Ludhiana, January 7
The delegates of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) from India and Pakistan today called for “forgetting the past mistakes and looking towards a peaceful future” in the interest of the people of the two countries.

A 25-member SAFMA delegation from Pakistan is currently on a visit to Punjab. It was accorded a rousing reception by various media, trade, farmer and political organisations here today.

Excited over the warmth of their hosts, the Pakistan delegates said, “Let us forget the past and look forward to future so that both countries live together in peace.” Taking the lead, Ms Tehmina Daulatana, one of the two women members of the delegation, who is also a member of the Pakistan National Assembly, said the two countries needed to move forward in mutual interest.

She said there have been mistakes committed by the elders. “Maybe even we have also added to the mistakes, but we need to introspect and explore the options which help us mutually,” she said to a thundering applause from the audience. She said there had been enough enmity between the people of the two countries. “We need warmth between ourselves, which will help us both,” she remarked adding that things seemed to be moving in the right direction.

Mr Imtiaz Alam, secretary-general of SAFMA, mooted the idea of setting up of “Peace Park” between India and Pakistan. The park, he said, should exhibit everything that would foster and encourage mutual love and trust between the people of the two countries. His suggestion was widely endorsed by other speakers from both countries. Mr Alam was of the opinion that the initiatives being taken at various levels needed to be continued and strengthened further.

He said he was greatly impressed by the warmth of the people here. “I did expect it because it is in our blood, but everything was more than what I had expected,” he remarked in an emotional tone. He pointed out that there was too much in common between the two countries in general and the two Punjabs in particular. “We cannot afford to remain apart for long and we need to work together.”

People representing various cross sections of society received them on the city outskirts. Led by the local MP, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and Prof Manjit Singh Kadiyan of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Mr Virinder Pramod, president, Press Club of Punjab, Mr Gurinder Singh and others hoped that the current interaction continues and reaches the logical conclusion in due course of time.

Welcoming the delegates on behalf of the people of Ludhiana, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said such programmes needed to be extended to other institutions and organisations as well.

Muktsar, January 7
All arrangements had been made for the forthcoming Maghi Mela beginning next week in the city, stated the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Dalip Kumar, while interacting mediapersons here.

The DC said about 10 lakh devotees from different parts of the state and outside were expected to converge on the holy city to participate in the annual fair. He said the SDM, Mr Narinder Singh had been appointed mela officer to ensure the smooth conduct of the fair. To facilitate devotees, the city has been divided into seven sectors and a Duty Magistrate and a DSP would be deployed in each sector to maintain law and order and regulate traffic during the mela.

He said a civil control room had been set up at the Civil Secretariat, while the police control room would come up at Government Girls Senior Secondary School. Eight subcontrol rooms would also be established where apart from policemen eight teams of doctors would be deployed. He said 19 duty magistrates, 29 doctors, 47 pharmacists, seven sanitary inspectors and 150 safai sewaks had been deployed on duty for the mela. Four mobile teams of doctors would also be pressed into service for extending medical assistance to pilgrims. Over 100 temporary lavatories were also being raised. Fire Brigade service would also be in place to deal with any untoward incident. As many as 12 tankers had been arranged to provide drinking water to devotees.

The SSP, Mr L.K. Yadav, said all arrangements had been made to maintain law and order during the fair.

Bathinda, January 7
The district police has run out of fuel for the second time in the past five months and its petrol station in the police lines is dry for the past over three weeks, thanks to a series of VVIP visits to the area in the past couple of months.

According to sources, the station, with a reserve stock of about 2,000 litres, was somehow catering to the local demand, including that of top police officials. They said the cops posted outside the district headquarters were told to make purchase from private petrol stations, as their quotas were fixed, and if they were called to the headquarters, they would end up burning a part of it.

Sources said the petrol pump used to get 12,000 litres each of petrol and diesel per month, but it had received neither since the second week of December.

There were 15 police stations and four approved police posts in the district. The district police had three Ambassador cars, 27 gypsies, two buses, one prison van, 28-mini buses and canters, 35 motor cycles, one tractor, one jeep, one hydraulic mobile crane, and one water canon. Though the fuel crunch had little affect on higher police officials, those at the lower level found it tough to carry out their work smoothly. Earlier too the station had gone dry in the beginning of August.

Sources said already facing fund crunch, the police was left to fend for itself following two visits of the Chief Minister and one each by the Vice-President and the President. A lot of fuel was burnt in mobilising the forces and ensuring tight security for the VIPs. The Vice-President, Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, inaugurated SAD supremo Mr Parkash Singh Badal’s old-age home at Badal on November 18, while the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, reached his ancestral village Mehraj to inaugurate various development projects on December 5. These VIP tours were soon followed by President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s December 10 visit to Gehri Buttar village, where the country’s First Citizen interacted with cotton growers. A week later, on December 17, the Congress sounded the Assembly poll bugle with its first electoral rally in Lambi, for which the CM, PPCC chief Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, and a majority of ministers converged on Mr Badal’s home turf.

When contacted, the SSP, Mr Kapil Dev, denied that they were facing fuel shortage for the past many days. However, he said, “It takes sometime for the supply of fuel to the petrol station, especially if it was a weekend, and there was nothing serious about it.” He said they would soon be receiving fresh supply of fuel. 

Chandigarh, January 7
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is all set to use the latest technology against the Amarinder Singh government in Punjab and the Congress headed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi at the national level.

There are reports that the SAD has started collecting compact discs showing alleged police excesses committed in Punjab and also in Uttaranchal, where Punjabi farmers were treated in a “barbaric” manner by the police.

Sources said that at present the SAD had at least three CDs on three different incidents to target the Amarinder Singh government in particular and the Congress in general in the coming Assembly elections in Punjab.

One CD is about the police lathi charge on fruit and vegetable merchants on December 28 in Amritsar. The police in Amritsar had treated the agitating traders in a brutal manner and almost all newspapers carried photographs in this regard. Certain TV channels had telecast lathi charge scenes.

The Punjab Human Rights Commission, taking note of this incident, had issued notice to the Home Department and also sought footage from the TV channels concerned. The SAD, the sources said, had collected the relevant material for presentation through CDs during the run-up to the Punjab poll.

The second incident relates to the thrashing of a Congress leader, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, by the Phagwara police at a police station a few days ago. Mr Sukhi, said to be a protege of the Transport Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, was beaten up by the police. However, when Mr Kaypee took a tough stand on the matter in support of Mr Sukhi, the Punjab Police authorities had to transfer a DSP from Phagwara apart from suspending certain officials posted at the police station. Footage of this incident was also shown on a TV channel. The SAD has procured the footage for use during the elections.

Scores of CDs have also been prepared relating to the lathi charge on Punjabi farmers by the Uttaranchal police in the presence of civil officials. Copies of the CDs have reached Punjab. Mediapersons have also been provided with copies.

Images of the alleged shabby treatment given to the farmers by the police may prove damaging to the Congress not only in Punjab but also at the national level. The Uttaranchal Government is headed by the veteran Congress leader, Mr N.D. Tiwari. Political damage is likely to be caused to the Congress government in Punjab when the screening of these CDs is started by the SAD in the countryside.

Politically damaging footage on CDs was used by the campaign managers of the Congress against Mr Parkash Singh Badal in Punjab in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Such strategy was also used by the Congress against Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the then BJP Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, in the last Assembly elections. The election campaign there was, by and large, handled by Punjab-based managers.

The ruling party in Punjab has a vast collection of CDs relating to the property allegedly held by Mr Badal’s family in Punjab, Haryana and elsewhere. Clearly, in the coming days political battles in Punjab will be fought through CDs.

Chandigarh, January 7
The opening of the LoC and the increase in trade between India and Pakistan at Amritsar might have helped improve relations between the two countries, but it has, however, ended up giving the Customs and Central Excise Department sleepless nights. Faced with a shortage of staff and lack of infrastructure at most of their locations, they claim they have to work over time. Agitated they are now demanding for things to improve.

The issues were raised today at the first annual general meeting of the Customs and Central Excise executive officers association Chandigarh Zone (CCEEOA). At a press conference addressed by S.K. Srinivas, Secretary-General, All-India Federation of Customs and Central Excise executive officers, Mr Ashok Sharma, president and Mr G.S. Sandhu, general secretary of CCEEOA, the officers brought to light various problems being faced by the Customs and Central Excise officers in the region.

They complained about the hostile working conditions without any basic amenities to the customs staff due to the opening of LoC at the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Sandhu said officers had been moved to the LoC after its opening without any “notice period” or time to acclimatise. Moreover, they were facing infrastructural problems at the locations, more so due to harsh weather conditions and hostile environment.

“We have till date recovered no revenue from these five locations at the LoC and also we are not well-equipped in terms of infrastructure to be present there.”

The officers further claimed that the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) was turning a deaf year to their problems. “We are understaffed and have to work beyond our duty hours,” informed Srinivas.

“Trade has increased between India and Pakistan, however, we are not being provided with extra staff. They have to work over time due to this.”

The association is worried that these problems are only going to increase as things between India and Pakistan are going to improve. “Things have only started. Soon trade will be freer and more points on the LoC will open up. Sadly, the political leaders have not prepared for ground realities like customs and their problems,” stated an officer.

The association also brought to light the lack of infrastructure at Rajasansi Airport. “The x-ray machine is lying in the open, moreover, there is no facility of changing rooms for the lady staff.”

Repeated complaints to the CBEC, the officials claimed, were being ignored. “We have genuine problems and they need to be urgently addressed,” stated Srinivas.

A meeting in Aurangabad on January 23 will, however, decide the further course of action for these officials if their demands are not met.

POLITICS

General Samaj Party for restart
of work on refinery project
Our Correspondent

Barnala, January 7
All-India General Samaj Party has threatened to stage a dharna again in front of Parliament in Delhi during the ensuing budget session of Parliament next month, if the work on the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery Project at Bathinda did not restart by then.

After its foundation stone laying ceremony and launching in 1998, the work on this project abruptly came to a standstill. The Union and Punjab Governments are trying to soft-pedal this project deliberately.

In an exclusive interview with this reporter here yesterday, Mr Suresh Kumar Goyal, president, All-India General Samaj Party, regretted that the Congress, the Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) were playing politics over this issue.

Mr Goyal reminded that the Bathinda Refinery Project initially estimated at Rs 11000 crore which was later enhanced to Rs 15,000 crore. Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of this project. Now again on August 12 last year Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Petroleum Minister at Bathinda too announced the re-launching of this project. Ms Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, MP from Bathinda too stated a couple of days back that the work on the project had begun.

The General Samaj Party chief called upon various political party leaders to stop playing politics over this issue as not a single brick had been laid so far. The project was still to re-start after it came to a halt. He pointed out that a tender worth Rs 1 crore had been advertised in a vernacular newspaper which would be opened on February, 23. He said it was basically an eye wash.

Mr Goyal re-iterated his party’s stand that it would continue its stir till the work was resumed on this project. He recalled that his party activists did stage a demonstration in the form of protest march in Bathinda on December 22, 2005, against the indifference of the Union and Punjab Governments towards this project.

Mr Goyal further revealed that his party activists had staged a dharna on December, 23 last year at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to press the Union Government to start this project again at the earliest. He informed that he had also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India at New Delhi in this connection the same day but all was in vain so far. 

Derabassi, January 7
Training his guns on the Amarinder Singh government for its alleged failure to maintain law and order, the general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and former Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, today demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged custodial death of Gurmail Singh, a resident of Kakrali village, near here, in the custody of the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Rajpura on January 4.

In fact, the silence of the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amrinder Singh, and other senior functionaries of the government on the issue speaks volumes about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state spreading panic among the residents, the senior Akali leader said here.

Certain Congress leaders and administration officials were trying to "cover-up" the issue and virtually "forced" the family to cremate the body with a view to destroying the evidence of torture in the police custody, he alleged.

It may be recalled that Gurmail was picked up by the GRP at Rajpura on January 4 in connection with the alleged murder of two youths, whose badly-mutilated bodies were found from near the railway tracks of Ghaggar Railway station, near here, on December 31.The youths, Gurcharan Singh, a resident of Mohar Thikri village, near here, and Rajesh Kumar of Sundar Nagar in Jind district, had gone missing and their bodies were later dumped near the railway tracks.

Rejecting the post-mortem report of the victim, Capt Kanwaljit Singh demanded that a murder case should be registered against the alleged guilty police personnel and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh awarded to the next of kin of the deceased.

The party had constituted a 12-member fact-finding committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Narmail Singh, an SGPC member, to go into the circumstances leading to the death, the Akali leader said, adding that the party had decided to pay a relief of Rs 2.51 lakh to the bereaved family. The committee would submit its report in three days following which the future course of action would be decided.

The father of the deceased, Mr Charan Singh, who was also present, alleged that the family was still receiving threats from certain youths of Jind district. The demand for setting up a police post at Kakrali village to instill a sense of security among the resident is yet to be met by the Punjab Police, Capt Kanwaljit Singh alleged.

Pathankot, January 7
Residents of Anandpur Rara village today organised a protest and stopped the Pathankot Municipal Council authorities from carrying out the work on a cow shelter.

Labourers employed by the council started digging the foundation of the shelter this morning. They were stopped by the residents, who claimed that the land belonged to them. The villagers later filled up the base dug by the labourers.

The villagers raised slogans against the council and local Congress leaders.

“The council has promised us three-marla plots before starting the construction. However, none of the villagers have been given any land,” said villagers.

The Executive Officer of the council, when contacted, said the land in dispute belonged to the council. The council had urged the illegal occupants to shift from the area where the cow shelter is proposed to be built.

When asked about the three-marla plots promised to them, the Executive Officer said the council had no authority to give land to anyone. The case for giving land to the landless would be moved before the government. Till then they could stay in the area adjoining the proposed cow shelter.

The villagers, however, alleged that the council was threatening them with police action in case they did not shift from the land. They threatened to intensify the agitation in case the force was used to shift them.

Bathinda, January 7
A day after farmers from Siwia staged dharna against NFL’s proposal of ash dump site in their village, scores of activists of the Joint Action Committee today protested against the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) authorities over the emission of coal ash and subsequent environmental pollution.

Addressing the agitators, the panel’s convener, Mr M.M. Behal, said ash and dust being emitted from the chimneys of the plant were posing a serious health hazard to the city residents. He said the number of people ailing from TB, jaundice, asthma and bronchitis had shot up due to air pollution. Eye ailments and allergies were also common.

He said the polluted environment had also taken its toll on birds and plants in the area. He said it was need of the hour that necessary directions be issued to the thermal plant authorities to check pollution in the larger interest of people. He alleged that while resentment was brewing among the common man, the government did nothing to check pollution.

“Fed up with the indifferent attitude of the GNDTP and Punjab Pollution Control Board we took out a protest rally last month in which women and children too participated, but our demand fell on deaf ears,” he added.

He said the committee would organise another rally on January 22.

The Joint Action Committee comprises residents of Vishal Nagar, Panchvati Nagar, Green Avenue, Tagore Nagar and New Shakti Nagar.

On the other hand, the GNDTP authorities circulated pamphlets along with newspapers a few days back urging the residents to bear with them as renovation and modernisation process of the thermal plant units was underway.

Ludhiana, January 7
The 59th Indian Dental Conference will be organised by the Ludhiana branch of the Indian Dental Association from January 27 to 30 at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan here. Acording to Dr Bhagwant Singh, National President of IDA, Ludhiana, the conference would be held in the city after a gap of 10 years.

Padam Bhushan Dr Anil Kohli, President DCI, will be the chief guest and Lieut Gen Paramjit Singh, Director General Dental Services, will be the guest of honour. Famous oral surgeon Dr Balaji from Chennai will be the keynote speaker. The conference will serve as a platform for disseminating information about new techniques and developments in the various disciplines of dentistry. A trade fair will also be organised.

Scientific papers, continuing dental education courses, symposia and orations would be would be some of the highlights of the conference.

Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), January 7
The Department of Soil Conservation has initiated a programme to revive village ponds in the district. Under it Rs 25 lakh has been provided to the district by the state and Union Government.

Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, while talking to The Tribune said that initially about 200 village ponds in the rural areas were being desilted. After desiltation, pucca boundaries would be raised around the ponds.

Presently most of the village ponds in the area have silted up. These are being used in villages for disposing sewerage. The sewerage dumped in ponds was polluting the groundwater in their surrounding areas. Due to pollution in ponds, these have also seized to function as water recharging sources.

After revival, the Department of Agriculture intends to use village ponds for irrigation purposes also. Water canalization in the ponds was also being improved to tap maximum rainwater from the catchment areas of the ponds. The watertable in the areas has also gone down considerably.

The watertable in Gurdaspur was 10 to 20 feet. However, now in most of the areas it has gone down to 50 to 70 feet. Due to the depleting ground water, many natural drains in the district have dried up. Water flows in these drains only during monsoons.

The major reasons for depleting water are the overuse in paddy and redundant recharging sources as village ponds. The regular growth of paddy has made upper layer of soil impervious. This was adversely affecting water recharging. The revived village ponds would improve water recharging in the areas to some extent.

The Punjab Council for Science and Technology has also been urged to introduce duckweed technology in the revived ponds. The duckweed, besides controlling pollution, would help panchayats earn revenue from the ponds by rearing fish in them, Mr Randhawa said.

The sources, however, said that most of the projects of the Punjab Council of Science and Technology had been abandoned, as the state had given matching grant for these projects. Due to it, the Union Government had stopped grants to the council.

Rajpura, January 7
The Punjabi musical adaptation of the 19th century play, “Takey Ser Bhazi Takey Ser Khaza”, written by the 19th century Hindi poet Bhartendu Harishchandra was staged at Scholars Public School here today.

Directed by the artiste couple, Pran and Sunita Sabharwal, the play is a satire on a foolish king, who punished the people for the crime committed by other persons.

Earlier, Ms Sudesh Joshi, Principal of the school, welcomed the guests. Mr M.S. Jaggi, chief manager of the State Bank of Patiala, presided over the function.

Ropar, January 7
About 3 lakh cases were settled in 3,928 special lok adalats held in the state since 1988 while compensation of Rs 755 crore was granted to litigants in accident claim cases. This was stated by the Chairman of the State Legal Services Authorities and a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice H.S. Bedi, during a special lok adalat held in the district court, here today. The lok adalats helping the litigants to get speedy justice and the legal service authorities getting good response in the state, added Mr Justice Bedi.

Mr Justice Bedi along with Mr Justice Viney Mittal, also inspected the functioning of the lok adalat here.

While giving details, the District and Sessions Judge, Ropar, Mr Justice A.K. Sharma, said as many as 3,016 cases were disposed off while compensation of Rs 7.79 crore was awarded to litigants in the special lok adalat held in district court here today.

Bathinda, January 7
Residents of Rampura Phul yesterday vent their ire against the MC officials over the pathetic condition of the bus stand before the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Bhandari, who visited the town to inaugurate the Suvidha Service Centre at the subdivisional complex.

The residents complained lack of cleanliness and lack of toilet facilities. They also complained of poor arrangements for shopkeepers at the bus stand. After making a round of the bus stand, the DC assured people that the land where it was located would be transferred from the Industries Department to the Municipal Council following which it would be totally demolished to pave the way for its re-construction in a planned manner.

He said the administration would extend all help in raising the new bus stand. The DC also ordered the removal of shops selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at the bus stand. He also asked the executive officer of the MC to be available to people between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. twice a week so that people could register their grievances.

Earlier, inaugurating the Suvidha Service Centre at the subdivisional complex, the DC said it would simplify works related to affidavit, SC/BC certificate and domicile certificate etc. He interacted with people engaged in revenue work and heard their problems. 

Fatehgarh Sahib, January 7
The Punjab Pump Manufacturers Association held a state-level meeting here today and urged the state government to exempt VAT on power-driven agricultural centrifugal pumps, monoblocks, submersible pumps and their parts. The meeting passed a unanimous resolution in this regard and urged the government to save this industry, which is facing crisis.

Mr Anil Thukral, secretary general of the association, said that, in a representation to the Chief Minister and Finance Minister, they had stated that it had become very difficult for the industry to compete with the pump manufacturers in Haryana and Rajsthan, as these Governments had exempted the manufacturers of centrifugal pumps from VAT.

They stated that 90 per cent of the sale of centrifugal pumps made by them was consumed by Haryana and Rajasthan and now due to VAT, they would not be able to compete with the manufacturers of these states.

They asked Capt Amarinder Singh and Mr Surinder Singla, Finance Minister that unequal sale tax policy would cause a great harm to the small-scale industry in the state, which would not be good for the small-scale industry.