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Regularisation
of illegal colonies
Only 5 colonisers apply in Patiala
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13,000 applications received in Jalandhar
6,152 apply in 4 border districts of Majha region
Cong to approach Shinde against ‘partisan’ officers
Ecologists fear for dolphins in Beas
Dy CM blames Centre for costly fertilisers
Gypsum import on despite strike call
SGPC chief Makkar’s son dies at PGI
Govt prepares for show of strength
NRHM staff begin pen-down strike
State seeks Centre’s help to strengthen jails
Five killed in Ferozepur bus accident
12 arrested for peddling drugs
Assistant Registrar of Co-op Societies arrested for graft
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Regularisation
of illegal colonies
Chandigarh, October 7 At a meeting held today to review the policy, the state government exempted all the plots and colonies developed before 1995 from regularisation. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. It has been decided that the first registered sale deed of the plot would be the basis for charges. It has also been clarified that in case of colonies, the year of sale of 50 per cent area or 50 per cent units would be the basis for establishing the time of its setting up. After October 25, plot holders and colonisers can still get their plots/colonies regularised by paying a compounding fee till November 5. Plot holders will have to pay a compounding fee of 20 per cent and colonisers 50 per cent. Sukhbir directed the officials concerned to accept forms both manually and online. He said all plot holders in the below poverty line (BPL) category could get their plots up to 100 sq yds regularised free of cost. In Moga, members of the District Bar Association held a protest against “hefty” fee being charged for regularising illegal colonies. The lawyers’ body urged the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice to take suo moto cognisance of the “unjust” order of the state government. Colonisers have called the new collector rates "unfair" and said that these were not in consonance with rates at which they had purchased properties.
Govt misses target
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Only 5 colonisers apply in Patiala
Patiala, October 7 The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation managed to generate a revenue of more than Rs 23 crore. There are around 9,000 illegal properties in and around the city. In Ropar, 1,156 applications, including 79 from colonisers, were received. In Sangrur, the regularisation policy evoked a poor response. Sources said there were 203 unauthorised colonies within the municipal limits and 143 outside the municipal limits in Sangrur district. However, promoters of only 56 colonies within the municipal limits and 12 outside have applied for
regularisation. There are thousands of houses and plots in these unauthorised colonies. But only 1,239 plot holders have applied. In Barnala, there are 73 illegal colonies within municipal limits . Promoters of only 11 colonies have applied for regularisation by depositing Rs 3.25 lakh as composition fee. Besides, 1,000 plot holders have applied to the municipal council, Barnala. They have deposited Rs 1.5 crore fee. Inputs by Aman Sood (Patiala), Puneet Pal Singh Gill (Ludhiana), Arun Sharma (Ropar) and Sushil Goyal
(Sangrur)
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13,000 applications received in Jalandhar
Jalandhar, October 7 A huge rush was witnessed at the Jalandhar Development Authority
(JDA) and the local Municipal Corporation, the two designated points for submitting applications under the policy for regularising unapproved colonies. Corporation Senior Town Planner Trilok Singh said, “We have received around 13,000 applications. Fifty-two colonisers are among the applicants.” There are 323 illegal colonies within the civic body’s limits. Chief Administrator
(JDA) Jaskiran Singh said, “Around 850 plot-holders and building owners and 25 colonisers have so far applied to us for
regularisation.” As many as 450 colonies are approved in the areas falling under JDA jurisdiction. A similar rush was witnessed in the neighbouring districts of
Hoshiarpur, Kapurthlala and Nawanshahr district of the Doaba region.
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6,152 apply in 4 border districts of Majha region
Amritsar, October 7 There are 887 unapproved colonies in these four districts. A maximum of 3,897 applications were received from Amritsar, which has 405 illegal localities. A heavy rush was witnessed at certain centres. An applicant, Kulwinder Singh Bhatia, who was in a queue at one such centre, said he faced much difficultly in depositing the application owing to non-availability of forms and refusal of the centre to accept cash after 2 pm. Another applicant Vikram Kumar said the government gave limited time to the public to submit the applications. He said the time limit must be extended to accommodate more people.
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Cong gen secy Ahmed rules out pre-poll pact
Ferozepur, October 7 Ahmed said his party would take up the issue of the aggravating law and order situation and the “witch-hunt” of Congress workers with the Union Home Ministry. He instructed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Partap Singh Bajwa to prepare a list of “vendetta cases”. He alleged that the polce was victimising Congress workers at the behest of SAD-BJP leaders. Ahmed said the Congress would announce the names of Lok Sabha candidates in the state well in time.The list of PPCC office-bearers would also be announced soon. Ahmed said Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Sunil Jakhar had yesterday submitted a report on the outburst by Rajasansi MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria against the PPCC chief. He said appropriate action would be taken in consultation with the party high command. Ahmed said the party had taken cognisance of reports on former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar inviting Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to inaugurate an old-age home at Jeevanwal in Gurdaspur, ignoring his own party MLAs and the PPCC chief. “I spoke to him and he has clarified things” Ahmed said, adding that the party would formulate a policy on inviting leaders and workers to various functions and fora so that such unsavoury incidents did not recur.
On ‘vendetta’ cases against Cong men
Kang coordinator for Rahul’s rally
Groupism resurfaces
Factionalism between Congress groups led by former Congress minister Hans Raj Josan and Youth Congress leader Jagdeep Kamboj alias Goldy came to the fore at Jalalabad. Shakeel Ahmed and Partap Singh Bajwa’s cavalcade was virtually gheroed by Goldy’s supporters near the Jalalabad bus stand. He pleaded that the leaders had tea at his residence. As Ahmed and Bajwa turned down the request, 200 Youth Congress workers gheroed their car. The leaders had no choice but to relent.
Unruly scenes
Jalalabad Block Congress Committee president Raj Baksh Kamboj, welcoming the Congress stalwarts, had a dig at the Youth Congress faction, accusing it of trying to capture the stage. Unruly scenes were witnessed on the stage thereafter. Former minister Josan and Goldy had a spat even as Shakeel Ahmed addressed the gathering.
Bajwa reprimands
As Pradesh Congress chief Bajwa addressed the gathering, he warned the warring factions, asking them to maintain discipline. He reprimanded them and threatened to initiate disciplinary action. This subdued the warring groups.
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Cong to approach Shinde against ‘partisan’ officers
Fazilka, October 7 Ahmed admitted that wrong distribution of the party ticket had resulted in the Congress defeat in the 2012 assembly poll. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Jakhar, Congress MLAs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Karan Kaur Brar, Ranbir Singh Nabha, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and Parminder Singh Pinki were present on the
occasion. Partap Singh Bajwa, PPCC chief, said the Congress would place the issue of failure of the Punjab Government to provide jobs to the youth, as promised in its poll manifesto, before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for making “false promises.” He alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had been purchasing votes since 1957. He said the SAD-BJP Government’s wrong policies had left the state bankrupt. “The SAD, which claimed to be the champion of the Panth, has denigrated to such an the extent that it is looking for brand ambassadors in film stars like Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor,” he said. CM: Cong panicky Chandigarh: Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal on Monday asked the PPCC leadership to stop openly urging leading national and international business and industrial houses not to invest in Punjab. “I am shocked to see Congress leaders getting panicky on seeing the economic resurgence of Punjab. The Congress is crestfallen that even the RBI has now rated Punjab as one of the three best investment destinations in the country. So they have launched a massive propaganda campaign to dissuade investors from coming to Punjab,” said the Chief Minister in a statement. He said, the Congress, sensing the economic tide turning in favour of Punjab with big houses like the TATAs showing a keen interest in investing in the state, the Congress leadership “has gone nervous and sleepless.” — TNS
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Ecologists fear for dolphins in Beas
Chandigarh, October 7 The World Wildlife Federation has put their number around 15 to 20, up from two to four when the dolphins were spotted for the first time in the river some time back. Compared to the Beas, their population is more than 1,100 in the Indus in Pakistan. Though the rise in population is a welcome sign, activities like unchecked use of boats and fishing through nets could prove disastrous, say wildlife lovers. The recent boat capsize tragedy in Tarn Taran has brought into focus the unregulated use of boats by villagers. Sources say almost every household across the Beas owned a boat of its own. The federation has shared its concerns regarding the safety of the dolphins with the Punjab Wildlife authorities. It has demanded either a bio-diversity heritage site or a conservation reserve status to the 85-km stretch of the Beas to protect bio-diversity in that region. Such a move may also enable the state government to seek more funds for the purpose from the World Wildlife Federation and other bodies active in the field. Says Geetanjali, federation senior project officer who is working on a research project on dolphins and migratory birds: “Apart from the Beas, dolphins are also found in the Ganges and the Brahmaputra.” Gurmeet Singh, former Chief Wildlife Warden and Punjab Wildlife Board ex-member, points out: “Boats generally do not pose any threat to dolphins as these are used to co-existence. But, the laying of fishing nets surely poses a threat.” He says there is a need to keep a check on human activity in the river. “Licences should be issued for plying boats. There should also be clear instructions that no one will touch the dolphins,” says Gurmeet. Besides, the conservationists have stressed on the need to maintain the quality of water in the river.
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Dy CM blames Centre for costly fertilisers
Chandigarh, October 7 In a statement issued today, Sukhbir said instead of taking steps to increase production, the Congress-led UPA opted to decontrol the sector, thus putting a burden on poor farmers. “The Centre’s move to decontrol the fertiliser sector led to a substantial hike in the prices of DAP and urea,” he said. Quoting a CAG report, Sukhbir said 475.29 lakh tonnes of fertilisers were imported in the past nine years and Rs 79,743 crore was given by way of subsidies. He said had the Centre assured supply of uninterrupted natural gas to the fertiliser industry, the subsidy could have been saved and utilised for the welfare of farmers.
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Gypsum import on despite strike call
Amritsar, October 7 Leading importer Iqbal Singh Bedi said they had stopped gypsum import but the trucks in queue on the other side could not be prevented from crossing over to India now. However, sources said, the traders were still mulling over their next move and the final call regarding stopping the imports would only be taken after October 15. Sources said the traders appeared divided on their stand against the storage tariff hike implemented at the ICP by the Land Port Authority of India. While some of them were firm on stopping imports, others wanted to continue while adopting a wait-and-watch approach, they said.
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SGPC chief Makkar’s son dies at PGI
He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. He was the youngest of three siblings. The cremation will take place at the Model Town Extension crematorium in Ludhiana at 11 am tomorrow, said family sources. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed grief over the death. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia also mourned the death. Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh expressed sympathies with the bereaved family. Raghujit Singh Virk, SGPC senior vice-president, Kewal Singh Badal, junior vice-president, and Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, general secretary, also expressed grief at the
untimely death.
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Valmiki Jayanti
Patiala, October 7 Highly placed sources said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had been meeting senior SAD leaders and halqa (area)chiefs to assign them responsibilities for the October 18 function. “Leaders in some constituencies have been asked to arrange for 20 to 30 buses to ferry supporters,” the sources said. Senior Akali leaders told The Tribune that while SAD leaders had been told to ensure a large turnout at the function, “district transport officers have been asked to arrange for buses to ferry workers.” Sanaur halqa chief Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu said every Akali leader had been told to ferry supporters in at least 30 buses. Asked as to who would arrange for the buses, he said the Patiala Deputy Commissioner would hold a meeting on October 14 to discuss “all such issues.” Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra said efforts were on to make the Amritsar function a grand success. “We will make sure that over two lakh workers attend the function,” he added.
Panel formed for Ravidass memorial
Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has nominated eight executive members to a committee that would oversee the setting up Guru Ravidass memorial. Among the nominees are Sohan Singh Thandal, Som Parkash (both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries), Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, Prof Jasvir Singh Sambar, Dr Kulwant Kaur and Dr Avtar Singh Issewal, a government spokesperson said.
— TNS
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NRHM staff begin pen-down strike
Sangrur, October 7 Staff nurses working at the 24x7 health centres did not conduct deliveries and ANMs in dispensaries did not vaccinate the newborn or undertake post-natal checkup. District president of the NRHM Employees Union Amarjit Singh said if their demands were not met soon, they would hold rallies at all district headquarters on Thursday. He said their main demand was regularising the services of the NRHM staff. The other demands included implementation of the notification issued in 2011 to regularise the services of the ANMs, appointment of NRHM employees in the Health Department against vacant posts and cancellation of the tender issued to bring NRHM employees under a company. The district president threatened to hold rallies at Bathinda and Lambi to force the state government to accept their demands. He said the NRHM employees, working on a contractual basis, would no longer tolerate “exploitation.”
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Illegal mining: Govt to act tough
Chandigarh, October 7 Mittal said the issues, problems and grievances of the industrial sector would be given a priority. He said he would industry friendly atmosphere for economic growth of the state. Mittal alleged despite attempts of the Central Government to scuttle Punjab's industrial development, the state was witnessing massive growth in this sector, which could be assessed by the recent visit of Tata group officials and interest shown by other big industrial houses. Mittal earlier held the portfolio of Health and Family Welfare. He was made Industries Minister after the state BJP reshuffled portfolios of its ministers on September 24.
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State seeks Centre’s help to strengthen jails
Chandigarh, October 7 As a petition filed in public interest on the issue came up for resumed hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the state informed the Bench that a formal proposal had been sent to the Centre. A High Court Bench had taken suo motu cognizance of the problem of security in Punjab jails after the death of an inmate in Kapurthala in a group clash inside the jail premises.
— TNS
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Five killed in Ferozepur bus accident
Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred as the bus driver tried to overtake the truck. Three of the deceased have been identified as Kulwinder Kaur, her daughter Pawandeep Kaur (6), and Narinder Kaur. Kulwinder’s husband Gurjit Singh, along with their two other children, was trailing the bus on his motorcycle. More than 10 passengers sustained injuries. They have been hospitalised. Among the injured is Harcharan Singh, deceased Narinder Kaur’s husband. They were on their way to Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. “We wanted to thank the Almighty as our dream to move abroad had finally come true. Our visas had just arrived,” said, Harcharan.
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12 arrested for peddling drugs
The police seized a .315 bore pistol, three live cartidges, iron rods, daggers, four stolen motorcycles, 500 gm of opium, 14 gm of smack, 10 gm of heroin, 52 kg of poppy husk and 33,000 intoxicant tablets from their possession. Gurmreet Singh Chauhan, Senior Superintendent of Police, said the accused had been arrested from a cattle mandi in Nabi Pur village. Those arrested include Ranbir Singh of Badochi Khurd, Vatanvir Singh of Sidhwan, Manpreet Singh of Madhopur, Lakhbir Singh of Majri Sodian, Gurpreet Singh of Bhamarsi Jer, Sukhwinder Singh of Century Enclave, Patiala, and Tarsem Singh of Badochi Kalan. The police also arrested drug peddlers Manjit Singh alias Raju of Hamayunpur, Sirhind, and Nirdosh Kumar of Sirhind city and seized 500 gm of opium from their possession. The police also arrested Manpreet Singh alias Mana with 1,100 intoxicant tablets, Mohit Sharma of Bhatmajra with 10 gm of heroin and Baghel Singh of Khanna for possessing 52 kg of poppy husk.
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Assistant Registrar of Co-op Societies arrested for graft
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 7 Deputy Superintendent of Police (Vigilance, Patiala) KD Sharma, who led the operation, said the accused was nabbed in the presence of two witnesses. Sharma said the accused had demanded Rs 35,000 as bribe from Kulwinder Singh, the former president of Harlalpur Cooperative Society, for holding elections to the village society. The deal, however, was fixed at Rs 15,000. In his complaint, Kulwinder alleged that Rs that 5,000 was paid on October 3 while the rest of the amount was to be paid today. Kulwinder said elections to the society were due and a meeting was convened on September 13. However, no official from the Assistant Registrar’s Office turned up for the meeting to hold the elections. He said when he took up the matter with the Assistant Registrar, the latter demanded the bribe. The Vigilance officer said the department had video-graphed the entire episode. He said a case had been registered and raids were being conducted at the accused’s houses in Sirhind and Chandigarh. The Assistant Registrar, however, claimed he had passed orders for holding the elections on September 13. He said he had even deputed two inspectors, Surinderpal Singh and Baldev Singh, for the process.
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Ludhiana, October 7
Ferozepur, October 7
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 7