Bathinda, November 21
Noted economist and advisor to Punjab Government, Dr Ishear Judge Ahluwalia today visited Bathinda to feel the pulse of industry. As per industry experts, Dr Ahluwalia’s visit that comes prior to the launching of Guru Gobind Singh Refinery Ltd (GGSRL) here has created speculations among industrialists.

At the meeting, kept away from the media glare, representatives from trade unions and chambers of commerce participated and narrated their problems to her. Those present included representatives from industries like brick kilns, cotton, electronics, chemicals and others.

Dr Ahluwalia was accompanied by Dr Somitra Chowdhry, member, Prime Minister’s Advisory Council.

Industry representatives discussed problems like the loss making industry in rural areas, heavy taxes among other things.

Dr Ahluwalia said there was a need for development of infrastructure in the state. She also urged upon all representatives from the industry to keep the meeting as informal as possible because she wanted to know about their problems on a first-hand basis.

L. N. Mittal owned Luxembourg-based Mittal Investments has picked up a 49 per cent stake in GGSRL with an investment of around Rs 3,300 crore. This is the first foreign direct investment in the refinery sector. It will be a joint venture between Hindustan Petro Chemicals Ltd and Mittal Investments.

GGSRL, which, for the first time was inaugurated in 1998 by the then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, holds immense potential as a key driver of economic growth and employment generation in the state and its likely date of commissioning is slated for December 2010. With a total investment estimated at Rs 18,000 crore, the refinery is expected to usher in an era of overall development and prosperity in the area.

The project was initiated when the Congress was in power in Punjab and the then chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh had announced that by 2009 — when the Lok Sabha elections are due, the refinery would be ready.

Bathinda, November 21
A drug inspection team lead by a Naib Tehsildar sealed a medical store situated outside the old police station, here this evening.

Giving details, assistant civil Surgeon-cum-additional drug inspector, I. B. Aggarwal said, ‘We received information that the owner of Shree Ram Medical Store was selling prohibited drugs. The shop had earlier also raided several times. This time, we got the order of higher officials to inspect the store but the shop owner probably received a tip-off and ran away. We have sealed the shop and the inspection will be conducted when the owner is found.”

It may be mentioned that during a meeting on Tuesday at the office-cum-residence of the DIG, Faridkot range, a person had leveled the allegation that policemen were shielding the shop owner in question.

Taking a serious note of it, the DIG had immediately called up the Punjab health minister on phone and apprised her of it. Today’s action is believed to be a reaction of that incident.

Bathinda, November 21
There is a good news for commuters who want a train between Bathinda and Dhuri.

The Northern Railway (NR) is going to introduce a train between these two stations from Thursday.

The Bathinda-Dhuri Express (train number 4525) will depart from here at 10.20 am and reach Dhuri at 12.10 pm. While the train number 4528 will leave Dhuri at 01.15 pm and reach Bathinda at 03.20 pm.

According to railway sources, considering the huge demand of the people in Bathinda and its adjoining areas, the General Manager (GM), Northern Railway, Shree Prakash, had given the green signal to the proposal concerning running a train between Bathinda-Dhuri. Sources added that the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ambala, H. K. Jaggi had sent a proposal in this regard to the GM.

Sources said that the train is being run on an experimental basis for a certain period. The General Manager, Northern Railway had given permission to run the train up to December 31 this year, sources said, adding that the date for running the train might be extended considering its viability, including economic. 

Bathinda, November 21
A 35-year-old mentally challenged man, who was allegedly detained in his house at village Tyona Pujaria in the district, for the past five years, was released today.

Sources said his family members had not only confined him to his house but also tied his feet. He was not allowed to move outside the room. Adding insult to the injury, he was supposed to eat in that very room.

After receiving information about his condition, deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari ordered SDM Talwandi Sabo Anil Garg to investigate the matter and get him released.

Acting upon the directions issued, Garg sent a team including Naib Tehsildar Kuldeep Singh, Kanungo Ujagar Singh, SMO Talwandi Sabo and some policemen to the spot. After the medical examination, the patient was admitted to the civil hospital in Bathinda.

Gurbachan Singh, brother of the mentally challenged person, said their father passed away 10 years back. Meanwhile, his cousin Gurtej Singh said both the brothers are unmarried. Their father was also mentally depressed and the family owns a nine acre plot of land.

About five years back, he had a quarrel with someone in the village and since then, suffered from some kind of phobia. Due to his mental condition and quarrelsome attitude, he had been detained in a room.

After the medical examination, when the staff of the hospital was taking him to the ward, he started abusing onlookers.

DC Rahul Tewari said that the SDM Talwandi Sabo had been ordered to keep a watch while the Red Cross would bear the cost of treatment.

Deon (Bathinda), November 21
The 30 teachers and non-teaching staff members of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) have not received their salary for the past three months.

The 20 teachers and 10 non-teaching officials in the institute, that was opened in 1994, have been crying for salary, which they never get regularly. Senior teachers pointed out that the salary for the months of May, June and July was also paid to them after a wait of three months.

The sprawling area under the occupation of the institute on the Muktasar road has been encroached on all sides by unscrupulous elements as the senior officers of the education department were not bothered about all this. No steps have been taken to build a compound wall to protect the public property.

Interestingly, a junior level functionary has been allowed to reside in the house that was built for the principal within the complex. The girl’s hostel and teachers’ flats built about ten years ago were lying unoccupied and as such the windows and doors of some buildings have got damaged beyond repair.

The National Council of Teachers Education (NCTE) recently allowed the Punjab government to increase the seats in the DIET to 100 from the existing strength of 50.

The teachers pointed out acute scarcity of drinking water in the complex as the tube well of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHE) was out of order for the past many days.

Bathinda, November 21
A colourful cultural programme studded with songs, drama and dances marked the opening of the two day annual function of St. Joseph’s School here this evening.

The junior school students enthralled the audience with their dazzling performances as the students themselves managed the entire show.

The function started with the customary prayer dance and welcome note. This was followed by a soul-stirring performance by tiny-tots of Upper KG that kept the people spellbound.

Twelve dancing princesses, an English ballet, depicting how the idle princesses rose to face the challenge when their kingdom was in trouble, was mesmerising while foot tapping by kids of class II was also thrilling.

A vivacious dance set to the tune of the famous film song ‘dhole bajne laga, gaon sajna laga’, offered a glimpse of the cultural heritage while a brief account of the activities of the school was presented in a visual mode.

The Hindi play ‘Aiana Mere Desh Ka’ (mirror of the country), harping on the theme of communal harmony and national integrity, was captivating while bhangra, the popular folk dance of Punjab, by students made the audience bop with beats of drum.

The parade across the school and the glittering lighting arrangements varying with every item was another highlight, as the Baptist Education Society completed its 60 years. Deputy commissioner Rahul Tiwari, chief guest, exhorted the students not to join the rat race and inculcate basic human qualities like honesty, truth, kindness and compassion to become responsible citizens of tomorrow.

The students also gave a brief account of achievements of the school and informed that they have excelled in academics, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities even at the national level and the results of the school had been 100 per cent during the past 25 years.

The school also conducts Punjabi classes for children from poor families and provides free uniforms and books to kids apart from other vocational and social programmes for the common people.

The principal of the school, Sister Ophelia thanked the parents and guest for being a part of the annual day celebrations.

Mansa, November 21
Education in the Mansa district has always been talked about as the district has the lowest literacy rate in the state. Now, the Mansa education department has chalked out a comprehensive programme for the upliftment of school education in the district. After starting this, Mansa has become the first district in the state to do so.

Under this programme, 11 committees have been formulated, who will conduct surveys in the schools, and give its report in the first week of December.

To judge performance of the schools in the district, every school will be awarded 100 points each and these points will be awarded according to the school’s performance in academic and extra curricular activities.

Mansa has the lowest literacy rate of 52 per cent in Punjab, with Punjab’s literacy rate being 69 per cent. The future of students here is also not shining with 55 per cent of students dropping out at the middle level and 72 per cent at the Matric level.

Harbans Singh Sandhu, district education officer (secondary), Mansa said, ``Under the new plan, all 175-odd, middle, high and secondary schools in the district will be awarded 100 points each. These 100 points have been distributed into two categories- academic category comprising 60 points and extra curricular activities comprising 40 points.’’

``Under the academic category, which comprises of 60 points, any school with annual pass percentage less than 10 percent will not be awarded any point, between 10 to 40 per cent will be awarded 10 points, between 40 to 70 percent will be awarded 20 points and above 70 per cent will be awarded 30 points.

Then a school having less than 25 per cent first divisions will not be given any point, 25 per cent first divisions will get 10 points, 50 per cent first divisions will get 20 points, more than 50 per cent first divisions will get 30 points,’’ Sandhu informed.

Extra curricular activities have 40 points. ``Under it, 10 different categories comprising 4 points each consisting of activities related to sports, science, cultural, cleanliness of schools, discipline, morning assembly, students dress, educational tours, school magazine, scouting, NSS, NCC, red cross and many others have been made. These points will be awarded as per schools performance in the above-mentioned activities,’’ the DEO informed.

Bathinda, November 21
Against the alleged unbundling of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), a one day strike was observed by Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant Employees Federation, Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Federation and Bharatiya Kisan Union at the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant here today.

Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Federation, secretary, Mahinder Singh Rana said that purpose of the strike was the abolition of the Electricity Act of 2003, as promised by the government. ``The government should also make sure that the PSEB won’t be restructured into a company, when its term expires on December 9, 2007.’’

Baldev Singh Sandoha of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) Sidhupur group said that the Punjab government is benefiting private companies by its policies.

Representatives of BKU (Ekta) Sidhupur and BKU Krantikari also gave a memorandum in this regard to the deputy commissioner, Bathinda.

Fazilka: Members of the Technical Services Union, Fazilka, led by divisional secretary Varinder Singh staged a rally in front of the PSEB office here for the same purpose. The agitators alleged that the government was hell bent on dismantling the board and converting it into a corporation. The agitators included employees of PSEB offices at Ladhuka, Khui Khera and Fazilka city.  

Abohar: Employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) did not switch off the streetlights in most residential areas here this morning due to the day-long strike observed by them. This led to the wastage of power besides burdening the local municipal council, which bears the metered cost.

The various factions of the employees union responded positively to a call given by the Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta-Ugrahan for putting up a uniting stand over the issue.

Mansa: The employees associations of the electrictiy board staged a dharna outside PSEB office against the proposed unbundling of PSEB here today. Workers of the BKU Ekta (Ugrahan) also accompanied them.  They said by privatisation, agriculture and small business would be affected and electricity would be available at a high cost. 

In those states, where electricity boards had been privatised, the supply of electricity was very poor, they further added.  They also asked the people to assemble against the privatisation of the board.

Moga, November 21
Following directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, independent councillor Inderjit Singh and Bhushan Garg, husband of councilor Kamlesh Garg, registered their statements in the court of CJM here today.

They filed an appeal in the High Court for submitting their statements against Tota Singh, former education Minister and his son Baljinder Singh alias Makhan. They alleged that they had been threatened to be framed in the sexual harassment case, if they did not comply with their diktats.     

In the presence of tight security, they registered their statements in which they reportedly alleged that the duo, father and son, threatened them of dire consequences if they did not snap their ties with the Congress and joined the Akali party. 

Bathinda, November 21
The district police registered four cases under the NDPS Act on Tuesday. Giving details of the case registered, the police officials said two cases were registered under the Rampura police station, whereas Kotwali police and Nahian Wala police registered one case each.

Kotwali police arrested Uma Shankar of Model Town for possessing two grams of smack during a checking at Sant Pura road, Bathinda.

Ferozepur, November 21
To provide self-employment to women in rural areas and improve their financial condition, the state government has decided to appoint women as small savings agents in all villages of the district.

Giving this information, Deputy Commissioner Bhagwant Singh told media persons that a special meeting would be convened to enroll women from the rural areas as small savings agents.

He said that these agents would be entitled to 4 per cent commission, which would be given by the central government. The state government would also offer lucrative incentives from time to time in addition to that.

District Small Savings Officer (DSSO)Baldev Singh Bhullar said that the minimum qualification for women to become an agent was matriculation. He said that as of now, around 750 small savings agents were already working in the district and the total gross collection during the previous financial year was Rs 586 crore. He exhorted people to invest their money in small saving schemes initiated by the state government.

Ferozepur, November 21
Pakistani theatre group “Tehrik-e-Niswan” would stage drama titled “Jinhe Lahore Nahin Waikhya” here on November 25. Veteran columnist Satpal Baghi told that the play would be directed and choreographed by Sheema Kirmani who is an active member of Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Development and has been in forefront of the women’s movement in Pakistan.

Baghi said the play is based on the story of a Hindu woman who refused to migrate from Lahore at partition and remained in her haveli at Lahore. The team would comprise 15 members. —OC

Abohar, November 21
A team of vigilance officials comprising, Rajinder Singh, Neeraj Bhatti and Rakesh Singla and others, raided the office of Congress-led municipal council here on Wednesday afternoon and took some records into custody.

Well-placed sources told The Tribune in the evening that a former municipal president, Babu Ram, in his complaint, had alleged that Rs 25 lakh had been misappropriated in lieu of filling up earth for the construction of a new road opposite the official residence of the Deputy Superintendent of Police that linked Maharaja Aggarsein Road with the state highway outside Sunder Nagri. Vigilance investigation till this evening is believed to have indicated that bills worth Rs 10 lakh had been raised on this account.

Another complainant, BJP councillor Suvarsha Narang, had questioned the propriety of expenses on the expansion of renovation of Nehru Park after the demolition of the abandoned military hospital. According to the complaint, the Commission Agents Association had claimed having incurred a whopping expenditure of Rs 25 lakh on the expansion and renovation of the project. Narang and another complainant Ram Kishan Mittal, reportedly suspected that a Congress councillor had disposed of records relating to the material recovered by way of demolition.

The losses to the council in this scam run into lakhs. It was also alleged that Rs 36 lakh, given to the council by then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for developing a stadium in the Azeemgarh locality, too had been wrongfully utilised. The investigation will conclude tomorrow, sources added.

Barnala, November 21
The vigilance of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of Mehalkalan stopped encroachment at a village pond in Raisar village, about 15 km from here. Soon after getting the information, he rushed to the spot and stopped the filling of pond with sand.

One Jeeta Singh and his companions were trying to fill the village pond in order to bring up dwellings for personal use.

BDPO Gurnek Singh said he had brought the matter to the notice of the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO), Barnala, for necessary action. He sent a written complaint to Parvin Kumar, DDPO, Barnala, regarding the conduct of village sarpanch Jamna Devi, who neither tried to check the encroachment on the village pond nor reported the matter. 

Ferozepur, November 21
The chief parliamentary secretary, Sukhpal Singh Nannu (Revenue), while speaking to media persons here, informed that the Punjab government would spend Rs 10 crore on development works in Ferozepur city assembly constituency during the current fiscal year.

Nannu was here to lay the foundation stone of cement concrete flooring work on streets in Basti Bhatianwali, which would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh.

Nannu said that the state government has sanctioned Rs 76 lakh for cement concrete flooring of various streets in the city assembly constituency. He said that the sewerage system would be improved in all wards.