Chandigarh, November 29
A team of senior officials of the Union Ministry of Food will be visiting Punjab this week to resolve the longstanding disputes, including clearance of pending dues running into thousands of crores of rupees.

The visiting team, to be headed by Joint Secretary RK Garg, will hold meetings not only with the senior functionaries of the Department of Food of the Punjab Government, but also with the top managements of other agencies associated with food procurement, storage and handling.

To pave the way for the settlement of longstanding demands of the Punjab Food Supplies Department, senior functionaries of the regional office of the Food Corporation of India also had a series of meetings with their Punjab counterparts today.

The Union Food Secretary, Dr Bhushan Chander Gupta, who was also on a visit here, also met the Punjab Chief Secretary, Subodh Chander Aggarwal, to discuss other demands of the state pending before the Union Food Ministry.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Gupta, a 1975-batch Punjab-cadre IAS officer, also confirmed the visit of the central team to the state.

The central food agencies owe to the state government more than Rs 8,000 crore as cost of procurement, transportation and storage of foodgrains on their behalf.

The Punjab Government had been complaining that these costs were not being reimbursed on a regular basis. All that the Punjab food agencies got was ` 15 a quintal on shelling of paddy.

The Punjab Government, however, had been claiming over the years that the cost of transportation of foodgrains from grain markets to the place of storage was not being reimbursed. The shelling charges cover only the transportation of paddy from the place of storage to the rice mill and its subsequent delivery.

One of Punjab agencies, Markfed, for example, had been demanding reimbursement of over Rs 2,500 crore incurred on food procurement operations.

Another disputed area between the Punjab Government and the Union Food Ministry had been the payment of administrative charges. The state agencies are responsible for 80 to 90 per cent of the total procurement operations for the central pool. In 2003, the Union Government agreed to pay 2.5 per cent of the total procurement cost of wheat. Nothing was being paid for paddy procurement. In fact, the paddy procurement operation is much bigger than the wheat procurement operation.

Most of these issues are likely to be thrashed out during the coming visit of the central team.

Abohar, November 29
The residents of Abohar and Fazilka regions of Punjab and Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan have been waiting for the past about eight years for the Abohar-Fazilka rail link to become operational.

This important rail link was sanctioned in 2003 by the Ministry of Railways on the consistent demand of the people of these regions, who were also supported by politicians. The foundation stone was laid down by the then Union Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, in 2004.

However, the rail link, which was supposed to be operational in 2007, is likely to start functioning in March 2011. The physical work has been completed, the paper work is going on and a trial run on this section is likely to start shortly.

The rail link is bound to usher in an era of economic development in the border areas of Ferozepur district, which will have direct access to Sriganganagar and southern and central parts of India after it becomes operational. However, its project cost has gone up very high.

“The original project cost was ` 88 crore when the estimate for this rail link was sanctioned in 2003. Now, the project cost has gone up to ` 209 crore,” said Surinder Singh, deputy chief engineer, Railway (Ambala), who is looking after the project.

It is learnt that this rail link will touch about six rural and semi-urban areas where railway stations had been set up apart from linking Abohar and Fazilka, both border towns and important trade centres of Punjab.

Patiala, November 29
As the top brass of the Punjab BJP today deliberated upon various issues during the meeting of the party state executive meeting here, senior party leaders announced that scams during the UPA regime and the works initiated for the development of Punjab by the SAD-BJP government would be the main election issues during the next Assembly elections in the state, scheduled to be held in early 2012. Addressing the party leadership of Punjab, including BJP MLAs, chairmen of various boards and corporations and leaders of frontal cells of the party, state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma said they were confident that the SAD-BJP alliance would get an absolute majority in the next Assembly elections.

“2G Spectrum scam is one of the biggest scams ever and it all happened during the UPA regime with Dr Manmohan Singh at the helm. It is shocking that such a big scam has come to light and still UPA leaders particularly the Congress is making claims that the country is progressing under the present regime at the Centre,” said Sharma, while reiterating the party’s stand for a probe into 2G Spectrum scam by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Sharma further said that scared with the fact that skeletons would start tumbling out of the cupboard and the fact that Congress leaders may be involved in the scam, Congress did not want to constitute a JPC in the matter. The BJP was determined to expose the alleged misdeeds of the Congress government at the Centre. “The SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab will return to power with a thumping majority in the 2012 elections,” he claimed. The state BJP president also exhorted the party’s rank and file to gear up for the elections and initiate the process of making the masses in Punjab aware about the wrong policies of the Congress.

Sharma also announced that in the last week of December, a special programme would be organised by the party in different Assembly segments of Punjab to make the people aware about the scams, unearthed during the UPA regime. “During these programmes, people will also be briefed about the development works initiated by the SAD-BJP government in Punjab,” he told the gathering, adding that results of Bihar elections had made it clear that only that political party would win the people’s mandate which will work for the development of the state. “At the moment, the SAD-BJP combine is doing a marvellous job for the progress of Punjab and hence we are extremely hopeful of defeating the Congress in the next elections.”

Prominent among others who attended the meeting included Amriitsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, BJP’s national general secretary and co-incharge of BJP, Punjab affairs, Captain Abhimanyu, Minister for Local Bodies Manoranjan Kalia, Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal and chief parliamentary secretary Raj Khurana. 

Patiala, November 29
Terming the Congress as mother of all scams, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said in the wake of the scams being unearthed during the present UPA-led government, the entire nation is shocked. Addressing a meeting of party activists at Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib here today, Sukhbir came down heavily on the Congress stating that the UPA had done nothing for the betterment of the nation, except for indulging in scams. “The Congress owes an explanation to the people of the country on the issue of the recent 2G spectrum scam,” he demanded.

The Deputy Chief Minister said: “Election results of Bihar show the shrinking base of the Congress. The Punjab Congress is finding itself perplexed with the accelerated development in every sphere in the state by the SAD-BJP government and is now trying to misguide the masses by raising non-issues on daily basis.”

Giving a call to the party cadre to give a united fight to the Congress, Sukhbir said the SAD would emerge victorious in the coming SGPC elections. “Some so-called splinter Akali groups, acting against the Sikh Panth with monetary support from Congress leadership, will not be able to make any damage to our party in the SGPC elections,” Sukhbir asserted.

After the meeting, Sukhbir listened to the grievances of party workers and assured them that necessary steps would be taken for sorting out the problem being faced by them. Prominent among others present in the meeting include SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra, Adviser to the Chief Minister Daljit Singh Cheema, chairman of the Backward Classes Commission Kirpal Singh Badungar, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana and chairman of the District Planning Committee Surjit Singh Rakhra. 

POLITICS

I’ll not like to float a party, says Manpreet
Kanchan Vasdev/TNS

Ludhiana, November 29
Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal has turned philosophical now. The man, who used to talk economics and finances, quoted several motivational couplets by famous Punjabi poets, one after the other, during his address to the public and media at his ‘Jaago’ rally here today. The public and media were treated to his ‘‘Manpreetism’’ when he came up with his philosophy of life coupled with the verses of famous poets and reformers like Baba Farid, Bulle Shah, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Waris Shah and Dr Mohammad Fakir, while addressing a rally.

The otherwise calm and composed leader came through as a man carrying his emotions on his sleeve when he answered many questions of the media by narrating powerfully inspirational poems.

To every question, he quoted a couplet in answer. Starting from rebelling to treading a path that he termed ‘‘treacherous and thorny’’ and that would give him blistered feet but a grin on his face when he would turn victorious, Manpreet tried to convey everything through poetry.

Manpreet refused to comment on the SAD. He had started his ‘Jaago’ march to awaken the masses to get them freed from the clutches of a bad system marred by corruption, poverty, illiteracy, finances, drugs and unemployment.

He added he would not like to float a party but would like to be a member of a political party started by the people. ‘‘Manpreet is no entity in himself. I will become a force to reckon with when backed by the people. And I am overwhelmed with their response during my ‘Jaago’ march,’’ he remarked as he again narrated a line of Faiz Ahmed Faiz equating himself with the might of flowing rivers.

Meanwhile, following reports that the Intelligence Department was keeping an eye on the activities of Manpreet Badal and his supporters, Manpreet said he had shot off a letter to DGP (intelligence) stating that the official was not respecting the oath taken by him while taking over the office. 

Amritsar, November 29
The SGPC today flagged off a 58-member Sikh jatha to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary at Dhaka in Bangladesh. The move holds significance as it is for the first time that a Sikh jatha has been sent to Bangladesh ever since the country came into being 39 years back.

The jatha will be travelling by train to Kolkata from where they will cross over to Bangladesh. Though Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary fell on November 21, the jatha will celebrate the same in Dhaka on December 3. Sri Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar flagged off the jatha, which also comprised 13 women, from the Golden Temple Complex. The Jathedar urged the

Bangladesh government to simplify its visa norms so that more Sikh devotees could pay obeisance at the historic gurdwaras there in future. Makkar hoped that the move would pave the way for maintenance of gurdwaras in Bangladesh. The SGPC has asked the jatha head, Satnam Singh Dhanoa, to submit a report to it on the condition of the gurdwaras in Bangladesh, following the return of the jatha to India.

Kharar, November 29
Thirteen new railway overbridges would be constructed in Punjab after completion of the ongoing work on 27 such bridges in the state, said PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

Dhindsa was here to lay the foundation stone of public works at Badali village.

He said work on 27 overbridges had almost been completed at Rs 500 crore, while on 13 bridges work is going on.

Thirteen more bridges would be constructed in the next one year, he said.

“The kandi area of the state, which has very poor road network, has gained maximum benefit. Road infrastructure has also been strengthened in districts lying under this network with special emphasis on link roads,” he said.

He claimed that the SAD-BJP government had so far spent Rs 3,000 crore for widening and strengthening link roads.

Chandigarh, November 29
A group of Sikhs living abroad have come up with what they call “a Sikh response to help preserve the environment that is integral in the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib”. ‘EcoSikh’, as this global Sikh environmental initiative has been called, will target 100 gurdwaras in the state that will be asked to take a “green gurdwara pledge”. They will then become a part of the movement that aims at spreading environmental awareness making the gurdwaras as a platform.

Washington-based banking professional Gurpreet Singh, one of the people behind the movement, is currently in Punjab to oversee the implementation of the alliance between UK-based Religions and Conservation and US-based Sikh Council on Religion and Education. This alliance has set-up one office in Ludhiana and another one in Washington. The first target of EcoSikh is to help gurdwaras introduce greener practices in their community kitchens.

Though collaboration with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee and Delhi Gurdwara management Committee is underway, EcoSikh has already signed an MoU with the Amritsar district administration to bring the city under cover of the “green pilgrim cities” - a project of the United Nations Development Programme.

Ravneet Pal Singh, project manager (India) for EcoSikh based in Ludhiana, says: “Gurdwaras like the Maryland Gurdwara in the US have contributed a lot in reducing carbon footprint by introducing greener practices on the premises. Similar initiatives would be introduced in about 100 gurdwaras in the state.

Chandigarh, November 29
The Punjab leg of the nationwide Kisan Swaraj Yatra is all set to take on the “market-oriented” research being undertaken by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, by holding a public meeting opposite the university gate on December 3 to “persuade” its authorities to conduct “pro-farmer” research.

The yatra will be riding on the wings of well-known Punjabi singers and activists with social activist and singer Rabbi Shergil being the main attraction during its Chandigarh leg on December 2. Rabbi will also hold a performance as part of the yatra at the Sector 17 plaza even as the issue of farmer suicides will be taken up during a meeting at the Student Centre on the Panjab University campus.

During its Punjab leg the yatra organisers have noted Punjabi singer Manmohan Waris who will lend his voice to the cause in Ludhiana. Environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, social worker Inderjit Kaur Pingalwara and writer Surjit Pattar will also speak on farmers’ issues.

Kheti Virasat Mission head Umendra Dutt, while talking to TNS, said there was a feeling among environmentalists and farmers that PAU had drifted away from its core philosophy during the last 20 years or so. He said research was being done on the dictates of multinationals rather than on the basis of the needs of farmers. Dutt said the yatra activists would urge PAU to conduct serious research on ecological agriculture as well as natural agriculture at its research centres.

Dutt said after Ludhiana the yatra would travel extensively in the Malwa belt in the state that had witnessed the maximum number of farmer suicides besides depletion in ground water resources. He said the yatra would create awareness against the excessive use of pesticides besides GM crops. Comedian Bhagwant Mann, who had earlier lent his support to environmental issues raised by the Kheti Virasat Mission, may also join the yatra during its Malwa leg.

Among the places which the yatra will visit are the village of Dhudhike in Moga district made famous by freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, Mehta village in Amritsar, which is known for the Sikh-Nirankari clash, as well as Badal village of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The yatra organised by the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture is undertaking a nationwide mobilisation, drawing fresh attention to the continuing agricultural crisis in India. It calls for a new path for Indian agriculture that will provide livelihood, self-reliance and dignity to small farmers, food security for all Indians and keep the country’s soil, food and water poison-free. 

Amritsar, November 29
She can be an ideal brand ambassador for endorsing state’s campaign against female foeticide. Meet Harpreet Kaur Bhoma, daughter of a marginal farmer of Bhauma village, near here, who topped the list of successful candidates from across the world to be a part of the fresh law research team to be attached with judges.

Tomorrow, Harpreet (28) would join Justice Hemant Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to deliberate on vital cases. While talking to The Tribune, Harpreet said it was a co-incidence that she came across the court notification pasted on the notice board of GND University. “I applied. Though I knew that it would not be easy, I kept my fingers crossed,” she told.

Harpreet competed with a group of 50 law graduates from all over the country and Indian-origin students hailing from different parts of the world. While the overseas students appeared in the interview through video conferencing, the rest of them had to face the judges’ panel.

“I was determined not to let down my father, who wanted me to go in for law. Despite limited sources, he never compromised on our studies,” she told.

Today Harpreet’s father Sukhwinder Singh and mother Baljeet Kaur are a happy lot. Now their village is known by their daughter’s name. “I have two daughters and never felt the desire for a son. It was my dream to make my daughters self reliant and I hope I was successful in it,” said Sukhwinder Singh.

Harpreet, a gold medallist and an outstanding postgraduate law student with 71.5 per cent marks, has good communicating and analytical skills. Though she had already cleared UGC test for Junior Research Fellowship, she chose to go in for brushing herself in law.

“I was looking to develop a career in teaching too with special emphasis on international law. I have already done research work on ‘Adverse impact of global warming” and ‘Forest preservation in context of environment protection’. I have also done an extensive research design for ‘Cyber crime: A threat to present and future generation’,” she stated.

Hari Ke (Ferozepur), November 29
Unchecked and continuous encroachment, poaching and destroying of flora and fauna by criminal elements, backed mostly by politicians, have forced the state wildlife authorities to chalk out a plan to hand over the Hari Ke wetland bird sanctuary to the Eco Task Force of the Army.

A meeting of officials of the state Wildlife Department, Deputy Commissioners and police chiefs of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala and senior- level officers the Army will be held here on December 10 to work out the modalities of handing over the wetland to the Eco Task Force. The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Gurbaz Singh, Chief Warden (wildlife), Punjab.

What has virtually “forced” the state wildlife authorities to take this step is the fact that for the past many years, encroachments, poaching and destruction of flora and fauna have become major sources of threat to the very existence of the wetland and the officials deployed for its protection and conservation have been finding it difficult to accomplish their task in the absence of the required infrastructure.

The wetland, which came into existence in 1953 after a barrage was constructed on the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej that was subsequently declared a bird sanctuary in 1982, has been shrinking every year. About 30 per cent of its area has been eaten up by a thick growth of hyacinths and deposition of silt. The ecological crisis has reached such a stage that environmentalists are of the view that the lifespan of the wetland is decreasing.

The water in the sanctuary is also under constant threat of getting polluted due to discharge of untreated sewage, industrial effluents and agricultural residues from various towns and villages of Punjab.

“If all goes well, the Hari Ke sanctuary will be handed over to the Eco Task Force of Army shortly. The Eco Task Force has been working in many states of the country and has been preserving the environment by carrying out afforestration and checking deforestation,” said Gurbaz Singh, Chief Warden (wildlife), Punjab, adding that a preliminary meeting in this connection had already been held at Chandigarh.

“If we get good results from this experiment, we will be handing over many other wetlands and forest area sites to the Eco Task Force,” he pointed out.

Ropar, November 29
The Ropar traffic cops have got new turbans, similar to the ones worn by their counterparts in Mohali and Chandigarh.Around 52 odd traffic cops in Ropar district will wear navy blue turbans and caps as per the Punjab police rules.

“We noticed that some traffic cops wore navy blue turbans, while others wore blue ones with red pattern. It was then decided that uniformity should be brought in the dress code,” said SSP Jatinder Singh Aulakh.

The 52 traffic cops in district includes one inspector, six non-gazetted officers including sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, six head constables and constables.

The move has drawn flak from the cops who get Rs 1,125 per year as uniform allowance and Rs 25 as monthly washing allowance.

“Its impossible to have even one decent uniform stitched in Rs 1,125 budget. It is a gimmick. Added to this the new turbans will cost more,” said a traffic cop. He added that the cost of a turban was around Rs 300 and it was not inviable to provide just one turban.

The cops added that uniform allowance was introduced only in 2008. Earlier, the cops were issued shoes and uniform from the Chandigarh headquarters itself. “But lately we realised that most of the employees were getting either oversized or undersized uniforms.

To put an end to this problem, police headquarters introduced uniform allowance,” said senior police officials.

They added that the DGP Punjab had recommended the government to elevate allowance from Rs 1,125 to Rs 3,000 at least. “However, the matter is under consideration,” he added.

Patiala, November 29
Renowned painter RM Singh was honoured with Sobha Singh Kala Puraskar, instituted by the Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society, for his contribution in the field of fine arts.

The function was organised by the Punjabi University’s Department of Fine Arts to commemorate Sobha Singh’s birth anniversary here today.

Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh and National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh conferred the honour upon RM Singh. The award also carries a cash prize of Rs 11,000. He was also bestowed with the honorary life fellowship of the university.

Earlier, tributes were paid to Sobha Singh. Presiding over the function, Dr Jaspal announced to rename the department as Sardar Sobha Singh Department of Fine Arts. As per an appeal by Tarlochan Singh, the V-C declared Sardar Sobha Singh Annual Chitarkari Award and a fellowship for prominent painters.

“The university will also prepare a compilation of all art related to Sobha Singh before the next birth anniversary of the painter,” said Dr Singh. The V-C also inaugurated an exhibition of Sobha Singh’s art works at the department.

Meanwhile, inaugurating a seminar on Sobha Singh’s life, Tarlochan Singh highlighted the contribution made by the celebrated painter in universalising the art through his skills.

“His art will remain a great source of inspiration for budding painters,” he said. Gurcharan Kaur, daughter of Sobha Singh, was also honoured on the occasion.

Chandigarh, November 29
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil has advocated the need for focus on quality and high standard education by reshaping the roadmap of academic curriculum. This was said at a meeting of the Board of Governors of Punjab Public School at Nabha here today.

Patil stressed on setting up a audio-visual library in the school along with video cameras to record the lectures of educationists for further distribution to students. He emphasised on making arrangements for classrooms with a big screen and that all their questions be answered by teachers.

Motivating students to appear for the NDA exams, Patil said presently only students from poor background opted for the defence services. He said proper training should be imparted to students to ensure their selection in defence.

Reviewing the activities, achievements and future programmes of the school, Patil stressed on generating funds to provide better facilities and infrastructure for students. He said we must utilise available resources to explore students potential through innovative programmes.

Rajpura, November 29
Several anganwari workers undergoing two-day training under the Parho Punjab Program were forced to sit on rough ground for more than six hours here today. The workers also complained of lack of basic amenities and were refused rugs by the organisers.

“Neither were we able to write, due to lack of table and chairs, nor could we sit properly under the open skies and biting cold. The organisers refused to provide us chairs or give us a rug,” said Jaswinder Kaur, an anganwari worker.

The workers said they were told to arrive at 9.00 am, however, the training session started after 11.00 am and continued till 3.00 pm.

“Workers were forced to sit on the grounds till completion of the session,” said Dharam Kaur, block president of Anganwari Workers Union.

Though Dharam Kaur was apprised her of the situation by her co-workers who underwent the shabby treatment.

Workers from four rural circles, including Neelpur circle and Damanheri circle, attended the session. They were trained to deal with children in anganwari centres, setup by the government in different villages.

Resource person of the program, Jarnail Singh, said the workers should have been provided with sitting arrangements.

Senior officials have been apprised about the problem. “We are only required to teach the workers. The office of Child Development Project Officer is making the arrangements. However, their problems have been aired to the senior functionaries,” he said.

Patiala, November 29
Representatives of the PSEB Engineers Association have appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for reconsidering the decision, whereby the state government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to set up a 2,640MW coal-based power project at Gidderbaha at the cost of Rs 15,000 crore.

According to the association, there was an immediate need to review the decision before any further progress was made in the matter. Association president HS Bedi demanded that the MoU, signed in October, should be scrapped. Bedi has urged Badal to assign the project to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for execution under state sector.

Speaking to The Tribune, Bedi said, “In the next three to five years, Punjab will increase its power generation capacity, mainly through private companies. Power projects coming up at Rajpura, Goindwal Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Mansa have been awarded to private companies. Now, the state government is in process of signing of Power Purchase Agreement with NTPC pertaining to the Gidderbaha Thermal Project (GTP). Our association strongly opposes this and the MoU should be scrapped without any delay.”

Association general secretary Bhupinder Singh said the private or central sector power generators have the tendency to operate their plants to avail maximum benefit under the availability based tariff, irrespective of the requirements of PSPCL, which would increase the cost of power thus leading to an increased in tariff in Punjab.

“It is ironical that despite clear recommendations of the PSPCL management, duly endorsed by principal secretary, power and chief secretary that the Gidderbaha project should be executed under state sector, the 2640-MW GTP has been awarded to NTPC,” he said.

The association leaders said no state in India except Punjab had planned generation of entire power capacity addition through private or central sector.

“Majority of the states, except Punjab, have planned at least 40 to 50 per cent new power generation capacity under the state sector,” said Bedi. He said that power generated at GTP by NTPC would be sold to Punjab at the rates approved by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and that it was a fact that power from plants established on MoU basis was costlier than those awarded through competitive bidding.

The association has urged the Chief Minister to convene an emergent meeting.