Govt tardy in implementing Act on parents, elderly
Ludhiana, January 21
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, seems to be of least importance to the Punjab government. Reason: even after seventeen and a half months of notification, the Act is yet to be implemented.

Canada may draw up travel agents’ list: MP
Amritsar, January 21
There is immense scope for improvement of bilateral ties in fields of nuclear technology, education, pharmaceutical goods and trade with India. Canadian MP from the Mississauga-Erindale constituency Bob Dechert stated this while on a visit to the Golden Temple today. “We are working for better relations with India,” he said.

Chandigarh, January 21
The cash-strapped Punjab government is proposing to implement the Sukhbir-Kalia report immediately after it is granted formal approval by the Council of Ministers at its meeting tomorrow.

Once the report is implemented, it will immediately pave way for substantial revenue generation for the state, which senior government officials say will not only help state to boost revenue but also release of blocked Central funding.

Though, the report once implemented hopes to generate Rs 4,000 crore for Punjab, but officials who helped the SAD-BJP duo prepare the reports said the estimates have been very conservative and an additional 10 per cent revenue (Rs 400) was also expected. With the rationalisation of subsidies, the Punjab government has also paved the way for receiving Rs 2,500 crore for the Centrally-funded schemes.

Apart from additional resources from VAT and imposition of property tax, the state feels that if the other revenue sources were tapped judiciously, the state’s economy would start a turnaround during the last quarter of the current fiscal and it would be possible to present a deficit free 2011 state budget.

The addenda for the Punjab Council of Ministers circulated today to the Punjab Cabinet Ministers mentions discussion on the Sukhbir Badal-Manoranjan Kalia Committee report. As the report has already been cleared by BJP’s Punjab in charge Balbir Punj before being submitted, there is no likelihood of any dissent on the report by the BJP leadership either at its own meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning nor at the Cabinet meeting. Among the SAD members in the Cabinet, none would oppose the Deputy Chief Minister, so the report would be passed without any opposition.

Punjab’s Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, the main critic in the government against subsidies, has already revealed his mind by saying that “any exercise that brings money into the state’s coffers is welcome”. He, too, is expected to go along with the report.

Manpreet Badal said the recommendations would certainly come up in the state’s budget proposal. He said the relief provided by the recommendations by way of increased collections was likely to increase the state’s plan size. “I expect a plan size between Rs 9,300 crore to Rs 9,500 crore.” The current plan size is Rs 8,625 crore. He added that the plan performance would improve to 90 per cent plus. Right now, the plan performance hovers around 60 to 65 per cent. The recommendations have also made the Finance Department’s job easier, as they have finally solved the issue of raising resources. 

Jalandhar, January 21
Hold your breath for a while. The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), which is in dire fiscal straits, wants a whooping increase of about 51 per cent in the existing tariff across the board for all consumers to meet its aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) for the next fiscal year (2010-11). For the current fiscal year, the increase in the tariff, ordered by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) was in the range of 10-12 per cent for various categories of consumers to generate a revenue of Rs 759 crore to meet its ARR.

The PSEB has pegged a cumulative revenue gap of Rs 6,575 crore in the petition submitted to the PSERC for the next fiscal year and has prayed to the commission to raise the tariff accordingly to realise the amount from the power consumers. The commission has sought objections from the public on the petition.

How the commission would deal with such a huge increase in the tariff, it remains to be seen. Already, there is a difference of opinion in the PSEB and the commission over the consumption of power in the farm sector. The commission had last year reduced the projected consumption in the farm sector by about 10.2 per cent on the basis of an independent survey report. From the next financial year, the farmers would have to pay Rs 50 per BHP per month. That means a farmer owning a 10 BHP power motor would have to pay Rs 500 per month and the remaining part of the bill would have to be paid by the state government through power subsidy.

As the PSEB has projected its line losses at about 20 per cent -- though experts say that these were much higher than the project figure -- it loses a revenue of about Rs 2,754 crore, owing to line losses. As compared to international standards, the PSEB line losses are very high.

Projecting its revenue requirement, the PSEB has projected to spend Rs 3,623 crore on fuel and Rs 5,876 crore on the purchase of power. It has shown employees cost of Rs 3,587 crore. Interestingly, the expenditure during 2010-11 would go up to Rs 3,587 crore from Rs 2,747 crore, perhaps because of the revision of the pay scales. The PSEB would pay Rs 1,952 crore as interest. For the next fiscal year, it has shown a revenue gap of Rs 2,890 crore.

However, the cumulative revenue gap has been pegged at Rs 6,575 crore. It includes revenue gap of Rs 1,454 crore for 2008-09 and Rs 2,231 crore for 2009-10. The PSEB has included the figures of revenue gap of 2008-09 and 2009-10, arguing that the commission did not give it due revenue during the current and last fiscal year. The PSEB has pegged generation of revenue from the existing tariff at Rs 13,722 crore during the current fiscal year. It includes a subsidy of Rs 3,205 crore for farm sector and poor sections of society to be paid by the state government. 

Ludhiana, January 21
The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, seems to be of least importance to the Punjab government. Reason: even after seventeen and a half months of notification, the Act is yet to be implemented.

The fact has come to light through information obtained under the RTI by NGO Resurgence India. The facts reveal not only the casual approach of the state government towards the Act, but also brings to the fore the indolent attitude of the Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development, which is the nodal department for the implementation of the Act, that has not bothered to do much.

Revealing facts, NGO general secretary Hitender Jain said, “The information provided by the Department of Social Security reveals that they are taking the matter very nonchalantly and are in no hurry to do the needful for the full realisation of the said Act. Several of the crucial prerequisites and mechanisms essential for the practical implementation of the Act have yet not been put in place.”

For example: the state government ought to frame the Rules, as mandated under section 32 of the Act, but the same have yet not been finalised and enforced even after one and a half years. The information provided by the nodal department merely says, “The Rules of the Act are framed under section 32 of the Act are send to the Govt for final approval” [sic].

Similarly, as per section 9(2) of the Act, the maximum quantum of allowance that may be ordered by the Maintenance Tribunal was to be prescribed by the state government. This has yet not been notified by the Government of Punjab. The nodal department simply says - “Section 9(2) of the Act is still under consideration.”

That’s not all. Under Section 19(2) of the Act, the State Government was obligated to prescribe a scheme for the management of Old-Age Homes, containing the standards and various types of services to be provided by the homes, which are necessary for medical care. But no action has come.

Likewise, the Act requires the state government to prescribe a comprehensive action plan for providing protection of life and liberty of senior citizens. The Department of Social Security has simply written a letter to the Department of Home Affairs & Justice on September 19, 2008, but neither the Department of Home took any action nor did the nodal department followed up the matter.

With such a slack approach of the Punjab government towards senior citizens, who hold a significant percentage of population, one fails to understand when will these elderly enjoy the benefits of this empowering legislation.

Resurgence India has already written to the Chief Secretary to ensuring immediate implementation of the Act and is committed to taking all measures to ensure effective realisation of the Act.

(To be concluded)

Amritsar, January 21
There is immense scope for improvement of bilateral ties in fields of nuclear technology, education, pharmaceutical goods and trade with India. Canadian MP from the Mississauga-Erindale constituency Bob Dechert stated this while on a visit to the Golden Temple today. “We are working for better relations with India,” he said.

He was honoured by SGPC officials, led by SGPC publicity wing in charge Bhai Ram Singh, with siropas and pictures of the Golden Temple. “I feel myself to be amidst a celestial atmosphere at the Golden Temple. It is an epitome of spirituality,” said Bob.

Expressing concern over rising number of unscrupulous travel agents in India, particularly Punjab, Bob said his government was likely to come out with a list of genuine travel and educational consultants, so as to save gullible people desirous of going to Canada from any inconvenience.

However, Bob said Punjabis were welcome to Canada since they have contributed a lot towards the improvement of the economy of his country. 

Jalandhar, January 21
Employees of the Punjab Warehouse Corporation today started their statewide strike in protest against the “attitude” of the state government and the “rigid behaviour” of their management.

On a call given by the Punjab State Warehouse (Field) Employees Union, the employees today went on an indefinite strike, causing huge losses to the state exchequer as well as forcing the rice sellers across the state and hundreds of labourers to sit idle.

The union has been demanding waiving 10 per cent losses, at the time of disposal of old damaged wheat stock, on the same pattern as the Markfed did. Waiving the losses should be as per the directions of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Food and Supply Minister Adesh Pratap Singh, in March 2009.

Talking to The Tribune, chairman of the union Akshar Kumar said all other procurement agencies of the state had already “followed” the demands of their employees. The Punjab Warehouse Corporation Managing Director (MD), Iqbal Singh, had been ignoring their demands even though the Chief Minister and the Food and Supply Minister had asked him to follow the directions in September last year.

Swaranjit Singh, general secretary of the union, said the promotions had been freezed by the MD ever since he joined the corporation. The MD has been filing vacant posts by deploying officiating officers.

Sources in the department said the MD had called a meeting of the union officer-bearers at his office in Chandigarh on Friday.

Tarsem Saini, president of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, said the strike would further delay the milling process. The previous strikes by the state food grain procurement agencies had already delayed the milling by almost 10 to 12 days.

The sellers store 50,000 ton rice in various godowns per day in the state. The strike will compel the labour engaged by the rice sellers to switch over to other industry, claimed Saini.

Chandigarh, January 21
This is bad news for an agrarian state. The Punjab government has failed to spend grants of Rs 110 crore, procured under the various flagship agriculture schemes of the Government of India.

In a communication from the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Government of India, to the Punjab Chief Secretary, SC Agrawal, it has been pointed out that the state has not spent large amounts of money allocated to it under major national schemes.

Giving details of the unused grants, the Union Government Secretary, T Nanda Kumar, has stated in his letter that the state government has not spend almost Rs 30 crore allocated under the National Food Security Mission. The scheme was launched in 2007 and is aimed at increasing the production of rice and pulses.

Another Rs 28 crore given to Punjab for work under the National Horticulture Mission has not been spent. The mission was launched to promote the holistic growth of horticulture through area-specific strategies. Another Rs 27 crore was given to Punjab under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), which, too, has not been used. The RKVY was also launched in 2007 to encourage public spending in agriculture.

More than Rs 24.5 crore was allocated to Punjab for macro management of agriculture and the state has not been able to show its use either. The macro management scheme was launched in 2001 to push the state governments to spend on specific agriculture activities. Another almost Rs 4 crore allocated to Punjab for support to extension services, too, has not been used.

Sources in the state Agriculture Department, however, add that while this money has been sent by the Government of India to the state, it has not been released by the Finance Department to them. 

Jalandhar, January 21
Urging the Union Sports Minister, Manohar Singh Gill, to intervene in the issue of the exclusion of the Pakistani players from the Indian Premium League (IPL), the BJP senior leader and former ace cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu today said that the IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, should be told to review the decision.

The blunder committed by the IPL had provided an opportunity to the international diplomatic community to criticise India on the issue. It had also provided a lot of ammunition to Pakistani diplomats to go the whole hog against India in the international fora. They would be scoring points against India, he said.

“Obviously, all franchises of the IPL are facing a lot of difficulty in giving justification, which is not there, for the exclusion of the Pakistani players,” said Sidhu.

“The Union Government should find out as to how the damage caused, because of the IPL decision, could be undone,” he said. 

Patiala, January 21
With the recovery of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Nabha two days ago, the Patiala police has intensified its security arrangements to foil any attempt by any extremist to disrupt Republic Day function.

Though prior to the Republic Day function, security is beefed up in the district every year but this time, some special steps are being taken by the police administration this time.

Speaking to The Tribune, Patiala SSP Ranbir Singh Khattra said fool-proof security arrangements had been made for the Republic Day. “Though there was a general alert almost 20 days back, but so far there has been no specific intelligence input about any possible strike by any terrorist outfit in Patiala,” he said.

Deployment of cops at all important places, including the bus terminus and railway station, has already been increased.

Preferring anonymity, a very senior police official said, “The recovery of a 10-kg IED near the LPG Bottling Plant, Nabha, on Monday clearly shows the intentions of those who want to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the state. The police has become more vigilant after the incident.”

Chandigarh, January 21
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today questioned the state of Punjab on the Vidhan Sabha’s decision to call for the investigating agency’s report in the Amritsar Improvement Trust case, allegedly involving former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

As Capt Amarinder Singh’s petition for quashing the FIR came up for hearing, Justice MMS Bedi asked the state counsel to explain how the Vidhan Sabha could ask the investigating agency to submit its report.

Replying to the query, Punjab’s additional advocate-general Naresh Kumar Sanghi said the Vigilance Bureau could ask for report, but not forbid its submission to the court.

Justice Bedi also asked the counsel of Capt Amarinder Singh why they were not approaching the Supreme Court.

The question was put to the counsel after the court was informed that two of the co-accused had already filed a petition before the apex court for quashing the FIR.

Earlier during the proceedings, former chief minister’s counsel APS Deol placed on record the statements of two Punjab IAS officers G Vajralingam and AR Talwar in an apparent attempt to show the two recorded by special committee of Vidhan Sabha and the vigilance bureau were verbatim.

This, he said, was in the violation of Supreme Court directions asking the VB to investigate the matter without being influenced by any observation or direction of special committee.

Seeking the quashing of the FIR dated September 11, 2008, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC, and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the former chief minister had claimed there was not even a single word in the challan sheet against him with regard to pecuniary benefits.

Capt Amarinder Singh added the controversy was under the Supreme Court scanner.

But the Vigilance Department, pending decision by the Apex Court, on the directions of the party in power, submitted the challan sheet.

Chandigarh, January 21
The Punjab and Haryana High Court wants to cut down “inordinate” delay in the hearing of “ejectment petitions”.As a first step in the direction, Justice SD Anand has asked rent controllers in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to furnish necessary information, including the details of “petitions in which a plea for ejectment has been raised for personal necessity”.

Issuing the directions while taking up an ejectment petition, Justice Anand has asserted: “This Court has come across a number of instances wherein ejectment petitions based upon plea of personal necessity have been pending before the rent controllers for inordinately long time.

“The long pendency of matters of the indicated category, and also other priority categories, defeats the very purpose of rent legislation. It is directed that the rent controllers in the states of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, shall furnish information.”

Justice Anand has also asked the rent controllers to inform the court on “petitions in which ejectment has been applied for in terms of the provisions of Section 13-B of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, and the corresponding provision of the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973”.

Details have also been sought of petitions in which ejectment has been applied for in terms of the provisions of Section 13(3) (a) of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949, and the corresponding provision of the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973.

The directions came on a petition filed by one Sandeep Ghai against Neeraj Malhotra. Taking up the matter, Justice Anand observed: “The petition is disposed of with a direction to the rent controller to dispose of the main petition itself within a period of six months from the next date of hearing i.e., January 28.”

Amritsar, January 21
The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) today seized 28 kg of heroin worth Rs 140 crore in the international market from two smugglers.

The alleged smugglers — Ranjinder Singh of Chogawan village here (now residing in the Sundar Nagar area) and Baljit Singh, a resident of Hari Nagar (New Delhi) — were held near the Jalandhar bypass when the former was handing over a car to the latter. The cell seized 25 kg of heroin concealed in the doors of the Tavera car.

What has baffled the counter-intelligence wing of the Punjab police is the involvement of Nigerians based in Delhi in the illegal trade. According to the police authorities, the consignment was to be delivered to a Nigerian in Delhi for smuggling to other countries through various routes. Earlier, too Nigerians were held in connection with the smuggling of narcotics.

“This consignment was to be delivered to Nigerans based in Delhi. Baljit used to supply the drug to Nigerians who smuggled the same to other countries,” said P. K. Rai, SSP, SSOC. He said later another haul of 3 kg of the contraband was seized on a disclosure made by Ranjinder Singh.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ranjinder was a convict in a similar case in 2002 and had jumped parole.The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) wanted him in a case in which 5 kg of heroin was seized. However, he managed to dodge the DRI net at that time.

A case under Section 21/25/29/61/85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused at the SSOC police station here. The accused has been sent to seven days’ police remand and will be presented on January 28.