Moga, June 10
Controversy over the possession of 188 acres of land (1,471 kanal and 4 marla) worth Rs 35-crore falling within the 'beer' area of the Sherpur Taiba village, situated on the banks of the Sutlej in Moga district, has taken a new turn, with more legal complications coming to the fore.

The Commissioner of the Ferozepur division, Raminder Singh, has granted a stay on an order of the court of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate-cum-Collector of Moga, Ajmer Singh, who, on April 20 this year, had declared that the land belongs to the provincial government. He has fixed August 4 as the next date of hearing in the case.

It may be mentioned that for the past 12 years, the Revenue and Panchayat departments were at loggerheads over the ownership right of this land. It was transferred to the Panchayat Samiti of Dharamkot in the year 1999 but its mutation was set aside by the SDM-cum-Collector's court.

This land was transferred to the Panchayat Samiti of Dharamkot vide a notification issued on February 13, 1962 by the Financial Commissioner of the Development and Panchayat Department after the abolition of the District Board of Ferozepur.

Last year, the Revenue Department took back the ownership rights of this land from the Panchayat Samiti and changed its mutation first in the name of the provincial government and then a portion of this land was allotted in the names of some individuals as per the policy of the government issued in 1997 to grant ownership rights to those who are cultivating the government land since 1994.

A few months back, a magisterial probe was conducted in the matter by the ADC, Abhinav Trikha, who said the land belonged to the Panchayat Samiti and a portion of the land was illegally allotted to the individuals. After this inquiry, the revenue authorities cancelled all the mutations of the land done in favour of the individuals after the allotment of about 30 acres out of the total of 188 acres of the controversial land.

Now, surprisingly, the Commissioner, while granting stay on the SDM-cum-Collector's decision, has at the same time also granted a stay on the decision of the revenue authority who cancelled the allotment of 30 acres of land to five individuals, which, in legal terms, for the time being, justifies that this land belongs to the provincial government.

In simple words, it means that 30 acres of land has again been vested back to five individuals for the time being till the final decision of the Commissioner's court.

Legal experts say that both these stay orders of the Commissioner are self-contradictory because in the first decision, he has granted stay in favour of the Panchayat Samiti and in the second stay order, he has for the time being justified the ownership of provincial government till the final decision.

Earlier also, the controversy over the land has passed through many ups and downs. On November 29, 2002, the then collector issued orders that the Panchayat Samiti was the owner of the land, which was confirmed by the Deputy Commissioner in 2003. However, the DC again reversed the orders in 2005, as claimed by the revenue authorities.

A local resident, Gian Singh, having possession of a portion of this controversial land, approached the High Court in 2003, in which, the court asked the DC to pass speaking orders. The DC passed the speaking orders that the land did not belong to the Panchayat Samiti. 

Bathinda, June 10
The land purchase policy of Punjab that was introduced in 2010 to do away with the complications in the traditional land acquisition process, failed to meet the expectations in Bathinda region with only a few land holders responding.

Finding the response of the land owners much below the expectations, the government is now going to involve private facilitators/aggregators, who will get two per cent commission for aggregating lands from different owners and offer it to the government in the shape of a huge chunk meeting the requirements of the area.

The basic aim of the policy, when launched, was to make the urban land acquisition process a land owner and government-friendly affair. As per the policy, the state was to buy land for projects from owners through tender-based bidding, divided in two parts — technical and financial bids.

With high hopes from the new policy, the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), in March 2011, invited bids from six towns of the region — Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Bhucho, Goniana and Rama Mandi — as it wanted to develop urban estates there.

However, the response to the invitations was quite discouraging for the authorities as no bidder came forward in three towns, namely, Rama Mandi, Goniana and Bhucho.

Moreover, only two bidders responded to the invitation for Muktsar and Bathinda (one each) but they too could not fulfill the basic conditions of minimum area (50 acres). Finding them not complying with the conditions, the BDA re-called the tenders.

Ironically, in the second offer, no bidder came forward in Bathinda while two land holders of Muktsar after clubbing their ,lands offered a bid, which the BDA shortlisted.

The tenders/bids were invited by adopting a two-envelope system through newspapers.

The first envelope that carried technical details like revenue record, registry, Jamabandi, ownership rights etc., was recently opened and only two properties one at Mansa (nearly 63 acres) and another at Muktsar (nearly 62 acres) were shortlisted.

The second envelope that contains financial bids is yet to be opened, said BDA officials.

Chief Administrator, BDA, Ravi Bhagat informed that the financial bids would be opened next week. Considering the financial viability of the project, an interim report would be sent to the district collector to fix the price. After that, negotiations would be made with the bidders and whichever land proved suitable to the cabinet sub-committee, would be purchased, he added.

Replying to a query related to response to the land purchase policy, Bhagat said, "Had we got satisfactory response from the bidders, the involvement of facilitators and aggregators, which is now going to start, would not have been required."

He maintained that the policy was beneficial for the land owners but due to lack of awareness among them, it could not evoke much response in the region.

Faridkot, June 10
The Commissioner of Ferozepur and Faridkot divisions, Raminder Singh has called upon the district planning committees to prepare long-term perspective plan, mission and vision for their respective districts based on the existing problems and growth potential of both the rural and urban areas.

He was presiding over a workshop of the representatives of the district planning committees, zila parishads, panchayat samitis and local bodies of the Faridkot and Moga districts, yesterday.

It was organized by the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Chandigarh.

He said the planning committees should co-ordinate between the rural and urban local bodies on building consensus for the overall development of the district and conduct expert studies for it.

Adding that the DPC has a major role in preparing, scrutinizing and scanning of various plans in the rural and urban areas, he said any change should be incorporated by the concerned panchayati raj institutions and local bodies.

While advocating the newly introduced Right to Service Act by the Punjab government, he said it would be of great benefit to the people to get their work done in time.

The chairmen of the district planning committees of Faridkot Lakhbir Singh Araianwala and Moga Tarsem Singh Rattian expressed their concern over haphazard growth of colonies and markets in the urban and rural areas.

Experts Madhresh Kumar, Pratishtha Joshi and Gyan Singh, regional coordinator of the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, also expressed their views. District Magistrate Balwinder Singh Multani said such workshops should be conducted regularly.

Abohar, June 10
Even when the Indian Railways introduced more than a hundred summer special trains in different divisions to clear the rush of passengers during the holidays, no special train has been sanctioned to the region.

While faxing identical memorandums to the Railway Board today, the Railway Passengers Welfare Association, Zila Railway Yatri Seva Samiti (Sriganganagar), Consumer Movement, Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat and Beopar Mandal resented that summer special train for Haridwar on the Sriganganagar-Abohar-Bathinda-Haridwar rout was yet to be introduced even as schools had been closed for summer vacation on May 21 for about 40 days. The existing train was already overcrowded and in view of lunar eclipse on June 15 and solar eclipse on July 1, more people are expected to visit Haridwar, they pointed out, adding that special trains could help meet the rush. — OC 

Mansa, June 10
Two head constables of the Punjab Police, posted in Bathinda, who allegedly extended 'VIP' comforts to an accused involved in the murder of the son of a former Akali minister of Bathinda, seem to have landed themselves in trouble after they were caught red-handed indulging in malpractices by the Mansa district police yesterday evening.

Pargat Singh, a resident of Khiva Khurd, one of the main accused, involved in the murder of Sandeep Singh Dhillon, son of late Akali minister Teja Singh Dhillon, which took place on August 2, 2009 in Bathinda, was being allowed to travel in a special utility vehicle (SUV) by the two head constables, while he was coming to Bathinda from Chandigarh yesterday.

Police sources said that Pargat along with the other accused involved in the murder of Sandeep, who were lodged in Central Jail, Bathinda, were facing trial.

Pargat was taken to the PGI, Chandigarh, for some clinical tests under police custody on Wednesday. He was referred to the PGI by the Civil Hospital authorities in Bathinda, and was taken under police custody, by Jagtar Singh Raja Singh, both head constables from Bathinda. Pargat reached Chandigarh on Wednesday and got his clinical tests conducted the same day. He along with the policemen stayed on Wednesday night at one of the police stations in Mohali district as they preferred not to travel back to Bathinda on the same day after darkness descended.

Pargat Singh was caught travelling in the SUV by Mansa police, while he being brought.

Both the head constables failed to explain why they had allowed Pargat to travel in a private vehicle when he was bound to travel in state government vehicle while in police custody.

Sources said a report in this connection was registered in the daily diary report (DDR) of the Sadar police station, Mansa by the police official concerned. Another person, Amarinder Singh alias Johnny, was found driving that vehicle when the police caught them.

Pargat Singh, who was taken into custody by the Mansa police immediately after he was caught, was later shifted to Bathinda Central Jail under its own supervision. Two policemen, Hardev Singh and Kulwant Singh, both head constables of the Mansa police, handed over Pargat to the jail authorities yesterday.

Hardyal Singh Mann, SSP, Mansa, said he would take up the matter with the SSP, Bathinda for action against the two head constables.

Bathinda, June 10
President of the Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) Ravneet Singh Bittu will visit Rampura Phul on June 12 to meet party workers and office-bearers in connection with enrolment of youths as members of the Youth Congress.

Stating this here today, district president of the Congress Committee (Rural) Narinder Singh Bhuleria said Bittu would encourage the Youth Congress workers and office-bearers to enroll maximum number of members. Besides, he would also hold special consultations to strengthen the PYC, Bhuleria added.

Bathinda, June 10
The district centre of the Mahatama Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration Punjab, Chandigarh, organised a workshop on “Administrative research” at the Circuit House here today.

DC S Karuna Raju, who presided over the workshop, said a good research could help in removing discrepancies in the administration. In-charge of the administrative reforms division of the institute Dr RK Sharma spoke about various methods of administrative research and the problems that occur during the research work. He asked the officials to start research work to make the administration more effective. — TNS

Bathinda, June 10
A joint action committee of four PRTC employees’ organisations (INTUC, SC/BC, CITU, Karamchari Dal) of the Bathinda depot today asked the state government to merge the PRTC with the Punjab Roadways. It also asked the government to cover all those PRTC employees under the pension scheme, who have not been covered under the scheme so far.

The leaders of the employees’ organisations said there was resentment among the employees against the PRTC management as it was not implementing their demands, which it had already accepted. In such circumstances, the action committee was left with the only option of launching a struggle.

Besides holding dharnas, hunger strikes would be observed and roads blocked to pressurise the government to implement the demands, they added.

Under the banner of the joint action committee, members and activists of the four PRTC employees’ organisations today held a gate rally in support of their demands in front of the PRTC workshop at the main bus stand here. Three members of the central body of the action committee from Patiala, namely Jagtar Singh (Karamchari Dal), Rakesh Kumar (SC/BC) and Sucha Singh (CITU); and Ganda Singh Dhaliwal, president of the Bathinda PRTC depot (INTUC), addressed the gathering.

Other demands of the employees include financial assistance of Rs 50 crore to the PRTC by state government, abolition of contractual system, regularisation of services of temporary, daily wage and contract workers, clearance of reservation backlog, pension to PRTC retirees through government treasuries, immediate payment of all retirement benefits to the retirees and arrangement of spare parts of buses in the workshop at the earliest.

Bathinda, June 10
To provide latest knowledge in the management of glaucoma, the Bathinda Ophthalmological Society will organise a seminar at Comfort Inn at 7 pm on June 12 (Sunday) for the benefit of eye surgeons of the area and the public at large, according to Dr Amrit Sethi, a local eye specialist.

Prof Kirti Singh of Maulana Azad Medical College Delhi, Dr Charu Khurana of Centre for Sight, Delhi, and Prof Gursatinder Singh will be the main speakers. — TNS

Bathinda, June 10
Deputy Commissioner S Karuna Raju today held a meeting with the ration depot holders and directed them to follow the guidelines in true spirit, failing which they could land in trouble.

Asking them to comply with the set procedures and norms, the DC issued various orders, including proper distribution of ration, disclosure of available stock etc.

SAD (B) assembly in-charge Sarup Chand Singla and officials of the food and supply department, including AFSO Diwan Chand Sharma and supervisor Harshit Mehta, attended the meeting. — TNS

Bathinda, June 10
A group of local artists held a brief meeting today to condole the demise of a world-famous painter Maqbool Fida Husain in London. 

Amarjeet Singh, Harmeet Singh, Harsimran Singh, Yash Pal Jaitu and others described the painter’s death as a “national loss”. — TNS

Abohar, June 10
Punjab Youth Congress president Ravneet Singh Bittu cautioned the people about attempts being made by the RSS and BJP to vitiate the social and political atmosphere in the country.

He gave a call to thwarts the ill designs of the saffron party activists.

Addressing workers at Arorvansh Bhawan here this evening, he devoted most of his speech in lambasting the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab. While blaming the SAD for the division of west Punjab, he said the party had promoted terrorism by honouring the killers of innocent people with siropas and had not given up pursuing its hidden agenda till now. The SAD, Anandpur Sahib MP Bittu said, had set unethical and unprecedented example in the political history of the state by including the son of the CM as Deputy CM, his bother-in-laws as cabinet ministers and getting elected his wife as Member of Lok Sabha. What right these people had got to blame the Congress for dynastic rule, he asked.

Claiming that the Beant Singh-led Congress govt had rescued the state from the dark days of militancy and the government of Amarinder Singh was instrumental in improving the financial health of the state, Bittu said the SAD-BJP has not been able to bring the state out of poor financial health.

District president Sandeep Jakhar assured Bittu that membership drive of the Youth Congress will be transparent and fair. Enthusiastic workers assured the state president that the SAD-BJP alliance will be wiped out during the next Vidhan Sabha elections. A cavalcade of about 50 vehicles packed with workers escorted the state president.

Abohar, June 10
The staff of the first ISO certified Suvidha Centre here wore black badges and organised demonstration today. The Suvidha Workers Union said 1500 employees had been recruited for the Suvidha Centers across the state. They were promised regular appointments but the government backtracked later. The protesters urged the government to regularize their services from April 5 onwards under the Punjab Civil Services Act 2011.

Meanwhile, responding to the call given by the state struggle committee of the Powercom Technical Services Union (TSU), workers staged dharna at the Powercom office here today. They criticised the transfer of Baldev Singh, junior engineer, reportedly under political pressure. They resolved to organise state level protest on June 22 at Patiala. — OC

Fazilka, June 10
A married woman having three minor children allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a canal following torture by the family members of her in-laws for allegedly bringing insufficient dowry.

As per the FIR registered at the Khui Khera police station, Suman (28), a resident of village Koilkhera of Abohar sub-division, was married to one Nathu Ram of village Kerian of Fazilka some eight years back. The couple had two sons and a daughter.

Suman’s father, Natha Ram, alleged in the FIR that her in-laws including husband Nathu Ram, mother-in- law Reshma Bai, brothers-in-law Satnam and Rakesh taunted and tortured her for bringing insufficient dowry.

Fed up with the torture, Suman took the extreme step of jumping into the Rajasthan canal near Roop Nagar on June 8. The family launched a search for Suman. Her body was found from the canal near village Fatuhi of Sriganganagar district today. Police have booked the four accused under section 306, 34 of IPC. — OC