P U N J A B

Talwandi ‘barking up wrong tree’
PHAGWARA, Dec 2 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra would oppose Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, the newly elected SGPC president, if he acted as a rubber stamp of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and would support him if he worked for restoring the maryada of the Panth and the supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

• Talwandi helpless: Tohra

• Room of Talwandi’s PA unlocked

Trees drying up in Punjab 
Mysterious disease blamed
ROPAR, Dec 2 — Trees in Punjab have been afflicted by a mysterious disease. Trees like the tahli (Dalbergia sissoo), kikkar (Acacia arabica) and sisham are drying up in large numbers due to unknown reasons.

India, Pak to improve rail immigration
ATTARI, Dec 2 — A crucial meeting between the Pakistan and Indian railway officials, held at Attari station, decided to take immediate measures for smoother running of the Samjhauta Express, here today.

Chowk row in Kanshi’s court
JALANDHAR, Dec 2 — Having failed to hammer out a solution to the controversial problem of removal of some chowks, named after Bhagwan Balmiki and Dr B.R. Ambedkar, during the past two years, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and city Mayor, Mr Suresh Sehgal, has finally taken the issue to the “court of the Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Mr Kanshi Ram.

Talwandi ‘barking up wrong tree’
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, Dec 2 — The Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra would oppose Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, the newly elected SGPC president, if he acted as a rubber stamp of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and would support him if he worked for restoring the maryada of the Panth and the supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

That was how Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, secretary-general, of SHSAD and former acting SGPC president, today reacted to Mr Talwandi’s outbursts against Mr Tohra, reminding Mr Talwandi that he was barking up a wrong tree, Mr Bhaur asserted that it was Mr Badal and not Mr Tohra who was a rank opportunist and untrustworthy. The track record of Mr Badal showed that he used a person for furthering his own interests and later left that person in the lurch, continued Mr Bhaur.

Mr Badal’s camp followers should learn a lesson from the fate of Bibi Jagir Kaur, ousted SGPC president, advised Mr Bhaur. It was at Mr Badal’s behest that Bibi Jagir Kaur had violated the Akal Takht hukamnama, sacked Jathedar Puran Singh and denigrated Sikh institutions but she was thrown out by him when she herself was in a tight spot. Mr Bhaur cited this latest example to prove his point. It was Mr Badal’s old habit that he threw people away after using them. “Ganna choop ke chhilar sut dinda hai”, alleged Mr Bhaur.

Mr Badal ditched a time-tested Panthic leader like Mr Tohra who had 62 years of religio-political standing after he gained power, continued Mr Bhaur. Mr Badal deserted Giani Puran Singh after getting Bhai Ranjit Singh sacked, Sant Samaj after his interests were served and veteran leaders like Surjan Singh Thekedar, said Mr Bhaur.

After the Bibi’s fate, it was now the turn of all those who had become “bemukh (turned their backs) from Akal Takht and it was high time now that these “bhagoras” (truants) of Akal Takht read the writing on the wall cautioned Mr Bhaur. “Burey waqt weley Badal saath chhad dinda hai” (Badal leaves a person when he needs him the most during bad times), asserted Mr Bhaur. He reminded Mr Talwandi that he was elevated to the post under pressure from the SHSAD.

With Mr Talwandi firing the first salvo against Mr Tohra yesterday and with Mr Bhaur snubbing Mr Talwandi today, the Talwandi-Tohra love affair has turned out to be a shortlived one. Mr Talwandi had branded Mr Tohra as untrustworthy yesterday and had ruled out a patch-up between the two factions, thereby puncturing the bubble of euphoria in the rival faction over his election. 

Talwandi helpless: Tohra
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The yesterday’s verdict of the Supreme Court dismissing the appeals of the Punjab Chief Minister and the state government against a judgement of the Punjab and Haryana High Court giving clean chit to a former Punjab Chief Secretary, Mr V.K. Khanna, in recommending investigation and follow-up action by the CBI against two senior IAS officers came handy for certain political parties to demand the resignation of Mr Parkash Singh Badal on “moral grounds” at the “Save Democracy” conference here today.

In his keynote address, the president of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, while demanding the resignation of Mr Badal, lamented at corruption and criminalisation of politics. Besides, the ruling party in Punjab seemed to have the only objective of promoting their kith and kin.

Reacting to the remarks of the newly-elected SGPC chief, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, against him, Mr Tohra said that Mr Talwandi was a “bechara (helpless person) and he had allied with Mr Badal for his petty gains, he added.

With a view to conducting free and fair poll, Mr Tohra demanded that the state government should be dismissed two months before the poll and a sitting Chief Justice or Judge of the High Court should be appointed Governor to conduct the poll. Besides, there should a ban on the entry of the Chief Minister and the ministers in the constituency where there was any by-election.

A former Advocate-General of Punjab, Mr G.S. Grewal, said that Mr Badal had no moral right to rule the state in the wake of the SC verdict. Mr Sucha Singh Johal of the Democratic Akali Dal, wanted a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the procurement of the paddy.

Mr Darshan Singh Jida, president of Punjab unit of the Samajwadi Janata Party, lamented the lack of reaction on the part of the people to issues like the price hike and corruption. Mr Teja Singh Tiwana, president of the Punjab unit of the Samajwadi Party, alleged that an “Emergency-like” situation had arisen in Punjab with the Chief Minister concentrating all powers in his hands.

Meanwhile, a resolution adopted at the conference alleged that lawlessness, nepotism and corruption had assumed unprecedented proportions in the country. The convention was of the firm view that the Badal-led government had mortgaged its politico-social conscience to the BJP for survival. The use of black money, liquor and state power to win elections had put a question mark on the future of the democracy in the state, it alleged.

It further alleged that both the Congress and the BJP had failed the people and betrayed the masses. Democracy is not safe in their hands. All well-meaning democrats and well-wishers of the nation must join hands to save the country and preserve democracy. It called upon the democratic forces to present an issue-based unity to the people and join together to form the “Third Front” to provide an alternative to the Congress and BJP misrule in Punjab and at the national level.

The delegates also passed a resolution to mourn the death of over 36 persons in rail mishap at Jeewanpura in the Fatehgarh Sahib district and demanded a high-level judicial probe into it.

Room of Talwandi’s PA unlocked
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 2 — The room of Mr Harjit Singh, personal assistant of the SGPC chief and close confidant of Bibi Jagir Kaur, was opened today.

The room was closed by Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, senior vice-president immediately after the ouster of Bibi Jagir Kaur as SGPC chief.

Mr Pannu had alleged that some officials tried to tamper with the record immediately after the election of Mr Talwandi. Mr Pannu, however, said he did not act out of any personal vendetta.

Trees drying up in Punjab 
Mysterious disease blamed
From Lalit Mohan

ROPAR, Dec 2 — Trees in Punjab have been afflicted by a mysterious disease. Trees like the tahli (Dalbergia sissoo), kikkar (Acacia arabica) and sisham are drying up in large numbers due to unknown reasons.

As many as 2807 fully grown sisham trees, 1117 kikkar, 459 eucalyptus and 657 other trees are reported to have dried up in the district during 1999-2000. Till October 31 this year, 2522 kikkar, 270 sisham, 203 eucalyptus and 276 other trees dried up due to unnatural reasons. Most of the afflicted trees are in forests and near railway tracks.

The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Mr Jasjit Singh Samundri, said each year, the Forest Department cut trees in 2000 cubic metre from the forests in the district.

Earlier, only about 20 per cent of the cut trees used to dry due to natural reasons. However, since the past two years the percentage of dry trees had considerably increased. Mr Samundri informed that scientists from the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and YS Parmar University, Nauni, Solan, had collected samples from Punjab to detect the reasons behind the problem.

Dr Chatha, a senior lecturer of botany at Government Shivalik College, said this phenomenon was first noticed in the border districts of Punjab.

A DFO at that time had propounded the theory that an insect larva of nematode species might be behind the phenomenon. The larva eat up the roottips of trees and prevent the formation of root hair. Due to this, the trees fail to take up water and other necessary nutrients from the soil and ultimately dry up. This theory, however, couldn’t be confirmed by research, he said.

Another theory states that the effect of some foreign weeds such as Lantana kumara and Parthenium argetatum might be responsible for the drying up process. These weeds have infested forest areas and other places in the state. The growth of lantana has become so dense in the forests of the district that it has seriously impaired afforestation drives of the Forest Department.

These weeds release chemicals that hinder the growth of other plants in their vicinity. This effect is referred to as the allelopathic effect. Though the allelopathic effect of these weeds doesn’t affect big trees but due to their dense growth it is being suspected that it might be causing the drying up of the indigenous trees.

Other theories suggest bacterial or viral infections as the causative factors. The indigenous trees play a key role in soil conservation and sustaining wildlife in the lower Himalayas. If an early solution to the problem is not found, it may spell ecological disaster in the region.

India, Pak to improve rail immigration
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

ATTARI, Dec 2 — A crucial meeting between the Pakistan and Indian railway officials, held at Attari station, decided to take immediate measures for smoother running of the Samjhauta Express, here today.

This was the first high-level meeting held on the Indian side after the death of a Pakistan national on November 27 at Attari Railway Station as the BSF had closed the Indo-Pakistan gate on zero line due to the late arrival of the train. More than 2000 passengers were stranded on the Indian and Pakistan sides due to the closing of gates by the BSF.

Pakistani officials agreed to send the train well in time as after the implementation of the new agreement between both countries, which came into effect from November 1, Pakistan Railways have to send the engine, coaches and rakes, etc, for six months.

The Pakistan team was headed by Mr Abdul Gafar Khan, Divisional Superintendent, Lahore, Mr Javed Kureshi, Deputy Superintendent, Mr Mohinudin, Mr Javed Anwar, Divisional Traffic Officer, Mr Amar Aziz Bhatt, Divisional Commerce Officer, Mr Ashif Akbar Khan, Divisional Mechanical Engineer, Mr M. Ali Rana, Station Master Wagah (Pakistan). The Indian Railways team included Mr J.S. Marwaha, DRM, Ferozepore, Mr Ramesh Sarn Rai, Mr G.P. Singh, DCM, Mr Shashi Kumar Madan, Station Superintendent, Attari, Mr Amarjit Singh Waraich, Assistant Traffic Manager, Amritsar, Mr Avtar Singh Mastan, Traffic Inspector, Mr Mohinder Kumar Sharma CTNC, Mr M.S. Bhullar, ACM, and Mr Krishan.

The officials of Indian Railways requested the Pakistan team to increase the frequency of export goods interchange as a big stock, especially of Sugar, could not be exported to Pakistan due to unavailability of rakes. The sugar stock of 34 rakes have been lying at Ferozepore and Ambala railway stations which need to be exported to Pakistan at the earliest. Within this month, more than 30 rakes (about 2300 coaches) had been exported to Pakistan during this year.

Both Indian and Pakistani railway officials agreed to improvement of railways immigration and customs facilities at Lahore and Wagah (Pakistan side) and Attari (Indian side) railway stations for the passengers. Indian Railways requested Pakistani officials to issue visas to railway staff for one year instead of six months.

The issuance of tickets from India to Pakistan has been decreased whereas sale of Indian tickets from Pakistan is normal. Indian Railways assured that it would issue tickets to passengers for agreed destinations in Pakistan. The Indian team also requested Pakistan officials for running of BCH (boxes), consisting of eight wheels instead of traditional CRT (of four wheels) for increasing the load of the goods train.

The earlier meeting was held at Wagah (on the Pakistan side) in April this year.

Chowk row in Kanshi’s court
From Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Dec 2 — Having failed to hammer out a solution to the controversial problem of removal of some chowks, named after Bhagwan Balmiki and Dr B.R. Ambedkar, during the past two years, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and city Mayor, Mr Suresh Sehgal, has finally taken the issue to the “court of the Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Mr Kanshi Ram.

The removal of chowks has been a major bone of contention between the Balmiki community of the city and the municipal corporation authorities. While, the Mayor has repeated his resolve to remove the chowks time and again with the plea that these were responsible for creating traffic bottlenecks in the city, the Balmiki community has been expressing its strong opposition to the civic body move by dubbing it as a BJP-RSS-inspired anti-Dalit step and an attack on their feelings associated with Bhagwan Balmiki and Dr Ambedkar. The civic body has been planning to replace the chowks with traffic lights to ease out the traffic congestion, particularly during the morning and evening hours, but the plan has been hanging fire for leaders of the Balmiki community have been resorting to threats and have already organised a number of sit-ins and rallies to air their views on the issue. The continuation of stern postures on both sides had led to a dead-end.

In his effort to break the ice, Mr Sehgal met the BSP leader at the local Circuit House here today and sought his intervention to put an end to the stalemate. He even went to the extent of saying that he was ready to accept the decision of Mr Kanshi Ram on the issue since the civic body was very serious in resolving the issue amicably and did not want any confrontation with the city’s Balmiki community.

While making a request to grant some time to him so that he could discuss the matter with Mr Kanshi Ram, Mr Sehgal also sought to clarify that he had full respect in Bhagwan Balmiki and Dr Ambedkar, but a number of Dalit leaders, including Mr Mohan Lal Zakhmi, who were sitting along with Mr Kanshi Ram, opposed the idea and said the community would not tolerate the removal of chowks for their sentimental value. Mr Sehgal said he could even go to Delhi to have discussions with Mr Kanshi Ram so that a solution could be found at the earliest.

But displaying his usual style, Mr Kanshi Ram remained more or less non-committal and asked Mr Sehgal to meet him in Delhi after the completion of his party’s countrywide “anti-constitution review” rallies on December 6.

POLITICS

It’s mere propaganda: Sukhbir
Tribune News Service

NIDAMPUR, (Sangrur), Dec 2 — Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and former union minister, today said “I am not preparing grounds by touring the state for projecting myself as the next Chief Minister of Punjab”.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Badal said it was only a propaganda by his political opponents he had been projecting in the media as the next Chief Minister. He said no body could replace Mr Parkash Singh Badal even in the next 15 years.

Regarding Prof Brij Lal Rinwa, president of the Punjab unit of the BJP’s statement, that the next Chief Minister of Punjab will be of the BJP, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said this statement was not any a challenge to the SAD leadership or the Chief Ministership of Mr Badal as every party had right to say this in a democratic set-up.

Mr Badal said the relations between the SAD and the BJP were very strong and cordial and these were not only based on “give and take” principle with regard to sharing of assembly seats in the next elections. The clearance of Bathinda oil refinery and international airport for Amritsar by the BJP government were the outcome of cordial relations.

He said only Mr Parkash Singh Badal could decide to accommodate Bibi Jagir Kaur in the political set up.

Mr Badal, while replying to a question regarding ‘parivarwad’ in the SAD, said it did not only prevail in the SAD. It was now a worldwide phenomenon. He said a former American President George Bush’s son was a example who had recently contested election for the post of America’s President. He said the other son of Mr George Bush was a Governor of a state in America. He said “parivarwad” could help a person once. But only that person could survive in politics who had potential and was liked by the people, he added.

Mr Sukhbir Badal also termed the signing of GATT as a “wrong” decision of the Congress government. He said this would prove fatal for farmers especially in Punjab.

He also admitted that public relations of his party was very weak. This was the main reason that our achievements could not reach to the public properly and timely, he added.

He also lashed out at Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, president of Lok Bhalai Party and MP. Mr Ramoowalia was made an MP by the people of Uttar Pradesh, but in place of serving them he was interfering in affairs of Punjab.

Mr Badal also ruled out any compromise with the SHSAD at this stage. He said there was no proposal to shake hands with Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Kanshi to break Jat monopoly
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Dec 2 — The Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Mr Kanshi Ram, today said Punjab politics was “Jat-dominated” and the objective of his party was to break the monopoly.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Kanshi Ram said the political scene in the state had been dominated by Jats and no “Dalit” could ever think of becoming the Chief Minister of the state if the existing domination was not put to an end. He said his effort would be to shatter the monopoly so that the “Bahujan samaj” could think of ruling the state in the future and to achieve that objective he was going to announce the new executive of the Punjab unit in the first half of January.

Adding that his party’s alliance with the Tohra faction had not come to an end as yet, Mr Kanshi Ram said a new polarisation was emerging in the country with those joining hands in the name of “Hindutava” and those who stood for “manavta” for the other. He said same kind of polarisation was also visible in Punjab, where those who wanted to stand guard to “manavta” were joining hands against the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Mr Kanshi Ram said the BSP could consider support to the BJP in case it was ready to shun its “Hindutva” agenda. “Had they done it earlier, they would have been able to garner the support of almost all right thinking parties and would not have needed the support of 24 parties to run their government,” said Mr Kanshi Ram.

He said his party was opposed to tinkering with the Constitution by the BJP and allies and was of the view that it had no faith in the Indian Constitution.

COMMUNITY

Hospitals making people sick
From Chander Parkash & Pushpesh Kumar
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA: Government and private hospitals and individual doctors in this region have been treating thousands of patients every day, generating tonnes of medical waste which, in the absence of disposal in a scientific manner, is making a large number of people sick.

The Punjab Health Department has been laying stress on the necessity of vaccination against various diseases but it has failed to check the menace. Though diseases like AIDS and Hepatitis have been spreading in this border state, the authorities concerned have yet to work out a strategy to dispose of this waste in a safe manner.

Medical waste, which is being thrown by various hospitals in a haphazard manner, is proving harmful to children, particularly those belonging to the poor section, rag- pickers and even stray animals.

Waste matter from clinical tests, the contaminated blood of accident victims, used cotton bandages, empty glucose bottles, used syringes, empty vials, used plaster casts and aborted foetuses are a few of the items constituting such waste.

Aborted foetuses and discarded organs in medical waste are being consumed by pigs and stray dogs. Some medical practitioners have been dumping medical waste in canals and distributaries.

Certain hospitals in the city with vacant plots adjacent to them throw such waste in these plots.

Private medical practitioners here admitted that they had no proper waste disposal system and were forced to make use of municipal garbage bins. A leading gynaecologist added that cotton and other pads discarded by women were also classified as medical waste but nobody seemed to bother about these.

Safai karamcharis of the Municipal Council just dispose of medical waste along with garbage from houses at the dumping ground.

The biggest hospital in the district, the Civil Hospital, does not have an incinerator. A senior hospital doctor says the mandatory time limit set by the Pollution Control Board authorities in this regard has still not expired. Besides, he says, the hospital lacks adequate funds.

Dr Bawa Ram Gupta, Civil Surgeon, says that at the Civil Hospital arrangements have been made to neutralise waste, which is then buried on the hospital premises.

He says the hospital has no authority to direct private hospitals to dispose of medical waste generated by them in a scientific way. This is the responsibility of the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

Mr Kulwant Singh, Environmental Engineer of the Pollution Control Board, Bathinda, says no hospital here has been served notice by the board in connection with waste disposal. 

BKU (E) to back PSEB staff
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, Dec 2 — The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) has extended support to the agitation of employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board. The decision was taken at a meeting of the union held here yesterday.

Mr Shingara Singh, general secretary of BKU (E), in a press note issued here yesterday, said transfers of PSEB employees were made on political grounds as only those employees were transferred who had helped the BKU(E) in its agitation at Jethuke village.

Members of the union also adopted a resolution against the process of privatisation of the PSEB. The resolution alleged that after the privatisation of the PSEB, free of cost electricity facility to the farmers would be stopped and the power bills of the consumers would increase manifold. It further alleged that the process would result in the termination of services of a large number of employees of the PSEB.

They said the union would participate in a rally of the PSEB employees on December 14 at Rampura.

Meanwhile, Mr Jhanda Singh Jethuke, district president, Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta), condemned the arrest of two farmers, allegedly involved in a case of loan default.

Mr Jethuke alleged that, every year more than Rs 40,000 crore due as loans to big industrial houses were being written off but the farmers, who feed the nation, were being put in jails for default in payment of petty loans. Mr Jethuke, said the arrest of two farmers of Harkishan Pura village for defaulting in payment of loan by Housefed was unfortunate.

Brick-kiln owners’ strike ends
Tribune News Service

SANGRUR, Dec 2 — With the acceptance of almost all demands of brick-kiln owners by the Punjab Government, the owners of about 2500 brick-kiln ended their five-month-long strike in the state today.

The strike was started by brick-kiln owners with the closure of brick-kilns for an indefinite period from July 1 last, while they also stopped the sale of bricks during their strike period twice i.e. from July 1 to 7 and from October 24 to 31. Their strike had affected about 1,25,000 workers and other employees involved in the brick-kiln industry and other related businesses, directly or indirectly.

Mr Kewal Krishan Longowalia, President of the Sangrur District Brick-Kiln Owners Association, said here today that the Punjab Government had accepted their long-standing demands at a meeting at Chandigarh last evening. The meeting had been attended, among others, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Jathedar Tota Singh, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha (all ministers); Mr Sarbjit Singh Makkar, Chairman of the Punjab Brick-Kiln Owners Action Committee, and district presidents of brick-kiln associations.

Mr Longowalia said the government had decided to withdraw the imposition of royalty of Rs 45 per 1000 bricks. The decision of mixing fly-ash of the thermal plants in the bricks had also been withdrawn by the government.

The state government would now decrease the sales tax by 20 per cent to 25 per cent. Earlier, the brick-kiln owners of the B-class category (about 90 per cent of the total brick-kilns) had been asked to pay Rs 1,50,000 as sales tax per year, but this amount would now decrease to about Rs 1,22,000 per year.

He claimed that the state government had also assured the brick-kiln owners that a committee, comprising government officials, brick-kiln owners and brick-kiln labourers constituted, would be to decide on the issue of provident fund for brick-kiln workers in the state.

Brick shortage halts development activity
From Our Correspondent

GURDASPUR, Dec 2 — Development activity in this district has come to a standstill due to an indefinite strike by brick-kiln owners since July 1. An owner of two brick-kilns in this district today said that the government had not lifted bricks for development activity for last more than one year.

According to sources, earlier the government did not lift bricks because the state was facing a financial crises. Now when the state was taking up development activity like paving of roads and construction of bridges, the government could not pursue development activity due to shortage of bricks.

The sources said the Panchayati Raj Department had undertaken some development activities in the rural areas but the bricks used by them were either old or sub-standard. In the few shops being built by the Panchayati Raj Department sub-standard or old bricks were being used. Even the Telecommunication Department, for laying of wires had used “C” class bricks.

The sources said that about 12 brick-kilns were operational in this district defying the agitation by the brick-kiln owners. But in view of the demand by the government and private individuals for construction these kilns were far from adequate to meet the demand. Moreover, the government got supply of bricks at a rate of Rs 1460 for 1000 bricks against the price hike of Rs 2100 per 1000 due to shortage of bricks.

These sources added that prior to agitation the bricks were available at Rs 1460 per 1000 both to the government as well as private sector. Due to competition among the owners of the brick-kilns.

The scarcity of bricks was likely to continue and further rise in prices of bricks could not be ruled out if the strike by the brick-kiln owners continued. More than 170 brick-kilns in this district are lying closed and their labour force of about 4000 persons had been rendered jobless. Most of these labourers belonged to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh who have returned to their home states due to unemployment.

The sources said the feasibility of running brick-kilns had been dimmed by the government by imposing Rs 45 as a cess on 1000 kutcha bricks, raising the lump-sum sales tax from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.25 lakh for 27 ghories (stacks) brick-kilns and covering of brick-kilns under the Factory Act. All brick-kilns in this district are of the capacity of 27 ghories.

Meanwhile all brick-kilns in this district have installed chimneys as recommended by the Punjab Pollution Board.

SAD leader to hold indefinite fast
Tribune News Service

SANGRUR, Dec 2 — An SAD leader and president of the local Trinjhan Club, Bibi Surinder Kaur Duggan, yesterday announced she would observe an indefinite fast from December 4 here to demand the immediate arrest of Dr Pratibha Bansal, a gynaecologist in the local Civil Hospital who had not been arrested so far even 10 days after the registration of a case against her under Section 304-A of the IPC.

The police had registered a case against the gynaecologist on November 22 on a complaint by Mrs Jagdish Kaur, mother-in-law of Sukhwinder Kaur of Kamo Majra village, near here. In her complaint, Mrs Jagdish Kaur had alleged that Sukhwinder Kaur had died in the local Civil Hospital on November 21 due to negligence on the part of the gynaecologist.

Sukhwinder Kaur was admitted to the Civil Hospital here in the morning on November 21 for delivery while she died in the night after giving birth to a stillborn baby.

Bibi Surinder Kaur Duggan alleged that efforts were being made by the doctor and her supporters to get the case withdrawn by putting pressures. She warned the authorities concerned that if the case against the gynaecologist was withdrawn, social and woman organisations would intensify the agitation.

‘Society must respect disabled’
From Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, Dec 2 — The Punjab Government is soon going to chalk out a detailed plan for the uplift of differently abled persons, said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while inaugurating the 5th All India Disabled Conference convened by the National Handicapped Welfare Council in collaboration with the Physically Handicapped Association, Punjab, on the eve of International Disabled Day at Kisan Bhawan here today.

Addressing the delegates, Mr Badal said there were innumerable examples which proved that differently abled persons, in the past and present, had played a very important role in our society. Stressing that it was the moral duty of every citizen to help them becoming self dependent, the Chief Minister said, till society did not learn to give the physically challenged persons their due respect and status, celebrations of such occasions would remain meaningless.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Mr Kashmir Sanawa, Co-Convenor of the conference emphasised the need for non government organisations to identify the physically and mentally challenged and work for their upliftment.

Organising Secretary of the Conference Avtar Singh Gharuan appealed for giving proper and suitable representation to the differently abled in the government as well as in the society.

A social reformer and head of Dera Hansali Sahib Sant Ajit Singh, announced that there would be a separate cell for the differently abled to prevent and cure the disability in the proposed international hospital which is being constructed at Hansali.

Mr Satpal Jain, ex-MP and the Chairman of the organising committee also spoke on this occasion.

PSEB audit staff reject pay scales
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — At an emergency meeting held under the Presidentship of Mrs Parminder Pal Kaur, the PSEB Accounts Audit and Administrative Services Association, today rejected the “so-called improved” pay scales announced by the Management of the Board.

In a hard-hitting statement, Mrs Parminder Pal Kaur said that the wage formulation committee, constituted by the Management, had been working for the past three years to improve pay scales and to remove anomalies therein. Many meetings were held in this connection.

Mrs Parminder Kaur said that though the board had held meetings with the representatives of the Association to improve the scales of employees represented by it, but this had not been done. Audit employees had been discriminated against with regard to pay scales since 1967.

Condemning the improved pay scales, the association said that it would not accept these scales and press the Board Management to do justice with it.

The board authorities should protect the interests of all categories of employees and should not do injustice to employees, having small number in the PSEB. The association has sought the removal of anomalies in the pay scales on the basis representation submitted by it.

Consumer forum’s decision challenged
From Our Correspondent

BARNALA, Dec 2 — The Divisional manager, LIC northern zone divisional office, Chandigarh, has challenged a verdict of Consumer Redressal Forum I, Chandigarh regarding the death case of Harcharan Singh Shunty, Police Constable.

The forum had directed the LIC office to pay a sum of Rs 50,000 along with accrued benefits admissible under rules with interest at a rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of repudiation of the deceased’s LIC policy to Nachhattar Singh Shad, father of the deceased.

On the other hand, the LIC had maintained that since the deceased had committed suicide, it was not liable to pay the amount to his kin.

In wake of the appeal against the forum’s verdict, notices have been sent to Nachhattar Singh Shad and the Inspector General Police of Police Training College, Phillaur, for December 23, when the appeal will come up before the State Consumer Redressal Commission.

Engineers to resume stir on pay-scales
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The Ropar region branch of the PSEB Engineers Association has decided to resume agitation to protest against the “humiliating treatment” given to engineers while announcing category-wise pay-scales. The pay-scales were announced by the PSEB management yesterday.

In a statement, Mr Charanjit Singh, a spokesman of the association, said that engineers working at Ropar thermal plant would start work-to-rule stir with effect from December 4 and thereafter participate in nationwide strike on December 12. He said that the Ropar thermal plant engineers were already holding a one-hour rally daily to protest against the unprincipled transfer policy of the board management whereby efficient engineers had been shifted out of the plant and non-thermal engineers had been posted in the plant. The association has urged the management to look into the grievances of the engineers of the Ropar region.

The association condemned the action of the present board management, which is technocrat dominated, in downgrading the pay-scales of assistant engineers and senior executive engineers vis-a-vis their counterparts in general and accounts cadre. The management had entered into a written agreement with the PSEB Engineers Association on March 14, 1998 that assistant engineers would have parity with deputy chief accounts officer and deputy secretary in the matter of pay-scales. The management had not honoured this agreement.

Garbage disposal plants to be set up
From Our Correspondent

BATHINDA, Dec 2 — The garbage of the cities and villages of Punjab will not remain a problem now because plants would be set up shortly in every nook and corner of the state to convert it to fertilisers and gas.

This was stated by Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, Minister for Science and Technology, Punjab, at Sema village in this district. He said the plants would be like the ones working in some of the southern states in the country. He added that a new scheme was under consideration to clean the ponds in the villages. Under the scheme half of the space of ponds would be filled with fresh water and it would be used for fish farming. The other half would be used for the purpose of drinking water for the cattle, he added.

Mr Garg further said the income earned from these farms would be used by the village panchayats for development work in the village.

Lok Adalats held
From Our Correspondent

ABOHAR, Dec 2 — In furtherance of the object of the Legal Services Authority Act, equality before law and access to justice for all, the last quarterly Lok Adalat of the year were held at the subdivisional complex here on Saturday under the guidance of Mr M.M. Bhalla, District and Sessions Judge.

The adalats were presided over by Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate Mr Rajinder Aggarwal, Mr Tarsem Mangla and Mr Lalit Kumar Singla, both civil judges. The sittings were joined by Dr J.C. Garg, in charge Civil Hospital, Principal Hans Raj Gandhar, Principal Dr Mrs Manju Mehta former Principal Mr S.K. Dutta, Dr Sharwan Juneja, Medical Officer and Mr Tara Singh Ahuja as representatives of the public to give the concept of Lok Adalats a true image.

GOC-in-C visits Amritsar
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Dec 2 — Lt-Gen Surjit Singh, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, accompanied by Mrs Deepsurjit Singh, President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Western Command, visited the cantonment here today.

The Army commander was briefed about ongoing projects and activities of the Panther Division. He showed a keen interest in steps taken to improve the quality of life of jawans and measures initiated to enhance efficiency through optimum utilisation of resources.

The commander stressed on the importance of the Army working in a close liaison with the civil authorities to thwart the nefarious designs of the enemy.

ADMINISTRATION

Government fixes allowances
From Our Correspondent

PHILLAUR, Dec 2 — The Punjab Government has fixed different allowances for presidents and councillors of nagar councils and nagar panchayats with effect from December 1. This was stated by Punjab Local Bodies Minister Balramji Dass Tandon while talking with mediapersons after presiding over the prize distribution function variety show of DAV Centenary Public School here this afternoon.

He said now in nagar councils presidents would get Rs 3000 monthly as salary and Rs 2000 monthly as recreation allowance. Councillors will get Rs 100 per meeting of the council. In ‘B 2’ category presidents would get Rs 2000 monthly salary and Rs 1500 recreation allowance and in ‘C’ category presidents will get Rs 1000 monthly salary and Rs 1000 recreation allowance.

Mr Tandon claimed the state government would spend Rs 2700 crore on the construction of roads and bridges in the state. He announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for DAV School from his discretionary fund.

A day of ban orders
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Dec 2 — A number of prohibitory orders were issued yesterday by Mr Narinderjit Singh, District Magistrate.

The orders include a ban on the use of polythene bags. A ban has also been imposed on movement of persons on the Indo-Pak border from 8.30 p.m. to 5 a.m. within an area of 500 metres. The ban will remain in force till January 19. However, the order does not include the G.T. Road running from the border barrier to the city.

Donning military green or olive- green coloured uniforms and painting of jeeps, motorcycles and other vehicles in military colour has also been banned. The ban has been imposed under Section 144 of the Military Act, 1973.

The use of word “Press” on vehicles belonging to non-accredited journalists has also been banned.

Those involved in putting lewd and provocative posters on buildings and showing X-rated films in video parlours and cinema halls will also face action from the administration.

The administration has blacklisted eight finance companies, including Sazada Finance, Majitha Finance, Rehmat Finance, Hilton Finance, Dhanbir Finance, Vikas Deposits and Investments, PS Deposits and Investments, and Prabhat Deposits and Investments.

Plan to carve out residential plots
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Dec 2 — The local improvement trust authorities have decided to carve out 2000 residential plots to middle income group and lower income group section of society.

The IT authorities had identified land in the city and site plans were being prepared. Land would be exploited for commercial purposes also, official sources said.

Mr Mohan Lal Garg, Chairman of the trust, when contacted, said for the facelift of the city and to reduce traffic congestion, the improvement trust had given seven acres of land free of cost for the ring road. Apart from it, Rs 50 lakh would be spent for the construction of ring road.

The IT authorities had reserved about 18 acres of land on the Bathinda-Barnala road for special purpose. The provision for bank, school, yatri niwas and CCI office had been made in the reserved site.

He pointed out that the IT authorities had stopped charging of non-construction penalty from the plot holders of various schemes of it in which basic amenities had not been provided so far. He added that financial health of the Improvement Trust was very sound.

Mr Garg said that Principal Secretary, Local Bodies, Punjab Government, Mr N.K. Arora would hold a meeting tomorrow to review the functioning and development projects under taken by local IT. He said that process of shifting of dairies and transport agencies and goods offices to the dairy complex and transport nagar would start shortly.

CM orders filling of posts for handicapped
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said today that he had instructed the departments concerned to clear the backlog of vacancies of handicapped persons in a stipulated period. 

Presiding over the 5th All-India Disabled Conference convened by the National Handicapped Welfare Association (Punjab), Mr Badal said that he had asked the authorities concerned give top priority to fill posts against the handicapped quota. Mr Ajit Salani, who was one of the main organisers of the conference, said that objective behind organising it was to convey the sentiments of the disabled to the Government.

CRIME

HC directive to police on 2 militants’ remand
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 2 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Nirmal Singh today restrained the Punjab Police from interrogating militants Ranjit Singh Gill alias Kuki and Sukhminder Singh Sandhu alias Sukhi in respect of various criminal cases pending in Ludhiana district.

Both these militants were declared proclaimed offenders by the Ludhiana Sessions Court in September, 1985. Both militants were wanted by the Police for various criminal activities in Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan.

However, Kuki and Sukhi escaped to New York allegedly after committing a series of killings. Early this year, the US government extradited them to India for their involvement in the former MP Lalit Maken and his wife’s murder case and a shooting incident at Udaipur in Rajasthan.

As they landed at the IGI Airport in New Delhi, the Punjab Police had been trying hard to get their custody for interrogation in five different cases of TADA, murders and Arms Act. The Punjab Police obtained their arrest warrants from the Court of Ludhiana Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr B.K. Mehta.

On getting a wind of the activities of the Punjab Police, Mr Khem Singh Gill and Mr Jagjit Singh Sandhu, fathers of Ranjit Singh Gill and Sukhminder Singh Sandhu, respectively, moved the High Court here, pleading that custody of their sons should not be given to the Punjab Police.

The Bench, in its nine-page judgement, observed, “We hold that the police authorities of the State of Punjab cannot seek remand of the sons of the petitioners in relation to any offence other than those for which they have been extradited to India in pursuance of the order dated May 23, 1997 passed by the Court of the USA”.

The Bench further ruled that the Punjab Home Secretary and the SSP Ludhiana, are restrained from seeking remand of the sons of the petitioners or taking any other step for bringing them to trial for any offence other than those in relation to which they have extradited in pursuance of the judgement of the court of the United States of America.

More women take to smuggling
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Dec 2 — In the past three years, the district police has arrested 23 women allegedly involved in the smuggling of opium, poppy husk and illicit liquor.

In the current year, there was an unprecedented use in the number of women taking to drug smuggling. Up to November 27, the district police arrested 10 women involved in the smuggling of narcotics.

Binder Kaur, one of the accused, allegedly started smuggling narcotics when her husband was arrested by the police in January, 2000, for the same offence. She fell into the police net in June, 2000.

Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, when contacted, said in 1998, seven women were arrested by the police for their involvement in smuggling of narcotics. In 1999, the number of such women was six. The number had gone up to 10 this year.

Police sources said more and more women were taking to smuggling as police personnel found it difficult to search a woman in the absence of women cops as part of a raiding party.

Dr Jain pointed out that in the current year 700 gm of opium and more than 164 kg of poppy husk had been recovered from the women smugglers. At least eight of the accused belonged to Bathinda district.

He said a woman, Manjeet Kaur, belonging to Dabwali town in Sirsa district of Haryana, was arrested by the district police while transporting 13 kg of poppy husk to Rampura area of the district along with her accomplice, Jugraj Singh, on a scooter.

He pointed out that smugglers had now started using small vehicles for transporting narcotics from one place to another. The district police had impounded eight scooters, four bicycles, eight cars and four jeeps from the smugglers this year.

EDUCATION

Clown Shiven enthrals students
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Dec 2 — Clown Shiven, a German national and internationally known stage performer, enthralled young audience at Sant Singh Sukha Singh School here under the auspices of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations on the evening of December 2. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, presided over the function.

Clown Shiven, who is staging these performances under the Festival of Germany in India, kept the audience spellbound for an hour and a half. Six feet and three inches tall Shiven mixed freely with the students.

Mr Narinderjit Singh thanked the government for making it possible for ‘Clown Shiven’ to visit Amritsar. The Director, Mr Jagdish Singh, and Principal, Mr Kanwarpal Singh, thanked the Deputy Commissioner for giving this opportunity to the institution for staging this show. He was honoured by the Deputy Commissioner, the Director and the Principal with a phulkari, a symbol of Punjabi culture. The SDM, Ms Gurpreet Kaur Samra, and Deputy DEO, Mr Gursharan Singh Mann, also attended the performance.

Painting contest
From Our Correspondent

BARNALA, Dec 2 — The local Lions Club (Harmony) organised an inter-university poster making and painting contest on Thursday at the local lal Bahadur Shastri Arya Mahila College complex. Ms Kusum Verma, Principal of the college, inaugurated the competition.