Moga, July 22
A Food Corporation of India (FCI) team from its New Delhi office, in a joint exercise with its local authorities, today inspected the stock of wheat stored on open plinths in various parts of the district following reports of damage to the crop due to rain.

Another team of the food procurement agency from its head office, headed by General Manager (Quality Control) CL Ram, is likely to arrive here tomorrow to check the quality of rice stored in the FCI storehouses.

The FCI authorities inspected the stock of wheat stored on the open plinths at Ajitwal, Dharamkot and few other locations in this district today, confirmed KD Jain, District Manager of the procurement agency.

Jain said it was a routine exercise and that the senior authorities were satisfied with the storage of wheat. “We have scientifically stored the wheat on open plinths and keeping a strict vigil, as per the guidelines issued by the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, the FCI recently started a massive exercise to transport wheat and rice stored in its storehouses to other states through special trains. Today also, there were two special trains arranged by the railway authorities to transport wheat out of the state so as to create space for the next procurement season.

On the other hand, there were reports that the rice millers at some places in the district in far-flung areas were not fulfilling the quality parameters with regard to rice, thus making it difficult for the food agency to accept it. However, the FCI is strictly maintaining the standards for acceptance of rice from the millers, which reportedly is delaying the process of milling of the last year’s stock.

As much as 40 per cent of the paddy purchased last year was yet to be milled by the millers in the district. It’s a huge stock that needs to be milled within the next few weeks; otherwise, it would create problems to store the next crop of paddy, the purchase of which would begin from the first week of October.

Chandigarh, July 22
In a “technical report” submitted to the Supreme Court, the State of Punjab has claimed that the Hansi-Butana canal is not only conceptually flawed, but is in severe conflict with the river basin’s principal morphological features.

The 17-page report by civil engineering professor with the IIT-Delhi Dr Rakesh Khosa has been submitted a week after Punjab sought time for the purpose from the apex court.

Dr Khosa has said that the ongoing concrete reinforcement of the earthen bundh would increase the chances of flood havoc in areas on the left bank of the canal.

“The right bank region, which falls entirely in Haryana, would permanently deprive the left bank region of a mechanism for relief from floods.”

On July 13, senior advocate Harish Salve had sought time from the court to submit the technical report on the concrete wall being raised by the State of Haryana lining the Ghaggar bundh.

Dr Khosa is said to have given a detailed and comprehensive report on the consequences of construction of the wall along the earthen bundh between “RD 45000 to 57000” in Kaithal bordering Patiala in Punjab.

The report has been submitted in reply to another report by a IIT-Roorkee professor filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Haryana.

The report, in addition to the earlier 46-page report by Dr Khosa, says the breach that occurred in the earthen bundh last year came as a major relief for Punjab and parts of Haryana on the left side of the Hansi-Butana Canal. He has gone on to describe the breach as “divine intervention” in view of the devastation that could have been caused otherwise.

The case is scheduled to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court on July 26.Slamming the Centre for its inaction in resolving the water disputes between Punjab and Haryana, the Supreme Court had recently suggested that the controversy over the Hansi-Butana canal be referred to a tribunal.A Bench comprising Justices JM Panchal and HL Gokhale pointed out that the Supreme Court had already clarified in its verdict relating to the Cauvery river waters that inter-state water disputes should be resolved by tribunals.

Patiala, July 22
After exchange of gunfire for the past many years, there is exchange of wildlife on cards between India and Pakistan. Certain wildlife species are in surplus in Punjab, while others are near extinction. The Punjab Wildlife Department has mooted a proposal to exchange wildlife species with their counterparts from the Pakistan Punjab. The exchange would primarily be of wild animals and birds.

The Punjab Chief Minister has already given a nod to the exchange and the Punjab Wildlife Department would soon shoot a letter to the Pakistan Punjab government for necessary action. While the Lahore Zoo has already been identified for the exchange, other venues would also be selected from where species would be procured, according to sources in Wildlife Department.

The Punjab government is keen to import some pairs of the state bird of Punjab, the eastern goshawk (baaz), white peacocks, porcupines and other species. While the religious significance of the eastern goshawk has been established by a committee of experts formed by the Punjab government. Due to the association of the bird with Guru Gobind Singh, it’s a prized possession and has not been spotted in parts of Punjab from long.

Talking to The Tribune, Chief Wildlife Warden Punjab, Gurbaj Singh, said that the plan has been approved at the highest level and very shortly birds, animals and other species would be identified as per norms. “We will have to see at what rate the exchange of animals as per species barter system takes place”, he added.

“We would surely like to have pairs of the state bird from Pakistan, if it is available with them,” said Punjab Minister for Forests and Wildlife, Arunesh Shakar. The Tribune was the first to highlight the plight of the state bird in December and had reported as to how the bird was nearing extinction.

Chandigarh, July 22
Perturbed over reports that the BJP’s image has suffered much damage in the past few months, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal will hold a meeting with the BJP leadership in Delhi tomorrow on the issue. Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma and leader of the BJP in the Vidhan Sabha Tikshan Sud will also attend the meeting.

The SAD leadership is extremely worried that the setback to the image of its alliance partner may damage SAD’s electoral fortunes.The meeting will discuss seat-sharing between the SAD and the BJP. The alliance partners are contemplating swapping seats.

Sources said despite SAD’s plea that the BJP should not contest seats it has been repeatedly losing, the BJP is adamant on putting up candidates in 23 of the 117 Vidhan Sabha seats. As a way out, the SAD president has suggested that the parties swap certain seats, keeping in mind the winnability of candidates.Senior SAD leaders say the BJP high command has failed to check growing factionalism within the state unit after some leaders were “unfairly removed on mere allegations at the behest of some central BJP leaders”. This they say will directly hit the BJP during the elections and in turn may upset SAD calculations.

The internal rife in the BJP is evident from the fact that many decisions taken by BJP ministers have been reversed or put on hold by the new ministers. In the past few weeks, two cases of corruption have been filed against a sitting BJP minister by employees of his own department. This has further worried the SAD.

The BJP has agreed to give the SAD the Garshankar seat, now held by Lov Kumar Goldy of the Congress, in lieu of the Ludhiana (West) seat vacated by Harish Rai Dhanda. The BJP is expected to field former BJP president Rajinder Bhandari from this seat.The SAD and BJP have almost agreed to swap one seat in Amritsar city. Post- delimitation, the Amritsar (West) held by OP Soni of the Congress has been declared reserved. The BJP wants to give up this seat for Amritsar (South) held by SAD’s Inderbir Bolara.

Poll Beats

n SAD-BJP Chaun saalan che Badal gayi tasveer Punjab di. Europe warge stadium Punjab vich banaye, Lokan layi kanoon banaya sewa da adhikar. n PPP Sain ve rangla Punjab nu bachayin, Sain ve thakayan di himmat wadayin, Sain ve sutti hoyi ankh jagayi, Sain ve paniyan nu jaher to bachayin. n Congress Panj saalan vich vinaash, Panj mahine de vich ki hou vikas. Sarkari adhara chaar te theka, Sarkar nu dena paina lekha

Chandigarh, July 22
Even though it is still six months to the polls in Punjab, political parties have started the process of wooing the electorate through song and satire with the SAD-BJP first off the block, followed by the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP). The Punjab Congress too is getting its act together and will start its ‘song-and-drama’ campaign in September.

The ruling SAD-BJP alliance has started its campaign with songs and ditties hailing the transformation of Punjab by “Badal sarkar,’ playing on FM radio and television.

The ruling dispensation’s is playing on the theme “Chaun saalan che badal gayi tasveer Punjab di”. The songs and dialogues which have been composed by renowned lyricist Babu Singh Mann, highlight the “achievements” of the government, including setting up of new thermal plants and other infrastructure.

The ditties pull at the heartstrings of the people with lyrics such as “Europe warge stadium Punjab vich banaye,” while referring to the steps taken to promote sports and “Lokan layi kanoon banaya sewa da adhikar,” which refers to the introduction of the Right to Service Act. All the appeals end with the reassuring slogan “Punjab sarkar: Tuhadah vishwas, saadi taaqat”.

Nirbjit Singh Dhonoa, Officer on Special Duty to the Deputy Chief Minister, says an effort was being made to make the people aware of the unique strides made in development and governance in a simple language.

Even as the SAD-BJP has earmarked a Rs 10-crore budget for advertisements on radio, print and television, the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) has made its own foray by releasing a compact disc of PPP songs. These songs, which have been penned by satirist-turned-PPP member Bhagwant Mann, further raise the patriotic pitch adopted by PPP President Manpreet Singh Badal. The PPP President maintains the songs reflect the mood of the people who are ready to script a new story rather than alternating between the SAD and the Congress.

The songs have themes like “Sain ve rangla Punjab nu bachayin” and “Na takri na panja” (neither the SAD or Congress).

The Punjab Congress is still finalising its ditties to take on the SAD-BJP and will be using the print and electronic media, said Capt Sandeep Sandhu, who is looking after the party’s IT initiatives.

The party will attack the claims of the SAD-BJP government with a ditty saying: “Panj saalan vich vinash, panj saalan de vich ki hu vikas”. Party media in charge Surinder Singla says the party would also be using the Internet to redefine and restate the party position on various important issues.

Political parties are also giving multi-media options a try. Sanjeev Kochhar, who heads the regional office of janpratinidhi.com says voluntary organisation Srishti has come up with technology solutions targeting Punjab in light of the forthcoming elections. The new tools offered include tele-conferencing with party workers at the flip of a button and feedback to leaders from the people.

Sanour (Patiala), July 22
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today lashed out at his Haryana counterpart Bhupinder Singh Hooda for allegedly mistreating Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon during his recent visit to the site where the neighbouring state was constructing a 3.75-km-long toe wall alongside the Hansi Butana canal.

Speaking to mediapersons here on the sidelines of a sangat darshan programme, Badal advised the Haryana Government to refrain from making any contentious statement on the issue. “I am making it absolutely clear to Hooda that any wrong statement on the canal issue can spoil cordial relations between the two states,” the Chief Minister said.

Also, Badal attacked the Punjab Congress leaders saying they “were making no efforts to get the matter resolved”. “If I can meet the Prime Minister on the issue, why can’t the Congress leaders urge their party high command to protect the interests of Punjab,” he said.

On whether or not the assembly elections would be preponed, the Chief Minister said “there was no such possibility”.

Meanwhile, on the first day of the two-day Sangat Darshan programme being organised in Sanour constituency, Badal heard the grievances of the residents of 120 villages. He directed the district administration to redress the problems at the earliest and also disbursed grants worth Rs 6.5 crore for developmental works in the area.

Earlier, Badal inaugurated a newly constructed modern fruit and vegetable market, which is equipped with ultra-modern facilities of ripening chambers, pack house, cold store, sorting and grading lines. Spread over 20 acres of land, the market has been constructed by the Punjab Mandi Board at a cost of Rs 23 crore.

Ferozepur, July 22
Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon today said the “silence” of the state Congress leadership on the Hansi Butana canal issue was allegedly going in the favour of Haryana. By staying “silent”, he said, the Congress was trying to “appease” its central leadership.

Instead of making attempts to save several Punjab districts from the “impending threat of floods” due to the construction of the toe wall alongside the canal, the Congress was allegedly trying to curb the voice being raised by the SAD against the “injustice” by Haryana.

“If the Congress men can’t oppose the construction of the toe wall, they should at least keep their mount shut over the issue and allow the SAD-BJP government to pursue the case,” he said.

Reacting to the Congress’ statement that “he be sacked for impropriety”, Sekhon denied he ever threatened any Haryana official. “I only refused to talk to him and told him that I will only speak to the Haryana Minister concerned on the canal issue.”

Khangwari (Hoshiarpur), July 22
Poachers in the lower Shivaliks continue to have a free run as proved by the death of yet another male adult leopard in this village in the wee hours today. The leopards is a protected species under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act.

The beast had climbed onto a tree on which a trap had been set. It died a painful death while struggling to free itself from the trap. Wildlife officials that reached there tranquilised the animal but it was too late. The leopard died this evening. Hoshiarpur Divisional Forest Officer Satnam Singh and his ill-equipped, unskilled team could not save the animal.

Sources said the officials axed the tree to save the animal, but this further injured the animal. This is the fifth leopard in the past 14 months to have fallen to poachers in the Kandi area of Punjab.

Chief Wildlife Warden Gurbaz Singh, who reached Hoshiarpur late this evening, said the portmortem would be conducted in his presence tomorrow.

Patiala, July 22
The Punjab Pollution Control Board has issued notices to 19 brick-kilns across the state for violating the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Board Chairman KS Pannu said here today that on June 29 board officers had conducted raids on 105 brick-kilns in various parts of the state.The report on the samples of fly ash taken from these kilns revealed that 19 such units were using rubber tyres as fuel.

“The samples were analysed to ascertain the kind of fuel being used for the brick-kilns. It has come to light that 19 brick-kilns were using rubber tyres as fuel, a dangerous air pollutant banned by the state government. The main reason for the use of rubber as fuel is to minimise the cost of production,” Pannu said.

The burning of rubber in any form produce gases harmful to environment in general and biodiversity in particular. All the erring units have been issued notices under Section 31-A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Pannu said these units would be given a chance to give an explanation.

Patiala, July 22
Engineers working with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), will observe ‘Pen-down and tool-down’ strike from 11 am to 1 pm on July 26. The PSEB Engineers’ Association has given the strike call to lodge its protest against the failure of the Punjab Government to accord approval for setting up of the proposed 1320-MW thermal plant under the state sector at Mukerian.

Giving this information, the association president HS Bedi said, “On July 26, our association will also issue a White Paper on the lopsided power- generation policy of the Punjab government.” Bedi further said that as per the proposal sent to the state government by the PSPCL management, from the total financial requirement of about Rs 7,000 crore, about 90 per cent of the 1320-MW thermal project cost would be borne by the Power Finance Corporation and the rest by the PSPCL. “Not a single penny has to be invested by the state government. But still, the government is not giving clearance to the project”, he said.

Further commenting on the matter, the general secretary of the association, Bhupinder Singh stated that PSPCL is meeting 52 per cent of the power demand of its consumers from own generation and rest from the central sector allocation and power purchase from private players. “The power engineers are worried that with share of own power generation going down to less than 19 per cent with the commissioning of new plants under the private sector, the cost of power will further rise, leading to a sharp increase in the consumer tariff in the state. Hence, we appeal to the Punjab Chief Minister to grant immediate approval to set up the 1320-MW thermal plant under the state sector”, he said.

Bhupinder further said that the engineers are also agitated over the delay in the recruitment for the posts of assistant engineers on a regular basis. He said, “More than 650 posts of engineers are lying vacant for the past many years.The working of the generating stations, grid sub-stations and field offices is being adversely affected due to the paucity of the staff and engineers. Many 220 grid sub-stations, which were commissioned recently, are being operated without any qualified staff”. 

New Delhi, July 22
The Supreme Court today granted another six-month extension for completing the trial of former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur in the case relating to the murder of her daughter Harpreet Kaur.

A Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma granted more time as some witnesses have yet to be examined. Harpreet had allegedly married a person against the wishes of her mother. Prior to the murder, she was subjected to abortion.

Chandigarh, July 22
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion to the State of Punjab and the Director, Sainik Welfare, on a two-year extension to Lt Col Manmohan Singh as Jalandhar District Sainik Welfare Officer.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Adarsh Goel and Justice AK Mittal issued notices for November 11 on a petition filed in public interest by RTI Activists Federation vice-president HS Rathee.

Challenging the order dated July 14 granting two years’ extension, the petitioner through counsel HC Arora contended that Manmohan Singh, because of his political connections, had been given extension on 12 occasions during the past 24 years.

Even though the upper age limit for appointment to the post was 55 and the retirement age 58, Manmohan Singh had been given extension for two years at the age of 78, Arora asserted.

He alleged the government did not attempt to issue advertisement for inviting applications from eligible and willing candidates for appointment to the post on a regular basis.

He said the recommendation for granting life-time extension to Lt Col Manmohan Singh was made by then Health and Family Welfare Minister Manoranjan Kalia vide letter dated November 22, 1999, to the Chief Minister.