Patiala, March 27
Under fire from the industry and farmers, on the issue of failure in meeting their power requirements, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) management today convened an emergent meeting with the representatives of the farming community.

The top brass of the board has assured that the board would provide eight-hour power supply to farmers on alternate days and four-hour daily power supply for farmers of the border areas would be ensured for the last watering of wheat crop.

While chairing a meeting of the board officials and the representatives of the Bharti Kisan Union, Punjab (Lakhowal), here today, PSEB chairman HS Brar said the board had made adequate arrangements for the coming paddy to ensure eight-hour uninterrupted power supply to farmers. He said the board had made banking arrangements and agreements for power purchase for the paddy season 2010.

Giving further details, Brar said: “To meet with the paddy demand, the PSEB has been deloading the overloaded transformers and this work would be completed by May 31 this year. Besides, work of maintenance of transmission lines, distribution lines, sub-stations would also be completed by May 31. “In another announcement, Brar said applicants, who had applied before March 31, 1990, and had submitted the test reports, would be given tube well connections before May 31 this year.

Notably, in order to give minimum eight-hour power supply to agriculture tube well consumers on alternative days till March 31, the PSEB had already increased the weekly load shedding of the industry across the state. The units located in designated industrial areas are facing 60-hour power cuts, whereas the PSEB had imposed three-day weekly off on induction and rolling furnaces.

The peak load restrictions have been increased up to 12 hours, instead of the existing 3 hours.

Punjab Mandi Board and president of BKU (Lakhowal) Ajmer Singh Lakhowal has, however, expressed his satisfaction over the steps being taken by the PSEB on the power front. Though board officials claimed to have pacified the agitated farmers but as far as the industrialists are concerned, the PSEB still seems to be in a tight spot.

“Because of the anti-industry policies, already considerable chunk of the industrial units of the state had migrated to other states. If some remedial measures are not initiated pertaining to the power needs of the industry, the micro-industry, which has very limited resources, would vanish”, rued DS Chawla, president of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association. Perturbed with the board’s announcement of imposing three-day weekly off, many industrialists pointed out that though the industry is the backbone of the state economy but unfortunately the government is only concerned with the farming sector.

Chandigarh, March 27
India will aim at 10 per cent GDP growth rate under XII five-year plan. Deputy chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia stated this at the inaugural ceremony of the All India Law Congress-2010, in the Law Auditorium at Panjab University here today.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia said law is virtually the only profession in which two people can demolish each other in court and still remain friends. He touched on three basic contentions- “The independence of judiciary, its honesty and its speed”.

Adding that the law should be a regulator of market activity, he lamented that the only problem in Indian context is that Indians were not competing in labour-intensive activity. He emphasised the role of RTI as a very innovative piece of legislation that aims at bringing transparency in the administrative and bureaucratic system of the country.

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof RC Sobti talked about the concept of social and economic justice and also synergetic approach for all round development.

Judge, Supreme Court of India Justice GS Singhvi said, “A poor judge is not a substitute of good speaker.” He said the scholars could contribute in the smooth functioning and regulation of society in their own way. Professor Emeritus, University of Warwick and University Of Delhi Upendra Baxi delivered keynote address.

Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High court, Justice Mukul Mudgal delivered his presidential address and dean, Law Faculty GK Chatrath proposed a vote of thanks.

Chandigarh, March 27
A major cause of delay in justice delivered by country’s legal set-up is due to vacant posts in judiciary, pointed out deputy chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, on his visit to the city.

In an interview to the Tribune, Singh emphasised on need to tighten rules in the existing system. “The judiciary must lay down limits for itself. In addition to this, the government must evolve methods, so that people who re-appeal so often, must not do so because of the nominal court fee,” he said. He emphasised that court fee must be increased in cases involving commercial aspects to tackle pendency rate in courts. Adding that the court fee for the ‘big cases’ and cases involving commercial property etc must be charged more than the current fee.

He also revealed that more than 50 posts are lying vacant in judicial set-up of Utter Pradesh. “There is several reasons for the delay and one of the prominent ones is not being able to fill posts. This is because it is not easy to attract good lawyers,” he said.

In another crucial discussion, he said measures being taken by the government to control inflation would show results in sometime. “The rabi crop will hopefully do well and open market sales and other measures will show result,” he added.

Chandigarh, March 27
The Punjab Council of Ministers today approved the refund of arrears on account of revised power tariff for the year 2009-10 for a period of six months. These arrears would be adjusted in the power bills from April 2010 to September 2010.

The government had rolled back the hike in power tariff for 2009-2010. However, since the bills had already been charged it was decided to adjust the arrears in next year’s bills. This would mean that the total amount to be paid by the domestic consumer would be arrived at after deducting the amount already paid.

The Cabinet met this afternoon under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. It was also decided to constitute a cabinet sub-committee for taking all decisions regarding various issues related to the Civil Aviation Department under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. The other members of the committee would be State Finance Minister and the Civil Aviation Minister, besides officials of the department as required.

The Cabinet also gave approval to amend the Punjab Medical Registration Act, 1916, to make it more relevant and broad-based in the present context. The Act, to be known as Punjab Medical Registration (1st Amendment 2010), would allow the Punjab Medical Council to have 21 members instead of earlier 11 members, included president and vice-president. The term of the council would now be increased from three years to five years.

The Council of Ministers also approved the ex-post facto grant of government guarantee of Rs 900 crore and 750 crore allowed to the Punjab State Electricity Board by the Finance Department for February and March 2010 for raising short-term loan.

Amritsar, March 27
Important issues of bilateral interest like drug trafficking, infiltration, smuggling of arms, ammunition, drugs, fake currency and inadvertent border crossings were likely to pop up for discussion in length at the director general (DG) level bi-annual conclave to be held between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers at Amritsar from March 28 to 31.

While the Indian delegation will be headed by BSF’s Special Director General (West) PPS Sidhu, the Pakistani delegation would be led by Director-General of the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) Major General Mohammed Yaqub Khan

India has already conveyed its displeasure over the increasing incidents of narcotics smuggle at a flag meeting held at the International Border yesterday after confiscation of fake currency worth Rs 65 lakh and intrusion attempt by two Pakistani nationals, who were shot dead near Naushehra Dhalla by the BSF troops in the wee hours yesterday. Without mincing any words, the BSF top brass has cautioned their Pakistani counterparts that no such attempts would be tolerated in future.

Besides, the BSF and Pakistan Rangers’ top brass, a number of senior officials from both sides would participate in the conclave. The Indian delegation included, BSF’s Inspector-Generals heading the Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujrat frontiers and top officials from the BSF headquarters in New Delhi, apart from the representatives of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Survey of India and the PWD.

On other hand the Pakistan Rangers’ delegation will comprise of Sector Commanders and other senior officers of the Pakistan Rangers based at its headquarters in Lahore and from Karachi. Senior representatives of Pakistan Anti-Narcotics Force and Survey of Pakistan would also be part of the Pakistani delegation, said BSF DIG Jagir Singh Sran.

Lambra (Jalandhar), March 26
An innovative new technology devised by the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) will result in saving of millions by farmers of the country.

The USP of the technology lies in its simplicity and low cost, which will prove to be a boon for the farmers, especially the marginal farmers, who bear the brunt in case of a glut like conditions like the one being faced by the state. Presently, a major part of the crop is lost due to lack of storage and processing facilities in India.

Principal Scientist, CPRI, Ashiv Mehta said this was an ideal technique for the farmers across the country, when the arrival of the bumper potato crop results in plummeting prices. In such a scenario, the farmers do not even recover their input costs.

Extensive tests conducted by us in the past six-seven years resulted in an improved storage technology, where the farmers could keep their potatoes in heaps at their farms at a storage cost of just Rs 15-Rs 20 per quintal. The cost of keeping potatoes in cold stores was Rs 150-Rs 170 per quintal, she added.

Explaining the procedure, she said well sorted out fully mature potatoes with proper skin are spread in thin layers on the ground in the shade of trees, thatched, or tin/asbestos sheds. Perforated plastic pipes of four-six inch diameter are placed at the base and 40 mm of Isopropyl N3 chlorophenyl carbanate (CIPC) in one litre of commercial grade methanol is sprayed uniformly on the potatoes, so as to cover the entire exposed surface.

The spraying process is repeated with each layer of the tuber and after the treatment the potatoes are collected in the shape of a conical heap and are covered with 1.5-2 feet thick layer of rice straw. The size of the heap could vary, but the height should not exceed 1.5 meters, she pointed out.

The best part of the process is that the potatoes so stored remain sprout free, do not become sweet, as is the case of those stored in cold chains and firm and can be marketed till the first week of June, she revealed.

Commenting on the effects of CIPC on humans, she said no effects have been found so far, she said. This technique has also been recommended as ideal for developing countries at an international conference held in New Delhi in 2008.

Ludhiana, March 27
Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said his stand on the “political vendetta” unleashed against him and thousands of Congress workers and leaders by the Akalis stood vindicated after the Akali-BJP government admitted it and proposed to withdraw all such cases.

At the same time, he asserted, he did not need any favour from this government and he was confident to prove his innocence in the court of law.

Addressing mediapersons at a press conference after appearing in the court in connection with the Ludhiana City Centre case here today, Capt Amarinder remarked: “They have vindicated our stand that this is sheer political vendetta”.

He said, he had already made it clear that he had full faith in the judiciary be it any lower or the higher court and he had full confidence to prove his innocence.

He observed that Badals seem to be keen to run away from the courts and want their cases withdrawn. Their proposal about withdrawing politically motivated cases is aimed at “self-protection”, since they do not have the courage and confidence to face trials in court.

The former Chief Minister also cautioned the Badals against polarising people along communal lines. He said: “First they pitched the people against the Dera Sacha Sauda, then against followers of the Noormahal sect, followed by communal polarisation in the aftermath of the killing of the Ballan Dera head at Vienna and then the victimisation of migrant labourers in Ludhiana”.

He expressed grave concern over the economic instability while pointing to the huge debt of Rs 65,000 crore the state is burdened with.

He said, the only hope lies in economic revival and that was possible by massive industrialisation. “A modern state cannot sustain itself merely on agriculture, we need heavy investment and for that we need peace and other incentives which this government has never thought of”, he added.

Amritsar, March 27
In an effort to make Punjabis relive the eventful era of one of the most revered saint-warrior and martyr of the Sikhs Banda Bahadur, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh jointly released four types of gold and silver coins in memory of Banda Bahadur at the SGPC Information Office here today.

The release of the gold coins, weighing 5 gram (Rs 9,000) and 10 gram (Rs 17,000), and the silver coins, weighing 50 gram (Rs 1,500) and 25 gram (Rs 800), has in fact, virtually kick-started the SGPC organised six-week long tercentenary celebrations in memory of the “Sirhind Fateh” (victory) of Banda Bahadur.

The SGPC chief said the huge 4,000-km-long march of Sikhs, to be organised from the Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib in Maharashtra to Fatehgarh Sahib, would be inaugurated on March 30 by the five Sikh high priests.

The memorial silver and gold coins being offered by the SGPC at no-profit-no loss basis, could be purchased by devotees either from the SGPC head office in Amritsar or from any of the SGPC-managed gurdwaras in the country, he said. The coins, he said, were exact replica of coins issued by Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in the name of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh after his famous Sirhind victory in 1710.

The memorial coins would also be available to the Sikhs participating in the Nanded-Fatehgarh Sahib march, which would culminate in the three-day gala celebrations at Fatehgarh Sahib from May 13 onwards.

The younger generation of Sikhs need to learn a lot from the sacrifices made by Banda Bahadur and other Sikh martyrs,” said Avtar Singh and Giani Gurbachan Singh.

Ferozepur, March 27
Seriousness of the state government to implement its tuberculosis (TB) control programme could be gauged from the fact that none of the senior functionaries, including chief guest, attended the state-level function organised here today on the occasion of World TB Day.

Secretary of the Health Department, Punjab, Satish Chandra, who was to formally inaugurate the function in capacity of chief guest, did not turn up. Director of the State Health Services, SPS Sohal reached at the function venue when it was nearing its end.

Official sources said in absence of chief guest and other senior functionaries of State Health Department, director of the Family Welfare, Punjab, JP Singh and State TB Officer, Punjab, PK Shridhar conducted proceeding of the function held in the premises of local Dev Samaj College of Education.

It is learnt that the state-level function in connection with World TB Day was to be held at Jalandhar and Punjab Health Minister Laxmi Kant Chawla was to be the chief guest. However, the authorities took the decision about two days ago to shift it to Ferozepur and Satish Chandra was asked to be its chief guest.

Messages were flashed to mediapersons, district officials and staff members of different health centres dotting this district to attend the function positively, as Satish Chandra would be the chief guest. A senior functionary of the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) was also supposed to attend the function.

Those attended the programme included deputy State TB controller M. Chatwal and district in charge, TB control programme, GS Dhillon.

Civil surgeon Duleep Kumar said senior functionaries could not attend the function, as they were busy in the cabinet meeting, which was held at Chandigarh today.

He said the function was held in Dev Samaj College instead of in any slum area because of the fact that paramedical staff, which attended the same, was to be given tips in connection with the new innovation in the TB control programme.

While claiming the fact that function was successful, he added that a rally to bring awareness in connection with TB and its control among the people was taken out from civil hospital to the college premises. He added that the state government had decided to make ASHA workers, as DOT provider for the TB patients. He said more sputum collection centres would be set up throughout the state for intensifying the TB-control programme.

Kalalwala (Talwandi Sabo), March 27
In this area that is identified as the cancer capital of Punjab, a lone farmer Rajinderpal Singh has taken up the challenge to make other fellow farmers revert to organic farming and shun chemical fertilisers that are considered as one of the reasons for spread of the disease.

To set an example for others, Rajinderpal has said goodbye to chemical fertilisers and is reaping a bumper harvest of organic crops on his 58-acre landholding.

He has become a role model for other farmers by setting apart six acres of land on which he has introduced rose cultivation from which he was earning anything around Rs 3.50 lakh for each litre of rose oil produced in his indigenously developed boiler system.

His organic crops of basmati paddy, wheat, pulses and mustard oil fetch him more than double the price of the grains that are cultivated with chemical fertilisers. Those who do not want to carry home the chemical crop, book the grains of his field in advance, Rajinderpal says.

Rajinderpal believes that the organic farming could help remove the stigma of the area being the cancer capital of Punjab. Chemicals have contaminated the groundwater and it was high time that the entire farming community should revert to the traditional system of farming.

His concern was that the Talwandi Sabo area has in particular come to be identified as the cancer zone and people from other parts of Punjab were reluctant to take brides from here. This village with a population of about 2,500 has more than 15 cancer patients, he said.

Outsiders refuse to even drink water in the other two nearby villages of Jhajjal and Gyana where prevalence of cancer was the most.

He has now persuaded his uncle, Jagdev Singh, to follow in his footsteps of reverting to organic farming.

Rajinderpal says that he has already booked his forthcoming wheat crop for Rs 2,600 per quintal. After April 15, he will sell the grain for Rs 3,000 per quintal. Last year his organic crop of wheat fetched Rs 2,500 per quintal against Rs 1,080 earned by other farmers who used chemical fertilisers.

Management of the famous Baru Sahib gurdwara in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh lifted 50 quintals of organic wheat from him.

He says that his per acre yield of wheat was seven to eight quintals against 16 to 20 quintals of the chemically treated area. However, people willingly pay a higher amount of money for his organic grains. His organic basmati paddy fetched Rs 3,600 per quintal against Rs 2,400 by others.

He says another advantage of organic farming was that it requires lesser irrigation than the chemical fertiliser crop.