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July 23, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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30 SGPC employees
removed Amritsar, July 22 The bylaws of the SGPC were also clear that no employee, after attaining the age of 60, could continue to hold the post. However, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, would continue to hold the additional charge of the priest of the Golden Temple. Those who have been relieved today include Bhai Banta Singh and Bhai Jaswant Singh, both ‘hazoori raagis’, Mr Gurpal Singh, an executive engineer, Mr Inder Singh, a patwari, Mr Gursharn Singh, a revenue official, Mr Sulakhan Singh Meet, in charge, Sikh Itihas Board, and Mr Onkar Singh, a research scholar. |
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British couple didn’t have
valid car papers Wagah , July 22 The Commissioner said the security at the customs barrier had been beefed up. Giving a detailed account of the getaway vehicle, he said senior customs officials were informed about the speeding car by a guard posted at the gate within few minutes and immediately a message was flashed to arrest Mr Nashwar Ali Sheikh and his wife Hassina Sheikh. Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Sheikh were remanded in judicial custody yesterday till August 4 under the Foreigners Act for dodging the immigration and the customs authorities. The couple had applied for bail and hearing on their application would take place tomorrow. The Customs authorities have impounded their vehicle and it will be released after they provide the relevant documents. Overzealous customs officials today prevented journalists from entering the customs and immigration area for talking to Pakistani passengers who arrived by the Delhi-Lahore bus service. The officials prefering anonymity, told The Tribune team that instructions had been received from senior officers not to allow mediapersons in the area. However, the Commissioner said it was an overreaction by his men, adding that fresh instructions would be issued for allowing in recognised mediapersons holding valid identity cards. |
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Scam in purchases for Ganguwal
powerhouse? Ropar, July 22 Documents available with this correspondent showed that over the last two years, various purchase orders were placed by the Ganguwal powerhouse authorities with two Saharanpur-based firms having different addresses but similar telephone number. On October 5, 2001, an order worth Rs 46,680 for supplying sealing rings was awarded to M/s International Engineering, Saharanpur. On February 14, 2002, an order worth Rs 1,54,290 for the repair of compressor and on March 25, 2002, an order worth Rs 29,800 for the fabrication and supply of GM heater oil bush was awarded to the same firm. Simultaneous orders for the supply of high-tension nuts and bolts worth Rs 46,812 on April 4, 2002, supply of 125 kv engine set worth Rs 1,55,000 on October 24, 2002, and fabrication and supply of cap seal worth Rs 47,220 on November 21, 2002, were placed with M/s Tech and Techno of Saharanpur. An interesting fact about the two firms was that, according to their letterhead pads, M/s Tech and Techno firm was located in Sarai Shahji near Islamia inter-college area of Saharanpur, while the M/s International Engineering was located on the Dehradun road, Khanalampura Badshai Masjid Wali Gali, Saharanpur. However, despite being located at different places, both firms have the same telephone number — 0132-612547. Sources said that same firm was being given all orders by certain officials posted at Ganguwal. The modus operandi in the scam was that in connivance with the officials, a Saharanpur-based supplier submitted four take quotations on different letterheads. Besides the said two firms, the quotations in the above said orders were also sought from Super Gear Engineering Works, Saharanpur and Vishkarma Engineering Works. While the Super Gear Engineering Works firm also has the same phone number 0132-612547, the person putting his signature under the letter from the Vishkarma Engineering Works has signed as manager of the Tech and Techno Engineering Works. All works were allotted to a similar firm at higher prices. The orders, in connivance with the officials of the Ganguwal powerhouse, were allotted to the firm using fake quotations submitted by the similar person. The scandal that shows the nexus between certain officials posted at the powerhouse and firms has come to the fore due to infighting between certain officials of the engineering and finance wing. A finance wing official has recently sent a report in this regard to the Chairman of the PSEB, who has further marked it to the PSEB (Vigilance). However, any action in this regard is yet to be taken. Mr Prem Sagar, Superintendent Engineer, heading the Ganguwal powerhouse when asked to comment on the matter, said that since he had joined on June 1, he had no knowledge about it. He, however, added that all orders were first pre-audited by the finance wing, and the wing also has to shoulder the responsibility if some scam had been committed. Power board XEN in dock over appointments Patiala, July 22 PSEB Vigilance head ADGP Lalit Bhatia has sent a report in this regard to the board management recently, according to sources. Mr Bhatia however could not be contacted as he was out of station. According to the sources, the office of the Senior Executive Engineer, Amritsar appointed 22 persons as work-charged employees from daily wagers even though they did not fulfil the criterion for the same. The report said the employees had not completed the stipulated 500-day service to become eligible for being taken on as work charge employees. The report said during investigation when the case was reopened a year ago it was found that the office had asked the daily wagers to submit affidavits that they had completed 500 days of service. Interestingly, these affidavits were found to be missing now. Besides this the investigation received that bogus record had been created to adjust the workers in their new jobs. The board suffered a loss of around Rs 2 lakh by the move as work charge employees are entitled to House Rent Allowance and other benefits. Moreover, the workers would have been otherwise been in line for further promotion in case of vacancies, the sources said. They said the workers had been adjusted in both Amritsar East and Harshacheena sub division in the same area. They said the Vigilance Department had recommended criminal action against the then XEN, Sub
Divisional Officer and three other clerical staff members for theft of record as service books of the board were missing. Meanwhile, the Vigilance Department has also recommended action against the workers who were allegedly benefitted from the largesse of the office of the XEN. It has recommended the registration of a case for misappropriation of government money. The case refers to the period between 1991-1994. Earlier the then XEN had been chargesheeted in the case but had claimed that he was not responsible for the lapse as he had signed according to the briefing received by him.
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Ravi Sidhu had licence to keep liquor Chandigarh, July 22 The documents submitted by UT Assistant and Taxation Commissioner through official representative in a local court revealed that total 50 licences (permit for purpose of transport and possession of foreign liquor exceeding the limit of retail sale and private possession) had been issued by the office. It was further mentioned in the documents that serial number 511 issued on November 5, 1998, to Ravi Sidhu, a resident of H.No 914, Sector-39 Chandigarh for life time against a payment of Rs 1,000 paid in the S.B.I on same date for the possession of — Indian made foreign liquor (24 quarts of 750 ml including brandy and imported liquor), beer (48 bottles of 650 ml), and wine (24 bottles of 750 ml). Ravi Sidhu was arrested by the Vigilance Department, Punjab, on March 26 allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. Thereafter the UT police had registered two different cases under the Excise Act and the Arms Act against Ravi Sidhu acting on the complaint lodged against him by the Vigilance Department, Punjab, that it had recovered 14 bottles of foreign liquor, 250 rounds of .12 bore gun and 225 rounds of Springfield rifle from Ravi Sidhu’s house in Sector 39. Ravi Sidhu had moved an application in the court stating that he had a valid licence for possessing foreign liquor issued by the UT Excise and Taxation Department. But when the raids were conducted at his house in Sector-39 all relevant records were taken by it. He had requested the court to summon official of the UT Excise and Taxation Department to submit the record concerned in the court. Acting on his plea, the court of UT Additional District and Sessions Judge had directed the UT Excise and Taxation Department to probe the record and Ashok Kumar, junior assistant with the Excise and Taxation Department submitted the document in the court. |
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Heavy rain damages cotton, paddy Midhu Khera (Muktsar), July 22 Even as a section of the affected farmers have been making efforts to drain out water from their fields to save their submerged cotton, paddy and other crops, the residents of these village have been exposed to various kinds of epidemics due to stagnation of water and absence of officials of the Health Department to take preventive measures. During a visit to the affected areas, it was found that a large number of people, whose permanent and kutcha houses had collapsed, had pitched tents to save themselves from the vagaries of weather while heads of cattle, owned by them, were still living in their damaged dwellings. The four villages were presenting a picture of destruction. Some of the schools, civil and veterinary dispensaries and dharamshalas in these villages had also been inundated. Rain water could not be drained out from these pockets of Muktsar district despite the fact that crores of rupees had been spent during the previous SAD-BJP government on anti-water logging measures in this area. Mr Karam Singh and Mr Sukhpal Singh, both brothers, of Fatta Kera village say, “We are wrecked as our entire cotton and paddy crops in about 18 acres of land have submerged under more than two feet deep water. It is difficult to find a place where the water stagnating in our fields can be drained out. The drain is about 2 km away from our fields. Our crops will be totally damaged by the time, the water is drained out”. Mr Baltej Singh, a farmer of Fatta Kera village, said his cotton and paddy crops in about 60 acres of land had been damaged. Mr Gurminder Singh, another farmer, said heavy rains damaged his house besides ruining his cotton crop in 10 acres of land. He added that he had fixed up the marriage of one of his three sisters after a few days but now he would have to postpone the marriage as he had been left with nothing to spend on the function. The farmers pointed out that a drain passing from the village had not been cleaned by the authorities concerned. They added that various drains dig by the Irrigation and Drainage Department to prevent waterlogging also failed to drain out the rain water. Though there are a number of farmers whose crops have been damaged and houses collapsed, no official from the district administration, Health Department and Agriculture Department has visited them alleviate their misery. Mrs Usha R. Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, said so far nobody had informed the district administration about the rain water problem in any village of the district. She added that she came to know about submerged fields in about four villages of the district when she sought reports from the field staff. She said the executive engineers of Gidderbaha, Malout and Muktsar had been given Rs 1 lakh each to make arrangements for draining out rain water from the fields in their respective areas. Our Correspondent adds from Moga: Several thousand acres of land sown with paddy in various villages on the banks of the Sutlej river in the district has been submerged under deep water following an overflow in the Sutlej, according to reports available here on Tuesday. The villages which have been affected include Mehlanwala, Tarewala, Kalirao, Milk Mandir, Milk Kangan and several others. The overflowing water has not only affected crops but also villages in the district situated on the banks of the Sutlej. Farmers said it had not been possible for them to drain out water from their fields which had surrounded their paddy crop. |
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Record paddy milling by Markfed Chandigarh, July 22 The highest ever record paddy of the tune of 21.16 lakh mt paddy was procured by Markfed with 99.97 per cent (i.e. 21.15 lakh mt) of paddy milling already completed till June 30 and the resultant rice delivered to the Food Corporation of India. Though, the cut off date was the earliest ever, yet every care was taken to ensure speedy milling. In the year 2000-2001 out of 14.85 lakh mt of paddy procured 34.76 per cent (5.16 lakh mt) was got milled and in 2001-2002, out of 17.95 lakh mt procured 51 per cent (9.15 lakh mt) paddy was got milled. However, this year against the procurement of 21.16 lakh mts, 80.69 per cent milling (17.07 lakh mt) was completed up to March 31, 2003. An official press note stated that while comparing with the results obtained during the previous years, it hae become apparent that in 2000-2001, out of 14.85 lakh mt paddy procured, 11.10 lakh mt was got milled and percentage came to 74.75 per cent. Similarly, in 2001-2002, out of 17.95 lakh mt procured, 17.17 lakh mt was got milled and percentage came to 95.64 per cent. Similarly, the position regarding carry-overs and embezzlements in paddy stocks has also been compared with the previous years and it has been found that in 2000-2001, 16,325 mt paddy valuing Rs 16.32 crore was left un-milled. Again in 2001-2002, 6304 mt worth Rs 6.50 crores was left un-milled. However, more stringent steps were taken against the defaulters and also to ensure that the paddy stocks were kept safe. Only three cases of malpractices were noticed during the season, where in stocks equivalent to 21 lakh mt were involved. Police action has been initiated to book the culprits and the cases are being pursued vigorously to make good the losses as quickly as possible.
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Councillor appointed PPCC secy Phagwara, July 21 Dr Satish Kumar Suman has been appointed district president of the Congress SC/ST cell, a party spokesman said. —
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Sandhu made PPCC secy Bathinda, July 22 |
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Cong leaders seek action against Rinwa Chandigarh, July 22 Addressing a press conference, the Congress leaders, along with Mr Varinder Kataria, former President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, and Ms Razia Sultana, wife of Mr Mustafa and Congress MLA from Malerkotla, said all allegations against Mr Mustafa regarding the settlement of Bangladeshi and Pakistani Muslims along the Indo-Pak border in Ferozepore district were political motivated and false. Mr Kataria said he knew Mr Mustafa for the past several years. The BJP leaders were playing a big mischief by manipulating such communal issues, he added. Ms Razia Sultana said the BJP leaders were questioning the patriotism of Mr Mustafa today and they would resort to a similar game with anybody else tomorrow. Criminal cases should be registered against them, she demanded.
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SAD invites Akali factions to join Bathinda, July 22 |
HIGH COURT Chandigarh, July 22 In his petition, Mr Walia had earlier stated that directions should be issued to the arresting officer for releasing him on anticipatory bail in the event of his arrest in a first information report pertaining to the disproportionate assets case. Expressing apprehensions, Mr Walia’s counsel had argued that he (Mr Walia) might be implicated in a false case registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act due to political reasons. |
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Two Wimpy employees freed on bail Ropar, July 22 The bail applications of three other Wimpy employees — Yash Dhawan, R.K. Gupta and Suresh Kulshreshtha — were rejected. |
Ferozepore is nobody’s baby FEROZEPORE: Ferozepore, which was perhaps the biggest district of the erstwhile composite Punjab after Kangra, has always been at the receiving end of the step-motherly treatment meted out to it by the successive state governments. This district, which was bifurcated thrice as two other districts, Muktsar and Moga were carved of it, and later, the Dharamkot area along with hundreds of villages was transferred to Moga, today depicts a story of apathy and neglect. Regrettably, even after the division, as others baby districts made tremendous progress, Ferozepore never caught the attention of any state government ever. Now, the demand to assign the status of district to Fazilka, if met, would be proverbial last straw and would prove catastrophic for the prospects of this border district. Today, districts like Moga and Muktsar boast of much more progress may be in terms of industry, infrastructure, education or sports, but the development continues to evade this border district. An interaction with the cross section of residents reveals that one of the major factors responsible for the poor condition and backwardness of the town has been lack of vigour on the part of the politicians hailing from this border district sharing over 100-km-long boundary with Pakistan. Even, the vital issue like that of the opening of the Hussainiwala border, which is the lifeline of the local traders before its clousure in the aftermath of the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict remained ignored. Mr Zora Singh Mann, MP, claims that he has taken up the matter of opening of Hussainiwala for trade and transit in Parliament umpteen times but to no avail. Senior Congress leader Balram Jakhar, who belongs to this district, remained Speaker of the Lok Sabha for two consecutive terms and then became Union Agriculture Minister, but his interest remained limited to the Abohar region. Every time a project was to be assigned to Ferozepore, influential lobbies in the cotton rich belt of Abohar and Fazilka. The first electronic telephone exchange was set up in Abohar rather than in Ferozepore despite the fact that circle SSA office is situated here. The first sewerage system was also laid in Abohar and sugar mills were established in the Zira and Fazilka areas. Mr Chander Mohan, secretary, PPCC, lamented that Ferozepore was the only district of the erstwhile Ferozepore division where there is no DAC complex. Even, the work on the construction of a circuit house, which began six years ago is stranded reportedly due to lack of funds. Ironically, at the same time, crores of rupees were sanctioned for the administrative complex in Moga, which is ready for inauguration. Veteran columnist and freedom fighter, Mr Satya Pal Baghi averred that most of time in the past, outsiders were imposed for the only Lok Sabha seat here, who never took interest in the development of the town. Mr Gurdial Singh Dhillon, Mr Santokh Singh, Mr Jagmeet Brar, were all outsiders and those belonging to this district like Mr Balram Jakhar, Mr Mohan Singh Phalianwala, Mr Mohinder Singh Saiyanwala rather than focusing on the development of this district pursued their own political agenda, rues Mr Baghi. Even in the present government, out of the six Congress MLAs, none has been given the ministerial berth, though three MLAs have been made Parliamentary Secretaries but without any important department. Mr Ravinder Singh Sandhu, MLA, Ferozepore, has been given department of NRIs, Mr Mohinder Rinwa, MLA, Fazilka, has been allotted Department of Horticulture where as Mr Hans Raj Jossan, MLA, Jalalabad, has been assigned Civil Aviation portfolio. Now, the demand for the creation of another district out of Ferozepore has fuelled apprehensions amongst the residents who insist that instead of creating a new district, efforts should be made for the overall development of the district.  |
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55 cr okayed for galliara project Amritsar, July 22 He said Rs 30 crore had been earmarked for aquiring properties. He said a flyover connecting the GT road with the outer periphery of the Golden Temple at the cost of Rs 22 crore had been planned. He announced that Bharat Petroleum Corporation had, drawn up a Rs 6-lakh project for the beautification and landscaping of 1.5-km road from the Wagah checkpost to the ditch-cum-bundh. |
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US team impressed by community
policing Kapurthala, July 22 Jalandhar range DIG Dinkar Gupta and SSP R.N. Dhoke briefed them on the functioning of the CPRC. They were told the centre dealt with cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse desertion by NRI husbands, passport verifications, police clearance certificates and marital disputes. Ms Bhanu and Ms Dasgupta told reporters that they were impressed by the centre’s functioning. On the exploitation of Indian brides by NRI grooms, they said it was the problem of the Indians and the USA had to do nothing about it. The team was told that the cases of more than 11,000 persons were dealt with in the past three months. DIG Gupta said 10 CPRCs were functioning in the state and seven police officers had visited the USA in October last year to study the community policing. The US team is here to study the community policing project initiated by the Punjab police. |
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Kids may be deprived of
another playground Patiala, July 22 Ever since the announcement of the State government that the bus-stand in the city would be shifted from its present position opposite the railway station to the Rajpura road, there has been resistance from the members of the society who claim that children who use the ground for playing would be affected by the move. The society members had made a plea in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner also. The society members made a similar plea to the Chief Minister also yesterday at a meeting held to listen to the grievances of the people. Capt Amarinder after listening to the deputation said the society should also think of the need for development of the city. He said the ground of the school which lay along the Rajpura road was the only ideal empty space available. The Chief Minister said as modern bus-stands were also coming up in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana, he felt that Patiala should get a modern bus stand. He said besides this, establishment of the bus-stand at the spot would remove the present traffic congestion at the entry of the city. He asked Deputy Commissioner Tejveer Singh to ensure a suitable land was given to the society in lieu of the land which was slated to be acquired fom it for establishment of the bus stand. Land for the bus-stand may be important, but so is the playing ground for the children, said Manmeet Singh, a resident of Lal
Bagh. He said according to his information, the ground was popular among the city children with many of them flocking to it on holidays. “I see several cricket matches going on in a single field and taking away of the field from the children would be cruel”, he added. He said earlier also almost all the open areas in the city had been usurped by successive governments resulting in no fields for children. Speaking about the construction of the Languages Department in the open space at Sheranwala Gate, he said. “You can see the usefullness of the department for the city yourself”, adding a playing field there would have been much more useful. Other citizens while speaking on the occasion said if the government was to earmark another site for a playing field after acquiring the present one on the Rajpura road, it must either give land which could be easily accessible to children on develop another field for children as the society had a large chunk of land on the Rajpura road. Some people said some special sporting facilities could be provided to the Society to compensate for the area being taken from them.
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Rs 9.87 cr for development,
welfare Sangrur, July 22 Mr Henry said of the Rs 9.87 crore released, more than Rs 5.81 crore would be spent on an old-age pension scheme and other such welfare schemes, while Rs 3.43 crore would be spent on schemes of the Rural Development Department. The remaining amount would be spent on nutrition scheme and schemes of the welfare department. Mr Henry also directed the shopkeepers to display price lists in shops in 15 days. Mr Sarvjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, said that of the total 70,000 pension cases, during scrutiny it had been found that about 29,000 ineligible persons had been getting old-age pension and other pensions, given by the Social Security Department. He said pensions up to March 31 would be paid to all eligible pensioners in a fortnight. |
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Foot-and-mouth disease breaks
out Gurdaspur, July 22 According to the Deputy Director, Animal Husbandary, more than 12 animals had died due to the disease. In a press note issued here today, he said only those animals were affected whose owners did not get their flock vaccinated during a vaccination campaign by the department in the beginning of the summer. The Deputy Director said three teams, comprising a veterinary doctor, two pharmacists and two Class IV employees, had been constituted to vaccinate animals in these villages. He said the department was providing treatment, including vaccination to the animals, free of cost. He added that the Deputy Commissioner had also extended financial assistance to the department to control the disease. The Deputy Director said there were several animals in these villages which were suffering from lameness, anorexis and high fever. He appealed to villagers to make sure that their animals were vaccinated. |
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Rally against police ‘discrimination’ Jalandhar, July 22 Addressing the protesters, Mr Tarsem Peter, state secretary of the union, alleged that the police was working under pressure from a senior Punjab minister and to appease the latter, it had implicated Mr Surinder Kumar, sarpanch, and some other Christian residents of Gaklan village. The police had also falsely implicated the sarpanch of Bhiku Nangal village, he added. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, the protesters alleged that the police had implicated some Christians by registering a fresh FIR into the Gakhlan graveyard case. They demanded that the FIRs against the sarpanches and the Christians should be withdrawn immediately. |
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Doctors oppose privatisation move Patiala, July 22 Dr M.S. Randhawa, Dr D.S. Gill and Dr Manjit Singh, patron, president and general secretary, respectively of the association, in a joint statement have demanded a CBI probe into the alleged scandal of leasing out public property worth thousands of crores belonging to government hospitals, most of which are situated at prime locations and were recently renovated and equipped at the cost of Rs 450 crore by taking loans from the World Bank under the pretext of improving facilities to patients in government hospitals. The association also appealed to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, to look into the matter.
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Govt decried for taxing CSD items Jalandhar, July 22 At a meeting of the state executive committee of the cell here, Brig M.S. Dhillon (retd), president, alleged that though Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh himself was an ex-serviceman, but his decision to end concessions available to the retired defence personnel and their wards was deplorable. He said the state government had increased perks of the ministers and MLAs manifold and appointed scores of politicians chairmen of various boards and corporations to lessen the discontentment in the ruling party, and to compensate the loss, the government chose to burden the ex-servicemen community. —
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Road mishap toll rises to nine Hoshiarpur, July 22 With her death, the death toll has increased to nine in this accident. The bodies of the three deceased which were not identified yesterday have been identified. |
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DC seeks report on water scheme Pathankot, July 22 Talking to this correspondent today, the Deputy Commissioner said the Executive Engineer had been told to give reasons of the failure of the project. He said action would be taken against erring officials on the receipt of the report. The Tribune had highlighted in its columns the alleged irregularities committed in commissioning of the project, which, according to reports, has caused a huge loss to the state exchequer. |
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Vigilance sends
questionnaire to Harbans Lal Chandigarh, July 22 Sources said a bureau team visited the official residence of Mr Harbans Lal in Sector-39 here this morning to hand over the questionnaire regarding the Mirzapur forest scandal that led to his sacking. The bureau reportedly asked the former minister that under what circumstances had extension for tree felling been given to a forest contractor.
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Pollution control board guidelines on Internet Ropar, July 22 He said the board would identify officials with clean images who would be given important assignments. Besides this, the board guidelines would be available on the Internet. The anti-corruption drive of the government would also be extended to the officials of the board. |
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Some doctors may get NPA Patiala, July 22 While the Chief Minister was curt with the Association of the Punjab Medical and Civil Supplies which represented the case of government doctors before him, he later told newsmen that the case of those who were not in a position to practice could be reviewed. Earlier, when representatives of the PCMS Association met him during the “khula darbar” organised at the Municipal Corporation here, the Chief Minister said many government doctors had opened up private nursing homes. Capt Amarinder Singh told the doctors that they could not both take the non-practising allowance and do private practice. Meanwhile, a deputation of the PCMSA led by Dr D.C. Sharma and Dr D.S. Bhullar which had met the Chief Minister yesterday, claimed that the Chief Minister assured them that he would get the issue re-examined. Another deputation consisting of Dr Hardeep Singh and Dr Y.S. Banga claimed that if NPA was abolished, every doctor would lose Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000 per month. They claimed that NPA was for all intents and purposes a part of the salary of the doctors and that it was paid to doctors in the armed forces and central health services also. |
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Teej function on August 1 Fatehgarh Sahib, July 22 Mr Ahluwalia said at this function, various cultural activities and competitions related to the Punjabi culture would be organised. Besides, Miss
Teej, Teej Baby, Teej Queen and Teej Bebe, would also be selected. |
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Two schoolboys drowned in pond Phagwara, July 22 According to reports, the two boys, along with their classmate Ramesh, had gone for a swim in the pond and were jumping from the stairs leading to the pond when the mishap took place. Ramesh raised a hue and cry and tried to get help, but the two boys
could not be saved. A pall of gloom descended in the town and hundreds of people gathered at the site of mishap. |
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Cylinder explodes, one injured Barnala, July 22 Eyewitness Bhola said a person, who was carrying three cylinders, kept them on the ground. One of the cylinders slipped and exploded. The man sustained serious injuries. |
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Computer parts stolen from Army Cantt Jalandhar, July 22 Though no senior official of the Army or police could be contacted, police sources maintained that some computer parts were stolen from the Q Branch headquarters on Sunday and an FIR was registered by the Army authorities with the Jalandhar Cantonment police station on Monday. The SSP cold not be contacted. However, Mr Ram Singh, SHO, Cantonment police station, said “Something had happened but details could be had from the police control room only as he had been directed not to disclose anything. Brig V.K. Singh (General Staff) said nothing serious had occurred and it was just a theft case involving two officials in the barracks. Mr Naresh Vig, Army PRO, denied that any such incident had taken place. |
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Marriage palace owner
booked Patiala, July 22 Though the woman beseeched to the Chief Minister yesterday that she had been raped by several persons, she claimed that she had been kidnapped along with her son, beaten up and molested. The woman, however, backtracked from having said that she had been raped while appearing before the Chief Minister. When contacted at Lehal Colony today, she said she had only said that an attempt had been made to rape her. A property dispute seems to be the cause of friction between the woman and the marriage palace owner. Though she claimed that she was the owner of a plot in Aman Colony, near the marriage palace, on which a concrete structure had also been constructed, she does not have papers of the plot. The woman claimed that a case was already going on between her and the marriage palace owner and she was forcibly vacated from the premises on July 16 when armed men allegedly kidnapped her, took her to the marriage palace, beat her up and even attempted to rape her. The SSP, Mr Paramraj Singh Umranangal, said the woman had tried to misled the Chief Minister. He said six months back the woman had complained against the marriage palace owner and an FIR had been registered against Tandon. Regarding the July 16 incident, the SSP claimed that she had not reported the matter to the police. |
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Robbers’ gang busted Moga, July 22 The police seized a pistol, a sword and other lethal weapons from the arrested persons. The gang was operating in the districts of Punjab and Rajasthan, the police said. The police, on a secret information yesterday, raided the cremation ground near the drain bridge on the Faridkot-Ferozepore road, where the accused were planning a strike in the town. —
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Poppy husk worth 6 lakh seized Bathinda, July 22 Mr Ishwar Singh, district police chief, in a press note issued here today, said that 35 bags of poppy husk were seized by a police party near Kalyan Malki village in the Nathana police station area while these were being transported in a tractor-trailer. Three bags of poppy husk were seized near Phulo Khari village in Raman Mandi police station from a tractor-trailer. Cases under the NDPS Act were registered. |
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2 forest guards held Hoshiarpur, July 22 |
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Training school staff go without salaries Bathinda, July 22 Fed up with the apathetic attitude of the authorities concerned, the employees have demanded their salaries at the earliest. They said they were finding it difficult to pay enhanced tuition fees of their wards and make both ends meet. The employees, in a press note issued here today, said they had given a representation in this regard to the authorities, but failed to get a positive response. When contacted, Dr S. K. Goyal, Civil Surgeon, said the training school scheme was being funded by the Central Government and was handed over to the state government in the last financial year. The problem of payment of salaries arose in the last financial year when the authorities could not make arrangements for funds. |
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College students lathicharged Malerkotla, July 22 A large police force was deployed outside the college, where the students were staging the protest. When college teachers tried to persuade the students not to indulge in such activities, a confrontation ensued, in which four teachers — Mr Manjoor Hassan, Mr Mohd Irfan, Mr Avtar Singh Bhullar and Mr Tanveer Ali Khan — were injured. The injured teachers were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. The Principal of the college, Mr S.K. Vasisht, lodged a complaint with the police, following which six student leaders were arrested. The Principal alleged that most of the agitating persons did not belong to his college. Meanwhile, DSP Rachpal Singh denied the lathicharge but confirmed the arrest of the students. |
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