Now, Irrigation Dept works can be tracked through software

A step towards transparency

• Will help curb malpractices
• Officials can check the status of the work of cleaning and de-silting of drains and give their suggestions
• They can also see what kind of works are going on in particular area and track their progress

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 28

After facing flak for its alleged failure in controlling flood-like situation every year during the monsoons, the state Irrigation Department has this year developed a software – Punjab Irrigation Work Information System (PIWIS) — to keep an eye on all ongoing works of drainage and other wings of the department.

Officials have been told to upload pictures of all ongoing works once every week on the software so that the higher-ups sitting in Chandigarh could monitor the situation. Sources said the access of this software has also been given to Chief Minister’s Office, Chief Secretary and Secretary (Irrigation). An Executive Engineer said the software had started functioning about a fortnight ago, which was developed and maintained by the Irrigation Department itself.

About the functioning of this software, he said, “For instance, if the work of cleaning and de-silting of drains is going on somewhere or sub-surface drainage system is being installed, we have to upload three pictures of different angles from the site. It is easy for the higher officials to check the status of the work and give any advice.”

He added, “Earlier, we used to send hard copies of status reports of the ongoing works. Now, this software has sped up the pace of work. It will also show what kind of works are going on in any particular area and that too with just a click.”

Notably, this software would help in curbing some malpractices as well. “The department has earlier received a number of complaints that the cleaning and de-silting work of drains was not done, but the bills were claimed. Even some people had complained to the Chief Minister in this regard. This software will definitely keep a check on such practices,” added a senior officer of the department.

KS Pannu, Secretary (Irrigation), Punjab, said, “The Irrigation Department is a big department having eight chief engineers of different wings. When I took the charge of the department, I found that works were being done by different wings in a disjointed manner without a central command and surveillance. Hence, I deputed newly recruited young engineers to develop software for proper monitoring of works in the department.”

“It is now implemented and giving good results. In the days to come, measurement book shall be written online and linked to work monitoring system and automatic bill generation and then linked to state treasury for payments. All inspections will be recorded online,” Pannu added.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Pensioners storm Badal’s function

A SAD activist tries to pacify an elderly woman at Mohlan village in Muktsar on Monday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Mohlan (Lambi), May 25

The delay in disbursement of old-age pension and allegations of deletion of the names of some genuine beneficiaries today rocked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Sangat Darshan programme at Mohlan village in the Lambi assembly segment.

The police personnel deployed there did not allow the protesting pensioners to meet the CM. Irate, they raised slogans and disrupted the Sangat Darshan programme. Notably, the pensioners have not got their monthly dues of Rs 250 since September last year. 

When the administrative officials and the police failed to convince the protesters, it forced the Chief Minister to announce from the public address system that the pension amount would be disbursed within two days.

He even sent Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police and SAD’s district president Dyal Singh Kolianwali to pacify the protesters.

When the protesters refused to relent, the CM got annoyed and left the venue in a hurry, saying, “I am sanctioning funds for the development of your village and you must sit silently.”

The elderly protesters alleged they never got the full pension amount. “We are never allowed to apprise the CM of the matter. If the state disburses pension for five months, we get it for two months,” alleged Bhagwanti of Mohlan village.

Another pensioner Bhajan Kaur alleged: “I am in my seventies, but they had declared me ineligible for old-age pension.”

Badal said: “The beneficiaries will get the pension amount within the next two days. The beneficiaries whose names have been deleted, but claim themselves eligible can approach the deputy commissioner concerned.” The officials concerned said the pension disbursement got delayed because of verification and re-verification of beneficiaries.

Courtesy: The Tribune

25% old age pensioners found fake in Muktsar; Names of 13,410 of 52,782 beneficiaries deleted

25% old age pensioners found fake in Muktsar

Names of 13,410 of 52,782 beneficiaries deleted

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 19

Over 25 per cent people, who availed the benefit of old age pension scheme in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home district Muktsar, have been found fake and their names have been deleted from the list of beneficiaries.

Of the total 52,782 old age pensioners in the district, 13,410 have been deleted and 39,372 have been found genuine following re-verification of pensioners.

The information procured from a senior officer in the district administration revealed that the maximum number of fake beneficiaries was detected in the Gidderbaha block, where 5,849 people were found availing the benefit illegally. It was followed by 2,867 fake beneficiaries in the Lambi block, 2,466 in Malout block and 2,228 in the Muktsar block.

Sources say the reason behind such a large number of fake beneficiaries was the result of political pressure. The number of deleted beneficiaries included those not fulfilling the age criteria, absent or dead.

The verification process of pensioners had started in December last year. The task of verification and re-verification of beneficiaries had been given to the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) who had further assigned it to the tehsildars and other officials.

The total number of genuine beneficiaries after the re-verification process is 39,372 in Muktsar district. It included 17,178 in Malout and Lambi blocks, 14,113 in the Muktsar block and 8,081 in the Gidderbaha block.

Genuine beneficiaries are awaiting pension since September last. Naresh Kumar, District Social Security Officer, Muktsar, said, “The re-verification process has completed and above 13,000 pensioners are found ineligible. Their names have been deleted from the list of beneficiaries now.”

“Further, the department will release the pension amount of four months - September to December - within a week,” added Kumar.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Cameras installed at police stations in Muktsar defunct

Cameras installed at police stations defunct

Fails to serve purpose

• A recent visit to the Sadar Muktsar police station revealed that not even a single camera installed there was functioning.
• The Station House Officer admitted the fact that the cameras had gone out of order.

"I am unaware whether cameras have been installed at the police stations. If the cameras are installed and not working, it will be repaired within a short period," says Kuldeep Chahal, SSP, Muktsar.

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 20

Though the Muktsar police today claimed to have solved the Muktsar bus molestation case with the help of CCTV cameras installed on the outskirts of the town, it is totally unaware about the status of cameras installed at the police stations.

Notably, a number of cameras were installed at various police stations a few years ago. However, a majority of them were not working since long and the purpose behind their installation was getting defeated.

A recent visit to the Sadar Muktsar police station revealed that not even a single camera installed there was functioning. Even the Station House Officer (SHO) admitted the fact that the cameras had gone out of order.

Talking to The Tribune, a senior police officer said the cameras were installed at the police stations with not just the aim of keeping an eye over the movement of people visiting there but also to record the activities of the police.

Muktsar SSP Kuldeep Chahal said, “I am unaware whether cameras have been installed at the police stations. If the cameras are installed and not working, it will be repaired within a short period.”

Bus molestation case lodged at behest of student leader, say police

Claim complaint linked to Faridkot bus damage case; victims cry foul

‘Chinks’ in police theory

• The bus number mentioned by the complainants in the FIR does not match with the bus shown in the video
• The CCTV footage shows a girl and her father got off the bus at Kotkapura bypass at 12.24 pm while the footage of the suvidha centre shows the time as 12.40 pm
• On the other hand, the victim got the receipt of her Aadhaar card enrolment application at 12.10 pm

Archit WattsTribune News ServiceMuktsar, May 20

The district police today gave a clean chit to the bus conductor of New Deep Transport in a molestation case.

The police have initiated the process to cancel the FIR lodged against him for allegedly molesting and forcing two minor sisters of Kotli Sanghar village to get off the bus on May 13.

The police linked the case with the incident of vandalising of a bus by some students in Faridkot a few days ago. They claimed activists of the Punjab Student Union had concocted this story by lodging a false police complaint to put pressure on New Deep Transport owner to withdraw the Faridkot case.

Addressing the media today, Kuldeep Chahal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar, said: “During the investigation, it has been found that Gagan Sangrami, a leader of the Punjab Student Union, had concocted the story to put pressure on New Deep Transport owner to withdraw the Faridkot case.”

The SSP played a CCTV footage that showed that a girl wearing a red suit along with a man had got off the bus (PB-30 E 9948) at the Kotkapura bypass. Another CCTV footage of cameras installed at the district suvidha centre was played, which also showed that the girl along with a man had gone there.

The SSP said: “The man seen with the girl has been identified as her father Jasvir Singh. The complainants changed their statements a number of times. Earlier, they had stated that both sisters had gone to Muktsar. Then they claimed that the elder one went to the suvidha centre with her father.”

“Besides, a differently abled boy, Manpreet Singh, whose has been named in the complaint as eyewitness was not even present in Muktsar at that particular time. He had gone to Bathinda. We have tracked his cell phone location.”

---

SSP’s clarification

The complainant might have noted a wrong number. Further, the suvidha centre in charge has given in writing that the timing of CCTV cameras was running nearly 20-30 minutes in advance, which has been corrected now.

— Kuldeep Chahal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar

Free run for private buses in Muktsar; Not a single vehicle challaned in a year

Free run for private buses in Muktsar

Not a single vehicle challaned in a year

A passenger boards a private bus. File photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 18

It is no surprise that not a single private bus has been penalised for violating traffic rules in Muktsar in the last one year. Notably, only those buses were penalised which were plying without paying the motor vehicle tax. The number of such buses too was negligible. Sources in the Transport Department said the situation was almost same across the state.

Hardeep Singh, District Transport Officer, Muktsar, said: “We regularly issue challans to collect motor vehicle tax from bus operators, but I am not aware about the number of challans issued to private buses for other violations.” The sources said the large number of private buses plying in the district either belonged to the Badals or to their close aides.

STC seeks daily report

Following the Moga molestation incident, the State Transport Commission (STC) has swung into action and directed all DTOs to send a daily report on action taken to remove curtains and tinted glasses from buses. In Muktsar, curtains have been removed from a number of private buses in the past several days. Besides, the transporters have been told to remove tinted glasses or face strict action.

Directions to school buses

The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has issued a 10-point direction to the Transport Department to follow while permitting school buses to ferry students.

These instructions included that the driver must have the driving licence of the category of the vehicle he is driving, the presence of an attendant above 18 years of age, he must be matriculate and must have got first aid training and the vehicle must be equipped with fire extinguishers. Besides, the attendant has to assist students to cross the roads. In buses ferrying girls, the attendant must be a woman. The telephone numbers of the district transport office and the transport company must be displayed on the bus.

Training for conductors

The Transport Department is planning to impart gender sensitive training to all private bus conductors at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA), Chandigarh. The training, as being planned, would be of one day.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Muktsar molestation case: CCTV footage contradicts complainant’s version

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 16

The Muktsar molestation case took a new turn with the victims’ father and the bus owner and the police giving different statements.

While the complaint says two girls and a differently abled man got off from the bus on Wednesday afternoon, the bus owner claims none of them travelled in the bus and the police, after going through CCTV footage, claimed a girl and her father had alighted from the bus at the Kotkapura bypass.

Victims’ father, who filed the complaint, said: “My daughters had gone to Muktsar to get enrolled for Aadhaar cards on Wednesday. On their return journey to Kotli Sanghar village, the bus conductor first passed some casteist remarks and then molested them. When my daughters objected, he forced them to get off the bus. A differently abled boy from a neighbouring village also alighted from the bus. We even have two tickets of the bus.”

Bus owner and SAD leader Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon claimed: “The girls did not even travel in the bus. They have alleged that the conductor molested them in the moving bus in the presence of their father which is absurd. It is a plan to defame me and pressure me to withdraw case against some students who vandalised my bus in Faridkot.”

Kuldeep Chahal, SSP, Muktsar, who has examined the CCTV footage of a camera installed at the Kotkapura bypass, claimed: “We found that only a girl and her father got off the bus at 12.24 pm on Wednesday.”

We have sought the CCTV footage of a camera installed at the Suwidha Centre in Muktsar where the girls had gone. It will also help us in validating the complaint.”

The SSP said the driver and the conductor too belonged to the SC community, so the case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act could not be registered.

A case under Sections 354 and 506 of the IPC had been registered against the unnamed conductor at Sadar Muktsar police station, he said. The complainant alleged the incident took place around 2 pm, but the police claimed that the girl got off from the bus at 12.24 pm.

Courtesy: The Tribune

MUKTSAR MOLESTATION CASE: Bus owner and SAD Gidderbaha in charge takes on govt, wants case withdrawn

MUKTSAR MOLESTATION CASE

Transporters call off stir, but not before harrying commuters

Bus owner and SAD Gidderbaha in charge takes on govt, wants case withdrawn

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Previous ImageNeMuktsar, May 16

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, May 16 

Shiromani Akali Dal’s Gidderbaha constituency in charge Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, who is considered close to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, today questioned the functioning of district administration and the state government.

His outburst came in the wake of registration of a molestation case against the conductor of a bus belonging to his New Deep Transport company.

He alleged that the administration was working under pressure. In a major embarrassment to the SAD-led state government, Dimpy compared the law and order situation in Punjab with that of Bihar.

Addressing the protesting staff of private buses here today, Dimpy said: “The administration is working under pressure. The police have registered a case against the bus conductor at the behest of higher-ups. If the situation remains similar, the state may again witness a situation like 1980.”

Dimpy is a co-owner of New Deep Transport. The case has been registered against the conductor for allegedly molesting two minor Dalit sisters on Wednesday.

He said: “I too have worked as a driver and even a conductor. I have firsthand experience about their plight. They have told me that the buses will not be plied till the case registered against the conductor is withdrawn. I will stand by them. The staff of buses owned by the Badal family and all private transporters are supporting us.”

The Akali leader said: “We have lodged a peaceful protest today by taking our buses off the road. If the case is not withdrawn, we will block all main highways tomorrow. It will be a complete Punjab bandh and the people will have to bear the brunt.”

He blamed the media for “irresponsible” reporting and said: “The media should investigate how this incident was planned by some politicians.”

He indirectly linked Indian Youth Congress president and Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring with the incident, saying, “When the name of a Congress MLA is linked with drug peddlers, the official machinery first investigates the matter and then thinks about registering a case. But here, the case was registered without any investigation. The media should also question Warring why did he go to Faridkot to show sympathy with those who vandalised my bus.”

Life hit

Auto operators exploit passengers

Muktsar: Auto-rickshaw drivers and rickshaw-pullers reportedly charged three times more the regular fare from passengers, which added to their plight. The passengers were a harried lot. Rajni Bala, a commuter said: “I along with my kids have been waiting for the bus to travel to Malout to see my ailing mother, but not a single bus is plying. The situation is so tensed, but the police are rarely visible.”

Roadways staff seek security

Muktsar: Roadways employees resented the forcible stopping of their buses by private transporters. They first gathered at the bus stand and raised slogans against the alleged highhandedness of New Deep Transport staff. They blocked the Muktsar-Kotkapura road and demanded security so that they could ply their buses. Mehma Singh, president, Punjab Roadways Punbus Contractual Staff Union, said: “The administration is supporting the strike. We are asking them to give us security, but they are not ready to listen.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Badal buses in wrong lane, again; illegally using oil tanker as mobile fuel station

A fuel tanker of the transport company owned by the Badals stationed at the Malout bus stand. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, May 14

A transport company owned by the ruling Badal family allegedly continues to flout road safety norms.

The family-owned Dabwali Transport Company Private Limited (Bathinda) has stationed a fuel tanker at Malout Bus Stand to fill diesel in the company-owned buses. This practice has been reportedly going on since the past around six months.

As soon as any bus belonging to the company enters the bus stand, the tanker (PB03AF 9160), working as mobile fuel station, is put on the job. It is further fitted with a flashlight to give service during night hours.

Hardeep Singh, District Transport Officer, Muktsar, said, “If any oil tanker is doing something of this sort, it is against safety norms. Only filling stations are authorised to fill petrol or diesel in motor vehicles.”

When Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was questioned about the violation of rules by his buses on Monday at Gidderbaha, he left the venue without any comment.

Govt flouts RTE norms on teacher-student ratio

The issue

• The state Education Department has directed all district education officers to complete the rationalisation of teachers on the basis of 30:1 student-teacher ratio for primary classes, 40:1 for Classes VI to X and 50:1 for XI and XII
• The Right to Education, which is applicable from Classes I to VIII, states that the student-teacher ratio should be 30:1

Archit WattsTribune News Service

Muktsar, May 13

In utter violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the state Education Department has issued a circular (which is in possession of The Tribune) to all district education officers (DEOs) in the state to complete the process of rationalisation of teachers on the basis of student-teacher ratio of 30:1 for primary classes, 40:1 for Classes VI to X and 50:1 for XI and XII.

However, the RTE Act, which is applicable from class I to VIII, says that the student-teacher ratio has to be 30:1.

Talking to The Tribune, a number of teachers said the decision taken by the department was in violation of the Act and it would also affect the studies of students. “This step seems to have been taken to avoid doing the huge exercise of creating new posts and filling the vacant posts. If the rationalisation is done as per the RTE Act, a number of schools will be requiring more teachers,” said a government school teacher.

He said the information was submitted to the district education office after compiling the data on the basis of student-teacher ratio of 40:1 for Classes VI to VIII, but they were again told to compile the information on the basis of student-teacher ratio of 45:1 for Classes VI to VIII.

Devinder Kumar, District Education Officer (DEO), Muktsar, said, “Following the instructions, we have provided all the information regarding rationalisation of teachers to the higher-ups. Now, they have to look into the matter.”

Asked whether it was in violation of the RTE Act, the DEO said, “As per the RTE Act, the student teacher-ratio should be 30:1. It further gives relaxation of 10 per cent in student-teacher ratio. Beyond this, I can’t make any comment.”

When the rationalisation of teachers was done about two years ago, it was done on the basis of student-teacher ratio of 35:1.

PK Aggarwal, Director General of School Education (DGSE), Punjab, said, “I am not aware about the student-teacher ratio fixed for rationalisation of teachers.” He parried the query saying that the orders in this regard were passed by the DPI (Secondary) and he would be able to give any reply.

However, repeated attempts to contact Balbir Singh, DPI (Secondary), proved futile.

Staff course over, Orbit buses to hit road soon

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 5

Orbit buses owned by the ruling Badals, which were taken off road after the Moga molestation incident, may hit the road anytime now. The drivers of Orbit buses have reportedly completed their two-day refresher course at the State Institute of Automobile and Driving Skills (SIADS) at Mahuana village in Lambi assembly segment.

Jagsir Singh Dhaliwal, Vice-Principal, SIADS, said, “The refresher course is of great help to drivers. The institute was inaugurated in 2010 by CM Parkash Singh Badal and nearly 20,000 persons have got training here so far.” Earlier, there were reports that SIADS staff yesterday imparted training to Orbit staff at its private workshop in Bathinda yesterday. However, today their classes were held in the institute itself.

Repeated attempts to contact PR Anand, Principal, SIADS, proved futile.

Sources said while drivers had undertaken their course, conductors had also been told to complete their legal formalities and obtain licence of bus conductors.

They have also been told to wear uniforms with nametags, talk politely, minimise the use of cell phones while travelling and play religious sound tracks.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Youth Akali Dal (YAD) workers to get plastic ID cards from May 13

YAD to launch membership drive from May 13

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 4

The Youth Akali Dal (YAD), a youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), will launch a membership drive from Bathinda on May 13.

The drive, to be launched by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, is aimed at enrolling 15 lakh members. It will conclude on July 30.

As part of the drive, the YAD will handover membership identity cards to every enrolled individual at their doorstep. Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozy Barkandi’, YAD’s Malwa Zone 1 president, said, “The YAD has earlier enrolled over 11 lakh members. Now, we are targeting to take the tally to 28-30 lakh. The duties have been assigned to YAD activists and the registration fee per member will be Rs 10.”

Sunday Special: AGRICULTURE--A drain that’s the great grain purchase

Sunday Special: AGRICULTURE
Sanjeev Singh Bariana & Archit Watts

A drain that’s the great grain purchase

The world trade in wheat is more than for all other crops combined. That may sound heartening in a state that leads in the crop production, but for a majority of Punjab’s farmers, the sale process is an ordeal. All the more when a part of crop does not measure up to the quality standards because of the vagaries of weather

THE ECONOMICSOF FARMING

• Most of the farming in Punjab is done on a contract basis, at an estimated Rs 35,000 per acre. Most marginal farmers take loans. The average wheat yield this year in Fatehgarh Sahib, for example, has been 12 quintals per acre and since the purchase rate was fixed at Rs 1,450 by the government, it comes to Rs 17,400 per acre. Farmers also sell 40 quintals of stubble per acre for around Rs 12,000. This adds up to Rs 29,400, still a net loss of close to Rs 6,000.
• The average wheat yield, again in Fatehgarh Sahib, has decreased by 25-30% due to the unprecedented rain in March and April. The maximum yield is 14-15 quintals against 22 quintals per acre last year. In some pockets,it has gone down to 7 quintals.
• Inclement weather affected the grain and farmers had to spray the fields thrice to save the crop from diseases. The extra expenditure came to Rs 1,500 per acre. If the crop damage is up to 25%, the farmer gets nothing. If it falls in the 26-50% and 51-75% categories, the government pays compensation in varying degrees. A farmer suffering damage within the 76-100% category is paid Rs 8,000 per acre: Rs 5,400 by the Centre and state chipping in with Rs 2,600.
• There is no scientific method or procedure toknow how much percentage of crop has been ravaged. It is a hit and trial method that is adopted by the Patwaris. For an average farmer, therefore, the loss suffered is not covered, forget about profits.— Sanjay Bumbroo

So real is the long-debated crisis in Punjab’s farms that it took the Indian state’s meek and casual response after the untimely rainfall to bring home what seemed implausible. Farming alone won’t do it for farmers. Not this kind of farming certainly.

The economics doesn’t add up for most farmers, the government involvement in the great grain purchase is flawed though very necessary, and the damage assessment systems are anything but right.

Farmers are well versed with the  weather acting up. It’s what happens after and how removed from reality the policymakers are that’s adding to the distress. Diversification is often listed as a solution, but in absence of any marketing push or minimum price help, few are willing to opt for it. So, the choices before the farmer are limited and the decision has to be his. He can either grow the same crop, sow a new one and spend agonising months hoping it doesn’t end up in a mess, sell a part of the land, or make sure that the young members of the family join another profession. 

As a result of the downpour prior to and during harvesting this Rabi season, the per acre yield has decreased by between 25 and 40 per cent in different parts of the state. The Agriculture Director puts the figure at 10 per cent. The rates of compensation have been worked out, but the Punjab government is unclear whether the enhanced compensation is to be given to farmers who suffered loss due to heavy rainfall or only hail.

Bathinda farmer Malkit Singh Leela exemplifies the frustration. A man of few words, the Bhagivandar village resident spent four days waiting at the mandi for his wheat crop to be picked up. His resolve at the end of it was not to grow wheat in future more than the quantity required for his family. When arhtiya Rajender Singh asked half in jest about how Leela intended to pay off the credits, the answer silenced those present: “How does it matter? I could not pay off my debt after growing crops in 16-17 acres for 24 years.”

Procedural wrangles are not new during procurement. This season, the damage caused to the crop and the resultant delay and confusion over buying of wheat created a new problem.

Caught in the blame game, labourers say they are not being paid the “daala” (special fee for loading), truckers say there’s no unloading from vehicles, the arhtiyas are livid at the government for not giving any money, and the farmers? For all the activists protesting and political parties taking potshots at each other for their cause, they are on their own.

For several days after the procurement began, they did not get the payment.

Arhtiya Ram Parkash says the preparation for procurement is a huge exercise, but there was none this year considering the shortage of “bardana” (sacks) or adequate arrangements for labour.

Avtar Singh Manuana, who heads the Talwandi Truck Union, claims there’s been no problem with the loading or lifting of wheat. “There is only a major problem with off-loading because of the acute shortage of labour. So, trucks cannot rush back to get fresh wheat from mandis. This is happening at different places all over the state.”

Vinod Kumar, a labour contractor,  attributes it to a delay in tenders and the new cartage policy. Boota Singh from Behman Kaur village in Talwandi Sabo says “the bad experience this year is just a forewarning for tougher times ahead in context of reports of the Food Corporation of India not lifting wheat crop next season onwards”.

The other reality

Crop damage or no, the spectacle of tonnes of wheat rotting in the open is going to be repeated, as nearly half of this year’s produce would be again stacked in the open godowns. Bhupinderpal Singh, Joint Director (Storage), Department of Food and Civil Supplies, says nearly 40 lakh MT wheat is expected to be stacked in open godowns, and the same volume in covered godowns. The rest would be directly supplied to FCI and other states.

In Muktsar district, Punjab Agro, Punsup and Pungrain have no covered godowns for storage. Nearly 4 lakh bags stacked in the open godowns hired by Punsup have decayed in the recent past. This season, the Punjab government has fixed a target to buy 125 lakh metric tonnes of wheat from all the grain markets. Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup and FCI have got their share of 20 per cent each of the total stock, while Punjab Warehouse has to purchase 11 per cent wheat and Punjab Agro 9 per cent of the total stock. As per a circular of the state government, fresh wheat would not be stacked where the decayed wheat was lying in the godowns. The total carry-over stock of wheat in state is nearly 61 lakh MT. “About 30 lakh MT wheat is stacked in open godowns and 30 lakh in covered godowns in state of 2014-15. Besides, 1 lakh MT of wheat is lying of 2013-14,” says Kumar Rahul, General Manager, FCI, Punjab.

Fatehgarh Sahib District Agriculture Development Officer Dr Satish Kumar says the major problem for the farmers in the next Rabi season would be procuring seeds as the quality of seed was not up to the mark this season. 

Just two silos in Punjab

The state has just two grain silos — state-of-the-art foolproof temperature-controlled storage system for grains — in Moga district and another in Amritsar. Recently, the Adani Group has approached the state government showing interest to construct silos at several locations.

Damage, reluctance, loss

• Most procurement agencies have been reluctant to make purchases because of the crop quality — the grain is shrivelled, lacks lustre, or has black streaks.
• The Agriculture Department last year targeted wheat sowing in 35.12 lakh hectares, resulting in production of 176.2 lakh metric tonnes. This year, the target was 34.7 lakh hectares and production of 165.69 MT. “Since it rained at the time of pollination, the grain size has remained smaller and the output per acre is likely to remain low by 10 per cent,” says Director Agriculture Dr Mangal Singh Sandhu.
• Areas that get quickly waterlogged like Muktsar, Fazilka, Faridkot, Moga, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Jalandhar have faced more damage. In Jalandhar, the most affected farmers are from Shahkot, Lohian, Nurmahal and Phillaur.
• As hail partly flattened the crop, mechanised harvesting was not possible. It added to the production cost as farmers had to deploy labour for harvesting, which cost them Rs 2,000 an acre, much higher than hiring a combine at Rs 1,200 per acre.
• Mahinder Singh, a farmer from Lidran in Jalandhar, says in mandis, labourers have been asking for Rs 5.38 per 50 kg of gunny bag — unloading, drying and filling of sacks. “We have been big losers this time,” he adds. — Deepkamal Kaur

THE REASON PROCURED WHEAT IS NOT MOVING OUT OF PUNJAB’S MANDIS TO GODOWNS THIS SEASON

• The slow movement of procured wheat to godowns has left almost all mandis bursting at the seams. It is being attributed to the new labour (cartage) and transportation policy.
• The food and supply department used to engage private labour and cartage contractors for lifting, transportation and unloading of wheat from mandis to godowns on a lumpsum rate.
• This time, the loading of wheat was assigned to commission agents at Rs 1.53 per quintal. The transportation and unloading work was allotted to private labour contractors, a move strongly opposed by the labour and cartage contractors.
• Every mandi was linked to the nearest godown for storage of procured wheat and transportation rates were fixed on the basis of distance.
• For up to 3 km, a labour contractor is to be paid Rs 2.31 per bag (50-kg each). For 3-5 km, the rate is Rs 3.27 per bag, while for 5-8 km, it is Rs 4.27 and for 8-12 km, Rs 5.76. The rate is Rs 6.88 per bag for 12-16 km distance as transportation and unloading charges.
• The new policy left the transporters fuming and they announced a strike.
• On March 18, the government asked for allotment of transportation work before March 31 but tenders were floated in the first week of April as the department was busy mapping the distance.
• Though the wheat procurement in mandis was in full swing in the third week of April, wheat lifting was yet to start because of the transporters’ strike and delayed allotment of transport work.
• Wheat was to be shifted to godowns within 72 hours failing which the contractor was to pay Rs 250 per truck per day. But there was no lifting till April 25 in most mandis.
• Once the lifting started, in many mandis, the transporters were forcing commission agents and farmers to pay them Rs 2 extra per bag to shift their stock to godowns as the rate fixed by the government was “too low”. About 30% of the procured wheat has been shifted to godowns so far. — Balwant Garg

Here’s why crop damage assessment is flawed

Ravi Dhaliwal

The assessment of damaged crop or “girdawari” system is not only archaic but totally flawed, say experts. The person upon whom rests the entire responsibility is the Patwari, the lowest-rung revenue official. On paper, he is required to physically assess the loss. Actually, if he does visit the village at all, he gets hold of the sarpanch and both assess the losses. Otherwise, the sarpanch goes to him and both settle the case.

The Patwari, as per rules, has to forward his recommendations to the Circle Revenue Officer (Kanungo), who reports to the Naib Tehsildar or Tehsildar. The Tehsildar forwards the report to the SDM, who finally sends it to the DC. Seldom are the Patwari’s recommendations changed. Political allegiance plays a role too. Farmers in Gurdaspur allege that if the sarpanch owes allegiance to Akali Dal, the Patwari is asked to wrongly gauge the loss suffered by those loyal to the Congress.

Assessment of the crop damage is an archaic method.

Take the example of Dugri. A Tehsildar sent for assessment on the explicit orders of the Deputy Commissioner to the village — where farmers suffered near total crop damage — had a 2-minute look at a waterlogged tract, and left, even as scores of farmers kept waiting to list their losses.

In this border district, each Patwari was given an area of 2,000 acres to assess in three days, which is next to impossible.

Officials, in the absence of clear directives from the state government, are also hard-pressed in deciding the final compensation. “There is absolutely no procedure to know how much percentage of crop has been ravaged. There is just no scientific method to measure the loss. It is just a hit and trial method that is adopted by the Patwaris and that too is clouded by political machinations,” says an Agriculture Development Officer.

THINGS COULD CHANGE IF…

The Patwari is accompanied by at least two officials of the Agriculture Department to every village. Since there is no scientific equipment available to gauge the loss, the officials should assess the damage by physically visiting the fields.

The Patwari should be asked to take out the Jamabandi numbers of the land on which the crop has been damaged, as identified by the official, which should be forwarded to senior officers

This method will ensure that the Patwaris’ role is under scanner and his bargaining powers will be curbed since farmers often bribe Patwaris to make sure their damage, and consequently compensation, is “maximised”.

The other remedy, touted by Agriculture Department officials, is to form village-level committees, comprising village elders, which should accompany the Patwari to the tracts of land where crop stands damaged. “In this way, the Patwari will not be weighed down by political compulsions as members of the village-level committees can be drawn from two or more political parties,” avers LS Hundal, Chief Agriculture Officer.

Courtesy: The Tribune
Dated: May 3, 2015

Orbit Bus Molstation Case: Complaints flood Sukhbir’s Fb page

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 2

The Facebook page of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who reportedly owns the Orbit bus company, is flooded with the complaints against his employees.

Sukhbir’s Friday’s post, saying “deeply anguished, assuring that no one found guilty would be allowed to escape justice…” does not seem to have gone down well with his followers.

A large number of people have given him feedback against the “autocratic” and “ill-behaviour” of conductors and drivers of Orbit buses. Some of them going further have even advised him how to tame his staff.

Pawan Choudhary, a Facebook user, posted: “Sir, I am from Rajasthan. Last month, I visited Punjab. I observed that your transport staff do not have etiquettes. They are always ready to quarrel with public..... this is really bad....”

Devinder Pal Singh wrote: “Sir, conductors and drivers in your buses are arrogant. They don’t even spare senior citizens. They never follow traffic rules, break queues at railway crossings and drive rashly. Whenever we see Orbit buses coming, we give them way. Sir, please do something….” Gajinder Singh posted: “Orbit staff are often seen misbehaving and using the names of VVIPs like they themselves are ministers. The staff is seen misbehaving with the police officials also.”

Besides, there are a few people who have even defended Sukhbir by writing that it was the fault of his staff and he should not be blamed. However, Sukhbir was yet to reply to any of their posts, either individually or jointly.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Encroacher of Milkfed land may go scot-free

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 3

Despite knowing that around 10.5-acre agricultural land of Milkfed at Kolianwali village in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Lambi Assembly segment is being allegedly cultivated for the past about seven years by some influential person without obtaining any permission, neither the Milkfed authorities nor the state Vigilance Bureau have initiated any action against the encroacher so far.

The matter was highlighted by The Tribune on April 27, but the authorities concerned continue to remain mute spectators.

The issue came to light when Milkfed announced to hold an on-the-spot auction to lease out that land on April 24.

However, the authorities suspended the auction at the last moment without giving any reason.

Rupinder Sekhon, General Manager, Milkfed, Bathinda, said, “The auction to lease out that land will now be held on May 12. I can’t comment any further on the issue.”

Manjit Singh Brar, Managing Director, Milkfed, said, “We are looking into the matter through an internal probe.”

Sources in the Vigilance Bureau said they were yet to start a probe in that regard. “The issue has come to our notice, but we are yet to get approval from the higher authorities to probe the matter,” said Makhan Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Vigilance, Muktsar.