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| Thursday, March 1, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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Badal, Chautala hail Budget Chandigarh, February 28 He described it as a “progressive, development-oriented and common-man friendly effort”, according to a press note. He said the introduction of the kisan credit card scheme within the next three years, would provide insurance cover to farmers against accidental death or personal disability. He said the reduction in the rate of interest on NABARD loans from 11.5 per cent to 10.5 per cent, reduction in the rate of interest for funding the storage of crops from 10 per cent to 8.5 per cent and the massive increase of Rs 64,000 crore from Rs 51,000 crore in the credit flow to agriculture were “positive steps” for strengthening the agricultural base in Punjab. The exemption of the food processing industry from excise duty, the new scheme on setting up of agri-clinics and agri-business centres for agriculture graduates, the credit-linked subsidy scheme for the construction of cold stores for perishable commodities extended to rural godowns and the complete decontrol of urea by April 1, 2006, as recommended by the Expenditure Reforms Commission, were some of the highlights of the Budget. The Chief Minister also appreciated the provisions made in the Budget relating to strengthening rural electrification, human resource development and infrastructure development, speeding up of agriculture sector reforms, stringent control on non-productive expenditure, speedy electrification of bastis of Dalits and other weaker sections and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. Mr Badal suggested that the proposed Finance Bill should include adequate and foolproof arrangements against the WTO onslaught against small farmers and tiny industrial units in Punjab. The Chief Minister also lauded the Union Government for enhancing the rural development provision by 5 per cent, making it Rs 7,813 crore. .While complimenting the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, on presenting a growth-oriented Budget, Mr Chautala said the initiatives announced for the agricultural sector were a good beginning towards protecting the interests of farmers from the adverse impact of the WTO. Mr Chautala appreciated the jump in the credit flow for the agriculture sector, raising it to Rs 64,000 crore from Rs 51,500 crore. He said the announcement on the reduction in the interest rates of NABARD and the funding of the storage of crops at a reduced interest rate was timely and meaningful. Mr Chautala also lauded the initiatives taken by the Finance Minister to attract investment in the industrial sector, particularly in the thrust areas of information technology and the development of infrastructure. He said exports from India were already on the upswing and a further increase in industrial productivity in the country would lead to increased employment opportunities to the public at large. Mr Chautala appreciated the increase in the allocation for the accelerated power development programme from the current Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,500 crore. |
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SAD-BJP euphoric, Oppn in disarray Chandigarh, February 28 The House meets at a time when the SAD-BJP, taking stock of its performance, will try to focus on its announcements, achievements and promises seeking applause in return. The Opposition, despite being in disarray, will attempt to find fault and deliver punches. Just as in the case of its first year, 1997-98, the government will try to humour the people, being an election year, ridicule the Opposition, make new promises during the Budget Session with an eye on the ballot. In this battle of wits between the Treasury and Opposition Benches, contrasts and comparisons, cheers and jeers will find and echo. It is strange that the main Opposition, the Congress with 14 members in the House, did not think it prudent to put its act together before the session. No meeting of the CLP was convened by Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Leader of the Opposition. In fact, ever since the replacement of Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal as Congress chief inside the House, things have been pretty bad for the Congress even outside the House. The Congress has faced three successive defeats in the Assembly byelections, Nawanshahr, Sunam and Majitha. Despite repeated “rejection by the people” these vanquished heroes have failed to forge unity because the party has many leaders, self-styled to self-righteous, ever ready to trip colleagues to get to the top. With no floor coordination in the Opposition, the SAD-BJP on the strength of numbers, 63 and 18 respectively, will take on the Opposition on most of the issues as had been happening in the past sessions. The complete business to be transacted by the House is not known yet. However, as per the tentative schedule, the discussion on the Governor’s Address will conclude on March 12. There will be obituary references on March 2. Thereafter, there are a string of holidays. At present only two Bills are with the Vidhan Sabha on the Scheduled Castes and backward classes besides two ordinances, one on the Punjab Rent Control Act and the other to scrap the Women and Children Corporation. Since the Akalis will be completing their full five-year term for the first time despite internal strife, bickering and breakaway factions, Capt Kanwaljit Singh will be presenting his fifth consecutive Budget. One important feature that will require close watch is how the “unattached” 13 MLAs will conduct themselves during the session. They owe allegiance to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, whose alliances with heterogenous Akalis like Mr Ravi Inder Singh (a former Speaker) and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann are suspect. Remember backing out after supporting Mr Manjit Singh Khehra on the Rajya Sabha seat against Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal? One hears
rumblings that yet against another unity move is afoot. The next elections may see the Akalis in new combinations and hues. |
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Going abroad costs them dear Rampuraphul, February 28 Bitten by the bug of making it to a foreign land, the youths of this region, have been falling prey to the greed of unscrupulous travel agents dotting the region and running their operations secretly. These youths have been facing starvation, torture and maltreatment at the hands of travel agents and the police after landing in foreign countries without valid papers. The Malta boat tragedy in 1996 and the Turkish coast vessel tragedy which took place on January 1, 2001, seen to have failed to deter them as human trafficking of youth from Punjab has been going on unabated. The district police has arrested Lakhbir Singh of Kothaguru village who has been cheating youths on the pretext of sending them to Malaysia. Manga Singh of Lakha village of Ludhiana district along with Lakhbir Singh was running a racket of sending youths abroad illegally. Dr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, in a press note issued here today said Lakhbir Singh and Manga Singh took Gurlal Singh of Kotra Kodian village of this district to Bangkok to send him to Malaysia after taking Rs 1 lakh. Gurlal Singh was taken to the jungles in Bangkok and kept confined in a kiosk there along with Kulwinder Singh of Kotra Kodian village, who was also a customer of the accused for three days. Then both were taken to Malaysia by sea on a boat. They were again taken to the jungles there. They were made to walk on foot to reach a city. In the city, they were taken into a room where they were kept confined for 11 days. They were not given any food and water. After 11 days, Gurlal Singh was taken out of the room where he had been kept by Manga Singh who arranged a job for him and disappeared from there. Gurlal Singh was thrown out of his job after a few days and he ran here and there and met a granthi of a gurdwara there. The granthi, Babu Singh, arranged his return to India. Gurlal Singh, who left for Malaysia on April 28, 2000, came back to India on August 27, 2000. The police has registered a case in this connection under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC in the local police station. Earlier, the police had brought to light a new modus operandi. A youth married his real sister, who is a citizen of Canada, and applied for a passport in a fake name to go abroad. He fell into the police net when he started selling land to generate enough money to go abroad. |
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Teachers on census duty “on leave” Amritsar, February 28 Teachers of three schools in the district, namely Government Primary School, Saran, Government High School, Gohalwar, and Government Senior Secondary School, Kot Baba Deep Singh, have given a written representation to the City Census Officer to redress their grievance. Incidentally, the situation has come to such a pass due to the counter instructions of the Census Charge Officer, Circle No 4. The circular to all principals of government educational institutions by the Census Charge Officer enlists census duty on the top priority under which it states that “presence should be accorded to government employees on census duty”. The order sets aside the employees’ first duty to the parent employment while being marked ‘present’ for it, and upholds the census duty as the first and the foremost priority of the government employees. Whereas the earlier instruction by the Principal Secretary, dated January 30, referring to concessions in office attendance on account of census duty, clearly states that the employees deputed as enumerators, supervisors and master trainers may be permitted to avail ‘two hours’ from their office or parent employment duty. The letter seeks to ensure that the staff on census duty is allowed to work diligently and in a time-bound manner. However, despite these instructions teachers are agitated as principals continue to mark them as on leave in gross violation of the orders. |
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CBI court
rejects DIG’s bail plea Patiala, February 28 Later in the day, the DIG moved a bail application before the court of the Sessions Judge which will be heard tomorrow. The DIG appeared before the Special CBI Magistrate following a directive of Additional Sessions Judge Birender Singh asking him to surrender before the special court while also giving him time till March 4 to apply for regular bail. Pronouncing the order, Special Magistrate Jaspinder Singh Heyer said the DIG should not be taken into custody till then. He fixed the next date of hearing in the case to March 16. Earlier, while moving the bail application, counsel for the DIG said Kamaljit Kaur, wife of Sukdev Singh, alias Sukha, who was alleged to have been detained and who later disappeared said Kamaljit had made the first representation against the police officers two and a half years after the incident. He said during investigation it had also been revealed that one Jaspal Singh had signed on behalf of Kamaljit Kaur. Counsel said it had also been revealed that the DIG who was then posted as Senior Superintendent of Police at Ropar, had only interrogated the BKI activist to which he had a right. He said surprisingly another officer, who had tortured the BKI activist, had been placed in column two by the CBI. He said considering these facts no offence had been made out against Mr Sanjeev Gupta and he should be granted bail in the case. The CBI counsel while opposing the bail application said it had documentary evidence proving that the DIG visited both the Mohali police station as well as the CIA centre at Ropar. He said the DIG had hatched a deep-rooted conspiracy to eliminate the BKI activist and there was every likelihood that he would tamper with the evidence. |
CPM to launch kisan bachao stir Hoshiarpur, February 28 Prof Balwant Singh said the WTO and GATT agreements were posing a great threat to the Indian economy. The Congress had made this agreement and the BJP was implementing it. The decision of the Central Government regarding the exemption of taxes on imported agriculture goods would be a disaster for the Indian economy. This would also lead towards financial riots in the country. He said seven farmers organisations would start an agitation throughout the country against the liberalisation policy and gherao SDMs on March 28 and 29 at the subdivisional level. He said the CPM would launch a kisan bachao agitation in Punjab from March 15. Thousands of farmers from five farmers organisations, namely the Kisan Union of the CPM, the Punjab Kisan Union, the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Ekta and the Kirti Kisan Union, would continue the dharna till the state government waived of the loans of farmers, assured the purchase of wheat and took a decision to re-impose taxes on imported agricultural goods. He alleged that Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, and Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister, were adopting a dual policy. In Punjab both leaders were giving assurances about protecting the interests of farmers and in Delhi they were assuring the Central Government to completely support the WTO and GATT agreements.  |
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Dang seeks Tandon’s ouster Amritsar, February 28 Mr Dang felt that according to the judgement, the court had taken a serious note of Mr Arora acting at the behest of his political masters. |
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Kanshi to use UP vote formula in Punjab Hoshiarpur, February 28 Later, talking to the mediapersons at the residence of Mr Chaudhry the BSP supremo said BSP leaders of Punjab had confined the party only to the Dalits. Whereas, his aim was to give representation to all sections of the society. He pointed out that the BSP became a force to reckon within Uttar Pradesh. He said before his entry in Uttar Pradesh politics 9 per cent Brahmins, who were dominating the Congress, were ruling 24 per cent Dalits, 15 per cent Muslims and remaining percentage of other classes. He completely eroded the base of Congress which was depended on the Dalits. The last Uttar Pradesh elections had proved that there were only three main parties namely the BSP, the BJP and the Samajwadi Party of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav. |
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SAD (A) chief’s house gheraoed Rampuraphul, February 28 Mr Gurcharan Singh, her husband, while talking to TNS on the phone, said the police party, did not allow them to move out of the house. He said a criminal case was also registered against his son, Mr Raj Bhadur Singh, yesterday though he managed to secure a bail for him on the same day. Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP said Mr Raj Bhadur Singh, was booked under Section 323 of the IPC as he was accused of causing injuries to a person living in a house located just opposite to his house. |
Eating beef to build body!
Jalandhar, February 28 Driven by the urge to look macho, since they feel it is the only way to please girls, a majority of the youths are undergoing a transformation at both levels, physical and mental. The macho man is considered to be a complete man, even if this “machohood” is acquired by a good dose of steroids and by eating a lot or raw red meat, containing high amounts of fat. Most of the school or college-going students go to semi-literate coaches and one-room health centres and gymnasiums. As they cannot afford to purchase steroid-based protein powders and other food supplements, they have found a cheaper substitute in beef. Dead calves are found in abundance as farmers and dairy owners do not prefer to feed the new born male calf as they see nothing but a financial burden. The calf is left to die in open spaces just after its birth. Though “khatiks” (persons engaged in skinning animals) usually skin the animals and leave the carcasses in the open for the scavengers, they have now started selling them to the new-found buyers of cheap meat. Those who do follow this practice, collect money and buy the meat, which according to them helps in increasing the muscle power. “Actually, it is cheap at just Rs 1-Rs 2 per kilogram and all of us can afford it everyday. Moreover, our ustaad at the gym has advised us to eat red meat daily if we want to look more masculine,” said a youth from nearby Jamsher village on condition of anonymity. He admitted that he and others like him were regular visitors to the Nakodar road skin market, where dead animals were skinned by the “khatiks”, who supply hides to the leather and shoe industry. “I get atleast 10-12 clients on Sundays and Saturdays who demand meat of animals, which have recently died. Since, we do not use meat of the dead animals, we sell it to them between Rs 1 and Rs 3 a kg”, said Hari Ram who is a “khatik”. A visit to the area revealed that body freaks visited the market in small groups in the mornings after working out at the gymnasiums and purchased beef. “I do it since my gymnasium coach has suggested me to do so. He says that by doing this my muscles will grow faster and my body will become like that of Hrithik Roshan’s. I can do anything for that” said Romy, also from a nearby village, who goes to the gym for at least four to six hours every day. “For me, a good v-shaped body is more important than anything,” he says. Though not all gymnasiums ask their clients to eat raw or red meat, it is done by coaches of gymnasiums in suburban areas of cities and those operating from other cheap body shops. They are neither professionals nor well trained, but want to make a fast buck by making their clients undergo new “experiences” just to flaunt their half-baked knowledge. They even suggest them to make it a habit to eat steroid-based food supplements in the form of costly powders, without knowing about the impact they have on the body. Also, these supplements are costly, particularly the imported stuff. half kg of these supplements could cost between Rs 500 and Rs 2000. Some of them even take testosterone to build their muscle.
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PM to dedicate dam to nation Ranjit Sagar Dam, February 28 According to the information, the surplus employees have already claimed huge salaries without any work since the completion of the project last year. Most of them including about 1,000 drivers, have not been absorbed so far. Mr Natha Singh and Mr Harinder Singh Randhawa, president and general secretary of the Thein Dam Workers Union, respectively, have accused the Punjab Government of indifference towards the employees who had constructed the country’s highest earth-cum-gravel shell project. Sources said the workers who had already claimed crores of rupees as salary from the Ranjit Sagar Dam could have been adjusted in different departments as the dam was completed in a phased manner. While the employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board who had constructed the main power house of the project were reduced from 1,100 to 490 against the sanctioned staff of 506, they wondered why the Irrigation Department was “hand-in-glove” with the surplus employees who could be used as “a pressure group” for getting yet another project of Shahpur Kandi, near the Thein Dam. Mr N.S. Chawla, Chief Engineer, Ranjit Sagar Dam, talking to TNS claimed that the services of the surplus employees would be used for the proposed Shahpur Kandi project. However, he could not give a satisfactory reply on who would be held responsible for the “unutilised” services of the surplus employees who would get more than Rs 100 crore as salary before starting construction of the new project. Senior officials said the Ranjit Sagar Dam had been completed, but the optimum use of the Ranjit Sagar project could not be taken unless the Shahpur Kandi dam was also commissioned. A sum of Rs 71 crore had already been incurred on the project for preliminary survey, land acquisition and for the infrastructure. The skilled man power, including machinery worth crores of rupees, which had become surplus could be gainfully utilised for the execution of the Shahpur Kandi project. However, due to the non-availability of funds from the state government, work on the project had been halted. With a delay in the construction of the Shahpur Kandi project, Punjab would lose heavily in terms of power generation and irrigation benefits as the Ranjit Sagar Power House could not be used as a peaking station without the completion of the Shahpur Kandi project. In fact, more power could not be generated in the absence of a balancing reservoir of the Shahpur Kandi Dam and the release of water beyond the capacity of UBDC system had to be released downstream of Madhopur headworks which would be a wastage. The Thein Dam Workers Union also held gate rallies for getting incentives for employees to mark the dedication of the project by the Prime Minister. |
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Seminar on Guru Granth Sahib ends Amritsar, February 28 The valedictory session was presided over by Mr Kirpal Singh, President of the Chief Khalsa Diwan and a former MP, while Dr H.S. Soch, Vice-Chancellor, and Dr Satinder Singh, convenor of the conference thanked the participants. Addressing the gathering, Dr Harbans Lal said various scholars of the world would be invited before finalising the global statement. In his presidential remarks, the Chief Khalsa Diwan stressed on religious tolerence and appealed to the scholars and religious preachers to preach the teachings of the Gurus. Dr H.S. Soch in his address said this conference would be held till 2004, to mark the 400th year of compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Dr Soch announced that the proceedings of this conference would be published in a book form. He also said an international journal of Guru Granth studies would be published in which 11 articles of eminent religious scholars would be included. A special session to gurbani CD and cyber space was devoted in which Dr Kulbir Singh Thind and Col Parminder Singh (retd) presented their papers. Col Parminder Singh said the availability and use of Gurmukhi fonts had fortunately evolved along with the advancement of computer technology. However, he said the international unicode standard for Gurmukhi fonts had not been adopted and many fonts are not compatible with each other. Dr Satinder
Singh, convener said the panel discussion held during the last three days would give the GNDU guidelines’ to formulate the topic of the second international conference on Sri Guru Granth Sahib to be held in February-March 2002. |
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Panchayat members resign Bathinda, February 28 The Sarpanch, Ms Surjeet Kaur, and six panchayat members have also approached the President of India, the Punjab Governor, the National Human Rights Commission, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and other authorities for taking disciplinary action against Mr Malooka and making the panchayat “free” from his “pressure”. In a joint letter written to the authorities mentioned, the Sarpanch and six panchayat members, namely Mr Gurcharan Singh, Mr Sadhu Singh, Mr Jangir Singh, Ms Dalip Kaur, Mr Gurdial Kaur and Ms Shinderpal Kaur, alleged Mr Malooka had been making harassing them through the police to compel them to become members of his (Mr Malooka’s) party and be his followers. They pointed out the act of Mr Malooka was undemocratic, unjustified and unparliamentary. Mr Malooka had also been threatening the village panchayat with dire consequences if they did not become his followers. They added that no grant of any kind was given to the village panchayat for development work by any minister or MLA of Punjab. The panchayat had been carrying out development of the village on its own and there was not a single person in the village who was not happy except three panchayat members who belonged to the minister’s party. They said they did not belong to any political party and were just interested in carrying out development works and keeping panchayat above politics. In their resignations, they alleged Mr Malooka had been threatening to implicate them in false criminal cases if they did not follow his lead. They added that Mr Malooka was saying openly that he would make all panchayats of his constituency fall in line. They said they had quit under protest as they felt insulted and humiliated at the hands of Mr Malooka. They added they had been finding it difficult to do development work for the village under these circumstances. Mr Malooka, when contacted, said he had never pressed any village panchayat to follow him. He added that out of the total 49 panchayats in his constituency, 46 were with him. The panchayat of Kala Patti Mehraj village used to shift its loyalty from the Congress to the CPI-CPM and vice versa. He said the panchayat of this village had been “enacting this drama” as an inquiry had been initiated against them by the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Rampura, in connection with bunglings made in the deposit of payment of some leather contract. He said if the panchayat members’ allegations were correct they should come out in the open and prove their allegations before him. He added it did not make any difference to him whether a panchayat was with him or not as he had managed to bring most of the panchayats to the SAD fold. |
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TV cameras for railway stations Phillaur, February 28 This was stated by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) J.S. Marwaha while talking to this correspondent here yesterday. He said strict safety measures were being taken, especially in the Pathankot-Jammu rail section. The Jammu and Kashmir police, the Railway Protection Force, railway gangmen, Army jawans were doing regular patrolling. Trains were being searched at Jammu station to avoid any mishap. Mr Marwaha said the speed limit in all branch rail sections, including Lohan-Phillaur, Phagwara-Nawanshahr, and Ferozepore-Fazilka rail sections, would be increased from 50 km to 75 km per hour soon. The DRM expressed satisfaction at safety measures in Ferozepore division and claimed that trains were allowed to run maximum at the speed of 110 km per hour on main lines. He said speed limits between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. had been reduced to 80 km per hour due to security reasons. Night patrolling has been ordered between 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and pilot trains provided for trains carrying important passengers. The DRM said computerised rail ticket reservation centres had been opened at Srinagar, Udhampur, Katra, Jammu, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Palampur, Ferozepore, Jalandhar City and Cantt, Beas, Hoshiarpur etc and would soon be opened at Dhandhari-Kalan, Dasuya and Kotkapura. Mr Marwaha claimed 66 unmanned railway crossings out of total 696 in the Ferozepore division would be manned in phased manner. The railways have opened a Customers Care Institute at Delhi to give training to railway staff to be well behaved with the public. The Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Amritsar rail section would be electrified soon in phased manner, he added. |
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API guidelines on hypertension Ludhiana February 28 Though the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, the (WHO), the International Society of Hypertension and the British Hypertension Society had prepared the guidelines, it was felt by the core committee of the API which included renowned doctors from Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkota and Delhi, besides Cardiological Society of India, the Indian College of Physicians and the Hypertension Society of India that there are some specific areas where significant differences needed to be addressed. Hence the new guidelines to cater to the needs of hypertension patients in the country. Dr G.S. Wander, Chief Cardiologist, Hero Dayanand Medical College Heart
Institute, one of the five members of core committee, while talking to this correspondent said the committee identified a working group of 30 physicians in July 1999. The physicians from all over the country collected data keeping in mind the published work and Indian conditions. Dr Wander said, the latest guidelines prepared by the API should be of great value to all physicians in India who handle patients with hypertension. The first Indian guidelines say all definitions of hypertension issued by various international authorities are arbitrary. Hypertension in adults age 18 years and older is defined as systolic blood
pressure (SBP) of 140 mm Hg or greater and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 mm Hg or greater or any level of blood pressure in patients taking antihypertension medication. There appears to be a steady increase in hypertension prevalence over the last 50 years, more so in urban areas. Dr Wander said according to the latest guidelines, for correct measurement of blood pressure, standard mercury sphygmomanometer should be used. Several precautions are required for the correct blood pressure measurement. An average of three readings, taken at intervals of two to three minutes should be
recorded. For confirmation of diagnosis of hypertension, three sets of readings on three different occasions, one to three weeks apart are required. Patients should be asked to refrain from smoking, drinking tea or coffee for at least 30 minutes before measuring blood pressure. Measurement should be done preferably in a sitting or supine position and patient’s arm should be fully bared and supported at the level of the heart. Hypertension is largely asymptomatic and is often diagnosed on routine examination in which medical history should include duration and level of elevated blood pressure if known. The guidelines suggest that symptoms of coronary artery disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, family history of high blood pressure, secondary causes of
hypertension, history of smoking or tobacco use, socio-economic status, history of intake of the prescribed and over-the-counter medications, history of oral contraceptive use, history of previous antihypertension therapy and psycho-social and environmental factors should be primarily considered by the physicians. The physicians are suggested routine investigations for such patients. These include urine examination for protein, glucose, and microscopic examination for RBCs and other sediments. Haemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, potassium and total cholesterol and electrocardiogram come under these routine investigations. The guidelines prepared by the API say that the management of hypertension includes goals of therapy, threshold of therapy and level of control, the management strategy, non- pharmacological measures and treatment, drug interactions, maintenance and follow-up of therapy and adverse drug reactions. The latest guidelines of the ‘core committee’ give a detailed information about secondary hypertension — which include the prevalence, presentation, important causes and complications. The hypertension in special situations like diabetes, renal disease, cerebrovascular disease, pregnancy and elderly should be treated cautiously. |
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Scheme to recycle wastewater Fatehgarh Sahib Talking to The Tribune Mr Kesar said the development scenario in the rural area will undergo a complete change within a year. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is concerned about rural development and has chalked out a three-point programme giving priority to improvement in the environment, development of focal points providing sanitation facilities in the rural areas. Giving details about the new project initiated to improve the environment, he said at present the main problem in the rural areas was the management of sullage water. Desilting of village ponds had not been done for a long time due to which drainage of village water had become a problem. The ponds were overflowing with wastewater. He said besides carrying out desilting of ponds, encroachments made around the ponds would be removed and the retaining walls, wherever required, would be constructed. He said the government had earlier also introduced “Duck Weed Technology” for the cleanliness of village ponds. He said Indian Reed Bed System uses the ecological principles which simulates the natural process for treatment of domestic sewerage. “The wastewater is collected via sewer lines and brought to a suitable site, where layer by layer without
proprietary mixture of highly efficient sewerage treating bacteria and supporting media is planted with special acclimatised plants, which form an association with the bacteria and the medium in such a way that the combination gives an effective sewage treatment system. The system becomes operative and remain functional for many years with almost no maintenance. The treated water can be reused or recycled for industrial, agricultural, pisciculture or ground water recharge.” He said secondly the focal points would be developed soon and to sort out the financial restraint it had been decided by the CM that 20 per cent of the united funds being issued at the district level would be spent on the focal points development and maintenance. Disclosing a new scheme for providing sanitation facilities particularly to SC people in the villages, Mr Kesar said low-cost flush type latrines would be constructed. The government would spend Rs 3000 per latrine and the beneficiary would spend only Rs 500 besides providing the space. He said in cases where the families have no space for the construction of latrines, community latrines would be constructed in that village. Mr B.S. Sudan, Deputy Commissioner, said all the programmes and the policies of the government would be implemented in the district. |
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Check embryo tests: DC Ropar February 28 Mr Grewal also gave order to the Civil Surgeon to conduct raids on private hospitals and clinical laboratories that were conducting sex determination tests. A special survey will also be conducted in Ropar to identify girls who drop out of schools. The parents of such girls would then be motivated to continue the studies of their daughters. One hundred eighty three self-help groups of women have been formed in the district that would aim at making them financially independent, he said. Mrs Romila Dubey, Principal Secretary, Social Security, Women and Child Welfare, who was the chief guest at the function, distributed cheques worth Rs 13.70 lakh among the self-help groups of women. The AGM, Nabard, gave information about various loans schemes being offered by the bank to the self-help groups of women. Over Rs 200 crore have been given as loans to over one lakh self-help groups in the country. At another function, Mrs Romila Dubey also inaugurated the resource centre for disabled persons. It was the first centre to be opened in the state under financial aid from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of India. The National Handicapped Finance Corporation has mooted scheme to provide soft loans to handicapped. Under these schemes the persons having more than 40 per cent disability would be provided soft loans ranging from Rs 10000 to Rs 5 lakh for attaining self-sufficiency, she said. She said the Punjab Government was also making special efforts to give jobs to the disabled persons as per their quota. During the last financial year 1550 jobs have been given to the disabled persons. A survey has identified 2,48,540 disabled persons in the state. These include 23543 mentally retarded, 55110 blind, 24581 deaf and dumb and more 1.45 lakh physically handicapped, he added. |
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Ferozepore gets a facelift Ferozepore, February 28 Ornamental tree plantation along the 11-km stretch of the Hussainiwala route has been completed. A welcome gate indicating the direction of memorial site and joint check post on the route has been raised. The gateway proposed to be built near the check post at the cost of Rs 35 lakh was necessitated in view of a similar gateway on the Pakistani side of the border. The Deputy commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, said the public felt envious as there was no gateway on the Indian side of the border. Other related works, which have already been completed are the installation of 15 auto reflective welcome gates to felicitate night commuters in Makhu, Talwandi Bhai, Guru Har Sahai, Jalalabad, Fazilka and Abohar towns. Tree plantation along the 180-km-long road from Harike to Abohar has been done with the help of the Forest Department. The administration has also finished the task beautifying the crossings along the 180-km-stretch of the Harike-Abohar route. |
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DRDA staff fear losing jobs Ropar, February 28 The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, has time and again issued instructions to the state government to absorb DRDA employees in the state cadre. However, a majority of the state government have failed to act on these instructions. If the government of India takes any decision to dispense with the centrally sponsored schemes, the DRDA would automatically wind up and the employees would lose their jobs. The state governments would not be in a position to bear the expenditure of the DRDA administration because presently 75 per cent of their expenditure is being borne by the Union Government, it said. Earlier, the DRDA employees from Punjab had threatened self-immolation during the proposed visit of Union Rural Development Minister, Mr Sunder Lal Patwa, in Punjab. The strike was called off following assurance from the minister concerned and the Chief Minister, Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. The Chief Minister appointed a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Punjab, to give recommendations which are still awaited. |
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Dyal Singh Majithia’s associate dead Chandigarh, February 28 Pandit Faqir Chand Kaushal, who survived a little over 90 years, looked after the educational institutions started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. He is survived by a large family consisting of more than 100 members, including eight sons, two daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All of them are leading a happy life. Mr Rajan Kaushal, a son of the deceased, claimed his father had resigned from the trust five times due to his frail health. However, every time his resignation was turned down by the trust. The last time he had resigned was on February 1 this year. Born in 1910, Pandit Faqir Chand had become a teacher after passing the middle examination in 1924. He taught in Sialkot district in Pakistan. After partition he shifted to Mirzajan village in Gurdaspur district. Mirzajan and about half-a dozens other villages in Gurdaspur district, some of which were part of Amritsar district, were owned by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia. When the consolidation of land holdings started in 1947 he was appointed to assist Mr Girdhari Lal who was then the Mukhtaar-e-Aam of Sardar Dyal Singh’s property. Pandit Faqir Chand Kaushal had shifted to Batala when militancy in Punjab was at its peak. |
National
Science Day celebrations end Patiala , February 28The science exhibitions, seminars, lectures and quiz programmes which were organised by the various science departments of Punjabi University to mark the National Science Day celebrations from February 27 to 28 concluded here today. In the Chemistry Department, experiments like voice-activated reactions, self-lighting candle, water from heaven, know your future and artificial snow were the main attractions. Non-conventional energy sources like solar cells, electro-chemical means, hydro-electric power and bio-waste plants were shown through working models and were highly appreciated by the viewers. Among other set of models, some were based on air and water pollution (causes and treatment), acid rain and ozone depletion. The hazards of pesticides, genetic technology, parasitology, physiological activities including AIDS set by the Department of Zoology, drew a large audience. The department also arranged a debate on genetic engineering. The Department of Human Biology exhibited a functional inter-active laboratory, where various physiological tests were carried. Model of the circulatory system, a galaxy of the evolution of man, metabolic response to malnutrition, DNA finger-printing technique, balanced diet, human genome project, embryonic development in vertebrates and cardiac development in embryos were the main attractions. The Department of Forensic Science displayed new developments in the field of crime, investigation, and toxicology through models and charts. The Department of Botony arranged a special lecture on this occasion. The department also highlighted the progress of agriculture in Punjab and green house effect through various charts. Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor of the university presided over the function and appreciated the ideas and efforts of the students for the successful completion of the celebrations. Meanwhile, the World Wide Fund for Nature — India (WWF) celebrated National Science Day at Mountview Public School, Bartana. The event was sponsored by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication and the Punjab State Council for Science. More than 200 students
participated in the celebrations. An on-the-spot painting contest and
a slogan writing contest were organised on the occasion. |
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Sikh challaned for not wearing helmet Pathankot, February 28 He appeared before Mr Karnail Singh, Judicial Magistrate, First Class, yesterday in connection with the challan. The magistrate ordered the discharge of the alleged violator and observed, “He is a Sikh gentleman and thus the question of his wearing a helmet does not arise.” |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, February 28 Mr Justice Gill also quashed another order dismissing their revision petition against the directions of their removal. In his detailed order, Mr. Justice Gill observed that the removal was illegal and against the relevant Act. Seeking the quashing of the orders, the petitioners had earlier contended that the directions for their removal were issued without forming an opinion regarding their being negligent in performing their duties. |
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Govt policies
suiting Pak: Bitta Abohar, February 28 Talking to newspersons at the residence of Mr Virendra Kataria, former PPCC president today Mr Bitta said unfortunately the NDA government led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee had adopted the policies which suited Pakistan. He alleged that the leaders of the APHC were working as ISI agents and 35 per cent of the Jammu and Kashmir police personnel were allegedly passing on all important information to the loyalists of Pakistan and the government made the matters worse by extending ceasefire. Blaming the freedom enjoyed by electronic media in covering events in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Bitta said the satellite channels were projecting APHC leaders and militant outfit as heroes. There should be some censor on it. Our enemies besides spreading AK 47 and RDX terrorism, had chosen to hit our financial structure by enforcing economic terrorism by sending fake currency through Nepal in a large scale. Now other countries were planning to infiltrate Indian markets with substandard products which were cheaper as compared to goods manufactured in India. This would ruin not only cottage industry but big industries will also be hit badly, he said. The front Chairman expressed concern over fast increasing criminalisation of politics which he observed was earlier confined to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but was likely to spread all over the country till next elections. He urged the President and the Election Commission to intervene effectively at the earliest because the criminalisation could pose a serious threat to our democracy. On his equations with former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Mr Bitta said he had all respect for him because he had planned well to combat terrorism in Punjab and Assam. He also succeeded in restoring economic stability. The front, Mr Bitta said, will organise a seminar on anti terrorism day on June 3 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The invitees will be intellectuals, artistes and social personalities, and no political leader would be invited. The families of Dr Baldev Parkash, former state president BJP Punjab, former Chief Minister Beant Singh, SAD leader Harchand Singh Longowal, T. Series cassettes giant Gulshan Kumar, Abdul Karim of Kargil and other such heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the country would be honoured. Those present at the press meet included Mr Jagmeet Singh Sahota and Mr Sushil Jain, president and senior vice-president of the front. Mr Bitta appointed Mr Atul Nagpal and Mr Ashok Doda as president of the Fazilka and Abohar block, respectively. Mr Bitta and Mr Kataria regretted that the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee had ignored Punjab in the Rail Budget. Fazilka: Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta at a press conference here on Wednesday said political terrorism was posing a threat as anti-social elements have intruded in most of the political parties. He called upon people to change the direction and encourage politician with clean image in public life. Mr Bitta had come here to attend a programme organised by Prayas to honour the kin of victims of terrorism in Fazilka. Mr Bitta appealed the Centre, the USA and the UNO to declare Pakistan a terrorist country. He described the hailing of ceasefire by different political parties as unfortunate. Bitta said that the Congress had always been fighting terrorism. |
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Net services disrupted Bathinda, February 28 Mr Devinder Singh, a cyber cafe owner, lamented that such disruptions in Internet services were very common here. Officials of Glide Internet Service admitted that the Internet service was hit today for about three hours. |
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Dr R.S. Sandhu retires Hoshiarpur, February 28 The sources said Mr R.S. Mann, Chief Secretary, Punjab, before his retirement from the service granted one month’s extension to Dr Sandhu up to February 28, 2001. The Health Minister, Punjab, Dr Baldev Chawla, also recommended one year’s extension to Dr Sandhu. |
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Addl Director retires CHANDIGARH February 28 |
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Dy Director
(Colleges) retires Chandigarh, February 28 Mr Dhawan, who was also Principal of Government Colleges in Ludhiana and Jagraon, served as lecturer in several colleges. |
Farmers’ training camp held Bathinda, February 28 The camp held under the Canal Command Area Scheme was inaugurated by the Chief Agricultural Officer, Dr Satwant Singh Brar. Addressing farmers he said the level of the underground water was declining and therefore it should be used with care. He said excessive and unnecessary use of water should be avoided. Farmers should use cow dung as fertiliser and minimise the use of chemical fertilisers, he added. Dr Brar said to change the paddy-wheat rotation pattern the farmers should cultivate cash crops. He said, they should prepare hybrid seed of maize that could be sown in winter also. The male and female seeds of the Seetal breed of maize could be purchased from Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The seed should be sown in May, he added. He also spoke about the method of sowing seeds and the preparation of the hybrid seed from it. Dr Brar said the farmers should participate in kisan melas, which were being held by the department from time to time at various villages in the district. He asked the farmers to bring their farming problems to the notice of the department. Dr Baljeet Singh Brar, Agricultural Development Officer (ADO), informed farmers about insects that could harm the crop and the methods of save it. Dr Harpreet Sharma, ADO, spoke about tests that could be undertaken to know the structure of the soil and water. |
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Wheat target for Faridkot, Muktsar Faridkot, February 28 Mr Aulakh said 35 per cent of the total produce would be procured by the Food Corporation of India and the remaining by the five state government agencies. He said adequate arrangements were being made for the proper storage of wheat in spite of the fact that about 23 lakh bags of the produce purchased last year were still lying in the open. Tenders for labour and transport were being invited and the process would be finalised in the due course. |
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Kisan conference on March 2 Faridkot, February 28 This was stated by Mr Gurtek Singh Sidhu, member, Central Working Committee of the party here today. He alleged that the ruling government had failed to protect the interests of the farming community in all fields in the recent past. He alleged that due to the indifferent attitude of the state government a large number of farmers committed suicide due to their poor economic condition. Mr Sidhu also accused the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal of failing to resolve the problem of Dalits, ex-servicemen and the business community. |
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Farmers gherao DC’s office Amritsar, February 28 Members of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC) protested against the alleged slack attitude of the Deputy Commissioner in meeting farmers, demand pending for the past four months. The farmers demanded the inspector’s fee be returned as it was “dubiously procured” by some private agents ranging from Rs 40 to Rs 70 per quintal. The farmers also demanded the release of the 350 crore relief package announced by the Central government for the aggrieved Punjab farmers. Many women also accompanied the agitating farmers who threatened a 24 hour gherao of the DC office until their demands were met. The farmers also demanded transparency in issuing ‘J’ forms to farmers. The KSC said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced formation of four-member committee under the Deputy Commissioner, but the committee, it alleged, had made no headway so far. |
Rs 64 crore
released for Fatehgarh Sahib projects Fatehgarh
sahib, February 28 He said five major roads of the district Madhopur bypass, Amloh-Khanna, Bassi-Saheedgarh, Chunni-Morinda and Bhaironpur bypasses were being widened and recarpetted at the cost of Rs 2.98 crore.
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Assurance on pension plan Phagwara, February 28 The minister had announced at Phagwara on December 31 that the scheme would be implemented within a month. When implemented, the scheme would benefit about 10,000 teaching and non-teaching staff working in 172 colleges. The employees have been agitating for the implementation of the scheme for many years. They will again stage a protest on March 5 at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh. |
3 held for gambling Nawanshahr, February 28 The Balachaur police has arrested Kuldip Kumar, Paramjit and Hari Ram under Section 13/3/67 of the Gambling Act. The Rahon police has registered a case under Section 292 of the IPC against Varinder Singh, a music centre owner at Rahon, for showing and renting out pornographic movie cassettes. |
Convocation
at GMC Patiala Speaking on the occasion, Capt Kanwaljit Singh lauded the efforts of the IMSA in promoting interaction between doctors from India and abroad to further enhance their scientific knowledge. On behalf of the Government of Punjab, he assured the academy of all possible help, both financial or otherwise, for the promotion of activities in medical profession. Dr P. Narasimha Rao, president of the IMSA, awarded fellowships to 16 doctors from all over India. Fiftyone scientific papers were presented in various scientific sessions. Also present on the occasion were Dr K. Jagadeesan, Director of KJ Hospital, Chennai and overseas adviser to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glassgow, and Dr S. Sachdev, former Professor and Head (Medicines) of the MAMC, New Delhi. Members of the board of trustees who attended the convocation included Dr R.R.Thukral, Dr K.B. Sharma, Dr Sandip Mukerjee, Dr N. Venkateshwar Rao, Dr G.G. Mansharamani, Dr
B.S.Babber. |
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