|
|
|
|
|
Bittu Aulakh shared stage with SAD leaders weeks before arrest
Malwa’s third thermal power plant is state’s fourth
|
|
|
Rajpura plant to be opened on CM’s b’day
Fazilka MC leaves 270 plot owners in the lurch
HC: Remove illegal hotels in Golden Temple vicinity
BJP ministers spar at traders’ meet
Transporters’ rivalry turns ugly
Armed goons attack taxi drivers in Nawanshahr, 4 hurt
Cleaning drains: CM warns officials against lapses
Strike on, 20,000 SSA teachers await wages
State to organise 1,500 free cancer check-up camps
Pakistan hands over Sarabjit's belongings
2,950 acres of land in Fatehgarh Sahib grabbed
0001 goes for Rs 3.5 lakh in Hoshiarpur
HC notice to two varsities
|
Bittu Aulakh shared stage with SAD leaders weeks before arrest
When Davinder Singh Lalli (Dhalla) was re-inducted into the SAD on October 27, Bittu Aulakh had shared the dais with senior Akali leaders. In the customary photograph of senior leaders raising their hands, he is seen in the company of state Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, his OSD Talbir Singh and state Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike. Also seen raising their hands were state Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and his father-in-law Kanwarjit Singh Sandhu (Pahalwan), a well known transporter of Mumbai, and MLA Harmit Singh. Though it was a party function organised by the SAD and not a government function, the press release and photographs were sent to mediapersons by the Department of Public Relations, Tarn Taran. Bikram Singh Majithia is the state Information & Public Relations Minister. When contacted, Majithia told The Tribune he was invited to the event, but it was not his business to keep a check on who was attending the event. "Moreover, Aulakh had no past record. I am shocked and surprised over the Opposition’s behaviour. The fact of the matter is Aulakh was equally close to the Congress. It is an open secret as to whom he helped in the last elections. There are a number of photographs in which he could be seen hobnobbing with Congress leaders." Majithia said the Congress must remember that it was the Punjab Police that arrested Bittu Aulakh and put him behind bars. Ranike, when contacted, said on public occasions anyone could stand beside leaders and get photographed. On Bittu's links with the SAD, he said he was not aware of whether or not he was in the party. The involvement and arrest of Bittu Aulakh, who enjoyed considerable clout in political circles in and around Amritsar, has also triggered a spate of allegations and counter-allegations among senior SAD leaders. He was considered close to Khadoor Sahib MP Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, his MLA-son Amarpal Singh Bony Ajnala and senior Akali leader and former MLA Veer Singh Lopoke at different points in times. Incidentally, Bittu started his political career from the Congress in 1997, but later shifted his loyalty to the SAD.
|
|
Malwa’s third thermal power plant is state’s fourth
Banawala (Mansa), Nov 25 With the inauguration of the unit at the Banawala thermal plant at Mansa, Malwa is now home to the state’s oldest and youngest thermal power plant. Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant at Bathinda is the state’s oldest plant, followed by Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant at Ghanauli (Ropar), Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat (Bathinda) and the fourth one inaugurated today. With a total capacity of 1,980 MW (three units of 660 MW each), the Vedanta Group aims to add one unit each after a period of three months, thereby completing commissioning over the next six months. The plant will give power at Rs 2.86 a unit to the state power department for 25 years. The state power department will sell power to the consumers at increased rates. CM Parkash Singh Badal claimed Punjab would soon be power-surplus and will supply electricity to consumers at the cheapest rates in the country. Vedanta Group chairman Anil Aggarwal said Rs 11,000 crore had been invested in this super-critical thermal power plant.
|
|||
|
Rajpura plant to be opened on CM’s b’day
Rajpura, November 25 "Synchronisation with the National Grid will take some time, but the plant will start generating 700 MW during the transition period," said project manager JS Gill. With the SAD promising surplus power during the assembly elections, its leadership intends to cash in on the successful completion of power projects to reap dividends during the Lok Sabha poll. The Punjab Government plans to hold a rally near the plant site that will be attended by the state SAD and BJP top leadership. With the Railways yet to clear the rail line for the Rajpura plant, coal will be brought via road till alternative arrangements are made.
|
|||
|
Fazilka MC leaves 270 plot owners in the lurch
Fazilka, November 25 The MC had planned to carve out the residential colony as a part of extension of the town. About 270 residential plots were sold from 1997 to 2012 in four auctions in an area of 123 kanals and 15 marlas (approximately 15 acres). The council earned Rs 8 crore in the auctions. However, it did not spend any amount on the development of the colony. “I purchased a plot for constructing a house in the colony but my dream has gone sour due to the apathy of the MC. They have deceived us all by not giving details of the demarcation and possession of our plots,” said Sandeep Kumar, who had purchased a plot here. In a letter submitted to the Fazilka Deputy Commissioner (DC), buyers Kuldeep Singh, Ashok Kumar and Harish Kumar stated, “The MC authorities either diversified the earned amount or misappropriated it as they did not spend it for the declared purpose and hence, the matter needs to be probed.” While auctioning the plots, the civic body had declared that all the basic amenities would be provided in the proposed colony. The authorities also levied development charges on buyers. However, the MC failed to even demarcate the auctioned plots. Being a low-lying area, a huge chunk of the auctioned area remained submerged in a big pool of water for a long time. The plot owners’ continuous pleas for demarcation of land fell on deaf ears. They are running from pillar to post to get the possession of their plots. After completion of the civic body’s tenure, over two dozen plot owners sent a memorandum to the DC seeking his intervention about two months ago. The DC acted swiftly and got the stagnant water drained out with sustained efforts spanning over one month. The DC office has also issued a letter dated November 19 to the Executive Officer, Municipal Council, directing him to demarcate and give possession of plots to the owners by December 13, 2013. When contacted, The Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Fazilka, Gurdas Singh, said the land would be demarcated and the plot owners would be given possession of their land in a week.
|
|||
|
HC: Remove illegal hotels in Golden Temple vicinity
Chandigarh, November 25 The development is significant as 148 illegal constructions have so far been identified. Present in the courtroom, Amritsar Municipal Commissioner DPS Kharbanda told the court that notices had already been issued to the violators under Section 269 (1) of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1976. Taking up the matter, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih observed that illegal hotels and guesthouses in Amritsar were an impediment to the Galiara project near the Golden Temple. The Bench called for an action taken report by February 3 next year. Already, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced a package for the development of the holy city. This includes the release of Rs 70-crore grant to beautify the surroundings of the Golden Temple under the Galiara project. During the hearing of a public interest litigation against illegal constructions around the Golden Temple, an additional affidavit filed by Amritsar Municipal Commissioner Senior Town Planner Hemant Batra was placed before the Bench. The affidavit stated that teams, headed by three surveyors, had been deputed for physical verification and compilation of reports after going through the site plan of the buildings concerned. The teams had inspected every hotel before the submission of reports. A compilation of the reports revealed fresh construction in 31 buildings for setting up hotel, guest house, sarai and commercial shops. The High Court had last month directed the Punjab Government and the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to submit a report on action taken against officials responsible for allowing hotels and guesthouses to come up on the periphery of the Galiara project and for delaying action against such hotels in violation of municipal building bylaws. A public interest litigation in the regard has been filed by Sarbjit Singh.
Officials guilty
|
|||
|
Efforts on to revive dying ‘beri’
Amritsar, November 25 The tree located on the banks of the holy sarovar now has only trunk and branches left. Though experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have been maintaining the ancient "ber" trees at the complex, their efforts on Dukhbhanjani Beri are yet to bear fruit. Talking to The Tribune, PAU expert Dr PS Aulakh said they had given fertiliser and sprayed pesticide on Dukhbhanjani Beri twice a couple of months ago, but it had not shown any result. He said they were hopeful that the leaves would come on the tree in the next season. He said if that didn't happen there was no hope. He said they had freed the tree's surroundings of marble flooring to provide it proper air and water. But, it had suddenly started wilting, he said. Experts say they had earlier found a part of its roots chopped which might have hampered the necessary intake for its growth. SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh said they were also planning to demolish the building adjacent to the second part of the "beri" so that it could also get required air and water. He said the rooms where "akhand path" were held under the "beri" were being shifted.
Sacred tree
|
|
BJP ministers spar at traders’ meet
Amritsar, November 25 Both ministers were in the city to address the concerns of the trader community over various issues, including property tax. Joshi initially took over the dais and appealed to the participants to settle down. He then started addressing the gathering and went on to do so for around half an hour. Towards the end of his speech, he admitted to have taken up a lot of time even as senior leaders (like Mittal) were waiting. Joshi then announced that Tikshan Sood, the Chief Minister’s political adviser, would address the gathering followed by Mittal. As soon as Joshi ended his speech, Mittal began speaking. Joshi reminded him to wait for his turn. So when Sood finished his speech, Mittal started speaking from his chair on the dais. That very moment, state BJP chief Kamal Sharma entered the venue. Joshi announced Kamal Sharma would address the gathering, as per protocol. An infuriated Mittal demanded to know why he had been called to the event. He said neither he nor the district chief would speak and told Joshi to go ahead with his plan. Later, when Sharma began addressing the traders, Mittal got up and left the dais, sending the BJP camp in a tizzy. Some BJP leaders and mediapersons followed him. As it turned out, Mittal had gone to the washroom and returned soon after. Joshi played down the incident saying Mittal interacted with the traders after the BJP chief’s address. Mittal too denied any spat and said he just wanted to interact with the traders first as they were getting restless. Kamal Sharma said there was no clash between the two ministers, but just a difference of opinion.
Tempers run
high
|
|
|
Transporters’ rivalry turns ugly
Abohar, November 25 They allegedly damaged office furniture, a canter and a Bolero van of a union office-bearer. The assailants fired into the air before decamping with cash. While fleeing they targeted a shop run by Rakesh Setia alias Bantu and opened fire, witnesses said. At this, some residents staged a protest dharna on the highway. StationHouse Officer (SHO) Balkar Singh persuaded the protesters to lift the dharna assuring stern action against the culprits. A few persons injured in the violence were admitted to the Civil Hospital. Union office-bearers had last week intercepted a few canters and stopped the loading of kinnows without the route booking through the union. Prior to that, office-bearers of the Truck Operators Union had forced some tractor-trailer operators to unload goods.The office of the Truck Union had remained closed for a
few weeks owing to the tussle between SAD and BJP supporters to control unions. A president of a truck union was killed a few years back. Recently, the Deputy Commissioner had to intervene to streamline the working of local Truck Union by forming a 10-member executive committee. Presidents of canter unions have been frequently changed by ruling alliance leaders in the past six years.The unions allow carriers to load goods only after the requisite "fee", also known as "jazia", is paid. The city police today said that Balkar Singh, his son Sher Singh, brother Harjinder Singh, Bakshish Singh, Randhir Singh, Raj Kumar Sidana and 12 others had been booked under Sections 307, 392, 436, 324, 323, 506, 427, 148 and 149 of the IPC and the Arms Act. Efforts were on to arrest them.
|
|
|
Armed goons attack taxi drivers in Nawanshahr, 4 hurt
Nawanshahr, November 25 Four taxi drivers, identified as Surjit Singh of Sujjon village, Jasvir Singh of Palli Jhikki village, Manjinder Singh of Kahma village and Roshan Lal of Gorakhpur village, were injured in the attack. Surjit Singh and Jasvir Singh received serious injuries and
were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. Agitated, the taxi drivers blocked the traffic at the Ambedkar Chowk near the bus stand. The blockade was lifted after Superintendent of Police (SP) Gagan Ajit Singh reached the site and assured the taxi drivers of strict action against the miscreants. A few days ago, the taxi drivers had intervened to resolve a dispute between two private bus companies over route timings. It is said that one of the bus firms had engineered the attack in vengeance. A case had been registered and efforts were on to nab the accused, said the police. The taxi drivers had identified one of the miscreants as Nachhattar Singh of Kapurthala, the police said.
The motive
|
|
|
Cleaning drains: CM warns officials against lapses
Muktsar, November 25 As per a letter recently circulated to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in the state by Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Sarvesh Kaushal, the Chief Minister wants to form district committees consisting DC, Chief Agriculture Officer, Executive Engineer and village sarpanches for inspection of all the execution sites. The DCs have been made answerable in case a complaint is lodged regarding unsatisfactory cleaning and de-silting of drains during the Chief Minister’s sangat darshan or otherwise. The district committee has been told to have a record of photographs of drains before cleaning, after 50 per cent completion and after 100 per cent completion of the process. “The visits of the committee shall also be photographed and digitally preserved. This shall be a pre-requisite to payment to the executing agency,” reads the letter. The Chief Engineer, Vigilance and Monitoring, Irrigation, has been directed to conduct at least one surprise inspection in all districts and submit his report to the Chief Engineer (Canals) and the DCs concerned.
Directions issued
|
|
|
Strike on, 20,000 SSA teachers await wages
Sangrur, November 25 Since the state government and the union have not been able to reach a compromise, the functioning of the SSA has been adversely affected.
The union members have been demanding regular pay scales. The pen-down strike of the members of the SSA)/RMSA Non-Teaching Employees Union today entered its 36th day. Besides, several lakh students from Class I to VIII could not get free uniform from their schools. Due to the agitation, the funds could not be transferred to the schools. Jatin Mehta, district president of the union, said ever since the district education authorities had stopped them from marking attendance on November 15, they had been protesting every day outside the office of the Director General School Education (DGSE), Punjab. He said a deputation of the union had met the Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka and secretary-rank officers of Education Department but to no avail. District Education Officer (Elementary), Sangrur Sher Singh, in charge of the SSA in the district, admitted the SSA teachers and non-teaching employees had not been paid for the month of October. Ludhiana: The Non-Teaching Employees working under SSA/RMSA will campaign against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the National Capital in the run-up to the December 4 New Delhi elections. Four of the SAD’s candidates are fighting the elections. Ashish Kumar, general secretary of the SSA/RMSA Non-Teaching Employees Association, said, “We have prepared our pamphlets and will leave for Delhi within a day or two. We will campaign against the SAD there. We want to inform the masses of the party’s high-handedness.” He said they would protest against the SAD in Hari Nagar, Kalkaji, Shahdara and Rajouri Garden, where the party is fielding its candidates, if it does not accept their demands. They would also sit on a hunger strike at Mohali today. Over 1,400 non-teaching employees are working across the state.
Collateral damage n Due to this, several lakh students from Class I to VIII could not get free uniform from their schools
|
|
|
State to organise 1,500 free cancer check-up camps
Chandigarh, November 25 Emphasising the need to generate awareness on cancer, Dr Sidhu said at least 2,500 persons would be examined in each camp. Those found affected with the disease would be given adequate medical guidance. She also said the government would achieve the target of examining the entire state population by 2015. She said the government was working on a Bill to check private practice by government doctors. She said: "We are consulting doctors and medical agencies to put in place an official document guiding service conditions and the related check mechanism so that no one objects to the policy when it is implemented".
Tabs on pvt practice
|
|
|
Pakistan hands over Sarabjit's belongings
Islamabad, November 25 "We received the items today. We are making arrangements for them to be sent back to India," a senior official of the Indian High Commission here said. In August, Indian officials formally requested Pakistan's Foreign Office to facilitate the return of Sarabjit's clothes and other belongings, which were retained by prison authorities in Lahore, to his family. The administration of Kot Lakhpat Jail had transferred his personal belongings to the Interior Ministry last month. The items include a copy of the Quran, three holy books in Hindi, a rosary, five sets of clothes, a sleeping mattress, a pitcher, a blanket and shoes. — PTI
|
|
|
Missing Phagwara student’s body may have been found
Phagwara, November 25 Sandeep Narang, husband of the deceased, informed her parents on the phone that the Australian police first called him on Sunday but sent him back. He was again called today to identify a body retrieved from the river-bed. Sandeep’s father Mohan Narang told this correspondent that his son was not shown the body, which was badly decomposed. He was told that DNA and other tests would reveal the identity of the dead person. Natasha left for Australia with her husband on October 28 last year to pursue PhD in education at the University of Tasmania. She disappeared on October 4 this year.
|
|
|
2,950 acres of land in Fatehgarh Sahib grabbed
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 25 Of the 10,837 acres of panchayat land, more than 2,950 acres have allegedly been grabbed by influential persons. The remaining 8,192 acres have been leased out in various villages in Amloh, Sirhind, Khera, Bassi Pathana and Khamano blocks of the district. As many as 36 cases with regard to 193 acres of panchayat land have been pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court while another case pertaining to 19 acres has been pending in the Apex Court. District Development and Panchayat Officer Jagwinderjit Singh said the department was striving hard to free the village land from illegal possession.
|
|
|
0001 goes for Rs 3.5 lakh in Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur, Novemember 25 He said the number 0001 of the series was sold for Rs 3.5 lakh to Vikas Sehdev of Hoshiarpur. The number 0010 was sold for Rs 80,000 to Milanpreet Singh of Chandigarh; 0011 for Rs 25,000 to Anuradha; 0017 for Rs 46,000; 0047 was sold for Rs. 21,000 to Jaswinder Singh.
|
|
HC notice to two varsities
Chandigarh, November 25 Taking up a public interest litigation filed by RD Anand, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih issued a notice of motion to both the universities, the State of Punjab and the NCTE. The petitioner told the court that the universities were misleading students joining these courses. He alleged that Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University was offering courses in Bachelor of Physical Education and Master of Physical Education without NCTE recognition. Also, Guru Kashi University had not got NCTE recognition for Bachelor of Physical Education, Master of Education and Master of Arts, Education.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Amritsar, November 25
Fazilka, November 25
Amritsar, November 25
