Amritsar, June 27
More than 5,000 weavers working in 800 looms manufacturing shawls are finding it difficult to earn a living as the units have been closed partially due to power cuts.

Textile units with annual turnover of Rs 1,000 crore with Rs 500 crore share of shawl industry are major employer in the city .

Workers gathered here under the tutelage of Punjab AITUC and CITU at Ram Bagh gardens. Vijay Mishra and Amarjeet Singh Assal, president and secretary of Punjab, CITU, respectively, said workers being paid on the basis of metres of cloth manufactured were badly hit. They must be compensated.

They said this section of workers was severely affected with the closure of units since they were daily wage workers. Many of the workers are sole earners in the families. They demanded compensation of Rs 20,000 for every worker on the pattern given to farmers following natural calamity.

Raising slogans workers walked to the office of the deputy commissioner and handed over a memorandum addressed to the Punjab government. The memorandum stated since these workers were paid for cloth produced their earning fell by over 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, textile workers received a hike of 11 per cent in income and eight per cent in salary of the rest of the workers. The hike was affected following CITU, AITUC and the Textile Manufacturers Welfare Association (TMWA) reached an agreement. The agreement will be effective from June 16. 

Ludhiana, June 27
The stamp papers detected by the tehsildar, Major GS Benipal, a month ago have been proved to be fake by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh.

In its report to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the CFSL experts have stated that the stamp papers were fake.

Confirming this here today, SP City-I Harsh Bansal said the experts had certified that the stamp papers were not genuine.

The SIT had sent eight stamp papers to the CFSL for testing whether they were fake or original.

The police said this was the first step towards the investigation of the entire stamp paper racket. With the experts certifying these as fake, the investigation would now go at a fast pace.

Major Benipal had on May 12 reported to deputy commissioner, Ludhiana, that as many as six fake stamp papers of Rs 20,000 denomination each were fake.

The DC had directed the SSP to register a case in this regard. The police had booked a stamp vendor, Ravinder Pal and a typist, Jyoti, who were alleged to be involved in the racket.

The police had then constituted an SIT to look into the entire scam as Benipal had said the fake stamp papers were part of a bigger scam. 

Amritsar, June 27
In a missive to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday, textile and other industry associations sought a 50 per subsidy on diesel and furnace oil costs for operating their generators to keep their factories running.

Textile Manufacturers Association honorary general secretary HS Makhni said long and unscheduled power cuts had virtually paralysed all industrial activity in the district. He stated units depending on gensets for power were unable to meet the high cost of fuel and were becoming economically unviable.

He urged the CM factories in the border region should be provided regular power supply for specific hours, otherwise they would collapse resulting in large-scale unemployment.

With the mercury rising steadily and the monsoon still not in sight, the city has been experiencing long power outages besides scheduled load shedding and frequent voltage fluctuation due to increased consumption. Demand from the farm sector has also gone up sharply in view of the paddy sowing season.

Last night turned out to be the worst for city residents with power cuts being imposed every two hours, resulting in most of them being unable to sleep. Outages lasting from eight to 10 hours every day have also rendered power invertors installed in homes useless.

Demand for generators, both small and large, has surged with many manufacturers charging a premium.

Chandigarh, June 27
The BJP has again stressed on the need for equal partnership in the SAD-BJP alliance and demanded that every leader and worker of the party be accorded respect and importance according to his or her stature. The demand for such a working relationship between the two parties came up at the meeting of the coordination committee of the two parties held at the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s residence here today.

The coordination committee of the two parties met for the first time today after Badal took his Adampur legislator Sarabjit Singh Makkar to the house of BJP leader and Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia to tender an apology. The relations between the two alliance partners have been under strain for some time now and touched an alarming low when Makkar publicly abused Kalia for not clearing files pertaining to construction of a Mall in Jalandhar by him and his family.

Today’s meeting blamed the media for vitiating the relationship between the two alliance partners. The leaders of the two parties also resolved not to issue any statement to the media about their mutual differences. Yesterday, however, senior BJP leader BD Tandon revived the demand for making a BJP leader Deputy Chief Minister after Sukhbir Badal steps down in July.

Sources claimed that other than hard talk on anti-SAD statements issued by the BJP leadership, the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with the Chief Minister assuring the BJP of equal partnership in governance and according due respect to its workers and leaders. Badal reportedly told the BJP leadership that the two parties were “inseparable”.

The issue of power crisis facing Punjab also came up at the meeting. The BJP wanted more power for the industry, while Badal said that there was not enough power to provide to the agriculture sector owing to national power shortage. This, he said, was affecting paddy transplantation and could affect the yield.

It is learnt that after the meeting, attended among others by SS Dhindsa, PS Bhunder, RS Brahmpura, BD Tandon, Rajinder Bhandari, MM Mittal and Manoranjan Kalia, the BJP held another meeting at the residence of the Industries Minister and reviewed the earlier meeting. The BJP leadership refused to comment on what transpired at the second meeting, but expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the first meeting.

Ropar, June 27
Water levels in Bhakra have improved over the last four days. Even inflow of water into the reservoir has increased owing to melting of glaciers in catchments area reservoir.

Inflow of water into the reservoir was 40,000 cusecs today - almost double since June 21. Level of water in the body has risen to 1,509.9 feet, while discharge into the Nangal Hydel Channel and the Anandpur Sahib Hydel Channel together were 22,000 .

Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) officials said the condition had largely improved due to banned inflow into the Sutlej and melting of snow (or glaciers), thereby, adding to existing water levels. With reports of monsoon reaching North India by July 2, officials are hopeful that the condition will improve in the next few days.

Meanwhile, engineers feel that water levels were comfortable for the power sector. The irrigation sector, especially of Rajasthan, should have raised hue and cry over the decreased water supply from BBMB. "People are suffering. When monsoon is for sure and melting snow will add to reservoir, why are people being made to suffer?" reasons an engineer.

Magsaysay awardee Rajendra Singh, better known as waterman of Rajasthan, feels that acute shortage of water and delayed monsoon have once again projected need to conserve water in the state.

Rajendra has toured Punjab and feels that neither the people nor the state government is sensitive towards the issue of receding water table or melting glaciers.

“Nature has bestowed Punjab with the best of everything and that's why people don't realise the bounties," he says, adding community-driven decentralised water management should be introduced under which not even a single drop of rainwater is allowed to go waste.

"From villages to cities, rooftop rainwater harvesting should be adopted. Common properties should be used for water harvesting and conservation. Once ground water is recharged, it becomes a fixed deposit and could be used in times of crisis," he said.

New Delhi, June 27
Punjab officials yesterday apprised the Central government of the adverse impact of a below-normal monsoon. It was costing the state government an additional Rs 250 crore per week to save the paddy crop from destruction.

About 40 per cent paddy in the national food pool is procured from Punjab, the biggest contributor.

Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal told The Tribune that since June 10, when the paddy transplantation started, the state had been spending an additional Rs 250 crore per week. Most of the money is being used to purchase power at high rates to operate tube wells to pump water lest the paddy dries up.

The Punjab government conveyed the facts to the Central government that the state was spending money to save the crops that were for the national food pool. In a way, Punjab was subsidising for someone else’s gain. The state has been promised that “something will be worked out,” said Punjab officials here last evening.

Punjab is also hopeful that some part of the burden will be shared by the Central government. It has sought that some portion of the calamity relief fund be released for which the centre is as yet apprehensive.

Chandigarh, June 27
Forecast of a poor rainfall has caused panic among farmers in Punjab. As if this was not enough, the decision of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to reduce the flow of water from Bhakra has come as a double blow. This has forced many agriculturists to start hoarding diesel, lest they are left with no other alternative for irrigation during the paddy season.

Reports collected by The Tribune from across the state indicate that in the absence of any significant rains during this month, which is considered crucial for paddy cultivation, farmers have been forced to exploit underground water. The Agriculture Department is telling farmers not to panic as rains even by the end of the month will ameliorate their miseries. The transplantation of basmati varieties of paddy will begin from July 1.

Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Amritsar, Paramjit Singh Sandhu said so far about 30 per cent of paddy, mainly non-basmati, had been transplanted in the district. He said this season about 1.84 lakh hectares had been put under paddy cultivation. Out of this, about half is under basmati. The government had launched an aggressive campaign, asking farmers to plant basmati as it consumes comparatively less water and offers higher returns.

Farm experts like Kulbir Singh Deol, CAO at Jalandhar, said, “Earlier, with the onset of pre-monsoon showers, the farmers used to transplant paddy and prepare the fields for major transplantation work during the monsoons. This time a majority of farmers have restricted their activity to nurseries, delaying transplantation. Delayed monsoon, absence of pre-monsoon showers coupled with long power cuts, have resulted in a perceptible rise in the use of generators to run submersible pumps.”

Besides paddy, the delayed monsoon has also adversely affected the cash crops especially, vegetables. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts have cautioned that the persistent hot and dry weather could hit several crops including sugarcane, cotton, sunflower, moong, mash, vegetable and fruit crops.

The sweltering heat could be fatal for the fruit crops, especially fresh plantation that requires extra care, shade and watering. Horticulture experts have cautioned that in the absence of rains, fruit trees especially that have their trunks exposed to sun from the south-western side could suffer from sun burns that can cause serious injuries to the fruit plant.

Totally disillusioned by lack of concern at all levels for the farmers, coupled with long and frequent power cuts, Jagir Singh, a Nakodar-based progressive farmer gives voice to the sentiments of the farming community by saying, “We have lost faith in the people who make false promises during elections. As of now, it appears that the delayed monsoon is only a warning, indicating the plight of the farmers this season. Out of 100 acres, I cultivate, so far I have been able to transplant paddy only in 10 acres. For the remaining transplantation, I, like most others, am dependent on rains. We have no expectation of any help from the government”.

Punjab’s Director, Agriculture, BS Sidhu, has told the media that foodgrain production, especially paddy, could be hit this year if the monsoon was delayed further and the heat wave continued. “A delayed monsoon and heat wave can damage the paddy crop,” Sidhu told reporters. But at the same time, other officials said there was still hope that rains may hit Punjab by the month-end, in which case damage could be minimised.

(With inputs from Sanjay Bumbroo, Neeraj Bagga and Bipin Bhardwaj)

(Concluded)

Amritsar, June 27
The removal of Giani Mohan Singh as additional head granthi of the Golden Temple, who was not getting any salary from the SGPC for over five years, has come as surprise in Panthic circles.

In the past decade several Sikh high priests, installed amid fanfare, were removed by the SGPC on one pretext or the other. Bhai Ranjit Singh, appointed Jathedar, Akal Takht, when he was in jail in connection with the killing of Nirankari chief Baba Gurbachan Singh, was removed in 1999 when preparations for tercentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa Panth were on. For the first time in the history of Akal Takht a Jathedar was suspended by the SGPC executive committee and later sacked. Later, Giani Mohan Singh (then head granthi) was appointed Jathedar, Akal Takht, but he refused to accept the post. Again, he (Giani Mohan Singh) was removed as head granthi in December 2000 for “displeasing” the SGPC and the ruling Akali Dal at that time.

Later, when Gurcharan Singh Tohra became SGPC president, Giani Mohan Singh was reinstated in 2004. Since then (2004), Giani Mohan Singh had been performing ardas and other duties in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple without getting any salary. However, he was asked not to perform ardas yesterday by head granthi Giani Jaswinder Singh following a report in a vernacular paper that the Sikh high priest had celebrated his golden jubilee of marriage last year in “violation” of the Sikh Maryada which he denied. He continued to perform duties in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple without taking food and water during Operation Bluestar.

Giani Puran Singh who succeeded Bhai Ranjit Singh was also removed due to his tussle with then SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur over the Nanakshahi calendar. While removing Giani Puran Singh, the SGPC had forgotten that he had accepted the offer to become Jathedar by compromising his position. Jathedar (Giani Puran Singh) was appointed from a Circuit House since Giani Mohan Singh had refused to succeed Bhai Ranjit Singh who was suspended at that time.

Later, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti succeeded Giani Puran Singh and revoked all controversial edicts of Giani Puran Singh during his stint as Jathedar, Akal Takht. However, the SGPC deputed a three-member committee to seek resignation from Jathedar Vedanti when he was at his official residence.

Giani Mohan Singh said the SGPC had done great injustice to him by ignoring his contribution to the Sikhism. “I was inside the Golden Temple and performed the recitation from Guru Granth Sahib without taking meals at the time of Operation Bluestar in June 1984. I had been serving additional head granthi without any honorarium,” he said. 

Gurdaspur, June 27
Parminder Singh, a resident of United States, turned out to be a positive case of swine flu after the cough swap, sent for clinical examination to Delhi by the local Civil Hospital authorities, confirmed it, today.

Parminder, who came in contact with a swine flu positive case Shakti Kumar, who came to India on June 20 and has been getting treatment in the General Hospital, Chandigarh, was admitted to the local Civil Hospital in its isolation ward and put on regular treatment.

Dr RS Rana, Civil Surgeon, while confirming that Parminder, 25, had been found swine flu positive, said he was responding to treatment. He added that Shiv Kumar, brother of Shakti, was found swine flu negative.

He said about five residents of this district came in contact with Shakti and when the Civil Hospital authorities came to know about this, different medical teams were sent to their houses.

While Parminder, a resident of Kalanaur of this district, and Shiv were admitted to the hospital, three others Satinder Pal, Chottu and Devinder Kumar were medicated in their respective dwellings.

He added that apart from informing about the surfacing of a swine flu case in this border district to the Ministry of Health, government of India and state health authorities, the hospital authorities had been carrying temperature sampling of people living in the localities, where Shiv and Parminder were residing.

He said kin of Parminder had been given prophylactic treatment. He added that Parminder was hoped to become swine flu negative with five days or so. Shiv, who was found swine flu negative, had already been discharged from the hospital.

Sangrur , June 27
The Sach Parkash conference to be held on June 28 at Sachkhand Angitha Sahib gurdwara , Mastuana Sahib, in the news due to the construction of a Sikh shrine, replicating the Golden Temple, was today put off .

General secretary, Sachkhand Angitha Sahib Gurdwara, Jagjit Singh and a member of the committee, which appeared at Sri Akal Takht on June 11 in connection with the Golden Temple lookalike row, Parshotam Singh Phaguwala said today the management of the gurdwara had decided to postpone the Sach Parkash conference, as they had information ‘anti-Panth’ forces were planning to create disturbances.

Jagjit and Phaguwala added respecting sentiments of the Sikhs they put off the conference . They also handed over some resolutions, which had to be passed at the conference. They said they were issuing these resolutions today so that people could know the truth. In a proposed resolution it is stated the management of the gurdwara accepts Sri Akal Takht Sahib as supreme court of the Sikhs and will obey its every order (hukamnama). In another proposed resolution it has been stated the sangat appeals to the architects (devotees of Guru ghar) to make available their services to the management of the gurdwara suggesting changes in the look of the Sikh shrine.

Amritsar, June 27
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has criticised the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) for not taking action against the management of Mastuana gurdwara for filling water in the sarovar.

In a press note here today, DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna criticised the Management of Mastuana gurdwara for advertising in a vernacular daily that the structure of the gurdwara could be demolished only by people like Ahmed Shah Abdali. He said Sikhs would not mind to be equated with Abdali for pulling down the structure looking like the Golden Temple.

Sarna asked the SGPC to explain 13-year-long delay in taking action against the controversial structure. He added that the SGPC took long to take action against the management of gurdwara Mastuana letting the controversy linger. 

Sangrur, June 27
If the Punjab government intends to see Punjabi used in the state, it should set up Punjabi language tribunal, having on it a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, an eminent writer and a member of the Punjab Assembly.

President, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha (Sekhon), Dr Tejwant Singh Mann stated this today criticising the formation of the Punjabi Language Monitoring Committee by the government under the Punjab Official Languages (Amendment) Act-2008. The Act makes use of Punjabi mandatory in official functioning.

Dr Mann said the tribunal should have powers to hear complaints on the non-use of Punjabi in official work and punish “erring officials”. Besides this, every resident of Punjab should have power to complain to the tribunal against those violating the Act. All IAS and IPS officers be brought under the Act by making another amendment, he added.

Dr Mann also rejected the Punjabi Language Monitoring Committee, saying the committee did not have power to get the Punjab Official Languages Act-2008 implemented as it could not initiate action or award punishment to the violators of the Act.

He also expressed astonishment over the inclusion of two members in the committee as representatives of the Sahit Sabhas (literary bodies). He claimed these two members did not represent any Sahit Sabha of Punjab. One member Mohinder Kaur Gill belonged to Delhi, he added.

Dr Mann said the government had no member on the committee from the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha-Sekhon and the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha which had been working for the implementation of Punjabi. 

Chandigarh, June 27
The Punjab Cabinet has ordered a change in timings of all offices owing to acute power shortage from Monday.The decision was taken in the meeting of Council of Ministers today. All Punjab government offices, except those in Chandigarh, will now function from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm from June 29 in place of 9 am to 5 pm.

This will apply to all government offices, boards and corporations located in Punjab. The council also decided to continue with the ban on the use of air-conditioners.

Patiala, June 27
Aghast over posting of her “objectionable” photos on a popular social networking website by friends of her male friend, a student reportedly jumped off from the roof of a Talwandi Sabo-based girls hostel even as the Punjabi University authorities seemingly tried to push the matter under the carpet by just constituting a committee to stop ragging.

While four students, including the traumatised girl and her male friend, of the Yadavindra Engineering College associated with the Talwandi Sabo Regional Campus, were learnt to have been rusticated, Dean (students welfare) Balwinder Singh Tiwana refused to divulge any information on the issue. He however, admitted that the committee was investigating the matter and the findings would be discussed with the Vice-Chancellor.

Reenu (name changed), a B.Tech student got so traumatised after finding her photos in a “compromising” position with a fellow student on a popular social networking site that she jumped from the top floor of her hostel. Her legs were fractured in the incident that took place about a fortnight ago.