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One-time settlement plan for PSIDC defaulters
Payment to farmers held up again
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State of civic affairs: Phagwara
Bajwa seeks resumption of train service
Sans staff, Ferozepur rehab unit a sham
Canals closed for cleaning in Abohar, supply regulated
Utter neglect: No monitoring of Central projects in Gurdaspur
Plea to develop skill development centres at industrial units
Illegal structures dot Patiala, but BJP leaders ‘shield’ offenders
Cabinet accords approval to technical varsity in Bathinda
Ashutosh's ‘son’ Dalip Jha offers to undergo DNA test
Rural job plan may be tampered with: Joshi
Come out with idea to boost revenue, walk away with
Rs 1 lakh, officials told
Sikh clergy can’t summon Sidhu, say scholars
DSGMC demand ridiculous, says Dal Khalsa
NHAI tells DCs to register cases against Essel Group
Cancer cases: Govt plans fresh survey
Rationalise VAT, says coordination panel
Bus overturns near Sangrur, 15 injured
Probe teams visit Ludhiana hospital
Five arrested for illegal sand mining in Nawanshahr
5 peddlers nabbed with heroin worth
Rs 105 cr
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One-time settlement plan for PSIDC defaulters
Chandigarh, November 26 By implementing this scheme, the government plans to recover a major portion of Rs 2,100 crore that various companies owe to the corporation. The decision to go ahead with the scheme was taken during a review of various industrial corporations by the CM, along with Industry Minister Madan Mohan Mittal and officers of the Industry Department. Though the Industry Department had reportedly come prepared with its own OTS formula, sources say the Chief Minister has asked the department to come up with a scheme under which the state could recover maximum dues and which is also acceptable to the defaulters. The Industry Department has been mandated to get the blueprint of the scheme prepared and approved at the earliest so that it can be presented in the next Cabinet meeting for final approval. Mittal said while many industrial units that were extended loans had not only shut shop, but also had no assets that could be redeemed. The OTS would target defaulting units that were still operational. "The scheme would be such that we get maximum recovery," he said. Earlier, the Industry Department had proposed that a major portion of interest on loans be waived. The target was to recover around Rs 500 crore from defaulters, through liquidation and disinvestment of companies owned by the PSIDC; and through sale of some of its fixed assets. The total loss of the corporation is estimated at Rs 7,300 crore. The corporation which is facing a default of Rs 2,100 crore in loans had proposed that it could recover Rs 295 crore to Rs 300 crore from defaulters by waiving interest on loans. It was proposed that defaulters be categorised in various groups based on the tangible collateral security given by them at the time of availing of loans. While the defaulters who gave tangible collaterals would be charged 12 per cent interest (instead of 18-20 per cent when the loan was disbursed), other defaulters (who have not given any tangible collateral security to the PSIDC) would be charged between 7-8 per cent interest. The lower rate of interest was proposed to be charged from the date of loan disbursal, and not from the date when the loan went into default. The reason given by the Industry Department for lowering the interest rate from the day of disbursal of loan is that it will lead to good success of the OTS. Recovering bad debts
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Payment to farmers held up again
Chandigarh, November 26 A senior official said the Union Finance Ministry had been approached to accord sanction to the last installment. Earlier, the Centre had approved the release of Rs 18,451 crore in two installments. The state Food and Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon had to struggle hard to get these installments released. “Our earlier target was to procure 126 lakh tonnes of paddy. We have now revised our target to 113 lakh tonnes. We have made payment to farmers for 92 per cent of the paddy procured through commission agents and other channels. To clear the pending payment, we are waiting for the Centre to release the third installment,” an official of the Food and Supplies Department said. Based on the initial estimates (to procure 126 lakh tonnes), the Punjab Government had got a cash credit limit of Rs 23,248 crore. The limit has now been curtailed by Rs 2,000 crore. The Secretary, Food and Supplies, DS Grewal, said: “We have learnt that the Union Finance Ministry and the Union Civil Supplies Ministry have discussed the issue and the last installment is likely to be released soon.” Meanwhile, paddy procurement has almost come to a close. The arrival of paddy has come down to a few thousand tonnes. Most of the procurement centres have been closed. Compared to last year’s figure of 127 lakh tonnes, 117.27 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured by government agencies and private traders so far. Of this, 1.90 lakh tonnes have been procured by private traders, 2.85 lakh tonnes by the FCI and the remaining by state government agencies. Till the end of the season in a few days, the figure is likely to touch 118 lakh tonnes. The fall in arrivals this year is attributed to the area under paddy shrinking by 3.5 lakh hectares with the crop being replaced by basmati. Already, about 30 lakh tonnes of basmati has arrived in various markets whereas last year the total arrivals were 20.09 lakh tonnes. The increase in the production of basmati proves that the farmers are turning to high-value crops, abandoning the ordinary varieties. The area under basmati this year has gone up from 5 lakh hectares to 8.5 lakh hectares and the area under ordinary varieties has declined to 19 lakh hectares from 22.5 lakh hectares last year. However, the farmers have got a lesser price for basmati. The maximum price that basmati fetched last year was Rs 6,500 per quintal. This year it was Rs 3,350 per quintal. The minimum rate for basmati remained at Rs 1,750, almost on a par with the rate last year. Paddy arrivals fall
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State of civic affairs: Phagwara
Phagwara, November 26 Areas of 16 surrounding villages, including those of Chachoki, Hazipur, Sukhchain Nagar, Kot Rani, Gobindpura and Guru Nanak Nagar villages, have been merged with the MC.
Source of income
A city with a population of 1.5 lakh, mostly NRIs, has a small annual budget of just Rs 28.59 crore. Half of this amount (Rs 14.5 crore) is spent on the salaries of MC employees, Rs 2 crore on payment of electricity bills for streetlights and Rs 2.30 crore for running 36 tube wells. An amount of Rs 1 crore is spent on the maintenance of the sewage treatment plant at Hadiabad that has the capacity to treat 8 MLD effluent and the other on Palahi Road that has the capacity to treat 20 MLD. This leaves less than Rs 8 crore for development. Re-appointed PCS officer SPS Marar said though the budget was low, the MC received grants for development works under several schemes. Besides, VAT refund too was a source of income for the corporation.
Infrastructure
For a passerby, the choked highway itself is a problem with the toll plaza making things worse. Since the local bus stand is located along the road, buses do not enter the bus stand but pick and drop passengers on the roadside. There is congestion everywhere, be it the popular Gaushala Bazaar or the Bansanwala Bazaar. With no parking provision anywhere, vehicles are parked haphazardly on the roadside, posing a problem to commuters. Encroachments too are a problem. The Rest House Chowk, Gol Chowk, Gandhi Chowk and Jang Ghar Chowk in the main market have become traffic hazards. The residents are supplied drinking water from 36 tube wells. Four water head tanks have been dry for the past 12 years. Residents of the Gujarati Mohalla say they have been reeling under water shortage for years but the MC has failed to install a new tube well. Gobindpura and Onkar Nagar are the worst-affected by water contamination. These localities see an outbreak of water-borne diseases every year. Stray cattle is a menace and so are more than 3,000 stray dogs. There is no solid waste management plan for the town as of now. Neither does the town have the facility of door-to-door collection of waste. The MC plans to introduce city bus service from Jalandhar to Phagwara on fixed routes.
Political graph
The BJP-led municipal committee before 2011 did not do much except for installing a sewage treatment plant. There is much factionalism within the party. The Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Local Bodies, Som Parkash, has been trying to assert himself but it is former minister Swarna Ram who wield the power in the area. It is said that it was on the insistence of Som Parkash, a former bureaucrat, that both Phagwara and Hoshiarpur were elevated as corporations. Som Parkash reportedly had his way during the recent delimitation of wards. Even the Congress camp stands divided with the former minister and three-time Phagwara MLA, Joginder Mann, leading one group and former chairman of the Phagwara Improvement Trust Balbir Raja Sodhi leading another. Congress spokesperson Nimisha Mehta has formed a third front.
Ward reservation
Twenty-seven of the 50 wards of the new Phagwara MC are reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and women (including general and SC categories).
NRIs’ role
As the authorities have failed to do much on the development front, certain NGOs, with help of NRIs, have taken the task of improving the civic amenities. Swami Vivekananda Society has taken up the task to develop the neglected Swami Vivekananda Park at Chahal Nagar. President of the society Vipin Handa said the park now had a green cover. “We will be installing streetlights too,” he said.
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Bhola case: Bajwa writes to Modi
Ferozepur, November 26 Bajwa has asked Modi to order a CBI probe or initiate a judicial inquiry headed by a Supreme Court judge into the drug trafficking racket in the state as names of certain political bigwigs, including that of state Cabinet Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia, have figured in it. “The Enforcement Directorate has already prepared a questionnaire for him. However, investigating officials seem to be dithering as his sister is happens to be your Cabinet colleague,” Bajwa wrote to the Prime Minister. Bajwa claimed some Congress leaders had opposed him when he had demanded a CBI probe into charges levelled against Majithia. He said had they supported him then, the CBI probe would have been ordered by now.
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Bajwa seeks resumption of train service
Ferozepur, November 26 Bajwa was in Ferozepur to participate in the
agitation launched by the Youth Congress along with the NSUI, AAP and the PPP besides some other NGOs, demanding resumption of the Ferozepur-Chandigarh train. The agitation, launched on October 27 in front of the DRM office, entered its 29th day today. — OC
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Sans staff, Ferozepur rehab unit a sham
Ferozepur, November 26 A few cattle are tied up near the entrance of the centre and a watchman guards the premises, in utter mockery of state’ claims to provide a conducive atmosphere to rehabilitate drug addicts. During its inauguration, the Chief Minister had made tall promises of expediting the process of setting up such centres across the state. However, the enthusiasm with which the state government had launched the anti-drug campaign in the aftermath of the Lok Sabha elections in the state seems to have fizzled out during
its implementation. When contacted, DPS Kharbanda, Deputy Commissioner, said after the launch, the state government had proposed to set up a proper drug rehabilitation centre near the canal colony on the outskirts of Ferozepur Cantonment. The construction of that centre would have required a lot of time and funds. “We proposed that this existing centre be converted into a full-fledged rehabilitation centre, for which lesser funds would be required,” the DC said. “Moreover, being situated in the heart of the city, it will be easier to maintain,” he said, adding that the state government had now accorded permission to go ahead with the plan. Earlier, the Red Cross Society had set up an old age centre, “Baghban”, in the building. However, the inhabitants were shifted to the nearby blind home to pave way for the setting up of the rehabilitation centre ahead of the CM’s visit. The DC said three persons against 11 staff members required for the rehabilitation centre had been appointed and the rest would be recruited at the earliest. Meanwhile, an interaction with patients who were taking treatment for de-addiction, said they were not keen on shifting to the rehabilitation centre owing to social stigma involved in the process. Many of them are taking treatment at such centres in other districts where no one knew them. There were hardly any indoor patients at the government drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centre but patients have been making a beeline for private centres in the district that are reportedly charging hefty charges.
A sorry picture The centre was inaugurated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in July. However, no expert has been deployed here. A few cattle are tied up near the entrance of the centre and a watchman guards the premises
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Canals closed for cleaning in Abohar, supply regulated
Abohar, November 26 About 1.5 lakh residents have been advised to use water judiciously for at least next seven days. The Irrigation Department took up the pending desilting work in the canals, awaiting release of funds from the state. The accumulation of silt had deprived hundreds of farmers in the tail-end villages of water supply for irrigation and drinking as tube well water is not fit for consumption. Congress Legislative Party Leader Sunil Jakhar said, “The authorities had received funds last month but by delaying the work, they affected farmers who had disposed of cotton and were to sow wheat
seed last fortnight.”
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Utter neglect: No monitoring of Central projects in Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur, November 26 The meeting, which is chaired by the MP concerned, was last held on October 12, 2012. It
was chaired by the then MP Partap Singh Bajwa. Administration officials are awaiting a nod from the present MP
Vinod Khanna to hold the meeting. Khanna was elected Gurdaspur MP in April. Despite repeated requests from the district administration, he has not done anything to hold the meeting so far. The MP has failed to nominate members to the committee under his quota. He has to recommend the names of persons of his choice, including a woman, an NGO and an SC member, to the Deputy Commissioner, who is the ex-officio member secretary. A top functionary said Khanna had been repeatedly sounded on the issue, but there had been no word from him so far. Prominent among the schemes that come under its scope are the Indira Awaas Yojna (IAY), MNREGA, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), the Pardhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna
(PMGSY) and the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). The grants spent by
MPs under the MPLAD fund also come under the scanner. Officials said meetings were held on quarterly basis while Bajwa was the MP from 2009 till 2014. He used to regularly chair these meetings, they said. "However, when he became the PPCC president, he lost interest. Not even a single meeting has been held since then," an officer said. Khanna could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts. A senior officer said though it was important to hold such meetings as funds worth crores had to be monitored, the DVMC in itself had lost its relevance due to its "political composition". "It is imperative on part of all MLAs of the constituency to attend the meeting. In case of the Gurdaspur constituency, there are nine MLAs out of whom five are Congressmen. It is highly unlikely that these Congress MLAs will attend a meeting to be chaired by Khanna, a BJP MP. During Bajwa's tenure as an MP, SAD-BJP MLAs, including former Speaker NS Kahlon who was the then sitting SAD legislator from Fatehgarh Churian, absented themselves from the proceedings. This took the sting out of the proceedings," he said.
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Plea to develop skill development centres at industrial units
Ludhiana, November 26 Around 25-30 per cent students of these institutes move abroad after completing their courses. Due to this, the problem of shortage of labour for the local industry continues to prevail despite these institutes being operational in the city, they maintain. The Central Tool Room, the Bicycle Research and Development Centre, the Auto Parts Technology Centre, the Industrial Training Institute, the Advance Training Institute and the Mechanical Engineering Research and Development Organisation are already functional in Ludhiana. Central Tool Room general manager AP Sharma said "Students undergo training here and then move abroad. There is a huge demand of such persons in countries like Australia and Canada," Sharma said. Federation of Association of Small Industries of India president Badish Jindal said there was no need to set up another skill development centre in the city. "The need of the hour is to develop the existing industrial units into skill development institutes. Only that can solve the problem of labour crunch. The government should give subsidy for upgrading machinery and industry. Students should also be given stipend. The existing industrial units are the real skill development centres," he said.
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Illegal structures dot Patiala, but BJP leaders ‘shield’ offenders
Patiala, November 26 Sources say the BJP cadre is now pressing the MC officials to legalise the unauthorised buildings by accepting fine from the owners. The Congress has alleged the MC had followed pick-and-choose policy while carrying out its demolition drive. Despite the mushrooming of more than 24 illegal buildings in the city, the MC identified 14 of them to be razed as their change of land use (CLU), NOC and building fee was not paid. When MC teams reached the spot to raze these structures yesterday, BJP leaders created ruckus and stopped the MC teams from going ahead with the demolitions. “The MC is deliberately targeting buildings owned by BJP workers. “It should instead carry out a comprehensive survey and raze all illegal structures irrespective of political affiliation of the owners,” said Anil Bajaj, Patiala BJP president. “We are not against action on illegal buildings, but if anyone wants to get his illegal structure legalised, it should be allowed on the payment of requisite fee,” he said. Congress councillor Sanjiv Bittu said: “The selective action by the MC officials in some parts of Guru Nanak Nagar, Lahori Gate, Tripuri and Factory Area indicates their selective approach. The biggest illegal commercial building in Sai Market has been spared due to pressure by BJP leaders.” A BJP insider alleged even Anil Bajaj had illegally constructed a building near Jorrhian Bhattian and the MC decided not to act against it. Bajaj, however, said he had obtained all necessary clearances from the authorities concerned. Mayor Amrinder Bazaz said he would not let anyone deal with illegal buildings politically. All such buildings would be razed to ground, he added.
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Cabinet accords approval to technical varsity in Bathinda
Chandigarh, November 26 Giani Zial Singh College of Engineering and Technology has now been made a technical university with jurisdiction over Bathinda, Barnala, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala and Sangrur. The Punjab Technical University will continue to have jurisdiction over colleges in Doaba and Majha. The proposal to set up this university had been hanging fire for quite some time because of opposition from certain sections of the BJP. To provide subsidised atta-dal to the economically weaker sections, the Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to amending the Atta-Dal Scheme to implement the National Food Security Act- 2013. This is likely to benefit 31 lakh identified families. The verification of existing cards (of beneficiaries) would be carried out by January 15, 2015, by deputy commissioners across the state and no new card would be issued till then. The verification of pensioners covered under all pension schemes would be completed by February 1, 2015. The Cabinet gave approval to amending Section 6 of the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund Bill- 2013 for levying cess to be used for treatment and rehabilitation of cancer patients and upgrading of hospitals. The amendment stipulates that the cess would also be levied on all properties sold through ‘allotment’. The cess amount would be levied on the bidder/ purchaser of the land rather than the collecting agency. The Cabinet approved three forensic science laboratories (FSLs) at Bathinda, Ludhiana and Jalandhar and the creation of 33 posts of A, B, C and D categories. This would reduce the time taken for testing NDPS samples. . The Cabinet okayed a proposal to entrust the task of selection of Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-Judicial Magistrate (118 posts) to a Punjab and Haryana High Court committee after removing these posts from the purview of the Punjab Public Service Commission. The Cabinet gave the green signal to extending the services of pharmacists and Class IV service providers working on contract in 1,186 subsidiary health centers under the Zila Parishads till May 31, 2015 or till their services were
regularised.
Other key decisions
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Ashutosh's ‘son’ Dalip Jha offers to undergo DNA test
Chandigarh, November 26 His counsel SP Soi said the High Court had previously ordered DNA test for definite proof of parentage. The application comes at a time when the High Court has already reserved its verdict on Dalip Kumar Jha's a petition for handing over Ashutosh's body for performing the last rites. On a previous date of hearing, the Bench had asked for the marriage photographs of Jha's parents and birth or school certificate carrying details of his parenthood. The Bench also posed questions on Dalip Kumar Jha's date of birth and marriage of his parents. The court made it clear that the body could not be left without cremation; and the government should not sit over the matter. The court had also verbally asked the state for how long the body could be kept in a freezer. The Bench had earlier asked Punjab Advocate-General to clarify the state's stand on the issue of initiating inquest proceedings in case of Ashutosh's mysterious death on April 4. Justice MMS Bedi has already dismissed a habeas corpus petition for Ashutosh's release after asserting: "From the report of the doctors,
it is apparently clear that the alleged detainee at the time of presentation
of the petition was clinically dead". Justice Bedi had also asserted: "The present habeas corpus petition cannot be used as an instrument for publicity. So far as the legal position is concerned, in my opinion a petition for habeas corpus is not maintainable after the death of the alleged detainee… "I am of the considered opinion that the High Court can direct to have the body of the person detained to be brought before it, in order to ascertain whether the detention is legal or illegal. The scope of habeas corpus cannot be extended to issue any directions pertaining to a body which has been declared clinically dead". Ashutosh's former driver Puran Singh had filed the habeas corpus petition.
Establishing paternity
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Rural job plan may be tampered with: Joshi
Jalandhar, November 26 Joshi was here to attend a conclave organised by the National Federation of MGNREGA Workers at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall today. He said he had got some very important provisions incorporated into the Act, but these were not being complied with in many states. To ensure that the daily wages of those working under the scheme were revised annually, he had got it linked to the consumer price index. This meant that the wages would be enhanced depending on the inflation on the first of April every year, he said. He said there was no proper implementation of the scheme in Punjab as big landlords here were getting adversely affected. "If properly implemented, labourers would get 100 days of guaranteed employment at Rs 200 or so per day. In that scenario, they tend to face shortage of labourers. The labourers who are being lowly paid would also seek higher wages. Clearly, the scheme is not being properly run to benefit the big farmers," he said. Asked if there were any penal provisions for not implementing the Act properly, he said the powers were vested in the state. He said, "I have learnt that Punjab does not even have a state council to monitor the implementation of the MGNREGA scheme. Setting up a council and having district-level committees for getting feedback locally is also provided in the Act. We did that quite effectively in Rajasthan."
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Come out with idea to boost revenue, walk away with
Rs 1 lakh, officials told
Patiala, November 26 All employees, right from peons to additional commissioner, are eligible. Sources said the fund-starved government was looking for people-friendly ways to boost tax collection. The best idea award winner will get Rs 1 lakh reward while the second best idea for tax collection will get Rs 50,000. The employees can mail their ideas to innovativeideasetc@gmail.com. "The scheme has been formulated to ensure employee participation in the decision-making process," said Anurag Verma, Excise and Taxation Commissioner. The sources said the ideas would help frame new tax structure and the process would mean that the government would be in a position to collect more revenue by ensuring that there was minimum direct dealing between the dealer and the taxation officials. In the recent past, industrialists, shopkeepers and petroleum dealers had been raising objections on the tax collection process. The department wanted to track those who were evading the tax net, they added. The ideas received during a quarter will be considered by an award evaluation committee consisting of five members. "The ideas will be evaluated on the basis of innovativeness, practicability, dealer friendliness, revenue potential, plugging revenue leakages, curbing tax evasion/avoidance etc," said a senior official. Aiming revenue growth
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Sikh clergy can’t summon Sidhu, say scholars
Amritsar, November 26 Former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti said any Sikh who either cuts or colours his hair could not be summoned to Akal Takht. He also felt that Akal Takht should not be dragged into a political battle like this. SGPC executive member Karnail Singh Panjoli said Sidhu could not be summoned to Akal Takht. He said a committee comprising Sikh intellectuals should be set up to probe into charges against him and if proven guilty, legal action should be initiated against him under Section 295A of the IPC. Former SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh Calcutta also echoed similar sentiments while stating that Sidhu could merely be warned by Akal Takht. An SGPC official, pleading anonymity, said a "patit" Sikh cannot be summoned to Akal Takht as even "ardas" could not be offered at the Takht in his name. Former DSGMC president Harvinder Singh Sarna said summoning Sidhu to Akal Takht would erode the Panthic traditions. He alleged the Akali Dal had already exploited Akal Takht to the hilt for furthering its interests and it was now planning to do the same to settle scores with Sidhu. He said if Akal Takht summoned Sidhu, it would be tantamount to giving recognition to "patits". However, former Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh said, "If someone believes in Guru Granth Sahib, sports turban and calls himself a Sikh, he can be summoned to Akal Takht." As per Section III of the Sikh "rehat maryada", "ardas" for and on behalf of any Sikh or non-Sikh, except a fallen (patit) or punished (tankhaiya) Sikh, can be offered at the Takhts. Similarly, Article XXV titled "Method for imposing chastisement" says, "Finally, an 'ardas' for correction (atonement) should be performed." In the light of these points, intellectuals say if such a person could not even offer "ardas" at the Takht how could he be summoned or punished by Akal Takht. Earlier, Sikh organisations like the All-India Sikh Students Federation and the Sikh Students Federation (Mehta) had met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and urged him to initiate action against Sidhu for distorting "gurbani" in his recent speech at Ludhiana. Some organisations had staged a protest against the former BJP MP in cities like Jalandhar and Ludhiana.
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DSGMC demand ridiculous, says Dal Khalsa
Amritsar, November 26 Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK's proposal on the subject was unwise and uncalled for. Reasserting that the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was unparalleled in the annals of the recent history, he said the Guru embraced martyrdom to fight against tyranny and to protect the oppressed, irrespective of their religion. "If one goes by the logic that Aurangzeb was a cruel ruler, why has Manjit Singh GK not petitioned to the Modi government to change the name of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport?” Kanwar Pal Singh said.
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NHAI tells DCs to register cases against Essel Group
Moga, November 26 Construction work on the four-laning of the Ludhiana-Moga-Ferozepur national highway has been abandoned by the company. At least 150 persons have died and more than 300 have been injured on this 78-km stretch in these three districts. Construction work on the Ludhiana-Moga-Talwandi Bhai (Ferozepur) section of NH-95 was undertaken by the NHAI on the design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. An agreement was signed on January 20, 2011, between the NHAI and M/s Essel Ludhiana-Talwandi Toll Roads Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Essel Group.The estimated cost of this project was Rs 750 crore. Work on this section of the highway was to commence on March 26, 2012, and was to be completed by September 21, 2014. The company suddenly stopped work after digging, leaving behind several pits, heaps of debris and drainage pipes with no signboards or white markings, putting the lives of commuters at risk. Upset at the deplorable condition of the road, the president of Moga District Bar Association, Ramesh Grover, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, demanding directions to the NHAI to complete the construction work within the time-frame, initiate criminal proceedings against the construction company in case of accidents on this stretch and grant adequate monetary compensation to the kin of accident victims. In its reply before a Division Bench on November 21 this year, the NHAI stated that it had written to the deputy commissioners of Ludhiana, Moga and Ferozepur “to take appropriate action as per the law against the concessionaire and its board of directors and initiate criminal proceedings against the concessionaire company in case of any untoward incident/accident that takes place on the project highway stretch due to deficient maintenance or deficient safety measures”. The NHAI said in its reply that it had levied Rs 9.58 crore as damages on the construction company and had on November 12, 2014, written to the lender bank to debit this amount (up to October 31, 2014) in its account. On February 26, 2014, a notice was issued to the concessionaire for termination of the contract but the notice was kept in abeyance on the assurance that the company would resume work. However, despite repeated efforts, the company has not re-started work. About the agreement
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Cancer cases: Govt plans fresh survey
Moga, November 26 Cancer deaths have stunned Mari Mustafa village. While the department claims to have detected eight cancer and 18 hepatitis cases in the village, the residents say the number is much higher. At least 42 persons have died of cancer and hepatitis in the past 11 months, they claim. Sarpanch Darshan Singh said the department had collected data from 70 houses in the village against a population of 9,011. Dr Renu Mangla, Civil Surgeon, Moga, said they would conduct a survey in Mari Mustafa, Sangatpura, Maur Nau Abadi, Varoke and Thathi Bhai villages of the Baghapurana sub-division to determine the number of patients.
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Rationalise VAT, says coordination panel
Chandigarh, November 26 The committee, that met tonight, asked the Chief Minister to ensure better governance, rationalise VAT and bring down the prices of sand and gravel, if the alliance was to win the civic poll. Both parties agreed to contest the civic poll as per the existing seat-sharing arrangement. Sources said the meeting did not begin on a pleasant note with the BJP leaders pointing out weaknesses in government functioning and the Akali leaders accusing the BJP of not following the coalition dharma by trying to discredit the Akali Dal on various issues. Akali leaders also mentioned the statement made by state BJP president that he would comment on Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia’s role in the synthetic drug racket after the latter was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. Sources said the Chief Minister played the peace-maker and urged the alliance leaders to exercise restraint and not indulge in mud-slinging against one another. He appreciated the suggestions on improving governance and asked top members of the committee - Akali MPs Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Raniit Singh Brahmpura, Ashwani Sharma, Rajinder Bhandari and Narrotam Dev Ratti- to submit these in writing so that necessary action could be taken immediately.
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Bus overturns near Sangrur, 15 injured
Sangrur, November 26 Eight injured persons were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sangrur. Chet Singh (72) of Kaleke village (Barnala) was referred to Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Bus conductor Kuldip Singh said the mishap took place as the axle of the bus reportedly broke apart, leading to detachment of rear wheels. After overturning, the bus hit an electricity pole. Abhishek, who boarded the bus from Patiala, said the bus toppled twice before hitting an electricity pole. He said they had a narrow escape. Villagers of nearby villages rushed to the spot and shifted the injured persons to the hospital. Traffic on the road was affected.
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Probe teams visit Ludhiana hospital
Ludhiana, November 26 The members questioned the hospital staff throughout the day. They asked them had they informed the doctor on duty on time and what the response of the doctor concerned was. They also inquired if they informed the senior medical officer and civil surgeon about the emergency situation. Dr Alka Mittal who was suspended after the incident was also questioned. The team members yesterday visited the respective villages and met families of the patients. They asked them whether medical assistance was provided to them on time and if they reached the hospital in 108 ambulances.
CM promises action
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was on a personal visit to the city today, said a high-level probe has been ordered to look into the matter. "We will get the matter examined minutely to ensure strict action against the guilty," Badal said.
PMC too orders probe
The Punjab Medical Council has decided to probe the Ludhiana tragedy. "We will be probe the matter on our own. We will thoroughly examine the role of the staff and lapse on part of the doctor concerned," said Dr GS Grewal, president,
PMC.
Medical Supdt admits to staff shortage
Ludhiana: Newly appointed Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, Dr Renu on Wednesday said as compared to the flow of patients, the staff at the hospital is grossly inadequate. "With two recent appointments, the hospital has four gynaecologists. We need two more specialists, besides nursing staff. There is also acute shortage of Class IV employees. I have asked the department heads to prepare a data on the number of staff and patient inflow," said Dr
Renu.
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Five arrested for illegal sand mining in Nawanshahr
Nawanshahr, November 26 The police impounded 10 tippers, a truck, five trolleys and four private vehicles, including a Tata Safari, a Bolero and a Maruti Swift. The accused have been identified as Jang Singh of Jodhewal, Machhiwara, Tejinder Singh and Harpreet Singh of Chandigarh, Daljit Singh of Dashmesh Nagar, Machhiwara, and Sukhdev Singh of Khernia in Samrala. Two of the trolleys were loaded with sand. The operation led by Senior Superintendent of Police Sanmeet Kaur was carried out last night. Sanmeet Kaur said illegal mining was done by these persons from Machhiwara side so as to avoid police action. When they raid the spot, most drivers fled taking advantage of darkness while five persons were nabbed. They failed to produce any document regarding mining and mineral excavation. Those who fled would be nabbed soon, she added. Other senior police officers, including Dilbagh Singh Pannu, Superintendent of Police (Detective), Rupinder Kaur Bhatti, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nawanshahr, and Station House Officers Gurdial Singh of Rahon and Prem Singh of Sadar police station, accompanied the SSP. The accused have been booked under the Punjab Mining and Minerals Rules 2015 and Mining and Sections 4(1) and 21(1) of the Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act 1957 and Section 379 of the IPC on the complaint of Senior Industries Promotion Officer Sudesh Kumar.
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5 peddlers nabbed with heroin worth
Rs 105 cr
Bathinda, November 26 They were found carrying 21 kg of heroin worth Rs 105 crore in the international market.The police said three SIM cards from Pakistan, six cellphones and Rs 1.10 lakh in cash were recovered from their possession. With the Punjab Police tightening its noose, they had recently shifted their base to Rajasthan. The kingpin, Amolak Singh, escaped. The police said he was instrumental in smuggling 85 kg of heroin into Punjab in recent years. In 2000, he was caught carrying 55 kg of heroin in Kapurthala. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh. In 2003, he was caught in Ludhiana carrying 2 kg of heroin and fake currency. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Once out of prison, he was again caught with 8 kg of heroin in Amritsar. In 2013, he was caught with 20 kg of heroin in Tarn Taran. He was declared a ‘proclaimed offender’ in March 2014. The Inspector- General of Police, Counter-Intelligence, Dr Jatinder Jain, and Assistant IG Ajay Maluja said Amolak and his gang members were being trailed by the police for the past more than two months. Among the arrested were Jugraj Singh and Jagvir Singh, both residents of Amritsar, brothers Sandeep Singh and Amarjeet Singh of Fazilka and Inderjit Singh, Amolak’s nephew. Amarjeet’s house has been sealed and his family members are at large. Amolak escaped in an SUV and his other nephew Amandeep Singh in a Maruti car. The police said raids were on to nab them. Heroin seized from train from Pak Amritsar: Customs officials at the Attari railway station reportedly confiscated 7.5 kg of heroin worth Rs 35 crore in the international market from a goods train from Pakistan on Wednesday afternoon. Reliable sources said the consignment was found in two plastic pipes hidden in vacuum drums beneath two wagons (26410 and 25962). No official responded to phone calls to confirm the seizure. The Customs team was headed by Assistant Commissioner Amanjit Singh and Gurdev Singh, it is learnt. — TNS
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Moga, November 26 Local Deputy Superintendent of Police of Vigilance Bureau Surinder Kumar said the patwari, Kuldip Kumar, had demanded Rs 10,000 from a local resident, Ravinder Kumar, for providing an attested copy of mutation of an ancestral land that was recently transferred on his name. However, the deal was struck at Rs 7,500 with the revenue officer. Meanwhile, Ravinder filed a written complaint against the patwari to the Vigilance Bureau. Vigilance officers laid a trap to catch him red-handed. The bribe was paid to the patwari at his village office, which was later recovered from his possession by Vigilance officials. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered. He would be produced before a local court on Thursday.
— TNS
The case Kuldip Kumar had demanded
Rs 10,000 from a Moga resident, Ravinder Kumar, for providing an attested copy of mutation of an ancestral land that had been recently transferred on his name
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Payments to thousands of farmers in lieu of the paddy procured are held up as the Centre has yet to clear the last installment of
of the cash credit limit.
Located on National Highway-I, this commercially important town with excellent road and rail connectivity, is set to see its first municipal elections. The Phagwara Municipal Corporation (MC) was constituted in July 2011. Since then it is being run by bureaucrats. Elections to the MC could not be conducted due to fresh delimitation of wards.
The rehabilitation centre set up for drug addicts in Ferozepur was inaugurated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in July but no expert has been deployed here. In the absence of manpower and resources, the rehabilitation centre wears a deserted look.
The Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board has decided to supply drinking water only twice a week (after a gap of three days) as the level of reservoir has receded considerably. The board will have to use tube wells installed in the new water works to streamline supply on rotation.
The Municipal Corporation’s drive against illegal buildings in the district was hit following the alleged interference of several local BJP leaders.
Sources say the BJP cadre is now pressing the MC officials to legalise the unauthorised buildings by accepting fine from the owners. The Congress has alleged the MC had followed pick-and-choose policy while carrying out its demolition drive.
Jalandhar, November 26
Five committees formed by Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal to probe the deaths of five infants at the newly inaugurated Mother and Child Care Unit today visited the Civil Hospital.
The police today arrested five persons following a raid at Mandhala village to check illegal sand mining in the
Sutlej. An imported revolver and Rs 2.5 were seized from their possession.
Civil Hospital Phagwara, Civil Dispensaries of Hadiabad, Guru Nanak Pura and Sham Nagar besides ESI Hospital
Even as the demand that Akal Takht should initiate action against former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for alleged distortion of "gurbani" is gaining ground, most of the Sikh intellectuals say a "patit" (apostate) Sikh could not even be summoned by Akal Takht as it was against Sikh "rehat maryada" (code of conduct).
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has asked the deputy commissioners of Ludhiana, Moga and Ferozepur to initiate criminal proceedings against the Essel Group in case of any untoward incident or accident because of poor maintenance and safety measures.
