Chandigarh, April 15
The strike called by a large section of employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) that was dissolved today went off peacefully with no report of any untoward incident being reported from any part of the state.

Board Member Administration Gurbachan Singh Bachhi, who is now a part of the six-member managing committee set up to look after the two new companies formed after bifurcation of the electricity utility, said electricity supply had not been disrupted anywhere in the state. He said in fact power cuts had reduced in some areas due to better management.

Bachhi said around 65 per cent of the employees had responded to the strike call given by various employee organisations. He, however, added that the good turnout at the generation plants at Bathinda and Ropa had benefited the electricity utility. The strike rate was only 22 to 30 per cent at the generation plants. The PSEB secretariat at Patiala continued to function as normal, Bachhi claimed.

Meanwhile, the state police acted with caution while dealing with the strikers. Though Section 144 of the IPC prohibiting gatherings is in force throughout the state, the police did not act against employees holding protest meetings in front of thermal plants and PSEB offices in various districts.

Protesting employee leaders, however, maintained that around 55,000 employees out of the 65,000 total employees struck work on the first day of the two-day strike call given by them. The strike may be extended with Technical Services Union (Bhangal) chief Gurdial Singh Bhangal and Employees Federation (AITUC) chief Amrik Singh claiming here today that they would coordinate with the Joint Forum of employee organisations on this issue.

Joint Forum leader Harbhajan Singh said representatives from all unions would meet in Chandigarh today evening to devise a strategy to intensify the “struggle”. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan claimed farmers held protest meetings in 150 villages across the state. He claimed farmers would continue demonstrations till April 26 and hold district-level protests at selected villages on April 27.

A report from Patiala said the district police took measures to ensure protesting employees did not march to its headquarters. All roads leading to the Mall road were sealed. Employees held a demonstration at the Rajpura colony substation. The report said many districts, including Ludhiana, witnessed a reduction in the scheduled power cuts.

A report from Amritsar said members of the Joint Forum of striking employees held a protest at the Naryangarh subdivision. It said activists of farmer organisations like the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), Jamhoori Kisan Sabha and the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha held protest marches in the district.

(With inputs from Parmod Mehta, Umesh Dewan and Neeraj Bagga)

Chandigarh, April 15
The Punjab Council of Ministers today approved a draft of The Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance-2010 to ensure the safety of public and private property and to punish rowdy elements damaging these properties during agitations besides recovering the loss caused to the property from culprits.

Stating this here today, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, also minister in charge of the Home Affairs Department, said now, this ordinance would be sent to the Punjab Governor and after his ascent, this would be promulgated for the state.

He said the state government came out with this ordinance with the sole purpose of protecting the public and private property that ordinarily became target of ire during public demonstrations and agitations.

Sukhbir said whosoever would damages public and private property defined in Section 2(a) would be punished with non-bailable rigorous imprisonment for a term up to five years with a fine up to Rs 20,000.

The Deputy CM said persons committing offence under Section 4 by fire or explosive substance would be punished with rigorous imprisonment not less than one year and up to 7 years with a fine up to Rs 50,000.

Giving details of the proposed ordinance approved by the Cabinet, Sukhbir said whosoever was found guilty of any damaging act defined under Section 2(e) in addition to the sentence imposed would be liable to pay amount equivalent to the loss caused to the public property as determined by the competent authority. In case of default, the culprit would undergo additional imprisonment of up to 2 years.

He added that to make the act deterrent, offences under the ordinance would be non-bailable and no accused or convicted of an offence under Sections 4 and 5 of the Act would be released on bail or his own bound unless the prosecution had been given an opportunity to oppose the application for such release.

Making special provisions for peaceful conduct of demonstration, he said the ordinance provided that whosoever wanted to organise peaceful demonstration would make advance application to the District Magistrate or the Commissioner of the Police as the case may be, who might allow or refuse permission keeping in view circumstances in the district.

The permission, if granted, would specify the number of persons allowed to hold demonstration, besides place and route of the demonstration and procession.

Sukhbir said it would be duty of organisers to depute marshals at each relevant junction to organise participants. The Deputy CM said on grant of permission for peaceful demonstration by the DM or the Commissioner of Police, the police would ensure videography of such protest/demonstration.

Giving details of the supervisory function of the district administration, he said the peaceful demonstration so permitted would be supervised by an officer of the rank not less than the SP and he would immediately inform the DM/Commissioner of Police with reports on events. Offences under the ordinance would be cognisable and any police officer not below the rank of head constable may arrest any person/persons found to be involved in the commission of such offences.

He said the ordinance had been passed by the Cabinet on directions/guidelines of the Supreme Court issued on April 16, 2009 in writ petition titled destruction of public and private property Vs state of Andhra Pradesh and others where the apex court had directed the state to take serious note of various instances where there was a large scale destruction of public and private properties in the name of agitations and bandhs.

New Delhi, April 15
The Delhi High Court today adjourned till July 21 the hearing of a PIL that has sought deregistration of the SAD as a political party for its alleged links with the Sikh religion.

A Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta had issued a notice on the PIL filed by Balwant Singh Khera on February 26. But when the matter came up for hearing today, SAD and other respondents sought time for their replies, prompting the adjournment.

“The SAD was formed out of the SGPC in the 1920s as a religio-political party, but it has failed to sever its links from the Sikh religion and is very closely and publicly aligned with the Sikh religion even today in violation of the Representation of People Act, 1951,” the PIL contended.

Under Section 29(A) of the Act, every political party gives an undertaking to the Election Commission declaring its allegiance to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy in order to obtain registration. The SAD gave this undertaking despite its continued association with the religion, the PIL said and pleaded that the registration of the political party be set aside.

Besides the SAD, the PIL has named the ECI, Punjab State Election Commission, SGPC, Gurdwara Election Commission and the DGPC as respondents. DGPC counsel KTS Tulsi suported the petitioner’s plea, which was argued by advocates Prashant Bhushan and Indira Unninayar.

Jalandhar, April 15
Kamaljit Hayre was elected president of the Non-Resident Indians (NRI) Sabha for the second consecutive term. In the absence of a consensus, a poll was held for the first time since the organisation was set up in 1996.

A notable feature this time was that most of the voters were nominees who cast their ballot on behalf of their relatives. Interestingly, 20 to 30 NRIs were present in the hall to cast their votes in person in an election that generates a lot of interest in the diaspora. There are 15,000 registered voters of the sabha.

The authorities had declared the venue out of bounds for mediapersons. As those present were planning to boycott the event, Jagbir Brar, SS Makkar and KD Bhandari, MLAs, pulled up the authorities for creating obstacles in the way of the media.

Finally, Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar reached the venue and took them inside the hall.

The main fight was between Hayre, Jasvir Singh Gill and former chief Pritam Singh Naurangpur. Of a total of 2,196 votes polled, Hayre got 1,014 votes while Gill and Naurangpur got 609 and 573 votes, respectively. Sarabjit Singh Giljian, too, had announced his candidature in the morning but pulled out of the race later due to the lack of support among voters.

Naurangpur alleged that the rules had not been followed during the poll and the state machinery worked overtime to ensure the victory of Hayre.

Gill ,too, said Hayre had been allowed to contest even though the latter was a “British citizen” and was not ineligible for the elections.

On the other hand, returning officer-cum- ADC Gurpreet Singh Khaira said the poll had been conducted as per the rules.

Talking to mediapersons after his win, Hayre said he would work to solve the problems faced by NRIs. He had worked to get many grievances removed during his previous term.He was committed to finishing his agenda in the next three years.

Chandigarh, April 15
The Congress has reacted sharply to the decision of IAS officer Jasbir Singh Bir seeking a premature retirement in protest against the SAD-BJP government’s “repressive functioning”.

Punjab Congress president Mohinder Singh Kaypee has said the move by the IAS officer has exposed the real face of the Badal government, which is being run like, “Badal and Badal Private Ltd” and punctured its hollow slogan of “Raj Nahin Sewa”.

He said it was for the first time that a senior IAS officer in the state had to resign due to “harassment” amounting to torture by political bosses and that, too, for pleading a public cause. It was a blot on the face of the state government claiming to implement the much-touted administrative reforms.

He said Bir had apprised both the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary of the situation, but nothing was done to assuage his feelings.

Congress MP and former minister Partap Singh Bajwa said, “Raj Nahin Sewa is supposed to be the motif of the state government run by the Badals.”

He said the resignation of a senior IAS officer of Punjab on grounds of mental torture caused by humiliation and witch-hunt unleashed by incapable unanswerable oligarchy not only exposed helplessness and vulnerability of state officers but was also a slap on the face of the people of Punjab who three years ago reposed their trust and faith in them.

Bolath MLA Sukhpal Khaira also lashed out at the Badal government saying that the resignation by Bir had only confirmed, reinforced and vindicated the allegations of the Congress of a politicised administrative set up in Punjab.

Khaira said the resignation of the senior IAS officer called for a serious introspection of the breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state. The Congress called for a thorough probe into the “humiliation” of the said officer to find out who was responsible for not carrying out his official orders presumably under political patronage of none less than the Chief Minister’s family. The party also called for a time- bound inquiry to fix responsibility on erring junior officer and also demanded that buses of Orbit company belonging to the CM’s family be immediately removed from the said commercial complex in Mohali.

Chandigarh, April 15
The Punjab unit of the BJP has committed to bring at least 15,000 people to the national rally against price rise to be held in Delhi on April 21.

The state unit of the party today held a meeting of district presidents, ministers, MLAs and chairmen of various boards and corporations to work out the modalities. The meeting was chaired by BJP state president Ashwani Sharma and presided over by organisational in charge of Punjab affairs Balbir Punj and party’s national secretary Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Thanking those present at the meeting, Ashwani Sharma expressed his confidence that the figure would exceed 15,000 as the state unit had always performed better than it said it would. He thanked all who had come to attend the meeting.

Earlier, Ashwani Sharma led the state unit in according a warm welcome to Sidhu when he arrived at the venue for the first time after becoming the national secretary.

Punj said this was going to be the biggest ever rally in Delhi and it would be the Waterloo of the Congress government at the Centre. He said the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities was due to the faulty economic policies and corruption in high places rather than the demand-supply gap.

Sidhu said the BJP had launched a massive signature campaign at the grassroots against the faulty policies of the Centre. Sidhu said the national rally would be held at Ramlila Grounds and be followed by a march to Parliament.

Naushehra Dhalla (Tarn Taran) April 15
As many as 131 couples participated in a mass-marriage ceremony today at Gurdwara Baba Jallan in this border village today under an initiative taken by prominent social worker and SGPC member Baba Nirmal Singh and other residents of the village.

The shrine of Baba Jallan holds immense religious importance for locals and even Pakistan citizens who come up to the border to pay obeisance on Baisakhi. The shrine is also considered a “mecca” for young and needy people, who have been getting married here.

Due to the proximity of Naushehra Dhalla and other villages of the area like Havelian, Chahal, Modhe, Gandiwind, Dhanoe to the border, the residents of the area are at a disadvantage as most people don’t prefer to marry their daughters off in villages close to the border.

To tackle this issue, Baba Nirmal Singh, Mumbai-based industrialist Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu and a group of progressive residents have been arranging “mass marriages” of needy couples for the past four years during which they have solemnised more than 550 marriages.

Today’s ceremony was attended by state PWD minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and senior SAD leader Vir Singh Lopoke.

“Such initiatives are the need of the hour. Punjabis’ life and philosophy have always revolved around the concept of helping others,” said Dhindsa while extending his wishes to newly-weds.

Baba Nirmal Singh said marriages of 125 couples would be arranged in Amritsar on Diwali.

Each of the 131 couples were presented with gifts, including beddings, utensils, a cycle and a wrist watch.

Anandpur Sahib, April 15
Reacting to the news report, “Jaypee encroaches NH 21, axes trees at will,” which was published in The Tribune dated April 14, the chief minister’s office today sought a report from the Ropar Deputy Commissioner over the issue.

Acting on the orders of Deputy Commissioner, Central Works Division (CWD) XEN Karnail Singh demarcated the land in question wherein it was found that the Jaypee Cement’s clinker ground has encroached 30 m land on the side of the National Highway 21 violating the rules.

With the police protection, the CWD officials today evening, dismantled the gate of the clinker ground. “The weighing scale would be dismantled today for which Jaypee Cement officials have given us the JCB machine,” he added.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day Deputy Commissioner Arunjit Singh Miglani said the CM office had asked for details of the violation on part of Jaypee Cements. He asserted that encroachment would be done away with effectively.

The Tribune had highlighted the encroachment by Jaypee Cement on the National Highway 21 as well as the way it had cleared green cover under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) to develop its own clinker ground.

The Deputy Commissioner today convened a meeting of forest officials and central works division officials. District forest officer K Kanan said on April 12 that the forest guard of the area had lodged a complaint with the Kiratpur Sahib police alleging that Jaypee Cement had violated Section 4 of the PLPA and the encroachment be removed soon.

Accordingly, we have installed barbed wires and pillars barring entry point to the clinker ground. Now we would be filing a case with the Anandpur Sahib court for the violation of the PLPA Act and take legal route,” Kanan added.

Fatehgarh Sahib), April 15
Paddy rotting in open is a cause of worry in Punjab at the moment. In Ranwan village of this district, it has given rise to a peculiar problem by delaying the construction of polytechnic college, the foundation stone of which was laid by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on January 27.

Besides delaying the construction of polytechnic, residents of the adjoining villages are also upset due to pests emanating from the rotten paddy. While laying the foundation stone, the Chief Minister had promised the area residents to get the construction work started the very next day.

He had also assured to get the rotten paddy lifted. “The crawly insects enters in our eyes and also disturbs the religious functions in nearby gurdwara,” said Paramjit Singh, husband of the village sarpanch, Kiranjit Kaur.

He said villagers had been suffering from various ailments, including irritation in eyes and body, adding insects got into the food items. The SDM, local political leaders and others had been apprised of the problems.

The villagers said they believed with the laying of foundation stone of the polytechnic their woes would end but nothing happened.

The villagers also alleged that contractor is carrying out the construction work at snail’s pace. A visit to the site revealed that construction was indeed not on. The polytechnic college building is supposed to come up at the site with an expenditure of Rs 12.3 crore and will be built with the help of Central government.

District Food Supply Controller HS Mokha said the matter had already been discussed in a recent meeting wherein the officials of the concerned procuring agencies have been immediately told to get the rotten paddy lifted.

Dera Bassi, April 15
Reacting to a news item published in these columns on April 15, mandi and administrative officials today visited the Dera Bassi grain market and took the stock of the situation.

SP Singh, deputy general manager of Punjab Mandi Board, today visited the grain market and collected the information of wheat arrival and possibility of shifting the grain market at new place. Notably, farmers of this area are bound to sell their crop in grain markets of Haryana and Chandigarh due to lack of storage space here. Residents of nearby areas are also being harassed because of the air pollution due to the dust of wheat.

Singh assured that efforts were on to shift and construct this grain market at new place at Dhanouni village in a 10-acre area. This process would be completed soon, he added. Meanwhile, Puneet Goyal, SDM, Dera Bassi, and Surinder Singh Jolly, chairman, market committee, also visited the market. jolly said Jasjit Singh Bunny, MLA, was also making efforts for the construction of the market at a new place and this was raised with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. RR Bhardwaj, ex-deputy chairman of Punjab Planning Board, held a meeting with residents to raise the issue of long-pending demand of the grain market.

Chhat (Banur), April 15
The zoo authorities have finally come to know about the gender of new-born cub. It’s a female and is named Chitra by Punjab Forest Minister Tikshan Sud today.

The zoo authorities said the gender could not be determined as nobody was allowed to venture near the Royal Bengal Tigress. Only a zoo keeper was being allowed to take care of the tigress and and that too from quite a distance.

The minister reviewed the arrangements made for care and management of the newly born female Royal Bengal Tigress and also enquired about its health.

Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, Jitendra Sharma said the cub was being hand-reared and fed with goat’s milk. Her mother Chorni, licked, caressed and fed milk to Chitra for the first eight days but then it stopped completely.

The cub was shifted to zoo hospital after a few days of rearing on account of the mother’s lactating problem.

The zoo officials said the minister took interest in the conservation breeding programme of tigers being run by the zoo on scientific lines to maintain a varied and healthy gene pool for the breeding programme. The authorities were assured all possible help by the minister.

The officials said Royal Bengal Tiger of South Indian origin is in process to be acquired by the zoo to have a more diverse gene pool for breeding tigers.

Financial Commissioner Forests and Wildlife Preservation RC Nayyar said recently many species hosted at the Zoological Park, namely Goral, white buck, barking deer, hog deer, bonnet monkey, Jackal, painted stork have given birth to new off springs.

He further informed that reptiles in zoo, including Python and Monitor Lizard, which were hibernating since the on-set of winter and were, being kept in a separate room with thermo-regulatory mechanism, have now been released in their display enclosures.

Moga, April 15
Officials of the Dairy and Health Department and the police today seized 200 litres of synthetic and spurious milk made from whey powder imported from Ukraine from a house in Tota Singh Wala village in the Dharamkot area here.

Dharamkot DSP Sukhdev Singh said four persons had been arrested and whey powder, glucose, cottonseed cakes, synthetic milk and many utensils had been seized from the house.

Those arrested are: Balwinder Singh, Tarsem Kumar, Munish Kumar and Ashok Kumar and an FIR under Sections 420, 272, 273 of the IPC and Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act had been registered against them.

Deputy Director of the department Dibagh Singh, under whose supervision the raid was conducted, said they had taken samples of the adulterated milk, which were being sent to a government laboratory for chemical examination.

District Magistrate Satwant Singh Johal said he had asked the health department to test samples of milk sold by dubious dairies and vendors.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested persons were using whey powder, glucose and cottonseed cakes for enhancing oil content in milk and urea for making synthetic milk. They used to sell this spurious milk to dairies of nearby areas that further sold it directly to customers and also mixed it with ordinary milk for delivering it to collection centres of milk plants.

Adding that there could be a big nexus of manufacturing spurious and synthetic milk in the district, the DSP said the police would probe this matter and take action against anyone found involved in this racket.

A 25-kg bag of whey powder recovered from the spot had a stamped mark of Mirgorod Cheese Combinat Plant, Poltava, Ukraine. The police is inquiring into from where the arrested persons have procured this whey powder.

It is learnt that this milk plant was set in operation on December 28, 1982, with a planned production capacity of 290 tonnes of milk processing per day and exports milk products to many countries, including India.