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Urban Poor
PSEB-floated tenders raise eyebrows
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Illegal Sand Mining in Moga
Overpriced Beer
Double Life Sentence
March heat played havoc with wheat yield
Naxalite to be grilled in Amritsar
PCA used state funds, but refuses to share profits
Land Records Sangrur, May 5 The online processing of land records, started with much fanfare and considered a novel effort to free poor farmers from bureaucratic hassles, is facing problems from patwaris here.
Beware of ‘bante wali’ drinks
Procedure for issuance of SC certificates simplified
A First
Kharar Choe
Area under moong cultivation up
Ultrasound machine missing
High Court
Four Pak nationals get 5 yrs’ RI
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Urban Poor
Chandigarh, May 5 For once the BJP legislators, like their Akali counterparts, have been pushed against the wall. This is because like introduction of cess on canal water was essential for the state to avail itself of central funds, it is mandatory to recover money from beneficiaries of the currently under way water supply and sewerage schemes in the state. BJP leaders feel that the party core vote bank would be affected in case the urban poor who possess houses of less than five marlas are made to pay for both water and sewerage facilities. The beneficiaries of this freebie run into several lakhs and are concentrated in the urban areas only that form the vote bank of the saffron party. Senior BJP leader Balramji Das Tandon, when questioned on the issue, said he would not like to comment until it is thrashed out at the party forum. He, however, maintained there was a need to discuss the issue among senior leaders, office-bearers, the legislature party as well as the core group to create a consensus. “Only then should a final recommendation be given to the government by the BJP”, he added. Meanwhile, sources said the exemptions given to the urban poor were proving dear for the municipal corporations and committees of the state. The Ludhiana Corporation stands to gain Rs 10 crore annually if the exemptions are done away with. Similarly, Jalandhar Corporation Commissioner Vinay Bublani says the corporation could earn around Rs 7.50 crore more in case exemptions to the urban poor come to an end. In the case of Patiala the revenue could go up by around Rs 4.20 crore, according to Commissioner M S Narang. The BJP is working out a strategy to do away with the exemptions and yet come out unscathed. One way is to ensure a nominal charge only. Another proposal is to charge all consumers who are paying income tax to do away with the problem of misuse of small buildings for purposes other than residential.
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PSEB-floated tenders raise eyebrows
Jalandhar, May 5 Sources say that tenders were floated first in 2005 and then in 2009 for limited works (say to erect 40-km lines). However, later on the basis of the same tenders other similar transmission lines were erected by allotting the works to various contractors on nomination basis. “A huge fiscal loss has been caused to the organisation and it needs to be probed,” said a senior official of the Punjab State Power Corporation. He said: “Obviously, there would be high rate for erecting a 40-km line. But if the work is for a 400-km line, the rate will be relatively far less”. Moreover, the conversion of the tender rate for limited work into contract rate and the allotment of the other works without floating fresh tenders was in violation of the rules and regulations as well as flouted the instructions issued by the Central Vigilance Commission. The commission says that “the tendering process or public auction is a basic requirement for the award of contract by any government agency as any other method, especially award of contract on nomination basis, would amount to breach of Article 14 of the Constitution guaranteeing Right to Equality”. The Director, Transmission Lines (Design) of the Punjab State Transmission Corporation, when asked to comment on the issue, said: “I do not know anything in this regard. I was not involved in any manner related to the floating and finalising of the tenders.” In fact, the rates okayed while allotting tenders in 2005 were 100 per cent more in case of casting of the foundation. The line erection work is divided into three segments: casting of the foundation, erection of the tower and stringing of lines. Even the rates for erection of tower and stringing of lines were higher than the norm. “How were high rates justified and approved at the meetings of whole time members (WTMs) and other officials is still a mystery,” said a senior official. In 2009 too, the rates quoted were very high. Because of this reason, the rates negotiation committee had stipulated that while putting the case before the competent authority, the rates should be examined and recorded. However, the rates were approved at various levels and works were allotted. “It is a big scandal which requires a high-level probe,” said a former power official.
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Sukhbir: Naxals won’t be allowed to establish base in state
Patiala, May 5 “But we will not allow them to establish any base or regroup in Punjab. The state police has been keeping a close eye on the situation and it will not allow either naxalism or terrorism to raise its ugly head,” he said while talking to The Tribune after attending a state-level function organised to celebrate the 287th birth anniversary of Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia at the Grain Market on the Patiala-Sirhind Road. Sukhbir said during a recent meeting convened by the Union Home Ministry on this issue, the state government had requested the Centre to give a special package to the states that might be potential threats of expansionist designs of the naxalite movement. He said the state had recently sought a Rs 200-crore modernisation package from the Centre to equip the Punjab Police with modern armaments. Meanwhile, addressing mediapersons, Sukhbir said the state government would soon approach the Centre for seeking a fresh loan waiver package. “In the first package, hardly one per cent of the state farmers were benefited,” he said. Sukhbir said a sports policy of the Punjab Government would be finalised soon adding that the state was all set to introduce district-level competitions for all games. Earlier, paying tributes to Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Sukhbir said the nation was indebted to him, who recaptured Delhi in the 18th century and hoisted the Tricolour. “The Punjab Cabinet will soon take a decision on setting up a full-fledged university dedicated to Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia,” he announced. Meanwhile, chaos prevailed soon after the function started as some cops manhandled a lensman of a newspaper. However, the matter was sorted out with the cop concerned apologising for his misconduct.
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Sirhind Fateh Diwas PM’s visit not confirmed Fatehgarh Sahib: Officials concerned on Wednesday said the visit of the Prime Minister to Fatehgarh Sahib was yet to be confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office. SGPC members and political leaders said the PM ought to pay visit to Sirhind in view of the Fateh
Diwas.
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 5 Besides instructing senior officials to provide potable water and ensure bus availability, Sukhbir asked his party workers to see to it that youngsters attend
this function. He also reviewed security arrangements and discussed it during meeting with officials concerned. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to visit Fatehgarh Sahib on May 14 to attend Sirhind Fateh Diwas. He reportedly accepted an initiation by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in this regard. Sources said the state government and the SGPC would spend crores to organise function as metallic roads and many other temporary arrangements have been made by administration to make this function success. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said all arrangements, including parking, basic facilities and medical help, had been taken care of. He said the function would be organised as per religious sanctity of Sikhs. An exhibition showcasing arms and portraits of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur would also be organised during
the occasion. The SGPC and the district administration have jointly erected tents at Mata Gujri College here wherein political guests, VIP’s and religious leaders would pay visit during the function.
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Illegal Sand Mining in Moga Fresh auction of sites
stopped The fresh auction of sand mining sites in 11 villages of Moga district in the current financial year has been halted by the district mining officer as the Punjab and Haryana High Court had recently stayed all operations in mines under litigation in Punjab. For the undisputed sites, the state government has granted extension for mining till July 15
Moga, May 5 The fine has been imposed by General Manager of the District Industry Centre and Mining Officer Satbir Singh after finding 28 persons guilty of illegal mining. These actions have come in the wake of a petition filed by a local resident, Virsa Singh, in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which sought directions “to ensure proper maintenance and repair of the Kishanpura drain passing through Indergarh village and the surrounding areas near the banks of the Kishanpura drain”. Before the filing of this petition, some local residents lodged a complaint before District Magistrate Satwant Singh Johal on the illegal sand mining, which they alleged was going on for the past many years. The DM wrote a letter to the then SSP, Ashok Bath, to take legal action and stop illegal mining but the police allegedly failed to initiate necessary action, probably under political pressure of the leaders of the ruling parties. A case was registered on February 23 in this regard only after the High Court issued a strong notice on the issue. On April 21, a division bench of the HC comprising Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh directed Punjab to ensure that “no illegal mining of any kind is
carried out in the area concerned”. Earlier, the HC on March 22 had summoned the SSP after the DM had asserted that illegal mining was continuing in some villages, including Talwandi Nau Bahar, Daulewala and Jaspur Gobliwal etc. The HC had also asked the DGP to take action against the SSP and fixed August 11 as the next date of hearing in this case. The DGP would file a reply in the court on the action taken against the SSP. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that senior authorities of the police department have sought an explanation from the SSP, who was removed from his post three weeks ago and is currently posted in the police headquarters at Chandigarh.
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Overpriced Beer
Jalandhar, May 5 Enquiries revealed that beer was still being sold at Rs 70 to Rs 80 at various liquor vends and nothing had been done to check the mafia from making a killing in the “beer season” in Punjab. Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, Venu Prasad, talking to The Tribune, had claimed to have initiated investigations in the sale of liquor beyond the maximum price limit, but nothing concrete has come out of it as yet. Sources in the Excise and Taxation Department said a particular clause in the new excise policy was being exploited by the liquor mafia. As per the new excise policy, imported beer and that procured from other states has been exempted from the prescribed maximum retail price. However, the government has fixed the minimum and the maximum retail price for beer, bottled within the state. Taking the benefit of the clause, the vendors are selling beer, bottled within Punjab, on the rate at which the imported beer is to be sold. According to the new excise policy (15.0), imported beer will be assessed at the rate of Rs 10 per bulk litre (BL), while an additional fee of Rs 2 per BL and a special fee @ Rs 5 per BL will be charged on light beer having alcoholic contents from 3.25 per cent to 5.25 per cent volume velocity at L-1 stage. The sources said this clause was being abused by the licencees who deliberately stock beer from other states at the cost of local distilleries with the result that most popular state brands were virtually missing from the shelves. They are not only cheating the customers but also making a fast buck allegedly in connivance with officials of the department who are not monitoring the price index. Nearly 12-14 lakh cases of beer are being sold by the vendors per month at exorbitant prices thus appropriating Rs 14-Rs 15 crore per month. The vendors in Amritsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ropar, Mohali, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and many small townships have created syndicates and are selling beer at arbitrary prices, a Chandigarh-based vendor said on condition of anonymity. When quizzed on the issue, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Jalandhar, PS Gill, said he had ordered that the price list (minimum and maximum) of all brands of beer, bottled in Punjab, should be prominently displayed at all liquor vends in Jalandhar, Kapurhtala, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr.
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Double Life Sentence
Bathinda, May 5 The woman had first poisoned her husband to death and later her two children also met with the same fate in 2005. The life term will run one after the other and not concurrently, amounting to 40 years in jail along with a fine of Rs 20,000 each. Confirming this, Deputy District Attorney IS Kingra said there was no one else other than the woman with access to the children at the time they were administered poison. According to details collected, Manpreet Kaur was married to Harjeet Singh of Jaga Ram Tirath and the couple had two sons. However, after some time, Manpreet developed illicit relations with her husband’s cousin Binder Singh. Finding Harjeet a hurdle in their relationship, both conspired to kill him. Manpreet mixed some poison in his food after consuming which he died. Assuming it to be a case of natural death, no family member suspected any foul play and cremated the body without a postmortem examination. On the third day after Harjeet’s cremation, Manpreet herself floated a proposal to remarry. But her in-laws denied apprehending that the fate of her two sons, one eight-year-old and the other two-year-old, would be at stake. Irked over it, she started finding her children to be another hurdle in her marriage. Later, both conspired to kill the children and adopted the same modus operandi. However, in his dying declaration, the elder child said their health deteriorated after they consumed food given by their mother.Family members rushed the children to a private hospital in Mansa from where they were referred to the Mansa Civil Hospital. But both died on the way. On the statement of the family members, the Talwandi Sabo Police clubbed both cases of killing in one FIR and booked Manpreet, her two sisters, Kanta and Anita, and Binder for killing Harjeet and his two sons. The viscera report too confirmed that the death was caused by poisoning thus ruling out diarrhea or natural food poisoning as the cause. Meanwhile, while investigating the case, the then SHO of the Talwandi Sabo police station Manpreet’s sisters innocent and submitted a report in a court. After years-long judicial proceedings, finding the woman and her paramour to be the culprit, the Additional District and Sessions Judge awarded life term to both in each incident of murder, which amounted to double life imprisonment. Meanwhile, the court acquitted the sisters of Manpreet Defence counsel Udey Partap Singh said the woman and her paramour both eloped since family members got a case registered against them. After some time, they confessed to the crime to one of Harjeet’s relatives at Dhanaula town. “Moreover, after getting arrested about three years ago, the woman herself led the police to recover the bottle of the poison, which she administered to the children.” he added. On a query about filing an appeal in the higher courts, he said, “Nobody from the woman’s side had ever come in the court when the proceedings were continuing. But we are expecting that the convicted man will file an appeal in the HC, but that too will be done only after getting a copy of the judgment.”
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March heat played havoc with wheat yield
Chandigarh, May 5 “Last year the Agriculture Department had projected that around 102 lakh tonne wheat would arrive in the state mandis but the mandis received 110 lakh tonne. This year the estimates are 109 lakh tonnes, so the state department has made arrangements for 115 lakh tonne. There has been a drop in arrivals, but wheat is still trickling in. So, the final figures could be 102 lakh tonne”, S.P Singh, Secretary Food and Civil Supplies said. The rapid rise in temperature during March has resulted in shrivelling up of the wheat grain and hence lower yields. According to the Agriculture Department, around 67 per cent of the wheat grown in the state finds its way into various mandis of the state. The Punjab mandis are now likely to see a shortfall of around 5 to 7 lakh tonne of wheat from the estimated figures of the Agriculture Department. Lower yields have actually come as a blessing in disguise as it has solved the problem of storage. Based on estimates of procurement of 115 lakh tonne of wheat, the state had made “cap” storage (out in the open on plinths) arrangement for some 30 lakh tonne. But now how much wheat is stored in an unscientific manner, out in the open will only become clear after the procurement process ends around mid-May. Government agencies and private millers had till last evening procured 100.17 lakh tonne of wheat as compared to 103.07 lakh tonne the previous year.
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Naxalite to be grilled in Amritsar
Ferozepur, May 5 The Naxal was arrested two days ago for his alleged involvement in pasting posters in the Zira area, motivating people to join the Naxal movement, and seeking funds for Naxals by approaching businessmen through anonymous letters. A case under Sections 121-A and 153-A of the IPC had been registered against him in Zira police station. “We failed to extract any information from him (Dilbagh) despite the fact that he was subjected to consistent questioning by many police officials. Hence, he was sent to the JIC so that some clue could be found about the organisation for which he has been working,” said a senior functionary of the police on the condition of anonymity. “What is more serious is the fact that he (Dilbagh) is a hard nut to crack. He even claimed during the interrogation done in the local police station that since he was a true follower of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, he would not reveal anything to the police in connection with the activities of his organisation,” disclosed another senior functionary of the intelligence wing. A large number of posters carrying the names of organisations like the Nepali Ekjut Communist Party, Purva Bangladesh Sarvhara Kendri Committee, Purvi Bengal Di Communist Party (MLM Lal Jhanda), Communist Party, Bhutan, CPI (MLM), CPI (ML) Naxalwari and CPI (Maowadi) appeared in the Zira area of this district on May 1, which is marked as International Labour Day. The posters advertised the message that people should unite to oppose Operation Green Hunt, launched by Centre against the Maoists in various states.
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Plan to modernise police
Amritsar, May 5 He was here to inaugurate a separate office of the police for issuing arms licences and court for the Police Commissioner. He claimed that arms licences would be issued within 15 days of submitting the application and would be renewed within three days. Gill said the police would be given modern arms and hi-tech gadgets to swiftly and effectively curb criminal activities. He said the police control room system would soon be introduced in the Police Commissionerates of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana besides Patiala and Bathinda. He said vehicles would be provided to reach the scene of an incident within the minimum possible time. Personnel would also be given cameras. The DGP accepted that Punjab militants residing in Pakistan had active links with the Taliban. However, he asserted that terrorism would not be allowed to be revived. When asked about the explosion of a mobile which injured a watchman in the city on May 2, he played down the incident. He said it was not a law and order problem but the act of some mischievous persons who would be brought to book. Regarding reports of the intrusion of more than two persons from across the border with Pakistan via the Bamiyal sector falling in Gurdaspur district into the country, the DGP claimed that only two persons had attempted to force their entry.Valiant men of the Punjab Police eliminated them in a gun battle and in the process also lost two of its men, he added. He said the police was trying to ascertain the identities of the slain terrorists. He agreed that barbed wires had not been properly erected along rivers and canals along the international border. However, he added that the BSF regularly carried out intensive patrolling of those areas to prevent intrusion. Gill said 3,400 more youth would be recruited in the state force. He expressed satisfaction over the current ratio of 2,200 jawans to one lakh citizens. On growing traffic congestion and its management in the holy city, the DGP said the police along with various state agencies had taken several measures in this regard like designating roads as one way and earmarking no-parking zones. He felt the results would be evident in the next some months.
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Documentary on cancer in Bathinda belt
Bathinda, May 5 The Abohar-Jodhpur passenger train, popularly known as the “Cancer Train”, is a lifeline for cancer patients which ferries them from Punjab to Bikaner on subsidised tickets. Jacob, who is a graduate in film and video production, and Greg, a graduate in graphic designing, have been here for the past 10 days. During this period they did shooting/recording for more than 20 hours to make the documentary in some villages of Bathinda like Jajjal, Malkana and Deon. They also captured on film the “Cancer Train”, Bathinda and Bikaner railway stations and Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment and Research Institute, Bikaner (Rajasthan). The entire recording will now be edited to make a 10-minute documentary. The two documentary makers showed slides and parts of the unedited film at the local International Community College today. They said the total cost of making the documentary was about 8,000 pounds. The money had been given to them by their parents or friends. They said patients from Punjab went to the cancer hospital in Bikaner for treatment at subsidised rates.In Punjab cancer treatment was very expensive. They were also impressed by the doctors’ attitude and the well-organised system at the Bikaner hospital. They said they would send their work to documentary film festivals in the UK, the US and Australia, besides getting it screened in cinema houses in the UK. The documentary makers said pesticides were a major cause, among others, for the high incidence of cancer in the region. Dr Amanish Singh, Director, International Community College, said the documentary makers were helped by his college by way of logistic support and the transport facility, besides in interviews with patients. He said Mandeep Singh and Varun Duggal, members of his college staff, accompanied the documentary makers to help them meet people.
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Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s legacy in ruins
Ropar, May 5 Overgrown wild bushes have completely blanketed the plaque, while a flag of the Maharaja’s era restored on the top of hill remains out of reach of common man. As per historians, in 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh hoisted his Sarkar-e-Khalsa flag and mounted his guns on this hill, which is a Shivaliks foothill near Asron village, to demonstrate his will to protect the sovereignty of Punjab. Later, the Maharaja met Lord William Bentick, the then British Governor General of India, for the historic Punjab treaty at Ropar at Sutlej’s opposite bank. The Punjab Heritage Foundation and the Environment Society took up the cudgels to safeguard this heritage project and on October 19, 2001, Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa laid the foundation stone to set up a memorabilia marking Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rich legacy. Since then, the stone and the area around it lie uncared for by the roadside crowded with garbage. Not even a decent fencing has been erected to bar entry of animals or anti-social elements. The restored flag stands on top of the hill, albeit out of the reach of common man. As per project, the area was to be developed as a tourist site, but maintenance of its present structure is none’s task. “Apathetic attitude of government has ruined the place. It’s shameful that Punjab’s biggest ruler’s legacy is being spoilt in such a way,” observed area resident Bhupesh. Gurbax Singh Shergill, president of the Punjab Heritage Foundation, said after laying the foundation, the organisation fought case against Swaraj Mazda in the high court for five years trying to wrest back the historic land, which the Congress-led Punjab government had sold to Swaraj Mazda. “We managed in getting 9 acre of the hill declared as heritage site. It took over two years to get the area demarcated and notified. All these legalities delayed the project, which would have been commissioned by now,” he said. Shergill added that since the hill is steep, a road starting from the base of the hill till its peak cannot be constructed. The Punjab Tourism Development Board has now floated a plan to lift 150-ft area and a small road stretch would be constructed to scale further height. The board has adopted this heritage hill for eco-tourism in state. He added that soil department of state has already planned Rs 1.5 crore to check soil erosion in the area, especially at the time of monsoons. “At the site of restored flag, a gazebo has been constructed, while new tiles are being laid. We are planning Chief Minister’s visit to the place on June 28, the anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh,” he added.
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PCA used state funds, but refuses to share profits
Chandigarh, May 5 From 1992 to 1995, the state’s Housing Department released Rs 4 crore to the PCA for the construction of the stadium. In 1995, another Rs 4.5 crore was released by the then newly formed Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) towards 50 per cent of the expenditure for construction. This amount was received by PUDA as interest-free loan from the Punjab Government. Since PUDA and the PCA contributed 50:50 to the cost of the stadium, the building was deemed to be jointly owned. Other than the stadium, the government also paid for the construction of the clubhouse. An amount of Rs 80 lakh was released in 1992 followed by another Rs 85 lakh in 1996 for the construction of the clubhouse. These funds were released subject to the condition that all funds or fees received from members should be kept in a separate account for the maintenance of the club facilities and all income earned by the club should be shared between it and PUDA in a 20:80 ratio. However, while state bureaucrats went all out to release the money to their colleague who was heading the PCA, no effort, it seems, was made to finalise the terms of an agreement of sharing of ownership rights and the income generated therein. Following an inquiry by the CBI, the agency recommended “a formal agreement between PUDA and the PCA regarding the ownership, utilisation and management of both stadium and clubhouse should be finalised immediately to safeguard the interests of the government as it has incurred a major part of the expenditure. Failing this, the Punjab Government should assert their right over the stadium as well as the clubhouse and take legal action to assume control over the facilities. The state government has contributed Rs 10.15 crore towards the whole project without having fully established the right of co-ownership.” In his opinion on the matter, former Advocate-General, Punjab, RS Cheema, wrote in 2007, “The PCA stadium as well as the PCA club are affluent organisations being run on commercial lines without any return to the state and without any semblance of state control. The modality of the government control and intervention can be worked out by examining the lease deed, scrutinising the balance sheet of the PCA and other relevant records. It may be in the best interest of the game and the state to take appropriate action in this regard.” Even after several years, these recommendations remains unheeded.
(To be concluded)
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Land Records
Sangrur, May 5 Local sources said the patwaris were creating hurdles for computerisation of land records in Sangrur, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh tehsils. In these tehsils, patwaris were not signing the publicly validated jambandis because of which the system was not working properly. Referring to the online mutation and across-the-counter fard system, an official said: “Earlier people used to run after patwaris to get a copy of the land record and had to even bribe the patwaris for the purpose. The process of getting a land record copy was very time-consuming. The online mutation and across-the-counter fard system is less time-consuming. For getting an across-the-counter fard, a person can apply for the same at the fard kendra at the tehsil and sub-tehsil level and can get the fard within 10 to 30 minutes. Earlier it used to take a number of days. According to the Punjab Land Record Society, patwaris haven’t created hurdles for the online mutation and across-the-counter fard facility in Bhawanigarh and Longowal tehsils and the process gets completed within 24 hours (for online mutation) and takes 10 to 30 minutes for across-the-counter fard, but they are creating problems for the computerisation system in Sangrur, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh tehsils by not signing on publicly validated jambandis.
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Beware of ‘bante wali’ drinks
Investigation
found...
Patiala, May 5 Water being used for filling up the bottles is not distilled and saccharin, an artificial sweetener, a substitute of sugar, is added, which can play havoc with the consumer’s life. Notably, with the onset of the summer season, the demand for aerated drinks shoots up like anything. Being cheaper than other soft drinks, soda lemon or ‘banta’ becomes the first choice of the majority of the people. But, most of them are completely unaware of the manner in which these drinks are being manufactured. During a visit to the various city areas, including Rajpura colony, Ajmer street, Gurbax colony and Sheerawala Gate, it came to notice that its bottling is done in very small units, even in houses, and hardly any manufacturer is bothered about the health of the people to whom they are selling these drinks. The Tribune’s investigation found that the manufacturers do not purify the water before preparing the soda or carbonated drinks and directly filled up the bottles from municipal taps (its water sometimes contains worms or foreign material). The bottles were not even cleaned properly, at one such small bottling unit, near Ajmer street. Such bottling units, which are not being regulated by the health authorities, are also breeding grounds of flies and insects. However, when The Tribune lensman tried to click photographs, the owner refused and asked to leave the unit immediately. One of the manufacturers, on request of anonymity, said the main reason behind not distilling the municipal water was the high cost of water-purifying machines. Another startling fact that came to light was that, while making aerated drinks, many manufacturers add saccharin that could lead to serious health ailments. After being quizzed that why saccharin is preferred, one of the workers engaged in bottling told The Tribune, “It is due to high sugar prices, Saccharin is the best substitute for the sugar, as it is available at much cheaper rate.”
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Procedure for issuance of SC certificates simplified
Chandigarh, May 5
As per instructions issued to all the competent authorities concerned , a needy person of the rural area should have to present his/her application to the village sarpanch/namerdar or to the municipal councillor of the ward in case of the urban area for verification or recommendation to issue such certificate and after that submit it to the patwari concerned. In case of Chandigarh and Mohali residents; the certificates could be issued by the head of the department/office as per the service record of the applicant’s parents, the spokesman added. — TNS
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A First
Amritsar May 5 Jail Superintendent G.S. Sidhu said the idea was to make inmates healthy and at the same time involve them in positive activities. The gym will be opened for most inmates for five-six hours a day and they would be divided in groups to avoid crowding at the fitness den.
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Kharar Choe
Kharar, May 5 MLA Charanjit Singh Channi said the Chief Minister’s Office had entrusted GMADA to carry out the work. “Punjab water supply and sewerage board will execute this Rs 55-crore STP. Presently, most of the colonies are dumping their sewage into the choe,” he said. Sewage from areas of Mundi Kharar, Desu Majra, Ranjit Nagar, Swaraj Nagar, Dasmesh Nagar, ward number 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 11 fall into this seasonal rivulet. As per PPCB senior environmental engineer Karunesh Garg, there was no option for the area residents than to use rivulet as a dump. “The need of the hour is to create environmental infrastructure and for that revenue could be generated only through taxes. We have already issued notices to the Kharar MC to check flow of sewage into this seasonal rivulet,” he said. However, MC EO Vijay Gupta rolled the ball back into the court of the PPCB authorities saying MC pollution matters are handled by the PPCB.
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Area under moong cultivation up
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 5 So far, the KVK has held 10 demonstrations in order to encourage farmers to grow summer moong. However, due to lack of continuous water supply and good market price, farmers are shirking away from moong cultivation.
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Ultrasound machine missing
Anandpur Sahib, May 5
The team also did not find any form F, which is mandatory to be filled before a pregnant woman undergoes an ultrasound, nor other records available were found satisfactory. The doctor has been booked under the PNDT Act, 1992.
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High Court
Chandigarh, May 5 As Sinha’s petition for an independent probe into the allegations levelled against the commission in the media came up for hearing this morning, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh made clear its intentions of hearing the plea with a related petition filed in the public interest by the state’s former Director-General of Police KPS Gill. But Sinha’s counsel insisted on being heard on the ground of urgency. Taking note of his contention, the Bench asked him to explain the exigency. Replying to the query, Sinha’s counsel, Himmat Singh Shergill, said they were making selections of PCS officers after 12 years, but state vigilance officials were “sitting on their back”. Shergill claimed Article 317 of the Constitution of India provided constitutional safeguards to the PPSC members, just like the high court and apex court judges. Yet the Chief Secretary was asking questions. Shergill insisted the PPSC had to function independent of the government of the day. But under a deep-rooted conspiracy the commission had been put under a scanner. Speaking for the Bench, Chief Justice Mudgal orally observed: “If the Chief Secretary does not have the jurisdiction, don’t answer the questions”. The Bench also asserted the PPSC chief could file a separate petition on the Chief Secretary’s jurisdiction to hold the inquiry. The Bench added: “You are being hypersensitive. If you are holding a public office, you cannot be hypersensitive”. The observations were made orally by the Bench, and cannot be taken as the expression of final opinion in the matter. As the Chief Justice referred to the order of the Single Judge on Sinha’s petition directing its listing before the Division Bench for being heard with the PIL, Shergill asked for interim relief. He maintained at stake was the honour of the petitioner and the independent functioning of the commission. But his contention did not find favour with the high court. Fixing the case for May 18 so both petitions could be heard together, the Bench observed in the open court interim relief has been sought on the ground that the honour of the petitioner and the independence of functioning were being affected by the questions put to him by the Chief Secretary. But interim relief was not warranted. Before parting with the case, the Bench verbally commented on the selection of members of constitutional bodies, saying instances have been there when less than meritorious applicants have been made members of commissions due to benevolence. The Bench clarified the observations were not intended for Sinha, as he was a distinguished civil servant.
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Four Pak nationals get 5 yrs’ RI
Ferozepur, May 5 Bhinder also ordered the convicts to pay Rs 5,000 each as fine, failing which they would have to undergo imprisonment for two more years. Bhinder held Mohammad Iqlahk, Allah Basar, Fakir Hussain and Akhtar Masih, all residents of Pakistan, guilty under the Indian Passport Act and Foreign Act. Though a case was made out against the accused under Section 307 of the IPC for their alleged attempt to shoot to kill the BSF personnel who challenged them while they were trying to cross over to the Indian territory from the Chowki Tapu post area of this district last year. It could not be found out if they were given any sentence under that offence. Information gathered by TNS revealed that all four accused were arrested by BSF personnel and later handed over to the police. A case was registered against them in Mallanwala police station on August 17, 2009. When it was found that the Pakistani nationals were in possession of heroin, a separate case was registered against them under the NDPS Act in the same police station. The trial of the case registered under the NDPS Act is still going on in the court of Bhinder.
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