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325 power corp staff in for shock
CM dedicates memorial to people
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Badal woos ex-servicemen, BCs
Artistes rehearse for the opening ceremony at Chappar Chiri . Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu
Officials race against time for final touches
Capt invites Badal for
debate on contribution
To Quit
Or Not To Quit
Jalandhar Cong chief
suspended
Docs hold
black-badge protest
Doctors protest at Mata Kaushalya Hospital in Patiala.
Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar
Politics
on water
Disbursement
of old-age pension
PPCB teams conduct
raids on 206 battery units
US Ambassador open
to legislative exchange
FDI
in retail
Speaker files
affidavit in HC
BSF recovers heroin
worth Rs 15 crore
Officiating DIG Deepak Kandpal and other officers of the BSF along with the contraband at BSF headquarters in Fazilka sector. A Tribune photograph
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325 power corp staff in for shock
Patiala, November 28 The PSTCL management, in an abrupt move on November 15, transferred all the 66-KV works to the PSPCL and two days later relieved these staff members from their duty. The PSPCL, however, is yet to issue them joining letters, a development that has these employees worried. The PSTCL too is not ready to retain them now. Notably, the PSPCL and the PSTCL were created after the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board was bifurcated last April. The latest decision by the PSTCL has led to the stoppage of all types of ongoing works at about 58 grids (66-KV) across the state. Though both the power utilities had been at daggers drawn since their creation over one issue or the other, the new development has brought the divide in the open. Post-bifurcation, the PSTCL was supposed to transfer the 66-KV grid stations to the PSPCL (related documents are available with The Tribune). But, said sources in the Power Department, the grids had to be transferred to the PSPCL in a phased manner and not abruptly, as had been done. Meanwhile, a letter written by PSPCL CMD KD Chaudhri on November 23 mentioned that both the power utilities had, at a meeting held in Chandigarh a day earlier, resolved that the PSTCL would complete all the ongoing 66-KV grid sub-station/transmission lines works, including the deposit works, wherein the cost had already been deposited by the consumers. The letter reads, “The orders of the transfer of charge/manpower from the PSTCL to the PSPCL will be held in abeyance till the same is mutually consented between the two power utilities.” However, preferring anonymity, a senior PSPCL official confirmed that so far the PSTCL had not implemented the November 22 meeting resolve. While the PSPCL authorities refused to comment on the matter, PSTCL Director (Technical) Ravinder Singh denied any such meeting (as referred in the PSPCL CMD’s letter) was held. “Today, we have sent a communiqué to the PSPCL management and clarified everything pertaining to the matter in detail,” he said. Violation of scheme? PSEB Engineers' Association president HS Bedi has questioned the move to transfer the posts. "The transfer of posts from one company to the other is a violation of the state Cabinet approved transfer scheme. The employees can be transferred but with the mutual consent of both the companies. Hence, all the posts that have been transferred should be retained by the PSTCL in order to maintain sanctity of the transfer scheme," he said.
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CM dedicates memorial to people
Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan conducted the proceedings from the dais but it was the erudite Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Bath who stole the limelight. In his brief but educative speech, he told the gathering about the significance of the Chhota Ghallughara in Sikh history. Unlike others, he refrained from giving a political tinge to his speech and concentrated on the importance of constructing such memorials “so that future generations can know of the feats and deeds of gallant Sikh
wariors.” The only religious leader who was allowed to speak was Baba Kashmira Singh who runs the 500-bed SGL Charitable Hospital at
Jalandhar. The Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs and MPs stood up in reverence as the Baba finished his speech which received a thunderous applause from the audience. Thereafter, it was back to politics with former minister Master Mohan Lal urging SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar to pass a resolution in the SGPC House, conferring the “Faqr-e-Sikh
Quam” (Pride of the Sikhs) award on the Chief Minister for his “innumerable achievements and for some historic decisions, including the construction of memorials.” To this, the Chief Minister said: “It is destiny that these memorials have come up during my tenure as CM.” A 500-member delegation, which arrived from the Golden Temple,
Amritsar, two days ago, served langar to the congregation. At least 24 Ministers and MLAs attended the function. The BJP was represented by Swaran Salaria and Master Mohan
Lal. The Kahnuwan memorial (see picture) consists of a 100-ft tall minar and a couple of small buildings
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Badal woos ex-servicemen, BCs
Chappar Chiri (Mohali), November 28 Two days from now, thousands of ex-servicemen led by former Chief of Army Staff Gen JJ Singh will collect on the grounds on which Banda Bahadur bested Mughal Governor Wazir Khan of Sirhind. Besides 300 senior retired officers(Brigadiers and Major and Lt-Generals), the occasion will see a large number of decorated soldiers assembling here to pay tribute to Banda Bahadur. Special Principal Secretary to the CM KJS Cheema said serving officers, including Lt-Gen Manjit Singh from the Western Command, would also be present besides Uttarakhand CM Major-Gen (retd) BC Khanduri. There will be two functions. The inauguration ceremony here will be purely an ex- servicemen show with a display of martial skills by the Nihangs and martial arts by troupes from Manipur, Kerala, Jharkhand and Gujarat. This will be followed by a public rally held adjacent to the memorial. SAD sources said the government seems to have done its homework well. In early November, it wooed the “War Decorated India” (WDI) association by announcing a hike in allowances of all gallantry award-winners. It also formed an ex- servicemen committee to determine the cash compensation to be given to gallantry award-winners in lieu of land allotment. These initiatives have had their effect with decorated soldiers, numbering nearly 20,000, expected to back the government. There are around seven lakh ex-servicemen in Punjab. The Nihangs, who treat Banda Bahadur as one of their own, had so far felt that the brave warrior had not been given his due in Sikh history. Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh said that Badal ‘sahab’ had chosen to focus on Banda’s achievements, including creation of a Sikh nation within three years of the formation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh, a feat, he said, that had not been achieved anywhere in the world. He said it was unfortunate that this feat as well as his brutal execution at the hands of the Mughals was not given recognition till now. Sources said another reason why the SAD was focusing on Banda Bahadur, a Backward Caste icon, was to create goodwill for the party in the runup to the assembly elections.
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Officials race against time for final touches
Mohali, November 28 The 328-ft high octagonal tower to commemorate the victory of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his brave soldiers against the Mughals at Chappar Chiri about 300 years ago, is still not complete. A portion of the tower sidewall is yet to be covered with a fre-fabricated concrete slab. “Though the memorial was scheduled to be completed in about one-and-a-half-years, it is being inaugurated within 11 months before the code of conduct for the coming elections come into force”, said officials working on the landscaping at the monument site. Briefing the media, KJS Cheema, Special Principal Secretary to the CM, said the tower had three decks named Sadaura, Samana and Chapar Chiri. On the top was the Victory Tower in the shape of a dome with the Khanda Sahib in stainless steel. The eight sides of the victory tower have artisticl arches in an ascending order. The internal core shell of the Victory Tower is 82.40 metres high. The reflection of the tower in the water body is breath-taking. There are six shell structures along the water body with statues of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his five generals Bhai Fateh Singh, Bhai Aali Singh, Bhai Mali Singh, Bhai Baj Singh and Bhai Ram Singh on the top. Out of these, four are made of earth and two of RCC with a special framework. The complex has an open-air theatre with a capacity for 1,200 spectators. It is to be used for cultural activities. There would be a light and sound show on the life and achievements of Banda Bahadur on the week-ends.
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Capt invites Badal for
debate on contribution
Chandigarh, November 28 Reacting to
Badal's statement asking him to list one single contribution towards Punjab,
Amarinder said, "I am not answerable to people like Badal, but I must
mention that I tried to undo the wrongs that you (Badal) did to Punjab. I saved
river water that you had forfeited to Haryana by accepting money from your
foster-brother Devi Lal to construct the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal." Amarinder
asked Badal as how could he forget the Repealing of Water Sharing Agreements
Act when he was a signatory to it in the Punjab Assembly's unanimous
resolution, a step that he (Badal) had appreciated then. Listing Badal's
"contributions", Amarinder said, "You scripted the fragmentation
of Punjab so that you could become a chief minister. Thanks to your Punjabi
Suba movement due to which Punjab lost Himachal Pradesh and also the industrial
belts of Faridabad and Gurgaon to Haryana. As a result, Punjab is devoid of
precious industrial investment and the youth were denied jobs. Similarly,
natural resources, particularly hydro resources, were lost to HP."
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To Quit
Or Not To Quit
Bathinda, November 28 Hurt over
his expulsion from the party and the subsequent decision to revoke the
suspension yesterday, Garg said he would decide his future political course
only after consulting his supporters. Despite a phone call from Badal, Garg
appears inclined to contest the coming assembly elections on the People’s
Party of Punjab (PPP) ticket. Garg said PPP leader Manpreet Singh Badal was to
visit his home this morning, but the visit was put off as “I wanted to first
discuss the matter with my supporters”. He said he was keeping his options
open as he continued to be the national vice-president of the SAD. Garg has
started campaigning in the town, distributing calendars carrying the picture of
freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, indicating that he has made up his mind to
contest as a PPP candidate.
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Jalandhar Cong chief
suspended
Jalandhar, November 28 Though Walia maintained he had not received the notice as yet and
that he was out of station to attend marriage of a relative, he asserted that
he would fight it out if there was a move to suspend him. “I have not got any
suspension notice so far. But if I get it, I will not only take up the matter
with the Congress high command, particularly Sonia Gandhi and Gulchain Singh
Charak. After all, I am the DCC president and how dare anybody humiliate me
like this?”questioned Walia. Kapoor, a Congress ticket aspirant from
Jalandhar (Central), has, however, denied any link with the incident. “I was
there to meet the Congress observer like others and had an appointment with
her. But linking me to the incident is just rubbish,” said Kapoor. Walia
said action should have been taken against Raju as it was the latter who had
violated decency. “I am a victim, I showed all my humility and discipline by
politely asking people to leave the office as per directions of Chandresh
Kumari and got slapped. I am being punished for none of my fault,” said Walia.
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Docs hold
black-badge protest
Patiala, November 28 Demanding an immediate notification regarding fulfilment of their demands, the doctors warned the Punjab Government that they would be compelled to intensify their struggle in case the government delayed the matter further. Dr Vikas Goyal said they had been demanding the inclusion of non-practicing allowance with basic pay for calculation of all allowances. Though the Punjab Government has increased the age of teachers in all medical colleges, there are a large number of vacant posts in these colleges. We are demanding immediate filling of faculty posts in medical colleges from the PCMS cadre," he said. Dr HK Sodhi said the government should grant a special allowance after 20 years of service. "A revision in allowances for higher education, working in rural areas and conveyance in line with the latest pay commission report should also be done with immediate effect," said another doctor. Another demand is sparing specialist doctors from miscellaneous tasks like medical legal reports and VIP duties. "With elections round the corner, many specialist doctors are often deputed on VIP duties due to which the general public suffers. Moreover, the government should take adequate security measures for lady doctors," they demanded. They have also been demanding immediate promotions of PCMS doctors after constituting a Departmental Promotion Committee. Nursing, Class IV
staff boycott work
Patiala: Staff nurses and Class IV employees of
Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, have boycotted work indefinitely in the
wake of non-acceptance of their demands. Their demands include
filling of 300 posts of Class IV employees, making contractual staff
nurses and Class IV employees regular based on three years of service
and appointment of technical staff, besides nursing allowance and
promotions. Ram Singh, president of the Joint Action Committee, said
they would not resume the work till their demands were met. Notably,
all regular and contractual employees working in various branches,
including operation theatres, ECG, workshop and X-ray, have joined the
protest. Meanwhile, junior doctors, who had to bear the brunt in
terms of excess work in the absence of nurses, said it was unjust that
they had to do so much work. “Right from changing bandages to giving
injections, we have to do all the work which is tiring. The hospital
authorities must depute nursing students for the task,” they added. A
day of protests in Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib: It was a day of
protests here today as a number of employee and farmer organisations
held dharnas, much to the inconvenience of the general public. The
dharnas were organised in front of the deputy commissioner’s office
which resulted in chaos as protesters belonging to the BSP and the BKU
parked their vehicles on the roads. Besides, the doctors, nurses and
other staff also sat on a dharna outside the Civil Hospital in support
of their demands. The worst sufferers were the emergency as well as
outdoor patients. Though the doctors sat on the dharna for two hours,
they have threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demands
were not met. The BKU organised the dharna in support of their
demands. Addressing the farmers, Pishora Singh, president, BKU, lashed
out at the Central as well as the state government for ignoring the
interests of the farming community. Similarly, the BSP organised a
protest rally and criticised the policies of the Union Government,
besides lashing out at the Badal government.
Pharmacists hold
hunger strike
Fazilka: Eleven members of the
local pharmacists’ union sat on a 24-hour hunger strike at the Civil
Hospital here to protest against the non-acceptance of their demands.
The
protesters comprised pharmacists from different civil hospitals and
health centres of Fazilka district. A large number of pharmacists,
para-medics and other health employees also staged a protest rally on
the occasion and raised anti-government slogans. Their main demands
include registration of medical practitioners after 10 years of
service, change in their designation to pharmacy, senior pharmacy and
chief pharmacy officer, as per seniority in service and increase in
the number of posts of pharmacists at various health centres.
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Politics
on water
Chandigarh, November 28
The petition filed by Hari Singh
Nagra said reverse osmoses (RO) to prevent cancer was being installed
in some parts of the state in a highly discriminatory manner; and the
decisions were taken on political considerations. The petition seeks
directions to Punjab and other respondents to install RO systems in
all 11,849 villages with contaminated water out of the 12423 total
villages in Punjab to save people from cancer. In his petition
placed before the Bench headed by Justice M.M Kumar, Nagra added the
drinking water in the Malwa region has been contaminated from toxicity
and was unfit for drinking. According to him, toxicity of drinking
water has, in fact, contributed most to the spread of the disease in
parts of Punjab. For providing fit-for-drinking water, the State
engaged some agencies to provide purified water through RO systems. Alleging
favouritism in installing such plants, the petitioner claimed 32 out
of the total 42 villages have an RO system in the Gidderbaha assembly
constituency. On the other hand, people living in Badal’s Lambi
constituency are luckier, as all 72 villages there have RO system
installed. The counsel for the petitioner, Sarbjit Singh Khaira,
argued that Faridkot, Ferozepur, Moga and Sangrur districts too suffer
from poor quality of water equally but have not received RO systems.
Only eight villages in Faridkot, 14 in Moga and only 11 villages in
Sangrur have an RO system plant. The petitioner claimed an example
of discrimination in the distribution of the RO system on political
grounds rather than on a scientific basis was provided in Kamagarh
Shatran in Bhatinda district. It recorded the highest scale of 644
PPO uranium. The village is yet to get RO system.
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Disbursement
of old-age pension
Chandigarh,
November 28 As the case came up for final hearing,
a Division Bench was told: “The pension amount of 14 dead persons,
including one missing person, has been returned to the District Social
Security Officer, Tarn Taran”. The matter was brought to court’s
notice by Hem Singh and other residents of Kuharka village of the
district. Seeking an inquiry, they had alleged that the pension was
being withdrawn in the name of the deceased for many years with the
connivance of a sarpanch and a former sarpanch. Justice MM Kumar and
Justice Rajiv Narain R aina asserted: “In view of an affidavit filed
on October 20 by the Additional Secretary to the government of Punjab,
Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development,
Chandigarh, it has been found that out of a list of 25 alleged dead
persons mentioned in the claim, 10 persons are alive, one is missing
and 14 persons had expired. “The explanation given in the written
statement is that as per the procedure, a sarpanch of a village cannot
withdraw pension from the bank before the social security officer
prepares lists of the beneficiaries. “The account payee cheque of
the total amount as per lists is sent to the panchayat for
disbursement. The sarpanch withdraws the amount as per lists from the
bank and disburses it to the concerned beneficiaries, who have
identity cards issued by the district social security officer for
identification. Disposing of the petition, the Bench added as per
the report of the District Social Security Officer, Tarn Taran, the
prescribed procedure of disbursement of pension and returning of
undisbursed amount has been followed by the sarpanch concerned. No
amount has been misappropriated in the whole transaction”.
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PPCB teams conduct
raids on 206 battery units
Patiala, November 28 Confirming the same, PPCB Member Secretary Dr Babu Ram said
in the past few days about 22 teams, headed by Environmental Engineers
of the Board, inspected 206 above-mentioned establishments. Most of
them were found not complying with the pollution control norms. The
authorities said as per the Batteries (Management & Handling)
Rules, 2001, all the manufacturers, importers, assemblers and
re-conditioners had to register themselves with the PPCB and they had
to ensure that the used batteries are bought back against the newly
sold ones. Collection centres needs to be set up at various places for
the collection of the used batteries, which are to be sent only to the
registered recyclers, who must have adequate pollution control
arrangements. Speaking to The Tribune, Dr Ram said, “It came to
the notice of the Board that some dealer or recyclers are involved in
the practice of breaking the old batteries in an unauthorised manner
to collect the lead plates and were disposing of the highly toxic and
hazardous sulphuric acid in open channels, which not only can damage
the eco-system but is dangerous for humans." He further said
prior to the raids, the Board had spread awareness for getting their
establishments registered with the PPCB. Board authorities stated that
out of the 206 units that were inspected, 17 were the bulk consumer
and rest 189 were dealers, shopkeepers, recyclers and only few of them
were found complying with the prescribed rules.
PPCB Chairman KS Pannu said on the basis of the inspection reports
received from various teams suitable action, under the provisions of
the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, will be taken against the
defaulters. He appealed to all engaged in the business of selling
batteries to register their names with the Board, as per the
requirement of the law. "The batteries, when broken down, contain
toxic material like sulphuric acid and lead content, which are
required to be disposed off in scientific manner to avoid any
environmental pollution problem," he said.
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Unholy
act
Amritsar, November 28 Chatha said his wife Harveen Kaur and
brother-in-law Gurpreet Singh Anand visited the Golden Temple around
2.30 pm on November 26. “On reaching the shrine, they noticed long
queues of devotees in front of it, after which they decided to pay
obeisance at the Akal Takht and leave. When they were leaving the
premises, they came across a ‘sewadar’ near Baba Budhajee Beri and
inquired from him as to when the rush of pilgrims would decline.”
Chatha said the ‘sewadar’ told them that if they wanted to pay
obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum, it was not a problem and that he
would facilitate it. When Gurpreet asked him how he will manage it, he
said they will have to do “sewa”, which they took as doing
community service like cleaning utensils etc. They agreed and the ‘sewadar’
took them to the shrine from the lane where one gets ‘parshad’ on
exit. He himself stood there while sending with them one of his
associates. On their return, when Gurpreet asked him what “sewa”
they need to do, the ‘sewadar’ allegedly demanded Rs 1,000 from
him, said Chatha, adding that both his wife and brother-in-law were
shocked to hear that. He said they handed him over a Rs-100 note and
left the place. He said the incident had hurt him as he felt that
instances like these would portray a poor image before the tourists
visiting the shrine. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh said though the
matter had not come to their notice, still if the aggrieved persons
could identify the ‘sewadar,’ they would initiate strict action
against him.
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US Ambassador open
to legislative exchange
Chandigarh, November 28 Kalia has asked Burleigh to
devise a mechanism to ascertain the financial credentials of NRI
grooms and brides who come to India for matrimonial alliance. He said
the cases of frauds and cheating were on the rise in Punjab and
Gujarat. "Help of the US government in determining the status of
the brides and grooms living in the US would be very useful in saving
innocent spouses," he said. Further evaluating the response in
Punjab about the government's move to allow 51 per cent FDI and the
perception in Punjab about the Indo-Pakistan relations, the two
discussed the fallout of the same on Punjab. Addressing mediapersons,
Kalia said he had told the Ambassador that his party was not opposed
to FDI, but that it should be curtailed to less than 50 per cent,
keeping in view the interest of the business in India. Welcoming the
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for India bestowed by Pakistan, the
BJP leader said the US must prevail upon Pakistan to ensure that
terrorism was not revived under the garb of trade. Ambassador
Burleigh welcomed the BJP leader's suggestion of starting a forum for
a dialogue between Indian legislators and US senators and Congressmen.
He also raised the issue of Tri Valley University where several Indian
students were harassed after the university was shut down.
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FDI
in retail
Fatehgarh
Sahib, November 28 This was stated by Varinder Rattan, president,
District Beopar Mandal, after presiding over a district-level meeting
of the body here today. The meeting was attended by a large number of
traders. He alleged the government was taking anti-trader decisions
to favour multinational companies. He said by foreign investment in
multi-brand retail, the government was working against the interests
of small shopkeepers and industrialists. He said the traders and
industrialists were already suffering due to “faulty” policies of
the Union Government. He claimed more than 1.65 lakh people involved
in kirana business in the district would get affected.
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Breach in drain
leaves wheat fields inundated
Fazilka, November 28 Village
sarpanch Veeran Bai alleged that the Canal Department authorities
released excess water from a reservoir upstream, following which the
drain’s banks were breached and the water overflowed into the
neighbouring fields. Meanwhile, the villagers alleged that the
drain had not been cleaned for the past over 10 years, “a factor
that could also be blamed for the breach”. “Heaps of garbage
and silt are present in the drain. The matter has been brought to the
notice of the officials concerned in the Canal and Lining Department
time and again but to no avail,” the farmers said. SDO (Drainage)
SS Bhullar said the flow of water into the drain had been stopped and
the breach would be plugged soon.
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Speaker files
affidavit in HC
Chandigarh, November 28 The Speaker informed the
High Court that he had restored the under-secretary’s charge, taken
away against the status quo orders. The affidavit said the charge
had been restored to petitioner Ramesh Chand. The charge of drawing
and disbursing officer had also been restored to Paramjit Kaur. The
Speaker has already tendered an "unconditional apology for “any
inadvertent or unintentional lapse". He has also requested the
High Court to "expunge" the adverse observations against
him. Taking exception, the High Court had minced no words to say a
deliberate attempt to defy the orders was evident.
— TNS
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BSF recovers heroin
worth Rs 15 crore
Fazilka, November 28 Officiating
DIG Deepak Kandpal said the BSF officials noticed some landmark and
fresh mud under a tree about 100 to 150 feet inside the Indian
territory. After digging the mud, the jawans recovered five packets
of heroin. The contraband was wrapped in yellow adhesive tape.
Contrary to the routine one-kg packing, four of the total five
recovered packets, were of smaller size and one packet was of full
size of one kg. — OC
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Patiala, November 28
members of the Backward Classes by commemorating Sikh General Banda Singh Bahadur’s victory here in 1711.
Two days from now, thousands of ex-servicemen led by former Chief of Army Staff
Gen JJ Singh will collect on the grounds on which Banda Bahadur bested Mughal
Governor Wazir Khan of Sirhind.
Chandigarh, November 28
PCMS doctors of Mata Kaushalya Hospital here wore black badges and
observed a sit-in on the hospital premises today to protest against
the delay in implementation of their demands that have been agreed
upon earlier. Demanding an immediate notification regarding
fulfilment of their demands, the doctors warned the Punjab Government
that they would be compelled to intensify their struggle in case the
government delayed the matter further.
Unholy
act
Fazilka, November 28
Kahnuwan Chamb (Gurdaspur), November 28
