Jalandhar, September 5
The Union Power Ministry and the Union Ministry for Water Resources, agreeing to Punjab’s claim, have said Haryana and Rajasthan’s demand for a share in power from the Shahpur Kandi hydro-electric project has no legal merit. There is a move to build 168 MW hydel project there.

A meeting of officials of Punjab, Haryana and Union ministries concerned was held in Delhi. Punjab made it clear to Haryana, Rajasthan and Union government officials that it had not signed any agreement to share power with the two states from the Shahpur Kandi project. Hence, Haryana and Rajasthan were not entitled to a share from the power project.

Haryana and Rajasthan have been getting share from river waters, but there is no question of giving them share in power projects, which belonged to Punjab.

Union Power Ministry and Water Resources Ministry officials agreed to Punjab’s view and told Haryana officials that their demand for share from the power had no basis, it is learnt.

The Union government feels a share in power from the project is being sought to delay it. With the completion of this project, a canal will be built to carry Jammu and Kashmir’s share of water from this project. At present Jammu and Kashmir’s share of water is being used by some other partner states in river waters. Once the water starts going to Jammu and Kashmir, it will be deducted from the share of other partner states using it now.

“As the Union government has given a clearance to the project, we are going ahead to start construction work of this project,” said a senior Punjab government official.

Ranjit Sagar Dam (Gurdaspur), September 5
The reservoir of the Ranjit Sagar Dam will soon be developed into a wildlife sanctuary as Gen SF Rodrigues (retd), Governor, Punjab, today declared that all hurdles in the project would be removed and the state government would issue a notification to this effect shortly.

The Governor today held a meeting of officials of Forest, Wildlife, Horticulture, Soil Conservation, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Town Planning Departments to discuss the modules of the project in detail. Deputy Commissioner Karamjit Singh Sra also attended the meeting.

He urged the officials to make joint efforts for developing eco-tourism in the Dhar block of Gurdaspur district.

He added that tourism potential in the block and the dam must be explored with an active participation of local people.

The project to develop the reservoir of the dam into a wildlife sanctuary and a hub of eco-tourism has been pending for the past many years. Several meetings of senior officials of the Union government and the state government were also held in this regard.

SP Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, said the state government had agreed to develop the reservoir into a wildlife sanctuary. However, the only obstacle that had been delaying the implementation of the project was the fact that revenue officials had not been giving land records pertaining to the land that would be developed into sanctuary.

He said the dam was constructed over the land belonging to Punjab, Himachal Pardesh and Jammu and Kashmir states.

He said Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir had already declared their respective areas as a wildlife sanctuary and the state government had taken up this matter to declare its 30 per cent area of the dam as a wildlife sanctuary.

Ludhiana, September 5
The state government may have given assurance to industrialists that Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) in the city will be installed in less than two years, but the team comprising officials from various departments, who visited again several sites today "failed" to reach to any conclusion.

Officials from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Municipal Corporation, Sewer Board along with several industrialists visited the sites at Bahadurke Road, Rahon Road, Tajpur Road, Focal Point and Industrial Area to see the viability of installing the five CETPs.

President, Dyeing Associations, Ludhiana, Ashok Makkar said the sites were visited by the officials today, who seemed to be satisfied with the locations except for Cheema Chowk (Industrial Area), which came under the Improvement Trust. "We have all been trying hard for early installation of CETPs in the city,” he said.

P Babu Ram, Member Secretary, PPCB, who led the team, however, said it was too early to say anything. "Visiting a site does not mean that things have been finalised. We have to consult different departments before reaching any conclusion on installation of the CETPs," said he.

Amritsar, September 5
Paddy crop in border areas, particularly Pusa-44 variety, has been hit by blight (fungal disease) due to high humidity in the state.

Farmers of north India, especially of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts of the state, are facing drought-like conditions in the region.

Their hopes of good paddy yield this year dimmed due to increased cost of farm inputs and diesel-run tube wells for irrigation.

Delayed arrival of the monsoon in the state, however, brought some consolation for farmers, but the rain brought with it onset of blight affecting paddy crop in border areas.

“Earlier, we feared damage to crop from drought. Now withering of paddy due to blight is looming,” said Gurdev Singh, farmer of a border village.

Agriculture Department sources said blight had appeared in certain parts of Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts due to humid conditions in the region due to rain. Farm experts say the disease has no cure.

“Still farmers should stop over-irrigation of farms as excess water in fields helps fungus proliferate as it is airborne, seed-borne and soil-borne. No pesticide or insecticide is helpful in containing the disease,” said Jalandhar-based farm expert Naresh Gulati.

Gurdeep Singh, Agriculture Officer here, advises farmers to stop use of nitrogen-based fertilisers.

“Use of fertiliser or pesticide is a waste of money. Once fungus is there, it will eat the plant up,” said Gurdip, adding the disease was reported from Anjala, Tarsikka and Amritsar blocks.

“In fact, varieties like PUSA-44 and Sathi which have not been recommended by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, but were sown in border areas and elsewhere are more prone to disease. Farmers should sow only recommended varieties,” said Gulati, adding July and August were most suitable months for growth of fungus in high humid conditions. “Farmers may get some relief with lowering of temperature from 25°C in the coming days,” says Gurdeep.

Gurdaspur, September 5
The Congress high command has been working on two theories to decide on the person to head its Punjab unit, who is likely to be announced this month.

The central leaders, who have been entrusted with the job to find out a suitable person for this prestigious post, have also been directed to keep the caste factor in mind while suggesting a panel of candidates.

Sources said as per the two theories, the party high command would either retain the present incumbent, Mohinder Singh Kaypee, by appointing two deputies to him, belonging to Hindu and Jat Sikh communities from the Malwa and Majha areas, respectively, or would make a Jat Sikh from the non-Malwa area the president of the unit.

The sources said though former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was a strong contender for the post, a section of the Punjab leaders had been opposing his candidature tooth and nail. These leaders had pointed out to the party high command that Capt Amarinder Singh would remain away from Punjab most of the time, hence, would not be able to handle the party affairs with interest.

Some leaders had also opposed the name of newly elected MP, Partap Singh Bajwa, saying it would be difficult for him to make himself acceptable to all warring factions of the party.

Abohar, September 5
State Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla has asked Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary of the department, to appoint an independent director to promote homoeopathy.

Though homoeopathy is practised in various countries, India claims to have the largest number of practitioners of this system.

Speaking as a chief guest in the state-level seminar on “Homoeopathy for Mother and Childcare” at Homoeopathic Medical College here today, the minister said the Department of Ayurveda had got an independent director after a lapse of 29 years.

She said there was a need to promote ayurveda and homoeopathy to make treatment within the financial reach of a common man.

She asked the Principal Secretary to prepare a proposal for raising the first state-owned homoeopathy hospital.

Earlier, she inaugurated an exhibition and medical care camp in the college.

Tara Singh Ahuja, Chairman of the college, expressed concern over a decline in admissions to DHMS and other courses, as job opportunities were not available.

Dr Mohinder Singh Gujral, Assistant Director, Homoeopathy, said a proposal for developing a 10-bedded homoeopathic hospital at Sangrur was under consideration and four homoeopathic wings and six specialised clinics in civil hospitals would start functioning soon.

The Principal Secretary said the Central government had launched the National Rural Health Mission Scheme (NRHMS) in 2005, but the state had started its implementation now. Last year, 120 ayurveda practitioners and 1,500 ANMs were recruited, he added.

Vinod Kumar Bhalla, Additional Secretary-cum Commissioner of the Ayush project, said 212 one-man dispensaries had been sanctioned and 50 per cent of the homoeopathic practitioners recruited for the purpose were old students of Abohar-based homoeopathic medical college.

Dr KM Dhawale and Dr Suchitra Navinchandra from Mumbai gave a presentation on mother-child care.

Meanwhile, a surprise visit by the minister to the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital (NMCH) here today resulted in acceptance of its long-pending demands.

The minister visited the hospital along with the Principal Secretary and SDM Amit Dhaka.

Realising that the hospital was long back upgraded to the 100-bedded level, but still awaited prescribed facilities, the minister sanctioned Rs 3 crore for renovating the NCMH.

FAZILKA: Chawla visited the Civil Hospital, Fazilka, on Friday around 9.15 pm. She was accompanied by Health Secretary-cum Director, NRHM, Satish Chandra.

She talked to patients in an emergency ward and BSF jawans undergoing treatment in the hospital.

She also inspected the Primary Health Centre, Guruharsahai, and the Civil Hospital, Jalalabad.

Talking to mediapersons, the minister said to check the drug menace, the government had decided to appoint two or three drug inspectors in the district.

Responding to a shortage of gynaecologists and doctors in the Malwa belt, the minister said the government was keen to appoint more doctors. About 200 appointment letters were issued to newly appointed doctors, but only 50 had reported, she added.

Ludhiana, September 5
Fifteen teachers were rewarded a sum of Rs 10,000, a shawl, medal, citation and one-year extension in service each for outstanding services at the state-level Teacher’s Day function held here today.

Presiding over the function, state Minister for Education Upinderjit Kaur said the state government would recruit 11,500 teachers in next three months. Nearly 17,400 teachers were recruited last year. She asked teachers to work with dedication.

She said 351 senior secondary schools in rural areas had been provided with basic facilities for teaching science, commerce, humanities, medical, non-medical and vocational subjects and a sum of Rs 142 crore had been spent on the project.

She said this would help encourage rural area students going in for higher education. Nearly 18,400 schools in the state were being provided with the facility of potable water and toilets, she added.

Technical Education Minister Swarna Ram, who was the chief guest on the occasion, deprecated the menace of female foeticide and said the state government had sent a proposal worth Rs 10 crore to the Central government to save a girl child.

Following were honoured on this occasion.

Secondary category — Kuldeep Singh, Punjabi lecturer, Government Co-educational Secondary School, NTC (Rajpura); Surinder Kumar Jindal, science teacher, Government High School Kularan (Patiala); Sukhbir Kaur, Headmistress, Secondary School, Mullanpur Garibdas (SAS Nagar); Dr Jasveer Singh, science teacher, Senior Secondary School, Barre (Mansa); Jagdish Kaur Sidhu, Principal, Dashmesh Girls Senior Secondary School, Badal (Muktsar); Ramesh Pal, political science lecturer, Senior Secondary School, Bija (Ludhiana); Karamjit Singh, Punjabi lecturer, Government High School, Kheri Ghameri (Ludhiana); Ajmer Singh, DPI, Senior Secondary School Ghungrali (Ludhiana) and Sant Singh, Punjabi lecturer, Senior Secondary School, Tanda Badha (Fatehgarh Sahib).

Elementary category — Hardev Singh, Government Elementary School, Saidpur (Roopnagar); Harpreet Singh, ETT teacher, Government Primary School (Muktsar); Ajmail Singh Mohie, Head Teacher, Government Elementary School, Rurkakala (Ludhiana); Kanta Devi, Centre Head Teacher, Government Elementary School Gharota (Gurdaspur); Kulwant Singh Gill, art and craft teacher, Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Amritsar; Amar Singh, art and craft teacher, Government Kanya High School, Ramgarh (Ludhiana).

SANGRUR: Celebrating Teachers’ Day on its campus, Alpine Public School, Bhawanigarh, on Saturday organised a debate on the topic, “Should corporal punishment be banned”.Principal JS Hundal advised teachers to extend love and affection towards students while imparting education. Meanwhile, the day was also celebrated at Akal Academy, Cheema (near Sunam). Some teachers were honoured by chief guest former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Sangrur, September 5
Following Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s orders, the Chief Secretary has formed a committee headed by the Education Secretary to look into financial liability of restoring pension scheme to the aided schools’ teachers and other employees from June 1, 2003.

Adviser to Punjab State-Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union Manohar Lal Chopra said the committee had been given 10 days to finalise the report to be presented to the Chief Minister. The representatives of the

Finance Department and the union had also been included in the committee.

About 2,500 teachers and other employees, who retired from government-aided schools after June 1, 2003, have been awaiting pension and retirement benefits since then, as these were stopped by the Amarinder government.

Chopra added that on grants to government-aided schools, the Chief Secretary had also ordered the Education Department to release the grant-in-aid of the aided schools for April to September to avoid hardships faced by teachers and other employees.

Chopra said the Chief Minister at a meeting with representatives of the union three/four days ago admitted that the pension demand of aided schools’ staff was genuine, but due to financial crisis it was getting delayed.

Sirhind/Khamano, September 5
Heaps of rotten paddy lying in Fatehgarh Sahib godowns have become a cause of concern for the local people here.

The stench emanating from the rotten paddy stored in gunny bags lying in the open, covered with a thin black plastic sheet has blanketed the surrounding area.

“It’s not only the stench, but also the wastage of the crop that pains us. Lakhs of tonnes of paddy lying damaged here could have fed many a hungry stomachs,” said Beant Singh, whose house is situated near one of such godowns.

As per sources, nearly three lakh quintals of paddy are lying in the Khamano block of Fatehgarh Sahib. The adjoining tehsil complex houses 1,43,712 quintals of paddy while 1,22,992 quintals of paddy are rotting in a godown adjoining Ranwan focal point.

The residents of these areas are demanding immediate removal of the rotten paddy.

“The rotten paddy has bred mosquitoes and other insects that cannot be killed by the repellants available in the market. These are a cause of a nuisance for both us and the people working in the tehsil complex,” resident Avtar Singh said.

Although agencies have floated new tenders for the sale of the paddy, the residents are yet to get any respite.

Sources said the crop had got rotten due to climatic vagaries and might be unfit for human consumption. If such a situation occured, there was little scope for the entire lot to be lifted soon.

Chandigarh, September 5
Jagsir Singh - “murdered” 13 years ago - today walked into the Punjab and Haryana High Court to say he was indeed the man around whom the barely credible tale of conspiracy and intrigue was built.

Clad in the solemn colour of death - black - “the ghost who walks” told Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Jitendra Chauhan he was indeed “Jagsir Singh, son of Sukhdev Singh of Tallewal village” - the man for whose “murder” prime accused Nachhatar Singh has already spent five years behind bars. All this while, Nachhatar Singh was silently watching the proceedings. He is currently lodged in a jail and was brought to the court by cops.

His “body” was recovered on June 6, 1996, from a canal and identified by his father. There was also an “eyewitness” to the murder and “extra-judicial confession” by Nachhatar Singh and two others. Two police officials had appeared as prosecution witnesses.

The high court is currently holding an inquiry. Initially, there was no relief in sight for the accused, but the Bench took the initiative at justice by asking them to bring the facts to the fore.

As Nachhatar Singh’s plea for CBI probe and Rs 20 lakh compensation came up, the Bench recorded Jagsir’s statement. Justice Gill made it clear the entire state machinery was liable to compensate the accused, if they concluded it was a “grave case of human rights violation”.

Justice Gill said the court would not permit some low-rung officer to be made a scapegoat while fixing the responsibility for compensation; the Home Secretary and the Police Department could not run away from the liability.

The Bench on Jagsir Singh’s request appointed Haryana law officer SS Randhawa as amicus curiae, and directed issuance of summons to then DSP Darshan Singh Sandhu and SP (D) Madan Gopal. They had “checked” the challan against Nachhatar Singh and others.

Ludhiana, September 5
An alleged Babbar Khalsa terrorist Balbir Singh Bhootna’s two accomplices, Makhan Singh and Amritpal Singh of Mansa, were today arrested by the local police with the permission of the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate JPS Wehniwal. They were remanded to police custody till September 7.

Additional public prosecutor Sukhchain Singh claimed before the court that Makhan had provided .32-bore pistol used by Bhootna in firing at GRP officilas and killing a vendor at the local railway station on August 25.

He sought the remand on the plea that Makhan had also given one pistol to co-accused Amritpal. At that time, he had stated that he had talks with Neeta in Pakistan for the future course of action.

The police also wanted to know as to which VIPs were to be targeted by them. Their connections with the ISI agency were also to be probed. The public prosecutor also stated that they would be interrogated face to face with Bhootna.

Tarn Taran, September 5
The police has held four persons and recovered six stolen cars, five motorcycles, one tractor and one kg of drugs from them. Those held are said to be linked with the Dubli village encounter and hijacking of a bus by armed persons on August 25. Three members of the gang, Karan, Ravi Kanahiya and Ranjit Singh Rana were arrested on August 25 following an encounter with over 200 cops of Tarn Taran district and after “hijacking” of a private bus near Dubli village. The encounter had gone on for over three hours and one head constable of the Tarn Taran police had been injured in it.

A probe following the questioning of the three accused led to the recovery of one stolen Swift car, one .315-bore pistol, one double-bore pistol and 1 kg intoxicants and identification of four other members of the gang who, were arrested on Friday night at a naka near Jamarai village.

SSP Sukhdev Singh Brar and SP Paramdip Singh Teja said , Gurbinder Singh Ginn, Avtar Singh Tari, Davinder Singh Ladi and Sarwan Singh Samma, were travelling in a stolen Innova car when they were stopped and arrested at a naka at Jamarai near Goindwal Sahib. The questioning of the detained persons led to the recovery of one pistol, two Verna cars, one Tavera SUV, one Accent car, five motorcycles, one Indica car and one tractor from their possession. All these vehicles were stolen from cities of Punjab and J&K.

Brar said Ravi Kanahiya used make his men steal vehicles and for sale on the basis of fake documents. “They used to lift vehicles from crowded market. The gang has over 20 members of which, three were at large,” said Brar.