Jalandhar, June 24
Facing a problem of plenty, the state government has urged the Union Government to immediately move about 20 lakh tonne of wheat, which has been unscientifically stacked owing to the shortage of storage space. “If the unscientifically stacked wheat is not moved immediately to other parts of the country, it could be damaged during the monsoon”, said a senior official of the Food and Supplies Department. “The risk of the unscientifically stack foodgrains being submerged in rain water remains,” he added.

“Instead of moving the foodgrain at a fast pace from the state, the Food Corporation of India has been concentrating on moving the wheat from Madhya Pradesh, where 50 lakh tonne of wheat was procured for the central pool this year, to other parts of the country”, said the official.

At present, the state has about 170 lakh tonne of wheat and rice in its kitty.

While 110 lakh tonnes wheat was procured recently, 20 lakh tonnes of rice is lying undelivered with various rice millers. About 40 lakh tonne wheat, that was procured last year, is also lying in the state stock.

The state government has asked the Centre to extend the date for the delivery of the remaining 20 lakh tonne of rice to September 30. It was to be delivered by June 30. “As the FCI has no space for stacking rice, it has been delaying its acceptance under one pretext or the other. Our rice millers have the capacity to deliver 20 lakh tonne rice in a month”, said the official. Even 25 lakh tonne rice from last year’s stock remains undelivered to the central pool. The last date for its delivery has been extended to July 15.

Asked to comment, Secretary, Food and Supplies Department, D.S.Grewal today said that the state government had urged the Centre to move at least 15 to 20 lakh tonne foodgrains every month from the state to make space available for stacking of the coming paddy crop, due in October.

“At a pace of 15 lakh tonne per month, only 60 lakh tonne of wheat and rice could be moved out from the state by the time the fresh crop of paddy arrives in the market in October. At that point of time, the remaining stock of foodgrain in the state would be in the range of 120 lakh tonne. About 130 lakh tonne of fresh stock of paddy would be added to it. That means, the state would be virtually overflowing with foodgrain”, he added.

Bathinda, June 24
About nine teams of the Central Bureau of Investigation conducted surprise checks of storage depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), located in Bathinda district. The wanted to find out whether there was any scandal pertaining to the delivery of PAU 201 variety of paddy to the FCI by the rice mill owners in the past year or so.

The CBI teams, which were assisted by officials of FCI, also collected the samples of rice from storage depots to be sent for analysis. The CBI conducted raids after it received information that a section of rice mill owners had bungled in the delivery of rice in lieu of PAU 201 variety to the FCI under the custom milling scheme in the year 2009-2010 and 2010 and 2011.

A number of rice mill owners are already facing criminal cases that were registered against them after the CBI teams raided rice mills located in Ferozepur and others parts of Punjab a few years ago. Irregularities were found in the quality of rice delivered to the FCI by the mill owners.

Official sources said the PAU 201 variety of paddy was procured by the procurement agencies of Punjab from the farmers and subsequently the stock was allotted to various rice mills for shelling of the same and subsequent delivery of the rice in lieu of that to the FCI under the custom-milling scheme for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2009-2010.

As the PAU-201 variety of paddy had excessive damage and discoloration of grains, the rice from it did not meet the specifications laid down by the FCI. The quality of this rice failed to meet the specification even after the same were relaxed by FCI.

To overcome the crises, which erupted in certain pockets of Punjab, including Bathinda and Mansa districts, after the FCI refused to accept the rice of PAU 201 variety, the Centre decided to pay compensation at the rate of Rs 200 per quintal to the millers for the upgradation of PAU 201 variety of rice before delivering it to the FCI.

Jalandhar, June 24
How sincere is the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar (MCJ), in cleaning up the Kala Sanghian drain became evident today when the MC itself was caught draining millions of litres of domestic sewage into it.

The apathy of the MCJ was laid bare today during a surprise inspection conducted by KS Pannu, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), along the drain.

Around three weeks ago, Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal and PPCB officials caught industrial units putting toxic effluents into the drain through underground pipes.

“The Sabzi Mandi sewage disposal system of the MCJ was found discharging sewage into the Kala Sanghian. This is despite the fact that the MCJ claims that the outlet has been connected with a dedicated sewer line laid to divert flow from the drain to established sewage treatment plants,” said Pannu.

Harbir Singh, XEN, PPCB, said that the outlet releases approximately 2-3 million litres every day.

Worse, during his visit to the STP at Pholariwal village, the chairman found the newly commissioned STP of 25 MLD capacity had been rendered non-working as the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had not given it a power connection.

Anandpur Sahib/ Chamkaur Sahib, June 24
With water levels in the Bhakra Dam at 71.22 ft higher than last year, prediction of a normal monsoon and unplanned efforts of the Drainage Department, residents along the Sutlej are having sleepless nights. Due to heavy inflows into the Bhakra from the melting glaciers, the level of water is rapidly increasing.

The level today was 1582.50 ft. On the same date last year, it was 1211.28 ft.

Similarly, the Pong Dam has 68 ft more water today than the corresponding day last year.

Last year, when the Bhakra spillways were opened to ease growing water level in the dam, it had led to flooding of villages situated along the Sutlej. The waters had damaged the Lodhipur bundh at Anandpur Sahib leading to floods in nearby villages.

With monsoons just a week away, the department is yet to start work on constructing bundhs, whose model is yet to be passed by the Drainage Research Institute at Amritsar.

Earlier, fund crunch and now a delay in preparation of the model has further pushed the project’s initiation date beyond June 20, while the monsoon is expected by July 1, said officials.

Even the undergoing drain cleaning works have drawn ire from the villagers of Chamkaur Sahib.

The department has started cleaning drains in Chamkaur Sahib, Anandpur Sahib and Nurpur Bedi areas. Presently, Katlaur Bahri, drain number 2, drain number 3 and Kiri Afgana drains are being cleared. Using JCB machines, weeds and stones are being removed from drain beds to facilitate easy flow of water.

Residents of Chamkaur Sahib villages, however, rued that the department has neglected the Buddha Nullah drain and Bassi Gujran escape that had led to chaos and flooding of Chamkaur Sahib villages last year.

Besides these, Jatana, Bela, Dehar and Kandhola escape too lie uncleared, which may cause flooding again this year.

Officials of Drainage Division, Ropar, said that drains were being cleared at a budget of Rs 35 lakh. “The Buddha Nullah’s escape starts from near Sirhind canal and joins MCM seepage drain and further extends to Ludhiana. This year, there is no provision to clear this drain as it is under Ludhiana area,” officials said.

Bathinda, June 24
The AIE Teachers Front, Punjab, today held out a threat that its activists would immolate themselves in front of the district administrative complex (DAC) if the district administration failed to fix their appointment with the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal within 24 hours.

Dhiraj Kumar, President, AIE Teachers Front, Punjab, said that this threat was conveyed by a section of activists to Deputy Commissioner S Karuna Raju in his office as the district administration had not given any positive response to their demand that it would facilitate the front’s meeting with the CM.

Before meeting DC Raju, the activists stormed into the DAC. They entered into a scuffle with the cops deployed there and finally, a section of the activists managed to reach the DC’s office in the DAC.

He alleged that though their agitation had entered the 54th day today, no one from the government side had bothered to talk to them.

DC Raju said that the front’s activists did not convey to him their threat of self-immolation today. He added that he had approached the Chief Minister’s office at Chandigarh to arrange a meeting.

He said that he had also advised the activists that they should not take the law into their hands.

Chandigarh, June 24
In a major departure from the past, the BJP today said the issue of seat sharing with the SAD was open and that the final number of seats to be contested by the saffron party in the Assembly elections in Punjab would be decided after talks with the alliance partner.

This admission by Punjab BJP in charge Shanta Kumar is something the party has never made before. In fact, preceding every election, the BJP always maintained that any change in the seat-sharing pattern is not negotiable. The party has been contesting 23 seats in Punjab since the last three elections as part of its alliance with the SAD.

Shanta Kumar, who was here to oversee the anti-corruption ‘dharnas’ being organised by the party in Jalandhar and Ludhiana over the next two days, said the final allocation of seats would be done only after talks with the SAD. He refused to elaborate when asked whether the party would ask for more than 23 seats or settle for less.

Meanwhile, sources said the SAD was toying with the idea of fielding a few Hindu faces in urban areas as there was a feeling that the BJP’s influence among urbanites had diminished since the last Assembly elections. The SAD think-tank feels only a few chief parliamentary secretaries and ministers are in a winning position and that the BJP strength could reduce from the present 19 in the next elections in February, 2012.

However, the BJP sources claim there is little possibility of the party agreeing to contest less than 23 seats. They claim that any reduction in the BJP seat allocation would send a wrong signal to the Hindu community and would only help to doom the party further. This, they claim, would help the Congress to win more urban seats.

Amritsar, June 24
The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) have decided to organise a “justice rally” at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 15 to save Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who is on a death row.

According to AISSF president Karnail Singh Peermohammad, they have also urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and PPCC chief Captain Amarinder Singh to address the rally at the Jantar Mantar to save Bhullar from “judicial murder”.

He said the participation of Badal and Captain will send a strong message to the government on the Bhullar issue. He said both the leaders have already sought commutation of the Bhullar’s death sentence and addressing the rally will further strengthen their stand and commitment to save Bhullar’s life. He said the SGPC and the DSGMC should also support their movement to secure Bhullar’s release.

The AISSF has also urged the public to send letters addressed to the President seeking release of Bhullar. A memorandum will also be submitted to the President on July 15 demanding Bhullar’s release. — TNS

Patiala, June 24
The Punjab police has decided to give cash incentives to the public if they help in catching snatchers or provide clues about them.

In a communiqué circulated to all the district police heads of the state, the ADGP (law and order) has asked to make it public and inform all the officers at the police station level. The orders come following the rising snatching incidents reported from throughout the state.

As per the orders, it has been decided to pay an incentive of Rs 5,000 to anyone who takes pictures of the snatchers or the two wheelers involved in the snatching incident.

If the information provides any clue to nab the culprits, the person will be awarded with the cash prize.

Talking to The Tribune, Patiala DSP (D) Manjit Singh Brar said this would help the public to stand against crime. It has been seen that these snatching incidents are committed by drug addicts, who get away due to lack of evidence.

“The order is very practical as majority of people today carry mobile phones with them that have cameras and whenever such an incident occurs, the passersby can take a picture and inform the police and bag a reward as well,” he said.

As per the earlier set procedure, the state police announced cash rewards on the wanted criminals and those giving inputs were awarded.

The senior police officials confirmed that the SSPs in the state have already briefed the SHOs in this regard and have told to paste this recent order on the notice board of the police stations for strict compliance.

“There are almost 10 to 15 snatching incidents in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar. While some are reported, majority of these incidents do not find a mention in the FIRs being lodged daily as the SHOs are reluctant,” they said.

Patiala SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill confirmed that these orders were received and proper action had been taken to ensure their compliance.

“This will go a step further in making the public more aware and give them a reason to help the Police Department,” he stated.

Patiala, June 24
After services of 176 daily wage class IV employees were regularised by the Patiala MC recently, services of 250 more class VI contractual employees has also been regularised. 

Patiala, June 24
Meeting between the PRTC management and the Contract PRTC Employees Union (Azaad) once again bore no fruit, as both the parties could not reach any consensus.

After an hour-long meeting, employees’ leader Ram Singh Jassal announced that the management was adamant on their decision and was not ready to accept their demands. Therefore, the employees would begin Jail Bharo Andolan from tomorrow onwards.

Jassal further informed that the management had ensured that they would soon fix up a meeting of the union employees with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. Till then, the employees would continue their protest, he added.

On the other hand, managing director of the PRTC Manvesh Singh Sidhu told The Tribune that there was no rule under which the management could regularise the employees that were working on outsourcing.

“There was no such policy in the past, but now we have decided that anyone who works with the PRTC on contract basis for three years could be considered for regularisation. The Supreme Court has issued strict instructions that no one should be given jobs without proper rules,” he said. Talking about 400 new posts that the PRTC has published, he said they would be appointed under proper policy.

Meanwhile, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, referred president of the union Jasmer Singh to PGI, Chandigarh, yesterday and then the PGI again referred him back to the Rajindra Hospital in the morning. Interestingly, Rajindra Hospital administration has again referred him to PGI and according to Jassal, Jasmer Singh was lying outside the PGI emergency ward till the filing of the report. 

Bathinda, June 24
The decision of the state police authorities to put its field force on extra alert to thwart the designs of smugglers and drug peddlers, who would push narcotics in Punjab to meet their demand during harvesting of wheat and transplantation of paddy, have paid rich dividends.

The police has made huge seizures of narcotics in the six districts of Malwa region in two and a half months from March 1 to June 15.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that in this period, about 100 kg of opium, 4,400 kg of poppy husk and 7.5 kg of heroin were seized from smugglers and drug peddlers in Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Moga districts of Punjab.

Every year, the consumption of narcotics increases in the border state of Punjab during harvesting and paddy transplantation seasons as it is supplied to labourers to extract maximum work by a section of landowners.

NS Dhillon, IG, Bathinda zone, said that 475 cases were registered against the smugglers under the NDPS Act in these six districts from March 1 to June 15. Apart from the seizure of opium and poppy husk, 4 kg of ganja, 6.63 lakh intoxicating pills, 1,228 bottles of intoxicating syrups and 22 kg of intoxicating powder were also seized from them.

To cash in on the situation, smugglers, operating from various parts of the country including Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, employ new ways and means to push the maximum quantity of contraband into the state through their couriers.

The smugglers increase the rate of opium and poppy husk during these days as the demand of same goes up.

Police authorities found that a large number of women were also active in this business.