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Pakistan Premier Sharif’s native village Jatti Umra prays for peace
Hospital route proving ‘safe exit’ for prisoners
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Govt losing revenue on property tax, says Cong
State fails to utilise canal renovation fund
PU hikes fee by 5% in affiliated colleges
Want Amarinder back as PPCC chief, says Singla
Soni reiterates faith in Capt’s leadership
Sever all ties with SAD, Bajwa to BJP
SAD will have major say at Centre: MP
Manpreet on a thanksgiving tour despite defeat
Akali Dal reminds BJP of coalition dharma
No road connectivity for Ropar village
4,000 teachers unpaid for five months
Film on first Asian-American Congressman Dalip Saund
Keshopur Chamb wetland turns ‘no man’s land’
BBMB's move to restrict info on net opposed
Promote low-cost pvt schools: UK prof
Baba Bakala DSP shunted out for drug trade ‘links’
Govt extends registration date for travel agents
Steps to check falling water table start paying off
300 of 393 police stations lack toilets for women staff
Mid-day meal workers protest
Sunday vegetable market: Boon for a few, bane for others
Banks heap insult on debt-ridden farmers
Stamp duty collection up in Muktsar
Punjabi shot at in Philippines
65-year-old farmer dies in clash over land dispute
2 cops held in extortion case
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Pakistan Premier Sharif’s native village Jatti Umra prays for peace
Tarn Taran, May 25 The residents held a special prayer at the village gurdwara today. They performed ardas for lasting peace and amity between the people of India and Pakistan. Sweets too were distributed on the occasion. The residents had rolled out the red carpet for Shahbaz Sharif, younger brother of Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Pakistan Punjab, during his visit to the village in December last year, along with his family members. Massa Singh, a village elder, who had close ties with members of the Sharif family before Partition, said India should strengthen its ties with Pakistan. Village sarpanch Dilbag Singh Sandhu said but for the stringent security measures at Modi's function, a delegation would have called on Sharif in New Delhi and asked him to visit Jatti Umra on his way back to Pakistan Balwinder Singh, another village elder, said close ties between India and Pakistan alone would guarantee peace in the sub-continent. He said the people of the country shared a strong cultural bond which should be nurtured. Corridor demand Amritsar: Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to meet Narendra Modi on May 27 for bilateral talks, the Dal Khalsa wants the two leaders to discuss a corridor for Sikh pilgrims from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib, 4 km into Pakistan. The party's senior leader, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, said the people of Amritsar were hopeful that Sharif would find time to visit his hometown in the near future. “The upkeep of Nankana Sahib and other shrines and the setting up of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan by Nawaz Sharif in April 1999 are remarkable feats and a true example of Sikh-Muslim affinity,” he said. He said the demand for Kartarpur Sahib corridor was first raised in 1998. He urged Modi and Sharif to take up this long-pending demand of the Sikhs and also open the Wagah border. Popular sentiment But for the stringent security at Modi's function, a village delegation would have called on Nawaz Sharif in New Delhi and invited him to Jatti
Umra Close ties between India and Pakistan alone can guarantee peace in the sub-continent
. The upkeep of Nankana Sahib and other shrines and the setting up of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan by Nawaz Sharif in April 1999 are remarkable feats and a true example of Sikh-Muslim
affinity
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Hospital route proving ‘safe exit’ for prisoners
Faridkot, May 25 There are many cases where convicts and undertrials have escaped from the Faridkot Central Jail through the hospital route. The rising incidents show that hospitals are turning a convenient place for the criminals to make good their escape. Under the garb of a medical problem, prisoners and undertrials are admitted to hospitals from where they easily dodge police and security guards and flee. There are also allegations that prisoners have been getting admitted to hospitals on the pretext of some disease or injury to enjoy a comfortable stay in the company of their family members and relatives. Two doctors were recently booked by the police under Sections 465, 467, 468, 471 IPC (preparing false documents) and under the Prevention of Corruption Act for preparing dubious medical certificates to get jail inmates admitted to the Faridkot Civil Hospital. The case was registered after the Faridkot SP (D) conducted an inquiry on the directions of the District and Session Judge. The court had received reports that the accused had been availing the benefits of hospital stay along with their family members on fake medical grounds in connivance with certain doctors. Two independent probes found doctors guilty of helping an accused in a criminal case to escape by preparing a fake medical report. During his indoor treatment at the hospital, the jail inmate had stayed with his family members with all comforts, revealed the report. Though as per police record, two police security guards were deputed with this "ailing" jail inmate, both these were nowhere around the accused when the latter fled. Hoodwinking police
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Govt losing revenue on property tax, says Cong
Chandigarh, May 25 Party spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira said: "The SAD-BJP Government had not withdrawn the tax in the state despite opposition from various quarters". He said: "Official figures have indicated that the public exchequer has in fact lost Rs 100 crore in its first year of imposition. As per the data, Rs 210 crore had been recovered in the state as property tax till March 31, which is Rs 100 crore less than the routine collection of annual house tax. The drop indicated that it was an unwise and unpopular decision of the Badal Government." The Congress has asked the government to revert to the old house tax system. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Brahm Mohindra today urged the SAD-BJP Government to withdraw the property tax. He said with the NDA Government taking over at the Centre, the state government would have no difficulty in getting the property tax abolished. On the extension of the last date to file property tax till June 30, Mohindra said: "Rather than extending the last date, the government should abolish it." Mohindra asked CM Parkash Singh Badal that instead of seeking a ministerial berth in the NDA Cabinet, he must bargain for an economic package for the state. "I hope that you will show some statesmanship and instead of seeking a ministerial berth, you will ask for an economic package for Punjab.”
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State fails to utilise canal renovation fund
Abohar, May 25 The Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS) today said the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Rajasthan, who had been saying "achhe din aane wale hain", should now concentrate on planning comprehensive renovation work. A KSS team, which visited these canals and feeders led by its spokesman Subhash Sehgal, said the SAD-BJP government in Punjab and the BJP government in Rajasthan were being widely blamed for their anti-farmer attitude. With Narendra Modi-led government taking oath in New Delhi on Monday, Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and Rajasthan CM Vasundhra Raje must constitute task forces to expedite the pending canal projects. The officers had been deferring this work on the pretext that the canals would have to be closed for 50-60 days for the purpose, which might trigger a drinking water crisis, the samiti said. But a similar situation was tackled by making a 150-foot-wide cut in the Abohar canal in September 2009 to divert water from the Rajasthan feeder to the Sirhind feeder near Bhullar village in Muktsar district, it added. Latest technology would have to be used to ensure that the task was finished in the prescribed period without compromising on quality or succumbing to pressure from the contractors, the samiti said. The first phase of the renovation of Indira Gandhi Canal Project (IGCP) was taken up in 2012. The brick-lining of some "burjis" in the Gang (Bikaner) feeder canal was competed within the prescribed period. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 1350 crore for strengthening of brick-lining and cementing the canal bed in the Ferozepur region of Punjab at a cost of Rs 400 crore. The cost in the Rajasthan area was estimated at Rs 950 crore. The project is considered a lifeline for the agricultural economy of west Rajasthan. Eighty per cent of the total cost would be borne by the Centre, while 10 per cent would have to be shared by the Punjab and Rajasthan governments each. "Since Ferozepur feeder stands damaged at many points and hyacinth has not been removed from the canals in the region, the water bodies need immediate attention," the KSS team felt. The delay
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PU hikes fee by 5% in affiliated colleges
Chandigarh, May 25 Though the fee hike committee had proposed a 20 per cent rise for all courses, the increase was limited to 5 per cent following opposition by a majority of the senators. Grover asked the senate to reconsider another nominal fee hike later this year. He said the step was imperative to meet the financial burden on the colleges, which would increase as the Punjab Government had lifted the ban on fresh recruitments. The Vice Chancellor also agreed to review the holiday home fund charged from college students annually. He assured the senate that if there was no development in Dalhousie holiday home, for which the fund was being charged, they would consider discontinuing it from next year. Grover also asked the officials to monitor the colleges which were charging retirement benefit funds from the students. He told them to check out whether these funds were being utilised for the faculty.
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Want Amarinder back as PPCC chief, says Singla
Chandigarh, May 25 He said it would be good for the party if the PPCC reins were handed over to Amarinder Singh. Singla said the incumbent PPCC president, Partap Singh Bajwa, had failed to inspire confidence in Congress workers and that was why the party had not done well in the Lok Sabha elections, despite the massive anti-incumbency sentiment against the SAD-BJP alliance. He said Amarinder Singh had proved that he could emerge triumphant from any part of the state. He had vanquished BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley in Amritsar and defeated the SAD leadership in the process. “The SAD leadership had promised Jaitley a big win from Amritsar. But the latter had to return to Delhi after suffering a humiliating defeat,” Singla said. Pointing out that while Congress leaders had rushed to Amritsar to campaign for Amarinder Singh, few had canvassed for Bajwa, Singla said: “This reflects the difference in the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh and that of Bajwa.” He said if the Congress was to do well in 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections, it was imperative that Capt Amarinder Singh was brought back as PPCC chief.
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Soni reiterates faith in Capt’s leadership
Amritsar, May 25 He said his name had been "misused" in a press note issued yesterday by the PPCC against the former Chief Minister. "As a Congress man, my loyalties are with the party and I only support Capt Amarinder Singh and Sonia Gandhi and nobody else," he said. He warned those "misusing" his name. He alleged that most of the MLAs whose names had been used in the PPCC press note had not been taken into confidence. He said, this was condemnable and the matter must be taken up by the party high command. The PCC vice-president questioned the disciplinary notice issued to Kewal Singh Dhillon and Rana Gurmit Sodhi. He said both had been working in Anandpur Sahib and Amritsar on the instructions of the party high command. “So where is the question of indiscipline,” he asked. AAP gained from anti-incumbency: Bittu Ludhiana: The newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency, Ravneet Bittu, today admitted that the Punjab voter had rejected the parties in power. “The electorate was in no mood to re-elect the parties, whether in power in the state or at the Centre,” he said Bittu during his visit to Nanaksar. To the charge that in wards of certain Congress leaders in Ludhiana, the party had fared badly, Bittu said the anti-incumbency sentiment was against the party and not any individual leader. “Narendra Modi visited Ludhiana twice. He started his poll campaign in the state from Jagraon in Ludhiana. However, his visits failed to garner votes for the SAD-BJP candidate in Ludhiana,” Bittu said. He said AAP had gained from the anti-incumbency sentiment among the voters.
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Sever all ties with SAD, Bajwa to BJP
Chandigarh, May 25 In a statement, he said the BJP president Kamal Sharma had only corroborated what the Congress had been saying since months- that Akali leaders were patronising the drug mafia. " The BJP realised the gravity and enormity of the drug menace only during the elections. You cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. The BJP must draw the red line and quit the government," Bajwa said. He said he agreed with Sharma that all those whose names had been linked with the drug racket must come clean. "With the president of the alliance partner calling a spade a spade, it is all the more necessary that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal must initiate action against those in his Cabinet whose names have surfaced in the drug racket," he added.
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SAD will have major say at Centre: MP
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 25 Chandumajra, who was in the town to participate in a religious ceremony at Dewan Todar Mal, said with the formation of the NDA Government, Punjab would be benefited financially. The MP said the way the people had shown faith in the NDA, the political combine would try to fulfill their aspirations. He said he would listen to the grievances of the people of his constituency at his residence in Mohali on Monday, besides solving the problems of Fatehgarh Sahib residents on Tuesday. SAD district chief JS Cheema, Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, BJP's Naresh Sareen and SN Sharma, Zila Parishad chairman Baljit Singh Bhutta and SAD leader KS Panjoli were present.
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Manpreet on a thanksgiving tour despite defeat
Lambi, May 25 Manpreet is busy in his thanksgiving tour whereas Harsimrat, who started her second innings as an MP, has made no public appearance in her constituency yet, though she did meet a few people outside her residence at Badal village. If to go by the trend of the previous elections, the ruling Badals have always held a thanksgiving tour after their win, be it in Assembly or the General Election. But this time round, the thanksgiving tour of the two-time MP has not been scheduled yet. Those close to the family are unaware of the exact cause, but count the thin victory margin as the probable reason. A few others speculate Harsimrat’s probability of getting a portfolio in the Union Cabinet as the reason behind her staying away. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat are out of the state busy holding meetings with the NDA’s top leadership. The ruling Badals had not even celebrated Harsimrat’s victory at their mansion in Badal village after the announcement of the results. On the other hand, Manpreet was seen much confident even after losing the election and continued meeting people at his residence on the same day and the next day without any gloom on his face. Manpreet had termed the elections results as his “moral victory and beginning of a new story”. Harsimrat had dubbed it as the “end of the story for Manpreet”. Of the total nine assembly segments in Bathinda parliamentary constituency, Harsimrat trailed in Bathinda (Urban) by 29,316 votes, Bathinda (Rural) by 3,573 votes and Mansa by 23,911 votes. She led in the other segments of Lambi, Bhucho Mandi, Talwandi Sabo, Maur, Sardulgarh and Budhlada. Where’s Harsimrat?
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Akali Dal reminds BJP of coalition dharma
Chandigarh, May 25 After a hint by a few BJP leaders that the party would now become an “assertive partner”, SAD leaders today reminded the saffron outfit of the “coalition dharma”. SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder today took a strong exception to the statements by some BJP leaders, which cast aspersions on the Akali leadership. In a statement, Dhindsa and Bhunder described “the observations made by the BJP leaders as uncalled for and violative of the coalition dharma”. They claimed these went against the spirit of the bond shared by the ruling alliance partners for years in Punjab. “Ours is the oldest coalition in the country. Our bonding is not a mere political tie-up but a union of hearts, which has stood the test of time. It is driven by the collective desire of the people of Punjab for peace and communal harmony,” they said. Regarding issues raised by BJP leaders, they said, “All decisions in the government are taken on the basis of mutually agreed policies after detailed discussions. Secondly, even if there are some differences in opinion, they can be resolved through dialogue. But speaking out publicly violates is not at all right.” About property tax and sand mining, the duo said, “These issues pertain to the departments of Local Government and Industry, both held by BJP ministers who enjoyed complete freedom. It is wrong to blame the SAD for these decisions. In fact, the BJP ministers and leaders are consulted even on decisions taken by other departments.” On high sand prices, the Akali leaders said, “A committee was set up under the chairmanship of BJP’s Madan Mohan Mittal with Anil Joshi as its member. All the recommendations of the committee were accepted in toto. The problem of sand in Punjab is only due to the Centre’s refusal to give environmental clearance to new mines in the state... The sand sells cheaper in Punjab as compared to neighboring Haryana and Delhi.” Similarly, the decision on property tax in its present form was taken by the Department of Local Government, headed by a BJP minister, the duo claimed. Dhindsa and Bunder said, “The statements (of indirectly blaming the SAD for the defeat) issued by the BJP leaders are factually wrong and politically inadvisable. No one should try to take political mileage at the expense of a long-standing partner.”
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No road connectivity for Ropar village
Ropar, May 25 The nearest metalled road to the village is 2 km away. The village is hardly 30 km away from the state’s capital, Chandigarh. The village’s population of about 250 virtually remains cut off from the rest of the state during the monsoon season. Residents send expecting women to their parents as there is no access to medical aid during the monsoon. Sarpanch Het Ram said residents of the village had, on their own, made a 2-km “kutcha” track crossing through two nullahs. Though villagers use this track to reach the nearest Purkhali-Bardar metalled road during dry weather, the area becomes inaccessible during rains. Two years ago, 60-year-old Rachna Ram, a heart patient, had died as he could not get medical aid during incessant rain. Karnail Singh, former sarpanch of the village, said, “Last year, a marriage party from Kansal could not reach the village due to rain. Local residents somehow managed to ferry bridegroom and his parents to the village to solemnise the ceremony," he said. The village primary school remains closed during rains as teachers cannot reach there, they said. Local MLA Daljeet Singh Cheema said during consolidation, no land was earmarked for Tanda Bardar, Dhalo Chehrian and Khad Rajgiri villages. “I had raised this question in the Assembly and the problem is likely to be solved soon,” he claimed. Problems galore
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4,000 teachers unpaid for five months
Patiala, May 25 Gurcharan Singh Chahal, president, Punjab Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union, said though the government had released salaries in October last year, teachers in several districts were unable to draw the entire salary. "Staff in some districts got two or three months' salaries, but most of them are unpaid for almost five months. April is a crucial month as employees have to pay admission fee of their children, but they are even struggling to make both ends meet," he said. The union members alleged despite repeated requests, the government had not heeded to their proposal for a merger of aided schools with government schools. The move would resolve the problem of staff shortage in government schools and put an end to their miseries, they claimed. Anil Bharti from Patiala said the government was already footing 95 per cent of the expenses of aided schools. He said: "The employees of these schools are facing uncertainty. The government claims to have brought rationalisation in the education system by creating several changes. But it has yet to take over the aided schools," Bharti said. Davinder Rehan of Ludhiana said the High Court had ruled that the salary grant should not be linked with other issues and stopped, but its ruling was being ignored by the government.
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Film on first Asian-American Congressman Dalip Saund
Sacramento May 25 “Dalip Singh Saund: His Life, His Legacy”, a new documentary, is bringing Saund’s story back to his state of California. The documentary will be screened at the 20th Annual Punjabi American Festival (May 25, 2014, Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City, CA). The 36-minute film will be screened at 2 pm and at 3:30 pm. A discussion with the filmmakers will follow each screening. The documentary has been directed by E. Samantha Cheng and produced by Heritage Series, LLC, in association with the US Capitol Historical Society (USCHS) and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). Born in a small Punjabi town, young Saund arrived in America in 1920 at a time of great discrimination against minorities. He came to study agriculture at the University of California Berkeley and graduated with a PhD in mathematics, but was unable to find a teaching job. He moved to Imperial Valley for farming. There, he built an American life and family, while rising as an advocate. In 1955, Saund announced his bid for the US Congress. It was a nationally watched race as he was running against world-famous aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran-Odlum. But Saund, fighting for the working class, won. In Congress, Saund continued to fight for everything from water rights for his district to equal rights for men and women. His career was tragically cut short when he suffered a stroke in 1962. He died in 1973.
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Keshopur Chamb wetland turns ‘no man’s land’
Gurdaspur, May 25 Eco-tourists, particularly from foreign countries, have stopped visiting the area. Old timers recall that a decade ago, hordes of foreign ornithologists used to visit the wetland, which was renowned for attracting various species of birds from Central Asian countries and Siberia. The development has also affected the economy of the area. Ironically, in the run up to the elections, not a single candidate spoke about improving the infrastructure at the wetland. "We were expecting that the authorities would draw a road map to improve the wetland spread over 850 acres. Revival of tourism at the wetland will help improve economy of the local area," said a local resident. "We had two MPs from Gurdaspur. Both these MPs gave hefty grants from their MPLAD funds to improve infrastructure at institutions owed by their loyalists. But no one spent a penny for the upkeep of the wetland," he added. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a pre-election rally here in April, had asked the pilot of his helicopter to take a few rounds of the area before landing adjacent to the wetland. Sources said Badal had expressed his displeasure at the state of affairs and had specifically pointed out the deplorable condition of the roads leading to the wetland. The Gurdaspur-Behrampur road is in a bad shape. "One alternative is to widen the road leading to the wetland. This is just a 4 km stretch which cuts off from the Pathankot-Gurdaspur national highway. There is an urgent need to repair or recarpet the road," said an expert. There are as many as six roads leading to the area, but all of these are in a pitiable condition. Asian Development Bank (ADB) had announced a grant of Rs 8 crore to establish a tourist interpretation centre (TIC), spread over 3.5 acres, at the wetland. But till date, only a boundary wall has been erected. Bird watchers who visit the area are the view that the work of re-carpeting and widening the roads should be taken out of the purview of the PWD and be given to the Tourism department. "The 5-km stretch of road leading to the historically significant Chotta Ghallughara memorial, near Tibri Cantonment, has been handed over to the Tourism Department. Likewise, the Gurdaspur-Behrampur stretch should also be handed over to the department for its better upkeep," said a senior officer. Facing neglect
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BBMB's move to restrict info on net opposed
Patiala, May 25 The federation states the BBMB had been giving information on operational data of hydro power stations on its website on a daily basis wherein power generation as well as water inflow releases and reservoir level were displayed. The information about broad parameters of hydro power houses operation and operation of reservoirs was required to be kept in the public domain on a daily basis, but the BBMB had taken a "negative and retrograde decision to eliminate the data on a daily basis and to give the data on a monthly or yearly basis," they said. — TNS
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Promote low-cost pvt schools: UK prof
Mohali, May 25 Tooley, who is known as the champion of low-cost private schools and for his research on private education for the poor in India, China and African countries, is on a visit to the state. He was here as the chief guest at an educational conference. Tooley told The Tribune that the Punjab Government had been aggressively implementing the Right to Education Act, which had caused low-cost private schools to shut down. He said there were around 10,000 such schools in the state, of which 2,000 had been closed down while another 5,000 were on the verge of closure. He was of the opinion that "low-cost private schools were better than government schools." He said: "A research has shown that teachers in low-cost private schools performed better than their counterparts in government schools.”
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Baba Bakala DSP shunted out for drug trade ‘links’
Amritsar, May 25 Earlier, an ASI and a head constable attached with the CIA were dismissed for their links with drug traffickers. Highly placed sources said more heads were likely to roll in the near future. The police have booked as many as 60 smugglers involved in drug smuggling from across the border. The accused either belonged to border villages or are residents of city areas. Three cases have been registered at the Maqboolpura, Chheharta and Gate Hakima police stations. Govt steps up drive against drug peddlers Fatehgarh Sahib: The police have arrested four drug peddlers, including a woman, from various parts of Fatehgarh Sahib district and recovered 2,440 sedatives and capsules from them. The accused have been identified as Sandhya Rani and Sukhvinder Singh, both residents of Humayunpur, Ashish Kumar and Narinder Singh of Mandi Gobindgarh. The police recovered 740 pills from Sandhya Rani while 700 pills each were seized from Sukhvinder Singh and Ashish Kumar. Three hundred pills were seized from Narinder Singh. The police has arrested more than 30 persons and seized 9,400 sedatives, 47 gm of smack and 5 kg poppy husk during the past one week. Abohar: The police seized 257 gm from Gaurav Goyal and Sonu of Nai Abadi and Rajwinder Singh Gogi of Pucca Seed Farmon Sunday. Gamdur Singh of Nathana in Bathinda was caught with 20 kg poppy husk. Use of powdered drugs
on the rise Ludhiana: The district police has cracked the whip on drug traffickers. Highly placed sources said different kinds of drugs were being brought into Punjab from various states. Opium in bulk quantity was coming from Uttar Pradesh while smack was being smuggled from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and poppy husk from Rajasthan. In city, drugs were easily available at health clubs, fast food vends, barbers' shops and cigarette and pan vends. Ashish Chaudhry, SSP (Rural), said the youths in villages were getting hooked to powdered drugs like smack and heroin. “They get a small packet of powder (drug). A portion of it is sold to friends at high rates and a chain is formed. Also, as cross-border activity has increased, there is easy access to powdered drugs,” explained
Chaudhry. Awareness drive
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Govt extends registration date for travel agents
Muktsar, May 25 A circular (dated May 21) sent to all Deputy Commissioners in the state mentions that the state’s Home Department had decided to extend the date for the registration. The circular further reads that the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act 2014 has been passed and would be notified soon. The government had decided to tighten the noose around fraudulent travel agents who used to fleece people on the pretext of sending them abroad. A senior government official said, “In case any agent’s functioning is found to be illegal, he will be penalised for three to seven years of imprisonment. The offence is non-bailable.” He said Punjab was the only state to have such an Act. The Act also empowers Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Deputy Superintendents of Police to search the premises of such violators with the prior approval of the district magistrate.
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Steps to check falling water table start paying off
Chandigarh, May 25 As part of its initiatives, the government has fixed the date for transplanting paddy. No farmer can transplant non-basmati variety of paddy before June 15 and Basmati variety before July 5. The government this year deferred the deadline from June 10 to June 15. Earlier, the farmers used to transplant paddy in May when hot and dry weather conditions would maximize precipitation. Moreover, the transplantation is close to the beginning of monsoon that normally arrives in the region by June 29. Besides, the Agriculture Department has been motivating farmers to shift from paddy (a water-guzzling crop) to other crops. Even basmati is less-water consuming compared to other paddy varieties. “It gives us satisfaction that the declining water table has been checked to an extent in most parts of the state. Now our focus is on certain areas in central Punjab where the table has fallen to a critical level. We will also continue to emphasise on crop diversification,” said Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner (Development). Rationing advice after weak monsoon forecast With a forecast of below average monsoon this year, the Union Government has advised all states, including Punjab, to use canal water judiciously. The technical committee of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has already started spreading awareness among farmers. Level in reservoirs higher than last year This year, the level of water in the reservoirs of various dams is better compared to last year. Till last evening, the level in the Bhakra Dam was 1,574.81 feet, about 11 feet higher than the corresponding period last year. The level was 1,322.71 feet in Pong Dam, compared to 1,309 feet last year. In the Ranjit Sagar Dam, it stood at 520.25 metres as compared to 507 metres last year. These dams feed various canal systemsin the region. Weak monsoon may not affect state much With Punjab having a network of about 13 lakh tube wells, there is hardly any scope of the state facing drought-like conditions. Only 29 per cent of the total cultivable land is dependent on canal irrigation in the state. Various parts of the country faced a drought-like situation in 2002, 2004, 2009 and 2012. The phenomenon did not affect the production of foodgrain in Punjab, though the cost of production did shoot up substantially. The initiatives
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300 of 393 police stations lack toilets for women staff
Chandigarh, May 25 Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Arpit Shukla said 400 women employees were being recruited annually for the past couple of years. The findings formed part of a survey commissioned by Suresh Arora, who officiated as the Director General of Police when Sumedh Singh Saini proceeded on leave during the recent Lok Sabha elections. The survey, carried out by three women IGPs, found out that a number of police stations had only made temporary arrangements for the women staff. A senior woman police official said, “It becomes very embarrassing for the women staff members to function in police stations that lack separate toilets.” The report, submitted to the government, has underlined the need for separate toilets for women employees as well as visitors. After the submission of the report to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the police department is learnt to have sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the purpose. 5,300 women in Punjab Police
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Mid-day meal workers protest
Fazilka, May 25 Bimla Rani, district president of the Mid Day Meal Workers Union,
Fazilka, said the state government had been overlooking their genuine demands for a long time now, thus forcing them to launch an agitation. The protesters were demanding that their salary be increased to Rs 10,000 per month, besides regularising their services and providing them insurance cover. They also demanded that they should be paid salary for the whole year, instead of the present practice of paying them salary for 10 months only. Before taking out the protest march, the workers held a meeting at Pratap Bagh and raised slogans against the Punjab Government. Employee leaders, Ram Krishan
Dhunkian, Shakti Singh, Ram Kumar and Gurmej Geji also participated in the meeting and criticised the state government for its indifferent attitude towards employees.
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Sunday vegetable market: Boon for a few, bane for others
Abohar, May 25 As no supplies are received from Delhi's Azad Market and other towns on Sunday, some persons started a weekly market a few years ago to sell fruits and vegetables outside the office complex of the market committee that remained deserted on that day. Initially, the aim was to benefit vegetable growers as they would not have to pay any commission to the "arhtiyas" as they could sell their produce directly to retail consumers. However, with the passage of time some big farmers emerged as commission agents and most of them now control the weekly market even as it stands shifted to the lanes surrounding the railway overbridge on the Hanumangarh road. The market not only blocks passages to the canal colony, a couple of local hospitals, model town etc., but also leads to pollution in the area. Many consumers have complained to the administration against the use of outlived and banned weight and measurement system, but no action has been taken to check the practice so far. Sellers can be seen using pieces of stones and bricks to weigh goods in this market. Those who conceived the idea of "apni mandi" had hoped that fruits and vegetables would become available to the consumers at cheaper rates, but the things are entirely different now. Today, some vegetable sellers refused to pay Rs 10 each for clearing the garbage dumped by them in the area. After tension started mounting, some Aam Aadmi Party workers reported the matter to the police, seeking action against sanitation workers. Some traders operating in the neighbouring market said the weekly market had become a nuisance for the people of the area. They said the vendors had also damaged the memorial that the Lions Club, Abohar Greater, had raised in memory of 32 citizens who were massacred by militants in March 1990 here. Wooden and plastic crates could be seen stacked on the podium of the memorial every Sunday, they said. Residents of adjoining colonies and patients visiting nearby hospitals have urged the state government and the Railways to ensure safety of the railway overbridge and the side-lanes by shifting the weekly market to some other place.
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Banks heap insult on debt-ridden farmers
Mansa, May 25 The Primary Cooperative Agriculture Developmental Bank (PADB), Bathinda, recently got published names and addresses of some farmers along with their photographs who have allegedly defaulted in the repayment of their loans ranging from Rs 5 lakh to 10 lakh. One such advertisement was published on May 22. The bank has also issued a warning to these farmers that their land will be put on sale for recovery of debt. Around 45 farmers have committed suicide in the state this year. Jugraj Singh of Hassanpur village, near Budhlada, in Mansa district committed suicide on May 10. His brother, who is admitted to a Mansa hospital, also made a similar attempt. Their father had also died in the same manner13 years ago. In Bathinda district, Tehal Singh, a farmer union leader of Phul village, and Jagmeet Singh, a farmer of Chak Fateh Singhwala village, committed suicides due to debt. There have been many other such cases. A state-level survey into suicides by farmers and farm labourers during 2000-08 was got conducted through three state universities, including Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; Punjabi University, Patiala; and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. The survey report said 4,685 persons, including 2,943 farmers and 1,742 farm labourers, committed suicide due to debt during that period. Around 4,500 such deaths were reported from Sangrur, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Moga, Barnala and Mansa districts. According to the National Crime Record Bureau, only 75 farmers committed suicide in Punjab in 2012. Agriculture Secretary Kahan Singh Pannu said the government would look into the issue of publishing of details about farmers who allegedly defaulted in repayment of their loans. "This is a serious issue and we are concerned about it. We will discuss it in our meeting on July 31 with other members of the committee formed to curb suicides by farmers," he said.
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Stamp duty collection up in Muktsar
Muktsar, May 25 The district administration collected Rs 66.11 crore against a target of Rs 60 crore in the last fiscal (2013-14). The collection from stamp duties was around Rs 49.77 crore in financial year 2012-13. The collection during the first month (April) of the ongoing financial year (2014-15) has been Rs 4.17 crore. Additional Deputy Commissioner NS Bath has directed Revenue Department officials to work hard to achieve the target for the current year.
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Brother of Toronto shootout victim writes to Canadian PM, wants killers nabbed
Bathinda, May 25 Ritesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Toronto on May 4. Upset at media reports linking his brother’s death with drug smuggling, Avneesh said the RCMP press statement had made no such mention after the shootout. “My brother was falsely implicated in a case of narcotic smuggling. But the police could not find drugs in his possession. The case was under trial,” said Avneesh. He said there was no evidence that his brother had died in a gang war, as reported by a section of the media. “Ritesh Thakur is survived by his wife and children aged 9 and 11. He had moved to Canada with his family with the dream of a better life. But he was killed in broad daylight at a shopping plaza by criminals with no fear of the law. He was a well-educated and respectable man. “He was a lawyer and CPA of the United States by profession.” Ritesh’s body was brought to India by his family and cremated in Moga on May 15.
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Punjabi shot at in Philippines
Manila, May 25 Amandeep Singh, 28, was shot in the head by unknown gunmen while he was collecting money he lent out to a store owner in Zamboanga city in southern Philippines, Mindanao Examiner reported. A medical response team took Singh to the hospital, police said, adding a bullet casing of a .45-caliber pistol was recovered from the scene. The motive of the attack is still unknown, but Singh was the second Indian shot in two weeks in Zamboanga, notorious for its unabated gun attacks blamed on hired killers. Motorcycle gunmen also shot Sukhjinder Singh, 28, while he was driving his motorcycle in the village of Putik on May 8. He was rushed to hospital, but died during an operation from wounds in the head and body, the report said. Singh, who was also engaged in money lending, had come from his cousin's house and was heading home, when the attack occurred. — PTI
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65-year-old farmer dies in clash over land dispute
Sangrur, May 25 The deceased’s son sustained injuries and has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sunam. Station House Officer (SHO) Balwant Singh the police had registered a case against 11 persons, though no arrests had been made so far. The police said the clash occurred over a piece of Nazool Society land that Piara Singh had been cultivating for the last three years. The dispute took an ugly turn when the accused, led by Mewa Singh, tried to take possession of the plot today. The police said the accused attacked the victims with sticks. The SHO said Piara Singh’s body had been handed over to his family after a post-mortem examination. He said attempts were on to nab the accused.
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2 cops held in extortion case
Sangrur, May 25 A case under Sections 382 and 384 (extortion) of the IPC has been registered against them on the statement of truck driver Jeet Singh of Kanakwal village, falling under the Dharamgarh police station. Mandeep Singh Sidhu, SSP, Sangrur, said both officials extorted about Rs 3,500 from the truck driver. Pritpal Singh was earlier arrested for a similar crime.
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Abohar, May 25
Ropar, May 25
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Abohar, May 25
The decision was taken at the senate meeting held under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover here today. There are 192 colleges in the state that are affiliated to Panjab University. 
