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| Friday, October 20, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
PSEB may change plant boilers ‘Be strict with loan defaulters’ Probe demoralises
cops Tillers’ fate hangs in balance
PAC to discuss Bibi’s
future BJP, RSS agenda varies: Laxman |
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Replace
Aliwal, says YAD
leader Jagmeet ran away from dharna: DCC
2 Kargil veterans to be
Inspectors Police launches anti-narcotics campaign Campaign against child
labour Cycle tour to catch their
eye North Indians prone to renal
stones Plea for viewers’ say in telecasting Women hold march DM asked to call
all-party meeting Employees decry privatisation Harbhajan Mann show under fire Traders’ leaders end fast
Bank official held for graft Husband killed with
paramour’s help
Girls protest against Principal’s
behaviour Students stage dharna Varsity formulates code for
journalists Goyal is education board body chief 1,053 Punjab schools
to be upgraded
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PSEB may change plant boilers BATHINDA, Oct 19 — The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) authorities are thinking of changing the boilers of all four units of local Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) to increase its life-span and to overcome the problem of frequent shutdowns. Official sources said for giving the final touch to this proposal, a high-level team of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) was coming here on October 23 while another team from BHEL would visit the plant on October 29. The sources added that work of changing of boilers, likely to start by next year, would be completed by the end of 2005. All boilers would be changed one by one. For this task, talks were on with a US-based company. Earlier, the PSEB authorities had made plans only to do major renovations and modernisations in this plant to increase its life-span. The first unit of 110 MW, capacity which was commissioned in 1974, had completed its age of 25 years while the second unit which was commissioned in 1975 had also been approaching the 25-year mark. The PSEB authorities had decided to increase the life-span of each unit by 15 years by carrying out major repairs at the cost of Rs 300 crore. The PSEB authorities had approached the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) for the funds. The project report regarding renovation had been prepared by Central Power Research Institute (CRPI). On the other hand, the PSEB authorities had failed to increase the capacity of electrostatic precipitator (ESP) installed in all four chimneys which had been causing air pollution in this city. Official sources said the GNDTP authorities had failed to check the air pollution as the washed coal supplied to it by the authorities concerned for decreasing the ash content was not up to the mark. The washed coal which was being used in all four units had been producing 38 per cent ash against limit of 34 per cent. The sources further said that due to use of coal having high ash contents, the leakage in tubes of boilers had been taking place frequently. The friction and grinding caused by use of high-ash content coal had been causing the leakage of tubes of boilers. The GNDTP authorities had been suffering huge financial loss on this account. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) authorities had also been pressing the GNDTP management to make arrangements to check the air pollution. However, the regular meetings of the PPCB and the GNDTP managements had failed to yield any positive result in this connection. Mr U.S. Lucky, Chief Engineer, GNDTP, when contacted said that plant was running well and had won number of prizes at national-level due to highest production of electricity and saving of fuels. He added that only the PSEB authorities could comment on the renovation and modernisation plan of the GNDTP. |
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‘Be strict with loan defaulters’ BATHINDA, Oct 19 — Mr N.K.Gaur, general secretary, State Sector Bank Employees, Association, said the present procedure of ‘One Time Settlement Committees’ for the settlement of loan default cases was not good and it would add to woes of the banking industry. Addressing a press conference here last evening, Mr Gaur said the Non-Performing Assets (NPAS) were the main cause of the decline of the banking industry. The net NPAS of the banking industry stood at approximately Rs 50,000 crore. Business houses and industrial tycoons were the big defaulters, he added. Finding faults with the present system of reducing NPAS, he said by charging interest at the Prime Lending Rate (PLR) from some of the borrowers, indication was given to them that they should not repay loans and after three-four years their loans would be written off subsequently. He demanded that legal provisions should be made to arrest the loan defaulters and their names should be made public. He said any move to reduce the government stake from 51 to 33 per cent in the public sector banks would be opposed and bank employees would go on strike under the banner of the United Front of Bank Unions. Mr Gaur said the union would oppose the merger of all associate banks with the State Bank Of India it would result in unbalanced banking. Cross merger of all associate banks should be done. |
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Probe demoralises
cops FEROZEPORE, Oct 19 — Punjab Police officers, who had fought Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in this border district, are feeling demoralised as many of them are facing cases of human rights’ violation during the terrorism phase. The cops, who are facing CBI and court inquiries for alleged excesses committed during the militancy period, feel deceived by the state which had earlier given them a free hand to fight the proxy war from across the border. The government’s inability to provide them with adequate legal assistance is also preventing them from performing their present duties more effectively, especially with a threat from robbers in countryside. Resentment of these officers stem from inadequate legal and financial help from the state, besides they also face difficulty in getting leave for appearances in courts at distant stations like Chandigarh and Patiala. Frequent travelling not only consume time, but also demand heavy spendings. Hans Raj, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), who is handling the anti-smuggling staff, here is facing inquiries in two separate cases of human rights’ violation. He laments that fear of litigations prevents him from going out of the way to handle seasoned criminals. “As the government is doing little to defend us, I will strictly follow the law book to deal with the criminals in future,” he said, adding, “I cannot afford to invite fresh trouble by implying harsh methods during interrogation of suspects.” Hans Raj, who had survived a bomb attack during terrorism, laments that whatever excesses were committed, had the public support at that time, as everyone wanted the terrorism to end. “As we were fighting a war-like situation, the state should come to our rescue by lending us legal and financial assistance”, he demands. Another ASI, Balbir Singh Sidhu, who is posted with the traffic police wing, faces a court inquiry for an alleged staged encounter. He laments that in the absence of adequate legal help from their bosses, cops are forced to shell out Rs 20,000 to 40,000 to engage competent lawyers for defence. “Whatever we did was to serve the larger public interest at the behest of our bosses in Chandigarh. Ironically, they have now turned a blind eye to our difficulties”, he said. Sub-Inspector Major Singh, In Charge, CIA staff, here who is credited for having eliminated a number of extremists, said that the extraordinary situation during militancy demanded extreme measures to deal with the terrorists. He explained that the fear of gun had prevented the public from testifying against the militants, resulting in their acquittals. “Not a single terrorist was convicted during those days,” he said, adding “The judiciary was also helpless, forcing the police to adopt bullet-for-bullet policy”. Major Singh, who is also facing an inquiry in a case of violation of human rights, “Where were these human rights’ activists, when terrorists were slaying the innocent civilians with ease?” |
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Tillers’ fate hangs in balance ZERO LINE (Ferozepore), Oct 19 — The fate of landless tillers in over a dozen frontier villages near Hussainiwala continues to hang in the balance, as the authorities have yet to concede their demand for allotment of government land at concessional rates. A representation to this effect sent to the Chief Minister two years ago has not yielded any result. With the government still to formulate a policy in their favour, these tillers who rely on cultivation of more than 8,000 acres of government land along the Indo-Pak border for living, are caught between external threat and poverty. Of the estimated 8,000 acres, over 2,500 acres belong to the Irrigation Department. The tillers were allowed to occupy this land during the early 60s to clear the area of wild growth to check security threat from Pakistan. Since then, over 1,000 families are relying on cultivation of this land for living and are now seeking its allotment at concessional rates. On an average, these tillers work on 3 to 5 acres. While Revenue Department sources admit that Central Government land was allotted to poor tillers in the past, the Punjab Government has not formulated any policy to disburse land near Hussainiwala to marginal farmers. In the absence of land in their name, the tillers are unable to get loans by mortgaging their property. As a result, a majority of these poor farmers are living in mud houses. “The recent package of compensating frontier farmers at Rs 3,000 an acre is also meaningless to us, as only landlords are entitled to it,” Mr Mukhtiar Singh, sarpanch of Hazara village, said. Leaders of the Joint Action Committee formed a press for the allotment of this land to the tillers, say that the government is dragging its feet from formulating a favourable policy fearing revenue loss. “We do not expect much from the government, which is not holding a dialogue with us,” Mr Balbir Singh, president of the committee, said. The committee had earlier resented the state government’s move to dispose of land belonging to the Irrigation Department through auction. The move had sparked off an agitation which was stalled only after the high court stayed the proposed auction in response to a petition filed by the tillers. Since then, the deadlock persists on the matter. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, said the matter was a “forgotten subject” for him in view of the hectic paddy procurement process. He, however, said that since the matter pertaining to the status of the land belonging to the Irrigation Department was pending in the court, it was for the higher authorities to see what was to be done to resolve the issue. |
PAC to discuss Bibi’s
future BATHINDA, Oct 19 — The Union Sports Minister and Secretary-General of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, has said that any issue relating to the SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, will be discussed at the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting of the party. Mr Dhindsa, who was here to attend a social function yesterday, told mediapersons that the CBI had launched a probe against Bibi Jagir Kaur on the directive of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and it was not proper to make any comment on the issue. Asked whether Bibi Jagir Kaur should remain President of the SGPC following the registration of a criminal case against her, Mr Dhindsa said the matter would be discussed at the political affairs committee meeting to be held shortly. Mr Dhindsa said elections to the state Assembly would be held at the proper time, adding that no indiscipline would be tolerated in the party. He said there were no differences between him and a former Union Minister, Mr Surjeet Singh Barnala. He said Akali leaders and workers who had opposed the party candidate in the Sunam byelections would face action at a proper time. He said the victory of the SAD-BJP candidate in the Sunam byelection had proved that other parties, including the Congress, had lost faith of the electorate. Mr Dhindsa disclosed that the Centre was contemplating to convert the National Institute of Sports (NIS) at Patiala into a sports university. He added that the step would help in raising the standard of sports in the country. He said the CBI would give its report on match-fixing in cricket shortly and action would be taken against those found guilty. He said the Centre was trying to hold Asian Games 2006 in India and he would attend a meeting in South Korea in this connection. Punjab Government had taken up the issue of raising the quota for sportspersons to 2 per cent in government jobs from 1 per cent. |
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BJP, RSS agenda varies: Laxman GURDASPUR, Oct 19 — The BJP president, Mr Bangaru Laxman, while talking to mediapersons here today said the BJP agenda was different from that of the RSS. The views expressed by Mr K. Sudarshan, RSS chief at the recently concluded camp at Agra about Christians and Muslims living in India were the views of the RSS and did not even remotely represent the views of the BJP. Mr Laxman accused the Congress of dragging the BJP into the debate in the wake of certain statements made by Mr Sudarshan. He warned the Congress that its efforts to use the RSS camp as a pretext to continue with its motivated propaganda against the BJP would not work. The RSS he said, was a patriotic organisation and the BJP held it in high esteem. But this did not mean the BJP agreed with the RSS on every issue. The BJP followed its own agenda which was significantly different from that of the RSS, he held. Mr Laxman said for the BJP all Indians were equal. All had equal rights and responsibilities towards the nation and therefore the BJP-led government at the Centre was duty-bound to follow the principle of justice for all and appeasement of none. Regarding the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, Mr Laxman said the issue was pending in the Supreme Court and the BJP would abide by the decision of the apex court in this regard as and when it came. Regarding the infiltration of Bangladeshis in India, Mr Laxman said the Foreigners Act enacted seven years ago in this regard to identify illegal Bangladeshi migrants had met with limited success. The government was keen to adopt procedure for identification of illegal Bangladeshi entrants in India. As and when the job was completed illegal migrants would be deported back to their country. Mr Laxman said the BJP-led government at the Centre was absolutely stable and would last its full term. Bickerings here and there by the constituents of the NDA were an internal matter of the alliance and would always be settled by mutual negotiations. Mr Laxman said the BJP stood for a strong Centre and strong states as well. The BJP stood for devaluation of funds. He said unlike in the past relations between the Centre and state governments, including those run by the Congress, had been smooth and harmonious under the BJP-led coalition at the Centre. Mr Laxman praised Punjabis, especially Sikhs, who thwarted the evil game of terrorism unleashed by Pakistan with the help of some misguided elements within our country. He said Punjab presented a picture of Hindu-Sikh unity despite the gravest provocation designed to break it asunder. The BJP chief said the triumph of Punjab over terrorism and separatism presented an ideal lesson for a similar struggle that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were waging at present. He said the Congress was responsible for the nightmarish chapter of mindless violence in Jammu and Kashmir. This was exploited by Pakistan and the country had to pay a heavy price before crushing the enemy design. Mr Laxman said the SAD-BJP alliance was stable and did not rest on the petty considerations of power sharing at the Centre and in the states. PATHANKOT: The BJP chief arrived in the city to receive an enthusiastic welcome in the town. A number of arches had been put up to welcome him in the area. Mr Laxman inaugurated the office and website of Mr Vinod Khanna, BJP MP from the constituency. The BJP chief was accompanied by Mr Narinder Modi, general secretary of the BJP, Mr Brij Lal Rinwa, president of the Punjab unit of the BJP, Mr Vinod Khanna, and Mr Mohan Lal, Minister for Higher Education, Punjab. Mr Laxman also addressed a largely attended public rally at Sujanpur. Talking to mediapersons, he highlighted the achievements of the present government and characterised them as progressive in nature unlike the past policies of previous governments which had brought doom to the country. |
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Replace
Aliwal, says YAD
leader JALANDHAR, Oct 19 — A number of Youth Akali leaders owing allegiance to Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal today demanded the removal of Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal as Youth Akali Dal chief for his “anti-Badal” and “anti-party” activities. The Youth Akali Dal has been a house divided with allegations by senior YAD leaders that Mr Aliwal has been appointing his nominees as district presidents, in some cases removing old loyalists. Mr Aliwal’s rivals argue that the YAD body was dissolved by the Shiromani Akali Dal chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, immediately after the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa and, hence, Mr Aliwal has no right to claim himself the president of the frontal organisation of the Shiromani Akali Dal. A number of district presidents and senior office-bearers had tendered their resignations early this year to lodge their protest against the style of working of Mr Aliwal. At a virtual “show of strength” at the local Circuit House today, Mr Rajinder Singh Sandal, YAD Senior Vice-President and the Director of the Khadi Board Punjab, and hundreds of his supporters urged Mr Badal to replace Mr Aliwal with a more “dynamic” leader. Mr Sandal and his supporters said former Union Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal should streamline the functioning of the YAD since. Mr Aliwal has caused much “damage” to the organisation. Mr Sandal and his supporters, however, refused to say whether they wanted Mr Sukhbir Badal to take over as President of the YAD, saying “any decision taken by Mr Badal will be welcomed by us.” They could not give an answer as to way Mr Badal had not taken a decision regarding Mr Aliwal so far. Making an announcement that the Kapurthala district chief, Mr Jugrajpal Singh Shahi, had joined him after leaving Mr Aliwal, Mr Sandal alleged that the latter had been encouraging factionalism in the organisation and worked for Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra during the campaign for the Sunam byelection. Mr Gurinder Singh Gogi, President of the Ropar unit of the YAD, alleged that Mr Aliwal had taken money to appoint some district presidents. Mr Shahi said he had parted ways with Mr Aliwal since he was not “sincere towards the party and particularly the Badal family.” |
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Jagmeet ran away from dharna: DCC PATIALA,
Oct 19 — The Patiala District Congress Committee Urban and Rural units today accused party MP Jagmeet Brar of running away in the midst of the party dharna in Chandigarh on October 17 and appealed to the high command to take action against him for this act. Separate DCC (Urban) and Rural units’ meetings presided over by their respective presidents Ved Prakash Gupta and Hardyal Singh Kamboj also accused the party MP of giving mischievous statements in the Press to gain cheap publicity claiming the actions of Mr Brar had spread disillusionment among the party rank and file. Mr Ved Prakash Gupta said certain persons claiming themselves as senior party leaders had betrayed the sentiments of the people by convening a parallel show merely to get cheap publicity at the cost of popularity and prestige of the party and then unnecessarily adopting a party line to welcome the central package in defiance on the PPCC official line which had rejected the same in the overall interest of the farmers. Mr Gupta said such leaders should understand the ground reality as well as sentiments of party workers who wanted to be led by Capt Amarinder Singh. Mr Hardyal Singh Kamboj said the party MP resorted to mischievous double speak at the party dharna in Chandigarh yesterday and ‘disappeared’ when the police resorted to the lathi charge and water canons to disperse the party workers. He said if Mr Brar was a sympathiser of the farmers and loyal to the party he should have courted arrest along with other Congressmen. He also questioned as to whether Mr Brar had forgotten the hardships faced by farmers during the past one month when they had to resort to distress sale as there were no takers for their produce and the Punjab Government did not do anything to safeguard their interests.
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2 Kargil veterans to be
Inspectors CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — After having fought to evict Pakistani intruders in the desolate heights along the Line of Control last year, two veterans of the Kargil conflict will now don a different uniform. The Punjab Government today approved the appointment of two Army personnel, who were boarded out of service on medical grounds, as Inspectors in the Punjab police. Jatinder Singh of 19 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and Harbans Singh of 8 Sikh had taken part in Operation Vijay and were wounded in action. While Jatinder Singh lost his legs in a mine blast, the fingers of Harbans Singh's left hand had to be amputated. They were interviewed here today by a high-powered committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, Mr R.S. Mann. The committee comprised the Revenue Commissioner, Ms Shama Mann, the Personnel Secretary, Ms Kusumjeet Sidhu, the Secretary, Defence Services Welfare, Mr Vijay Kain, and the Director, Sainik Welfare, Brig K.S. Kahlon (retd), besides a representative of the Finance Department. “Their appointment as police Inspectors has been approved though the formal letters of appointment are yet to be issued,” Brigadier Kahlon said. The appointments were made as a special welfare and rehabilitation measure, he added. The committee also interviewed 17 war widows and next of kin of officers and jawans killed in action. Jobs commensurate with their qualifications, including Class I appointments, are being considered for them. Recounting his Kargil experience, Jatinder Singh, who was also in the news recently when robbers attacked his house and killed his mother and sister besides severely injuring him, said that he had lost his legs in the Drass sector when he stepped upon a mine. “On July 15 we were sent to occupy posts vacated by the enemy. After a brief halt and a quick lunch of puri and sugar en route, we were about 100 metres from the vacated posts when there was a sudden explosion beneath my feet,” he recalled. “Pakistani artillery opened up and one of my comrades picked me up and ran back about 500 metres. There he removed my turban and bandaged my legs and feet.,” he added. Hailing from Mandi Mullanpur, near Ludhiana, Jatinder said that the troops then improvised a stretcher with rifles and it took over three hours to reach their camp. From there he was evacuated to Drass and then to Srinagar. As a part of a Ghatak platoon, Harbans Singh was involved in the assault on Tiger Hill. At about 8 pm on July 5, while climbing up the slopes, the platoon saw nearly 10 intruders on the peak and challenged them. The enemy responded with heavy fire at which the troops took cover and fired rocket launchers. The enemy tried to run away but as the slopes were ringed by the Army, they had nowhere to escape. “Exchange of fire continued all through the night,” he recalled. “For about half an hour after first light, we fought from close quarters, when heavy Pakistani artillery opened up with murderous accuracy,” he said. Of the 27-strong platoon, 22 were killed in the artillery barrage. “The surviving personnel remained there for three days before they were finally evacuated,” he said. |
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Police launches anti-narcotics campaign FARIDKOT: A campaign has been launched by the police against those dealing in poppy husk, opium, ganja and synthetic drugs in Bathinda, Mansa and Faridkot districts. During the campaign the police will identify the sources of narcotics and the end-users. It will also educate people, including drug addicts, about the ill-effects of drug addiction so that the campaign can be converted into a mass movement. The police has also been identifying the routes through which narcotics have been reaching various destinations, including the users. The police has started keeping suspected smugglers under surveillance and identifying new entrants to this illegal trade by creating an army of decoy customers. Besides, the intelligence network has been strengthened. Mr R.P. Meena, DIG, Faridkot Range, told TNS that meetings of all SHOs in the three districts had been held, and they had been directed to make all efforts to arrest smugglers and seize narcotics. He added that smugglers, who had been playing havoc with the lives of innocent persons, would be motivated to give their up illegal activities. Their premises would be raided regularly. Apart from this, cases registered under the NDPS Act would be handled with more care by the investigating and prosecution agencies so that conviction could be ensured. Police personnel had been provided with the latest information on smugglers so that they could be apprehended easily. Official sources said that in the three districts, more than 270 cases under the NDPS Act were registered up to August 31 this year. More than 20 quintals of poppy husk, 65 kg of opium and 200 gm of charas were seized from smugglers. The police had also seized 6,000 litres of illicit liquor and about 80 working stills. The seizure of lahan had crossed 180 quintals. Sources said in certain pockets of these districts, the smuggling of narcotics had been going on with the patronage of some persons who mattered in state affairs. The Bathinda police at its own level, has launched a drive to make Bathinda a drug-free district in 2000. Under the drive, the police has been organising deaddiction camps with the cooperation of non-government organisations. Sources said the incidence of smuggling of narcotics in this region was very high. Most of the consignments of narcotics entered Bathinda and Mansa districts from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Mr Meena said to build up public opinion against the smuggling of narcotics and drug addiction, “parbhat pheris” would be organised in populated areas. Besides, students and teachers would be motivated to hold rallies against this social evil. |
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Campaign against child
labour JALANDHAR, Oct 19 — Though the decade from 2001 has been declared as the “decade of the rights of the child” by the SAARC countries, yet child rights violations in India are a daily occurrence and rehabilitation is still a distant dream. The Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), under the aegis of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, has started an awareness and rehabilitation campaign against the use of child labour in football manufacturing units in Punjab. Dr Bindu Duggal, project coordinator, said CRRID, in collaboration with the Sports Goods Foundation of India (SGFI), had been organising health-cum-awareness camps for children below 14 years and their parents, who were involved in stitching footballs in slum areas in the city. The two-month programme will cover slum areas of Bhargo Camp, Gandhi Camp, Basti Guzan, Basti Nau, Basti Danishmanda, Bootan Mandi, Kot Sadiq and Tajpur village. “During these camps, special emphasis is being laid on the adverse impact which stitching has on the health of children. We have found that a majority of them have weak eyesight and respiratory problems”, Dr Duggal said. CRRID is organising health camps, painting competitions, street plays, quiz programmes and magic shows to make the people aware about the exploitation of children. Nearly 600 children and their parents participated in a health camp held at Guru Ravidass Mandir in the Basti Nau locality yesterday. Bimla, who attended the camp along with her two daughters — Neha (14) and Tamanna (11), said her daughters had been working for the past four years. “My elder daughter has a weak eyesight and the second one is weak. We have no choice but to carry on with the labour work”, she said. Dr Duggal said CRRID had involved various non-governmental organisations in the region to achieve its targets. |
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Cycle tour to catch their
eye BATHINDA: ‘‘Donate blood all through your life, and your eyes after your life’’ seems to be the motto of Mr Gur Raj Karan Singh of Sirsa. Lion Gur Raj Karan Singh has taken a pledge to promote eye donation and to spread the message he has decided to tour the country on his bicycle. The source of his inspiration are two blind neighbours of his.‘‘My neighbours have been blind since their childhood. On Louis Braille Day in 1997 they suggested that I should promote eye donation and help those who could get their eyesight back through corneal transplant surgery. That was the turning point in my life,’’ says Mr Gur Raj Karan Singh. He has been undertaking ‘‘Eye Chetna Yatra’’ for the past three years. After travelling all over Haryana, he now plans to tour the rest of the country as well. ‘‘All expenses are borne by my family and till date no government or non-government organisation has given any financial assistance to me. The support of the common people and my family is all I have and it means everything to me.’’ The Director-General of Health Services (Ophthalmology section), Government of India, has issued a letter to all district programme managers of the Blindness Control Society all over the country to give cooperation to Mr Gur Raj Karan Singh. He has managed to get a documentary film produced on eye donation,"Andhera-Ujala’’,which is shown on the local cable channels in cities visited by him. ‘‘Till today two persons have got their eyesight back through my efforts. The number is bound to rise with time and the encouragement I get from the public, particularly college students.’’ An eye bank, Mata Ganga Devi eye bank and cornea grafting centre, will come up shortly at Sirsa with the help of the Central Government, says Mr Gur Raj Karan Singh.‘‘Although I am promoting eye donation, the public should be made aware of organ donation as well’’, he adds. |
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North Indians prone to renal
stones AMRITSAR, Oct 19 — Urologists have identified Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh as the urological “stone belt of India”. Ongoing research in the field of urology studying dietary habits of North Indians in comparison with its southern counterparts have reasons to believe that tamarind or ‘imli’ which is an important part of southern cuisine helps to discount the formation and occurence of stones in the body. Tomatoes extravagantly relished by the North Indian could be one of the factors responsible for occurence of stone said Dr Sami Rai, chief organiser of annual conference of Urological Society, North Zone Chapter, while addressing media persons. Punjab was found to have the highest incidents of stone formation, extreme heat, hard water and dietary habits having an impact on its occurence. According to one estimate more them 10 persons out of 100 suffer from stone formation. Stone and other urological problems will be thoroughly discussed at a three-day symposium starting from October 20. Dr S.V. Kotwal and Dr Kim Mammen, president and secretary, respectively, of the North Zone Chapter Urological Society of India (NZCUS), during the course of discussion answered several queries about misconceptions related with the urological problem. He said “Beer is a pleasant way to ensure adequate intake of water.” The NZCUS its charter has urged the government to reduce the import duty on various medical equipments to the cost of urological treatment. |
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Plea for viewers’ say in telecasting PATIALA, Oct 19 — Ms Kishwar Ahluwalia, Chief Executive Officer of Tara Punjabi, a Punjabi TV channel, said here today that TV viewers should form forums to make their voice heard and have a say in the telecasting of programmes. She said that viewers in India had to see whatever was dished out by western-controlled channels. Advertisers, she said, had also become an important factor in deciding the programmes beamed by TV channels. Ms Ahluwalia, who was delivering a lecture in the multi-faculty millennium series in the Senate Hall of Punjabi University on Wendesday, said the development of regional language TV was important for the survival of ethnic culture. The media should observe self-censorship and encourage programmes that instilled a sense of patriotism among the viewers. Tara Punjabi, she added, was trying to perform this role, while being always on the look out for fresh talent. About the new trends in the electronic media, she said digital technology was leading to a convergence of Information Technology and television. She, however, expressed doubts about the success of this trend. Net television had not yet picked up even abroad as it was very costly. There were also apprehensions that the formation of huge conglomerates would result in single companies controlling huge sections of the media. Television, she said, was not only a source of entertainment. It also played an informative role. However, recent trends had shown that the popularity of news programmes had declined worldwide. The Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Dr Jasbir Singh
Ahluwalia, said it was unfortunate that the media was trivialising the serious and glamoursing the trivial and was thus controlling not only our behaviour but also the thought process. The media, he added, was posing a threat to the personal lives of individuals and was no longer a state within a state but had become a state over the state.
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Women hold march AMRITSAR, Oct 19 — Hundreds of women from the district, led by members of the Punjab Istri Sabha, marched through the main streets and bazars of the city to Jallianwala Bagh in observance of global march against exploitation of women. The rally was addressed by Vimla Dang, former MLA. To eliminate poverty, they demanded reversal of policies of globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation which were giving huge concessions to multinational companies. Expressing support for the farmers’ struggle, the women demanded remunerative price for paddy effective public distribution system, overhauling of depots and supply of foodgrains, pulses, vegetable oils, sugar at cheaper prices. They protested against the hike in prices of petrol, kerosene and cooking gas. They also demanded disbursement of old age and widows pensions and urged the government to give grants and loans for women’s employment and free education for girls up to 10+2. The meeting demanded legal action against Bibi Jagir Kaur, main accused in case of death of her daughter. It called upon women to intensify the struggle against social oppression and for women’s equality. |
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DM asked to call
all-party meeting JALANDHAR, Oct 19 — Even as the Mayor, Mr Suresh Sehgal, of the local municipal corporation has been adamant about removing two roundabouts named after Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagwan Balmiki despite the withdrawal of the BSP support to the SAD-BJP alliance on the issue, the Congress party asked the District Magistrate to intervene on and convene an all-party meeting this issue in order to defuse the prevailing tension in the city. Mr Raj Kumar Gupta, Leader of the Opposition in the Corporation House, while addressing a press conference here today said the Mayor had unilateraly decided to remove these roundabouts and was misleading the public that the House and unanimously passed the resolution in this regard. “Though the House had passed the resolutioin with regard to removal of encroachments on the corporation land no resolution has ever got the approval of the House regarding the removal of these roundabouts,” said Mr Gupta. The Congress had not been supporting the alleged moves of the Mayor and would oppose them tooth and nail since sentiments of a particular community were badly hurt by this decision, he said. The Congress councillors had already written to the Mayor to call a special meeting of the House to discuss this crucial issue, he said. |
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Employees decry privatisation AMRITSAR, Oct 19 — The Democratic Employees Front, Punjab, held a rally here today against government policy of privatising government departments and entailing employment on contract basis. They also protested against the hike in prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas non-payment of bonus for the past four years besides non-release of DA instalment. Addressing the rally, Mr Amarjeet Singh Bhalla, district convener, Mr Dattar Singh, state president and Mr Amarjeet Singh Bhai, secretary, and Mr Sukhmandar Singh Randhawa, university employees’ president strongly criticised government policies. They said the government’s decision not recruiting any employee in the next 10 years was a jolt for the trained and educated youth. |
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Harbhajan Mann show under fire FEROZEPORE, Oct 19 — A cultural programme by Punjabi singer Harbhajan Mann to be held here on October 22, came under fire today as the organisers failed to apply to the Excise Department for the mandatory permission. The organisers, Dev Samaj College for Women, have been selling entry cards for Rs 200 without informing the Excise Department here, which has raised eyebrows. The excise norms demand that the organisers in such cases should deposit either 100 per cent of the ticket rate or seek tax exemption 21 days before holding such function. The authorities have, however, failed to meet either of the conditions prompting the department to intervene. The Ferozepore Divisional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Mr P.S. Parmar, disclosed that the college had been directed to apply either afresh for tax exemption and reschedule the date of the show or deposit 100 per cent of the ticket price. The college authorities claimed that the aim of the show was to raise funds for the development of the institution pleaded ignorance of the rules and decided to postpone the show to apply for tax exemption. It is pertinent to mention that the show was to be attended by the Punjab Irrigation Minister, Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mr Zora Singh Mann, MP, and senior administrative officers. Confirming this to TNS, the college Prinicipal, Ms Madhu Prashar, claimed that the aim of the show was not to pocket money but raise funds for the development of the institution. Pleading ignorance of the excise norms, she said that they would apply to the department afresh for tax exemption and assured that the show stood postponed. |
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Traders’ leaders end fast ABOHAR, Oct 19 — Indefinite fast started by four senior office-bearers of the Durgiana Market Association on Monday was called off late last night. Mr Babu Ram Arya, president, Municipal Council offered fruit juice to fasting leaders. Earlier SDM Darshan Singh Grewal held a meeting with representatives of the Yuva Beopar Mandal and the Municipal Council. It was promised on behalf of the council that cremation site for animals would be shifted within next six months. The council had already started repairing main roads and reconstruction of Thakar Abadi-Nai Abadi link road. Contractors for dead animals would be bound to clear and clean cremation ground of carcasses on every alternate
day. The council shall move a resolution at its next meeting for purchasing land to dump carcasses. Senior trade leaders at a public meeting held outside complex of municipal council criticised the local MLA. |
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Ban on crackers MALERKOTLA, Oct 19 — Mr Gurlavleen Singh, SDM, has banned the sale of crackers in congested markets of the town on the eve of Divali.
He told media persons on Thursday that licensed sellers could sell their articles at open places away from populated areas. Constable dead JALANDHAR, Oct 19 — Constable Nirmal Singh collapsed and died at the city bus stand yesterday, police sources said. He was on duty when he suddenly developed pain in his chest, the sources
added. Record purchase
of paddy CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The Punjab Government’s procurement agencies and the FCI made a record purchase of 4.3 lakh tonnes of paddy yesterday in the state, according to Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab Food and Supplies Minister.
Till last evening, a total of 65.76 lakh tonnes paddy had been procured in the state by the FCI, the state agencies and traders.
The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who reviewed paddy procurement today, directed the authorities concerned to pay special attention to the procurement of the common variety of paddy at the minimum support price.
Jago lends colour
to Divali mela PATIALA, Oct 19 — Punjabi University was bedecked like a bride on the occasion of the Divali mela which culminated today with a grand function in front of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hall.
Earlier last night, teams from various girls hostels as well as one team comprising day scholars took out a ‘jago’ from the working women gate of Silver Jubilee Hostel to the residence of the Vice-Chancellor.Gidda and rangoli competitions were also held. |
Bank official held for graft MOGA, Oct 19 — An Assistant Accountant of Punjab Agriculture Development Bank here was arrested for allegedly accepting a gratification of Rs 1,000 to clear a cattle insurance claim of Rs 10,000 in favour of Inderjit Singh of Sangatpura village. The suspect, Nachattar Singh, was caught red-handed by a Vigilance Bureau team . Earlier, in his complaint, Inderjit Singh had charged Nachattar Singh with demanding Rs 1,000 as graft for clearing an insurance claim of Rs 10,000 for his dead cow. Since Inderjit Singh, the owner of a cow farm was earlier sanctioned the loan by the same bank, the insurance company had routed the claim through it.
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Husband killed with
paramour’s help
AMRITSAR, Oct 19 — A woman confessed to having murdered her husband with the help of her paramour. Mohinder Singh a ‘pathi’ (preacher) and a resident of Wadala Bhitte Wadh had been missing since June’ 98. Since he stayed away from home for months together nobody reported him missing. Mr Lakha Singh, DSP detective CIA, arrested Harjit Kaur, wife of deceased, yesterday on a tip-off. She confessed to the murder in connivance with her paramour Major Singh who resided
closeby. The body was discovered from courtyard. A case under Section 364/34 of the IPC has been registered.
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Girls protest against Principal’s
behaviour AMRITSAR, Oct 19 — More than 200 girls of Khalsa College here refused to take meals in the mess amid protests that Principal, Mohinder Singh Dhillon and his gunmen used force against them when they were insisting to see a cultural programme organised last evening by Alpha Punjabi — a TV channel in the premises of the college. However, Mr Dhillon denied the claim that neither he nor his gunmen assaulted the girls. He, however, said that he had asked the girls not to watch the cultural programme as it was difficult to provide security to them during the cultural evening due to a huge rush. He also denied that any girl was injured in the ‘assault’ as alleged by the girls. He claimed that few girls sustained injuries by falling from a heap of chairs as some of them were watching the programme from wall of the girls’ hostel while standing on chairs. Meanwhile, many girls left the hostel and went to their homes. However, Mr Dhillon claimed that many of the girls had returned to the hostel and ‘apologised’ for creating an unsavoury situation. |
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Veterinary varsity fails to come up TALWANDI SABO, Oct 19 — The proposed university of veterinary and animal sciences has failed to come up in this holy city despite repeated claims made in this regard by the authorities concerned. During the previous Congress government, a decision was taken by the then Chief Minister, Mr Harcharan Singh Brar, to set up the country’s third veterinary and animal sciences university at Talwandi Sabo to provide educational and research facilities in the backward area of the state having a dubious distinction of having a very low literacy rate. Though nearly six years have passed since the announcement made by Mr Brar, the project is still hanging fire. Official sources said the Punjab Government had now put the project on the back burner and was toying with the idea of giving autonomy to Veterinary College, Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana. A few legal formalities were left to provide autonomy to the college. The sources said the government had pushed the proposed university project under the carpet due to paucity of funds as according to a project report more than Rs 100 crore was required for the purpose. Interestingly, in the detailed estimates of expenditure on plan schemes including in the Budget for 1998-99 and 2000-2001, the government had mentioned that it had given grant-in-aid of Rs 1 crore and Rs 10,000 for setting up the university at Talwandi Sabo (Damdama Sahib). Mr Harminder Singh Jassi, MLA and General Secretary, PPCC, alleged that the government was deliberately diverting the funds allocated for the proposed university to other purposes. He said
step-motherly treatment was being meted out to this holy city as it was being represented by a Congressman in the Vidhan Sabha. He said the SAD-BJP alliance government had failed to develop the city into a seat of learning (Guru ki Kashi) as the university project was still hanging fire. The sources said during the Congress regime, a sub-committee for setting up the veterinary university was constituted which visited the place to select the site. A high-level committee comprising the then Principal Secretary (Finance), Financial Commissioner, Secretary for Animal Husbandry, Director, Animal Husbandry, and Secretary, Veterinary Council, Punjab, was also constituted for the purpose. Apart from this, the government had also failed to set up a veterinary college at Rampuraphul. The foundation stone for this project estimated to cost over Rs 7 crore on a 35-acre plot was laid by the then Animal Husbandry Minister, Mr Harbans Singh Sidhu. |
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Students stage dharna HOSHIARPUR, Oct 19 — Girl students of the local DAV college staged a dharna in front of the district courts chowk here today to express resentment against the government for not taking action against the driver & the conductor of the Punjab Roadways bus of Nawanshahr depot and duty doctor of local civil hospital who were allegedly held responsible for the death of a student of the college. Conductor of the Punjab Roadways bus had pushed back Monika, a student of the local DAV College, from a moving bus while she was boarding it due to which she fell down and was crushed under the wheels of the bus. The students took her to the civil hospital where the duty doctor did not attend her and she succumbed to her injuries. The vehicular traffic was disrupted for more than an hour due to the dharna. |
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Varsity formulates code for
journalists JALANDHAR, Oct 19 — In a novel effort aimed at containing the decline in the field of journalism, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the Guru Nanak Dev University has formulated a model code of ethics for journalists, editors and proprietors of newspapers. The code has decried the use of journalism as a via media for entry into politics and nomination to legislative and public bodies, affiliation of newspapers with political parties, misuse of the power of press and accepting gifts and concessional facilities. Releasing the Code here at the local Regional Centre of the university, Mr Kamlesh Singh Duggal, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the objective of the code was to create awareness among all those related to the field of journalism about the ethic that ought to be inherent part of a journalists’ character. The code underlines the need of proper verification of the authenticity of any news by way of cross checking and to exercise restraint over creating undue sensationalism. Journalists have been advised to see beyond the official handouts and press notes since “desk’ journalism can never substitute field work and sincere efforts. Similarly, publicising particular persons should not be the agenda of a journalist. At the same time the code has advocated maintenance of privacy of public figures without compromising the right to information and serving the interests of the society at large. The code demanded that the newspapers should undertake to uphold morality, culture, tradition and communal harmony. Mr Duggal said copies of the code would be sent to all newspapers in the hope that they would implement it in their respective organisations. |
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Goyal is education board body chief SAS NAGAR, Oct 19 — Mr Jagmohan Goyal was elected president of the Punjab School Education Board Non-Teaching Karamchari Association today. His group got a clean sweep in the elections held at the board premises in phase VIII
here. Mr Raghbir Singh Toki was elected general secretary. The voting which started in the morning went on peacefully and the process was completed by mid-day. The result was to be declared by 5 p.m. It, however, got delayed by almost two hours as cross voting had slowed down the counting
process. Mr Parveen Kumar Rattan and Mr Gurjinder Singh had been appointed election commissioners by the board authorities for conducting elections. The other office-bearers of the association are: senior vice-president — Mr Gurmel Singh
Mojewal; vice-president — Mr Jasbir Singh Gill; joint secretary — Mr Amar Singh
Dhaliwal; organising secretary — Mr Jaswant Singh Dhesi; finance secretary — Mr M.S.
Pathania; and press secretary — Mr Joginder Singh Sandhu. The executive members are Mr Davinder Pal Singh, Mr Mohinder Ram, Mr Mohinder Singh, Dr Vijay Lakshami
Sharda, Ms Swaran Lata, Mr Sham Lal, Mr Ram Sarup and Mr Jung Singh. Mr Rattan said Mr Kartar Singh Jassi had been elected as member from the Sangrur zone and Mr Charanjit Singh won the elections from the Jalandhar zone.
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1,053 Punjab schools
to be upgraded CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The Punjab Council of Ministers here today approved the upgradation of 1,053 schools in the state. A government spokesman said that in each constituency nine schools had been upgraded. Out of these schools, 351 have been upgraded from primary to middle, and the same number from middle to high. As many schools (351) have been upgraded from high to the senior secondary level. The government also decided to fill 7,230 vacant posts of JBT\ ETT teacher in primary schools. These posts have been withdrawn from the purview of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board, it is learnt. The council also granted approval to road and bridge projects worth Rs 2,215 crore to be undertaken by the Infrastructure Development Board. These include the four-laning of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway, the widening of the Ludhiana-Moga highway, the Khanna-Nawanshahr road, the Zirakpur-Patiala highway and the four-laning of the Chandigarh-Ambala road. The government would raise Rs 1,245 crore through bonds for completing these projects. The council also decided to transfer the building of the Industrial Institute, Bulepur (Khanna), to Indira Gandhi National Open University for setting up a regional centre in the state. It also approved an increase in the petty discretionary grant of the Chief Minister from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and of Cabinet and other ministers to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively. |
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