Kaljharani (Bathinda), August 14
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today expressed his helplessness in tackling the power crisis the state was witnessing. He was speaking to TNS at Kaljharani helipad before moving towards his native village Badal. The CM said, “All states with which we had signed power exchange pacts are not honouring it leaving us helpless.”

About the effect of power and water crisis on agriculture sector, the backbone of the state, Badal said, “It is a natural calamity. Till now, farmers have burnt diesel worth Rs 400 crore, more than the previous season. Despite buying 3,000 MW of power at much high price, the situation is out of control. The union government does not understand that Punjab farmers treat their crops as their children. Sensing the need of hour, it must lend support to state agriculture sector.”

When reminded about the promise of making the state power surplus during this regime, Badal said, “We were putting our best to achieve the goal. But the recession stood midway. The companies, which were allotted thermal projects, are reeling under the effects of meltdown.” He added that Punjab had approved Rajpura thermal power project but the regulatory authority raised objection, due to which it was hanging fire.

When questioned about the alleged callousness of some Civil Hospitals on preparations to deal with swine flu, the CM said, “With the grace of God, we are safe yet. However, I have ensured all possible precautionary arrangements.”

Replying a query related to Parmajit Singh Sarna, chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), he said, “I welcome him if he is ready to field candidates for the 170-seat SGPC. But he should not forget the history of his foiled bids. Whenever the SGPC polls come close, some Congress-backed Akalis raise their heads but on getting a befitting reply, they again slip under carpet.”

Parrying a query about the recent incidents of Dera-Sikh row in Bathinda and Mansa, he said, “I have got many reports from the Intelligence wings that I cannot disclose. However, we are prepared to maintain peace and harmony in the state.”

Bathinda, August 14
Finance minister Manpreet Badal today agreed that the government could not fulfill the promise of making Punjab a power surplus state. He was in city to felicitate teachers and primary schools for their performance under the Parho Punjab project.

Due to recessionary trend for the past around 14 months, the government was unable to stand by its words, he said. “Our plan was to purchase power from other states to fight the crisis and we had set aside Rs 3,000 crore for the purpose. But due to scanty monsoon, even other states failed to generate power. The problem is not limited to Punjab only. Other states too are reeling under power crisis,” Manpreet said.

“There is unprecedented demand for power this time. Illegal connections were another problem that the state was encountering,” the minister said.

Talking about the project of four power plants, he said the plan was to generate another 4,000 MW of power. When asked about the effect that the four coal-based projects would have on the state in terms of pollution, he said, “Our hydel potential has exhausted already; nuclear type would take time; and gas is not available. The only thing left is coal. We have to depend on it if we need to generate power in the state.”

On the financial status of the state, he said Punjab was never better off financially ever before as it was today. “Except the burden of Rs 3,000 crore to implement the pay commission, Punjab has no financial setback,” he said.

Ferozepur, August 14
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today visited various locations in the city to finalise the site for the construction of mini-secretariat and judicial complex. Accompanied by the Irrigation minister, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sukhpal Singh Nannu CPS Revenue, DS Guru principal secretary to CM, BS Sudan commissioner, Kamal Yadav DC besides senior officials from Revenue, PWD and other departments, Badal first went to see the Circuit House, which is under construction on the Moga-Ferozepur highway. He took stock of the pending construction work and issued instructions to complete the same at the earliest.

Thereafter, the CM visited the PWD rest house and office area, where he suggested that new DAC (District Administrative Complex) be constructed.

Badal said the existing land under commissioner residence along with PWD complex would be utilised to construct new mini-secretariat. He also visited the town hall and inspected the new municipal committee building under construction.

Badal said his government will also explore the possibility of shifting the existing Central Jail to the outskirts of the town, so that the jail land can be exploited commercially and the money generated out of that could be meaningfully utilised for the various developmental projects on the anvil in this border town.

Badal, who is in the town to preside over the state-level Independence Day function being organised at Shahid Bhagat Singh Stadium tomorrow, while speaking to The Tribune, said the development of this border town was high on his agenda. He said that all the pending issues including abolition of octroi in the cantonment area, construction of Government College, leisure valley for the walkers besides construction of DAC and Judicial Complex were being taken up at priority.

He said that the work on the construction of the railway overbridge joining the city and cantonment areas has already been sanctioned, and the work will begin soon. Badal said the National Martyrs Memorial, Hussaniwala will also be developed and beautified so that the memorial continues to inspire coming generations and instill in them a spirit of sacrifice for the motherland.

Bathinda, August 14
Bathinda added another feather to its cap after it was declared first under the Parho Punjab project, which was launched in all government primary schools of Punjab in July last year to upgrade the standard of education. Finance minister Manpreet Badal was in the city today to felicitate the schools that made the project achieve its purpose.

The project helped around 390 government primary schools to manage about 25 per cent progress in language and 28 per cent in mathematics. More than 6, 000 students of Bathinda received the benefit of the state project.

While talking to teachers, Manpreet appreciated their effort.

Manpreet said the state’s physical infrastructure attracted huge investment from outside for various projects and that education was not lagging behind. “Many projects took place in both primary and secondary segments. Some have started yielding results now. I think this is a great achievement,” he added.

Meanwhile, the education department demanded six per cent of the total state budget be earmarked for primary education. DEO (secondary) Surinder Pal Kaur, while addressing the gathering, said that after Parho Punjab’s success it was time to bring about another project that aimed at cultivating interest in mathematics among secondary students.

Bathinda, August 14
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered the SHO Nehianwala to appear before the court on August 21 in connection with a writ petition (Habeas Corpus) filed against the Nehianwala police.

As per the details, Amarjeet Kaur of Balahad Vinju had filed the writ petition against the cops accusing them for keeping her son Harpreet Singh under illegal detention since Tuesday. She also alleged that police made his son beaten up in the police station by some girls.

In response to the writ petition, Udham Singh, a warrant officer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court conducted a raid at the police station this evening.

In his report, the warrant officer stated that when he reached the police station, cops were trying to take Harpreet Singh and two others at the backside of the police station complex. Earlier, observing the absence of any case filed against Harpreet, he confirmed from the head constable of the police station that there was no case pending to be entered in the register.

However, he maintained that SHO Buta Singh was not present in police station at that time. Later, the SHO arrived and showed him a copy of a DDR entered at Kili Nihal Singh Wala police post, mentioning Harpreet booked under section 107/151 of the CrPC under today’s date. After recording that the warrant officer along with the SHO left the police station.

Sukhdeep Kaur, sister of Harpreet Singh accused the police officials for seeking bribe from them to release her brother.

On return, SHO Boota Singh said, “We were not trying to take the accused away, as stated by the warrant officer in the register. The accused Harpreet Singh along with two others had thrashed a schoolbus driver, Harcharan Singh of Jandawala village, who prevented them from teasing the girl students, from where the matter erupted. Harpreet was nabbed only today so we are not at fault.”