Discharge of effluents into rivers goes on
Hoshiarpur, January 4
Contrary to the claims of the state government for preventing discharge of municipal and industrial wastes into the two main rivers of the Doaba belt, the situation has not shown any improvement.

Ministerial staff to observe mass casual leave on Jan 7
Bathinda, January 4
The Punjab State Ministerial Services Union (PSMSU) today accused the Badal government of cheating the ministerial staff of the state by not accepting and implementing their demands, including the grant of Rs 10,300-34,800 pay scale to clerk in the light of enhancement of educational qualification for the post of clerk.

Bassi Pathana, January 4
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the state government would not let any attempt to disrupt peace in Punjab succeed. Badal was talking to mediapersons during the sangat darshan programme held here today.

In case of the arrest of Sant Baljeet Singh Daduwal, he said the law will take its own course and those found guilty of provocation will not be spared. “Strict action would be initiated against all those who indulge in alleged anti-state policies no matter which party they belong to,” Badal said. Badal disbursed Rs 4.50 crore in grants to various village panchayats of Bassi Pathana. He sanctioned a grant of Rs 24 lakh to Nandpur village and Rs 16 lakh to Kalaur village.

Earlier, the Chief Minister visited a dairy farm owned by a progressive farmer Davinder Singh at Kishangarh village.

Badal urged the youth of Punjab to adopt self-employment ventures in allied farming like dairy, fishery and poultry.

Groupism in the SAD came to the fore as council president Kulbhushan Malhotra along with seven other ruling party councillors did not attended the Sangat Darshan programme. They, however, met the Chief Minister at the residence of local SAD leader Rajesh Pal Singh Lalli. They demanded completion of pending development projects in Bassi Pathana.

Bathinda, January 4
All 57 radical Sikhs, including Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal, a hardline Sikh preacher, who were arrested by the Mansa Police on Sunday, were released today.

Acting upon the state government’s directions, the police released all of them unconditionally and even initiated a process to withdraw the case. “This has been done in the interest of the state as the government wants to restore normalcy,” said Mansa SSP Hardyal Singh Mann. However, finding tension prevailing, curfew was kept in force at Bhikhi town for the third consecutive day with a relaxation of three hours twice.

Daduwal, along with 11 others, was taken into preventive custody on Sunday morning from Gurdwara Jandalisar as his “objectionable remarks” had created uneasiness among followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda on Saturday. Irked over his arrest, his followers had clashed with the police at Bhikhi town on the same day. Later, the police arrested 45 of his followers from the spot and booked them under Sections 307 and 353 of the IPC on Sunday. In the case, over 100 unidentified persons were also included but they could not be arrested.

Facing the prospect of statewide protests, the state government today directed the district administration to order their unconditional release. Following this, Daduwal, along with his 11 followers, was released from the Ferozepur Central Jail at 2 am today. To ensure that they do not go anywhere else, the Mansa Police escorted them to Gurdwara Jandalisar in Bathinda at 4 am.

After a couple of hours, Daduwal held a press conference at the gurdwara and gave an ultimatum that if his followers lodged in the Bathinda Central Jail were not released till January 6, the Sant Samaj and other Sikh organisations would hold a joint meeting and chalk out an aggressive course of action. “It is quite surprising that without any evidence, the police arrested me and then without asking for a bail bond, released me. I ask bureaucrats as well as politicians to decide whether I am guilty or not and stop this drama of arrest and release,” he said.

“As I am out of jail now, I will do my best to build pressure on the government. If they think I will sit quiet, it’s their misconception,” said Daduwal. Ironically, after some time, the Mansa Police called up Daduwal that they were about to release all 45 of his followers from the Bathinda Central Jail unconditionally. Following this, Daduwal, along with a large number of followers, reached the jail and received his followers. Talking to the media, Daduwal said the government had succumbed to the pressure that they all be released. Meanwhile, he announced to hold a religious congregation in Sangrur district from January 7-9.

“Though the government is doing its best to foil our attempts, we are committed to hold it at any cost,” he said. He also accused the government of dancing to the tunes of the Dera Sacha Sauda to seek votes in the next Assembly elections.

Targeting the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Daduwal said, “We have been struggling to get the edict issued by Akal Takht against the Dera Sacha Sauda. But neither the ruling party, which claims to be a Panthic party, nor anyone else, including the SGPC, seems interested in it. If Akal Takht is unable to implement it, the edict must be taken back,” he added.

Jalandhar, January 4
Union Minister for Rural Development CP Joshi has asked national-level monitor Jagdish Kumar to inspect alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Centre-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the state.

The national-level monitor has been deputed to inspect the alleged irregularities following a complaint by Jalandhar District Youth Congress (Rural) president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary in this regard to Joshi a few months ago. Jagdish will reach Jalandhar from New Delhi on January 9 and will look into the allegations from January 10 to 13.

The national-level monitor will not only make field visits, but also inspect the alleged irregularities during his four-day visit.

In a letter, ADC (Development) Sarojini Gautam Sharda asked the complainant to remain present in her office on January 10 in connection with the inquiry.

Earlier in August last, Joshi assured a Youth Congress delegation to conduct departmental inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the MGNREGS.

District Youth Congress (Rural), led by Chaudhary, had organised a nine-day relay fast outside the Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner’s office to protest against the government for not giving jobs and proper wages to workers under the MGNREGS from August 19 to 24.

The fast ended on August 24 after getting an assurance by the Union Minister that appropriate action will be taken against the guilty.

The Union Minister asked DYC (R) leaders to come to Delhi with the record and a copy of the memorandum submitted to the Punjab Governor.

Hoshiarpur, January 4
Contrary to the claims of the state government for preventing discharge of municipal and industrial wastes into the two main rivers of the Doaba belt, the situation has not shown any improvement.

Though the government has taken up a scheme under the National River Conservation Project (NRCP), phase II, being executed by the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, defiling of Sutlej and Beas rivers still continues in the region.

Sullage and untreated sewage of townships like Mukerian, Dasuya, Tanda, Hoshiarpur and Sham Churasi has been blatantly defiling the Sutlej and the Beas for many decades. Besides this, industrial units located in different focal points, townships and other areas in the district are discharging their toxic waste into rivulets.

The industrial waste and untreated effluents, dumped along different brooks, ultimately are being carried to the main water bodies, further aggravating the problem.

The government’s proposal to install effluent treatment plants (ETPs) in Mukerian, Dasuya, Tanda, Hoshiarpur and Sham Churasi municipalities at a cost of over Rs 160 crore has not been executed as of now.

The proposed ETPs is an effort to conserve the Sutlej and the Beas. Currently, the untreated sewage of Mukerian, Hoshiarpur and Sham Churasi municipal areas is being carried by seasonal rivulets and discharged into Sutlej river while the Beas is being defiled with untreated municipal waste of the Tanda and Dasuya municipalities.

An official of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the tenders floated by the government for setting up of ETPs in Sham Churasi and Dasuya could not be finalised due to certain technical hindrances.

The board authorities, however, claim that work for setting up of the ETPs in all municipal areas is in pipeline and would be executed shortly. 

Bathinda, January 4
The Punjab State Ministerial Services Union (PSMSU) today accused the Badal government of cheating the ministerial staff of the state by not accepting and implementing their demands, including the grant of Rs 10,300-34,800 pay scale to clerk in the light of enhancement of educational qualification for the post of clerk.

Talking to The Tribune, state president of the PSMSU Darshan Singh Bajaj said today that the ministerial staff (about 80,000 employees) of the state felt that the Badal government had cheated them, due to which they had been forced to hold a massive rally at Lambi on January 7 and observe mass casual leave on that day.

Bajaj said despite the directions to the Chief Secretary by the Chief Minister at a meeting, held between the Chief Minister and the union on October 21, 2009, no survey had been conducted so far to assess the financial burden on the state exchequer, if the clerk was given the pay scale of Rs 10,300-34,800.

He said even the Chief Secretary had assured the union on April 13, 2010, that the survey would be conducted in May, but to no avail so far.

However, at a meeting held between the Chief Secretary and the union on November 15 last, the Chief Secretary gave his nod to other demands but declined the demand of clerk’s pay scale on the plea that all powers in this regard were with the Chief Minister. He said they decided to organise a big rally at Lambi on November 27 and later on December 17, but both times the Bathinda Zone IG intervened and assured them that he would arrange their meeting with Badal, so they postponed the rally till January 7.

Bajaj said as no meeting had been arranged with the Chief Minister so far, so they had decided to hold the rally on January 7.

He added that the state government had introduced computer training for clerks, in place of passing Punjabi type test, but the training cost would be borne by the clerk. After the computer training, a test would be taken. Both conditions are a “betrayal” with the ministerial staff, which would not be tolerated at any cost.

Patiala, January 4
Slamming the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, former Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal dared the Congress to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the scam.

Manpreet was addressing a gathering, as a part of the public rallies being organised in the state by Manpreet under the Jago Punjab Yatra, at Chhoti Baradari. Manpreet said, “I am shocked to know that notwithstanding the fact that the scam is the mother of all scams, the UPA Government is not ready to form a JPC to probe the matter,”he said.

In a fiery speech, Manpreet said Congress could come clean only if JPC was constituted and the people of the country should know that who all usurped a whopping Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Manpreet said, “The time has come when the masses should start asking state and the Centre as to why they were bringing the nation to the brink of bankruptcy and paying no attention to end the evil of corruption.”

He said he would continue his tirade against the corruption prevalent in the state.

Urging the masses, especially the younger generation, to play a constructive role in nation building, Manpreet said Punjab could prosper only when Punjabi’s would wake up and raise their voice against the wrongdoings of those enjoying power.

Earlier, former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh, who was also accompanying Manpreet, gave an open invitation to both Congress and SAD leadership to join their state during the coming Maghi Mela in Muktsar on January 14.

“Let, Akali’s and Congress leaders join our stage and answer the queries of the commoners,” he said, in a satirical tone.

He demanded that the Badal’s and Amarinder should give the details of the expenditure being incurred on their frequent foreign trips. 

Jalandhar, January 4
Though the ongoing cold wave has brought misery for the poor and homeless people, it has delighted farmers as it has brightened the chances of a bumper wheat crop this year. “Extreme cold conditions are good especially for the wheat crop that is at the tilling stage at present,” said Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Director (Agriculture) Punjab.

Not only for the wheat crop, the cold wave is also good for some of the vegetable crops. However, according to experts, extreme cold conditions accompanied by frost could hit the potato crop.

The area under the wheat crop is nearly 35.22 lakh hectares. The state Agriculture Department has estimated wheat production of 160 lakh tonne this year. Earlier, there was a fall in the production of paddy last year owing to excessive rain. Farmers had suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 1,200 crore because of the low yield of paddy. “We hope that a bumper wheat crop will duly compensate farmers,” said Surjit Singh, a progressive farmer.

Meanwhile, the growth level in the agriculture sector in the state has almost doubled as compared to the last five-year plan. “The growth in the farm sector during the last five-year plan was 2.23 but it has been recorded 4.23 per cent in the current five-year plan,” said Sidhu. Substantial increase in the MSP of various crops is said to be the main reason for better growth in the farm sector.

The average yield of wheat in the state has gone up to 45 quintals per hectare. In case of paddy, it has been nearly 40 quintals. Even Punjab has been doing well on the cotton front for some years. “This year, cotton yield was not up to the mark, but its high price made farmers happy,” said Gurdev Singh, a cotton grower from the Bathinda region.

Chandigarh, January 4
Punjab rice millers, who waged a virtual war last year to get concessions to ensure the milling of the PAU 201 paddy variety, now want a change in damage norms on rice claiming the government had allowed concessions to ensure the procurement of paddy but was not allowing the same in the case of rice.

Procurement was speeded up in the state after the concessions allowed on damage and discolourment in the case of paddy were raised to 10 per cent during the latter half of the procurement season. This was done because heavy rain had resulted in more moisture and damage to grains.

However, the Food Corporation of India is still to increase the damage content in the case of rice which it receives from millers in whose godowns the paddy is stocked. Owing to this, the custom milling of paddy has been delayed in the state. Any further delay will result in deterioration in rice quality.

Som Lal Bansal, a rice mill owner at Dhuri, says millers are facing an increased financial burden. He said besides millers, the state government, which had taken loans to procure paddy from farmers on behalf of the Centre, would also lose money in case milling was delayed further. He said the milling of the 2010 paddy crop was still to start. Traditionally, 60 per cent of the crop was milled till this period.

Punjab Rice Millers Association president Tarsem Saini said millers were demanding an increase in the relaxation on rice from the present 3 per cent for both damage and discolourment to 4 per cent for both categories. He said 130 lakh tonnes of paddy had accumulated in rice shellers in Punjab besides 15 lakh tonnes was lying from the previous year.

Saini said he met Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon today to appeal to him to take up the issue with the Centre. He said the association would also take up the matter for increasing the damage norms for Punjab paddy on a permanent basis, claiming paddy in the state was now suffering from genetic problems leading to more breakage and discolourment. 

Jalandhar, January 4
To press the state government to concede their long-pending demands, veterinary inspectors of the state have decided to boycott the four-day North India Cattle Fair, which is scheduled to be held in Muktsar from January 8 to 12.

Around 1,893 veterinary inspectors of the Animal Husbandry Department will boycott the fair to highlight their demands for reviving the promotion channels, implementation of revised pay scales and renaming of the Diploma in Animal Health Technology into Diploma in Veterinary Sciences and Animal Health Technology.

The diploma is currently being offered by Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana.

Krishan Chander Mahajan, press secretary of the Punjab State Veterinary Inspectors, said: “Our job is to choose the best animals across the state for the fair, but to turn the fair into a flop show, not even a single inspector will perform this job.”

Jalandhar, January 4
The Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) said yesterday that it would gherao senior officials of the government procurement agencies if Rs 150 crore was not distributed among the farmers concerned in a week.

Speaking to The Tribune, BKU president Balbir Singh Rajewal said the state government had released Rs 150 crore for distribution among farmers, who had to spend additional money on diesel and other inputs to save their paddy crop from drought-like conditions last year. The Centre had given Rs 800 crore to the state government.

Of it, Rs 300 crore is to be distributed among farmers.

The government has already released the first instalment of Rs 150 crore for distribution.

However, the procurement agencies have not released the money to farmers yet. Against each quintal of paddy procured by state government agencies and private traders, farmers were to be given Rs 9.13.

Rajewal said the procurement agencies concerned had already received the money from the state government.

However, its distribution had been delayed on one pretext or other.

“We will gherao senior officials and also force them to give interest to farmers on the delayed distribution of money if this task is not completed in a week”, said Rajewal, adding that at the last meeting the Chief Minister had also directed the officials to do the needful immediately.

Phillaur, January 4
Over 150 representatives of subdivisional bar associations of the state, who met here today, have decided to intensify their state-level agitation at all subdivisions from January 10 in protest against the proposal of the setting up of family courts at the district headquarters. The decision was taken by a five-member Joint Action Committee of advocates at a state-level meeting of advocates.

Jaspreet Singh, one of the members of the commitee, said today that the strike of lawyers at all subdivisions would continue till January 10 when all subdivisional lawyers would first meet in Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Mohali, and later hold a state-level dharna at the Punjab Secretariat in support of their demand - the setting up of family courts at all subdivisional headquarters.

He said most of the family-related cases were dealt at the subdivisional level and with the shifting of such cases to the district level, the victims would have to face difficulties and most of the advocates would be hit hard.

Bathinda, January 4
As many as 330 jaundice cases have been reported during the past three weeks from various localities of Bathinda city. However, new cases have registered a declining trend since December 31 last. On that day, only seven new cases were reported from the city and from January 1 to 4, 11 new cases were reported. Whereas from December 14 to 30, as many as 312 cases were reported.

The district health authorities today collected 10 blood samples of jaundice patients from the local Guru Ki Nagri area and sent the same to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, to ascertain the type of the jaundice (hepatitis).

The authorities had earlier got 20 blood samples (collected on December 17 and December 20 from the city) tested at Faridkot Medical College. However, of the 20 samples, five patients were found suffering from hepatitis-A and 12 from hepatitis-E. Both (hepatitis A and E) belong to the category of water-borne diseases.

However, the health authorities are unable to understand that when the results of the water samples (barring one), collected by them from different sources, including water works from the city, have passed the laboratory test then how is the current outbreak of the disease water-borne, as shown in the results of blood samples of jaundice patients.

District health officer Raghbir Singh Randhawa said here today that till today, they had received reports of 117 jaundice cases from local private doctors, 183 cases from the local Civil Hospital and 30 from local Women and Children’s Hospital.

Bassi Pathana, January 4
The Sangat Darshan programme turned out to be a function where cheques were being distributed for development works here today. Panchayats of 86 villages of Bassi Pathana block received cheques whereas the programme is meant for one-to-one interaction with the masses.

To protest against the sangat darshan, shopkeepers shut shops for a couple of hours, anganwari workers registered their protest with black flags and water supply and sanitation mastoral employees union also expressed their anguish against distribution of cheques.

“Public money is being disbursed by the Chief Minister in a manner that it turns out to be a mere political gimmick,” said Jagjit Singh, a pump operator from Ludhiana. Jagjit was denied permission to meet Badal during the Sangat Darshan till late evening. He said the money could be disbursed better through the deputy commissioners. — TNS

Chandigarh, January 4
Just over a year after the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the states of Punjab and Haryana to prepare a plan for the allocation of funds and manpower for post-cure support to addicts and their families, Justice Rajive Bhalla has sought details of the patients treated at the de-addiction centres from the director, health services, Punjab.

Justice Bhalla directed: “The director, health services, Punjab, is directed to file a detailed affidavit, along with a site plan of each drug de-addiction ward/centre, and furnish particulars of the numbers of patients indoor and outdoor treated by the centres”.

In his detailed order, Justice Bhalla also directed the “court commissioners” to submit a report after visiting the drug de-addiction centres. The chief medical officers and the officers in charge were also directed to extend “full cooperation to the court commissioners to enable them to complete their inspection”.

The matter was brought to Justice Bhalla’s notice after a petition was filed by a few rehabilitation centres challenging the Punjab Government’s orders on closing these down.
Taking up the matter, the high court had earlier constituted a committee, comprising two advocates, to inspect the drug de-addiction centres in the two states. The state of Haryana has already informed the high court that it proposes to set up drug rehabilitation centres, called Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts. The director, social justice and empowerment, filed an affidavit to this effect.

The state of Punjab, too, informed the high court that the government had prepared an action-taken plan to combat drug addiction, but had sought time to place on record a road map showing the process of implementation. The state also undertook to establish a dozen de-addiction centres; and has decided to enforce minimum standards for running government and private drug de-addiction centres. The centres would now have to be registered with the Health Department and can function only after the department gives them a licence.