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Seat-swap with Akalis on agenda, BJP core committee meeting today
Scribe killed, SSP hurt in accident
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SSP had left station without permission
Bajwa suspects foul play, wants CBI probe
Liquor sales may touch all-time high in state
Badal lashes out at Cong MP for raking up Ambulance 108 row
Open to pact with anti-Badal parties, says Bajwa
Cong panchayats being denied direct funds
Rajindra Hospital ill-equipped to handle suspected dengue cases
To check fraud, state govt opts for e-stamps
De-addiction centres lack crucial support
Capt wants Army ex-Chief investigated
Freedom fighter cremated with state honours
PPCB issues warning to industries violating pollution norms
EcoSikh’s green drive draws support
Farmers given tips on production of rabi crops
PSSF holds protest rally
25,975 anganwari centres being run from gurdwaras, temples
Canada-based NRI introduces cabs driven by women
Kenyan delegation visits SGGS varsity
Bathinda admn gears up to impose property tax
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Seat-swap with Akalis on agenda, BJP core committee meeting today
Chandigarh, September 22 Of the 13 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP has been contesting three, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Hoshiarpur, while its coalition partner SAD the remaining 10. Party insiders said at informal meetings of SAD and BJP leaders, the swapping of Hoshiarpur (reserve) Lok Sabha seat with Jalandhar (reserve) and Amritsar with Ludhiana had been discussed. But, there had been no progress beyond informal talks. In the previous parliamentary elections, the BJP’s candidate had lost in Hoshiarpur and the SAD’s in Jalandhar. Some senior leaders of the party are also likely to discuss swapping of portfolios of certain BJP ministers as they are reportedly not happy with their performance. Development works in various towns and cities and the exorbitant price of sand and gravel will also be taken up. Owing to paucity of funds, development works in urban areas have suffered. Already, the issue of development in Amritsar is at the centre stage of the state politics. As the portfolio of the local bodies is with the BJP, the development of cities and towns is its responsibility. Prices of sand and gravel have risen significantly during the SAD-BJP rule. Since the portfolio of sand mining is with the BJP, it is accountable for the irrational rise in the prices of mining minerals. What strategy the BJP should adopt to counter opponents on this issue is likely to be discussed. Growing nepotism, which was never a hallmark of the party, in the party’s state unit will also come up at the meeting. Three members of a family of Amritsar have been given positions by the party. Likewise, three members of a family of Hoshiarpur have been given important positions. Besides, there is resentment among party ranks over the appointment of certain leaders, who were defeated in the assembly elections, on important posts. There are other issues related to the party. Certain leaders, who otherwise have a mass base in their respective areas, have virtually withdrawn from party’s mainstream activities. Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has won the Lok Sabha elections three times in a row, has already been saying that certain BJP leaders have been working in tandem with SAD leaders to politically extinguish him. He stayed away from all party platforms for several months due to this reason. There are reports that like Sidhu, some BJP leaders have also been regularly needling Manoranjan Kalia, a popular leader in Jalandhar, and Avinash Rai Khanna, another popular leader in Hoshiarpur, by giving leverage to their opponents. The other issue is of taking credit for various works by the SAD leadership. BJP leaders have been complaining that the SAD moves quickly to take credit of important policy decisions. For instance, for the industrial policy, the entire credit was taken by the SAD leadership. On policy decisions for urban development, certain BJP leaders have been saying that the credit is being taken by the SAD top brass.
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Scribe killed, SSP hurt in accident
Pathankot, September 22 The condition of driver Bua Singh is stated to be serious. The gunman accompanying the SSP suffered injuries which the doctors said were not of serious nature. Eyewitnesses said the car overturned thrice after it hit the tree. They claimed that the driver lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake a trailer. Malhotra, who is survived by his wife, daughter and son, died on the spot. A profusely bleeding SSP was pulled out of the wreckage by onlookers and the security personnel in the pilot vehicle. He was admitted to Raavi Sadan Hospital in Pathankot where an MRI scan revealed broken ribs. The SSP’s driver and gunman were admitted to the same hospital. Pathankot Deputy Commissioner Siben C visited the officer in hospital as did Inspector-General of Police (Border) Ishwar Chander before he was shifted to Fortis in Mohali. A senior police officer said Malhotra, who was on his way to Pathankot on an assignment, rang up the SSP as he left Jalandhar in a private taxi. The SSP told him that he too was on his way to Pathankot from Jalandhar. The two decided to meet at Bhogpur, 20 km from Jalandhar. Malhotra sat with the SSP in his official car while the taxi he had hired trailed him. A case has been registered at the Indora Police station in Himachal Pradesh. The stretch of the road where the accident occurred is located in Himachal. A hunt has been launched to arrest the driver of the trailer.
Turn of events
Indora SHO’s version Meelwan: The SSP’s official car was on a high speed when the accident occurred, said Indora Station House Officer
(SHO) Balbir Chand. While trying to overtake a trailer, the driver lost control over the wheel and the vehicle hit a tree, a milestone, a signboard and then another tree before rolling down a ditch along the highway, the SHO said. A case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC had was registered against an unidentified vehicle on the complaint of gunman Lal Singh, he
addded. — Bipin Bhardwaj
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SSP had left station without permission
Jalandhar, September 22 Kalia was on his way to Pathankot from
Jalandhar. He was accompanied by HT principal correspondent Jasdeep Malhotra who had written about “goonda tax” being realised by the mining mafia operating in Pathankot district. The area comes under Kalia as Pathankot
SSP. Why were the two travelling together then? It is also being asked if Kalia was accompanying Malhotra to the sites where the mining mafia was collecting the “goonda tax” . Or was he accompanying the scribe in an effort to dissuade him from writing further on the issue? Prior to his promotion and posting as SSP, Pathankot, Kalia was posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police with the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate. Sources said Kalia has been occupying a government house in Old Baradari, Jalandhar, even after his transfer to Pathankot more than three years ago. Sources in the PWD (B & R) said that Kalia had been given permission to retain his government house in Jalandhar for some time. In Pathankot, the officer has taken possession of a rest house of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).Efforts to contact Inspector-General of Police (Border Range) Ishwar Chander proved futile despite several attempts.
Bajwa suspects foul play, wants CBI probe
Chandigarh, September 22 Referring to Malhotra’s news report on the nefarious activities of the sand mafia in Pathankot, he said the death was a big blow to the media fraternity.
“I request the Chief Justice of the High Court
to order a CBI probe into the circumstances leading to Malhotra’s death,” Bajwa said. Former Punjab Chief Minister and permanent Invitee to the Congress Working Committee Capt Amarinder Singh also condoled the death. Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in a press note, expressed shock at the death. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed profound grief and sorrow over Malhotra’s “sad, tragic and untimely” demise. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia also expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.
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Liquor sales may touch all-time high in state
Patiala, September 22 Already battling drug abuse menace, the high liquor sale is by no means a good sign for Punjab. The high prices of the commodity, which have been constantly heading north, too have failed to deter its sale. The development has only meant maximum profits for the liquor mafia. With the liquor prices going up in Chandigarh too, the smuggling to Punjab has gone down, thus contributing to the rise in its sale in the state. In the first four months of the 2013-14 fiscal, the state government has gathered Rs 1,154.71 crore revenue from the liquor trade (till July 30). The Excise Department is hopeful of surpassing the annual target of Rs 4,020 crore. The revenue stood at Rs 1,406 crore in 2002-03, Rs 2,000 crore in 2009-10 and Rs 3,410 crore in the last fiscal. Punjab has already sold over 1.28 crore proof litres of IMFL (Indian-made foreign liquor), over three crore proof litres of local liquor and 1.09 crore bulk litres of beer till July 30. “With the marriage season round the corner and the winter approaching, the sales are set to increase further,” said a senior excise official. “Liquor from Chandigarh was earlier smuggled into Punjab but the activity has seen a decline after the prices were hiked in the Union Territory. As such, the Punjab liquor lobby is laughing its way to the bank,” he said. With the liquor trade turning out to be a money-spinner, there has been a mad rush to get into the business. Fifteen distilleries are already operating in Punjab and applications for seven more are pending at various stages. In 2005-06, Punjab had eight distilleries and their count was 11 two years ago. The bottling plants have gone up from 16 to 21. Punjab also has two brewery units. The love for liquor can be gauged from the fact that in the last fiscal, Punjab, having a population of little less than three crore, consumed about 29 crore bottles. On an average, Bacchus lovers in Punjab guzzle over 7.5 crore bottles of beer per annum, which means the state sells roughly 5 crore bulk litres of beer. Given the current trend, the figures for this year might throw up surprises when the excise fiscal comes to an end on March 31, 2014. While the excise collection from liquor has gone up by around 18 per cent as compared to the last fiscal, the rates of almost all brands are up by 35 per cent. Ludhiana has emerged the frontrunner when it comes to the sale of IMFL with 15.5 lakh cases being sold already, besides 20.66 lakh bulk litres of beer. Jalandhar is not far behind, seeing sale of 17.64 lakh boxes of IMFL, 21.30 lakh boxes of local-made liquor and over 6.09 lakh bulk litres of beer. Sangrur tops in the sale in local-made liquor (26.23 lakh boxes).
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Badal lashes out at Cong MP for raking up Ambulance 108 row
Bassi Pathana, September 22 He said instead of putting forth a major health-related project to the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, the minister was trying to deprive the state of its legitimate right by blocking the grants on the basis of photographs pasted on ambulances. Badal said people in the region had high hopes from two leaders from Gurdaspur and Chandigarh, who were allegedly involved in corruption cases. He said none of the Union ministers had ever bothered to visit the state to give any grant. "The withholding of grants by the UPA government reflects the myopic outlook of the Congress leaders," he said, adding that the state Congress leadership had always acted as a "stumbling block in the progress of the state". Taking serious note of the infighting in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) here, the Chief Minister directed the local MLA and other senior leaders of the district party unit to maintain unity saying indiscipline would not be tolerated. The Chief Minister while commenting on the demands raised by local MLA Nirmal Singh said the funds would be allocated if he, SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chanudmajra, former MLA Didar Singh Bhatti, district SAD president Daljit Singh Cheema and senior SAD leader Ranjit Singh Cheema came together to his office in Chandigarh. He said if they did not put aside their differences, they should forget about funds for their respective areas. Meanwhile, anganwari workers held a protest and waved black flags to express their resentment over various issues. Later, a delegation of the workers led by their president Usha Rani met the Chief Minister to submit their memorandum of demands. The Chief Minister assured them that they would be given time to express
their grievances.
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Open to pact with anti-Badal parties, says Bajwa
Ferozepur, September 22 Bajwa was in Guruharsahai today to attend the bhog ceremony of Baba Amolak Singh of Dera Bhajangarh in Goluke Mor. He said the ruling coalition did not deserve to be in power as 60 per cent of the votes had been polled against both the parties in the last assembly poll. “All anti-Badal forces should come together for the welfare of Punjab, which is on the verge of ruin under the SAD-BJP combine’s rule,” he said. The PPCC chief said the process for forming various panels within the state Congress unit was almost final and the list would be released this month. He said all sections of the society would be given due representation in the state committee. About the prospects of the party in the next Lok Sabha elections, Bajwa said all Congress MPs “have done well and utilised all their grants for developmental works in their constituencies”. On the other hand, the SAD-BJP MPs had failed on all fronts, said Bajwa, who himself is an MP from Gurdaspur. Bajwa alleged that the Badal family was busy filling their own coffers as they had virtually taken over the control of various businesses in the state. “The common man is today reeling due to abject autocracy and despotism unleashed by the father-son duo.” Continuing his attack on the ruling SAD-BJP combine, he said several leaders belonging to the Akali Dal were allegedly involved in illegal sand mining and that police officials trying to check the menace were being publically thrashed. Among others, Congress MLAs Parminder Singh Pinki and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and party leaders Anumeet Singh Sodhi, Hans Raj Jossan and Mohinder Singh Rinwa were present. Senior Congress leader Rao Dhan Singh represented Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and paid respects on his behalf. Bajwa later announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh on behalf of Guruharsahai MLA Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi for the development of Dera Bhajangarh. From the Akali camp, senior leaders Vardev Singh Mann, Sher Singh and Baldev Singh Mamujohiya paid tributes to the departed soul.
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Cong panchayats being denied direct funds
Gurdaspur, September 22 Rules permit the Chief Minister to give an amount of Rs 10 lakh directly to panchayats. Anything above this has to be given to government departments, like the PWD (B&R) and Rural Development, for executing works. In this way, it is being ensured that Congress-led sarpanches don’t take credit for works initiated in their villages. While drawing up lists of panchayats to whom favours are to be granted, SAD halqa (area) heads ask district officials to keep such villages out of the purview of Sangat Darshan proceedings. If a Congress-led panchayat does make an appearance at the Sangat Darshan, it is ensured that it is granted more than Rs 10 lakh so that works in the village are initiated by government departments and the sarpanch, who belongs to the Opposition, does not take any credit. During Sangat Darshan (from August 30 to September 2) in Qadian, a Congress sarpanch was not allowed to enter the premises at Bhaini Mian Khan. The volatile situation was defused by Deputy Commissioner Dr Abhinav Trikha who allowed her in to speak to the Chief Minister. When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner denied the allegations. “We are going by the book. All panchayats are invited to the CM’s function, irrespective of their political affiliations. “We cannot do much if Congress sarpanches themselves decide not to attend the proceedings. They probably feel their voice will go unheard. Money is distributed across the board and not just to SAD-controlled panchayats,” he maintained.
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Rajindra Hospital ill-equipped to handle suspected dengue cases
Patiala, September 22 According to official figures, a total 19 patients have tested positive for dengue so far in the district but till
date, the hospital is not fully equipped to handle Hospital authorities and the district health department claim that a person who tests positive in the NS1 Elisa test is only a suspected case of dengue. Only if they test positive in the Mac-Elisa test are they considered to have dengue. However, a part of the medical fraternity says that anyone diagnosed positive for NS1 Elisa is confirmed to be infected with dengue. These doctors said the hospital was taking a major risk in keeping such patients in general wards with other patients and they should wait till the reports of the Mac Elisa test were made available. A doctor, on the condition of anonymity, said the NS1 Elisa test is an antigen test, which detects dengue virus in the initial days of infection with over 99 per cent accuracy. He said though the infection might not be severe but if such patients were kept in general wards, the chances of the spread of the disease increased manifold. "Ideally, all suspected cases are to be kept in the isolation ward because in case a mosquito bites someone after biting these patients, he too will get infected. However, the hospital authorities are least bothered," he said. "When there are separate class IV employees and other staff for the isolation ward, why such patients are being kept in general wards is beyond my understanding. A patient generally needs isolation in the initial days because the Mac Elisa test comes out to be positive only after a week and if we shift the patients to the isolation ward after receiving the report of this test, a lot of damage might already have happened by that time," said another doctor. However, medical superintendent of the hospital Dr VK Sharda said unlike swine flu, which may spread due to sneezing, cold and cough, dengue is spread only by mosquito bite and so, it was not that risky if such patients are kept in general wards. "However, we will still consider providing mosquito nets to patients," he said.
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To check fraud, state govt opts for e-stamps
Chandigarh, September 22 Talking to The Tribune, Financial Commissioner (Revenue) NS Kang said the new system was likely to get the nod shortly. Stamp vendors will now work as government “authorised collection centres (ACCs),” he explained. The system is already operational in Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Dadra Nagar and Haveli, and Diu, Puducherry and Uttar Pradesh. It entails electronic payment of stamp duty, web-based data storage system and online verification facility. One of the greatest benefits of the technology-aided facility is online verification through a bar-coded security system. Official sources claimed that e-stamp certificate could not be tampered with. Its authenticity could be checked through the inquiry module and each such certificate had a unique identification number. “E-stamping is an effective mechanism against bogus or false shortage of stamp papers. Very often, it was difficult to procure stamp papers of the exact denomination,” a senior official said. Approval to Bhai Jaita memorial Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday approved the concept paper prepared for the construction of a memorial of Bhai Jaita (Jeevan Singh). Spread over five acres, the memorial would be a tribute to Bhai Jaita’s spirit of service and dedication towards Guru Tegh Bahadur and his son Guru Gobind Singh. Badal asked the Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, to engage a reputed architect for finalising the site plan and design of the monument.
How the system works
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De-addiction centres lack crucial support
The 30-bed Gurdaspur district de-addiction centre finds itself trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea. It cannot say no to addicts coming for treatment yet it has no space for accommodating large numbers. Last week, BSF Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) NK Mishra and Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) SS Gill visited the centre. Project Director Romesh Mahajan was quick to point out to the officers the lack of space and infrastructure at the centre. “If the number of addicts continues to rise, we may have to request the BSF to provide us tents. We are fighting a battle which we may ultimately lose. If this happens, the police drive may come to naught,” said Mahajan. However, the Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police said there would be no laxity in its drive against peddlers. Sources say the prices of opium and poppy husk have zoomed ever since the drive was launched. “We have nabbed a number of known peddlers. This had had a cascading effect on addicts who are now opting for treatment,” said SS Mand, Batala SSP. “The porous border with Pakistan is one of the major reasons for drug infiltration. I have reports that every third youngster in Majha is on drugs,” said Mahajan. He claimed there had been a phenomenal rise in the number of addicts at his centre in the past two years.
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Capt wants Army ex-Chief investigated
In a press release, the former Chief Minister also asked the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to clarify his stand on the issue as there have been other allegations against Gen VK Singh that he tried to scuttle the appointment of the current Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh just because he belonged to a particular community. Capt Amarinder said the nature of allegations against the former Army chief was quite serious, including the one that he tried to destabilise an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. He had a dig at the self-proclaimed supporters of Gen Singh that he was being made a victim out of political vendetta. “Nobody can be immune to the law of land”, he asserted ,wadding that just because someone was trying to make an excuse that he was being made a victim of political vendetta, he could not escape an inquiry.
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Freedom fighter cremated with state honours
Moga, September 22 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, whose father was a close friend of Capt Ranjit Singh, attended the cremation. Others present included PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa, adviser to the Chief Minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal, senior SAD leader Jathedar Tota Singh, Moga MLA Joginder Pal Jain and state Mahila Congress president Malti Thapar. Captain Ranjit Singh was one of the confidential officers of Netaji Subhash Chander Bose and worked under him in the Indian National Army. He had fought against the British imperialism in India and abroad. He commanded one of the INA units at Rangoon in Burma where he was jailed for more than 18 months.
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PPCB issues warning to industries violating pollution norms
It was found that only four industries out of those inspected were following norms. The PPCB has warned these industries to do the needful or face legal action. The inspecting teams were headed by senior environmental engineers of the PPCB. PPCB chairman Ravinder Singh said the electroplating industries of Ludhiana and Jalandhar had joined the common effluent treatment plant located at Ludhiana and operated by the JRB Technology. “During the inspection, a majority of industries
were found sending their effluents to the CETP and were having a valid agreement with the JRB Technology, Ludhiana. In some of the cases, it was found that the quantity of water consumed and effluents generated did not match and it is suspected that many industries are giving less effluents to the JRB Technology for treatment so as to pay less,” he said. Officials of the raiding team said many industries had not installed water meters on their inlets and outlets of the water tanks to measure the quantity of effluent being generated. “Only one industry could not produce the agreement with the JBR Technology,” said a team member. Officials said some industries were using flexible pipes for the supply of water and in some cases, the leaking supply from storage tanks was found going to the sewer unattended. “In one industry, a 62-KVA DG set was found without a canopy. In one industry, the electroplating tanks were found being cleaned by
labourers and the sludge from the bottom of the tanks was being removed but the owner of the industry could not explain where the hazardous waste was being stored. The waste room was found to be locked. As per norms, the sludge is supposed to be sent to the TSDF, Nimbuan (Derabassi),” a member said. The chairman said it is appreciable that industries had joined the CETP at Ludhiana. He said the minor and major discrepancies pointed out by the inspecting team were due to lack of knowledge at the operator's level and these units were so
small that their operating staff was found to be less qualified to maintain the pollution control norms. These industries were asked to check the discrepancies saying the PPCB would have "zero-tolerance" towards the violations in
the future.
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EcoSikh’s green drive draws support
Amritsar, September 22 Addressing the gathering, EcoSikh president Rajwant Singh said, “As the environment around the world is deteriorating and also the natural resources of Punjab are dwindling, it has become necessary to be involved in a forum like EcoSikh, which is engaging people at the grassroots level to do something about the crisis facing the humanity.” He also updated the audience about the recent initiative of Eco-Amritsar launched by EcoSikh and the next move to have Nanded, city of Hazur Sahib, on the green map. He also elaborated how hundreds of gurdwaras across the world were joining the movement.
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Farmers given tips on production of rabi crops
Sangrur, September 22 Dhindsa said this at the farmers’ training camp organised by the agriculture department here. The camp was aimed at giving technical knowledge about production of rabi crops to farmers. Hundreds of farmers from various parts of the district participated in the camp. Dhindsa, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the Centre was responsible for the meagre increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy and wheat crops every year. He said on the other hand, the state government was doing a lot for the farmers. Giving an example,
he said the electricity bills of tube well motors of farmers worth Rs 6,000 crore were being paid every year by the state
government. State Agriculture Director Dr Mangal Singh said the state government had made elaborate arrangements for provision of fertilisers, seeds and insecticides for rabi crops. He appealed to farmers to participate in such camps. Sangrur Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Rajinder Singh Sohi said during the rabi season, efforts were being made to sow wheat
on 2,84,000 hectares of land, mustard on 2,000 hectares of land and barley on 2,000 hectares of land in the district. He said Sangrur district contributed 11.5 per cent in the paddy production and nine per cent in the wheat production of the state. Additional Deputy Commissioner Pritam Singh Johal appealed to farmers to not burn paddy
straw as as it weakened the production strength of the land and increased air pollution. During the technical session, experts from Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, gave tips and knowledge about agriculture-related aspects. Various stalls were put up as part of an agriculture exhibition in the camp.
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PSSF holds protest rally
Sangrur, September 22 The employees were protesting against the delay in the payment of their salaries, non-payment of instalment of dearness allowance from January, non-regularisation of services of contract and daily wagers and non-enhancement in the honorarium of anganwari workers.
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25,975 anganwari centres being run from gurdwaras, temples
Ludhiana, September 22 Despite making efforts to get proper buildings, Aanganwari workers have failed to get most of their demands met by the government. The president of the anganwari workers in the state, Usha Rani, said, "About 56,000 workers and helpers were taking care of over 5 lakh children in 26,656 anganwari centres. However, the state of affairs at these centres is pathetic. There are no proper buildings where these children can be taken care of. In most of the districts, we are operating from local gurdwaras, temples, dharamshalas, vacant buildings, etc. Each centre has an average of 20 children. It becomes difficult to run the centres from religious and other places." Besides, she said, the amount of feed provided by the government was too low for proper nourishment of children. She said the diet of each child was taken care of from 5 gm of powdered milk and 5 gm of ghee each day. "On two days, the children get panjiri, two days porridge and two days, they are given kheer. When there is scarcity of powdered milk, the children are served salted rice or halwa," she said, adding that initially, the work of Aanganwari workers was restricted to feeding the children, maintaining their vaccination record and taking care of pregnant and lactating mothers. "Now, the government has started exploiting workers by asking them to also generate awareness among adolescent girls under the Kishori Shakti Yojna, take care of children and pregnant women and do surveys for census, Atta Dal Scheme etc," said Subhash Rani, an anganwari worker. The workers are paid a monthly honorarium of Rs 4,600 (Rs 3,000 by the Centre and Rs 1,600 by the state) while the helpers get Rs 2,300 (Rs 1,500 by the Centre and Rs 800 by the state)
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Canada-based NRI introduces cabs driven by women
Bathinda, September 22 The cabs have been purchased with NRI Baljeet Singh Gill's help. Appreciating the NRI's efforts in helping raise the financial status of the poor in the city, Maluka said every possible help would be extended to make the service a success. Gill, while talking to TNS, said that earlier he had opened a school in Gopal Nagar a year ago to educate the illiterate women of the area. Gill pointed out that since he could not open a factory or any other business venture, he decided to help them by offering cabs with an initial investment ranging between Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 6 lakhs. "At present, we have introduced only one cab but more women are being trained for the purpose. It is not only driving on the road but other aspects also for which training is needed," Gill said. He added that at present, the cab would ferry passengers starting from Parasram Nagar, railway station, bus stand and Civil Hospital.
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Kenyan delegation visits SGGS varsity
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 22 The delegation called on Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia, Vice Chancellor (VC), and discussed their proposal. The VC assured them to take up the matter with the SGPC president, who is also the Chancellor of the university. Rehri said in order to introduce their new generation to the values and culture of the Sikhs and the teachings of the Sikh gurus, they wanted to set up a university centre in Kenya. He said they had earmarked more than 30 acres of land and a substantial amount of money for the purpose. Dr Walia informed the delegation members that the SGPC had set up its first institution of higher education in Mumbai in 1937. Since then, it had set up 45 institutions, including medical, dental and nursing colleges, and 75 schools. He assured them to hold more such meetings where terms and conditions of the collaboration would be discussed after getting inputs from the SGPC, trust and the syndicate of the university.
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Bathinda admn gears up to impose property tax
Bathinda, September 22
The work on computerising data of first five zones is near completion while the digitisation of data of the remaining three zones will be completed by October 15.Municipal Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta said the company outsourced the GIS work would submit the report of the first five zones on October 5 while the report of the remaining zones will be submitted on October 15. The digitised data has been physically verified too. Teams of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB), randomly visited the properties mentioned in the GIS data to verify the veracity of the data fed. The teams found the data satisfactory. "As soon as the digitisation of records is completed, the properties will be assigned unique identification numbers that will be linked with the water supply, sewerage and other civic services. It means we will have a consolidated data of all the properties in the city, which will also be helpful for the revenue department and banks," the Municipal Commissioner added. The property tax will be applicable to the owners of land, rented accommodations and plots besides the dwellers of
'kachcha' houses. The tax will be applicable from April 2013 onwards. Those who have paid house tax on commercial properties by September this year, need not pay it. While the ordinance mentions that those who pay property tax before September 30 will get 10 per cent rebate, the Municipal Commissioner said the deadline might be extended to November.
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The issue of swapping of some of the Lok Sabha seats with the SAD is likely to come up at the Punjab BJP’s core committee meeting to be presided over by party president Rajnath Singh here tomorrow.
was killed and Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surinder Kumar Kalia injured when the car in which they were travelling rammed into a tree near Milwan village, 22 km from Pathankot, this afternoon when the driver tried to overtake a trailer.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa has said the party was open to an alliance with like-minded units that wanted to defeat the
SAD-BJP coalition in the next parliamentary elections.
Gurdaspur, September 22
Chandigarh, September 22
Patiala, September 22