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| Monday,
December 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Search on for new Chief Secretaries Badal fills Amritsar’s tank of woes Top cop’s son ‘harasses’
shopkeepers Makkar ‘samaroh’
a tame affair Harness
human resources: NCRC chief |
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SAD plans no-trust move against Mayor Kaura comes out of
‘hibernation’ Bhinder: mid-term poll
inevitable
DCs managing gurdwaras in
Bihar: Mann Registrar’s appointment
illegal: FEAR Quila Mubarak: records belie ground
realities Call to oppose globalisation Popularise NSV, docs urged Petrol station in memory of
martyr 20 pensioners honoured Pensioners to meet Finance
Minister Shift garbage area: villagers Brahmin Sabha for status quo Arya
Pratinidhi Sabha splits Doctor killed
in accident
Security
beefed up at railway station Museum to be
opened in 2001
Fake
certificate racket unearthed Robbers gang
busted, arms seized Fleeing
robber falls off scooter, dies Ex-sarpanch
held with smack
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Search on for new Chief Secretaries CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 —A search is on for new Chief Secretaries of both Punjab and Haryana. While the Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, an IAS officer of the 1965 batch, is due to retire on superannuation on the last day of this month, his Punjab counterpart, Mr R.S. Mann, also belonging to the same batch, will relinquish charge on January 31 next year on attaining superannuation. Sources close to Mr Mann indicate that he is not keen on any assignment after his retirement. On the other hand, there are indications that the Haryana Government may consider retaining Mr Vishnu Bhagwan for three months before looking for his successor at the start of the next financial year. For the INLD-BJP government in Haryana, a successor to Mr Vishnu Bhagwan will be the third Chief Secretary in seven months. The previous Chief Secretary, Mr Ram Sahai Verma, had retired on August 31 this year. In the case of Punjab, things have been more stable. Mr Mann was appointed the Chief Secretary soon after the present Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government assumed office in February, 1997. The appointment of a successor to Mr Mann has assumed tremendous importance amidst speculation that the state may go in for a mid-term poll in March-April next year. In the case of Haryana, however, things are different, as the present INLD-BJP government has been in office for less than a year now. After the Union Government raised the retirement age of civil servants to 60, there has been hardly any instance when either the Centre or any state government has given extension to any superannuated official. However, the Haryana Government is reportedly toying with the idea of extending the tenure of Mr Vishnu Bhagwan by three months. Sources in the Haryana Administration refer to a letter purportedly written by the Union Cabinet Secretary in the recent past on the subject enabling the state governments to exercise their powers of extending the tenure of all-India Civil Service officials working under them to a maximum of three months. However, no one confirms having read the letter. In any case, there is no such move in Punjab and as such the state has to have a new Chief Secretary in place on February 1 next year. Though the appointment of the Chief Secretary is considered the prerogative of the state Chief Minister, both Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Om Prakash Chautala, have so far not indicated any name for the top post in their respective state administrations. In Haryana, the seniormost officer available is Mrs Kiran Aggarwal, who belongs to the 1964 batch and has been with the Union Government since 1993. She has 13 months to go for superannuation. Another officer of the same batch and with the Union Government is Mr Surinder Kumar Sharma, who is due to retire on March 31 next year. The chances of Mr Sharma being considered for the top slot are thus remote. In the 1965 batch, the seniormost is Mr Ashok Pahwa, at present Union Secretary, Chemicals and Fertilisers. He may not be keen on leaving his position to return to the state. Another officer of the same batch with the Centre is Mr Murli Dhar Asthana, who has one full year to go for his retirement. Mr Keshav Gopal Verma, also of the 1965 batch but serving the state government here, is also a strong contender for the post as he has 11 months to go for his retirement. Another hot contender is Mr Lalit Mohan Goyal of the 1966 batch who has almost 29 months of service left. Mr Deepak Dasgupta, a batchmate of Mr Goyal, is on deputation with the Government of
India. The third officer of the 1966 batch is Mr Prem Raj Kaushik. In the case of Punjab, there appears to be a close tie between Mr Naresh Kumar Arora, Financial Commissioner, Local Government, and Mr Rajan Kashyap, Financial Commissioner, Science, Technology and Environment. Both of them belong to the 1965 batch and after Mr Mann, also belonging to their batch, was elevated as Chief Secretary, they were also placed in the pay scale of Chief Secretary. Also belonging to the 1965 batch are Mrs Shyama Mann, who is due to retire on September 30 next year, Mr Gurpartap Singh Sahi (April 30, 2001) and Mr Kuldip Singh Janjua (July 31, 2001). Mr Naresh Kumar Arora is considered a trusted lieutenant of the Punjab Local Bodies Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and has 20 months’ service left. On the other hand, Mr Rajan Kashyap, who held the Finance Department for a long time, has 31 months to go for superannuation. Another option would be to take back senior officers from the government of India. Mr Vinod Kumar Khanna, who was the Chief Secretary before the present Government was sworn in, is due to retire in April next year and belongs to the 1963 batch. Mr Ajit Kumar of the 1964 batch holds the Secretary’s job in the Union Government and is unlikely to return to the state. He has 13 months to superannuation. Mr Swaran Singh Boparai, also of the 1964 batch, is awaiting a “good” posting. He is due for retirement on June 30 in 2002. The remaining two officers of the 1964 batch are Mr Dinesh Chandra, currently in Delhi, and Mr Kamal Nain Singh, Presiding Officer, Sales Tax Tribunal. The former retires on July 31, 2002, and the latter on August 31 next year. |
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Badal fills Amritsar’s tank of woes AMRITSAR: Even as Mr Parkash Singh Badal had announced that he would govern on the pattern of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, yet the holy city of Amritsar, the summer capital of the legendary Maharaja, has remained in a state of neglect during the past four years of his government. Before partition, Amritsar was much bigger than its adjoining city of Lahore and its revenue much more. However, this city has been a victim of negligence by successive governments. According to data available, the state governments ignored the development of Amritsar on the pretext that it was near the international border. The fact remains that Lahore, also a border town, has witnessed much development since Partition. As per the 1868 census, the population of Amritsar was 1,35,813 and of Lahore 98,924. The income from Amritsar industry was Rs 6,90,284 while that of Lahore was Rs 2,45,445. At that time Amritsar was known as the industrial capital of South Asia. Many big industrial houses had established their business here in wake of its historical significance. The Akalis always launched their religious morchas (dharm yudhs) from Akali Takht in the past. The acts of injustice done to the city by successive governments is long. The Amritsar Vikas Manch, headed by Prof Mohan Singh, has written numerous letters to the Chief Minister complaining against the neglect of the city, but in vain. He said the Akalis get religious power from Amritsar yet they had shattered the economy by launching morchas from time to time. However, after coming to power, they forgot their city which give them the much-required inspiration. What to talk of getting “special attention,” Amritsar did not even get its “due share” from developmental funds. The World Institute of Technology, which was planned near the international airport of Rajasansi, is being established near Chandigarh. The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 1.25 crore for a tourism information centre in Ludhiana, instead of Amritsar, which has much tourism potential. After coming to power, the Badal Government developed Mohali as one of the best information technology centres in Asia. A software techology park earth station was established. Local residents ask the question, why Amritsar was not chosen for setting up big industries. After coming to power, Mr Badal gave special attention to Malwa and Doaba regions. An oil refinery, one of the biggest in the state, was set up in Bathinda district. The Doaba region was obliged with the setting up of Science City and the Renewable Energy Institute was established in Kapurthala district by the Badal Government. Though Amritsar, one of the ancient cities of the country, was ignored while opening Health University despite the fact it had the oldest medical college in the state. It was also ignored while hosting the National Games though its Guru Nanak Dev University has been winning the prestigious Abul Kalam Azad Trophy for the past 16 years. It may be mentioned here that the sixth Sikh master, Guru Hargobind, used to organise the games during his time in Amritsar. Even the office of the Akali Dal has been shifted from Amritsar to Chandigarh for the reasons best known to them. Though the then Barnala Government had committed in 1986 that the Punjab Government would constitute a development authority for Amritsar yet no step has been taken so far. Instead, the state government formed the Anandpur Sahib Development Authority for the overall development of the city. Amritsar was totally ignored from development point of view even at the time of Khalsa tercentenary celebrations. Though four-laning of roads was completed in most cities yet no attempt was made to complete the same from Jalandhar to Amritsar, even though it is an international road and was given low priority. Not only this the Punjab Urban Development Authority has constructed urban estates in small towns but no such colony was developed in this city. The ambitious Galliara Yojana (the beautification of the Golden Temple’s surroundings) could not be completed so far. Two phases of the yojana have been hanging fire since the formation of the Badal Government, due to the alleged indifferent attitude. |
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Top cop’s son ‘harasses’
shopkeepers FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 17 — Shopkeepers of the sabzi mandi, Bassi Pathanan, are a harried lot because of intimidation by the son of a top police official and his friends, who claim to have purchased the land where their shops are located and are trying to take its possession forcibly. The Sabzi Mandi Arhtia Association today met Mr R.S. Cheema, former minister, and Mr Swaran Singh district president, SAD (B), and urged them to intervene in the matter. Mr Cheema took up the issue with the SSP and threatened to sit on a dharna in front of the Chief Minister’s house, if the son of the police official did not mend his ways. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Surinder Thukral president of the association, said arhtias had been running their shops in the sabzi mandi for the past 25 years. He said they were the tenants of Mr Dalip Singh and after his death, they were paying rent regularly to Mr Pritam Singh. Recently the SHO, Bassi Pathanan, called commission agents to the police station and introduced them to two youths, saying that they were the owner of the land as they had purchased it. He alleged that five to seven youths, along with their gunmen, came to the sabzi mandi and started demolishing the boundary wall of a shop. The owner of the shop handed over the possession of his shop, apprehending a threat to his life. Mr Surinder ‘Babba’, municipal councillor and Mr Daulat Ram, district president, Bharti Balmiki Sabha, intervened and managed to get some compensation for the shopkeeper . The youths threatened the commission agents to vacate their shops, else their shops would be demolished, he alleged. Mr Thukral demanded that a police post should be set up at the mandi and security should be provided to the shopkeepers. The commission agents today met the SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, and presented a memorandum apprehending threat to their lives. The SSP marked the memorandum to the SHO, Bassi Pathana, for a action. |
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Makkar ‘samaroh’
a tame affair LUDHIANA, Dec 17 — In the ongoing battle for supremacy in the district unit of the SAD, senior party leaders chose to stay away from, what was planned as, a show of strength by Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, one of the two contenders for the post of district president of the party. A “sanman samaroh” organised by Mr Makkar here today proved to be a tame affair with most of the VIPs failing to turn up. Organisers had announced by way of posters and invitation cards that the function would be presided over by Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President, SGPC, while the elaborate list of guests included Mr Charanjit Singh
Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr Tota Singh, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, all cabinet ministers, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, district president, BJP, Lala Lajpat Rai, MP and other prominent party leaders. Barring Mr Atwal and Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, Chairman, Punjab Mandi Board, no one made it to the function, much to the embarrassment of Mr Makkar and his supporters. For quite some time now, the district unit of the SAD has been without a president after the switching of loyalties by Mr Hira Singh Gabria, MLA, and the then president of the District Akali Jatha (Urban), who sided with the former SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. The post has since been a bone of contention between Mr Makkar and another Badal loyalist, Mr Amarjit Singh Bhatia. Mr Makkar, who was the senior vice-president of the district unit of SAD when Mr Gabria was removed, claims to be the acting president but Mr Bhatia refuses to recognise him as such, asserting that the party high command had not made any such appointment. Both Mr Bhatia and Mr Makkar make claims of being close to the Chief Minister. While Mr Bhatia was named one of the vice-presidents during the recent reorganisation of the SAD, Mr Makkar was also included in the working committee. With the party leadership not taking any decisive stand on the issue of presidentship, a fierce fight is on for one-upmanship between the two camps, thereby affecting the image of the party. The two contenders to the coveted post have clashed more than once in public, as the party leadership failed to intervene and decide the issue once for all. Party sources revealed that the ‘sanman samaroh’ was another gimmick by the Makkar camp to gain some sort of legitimacy to his claim of being the acting president. Even if half of the dignitaries, which the organisers claimed would attend the function, were there, it would have done a lot of good to the morale of Makkar supporters. Moreover, the presence of Mr Talwandi would have been an indicator that the SGPC chief would support Mr Makkar whenever the matter of appointment of the district president came up before the party leadership. The absence of BJP stalwart and a member of the Rajya Sabha Lala Lajpat Rai, and district president of the party, Mr Harbans Lal Sethi was a clear pointer that the alliance partner of the SAD will not like to involve itself in the faction fighting of its ally by taking sides. SAD activists, expressed their unhappiness over the “indecision and indifference” of the party high command on the matter of choosing a district president. “It is most unfortunate that the party leadership has failed to name a district president for an important place like Ludhiana for almost three years now,” a senior Akali Dal functionary said. |
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Harness
human resources: NCRC chief AMRITSAR, Dec 17 — A former Chief Justice, Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, feels that there is no place for mediocrity in the technologically fast-changing world and the education system in our country needs to revolutionalise its concepts based on western advancement. The former Chief Justice and the Chairman of the National Commission to Review the Constitution, made these remarks while delivering the second Mahatma Hans Raj Memorial Lecture organised by the local DAV College last night. He urged the academicians and the intelligentsia to jointly harness the human and material resources of the country, failing which the ever-widening gap between research in the developed and developing nations might bring on intellectual disaster of an unimaginable magnitude: “If we do not move with the technological current, fast and thick, the pace of change sweeping the globe will wash away everything”, he cautioned. Delivering a lecture on the “Methods of knowledge”, he said the education needed to face the threat posed by the advanced nations. “The Indian philosophy and its rich spiritual heritage can play an important role to broaden our outlook and help absorb the technological advancement of the western nations”. He said the challenge before the intellectuals was to make available resources and provide opportunities to people in the research field so that other countries did not lure them away. “The time has come to make serious efforts to fully channelise material resources for the benefit of our civil society”. “The next century is going to be dominated by knowledge system and prosperity will entirely depend upon the proper utilisation and optimisation of knowledge as it in itself may not lead to significant value addition in economic activities unless it is coupled with innovations”, he said. Laying stress on women’s education, justice Venkatachaliah said that by educating women “we can find solution to every problem facing the society as it is the mother who is the best teacher of the child”. The example set by Kerala must be emulated by the entire country as it had not only achieved 100 per cent literacy, but had brought down infant mortality to a negligible level. Quoting extensively from the World Bank Report, he added that a child born in Kerala would live longer than one born in Washington. He urged institutions of higher learning, including universities, to devote more resources and energies to find solutions to the Indian problems as he felt no foreign pattern could help our country. Mr Chander Prakash, Vice-President, DAV College Managing Committee, while welcoming Justice Venkatachaliah, said that DAV institutions were alive to the changing scenario and would adopt fully to information technology. The Principal, Mr M. L. Aeri, also spoke. Earlier, a multi-media news reel
depicting the austere life and selfless work of Mahatma Hans Raj was
shown at BBK DAV College for Women, Amritsar. |
SAD plans no-trust move against Mayor JALANDHAR, Dec 17 — The rift among the ruling SAD (B)-BJP corporators deepened today with a former Senior Deputy Mayor and an Akali councillor, Mr Gurcharan Singh Narula, asserting that the SAD would bring a no-confidence motion against the BJP Mayor, Mr Suresh Sehgal, with the help of the BSP and Congress for his alleged misrule and indifferent attitude towards development works in the wards of Akali councillors at the next general house meeting of the corporation. Mr Narula, who was ‘removed’ from the post of Senior Deputy Mayor by Mr Sehgal with the help of Congress councillors on July 10, alleged that the Mayor had instructed the civic officials to stop all development works in the wards of Akali councillors since his removal as senior deputy mayor. “The proposal, seeking the removal of the Mayor, Suresh Sehgal, has already been signed by 10 Akali, 4 BSP and 3 Independent councillors. However, the 22-member Congress group has assured us support if this proposal is tabled in the House,” claimed Mr Narula. When asked to identify the three Independent councillors, Mr Narula said the disclosure of names at this stage would hamper the move to dislodge the mayor. Though the Punjab Municipal Act, 1976, clearly specifies that there should be at least one monthly meeting of the corporation’s general house to properly run the affairs of the civic body, the Mayor had not announced a meeting for the last six months despite several written requests by Congress and SAD (Badal) councillors, he alleged. Mr Raj Kumar Gupta, a Congress councillor and leader of opposition in the corporation, claimed that the Mayor was short of a majority after the BSP had withdrawn support from the SAD-BJP alliance in protest against the move of the Mayor to remove two roundabouts named after Dr Ambedkar and Balmiki. “Let the Akali Dal bring a no-confidence proposal against the Mayor on the floor of the House, the Congress is ready to support such a proposal,” added Mr Gupta. Mr Vipan Kumar, BSP councillor, demanded that the Mayor should immediately call a meeting of the House to prove his majority or resign on moral grounds. The Mayor was, however, away to Chandigarh to attend an official meeting and was not available for comments. |
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Kaura comes out of ‘hibernation’ FEROZEPORE, Dec 17 — After a long period of seclusion, the senior BJP leader, Mr Jagmohan Kaura, who had earlier revolted against the appointment of Prof Brij Lal Rinwa as the Punjab BJP president, is trying to activate the rebels within the party. Mr Kaura, who hails from this border district, has begun contacting his supporters in the party. He is now touring the state extensively to garner support from the rebels. Although Mr Kaura is not willing to share what exactly is in his mind, he told the TNS that he would take a big step in near future. He said some domestic problems had delayed his action. However, sources close to Mr Kaura revealed that he had a larger game plan to target the RSS leadership that played a crucial role in electing Prof Rinwa as the state BJP president. His supporters said he wanted to restore democracy in the party that was “strangulated” by the RSS, which had “imposed” Mr
Rinwa leader on the BJP rank and file. The possibility of Mr Kaura floating a faction is not being ruled out. |
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Bhinder: mid-term poll inevitable GURDASPUR, Dec 17 — Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, senior Congress leader, talking to reporters here yesterday, said that a mid-term poll in the state was inevitable. She said the Chief Minister had not recovered from the paddy muddle so far. Mrs Bhinder said Punjab had plenty of foodgrains stocks. The faulty policies of the Chief Minister had resulted in the failure of these stocks being shifted to other states. Mrs Bhinder said the Chief Minister should have persuaded the central government to order the transfer of the stocks for use in other states. She reminded the Chief Minister that the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister had prevailed upon the Centre to stop the free movement of paddy to
southern states. Mrs Bhinder said the Chief Minister had miserably failed to prove his credentials. She reminded him that the paddy in the state had witnessed a distress sale. Mrs Bhinder said the Rs 350 crore package announced by the Punjab Government at the behest of the Centre was a political stunt. |
DCs managing gurdwaras in Bihar: Mann MANSA, Dec 17 — If farmers of Punjab cannot sell their produce in other states like Andhra Pradesh due to the Central Government’s decision, the government should not think about global market by implementing the GATT agreement, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP and President, SAD (A), said here today. He said if the Union Government had accepted the GATT agreement, it should also eliminate international borders according to GATT terms so that the farmers of the country could sell their produce in neighbouring countries to get a better price. He said recently the USA had recruited 60,000 computer engineers alone from Tamil Nadu, adding that due to the “bad” policies of the state government, Punjab was number 17 at the national level in progress. Mr Mann alleged that gurdwaras of Bihar were being administered by Deputy Commissioners and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was nothing. He was addressing a gathering at Moffar village after an akhand path bhog ceremony organised at the residence of Mr Ajit Inder Singh Moffar, MLA, Sardulgarh. Among others who addressed the event were Mr Baldev Singh Khiala, MLA, Mr Hardev Singh Arshi, MLA and Sant Attma Singh Dhur Kot, member SGPC. |
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Registrar’s appointment
illegal: FEAR PATIALA, Dec 17 — The Forum for Educational Action and Reform (FEAR) has claimed that the appointment of Dr B.S. Bhatia as Registrar of Punjabi University was contrary to the Act, statutes and ordinances of the university. In a statement here, FEAR President Amarjit Singh Dhillon claimed that according to Section-9- B (1) of the University Act , the Registrar was a whole-time administrative officer and his term was of four years or up to the age of 60, whichever was earlier . Dr Dhillon said Dr Bhatia was simultaneously holding the post of professor in the School of Management Studies, besides the additional charge of Dean, Research. He said Dr Bhatia was, therefore, holding three positions . The FEAR President said according to the ordinances of the university, every vacant post had to be advertised. He said, however, the post of Registrar was never advertised after the retirement of Dr Ranbir Singh Sarao in February, 2000. He said according to the statutes of the university Calendar the Syndicate “may appoint a person to be Registrar either substantively or as a temporary arrangement” but there was no provision for a “part-time Registrar”. The forum appealed to the Punjab Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university, to get the post of Registrar advertised immediately so that a suitable person could be appointed according to the rules of the university. |
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Quila Mubarak: records belie ground
realities PATIALA, Dec 17 — Even as the historical buildings in Patiala are decaying for want of conservation work, serious irregularities have come to light in the maintenance of records in both Quila Mubarak and Sheesh Mahal complexes, where the entries in the books do not match the material in various stores . In both complexes, the quantity of material, including bitumen felt, primer, tiles and snowcem paint, listed in the record is less than the actual
quantity present in various stores . Employees have complained against this to the Department of Archaeology and Cultural Affairs. Recently there has been another complaint of material, including bitumen felt and primer, being taken out of the Quila Mubarak complex after the first complaint about excess material being present in various stores was brought to the notice of the department . The complainants have also submitted to the officials a list of various items in the stores based on the entries made at the time of handing over of charges in the complexes. According to the record, there is 2800 cubic feet of crushed stone lying in the Quila Mubarak complex. However, the complaints allege that there is double this quantity lying in various stores. Besides this, while 5,000 tiles are listed in the record, it is alleged that around 8,000 tiles are lying on the Quila premises. Similarly, while 7,000 square metres of bitumen felt is listed on record, it is alleged that nearly double this quantity is lying in the Quila . Steel bars are also alleged to be in surplus of 70 quintals as compared with the record . It is also alleged that wood, primer and lime is lying in excess of the record on the Quila premises . In case of Sheesh Mahal, it has been alleged that while 2.56 quintal of lime is listed in the record, there is around 60 quintals of lime lying in the complex . However other officials of the department, claimed that it was a simple case of material not being listed in the record for various reasons. They claimed that departmental infighting was the actual reason behind these complaints and that the same persons who were now complaining about irregularities had not listed the alleged shortcomings earlier when they were in office at the Quila Mubarak and the Sheesh Mahal. The Director of the archaeological and Cultural Affairs Department, Mr Inderjit Singh, said the complaints had been yesterday by an official deputed from Chandigarh. They said officials were physically checking material lying in various stores in the Quila Mubarak and the Sheesh Mahal. |
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Call to oppose globalisation JALANDHAR, Dec 17 (UNI) — The two-day state conference of a Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (PSSF) faction led by Mr Parmjit Singh Gandhi concluded here today with a call to oppose privatisation and globalisation. The conference, which re-elected Mr Gandhi and Mr Nazar Singh as President and Ganeral Secretary, respectively, supported the agitation of postal employees, elementary teachers and PWD work-charge employees. Members decided to participate in the January 10 all-India state government employees federation strike in protest against the government’s policy to privatise various sectors of economy such as banking, insurance, power, telecom and postal services. Addressing the conference, the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) national Vice-President, Mr Balwant Singh, said new economic policies of the Centre and various state governments would lead to a crisis situation for the employees and hence must be opposed. Mr Nazar Singh called for united action by the employees to force changes in the policies in favour of the working class. The Punjab Government Teachers Union General Secretary, Mr Sucha Singh, charged the government with abdicating its responsibility in the education sector which was becoming commercialised and expensive and hence beyond the reach of the common man. The delegate session of the conference held today elected a 55-member state executive and adopted a resolution demanding the regularisation of the services of PWD work-charge employees who had completed 240 days of service. |
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Popularise NSV, docs urged SANGRUR, Dec 17 — Delivering the keynote address at a seminar, Dr Rajiv Puri, a family planning surgeon, urged the medical community to popularise no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV), the latest technique for male sterilisation to check population explosion in the country. The seminar on family planning programme was organised by the local branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare here last night. The seminar was presided over by Dr B.L. Jindal, retired Civil Surgeon and patron of the Sangrur IMA. Dr Puri said the NSV had played a vital role in controlling the population in China. He said this technique was popular in that country as it was almost painless as compared to the traditional ‘incisional vasectomy’ (IV). There was no incision in NSV, which led to bleeding-free and stitch-free sterilisation. Besides, NSV required no hospitalisation. He exhorted family planning surgeons to ensure that two semen specimens of the man undergoing NSV were sperm-free before declaring a family planning operation successful. Dr Narpal Singh, SMO, suggested some precautions for men under- going NSV. Dr Darshan Pal, anaesthetist, working at the local Civil Hospital, also stressed upon the need to make the people aware about this new technique by launching a campaign in the rural, and slum areas as well as urban areas. Dr B.L. Jindal urged the family planning surgeons and other doctors to play a vital role in motivating the people to adopt various family planning techniques and contribute to controlling the population. Dr Surinder Singla, Secretary of the Sangrur IMA, said that the population problem in India was worse than an atomic explosion. He said the IMA was fully committed to implementing and disseminating information about the national population control programmes at all levels. Later, talking to TNS, Dr Surinder Singla urged the Union Government to declare the population control programme as a national emergency. He appealed to all parties to give their fullest commitment and resources to make it a mass movement. |
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Petrol station in memory of martyr FEROZEPORE, Dec 17 (PTI) — The first retail outlet-cum-petrol station of its kind in the district and the second in Punjab in memory of a Kargil martyr was inaugurated today by the local MP, Mr Zora Singh Mann, at Mamdot, 15 km from here, today. The petrol station was commissioned in memory of Sepoy Surjeet Singh of 8 Sikh Regiment who faced the enemy with bravery and showed exemplary courage and laid down his life for the motherland at Tiger Hill in Kargil on August, 1999. The Government of India, keeping in mind the supreme sacrifices made by the members of the armed forces, had allotted petrol stations and LPG agencies to the families of the martyrs under the Operation Vijay scheme. In all, 13 retail outlets-cum-petrol stations have been allotted in Punjab, out of which, this was the first to be commissioned in the region and the first by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, (BPCI) according to Mr Arun Gupta, area manager of the BPCL. The company has spent Rs 20 lakh on the development of the station under the corpus fund scheme and working capital worth Rs 11 lakh has been extended to the father of the martyr, Mr Udham Singh. This working capital will be recovered in 100 equal monthly instalments starting after one year of operation. |
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20 pensioners honoured GURDASPUR, Dec 17 — The district administration organised pensioners’ day today at the local Panchayat Bhavan. Mr B. Vikram, Deputy Commissioner, presided over the function. As many as 20 pensioners were honoured. They included Mr Baunsi Ram, a 101-year-old retired employee of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here. The pensioners who spoke included Mr Om Parkash Sharma, Mr S.S. Jaspal and Mr Sat Pal Bedi. Mr Vikram said that a special cell has been created in the district courts to redress grievances of pensioners. Instructions had been issued to all government offices to give due recognition and honour to the pensioners who have contributed a lot to the development of the nation. He said that facilities like old-age homes, if demanded by pensioners, could be provided. The pensioners demanded a new pension act to replace the Old Pension Act, 1871. The pensioners are being covered by an order issued by the Supreme Court in 1987. The pensioners demanded statutory provisions for their welfare. The pensioners said that entry gate of the treasury office, which is used by pensioners drawing a pension of Rs 500 and below per month, needed a facelift. Water accumulated in front of this entry gate, particularly during the rains, causing a lot of inconvenience to pensioners. |
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Pensioners to meet Finance Minister AMRITSAR, Dec 17 — A seven member deputation of the Confederation of Punjab Pensioners headed by its president Mr B.R. Kaushal has been invited by Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister. Mr Avtar Singh Afat, patron of the confederation, in a press note said they would urge the government to accept and issue notification of pending demands recommended by the 4th Pay Commission, including increase in fixed medical allowance and release of already accepted demands before Assembly poll and to prevent any exploitation of pensioners by political interests. The meeting has been fixed for December 20 at Chandigarh. |
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Shift garbage area: villagers JALANDHAR, Dec 17 — Residents of several villages on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road are up in arms against the local municipal corporation authorities for not shifting a vast garbage dump, spread across acres of land, near Nandpur village, along the Jalandhar-Pathankot road, which has been a cause of diseases among thousands of residents of these villages. The residents of Nandpur, Perowali, Bulandpur, Nangal, Sarup Nagar, Kabulpur, Dhogri and Reru villages are angry over the presence of a huge garbage dump along the main road for about a decade. They said the municipal council was indifferent to their problems, in spite of a number of representations. The garbage dump still exists, with officials shifting the buck to one another. They say there are lakhs of flies around the dump. “We cannot sit in open places of our houses due to the presence of flies, which have found an ideal breeding ground in the dump,” Mr Sarup Singh
Dhegi, a local leader and resident of Nandpur village said. “You cannot stand in any of the villages without covering your face with some cloth as the dump emits a very foul smell” he added. This proved true when this correspondent paid a visit to several villages. They were infested with flies, foul smell and mosquitoes even during the day. The garbage dump comprises
carcases, meat waste and non-bio-degradable material like polythene. Sometimes, you can even see bodies of new borns in the dump,” said Mr Jugraj Singh of Dhogri village. “Forget about eating in courtyards of our houses, we cannot even breathe when the flow of air is towards our village,” said a villager of Bulandpur village. Dr Vir Chand
Jassi, a resident of one of these villages, said about six months ago, municipal employees had stopped dumping garbage there after protests from the residents. However, it has started once again. “We have met the Deputy Commissioner and other officials, but to no avail,” he alleged. Panches, sarpanches and agitated residents threatened to indefinitely block the traffic on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway if the matter was not taken up soon. |
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Brahmin Sabha for status quo AMRITSAR, Dec 17 — The general body meeting of the All-India Brahmin Federation (AIBF) today unanimously resolved that the all-India Gurdwara Act, 1925, which provides voting rights to “Sehajdhari Sikhs” should not be altered for the sake of communal harmony. The general house of the SGPC has already resolved that the Gurdwara Act be amended on the pattern of the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee Act wherein ‘Sehajdharis’ do not have the voting rights. It was also resolved that the National Commission to Review the Constitution should recommend 30 per cent reservation for “forward” communities or to cancel the present reservation policy based on the caste factor. |
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JALANDHAR, Dec 17 (UNI) — The Feuding Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab, today formally split with the ‘’unanimous’’ election of Harbans Lal Sharma and Surinder Nath Murgai as president and general secretary, respectively at a meeting held in its state office here . Swami Indervesh and Satbir Singh from Delhi and Haryana attended the delegate session as observers. The sabha controls about 180 temples, educational institutions and medical dispensaries. Outgoing president K.K. Pasricha presided over the election meeting. It expelled Sardari Lal, Karam Chand Mali and Ashwini Kumar, who claimed president, vice-president and general secretary of the sabha, were expelled for six years. |
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Doctor killed in accident FEROZEPORE, Dec 17 — Senior eye specialist in the Civil Hospital here, Dr Jitender Mohan Goyal, was killed in a road accident late last night while he was returning from Moga in his car. Besides Dr Goyal, his wife and two children were travelling with him. They received minor injuries. Dr Goyal was to participate in a free medical camp being organised in memory of Dr Anil Baghi today. |
Scribe bereaved ROPAR, Dec 17 — Mrs Kirpal Kaur, wife of veteran journalist Kamal, passed away today after a prolonged illness. The Minister for Education has expressed sympathy with the bereaved family. |
Security beefed up at railway station LUDHIANA, Dec 17 — The Punjab Police, Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force reportedly checked few trains at the local railway station yesterday after receiving intelligence inputs about the chances of a terrorist attack. Sources said that a joint team of these forces thoroughly checked the Jammu-bound Shalimar Express. However, no suspicious person or a thing was found. The sources said that the police also pressed the dog squad into service. A senior police official informed that they would continue with the random checking in future also. |
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Museum to be opened in 2001 ROPAR, Dec 17 — The historical museum of the upcoming Khalsa Heritage Complex at Anandpur Sahib, would be opened to public by December, 2001. This was stated by the Finance Minister, Punjab, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, while talking to mediapersons at Gurdwara Bhatha Sahib here today. He was here to attend the annual Shaheedi Jor Mela, organised at the gurdwara. He said a committee had been formed to select the articles, manuscripts and other things related with the Sikh history that would be displayed at the museum. When asked to comment about the rejection of the Nanakshahi calendar by the SGPC, the Finance Minister replied that the SAD had decided not to interfere in the matters of the SGPC. The party respected the institution and fully endorsed the decisions taken by it, he added. |
Fake certificate racket unearthed GURDASPUR, Dec 17 — The police has unearthed a racket of cheats involved in extorting a huge sum of money from innocent persons by supplying to them fake certificates of ITIs at Batala and Chandigarh. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP, in a press note issued here today said that two members of the gang identified as Mohinder Kumar of Jugial and Charanjit Singh of Pathankot were arrested yesterday. Their accomplices Raj Kumar of Jugial and Tilak Raj Pathankot are absconding. Mr Varinder Kumar said the accused used to prepare certificates by forging the stamps of the principals concerned. They got certificates printed from a printing press at Pathankot. Mohinder Kumar is employed at Ranjit Sagar Dam and Charanjit Singh has a photostat and typing shop at Pathankot. The SSP said during interrogation Charanjit Singh disclosed that the accused use to visit his shop. They jointly prepared fake certificates of the institutes and used to sale for Rs 50,000 per certificate. Mr Varinder Kumar said the accused had been supplying fake certificates to the innocent persons for more than two years. A case had been registered against the accused. |
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Robbers gang busted, arms seized JALANDHAR, Dec 17 — The district police claims to have busted a five member gang of robbers with the arrest of its four members and seized four countrymade pistols. Mr Gaurav Yadav, DGP, said here yesterday that they received an information that a gang of five armed robbers had gathered in abondened sheds near the Naugaja Chowk in Kartarpur and were conspiring to commit a robbery. Subsequently, a police party led by Mr Dilbagh Singh, SP (Detective) arrested four persons along with arms whereas a gang member who has been identified as Saleta managed to escape under the cover of darkness, Mr Yadav said. The arrested persons had been identified as Tawla, Amid, Kali Charan and Jabira all residents of Hazira village in Gwalior district. They were presently living in Jammu. Mr Yadav further said that all of them are pardhis, a tribe which had been notified as that of criminals during the British rule but was denotified in the post-independence era. |
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Fleeing robber falls
off scooter, dies JALANDHAR, Dec 17 (UNI) — One of the four robbers, fleeing after looting a liquor vend and assaulting a person, died in an accidental fall off a scooter when it hit an electricity pole at Mao Sahib near Phillaur town last night, the police said. The robber, who succumbed to the injuries at the Civil Hospital in Phillaur, was identified as Sukhchain Singh of Ferozepore by the police who claimed that his accomplices managed to escape under the cover of darkness. The robbers struck at the liquor vend at Khokewal village, at around 9 pm and looted two bottles and a cash of Rs 250 and fled on a scooter. They then set up a “naka” and started checking vehicles with an apparent objective to target another prey. They stopped a scooter being driven by Buta Ram and Jaswinder Singh, Buta Ram challenged them saying that they were not cops and, therefore, had no right to check the papers. When people started gathering seeing the fight, at the site the robbers fled on their scooter but the two-wheeler hit an electricity pole, wounding the driver, while his three accomplices fled. The police caught the wounded robber and took him to the Civil Hospital where he died. |
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Ex-sarpanch held with smack FEROZEPORE, Dec 17 — A former sarpanch was held and 30 gm of smack recovered from him by the police in the cantonment area here. Sources said Amar Singh, a former sarpanch of Nizam Din village, was the kingpin of a gang indulging in the illegal smack trade and had a criminal history. While 20 gm of smack was recovered from Amar Singh, the remaining 10 gm was seized from his accomplice, Babbal, of Gwal Toli area. |
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