Jalandhar, August 26
While it has been nearly a month since the new session has begun, not even a single student in any of the 120 Punjab Technical University (PTU)-affiliated colleges has received the benefits of the 10 per cent fee waiver scheme announced by the state government.

This has been the scenario when the state government had brought about several amendments in the notification so that maximum students could draw the benefit. It was specified that the applications be called and a counselling schedule be fixed for the purpose.

The varsity had received over 2,000 applications, but no counselling could be held as over 100 private colleges did not seek AICTE approval for 10 per cent extra seats for poor students under the scheme.

In fact, managements of the private colleges have been avoiding implementation of the scheme. Their main contention is that only 8,200 out of 30,000 BTech seats have been filled through counselling of which PTU wants 2,000 seats to be brought under fee waiver.

The students are in the dark about any fee reimbursement this year. Even PTU officials are not very clear on many issues. According to Vice-Chancellor Rajneesh Arora, “We are still seeking clarifications, but there has been no response from the higher officials so we cannot proceed. We also do not know how to go ahead when many colleges have not got permission for extra seats under the scheme. We are also not sure whether the payments have to be exempted this year as announced by the government or just the tuition fee as was the case till last year.”

Mohanbir Singh, Additional Director (Technical Education), too, admitted that most of the colleges were hesitant in taking the scheme. He said: “We have 2,000 applicants. Since this year we have Rs 2.5 lakh income cap on all categories, many of the applications will get rejected. I believe that after eligibility check, just 1,000 beneficiaries should be left whom we will try to adjust.”

“We have five government colleges, two SGPC-run colleges and 5-6 private colleges where we think will be able to adjust them,” he quipped.

Chandigarh, August 26
Danger of floods has abated in the state due to decrease in inflows into the Bhakra Dam giving the authorities confidence to reduce discharge from its floodgates that was resulting in flooding of the Sutlej River in the Anandpur Sahib area.

The BBMB authorities, who held a meeting with the partner states here today, breathed a sigh of relief with a break in the near month-long inflow pattern. Inflows, which were in the range of around 70,000-80,0000 cusecs every day, had resulted in speedy filling up of the dam as well as resultant forced discharge.

The inflows have gone down to 56,000 cusecs since yesterday. Accordingly, discharge from the floodgates has been brought down to 11,000 cusecs from 16,000-20,000 earlier. As much as 35,000 cusecs is being discharged into the Sutlej through the two power plants at the dam site. The remaining 10,000 cusecs is being stored in the reservoir.

Meanwhile, the BBMB has decided to allow the water level in the Bhakra to rise till a level of 1680 feet till September 10. The dam level presently is 1674.54 feet.

Board member (Irrigation) MK Gupta said the dam authorities could now allow less than half-a-foot of water to be filled every day and excess water would be released into the Sutlej. According to the present trends, it would be possible as a 24-hour inflow of 20,000 cusecs raises the dam level by one foot. Gupta said the dam authorities had already kept a leeway for stocking 10,000 cusecs every day.

Chief Engineer (Irrigation) Amarjit Singh Dullat said the dam authorities were being cautious to ensure a cushion in case of flash floods. He said arrangements were also being made to take excess water from the Bhakra to the Pong Dam, if needed.

Dullat said there could, however, be problems in case of excessive rains during month-end, saying there were warnings of heavy rain for a two-day spell starting August 28.

It was also decided in the meeting to allow the level of the Pong Dam to go up to 1385 feet till September 10. The level is 1380 feet as of now. Despite a margin of only five feet, BBMB authorities claim there is no danger of flooding as very low discharge is being done from the dam in an attempt to fill it up.

Meanwhile, All-India Power Engineers’ Federation chairman Padamjit Singh has claimed that the BBMB had acted in undue haste in releasing water from the dam on a day Punjab was witnessing heavy rains. He said this had resulted in flooding of areas in Anandpur Sahib. Padamjit said since there was no emergency, the BBMB could have waited for a dry day to make the releases.

Shahkot/Sultanpur Lodhi, August 26
A four-member army team led by Subedar Rajendra Prasad Singh of 8 Grenadier 38 Infantry Brigade of the Kapurthala division made a preliminary survey of the flood-affected areas. Flood continued to damage standing paddy crop in several villages of the Shahkot sub-division of Jalandhar and adjoining Sultanpur Lodhi sub-division of Kapurthala districts.

Crops spread over 10,000 acres in low-lying areas of nearly 50 villages have already been submerged due to the overflowing of the Sutlej, Beas rivers and the Kali and Chitti Beins rivulets in these places.

Kapurthala DC Raj Kamal Chaudhary told The Tribune that paddy on over 6,000 acres of nearly 12 villages had been inundated.

The DC accompanied by Sultanpur Lodhi SDM Kuldip Singh Chandi, tehsildar Jassan Jeet Singh also visited several flood-affected villages, including Ali Khurd, Bharoana, Sheikh Magga and Sarupwal.

To a query, DC said they had just recede the areas to meet any eventuality in case of any emergency in future.

Soil erosion due to gushing water of Sutlej and Beas was also noticed at several villages.

The DC sanctioned Rs 15 and Rs 10 lakh grant for Passan Kadim and Ali Kalan villages to stop erosion by placing empty cement (EC) filled with sand bags as a precautionary measure.

Similarly, Shahkot SDM Jasbir Singh said crop on over 3,200 acres in nearly 30 villages from Danewal to Jusepur Darewal had already been inundated.

Chandigarh, August 26
Senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar today claimed that the SAD seemed to have double standards on nuclear energy and spoke in different voices in Punjab and Delhi.

In a statement here, Jakhar, who is also legislator from Abohar, claimed that while Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had recently demanded installation of a nuclear plant in Punjab, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal had spoken against the nuclear Bill in Parliament yesterday.

The Congress leader said Harsimrat in her speech yesterday had come out as a votary for the use of natural resources and claimed that the country was not capable of handling of nuclear disasters. He said the SAD MP had also called for rejection of the nuclear Bill.

Jakhar said it was strange that the SAD was speaking in different voices in Delhi and Punjab. He said Badal had recently indicated that the Centre had discriminated against Punjab by awarding a nuclear plant to Haryana and demanded one for Punjab also. “How is the CM making this demand when his party MP is speaking out against nuclear energy in Parliament,” he added.

Chandigarh, August 26
The BJP state unit has come out openly against alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) accusing the latter of what it calls “betrayal of trust”. Hoping at the same time that they would be able to iron out their difference with the help of a “marriage councillor” (read party leadership), the state BJP leadership is mincing no words in accusing the Akalis of pampering its own vote bank at the cost of BJP-dominated constituencies.

Senior BJP leaders are saying: “The relationship has become painful and we cannot let the Akalis thrive at the cost of the BJP - after all it is now a question of BJP’s survival.”

Taking an adamant posture, the state BJP leadership is now looking at the September 29 meeting between BJP Punjab in-charge Yashwant Sinha and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal before deciding the future of the alliance.

According to Punjab’s Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia, “The onus is now on the SAD to keep the alliance going. I hope that Badal will abide by the coalition dharma and fulfil the aspirations of his coalition partners”.

Kalia said many senior leaders and workers in the BJP are of the view that the terms of the coalition should have been discussed in advance and settled as part of a pre-poll alliance.

“It happened in Maharashtra where the NCP was not allowed to form a government by the Congress for over two weeks till the terms of the alliance were finalised. Similarly, the BJP trusted the SAD. The strain in relations is unfortunate but true,” senior BJP leaders have been quoted as saying.

BJP leadership in the state feels that ever since its victory in the 2007 general elections, the SAD has not been able to accept the reality of its dependence on the BJP for its coming to power. “Instead of treating the BJP as an equal partner with 19 seats in the Vidhan Sabha, the SAD has never left an opportunity to undermine the BJP. This happened in the corporation elections, panchayat elections and block samiti elections where both parties were seen contesting each other rather than as an alliance”.

According to sources in the BJP, the recent stalemate between the alliance partners resulted after Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal backtracked first on the issue of roll back in power tariff hike for urban consumers from January 1 this year and then after making an commitment backtracked from giving funds for urban development and diverting the same to Akali constituencies.

Ferozepur, August 26
Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon while alleging that Pakistan had cheated India by obstructing the natural flow of the Sutlej by raising a bundh at its Sulenmanki headworks, today urged the Centre to use diplomatic channels for removal of the same.

“The raising of the bundh by Pakistan to stop the flow of water of the Sutlej in its territory is against the international law and against the spirit and provisions of the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 in connection with the use and regulation of common rivers of both countries,” pointed out Sekhon.

Talking to mediapersons here, Sekhon demanded that the Centre must declare flood protection measures on the rivers flowing in Punjab as national project and must sanction Rs 1,100 crore for constructing roads alongside dhussi bundhs of these rivers and for strengthening its embankments. “We have submitted this project to the Central Water Commission (CWC) six months ago. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has held meetings with CWC members in this connection. Nothing positive have come out of it so far,” he claimed.

Jalandhar, August 26
On the issue of one-rank one-pension, Congress MP from Gurdaspur Partap Singh Bajwa today urged UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to address the matter at the earliest as it was affecting thousands of ex-servicemen across the country. Bajwa met Sonia Gandhi today.

Bajwa told The Tribune over phone that Sonia Gandhi had promised to look into the matter. Earlier, the MP had raised the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.

The MP said: “The demand has been that there should be one-rank one-pension irrespective of the date on which a solider retires. The existing difference should be completely removed and one should get the same pension”.

“I told Sonia Gandhi that with the enforcing of one-rank one-pension, there would only be additional burden of Rs 800 crore and that was a meager amount for the Centre, said Bajwa.

The committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary had substantially improved pensionary benefits of the Armed Forces pensioners, known as parity in pension, for the personnel below officers rank only and ignored the officer cadre completely, added Bajwa.

Explaining the issue, Bajwa said: “A solider who retired before December 31, 2005, with parity in pension with effect from January 1, 2006, would now get pension Rs 5,523 per month, and arrears with effect from July 1, 2009. However, a solider, who retired after January 1, 2006, with same length of service, would gets Rs 8,700 per month. And a Havildar, who retired before December 31, 2005, with parity in pension, would get Rs 5,689 per month for the same length of service. That means he would get less pension than that of a soldier who retired after January 1, 2006.”

Bathinda, August 26
Cracks in the multi-crore Bathinda-Mansa railway overbridge (ROB) has created a turbulence in the Public Works Department. Taking notice of the news that appeared in a section of the media today, PWD (B&R) chief engineer rushed a team, led by a Superintending Engineer, to take an account of the situation and submit a report at the earliest.

Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Gurkirat Kirpal Singh said he, too, had taken up the matter with the chief engineer who had informed him that the SE would send him a detailed report of the project and, if necessary, a high-level team of experts would also be sent to collect samples of material used in the construction of the ROB.

When asked about any inquiry initiated at district level, the DC said: “As the fault occurred due to some technical reasons, it would be better if the probe was conducted by the experienced engineers.” “Despite this, a separate inquiry may also be conducted,” he added.

It may be mentioned that the ROB was inaugurated by Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal amid much fanfare on August 16. However, the exposure of cracks has given a fresh agenda to the Congress to nail down the SAD-BJP government, which claimed it as one of the prestigious projects dedicated to Bathinda. Congress leaders led by Bathinda MLA Harminder Singh Jassi have sought a CBI probe into the matter.

Ali Ke (Ferozepur), August 26
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said rehabilitation of those once linked with terrorism and had shun that path was justified and no wrong meaning should be attached to it.

Badal made this statement when asked about his comments over the nomination of some of those persons once linked with terrorism in the state, at senior position in various government agencies.

Badal, who visited the flood-prone areas of this border district today, said anyone who had joined mainstream society must be treated at par with other citizens and should not be discriminated in any aspect.

When asked that Punjab BJP leadership had raised objection over appointments of a section of persons as chairman and vice-chairman of different corporations and boards in the state recently, he said there was no difference with the BJP on the issue.

Chhat (Banur), August 26
A former field director of Mahendra Zoological Park, a forester and a ranger have been charged with misusing government funds of Rs 22 lakh, besides tampering with cash book and other documents pertaining to cash transactions.

Field director of the zoo Churchil Kumar refused to divulge the details. “It is an internal matter of the department,” he said.

TNS got an e-mail in which misuse of money by former field director and others was alleged.

Sources in the zoo, however, said a detailed report of misuse of money was submitted by former field director Tushar Kanti Bahera. The department has entrusted the inquiry to a three-member committee, which has further asked the zoo field director to investigate the matter.

The committee members said Bahera had submitted his report to Principal Chief Conservator, Forests (PCCF), who formed a committee. The officials stated that the misuse of funds was exaggerated.

In his report, Bahera has stated that his predecessor Dharminder Sharma along with another forest officer and ranger misused funds released by the Central Zoo Authority for repair and purchase of new cages for saras and painted storks.

The report says that money was supposed to be spent on two new cages and for repair of three old cages and Rs 22 lakh was received for it.

Fake bills were prepared to reimburse Rs 5 lakh and then the record was tampered with too, the inquiry report says. When the discrepancies came forth, the three officials deposited the amount.

“Less than Rs 20,000 amount is now left. However, tampering of records is to be inquired into,” said a committee member.

Former zoo director Dharminder Sharma said his seniors had sought an explanation from him and he had already submitted his reply.

Conservator Forest, Wildlife Part and Protected Area Circle, Punjab, Chandigarh, SS Bhatti agreed that an inquiry had been going on in this context.

Patiala, August 26
In another step towards decentralisation of powers, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) today announced the empanelment of four private laboratories, which have been authorised to analyse water and air samples of the industries of Punjab for the purpose of giving no objection certificate (NOC).

The decision has been taken under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act-1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act-1981.

The industries in Punjab have to approach laboratories of the PPCB in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala for obtaining the NOC for the water and air samples. According to board officials, the decision will benefit the industrialists of Punjab.

PPCB member secretary Dr Babu Ram said a high-powered team consisting of senior officers of the PPCB and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) visited various laboratories of North India, which applied for empanelment with the board. “Subsequently, Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Mohali, SGS India Private Ltd, Gurgaon, Spectro Analytical Laboratory, New Delhi, and Haryrana Test House & Consultancy Services, Panipat, were found meeting the standards prescribed by the CPCB”, he said.

Dr Ram further said the empanelment of the laboratories would help industrialists to get their water and air samples analysed for NOC and consent purposes. While stating that the step was in accordance with the Industrial Policy-2009 of the state, PPCB Deputy Director (PR) Dr Charanjit Singh said the industrialists of the state should also reciprocate the gesture of the board and ensure that their effluent treatment plants and air pollution control device are operational.

Kharar, August 26
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal launched a Rs 44-crore sewerage and water supply project for Kharar today.

He said a sum of Rs 458 crore was being spent on the development of the Kharar constituency. The Kharar-Banur road, being laid at a cost of Rs 108 crores, would be completed soon, he added.

“Rs 85 crore is being spent on laying a permanent road from Mullapur to Siswan, Rs 60 crore on four-laning of the Kharar-Kurali road, while Rs 15 crore will be spent on the Desu Majra road,” he said. Two new technical institutes were being opened at Kharar, he added.

Badal also inaugurated 220-KV power grid at Kharar built at a cost of Rs 20 crore to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Kharar. “Realising power supply problems of this area, the 132-KV substation has been upgraded to 220 KV. This will improve power supply situation in 132 neighbouring villages,” he said.

The upgrade has been done at a cost of Rs 11.25 crore. The new substation has been connected to double circuit 220 KV Ropar-Mohali transmission line by making a “loop in, loop out” of 6.46-km circuit line. The 66-KV substation at Badali Alla Singh has also been connected with this.

With this upgrade, the 132-KV Ropar-Kharar line, which remained generally overloaded, would also be relieved and there would be no unscheduled power cuts in the region, Badal added.

Patiala, August 26
Senior officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) have also decided to follow the criteria of other government departments, wherein some selected designated officers are authorised to speak to the media.

As per PSPCL sources, an office order has already been issued in this regard by RP Pandove, Chief, Industrial Relations and Welfare, PR Department, PSPCL, which says that only PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director KD Chaudhri is free to talk to mediapersons, whenever and wherever he wants.

Furthermore, it has been decided that besides CMD, various directors of the PSPCL can convene press interactions during their field visits but only pertaining to the work being looked after them and that too after taking consent from the CMD of the PSPCL.

The sources told The Tribune that these steps had been taken in view of the fact that various PSPCL officials were giving statements to the media without having any proper knowledge of issues at hand.

Likewise, General Manager/Engineer-In-Chief/Head of Departments of the PSPCL have also been conveyed that they can give information related to power supply breakdown and repair works in their areas of jurisdiction to the media.

“But they will not make any comment on the policy matters of the PSPCL”, reads the office order. Even the information pertaining to power theft and penalty imposed would be provided to the head office and the CMD would divulge that information to the media. The orders clearly mention that any official not complying with the directions would face action.

Chandigarh, August 26
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today opened a new chapter of “sympathy and compassion” by directing the “Council for Indian School Certificate Examination” and other respondents to re-evaluate the answer-sheets of a plus-two student.

Deepening the contours of justice to prevent the student for missing a chance of getting into a medical college, Justice Ranjit Singh prescribed: Though there is no provision for re-evaluation, considering the peculiar features of this case, where the petitioner is missing a chance by a fraction and act of minor error can prove fatal, I would opt for directions to the Board to re-evaluate the answer-sheets of physics, chemistry and biology of the petitioner as an exceptional measure”.

The directions came on a petition filed by Jas Simran Kaur Sooch. A student of Amritsar Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, she had moved the court “when she found she would be rendered ineligible for admission to MBBS course, as she was falling short of marks by fraction of percentage - 0.7 per cent”.

Though the orders have been issued in an individual’s matter, other similarly situated persons in future may also find themselves benefiting from the directions.

Justice Ranjit Singh observed: Since the petitioner has secured 21st rank, she is most likely to get admission in MBBS course.... Unfortunately, she is falling short of 50 per cent marks - the minimum requirement. The petitioner has secured only 43.3 per cent marks in the subjects…. Obviously, one or two marks would see her through and, thus, her entire life would change.

In his detailed order, Justice Ranjit Singh added: The Board may also consider the scaling to see if there is any scope of any increase in any subject…. Needless to say, this case is required to be considered with sympathy and compassion.

“The re-evaluation and scaling be reconsidered in the light of the observations. It is hoped that the Board will also consider the case with sympathy and come back with some positive results”, Justice Ranjit Singh ruled. The case will now come up on September 6 for further hearing.