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Power hike rollback unlikely
Jor Mela ends with nagar kirtan
Territorial Army Recruitment Rally |
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Bittu voices cane growers’ plight
Emission of Fly Ash from Plant
State in grip of politics over power subsidy
Thrust on schoolchildren’s health likely to continue
SYP calls upon youth to oppose deras
Animal fair begins in Moga
Pak releases 100 Indian fishermen
Sainik School for Gurdaspur
Public support must to defeat drug abuse: DGP
Widening on NH-21
Haryana seeks legal opinion to reopen Ruchika case
Tribune Impact
Allotment of Tender
Marriage palace row: Patiala DC visits site
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Power hike rollback unlikely
Chandigarh, December 26 The SAD-BJP alliance partners, who are set to meet again tomorrow after a seven-hour marathon meeting two days ago failed to completely resolve the power hike tangle, are, however, getting on more comfortable ground as far as the issue of subsidies as well as resource mobilisation is concerned. Sources said tomorrow’s meeting would focus on removing all perceived differences between the alliance partners and that the discussions could continue. A final decision may not be reached with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal not attending because he has gone abroad. According to the sources, at the last meeting it was conveyed to the BJP that there was no way in which the government could take a further load of subsidising the power hike on domestic, commercial and industrial consumers, but it could look at other ways and means to give relief to its urban constituency. The BJP itself is divided on how to take the issue forward with those who are part of the government not wanting to precipitate matters but being egged on to do so by those outside it. The sources said the SAD had made it clear that it understood the problems of its alliance partner and wanted to strengthen it in the coming days so that it could go back to its core constituency with confidence before the next Assembly elections. The two-member committee of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia has come up with a proposal to rationalise excise taxation which will result in the inclusion of more persons in the tax net and raise resources. The committee feels there is need to encourage manufacturers who are part of the parallel economy to pay taxes. As far as free power to the farm sector is concerned, the SAD is not in favour of withdrawing this facility. Though plans to limit the facility to small and marginal farmers have also been proposed, a survey has revealed that 80 per cent of the farmers in Punjab fall under this category. What is definitely being visualised and will be implemented is metered supply to tubewells. A survey has revealed that 250 per cent of the electricity being marked for tubewells is being misused. Doing away with this misuse itself would mobilise more money for the state, the sources said.
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Jor Mela ends with nagar kirtan
Fatehgarh Sahib,
December 26 Nagar kirtan started from gurduwara Fatehgarh Sahib at 9 am after Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Tarlochan Singh performed ardas and Darbar Sahib head granthi Bhai Jaswinder Singh took the hukumnama for the day. With panj piaras (five beloved of Guru), Guru Granth Sahib was taken in a decked up vehicle. Dozens of ragis groups, gatka groups, nihang, workers, Sukhmani Sewa Societies and Sarv Dharam Sewa Society members walked ahead of the vehicle remembering the martyrdom of younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh and his mother Mata Gujri. The Students Akal Academy, Baru Sahib, gave guard of honour to Guru Granth Sahib. Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Shaheed Udham Singh Foundation, Mandi Gobindgarh, distributed 10, 000 copies of hukumnama issued by Shri Akal Takht against female foeticide. Students of Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana, also participated in the procession. After covering a two-hour distance, the nagar kirtan culminated at Gurduwara Sri Jyoti Swaroop with kirtan. Jathedar Tarlochan Singh performed ardas. The mob observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls. Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib thanked devotees for reaching at Fatehgarh Sahib on the occasion. He appealed the people to get their children baptised and take up the cause of religion and also asked them to come out against the drug addiction. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar also addressed the gathering. Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan and SSP Dr Kaustubh Sharma expressed satisfaction over the peaceful culmination of the Jor Mela.
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Territorial Army Recruitment Rally Mohit Khanna Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, December 26 Nearly 4,000 youths from five states, namely Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Delhi vied for mere 29 posts, and the officers expressed concern over the weak physical standards of Punjabi youth. Punjabis, who used to boast about their strength and stamina, failed badly in both aspects. The youths were seen giving up running mid-way, while some struggled to complete the 1600m race in the stipulated time of over five minutes. The youths from the neighbouring state of Haryana outperformed the Punjabi youths on almost every front, be it physical standards or stamina. Well over 2,000 youth from Haryana alone participated in the recruitment drive conducted at the Territorial Army Headquarters here today. On the other hand, little over 500 youths of the state participated in the recruitment drive. "Drugs have spoilt our lads,” rued a soldier, who was deputed near the entrance gate of the command headquarters. Even Col Pardeep Kumar, Director, Territorial Army Recruitment, said the Army was expecting that the youths from Punjab would participate enthusiastically in the recruitment drive, but the lads from Haryana outnumbered them. He added that a majority of the youths from Punjab, who turned up at the rally, could hardly match the physical standards required for the Army. On the other hand, a group of youths hailing from Sangwan, Bhiwani, Rohtak and Kurukshetra in Haryana, who were not selected in the trial, sounded positive. "It is not the end of the road. We will go home and start practising for the next recruitment drive," said Sandeep from Bhiwani.
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Bittu voices cane growers’ plight
Mohali, December 26 “Today the efficiency of the sugar mills is under question as their production is less than 10 per cent of the total quantity of sugar cane used. The state government does not even bother for the technological upgradation of the co-operative sugar mills,” he added. Had the government upgraded the mills in the last three years, the production of sugar would have increase manifold, resulting in more profits for the mills, which in turn would have paid farmers in time. In the absence of remunerative and timely payments to the farmers, they are losing interest in cane cultivation. As a result, the mills are facing closure and thousands of workers have a bleak future. All this was due to the lack of initiatives on part of the state government, he said.
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Emission of Fly Ash from Plant
Bathinda, December 26 The matter had been brought to the notice of the PSHRC by two complainants--- Dr G.S. Dhillon and I.S. Kalsi--- who were also present when the commission issued the directions to the GM recently. Environmental engineer of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Bathinda, Kulwant Singh had told the commission that unit numbers 1 and 2 of the thermal plant had already been renovated by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and the emission of fly ash from these units had been found to be within the prescribed limits during checking. However, regarding unit numbers 3 and 4 of the plant, the environmental engineer told the commission that despite reminders and notices by the PPCB, the PSEB authorities had not undertaken renovation or repair work practically so far. The PSEB’s Law Officer, Shiv Kumar, and advocate A.K. Sharma were not in a position to tell the commission regarding the steps that had already been taken by the PSEB to see that the fly ash emitting from these two units (numbers 3 and 4) was within the PPCB’s prescribed norms and how much time the PSEB would take to do so. The commission,therefore, directed the GM of the thermal plant to be personally present on the next date of hearing (January 14) to apprise the commission on the facts in this regard. When contacted on the phone, public relations officer of the thermal plant Satwant Singh Aulakh confirmed that the GM had received the directions from the PSHRC.
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State in grip of politics over power subsidy
Chandigarh, December 26 The state has no plan to extricate itself from this heady cocktail of traps. Energy conservation is still not being taken very seriously. Energy theft is an issue that is furthest from the minds of politicians, who do not want any checking in their respective constituencies, and ideas like putting shares in thermal plants coming up at pit heads in coal-producing states are still to catch up. The state, which has never interested itself in nuclear power, now says it is interested but it seems it has already missed the bus with no nuclear power plant planned for Punjab in the near future. Power issues were at the centre stage this year. The state government chose to keep asking for extensions for unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). Now, the deadline for unbundling of the board is March 31 next year. However, how this deadline will be enforced is yet to be seen. The Chief Minister is quoted to have written to the Union Power Ministry that it is necessary to wipe off the balance sheet clean as far as debt taken by the PSEB is concerned before making new companies but the government clearly does not have money for the same. The PSEB’s financial position is such that insiders say it is a miracle it has not collapsed till now. The board has accumulated losses of Rs 8,000 crore and has an outstanding loan of Rs 16,000 crore. Its working capital loan itself, which was Rs 900 crore in 2005-06, is now Rs 6,500 crore. What is most worrying is that the board will pay an interest of Rs 1,600 crore on loans taken by it in 2009-10. Banks are refusing to give more loans to it and how the board is able to generate money to buy power next season is yet to be seen. Despite the gloomy financial position, the state is in the midst of politics over subsidy. The government, which finds it difficult to subsidise the board for power given free of cost to farmers and below poverty line Dalit families (Rs 3,000 crore) is being pressurised by the BJP alliance partner to subsidise consumers who have witnessed a 12 per cent hike in tariff recently. If there is any one silver lining, it is the four thermal plants that are expected to come up due to the interest shown in the projects by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The projects, however, have been delayed and are not likely to be commissioned in the next two to three years. The 540 MW Goindwal plant being taken up by GVK is the only on which work is progressing well. Sterlite delayed work on the 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo project, the 2,640 MW Gidderbaha project is still to take off due to failure in firming coal linkages while the 1,320 MW Rajpura plant has only recently been awarded to Larsen and Toubro.
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Thrust on schoolchildren’s health likely to continue
Chandigarh, December 26 The department undertook medical examination of all children in the primary and upper primary classes in government schools in Punjab. A herculean exercise that is likely to continue in 2010. Other than the basic dental and eye care, the department collaborated with the school education authorities to shortlist children who were suffering from serious heart diseases and cancer. The state took upon itself to get these children treated and it was just a few months ago when a host of such children who had been treated of their heart problems came for a trip to Chandigarh. Many doctors recruited afresh by the department did not join their duties and all hopes of finding doctors in government hospitals now lie with the super VIPs recruited through a “transparent” process of selection by the Punjab Public Service Commission. The department is also faced with shortage of food and drug inspectors due to which the outreach of the department’s authority has got limited. At present, there is only one food inspector and one drug inspector in a district, which is grossly inadequate since there has been a massive increase in the number of drug stores and food establishments. Despite the odds, the year saw a major crackdown against sweet shops during the festival season. Several efforts were directed towards controlling drug abuse with focus on cancelling licences of chemists who supply pharmaceutical drugs to youth. The department is expected to set up in 2010 drug de-addiction treatment centers (DDTCs) in all district hospitals, where 10 to 20 beds will be earmarked for the addicts. In terms of AIDS control, the state added to its network of Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs). The state won accolades nationally for having handled the dreaded swine flu very well. It also braced up this year to combat cancer, one of the fastest-emerging killer diseases in the state. A house-to-house survey of the disease has been ordered as a baseline survey of the extent of the problem and its regional specificities. The report of the survey is expected in 2010 and would be something to watch out for. This year the Health Department has also claimed that the sex ratio in the age group 0-6 has gone up though the report of a massive survey undertaken by the department with the help of a Lucknow-based agency is still awaited. This should be the other interesting report which would be out in 2010 and help the department charter its course in reducing female foeticide in Punjab.
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SYP calls upon youth to oppose deras
Hoshiarpur, December 26 There was a consensus among the participants that the young boys and girls of the state should change the trend of “running to western countries” for a better life as their exodus has meant a heavy inflow of migrants that has posed a threat to the language, culture and peace in the state. A resolution to this effect was adopted on the occasion. Earlier, the delegates of the organisation elected Gurpreet Singh Mann their next president for a term of one year and authorised him to build the organisational structure afresh. Around 300 delegates of the organisation from Punjab today converged at the local gurdwara and chose Mann to lead the organisation. As the guest speaker, Dal Khalsa president HS Dhami exhorted the youth to be in the forefront to lead the movement against the drug menace and apostasy. The conference, through a resolution, reiterated its unflinching respect for Guru Granth Sahib and appealed to one and all to oppose all such cults and deras that have been cropping up to undermine the basic tenets of the Sikh religion. In another resolution, the gathering warned the SGPC against tampering with the Nanakshahi calendar.
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Animal fair begins in Moga
Charik (Moga), December 26 The fair was earlier scheduled from December 14 to 16 but was postponed after reports of foot-and-mouth disease, which claimed the lives of some animals in Faridkot and Moga districts. The contagious and at times fatal disease spread in the area in the last week of November with initial reports coming from Moranwali, Daroli Bhai, Bhalour, Paccan, Tehna, Mandwala, Gill, Mudki and many other villages of the area. Dr Mittal said some of the farmers had got their animals vaccinated from private practitioners and did not give information about the disease to the Animal Husbandry Department due to which a lot of confusion was created in the area. “Now, we have vaccinated all cattle and there is nothing to worry about,” he claimed. In the first week of December, experts of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University had suggested to the state government not to hold this fair. Dr M. P. Gupta, Head of the Department of Epidemiology of this university, had visited some dairy farms in Moga district where animals were affected by this disease. “There is an incubation period of 21 days for the disease. Since we have vaccinated all animals, the situation is now under control and the fair is safe,” said Dr Mittal. The fair began with a good response from farmers. It was inaugurated by Jathedar Tota Singh, senior leader of the ruling SAD. It has received more than 1,200 entries of different animals.
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Pak releases 100 Indian fishermen
Amritsar, December 24
He remained in captivity for a little over three years during which five members of his family died, he said. Another fisherman, Shankar of Kutch, said it was extremely difficult to distinguish between Indian and Pakistan waters in the Arabian Sea. He said more than 500 Indian fishermen were still languishing in various Pakistan prisons. The Pakistan Government unilaterally released the Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture. All of them were held in a prison in Karachi. The fishermen were released after the conclusion of the Retreat ceremony around 6 p.m. Wing Commander, Pakistan Rangers, Wasim Akram handed over the fishermen to Indian officials. Deputy Director, Gujarat Fishery Board, V.K. Shukla was at the checkpost to receive the fishermen, most of whom are residents of Junagadh.
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Sainik School for Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur, December 26 The school would come up at nearly 40 acres, which would cost about Rs 60 crore. Revealing this, Defence Services Welfare Minister, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, during a state-level ex-servicemen rally here, said so far the state had just one Sainik School at Kapurthala. He said the village panchayat had already provided the land for the same and the construction work would be commenced soon. Meanwhile, he distributed cheques for Gallantry awards worth Rs 70 lakh to the awardees and gave sewing machines to widows and tricycles to handicap dependents of ex-servicemen under the ex-gratia scheme.
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Public support must to defeat drug abuse: DGP
Anandpur Sahib, December 26 Gill, who was here to inaugurate the Nek Chand Park at Nurpur Bedi, also exhorted the policemen to gird up their loins to rein in the culprits involved in drug trafficking. The DGP also paid obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib where he was presented with a siropa. The DGP also Majari village, situated on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab’s Ropar district. Notably, Majari has been infamous for illegal drug trade. Ropar SSP LK Yadav had initiated a special project here under which the Punjab police was to fight out the evil in villages falling under jurisdiction. Appreciating the efforts of Ropar police, Gill said the drive had yielded positive results and helped greatly in compounding drug peddling to and from Majari village. The residents, too, expressed their gratitude, saying the police’s drive had brought back several drug addicts. Meanwhile, Gill, while speaking to mediapersons later, said 200 non-gazetted officers would be promoted in the state soon. Also, he said various terrorist outfits were trying to raise their ugly heads in the state but their “activities were being closely watched”. On the occasion, he awarded ASI Gurmukh Singh with a citation and presented Shaheed Joginder Singh Khera Memorial Award to him for his exemplary service. He also honoured Sarwan Singh from Maura village and Budh Singh Rana from Baruwal village for helping the victims of accident near Garha Mora and working for their rescue. The DGP distributed stipend cheques among 67 students. SSP LK Yadav said students from various schools would be sensitised about traffic rules at the traffic park in Nurpur Bedi. A traffic rules committee was also formed to look into the arrangements for the tour of students.
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Long power cuts cripple business, banks
Tribune News Service
Kharar, December 26 After being snubbed by the technical advisor to Punjab Chief Minister, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) officials have pulled up their socks and are trying to wind up pole shifting from the road under construction as soon as possible. This has resulted in day-long unscheduled power cuts starting from 10 am to 6 pm. The city also has to go without water supply as most of the tubewells do not have power back-up connections. Due to the excavation work in progress, many landline and Internet connections of BSNL have suffered an onslaught. The landline connections in area of Janta Nagar, Mittha Khoon wala area, Arya road and main bazaar have been dead for the past three months. Similarly, the excavation work at Desu Majra has ripped off the Internet connecting wires to nearby banks leading to great trouble. Temporarily, the BSNL has provided banks with overhead wires for Internet connection, which do not function properly hampering the banks’ work. “We either have to ask customers to come the next day or simply wait for the Internet connection to resume,” disclosed employees at Bank of Baroda. “It’s a great relief that the killer stretch is finally being widened at a war footing. But it could have been done in a much organised manner without troubling commuters and residents,” pointed out GS Grewal, a resident.
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Haryana seeks legal opinion to reopen Ruchika case
Ludhiana, December 26 Stating that since the prosecuting authority in the case was the CBI, Hooda said they had to seek legal opinion to find out whether they could reopen the case or not. Hooda, who was on a personal visit here today to meet his old friend, GS Chawla, while talking to The Tribune said he had full sympathy with the Girhotra family and he would not leave any stone unturned to see that justice was done to them. Refusing to comment on the stand of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala on the issue, Hooda said he did not want to play politics on the misery of a family. ‘‘I do not want to say anything. It is already a very shocking case and the family can count on me,’’ he said. While commenting on the allegation of Ruchika’s father that his government did not do anything, Hooda said the Girhotra family had never contacted him. ‘‘In fact I had assured them security as they were under a threat,’’ he said. The Haryana Chief Minister also said they would seek legal opinion on the issue of a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee for the state. Stating that the Chattha committee had already recommended a separate body, Hooda said they wanted to know what the law had to say on the issue‘‘We do not want to hurt the religious sentiments of any community.The Sikhs there demand a separate management committee and hence we are just exploring the option. If the legal experts give a green signal, we will go ahead with it,’’ he said. Commenting on the issue of a separate high court for Haryana, Hooda said he had already put forward his demand to the Union Law Minister. ‘‘The minister has agreed that a separate high court was a legitimate right of a state,’’ he said.
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‘Assault’ on social activist to be probed
Tribune News Service
Patiala, December 26 “The SHO concerned was on leave but he has been recalled to the duty. Tomorrow the SP (H) will visit the spot and after probing the allegations levelled against the cops, he will submit his report to me. Based on the findings of the inquiry report, suitable action would be initiated”, the SSP said, while adding that he would not tolerate any police personnel resorting to any “unlawful” act. Notably, Prof SS Dhaliwal, who is working with the People for Direct Social Action, had accused Sunam City SHO Jaspal Singh of “thrashing” an alleged eve-teaser in a brutal manner. Prof Dhaliwal had also accused the cops of beating him as well and keeping him in illegal confinement.
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APS Foundation lands in soup
Gurdeep Singh Mann Tribune News Service
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 26 In a letter to the Punjab Chief Minister; Deputy CM; Central Vigilance Commissioner, New Delhi; chief engineer (project) APS foundation’ principal architect APS foundation and advisor (public health) APS foundation, The Providers Management Informatics, one of the participants of the said tender, has stated that the foundation floated tenders on November 30. Three companies, including Accenture, The Providers and Sanchi Securities had applied for the applied for it. While the complainant company and Sanchi Securities were disqualified on technical grounds, the tender was awarded to Accenture. Atul Arora, manager, The Providers, said a letter had indeed been sent to the state government but an acknowledgement regarding the same was awaited. At the time of the opening of tenders, it was declared that all three companies shall give presentation before the Board of Khalsa Heritage on December 18. When representatives of The Providers went to deliver a presentation, they were informed that the tender had already been awarded to Accenture, which has been working with the APS Foundation for the last five years. The Providers alleged that the tender was designed to suit only Accenture. “As per CVC guidelines, tender is allotted only if there were at least three qualified bids, whereas the foundation overlooked this fact,” officials pointed out. The Providers has stated that the company fulfilled all technical requirements, yet it was disqualified. The APS Foundation is executing the Khalsa Heritage Project been designed by Israeli architect, Moshe Safdie at Anandpur Sahib. Meanwhile, CEO APS Foundation, who is also the principal secretary of tourism, Geetika Kalha, was not available for comments. Punjab Finance Minister, also an executive committee member, Manpreet Badal said the complaint would be taken up in the next board meeting.
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Marriage palace row: Patiala DC visits site
Patiala, December 26 The DC also organised a meeting between the two sides, which among others was attended by a large number of teachers, students and their parents. The school authorities put forth their objections over construction of the marriage palace in the institute’s vicinity. After giving a patient hearing to both the sides, Singh assured them of an amicable solution. Talking to mediapersons later, he said the inquiry would take two-three days and till then the construction would be stopped. On a go-ahead was given for the foundation stone, he said he was unaware of the situation.
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Fatehgarh Sahib,
December 26
Ludhiana, December 26
Bathinda, December 26
Amritsar, December 24
