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Roll back power tariff hike, says BJP
Cabinet refuses sanction to CBI to
prosecute Speaker
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A First
Adverse Effects of Temperature
Adampur shivers at 0.4°C
Groundwater Contamination
PTU introduces challenge evaluation
Red sanders wood seized
Corruption Charges
Bus stands to be named after martyrs
Assault on Lawyer
High Court
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Roll back power tariff hike, says BJP
Amritsar, December 22 He was in the town to conduct the first core committee meeting of the party. Punj said a five-member panel had been constituted today, which would meet Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. “It is a grave matter which should be on the top of list of priorities. In times of inflation, we have demanded that increase in power tariff in the domestic as well as in the industrial segment in the state should be withdrawn or the increase has to be paid through the treasury only. This is our long-pending demand which has remained unresolved till date,” said Punj. The delegation, which included state BJP chief Prof Rajinder Bhandari, MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, former minister Balramji Das Tandon and Cabinet ministers, Manoranjan Kalia, and Tiksun Sud, would submit a memorandum to the CM in Chandigarh tomorrow. The issue of installing the statue of late party leader Dr Baldev Prakash was also on the agenda of the core committee meeting. Punj said the statue would be installed on January 17 at Circuit House chowk in Amritsar. Meanwhile, differences between Manoranjan Kalia and Navjot Sidhu that had surfaced due to the appointment of Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina as Chairman of the Improvement Trust, have reportedly ended. Both of them were seen embracing each other after the meeting at the Circuit House.
Party ministers keep away from Cabinet meeting
Jangveer Singh adds from
Chandigarh: The SAD-BJP alliance is in the throes of another crisis with the saffron party making it clear that it would not climb down from its demand for withdrawal of the power hike affected in the state recently even as it kept away from a Cabinet meeting held here on Tuesday. This is for the second time that party ministers have kept away from a meeting. Earlier, they boycotted a Cabinet meeting when an Akali legislator allegedly misbehaved with Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia at the latter’s house. The BJP is not letting the matter rest with the boycott of the Cabinet meeting alone. Kalia met the CM in the evening and conveyed feelings of the party to him. However, the BJP is not admitting that it boycotted the Cabinet meeting.
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Cabinet refuses sanction to CBI to
prosecute Speaker
Chandigarh, December 22 The issue, which was taken up in the Cabinet even though the BJP ministers were not present, was discussed at length with the Cabinet considering the report of the SP (CBI) as well as the opinion of the Advocate-General’s office and the note submitted by the Chief Secretary. The Media Adviser to the CM, Harcharan Bains, said after considering all aspects it was felt that it was not a fit case for the grant of sanction under Section 197, CrPc, and the same was not granted. During the last Congress regime, the then Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had handed over the matter for investigation to the CBI following allegations that money had changed hands in the recruitment of the panchayat secretaries. According to sources, a request by the CBI seeking the state government’s consent to prosecute the Speaker had been pending with the government for more than seven months. Former Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh forwarded the letter to the Chief Minister but the government did not take any action on it till now. Earlier in October 2008 the Supreme Court had ordered the CBI to prosecute Kahlon. The court had dismissed an appeal by Kahlon against a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling which ordered the CBI to probe the allegations against Kahlon. The issue came into the limelight recently following claims that the government proposed to refuse sanction to the CBI to prosecute Kahlon. The Congress had made it an issue in the recent Assembly session, which witnessed tumultuous scenes and even violence between legislators. In other decisions today the Cabinet decided to abolish entry tax on ginned and un-ginned cotton in the state. It also gave its nod to revive 20 posts of dispenser in the Homoeopathic Department. The meeting also approved the revival of the existing posts and the creation of additional posts for the office of the Punjab Public Service Commission. The Cabinet also approved the creation of posts of PCS (JB) besides approving 60 posts in the category of Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate and 60 posts each in the categories of judgment writers, readers, ahlmads, stenotypists and peons. It also gave ex post facto approval to the creation of the sessions divisions at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Muktsar. In another decision, the Cabinet decided to provide land for the setting up of the Ishmeet sangeet academy ,Ludhiana, and the Harpal Tiwana natak academy, Patiala.
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School Education
Chandigarh, December 22 Creating history of sorts, the attendance of teachers in all schools across Punjab increased this year thanks to a meticulous inspection schedule followed each day. 2010 would see the implementation of the biometric system of attendance in schools. The “Padho Punjab” project, started under the Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyaan last year, has been immensely successful in improving the grasp of primary school students in Punjabi and Maths. To encourage reading and writing of English at this stage, special quality input project had been launched on an experimental basis in Mohali and is likely to be reproduced in all schools next year. This year every primary school has got a “reading cell” or mini library. To improve Maths and Science in higher classes, it was decided to have at least 40 per cent weightage for class work leaving only 60 per cent to final examinations. Free abacus classes were introduced in all schools of Kapurthala district, but likely to be available in all schools from next year. “Radio classes” thrice a week for environmental studies and languages was another unique accomplishment. The department also introduced a system of teacher evaluation by the student. “The aim for 2010 is to increase the gross enrolment ratio to 75 per cent. Right now it is 50 per cent,” said Krishan Kumar, director-general, school education, who is the force behind the school education turnaround in the state. For the educated youth who has been waiting for teaching jobs in government schools, the year 2010 will bring lots of good news. Other than the setting up of Adarsh schools, at least 21 model schools were being set up in the educationally backward block across the state. Another 351 schools would come up under the NABARD project and 70 schools were being upgraded from middle to high-level under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Sikhya Abhiyaan. Punjab is among the four states in the country whose RMSA proposal had been approved by the Government of India. The year 2010 is also be an year to watch out for in terms of major changes in how education is imparted across the country. The “Right of Child for Free Education” is expected to be notified. “All vacancies will have to be filled within six months of the notification and private unrecognised schools would have to be regulated,” said Krishan Kumar.
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A First
Amritsar, December 22 Though the term of the SGPC general house had expired in August, the Centre, which is responsible for holding the elections, “dilly-dallied” on the issue. SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC president Avtar Singh have already flexed their muscles on the issue saying the SAD is ready to go to the poll. Another important event on the SGPC agenda is the proposed online management of 60 gurdwaras. It is for the first time in the history of the 84-year-old Sikh organisation that it will embrace modern technology for running of its gurdwaras across the region. “Database of most of the gurdwaras is being collected. All gurdwaras will be managed online in the second half of 2010,” said a senior SGPC official. The SGPC management is also pinning hopes to come out with Guru Granth Sahib University at Fatehgarh Sahib. It is also prepared to set up a Sikh museum at Theh in Fatehgarh Sahib. For the SGPC this year, the most challenging time came when a number of Haryana-based Sikhs, led by HSGPC (ad hoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda, allegedly laid a siege on SGPC-controlled Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Kurukshetra on September 13. Later, Jhinda was summoned at Akal Takht and was declared tankhayia. To ward off criticism over an effort by the Sikh clergy to revoke Nanakshahi calendar in a clandestine manner, Avtar Singh was made to declare openly after his reelection for the fifth time in a row on November 25 that the calendar would not be revoked. “We are not going to revoke the calendar in the future and it will be subjected to certain requisite adjustments in the light of objections of the Sant Samaj,” said Avtar Singh.
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5 die as bus falls into gorge
Anandpur Sahib, December 22 The deceased have been identified as Firdaus of Ahmedabad, conductor Manoj Kumar; driver Pawan Kumar, both from Bihar, Meenakshi Gupta of Jaipur and Veenal of Gujarat. The injured were rushed to the Anandpur Sahib Civil Hospital from where three seriously injured, identified as Mohammad Moin, husband of deceased Firdaus, Krishna Karmarkar of Assam and Rasooq of Sonepat, were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. Sources said the incident took place when the driver of the Delhi-bound bus belonging to Swagat Tour and Travels reportedly failed to negotiate a sharp turn. On getting information, police parties from the Kot Kehlure police station, HP, reached the scene to carry out rescue operation. However, the rescue operation was hampered due to fog and darkness. A helpline (01978224400) had been set up wherein the relatives of the victims could get information.
One-year-old loses mom
The tragedy has rendered a year old Rozvin helpless. She lost her mother Fridaus in the mishap and her father Mohd Moin is struggling for life at the PGI with head injuries. However, the child did not suffer even a single scratch and lay nestled in the arms of her dead mother. The child has four of her relatives, who too have been injured in the accident.
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Adverse Effects of Temperature
Jalandhar, December 22 The meeting will be chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and will be attended by state Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah and senior officials of his department. Day and night high temperatures are having an adverse effect on the tilling of wheat plants. “We are worried as the night temperature continues to be 7-8°C and the day temperature is hovering above 20°C in the countryside,” said Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Director, state Agriculture. He said at this stage, the night temperature should not be more than 4°C and the day temperature should also be in the range of 14-16°C. High temperature at this stage of the winters not only stunted the growth of wheat plants, but also affected the tilling process, he added. “If the temperature did not fall in next four-five days, it would have an adverse effect on the
productivity of wheat”, said Sidhu. He said as wheat was sown a little late because of the late maturing of paddy in major parts of the state, the high temperature had not effected the wheat crop yet in a
big way. He said there should be screening of all varieties of wheat. “Those varieties that are tolerant to the high temperature in December should be separated from those which are not,” said Sidhu. Last year, the temperature at the sowing stage was high. The department had to request farmers to sow wheat when
the temperature came down. However, the temperature was suitable for sowing of the wheat in the second week of November and the
first fortnight of December this year.
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Adampur shivers at 0.4°C
Jalandhar, December 22 In the Malwa region, Bathinda recorded a low temperature of 6.4°C. The Met Department has predicted fair to partly cloudy sky with fog and mist in the morning hours and haze in the evening in the next 24 hours. The residents, especially the schoolchildren, had a tough time reaching their destinations while the destitute were seen sipping tea sitting around a bonfire in the morning.
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Groundwater Contamination
Patiala, December 22 Rajen Sundaresan, general manager of the AP Group, today said the conclusions of a 36-month study by senior professors of the Department of Soils of the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana had found the presence of arsenic in drinking water to be the major cause of cancer mortality. An analysis of 168 groundwater samples drawn from various parts of north India found proportions of arsenic deposits in groundwater caused by minerals dissolving from weathered rocks and soils. Dr Jitendra Kumar, Society of Pesticide Science India, referring to the report by Dr HS Hundal during a presentation in a seminar held at Punjab Agricultural University, said symptoms of arsenic toxicity develop over 6 to 24 months causing blackening and thickening of skin, occurrence of black spots on different parts of the body and skin cancer, amongst other health complications. Thus putting the blame for increase in number of cancer cases on high pesticide residues by green blind NGO have been proved wrong. A report by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research blamed rich diet, alcohol and tobacco consumption for the high incidence of cancer in the region. Punjab cancer patients had chosen a well-equipped charitable cancer hospital in Bikaner on account of affordable treatment, medicine and therapy charges being offered there. Accommodation and food for patients and those accompanying them was also heavily subsidised. Devoid of scientific merit, the allegation about cancer on account of pesticide residue, seems to be aimed at garnering cheap publicity for their outfits and enhancing donations, alleged Rajen Sundaresan, a representative of Indian Agrochemicals Industry.
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PTU introduces challenge evaluation
Jalandhar, December 22 Any student who is of the opinion that the marks secured by him or her in an examination are well below expectations can challenge the evaluation of the answersheets by paying Rs 2,500 per
answersheet. He or she will also be allowed to take one evaluator of his or her choice to sit along with the first university-appointed evaluator who had earlier evaluated the answersheet. If during the challenge evaluation, the marks increase by 25 per cent, the university will return the money taken from the student for challenge evaluation and add the increased marks accordingly. However, if the increase in the marks is less than 25 per cent, the university will increase the marks of the student concerned but will not refund the money. An increase of 25 per cent marks will lead to debarring in the matter of future evaluation of the university-appointed evaluator. The other option available will be to go in for revaluation, a system already in existence. However, making an amendment, the university has now decided to allow revaluation in cases only where a student secures a minimum of 25 per cent marks in the subject concerned. Dr Rajnish Arora, Vice-Chancellor of PTU, said the new challenge evaluation system would bring about more transparency in the system. Dr Arora said the condition of 25 per cent for revaluation had been laid down because earlier some students with a very low score were seeking the revaluation of papers. Registrar of the university Nachhattar Singh said students could apply for challenge evaluation within 15 days of the declaration of the results. The university has also resolved to declare the results of all ongoing semester examinations by February 28 and of all revaluation and challenge evaluation cases by March 31. Dean, Examinations, N.P. Singh said the challenge evaluation system would be applicable to the ongoing semester examinations.
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Punjabi varsity plans big for 2010
Patiala, December 22 The university’s plans for the New Year include setting up a Centre for Research and Vocational Training for Physically Disabled (CRVTPD), short-term evening courses in videography and video editing, construction of two synthetic lawn tennis courts and exchange programmes with world’s top-rated universities etc. According to the university authorities, the CRVTPD will be set up on the university campus and the project will solely be funded by the Central Government. The centre will help students suffering from various disabilities by providing them free computer education so as to ensure their 100 per cent employability against the posts reserved for them. The university is also in the process of finalising tie-ups with some top-rated universities in the world so as to provide students international exposure in various disciplines. “The Centre for Advanced Media Studies (CAMS) project is at an advanced stage of finalisation,” said Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh. The varsity is also contemplating to start short-term evening courses in videography and video editing from the next session. These will be followed by courses in direction, script and screenplay writing. For promoting sports, two new synthetic lawn tennis courts will come up in university next year. Though the university authorities have chalked out several proposals, financial constraints are bound to cause some hindrance in their implementation. The authorities, however, are determined to make all efforts to impart cost-effective advanced knowledge to the students. “We have started a number of job-oriented courses for which we have to create infrastructure and recruit staff, which will require additional financial expenditure. As enough grants are not forthcoming either from the state or the Centre, we find ourselves in a tight spot over executing certain intended targets in the direction of taking to the university to the pinnacles of glory,” said the Vice-Chancellor.
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Red sanders wood seized
Ludhiana, December 22 The accused have been identified as Dinesh Pathania, Sukhdev Singh, Harminder Singh, alias Bunty, Sandeep, alias Sonu and Sanjiv Kashyap The banned goods were being carried in freight containers. In the export container, documents contained the description of goods as “pebbles”. However, after examination, 10.72 tonnes of red sanders wood were found concealed with layers of pebbles in the front portion of the container. Red sanders wood is prohibited items for export as per Schedule - 2 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 and is also covered under Appendix-II of CITES List. During the follow up action, 25.810 tonnes of more red sanders wood was
seized from a godown in New Delhi. Further, the import consignments on examination were found to contain undeclared goods -organ pipe coral- “Tubipora musica”, a rare sea object found in shallow waters of the Red Sea, West Pacific Sea and Africa’s East Coast. These are included under Part IVA of the Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and are accordingly prohibited for import and trade in India. The organ pipe coral is listed in Appendix-II of the CITES and the import is subject to provisions of CITES. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
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Corruption Charges
Jalandhar, December 22 While senior IAS officer VK Janjua was arrested and suspended for having remained in judicial custody for 14 days, the other accused, local Civil Hospital medical superintendent (MS), Ashok Nayyar, not only managed to escape suspension but was also appointed back as the MS at the instance of a senior minister. Ironically, Nayyar was lodged in the ICU at the hospital following his arrest after he complained of high blood pressure. Vigilance sleuths also did not search his house for incriminating evidence, while this ‘patronage’ was not extended to Janjua whose residence was thoroughly searched by cops. Although the MS remained in judicial custody for six days, he was not placed
under suspension by the Health Department but went on to occupy the same position wherein he had been nabbed for accepting part of a bribe from a chief pharmacist of the
same hospital. Talking to the TNS, a senior functionary of the government said civil servants had to be placed under suspension and proceeded against as per norms in case they
had been in judicial custody for more than 24 hours.
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Bus stands to be named after martyrs
Amritsar, December 22 Stating this here today, Punjab Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal said “A proposal to this effect is soon going to be put before the Cabinet to sell redundant bus depots on lease to private bidders. There are around nine such depots all across the state which have been lying idle for long and it had been observed that over 50-acre land is lying idle”. “A proposal is being mooted to sell them on lease and the money generated from it would be ploughed back to garnish the transport scenario. New buses can be bought from the money and more infrastructures can be developed like making new bus stands etc”, said Mohan Lal, who was in town to attend the core committee meeting of the BJP. About the new state of the art bus stands coming across the state, the minister told that two new bus stands are coming up soon at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali and Patiala, besides nine bus stands at Zira, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Moga, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Nangal, Pathankot, Dera Baba Nanak and Jagraon had been repaired and modernised.
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Assault on Lawyer
Chandigarh, December 22 In a letter written to the PM, Badal highlighted the plight of the embattled Sikh family in Pakistan, as reported in a section of the media on December 15 that a Sikh lawyer, Anup Singh, was allegedly thrashed and his hair was cut by a group of Muslims for “refusing” to embrace Islam and was later booked by the police authorities.
— TNS
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High Court
Chandigarh, December 22 In a reply to a petition filed by international-level shooter, Sohrab Singh Gill, the Union of India yesterday said, “The rights of overseas citizens of India were subject to issuance of a notification by the Central government, in exercise of powers under Section 7-B of the Citizens’ Act, 1955 and that no notification has yet been issued by the Central government.” Gill in the petition filed through counsel Pavit Singh Mattewal had earlier raised a vital question of law, “Can overseas citizen of India represent the country in sports events as a part of the national team?” Son of Punjab’s director-general of police, Gill, had also sought the quashing of a communiqué holding the OCIs ineligibility to represent the country as a part of the national team. The reply by under secretary with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Shankar Lal added the notification had not been issued under which the writ petitioner could claim any right to represent India in sporting events. It added that the only notification by the Central government was on April 11, 2005 that states, “OCIs shall be granted parity with the NRIs in respect of all the facilities available to them in economic, financial and education fields, except in the matter relating to the acquisition of agriculture or plantation properties.” Referring to the Olympic charter, Gill’s counsel had asserted a participant could choose between the two countries, if he was in a position to represent both. He added Gill had been playing since 2007 and was also studying here. It was added Gill’s precise grievance was that dual citizenship had been allowed in terms of OCIs had been recognised after the amendment in the Citizenship Act. Yet, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports relying on the policy on participation of foreign nationals started treating them ineligible.
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School Education
