Patiala, January 31
‘Absence’ of planning on the part of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has made life of lakhs of residents of Punjab unbearable in rural and urban areas of the state with prolonged and unannounced power-cuts when winter is harsh.

Power situation in Punjab has turned so grim if people of rural areas were bearing with almost unprecedented eight to 12- hour- long power cuts, their urbanites were bear with power cuts ranging between five to six hours daily. It was for the first time people of Punjab were facing such power crisis and long power outages in winter. This has forced them to apprehend a grim power scenario in summer ahead.

What has made life more miserable was that people have been made to bear with these long power outages, often sans prior notice and during day which, has direct and adverse impact on their working. Besides, businesses, offices, and agriculture sector, industry was also suffering huge losses on account of long power outages even as, there were comparatively less power cuts in industrial areas and industrial focal points of the state.

Though, present power scenario was being attributed to lack of advance planning on the part of the PSEB by certain quarters, the board officials, who, were reluctant to come on record for obvious reasons blamed the BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) for not completing the phase I of the 250 MW Lehra Mohabbat-based thermal plant within the stipulated time-frame of two years. The first phase of the plant which, was to be commissioned by January 31, was now likely to be commissioned in June.

The PSEB statistics revealed the existing demand for power in Punjab had crossed the mark of 1100 lakh units while, the supply was slightly morer than 800 lakh units.The senior board officials also pointed out one of factors responsible for current power shortage was the PSEB had to return power to Himachal under the barter system, wherein, Punjab got power during summers and returned it to the neighbouring hill state in winters.

“The government keeps promising moon to people of Punjab but, how can they progress when they have to face such long power cuts. Though, the industrial areas and industrial focal points face lesser power outages but, the industry is suffering hugely as more than 70 per cent of small- scale industry is situated outside these industrial areas. The exports are dropping as manufacturers-cum-exporters fail to meet deadlines due to power cuts. The government should rope in NRIs and other people for setting up city- based one to six MW power houses. In Punjab, we have large number of canals and moreover, these proposed units can run on coal,” said Punjab Chamber of Small Exporters vice-president Ashwani Kohli.

“It is simply impossible for Punjabis to be productive at a time when they are facing more than 10- hour- long power cuts daily particularly, in rural areas. Though, the villages of Punjab were claimed to be linked for round the clock power supply but, power is nowhere to be seen around us,”said Satpal Singh Punia, a resident of Panjaula village of Patiala district. The power supply situation in the hinterland of the Malwa area or districts of Bathinda, Faridkot, Sangrur, was even more grim as people of these areas were even forced to bear power cuts extending beyond six hours a day. “We don’t get power supply between 10 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. and it has almost become a routine for us to go without power even at night time,” said Gurmukh Singh, a resident of Rampura Phul.

Chandigarh, January 31
On the call of the Anti-Privatisation Coordination Committee 17 organisations today held dharnas at all district and six sub-divisional headquarters to protest against privatisation of education, health services, electricity, road net-work and public transport etc.

In a statement here today Hardev Singh Sandhu, convener of the committee, said the committee had given a call for Punjab bandh on February 19 to intensify agitation against privatisation. He said Punjab government was not investing in health sector to make people dependent on private hospitals being set up by corporate houses.

Even the government had not been appointing teachers in government schools to make people to admit their wards in private public schools being run for profit instead of providing education to society. Most of the main roads had been handed over to private companies which were charging toll from people for using those roads. To move from one place to other is natural right of a person and was also being robbed by the government by levying toll on roads which are modern paths.

The government was unable to provide quality drinking water to people in rural areas even after 60 years of independence. The government was running away from all social responsibilities which it was supposed to perform as trustee of people. Sandhu said among the organisations participated in today’s dharnas were farmer organisations, worker organisations, Bar associations, bank employees’ organisations and labour organisations. Besides it, certain teacher organisations also participated.

Sangrur: Under the banner of the Nizikarn Virodhi Talmel Committee, hundreds of farmers and workers of various organisations and unions on Thursday laid siege to the office of the deputy commissioner here for about two and a half hours.

Earlier, they gathered at New Grain Market here and took out a march to the office of the deputy commissioner passing through main bazars of the town.

Amritsar: Thousands of farmers, labourers and employees today gheraoed the deputy commissioner’s office protesting against anti-people policies of the central and the state governments under the banner of the Nizikaran Virodhi Talmail Committee (anti-privatisation coordination committee) here.

Tarn Taran: Workers of different organisations of farmers, labourers under the banner of the Nizzikaran Virodhi Talmel Committee gheraoed the office of the deputy commissioner here for more than six hours against the move to privatise the government institutions.
CPM leader Mangat Ram Pasla Punjab, Satnam Singh Pannu of the Kisan Sangharash Committee and others warned the against the sale of institutions like the PSEB, schools, health institutions etc. 

Chandigarh, January 31
A two-day orientation training programme for women councilors and selected officials of Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils of Punjab began at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) here today.

D.S. Bains, principal secretary, local self-government, dwelt on importance of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme and infrastructure development schemes for small and medium towns to avail of the financial assistance from the central government. He advised the elected officers and the councilors to prepare project reports to provide improved water supply and sewerage services and to take measures to make the cities clean.

Director-general CRRID, Rashpal Malhotra, said the contribution of women to uplift women at large and in the functioning of urban local bodies, which are the third tier of government.

Former chairman, first Punjab finance commission, J.P. Gupta, brought home salient features of the 74th Amendment of the Constitution. He said the urban local bodies faced with the challenge of generating more revenues to meet the increasing expenses of local bodies. He added that the sources of revenue devolved on the local bodies do not match with the wide range of functions. This resulted in increasing dependence of the local bodies on state and Central governments. The remedy laid in authorising the municipality to levy, collect and approximate taxes, duties and fees.

B.S. Gill, former managing director, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) discussed the merits of charging at least operational and maintenance charges on water supply and sewerage and ensure the cleanliness to improve the general sanitation in cities.

Chandigarh, January 31
As seepage from Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind feeder in addition to Abohar branch and Bikaner canal has been playing havoc in vast area of the Muktsar-Malout belt of the state, Punjab government has approached the Union government to deal with the issue arguing waterlogging of the area was impacting national food security.

Sources said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had met union water resources minister Saifuddin Soz in this regard.

Rupees 400 crore would be needed for re-lining Sirhind feeder and Rajasthan feeder lined in 1960s with single tile system whereas it needed double tile system lining to stop seepage, said sources. The Sirhind feeder was earlier lined with double tile system needs fresh lining because existing lining is prone to heavy seepage. Owing to seepage from these canals, sub soil water level had started rising at the rate of 0.2 metre to one metre annually. Area had witnessed rise of 22 metres in subsoil water in 25 years.

Originating from Punjab territory,both Rajasthan feeder and Bikaner feeder cater to needs of Rajsthan. Sources said there was estimated leakage of 1500 cusecs of water from Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind feeder in the area. Punjab is keen on minimising seepage from canals in the Muktsar-Malout area where waterlogging has become biggest problem impacting economy of the area.

However, major problem is of closing Rajasthan feeder for fresh lining. Rajasthan government will not agree to the closure of the canal for lining purpose.Canal network in the area is lifeline of agriculture economy. Whereas rest of Punjab is facing problem of declining subsoil water table, the south-western areas of state was facing problem of waterlogging.

The Central Ground Water Board is of the view only drainage of logged water will not solve the problem. Punjab government should prepare a policy for the pumping out of the sub-soil water in the water logged areas. A policy should be framed for giving electricity connections to tubewells on priority to interested farmers in the Muktsar-Malout belt to encourage them to use subsoil water, which is slightly alkaline, by blending with canal water in the area. Water at depth of 20 metres is considered relatively fit for use for irrigation compared to water available in the top layer of the soil, it is learnt.

Drainage of water in that area needs huge investment by the government whereas providing power connections to 15,0000 tube wells on priority will be viable option for the government. In the past the state government created network of 520 km drainage system in addition to already existing 175 km long drains. However, creation of the drainage network did not tackle the problem.

The state government has mapped the entire waterlogged area. 

Amritsar, January 31
Without mentioning the Anandpur Sahib resolution of 1973 , the Shiromani Akali Dal today resolved to fight for the transfer of Chandigarh and other left out Punjabi- speaking areas to Punjab, fair adjudication of inter state river waters and autonomy to states through federal structure .

It is after a long time the SAD has raised these demands when the Congress is in power at the Centre .

Passed by the working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal, at Ludhiana, Punjab, on October 17, 1973, the Anandpur Sahib resolution has been the subject of discussion since then. As per the Anandpur Sahib resolution the Akali Dal has been demanding the central government should confine its authority only to Defence, foreign affairs, general communications and currency and rest of the subjects should be handed over to the states.

“Chandigarh is integral part of Punjab and hence it should be transferred to the state”, a resolution said . The resolution , moved by Capt Kanwaljit Singh general secretary alleged the central government had been meting out step-motherly treatment to Punjab . He said the inter-state rivers water dispute should be resolved as per riparian formula . The resolution stated by creating federal states , the central government would be strengthened.

In another resolution , the SAD warned the Congress party to refrain from “dividing” the Sikh community by interfering in their internal matters . The delegates warned if the Congress party to desist from interfering in the Sikhs’ affairs.The resolution alleged the move of Haryana government to create separate gurdwara committee for Haryana could not be tolerated by the Sikh Panth and the Shiromani Akali Dal foil “designs” of the Congress government . The delegates’ meeting also condemned the Congress for Operation Bluestar in June 1984 and anti-Sikh riots .

The resolution sought special industrial package for Punjab on the pattern of Himachal and other adjoining states . The meeting lauded the role of Sukhbir Singh Badal and described him “an architect of the victory of the party in the Assembly elections..

The members of the SAD working committee have also been increased from 51 to 101. The members of the general house have been increased from 100 to 300 through another resolution.

After his election as president of the SAD Sukhbir Singh Badal said he would open district- level offices of the SAD in coming days and would start sitting in the SAD headquarter at Chandigarh for two days in a week to redress problems of the party workers. 

Chandigarh, January 31
Opposing the Badal government decision to hold indirect elections of sarpanches in the state, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Commmittee today decided to challenge it in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In the last election, voters had elected sarpanches direct, as MLAs are elected. However, now government wants that they should be elected panches. If there are eight elected panches in a village, the one having the majority of elected panches with him or her would be elected sarpanch. Panchayat elections in Punjab are due to be held in March this year.

Addressing a press conference, Ripjeet Singh Brar, general secretary of the PPCC, here today said because of its failure on all fronts, the SAD-BJP government had decided to hold indirect election of sarpanches to win these by hook and crook. He said the SAD-BJP government was playing with a democratic system at the grassroot level.

The Badal government had decided to effect a change in the law to elect sarpanches through elected panches. Brar said pressure would be built on weak panches to vote for government-supported candidates of sarpanches. “It would create a lot of bad flood and tear the social fabric at the village level,” said Brar.

Ludhiana, January 31
While the common man is suffering shortage of LPG cylinders in the state, a number of gas agency owners is allegedly minting money by diverting domestic use cylinders to industrial houses or for use in vehicles, thus causing a dearth of kitchen fuel gas.

Common knowledge about this misuse is official now, with an investigation by the state food and supply department nailing a number of companies which are not only diverting domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes, at a premium, but also selling many times more than their monthly capacity.

Terming it as the tip of an alleged multi-crore scandal, department sources said the investigation was blocked and disturbed at many junctures till senior officials personally investigated the matter.

Tribune investigation reveals that while a large numbers of such companies are now under the scanner, the department has recommended the cancellation of a Ludhiana-based gas agency and another based in Amritsar.

Nirzag Gas Agnecy, Pakhowal Road, Ludhiana, has been found to be selling cylinders to industrial houses.

A four-page inquiry report by assistant district food and supply officer, Ludhiana, shows documentary evidence in the form of payments made through cheque by prominent industrial houses to the gas agency.

The report is based on 40 such documents as evidence was collected before the owner, Shiv Kumar Sharma was indicted in the inquiry.

Shiv Kumar Sharma has a chequered past. A draftsman by profession, he enjoyed security of six gunmen provided by senior Punjab police officials before he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

He had proximity to a former DGP of Punjab police and was known as a strong power centre of police postings.

The second gas agency indicted is SP Gas Agency, Amritsar, which has also been charged with committing gross irregularities.

SP Singh, director, food and supplies, says that a strong recommendation has been made to Indian Oil Corporation for the cancellation of the licences of these two companies. “Similar action against many others is on the cards. It could be the biggest scandal in misusing LPG,” he said.

Misuse of the cylinders has consumed many a live also. Recently, schoolchildren died in Mumbai when the vehicle run on LPG cylinder exploded.

Amritsar, January 31
The Punjab government will bear all expenses of doctors who want to go abroad for specialisation in their respective fields. This was stated by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal after inaugurating the first phase of the Rs 140-crore Guru Ram Das Centre for Emergency, Trauma and Multi-speciality Care at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here today.

Badal said his government would not compromise on health and education and provide more funds to boost both sectors. We together would have to reverse the general view about the government-run institutions that those couldn’t provide quality services to the people compared to the private organisations, he added.

The Chief Minister announced that a plan for setting up Bebe Nanki Centre for Mother and Child Care, Guru Teg Bahadur Block for Imaging and Diagnostic Services with super speciality wards, Swami Vivekananda Drug Dependence Treatment Centre and a state-of-the-art service block to serve all institutes had been released by the Hospital Services Corporation of the Government of India and the project would be completed within two years. With all those centres becoming functional, the Amritsar would become a medical hub, boosting medical tourism in this part of the country, he added.

All three Govt. Medical Colleges in Amritsar, Patiala and at Faridkot would be upgraded in a phased manner.

Accepting the demands of the students and medical fraternity of the college to change the timings of the library to 5 pm till midnight, Badal announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for computerisation and upgrade of the library. He also agreed to the demand of the college for constructing a separate building for the nursing college.

Medical education and research minister Tikshan Sood said an action plan for the strengthening of Amritsar Medical College had been prepared. Eye banks would be functional in all three medical colleges of Punjab and soon 75 eye collection centres would be set up in the state. 

Amritsar, January 31
Terming the challenging of the supremacy of Akal Takht by Giani Iqbal Singh, Jathedar of Patna Sahib, the emergency meeting of SGPC executive today urged the Akal Takht chief, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, to give directions to resolve the matter.

The meeting was held here under the presidentship of SGPC chief Avtar Singh.

Earlier, Sikh intellectuals had suggested that “maha-dosh” (impeachment) should be moved against the Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib in the forthcoming meeting of the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht, scheduled for February 5. 

Bathinda, January 31
The “selection” of Mahant Paramjit Singh of Rohtak as the designated president of Seva Panthi Adam Shahi Sabha, Amritsar, has created a controversy. The Mahant had succeeded Baba Tirath Singh of Dera Bhai Tikana Sahib, Goniana, who passed away on January 6.

One of Mahant Paramjit Singh’s main opponents, the secretary of the Sabha, Mahant Karamjit Singh of Dera Mahant Nishchal Singh Ji, Thada Sahib, Yamunanagar, said: “The election has been conducted without informing us.”

When Mahant Paramjit Singh aid, “There are a total of 16 members of the sabha, of them 13 stand by me. In fact it was not an election, but selection as the members appointed me the president of the sabha to look after the work that Mahant Tirath Singh Ji had initiated.”

Chandigarh, January 31
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has filed a criminal complaint in the District Courts against a Moga-based doctor for interrupting court proceedings and issuing a false medical slip.

A case of theft, registered on the complaint of Shyam Sunder, husband of Sudershna Rani was pending before judicial magistrate, Moga.

The statement of the prosecution witness Sudershana Rani was to be recorded on March 4, 2004 when her advocate moved an application seeking exemption on medical grounds for which a medical slip was issued by Dr Sandeep Garg.

The trial court found the medical slip to be suspicious. On being inquired her advocate Sunil Kumar Jaiswal stated that Sudershana had come to meet him in evening on March 3, 2004. Earlier he had stated before the trial court that Sudershana was admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana and would not be able to come to Moga.

Therefore the trial court issued contempt notices to Sunil Kumar Jaiswal, Sudershana Rani and the accused Dr Sandeep Garg. The doctor didn’t appear before the trial court on May 3, 2004 when the case was called up.

Later, he appeared before the trial court when the evidence was being recorded in another case and interrupted court proceedings.

He stated before the court that he had to be in his clinic so he should be allowed to leave immediately, but was asked to wait.

Dr Garg left the court without the seeking the permission and, thereafter, he came back to the court along with 20 odd doctors including one Dr Prem Singh, who introduced himself as the president of IMA, Moga branch.

They tried to overawe the court by raising hue and cry and by raising slogans. An inquiry was conducted by District and Sessions Judge cum registrar (vigilance).

As per the inquiry report, Dr Garg had issued a false medical slip for Sudershana.

The report stated that not only intentional insult of the court was committed, but judicial proceedings were also interrupted.

The court held: “The false prescription slip issued by the accused Dr Sandeep Garg to Sudershna Rani was a document creating a right for Sudershna Rani to seek exemption from personal appearance. Therefore this court is of the opinion that the prescription slip is a valuable security as defined under Section 30 of the IPC. Therefore, it has prima facie attracted a case punishable under Section 467 of the IPC.”

Bathinda, January 31
The Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) will launch crash courses for NDA in the 123-odd schools run by the society. These schools are already running courses for preparing the students appearing in competitive exams like CET and PMT.

The society plans to start courses in foreign languages in order to bridge the communication gap and bring the students from the villages in the mainstream and imbibe values in the adolescents. English bridge courses and adolescent management courses are already running in the schools.

Director, Army schools, Col Bararia, who was here for a workshop of principals on financial management organised by Army School, Bathinda, said besides these schools, the society is also running 12 college-level institutions offering job-oriented courses in engineering, dental, hotel management and catering, law, nursing, B.Ed. and management.

In an exclusive interaction with this correspondent, Bararia informed that keeping in view the upcoming trends in education, the AWES is developing a Faculty Development Research Centre at Delhi. With hostel facility for 80, it is expected to become operational shortly.

He claimed that Army schools were the pioneers in introducing computer-aided learning through V-SAT, which facilitated two-way interaction and helped the students perform better in the boards and competitive examinations.

Maintaining that computer education imparted in the army schools is one of the best in the country, he said the society has provided Rs 18 crore for the upgradation of computer infrastructure during the past five or six years.

The Army schools are imparting education on basic computers knowledge, information technology and web designing as per the CBSE syllabus, informed Additional Director, Army schools Southwestern command Major K.J.S Shekhon while motivating the principals to implement new ideas and projects in the true spirit.

Revealing that the projects for the development of herbal gardens and science and technology parks in the Army schools are underway, Shekhon said the Army schools are also offering courses on life saving skills, first aid, disaster management and Aids and Cancer related diseases.

Chandigarh, January 31
“Farmers in Punjab are headed towards creating 'Punjabi standard of excellence' in citrus, not only in India but also in the South Asian market. 

The quality of the citrus grown in the other South Asian markets is not up to the mark. The juice is watery, not so sweet and the fruit is pale in colour. In comparison the kinnow being cultivated in Punjab is certainly a winner for the world markets and also resultantly higher returns for the Punjab farmers,” observes Dr James Keithly, who has been a part of the research team of Tropicana and is now consultant to the Council for Citrus and Agri-Juicing in Punjab. Currently in Chandigarh, Dr Keithly sees a huge opportunity for the farmers in Punjab, more so after the council signed an MOU with Cannizaro Holdings for an investment of Rs 800 crore for the development of citrus here.

“This is the largest investment ever made in the Indian agricultural sector by any company, and over 1,00,000 acres are expected to be put under citrus cultivation in the coming months providing Punjab farmers a huge opportunity to multiply their income,” says Dr Keithly.

He disclosed that kinnow was being sold by local farmers at Rs 9-10 per kg, which was sold in the Bangalore market for around Rs 25 per kg. If the same produce, with some quality upgradation, was exported to Malaysia or Singapore, it would fetch Rs 35-45 per kg.

Dr Keithly said he had been involved with the council in bringing in some of the world's best quality cultivars, which are being nurtured with care at the Jallowal Nursery near Jalandhar.

With modern technology, the current average yield of 7-8 tonnes per acre had a huge potential of growth when compared to Brazil that gets 30-40 tonnes per acre. The council develops citrus orchards for the farmers in a scientific manner, enabling them to earn a good income for life.