Residents strengthen embankments
Amritsar, August 25
Panic gripped many parts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts as the level of water rose in the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.Residents of many villages came together to strengthen the embankment in Gadaike village under the Patti subdivision today.

Efforts to plug breach still on
Jalandhar, August 25
As a precautionary flood-control drive, the plugging of a breach in a dhussi bundh along the banks of the Sutlej near Tajowal village of Rahon in Nawanshahr continued for the second day.

Disaster management team reaches Anandpur Sahib
Ananpdur Sahib, August 25
A team of the National Disaster Management reached flooded villages of Anandpur Sahib today. It will stay here to help people in every possible manner.

Ghumad (Ferozepur), August 25
Braving all odds, including lack of any support of the government, residents of about 12 villages of Ferozepur district, which have been flooded due to the swelling Sutlej, have started shifting to safer places.

Though some of them have managed to find shelter in houses of their kin, many of them have still taken refuge on dhussi bundhs and other higher grounds under the open sky without any arrangement for saving themselves from rains or blistering sun.

The situation in number of villages, including Rukne Wala Kalan, Rukne Wala Khurd, Bhupe Wala, Kalli Wala, Kot Kaimn Khan, Bhuti Wala, Gatta Daler, Manu Mashi, Sange Kalan, Mehmood Wala, Ghumad, Dine Ke, Basti Ram Lal, Fathegarh, Bundala, Kaluwala and Nizamdin, turned serious after the Sutlej got swollen and its water started entering into these areas.

“I have managed to swim to safety but six members of my family are still trapped in the house, which has been inundated since last night,” said Joginder Singh of Rukne Wala Kalan, adding that there was no boat for rescuing those people who were trapped in their inundated dwellings in Rukne Wala Kalan and its surrounding villages.

Sarpanch of Bhuti Wala village Joga Singh alleged that the authorities concerned had failed to make any arrangement for reaching to those who were still confined to their inundated dwellings.

Jeet Singh, a farmer of Dine Ke village , whose paddy and cotton crops in about 12 acres have been destroyed, said, “ I along with my family members and cattle have been taking refuge on one of the dhussi bundhs without any cover to protect ourselves from rains or scorching sun.”

A visit to the affected areas revealed that paddy, cotton and fodder crops in thousands of acres had been damaged. Tube well motors had been destroyed completely.

“Our household goods have been washed away by the gushing water. Its water all around and we are unable to make out boundaries of the Sutlej that were prominently visible before the Bhakra Beas Management Board started releasing extra water into it a few days ago,” said Jaswinder, another affected resident.

Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav, who visited affected areas today, claimed that all kind of help was being given to the affected people.

Amritsar, August 25
Panic gripped many parts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts as the level of water rose in the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.Residents of many villages came together to strengthen the embankment in Gadaike village under the Patti subdivision today. The embankment is weak and cannot withstand fast moving currents for long. The Beas and Sutlej, which makes a confluence at Harike, pass through this border subdivision to eventually enter Pakistan.

District Flood Control Officer (Tarn Taran) Jagdeep Singh Momi said several villages, including Gagrewal, Bhanjola, Motheywala, and Machike, had been declared sensitive. He assured that the civil administration had made elaborate arrangements to meet any eventuality.

Meanwhile, a major tragedy was averted as vigilant Army jawans rescued four villagers who fell from the advance embankment in Dariya Musa village on the Ravi in Ajnala tehsil.They were helping in repairing the embankment when the mishap occurred. One of them, Kala of Katle village, received injuries.

Army jawans, MGNREGS workers, labourers of the Drainage Department and villagers engaged in repairing fissures and cracks in the embankment also threw eucalyptus trees to strengthen the place.

Ananpdur Sahib, August 25
A team of the National Disaster Management reached flooded villages of Anandpur Sahib today. It will stay here to help people in every possible manner.

Due to decrease in water release in the Sutlej, water has started receding from flooded villages.

Ropar Deputy Commissioner AS Miglani has recommended an inquiry into the bundh constructed over the Sutlej near Lodhipur village, which got washed away in strong water currents.

The DC has also written to the Principal Secretary (Irrigation) recommending that a probe be conducted into the bundh’s construction and the subsequent breach. Chairman of the District Planning Committee Madan Mohan Mittal has also demanded a thorough probe into the bundh getting damaged in less than a year of its construction. He said 1,800 acres of agriculture land of Lodhipur village had been affected due to the breach. “We have also ensured that one cop is deployed at each village and provided with a wireless communication set. This will enable people to communicate with the administration in times of need,” he said.

At the same time, the district administration has requested the Bhakra Beas Management Board authorities to decrease water being released into the Sutlej. “Once the flow of water is brought under control, we will be able to initiate work to repair the damaged bundh,” he said.

During his visit to affected villages, the DC asked the residents of Burj, Lodhipur, Ballowal, Mataur, Mehendli Kalan, Gajpur, Chandpur, Shahpur Bela and Hariwal villages to shift to relief camps. He added that once the Swan rivulet started swelling, the condition might worsen. The Veterinary Department had been directed to holds camps for cattle in the affected villages.

Bathinda, August 25
Exposure of cracks in the multi-crore Bathinda-Mansa railway overbridge (ROB), which was inaugurated amid much fanfare just a week ago, has given a fresh agenda to the Congress leaders to nail down the SAD-BJP government.

Alleging corruption at a high level in selecting and using “substandard” material for the ROB, the Congress leaders led by Bathinda MLA Harminder Singh Jassi today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, after inaugurating the ROB on August 16, had termed it as one of the most prestigious projects of the SAD-BJP government, dedicated to Bathinda.

Though official records showed that the foundation stone of the ROB was laid during the previous Congress regime and the construction work was also started during that regime on November 17, 2006, the Deputy CM had fired salvos at the Congress leaders for taking no step to initiate the construction of the ROB.

However, the detection of a number of cracks around the elevated rotary (which was being claimed as its distinction), enabled the Congress leadership to vent their ire over the SAD leaders as well as the state authorities.

During a visit to the ROB, this correspondent saw the staff of PWD (B&R) busy in carrying out repair work.

Seeking anonymity, they said there were lots of technical flaws in the construction of the ROB, which were now exposed. They said the layers of the premix were not properly laid, which turned the elevated rotary accident-prone for the motorists especially two-wheeler riders.

However, refuting the allegations of substandard material used in the construction of the ROB, the executive engineer PWD (B&R), Angrej Singh, said, “The problem took place due to the poor gripping of premix layers but it was not a major fault. Moreover, taking immediate notice, we have launched a drive to get it repaired.”

Mohali, August 25
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today laid the foundation stone of new projects worth Rs 100 crore, including a 8.5 km-long eight-laned road that would ultimately connect the upcoming International Airport with the Chandigarh-Delhi National Highway and the Chandigarh-Patiala state highway. He also laid the foundation stone of a Golf Range in Sector 65 here.

Later addressing a rally in Sector 82, the Deputy CM said the new road to International Airport would be the harbinger of prosperity and it would boost up service industry in the region, apart from providing access to tourists and business delegates.

On the occasion, Sukhbir also announced Rs 136 crore for fourth phase of Kajouli to solve the water problem in Mohali. He pointed out that though Mohali had missed the first IT revolution, it was all set to emerge as an education, research and IT hub of the future. He said during the past three years, the SAD-BJP government had set up ISB in Mohali, IIT in Ropar, National Centre of Agriculture Biotechnology at Mohali, besides setting up of Knowledge City.

On the state level issues, he added that there were major upgrade in the power sector, governance reforms improving urban civic amenities, education sector, aviation sector, besides taking health care to every village of Punjab.

The state had made investment of Rs 36,000 crore in the power sector by setting thermal plants at Goindwal Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Rajpura and upcoming thermal plants at Gidderbah and Bhupal ( Mansa) with combined generation capacity of 9,140 MW in 2 years against present installed capacity of 6,200 MW in the state created over a span of 62 years. In the next two years, Punjab would be power surplus. 

Chandigarh, August 25
Even as the main candidates aspiring for the presidentship of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) are preparing for the final outcome next month, state party president Mohinder Singh Kaypee is sending out signals that he will be in charge of the party post September also.

Kaypee, a prominent Dalit leader from Doaba who is also MP from Jalandhar, plans to appeal to all shades of opinion. He has even grown a beard recently though a supporter claimed a blade nick was responsible for this. No nick can be seen on his face.

Always seen as a mild man and a pushover by senior leaders, Kaypee seemed a stopgap arrangement when appointed to the post two years ago. He has even seemed on the verge of dislodgement by former Chief Minsiter Amarinder Singh many a time. However, the inability of the party high command to make up its mind on Amarinder’s candidature has given him a new lease of life.

Kaypee’s supporters are buoyed by the chance given to him to hold the party’s zonal session on September 28 in Mohali. His supporters’ claim that the fact that three party chiefs have been changed in other states during the run-up to the organisational elections but not him indicates that the party high command wants to continue with him.

The PPCC president has also taken charge. When questioned about the venue, arrangements and hoardings to be put up at the site, he said all hoardings would have the pictures of party President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi and party Punjab in charge Mohsina Kidwai only. When asked whether this would sideline Amarinder, he said even the picture of CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal would not appear in the hoardings. Kaypee is seen to be working in tandem with Bhattal, much to Amarinder’s annoyance.

It is not only the zonal session that is being used by Kaypee to consolidate his position. His supporters claim that support from Dalits, who constitute 36 per cent of Punjab’s population, could be the key to winning the next Assembly elections. Kaypee himself says the Dalit population could be more than 36 per cent now with the Rai Sikh community also being given Scheduled Castes status. His supporters claim the Congress polls only a small percentage of the 18 to 20 per cent of the “Jat” Sikh vote bank which is Amarinder’s mainstay.

Chandigarh, August 25
The strain in the SAD-BJP alliance that has been threatening to snap like a bad marriage has taken a new shape with the rift coming out in the open. Senior BJP leader and Punjab’s Industries and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia has finally decided to speak up against what the BJP calls “unfair treatment”.

Kalia, who spoke his mind today, accepted that the “alliance, like a bad marriage, was under strain” and his party had taken a very serious view of the “ill treatment” being meted out to the BJP leaders and cadres in the state. He said the BJP high command had asked in charge of Punjab affairs Yashwant Sinha to visit Punjab on August 29 to discuss the issue with the SAD leadership.

The differences between the SAD and the BJP that had been simmering for some time ended up in a flash point after Kalia realised that the SAD had taken a “unilateral” decision to divert Rs 733 crore meant for urban infrastructure development (read strengthening BJP constituencies) to 35 municipal corporations that had a strong SAD vote bank.

“Despite being an alliance partner, the SAD is trying to strengthen its roots by axing those of the BJP -- something not very healthy for any relationship,” Kalia said today.

On June 22-23, a two-day meeting of the state executive of the BJP was held at Jalandhar where all 19 BJP MLAs and senior leaders decided to confront the SAD on the issue. A five-member committee comprising Navjot Sidhu, Balramji Dass Tandon, Madan Mohan Mittal, Manoranjan Kalia and Ashwani Sharma was constituted.

After Sidhu made a public statement, Badal held a meeting with the committee and promised funds for urban areas. This was, however, refused prior to the last Cabinet meeting, leading to a crisis between the two parties. Senior BJP leaders say they are adamant and will not relent till money is released for the 23 constituencies where the BJP has a strong hold.

The BJP feels that revenue has been generated through sale of urban properties by imposing taxes in urban areas with a BJP vote bank, but the amount is being spent to please the Akali vote bank.

The outburst by Kalia eroded the authenticity of statements by SAD spokespersons claiming that “all was well between the alliance partners”. However, political leaders in both parties say that the alliance may be under strain, but there is no possibility of a “divorce” as the SAD needs the BJP as much as the latter needs the Akalis for their political survival.

Chandigarh, August 25
Minister for Local Government, Industries and Commerce Manoranjan Kalia today announced several initiatives simplifying procedures for allowing different clearances to allottees of industrial plots by Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation Limited (PSIEC).

Addressing a press conference here today, the minister said industrial plot holders were being given an additional two-year period to commence production. Around 3,000 plot holders in focal points across the state would be benefited by this decision. The extension would be allowed on payment of extension fee at the rate of 1 per cent of the current reserve price of the plot per year as applicable to the focal point concerned.

The minister added that the transfer of industrial plots in focal points had also been simplified. For transfer of plots through a GPA holder, an affidavit was mandatory to be given by the original allottee that was to be furnished at the time of allowing of transfer by the PSIEC. “We understand that in such situation, original allottees do not co-operate and difficulties are experienced for effecting transfer. We have done away with this mandatory affidavit. From now onwards, public notices will be published in two newspapers on the pattern followed in GMADA, HUDA and UT before allowing transfer through GPA,” said Kalia.

The process of carrying out personal verification of both purchaser and seller after the submission of documents has been dispensed with and replaced with a system in which a personal verification of the purchaser and the seller would suffice.

The PSIEC has also done away with the system of recovering a component of transfer fee at the rate of 3 per cent of the current allotment price of plot. It shall now charge only nominal processing fee at Rs 10 per sq yard instead of transfer fee and issue NOC/ permission to sale.

The PSIEC has also allowed third party mortgage of industrial plots. 

Malerkotla, August 25
The government has ordered two separate enquiries into the blast which rocked a paper mill in Malerkotla, killing five workers on August 20.

Sources in the administration and Labour Ministry said the district magistrate, Harkesh Singh Sidhu, had ordered a magisterial enquiry to be conducted by the subdivisional magistrate, Malerkotla. Labour Minister Tikshan Sud also ordered an enquiry to be conducted by a three-member team to look into the cause of the blast in the mill.

They added that the enquiry being conducted by the SDM, Malerkotla,

Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu, who will be assisted by the Deputy Director, Factories, Mohali, would study the general cause of the blast and the enquiry committee would submit its report within seven days.

Sources in the Labour Ministry said the Labour Ministry on the directions of the Labour Minister has constituted a three- member team comprising Deputy Director, Factories, Sangrur, Sukhmander Singh, Deputy Director, Factories, Ludhiana, Kashmir Singh, and Deputy Director, Factories (Chemical), Mohali, Jagjit Singh. They added that the committee that would submit its findings within 15 days would study the technical causes of the blast.

Sources close to the SDM, Malerkotla, and Deputy Director, Factories, Sangrur, said both committees visited the paper mill on August 23.

The sources added that besides demanding documents related to the drier, the team also recorded the statements of workers who were there at the time of the blast besides the wife of one of the deceased.

Rajpura, August 25
The modern bus stand of Rajpura has been turned into a cricket ground due to the lackadaisical attitude of the Punjab Government.Children could be seen playing cricket risking their lives amidst chaos of buses.Besides lack of upkeep of the bus stand, there is hardly any move to pay attention to the crumbling statue of Shaheed Udham Singh, which has continuously been damaged by unscrupulous elements.

The SAD-BJP government had promised to name the bus stand after Shaheed Udham Singh, however, nothing has been done in this regard so far.

Karnail Singh Rajpura, president, Shaheed Ram Mohammad Singh Azad Foundation, said the SAD-BJP government had promised to name five modern bus stands in the name of martyrs of Punjab.

He pointed out that while bus stand of Amrtisar was named after Madan Lal Dhingra, Jalandhar after Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Ludhiana bus stand in name of Sukhdev and Jagraon bus stand named as Lala Lajpat Rai Bus Stand. “Rajpura is the gateway of Punjab, however, the government is still ignoring it and has not fulfilled its promise to name the bus stand after Shaheed Udham Singh,” Karnail Singh said.

He said miscreants have continuously been damaging the statue for the past long time but no action was initiated in this regard.

Karnail rued that last night, too, some miscreants tried to break flooring of the statue. Earlier, the pistol of the martyr was stolen and was broken thrice but nothing was done in this regard despite repeated requests to senior officials.

Rajpura Municipal Council president Praveen Chhabra said: “We are trying our best to save the statue. The MC has given written orders to the executive officer to deploy a watchman and immediate prevention of children playing cricket there.” 

Patiala, August 25
While the Punjab Education Department claims to be making every possible effort to bring government schools on par with the private ones, time and again various policies of the department and its officials have been embroiled in one controversy or the other. This time the controversy pertains to the scheme of upgrading primary schools to elementary schools in order to facilitate education to rural students at their nearest school.

Director General of School Education (DGSE) Krishan Kumar had sought proposals for upgrading the primary schools in various blocks of the district in 2008 as students often had to travel long distances to attend to school after class V. The condition for upgrading these schools was to have a distance of at least 3 km between two elementary schools. Under this scheme, many schools were upgraded in the district in 2009.

Defying all conditions, many schools in Bhunerheri-2 Block have been upgraded in a way that there distance from each other is less than 3 km, the one recommended by the department. The directions of the department have been ignored to the extent that there are 3 elementary schools within a distance of 4 km now.

Block primary education officer Vinod Goyal said the district education office had issued him the instructions that if the strength of students was good, the schools could be upgraded within a distance of 2 to 2.5 km also. “The DEO office had asked me to send the proposal even if the distance was less than the one recommended, in order to facilitate students. I had only sent the proposal, which was further pursued by the DEO office at higher level,” he said.

The DGSE further said: “If it is last year, we will fix the responsibility. If there is sufficient strength, then we might consider it but we still have to review the situation in totality."

DE0, Primary, Varsha Shukla, could not be contacted. 

Chandigarh, August 25
The state of Punjab’s failure to release on time the sanctioned amount of gratuity has not only led to the passing of strictures, but also imposition of Rs 5,000 costs as litigation expenses.

Taking up a petition filed by Nachhatter Pal against the state of Punjab and other respondents, Justice Ajai Lamba of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also directed the payment of interest; and has held that the state is entitled to recover the cost and interest from the officer responsible for the lapse.

Justice Lamba asserted: Pension and gratuity are no longer any bounty to be distributed by the government to its employees on their retirement. Every employee has a valuable right to the release of gratuity on his retirement. Any culpable delay in settlement or disbursement thereof must be visited with penalty of payment of interest till the date of actual payment.

“Further, I find that the petitioner had to approach this court for release of his rightful claim. The respondents have utilised the amount, which legally should have been transmitted to the petitioner on sanction of the payment of death-cum-retirement gratuity on May 29, 2009. “Under the circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that the petitioner is entitled to payment of interest for the delayed payment of gratuity amount.”