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Panchayat grants remain unutilised: Bir Devinder
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 12 He enquired about various development works and heard grievances of the people. He said work on the four-laning of the Landran-Fatehgarh Sahib road with the help of the World Bank would start soon. Addressing gatherings in these villages, he said panchyats are the smallest but most effective units for the development of villages. He said it was a matter of great concern that Rs 5 lakh grant of Bir Behlan village was lying unutilised due to groupism in the panchayat. He announced the construction of Bajigar Dharmshala, 10 toilets, construction of the Behlan-Sarkapra road and the construction of streets and drains. He announced a grant of Rs 4 lakh for the construction of a new panchayat ghar and drains in Sarkapra village. He also visited the Primary Health Centre at Chunni village and expressed anguish over the lack of facilities for the patients in the centre. He sought a list of infrastructure and medicines to be submitted
to the Civil Surgeon immediately. He claimed that for the development of the Kharar constituency, Rs 1000 crore had been spent, which is the highest amount spent in any constituency. He said that the Bir-Khanpur-Chunni road was being widened at the cost of Rs 209.11 lakh. He also inspected the quality of mid-day meal being served in primary schools and anganwaris.
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Police force needs revamping
Ludhiana, September 12 Since militancy or terrorism ebbed hardly any visible steps have been taken to restore the normal working of the police and for making the force conscious of its primary duty of maintaining law and order. Punjab has top heavy police establishment. There are five DGPs, 10 ADGPs, one dozen IGs and an equal number of DIGs. It is worth mentioning here that with such a heavy police establishment, there is no regular inspection of the police thanas at any level - village or district. Under the Punjab Police Rules, the DSP of the area is supposed to make inspection of the thana once in a month. Formal inspection of the thana has to be undertaken annually. Enquiries made by The Tribune show that this practice is as good as given a goodbye. No formal or informal inspections of thanas take place these days. Further, the district police chief is expected to visit the rural areas and stay out of the district headquarters for two nights. This is also non-existent. The district police chief also does not undertake any inspection of the police thanas. The seniors at the state police headquarters have little file work to do. They are also supposed to undertake tour of the districts and perform field duties. With so many DGPs and ADGPs, little is done with regard to law and order and normalizing functioning of the police on the ground. Coffee gossip, golf and club are the past time of these seniors at Chandigarh, a retinue of police constables guarding them at every place. It is not to give impression that nothing has been done to improve or restore the normal functioning of the police after militancy. Mr O.P. Sharma who succeeded Mr K.P.S. Gill as DGP was the one who initiated steps and made efforts to restore normal policing. He visited the police stations in the urban areas and rural areas as well. He started inspecting the thana records and took the initiative of organizing public meetings with people in towns and villages to bridge the gap between the police and the people. Mr Sharma also prepared the disaster management of towns like Ludhiana and surveyed the town for the whole night to prepare the disaster management of the town. At present, the Punjab police does not have any disaster management of any town or the state to meet any emergency. As a matter of fact, no such effort has been made to carry forward the work started by Mr Sharma. Enquiries further reveal that during militancy, the local officials created a nexus with the politicians and the leaders of the groups, through which they managed to stick to one place. This nexus between the police officials and the local politicians and other groups has come to stay. This nexus has extended its wings to include land mafia and developers. With their strong links many officials have stayed in their places of posting for years together giving rise to the inefficiency in the working of the police and partnerships with the mafias.
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Ropar to get Rs 25-cr grant for tourism promotion
Ropar, September 12 A detailed report on the tourist spots to be raised will be submitted to the state government within a month by the district administration. The districts of Fatehgarh Sahib and Mohali have also been selected to attract tourists. The grant will be released to the state government by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture before the end of the current financial year. A team of officials, including the Principal Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Ms Geetika Kalha, have been shown the sites to be developed in the district. Giving details here yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Alok Sekhar said the tourist spots to be developed included wetland area of international importance, huts on the Shivalik hills, herbal garden, sites of the Harappan civilisation, historical and adventure spots in the Sutlej and historical gurdwaras at Anandpur Sahib, Chamkaur Sahib and Nangal. The wetland area here, spread over 1,365 hectares on the banks of the Sutlej, was the natural habitat for 250 species of birds, attracting a large number of migratory birds from Central Asia, particularly from October to April, besides mammals, fish and snakes. Plants available at the herbal garden in the forest area along the Sirhind canal, having about 10,000 plants of 60 species, included cuminseed, thymol ginger, black pepper, basil, soapnut, cardamom, sago, aniseed and turmeric. Various places on the Shivalik hills would be developed to promote trekking, fishing and boating. The Harappan civilisation sites included mounds at Bara and Kotla Nihan villages.
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SAD(A) protests against Malegaon blasts
Malerkotla, September 12 While talking to the mediapersons at the residence of Mohammad Sattar, local SAD (A ) leader, Mr Mann said the attack showed that minority communities were not safe in India. He said there must be tight security outside the mosques, especially on Fridays in Malerkotla as the Shiv Sena had termed Malerkotla as mini-Pakistan. He said they were opposed to the forceful singing of Vande Matram and threatened to tear off all banners displayed by the Sena, asking people to sing Vande Matram.
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Bitta seeks probe into sale of bulletproof steel
Chandigarh, September 12 The CBI should be asked to trace the steel as it could be used by unscrupulous elements to make more than 100 bulletproof cars and pose a threat to the national security, Mr Bitta said while addressing a press conference here today. “The responsible officers involved in PESCO deal should be booked under the relevant laws,” he said. He also asked the government and the Chandigarh Administration to issue notifications for the end use of protective gear. Strict action should be taken against responsible officers for the non-compliance of MHA instructions, he
said. PESCO had failed to maintain a proper inventory of the bullet proofing material, the AIATF Chairman said, adding that it had also sold the bulletproof steel to a scrap dealer without ensuring its safe landing. This was violation of the instructions of the Union Home Ministry issued in 2003 to the state governments to take steps to regulate the manufacture, import, sale, possession and use of various types of protective gears. No rules had been framed by the states in this direction, he said. Later, Mr Bitta also announced a reward of Rs 6 lakh for anyone giving a clue about those responsible for the recent blasts at Malegaon in Maharashtra. He said anyone having information could pass on the same at the AIATF office in Delhi on telephone (011-23730677).
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Protesters gherao police station
Malerkotla, September 12 Manpreet was allegedly killed by her in-laws for dowry. Demonstrators raised slogans against the police and the administration. Leaders from various political parties also participated in the protest. A meeting of the joint action committee formed in this connection was held at a gurdwara here on September 5 and it was decided that if no action takes place till September 12, members would again gherao the police station and the DSP’s office. Mr Mann Singh, uncle of the victim, said Manpreet (25) was married to Karamjit Singh of Ahankheri. He alleged that her in-laws were demanding dowry and when their demands were not fulfilled, they set her on fire. He said when her husband set her afire, the victim caught him from the waist. They were admitted to DMC Hospital in a critical state where Manpreet died. Her husband is still under treatment. The police had registered a case under Sections 304-B and 34 of the IPC against the victim’s father-in-law, Darshan Singh, mother-in-law Dalip Kaur, husband Karamjit Singh and brother-in-law Manjit Singh. Action committee members said they had met Mr Surjit Singh Grewal, SP(D), and Mr Rachpal Singh Hara, DSP, Malerkotla, but to no avail. Due to the pressure of thousands of persons, the police rounded up Darshan Singh and Dalip Kaur but has not recorded their arrest so far.
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Dalits caution govt on reservation
Chandigarh, September 12 Mr M.S. Luna, convener of the group, said the High Court in its judgement quashed the notification dated May 5, 1975 which had allowed 50 per cent of the reserved vacancies to Mazhbi Sikhs and Balmiki candidates alone. Now the government proposes to bring in legislation and the group shall challenge the same in the Supreme Court. Also a contempt petition is being filed against the Chief Secretary and the Secretary Social Welfare as they have failed to execute the orders of the court, alleged Mr Luna. Instead of obeying the orders of the court, the government is bent upon dividing the Schedule Castes by passing an Act in the ensuing Assembly session, he said, adding that government was rushing in to fill thousands of vacancies in utter disregard of the court judgement.
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Homage paid to 36 Sikh Regiment soldiers
Ferozepore, September 12 Each one of these 21 men were awarded the Indian Order of Merit( IOM) for their valour. Major H.S. Bhllar, OSD to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was also present on the occasion. The DC along with senior civil, Army and police officials also paid obeisance at the historic Gurudwara Saragarhi Memorial, which was built in 1904 in the memory of Sargarhi martyrs by Sir Charles Montgomery, the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab. Addressing the gathering of ex-servicemen, Dr Arvinder Singh said the state government had initiated several measures to ameliorate hardships of the ex-servicemen and efforts had been made to provide them all the necessary facilities. On the occasion, Major Bhullar said adequate reservation had been made in various government departments and educational institutions for the ex-servicemen. He said the Chief Minister, who himself was an ex-servicemen had assured that the kith and kin of ex-servicemen would be provided government jobs on priority basis. He said Punjabis had not only filled the food grain coffers of the nation but they had always remained at the forefront while sacrificing their lives for the sake of the motherland. Various government departments, including fisheries, health and family welfare, horticulture, cooperation, employment, weavco and industries, besides, few banks had put up their exhibitions and stall on the occasion. The DC also presented a cheque for Rs 1.5 lakh to the family of Martyr Surjit Singh who died while fighting for the nation during the Kargil conflict.
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Panel for implementing model on fund use
Chandigarh, September 12 Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Social Security and Welfare Minister, who heads the committee, said the decision of the Punjab Council of Ministers taken in March, 2003, on the implementation of the Maharashtra model should be enforced. Mr Kaypee asked the Chief Secretary why a decision taken by the Council of Ministers more than three years ago was not implemented and why funds had not been placed at the disposal of the Secretary, Welfare. Mr Kaypee said the Chief Minister had desired to review the earlier decision of the Council of Ministers. Therefore, a fresh memorandum had been prepared which would be submitted to the Cabinet within 15 days. A final decision in the matter would be taken thereafter. The matter regarding the release of Special Central Assistance funds was also taken up at the meeting. It was decided that the Chairman, Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes, would be nominated as permanent member of the Standing Tripartite Committee.
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15 councillors demand action against EO
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 12 The councillors in a written complaint to the Chief Minister and the Principal Secretary, Local Bodies, have alleged that the EO habitually misbehaved with public as well as employees. He has now started abusing the councillors. They have demanded action against him and his transfer to avoid any untoward incident. The councillors in a press note issued here today alleged that the EO yesterday decided to auction the municipal land. The councillors said they sat in the auction room just to watch that the EO did not sell the council land at throwaway rates in connivance with some private parties. They alleged earlier too a prime land of the council at Jyoti Swarup More was sold at throwaway rates and the councillors had to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the rejection of sale. The councillors alleged that the EO objected to their presence in the room and started misbehaving with them. They said as they refused to go out since it was an open auction. Apprehending that he would be exposed he cancelled the auction. They demanded that if the EO did not mend his ways they would stage dharnas against him. The EO refuted the allegation saying he did not misbehave with any one. He said he cancelled the auction as the councillors were interrupting the process. He said the council had taken the possession of land from encroachers, but the councillors did not want it to be sold. He alleged that the councillors were annoyed at the eviction of the encroachers from the council land. On the other hand, the council president, Mr Charanjeev Sharma, told The Tribune that the EO had misbehaved with the councillors. The councillors said they had passed a resolution unanimously for the sale of the land and they could not have opposed its auction.
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Move to raise retirement age hailed
Chandigarh, September 12 There is a resentment among the Punjab Government employees over the non-implementation of the recommendation of last pay commission regarding the grant of time bound promotional scales, said the general secretary of the committee. The same had been a part of the election manifesto of the Congress on which it fought the last election and formed the government, he said adding that despite the acceptance of demands by the Chief Minister it had not been implemented.
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Employees hold rally
Patiala, September 12 Leaders of the Joint Employees Action Committee, including Mr Sajjan Singh, Mr Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, Mr Parshotam Lal Blig and Mr Darshan Singh
Lubana, while addressing the demonstrators, claimed that the Congress-led state government was yet to implement its earlier promises. The government was all set to privatise some institutions leading to unrest among employees. Mr Sajjan Singh alleged that genuine demands of the Joint Employees Action Committee had been ignored. Mr D.S. Lubana alleged that the proposal for increasing the retirement age of the government employees from existing 58 years to 60 years had been floated by the ruling Congress under the pressure of the officers’ lobby. Later, the rallyists submitted a memorandum at the New Moti Bagh residence of the Chief Minister.
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Mazdoor union protest near CM’s house
Patiala, September 12 The leaders of the three unions, which included Mr Zora Singh Nasrali, Mr Darshan Singh Nahar and Mr Baldev Singh Rasulpur, claimed that neither the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and nor any of his ministers would be allowed to enter villages if their genuine demands were not accepted by the government till September 14. The leaders said it was due to the sheer will of various mazdoor unions that they managed to break the barricades erected near the Chief Minister’s residence to lodge their protest.
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Rally against graft
Rajpura, September 12 Addressing the rally, Ms Balwinder Kaur Cheema, national vice-president, accused the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) of doing nothing to check the rising prices, and corruption and unemployment. The president of the district unit, Mr Karamjit Singh Shergill, urged the electorate to vote for the third front in the coming Assembly elections so that their problems could be solved.
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Tension over street
Kharar, September 12 Members of both groups were armed with a motive to attack. The police reached the scene soon after some persons indulged in scuffles and rounded up some villagers. According to information available, the village panchayat was getting a street strengthened as part of a development work. This was objected to by some members from a dera in the area as they claimed that the land of the street belonged to the dera and the panchayat had no right to carry out any work in the area. The police has got the ongoing work stopped for the time being.
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PPCB chief gets extension
Chandigarh, September 12 He was appointed Chairman on September 12, 2004, for two years. Mr Bajwa is the MLA (Congress) from Quadian.
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7 detained with fake passports
Amritsar, September 12 Meanwhile, Gurdial Singh of Kotkapura was nabbed by the immigration authorities for possessing a fake passport and visa. He had got a fake passport in the name of one Swarn Singh of Ludhiana. The accused was handed over to the Rajasansi police where a case under relevant sections has been registered.
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Students hold rallies
Sangrur, September 12 Mr Avtar Singh, a student leader, termed the alleged “beating up” of Mintoo by the bus employees as open “goondagardi”. He said this type of “goondagardi” was the outcome of the police’s support to the bus employees. Mr Lakhvir Singh, another student leader, said students would not tolerate if the government or bus owners tried to “snatch” bus pass facility from them. Leaders of the PRSU warned the administration and the government if no action was taken against “erring” bus employees they would intensify their struggle in the state. They demanded stern action against bus employees. Meanwhile, activists and members of the PRSU today also held a rally at the SD College at Barnala against the “beating up” of Mintoo. Later a protest march was also taken out in town up to the police station where a complaint was handed over to the police for registering a case against the “erring” bus employees. The activists of the PRSU today also held a rally near the ITI at Sunam and blocked road at the ITI chowk for some minutes. Talking to this reporter this evening, Mr Sanjiv Mintoo said that he had been “beaten up” by the bus employees the previous day when he was going to Pakho Kenchian, 10 km from Barnala, for a solution to the bitterness between the bus employees and the students. He said though he had been “beaten up” by the bus employees but the police had not initiated any action against the bus employees as the bus owner had influenced the police.
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Punish parents for not sending wards to school: club
Sangrur, September 12 Dr Rakesh Aggarwal, president of the club, while addressing a literacy awareness programme organised at Government Primary School, Balmiki Basti, Sunam, yesterday said such a law was need of the hour to increase the literacy rate, control population and properly implement the Child Labour Act. Mr Suresh Bansal, a social worker, asked the Punjab Government and the NGOs to construct pucca houses for the members of the Spela Jogi community. He also urged the members of Spela Jogi community to send their wards to schools. The club distributed notebooks, slates, pencils and bags, etc. among students of the school. Ms Vinod Kumari, Headmistress, thanked the club for extending help to the poor students.
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Christians flay attack on school
Amritsar, September 12 In a press conference organised here, the president of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Christian Cell, Mr Jaspal Masih, said the BJP and its alliance were mistering support to get the bill of non-conversion passed in the Punjab Assembly. He said they were doubtful that the Punjab Government might pass the Bill in the Assembly. He further said the people had alleged against them that they were converting the masses into Christianity by giving money, which was a wrong statement. He asked the BJP and its alliance to prove their allegations.
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Workshops on fine arts
Patiala, September 12 As many as 70 students from 26 colleges affiliated to Punjabi University are participating. Both workshops will run till September 16. After the inauguration, the college Principal, Mrs G.K Jaggi, welcomed the participants. The workshops are being held to help prepare students participate in various high-level competitions. Mr Jagdeep Singh Garcha of the Department of Fine Arts, Punjabi University, will train students in fine arts while Mr Danny Sharma of the Department of Youth Welfare will provide training in western singing.
— TNS |
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