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| Thursday, January 4, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Congress launches poll campaign Badal’s kin accused of stealing canal water IA files plea on hijacked aircraft College council election: voter forms ‘not issued’ 12 Bangladeshis arrested |
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| HC summons SSP on lady constables’ plea CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — In a case of alleged victimisation of two lady constables for disobeying “illegal” orders of their superiors, Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Sud of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed Mr Harpreet Singh Sandhu, SSP of Patiala, and the DSP, Mr Gurchain Singh, to personally appear in court on January 8. Produce Syal, orders court
Ramoowalia lambasts SAD-BJP govt
Five get bail in Harpreet case Patrolling intensified along border Gateman booked for negligence of duty PUDA action against encroachers Chief Secy to probe club controversy Leopard escapes back to forest Priest arrested for adultery
MC’s long wait for govt grant MC meeting adjourned Generate funds, CM tells PSEB
Child crushed to death Gambling racket busted
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Congress launches poll campaign DAKALA (Patiala), Jan 3 — The Punjab Congress today virtually launched its election campaign in the State at the first of its 117 mass mobilisation rallies planned to target all Assembly constituencies by coming down upon the ‘‘corruption’’ let loose by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family and promising to set up a panel to probe the issue if voted to power in the forthcoming Assembly elections. The Punjab Pradesh Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, who addressed a rally here and another at Ghanour organised by former Minister Jasjit Singh Randhawa as part of the party programme, alleged that SAD-led government’s single most important contribution to the state was the institutionalisation of corruption. He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that he himself and his family were free from the menace rather than targeting low level officers to create a facade of honesty . Stating that corruption started from the top in state government, he said his party would set up a commission to probe the corrupt deals of the Chief Minister’s family if voted to power . Claiming that the Akali leadership had apparently read the writing on the wall , he said this was the reason for a start of a spree of sangat darshans by the Chief Minister. He said Mr Badal would have had no need to launch a sangat darshan drive in the last year of his tenure if he had fulfilled the promises made to people. “Cheques which should have come to you through the Block Development Officer are being distributed by the Chief Minister”, he added. The PPCC chief also came down heavily upon the highhandedness of the Akali leaders, including ministers. He alleged that both — the Finance Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Surinder Singh Kairon — were letting loose a reign of terror in their respective areas of Banur and Tarn Taran with the help of the police . Capt Amarinder Singh also tried to clear his party’s stand on the World Trade Organisation. He said both the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, did not even understand the meaning of WTO because of which they were make irresponsible statements to befool the farmers of the state. He said there was no threat to the country from food imports from outside as painted by the Akalis under the WTO agreement as the country could impose duty on any good it wished. He said the Congress would come out with a book on the issue and that what was needed presently was intense agro-based business as done in the state during his tenure as Agriculture Minister . Speaking on the occasion , senior Congress leader Birdevinder Singh accused the government of failing the farmers of the state. He said while the government had ostensibly given free power to the farmers for agricultural operations, it had through an “own your tubewell” scheme collected Rs 135 crore from 25,000 of the three lakh farmers whose applications for tubewell connections were pending with it. Others who spoke on the occasion were senior Congress leader Lal Singh who organised the function, Congress Legislature Party leader Choudhary Jagjit Singh, Patiala MP Preneet Kaur, former MPs Sant Ram Singla and Amarjit Kaur, former minister Jasbir Singh, senior leader Vishnu Sharma and District Congress Rural and Urban Presidents Hardyal Singh and Ved Prakash Gupta. | |
| Badal’s kin accused of stealing canal water ABOHAR, Jan 3 — Former Congress MLAs and leaders of various farmer organisations today alleged that MLAs Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Ram Kumar Goyal, Gurtej Singh Ghuriana from Fazilka, Abohar and Balluana constituencies, respectively, had never raised the issue of irregular canal water supply in their respective areas before the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, since their election because they reportedly knew that Mr Badal’s family was allegedly responsible for this crisis. The leaders were addressing a rally of farmers of these three constituencies inside canal colony here. The speakers included Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, former Irrigation Minister, Dr Mohinder Rinwa, Mr Babu Ram Chawla, Mr Mehtab Singh — all former MLAs, Mr Gurjant Singh Mr Kuldeep Singh Daulatpura, Mr Gurbux Singh Burjmuhar, Mr Jaswant Singh Khippanwali, Mr Amar Singh Kular and other leaders of kisan sabhas. In spite of thick fog a large number of farmers, including that from Abohar, Balluana and Fazilka Assembly constituencies, led by Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar a former Minister for Irrigation and Cooperation, today staged a dharna and held a demonstration outside the office of Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department inside canal colony held to express resentment over ‘anti farmer policies’ of SAD-BJP government in the state. Sarpanches of several villages said that they had gone to meet Mr Badal at his sangat darshan programme at Rattatibba village on Saturday, regarding fluctuations in irregular supply of canal water for irrigation due to negligence of the officials which had ruined the wheat crop in this area but the Chief Minister did not give them time, even when a SAD MLA, Mr Gurtej Singh, recommended their case there. The farmers submitted a memorandum to the governor through the local SDM. The farmers expressed concern over irregular and inadequate water supply for last two months. Hardly 1500 cusecs of canal water was being supplied to them against a requirement of 4500 cusecs. In majority of the villages the farmers had not been able to irrigate wheat crop for last so many days. Farmer leaders alleged that the shortage of water was created not only because the water level in dams had gone down but because the family of the Chief Minister was allegedly taking away water to irrigate their agricultural farms at Chak Badal in Rajasthan bordering the area under Lambi subcanal of Punjab by foul means. Senior officials of the Irrigation Department were informed and requested to check pilferage of water but they reportedly expressed their helplessness. The Irrigation Minister had refuted such allegations last year but the farmers today challenged him to visit the Lambi subcanal. Only Lambi minor (subcanal) was having full water supply in whole of the region, the leaders said. Presidents of all the block Congress committees, CPI, CPM units, more than 20 sarpanches and former sarpanches, zila parishad and panchayat samiti members also joined the dharna. According to the memorandum, a majority of the rural waterworks had dried up. People were not getting water for drinking in many villages for the last one month. Water in rural waterworks was not potable as bleaching powder had not been made available for months on the pretext of paucity of funds. The Public Health Department (Rural Water Supply) had exhausted a special grant of Rs 30 lakh given by the Chief Minister in the middle of last year. The present government had not bothered to clean the water reservoirs, storage tanks even once during the last three years. shortage of water had created problem for cattle also as there had been no rain for last so many months. The ponds were not having sufficient water. Highlighting the problems of the sugarcane growers the memorandum further said that they had also been cheated by the state government. The farmers had been encouraged to grow more sugarcane so that the Fazilka Cooperative Sugar Mills could be run to the capacity but now the management of local cooperative sugar mills at Bodiwala Peetha village had introduced a 4 per cent cut on weight instead of 1 per cent on the pretext of cleansing the sugarcane. It was unfortunate that now majority of the local cane growers had to travel more than 150 km to sell the crop to another cooperative mills at Zira as the local mills had refused to buy the entire crop. The local mills preferred to buy sugarcane from growers of Chief Minister’s assembly constituency under political pressure, they alleged. | |
| IA files plea on hijacked aircraft PATIALA, Jan 3 — The Indian Airlines today submitted an application in the court of the Sessions Judge here requesting that the court inspect the ill- fated Airbus 300 B 2 which had been hijacked by terrorists to Kandahar to its satisfaction following the setting aside of its order not allowing the sale of the aircraft by the Punjab and Haryana High Court . The Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 21 had set aside the order passed by the Sessions Court here on November 2 and directed that the aircraft be released to Indian Airlines following completion of certain conditions by the organisation till January 15 . The Indian Airlines today in its application submitted to the Sessions Judge urged that the aircraft be inspected by the court or an officer commissioned on its behalf in the presence of an counsel of the CBI. The airlines also pleaded that the officer so appointed be allowed to take photographs and video films of the aircraft in the presence of the CBI counsel besides urging the court to pass further orders deemed fit by it in the interest of justice . The Punjab and Haryana High Court beside making the above mentioned observations while stating that the aircraft be released to the Indian Airlines latest by January 15 , had also laid down other conditions. These include construction of a table model of the aircraft about 10 feet long and to scale which could be placed at a convenient position for the inspection of the parties . It had also mentioned that a undertaking be filed by Indian Airlines that they would make a similar model aircraft available from its present fleet for inspection as and when directed by the court . The airlines had pleaded that the aircraft in question was 23-year old and in accordance with safety regulations and rules it was bound to undergo a major overhaul and check-up at the expense of Rs 10 crore to make it airworthy . It said at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Airlines on December 20 , 1999 a policy decision was taken to sell the aircraft . It was further claimed that this decision was made prior to the hijacking of the aircraft and was completely independent of the said decision . It was contended by the airlines that the hijacked aircraft though being a case property was no longer required by the CBI for any further investigation since the investigation in the matter was over . It was further submitted that the charge sheet in the matter had already been filed and there was no dispute in the identity of the aircraft . It was also contended that there would be a colossal loss to the national exchequer if the aircraft was not sold expeditiously on account of losing an extremely good purchaser, exorbitant expenditure on parking of the aircraft at a hanger and on account of depreciation of the aircraft due to grounding .The Indian Airlines had moved an application in the Sessions Court here seeking the sale of the aircraft to M/s Aviation Systems International, USA which was objected to by the counsel of the accused who pleaded that it was a case property and would be needed during the pendency of the case. CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today directed the PSEB to evolve a system to enable consumers make payment of their bills in the nearest cooperative banks that have a strong network of 800 branches in the state. Such an arrangement already existed with the State Bank of Patiala. Bills up to a limit of Rs 5000 should be deposited in cash instead of Rs 2000 limit as per existing provision. Presiding over a high-level meeting of PSEB and Cooperative Societies, he said the modalities should be worked out and decision implemented within two weeks. All interests of power consumers should be protected. The Chief Minister told the PSEB authorities to generate more resources and cover maximum villages for 24-hour power supply. Morning and evening power supply in the rural areas is a must so that the students could continue their studies regularly. He also advised the PSEB authorities for making judicious use of land while constructing sub-stations and other projects so that the money saved could be utilised for other constructive purposes. | |
| College council election: voter forms ‘not issued’ AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — Allegations of favouritism are casting their shadow over the elections to the governing council of Khalsa College of which the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, is the Chancellor. The election of 31 members is proposed to take place on March 30 while today was the last date for the enrolment of new voters, submission of forms etc. Candidates and voters have, however, alleged that the council was not issuing any voter forms. They alleged that the election was an “arrangement” between the two “supposingly opposite” groups who had connived to get a share of the seats. It was also brought to the fore that the whole thing was being masterminded to keep the common man from participating in the election or for holding a seat in the council. The council comprises 100 members. It looks after the administration, appointments, finances etc. of Sikh institutes, including men’s and women’s Khalsa Colleges, Khalsa College for Education and three public schools. Refuting the allegations, honorary secretary of the council Charanjit Singh Chaddha termed them as “false”. He said persons on duty were in the office till 4 p.m. today and so far no complaints, had been received by the office. He said persons with mala fide intentions were trying to create a strained atmosphere. On a question whether the last date would be extended to admit with voters, Mr Chaddha said there was no question of extension as the voting schedule would be disturbed. Since March 31 was the last date of the financial year, the election had to be over by March 30. Regarding the council, he said one-thirds of the members retired every year and new members were inducted who gave a monthly donation of Rs 250. He ruled out any possibility of extra forms for those who had missed the opportunity, saying that “we cannot change the whole process for a handful of disgruntled elements.” Dr M.S. Dhillon, Principal of the college, said the college had no connection with the elections to the council. | |
| 12 Bangladeshis arrested GURDASPUR, Jan 3 — The police has arrested 12 Bangladeshis, three of them were trying to enter the Indian territory from Pakistan while nine were attempting to enter Pakistan from the Indian side. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP said here today that Mohammed Naseeruddin Sheikh, Ifran Ali and Abdul Salam were arrested in the area of Narot Jaimal Singh police station. All the three-were arrested near Bamial and Rs 1470 of Indian currency and Rs 131 of Pakistani currency were recovered from their possession. The SSP said Rahim Ali, Rukhsana, Mohammad Babul, Parveen, Mohammad Khalil, Mohhemda, Mohammed Kamal, Moshmi Akhtar and Mohammad Deepu were arrested from B.O. P. Chhita in the Indian territory under Narot Jaimal Singh police station. During their preliminary interrogation, the arrested said they belonged to poor families and were lured by a Bangladesh based agent Maqbool to send them to Pakistan and get them good jobs there. He had demanded Rs 2500 per couple in Bangladesh currency. A case under the Indian Passport Act and 14 Foreign Act have been registered against the accused. |
| HC summons SSP on lady constables’ plea CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — In a case of alleged victimisation of two lady constables for disobeying “illegal” orders of their superiors, Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Sud of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed Mr Harpreet Singh Sandhu, SSP of Patiala, and the DSP, Mr Gurchain Singh, to personally appear in court on January 8. The direction was given on a writ petition filed by Ms Paramjit Kaur and Ms Rajbir Kaur, the two lady constables. They submitted that they refused to involve the SP (Headquarters), Patiala, at the behest of the SI of the Women’s Cell in a false case of immoral trafficking of women. As a result she and her fellow constable (Rajbir Kaur) were forced to vacate their houses by D.S.P. Gurchain Singh and their household goods were also seized which were shifted to the mess at the Police Lines, Patiala. She alleged that her husband, Mr Raj Singh, was picked up by the DSP and kept in illegal custody for which she was forced to file a habeas corpus petition and the court’s Warrant Officer traced him to Tripuri police station on December 14. Earlier the Bench had appointed Mr Sham Lal as Local Commissioner to visit the recreation room of the Police Lines, Patiala, and prepare a list of household articles which the petitioners could identify as their possession. The Local Commissioner went along with the petitioners and found the household articles claimed by the petitioners. However, the petitioners complained that their cash and gold articles were missing and also found that the iron almirah of one of the petitioners was broken open and even court records scattered. The Warrant Officer stated in the report that the DSP admitted that the household goods belonged to the petitioner but explained that she had herself vacated the house and given household articles to the occupier of the house, who deposited the same with them. | |
| Produce Syal, orders court PATIALA, Jan 3 — A local court today ordered the state vigilance police to produce R.K. Syal, a prime accused in the Golden Forests case, in his court tomorrow besides rejecting the bail application of another accused and extending the police remand of three others till January 5 . Chief Judicial Magistrate Sanjeev Berry ordered that R.K. Syal be produced in his court tomorrow. He also rejected the bail application of A.L. Syal and extended the police remand of the other three accused — Lehmbar Singh, Neena Syal and H.K. Sinha. Counsel for the accused pleaded that A.L. Syal was a 72-year-old man who required constant medical attention and should be given bail on this account. However, the prosecution pleaded that as the case was very serious in nature with a sum of Rs 4,000 crore and thousands of investors involved, the accused should not be given bail . Following this, the Chief Judicial Magistrate rejected the bail application . The police remand of the three others was extended till January 5 following similar requests of the prosecution . Highly placed sources said the Vigilance Department had already carried out raids on the lockers of the accused in Delhi and a large amount of money in the form of fixed deposits was recovered from them . The vigilance officials are likely to raid bank lockers of the accused in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mani Majra and Chandigarh tomorrow. Sources said the raids could not be conducted earlier due to a spell of government holidays. |
Ramoowalia lambasts SAD-BJP govt LUDHIANA, Jan 3 — The Lok Bhalai Party, headed by former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, today organised a dharna in front of the mini-secretariat here to focus on “anti-Punjab” policies of the SAD-BJP government and to mobilise the masses to expose the misrule of the government. A large number of trucks, light motor vehicles, jeeps and tractor trailers which converged at the venue of the rally, in front of the mini-secretariat, created a funny situation for the administration and the police since the area was under elaborate security bandobust for the visit of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to lay the foundation stone of a lawyers’ chambers complex. Addressing the rally, Mr Ramoowalia called upon the government to make foolproof arrangement for procurement of wheat to prevent the harassment of farmers during the sale of paddy.” The government was yet to disburse the Rs 300-crore relief announced in 1998 and another Rs 350 crore granted last year for the distress sale of paddy,” he alleged. PATIALA, Jan 3 — Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) and former member of Parliament, today alleged that the financial assistance sent by the Central Government was not being properly used by the Punjab Government to create job opportunities for the unemployed youth. In a press release Mr Chandumajra lamented that the state was misusing funds being provided for various projects, including the national slum development project.
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Five get bail in Harpreet case PATIALA, Jan 3 —A court here today granted bail to five of the seven accused in the mysterious death of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur. The Special CBI Magistrate Mr Jaspinder Singh Heyer, granted bail on the application of the defence counsel who said the agency had failed to file the charge sheet against the accused within the stipulated period of 90 days. Satya Devi, Sanjeev Kumar and Harvinder Kumar, servants in the Jasdil Mansion at Phagwara where Harpreet allegedly spent her last few days, were granted bail along with Dalwinder Kaur who owns the mansion, and her brother-in-law Paramjit Singh. The magistrate asked the five accused to furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 as surety. The court extended the remand of the sixth accused Nishan Singh, personal security officer of former SGPC chief, to January 19. The seventh accused in the case, Bibi Jagir Kaur, mother of the deceased, is on anticipatory bail, granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Harpreet Kaur had died under mysterious circumstances in April 2000. Later Kamaljit Singh, a resident of Begowal village in Kapurthala district had claimed he was married to the girl. He later filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI probe into the death, which was ordered by the court. The agency registered a case of murder against the seven accused. |
| Patrolling intensified along border FEROZEPORE, Jan 3 — Apart from the Border Security Force (BSF), the Punjab Police on its part has stepped up shadow patrolling along the Indo-Pak border to prevent subversive activities in the state. Disclosing this to mediapersons here today, the IG (Borders), Mr A.P. Pande, said the shadow patrolling by the police ahead of all riverine gaps along the border continues. Although he discounted the possibility of infiltration from the other side in view of the security fencing raised along the border, he said the police had to be alert of the Pakistan-based ISI designs. Mr Pande, who was here to address a police-public meeting, said the BSF on its part too was struggling hard to maintain vigil along the riverine gaps. He further disclosed that a proposal to establish a second Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) at Ferozepore to tighten the noose around smugglers was under active consideration of the government. At present, only Amritsar has a JIC where criminals are jointly interrogated by the police, the BSF and the intelligence agencies. To a query about what measures were being taken by the police to discourage smugglers from buying land along the border, Mr Pande said the practice could not be stopped as purchasing property is the constitutional right of an individual. He, however, said the BSF prevented those having criminal background from going near the border. |
Gateman booked for negligence of duty JALANDHAR, Jan 3 (UNI) — Gateman Jagat Singh of a railway crossing in the crowded Sodhal area of the city has been booked on a charge negligence of duty which could have led to a disaster on the New Year Day. When Amritsar-bound Sachkhand Express had passed through the closed railway crossing at gate number A-63 on the Sodhal road on January 1, Jagat Singh opened the crossing to road traffic even as city-bound 9 JF diesel multiple unit (DMU) from Ferozepore was steaming in through the same crossing, witnesses told the police. When Daljit Singh tried to drive across the open railway crossing in his Tata Sumo, the DMU hit the vehicle, damaging it but no body was hurt in the mishap. The DMU driver, who had apparently seen the road traffic coming across the track, had slowed down, averting a possible derailment which could have resulted in many casualities, witnesses added. A case under Section 175 of the Railway Act and Section 427 of the IPC was registered against the gateman on the complaint of Daljit Singh who had a narrow escape in the mishap. | |
| PUDA action against encroachers BATHINDA, Jan 3 — The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) will take a strict action against land encroachers and ensure that no unplanned development takes place on the PUDA land. This was stated by Mr Vivek Agarwal, Additional Chief Administrator, PUDA, this evening while talking to mediapersons. Mr Agarwal said PUDA would take a strict action against the encroachers, and all those officers who were found guilty of negligence of duty. Mr Agarwal said cases of irregularities like where the site plans had been approved by the municipal council though it had no authority to do so, as the project land was that of PUDA, would be strictly dealt with. He also gave details of the various development projects and the district administrative complex to be developed in the city.
Chief Secy to probe club controversy CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The issue of the allotment of public land to the Country Club in SAS Nagar evoked a strong reaction from the Minister of Cooperation, Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, at a meeting of the Council of Ministers here today. The Punjab State Electronic Development and Production Corporation, it was alleged had flouted the rules in allotting land, 3 acres, to the Country Club, at a prime location. This land was in the green belt meant for high-tension wires passing over it. It is learnt the Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mr Ramesh Inder Singh, intervened to say that the land might have been allotted by some officer on his own and the matter had not come up before the Board of Directors. But when Mr Brahmpura insisted that the deal was “not clean”, the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, ordered the Chief Secretary to inquire into the matter.
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| Leopard escapes back to forest PATIALA, Jan 3 — The leopard who was seen in the forest on the outskirts of the city yesterday, disappeared in night despite a police cordon around the eucalyptus tree where he had sought shelter. The police sources said the leopard came down from the tree at night and escaped through a loose cordon. The police officials on duty had earlier been directed by the wildlife officials not to stop the animal from escaping into the forest if it tried to do so. How the leopard appeared in the Kheri Gujran reserve forest on the outskirts of the city is still a mystery as it is the first such sighting. The forest is small and not an ideal habitat for such an animal. The wildlife officials, including the Chief Warden (Zoo), Dr Venod Sharma, had tried to tranquilise the leopard yesterday. Dr Sharma said, though the tranquiliser darts had been shot the animal, these were not effective as these hit it at about 90 degree angle. Wildlife officials had decided not to try to catch the animal as it had not harmed anyone intentionally. The police sources said, following the escape of the leopard, nakas had been set up on all village roads and the people had been requested not to travel in the night on two-wheelers. Villagers of the nearby areas had been asked not to allow their children to be outside the house after dark. Though the leopard has escaped, its appearance has raised doubts on the effectiveness of patrolling in the reserve forests in the district. Gurbahcan Singh, the person who was attacked by the animal yesterday, had gone into the forest with three dogs. Sources said it was strange that Gurbachan’s statement was being taken seriously by wildlife officials. Those who live on the outskirts of the reserve forest allege that poaching is done there and nothing is being done to restrict this. They say that more steps should be taken to stop persons from entering the forest. |
| Priest arrested for adultery GURDASPUR, Jan 3 — Jagat Narayan, a priest of Sri Ram temple at Saidowal under Purana Shalla police station, was arrested today allegedly for adultery. The priest, resident of Deepupur in Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh, had illicit relations with Soma Devi of Talibpur and mother of four children, including a married daughter. On January 1, Soma Devi left her house on the pretext of meeting her daughter but went to priest’s dera at Saidowal. The duo was arrested there. |
| Lunar eclipse on Jan 9 BATHINDA, Jan 3 (PTI) — A partial lunar eclipse will occur on January 9. This eclipse will begin at 12.12 night ending on 3.29 a.m. next morning and will last for three hours 17 minutes. Noted astrologer Pandit Kalyan Swaroop Shastri ‘Vidyalankar’ (Jaito) said this here today. He said the eclipse would be visibile in Asia, Australia, Indian Ocean, East-Southern Atlantic Ocean, Antartica, Africa, Europe, Greenland, Alaska, Northern part of Canada, Pacific Ocean Philippines and north-eastern America and many other countries. CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Mr K.K. Sharma, who retired as Additional Director-General of Police, Punjab, in July last year, died at the PGI here this morning after a prolonged illness. He was 60. He was cremated in the evening at the Sector 25 cremation ground where senior police officers of Punjab, including the Director-General of Police, Mr Sarabjit Singh, were present and laid wreaths on his body. |
| PATIALA, Jan 3 — Apropos of the news item "Sarpanch festival at Nabha" published on November 26, 2000, it is clarified that Kheti Duniya, a Punjabi agriculture weekly, is being brought out by Mr H.S. Nanda and not by the Mehram group. The news item was based on a press note issued by the District Public Relations Office, Patiala. Published from Patiala, Kheti Duniya is solely owned by Mr Nanda, its Editor. Mr B.S. Bir, Chairman of the Mehram group, whose statement had been reported earlier, has no control or connection with the paper. According to Mr Nanda, the paper has been serving farmers since 1983, whereas the Mehram group came into existence in 1987.
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MC’s long wait for govt grant BATHINDA, Jan 3 — Even as the city has been witnessing expansion due to massive urbanisation the local municipal council (MC) authorities have been finding it difficult to arrange adequate funds for providing basic amenities to the residents. For the past three years, the local MC authorities have been getting little monetary help from the Punjab Government and in certain cases, the State Finance Department has used funds allocated by the Centre under the slum clearance scheme for other purposes. Official sources said the Punjab Government had not given even a single penny to local MC out of the 78 lakh allocated to it under the UDSC scheme in the annual Budget for 1999-2000. In the 1998-99 financial year, only Rs 22 lakh were given to local MC out of total 88 lakh. Mr Mohan Lal Garg, a senior BJP leader and municipal councillor, alleged that state Finance Department had also not given any money to local MC in the current financial year out of the total amount allocated to it under UDSC scheme. He pointed out that the Punjab Government had not released Rs 3 crore belonging to local MC on account of octroi revenue from liquor. The Finance Department had also failed to release 20 per cent of collection of five taxes to the municipal council concerned which was mandatory under the Constitution. The sources said on account of paucity of funds, the local MC authorities had failed to provide the facility of sewerage and piped water to the residents. On the other hand, the MC authorities had been making efforts to take loan of about Rs 40 crore to provide sewerage connections and water supply in the city in a phased manner at a heavy rate of interest from HUDCO. Mr Garg said the municipal council had passed a resolution in which it was mentioned that if the Finance Department released Rs 3 crore of octroi on liquor, the entire amount would be given for the construction of railway overbridge on the level crossing at Parasramnagar. The sources said the local MC had been given step-motherly treatment by the successive governments in connection with funds for various development projects. During previous Congress regime Rs 23 crore grant given to local MC under the Urban Renewal Project was also cancelled later. Mr Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, general secretary, DCC(I), said on the one hand, the Punjab Government had given the octroi collection to private contractors for enhancing the income of municipal council, while on the other hand it was itself withholding the revenue share of these municipal council. |
| MC meeting adjourned AMRITSAR, Jan 3 — At a corporation meeting during a condolence call given by a BJP Municipal Councillor, Mr Naresh Sharma, members of the Opposition exchanged hot words over an issue during the two minute silence. These unruly scenes led to the adjournment of the meeting. The Mayor, Mr Brij Mohan Kapoor, condemned the members Mr Sunil Datt, Mr Parminder S Tung, Mr Ashok Chaudhari, Mr Surjit Gill and Mr Rajiv Mahajan, most of them from the Congress, who continued their tirade even during the condolence minutes. The condolence minutes were called over the demise of Mrs Padamavati Tandon, sister-in-law of Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Minister of Local Bodies and mother of BJP Councillor, Dr Laxmi Narayan Tandon. The meeting that started late was marred as some members questioned the absence of department heads during the meeting. The opposition raised a hue and cry over the issue which was explained by the Joint Commissioner, Mr Gurwaryam Singh, who was also the presiding officer, regarding government orders issued on July 28 which stated that officers concerned of various departments should be at hand to explain or give relevant information and leave once the task was over and would not be allowed to sit in the house meetings. |
Child crushed to death BATHINDA, Jan 3 — A child, Iqbal Singh of Gill Patti village, 9 km from here, was crushed to death late last night, on the Bathinda-Goniana road. According to police sources, the boy was crossing the road when he was run over by a tractor-trailer. He died on the spot. Amarjeet Singh, driver of the tractor, has been taken into police custody and a case registered against him.
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| Gambling racket busted GURDASPUR, Jan 3 — The police has busted a gambling racket being operated under the garb of selling government lottery tickets. Mr Varinder Kumar, SSP said today that Arun Kumar, Rajan, Harjit Singh, Vishal Kumar and Ashwani Kumar, all local residents, had been arrested and Rs 3,300 recovered from them. The SSP said the police on a tip-off raided the lottery stall of Sardari Lal at the Hanuman chowk here yesterday and caught him red-handed. He said during preliminary interrogation Sardari Lal had disclosed that the racket was being handled by a person identified as PC of Amritsar. The winner used to get 70 times of the amount gambled. |
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