Jalandhar, October 24
The Centre has created a crisis with regard to the procurement of paddy in the state. Observing this, president, Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), Balbir Singh Rajewal today said a delegation of his organisation would meet Prime Minister Office officials and others concerned at the Centre tomorrow to urge them to relax specifications keeping in view the existing conditions in the state.

Speaking to The Tribune on the phone, Rajewal said, “Our delegation will reach New Delhi this evening. Besides the PMO officials, we have sought an appointment with Rahul Gandhi to bring to his notice that how the Centre is creating problems in the paddy procurement in the state,” 
said Rajewal.

The Centre would be pressed to increase the moisture limit to 20 per cent from the existing 17 per cent. “Earlier, the Centre had allowed the paddy procurement with a moisture level up to 20 per cent. At that time, the FCI had to pay the rice millers drying charges. To avoid the payment of drying charges, the Centre brought down the moisture limit to 17 per cent creating trouble for the farmers,” said Rajewal, adding that prolonged monsoon season caused higher level of moisture in the paddy.

Because of the jassid attack on the paddy crop in a big way, the black spots had appeared on its grains affecting their luster. Owing to this reason, the procurement agencies were refusing to procure most of the paddy heaps. He said there was nothing wrong with the grains with black spots.

The delegation would urge the Centre to relax damage, discolour, moisture and other specifications in the light of the practical problems faced by the paddy growers in the state.

“I am certain that from 100 kg paddy, the outturn of rice will be 62 kg, whereas the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will seek 67 kg rice from the millers for each 100 kg of paddy given to them and such a demand will create another crisis,” he added. 

Ropar, October 24
The state farmer can now have his cake and eat it too. An experiment to sow paddy directly rather than transplanting it through puddling has been taken up successfully by scores of farmers in this district as well as in Patiala and could well rectify the falling water table in the state if taken up on a large scale.

Farmers in this district and Patiala, who are on the verge of harvesting their crop, are reaping benefits of this system. This is because direct sowing, which is done by seed drills to sow wheat, can be used with slight modification to do away with the problem of high-labour transplantation cost that varied between Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per acre this season. Direct sowing also allows recharging of ground water and results in at least 40 per cent water saving.

In direct contrast, the traditional method does not allow for water seepage for crucial 15 days and also causes flooding in case of rain. The latter also leads to loss of nutrients, said Ropar chief agriculture officer BS Sohal, who has been instrumental in encouraging the farmers to take up the direct sowing in a big way.

The survey of the fields, where the direct sowing method has been used, it was revealed that such fields have more plants per sq metre. The chief agri officer said this is because in traditional transplantation labourers were able to plant only 18-19 plants per metre, while 33 plants could be sown in one sq metre by direct sowing method.

Amarinder Singh of Mahlan village who has gone in for direct sowing in around 12 acres said he was afraid in the beginning to go in for the new method. “But now, at least 10 farmers visit my field every day to see the results,” he said, adding he had saved on machinery cost also. “Every year, I had to change the bearings of my tractor wheels after the puddling exercise, which is not needed any longer,” said Amarinder. Direct sowing has been done in around 1,000 acres in Ropar and 2,500 acres in Patiala. Ground water levels in the state have fallen by an average of around 10 metres since 1972.

Technologist Satwant Singh said direct sowing ensures microorganisms were not eradicated, especially those responsible for nitrogen fixation of coming crops. Malkit Singh, who has sown 100 acres through this method, said the landowners were now encouraged to sow their crop themselves rather than giving it on rent. Even the small landowners have been taking to this method as witnessed in Railon Kalan village with Kulwant Singh sowing paddy on an acre plot. The problem of vegetative growth is the only drawback of this method. Sohal said most weedicides available were water based. He said now one Japanese weedicide Bispyribag, which could be used on a dry bed, was available. “It is expensive, but with more farmers taking to this technique other manufacturers will surely come into the market,” he added.

Chandigarh, October 24
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for relaxations in the specifications regarding discolouration and moisture content for paddy procurement by the FCI and state agencies in the 
current season.

The CM said failure to take immediate corrective and remedial action could lead to serious law and order problem in the days ahead. The CM has also written to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar saying that the Centre must keep in mind that the paddy has been affected for reasons beyond the farmers’ control.

In a separate letters to the PM and the Union Agriculture minister, the CM said the moisture specification should be increased 
from 17 per cent to 20 per cent, discoloration of paddy up to 10 per cent and rice outturn ratio to be decreased from 67 per cent to 60 per cent.

Badal pointed out that the PUSA-44 variety of paddy as approved by the Centre was sown on an area of about 7 lakh hectares in the state, production of which is likely to be of the order of 50 lakh tonne. This paddy variety takes about 125/130 days for maturing as against other varieties that take about 105/110 days for the same.

The CM said unfortunately, there had been rains in the state at the time when the grain of PUSA-44 variety was at pre-mature stage this year.

This coupled with cloudiness had resulted in damage to the paddy by way of some blackening. Badal said non-procurement would lead to glut in the grain markets and consequent harassment of the farmers. This, in turn, he said might lead to serious law and order problem.

In fact, 17 kisan and mazdoor unions led by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) have given immediate call for ‘rasta and road roko’ and also for ‘rail roko’ for October 29, according to BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan. 

Chandigarh, October 24
Senior state Congress leader and party whip Kewal Singh Dhillon, while appreciating the clarification given by the SGPC on US President Barack Obama’s proposed visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, said today that steps should be taken to ensure that the visit was not cancelled.

In a statement here, Dhillon said since US officials had already visited Amritsar and had been briefed on security arrangements, the clarification given by the SGPC that the issue of headgear would be sorted out should clear the way for Obama’s visit.

He said the US President’s visit to the Golden Temple would not only be an honour for Punjab, but would also help US citizens to understand the Sikhism and ensure that Sikhs abroad did not become an object of hate crime by being mistaken for the Muslims.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh in a statement here took umbrage at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s appeal to the Prime Minister to ensure Obama’s visit to Amritsar goes ahead.

Bir Devinder said US officials had been briefed on the maryada to be observed during the visit and that the state must not beseech anyone to ensure the visit.

Bir Devinder also claimed that the visit had been “scuttled and sabotaged” by Indian intelligence and security agencies. He said he was sure the issue of covering the head was no issue for the US President.

Meanwhile, in a separate release, Sikh Nation Organisation chief Dr MS Randhawa claimed that Obama’s visit to Amritsar would still take place. He said the visit was taking place due to efforts of the American Sikh community and that “trivial considerations can never affect the well- thought decisions of the American President.”

A sketch of the current status of the main road leading to the Golden Temple.

Amritsar, October 24
With the Punjab government giving its nod to personal rapid transport system (PRTS) for Amritsar, tourists as well as daily commuters on the Bus Station-Golden Temple and Railway Station-Golden Temple route may look forward to a hassle-free journey to their destination as early as by the end of next year.

According to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) managing director, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the PRT System in Amritsar will be the first of its kind in India. The ULTra (Urban Light Transport) PRT System is basically a four to six-seater driverless, battery-powered, laser-guided vehicle with a central control system known as pod that uses rubber wheels running on an elevated guide way. It has been developed by a firm named ULTra.

The PRT is like a personal taxi which is demand responsive to a commuter, which means it can facilitate on demand non-stop journey within the track network with operational flexibility.

Stations are located on side tracks that allows the PRT pods to bypass all stations en route to destination, thereby reducing travel time. The waiting time at stations is also negligible. Headway (the distance in time that separates two pods travelling on the same track) of three seconds enables high-density carriage of 6,000 persons/hour/direction. Another advantage of this system is that PRT stations can be integrated into buildings, facilitating direct entry into malls, hotels and offices.

A pod weighs 800 kg, has a cargo capacity of 500 kg and runs at a maximum speed of 40 km/hour. Among its other features are air-conditioning and bi-parting wide opening doors on both the sides. To operate a pod, waiting off-line at a station, a commuter will get access control using a swipe card and can key in destination on platform station, after which pod selects the most economical route for specific destination.

Amritsar Municipal Corporation Commissioner DPS Kharbanda said the project would cost Rs 198 crore and it would come up on BOT (build, operate, transfer) basis by the end of 2011. The fare for travelling in a pod would be Rs 15. The consultants in the project, Fairwood, a New Delhi-based firm, will be submitting its final report shortly. The PIDB is the umbrella infrastructure agency in the project. He put the tentative number of pods to be introduced on these tracks at 200. Explaining the concept of negligible waiting time at stations, he said in PRT it is the system which waits for the passengers rather than the other way round.

Meanwhile, reacting to the new project, Paramjeet Singh, a daily commuter from Chheharta, said the authorities had taken various steps to ease traffic congestion earlier also but all of them failed. He welcomed the project, but raised doubt on its implementation. Surinder Pal Singh, a tourist from Saharanpur, said every time they come to Amritsar they have to grapple with traffic chaos while reaching the Golden Temple and if any such project comes up, it will benefit tourists as well as local residents.

The first commercially operating PRT System was commissioned at Heathrow Airport in 2009.

Chandigarh, October 23
The past fortnight has been an important one for Punjab. The upheaval in the SAD spearheaded by former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal has changed political equations in the state. It is now almost certain that Manpreet is going to go solo and informed sources hint at his forming his own party.

While this has send SAD leaders in a tizzy with all efforts aimed at keeping the old guard together, can Manpreet and his group of breakaway SAD MLAs really pose an alternative to the SAD-Congress history of Punjab?

Manpreet says he has complete “faith” in the masses and that he would be knocking every door in the state to make his point. But will he be heard? Liquor, money and muscle power have been the hallmark of election campaigning in Punjab. As an integral part of the Akali fold, Manpreet has seen it all. Does he really think that the Punjab voter and state politics has changed this much that it will accommodate such an “innocent” attempt to gather support?

The entry of Manpreet with his suave, sophisticated outlook combined with the sagacity and quick wit of his uncle, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, is bound to impress a whole lot of people in the state.

Sukhbir, the heir apparent, is seen to be very different from his father and is a total personality opposite of Manpreet. Manpreet is looked upon as someone who only talks and cribs about things. His “simplicity” and “heartache” for the state is believed to be contrived. Sukhbir, on the other hand, “is what he is” and is considered to be a go-getter. Sukhbir’s sense of economics is to invest Rs 100 and get another Rs 100. Manpreet’s sense of economics is to save the Rs 100 for the future by going hungry today. On the negative side, Sukhbir is thought to be vindictive and disrespectful to those around him.

The personality traits of these two young turks and how they conduct themselves in the next 12 months is going to have a major bearing within the SAD’s voter base.

Equally important is the emergence of “state of the economy of Punjab” as the top political agenda. Manpreet’s ouster would force everyone else, including Congress leaders, to make their stance of farm subsidies clear, besides brushing up on the basic economics of the state and know the difference between terms like fiscal and revenue deficit!

Analysts feel that once Manpreet decides to launch himself as the alternative to the SAD-Congress politics of the state, he would also widen his focus and bring out the issue of political corruption and lackadaisical work culture among Punjab employees in the open.

Both these issues have been the bane of Punjab’s development but have never been considered important enough to be tackled, let alone go to elections with.

Manpreet’s personal conduct and his carefully crafted image of an honest politician would make it very easy for him to rake up muck against his contenders. None among the BJP, SAD and the Congress can boast of having a team of dead honest men among them and Manpreet is likely to use this fact to his advantage.

Chandigarh, October 24
Shiromani Akali Dal Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal demanded immediate arrest of Sajjan Kumar, one of the main accused in the 1984 massacre of Sikhs."This is the only case in the history of the country where a man booked in a murder case is not arrested even 17 years after the FIRs were registered. Even the IO, SHO and the DCP have signed the charge sheets against him," she said in a statement released here today.

Harsimrat was reacting to yesterday’s Delhi Court’s judgment in which the court paved the way for initiation of criminal proceedings against Sajjan Kumar by rejecting the Delhi police’s plea for clubbing the ongoing trial to another case pertaining to the carnage. “What are the police and the Congress governments trying to hide and why these dilatory tactics?” she asked.

Ropar, October 24
Rs 1,261 have been spent so far on the security and upkeep of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Park marking the historic meeting of the Maharaja with Lord William Bentick, Governor of India in 1831.As per information achieved under the Right To Information Act, a watchman was appointed for 15 days in 2007. He was paid Rs 1,261.

Advocate Dinesh Chadha, who procured this information pointed out, “The historic importance of the entire project has been belittled. Nothing is being done to safeguard the prestigious project that has now become a haven for the anti-social elements.”

Information also reveals that Rs 52.95 lakh have been spent on the park in the last two years. Improvement Trust, Ropar, and PWD, Mohali, have provided funds for the park during the initial days of its establishment.

Punjab Tourism Development Corporation had given Rs 52.95 lakh for the work. The corporation had spent funds through PWD, Ropar, that has executed the work. An out-of-order fountain, wild grass, unclean toilets, damaged stairs and shabby looking place belies the claims of the works done that is said to cost lakhs.

The RTI reply states that the department had spent on fixing checked tiles, installing information boards, repairing fountain, installing iron railings, renovating and repairing old bridge, completing laying of an old nullah and other things.

Chadha said if the things were not restored within a week, the advocates would be filing a petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding immediate restoration of park to its glory.

Also, a road, connecting the city was blocked to make way for the park. Now a special approach to the IIT at Birla Farms is being constructed at a cost of Rs 8.44 crore.

“The approach road was a best way to enter the city after crossing bridge over the Sutlej. Even when we had a VVIP or VIP movement, it was easier to divert traffic through that route. That road even served as approach road to DC residence, mini secretariat and officers colony,” pointed out a traffic police cop.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner AS Miglani said the park had been handed over to the MC for upkeep and maintenance. “We handed over the park to MC around 15 days ago. The outer lights have been fixed and inner lights too will be repaired soon. It will be given complete facelift soon,” he said. 

Jalandhar, October 24
People will again have to bear the brunt of increase in the diesel price in the recent past, as travel in Punjab buses is likely to become costlier.Though the state Transport Department has already decided to increase bus fare by 10 paise per km, a final nod is required from the state Cabinet for the same.

Talking to TNS on the sidelines of a BJP function here today, state Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal said he had already given his approval for a hike in bus fare. Now the matter would be presented at the next Cabinet meeting for an approval, he added.

Justifying the proposed hike, he said the department was left with no option but to increase the fare keeping in view a steep hike in the diesel price.

The minister further said the department would ply local buses in Ludhiana and Amritsar within a month.

Earlier, there was a proposal that the Local Bodies Department would run local buses in these cities like it did in Jalandhar some time ago. But now it was decided that the Transport Department would take over city bus service from the Local Bodies Department in Jalandhar too, he said, adding that city buses would also be run by PUNBUS and the PRTC thereafter in Patiala, Bathinda and Mohali.

To a query, he said the issue of the takeover of city bus service had already been discussed at the Principal Secretary level of both the departments. The minister said a decision in this regard had been taken as the Local Bodies Department did not have an adequate expertise for running buses and further it had no workshop for repairing and maintain the same.

He further said the size of buses would also be reduced from 52-seater to 47 and 35-seater buses.

Fatehgarh Sahib, October 24
Mother of a teenager whose body was allegedly thrown away in Sirhind canal after he was done to death last month, has written a letter to the President of India and Prime Minister demanding immediate arrest of the accused.

Jaswant Kaur, a 65-year-old widow residing in Sirhind, alleged that her son Devinder Singh Jugnu went missing from Fatehgarh Sahib on August 31, and his mutilated body was fished out after three days from Sirhind canal near Rajpura. Jugnu’s motorbike was recovered near Sirhind canal in Tarkhan Majra village, and it was presumed that Jugnu might have committed suicide.

Jaswant Kaur said Jugnu’s post-mortem report revealed that there were some injury marks on his head, shoulder and other body parts, but the police refused to work on the theory of murder. Though the police finally registered a case, no arrests have, so far been made.