SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
punjab
P U N J A B
Top stories | Community
Courts | Crime

TOP STORIES

AGENDA 2012-17, Industry
Make the investor feel at home, he’ll stay

Industry was one crucial sector on which the SAD-BJP government during its last stint had little to write home about. Will it change the script this time around? The answer will depend on how it treats potential investors, many of who had been complaining of inordinate delays in the approval process.

Babus 'close' to Congress too getting plum postings
Chandigarh, March 20
Contrary to what had been though earlier, the SAD-BJP government has not been showing any bias while appointing bureaucrats. The answer will depend on how it treats potential investors, many of who had been complaining of inordinate delays in the approval process.

Debt-ridden state sees its population prosper
Chandigarh, March 20
Punjab is neither the fastest growing state nor has it the highest per capita income in the country. Instead, it is one of the highly debt-ridden states where farmers have been committing suicides.



YOUR TOWN
Amritsar
Chandigarh


EARLIER STORIES



Farmers’ protest halts rail traffic
Members of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee squat on railway tracks at the Amritsar railway station on Tuesday.Amritsar, March 20
Hundreds of passengers had to face inconvenience today as protesting farmers brought rail traffic to a halt at the local railway station. More than 10 trains were delayed as the farmers continued their protest for around four hours.

Members of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee squat on railway tracks at the Amritsar railway station on Tuesday. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Atwal Speaker, Babbu his deputy 
Chandigarh, March 20
The year was 2002, day March 20. Charanjit Singh Atwal ceased to be the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The same day today, he was back in the saddle, elected unanimously as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.






COMMUNITY

Badal meets PM on SGPC
New Delhi, March 20
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambram seeking immediate convening of a session of the SGPC .

Sikh clergy calls meeting of all outfits on March 23
Amritsar, March 20
In a significant move, the Sikh high priests today called an emergency meeting of all religious, social and political organisations on March 23 to evolve a consensus on how to save former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana from gallows.

Harsimrat bats for arhtiyas
New Delhi, March 20 Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today put up a spirited fight in the Lok Sabha in support of commission agents (arhtiyas), saying they should not be barred from procuring foodgrain for the Food Corporation of India.

Dwindling sparrow population
Loss of natural habitat to blame: Experts
Jalandhar, March 20
It is not only the urban areas but the countryside has also witnessed a massive decline in the population of house sparrow in the past three decades.

Panth Rattan for Baba Harbans Singh

Baba Harbans Singh's successor Baba Bachan Singh receives the award.
Baba Harbans Singh's successor Baba Bachan Singh receives the award. Photo: Vishal Kumar
nThe Akal Takht on Tuesday gave the Panth Rattan award to Baba Harbans Singh of Delhi posthumously for his contribution in the field of ‘kar sewa’. Baba’s successor Baba Bachan Singh received the award from the Sikh high priests at the Akal Takht.

nApart from religious field, he also contributed immensely to health care and education by constructing buildings for various hospitals and educational institutions.

nBorn at Nurpur Thal village of Sargodha district in undivided Punjab in 1920, Baba Harbans Singh started his journey in ‘kar sewa’ from Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in 1943. He passed away last year.

Earlier recipients

Prior to him, former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Giani Sant Singh Maskeen, Bhai Jasbir Singh Khalsa Khannewale, Bhai Mahinder Singh from the UK and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal have been given the prestigious Panth Rattan award.

(Text: Perneet Singh)

Encroachments along roads to go: Dhillon
Chandigarh, March 20
Even as other ministers are still settling in, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon has come out with his immediate agenda. He plans to get all encroachments along roads in rural areas removed within one month starting from May 1.

MLA’s petrol pump looted
Batala, March 20
Four persons allegedly looted Rs 1.5 lakh from the manager of a petrol pump here yesterday.

Paddy Season
Power Corp inks pacts for eight-hour supply
Patiala, March 20
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has signed short-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with different firms to supply eight-hour power to agricultural pumpsets in Punjab during the paddy season this year. The total power to be purchased for the paddy season would be around 3,200 million units (MUs).

2-day PAU’s Kisan Mela begins today
Ludhiana, March 20
A two-day Kisan Mela of the Punjab Agricultural University will start on the university campus here from tomorrow. On the first day, the PAU authorities will honour four progressive farmers of the state with the Chief Minister Awards. Two farmers will get award in agriculture, while the other two in horticulture.

Infection control programme for hospitals launched
Ludhiana, March 20
The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), a constituent body under the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a leading global medical technology company, collectively rolled out an infection control programme here today for hospitals of Punjab.

PAU to start courses for kids of small farmers
Ludhiana, March 19
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has decided to start short-term technical courses for children of small farmers. In these courses, the university would train students to repair the fans, mobiles and tractors.

Varsity starts online Gurmat Sangeet library
Patiala, March 20
Punjabi University has established an online library on Gurmat Sangeet. The Bhai Randhir Singh Online Gurmat Sangeet Library is the first in this field, said Dr Amritpal Kaur, director of the project, during the inauguration of the five-day workshop on Gurmat Sangeet Literature.

Crime slows down economic growth: SSP
Chandigarh, March 20
"Crime undermines economic growth and distorts the development process by misdirecting resources,” said Nawanshahr SSP Narinder Bhargava while addressing a symposium on 'Education and Research in Forensic Science - Issues and Challenges' organised by the Department of Forensic Science at Punjabi University, Patiala.

COURTS

Submit fresh info on red card holders, Punjab told
Chandigarh, March 20
Punjab was today virtually caught fibbing. It denied any irregularity in the issuance of red cards to 578 riot victims. But, the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that a vigilance inquiry, said to have been conducted in matter, has found that the documents furnished by as many as 30 beneficiaries were forged.

CRIME

MLA’s petrol pump looted
Batala, March 20
Four persons allegedly looted Rs 1.5 lakh from the manager of a petrol pump here yesterday. Vaishno Dass, manager of Abhijay Filling Station, owned by local Congress MLA Ashwani Sekhri, was about to move to deposit the money in a bank.

Two jail officials booked
Chandigarh, March 20
Punjab Director General of Prisons Shashi Kant’s assertion that the prison bars were not strong enough to keep the drugs mafia away today received credence when the state informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that an FIR has been registered against two jail officials.

Top




















 
TOP STORIES

AGENDA 2012-17, Industry
Make the investor feel at home, he’ll stay
If Gujarat is Punjab’s model, that will mean treating every prospective investor as a guest of honour, and efficiently delivering what he needs. On infrastructure and land availability, some quick decisions will be needed if the govt expects dividends before the next elections
Ruchika M. Khanna/TNS

Industry was one crucial sector on which the SAD-BJP government during its last stint had little to write home about. Will it change the script this time around?

The answer will depend on how it treats potential investors, many of who had been complaining of inordinate delays in the approval process. Lack of infrastructure — such as power — required for industry was another major drawback in the state.

The government cited hill-state concessions granted to the neighbouring Himachal as unfair competition that drew investment away from Punjab. This would no longer be valid as the incentive period is over. From 2007 to 2012, the government had cleared around 100 mega projects amounting to over Rs 51,000 crore and other projects worth Rs 14,400 crore. But the actual mega projects that came were only of Rs 9,673 crore. The only substantial achievement of the last government was the commissioning of the Rs 19,000-crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda.

To be the harbinger of industrialisation that the SAD has promised, Punjab will have to woo new big-ticket industrial investors, while at the same time create more opportunities for the huge small-scale industry that already exists.

For this, Punjab could take a leaf from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, selling itself as the perfect investment destination in North India, even if that means offering some sops. At least the concessions offered to industry would not be unproductive, as it would result in job opportunities. Poor availability and high cost of land; deficiency of power and skilled labour were other factors that kept industry away. In the last term, the government did formulate a “new industrial policy” and an “IT policy”, but it failed to attract investors, who were put off by “red-tapism” in the absence of single-window clearance. The state’s poor air connectivity, except for areas surrounding Chandigarh, was a disadvantage. The result was the state’s own industrial houses also preferred to invest in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

If the SAD-BJP alliance wants to prove it really means business, it will have to take the required decisions immediately. That will ensure that by the end of five years in 2017, there is substantial investment to show. An “industry-friendly policy” — which is easier said than done — is the only way. Go all out and woo industry, not just by fiscal concessions, but also by offering the best infrastructure and reducing timeframes for clearances.

On the positive side, the government does seem to have a concrete plan in its second term. It is already talking of a new manufacturing policy; abolition of “inspector raj”; fiscal concessions to industry providing jobs to local youth; trade fair grounds; convention centres; and developing the Malwa region as a national cotton textile hub, while developing Amritsar and Mohali as IT hubs. How quickly all this is done will decide if Punjab is to be an “industrial state”.

Expect a makeover, says Minister

Anil JoshiOur priority is to develop industry on the lines of Gujarat. Very soon, Punjab will be a power-surplus state, which will take care of the shortage issue. We propose to have a good government-industry interface, and also sort out the other problems
— Anil Joshi, Punjab Minister for Industries

WHEELS THAT NEED OILING

Agro-industry

Punjab needs to exploit its rich agriculture and textile base to its advantage by attracting agro-processing industry. This will require a specific policy, wherein those setting up units could be offered concessions if they procured the state’s agricultural produce. At a time when FDI is flowing into the country, Punjab should ensure its slice of the pie. Supporting FDI in multi-brand retail would also be in the state’s interest — something the ruling alliance refused during its last term.

Land availability

Since land availability and its high cost is a major impediment to industrial growth in Punjab, the state can create its own multi-product special economic zones (SEZ) on land pools that it proposes to create in Rajpura, Ropar, Kapurthala and Bathinda, and offer land at concessional rates. Investors (both from outside the state and local industry looking to expand) should also be assured regular power supply in these SEZs. Till the time round-the-clock power can be arranged, these investors could be wooed with subsidised diesel (by reducing VAT on the fuel) for captive generation.

Air connectivity

A businessman needs to travel quick, but air service at the existing airports in the state is not frequent, and also the airports are not up to the mark. Projects for Mohali, Ludhiana and Bathinda are already in the works, which need to be hastened and airlines encouraged to increase services.

CITY STREETS: Urban civic development, neglected for the past five years, is also needed if Punjab wants to attract workers with high talent, as in IT industry.

Skilled manpower

The government will have to address the issue of lack of general as well as skilled manpower. Living conditions for industrial labour should be improved, especially in the industrial hubs of Ludhiana and Jalandhar. At the state time, the state needs to upgrade the existing Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) by establishing industry-ITI linkages. The course curriculum for these institutes would have to be in line with the present and future needs of the industry.

Quick approvals

The state will also have to reduce the time taken in granting “change in land use” permission to those setting up industrial units. In Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, it takes not more than a few weeks. Also, greater accountability and transparency is required in the allotment of industrial sheds in various industrial focal points under the “off the shelf allotment” policy.

Petrochemical hub

With Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda having been commissioned, the government should now create a petrochemical hub around the refinery. Industrial corridors can also be created along the dedicated rail freight corridor, and the state must work for its expansion to the Wagah border so that industry from Punjab can start exports to Pakistan via this route.

Rejuvenate SMEs

Besides attracting new investors, Punjab also needs to rejuvenate the existing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in auto components, garments, leather and hand tools.

For this sector to prosper, which at present is the backbone of industry in the state, the need is to attract a big automotive manufacturer, which could act as an anchor for these smaller units.

EXPERTSPEAK

Urban infrastructure

The state needs to improve its infrastructure, especially in the urban industrial clusters of Ludhiana and Jalandhar. The cities have grown substantially, but infrastructure has failed to keep pace. Also, expedite better air connectivity of major towns other cities in India.
— Vijay Thandani, chairman, CII Northern Region

Localise interests

Industry needs a conducive and environment. The government should identify industries that can generate employment, add economic value to the state, and give impetus to agricultural growth. This will ensure raw material and inclusive growth, having a ripple effect on the state’s economy.
— Rajinder Kumar Gupta, MD, Trident Industries

Incentivise SMEs

Analyse reasons why small-scale units are moving out of the state. Take the Centre on board, and offer incentives. Make finance available on minimal rates of interest by striking a deal with the SIDBI, which gets funds from the Centre. Offer concessions on freight to make exports from here viable. Arrange decent living areas for industrial labour. The Kandi area too should be developed as an industrial corridor by offering land at lower cost.
— A.K. Kohli, senior vice president, Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters

Top

 

Babus 'close' to Congress too getting plum postings
Jangveer Singh/TNS

Chandigarh, March 20
Contrary to what had been though earlier, the SAD-BJP government has not been showing any bias while appointing bureaucrats.

A few officers considered close to the Congress camp or those who had reportedly met PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh a day before the assembly poll results were announced too are being selected for important postings. This time round, the BJP mantra, it appears, is: make optimum use of bureaucrats and give new roles to officers who have delivered without tracking their past.

Suresh Kumar, who has earlier served as Principal Secretary to Amarinder, has been posted as Secretary, Local Bodies. Sources said there was a feeling that a dynamic officer was needed in the Local Bodies Department with the charge being held by a first-time Minister Bhagat Chunni Lal. Another officer, Ashok Gupta, who was Ludhiana and Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner in the Congress rule, has been given the charge of Punjab Agro as its Managing Director.

The only perceptible downslide is the posting of former Amarinder "loyalist" Himmat Singh, who has been made Member Secretary, State Women's Commission. Another officer who is not in the SAD's good books, Sarvesh Kaushal, has been posted as Secretary, Freedom Fighters. He was a Member Secretary of the Women's Commission earlier. The government has also gone in for promoting officers who have proved their competence. They include Anirudh Tewari, who has been given the charge of Power, Personnel and Public Relations, and Anurag Aggarwal, who has been given the charge of Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and CMD of Transco.

The government has also decided to use officers to their best advantage. PS Aujla, who successfully implemented World Bank and other schemes as Secretary, Public Health, earlier, has now been given the charge of Secretary, Public Works, Sports and Youth Welfare. NS Kang, who has proved himself as Financial Commissioner, Development, has now been given the charge of the computerisation of land records as Financial Commissioner, Revenue.

The state government has also given a plum posting of Secretary, Health, to Vinnie Mahajan, who has just returned after a stint with the Prime Minister's Office. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, who served as Additional CEO earlier, has been posted as Special Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office despite the fact that the Akalis accused the Election Commission of being "biased".

A few officers who have seen their fortunes reverse in the new set up include former Secretary, Irrigation, G Vajralingam. There was a feeling that the water cases in which Punjab has suffered recent setbacks should be handled differently. KBS Sidhu has been given the responsibility. SS Channy has also been replaced as Secretary, Industry.

Sources said these changes had been made as the SAD felt the people had voted for continuity and correction. The SAD also wants to accelerate development, hence the changes.

Top

 

Debt-ridden state sees its population prosper
Sarbjit Dhaliwal/TNS

Chandigarh, March 20
Punjab is neither the fastest growing state nor has it the highest per capita income in the country. Instead, it is one of the highly debt-ridden states where farmers have been committing suicides.

But, certain prosperity indicators highlighted by the Census 2011 present an entirely different picture. Among the main states, Punjab has the highest percentage of cars, jeeps, scooters and motorcycles. The state even has the highest percentage of television sets after Tamil Nadu. As far as the use of computers, laptops and mobile phones is concerned, Punjab figures among the leading states. Clearly, certain indicators showing its prosperity level are still better than some of the fastest growing states in the country.

As per the Census 2011, there are 54,09,699 households in the state. Of these, 13.1 per cent households own cars and jeeps and 47.5 per cent have scooters, motorcycles and other motorised two-wheelers. Second in the list is Haryana where 10.5 per cent households have cars, jeeps etc. In Kerala, 10.2 per cent households have such vehicles. In a small state like Goa, 24.6 per cent households have vehicles. In West Bengal, only 2.2 per cent households own cars and in Bihar, less than 2 per cent. However, in the Union Territories such as Chandigarh and New Delhi, this percentage is higher than that of Punjab.

The national average of owning cars is 4.7 per cent and scooters and motorcycles, 21 per cent. Against the national average of 47.2 per cent, as many as 82.6 per cent households have television sets in Punjab. In Tamil Nadu, this percentage is 87 per cent. However, Tamil Nadu’s case is different. There, television sets were also distributed as an election sop. In Bihar, only 14.5 households have TV sets.

As many as 82.1 per cent households have telephones (land line or mobile phones) in Punjab. It is behind Himachal Pradesh where 82.3 per cent people have phones and Kerala where 89.7 per cent have such a facility. In Goa, 89.1 per cent households have landline or mobile phones. As far as mobile phones are concerned, Punjab’s average is 62.3%.

The household-wise percentage of computers and laptops in Punjab is 12.8 per cent, Haryana 13.3, Kerala 15.8 per cent and Maharashtra 13.3 per cent. Percentage of internet connections is 5.4 in Punjab, 5.3 in Haryana, 5.8 in Maharashtra and 6.3 in Kerala.

Punjab shining

n There are 54,09,699 households in Punjab. Of these, 13.1% own cars, jeeps etc against the national average of 4.7 pc. Second in the list is Haryana (10.5%)

n 47.5% households have scooters, motorcycles and other motorised two-wheelers against the national average of 21%

n Against the national average of 47.2%, as many as 82.6% households have 
television sets in Punjab, next only to Tamil Nadu, where this percentage is 87%

n As many as 82.1% households have telephones (land line or mobile phones) in Punjab. It is behind HP (82.3%) and Kerala (89.7%)

n Percentage of households having computers/laptops and internet connections also among the highest

Top

 

Farmers’ protest halts rail traffic
Neeraj Bagga
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 20
Hundreds of passengers had to face inconvenience today as protesting farmers brought rail traffic to a halt at the local railway station. More than 10 trains were delayed as the farmers continued their protest for around four hours. They were demanding financial compensation to the family of a farmer who died while returning from Delhi after participating in a protest in the national capital.

A member of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Jagir Singh (45), a resident of Dhotiyan village in Tarn Taran district, breathed his last in the wee hours today in the Golden Temple Express.

As soon as the train reached the Amritsar railway station, the farmers squatted on the track and refused to lift their protest demanding financial compensation to the bereaved family and job to a member.

Unsavoury scenes were witnessed as several passengers argued with the protesters. A four-member farmer delegation, led by committee’s state president Satnam Singh Pannu, later met the railway and local administration officials. It was only after SDM MS Narang announced a grant worth Rs 5 lakh that the blockade was removed.

Top

 

Atwal Speaker, Babbu his deputy 
Naveen S Garewal/TNS

Chandigarh, March 20
The year was 2002, day March 20. Charanjit Singh Atwal ceased to be the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The same day today, he was back in the saddle, elected unanimously as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

The bright stars also helped Dinesh Singh Babbu, a two-time BJP MLA from Sujanpur in Gurdaspur, to become the Deputy Speaker. He was also elected unopposed.

For both the posts, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal proposed the names and BJP legislature party leader Bhagat Chunni Lal seconded them. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jhakhar supported the names. Atwal began his address by quoting from Gurbani.

The second session of the 14th Punjab Vidhan Sabha saw these two elections. The opposition did not raise any obstacles. In their own way, the Speaker, Opposition leader Sunil Jhakhar, leader of the House Parkash Singh Badal set the agenda and spelt out their expectations from one another.

While Badal and Chunni Lal praised the newly elected custodians of the House, it was Jhakhar who sought to caution the two against toeing the party line. Atwal, too, was frank when he told the House that he expected the opposition to behave in a responsible manner. "Boycotts are undesirable whether it is of the House or lunches or dinners hosted by the chief minister or the Speaker". The Speaker, who read out from a written speech, completely ignored to thank or even mention BJP or Bhagat Chuni Lal in his address. Both Atwal and Bhagat belong to the backward class and represent reserved segments.

Soon after congratulating Badal for his elections as CM for the record fifth time, Atwal focused on the "farsightedness of Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal", crediting him for the return of the SAD-BJP Government

During the proceedings, Badal took digs at the Congress leaders. At one point, he said Captain Amarinder Singh hosted parties and formed his "ministry" even before the poll results were out. "A party was also held and the host too is present in the House today".

Sukhbir Badal, on the other hand, assured the House that his government would not pursue vendetta politics and that if there are any cases where Congress workers were being harassed, these should be brought to his notice.

Top

 
 

Badal meets PM on SGPC
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 20
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambram seeking immediate convening of a session of the SGPC .

The SGPC budget is to be passed before March 31 and the session has to be convened in consultation with the Home Ministry. The non-passing of the budget by the end of this month would adversely affect the working of gurdwaras falling under the jurisdiction of the SGPC, Badal said. He said the Prime Minister and the Home Minister had assured him that they would look into the matter.

On the proposal of setting up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Chief Minister said his party was opposed to any such idea that meddled with the rights of the states.

Top

 

Sikh clergy calls meeting of all outfits on March 23
Perneet Singh/TNS

Amritsar, March 20
In a significant move, the Sikh high priests today called an emergency meeting of all religious, social and political organisations on March 23 to evolve a consensus on how to save former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana from gallows.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh announced the decision after a meeting of the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht Secretariat here today.

Addressing mediapersons, the Jathedar said, “We urge all religious, social, and political organisations, besides Taksals and sects, to send in their suggestions to us in writing through their representatives to the Akal Takht before 11 am on March 23. Subsequently, the Sikh high priests will hold a meeting with the representatives of these outfits at Teja Singh Samundari Hall and announce the decision of the Sikh community after deliberating on the suggestions received from various quarters.” He said these organisations could also seek opinion of legal experts at their own level and suggest the legal recourse that may be adopted by the Sri Akal Takht. 

Top

 

Harsimrat bats for arhtiyas
Faraz Ahmad/TNS

New Delhi, March 20
Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today put up a spirited fight in the Lok Sabha in support of commission agents (arhtiyas), saying they should not be barred from procuring foodgrain for the Food Corporation of India.

While several Opposition members from the BJP, Shiv Sena, BJD and even the Telugu Desam supported her, her own party leader Ratan Singh Ajnala, who put up the starred question along with her, pleaded against the commission agents.

Questioning the decision of the FCI to directly pay the farmers through crossed cheques, Harsimrat said the central body "lacked the capacity" to procure without the help of the around of 22,000 arhtiyas. The government, she insisted, should continue with the present system of paying the farmers through the commission agents. 

Top

 

Dwindling sparrow population
Loss of natural habitat to blame: Experts
Bipin Bhardwaj/TNS

Jalandhar, March 20
It is not only the urban areas but the countryside has also witnessed a massive decline in the population of house sparrow in the past three decades.

Modification in architecture, hazardous radiation emitted by cellphone towers, excessive use of pesticides and replacement of native plants by exotic varieties are some of the factors behind the dwindling population of house sparrow, claim ornithologists and bird lovers, who criticised the authorities for not taking any concrete steps in this regard.

The ornithologists say loss of natural habitat and decline in the reproductive efficiency because of egg sheath infector are some of the major reasons of its dwindling population.

The Punjab government has not organised even a single programme to educate the public on the World House Sparrow Day that falls on March 20 every year. Certain NGOs, however, observed the day at some places today.

Dharinder Kumar, Chief Wildlife Warden, said no project had been undertaken with regard to house sparrows. "There is a need to educate the people about house sparrow and its conservation. The government has done nothing in this regard,” said Gurmeet Singh, president, Nature Conservation Society, Punjab.

Top

 

Encroachments along roads to go: Dhillon
Jangveer Singh/TNS

PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon
PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon

Chandigarh, March 20
Even as other ministers are still settling in, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon has come out with his immediate agenda. He plans to get all encroachments along roads in rural areas removed within one month starting from May 1.

Dhillon, while talking to TNS after assuming charge of his office, said he had decided to remove encroachments along the rural roads as quickly as possible as they were coming in the way of smooth travel. Dhillon said the drive, for which he had already taken permission of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, would be undertaken throughout the state. He said it had been decided to proceed against encroachments in May so that farmers were not inconvenienced in the wheat-harvesting season in April. He said the revenue staff would be called in for measurements wherever needed.

The minister said farmers had extended their fields right up to the roads, occupying government land in the process. He said some farmers had also planted trees like poplar and eucalyptus on government land.

Dhillon said he was planning to fix responsibility for roads damaging before contract period. He said he had proposed that responsibility should be fixed for a period of three years, both on the contractor as well as the official clearing the contract.

Top

 

MLA’s petrol pump looted
Our Correspondent

Batala, March 20
Four persons allegedly looted Rs 1.5 lakh from the manager of a petrol pump here yesterday.

Vaishno Dass, manager of Abhijay Filling Station, owned by local Congress MLA Ashwani Sekhri, was about to move to deposit the money in a bank.

Just when he started from the petrol pump, situated on the Batala-Amritsar road, four persons on two motorcycles attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. They took away Rs 1.5 lakh from the glove box of his scooter. The victim has been admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

A case under section 392 of the IPC has been registered.

Meanwhile, Sekhri today criticised the "lackadaisical" approach of the police in locating the culprits.

Top

 

Paddy Season
Power Corp inks pacts for eight-hour supply
Umesh Dewan/TNS

Patiala, March 20
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has signed short-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with different firms to supply eight-hour power to agricultural pumpsets in Punjab during the paddy season this year. The total power to be purchased for the paddy season would be around 3,200 million units (MUs).

PSPCL director, distribution, Arun Verma said that they had several meetings to ascertain how much power would be required for watering of the paddy crop from June 10 to October 10 this year. He further said, "Apart from our own generation and the power from the Central pool and other sources, there will be a shortfall of about 3,200 MUs for the agricultural sector."

Verma said that in order to bridge the gap between the demand and supply for the paddy season, the shortfall would be managed through the short-term PPA. He said that tenders were floated to purchase power through short-term PPA. "After the tendering, PPAs have been signed," added Verma.

The Power Corporation had signed the PPA for purchasing 3,200 MUs of power. The cost of the power being purchased would be approximately Rs 4 per unit, which amounts to Rs 128 crore.

"Apart from purchasing power, the PSPCL is taking other steps required to ensure that the farmers get proper eight-hour supply during paddy season without fail," said Verma.

Top

 

2-day PAU’s Kisan Mela begins today
Four farmers to get awards
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 20
A two-day Kisan Mela of the Punjab Agricultural University will start on the university campus here from tomorrow. On the first day, the PAU authorities will honour four progressive farmers of the state with the Chief Minister Awards. Two farmers will get award in agriculture, while the other two in horticulture.

Gulzar Singh of Kattu village in Barnala district has excelled in agriculture. He believes in the rational use of natural resources and has taken a lead in water saving through zero tillage in wheat and laser land leveller for levelling his fields. He always transplants paddy after June 15 and saves nitrogen in paddy with the use of leaf colour chart.

Jagdeep Singh, a resident of Assal village in Ferozepur district, cultivates 17 acres of ancestral land and has taken 70 acres on lease. He is a dedicated farmer who specialises in dairy farming, mushroom growing and bee keeping. He even visited University of Wisconsin, USA.

Meharban Singh of Saholi village in Patiala district is a successful vegetable grower. Meharban Singh (37) is just 2 pass but is ranked among the top vegetable growers of the country. He went to London to explore the possibilities to export vegetable to Europe. "Proper package and grading is very important for selling in markets abroad," he says.

Surjit Singh Sandhu of Arianwala village in Kapurthala district has excelled in Kinnow cultivation on 25 acres for the past four years and has adopted drip irrigation for water saving. He grows moong-bean in March and July in his orchards and has developed methods for successful cultivation of cucurbits, tomato, radish, carrot, gram and lentil. He believes in judicious use of resources.

Top

 

Infection control programme for hospitals launched
Tribune News Service

Dr Gayatri Mahindroo
Dr Gayatri Mahindroo

Ludhiana, March 20
The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), a constituent body under the Quality Council of India (QCI) and the Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a leading global medical technology company, collectively rolled out an infection control programme here today for hospitals of Punjab.

With this, Punjab becomes the second state after Kerala to roll out this programme aimed at supporting hospitals reducing problem of hospital associated infections.

Dr Gayatri Mahindroo, NABH director, said, "Today we will register hospitals both private and government that are willing to install the programme. Within six months, our trainers will go to the registered hospitals twice. They will train the safety committee of hospital as how to dispose biomedical waste, healthcare of workers, sterilisation and disinfection procedures and how to keep infusion area and admission area infection free. Afterwards our team will conduct random checking of the hospitals to see whether they have implemented the infection control programme in the right way or not. On finding it satisfactory, the hospital will be given the SAFE-ITSM certificate."

Rajneesh Rohaai, business director, Medical Surgical Systems of the Becton, Dickinson and Company, said, "It is a step towards strengthening health systems in the country and promoting continuous quality improvement to ensure the best care for patients when visiting hospitals with effective infection control practices in place."

Top

 

PAU to start courses for kids of small farmers

Ludhiana, March 19
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has decided to start short-term technical courses for children of small farmers. In these courses, the university would train students to repair the fans, mobiles and tractors.

Vice Chancellor Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon said, "We want to make them self-dependent. After this training, they would be able to open shops in villages and towns to earn their livelihood."

Dr Dhillon said, "It is very hard to earn livelihood for the small farmers. We want to encourage the work culture in our youth. So these alternative courses would provide them good chance to start their own work. It is more respectful work than roam around penniless".

Meanwhile, the university is adopting new media technology to spread the message among farmers to make them aware about the attack of insects and pests on crops and their cure. — TNS

Top

 

Varsity starts online Gurmat Sangeet library

Patiala, March 20
Punjabi University has established an online library on Gurmat Sangeet. The Bhai Randhir Singh Online Gurmat Sangeet Library is the first in this field, said Dr Amritpal Kaur, director of the project, during the inauguration of the five-day workshop on Gurmat Sangeet Literature.

She said that the first phase of the online library was collection, digitisation and launching of the website www.gurmatsangeetlibrary.com. In the second phase, reference material related to Gurmat Sangeet literature was being compiled in the workshop, she added. — TNS

Top

 

Crime slows down economic growth: SSP
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20
"Crime undermines economic growth and distorts the development process by misdirecting resources,” said Nawanshahr SSP Narinder Bhargava while addressing a symposium on 'Education and Research in Forensic Science - Issues and Challenges' organised by the Department of Forensic Science at Punjabi University, Patiala.

The National Human Rights Commission had recommended incorporating professionals with forensic science training in the police force, he said.

Top

 
 

Submit fresh info on red card holders, Punjab told
HC finds documents of 30 anti-Sikh riot victims forged 
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20
Punjab was today virtually caught fibbing. It denied any irregularity in the issuance of red cards to 578 riot victims. But, the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that a vigilance inquiry, said to have been conducted in matter, has found that the documents furnished by as many as 30 beneficiaries were forged.

Apparently not satisfied with the State’s stand on the issue, the High Court has now asked the government to file a fresh affidavit giving details of the inquiry. The development is significant as a red card enables the victims to seek compensation.

As the petition filed in the matter by Sikh Danga Pirat Welfare Society came up for hearing, the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover observed in the open court that the state government has denied that in the issuance of red cards to 578 riot victims, any anomaly was committed and the entire process has been carried out strictly in accordance with the norms.

The Bench said but a vigilance inquiry in the matter appears to have been conducted, which found that the documents and certificates furnished by 30 beneficiaries were forged; and an FIR against the beneficiaries has also been lodged.

Before parting with the order, the Bench added the state government’s stand in the affidavit is vague. It is, therefore, directed to file a fresh affidavit laying before the court the order on the basis of which the vigilance inquiry, if any, was ordered.

The Bench also called for the findings of the inquiry, the total number of persons who may have been found to have been issued red cards in an unauthorised manner and the action taken against them.

The directions came just about four years after another Bench of the High Court directed Mohali Deputy Commissioner to hold an inquiry into the issuance of red cards to the 1984 riot victims.

The Division Bench of Justice MM Kumar and Justice Sabina had issued the directions after state counsel expressed doubts about the authenticity of red cards issued to the victims. 

Top

 
 

MLA’s petrol pump looted
Our Correspondent

Batala, March 20
Four persons allegedly looted Rs 1.5 lakh from the manager of a petrol pump here yesterday. Vaishno Dass, manager of Abhijay Filling Station, owned by local Congress MLA Ashwani Sekhri, was about to move to deposit the money in a bank.

Just when he started from the petrol pump, situated on the Batala-Amritsar road, four persons on two motorcycles attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. They took away Rs 1.5 lakh from the glove box of his scooter. The victim has been admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

A case under section 392 of the IPC has been registered.

Meanwhile, Sekhri today criticised the "lackadaisical" approach of the police in locating the culprits.

Top

 

Two jail officials booked
Govt informs HC, days after DGP warned of drug mafia in prisons
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20
Punjab Director General of Prisons Shashi Kant’s assertion that the prison bars were not strong enough to keep the drugs mafia away today received credence when the state informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that an FIR has been registered against two jail officials.

The development is significant as Shashi Kant and the government were virtually at loggerheads on the issue of alleged drug peddling in jails.

Kant had, in fact, created a flutter by announcing that a drug mafia was operating inside the Punjab jails and it had the backing of a strong lobby in the state. But, the DGP was criticised by the state government for airing his views openly.

As a petition on the issue came up for hearing, the state counsel informed the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover that criminal proceedings have been initiated against the two jail officials.

The assertion came less than a month after the State told the High Court that two officers, jail superintendent Tejinder Singh Sodhi and deputy jail superintendent Perminder Singh, have been indicted in an inquiry.

In his reply, Deputy Secretary in Punjab Department of Home Affairs and Justice Om Parkash had contended that the inquiry officer, appointed vide memorandum dated October 4, 2011, submitted the inquiry report to the government through a letter dated February 8.

“All the allegations levelled against the delinquent officers have been established by the inquiry officer,” he said.

The assertion came on a petition filed by Tarlochan Singh. A Mohali resident, he was lodged at Ropar district jail at the time of filing the petition. The inmate is seeking an inquiry not into the sale of intoxicants in the Ropar Jail “in connivance with the jail officials”, but also their highhandedness towards prisoners reporting against illegal activities.

Going into the details, the Deputy Secretary said the services of the two “delinquent officers” were placed under suspension by the DGP (Prisons) on October 12, 2010. Both the officers were charge-sheeted on May 12, last year. Their replies to the allegations were found to be “unsatisfactory”. 

Top

 





HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail |