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CBI probe sought into Sekhwan’s ‘largesse’
Major changes in board examination pattern
Project to clean river waters
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Fledgling power corporation down in the dumps
Seniority list of police officers to be withdrawn
Interviews for posts of principal postponed
Lack of Storage Space
HelpAge launches mobile medicare unit
Petro depots told to beef up security
HC rules bi-monthly checkup of slaughterhouse staff in Ludhiana
Abohar MC Councillor arrested
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CBI probe sought into Sekhwan’s ‘largesse’
Chandigarh, June 3 The Action Group Against Corruption headed by RTI activist HC Arora today urged Governor Shivraj Patil to order a CBI inquiry into the issue and forwarded two SMS messages received by it in this connection to the Governor. Arora claimed that that the SMS messages had been forwarded to him by Malwinder Singh Mali, a public relations officer attached to the media adviser to the Chief Minister. The two SMS messages claimed that fake cases were being levelled against senior officers of the Education Department. They said no inquiry had been conducted on the complaint against former Director General of School Education Krishan Kumar who had been unceremoniously shunted out of the department. They said that Director SCERT Avtar Singh had been suspended in connection with the alleged leak of the ETT paper, but no FIR or legal action had been taken in the matter. The messages also claimed that the fake leak of examination papers was done to facilitate affiliation of private institutions that had admitted around 5,000 students illegally. They claim that it was ironical that after the suspension of the SCERT Director, who had opposed regularisation of these institutions in the High Court, the Education Department had committed in the court yesterday that the department would allow all 5,000 students to sit in the ETT examinations. The issue of ETT students who had taken illegal admission in private institutions has been simmering since one year and the SCERT had declined to give affiliation to the institutions. Against 5,000 students admitted illegally, there are only 2,300 students in ETT courses being run by state institutions. The Education Minister, however, regularised all the institutions recently after a special meeting after which they were given associate affiliation. This is a new term coined by the Education Department. This was done ostensibly to “save” the future of the 5,000 students who had already completed two semesters in the private institutions and had now approached the court for reprieve. However, the fact that the private institutions have to pay only a nominal fee for associate affiliation while recognised institutions that have the required infrastructure have to pay four to five times more has attracted criticism. Education Minister Sekhwan was not available for comment despite explaining all the allegations to his private secretary. PRO Malwinder Mali was also not reachable.
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Major changes in board examination pattern
The changes in the conduct of board exams, decided in a recent meeting of the Academic Council of the board, have been incorporated from the academic session 2011-2012. Forty per cent of the syllabus will be covered in the first semester exam while questions from the rest of the syllabus will appear in the exam for the second semester. Confirming the changes, Dr Suresh Tandon, Vice-Chairman of the PSEB, said the duration of the exams in the first semester has been reduced from three hours to two-and-a-half hours. The exam for the second semester continues to be of three hours. Differently abled students will be given an extra hour. Reducing the burden of students further, it has been decided that practical exams in the science subject for class X will only be held in the second semester. Practicals for health and physical education, computer science and one optional subject in class X will be held only at the school level and the CCE marks will be given in the written exams only. The schools have also been asked to conduct internal exams for the subjects in which grades are to be given. For Class XII, the exams for computer science and environment education will be conducted at school level. It will not be compulsory to separately clear the CCE as it will only be written in the detailed marks card. He said in class X, the total marks will 1300 - 520 (first semester) and 780 (second semester). For class XII, the total marks will be 1000 - 400 marks (first semester) and 600 marks (second semester). Besides, the PSEB has introduced grades on the pattern of cumulative grade point average (CGPA) adopted by the CBSE. The grading system will be: O grade (90 per cent and above), A grade (75 - 90 per cent), B grade (60 - 75 per cent), C grade (45 - 60 per cent), D grade (33 - 45 per cent) and E grade (33 per cent and less). Chairman gets year’s extension The term of the Chairman of the PSEB Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon has been extended by a year - till June 1, 2012. The Punjab Education Secretary in a order said the extension was subject to amendment in the rules governing appointment of the Chairman by the state government Making exams easy
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Project to clean river waters
The project is being drawn in association with the Irrigation Department. The state government is working on linking the Sutlej, Beas and Ghaggar through “a dedicated corridor”. ”The crux is to treat the sewage water by installing a treatment plant and laying sewer lines to carry this water for irrigation,” says an internal Pollution Control Board project report. Documents, in possession of The Tribune, show that following the central government nod to the implementation of the River Conservation Project, the Punjab Government has decided to use the “treated water from these rivers for irrigation purposes” through a dedicated corridor. The government is learnt to have selected 14 towns where work on treatment of sewage being thrown into the rivers by the industry and municipal authorities will be treated and then used for irrigation under the supervision of the Pollution Control Board. Sources in the government said: “The Forests and Environment Ministry has already given its sanction to the Punjab Government to start work in the five towns of Phillaur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Banga, Phagwara and Jalandhar (under the River Conservation Project) on the Satluj at a cost of Rs 319.09 crore”. A senior officer of the Irrigation Department said another project costing over Rs 640.51 crore and covering 18 districts was in the pipeline. PPCB Chairman Rajat Agarwal said the project would be completed with help from the Irrigation Department. “ It is a big one-of-its- kind project that will help overcome the problem of pollution in the river waters to a large extent”, he added.
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Fledgling power corporation down in the dumps
This move will effectively wipe out any benefit accruing to the corporation due to the recent tariff hike, expected to mop up an additional revenue of Rs 1,325 crore during 2010-11. The state government has committed to the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission that it will pay a subsidy of Rs 4,188 crore to the power corporation on account of free power being supplied to agriculture consumers and subsidised power to below poverty line consumers. The state has queered the pitch for the corporation already finding it difficult to raise fresh loans with its accumulated losses crossing Rs 12,000 crore. In a letter issued on May 24, it had adjusted Rs 981 crore in a paper transaction against tax-free bonds issued by it under a one-time settlement scheme implemented in 2003. The scheme was formulated with the idea of clearing outstanding dues payable by state electricity boards to central public sector undertakings like the NTPC, NHPC and Coal India Limited. The one-time settlement came into effect with the state signing a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the RBI, with the government assuming all liabilities. The state issued bonds against a total Punjab State Electricity Board liability of Rs 637 crore. Now the state government has claimed the principal amount from the power corporation as well as the interest paid on these bonds for seven years. This has been done despite the fact that the corporation in its order in 2004 had rejected the petition of the state government to pass on the burden of tax bonds to consumers and ruled that the government itself should own this liability. An expert group constituted by the corporation had advised that this liability be taken over by the government and discharged from the general revenue. This is not the first time that the government has made paper adjustment to deny subsidy committed to the PSEB earlier and now the power corporation. In April this year it tried to adust Rs 739 crore towards subsidy payable to the corporation, claiming the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) power being supplied to the corporation was the state government’s share. This notification was, however, withdrawn.
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Nepalese kids on petty jobs saved
Amritsar, June 3 They were brought here by a contractor, who lured their poor families with promises of good monthly salary, food and clothes for their ward’s work, said Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu. The accused, identified as Devinder, along with his brother Naginder and father Ram Sagar, all residents of Nepal, used to keep the children at a residence in the Gujjarpura area. The trio also lured children from local poor families to work for them. They used to send them to tourist sites like the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Shani Temple, Durgiana Temple, Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh to sell goodies. Nandu (9) is one of the rescued children who came here recently. “I came here after Devinder promised my parents a salary of Rs 2,500 per month. He used to send us to the Golden Temple to sell coconuts,” said Nandu. He said that as many as 28 children from Nepal were working for Devinder. Sivaji had been living here for the past four months. He said, “Every evening, Devinder takes away all the money which we earn during the day. We earn about Rs 150-200 everyday.” “He doesn’t give us our monthly salary which he had promised to our parents. My parents sent me to India to repay the debt which my father had taken,” said Sivaji. Sunny, a local lad who is also studying in the seventh standard, said he was asked to sell CDs at various tourist destinations in the city. Deputy Commissioner Pannu said, “It is illegal to bring children to beg or to do petty jobs as Indian law does not allow child labour. “A case will be registered against the accused persons. We will write to the Nepali Embassy and will hand over the children only to embassy officials.” He said the exact number of children brought from Nepal could be ascertained only by the evening when the accused would be nabbed.
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Seniority list of police officers to be withdrawn
Chandigarh, June 3 It would now prepare a fresh seniority list, a Division Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Mohinder Pal was told this afternoon. The Bench asked the state government to prepare a fresh seniority list strictly in accordance with the law. The directions apparently come as a relief to the promotee officers. The Bench, on the previous date of hearing on May 27, had summoned Home Secretary AR Talwar to show cause why contempt proceedings not be initiated for “intentionally and willfully” not complying with the orders of the Supreme Court as well as the High Court on the subject. The seniority list of Punjab Police Service officers has been challenged by the promotee officers, alleging that it has been prepared to favour direct recruits. Pleas dismissed Justice Permod Kohli of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed all writ petitions filed by reserved category candidates who have not been short-listed for appearing in the main examination for appointment to PCS (Executive) and other allied posts. They had thrown a challenge to the process on the basis of the result of preliminary examination declared in December 2010. The petitioners had contended that a large number of candidates belonging to the reserved categories, who had secured more marks than the last candidate short-listed in the general category, should have been included in the general category, and meritorious candidates in the reserved categories should have been further short-listed.
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Interviews for posts of principal postponed
Patiala, June 3 A copy of the orders reads: “The PPSC has been constrained to postpone the interviews for the posts of Principal till further orders because some mischievous elements have made attempts to influence the independent and fair functioning of the commission. The commission has referred the case to the constitutional authorities and lodged a complaint for taking criminal action against such elements as per the law.” The members of the PPSC chose to remain tightlipped on the matter. But one of the members, pleading anonymity, said: “Some people have made references pertaining to the candidates who were to appear in the interview. Since the commission working is already under a scanner, it was decided not to go ahead with the interviews.”
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Lack of Storage Space
President of the Punjab Rice Millers Association Tarsem Saini said so far milling of 60 per cent of the paddy had been done. “It is not possible to do the milling of the 40 per cent of the remaining paddy as 34 lakh tonnes of rice is still lying in the camp stores of the rice shellers of the state,” said Saini. “The deadline for the milling of the paddy purchase for 2010-11 is June 30,” he added. Pointing out that FCI usually clears 95 per cent of rice stock by March 31 every year from the camp stores of the rice shellers, he said, “The movement of the rice from the camp stores to the FCI godowns is 7-8 lakh tonnes monthly, but presently the movement has been restricted to just 3 lakh tonnes. The rice shellers are not in a position to do the milling because of the scarcity of the storage space.” President of the Patiala Rice Millers Association Gurdeep Singh Cheema said because of the non-lifting of rice by the FCI, the damage and discoloration in the rice has increased. “We demand that damage content of the rice lying in the camp stores of the rice shellers should be increased from 4 to 5 per cent and the discoloration should be increased from 3 to 5 per cent. The FCI should make immediate arrangements for lifting of the rice from the camp stores,” he announced. Meanwhile, the rice sheller owners also staged a dharna and blocked traffic outside the office of the FCI’s District Manager on the Sirhind Road. The dharna was lifted only after the intervention of the district administration authorities.
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Khalsa Heritage complex to open on Aug 31
Anandpur Sahib, June 3 The first phase comprises five galleries related to the Sikh Gurus. “Work is on at war footing and we will open the complex by the August end. At the same time, work on the second phase is also going on. Once completed, this will be the eighth wonder of the world,” she claimed. She also gave instructions on correcting certain paintings and sculptures. Speaking about an extensive library that will come up at the complex, she said, “The digital library will house 9,000 tracks related to world religions, including 3,500 tracks of the Sikhism,” she said. Earlier, she presided over a meeting of Anandpur Sahib Foundation and also paid obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Foundation’s chief executive officer Dr Karamjit Singh Sra, Deputy Commissioner Ropar GK Singh and others were also present on the occasion.
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HelpAge launches mobile medicare unit
Patiala, June 3 Deputy Director, HelpAge India (Punjab, Haryana, J&K and Chandigarh), Bhuvneshwar Sharma said the unit would regularly visit villages and identify elderly patients who need medical attention. “We are also opening a free-of-cost hospital for the elderly in Raungla village,” he said.
— TNS
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Petro depots told to beef up security
Bathinda, June 3 Indianoil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum have their petrol, diesel and LPG depots here on the Mansa Road. Their security is presently assigned to private agencies, but the Petroleum Ministry in a communication has ordered that managements of these companies to tone up security in consultation with the IB, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), state police and the district administration. Bathinda has become a hub of trade in petroleum products in the Malwa region. The three oil depots are located in a row in the outskirts of the town and in their vicinity is the ammunition depot of the army.
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HC rules bi-monthly checkup of slaughterhouse staff in Ludhiana
Chandigarh, June 3 Justice Rajive Bhalla of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued these directions while hearing a contempt petition concerning the issue of implementation of the new bylaws, including the rules for the sale of meat products in the city. Justice Bhalla has made it clear that officials of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation “are publicly duty-bound to implement the law”. The corporation has been asked to ensure the execution of “all existing municipal bylaws.” As advocate RS Bajaj appeared on behalf of the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Justice Bhalla asserted: “The respondents are directed to ensure that the orders passed by this court are implemented forthwith by resort to fortnightly inspections, where poultry is slaughtered, stored or sold. “It shall be ensured that the employees in these establishments undergo a bi-monthly medical examination to ensure that they are not carrying any disease. The corporation shall also ensure that these individuals wear a protective headgear, face masks and gloves”. Taking on record an affidavit filed by District Health Officer Dr Jagpal Singh Basi, Justice Bhalla also observed: “The affidavit discloses that there is improvement, but discrepancies have been pointed out: that persons doing culling of chicken at certain shops, although medically examined, are not wearing any head cover, gloves and doing work with their feet bare. “Moreover, no fly killer was seen at most of the shops visited. I am compelled to say that slaughtering of chickens in Ludhiana has improved to certain extent, not fully”.
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Abohar MC Councillor arrested
Abohar, June 3 Police sources said 500 gm of opium was found in Makkar’s Innova car, which he was driving, during a search by a police party. Varinder Singh Brar, SP, said Makkar sped away when signalled by a police patrol to stop. The police chased the Innova and intercepted it.
— TNS
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Mohali, June 3
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Patiala, June 3