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dasuya bypoll
Punjab failed to use money for rural toilets, says Ramesh
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Experts for brakes on Amritsar’s PRTS plan
HC stays issuing of job letters to doctors
Badal seeks AC train to cart fruit and veggies
Rain brings respite from power cuts
Voters demand ITI, more govt hospitals
Now, CM’s photo on both sides of 108 ambulances
Dialogue productive, claims Pak official
Tension over gurdwara land
Expect higher paddy yield: Experts
Water in 15 schools found unfit for drinking
Canal killings: Accused sent to judicial custody
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dasuya bypoll
Dasuya, July 6 With just three days left for campaigning (July 9), the Congress has yet to find its feet with top leaders shying away from canvassing. Capt Amarinder Singh, PPCC chief, addressed just one gathering on June 30. He has not visited the constituency since then. This despite the fact that Congress workers had claimed that the former Chief Minister would address gatherings daily till the campaigning concluded on July 9. Barnala legislator Kewal Dhillon, who has been made campaign incharge, has been hopping from one village to the other trying to capture the Jat Sikh votes. Sources revealed that Union Minister Ashwani Kumar, Gurdaspur Member of Parliament Partap Bajwa and AICC member Jagmeet Brar were not keen on canvassing. Earlier, there were reports that Union Minister Ambika Soni, who is from the neighbouring town of Hoshiarpur, would be addressing rallies. But there has been no word on her. An Akali leader said: “Congress workers know that they are fighting a losing battle. The strong sympathy wave in favour of Sukhjit Kaur has unnerved the Congress.” However, the party’s poll managers are not disheartened. Kewal Dhillon said: “Capt Amarinder Singh will be here tomorrow. We are also in touch with Union Ministers and we hope to see them in town before campaigning ends.” Among those who canvassed for Congress candidate Arun Dogra today were Dinanagar MLA Aruna Chowdhury, Nawashahar MLA Guriqbal Kaur and president of the Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar. Bhaduar MLA and Punjabi folk singer Mohammad Sidique was also in town. He will be here till June 8. A series of meetings have been organised for him. Missing in action n
Capt Amarinder Singh yet to make an appearance n
Union Minister Ashwani Kumar, MP Partap Bajwa and AICC member Jagmeet Singh Brar not keen on canvassing n
No word on Union Minister Ambika Soni either
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Punjab failed to use money for rural toilets, says Ramesh
Chandigarh, July 6 Ramesh said the Centre would go in for a third-party evaluation of the toilets constructed in the state for which financial assistance had been raised from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,000 for each toilet. The minister said this was important in order to ensure the scheme was implemented in the right spirit as there were reports that toilets were not being used and that many remained locked or were used for storing foodgrain or other necessities. “Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan needs political leadership to make it a success”, he emphasised. Ramesh, who claimed he was often criticised by his colleagues for giving too much to Punjab, said the state had been given liberal financial assistance by his ministry, including that for drinking water in rural areas. He said the state was given Rs 88 crore under this head in 2011-12 and would be given Rs 103 crore in 2012-13. The Union Minister said he had acted upon all promises made during his last visit to the state on May 12-13. An amount of Rs 7.50 crore had been approved for an all-weather bridge at Mohar Jamsher village in Ferozepur district, which was surrounded by a barbed wire on three sides on the international border with Pakistan. He said he had forwarded Punjab’s case for assessment of waterlogged areas and a Planning Commission team had already visited the state in this regard. Ramesh said 1,700 km of rural roads would be upgraded and a special scheme was on the cards for allocating more funds for rural roads in the state’s six border districts. Ramesh said he had no intention of contesting the next Lok Sabha election from Punjab. “Main Gujral Sahib ka rasta nahin apna raha hoon”, he said in a lighter vein when asked about the ‘largesse’ extended to the state by his ministry. n Centre to go in for third-party evaluation of toilets constructed in the state n
Union Minister says many toilets remained locked or were used for storing foodgrain n
He says he had acted upon all promises made during his last visit to the state on May 12-13 n
An amount of Rs 7.50 crore had been approved for an all-weather bridge at Mohar Jamsher village in Ferozepur n
He had forwarded Punjab’s case for assessment of waterlogged areas and a Planning Commission team had already visited the state in this regard
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Experts for brakes on Amritsar’s PRTS plan
Amritsar, July 6 Talking to The Tribune, Prof SS Behl, Dean, Faculty of Physical Planning and Architecture, GNDU, said, "The PRTS will enter the walled city from the Hall Gate and will totally eclipse the view of this monumental landmark. The historic Town Hall, which the government intends to preserve as a heritage building, will also meet the same fate. Moreover, it will also block the view of the Jallianwalla Bagh and the main entrance of the Golden Temple (Ghanta Ghar Gate)." He said the project will take a toll on the heritage character of the walled city. "The PRTS will also deprive the pilgrims an opportunity to have a look at the historic Hall Bazaar as they shall pass overhead and not through the bazaar," he averred. He says the alignment (pathway) for the PRTS will also leave an impact on the ventilation and sunlight in the buildings adjoining it, besides impinging on the privacy of those residing inside. He said the government should instead explore other options, one of which could be having the PRTS on the circular road on the periphery of the walled city. Another option may be removing the encroachments on the main road leading to the Golden Temple and having dedicated lanes for pedestrians, rickshaws and private vehicles, he said. The Tribune has also got access to slides used in the official presentation by the state tourism authorities. These slides exhibit superimposed view of the walled city areas to give an idea as to how it will look once the PRTS comes up and it clearly shows that these landmarks will be eclipsed by the project. Balvinder Singh, Head, Guru Ram Das School of Planning, GNDU, said the proposed pathway from Railway Station (Gol Bagh side) to the Golden Temple passing through Hall Bazaar, Town Hall, Jallianwala Bagh and Chowk Ghanta Ghar, will alter the traditional layout of the walled city. He said the PRTS will pose a hurdle in getting the walled city listed among the World Heritage Cities even though at present the city fulfills almost all conditions for acquiring this status. Dr Sukhdev Singh, state convener of INTACH, said the distance being covered by the PRTS is too short and it would not be of much advantage when compared to the huge cost the project will entail. Besides, it will disturb the local habitat for years during its construction phase. "The government can instead act tough against encroachments and press into service battery operated vehicles, besides curbing land use from residential to commercial, which is increasing the traffic chaos in the walled city," he said. Dr Sukhdev said the government must understand that the people not only visit the Golden Temple but also go for shopping in markets of the walled city. Navdeep Asija, a transportation and road safety expert from Ferozepur, said the PRTS will mar the entire skyline of the walled city, besides threatening the business of the trading community. He said it will also lead to reduction of effective road width which will add to traffic congestion. Noted social activist Brij Bedi said the government should launch a crackdown against illegal encroachments and strictly implement traffic norms instead of contemplating such projects. "The people are driving vehicles in the city without licence while nobody bothers about traffic laws. Until such violations are not checked, the scenario will remain as it is," he said. The government should preserve the entire stretch from the Hall Gate to the Golden Temple and promote it as an old world charm, he
said
The city view now and (right) the future look with the prts in place
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HC stays issuing of job letters to doctors
Chandigarh, July 6 The appointments of at least 300 doctors are expected to be affected by the order issued by Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa. Counselling for allocation of stations to medical officers and issuing of appointment letters was scheduled to be held from July 4 to July 7. Dr Arunpreet Kaur and 16 other doctors had filed a petition against the corporation’s Managing Director, the Medical Council of India and the Director of Health and Family Welfare. Their grievance was that they were on the merit list of the competitive examination conducted for selecting medical officers. But their names did not appear only on the ground that they had not completed their internship. Appearing before the court on behalf of the petitioners, counsel Gurjinder Singh Chahal referred to a document to state that the internship of the petitioners had been completed since then. Chahal relied on the merit list of the medical officers to demonstrate that the petitioners were higher on merit than candidates being issued appointment letters. Justice Dhindsa asserted that notice of motion on the petition filed by the doctors was initially issued by the court on December 15, 2011. Thereafter, time was sought for filing the reply on a number of dates. But no written statement had yet been filed. Therefore, “directions are issued that in the meanwhile, appointment letters of medical officers (MBBS) shall not be issued by the respondents/authorities to the candidates, who are lower in merit to the petitioners. ” Justice Dhindsa directed the hearing of the application along with the main case on October 5.
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CM makes emotional appeal
Passi Kandi (Dasuya), July 6 Flanked by Sukhjit Kaur, Cabinet Ministers SS Maluka and SS Phillaur and Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna, the CM struck an emotional chord with the audience as he said: “Each vote caste in favour of the BJP will ensure that Sahi’s soul rests in peace.” With the whirlwind tour of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal having come to an end yesterday, it was the turn of the CM to hold fort in this assembly segment. Badal addressed gatherings in half a dozen villages. Unlike his son, whose fiery speeches were laced with sarcasm directed at PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, the CM did not attack his predecessor. Instead, he had a dig at the Congress-led UPA Government. At Passi Kandi, Ghogra and Dasuya, the CM impressed the gatherings with his rustic humour and wit. “The amount involved in the 3G scandal is so big that it will take you days to count the number of zeroes,” Badal said. He spoke of the “step-motherly” treatment meted out to Punjab. On the issue of black money stashed away in foreign banks, the CM claimed that the money belonged to Congress men and that was the reason why the government was not coming out with a list of people who had money in foreign banks. Candidates in fray Sukhjit Kaur Sahi (52) SAD-BJP n
An undergraduate, she is a mother of two. Her son Dr Harsimrat Singh is a dentist while her daughter Yasmeen has done Masters in journalism from a UK university n
Sukhjit was asked to contest the byelection by the BJP high command after her husband's death
Arun Dogra ‘micky’ (46) congress n
He remained Hoshiarpur District Youth Congress President for 11 years from 1996 till 2007 n
He was elected councillor of the Hoshiarpur Municipal Committee in 1997 and he has been a director of the Hoshiarpur Co-operative Bank from 2007 till 2012
Bhupinder Singh Ghuman (55) PPP n
He was sarpanch of his native village Khairabad from 1983 till 2008 and was also a member of the Dasuya Block Samiti in 2008
n He won the 1996 SGPC elections from Dasuya with 10,993 votes and narrowly lost the Zila Parishad chief election to SAD candidate JS Bhodal
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Potable water an issue too
Jalandhar, July 6 In this connection, a large number of locals lodged a protest with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal after an election rally in Bodlan-Versa village on Wednesday. Led by women, a delegation of area residents even “presented” him a bottle of contaminated water. Acting swiftly, the Deputy Chief Minister today sent a team of senior officials from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to assess the problem. The team, which had to face the wrath of public at Randhawa village, toured 13 villages in Dasuya assembly constituency and collected water samples. A sugar mill situated on the Hoshiarpur-Dasuya road was also inspected following complaints that the unit was the “main source” of pollution in the area. The villagers, too, accompanied the PPCB team and showed the spots from where the unit was discharging polluted water into agricultural fields. While PPCB chairman Ravinder Singh expressed his ignorance on the issue, senior environment engineer (Jalandhar) SP Garg said water samples had been collected from the affected villages and the mill.
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Badal seeks AC train to cart fruit and veggies
Chandigarh, July 6 In a communiqué to Pawar, the Chief Minister said the Centre had under the National Horticulture Mission already started an air-conditioned train for ferrying fruit and vegetables from Surat to Agra via New Delhi. The train had been conceived to increase the shelf life of fruit s being transported since it took a long time. Nod to CII-Gurukul
The CM has in principle granted approval to the CII for setting up Gurukul, a skill training pilot project, in Nawanshahr to train unemployed youth and school dropouts in various trades. The CM has assured the CII of all support in this venture and asked the DC of Nawanshahr to identify a suitable site for the project. Badal has asked the CII to finalise its plan at the earliest.
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Rain brings respite from power cuts
Patiala, July 6 While stating that it was pre-monsoon rainfall that lashed the state today, JR Prasad, the chief scientist, who monitors the Doppler radar installed at the Punjabi University here, said, "It is expected that the monsoon will hit Punjab in a day or two." Interestingly, the most happy were the authorities of the Power Corporation, who were under fire for imposing long power cuts for over 10 days. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) KD Chaudhri said the power scenario in the state would now improve drastically. He said after the rain lashed various parts of the state, there were less power cuts today. Reiterating that the power scenario in Punjab is dependent on monsoon, he said, "We have been maintaining that as soon as monsoon hits Punjab, the power situation will be back on track." PSPCL Director (Distribution) Arun Verma confirmed that instructions had already been issued to relax the power cuts being imposed in the domestic sector. In some cities, power cuts on the three-phase category metres were imposed but generally, the duration of power cuts being imposed in the domestic sector was minimal, he said, while adding that with more rainfall, the Power Corporation would be able to meet the demand and supply. Presently, even after imposing power regulatory measures, there was deficit of about 300 lakh units (LUs), following which power cuts were imposed. Meanwhile, the online monitoring report of the Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NRLDC) revealed that the frequency of the Northern Grid was above 50 for considerable period of time today. "With less load on the grid, the Power Corporation was able to overdraw power at less than Rs 2 Unscheduled Interchange (UI) rate to ensure that less cuts are imposed," said Verma. Meanwhile, the PSPCL authorities said this year, Punjab’s own thermal generation had gone up by 1,051 LUs as compared to last year but because of less water in the dams, the state’s own hydro generation in June was recorded to be 806 LUs less as compared to last year. From the BBMB, Punjab got 392 LUs less as compared to 2011.
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Voters demand
ITI, more govt hospitals
Dasuya, July 6 Voters complain that an ITI and new government hospitals were promised in the 2007 elections as well, but nothing was remembered once the polls got over. Ashok Sabharwal, a local resident, says since the constituency only has one ITI at Talwara, the need of the hour was to set up more such institutes so that students could have access to job-oriented technical courses. “Ours is an industrially backward area and employment opportunities here are rare. Once local students complete their matriculation or Class XII, technical institutes can help them become self-employed,” he says. In the absence of courses that can ensure jobs, local youth are getting hooked to drugs, says a retired teacher, Balbir Kaur. Another issue is the lack of quality medical care. “We only have two government hospitals in the entire Talwara and Dasuya belt. Though the rich can afford treatment in neighbouring Jalandhar, the poor from the entire segment have to depend on the two government facilities,” says another local. Besides, the talk of establishing industrial units in Kandi area also surfaces whenever elections are to be held.
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Now, CM’s photo on both sides of 108 ambulances
Ludhiana, July 6 As many as 240 ambulances under the 108 ambulance service cater to patients free of cost all over the state. The ambulance service has been provided by the Central Government to the State Health Department under the National Rural Health Mission. Talking to The Tribune, Chetan Sharma, head of operations, Ambulance 108, Punjab, said, "Only two days ago, we received instructions from the Punjab Health System Corporation to paste photographs of Punjab Chief Minister on both sides of the ambulances. So, we have done it." Before the Vidhan Sabha elections, ambulances used to carry the photograph of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on one side and that of the then Health and Family Welfare Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla on the other side. Following the implementation of the model code of conduct, these photographs were removed from the ambulances on December 24. The trend of carrying photograph was started by the Punjab Chief Minister, who allowed the Heath Department last year to paste his photograph along with the slogan “Raj Nahin Sewa" on 90 ambulances received under the NRHM in the first phase. Later, photographs of Lakshmi Kanta Chawla were also displayed on the other side of the ambulances. And when Satpal Gosain became the Health and Family Welfare Minister, his photographs replaced Chawla's photos on ambulances.
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Dialogue productive, claims Pak official
Amritsar, July 6 Talking to mediapersons, Jilani said the people of Pakistan as well as its leadership was keen to receive the Indian Prime Minister. He was replying to the PM's recent remark that he was looking forward to visiting Pak provided the dialogue results in a suitable outcome. Jilani pooh-poohed media reports that the two nations had hit a deadlock on core issues. He said, "We had very productive meetings, which witnessed deliberations on key issues, including Kashmir and terrorism. The meeting ended on a progressive note and both sides wanted to move forward." On Pakistan's offer of a joint probe on Mumbai attacks, Jilani said, "I am convinced about it. Both countries are suffering from terrorism and it is the need of the hour that we work sincerely to eliminate it.” On Pakistan's failure to arrest Hafiz Saeed, Jilani said, "We have initiated action against all those accused of wrongdoing in the past. We need strong evidence and have to follow a set procedure. If we don't follow these procedures, even the courts will set such people free." On meeting separatists prior to his meeting with his Indian counterpart, Jilani said, “Kashmir has been a long-standing dispute and we have to maintain a dialogue with Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control.”
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Tension over gurdwara land
Amritsar, July 6 Radical Sikh organisations, including the Dal Khalsa and the Damdami Taksal, held a protest against the dera. They alleged that a portion of the gurdwara was damaged by the dera members. The Amritsar Rural police deputed a heavy police force to thwart any untoward incident. Preet Paul Singh Virk, district police chief, along with other senior police officials reached the spot and tried to defuse the situation. Members of various radical Sikh bodies put up tents on the road. A large number of followers at the dera did not allow policemen to enter the premises. “We will investigate into the allegations levelled by the Sikh organisations before taking any action. We have sought ten days time for an inquiry to which they have agreed,” said Virk. He said the dera claimed that the village panchayat had transferred the land in its name.
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Expect higher paddy yield: Experts
Chandigarh, July 6 Reports reaching here said that the area under paddy cultivation was not likely to reduce this year due to delayed monsoons. Nor was the area under basmati likely to increase with farmers preferring to transplant coarse paddy varieties. The farmers have gone in for coarse varieties because of the severe fluctuation in the prices of 1121 basmati variety last year. Experts say the prolonged dry spell would result in a higher paddy yield this season. State Farmers Commission chief Dr GS Kalkat said a dry spell also meant lesser attacks from pests and, therefore, a reduction in input costs. Reports of rainfall were received from Patiala, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr and parts of Ropar district today. Meanwhile, after failing to encourage direct paddy seeding, the Agriculture Department is now holding demonstrations in certain districts. Patiala Chief Agricultural Officer Dr BS Sohal, who is credited with successful conduct of direct seeding experiments in several districts, said 3,125 litres of water was used to produce 1kg of rice in the traditional puddling method while only 1,700 litres of water was used to produce the same quantity in case of direct seeding. In addition, direct seeding saved 50 hours of electricity per acre of paddy, Sohal added.
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Water in 15 schools found unfit for drinking
Patiala, July 6 District Health officer Dr Daljit Singh said collecting water samples from schools was a routine work as it could affect a large number of students. “As soon as we received the report of the water samples being found unfit for drinking, we wrote letters to the concerned authorities and asked them to do proper chlorination and also provide chlorine tablets to check outbreak of any disease,” he added. Civil Surgeon Dr Virinder Singh Mohi said, “We will continue to collect samples till we find the water fit for drinking. Only then we will be able to find out whether it is the water or some problem with the water supply pipes as they are more than 100 years old now,” he added. He said, “As the pre-monsoon showers lashed the district today, we have to be more careful because many students fall ill during this weather. Though the department is fully prepared, we are still holding weekly meetings of all the water supplying departments to ensure proper coordination,” added the Civil Surgeon.
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Canal killings: Accused sent to judicial custody
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 6 Duty Magistrate Harsh Mehta sent him to judicial custody till July 21. He was sent to Nabha jail. He was brought to the district courts amid tight
security. Khushwinder had pushed the six members of a family into the Bhakra canal just to grab the money of the family. During his police interrogation, he revealed that he had also pushed a family of four into the canal in a similar manner in June 2004.— OC
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Patiala, July 6
Ludhiana, July 6
Amritsar, July 6
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Destiny brought Sukhjit into politics after her husband Amarjit Singh Sahi passed away in June this year
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Arun Dogra is the son of former Deputy Speaker and Minister Ramesh Chander Dogra
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A lawyer by profession, Ghuman has been president of the Dasuya Bar Association for four terms