J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

‘Punjab govt owes Rs 12 crore to Khadi Gram Udyog’
Jalandhar, December 14
Expressing resentment over the state government's dilly-dallying attitude in paying back around Rs 12-crore rebate on khadi products since many years, Des Raj Gautam, chairman, Khadi Gram Udyog, Northern Zone, has alleged that the state government has been giving a step-motherly treatment by ignoring the concerns of the Khadi Gram Udyog.

Rs 82,000, valuables stolen from four shops
Phagwara, December 14
Four shops were reportedly found burgled in local Professor Colony in wee hours on Wednesday. The incident took place within 24 hours of the looting incidents at various petrol pumps in and around Phagwara. At first burglars struck Satguru Medicos in the colony, said shop owner Ashish. The burglars took away cash worth Rs 47,000 and valuables worth Rs 5,000.

Media adviser’s activities were suspicious: Majithia
Amritsar, December 14
Reacting on his media adviser Sarchand Singh's joining the Congress, SAD MLA and Youth Akali Dal president Bikram Singh Majithia today said Sarchand's intentions and loyalty were always suspicious. It will hardly have any effect on the Youth Akali Dal.

National award for Punjab Energy Development Agency
Chandigarh, December 14
The Union Government today awarded the first prize to the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) in appreciation of its achievements in energy conservation for the year 2011.

Lab technicians go on 4-day casual leave
Phagwara, December 14
All agitating 1,250 lab technicians working in 400 government hospitals and dispensaries of the state today went on four days mass casual leave causing much inconvenience to the people as medical services remained paralysed in the hospitals. The lab technicians observed two days pen down strike on December 12 and 13.

Power corp man dies after falling from pole
Tarn Taran, December 14 Raj Kumar (40), an employee of the Power corp, died when he fell down from an electricity pole at Chamba Kalan village, 30 km from here, late last evening.

‘Punjab govt owes Rs 12 crore to Khadi Gram Udyog’
Nikhil Bhardwaj

Jalandhar, December 14
Expressing resentment over the state government's dilly-dallying attitude in paying back around Rs 12-crore rebate on khadi products since many years, Des Raj Gautam, chairman, Khadi Gram Udyog, Northern Zone, has alleged that the state government has been giving a step-motherly treatment by ignoring the concerns of the Khadi Gram Udyog.

"Rebate of Rs 12 crore is due with the state government from 1997 to 2005 and despite taking up the issue with the higher officials in the ruling government several times, nothing fruitful has come out," claimed Des Raj.

"We were assured by the government to pay the rebate and believing on that assurance we kept on giving rebate to the customers in the period between 1997 to 2005, but till day the government has not paid a single penny to us," Des Raj said. Due to the non-payment of rebate, the Khadi Gram Udyog had stopped paying rebate to customers since 2005.

Due to the non-payment of rebate by the state government, prices of many khadi products have gone out of the reach of the common man, alleged Des Raj adding that if this situation continues, production and sale of khadi products may suffer in the future.

If Bihar and Gujarat governments have continued paying rebate to customers, then why is the Punjab Government showing least concern for khadi products, said the chairman adding the Central government has also been giving 20 per cent rebate for the past many years.

While detailing about the benefits of rebate practice, Karnail Singh, Director, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, said for the promotion of khadi products every year on Gandhi Jayanti, khadi stores across the state used to offer 5 to 10 per cent rebate on khadi products on behalf of the state government while 20 per cent on behalf of the Central Government and this practice remains on for the next 108 days of winter.

He said Khadi Gram Udyog has also pledged to give employment to around 10,000 unemployed youths in rural areas in the coming year while the employment target in the previous years was below 10,000.

To set up khadi project, the Central Government is giving 35 per cent subsidy on loan to the SC/ST, OBC and ex-servicemen and 25 per cent subsidy to the people of other general classes with a condition that beneficiary would give employment to one person after every one lakh investment.

Rs 82,000, valuables stolen from four shops
Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, December 14
Four shops were reportedly found burgled in local Professor Colony in wee hours on Wednesday. The incident took place within 24 hours of the looting incidents at various petrol pumps in and around Phagwara.

At first burglars struck Satguru Medicos in the colony, said shop owner Ashish. The burglars took away cash worth Rs 47,000 and valuables worth Rs 5,000.

Handa Provision Store, another store in the colony, was found burgled and mobile connections including bucks worth Rs 15,000 and cash worth Rs 20,000 were found missing, said shop owner Sumit Handa.

The burglars entered in the third shop, Bajaj Communications, in the same colony and took away a computer, an LCD TV, 10 Chinese mobile phones, some old mobiles and Rs 5,000 cash from the shop, said Vinay Bajaj, owner of the shop.

In the fourth burglary, the gang members decamped with Rs 10,000 cash and some other goods from Jyoti Confectioners, alleged shopkeeper Jagmohan.

When contacted, Phagwara DSP Sandeep Sharma confirmed the incidents and said the police has registered cases. SHO City Sarwan Singh Bal is enquiring the cases, said DSP Sharma.

Meanwhile, no clue could be traced in the robbery incidents, committed at Paragpur, Chiherru, Phagwara, Chachoki, Virk turn,Ladhuwal and Sahnewal on late Monday night.

Media adviser’s activities were suspicious: Majithia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 14
Reacting on his media adviser Sarchand Singh's joining the Congress, SAD MLA and Youth Akali Dal president Bikram Singh Majithia today said Sarchand's intentions and loyalty were always suspicious. It will hardly have any effect on the Youth Akali Dal.

Majithia said this during the inauguration of Khalsa College and a new ultra-modern bus stand at Chawinda Devi, near here.

"If Capt Amarinder Singh feels that he has brought a 'big shot' to his party, he can only feel sorry for him. Due to his suspicious acts, he was long been removed from sharing any responsible position. He was one of my four media advisers. Capt should know that if Sarchand had a major following, why is it that his father got just 16 votes in their native village Khiala during panchayati elections in 2008," he said.

National award for Punjab Energy Development Agency
Tribune News service

Chandigarh, December 14
The Union Government today awarded the first prize to the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) in appreciation of its achievements in energy conservation for the year 2011.

Viswajeet Khanna, Principal Secretary, Science, Technology, Environment and NCES, today received this award from Union Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde during the National Energy Conservation Day celebrations in New Delhi.

TPS Sidhu, Chief Executive, PEDA, said that PEDA had initiated various energy efficiency demonstration projects in the municipal street lightings, government buildings and industry to promote energy efficiency in the State. "LED streetlights and home lights have also been promoted to get maximum energy efficiency in lighting sector," he said.

Lab technicians go on 4-day casual leave

Phagwara, December 14
All agitating 1,250 lab technicians working in 400 government hospitals and dispensaries of the state today went on four days mass casual leave causing much inconvenience to the people as medical services remained paralysed in the hospitals. The lab technicians observed two days pen down strike on December 12 and 13.

Bhinder warned the government that association will strongly oppose the SAD-BJP alliance in the coming assembly elections, if their demands could not be accepted soon. Meanwhile, the ongoing agitation of Sangharsh Committee Punjab State Pharmacist’s Association entered third day today. — OC

Power corp man dies after falling from pole
Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, December 14
Raj Kumar (40), an employee of the Power corp, died when he fell down from an electricity pole at Chamba Kalan village, 30 km from here, late last evening.

The Chohal Sahib police has initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.

According to information, Raj Kumar was tightening wires after climbing the pole. The belt holding him with the pole lost its grip and he fell down on the ground and died on the spot. The postmortem was conducted at the Civil Hospital today.

Jagjit Singh Suchu, Deputy Chief Engineer of the local circle of the power corp, said the dependants of the deceased employee would be given compensation as per rules.