Batala, September 20
All five members of a family in the town died after roof of a room of the house, in which they were sleeping, caved in early this morning.

The deceased, included Ramesh Kumar alias Bobby (35), his wife Mamta (30), son Monu (10), daughters Mona (7) and Passi (2). While four died on the spot, the fifth one died on the way to the hospital.

The residents started gathering near the house, where the tragedy took place and helped take out the victims from the debris.

SSP Naresh Arora said a case in this connection had been registered under Section 174 of the Cr PC.

SDM Rahul Chaba said he had sent report to Deputy Commissioner Karamjit Singh Sra, on the incident. He added the district administration would extend financial help to the kin of deceased, if the government announced it.

Chandigarh, September 20
Dealing a blow to basmati export and loss to Punjab and Haryana farmers, Iran has stopped import of Indian basmati after a government laboratory detected high contents of arsenic, cadmium and lead in the rice exported to it a few days back.

This development has resulted in steep fall in basmati prices in the export and domestic markets. The Union government has lowered the minimum export price for basmati rice from $1100 per tonne to $ 900 per tonne. Despite this 40,000 tonnes of basmati has accumulated at various ports in the country.

The price of 1121 basmati has been most affected, as this is the rice variety , said to be having unwanted metal content. The price has come down from Rs 110 a kg to Rs 85 .The price of ‘sela’ rice has fallen from Rs 75 a kg to Rs 60. Basmati rice is being traded at Rs 45 per kg in the ‘satta’ market.

Meanwhile reports reaching here said the Standard Institute of Industrial Research of Iran has disclosed Indian and Pakistan rice is contaminated with chemicals and have no nutritive value. It claims the consumption of this rice is likely to have harmful effects on human health. The report also disclosed the increase in length on cooking of this rice was not natural but due to contamination by chemicals.

The issue can have international ramifications with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), attached to the Commerce Ministry, deciding to get basmati in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, tested for metal contents. A high-powered team is also likely to visit Iran soon to look into the issue.

The Indian basmati rice exporters, who have been badly hit by the ban, has urged the government to take up the issue at the political level also. According to exporters Indian basmati, particularly the 1121 variety and the Pakistan copy of the same, which has been named ‘ kaynaat’, had caused steep fall in traditional ‘sadri’ rice variety of Iran. The exporters claims the tests are politically motivated.

Meanwhile experts said the depleting ground water and the intermixing of water pools due to over-exploitation could be responsible for the present situation. Ground water quality in Ferozepur belt in Punjab as well as Tohana, Ghanaur and Sonepat areas in Haryana is questionable.

The Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), which developed the 1121 variety, feels the samples tested in Iran need to be brought to India to validate these . IARI senior scientist Dr A K Singh said though arsenic was found in Bengal it was not a problem in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

Punjab Young Farmers Association general secretary Bhagwan Dass Gupta said steps should be taken to clear the air as other countries could also stop taking Indian basmati. He said traders and farmers would meet on September 30 at Rakhra near Patiala to discuss the issue.

Farmers in Punjab increased the area under basmati from 3.75 lakh hectares to 6.5 lakh hectares this year. In Haryana the area under basmati is around 3.25 lakh hectares.

Chandigarh, September 20
Punjab has decided to go ahead with piped gas lines for domestic and commercial use in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, before ex tending it to other cities.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board of India has approved the project . Punjab has invited tenders for laying pipeline in these three cities. It is hoped gas supply will be in place in 2010-11.

The Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has announced setting up of 610-km-long pipeline network from Uttar Pradesh to Himachal passing through Haryana and Punjab. So far, the proposed gas pipeline has been planned till Rajpura.

The Dadri-Bawana-Nangal pipeline would cost Rs 25 billion. Once the pipeline reaches Rajpura, priority has been to take it to Baddi in HP. HP has already inked pact with GAIL for piped gas supply. As per this agreement, the industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh would get priority supply in the first phase. Punjab, too, hopes to benefit from the pact between GAIL and HP, as gas would become available in the state.

The tenders floated by Punjab for laying gas pipelines have been expected to open in October. Since the gas would have already arrived at Rajpura by then, the supply can be extended to other cities almost simultaneously.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal reportedly held meetings with senior officials of his government to ensure that opening of bids and allotting of work is done without any delay.

Ludhiana, September 20
Evils of drugs, dowry and female foeticide are rampant in Punjab villages , say village women, who The Tribune talked to at the Kisan Mela organised by Punjab Agricultural University here.

A puppet show at the College of Home Science, highlighting drug addiction in state’s villages was the main attraction for the farm women from different parts of the state.

The women blamed politicians for drug addiction as they allegedly distributed liquor in the Lok Sabha, Assembly or panchayat elections.

The evil of dowry was also rising and efforts to check female foeticide had not produced desired results.

The women rued the youths were getting addicted to drugs and not willing to work in fields.

Kamaljeet Kaur from Jalandhar district said smack capsules were freely available in villages. On dowry, she said at the time of match making people ask, ‘bhaa tey rivaaz dekho’ (see rate and trend) , describing plight of the poor in villages. She regretted demand for dowry was going up.

Bhagwant Kaur and Rashpal Kaur from Patran village in Patiala and Issewal Ludhiana, former presidents, PAU Kisan Club, observed there was illiteracy in villages and women had little freedom.

The men don’t vote unless they get free liquor.

A woman from Chowki Maan, Jagraon, on condition of anonymity disclosed drugs were available in abundance near educational institutions in villages . Smack injections, jarda, cigarettes, capsules were a favourite with the youth.

The farm women were enthused to participate in the Kisan Mela.

The experts gave tips on home management, food and fruit preservation, interior decoration, flower arrangement, embroidery and stitching.

SS Khurana, Chairman, Railway Board, being escorted after he arrived at the Bathinda railway station on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Family pays obeisance at Takht Damdama Sahib
Harbinder Singh
Tribune News Service

SS Khurana, Chairman, Railway Board, along with his wife and son having ‘darshan’ of a handwritten Guru Granth Sahib at the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sahib on Sunday. Also seen in the picture is Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Jathedar of the Takht. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Talwandi Sabo, September 20
Chairman of the Railway Board Surinder Singh Khurana and his family members considered themselves fortunate to have paid obeisance at the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib here today.

He along with his wife Arvinder Kaur and son Pushpit Singh reached here this morning and spent about two hours at the Takht.

Jathedar of the Takht Balwant Singh Nandgarh performed an ardas for the state guest and his family members, and presented them with robes of honour (siropa), framed photograph of the Takht and a book carrying the historic significance of the Takht.

Nandgarh acquainted the visitors with the relics and scriptures and answered to their queries as he took them around the Takht. They were detailed about the historic artefacts preserved at the Takht. 

The visitors were among the few lucky ones to have ‘darshan’ of one of the four copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, which were handwritten by Baba Deep Singh. A ‘granthi’ (priest) read out a ‘Wak’ from the handwritten holy book while the visiting family listened to it carefully with folded hands. They also had ‘darshan’ of the historic weapons kept safe at the Takht. Before leaving, the visitors sat among the devotees and listened to the ‘shabad kirtan’ being recited at the Takht. 

While coming out of the Takht, Khurana and his wife told TNS that it was their first visit to the Takht and it had been on their mind for the past some time. Finally, it happened today, they added.

The chairman was in Bathinda to undertake inspection of the Bathinda-Rajpura-Ambala section. He seized upon the opportunity to visit the Takht. Senior railway officials, including Vivek Sahai, general manager, Northern Railway, and H.K. Jaggi, DRM, Ambala division, along with their wives, accompanied the chairman.

Chandigarh, September 20
The Punjab government has decided to subsidise Rs 1,296- crore power hike ordered by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) and write to the commission for permission to do so.

However till the case is not cleared by the commission consumers will have to pay enhanced bills which will be adjusted later in subsequent bills.

A decision to this effect was taken aftera day-long meeting of the SAD-BJP coordination committee, which ended today evening.

According to sources government nominees, including the Advocate General and the Chief Secretary besides the Power Secretary briefed the coordination committee on the legal and administrative problems in the way of roll back of the power hike ordered for the domestic, commercial and industrial consumers in the state.

The government nominees explained it was not possible to stop the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) from issuing the revised power bills to consumers. They said according to law it is mandatory for the PSEB to issue the revised bills after getting the tariff order from the Regulatory Commission.

The committee was briefed the PSEB was already getting reminders why it had not implemented the new tariff. It was also disclosed bills worth Rs 175 crore had been delayed since the five days and bills worth Rs 35 crore were issued by the board every day.

A two-member committee consisting of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and Industries and Local Bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia has also been constituted to conduct resource mobilisation exercise. The committee will submit its report in one month.

Today’s development is a shot in the arm for the state BJP, which has forced its coalition partner to take steps to protect its core constituency. The move, which was initiated by Manoranjan Kalia following a meeting of the legislature party, will however cost the PSEB dear.

The board is already reeling from debt of more than Rs 7,500 crore and it will have to borrow more to offset the new proposed subsidy. Banks have recently denied more loans to the PSEB due to its falling credit rating.

Those present at the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal included BJP general secretary Balbir Punj, veteran BJP stalwart Balramji Dass Tandon, state BJP Punjab president Rajinder Bhandari and Manoranjan Kalia. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Rural Development minister Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Tota Singh represented the SAD.

Chandigarh, September 20
More than 25,000 applications have been received for 160 posts of excise and taxation inspector in the state. The minimum qualification essential for the post is graduation.

Several MBAs, engineers, chartered accountants, lawyers and others who cleared the civil services are among those who got selected.

“Other than recession, other factor that contributed to such overwhelming response was the posts were being filled after gap of 20 years,” said Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, A Venuprasad.

“We have been into self-employed teaching for several years now. But now we are looking forward to this job,” said Vikramjit and Parminderjit Singh, both engineers from Amritsar.

Pawan Sharma an MA in economics has also been all set to join and so is Pooja Agarwal, a CA practising in Patiala. “I want to get into government job because of the security ,” she said.

Many others also feel so . “I think with recession, the job prospects in private sector are low. Moreover, I think government job commands more respect that private one ,” said Sukhpal Veer Singh, an MCA from Mandi Gobindgarh.

Jalandhar, September 20
The state’s petroleum dealers are up in arms against the group at the helm of their body for 25/30 years.

There was commotion at the general house meeting of the Punjab Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) when some dealers snatched the address system from the stage secretary and complained against alleged autocratic functioning of president of the association JP Khanna.

They alleged Khanna had done little to get their grievances redressed with the petroleum companies . Foremost was the problem of mushrooming petrol stations in the state over few years and falling profit margins.

President of the BJP investors cell Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal said only a handful of dealers had been invited to the meeting but there were 5,226 dealers in the state. The association had not ever tried to take up the issue of profit margin with the oil companies, he questioned.

He alleged the association was being run like a fiefdom with the posts going to the camp followers of Khanna. “ Yesterday , when we reached the venue, those present were taken aback to see us, since the only agenda was to ensure re-election of the present incumbent again,” they added.

When some dealers asked for the agenda, they were told there was none and they also expressed ignorance about the number of dealers and how many invitations had been sent. How could one run an association that did not even have list of members, he questioned.

A dealer, AS Mittal, said the points raised by the members were valid since no new members had been enrolled with the PPDA, having only 400 members.

Adampur dealer Monty Sehgal said new dealers had not been privy to what transpired at the general house and other meetings and had no one to fall back upon in any emergency, he pointed out.

Nabha , September 20
Dr Ravinder Kumar Kohli, senior medical officer Civil Hospital here is again in controversy for having two trees on hospital premises felled. In June, he had an air conditioner removed from Blood Bank and installed in his retiring room.

In August, doctors of Civil Hospital here alleged extortion of money by him in the name of higher health officials of Patiala district.

He had two trees cut from the hospital premises opposite the OPD. Someone tipped off mediapersons, who reached the scene and knew the cut trees were sent to sawmill of Rajinder Kumar at Boran Gate here. When hospital employee Amarjit reached there with cut trees, he was questioned by mediapersons .

He said the SMO had asked him to do it adding the SMO asked him to keep branches and send the stems to him.

Hospital employee Satvir Jindal, in charge of such works said a three-member committee was must before undertaking such work and he had no knowledge about any such committee formed for this purpose.

Forest Range Officer, Pawan Kumar said cutting of tree was against the SC ruling and permission of the Forest Office was must for cutting trees. He added his department would take action on getting a complaint.

The SMO refused to comment on the issue. He also asked reporters to switch off their cameras.

Ludhiana, September 20
According to data procured for 16 districts of the state, 13 have received deficient rainfall this year. According to Dr GS Bains and Dr KK Gill of the Department of Agricultural Meteorology, PAU, Kapurthala is the only district of Punjab that has received excess rainfall during the period from June to September, while Ludhiana and Jalandhar received normal rainfall during the period.

On the other hand, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib and Muktsar - with 70 per cent deficient rainfall in July - were the worst affected.

During August, 10 districts recorded 80-90 per cent deficiency in rainfall. Fatehgarh Sahib was the worst affected, recording a deficieny of up to 91 per cent.

PAU meteorologists observed that no major problem was noticed in the kharif crops and the farmers compensated for the deficiency by higher irrigation inputs.

Although Amritsar was badly affected, farmers had sown basmati rice in 50 per cent of the area this year. Due to the continuous dry spell, diseases such as sheath blight and bacterial leaf blight affected the paddy crop in some districts such as Jalandhar and Fatehgard Sahib.

Cotton and pulses were attacked by the white fly. Dr Bains said the social and economic impact of drought was substantial this year. Most importantly, the severe drought heavily drained the groundwater resources, which normally go down by more than a metre during such years. 

Kapil Goel, president of the Industrial Growth Centre Owners’ Association, claimed that the PSEB had notified two weekly offs i.e. on Fridays and Saturdays. “However, they resorted to a power cut today without assigning any valid reason,” he added.

The situation threatened to turn ugly before PSEB Superintending Engineer (SE) Jarnail Singh reached the spot and intervened. He claimed that repair work was being done on some electricity poles in the area due to which the power board had to impose a power cut.

He regretted the incident and added that in future, the industrialists would be informed well in advance if any repair work had to be done.

On their part, the agitated industrialists said that they would be forced to gherao the power board’s grid located in the Industrial Growth Centre if any such unannounced power cut was resorted to.

Chandigarh, September 20
While the experience of indoor patients on the quality of services offered at hospitals and other health facilities in Punjab is generally positive, the district authorities, however, need to take remedial measures concerning the behaviour of the staff, especially paramedical personnel, dealing with outdoor patients.

A study conducted by city-based Center for Research in Rural & Industrial Development (CRRID) has found large-scale dissatisfaction among patients. Interpersonal communication between doctors and patients, maintenance and cleanliness of facilities and privacy are some other issues that need attention, it adds.

The study - ‘National rural health mission in Punjab - a rapid appraisal in Patiala district’ stated the satisfaction level among outdoor patients with the quality of care received was lower as compared to their indoor counterparts.

The study was assigned to CRRID by the union health & family welfare ministry as part of its endeavour to get a ‘holistic perspective’ on its rural health mission and strengthen it.

The dissatisfaction level among outpatients was higher on the count of waiting time, behaviour of staff, cleanliness and space. The study revealed two-thirds were dissatisfied with the behaviour of the nursing staff, half of them with dispensers and one-third with the behaviour of doctors. The dissatisfaction level was higher among patients visiting community health centres than those going to district hospitals.

No provision to maintain privacy at the place of examination was the reason given for dissatisfaction among one-third of the patients, while the rest were unhappy with the kind of advice given by doctors on preventive measures and the postrecovery scenario.

Three out of every five patients felt discontented with the doctors, saying the latter did not have an answer for the queries raised by them regarding their ailment. The weak interpersonal relations between doctors and outdoor patients resulted in higher levels of dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, the study found the satisfaction level among indoor patients with the availability of various amenities provided by district hospitals was quite high, though a third of the patients felt the ambulance services were poor.

Machhiwara, September 20
An unmarried 28-year-old drug addict in the town today opted to undergo a vasectomy operation at the Machhiwara Civil Hospital in consideration for some money.

Besides unmarried youths several elderly men as well as those on whom a vasectomy had been conducted earlier, also gathered outside the hospital for the operation, all for some money all for some cash.

Of the 271 people who turned up today at the health department’s special camp for elective vasectomy held at the hospital, 228 of them underwent the operation. The government gives Rs 1,100 and a blanket to each of those who opt for the procedure under the family planning scheme.

However, unmarried drug addicts in search of easy money regularly show up for the operation at the hospital without giving any thought to future consequences.

“All I wanted was the Rs 1,100 in cash to buy drugs and to pay my debt, nothing else”, said the young Machhiwara resident outside the hospital after undergoing the vasectomy operation. He was brought there by one of the hospital attendants, who are paid Rs 200 for getting hold of such cases from various places in the district.

People who had lined up for the operation outside the hospital told TNS many of them were unmarried and had signed up for the vasectomy only for the money. “A tea vendor nearby has agreed to buy the blankets from those having undergone the operation for Rs 200 each”, said one of them.

Civil Hospital officials said they had been able to spot many of the ‘fake patients’, who included unmarried and elderly men as well as those who had already undergone the operation. “They were turned back”, they added.

Senior medical officer Dr Renu said “all eligible men were operated upon after they signed an agreement form giving their addresses and details of the number of children, if any’, admitting “some could have registered for the procedure providing a false name and address”.

Chandigarh September 20
Responding to an appeal by convener of the RTI Users Association HC Arora, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Punjab, Ramesh Inder Singh has written to the Chief Secretary SC Agarwal to consider amending the Punjab Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1966, to incorporate a provision to the effect that “every government employee shall, in performance of his duties in good faith, communicate to a member of public or any organisation full and inaccurate information, which can be disclosed under the Right to Information Act, 2005”.

Arora had pointed out to the Punjab State Information Commission that such a provision has been recently incorporated by way of Rule No. 11 in the conduct rules applicable to Haryana Government employees.

It was suggested that by incorporating such a salutary provision in the conduct rules, it could be ensured that any recommendation made by the State Information Commission for initiating disciplinary action against a government employee for deliberate non-furnishing of information would become binding on the head of department or the disciplinary authority.

Anandpur Sahib, September 20
Students studying at primary school at Dhruk village have not been served mid-day meals for the last two years.

Villagers said neither the children have got the meals for past two years nor there have been new admissions in the school. They alleged that a teacher, who joined school in December 2007, has been responsible for the misconduct. They added that the ration and funds meant for the scheme are being embezzled.

Acting on a complaint from the villagers, director general of schools, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), Krishan Kumar marked an inquiry to the SSA Ropar district manager Hajara Singh.

“The inquiry conducted has revealed that indeed children have not been served mid-day meals for the past two years. Two people have been found guilty for this,” he said.

Krishan added that the school does not directly fall under the SSA, but instead under the zila parishad. He added that SSA cannot directly take action in this regard.

The department has written to the ADC (development) Ropar recommending suspension of the employees found guilty in the inquiry.

Meanwhile, ADC (D) Manishvi Kumar said he would look into the matter as soon as possible and redress the complaint.

Patiala, September 20
The Punjab government has decided to have the facility of video conferencing in its jails. Punjab director-general of police (prisons) Anil Kaushik said five jails and 20 courts would be provided with the facility in the first phase.

The jails include the central jail in Ludhiana, jails in Hoshiarpur, Ropar and Sangrur and the sub-jail in Barnala.

He said initially the Rs 4 crore project was to be implemented by August 15 but due to certain technical bottlenecks, it got delayed and now it was expected to be effective by September-end.

The jails department had entered into an agreement with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) that was to provide the technical knowledge. BSNL had completed the trial run of the project.

The police needs to take undertrials to various courts at least 3.3 lakh times as they have to be produced in various courts several times. At present, there are 11,030 undertrials in the state, which include 602 women.

The government spends about Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 on every visit of the undertrial to court. Moreover, a whopping sum of Rs 24 crore is spent on transportation, fuel and salaries of staff, including security personnel in producing the undertrials in various courts every year.

The facility would also reduce the risk of undertrials escaping from police custody during court hearings.