Jalandhar, October 16
Even though the Union Minister of State for Finance, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, did not indicate the likelihood of any special industrial package for Punjab, he said it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister to take any decision.

Talking to mediapersons after the inauguration of an administrative complex here, he said doles and remissions did not improve the financial position of any state.

“These rather make them dependent on government grants. Punjab already has been assured of various development projects, including the setting up of an institute of science, education and research, development of industrial sector in Goindwal, setting up nanotechnology and biotechnology centres and forming Special Economic Zones (SEZs),” he added.

Over the issue of acquiring land for SEZs, he said: “Ms Sonia Gandhi has issued directions that there should be no compromise on land price. Efforts are being made to acquire barren land, though there is no blanket embargo on getting cultivated land. The emphasis should be laid on giving the right value to the owners, may be with a share in the equity.”

On being asked about special incentives being given to industries in Himachal Pradesh, he said he had gone to Ludhiana where there “is much hue and cry over the issue. I have discussed the matter with the businessmen. No one has shifted his base to Himachal.

They have simply put up an additional unit there. The incentives that the industries there are getting are only short term. Though these have been extended for a few months again, I do not think that these will last long.”

The minister added that he felt that people of Punjab were comparing too much.

“I too belong to Punjab and have a soft corner for the people here. But I cannot get anything exclusively for Punjab. Then people in Rajasthan and New Delhi would also start asking for the same incentives,” he said, adding: “I do not consider the demand of Punjab for special industrial package invalid. It is actually a prerogative of the Prime Minister to take any decision.”

Over the issue of rural indebtness, Mr Bansal said nationalised banks could not write off loans of the farmers. He said a tripartite decision could be taken on the issue with a word from the government. When asked whether he was in favour of getting any agricultural package for the state, he said: “I am for no disincentive for Punjab.”

Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Minister for Animal Husbandry, accompanied Mr Bansal, among others.

Kapurthala, October 16
In an apparent attempt to divert the attention of the public from the much publicised multi-crore Ludhiana City Centre scam, the Kapurthala district Congress has decided to send 200 persons to Gurgaon later this month to show Trident resort owned by SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal to “expose his alleged corruption”.

Addressing first meeting of the newly appointed office-bearers of the district Congress here this evening, its chief, Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, alleged that Mr Badal and his family had amassed a huge wealth by means of corruption and constructed the seven-star resort.

Phagwara, October 16
Several markets in and around the town are virtually sitting on a tinderbox with cracker sellers blatantly violating safety norms. In the absence of timely action against these violators by the administration and the police, the possible occurrence of a disaster may not be a distant reality.

A visit to different parts of the city is enough to reveal that some of the sellers are not only stocking hazardously banned crackers but also obtained permission from the authorities concerned for selling the explosives. The administration and the police are doing little in this regard.

A visit to Subhash Nagar and Central Town revealed that at least two shopkeepers perilously stocked firecrackers, including sparkles and rockets.

Though firecracker sellers are required to keep sand bags and water buckets at the sale site, but nothing of this sort can be seen. The conditions are hardly any better in other parts of the city.

Even though no major incident of fire has been reported in the recent past, the rules also say that there should not be any naked or loose electric wire inside the shop.

Interestingly, the Fire Department is expected to carry out an inspection of the site before the licence is issued to the applicants. There is only one fire engine in the station, which is 17 years old. Another fire engine was handed over to the department four months ago, but its body could not be built due to a paucity of funds with the Nagar Council, said fire officer Lakhwinder Singh. 

Kanshi’s death mourned

Nawanshahr, October 16
The Bahujan Samaj Morcha, a breakaway group of the BSP, led by a former MP, Mr Satnam Kainth,  organised “condolence meetings” at district headquarters to mourn the death of  Kanshi Ram on Sunday. — OC