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New nuclear power plants to come up: Jairam
Cong infighting far from over, Singla joins anti-Capt chorus
Cotton farmers welcome CCI move
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Looking back at 2008
Rail roko and other protests were an inconvenience for people. Tribune file photo: Malkiat Singh
Teacher says no to copycat, thrashed
Official sought undue favour, says college
Rlys New Year gift for Rampura Phul
Fund given to War Memorial
Youth injured as train hits tractor
‘Efforts on to double milk production’
Shaheed Udham Singh remembered
Punsup staff arrested on graft charges
City chosen for food security mission
DEF holds convention
Harsimrat’s four-day city visit begins today
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New nuclear power plants to come up: Jairam
Sriganganagar/Abohar, December 26 France was also going to supply uranium to back atomic power projects in the country, he added. An agreement to this effect has already been inked. While agreeing that heavy transmission losses besides theft was also responsible for the power crisis that the country faced in most of the states, Ramesh said whopping loss was to the tune of 35-40 per cent. The Central government has formulated Rs 50,000 crore plan to check it; Rajasthan would be getting about Rs 3 crore for this purpose. By checking one per cent loss, 1,000 thousand megawatt of power could be saved, he added. Elaborating on expansion plans the union minister said in Rajasthan 87 towns having population up to 30,000 had been selected to update power transmission system. We have fixed target for generating 78,000 megawatt power during the 11th 5-year plan and hope to generate 12-14,000 MW power each year. The minister during inspection of the progress of sixth unit in the Suratgarh plant hoped Rajasthan will become self-dependent soon in power generation as it was much ahead of some other states. He was informed by the chief engineer P.N. Singhal that the 6th unit would start generating 250 MW power by the end of March 2009. This will rise total power generation by the plant to 1500 MW. An expenditure of Rs 1117 crore was involved in the latest unit, Singhal added. The minister switched on commissioning section, FD fan and cooling pump of the 6th unit. The Union minister turned down the demand made by the engineers for free power. They had argued that when the railway employees are entitled to free travel pass why the engineers in the power sector should be deprived of availing free of cost supply of power. The minister quipped why any body should get free power when it costs the nation much. We should develop uniform habit of paying for each thing which we use for our welfare, Ramesh stated categorically. He, however, lauded the efforts being made by the engineers in Rajasthan to bring the power crisis to an end. |
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Cong infighting far from over, Singla joins anti-Capt chorus
Bathinda, December 26 While talking to the media, Singla who engaged in dinner diplomacy with party workers, to demonstrate the strength he has in Bathinda, lashed out at Amarinder. "Amarinder has no right to assess the potential of any candidate as he is supposed to just campaign for the party and that too with the permission of high command. The expelled politicians from the party, whom Amarinder claimed to have taken back, have not yet got the acceptance of the party," he said. "Moreover, to project his son Raninder as a contender for a parliamentary ticket, Amarinder too has started following in the steps of the Badals, who are known for nepotism," alleged Singla. While talking to TNS, Singla claimed that the crowd gathered to attend the so-called campaign tour of Amarinder would look small when he would hold rallies in Sangrur and Bathinda soon. Earlier, Singla hailed Harmander Singh Jassi, MLA from Bathinda, for his mass base. But when asked about his absence while raising the voice against poll violence, he did not answer. When asked about Sukhbir Badal's statement in which he had said that the Congress leadership only claimed that Congressmen had suffered atrocities during the recent polls, but did not provide any list, Singla clarified that he too had not seen any such list. "If Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has claimed, then she is the best person to answer this," he added. About the allegation that the Congress was in a slumber, he said, "We had raised our voice against rigging and violence by SAD (B) and there would be a referendum on it in the coming elections." Replying to a query regarding the name of the expected candidate for the Bathinda parliamentary seat, he said, "There are a number of candidates for the ticket, but it is in the hands of the party high command." About the foundation stone laying spree of Sukhbir Badal, he said, "Just wait and watch, everything will be in front of people."
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Cotton farmers welcome CCI move
Abohar, December 26 The CCI headquarters faxed message last night to its officials stating that the farmers are no more required to produce the copy of jamabandi, sources said. The officials were also asked to intensify purchase today, as the yard would remain closed due to 5-day week system on Saturday and Sunday. Well placed sources said that the Union ministers for agriculture and textiles while responding to the request made by the Punjab MPs through Lok Sabha, Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal have made it clear that the CCI has not so far been able to sell even 10 per cent of the cotton purchased by it from Punjab due to poor demand from the textile mills. Further, they also shared concern over the 2 per cent cess being charged by the state government on cotton in Punjab whereas it was not applicable in other states. This too had sabotaged efforts to sell processed cotton outside Punjab. Sources in the CCI also pointed out that the agency till last evening had purchased 38 lakh quintals out of total arrivals 55 lakh quintals in Punjab and the private ginning factories were utilising their capacity to process the cotton but the CCI now faced storage problem. The managers of the government run godowns lamented that they needed empty godowns to store wheat and paddy. The CCI was making efforts to hire private godowns now to meet the challenge, sources added. Local market committee secretary Harpal Singh informed that as per new system adopted today, the staff issued tokens to the farmers strictly on merit in the presence of the BKU representatives. The CCI representatives and private buyers valued each trolley-load of cotton and fixed price as per its quality in the presence of Pramil Kalani president of the Arhtia Association and BKU activists at the exit point of the cotton yard. The vehicles making a queue accordingly moved out of the yard to get the produce unloaded in the ginning and pressing unit. Former minister and PPCC vice -president Sajjan Kumar Jakhar while welcoming the revision of system urged the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to withdraw 2 per cent VAT cess on cotton to streamline the market. The CM who claimed having given million crore relief to the farming community should not feel reluctant in shedding off another 50 crore, which the government expected to get from the additional but unwarranted cess, he said. |
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Dharnas meant hardship for people
Rajay Deep Tribune News Service
Bathinda, December 26 The agitators included all, partners in the ruling alliance, students, farmers, uprooted residents of "illegal" colonies, teachers, kin of any poll violence victims and radicals, who, in an attempt to build pressure upon the government, brought the life of people in general to a grinding halt. No doubt, the agitators had their constitutional right to protest against the system, but during this, they somewhere forgot the pain and agony of the common man. If one goes through the calendar, there was hardly a month in 2008 which the bus stand or railway tracks were not opted as sites for staging protests. While covering such incidents, media persons came across commuters, who were aggrieved with both the protesters and the administration. It is not only passengers, but the transporters too who suffered due to the dharnas. Sometimes, there were situations when the transporters and protesters had a face-off. Throughout the year, farmers, who attached to various unions, staged many protests in the city. Many a time, they targeted the bus stand and railway tracks. Sometimes, the protests were arranged at a local level but there were times when the protests were state-wide. Residents of Dhobiana Basti, who were uprooted during an anti-demolition drive, staged long protests, blocking the bus stand. At that time, the transporters, frustrated with daily blockades, urged Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) KPS Mahi to free them to get the gate vacated from the protesters, but the officer, bound by duty, did not permit them. Due to all this, people who missed their engagements and were put to great inconvenience. While talking to senior officers of the district, who are duty bound to maintain law and order, it was evident that they were a bit defensive. They gave the excuse of political pressure under which they had been performing their duties. A senior officer lamented, "At present, everybody is against the administration. So, we have been biding the time under apprehension as we can be the target of political ire anytime just to keep the votes safe."
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Teacher says no to copycat, thrashed
Bathinda, December 26 Deepak Sharma, the lecturer, was put on duty as a superintendent at the semester exams of polytechnic students at the college's polytechnical branch. According to sources, Khushkaran, son of Gurtej Singh from Goomtikalan village and a student, was caught copying by Deepak during an exam on December 22. The teacher had caught some slips in Khushkaran's possession. The boy after being caught, threatened the teacher with dire consequences but the teacher did not react and did not allow the student to cheat. The sources added that on December 23, the boys who attacked the teacher, found out Deepak's house and his movements. On December 24 at 7:35 am, Deepak left for his college. He was waiting at NFL Mandir Colony's gate for the bus when four boys approached him. One of them was on a motorcycle and was waiting for the other two who had gone to thrash Deepak while Khushkaran was standing at a close distance. One of them asked Deepak if he was he the one who had caught Khushkaran cheating in the exam. Deepak nodded and the boys then hit him hard on the head, which made him fall down. He was hit on the mouth and then on his knee with a cricket bat after he fell down. The boys then left Deepak thinking he was dead. One Baldev Singh, who was standing there when the incident took place and works with Deepak in the college, helped him after the boys fled from the scene. The sources said that Baldev could not see the boys hitting Deepak because it was foggy in the morning and things were not clearly visible. He was admitted to Dr Gurdev Singh Hospital in the city. Deepak's family members said he had a fracture in the head and his right jaw was broken. One of his eyes was also injured and he had stitches under his nose. SSP Ashish Chaudhary told The Tribune that a case had been registered and efforts were on to nab the boys. |
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Official sought undue favour, says college
Bathinda, December 26 Sources said that the request was turned down by the college staff, following which the official allegedly issued a letter for the filing of returns and furnishing details of academic leave of teachers of that college. According to sources, three people, one woman and two men, had gone to the Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology on December 20. They reportedly met the Controller of Examinations at the college and said their child was not well and he should be allowed some help in the ongoing university exams. The controller, sources said, assured all medical help, if needed, to the child. But they allegedly asked permission for their child to copy because he was not in the best of mental health. The examination controller turned down their request saying this was not allowed and the teachers of the college were always ready for counselling to depressed students. The college subsequently received an official letter from the office of the deputy commissioner of income tax on December 22 which asked them to furnish details of 'names, designation of the persons to whom gross salary paid during the financial year 2007-08 exceeded Rs 5 lakh and details of TDS filed on their behalf. On the other hand, the income tax official concerned, when contacted, told The Tribune, "These allegations levelled by the college are not true. Issuing of such letters is part of our duty. We keep sending such letters. I do admit that my son is a student of this college and remains depressed but I don't have anything to do with the allegations the college staff has levelled."
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To evade interception, truck rams into car
Bathinda, December 26 According to information available, a truck, bearing number RJ07-4069, loaded with iron bars, was coming from the Bhucho side. All of a sudden, some officials of the District Transport Office attempted to intercept it. The truck driver lost control over the vehicle which rammed into a car (PB10H-3000) coming from the opposite direction. The impact of the collision was so powerful that both the vehicles overturned. People ran towards the car to rescue its occupants, Malkit Singh and Sukhdev Singh of Mehma Sarja village, who were severely injured. The injured were reportedly returning after performing a religious ceremony. The car was equipped with an "unauthorised" gas kit, which started leaking. A mechanic stationed nearby rectified the error. The injured were immediately rushed to a private hospital. Confirming the details, SHO Sandeep Singh of the Civil Lines police post said a case could not be registered as both the injured were
not in a condition to give statements. He said the police too had the information that the accident took place as the driver attempted to escape the transport officers. When contacted, SSP Bathinda, Ashish Chaudhary said, "I was passing through the area when I got the information. But I left the place handing the case to the SHO concerned." On his part, DTO Manish Kumar denied the presence of any official of his department at the place of incident. "We have nothing to do with the mishap," he said. |
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Rlys New Year gift for Rampura Phul
Rampura Phul (Bathinda), December 26 Sources in the railways said that with the commencement of the PRS, the commuters residing around the 10 km radius of Rampura Phul would be benefitted. Talking to the railway officials, the MP demanded construction of a foot overbridge at the station and introduction of new trains. Later, a seminar on safety and security was organised where railway officials emphasised upon the need for giving heed to safety symbols at unmanned railway crossing. The speakers also sought cooperation from villagers in this regard. Earlier, DRM H.K. Jaggi reached Bathinda station on Friday morning and inspected yards and reviewed the progress of the underbridge before departing for Rampura Phul.
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Fund given to War Memorial
Fazilka, December 26 He presented the cheque and water purifiers to the War Memorial Committee
(WMC) president Dr Rattan Lal Thakral, Vice president Umesh Chander Kukkar, general secretary Mohan Lal
Paruthi, PRO Amar Chand Bhateja in the presence of MLA Fazilka Surjit Kumar Jyani here today. The DC had made these announcements on Vijay Diwas programme at the monument site on December 16 this year. It is within small span of 10 days that the DC has fulfilled his promise, which he described as a humble contribution. The DC and Jyani handed over a water purifier to Primary School headmistress Manju Thakral and another to high school headmaster Banta Singh. The schools are a part of the memorial complex. The third water purifier should be installed at the monument. While talking to media persons, Jyani said that he too had announced to arrange Rs 15 lakh for further development of the war memorial complex. He said that now it was his turn to fulfill the promise. He would soon arrange the funds from government for this purpose. He said that it is the prime duty of all to honour the war heroes who had laid down their lives defending Fazilka. The DC also disclosed that he had appealed all the employees in Ferozepur district to contribute one-day salary as donation for providing blankets, medicines and essentials to the
flood hit. |
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Youth injured as train hits tractor
Mansa, December 26 According to information made by railway sources, the 9024 Janata Express which was going from Ferozepur to Mumbai hit the tractor-trailer at gate number 213 at 8:25 am. The train was travelling at a low speed when the accident took place. Tractor driver Akbar Singh, son of Raj Singh, a resident of Khokhar Kalan was injured and admitted to the Civil Hospital in Mansa. Due to the accident, the engine of the train failed and a new engine had to be attached immediately for the journey to resume. The tractor-trailer was loaded with bricks and its driver could not see the coming train due to dense fog. After the accident, some trains such as the Sri Ganganagar to Delhi Dainik Express were stopped for two hours, railway sources informed. In-charge of the railway police, Mansa, Jaspal Singh said that the police has registered a case against the tractor driver because police consider it to be a case of negligence on the part of the tractor driver.
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‘Efforts on to double milk production’
Bathinda, December 26 It was stated by Gulzar Singh Ranike, minister for animal husbandry and dairy development, during his visit to village Jhumba today. He was here to inaugurate an ultra modern facility and infrastructure-equipped dairy farm. Informing about the steps taken by the department, he said that the state government had recently launched Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University. He mentioned that in C-pyte at Kaljharani in Bathinda a programme had been launched to improve the breed of Sahiwal buffalos, at Amristar for Murha breed and at Hoshiarpur Beetel goats breed improvement centers had been opened. To promote the trade of animal husbandry, Punjab government had arranged Rs 21 crore under the National Agricultural Development Plan. Ranike said that the government had arranged Rs 162 lakh for the insurance of cattle and to fit microchip to animals. For the Mandikaran of the milk, the department had planned to distribute bulk cooler, where 500 liters of milk could be cold stored. The director of the dairy development department, Inderjeet Singh said that for imparting training to youth three new dairy training centres in Punjab particularly at Abul Khurana, Gill Kalan and Verka had been
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Shaheed Udham Singh remembered
Abohar, December 26 Former SDM, B.L. Sikka was followed by councillors Buta Singh and Baldev Singh Kalsi, former councillor Amrik Singh Thind, Kamboj Sabha president Kewal Krishan Kamboj and Dr Harbhajan Singh Kamboj in the garlanding ceremony. The speakers criticised the municipal council for allowing plenty encroachments around the memorial of the great martyr, just opposite of bus stand. It is an insult to Shaheed Udham Singh, who had in 1940 almost 21 years after the Amritsar Massacre of 1919 in Punjab province of India, shot dead Michael O'Dwyer at Caxton Hall in London. O'Dwyer had been Governor of the Punjab in 1919, when General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer ordered British troops to fire on unarmed Indian protesters. Regretfully sale of fish and liquor was being permitted around the statue by the administration, they rued.
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Punsup staff arrested on graft charges
Ferozepur, December 26 According to senior superintendent of police VB, Ferozepur range, Sukhdev Singh, the accused Amarjit Singh posted at Mamdot had demanded an amount of Rs 10,000 from the complainant, Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Mamdot, in lieu of sanctioning his cheque amounting to Rs 77,000 against purchase of paddy from the him by PUNSUP. SSP said that the inspector had demanded graft at the rate of Rs 2 per bag, however, later it was settled for Rs 5000, which the complainant had paid to the accused when the vigilance sleuths led by DSP Talwinderjit Singh arrested him on the spot. SSP said that the accused was arrested in presence of Kishore Chand, sub-divisional engineer and Varinder Singh, junior assistant, both government witnesses and Surinderpal Singh, a shadow witness. He case has been registered against the inspector at VB police station, Ferozepur.
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City chosen for food security mission
Bathinda, December 26 Informing this, chief agriculture officer P.S. Sidhu said that 7,000 mini-kits of the wheat PNW-502 variety would be distributed free among the farmers. He said 3,700 demonstration plots would be given to the farmers along with seed treatment fungicide free of cost. He said that to control the weeds in the demonstration plots weedicide would also be supplied free to the farmers. He said to provide timely solution to various problems of the farmers, 24 farmers field schools would be set up in the district at pilot villages. Besides, farm equipment would also be given to farmers at 50 per cent subsidised rates. So far, 117 rotavator and 53 zero till drills have been procured, Sidhu added. He said the main objective was to increase production and productivity. — TNS |
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DEF holds convention
Mansa, December 26 He said that the policy of privatisation had been was against the interest of employees. State secretary of the front, Sukhdarshan Singh Natt said that all departments which were given to panchyati institutions should be brought under the direct control of the government. Other leaders, including Jaspal Khokhar, Sikandar Singh Dhaliwal, Jugraj Singh Davinder Singh Punia, Sawaranjeet Singh, Jasbir Kaur Natt and Harwinder Bharadwaj also addressed the convention. The convention also passed an anti-war
resolution.
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Harsimrat’s four-day city visit begins today
Bathinda, December 26 It may be mentioned that Sukhbir Badal has also scheduled to remain in Bathinda district for the same four days, to lay a number of foundation stones and inaugurate various
projects.
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