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Separate gurdwara panel demand only in Cong-ruled states: Badal
Tributes paid to Beant Singh
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Assassin’s brother honoured
Kidnapping of proclaimed offender
Paper leak: Army exam cancelled, nine arrested
Shanta: Gill’s induction into BJP was wrong
Will bounce back, claims AAP
250 clerks awaiting posting orders cry foul
It’s a plot to defame him, says Daduwal’s family
Rs 41 lakh aid for terror-hit families
Children at anganwaris go without food
Activists to intensify campaign against water pollution
River interlinking won’t help: Patkar
Reforms in irrigation sector a must: Experts
Badal wants UPSC exam centre in state
Pension for soldier’s widow after 12 yrs
ESI norms come in way of infant’s treatment
Bugs attack paddy crop
104-year-old building cries for repair
Merge PRTC with Punjab Roadways, say pensioners
Change in rail route flayed
Rs 68 lakh govt property damaged in Muktsar: RTI plea
Sham marriages
HC upholds snapping power to crushers operating sans licence
Remand for cop held with 10 kg heroin
Lok adalat quashes PSPCL’s demand
Girl's body found from Bhakra canal
Two rape cases in Sangrur
3 killed in mishap, mob gheraoes car
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Separate gurdwara panel demand only in Cong-ruled states: Badal
Talwandi Sabo, August 31 Citing the Congress-ruled governments in Maharashtra and Haryana, he alleged the rejected leaders were unnecessarily meddling in the affairs of the Sikhs. While the Haryana Assembly had given a go-ahead to the formation of a separate gurdwara committee, Maharashtra okayed a move to reduce the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) representation in the governing board at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded. The Chief Minister is in Talwandi Sabo on a three-day thanksgiving tour (it began yesterday) after the SAD-BJP candidate's victory in the recent Assembly byelection. "The Congress leaders are trying to disturb peace by meddling in the affairs of the Sikh community. The Haryana and Maharashtra governments are acting at the behest of the Congress leaders from Punjab who are upset over their repeated electoral losses at the hands of the SAD-BJP coalition," he said. He alleged the appointment of office-bearers by the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee was an unethical move. "Moreover, this rebellious group has already been rejected by the Sikhs during the SGPC elections,” he said. Badal alleged Maharashtra had also adopted an anti-Sikh stance by marginalising the SGPC in the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Board. Badal today visited Singo, Behman Jass Singhwala, Natheha, Behman Kaur Singhwala, Laleana, Fatehgarh Nauabad, Nangla and Lehri villages. He was accompanied by a battery of senior government functionaries amid a heavy posse of police. He listened to the grievances of the villagers and offered grants for developmental works. Talwandi Sabo MLA Jeetmohinder Singh Sidhu, PUNSUP chairman Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema were among those who accompanied Badal. ‘Will raise Georgia issue with Centre’ Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said he would raise with the Centre the issue of Punjabi farmers being left in the lurch by the Georgian government. The Tribune had highlighted how Georgia had refused visas to Punjabi farmers who had purchased agricultural land in the country. "I will take up the issue of safeguarding the interests of the Punjabi farmers who have invested in Georgia," he said.
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Tributes paid to Beant Singh
Chandigarh, August 31 Prominent among those present were Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Laal Singh, Amrik Singh Dhillon, Randeep Singh Nabha, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Mohinder Kaypee and Kharar MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu. Among the family members of the slain CM at the prayer meeting were his son Tej Parkash Singh and grandsons Ravneet Singh Bittu, Ludhiana MP, and Khanna MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli. Bittu said he was happy at the ongoing work at the memorial. Beant Singh was assassinated on August 31, 1995, by a suicide bomber outside the Punjab Secretariat. The Chandigarh Administration has approved drawings for more buildings at the Beant Singh Memorial. These are a “sarva dharm repository,” a cafeteria, an exhibition-cum-multipurpose hall and a convention centre-cum-auditorium.
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Assassin’s brother honoured
Amritsar, August 31 A message from the UK unit of the Babbar Khalsa was read out by Akhand Kirtani Jatha chief Giani Baldev Singh. As the Sikh leaders raised pro-Khalistan slogans, they were stopped by the head granthi. Kanwar Pal Singh of the Dal Khalsa said since Akal Takht had declared Dilawar Singh a martyr on March 23, 2012, there should be no hitch in installing his portrait in the gurdwara museum. “We have passed a resolution to this effect and will hand it over to the Akal Takht Jathedar tomorrow, urging him to direct the SGPC to do the needful. Dilawar Singh’s sacrifice for the community should be part of Sikh history,” he said. Among others present at the bhog were Akal Takht Head Granthi Giani Gurmukh Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, Harpal Singh Cheema, Giani Baldev Singh, Sarbjit Singh Ghuman, Harbir Sandhu, Prof Mahinder Pal Singh and Gurbax Singh Haryana.
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Kidnapping of proclaimed offender
Mohali, August 31 Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti said a case under Sections 365, 452, 342, 225, 506 and 120B of the IPC had been registered against Cheema, Chaudhary and two other unidentified persons. Cheema had forcibly taken away Sumedh Gulati, a co-accused of coloniser Davinder Singh Gill in a Rs 2-crore land fraud case, from the police station. Gulati was arrested by the police from Max Hospital two hours before the incident and he was being questioned at the police station at that time. The Mohali police caught Gulati from the hospital's premises again after a chase. Earlier, he was nabbed when he went to meet Gill's wife Krispy Khaira at the hospital, where she had been admitted following a suicide bid. Krispy had filed a complaint of molestation against Cheema and Chaudhary. According to the police, both Cheema and Chaudhary have gone underground. "We conducted raids at Cheema's residence at Sector 8, Chandigarh, and Chaudhary's residence at Ambala, but could not find them," said SSP Bhatti. On being asked about the two other accused in the case, he said they were yet to be identified. Krispy’s husband Davinder Singh Gill and Gulati jointly owned a Mohali-based company, Sky Heights, in which Ajay Chaudhary’s father was executive director. “Cheema was involved in several transactions carried out by the company. He later fell out with my husband and Chaudhary and framed both my husband and his partner (Gulati) in a fraud case,” alleged Krispy. A case against four persons, including Gill and Gulati, was registered at Mohali’s Phase I police station. They were declared “proclaimed offenders” by a Mohali court on May 19. Meanwhile, a woman named Rashmi filed a rape case against Gill with the Panchkula police while Krispy filed a molestation complaint against Cheema and Chaudhary with the Mohali police. Gill has been arrested by the Panchkula police. The Mohali police is holding an inquiry into Krispy’s complaint.
The charges
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Paper leak: Army exam cancelled, nine arrested
Abohar, August 31 The accused have been identified as former 2nd lieutenant Parwinder Singh, Subedar (retd) Abhilash Singh of Roopnagar village (Jodhpur), Arjun Singh of Gurechha village (Bhopalgarh), Taru Lal Meghwal (Bhagwati Nagar), Tejveer Singh Yadav, Vikas Jatav and Mahesh Bairagi of Rohita village (Merrut), Surinder Singh (Agra) and Pramod Singh of Choohriwala village (Ghaziabad). Rajasthan police Sub-Inspector Subhash Kachhwaha said efforts were on to nab more persons. Sources said Special Operation Group Inspector Madan Singh gathered information about the persons who had been running a recruitment guidance institute at Ajmer and other places in Rajasthan. Sources said applicants were to pay Rs 2 lakh to pass the written test, which was to be held at Army School complex in Bikaner. The aspirants were told to visit some hotels in Bikaner a few days ago. They were to be supplied question papers and answer sheets last night at Bikaner. The joint team of the SOG and Rajasthan police laid a trap near Karni Stadium, Bikaner last night. Nine persons were nabbed, when they ferried 40 aspirants on a bus. Four bundles of duplicate question paper had been seized. The police said Army Recruitment Board Director Colonel Ajay Kapoor had been informed about the scam. The scam
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Shanta: Gill’s induction into BJP was wrong
Jalandhar, August 31 Speaking to The Tribune at a function here, Shanta claimed the SAD and the BJP were coalition partners and Gill’s induction into the BJP “violated the coalition dharma”. Gill, former Punjab Director General of Police who had lost the 2012 Assembly elections from Moga on the SAD ticket, joined the BJP at a rally in Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) recently in the presence of the new party president, Amit Shah. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had objected to the switchover, alleging the BJP was poaching the Akali Dal leaders. “Gathbandhan mein rehte hue yeh nahin hona chahiye tha (With the SAD and BJP being in a pact, this should not have happened),” he said, stressing the need to keep the traditions of the coalition dharma intact. He said Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma would look into the matter and talk to the party functionaries in Jammu. About any reshuffle of the BJP ministers in Punjab, Shanta said there was no such plan currently.
Unethical move?
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Will bounce back, claims AAP
Jalandhar, August 31 Addressing the media here today, party's national spokesperson Sanjay Singh admitted that the party made certain mistakes that cost them dear in the byelections. He said: "We will rectify our flaws to put up a strong front against the SAD-BJP and the Congress. Our political rivals are going overboard to issue statements that AAP is finished. We will soon organise a rally in Punjab with an estimated turnout of up to two lakh people to show our mass support base." The AAP leader alleged the drug trade was thriving in the state because of a nexus between smugglers, politicians and the police. “It has been unanimously decided in the AAP state executive meeting today to appoint party's Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann as chairman of the state campaign committee. Mann will take care of the issues concerning youth, particularly unemployment,” he said. The party’s Punjab convener, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, said he would not tolerate indiscipline in the party. 'Nothing to do with shoe-hurling incident' Bhagwant Mann condemned Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for giving "political colour" to the shoe-hurling incident. "Badals are linking the incident with AAP, particularly me. But the reality is that it was the result of brewing resentment among unemployed youth against the government. We will support Bikram in his legal battle to save him for further harassment," he added.
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250 clerks awaiting posting orders cry foul
Chandigarh, August 31 The Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) had recruited 1,000 clerks more than a month ago. “While 750 were issued appointment letters within days, 250 were left out. We suspect foul play. Those with connections have been given plum postings,” said an appointee. He said most of those appointed as clerks were to be posted in the Civil Secretariat, the office of the DPI-Schools and the Rural Development Department. He said they had been told that the postings had been delayed because the authorities were yet to receive police verification reports. Some appointees termed this as a mere ploy to ensure that those with political connections were given plum postings in the Civil Secretariat and other departments. But Santa Singh Umedpur, PSSSB chairman, said: “After fresh recruits are recommended for a posting, their academic and other certificates are verified. This takes time. Also, there have been technical problems with wings of some departments merged.The matter will be sorted out soon.” Of the total clerks, 220 are to be deputed in the state Education Department. They would be given recruitment letters on August 31, said Dr DS Cheema, Education Minister. He said another 5,823 teachers would be recruited by September-end. The minister said of the 220 clerks, 165 would be deputed at the circle and district-level offices and 55 at the head office. He claimed that all postings would be on merit alone.
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It’s a plot to defame him, says Daduwal’s family
Faridkot, August 31 Police officials in Faridkot today circulated a note, purportedly written by Daduwal, announcing his resignation from the HSGMC for its decision to contest the Haryana Assembly elections on the Congress ticket. The handwritten note calls HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda’s decision in this regard as unfortunate. “The only reason for setting up the HSGMC was to take proper care of their gurdwaras in Haryana. But after the HSGMC members’ announcement that they would contest the Haryana Assembly elections on the Congress ticket, there is no reason for me to stay in the HSGMC as I am only a Sikh preacher,” reads the letter, supposedly signed by Daduwal, However,Sukhmeet Kaur, Daduwal’s wife, and her father, Gurmeet Singh, claimed that the letter was “fake” and was meant to discredit Daduwal and tarnish his image among his followers. “Daduwal was in the custody of the Mansa police till yesterday afternoon. He was sent to the Faridkot Central Jail in the evening amid high security. It is highly unlikely that he wrote the letter and handed it over to the police to be distributed among the people,” they said. Kulwinder Singh Seikhon, Daduwal’s counsel, was of the same view. He said he smelled a conspiracy to discredit his client. Jhinda denied he had announced to contest the Haryana Assembly elections on the Congress ticket. “This is a conspiracy by the Punjab government to defame Daduwal. First, the police reopened cases against him to keep him in custody. Now, it is trying to create fissures in the HSGMC by spreading rumours,” he alleged.
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Rs 41 lakh aid for terror-hit families
Jalandhar, August 31 The function, organised by the Hind Samachar Group, was attended by people from different walks of life. Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Das Tandon was the chief guest. He flagged off two trucks carrying relief material for the militancy-affected families in Jammu and Kashmir. Tandon said, “All political parties along with the government should work together to end terrorism.” BJP’s Punjab affairs in charge Shanta Kumar said terror had no religion. Among those present were Vijay Kumar Chopra, Hind Samachar Group's Chief Editor; Raj Chengappa; Editor-In-Chief, The Tribune Group of Newspapers; Kamal Sharma, BJP state president; Virendra Kataria, Puducherry ex-Lieutenant Governor; Daljit Singh Cheema, Education Minister; Sunil Jakhar, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly; Partap Bajwa, PPCC president; PK Mahanta, former Assam CM; social activist Medha Patkar, HP Vidhan Sabha Speaker BBL Butail, INLD MP Dushyant Chautala, CPS KD Bhandari, BJP MLA Manoranjan Kalia and Jalandhar Mayor Sunil
Jyoti.
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Children at anganwaris go without food
Ropar, August 31 Officials at the Social Security and Women and Children Development Department said the advance bills to purchase ration under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) were not cleared by the treasury in December last year. Moreover, the Accountant General (AG), Punjab, delayed in delegating powers of drawing and disbursing officer (DDO) to them in the new fiscal, leading to further problem. Sources said the bills were not approved as there was no money available with the state government to release for the ration. Around Rs 80 crore, including 90 per cent of the matching grant from the Centre, is spent under the SNP of the Child Development Service Scheme (ICDS) in the state to give rice, "dalia" and "panjeeri" to around 10 lakh poor children, pregnant women and lactating mothers enrolled with anganwaris so that they do not suffer due to malnutrition. Not even a single grain of rice or wheat was available for 50,000 children at 857 anganwaris of Ropar district since April as the advance bills submitted to the treasury in December were not approved. The stock at remaining nearly 26,000 anganwaris in the state has also exhausted, leaving the beneficiaries without food. This is a violation of the Supreme Court order dated October 7, 2004, where it said all state governments and Union Territories should allocate funds for the ICDS at the rate of one rupee per child per day for 300 days of feeding in a year. The amount was gradually raised to Rs 6 per beneficiary. Enquiries made at Agampur village in Anandpur Sahib block of Ropar revealed that the children had not got food at anganwaris after March. Kuldip Kaur, anganwari worker at Pipal Majra, near Chamkaur Sahib, said she had enrolled 26 children and they could not be provided food after December as no ration was available at the anganwari. At Behrampur village in Banga block of Nawanshahr district, 28 kids had not got any food since April. At Mustafabad anganwari in Amritsar district, worker Usha Rani said she had 30 children enrolled and all ration had been exhausted by now. At Shahpur village in Amloh block of Fatehgarh Sahib, anganwari worker Sarbjit Kaur said no eatables could be provided to beneficiaries since April. Programme implementing officer at Ropar Anshu Thakur said the anganwari workers in the district somehow managed the things till March this year, but food could not be provided to children and women enrolled at anganwaris after that.
Awaiting approvals
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Activists to intensify campaign against water pollution
Abohar, August 31 After organising a dozen meetings in various cities, Hanumangarh Zila Parishad chairperson Shobha Doodi and vice chairperson Shabnam Godara said in Hanumangarh today that the Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment and Research Institute had seen a steep rise in the number of patients. They said 8,000 fresh cases had been recorded. They said Punjab was one of the most prosperous states in India, but this prosperity came at a price. Shabnam said indiscriminate and unscientific use of chemicals on land had made it medically and environmentally unsustainable. The petitioners said that Abohar and Fazilka villages, which they had recently visited, had witnessed a spurt in the number of deaths. “Cancer carries a stigma and no one wants to talk about it. Several people in Punjab suffer from cancer due to intensive use of chemicals in its fields. Moreover, the highly mechanised farming has taken a toll on the water table,” Shobha said. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission, while releasing the plan for states for 2012-13 said the Malwa region of Punjab, a cotton-growing belt, had the highest incidence of cancer in India. The state government had still not taken corrective measures to tackle the problem, Shabnam said. “There has been no decline in the number of follow-up cases either. In 2009, the Bikaner-based hospital received 6,138 new cases and 45,357 follow-up cases. In 2010, there were 6,295 new cases and 45,189 follow-ups. In 2011, new cases decreased to 5,787 and follow-up cases to 43,189. However, still 60 to 70 per cent of the new cases are from Punjab, the hospital authorities had confirmed in a report,” Shobha said. They said though some of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha members had responded to their letters and raised the issue in respective houses, more needed to be done. They said eminent environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal had assured them of extending cooperation whenever awareness campaigns would be organised in the Malwa region.
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River interlinking won’t help: Patkar
Ludhiana, August 31 Patkar was here today to meet the local activists of various NGOs under a programme, “National Alliance of People's Movements”. She said the linking of rivers was “no mean project as it would severely affect human lives, the ecology and environment”. “It will prove very costly. The politicians have been misleading the public on the linkage of rivers,” she said. About Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), she said the party leadership needed to work on various issues concerning the masses. "In the Lok Sabha elections, the Punjab people chose the party as an alternative to traditional outfits like the Congress and the Akali Dal. The AAP leaders need to keep up that momentum," she said. On drugs, Patkar said it was a major issue afflicting Punjab. "But Punjab is not the only state facing the menace. The situation is even worse in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha. We will start a nationwide movement against drugs on October 2," she said.
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Reforms in irrigation sector a must: Experts
Chandigarh, August 31 Some speakers suggested a critical analysis of the impact of free power to the farm sector for operating tube wells. There has been a steady decline in the water table. The table is likely to go down by 75 cm this year. Financial Commissioner Suresh Kumar said: “There is a need for an agriculture sustainability programme in the state”. He suggested a re-assessment of the available water resources for better planning and allocation. On the power subsidy, the officer said the state was looking for innovative approaches to address concerns. Dr BS Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Prof Upmanu Lall, Director, Columbia Water Centre, called for bold policy decisions. AS Dullet, Chief Engineer, Canals, speaking on the problem of waterlogging, said a comprehensive plan for augmenting surface water planning was a must. Dr Balwinder Singh, Commissioner, Agriculture, said the increasing use of groundwater for irrigation purposes had led to the depletion of aquifers. The current model benefited big farmers and there was an urgent need to address the concerns of small landholders, he said. Apurva Chaturvedi, programme management specialist, USAID, said there were no incentives for farmers crushed under the weight of high input costs. Dr Genevieve Connors, programme leader, World Bank, said they had made an investment of $20 billion in water and agriculture. Dr GS Kalkat, Chairman, Punjab State Farmers Commission, advocated crop diversification.
Some suggestions
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Badal wants UPSC exam centre in state
Chandigarh, August 31 In a letter to the minister, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said thousands of students from the state appear in the civil services examination. He pointed out that since there was no examination centre in the state, candidates had to travel to Chandigarh to appear in the examination. Many had to travel even a distance of 300 km to reach the centre, he said. The Chief Minister said most aspirants had to travel a day prior to the exam and make arrangements for their boarding and lodging in Chandigarh. "This results in economic hardships, mainly for the poor," the CM wrote. He added there were instances where bright students were unable to apply for the UPSC examination due to economic hardships involved.
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Pension for soldier’s widow after 12 yrs
Chandigarh, August 31 A Division Bench has also accepted the explanation furnished by Major BS Verma, issued notice through Ministry of Defence. He was, on a previous date of hearing, asked to explain his stand by filing an affidavit. Posted earlier as Senior Record Officer at Pune, Major Verma had filed a written statement in the case. In its previous order, the High Court had asserted that the case shocked its “judicial conscience”. The observation came nearly 12 years after Naik Mohammed Sabir Hussain died in an accident with a “civilian” Maruti car. After recording evidence, the Court of Inquiry expressed opinion that the victim was on “bona fide military duty” when the accident occurred. The report was subsequently accepted by Brigadier Station Commander. He too concluded that the death was attributable to bona fide military duty. But the respondents, with “mala fide” intentions referred to the deposition of a witness, and not the inquiry’s conclusion, to deny his widow Akhtari Khatun special family pension. As her initial petition against the denial was taken up by a Single Judge, a written statement was filed under Major Verma’s signatures. The respondents took the stand that the soldier had gone to the market to purchase ration for himself, and not for the unit. As such, special family pension could not be granted. The petition was then dismissed by the Single Judge on the basis of the statement. As the case came up for resumed hearing before the Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Kuldip, counsel for the Union of India produced photocopies of documents dated August 19 to show that special family pension had been sanctioned. The counsel added directions had been issued for release of payments.
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ESI norms come in way of infant’s treatment
Jalandhar, August 31 Although Harsh Verma is an Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESI) beneficiary (Insurance No. 2913216292), the department has refused to help him as he is yet
to complete the mandatory nine months’ ESI contribution period. The state government too
has refused him any financial support. Meanwhile, the child’s condition is deteriorating each passing day. She has developed acute infection. Dr Arun Gupta, Senior State Medical Commissioner, Punjab, said: “ I have some authority to amend the ESI guidelines but cannot go against the government policy.
Nevertheless, I had referred the case to the ESI headquarters in New Delhi, but there has been no response.”
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Bugs attack paddy crop
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 31 Farmers Swarn Singh of Damheri village, Gurmukh Singh Balada, Darshan Singh Hargana, Harbans Singh Issarhel and Malkit Singh said the hot and humid weather was conducive for the bugs to spread. They said they had to spray chlorpyrifos, monocratofas, calfedro in the fields to save their paddy crop. Farmers said they had to spend Rs 500 per acre on insecticides and Rs 200 on
labour. They said crop yield could go down from 5 to 7 quintal per acre and demanded that
the government order a special girdawari. Assistant Agriculture Officer Satish Kumar said the farmers shouldn’t panic and refrain from spraying harmful insecticides. He said chlorpyrifos should only be used if the bug is widespread.
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104-year-old building cries for repair
Sangrur, August 31 The animal husbandry authorities demanded Rs 5 lakh for the repair of the building from the Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab, about two years ago, but to no avail. The plaster has peeled off from the walls in the office of the Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, and its adjoining rooms. A semen bank is also functional in this building. Semen straws stored here are used for artificial insemination of cows and buffaloes. The rooms from which this unit is functioning are also in poor shape. The staircase and the ramp that lead to the office of the Deputy Director also present a bad picture. A veterinary hospital was functional in this building till March 1992. After the inauguration of the adjoining building of the veterinary polyclinic in April 1992, it was shifted there. The foundation stone of Rivaz-Ranbir veterinary hospital was laid on December 15, 1906, by then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Sir Charles M Rivaz. The building was inaugurated on November 8, 1910, by then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab Sir Louis W Dane. Heritage lovers say the state government should take immediate steps to preserve this building. They have urged the government to release funds for the restoration of the building. Fund crunch
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Merge PRTC with Punjab Roadways, say pensioners
Patiala, August 31 The corporation has not been able to release pension to its retired employees due to growing debt liability (over Rs 300 crore). Despite the High Court ordering the release of pension on the first of every month and the pensioners repeatedly holding protests, gate rallies and blocking traffic for the past many months, their pension has not been released. General secretary of the association Hari Singh Chamak said it was the third time this month that the management had backtracked from its promise of releasing pension for the past two months. "Although the High Court has pulled up the PRTC management on several occasions, they are not taking any steps to generate additional revenue. The fiscal health of the corporation is worsening. If they can't handle it, they should propose its merger with the Punjab Roadways so that all working employees and pensioners could get their dues on time," he added. Most of the pensioners were solely dependent on pension. Due to the non-release of the pension, they were finding it hard to make both ends meet. The state government should take the responsibility of the retired employees, he said. PRTC General Manager (Administration) Surinder Singh said it was up to the state government to decide as to whether they would want to merge the PRTC with the Punjab Roadways or not. However, the management would certainly welcome the move, he said. "It is only in Punjab that there are two transport organisations. In all other states, a single organisation manages the entire transport system. We are more than willing to be part of the government workforce, even if we have to forgo our seniority as it would be in the interest of employees," he added.
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Change in rail route flayed
Fazilka, August 31 Earlier, the train went from Jammu to Srigangangar via Ferozepur and Fazilka. But now the train has been diverted to Bathinda. The train will begin running on the new route from September 1. Every week, the train leaves Srigangangar on Wednesday and returns on Thursday. Sources said the route did not need to be changed as few other trains had already been running on Jammu-Bathinda-Sriganganagar track. They said now the direct rail link of this border area with Jammu would be snapped. Northern Railway Passenger Samiti president Amar Lal, who recently spearheaded the agitation for introducing more trains in the border area, criticised the decision.
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Rs 68 lakh govt property damaged in Muktsar: RTI plea
Muktsar, August 31 He said the court fee tickets worth Rs 16.96 lakh, special adhesive stamps worth Rs 54,000, bill stamps worth Rs 25.4 lakh and share transfer stamps worth Rs 20 lakh had got damaged. The district treasury office located in an old tehsil complex is in a shambles. The complex gets flooded regularly since it is located in a
low-lying area. Even the residential quarters located inside the complex are poorly maintained. Some officers have even vacated these buildings. The officials have demanded that all the existing offices be shifted from the old tehsil
complex.
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Sham marriages
Chandigarh, August 31 A high-level meeting of the Union Government representatives, InterPol, IB, CBI, police officials, members of the National Commission for Women and the Punjab Commission for NRIs was held in New Delhi a couple of days ago. A committee to study the legal aspects of extradition and repatriation was formed. The committee would explore the avenues of shortening the process but more significantly, it would study if fraudulent marriages could be brought under its ambit or not. Among others, the committee comprises members of the National Commission for Women, the CBI, police officials from Punjab and ADGP rank officer posted with the Punjab Commission for NRIs, said Justice Anand Kumar (retd), chairperson for the NRI Commission. It is estimated that over 30,000 sham marriages have taken place in the last decade. The police was largely helpless in taking action against the accused NRIs. The law enables the police to declare the NRI a proclaimed offender and attach his property. Of late, the police have also been empowered to get the passports impounded by the Indian Embassy officials concerned. Nearly 100 such passports of NRIs involved in fraudulent marriages, cheating on the pretext of settling a person abroad and property frauds were reportedly impounded last year. “But this did not provide direct relief to the victim,” said Anand Kumar. “The victims in India want to see the person in jail. Some have hopes that if the man is brought back, he may realise his crime and the marriage can be saved. An early extradition or repatriation can provide this opportunity,” he said.
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HC upholds snapping power to crushers operating sans licence
Chandigarh, August 31 Justice K. Kannan has upheld the Power Corporation's decision to disconnect supply to stone crushers operating without licences. The significance of the order can be gauged from the fact Justice Kannan has dismissed through a single order four civil writ petitions filed by Balwinder Singh and other petitioners. “The decision taken to disconnect supply in cases where there was no due licensing of the stone crusher was, therefore, an appropriate policy, which has a basis to ensure that all the regulatory laws are appropriately complied with, before a stone crusher enjoys the benefit of its commercial activity,” Justice Kannan has asserted. The petitioners had contended that operational stone crushers were sought to be brought under the purview of a new decision. As per the decision, the authorities under the Power Corporation were threatening disconnection of electricity, if the stone crushers were operational “without licences and registration under the Mining Officer, Pathankot”. Their counsel had contended that relevant provision of law contemplated action against those operating stone crushers without licences. They were liable to pay penalty, which could extend to two years imprisonment and with fine. He argued that action of withdrawing electricity connection could not be taken as the operators could only be prosecuted for offences. Unimpressed by the arguments, Justice Kannan asserted: “Electricity connection issued for industries is for a commercial purpose. A commercial purpose ought to conform to the regulatory laws. The provision for grant of electricity cannot be treated in isolation. “The Electricity Board cannot be compelled to do any act, which would be an offence elsewhere under some other enactment. If continuance of a stone crusher without a licence will constitute an offence under an Act of 1957 and relevant Rules, supply of electricity for such stone crusher would also be impermissible…. “Even a provision for temporary electricity requires the Electricity Board to demand that the consumer obtains necessary licence and permission from
the local authority concerned and from such other competent authorities under the Act….”
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Remand for cop held with 10 kg heroin
Amritsar, August 31 The police authorities have reportedly initiated the proceedings to sack the accused, Prabhdip Singh. The police had seized 10 kg of heroin from his possession. Prabhdip Singh was posted with a PCR team in Chheharta. Angrej Singh had recently come out of the jail on parole. Both were arrested at a naka near the Loharaka road. They were on their way to deliver the contraband to Delhi-based peddlers. Sources said Angrez had been smuggling drugs from Pakistan while Prabhdip used to deliver these to the designated persons. The Chheharta police said Prabhdip had been absent for past one month. Jainder Singh Aulakh, Police Commissioner, said he came to know about the incident only through the media. He said he was yet to receive a report from the State Special Operation Cell regarding the involvement of Prabhdip Singh in smuggling activities. "Appropriate action will be taken after I receive a report in this connection," he said. — TNS
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Lok adalat quashes PSPCL’s demand
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 31 The adalat also directed the PSPCL authorities to restore plaintiff's electricity connection as they failed to prove any misuse of power connection. PD Goel, Siddheshwar Sharma and Zora Singh, Chairman and members, respectively, also directed the PSPCL to pay Rs 2,500 to the applicant towards litigation costs. Plaintiff Kulwant Singh had stated that the PSPCL disconnected his electric motor connection in October 2013. When he moved an application against it on November 28, 2013, he came to know that PSPCL officials had conducted an inspection on March 1, 2013, and noticed some violations. The applicant said no inspection was conducted and that he did not violate any rule. The PSPCL alleged that Kulwant Singh got electricity connection under the "drip irrigation system" plan for the purpose of cultivating vegetables but he was using it to irrigate wheat crop. The lok adalat observed that the respondents only filed an affidavit by Engineer Surjeet Singh, who neither conducted the checking nor was a member of the checking party. It further said the respondents had also failed to place on record any checking report. Thus, the demand raised by the PSPCL was quashed.
The case
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Girl's body found from Bhakra canal
Patiala, August 31 Dharam Dev, Station House Officer, said the body was recovered from Jhunir head in Mansa district last night. It was handed over to the deceased's family after a postmortem at Rajindra Hospital, he said. The police said the victim belonged to Tappa in Barnala district. She was studying in a college in Chandigarh. Her friend, who also hailed from Tappa, and an eyewitness alleged the accused, Gurvinder of Gharali village in Bathinda, had picked her up from the college and fought with her on the way. The accused was accompanied by his friend Noni. The police have registered a case against Gurwinder and Noni. — TNS
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Two rape cases in Sangrur
Sangrur, August 31 Sukhjinder Singh has been booked under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Assault Act. The alleged accused is yet to be arrested. The victim alleged the accused raped her by making a promise to marry her. She alleged Sukhjinder raped a couple of days ago. In another case, the Sunam police registered a case against two persons of Sunam for allegedly raping a 23-year-old married woman, who has been residing in Chathe Nanherra village. The woman alleged she was in search of a rented accommodation in Sunam. She came in contact with Rajiv and Kamal. On the pretext of showing her a house, the accused called her to some place and raped her, she alleged. No arrest has been made so far.
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3 killed in mishap, mob gheraoes car
Abohar, August 31 Witnesses said Punjab Police Constable Prahlad Kumar, one of the occupants, brandished his revolver to disperse the mob. The police reached the site to rescue Prahlad Kumar, his mother, wife and the driver. A case has been registered against the driver, the police said. — OC
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CM Parkash Singh Badal here today said the Congress was allegedly frustrated with its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections and, thus, was resorting to “divide and rule” policy.
A prayer meeting was held on the death anniversary of assassinated Chief Minister Beant Singh at the Beant Singh Memorial here today.
Amritsar, August 31
Shanta Kumar, BJP parliamentarian from Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) and the party’s Punjab affairs in charge, here today said former Akali Dal leader Paramdeep Singh Gill’s induction into the saffron party should not have happened.
Jalandhar, August 31
Faridkot, August 31
The health of lakhs of children below the in age of six years is being compromised by the state government as no ration has been supplied to 26,652 anganwaris in different parts of state for the past four months.
Officials at the Social Security and Women and Children Development Department said the advance bills to purchase ration under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme
(SNP) were not cleared by the treasury.
Women activists, who filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal, have decided to intensify their campaign against industries based in Jalandhar and Ludhiana, which dump toxic chemical waste in the Sutlej and the Sirhind canal. “Savera”, an NGO, is spearheading the campaign.
Ludhiana, August 31
Jalandhar, August 31
The 104-year-old building of Jind State's "Rivaz-Ranbir veterinary hospital" is in a bad shape due to non-availability of funds for its repair. The office of the Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry,
Sangrur, is functioning from this building for the past more than two decades.
Women activists, who filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal, have decided to intensify their campaign against industries based in Jalandhar and Ludhiana, which dump toxic chemical waste in the Sutlej and the Sirhind canal. “Savera”, an NGO, is spearheading the campaign. Recently, the tribunal had told the Centre and the Punjab Government to file detailed replies in a PIL on unchecked pollution of canal water.
Experts participating in a workshop on “Water-agriculture-livelihood security (WEALS)”, organised under a USAID-funded project, have stressed on reforms in the irrigation sector to save the state from turning into a desert. They said the need of the hour was water and energy pricing.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that stone crushers operating without licences will be left powerless.