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Dy CM hard sells Destination Punjab
Bhattal says govt must come clean on Central funds
Pvt players score big in paddy procurement
Ludhiana industrial workers living in inhuman conditions
DSPs reluctant to join Jail Dept
Punjab teachers to get higher salary from October 1
Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan Union defers strike
Reprieve for PPP chief’s kin; not to be arrested sans notice
Online visa racket busted
Troupe singer murdered
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Prime Minister to open Khalsa Heritage Centre
New Delhi, October 7 Badal called on the PM here today. He invited him to inaugurate the prestigious project in the first fortnight of November.The Chief Minster also urged Manmohan Singh to lay the foundation stone of Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport. The new terminal building, located in the revenue district of Mohali, is jointly funded by Punjab, Haryana and the Centre. After some initial glitches, it was finally agreed by all the parties concerned that the building be named after the martyr. A spokesperson for the Punjab Government said that the Prime Minister had accepted the Chief Minister’s request and the PM’s office and the state government would work together to finalise the dates for the two events. Badal thanked the Prime Minister for giving the nod to the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) in Ludhiana under the auspices of the Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre. He especially thanked Manmohan Singh for his role in ensuring that the SGPC elections were held in September. Badal requested the Prime Minister for expeditious clearance of the Rs 750 crore HUDCO loan. He also took up the issue of revision of norms regarding payment of relief to affected farmers under the State Disaster Relief Fund. He said the existing norms were inadequate and a mere Rs 1,600 per acre could be paid to the farmer in case of cent per cent crop loss. This, he said, should be enhanced to Rs 10,000 per acre. The CM also called on Defence Minister AK Antony and asked him to sanction two new NCC battalions in the state, one for boys in Ropar and another for girls in Malout (Muktsar). Antony reportedly appreciated the efforts of the Chief Minister in establishing Maharaja Ranjit Singh Preparatory Institute for military training at Mohali.
Finally, end to 14-year-long wait
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Khalsa Heritage Complex at Anandpur Sahib in the first fortnight of November as confirmed by the PM’s office. This will end the people’s 14-year-long wait for a visit to the “ajooba”, touted as the eighth wonder of the world. The Khalsa Heritage Complex was commissioned in 1999 by the state government to commemorate the tercentenary of the birth of the Khalsa in the holy city of Anandpur Sahib. The project that was to be completed in five years took 14 long years for partial completion. The twin buildings, of a museum and a cultural centre, covering 70,000 sq ft on a 100-acre site were conceived by Boston-based architect Moshe Safdie. Dotted with controversies and delays, the opening of the complex had become a matter of prestige for the Badal government. Still, what the people will see once the museum is inaugurated is only a part of the museum project. The complex is divided into three parts. On a given day, about 5,000 people can visit the now completed temporary exhibition gallery, which will showcase exhibitions on various subjects, and the library with archival reference material, books, journals and digital music. The second part will consist of a 400-seat auditorium and a cafeteria. Both are nearing completion. A 540-ft bridge will take the visitors from the auditorium to the main museum through a complex seven-acre network of water bodies and pools. The main museum, when completed, will have 25 galleries, depicting and interpreting 500 years of Sikh heritage. Of these, only 15 galleries will be opened to public in November. While the construction of the galleries is complete, all the exhibits are yet to come. The exhibits in soon-to-be-opened 15 galleries will depict socio-religio-cultural evolution of Punjab, starting from the pre-Sikhism era to the present times. Visitors will be assisted in their choice of language with the head phones. Asked as to why the project had been delayed, Kamaljeet Sra, CEO, Anandpur Sahib Foundation, remained nonplussed. “We are committed to open the project in the first fortnight of November, no matter what,” he said.
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CII
Fair
Amritsar, October 7 Sukhbir said the state farmers should be allowed to export these two commodities to other countries through the Attari-Wagah border route. He said there was a great demand for Indian wheat and basmati rice in the Gulf countries, especially in Iran and Iraq, and also in Afghanistan. This way, he said, the Punjabi farmers could benefit a lot. Talking to mediapersons after laying foundation stones of seven development projects worth Rs 138 crore here, Sukhbir rejected the proposed Rs 1,350 MSP for wheat for the 2012-13 Rabi season as suggested by the Agriculture Cost Price Commission and demanded minimum Rs 2,200 MSP in consonance with steep hike in the cost of agricultural inputs. Sukhbir said it was a matter of concern that on one hand the price of DAP fertilisers had, due to withdrawal of subsidy, risen from Rs 437 per bag during the last season to Rs 1,125 per bag this season, the Congress-led UPA Government was trying to “befool” the people by announcing a meagre hike of Rs 230 in the MSP. The Deputy CM said the SAD had been demanding implementation of recommendations of Swaminathan Commission, linking the MSP of agricultural produce with cost of agricultural inputs. He said the Centre decontrolled the sale of fertilisers to “give freedom” to the companies to fix the price as per their whims, resulting in more than doubling the price of DAP within six months. Lashing out at the UPA Government for “deliberately slowing the movement” of old procured paddy from Punjab to other beneficiary states through rail routes, the Deputy CM said the Congress was trying to create problems in the procurement of paddy this season.
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Dy CM hard sells Destination Punjab
Amritsar, October 7 Visibly impressed at the range of products and services on display at the Expo, the Deputy CM emphasised that there should be a major interaction with industries in Punjab to usher in a huge transformation in the state. Commenting upon the industry-friendly infrastructure, he said, “Already private power players like GVK Power, L&T, Sterlite Energy etc are setting up power plants in the state. With the commencement of these power plants, the state will be power surplus very soon.” Sukhbir said the big cities of the entire state would be connected with four-laned roads in the next two-three years. Air connectivity in the state would get a shot in the arm with the commencement of international flights from Mohali International Airport and the upgradation of other airports in the state, he said. “In order to facilitate the industry for organising expo and conferences, we are setting up convention centres in Punjab. While Amritsar will be having two convention centres, the facility will also be raised in Mohali and Ludhiana,” he averred. Talking specifically about Amritsar, he said special attention was being paid to make Amritsar a major tourism hub. “Major companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Rail Coach Factory, New Holland Fiat, and Eastman Cast & Forge Ltd are participating in the Vendor Development Programme. These major companies will interact and identify MSMEs of Punjab to procure various products from them. We feel that this initiative will boost the MSMEs of Punjab,” said Kamna Raj Aggarwala, Chairperson, CII Punjab State Council. Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sud and MP Navjot Singh Sidhu were also present on the occasion.
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Bhattal says govt must come clean on Central funds
Chandigarh, October 7 Bhattal is set to pick up the gauntlet tomorrow, demanding the government give details of the total funds received from the UPA government and also those received by the state when the NDA was in power at the Centre. Bhattal claimed Punjab had received Rs 6,722 crore under 11 central schemes. The CLP leader said the government was wrongly taking credit for establishing the Mohali airport, Science City and various railway overbridges. She said “the Centre had given Rs 15,000 crore for these mega projects and that a large part of this money had been diverted to Sangat Darshan programmes”. She also claimed that only part of the Rs 13,000 crore received by the state under MNREGA had been spent. Bhattal said PPC chief Amarinder Singh had excused himself from the first sitting, saying he had a court hearing. “I hope he comes tomorrow”, she added. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar today dared the government to televise the assembly proceedings live. He said this should be done to let the people decide the veracity of the allegations being levelled by the Congress. On the ‘kerosene scam’, Jakhar said the government was running away from facing tough questions and hiding behind parliamentary procedures and rules. Congress media committee chairman Surinder Singla said the allegations, which had been substantiated with documents by the party in the assembly, were only the tip of the iceberg. He said sand and gravel worth Rs 2,000 crore per month were being illegally mined in Nangal area alone. Singla said the Congress would initiate a people’s movement against the “corruption” unleashed by the ruling alliance.
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Ticket aspirants battle it out before PCC chief
Faridkot, October 7 Factionalism in the party was evident with some local leaders openly ridiculing their rivals, prompting Amarinder to ask them to hold their tongue. Ticket aspirant from Faridkot Gurtej Singh Gill accused sitting Congress MLA Avtar Singh of supporting SAD candidates in the recent SGPC elections. Brar accused Gill of damaging flex boards welcoming Capt Amarinder Singh. Two main claimants for the Kotkapura seat, sitting Congress MLA Ripjit Singh Brar and Upinder Sharma, former Minister of Law and Jails, also put up a show of strength. Brar is younger brother of Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar. Joginder Singh, Congress MLA from Panjgrain (Jaitu seat post-delimitation) faced little opposition to his candidature. Capt Amarinder Singh warned the warring leaders against indiscipline. “I will only recommend names, keeping in view the winn- ability of the candidates. The final decision will be taken by the party high command”, he said.
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Pvt players score big in paddy procurement
Chandigarh, October 7 DS Grewal, Secretary, Food and Supplies Department, Punjab, said: “We have information that about 75,000 tonnes — 13 per cent of the total procured so far — had been procured by traders and rice millers till last evening.” The traders are paying up to Rs 1,200 per quintal, he said, adding earlier the traders and rice millers used to procure 1 to 2 per cent of the total paddy while the remaining used to be procured by government agencies. Notably, the traders have entered the market as the Centre has allowed the export of non-basmati rice, which is produced in bulk in Punjab and Haryana. “We are hopeful that about 30 lakh tonnes of non-basmati rice will be exported this year,” said Vijay Setia, president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association. Besides, the state government has offered to refund 3 per cent infrastructure development fund to those traders and millers who would export the rice shelled from paddy procured in the state. Also, the state government has exempted the traders from the levy on paddy procured by them. Earlier, they were allowed to retain only 25 per cent of the rice prepared from the paddy procured by them in private capacity and the remaining had to be deposited in the Central pool as levy rice. Setia said the state government decision allowing the procurement of levy-free paddy to traders and rice millers was a step in the right direction. “We have also requested the governments in other states, including Haryana and UP, to follow the Punjab pattern.”
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Ludhiana industrial workers living in inhuman conditions
Chandigarh, October 7 A study conducted by the Labour Welfare Study Centre at the Mahatama Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration points out the pathetic condition of over 19 lakh migrant labourers residing in Ludhiana. Not only are these labourers living in inhuman conditions, but majority of them do not even have access to ESI facility. They do not have access to the government dispensaries or government schools and are forced to shell out more money for seeking private treatment as well as education. The survey has been conducted in 14 localities predominantly inhabited by 19 lakh inter-state migrant workmen, of which 10 lakh are employed as industrial workers. Since none of them have been recruited through a contractor, they are not covered under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service ) Act, 1979. As a result, the factory owners are not liable to take care of their basic needs. The study points out that seven lakh of these migrant labourers are living in courtyards which are multiple single-room dwelling units in one rectangular compound and without access to natural light, ventilation or drainage/sewerage facility. The remaining labourers are living in jhuggis (hutments) in slum colonies near the Industrial Area and Focal Point. Only a handful of big industrial houses have provided accommodation for their workforce. Though the rules state that workmen who had put in over four years of service with one employer be covered under the ESI Scheme and get access to ESI hospital/dispensary for medical treatment, they had not been issued ESI cards, even as they had applied for these for long. Most of them rely on registered medical practioners and sometimes quacks for treatment. Other than a small number of these workers, medical reimbursement to majority of labourers is denied. The study has also come up with a action framework, which includes creating an institution with adequate powers and funds at its disposal to look after the welfare of inter-state labourers. It suggests that the Department of Housing create separate housing colonies; encouraging entrepreneurship through special courses by Department of Industries; and, creating self-help groups of these labourers to ensure their economic development.
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DSPs reluctant to join Jail Dept
Patiala, October 7 Surprisingly, following low pay scale and no promotions, in this age of unemployment, out of total 24 Deputy Superintendents selected recently to join in the Jail Department, only nine joined and the rest did not turn up despite repeated reminders. A major reason for that is that pay scale of a DSP jail is roughly Rs 10,000 less than a DSP in police, that too in very tough working conditions and limited scope of promotions. The last Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) of DSP-level officers in the Jail Department was held in 2003 and over 23 officers of the rank of DSP currently await their promotion for the past over eight years. On top of this, staff shortage, condemned vehicles, old weapons and wireless sets have made life of the officials posted in the jails really difficult. “The present DGP Punjab, Anil Kaushik during his last posting as DG Prisons tried to modernise the department but with his transfer, our department is again stale and things look pathetic ahead,” claimed a DSP awaiting his promotion from past over seven years. “We deal with hardcore criminals, ensure their court presence and monitor them for 24 hours a day without any modern weapons and vehicles and in return we get peanuts,” he added. When contacted, IG (Prisons) Jagjit Singh assured that the DPC would be held soon.
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Punjab teachers to get higher salary from October 1
Patiala, October 7 In a letter issued to the Director Public Instructions, Secondary, Punjab, by the Under Secretary Finance, Punjab, Jasbir Kaur, she has confirmed that after careful consideration of the Fifth Punjab Pay Commission, the government has decided to implement the new grades from October 1. Hailing the decision of the government, employees said there could be no better pre-Diwali gift than these revised pay scales. “I am glad that the government has implemented the new grades. We have been demanding them since long and new grades certainly act as a motivator,” added Amrik Singh, a teacher. Another teacher said people might allege that the government has done it to attract voters during the coming elections but the fact remains that the grades have been implemented.
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Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan Union defers strike
Patiala, October 7 Rohitdeep Singh of the SSA Union, Punjab, said they had now decided to take out a state-level protest march in Bathinda tomorrow before beginning their strike. He said this would give the government some time to think about their demands and take a decision. Even then if they refuse to accept our demands, we will boycott the work from October 10 onwards, he added.
— TNS
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Killer highway: HC steps in
Chandigarh, October 7 Information gathered under the Right to Information Act and furnished to the Punjab and Haryana High Court by advocate Vikram Sharda reveals that 17 were killed and 138 injured between December 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011. Justice Rajive Bhalla said: “The highway cannot but be said to be unsafe for the travelling public.” In his detailed order, Justice Bhalla further asserted: “It shall be the personal responsibility of the concessionaire and the NHAI to ensure smooth passage of traffic, and in case of an accident ensure that medical aid reaches the victim forthwith.They shall also ensure that the vehicles involved in accidents are removed expeditiously”. On the slow progress in the completion of works, Justice Bhalla added: “The pace of work can be gauged from the fact that a total of 123 flyovers under construction in February are still nowhere near completion”. In an apparent attempt to put the entire exercise on the fast track, Justice Bhalla ruled: “The National Highway Authority of India, and the concessionaire are directed to file affidavits spelling out the reasons for the delay, the amount of toll collected till date, the expenses incurred on the project and whether the toll can be levied for a road that does not exist.” Making it clear to the NHAI that it was duty-bound to ensure timely completion of projects, Justice Bhalla asserted: “The highway consists of more than a 100 diversions, that are narrow and unsafe. “A large number of bridges and flyovers are under construction for the past two years. It is the duty of the NHAI to ensure that the project is completed by the date assigned in the agreement”.
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Reprieve for PPP chief’s kin; not to be arrested sans notice
Chandigarh, October 7 Taking cognisance of petitioner Amardeep Singh Brar’s apprehensions, the vacation Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued directions, which will ensure he is not caught unawares. Issuing notice of motion on his petition filed through counsel Pankaj Bhardwaj, Justice Jitendra Chauhan directed the issuance of a two-day prior notice in case he is wanted by any branch of the Punjab Police, including the Vigilance Bureau. Justice Chauhan also directed the State of Punjab and other respondents to ensure the copy of the FIR, in case of its registration, is handed over to the applicant. The directions are significant, as in the event of an FIR being registered against the petitioner, he will be in a better position to defend his liberty after going through the contents of the FIR. The petitioner, putting up in Sector 11 here, had earlier claimed he was the nephew of estranged SAD leader Manpreet Singh Badal; and was apprehensive of being targeted due to political vendetta. He had added that those considered close to Manpreet were finding themselves at the receiving end. The petitioner contended he too had participated in Manpreet’s Jago Punjab Yatra. The case will now come up on October 12 for further hearing.
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Online visa racket busted
Mohali, October 7 The accused were remanded in police custody after being produced before a Mohali court today. The couple has duped many other innocent people. The SSP said the couple used to collect huge money in the name of George Fernandis. They themselves sent e-mails on behalf of the said George Fernandis to deceive the people.
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Patiala, October 7 The youth, who was a singer with a religious troupe, was sleeping in the verandah of his house when some unknown persons came and slit his throat with a sharp-edged weapon. — TNS
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Chandigarh, October 7
Chandigarh, October 7
