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Indo-Pak trade fair sees Rs 90-cr deals
Amritsar, December 4 The Co-Chairman of the IPEX-2005, Mr R.S. Sachdeva, told The Tribune that in spite of some glitches with regard to visa restrictions the fair turned out to be a great success as more than 1.50 lakh persons visited the fair. Dwelling at length at the positive aspects of the fair, Mr Sachdeva said three important MoUs were signed which would include joint venture and marketing tie-ups for the Indian agriculture implements, including harvest combines manufacturer in Punjab. He said two more MoUs were inked between Indian and Pakistani entrepreneurs for manufacturing of mink blankets and rice-sortex machines. He said these three agreements had laid the foundation for larger partnerships in future. Addressing the gathering at the valedictory function, Choudhry Muhammad Saeed, President, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said both countries must draw up a policy framework for increased trade so that both the countries can benefit from each other’s expertise and availability of items. He said at present Pakistan has allowed the import of 681 items and we need to expand the bilateral trade to a large extent without hurting the business interests of both the countries. He welcomed the Indian entrepreneurs to participate at the made-in-India fair to be held in Lahore from January 26 to February 1 next year. Mian Shafqat Ali, President, Lahore Chamber of Commerce, said the Pakistani business delegation was overwhelmed by the affection and response they received from their Indian counterparts. He said there were many areas identified for sharing their experiences and expertise for the betterment of two countries. He said that the barriers must be dismantled as the non-tariff items need to be reviewed so that free and flow business could be transacted between the two neighbours. He thanked the PHDCCI and other business organisations for responding immediately to the Pakistani needs for relief materials in the aftermath of devastating earthquake. Mr Rajkumar, MLA and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, while addressing the concluding function, said more such fairs should be planned between the two countries to foster better business relations so that both countries could benefit. The memento for best stalls was given to Jal bathroom fittings and Gujarat Fertilisers and Al Hyat from
Pakistan. Earlier, the vice-president of the PHDCCI said this fair had left a tremendous effect for improving the business ties between the two countries and said that the chamber would continue to offer a bigger platform for the people to come together during the exhibition. Mr Sachdeva announced that the money received from entry fee would go towards the rehabilitation of earthquake victims of both the countries.
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Vigilance poised for techno makeover
Jalandhar, December 4 Ironically, the otherwise high-profile VB was running sans any such gadgets so far and has been depending upon the Punjab Police from time to time on need basis. Apart from lie detectors, the VB is also keen to lay its hands on other investigation aids like cameras, voice recorders and photo recorders. To accord practical shape to its efforts in getting new electronic investigation aids, the VB has already sent a proposal to the office of the Punjab Director-General of Police, who, in turn, is likely to get permission for purchase of new gadgets from the Union Home Ministry under the Centre’s modernisation scheme for state police forces. Of the total annual Central grant sanctioned for modernisation of the Punjab Police, an estimated three to five per cent share goes to the VB. "We have already sent the proposal and now we are waiting for the equipment. It is not that traditional methods do not work, but, we think that we should also make use of new scientific aids, which, helps in fetching more concrete evidence against a culprit," said Mr A.P. Pandey, the Chief Director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau while talking to The Tribune. “Once these gadgets are acquired by the VB authorities, a part of the consignment would be disbursed among zonal and district units of the investigation agency," said Mr Pandey adding that the VB had already sent its proposal to the government regarding setting up of fast-track VB courts as per directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Asked whether the VB had ample proofs against the SAD supremo, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his family and as to when the VB would be able to initiate trial against them, Mr Pandey said it was up to the court to decide as the case was pending with the SC. “All I can say is that we have conducted exhaustive investigation. Now it is upto the court to give a permission for trial," said Mr. Pandey. The next hearing in the case against Badals in the SC, it was learnt, was in first week of January. Referring to corruption in government offices, Mr Pandey said the VB had already booked over 100 police officers in corruption cases. "We have recommended it to the DGP to initiate disciplinary action against all these officials, " said Mr Pandey.
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Recycle straw to make soil fertile, says expert
Chandigarh, December 4 Desperate to take maximum output, farmers resort to all kinds of methods to exploit the soil and in the process soil's nutrition and fertility level is hit hard. Farmers use chemicals such as fertilisers to rejuvenate the fatigued soil. This leads to the jacking up of the production cost of foodgrains. In spite of this, the phenomenal rise in the production of various foodgrains between 1960 and 1990 has now slowed down, notwithstanding the use of recommended doses of fertilizer. "The average yield of wheat is 4.5 tonnes per hectare and of rice 6 tonnes. However, in return, these removed from the soil more than 300 kg of nitrogen, 30 kg of phosphorous and 300 kg of potassium, per hectare" says Dr G.S. Hira, Head of the Department of Soils and Additional Director, Research, of Punjab Agriculture University. Burning of wheat and rice straw also contributed as much to soil sickness and loss of fertility as to air pollution. Punjab produced 23 million tonnes of rice straw and 17 million tonnes of wheat straw,
annually. This straw has rich nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. It is not recycled but burnt. Instead of burning, if the straw was left in the fields, 0.824 million tonnes of NPK would become available to the soil. This is about 50 per cent of the fertiliser consumption in the state. "Considering that 90 per cent of rice straw and 30 per cent of wheat straw is available to recycle, it will tantamount to recycle of 0.56 million tonnes of nutrients valued at Rs 400 crore", Dr Hira says. With an objective of checking and minimising "exploitation" of resources, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has sanctioned a Rs 2.6 crore project in "soil and water management" to the
PAU. The project will be jointly executed by the Department of Soils, and the Department of Soil and Water Engineering. Principal Investigating Officer of the Project is Dr Hira. This project in hand is in addition to 55 other ICAR-funded research schemes. Incidentally, the ICAR makes up for 18 per cent of the PAU budget, pegged at Rs 131. 57 crore for 2004-05. Haryana is no better. Both Punjab and Haryana contribute 82.46 per cent wheat and 44 per cent rice to the Central pool. If soil and water management continued to be handled arbitrarily, its consequences will be disastrous not only for these two states but also for the country. Wheat and rice are highly fertilizer-intensive crops and sap the soil of its nutrients. Rice is also a water-guzzler and causes severe depletion of underground water. The alarming situation of exploitation of groundwater is evident from the fact that 100 blocks out of 141 are categorised "dark" in the central districts, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur and Moga, where water table is declining at the rate of 54 cm per year. At 75 cm per year, this fall was steep in 2004-05.
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Dal Khalsa, too, opposes Sarbat Khalsa meet
Hoshiarpur, December 4 Mr Jaspal Singh, said the Jathedar Akal Takht should stay away from interfering in every issue. Replying to a query he said there was no need of golden palanquin at the Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib. He said Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, President DSGMC, had tried to gain political mileage by getting it placed there. Replying to another question, he said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had done a blunder by boycotting the historic moment of handing over the golden palanquin to the Janam Asthan of Guru Nanak Dev. The Dal Khalsa leaders stated that they had written to the newly elected president of the SGPC seeking the implementation of various Panthic resolutions passed by the SGPC from time to time. They pointed out to the new president that while he was occupied with streamlining the administration of the SGPC and other current issues, he failed to take notice of various issues, on which the SGPC had passed many a resolution, but were never implemented. Earlier, a large number of party activists held a meeting at local gurdwara to nominate their office-bearers and launch a membership drive. The organisation began its enrolment drive for primary membership of the party. Mr Jaspal Singh today formally launched the membership drive in Punjab. Mr Gurdeep Singh and Mr Ranbir Singh were elected as president and general secretary of the Hoshiarpur district.
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Devotion unparalleled
Amritsar, December 4
Mata Amrit Kaur, like her mentor, used to go to Harmandir Sahib with
bouquets every day on foot till recently. However, due to old age, nowadays she has to use vehicle to reach Harmandir Sahib. She said the practice would continue till she breaths her last. Mata Amrit Kaur, disciple of Bhai Vir Singh, has been living in the tastefully-decorated residence of the great Punjabi poet for the last about fifty years. The house of Bhai Vir Singh is perhaps the most beautiful residence in the state and dates back to British times. Mata Amrit Kaur picks up beautiful flowers with the help of caretakers of the house. While the houses of many Punjabi writers and poets, including Bawa Balwant belonging to Amritsar, have either disappeared or are in a dilapidated condition,
the residence of Bhai Vir Singh remains intact and all belongings of the
celebrity writer have been preserved in the original shape.
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Sonia, Natwar should go: BJP
Rajpura, December 4 Speaking at a seminar by the BJP’s Kisan Morcha here today, Mr Khanna threatened that Parliament would not be allowed to function till Mr Natwar Singh resigned. Coming down heavily on the Congress for its alleged patronage to the guilty of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Mr Khanna demanded exemplary punishment to the guilty. Prominent among those, who spoke on the occasion included Mr Harjit Singh Grewal, state BJP general secretary, Mr Surjit Tyagi, a former minister, and Mr Kishan Singh Negi.
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Amarinder fooling Punjabis, says Wadali
Mohali, December 4 Mr Wadali in a press statement here today said the process of making the above area as NAC was started by the Akali government four years ago and they were hopeful that this would be completed when the Akali government came back to power in 2007. Mr Wadali condemned the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for not fulfilling the promises made to the people. Mr Wadali said it was Mr Parkash Singh Badal, former, Chief Minister, Punjab, who had initiated the step of notification of declaring the areas falling under Nayagaon, Kansal, Karoran under the NAC so that the peripheral areas of Chandigarh could be developed in a phased manner. But some people were inimical to the development of the Nayagaon areas and who never wanted NAC to come up.
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Probe sought into Chahal’s lavish wedding
Chandigarh, December 4
The SAD leaders, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal and Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, in a joint statement said: “The wedding was proof of the rampant and vulgar corruption indulged in by the Chief Minister and his coterie”. Such lavishness, in which two luxury cars were given as dowry, more than rivalled even the royal weddings of yore.
“The entire money spent on the wedding, running into nearly Rs 20 crore, could actually have been the money collected through corrupt deals by the Chief Minister's aide,” they said.
— TNS
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Progress of
Lepro-Well drive reviewed Chandigarh, December 4 Other NGOs that participated in the meeting were Pals International Organisation, Jalandhar, headed by Barinder Singh, and Leprosy Elimination Society, Mohali, headed by Jatinder Singh. Protection of human rights of leprosy victims, their rehabilitation and community development of leprosy affected people were the main features of the Lepro-Well Movement. Beside, the movement also fought for the legal rights of leprosy patients and ensured that they were not discriminated against with regards to education of their wards. Under the movement, patients were encouraged to start their self-employment ventures. Prevention of disability by detecting leprosy at the initial stage in slums was also part of the movement. Tejinder Kaur said the mission had played its part in the settlement and uplift of about 1,000 such patients. She added that Barinder Singh had made arrangements in and around Jalandhar to awaken people about the symptoms and cure of the disease. She urged various state governments to involve NGOs’ education programmes regarding health. She said her organisation was prepared to extend cooperation to the government to identify new patients of leprosy by visiting slums. She said the mission was also approaching opinion leaders such as panches, sarpanches and municipal commissioners to motivate them for making contribution to the welfare of leprosy patients and bringing them to the social mainstream.
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Nabha heritage festival ends
Nabha, December 4 Leaders belonging to various parties welcomed the descendants of the late Maharaja Ripudaman Singh. His sons Jasmer Singh, Shamsher Singh and Fateh Singh and daughter Charanjit Kaur had come from abroad to participate in it. The Trust has decided to renovate the Nabha Fort procession was taken out and singers like Puran Chand, Piare Lal Wadali and Hans Raj Hans kept the audience spellbound during the festival. Meanwhile, TN Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said the state and the Nabha Foundation Trust should make an effort to establish a monument in memory of Maharaja Ripudaman Singh at Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu where he died as a political prisoner. Mr Udai Khemka, grandson of the Maharaja, said his family had decided to undertake all the repair work of the fort and other heritage buildings of the town so that the tourism potential of the town could be explored.
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Road safety discussed
Sangrur, December 4 This was stated by Dr Surinder Singla, of the Civil Hospital while addressing a seminar on road safety measures organised by the Lions Club in collaboration with the district traffic police here yesterday. Mr Dharam Singh, SP (Headquarters), presided. A large number of students, teachers, drivers and owners of trucks and tempos participated. Besides the deaths about three lakh persons also become disabled due to the accidents. Dr Singla appealed to the people not to drive vehicles while smoking or talking on mobile phones to avoid accidents. The SP said more than 60 per cent of the accidents could be avoided by following traffic rules and maintaining vehicles. The life of about 90 per cent of the victims of road accidents could be saved by providing them first aid on the spot and taking them to hospitals immediately, he added. Mr Darshan Singh, SHO (City), said parents could play an important role in educating their children to follow traffic rules and drive the vehicles at a proper speed.
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Ex-servicemen seek one rank, one pension
Patiala, December 4 The meeting, which was presided over by the league’s president, Mr Channan Singh Dhillon, expressed resentment over the minister’s statement. Mr Dhillon said earlier too the then Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, had stated that the government had acceded to the demand. However, Mr Dhillon added that nothing was done later although at that time the BJP had even given notice for cut motion on the issue of ‘one rank one pension’.
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Sai Mian Mir foundation confers awards
Amritsar, December 4 Mr Harbhajan Singh Brar, president of the foundation, said those awarded included Ranjit Singh Rana who carried out
kar sewa of water treatment plants at the Golden Temple, Mrs Rupan Deol Bajaj, Chief Secretary, Punjab, DSP Raghubir Singh, advocate Surinder Singh Ghariala, Mr Gurnam Singh Dera Bassi, Brig Jaswant Singh Sidhu, president Hemkunt Sahib, Mr Tarsem Singh Khalsa, Chairman Delhi Dharam Prachar Committee, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, president of the Lok Bhalai party, Mr Bhag Singh Ankhi, honorary secretary, Chief Khalsa Dewan, Dr S.S. Sandhu, and ETC channel (Punjabi). Choudhry Parvej Elahi, chief minister of Punjab (Pakistan) was also awarded. The DSP, Mr Raghubir Singh, was awarded for his honesty. Prof Manjit Singh Calcutta and Prof Bawa Singh presented papers on Sai Mian Mir.
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Free condoms for truck drivers
Abohar, December 4 According to information, the AIDS Control Society has decided that a quota of condoms for free supply be fixed for each union as per their membership. So far, most of the AIDS affected cases in this region and the adjoining areas of Rajasthan belonged to the persons associated with the transport trade.
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Kapurthala, December 4 The Governor urged soldiers and officers of the battalion to keep up the spirit of unsurpassed gallantry. — PTI
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Rare surgery performed
Amritsar, December 4
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Drug addict held for niece’s murder
Abohar, December 4 Sources said Narinder (24) had lost his parents sometime ago and was unemployed. Kamla Devi, his aunt, visited him on November 22 to pay obeisance at the Gosain temple. Her mother, and daughters Rinky (5) and one-month-old Pooja accompanied her. Rinky was found missing on November 24 and Narinder joined the search the child. He left the house late in the evening and returned at mid-night and told Kamla that Rinky’s T-shirt was lying outside the house. The shirt “One peti — three days” was written on the shirt. The neighbours informed the police after three days of the incident. The police found body from a canal on Thursday. The police grew suspicious when Narinder refused to identify the body. He broke down during interrogation yesterday. He reportedly said he had conspired to kidnap Rinky and demand Rs 1.5 lakh from his aunt. He took Rinky on his bicycle to a shop, purchased some biscuits and went to a canal near Sadhuwali village, 35 km from Abohar. He then threw her in the canal.
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Five of two marriage parties killed in
accident Rakhra (Patiala), December 4 Out of the five deceased, four, including a two-year-old child and one unmarried girl, who were travelling in a Trax, which was bound for Nabha from Lang village, died on the spot when a speeding mini bus, bound for Patiala from Nabha collided with it head-on while its driver was trying to overtake another vehicle. One occupant of the mini bus also died while he was being taken to a hospital. The impact of the collision was so strong that it virtually crushed the Trax. The residents of this village came to the spot immediately after they came to know about the accident and helped the victims to reach hospital of this town. A police party also reached on the spot within no time to help the injured. According to the police, Surinder Yadav, who was driving the Trax and Gurnam Singh, who was driving the mini bus, along with 23 others suffered multiple injuries. Both drivers were seriously injured and were getting treatment at a private hospital. The deceased were identified as Gurmeet Kaur (40), Simranjit Kaur (2), Jagjit Kaur (20), Devinder Kaur (25) and Gurmail Singh (40). The names of the injured could not be ascertained. However, a number of injured were responding to their treatment at a private hospital. A case in this connection was registered at the Sadar police station against Gurnam Singh, driver of the mini bus.
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4 devotees die in road mishap
Amritsar, December 4 Sikh devotees on tractor-trailer were returning after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Bir Baba Budda Sahib, near Jhabal village, when the speeding truck hit it from rear. The deceased were identified as Kulwinder Singh, Mandip Kaur, Dhanwad Singh and Sadhu Singh. The police has impounded the truck and registered a case against the driver who was reportedly in inebriated state.
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Ambiguous admission norms hit student’s career
Amritsar, December 4 The student, while flaunting the copy of prospectus of the college, justified his admission, yet the university authorities claimed that he (Hirdey Pal Singh Brar) was not qualified to get admission in the course because of a compartment in 10+2. Brar, whose career hangs in balance due to a communication gap between the college and the university, alleged that the university had taken a hasty decision without seriously going through the eligibility criteria as laid down in the college prospectus. The university has raised an objection that he had not secured 40 per cent marks in Physics in his 10+2 exams, conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, and hence he failed to fulfil the criteria for admission. Brar, however, claimed that he had secured 50 per cent marks in the ISC exam and had a supplementary in Physics. However, Mr R.S. Bawa, Registrar GNDU, said a student who has supplementary or failed in one subject in 10+2 couldn’t be admitted to the Food Science and Technology course. Brar showed the prospectus, mentioning the eligibility criteria as laid down in the university calendar-1999, Vol II, Page 114 under para 3, which read that “a candidate who has passed 10+2 (Science) exam of the Punjab School Education Board/CBSE/ICSE with 40 per cent marks”. He said there were no clear-cut instructions issued by the university it was creating hassles for the students.
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Indian Public School celebrates annual day
Kharar, December 4 MLA Morinda and Minister for Animal Husbandry, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, was the chief guest on the occasion while the Kharar Market Committee vice-chairman Mr Mahinder Singh Halalpur presided over the function. The students presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion. A skit ‘matti rudan kare’ presented by the students on drug de-addiction was highly appreciated. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kang said the financial condition of the government had improved and it was preparing a special action plane for education village schools developed modern methods. He donated Rs 25,000 to the school. Earlier, the school chairman Col C.S. Cheema welcomed the guests while the school principal Ms Sukhvinderpal Kaur Cheema read out the school’s report.
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The tradition started by Bhai Vir Singh, hailed as father of modern Punjabi literature, about 100 years ago continued even after his death in the year 1957. Bhai Vir Singh was born on December 5, 1872.