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Pollution-hit Kanakwal’s relocation back in focus
No stay on hiring of drivers for Ambulance 108
Patiala MP is AAP leader in Lok Sabha
Power crisis in state as snag hits thermal units
Halqa chief can’t raid hospitals: MLA Sidhu
Jalandhar lad bags second spot in national medical entrance
Assistant engineer ends life, kin allege police inaction
DSP faces chargesheet for illegal confinement
murder case
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Hit by slowdown, state forced to lower revenue targets
Chandigarh, June 7 During 2013-14, the state was unable to meet its initial (high) targets set for VAT and stamp duty collections and had later lowered the targets. The government this year has decided to tread more cautiously. As against a target of mopping up VAT collections by over 20 per cent last year ( as specified in the Budget proposals), the government has now decided to target a 15 per cent hike in VAT collections this fiscal when the budget is formally presented for approval before the Assembly. Similarly for stamp duty collections, the state is now targeting a 10 per cent growth instead of a 15 per cent hike (as targeted in 2013-14). In 2013-14, Punjab had initially targeted a growth of 20.8 per cent in its VAT collections. The state was hoping to take its total VAT collections from Rs 14,900 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 17,760 crore in 2013-14. However, the slowdown in the economy towards the end of the third quarter forced the state government to revise its growth rate and set a target of garnering Rs 16,350 crore as VAT collections. Against this, the state has earned VAT of Rs 16,341 crore in 2013-14, an increase of 12.5 per cent. The state is now targeting a growth of 15 per cent during the ongoing financial year — at Rs 18,700 crore. Similarly, for the revenue the state earns from stamps and registration as against a target of Rs 3,450 crore set for the last financial year, the state has managed to earn Rs 2,560 crore. This is against a revised target of Rs 2,510 crore after the economic slowdown hit the realty sector and sale and purchase of land across Punjab virtually came to a standstill. This year, the state is targeting just a 10 per cent increase in its stamp and registration revenue — at Rs 2,760 crore. Sources say the lower targets for an increase in the revenue will only add to the burden of the state government. Since VAT and stamp and registration charges are two of the most important components in the state's own tax revenue, it means that while the state's expenditure will continue to have a steady rise, the revenue growth will be slow. This will also mean that Punjab will continue to be a revenue deficit state and would not be able to meet its target of bringing down the revenue deficit to Rs 1,747 crore - as outlines in the budget proposals for 2013-14. The state's total debt burden, which was over Rs 1,00,000 crore in 2013-14, will also go up and its committed liabilities - salaries and wages, pensions and debt servicing - will continue to eat into the state's revenues. This could mean that there is little chance for the state's economic revival. Ground reality
Getting realistic
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Violence at golden temple
Amritsar, June 7 They felt the community members needed to be cautious in future to avert any such event. Renowned Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka flayed the clash saying both the sides needed to exercise restraint. He felt, “The SGPC task force needed to be sensitised and trained to control the situation peacefully. Earlier too, such incidents took place at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib in New Delhi.” He had also written a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar voicing his objection to the role of the task force and the need to initiate corrective measures. Former DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said both the sides were equally responsible for it. He also demanded the resignation of SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar for his “failure to make proper arrangements for the event”. He said pro-Khalistan slogans should not be allowed at the Akal Takht and Makkar had failed to rein in such elements. Noted Sikh scholar Ashok Singh Bagrian said the incident was condemnable. It was a solemn occasion in which tributes were to be paid to the innocent people killed during the Operation Bluestar and it should have been observed accordingly. He said it was not appropriate to make any controversial demand or statement from the platform. He said, “The Sikhs need to be vigilant against anti-Panthic forces to avert such instances in the future.” Akal Takht’s former head granthi Giani Bhagwan Singh said, “The incident would adversely hit the Sikh community’s struggle for its religious symbols abroad. He said those who resorted to pro-Khalistan sloganeering violated the traditions of the Darbar Sahib. He said they also perpetrated sacrilege by indulging in violence using swords in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib.
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Pollution-hit Kanakwal’s relocation back in focus
Bathinda, June 7 A state government team reached the village today afternoon on the directions of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to restart the relocation process. Two days ago, a delegation of the villagers had raised the issue of the “forgotten promise” at Badal’s Sangat Darshan in Talwandi Sabo. The team, comprising KJS Cheema, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, SAD leader Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu (ticket aspirant for Talwandi Sabo bypoll), Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg, land acquisition officials and 18 patwaris of the block, offered a new location to the villagers. The team also gave the villagers an option to take monetary compensation and settle elsewhere on their own. Officials said the government would start a fresh survey tomorrow on who was willing to relocate at the new site or wanted financial compensation. The government has offered about 27 acres of a government seed farm near Bhagi Vandar village on the Bathinda-Talwandi Sabo road for resettling mainly the Dalit families, who have agreed in principle to the location. Other villagers have been offered re-settlement on a 50-acre seed farm near Maur town. Bhakhar Singh, village nambardar, said the Sidhu families wanted financial compensation as they would settle elsewhere on their own. The villagers, united during its agitation for relocation, were divided on the boycott of panchayat elections. But now they seem to be united again. Jaswinder Singh, a villager participating in the agitation and today's meeting, said there was no groupism now and all wanted relocation. A team led by Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh had, during his visit to the village in April last, announced the relocation, but nothing much was done on the ground. The district administration had identified land near Talwandi Sabo to resettle the nearly 400 families of the village. A blueprint of the new village to be developed as a model of modern housing with wide lanes and parks was also prepared, but it had all remained only on paper. Who’ll settle where
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No stay on hiring of drivers for Ambulance 108
Chandigarh, June 7 "No hiring of drivers for ambulance services '108' has been stayed by this court and it is only the termination of the employees of the petitioner-association, which is before this court, that has been stayed," the High Court has asserted. In its detailed order, the High Court asserted: "As per order dated June 6, this court had directed that the services of the members of the petitioner-association that had filed the writ petition bearing number CWP No. 11868 of 2014, be not terminated. No order had been passed, staying the hiring of drivers for the ambulance services…." Justice Amol Rattan Singh has added: "This clarification is necessary so that in case any further recruitment of drivers or other staff is being made, it is clarified that at least vide the order dated June 6, 2014, passed in CWP No. 11868 of 2014, the same has not been stayed and may continue so as to ensure that emergency services of ambulances are not disrupted. "It is, however, clarified so as to leave no room for ambiguity, that termination of the employees of the petitioner-association has been stayed till the next date of hearing, that is July 10, 2014". The petitioner — "Employees Association 108" had earlier moved the High Court for restraining the State of Punjab and other respondents from terminating the services of its members. In its petition, the association claimed that it was formed by and constitutes drivers and emergency medical technicians recruited to run and manage ambulances in the State of Punjab to ferry patients from the site to hospitals.
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Patiala MP is AAP leader in Lok Sabha
Chandigarh, June 7 Gandhi’s name was cleared by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal after consulting the MPs elected on the AAP ticket from Punjab. His name was proposed by Bhagwant Mann, MP from Sangrur. Interestingly, another leader from Patiala, Capt Amarinder Singh, who has been elected an MP from Amritsar, has been named the deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha. Active socially since his student days, Gandhi is known for his straight talk and for taking firm stand on pro-people issues. He remained in jail during the Emergency period in the 1970s. Mann said all MPs had met Kejriwal to discuss with him the strategy that they would adopt in Parliament on various issues. The AAP MPs would get a chance to speak on presidential address in the lower house on Tuesday. “We will be raising various public issues as so many of them relating to Punjab have been hanging fire for the last several years,” he said. Dr Dharamvir Gandhi
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Power crisis in state as snag hits thermal units
Bathinda, June 7 The situation worsened as the engineers of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) refused to work overtime as they are on "work to rule" strike and have not been working after 5 pm. Within 72 hours of start of power generation, the Sterlite Energy ltd-owned Talwandi Sabo Power Plant (TSPL) developed a snag leading to its shut down. The leakage in its boiler may take five or more days to be repaired. A snag in disk insulators caused the shutdown at Bathinda and Lehra Mohabbat plants. Sources said power from the working units at Lehra was being diverted to Bathinda. The power generation from this private plant is critical to the regular supply of electricity during the paddy season which commences on June 10. With mercury hovering around 45 degree Celsius in the region, power cuts have made life miserable for the residents. An official said the snag at Talwandi Sabo plant was part of teething troubles and would be resolved soon. Sources, however, said a similar snag at Bathinda thermal plant was repaired in several weeks.
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Halqa chief can’t raid hospitals: MLA Sidhu
Amritsar, June 7 In a statement released here, Dr Sidhu termed the incident as deplorable and said no one other than seniors in the department or political heads could interfere in the functioning of the government hospitals. She said the halqa in charge had no business to carry out such checks. "Doctors in government hospitals are facing all odds. They are Class I officers. They are often put on deputation at various places because of shortage of staff and for medical camps and unwanted VIP duties. All hospitals are accountable to the Health Department and their monthly performance is evaluated strictly," she said. Rein in halqa chiefs, says Bir Devinder Patiala: Bir Devinder Singh, former Deputy Speaker of the state Vidhan Sabha, has urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to rein in halqa chiefs. He said these leaders should be told not to interfere in the working of government departments and intimidate officials. He alleged that the superfluous designation created by the SAD dispensation was proving to be an embarrassment for the state, besides hugely contributing to the anti-incumbency factor against the government. — TNS
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Jalandhar lad bags second spot in national medical entrance
Jalandhar, June 7 A beaming Lovedeep, whose mother Damanjot Dhingra, is an ophthalmologist, said he too wanted to be an ophthalmologist. “In my spare time, I love to play with the Rubik’s cube,” he remarked. Though he loves maths, he said he always wanted to become a doctor. On his preparation technique, he said, “Everyone studies the same subject. What matters is how you comprehend the concepts.” Lovedeep aims to get in to AIIMS. District Blood Transfusion Officer Dr Gagandeep Singh’s daughter Bisman Singh stood second in the state and 18th in the AIPMT exam. Bisman, whose mother is a gynaecologist, is also a student of MGN school. A chirpy Bisman gave the credit of her success to her parents. On her preparations, she said, “I never prepared for the CBSE exams. My aim was to crack the entrance test. I now wish to get into a good medical college in Delhi.” Lovedeep scored 96.4 per cent in CBSE class XII exams, Bisman scored 97.4 per cent.
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Assistant engineer ends life, kin allege police inaction
Patiala, June 7 Employed with the Punjab Water Resource Mobilisation Development Corporation in Malerkotla division, Sharma had ended his life by consuming a poisonous substance on April 21. In his suicide note, he had blamed his senior officials for his taking the step. Talking to mediapersons here today, the deceased’s son, Vishal Sharma, alleged that the police was not ready to act against a senior official mentioned by his father in the note. He alleged that the police had even recorded his father’s statement before he died. Vishal alleged that his father had stated that “he was overburdened and despite repeated representations, he was made to work round the clock. I had been given more work than any other Assistant Engineer, which led me to take this step
(suicide).” Malerkotla SP Jaswinder Singh said they had already begun probing the case.
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DSP faces chargesheet for illegal confinement
Muktsar, June 7 Those charge-sheeted by the court of Judicial Magistrate Balkar Singh are Malout DSP Manwinderbir Singh, ASI Pritam Singh, head constables Kuldeep Sharma, Suresh Kumar and Joginder Singh. The court stated that on May 19, 2010, the policemen trespassed into the shop of Harwinder Singh of Guru Nanak Nagri, and illegally confined him at Malout police station.— TNS
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murder case
Chandigarh, June 7 Naunihal Singh and another eyewitness had last year approached the High Court for protection from the accused. The High Court had, vide its order dated May 24, 2013, granted security. Naunihal Singh through his counsel Charanjit Singh Bakshi was compelled to move the court again after the security cover was withdrawn. Issuing notice on the application for June 3, Justice Ritu Bahri on May 30 had asked the state "why the security has now been withdrawn".
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