products effected by the NDA government since last one year was against the interest of the farmers and the poor of the country. They demanded the government should reduce taxes on the petroleum products to absorb the increase in international crude oil prices rather than shifting the burden to the common man. Earlier, Mr Kang criticised the Punjab Government for not being able to manage the relaxations in the procurement of paddy from the Centre. Mr Ram Prakash Bali,organising secretary of the PPCC and a former MLA, blamed the state government for the plight of the workers of Punjab National Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd (PNFC) at Nangal. He alleged that the government was not taking any decision regarding the fate of this closed unit. The workers there were neither being given their dues or the salaries since one year. Mr Ramesh Dutt, former MLA, Mr Ram Singh Saini, vice-president, DCC, Mr Ravinder Dewan, general secretary and Mr Ranjit Singh Saini, President, Nangal Municipal Council, were among those present. |
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Plan to sell hospital
land revived AMRITSAR, Oct 10 — Mr Amarjit Singh Asal, secretary, Punjab State Council of the CPI has alleged that the Chief Minister has revived his efforts to sell off a part of the land under the Dr Vidya Sagar Punjab Mental Hospital and a committee is reported to have been set up to recommend building of a new hospital in place of the present one which has also focused on the amount of land which can be sold. The government has brought into the picture not only PUDA but also the Punjab Health System Corporation and a tug of war has already started between the two organisations for being assigned the job of selling the land. He said that the government should make public its intention and take various political parties and concerned public organisations into confidence in this regard. |
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Foundation joins
hands with US organisation CHANDIGARH, Oct 10 — The Umeed Khanna Foundation, which is providing service to the rural poor in Sangrur, has joined hands with the Trickle-Up Program, an international charitable organisation based in New York. The chairman of the foundation, Mr Arvinder Khanna, said today that they were happy to act as coordinators for the whole of Punjab for the Trickle-Up Program to promote income-generation schemes for the rural and urban poor. The Trickle-Up Program has helped set up 84,000 businesses in 117 countries where the poorest of the poor were motivated to start their own income-generation schemes financed by a grant of only US $ 100 (Rs 4,500) from Trickle-Up for each venture. |
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DC against construction along fort PATIALA The case came to light last month when after 36 shops owned by the corporation along the outer wall of Quila Mubarak were sold to their tenants. As only ground floors of the shops had been built earlier the shopkeepers applied for building the first floor and were given permission by the corporation to do so. The Archaeological and Cultural Affairs Department came into picture after one shopkeeper started constructing the first storey. The shopkeeper was served a notice by the department which also took up the case with the Municipal Corporation. The corporation, however, expressed its inability to do anything in the case as the shops had been sold to the tenants under due procedure and that all formalities had been completed while sanctioning the building plans. The construction of one shop has been completed while the other shopkeepers are adopting a wait-and-watch policy. Now in a letter to the Principal Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh Bir said Quila Mubarak was the core around which the city had been built and that it was facing a risk of falling into obscurity due to the likelihood of construction of the first floor of shops along its walls. The letter, which has been written to Principal Secretary G.S. Cheema, states that the construction activity was taking place because the corporation was sanctioning building plans in violation of the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964. It states that any construction on top of the ground floor of the shops would be violative of the Act as it would obstruct access to and convenient inspection of the historical monument. Besides, the letter states that the construction would also deface the fort by way of covering its present facade. The letter states that already the fort is not being maintained properly due to paucity of funds and since most of the people of Patiala have some linkage or the other with the royal history of the erstwhile state, the unchecked construction was adding insult to injury. The Deputy Commissioner has urged the Principal Secretary to look into the matter personally and sort it out with the Local Government Department. He has also urged that the medal gallery be opened to the public so that the priceless treasure can be appreciated by all. According to sources, literal interpretation of Section 30,1 (i) of the Act states that whoever destroys, injures, alters or defaces a protected monument shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend till three months or with a fine which may extend till Rs 5,000 or both. The shopkeeper are, however, in no mood to relent on the issue. They say they have been in possession of the shops as tenants after Independence and that the corporation had sold the shops to them at the rate of Rs 8,000 per square yard. This, they claimed, entitled them to carry out construction on the first floor. They said the facade of the fort would not be affected by the construction activity as it was not decorated along the area in which their shops fell. |
Corpn officials to surrender vehicles JALANDHAR, Oct 10 — Except Mayors and Commissioners, all other officials of all the four municipal corporations of the state will cease to enjoy the official car facility from today. All the vehicles returned by officials like Xens, Superintending Engineers-cum-Additional Commissioners and Secretaries would be auctioned on October 13. Any of the officials, using the vehicle after this date will be responsible for the amount incurred on his official vehicle. This was stated in the recently framed transport policy by the Local Government Department. According to the new policy, all such officials who were entitled to official vehicles, would be entitled to transport allowance. Assistant commissioners of respective civic bodies have been asked to inform the officials concerned and implement the orders. With the implementation of the new policy, nearly 10 officials of the local Municipal Corporation would be divested of the facility. |
Tantrik admits to
kidnapping boy FEROZEPORE, Oct 10 — Shaminder Singh, alias Chindda, a so called ‘tantrik’ who kidnapped a boy two days ago, has allegedly confessed to having done it for
sacrificial reasons. Rajan, a class-III student, was kidnapped a couple of days ago while going to school by Shaminder Singh, a tantrik baba. According to Rajan, the alleged culprit called him to roadside and told him that he was under the spell of witchcraft. Shaminder Singh allegedly threatened Rajan with dire consequences if he did not accompany him and took him to a nearby village, Dulchike. Villagers grew suspicious on seeing the boy with the tantrik and inquired him about the child. The tantrik described Rajan as his son. The villagers did not believe him and started thrashing him. They found Rajan’s school identity card in his pocket. According to some villagers, Shaminder Singh confessed having kidnapped the boy for sacrifice. Meanwhile, when Rajan did not come back even after the school was closed, his uncle checked up with the school authorities but found no clue. He lodged a complaint with the police which acted swiftly and cordoned off the surrounding area. According to information received, Shaminder Singh who belongs to Sirhali village in Amritsar, initially told the police that he was carrying peacock feathers with him and on the way Rajan asked him the purpose of carrying peacock feathers, to which he replied that he used them for catching snakes and took him to show the live process of catching a snake. According to the local DSP, Mr Rachpal Singh and the SHO, Mr Raj Kumar, the tantrik stated that “Pir Baba” had in his dream prophesised that his salvation lay in sacrifice of such nature. They said the suspect was already involved in scores of cases under excise and arms act and was also in the habit of consuming marijuana. A police party left for Amritsar to check the veracity of Shaminder Singh’s admission and his antecedents. The alleged kidnapper has been remanded to police custody for further interrogation. |
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Man kills
‘bhabhi’, attempts suicide BATHINDA, Oct 10 — Jagtar Singh of Rampura (Bathinda) killed his sister-in-law (bhabhi) and attempted suicide afterwards. According to information available from sources, there was a verbal duel between the deceased, Jasbir Kaur, and Jagtar Singh late last night after which Jagtar Singh fired on Jasbir Kaur with a .12-bore rifle. Jasbir died on the spot. The reason behind the killing is yet to be ascertained as Jagtar Singh today tried to commit suicide by taking some poisonous substance. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered and Jagtar Singh has been referred to Bathinda Civil Hospital. The police sources added the matter is still under investigation. |
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4 held, arms seized AMRITSAR, Oct 10 — Four persons were arrested and firearms seized from them in the Chananke village area. According to Mr Lok Nath Angra, Senior Superintendent of Police, Majitha, the arrested include Surjit Singh, alias Sony, and Maluki, both from Ghaush Ghanshampur and two brothers, Harjit Singh, alias Toti and Baljit Singh, alias Raju, from Cheema Khudi. A .32 bore pistol, .303 bore and two .12 bore country-made pistols with cartridges were seized. Besides, two scooters and jewellery were recovered from the arrested persons. They were arrested following information that the gang was conspiring to kill an uncle of Harjit Singh and Baljit Singh over some land dispute. The two brothers got together with Surjit Singh whose family was
associated with the Khalistan Commando Force. Further investigation revealed that the gang of four had committed petty crimes of snatching jewellery and money from residents. |
School for mentally
challenged kids AMRITSAR, Oct 10 — A school for special children, Amrit Sagar School was inaugurated today on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day. The school is under the patronship of Amritsar Neuro-sciences Charitable Hospital (ANCH). The institute was inaugurated by Mr Rajmohinder Singh Majitha, member, Rajya Sabha, who promised financial and other assistance for the school. Dr Dwarika Prasad, Clinical Psychologist from PGI, Chandigarh examined the children enrolled in the institute. While 10 children were enrolled today, the school has a capacity for about 25 children. Running on subsidised charges and sponsorship the institute aims to help mentally afflicted children and make them self sufficient. The institute would provide meals and refreshments to the children. A team of specialists including counsellors, speech therapists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists and special educators would provide treatment and in-house multiple care for the mentally challenged children. |
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Education
board has no admission forms MALERKOTLA, Oct 10 — The Punjab School Education Board has notified October 17 as the last date for submission of admission forms of 10th and 12th class regular students for the March, 2001 examinations without late fee yet schools here have not received forms from the Board authorities. In a press note issued here today Mr Joginder Singh Aulakh, president, Gazetted Educational School Services Association said hundreds of school teachers had visited the Board’s office to collect the forms in person, but had returned empty-handed.He said, enquiries had revealed that the authorities had not got the forms printed yet. He said this was a glaring example of mismanagement and harassment.Mr Aulakh, while condemning the authorities said that every year authorities add to the problems of schools and students. Admission dates were extended illogically and schools asked to file registration and continuation forms of various classes even before the admission closed. He said due to the lack of subject-wise results, school principals were unable to write annual confidential reports of teachers.Mr Aulakh said for the last two examinations, board authorities had not appointed school principals/headmasters as centre controllers reducing their ability to curb copying. |
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