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Farmers lay siege to Mansa admn complex
Schoolchildren also join agitation
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BJP in trouble, HUDCO refuses to play ball
Pak to blame for floods, officials tell CM
Mohar Jamsher villagers refuse to be evacuated
40,000 acres inundated in Ferozepur
Water level in Beas down
Amarinder is a coward: Sukhbir
Major reprieve for 207 sportspersons
Farm varsity to promote Red Lady
Land for dumping garbage
ETT teachers issue a week’s notice to govt
CANAL ROW
Residents cry foul over law and order
Labourer’s death sparks protest
BSF forwards constable’s harassment case to special panel
SGPC election candidate at large
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Farmers lay siege to Mansa admn complex
Mansa, August 22 Women, children and the elderly were among the protesters. They squatted at the open space in front of the official residence of the Mansa SSP where they held langar (community kitchen) and served tea and snacks. The farmers demanded restoration of land to the farmers who had not accepted government cheques, Rs 1 lakh compensation to farmhands, withdrawal of police security from Gobindpura village and a notification to cancel land acquisition at the BDA Enclave
in Bathinda. Farmers of 17 unions decided to continue the dharna till their demands were met. While the number of farmers kept swelling, a handful of policemen were seen deployed at the protest site. The farmers arrived in tractor-trailers, trucks, SUVs and cars which led to chaos on all roads leading to Mansa. Family members from Ward No. 5 of the BDA enclave, Bathinda, also reached Mansa to register their protest against “forcible acquisition” of land for Urban Estate Phase-IV and V. Twenty farmers were arrested after a mild cane charge at Gobindpura village in the evening. The police searched a house where they took away Rs 20, 000 in cash, alleged farmers’ leader Ram Singh. In Jalandhar, traffic remained disrupted on the busy roads around BMC Chowk and the DAC complex as 400 workers of the Pendu Mazdoor Union, Zamhuri Kisan Sabha, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Kirti Kisan Union and Dehati Mazdoor Sabha held a protest march that began from Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall at 1 pm. Raising slogans against the SAD-BJP government, the workers reached the District Administrative Complex at 1.30 pm where they sat on a dharna, demanding that 116 acres of land acquired at Gobindpura in Mansa be given back to the original owners. The state president of the Pendu Mazdoor Union, Tarsem Peter, said the state government should not only hand over the land to its original owners but also scrap its land acquisition policy. A report from Amritsar said activists of various farmers’ unions began an indefinite dharna near the office of the Deputy Commissioner in the morning.Addressing the protesters, Satnam Singh Pannu, president, Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, and Satbir Singh, state general secretary, Kirti Kisan Union, alleged that the government was forcibly acquiring farmers’ land. Pannu said the government had acquired 166 acres in Gobindpura for a power plant by a firm which “has been blacklisted”. Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Gurnam Singh Daud of the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha and Dharminder Ajnala of the Pendu Mazdoor Union also addressed the farmers.
— Inputs by Dharmendra Joshi and Sanjay Bumbroo
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Schoolchildren also join agitation
Mansa, August 22 Also, a few schoolchildren in higher classes were arrested after they entered the acquired land ”, explained a tearful Balwinder Singh, a Class IX student of Adarsh School, Baretta. He said he had never skipped school for such a long period before. “The government has taken our land and homes. We are here to support our families and to save our land ”, he added. Like Balwinder, Karamjit Singh, a student of Class IX, Gurditt Singh of Class VII at Government Model School, Kullerian, and Amandeep Kaur of Class VII, Government High School, Gobindpura, have been camping at the dharna site with their family members, raising slogans against the state government. The protesters said not only school vans but two private buses had also been impounded by the police. “We have to walk miles in the scorching heat to board a bus outside the village”, said Gurmeet Singh. The farmers had installed loudspeakers near the Officers’ Colony where senior administrative and police officials reside Tea with snacks was served to those at the dharna site with the help of area residents.
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BJP in trouble, HUDCO refuses to play ball
Chandigarh, August 22 Earlier the UCO Bank, which had been approached for a Rs 750 crore loan, had demanded that urban local bodies fund 20 per cent of the loan amount. With the state government unwilling to meet this condition, the loan negotiations were
terminated. BJP Legislature Party leader and Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sud had taken up negotiations with HUDCO for the loan following the ouster of his predecessor Manoranjan Kalia, who had initiated the scheme. Sud said his department had met the conditions imposed by HUDCO, including providing a government guarantee for the loan as well as detailing how the money would be utilised. He said despite this, HUDCO had now gone “silent”, not replying to government queries about the loan. HUDCO officials could not be contacted for comment. Sources said though Sud had continued to hold parleys with HUDCO after Kalia’s ouster, the fact that the government solicited the loan without agreeing to pay any margin money doomed its chances. The Local Bodies Minister, however, said the government was exploring other alternatives and would try to establish the infrastructure development fund. Official sources claim the fund was unlikely to be resurrected. They said there was very little time to start negotiations with other banks or financial institutions. At present the code of conduct for the SGPC elections would last till the end of September. After this the poll code for the assembly elections was likely to be enforced by the beginning of December. This leaves the government with just two months to set up the fund. Sources say the BJP legislators in urban areas had been banking on the fund to bolster their image. BJP legislators in the Doaba region, which has a history of returning rival parties in every election, are likely to be affected the most. The BJP had mooted a Rs 1,100 crore infrastructure fund after it was revealed that Rs 700 crore had been handed over to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board to undertake development work in the Akali constituencies. Following this an escrow account guaranteed by the government was created to attract loans from various banks and financial institutions. The party had proposed an allocation of Rs 100 crore to each of the municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Patiala besides Rs 10 crore each to “A” class municipalities, Rs 5 crore each to “B” class municipalities and Rs 3 crore each to “C” class municipalities.
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Pak to blame for floods, officials tell CM
Chandigarh, August 22 The Sutlej enters Pakistan territory from near Mohar Jamsher village (in Fazilka). Official said Pakistan had blocked the natural flow of water at Suleman Ki headworks. Against the expected flow of 75,000 cusecs, only 45,000 cusecs was flowing into Pakistan's territory from the Indian side, which was resulting in the flooding of areas upstream the Sutlej. Badal has been urged to take up the issue with the Centre asking it to tell the Pakistani authorities concerned not to block the natural flow of waters in its territory. Sources said Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur urged Badal to release more water from Harike headworks to bring down the water level upstream of Beas that had led to the flooding of a vast area in Kapurthala's Sultanpur Lodhi subdivision. However, Irrigation Department officials told Badal that there was no scope to store more water at Harike headworks. From here, water is released into the canals in Rajasthan and certain parts of Punjab. Following heavy rain in Rajasthan, demand for canal water has also gone down there, which has caused problems in Punjab. Meanwhile, Badal today released Rs 10 crore for providing immediate help to flood-affected people in Kapurthala and other parts of the state. The Financial Commissioner (Revenue) has been directed to disburse the money to the deputy commissioners concerned for further disbursement in the affected villages. The BBMB authorities informed the State Government that there was prediction of substantial rain on August 25 and again in the second week of September. Owing to this, the water level in Pong dam would have to be maintained at safe level and could not be allowed to go up further. However, the BBMB authorities have informed the State Government that it would stagger the release of water from the dam to tame its impact downstream. Meanwhile, with a fresh breach in first defence bundh of the Beas early this morning, crops were wiped out in a large area near Bajewal village in Kapurthala. The fresh breach has added to the woes of the residents. Student swept away in flood water A Class VIII student, Girdwar Singh, who had gone to collect fodder was swept away by gushing flood waters at Chak-pati village of Kapurthala district. Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Harkesh Singh Sidhu said post-mortem examination of the child would be conducted on Tuesday. — TNS SAD not doing enough, says Cong Moga: The Congress has alleged that the SAD leadership was busy in the SGPC elections while the people in flood-affected villages were passing through hard times. Former Health Minister and senior Congress leader Dr Malti Thapar visited the flood-affected areas in Ferozepur and Moga districts. — TNS ferozepur farmers construct bundh At Basti Ramlal, the farmers constructed a ring bundh to sane their crops from the flood waters. Sarpanch Nishan Singh said the farmers pooled in resources and were working round the clock to safeguard their fields. Another elderly farmer said they were working overnight for the past one week. — TNS CPS visits flood-hit areas on cart CPS (Revenue) Sukhpal Singh Nannu who went to visit the flood-affected areas along the international border here on Monday got stuck in submerged fields as his vehicle broke down. Later, he clambered on to a bullock cart to visit villages in forward areas where the fields had been totally submerged. — TNS
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Mohar Jamsher villagers refuse to be evacuated
Fazilka, August 22 Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg said due to the release of additional 80,000 cusecs of water in the Sutlej in the wee hours today the flood situation had worsened further. Garg visited the village yesterday evening to persuade them to evacuate the area to prevent any loss to life. However, the villagers rued that though flooding was an issue, they had been facing several other serious problems that needed to be addressed. First and the foremost, they said, was the lack of a concrete bridge over the Sutlej linking the village to the rest of the state. “We have to depend on a makeshift bridge, which too is removed by the BSF authorities when the monsoon arrives,” a villager said. Besides, there was no overhead tank in the village to take care of the potable water needs, not to speak of the RO systems being installed in several areas of Punjab. Therefore, the residents have to depend on hand pumps, water drawn from where is not clean. “(Due to unclean water) Two persons succumbed to cancer recently and several others have been fighting diseases like abdominal disorders, indigestion, arthritis, falling hair coupled with vision problem,” said sarpanch Kulwant Singh. Also, the residents have demanded that fencing should be removed from the three sides of the village. “We have been living like captives…. We have to mark our entries on a register at the entry point of the gate of a barbed wire fencing manned by the BSF whenever we leave or enter our village. This is a cumbersome procedure,” said Makhan Singh, a resident. The villagers have also demanded that another boat should be provided for the convenience of the villagers. Then, there is the demand for a permanent Health Department dispensary in the village. Additional Deputy Commissioner Charandev Singh Mann said measures were being taken to address the problems of the villagers.
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40,000 acres inundated in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, August 22 In all these villages, including Dhira Gaira, Muthianwali, Nihala Lavela, Balla Megha, Kale Ke Hithar, Bandala, Kutabdin Wala and Basti Ramlal, the Sutlej water has entered the fields destroying standing paddy crop. In some villages of the district, the strong water current has even damaged the link roads.
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Water level in Beas down
Ferozepur, August 22 In all these villages, including Dhira Gaira, Muthianwali, Nihala Lavela, Balla Megha, Kale Ke Hithar, Bandala, Kutabdin Wala and Basti Ramlal, the Sutlej water has entered the fields destroying standing paddy crop. In some villages of the district, the strong water current has even damaged the link roads. At some places in the district, the water has even gushed into the dwellings of the farmers.
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Amarinder is a coward: Sukhbir
Chandigarh, August 22 Sukhbir said it was the Congress that had betrayed the people of Punjab by abdicating its role of a forceful opposition.
— TNS
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Major reprieve for 207 sportspersons
Chandigarh, August 22 The information on the creation of additional posts was given to the Punjab and Haryana High Court during the hearing of a petition by Sukhdarshan Singh of the Punjab Police against the state Director-General of Police and other respondents. Taking up the petition filed through counsel SC Pathela, Justice Ritu Bahri observed: “The grievance of the petitioner is that he was promoted as Head Constable against the sports quota and was given out-of-turn promotion. But has now been reverted. However, his juniors Gurpreet Singh and Amarjit Singh, promoted along with him against the sports quota, have not been reverted”. Referring to the written statement filed by the state and other respondents, it was claimed that the petitioner’s name was approved in promotion list C-II on March 2, 1990, and he was promoted Head Constable on April 24, 1990, in the 5 per cent quota. Since the petitioner was promoted as Head Constable beyond the 10 per cent quota of the list C-II, he was reverted to the rank of constable vide order dated February 11, 2009, in compliance with the judgment dated April 21, 1998, passed in the case of SI Swaran Singh versus the State of Punjab. In her detailed order, Justice Bahri added: “The state government has since accorded sanction for 207 additional posts for promotion of the sportspersons vide order dated May 18, 2011, as per the additional affidavit of PS Gill, Director-General of Police, Punjab. “By virtue of this order, the reversion order dated February 11, 2009, of the petitioner would be withdrawn and he would get promotion as Head Constable in accordance with the order dated May 18, 2011,” Justice Bahri concluded.
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Farm varsity to promote Red Lady
About 50,000 tonnes of papaya is consumed in the state per annum and most of it comes from Karnataka and Maharashtra. Initially, former Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar KS Pannu, who is now chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, had launched the papaya project in the district. Pannu said cultivation of Taiwanese variety ‘Red Lady’ was started in some parts of Amritsar on experimental basis. “I am happy that on my request the PAU has adopted the papaya cultivation project for trial at a large scale,” he said, adding he had made available 11,000 saplings of papaya to the PAU. The variety has been procured from Sholapur in Maharashtra and is hermaphrodite (genderless) in nature. It does not need more than 10 per cent male plants in the field. The PAU has decided to plant the saplings at all its 15 krishi vigyan kendras and also at its four orchards in the state, besides at its research farm on the campus. As many as 1,000 saplings would be planted at Laddhowal farm, 500 at the new orchard at PAU (Ludhiana) and the remaining would be planted at the university research stations at Abohar, Gangian, Bahadurgarh, Bathinda and Gurdaspur. PAU Director of Research Dr SS Gosal and Head of the Department of Horticulture Dr PS Aulakh would coordinate the project. PAU Vice Chancellor Dr SS Dhillon said he was hopeful of favourable results to the project at the commercial level.
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Tearful adieu to Lt Navdeep Singh
Gurdaspur, August 22 “The officer intercepted a group of militants from across the Kishanganga River, which also acts as the de-facto line of control (LoC) at many places in the valley. A fierce encounter ensued in which 12 terrorists were eliminated. It was during the encounter that Navdeep valiantly took a volley of shots all over his body which led to his death. My brave officer truly upheld the values of service before self in the Indian Army,” said Brigadier Ram Somtia. A large number of people from all walks of life, including Senior Army officials and political leaders, attended the cremation of the young Lieutenant. Tibri cantonment Station Commander JC Rangra, Brigadier Commander Harjinder Singh, Brigadier Ram Somtia, Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Gurdaspur MLA Gurbachan Singh Babhehali and former Minister Master Mohan Lal offered floral tributes to the departed soul. Joginder Singh, father of Lt Navdeep Singh, said, “My son won the battle against terrorists, but he gave his life for the country. He is a martyr. I will feel proud to send my younger son Sandeep Singh to serve in the Army.”
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Land for dumping garbage
Chandigarh, August 22 Land for garbage dumping was allegedly purchased by three middlemen in connivance with some MC officials for Rs 53.10 lakh and the same was sold to MC for
Rs 3.061 crore on the very next day.Six municipal councillors, including Om Parkash Gupta, a councillor of ward number 8, have lodged a written complaint along with documentary evidences to the Vigilance Bureau but a case is yet to be registered. Gupta revealed that on December 10, 2008, administrator of Municipal Committee, Mandi Gobindgarh, had passed a resolution (number 88) to purchase land for dumping garbage for which a grant of Rs 3 crore was sanctioned. The Municipal Committee was yet to be formed at that time and the SDM was its administrator. The MC was formed on December 18, 2008, and it released advertisements to buy land but failed. On July 22, 2009, again a resolution (number 64) was passed and this time all the councillors unanimously passed resolution to acquire land for the purpose. On October 10, 2010, owners of 32 bigha 13 biswa (little more than 5 acres) offered to sell their land for dumping garbage at Badali village of Amloh, around 12 km from Mandi Gobindgarh. An offer letter was sent to the committee by three mediators, who claimed that Kuldeep Kaur and her two daughters Jatinder Kaur and Perneet Kaur, were willing to sell their land for Rs 52 lakh per acre. On November 12, 2010, price fixation committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, held a meeting wherein area MP, MLA, SDM, DRO, BDPO, tehsildar and EO of Mandi Gobindgarh were present. On February 14, 2011, land was registered at the office of sub registrar, Amloh, at a cost Rs 53.10 lakh in favour of Sukhdev Singh, Harbans Singh and Balkar Singh. On February 16, 2011, these three persons sold the same land to municipal committee for Rs 3.061 crore. Gupta said while the offer letter was accepted from three women, land was purchased from three men. On March 15, 2011, the matter was brought to the notice of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who marked an inquiry to the Vigilance Bureau and ordered that report be submitted to him within 15 days. It’s been six months now but no report has been submitted in this regard so far, alleged the councillors. Fatehgarh Sahib DC Yashvir Mahajan said the price of land was fixed as per the market value. “The committee had bargained to purchase land for dumping
garbage and the land was purchased accordingly.”
The deal
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ETT teachers issue a week’s notice to govt
Bathinda, August 22 The protesting teachers, who met under the banner of the ETT Adhyapak Talmel Committee, resolved to decide their future course of action at a state-level meeting to be held on August 28 at Jalandhar. The teachers are demanding transfer of schools working under Zila Parishads and Municipal Councils to the Education Department and a pay scale of Rs 10,300-34,800 plus Rs 4,200 as grade pay as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission. They demanded that the process of shifting 6,200 ETT teachers from the Zila Parishad and Municipal Council schools to the
Education Department be expedited. Jagsir Sahota, a member of the committee, said they had been compelled to take the action as state president of the ETT Adhyapak Union, Punjab, Jaswinder Singh Sidhu, was taking part in the SGPC election. He said Sidhu should resign from the post of the state president on moral grounds. Sahota also said in view of the situation, the ETT teachers should now take a decision as to who would lead their agitation. At the Jalandhar meeting on August 28, it would also be decided whether the Talmel Committee should continue or a union be formed, he informed. Another member of the Talmel Committee, Hardeep Singh Sidhu from Mansa said the state government had accepted their demands in November 2010, but to no avail. Among those present on the occasion were Jaswinder Singh Jahangir from Amritsar, Heera Singh from Gurdaspur, Harpreet Singh from Faridkot and Harmeet Singh from Ropar. Later, a protest march was taken out from the Teachers’ Home to the bus stand where slogans were raised against the state government.
The Demands
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Capt rejects water panel’s report
Tribune News Service
“The report seems to have been prepared without any grassroots assessment of the situation,” he said. Capt Amarinder Singh, in a letter to the CWC Chairman, said, “It does not require any engineering expertise to make out how much danger is posed by the toe wall along the canal and this could lead to disaster and devastation in hundreds of villages in the state in case of floods. The toe wall has added to the danger of floods since it will block all the extra water from taking its natural course and push it back towards the state. He pointed out that the Hansi-Butana canal runs from West to East, while Ghaggar and Tangri flow from North to South. “The construction of the canal itself has led to the blockade of the water from these two rivers and now a concrete toe wall will further block the water that will ultimately be pushed back towards the state,” he said. Rejecting the report, the PCC President said, “This is quite ridiculous and unacceptable as the CWC seems to have either no idea of the ground reality or has deliberately overlooked the ground situation.”
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Residents cry foul over law and order
Patiala, August 22 Following a recent spurt in cases of snatching and theft, the residents have opted for private security to keep vigil at night. In areas of Urban Estate phase 1, Urban Estate phase 2, Centurian Enclave, Majithia Enclave, New Officers Colony and Manjit Nagar, residents allege that anti-social elements are on the prowl at night and snatching incidents have become common. In a recent development, residents of the Urban Estate were so perturbed with the rising incidents of theft and snatching that they got together and formed a body that represents all associations of the Urban Estate. “People can be seen drinking in their cars with the police being a mute spectator in the urban estate market”, alleged residents. Perturbed over the spate of such criminal acts, residents of Delight Colony, Charan Bagh and Lehal Colony, have erected iron gates and after 10 pm entry is only through one of these gates while others are closed. “If the police cannot provide us security we have to do something to get a peaceful sleep at night”, claimed residents of Charan Bagh. “Due to elections, numerous officials have been posted new in the city and thus nakas at night and night vigil is dormant for the time being”, claimed a senior police officer. In addition to these crimes, vehicle thefts have been reported in parts of the city with the cops failing to check the menace. The thieves have stolen cars, bikes, cycles and scooters with ease with recoveries becoming a distant reality. Patiala SP Daljit Singh said he was personally checking all the nakas at night.
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Protest outside minister’s house
Patiala, August 22 Hundreds of city residents under the leadership of Dr Paramvir Gandhi and Kundan Gogia gathered near the statue and carried out a candlelight march from there to Moti Bagh Palace, house of Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur. They handed over a memorandum to Preneet Kaur regarding the implementation of the Lokpal Bill in its original form in order to put an end to corruption. Meanwhile, a blood donation camp was organised at Rajpura by Punjab Yuvak Chetna Manch and Rotary Club, Rajpura, at the Rotary Bhawan as a mark of their support towards Anna Hazare. As many as 250 persons donated blood during the camp.
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Labourer’s death sparks protest
Bathinda, August 22 The situation took an ugly turn when around 150 employees started pelting stones at the security guards today in the morning following heated arguments with them. Though no major damage was reported, panic gripped the refinery and the police was called in to bring the situation under control. Bathinda SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said the situation was under control and the police had been deployed as a precautionary measure.
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BSF forwards constable’s harassment case to special panel
Jalandhar, August 22 The BSF authorities, who were prompt in initiating a probe into the case, have made it clear that if the allegations against the officer were found to be true, strict action would be taken. BSF Inspector General, Punjab Frontier, Himmat Singh said, "We are still probing the allegations and if they are found to be true, the case will be forwarded to the Security Force Court as per BSF Act rules."
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SGPC election candidate at large
Meanwhile, supporters of Sukhdev Singh have alleged that their leader is being framed by the police.Bimal Sharma, SHO, Tripuri police station, said the accused, a Panthic Morcha-backed candidate for the SGPC election in the Sanaur constituency, was booked yesterday. “The accused, who is also a property dealer, allegedly took two Patiala women in Manit Nagar on the Bhadson Road to show them a house for rent”,
he stated. The police said the accused took the unsuspecting women to the house late on Sunday evening and allegedly tried to molest one of them. The woman resisted and
ran outside the house, raising the alarm. The police said they had conducted raids at several places and expected to arrest the accused soon. The police has registered an FIR against the Sukhdev Singh under Sections 341, 354 and 506 of the IPC
on the statement of Narinder Kaur.
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Chandigarh, August 22
Chandigarh, August 22
Patiala, August 22