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Varsity Episode
Cabinet approves new excise policy
Unbundling
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‘Buffer state’ Mann’s main poll agenda
Punjab MPs fail to spend allotted funds
Poll sop for allottees
News Analysis
PTU advances test schedule
Rice exporters seek cut in MSP
‘Preserve cultural identity of Punjabis’
Closure of Japan bank scheme to hit forest staff
One IG, 4 DIGs transferred
2.45 lakh kids to get polio drops in Patiala
Teachers to go on mass leave
Vets up in arms against govt
Congress condemns ex-MP’s induction
Registration of quacks in ayurveda opposed
Bhasaur gets 66-KV grid sub-station
Maintenance of Ram Bagh
PCS Induction
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Varsity Episode
Amritsar, February 24 The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jai Rup Singh, confirmed that he had received the three-page report of security officer SS Chhina. He, however, said he was yet to examine the report. The cassette of a security camera fitted on the back gate of the university is also being examined. The security officer, when contacted, refused to divulge the details of the report. Kohli confessed that he had visited the university in his luxury vehicle but denied indulging in any “immoral act” as mentioned in the report. Earlier, he had denied visiting the university, alleging that it was an attempt by somebody to ruin his political career. In the report, Chhina has alleged that the Mayor entered through the back gate of the university on February 22 in a vehicle (PJP 7). He was allowed to enter the university on showing his identity. However, he parked the vehicle in the parking lot in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office. When nobody alighted from the vehicle, the security personnel deployed at the office got suspicious. A security man called security supervisor, who parked his motorbike blocking the way of the Mayor’s vehicle. When the security personnel approached the driver window, the person (purportedly Kohli) again revealed his identity by handing over his identity card. The Mayor gave Rs 1,000 to security man Rajbir, pleading him not to disclose the instance to anybody as it would ruin his career. The Vice-Chancellor is contemplating sending his report to the Governor-cum-Chancellor for taking necessary action.
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Cabinet approves new excise policy
Chandigarh, February 24 Financial Commissioner, Taxation, SS Brar said the allotment of vends would be made through a draw of lots as it was done in the last year. “It will be done in an open and transparent manner in full public view. The slips shall be picked up by the public and preferably by media personnel and applicants,” he said. VAT on liquor has not been increased and it will remain the same at 12.5 per cent. Presently, there are 4,553 PML vends and 2,144 IMFL vends. The number of vends will remain the same during 2009-10. Brar stated that to regulate the prices of liquor, this year the maximum retail price (MRP) of PML had been fixed and would not be more than Rs 10, Rs 6 and Rs 3 per quart, pint and nip, respectively, from the minimum sale price fixed for that category. Similarly, the MRP of IMFL has been fixed, but it will not more than Rs 30, Rs 20 and Rs 10 in the case of quart, pint and nip, respectively, from the minimum price fixed for that category. In addition, the MRP of beer at L-14A and L-2 vends has been fixed at Rs 55 per bottle of 650 ml of light beer and Rs 62 per bottle of 650 ml of strong beer. In a significant departure from the previous years, Brar stated that in order to promote greater participation by small licensees, this year, the earnest money, along with the application fee, had been drastically reduced from 5 per cent of license fee to Rs 1 lakh for the corporation areas and Rs 50,000 for other areas. The Cabinet also approved to transfer half acre of land to the Punjab Olympic Association for the construction of Olympic Bhawan on lease basis out of the land available at Sports Complex, Mohali. In another decision the Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval of discretionary grant of Rs 2.50 crore in the favour of Deputy Chief Minister for the year 2008-09.
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Unbundling
Chandigarh, February 24 According to sources, the ministry today faxed a letter to the state government extending the deadline. However, the letter clearly states that this is the last extension being given to the government. The state government passed a notification extending the deadline today itself. The sources said Punjab adopted a two-pronged approach to get the extension of the deadline. State government representatives at a meeting with the Union Power Secretary claimed that they would be forced to issue a unilateral extension for unbundling of the PSEB in case the ministry refused to budge on the issue. Punjab maintained that though the extension was to be granted in agreement with the Centre, in case the Centre did not do so it could extend the deadline unilaterally after recording the dissent of the ministry. Earlier, the state government had asked the Legal Remembrancer for suggestions whether this could be done in order to comply with the regulations of the new Electricity Act, 2003. Simultaneously, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also spoke to Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and requested him to allow more time. The ministry apparently gave up due to the clear-cut stand of the government that it, as an operational entity, was unable to go forward with the unbundling exercise before May 31, 2009. The sources claim that this might be the last extension as the government is principally committed to dismantling the PSEB after the parliamentary elections. “We are overseeing the demise of an institution which has to borrow money every month to pay the salaries of its employees,” remarked a senior official, adding that there was no alternative to unbundling of the board. The PSEB has been saddled with loans worth Rs 12,000 crore besides cash losses amounting to Rs 7,000 crore.
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‘Buffer state’ Mann’s main poll agenda
Chandigarh, February 24 Revealing this in Chandigarh today, Mann said, “Call it whatever you want, ‘Khalistan’ or something else, but we are seeking an area that will meet regional aspirations and every life will be safe and free to practise tenets of Sikhism or any other religion. The area we envisage will be very secular and will elect its leaders from among Sikhs, Muslims or even Christians. Our objective is to fight repression by the Hindu state”. Announcing four party candidates, namely he himself from Sangrur, Kulwant Singh Sandhu from Fatehgarh Sahib, Dhian Singh Mand from Ferozepur and Bunty (Benson) Massey from Chandigarh, he said the remaining names would be announced at a public rally at Sangrur on March 7. “We will participate in the electoral process to get empowered to meet our objective of a secular buffer state that will touch China on the one side and the oceans on the other”. He refused to draw any boundary, but added, “It could include Lahore (Pakistan) as well”. Mann said he and his party leadership was under tremendous pressure from the Sikh panth to field candidates with a “panthic agenda”. “People are sick of the Congress and the BJP and its corruption, even Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is now talking of greater rights for states and the revival of Anandpur Sahib resolution. But people don’t consider the SAD as their true representative”. Criticising BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani, Mann said, “He has announced if that if the BJP is voted to power, it will adopt a foreign policy with muscles. The BJP leader should know that it is the defence policy that should have muscles, while the foreign policy should be a well-thought exercising the use of intelligence”. He asked BJP and Congress leaders like P Chidambram from issuing anti-Pakistan statements from Punjab as in case of a conflict with Pakistan, it is people of Punjab who would bear the brunt. “We don’t want war with Pakistan as it will make us the worst sufferers”. He added that a buffer state between India and Pakistan would be very advantageous to both countries that had been constantly hostile towards each other since 1947. The SAD (A) would highlight this proposition as its main election poll in the forthcoming parliamentary polls, Mann said.
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Punjab MPs fail to spend allotted funds
Chandigarh, February 24 Similar is the case of Rajya Sabha MP Dharampal Sabharwal who is still to spend Rs 4 crore due to him as part of the Rs 2 crore per year MPLAD funds given to all MPs. Sources said with the model code of conduct likely to be enforced soon, the unspent MPLAD funds of both MPs were likely to lapse. This may also be true for six more MPs from the state - Navjot Sidhu, Vinod Khanna, Charanjit Singh Atwal, Rana Gurjit Singh, Rajmohinder Singh and Naresh Kumar Gujral, all of whom have an unspent balance of Rs 1 crore each. Some of them may be able to spend part of this money, depending on when the model code of conduct is enforced, State Planning department sources disclosed. According to the sources, following a status report prepared by the planning department, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh to expedite the process for spending the money sanctioned by the MPs for various projects. The sources said while Rs 28 crore were lying unspent as on January 9, this figure had now come down to Rs 15 crore only. Those whose position had improved after regular monitoring included Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was earlier saddled with an unspent balance of Rs 2.10 crore. But now this entire money had been distributed to earmarked beneficiaries, the sources added. Also improving dramatically is Naresh Gujral who now has an unspent balance of Rs 1 crore despite the fact that only Rs 4 crore out of his discretionary funds had been released till two months back. Similar is the case of both Charanjit Atwal and Rana Gurjit, who now have an unspent balance of only Rs 1 crore whereas two months back it was Rs 3 crore each. Both Ashwani Kumar and Dharampal Sabharwal have not been able to improve their position much after the last stocktaking. In both their cases only Rs 5 crore had been released till a few months back. Those who have spent their entire funds include Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Zora Singh Mann, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Preneet Kaur, Avinash Rai Khanna, Sukhdev Singh Libra, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Rattan Singh Ajnala, Union Ministers MS Gill, Ambika Soni and Varinder Singh Bajwa.
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Poll sop for allottees
Mohali, February 24 The decision affects thousands of property owners across the state. While the allottees have been demanding registration of the conveyance deed at the allotment rates, the revenue department has been demanding current collector rates to register the deeds. Sukhbir, who was here to attend a public rally, said he had personally taken up the problem being faced by allotees and the Chief Minister was very quick to issue instructions to withdraw the letter. He said he would raise the issue in the Cabinet meeting and the concerned department would be asked to suitably amend rules to provide long-awaited relief to lakhs of allotees. Earlier, Punjab Cooperation Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh had raised the issue at a public rally here. From the way the minister touched the issue at the rally, an impression was given that he would be able to extract a favourable reply from junior Badal. But to find a permanent solution, an amendment in the Act needs to be made and it would be taken up in the Cabinet. Sources said though GMADA would not insist on conveyance deed at higher rates, the revenue department had to be told to not insist on the increased rates. Later talking to mediapersons, Sukhbir, on being asked about the delay in announcing the candidate from Bathinda, said the decision would be taken soon. “The candidate has to be from within the family. We will look for the best candidate,” he said.
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News Analysis
Chandigarh, February 24 The Congress tried hard to prevail upon Galib to remain with the Congress, but failed. But the efforts of Congress leaders like Rajinder Kaur Bhattal have successfully isolated Galib from his supporters, including some councillors. They have neither approved the switching of loyalties by Galib, nor offered to cross over to the SAD themselves. This is bound to frustrate the effort of the SAD to win the Ludhiana seat. As the news of Galib quitting the Congress to join the SAD spread, the Akali Dal revealed both a mixed feeling of resentment and sorrow versus jubilations. Jubilations not over prospects of the SAD’s victory, but at the success of some SAD-BJP leaders who plotted the ouster of some relatively deserving candidates by the induction of Galib. According to Akali circles, the entire politics behind the development is the factionalism within the Akali Dal in Ludhiana. Groups led by sitting MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Harish Rai Dhanda and SGPC president Avtar Singh, which are predominantly urban, did not want anyone with an urban base or following to fill the slot. Behind the scene, a religious leader from Nanaksar Gurdwara played an important role of a mediator for the SAD and Galib. The religious leader had his axe to grind because of factionalism within the gurdwara management. Seeing through the politics, many supporters of Galib have preferred to part ways with him. The induction of Galib into the SAD has given the Congress a whip to crack on the SAD. Qila Raipur legislator Jassi Khangura has termed the failure of the Akalis to find a candidate from within the party ranks as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s deliberate attempts to suppress leadership potential in the past lest “someone threatens the family rule”.
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PTU advances test schedule
Jalandhar, February 24 Though a notification regarding the CET has not yet been issued by the state government, the university has already advertised its schedule. Vice-Chancellor Rajneesh Arora said the off-campus and online counselling being organised by the university for the first time would begin in the first week of June. The management quota seats would have to be filled before July-end so that all admissions closed well before the session began in first week of August, he added. The officials seem to have advanced the test schedule in view of problems they faced on account of much delayed schedule of the current session. While classes had begun in the first week of August, the process of admission continued right till mid-November, forcing the authorities to postpone their first semester examination schedule by a fortnight. National Information Centre’s local head Amolak Singh Kalsi said the proposal for conducting an online counselling had been sent to the headquarters in New Delhi. “We are yet to receive the final nod,” he said. “Ours will be the first state university to hold the examination after CBSE’s AIEEE, which is being conducted on April 26. All state universities will have to see that their examination does not clash with ours and accordingly decide the schedule of
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Rice exporters seek cut in MSP
Amritsar, February 24 The Punjab Rice Millers Exports Association in a representation to the Central government and to the chairman of the Agricultural Processed Foods Export Development Authority has pointed out that the basmati rice exports are going through a difficult phase due to the restrictions on MSP on $1,100. The association has strongly urged the government to reduce the MSP to $800-$900 to facilitate exports, which have been hampered due to higher MSP announced by the government last month. Senior functionary of the association KRS Sobti, giving statistics from the agrinet satellite data for the last year’s paddy crop, had stated that the area under PUSA 1121 evolved basmati had almost doubled than the previous year. Similarly, the acreage under super basmati and additional basmati rice also went up by 55 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. He said this had resulted in huge stocks lying unsold with rice millers and farmers.
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‘Preserve cultural identity of Punjabis’
Chandigarh, February 24 In her inaugural address, the minister called for strong efforts to preserve unique cultural identity of Punjabis in the face of growing globalisation and westernisation. Stressing on the relationship between language and culture, she said Punjabi must get its due place in the state as the language of administration, culture, economic and political communication. The minister, in response to Vice-Chancellor’s request, announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for Guru Tegh Bahadur Bhawan on the varsity campus. Meanwhile, Prof Satinder Singh, former pro Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in his keynote address, stressed the need for development of scientific and technological material in Punjabi language. “Punjabi must remain the language of the people but it should also be able to face challenges of trans-nationalism, post-modernism and newer concepts of democracy and empowerment,” he said. The function also witnessed an announcement of donation of Rs 1.25 lakh for Guru Tegh Bahadur Bhawan by Veena Verma, eminent Punjabi writer. She also handed over her book “Yogian Di Dhi” to Upinderjit
Kaur.
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Closure of Japan bank scheme to hit forest staff
Hoshiarpur, February 24 A majority of the foresters, who were promoted to senior positions, may face demotion as the scheme comes to a close on February 28. The closure of the scheme will affect 216 employees of the department while 73 employees appointed on contractual basis will lose job after putting in 12 years of service. To lodge their protest against the government, over 700 employees of the department, under the banner of the Punjab Forest Services Co-ordination Committee, today organised a state-level rally in the hometown of Forest Minister Tikshan Sood. Holding black flags, the protesters from all district of the state assembled on the old court complex and criticised Secretary (Forest) RC Nayyar for raising objections to the allocations made by the Finance Department in the 11th Plan approved by the state Vidhan Sabha. They marched to the residence of Sood and handed over a memorandum to Karnail Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Hoshiarpur. Under the scheme, launched by the Punjab government with a financial assistance of Rs 408 crore from the Japan bank in 1997, the state government has made an agreement to bear the expenditures, including the salaries of the employees and administrative expenses. Talking to The Tribune, Karamjit Singh, president of the committee, said as per the central guidelines, the state Planning Department had proposed that all posts existing (in last five years) in the Plan be transferred to non-Plan side. Following which the Vidhan Sabha approved the Plan document and the Finance Department released salaries to the department under the non-Plan side. Meanwhile, the committee decided to abstain from work from March till their demands were considered. Sood had left for Chandigarh early in the morning. The minister paid a visit to Chhat Bir Zoo, but only to find that all its employees had gone on a strike.
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One IG, 4 DIGs transferred
Chandigarh, February 24 IG, Security and Community Policing, CSR Reddy has been transferred as IG, Provisioning and Modernisation and Litigation, against a vacant post relieving Prabodh Kumar of this charge. DIG, Police Training CPO, Punjab, Shashi Prabha Dwivedi has been transferred as DIG, Investigation (Crime), and in addition DIG, Sangat Darshan, vice RPS Brar, has been posted as DIG, Litigation. Paramjit Singh Gill, who was DIG, Litigation, has been posted as DIG, PAP-11, and Training vice Paramjit Singh Grewal who becomes DIG, Administration, IRB, Punjab, in the rank and pay of SP.
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2.45 lakh kids to get polio drops in Patiala
Patiala, February 24 The mega pulse polio campaign will have 972 camps, 33 mobile teams and 33 other teams comprising 4,000 workers who would administer polio drops to kids aged upto five years in slums, brick kilns, bus stands, community inns, railway stations, temples, gurdwaras and other common places. Members of these teams would also go door-to-door to ensure 100 per cent implementation of the scheme. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner Darshan Singh, no stone was being left unturned in making the campaign a complete success. “I have also directed the District Education Officer to go to schools and create awareness among school going children about the campaign and its benefits. NGOs and other social organisations have also been roped in the campaign and similarly, the BDPOs have been asked to inform villagers about the campaign and its motive,” said
Darshan Singh.
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Teachers to go on mass leave
Chandigarh, February 24 Punjab Aided School Teachers union would be gheraoing the Assembly building here on February 27 after proceeding on mass casual leave. These teachers are demanding restoration of their pensionary benefits which were stopped by the previous government in 2003. Union president Gurcharan Singh Chahal said the Chief Minister had held two meetings with the union on December 17, 2008 and February 3, 2009, and each time he had expressed his willingness to accept the demand. Another meeting was to be held today but could not be held as the Chief Minister conveyed to the union that due to financial constraints, the demand could not be met. Meanwhile, Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (PFUCTO) has convened an emergency meeting of its executive tomorrow to take stock of the situation emerging out of the failure of the government to adopt the MHRD notification on revised pay scales. The matter was to be part of the agenda of the Cabinet today. The government had met the college teacher representatives and the Chief Minister on February 13 and asked the officials to bring it on the agenda of the Cabinet. First meeting of the Cabinet after that was held on February 20. However, the pay scales item was not on the agenda. Reportedly, the Chief Minister wanted the item to be on the agenda of Cabinet meeting scheduled for February 24. However, the same has not happened. Dr Jagwant Singh, general secretary, PFUCTO, convened the meeting of its executive to take a decision about the strike.
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Vets up in arms against govt
Chandigarh, February 24 At the Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association’s executive committee meeting, chaired by Dr Ashok Kumar Sharma, president, here today, members were angry at the government’s attitude. They will also not participate in awareness camps of the department or any other department or organisation. Dr Sharma said more than 15 posts of deputy director and 65 posts of senior veterinary officer and assistant director had been vacant since long. The meeting decided to hold dharna by the cadre on March 15 at Bathinda. The executive committee expressed solidarity with rural veterinary officers working on contract with Zila Parishads. Dr Sukhdev Singh, general secretary, urged the government to bring them on rolls of the Animal Husbandry Department to implement government schemes at grass-root level.
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Congress condemns ex-MP’s induction
Chandigarh, February 24 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has consistently failed over several decades to develop and promote individuals with a good parliamentary potential, he said. Khangura said Badal had deliberately done so to confine capable persons to Punjab lest they developed a reputation in Delhi that could in due course threaten the stranglehold of the Badal family over the Akali party. As a result, the Akali parliamentarians have tended to be mute spectators in both Houses, neither tabling quality questions nor making any significant contribution to debates nor raising the issues most important to the people of Punjab.
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Registration of quacks in ayurveda opposed
Sangrur, February 24 Dr Kamal Bharti, state president of NIMA, said today that the registration of quacks in ayurveda would certainly shatter the image of ayurveda, the state government and Health Department in the country. —
TNS
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Bhasaur gets 66-KV grid sub-station
Sangrur, February 24 Inaugurating the substation, he said the Punjab government had spent about Rs 300 crore till now on the setting up of grid substations in the state. He said under the OYT scheme, farmers, who had received demand notices during 2007-08, should deposit the requisite fee with the PSEB to get their
works completed. SC Sabharwal, member, Transmission, PSEB, said 18 new grid substations had been set up during 2007-08.
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Maintenance of Ram Bagh
Chandigarh, February 24 Ram Bagh or “Company Bagh”, as it is commonly known, is spread over 700 kanals in Amritsar and has been declared a protected monument both under the State Government Act and the Central Government Act. As the matter on its upkeep and other related issues came up for hearing, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta asserted that the question whether the state government or the municipal corporation owns the property is of considerable significance. The issue of ownership was all the more significant, especially when it came to giving directions on the garden’s upkeep, eviction or transfer of property, in view of the fact it had been declared a protected monument. Issuing the directions in an open court, the Bench asserted it was high time the government and the municipal corporation sorted out the issue regarding the ownership of the property. It was essential as both the state government and the corporation have mutual rights and interests in the property. Ironing out of the differences was also required to present consistent version for determination of the issues before the Bench. Before parting with the orders, the Bench asserted it expected the state government to examine the matter and to file an affidavit on ownership. The affidavit should be sworn by the secretary, Punjab department of local government. The matter now stands adjourned to March 17. The issue was initially brought to the notice of the high court by a social organisation Amritsar Vikas Manch. In the petition filed through counsel SS Behl, the manch had sought directions to the Union of India and other respondents to preserve Ram Bagh as a historical monument. Directions were also sought against the use of the historical monuments by “unscrupulous elements”. Behl had contended it was a “priceless treasury of historical value” and of national importance.
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PCS Induction
Chandigarh, February 24 The direction follow a public interest litigation for restraining the state from going ahead with the nominations made amid allegations of favourtism and nepotism and violation of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution. Petitioner Rahul Sharma of Mohali had also mentioned the names of candidates close to the present government. Counsel for the petitioner Gurminder Singh had argued the appointment to public posts as senior and as important as the PCS (executive branch), by way nomination without following the criteria of seniority or merit, was also giving rise to nepotism. Inspecting industrial unit
Trainee judicial officers have now been entrusted with the task of inspecting an industrial unit at Dera Bassi for finding out whether it was giving rise to “foul smell”. As the matter came up before Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta, counsel for the unit said the plant has been inspected by a team deputed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It permitted the plant to operate with a view to complete the process of inspection. The inspection report was, however, not forwarded by the CPCB. The petitioner, Village Welfare Environment Bachao Committee, on the other hand, contended people in the vicinity were feeling uncomfortable because of the plant’s functioning, as it was emanating stench. After hearing the rival contentions, the Bench directed the appointment of trainee judicial officers Rahul Bishnoi and Monika Chohan as local commissioner. They have been asked to visit the spot and submit a report whether the plant was causing obnoxious feeling in the neighbourhood. The Bench also asked the Punjab Pollution Control Board to show the local commissioners around. The matter has now been fixed for March 3.
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