Jalandhar, July 19
The Centre, it appears, has finally yielded to the pressure built up by the Punjab Government for creating additional capacity to store wheat and rice procured for the central pool. The Committee for the North Zone has recommended the building of warehouses to stack 9 lakh tonnes of wheat and rice in the state. Earlier, the Centre had allowed the construction of warehouses having the capacity to stack 13 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in the state.

Sources said the Centre would hold a meeting soon to give its nod to the recommendations made in the case of Punjab by the committee set up for the North Zone. During the current fiscal, the Centre has planned to construct new warehouses having the capacity to stack 150 lakh tonnes of foodgrain in various parts of the country.

Against the capacity to stack 94 lakh tonne of rice and wheat in the roofed warehouses, the existing stock of wheat and rice lying in the state is to the tune of 200 lakh tonnes, which includes 135 lakh tonne of wheat and 65 lakh tonne of rice. Besides, about 26 lakh tonnes of paddy remains un-milled with rice millers.

Sources said the state government was exploring the possibility to stack foodgrain in the warehouses built by the Cooperative Agriculture Societies. About 1,500 societies have warehouses, most of which remain unutilised or under-utilised. However, most of these warehouses require renovation and repair. Meanwhile, official sources said that though the Centre had allowed the export of wheat but there would be no major gain to the state from this decision. The wheat was likely to be exported from the stock lying in Madhya Pradesh. Most of the wheat was to be sent to Afghanistan, sources added. “From Punjab, it could be sent through the land route to Afghanistan via Attari Customs check post but Pakistan may not allow it,” said a senior official of the state government.

In Madhya Pradesh about 50 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured for the central pool. In the absence of storage capacity there, the wheat in that state is lying in the open.

Even with the nod to the export of 10 lakh tonne of non-basmati rice by the Centre, there would not be direct benefit to the state. The rice, the minimum export price of which has not been fixed yet, is likely to be exported to Bangladesh from Andhra Pradesh and some other states. However, official sources said that with the export of wheat and rice from the surplus states, the process to move these foodgrains from Punjab to the deficit states would be expedited. At present, food grains were being moved from other surplus states to deficit states owing to various reasons. 

150 lakh tonne capacity in new warehouses is the Centre's target for 2011-12
94 lakh tonne is capacity to stack rice and wheat in roofed warehouses in Punjab
200 lakh tonne is, however, the actual stock of wheat and rice lying in Punjab
135 lakh tonne of the 200 lakh tonne is wheat, 65 lakh tonne stock is of rice
26 lakh tonne of paddy still remains un-milled with various rice millers in the state

Chandigarh, July 19
With an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections, the state Cabinet has decided to recruit medical and paramedical staff and fill hundreds of vacancies in jails besides raising the age bar (up to five years) for recruitment of pharmacists in zila parishad dispensaries.

Posts will be filled for recuiting staff in the newly constituted units of the NCC in the NCC Academies at Ropar, Malout, Guddha and Bathinda. Nearly 910 vacancies will be filled in the Jail Department. Besides, 141 posts will be filled through the promotion quota.

The Cabinet has approved the filling of 3,669 vacancies in the Health Department- 1,188 medical officers, 1647 paramedical staff and 373 ministerial cadre. These are to be filled through direct recruitment and the remaining 404 posts will be outsourced. The Cabinet gave its approval to the draft Bill for establishing a self-financing private university by the name of Guru Kashi University at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda .The Cabinet approved the amended draft of the Punjab Private Universities Policy-2010 for establishing self-financed private universities in the state.It gave the green signal to transferring land and buildings of Cooperative Sugar Mills at Buddhlada and Jagraon in the name of the Punjab Government so that these can be disposed of by the Punjab Urban Development Authority under its OUVGL scheme to settle pending liabilities of these sugar mills.

The Cabinet approved the launching of a special campaign to provide ration cards to eligible beneficiaries by September 30. The Cabinet also approved a grant of Rs 1 crore for langar at Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, and registration fee and stamp duty exemption on documents for loans (up to Rs 5 lakh) through the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Corporation.

Chandigarh, July 19
Abohar legislator Sunil Jakhar and former Finance Minister Surinder Singla have been appointed chairpersons of the flagship programme monitoring committee and the media committee of the PCC. Former militant Harminder Singh Gill is a member of the media committee. Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh seems to have had his way with his loyaltists finding place in all three committees formed today. Senior leader Prof Darbari Lal has been appointed chairperson of the publicity committee.

Congress sources said the party has gone in for a course correction by appointing leaders from the Hindu community as chairpersons of the three committees announced today.

The party rank and file feels that Sunil Jakhar is the ideal candidate to head the flagship programme monitoring committee. Jakhar has been in the forefront in pointing out deficiencies in the implementation of the flagship programmes by the SAD-BJP government.

Jakhar had earlier been inducted as member of the PCC and not made an office- bearer. Surinder Singla, the workers feel, can take the Akalis head-on but will have to explain his almost complete absence from the state during the past four years.

There is some resentment at the induction of Harminder Singh Gill, who was given the Congress ticket from Patti during the last elections. Patti PPCC member Maninder Singh, son of former Sikh Judicial Commission Chairman Kashmir Singh Patti, today protested against Gill’s inclusion in the media committee. Patti said the party was needlessly promoting Gill who had lost the last election and was responsible for turning away the Hindu voter from the Congress.

Congress loyalists have bagged important positions in all three committees formed today. Former State Planning Board Vice-Chairman RR Bhardwaj, who was instrumental in framing the party’s manifesto in 2002, is vice-chairman of the flagship programme monitoring committee. Senior leader Nasib Singh Gill is its convener. Other Amarinder loyalists on the committee are former Patiala Improvement Trust Chairman KK Sharma and youth leaders Anumeet Singh Sodhi and Rajinder Deepa. Senior leader Rampal Dhaipi is the vice-chairman of the media committee and Tejinder Bittu secretary. Other members include former minister Dr Mohinder Rinwa, Jassi Khangura and MM Singh Cheema.

Raj Pal Singh is vice-chairman of the publicity committee. Former minister Hansraj Josan, legislators Joginder Jain and Ajit Inder Singh Mofar and Ram Lubhaya, husband of Hoshiarpur MP Santosh Choudhary, are also on the committee.

Jalandhar, July 19
Aimed at motivating youth to join armed forces and prevent rampant drug abuse, NCC Group Jalandhar today adopted Sansarpur village, popularly called the Mecca of hockey. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the NCC would focus on budding hockey players and underprivileged children from this village.

The NCC aims to tap the best rural talent and make them aware of the direct ‘C’ certificate entry scheme to join the armed forces. While the government schools in Sansarpur would remain the NCC’s first priority, to achieve this aim, it would also provide various training facilities to its students.

A team of NCC officers, including Major-General Mohabat Singh Virk, Additional Director General (ADG), NCC Directorate Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, Col Dharamveer Singh, the Group Commander of NCC Group Headquarters, Jalandhar and former Olympian Col Balbir Singh visited Sansarpur this morning.

Talking to The Tribune, Major General Mohabat Singh said that the process of adoption would be carried out in phases. “In phase I, the NCC has adopted Sansarpur village, while in phase II all units of the Jalandhar group would later adopt one village each. The target is not to let the youth go astray and fall prey to drug abuse”, he said, adding that Col P.S. Garewal from NCC Group Headquarters has been appointed for this purpose.

Highlighting the NCC’s agenda for Sansarpur, Major-General Mohabat Singh said that soon we will start identifying potential children for armed forces, identify future capabilities, motivate them, provide coaching for SSB and pick out the best for the forces. The ADG further said that for hockey camps, NCC would provide additional facilities to the budding players like hockey kits, a nutritious diet, tents and infrastructure required for training.

When asked that why Sansarpur was adopted, the ADG quipped, “Sansarpur, owing to its rich contribution to national game hockey is a name to reckon with. The village is equipped with mini-turfs, the best hockey culture and an ideal ambience to train youth. Since NCC Group Jalandhar is situated in the vicinity, the name of this village figured prominently.”

While hailing this decision, Olympian Col Balbir Singh said, “It is a commendable initiative and a matter of pride that my village is the first to be selected for this purpose. Since I myself an Army officer and a hockey player, I really wish to see the youth from my village making it to the armed forces. We first need to inform and motivate the youth about the NCC in order to see desired results”, he added. 

Chandigarh, July 19
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today said that elections in Punjab might be held in December. He was addressing a meeting of senior party leaders and workers here.The PCC president said, although the party was well-prepared for the elections, “we must not be complacent about it”. It was important that the workers explained the party’s agenda to the the people, he emphasised.

He asked the party leaders to explain to the people about various flagship programmes of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. Later in the day, a separate meeting of district presidents from Ludhiana, Ropar, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib was held at the PCC office to discuss preparations for the party’s conference at Isru in August.

Chandigarh, July 19
Security at the Bhakra dam is set to be put under a single umbrella even as Punjab Chief Secretary S C Agrawal today reviewed the security arrangements at the Bhakra dam in Himachal Pradesh with representatives from Himachal Pradesh and central agencies. The review was following the threat perception to the dam relayed by Central intelligence agencies. Punjab and Himachal Pradesh today decided to approach the Centre for a one-time grant to procure sophisticated electronic equipment, including explosive detectors, sensors and underwater cameras.

It was decided in the meeting to strengthen deployment of security personnel in the project areas and explore the possibility of a single command of security apparatus. It was also felt that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities should hold coordination meetings of deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police of Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh and Ropar district of Punjab frequently.

A decision was taken to replace manual barriers on all approach roads, including Naina Devi sides, Kosri Camp, Gwalthai and Barmala, with electronic barriers and provide for elevated platform for proper checking of vehicles. It was decided to properly fence vulnerable areas and declare certain areas as no-fishing zones.

Prominent amongst those participated in the meeting included D.S. Bains, Principal Secretary Home, G.Vajralingam, Secretary Irrigation, S.M. Sharma, ADGP, Security, V.K.Bhawra, all from Punjab, I.G. Intelligence A.P Siddiqi from Himachal Pradesh, P.K.Sharma, Assistant Director BBMB and BBMB Member, Power Ashok Thapar, Member Power and Karnail Singh, Chief Engineer, Bhakra dam. 

Chandigarh, July 19
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today cautioned the state Congress chief, Capt Amarinder Singh, against misleading the people of Punjab on the issue of Hansi Butana wall.

In a statement here today, the Deputy CM reminded Amarinder that it was during his tenure as Chief Minister in 2005 that Haryana had started work on the Hansi Butana canal. Charging Amarinder with having kept his eyes shut and allowing Haryana to build the canal, Sukhbir said the former Chief Minister had not even approached the court to get work on the canal stayed.

Sukhbir said it was also during the Congress rule that the Centre had started construction of the SYL canal “to rob Punjab of
its rightful share in the river water.” 

Patiala, July 19
Fresh regulatory measures for power supply have been announced by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today. As per the circular with new instructions that are to come in force with effect from July 21, one weekly off day has been imposed on the general industrial consumers being fed from Category-II feeders. For the arc/induction furnaces and rolling mills fed from Category-II and III feeders, four weekly off days have been imposed.

Condemning frequent changes in the power supply schedule, a majority of industrialists said they were facing numerous problems and have not been able to do routine scheduling of working days for the labour. Speaking to The Tribune, president of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association, Badish K Jindal, said, “Presently the entire industry in Punjab is facing many problems because of the frequent change in power regulatory measures. It is simply ridiculous to change the power supply schedule for the industry after every two-three days.” He further said that industrialists have to inform the labour about the weekly off beforehand and that is why the power supply schedule for the industrial units should not be changed before a month.

President of the Induction Furnaces Association, Mandi Gobindgarh, Mahinder Gupta, said that it was beyond their understanding why the power corporation was imposing weekly offs, when they claim that they had sufficient power to meet the demand of the industrial sector. “PSPCL has miserably failed to properly plan the power supply schedule in accordance with the availability of power, because of which the industrial units in the state are the ultimate sufferers. On account of the frequent change in the power regulatory measures, the industry has to reschedule its operations, which is not an easy job”, he rued.

According to the PSPCL spokesperson, the demand for power supply recorded in the state yesterday was 1815 lakh units (LU), while the availability was 1807 LU. Industrialists point out that when the gap between the demand and supply of power is negligible, then what is the logic behind the imposition of power regulatory measures on the industry.

Director Distribution, PSPCL, Arun Verma, refuted the allegations of the industrialists. He said, “We have imposed a weekly off on the industry on July 6 only due to overloading of the system. After that, we have given relaxation to the industry and power regulatory measures which would come into effect from July 21 are not the new orders but is only the withdrawal of the relaxation given to the industry. Hence, it would be wrong to interpret that PSPCL was frequently changing power regulatory measures.”

Chandigarh, July 19
Punjab’s attempts to wriggle out of its own undertaking against administering the oath to Harish Rai Dhanda as the Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission failed to find favour with the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court enlarged the scope of the petition.

Hearing the petition filed in public interest by young advocate Salil Sabhlok through counsel D.S. Patwalia, a three-judge Bench today made the state of Haryana a party; and sought details of the recruitments carried out by the public service commissions of the two states during the past five years.

The Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta, Justice Permod Kohli and Justice K. Kannan, also sought details of the recruitments taken out of the preview of the Punjab and Haryana public service commissions.

With this, it is clear that the Bench intends to come out with a policy on the way the commissions carry out their functions; and how recruitments are made.

As the case came up for hearing this afternoon, the state sought permission to go back on its stand against administering the oath to Dhanda.

The state, on the previous date of hearing, had undertaken that it would not go ahead with the ceremony till the final adjudication of the petition. The undertaking had come just a few hours before Dhanda was to be administered oath by the Punjab Governor.

On the previous date of hearing, the matter was also referred to a larger Bench of three judges by acting Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice A.K. Mittal.

The Bench also framed at least two issues for adjudication by the larger bench. The issues are whether there can be a criteria for the appointments made on constitutional posts; and whether the issue of appointment in such matters was open to judicial scrutiny.

In his petition, filed through counsel D.S. Patwalia, Sabhlok sought directions for restraining the state and other respondents from appointing Dhanda as the Chairman.

Directions were also sought for instructions to the respondents to frame regulations governing the conditions of service and appointment of the Chairman.

Chandigarh, July 19
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that millers and traders are liable to pay bonus to the farmers for rice procured by them for their private accounts.

The High Court has also refused to give relief to the commission agents seeking directions from the Centre to quash the notices issued to them by the market committees for the payment of bonus for the purchase of paddy IR8 from the farmers.

In their petitions, Sanan Rice and General Mills and other petitioners had also sought directions to the Union of India to pay bonus allowance to the farmers directly through the state government and for prohibiting its recovery from them. In some of the petitions, directions were also sought for the recovery of the bonus paid by the commission agents to the farmers “on the ground that liability for the same would be that of the Union Government and not of the petitioners”.

Dismissing a bunch of eight petitions filed by them, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “It is clear that liability to pay the bonus will primarily be that of the millers and traders for the quantity of rice, which is procured by them for their private accounts. The notices issued to the petitioners, thus, are valid and do not suffer from any violation of law or a procedure or want of jurisdiction, which may call for any interference.”

Observing that the issue pertained to the payment of bonus for 2007-08, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “The bonus obviously is announced by the government as an incentive to the farmers and is announced by taking into consideration various factors like the costs of input etc., which the farmers have to incur to produce the crop.”

Before parting with the orders, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “ If the petitioners feel that they are not liable to pay this bonus for this paddy so procured directly for themselves, they can approach an appropriate forum for recovery of the amount on any of the grounds that may be available to them after discharging the liability.”

Nawanshahr, July 19
Unbelievable but true. Sandeep Kumar, alias Lovely of Rahon, is just 15 and has committed two murders. The Rahon police yesterday arrested him for killing eight-year-old Harnoor, alias Sonu, of Machhiwara Road, Rahon. Earlier, Sandeep was arrested for murdering a three-and-a-half-year-old boy in September 2007.

He was produced before the juvenile court here and granted bail in November 2007. Sandeep and his accomplice Vijay Kumar were also arrested for breaking an ATM in March this year. While the next hearing in the murder case registered against him in 2007 is July 22, the hearing in the ATM case is on August 12.

Dr Narinder Bhargav, SSP, said the police had cracked Harnoor’s murder case in 12 hours with the arrest of Sandeep Kumar of Rahon and Baljit Ram of Usmanpur. He said the Rahon police on Sunday received information from Baljit Singh of Malkiat Nagar that his mother had found a gunny bag on the roof of the house emanating foul smell.

“While working on different theories to track the killer, the police picked up Sandeep. During interrogation, he confessed to have committed the crime. 

Ropar, July 19
An Army man and his wife, residents of Magror, were attacked by unidentified persons here late yesterday night. The woman was killed on the spot, while her husband survived the attack.

As per information, unknown persons stopped the car of Army man Navdeep Singh near Grewal village. Navdeep was travelling with his wife Harinder Kaur (25). Harinder was attacked on her neck with a sharp-edged weapon and she died on the spot. They strangulated Navdeep and left him in the fields assuming him to be dead.

Seriously injured, Navdeep was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. The police has registered cases against unidentified persons for murder and attempt to murder. Navdeep’s mother Jasvir Kaur said her son and daughter-in-law were returning after visiting Chhatbir zoo.

The family members had last talked to Navdeep at around 11.45 pm. He told his family that he had crossed the railway crossing near Lakhimpur village. When the couple did not turn up for a long time, the family members called them again, but got no response. A search party then went towards the link road looking for the couple.

Navdeep’s car was found parked on the roadside. The front glass of the car was broken and Harinder’s body was lying on the seat. Navdeep was found lying in the fields.

Patiala, July 19
In four different cases registered in a single day, the Patiala police has booked 11 persons for dowry and harassment. According to the police, a dowry harrassment case was registered on a complaint filed by Sunita against her husband Kulwinder and mother-in-law Sharanjir, residents of Ludhiana. In the second case, Devinder Kaur had complained against her husband Sukhwinder, father-in-law Balwant and mother-in-law Rajwant, residents of Fatehgarh Sahib. She said that she was being subjected to cruelty.

In another case, Saleen had complained against her husband Gagan, father-in-law Rup and her husband’s aunt Krishna, residents of Jalandhar. Meanwhile, Alauhra Kalan residents Pawan Kumar, Atma Ram and Sunita Devi were booked by the city police following a complaint pertaining to dowry by Pawan’s wife Rajni Bala. The accused are yet to arrested. —TNS