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Raising Carrying Capacity of Canals
Universities increase fee
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Special package for rural students
Number of BPL families to be doubled
Sultanpur Lodhi to be holy town
Centre biased against state, says Bhunder
Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link to be ready in 3 yrs
Class X, XII Semester Exams
NACO to set up five therapy centres
Judicial probe ordered into illegal detention case
Mohi family’s plea for ‘blanket bail’ dismissed
Kamaljit appears in court
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Raising Carrying Capacity of Canals
Rakhra (Patiala), June 11 “The Planning Commission has given a positive response to the proposed project and hopefully it will also get the nod from the Union Government,” he said, while speaking to mediapersons at the house of the Patiala District Planning Committee chief Surjit Singh Rakhra here. According to government officials, if the project gets a nod from the Centre, various works including de-silting and strengthening of the embankments of canals will be undertaken. The Chief Minister also said that the government’s priority was to provide the best health infrastructure in the state. He said funds amounting to Rs 325 crore had been sanctioned for the health sector in the Rs 9,150-crore annual plan for 2010-11, finalised on June 10. “I have also urged the Planning Commission to cover Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, under the next phase of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna,” he added. He said the state was passing through a phase of fiscal stress on account of the huge accumulated debt, implementation of the recommendations of the Pay Commission and inadequate support from the Central Government. “We would be taking up all these issues, including the payment of royalty to Punjab by other states using the water of Punjab rivers, in Parliament,” he added. Badal also rejected Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s statement that the SAD Political Affairs Committee has lost relevance.
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Universities increase fee
Jalandhar, June 11 It is after a gap of seven years that the university has enhanced its fee structure for all courses, including engineering, pharmacy, management and hotel management. While earlier the annual tuition fee for all these courses was Rs 45,000, it has now been increased to Rs 49,500. Adding up all charges, including development and library funds, the students taking admission this year will have to shell out Rs 69,035 annually. They will have to make the payment in two instalments -- Rs 38,520 in the first semester and Rs 30,765 in the second semester. In the notification issued by Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Punjab, it has been mentioned, “The new rates shall be applicable only for students taking admission in 2010-11. The previous rates shall continue to be applicable to the already admitted students during the past years.” Guru Nanak Dev University with its regional centres has also simultaneously increased the fee structure for engineering courses. Payable in two instalments, the total charges to be levied in BTech first year will be Rs 86,220 and Rs 85,420 in the consecutive three years. The charges have gone up from Rs 70,420, levied annually, till the last year. The fee structure for engineering courses of Punjabi University mentioned on the website is Rs 82,360 (with Rs 31,500 security) in the first instalment and Rs 28,650 in the second instalment. But the fee for its campuses at Rampura Phull and Talwandi Sabo is relatively low at Rs 39,445 and Rs 25,845 in two instalments. The annual fee of agricultural engineering course at Punjab Agricultural University, given online, is Rs 36,015. As many as 16,500 candidates have deposited CET counselling fee for the common admission process to engineering courses of all universities of the state. The PTU, conducting the common counselling on behalf of all state universities, has extended the last date of accepting the counselling fee to June 17. However, the counselling schedule will remain the same, the chief coordinator of CET, Dr NP Singh, said.
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Special package for rural students
Amritsar, June 11 The top 50 students from rural Punjab after their matriculation examination will have to undergo a state-level entrance test to avail themselves of this package. The society is headed by Prof AS Brar, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and other prominent functionaries from education and the administration. The society will extend this package for those students who belong to the rural areas of Punjab and income of their parents from all sources does not exceed Rs 4 lakh per annum. Candidates, who have passed Class X exams with at least 60 per cent marks or obtaining grade of at least 6.32 out of 10, according to the CBSE evaluation pattern, from a school of Punjab or Chandigarh will be eligible for the entrance test. The aspirant will have to provide an evidence of being living in the rural area. An entrance test fee of Rs 500 will have to be deposited in the form of demand draft drawn in the favour of chairman, Progressive Educational Society, payable at Amritsar, along with an application form. The selected candidates will be privileged to avail free boarding, lodging, books, study material and other requisite facilities. The entrance test to be conducted on July 25 will be based on subjects of science and mathematics according to the syllabus of Class X of the Punjab School Education Board. There would be 100 multiple-choice questions. The entrance form will be available from June 17 onwards and the last date of submission is July 1. Classes under the programme will get start from August 2. Candidates can also download the application form through GNDU’s official website www.gndu.ac.in It is learnt that the state government has already released a grant for this package. The top 50 students after clearing the entrance test will be formally admitted to Khalsa College Public School, Amritsar, for quality education from specialised faculty and their boarding and lodging arrangements will be looked after by the college management in appropriate hostels.
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Number of BPL families to be doubled
Jalandhar, June 11 Accompanied by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Industries and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia and senior officials, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had held a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in Delhi yesterday. The state government had been pressing the Union Government to raise the number of BPL families in the state. The increase in the number will reduce the financial burden of the atta-dal scheme on the state government in a big way. Sources said the Centre had agreed to raise the number of BPL families to 20 per cent to the total population of Dalits and other poor persons. At present it is about 10 per cent. Raising the figure to 20 per cent was also one of the recommendations of the Tendulkar Committee, set up by the Centre to reassess the number of BPL persons in the country. Meanwhile, conceding a demand made by the state government with regard to industry, the Planning Commission has deputed its member, Arun Maira, to interact with all concerned in the state. He has been told to submit a report suggesting the steps required to be taken to protect and promote industry. Kalia said:“ My entire focus was to convince the commission that there should be area-specific exemptions to industry and these should also be in consonance with the natural potential of the state. For instance, in hill states, the Centre should give concessions to promote tourism and not industry. In states like Punjab, where people have high entrepreneurial
capabilities, concessions should be given to promote steel, hosiery, sports, automobile and other industries.”
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Ease visa rules, say Sikh pilgrims from Pak
Talwandi Sabo, June 11 He said the jatha that reached Amritsar on June 6 would visit all five Takhts. They have already paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Takht Damdama Sahib and were now heading for Anandpur Sahib. They would also visit Nanded Sahib and Patna Sahib, he added. The children among pilgrims were in high spirits and they waved to the people as three buses carrying them headed for Patiala from here. Ram Singh, a Peshawar-based shopkeeper, said the Sikh community was now not being asked by Muslim hardliners to pay “Jazia”. Although incidents of terrorism have increased in Pakistan, members of the Sikh community were safe and were not harassed by extremists, he claimed. Hardial Singh, who has come from Lahore, said efforts for the pilgrimage were being made since the last year and finally they succeeded in getting visa to visit India. Hardial Singh is brother of Bishen Singh, chairman of Baba Nanak Jee Welfare Society, Pakistan. He said Bishen Singh had exchanged letters with SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and DSGMC chief Paramjeet Singh Sarna with an intention to participate in the birth centenary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh on January 5 at Takht Patna Sahib. However, the visit did not mature at that time because of a delay in granting of visa and other formalities. Most of the pilgrims from Peshawar, Khyber Agency, Lahore, Kohat and Buner mingled with the local people without any restrictions. Moreover, they felt relieved as no intelligence personnel shadowed them during their visit here.
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Sultanpur Lodhi to be holy town
Chandigarh, June 11 A decision to this effect was taken by Badal at a meeting of the Sultanpur Lodhi Development Board. He directed the Revenue Department to finalise the modalities to declare Sultanpur Lodhi a holy town at the earliest. He also asked the Chairman of Punjab Powercom to provide 24-hour power supply to the town. While reviewing the progress of various ongoing development projects in and around Sultanpur Lodhi, the Chief Minister asked the Secretary, PWD (B&R), to undertake the construction of roads in the town on top priority. He also asked the PIDB to release Rs 2 crore for the execution of sewerage and drinking water schemes in the town. Responding to the other demands of sanctioning a fire engine and the release of Rs 5.83 crore towards flood protection works raised by Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur, the Chief Minister asked the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, to release the requisite funds before the flood season and also sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for the fire engine. The Chief Minister also directed the Revenue Department to sanction Rs 50 lakh for the renovation of the tehsil complex. It was also decided at the meeting that the Mandi Board would construct roads, platforms and the parking area in the new grain market before the procurement of paddy during the current kharif season. The Chief Minister also assured Upinderjit Kaur that the bus stand would be soon modernised. He also asked the Principal Conservator of Forests to plant saplings along the main roads around the town within a radius of 5 km during this rainy season. The Chief Minister also asked the Secretary, PWD (B&R), to bring a separate proposal for the widening of Babe Nanki Marg linking Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi from 18 ft to 33 ft.
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Centre biased against state, says Bhunder
Amritsar, June 11 Bhunder, who paid obeisance at the Golden Temple here today, said the list of instances of discrimination against Punjab by the Centre, particularly by the Congress governments, after Independence was long. “The Centre has not only divested Punjab of its due share of river waters, but it has been denying Punjab its right over Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas. As if this was not enough, the Centre has been trying to hit the state on the agro-economy front also. For example, when Punjab farmers started growing the 1121 variety of paddy, which was widely recognised as basmati, the Centre blocked its export and it also happened with the cotton crop. I will be raising all these issues in the Rajya Sabha,” said Bhunder. Bhunder said the priority of the SAD was to save agriculture, business and industry and to make the state get the number one slot on the economic front. “We are trying to get a special package for Punjab which is suffering from an acute shortage of power. The Centre has not sanctioned a big power project for the state so far and my effort will be to get one so that people do not suffer from power outages anymore,” said Bhunder, who was accompanied by a number of SAD leaders. Bhunder was honoured with a siropa in the Information Office of the SGPC in the Golden Temple complex.
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Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link to be ready in 3 yrs
Ferozepur, June 11 Claiming that efforts were being made to make this rail link, which will connect Amritsar city with Chandigarh, a reality at the earliest, he said construction of the rail link between Sahnewal and Morinda was time consuming. It is learnt that the Rs 600-crore project will reduce the distance between Chandigarh and Ludhiana by more than 40 km. It will also cut down the vehicular traffic on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road drastically. The rail link will be the first rail link of any city of Punjab with its state capital, Chandigarh. It is learnt that the project was divided into three phases. The Chandigarh-Morinda rail link in the first phase had already been completed. The second phase comprising the Morinda-Sahnewal rail link was being implemented. It may take two years to complete. The third phase comprising the Ludhiana-Sahnewal rail link would be completed by December 2010.
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Semester system for BA from next session
Ludhiana, June 11 The announcement came after long-drawn speculations about the commencement of semester system for BA classes from the current academic session. The same was, however, put off after the members of the senate of PU failed to reach a consensus on the issue during a meeting held in last month. The VC was in the town to participate in the two-day state-level Punjab State Convention of CA students as the chief guest. Commenting on the online application process for BCom classes from the current session, Sobti said till now he had not received any compliant from any college. “In case of students facing any sort of problems, they can contact the help desks established at various colleges or directly report to the university,” he said, adding that the process was simple and easy to follow. Raising his voice against the rapidly growing number of small institutions and academies offering professional courses to students, Sobti said such establishments were not only detrimental to the education system, but also to the students’ careers. Dwelling on the rapidly depleting social fabric, Sobti advised the students to be sincere to their parents. “In today’s fast changing world, children tend to forget their parents once they grow up and achieve success in life. But no matter what, the kids should realise that their parents are the most important people in their lives,” he remarked.
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Class X, XII Semester Exams Class X results on June
15 The PSEB will announce the Class X results on June 15. After the goof-up in the Class XII results, the board authorities are now being extra careful. The main reason for the delay is the large number of result late (RL) cases. Earlier, the board was scheduled to announce the results on June 4.
Mohali, June 11 The decision has been taken in the light of widespread resentment against the PSEB for giving little time to the students to fill the forms. Adding to the confusion, the schedule has been announced at a time when summer holidays had already begun in schools, especially in the government schools. Against the previous schedule of the last date to apply (without late fee) being June 14 and June 21 for Classes X and XII, in the revised schedule the last date (without late fee) has been extended to July 7. With a late fee of Rs 100 per day, the students can now apply till July 14. After July 14, no form will be accepted. However, there is no change in the schedule for private
candidates.
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NACO to set up five therapy centres
Jalandhar, June 11 The centres, which will treat only intravenous drug users (IDUs), will become functional in a month in the Civil Hospitals at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Batala. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Ravinder Rao, project director, IDU (NACO) said the centres would be first of its kind, as no such centres at present exist in state-run Civil Hospitals across the country. “Earlier, such centres were run through the network of NGOs or at Central government-run institutes like AIIMS, New Delhi, and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore,” said Dr. Rao, who was in the city to inspect the project site. He said Punjab had been chosen since it had a high number of IDUs and had a well-established network of healthcare facilities. He said once registered with the centres, IDUs, who use syringes to inject drugs into their body, would be put on a year long course of an opium derivative (buprinorphine), the dose of which would eventually be tapered off. He further said 500 drug addicts would be registered in the first phase. Besides medicines, the staff at the centres, which include a psychiatrist and councilors, would be provided by the Central government.
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Music videos misrepresent Punjabi culture: Bhagwant Mann
Patiala, June 11 This observation was made by noted Punjabi comedian Bhagwant Maan during jointly organised symposium on “New Trends in Punjabi Singing” by the Youth Welfare and Punjabi Department of Punjabi University, Patiala, in special context of Bhagwant Maan’s new song album “Aawaz” (The Voice) at the University’s Kala Bhawan here today. Walking down the memory lane, Bhagwant Maan expressed his deep anguish at the attitude of the Punjabi youth who are willing subjugating their moral values at the altar of ‘glittering’ western culture and lifestyle. Parents, teachers and artistes could play a pivotal role by giving a positive twist to the demonic tendencies of obscene musical albums, Maan said. Expressing concern over the deteriorating quality of Punjabi lyrics and singing, Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh, in his presidential address, stressed upon improving the quality of Punjabi songs and their presentation on small screen. While cautioning against the commercial and cynical tendencies of some vested interests, he called upon art connoisseurs to launch a crusade by producing quality
programmes.
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Judicial probe ordered into illegal detention case
Nasim Ahmed of Saharanpur district was working for a jeweller there. A communication alleging Ahmed’s illegal detention, received through post by the high court, was treated as a writ petition. Initially, his employers allegedly told the family that Ahmed had been sent out of station on a business tour. After about six days, and a panchayat meeting, his brother was asked to come to Patiala. On May 22, Ahmed, escorted by two or three cops in civil clothes, was brought to a lonely park. Breaking down, Ahmed alleged illegal detention by the staff, as allegations of theft at jewellery shop were levelled against him, the letter said. Justice Ranjit Singh ruled: “The facts as narrated would prima facie indicate that the presence of Ahmed with the CIA staff is not as innocent as is being made out. The person from Saharanpur is found present at Patiala that, too, in the CIA staff… “It would clearly show that the police at CIA staff has acted beyond jurisdiction to deal with a person, who was from Saharanpur, which is outside the state, for which the police would not have the jurisdiction to investigate or even register the complaint. Apparently, some person at the CIA staff has done so on being approached by the employer…. “Prima facie, case of illegal detention of Nasim Ahmed is made out. Before issuing further directions, I deem it appropriate to direct inquiry to find out the exact factual position and to know as to why Nasim Ahmed was detained by the CIA staff, Patiala, if it was so. “Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patiala, is directed to hold an inquiry into this case and give his report within three months. Further directions would follow in case it is found that the CIA staff has acted illegally or beyond the call of duty and beyond their jurisdiction by illegally detaining a person who is from outside the state of Punjab. “The CJM, Patiala, would also go into the reasons as to how the CIA staff, Patiala, if it is so, has acted in this manner and what was the motive behind all this and who and at whose instance at CIA staff all this was done”.
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Mohi family’s plea for ‘blanket bail’ dismissed
Chandigarh, June 11 Before parting with the case, the high court granted them the liberty to file a fresh petition. In the current petition, the family was seeking 10 days’ advance notice before arresting them in any case to be registered in the state. “Political interests” and “preventive justice” were among the grounds the petitioners had taken for the grant of relief, while expressing apprehensions regarding their implication. As the petition came up before the vacation Bench, Justice Hemant Gupta asked their counsel, Bar-at-Law Himmat Singh Shergill, to elaborate on the issue of political vendetta. Shergill, accompanied by another counsel Nimrata Shergill, was asked to specifically point out where in the petition were the allegations of malafide levelled and against whom. Responding to the query, Shergill said Punjab state government and the Vigilance were acting in a malafide manner against them. In an attempt to substantiate his contentions, Shergill said the withdrawal of Dr Mohi’s security cover provided a testimony to political malafide. Moreover, his gunman was also subjected to torture. Allegations of malafide were also levelled against the Vigilance Bureau. Apparently not convinced, Justice Gupta showed disinclination to entertain the petition, while pointing out that the allegations of malafide could be against an individual, not the state government. As Justice Gupta verbally observed, “The state government is not a face,” Shergill sought permission to file a fresh petition with specific allegations of malafide against the “state government head”, after withdrawing the present petition. Mohis’ had earlier accused the state Vigilance Bureau of threatening and torturing an acquaintance into making a false statement against the family. In their petition, Dr Mohi, wife Jaswinder Kaur Mohi, along with sons, Chandreshwar Singh Mohi and Sarbeshwar Singh Mohi, contended the Vigilance Bureau was even torturing the security guards earlier deployed with the PPSC member. Head Constable Ranjit Singh, Dr Mohi’s security guard for more than 20 years, too, “has been subjected to very severe torture during the last one week”.
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Kamaljit appears in court
Patiala, June 11 On May 27, the CBI special court had issued a non-bailable wa rrant against him after he failed to appear in the court. Bibi Jagir Kaur and other co-accused in the case, Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi and Paramjit Singh Raipur, appeared in the court at 11 am and left around 1 pm. The court had also summoned nine more witnesses out of which no one reached the court. The court was informed that two of them were out of country, three had already died and four could not be informed about this hearing. The court will now hear the case tomorrow.
— TNS
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Chandigarh, June 11