Friday, January 29, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Friday, January 29, 1999 |
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Jaundice
kills one |
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 Killing of hare in dog race; action on anvil BATHINDA, Jan 28 — Mr Gurmit Singh, Director, Wildlife, Punjab today said that according to preliminary information nearly 68 dogs participated in the dog race competition in which large number of hare were killed and which was organised by some "influential persons" at the land of Guru Gobind Singh oil refinery at Phulokhari village, 45 km from here on January 11 and 12. Punjab cancels orders on Dinkar Gupta CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — The long-winding controversy over the appointment of Mr Dinkar Gupta as SSP, Chandigarh, may have finally ended today. |
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No takers
for Town Hall building Caring
for the girl child
Recast
of judicial panel questioned JD
plea to Chhibber for fiscal emergency
CM
pays tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai Facility
of free power being misused |
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Sukhjinder
sides with Tohra JALANDHAR, Jan 28 — Senior Akali leader Sukhjinder Singh advocating supremacy of the ‘Akal Takht’ has cautioned Mr Parkash Singh Badal, for having challenged the ‘supreme temporal’, seat of the Sikhs. Reminding the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, that he owed his today's position to Akal Takht. When in 1994, Bhai Manjit Singh had made a ‘clarion call’ to factions of the Shiromani Akali Dal to desolve their factions and come under one "umbrella". "Mr Badal too had to clean the utensils". Mr Sukhjinder Singh said this as a press conference here today. The senior Akali leader said that "Mr Buta Singh and Mr Surjit Singh Barnala" too had tried the "modus operandi" being practised by Mr Badal now, when they were in "power". But later, they too had to bow before Akal Takht and seek pardon. Urging all those supporting Mr Badal in this on-going feud to reconsider their decision he said that Akal Takht was supreme and eternal. Other five Takhts were subordinate to this "supreme temporal" seat, since it was created by the sixth Guru Sri Hargobind. Other Takhts come into being much later. "Opportunistic politics" was very short-lived, he alleged. "I remind them that governments are never permanent while ‘Akal Takht’ was in the Sikh ideology". He found nothing arbitrary
in the demand for a new party "president" made
by Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. SGPC president "Tohra
is senior Akali leader and the SGPC president for the
last 25 years." Any demand made from a
"responsible leader" like Mr Tohra was made in
the interests of the party, he said, while reminding Mr
Badal that party presidents were always responsible for
the party's performance. Sant Fateh Singh had to resign
in 1972 for poor performance. |
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Prof
Manjit may defy hukamnama ROPAR, Jan 28 — Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, today, said that he would take a final decision regarding his appearance at Akal Takht on February 11 after receiving replies to an open letter by him to Jathedars of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Takht Sri Nanded Sahib, Takht Sri Patna Sahib and four high priests who were present in the January 25 meeting. In the letter, he has raised some questions which according to him required immediate answers. Talking to newsmen at his residence in the complex of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh said, he had not decided whether he would appear at Akal Takht on February 11 next. He has been summoned by Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh to clarify his stand on the issue of Gurmat Sagar Trust and participation in a seminar at Phoenix (USA) in which two excommunicated Sikhs — Mr Preet Inder Singh Sandhu and Giani Harkirat Singh (both from Canada) participated. They were excommunicated for defying the ‘Hukamnama’ on Guru ka Langar. Prof Manjit Singh released photo copies of the letter to the newsmen, describing the letter as ‘an open letter’. Showing a letter he received today from the Gurudwara Sahib Guru Nanak Dwara, Phoenix (USA), he said the charge of presentation of siropa to the two excommunicated Sikhs from Canada through him or the organisers of the seminar was false as these names did not figure among those given siropas by him on January 10 last. In the letter the organisers had given the names of speakers of the seminar and sewadars who had been presented siropas by him. In the letter, Prof Manjit
Singh said Bhai Ranjit Singh had been levelling unfounded
and baseless charges besides using indecent language. |
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Jaundice
kills one FARIDKOT, Jan 28 — Jaundice, which hit the Faridkot Kotli village of Bathinda district in a big way few days ago has started spreading in other areas also as nearly 72 patients including 12 of hepatitis-B (positive) have been reported in this town alone while Bhagpari, a woman of Mehraj village in Rampura Phul block, who was hepatitis-B (positive) died on January 24. Official sources said that every day three to four patients suffering from jaundice were reporting to the local civil hospital. Civil Hospital authorities have procured test kits from Ferozepore to detect hepatitis-B among these patients. On the other hand, five patients of jaundice, including four hepatitis-B had been detected by the Bathinda Health Department authorities in Rampura Phul sub-division in the last one week. In the Faridkot-Kotli village of Bathinda district 43 patients of jaundice, including 26 hepatitis-B had already been detected and were undergoing treatment. One patient of Phul town had been referred to CMC, Ludhiana by doctors. Dr H.S. Dhillon, District Health Officer, Bathinda told The Tribune that door-to-door survey of jaundice patients was being carried out in Bhairupa, Mandikalan, Mehraj, Phul and Bhani from where cases of jaundice had been reported. He claimed that all these were sporadic cases. Dr S.P.S. Sohal, Civil Surgeon, Civil Hospital, Faridkot, told The Tribune that jaundice had spread due to the contamination of drinking water and other eatables. He added that most of the jaundice patients were residents of slum areas. He said that nearly 15 days ago, more than 10 patients of jaundice were also reported from the Kotkapura town and the disease was brought under control immediately. It may be mentioned here that about three months ago, gastroenteritis claimed lives of at least 15 persons in the Kotkapura town. The gastroenteritis gripped the town due to contamination of large scale of drinking water with sewerage water. Dr Sohal said that to control the spread of jaundice, a special ward had been set up in the hospital and services of a specialist doctor obtained from Guru Gobind Singh Medical College who was looking after indoor and outdoor patients. He said that people were
being educated on preventive measures of jaundice by the
mass media wing of the Health Department and voluntary
organisation. Chlorine tablets had been distributed in
thousands in the purification of drinking water. Private
medical practitioners had been advised to use disposable
syringes to check the spread of hepatitis-B. |
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Killing
of hare in dog race; action on anvil BATHINDA, Jan 28 — Mr Gurmit Singh, Director, Wildlife, Punjab today said that according to preliminary information nearly 68 dogs participated in the dog race competition in which large number of hare were killed and which was organised by some "influential persons" at the land of Guru Gobind Singh oil refinery at Phulokhari village, 45 km from here on January 11 and 12. Mr Gurmit Singh, who, visited the Phulokhari village, for an on the spot inquiry regarding the incident of killing of about 200 hare in a dog-race competition,told The Tribune that departmental FIRs had been registered against 15 participants. He added that other participants were being identified. He said that during investigation, it was found that organisers of the competition committed a fraud with the villagers by telling them that they had valid permission from the authorities concerned to organise such a "barbaric" competition. The participants, who were from the states of Punjab and Haryana, themselves brought alive hare with them at the venue of competition in the gunny bags, he added. He said that as per preliminary information, four participants belonged to Pathrala village, four to Chak Rulduwala village, and other participants were from Shekhoo, Bandi and Shergarh villages of this district. Two participants came from Panniwala village Motu and Chormar of Sirsa district of Haryana. The Director said that he would submit the list of participants to the Conservator, Wildlife, Punjab, Mr Balbir Chand for further action. He added that inquiries were also being made to verify the participation of any local police official in the competition. On the other hand, the villagers told that on the first day of competition 34 races were organised while on the second day 27 races were organised. Mr Gurmit Singh said that
the department would also take action against those who
had participated in the competition in an indirect way. |
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Punjab
cancels orders on Dinkar Gupta CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — The long-winding controversy over the appointment of Mr Dinkar Gupta as SSP, Chandigarh, may have finally ended today. The Punjab Police, the parent cadre of Mr Gupta, today moved a proposal to post him as Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Intelligence, here, according to sources. The proposal awaits the nod from the Chief Minister before orders are issued. The present SSP, Chandigarh, Mr C.S.R. Reddy, will continue till his successor is found. This may take another two to three months, highly placed sources in the Punjab Police confirmed. In parlance of rank, an AIG is equivalent to an SSP. Mr Gupta was SSP, Ludhiana, when he was posted as SSP (headquarters) , Chandigarh in October. The Punjab Government had declined to relieve him of his duties. The matter was closed and the Chandigarh Administration sought a fresh panel of names from Punjab. Around 10 days ago, in a surprise move, Mr Gupta was posted as SSP, Chandigarh. Meanwhile its is learnt that Mr Gupta is scheduled to go to the UK on a two-month study tour at the London School of Economics starting in March-end. The Punjab Government tonight cancelled its orders placing the services of Mr Dinkar Gupta at the disposal of the Chandigarh Administration. Highly placed sources in
the Administration confirmed that Punjab had cancelled
the orders and conveyed the same to the UT authorities. |
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Ministry's
assurance to teachers JALANDHAR, Jan 28 — The Secretary of the All-India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (AIFUCTO) stated here today that officials of the HRD Ministry have given an assurance on the speedy clearance of the four schemes as agreed upon with the AIFUCTO. The schemes are provision of third promotion by giving super-selection grade equal to professors scale, incentives for doing M.Phil and PhD, and creation of direct posts of professors in colleges. The UGC will work out the financial implications and submit the scheme within 15 days following which the HRD Ministry would clear the schemes for the speedy disbursement of 80 per cent of additional expenditure to the states. The ministry had written to the states on November 17 last year seeking the respective state governments order and quantum of needed aid. According to AIFUCTO, officials clarified that all those teachers who had put in five years service as lecturer in the selection grade and reader on January 1, 1996, would get minimum of Rs 14940 in the 12,000-18,300 scale. The HRD Ministry desired the disbursement of arrears in one instalment. Welcoming the announcement
by the Finance Minister to grant revised pay scales, Dr
Tewari demanded that the arrears be given in one
instalment. |
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Caring
for the girl child FATEHGARH SAHIB: Punjab has become the first state in the country to launch two insurance schemes, namely the Raj Rajeshwari Mahila Kalyan Yojna and the Bhagyashree Child Welfare Policy to give honour, respect and security to women and the girl child. According to Mr R.L. Kalsia, Director, Social Security and Development of Women and Children, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, took a keen interest in the two schemes when he visited the stall of the United India Insurance Company at the Agrotech Exhibition held in Chandigarh recently. He immediately directed the department to take up the matter with the company as the Prime Minister had made a commitment to women for their care on Independence day. Ms Jagir Kaur, Minister for Social Security and Development of Women and Children, arranged a seminar to apprise the employees of the department about the benefits of the scheme. They will be instrumental in the implementation of the schemes. She assured them that all-out efforts would be made to provide cover to women and girl children. It would be a positive step towards the social security, development and empowerment of women in the state. She lauded the role of the United India Insurance Company in piloting the scheme. She called upon the employees of the department and the insurance company to put in their might in the successful implementation of the scheme so that the impact could be felt. Mr Kalsia said the premium under these policies was Rs 15 per woman and Rs 8 additional for the girl child per annum. Group discounts were also available. The Bhagyashree Child Welfare Scheme was applicable to girl child in the age of 0 to 18 years whose parents' age did not exceed 60 years. Under the scheme in case of an accidental death of either or both parents an amount of Rs 25,000 would be deposited in the name of the girl child. An amount ranging from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,400 per annum would be disbursed for the maintenance and education of the girl child. And on attaining the age of 18 years the balance amount of Rs 77,500 would be given to her, he added. He further said under the Rajeshwari Mahila Kalyan Yojna, women in the age group of 10 to 75 years would be benefited. In the case of permanent and total disability Rs 25,000 and in the case of loss of a limb and an eye, a compensation of Rs 12,500 would be payable. Furthermore, without charging any premium, a compensation of Rs 25,000 would be given in the case of the accidental death of the husband of the insured woman and a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the legal heir. Mr K.N. Bhandari,
Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the company, said the
unique feature of the schemes was that compensation was
also payable in the case of death or permanent and total
disability caused by surgical operations. |
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Scrapping
of re-employment scheme decried PATIALA, Jan 28 — Both factions of the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) today took strong exception to the scrapping of the re-employment scheme for teachers at the Syndicate meeting held recently. In a statement here, leaders of both factions, PUTA president Dr S.S. Khaira and PUTA secretary Dr N.S. Atri said the scrapping of the scheme was not justified as it was in operation in other universities of the country. Dr S.S. Khaira said the organisation would start an agitation on the issue soon, at the scrapping of the scheme would harm the university's interests as superannuated teachers were generating material in various subjects in Punjabi after being reemployed for special projects. Dr Khaira also condemned the university Syndicate's decision to take disciplinary action against two senior teachers of the Political Science Department, Dr Kehar Singh and Dr Satish Sharma for allegedly using improper language in their self-appraisal report. He said this was a clear case of victimisation as both teachers had submitted the self-appraisal form. He also demanded speeding up of Vigilance inquiry against the Vice-Chancellor. In a separate release PUTA secretary Dr N.S. Atri said PUTA had been stressing for uniform reemployment of teachers after superannuation. He said PUTA had been demanding improvement in the scheme on the pattern of Delhi University up to 65 years of age. He said another decision of the Syndicate to fill vacant posts on contract basis would prove a stumbling block in the progress of the institution as university teachers decide teaching were also engaged in the generation of knowledge. Research activities had taken a back seat due to large number of vacant posts. He said all vacant posts should be filled on regular basis so that teaching and research activities did not suffer. Dr Atri expressed satisfaction on the re-appointment of nine more ad hoc teachers taking the total number of teachers reappointed to 38. He requested that the remaining cases of four teachers should also be considered sympathetically for reappointment. He also urged the Vice-Chancellor to initiate the process for filling of all vacant posts on regular basis. PUTA secretary welcomed
the announcement of new pay scales for university and
college teachers by Punjab Finance Minister, Capt
Kanwaljit Singh and urged the government to implement the
entire scheme including the enhancement of age from 60 to
62 years simultaneously, he urged that the arrears of pay
scales due to teachers should be given in one instalment
during the current year. |
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Time
to declare assets CHANDIGARH: To guide its policies, the SAD-BJP coalition adopted a common minimum programme (CMP) with a "commitment" to four burning issues: providing a corruption-free administration; ensuring freedom from fear; enforcing the rule of law; and responding to the needs of all Punjabis. It promised to be a government that "cares" and is dedicated to "peace, prosperity and brotherhood". Of immediate concern here are two commitments on two issues of the CMP: administration and corruption. Due credit must be apportioned to the SAD-BJP government when it comes to keeping Punjab "peaceful" and protecting peoples' civil liberties. But a shadow of doubt appears when it comes to issues like dealing with different aspects of corruption. The first point under this head was that the CMP had made it mandatory for all legislators to declare their assets within 90 days of being elected. "Any increase in their assets will have to be declared and accounted for annually". This is what has somehow not happened even when in another 15 days the government will celebrate its two years in power. One remembers its "resolve" to set up a special commission of inquiry, headed by a retired judge, to "expose" the Congress' hand behind violence in Punjab. Why has the government withdrawn its own hand in implementing this promise made in the pre-election days? Punjab is a victim of a scary combination of hand-to-mouth financial situation and unfulfilled election/CMP promises despite the SAD-BJP having come to power at the crest of a massive, popular mandate. How convenient it is to forget the past promises when in power. While the state is a mute witness, the people are hapless spectators to the religio-political drama being enacted, which has pushed Punjab on to a fast track: moving back and forth from one crisis to the other crisis. So involved is the entire political executive and its supporting cast that it is helpless in implementing its own decisions. Recently, the council of ministers had decided that all ministers must spend at least four days in a week at Chandigarh devoting time and attention to administrative work and meeting needy people, who visit the secretariat. Some months earlier the SAD office here had sent a programme detailing how ministers were being made available, in rotation, to the people: one of them was to be at the Chief Minister's residence and the other at the party office. Both decisions remain unimplemented. In the same vein, the Chief Secretary had issued an order (in August last) regarding "regular tours" by district-level officers in their respective areas for prompt redressal of people's grievances. The senior superintendents of police and deputy commissioners were expected to hold joint "durbars" in different parts to mitigate the problems of the people. No action. Even his instructions on mandatory presence in office during the stipulated 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. have not been carried out as "meticulousy" and "strictly" as he had wished. A curb was placed on tours by the Financial Commissioners and Principal Secretaries to the field or to Delhi during the first four days of the week, except in "emergent, exceptional and pressing circumstances". Net result zero. In a manner of speaking the government attempt to take the administration to the people's doorstep has not succeeded. Where the political executive failed, the bureaucracy voluntarily stepped in to fill the gap. This is in the context of tackling "corruption". It was in October last that the administrative secretaries had met to take up the cudgels on behalf of the political executive to improve the "image" of the government and "sustain" it in the wake of "slowing down of activities" due to the "serious" financial crunch and "calamities" suffered by the farmers. The meeting on October 26
last also took cognisance that the image of the
"administration itself" in the eyes of the
public, the press and judiciary had been
"tarnished" and an accusing finger was pointed
towards the bureaucracy for not only
"permitting" large scale corruption but also
"indulging" in it. Ultimately, it decided to
"act" and take care of the things at the
"cutting edge", where "public
interface" is the maximum. |
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JD
plea to Chhibber for fiscal emergency CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — The Janata Dal (Punjab unit) has submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Governor, Lieut Gen. B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), for declaring financial emergency in Punjab as the state was facing a grave financial crises. Mr Harish Khanna, coordinator of the steering committee of the Janata Dal in a statement issued here today, after presenting the memorandum to the Governor, said the Punjab Government had failed to provide good administration, and free the state from corruption. The situation on the law order front was also not so good. Owing to wrong policies pursued by the state government, the financial condition had worsened to the extent that over draft had become a routine affair. He said that the state was counted among the most corrupt ones and situation on the employment front was also very bad. Farmers have suffered a heavy loss and no relief to farmers had been given by the government. It has also failed to properly guide the farming community for making agriculture a viable profession. Most people were not getting basic necessities like drinking water etc. While the people were suffering, top Akali leaders were engaged in a fued with each other. All this was casting its shadow on the development of the state. In fact, he said that the development of the state had come almost to halt due to ongoing tussle among Akali leaders. He said that the state
government should curtail its expenditure and Cabinet
berths should be limited to 12 only and police districts
should be reduced. Likewise the number of revenue
districts should also be cut to 13. All loss making
government undertakings should be transferred to the
private sector and the government land encroached upon by
various persons should be taken back from their
possession. All these steps were required to restore
Punjab's financial health. |
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No
takers for Town Hall building PATIALA, Jan 28 — Auction of the 90-year-old Town Hall housing offices of the Patiala Municipal Corporation today could not take place as no one came to participate in the proceedings. The corporation had made elaborate arrangements for the auction including police bandobast to deal with any eventuality. Around 100 chairs had been placed in the main hall for the participants. Officers of the corporation, including the Commissioner, Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, waited for the participants. But none came for the auction. Talking to The Tribune, Mr Sidhu admitted that buyers might not have come to the auction due to the reserve price of Rs 8 crore fixed for the building. There could have been a move of the buyers not to participate in the auction today forcing the corporation to lower the reserve price. The Commissioner said there was no point in the assertion that the Town Hall was not a profitable buy as several other markets had emerged in busy areas of the city. Mr Sidhu said it was necessary to shift the office of the corporation as there had been an increase in staff after it was upgraded from a Municipal Committee earlier. This created overcrowding in the offices of the corporation. Besides as the building was housed in a busy market its auction would also take the corporation out of its present financial crisis. The Commissioner added that now funds would be generated from other avenues with the auction being put off. A new date for holding auction of the building would be decided soon. However, some businessmen told The Tribune the auction of the Town Hall might not take place at all with buyers not ready to part with the reserve price which worked out at Rs 30,000 per square yard. Few other markets opened in busy areas of the city had not been quite successful, they added. There is recession in the market and there would be few persons to put a huge amount in white money for an investment which was not likely to give good results, they said. Congress organising secretary Sanjeev Garg however, said that the auction could have been put off today "deliberately" to lower the reserve price. "It should be ensured that the Town Hall is not sold for peanuts", he said while claiming that it could fetch more than rupees eight crore in a "genuine" sale. Mr Garg said the main
marketing thrust of the people could shift to the
proposed Town Hall market area as it would be accessible
from both Sheranwala Gate as well as the Sher-e-Punjab
market, he added. |
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Bhaur
criticises Ajit Editor CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Acting President of the SGPC, in a statement issued here today said that in the garb of freedom of press, the Managing Editor of the Daily Ajit, Mr Barjindar Singh Hamdrad, was criticising Akal Takht with an aim of causing a confusion. Attacking Mr Barjindar Singh, Mr Bhaur said that such people had no respect for Akal Takht and they had opposed all edicts or orders issued by the Takht. He warned Mr Barjindar Singh about consequences of confronting the Takht. He said that the Daily
Ajit had published an article of Giani Kewal Singh last
month in which efforts were made to equate other Takhts
with Akal Takht. Mr Bhaur has issued the statement
despite the appeal of the President of the SGPC, Mr
Gurcharan Singh Tohra, not to debate the edict issue. |
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Summons
to editor "attack on press" AMRITSAR, Jan 28 — Mr Hardev Arshi MLA and leader of the CPI in Punjab Assembly has described the summoning of Mr Barjindar Singh Hamdard Managing Editor Daily Ajit at Akal Takht as an attack on the freedom of press. In a press note, released here today Mr Arshi said the press worked as a watchdog in a democratic set-up. Hence press should not be threatened or intimidated by any institution. The CPI leader said Mr Hamdard was known for his ‘liberal’ approach. Coming heavily on the Badal government Mr Arshi said it had failed on all fronts. Instead of giving proper governance Mr Badal and his colleagues had adopted only one point programme to have an upper hand in religious affairs, Mr Arshi strongly condemned the celebrations of tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa by the state. He said in a secular country a religious function should not be celebrated by the state. Mr Arshi expressed concern
over the killing of Australian and his two sons. |
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Facility
of free power being misused TARN TARAN, Jan 28 — A team of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) supervised about power connections of nearly 24 tubewells of Choong and Marri Gaur Singh villages near border of Bhikhiwind area on Wednesday. An amount of Rs 60,000 was imposed as fine on consumers for irregularities in drawing power supply. The team observed that farmers were causing a loss of crores to the board through irregularities the team observed that a large number of consumers had not applied for power supply for domestic consumption and had been getting this facility from the tubewell connections by installing high-powered heaters in their kitchens. It was also observed that the farmers who had been sanctioned five-horse power tubewell motors had installed 10 horse power motors. Board authorities observed that not even one consumer was availing the facility according to norms. When the PSEB authorities were called why raids were not made when irregularities in utilising power on large scale were being committed they replied that then farmers might create problem for the government and the PSEB in an organised way. Board authorities appealed
to the farmers to avoid misuse of the facility of free
power given to them by the government. |
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CM
pays tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai DHUDIKE, Jan 28 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today alleged that the successive Congress governments at the Centre and at the state always discriminated against Punjab and deprived it of its capital, Punjabi speaking areas and river waters. Addressing a function organised in connection with the 134th birth anniversary of Sher-e-Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai here he alleged that the previous governments never bothered to initiate any major project in the state for generating employment opportunities for the youth. Mr Badal said it was the duty of every citizen to maintain communal harmony and make efforts for building a strong nation. He made it clear that the SAD-BJP government would not allow any sort of violence in the state. While paying rich tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai, Mr Badal said Punjab played a vital role in freedom struggle. He announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the development of the village. Earlier, he was welcomed
by Mr Jagjit Singh Rana, chairman of the Lala Lajpat Rai
Yadgar Committee. He placed wreaths on the memorial. He
also garlanded Lalaji's bust in the Martyrs' Gallery. Mr
Tota Singh, Education Minister, Punjab, also addressed
the function.
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MOGA, Jan 28 (PTI) — A 25-member cultural delegation from Pakistan, scheduled to visit Punjab to participate in the birth centenary celebration of Lala Lajpat Rai, today failed to turn up in view of the non-clearance of visas by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Mr Satya Paul Grover, Secretary of the Servants of the People Society of India and secretary of the South Asia Fraternity Association, who was sponsoring the goodwill visit of the delegation said yesterday that the visas for the delegation were not cleared as the police chiefs of Moga, Faridkot and Ferozepore districts had not sent the No-Objection Certificates. The police chiefs of the
districts however, said, the Union Home Ministry had not
sought the certificates from them. |
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JALANDHAR, Jan 28 (UNI) — Three occupants of a van were killed and as many injured when it skidded off the rain-soaked road and hit a roadside tree near Bal Hukami village on the Nakodar-Shahkot road today, the police said. Sita, Pinki and an 18-month child died on the spot, those injured have been hospitalised at Nakodar, the police added. Bodies of those killed have been removed to local civil hospital for autopsy. While in second mishap an industrial worker Nurat Jamim, in his forties, was hit and killed by a getaway vehicle near Lamba Pind Chowk on the city outskirts, the police said. Sunita (32), of Arjan
Nagar in the city, was similarly hit and injured in
another accident by runaway vehicle near Narinder cinema
while on the way to city bus stand today, the police
added, admitted to civil hospital here, her condition was
stated to be out of danger, the police added.
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Three
killed in road mishap MUKTSAR, Jan 28 — Three persons were killed and 24 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck near Malout bypass here yesterday. According to sources, the bus belonging to Punjab Roadways, Ferozepore depot, was on its way from Hisar to Amritsar. The injured were admitted
to the local Civil Hospital, Guru Gobind Singh Medical
College, Faridkot, and DMC, Ludhiana.
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SDM,
Tehsildar suspended CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has ordered the immediate suspension of SDM J.P. Singh, Sultanpur Lodhi. He was earlier posted as SDM-cum-Sales Commissioner at Batala. Mr Faqir Singh, a Tehsildar, has also been placed under suspension. The Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur, has been asked to hold a detailed inquiry into this case. The irregularities mainly relate to illegal land allotment of the Forest Department in Kapura village in Gurdaspur district. An official Press note
issued in this connection said that Faqir Singh along
with other officials made allotments of 1153 canals and 7
marlas. The allotment was sanctioned by Mr J.P. Singh. Mr
Singh had also issued sales certificates. |
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College
teachers welcome decision CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — The Punjab Government College Teachers Association has welcomed the decision of the Punjab Government regarding the adoption of UGC pay scales with regard to college lecturess. Dr P.S. Bhatti, President of the Association said that the Punjab Government should also review its decision regarding the age of superannuation of lecturers and treat them on a par with their university counterparts. He said that out of 50
government colleges in the state 14 were without
principals. He has urged the government to fill the
vacancies from among lecturers. |
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Recast
of judicial panel questioned CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — Mr Dara Singh, a former member of the Judicial Commission under the Sikh Gurdwara Act, today filed an amended petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court questioning the fresh notification issued by the state government reconstituting the Judicial Commission. Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Iqbal Singh, before whom the petition came up for hearing, issued notice to the Union Government and the state government for February 23. Mr Dara Singh stated that he had filed a petition earlier against the dissolution of the Judicial Commission and constitution of the new Judicial Commission. The state government had rescinded that notification. He added that the government had now issued a new notification on January 12 constituting the new Judicial Commission. The petitioner stated that the state government did not have any jurisdiction for reconstituting the Judicial Commission. It could only fill vacancies as and when arose. Since no vacancy had arisen, the question of reconstitution of the Judicial Commission did not arise. He told the court that the
reconstitution of the Judicial Commission was beyond the
provisions of Section 71 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act. |
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Surplus
land in Punjab CHANDIGARH, Jan 28 — Mr Parkash Singh Majitha, Punjab Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister, said that about 2,22,594 acre has been declared as surplus land in Punjab since the inception of the Land Reforms Act. Of this 1,03,557 acre had been allotted to 28,303 beneficiaries, including 11306 persons belonging to Scheduled Castes. He said that
district-level committees had been constituted for the
early release of compensation to be paid to farmers whose
land had been acquired for public purposes. |
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Five
BDPO staff members suspended KHARAR, Jan 28 — Mr Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, Punjab today paid a surprise visit to the Block Development and Panchayat Office here and suspended five employees found absent. Mr Kahlon said that he visited the office at 2.45 p.m. and remained there for about 45 minutes. He also called the District Development and Panchayat Officer Ropar in Kharar. He said that he found three employees of the B.D.P.O. office Kharar namely Ms Manjeet Kaur, Mr Rajwant Singh and Mr Amarjit Singh and two employees of the Subdivision of the department, namely Ms Tripat Kaur and Mr Avtar Singh absent. He said that all five had been suspended. He said that another sewadar Bhupinder Singh who was found absent has been transferred to Machhiwara. Mr Kahlon said some panchayat members met him and complained that they had not been given charge of the gram panchayats. He said that he has asked
the DDPO to submit report within a week about the number
of panchayats in the district which had not been given
the charge. He said that he has asked for a report about
encroachments on panchayat land in the district. |
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Rs 35 crore for Baba Farid university MOGA, Jan 28 (PTI) — The Punjab government has allocated Rs 35 crore for the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Union Minister of State for Industry Sukhbir Singh Badal said here last evening. A sum of Rs 8 crore have been earmarked for acquiring 122 acres of land for the unique university while Rs 27 crore would be spent on infrastructure of the institution over the next two years," Mr Badal said after a meeting of Board of Directors of the university at Faridkot. He said the Senate, academic council and faculty of the university would be in place within the next six months. He also announced that the
next PMT examination would be conducted by this
university in collaboration with some other university. |
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Sack
Advani,
says Punjab Youth Congress PHAGWARA, Jan 28 — Mr Davinder Singh Babbu, President, Punjab Pradesh Youth Congress, today urged the President to sack Union Home Minister LK Advani for giving a clean chit to the Bajrang Dal without probing its role in attacks on Christians. Talking to newsmen here Mr Babu demanded a ban on communal bodies like the Bajrang Dal, the Shiv Sena and the Vishav Hindu Parishad for "engineering attacks" on Christians and thus whipping up communal frenzy in country. Flaying killing of Australian missionary and Jehanabad massacre, he dimissed as mere gimmick the Prime Minister's plan to fast for "sarva panth sambhav". "How can amity be promoted when the Sangh Parivar" for attacking Christians and other minorities," he asked. Though he called the
Badal-Tohra tussle an internal Akali issue, yet he feared
that the fued could revive terrorism. |
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