PCC posts for Balwant, Kamboj, Chhotepur likely
Chandigarh, July 12
The Punjab Pradesh Congress is set to assign an important role to former state CPI (M) secretary Balwant Singh, former state Bahujan Samaj Party president Col CD Singh Kamboj and former SAD (Mann) leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur.

Jalandhar, July 12
The Punjab People’s Party (PPP) has got a shot in the arm with over 30 Kapurthala-based senior SAD leaders, including former Punjab Transport Minister Raghbir Singh, defecting to the PPP.They said they were feeling choked and humiliated in the SAD.

Besides Raghbir Singh, the other senior SAD leaders who have walked over to the PPP, include eight out of the 10 SAD Kapurthala councillors, four of the six Block Samiti members, Advocate Parmjit Singh, president, Kapurthala Nagar Council, and Jaswinder Singh, president, SAD Kapurthala 
unit (urban).

This comes as a major setback to the SAD in the Doaba belt in the run-up to the assembly elections.

Raghbir Singh may have exit the SAD as it is believed that Adampur MLA Sarbjit Singh Makkar will be allotted the SAD ticket for the Kapurthala seat this time with the Adampur assembly constituency having been declared a reserved seat following the recent delimitation exercise.

“We have joined the PPP due to our ideological bonding with its chief Manpreet Singh Badal. Sincere workers like me feel humiliated and choked in the emerging five-star-hotel culture of the SAD, so we have decided to serve the people through the PPP.

“The SAD now has place only for sycophants. I served the party for over 40 years, but feel it is not the same party anymore,” said an emotionally charged Raghbir Singh while announcing.

Raghbir Singh claimed that 99 per cent of the SAD workers in the Kapurthala constituency had switched over to the PPP.

Attacking DGP PS Gill for his reported political aspirations, Manpreet Badal said he had written to the Election Commission to either repatriate the DGP to his parent cadre in Jammu and Kashmir or he he asked to tender his resignation if he had any intentions to contest the elections. “I have also objected to the DGP’s reported meeting with the RSS chief in Jalandhar recently,” said Manpreet.

Referring to his party’s poll alliance with the CPI-CPM, Other Kapurthala leaders who joined the PPP today are: Surinder Pal Singh, Surjit Singh Rana, Harek Singh, Madhu Savita Chaudhary, Gurbinder Singh Chaudhary, Gurwinder Singh Chaudhary, Shaminder Kaur, Chajja Singh and Surjit Singh (all councillors), Kamaljit Kaur, chairperson, Block Samiti, Kapurthala; Darshan Singh, member, market committee, Kot Karar Khan; Sohan Lal, Dharminder Singh, Tirath Ram, Surjit Singh Jaatike, members, Block Samiti; and Gurbax Kaur, incharge, Istri Akali Dal, Kapurthala.

Kapurthala, July 12
Kapurthala Municipal Council chief Paramjit Singh Pamma along with seven other Akali councillors, among them former minister Raghbir Singh, have joined the PPP. Pamma is a brother-in-law of Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans.

There are 26 councillors in the 27-member house. Eight councillors are from the PPP, as many are from the Congress, six from the BJP, three from the SAD and one from the BSP (Ambedkar). Raghbir Singh and Pamma claimed that the lone BSP (Ambedkar) councillor had also announced his support to the PPP. They said some Congress and BJP councillors would join the PPP in a few days. However, they refused to reveal any names at this point.

Akali councillor Harbans Singh Walia said only six Akali councillors had joined the PPP.

Chandigarh, July 12
The Punjab Pradesh Congress is set to assign an important role to former state CPI (M) secretary Balwant Singh, former state Bahujan Samaj Party president Col CD Singh Kamboj and former SAD (Mann) leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur.

Their names have been recommended for the posts of vice-president in the PCC. Balwant Singh was expelled from the CPI (M) following charges of moral turpitude in 2009. But he denies the charges, claiming he was victimised because of his closeness to the late CPI (M) strongman Harkishen Singh Surjeet. Kamboj and Chottepur had joined the Congresss much earlier and contested the last assembly elections from Lohian and Dhariwal, respectively. Both had lost at the hustings.

Congress sources said PCC president Capt Amarinder Singh had recommended the nomination of all three leaders to the party high command. The PCC chief feels all three leaders should be given due recognition for strengthening the party at crucial junctures. The move would also send the right message to leaders of other parties who want to join the Congress in the run-up to the elections, he maintains.

Meanwhile, there is a move to increase the representation of women in the Pradesh Congress. Some women leaders could be nominated as office-bearers.

The names under consideration are those of Malerkotla MLA Razia Sultana, Harbans Kaur Dullo, wife of former PCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo, Malti Thapar and Lakhwinder Kaur Garcha.

Munak (Sangrur), July 12
The embankments of the Ghaggar near Munak belie the state government’s claim of full preparedness to check floods in the Ghaggar.

During an on-the-spot assessment, The Tribune team found that embankments at many places had simply been fortified by sand bags. At some of these spots, the bags were torn. But most stretches had no enforcement, with loose earth embankments standing between the river and the fields.

The farmers, who had to bear the fury of the river last year, opined that the embankments appeared weak. “In case of a breach, our crops will be washed away,” they said.

Satish Saini, a farmer whose family owns about 2.5 qilla near the under-construction bridge along the Munak-Tohana Road on the outskirts of Munak town, said, “Last year, the flood washed away our paddy crop. The government has not learnt any lessons from the past. In the name of preparedness, they have put some 5,000 sand bags along the embankment where a breach had occurred last year.

Also, a large number of sand bags are torn.

Jugraj Singh Hotipur, Chairman, Ghaggar Control Committee, an NGO which works in villages of Sangrur affected by floods in the Ghaggar by erecting bundhs and also looking after government-erected bundhs, said that though the government has strengthened embankments from Khanauri to Makord Sahib, embankments from Makord Sahib to Haryana border continue to remain weak.

“From Makord Sahib to Haryana border, neither the government is allowing the farmers to strengthen the embankments nor is it doing the same. If the government doesn’t strengthen the embankments, flood, in case it occurs, will wash away the crops.

“Last year, flood in the Ghaggar caused devastation in about 26 villages, including Hotipur, Nawangaon, Bangan, Shahpur Kheri, Andana, Chandu, Bussehra, Mandwi, Makord Sahab, Surjan Bhaini, Bhundar Baini, Munak, Kudail, Fhulad, Handa and Kudani, of Sangrur district damaging the standing paddy crop on 50,000 acres.”

Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, who recently visited Makord Sahib near Munak to inspect the flood-control measures, had said that the government has taken all necessary steps to protect the villages from floods.

Patiala, July 12
Amidst ongoing political tussle between Haryana and Punjab over the Hansi-Buitana canal, the SAD-BJP government has found an innovative way to prevent the deterioration of the soil fertility on account of the fury of floods and also to increase the groundwater level.

The project, a brainchild of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has been initiated by the government under which artificial wells will be dug up in selected villages and clusters of the state to ensure that excess water percolates down through the and recharges the underground water.

The project will be undertaken by the Punjab Water Resources Department (PWRD) and inquiries made by The Tribune brought to light that project feasibility study has already been conducted by the PWRD. The clearance for the project that it will not lead to any environment hazard has already been taken from the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

The low-lying clusters, where the rainwater and the floodwater get collected during monsoons have been identified. As many as 100 artificial wells will be dug up in the first phase in Ferozepur, Patiala, Sangrur and Moga districts that face constant threat from water logging at an approximate cost of Rs 3 crore.

While stating that the funding for the project is being done by the state government, Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon said, “The artificial wells will help to replenish the underground water and proper care will be taken to filter the water before letting it to flow inside these wells.” Director, Punjab Water Resources Department, KS Takshi said the ambitious project was expected to be completed by the year-end.

“For the artificial well, several 100 feet bore wells will be dug up, depending upon the soil surface and the underground water-table level. These wells will help the rainwater and the flood water to percolate down,” he added.

Jalandhar, July 12
The CPI has urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to convene an all-party meeting on the Hansi-Butana canal controversy.

Member of the national executive of the CPI Joginder Dayal said today that the CM should brief political parties on the steps taken to deal with the issue. He said the Congress state leadership should not play politics on the issue. “It should press the Central Government to play a constructive role in sorting out the issue between Punjab and Haryana.”

Dayal said the Centre should convene a separate meeting of representatives of political parties of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to resolve the issues related to the Hansi-Butana canal and the taming of the Ghaggar.

He said his party was for resolving the issues by negotiations, lest these assumed alarming proportions. He said the Punjab Government should take the issue of taming of the Ghaggar seriously and act fas.

The overflowing Ghaggar had been a source of misery to the resdents of Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa districts.

Chandigarh, July 12
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today challenged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to name a single development project that he could claim to have been conceived and financed by his government.

He said, the Akali-BJP government was trying to claim credit for various development projects which were not the state’s own, but part of the 16 flagship programmes of the UPA government at the Centre.

He announced that the PPCC would soon be appointing a high- powered committee to monitor the implementation of each of the 16 flagship programmes. — TNS

Malerkotla, July 12
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out any possibility of early elections in the state.

While talking to mediapersons at a Sangat Darshan programme organised at Raikot Road here today, Badal said although the SAD-BJP alliance is ready for elections, but these would take place at their scheduled time.

On the possibility of an alliance with the BSP during elections, the CM said it was not the right time to talk with the BSP for a tie-up. These possibilities would be explored after the announcement of elections, he said.

On the Hansi-Butana canal, Badal said the issue was pending in the Supreme Court. “We will abide by the decision of the court.”

Badal said that under the guidance of Rajya Sabha member and Secretary General, SAD, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, the SAD-BJP alliance had already implemented all the poll promises made to the people of Punjab during last assembly elections. “The number of poll promises in our manifesto for the next poll will be four times the last one.”

On the occasion, the Chief Minister disbursed financial grants to the tune of Rs 5.19 crore to 55 panchayats of Malerkotla constituency for the execution of the various developmental works and welfare schemes. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Principal Secretary DS Guru and Special Principal Secretary KJS Cheema.

Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Malerkotla Halka incharge and chairman, Punjab Wakf Board, Izhar Alam, MLA Iqbal Singh Chunda, SGPC member Ajit Singh Chanduraian, Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul, DIG Parmod Baan and SSP HS Bhullar were present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, July 12
The ban on export of cotton could cost the farmers dear. With cotton stocks from last year piling up in the domestic market and a bumper cotton crop expected this year, the farmers are unlikely to get a good price for their cotton produce.

It is learnt that 80 lakh bales of cotton are lying unsold with various traders, textile mills and the Cotton Commission of India (CCI).

Of these, 50 lakh bales are lying with private traders/ textile mill owners in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In Punjab, these private entities have stocks worth 50,000 bales, while the CCI has stocks of approximately 3 lakh bales.

With private entities carrying forward their cotton stocks from last year, it is unlikely that they will enter the market and purchase huge quantities of fresh produce.

The increased area under cotton cultivation this year has ensured that cotton production will be higher than last year’s.

“In Punjab, the area under cotton cultivation has increased by 60,000 hectares this year. This is because the cotton farmers got very high returns for their produce last year.

“The prices went up to Rs 7,000 per quintal (for narma), which has encouraged more farmers to shift from paddy to cotton. But unless the old stocks are used or exported, there will be few takers for this year’s produce. As a result, the farmers are unlikely to fetch prices higher than the minimum support price of Rs 3,100 per quintal,” said Bhagwan Bansal, president, Punjab Cotton Factories and Ginners Association.

It is learnt that cotton prices in the international market have come down from 220 cents per candy of cotton last year, to 115 cents per candy. “Still the global prices are higher than the price in the domestic market. If the government were to allow exports, it could change the whole dynamics of the cotton trade and farmers could get a price of Rs 4,200 per quintal,” Bansal said.

Leaving aside the 2.30 crore bales consumed domestically, the remaining surplus should be brought under the open general licence and exports allowed, Bansal said, pointing out that though the extensive use of Bt cotton seed had improved cotton productivity, the Punjab Government should ensure more mechanisation in cotton farming so that labour pangs did not hamper production.

Amritsar, July 12
The tussle between the transporters at the Attari border is once again threatening to hit trade between India and Pakistan as traders today alleged that overcharging by the Attari Truck Union would render their business economically non-viable. They sought immediate intervention by the state government in this regard.

Addressing a press conference here today, Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce President BK Bajaj said, “Amritsar is the only dry port in north India. Trade between India and Pakistan via Attari-Wagah land route is flourishing.

“However, the insistence of the Attari Truck Union to have its control over the transport business at the Indo-Pak border in Attari is threatening to ruin this trade.”

He alleged that the union was overcharging Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 on a small truck and Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 on a big one, apart from charging an entry fee of Rs 500 from any truck not belonging to the union that loads goods from the international border.

He said that truck unions are not allowed and patronised at any port in India. “If this mafia is allowed to continue, the entire trade from Wagah will shift to other ports like Kandla.

“While the government is spending Rs 150 crore to construct the Integrated Check Post at Attari, the transport mafia is hell bent on ruining this port,” he lamented.

Amritsar North MLA Anil Joshi said he would raise the issue with the Chief Minister at the earliest. He said if this state of affairs continued at Attari, the newly constructed Integrated Check Post would be of no use. He added that such activities at the border were not possible without some political support.

Gulbagh Singh of Holy City Tour Company, which is at loggerheads with the Attari Truck Union, alleged that the union had backtracked from the agreement reached between the two sides in the presence of administration officials last week.

As per the agreement, the Attari Truck Union would lift 85 per cent of the imported goods and the remaining 15 per cent would be taken care of by the Holy City Tour Company.

On the other hand, Parminder Singh of Attari Truck Union denied all the charges levelled by the traders. He said they were not overcharging the traders. He, however, admitted that they were charging Rs 500 as service charges from any truck not belonging to the union as union employees help truckers from outside fulfil all formalities for loading goods from the border. He said the traders were also allowed to carry their goods in their own trucks.

Bathinda, July 12
The traffic blockade by protesting EGS (Education Guarantee Scheme) volunteers enlisted for the ETT course, today took an ugly turn with the protesters manhandling a man trying to breach the cordon to reach the bus stand.

The protest was held under the banner of Shaheed Kiranjit Kaur EGS/ETT Action Committee, Punjab, and was led by action committee member Makhan Singh Tolawal.

During the blockade, no bus could either enter or leave the bus stand, leaving the commuters high and dry. Schoolchildren on autos and rickshaws also faced hardship.

Police officers and Bathinda tehsildar Avtar Singh Makkar made several attempts to convince the protesters to lift the blockade. Finally, at about 2 pm, the protesters began marching towards the mini-secretariat even as the administration hastened to shut the doors of the secretariat to keep the protesters out. The tehsildar took some members of the action committee to the DC for arranging a meeting with the CM for talks on their demands.

Tolawal said the action committee would meet the CM on July 18 at his residence in Chandigarh. Officers of the Education Department would also attend the meeting.

Mohali, July 12
The Punjab government is all set to bridge the gap between Chandigarh and Mohali as far as sports facilities are concerned, as the work on seven mini-sports complexes in various parts of the city has already begun. The Punjab government is spending Rs 30 crore on the project.

Barring the PCA Stadium at Sector 63 (phase IX), a shooting range and a swimming pool at phase 6, there are no sports facilities in the city with a population of about 3 lakhs. “The sports enthusiasts of Mohali have to go to Chandigarh to avail sports facilities,” said Chief Administrator of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) Sarvjit Singh.

The responsibility of these complexes has been given to the GMADA instead of the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA). Two construction companies have been engaged for the same and have been given eight-month time to complete the complexes.

“The architectural and structural designs of the buildings are ready. The sports complexes are in Sectors 59, 61, 63, 65, 69, 71 and 78. The biggest complex to come up in sector 78 will be spread over 20 acres. The facilities planned at the mini-sports complexes are indoor badminton courts, indoor swimming pools, indoor table tennis courts, volleyball courts, indoor gymnasiums, indoor squash courts, outdoor skating rink, basketball courts, boxing ring, athletic tracks, hockey field and football fields.

Besides, the GMADA has identified sites, including some unkempt green belts in different residential sectors that will be utilised to put in place the infrastructure for the community sports facilities for games such as basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton,” said GMADA chief engineer Tarlochan Singh.

The work on the multipurpose sports complex at Sector 63 (phase IX), adjoining the PCA Stadium, has already been initiated by the Punjab Sports Department. Apart from the international-level hockey stadium with synthetic turf, the 20-acre site is being used to develop an ultra-modern swimming pool and other sports facilities at a cost of Rs 35 crore.

A Ludhiana-based company has been given the contract to complete the facility in eight months. Besides, work on golf academy-cum-range at Sector 65 at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore is already in progress.

Ropar, July 12
Construction on the NCC Academy on 8.5 acres of land in Ropar will begin soon, said NCC Ludhiana group commander GPS Sawhney here today.

The PWD Department has already started clearing the area that has 19 storehouses of the SYL-Kandi Area Department at present and 13 of these stores had already been removed and work to remove others is on. The construction work has got delayed by a month.

“Within a month we will start the work. The Education Department, Punjab, will build the infrastructure. The academy will be commissioned within six months of the start of project. It will train 500 NCC cadets in air, naval and army wings. Women cadets will be trained at the upcoming academy at Malout. The Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has given its nod for the same,” added Sawhney.

At present, Punjab has four NCC groups with one each at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. All these groups have 29 units in total, with 49,000 NCC cadets.

“Despite having such a large number of the cadets, we did not have a building of our own. Most of the annual training camps and national integration camps are being scheduled at the time of vacations at various educational institutes. Even our offices are being run from rented accommodations at most of the places,” said Col Sawhney. All the cadets would be given admission free-of-cost. Besides imparting them physical training, the academy will also work on development of the soft skills.

Patiala, July 12
Agitated over the non-acceptance of their long-pending demands, the Junior Engineers (JEs) working with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) have announced to burn the copies of their diploma certificates in front of all the zonal headquarters of the power corporation across the state on July 18.

President, PSEB Diploma Engineers’ Association, RK Choudhary said the JEs would also stage demonstrations in Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Ludhiana on the same day.

“Despite getting assurances that demands of the JEs will be accepted, the state government and the management of the two power utilities have done nothing so far. Several important matters, including granting of second time-bound promotional scale for JE/Additional Assistant Engineers after 16 years service, reimbursement of the cost of 30-litre petrol per month in lieu of the local out door duty allowance (LODA) and making induction post optional, are hanging fire from the last many years,” he added. — TNS