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3,750 cr draft Annual Plan cleared
Chandigarh, January 11 A meeting with the national Planning Commission has been fixed for February 15 to discuss the plan for its clearance. About 25 per cent of the total amount will be spent on the energy sector and 22 per cent on the transport sector. The plan for the current financial year was worth Rs 3550 crore. The most significant item on the agenda of today’s meeting was
clearance of the “Punjab Nirman Programme” that is to be launched on the pattern of Bharat Nirman. The board cleared it, earmarking Rs 400 crore for the project. It will be spent during the remaining period of this year and next year. The allocation and spending of this Rs 400 crore may kick off a major political controversy in the state. Sources said there was a definite political purpose behind this project. Under the project, the ruling party planned to spend Rs 5 crore in each of those Assembly segments where it was “sure” to win the elections or where it “could win” by spending money on various development projects. The sources said the ruling party had selected 80 Assembly segments to spend money under this project which otherwise was meant for the entire state, at least on paper. At present, there are nearly 70 MLAs with the Congress. In fact, the money was to be spent through the District Planning
Boards, where electoral politics dominates while making allocation for any project in any area under their respective jurisdiction. The sources said the constituencies for spending the money had been shortlisted on the basis of a survey that was conducted in Punjab by a reputed company on behalf of the ruling party. A senior Minister, who has played a crucial role in drawing up the Punjab Nirman Programme, said that obviously the money would be spent keeping in view the interests of the ruling party. “ When Mr Parkash Singh Badal was in power, he openly ignored Assembly segments from where Congress MLAs were elected in the matter of allocation of funds”, the Minister said. Under this project, funds would be allocated in the rural and urban areas for new projects to be executed by village panchayats and municipal bodies. Spending of these funds would have nothing to do with development projects such as drinking water and health services, which are approved for rural and urban areas in the normal course. The previous Badal government had started a “ sangat darshan” programme. Under this programme, Mr Badal used to give money for various development projects and social and youth-related activities by holding “ sangat darshan” in villages. Later, he had shifted this programme to urban areas also. Then the Congress, as an Opposition party had, criticised Mr Badal and his programme. However, the ruling party says that Mr Badal had spent the money recklessly without observing the rules. “We will spend the money in accordance with the rules and regulations”, said the Minister. Meanwhile, Capt Amarinder Singh said that under the Annual Plan, Rs 9232.38 crore and Rs 889.50 crore had been approved for the energy and transport sectors. For general economic services and social services, the amounts were Rs 856.44 and Rs 496.86, respectively. He said the revenue deficit had come down significantly. The Chief Minister also announced that village panchayats had been allowed to appoint 2,000 teachers on a regular basis in the schools falling within their jurisdiction.
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Offer to PM to contest from Punjab
Chandigarh, January 11 Replying to a question, Capt Amarinder Singh, said that if the Prime Minister wanted to remain a member of the Rajya Sabha, there would be no problem to elect him for the Upper House from Punjab for the next term, he added.
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Kin of 40 youths trapped in Kuwait threaten suicide
Ludhiana, January 11 The family members of the youths assembled at the office of the Lok Bhalai Party today to press the government for the safety of the youths. Consisting of aged parents of the youths and their children, mostly toddlers, had come from all over the state, especially from Gurdaspur and Amritsar, besides Jagraon. The condition of the youths has already reached an alarming stage with news reports from Kuwait claiming that 80 youths from Andhra Pradesh had already committed suicide this year and two youths from Punjab had ended their life yesterday. Mr Avtar Singh Mullanpuri, working president of the party, arranged a telephonic conference with a trapped youth Kuldip Singh, who made a touching appeal, ‘‘Please take us out from here within seconds.’’ he implored while his mother Satwant Kaur and wife Sarbjit Kaur sobbed at his sorry state. Representing the plight of all families, the two women revealed that they had given Rs 1.50 lakh to a travel agent who now was threatening them with dire consequences if they approached the police, media or Lok Bhalai Party. All families had the same tale of woes. They had sold off or pawned their assets to arrange money for the agent, who had promised a lucrative job in Kuwait. But the youths were cheated and taken illegally to Iraq where they were forced to do menial jobs for the US army. These youths escaped from Iraq but now were trapped in Kuwait for want of legal travel documents , which allegedly were in the possession of travel agents there. They were on contract with the First Kuwait Company. The anguished families alleged that the state government had not launched any crackdown on the travel agents who were playing havoc with the lives of youths.
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Police can probe specific cases of money laundering
Chandigarh, January 11 The ED works under the Department of Revenue, Government of India. The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, has sent a personal letter to the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, saying permission will be given on a case-to-case basis to authorise specific police officers in Punjab to probe important matters of foreign exchange violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Till now, there was no such provision of giving permission to the Punjab Police or the police of any other state. The Finance Minister has, however, turned down the request of the Punjab Government to empower the SSPs of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Patiala, respectively, on a wholetime basis to investigate high-profile revenue matters relating to foreign transactions. Following the letter of the Finance Minister, the Punjab Government’s Home Department will route all requests for specific permission to the Union Ministry of Finance. Punjab in its bid to seek powers for these five SSPs had said the organised crime of kidnapping, hawala transactions and drug money were interlinked. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is also separately considering to empower designated police officers under the Act on a wholetime basis. The Finance Minister has turned down the request of the Punjab Government to allow the Punjab Police to probe cases under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. No agency other than the ED has been authorised to probe such cases. The Home Department has informed all SSPs of the districts about the developments and asked them to seek permission for specific cases of money laundering and probe these. The Punjab Police had found that funds had been channelled through the hawala route in a high-profile kidnapping case in Amritsar. The same route is preferred by non-resident Indians to send money. In some cases all this also leads to tax evasion running into lakhs of rupees. In the past, cases of militants using the hawala route to send money to their contacts here have surfaced.
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Punjab to allot sites to educational institutions soon
Chandigarh, January 11 These sites would be allotted by the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) in the coming weeks at its focal points in Bathinda, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Nawanshahr, Chanalon, Nangal, Tanda, Goindwal Sahib, Muktsar, Abohar and Raikot. Sources said specific sites for the purpose had already been earmarked in these areas to cater to the growing demand for schools and colleges in Focal Points where 30 per cent of the area was being used for residential purposes. There are no eligibility conditions for the bidders. However, the government would fix a reserve price calculated on the basis of allotment price of industrial plots of the area concerned plus 25 per cent added thereon. The bids received would then be considered by the Board of Directors of PSIEC which would take final decision in this regard. These sites are transferable and the successful bidders would pay 5 per cent of the cost of the plot along with the bid while 20 per cent of the cost would have to be paid within 30 days of the issue of the allotment letter. The rest of the payment would have to be made within 60 days without interest or in five equated half yearly installments along with the interest. Sources added that development of industrial areas of the state would be taken up for allocation of these sites in the first phase while education sites would be allotted in developed industrial areas, including Ludhiana, Mohali, Amritsar, Jalandhar, in the next phase.
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Additional power cuts imposed in Punjab
Ropar, January 11 Sources in the PSEB said power consumption in the state had increased to about 900 lakh units per day while supply from all sources was about 765 lakh units. The power supply from the thermal plants in the state is about 450 lakh, 180 lakh units from hydel projects while the state has been getting about 200 lakh units from the central grid, the sources added. Besides, increase in the demand for power, another thing responsible for the shortage of power is that one unit of 210 MW out of six in thermal plant, Ropar, has been shut for 45 days for annual maintenance. The units were scheduled to be shut in November but due to rise in power demand the decision was delayed and the unit was shut last week, the sources added. The PSEB is supplying 41 lakh units of power to Uttaranchal and Himachal on the reciprocal basis. During summer, these two states had supplied power to Punjab to overcome the power crisis.
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PSEB imposes regulatory measures
Patiala, January 11 The board has decided to impose compulsory weekly day off of all categories of industry for 12 hours per day, from 6 am to 6 pm from January 12, according to board chairman Y.S. Ratra here yesterday. Earlier, the board used to impose a 24-hour cut on weekly day off, which has now been brought down to 12 hours. He said though the average power availability was 732 lakh units in the current month, which is 18 per cent more than that in the corresponding period last year of 622 LUs, the average demand had increased from 722 lakh units last year to 810 lakh units in the current year.
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CM urged to shift PWD B&R headquarters to
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 11 In the letter, he said though the Punjab Governor, through Secretary, Public Works, had issued orders (No. 20/7/90-BRI(1) dated 11.8.05) to this effect, the government had failed to implement these. He lamented that PWD staff as well as general public had to visit the Mohali office for minor works, causing them inconvenience. He alleged that construction work of roads in the district was being affected due to this. He said work on major roads like Bassi Pathana bypass was going on in full swing, but none of the higher officials ever visited the site, affecting its quality. He urged the Deputy Commissioner and local politicians to take up the matter so that the office was shifted here and development works were augmented.
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Rs 3 cr collected in donation for trauma centre
Nawanshahr, January 11 Dr Budh Singh has returned from his fund-raising tour of the USA. He has been mobilising donations from NRIs to provide better healthcare and educational facilities to the rural population in Punjab for the past three decades. During his recent visit, Dr Budh Singh Dhahan got an encouraging response from the Punjabi diaspora in the USA and collected donations amounting to $ 6 lakh (Rs 3 crore) for setting up of an ultra- modern trauma centre at Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, Dhahan Kaleran. Construction work of the trauma centre is under way and its estimated cost is Rs 15 crore. Baba Budh Singh Dhahan, while lauding the gesture of the NRIs, said during his recent US visit, he had visited California, New York and New Jersey. Prominent philanthropists among NRIs were Mr Johan Singh Shergill, who donated $ 1.50 lakh and Mr Didar Singh Bains, who promised to donate $ 51000. He said the Punjabi diaspora in the USA had been very compassionate and wanted to contribute towards improvement of the lot of their brethren here but the need of the hour was to plan community development projects so that their generous donations could be utilized for ameliorating the sufferings of the people with the same spirit with which such donations were made. He said the ultimate dream of setting up a medical college at Dhahan Kaleran would also be realized soon with the help of philanthropists here and abroad. A number of NRIs and NGOs had been coming forward to extend their cooperation in improving the community development projects launched by the Trust, he added. Dr Jodh Singh, Professor of Sikhism, Punjabi University , Patiala, said the basic principles of Sikhism and teachings of the Gurus were related to ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’ (welfare of mankind). He exhorted the people to follow the teachings of the great Gurus and contribute towards social service. Mr Malkiat Singh Bahrowal, Trust secretary, and Mr Kulwinder Singh Dhahan (trustee) also addressed the gathering.
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Problems of paramedical staff highlighted
Fazilka, January 11 They alleged that due to anti-employee stance of the government there was resentment amongst 30,000 employees of the department. They further alleged that there was acute shortage of life-saving and essential drugs in hospitals and health centres of the state and what ever nominal medicines were available were of substandard quality. These medicines are allegedly purchased through misappropriation of funds by senior officers of the department. Mr Luthra and Mr Gill revealed that since the funds available with Punjab Health Systems Corporation had exhausted, the government had started the process of privatisation of hospitals as a result of which the health services were going out of the reach of the needy. Divulging details of the demands of para medical employees, Mr Luthra said the female multipurpose health workers working in different towns and rural areas received salary after four to six months as regular budgetary sanction for these posts had not been accorded although they had put in several years of service.
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Damdami Taksal to launch reformist movement
Jalandhar, January 11 The Taksal, according to its chief, Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, is also watching certain reported incidents of conversion of Sikhs in border areas closely. But, it was, however, against any direct action in case of unless the conversions were being effected forcibly, asserted the Taksal chief. "Of course, if Sikhs find that people are being converted forcibly, then they should oppose it tooth and nail as it is their religious duty," said the Baba. The Damdami Taksal will extend an open invitation to all religious, political, cultural and farmers organisations, Sant Samaj, Akali factions, Nihang organisations and to Sikhs abroad to participate in its "Vishwa Virsa Sambhal Sikh Sammelan." "Since we are going to discuss problems being faced by all Sikhs, we are not hesitating to invite anybody. We are also going to extend personal invitations to the SGPC president and to all five Sikh high priests," said Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, who was in the city yesterday.
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CPRC verifying antecedents of outsiders
Bathinda, January 11 The CPRC yesterday witnessed rush of girls working with orchestras, as it was their turn to get their verification done. Talking about the initiative, the CPRC in charge, ASI Gurbakshish Singh, said they were issuing them an I-card with their digital photo on it. They would also maintain their record having their photograph, finger prints and permanent address. He said that they first got information sheet filled by those who were to be verified and send a copy of it to the police station concerned on the basis of their permanent address for verifying their antecedents. They also seek information on whether they had any criminal record or whether they were wanted in court proceedings etc. He said the verification would instil fear among people with a criminal bent of mind. He said they had already conducted verification of peons, watchmen, and other categories at their stranger verification counter. The SSP, Mr Kapil Dev, said they kicked off this verification drive with migrant labourers a couple of years back.
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Class IV employees hold rally
Sangrur, January 11 The main demands of the union include enhancement in the monthly medical allowance from Rs 250 to Rs 500, promotional scales after four, nine and 14 years of service, bonus, filling of vacant posts and enhancement in uniform and washing allowances. The protesters urged the government to scrap its privatisation policy and regularise the services of daily-wage workers of the Forest Department, schools and other government departments. A deputation of the union submitted a memorandum, enlisting demands of the union, to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr H.S. Pabla.
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SGPC suspends construction work
Amritsar, January 11 The SGPC’s task force will also stop press photographers from taking the pictures of the site. The dog squad and anti-sabotage squad of the Punjab Police was brought to conduct further investigations.
— TNS
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Mushaira on Jan 21
Patiala, January 11 Noted poets Shahriyar, Nida Fazli, Munwar Rana, Bashir Badar and Sudarshan Fakir are expected to participate. Ms Girija Vyas, chairperson, National Commission for Women, and Mr S.S. Virk, DGP, Punjab, will also be present.
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high court Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, January 11 In his petition, Mr Sidhu has alleged that the corporation has been unable to undertake various developmental activities due to paucity of funds. However, the problem, he has stated, can be solved to a large extent if the government pays the money that it owes to the corporation as its share in the taxes collected from residents of the city. Mr Sidhu has alleged that even though the money is duly reflected in the budget of the corporation, the government is refusing to release the funds. He has also claimed that he served a legal notice to the government in October last year in this regard but no reply came from the government side. He has alleged that the government action of failure to release the funds was an act of discrimination against the resident of Amritsar. During hearing today, the petitioner’s counsel told the Bench comprising Chief Justice Mr Justice D.K. Jain and Mr Justice Surya Kant that failure of the government to release the money is a violation of the Constitution as also the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act. After hearing him, the Bench issued notice for February 7. PIL filed on encroachments
Mr Shashi Sharma of the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) has filed a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking directions to the Punjab Government and Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, to remove encroachments on public land on Nakodar road, Jalandhar. In his PIL, he has alleged that illegal encroachments on both sides of the busy road, particularly by dhaba owners, create hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic, but no step had been taken by the authorities to remove the encroachments. Today, the Bench of Chief Justice Mr Justice D.K. Jain and Mr Justice Surya Kant issued notice of motion for February 9.
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Poor sewerage, water shortage dominate MC meeting
Amritsar, January 11 It is for the first time the winter session of the house discussed issues of water, which normally are taken up during either the monsoon or the summer months. Several councillors complained of the breaking of ‘galis’ for inserting pipes for water supply, which were covered without noticing the sewers. Councillors of the ruling party also took up case of ‘corruption’ by some building inspectors in Municipal Town-planning Department, including encroachments and bribe for illegal building activity. One ruling party councillor also pointed the failure of MC ‘system’ wherein the employees, officers and others rarely brought issues to the notice of the corporation while the councillors had to do their task. He alleged that planning was needed to prepare a organised plan for the city’s sewerage and other developments and added that lopsided development activity was undertaken without taking ground realities and future planning and usage into consideration. Commissioner K.S. Kang kept the issue of erecting memorial gates pending for discussion at a later stage. Mayor Sunil Dutti announced the allotment of three gardeners to every ward for parks.
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Trader shot at, looted
Amritsar, January 11 The family persons alleged that Ankur had even called upon PCR persons, who did not bother to follow the accused. A case under Section 497, IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered. When contacted, Mr Harmanbir Singh, SP (City), said on suspicion the police had rounded up four persons having criminal background.
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Man murders wife
Patiala, January 11 According to police sources, Rajinder Kumar (32), a resident of street no. 2, New Bishan Nagar, was married to Arvinder Kaur (29). He strangulated her this morning after he suspected Arvinder of having an affair. Arvinder Kaur, who was the mother of two children — a 6-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old-son — had come to her parents place here and was married in Prem nagar locality of Sangrur. Rajinder Kumar had married Arvinder at Sangrur in 1999. According to Mr G.S. Bedi, Deputy Superintendent of Police (city-1), the police has arrested Rajinder Kumar and a case has been registered against him at Kotwali police station under section 302, IPC. Mr Bedi added that after murdering his wife, Rajinder Kumar also tried to murder the couple’s daughter but the police managed to apprehend him just in time.
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EOs, ex-MCs booked
Moga, January 11 The Vigilance DSP, Mr Narinderpal Singh, said the accused, Mr Paramjit Singh Ghuman, who was presently posted in Nangal, and Mr Brij Mohan, whose current posting was in Jagraon, were EOs in the Moga Municipal Council between 1999 and 2003. He said during their tenures these officials in connivance with ex-MCs, Mr Harvinder Singh Sangha and Mr Mohan Lal Goyal, embezzled Rs 10 lakh by giving a relaxation of as high as 94 per cent in house tax to a section of the local residents against the permissible limit of
35 per cent. He said they proceeded in the matter on the basis of a tip-off and arrested Mr Brij Mohan today, while the other three had absconded. Raids were being conducted to nab them. A case has been registered against them under the Prevention of
Corruption Act.
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One dead as bus hits auto
Ropar, January 11 The auto driver, Sohan, died on the spot while his helper, Rajinder, was admitted in the PGI, Chandigarh. The mishap took place at about 3 am when the high-speed bus hit the auto that further collidid with a truck parked along the road. The driver of the bus,
Shikander, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, fled. The police has registered a case.
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Thieves break into two temples
Patiala, January 11 According to police sources, thieves broke into Shiv Mandir in Old Bishan Nagar locality and after locking in the priest decamped with Rs 11,000 in cash and other valuables, including nose pins and a ‘mukat’. In another incident, unidentified persons looted Rs 2000 from Hanuman Temple, located near Shiv Mandir.
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VC announces Rs 2 crore for campus
Rampura Phul (Bathinda), January 11 Mr Boparai was here to inaugurate the newly constructed block in the neighbourhood campus. He said this college was taken over by the Punjabi University keeping in view the educational needs of rural students of the region, which was considered backward in the field of education. Criticising the education-related policies of the government, he said the Centre had been providing 99 per cent monetary help to universities working under it while Punjabi University was being given only 32 percent grant by the Punjab Government. He also announced that the youth festival would be held on February 3 and 4 on the neighbourhood campus. Mr L. R. Nayyar, Commissioner, Income Tax, Mr Rajinder Singh, IG, former minister SS Dhillon, MLA Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Sant Baba Karnail Dass Jalal wale, Mr Surjit Singh Bhatti, Principal, University College, and Mr Sundar Singh, Joint Director, College of Engineering also addressed the gathering.
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Top award for Dr Amrik Singh
Ludhiana, January 11 Dr Amrik Singh, a former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala and former secretary, Association of Indian Universities, is a reputed educationist of the country. Dr Amrik Singh is a prolific writer on the problems of education in the country. His book ‘Challenge of Education’ was released by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Dr Amrik Singh was a colleague of Dr Manmohan Singh for a number of years in Delhi University. Besides, Dr Amrik Singh also served as a Pro-Vice Chancellor of Delhi University.
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