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HC issues notice
Transport clerk booked for forging SDM’s signature
Your meat shop may not be following food safety norms
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Dismiss Capt’s petition on shifting corruption case, govt tells HC
Mining norms may be relaxed: Centre
Historic Sangrur ‘Kothi’ to regain its grandeur
The ‘Kothi’ in Sangrur. Tribune photo: Sushil Goyal
Mata Kaushalya scheme: 2,000 women unpaid
Patiala MC passes plan to decongest roads
Phoolka forms peace panel
Border area farmers to hold protest
Notice to Punjab for acid attack victim’s treatment
BSF officer held taking Rs 1.8 lakh bribe
Two of the accused in the Malkiat Singh Keetu murder case in police custody. Eight PUDA officials among 11 booked for fraud
Four hurt in Chabal clash
Shootout at grain market Vigilance arrests vet for ‘taking’ bribe
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Transport clerk booked for forging SDM’s signature
Muktsar, November 21 The FIR in this regard has been lodged on the directions of the SDM, Baba Bakala. The accused has yet to be arrested. The fraud came to light when Gulati, now posted as ADC (General) Amritsar, sent a communiqué in this regard to the Baba Bakala SDM last month. The latter shot off a letter (dated October 25) to the State Transport Commissioner, the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, the SSP (Rural) Amritsar, the DSP, Baba Bakala, and all district transport offices (DTOs) to initiate appropriate action in this regard. The letter mentioned all the registration numbers issued by the clerk. The Registration Authority has cancelled these
numbers. Talking over the phone, Gulati, said: "The matter came to my notice when old staff was transferred and newofficials took charge at Baba Bakala. One of them informed me that a clerk had issued registration certificates to a number of vehicles after forging my signatures. I checked the records and found that my signatures had been forged on several documents. "I brought the matter to the notice of the higher-ups and also the present Baba Bakala SDM who further asked the police to initiate a probe in this regard." Gulati said some registration numbers were issued to residents of other districts, including Ferozepur and Pathankot, which was illegal. "It seems that most of the vehicles bearing these numbers were stolen. In some cases, registration certificates were issued to fictitious persons," he said. Asked if the accused had deposited the amount collected as registration fee with the state exchequer, he said: "Though entries have been made in the cash book, I am not sure if the clerk deposited the money in the bank.”
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Your meat shop may not be following food safety norms
Information gathered from the Health and Family Welfare Department reveals that just two meat shops in Mohali have registered themselves under the FSSA. The mandatory licence to operate has been issued to just one butchery (in Ludhiana). At least three of the higher capacity poultry manufacturing units have also been issued licences by the Central Licensing Authority. In Chandigarh, no slaughterhouse of poultry birds have either registered themselves or sought a licence under the
FSSA. Violating
rules This means that hundreds of meat/ mutton/ poultry operators in the state have failed to register themselves or procure a licence to operate. As a result, hundreds of tonnes of meat and poultry products being consumed by gullible customers across the state is being processed without following the mandatory food hygiene standards as laid down under the FSSA. Now, the last date for getting themselves registered has been extended to February 6 next year. But the fact remains that these food business operators have exhibited little enthusiasm to follow the new food safety norms. As per the new norms, all hotels, restaurants, hospitals, cash and carry stores are to source their meat and poultry products from a licensed vendor. Sources in the Central Licensing Authority said that even Army slaughterhouses did not have licences from the central licencing authority. Even as poultry/meat business operators have failed to register themselves, the other food business operators have gone ahead and procured the mandatory licence. Officials in the Health and Family Welfare Department said 28,128 food operators had registered themselves across the state and 4,265 operators were awaiting registration. As many as 4,845 licences had been issued, the maximum in Ludhiana (4282) followed by Sangrur (3,938). As many as 173 applications were pending clearance, the sources said.
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Dismiss Capt’s petition on shifting corruption case, govt tells HC
Chandigarh, November 21 In an affidavit filed before the High Court, the state claimed the allegations were baseless. Taking up the petition filed through senior advocate APS Deol, the Bench, on a previous date of hearing, had taken note of the allegations of bias against the state government, the prosecuting agency as well as the presiding officer, while issuing the notice. The Bench was told that investigating officer in the case Surinder Pal Singh, being prosecuted for perjury, was also a prime witness in the case. He was still serving with the Vigilance Bureau after being given an extension in service; and was not expected to depose independently. In his petition, Capt Amarinder Singh stated he was booked in a corruption case for allegedly releasing 32 acres of Amritsar Improvement Trust. The proceedings in the case, registered on September 11, 2008, were going on before Mohali special judge (vigilance). The job of a public prosecutor was to assist the court and to inform it if any guidelines were being violated. But, the public prosecutor was under administrative control of the Home Department, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Referring to the earlier cases between his and Badal family, Capt Amarinder Singh said in view of political rivalry between the two, the trial could not be held in a fair manner as the public prosecutor might follow the dictate of the state government and could not be presumed to be impartial.
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Mining norms may be relaxed: Centre
Chandigarh, November 21 The Union Minster conveyed her agreement to Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, who apprised her of scarcity of construction material in the state due to stringent EIA norms, a press release said. Seeking a few amendments to the EIA notification 2006, the Chief Minister suggested that the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) be authorised to grant environmental clearances to minor mineral projects irrespective of the area. A senior official said: "The matter will hold relevance only after a formal notification in this regard". Badal also informed the Union Minister that the state government had submitted final EIA/EMP reports of 95 minor mineral quarry projects with the Ministry of Environmental & Forests in June 2012, but 89 were still pending. Badal also raised the issue of an early clearance of detailed project reports (DPRs) pending with the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) pertaining to 17 towns namely Makhu, Dharmkot, Zira, Talwandi Bhai and Ferozpur along the Satluj; Begowal, Dhilwan, Rayya and Sham Chaurasi along the Beas; and Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib, Nabha, Banur, Sanaur, Bassi Pathana, Mandi Gobingarh and Sangrur along the Ghaggar under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) covering a cost of Rs 443.07 crore. He also sought technical appraisal and early approval by the ministry for five Ghaggar towns, Rajpura, Patran, Khanauri, Lehragaga and
Moonak.
Relief on cards Minor mineral projects of an area less than 5 hectares may not require environment impact assessment certificate
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Historic Sangrur ‘Kothi’ to regain its grandeur
Sangrur, November 21
Before the renovation work had started, the ‘Kothi’ was in a state of neglect. Its walls were crumbling, trees growing on its rooftops. The iron girders used in the arches were rotting away and the plaster on the walls had worn off. The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board had begun renovating the ‘Kothi’ over 10 months ago. Specially-skilled labourers from Jaipur had been hired to plaster the inner and outer walls of the rooms with ‘surkhi-choona’. Krishan Gopal, who has been supervising the renovation work, said the ‘surkhi-choona’ was prepared by mixing brick powder, lime, jute and bael pulp. He said the mixture was being used to maintain the originality of the ‘Kothi’. Gopal said while most arches in the rooms had been repaired, some had to be reconstructed as they had almost crumbled.
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Mata Kaushalya scheme: 2,000 women unpaid
Patiala, November 21 Under the scheme, women, who delivered their children at a government hospital, received Rs 1,000. They were also entitled to Rs 200 as travel expenses if they reached the hospital in time. Those belonging to the Below Poverty Line or other reserved categories got an additional Rs 700. Those who haven’t received their entitlements have sent repeated reminders to the Health Department, but to no avail. District health officials are clueless as to why others who have delivered their children after May 15 have been paid. There are over 2,000 such cases at Government Mata Kaushalya Hospital in Patiala who haven’t received their entitlements. A woman from nearby Baran village said she had been to Mata Kaushlya Hospital thrice in the past seven months to enquire about her payment. The authorities told her that they were short of funds, even though they paid a friend of hers who had delivered her child two months ago. Dr Madhurima Chawla, Medical Superintendent at the hospital confirmed that she had not received any funds for the given time. “I have brought it to the notice of District Civil Surgeon time and again but haven’t got a response,” she said. Officiating Civil Surgeon Dr Purshottam Goel said the payment of all cases before March 31 could not be made due to shortage of funds. However, we have paid all the women who delivered their children after May 15.
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Patiala MC passes plan to decongest roads
Patiala, November 21 Patiala Mayor Jaspal Pradhan, while presiding over the general house meeting said the blueprint of the plan was prepared by Egis India Pvt Ltd. The Mayor said that as per the CMP, funds to the tune of Rs 3,255.50 crore would be required. “CMP will be carried out in two phases. In phase one (2012-2020), funds amounting to Rs 1,633 crore would be spent to construct flyovers, railway under bridges, bus shelters and expand the metalled road network in order to ease traffic congestion. In the second phase (2020-2030), the plan proposes to spend Rs 1,622.50 crore to further strengthen civil infrastructure,” he said. Pradhan said he would discuss the plan with the Punjab Chief Minister (CM), Deputy CM and the Local Bodies Minister so that a mechanism could be devised to implement it. “As far as the funds are concerned, the state government will take a call on that. We hope that the Union government would also help manage the funds,” he said. Meanwhile, in the general house meeting, it was decided to shift dairies out of the city’s municipal limits. The expansion of the parking lots at the old and new Leela Bhawan was also announced. However, the leader of the opposition Sanjeev Bittu of Congress said a multiple-storey parking complex should be built in the vicinity of the Anardana Chowk as there was an acute shortage of parking space there.
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Phoolka forms peace panel
Amritsar, November 21 In a press note, Phoolka said there were intelligence reports on the likelihood of violent clashes during the Nagar Kirtan on November 24 and 27 and also during Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom day on November 25 and Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary on November 28. Besides Phoolka, those on the committee are former PGI Director Dr JS Neki, noted writer Ajeet Caur, former CBI director Joginder Singh, IGNOU's Prof Amarjit Singh Narang, Bhajan Singh Walia and Tarsem Singh from the Sarna group and Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Harmeet Singh Kalkaji from the SAD (Badal). Phoolka said a candlelight vigil would be held at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib on Friday. A day after the clash at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib on November 16, the Delhi police had registered FIRs against eight persons, including PS Sarna, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), and Manjit Singh GK, president of the Delhi unit of the SAD
(Badal).
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Border area farmers to hold protest
Amritsar, November 21 Union leaders claimed natives of several villages in the district were being victimised due to a "nexus" between policemen, politicians and anti-social
elements. Bholi, a resident of Bhindi Saidan village, said her family owned 1.5 acres of land which was being targeted by influential people. She alleged her husband was held captive for four days to force him to sell
the land. The leaders alleged there were numerous such cases in the district where innocent people were being harassed and the police had not been taking action.
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Notice to Punjab for acid attack victim’s treatment
Chandigarh, November 21 Explaining the case, Arora submitted that one Manjit Singh of Zirakpur entered the victim’s house on December 8, 2011, when she was sitting with her mother Ranjit Kaur, as Inderjit Kaur had declined his marriage offer. He threw acid on her face and other body parts. As a result, her face was completely disfigured, her eyesight affected. She also suffered serious burn injuries on her neck and hands. The petitioner-society also referred to the recommendations made by National Commission for Women in January, 2009, to the Central Government. It had recommended that in cases of acid attack, the government should immediately release an interim financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the victim, and thereafter pay up to a maximum of Rs 20 lakh in addition, directly to the hospital for treatment. The commission had also recommended that such victims should be given another Rs 5 lakh for rehabilitation.
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BSF officer held taking Rs 1.8 lakh bribe
Chandigarh, November 21 She had sought the bribe for clearing Mehra’s tender file for supplying clothing and other items amounting to over Rs 10 lakh to the BSF. CBI DIG Mahesh Aggarwal Charu (40), a 1998 batch Group A officer, was arrested from the BSF camp at Landran. The CBI also arrested Mehra. Charu was posted on deputation with the BSF in February 2011. BSF officials said Charu was responsible for clearing proposals of more than Rs 1 lakh relating to procurement and construction. CBI officials also raided the Sector 35 residence of the officer in Chandigarh after the arrest. The officials seized Rs 1 lakh and certain documents, sources said. The CBI said the deal was settled for Rs 2 lakh and Sandeep came to deliver Rs 1.8 lakh at her office in the afternoon. Both Sandeep and Charu were arrested and the entire amount was recovered. The accused will be produced in a court tomorrow. A case under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered. Himmat Singh, Special Director General, BSF, said they had received several complaints about the conduct of this officer. The complaints were forwarded to the CBI, which conducted its investigations into the allegations, he added.
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Arms of Keetu’s
gunman used in his murder
Moga, November 21 He said what had surprised the
police was that the weapons (.315 bore rifle and .32 revolver) used in
the crime belonged to Harpal Singh, Keetu's private gunman for more
than 20 years who had remained loyal to him even during the militancy
period. The SSP said that Harpal Singh had revealed that he had handed
over his rifle to Harpreet Singh and his revolver to Jaspreet Singh.
The two had promised to pay him Rs 65,000 and Rs 1.10 lakh,
respectively, for the arms. Harpal Singh needed the money as his
wife was suffering from cancer and he had to frequently travel to
Bikaner for her treatment. During interrogation, Harpreet Singh had
told the police that Keetu, using his political clout, had got several
criminal cases registered against him. Hence, he had killed him. One
of the cars allegedly stolen by the accused to flee after the murder
had also been impounded by the police, the SSP added.
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Eight PUDA officials among 11 booked for fraud
Bathinda, November 21 The PUDA officials, including the chief engineer, a superintending engineer, an executive engineer, two SDOs and three JEs, along with three contractors of the BDA (Bathinda Development Authority) have been booked for committing irregularities while purchasing electricity material for developmental works. The material was sold to the BDA at prices higher than what it was purchased at. The fraud incurred a loss of Rs 8.26 crore to the state exchequer. The total cost of the allotted work was Rs 13 crore. The material was purchased for installing electricity poles in Maur, Budhlada and Mansa. Those booked are chief engineer Tarlochan Singh, superintendent engineer Paramjit Singh, executive engineer Chanchal Ram, SDOs Harminder Singh and Somesh Kaushal, junior engineers Gurdeep Singh, Swarandeep Arora and Jasvir, section officer Amit Garg and contractors Pawan Kumar Singla of Patiala, Bhushan Kumar of Ludhiana and Kulbir Sahni of M/s Arbindra Electricals. The VB sleuths had been after these officials for the past around three months and were collecting evidences in support of the case. VB SSP Sukhdev Singh Chahal said a case under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and Section 13 (I) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act-1988 has been registered against the accused at the Vigilance police station, Bathinda. He said two of the accused persons, including XEN Chanchal Ram and contractor Pawan Kumar Singla, were held while others would be arrested soon. "Raids are being conducted on the respective premises of the accused persons to arrest them," Chahal said. He pointed out that all the documents pertaining to the case were in the possession of the VB. Chahal said the places where the BDA had claimed to have completed the developmental works were found to be not completed yet. "At many places, the work is only shown on the papers and the money has been usurped collectively by the accused. Further, there are irregularities in the weight of iron material used," the SSP said. He said the plinths of the electricity poles were quite less as compared to what were mentioned on the papers and cable wires were also found to be missing. Sources in the BDA office revealed that the VB officials were visiting their office for the past many days. Today, the VB sleuths, both in uniform and civil dress, were present in the office since morning. XEN Chanchal tried to flee but was nabbed by the sleuths. It is learnt that all the other officials have been shifted out of Bathinda except for XEN Chanchal, JE Gurdeep Singh, section officer Amit Garg, and SDO Somesh Kaushal. Sources said superintending engineer Paramjit Singh was also suspended by the department due to some alleged irregularities in construction of the BDA
Bhawan.
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Four hurt in Chabal clash
Amritsar, November 21 Sources said a patwari had a minor altercation with four youths belonging to a community, who allegedly removed his turban. The aggrieved patwari lodged a complaint with the police and a case was registered against the youths. The patwari also complained to members of the Satkar Committee. In the meantime, a large number of members of the community gathered outside the Chabal police station, demanding that the case be cancelled. They raised slogans against the police. Members of the Satkar Committee also reached the police station. A clash ensued and four persons sustained injuries. Panicky shopkeepers in the area downed their shutters. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daljit Singh, pacified the two groups. He said an inquiry was underway. Giani Gurbachan Singh, Akal Takht Jathedar, has condemned the incident. He said both the groups should settle the dispute amicably.
— TNS
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Chandigarh, November 21
The 125-year-old ‘Kothi’, situated on the premises of Diwankhana in the Banasar Garden here, is being renovated by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board at a cost of over Rs 70 lakh. The ‘Kothi’ is famous for the bathing tank situated on its rooftop. The tank was reportedly used by the royal family of the erstwhile Jind state.
Chandigarh, November 21