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Do away with power subsidy, say economists
Rajpura thermal plant unit to be operational in Dec: L&T
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Renewable energy tech launched in Ropar village
State prepares to sell power to Pak Punjab
Cane farmers get dues, Cong claims credit
Polling for 13,080 panchayats today
Turf war erupts among halqa chiefs, again
Panic over ballot papers
TB patients suffer as medicine supply hit
Rajindra hospital store runs out of medicines
Supply was not hit despite squall, claims PSPCL
Govt’s in-principle approval to projects worth
Rs 660 crore
A first: ‘Sehaj path’ from Gurbani’s Braille version at Golden Temple
Green initiative to mark Amritsar foundation day
Crafting a nest for birds is this septuagenarian’s mission
3-tier security for sensitive villages
Pannu assault case: Panesar being victimised, claim his kin
Baba Panesar
AI’s Amritsar-Birmingham flight from August 1
High Court to decide PSEB secy’s fate today
Five of robbers’ gang held after shoot-out, four pistols seized
Former Akali sarpanch held in murder case
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Do away with power subsidy, say economists
Chandigarh, July 2 The power subsidy bill of the state has risen to Rs 5,785 crore. The state’s revenue deficit, according to revised estimates, for the year 2012-13 was Rs 4,758 crore. The state’s outstanding debt was Rs 92,404 crore in 2012-13, and is expected to be Rs 1,01,959 crore by the end of this fiscal. With Punjab having failed to increase its tax to GSDP ratio by increasing its taxes, it will be an uphill task for the state to bring down its revenue deficit. This would mean that the state’s dependence on the market borrowings would increase, and since it has been a revenue deficit state for long now, the rate of interest Punjab pays for auctioning its state development loans, is very high, thus making the servicing of debt more expensive. These were the views expressed by economists from across the state, during a workshop organised by the Economics Department of Punjab University, here today. The workshop was inaugurated by PU Vice Chancellor, Dr Arun K Grover. Since the Department of Economics has been engaged by the 14th Finance Commission to evaluate the state of finances of Punjab, with Dr Upinder Sawhney as its lead researcher, the workshop was conducted to elicit views of the academia on issues afflicting the state of finances of Punjab. Economists from the three state universities - Panjab University, Punjab Agricultural University and Punjabi University, deliberated on what had gone wrong in policy making and how it could be rectified, so as to bring the state’s economy back on rails. Dr Sawhney told The Tribune that the outcome of this workshop would be incorporated in the report to be submitted to the Finance Commission in September. The economists, including Prof Tapas Sen from the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, warned that the state has the second highest level of interest payments on its loans, after West Bengal. Punjab was now beginning to see the negative impact as its relative growth was below the national growth. Though these economists were of the view that farm subsidy doled out to farmers was unproductive as it had not helped increase production or increase the primary sector’s contribution to the GSDP (gross state domestic product), it cannot be immediately withdrawn as it would adversely impact the farm profits. Though there was consensus that the subsidy should be withdrawn from the large farmers (having over 10 hectares of land holding), who are the main beneficiaries of the power subsidy to agriculture, economists felt that a strategy needed to be adopted to do so gradually. Among other issues raised by the economists were the inequitable distribution of taxes between states and the Centre and the poor utilisation of centrally sponsored schemes in Punjab. These economists also felt that the Finance Commission should give a special package to Punjab, as its huge liabilities were mainly because of the security issues during the period of militancy. Key issues The state has the second highest level of interest payments on its loans The power subsidy bill of the state has risen to Rs 5,785 crore Subsidy doled out to farmers is unproductive as it had not helped increase production Solutions The state should reduce its expenditure on repayment of loans and servicing of debts, Subsidy should be withdrawn from farmers having over 10 hectares of land A special package be given to Punjab as it was hit by militancy
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Rajpura thermal plant unit to be operational in Dec: L&T
Chandigarh, July 2 Roy visited the CM’s office this morning and apprised him about the progress of the project. He urged the Chief Minister to help the company in acquiring nearly 25 acres of land for the construction of a new road from NH-1 to the site via Sarai Banjara-Chandumajra-Chak Kalan-Chak Khurd-Sural
Kalan. Roy said the existing approach road from NH-64 could not bear the load due to the heavy movement of 400 bulker’s fly ash every day. Responding to Roy’s request, the CM asked him to acquire the requisite land on his own and assured him of all logistic support and cooperation thereafter for the construction of the road. Badal also agreed to the proposal for the exemption of the peak load restrictions and weekly day-offs on industrial power connection granted to the L&T power plant at Rajpura.—TNS
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Renewable energy tech launched in Ropar village
Ropar, July 2 David Elliott, Deputy High Commissioner, UK embassy, Chandigarh, was also present on the occasion. A presentation of the project will be made at the British Council in New Delhi in the presence of officials from different departments of the Central Government. The Pyroformer container is developed by scientists at the European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University in the UK and at IIT Ropar. Every year farmers throughout India burn several million tonnes of crop residue. This process has a negative impact on the environment and the economy as the straw is wasted. It has serious implications on the health of the society due to the smoke and fumes produced. Funding from the Oglesby Charitable Trust has enabled Aston University to work closely with IIT Ropar to make this innovative technology available in a pilot phase in three villages of the Ropar district: Khuaspura, Hussainpur, Ladal. The Pyroformer is housed in a container unit that can be transported between rural locations by a tractor and can be operated by the villagers themselves. “The oil, gas and biochar generated by the Pyroformer are useful. The harvest waste now has a value,” said Professor M K
Surappa, Director of IIT Ropar, The project in charge Sudhakar from Aston University who helped IIT here in developing the technology according to local conditions said the oil produced can be mixed with diesel and used in engines to run water pumps found on all agricultural land in the region; the gas can be used for power generation whilst the biochar can be used as a fertiliser to increase crop growth.
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State prepares to sell power to Pak Punjab
Chandigarh, July 2 The Union Power Ministry's power grid at Amritsar has been designated as station from where power will flow to Pakistan. Punjab's power utility's grid at Makhu in Amritsar district is closest to this grid. Hence, Punjab can easily transfer power to the Union grid without any problems of congestion. Punjab is well-equipped to commit power to Pakistan on a long-term basis, claim official sources. Ever since the Indian delegation led by Union Power Ministry Joint Secretary Reeta Acharya made the offer to allow Pakistan to import 500 MW of power from India in June this year, the Punjab Government has gone ahead and established a power trading company. The company will handle surplus power which Punjab expects to begin producing by 2014. Once all three power plants at Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura become operational next year, Punjab will have an additional 3,920 MW of power at its disposal. Around 1.630 MW is likely to be generated this year. Much of this will be surplus during the winter months and offloading power could be a headache for the state power utility. If Pakistan chooses to purchase power from India, it would be a win-win deal for both Punjabs. Pakistan Punjab, particularly Lahore, is reeling under a power shortage even as the country is short of 4,000 MW to 5,000 MW of power. Punjab, which is bound to purchase the power produced by all the three private thermal plants coming up in the state, would have had to find ways and means to offload the same during the lean months. Under the present arrangement with the three companies, Punjab will get power between Rs 3.50 to Rs 3.70 per unit. In Pakistan Punjab, the power rate is Rs 10 (Indian) per unit. The Principal Secretary, Power, Anirudh Tewari, said Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had offered to sell power to Pakistan during a visit to Pakistan in November 2012. He said a delegation from Pakistan was likely to visit India soon to carry forward this process. Sources said Pakistan was keen to import as much as 1,000 mw of power from India. The Pakistan Government has been asked to construct a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system to isolate the Pakistan grid from the Indian grid to ensure that tripping in Pakistan does not affect the Indian system. This entails a cost of Rs 600 crore to justify which Pakistan may ask for more power. Sources said while the Centre will lay a transmission line from Amritsar to Attari, Pakistan will do so from Wagah to Lahore. This could take a year. Cross-border grid Union Power Ministry’s power grid at Amritsar has been designated as station from where power will flow to Pakistan Punjab's power utility grid at Makhu in Amritsar is closest to this grid Hence, Punjab can easily transfer power to the Union grid without any problems of congestion Punjab is well-equipped to commit power to Pakistan on a long-term basis, claim sources Once the power plants at Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura become operational next year, Punjab will have an additional 3,920 MW of power at its disposal
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Cane farmers get dues, Cong claims credit
Gurdaspur, July 2 Punjab Sugarfed Chairman Sukhbir Singh Walha said the payment had been given to the farmers who had supplied sugarcane to the state cooperative mills. He claimed the government was committed to the welfare of the farmers.Two weeks ago, the Punjab Congress had held protest rallies outside state cooperative sugar mills throughout the state, demanding immediate release of Rs 100 crore to the farmers. Now, Congress leaders are claiming credit for the release of payments. Fatehgarh Churian MLA Tripit Rajinder Bajwa said: “We held rallies and also resorted to other means to pressurise the government. The farmers were an aggrieved lot as the government had not paid them for the past six months”. — TNS
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Polling for 13,080 panchayats today
Chandigarh, July 2 Counting will be at the booths and results announced thereafter. This has been made clear by the State Election Commission in its response to a representation by the Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and MLA Parminder Singh Pinki. State Election Commissioner Shivinder Singh Brar said a communication had been sent to all districts, asking presiding officers to hand over a copy of the result to the elected candidates. It will be for the first time that the panches will be elected on the basis of wards. The government has set up 13,172 polling stations. However, polling will be held in 18,254 booths. As many as 1,634 polling stations have been identified as hyper sensitive and 4,174 as sensitive. A total of 1,94,160 firearms have been deposited with police stations across the state. As many as 50,309 police personnel have been put on duty. Grassroots democracy 1.27 crore voters to elect 81,412 panches in 13,080 villages Polling to begin at 8 am and end at 4 pm For the first time panches will be elected on the basis of wards 13,172 polling stations, 18,254 booths set up 1,634 polling stations identified as hyper sensitive, 4,174 as sensitive 50,309 police personnel been put on poll duty PPSC exam on schedule The PPSC (Public Administration) exam will be held as per schedule tomorrow, a senior functionary said. Commercial establishments shut The Punjab Government has declared a paid holiday in all shops and commercial establishments in the state under sub-section (1) of Section 10 of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, to enable workmen to exercise franchise.
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Turf war erupts among halqa chiefs, again
Gurdaspur, July 2 The delimitation exercise held before the last assembly elections has had a cascading effect in the panchayat elections. These SAD leaders now find their own villages in the jurisdiction of their rivals. Post-delimitation, the native village of Batala area incharge LS Lodhinangal is under the control of his bete noire Nirmal Singh Kahlon, former Speaker. Lodhinangal village is witnessing a supremacy battle between Kahlon and Lodhinangal. The SAD bigwigs are making every effort to get their loyalist installed as sarpanch. Lodhinangal is backing Giani Gurbachan Singh while the Kahlon family is supporting its distant relative Harjit Kaur. The interference of these leaders in each other’s constituencies is a well-known fact. During the zila parishad elections, a fierce turf war had erupted between these leaders forcing some Chandigarh-based leaders to intervene and work out a truce. The Qadian area chief, former Cabinet Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, finds himself in no man’s land. His village Sekhwan falls in the Batala Vidhan Sabha constituency where his long-time rival Lodhinangal is in control. These leaders had engaged in a bitter war of words prior to the assembly elections. Sekhwan wanted to contest from Batala from where Lodhinangal was declared nominee. There are reports that Sekhwan and Lodhinangal have patched up. But sources claim that this is a temporary arrangement. Dera Baba Nanak area chief Sucha Singh Langah’s village now falls in Gurdaspur legislator GS Babbehali’s area. Kahlon and Babbehali villages have been reserved. This means that both the leaders are no longer in a position to see their family members elected to the post of sarpanch. Babbehali’s son Amarjot Singh is the village sarpanch. Kahlon, in a deft move, managed to get the panchayat of his village Dadujodh elected unanimously to make sure his family controlled the post of sarpanch by proxy. Cascading effect The delimitation exercise held before the last assembly elections has had a cascading effect in the panchayat elections Several SAD leaders now find their own villages in the jurisdiction of their rivals The native village of Batala area chief Lodhinangal is now under the control of his bete noire Nirmal Singh Kahlon These SAD bigwigs are making every effort to get their loyalists elected to the post of sarpanch Former minister Sekhwan's village is now in the Batala assembly constituency where his rival Lodhinangal is in control Dera Baba Nanak area chief Langah’s village now in Gurdaspur legislator GS Babbehali’s turf Cong: HC must intervene Chandigarh: Partap Singh
Bajwa, PPCC chief, has expressed shock over media reports on photocopies of ballot papers at a marriage palace at Jalandhar and appealed to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo moto notice of the same to "prevent the murder of democracy." Bajwa said in a statement that the entire election process was a sham. — TNS
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Panic over ballot papers
Chandigarh, July 2 Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner DC Mangat, who parked himself at the makeshift printing press at a marriage palace near Hoshiarpur, was the first to get the ballot papers in the wee hours. The Jalandhar and Kapurthala poll staff were handed over the ballot papers by noon. Harbir Singh Additional, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Hoshiarpur, claimed that a mechanism had been worked out for delivering the ballot papers at the polling centres on time. The Secretary, Election Commission, ML Sharma said: “This time at least 1.25 lakh different kinds of ballot papers were required to be printed because of separate sheets for the election of ‘sarpanches’ and panches. The firm concerned probably did not realise the tremendous workload." He said each ballot paper had a serial number and would be signed by the presiding officer before polling.
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Moga sees rise in liquor sale Patiala village shows the way Kin versus kin in Muktsar
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TB patients suffer as medicine supply hit
Ludhiana, July 2 The medicines are supplied by the Centre Government under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). Dr Ashish Chawla, District Tuberculosis Officer, Ludhiana, said, “We last received medicines in March. The new patients, who were registered later, have not been able to get free medicines under the RNTCP. Either they buy the medicines on their own or we request some NGOs to help them." Dr Chawla further said children who suffer from TB and weigh less than 30 kg are treated at the Paediatrics Department. For each patient, the complete course is for 6 to 8 months. We have been receiving medicines for patients who were registered till March 31. He further said that these medicines cost Rs 8 to 10 per day per patient. Dr Balbeer Singh, State RNTCP officer, said, “We have written to the Central Government several times, asking for the next lot of medicines but to not avail.”
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Rajindra hospital store runs out of medicines
Patiala, July 2 Even the Patiala Health Foundation, which has been distributing free medicines worth Rs 70,000 per month to the poor at the Emergency for the past five years, were told to wind up their operations. Sources said the shortage of medicines arose due to the lack of coordination between the Medical Superintendent Dr VK Sharda and the Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Harshinder Kaur. A staff member said, “We are issued contradicting orders by both of them. The staff is confused. The hospital authorities had recently given the charge of the Emergency to Dr Harshinder Kaur but the Medical Superintendent has not yet handed over the stock to her.” While Dr Sharda could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, Dr Harshinder said she had not yet been issued the medicine stock. Representatives of the foundation confirmed that the hospital authorities had asked them to wind up their operations. A foundation member requesting anonymity said, "We have requested them to let us continue because the daily footfall in the hospital is very high and so is the requirement of medicines. They have agreed and we will run the drug store from tomorrow as usual.” College principal Dr KD Singh, when contacted, said the confusion has been sorted out and the foundation will continue to provide their services
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Supply was not hit despite squall, claims PSPCL
Patiala, July 2 KD Chaudhri, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, PSPCL, today said the storm that hit 10 districts of Punjab uprooted many towers, broke electric poles, damaged distribution transformers thereby causing disruption in power supply in some areas of Punjab. He said work to restore the power supply began as soon as the storm subsided. PSPCL officials claim the storm damaged 1,138 electricity poles in Gurdaspur district, 247 in Kapurthala, 516 in Hoshiarpur, 277 in Ludhiana, 206 in Barnala, 437 in Bathinda, 840 in Faridkot, 590 in Ferozepur, 97 in Taran Taran and 450 in Muktsar and damaged 71 transformers in Gurdaspur district, 44 in Kapurthala, 71 in Hoshiarpur, 58 in Ludhiana, 48 in Barnala, 40 in Bathinda, 128 in Faridkot, 40 in Ferozepur, 46 in Taran Taran and 229 in Muktsar district. It caused disruption in power supply from 37 feeders in Gurdaspur district, 5 in Kapurthala, 8 in Hoshiarpur, 10 in Ludhiana, 9 in Barnala, 28 in Bathinda, 87 in Faridkot, 32 in Ferozepur, 9 in Tarn Taran and 65 in Mukatsar district. “Normal power supply has been restored and hopefully few feeders/distribution transformers which were heavily damaged will also be made functional by Tuesday evening,” Chaudhri added. Chaudhri further said the PSPCL had sufficient power available and barring few regulatory measures power supply would remain normal throughout Punjab.
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Govt’s in-principle approval to projects worth
Rs 660 crore
Chandigarh, July 2 The decision was taken by the Chief Minister at a high-level meeting with a seven-member Nabard team led by its regional chief general manager Naresh Gupta. Among the projects are construction and upgradation of roads worth Rs 380 crore, Rs 140 crore for drinking water supply RO system, Rs 100 crore for revamping of canals and drain network and Rs 30 crore for the setting up of sewerage treatment plants. Badal asked the Irrigation Department to prepare a plan to recharge the depleting water table and sought the Nabard's support to fund the project. Gupta also apprised the Chief Minister of various other schemes being funded by the Nabard. He said the Nabard had approved Rs 12 crore to 320 agricultural societies as advance subsidised loan for the purchase of tractors and other agricultural implements. He said it had also launched a unique funding scheme for farmer clubs to bring awareness amongst them, besides funding self-help groups of women for capacity building. Who gets what Rs
380 cr for construction and upgradation of roads Rs 140 cr for installation of RO systems in villages Rs
100 cr for revamping canals and drain network Rs 30 cr for setting up sewerage treatment plants Relief for Muslim inmates The Chief Minister on Tuesday directed the DGP, Prisons, to exempt all Muslim inmates lodged in different jails from hard labour during the month of Ramzan starting from July 9. Details of U’khand victims The state government has decided to collect all the details of missing persons in Uttarakhand. An official spokesperson said the Home department on Tuesday wrote a letter to all the deputy commissioners to provide details of the missing persons from their districts.
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A first: ‘Sehaj path’ from Gurbani’s Braille version at Golden Temple
Amritsar, July 2 A visually impaired former ‘raagi’ of the Golden Temple, Gurmej Singh had transliterated the Gurbani into Braille. The special holy book is enshrined in Room No. 13 of the Golden Temple complex for the convenience of the visually impaired devotees. The Gurbani’s Braille version has 2,153 pages in 18 volumes with a page size of 11x12 inches. Having retired in 1998 after serving the Golden Temple for three decades, Gurmej Singh had prepared six Braille copies of the holy book. He presented the first of these to the visually impaired children studying at the Central Khalsa Orphanage in Amritsar, the same place where he spent his childhood. He gave the second copy to the Golden Temple. Gurmej Singh said it was for the first time that the ‘sehaj path’ was performed from the Braille-transliterated Gurbani. “I presented other copies to an old-age home for the blind near Phagwara, a home for the blind at Ludhiana and the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj in Delhi. I kept the sixth copy for myself. It is placed at my house,” he said. Gurmej Singh and his family members were presented with a ‘siropa’ by Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and SGPC president Avtar Singh.
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Green initiative to mark Amritsar foundation day
Amritsar, July 2 Talking to The Tribune, EcoAmritsar (formed by
EcoSikh) chairman Gunbir Singh said, “A decision has been taken to work in unison with the local administration, the
SGPC, NGOs, educational institutions, corporate houses and citizens in particular to initiate achievable projects with defined timelines. The aim is to start an awareness programme and various other projects. Each year on ‘Har Vadi 13’, the day Guru Ram Das established the city, an impact assessment of these projects will be conducted and necessary corrections would be undertaken for efficacy.”
Gunbir said they were being careful that only sustainable projects were undertaken. “Little thought and effort, for example, can reduce the dependence of carrying waste if we reutilise the organic refuse and use it as compost. Therefore, we have begun motivating community public parks to become zero disposal parks.” These demonstration projects will showcase to the entire neighbourhood how even households can regenerate kitchen waste into economically viable and chemical-free vegetables for the family, he added. The EcoAmritsar chairman said projects related to plantation, landscaping, natural farming, water harvesting and green buildings were in the offing. “Our aim is to make a difference within the 2017 time frame when Amritsar celebrates its 440th foundation day. We are appealing to all community and religious bodies for endorsement and adoption as well. This is a people’s project and we need support for it to succeed and become effective. No single person or organisation can accomplish what we have set out to achieve, but collective endeavour by citizens can bring about a change in the city. Our maxim is ‘Amritsar-My City, My Pride, My Responsibility!’ Since the city now receives over 1.2 million pilgrims and tourists during the year, challenges to the city’s carrying capacity are many and so is the need for all of us to be responsible hosts,” he said. All set for the ‘Golden’ occasion July 4: Baba Deep Singh Educational Society to hold a religious programme July 5: Akal Takht Jathedar to plant five saplings to kick off green drive; Nagar Kirtan to be taken out while ensuring no waste is littered on roads; Khalsa College to adopt organic farming; SGPC to hold 'Kirtan Darbar' July 6: Citizens to take out march from Golden Temple to Ram Bagh Gardens from 7 am to 8.30 am, followed by a public meeting at the garden
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Crafting a nest for birds is this septuagenarian’s mission
Tarn Taran, July 2 “Sometimes people do not accept nests for free and give me money. I use the money to buy more material,” says Dara Singh. The entire village knows Dara Singh and his cause and respects him for it. His friends and a few shopkeepers in the village also help him procure material for making nests. “Nobody has ever stopped me from putting up nests in their compounds. Many even believe that providing shelter to birds will bring them good luck,” he says. Dara Singh, 75, had learned carpentry from his father at the age of 15. “My children are grown up now. They have opted for different professions. I am free to make nests till my health permits,” he says. A humble craftsman, Dara Singh is a keen bird watcher too. “Sometimes I watch these birds making nests for hours.” He says with the change in architectural style of houses, birds find it difficult to set up nests. Earlier, houses were built using wooden planks on the roof. Now roofs are made of concrete and birds do not find a place to set up their nests, he maintains. Dara Singh has put up around 20 nests at his house. Interestingly, most of the nests have been occupied by birds. Dara Singh complains that burning of crop residue after harvesting has made life difficult for birds. “The fire burns trees, destroys nests and eggs of birds. Their young ones are generally suffocated or charred to death. The farmers must stop this practice,” he said.
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3-tier security for sensitive villages
Bathinda, July 2 The police has put in place 'quick-reaction’ patrolling teams. “These teams will reach a trouble spot within a few minutes.This is part of a three-tier security system put in place in the district that shares its border with two states,” said Inspector General NS Dhillon. He said there had been instances in the past when outsiders had indulged in violence or rigging. The officer said the three-tier security had been introduced in 200 super-sensitive villages. “ A gazetted officer will be responsible for security arrangements in a cluster of villages. A strong police contingent will be stationed at every village while 'quick reaction' patrol parties will be kept on alert," he said. Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Narinder Bhargav said the police in neighbhouring states had also set up barricades in their territory to prevent the entry of "goons".
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Pannu assault case: Panesar being victimised, claim his kin
Ludhiana, July 2 His nephew Jaswinder Singh said a reputed Punjabi newspaper had published a report in its June 21 edition (IAS officer KS Pannu was assaulted on June 22) with inputs from Paneser "exposing the false claims of the Punjab Government". Jaswinder Singh claimed that moved by the plight of stranded pilgrims, his uncle had approached some politicians in Ludhiana. Jagbir Singh Sokhi, SAD councillor, said: "Baba Paneser called me from Gobindghat seeking help for pilgrims and I immediately contacted the administrators at Hemkund Sahib." He also said that Panesar did not want to return home without his taxi, his only source of livelihood. Panesar's wife Parminder Kaur said her husband had informed her about a clash with the locals and that the police had arrested him only because it had failed to track those who had assaulted Pannu. "We pay taxi loan and house loan of Rs 10, 000 every month. But with my husband behind bars, who will ply the taxi? How will I take care of our children? Baba is not a criminal," she said. Area residents said that Baba Paneser, a supporter of a former Cabinet Minister, was no longer in active politics. Narinder Singh Saini, president, Shopkeepers' Association, Dashmesh Nagar, who has been Baba Panesar’s rival in politics, said: "We do not accept the police theory. Baba is a victim of mistaken identity."
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Lt Gen Bhuttar is PPSC chief
Chandigarh, July 2 The other two in the race for the prestigious post were Lt Gen Kuldeep Singh (retd) and a former Punjab cadre IAS officer, Gurinderjit Singh Sandhu. The latter recently retired as Financial Commissioner. A request for finalising the date for the swearing-in ceremony has been sent to the Governor, a senior officer said. Lt Gen Bhuttar is expected to remain in office for about 10 months. He retired from the Army in May last year. The age limit for the PPSC Chairman is 62 years. Lt Gen Bhuttar had served as Chief of Staff of the Western Command at Chandimandir some years ago. Under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, the government had set up a search committee for the appointment of PPSC Chairman. More than 30 persons, including retired Army officers and former IAS officials, had applied for the post.
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AI’s Amritsar-Birmingham flight from August 1
Amritsar, July 2 The flight, a new 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner having 238 economy and 18 business class seats, will operate four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The flight will depart from the Amritsar airport at 10:30 am and reach Delhi at 11:45 am. It will take off for Birmingham at 1:30 pm and reach there at 6 pm. The return journey will start the same day at 9:30 pm. The flight will arrive at Delhi at 10:05 am. At 12:05 pm, it will fly to Amritsar and reach here at 1:10 pm. Air India's Amritsar airport manager Shashikant Kondyal said the AI was already operating Amritsar-Delhi-London flights. Airport Authority of India officials at the Amritsar airport feel that the flight would enhance its income and help them curtail losses. Taking wing The flight will operate four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) It will use a new 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 238 economy and 18 business class seats It will depart from the Amritsar airport at 10.30 am
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High Court to decide PSEB secy’s fate today
Chandigarh, July 2 His appointment has already hit rough weather with the High Court coming down heavily upon the State of Punjab on the issue of his recruitment while taking up a petition filed by Sukhvinder Kaur Saroya through counsel Jagmohan Singh Bhatti. Challenging his appointment, Saroya had contended that that as per the Punjab School Education Act, the secretary had to be appointed on the basis of a panel set up by the government. In alternative, he should be an officer of the PSEB. Terming his appointment as illegal and against the Act, Bhatti contended that his appointment was neither made through a panel nor was he an officer of the board. As the case came up for resumed hearing today, the State of Punjab filed an affidavit confirming that Dr Balwinder Singh was neither from the board nor from the panel. It was added that his appointment did not have the government’s approval and was a “table agenda item”. The Bench was also told that the chairman had passed an order for his superannuation on July 31, 2013. The case will now come up for hearing tomorrow when the court will explain the reasons behind his continuation as the secretary. Crucial hearing A petition was filed in the High Court challenging the appointment of Dr Balwinder Singh’s as the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) secretary The petitioner had claimed that the appointment was illegal as it neither was done through a panel nor was he an officer of the PSEB The plea also contended that the appointment did not have the government’s approval and, therefore, was a “table agenda item”
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Five of robbers’ gang held after shoot-out, four pistols seized
Sangrur, July 2 The police reportedly seized four pistols (two made in USA, one made in England and a country-made), a rifle, two stolen cars namely an Indica and a Scala. Mandip Singh Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sangrur, said the police raided a site near Ahmedgarh after receiving a tip-off that the accused were planning to commit a robbery there. On seeing the police, the accused opened fire on the police. After a brief shootout, the police captured all the five accused, he said. The SSP said the arrested accused had been identified as Gagandeep Singh Gunia of Barnala; Avarjeet Singh of Raiya; Mohammad Wasim of Malerkotla; Gahia Khan of Matoi village; and Mohammad Ifatkhar of Malerkotla. Sidhu said these persons had been involved in several theft cases in Barnala, Sangrur and Amritsar districts and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. He said 12 cases were pending against Gagandeep Singh Gunia, 10 against Avarjeet Singh, five against Mohammad Wasim, one against Gahia Khan and two against Mohammad Ifatkhar. The accused were also involved in a shoot-out in Malerkotla on May 14. A case had been registered against them at Sadar police station at Ahmedgarh under various Sections of the IPC and the Arms Act.
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Former Akali sarpanch held in murder case
Ferozepur, July 2 Surjit Singh had allegedly killed a girl, Gurmeet Kaur, with whom he had “illicit relations”. The police had booked Surjit Singh on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother Shingara Singh after her body was found from the Sutlej near the village five months ago. Varinder Pal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), said the girl left her house in 2008 to stay with Surjit Singh. “Initially, Surjit kept her in Mohali for three years and then shifted her to Ferozepur,” he said, adding Surjit never allowed the girl to meet her family. “When Gurmeet started pressurising Surjit to marry her, he allegedly put her on drugs. After she died of drug overdose, Surjit along with Babu Singh, Gurbachan, Rano Bai, Magh Singh and Uma Singh threw her body into the Sutlej,” the SSP added.
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have failed to increase the agriculture production, or the contribution of agriculture to the state’s economy. Punjab will also have to take drastic steps to reduce its burgeoning revenue deficit, if it wants to turn around its economy by reducing its expenditure on repayment of loans and servicing of debts, and instead use it for social welfare.
A new renewable energy technology that can dissuade farmers from burning stubble in the open was launched in the fields of Khwaspura village by the Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Ropar, here today. The project titled Energy Harvest takes agricultural waste left over from the harvest such as rice and wheat straw and heats them in a small reactor
(Pyroformer) under controlled conditions to generate oil, gas and
biochar.
The foundation day of the Akal Takht, supreme temporal body of the Sikhs, was observed with fervor here today. The significant part was that for the first time, the ‘sehaj path’ was performed from the Braille version of the Guru Granth Sahib by Bhai Gurmej Singh.
The stage is set for the foundation day celebrations of Amritsar on July 6 with the US-based EcoSikh roping in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
(SGPC), district administration and NGOs in its plan to initiate various green initiatives to preserve the holy city’s ecology for the future.
Septuagenarian Dara Singh is a man with a mission to provide shelters to birds. A carpenter by profession, Dara Singh has turned Chohla Sahib village into a safe haven for birds by putting up over 200 wooden nests at various places. These nests can be seen at all public places and most of the houses in the village. Besides, Dara Singh gives these for free if any visitor to the village asks for it.
state's cyber crime cell, claims that he is being
"victimised for exposing the fake claims of the Punjab bureaucracy" regarding rescue operations at Gobindghat in
Uttarakhand. His nephew Jaswinder Singh said a reputed Punjabi newspaper had published a report in its June 21 edition
(IAS officer KS Pannu was assaulted on June 22) with inputs from Paneser "exposing the false claims of the Punjab Government".
The district police today claimed to have arrested five members of an inter-state gang. The police exchanged fire with the gang members before nabbing them. No one was injured in the shootout.
However, the PSPCL assured that the power supply would not be hit and that they would soon repair the damaged feeders and poles.