Wednesday, November 24, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Wednesday, November 24, 1999 |
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Five
booked in Rs 2.5 cr scam |
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Gurpurb celebrated in region PPCC reiterates stand Dharna against assault on scribe
Police commendations YC accuses govt of swindling
students Central Excise office to be
shifted IB foresees rise in intrusions
‘Halt’ free power to
farmers Manch for restoring democracy in
Pak Havildar cremated Two killed in accident Three held under Gambling Act |
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Five booked in Rs 2.5 cr scam GIDDERBAHA (Muktsar), Nov 23 — The local police has booked Mr G.S. Sidhu, Executive Engineer, Mr G.S. Bains, Sub-Divisional Officer, Mr Hakam Singh Bhattal, Mr Daljit Singh Tangra and Mr Kaka Singh Chahal (junior engineers) of the Bathinda canal division for embezzling government money to the tune of crores of rupees while executing various works relating to irrigation minors in this region. Official sources said these officials which, including two gazetted officers, had been booked under Sections 406, 409, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC late this evening. They were found guilty in an inquiry conducted by the DIG, Ferozepore, Mr Hardeep Singh Dhillon, and Superintendent Engineer, Canal, Ferozepore, Mr Sukhminder Singh. All officials were earlier indicted in the inquiry conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Bathinda, Mr Alok Shekhar. Mr Shekhar conducted an inquiry on a complaint by Mr Tirath Singh Brar, Junior Engineer, Bathinda Canal division, on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner. Mr Brar in a complaint made to the Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Mr S.R. Ladhar, a few days ago had alleged that Mr Bains and other officials had embezzled government money by making bogus payments, bogus estimates, bogus tenders, bogus entries in the work-charge rolls and by not completing various works shown "complete" in official records. The embezzlement of Rs 2.5 crore came to light when Mr Shekhar made an on-the-spot inquiry by taking written statements of officials involved and other persons concerned. Mr Shekhar also video-filmed the proceedings. After Mr Shekhar submitted the report to the Deputy Commissioner, the latter sought directions from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for further action. Mr Badal then asked the DIG, Ferozepore, and Superintendent Engineer, Canals, to further probe the matter. Mr Dhillon DIG, along with other officials today met the Chief Minister at Barnala where Mr Badal asked Mr Dhillon to register a case against these officials when he was told that his (Mr Dhillon) findings also supported those of Mr Shekhar. The second inquiry had raised many eyebrows and Mr Hardev Arshi, CPI leader, and Mr Harminder Singh Jassi, General Secretary, PPCC, had demanded that a CBI probe be held into the matter as they feared the scam was being hushed up. Mr Ashok Batth, DSP,
when contacted, said efforts were on to arrest the
accused. |
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Scam in drainage works
revealed CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — While a scandal worth Rs 2.5 crore pertaining to canal work in Bathinda district continues to generate heat, two Junior Engineers posted in the drainage wing of the Irrigation department have come forward to expose what they describe as "another scandal" worth several lakhs. Mr Balraj Singh and Mr A.P. Punj in an affidavit and complaint submitted to the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and other authorities concerned have stated that they are posted in the Nawanshahr subdivision of the drainage wing as Junior Engineers. They have demanded a high-level probe into the allegations and complaint submitted by them, which is supported by an affidavit by both, and assured the Chief Minister to provide all sorts of evidence to prove the point that a scandal had taken place in their subdivision as regards drainage works. They said in May the authorities concerned had given Rs 1.5 crore for the repair of the works involving old stones. Of this, Rs 28 lakh was allocated for carrying out four works pertaining to their section. They said they had got the works completed by June 30 under their personal supervision, and a progress report in this regard was sent to the authorities concerned from time to time. But certain senior officers, they said, asked them to prepare bogus estimates, raising the expenditure on works several times than actually incurred. "We refused to accept such orders", they asserted. But later on some other officials perpared the bogus estimates and payment was made on the basis of these estimates. The wire used for stone locking was several times less in strength than entered in the estimates. As a proof of this, a copy of the indent could be procured from the accountant and could be verified with the Stores department. They said that an enquiry should be held in their presence and they would be prepared to present facts in this regard. They have also revealed that similar scandals have taken place in Tajowal, Jhugian sections. For instance, they said a job worth Rs 1.50 lakh had been shown as of Rs 12.50 lakh worth and some works worth Rs 2 lakh each had been shown as of Rs 41 lakh collectively. On repairs of a spur Rs
2 lakh was spent but in papers the expenditure incurred
was shown as Rs 12 lakh, they said and added that an
honest officer should be appointed to probe the scam. |
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Flag meeting held to discuss AMRITSAR, Nov 23 — A flag meeting between the Border Security Force and Pakistani Rangers was held today at BoP Chandigarh outpost, where a 160-yard-long tunnel from zero line towards the barbed-wire fencing in Dera Baba Nanak was detected. Inspector-General of the BSF, Mr A.S. Aulakh, voiced India’s concern to Maj Gen Salimullah, Director General Pakistani Rangers. Three colonels from Pakistan also joined the meeting. DIG BSF Gurdaspur, Mr S.P.S. Kanwar, Mr S.K. Dutta of BSF (intelligence) also attended the meeting. The meeting which started at 1.25 pm ended at 5 pm. It was the second tunnel detected in the past year. Earlier, a 228 ft long tunnel was discovered on January 24 last in Chhanna border outpost. The chance discovery of the 160-yard-long tunnel near Kamalpur border speaks volumes of the failure of intelligence on the Indian side. The BSF stumbled on the tunnel during cutting of sarkanda (wild grass) by villagers along the border under BSF supervision. This is the first intelligence failure since Kargil as construction of the 160-yard-long tunnel reportedly took more than three months. Though Mr Aulakh, who had addressed a press conference on November 21, claimed that the Pakistani officials were "rather more cooperative" after the imposition of Army rule, yet it was clear from the detection of the tunnel that there was no change in their approach for spreading terrorism on Indian territory. The chance discovery of the tunnel has defeated the nefarious designs of the Pakistani government. The media persons were not allowed to go near the tunnel. Mr Aulakh has categorically asked his Pakistani counterpart to ensure that such incidents did not recur in future. The details of the
meeting held between the BSF and the Pakistani Rangers
could not be known. Mr Aulakh is likely to address a
press conference at Jalandhar tomorrow. |
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Palahi — a tribute to self-help PALAHI, (Punjab), Nov 23 (PTI) — A proud people with a distinctly progressive mindset in this village of Punjab which shot into limelight last year for being the first village in India to go on the Internet, are now trying to do what perhaps no other village in the country has done and almost every city boasts of — laying an underground sewerage. Tucked into the heartland of Doaba in Kapurthala district, the village with 3500 population, has an auditorium to seal 1100 with good acoustic features, street lights which run on solar energy, polytechnic, free Internet facility, provides e-mail access to villagers and has a website of its own. A dedicated group of villagers, who has formed a National Rural Development Society (NRDS), works in close coordination with the local community polytechnic, set up in mid-eighties under the National Institute for Integrated Rural Development and Transfer of Technology. The key to Palahi’s success is its immigrant sons — almost every household has one or more members settled in western countries, mainly Britain, Canada and the USA. This section of the non-resident population has made village proud. "Money is hardly ever a problem. We built a large number of public utility facilities with the NRI money. We have been trying to get the government to lay the underground sewerage but, it looks as if we will soon be doing so ourselves", said Gurmit Palahi, principal of the polytechnic. "We are a people with a pround legacy. Three Sikh Gurus — sixth Guru Hargobind Sahib, seventh Guru Har Rai Ji and ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji — visited this village. We better make sure that we prove true to our legacy and keep a fast developmental pace as the new millennium beckons us," Gurmit told PTI. At one stage, the villagers approached the authorities saying if the government agreed to a matching grant, they would raise half the funds themselves for the underground sewerage but the bureaucratic offices said no village in India had underground sewerage and the government had no scheme for such a "fine" venture. Jagat Singh Palahi headed for Canada to collect the funds himself for the project. A village elder, Mr Jagat Singh has been instrumental in continuously exhorting the villagers to keep trying for an even better tomorrow and heads over six educational institutions including the Guru Nanak College at Phagwara. "We are confident of doing it, and so far, no project has languished for want of money," said Jatinder Singh, an active member of the NRDs, the forum which manages the funds. Plans for the sewerage laying are ready. "If it is a project for the village development, we do not hesitate to proclaim ourselves the international beggars," said Gurmit Singh, half-serious half in jest. The appeals go out to Palahi's sons in greener pastures and it does not take very long for the funds to flow in. That the NRDS is cash-rich is evident from the fact that the villagers built a beautiful mosque for over Rs five lakh for the only Muslim family in the village. The polytechnic imparts vocational training in courses like refrigeration, motor winding, welding, electrician's jobs, garment designing, commercial secretarial practices and software programming. "All education is absolutely free. Only computer students pay Rs 400 per month," said Gurmit. The polytechnic serves a source pool for several big industrial houses of Phagwara and surrounding areas for units like Guru Nanak Auto (GNA), JCT Phagwara and RCF Kapurthala. With a community centre hall, a village panchayat complex, a ferro-cement unit, a biogas plant, a library stocked with 12,000 books, football grounds, badminton courts and a stadium, a glistening clock tower built in memory of the sixth Guru, what is it that the village lacks? "A road. It is easier for us to communicate with someone in the USA but difficult to reach Phagwara which is only three km away," lamented Dr G S Gandam, a professor with strong ties with the village. Everyday hundreds of students trudge down over six km to reach the village from the G T road instead of taking the three-km stretch which is full of pot holes and dust mounds. Several pleas of the
village panchayat have fallen on deaf ears so far in the
last two years. "Are the villagers heart broken
then?" asks a scribe. "Heart broken? why, we
will build a road with our own money. Just wait,"
pat comes a reply from a proud Palahi wala. |
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Gurpurb celebrated in region CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 (UNI) — Religious fervour and solemnity marked birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of Sikh religion, in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh today. Thousands of Sikh devotees, including women and children, in their colourful best congregated at gaily decorated gurdwaras in the region since early morning and paid their obeisance, participated in shabad kirtans and religious congregations and listened to recitations from holy scriptures at the gurdwaras. Akhand paths, diwans, free kitchens and dips in sacred tanks attached to various gurdwaras marked the day. Large congregations were held at different cities, towns and historical places, including the Golden Temple at Amritsar, Talwandi Sabo, Anandpur Sahib, Kiratpur Sahib and Manji Sahib Gurdwara at Aambala City on this occasion. Reports of gurpurab celebrations also poured in from Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ropar, Mansa, Rampura Phul, Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Kotkapura, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Yamunanagar and Panipat. In the city, large
crowds thronged various gurdwaras from early morning and
participated in religious discourses and listened to
recitations from holy books. |
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PPCC reiterates stand JALANDHAR, Nov 23 — The Congress party has alleged that a central loan of Rs 3772 crore is outstanding towards the state. Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Secretary, PPCC, said here today that three instalments, one during the tenure of Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao of Rs 803 crore and two instalments during the tenure of Mr I.K. Gujral amounting to Rs 2114 crore stood waived. The remaining amount advanced to the state during insurgency still stands as debt. The Finance Commission is set up under Article 280 of the Constitution every five years, which deals with such Centre-State financial matters. The 10th Finance Commission, therefore, had no authority to waive more than two instalments that came under its purview. Hence the question of waiving the entire loan, as was shown by Mr Gujral and Mr Badal, did not arise. Questioning both Mr Gujral and Mr Badal, Chief Minister, as to how during Mr Gujral’s tenure, a huge thanks-giving rally was held at Jalandhar PAP grounds. The Chief Minister formally thanked Mr Gujral for waiving the entire loan of Punjab. It now has become clear that this farce was played on the innocent people of Punjab in view of the 1998 Lok Sabha elections. While Mr Gujral was interested in becoming an MP from Punjab, Mr Badal wanted his party’s candidates to romp through the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. "It is most unfortunate that when persons in high offices lie to people, the day is not far when the people will not believe in the assurances given by Prime Ministers or Chief Ministers". "It is another
matter that the 11th Finance Commission may consider the
case of waiving the loan, but at present the loan stands.
Hence we demand an unqualified apology from both Mr
Gujral and Mr Badal on this issue. We also urge Mr
Vajpayee to seriously waive the remaining loan of Punjab
in view of the already, fragile economic situation of the
state", he said. |
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Dharna against assault on
scribe JALANDHAR, Nov 23 — The Jalandhar police’s failure to take action against an errant SHO who assaulted a journalist at the star nite function here on Sunday has caused the journalist fraternity to launch an agitation. The journalist Bikramjit Singh, correspondent of Punjabi Tribune here, was assaulted by SHO Nirmal Singh on November 21, while waiting for a colleague the entry gate of Guru Gobind Singh Stadium here. While Bikramjit Singh was slapped by SHO Nirmal Singh, The Tribune Correspondent Sanjeev Kumar, was pushed around. According to Bikramjit
Singh, the SHO, assaulted him and Sanjeev without
provocation. When "we pointed out that we are a
media persons and had the requisite passes to cover the
star nite, the SHO said that he didn’t care for
newspaper or reporters; he said. A formal complaint was
lodged with the SSP yesterday, but he is yet to take
action. |
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Awaiting return of ward for 23
years FEROZEPORE, Nov 23 — Even 23 years after Devinder Kumar ‘Shampy’ strayed into the Pakistani territory on being swept by the Sutlej at Hussainiwala, near here the possibility of his returning home are remote. A student of IX at the time of the incident, Shampy’s family is still hopeful of his survival as they anticipate his being detained in one of the Pakistani jails. Though the family was optimistic of his return shortly after Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee drove to Lahore to sign a goodwill accord, a fresh round of repatriation of prisoners did not see him coming back. With the Lahore accord having been eclipsed by Kargil crisis and subsequent military coup in Pakistan, the hopes of another round of repatriation are also minimised. However, the family is going from piller to post seeking Shampy’s release. Lately, his sister, Mrs Kanta Rani of Basti Tainkan Wali, has established contact with the Pakistan-based Human Rights activist Ms Asma Jahangir to seek whereabouts of her brother. Though there is no official confirmation of Shampy being detained in Pakistan, somebody from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had approached the family shortly after the Lahore accord was signed between the two sides to verify his antecedents. This had raised some hope for Shampy’s sister. Her joy was however shortlived as he was not amongst the Indian prisoners, who were released at the Wagah border in Amritsar in March last. Her husband Mr Harbir Bali, Deputy Chief Controller (Traffic), Railways, had rushed to Wagah with the photograph of a 15-year-old Devinder, but had to return disappointed. "By now he should be in his late 30s. To avoid any confusion in recognising him I took along his photograph little realising that he will not come", Mr Bali lamented. Quoting IB sources, Mr Bali claimed that Shampy's name is listed among the Indian prisoners, who are still in Pakistani jails. "We are sure of his survival, as the day he strayed into the Pakistani territory, Indian Army had immediately confirmed it through a wireless message". Recalling the incident, Mrs Kanta Rani said, Shampy was swept by the Sutlej at Hussainiwala border, where he had gone with his friends to attend a fair on March 23, 1976" "Despite warning by a woman police constable, he jumped into the swollen river for a bath and was swept to the other side", she said adding, "One of his classmates' father, who was an Army officer, had it confirmed later through a wireless message." Ironically, both parents of Shampy have died awaiting his return. While his mother Mrs Kaushalya Devi, died in 1989, his father, Mr Shiv Dayal, a contractor, died six years back. Repeated pleas of the family to the National Human Rights Commission have borne no results. Even the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has failed to ascertain the
whereabouts of Shampy. Expressing inability to locate
Shampy, a co-ordinator of the HRCP’s Vulnerable
Prisoners Project, Mr Rao Abid Hamid, has only assured to
try again in a communication sent to Mrs Kanta Rani.
Meanwhile, sources in the IB confirmed that a team had
visited the house of Shampy to verify his antecedents on
instructions from higher authorities for repatriation,
but were unable to confirm his whereabouts in Pakistan. |
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Police commendations LUDHIANA, Nov 23 — The police today honoured 16 persons, including three police personnel for getting four hardcore criminals arrested, during the 11th weekly Dastak programme held at the district police office here today. Those people awarded a commendation certificate and a cash prize were — Mr Navneet Jain, Mrs Karuna Jain, Jatinder Kumar Bahadur, Vishal Jain, Chander Mohan Sabharwal, Pradeep Gupta, Jaspal Singh, Rajnesh Bansal, Ashok Kumar, Shiv Kumar, Dharminder Syal, Rakesh Kumar, CIA Inspector Maninder Bedi. Head Constable Rajveer Singh, Constable Purshottam Lal and Constable Gurdial Singh. All these persons had helped prevent a burglary in the house of Mr Navneet Jain, a resident of the Shangla Wala Shivala road and also nabbed four of the six culprits — Amarjit, Makhan, Naresh and Kuldeep Singh on November 17. The CIA Inspector, Mr Maninder Bedi, along with the three constables had reached the site in time and taken the four suspects into custody. The 19-year-old help, Jatinder Kumar Bahadur, was exhilarated at being honoured by the Senior Superintendent. Recalling the incident, he said "six persons had come to our house on the pretext of taking the reading of the electric meter. They told Mrs Karuna Jain that they wanted to check the power points inside. Three persons forcibly entered the house. They took out a revolver, but Mrs Jain fled by scaling the boundary of the terrace to the next house. The other three persons who had held on to me, beat me up. But I managed to rush out of the gate and raise an alarm." While two of the accused fled away, the residents nabbed the other four. The CIA team rushed to the spot and arrested the culprits. Meanwhile, the Dastak programme launched by the district police on September 25 recently, has begun drawing large crowds. As many as 28 complaints were received today. "Although the maximum number of complaints received in the Dastak programmes are about economic offences, substantial complaints regarding police inaction or faulty investigation, crime against women, tenant-landlord dispute, fraud by travel agents and money transaction are also received," informed the SSP, Ms Gurpreet Deo. In the 11 Dastak
programmes organised so far, 252 complaints have been
received and out of these 146 complaints have already
been verified and disposed of. The maximum number of
complaints are received from areas under the jurisdiction
of police station Sarabha Nagar, Jodhewal Basti, Haibowal
and division number 5 and 6, says Ms Gurpreet Deo.
"The purpose of this programme is to ensure greater
accountability amongst the SHOs and SPs and to project a
more public-friendly image of the police". |
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YC accuses govt of
swindling students LUDHIANA, Nov 23 — Punjab Youth Congress President Davinder Singh Babbo has charged the state government with swindling crores of rupees by charging Rs 20 each from students of classes VI to X of the various government schools in the state in the name of standardisation of December examinations. Mr Babbo was talking to reporters after participating in a dharna organised by the Punjab Youth Congress against the alleged ‘anti-people’ policies of the SAD-BJP government. He alleged that the money was being collected to benefit some close aides of the minister concerned and called for an independent inquiry into this ‘scandal’. It is learnt that the government schools in the state have asked their students to pay Rs 10 each for their question papers and answer sheets for the ensuing December examinations. Meanwhile at the dharna organised in front of the mini secretariat yesterday, Congress leaders decried the recent hike in Sales Tax on petrol and diesel, rising prices of essential commodities and the economic setback to all strata of the society because of the wrong economic policies of the SAD-BJP government. Mr Babbo said that they continue organising dharnas in various districts to force steps to resurrect the economy of the state. Mr Babbo said that if
desired steps were not taken by December 31, the Congress
would gherao the Chief Minister and force him to take
stock of the situation. Mr Pawan Diwan, Mr K K Bawa, Mr
Sumeet Batish, Mr Dharminder Rana, Mr A S Tikka, Mrs
Kanwaljit Kaur, Mr Sushil Malhotra, Mr Nirbhay Singh were
also present on the occasion. |
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Central Excise office to be
shifted PHAGWARA, Nov 23 — Mr Inder Raj Soni, Commissioner, Central Excise Commissionerate, Chandigarh-II, said here yesterday that the Commissionerate II would be shifted near Suchipind near Jalandhar bypass, Jalandhar. A 6-acre piece of land had been purchased and 250 quarters would be constructed on it, said Mr Soni. It would be the headquarter of 14 districts of Punjab (leaving out Ludhiana, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib) and J&K, continued Mr Soni. The target of revenue this year from Central Excise was Rs 1150 crore while Rs 815 crore had been collected already by October this year, he said. Last year Rs 850 crore revenue was registered. Rupees 216 crore tax evasion was detected in 200 cases last year while Rs 130 crore evasion had been detected in 66 cases up to October this year, claimed Mr Soni. A new Vigilance Alert System scheme had been started for foolproof detection of evasion and the system had been brought on the Internet on November 20. Under it, even individuals can complain at divisional level through the Internet. Rupees 65 lakh fraud case in Modvat had been detected at Abohar, he said. To save businessmen/traders from harassment, nobody from the department could check any S.S. unit without the written approval of Deputy Commissioner of the department, disclosed Mr Soni. Regional advisory and
grievances committees had been set up to solve problems
of industrialists and the department was bound to reply
in 15 days to the complaints, Mr Soni added. |
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IB foresees rise in
intrusions FEROZEPORE, Nov 23 — The Intelligence Bureau foresees more intrusion bids from across the international border against the backdrop military coup in Pakistan. With morale of the Pakistan-based ISI high under the military rule, largescale smuggling of arms and narcotics is apprehended in winter. Information pouring in from various sources to the local IB office indicate that the ISI has already stepped up recruitment of Sikh militants from among the youths residing outside India. Generally winter remains an ideal time for intrusion on account of low visibility in fog. However, coup in Pakistan may see an unprecedented rise in intrusion bids this time. IB authorities are equally alarmed at seven to eight gaps noted along the international border in this district. The gaps, according to a senior IB official needed immediate attention and called for plugging. Although the gaps can not be fenced as these are widened by the Sutlej and its tributaries, IB officials are understood to have advised the Border Security Force to intensify patrolling on boats, besides laying of barbed wire and nets through water. The biggest gap so far noted by the IB is 2 km wide between Gajniwala and Joginder border posts. A gap between Mohamadiwala and Kasoke is another cause of worry. Significantly, this is the same route, from where Charanjit Singh alias Sukha, a terrorist associated with the Khalistan Commando Force had sneaked in along with five kg of RDX in August last. Two months ago Darshan Singh Tunda was arrested, while making an intrusion bid to Pakistan from near Gajniwala. On its part, the IB is learnt to have roped in small time smugglers for spying. They are allowed to exchange a limited number of Indian made foreign liquor bottles with cigarettes from the other side of the border. This helps the IB in gathering information about drug trafficking through intruders. The trend on the other side also remains the same, as the ISI is sending the arms through narcotic dealers. Currently, the ISI is accused of sending narcotics and counterfeit currency on the Indian side, aiming at destabilising country’s economy. Since the ISI is unable to get fresh recruits from among the Punjabis on this side of the border, it is finding more recruitment outside India. Sources in the IB confirmed that a number of Sikh boys employed in Germany or West Asia were being influenced to join militant ranks. "It is mainly because, the motivation factor is lacking among the youth on this side of the border", an IB officer disclosed. Interestingly, the IB is
closely watching the economic situation of the Indian
farmers, especially in the border districts. With the
cotton crop having failed to yield desirable results, the
disillusioned farmer may look for desperate ways to
become rich an official added, as of now, no such
instance has come to light. |
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Portfolio for Dhindsa
‘trivial’ CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — While thanking the Prime Minister, Mr A.B. Vajpayee, for including a Sikh, Mr S.S. Dhindsa, in his Cabinet, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, said today that it was first time that a Sikh had been given such an insignificant portfolio at the Centre. He was having a dig at the BJP-led government at the Centre and also its ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Mr Mann said ministries like the External Affairs, Home, Railways, etc, had remained with Sikhs in the past but Mr Dhindsa had been given totally an unimportant department, Works and Government Estates. He alleged that this had been done to appease the Hindutva lobby by Mr Vajpayee. Mr Mann said, Mr Badal put all sorts of pressure on the Central Government to "manage" an important department of Industries for his son, Mr Sukhbir, in the previous Vajpayee Government, but he did not care to make the same effort for Mr Dhindsa. Mr Badal did not want any other leader in the Akali rank to get importance and become his replacement. Mr Mann alleged that although Sikh soldiers and officers made a big contribution in Kargil victory, they did not get enough recognition as far as giving gallantry awards to them was concerned. Brigadier Surinder
Singh, who made the truth known about certain things in
Kargil, had been victimised by making him a rolling
stone. |
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‘Halt’ free power to farmers PATIALA, Nov 23 — The Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers Association today demanded halt on free power supply to the agricultural sector, revision of all categories of tariffs and crackdown on power theft at all levels. In a statement here, Association President Padamjit Singh and General Secretary H.S. Bedi said hard decisions could be delayed only at the cost of making the power sector sick beyond redemption. Reacting to a statement by former board administrative member Surenderpal Singh Mann who has urged that free power to the agriculture sector be continued. The association members said a wrong impression had been created that the loss due to free power was only Rs 300 crore, while it was Rs 1500 crore, if the quantum of electricity consumed in the agriculture sector was taken into consideration. The engineers said it was an established fact that half of the electricity available for sale did not earn any revenue for the board and it included agriculture consumption and transmission and distribution losses. Reacting to the allegation that part of the electricity meant for the agriculture sector was pilfered by the industry, they said this was not true. Mr Padamjit Singh and Mr Bedi said it was untrue that all subsidies extended to this sector, including free power, were taken into account while fixing the minimum support price. They said every input of agriculture, including seeds, fertiliser and pesticides, were based on market prices. They said the tragedy was that neither the government nor the board had shown any seriousness in cracking down on energy thieves or follow the examples set by the Delhi Government. They said, moreover, giving free power to the agriculture sector without giving cash compensation to the PSEB was a direct violation of Section 59 of the Electricity Act. They said Section 59 made it mandatory for every state electricity board to achieve a minimum surplus of 3 per cent. They said in the conference of power ministers, a policy decision was taken to charge 50 paise per unit for agriculture and gradually increase it to cover 50 per cent of the cost of supply which was presently 216 paise per unit. Since the board does not get any concession in the purchase of coal for its thermal stations, railway freight, and energy purchased from the Centre, the continuation of free power would drive the PSEB to bankruptcy which would recoil on the state itself. No sector of the economy, least of all the core sector of power, can delink itself from the economic realities at the national level. Giving free power to the agriculture sector was putting the clock back and creating a serious crisis for the state as well as the PSEB, they said. They called for
investing in new projects and transmission and
distribution networks to reduce losses. They said they
had proposed that Rs 75 be charged per BHP on tubewell
connections. Domestic tariff be raised by 75 paise per
unit, small, power, medium supply and large supply by
100, 85 and 52 paise per unit. They said the time had
come to put the clock forward lest the PSEB was overtaken
by bankruptcy and disintegrated like the HSEB leading to
privatisation and tariff hikes several times more than
those proposed. |
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Manch for restoring democracy
in Pak AMRITSAR, Nov 23 — The folklore research academy Chandigarh and world Punjabi Culture Manch have demanded restoration of democracy in Pakistan and the unconditional release of Nawaz Sharif and his associates. They will submit a memorandum to the Pakistani Ambassador at his New Delhi office and at the UN office and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs on November 30. This was stated by Dr
Tara Singh Sandhu, president, Folklore Research Academy
(Regd) and General Secretary, Mr Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal of
World Punjabi Culture Manch (Regd) in their joint press
release issued here today. Dr Sandhu and Mr Dhaliwal has
added the coup by General Pervez Musharraf, was creating
hindrances in coordination of SAARC countries and causing
tension in Indo-Pakistan relations. |
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Havildar cremated HOSHIARPUR, Nov 23 (UNI) — Havildar Swaran Singh, who was killed in an encounter with militants in Assam, was cremated with full military honours at his native Baleran village today. The pyre of the 32-year-old soldier was lit by his seven-year-old son, Manjit Singh. The soldier is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter, besides parents. Earlier, Brig M. S. Mahal and Major A. K. Dhumal, Deputy Commissioner Iqbal Singh Sidhu, SSP R. P. Mittal, MLAs Sohan Singh Bodal and Balbir Singh and former MP Kamal Choudhary laid wreaths on the body. The Deputy Commissioner said Lance Naik Bhupinder Singh of the BSF, who was also killed in an encounter with militants in Assam, would be cremated at his native Bharatpur village tomorrow. Meanwhile, BSF Commandant Vijay Bahadur Singh (42), who died of cardiac arrest at Srinagar on November 20 was cremated at his native Sandhran Sodhian village today. The pyre was lit by his
son, Amarjit Singh. |
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Badal for setting up old-age
homes BARNALA, Nov 23 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal payed glowing tributes to Kartar Kaur, mother of Charanjit Singh Khattra — a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and transporter, at her bhog ceremony here today. He stressed on the need
for setting up of ‘Bridhashram’s (old peoples
homes) in various towns of Punjab where the elderly could
live in relative comfort. |
||
Plan to improve water supply BATHINDA, Nov 23 — The Central Government has selected Bathinda and Moga districts of Punjab for making drinking water facilities better. In a press note issued here today, Mr S.R. Ladhar, Deputy Commissioner, said the Central Government had allocated Rs 5 crore under the Rajiv Gandhi Water Supply Scheme for this purpose. He added that a seminar
of panchayat members of both these districts would be
held at Bathinda on December 2 and 3. He said a water
supply scheme made for next 25 years. |
||
‘Imbibe teachings’ of Guru
Teg Bahadur CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has called upon the people to follow the legacy of "Hind-di-chadar Guru Teg Bahadur. In a message on the eve
of martyrdom day of the guru, Mr Badal said the guru made
the supreme sacrifice for protecting the values of
humanism, secularism and unity of mankind. His teachings
for leading a virtuous life and his noble deeds will
continue to inspire the present and future generations
for all time to come. |
||
SHSAD to launch stir from Jan 1 FATEHGARH SAHIB, Nov 23 (PTI) — The Sarv Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) today said it favoured amendments to the Indian Constituion to extend more powers to states and announced an agitation from January 1 to press for the long pending demands of Punjab. Party President Gurcharan Singh Tohra told reporters here that the SHSAD was trying to form a third front with like-minded parties to press for "real federal system" in the country. He said every state
should be free to use the taxes collected by them and the
Centre should be given only a little share from such
taxes to run its infrastructure. |
||
Three held under Gambling Act LUDHIANA, Nov 23 — The police has arrested three presons-Joginder Singh, Jagmohan Singh and Amarjit Singh for gambling and has seized Rs 1788 from their possession. A case under Section 13, 3 and 67 of the Gambling Act has been registered against them. In another case, the police has registered an FIR under Section 406 of the IPC against Anil Sareen, Director of M/s Wonder Knitwear Ltd for non deposit of provident fund dues deducted from the monthly salary of the employees from September 1997 to July 1998. According to the
complainant, Mr S.K. Aggarwal, Regional Provident Fund
Commissioner, the accused had misappropriated Rs 78,078. |
||
Two killed in accident ROPAR, Nov 23 — Mr Balbir Singh Rai, Inspector, Food and Supply, and a brother of former Congress MLA from Chamkaur Sahib, Mr Shamsher Singh Rai, and Mr Harpal Singh, Inspector, Food and Supply, were killed while Mr Surinder Chaudhary a local advocate, was seriously injured when their car met with an accident near Bharatgarh village, about 20 km from here, today. According to Mr Garja Singh, ASI, in charge of the Bharatgarh police post, the car which collided with a truck was going from Ropar to Bharatgarh. He said Mr Balbir Singh Rai died on the spot while Mr Harpal Singh succumbed to his injuries while being taken to hospital. Another occupant of the car, Mr Surinder Chaudhari was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh. The truck driver escaped
and the police registered a case. |
||
Teacher’s house looted, burnt JALANDHAR, Nov 23 (UNI) — Unidentified people looted and burnt the house of teacher Amarjit Singh in Phillaur town sometime after midnight last night. The crime came to police notice today. The teacher, whose two sons and a daughter are settled in the UK was away to his in-laws at Khusropur village. Besides the missing cash and jewellery, one room on the ground floor of the house was found burnt with blades of a ceiling fan twisted. How fire got extinguished in the locked house could not be ascertained. However, police sources
said that had two LPG cylinders on the first floor also
caught fire, it could have triggered fire in Mohalla
Takhtgarh where the teacher’s house was located. |
||
Relief sent to Orissa AMRITSAR, Nov 23 —
Activists of the Istri Sabha, Punjab, the CPI, teachers
and students of Senior Secondary School, Khasa, sent two
truck loads of utensils, blankets, cereals, shoes,
clothes, sweaters and sheets for the cyclone-hit of
Orissa. Mr Narinderjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner,
flagged off the trucks. |
||
Goods destroyed LUDHIANA, Nov 23 —
Goods and material worth lakhs were destroyed in a fire
that broke out at the Sumeet Exports here last evening,
it is learnt. The cause of the fire was short circuit. No
casualty has been reported. |
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