Chandigarh, November 6
The Punjab Government has silently started what may be interpreted as the “unbundling” of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to meet the December 15 deadline.

In the initial phase, the board has outsourced billing and surveillance work to two private companies in 30 out of the 104 divisions. “The task of these companies is limited to inspecting the electricity meters on the premises of a consumer and issue an on- the-spot bill based on the meter reading”, an official of the PSEB said.

The board is further contemplating handing over more work to private companies in a phased manner to avoid any confrontation with the employees who are opposing the “unbundling”. The two companies entrusted with the task of billing are Hyderabad-based CS Systems and KLG, a Gurgaon based company.

The Union Power Ministry had asked the state government to divide the monolith power board into separate legal entities for generation, distribution and transmission functions. It is now mandatory under the National Electricity Act, 2003, for all states to unbundle power boards.

Punjab is one of the few states been resisting this, mainly “under pressure from employees” of the PSEB, supported by farmers.

In September, the state capital witnessed a massive rally and rampage by a large number of people protesting against unbundling, which is aimed at encouraging competition among various departments of the board to improve functioning.

Experts feel that the PSEB, which is in a heavy debt, only be revived through the process of unbundling. The state government is in no position to bail out the PSEB owing to its own precarious financial health.

In fact, the state government has failed to give the PSEB the full subsidy component towards electricity being supplied to the farm sector for the months of September and October.

Punjab pays a monthly instalment of Rs 294 crore to the PSEB towards subsidy. On account of Punjab’s failure to pay the PSEB, the board has in turn failed to pay the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) a sum of Rs 142 crore towards power purchased by the board in September.

In fact, a former employee of the PSEB has filed a petition before the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission seeking timely release of subsidy amount due to the PSEB by the state government.

The government has been asked by the commission to pay a subsidy of Rs 3144.25 crore for 2009-10 payable by the government for free supply to a section of consumers. The government has already paid an amount of Rs 1083.83 crore to the PSEB towards the subsidy amount from April to August.

The government is in a fix over the issue of unbundling, especially in view of the fact that the same is being opposed by the employees with the “support” of farmers -considered to be the vote bank of the ruling SAD.

But at the same time, the government is unlikely to receive another extension for the purpose beyond the December 15 deadline, hence its desperation to look for a way out.

Khanna, November 6
The Khanna police is on tenterhooks after the seizure of a large amount of explosives from the Machhiwara area here late last night.

Nine detonators, 46 gelatin sticks, weighing 5 kg 750 gm, and a steel can filled with explosives, weighing 3 kg 182 gm, were seized from an abandoned bike adjoining the Sirhind canal near Machhiwara. According to police officials investigating the matter, some cops on patrolling duty adjoining the canal found a bike abandoned at the roadside, around 3 km from Machhiwara.

They looked for its owner but could not find one. The cops opened the bag, hanging around the bike, and found explosives and detonators. They immediately informed their seniors, including Khanna SSP Sukhminder Singh Mann and other officials, who reached there.

The bike was parked in the direction of Neelon (Ludhiana) and it was presumed that the accused were on their way towards Neelon and jumped off the bike after seeing police officials on patrol.

During late night investigations, it was found that the black Pulsar bike (PB-23-D8736) was stolen from the Khanna city area on October 1 and its owner resided in the adjoining Bhari village. The bike owner was rounded up by the cops for further investigations. He told the police that he had registered an FIR regarding his stolen vehicle.

The district police heads of the adjoining districts were informed about the incident and alerted after the recovery of a large amount of ammunition. Special nakas were put up in Khanna, the adjoining Fatehgarh Sahib and Rajpura areas as well. The Khanna police has also rounded up some people from villages adjoining Machhiwara, who were earlier involved in militant activities, searching for a clue about the explosives. Investigating officials revealed that similar gelatin rods were recovered from militants in Jagraon a few months ago and it appeared that these rods came from Gujarat.

Khanna SP (detective) Gurmeet Singh has been deputed for further investigations. While talking to The Tribune today, the SP said the efforts were on to trace the culprits involved in the case. 

Ludhiana, November 6
After the completion of investigations by a special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the Major GS Benipal assault case and subsequent presentation of challan, the state police has sought permission for further investigations on a plea that the presence of the prime accused and SAD councillor, Simarjit Bains, at the spot was doubtful.

The police has moved the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate JPS Wahniwal following the ADGP’s (Crime) observation in a fresh report. The police claimed that some new facts had come to light that needed to be probed thoroughly. It has been claimed that these facts could have a bearing at the evidence stage and during trial.

The ADGP’s observation is based upon a CD that was allegedly prepared at the time of the occurrence of the incident. Its report says that Benipal was seen talking to mediapersons, where he had alleged that Bains and his supporters allegedly beat him up.

However, he nowhere named the duo before the media in person nor alleged firing on him, making the claim of the tehsildar to be doubtful.

The report suggests to record the statement of the DC and the ADC, Ludhiana, to know what had really happened, as they had reached the spot first.

It also suggests to probe the locations of Bains and his close aide Kamaljit Singh Karwal from their call details.

The report was the outcome of a representation moved by one of the accused, Pardip Kapoor, who had claimed that at the time of the incident, he was at Dera Beas. He had also appended one affidavit furnished by the dera authorities.

The court had fixed the next hearing on November 13 for filing reply/objections by the complainant of the FIR, Major Benipal.

However, defence lawyers objected to the plea that the complainant had no right to file reply or raise objections, as the matter was between the police and the court. The challan was presented in this case on September 16.

Chandigarh, November 6
While victims of 1984 riots disrupted rail traffic at several places, including Ambala and Jalandhar, to protest against denial of justice to them, their lawyer HS Phoolka has appealed to them to shun such actions.

“Our fight is not against the public. Why inconvenience the general public? Our fight is against the Union Government as well as the Delhi government for getting the culprits of the worst-ever carnage in the history of Independent India punished,” says Phoolka.

Various organisations of victims of the riots had given a call to disrupt rail traffic today in protest against the denial of justice to them for the past 25 years.

Because of disruption in the rail traffic, several trains were either cancelled or were running several hours behind schedule thus putting the passengers to a lot of inconvenience.

“Though our hearts go out to the victims of the 1984 carnage, at the same time it does not help them anyway in harassing common people, many of whom may be travelling by trains to perform important assignments, including their duties.

“All right-thinking people want that justice be done and all those against whom sufficient evidence or eyewitness account is available should be prosecuted for their role in the 1984 carnage, but at the same time, common citizens who may have been supporting us in our fight for justice, should not be inconvenienced,” adds Phoolka.

Reports from different parts of the region suggest that among the trains affected by the “rail roko agitation” were the New Delhi-Chandigarh and New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express besides several other passenger and express trains. Though no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, train services were partially affected in the region.

Phoolka hoped that riot victims would see reason and use utter restraint in repeating such actions that put common citizens to inconvenience or harassment. Instead, they should concentrate their energies on the central prosecution agencies, especially the CBI and the Central Government to ensure that culprits, especially those holding high positions in the government or the ruling alliance do not get away with their 1984 actions.

Chandigarh, November 6
Coarse or fine, paddy is the king of crops in Punjab. This has more than been proved again with farmers who had banked heavily on PUSA 1121 basmati deciding to move away from it. However, they will not be going in for any diversification but moving back to a coarser variety albeit a new one --- PAU 201--- which has been a hit this year with farmers.

The last two years have seen a huge increase in area under PUSA 1121, which is a fine variety that has also bagged the basmati tag. The area under this variety nearly doubled in Punjab this year to around six lakh hectares due to the huge profits made by farmers last year. The variety sold between Rs 3,200 and Rs 3,500 per quintal in the wake of a booming export market.

However, the popularity of the variety, which is not procured by the government, led to a sharp reduction in prices this year. There was also a scare with Iran, the biggest exporter, banning its entry for some time with a state laboratory claiming it had a high metal content. Owing to these factors the variety is at present selling between Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,000 per quintal in Punjab and between Rs 2,100 and Rs 2,200 per quintal in Haryana.

BKU president Balbir Singh Rajewal claims private traders have also joined together to reduce the prices of the 1121 variety. Advising farmers to hold on to their produce Rajewal claimed traders had firm orders of 25 lakh tonnes and the price would pick up at a later date.

Whatever may be the rate, Punjab and Haryana farmers are definitely demoralised and are likely to go in for the cultivation of the PAU 201 variety on a large scale next year. A large number of farmers planted this variety this year despite threats by millers that they would not mill it due to what they term as excessive pin damage and discoloration. Rajewal said with the variety getting clearance from the ICAR, Hyderabad, and Union Food Minister Sharad Pawar indicating the government could increase specifications regarding damage content, the variety was likely to take centre stage next year.

Jalandhar, November 6
The PCMS-I Association has sought an appointment from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to discuss some of the burning issues related to the Health Department with him. General secretary of the Association Dr DC Sharma said the issue of filling the vacant posts of Director, Health Services, Family Welfare; Additional Directors; Joint Directors; and Deputy Directors was one of the important issues that needed to be addressed.

At present, 16 out of 40 senior-level posts are vacant. This number would swell to 20 by the end of this year and to 23 by the end of January 2010. The association wants the termination of the services of retired doctors re-employed on contract against the PCMS-cadre posts.

It is also seeking the filling up of the post of Director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation by a PCMS-cadre officer. Besides, it is also demanding that one of the present Deputy Director-rank officers of PCMS cadre should be posted as the state programme manager of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The association is for the appointment of senior officers of PCMS cadre as managing director, PHSC; mission director, NRHM; and project director, AIDS Control Society.

The association wants that the DGHS should co-ordinate the functioning of all wings of the health department. The DGHS should be the transferring authority of the employees up to the level of SMO. It should also function as the proposing authority for all other posts.

The association wants that the control of the 1,193 rural dispensaries should be given back to the Health Department. It also feels that 1,193 posts of rural medical officers should be merged into the PCMS cadre.

Ludhiana, November 6
A committee of experts, which was formed by the Union Agriculture Minister to conduct tests on PAU 201, has found that “the blackening of grain might be due to a high iron content, climate change and brown pigmentation in the aleurone layer. This also varies from lot to lot”.

Information from all three data indicates that an average total blackened grain varies from 3.40 per cent to 8.79 per cent. The data on pathological studies has proved that the blackening is not due to fungal infestation as it was suspected and that the grain is not susceptible to the aspergillus attack.

Hence looking at health benefits of the higher iron content in this variety, a slightly blackened and clack spot grain, which do not lose its aesthetic appeal compared with a white grain, can be considered as good grain due to extra health benefits.

The panel recommended that a fully blackened grain could be considered rejected due to its inferior aesthetic appeal, though they are not unfit for human/animal consumption. Even these grains have 23 per cent more iron content compared with white grain.

The analysis conducted at the CIPHET, Ludhiana, on brown rice samples, including blackened grain, also showed that the iron content in PAU 201 was 28.78 per cent higher than the regular brown rice data reported in the literature.

The panel had submitted a report in this regard to the Director-General of the ICAR, Dr Mangla Rai, in New Delhi yesterday.

Regarding preserving the quality at mill level, the 40-page report has observed that, “There are numerous factors that determine the final quality of rice produced by mills. Some of these problems can be solved at the mill, whereas others are related to the way rice is grown and handled after harvest”.

“The iron content of this variety is higher than other varities, which causes slightly blackened and black spot grain, and this fact needs to be taken into consideration for exempting this classification of grain from rejection,” the report mentioned.

Regarding the variety, the panel has maintained that, “It is a high yielding variety having yield potential 11 per cent higher than PR 116 and water requirement less than other similar varieties. The variety matures in 144 days.”

Ferozepur, November 6
The ongoing 51st Panjab University Inter-Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival, being organised on the campus of Dev Samaj College for Women here, has turned out to be an attractive showcase of Punjabi heritage, particularly the folk dances besides other presentations on the second day.

The gathering comprised besides dignitaries hundreds of local and outside students who had come here from different parts of the state.

Besides gidda and bhangra, quiz events and folk songs/ghazals, classical vocal instrumental music (percussion and non-percussion) and art and craft item competitions, phulkari embroidery, dasuti stitch, pakhi design, crochet work, knitting, mehndi designs and rangoli activities were also held today.

Students of MCM DAV College, Chandigarh, won the first position in gidda while the Government College for Women, Ludhiana, and Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, shared the second prize. The Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Chandigarh, and Dashmesh College, Badal (Muktsar), shared the third prize.

In phulkari embroidery competition, Asma Parveen of Dev Samaj College for Women, Chandigarh, Amandeep Kaur of Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd (Ludhiana), and Amandeep Kaur of Guru Nanak College, Muktsar, won the first, second and third positions respectively.

In Dasuti (cross-stitch) competition, Swati Aggarwal of Devki Devi Memorial College for Women, Ludhiana, got the first prize while Jugraj Kaur of Guru Nanak College, Doraha (Ludhiana), and Gurmeet Kaur of JS Khalsa College for Women won the second and third positions respectively.

In quiz competition, Government College for Men, Ludhiana, DAV College of Education, Abohar, and Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd (Ludhiana), won the first, second and third prizes respectively.

Other results: Pakhi design:1 Karamveer Kaur of Women College Raikot; 2 Sapandeep Kaur of Arya College Ludhiana; 3 Harpreet Kaur of Guru Nanak Women College, Ludhiana. Crochet work: 1 Ranjana Rani of Bhag Singh Swami Ganga Giri College Kala Tibba; 2 Neetu of Ramgarhia Women College, Ludhiana; 3 Kiranjit Kaur of Swami Ganga Giri Women College, Raikot. Mehndi: 1Silky Khurana of GHG Khalsa College Gursar Sudhar; 2 Renu of BCM College of Education, Ludhiana. Knitting: 1 Harpreet Kaur of Dev Samaj College for Women, Ferozepur; 2 Sweeti of National College for Women, Machiwara;3 Shilpa Rani of Guru Nanak College, Model Town, Ludhiana. Rangoli: 1 Navneet Kaur of AS College Khanna; 2 Harvinder Pal of Guru Nanak College Ferozepur;3 Reena of Government College for Women, Ludhiana. Classical (vocal): 1 Mitika Kanwal of GCG Sector-11 Chandigarh; 2 Harvinder Singh of Panjab University, Chandigarh campus; 3 Rupinder Kaur of Guru Nanak College Model Town, Ludhiana. Folk Song: 1 Harpal Singh of SPN College Mukerian; 2 Parmjot Singh of Government College of Education, Chandigarh; 3 Mandeep Kaur of Master Tara Singh Memorial College Ludhiana.

Patiala, November 6
The state government has decided to have a count of the number of people suffering from cancer in the state. The Department of Health and Family Welfare has sent a proposal to the Indian Council of Medical Research seeking its sanction to have a detailed survey and registration of the patients suffering from cancer.

According to sources in the department, such a survey is crucial to have a database of the patients suffering from this disease to chalk out plans to combat it.

They added the ICMR was favourably inclined to give a go ahead for this project. The ICMR has already given its sanction to have a registration of the cancer patients in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. They said it had been proposed that the government and non-government hospitals across the state would have a detailed data of registration of the patients reporting at these institutions suffering from cancer. These would also include the PGI at Chandigarh and Governent Rajindra Hospital and Medical College at Patiala.

Ludhiana, November 6
It will be wrong to blame the poor infrastructure in hospitals and health centres for the steep increase in the incidence of cervical cancer patients in India. Instead it is the "deficient diagnostic measures" adopted by doctors in the public as well as private health sector that have added to the number of cervical cancer patients, said Dr Rajaram P, former Deputy Director-General, Health Services, Government of India.

Dr Rajaram is working at present as Dean, Destiny Health University, St Lousia, in Caribbean Islands.

He is in the city to attend the XVIII Annual Conference of Association of Gynaecological Oncologists of India, organised by the local Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.

Associated with the cause of the National Cancer Control Programme in India, Dr Rajaram pointed a finger at the teachers in medical colleges across the country, who, he said, are not dispensing right education to the medical students. A majority of the young doctors fail to emphasise "screening" of cancer patients, Dr Rajaram stated.

The expert dispelled the misconception that screening of cervical cancer can't be done at a low cost. He added, "Cervical cancer is preventable and can be diagnosed at an early pre-cancer stage by screening. It is possible to screen a patient even at a primary and a community health centre centre. All the doctor has to do is look for the common symptoms of cervical cancer in women and recommend pap smear test and colposcopy," Dr Rajaram went on to add.

The doctor pointed towards Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) infection that has emerged as a major factor leading to an enormous increase in the number of cancer patients. HPV is transmitted by early sexual contact, multiple sexual partners, cigarette smoking and use of oral contraceptives and it is the duty of the doctors to create awareness for the same amongst girls/women so as to prevent cervical cancer.