Chandigarh, July 20
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) released water in excess of share to all three partner states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in May to avoid floods, which may never come this year due to scanty rainfall.

The BBMB took a decision in this regard in consultation with the partner states in May because the Bhakra Dam had excess water then and the management wanted to avoid last year’s situation when it had the dam bursting at the seams at 1,680 feet towards the fag end of the season.

The decision has led to a depleted reservoir and the management is now expecting a good spell of rain. The dam’s level is 1,536 ft and water is still being released for irrigation. A senior functionary said the BBMB did not visualise in May that the rains could fail.

“We had reports of a normal monsoon and so took the decision to release water in excess from both Bhakra and Pong dams in view of the safety of the dams”.

The BBMB, however, realised in June that the monsoon was not normal and put restrictions on releases from June 11.

However, by that time there was a heavy discharge of water to both Punjab and Haryana and particularly Rajasthan.

According to the sources, 10,000 cusecs of water was released to Rajasthan daily for around 25 days against its allocation of 600 cusecs. In all around 2.6 lakh cusecs of water was released to Haryana during this period.

The BBMB, in a letter written to the Punjab government, has explained that the decision to release water in excess of the share of the three states was taken by a technical committee headed by its Chairman and that chief engineers of both Punjab and Haryana were present at the meeting.

Be what it may, the water level of the Bhakra Dam at 1,536 ft is much less than the 1,623 ft during the corresponding period last year.

The BBMB has improved the level of the dam by around 15 feet by restricting outflows to all partner states though on a request from Rajasthan 3,000 cusecs more is being released to it.

Emergency powers on regulation of dam waters have also been given to BBMB Chairman UC Mishra to meet all eventualities.

Chandigarh, July 20
The issue of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) having released “extra” water to Rajasthan refuses to die down.

In a strongly worded letter to the BBMB Chairman, Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Suresh Kumar has asked the BBMB to explain why Punjab’s interest had been compromised in releasing extra water to Rajasthan, adding that the BBMB did not follow the criteria laid down for the release of water to its partner states.

Suresh Kumar has stated: “Extra release of 2.6 lakh cusecs of water to Rajasthan during May 1 to 20, 2009, has had its repercussions. The level of Pong Dam reservoir went down and due to scanty inflows, the releases from June 1 onwards had to be drastically reduced leading to a fall in Punjab’s share.”

Suresh Kumar has further pointed out that his office had in February 2009 written to the BBMB that any additional releases over and above the stipulated share should be distributed among partner states equitably.

“Proposed additional release of water are said to be based on the assumption that water level in both Bhakra and Pong reservoirs is comfortable for the present. Snowfall in the upper reaches in the catchment of the Sutlej is said to be expectedly normal whereas in the catchment area of the Pong Dam the rainfall has been less than moderate.

“In this situation the expected inflows in the rivers during the filling period cannot be taken for granted and any ad hoc additional release would cause an adverse impact on the reservoir levels during the filling period. Further, the release of water to Rajasthan from September to December, which is said to be 13,200 cusecs, and the present release of 10,750 cusesc as well as all future releases have to be within their overall stipulated share and accounted for accordingly.

“Any additional release of water over and above the stipulated share have to be distributed among the partner states and the same cannot be given to Rajasthan alone,” states Suresh Kumar quoting the February, 2009, communication.

In reply to this February communication, the secretary of the BBMB had intimated that the shares of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan for the whole depletion period is calculated by the BBMB at the start of the depletion period and intimated to the states concerned.

The shares are further updated every month and are intimated to the partner states on a monthly basis also as to plan their requirement on the basis of balance availability of water.

The water is released based on the requirements projected by the partner states within their share at the monthly technical committee meetings of the BBMB.

“It is surprising that the aforesaid criteria was not followed while deciding release from Pong reservoir to Rajasthan,” states Suresh Kumar’s letter.

Chandigarh, July 20
The French ban on the Sikh turban is yet to find a satisfactory recourse, but a proposed bill in Oregon, a province in the United States to introduce a similar ban has got the Sikh community frenzied.

This time it is not the students, but Sikh teachers in public schools who will be barred from wearing any “religious dress”, including the turban.

Sensing the sentiment of the Sikhs, president, Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has shot off a letter to US Ambassador designated to India Timothy J Roemer expressing the dismay and anguish of the Sikh community.

The SAD president has in his letter objected to the manner Sikh teachers were “proposed to be prosecuted just because they belong to a specific faith”.

He said he never expected such a move from the oldest democracy of the world, the US, that had heralded a worldwide movement for personal and religious freedom.

Sukhbir mentioned that on the plea of broadening religious freedom, the proposed bill lying on the table of the Oregon Governor for assent, would prohibit a teacher from wearing religious dress while engaged in the performance of duties as a teacher.

The SAD president said the Sikh community had always played a vital role in the progress of the US in all fields, including the education sector, and any discrimination against them would be a violation of human rights of professing faith of one’s own choice.

He said singularly targeting Sikhs for this ban and exempting Jews and Christian teachers would send a wrong message to the whole world.

Sukhbir hoped that the US ambassador would apprise the US government regarding the hurt sentiments of Sikhs all over the world regarding the proposed ban and expected that the federal government would take necessary corrective measures to spare Sikhs from this blatant discrimination.

Ludhiana, July 20
Taking a serious note of the recommendation of doctors at the Central Jail for the hospitalisation of accused in the Tehsildar assault case Simarjit Singh Bains and Kamaljit Singh Karwal two days ago, Jails Minister Hira Singh Gabria has ordered an inquiry into it.

Bains had complained of hypertension, vomiting and diarrhoea and Karwal of a liver problem. Though the doctors at the jail had recommended hospitalisation, doctors at the Civil Hospital said they were fit and did not require any indoor medical care.

Sources in the jail told The Tribune that Gabria had sought the details of the recommendation by the jail medical staff. While the permanent doctor at the jail was transferred some time ago, the doctors appointed at the Borstal jail had examined Bains and Karwal.

Meanwhile, Gabria said he was astonished at the news reports that doctors had contradicting versions on their health.

‘‘I have asked for reports from both doctors. I want to see what had exactly happened. Either the doctors at the Civil Hospital were wrong or the jail doctors had recommended hospitalisation wrongly. I will soon find out, ’’ said Gabria.

On the other hand, Balwinder Bains, SGPC member and elder brother of Simarjit, said Karwal had only 50 per cent functioning of his liver and it was proved well before he was sent to jail.

‘‘I am pleasantly surprised to know if the jail food has worked wonders on him,’’
said Balwinder.

Amritsar, July 20
More than 5,000 weavers working at 800 loom units, that have an annual turnover of Rs 1,000 crore, will go on a strike on July 22 to press the government for their demand of Rs 20,000 compensation for each weaver in lieu of losses due to prolonged power failures.

A weaver, Mohan Lal, said his monthly income had come down by more than half for the past over two months after the power cuts were introduced.

Earlier he used to earn about Rs 4,000 monthly after working for about 10 hours at looms. Now, he barely earned Rs 2,000 per month.

The Textile Mazdoor Ekta Union and CITU have taken up the demand of the weavers, who are paid on the basis of the length of cloth manufactured.

Vijay Mishra and Amarjeet Singh Assal, president and secretary of Punjab unit of CITU, respectively, said they were badly hit due to power cuts and must be compensated for the losses on the lines of loan waiver to farmers.

They said this section of workers was severely affected with the closure of the units since they were daily wage earners. Many of the workers are sole earners in the families. They have demanded a compensation of Rs 20,000 for every worker.

They flayed the lopsided policies of the state government resulting in Rs 10,000-crore losses to the PSEB.

The owners of small units were unable to run their looms on power generator sets as they could not bear the cost of diesel, they added.

Jalalabad, July 20
Voters of this constituency, who are already overawed by a “trailer” (grants distributed at sangat darshan programmes) of the largesse in store for them if they elect Badal family scion Sukhbir Badal, are now being assured of a full film much beyond their expectations.

This constituency, with a predominant Backward Caste vote, does not even fully understand what all is being offered to them on a plate.

They are already dazzled by the Rs 25-crore or so distributed during sangat darshan programmes prior to the enforcement of the model code.

Nambardar Surjit Singh says he does not know what a reverse osmosis system is. “However it must be something great if a single machine costs Rs 10 lakh”, he adds.

That’s what Sukhbir tells people during a whirlwind tour of the constituency in a Montero SUV, accompanied by a pack of around 50 vehicles.

“The RO system gives ‘botal wala paani’,” says Sukhbir, adding that the those systems would be installed in all villages of the constituency in the next six months.

Other benefits on the SAD’s list of development works in the constituency are water works to cover all villages and repair of all canal system.

Sukhbir makes it clear in repeated speeches at Ujhanwali, Bagewala and Turkiwalia that the contest is one for development of the constituency.

“All you have to do is press the button and leave everything else to me”, he says, adding “tavada halka hun Chief Minister de parivar the halka ban gaya hai”.

The people are clearly impressed and most feel it is in their interest to vote for the SAD. The superior poll management of the SAD is also showing.

In almost every village visited by Sukhbir, sarpanches and panches, who were aligned with the Congress earlier, are being given siropas indicating their switch over to the SAD.

Those receiving such siropas said they were supporting Sukhbir for development. Development is the SAD poll plank.

Speaker after speaker talks about the “bechara” Josan (Congress candidate Hans Raj Josan) who they claim can do nothing for them.

Sukhbir, when asked if he would seek election from the constituency again, says it is for the party to decide.

He also dodges questions whether the people are electing a CM as is being claimed from public stages.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir’s wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal is conducting a door-to-door campaign in favour of her husband in Jalalabad town.

Mullewal (Gurdaspur), July 20
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, while claiming that he does not believe in political vendetta, has said he is ready to curb culture of politics of revenge in the state.

“I am ready to take any step to stop politics of revenge, which had been started in Punjab by the previous Congress government,” said Badal, adding that during the previous Congress rule, his family was subjected to false criminal cases.

Badal, who was here today in connection with an election campaign of party candidate Sewa Singh Sekhwan for Kahnuwan assembly segment, said a move was initiated by his government to finish all kinds of bitterness among political opponents when it organised a cricket match between teams of ruling and opposition parties.

However, the move was scuttled by a section of Congress leaders, who did not want that cordial relations develop among MLAs of ruling and opposition parties.

“Even it was alleged that Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Leader of Opposition, and Parkash Singh Badal were hand in glove,” he pointed out.

The Chief Minister said he was ready to host lunch or dinner for MLAs belonging to the Congress to with the aim of building harmony among the leaders of the ruling parties and the Opposition.

He said a section of central leaders of the Congress was bent upon to harass his family and they were always trying to finish them politically.

Badal said his government had not registered criminal cases against a section of Congress ministers despite the fact that strong evidence against them were in the possession of the government.

“Political fight should not be made personal fight. Social relations must be respected by all politicians,” said the Chief Minister.

Amritsar, July 20
Taking a serious note of the incidents of the installation of Nishan Sahib by unscrupulous elements in order to grab land, the five high priests today issued a warning that action would be taken against erring persons as per maryada besides initiating legal proceedings against them.

Akal Takht’s Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said here that they had been receiving complaints in this regard. He urged the Sikh community to initiate action against the persons who were installing Nishan Sahib to grab land.

Meanwhile, Balwant Singh Sihorewala of Gurdwara Mastuana Sahib appeared before the Takht and clarified his position with regard to the Golden Temple lookalike gurdwara situated at Mastuana, near Sangrur.

He said he had nothing to do with the gurdwara as it had been constructed by keeping in view the sentiments of Sikh devotees. He was totally devoted to the Takht and would abide by the directions issued by it.

Meanwhile, Jathedar Gurbachan Singh asked the community to restrain from printing their photographs on posters along with that of Gurus during religious ceremonies.

Giani Gurbachan Singh further said birs of Guru Granth Sahib should not be taken to palaces for solemnising marriages. He warned the Sikh community living in foreign countries not to make changes in ardas.

He said they had resolved the differences among two warring groups of the Sikh sanghat of Muzzafarpur by directing that they could set up a management training college near the old gurdwara complex besides constructing a new gurdwara complex at the site.

He, however, instructed them that the height of the shrine should be more than that of the college.

In another development, Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Takht Damdama Sahib, and Jathedar Iqbal Singh of Patna Sahib for the first time participated in the meeting as the latter had accepted the supremacy of Akal Takht. The two have resolved their differences in this regard.

Amritsar, July 20
The fact-finding committee formed by the SGPC to know the authenticity of the holy Kalgi (plume) of Guru Gobind Singh failed to reach any conclusion here today.

Besides coordinator of the committee Dalmegh Singh, who is also SGPC secretary, SP Singh, member, National Museum, New Delhi, and eminent scholars Mohan Singh, Sukhdial Singh, Kamajit Singh Boparai, besides noted researchers Balwant Singh Dhillon, Kripal Singh and Balwant Singh Jaura, were present in the meeting.

Amritsar, July 20
A debate initiated by The Tribune on education policy has generated a constructive discussion among intellectuals, eminent educationists, academicians and organisations that are committed to social causes.

The Rotary Club, Cantonment, held a brainstorming discussion on the topic on Friday on whether the examination for matriculation should be scrapped or not?

The educationists and parents offered their views in favour and against the issue. However, they were unanimous in appreciating the decision of HRD Minister Kapil Sibal in reviewing the study pattern and syllabi.

Director, Education, Chief Khalsa Diwan, Dharam Veer Singh was of the view that scrapping of only the matriculation examination would not remove the stress from students and parents.

He said examination would return to haunt students in Classes XI and XII exams. Not habitual to face examinations, students would find it extremely tough to cope with stress at the advanced stage.

DPS Principal Sangeeta Singh favoured the abolition of the examination. She based her opinion on the premise that it brought not only students, but also teachers and parents under stress.

“Moreover, in the DPS, we do not hold examination till Class V and find students growing nicely,” she quipped.

Principal, Spring Dales School, Rajeev Sharma stressed on abolishing the examination for it hindered the natural growth of the child.

A teacher of DAV Public School Reman Sharma was against scrapping of the exams.

From her regular classroom experience, she said, “Students with a careless disposition and indifferent to studies were happy over the idea, while hardworking students felt that they would be denied the opportunity to show their worth”.

Regional Director, DAV Schools, Dhani Ram, who was the chief guest, favoured him.

Muktsar, July 20
They have forgotten how to celebrate. In a majority of villages of Muktsar district, the problem of water logging is so acute that villagers, caught in a vicious debt trap, have neither money nor inclination to engage in celebrations of any kind. There are innumerable villages where not even a single celebration has taken place for the past several years.

Residents of Bhamanwala, Dodonwali, Jhabelwali, Sangrana villages, which over the past few years have been ravaged by flooding, have become used to suicide reports in the area and they don’t talk much about how much debt they have accumulated.

Cultivating paddy, cotton and wheat has become a phenomenon of some distant past for them.

Revealed an old timer of Dodonwali village: “The problem of water logging is particularly severe in low-lying locations, which have inadequate or non-functional drains. The area under cotton cultivation has been affected by the rising water table and now farmers are not keen on growing cotton in this once famous cotton belt of the state. Changing crop patterns, aridity and use of poor quality water for irrigation purposes and canal seepage from both the Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind canal has only compounded their problems”.

Experts opine the water table in all four blocks of this district, Muktsar, Gidderbaha, Lambi and Malout, is alarmingly high.

The water table is just 1 meter from the surface in a majority of the villages and this rises virtually to the surface during the monsoons causing serious damage to crops.

In many villages, the annual rainfall being low, at some places just 350mm, a natural drainage system has not been developed, leading to water logging.

Compounding the problem is the fact that many of the drains have been clogged with weeds and sediment. A few drains constructed in a disorganised manner are not effective.

Villagers say water logging has lead to soil salinity, which has affected agricultural yield in the district.

“The quality of groundwater is very poor and tubewells draw brackish and saline water,” said Wazir Singh of Jhabelwali village.

However, not everything has been lost for these hapless villagers. Says agriculture expert Shiv Charan Singh Brar: “A comprehensive long-term master plan needs to be developed for South West Punjab. It should focus on both surface and sub-surface draining facilities, integrated farming systems, micro irrigation systems and efforts should also be made to work out regional water and salt balances. All these things require vision but how many politicians in Punjab have that kind of vision?”

Sangrur, July 20
The row relating to vice-presidentship of the managing committee of the Sachkhand Angitha Sahib gurdwara, Mastuana, today took a new turn with the faction led by president of the committee Sant Baba Sadhu Singh announcing the formation of the Yadgiri Sant Attar Singh Ji Maharaj Gurdwara Sachkhand Angitha Sahib Charitable Trust, Mastuana (Sangrur), replacing the earlier committee.

The Sadhu Singh’s faction said Baba Surjit Singh Changal had been made new vice-president of the gurdwara managing committee even as incumbant Sant Baba Surjit Singh Duggan claimed he was the vice- president of the committee as he could not be removed from the post.

During the ongoing controversy, the faction led by Sadhu Singh and Baba Surjit Singh Changal got the Yadgiri Trust registered on July 10 under the Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860) as amended by the Punjab Amendment Act 1957 to run affairs of the gurdwara.

According to treasurer of the Trust Vijay Kumar Aggarwal, under this registered Trust a 31-member committee of the trustees had been formed which included chairman Jarnail Singh Sidhu, president Sant Baba Sadhu Singh, vice-president Baba Surjit Singh Changal, secretary Balkar Singh, press Secretary Chand Singh, advertising secretary Jai Singh Nambardar and adviser Babu Singh.

The Sachkhand Angitha Sahib gurdwara was in news recently due to the construction of a Sikh shrine with looks of the Golden Temple on its premises. Later, the gurdwara also remained in the news due to a golak controversy.

Chandigarh, July 20
Lord Diljit Rana, House of Lords (Upper House of Parliament, UK) and Vice- President, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), today met the Chief Secretary, Punjab, SC Aggarwal and offered to set up a university at Sanghol in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

The university would be supported by the Rana Charitable Trust, UK. The Chief Secretary welcomed the proposal and asked Rana to put the papers and he assured full cooperation of the Punjab government in this regard.

While interacting with Lord Rana, the Chief Secretary said the Punjab government would launch a luxury train to woo foreign tourists at a cost of Rs 30 crore. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Indian Railways and Punjab government were jointly funding the project. The state government had already released its entire share amounting to Rs 13 crore.

Earlier, Diljit Rana met Hardev Singh Mattewal, Advocate-General of Punjab, in his office and appreciated efforts of the Punjab government regarding welfare of NRIs.

Rana invited Mattewal for the forthcoming international conference of NRIs to be held in the UK under the banner of the GOPIO for deliberations of NRI issues.

Chandigarh, July 20
The Punjab and Haryana High Court wants Punjab DGP to take remedial measures for preventing inconvenience to courts due to non-appearance of investigating officers.

Taking exception to the failure of a police officer to turn up in the court for assisting state counsel Gaurav Garg Dhuriwala in a bail matter, Justice LN Mittal observed: “It has to be noticed that daily problem is being faced in cases pertaining to the state of Punjab. Investigating officers or police officials do not turn to assist the state counsel or the court.”

“Even costs imposed are not deposited on time. It not only causes inconvenience and wastage of precious time of the court, but also results in longer incarceration of the accused, who might ultimately be found entitled to bail. State counsel has been requested many times to streamline the functioning, but with no result”.

The observations followed state counsel’s request for adjournment as no police official was present to assist him.

Adjourning the matter subject to the deposition of Rs 1,000 with the high court registry, Justice Mittal asserted: “I intended to summon the DGP to appear in person in view of the difficulties being faced by the court. But state counsel infoarms the court that only yesterday he has written a letter to the IG (administration) enumerating such cases. In view of this, instead of requiring the Punjab DGP to appear in person, he is directed take necessary remedial steps at the earliest, so that such difficulties are not faced in future”.

Before parting with the order, Justice Mittal also directed immediate forwarding of the order’s copy to the Punjab DGP for necessary compliance.

This is not the first time the failure of the investigating officer to turn up has not found favour with the high court.

Another Bench of the high court has already made it clear that the investigating officer’s failure to attend court proceedings with case record would lead to initiation of proceedings against him.

Justice Harbans Lal had also directed Ferozepur SSP to inform the court on the action taken after initiating the same against the erring officer.

Chandigarh, July 20
Less than a fortnight before the Jalalabad byelections, a “gang-rape” victim has alleged SAD candidate Sukhbir Singh Badal’s close confidant-cum-sitting MP Sher Singh Gobaya was shielding the accused - a district panchayat officer.

The victim has alleged one of the accused, district panchayat officer Harjinder Singh, was “very close” to Gobaya, “who is a sitting MP and at present is the backbone of Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Badal is contesting election from Jalalabad in Ferozepur district; and as such fair and proper investigation could not be conducted by Ferozepur SSP and another respondent official as they were directly under his order”.

Moving the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the transfer of the probe to some independent agency or SP-level officer, the Tarn Taran-based victim alleged her requests for registration of a case against the accused, and even medical examination, were not acceded to due to Gobaya’s pressure.

Going into the background of the matter, the sixteen-and-a-half-year-old victim alleged three youngsters pushed her inside a car on June 10, gang-raped her and threw her near a canal.

After a passerby, Lakhwinder Singh, took her to the Ferozepur civil hospital for medical examination, the doctor on duty refused to admit her by saying Gobaya’s orders had to be obeyed, she alleged.

The victim further said SHO of Jalalabad police station on July 4 told her and Lakhwinder Singh that he had orders from Gobaya to book them in a criminal case so they were taught a lesson.

Her counsel added a paragraph in the petition be treated as the petitioner’s statement before the investigating officer as there was “great apprehension regarding the life and the liberty of the petitioner, since her face has been revealed to the SSP and another respondent-official”.

Taking up the matter, the high court has issued notice of motion on the petition
for August 10.