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CM meets Jaiswal on coal linkage issue
Another scam tumbles out of Punsup closet
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Paddy glut in mandis
Maximum dengue cases in Ludhiana, Mohali
Unemployment, drugs & now gastro deaths
Cement import from Pakistan down by 30%
Special teams looking for Keetu’s killers
3 of family killed in road mishap
Punjab to acquire 12,500 acres in Patiala district
Food processing units in Rajpura raided
Youngsters go for pirated books
No swap cards, farmers in trouble, says Bhattal
SC candidates complain to Commissioner
Police clueless about 19-yr-old missing girl
Police moves court for Nishan’s DNA test
Family suicide case
ETO
suicide case
Bogus Ration Cards
SAD councillor held for gambling
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CM meets Jaiswal on coal linkage issue
Patiala, October 30 Developer GVK Group was to get coal from the Tokisud Coal block in Jharkhand. The supply has been delayed as some of its area under forest land has not been given clearance. Badal has requested Jaiswal for a temporary allocation of 1.4 million tonnes of coal for one year (February 2013 to January 2014) for the Goindwal project from Coal India mines. Badal also demanded more coal allocation for the upcoming 1400 MW Rajpura Thermal Plant and the 1980 MW Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant. Jaiswal reportedly told the Chief Minister that his ministry would consider the two requests and try to ensure coal availability to the state. Jaiswal said he would convene a special meeting of senior officers of his ministry and Coal India to amicably resolve all pending issues pertaining to coal linkage to ensure timely commissioning of the thermal plants in the state. Badal was toldd that the Union Government was making all efforts to increase availability of coal to the power sector and Coal India had been directed to accord top priority to the same.
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Another scam tumbles out of Punsup closet
Chandigarh, October 30 District Manager II (Patiala) Amit Luthra, Field Officer Amolak Singh and Inspector Paras Singla have been chargesheeted and suspended for allegedly allowing paddy storage at unauthorised rice mills. The mills were blacklisted for failing to deposit their stock of milled rice to the government agencies. These mills have reportedly sold the produce in the open market and invested the proceedings in sectors like real estate. Punsup has been paying a monthly interest of nearly Rs 150 crore on account of utilising cash credit limit from the RBI for purchasing paddy on behalf of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Confirming the development Capt PS Shergill (retd), Managing Director, PUNSUP, said: "While mills with good track record have been complaining of not getting their share of paddy despite having allotment orders, there were reports of certain blacklisted firms allotted paddy out of turn. Enquiries revealed that the DM had flouted the rules in helping Khatra Rice Milers and New Khatra Rice Mills near Patiala". Such firms were handed over as many as 51,000 bags of paddy unauthorisedly. The irregularity came to light on October 22 when it was found that paddy was allocated to blacklisted millers on October 17. The demand draft in their possession carried the date of October 23. This clearly meant that they had got someone else's share. In a formal communication to Punsup, Dr Anjuman Bhasker, District Food and Supply Controller, has confirmed that the mills under question were not eligible for allotting paddy. The department has already reported at least six scandals this year from different parts of the state. Most of these scandals involve agency staff, including a regional manager and a number of district managers from Ludhiana, Gidderbaha, Malout and Gurdaspur. A senior Punsup officer, requesting anonymity, said: "It was appreciable the way the department has nailed certain offenders. However, instead of random raids and nabbing some of the accused, the government needs to overhaul the entire system". He said the department was required to look into the cases of scores of employees whose service benefits were held up after retirement because their name figured in inquiries into irregularities.
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Paddy glut in mandis
Sangrur, October 30 According to official information, 8,23,935 tonnes of paddy has arrived at mandis in the district till October 29, of which 7,43,718 tonnes has been procured. However, only 59 per cent of paddy was lifted till last evening. District Mandi Officer Sukhchain Singh Dhindsa said a shortage of labour for loading and unloading of paddy was delaying the process of lifting the
produce.
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Maximum dengue cases in Ludhiana, Mohali
Ludhiana, October 30 Most of the patients being treated in the city hospitals are from the Malwa belt of Bathinda, Muktsar, Sangrur, Ferozepur and Moga. Some cases have also been reported from Hoshiarpur, Ropar, Mohali, Gurdaspur and Pathankot. “The adult mosquito survives when the maximum temperature is between 25 degrees to 30 degrees. When the temperature goes below 25 degrees, it starts to disappear,” said Dr Verma, adding that this year, the number of dengue patients had been far less that in 2011. Till October last year, 755 dengue patients had been reported from Ludhiana district alone. But this year, their number was 141. The health authorities have formed 18 teams for fogging of affected areas. The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation is also taking preventive steps. Dr VS Mohi, Deputy Director, Malaria, said against the figure of 3,000 dengue cases last year, only 415 confirmed cases had been reported across the state so far with Mohali reporting 153 cases and Ludhiana 141. He said people went in for two kinds of tests to confirm dengue. The Elisa test, which was being suggested by private practitioners, was not too reliable. “Nevertheless, we have asked all civil surgeons to make emergency arrangements. We are not denying dengue cases but the situation is not alarming,” he said. Bathinda district has received five cases of dengue so far, two of them from Deon village. Dr Ashok Monga working in the Civil Hospital here, said the health department and the civic authorities had been coordinating on a weekly basis to identify vulnerable areas(where mosquitoes breed easily) and take preventive measures. This strategy had worked well. In Amritsar, Civil Surgeon Yash Mitra said seven cases of dengue had been reported from the district while test reports of 44 suspected cases were awaited. He said that tests for dengue were being conducted at Government Medical College, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital.
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Unemployment, drugs & now gastro deaths
Batala, October 30 More than 40 deaths have taken place in a single locality of the town, forcing the district administration to scurry for cover. Batala, which is also an important religious place for the Sikhs, is now a haunted town, presenting a picture of filth and stench. One month down the line, officials are still floundering to ascertain the exact cause of 42 deaths in just one mohalla in the Gandhi Camp area. Twentyone of these have been attributed to gastroenteritis, while the rest, as officials say, were natural deaths. Gandhi Camp is just symptomatic of the conditions prevailing in the historical town. Unemployment is rampant because of the dying foundry industry. There are absolutely no jobs available for the youth. Reason enough why a majority of the jobless youth of Gandhi Camp, having a population of nearly 20,000 people, are hooked to an assortment of drugs, including hardcore ones like opium and smack. On October 16, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal distributed Rs 1 lakh each among the kin of the victims (till then 21 had died of gastroenteritis). Sources said this led to a row over the cause of the remaining deaths. The officials claim the relatives of the people who have died recently were trying to attribute the deaths to gastroenteritis to claim the relief amount. Doctors at the Civil Hospital alleged last week, relatives of a 102-year-old woman brought the "already dead" woman to the hospital and pressurised them to declare it a gastro death. "One or two deaths occurring in Gandhi Camp area, which is in grip of drug menace, is a routine. But these days, every death is being attributed to gastroenteritis, which is adding to the confusion," claimed an official on the condition of anonymity. Residents are aghast at the way they are treated. Batala MLA Ashwani Sekhri said the district administration had become immune to their needs. "Water being supplied to the town had abnormally high amount of TDS (total dissolved solids). Each glass had more than 300 mg/litre.” Experts point out that water having more than 200 mg/litre is a cause of concern because it will cause mineral buildup (also called scaling) in water pipes. Residents are also piqued over the fact that despite the harrowing experience they had to undergo in the last one month, neither Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal nor his deputy Navjot Kaur Sidhu cared to redress their problems.
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Cement import from Pakistan down by 30%
Amritsar, October 30 All-India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha said cement import from the neighbouring country had dropped by almost one-third primarily due to non-availability of sand and gravel and the closure of brick-kilns in Punjab. He said a section of traders were also reluctant to import cement from Pakistan in wake of the recent instance of heroin seizures in rail cargo which has also contributed to the decline. "The construction activity has slowed down considerably as either material like sand and bricks is not available or too expensive. A middle-class family cannot afford to construct a house in the current scenario". He said the importers were not placing any fresh orders and the consignments which they were receiving at present were ordered earlier. "I myself have not placed any fresh order for the last 20 days," he added. Architect Amanpreet Singh said the construction activity had seen a slump of 20 to 25 per cent due to an increase in the prices of construction material. He said sand was either not available or was costly at Rs 2,400 per trolley. Similarly, he said, the price of bricks had gone up from Rs 4,800 to Rs 7,000 per thousand. Realtor Sanjay Joshi said the prices of construction material had skyrocketed in the last couple of months. "Prices of sand, gravel and bricks have witnessed an increase of 40 to 50 per cent," he said. Earlier, the cement traders had stopped import from Pakistan for a month due to three incidents of heroin seizures in rail cargo. They had resumed the trade only after the Pakistani Customs authorities started using metallic seals on the rail wagons. With two major heroin seizures recently, the traders are again worried. Since May this year, 155 kg of heroin has been seized in rail cargo from Pakistan. The traders have been demanding proper security, installation of scanners and sniffer dog squad at the rail cargo facility here.
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Special teams looking for Keetu’s killers
Moga, October 30 The Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, SK Sharma, said some relatives of the deceased had been taken into custody. Keetu was reportedly shot dead by his nephews Jaspreet Singh, Harpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh and their accomplices Kulwant Singh and Angrej Singh. A case of murder under various Sections of the IPC and the Arms Act had been registered against them on the complaint of Kulwant Singh, Keetu’s adopted son, to the Nihalsinghwala police, Sharma said. Though preliminary investigations indicate that Keetu was killed over a property dispute, senior police officials said the murder motive could be ascertained only after the arrest of the accused. Keetu’s nephews were Congress supporters and had worked against their uncle in the last assembly elections, sources said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal visited the bereaved family at Bilaspur village this afternoon. He assured Keetu’s widow Gurdeep Kaur that the family would be accorded due respect in the party. Local MP Paramjit Kaur Gulshan Kaur, local MLAs Maheshinder Singh and Rajwinder Kaur and former Union Minister Balwant Singh also called on the bereaved family.
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3 of family killed in road mishap
Sangrur, October 30 Sources said Varinder Mittal (65), his son Arun Mittal (37) and grand daughter Aditi (6) were killed while his wife Brij Bala Mittal (62) and daughter-in-law Suman (35) sustained serious injuries. Arun's son Lokesh (5) escaped unhurt. The Sangrur-based family was returning from Shahbad, near Ambala, after attending a marriage there. Besides a wholesale jewellery business, the family owns an ice factory near the old grain market here. The police said the injured had suffered fractures on their legs while one of them had a fracture on her arm as well. They were rushed to the local civil hospital from where they had been shifted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital,
Ludhiana.
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Punjab to acquire 12,500 acres in Patiala district
Patiala, October 30 Since 1980, manufacturing in India has only contributed 15 to 16 per cent to our GDP growth whereas in other Asian countries, it has been around 25 to 35 per cent. The government is looking to set up these zones with a view to boost the manufacturing sector and bring its share in the GDP up to around 25 per cent in the next ten years. General Manager of District Industrial Centre Harjinder Singh Pannu said they had already sent a report to Chandigarh in this regard. “We held meetings with village residents to find out what they thought about the project. Villagers seem to have no objections to it. Their only concern is that they should get good compensation for their land and that the government should ensure their rehabilitation. They have sought jobs from the government once the zone was developed. The land would be acquired only after their consent,” he said. Asked why the government chose this particular area in Patiala district, he said the area had good connectivity, which was a must for the development of industry. The airport is nearby and the area is very close to the GT road, he added. Meanwhile, residents of as many as 33 villages of Ghanaur had decided to formulate a committee to protect the interests of the people. The villagers refused to divulge anymore information on the subject.
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Food processing units in Rajpura raided
Patiala, October 30 The team collected five samples and sent them to the Chandigarh lab for testing. Patiala Civil Surgeon along with District Health Officer Dr Harish Malhotra and Food Safety Officer Aditi Gupta raided Bunge India Limited, situated on Chandigarh-Rajpura road. The company manufactures Gagan vanaspati ghee, refined oil, soyabean products and other products prepared from
vegetable oil. The team found the factory in an unhygienic condition. The workers packing the oil did not wear gloves. The team collected three samples of mustard oil, crude palm oil and soya oil. Civil Surgeon said keeping in view the unhygienic condition of the factory; we have written a letter to higher authorities to seal the factory and will also write to the government to cancel its licence. Later, the team raided Hindustan Unilever Limited factory in Rajpura and took samples of sauce and various jams. They were satisfied with the hygiene maintained at the factory. The team also raided six cold stores in
Rajpura.
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Youngsters go for pirated books
Bathinda, October 30 The chief editor of National Book Trust (NBT) Dr Baldev Singh Baddan admitted that piracy was a necessary evil in printing industry. "Be it the markets in Chandigarh or Delhi, some rare old books and magazines are found there. And to some extent, the publishers are also responsible for churning out expensive books instead of making them within the reach of the common reader," he said. He added that private publishers print only 10 per cent of the books in paperback and the rest find their way to the market as hardbacks or glossy covers, which are overpriced and keep the readers at bay. Meanwhile, the book fair evoked a mixed response from the children, young and elderly, by offering something for everyone. From Osho followers to readers of spiritual books, from tech-savvy kids to painters, from translated works to originals, from classic tales to modern era sagas, the fair has something for everyone. While youngsters lapped up the romantic books and magazines, children were happy scrolling through a range of activity books, illustrated books, rhymes and lessons enrolled in CDs, DVDs and pen drives. The NBT's section has the largest collection of quality books for children in regional, Hindi as well as English languages. Added to this are gadgets like telescopes, binoculars, video games and Chinese games that add zing to the book fair. With 56 publishers and 87 stalls, National Book Trust alone has registered a sale of Rs 10 lakhs in the last three days and there are still six more days to go even though private publishers may not be inclined to share the optimism.
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No swap cards, farmers in trouble, says Bhattal
Chandigarh, October 30 Addressing a press conference here, Bhattal said farmers were facing problems due to inefficiency on the part of the State Food and Civil Supplies Department. She said the department should have either ensured the smooth functioning of the swap card project before the onset of the procurement season or stuck to the old method of payment through commission agents this year. According to arrangements between banks and the government procurement agency PUNGRAIN, swap machines were to be installed in grain markets which were to be operated by swap cards issued to commission agents. Bhattal said she had toured her constituency recently and had come to know that in small ‘mandis’ of Moonak and Khanauri alone payments of more than Rs 6 crore were due to farmers. She also rapped procurement agencies for not lifting paddy on the pretext of excess moisture even as she claimed that those favoured by the government were able to get their paddy procured immediately. Bhattal also said that the twin visits of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had boosted the party in Punjab and that the rank and file was confident of winning all 13 seats in the state in the 2014 parliamentary elections. She claimed that the SAD-BJP government was already tottering because it had ‘managed’ the last assembly elections and was now failing on all fronts, be it economic or law and order. It had failed to safeguard the interests of the state. She said she was confident that the government would crumble under its own weight and that assembly elections would also be held in Punjab in 2014 along with the parliamentary poll. Bhattal urged Pradesh Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh to probe the “leakage” of an alleged assessment done by the Punjab Congress Committee (PCC) stating that six out of the eight party MPs in the state were on a weak wicket. High-level sources in the PCC had earlier disclosed that an assessment had been made and that a number of MPs were doing badly. Amarinder however ruled out any inquiry in this regard claiming no survey had been conducted by the PCC about the status of sitting MPs from the state.
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SC candidates complain to Commissioner
Chandigarh, October 30 In a representation submitted to the Commissioner, SC candidates have stated that over 1,250 candidates had appeared in the test conducted to recruit 154 ADOs. Following the declaration of the result, a merit list was prepared on the basis of it in March this year. After that candidates were called for counseling. However, it has been alleged that the SC candidates, who made it to the general category merit list were excluded from it and put in the reserve category list. Under the instructions issued by the authorities concerned, SC candidates, who make it to the general category list, cannot be pushed to the reserve category list. SC candidates have urged the Commissioner to look into the matter.
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Police clueless about 19-yr-old missing girl
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 30 Ashia’s mother, Nazma, resident of Sangatpura village, falling under the Mullepur police station alleged that earlier the police did not register any complaint about her missing daughter. She had lodged a complaint on October 19, The case was registered only on October 28. The SHO, Chand Singh, said the Ashia’s family had alleged that a boy from Rajindergarh village was responsible for the girl's disappearance. — TNS |
Police moves court for Nishan’s DNA test
Faridkot, October 30 In its application before the court, the police claimed that the accused had earlier declined to undergo DNA finger-printing. Hence, court permission was required. The court adjourned the hearing on the application to November 3, asking the accused to file a reply, if he so wanted. Though the police has registered a case of kidnapping, trespass and criminal assault against Nishan Singh, no rape charge has been slapped against the latter. But Nishan Singh faces rape charges in a case registered against him on August 10 on the complaint of Shruti’s’s parents. Doctors have already collected Shruti’s DNA samples during her medical examination at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot. Meanwhile, fearing a demonstration by the local Action Committee (that is agitating for justice for Shruti and her family), Member of Parliament Paramjit Kaur Gulshan and Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, who was to inaugurate an education centre in the town, reached the venue an hour before the scheduled time. Gulshan came in a private vehicle to escape
attention.
Shruti seeks books Jalandhar: Young Shruti was given a set of books on spirituality at the Nari Niketan here on her asking. She has also sought textbooks for Class X. It is learnt that Shruti was a bright student and would participate in an array of extra-curricular activities, from athletics to dance and music. — TNS |
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Family
suicide case
Amritsar, October 30 Kultar Singh, retired as a DIG, where as Hardev Singh at present is posted as the DSP, Zira. The Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) had filed a complaint in the court alleging that the police officials had forced Hardeep Singh and his family members to commit suicide. Hardeep had reportedly scribbled the name of the police officials on a wall of his house before taking the extreme step. On September 19, the court had issued arrest warrants against the police officials. Two other accused Manmohan Singh and Jaswinder Singh have already got bail. Sarbjit Singh, prime investigator, PHRO, said inquiries had revealed that harassment at the hands of Kultar Singh had driven Hardeep Singh and his family members to commit suicide. Suicide notes by the victims also mentioned the former SSP’s name.
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ETO
suicide case
Chandigarh, October 30 ETO Ranjeet Singh had committed suicide just three days after he was arrested by a team of Vigilance Bureau headed by Amandeep Kaur on March 29, 2011. Taking up the matter, Justice KC Puri dismissed the anticipatory bail petition after finding no merit in it. The orders come as a second setback to her. Mohali Additional District and Sessions judge had already dismissed her anticipatory bail petition. Amandeep Kaur landed herself in trouble after the Punjab government ordered a probe into the matter. The probe team in its report indicted SP Amandeep Kaur and others for abetment to suicide. A Mohali Court too had directed the police to register a case against the guilty officials on July 27, after taking up a petition filed by deceased ETO’s wife, Manjeet Kaur. In her petition before the local court, she had alleged that her husband was implicated in a false case, compelling him to commit suicide. — TNS
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Bogus
Ration Cards
Chandigarh, October 30 The state government has been asked by a Division Bench to inquire into the instances of alleged issuance of bogus cards before providing the petitioner, Harpreet Singh, with the details. The government has also been directed to look into old-age pension grants allegedly being given to ineligible persons across the state. The, on a public interest litigation (PIL), were issued by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain. Taking up the matter, the Division Bench observed that the PIL pertained to the preparation of false ration cards under the BPL Scheme and the grant of old-age pension to ineligible persons. In its detailed order, the Bench said: “The complaints of the petitioner to the government on the matter have not received any response. In these circumstances, we dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the state government to treat this petition, stating instances, as a representation along with the other representation already submitted by the petitioner”. The Bench asserted: “After inquiring into such cases as pointed out by the petitioner, a reply be given to the petitioner within a period of two months”. The order indicates that the petitioner can again move the High Court by filing a public interest litigation, if his apprehensions on bogus ration cards are established by the probe.
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SAD councillor held for gambling
Amritsar, October 30 Six others were also rounded up by the police. All the accused were later bailed out. Following a tip-off, a police team raided the house of Surinder Kumar Vicky, SAD councillor from ward No. 56 at Haripura, at about 1.30 am. Those present in the house, including the councilor, were allegedly found indulging in gambling. Amritsar Police Commissioner Ram Singh said: "All were taken to a police station for questioning. They were granted bail. But we will keep an eye on their activities. We have constituted teams to conduct raids to check the menace in view of the festival season," he said. Others booked have been identified as Surinder Kumar, a resident of Katra Baghian; Pardeep Kumar, a resident of Haripura; Rajesh Bajaj and Pardeep Kumar, both residents of Gate Hakima; Satish Kumar and Deepak Kumar, both residents of
Chheharta.
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