Thursday, June 24, 1999
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Thursday, June 24, 1999 |
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River draining works in
full swing LUDHIANA: With the south-west monsoon having already hit the region, including Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, parts of Haryana and Punjab, the Drainage Department and the district administration here are working round-the-clock to finish off the river draining works along the entire 92 km of the left side of the Sutlej in the Ludhiana district. Flood control steps reviewed LUDHIANA, June 23 — A meeting of the District Flood Control Committee was held here today to review the progress of the protective measures being undertaken to meet any kind of eventuality during the monsoon season. |
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Amendment of rule on farm produce Ahrtiyas exert pressure CHANDIGARH, June 23 — The intermediaries (ahrtiyas) in Punjab are exerting pressure on the political executive to repeal the amendment of Rule 24 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (General Rules), which permit producers and buyers to enter into a "bilateral transaction" agreement with the prior permission of the government/ mandi board. Threat to
field Khalra’s wife from Tarn Taran Dist
admn ‘absent’ from martyr's cremation Punished
for exposing corruption Pak
TV to blame for mass migration Congress
leaders oppose Galib's candidature SAD
(Tohra) to launch Punjab Bachao Morcha Govt
attitude irks border villagers MC
lands to be cleared of encroachments |
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River draining works in full
swing LUDHIANA: With the south-west monsoon having already hit the region, including Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, parts of Haryana and Punjab, the Drainage Department and the district administration here are working round-the-clock to finish off the river draining works along the entire 92 km of the left side of the Sutlej in the Ludhiana district as part of the flood control measures. At present 67 river draining works are being executed at various complexes (dhussi bundhs) along the Sutlej. Of these, 44 stone-graded studs are being repaired/constructed, 17 spurs repaired constructed, five revetments and one raising of embankments are underway. Informs Executive Engineer M.S. Gill: "About 70 per cent of the river draining works, currently under execution, are finished and we hope to complete the entire operation by the end of this month." In Ludhiana district, there are seven complexes — Dhulewal complex, Ghumana complex, Mattewar complex, Kasabad complex, Madhepur complex, Kherabet complex and Hujra complex. Of these, the Madhepur and Kherabet complexes are the most sensitive. Last year too, embankment erosion had occurred at four places in these two complexes, but timely action on the part of the Drainage Department and the district administration had prevented major damage. Sources reveal this erosion of embankment at Madhepur and Kherabet complexes had occurred because of water being released from Bhakra Dam continuously for 28 days. According to the official sources, a sum of Rs 4 crore has been allocated for the execution of the flood control measures in Ludhiana. But the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel, had projected that a sum of Rs 15.9 crore was required for the repair and new constructions of spurs (a semi-circular stone wall held by a wire mesh is prepared and plinth is put in this wall to raise it to the level of the bank), studs (a stone wall, perpendicular to the bank of the river) and revetments (gunny bags lined along the river bank to prevent the erosion of the bank) after the post-monsoon inspection in October last year. By judiciously using the money, we have managed to carry on the river draining works required to tide over this monsoon season," informed Mr Goel, who also chairs the Flood Control Committee. However, when this correspondent visited the various complexes along the river, it was found that many studs and spurs that were damaged last year during monsoon have not been taken up for repair —courtesy paucity of funds. Interestingly, on visiting the site of various complexes, this correspondent also learnt of the Sutlej changing its course at four complexes in Ludhiana. "The river has eaten up 1,000 yards of land at Madhepur complex, 3,000 yards of land at Manewal, 2,000 feet at Kherabet and 500 feet at Kasabad complex. While the meandering of the river at Kasabad occurred in 1988, the river changed its course at Madhepur, Manewal and Kherabet from 1995 onwards. The Deputy Commissioner informed that an additional sum of Rs 50 lakh had been allocated for the desilting of the drains in the Machhiwara area, which often remained water-logged during the monsoons. "Presently nine JCBs are functioning round-the-clock to complete the desilting of Burj, MCM and Kumlink drains in Machhiwara," he said. Inside the city, the
Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has been running draglines
at five places in the Buddha Nullah for desilting it.
During the rainy season, water from the nullah overflows
and causes floodlike situation in the low-lying areas
along the rivulet like in New Sadhopuri, Shivpuri,
Subhash Nagar etc. These draglines are being run at a
cost of Rs 65 lakh at the Satluj Dairy Complex to the
city, Chand cinema to Jalandhar bypass and from Central
Jail to Jalandhar bypass. About 70 per cent of the
desilting work here is almost over. |
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Flood control steps reviewed LUDHIANA, June 23 — A meeting of the District Flood Control Committee was held here today to review the progress of the protective measures being undertaken to meet any kind of eventuality during the monsoon season. The meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Goel, who directed all SDM's and XEN of the Drainage Department to keep vigil on the Dhussi bundhs. Meanwhile, flood control rooms have been set up at district and subdivision-levels, which will begin to function round-the-clock from June 24. The Deputy Commissioner also directed the XEN, Drainage Department, to keep as many as 2 lakh sand bags ready at different vulnerable sites on the bundh. Mr Goel said the SDO, Civil, would be the overall in charge of the operations in the subdivision and wireless sets had been provided to SDM's, tehsildars and XEN of the Drainage Department. The district administration has identified 165 villages in the district as flood-prone and the administration has set up 81 evacuation centres and 26 teams of doctors have been formed by the Health Department to provide medical facilities to people. The Deputy Commissioner
said the Director, Animal Husbandry, had been directed to
complete 100 per cent vaccination of the cattle before
the monsoon. |
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Fissures appear in SAD FATEHGARH SAHIB, June 23 — Sharp differences have cropped up in SAD in the district. Instead of facing the challenge posed by the Tohra camp the party is badly divided into many factions. Mr Balwant Singh Sahpur, MLA, has alleged that Capt Kanwaljit Singh is weakening SAD in the district. After the expulsion of Mr Tohra from SAD Capt Kanwaljit Singh was deputed to look after the affairs of the party and control the influence of Mr Tohra in his home district. Interestingly, Capt Kanwaljit Singh also belongs to this district. Intensive campaigning and workers’ meetings held at the village level being conducted by Capt Kanwaljit Singh resulted in strengthening SAD but frequent visits by the minister also annoyed the Akali MLA, Mr Sahpur, and some Badal loyalists like Mr Rajesh Paul Singh Lalli and Mr Didar Singh Bhatti. They alleged that instead of strengthening SAD Capt Kanwaljit Singh was forming his own group. It is worth mentioning that Capt Kanwaljit Singh played a major role in shifting the loyalties of Mr Sahpur from the Tohra camp to the Badal camp. The conference of the Punjab Dalit Front to be organised by Mr Sahpur, who considers himself president of the front here on June 25 has become a matter of controversy. Earlier, Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Public Relations, claim to be president of the front had organised a conference in the district on June 11 which was opposed by Mr Sahpur. Now the district
president of the front belonging to the Sekhwan group is
opposing the function to be organised by the MLA. On June
19, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, state Minister for Industry,
came to attend the meeting of trade and industry at Mandi
Gobindgarh. The MLA opposed that meeting and did not
attend it though he represents that area. He has not been
attending any workers’ meeting being addressed by
Capt Kanwaljit Singh. Recently, when Capt Kanwaljit Singh
was organising a public darbar here the MLA was leading a
delegation against the high-handedness of Capt Kanwaljit
Singh’s supporters on Dalit at Channo village. |
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Amendment of rule on farm produce CHANDIGARH, June 23 — The intermediaries (ahrtiyas) in Punjab are exerting pressure on the political executive to repeal the amendment of Rule 24 of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (General Rules), which permit producers and buyers to enter into a "bilateral transaction" agreement with the prior permission of the government/ mandi board. It is reliably learnt that these ahrtiyas are opposed strongly to the notification issued in this regard in March last, which allows the roller flour mills to purchase wheat directly from farmers. Since such a bilateral agreement benefits both, the middlemen are apparently upset. Under the amended Rule 24, sources say, a farmer is entitled to 1.5 per cent higher price over and above the minimum support price. Moreover such a "progressive step" is aimed at ameliorating the economy of the farmer-producer and ensure value addition to his produce. Even the private buyers stand to gain because both the seller and the buyer stand to gain by not paying certain mandi charges. The amendment in the rule, along with several other steps, were recommended by an experts’ committee appointed by the present government, which claims to represent the interests of the farmers — their main electoral constituency. The experts’ committee submitted its report in August, 1998. It was accepted by the government and a notification issued in March. Even the intermediaries had welcome the step then. The experts included Dr P.S. Rangi, a farm economist at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; Mr S.S Sodhi, Managing Director, Confederation of State Agricultural Marketing Boards, New Delhi; Mr Vasan Singh Nijjar, a progressive farmer of Amritsar; and Mr Lakhvir Singh, honorary executive director of the Punjab Rice millers’ export Association. The Chairman of the Mandi Board was Chairman of the committee besides the Financial Commissioner, Development, or his nominee with the Mandi Board Secretary as Member-Secretary. The decision of the committee was widely welcomed. When TNS spoke to Mr Nijjar over the telephone today, he was livid with the stand taken by the ahrtiyas. As an expert on the committee as well as being a progressive farmer himself he knew the hardships being faced by the producer-seller. He was appreciative of the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who had accepted the recommendations, and a notification was issued. Mr Nijjar said the experts’ committee was constituted to study the possibilities of reducing the number of intermediaries in the agricultural marketing system in Punjab and the recommendations were in tune with the international thinking and practices. The government should not yield to ahrtiyas’ pressure tactics and reverse the process of freeing farmers from the shackles of middlemen. Mr Nijjar proposes to write to the Chief Minister on the issue. In
Politico-administrative circles there is a commotion on
this demand. If the Akalis yield it will amount to a
"retrograde step", say sources. |
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Threat to field Khalra’s
wife from Tarn Taran AMRITSAR, June 23 — The Khalra Action Committee (KAC) has threatened to field Mrs Parmjit Kaur Khalra, wife of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist, who allegedly was kidnapped and reportedly eliminated by the police in 1995, for the Tarn Taran Lok Sabha seat against the official candidate of the Shiromani Akali Dal if genuine demands of the committee are not conceded immediately. Ms Parneet Kaur, daughter of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, is one of the aspirants for the Tarn Taran ticket. In a joint press statement issued here today, Mr Surinder Singh Ghariala, and Mr Balwinder Singh Jhabal chairman and general secretary respectively of the KAC said that if Mr Badal was sincere to defeat the Congress party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections he must surrender before Akal Takht and tender unconditional apology allegedly for denigrating Sikh traditions. The KAC also urged the Chief Minister to publish a list of those killed by the police or militants in the past two decades. It also demanded unconditional release of all Sikh detainees "languishing" in various jails. The KAC also urged the Chief Minister to initiate legal action against the erring police officials and Congress leaders responsible for the elimination of Sikh youths during militancy. Mr KPS Gill a former Director General Police Punjab be booked allegedly for killing a number of youths in "fake encounters", demanded the KAC office-bearers. The press note said that
the residents of border villages and towns were against
the Indo-Pakistan war as they already had suffered huge
losses in the past 1965 and 1971 wars. It alleged that
the administration and the state government had failed to
check the migration of people to "safer"
places. |
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Dist admn ‘absent’
from martyr's cremation MALLANWALA (Ferozepore), June 23 — It was a month ago that body of Sukhwinder Singh a soldier of Indian Army was cremated at his native - Mallanwala village. He sacrificed his life in action against infiltrators in the Kargil sector. No representative of the District Administration went to the martyr's place to express sympathy with members of his family till Monday. Mr Niranjan Singh, father of Sukhwinder Singh regrets that no officer of the district administration bothered to attend the cremation or came to him till Monday to express sympathy on his son's death. He said that his son died on May 21 and his (Sukhwinder's) body was brought to the village on May 25. On the same day, the body of Sukhwinder was cremated at Mallanwala village. The cremation was attended by 50 Army men, including Army officers, villagers and relations of the martyr. But, officers of the District Administration were absent. A visit to the martyr's home revealed by his father standing in front of house's entrance. Mr Niranjan Singh said that on inspiration from one of his uncle's son who was in the Army, Sukhwinder (20) joined the Army as a jawan one and a half years ago. During service he continued studies and had taken examinations of plus two this year when he came to home for two months’ leave. He was a matriculate when joined the Army, said his father. The soldier's father has two and a half acres of land. He had many expectations from his son who was the eldest among his children. The remaining two children are Gurbhej Singh and Rajwinder Kaur. The former has passed matriculation examination and the latter has appeared in the plus two examination. Mr Niranjan Singh in a choked voice said that alone he knew how he had been providing education to his children. Now, Sukhwinder was lending helping had for him, he added and said, "lagda hai rub noon meri jind saukhi hundi changi nahin lagi" (It seems that God didn't like my life become easy.) Sukhwinder Singh's mother, Ms Jagir Kaur said in a determined voice," I shall send my second son to Army too so that he may get revenge of his brother's death from the enemies," His brother Gurbhej Singh said, "I shall study more and join Army as an officer to serve the country like my elder brother." All villagers are proud of Sukhwinder Singh's brave act and demanded the setting up of a suitable memorial in his memory in village so that others may get an inspiration to serve the country. On June 21, the Ferozepore Deputy Commissioner, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, along with other officers came to me to express sympathy, said Mr Niranjan Singh and added that they stayed at his house for some time and assured to provide adequate help from the Punjab Government. Mr Sidhu told The Tribune that the Punjab Government would provide an ex-gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh and another grant announced by the Chief Minister for army men killed in Kargil. The PPCC, general secretary, Mr Gurmit Singh Sodhi, today, visited the house of Mr Niranjan Singh and assured him to provide financial assistance from the party. He said, it was a matter of regret that none of the district officer went to the soldier's house till Monday. The AICC member, Mr Bal Mukand Sharma, and the Ferozepore Citizens' Council president, Mr Hari Ram Khindri have demanded setting up of a memorial in the memory Sukhwinder Singh. Meanwhile, it is learnt
that a cheque of an ex-gratia grant of Rs 2 lakh is ready
with the department concerned and the same will be
presented to Sukhwinder Singh's family by the Punjab
Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal himself. The date
is yet to be finalised. |
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Punished for exposing corruption MANSA, June 23 — The District Food and Supply Department authorities have suspended the licence of a commission agent of Khara village allegedly for exposing corruption among officials of the procurement agencies. Sources said that the licence of M/s Banarasi Dass Gobind Kumar of Khara, Mansa district was suspended by the Food and Supply Department authorities on June 14, 1999 after the owner of the firm disclosed the corruption indulged in by the procurement agencies to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Mr J. Bala Murugan, who made a probe into the malpratices adopted by officials in the last paddy season. Sources said that Mr Sukhdev Singh Chahal, former Chairman, Panchayat Samiti, Jhunir (Mansa) brought to the notice of high powered committee (HPC), constituted by the Punjab government under the chairmanship of Mr R.N. Gupta to find out the malpractices adopted by the officials of procurement agencies during the purchase of paddy in the last season, that Re one per bag had been charged by officials of procurement agencies from paddy growers through commission agents. Mr Chahal submitted proof in this regard to ADC, Mr Bala Murugan as directed by the members of the HPC. The commission agent, who charged Re one per paddy bag from Mr Chahal to pay such amount to officials of procurement agencies also disclosed to the ADC that money was collected from the farmers for agencies officials. Mr Chahal had also alleged before the HPC that in this way Rs 15 crore had been extorted from the farmers by the officials of procurement agency during last paddy season. Mr Chahal, in a letter written to Mr P. Ram, Secretary, Food and Supply, Punjab and member HPC alleged that commission agent had been punished by the Food and Supply Department authorities as he had exposed the corruption indulged in by the procurement agencies. He added that on the other hand, no action had been taken so far, against the corrupt officials of procurement agencies. Mr J. Bala Murugan, ADC,
when contacted said that licence of commission agent was
suspended as he was found hand in glove with officials of
procurement agencies. He added that action against
corrupt officials had also been recommended to their
respective higher authorities. |
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Pak TV to blame for mass
migration AMRITSAR, June 23 — Large scale migration of people to "safer" places is being attributed to the viewing of Pakistan television in the entire border belt. Even as the watching of PTV has been named by the government of India yet it could be viewed in the border belt without the help of cable operators. Residents of the border belt who have migrated to "safer" places said that it was the malicious propaganda being made by the official T.V. channel of Pakistan which created panic among the border people. Officials of the security forces admit that watching of PTV in the entire border belt could not be checked so far. No effort was made to educate the residents of border in this regard. Apart from this, the Pakistan Radio too has launched a vilification campaign against India. Due to geographical contiguity of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepore with Pakistan the transmission of TV and radio channels of the hostile country is very clear. So much so dramas and other entertainment programmes of PTV are more popular than our Doordarshan ones in the border belt. Programmes of Pakistan TV and Pakistan Radio, especially in connection with the Kargil incidents have been malicious. While the live programme "sawere sawere" compered by Khalil Malik has been spreading disinformation on Kargil among viewers. In the panel of experts, the Pakistan Radio, broadcasts a daily programme in the evening which is full of propaganda against India. The programme ‘Delhi Darbar’ which is aired at 7 pm. daily gives lot of misinformation about Sikhism. The programmes reportedly are being broadcast with the help of the Dal Khalsa and other militants who have taken political shelter in Pakistan. It is after a long gap
of 34 years that Pakistan media started spreading
disinformation. During Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 when
Pakistan suffered serious reverses at the hands of Indian
Army, the government owned radio of Pakistan beamed
several programmes against India. The Radio Pakistan
would say (during 1965 Indo-Pakistan war) that the
Pakistan army had crossed Beas in Amritsar and it was
marching towards Delhi. To counter this malicious
propaganda of Pakistan, all India Radio (AIR) had to
start a programme ‘Radio Jhuthistan’ in 1965. |
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Congress leaders oppose Galib's
candidature LUDHIANA, June 23 — Senior Congress leaders and former ministers from Ludhiana today met the All-India Congress Committee Observer for Punjab, Mr Yagya Dutt Sharma, and urged him not to consider the case of Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib as a Congress candidate from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency. The leaders, who made this demand were Mr Harnam Dass Johar, former Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, former Minister, Mr Malkit Singh Dakha, Mr Rakesh Pandey, president of the DCC(U), Mr Anand Sarup Mohie, Mr Ishwar Singh, Mrs Gurkanwal Kaur, president of the Punjab Mahila Congress and Mr Darshan Singh Brar, a former Minister. These leaders charged Mr Galib with encouraging factionalism in the party and for his alleged role in the defeat of the Congress candidate for the 1996 Lok Sabha elections from the Ludhiana constituency, Mrs Jaswant Kaur, wife of the late Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Beant Singh. Mr Sharma said that he had met 20 applicants and would make a panel from amongst them, to be submitted to the party high command for a final decision. He informed that the list of candidates finalised for the various constituencies would be announced later this month. To a question about the
chances of the Congress to win from the various
constituencies of Punjab, Mr Sharma said that he was sure
of winning from all the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies that
he had visited. |
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SAD (Tohra) to launch Punjab
Bachao Morcha LUDHIANA, June 23 — Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal and member of the Rajya Sabha, has said that the BJP government led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee should have taken the entire country into confidence on the Kargil issue. He accused the government of lowering guard against the possible insurgency by Pakistan-backed militants after the Lahore bus journey and signing of the Lahore accord. Jathedar Tohra was addressing a press conference here today, after presiding over the first executive committee meeting of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal. Reiterating his demand for the calling of a special session of the Rajya Sabha in wake of the Kargil conflict, he said that all nationalist parties should join hands to from a nationalist government and replace the Vajpayee led government at the Centre. To a question about his party failing to find candidates from the various Lok Sabha constituencies, Jathedar Tohra said that his party in alliance with parties having similar ideology would field candidates not only from all the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of Punjab, but also from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh etc. Jathedar Tohra strongly advocated decentralisation of power and complete autonomy to the states. He said that centralisation of power in the country was one of the main reasons for the lack of development in the region. He also spoke of the transfer of Chandigarh, sharing of river waters and the transfer of other Punjabi speaking areas as the other issues for the forthcoming elections. Jathedar Tohra also announced the appointment of Bibi Jaswinder Kaur as president of the Haryana State Istri Akali Dal, Jathedar Harbhajan Singh as chief of Himachal unit of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Balbir Singh as president of Zila Akali Jatha, Gurdaspur, Mr Ajaib Singh Jaito as president of Zila Akali Jatha, Faridkot and Mr Amarjit Singh as president of Zila Akali Jatha, Muktsar. During the meeting, 11
resolutions were passed. Prominent among these were the
formation of a "Punjab Bachao Morcha" in
collaboration with other parties to fight against the
failure of the Punjab government led by Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, enrolment of new members in the party, criticising
of the "congressisation of the Shiromani Akali
Dal" by Mr Badal etc. The meeting observed that
traders, farmers, employees and labourers, were all angry
with the Badal government over its failure to fulfil
promises made to them. |
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Govt attitude irks border
villagers FAZILKA, June 23 — Thousands of residents, particularly farmers of scores of border villages in Fazilka sector, along the zero line are sore over the indifferent attitude of the Punjab Government towards them in the prevailing tense warlike situation. Mr Mohinder Rinwa, Secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and former MLA, Fazilka, said yesterday at a press conference after a two-day tour of the border villages of Beriwala, Ghrumi, Noorshah, Asafwala, Sivana, Muradwala, Khanpur, Mohammad Pira, Mubki, Bakhushah, Churiwala Chisti, Bareka, Mohar Sona, that the villagers complained of erratic power supply as a result of which they were facing problems in plantation of paddy. Farmers are also sore
over the inadequate supply of canal water for the past
about fortnight. Sarpanches of about half a dozen
villages are perturbed over the callousness of the state
government as no public representative and senior
government official has even bothered to visit their area
to study the hardships faced by them. Dr Rinwa has
appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and redress
the grievances of farmers of the border belt even as
their morale is quite high. |
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MC lands to be cleared of
encroachments PHILLAUR, June 23 — The Punjab government would soon amend the "rent law" and the matter would be discussed by the cabinet subcommittee soon. This was stated by Punjab Local Bodies Minister Balramji Dass Tandon, while talking to reporters here this evening. He said that the state government had prepared a special scheme for development works in all nagar councils and nagar panchayats and Rs 30 crore would be spent on it this year. To a question about the proposed Municipal Bill, Mr Tandon said that the draft of the Bill had been prepared and it would be presented in next Punjab Assembly monsoon session. He said that the government would soon start a special drive to remove encroachments on Municipal lands. Mr Tandon who has returned from a tour of America and the UK said that the Sandwell town of the UK and Amritsar of India would work as twincity and cultural, educational and commercial programmes would be exchanged. Mr Tandon said that the agreement was signed in the UK during my visit. Mr Tandon said that
chairpersons of all Improvement Trusts would be appointed
till end of July. |
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Relaxation in Road Tax payment LUDHIANA, June 23 — Accepting the long-pending demand of transporters, the state Transport Department has decided to waive penalties or interest for late payment of tax on arrears of road tax and special road tax which would be accepted within three months from June 25 to September 24. Giving details, Mr Sukhmander Singh Brar, district Transport Officer, Ludhiana said that the vehicles covered under this amnesty scheme would be minibuses, trucks, three-wheelers, school buses, Matador and motor cabs etc. He warned that the
defaulters who failed to deposit taxes during the
stipulated period would be punished and their vehicles
not be allowed to ply. |
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AISAD youth wing
office-bearers CHANDIGARH, June 23 — The Youth Wing of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal has announced the office-bearers of the wing. Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, president of the wing, said Punjab had been divided into Majha, Doaba and and Malwa (I) and Malwa (II) zones for better coordination among youth leaders. Mr Amarinder Singh, Mr Narinderpal Singh Bajwa, Mr Harjinder Singh Latti, Mr Satwinder Singh, Mr Rajinder Singh Kishanpura, Mr Satpal Singh Bandali, Mr Surjit Singh Ablowal have been made senior vice-president of the wing. Mr Randhir Singh Rakhra
will be secretary general, and Mr Paramjit Singh Saholi,
Mr Sarbjit Singh Dhiromajra, Mr Harvinder Singh
Harpalpur, Mr Indermohan Singh Lakhvirwala, Mr Kulvir
Singh Muktsar, Mr Rupinder Singh Chogawan, Mr Sandeep
Singh and Mr Jugandeep Singh have been appointed general
secretaries. |
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Plea for bi-annual PG medical
tests PHAGWARA, June 23 — Dr Raman Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary, Indian Medical Association, College of General Practitioners (CGP), Punjab, yesterday sent a representation to the Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. It was demanded that
postgraduate entrance tests for admission to various
courses in all medical colleges of Punjab be conducted
twice a year in June and December in order to effect
uniformity. This would also save the time of medical
graduates who have to wait for six months for appearing
in a test since the timings are different in different
colleges. |
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Plea to declare 5 HP cities
holy LUDHIANA, June 23 — In a memorandum sent to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Aggarwal Trust of Jwalamukhi has urged upon him to declare the five cities of the state namely Jwalamukhi, Chintpurni, Naina Devi, Kangra and Chamunda Devi as holy cities with a special status. Mr K.K. Singla, General Secretary of the trust, said though the Himachal Government had taken over the ancient temples in the state, the earnings from these were not fully utilised to provide facilities to the pilgrims and no proper attention was being given for the development of these cities. He demanded that the government declare the said towns as holy cities with their own development boards under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister and with members from the government and voluntary organisations there. He also demanded a ban
on the sale and use of alcohol and meat to be imposed in
these cities. |
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Threat to gherao agitating
patwaris SAMRALA, June 23 — Representatives of the social organisations and some political parties of Samrala and Khamanon have warned the agitating revenue patwaris to withdraw agitation immediately otherwise they will be compelled to start gheraoing them from this Monday. The representatives said
that due to pen-down strike by revenue patwaris, people
in general, especially the farmers and commission agents
were suffering. Revenue patwaris are sitting in dharna
and have started pen-down strike from June 1 and all
sections of people are facing great hardship. |
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Cong candidates meet observer SANGRUR, June 23 — Congress ticket aspirants for the Sangrur Parliamentary constituency met the party's central poll observer, Mr Yagya Dutt Sharma, at the local rest house. The supporters accompanying some of the aspirants raised slogans. Out of the 14 candidates only five candidates were seen with their supporters. They were Mr Arvind Khanna, treasurer, PPCC, Mr Gurcharan Singh Daddahoor, former MP, Mr Harbans Singh Sidhu, former minister, Mr Jasbir Singh, former minister and Mr Darshan Singh Brar. After interviewing the
candidates Mr Yagya Dutt Sharma addressed the supporters
of the various candidates. Mr Arvind Khanna, Chairman,
Khanna foundation, had organised the biggest gathering
which included hundreds of Sarpanches and Panches and
thousands of supporters. Mr Yagya Dutt Sharma said:
"I have not come here to distribute tickets. I have
just come to verify the claims of various candidates and
will be submitting my report to the Congress High
Command. |
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Nabha town tense PATIALA, June 23 — Nabha remained tense but peaceful today as heavy security was deployed near Punjab Public School due to a call given by some religious organisations to begin kar seva for constructing a temple at a disputed land. While no kar seva was undertaken today. In the evening a large crowd had gathered around the temple site but no untoward incident was reported so far. Mr Zora Singh, SDM,
Nabha, said the situation was under control and peaceful. |
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Governor interacts with Army men CHANDIGARH, June 23 — The Governor of Punjab, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, interacted with officers and men of a Gorkha Regiment which is on its way to a forward position, at a transit camp in the evening here today. He urged the men of the unit, which had been commanded by him in the past, to uphold the glorious traditions of the regiment and guard its honour. Officers accompanying
him said this was a personal visit and was in keeping
with the Army traditions where former commanding officers
formally interacted and exhorted them to do their best. |
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Republican Party's tie-up poll plan LUDHIANA, June 23 — The Republican Party of India will finalise its election alliance by the first week of July. This was disclosed by the national president of the party and former Member of Parliament, Mr Ram Dass Athawale, during a press conference held here yesterday. Outlining the broad policy of the party for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Mr Athawale said his party would join any alliance that had the capacity to defeat the BJP and its allies. He said his party was in
touch with both the Congress led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi and
the Nationalist Congress Party headed by Mr Sharad Pawar
for forging an electoral alliance. He said his party had
demanded an arrangement for 35 Lok Sabha seats from the
former and for 40 seats from the latter. He also said he
had expressed the desire to field candidates for two Lok
Sabha seats in Punjab. |
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