Patiala, August 20
The need of a nuclear power plant in the state has found another strong advocate in the Punjab Cabinet. Minister for cooperatives in an exclusive interview to The Tribune here today said a nuclear power plant had become inevitable for the state in view of the growing power demand and limited natural resources for power generation available with the state.

The Punjab Cabinet had given an indication to the Union Government in this regard.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh is the second minister who has endorsed that the Punjab government has given its ascent to a nuclear power plant in the state. Earlier, the minister for irrigation had given a statement in this regard. He, however, retracted from the statement the very next day.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh said if the people of Patran were resisting the plant, alternative sites could be found in other parts.

He added that the Pakistan threat to nuclear power plant in the state was also a misconception. The nuclear power plant in Punjab would in fact act as a deterrent to an attack on the state.

He further said the SAD-BJP was preparing for mid-term parliamentary elections. The marriage of convenience between the Congress and the Left had lapsed and exposed the fundamental ideological differences between the two.

The SAD had started asking its workers to get ready for mid-term elections, he added.

The aim of the Punjab government was to achieve 8 per cent growth for which it requires an investment of Rs 10,000 crore.

Since such heavy investment could not be generated from Budget, a public-private participation was inevitable, Capt further said. 

Wagah, August 20
India and Pakistan have formally signed an agreement to allow the movement of trucks to facilitate the hassle-free trade between the two neighbouring countries.

Director, Border Management Division (BMD), S.K. Swami, said today that the agreement would come in force from October 1.

Swami said the marathon talks, which lasted for about six hours, discussed the nitty-gritty and other modalities for the smooth movement of trucks across the border.

The Indian delegation led by S.K. Swami, director, Border Management Division, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, along with representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs and Commerce held talks with their Pakistani counterparts to thrash out issues related to the movement of trucks laden with goods across the border.

Swami also interacted with the local exporters and importers along with representatives of various business associations.

According to details available here, Swami had offered to decrease the duration of truck clearance time to facilitate quicker movement of goods. He said the timing for the movement of trucks would begin from 7 am till 1 pm with the area totally sensitised. He suggested the construction of temporary sheds for export and import cargo till the establishment of new ICP for starting the operation of truck movement.

Swami said India would also take up the issue with the Pakistani authorities for containerized movement of goods across the border which would help to ease the clearance time and hasten the transportation of the material.

Among those who participated in the meeting included deputy commissioner K.S. Pannu, and Gunbir Singh, president, CII, Amritsar.

Longowal (Sangrur), August 20
Non-implementation of the Rajiv-Longowal Accord by the Congress, non-observation of Longowal’s death anniversary and the Congress-Left impasse over the nuclear deal were the main points which were highlighted by SAD and BJP leaders at a function organised in connection with the death anniversary of Longowal here today.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said he had told Sant Longowal that the Central government would betray him by not implementing the accord. Later Longowal agreed with him but on the same day he had to sacrifice his life for peace.

Badal said he had ordered the PWD B&R department to widen Guru Gobind Singh Marg from Anandpur Sahib to Talwandi Sabo. He also said the marg would be extended to Hazoor Sahib in Maharashtra. He also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the development of Longowal village.

Paying tributes to Longowal, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje said he had sacrificed his life for signing a peace pact.

Former Chief Minister of Himachal Prem Kumar Dhumal also criticised the Central government for betraying Longowal on the issue of the accord.

The MP from Sangrur, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and Punjab cooperation minister Kanwaljit Singh flayed the Congress for not observing Longowal’s death anniversary this year. They also predicted a mid-term poll in view of the deadlock between the Congress and the Left.

Among others who paid tributes were PWD minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, former minister Prem Singh Chandumajra, jathedar Tota Singh, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal and Gobind Singh Longowal.

Chandigarh, August 20
The state government has decided to adopt two-stage policy for giving clearance to mega projects. Decision to adopt the new policy was taken at a high-level meeting held here today. The framing of rules under the Industry Facility Act was discussed at length in the meeting. The previous government had passed the Act but not framed the rules. It will be in place within a month.

At the first stage, mega projects will be scrutinised by officers’ committee to be headed by chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh. It will meet once in a fortnight. After the committee clears the projects, these will go the Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Chief Minister.

The sub-committee will meet once in a month. During the Capt Amarinder Singh’s government, the empowered committee headed by him cleared mega projects. Officers of the departments concerned were members of the empowered committee. Clearance of mega projects will be time bound.

Investors will have to submit their projects to the departments concerned. After processing the project, the department concerned will forward the same to the committee of officers. Entire process of clearing the project at the committee headed by the Chief Minister will be completed within a month.

Asked about the framing of rules, Ramesh Inder Singh, said these were being framed to give the legal backing to the entire process related to the clearing of projects.

However, it appears that the formula to be adopted for bringing about uniformity in giving concessions to the projects will not be acceptable to investors. The investors, who will be investing Rs 500 crores or Rs 1,000 crores will naturally ask for bigger concessions than those investing Rs 100 crore or Rs 200 crore.

Meanwhile, though the state government has restored the change of land use approvals of numerous mega projects and also giving clearance for a few new projects, owners of such projects, especially housing ones, are not in a hurry to sign an MoU with authorities concerned. Moreover, the big boom that was witnessed in the real estate market a few months ago has faded out. “ We will wait for the heating of the real estate market before signing an MoU with the state government”, said an investor. Why should we pay the land use charges to the government at this stage when the real estate market is in crisis? he added.

Chandigarh, August 20
A world trade centre (WTC) will be set up at Mohali. It will be the most modern trade centre in the country. Adequate land is available with the Punjab small industries export corporation at Mohali for this purpose.

Chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh told The Tribune that exhibition and convention centres would be the main attractions at the WTC. A habitat centre would also be part of the WTC.

He said the WTC would be developed in the public-private partnership mode.

He said Punjab needed such a centre to promote investment in the industrial sector.

The best consultancy firms will be engaged for the planning and designing of the WTC, it is learnt. GAMADA will handle the planning and designing work. Besides functioning as an area of business and trade activity, the WTC will also have a recreational centre.

GAMADA is already working to develop Mohali as a show window of Punjab. — TNS

Wagah, August 20
The deputy defence minister of Malaysia, Dato Haji Zainal Abibin, has said his country was contemplating to train its fighter pilots at the Indian Air Force establishments for its newly acquired Sukhoi MK 30 aircraft.

Talking to The Tribune after crossing over to India from Pakistan with a car rally to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of Malaysia, Abibin said the Malaysian Air Force had recently acquired a squadron of Sukhois.

He said Malaysia would also be exploring options for buying spare parts of these aircraft from Indian defence industries.

Both countries shared common strategic interests in the Indian Ocean. Each year, military officers of the Malaysian armed forces attended training courses in India.

Abibin said that Malaysian armed forces had a fairly good representation of women.

Earlier, the car rally was received at Wagah amid the beating of drums and a bhangra performance. It was received by Major-Gen K.M.S. Shergill, GOC, Panther Division, and Brig V. Naraynan, commander of the Dograi Brigade, besides other senior officers.

The rally comprised 52 high-profile members, including the chief of staff of the Malaysian armed forces.

The rally will pass through Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, Patna, Siliguri, Guwahati and Imphal before leaving for Myanmar through Moreh in Manipur.

Kharar, August 20
The Kharar police rounded up officials of a private immigration company from Chandigarh who had come to recruit people in Chhappar Chiri this afternoon following an anonymous call that fake travel agents were recruiting people for Kuwait.

DSP Joginder Singh rounded up the officials of BS Enterprises, that has its office in Sector 42 in Chandigarh.The company had been recruiting drivers for operating JCBs in Kuwait.

The officials were detained at the Kharar police station from 2 pm to 7 pm. "They (company officials) showed us documents. They had valid government permit and had been hired by a Kuwait firm with head- quarters at Mumbai to recruit people on its behalf," said additional SHO, Gurvinder Singh Sidhu.

The company had chosen a barren land on the outskirts of Chhappar Chiri village where trials on JCBs were being taken. The police claimed the company had due permission from the immigration office at Chandigarh.

Patiala, August 20
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) in a massive drive launched against power theft has imposed fines worth Rs 67 crore. The fine was imposed after raids were conducted by the enforcement wing of the PSEB across the state.

Chairman, PSEB, Y.S. Ratra said the raiding squads checked 1,45,167 connections during 2006-07 of which 15,622 consumers were found to be indulging in direct theft of power and meter tampering.

A sum of Rs 67.30 crore was imposed as penalty on the defaulters. These included 64 cases amounting to the theft of more than Rs 1 lakh each and three cases of major theft amounting to Rs 49.14 lakh, Rs 18 lakh and Rs 9.26 lakh each.

Generally, power theft was found to be carried through kundis, bypassing and tampering of meters. In some cases magnets and electrical gadgets were also found to stop the meters.

During the current year from April to July a total of 64,586 connections were checked by the enforcement and mobile meter testing squads, of which 30 per cent were found to be indulging in thefts.

These included 22,972 agricultural power consumers, of which 8,028 were found to be indulging in thefts.

The chairman further stated that the squads had been directed to carry out extensive checking of the feeders having high transmission and distribution losses after the ongoing paddy season and report the reasons for the losses and the measures taken to curtail these.

To control power theft officers of the distribution organisation have been directed to cover all naked joints, provide seals on MCBs and to shift the meters outside the premises of the consumers.

The chairman further stated that the board had decided to make these unscheduled raids a regular affair.

Patiala, August 20
The Punjab Youth Congress organised various functions to mark the 63rd birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi today.

President of the Punjab Youth Congress Vijay Inder Singla presided over several functions at Patiala, Sangrur, Bathinda and Tapa Mandi today. Speaking at the function at Patiala, he said, “Rajiv Gandhi was the architect of modern India whose initiatives ushered in rapid transformation in the country. It was Rajiv Gandhi who took personal interest to put India on the world map as far as the telecom and computerisation were concerned,” he added.

Singla further highlighted Rajiv’s role in the decentralisation of power through Panchayati Raj and grant of voting right to the youth above 18 years of age.

Hoshiarpur, August 20
Activists of the Ram Lila Ground Sangarsh Committee led by their president, Vikramjit Singh Bhola, along with Dr Dilbag Rai, Congress block president, Mahilpur, Vijay Aggarwal, BJP district president, and Sanjiv Talwar, vice-president, Punjab Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, blocked traffic on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road today. They were protesting against the Punjab Mandi Board for allegedly taking possession of the local mela ground for setting up a grain market there.

They said Ram Lila ground was allegedly encroached by the Punjab Mandi Board and has started constructing sheds there. They asked the authorities to acquire land outside the town and set up the grain market there.

DSP, Garhshankar, Kuldip Singh, intervened and got the construction work on the sheds stopped. Only then was the blockade lifted.

Later, the protesters went to the site and started filling up the pits, but ASHO, Mahilpur, stopped them.

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 20
Though more than 5.25 lakh litres of kerosene oil is being provided in the district every month for supply to the ration card holders, people in several areas are forced to buy it on the black market at high prices.

Residents of many villages have reported that they have not got kerosene oil through the public distribution system for the last couple of years, even as it was found that the depot holders were fudging their registers showing entries of the oil being supplied to people.

Investigations carried out by The Tribune revealed that the 5.25 lakh litres of kerosene, which is to be sold at Rs 9.40 per litre, was being easily sold at Rs 27 per litre on the black market. A few people alleged that Re 1 per litre was being offered to senior officials of the food and supply department as graft and the rest of the profit was being pocketed by those involved in the illicit trade.

Ration cards holders from several villages in the Khamanu area alleged that they had not been able to buy kerosene through the PDS for the past many years. They stated that under the present circumstances they were left with no other option but to buy kerosene on the black market at inflated rates.

They alleged that depot holders were making false entries in their registers. Many villagers even produced their ration cards in which not even a single entry had been made for the past two-three years. Some villagers alleged that though there were entries in their ration cards for the last month, the depot holder asked them to leave their cards with him but were not given kerosene. Later when they collected their cards they were surprised to see several entries falsely made in their cards.

The district food and supply officer, Ajay Bir Singh, who is holding the additional charge of the district food and supply controller, said the matter had so far not been brought to his notice. He, however, assured that he would get the matter investigated. 

Chandigarh, August 20
Observing that no useful purpose would be served by further imprisonment of B.I.S. Chahal and other co-accused in the land-grab case registered at Ludhiana, Justice Surya Kant today allowed their bail plea.

Chahal and other co-accused had sought regular bail under Section 439 of the CrPC in a case (FIR No. 105, dated June 10) registered in Ludhiana under various Sections of the IPC, including Section 307 (attempt to murder). The FIR was registered following a complaint by Harchand Singh.

The petitioners (Chahal, his son’s father-in-law Jagdishpal Singh and others), now in judicial custody, were given the relief even as the judge observed that petitioners’ assertion denying any such land-grab incident or that they had been falsely implicated on account of vendetta seemed to be too “far-fetched” and could not be entertained at this stage.

Importantly, Justice Kant stated in the order that as per the petitioners’ own case, there had been a long drawn dispute over the land and possibility of using men and muscle to take possession of it thereof could not be ruled out.

However, the judge did not agree with the state counsel’s arguments that the petitioners, if released, might influence or threaten complainants or witnesses. He noted that it did not appear possible for the petitioners to exert any kind of influence upon the complainant (Harchand Singh who alleged the land grab), his grandson and their close associates.

“That apart, any such attempt made can always entail the consequence like cancellation of their bail,” the judge observed.

In a detailed order, Justice Kant also emphasised that the state counsel had not been able to deny that even if the charges against the petitioners were framed at the earliest, the conclusion of the trial would take a considerably long period.

In yet another rebuttal of state counsel’s arguments, the judge observed in the order that as regards the possibility of the petitioner (Chahal) fleeing the country or absconding from the trial was concerned, a pre-condition of deposition of his passport and written intimation to the immigration authorities would do the needful.

Reflecting on the timing of the FIR and motives behind it, the judge stated in the order that the prosecution and complainant would be under heavy onus to explain the delay in lodging the FIR. More so, with the installation of the new government, Chahal stood stripped of the political power.

The judge also dismissed a petition as infructuous whereby Chahal had sought his transfer from the Central Jail, Patiala, to the Central Jail, Ambala. The judge also observed that the petition was wholly misconceived.

Significantly, Chahal’s counsel K.S. Nalwa, referred to the newsreport regarding the AIIMS report on Chahal. But, the judge said it was still not placed on the court’s record. However, late in the evening, the report was placed before the judge.

Though the bail has been given to Chahal in the land-grab case, he would still be behind bars as he had been remanded in judicial custody in the disproportionate assets case. Earlier, he had got bail in the Mercedes case and the kitchen-renovation case.

Ropar, August 20
Three more witnesses turned hostile today in the case of Badals disproportionate assets case in the court of special judge G.S. Saran today. Moreover, the court dismissed the public prosecutor’s plea for examination of investigating officer in the case Surinderpal Singh Virk.

Satinder Mohan Singh, a homoeopathy practitioner at Khalsa Mohalla, Patiala, told the court that he had not given any bribe for appointment of his wife Harinderpal Kaur as a lecturer of biology.

He also denied giving any kind of statement in this context to the Vigilance Bureau.

Similarly, Satish Kumar, SHO, police station, Nurmahal, Jalandhar, stated that in 2001 he was promoted as DSP and then later reverted to the rank of inspector. He had approached the high court and Supreme Court and denied having given any bribe to get posted as DSP.

Suresh Kumar Singla, XEN, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, said he was among the team that reassessed Badal’s properties at Balasar, Orbit Resorts, Gurgaon, and Sector 9 house in Chandigarh in 2003.

He claimed to have signed the report but added that he could not read the entire matter.

The court has fixed the next date for hearing on September 10, 12 and 13. The witnesses to be examined will include Mandeep Singh of Centurion Bank of Punjab; Kirpal Singh Mandal Bhoomi Rakhya officer, Mohali; Baldev Singh, assistant director, horticulture, Ropar; Surjit Singh, SDO, PWD; Ravinder Mohan, manager, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Chandigarh; Surjit Singh of Badal village; Laxmi Narayan, senior manager, Corporation Bank, Chandigarh; Tek Chand, deputy director, horticulture, Abohar; Jagtar Singh Mann, director, horticulture, Punjab; and Gurbhupinder Singh, patwari of Badal village.

Fatehgarh Sahib, August 20
Senior vice-president of the SAD (A) Daljit Singh Bittu, who had been booked by the district police on charges of sedition, was granted bail by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge P. S. Virk here today.

Bittu had been arrested by the police on July 22 from Muktsar after which he was sent in police remand and later kept in judicial custody.

Bittu had moved an application seeking an anticipatory bail, which had earlier been rejected by the court.

On August 10, Bittu again moved an application seeking bail.

Bittu’s defence counsel contended in the court that Bittu had been falsely implicated in the case. The police had no evidence to prove that he had raised provoking slogans against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

After hearing both sides, the court granted bail to Bittu.

Moga, August 20
The CIA staff in collaboration with the police claims to have solved the mystery behind the murder of five women with the arrest of four members of a gang here today. The district police chief has identified them as Gulshan Kumar, alias Ricky, Mahavir, alias Veerpal, Harchand Singh and Sushil Kumar, alias Shila, all residents of Badhani Kalan. The accused murdered two relatives Satyawati and Kaushalya Devi at the latter's residence in Nihal Singhwala subdivision on September 10, 2006. Before decamping with Rs 80,000 and gold jewellery the accused burnt their bodies after killing them.

Two members of the gang, Gulshan Kumar and Harchand Singh, killed policeman’s widow Jasbir Kaur and robbed the cash and gold ornaments from her house on June 26, 2006. The accused killed two women of Bhawra village falling under the Mamdot police station in Ferozepur district on April 14 and took away the valuables from their house.

Muktsar, August 20
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said today that the job-oriented courses would be started in three schools of each block of the state in its initial stage. Not only this, the state government has also decided to impart quality education in schools by equipping them with all sorts of facilities, including introduction of the science stream, he added.

He said this while addressing a function organised in connection with the inauguration of an administrative complex at Guru Nanak College for Girls. “The SAD-BJP alliance is committed to revamp the educational system in the state. About 17,000 posts of teachers, which has been lying vacant for the past many years, will be filled and provisions have been made in the annual state budget in this regard,” he added.

The state government had already decided to open “Adrash” schools in each block to impart quality education to students belonging to the economically weaker sections of society. In such schools, students will be given things free of cost, he added. Skill learning centres will also be opened in all Assembly segments of the state.

He expressed disappointment over the fact that 27 per cent teachers remain absent in India as per the Central government’s survey. He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the college every year.

Patiala, August 20
The department of zoology, Punjabi University, Patiala, has organised a seven-day motivational programme for meritorious students of Punjab, which began here today.

The co-ordinator of the programme, Dr Jagbir Singh, said this contact programme was being jointly organised by the department and Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh.

Dr Neelam Gulati Sharma, joint director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, informed the students

that the main objective of the programme was to make them aware of various options available in various science disciplines. The participants would also be able to know about other choices apart from the engineering and medical streams.

She also informed the students that debates and quiz competitions would also be organised during the programme for which medals and cash prizes worth Rs 1,000, Rs 750 and Rs 500 would be given to the students securing the first, second and third positions, respectively. 

Bassi Pathana, August 20
Sukhwinder Singh, president Govt Teacher Union Punjab and G.S. Virdi former president has urged the government that teachers should not be forced to perform any other duty except teaching.

The union leaders also asked the education minister to immediately release the transfer list of lecturers pending with her office.

In a press release issued here today the Union leaders have demanded that the letter written by chief secretary in this regard should considered. They said after a great struggle the union succeeded in getting this letter released but unfortunately it is not being implemented. They added that one of their colleagues lost his life during the struggle to get this demand accepted and the teaching community should come forward united to fight for their cause. They pointed out that there is great burden on teachers to give good results, so they don't have time for other activities.

Regarding transfer list they said secretary education has already cleared the list and even DEO Sangrur has displayed.