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Centre accepts proposal to increase NCB staff
State may follow Andhra to deal with farm
suicides
CM’s remark on need for SAd-BJP alliance triggers row
Berth for Sampla will help BJP get Dalit votes
Cong seeks white paper on state finances
Will field candidates from all wards in
Moga: Gill
Chief Secy gathers feedback on starting new ITI courses
Experts discuss India’s development story
Levying of fee: Dalit students protest in Muktsar
Muktsar leads in eco-friendly management of paddy stubble
BSF defers ‘Day Tourism’ at Attari
Cong workers block road in Sangrur
After the barbs, leaders warm up at wedding
Centre urged to resolve turban issue
Few takers for housing project in Fazilka
Trauma centres in coma
Bajwa accuses Akali govt of being
anti-Dalit
Giant turtle released into zoo lake
Govt to blame for delay in payment: Capt
Need to reform agri-banks, say experts
Sale of drugs: Framing of charges against cops adjourned
32 SC youths to get loan for self-employment
Relief material sent for J&K flood-hit
Livestock tourney to be held in Muktsar
Illicit liquor seized from Fazilka village
Amritsar resident held for gunhouse robbery
Child protection officer among 3 held for graft
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Rs 1,143 cr for JNNURM projects ‘withheld’, Congress protests
Abohar, November 7 Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Sunil Jakhar said Congress workers would lead protests in all the affected towns. At a dharna near Aggarsein Chowk, he said the then Union Development Minister, Kamal Nath, on February 11 informed him that the JNURM had been extended by another year. He said the scheme was extended to give relief to various states that had not submitted the projects in the prescribed period. He said New Delhi was then convinced that people didn’t have access to basic amenities in most towns of the state. The Centre had okayed the release of Rs 66.74 crore to renovate sewerage and construct roads in Abohar, Rs 53.81 crore for Sirhind, Rs 103.89 crore Barnala, Rs 16.76 crore Majitha, Rs 26.53 crore Bassi Pathana, Rs 21.63 crore Sannaur, Rs 78.33 crore Sangrur, Rs 34.15 crore Jaitu, Rs 19.66 crore Maur, Rs 16.69 crore Rampura Phul, Rs 3.19 crore Kot Fatta, Rs 61.27 crore Sangat Mandi, Rs 4.62 Bhucho Mandi, Rs 7.36 crore Goniana, Rs 10.85 crore Raman Mandi, Rs 65.21 crore Nabha, Rs 74.55 crore Faridkot, Rs 90.43 crore Kotkapura, Rs 138.84 crore Phagwara, Rs 9.39 crore Sardulgarh, Rs 34.23 crore Mansa, Rs 28.84 crore Budhlada, Rs 15.79 crore Bareta, Rs 130.98 crore Khanna and Rs 29.53 crore Guru Har Sahai. Jakhar said Ashok Kumar Gupta, Secretary, local bodies department, had stated in the Punjab and Haryana High Court that no project was pending under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) of the Central Government. During the hearing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Abohar councillors, the secretary stated on October 27 that despite his best efforts, no funds had been released for the projects. He said the state was not in a position to arrange funds to the tune of Rs 1,143.67 crore to renovate sewerage and water supply. On October 16, Sukhbir Badal announced that all the towns in the state would be equipped with sewerage and drinking water facility by December 2015.
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Rs 1,500 crore meant for pensioners diverted
Bathinda, November 7 In a shocking revelation, Rs 1500 crore meant for disbursing pensions to the beneficiaries has been diverted to pay for free power to the farmers. This has meant that over 20 lakh pensioners — elderly, widows, handicapped and orphans — in the state have been left to fend for themselves since July. The state has also ignored the objections raised on this account by the audit department. Sources said that the state had created a Social Security Fund (SSF) in 2004 so that the elderly were paid their pensions in time. The corpus had been created by imposing a five per cent cess on power and three per cent on stamp duty. Money so collected was supposed to be directly debited in the Personal Ledger Account of the Social Security and Women Welfare Department but Powercom has not done so resulting in the recurring crises. Instead the money so collected had been adjusted against the power subsidy bills. According to information under the RTI Act by the Financial Advisor (Budget Section) Rs 1694 crore had been adjusted against power subsidy for the financial year 2013-14 out of which Rs 651 crore were meant for the pensioners. Similarly, Rs 1521 crore had been adjusted for the subsidy, including Rs 585 crore for the welfare beneficiaries for the 2012-13 fiscal. The power utilities collect 13 per cent cess on all power bills in the state out of which five percent is social security cess and is supposed to be diverted to the SSF. The auditors raised objections to this practise and said that financial help to the needy had been diverted to fulfil the subsidies given by the state. Powercom Director (Financial) S C Arora admitted that the social security cess was being adjusted towards the power subsidy bills. Punjab Finance Minister P S Dhindsa was unavailable for comments while Principal Secretary Vini Mahajan declined to comment on this issue. The state needs Rs 600 crore annually towards fulfilling its social welfare measures. The state pays Rs 250 per month as pension. Social Welfare Department secretary Jaspal Singh said that Rs 50 crore had been released for pensioners. Power subsidy
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Centre accepts proposal to increase NCB staff
Chandigarh, November 7 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has agreed to spruce up the functioning of these offices by posting 40 additional personnel following a request by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Rajnath conveyed the decision to Badal through a demi-official letter, a statement issued by the Punjab Government said today. The Union Minister informed Badal that the NCB had been instructed to review the position of the entire staff and decide the possibility of increasing the workforce in Amritsar sub-zone and Chandigarh zone accordingly. He informed that efforts were afoot to increase the total strength of the NCB by another 209 posts. The staff number in Chandigarh zone would be increased by 30 and in Amritsar sub-zone by 10. Rajnath mentioned that the NCB, which was the central coordinating agency against the war on drugs, had already taken a slew of measures to tackle this problem. The Union Minister also said that at present there were 13 zones and 12 sub-zones of the NCB and concerted efforts were made to spruce up the Chandigarh zone and Amritsar sub zone. Exempt brick kiln activity from eco clearance: CM
Badal today urged Union Minister of Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar to exempt the standalone activity of mining of brick earth and ordinary earth, having mining area up to five hectares and depth up to 1.5 m, from obtaining environmental clearance. In a letter to Javadekar, the Chief Minister requested him to get the necessary amendment incorporated in the legislation so as to exempt the brick kiln activity from the ambit of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification dated September 14, 2006. Tackling drugs
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State may follow Andhra to deal with farm
suicides
Chandigarh, November 7 The teams comprised senior officials and teachers from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. They would soon prepare a report of their findings and submit it to the Punjab Government. Punjab too has been facing farm suicides, though on a lesser rate than Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Based on the findings of these experts, the Punjab Government is expected to frame a policy to bail out the debt-ridden farmers and the families of those who committed suicide. The experts found out that Andhra Pradesh was playing an active role in reducing the debt of farmers, besides adopting the families of those who ended their lives. An official said Andhra Pradesh had set up committees to deal with the debt of farmers. The government paid up to Rs 50,000 for a family having a debt of Rs 1.5 lakh, he said. “The committees also negotiate with banks and money lenders to reach at a settlement to write off the loan after its part-payment, a portion by the government and the remaining by the farmer,” he said. Another expert said the Agriculture Department played an active role in case of families who lost their breadwinners due to debt. “The families are adopted by the department and helped through various means, including subsidised seed and pesticides. The government also helps the farmers to avail benefits of central schemes,” he said. An official said the problem of suicides was more acute in districts that lacked canal water facilities. “The farmers in such places have to invest a lot on tube wells, which often leads to heavy debt,” he said. Around 3,000 farmers and farm labourers committed suicide between 2001 and 2011 in Punjab. Though no exact estimate is available, Punjab farmers face a debt of Rs 45,000 crore. The state government does extend help to the families of farmers who commit suicide, but it lacks a policy for the purpose. Relief Model
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CM’s remark on need for SAd-BJP alliance triggers row
Patiala, November 7 Referring to Badal’s statement that the SAD-BJP alliance was a must for communal harmony in the state, he asked him to elaborate on the issue. “Did you mean that both the parties are communal representing two communal organisations and that being together is in the state’s interest,” he asked. He asked the BJP to come clear on the issue. “The mistrust you ( BJP and SAD) share has led to political uncertainty in the state and this is reflecting on governance,” he said. The former Chief Minister said he was surprised at Badal’s “open threat” to the BJP that if the latter walked out of the SAD-led government, it would lead to a communal divide in Punjab. “Do you mean to say that if this happens, there will be communal riots in the state,” he asked Badal. The Congress MP claimed that Badal was resorting to such threats as he apprehended threat to his government. He advised the Chief Minister to shed his “sectarian mindset”, lest it harmed Punjab. Amarinder Singh pointed out that more people had died in the state owing to drug trafficking “patronised” by the Badal government than at the hands of militants. “ It is time to think and take action and not resort to political blackmail,” he added. Amritsar: Taking exception to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s statement that the SAD-BJP alliance was a must for communal harmony in the state, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu today said senior politicians should desist from making such remarks. Talking to mediapersons, she said: “Such comments only fuel communal feelings.” She claimed that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre would not allow anybody to vitiate peace in Punjab. To a query, she said the post of Chief Minister and that of Deputy CM should not be occupied by members of one family. This, she said was a violation of democratic norms. She alleged that the state government was unconcerned about the sentiments of the BJP workers. That was the reason why they felt dejected. Dr Sidhu said she would raise the issue of slashing bus fares at the party platform. “Now that the diesel prices have declined, the government must ensure the common man is benefited too,” she added. ‘Good if alliance snaps’ Ludhiana: Former Health Minister Satpal Gosain, reacting to the Chief Minister’s statement, said: "If the alliance breaks, it will be a relief for the people.” He claimed that no harm would come as trade and industry would get a freash lease of life. The economic condition of the state would improve too and the state would progress." Gosain claimed that the BJP, being a partner in the SAD-led government, had to bear the brunt of the “wrong policies” of the Akalis. — TNS
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Berth for Sampla will help BJP get Dalit votes
Chandigarh, November 7 Sampla is a Dalit from Jalandhar. The community has a dominating presence in the Doaba region, comprising more than 30 per cent of the state population. Punjab has 34 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha seats reserved for SCs. Hence, the BJP is eager to make inroads into the Dalit vote bank. Sampla’s induction in the Union Ministry, that is almost certain now, is BJP’s way of sending a message to the Dalits in the state that their interest is uppermost on their mind. Sources said Sampla was away to Gwalior today when Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted him on the phone.Thereafter, he left for New Delhi. Earlier, the BJP had appointed BJP general secretary Ram Shanker Katheria in charge of the party affairs of Punjab. Katheria also belongs to the Dalit community. He was elected MP from the Agra (reserved) constituency for the second time in the recent elections. Sampla’s elevation to the Union Cabinet is seen as part of the same strategy to win over the Dalit votes. In Uttar Pradesh too the BJP had performed extremely well in the Lok Sabha elections because of the support it got from the Dalit community. In case, the BJP succeeds to stitch up a Dalit- Bania (trader) alliance in Punjab, it can become the main player in state politics. The BJP, it seems, is out to a give a new turn to state politics. Joy at Sampla’s house
Hoshiarpur: It has been a spectacular journey for Vijay Sampla (53), Hoshiarpur MP, who is likely to be inducted into the Modi Cabinet on Sunday. A plumber’s assistant in the Gulf to Member of Parliament and now a possible berth in the Union Ministry, Sampla has come a long way. Born in a poor Scheduled Caste family, Sampla started his life as an assistant plumber in Saudi Arabia. Returning to his village Sofi in Jalandhar, he started a small cement store. He soon became a cement distributor for a company with operations in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. He started his political career as sarpanch of his native village in 1998. He was BJP mandal president, Jalandhar Cantt, Rural (1999-2001), state president SC Morcha (2001-2002), state vice-president (2002-2003), state general secretary (2003-2007) and state vice-president (2007-2011). An RSS activist for 17 years, Sampla has held the posts of chairman, Khadi Board, and Forest Corporation head. Observers say if Sampla is inducted in the Union Ministry, it will help the BJP win over Dalit voters, especially those in the Doaba region. After SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Sampla would be the second MP from Punjab to be part of the Modi team. — Sanjeev Bakshi
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Cong seeks white paper on state finances
Jalandhar, November 7 He said even essential services had been hit. “Officers are being forced to spend money on vehicles for emergencies. Leave aside TA, DA and LTC, even telephone bills are not being reimbursed. Promotions too have been put on hold because of financial implications,” he said. Senior citizens had not been paid pension since months and students were not getting scholarships, Shergill said. "The state's overdraft has crossed Even as the government had failed to mobilise resources and "frittered away" central funds on unplanned expenditure, it was now putting pressure on private businesses to raise funds. “Private businesses, are being coerced into coughing up money on one pretext or the other. “We demand that the SAD-BJP government comes out with a white paper on the state’s finances,” Shergill said. He said the SAD-BJP government had promised the people of the state that cash would flow once Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister. “It is clear the BJP is not in a mood to help out the Akalis,” he added
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Will field candidates from all wards in
Moga: Gill
Moga, November 7 Gill, who unsuccessfully contested the 2012 Assembly elections on SAD ticket and recently joined the BJP, met local leaders yesterday. In a meeting of BJP leaders today, he said, “We should get an equal share in all political posts in the district. We will also start a party membership drive in the district.” Gill was once a confidant of the Deputy CM and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. He joined the BJP on August 25 during a BJP rally at Kathua in J&K. Sukhbir brought Gill from Jammu and Kashmir in 2009 and appointed him as the Director General of Police in the state. Rakesh Sharma, district president of the BJP, also addressed the gathering. Tarlochan Singh, Vinay Sharma, Sunil Garg, Gurpreet Singh Sachdeva, Krishan Sood and others were also present.
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Chief Secy gathers feedback on starting new ITI courses
Jalandhar, November 7 The exercise was aimed at gathering feedback to introduce new skill development courses and discontinue the obsolete ones. The project is part of the Centre’s National Skill Development Corporation. Kaushal said the idea was to provide conducive environment to the students to increase their job prospects. The fact that the Chief Secretary accompanied the Secretary, Technical Education and Industrial Training, Rakesh Verma, clearly indicates the state government’s seriousness on the issue. About budget allocation for the project, he said, “We are still in the planning phase. It will depend on how we frame the scope of the project. We are also selecting principals and teachers who will be taken abroad, made to see huge manufacturing units in China and have a better insight on what all can be done.” Asked about any mergers with corporates, especially in the light of previous failures, he said the industry “would be involved, but in a different format this time”. About new courses, he said, “These could be about developing various new applications for phones, AutoCad software, digital photography etc.”
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Experts discuss India’s development story
Patiala, November 7 Vice-chancellor of Central University, Bathinda, Dr RK Kohli was the chief guest. He emphasised the need to revisit the education system, redesign and reorient it according to the needs of society. He also stressed upon the need to establish a link between development and sustainability. "No development can last if it has a negative impact on environment and natural resources," Kohli said. He was honoured with "Management Excellence Award" by the PCMA. College Principal Dr Khushvinder Kumar welcomed the guests and delegates. Dr Sachin Vernekar delivered the keynote address. A panel discussion was organised during the second part of the inaugural session. Dr Prem Kumar, President Emeritus, PCMA, Dr CR Bector (Canada), Dr Jagdish Khatri (Allahabad), Dr DS Ubha (Principal, Khalsa College, Patiala) and Dr Tajinder Singh (Punjabi University) discussed various aspects of the theme of the conference.
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Levying of fee: Dalit students protest in Muktsar
Muktsar, November 7 Further, the students are yet to be refunded the fee that they had paid at the beginning of the academic year. They have held several protests over the issue. The protesting students today again gheraoed the DAC and claimed that even the High Court had directed the state Education Department not to charge fee from SC students. “Dalit students are exempted from fee under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes, but the colleges and schools have charged fee from us. We demand justice. The managements of all educational institutes that have charged us should be booked under the Scheduled Castes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” said Gagan Sangrami, zonal secretary, Punjab Students’ Union. “Earlier, the Welfare Department had instructed all Deputy Commissioners to make sure that Dalit students were not charged any fee,” said Sangrami. The last date to deposit fee in colleges is November 14 and November 12 in case of senior secondary schools.
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Muktsar leads in eco-friendly management of paddy stubble
Muktsar, November 7 As per a survey conducted by an NGO, more than 80 scraper and baler machines were being used round the clock in the district. Balers make bales of paddy stubble, which are then supplied to biomass-based power plants and paper mills. Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh said happy seeder machines were also available to farmers. By using them, they could sow wheat without preparing fields after harvesting paddy. Similarly, reversible plough technique was also available to farmers. By using this technique paddy stubble could be buried 12-inch-deep under the soil. Some farmers, however, countered the claims of the district administration, saying the burning of paddy stubble was rampant in the area. Farmer Harvinder Singh of Tarkhanwala village said, "The smoke generated by burning of paddy stubble caused various health complications. The police and the district administration are unwilling to take any action against those violating the law."
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BSF defers ‘Day Tourism’ at Attari
Amritsar, November 7 Ashok Kumar, BSF Punjab Frontier Inspector General, said, “We have decided to put off the launch of ‘Day Tourism’ at least for a few days in view of the recent terror strike at Wagah in Pakistan. The fresh dates for its launch will be announced at a later stage.” Under the ‘Day Tourism’ plan, tourists were to be allowed to visit the border from 11 am to 3 pm, a period when they could see the India-Pakistan gates, border pillar and the parade area. At present, the border area opens for tourists at 4 pm for the Retreat ceremony. The move was aimed at curtailing the rush at the Retreat ceremony in the evening as the BSF was facing problems in controlling the crowd and regulating the traffic due to increased flow of tourists. The BSF was expecting that the ‘Day Tourism’ plan would attract a lot of tourists to visit the border during the day and was also planning to introduce golf carts for promoting it. Kumar said they were mulling various other measures to cope up with the rush, one being introducing online booking system. “The option will offer a limited number of seats in the Retreat everyday,” he said. About any possibility of airing the Retreat ceremony on television, he said for that one needed a channel. He said they may explore the option if some channel approached them. Apart from it, the BSF is also planning to put up LED screens for the ceremony so that those not finding a place in the spectator gallery could enjoy it on the screen. They are also working towards de-congesting the area. They have already asked the district administration to declare a stretch of the main road leading to the border as “no parking zone”. Usually trucks headed for Pakistan through Attari border are parked on either side of the road, leading to traffic snarls. Exports come to halt again
The exports to Pakistan through Attari border again came to a halt on Friday probably due to some labour issues on the Pakistani side. The exports had resumed on Thursday only after remaining suspended for three days in wake of the terror strike at Wagah on Sunday. The imports from Pakistan continued with around 35 to 40 trucks crossing over to India during the day.
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Cong workers block road in Sangrur
Sangrur, November 7 The protesters were led by state vice-president of the Congress and former MLA Surinderpal Singh Sibia. Sibia said the state government’s claim that payment would be made to the farmers within 72 hours of procuring paddy from them had proved false. Arhtiyas and farmers had been waiting for their payments for the past 15 days. He also lashed out at the Modi government for delay in payment to farmers. Among others who spoke on the occasion was state vice-president of Congress Kisan Cell Ranjit Singh Toor. — TNS
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After the barbs, leaders warm up at wedding
Jalandhar, November 7 Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal alighted from a chopper near Phagwara before noon. His son, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal arrived in the afternoon. Almost all ministers, including Bhagat Chunni Lal, Anil Joshi, Surjit Kumar Jyani, Sohan Singh Thandal, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Sikandar Singh Maluka and Ajit Singh Kohar, were seen at the wedding. Among the Chief Parliamentary Secretaries who made it to the function were Sarup Chand Singla, Parkash Chand Garg, Som Parkash, Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, Avinash Chander, KD Bhandari and Pawan Tinu. Former ministers Bibi Jagir Kaur, Tikshan Sud and Manoranjan Kalia too attended the wedding. The Deputy CM was seen embracing former minister Manoranjan Kalia. State BJP chief Kamal Sharma and Avinash Chander were also seen together. Sharma has been demanding that the latter be removed from the post of Chief Parliamentary secretary. Bureaucrats, specially from the Education Department, were at the wedding too. Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Jagmeet Brar reportedly came with the
baraat.
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Centre urged to resolve turban issue
Anandpur Sahib, November 7 The Jathedar, who returned from France last week, said the Sikhs there were told to remove their turbans and untie their hair for photographs meant for government documents, including passports and driving licence. Giani Mal Singh, who attended congregations in different cities of France during his visit, said the practice had hurt the dignity of the community. “France has even banned turbans in schools and colleges, which is a violation of the religious rights of the Sikhs,” he said. — TNS
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Few takers for housing project in Fazilka
Fazilka, November 7 The Improvement Trust had acquired about 16 acres of prime land from Munshi Ram Aggarwal Charitable Trust on Freedom Fighter Road for Rs 1.10 crore per acre. It decided to develop a residential and a commercial colony on the site under Seth Munshi Ram Aggarwal Development Scheme. The scheme includes 48 residential plots of 100 square yards, 24 plots of 300 square yards and 36 plots of 500 square yards. Some shops would have been sold in the second phase. The scheme was launched on August 15. However, the authorities priced the plots at rates much higher than prevailing in the market. A 100 square yard plot was priced at Rs 7 lakh; 300 square yard Rs 31.5 lakh; and 500 square yard Rs 70 lakh. But the scheme has got a poor response. The Trust first invited applications till September 15, then extended the deadline by 15 days and later to October 31. Sources said none applied for 36 plots of 500 square yard, while only two persons applied for 24 plots of 300 square yards. However, the 48 plots of 100 square yards have attracted around 68 buyers. The plots will be allotted through a draw system, the date for which is yet to be declared. “The prices have been fixed as per the norms laid down by the government. The global recession in the real estate business is the main cause for the poor response,” said Jawahar Lal Sibia, Executive Officer, Improvement Trust, Fazilka. Exorbitant rates
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Trauma centres in coma
Jalandhar, November 7 State Health Minister SK Jyani said the Health Department would soon send a proposal to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seeking funds to set up more trauma centres in the state. A part of the money sanctioned for the purpose would be utilised to maintain and upgrade the facilities in the four trauma centres at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Pathankot and Khanna. “Accident cases in the state have increased manifold. There is a need to set up more trauma centres. We will ask the Centre to release funds for new trauma centres in accident-prone cities such as Bathinda, Phagwara and Patiala,” said Jyani. He failed to reply why the state government had not allocated budget to run the trauma
centres.
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Bajwa accuses Akali govt of being
anti-Dalit
Chandigarh, November 7 “The report submitted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the utilisation of funds by the state government meant for Dalits has exposed the Badal government so far as the implementation of the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan is concerned. It is shocking that the Badal government has failed to utilise 33 per cent of the Plan component,” he said in a statement. He alleged that funds meant for the Dalits had been diverted for other schemes. He demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter. He also slammed the Badal government for the proposed increase in VAT on diesel to 12.5 per cent. This would push up the diesel rate by Rs 2.25 per litre, he said.
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Giant turtle released into zoo lake
Chandigarh, November 7 The reptile, covered under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, was released into the lake on the intervention of Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, who is also an animal rights activist. Weighing about 75 kg, the turtle was found in the bed of the Rajindra Lake in Patiala on October 24 and sent to the zoo. The authorities kept the animal in captivity for 10 days but failed to establish the species it belonged to or its gender. Sources said Maneka Gandhi spoke to Dhirendra Singh, Chief wildlife Warden (CWW), and instructed him to release the turtle in its natural habitat. Dhirendra Singh said he had received letters from various animal rights organisations. He claimed that instead of releasing the turtle in the Harike wetland in Ropar, the reptile was released into the zoo lake to "prevent contamination of genes." He did not rule out the possibility of the turtle having been smuggled into Patiala or released into the Rajindra Lake during rituals. The soft-shelled fresh water turtle is being fed on fish and frogs. Dr Sandeep Kumar Jain, member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), had complained to Maneka Gandhi that despite requests to release the turtle in the Harike Pattan wetland, the zoo authorities had put it on public display. He had also objected to the zoo authorities feeding the turtle on frogs and fish, live baits. Wildlife experts had demanded that the turtle be released in its natural habitat before the hibernation period. Pressure works
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Govt to blame for delay in payment: Capt
Chandigarh, November 7 The Congress leader blamed the state government for failing to furnish the accounts to qualify for the next installment of funds. He said no payment had been made to farmers since October 22. Thousands of quintals of paddy had been procured without any payment till date. In a statement, Amarinder Singh said: “Badal cannot shrug off responsibility by putting the blame on the Centre. He said he had been time and again warned the state government to set its house in order. He maintained that the Union Finance Ministry was well within its right to ask the state government to give an account of the money spent by it. “This reflects the financial mismanagement that has become characteristic of the Akali government,” he observed, adding the Akalis were known for misusing and divert funds. Referring to reports on diversion of funds meant for the welfare of Dalits, he said: “I have been time and again cautioning you against splurging funds during your Sangat Darshan pastime. This is what happens when you don’t listen to sane advice.”
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Need to reform agri-banks, say experts
Chandigarh, November 7 In his keynote address, Sandhu said the seminar was held to focus on reforming agricultural banks. He said that the long term cooperative credit structure comprising of Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (ARDB) at the state and primary levels was set up in 1920. He threw light on the various kinds of challenges facing the State Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank. He exhorted the officers to upgrade the bank with the help of IT. He said agriculture rural development banks must focus on recovering loans.
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Sale of drugs: Framing of charges against cops adjourned
Moga, November 7 A year after a criminal case was registered against three policemen for selling drugs at a police post in the district, the police authorities filed an application in the court two weeks ago seeking permission to reinvestigate the case even as the "challan" had been already submitted in the court. ASI Jarnail Singh and Munshi Jasbir Singh were arrested on the intervening night of September 6 and 7, 2013, from the Nathuwala police post, while Head Constable Devinder Singh Billa escaped from the spot. He obtained protection orders from the High Court on medical grounds. Later, he died of cancer. Around 168 kg of poppy husk, 66 bottles of liquor and Rs 46,000 were recovered from the police post. An FIR under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and Section 61 of the Punjab Excise Act was registered against them. The policemen were dismissed from the service soon after their arrest. It now appears that efforts were being made to save the policemen. Billa has been already given a clean chit (after his death). Efforts were being made to give a job to his kin, besides some monetary benefits. The then SHO of the Baghapurana police station, Inspector Amarjit Singh, who registered the case said the recovery of drugs was made in the presence of a DSP-rank officer; therefore, there was no need of any reinvestigation. The application filed in the court seeking permission to reinvestigate the case raises doubt over the intention of the police. There are rumours in political circles that two local leaders of the Akali Dal and a senior police officer posted here are making efforts to give them a clean chit for reasons best known to them. 1-yr-old case
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32 SC youths to get loan for self-employment
Sangrur, November 7 Sukhdev Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development)-cum-Chairman of the district screening committee of the corporation, today said a sum of Rs 42 lakh would be disbursed among 32 beneficiaries so that they could start their own self-employment ventures. In all, 35 youths had applied for loans, he said. He also said from April to October 2014 an amount of Rs 30.55 lakh had been given by the district office of the corporation to 22 beneficiaries under the direct-loan scheme. Under the scheme for physically challenged, one beneficiary had been given Rs 3-lakh loan, Sukhdev Singh added. He said BANKFINCO had also approved 20 loan cases of youths belonging to backward classes and minority communities. They would be given Rs 29.5 lakh as loan for starting their ventures.
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Relief material sent for J&K flood-hit
Amritsar, November 7 According to a press note, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar flagged off 11 trucks loaded with relief material from Bhai Gurdas Hall. He said the relief camp set up by the SGPC in Kashmir on September 9 was still functioning. SGPC officials would visit Srinagar next week to distribute an aid of Rs 2 crore announced for the rehabilitation of Sikhs living there, he said.
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Livestock tourney to be held in Muktsar
Muktsar, November 7 The championship was held in the district previously as well. He said cows, buffaloes, bulls, horses, riders, breeders, etc., would participate in the event. Ranike further said the state government had released Rs 4.4 crore for the event. The district-level livestock championship will be held in Mohali and Mansa on November 20-21, Tarn Taran and Bathinda on November 23-24, Roopnagar and Barnala on November 26-27, Gurdaspur and Muktsar on November 29-30, Nawanshahr and Sangrur on December 1-2, Amritsar and Fazilka on December 4-5, Hoshiarpur and Patiala on December 7-8, Kapurthala and Ferozepur on December 10-11, Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib on December 13-14 and Pathankot, Moga on December 16-17.
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Illicit liquor seized from Fazilka village
Fazilka, November 7 Sources said some of the accused persons fled on getting information about the raids. The police have booked them under the Excise Act and launched a search. For the past five decades, Mahalam village residents have been notorious for illegally distilling countrymade liquor. Some of the bootleggers have even constructed trenches to hide illicit liquor. The police have conducted several raids in the village in the past few months and seized several lakh litres of illicit liquor popularly known as
"lahan". Hooch hideout
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Amritsar resident held for gunhouse robbery
Amritsar, November 7 The police said seven double-barrel guns, two single-barrel gun and a .315 bore rifle were recovered from Simarjit Singh, a resident of Ramana Chak village in Majitha, Amritsar. Simarjit did not have a criminal record. The Faridkot police had yesterday recovered 10 weapons from Jagroop Singh Roopa and Bikramjit Singh alias Bikka, both residents of Majitha and Santu Nangal village. Ishwar Chander, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Border Range, Amritsar, said the police was yet to ascertain the motive behind the gunhouse robbery. He said Simarjit had hidden the weapons in a pit at a secluded place. The remaining accused, Gurbax Singh, Kamaljit Singh and Jaspreet Singh, were still at large. The local police had informed their counterparts in Faridkot about the arrest, he said. On the controversy regarding the number of weapons stolen from the Kotkapura gunhouse, he said this would be ascertained by the Faidkot police after checking the relevant records. Initially, the police had lodged a complaint, claiming that 34 weapons had been stolen from the gunhouse. But the gunhouse owner insisted that only 20 weapons were missing. Eventually, the police put the number at 16.
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Child protection officer among 3 held for graft
Ludhiana, November 7 The Vigilance Bureau arrested the DCPO, her brother Rohit and associate Ravi on the complaint of the victim's grandmother, Paramjit
Kaur. The accused demanded Rs 70,000 from the woman to shift the seven-year-old child. The court has remanded the accused in police custody. The victim’s mother resides in Dubai and her father MD Abdullah is lodged in Tihar Jail. The couple had recently visited the country for the treatment of the child. On landing in Delhi, Abdullah was arrested as he was wanted in a criminal case. Abdullah's wife left her daughter with her mother and went to Dubai. Abdullah wrote to the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development, demanding that his child be shifted to a government-run
centre. When Shilpa received orders from the Centre, she demanded money from Paramjit to shift the child to
Amritsar. She told Paramjit that the job would cost lakhs of rupees. As Paramjit expressed her inability to pay the money, Shilpa told her to speak to her “senior
Pankaj” in Delhi. “Pankaj” turned out to be Shilpa’s brother
Rohit. “The deal was struck at Rs 70,000. Shilpa told Paramjit that she will send her associate Ravi to collect the cash,” said SSP (Vigilance) Satinder Singh. A trap was laid and the accused caught red-handed.
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Chandigarh, November 7
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Muktsar, November 7
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Jalandhar, November 7
Amritsar, November 7
