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Punjab Govt rewards loyalists like nobody does
PPCB files court case to check pollution by Jalandhar tanneries
CM orders review of projects in Lambi
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Police intimidating Cong
workers: Preneet
Money no tool for winning elections: AAP candidate
Kejriwal, Yadav to campaign in Patiala soon
Byelections may prove game changer for SAD
Namdharis at loggerheads over water
Panchayats can now lease out common land
Cotton factory in Abohar gutted
Rain leaves Patiala flooded, claims of civic body exposed
A scooterist wades through a waterlogged road in Patiala on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar
Protesters demand removal of toll plazas
Members of the Toll Plaza Virodhi Sangharsh Committee at Solakhian toll plaza in Ropar on Wednesday. Tribune photo
Eight districts get new SSPs
Armyman donates blood for 108th time
PU panel to probe SC students’ allegations
All set for TET on August 24
CM to unfurl National Flag in Patiala
6,000 dairy farmers join hands to set up plant in Ludhiana
Power corporation reintroduces VDS
Info on Obama’s decision to invite Modi sought
Sikh man called ‘terrorist’ by US driver who ran truck over him
Sikh trader killed, 2 hurt in Pak attack
Hoshiarpur court rejects Cheema’s application
HC: Cops must ensure help to rape victims for MTP
Two brothers get life term for murder
5-yr-old boy kidnapped in Amritsar
Primary Education Officer suspended
Man commits suicide after killing wife
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Punjab Govt rewards loyalists like nobody does
Chandigarh, August 6 Two loyalist officers of the Badal family-a former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was a co-accused in a case of disproportionate assets with the Badals, and an IAS officer of the 1990 batch, who is a close aide of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal-are now being rewarded. The government has not only retrospectively reinstated Hardeep Singh Bhamra, who was an OSD to Parkash Singh Badal between 1997-2002, and was dismissed by the government in 2005, in a case of owning assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, but has also declared him retired from service. Thus, he becomes eligible to all post-retirement benefits, including the pension. The decision to reinstate Bhamra retrospectively and to retire him was taken at a state Cabinet meeting last month. The officer was dismissed by the Congress government in 2005. With the cabinet nod, Bhamra, who was in the rank of a steno in the general administration department at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, now becomes eligible to receiving his pension. Hardeep Singh Bhamra, was acquitted by a Mohali court in the corruption and disproportionate assets case in October last year. Earlier, he was booked by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in 2003. Subsequently, he was also declared a proclaimed offender. He surrendered in a court in 2011. He was booked in these cases along with Parkash Singh Badal, his wife and son, besides eight others. While Bhamra has already received the reward for his "loyalty", the government now plans to reward another officer (an IAS officer of the The officer is due to retire in November and according to the All-India Service Rules, an officer can be promoted to the rank of principal secretary only after he completes 25 years of service as an IAS officer. In fact, the personnel department has written a dissenting note on the file, specifying the rule that IAS officers having less than 25 years However, the Chief Minister's office is learnt to have given in-principle approval for promoting the officer. Since, the officer could complete 25 years of service only in August, 2015, - nine months after his retirement, the government has now decided to call a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) and without seeking permission from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Government of India, go ahead and promote the officer, along with his The other four IAS officers of the 1990 batch may even be promoted Loyalist No 1 *
Hardeep Singh Bhamra, who was an OSD to Parkash Singh Badal between 1997-2002, has been reinstated retrospectively and declared retired from service *
Hardeep Singh was dismissed by the Congress government in 2005 * A Mohali court acquitted him in the corruption and disproportionate assets case in October last year *
After the state Cabinet okayed his case last month, he now becomes eligible to receive his pension Loyalist No 2 *
The government also plans to promote a loyalist IAS officer of the 1990 batch to the rank of principal secretary *
He is due to retire in November and will not be able to complete 25 years of service as an IAS officer to be eligible under All-India Service Rules for the promotion *
The government has decided to call a meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee to clear the hurdles *
If promoted, the officer will become eligible to various post-retirement jobs
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PPCB files court case to check pollution by Jalandhar tanneries
Jalandhar, August 6 The matter is to come up for hearing on August 12. The sources said that the PPCB had taken this step after being reprimanded by the Union Government over the issue. The PETS manages the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) installed at the Leather Complex. Its chief executive officer (CEO) is Steven Kler, who is brother of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander. In the recent past, the PPCB authorities have found tanneries discharging untreated waste into the Kala Sanghian drain. In its petition, the PPCB has accused the tanneries of illegal discharge of effluents into the Kala Sanghian drain. It has filed the case under Sections 43, 44 and 47 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1974, and directions issued under Section 33-A of the Act. While an offence under Section 43 and 44 is punishable with imprisonment up to six years, section 33-A empowers the court to grant injunction or to restrain the industry from operating. Ravinder Singh, PPCB chairman, said they had been trying for years to bring down the industrial pollution caused by units located in the Leather Complex, but to no avail. “We sealed almost 50 per cent of the tanneries last year. But they kept operating on the sly, choking the stormwater sewers with effluents. We had no choice but to take legal action against them,” he said. When contacted, Steven Kler, expressed ignorance on the matter. “The CETP installed at the Leather Complex is adhering to 95 per cent of the parameters laid down by the PPCB,” he claimed. He said steps were being taken to bring down pollution by the the tanneries. “Soon, we will be commissioning a new CETP for which a scientist from the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, will visit the Leather Complex next week. We plan to run an old module CETP (1.5 million litres per day) already installed at the complex on an operational and maintenance basis,” Kler added.
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CM orders review of projects in Lambi
Muktsar, August 6 Badal held a meeting with top officials of the district in this regard at Badal village recently. The Chief Minister also directed Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh to check the unutilised funds lying in the accounts of sarpanches. A senior official of the district administration said in the first phase, 43 villages had been selected for the review. “The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Malout Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the District Development and Panchayat Officer have been told to visit the villages and inspect
all the works,” the official said. The Chief Minister said during his recent sangat darshan programmes in Lambi villages, sarpanches had requested the Chief Minister to provide more funds to complete the ongoing projects even though the government had already sanctioned adequate funds. “Chief Minister was doubtful and he immediately ordered review of various works,” said the official. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Ramvir Singh said, “The Chief Minister held a meeting and directed the district administration to review the works done in the past. Besides, lists of the unspent funds lying with the sarpanches are being prepared. The Deputy Commissioner has told me to examine the development works of 15 villages in Lambi segment.” He said the district administration had also made it mandatory for various departments to submit a photograph of the ongoing work to get further installment of funds. ‘Check unutilised funds with sarpanches’ *
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought the review report of all the projects started since 2007 in Lambi constituency by August 11 *
He also directed Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh to check unutilised funds lying in the accounts of sarpanches *
The move comes after sarpanches, during a recent Darshan programme,requested him to give more funds to complete the ongoing projects even though the government had already sanctioned adequate funds.
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Joshi cornered; CLU fee exempted five years ago, says government
Chandigarh, August 6 Minister for Local Bodies Anil Joshi had announced yesterday that he had decided to exempt the CLU fee to give a push to development as demanded by traders. He had said that the decision would be implemented after the byelections in the state. Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa had questioned the decision, maintaining that it was to be routed through the Finance Department. The government spokesperson said the authority for change of land use (CLU) was always with the Housing Department and it was the Deputy CM who had delegated this power to the Local Bodies Department. Without blaming Joshi, he said confusion had been created on the exemption given to hospitals and hotels. He said in view of the global meltdown, recession and in order to spur industrial growth, it had been decided that no CLU charges should be levied on the industries in Punjab. Subsequently, hospitals and hotels were declared ‘industry’ and these were exempted from CLU charges. He said the Department of Housing and Urban Development had implemented this policy decision vide its notification (17/17/01-5HG2/1638) dated June 18, 2009. In pursuance of the policy decision, the Department of Local Government too would not levy CLU charges on hospitals, hotels and industries in the municipal limits. Shanta Kumar seeks co-ordination panel The differences between the BJP and the SAD are increasing. Both have been assuming different positions on public issues. Shanta Kumar, in charge of party affairs in Punjab, today urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to immediately form a co-ordination committee to iron out “small” irritants.
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Police intimidating Cong
workers: Preneet
Patiala, August 6 She said she had written to the commission earlier also, but nothing tangible had come out so far. Her complaint reads: “Emboldened with support of the state government and its machinery, the goons of Akali Dal, transported in from different parts of Punjab as also from Haryana, are indulging in all sorts of notorious activities, creating panic among the people of the constituency.” “We apprehend violent clashes as threats are being issued to Congress workers by hoodlums of the ruling party at the behest of the ministers of the government camping in the constituency,” she said. The Shiromani Akali Dal has, meanwhile, described the allegations levelled by Congress candidate Preneet Kaur against the Punjab Police as “totally false, fabricated and politically motivated” and advised the Congress to desist from levelling such allegations against the police and the civil administration without any solid evidence. SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the Congress had taken the role of “habitual complainant”. The SAD-BJP leaders and workers were directly approaching the people of Patiala and convincing them about the policies and programmes of the SAD-BJP government, he said.
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Money no tool for winning elections: AAP candidate
Jagah Ram Teerth (Bathinda), August 6 Coming from a family in which her grandmother and her father had contested the SGPC elections, she had joined hands in campaign seeking a probe into the suicide by five family members of Gurjant Singh, a proclaimed offender policeman of Behman Jassa Singh Wala village, which had grabbed headlines of national dailies in 2007. “I feel AAP has come in as a whiff of fresh air in the morbid environs of Indian politics. People are fed up with the existing system of no hope, at least in Punjab. Our party made its beginning in Delhi and Punjab and more are joining hands,” she says. Belonging to an average family going by expected standards of expenditure during elections, Baljinder Kaur says, “Money is not the biggest tool for winning elections these days. A majority of people I have contacted said they needed a change and not money from the current set-up.”
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Kejriwal, Yadav to campaign in Patiala soon
Patiala, August 6 The electoral battle becomes crucial considering the fact that former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had won the seat three times, while Patiala MP Dr Dharamvir Gandhi had given a very tough fight to Congress candidate Preneet Kaur in the segment and the difference was around 7,500 votes only during the recently held Lok Sabha poll which was seen as a big achievement for AAP. Now, the leadership is eyeing to increase its vote share and cash in on resentment against both the Congress and the ruling SAD-BJP alliance. While AAP leader Jassi Jasraj visited Patiala two days ago and took part in a roadshow, senior AAP leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who was Lok Sabha candidate from Gurdaspur, visited Patiala today and addressed various public meetings apprising people of the policies of AAP and misdeeds of the SAD-BJP and the Congress. Moreover, considering the way AAP has emerged in Punjab, both the Congress and the ruling SAD-BJP alliance are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure their win. While Congress candidate Preneet Kaur attending multiple gatherings everyday and coordinating with her workers to avenge her last defeat, SAD candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja too is going door-to-door seeking votes in the name of his clean image and social services.
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Byelections may prove game changer for SAD
Muktsar, August 6 Former BJP Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu, his wife, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Navjot Kaur, senior BJP leader (now Governor) Balramji Das Tandon, Punjab BJP affairs in charge Shanta Kumar and Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi have made scathing remarks against the functioning of the Parkash Singh Badal-led government in the state. The SAD now wants to get its own numbers to run the government without any pressure. “So far, there is no move to break up the alliance, but winning two more seats will definitely decrease the burden, as the SAD alone will be having majority. Even if we win just one seat, the party will become stronger. It will also help in the forthcoming municipality elections,” said a SAD leader. He added that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir was daily getting feedback about the party’s activities from not alone the party leaders deployed in these two constituencies, but also from his close aides who are not much active in politics to get independent views. The SAD has pitted Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu and Bhagwan Dass Juneja from Talwandi Sabo and Patiala assembly segments respectively against the Congress’ candidates Harminder Singh Jassi and Preneet Kaur. Poll pundits feel that securing victory was not an easy task for any party in both of the seats, as the AAP has also fielded its candidates and it would be a triangular contest.
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Namdharis at loggerheads over water
Ludhiana, August 6 Immediately thereafter, seven members of the Namdhari Panthak Ekta Action Committee, Tirlok Singh, Malkit Singh, Manjit Kaur, Hardeep Singh, Mahinder Singh, Manmohan Singh and Rajwinder Kaur, sat on a fast. They only drink the water fetched from a Namdhari well. The situation became tense when the action committee members marched towards the Namdhari Shaheedi Samarak located near the civil hospital. The action committee members claimed they went to the Shaheedi Samarak only to fetch water from the well for the persons on fast. Meanwhile, members of another faction owing allegiance to sect leader Uday Singh also reached there. They allegedly stopped the action committee members from entering the Shaheedi Smarak. Sensing trouble, police officials, including ADCP-IV Harmohan Singh and ADCP-Crime Manjit Singh Dhesi reached there and tired to pacify members of the two groups. Action committee president Suba Darshan Singh said, "Offering water is a humanitarian gesture, but Thakur Uday Singh's men crossed all limits and refused us water from the well for the fasting Namdharis." Namdhari Darbar spokesperson Lakhvir Singh, however, said the allegations were baseless. No one was stopped from taking water from the well, he said. "Why will we object to drinking water? It is a propaganda of action committee members. There are several Namdhari wells across the city, but they chose Shaheedi Samarak just to take up a confrontation. Our president Surinder Singh received a call in the morning that some persons wanted to fetch water from the well. We informed the police. Only two persons were allowed to fetch water, but over 10 persons entered the premises and took up a confrontation with the guards present there," Lakhvir Singh said. Later, the matter was resolved and drinking water was fetched for the fasting Namdharis amidst police presence.
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Panchayats can now lease out common land
Moga, August 6 This policy was approved by the state Cabinet in October, 2013. Under the new rules, the panchayats can now lease out shamlat land for industrial, educational or commercial purposes for 33 years. The lease can be further renewed in public interest for a maximum period of 33 years or for a lesser period as agreed between the parties. The lease can be cancelled if the lessee is found misusing the land, does not begin work on the leased land within a year and does not complete the project within two years. The panchayats can lease out 50 per cent of the land to private persons, institutions, government departments, corporations, boards, cow shelters, de-addiction centres, old age homes, orphanages and schools for special children and 75 per cent to the Power Department or PEDA for setting up solar/renewable energy power projects. To fix the reserve price for this land, a local committee headed by the deputy commissioners are to be set up. These will comprise the district development and panchayat officer, district rural officer, block development and panchayat officer and the village panchayat. This committee will consider the nature of the land and its market price while fixing the reserve price. The rates fixed by the committee will remain in force for six months and reviwed thereafter. “... Any panchayat, with the prior approval of the state government, may transfer the shamlat land vested in it by way of sale to any government department, board, corporation or local authority for their own projects and schemes or for projects sponsored or aided by the state government having not less than 50 per cent share in such projects on rates fixed by the committee,” read the amended rules. New norms *
The panchayats may lease out shamlat land for industrial, educational or commercial purposes for 33 years *
The lease can be further renewed in public interest for a maximum period of 33 years or for a lesser period as agreed between the parties *
The lease can be cancelled if the lessee is found misusing the land, does not begin work on the leased land within a year and does not complete a project in 2 years *
The panchayats can lease out 50% of the land to private persons, institutions, govt depts, corporations, boards, cow shelters, de-addiction centres, old age homes, orphanages and schools for special children *
They can lease out 75% of the land to the Power Department or PEDA for setting up solar/renewable energy power projects *
A local committee headed by the deputy commissioners will determine the reserve price of the land
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Cotton factory in Abohar gutted
Abohar, August 6 A worker, Buta Singh, reportedly noticed smoke emanating at about 2.30 am from the factory at Gobind Nagari and informed the owners. Initially, fire brigade inspector Gurjant Singh Brar led the fire-fighting operations but after realising the gravity of the situation, he called for help from fire brigades in Fazilka and Malout, both located about 30 km away. A JCB machine was arranged to remove partially perished stacks to prevent further spread of fire as half a dozen model schools are also situated in Gobind Nagari and neighbouring localities. As two godowns were connected in the factory, the fire was doused only till the afternoon. Tehsildar Darshan Singh and city police in charge Baljinder Singh stayed there for several hours to monitor the fire control operations. Sources in the local fire station said the factory had no equipment to deal with fire emergency and the owners were not able to produce any safety certificate. Half of the factory building had collapsed till afternoon. The rest of the complex is also said to be unsafe now. Another such unit was gutted in fire on the Hanumangarh road last month. ‘Factory had no fire-fighting equipment’ *
Initially, only the local fire brigade was pressed into service. However, later help from fire brigades in Fazilka and Malout, both located about 30 km away, was sought *
Sources in the local fire station said the factory had no equipment to deal with fire emergency and the owners were not able to produce any safety certificate
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Rain leaves Patiala flooded, claims of civic body exposed
Patiala, August 6 While the Congress claims the government is not bothered about city residents, especially Patiala, SAD leaders claim enough funds have been released for the development of the city. Mayor Amrinder Bazaz had promised more funds and completion of pending works when he took over in April 2013, but not much has been done. The SAD-BJP combine has been in control of the corporation for the past over seven years, but it has failed to ensure repair of roads and solve the water accumulation problem. With the Patiala (urban) bypoll scheduled for August 21, more rainy spells in the coming days may make things difficult for the ruling alliance. “Today, it rained for only one hour but it was enough to expose the municipal corporation and the state government’s apathy towards city residents,” said Raman Jindal, a local trader. “I wish the SAD-BJP and the Congress, both see the kind of mess the city is in before they even approach us for votes,” he said. The Mayor has been repeatedly claiming that various projects are in the pipeline and these will be completed soon. SAD-BJP candidate Bhagwan Dass Juneja has also been promising more development in the city. He claims he will personally take up all pending projects.
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Protesters demand removal of toll plazas
Ropar, August 6 Members of various political parties, including CPI (M), Aam Aadmi Party, People’s Party of Punjab and SAD (A), trade unions and other organisations also participated in the protest. The protesters reached the toll plaza at 11am and blocked all lanes except one each on both sides so that no inconvenience was caused to commuters. Following the protest, the toll plaza authorities stopped collecting tax and let the vehicles pass through without paying the toll. CPI(M) state secretariat member Raghunath Singh criticised the government’s policy to charge toll from vehicle owners. The government was fleecing commuters as there were two such plazas from Kiratpur Sahib to Kurali and three from Bahram to Kurali. A vehicle owner had to pay toll at six places for journey between Pathankot and Kurali, he said. Mattu said: “One has to pass through a toll plaza at every 40 km in the state.” Committee’s senior vice-president Mahan Singh Rori, Kandi Sangharsh Committee general secretary Rana Karan Singh and Centre of Indian Trade Union Rupnagar district president Gurdev Singh Bagi alleged that maximum toll plazas had been set up in the Kandi area while there was no toll plaza in other parts of the state particularly the Malwa area.
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Eight districts get new SSPs
Chandigarh, August 6 SK Sharma, on promotion, had been posted DGP, Prisons, Punjab; RP Singh as ADGP/Traffic, Punjab; Jasminder Singh ADGP/IT & Tele, Punjab, C. Sita Ram Reddy ADGP/Training and Director, PPA, Phillaur, with headquarters at Chandigarh, Rajpal Meena ADGP/Provisioning; VK Bhawra Director, Bureau of Investigation, Punjab; Rohit Choudhary (on promotion) ADGP/GRP, Patiala; IPS SahotaADGP-cum-MD, PPHC, Chandigarh; Sanjeev Kalra IGP/Armed Battalions, Jalandhar; BK Garg IGP/Law and Order, Punjab; Gautam Cheema IGP/IT and T-II; Rakesh Chandra IGP/Commando, Bahadurgarh, Patiala; Mukwinder Singh Chinna DIG/Information Tech and Tele; Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh DIG, Jalandhar Range; Yurinder Singh Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur; Bikram Pal Singh Bhatty Deputy Commissioner Police, Amritsar; and Gursharan Singh Commandant-cum-Deputy Director, PPA, Phillaur. PPS officer Sukhwant Singh had been posted SSP, Ferozepur; Manminder Singh SSP, Batala; Manmohan Kumar SSP, Tarn Taran; Jasdeep Singh Saini SSP, Amritsar Rural; Jatinder Singh Khaira, SSP, Moga; and Rajjit Singh
SSP, Hoshiarpur.
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Armyman donates blood for 108th time
Abohar, August 6 Naib Subedar Suresh Kumar Saini, a Junior Commissioned Officer, has donated blood 78 times at Army camps and 30 times at civil camps since 1986, when he joined the Army. "I hope this inspires youth and elderly people to donate blood," Saini said. With today's donation, Saini has so far given 108 units of blood. “An average adult has a blood volume of about five litres in his body. It is safe to donate blood four times in a year,” he added. Notably, the JCO was honoured with a citation on January 15 this year by the Deputy Chief of the Army staff.
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PU panel to probe SC students’ allegations
Hoshiarpur, August 6 The students had alleged that the college authorities had “discriminated” against them by awarding them less marks in internal assessment. They alleged that all SC students had been awarded less than 60 per cent marks and general category students had been awarded much higher marks. They had reasoned not all SC students could be weak in studies. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Hoshiarpur, Anand Sagar Sharma said he had received a communication from the university regarding their visit. The district administration had forwarded the students’ complaint to the PU authorities on Friday. They received the reply from the university today. National Commission for Scheduled Castes Vice-Chairman Raj Kumar Verka also met the students who have been protesting outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office since yesterday. He said since an administrative inquiry was already on, he had asked the SDM, District Welfare Officer and the Superintendent of Police to look into the matter.
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Chandigarh, August 6 The minister said the aspirants had been allowed to carry home a copy of the answersheet along with the question paper for self-evaluation. Two days after the exam, the original answersheet would be uploaded on the official website. Students could file objections within five days of the declaration of results. He said TET-I would be conducted from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm and TET-II from 2.30 pm to 5 pm. Arrangements had been made for the physically challenged. They would get 20 minutes extra per hour. —TNS
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CM to unfurl National Flag in Patiala
Chandigarh, August 6 Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal will unfurl the National Flag in Ludhiana and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in Bathinda. An official spokesperson of the state government said that Cabinet Minister Chunni Lal Bhagat will unfurl the National Flag in Jalandhar, Ajit Singh Kohar in Moga, Gulzar Singh Ranike in Amritsar, Madan Mohan Mittal in Roop Nagar, Parminder Singh Dhindsa in Hoshiarpur, Sohan Singh Thandal in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Janmeja Singh Sekhon in Mansa, Surjit Kumar Jyani in Fazilka, Tota Singh in Ferozepur, Bikram Singh Majithia in SAS Nagar, Sikander Singh Maluka in Faridkot and Anil Joshi in
Kapurthala.
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6,000 dairy farmers join hands to set up plant in Ludhiana
These dairy farmers say they were not paid the appropriate price for the milk sold to private and state-run milk plants. They felt cheated when private milk plants would stop milk procurement in the wake of a fall in milk demand, adversely hitting their income. Under the aegis of Progressive Dairy Farmers Association, these farmers got together last year and set up their own public limited company called Progressive Dairy Solutions with 700 progressive dairy farmers as shareholders. These farmers are already begun operations through a hired plant. "After running the operations successfully, we have decided to set up our own plant. We will get a 50 per cent subsidy from the government to set up the plant with a capacity to process 1 lakh litres of milk. We expect that other than the 700 shareholders, another 5,000 farmers too will chip in to set up the plant," said Munish Sharma, general manager, Progressive Dairy Solutions. The new plant, being set up at the Food Park, Ludhiana, will be commissioned in November this year. While the procurement price available to dairy farmers from various state-run cooperatives and private milk plants is Rs 520-Rs 530 per kg fat, Progressive Dairy Solutions is offering a procurement price of Rs 540 per kg fat. Sharma says that all dairy farms have the capacity to supply 6 lakh-8 lakh litres of milk a day. During the lean season, they can supply 3lakh to 4 lakh litres of milk per day. "We are retailing milk under the La Pure brand. Other than milk, we are processing curd, buttermilk, cotton cheese, ghee and flavoured milk. "We are maintaining a bacterial load less than 2 lakh counts as compared to other brandswith a bacterial load of 20 lakh counts," claims Sharma. Unique initiative *
Farmers set up their own public limited company called Progressive Dairy Solutions with 700 progressive dairy farmers as shareholders *
The state-of-art milk plant will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore *
Farmers will get a 50 per cent subsidy from the government to set up the plant with a capacity to process 1 lakh litres of milk
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Power corporation reintroduces VDS
Jalandhar, August 6 The categories of power consumers under the scheme are domestic supply/non-residential supply, small power, medium supply and agricultural pumps. KD Chaudhri, PSPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), said the VDS had been re-introduced from August 5 till October 4. Earlier, the VDS was introduced from March 1 to July 31. During the period, the cash-strapped power corporation
generated a revenue of Rs 99.54 crore. Chaudhri said, “In the light of the overwhelming response from power consumers, we asked the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to re-introduce the scheme. The PSERC has now granted us permission to do so.” As per the data provided by the PSPCL (see box), a total of 97,611 power consumers benefited from the scheme. The maximum consumers (71,440), who got their load regularised, were from the agricultural sector. “The revenue generation in the agricultural sector stood at Rs 82.81 crore,” said Chaudhri. Chaudhri further said that the VDS not only generated revenue, but also helped in ensuring that the power distribution system did not get overloaded on account of unauthorised load. "The VDS is helping the cash-strapped PSPCL in generating additional revenue,” said a senior PSPCL officer, on condition of anonymity.
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Info on Obama’s decision to invite Modi sought
Washington, August In its FOIA filed before the State Department, the New York-based Sikh for Justice
(SFJ) has also sought documents related to the visa ban of Modi after August 2005. In 2005, the US State Department had revoked a visa that Modi had for travelling to the US in the wake of the 2002 riots in Gujarat. He never applied for an American visa after the US move. Following his historic win in the General Election this year, President Barack Obama called Modi personally and invited him for a meeting in September. White House officials say,
"Obama is looking forward to welcoming Modi." Urging the Department of State to expedite, the SFJ's FOIA states that
"Modi's visa was cancelled by the US Government in 2005 for his alleged involvement in serious human rights violations during 2002 massacre in Gujarat while he was the Chief Minister of that state. "Since Modi is due to arrive in the US during September this year and is scheduled to attend a summit at the White House, it is urgent that public be aware of how and under what US law a decision was taken to reverse ban on the issuance of visa to
Modi". "The law requires USDOS to respond to such FOIA requests within 20 business days," the rights group said.— PTI
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Sikh man called ‘terrorist’ by US driver who ran truck over him
New York, August 6 Sandeep Singh, 29, is recovering from injuries he sustained when he was hit by a pick-up truck and dragged about 30 feet following an argument with the driver who used the racist slur against him on July 30. Singh's Sikh-American wife Prabhpreet Kaur was among the many members of the Sikh community and civil rights groups who gathered in Queens yesterday for a support rally organised by rights group Sikh Coalition calling for justice for Singh and that the attack be investigated by the New York Police Department and the FBI as a hate crime. Members of the community, including women and children, held posters at the rally with
messages. Kaur said her husband was called a "terrorist" and told to "go back to your country" by the truck driver. When Sandeep protested, he was run over and dragged for 30 feet under the truck and was left to die. "What happened to my husband was an act of hate perpetrated by a man who expressed bigotry before running him over. This attack is not only an attack on my husband, it is an attack on the Sikh community. It is an attack on Americans," Kaur said. She urged the public to come forward with any information about the driver and help get justice for Singh who had "nearly lost his life". In an audio message, Singh said in a soft and frail voice that he was attacked because he is a Sikh. He said justice should be served so that no one else goes through what he went through. "I am in a great deal of pain, but I will survive...we need to create a world without hate," Singh
said. Kaur said the attack on her husband came around the second anniversary of the Oak Creek gurdwara shooting in which six Sikhs were killed. "As we remember them today, I urge the NYPD and the FBI to investigate the attack on my husband as a hate crime." The rally aimed to draw attention to Singh's plight. — PTI
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Sikh trader killed, 2 hurt in Pak attack
Peshawar, August 6 The incident occurred at Shadab market in the Hashtnagri area of Peshawar where the victims associated with cosmetic business were ambushed, SP City Mustafa Tanvir told
PTI. Unknown gunmen opened indiscriminate fire killing Jagmot Singh and injuring Param Singh and Manmit Singh - residents of Mohallah Jogan Shah, Dabgari bazaar, in the city, he said, adding the victims were believed to be relatives. — PTI
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Hoshiarpur court rejects Cheema’s application
Hoshiarpur, August 6 Khera had alleged that they had “forged” two constitutions of the SAD to get it registered as a political party with the Election Commission as well as with the Gurdwara Commission. Khera told The Tribune that the two had already produced before the court copies of the constitution submitted by the party. “While the SAD has produced a copy of the party constitution submitted to the Election Commission, it has been reluctant to produce a copy submitted to the Gurdwara Commission. The court had asked the SAD general secretary, Daljit Singh Cheema, to produce the same before the court. But the latter filed a petition before the sessions court against the order which was dismissed at a previous hearing”. Khera’s counsel Shakti Singh Saini said: “Cheema’s advocate moved an application under Section 315 of the CrPC. He argued that since Cheema was an accused in the complaint, he could not be asked to be a witness and produce evidence. We maintained that since the counsel had filed an application duly signed by Cheema, he should be considered present in the court. The court rejected the application and issued a direction to his counsel to produce him in the court with the documents on the next date of hearing.”
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HC: Cops must ensure help to rape victims for MTP
Chandigarh, August 6 The directions by Justice K Kannan came in case of a 14-year-old pregnant rape victim. The victim and her family were against retaining the pregnancy. But a sub-divisional magistrate refused to permit the termination of pregnancy as he was of the view that application for the same was not maintainable. Taking up the matter, Justice Kannan asserted: “To ensure that the victim of rape who becomes pregnant does not lose time by applying from court to court, general instructions should be issued by the Director-General of Police to all police stations... to render all assistance to secure appropriate medical opinion and also provide assistance for admission in government hospitals and render medical assistance as a measure of support to the traumatised victim”. Justice Kannan said: “The need to apply to the court for permission would arise only in a situation where there is a conflict on whether the pregnancy must be terminated or not or when the opinions of two medical practitioners differ. “It is hardly necessary in a situation where there is no contest and the victim gives her consent and the guardian also gives consent and there is proof of such pregnancy being a result of the offence of rape. This instruction shall also be circulated to all station inspectors manning police stations in the State of Punjab”. Referring to the case in hand, Justice Kannan added: “In a matter relating to termination of pregnancy of a minor, who is a victim of rape, there needs to be a greater sense of urgency which has been lost in this case. Thankfully, things are not far too beyond the period when appropriate reparation is still possible. Between the time when the party has appeared before the magistrate on July till now, four additional weeks have passed”. “If the investigating officer comes by the information that the offence of rape has resulted in pregnancy and the victim had expressed that she did not want to retain the foetus, the State could have assisted the victim to secure the necessary certification and admitted her in a government hospital or a recognized institution for carrying out the other medical procedure necessary for such termination,” Justice Kannan asserted.
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Two brothers get life term for murder
Ropar, August 6 The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 each on Varinder Singh alias Lalli and Lakhwinder Singh alias Babbu, both residents of Garhiwala Mohalla, Chamkaur Sahib. Sources said Avtar Khan, a resident of Thona village, was found lying unconscious near Simbal Jhalian village. Avtar had suffered serious head injuries while his mobile phone and Rs 20,000 were found missing from the spot. The next day, the victim died at the PGI, Chandigarh. A few days later, the accused were arrested and a baseball bat used in the crime and the mobile phone of the deceased were recovered from them.
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5-yr-old boy kidnapped in Amritsar
Amritsar, August 6 A Class I student, Harvanshbir had just returned from the school when some motorcycle-borne youths abducted him around 12.45 pm. An alert was sounded in the area and all entry and exit points to the city were sealed, but the kidnappers could not be arrested so far. The conductor of the school bus dropped Harvanshbir on the road in the afternoon. The boy was just about to enter his house, when two youths standing there picked him up and fled on their motorcycle. Their two accomplices, who were waiting on another motorcycle just a few metres away, also made good their escape. Gurdev Singh Chhina, owner of the house and an eyewitness to the incident, chased them, but to no avail. He said when the bus arrived, he saw a youth standing inside the house. "I shouted at him and asked him who he was. On seeing me, he moved out of the house. Meanwhile, Harvanshbir reached there. They picked him up, covered his mouth and fled. I chased them for a few metres, but could not catch them. I immediately informed the police," he said. Senior police officials, including Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh reached the spot. The driver and the conductor of the school bus were rounded up for questioning. Parents of the boy, Harpinder Singh and Navjot Kaur, are government schoolteachers. They are posted in a village near Patti. They had shifted to Amritsar around four months ago for better education of their child and had taken this accommodation on rent. Victim's uncle Sukhbir Singh said Harpinder did not have enmity with anyone. The family had not received any call for ransom call, he added. A case of kidnapping has been registered at the Civil Lines police station. "The family members have denied having enmity with anyone and there is no ransom call till now. We are working on various theories and hope to make a breakthrough in the case soon," the Police Commissioner said. No ransom call *
Harvanshbir, 5, lived with his parents in a rented accommodation in Ranjit Avenue area *
He reached home from school in the afternoon and was kidnapped by some motorcycle-borne youths just when he was about to enter the house *
There is no ransom call so far and the police have rounded up the driver and conductor of the school bus for questioning
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Primary Education Officer suspended
Jalandhar, August 6 Education Secretary Anajali Bhawara confirmed here today that Lakha had been placed under suspension. The BPEO happens to be the third department employee from the district to be suspended in a month. DEO (Secondary) Kuldeep Kumar and clerk Bir Meherban were suspended earlier. Lakha faces allegations of harassing female teachers and education volunteers, misappropriation of funds, allocation of over 15-day foreign leaves to employees (which technically doesn't fall under his jurisdiction) etc. Amidst regular complaints and protests against Lakha, an inquiry against him was marked to the CEO, Jalandhar, over a week ago. The inquiry was initially marked to CEO Hukam Chand, but he later marked it to a three-member committee. Irked over the tardy pace of inquiry, activists of the Government Teachers Union have been holding demonstrations for over a week demanding the transfer of Lakha to some other district so that he might not influence the inquiry against him. The protesters were also demanding the revocation of his state-awardee status. An inquiry report on the issue was submitted to Jalandhar CEO Hukam Chand today.
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Man commits suicide after killing wife
Abohar, August 6 Their son saw Kaushalya’s body in a pool of blood when he entered their bedroom this morning. A spade was found near her body. Station House Officer Vijay Meena said a case had been registered against Sohan on the basis of a complaint lodged by Kaushalya’s bother Mahabir
Prasad.
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To avert any clash among followers of the Namdhari sect, police personnel were seen fetching water from a well belonging to the sect today. The development took place this afternoon when Namdhari couple Harvinder Singh and Parveen Kaur ended their five-day-long fast.
Immediately thereafter, seven members of the Namdhari Panthak Ekta Action Committee, Tirlok Singh, Malkit Singh, Manjit
Kaur, Hardeep Singh, Mahinder Singh, Manmohan Singh and Rajwinder Kaur, sat on a fast.
A brief spell of rain today exposed the state government’s tall claims over development as many parts of the city going to the polls on August 21 were inundated.
While the Congress claims the government is not bothered about city residents, especially
Patiala, SAD leaders claim enough funds have been released for the development of the city.
Members of the Toll Plaza Virodhi Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, today staged a dharna demanding removal of the toll plazas from the state at Solakhian toll plaza here. The protest was led by committee patron Darshan Singh
Mattu. Members of various political parties, including CPI (M), Aam Aadmi Party, People’s Party of Punjab and SAD (A), trade unions and other organisations also participated in the protest.
“I have noticed a large number of men maintaining a record of people and workers attending my meetings. Later on, they were selectively intimidated and threatened to withdraw from campaigning,” she said in a communication to the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
Baljinder Kaur, who quit her English lecturer job to join politics as a full-fledged career, said: “I still cannot believe that not even a single participant from Punjab got an individual gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.” “I also cannot believe that a sizeable number of youth from the state are not found physically fit when they went for Army recruitments. Sikh face was the pride of the Indian Army,” she said.
Chandigarh, August 6