Ludhiana, April 19
Punjab Agricultural University has decided to take back PAU 201 paddy seed and replace it with PR-120 or PR-111, the other varities recommended by university experts.

Taking the initiative in favour of the farming community, PAU officials today called upon the interested farmers to get a replacement of paddy seed PAU-201 at the earliest.

Director of research Dr PS Minhas said the step had been taken to help the farmers who had purchased the variety PAU-201 from university sale outlets in 2010.

Both PR-120 and PR-111 varieties of paddy are high-yielding, early maturing and have earlier been recommended by PAU.

However, when asked about the yield and consumtion of water as compared to PAU 201, Dr Minhas said, "The yield of the PR-111 is two quintals less per acre than PAU-201, while PAU-120 is almost equivalent. But both varieties consume 8-10 per cent more water, which was why PAU 201 was considered the most eco-friendly variety among these."

Director (Seeds) at PAU Dr SS Bal said the farmers would be given replacement of intact bags of PAU-201 on showing the original receipt up to May 15, 2010, which would be extended if the stocks lasted even after the given date. He called upon the farmers to contact the specific sales counters at PAU from where they had purchased the PAU-201 seed.

Elated over the news, Amarinder Singh, a farmer from Ferozepur said, "I was unable to sleep during the last one month but all my fears for arranging money for new variety have vanished as now I can just concentrate on the sowing of new crop." 

Patiala, April 19
The Punjab government will soon advertise posts for respective CMD and board of directors (BoD’s) of Transcom and Powercom, the two new successor companies, registered with their headquarters at Patiala, after the bifurcation of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

As per the information gathered by The Tribune, while some BoDs will be appointed by the government, the CMD and a majority of the BoDs will be appointed through interviews, which will be taken by a selection committee, comprising Chief Secretary, Punjab; Administrative Secretary from Department of Power and a specialist from the public sector, who will be working as member/director of some central sector power utility.

While stating that the Punjab government had even got a pat from the Centre for dealing with the matter so efficiently, highly placed sources in the Powercom, the company that would be taking care of the generation and distribution, said, “In the Transcom, there will be one CMD, Director Technical, Director Finance/Commercial, who will be appointed through interview.”

The sources further said the state government would appoint Director (Administration Secretary), one from Department of Power and another from Department of Finance.

For the Powercom, the CMD, Director Generation, Director Distribution, Director Commercial, Director Finance And Director HR would be appointed through the interviews. “Director Administration will be nominated by the government. Likewise in case of Transcom, in Powercom as well, the state government will appoint Director (Administration Secretary), one from Department of Power and another from Department of Finance,” said a senior government official.

According to the officials, the qualification criteria for the post of the CMD and the Director have already been finalised. Not only the officials currently working in the Powercom/Transcom but also the outsiders having experience in the power sector and fulfilling the eligibility conditions could apply for the posts.

“After the initial screening during the interviews to be conducted by the selection committee for the post of the CMD, two names will be recommended by the committee to the state government,” said sources, while adding that final decision would then be taken by the Minister of Power, the portfolio headed by Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal himself.

Patiala, April 19
Manner in which former chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) HS Brar has been shown the door, Brar is not a happy man these days. So much was he pissed off on the way he was unceremoniously removed from the power utility, now bifurcated into two companies, that immediately after getting news of unbundling on April 15, he left for his home in Faridkot.

Though the government had already given pretext that officials, who have surpassed the age of 60 cannot be accommodated in the new companies, but still the former chairman has many grudges.

Speaking to The Tribune for the first time after his ouster, Brar reposed faith in the leadership of Chief Minister Parkash Badal, but stated that it was really beyond his understanding that why his entire staff, from his official residence in Patiala, was instructed to join at the headquarters on April 15 late night.

Notably, according to highly placed sources, Brar’s OSD senior XEN RK Goel and Director Personnel NS Dhanoa had already been sent on leave and not given any new postings.

Brar was though not interested in discussing the issue much, but one of his close aide, immediately after the unbundling decision, said Brar’s vehicle and security staff was called back and he was left without security, when the strike of the PSEB employees in the state was on. Brar, however, accused that some of the officers deputed with him are being subjected to some kind of harassment. He further said this was unjust and he would speak to the CM on the issue, as Badal himself has been unaware that any such thing was going on.

Though, despite repeated attempts, senior Powercom officials were not available for the comments, but the new managing-committee members, on condition of anonymity, said no one has been treated shabbily. 

Jalandhar, April 19
Tall claims of the state government to provide quality education to Scheduled Castes (SC) students seems to have fallen flat, as Centre sponsored funds worth crores under the ambitious Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna have not been disbursed till date. The scheme is meant for encouraging SC students to attain quality education.

It has almost been three years since educational institutions from across the state sent proposals under this scheme, but could not avail the benefit. The funds under this scheme for the year 2007, 2008 and 2009 are yet to be disbursed, despite the fact that the Centre released the grants well on time.

Sources claim that owing to the non-disbursement of the funds, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment refused to accept any fresh proposals from the state for want of ‘Utilisation Certificate (UC).

“Though fresh proposals were forwarded by educational institutions last year, too, but the ministry officials refused to accept the proposals as the state government authorities could not produce the UC of previous grants. How can the UC be released when the state Finance Department is yet to release the funds?” said an official.

Talking to The Tribune about this scheme, Principal Secretary, Higher Education Karan Bir Singh Sidhu said they would release the pending funds soon. “We will release the pending grants within a week,” he assured.

Even director of Hostel Scheme, Ministry Of Social Justice And Empowerment, RK Shrivastva said they received no fresh proposal from the state in the past some time. “There was one proposal from Moga district last year, but it was also left mid-way. The response to this scheme is not much from Punjab,” 
he added.

The educational institutions, which sent proposals under this scheme include Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Polytechnic College, Ajitowal, Moga, Dr Shamlal College of Nursing, Moga, Jagdish Chandra DAV College, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, Beant Engineering and Technology College, Gurdaspur, Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College for Women, Dasuya, DAV College Boys, Jalandhar, Sikh National College, Banga and Sri Guru Angad Dev College, Khadur Sahib.

The scheme was previously known as the centrally-sponsored scheme of hostels for SC girls and boys. It might be noted though the scheme was applicable for SC boys and girls studying in middle schools and higher secondary schools, but not even a single school in the state has till date availed any benefit under this scheme. The schools in the SC belts of the state or with maximum SC students were eligible to apply under 
the scheme.

Ludhiana, April 19
The seventeen Indian youths, who are facing death sentence in Dubai, are being treated well in a Sharjah jail. They are being served good food and jail staff are good to them.

This was revealed by the youths lodged in the jail to Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) supremo Balwant Singh Ramoowalia during his two-hour-long meeting with them today.

In a statement released here, Ramoowalia said the youths were emotional to know that Indians were campaigning for their release. ‘‘Many youths broke down when I made them abreast about what their countrymen were doing for their cause. They were grateful and sent wishes back home,’’ said Ramoowalia.

He added that the youths were in good health and he conveyed them the sentiments of their families. ‘‘I had recorded the messages of their family members for the youths when I camped with them in New Delhi. Hearing the names of the parents and family members, the youths turned emotional,’’ he added.

The LBP leader told the youths that efforts were on to save them from death sentence. ‘‘I told them that I was an emissary to them from the country as well as their family. The two hours passed like a moment. It was a warm meeting,’’ said Ramoowalia, who donned a Sharjah lawyer's uniform to meet them on the jail premises.

The leader also met the jail authorities and the staff and urged them to take care of the youths who were thousands of kilometres away from their homes and were undergoing the worst crisis of their life.

‘‘I conveyed a message of the universal brotherhood to them and even used Urdu and Arabic languages to win their trust. The language did a trick and we had a very cordial environment in the jail. It was like a reunion,’’ he said.

Chandigarh, April 19
Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately sanction Rs 500 bonus besides asking the RBI to stop the recovery of farm loans in view of 23 per cent average loss of wheat production being suffered by farmers due to the intense heat wave in North India.

The Tribune had yesterday highlighted how the per hectare wheat yield had gone down with farmers not being able to irrigate their fields during the last week of March due to the lack of power and how they would face problems in raising their paddy crop due to the same reason.

Harsimrat has claimed that the Punjab Government had come to the aid of farmers by supplying them free power for their pump sets so that light irrigation could check the damage. This notwithstanding the fact that all mainstream kisan organisations, including those who are perceived to be pro-government, have accused the state of not providing power when the wheat crop needed it most.

The MP demanded the “immediate” announcement of Rs 500 bonus on wheat, over and above the minimum support price of Rs 1,100, in view of the shortfall in wheat production.

She said due to low production farmers would not be able to repay their loans and the RBI should issue directions to the public sector and cooperative banks to stop the recovery of farm loans besides rescheduling them.

Harsimrat also requested the Prime Minister to sanction a Rs 100 crore special grant to PAU, Ludhiana, to conduct research and development to develop strains of heat-resistant wheat seed to tackle such situations. 

Ludhiana, April 19
Will former Union Home Minister Buta Singh try his luck in Punjab politics now? This is a question being asked in the political circles of the state.

Buta Singh, who is now heading the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, has been visiting the state frequently for past some time to study alleged atrocities against Dalits in the state. His 3-year term as chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes ends on May 15 and he is expected to submit the final report to the government before the expiry of his term.

Buta Singh has been active in the Punjab politics before start of militancy in the state in the 80s, as he was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1980 from Moga on Akali ticket and later he joined the Congress. He fought two successive Lok Sabha elections of 1967 and 1972 from Ropar Lok Sabha constituency and won the same. It was in 1977 after the emergency that he lost to the Akali candidate Basant Singh Khalsa from the Ropar Lok Sabha seat.

As Union Home Minister, Buta Singh, was closely involved in the Punjab situation during the peak period of militancy. He also was close to the AICC (Indira) after the emergency when there was a split in the Congress. As general secretary of the Congress (Indira) he was instrumental in organising the Punjab Congress. He moved to Rajasthan when the elections to the Lok Sabha were not held in 1985.

Buta Singh, a Dalit, belongs to Jalandhar district. The Tribune met Buta Singh in Ludhiana today and asked him if he was interested in returning to the Punjab politics, he did not contradict and said this was for the Congress high command to decide. If the party high command directed me to work in Punjab “I will abide by that”.

Buta Singh felt that the leaders of the state Congress were busy in settling their personal scores and were not putting up any opposition to the SAD-BJP government that was committing untold atrocities on the Dalits.

Buta Singh told The Tribune that the Akali leaders in the state were destroying the bastis of the Dalits in various parts of the state. The worst hit Dalits were from Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda and Gurdaspur districts, even the Dalit officers were also being oppressed by the Akali Dal leadership. There was complete ‘jatistan’ in Punjab, he alleged.

Patiala/Fatehgarh Sahib, April 19
The National Emblem with the motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’ is subjected to disgrace during this wheat harvesting season in grain markets all across Punjab, as the emblem is printed on the plastic gunny bags, in which wheat is stored. Right above the National Emblem, a one line mentioning ‘Government of Punjab’ is also there. Besides being trampled under feet, they are thrown mercilessly in trucks. Thus this symbol of sovereignty is abused daily, knowingly or unknowingly.

During a visit to various grain markets, it was found that plastic bags bearing the National Emblem were being treated in extremely shabby manner, with the labourers standing tall on it. “What is National Emblem”, questioned a labourer Sarju, while pointing out that he loves his country but it was the fault of the authorities concerned and they certainly don’t want to show any disrespect to the emblem. Many other labourers questioned the need of putting the emblem on the bags.

Interestingly, when the labourers were told the importance of the emblem, they condemned it and one of the labourers, Jaswinder Jaitu, at the Nabha grain market, told The Tribune, “We even sleep on these plastic bags during the night. But we are not at fault as we are illiterate and do not know such things.”

Inquiries showed that many are also using the torn plastic bags for storing waste material. “I have requested people not to use it for any other purpose than storing wheat as our National Emblem is printed on it,” said Dilbag Singh, a retired professor and progressive farmer in Khanna.

Meanwhile, Patiala Divisional Commissioner G.S. Grewal expressed ignorance on the issue, notwithstanding the fact that he himself had visited the grain markets a couple of days ago. Terming the issue as serious, he said he would look into the matter and would bring the matter to the notice of the senior government functionaries. 

Morinda, April 19
The fate of the co-generation plant at Morinda Cooperative Sugar Mills remains uncertain. Even after over a year since its foundation stone was laid, nothing has been done to initiate work on the co-generation plant, which was supposed to have an installed capacity of 11 MW.

It was decided that co-generation plant would function for 25 years and later would be handed over to the sugar mill itself.

Late Captain Kanwlajit Singh had laid the foundation stone of this co-generation plant just few days before his death on March 29, 2009.

Since then, AtoZ Infrastructure Limited, Gurgaon, which is supposed to set up this venture, has just released a cheque for Rs 50 lakh towards the mill and performed bhoomi pujan few days ago. At the site of the Rs 100-crore project stands a board announcing prompt setting up of the unit.

The plant was to get functional by August 20 this year, which seems to be a distant dream now. Sugarcane farmers feel that the death of the Captain was a major setback in delaying this work.

“We have almost lost the hope of any such unit coming up. It was said that the plant would use bagasse and biomass from nearby villages, thereby solving the problem of agricultural waste. The government had even talked about betterment of sugarcane farmers through the biomass plant,” pointed out president municipal council Vijay Kumar Tinku.

The sugar mill has installed capacity of crushing 25,000 quintals of sugarcane daily. But sources in the unit point out that the mill had never achieved this target and crushes mere 10,000 quintals per day. “the sugar mill functioned just for a month in January this year. Last year, it worked for only 40 days. With such limited number of crushing and constant dip in area under sugarcane, how can we even think that it would produce enough bagasse to support a co-generation plant,” reasoned farmer Major Harjit Singh Kang (retd).

General manager of the sugar mill Upinder Sharma was not available for comments, despite repeated attempts.

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 19
While rising mercury has begun taking its toll on milk production, it has also increased the possibility of milk adulteration.

As milk production has dipped sharply, vendors are trying to make both ends meet by resorting to illegal practices of using refined oil, urea etc. However, the Health Department is forced to remain a mute spectator, as it does not have the authority to seize milk with doubtable contents.

“We can only collect samples. The lab reports of these samples come after a month and by that time the entire lot of adulterated milk gets sold,” said health department officials.

Dairy farm owners point out that cattle need extra care during summers. “Soaring temperatures make cattle uneasy leading to lesser milk production. If a cow yields 20-litre milk during winters, it comes down to 13 to 15 litre in summers,” said Ravinder Ghuman, owner of Ghuman dairy farm in Badoshi Kalan village of Fatehgarh Sahib.

He added that cows and buffaloes need constant sprinkling and extra comfort or else the yield can be reduced to even 5 to 7 litre. “All dairy farmers cannot afford giving such comfort to their animals,” he said.

He said it was very difficult to get pure milk in the market during the summers.

The officials said the government would soon deploy inspectors who would give report of samples on the spot and if milk were found unfit for human consumption it would be destroyed then and there.

Sialba Majri (Kurali), April 19
Situated on newly laid Siswan-Baddi road, an otherwise a sleepy village, Sialba Majri is abuzz with activities these days with the very presence of 10 to 15 big vehicles and around 30 “foreigners”.

In this village of 4,000 persons, eight Bollywood item girls are vying for the best ‘desi girl’ title. An initiative of NDTV Imagine, the celebrities here are having brush with the rural life, performing odd jobs of making dung cakes, milking cows, trying to make a fire in chullah, cleaning home, working as a farm labourer and much more.

Desi Girl is a first reality show being shot in rural India wherein celebrities are putting up with four families in the village. The participants are living with the families of Jasbir Singh, Shashipal Singh, Bhim Singh and Kamal.

TV celebrity Roshni Chopa and Ishita Arun are residing at house of Shashipal, while Kashmira Shah is living with Jasbir’s family. Other five celebrities including Monica Bedi, Sambhavna Seth, Anmol Singh, Rucha and Aushima Sawhney have been voted out by the villagers. Shooting for the show started on March 16 and is expected to wind up by April 22. “These Mumbai wallahs can’t bear scorching heat of Punjab and hence most of the outdoor shooting is done either early morning or past sunset,” revealed a villager Baldev Singh.

At the onset of shooting schedule, the sight of women participants dressed in skimpy clothes seemed hard for villagers to digest. “Over past one month, both the participants and villagers have grown used to each other. Now, the girls dress sensibly and villagers also don’t care what they wear,” observed Parmila. The shooting has also benefited locales who’ve got opportunity to make quick bucks doing odd jobs of washing utensils, doubling up as spot boys or helping unit in one way or another. Villagers reveal that earlier they were paid Rs 400 for even a mundane task and the same rate has now slipped to Rs 250 due to competition.

Chandigarh, April 19
The Punjab Government has decided to continue with the sale of double-digit lotteries after Advocate-General HS Mattewal said that the Central Government’s decision to ban the lotteries could not be implemented till the stay on the matter was lifted by the Sikkim High Court.

Punjab earns revenue of about Rs 50 lakh per day from the sale of double-digit lotteries, yielding an annual revenue of about Rs 150 crore.

There was a lot of confusion in the Punjab Government over the issue with senior officials advising the state to ban the double-digit lotteries as sought by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The matter was referred to the AG’s office after there was criticism of the government over the issue. After deliberations, Mattewal today gave his opinion saying that the stay by the Sikkim High Court also extended to the implementation of the directive across India.

With Punjab facing a huge revenue deficit, the generation of Rs 185 crore from lotteries out of which Rs 150 crore is from double- digit lotteries alone is significant. The MHA letter received by the Punjab Government clearly said that the sale of double-digit lotteries should be stopped immediately as it promoted gambling. 

Chandigarh, April 19
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has asked the Punjab police and the jail authorities in the state to lay down guidelines regarding the handcuffing of prisoners while they are being moved outside the jail.

Taking up the case of an undertrial, Dr Ravinder Verma, who was handcuffed when he was taken from the jail to a hospital, the full bench of the commission ordered that “the DGP, prisons, and the DGP, as also the home secretary should themselves, or by constituting a committee, lay down guidelines for the authorities concerned as to under what circumstances a prisoner is to be handcuffed or chained. Needless to mention, the judgment in DK Basu's case will be kept in view while laying down such guidelines.”

In March 2006, the commission had taken suo motu cognizance of newspaper reports that Verma, was referred to the civil hospital,Nabha for treatment. He was handcuffed during transition and even in hospital he was chained to the hospital bed. The commission called for a report from the district magistrate, Patiala, but after going through the report ordered further investigation to be conducted by its own IG.

The case will come up for hearing on May 18.

Chandigarh, April 19
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed arrangements for commemoration of tercentenary celebrations of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s ‘Sirhind Fateh Divas’ at Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib district on May 14.

Badal chaired the meeting here at Punjab Bhawan this morning to chalk out a detailed programme for the commemoration of this mega event in a befitting manner.

It may be recalled that the Prime Minister Office had already confirmed the programme of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take part in these celebrations on May 14 at Sirhind (Fatehgarh Sahib) in view of the historical significance of the event in the annals of the Sikh history.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the state government said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal would receive the Sirhind-Fateh Divas march on the entry point from Haryana to Punjab on May 12 and the CM would flag off the march on its final leg from Chapparchiri village in Mohali district to Sirhind (Fatehgarh Sahib).

It was also decided in the meeting to name the road from Banur to Kharar as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Marg and another road from Chapparchiri village in Mohali district to Fatehgarh Sahib as Sirhind-Fateh Divas Marg, besides two commemorative gates would also be erected, one at Banur and another at Samana, in memory of the great warrior. — TNS

Chandigarh, April 19
Sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, Border Security Force commandant BS Hari has failed to receive any relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He is facing charges under the NDPS and the BSF Acts. Justice Ranjit Singh has dismissed his petition against the Union of India and other respondents challenging his trial by General Force Court.

The petitioner was initially lodged in Ludhiana Central Jail, but later was on bail granted to him by the High Court on September 19, 1997.

On April 9, 1995, a one-man staff court inquiry was ordered to investigate the circumstances leading to the recovery of jerricans containing acetic anyhydride. The cans were allegedly found in the Pakistani territory and fields owned by civilians adjoining the border area, when Hari was serving as Commandant 67 Battalion in 1994-95.

The petitioner alleged that Inspector Didar Singh, in physical command and control of the recovery area, in connivance with senior BSF officers, involved him illegally in the case.

Justice Ranjit Singh observed: “It is stated the petitioner was involved in commission of offences under the NDPS Act as well as under the BSF Act… The reply further discloses the petitioner had pressurised his subordinate Inspector Didar Singh to facilitate the smugglers to smuggle out contraband goods from India to Pakistan….”

Justice Ranjit Singh added: “He was sentenced to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and to be fined Rs 1,00,000 coupled with dismissal from service…. The proceedings were submitted for confirmation before the competent confirming authority, who vide his order dated April 10, 1986, confirmed the finding as well as the sentence”.

He asserted: “It can be said that a substance which would help preparation of narcotic drugs was knowingly permitted to be used in an enclosure under the control of the petitioner, which would satisfy the requirement of an offence under Section 25 of the NDPS Act. There is no merit in the writ petition and the same is accordingly dismissed”. 

Chandigarh, April 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail to three accused, Simarjit Singh Bains, Ravi Sharma and Kamaljit Singh Karwal, in Ludhiana tehsildar-assault case today.

Seeking grant of bail for the accused, senior counsel Baldev Singh argued they have been implicated in the case. It was alleged the tehsildar had made a false complaint. Even the injury on his leg was manipulated, because the doctors had described it as an old injury.