 |
|
|
Procurement agencies to pay farmers within 7 days
Floods delay SGPC poll by a month
Officials check the documents of the Indian fishermen who were released by the Pakistan Government at the Attari-Wagah checkpost on Friday. Photo: Vishal Kumar |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
‘High-handedness’ of SAD Leaders
President of the PPCC Mohinder Singh Kaypee addresses a rally at
Gidderbaha on Friday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma
Problem of Plenty
The encircled portion shows a breach in Badi Nadi at Daultapur village
on Friday. A Tribune photograph
Medical college seeks more seats
Multi-drug Resistant TB Cases
National conference in Rajindra hospital today
Fake e-mail
Department Tussle
PUSU-INSO wins Panjab varsity students’ body poll
(From left ): President Gurindervir Singh Aulakh (PUSU-INSO), Akhil Bansal
(ABVP-SOPU), Subhash Chander (PUSU-INSO) and Vibha (PUSU-INSO) at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
RTI activists provided with samples of tiles
Cong Mini Session
Farmers using solar tube wells
to charge batteries
Five electrocuted in Batala
Dairy farmers to get semen from US
|
|
Procurement agencies to pay farmers within 7 days
Chandigarh, September 3 The meeting was chaired by the Financial Commissioner, Development, Punjab, NS Kang, who said the procurement agencies agreed to make arrangement for the payment within seven days. According to the system, which is currently followed, a farmer whose grain is procured is given a form by the commission agent that lists the total amount of grain sold by the farmer. Following this, the farmer has to come repeatedly to the mandis with the form-cum-receipt for the payment from the commission agents. The delay occurs at several stages during the process and farmers are not able to get their cheques even after months of procurement. The commission agents and the procurement agencies have today been asked to speed up the process so as to finish it within a week. Paddy procurement is expected to begin either in the last week of September or first week of October. Over 27.50 lakh hectare of area in Punjab is currently under paddy plantation. More than 137 lakh metric tonnes of FCI-grade paddy is expected to arrive in the mandis this procurement season. Kang said no decision was taken on the issue of direct payment to the farmers by the procurement agencies by passing the commission agents. “Some kisan union members did raise the issue but since today’s meeting was solely for the purpose of taking a decision on quick payment following procurement, other issues were not even discussed,” said Kang. The issue is also under the consideration of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the case will come up for hearing on September 13.
|
|
Floods delay SGPC poll by a month
Chandigarh, September 3 The commission has taken this decision on the request of the Punjab and Haryana Governments, which had sought more time for preparations for the poll on account of pre-occupation of officials with flood relief work. Justice Brar said since officials from patwaris to Deputy Commissioners in both states were involved in flood relief work, the process of completing the electoral rolls had got delayed and the poll had been put off by a month. However, the last date for accepting forms for the enrollment of new voters has not been extended. This means that all those who did not submit forms to be registered as voters till August 14, the last date for the purpose, will not be able to vote. Justice Brar said in Punjab, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana and Ferozepur had been most affected by floods and the electoral process was lagging behind there. Similarly in Haryana, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Sirsa and Fatehabad, which had the largest population of Sikhs, work relating to the SGPC poll was running behind schedule. The electoral process that was to be completed by December 13 had now been pushed to January 17. A notification regarding this has been issued today. As per the revised schedule, the preparation of manuscripts of voter lists would now be completed by September 27 and the same would be published on October 1. Claims and objections on this published list would be accepted from October 1 to 28 and these cases would be disposed of from October 29 to November 30. Supplementary electoral rolls would be prepared from December 1 to 31 and the final lists of voters would be published on January 17, 2011. After the publication of the final lists, the commission would write to the Centre to decide on a date for holding the SGPC elections. It approximately took over a month to hold the elections after the final electoral rolls were published, Justice Brar said. It is not expected that the elections will be held in mid-March, 2011. In Punjab, 52,36,475 persons had submitted applications to become voters by August 14. The voters from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh will push up the total voters for the SGPC poll to over 55 lakh.
|
|
Pak releases 100 more Indian fishermen
Amritsar, September 3 A fisherman, Babu Ram of Gujarat, said he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for “illegally” venturing into territorial waters of Pakistan. However, he had been imprisoned for nearly three years. His was not the isolated case as a large number of them had been imprisoned for more than the quantum of punishment awarded to them. Another fisherman, Munna, said though they finally returned to their country and would reunite with their families after a hiatus of two or three years but the prospect of unemployment haunted them much more. He said their boats and other paraphernalia, used during fishing, were not returned. He added that the Governments of India and Pakistan must evolve a mutual understanding to return the equipment of fishermen at the time of their release.
|
|
‘High-handedness’ of SAD Leaders
Gidderbaha, September 3 The rally kept the Abohar-Chandigarh main road blocked for a few hours. Addressing the gathering, the leaders accused the ruling Badals and their kin of using police as a tool to implicate the Congress activists in “fake” criminal cases. Further, boosting the morale of workers in view of the next Assembly poll, leaders maintained aggressiveness in their speeches. Daring the Badals, the PPCC president Mohinder Singh Kaypee said if they (Badals) thought that implicating Congress workers in false cases would make the party weak, it was a misconception. And once the government changed, which was for sure, the Congress would give back as good as it had got from the
Badals.
Speaking on the same lines, CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal termed the Badal government as “butchers” government. Lashing out at the Badals, she said, “I promise you that each drop of your sweat will be compensated with the blood of the SAD goons, who are blatantly committing atrocities on you.” “The Badals managed to win the rural bodies poll through rigging but now in the Assembly poll, we are not going to tolerate it,” Bhattal said. National general secretary of the Youth Congress, Raja Vading, expressed his willingness to contest the Assembly poll from Muktsar district. Among others, former MLA Raghbir Pardhan, district president Gursant Singh Brar and senior leader Sant Singh Brar lashed out at the state government. Later, speaking to the media, Bhattal claimed she was not hand in glove with the Badals as was being alleged and termed it as the handiwork of some of her party colleagues, who had a difference of opinion with her. Without naming former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, she said, “If I being a former party president can work under Kaypee Sahib, why my colleague, who always remains absent from party events, can’t? Everybody in the party must respect the wishes of the high command and work accordingly,” she added.
|
|
Seats go vacant in management colleges
Gurdeep Singh Mann Tribune News Service
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 3 Out of the total 14,500 seats available in such colleges, only 4,500 students participated in the online counselling. At least, 7,050 students were to be admitted for MBA and 2,885 for MCA courses, only 1,300 students opted for MBA and 900 for MCA. Guru Nanak Dev University officials, who conducted online counselling this year, said most students with better ranks got admission in prestigious colleges and the rest opted for the management quota. “A number of students who got admission through counselling is very low. Students with less percentage sought admission under the management quota, thereby not appearing for entrance test or counselling at all,” the officials added. Of the total 121 colleges in the state, most seats have been filled under the quota. Taking advantage of the panic, some institutes have gone a step ahead and given admission to students on provisional basis. “Students are unaware of such a large number of seats going vacant. Cashing in on the situation, the institutions give provisional admission to the students while the seats left behind after completion of the counselling are converted into management quota seats as per norms,” pointed out a varsity official. There is no detail of number of seats filled through the management quota. As per norms, one-third of the total seats are considered as the management quota. “Around 1,400 MCA and 3,500 MBA seats have been filled under the quota,” the official from the university added. However, educationists and students said the sudden rise in the number of institutes had led to the decrease in number of students. Professor Karamjit Singh Kahlon, co-coordinator, Management Entrance Test for MBA, MCA of Punjabi University, GNDU and PTU, stated that flourishing institutions in Punjab had led to a decline in the number of students in colleges.
|
|
Plug Badi Nadi breaches soon, Badungar tells officials
Patiala, September 3 To review the progress of work, chairman of the Backward Classes Commission Kirpal Singh Badungar today held a meeting with senior officials of the department and later went to Daulatpur village, where there was a big breach in the Badi Nadi. Badungar asked officials to ensure that breaches in the Nadi in the village were plugged immediately. Officials were also directed to prepare a report about all breaches in Patiala, adding that the report would be submitted to the Chief Minister and in case any additional resources were required for this work, it would be looked into by the government. Badungar said the CM had taken a serious note of encroachments in rivulets and drains here, particularly in the Nadi. “All encroachments should be removed without any delay”, he told officials. Meanwhile, department officials said the reason behind the breach in the Nadi in Daulatpur village was that the owner of land near the water body dug up the soil. “Orders have been issued by the Patiala district administration to recover an amount of Rs 1.58 crore from him, whose wrong act had lead to that particular breach”, the officials added.
|
|
New Patiala SSP warns corrupt cops
Patiala, September 3 He reiterated his commitment to serve the people of Patiala by ensuring that they do not face any law and order problems. Gill said his main emphasis would be to make sure that law and order in the Patiala district was maintained at any cost. Listing his priorities, Gill, while speaking to The Tribune, said, “We will not allow any unscrupulous element or drug peddler to play with the lives of the youth. Every check and balance will be maintained to put an end to the drug menace.” The new SSP also said soon the district police would initiate a campaign “Policemen My Friend”. “This will help in improving the image of cops among the kids. Under the campaign, school students will be taken to various police stations so that they can themselves see that police personnel work in the larger interests of the society”, he added. Expressing concern over the traffic problem in the city, he said special emphasis would be laid to solve the problem at the earliest. “I will be available in my office from 11 am to 1 pm on a daily basis from Monday to Friday to listen to the grievances of the commoners”, he announced.
|
|
Medical college seeks more seats
Patiala, September 3 Giving information in this regard, college principal Surinder Singh said the college had got in touch with the government and a proposal was being prepared. Dr Singh said a decision in this regard would be taken soon. He further said the college was also trying to increase the number of MBBS seats, along with PG seats. It is pertinent to mention here that the college has a total of 120 PG seats. Earlier also, the college authorities had sent a request to the Medical Council of India (MCI) regarding increasing the number of PG seats as a result of which around 35 seats were increased in February, 2010. Also, the MBBS seats are 150 in number and since long there has been no change in this. Sources said the government had asked the college authorities to make this proposal to increase the availability of more and more specialist doctors. After the proposal is cleared by the state government, the college authorities will then send it to the MCI’s Board of Governors for clearance. The college is also keeping in mind the infrastructure and teachers’ availability while preparing the proposal. “This increase in seats has become possible under the changed guidelines of the MCI according to which a professor can keep two PG students instead of one as per earlier rules. Even associate professors and assistant professors can teach PG students if they have 5-year teaching experience,” he added. Medical students feel that this would not only give opportunity to more students to study in this institute, but would also help in churning out more specialised doctors from the region.
|
|
3 yrs on, treatment facility still a
dream
Amaninder Pal Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, September 3 Such patients are the worst sufferers, as they do not respond to commonly used anti-TB prescriptions due to immunity against conventionally used drugs. The prime factor is that they do not follow 6-12 months treatment course of such drugs. As there are a few laboratories for the microbiological diagnosis of such cases in the country, the Center had decided to establish one facility in each state under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme. In Punjab, such facility was to come up at TB Hospital, Patiala, under the name of “Interference Reference Laboratory”. It had to be maintained by the Department of Medical Education and Research. Although Once it comes up, it will be a boon for such patients as the cost of medicine, which otherwise is around Rs 1.5-2 lakh, will be borne by the government, including the mandatory 5-6 months hospitalisation. Anjali Bhawra, secretary, and Dr Jaikishen, director of Medical Education and Research, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Dr AS Thind, officiating DRME, expressed his inability to comment on the issue. Deputy medical superintendent, TB Hospital, Patiala, Dr AP Kansal said though high power equipment had been installed in the laboratory, power load upgrading was pending for the past six months. “The money released for the purpose could not be used as it was released at fag end of the last financial year. Though revised estimates were again submitted in the beginning of the current financial year, the money is yet to be released”, said Dr Kansal.
|
|
|
National conference in Rajindra hospital today
Patiala, September 3 Giving information in this regard, college principal Dr Surinder Singh said all heads of department of the surgery department from various medical institutions of the country would come for conference, which will be attended by more than 1,000 surgeons. He further said the highlight of the conference would be live operative workshop in which operations would be performed in four operation theatres simultaneously which would be transmitted live in various halls from where delegates could interact with surgeons. Operations for morbid obesity, cancer, stones , hernia and various diseases of kidney, uterus, intestines and spleen will be performed by top surgeons of the country . All operations conducted in the workshop will be free of cost.
|
|
Lecturer to be held soon, says SSP
Tribune News Service
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 3 Khattra, a 1990 batch PPS officer, took the charge as the SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, yesterday. Senior police officials, members of NGOs and SAD leaders and workers welcomed him. Khattra also paid obeisance at the Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara before joining the office. While talking to the media, he pointed out that the rise in the number of accidents was a serious issue and people should be made aware about this menace. “The number of deaths due to accidents is much more as compared to the number of murder cases. The police must intensify patrolling, besides issuing challans to reduce this problem to some extent,” the SSP said. He added that his priority would be to reduce crime in the district, besides identifying various traffic bottlenecks to reduce the number of accidents. To tackle shortage of manpower in the district police, 162 constables would be recruited in the coming few days, he added. Some local area residents, who came to meet him in his office, assured him to extend all possible help to reduce crime.
|
|
Department Tussle
Amritsar, September 3 Ironically, Government Medical College has received Rs 50 lakh issued by the Central Government for the laboratory, but it has yet to start work in this regard. Confirming that the college had received the funds, Dr SS Shergill, Principal of the medical college, said the college authorities had asked the Civil Surgeon’s office to vacate three rooms and a hall situated on its premises where they were contemplating to establish the laboratory, a number of times. But repeated requests had failed to elicit any response. At present a malaria office is being run by the Health Department at the designated place. However, Dr Chandanjit Singh Kondal, Civil Surgeon, said they had received the request only a few days ago, adding that they had yet to find an appropriate place for shifting the malaria office. “We have to see whether we can vacate the building immediately or not. We are already running short of rooms for our staff. It is difficult to move the staff and set up equipment in another building, considering that a large number of patients visit the laboratory for chemical tests daily,” said Kondal. “They have the funds. Why don’t they construct a new building in the huge college complex instead of asking us to shift the staff and equipment to another building,” he pointed out. At present there is only one laboratory at the PGI, Chandigarh, which caters to Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Opening of the laboratory at the medical college will cater to the border districts of the state besides other parts of Punjab.
|
|
|
PUSU-INSO wins Panjab varsity students’ body poll
Chandigarh, September 3 Gurindervir Singh Aulakh of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) is the new president, who won by a margin of 171 votes defeating Mohit Taneja of Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU). For the post of vice-president, Indian National Students Organisations (INSO) candidate Vibha won the elections by a margin of 151 votes defeating Bhavika Sharma of the SOPU-ABVP alliance. While Vibha secured 3,261 votes, Bhavika managed 3,109 and the third contestant Simrat Kaur Dhillon of the Students Organisation of India (SOI) got 718 votes. In a close competition, the post of secretary of the PUCSC went to the SOPU-ABVP alliance. ABVP candidate Akhil Bansal won the elections by 29 votes. Akhil beat Dharmender (INSO), who got 3,211 votes. Subhash Chander of the PUSU-INSO alliance is the new joint secretary of the PUCSC. He grabbed 3,313 votes. His rivals - Jagjot Singh of the SOPU-ABVP alliance and Gagandeep Singh of the SOI got 3,159 and 556 votes, respectively.
|
|
|
RTI activists provided with samples of tiles
Sangrur, September 3 Earlier, the Trust had refused to give the samples to RTI activists following which they filed a second appeal with state Information Commissioner DS Kahlon, who directed the Executive Officer of the Trust to provide the samples of the tiles to the applicants and also bear the expenditure of their testing. In February, the activists had asked for the samples of interlocking tiles from the Trust following the media disclosure that the latter had purchased these tiles on exorbitant rates as compared to the market price. However, the Trust denied giving the samples of the tiles to the activists, which the latter were
planning to send to a laboratory to measure the strength and other specifications of tiles. The Trust, which has come under scanner for allegedly buying poor quality tiles at higher rates, had cited difference in strength as the reason for higher rates than the market. However, the strength of the same tiles got evaluated by the Trust and later by the Deputy Director, Local Bodies, from the PWD Research Laboratory, Patiala, was reportedly low.
|
|
|
Kidwai to visit Mohali today
Sarbjit Singh/TNS
Jalandhar, September 3 Sources said they were coming to finalise arrangements to be made to hold a mini Congress session on September 27 in Mohali. The AICC would bear the entire expenditure on holding the session, it is learnt. AICC President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi are among other national leaders who will attend the session. Earlier, there was a proposal to hold a two-day session, but now it would be a one-day affair. The sources added that Kidwai and Vora would discuss arrangements to be made for the session with PPCC chief Mohinder Singh Kaypee and other senior leaders of the party at the Punjab Congress Bhawan, Chandigarh. They would also visit the site where the session would be held. Senior party leaders, including Kidwai, Vora and Ambika Soni, would come a few days before the session to supervise the arrangements.
|
|
Farmers using solar tube wells
to charge batteries
Jalandhar, September 3 A drastic fall in water table has left a majority of solar tube wells abandoned, forcing farmers to switch over to diesel and electricity to operate borewells for irrigation purposes. After the “failure” of the project under which the state government had installed solar tubewells after getting an overwhelming response from farmers, PEDA is now conducting various trials to make the best use of the equipment set up at these surface pumps. As a solar system set up at such a tube well produces direct current, PEDA has been trying to convert it into alternative current to utilise it for other purposes. The installation cost of one such tube well was Rs 3.50-4.55 lakh on a lease-hold basis, of which Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 was paid by the farmer to the agency. The state government had contributed Rs 60,000 while the rest of the amount was borne by the MNES and
IREDA.
|
|
|
Five electrocuted in Batala
Batala, September 3 Batala SSP Gurdeep Singh said someone switched on the power when the victims were working. Another person has been admitted
to the Civil Hospital, Dera Baba Nanak. The deceased have been identified as Sukhwarn Singh, Sarwan Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Harpreet Singh and Sarabjit Singh.
|
|
Dairy farmers to get semen from US
Chandigarh, September 3 Addressing mediapersons here today, WWS CEO John Schouten declared that the organisations had started working with the dairy farmers in Punjab and were establishing a well-knit network to provide best quality semen and services to dairy farmers.
|
|||
|
Amarinder loyalist gets P&SB post
Karanpal, who earlier served as OSD in the Amarinder-led government, is still closely associated with the Congress leader. He has been appointed for three years.
— TNS
|
|
Birth certificates to be issued in villages
Patiala, September 3 Patiala DC Dipinder Singh said based on the report of Accredited Social Health Activist workers, the Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery would issue these certificates.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Chandigarh, September 3
