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AGENDA 2012-17 Border Villages
Rajoana adamant, wants to be hanged
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Tribune Analysis
DCC chiefs back Capt Amarinder
Camelot Case
Execution order stuck in legal tangle
Bandh on March 28
Security up around jail
Sukhbir hails Cong stand
Akal Takht’s no to withdrawing title
Protests continue
Cong takes on govt over corruption
Death penalty for drug peddler
Punjab yet to pay
Rs 700 cr subsidy dues to PowerCorp
Farmers make it big with protected cultivation
Centre urged to include more categories in NREGA
Rajpura jewellers protest excise duty
Patiala Mayor writes to DC on traffic woes
BSF seizes 14 kg heroin in Attari
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AGENDA 2012-17 Border Villages
Rania (Indo-Pak Border) If the government means to address the issues, it will need to send officials, and ministers, out there personally so they may not only learn but also feel the miseries suffered by the people who do not even seem to belong to the state. The Tribune has made the trip — which may well be summed up as a litany of potholed roads, no potable water, dilapidated school buildings with inadequate staff, no health care, lack of transportation, and no sewerage system. HEALTH CARE Along the Rania stretch of the border in Amritsar district, Muzzafarpur is one non-descript village. Dotted with mud houses, it is a picture of poverty. With the waterworks located at a distance, water doesn’t reach the village, forcing residents to use ground water, which is not fit for drinking. The nearest government hospital is around 10 km, which means a patient needs to have luck on his side to reach there in case of an emergency. Rania village is no different. It is pieces of road that mark an unending stretch of potholes, while there is hardly any difference between the condition of the dispensaries for animals and humans. The health centre is surrounded in sewage, and there are heaps of garbage and cow dung in the front. Karam Singh, a resident, said they were forced to drink the contaminated ground water, even as villagers had deposited their share of the money for setting up a drinking water facility. Even at Ranike village, from where Cabinet minister Gulzar Singh Ranike hails, there is only a vaccination centre for children. For medical aid, residents have to rely on a primary health centre at Attari. In the entire area, one health sub-centre — often understaffed and without facilities — caters to six or seven villages. These centres too open only for a limited period during the day. In any case, these centres cannot address anything more than a headache or stomach pain. For more serious problems, patients have to reach primary health care centres (PHCs) — often not very close — or government hospitals at the district headquarters. The condition of PHCs is also not good. For instance, the one at Attari should have six beds in two wards. However, one of its wards is locked with some machines and furniture inside, while the other has just two broken beds. Pargat Singh of Ranike says patients visiting the PHC have to buy medicines from private chemists. For most residents, there is little choice — government facilities are ill-equipped to serve, and treatment at private hospitals they can’t afford. EDUCATION Government schools portray an equally dismal scenario, as they lack adequate infrastructure and staff. Children sit on the floor in their classrooms, though there are benches which they use as desks. Staff crunch in primary schools forces teachers to club two classes. There are four teachers in the primary school at Ranike. So one teacher takes care of Class I and II simultaneously, while the others take care of the remaining three classes. As no Class IV employee is there, the sanitary condition in these schools is also terrible. Cashing in on the situation, private schools have started coming up in the border villages. There were two in front of the government middle school at Waniyeke village. NO SEWERAGE Various welfare schemes do not seem to have reached the border villages. Sewerage doesn’t exist in most villages, in the rest it is faulty. In Kakkar Kalan village, sewerage lines have been laid, yet the streets are waterlogged. Water supply has been discontinued as it would only add to the waterlogging, said Pratap Singh, a local resident. ROADS, TRANSPORT Leave alone the roads in the interiors, the approach road to Ranike village, which is not far from the GT Road, is also in deplorable condition. Similarly, the 1.5 km stretch from Modde village to Dhanoe Kalan village is awaiting repair for the past five years. The border villages of Wariah and Khushpur are connected by a wooden bridge built across a drain by villagers themselves. Commuting is a challenge also because there are no government buses on these routes. “We solely depend on private transporters,” said Sukhdev Singh of Dhanoe Kalan. LACK OF EMPLOYMENT Dwindling landholdings, lack of employment opportunities and rising drug addiction have hit the economy of these villages. In the absence of job avenues, people from around 20 villages, inhabited by the Rai Sikh community, are forced to go out to the Malwa region to work on cotton and potato fields along with their families. As these people have to keep shifting for employment, it takes a toll on their children’s education. Residents of these villages complain nobody bothers for their wellbeing once the elections are over. More and more youths are falling prey to drugs, as smuggling is rampant due to proximity with the border. LAND FENCED OFF The farmers’ cup of woes is also brimming. Agriculture is not viable for small and marginal farmers anywhere in the state, but their situation is worse in this area because of the border fence that has cut through their land. Part of it is thus on the other side, to which they have limited access for cultivation, that too with permission from the BSF. Also, they don’t get tube-well connections beyond the fence, and farm labourers charge more for working on those fields. Farmers have long been demanding compensation for the land on the other side, but successive governments have ignored the plea. Problems of the border villages find some hearing around election time, but their voice is cut off just as soon. Development, much the buzzword, is not for them, it seems. NEEDED ON PRIORITY n
Accessibility by building roads and ensuring public transport. n
Schools adequately equipped with infrastructure and staff. n
Health care services; staff, medicines at health centres. n
Sewerage and drainage to ensure sanitation. n
Drinking water for every house. n
Check on flow of drugs; employment opportunities for youth. n
Solution to the problem of farmers with land across border fence.
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Rajoana adamant, wants to be hanged
Patiala, March 26 In a letter to the Akal Takht, Rajoana has clarified that there was no need to seek clemency for him. “I have fought for my rights all through my life. I do not want to give away my principles for anyone,” says Rajoana in a letter handed over to his sister Kamaldeep Kaur, following their meeting at the Patiala Central Jail today. Criticising politicians, especially the Akalis, Rajoana has said he neither trusts them (Akalis) nor believes them as they have failed to get justice from New Delhi. “These leaders were mum till date and suddenly they are speaking for my clemency. All know how they have made money and what their reality is,” reads the letter. “…the Akalis should give away blue turbans and instead don khaki turbans for failing to get justice from New Delhi time and again”. Rajoana also refused to accept any sympathy from the BJP, Capt Amarinder Singh or from late CM Beant Singh’s family members. “Asking for mercy from them is not even in my distant dreams,” reads the letter. Earlier today, Badal said in the assembly that the state government was taking all possible legal and constitutional measures to secure clemency for Rajoana. He said the government had received a copy of the mercy appeal sent by the SGPC to the President. The Case Files July 31, 2007: A special court awards death sentence to Balwant Rajoana, Jagtar Hawara March 13, 2012: The court of Additional District and Sessions in Chandigarh issues execution warrants of Rajoana’s hanging; are sent to Patiala jail where he is lodged March 16: The orders are returned by Patiala jail stating inability on the part of the Jails Department to hang Rajoana March 20: The court re-sends the warrants to Patiala jail to hang Rajoana on March 31 March 24: The warrants are again returned by the jail authorities to the court in Chandigarh DSGMC also to file clemency plea Amritsar: After the SGPC, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is also gearing up to file a clemency petition for Balwant Singh Rajoana before President Pratibha Patil tomorrow. DSGMC chief PS Sarna said, "We have prepared the clemency petition and will submit it to the President tomorrow.” About the basis of the plea, he said they had raised four points in the petition. First, the petitions of the co-accused in the case were pending with the SC, while one of them had got his death sentence commuted to life term. Second, the consequences that may emerge out of Rajoana hanging should also be kept in mind. Third, the SC has termed death penalty fit only in rarest of rare cases, which does not apply here. Finally, the capital punishment is being done away with in various countries and it should be done here as well. — TNS
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Tribune Analysis
Chandigarh, March 26 Convicted way back in 2007, Balwant Singh Rajoana was almost forgotten until March 10 when a local CBI Special Court issued warrant for hanging him till death. This too did not have much impact, except his sister Kamaldeep Kaur holding a press conference to highlight the issue. In the meantime, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal along with his Cabinet was sworn in on March 12. Again for a week till March 19, the issue was buried under the euphoria of the formation of a new government. After the warrants were issue for a second time on March 19, it changed everything for the state. The Akal Takht, the highest spiritual and temporal body of the Sikhs, moved into action. Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh went to meet Rajoana in Patiala jail two days after the second warrant was issued, hoping to persuade him for a clemency petition. The timing of the warrants has raised several questions. But what has transpired this week is even more intriguing. The theory doing the rounds in political circles is that Badal's detractors tried their hand at fermenting trouble for the newly formed SAD-BJP government. The move would have served two purposes: hamper development (the mantra of SAD success in the polls) and strain the relations between the SAD and BJP as both the parties have divergent stands on the issue. However, two parties emerged stronger in the episode: the Beant Singh family, which was on the radar of the hardliners, managed to placate the radicals by saying they had no issues with clemency and Badal once again managed to show his political acumen by neutralising his detractors and putting the Congress on the defensive, forcing PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh to issue a statement supporting clemency. It is apparent that till the second warrant was issued on March 19, the government could not visualise its implications or was working on a plan. The Akal Takht Jathedar called a meeting to discuss the issue on March 23. The Jathedar, apparently under pressure from radical elements, declared Dilawar Singh, the "human bomb" who killed Beant Singh, as a 'martyr' and Rajoana a 'living martyr'. He even issued an edict to the SGPC, the CM and the SAD president to seek clemency for Rajoana. It is at this point that the SAD think-tank launched its counteroffensive. The SAD core committee directed the SGPC to petition for clemency to the President, something that forced the Congress also to issue a statement supporting the clemency move. But, before the SAD core committee could ask the CM to make a statement on the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today, Badal had taken BJP leaders like LK Advani and Arun Jaitley into confidence. Therefore, there was not much uproar in House today when the CM expressed his inability in executing Rajoana. Though the SAD has managed to neutralise the hardliners, one thing is clear that the Panthic agenda is still a sensitive issue in Punjab, which can be easily exploited.
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DCC chiefs back Capt Amarinder
Chandigarh, March 26 Three absentees, Harpratap Ajnala from Amritsar (Rural), Jagdarshan Kaur from Moga and Rajinder Singh Rana from Mohali, had conveyed their inability to attend the meeting for personal reasons. They too have assured the PCC chief of their unflinching support. Interestingly, Gurdas Girdhar from Muktsar, supposed to be a loyalist of Jagmeet Singh Brar; Subash Grover from Sangrur, a loyalist of Rajinder Kaur Bhattal; and Arun Walia from Jalandhar (Urban) considered to be a staunch loyalist of Mohinder Singh Kaypee; were more vocal than others in supporting the suggestion that they should pass a resolution urging party president Sonia Gandhi to continue Capt Amarinder as the PCC president. Prominent among those who supported the suggestion included Sukhjinder Randhawa from Gurdaspur, Pawan Dewan from Ludhiana, KK Nanda from Hoshiarpur, Surinder Gupta from Faridkot and Davinder Darshi from Pathankot. They also demanded action against those who had raised the banner of revolt in the aftermath of the poll results. They maintained that those blaming Capt Amarinder should also own up responsibility as it was wrong to blame one person for the defeat. However, Capt Amarinder Singh declined the suggestion of moving a resolution. He told the DCC chiefs that they were free to meet Sonia and brief her on the situation prevailing in the state.
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Camelot Case
Chandigarh, March 26 A Division Bench of the High Court, in fact, ruled the “Periphery Control Act does not contemplate a complete embargo on the raising of construction in the periphery”. With this, it is clear that constructions can come up be in the city’s periphery after obtaining necessary permission and clearance. The Bench also put to rest the controversy over the applicability of the (Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act) 1995 Act and the Periphery Control Act. The Bench made it clear that the two Acts are complementary to each other; and the 1995 Act is applicable to the areas covered by the Periphery Control Act. Disposing of the Tata Camelot case, the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover said: “A reading of the various provisions of the Periphery Control Act would go to show that the provisions point to a regulatory mechanism where construction activity is permissible, subject to certain checks and balances”. Referring to the periphery policy, the Bench added it makes the position “very clear”. The contents of the periphery policy “contemplates planned growth, particularly, housing schemes in the peripheral areas in accordance with the master plan which, naturally, has to be drawn up under the provisions of the (Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act) 1995 Act”. In its detailed order, the Bench added: “The constructions permissible under the Periphery Control Act and the policy framed there under has to abide by some norms of planning, which are contemplated by the provisions of the 1995 Act. There is, therefore, no reason why provisions of the 1995 Act should be held to be inapplicable to the areas covered by the Periphery Control Act. The object behind enactment of the two statues would be best served if both enactments are allowed to prevail in peripheral areas and even beyond such areas,” the Bench said. “The Periphery Policy, rightly takes into consideration changing ground realities which are never static like shifting stands. The provisions of the 1995 Act, the Periphery Control Act and the Periphery Policy converge on the need for a planned integrated development of the city, its periphery and its adjoining areas,” it added. “We would further like to emphasise that the Periphery Control Act lays down that the Act will apply to that area of the State of Punjab which is adjacent to and is within a distance of 10 miles on all sides from the outer boundary of the land acquired for the capital of state at Chandigarh,” the Bench said. “The term adjacent to would necessarily imply an area within 10 miles of the boundary and beyond it. Any other interpretation can result in horrendous situation where there is planned growth within an area of 10 miles but immediately beyond the limit there is unplanned development,” it added.
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Execution order stuck in legal tangle
Chandigarh, March 26 Otherwise also, the jurisdiction of Chandigarh Court to issue warrants for the execution of Balwant Singh's death sentence to the Patiala Central Jail superintendent too are being questioned --- and not just by the jail superintendent. "The Chandigarh Court's jurisdiction does not extend to Patiala. Under these circumstances, the Court here cannot direct the execution of its orders in Patiala," says a former Judge. Available information suggests that Punjab DGP (Prisons) has already sought a clarification whether a death warrant can be carried out when another case is under judicial process against the convict facing the gallows. The law, on the face of it, is not very clear on the issue. But, legal connoisseurs believe the judicial process in a case cannot come to a halt, with the hanging of the under-trial in another matter -- particularly when the pending matter is a "State" case. Human rights activist and lawyers are already questioning the execution order, as a case relating to the recovery of explosives is still pending against Balwant Singh. Another dimension to the controversy is that Balwant Singh's precious right to vindicate himself will be taken away from him in the explosives recovery case, if it was to close down due to his hanging in Punjab's then Chief Minister Beant Singh's assassination case. "Balwant Singh has the right to defend himself in the explosives recovery case and it will be taken away from him, in case of his hanging," says World Human Rights Protection Council chairman-cum-lawyer Ranjan Lakhanpal. Seeking presidential intervention in stopping Balwant Singh's execution, Lawyers For Human Rights International General-Secretary Navkiran Singh cites a different reason. He wants the execution to be put on hold till the apex court decides the appeals filed by the co-conspirators against the same judgment that has condemned Balwant Singh to the gallows. "We may kindly also visualise a situation, where the Supreme Court acquits Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh in the matter whereas Balwant Singh has already lost his life due to execution of his death sentence as a consequence of orders passed by Additional Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, dated March 5, 2012 . "It would be great injustice and the judicial system would not be able to justify its hurried action in executing Balwant Singh as by that time the life of Balwant Singh would have already been snuffed and irreparable loss would have been caused, which cannot be reversed," he says in the letter to the President. His petition, on the same grounds, was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on technical grounds. "This Court has no such jurisdiction to stay an order passed by the Coordinate Bench by way of an interim order in a public interest litigation," a Division bench had ruled.
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Bandh on March 28
Ludhiana, March 26 Rajoana as well as several Panthic organisations had appealed to Sikhs to install Kesri flags on top of their houses on March 28 and March 31.These flags could be purchased from several shops located in Field Ganj, Model Town, Dugri and even other parts of the city. They are priced between Rs 10 and Rs 20 per piece, depending on the size and quality. Shopkeepers said nearly 30,000 flags were sold in the city today alone. Prabhjot Singh Gora, owner of Khalsa Gift and Music House near Gurudwara Kalgidhar in Field Ganj, said that one day he sold around 15,000 such flags. Another shopkeeper, Avtar Singh, said people from villages have been giving him bulk orders about these flags. "Most of these flags are made in Amritsar and keeping in mind their demand, we have already maintained high stocks." Gurdeep Singh of SAD (Delhi) said that he was distributing these flags to all his friends so that they could install them on top of their houses.
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Patiala, March 26 Rajoana is lodged at the Patiala Central Jail and is to be sent to the gallows on March 31 at 9 am. The police says it had made elaborate security arrangements in the city, especially around the jail premises. — TNS
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Sukhbir hails Cong stand
Ashok Kaura About the BJP’s stand on the issue, Sukhbir said it was better to ask BJP leaders only. He appealed to the people to maintain peace. He said a high-level delegation comprising CM Parkash Singh Badal, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and himself, would soon meet the President to seek clemency for Rajoana.
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Akal Takht’s no to withdrawing title
Amritsar, March 26 Addressing mediapersons after a meeting of the five Sikh high priests, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said, “We have received Rajoana’s letter, declining the title, and we discussed it in the meeting. However, the title is not being withdrawn as it has been conferred upon him in view of the sentiments of the Sikh community. Whether Rajoana accepts this title or not, it is up to him.” Quoting an instance of Nawab Kapoor Singh, he said the Sikh Panth had bestowed the title of “Nawab” on him. Though he didn’t accept the title, he was addressed as Nawab Kapoor Singh by the community. Regarding the case, the Jathedar said the execution of the death penalty seems to have been put off at present with the SGPC filing a clemency petition before the President and the Punjab Government refusing to hang him. On the Akal Takht’s call for “setting aside professional commitments” on March 28, he said the call remained as it is, but if the death penalty was suspended then the Sikh outfits should also suspend the programme.
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Protests continue
New Delhi, March 26 (AISC) Babbar president Gurcharna Singh Babbar said Sikhs in UK, US, Canada and other foreign countries were protesting outside the Indian Embassies in these countries against the death sentence to be given to Rajoana on March 31. People in villages of Punjab are also protesting and on an appeal of the Akal Takht, they would surrender in Patiala on March 30. He said the AISC would launch a protest march on March 30 from gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi to the President House and would submit a memorandum demanding to forgive Rajoana. He said the family members of Beant Singh had also forgiven him. Babbar said when Rajoana was arrested, he had refused to hire an advocate saying that he did not believe in the judiciary as during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, over 5,000 Sikhs were killed and the government had not taken action against any suspect. When the State is involved, culprits are arrested and punished, he said. “In the Beant Singh assassination case, the police had no evidence against Rajoana, but he is being hanged on the basis of some clue given by the CBI. This is injustice,” he said. Stir in Fatehabad
Tomorrow Fatehabad: Sikh organisations have announced that they would hold a demonstration over the issue of execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana in former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh murder case here on March 28. Baldev Singh Khalsa and Bibi Amarjit Kaur, both members of the SGPC from Hisar, said members of various Sikh organisations will assemble in Gurdwara Singh Sabha here on March 28 and march to the mini-secretariat. — TNS
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Cong takes on govt over corruption
Chandigarh, March 26 He said similarly the state got wheat at Rs 6 per kg from the Centre, but it fixed the price of flour at Rs 12 per kg. He said the Congress would get to the bottom of these scams. When the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal intervened and asked him to have faith in him, the Congress leader said he wanted to, but he needed to be convinced. He cited a case where an officer who had been indicted by a Vidhan Sabha committee for indulging in malpractices in seed distribution was made Director of the Agriculture department. Earlier, replying to the Governor's address, the CLP leader started off with congratulating Badal for becoming the Chief Minister for the record fifth time. He followed it up by saying this happened due to a twist of fate and that "an able general" in Capt Amarinder Singh led the state Congress. He said the SAD had shown "unrealistic" dreams to the youth which it could not keep. He said sops listed in the manifesto would need at least Rs 10,000 crore. Earlier, BJP legislator Manoranjan Kalia while speaking on the Governor's address said the SAD-BJP had returned to power because of "development which is there for all to see". On behalf of the SAD, Khem Karan legislator Virsa Singh Valtoha initiated the debate with a spirited speech saying that the people had voted for development. He assured that initiatives would be taken to resolve the problems of NRIs with Bikram Majithia being given this responsibility. Ensure peace in state, CM told
After display of a pro-Sikh image by PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh who has said the party will support efforts to get Rajoana's death sentence commuted to life term, it was Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar's turn to assuage the feelings of terrorism victims. He advocated a hard stance against people who he claimed were creating an atmosphere of fear. Jakhar said there was a need to speak for the family members of 25,000 people who had lost their lives during the phase of terrorism in the state.
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Death penalty for drug peddler
Chandigarh, March 26 While pronouncing the order, the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal stated, “Drug trafficking, trade and consumption are eating into the vitals of society. Drug consumption paralyses the mind, cripples the body and retards the intellect. Drug dependency weakens the morale and character of the youth and ultimately growth of the nation. The court cannot be a silent spectator to the grave situation and drug trafficking must be dealt with heavy hands”. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had first nabbed Sangrur jail superintendent Satnam Singh along with Balwinder Singh from the city in 2005 and recovered 4 kg of heroin from their possession. Balwinder Singh had managed to flee taking advantage of the darkness. He was later arrested by the NCB from Amritsar in 2007, this time with 2 kg of heroin. He was convicted by an Amritsar court in 2009 which had sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Balwinder was then tried in the Chandigarh court for his involvement in the 2005 case along with Satnam Singh. “When a person who has already been tried is convicted for the second time, he has to be punished with death. Offences related to drugs are more heinous than culpable homicide. For, the latter affects an individual while the former leaves its effect on society and cripples the nation,” added the judgment. “Convict Satnam Singh is a government servant who was working as a warden at Sangrur jail. The state of Punjab is in grip of a drug hurricane and the menace is widespread among jail inmates,” read the order. In January this year,
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Punjab yet to pay
Rs 700 cr subsidy dues to PowerCorp
Patiala, March 26 The Section 65 of the Electricity Act 2003 stipulates advance payment of subsidy in cash and does not permit book adjustments. Subsequently, the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) had instructed the state government to ensure that full advance monthly subsidy payment for the free power is paid without fail. Even the PSERC had directed the state government that the free power subsidy has to be paid in cash and not through any kind of book adjustment. However, contrary to the instructions, the state government had not paid the full monthly advance payment for the free power subsidy and had also made book adjustments in the recent past. As per the documents procured by The Tribune, the total subsidy for 2011-12 was Rs 4,188.92 crore against which the actual payment made by the state government to the Power Corporation till March 15 was Rs 2,924.21 crore. The Electricity Duty (ED) payable to the Punjab Government by the PSPCL for 2011-12 was Rs 1,400 crore. The PSPCL had paid the state government Rs 842.79 crore as ED till March 15. As per the projected figures, the collection of Rs 1,400 crore as ED implies that so far the PSPCL has retained Rs 557.21 crore of the ED. If the state government recovers Rs 557.21 crore from the PSPCL, still the net subsidy pending towards the state government would be Rs 707.5 crore. Padamjit Singh, an expert in power sector, said, "The state government had adjusted on paper an amount of Rs 981.93 crore (on account of RBI bonds issued in 2003) against the power subsidy to be paid to the PSPCL for the year 2011-12. By doing so, the state government has violated the tripartite agreement between the Punjab Government, Union Government and the RBI. This is completely illegal." Despite repeated attempts, Punjab Power secretary Anirudh Tiwari was not available for comments.
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Farmers make it big with protected cultivation
Ludhiana, March 26 Eager to break away from the wheat-paddy cropping pattern, Patiala-based Meharban Singh and Ludhiana-based Davinder Singh decided to experiment with vegetable cultivation. Unlike most farmers who follow the herd mentality that often leads to a glut in the market, they first studied the possible pitfalls and ways to overcome them. "We had a clear idea that our venture should be economically viable," says Davinder. Both Meharban and Davinder conducted a preliminary research before contacting experts at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). To get the required know-how and learn about the latest techniques in vegetable cultivation, they visited countries like Spain and Italy. In 2002, Meharban and Davinder started their ventures at Saholi in Patiala district and Mushkabad in Ludhiana district, respectively. At every stage, it was their willingness to take a calculated risk that helped. They found that drip irrigation increased the profitability by more than 30 per cent. In 2008, they decided to adopt the polyhouse technique. Instead of going for this technique in a big way, they adopted it on an experimental basis on small patches of land. "Only when the experiment proved successful did I opt for the polyhouse technique on five acres of my land," says Meharban, who has successfully cultivated tomato, coloured capsicum, bitter gourd through this technique. The protected cultivation technique entails a one-time investment of Rs 37 lakh per acre. This investment excludes the recurring labour and seed costs. Both the farmers have received about 50 per cent financial assistance through a scheme of the National Horticulture Mission. The annual income from an acre of land under protected cultivation is around Rs 6-7 lakh, says Meharban. Director, Punjab Horticulture Department, Dr LS Brar says protected farming is the best technique to increase per unit yield as well as income from the land. "In protected cultivation, there's a better control of light, temperature and humidity, and consequently, a better growth of crops. There's also a restricted use of pesticides. Besides, the window period of the crops is increased," adds director, Research, PAU, Dr SS Gosal. However, protected cultivation requires intensive crop care that can only be provided by skilled labour under expert guidance.
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Centre urged to include more categories in NREGA
Mohali, March 26 Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra today said by including work like cleaning of village by-lanes and repair of link roads under the MNREGA, the employment scheme could become a success in Punjab. On poor success of MNREGA in Punjab, he said the profile of Punjabis was different from other states. There were a few takers for the some works listed under the scheme. "We also plan to include adult education under the scheme so that educated youths in villages could be roped in to teach elders and thus wean them away from the menace of drugs," the Minister said. Recently Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, along with Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, had called upon the Union Rural Development Minister to convince the latter to include the above-mentioned work under the MNREGA. On his first visit to the state headquarters of the Rural Development and Panchayats in Sector 62 here, the Minister said his priority was to make the Panchayati Raj Institutions as the harbinger of change in rural areas. Focus on education and wean away youth from drugs were his top priority. About complaints of shamlat lands being usurped by influential persons, particularly in periphery of Chandigarh, he said all such lands would be vacated. "We would serve notices in all such cases," he said.
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Rajpura jewellers protest excise duty
Patiala, March 26 Association president Raj Kumar said the decision of imposition of tax was detrimental to the interests of jewellers who run small shops. "The government has miserably failed in generating job opportunities and it now wants to shut business of small jewellers and take away the jobs of thousands of workers who earned their living from these shops," he added. "We have workers from far off places like Maharashtra and West Bengal and once our business is closed, we wont be able to sustain our families. The government will be responsible," added Raj Kumar. Mohan Lal Verma, secretary of the Association, said all 74 jewellery shops in the town remained closed for the fifth day today.
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Patiala Mayor writes to DC on traffic woes
Patiala, March 26 The Mayor along with senior officers from the Land Branch of the MC and the Anti-Encroachment Committee went to review the four-laning work of the lower Mall Road. The Mayor said, "The road which is to be constructed from the Fountain Chowk to the NIS is still under construction, but the part of the constructed road rather than solving traffic problem has made it worse, due to absence of traffic policemen." Moreover, not even a single traffic policeman was deputed on the road to regulate traffic whereas it is the busiest road in the city. People have started parking their vehicles on both sides of the road, he said. He urged the DC to depute traffic policemen on the road. Traffic Police Inspector Achru Ram said, "We will hold a joint operation tomorrow. All our force is deployed near the Central Jail due to Balwant Singh Rajoana's hanging. Moreover, due to Navratras and Kali Devi temple being one of the most popular in the northern region, there is slight problem of regulating traffic, but we will look into the problem at the earliest," he added. — TNS
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BSF seizes 14 kg heroin in Attari
Amritsar, March 26 The smugglers fired three shots at the jawans guarding the border. They fled from the spot taking advantage of the darkness. However, BSF jawans could not retaliate as the smugglers were very close to the Pakistan border post. DIG, BSF, Sanjiv Bhanot, said at 12.10 am, troops of 163-battalion deployed at Daoke border of the post detected suspicious movement. The night vision devices found that three Pakistani smugglers were moving towards the border fence allegedly to sneak heroin. “Challenged by the BSF jawans, the smugglers opened fire at them. They fired three shots before fleeing back into the Pakistan border. During a search operation conducted in the morning, the BSF seized 14 packets of heroin containing 14 kg of the contraband besides three empty cartridges from the spot,” said Bhanot. “The BSF troops were on a high alert following reports of a spurt in smuggling attempts allegedly by anti-national elements based in Pakistan. Crops on either side of the border also aid the smugglers as it gives cover to exploit the area for such nefarious activities,” he said.
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