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| Tuesday,
October
14, 2003,
Chandigarh, India
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Milk powder import to hit dairy sector Chandigarh, October 13 Seeking immediate intervention of the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Rajnath Singh, Mr Kang has warned that imports at this stage when the milk supply position in the country in general and Punjab, in particular, has started improving, will cause unprecedented misery to dairy farmers. Expressing concern over the decision of the NDDB, Mr Kang, in a letter addressed to Mr Rajnath Singh, admitted that there was low availability of milk during July and August followed by the high demand of milk and milk products because of the festival season. “Low supply in the previous months and increased demand has created a temporary scarcity but there is no need to panic”, said, Mr Kang hoping that supply position would become normal in a few weeks. “Import of the milk was no solution to this problem of temporary shortage of milk in the country. By the time, the imported skimmed powder milk arrives, our own supply system will be in a position to meet the domestic demand. “But by dumping the imported skimmed powder milk, the supplies will be artificially inflated, leading to crash in the price of not only powder milk but also other milk products thus putting unnecessary economic pressure on dairy farmers who are already wilting under the pressure of market forces.” “If no remedial measures are taken, the dairy sector will suffer more and may not be able to recover from the crisis aggravated by imported milk,” Mr Kang said. Milk cooperatives were trying to convey a conservative assessment of milk production, thereby causing an unnecessary scare about the “non-existing scarcity of milk and milk products”. Procurement of milk at private milk plants in Punjab, Mr Kang held, had shown 40 per cent increase during September as compared to August. The milk plants in cooperative sector, however, reflect only 10 per cent increase in milk production last month. “If the cooperative sector is not able to improve its procurement, it is because of its own inadequacies. The procurement system has to be efficient and incentive-oriented. The private or unorganised sector is offering more incentives to dairy farmers than the cooperative sector. As such, the farmers feel comfortable in diverting supplies to private milk plants than milk plants in the cooperative sector,” he added. Another reason for the farmers moving away from the cooperative sector is the procurement price. While private milk plants offer more prices, the procurement policy of the cooperative sector is not commensurate with the production cost. |
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Spurious
desi ghee being
sold in Doaba Jalandhar, October 13 Markets of the Doaba region are reportedly being flooded with spurious desi ghee made out of ordinary vanaspati ghee with the help of harmful essences. Investigations by The Tribune have revealed that in their bid to make a quick buck, unscrupulous elements, based in Punjab and other states, particularly Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, are sending consignments of spurious ghee to the Doaba region. The racketeers are also using marks such as Agmark unauthorisedly and with impunity. The artificial colours and essences make vanaspati ghee look like desi ghee to such an extent that an ordinary person cannot differentiate between spurious and pure ghee; only laboratory tests can detect impure ghee. In most of the cases, such desi ghee is packed in attractive packets, which are sold by shopkeepers to gullible consumers, particularly in the semi-urban and rural areas, to earn hefty profits, running up to even 100 per cent. Mr Darshan Singh of the local Bazaar Sheikhan, who deals in pure ghee, admitted that such ghee was being pumped into the market by certain unscrupulous elements out to earn huge profits during the festival season. He claimed that tests conducted reveal certain cases wherein hydrogenated vegetable oil (vanaspati ghee) was repacked and sold as pure ghee in attractive containers. The Tribune is in possession of one such desi ghee container having Agmark and a “manufactured at Gwalior” sign. The container, according to Mr Darshan Singh, contained only vanaspati ghee with added “essences and colours”. Mr Mohinder Singh, a Model Town resident here, alleged that he was shocked to find that what he had purchased as pure ghee for Rs 145 a kg turned out to be vanaspati ghee during tests. Mr Jagdev Sharma, spokesperson for the Jalandhar Desi Ghee Dealers Association, maintained the Jalandhar-based dealers were convening an emergency meeting tonight to discuss the situation. “We are going to investigate the matter and approach the authorities concerned,” said Mr Sharma. Dr J.K. Bajaj, officiating Civil Surgeon, said his department was planning to take samples of desi ghee. “Though we have not taken pure ghee samples so far, of the 39 samples taken during the last month, 11 of milk and eight of fruit have failed.” |
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Board for pulverised coal as fuel Ropar, October 13 Mr K.P.S. Rana, Chairman of the PPCB, said that the committee comprising the experts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and the PPCB was constituted following request from the industry to switch over to pulverised coal from furnace oil. The committee in its recommendations has stated that the provisions of the Prevention of Air Pollution Act, 1981, did not ban the use of coal as industrial fuel. The pulverised coal was already being used in reverberating furnaces as well as other industrial processes, including thermal plant and cement industry. However, adequate well-designed air pollution control devised (APCD) should be installed to bring down the concentration of particulate matter to prescribed limits. Mr Rana added that before allowing the use of pulverised coal the PPCB would, however, ensure that proper APCDs were installed. The expert committee had studied the emission levels selected two rolling mills using coal as lump form, three using pulverised coal and two using furnace oil located in Mandi Gobindgarh. None of the rolling mills monitored was found to be complying with the emission standards. The concentrations of particulate matter ranging between 377-1554 mg/Nm were recorded at the outlets of APCDs of rolling mills using pulverised coal. |
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Amarinder, Bhattal may visit Delhi together Chandigarh, October 13 Though sources close to both Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister maintain that Tuesday’s meeting is “only for finalising the strategy of using Punjab leaders in the coming Assembly elections in five states”, others consider it significant as the Chief Minister has offered her to accompany him in his official aircraft for the trip. Of late there has been a beehive of activity in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee in general and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) in particular. The Chief Minister, who cancelled all his engagements today and also the Council of Ministers’ meeting tomorrow because of illness, may, however, keep his appointment with the AICC leaders tomorrow. He was also to hold a meeting with the Sports Minister and members of the high-powered committee constituted to tackle the case of outstanding sportsmen and women facing reversion in the police. The meeting has been postponed till tomorrow. A spate of recent incidents, including the row over the transfer of a Station House Officer in Ludhiana and the visit of some officials to the rice mill of a minister from Gurdaspur, have sparked protest within the CLP. A police team also reportedly visited the private house of another minister at SAS Nagar. Though the government sources denied that any raid was conducted on the rice mill in Gurdaspur, the minister had reportedly registered his protest. Efforts were being made to pacify him by terming the visit of an Inspector to his mill as a “routine visit”. Other minister had lodged a strong protest with the Chief Minister. Though there had been speculations over the re-induction of Dr Harbans Lal in the Council of Ministers, sources in the PPCC ruled out any change or expansion of the ministry till the Assembly elections in five states. A source said that Mrs Bhattal was to meet Mrs Mohsina Kidwai in New Delhi on October 9, but she could not make the trip. Next day, Mrs Kidwai was away. The AICC, he said, was going to finalise duties of both Capt Amarinder Singh and Mrs Bhattal in the five states going to the polls, asking them to concentrate on the Punjabis settled there. The problems in the Punjab CLP, if any, were being tackled to the satisfaction of the legislators or ministers concerned. “There is no question putting any ruling party legislator to any pressure or harassment,” he added.
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Oct 26 Sikh conference
as scheduled Chandigarh, October 13 Addressing a press conference here, Prof Gurtej Singh, Mr Rajinder Singh, Major-Gen Narinder Singh (retd) said it was unfortunate that certain organisations had threatened to disrupt the conference. They said there was a plan to ex-communicate the Editor of a Punjabi politico-religious magazine. “ It was a very disappointing development that those who write on Sikh religious issues fearlessly were being threatened with excommunication,” said Prof Gurtej Singh and others. Politicians and the Sikh clergy wanted to maintain its control over Sikhs to serve their vested interests. Politicians wanted to dilute Sikh identity by following the RSS ideology which would not be allowed. Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Chief Secretary of the SGPC, had started a campaign against the organisers of the conference. Mr Calcutta had forgotten the fact that those who were organising the conference had remained on the forefront to organise various Sikh religious events. Meanwhile, the AISSF headed by Mr Manjit Singh Bhooma has appealed to the organisers of the conference to stop supporting those who have been excommunicated by Akal Takht. |
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ST officials inspect godowns of traders Sangrur, October 13 Earlier, on October 9 last, a team of the Sangrur Excise and Taxation Officials raided the godowns and shops of these two traders which led to the gherao of the
AETC, Sangrur, Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, and closure of bazaras at Sunam by the traders, alleging harassments by Sales Tax officials. The traders also reportedly “misbehaved” with the tax officials. A glass of the AETC’s car was allegedly broken by the mob. Later, on October 10, the Sunam police registered a complaint against Mr Ominder Singh, ETO, Sunam, on the complaint of Mr Ram Lal, a utensil trader, while on October 9, the Sunam police lodged an FIR against three traders, namely Ram Lal, Rajinder Kumar and Gora Lal on the complaint of the ETO. Mr
K.B.S. Sidhu, AETC, Sangrur, said they had conducted the inspection of the godowns of Goel Metal House and another trader, who also deals in utensils. He said the traders had also returned the documents to them which had been “snatched” on October 9 from the taxation officials by the traders. Mr Manmohan Singh, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Patiala Division, Patiala, said that they had also recovered the “penalty book” from the traders today which had been “snatched” by them from the taxation staff on October 9. He said an assessment of the value of godowns of utensils would be done after production of bills by the traders, and after that a final decision would be taken. |
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Underpaid
sweepers case entrusted to Chandigarh, October 13 “Allegation do make out a case for taking cognizance of matter under the provisions of the protection of Human Rights Act,1993,” a member of the PSHRC, Justice R.L. Anand, said while passing the order. Justice Anand further added that “keeping in view the serious nature of the allegations, the inquiry in this case is entrusted to the ADGP, Vigilance, Punjab Chandigarh, who is directed to submit his report by the next date of hearing on December 19”. In a complaint moved by two persons, representing 1,400 sweepers, it has been alleged that in the 55 wards of Jalandhar city each municipal councillor and constituted committees called Mohalla Sanitation Committees which collect Rs 50 from each house. The complainants alleged that in this manner huge amount was collected by the
committees under the supervision of the councillor. The committee employed sweepers for the sanitation of the area. The committee also receive a grant from the municipal corporation. In records the wages of a sweeper is shown as Rs 2,500 while in reality each worker is paid from Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 less, they alleged. The complainants further alleged that each councillor was embezzling around 2 to 2.5 lakh per month in this manner under this scheme, whereas sweepers, were being deprived of their right. One of the worker, Nav Vikas, had started a chain fast at Maharishi Balmiki Chowk Jalandhar, in support of the aggrieved 1400 sweepers. Justice Anand further said that” A copy of this order along with a copy of the complaint be sent to the Principal Secretary (Home) and the ADGP (Vigilance), Punjab Chandigarh for compliance. In the meantime, the papers be placed before the chairperson for the constitution of a Division Bench to deal with the sensitive case.” |
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Fearing
fraud, dept
checks staff’s papers Bathinda, October 13 Sources said these orders were passed after it was found that a majority of the degrees obtained from these universities were either fake or had been forged. Earlier, only the certificates procured from ‘non-existent’ universities were on the watch list of the department. The University Grants Commission (UGC) releases the names of such universities regularly. Comparing the photocopies submitted by the candidates with the originals produced by them was considered as ‘checking’ of the certificates but when some of these degrees were not got verified from the respective universities, they were found to be fake. A large number of people had managed to get jobs in the Education Department by obtaining degrees of various professional courses from these universities. So, department had ordered that the original degrees procured from these universities of all employees be verified individually. The Special Secretary, Department of Education, Punjab, Mr V.K. Singh has ordered in writing that if an employee showed reluctance in submitting his/her original degrees obtained from these universities, the attested photocopies of the same should be searched from the office records for verification. It would be the personal responsibility of the school head to ensure that the degrees or copies of such certificates were submitted to the Education Department. The sources said in some cases, stolen blank certificates or certificates got printed from private printing presses had been used to get jobs. Mr Lachhman Singh Brar, District Education Officer (Secondary), when contacted said that a meeting in this connection had been held and the school heads had been ordered to submit the requisite certificates.
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Protest by Youth Cong activists Sangrur, October 13 The protesters raised slogans against the NDA government. They were accompanied by Mr Subhash Grover, president of the District Congress Committee; Mr Gurdial Singh Chatha, a member of the PPCC; and Mr Ashok Rajja, a former Municipal Councillor from Sangrur. A deputation of the Youth Congressmen also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sarvjit Singh, in support of its demands. |
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2 die of rabies; MC squad to tackle stray dogs Amritsar, October 13 In a matter of days, a five-year-old boy, Raman Kumar of Verka, died due to rabies and Rajesh Popli of Killa Bhangian succumbed to the killer bite even as another case of dog bite was reported here today. The local municipal corporation today convened an urgent meeting, presided over by the Commissioner of the corporation, to tackle the menace of stray dogs. The method adopted for a special drive, according to Mr Kirpal Singh, Additional Commissioner, includes a three-stage programme of capturing, sterilising and setting free dogs. However, the general secretary of the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI), Dr Ashok Goel, claimed that the population of 1.6 lakh dogs in and around the city, according to their survey, needed to be dealt with by killing them in a humane manner. A team comprising a veterinary surgeon, a police officer and a medical officer should be formed to monitor these killings by using a lethal injection on the sedated animal. A sum of Rs 50,000 has been sanctioned by the corporation for phase 1 of the month-long drive besides providing 300 cages. Mr Vivek Khanna secretary, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said a dog squad, with assistance from the corporation, had been formed to tackle the situation. Dr Subhash Sharma and Dr Randhawa were deputed for the task by the corporation, while doctors have also been requisitioned from other departments like the Animal Husbandry and Health Departments. A truck has been kept at the disposal of the dog squad to carry out the drive which will start at 3 a.m. tonight. Reportedly, the area identified for the drive tonight will be in the walled city but the corporation is maintaining secrecy in the matter as residents may hinder the operation with their presence. Mr Khanna said, in the initial stage, the stress would be on sterilising female dogs and administering anti-rabies injection to all captured dogs. Meanwhile, the 44 persons who came in contact with Rajesh Popli, as identified by the corporation, have still to be administered the anti-rabies injections as a precautionary measure. Social activist S.S. Sharma has threatened to go on a fast to force the corporation to tackle the menace of stray dogs and take action against the Health Department for negligence in discharging its duties. |
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MC’s hollow promises on shifting of dairies Patiala Dairies continue to pollute the city and clog its drains as the MC move, which exists on paper only, has not made any headway with no land having been earmarked for the purpose till yet. Four years have passed since the Municipal Corporation first expressed its commitment to shift the 670-odd dairies located within the city to outside the city limits. However, the corporation and the Improvement Trust have yet to arrive at a final decision about the site to be earmarked for the transfer. Though the corporation had identified three possible locations for the resettlement of dairies a year ago, no action has been taken in this regard. A visit to Gurbaksh Colony and Old Bishen Nagar, where dairies abound, shows streets strewn with dung. Not only does this encourage swarms of flies and mosquitoes, the place stinks as well. The profusion of dung not only blocks sewers with unfailing regularity but is also reported to have caused gastro-related infections, especially during the monsoon season. Some dairy owners tie animals outside various dairies, creating nuisance for the passersby. Pawan Kumar, a resident of Gurbaksh Colony, said that some dairy owners, instead of keeping dung in some earmarked corner in a locality, have devised a system whereby they dispose of the dung by flushing it directly in sewers after diluting it with water. Most use jet pumps to facilitate the process. The Ganda Nala adjoining the area is dotted with huge heaps of dung, making it difficult for passersby to cross the place. It is the same story in other localities having dairies, including Badungar Colony, Dhobi Ghat and Khalsa Mohalla. Though big dairy owners in the city are ready to move out, small dairy owners are against the move. Their contention is that they cannot afford to buy plots from the Improvement Trust and develop the site having a few milch animals and even fewer resources. The dairy owner have also made it clear that the move would result in the public having to pay for more milk, as dairy farming practised outside their residences would be run as an industry employing labour as against the support given by the entire family earlier. Mayor Vishnu Sharma, when contacted on the issue, said that the corporation had identified three possible sites on the outskirts of the city for the transfer of dairies. However, the issue is hanging fire because the corporation first wants to tackle the issue of transfer of Kabari Market to outside the city. He stated that the corporation owns 15 acres of the Sangrur road and 9 acres on the Sirhind road besides the PWD having 18 acres on the Sanour road, any of which could be used for the purpose. Health officers of the corporation had, in a survey, identified nearly 670 dairies with around 6,500 milch cattle existing within the city and though the officials of the corporation have challanged many dairy owners for throwing dung outside their houses or tying cattle outside their premises, a final solution can only be achieved after the corporation decides to get serious on the issue. |
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UK-Indian mayor visits Golden Temple Amritsar, October 13 He said though in the UK, Asians were discriminated against by some Englishmen, the laws were effective and justice was delivered fast. He said in his constituency there were around three lakh persons, including 50,000 Punjabis, Muslims and whites. “We live harmoniously and celebrate all festivals together,” he said. Mr Gurcharan Singh migrated to Britain in 1972 after completing his postgraduation. His first job was that of a guard in London. Then he took the civil services exam and became tax inspector. The desire to end racial discrimination turned him to politics. He became a member of the Labour party in 1976. |
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Sikhs are unlike Hindus: Dal Khalsa Hoshiarpur, October 13 Talking to the mediapersons after addressing a conference of party activists assembled at Singh Sabha Gurdwara here yesterday, Mr Harcharanjit Singh working president of the Dal Khalsa accused the Sangh Parivar for spreading terrorism under the garb of so called nationalism. Asserting the separate identity of the Sikhs, he said that unlike Hindus, Sikhs believed in one God
(Waheguru). They had their own traditions, history, scriptures, calendar, language and culture. He said that the BJP government was patronising the likes of Mr K.S. Sudarshan and Mr Parveen Togadia who had challenged the fundamentals of the Sikh religion during their visit to Chandigarh and Amritsar. Speakers
attacked the Shiromani Akali Dal for joining hands with the BJP. They made an appeal to silent Hindu majority to nail the likes of Sudarshan and Togadia as they claimed to represent Hindu aspirations. “We are for peaceful co-existence. Hindu
brothers must realise that acts of the RSS and the VHP were disturbing the relations between both the communities”, said Dal Khalsa general secretary Kanwar Pal Singh. The convention called to discuss Sikh religion vis-a-vis casteism virtually turned into RSS bashing. Sikh intellectuals like Dr Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, former president of institute of Sikh Studies and Prof Jagdish Singh Mukherian also spoke. |
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Row over Bhagwad katha ends Abohar, October 13 Devotees had worked till midnight to erect the pandal for the ceremony aimed at praying for peace in the world. But when hundreds of devotees reached the dharamshala, they found the door was locked from inside and the pandal had been razed to ground. Another pandal was quickly raised at a nearby government school. Some shops of the dharamshala had been rented out years ago to meet its maintenance expenses but some of the inside rooms were in possession of some persons, including two police officials. They had been using these for commercial and residential purpose by making major alterations. Some devotees yesterday argued with some occupants in the dharamshala. The devotees were allegedly manhandled by some occupants. Some occupants of the Jain Dharamshala claimed that they had taken the portions under their possession on lease from the chairman or members of the dharamshala trust. A police officer showed documents to visiting newspersons, claiming that the Revenue Department had entered “intqal” in its record which described the occupants as “tenants”. Certain occupants feared that holding of week-long Bhagwad katha might disturb their “legal” possession. However, the “katha” was resumed on the dharamshala premises today when the organisers assured that they had “never” thought of demolishing any structure”. |
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1 killed, 14 hurt as tractor-trailer overturns Abohar, October 13 According to information, some residents of Shahdara (New Delhi) and the adjoining areas of Haryana had travelled overnight by a mini truck (canter) to attend the marriage of a Shahdara resident at 77NP village in the Raisinghnagar region near here. Before returning, they desired to see the international border. They were provided with a tractor-trailer besides a local guide. As the tractor covered a distance of 1 km and the driver took a blind turn on the link road outside 43RS village, the vehicle went out of control and overturned. Volunteers of Dera Sacha Sauda happened to be near the site of the accident. On hearing the cries of the passengers, they came forward to help them. The injured were taken to the nearby Civil Hospital in jeeps. Ravi (10) died on the way. In all, 14 passengers of the tractor-trailer were admitted to the hospital. The Sacha Sauda volunteers provided them with medicines and other relief material. Eight of the injured were identified as Priyanka (20), Meenakshi (8), Charanjit Kaur (18), Santosh Rani (20), Manjit Kaur (30), Mukesh Kumar (20), Balwinder Singh (21), and Mukesh (10). |
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One more dies of gastroenteritis Patiala, October 13 Government Rajindra Hospital sources said Jagtar Singh of the Malkana Patti area in Samana died today. He had earlier been admitted to the Civil Hospital in Samana. When he complained of vomiting, he was transferred to Rajindra Hospital when his condition deteriorated. The sources said the disease spread in Samana following the intermingling of sewage with drinking water supply. |
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Bairagi
Mandal
hails holiday decision Chandigarh, October 13 In a press release, Mandal President Krishan Kumar Bawa thanked Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for declaring the holiday, besides establishing a chair in a university in the memory of Baba ji. He added that it would be the sacred duty of every Punjabi to pay tribute to Baba ji on the day at the Virat Bairagi Sammelan. Baba ji, Mr Bawa claimed, avenged the sacrifices of the Sahibzadas by decimating Sirhind seat of the Mugals. He also hoisted the flag of the first Sikh empire on Lohgarh fort and issued currency in the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singhji. |
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Dyes in mehndi spell doom Amritsar, October 13 The dyes can be dangerous and may cause allergies, but the practice goes on as a ‘deeper colour’ is demanded. Glitters used in mehndi like gold, silver, violet, blue and lilac, too are chemical-based, but are gaining a vast following amongst the young
girls. Sarvoski crystals are also applied to give that special look to mehndi. |
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Bhattal for ridge sowing of paddy Patiala, October 13 The Minister stated that paddy sown by this method under the supervision of agricultural experts in some areas of Patiala, Moga and Ludhiana district had turned out to be a successful experiment which would now be carried out in other areas of the state. She also stated that area under this kind of paddy plantation would be increased during the next paddy season. Speaking on the site Ms Bhattal said that that the main cause for the falling water table in the state is the cultivation of paddy by puddling whereby a huge quantity of water is required till the harvesting of the crop. Not only does this replete the water table of the state, it also places a huge financial burden on the farmer. Ms Bhattal said that the ridge sowing of paddy could lead to nearly 40 per cent cut in water consumption. She stated that data had proved that as opposed to the 28 quintal of yield per acre obtained by the traditional method nearly 32 quintal yield per acre could be obtained by
puddling. She also said that whereas normally 14 rice saplings could be planted per square metre, 16 rice saplings could be planted per square metre through ridge sowing. The number of waterings required in this method is only 15 as opposed to the 25 waterings required for paddy cultivation presently. This she added could translate into nearly 2000 rupees more profit per acre for the farmer as well as preserve the fertility of the soil to a large extent. Others accompanying her on the visit included Rajpura MLA Raj Khurana and ADC (Development) Jagwant Singh Brar. |
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Paddy purchased despite ban Bathinda, October 13 In a letter written to the Director Food and Supply, Punjab, Mr Gurpreet Singh, the president of the association alleged that PAIC had been purchasing the paddy from the Bathinda market in lieu of “consideration”. He urged the director to cancel all purchases made by it after October 7. |
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FCI far from purchase targets,
says minister Patiala, October 13 Talking to newsmen here after inspecting the local grain market, the minister said against the procurement of 32 per cent of the produce, the FCI had only been able to achieve a target of 18 per cent. The minister said the State Food and Supplies Department would streamline the set-up. As part of this step, the department had not allocated any wheat to as many as 770 sheller owners who owed the department Rs 625 crore. He said criminal cases had been filed against an official responsible for wrong weighing in Kot Kapura and a sheller owner who was trying to mix 50,000 bags of his old stock with the new stock. The minister said 64.26 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been purchased till now as compared to 52.84 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period last year. He said due to a bumper crop, the purchase of paddy was expected to increase by around 11 lakh tonnes this year. |
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MC crackdown on octroi evaders Patiala, October 13 Corporation Mayor Visnhu
Sharma said a penalty amount of Rs 48,000 had been realised following
the raids. He said the violators included those who were trying to
slip in mobile phones, washing machines, silk cloth, chemicals and
even dry fruit into the city without paying the octroi. The Mayor
said he had taken the decision to strengthen octroi collection and
launch crack down on violators in view of the festival season. The
corporation’s earnings during the festival season usually increased.
Efforts would be made to ensure violators were not able to get the
better of the octroi staff he said. Mr Sharma said besides employing
checking staff at the check points, it had been decided to position
vehicles at all points so that violators could be chased. |
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Water project sent to Centre Nabha, October 13 Mr Randhawa said Rs 500 crore had been earmarked for constructing public toilets for 10 lakh poor and needy families residing in villages and the process of recognising such families had started. He claimed that only 8 per cent to 10 per cent of his department’s tubewells were not operative and these would be repaired next month. |
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Cops molest woman, beaten up Jalandhar, October 13 Meanwhile, the district police has ordered a probe into the matter. Ms Harsh Sehgal, a resident of New Prithvi Nagar and social activist said the two constables barged into house of the woman where she was putting up with her husband, Suresh. The constables allegedly asked some objectionable questions from the woman and even suggested that since she was living with a poor man, she should marry another old man of the village. Apart from allegedly manhandling the woman’s husband, they also molested her and left the place only after extracting an assurance that she would meet them around 10 pm to discuss the matter. But instead of going to the cops, she approached Ms Sehgal and narrated her tale of woes. Ms Sehgal decided to teach them a lesson and went to the woman’s house along with her associate Paramjit Kaur and armed with chilli powder. Around 10 pm one of two constables came to her house along with two others in an inebriated condition and the trio started misbehaving with her. At this point, the activists came out and beat up the policemen. They informed the officials at the Police Division No. 8, but were disappointed at the reply that the area did not come under their jurisdiction. However, Mr Purshotam Lal, a PCR constable, turned up and took the policemen to the Sadar police station. The victim and her husband could not be contacted this evening even as people of area maintained that they might have left the place due to fear of policemen.” Officials at the Police Division No. 8 maintained that they were not allowed to speak to the media. The SSP was not available. However, Mr Pawan Rai, SP, said a probe had been ordered into the incident. |
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4 arrested
for selling brass as gold Bathinda, October 13 Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, Bathinda, today said the accused were arrested while they were taking the balance payment from the vendor, Mr Sat Pal. The accused include two brothers Manoj Kumar and Neeraj Kumar, Angraj Singh and Satnam Singh. A case under Sections 420 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against them. The accused allegedly convinced Mr Sat Pal that it was a gold brick by rubbing it with an iron rod and collecting the dust on a piece of paper. However they stealthily changed the dust with the gold dust and asked him to verify it from a goldsmith. They struck a deal of Rs 3 lakh and took Rs 50,000 as advance money. Later, when Mr Sat Pal realised that brick was made of brass and he had been cheated, he informed the police. The accused who have allegedly cheated a tea vendor at the police Civil Lines, Bathinda, on Monday. |
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BSF nabs Pakistani
‘tourist’ Amritsar, October 13 The BSF handed him over to the Kahangarh police chowki under Gharinda police station here. A case has been registered under Sections 3, 34, 20 of the Indian Passport Act and 14, Foreign Act. Saffiq revealed that he had heard a lot about India from his parents and wanted to see it. He said he was a resident of Ouchcha Vasaho village of Gujarat in Pakistan. His father is a sepoy in the Pakistan railway police. The BSF seized Rs 135 Pakistan currency notes from him. He would be presented before a Magistrate tomorrow. |
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Seven illegal weapons seized Jalalabad, October 13 Both were father and son who belonged to Talwara village under Tibbi police station in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan. They were members of a gang smuggling weapons to Punjab from Rajasthan. The DSP said that information regarding this had also been passed to the Hanumangarh SSP and Sriganganagar. The DSP stated that these arms were for criminals operating in this area as the Abohar police recently seized a similar .12 bore gun used in a murder there. |
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Liquor
shop looted Sangrur, October 13 Talking to TNS today, Mr A.S. Rai, SSP, had said the youths before looting the shop, had forcibly taken away a scooter from the local Krishna Basti and headed towards Bahadurpur village the previous day. |
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PCCTU stir from December 5 Chandigarh, October 13 Prof S.S. Hundal and Dr V.K. Tewari, president and general secretary, respectively, of the PCCTU, said the stir would be marked by a total education bandh, mass casual leave, a massive protest rally at Patiala and the courting of arrest by members on December 5. The protest in the hometown of the Chief Minister would be preceded by areawise rallies in the universities, where teaching work would be suspended for one or two periods. The rally by teachers belonging to colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) would be held on October 17 at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, followed by a march to the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Teachers working in colleges affiliated to Panjab University would participate in a dharna in front of the residence of the Punjab Higher Education Minister at Ludhiana on November 19. Teachers working in colleges attached to Punjabi University would join a rally at Patiala on October 31. Before the Patiala rally on December 5, PCCTU members would suspend work for two periods on November 26, December 2, 3 and 4 and hold campus rallies. |
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Teachers
of aided schools to protest Amritsar, October 13 All teachers and employees will go on mass casual leave and hold a rally in front of DPI (s) office at Chandigarh. The anti-employee policies and non-acceptance of their demands had forced 10,000 employees of 500 aided schools in state to launch an agitation against the government in favour of their demand said an activist of the union. He said meeting headed by Mr Khushal Behal, Punjab Education Minister was held on October 8 and the union had agreed with the government for some demands but, he said, there were impasse on the
pension scheme. He said that the government had enforced pension scheme for the aided school staff with effect from February 1987. The government notification had been done by the government and employees had opted for that very pensions scheme. He said now the government had decided to change the pension scheme after May this year and to introduce the new pension scheme which was rejected by the union. |
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Principal
clarifies on audit report Sangrur, October 13 A news item under the heading “Irregularities in college affairs alleged” had published in these columns on October 12 on the basis of the seven-member audit committee’s report. Mr Kular also stated that some mistakes and lapses were at the clerical level and the staff concerned had been instructed to rectify them and ensure that they were not repeated. He also said all money was spent through the committees constituted from amongst the staff members to supervise the work and make purchases. |
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