The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Punjab to open job window to 10,000 youth
P. P. S. Gill
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 7
In Punjab, politics is slowly but surely transforming into populism. In fact, the two words have become synonym, even if the state’s fiscal situation remains tense and tight.

It is reliably learnt that the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has asked the Chief Secretary to map the overall shortage of employees at various levels in all departments. These instructions have been given at a time when the state has not yet completely worked out: (1) restructuring of the major departments by identifying redundant functionaries/functions, (2) status of surplus staff on the completion of various projects so as to create a ‘’surplus pool’’ from which employees could be redeployed elsewhere after appropriate training/orientation, (3) a blanket ban on the creation of new posts and recruitment, and (4) abolishing all posts either lying vacant or as and when these fall vacant. At present Punjab spends Rs 350 crore on salaries/wages of over 30,000 employees of the Irrigation Department sitting completely idle!

Though all this is explicitly explained in the fiscal reforms/measures outlined in the current year budget proposals, the new instructions run contrary to the spirit of the budgetary reforms, say sources. Nevertheless, the government is also feeling the political pressures and heat to open a window to new jobs. In fact, the surfacing of the job-on-cash scam in the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) and in the Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board (PSSB) has resulted in many selected and appointed candidates having been shown the door and several others are likely to be shunted out, contrary to political assurances. Therefore, some ‘’genuine’’ shortages existed or are in the pipeline. Likewise, say sources, various department selection committees have also pointed out the large number of vacancies that could be probably filled.

Now, the government, say the sources, is contemplating to go in for fresh recruitment by activating the two organisations, the PPSC and the PSSB, and putting them in top gear. If the government decides to open the job box, it may lead to recruitment of over 10,000 persons.

In fact, the Congress in its election manifesto (February 2002) had promised employment opportunities to the youth, ensuring jobs for all, who are deserving, through a "clean, fair and transparent" selection process giving weightage to the "poor and meritorious" youth. Capt Amarinder Singh has reiterated this assurance in his question-answer column, published in a local English daily on Friday, saying that the government was creating a climate of investment for job opportunities to grow and by rooting out corruption in the selection process in the departments.

The Chief Minister, say the sources, is also working out a roadmap to involve the Panchayati Raj institutions in recruitment of elementary school teachers and primary health centre doctors and their staff at the village level. In the light of the AICC decisions taken with the consensus of 14-member Council of Congress Chief Ministers, first at Guwahati and later at Mount Abu, Capt Amarinder Singh is keen to implement the “decentralisation’’ of powers to the grassroots democratic organisations, as per the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments ensuring people’s participation.

Such a step is also intended to not only involve the Panchayati Raj institutions but also hold them "accountable and responsible" for recruiting the right persons and later exercising proper control over them and monitoring their conduct. This will take care of rampant absenteeism prevalent among teachers, doctors/staff in the primary schools and primary health centres, besides, providing jobs to the "local" qualified persons, who would not be all the time trying for posting/ transfer closer to their home, say the sources.

In fact, also high on the agenda of Capt Amarinder Singh is the introduction of English and computer education at the elementary stage of education in villages. He has a two-pronged strategy in mind: one, to make education attractive that will cut down on the school dropout rate, which is pretty high in the state; and two, to ensure students grow up as "IT-enabled" and are competent to compete with their urban counterparts, who are placed more advantageously in terms of opportunities, infrastructure and access to new technology and educational/vocational skills. All this would also improve the human resource development index.

The proposal to raise one or two battalions of the police for later deployment on security duties with individuals or institutions, who pay for procuring security cover facilities, has also to be viewed in this context, so as to give an opening to the youth, who are fast falling prey to drugs. This has already assumed alarmingly high proportions.

PSEB presenting incorrect facts: engineers
Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 7
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) Engineers Association today charged the board management with releasing misleading and incorrect facts relating to alleged decisions taken by Chief Engineer Padamjit Singh in his capacity as head of the Systems Operation wing to divert attention from the main issue which it said was giving an order for the supply of power to a private party by superceding an agreement made with a government undertaking.

In a statement here, association general secretary H.S. Bedi said Mr Padamjit Singh had declared the private firm, KERPL’s offer as “infructuous” only after it failed to supply requisite documents as per draft memorandum of understanding despite repeated requests.

He said the management issued transfer orders of Mr Padamjit with in two hours of issue of this letter and verbal instructions were issued to the new incumbent to have the letter withdrawn.

The association leader said the very next day the letter was withdrawn and a further communication was sent conveying that the PSEB did not intend purchasing power through the government undertaking — Power Trading Corporation (PTC) but through KERPL, thus blocking the valid agreement with PTC. Mr Bedi alleged that by giving the green signal to KERPL without verifying its antecedents, the board had landed up in a position of getting no power from the eastern region. It said even file today KERPL had failed to deliver a single unit to the PSEB at the rate of Rs 2.06 per unit.

Speaking about the other allegations against Mr Padamjit on the issue of purchase of power, the engineers’ association said the sale of power to other states made after the paddy season was at the rate of Rs 2.40 per unit and the figures of energy sale were supplied on daily basis to the board authorities. It said the board authorities could have stopped this sale adding that it was hard to believe that for 30 days the authorities who monitor the supply figure daily remained ignorant and this “lapse” was discovered only now.

Regarding the sale of 50 mega watt of power from the North Eastern grid, the press note said the power was to be brought through the PTC and that the institution had never expressed its inability to do so till date. It said, therefore, it was misleading to suggest that this power would not be available as per estimate of some third agency.

The association has also refuted allegations made regarding the failure in purchase of power by Mr Padamjit from the Malana Hydel Power Company. The press note said earlier the Malana company was supplying power to the Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) at the rate of Rs 2.50 per unit. It said the DVB was able to successfully negotiate a fresh contract to get the power below Rs 2 per unit. It said, however, on the last minute, Haryana tied up with Malana company at Rs 2.40 per unit. It said according to Central Electricity Authority norms Malana power cost around Rs 2 per unit and that buying power from the company at Rs 2.40 per unit would not have been in the interest of the board.

It said on the other hand if the board had accepted the Malana company price of Rs 2.30 per unit the board would have lost 23 paisa per unit against the Rs 2.07 per unit price of the PTC for 75 mega watt power per annum amounting to a loss of Rs 7.5 crore per annum.

It said keeping this in mind Mr Padamjit Singh took all steps as per law in the best interest of the Board.

BATHINDA: It seems that the management of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has opened a Pandora’s box with the ‘unceremonious’ removal of Mr Padamjit Singh, Chief Engineer (Systems Operations) as the issue refuses to die and now the Technical Services Union has also supported the demand to hold a CBI inquiry into the events leading to his removal.

Technical Services Union activists while supporting the cause of Mr Padamjit Singh said all actions of the state government were meant to further privatise the PSEB. They alleged that in the name of “financial losses” the state government wanted to sell the PSEB in private hands and some vested interests had been eyeing for the PSEB sell-off.

Mr Hardeep Singh Sidhu, Regional Secretary, PSEB Engineers Association said the PSEB management had been trying to curb the honest and efficient officers by indicting them in false cases. The removal of Mr Padamjit Singh was the worse they could expect from the management. He alleged that some ‘powers’ in the state government were trying to control the PSEB by removing an honest and upright people like Mr Padamjit Singh.

He said there was some “external pressure” on the PSEB to sign a memorandum of understanding with a private power trading company, even as the offer of the company had been rejected earlier. He said the memorandum was signed with the condition that relevant documents pertaining to the eligibility conditions of the company would be supplied within 10 days but after they failed to do so, Mr Padamjit Singh wrote to the company that the contract had become infructuous due to the said reasons. He alleged that this “annoyed the high-ups” in the Punjab government and he was relieved of his duties just hours after he wrote to the company.

In yet another statement issued here today that was signed by more than 100 engineers of the association's Lehra Mohabbat unit, they told Mr S.K. Sinha, Principal Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister, that nothing less than a CBI inquiry would be able to establish the truth of the episode.

LS poll in mind, Sonia to focus on Punjab
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 7
The AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, who has been urging the party rank and file to prepare for the next Lok Sabha elections, due in 2004, is on the lookout for a face which can fetch votes for the party in Punjab.

Sources close to the Congress high command pointed out that in the past two days, Ms Gandhi met a few leaders of Punjab to elicit their views on the issue.

Ms Gandhi is likely to meet all Congress MPs of Punjab and other leaders individually from December 9 onwards to find the “best bet”.

The sources said Ms Gandhi was looking for a leader who had considerable influence among Sikhs, farmers, traders, employees and other sections of society, besides having an unblemished image.

Information gathered by TNS reveals that Ms Gandhi is concerned about the prospects of the party in Punjab after the state government invited huge criticism for its excessive use of the police force during the SGPC elections last month. Besides, she is also worried about the “significant factionalism” which came to the fore after the challan in the embezzlement and corruption case against Punjab Rural Development Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was presented in a Chandigarh court by the Vigilance Bureau, the prosecution agency, by showing “undue haste”.

Mrs Mohsina Kidwai, in charge of Punjab Congress affairs, and Mrs Ambika Soni, General Secretary, AICC, and a confidante of Ms Gandhi, have been trying for a truce between Mrs Bhattal and the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, so that party can perform better in the Lok Sabha elections.

A number of veteran and active Congressmen of Punjab had approached Ms Gandhi through letters, seeking her intervention to bring the much-needed unity in the Punjab unit. They felt that if the present mess in the state unit continued, it would have an adverse effect on the party in the Lok Sabha elections. They also pointed out that the factionalism in the party had reduced the impact of the anti-corruption campaign of the state government.

A senior Congress leader from Punjab, now based in Delhi, considered close to Ms Gandhi, while talking to TNS on condition of anonymity, said after the Gujarat Assembly elections, Ms Gandhi would focus on issues pertaining to Punjab more seriously.

Punjabis’ diet ‘invites’ heart disease

Jalandhar, December 7
Indians living abroad are more prone to coronary artery disease, commonly known as heart attack, compared to other world communities. Experts attribute this to genetic factors, but also do not rule out that it could be related to the stress and strain of struggle in foreign countries.

This was an observation made by noted cardiologist Dr Navin Nanda, who was here to attend the International Conference of Echocardiography organised by the Physician Forum Jalandhar with co-hosts the IMA. Dr Nanda was the first to introduce to the world the use of colour doppler in the diagnosis of all type of heart disease, according to project director Dr Sudhir Sethi.

Speaking at the conference before general physicians and cardiologists Dr Nanda said that Indians abroad were at least four times more prone to coronary artery disease compared to the local population. In India it was genetic factors along with rich diet and sedentary lifestyles that were leading to increase in heart attacks.

Another factor leading to the increase was diabetes, which was on the increase in India and the disease often led to heart failure. “Punjabis are most vulnerable mainly on account of their rich food habits and sedentary lifestyles,” said Dr Nanda. His lecture was chaired by Dr Vijay Mahajan and Prof Manmohan Singh.

He said Indians had high level of bad cholesterol. “Prevention as the only way to tackle this problem was the best strategy which should begin from childhood. Children should be kept on a low-fat diet. Yoga and regular exercise have been taken up in the west as a preventive measure. Ballooning is not to be recommended in all cases of artery blockage”, he said adding that Indians had high-rate of bad cholesterol.

Smoking is the main risk factor in the west and pollution and other environmental factors with the high percentage of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases were also risk factors, he added.

Dr Nanda at present is the Chairman and Professor of Cardiology and the Director of the Heart Station at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, the USA. He is president of the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound and listed in the directory of the best doctors in America since 1994.

Dr Nanda has also written more than 700 international scientific publications including nine textbooks. Several of his books have been cited as “best books” for advance learning for cardiologists. PTI

Charge against Panjrath false: Badungar
Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, December 7
Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), talking to reporters here today has urged Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to give up confrontation with the SGPC and help for the maintenance of gurudwaras following high traditions of Sikhism. He called upon him to look into the activities of Ashutosh in the state.

Mr Badungar had come here for the first time after his re-election as SGPC chief to pay obeisance at Fatehgarh Sahib gurudwara and to oversee arrangements for the Shaheedi Jor Mela. To a question on the photograph of a SGPC executive committee member Joginder Singh Panjrath seen bowing before Ashutosh, he said that there was no truth in it and the photograph had been prepared on digital camera. He said that even then he would urge Jathedar Akal Takht to investigate the matter.

He said that it was unfortunate that due to ignorance “Babaism” and “Derawad” prospered in the state. It is a matter of great concern for the Sikhs. He said to check it the SGPC had decided to set up an institution at Sultanpur Lodhi, where pathis, dhadhis, kavisars and other Sikh preachers of the SGPC and from the public would be given extensive training free of cost to teach Sikh sangat the teachings of our Gurus. He said that similarly an institution would be set up at Anandpur Sahib, where ‘katha vachaks’ would be trained. Both these institutions would be permanent features. He said that the SGPC had decided to set up a cell on Sikh History Research Board to study the distorted versions of Guru Granth Sahib being published to create confusion among Sikhs. This cell would counter this propaganda. He said that the SGPC would focus on Sikh Youths and try to bring them in the Sikh main stream by organising seminars. He said that the SGPC would highlight the sacrifices of the great martyrs, who had been ignored. He said that all decisions taken by the SGPC during his earlier tenure would be implemented.

Answering a query, he said that the SGPC would move high court to re-consider its decision on the wearing of helmet by the Sikh women. He urged the high court to respect the sentiments of the Sikhs.

Later Mr Badungar presided over a meeting of SAD (B) workers organised by Mr Didar Singh Bhatti in connection with Shaheedi Jor Mela conference. He said that the mela would be religious and ‘obscene’ dances, gambling and stalls of intoxicant would not be allowed. He said that all political parties would be given sites as per their requirement. Mr Didar Singh Bhatti, Rajeshpal Singh Lalli, Amarjit Singh Kohli, senior SAD (B) leaders also addressed the meeting.

POLITICS

Sena Chairman refutes ex-leader’s statement
Our Correspondent

Phillaur, December 7
Shiv Sena Punjab unit Chairman Swami Pushpinder Swaroop, co-Chairman Surinder Dogra and Mr Pawan Parbhakar have sharply reacted to the statement of sena’s Former Vice-President Vinay Jalandhari, that Pawan Gupta was still the President and he is the Vice-President of the sena.

Talking to newsmen here today, sena leaders clarified and claimed that the state unit of the sena was dissolved by Sena’s north zone in charge Retd General P.N. Hoon on November 15, and a 30-member ad hoc committee was formed, in which Mr Gupta and Mr Jalandhari were not included. They said a state-level office-bearers’ meeting of the sena which met at Phagwara on November 19, issued a show cause notice to Mr Pawan Gupta and sought clarifications about Mr Gupta’s anti-party statements.

They said sena’s 30-member ad hoc committee, which met at Nangal on November 29, again issued another show cause notice to Mr Gupta, but still no reply was received from Mr Gupta. Sena leaders said the ad hoc committee had now recommended disciplinary action against Mr Gupta and Mr Jalandhari, for disobeying the party high command’s directions, which gave free hand to General Hoon to reconstitute and activate the sena units in northern India.

They claimed that now General Hoon has sought recommendations from the ad hoc committee to form block and district units of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackrey). The appealed to all sena leaders to present their differences on party platform only instead of going to media.

Sikh Front formed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 7
Representatives of several Sikh religious and social bodies in the region have come together to form a new panthic organisation called the Sikh Front with Mr Surjit Singh Niddar, a prominent member of the SGPC belonging to the Badal group, as its president.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Niddar said the front would work for the improvement of the lot of the Sikhs all over the country and be active not only in the religious and social fields, but also in the political arena. In this connection, Mr Niddar demanded the scrapping of Section 25 of the Indian Constitution in which Sikhs are included in the definition of a Hindu. He also condemned the bias against the female child which was evident in the largescale termination of pregnancies. This in turn was leading to a distortion in the male-female sex ratio. He appealed to the SGPC to give a stipend of Rs 500 per month for 20 years to the parents of every female baby born to the Sikhs.

He also announced the constitution of a 20-member executive committee consisting of Mr Gurcharan Singh (Amritsar), Mr Manjit Singh (Ludhiana), Mr Bawa Barbhajan Singh (Patiala), Mr Sant Singh Kandhari (Ambala), Mr Amrik Singh Barnala, Mr Satnam Singh (Himachal), Mr Ranjit Singh (Jalandhar), Mr Gurinder Singh Bawa (Mumbai), Mr Manjit Singh (Delhi), Mr Sukhbir Singh Sidhu (Yamunanagar), Mahant Baldev Singh (Paonta Sahib), Mr Baldev Singh Kayampuri), Mr Pritam Singh (Sriganganagar), Mr Harwinder Singh (Srinagar), Mr Devinder Singh Lovely (Ambala), Mr Rachhpal Singh (Bathinda) Mr Gurdev Singh Giani (UP), Mr Bachinder Singh (Dehra Dun), Mr Harpal Singh Cheeka and Mr Brahmjit Singh Khalsa (Ambala Cantt).

COMMUNITY

IMA ‘relaxes’ norms on biomedical waste
Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 7
The Punjab Indian Medical Association (IMA) today claimed that the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had granted relaxation with regard to submission of documents while applying for authorisation to implement the provisions of the Biomedical Waste Act under which all hospitals will have to handle the biomedical waste according to a set procedure.

The association state secretary, Dr Surinder Singla, said that as per the communique received from the PPCB, there will be no need to attach the balance sheets, showing the assets of the hospitals while applying for authorisation. He said this was however applicable only to hospitals showing bed capacity. However, clinics with no bed capacity would be required to attach appropriate balance sheets.

Dr Singla said hospitals and nursing homes set up before November 30 would be exempted from submitting the municipality approved building plans. He said now institutions with a bed capacity upto fifty will get an authorisation from the Regional office instead of the Head Office of the PPCB. He said from now on the main thrust of the hospitals would be to coordinate with companies having “Common Biomedical Waste Management Facility” to collect, transport, treat and dispose of the waste generated by them.

The IMA state secretary said an emergency meeting has been called at Barnala to discuss these issues. This has been necessitated because the previous two companies with whom the IMA wanted to arrive at an agreement had not followed the directives of the IMA. A private firm which had signed an MoU with the association to provide Common Biomedical waste facilities for 10 districts of the state had not gone on for an authorisation for this from the PPCB.

Dr Singla said other alternatives would also be debated at the meeting, including an agreement with a central facility set up at Ludhiana by the Municipal Corporation which was looking after the medical waste of hospitals of Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

Mittal for probe into ‘benami’ land deals
Tribune News Service

Ropar, December 7
Mr Madan Moham Mittal, former Punjab Food and Supplies Minister and a senior BJP leader, today demanded an inquiry by a sitting or a retired High Court into the acquisition of hundreds of acres of ‘benami’ land by certain persons in Nanglian and Khairpur villages of Kharar tehsil in this district.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Mittal described the inquiry, ordered by the Ropar Deputy Commissioner under the Chairmanship of the Additional Deputy Commissioner into these ‘benami’ land deals, as a mere “eyewash”.

He said as all members of the inquiry committee were government officers, so how could they mention the names of the “real” owners of these ‘benami’ lands, more so if they were either senior bureaucrats or top politicians having a “say” in the present Congress government.

Mr Mittal further said it seemed that the government was not serious in holding an inquiry into these ‘benami’ land deals in the Nanglian and Khairpur villages because it had not handed over the inquiry to any top or independent agency, but preferred to get it done from an IAS officer of the rank of Additional Deputy Commissioner who could not submit an adverse report against the influential persons due to political or bureaucratic pressures.

Mr Mittal demanded that while ordering an inquiry the government should make the “terms of reference” of the probe public first so as to gain the confidence of the people.

He also demanded a high-level probe into the “excesses” charging of royalty allegedly by the mining contractors in this district from the drivers of tractor-trailers and trucks who carried sand and bajri etc from the ‘khuds”.

Vedanti: Sikhs have separate identity
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 7
Addressing the House of Commons in England, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takht declared that Sikhs had distinct, separate identity.

Talking to the Press, at his official residence here today, Jathedar Vedanti said that this statement was made by him in reply to the question whether Sikhs were part of Hinduism or enjoyed separate identity.

He, however, appreciated the British government for giving due recognition to Punjabis, especially Sikhs there.

Jathedar Vedanti also appreciated the British government for support to a separate paragraph at the World Conference against Racism in Durban to promote equality for Sikhs across the world he, however, raised the issue of difficulties faced by Sikhs in some parts of Europe where appreciation of Sikh practices was unclear.

Jathedar Vedanti offered assistance and liaison between Akal Takht and British government on matters relating to spiritual and temporal issues of the Sikh anywhere.

Weird excuses stun traffic cops
Sukant Deepak

Patiala, December 7
“Look at my hair, how can you expect me to wear a helmet” says a young woman with lovely long hair. Giving interesting excuses for not wearing a helmet and surprising the cops, women drivers of two-wheeler vehicles here have been shocked by the sudden elaborate challan drive initiated by the Patiala police yesterday on orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which has made the wearing of helmets mandatory for women drivers. Often, the excuse given by these women is that they did not know about the order despite the fact that it had appeared in almost all newspapers.

“I am too busy to read newspapers”, one of the challaned young woman stressed, while talking to a police officer on duty, leaving the cop speechless.

A group of five young women was seen arguing with the cops and stressed that the police should ‘at least’ put up billboards in the city to acquaint women with the new law.

The police placed four nakas at different places in the city yesterday and today, including the Sherawallah Gate area, especially for this purpose. According to information, more than 50 women had been challaned at each naka. Visibly annoyed with the drive, several women could be seen arguing with police officers. They think we are here to harass them.

This has been one of my toughest assignments till date. Not only do I have to complete the challan formalities but also convince them that we are acting on the orders of the court”, said a police officer stationed at the Sherawallah Gate naka.

Interestingly, the fairer sex did not talk about their religious beliefs with the police as was the case when a similar drive was initiated a few years ago, but stressed more on the lack of information about the law pertaining to wearing a helmet . The police officials, however, claimed that the latest order of the court was known to everybody and the women were cooking up excuse regarding their ignorance of the court directions.

Fuming that the women were talking to them as if they were the guilty party, the cops said several of them had just ignored their signal to stop and even if they had managed to intercept them, many declined to give any reason for not wearing a helmet. One of them just refused to show her papers and asked the cops “don’t you have any other work?”

The in charge Traffic, Mr Rajwinder Singh, on being contacted, said the police was executing the court orders.

He ridiculed the excuses being given by the women drivers.

He stressed that the district police had given enough time to women drivers and all efforts had been made by the police and the district administration to acquaint women with the court orders.

Dera Bassi MC chief, councillor removed
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, December 7
A case of alleged land-encroachment has made the Punjab Local Government Department Secretary order the removal of the Dera Bassi Municipal Council president, Mr Jagjit Singh Dalli, and a councillor, Mr Paras Jain. The Secretary, Mr Sarvesh Kaushal, said in his order that the membership of the civic body had been withdrawn from the two men. The action had been taken under Sections 22 and 16 (1) (D) and (E) of the Punjab Municipal Act of 1911.

The department had issued show-cause notices to these persons in September, asking them to reply within 21 days of receiving these. The Secretary had also told them to go through the records, listing allegations against them, in the Sector 17 office of the Additional Secretary of the department in Chandigarh. The MC chief and the councillor were told to submit two copies each of the replies, clarifying their stand in writing to the Secretary within a stipulated period. They were told that, failing this, an ex-parte decision would be given.

Regarding the replies of the removed men, the Secretary said they had levelled frivolous allegations against the inquiry officer on the basis of whose report the department had served them show-cause notices. Mr Dalli has been removed from the post of the MC president, too.

Earlier, Mr Satpal Singh, a local person, had said in his complaint to the department that Mr Paras Jain, in connivance with Mr Jagjit Singh Dalli, had encroached upon a civic-body land behind the local Jain School along the Chandigarh-Ambala highway and built a shop there.

He had also alleged that the “grabbing of the prime land” by the councillor belonging to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in the MC had been causing a huge loss to the civic body.

Punjabi function from December 9
Our Correspondent

Faridkot, December 7
The Punjabi Overseas Cultural Association, Canada, will organise a three-day programme of folk dances, music, art, craft and painting in the local Government Brijindra College from December 9. Artistes from Faridkot zone comprising Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar and Faridkot districts would participate. Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Minister for Cultural Affairs, Punjab will preside over the inaugural day function.

The last day’s function will be presided over by Mr Surinder Singla Chairman Finance Committee Punjab and Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar Member of Parliament. Prof Raj Pal Adviser to the Punjab Cultural Affairs Department said five zones in this regard have been created out of which the process for Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala have been completed. Competition for the final zone of Patiala will be organised at Sangrur from January 15 to January 17. A state-level function to select the final team and artistes will be held at Mahindra College Patiala for two days from January 23. It will be presided over by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, said the adviser. The zonal winners will be given cash award of Rs 50,000 each whereas the finalists at the state-level will get Rs 1.50 lakh each. Mr Manjit Singh Bondi, a Canada-based NRI has given Rs 10 lakh for the programme. Prof Raj Pal added that winners in the final events will represent the state government in presenting Punjabi cultural programmes in the country and abroad at least for one year.

Funds collected on Flag Day
Tribune Reporters

Jalandhar, December 7
An impressive function was held at the Punjab State War Memorial here today on the occasion of the Armed Forces Flag Day.

The function was organised by the District Sainik Welfare Board under the aegis of Vajra Corps, Lieut-Gen K. Nagaraj, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, was the chief guest.

On behalf of Vajra Corps, Gen Nagaraj presented a cheque for Rs 25,000 to the board.

KULU: Wing Commander Anil Arora presided over the Armed Forces Flag Day function at the NCC unit here on Saturday. NCC cadets collected donation for the Flag Day fund.

JAMMU: The Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, while speaking on the occasion of the Armed Forces Flag Day at Raj Bhavan on Saturday said it was our duty to express our solidarity with the bereaved families of martyrs.

The Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board, Mr Suchet Singh, disclosed that during the last financial year, donations of Rs 7.34 lakh were made towards the Armed Forces Flag Day fund.

AGRICULTURE

Neem-coated urea developed
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 7
National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) has achieved a major success by developing a process for the manufacture of neem-coated urea on commercial scale.

In a press note issued here today, the Public Relation officer of NFL said NFL had made efforts to harness unique properties of neem in regulating the release of nitrogen to crops when mixed with urea in soil primarily based upon the research work conducted by scientists of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.

Fertilisers being the costliest input required for commercial crops, it has always been an endeavour of various agencies to develop methods for enhancing nutrient use, efficiency of fertilisers and crops yields to sustain vital food chain and bring about economy in input costs. Since urea is the richest source of nitrogen nutrient (46 per cent) among fertilisers, it had drastically low nitrogen use efficiency in the range of 20 to 40 per cent when applied in low-land condition, particularly in case of paddy crop, as most of the nitrogen was lost due to processes like leaching of urea with water, loss of ammonia and de-nitrification under reduced conditions. NFL, thus, had embarked upon development of neem-coated urea by using neem oil water emulsion out of various combinations of mixed/coating of neem material available, the NFL authorities claimed.

After carrying out extensive laboratory and field studies, NFL had found out that neem-coated urea produced with a thin film of neem oil water emulsion of specified concentration resulted in enhanced shelf days, increased nitrogen availability to crops and significantly contributing towards better crop yields. It had further been reported that the process developed by NFL in producing neem-coated urea involves marginally higher costs.

To test the efficacy of neem-coated urea in the field conditions, NFL had done 50 field demonstrations on paddy crop during kharif season, covering extensive area including Panipat, Rohtak, Karnal, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Bathinda. In Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Panipat and Bathinda, demonstrations were held under the supervision of extension wing of respective agriculture universities.

The results obtained under the general parameters, including increase in yield, insect pest control and general crops stand had been very encouraging with an average savings to the farmers to the extent of around Rs 700 an acre by way of increased yields and reduction in expenses towards use of insecticides in paddy crop.

NFL had distributed around 1500 tonnes of neem-coated urea to farmers through its dealers’ network in Punjab and Haryana to adjudge general response of farmers. The response indicated a healthy crop reduction in insects and pest attacks and increase in yield.

During the current rabi season, NFL proposed to lay more field demonstrations for crops like sugarcane, potato and wheat.

NFL further proposed to distribute increased quantity of neem-coated urea to farmers through its dealers’ network in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to further assess benefits of neem-coated urea.

ADMINISTRATION

Anti-encroachment drive smoothens traffic
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 7
The anti-encroachment drive launched by district administration in association with the police authorities has started yielding results as the traffic movement in the town, particularly on busy roads, has become smooth.

Haphazard parking of vehicles, encroachment upon footpaths by roadside vendors and unchecked movement of “rehris” had been traffic bottlenecks at various places is the town. The reduced width of roads due to encroachments had led to a number of accidents.

The district administration, the municipal council and the police launched a joint drive to check the encroachments.

The Mall road was cleared of all encroachments.

The police has issued a warning to those who park their vehicles in a wrong manner on roads causing hurdle to the free movement of vehicular traffic. Such vehicles would be towed away.

Official sources said sites were being identified to make parking slots. Roadside vendors, who had been removed from footpaths, would be given land to set up kiosks.

Mr Kamal Kant Goyal, Executive Officer, Municipal Council, pointed out that new roads were being planned in the town to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

EDUCATION

GND varsity to start more courses
Our Correspondent

Amritsar, December 7
Guru Nanak Dev University will introduce some postgraduate courses from the next academic session (2003-2004) under various faculties at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur. This was decided at a meeting of the Syndicate held here today.

The meeting was chaired by Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor. Disclosing this in a press note, he said the postgraduate courses would be MA (geography) and a five-year integrated course in social sciences on the university campus. Besides, MA (public administration), M.Com and MBA (five-year integrated course) would be started on the regional campus, Jalandhar. Similarly, tailoring and cutting course, M.Com and coaching classes for the IAS exams would be introduced on the regional campus, Gurdaspur, from January.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university would host the Indian Society of Labour Economics Conference here from December 15 to 17. He said Mr Chandra Shekhar, a former Prime Minister, would preside over the conference, while an eminent economist, Dr Deepak Nayyar, Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, would deliver the keynote address.

He said the university would also host the 63rd session of the Indian History Conference from December 28 to 30. Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, would inaugurate the conference.

He said work on a gymnasium, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1.75 crore on the campus, and women’s hostels at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur had already been started.

The Syndicate also decided to increase the duration of all M.Tech courses from one and a half years to two years on the guidelines of the All-India Council of Technical Education from the next academic session. From the next session, the medium of instruction for Bachelor of Library and Information Science would also be Punjabi and Hindi.

Elementary teachers hold rally
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, December 7
On a call given by the Elementary Education Bachao Morcha, Punjab, comprising six primary teachers’ organisations, elementary teachers of the district held a rally in protest against the new education policy of the state government at Shaheed Udham Singh park here today. All the participants were wearing black badges. The rally condemned the new education policy of the Punjab Government, which was announced without discussing the same with primary teachers and academicians. It was demanded to withdraw the same as it was against the interests of the teaching community.

The teachers welcomed the decision of the World Bank for discontinuing its financial help being given under Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan due to various discrepancies in the scheme. They demanded a probe into the grants spent under the scheme.

Mr Mohinder Singh Heer, president of the Government Primary Teachers Association, Punjab, Mr B.K. Mehmi, general secretary of the Elementary Teachers Union, Punjab, Mr Balbir Singh Ibrahimpuri, Mr Sardara Ram, Mr Sat Pal Sharma, Mr Mohinder Singh Panesar addressed the rally.

Later, the teachers took out a protest march and burnt the orders of the District Education Officer (Secondary), in which he had made Head Teachers from the Master cadre instead of teaching cadre. They appealed to all teachers of the state to participate in the proposed protest rally to be held in the constituency of Mr Khushal Behl, Punjab Education Minister, on December 8.