Punish defaulters, Seechewal tells PPCB
Patiala, April 1
Environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal has said the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) needs to act tough and take strict action against the defaulters polluting natural assets. Perturbed over the working of PPCB officials, Seechewal has asked them for self introspection. Sources confirmed that in the last meeting held at the PPCB head office two days ago, Seechewal, also a board appointed member, said the officials should be held guilty for not being able to stop river pollution.

Balbir Singh Seechewal

Chandigarh, April 1
With the Centre going slow on releasing funds for fast-track courts, as many as 14 additional district and sessions judges in Punjab have been “repatriated” to their substantive ranks. As a result the system of putting cases on a fast track has come to a standstill.

The judges, appointed on an ad hoc basis for the fast-track courts in Punjab, now stand repatriated to the ranks of civil judge (senior division) or chief judicial magistrate.

The development is significant as Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily had only recently announced the Centre was unlikely to continue funding the fast-track courts beyond March 31; and the state governments could assume the financial burden, if they so desired.

The orders, issued on the morning of March 31, came into force with immediate effect. In fact, the officers were directed to relinquish charge by the afternoon.

The orders issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court say consequent upon the non-extension of the fast-track courts beyond March 31 in the state of Punjab and on the repatriation of the officers to their substantive ranks, the Chief Justice and the Judges were issuing orders for transfers and postings.

“The officers shall relinquish their charge at their present stations on March 31 afternoon, as to join the next stations of postings immediately”, the order further read.

In all, the existence of the 1,562 fast-track courts across the country has come under threat, despite an impressive track record in the disposal of cases.

Constituted in 2001, the courts were working on a modest budgetary support. Together, the courts had disposed of more than 60 lakh cases till last year. The Centre had initially allocated Rs 285 crore for the fast-track courts for a five-year period from 2006 to 2011. Though the 13th Finance Commission has set apart a Rs 5,000 crore budget for the judiciary, specific allocation has not been made to extend the term of the fast-track courts in the country.

As of now, the Centre proposes to create new courts, instead of continuing with the fast-track courts.

The policy decision to establish the fast-track courts was taken in 2001. In March 2010, the Centre told the Supreme Court the pendency of criminal cases came down from 2.5 crores in 2009 to 1.94 crores in 2010 due to the fast-track courts.

The additional district and sessions judges affected by the development include Ravinder Singh. He goes to Tarn Taran as Civil Judge (Senior Division). The others to go on the same post are Sanjay Kumar (Nawanshahr); Gurmail Singh (Moga); Baljinder Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib); Harveen Bhardwaj (Gurdaspur); Harinder Pal Singh (Barnala); Sarabjit Singh Dhaliwal (Muktsar); Mohinder Singh (Patiala); Rajeev Malhotra (Mansa); Harsh Mehta (Fatehgarh Sahib);and Dilbagh Singh Johal (Bathinda).

The Judges posted as Chief Judicial Magistrates are Neelam Arora (Tarn Taran), Budh Ram Garg (Mansa) and Kuldeep Singh (Nawanshahr). In all, 25 transfers have been ordered.

Amritsar, April 1
The trouble between the management and teachers of Khalsa College refuses to die down. The management has got as many as 20 teachers booked for “trespassing” on the official residential premises of the principals of Khalsa College Society-run institutions, raising slogans and using offensive language.

The teachers have hired an advocate and submitted a joint application to the Sessions Judge for seeking anticipatory bail.

Following the complaint submitted by Dr Daljit Singh, Principal of Khalsa College, and Jaswinder Singh Dhillon, Principal of Khalsa College of Education, a case under various sections of the IPC has been registered with the police station cantonment against Prof SS Rangi, Prof Daljit Singh (physical education), Prof Avtar Singh (commerce), Prof Malkinder Singh (English), Prof Parminder Singh (Punjabi), Prof Gurdev Singh (agriculture), Prof Gurdev Singh, Prof Sukhbir Singh (Punjabi), Manjit Singh (steno), HS Walia, secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union and 11 others. The ASI, Rajinder Singh of Mahal police post, Amritsar, has been assigned the duty to investigate into the matter.

Dr Daljit Singh said that he along with his counterpart of Khalsa College of Education had submitted a complaint with the police regarding the ruckus created by the teachers in their residential premises, located on the college campus, on March 16 and 17 and sought that they be booked under the law.

“They prevented me from entering my office in the college on March 16 and used vulgar language against me personally. The next day, at about 10.45 am, a teachers’ mob gained forceful entry into our residential complex. That’s why we submitted a written complaint along with a CD,” said Dr Daljit Singh.

Rejecting all allegations, the teachers maintained that the case was registered on a false complaint as they did not enter the residences as alleged by the principals. “We have submitted an application for bail, the hearing of which will be tomorrow. Besides, we have also requested the Commissioner of Police to enquire into the whole episode afresh on the basis of which cases have been registered against us,” he said.

Meanwhile, showing solidarity with the struggling teachers, the leaders of the panthic groups, Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Action Committee, SAD (Panch Pardhani), Sikh Youth of Punjab and Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat, termed it as an act committed out of frustration by the management.

Meanwhile, taking cognisance of the cases registered against the teachers on frivolous complaints and issuing house vacation notices to certain teachers, the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) today announced to take harsh decisions in the coming days.

While demanding intervention of the CM to counter the “dictatorial” attitude of the management, Secretary, PCCTU HS Walia said the actions taken by the management were provocative enough to force the PCCTU to give a call to the whole teaching fraternity to boycott the ongoing graduate and undergraduate examinations. 

Patiala, April 1
Environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal has said the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) needs to act tough and take strict action against the defaulters polluting natural assets. Perturbed over the working of PPCB officials, Seechewal has asked them for self introspection.

Sources confirmed that in the last meeting held at the PPCB head office two days ago, Seechewal, also a board appointed member, said the officials should be held guilty for not being able to stop river pollution. “They are drawing salary to check pollution and if they fail in their duty, then they should be held responsible for the lapse,” he added.

Another issue that came up for discussion was the pollutants getting mixed in river waters. The board officials have accepted the fact that the ‘A’ category water that had entered Punjab was turning into ‘B’ and ‘C’ category after passing through areas with more industries. “In case of the Sutluj near Budda Nullah, the category is a horrifying ‘E’ i.e. it cannot be used at all by humans and animals in any form,” the officials claimed.

As per records available with The Tribune, Seechewal had expressed anguish over the issue that matters raised by him were not taken seriously. “We want video recording of the entire proceedings should be done and made available for the common man so as to make the working more transparent,” he added.

Balbir Singh said the authorities and officials should not continue in office if they fail to check the menace. “The government should pay for the treatment of all those who have fallen sick due to the polluted water,” he added.

An insider said when Seechewal pointed out towards certain issues he had raised in the last meeting and the action taken on those issues, the PPCB officials claimed that the issues had been noted. On this Seechewal got angry and sought a reply from the officials, instead of noting the points.

Further, Seechewal is expected to take up the cases with the Chief Minister and apprise him of the lapse on part of the PPCB officials. “They think that I want to close all the industries. All I want is that the industries should follow norms and the pollution board to act against the defaulters. I will convey it to Parkash Singh Badal when I meet him next,” he added.

Chandigarh, April 1
All is not well with the Punjab government, it appears. Though on the face of it the SAD-BJP alliance appears to be working quite well, ongoing bickering and allegations of step-motherly treatment with BJP workers have caused a dent in the relationship between the two parties at the lower level.

The BJP leadership has complained that despite being equal partners in governance, they have no real say in the administration.

In an incident highlighting the frustration of BJP leadership, the vice-chairman of Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) has written to the Chief Minister and the Industries Minister alleging that a senior IAS officer working under him was blatantly ignoring his directions.

PSIEC vice-chairman Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal, who is also a BJP leader, has written two letters, one to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and another to Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia, forwarding a complaint against a senior IAS officer and managing director of the PSIEC with regard to alleged misuse of government vehicles and drivers.

It seems that the complaint is aimed at the bureaucrat for reasons that are different from those mentioned in the letter. Though, ignoring directive on austerity measures is cited as the reason for the complaint, beneath the surface it is the charge of “not caring two hoots for the BJP leaders” that has triggered the letter.

The vice-chairman, while referring to a complaint by a Khanna resident, has stated that the managing director was using three cars - a Ambassador, a Honda and a Innova.

He has further alleged that the vehicles were being used by the family members of the managing director.

Senior officers refused to comment saying they were unaware of any letter from the vice-chairman.

Chandigarh, April 1
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla today claimed the sex ratio had improved in the state and that it could get better but for interference by politicians in efforts to check female foeticide .

Chawla said as per the latest census the number of girls had increased to 846 per 1000 vis-a-vis 798 in the last census in 2001.

In a statement here, Chawla said people in power were acting as deterrents in improving the sex ratio in the state. She said that many times in the past powerful politicians as well as representatives of social organisations had tried to rescue miscreants caught indulging in female foeticide. She “appealed” to such elements not to make attempts to bail out people indulging in evils like female foeticide.

The minister said health workers also faced pressure from local politicians who often sided with those violating the PNDT Act. She said despite such constraints her department had reversed the earlier trend and the number of girls was on the rise in the state.

Chawla said Punjab witnessed the worst scenario in the 1980s when the misuse of modern technology led to a sharp decrease in the girl population. She also urged the people to come forward and become volunteers for the cause of girls. 

Tohra (Patiala), April 1
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has said that in the next Punjab Assembly elections, due to be held in early 2012, the SAD will not hesitate to enter into an alliance with political parties, which are against the Congress. Speaking to mediapersons after paying tributes to former SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra during a state-level programme organised to mark Tohra’s seventh death anniversary here today, Badal said the SAD’s option for an alliance with political parties opposing the Congress was open for the next Assembly elections in the state. Five days after Manpreet Singh Badal floated his political party, Parkash Singh Badal, while venting his anger on Manpreet said, “Contesting on a SAD ticket, Manpreet became MLA four times. He held the prestigious portfolio of Punjab’s Finance Minister. But it is really sad that instead of following the principles and ideology of the Akali Dal, Manpreet left the party for no reason. In my view, Manpreet has stabbed the SAD in the back.”

Reacting to a media query regarding the critical observations in the CAG report, which mentioned that the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) resorted to unplanned power purchase through short-term and measures taken in panic, which resulted in wasteful expenditure amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees, Badal said, “The government was vigilant and purchased additional power to ensure that there was no power shortage during summers.” He added that it was not justified to criticise the decisions of the government that were taken in the interests of the people of Punjab.

Earlier, paying homage to Tohra, the CM said that Tohra was a man of rare intellect and the SAD-BJP government would strive hard to cherish the aspirations of Tohra. Badal also laid the foundation stones of an Adarsh School and a Community Hall to be built at a cost of Rs 10.5 crore and Rs 25 lakh respectively at Tohra village. Former Punjab Minister Harmail Singh Tohra and his wife, Kuldeep Kaur, also paid homage to Tohra.

Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, Punjab Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan said that Tohra was the guiding spirit for the SAD and the SGPC. The SAD general secretary, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, said the role of Tohra during the Emergency would always be remembered.

Rajay Deep adds from Bathinda: “Manpreet was jealous of Sukhbir’s rise in the party, which is obvious now,” said the CM here today. “It hardly matters to me and the party if he, lured by some gains, took the extreme step of snapping ties with the party. But his move has created a divide between me and my brother, Gurdas Badal, who meant everything to me. It has given me immense pain that I am not able to overcome,” Badal added. The CM was here to inspect the facilities at the Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology, from where the state government is soon going to run a transit campus of the state sports school that will later be shifted to its main campus at Badal’s ancestral village in the district.

Making a U-turn from the statement he had issued that he would not contest the next Assembly polls, Badal said, “I give preference to the party’s decision over my own. So, if the party wishes, I am ready to contest from any seat.”

Thehari (Muktsar), April 1
The Punjab Government’s move to develop the Malwa region into a hub of thermal power generation has landed in a controversy with the local farmers in the three identified places protesting against the acquisition of their fertile land for this purpose.

Besides the two existing thermal power plants in Bathinda district, the government has allocated four more power plants in the region out of which the 2,640 MW thermal plant at Banawali (Mansa) is under construction while the other three - 1,320 MW each at Gobindpura (Mansa) and Kotshamir (Bathinda) and 2,640 MW at Gidderbaha (Muktsar) - are under the land acquisition process.

The agriculturists of Gobindpura and Kotshamir have declared that they would not allow the government to acquire even an inch of their fertile land for the power plants.

Farmers of Thehari, Ghagga and Babania, adjoining villages of Gidderbaha subdivision in Muktsar district, staged a dharna on the Malout-Bathinda road in Thehari village for an indefinite period to persuade the government for an upward revision of the compensation that has already been fixed at nearly Rs 21.60 lakh per acre. They are demanding that the compensation should be raised to Rs 50 lakh per acre.

The land owners of the three villages yesterday held a conference in Thehari village that was addressed by the state general secretary of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, senior vice-president of the union Jhada Singh Jethu Ke, state general secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union Lachman Singh Sevewala and other leaders.

A heavy contingent of the Muktsar police, anti-riot vehicles, water cannons and other equipment were deployed in the area.

Paramjeet Singh, convener of the 11-member action committee, said the government had initiated revenue proceedings to acquire 2,004 acres for setting up the thermal power plant by the National Thermal Power Corporation. The compensation against the acquisition was fixed as Rs 14 lakh per acre and nearly Rs 6 lakh as other allowances and no-litigation premium in 2008. Later the total compensation was revised to Rs 21.60 lakh, they said.

“At that time, we were ready to give our land for the plant but the government kept on delaying the acquisition process and now when the price of land in this area was touching Rs 30 lakh per acre, the government by issuing a notification under Section 6 has initiated the land acquisition process at the old rate of Rs 21.60 lakh per acre. This will be resisted by residents of the three villages,” said Paramjeet Singh.

He said among their other demands was a job for one member of each family whose land was acquired and the rehabilitation of 100 Dalit families who were living on the village common land.

Chandigarh, April 1
Coming down heavily on the ruling SAD-BJP coalition, Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar has regretted that the government has decided to dispose of cooperative sugar mills to benefit its favourites as had been done in the case of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences.

In a statement issued here yesterday, he said it appeared that the Cooperative Department had virtually become an orphan after the demise of Capt Kanwaljit Singh. He had given an assurance on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha that measures to strengthen the cooperative sugar mills would be taken. But as of now the mills at Fazilka, Batala, Gurdaspur, Buddhewal, Nawanshahr, Nakodar, Bhogpur, Morinda and Ajnala were about to collapse.

Interestingly, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal was claiming that the state would become self-sufficient in power generation. The foundation stones for co-generation plants laid in the mills at Ajnala and Nawanshahr had become mere showpieces. In other units private companies were involved but they too failed to deliver the required results, he said.

Criticising the cooperative policy, he said the sugar mills at Tarn Taran, Zira, Patiala, Faridkot and Jagraon were lying closed giving a major setback to sugarcane growers who were assured of remunerative prices and incentives by the state government. Instead of making these mills functional, the government had now offered VRS to the staff indicating that private players would have a field day.

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 1
With the retirement of Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Patiala, SC Khurana yesterday, the post of CAO, Fatehgarh Sahib, is once again vacant. Khurana was given the additional charge of Fatehgarh Sahib for the past few months.

The Agriculture Department is already facing staff crunch. Out of 33, as many as 28 posts of Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs) are lying vacant in the district for the past many years.

Besides affecting functioning of the department, the lack of ADOs has left the farmers in lurch too as they have failed to know about newly introduced government schemes.

The ADOs said they had brought the problem into the notice of senior functionaries and even the Agriculture Minister but to no avail. According to the farmers, the sorry state of affairs in the Agriculture Department is responsible for weakening the agriculture sector in the state.

Chandigarh, April 1
The Union Government today sanctioned the release of Rs 33.81 crore for water supply while appreciating Punjab for achieving the physical and financial targets for the coverage of 1,236 villages.

According to PS Aujla, Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation, for the year 2010-11 the Centre had allocated Rs 82.21 crore to the state. He said that till February 2011, the department had been able to cover 1,236 rural habitations under potable drinking water schemes. During the current financial year almost all water supply schemes had been executed with the contribution of the beneficiaries to the capital cost of the schemes.

Aujla said most of these schemes were likely to achieve financial sustainability within six months after the date of commissioning and these schemes would no longer remain dependent upon government grants for their proper operation and maintenance. He said in southern Punjab, particularly in the Malwa belt where the underground water was brackish, the rural water supply schemes were based upon canal water as source. He said that due to the inadequate availability of canal water for the schemes located at the tail-ends of the canal network there was no assured availability of drinking water. He said due to this reverse osmosis plants had been installed in 375 villages. Work on the installation of RO plants in 238 villages was in progress at an estimated cost of Rs 23.80 crore. — TNS

Rajpura/Sirhind, April 1
Despite the registration of criminal cases and imposition of heavy penalties, there seems to be no end to trucks plying illegally, loaded with iron and scrap material, through ‘escape’ routes to evade tax.

Officials of the first IRB (Indian Reserve Battalion), deployed to check the illegal plying of these trucks, revealed that though most of the “gangs” had been overpowered by registering criminal cases against them but still a handful of “influential”transporters managed to take ‘escape’ routes to evade tax at toll-tax barriers.

“Despite paying heavy penalties to the tune of many lakhs, the transporters are earning huge amounts by overloading iron and scrap

material between Mandi Gobindgarh and Delhi. Trucks have been seized in the past with more than four times overloaded iron,” said commandant of sixth IRB, Mandeep Singh Sidhu.

He said as per the police records Vishwanath, alias Sarpanch, and Gogi Sood were the most notorious whom the police had booked umpteen times in the past, while evading tax. Not ruling out the possibility of the field staff being hand in glove with the tax evaders, Sidhu added that five trucks had been fined more than Rs 19 lakh in the past one month besides registration of cases in the past two years.

Sources in the Excise Department said that the Excise and Taxation Commissioner (ETC) had recently written a letter to the lower rung staff of the department to pull up their socks by checking illegal plying of trucks through the Devigarh, Ramnagar and Ghanaur areas. The ETC has directed the officials that progress in this regard will now be reviewed after every 15 days.

Senior Excise Department officials have got cases registered against some transporters and truckers for thwarting them from performing their duties. AETC SS Bangar rued that he had lodged complaints with the police a few months ago about threats by influential transporters but the police failed to initiate any step in this regard.

Attari, April 1
A replica of the Golden Temple that was installed at the Attari-Wagah checkpost to attract visitors, especially from the Pakistan side, is in a state of dilapidation.

SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar had unveiled it amid much fanfare in March last year. Besides attracting visitors from Pakistan and tourists from all over the country, who come here to watch the Retreat ceremony, the main aim was to spread a message of peace, humanity and equality enshrined in Sikhism.

“ Though the authorities had installed this model to promote tourism and spread a message of peace and harmony, it should appoint someone for its proper upkeep. It gives very bad impression on the state of affairs of the authorities responsible for its maintenance,” said Nilesh Kumar, a visitor from Delhi. Dilmegh Singh, Secretary (SGPC), said he was unaware of the matter. “As it has been now brought to my notice, we will take care of it and send a team for its repair,” he said.

Jalandhar, April 1
Holland Prime Minister Mark Rutte has assured the Sikhs living in that country that their religious rights are well protected. The Prime Minister gave the assurance responding to a letter written to him on the turban issue.

In a letter addressed to Bhupinder Singh, who lives in Holland, the Prime Minister has stated that “the equality of all people is central to the Government and people are not judged by their origins. The Government includes all citizens of our country in similar circumstances and they are treated equally. As is clear from Article 6, first paragraph, of the Constitution, everyone in the Netherlands has the right to religion, or belief, either individually or in the community of others, to profess freely, without prejudice to his responsibility under the law.”

Bhupinder Singh in an e-mail to The Tribune said that he had written to the Holland Prime Minister highlighting the alleged discrimination against the wearing of turban in some of the European countries especially in Italy, where some of the Sikhs were told to remove their turbans during the security checks at the airports.

He said the turban-wearing Sikhs faced no problem at the airports and at other public places, including offices in Holland. He said he had written to all European countries, highlighting the religious significance of the turban for Sikhs all over the world.

Amritsar, April 1
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has assured a visiting SGPC delegation of a suitable piece for the construction of a gurdwara commemorating the visit of Guru Nanak Dev at Haridwar.

An SGPC press release issued here today said the delegation led by president Avtar Singh had met Pokhriyal and stated that Gurdwara Gyan Godri at Har-ki-Pauri was demolished in 1970 for renovation of the area. At present Bharat Scouts and Guides has its office at the same place. Sikh organisations have been demanding allocation of the spot for the construction of the Gurdwara. The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister in this regard.

Jalandhar, April 1
Though the area has a dubious distinction of low literacy rate as compared to other parts of the state, books sell like hot cakes in Mansa-Bathinda and Barnala belt.

“We sold books worth Rs 75 lakh at a book fair held at Bathinda a few weeks ago. It was a record sale,” said Baldev Singh Baddan, chief editor and joint director of the National Book Trust of India. “In other book fairs across the state, average sale of books remains between Rs 40 and Rs 45 lakh,” said Baddan, who was here today in connection with a week-long book fair starting tomorrow. More than 65 publishers will set up 88 stalls at the fair and there would be face-to-face interaction with Punjabi writers on all days during the fair.

Interestingly, the trust publishes most number of titles, about 35 in a year, in Punjabi as compared to other Indian languages. In a year about 275 titles are published by the trust in all Indian languages, including the languages spoken by some of the tribes in the country. The trust, which is an autonomous organisation, functions under the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

Good news for Punjabi writers is that the books translated from Punjabi to other languages such as Tamil, Bangla, Kannada and Hindi are finding market in the states. Translated works of Amrita Pritam, Gurdial Singh, Karamjit Kusa, Balwant Gargi, S Soj, Dalip Kaur Tiwana and some other Punjabi writers are liked by readers in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and some other parts of the country.

In a year, the trust sells books worth Rs 25-30 crore. “We are making all out efforts to promote book culture in Punjab. We are happy that we are succeeding in our mission”, said Dr Baddan. He said in states like West Bengal books worth Rs 5-7 crore were sold in one book fair.

Besides literary books, readers, especially students, like books regarding career prospects and also children books.

Ropar, April 1
Former dean of IIT, Ropar, Prof BD Gupta passed away on Thursday morning due to cardiac arrest. He breathed his last at his home in Shimla.

He is survived by wife, two daughters and a son.

A native of Bathinda, Prof Gupta did his schooling from MHR School, Bathinda. He then did his BS (Hons) in chemistry from Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1969 and later MS in 1970.

Prof Gupta did his PhD from The Flinders University, Adelaide, in 1975 and was associated with the University College, London, from 1975 to 1978.

For an year he worked as a lecturer with the Roorkee University, Roorkee, before joining IIT, Kanpur, as lecturer in 1980. He later joined as dean with the IIT, Ropar, two years ago. An year ago, he joined the Bahra University, Shimla, as vice-chancellor.

Prof Gupta had conducted researches in synthesis and characterisation of vitamin B12 model compounds, cobalt-mediated organic reactions, activation of small molecules and other related issues.

The members of Rayat-Bahra group as well as IIT, Ropar, have expressed shock over his demise.

Ropar, April 1
Thirtynine villages of the district have not got the third instalment of funds allotted to them under the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), a programme of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, Government of India.

The funds are meant to develop, maintain and repair playgrounds and stadiums in the villages. The basic aim of the PYKKA is to provide adequate sporting opportunities to children and youngsters from rural pockets of the state.

Every village is given an amount of Rs 1 lakh in three different instalments. For the year 2009-10, the Ropar Sports Department had identified 39 villages. All these village committees have been given three instalments of their grants, while the fourth one is still pending. The three instalments were of 10 per cent of the total amount.

A committee has been formed in each village that manages the funds and spends these according to need. The village representatives include ex-servicemen or anyone else even remotely associated with sports.

While 20 per cent villages of the district have been covered so far, the government aims to cover the rest next year. Confirming the non-disbursal of funds received, the Sports Department

officials said that though the department had got funds, it had been directed that the funds be held back.

“We got directions from the head office, stating that the funds should not be distributed to respective villages. Accordingly, the funds have been held back for the time being till further orders,” said officials of the department.

Earlier, the Sports Department had laid certain norms for choosing villages eligible to get this grant. However, a few months ago, the government ordered that all villages would be given these funds to help grow sports units.

“Getting funds on time for villages is very important. In villages, playgrounds and stadiums are the only places that provide recreational activities to the youngsters,” pointed out Gurdeep Singh from Paprala village.

Kapurthala, April 1
In what it seems to a case of honour killing, bodies of a couple that had eloped a week ago, were recovered from two different places here today. Bodies of Nirmal Singh (30) of Butta village and his paramour Ramandeep Kaur (20) of Fattudhinga village, were found with strangulation marks on their necks.

According to sources, while the body of Nirmal Singh was recovered from fields in Fattudhinga village, the girl’s body was found from fields in Baman village.

Family of the girl had lodged a complaint alleging abduction of Ramandeep by Nirmal Singh and the police was investigating the matter.

Today, members of both families lodged complaints against each other levelling allegations of murder. The police has registered cases of murder against both parties.

According to the police, Nirmal Singh, a father of four, had developed illicit relations with Ramdeep and both had disappeared about a week ago. The police has rounded up some people as suspects in the case, police sources disclosed.

While talking to the Tribune, SSP, Kapurthala, Sukhminder Singh Mann, said the police was apprehending it a cased of honour killing. “We have constituted two teams for investigations and the case will be solved in a day or two,” he claimed. 

Moga, April 1
A Dalit labourer was reportedly strangulated to death by his wife and her paramour along with their associates on the premises of Government Polytechnic College, Rode, in Baghapurana subdivision of the district on Thursday.

The investigating officer Sub-Inspector (SI) Gurbinder Singh stated that Harjit Kaur, wife of Ghona Singh of Jharian Wali village (Mansa), had allegedly developed illicit relations with one Sukhdev Singh of Nangal Khurd village.

As Harjit wanted to marry Sukhdev, both accused planned to murder Ghona Singh.

Kehar Singh, father of the deceased, has stated before the police that his daughter-in-law was having illicit relations with Sukhdev.

The accused came to meet Ghona Singh and had drinks with him. Later, they strangulated him to death with the help of a rope, which has been recovered by the police.

A case of murder and conspiracy has been registered against Harjit Kaur, Sukhdev Singh, Happy Singh of Hadan Wali (Haryana), Matta Singh and Seera Singh. “We have raided the houses and possible hideouts of all the accused, who are absconding,” the SI added.

Meanwhile, postmortem examination has confirmed that Ghona Singh had died of asphyxiation possibly due to strangulation.