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Thermal unit shut, supply down by 210 MW
PSPCL to get 6.5 MW from biomass project
Camelot hits another hurdle
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Eateries show scant regard for Food Safety Act
Customers relish a meal at a road-side eatery in
Jalandhar. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
Install scanner to counter drug smuggling in rail cargo: Sidhu
Kisan Morcha to form strategy for countering Centre’s policies
Youth Congress’ protest against
power tariff hike from today
Jawan keeps his promise, returns home in
Tricolour
Army officers pay tributes to martyr Govind Singh at Sivian village in Bathinda. Tribune photo
After gastro, 2 cholera cases in Patiala colony
Tainted cricketer’s father sees error in drug report
Rahul Sharma's house wears a deserted look at Maqsudan in Jalandhar. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
Reduction in MBBS seats
Development hit as Batala MC fails to get new chief
Unplanned growth to spell heavy debt for civic bodies
Punjabi varsity VC urged to hold PUTA elections
Kisan Morcha meeting today
BDPO among three held for kidnapping youth
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Thermal unit shut, supply down by 210 MW
Patiala, July 21
GS Chhabra, Director (Generation), Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), said: "Since the demand for power comes down during weekend, it was decided to shut the unit for repair". He said the unit was expected to be made operational within 48 to 54 hours. Power woes of the people continued with the PSPCL imposing cuts of different variations in various parts of the state. Besides Bathinda, where no cut is being imposed, Sangrur, Mohali, Ropar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Fatehgarh Sahib and many other districts have been witnessing frequent and unscheduled power cuts. However, since government offices remain closed on Saturday, the situation was somewhat better today as compared to other weekdays. PSPCL director (distribution) Arun Verma said: "We are imposing scheduled cuts in the domestic sector. Whenever power supply eases, no cuts will be imposed." The demand for power in the state on Friday was 2,100 lakh units (LU). The PSPCL managed to provide 1,884 LU and to bridge the gap of 216 LU, power cuts were imposed. Because of deficit rainfall and high demand for power, many northern states are over drawing power from the Northern Grid. Due to this, the grid frequency went below the critical limit of 49.2 today and yesterday. Experts say overloading at this frequency can put the security of grid core under threat. "Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been overdrawing power from the grid even at low frequency," said sources in the Power Corporation. JR Prasad, Chief Scientist, who monitors the only Doppler radar of the region installed at Punjabi University, said there was a possibility of rain in the state in the next 24 to 48 hours.
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PSPCL to get 6.5 MW from biomass project
Patiala, July 21 KD Chaudhri, Coporation CMD, said a biomass project was being set up by the company in Jalalabad at a cost of Rs 55 crore, which would generate 10 MW using biomass such as rice husk, cotton straws and paddy husk as fuel. "The PSPCL has signed the agreement to purchase 6.5 MW for the next 20 years at a rate to be decided by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The plant is expected to be commissioned by October 2013," he said, adding the agreement aims at promoting new and renewable sources of energy.
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Camelot hits another hurdle
Chandigarh, July 21 The Tribune has been regularly highlighting how Chandigarh skyline is in danger, with the Punjab Government giving a go-ahead to Tata Housing Development Corporation (THDC) for the construction of multi-tower high-rise building for its Camelot project at Kansal village. The Tribune had highlighted how the Punjab Government had given a go-ahead to this project, as it had 102 politicians onboard, for the construction of 18 multi-storey towers. Since each of these politicians, cutting across the party lines, are members of Punjab MLA Cooperative House Building Society and had been promised a flat in society and Rs 82.50 lakh in cash, all hurdles to get clearances for the project were cleared. About the project
This multi-storey project is proposed to be spread over 53.39 acres with a residential area of 42.29 acres and a commercial area of 11.10 acres. However, the ownership of the land, on which this project is proposed to come up, is now in dispute. Mahesh Sehgal, a Delhi-based developer, has accused Sudhir Chaddha, managing director of Hash Builders, the local partner of THDC, of defrauding him by “fraudulently transferring the land in the name of his (Chaddha’s) wife”. Though Sudhir Chaddha has denied the allegations levelled against him, Mahesh Sehgal has alleged that he had entered into an MoU with the three cooperative house building societies, who originally owned the land. “The three housing societies - Punjab MLA Cooperative House Building Society, Defence Cooperative House Building Society and Kansal Cooperative House Building Society - had entered into an MoU with Sanjay Sharma of Billus Enterprises, who in turn entered into an MoU with my company, RM Buildtech, to develop the land. I had also paid Rs 4 crore at the time the MoU was signed. I had to pay the balance amount of Rs 35 crore by March 2007. However, Sharma transferred the land of Punjabi MLA Cooperative House Building Society and Defence Cooperative House Building Society to THDC. We then got into litigation with Sharma, but Sudhir Chaddha approached us for a compromise and made me a partner after I agreed to withdraw all cases filed against THDC,” he said. Sehgal further said “initially Chaddha paid him some money each month as was agreed in the MoU, but he stopped paying me money from October 2010 onwards”. “I have invested Rs 7 crore in the project and by becoming 50 per cent partner in the project, Chaddha should have paid me Rs 3.50 crore, which he is denying me,” he said, adding that he had now moved the Civil Court against Chaddha. Chaddha refuted all the allegations levelled against him. “Sehgal is concealing the facts. I have not cheated him. Rather, he has cheated me and has grabbed money from me in the garb of having a privy of agreement with Kansal Cooperative Group Housing Society. I have receipts to show how he has fraudulently taken money from me. I have not received a single penny from him. I will now proceed legally against him,” he said. Meanwhile, the developers of Camelot, THDC, have been taken unawares by this land dispute. “We are not aware of any such development,” said a top official in THDC. He added for the past six months, the company had not been actively pursuing the project.
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Eateries show scant regard for Food Safety Act
Those associated with the food business and an annual turnover of more than Rs 12 lakh are required to procure licences under the Act. The remaining food outlets, including those selling dairy products and whose sale is less than Rs 12 lakh a year, are supposed to get themselves registered under the Act. Only a 125-odd licences have been issued in Bathinda, 75 in Gurdaspur, 70 in Ropar, 100 in Kapurthala, 170 in Ludhiana, 75 in Patiala district, 280 in Amritsar, 310 in Ferozepur, 350 in Hoshiarpur and 450 in Jalandhar. The registrations count stands at: Mohali (60), Bathinda (150), Amritsar (285), Hoshiarpur (485), Ludhiana (600) and Ropar (700). The Act covers all food articles, whether processed or unprocessed, genetically modified or engineered, infant food, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drink and even chewing gum. Those selling products found unhygienic or unsafe face monetary penalties. Health and Family Welfare Commissioner Raji P Srivastava said: "The state carried out awareness programmes on the Act with various traders' bodies and dispelled fears of exploitation at the hands of officials." Srivastava said the state would soon delegate powers to register eateries to the Local Body Department. It would also set up an appelate authority. He said 393 of the 4,331 samples gathered by health officials had failed food safety standards. It is learnt that small traders running 'karyana' stores, fearing harassment at the hands of officials, have approached Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in the matter.
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Install scanner to counter drug smuggling in rail cargo: Sidhu
Amritsar, July 21 The BJP MP also advocated a complete security overhaul at rail cargo facility, besides equipping it with modern infrastructure and adequate storage facilities. Sidhu said he had also written to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram as well as the Railway Minister on the issue. He said he had also sought an appointment with Chidambaram to take up the matter with him. "A delegation of traders will also meet him whenever possible," he said. He said he would also arrange an inspection of the railway yard and a meeting between senior railway officials and representatives of the trading community. "The traders can air their grievances and expect positive response during the inspection," he said. Sidhu said as cement consignments entered India after being checked by customs officials in Pakistan, Indian traders had no role to play in smuggling of narcotics . "If a high-powered scanner is installed at the entry point, it will help scan every bogey of the train for the contraband," he said. One such scanner was already functioning at the border with Bangladesh, he said. All-India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha said they had also sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apprising him of the problems being faced by the traders.
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Kisan Morcha to form strategy for countering Centre’s policies
Chandigarh, July 20 The two-day meet would discuss issues concerning farmers, including the Union Government's proposal to deregulate prices of various chemical fertilisers, and form a strategy to counter the Centre’s “anti-farmer” policies. The Kisan Morcha would also discuss a separate agriculture budget on the pattern of railway budget at the national level and also in predominantly agriculture states. The executive would also discuss the impact of deficient rain on kharif crops in various parts of the country. Besides, it would discuss price policy for foodgrain, interest-free loans advanced for farm sector and better risk management system. The meeting will be attended by farmer leaders from all over the country.
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Youth Congress’ protest against
power tariff hike from today
Ludhiana, July 21 Demanding a rollback of the hike in power tariff, Youth Congress state president Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary said, “The hike is unfair and unjustified. The voters have been betrayed and the people of the state have been taken for a ride by the government.”
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Jawan keeps his promise, returns home in
Tricolour
Sivia (Bathinda), July 21 Wrapped in the national flag and bedecked with flowers, Govind’s body was brought to his village by Army jawans today. As his wife sobbed inconsolably, a few relatives whispered: “The promise was kept. He was a man of his words. He indeed returned in the
Tricolor” Employed with the Engineering Regiment of the 47 Rashtriya Rifles, Govind was attached to the Infantry a year ago. His one-year ‘disturbed area’ posting was about to be over. He had already applied for leave. He had informed his family he would soon join them.
Sepoy Govind died fighting terrorists near Kupwara. He along with other soldiers was returning to their camp after a combing operation in a village earlier this week when militants fired at them. Having joined the Army eight years ago, Govind was hit by a bullet in the stomach and died three days later. The only breadwinner of his family, he is survived by his two sons (aged three and two) while his wife is expecting their third child. He had two brothers who died recently due to a disease. His parents are alive.
Govind’s father Bhajan Singh lit the pyre amidst firing of gunshots and reversing of arms by Armymen in the martyr’s
honour. Among those present were local MLA Ajaib Singh Bhatti, SDM Rambir Singh and DSP Manjeet Singh.
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After gastro, 2 cholera cases in Patiala colony
Patiala, July 21 The confirmation of cholera cases and increase in the number of gastroenteritis patients is a clear indication that the situation in Badungar Colony is grim as far as water contamination i concerned. “The claims of the Patiala Municipal Corporation authorities that the situation is under control are a farce,” said a resident of the colony. Dr KD Singh, principal, Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, said out of the 30 stool samples collected by the Health Department, two have already tested positive. The final report of the suspected cases would be disclosed on Monday. “It is shameful that the Patiala MC woke up after three people died. In the wake of outbreak of water-borne diseases in Sanjay Colony a week ago, the civic functionaries should have taken precautionary measures in the areas prone to water-borne diseases,” said Sanjeev Bittu, Municipal Councillor from Ward No. 28, which includes some parts of Sanjay Colony. Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur visited the hospital and inquired about the condition of the patients. She flayed the corporation authorities for behaving irresponsibly, notwithstanding the fact that the outbreak of water-borne diseases is common in summers. “Several patients are battling for life because of the laxity of the MC,” she said. In the neighboring area, at least half-a-dozen cases of gastroenteritis have been reported from Sheesh Mahal Colony also. The patients have been admitted to Rajindra Hospital for treatment. Gastroenteritis cases coming from different parts of the city have raised alarm, exposing the claims of the municipal corporation that the water being supplied to all the areas is potable and any outbreak of epidemic in the past was accidental. Municipal Commissioner GS Sidhu said they had divided Badungar Colony into five segments and that the civic authorities were conducting a door-to-door survey to check whether there was any water leakage and illegal water connection in the area. “They are also inspecting whether the water has been properly chlorinated,” said the statement.
100 diarrhoea cases in Hoshiarpur HOSHIARPUR: Over 100 persons have been found suffering from diarrhoea at Muradpur Awana village in the Hajipur block of the Mukerian subdivision during a medical camp organised by health authorities here on Saturday. Sources in the Health Department said nearly 150 patients were examined during the camp held at Primary Health Centre at Budhabarh. Over 100 of them were found suffering from diarrhoea.
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Tainted cricketer’s father sees error in drug report
Soon after the news of Rahul started beaming on television channels last evening, his parents, residing at Maqsudan here, are learnt to have left for Chintpurni to offer prayers at the temple. Speaking over the phone, Rahul’s father Pardeep Sharma said there seemed some confusion or mistake in the report. He also did not rule out any malafide intention to defame his son. Asked whom he thought could do this, he said he had no names to suggest. “I don’t know. It is just a thought. But I am sure that my son cannot take drugs. I have full faith in him,” he said. Rahul’s father said he had been away to the temple since last evening with relatives to hold a langar at the shrine. “We returned around midnight to be with our daughter, who was home and started for the temple again this morning,” he added. Asked if he got a chance to interact with his son after the news, Pardeep said, “Yes, we did. He said he was fine and was in Sri Lanka today as part of the limited overs tour. He said that he was in the ground but not playing.” Rahul’s coach Davinder Arora, when asked for his comment on the matter, said, “I know Rahul for over four years now. I have trained him for over eight hours a day. I have full faith in my trainee. He is not the kind who would take to any recreational drugs at a rave party. He might have taken any other medicine for some ailment.” Asked if he had discussed the rave party incident during his recent visit to the city, he said, “I met him at Harbhajan Singh Academy some time back. He said he had gone to the party with South African player and his Pune Warriors teammate Wayne Parnell for some refreshment but he had not consumed any drugs.” Asked if he thought he was being wrongly framed, he responded, “I do not want to blame anyone. The BCCI has said that it would hold an inquiry. I just hope that he comes clean.”
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Reduction in MBBS seats
Patiala, July 21 Parents of several students of medical stream have sought Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's intervention in the matter. Worst affected are those 150 students who took admission in Chintpurni Medical College last year. These students are now facing uncertainty although sources in the Medical Education and Research Department have confirmed that these students will be shifted to other medical colleges in batches. There has been no increase in the number of seats in all three government medical colleges of the state since 1975. Though these colleges had sent a proposal in this regard to the Central and state governments last year, no decision has yet been taken as yet. There are 150 MBBS seats each in government medical colleges in Patiala and Amritsar while Faridkot medical college has only 50 seats. The parents have demanded that at least the number of seats should not be decreased. Dr KK Goyal from Barnala said the government was least bothered about the current situation. If the government could not do anything to get the seats increased, it should at least make an effort to restore affiliation of Chintpurni Medical College, he added. "A reduction in the number of seats has jeopardised the future of many students whose rank was sufficient enough to get them admission in Chintpurni Medical College. Many students even opted out of counselling held in other states hoping to get admission in a medical college of Punjab," parents of a student said. Left out
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Development hit as Batala MC fails to get new chief
Batala, July 21 And what has compounded the worries of the residents is that the civic body doesn’t even have a vice-president, who could have managed the affairs in the absence of a regular president. BJP district unit president Ashok Mahajan claimed that the party remained busy in the Dasuya bypoll all this while. He said BJP state chief Ashwani Sharma had assured them that a new appointee would take over soon. After failing to finalise a candidate for the top post, the district BJP had forwarded five names
—Dharambir Seth, Harjit Singh Bhalla, Ramsharann Bhatia, Suman Handa and Harinder Singh — to the state party high command a month ago. Sources said Harinder Singh, who belongs to the Ramgarhia caste (a major chunk of voters in the town belong to this community), is a frontrunner for the post. In a house of 32, the BJP has 19 councillors whereas the SAD and the Congress have six members each. An Independent too had made it successfully from one of the wards. Former Qadian MLA and senior SAD leader Lakhbir Singh
Lodhinangal, who is the ‘halqa’ (constituency) incharge of Batala, said the delay was hampering the area’s progress. He claimed he had managed to bring in a grant of Rs 8.56 crore from the state government for the MC. “However, not a single paisa has been spent as the MC is headless,” he said.
Lodhinangal is said to have spearheaded the campaign to remove Ambika
Khanna, who was an appointee of her father and former MLA Jagdeesh
Sahni. It was alleged that Sahni had bent rules to appoint Ambika. Ambika remained on the top post for nearly four years and resigned citing “political compulsions” before a no-confidence motion could actually be moved against her in the house.
Tough choice to make
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Unplanned growth to spell heavy debt for civic bodies
For the high estimated expenditure, the authorities blame haphazard expansion from rural to urban areas. An official said: “We need Rs 5,929 crore to ensure clean drinking water and sewer connections in 142 cities and towns of the state. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has approved a loan of Rs 1,125 crore to build infrastructure in urban areas. Of this amount, we have already received Rs 750 crore." The official said HUDCO had also agreed to give Rs 2,000 crore as loan to various urban local bodies. The loan would be advanced to municipal committees individually, it has been
learnt. However, what is bothering the authorities most is that such a huge loan would put a heavy burden on civic bodies, majority of which are already facing a fiscal crisis. For improving living conditions in urban centres, there is a need to mobilise revenue resources at local level. "The state government will have to take a call on this at the earliest," an official said. Officials of local bodies have also started working on a special project to provide houses to the poor living in slum areas in cities and towns. "We aim to cover 100 per cent of the poor population as far as providing housing facility is concerned," an official said.
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Punjabi varsity VC urged to hold PUTA elections
Patiala, July 21 Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, convener, Democratic Teachers’ Front, said: “At a time when authoritarian structures are crumbling all over the globe, the VC is refusing to restore the faculty’s democratic rights. It is need of the hour to restore democratic functioning in the university so that authority can be exercised in a responsible and accountable manner.” The coordination committee demanded immediate release of arrears of their salaries. Dr Satnam Singh Sandhu, convener of the Punjabi University Teachers' Front, said the VC had stated that the financial situation of the university was extremely grim.
— TNS
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Chandigarh, July 20 Kisan Morcha national media incharge Vineet Joshi said the national executive would meet under the chairmanship of its president OP Dhankar. BJP's national vice-president Shanta Kumar would inaugurate the event. The meeting would discuss issues concerning farmers, including the Union Government's proposal to deregulate prices of various chemical fertilisers, and form a strategy to counter the Centre’s “anti-farmer” policies. — TNS
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BDPO among three held for kidnapping youth
Amritsar, July 21 Several persons had kidnapped Atul Sharma from a tution centre in Rani Ka Bagh area in a vehicle bearing a blue beacon. The incident occurred near the Cantonment police station and office of Deputy Commissioner of Police. Atul was rescued by the police following information provided by an eyewitness, Vikram Singh, who is known to the victim. Among those booked were BDPO Budhi Raj Singh, his sister Dr Sukhraj Kaur of Diamond Avenue, and his gunman Jasmail Singh. Dr Sukhraj is a lecturer in Government Medical College here. A case under section 365 IPC and 25/54/59 Arms act has been registered against them. The police has recovered an assault rifle, .30 bore pistol and 25 live cartridges from their possession. Sources said Budhiraj, who was posted at Tanda, had close connections with senior Akali leaders. A senior police official confirmed that the three had been arrested. He said a girl of the BDPO's family was known to Atul and the family had objections over it. Baljinder Sharma, Atul's father, said Atul and Vikram were still in the police custody, although their statements had been recorded. "We have been approached by the members of the opposite group to reach a compromise, but we will fight the case," said Baljinder, adding: "Had Vikram not seen the accused while kidnapping Atul, my son might have been killed."
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Chandigarh, July 21
When
Army jawan Govind Singh left his house to join back at a border post in J&K
a few months ago, he lightheartedly promised to his family: he would return in
the Tricolour one day. For his wife, it was a poor joke. Little had she thought
his words would come true. Wrapped in the national flag and bedecked with
flowers, Govind’s body was brought to his village by Army jawans today. As his
wife sobbed inconsolably, a few relatives whispered: “The promise was kept. He
was a man of his words. He indeed returned in the Tricolor” Employed with the
Engineering Regiment of the 47 Rashtriya Rifles, Govind was attached to the
Infantry a year ago. His one-year ‘disturbed area’ posting was about to be
over. He had already applied for leave. He had informed his family he would soon
join them.
Jalandhar, July 21
Chandigarh, July 21
Jalandhar, July 21
Chandigarh, July 21