Monday, November 16, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Monday, November 16, 1998 |
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Human
rights men reject Badal's offer
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Stress
on collective Punjabi culture Congress
anti-Punjab, alleges Badal
Garbage
dumps of Abohar Roadways
union rally on November 20 Government
clarifies on funding of Bathinda refinery Victim
of neglect |
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Human rights men reject Badal's
offer JALANDHAR, Nov 15 — Human rights activists today sought to set at rest the apprehension that the functioning of the People's Commission to probe human rights violations in Punjab during militancy would lead to the revival of terrorism and communalism and demoralise the police force. Arguing at a seminar organised by the committee for coordination on disappearances in Punjab. They expressed the view that such public initiatives had become necessary in a country like India where the state and Central governments and their institutions were losing credibility. They said if such initiatives, aimed at exposing the weaknesses of various state instruments, were prevented and facts and truth suppressed it could lead to growth of fascist mindset which would derail the Indian democracy. Committee convener Ram Narayan Kumar rejected Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's offer to suitable amendments enabling the Punjab State Human Rights Commission to take cognisance of human right violations older than a year. He said if Mr Badal was honest in probing the rights' violations, he should set up an inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act. But journalist Anil Kumar Chamaria said even probes under the Commission of Inquiry Act had no meaning because they never went against the state and a few which did were never acted upon because the government was not bound to act on such reports as mandated in the Act. He claimed that not a single inquiry report in the 43-year period from 1947 to 1990 went against the government of disturbed state like Bihar. Justice Rambhushan Malhotra (retd), of the Allahabad High Court said it was not constitutionally possible to ban the People's Commission and hence its protagonists should not harbour any such apprehension. He argued that the Peoples Commission supported the Supreme Court observation in the case of disappearances in Punjab handed over to the National Human Rights Commission for further inquiry. He said "martyrdom of Khalra (Jaswant Singh Khalra) will not go waste" and asked how such a commission which was seeking justice for the people could be banned. A private petition seeking a ban on the Peoples Commission was pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which several political parties, including the Congress, the BJP and the Communists, had also sought a ban on it on the ground that its work could disturb peace and harmony in Punjab. Justice Malhotra said suppression of facts and truth would be more dangerous for the Indian state than such Peoples Commission. A state could not exist for long by using coercive instruments at its command, he added citing the disintegration of the erstwhile Soviet Union to buttress his argument. Colin Gonsalvez, who was a member of Indian People Tribunal which probed killing of Muslims in Mumbai, said it was the working of the tribunal which had forced the Maharashtra Government to set up Srikrishna Commission. He said judicial proceedings could not be undertaken without facts and hence it was the job of private initiatives like the Peoples Commission to collect facts about events to help judicial proceedings because government agencies dilly-dallied in collecting evidence, particularly when these manning such agencies themselves feared indictment. Mr Gonsalvez said no court could stop the Peoples Commission from functioning, he said Justice N. Suresh (retd), who is also member of the Peoples Commission, had refused to wind up the Indian People Tribunal of which he was a member in spite of contempt notice issued by the Srikrishna Commission. He urged the Peoples Commission to work with speed, dig up facts and win popularity. Prof Satish Jain of Jawahar Lal Nehru University said human rights was a complex issue in Indian democratic context because it was not just a straight issue between the state and the people. He said the Peoples Commission should educate the public about the implications of ban on it and added even if it was banned it could document human rights violation. Mr N.D. Pancholi of Citizens for Democracy said banning the commission would be a direct attack on the Constitution and people's fundamental rights enshrined in Article 19 (A). He said: "It is a fight between the State and the people" and urged the commission to "expose barbarism of the State" which, he alleged, was aimed at emasculating the people. Peoples Commission's findings would empower the people vis-a-vis state and hence it must function without any fear, he added. Playwright Shamsul Islam urged the protagonists of the Peoples Commission not to get bogged down in replying to charges of its critics but carry on its work. Dr Arobindo Ghosh of Delhi University said "human rights organisations are safety valves" and hence Peoples Commission must be allowed to function and if its findings led to some curbs on police power, it should be beneficial for the society at large. Punjab Samajwadi Janata Party president Darshan Singh Jidda, however, cautioned the human rights organisations against propagating a particular ideology as this would put a question mark on their credibility. Dr Anup Saraya of the People Union for Civil Liberties urged the commission to broaden its term of reference to also probe the role of judiciary and genesis of terrorism in Punjab, but he cautioned the Indian Human Rights Organisations against seeking foreign support because it would give a handle to their critics to dub them anti-national. Mr Anand Sarup Verma, who probed human rights situation in South Africa during apartheid regime, alleged that political parties in India first aided and abetted mafia and then gave a free hand to the police to eliminate them with the objective of "shipping up a perverted mindset in the society in favour of fake encounters". He claimed that there was no secessionist movement in Punjab and asked had it been so it would not have died so early. The Punjab tragedy, he alleged, was state sponsored. Mr Vinod Tewari said since inquiry commissions of the state had failed to deliver justice, Peoples Commission had become necessary. Akali Dal (Amritsar)
general secretary Jagmohan Singh said since the Punjab
State Human Rights Commission had not even acknowledged
his party's 11-page letter it had sent to its chairman
Justice V.K. Khanna (retd) on August 24. His party had no
faith in Mr Badal's offer to amend the Act to enable the
state commission to take cognisance of the rights
violations older than a year. |
And now mafia in foodgrains CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — The procurement muddle, may it be in paddy or wheat, is a perennial problem created by man with nature occasionally playing a spoilsport either during harvesting or marketing. Punjab's economy, which mainly depends upon agriculture and marketing operations, is affected adversely, whenever production is plenty or there is a scarcity. Thus, over the years distortions in agricultural marketing and pricing policies have emerged. Affecting procurement, storage and transportation of farm produce, primarily foodgrains. Add to these the operations of what has come to be called the "food mafia", which operates in connivance with government officials and agencies involved in handling agricultural produce, mainly the foodgrains: wheat or paddy. In the process the middleman and the mafia get the most while both the producer as well as the consumer are left high and dry. It is calculated that farmers get less than 50 per cent of the consumer price with the figure varying with the commodity. In the case of grains it is as high as 60 per cent. Most of the procurement is by government agencies. Even the minimum support price is fixed by the government. This leaves farmers at the mercy of the government as they are dependent upon private trade. It is widely believed that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) itself has to be apportioned a major part of the blame for the "losses" incurred on account of "disappearance" of procured products. There is no study or proper analysis available but it is believed that the FCI has allegedly "eaten" up more than a year's full foodgrains production in Punjab alone over the past two decades and practically got away. Just as farmers are robbed and prices vary from farms to godowns or mills (depending upon whether it is wheat or paddy and on the "cuts" mafia imposes) unscrupulous elements in the procurement agency posted at godowns conspire with trade (transporters and railways) and engage in pilferage of foodgrains meant for despatch outside Punjab. The condition of stored foodgrains is no better. Someone has calculated that foodgrains worth about Rs 5000 crore may have been siphoned off to unknown destinations much to the chagrin of those responsible for handling the procurement, storage and movement of the produce. The modus operandi, insiders in the FCI say, is simple. At the time of loading of special goods train or food specials, each carrying 20,000 bags, some trucks are diverted to unknown places and wrong entries made in despatch registers of the FCI as well as the Railways. Reports of shortage at destinations are attributed to pilferage or "bleeding" of bags etc. The FCI officials admit that 1 per cent of the losses are permissible. Wagons on reaching their destinations still have their seals intact despite the losses. Who wins and who loses in the bargains? The "food mafia" is fully supported by trade unions, politicians and bureaucrats, it is alleged. Yet all manage to get away with the scam. The FCI records are scattered and untabulated. Even elementary formalities are incomplete, requiring documentation. The internal vigilance of the FCI is top-heavy and perhaps, overworked or couldn't care less. On the role of the food mafia, TNS after meeting FCI officials pieced together information on how the racket operated. FCI officials here were willing to share information but were reluctant to be quoted. They admitted shortages of any officials having been "punished or dismissed" for their involvement. Nevertheless, there are several loopholes, is all they would say. A former senior regional manager of the FCI (Punjab), Mr Sarvesh Kaushal, had as a "one-time exercise" got a tabulation done in 1997 on the extent of operations attributed to the food mafia and tried to analyse the administrative shortcomings. As many as 50 officials were put on the job and asked to dig up records, tabulate and computerise the same listing cases of "theft, pilferage and destination" shortages. Predictably, there was reaction within the organisation. The end result, it is learnt, showed that at least 56,000 such cases were detected. The analysis of these cases revealed there were more than 1,000 cases where more than 10 truckloads of foodgrains had "disappeared" from each one of the special food specials. In over 4,000 cases more than five truckloads had vanished. A follow-up of at least 130 cases was referred to the FCI vigilance division and action sought. Those cases, it is learnt, are still being pursued. Reports that as a result of that special exercise 37 officials were "dismissed" is contested by officials. "It is a lengthy process. Attention is paid to check thefts, pilferages", said two senior FCI officials when contacted. In the FCI there is no system of post-retirement benefits like pension etc. Employees commute their retirement benefits in time. The service rules, it is said, are such that vigilance proceedings are not permitted after retirement of an official. The departmental proceedings against "outsiders", who work in connivance with the "insiders" are totally ineffective. The outsiders mean "transporters, railway officials" etc. The inter-state movement of foodgrains is a hindrance even when a police case is got registered against the food mafia. This is no because of "jurisdiction" problems. There is no specialised agency to unmask the mafia, which is invisible yet omnipresent. Given the dismal
agricultural marketing system prevailing in Punjab and
elsewhere, farm economists say it is pertinent to find a
"middlepath". The question is not one of choice
between a free market mechanism and state intervention.
The challenge is now effectively can the two be
dovetailed to make the marketing more effective to
maximise human welfare, ensure remunerative returns to
farmers and minimise intervention of middleman. |
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‘Satta’ in cotton picking up BATHINDA, Nov 15 — Due to poor output of cotton in the northern zone comprising Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, ‘satta’ in the cotton trade is picking up. Sources said ‘satta’ which started in Rajashtan after Divali has moved to Punjab and Haryana and it has resulted in the hoarding of desi cotton and the American variety. Trade sources said ‘satta’ had also hiked the rates of desi variety of cotton . Around Divali, desi cotton was fetching Rs 1300 per maund which went up to Rs 1625 per maund within a week. The sources said most of the hoarding of cotton was being done in Haryana and Rajasthan and if the trend was not checked by the authorities concerned, desi cotton would go out of reach of common man. Mr Sanjeev Kumar, a leading cotton merchant, told TNS that after hoardings onion and potato the traders had shifted their eye on cotton. Some unscrupulous elements had taken control of the cotton markets and making "fortunes" from ‘satta’. According to the North India Cotton Association Limited, the total production of cotton would be around 25.41 lakh bales as per the estimate made on October 31, 1998. Earlier, the association was expecting about 31.83 lakh bales of cotton in the north zone as per their estimate on September 30, 1998. Mr Ashok Kapur, vice-president of the association said with each passing day, the estimates of cotton production were coming down. He said as per his information, the total production of cotton in the north zone would be between 20 lakh and 23 lakh bales. On the other hand, high rates of cotton and rain-affected quality of cotton has become a deterrent for the cotton buyers of south India and Mumbai. The buyers from these parts of the country, who used to flood the cotton markets of north India by Divali, are still keeping distance from the markets. Mr Sanjeev Kumar said most of the textile mills owners of south India and Mumbai had started importing cotton from foreign countries. He said about one lakh bales of cotton had been imported by these mill owners from Egypt and Turkey last month. He said if the hoarding of cotton was not stopped in the north zone, mill owners of the south India and Mumbai would import around six to seven lakh bales as per their requirements. The sources said due to ‘satta’ and subsequent high prices of desi cotton, various government agencies like the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and other cooperative bodies have not entered the market so far even though are arrival of cotton had started in the markets in September. The sources said the poor
arrival of cotton in the markets had also affected the
functioning of ginning and pressing mills adversely. Due
to high rates and less quantity most of the cotton and
ginning mills were running under their respective
capacity. Some of the mills were finding it difficult to
earn enough to meet their overhead expenses. |
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Low farm productivity worries
government CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — Faced with a growing agrarian crisis , the Akali-BJP Government is still working out its response. Both the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and the Finance Minister, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, who have shown interest, are yet to formulate a coherent, workable policy that could bring results within a stipulated timeframe. At the same time the Union Government pressed hard by the food surplus states at the level of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Agriculture Minister, Mr Som Pal, is yet to decide how to go about it. Some issues have been raised and replied to, but in a disjointed manner. Clearly, whatever is being suggested is by and large rehash of old staff. When farmers in Punjab and Haryana are told and now repeatedly so, that they should change the cropping pattern from paddy-wheat rotation, it makes little sense to growers. Market incentives have to be there to wean farmers from their present approach. Interestingly, when this is suggested, little care is taken of the need of millions of the poor and also that these crops till now are commercially viable. There is as yet nothing to suggest to help the ever dwindling size of land holdings in Punjab. One suggestion has emerged from Punjab is to remove land ceiling restrictions. It is argued that this would encourage large corporate investment and farms would become economically competitive. Besides, pressure on land would ease. This would attract investment, it is stated in the government 's paper submitted to the Planning Commission recently. First the corporate sector is not that keen to invest in the farming. It is only keen to save on taxes. Secondly, what shall become of the small and medium farmers who would sell the land? They may not find avenues for investment like industry or trade. They lack skills and are good only for farming. The situation is alarming, they both admit. Farmers during the last three years have lost a staggering Rs 5000 crore due to bad weather. They have lost 22 lakh bales of cotton 30 lakh tonnes of paddy, sugarcane and potatoes during the period. Who would compensate them? This loss becomes grave when the costs of labour and land and inputs like fertiliser and chemicals are worked out. Punjab is a predominantly rural economy as the performance of the agricultural sector including livestock, which forms about 43.83 per cent of the gross domestic product. Since agricultural production has almost reached a plateau, a strategy needs to be developed for diversifying the wheat-paddy cycle and ensuring value addition to the agricultural produce through agro-processing". This matter was taken up by the Finance Minister with the Planning Commission during the recent plan discussions. It was argued that Punjab contributes substantially towards the central pool of foodgrains every year at a very heavy economic cost. The growth in land productivity has slowed down. After 1984-85 rice productivity has reached a plateau. The scope for increasing cropping intensity is limited. The present paddy-wheat cropping system is not sustainable and has led to a serious degradation in the soil health due to over exploitation of micro nutrient wealth consequent on the cropping intensity. The central areas of the state are facing the problem of alarming depletion in the water- logging, alkalinity and salinity. Similarly, the Kandi belt covering 9 per cent of the area, suffers from soil erosion and scarcity of water. The highly input intensive rice/wheat dominant system has created a sustainability concern leading to ecological imbalances and rapid deterioration in the environment due to intensive use of chemicals, pushing Punjab agriculture to a position of stagnation. The state had to spend upwards of Rs 51 crore on anti-waterlogging measures last year, and this year the work has so far cost Rs 172.83 crore. There are still tracts of land, which are not cultivable this year and will have to be left fallow for a few more cropping seasons. The wheat-paddy cycle has come to dominate the cropping pattern of the state to the disadvantage of pulses and oilseeds. Besides leading to reduced consumption of pulses in farm families, the farmer is also losing out on a natural source of restoration of soil fertility. "Subsidies on hybrid seed, advanced machinery and integrated pest management and sustainable agriculture development techniques are required. The post harvest care and the marketing of crops such as potatoes, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables needs to be invested in, not only to safeguard the farmers' interest but also the national interest," Capt Kanwaljit Singh suggested. A recent study that puts rural credit and indebtedness in Punjab agriculture to the extent of Rs 1000 crore per year is often exaggerated. The hard fact of under-pricing of farm output which causes loss to the farmers is to the extent of Rs 4000 crore per year. Thus the farmers face a negative subsidy (returns) of Rs 3000 crore plus per year. One of the fallouts of the green revolution is that expenditure incurred on running tubewells, tractors, harvesting combines and inputs with regard to seeds and fertilisers requires a huge amount of surplus cash which many farmers do not have. Though the agriculture production has grown at a very high rate in the state, per capita income of farmers has not grown at the same rate mainly because of population growth of consumption having absorbed almost the entire increase in per capita real income of the farming community. Very little surplus cash is left with farmers to finance the expenditure on market- supplied farm inputs. As a consequence, farmers have to regularly and routinely borrow huge amounts to finance this cash expenditure. The result is an increasing indebtedness of the Punjab peasantry in spite of the cooperative banking institutions available in the state. The estimated total debt is to the extent of Rs 5700 crore on which the annual interest burden is to the extent of Rs 1103 crore. The bulk of these loans were arranged from the commission agents and money lenders. With untimely rains and other problems, farmers are now unable to pay back these loans. In despair, some have committed suicide. Access of farmers to institutional finance at a reasonable rate of interest needs to be ensured. Besides, the farmer needs to be insulated against periodic crop failures due to natural calamities by implementing the comprehensive crop insurance scheme. The Centre must step up
the level of investment in this much-starved sector and
ensure a reasonable return to the farmers as is available
to the investors in the industrial sector. "The farm
policy should take a fresh look at the land ceiling laws,
price structure of agricultural inputs, incentives for
import of latest technology and knowhow from the
countries which have already experienced technological
breakthrough", the minister said. In this context ,
a joint study group of the state government and the
Planning Commission is be set up to explore the various
dimensions of the problems concerning Punjab and to come
up with a detailed action plan. |
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Ambala-Nangal rail line to be
electrified SAS NAGAR, Nov 15 — After the Bathinda oil refinery, the next major scheme will be a petro-chemical project for Punjab. Stating this at a Press conference here this evening, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries, indicated that work on the Rs 5,000-6,000 crore project was likely to begin in a year's time. The site of the project was yet to be decided. He said a BHEL project would come up at Goindwal Sahib. Efforts were being made to bring large industrial units to Punjab which would automatically lead to the setting up of ancillary units. Efforts were being made to attract Apollo Tyres and ACC units to the state, he added. He was speaking after inaugurating a Rs 179 lakh PUDA-built bridge in Sector 63 here. The 250-foot bridge connects Sectors 63-64 and 67-68. The Union Minister said a Rs 500 crore hi-tech software park would come up at SAS Nagar. Work on this would start in a month's time. Earlier, Mr Sukhbir Singh, while addressing a public gathering, criticised the "poor" performance of the previous Congress Governments. He said the achievements of the SAD-BJP government in the state included the waiving of loans amounting to Rs 8,500 crore, the setting up of an international airport at Amritsar and the Bathinda oil refinery. The refinery, he said, would attract ancillary unit projects costing Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 25,000 crore in over three to four years. The refinery project would also produce 1,000 MW of power for the state, give employment to 15,000 persons when completed and provide Rs 700 crore in Sales Tax. Ms Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, MP, announced that overbridges had been approved for Morinda, Kurali and Sirhind. Besides an electrification scheme had been cleared for the Ambala-Nangal Railway line. Mr I.S. Bindra, Vice-Chairman, PUDA, said when the present State Government took over the PUDA budget was Rs 70-80 crore. Next year it would be Rs 400 crore and in the coming three or four years over Rs 1,000 crore. He claimed that the Sector 62 City Centre to be built here would ultimately compete with such centres in Dubai and Singapore. Among those present were
the Kharar MLA, Ms Daljit Kaur, the Ropar Deputy
Commissioner, Mr K.S. Sidhu, and the SSP, Mr R.S. Khatra. |
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Major's 52-year fight for pension KAPURTHALA: Major Gurdit Singh (82) has no regret of losing his Army job in 1946 when he joined a procession in Ernakulam (Kerala) carrying photographs of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Indian National Army chief, and raised slogans for the country's freedom. On knowing this, the British officers got annoyed and became furious over the major's zeal for freedom. They ordered him to be court-martial led and then dismissed from the Army on the charge of sedition. Since then Major Gurdit Singh, who was born in a farmer's family at Balardwal village in Hargobindpur tehsil of Gurdaspur, is running from pillar to post to get recognition. After Independence, he submitted a representation to the Home Department for his reinstatement in the Army but no action was taken. His efforts to get recognition as a freedom fighter fell on deaf ears. After selling of his ancestral land in the village, he shifted to Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh) where he, along with his son, earned their livelihood by farming. In 1996 he shifted to Nangal Lubana village in Kapurthala district and is living with his daughter. The Major has got more than 100 representations to the President Prime Minister, Army chief, Governor, and top officials of Punjab Government, assuring the grand old man of suitable action but nothing has been done. Major Narinder Singh Jallo (retd), a senior Akali leader and his close relative, who is taking up his case with Punjab Government, recalled that in 1957 his case was taken up with Giani Kartar Singh, the then Punjab Rehabilitation and Revenue Minister, who forwarded his application to Mr Partap Singh Kairon, then Chief Minister, but nothing was done. Major Gurdit Singh even pleaded for reinstatement with the Defence Minister. His case was taken up sympathetically and he was asked to submit his resignation, which he tendered in 1948. But later he was refused reinstatement and since then 50 years have passed. Major Jallo said in 1992 the then Governor of Punjab, Mr Surendra Nath, gave financial help of Rs 10,000 to the Major for treatment of TB, which had affected him. The present Governor has also given financial help to him. To help the needy freedom fighter, he met Mr I.K. Gujral, then Prime Minister in November 1997, at Jalandhar. Following the meeting, the PM's Political Secretary sent his representation to Home Minister, but nothing materialised. Major Jallo said he again got the Governor's recommendation in July, which was forwarded to Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister. The Chief Minister's office sent the recommendation to the district administration on August 5 while pursuing the application. Major Jallo was booked in a criminal case for allegedly entering into a fight with a official. The recommendation is still gathering dust in the government office. Major Gurdit Singh passed his matriculation examination in 1934 in the first division. His grandfather, Munsha Singh, retired as Subedar from the British Army in 1910. He joined the Army as a clerk in 1935 and was commissioned in 1940 during World War II and rose to the rank of Major in 1945 and posted as Ernakulam. Major Gurdit Singh even
the ripe of 82 still hopes to get recognition as a
freedom fighter and a sainik sanman pension. |
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Stress on collective Punjabi
culture WAGAH (Amritsar), Nov 15 — The second day of the Raja Porus Indo-Pak Punjabi Mittarta Mela began with a 'peace march' from the Jallianwala Bagh. The 'peace march' led by Jasdev Singh Jassowal reached the 'no man's land' after covering a distance of 30 km. Dr Tara Singh Sindu, main organiser of the mela, Dr I.D. Gaur, general secretary Folklore Research Academy, Dr Charanjit Singh, Jasdev Singh Jassowal, Makhan Singh MLA, Bathinda, Harpal Singh Ghaga ex MLA (CPI), Sohan Singh Sulaimpur, Bhupinder Singh and a large number of writers, journalists and artists placed wreaths at the martyrs' memorial set up in memory of those Punjabis who lost their lives in the 1947 riots. The second day of the cultural fair was dedicated to Baba Banda Singh Bhadur. Makhan Singh Brar from Canada and popular Punjabi folk singer Surinder Chhinda regaled the audience with their songs. Mr Jassowal stressed upon the need of exploring and explaining the collective Punjabi culture. Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar, ex MP, stated that after 50 years since Independence a large number of people had started viewing the partition of Punjab in 1947 as unwanted. Rai Aziz Ula Khan, custodian of the 'Gangasagar', sent his good wishes for the success of fair from Lahore. In the Raja Porus Mittarta Mela it was unanimously passed that visas should be granted to those who wished to perform religious ceremonies at their birth places in either of the two Punjabs in memory of their kin who were killed in communal riots in 1947. It was demanded from the government that a complete record of Punjabis who died in 1947 be maintained. Mr Nazar Singh Manshaia,
presented the calendar on Raja Porus Punjabi Mittarta
Mela which was released by Jagmeet Singh Brar ex MP. He
also released a booklet on the cultural policy of Punjab
written by Dr Tara Singh and Dr I.D. Gaur. A map of
united Punjab was illuminated and a massive langar was
served to people by the Namdhari sangat of Sat Guru Baba
Jagjit Singh Ji. |
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Garbage dumps of Abohar ABOHAR, Nov 15 — The Municipal Authorities have not properly identified sites for garbage dumps in the town. The biggest dump is located between the main post office, Abohar Club and the Nehru Stadium. The telephone exchange is located at a distance of 50 metres from it. The area around the club is full of sullage. Stray animals can be seen browsing in the dump. The second dump is located outside the Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital. During the visits of the Minister of Local Bodies and the Health Minister, it was announced that the dump outside the hospital would be shifted to some other place, but no action has been taken so far. Another dump is located on a corner of Loknayak Jaiparkash Narain Park facing Shri Ram Nagar Sewa Dal Girls High School in the Nai Abadi area. The authorities have recently started demolishing public toilets there which were not being used for the past several years. A dump outside the city police station has, however, been removed. The dumping of waste on
both sides of the road leading to the cremation ground is
also common. Carcasses are also strewn along the boundary
wall of the cremation ground. |
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Congress anti-Punjab, alleges Badal JALANDHAR, Nov 15 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has appealed to the people of the state to discard the Congress for its anti-Punjab activities and vote for the Akali-BJP-BSM candidate Dalbir Singh Dhirowal in the Adampur constituency. Mr Badal was addressing gatherings at Manko, Adampur and Gazipur villages. He said the PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh was not sincere to any party and was power hungry. The Chief Minister said senior Punjab Congress leaders were not happy and were not campaigning for the Congress candidate because the PPCC chief had little experience in politics. Describing the Congress as an enemy of Punjab and its people, Mr Badal said it had always harmed the socio-economic structure and ruined the economy of the state. There was a deep-rooted conspiracy to make Punjab economically weak and demoralised the Punjabis who had contributed a lot in the freedom struggle. Punjab had been deprived of its rights. Punjabi youths could not get enough jobs as the quota for Punjab had been decreased, Mr Badal added. The Chief Minister, who is also the president of the SAD, criticised the Congress for its anti-farmers policies and said the farmers of Punjab did not get reasonable return for their produce, but the present Akali-BJP government had given many incentives to the farmers to remove their economic problems. He said the present government was establishing big industrial projects to provide jobs to the unemployed youths and to raise the economic status of Punjabis. The state government had made many plans for the Dalits and the weaker sections of the society so that they could earn their livelihood with respect. Others present at the
occasion were Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr Manoranjan Kalia,
Mr Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mr Swarna Ram, Mr Surjit Singh
Kohli, Jathedar Tota Singh (all ministers), Mr Satnam
Singh Kainth (MP), Prof Baldev Singh Baluana, Mr Labh
Singh, Mr Malwinder Singh, Mr Gurdip Singh, Dr Ram Lal
Jassi, Mr Surinder Mehead and Mr Manohar Lal Mahe. |
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Roadways union rally on November 20 JALANDHAR, Nov 15 — Mr Dayal Singh, president, Punjab Subordinate Services Federation and president, Punjab Roadways Workers Union, said here today that a rally and a protest march by the joint action committee of Punjab Roadways Employees Union would be held on November 20 at Bhogpur. He said members of PSSF
(INTUC) from Adampur Assembly constituency would also
join the rally. He said the demands of the union include
assured promotions to all employees after four, nine and
14 years of service, implementing grades and payment of
arrears to workshop, bonus for all employees, cash
payment of D.A. instalment from July, 1998,
implementation transport policy of 1990, and cash uniform
allowance to Class IV employees. |
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Victim of neglect GURDASPUR, Nov 15 — The observation home here run by the Women and Child Development Department under the Ministry of Social Welfare is a picture of neglect. Children admitted here are kept her for three months during which their economic status is verified and they are imparted elementary training. The observation home has seven inmates. The building is not equipped to provide recreation facilities. There is only one bedroom for the children. The home does not have sufficient bedding. The superintendent of the
observation home told this reporter that building for the
home was necessary and a piece of land had been allotted
by the Deputy Commissioner. |
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Government clarifies on funding of
Bathinda refinery CHANDIGARH, Nov 15 — The Punjab Government today said doubts raised about funding of the Rs 16,000 crore refinery at Bathinda are not correct. "It is wrong to state that no tie-up with a third party to finance this huge project has been made. In this regard, there is an agreement of the HPCL with the American Giant — Esso Exxon. Only the final details need to be worked out. Esso Exxon will be a joint venture participant with 26 per cent equity stake. In the memorandum taken to the Union Cabinet with regard to this refinery, it has been very clearly mentioned therein that an agreement has been signed between the HPCL and Esso Exxon. This project on similar lines has also been cleared by the Public Investment Board of the Government of India," an official statement here said. On behalf of the state
government, it was assured that under no circumstances,
would this prestigious project be allowed to fail. This
project has also received the necessary statutory
clearances from the state and Central agencies. The HPCL
have already made an actual investment of about Rs 100
crore towards land acquisition, the possession of which
has been physically taken and compensation has also been
paid to the full satisfaction of the land owners. |
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