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| Sunday, January 7, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Funds not withheld: Kanwaljit Paddy “bane of” ecology, farm economy Nurse held for helping youths become eunuchs Hitch in Congress poll campaign
Badal is RSS agent, says Chandumajra Centre sabotaged women’s Bill: MP |
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| DCC plea on CWC members
Govt claims on border villages refuted Adalat disposes of 852 bank loan cases ‘City of lakes’ a misnomer Leopard pug marks create fear in villagers Water disposal scheme awaits completion DGP assures justice in Mukhija case Public help can root out terrorism: Swami Arrears for college teachers cleared Minister justifies free power to farmers Panel to probe hostel fire Transfer of land to PAU opposed Undertrial picks lawyer’s pocket CM inaugurates hospital at Tanda PSEB checking staff ‘corrupt’ Bathinda to have transport nagar Seminar on politics
Punjab plans more lottery schemes
24 more Bangladeshis arrested Robbers held with arms Man in lock-up kills himself
Decision on fee exemption deferred Fee hike: students go on strike PUTA set to oppose appraisal scheme
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| Funds not withheld: Kanwaljit FATEHGARH SAHIB, Jan 6 — There is no paucity of funds for the development activities in rural as well as urban areas. The government has released enough amount for this purpose. Moreover, the release of funds is governed as per budgetary provisions and the guidelines of the Cabinet. The provisions in the budget are passed by the House so there is no cause to withhold the funds. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister, disclosed this while talking to The Tribune, at Kotla Badla village today where he had come to lay the foundation stone of a 3.5 km long link road to be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. He admitted he had differences with Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, Minister for Local Bodies, but strongly refuted the allegations made by him at a press conference against him and his department. Rebutting the outburst of Mr Tandon, he said there was no truth in that and all allegations were baseless. He said the government had made an amendment in the Excise and Taxation Act so that the money collected by the Excise and Taxation Department as octroi on liquor could be released directly to the municipal councils. He said earlier the money collected by the Excise and Taxation Department was referred to the state exchequer. The state exchequer then used to release the amount to the Local Bodies Department. Now the amount collected by the Excise Department would not go to the state exchequer. Rather it is directly paid to each municipal council as per the actual collection. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said this step of the government would not only boost development activities in urban areas but also help the municipal councils in planning development activities. He said the functioning of municipal councils would also improve as they would be aware in advance regarding when and how much money they would get from the Excise Department. Giving some concrete examples, he said the municipal council of Khanna had been allotted funds worth more than Rs 1 crore for various development activities. The municipal council of Bassi Pathana, which had never got a single rupee as grant from any previous government, had been given a grant of Rs 35 lakh last year for various development activities. The Finance Minister said the government was committed to the overall development of rural as well as urban areas. He said one should not create a rift between rural and urban areas. He denied there was any rift between the BJP and the Akali Dal rank and file. He termed the alliance between the two coalition partners was sacred. He said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, was making all-out efforts to sort out the problems of the people and the current year would be observed as development year. Earlier, Capt Kanwaljit Singh laid the foundation stone of the link road and announced grants for various development activities in the village. Mr Bachan Singh Cheema, MLA also addressed the function. | |
| Paddy “bane of” ecology, farm economy CHANDIGARH, Jan 6 — Food is one of the three basic essentials of life for every human being. The other two are shelter and clothing. Thus it is food or in broader terms agriculture that is the focus of attention at present, may it be at the Indian Science Congress or the national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi. Near at home, a two-day brain-storming session of economists, agricultural and social scientists, administrators and farmers concluded at Chandigarh on Friday. The nucleus of discussion for future strategies—socio-economic or political was again food or agriculture. The issues involved are simple. What farm sector economic reforms be introduced to develop agriculture sector? How to pay remunerative price to producers, make food available to consumers (including those below poverty-line) at an affordable price, alleviate hunger and save burgeoning food grain stock-pile. Where does the fault lie? With the policies? With the politicians? With the plant breeders? With the marketing system? With the Public Distribution System? With the bureaucracy or with the in-built inefficiency and corruption in governance? The blame must be apportioned to all these institutions and individuals who run the system. In the process, who suffers? The ‘Kisan’, particularly, the small and marginal farmer. Are there strategies, technologies, and models available for these millions of small peasants and their children who have no future? At the Chandigarh brain-storming session at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, it was Punjab Agricultural University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, who aptly summed up the tragedy, if one may call it, when he said, “Unless population check is enforced, no other policy will succeed. And just as crime does not pay nor does farming these days”. The debate goes on. How to reduce cost of production? How to encourage home-grown production of commercial crops (oil seeds etc) and reduce imports making agriculture for Indian farmers economically viable? If the challenges, the problems and the opportunities in the Indian agriculture are diverse and region-specific so are solutions that are equally difficult to find, define and apply. There can not be a uniform application of any agricultural policy for the nation. Speaking specifically of Punjab, what transpired at the two-day seminar-cum-workshop can be simply put as follows: Paddy is the villain of the piece. It has affected agricultural economy and ecology by acting as a drain on two key resources, soil and water. A simple fact will explain this, as Dr S.S. Johl, Coordinator of the seminar, put it: Just because farmers start sowing paddy 30 days to 40 days earlier than the recommended or right time (as it involves no cost), this leads to senseless wastage of scarce water resource. It virtually amounts to mining of the sub-soil water. The withdrawal rate is higher than recharge rate of the aquifer. This one month period alone is responsible for 50 per cent of the depletion of water table in Punjab. Another important factor that emerged was how to reduce pressure on land and at the same time increase total production factor without causing a drain on the natural resources. Merely asking small farmers to quit and take to other vocations is neither practical nor a sound solution. One saw mountains of data being reeled out on every conceivable aspect of agriculture by eminent personalities. This data related to imports and exports of agricultural produce and products and also inputs. They also spoke on production and productivity, post-harvest wastage, storage, number of hungry who can not afford to buy food, the cost of cultivation, the rampant corruption in marketing, storage, transportation and distribution. One also saw solutions being offered to tide over the crises. The alternative crop models. The need to change policies. The emphasis on introduction of off-the-shelf technologies. Means to quicken production. improvement of soil health and water management. Others referred to agriculture, so far, catering to only food production, building of buffer stocks, food security and need to improve quality for catching international markets where competition, cost-effectiveness rule the roost since WTO was inevitable and a reality. These well-meaning participants, which had a fair sprinkling of farmers, the actual tillers seemed hopeful of a bold political initiative and government intervention of assured market and minimum support price for major crops other than cotton, wheat and paddy. It was also expected that present-day agricultural and agronomic practices and marketing systems would be linked to the Internet and Online trading introduced. The much-abused word was “diversification”. All talked about this and treated Dr Johl Committee report as the cardinal document that had in mid-eighties predicted what was in store for the Indian agriculture in general and Punjab in particular. It is another story that Nature was kind and prediction coming true delayed. Nevertheless, the storm that had been building up for the past four to five years assumed the shape of a whirlwind. If correctives are further delayed it may become a tornado by the time next crop of wheat and paddy is marketed. One can conclude that the future of agriculture and moreso of agriculturist, particularly, small and marginal farmers and rural youth, is dark and bleak. There is yet a forlorn ray of hope of a turnaround if a strong political will coupled with drastic cut in cost of cultivation takes place. The farmers are given direct, targeted subsidies. Farmers become quality conscious and government intervention ensuring area specific cultivation of crops without exploiting natural resources beyond a limit and following recommended agricultural practices. Yet, above all, the concept of policies and strategies must change to draw up long and short-term policies if agriculture is to sustain it self and farmers survive. |
| Nurse held for helping youths become eunuchs JALANDHAR, Jan 6 — Transforming scores of healthy youths into eunuchs for a few bucks has allegedly been her forte for years. But this has cost a Moga-based nurse, Asha Rani, dear as her ‘profession’ has finally landed her behind bars. Asha Rani, a resident of Moga’s railway station area, who had been running her “clinic” from her “jhuggi” has been arrested by the Nakodar police. She had performed “operations” on several vulnerable youths hailing from the Doaba region. What is more shocking is that Asha Rani, in her 30s had been performing surgery by using crude and unsterilised equipment like cheap shaving machines. She would not even administer anaesthesia to patients. In the name of treatment she used to rub ordinary ash upon the castrated area, along with some other ointments, and nothing more during the two-day stay of a patient in her jhuggi,” Mr Pushkar Sandal, DSP, Nakodar, who interrogated her, said. She has confessed that she used to charge Rs 300-400 for providing indoor facilities to a patient, including treatment charges”, he said. Asha Rani was arrested following an investigation into allegations by Charanjit Singh Channi of Lohgarh village that he was forcibly castrated by Gulab Kaur, head of a dera of eunuchs at Mehatpur village in the Nakodar area in June. Though Gulab Kaur had been booked in the case, however, an agent of Asha Rani revealed that he had not been forced by Gulab Kaur and had undergone castration on his own. The operation was performed by Asha Rani, who had charged Rs 1,500 as fees. She had taken over as ‘head of the clinic’ after the death of her “guru”, Dara , also a nurse, early this year. Asha has been booked under Section 326, IPC. It is learnt that such quacks were doing brisk business in parts of Moga, Ferozepur and Jalandhar districts and were castrating those who wanted to make easy money by posing as eunuchs. | |
| Hitch in Congress poll campaign PATIALA, Jan 6 — The Punjab Congress election campaign for the assembly elections scheduled next year which started with a bang with the holding of party rallies in Dakala and Ghanour in the district on January 3 as part of a drive to cover all 117 constituencies in the State has met with a hitch with the January 4 rally at Mansa being deferred and the very format under which the rallies are being held coming into question. The Punjab Congress had held the first of its 117 rallies scheduled to be held in all assembly constituencies of the state on January 3 at Dakala which was presided over by the Capt Amarinder Singh, PPCC president. The same day another rally was held at Ghanour. While the Dakala rally organised by senior party leader Lal Singh went off smoothly, the Ghanour rally saw a party faction inimical to former minister Jasjit Singh Randhawa, who organised the rally, walking off from the stage when it was allegedly not given due importance. Mr Hardev Bhangu, who is also an aspirant for the party ticket from Ghanour, walked off from the stage when he was allegedly not accommodated “appropriately”. The Randhawa faction, however, claimed friction had arisen as Mr Bhangu was making attempts to “capture” the stage. The developments at Ghanour have put in question the very format under which the rallies are being organised. The Pradesh Congress had apparently given free rein to both Mr Lal Singh and Mr Randhawa, who are likely choices for the party ticket from both constituencies, to organise the rallies. Consequently, both behaved as the official, Congress representatives from the seats, even listing out a series of demands on the occasion which Capt Amarinder Singh is to fulfil once he becomes Chief Minister. The format of the rallies has badly shaken party aspirants from various seats. This is because once a political leader is unofficially anointed by letting him become in charge of a party rally in the constituency, it becomes difficult for the others to challenge him. The fact that the district rural unit president Mr Hardyal Singh, hardly had any role to play in hosting the rallies is also being noted with serious concern. The Congress party has postponed the January 4 rally scheduled to be held at Mansa which, official sources said, was done because its district Congress president had fallen ill. The rallies will start again from January 9 at Bathinda. Mr Sant Ram Singla disclosed that a gap of one week had crept up because of the AICC session. At present, most of the top leadership is camped at Delhi. PPCC sources said keeping in view various constituencies where there were to four serious aspirants for the party ticket the format of the rallies might be changed. They said the future rallies being organised by the party might be held under the aegis of the District Congress Committees so that there was no bad blood among various factions. If the district units of the Congress organise the rallies various aspirants could also be kept in good humour by the party as most of them are at present unconditionally supporting the PPCC chief with an eye to the party ticket. The party will also have to step up its rally programme. The PPCC chief has all along been maintaining that elections would be held in April. If this does happen the party would find it difficult to complete the series of rallies in constituencies, specially with breaks in between when the entire leadership rushes to Delhi. |
Badal is RSS agent, says Chandumajra BATHINDA, Jan 6 — Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), today said his party would expose the “anti-Akali and pro-RSS” activities of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and prepare the people to vote for the “real protectors of Punjab interests.” Mr Chandumajra, who addressed party workers here today under “Panthic chetna jagao — Punjab bachao” campaign launched by the party from Muktsar on January 3, said at a press conference that his party would ensure that the people of Punjab did not vote either for the SAD-BJP alliance or the Congress in the next Assembly elections. Dubbing Mr Badal as an agent of the RSS, Mr Chandumajra pointed out that Mr Badal had never condemned the anti-Sikh activities of the RSS. Instead, he had promoted their activities and harmed the interests of the Sikh community. Mr Badal had also “borrowed the style and ways of corruption from the Congress.” He said Mr Badal, on the one hand, had allowed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to push the country towards economic slavery and on the other, ruined the economy of Punjab by bartering away all interests of the state for political gains. He pointed out that Mr Badal could bring Rs 5 crore out of a total of Rs 400 crore, which was its rightful share in the diesel cess in 1998 and 1999. The total money given to Punjab by the Centre as its share from the cess was Rs 26 crore out of the total share of Rs 480 crore. He said the Punjab Government had failed to secure from the Centre the Rs 350 crore package announced for the state. Mr Chandumajra alleged that Mr Badal had borrowed Rs 600 crore from banks on a heavy interest to give liberal grants to selective panchayats and Assembly segments. Apart from it, this amount was being “misutilised” for giving grants to “fake” clubs. He said two senior ministers of Punjab had levelled serious allegations against the Finance Minister regarding misutilisation of Central funds. But Mr Badal had remained mum over this issue. He said Mr Badal should either take action against the Finance Minister or against that two ministers if they were telling a lie. He claimed his party would not halt its campaign till it “freed” the people from the “misrule” of Mr Badal. |
| Centre sabotaged women’s Bill: MP BATHINDA, Jan 6 — The recent decision of the state government to legalise illegal constructions and encroachments on public land is unfortunate and will encourage people to resort to unlawful practices. This was stated by Mr Bhan Singh Bhaura, member of Parliament, while talking to mediapersons here today. Mr Bhaura said the SAD-BJP government in the state had proved a failure on all fronts. Giving examples, he said the oil refinery project in Bathinda would be completed in 2005 as per the Central Government contrary to the claims of the state government. He alleged that the funds issued by the MPs of opposition parties were being diverted by the state government. I had released funds for a school at Maluka village in the district, which diverted to the village panchayat”, he alleged. Answering a question on the women’s reservation Bill, he said the Centre had sabotaged it. Even the Left parties were in its favour, he asserted. Accusing the state government, Mr Bhaura alleged that the ministers and officials involved in the irrigation scam, Bibi Jagir Kaur, senior bureaucrats of the state and police officials were involved in various cases of irregularities, but the Chief Minister was shielding them. The Central Government has banned the increase in the seats of Lok Sabha and this resulted in unequal representation of people, he added. The secular image of the country and the state was under threat, he alleged. Mr Bhaura also gave details of various development projects undertaken by him and his demands related to his the constituency. | |
| DCC plea on CWC members FARIDKOT, Jan 6 — The District Congress Committee has appealed to AICC President Sonia Gandhi to implement the Pachmarhi resolution passed about two year back in the forthcoming nomination of members in the Congress Working Committee. Only those members should be taken in the body who have always stood for the welfare and unity of the party. Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr S.K. Gupta and Mr Satish Bagi, president and press secretary, respectively, DCC, said that the Congress was facing a crisis due to differences in the rank and file and there was a need to rejuvenate the highest body of the party to regain its glory. They also demanded the inclusion of Mrs Priyanka Vadhera in the CWC to give representation to the youth. Steps should also be taken to give 33 per cent representation to women and 20 per cent to Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes in the CWC as per the decision of the party, they suggested. They regretted the non-inclusion of any member from Faridkot district in the AICC. |
Govt claims on border villages refuted GURDASPUR, Jan 6 — Residents of the border villages near Dorangla are a dismayed lot in view of the gross neglect of the area regarding development. The villagers while talking to the reporter said the government’s claim that they were giving priority to border villages was misleading and the ground reality was that the border villages were being ignored. The reporter yesterday visited a bridge built over Naumni nullah between Chauntra and Wazirpur. Members of the Chauntra panchayat said the material used for the construction of the bridge was substandard. The size of the wooden planks being 3 inches thick, was not inadequate to bear a load of 100 quintals, which was promised by the then Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, who accompanied by Mr B.K. Srivastav the then Commissioner, Jalandhar division, had visited the area in July, last year. Mr Kuldip Singh Chandi, Additional Deputy Commissioner, development, accompanied by Mr Dalip Singh, former Superintendent, Chauntra, had visited the site twice. The ADC had directed the Executive Engineer to take the people of the area into confidence during the construction of the bridge but the directions in this regard were ignored. The people of the area had demanded a six-span bridge. Thicker planks would have made easier for loaded tractor-trailers to cross the bridge. At present the traactor-trailers loaded with sugar cane cross the Naumani nullah. Moreover, the planks used are uneven and can break any time. The residents have also demanded the erection of a retaining wall of stones on the embankment of the nullah towards Chauntra so that the soil does not erode during rains and makes the bridge out of use. The members of the Chauntra panchayat village allege that not more than Rs 6 lakh had been spent on the construction of the bridge whereas Rs 11 lakh were provided to the department concerned in this regard. They demanded an enquiry by an independent agency in this regard and exemplary punishment for those who are found guilty. |
| Adalat disposes of 852 bank loan cases GARHSHANKAR, Jan 6 — Under the guidance of Mr Justice H.S. Bedi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Executive-chairman of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh, the first special Lok Adalat of bank loan cases was held today in the court of Mr Virinder Aggarwal, PCS, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Garhshankar. A record breaking 852 cases of bank loan were taken up for disposal. Out of these, 846 cases were at the pre-litigation stage as no regular civil suit had been filed by the banks. Rather, the banks submitted their claims on paper and the court issued notices to the respondents and matters were settled by mutual consent. A total number of five courts were held. These courts were presided over by Mr Vivek Puri, PCS, Civil Judge (Senior Division), Hoshiarpur, Mr Virinder Aggarwal, PCS, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Garhshankar, Mrs Archna Puri, PCS, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hoshiarpur, Mr R.K. Gupta, PCS, Civil Judge (Junior Division), Hoshiarpur, and Mr Sangeet Pal Singh, PCS, Civil Judge (Junior Division), Hoshiarpur. Mr L.R. Roojam, District and Sessions Judge, Hoshiarpur, and Mr D.K. Monga, Member Secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, and Mr H.P.S. Mahal, Additional Director, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, were also present to guide the courts. As many as 516 cases of Punjab National Bank, 88 cases of the Punjab and Sind Bank, 139 cases of the State Bank of Patiala, 21 cases of the Central Bank of India, 20 cases of the Union Bank of India and 28 cases of the Oriental Bank of Commerce were put up before the Lok Adalats. A total amount of Rs 1,5100269 was claimed by the banks. The Lok Adalat persuaded the banks to relinquish a part of their claim in order to arrive at mutual settlements and in some cases even 50-70 per cent of the amount claimed was relinquished by the banks. More than 500 cases were settled. Awards of more than 1,05 lakh were passed. Earlier in the morning, a seminar on free legal aid and Lok Adalats were held in the court complex at Garhshankar. Mr Justice Bedi presided over the same and enlightened the audience about various schemes of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, Chandigarh in order to provide free legal aid and legal services to the poor and weaker sections of society. According to Mr Justice Bedi a person of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, women, children, mentally retarded, handicapped, industrial workers, under trial prisoners and any other person having annual income of less than Rs 30,000 is entitled to avail of free legal aid. Mr Justice Bedi further disclosed that up to November 30, 2000, the Punjab State Legal Services Authority received 28,477 applications and legal advice was given in 26,131 cases. As many as 1,621 Lok Adalats were held in which 1,30,001 cases were put up for hearing and 86,924 cases were disposed of. A sum of Rs 1,29,38,51,181 had been awarded and at the pre0litigation stage 3,037 cases of bank loan were taken up. As many as 1,293 cases had been disposed of at the pre-litigation stage and Rs 5,21,73,195 awarded. He also disclosed that the main aim of the Lok Adalat is to settle the disputes with mutual consent so that the time and money of the parties can be saved. In the Lok Adalat all cases except non-compoundable criminal cases can be taken up for disposal. He appealed to the people to come forward to settle their disputes through the Lok Adalat, if the case is not pending before the court. Cases can also be taken up directly in the Lok Adalat at the pre-litigation stage. Mr Roojam welcomed the chief guest and then stated that up to December 2000, 58 Lok Adalats had been held in Hoshiarpur district in which 3,584 cases had been disposed of on the spot and an amount of Rs 6,16,55,767 had been decreed. During this period 1,196 applications had been received in which legal aid and advise had been provided to the applicants. In order to publicise the scheme 32 seminars or legal literacy camps had been held to educate the people regarding free legal aid and Lok Adalats. He further disclosed that today 846 bank loan cases were filed on application forms by the banks without filing the cases in regular courts. In this way justice can be provided at the pre-litigation stage. He also disclosed that a legal aid council had already been appointed in each court of the Judicial Magistrate. Mr S.S. Grewal, Legal Remembrancer, Punjab, Mr V.P. Singh, ADC, Mr Bhagu Ram, president of the Bar Association, Garhshankar, judicial officers, executive officers and police officers were also present at the seminar. NAWANSHAHR: On the directive of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, a special Lok Adalat dealing with bank loan cases was organised here at the judicial court complex on Saturday. Mr Justice H.S. Bedi, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, inspected the special Lok Adalat in which as many as five Benches headed by Mr Gurbinder Singh Matharu, Civil Judge (Senior Division), Nawanshahr, Mr Ram Kumar Singla, Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mr M.P. Singh Pahwa, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Jalandhar, Mr Krunesh Kumar Kakkar, Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Mrs D.P.K. Bedi, Civil Judge (Junior Division), Nawanshahr, settled about 200 cases out of the 503 cases presented before them and recovered Rs 35 lakh. Mr Justice Bedi said, since November 30, 2000, till now as many as eight Lok Adalats dealing with bank loan cases had been organised in which about 2,100 bank loan cases had been settled and Rs 8 crore had been recovered. A Lok Adalat dealing with bank loan cases was also organised at Balachaur in which two Benches were set up. As many as 61 cases out of 97 cases were settled amicably and a sum of Rs 10 lakh was recovered. |
| ‘City of lakes’ a misnomer BATHINDA: Heaps of garbage, blocked sewers, traffic and parking problems, encroachments on roads, stray animals, noise pollution. Who is to blame for all this? Most people here think the authorities are responsible while the latter say that residents make little effort to make the city more livable. Conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that it is perhaps a misnomer to call the place the "city of lakes". Stray animals, including pigs, can be seen at various places, creating unhygienic conditions and a traffic hazard. Residents often litter roads and streets. Plots dotting the city are used for the throwing of garbage by residents with the authorities failing to take action against the offenders. At various other places, too, one can see waste, including hospital waste, dumped with impunity. To add to the woes of residents, in several localities sewers are choked and drains overflow. The parking problem has also become acute and needs to be tackled on priority. Residents have suggested that the grounds of various schools can be used as parking areas after school hours. The use of unauthorised loudspeakers is prohibited and so is the playing of loud music. However, the authorities make little effort to implement the law, leading to an increase in noise pollution. The city also faces a shortage of drinking water while the ground water is unfit for human consumption. However, residents tend to waste water in areas where it is available in plenty. The administration needs to stop the illegal use of pumpsets, which affect the water supply.
Leopard pug marks create fear in villagers PATIALA, Jan 6 — The leopard who had strayed into the jungle on the outskirts of the city around four days back is still causing sleepless nights to villagers in the area with fresh pug marks of the animal being sighted at Rwas village, near here, today morning. The pug marks of the leopard were discovered near the gate of the dairy of one Manoj Kumar Malhotra at Rwas village 3 km from the city . Mr Malhotra said after he discovered the pug marks in the morning , he informed the local police as well as wildlife officials. He alleged that wildlife officials had expressed their helplessness to do anything in the matter as they did not have any tranquilizer gun in their possession. Mr Malhotra said he feared the worst for his cattle as well as few families living in the dairy premises and urged that policemen be posted on duty at the village . Sources disclosed that senior wildlife officials today camped at the Deer Park on the outskirts of the zoo to take stock of the matter. A control room has also been established at the Deer Park to enable villagers sighting the animal to report there immediately . The leopard had been first sighted in the Kheri Gujran reserve forest on January 2 when one Gurcharan Singh, who had gone to the jungle with his dogs, was attacked in the arm by the animal. Following this, the animal took refuge atop a eucalyptus tree in the jungle. Wildlife officials who came from the Chhatbir zoo to tranquilize the animal were not successful in their task and the animal escaped from the cordon around the jungle on that night itself. There had been reports of the leopard being sighted near Sanaur, which is around 5 km from here, yesterday. There is a fear psychosis among the people of the area due to these sightings. Police officials have asked villagers not to allow children out of homes after dusk besides taking care that their cattle and other livestock was tethered in secure places .
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| Water disposal scheme awaits completion BARNALA, Jan 6 — The fate of the water disposal scheme at Dhaula village, the native village of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Governor, Uttaranchal, hangs fire though approximately Rs 15 lakh have been spent on it. Learning about the abandonment of the scheme this reporter visited Dhaula to meet the residents and make on-the-spot study of the situation. It was found that the foundation stone of the project was laid in 1999 by Mr Barnala then a Union Minister. He is reported to have offered monetary help of Rs 5 lakh from his M.P. Area Development Fund. The District Planning Board, Sangrur, too offered grant for the project. The project was initially planned at an estimated cost of Rs 40 lakh under the Panchayati Raj Scheme. After a round of the village, it was observed that of the total approximate 5-km route of the project, pipes had been laid only on just one third of the route with about 30 manholes on the way. Most of manholes were broken and choked and the pipes too were in bad shape. Following public complaints regarding the slow pace of work on the scheme, Rahul Bhandari, IAS, then SDM, Barnala, visited Dhaula to look into the matter. When asked to comment on the project, he too said it was a sheer wastage of money, material, time and manpower. When contacted Major Singh, sarpanch, panchayat Dhaula, Gurnam Singh panch and residents informed that just 35 per cent of the work on the project had been completed. They said work on the project began in June, 1999 and was abandoned after two months. Official sources, however, said the project could not be completed for want of adequate funds. |
DGP assures justice in Mukhija case MOGA, Jan 6 (PTI) —The Moga District Congress Committee today suspended its 18-days-long chain fast strike in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex here following an assurance given by DGP, Punjab, Mr Sarbjit Singh, that justice will be ensured in case of the alleged murder of senior Congress leader Harmesh Kumar Mukhija at Dharamkot on November 13. This was announced here today by Dr Malti Thapar, former minister, member of the AICC and convener of the agitation. She said the agitation was launched in protest against the failure of the police to give justice allegedly under political pressure and also demanded CBI probe into the murder. Ms Thapar said a deputation of Congress leaders met the DGP at Chandigarh on Tuesday. He assured that justice would be done and ruled out any political pressure in the investigation of the case. | |
| Public help can root out terrorism: Swami BARNALA, Jan 6 — Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam can be rooted out only with the active cooperation of public and without it is impossible to tackle and eliminate this menace. These views were expressed by Mr I.D. Swami, Union Minister of State for Home, yesterday, while addressing a gathering at Shaheed Natha Singh Memorial Gurdwara near Dhanaula town, about 12 km from here to mark birthday celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh and Jor Mela celebrations held recently. Mr Swami, giving example of elimination of terrorism in Punjab, hoped that with the passage of time and with public cooperation, the evil of terrorism in Jammu Kashmir and Northeastern states was bound to go. Advocating the blending of religion and politics, Mr Swami made it clear that with public cooperation in the development sector India would be on the top in world. Earlier, an NRI, mr Darshan Singh Rakhra, laid the foundation stone of a sarovar in the gurdwara. Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Punjab, addressing the gathering, paid tributes to Guru Gobind Singh. Master Mohan Lal, Higher Education Minister, Punjab, also spoke on this occasion. Others who spoke on the occasion included Mr Surjit Kumar, Punjab Forests Minister, Mr Harjit Singh Grewal, vice-chairman, BJP kisan cell and Mr Sukhwant Singh, Vice-President, Punjab unit of the BJP. | |
| Arrears for college teachers cleared PHAGWARA, Jan 6 — An additional grant of Rs 9.34 crore has been sanctioned by the Punjab Finance Department for clearing arrears of over 6,000 private college teachers. This was stated by the Punjab Higher Education Minister, Master Mohan Lal, to an eight-member delegation of the Punjab Federation of Non-Government College Principals Associations yesterday. The deputation had gone to meet the minister in Chandigarh on the latter’s invitation for a detailed dialogue to discuss issues of higher education. Mr Tarsem Bahia, president, Panjab University Non-Government Colleges Principals Association said here yesterday that the principals demanded expeditious implementation of the recent assurance given by the minister to representatives of the Punjab and Chandigarh Colleges Teachers Union regarding pension-cum-gratuity Act so that the academic atmosphere remained smooth in college. The principals regretted that the assurances given to the joint action committee last year regarding the release of grant for the 26-day strike period in 1998 and for the January-February months’ salary in 1999 had not been implemented. The principals brought to the minister’s notice a lacunae in the April 26, 1999, notification as it did not incorporate a clause governing the pay revision for granting professor’s scale to principals having certain experience and qualification as per the UGC norms. The deputation also met DPI (colleges) Gulzar Singh and complained against the style of functioning of the audit cell and demanded its streamlining, Mr Bahia added. | |
| Minister justifies free power to farmers FEROZEPORE, Jan 6 — Refuting the allegations that the decision of the state government to provide electricity free of cost to farmers has caused loss of crores of rupees to the PSEB, Mr Sikander Singh Maluka, Power Minister, said there was no harm in giving them free power, as they had worked hard to make India self-sufficient in food production. He said free power being provided to the farmers, which costs the state exchequer Rs 300 crore annually, was meant only for farming and agricultural purposes. About the frequent power cuts, he stated that dropping water levels in the dams had led to dependence on thermal power plants which consumed a lot of coal. The minister said for the coal which cost Rs 680 per tonne. He said out of the total amount of coal being supplied, 50 per cent was below standard. The minister asserted that electricity in Punjab was cheapest as compared to other states, barring Himachal Pradesh. As far as theft of power was concerned, he agreed that the situation was grave, but not out of control. He claimed more than Rs 100 crore had been recovered by way of imposing fines on defaulters. He said several new schemes would be mooted to check power theft. | |
| Panel to probe hostel fire AMRITSAR, Jan 6 — A three-member inquiry committee will go into the incident of fire at the Medical College girls hostel (G Block) on Thursday, reportedly due to a short circuit. The team is led by Dr Narottam Bhalla, president of the girls hostel, besides the hostel superintendent (boys), Dr Parmod Kakkar, and an SDO of the PSEB. However, Principal, Medical College, has ruled out the possibility of overloading and consequent short-circuiting as a reason for the fire. He is of the view that the fire could have been caused by a heater. The matter has been intimated to the Minister for Education and Research, Mr Manoranjan Kalia. | |
| Transfer of land to PAU opposed CHANDIGARH, Jan 6 — The Punjab Subordinate Services Federation (PSSF), in a statement here today, has opposed the transfer of 2800 acres land to the Punjab Agricultural University( PAU), the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation and the Punjab Police Department at “throw-away” price. The PSSF said that the land at Ladhowal farm was a property of the Punjab Land Development and Reclamation Corporation (PLDRC). Its actual value was about Rs 150 crore. However, it has been transferred to other departments for Rs 11.50 crore. The Federation leaders said that the PLDRC had purchased this land in 1964-65 and had leased it out to the Central State Farms Corporation of India. The General Secretary of the Federation, Mr Ranbir Singh Dhillon, said that the land should be restored to the PLDRC. He also said that employees of the PLDRC, who had not been given salary for the past five months, should be given salary immediately and efforts should be made to improve its financial health. | |
| Undertrial picks lawyer’s pocket PATHANKOT, Jan 6 — High drama was enacted yesterday at about 2.30 p.m. in the court of the sub divisional Judicial Magistrate, Pathankot. Undertrial Davinder who is charged under the Excise Act, while being produced in handcuffs in the court allegedly picked the pocket of Mr Ashok Sharma, lawyer. Due to over crowding in the courtroom the pickpocket in handcuffs managed to take out the purse from the pocket of the lawyer who was busy conducting his case. When Mr Sharma realised that his purse was missing and he has asked his clerk, Mr Som Raj to look for it, the pickpocket was apprehended. The purse containing some documents and money was recovered from the undertrial. | |
| CM inaugurates hospital at Tanda HOSHIARPUR, Jan 6 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, inaugurated a 30-bed hospital constructed at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore by the Punjab Health System Corporation at Tanda, 32 kms from here, today. Addressing a gathering of people, including sarpanches and panches of the area at Government Senior Secondary School ground, Mr Badal said Rs 422 crore would be spent to provide better health services to the people of the state. He said the current year was being observed as development year. He said the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs 3.37 crore near Pul Pukhta village on Kali Bein was in final stage. The bridge would be shortly opened for general traffic, he said. To provide higher education, 12 schools in each segment of the state Assembly were being upgraded, he said, adding that one school each for girls only would be opened in all the segments of state Assembly. He announced the opening of a girls school in Khadiala village of Tanda segment. Mr Badal criticised the Congress and said the WTO agreement, signed during the Congress regime was now posing a threat to the industrialists and farmers of the country. | |
| PSEB checking staff ‘corrupt’ AMRITSAR, Jan 6 — Alleging corruption by the checking staff of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), the Shiromani Youth Akali Dal (Kahlon) in a statement issued here gave the example of Sahari village, near Dhariwal, Gurdaspur. The note alleged that in December, 2000, the PSEB checking squad detected at least 70 cases of power theft, but let the culprits off after getting Rs 400 to Rs 1000 from each. In a letter to the Chairman of the PSEB, Mr Sohal, the dal asked whether the squad was sent to collect money for personal pockets or to fill the coffers of the PSEB which is undergoing a loss. He said the harassment to the public has defeated the very purpose of the government which has been raising slogans of anti-corruption at every fora. | |
| Bathinda to have transport nagar BATHINDA, Jan 6 — To reduce the burden of heavy vehicles on city roads, a transport nagar would soon be constructed on the outskirts of the city on an area of 68 acres. The truck operators would be provided land in the nagar. This was stated by Mr Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioner, here today while addressing members of the truck operators union. Mr Jaspal Singh further said the work on the proposed ring road which would connect Bathinda-Barnala and Bathinda-Mansa roads would be started in this month. He said the ring road would also help to reduce vehicular traffic. The Deputy Commissioner instructed officials of the Transport Department to ensure that tractor-trailers should install light reflectors on their back to prevent accidents. |
| Seminar on politics AMRITSAR, Jan 6 — Prof Paul Wallace of the University of Missouri, Columbia (USA), a leading figure on Punjab politics, will inaugurate the three-day international seminar on ‘Ethnic dimensions in international politics’ being organised by Guru Nanak Dev University under the aegis of its Political Science Department on January 8. Prof Walker Cannor (USA), specialist on ethnic politics, will deliver the keynote address while Dr H.S. Soch, will preside over the function in which more than 60 foreign and Indian delegates will participate. Train to Delhi via Moga sought MOGA, Jan 6 — Local residents today urged the Union Government to introduce a fast passenger train from the border district of Ferozepore to New Delhi via Moga for their benefit. They said that although the Union Railway Ministry had several years ago announced the introduction of such a train, but the plan was not implemented. |
Punjab plans more lottery schemes CHANDIGARH, Jan 6 — As many as 56 more Weekly Lottery schemes in addition to earlier 112 weekly schemes, would be launched by the Department of Lotteries, Punjab, in a month. This was announced at the prize distribution function of the Department at the Office of Director, Punjab State Lotteries, Sector 17, here today. Mr Rajesh Kumar of Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh and Mr Rakesh Verma of Jalandhar, winner of Punjab State Maa Lakshmi Divali and Pooja Bumper-2000, were also given the cheques of the prize money, at the function. Mr Prabhjot Singh Mand, Director Punjab State Lotteries, disclosed that the Directorate of Lotteries contributed Rs 18.27 crore to the state exchequer in 1999-2000. He hoped to mope up Rs 35 crore in the current year. Mr Mand claimed that the Directorate has made 19 persons multi-millionaires. The draw of the New Year - Lohri Bumper 2001 would be held at Nehru Siddhant Kendra, Ludhiana at 4 p.m. on January 13. |
24 more Bangladeshis arrested GURDASPUR, Jan 6 — With the arrest of 24 more Bangladeshi nationals, the number of those arrested during the week has gone up to 36. As many as 12 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested near Chhitta observation post in the district on January 1. The SSP, Mr Varinder Kumar said during the preliminary interrogation, the accused said they had crossed the Indian territory after crossing over the border from the Pakistan side. They further said they came in contact with Amin, who assured them he would get them employed in Pakistan and also help them to cross over the border to reach Pakistan. The SSP said Amin had brought them to India without valid documents. When the accused reached Sambha in Jammu and Kashmir along with Amin, the latter left them near the Pakistan border and fled. They were caught by the Pakistan-Rangers, who interrogated them for 10 days. Afterwards, the Pakistan-Rangers pushed them into the Indian territory, where they were arrested. A case under Section 3/34/20, Indian Passport Act and 14 Foreigners Act has been registered. |
| Robbers held with arms FARIDKOT, Jan 6 — The Faridkot police has nabbed a gang of robbers. One 12 bore gun, one pistol, six cartridges and a number of sharp-edged weapons were seized in a surprise raid at the Ram Bagh cremation ground, Kotkapura. In a press note here yesterday, the district police chief, Dr Arun Kumar Araon, said that on information, a police party led by DSP N.S. Rana of Kotkapura raided the cremation ground and after a scuffle with the members of the gang, the police party arrested three members even as two managed to escape in the darkness. The arrested persons have been identified as Gurmail Singh, Banti Kumar and Suresh Chander. A case under Sections 307, 398, 399 and 402, IPC, has been registered against the accused. During interrogation, they confessed committing a robbery at the house of Iqbal Singh of Hira Singh Nagar and another robbery on the Sikhawala road in Kotkapura. | |
| Man in lock-up kills himself MOGA, Jan 6 (PTI) — Report of a custodial death was received from Muktsar where in Saddar police station lockup. An accused, Iqbal Singh (35) of Bhutiwala village, committed suicide by hanging himself in the bathroom of the police lockup in the early hours yesterday. The Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) , Mr Dharam Singh Muktsar, said here today that Iqbal Singh was arrested by the Muktsar police from Bathinda yesterday in a case registered against him for alleged kidnapping of a married women in his relation. The police came to know of the suicide in the morning when the deceased failed to wake-up. When the lock was opened by a police constable on duty, he found Iqbal Singh dead. After a post-mortem examination, the body was hand over to the next of kin in the presence of village panchayat, the police said. |
Decision on fee exemption deferred AMRITSAR, Jan 6 — The much-awaited decision on claiming the balance fees from students admitted under the NRI quota to the SGPC-run Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Sciences and Research has been deferred by the trustees who met here today under the chairmanship of SGPC chief Jagdev Singh Talwandi. Talking to mediapersons, Mr Talwandi clarified that in case exemption was granted to even one student under this quota then the trust would have to consider giving concession to other candidates too. It is reliably learnt that the SGPC chief was under tremendous pressure to give consent to exempt the fees to students admitted under the directions of the former SGPC President, Bibi Jagir Kaur, last year. The Bibi had requested the college to charge Rs 1.10 lakh instead of 75000 US dollar each from the four students admitted under the NRI quota, but subject to approval of the trust. The issue has generated considerable debate as the exemption of roughly about Rs 2 crore would deprive the college and hospital of the much-needed funds to buy the latest medical equipment. The Principal-Director and others have requested the trust to claim the amount for the betterment of the hospital infrastructure. Among those who attended the meeting were the SGPC chief, life member of the trust and former President of the SGPC Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC members Balbir Singh Naushera Pannu, Kiranjot Kaur, Balwant Singh Tung and Dr Gill. The trust decided to provide Rs 1 crore for the purchase of latest equipment for the hospital and urged the doctors to tone up the administration for providing better medical facilities to the patients. The trust has also decided to set up a committee to formulate a policy regarding the pay scales for the doctors and other staff besides service rules. |
Fee hike: students go on strike MALERKOTLA, Jan 6 — The Punjab Students Union observed strike in Government College here today in protest against the hike in fee by the Punjabi University, Patiala. Mr Gurmukh Singh Mann, district secretary of the union, Sangrur unit, said in a press note that the university authorities had increased the fee by Rs 200, Rs 250 and Rs 300 for examinations of BA, B.Sc, B.Com and MA classes respectively. He resented that the university had not issued any notice well in time to the colleges concerned regarding the enhancement in fees. He further said the university had issued notice in this regard on August 21 but the college authorities were informed only when they went to deposit fee with the university. The union had threatened that if their demands were not accepted, they would go on strike for an indefinite period. They warned that the union would also gherao the Higher Education Minister, Mr Mohan Lal, on January 12. PUTA set to oppose appraisal scheme PATIALA, Jan 6 — The Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA), has rejected the Vice-Chancellor’s offer to give suggestions on the modalities for implementation of the Student Appraisal Scheme, under which teachers are proposed to be evaluated by students and is gearing up to launch an agitation on the issue. The PUTA Executive, which met two days ago, decided that there was no scope for any negotiation on the scheme with the University authorities, as both the Executive and the General Body of the Association had passed resolutions that the scheme be withdrawn immediately. Following the decision, the PUTA president and general secretary, in a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor yesterday, have stated that the Association was not ready to give any suggestions to facilitate implementation of the scheme, as the proposal itself had been rejected by it. The Association has called a meeting of the General House on January 10 to chart out the further programme. PUTA executive member, Dr Mann Singh Dhindsa, said the Association was also in the process of issuing a pamphlet on the issue before the meeting of the General House. He said the pamphlet would cover the entire issue and explain why the Association had been forced to go on a dharna, as well as the issues on which talks had been held with the Vice-Chancellor. He said the Association would also try for a formal meeting with the Vice-Chancellor before January 10 to resolve the issue, failing which, it would have no option but to start an agitation against the scheme. Despite intense pressure from the teachers, the University authorities are apparently in no mood to relent on the issue. University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, when contacted, said there had been no rethinking on the scheme on the part of the authorities. He said proformas to be distributed to the students had already been printed. He said the proformas would be distributed to the children now in the first week of March just prior to the date fixed for evaluating the three-month-period of teaching from December to February, instead of in the month of January as planned earlier. The Vice-Chancellor said various student bodies of the University had met him and conveyed their enthusiasm on the implementation of the scheme. He said on a suggestion by them, it had been decided that the students would also be given a self-appraisal form, along with the teacher evaluation form, so that they could evaluate themselves also. He said these forms would also be distributed along with the teacher evaluation forms. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Student Appraisal Scheme was discussed informally at a tea meeting hosted by the Vice-Chancellor for the PUTA Executive recently. Sources said the Association has urged that the implementation of the scheme be deferred for the present session and that a fresh model be created following discussion on the issue. University teachers have also expressed the sentiment that if the scheme was to be launched in the University, everything else, including the admission process and the efficiency of the administration should also be evaluated. They have also stated that in the absence of an elected student body in the campus, the sentiment of the students, for or against the scheme, could not be gauged properly. |
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