PADDY SOWING SEASON

Irrigation staff told not to leave place of posting till Sept-end

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 30

Facing flak from all corners over the shortage of canal water in the paddy sowing season, the Irrigation Department has directed all Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers not to leave their place of posting till September-end.

A letter, a copy of which is with The Tribune, issued by Satish Kumar, Under Secretary (Irrigation), reads, “It is learnt that officers deputed in field offices come to Chandigarh on weekends and other gazetted holidays, leaving their allotted station. Besides, they also visit the headquarters in Chandigarh on working days. Due to this, the irrigation works and anti-flood activities are getting affected. Thus, it is directed that before leaving the station, officials take approval of the Secretary (Irrigation).”

Notably, farmers have been lodging protests over the shortage of water in canals due to which their fields were turning dry.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Job scam: VB hunts for Gidderbaha man

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 28

A day after the arrest of Malout Akali councillor Sham Lal Gupta alias Daddi in the recruitment scam, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) is on the lookout for another resident of Muktsar district.

The man (whose name has been withheld by the police) belongs to Daula village (Gidderbaha). He is an alleged conduit of Manjit Singh, alias Bittu, an Akali sarpanch of Kothe Chet Singh Wala village in Bathinda district, who is also evading arrest.

Sources said Daddi had admitted that he, along with Amit Sagar (SDO in the Water Supply and Sanitation Department), got Rs 15-30 lakh each from nine persons to get them recruited in various departments.

These persons are: Gaurav Sharma of Sangrur, Sunit Jindal of Dabwali (son of Daddi’s maternal aunt), Khushwant of Abohar, Ajay Sharma, Gaurav Bansal of Bathinda, Gursewak of Bathinda, Dilpreet of Malout, Happy Gupta of Malout and Sandeep of Mansa.

Courtesy: The Tribune

SSP in VVIP mode

SSP in VVIP mode

Muktsar: In the Badals’ home district, it’s not only the politicians who enjoy VVIP status. Whenever SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill travels in his official Innova along with an escort Gypsy, the traffic cops at the Kotkapura chowk here use barricades to ‘clear the way’ for the officer. The chowk is located en route the SSP’s office and residence. Recently, when the traffic cops asked the commuters to stop, they were heard saying, “An officer should not forget that he is a public servant.”

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

State to ensure water at canal tail-end in Fazilka, Abohar

Work begins to refill track between Rajasthan canal and Sirhind feeder

‘Linking canals sans permission illegal’

• The present situation has arisen after the state government failed to clean and de-silt the Sirhind feeder in April this year
• Raj Kumar Chaudhary, CE (North), Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP), said, “The preparation to link both canals without getting permission from the Rajasthan government is illegal.”Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 26

The Punjab government has now started making efforts to supply water at tail end of canals in Abohar, Fazilka areas without taking any help from Rajasthan.

The neighouring state had refused Punjab’s proposal to divert water from Rajasthan canal to Sirhind feeder by reopening a diversion near Bhullar village.

The Punjab Government has even started the work to refill the track, which was dug up to link both canals.

Meanwhile, the CM has now sent Secretary (Irrigation), KS Pannu, to the Harike barrage to take all possible steps to make water available at the tail end of canals in Abohar and Fazilka areas.

Pannu said, “I am at Harike barrage and looking at all options to ensure water to the farmers.”

RK Gupta, Executive Engineer, Irrigation, Muktsar, said, “The water supply has been increased in Sirhind Feeder from Harike barrage. A number of machines have been installed at the barrage to increase the water carrying capacity of this canal. As a result, the present supply of water at RD 156 in Faridkot has touched 3,600 cusecs. Apart from two-three canals, the water supply in all others is normal.”

“The CM has also assured the Rajasthan government that we won’t use a single drop of water from Rajasthan feeder. We will also refill the channel that was dug up to link Rajasthan feeder with Sirhind Feeder,” he added.

The present situation has arisen after the state government failed to clean and de-silt the Sirhind feeder in April this year.

Raj Kumar Chaudhary, CE (North), Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP), said, “The preparation to link both canals without getting permission from the Rajasthan government is illegal. We are camping here until the state refills the channel.”

Irrigation experts are of the view that both the canals have huge water carrying capacity and if there was any breach in the channel it would be hard to plug and a large number of villages will be flooded.

Meanwhile, Pannu yesterday met RK Chaudhary at Harike barrage. The latter was shown the bad condition of headworks, including the gates, and was requested to release their share of Rs 39 crore for repair and desilting Harike headworks and canals emanating from there.

Pannu said Punjab had already released its share of Rs 17 crore for the works.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Millers oppose misuse of basmati tag in Rajasthan

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 26

Seeking a ban on the illegal use of ‘basmati’ by rice millers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the Punjab Basmati Rice Millers’ Association has lodged a complaint to the Assistant Registrar of Trademarks and Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai.

They have further appealed the authorities concerned to investigate and verify the records of exporters who buy this rice.

The affected rice millers of the state had last month complained to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) saying that the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) had not given the geographical indication (GI) tag to basmati in these states.

The APEDA had, however, asked the millers to pursue their case with the Trademarks and Geographical Indication Registry.

Notably, the rice millers here are in a fix over falling prices of basmati and have suffered huge losses in the past.

Ashish Kathuria, general secretary of the association, said, “The IPAB has given the GI tag to basmati in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, western UP, Uttarakhand and two districts of J and Kashmir. MP and Rajasthan do not have the GI recognition for basmati.

Nevertheless, rice millers in these states are using GI of basmati on their bills, letter heads, websites, advertisements, web advertisements and SH code in the international market,” he added.

“Almost every merchant and retailer is selling the products of rice manufactured by the millers of Rajasthan and MP mentioning the basmati GI tag. This is clear case of infringement of registered GI,” he pointed out.

The association has even attached a list of some rice millers, sellers and exporters who are allegedly violating the norms. “With this illegal use of the GI tag, the millers and farmers of Punjab and Haryana have suffered an estimated loss of Rs 2,500 crore which should be levied on these culprits,” he said.

Geographical Indication tag

The geographical indication (GI) is a sign that identifies a product as originating from a particular place which gives that product a special quality or reputation or other characteristic, like Darjeeling (tea).

Courtesy: The Tribune

R’sthan officials thwart Punjab’s bid to ‘divert’ water

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 24

A fresh controversy over water has erupted between Punjab and Rajasthan even when the river water dispute between Punjab and Haryana is yet to settle.

Both the states have even held CM-level talks on the issue concerning the farmers of both sides, but a row has begun over the diversion of water from the Rajasthan Feeder canal, also known as Indira Gandhi canal, that traverses Punjab and irrigates most parts of Rajasthan.

The Punjab Government — in an attempt to provide water for irrigational purposes to farmers of Muktsar, Fazilka and Abohar areas — had recently tried to create a diversion from Rajasthan Feeder canal to Sirhind Feeder canal near Bhullar village here.

However, alert officials of the Rajasthan Government came to know about this development, reached the spot and forced Punjab officials to stop the work.

They said that Irrigation Department officials of Punjab had not even waited to get the nod of the Rajasthan Government. As a result, a team of officials of Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP), Rajasthan, comprising Chief Engineer (North), Additional Chief Engineer (Regulation) and a Superintending Engineer are camping here to monitor the situation.

Vinod Mittal, Additional Chief Engineer (Regulation), IGNP, Rajasthan, said, “Farmers in Rajasthan are facing acute shortage of water, but the Punjab Government tried to create a diversion in Rajasthan Feeder canal to supply water to its farmers through the Sirhind Feeder canal. This is an illegal way of diverting water. Even if the Punjab Government is facing water shortage, they should have waited for correspondence of the Rajasthan Government.”

He said, “The Punjab Government had created a diversion at the same spot in 2010 as well and that too without obtaining any permission. So this time, we reached here on time. We will stay here until the track between the two canals is refilled. The water supply in Rajasthan Feeder canal presently is 8,945 cusecs, which is much below its capacity.”

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Government officials held a meeting with their Punjab counterparts today, wherein they decided to refill the land excavated for the diversion of water.

On the other hand, RK Gupta, Executive Engineer, Irrigation, Muktsar, said, “Our Secretary (Irrigation) KS Pannu is very serious about the problems being faced by the farmers at the tail end of the water channels. He had even written a letter to his counterpart in Rajasthan about the diversion in Rajasthan Feeder canal and that too only after increasing the water supply from Harike barrage. There is nothing illegal in it. The situation had arisen because the Sirhind Feeder canal could not be de-silted this season and has less water-carrying capacity.

“Presently, we have stopped the work of creating diversion from Rajasthan Feeder canal. It will be resumed only after getting permission from the Rajasthan Government. Rajasthan will continue getting its assured share of water and they will not have to face any problem,” said Gupta.

Till the filing of this report, the refilling work on the excavated land had not started.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Despite raid, hooch trade continues at Lambi village

Illegal distilleries operational near water channel

• A day after a raid was conducted at Kattianwali village in Lambi, illegal distilleries were still found operational along a water channel there on Friday. Notably, when a person goes to this particular location, he can smell the liquor brewing. However, the police in the last one year have failed to arrest even a single person involved in this illegal activity.

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, June 24

Despite a massive raid conducted by the Excise Department sleuths and the police at Kattianwali village in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home constituency Lambi yesterday, the bootleggers continue to prepare illegal liquor.

During a visit by a team of reporters today, the illegal distilleries were found running along a water channel in the village. Taking the benefit of the wild growth in the area, those preparing the hooch, however, managed to escape.

Notably, when a person goes to this particular location, he can smell the liquor brewing there. However, the police in the last one year have failed to arrest even a single person involved in this illegal activity, which has caused huge losses to the liquor vends situated in the neighbouring area.

This village is allegedly known as the “illegal liquor den”.

However, repeated attempts to contact Indermohan Singh, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC), Muktsar, and Inderjit Singh, Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO), Muktsar, proved futile.

Gursewak Singh, SHO, Kabarwala police station, said, “We keep on conducting raids at the location and will go there again tomorrow morning to keep a check on this illegal activity. The people involved in this trade are many and have criminal backgrounds.”

The Congress leaders have many times accused the SAD leaders of this area of running this illegal trade and demanded strict action. Further, a senior Congress leader of Lambi had even publicly named a senior SAD leader of running this trade during the Congress’ June 18 protest at Lambi.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Kattianwali in Lambi turns into ‘illegal liquor den’

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi, June 23

Kattianwali village in CM Parkash Singh Badal’s constituency Lambi seems to have earned the notoriety of an illicit liquor den.

A huge quantity of material being processed to prepare hooch was seized from along a drain during a raid by the police and excise officials.

As many as 100 officials and police men today conducted a joint raid for over three hours and found 15 drums of hooch buried under the soil. Besides, some tarpaulin sheets, pipes and other material being used to brew hooch were also seized. However, no one could be arrested as those involved in this illegal activity managed to flee before the arrival of the raiding party.

Muktsar ETO Inderjit Singh said, “Some liquor contractors had lodged a complaint to the high- ups that hooch was being prepared on a large scale in this village. A raid was conducted and a large quantity of material being used to prepare hooch was seized and 15 drums of hooch were destroyed. However, none could be arrested.”

“There are seven liquor vends in the Kabarwala area but not even a single is able to pay the fee to the department. The liquor contractors always complain that the sale of illegal liquor had affected their business.”

This was the fourth such raid in less than a year’s time at this particular location and every time the bootleggers managed to escape.

On September 17 last year, eight tarpaulin sheets containing material to brew hooch and seven drums containing the same material were recovered. On August 5 last year, about 35 tarpaulin sheets having material used to brew hooch and seven drums were recovered. On July 10 last year, about 100 tarpaulin sheets having the material to brew hooch and a large number of drums were recovered.

The Congress leaders of this area have accused the SAD leaders of protecting the bootleggers. “This constituency has turned into a den of illicit liquor. The raids are conducted merely for eyewash. How is it that raw material is recovered and the bootleggers manage to flee every time? Those involved in this trade enjoy the patronage of the SAD leaders of the area,” said Jagpal Singh Abul Khurana, a senior Congress leader.

Area SHO not in raiding team

Station House Officer Gursewak Singh, Kabarwala police station, was not informed about this operation and the team was constituted by Muktsar SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill

How the recovery was made

Excise sleuths and cops cordoned the area around 7 am. They carrying a sharp edged implement and kept checking the earth to find the raw material being processed to prepare hooch

Courtesy: The Tribune

PAU submits report on clearing weeds

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 23

The scientists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, have submitted a detailed study report to the Irrigation Department on measures to deal with aquatic weeds in drains and water bodies in the state.

If implemented, the alternate ways would save a lot of money and time for this annual task. Cleaning of drains is otherwise a gigantic task costing crores. The removal of weeds is possible with the help of herbicides, which do not cause harm to fishes or aquatic environment.

A senior official of the department said that they had paid nearly Rs 22 lakh to the varsity for a one-year study conducted from April, 2015 to March, 2016 under the leadership of principal investigator Dr Makhan Singh Bhullar, senior agronomist, PAU.

Gurdial Singh, SE (Drainage), Gidderbaha, said, “We have got the report. If the suggestions are implemented, it can save a huge sum of money spent every year. Herbicides, which are presently not being used because of their perceived ill-effects could be used in the future as the report says that if a particular brand is used in a particular amount then it does not harm aquatic life”.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Malout farmer, officials differ on whitefly attack

The cotton field of farmer Jasmel Singh at Alamwala village in Muktsar, which he has prepared to sow paddy. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, June 22

A farmer of Alamwala village in Lambi, Jasmel Singh, has claimed to have uprooted cotton crop on his four acres due to “whitefly attack”.

He told The Tribune today that he had sown BT cotton crop on eight acres, which he had even informed the officials of the Agriculture Department. However, due to the whitefly attack he has now uprooted his growing crop on four acres.

“The cotton crop was hit by whitefly. The growing leaves were damaged by 25 per cent. I had spent Rs 3,500 per acre and now I will sow paddy in the field. Even last year, I had sown paddy as whitefly had caused massive damage to the growing cotton crop sown on entire eight acres,” claimed Jasmel.

He, however, said his remaining cotton crop on four acres was safe. “Officials of the Agriculture Department visited my fields today,” said Jasmel.

Hassan Singh, Assistant Plant Protection Officer (APPO), Malout, said, “I visited the fields of Jasmel Singh and did not see any sign of whitefly attack. Even Jasmel’s father told us that they doubted that mealy bug could have damaged their cotton crop. They have uprooted the cotton crop on their four acres and prepared it to sow paddy.”

He added, “There is no whitefly attack on cotton crop anywhere in the district.”

Meanwhile, another officer in the Agriculture Department said the farmers were uprooting cotton crop just because they have got new tubewell connections and now they were opting to grow paddy.

However, Jasmel contested this claim saying that he had not got the tubewell connection.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Farmers unhappy with de-weeding work

Wild growth along the Muktsar-Bathinda highway. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 21

Despite huge losses due to whitefly attack on cotton crop last year, the district administration seems to have turned a blind eye towards weeds and wild growth along the roadsides and in agricultural fields.

Though a campaign was launched this season, a visit to the Muktsar-Bathinda road today revealed that the picture is almost the same as was last year. The wild growth was visible on the roadside, which usually become host to whitefly.

Farmers of Bhullar village alleged that though the de-weeding work was done some time ago, it was half-heartedly done.

“All wild growth should be cleaned so that there is no risk of whitefly attack on the cotton crop. We are already under debt. Can’t afford to suffer another loss,” said farmers.

Dr Beant Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, claimed, “We have cleaned the weeds along the roadsides and the exercise is set to begin soon for the second time. Further, the experts are holding a meeting at Abohar tomorrow to discuss whether this exercise should continue or stopped from the next season.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

No room to rest at rest house

No room to rest at rest house

Muktsar: Officers of the Irrigation Department recently asked Secretary (Irrigation) KS Pannu to sanction a new rest house in Muktsar district. They told him that there was a rest house in Muktsar and another at Gidderbaha, but "whenever we need rooms, these are occupied by the security men accompanying the Chief Minister." They claimed that even the Chief Engineer (Drainage) once failed to get a room. However, Pannu quipped, "If you are unable to get a room in the two rest houses established by the department, how can you expect that they will leave rooms vacant for you in the new one?" This was enough to leave the officers dumbstruck.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Pumped up to inflate figures

Pumped up to inflate figures

Muktsar: In the run-up to the Assembly elections, hyperbole is the name of the game. Addressing a gathering at Lambi village on Saturday, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh claimed that 10,000 people were attending the Congress dharna. However, when the party issued a press release in the evening, it said: “Over 50,000 people attended the dharna against corruption in Lambi.” Now, who got it right?

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Cong takes job scam cry to CM’s doorste

Cong takes job scam cry to CM’s doorstep

Sidelights

• Senior Congress leaders such as Ambika Soni, Partap Singh Bajwa and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, whose pictures were displayed on the hoarding installed on the stage, were conspicuous by their absence. Maheshinder Singh Badal, estranged cousin of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, also stayed away.
• Throughout the day, SAD chief and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal remained present at his Badal village residence. Amarinder had initially announced to hold the protest at Badal village, but later changed the venue to Lambi.
• Pickpockets had a field day during the protest. Malout Congress leader Shubdeep Singh ‘Bittu’ lost his wallet and a reporter lost his cell phone.

PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh (centre) with party leaders during a protest against the recruitment scam at Lambi in Muktsar district on Saturday. Tribune photo: Pawan sharma

Sanjeev Singh Bariana & Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, June 18

Alleging the involvement of Akali leader Dyal Singh Kolianwali in the recruitment scam, PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh today said he (Kolianwali) would go to jail on the first day the Congress took over the government.

“He is a the front man of CM Parkash Singh Badal in the recruitment scam. Badal, too, shall pay for it,” Amarinder said while talking to the media after a dharna at the CM’s Lambi Assembly segment today.

“The candidates who paid money to get selected were being nabbed. They are not the real culprits. The culprits charged Rs15 lakh for recruitment in the police and Rs50 lakh as SDOs in the Department of Rural Development. There are big names involved,” he pointed out.

“We had a clean Punjab Public Service Commission. When Ravi Sidhu was found to be indulging in corruption, we put him behind bars. Now, the recruitments were being done by departments directly after charging money,” he said.

Manpreet Badal named Tejinder Middukhera and Satinder Singh Manta, as the front men of Badal who were allegedly doling out jobs in return for money. “Ask anyone in the entire area to know the truth” he said.

If voted to power, the Congress government would give 300 units of power free, would give Rs51,000 in shagun to girls at the time of marriage and enhance the old age and widow pension to Rs2,000 per month. The recruitment age limit would also be increased from 38 years to 42 years, he added.

Indian Youth Congress president Raja Warring said, “Koilanwali was a milk vendor. Today, he has a house on five acres, more than the land he owned a few years ago. He is just the front man. The real culprits are behind the scenes,” he alleged.

Former CLP leader Sunil Jakhar said, “People need to understand that they must come and vote out this government which promotes ‘goondaism’ and in which common people were booked in false cases by the police, particularly Congressmen.”

Others who spoke on the occasion included PPCC senior vice- president Lal Singh, MLA Kuljit Nagra, Khushbaz Singh Jattana and Gurmeet Khudian.

Courtesy: The Tribune

CM slams Rahul for ‘defaming’ state

CM slams Rahul for ‘defaming’ 

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan at a village in Malout on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 14

A day after AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi-led the Congress protest in Jalandhar against the “deteriorating” law and order situation and drug menace, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the Gandhi scion was carrying forward his family’s legacy of being “anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh”.

The CM today resumed his Sangat Darshan from Malout after a gap of four days following a brief illness.

He alleged: “The entire Gandhi family has treated the Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular as their enemies. No Punjabi can ever forgive the Congress for attacking Darbar Sahib and killing innocent Sikhs in 1984. Rahul is just following in the footsteps of his ancestors by defaming the Punjabis as drug addicts.”

Badal challenged Rahul, saying the Gandhi scion had no magic wand to eliminate the drug menace in just one month. “The government is leaving no stone unturned to make the state drug-free. No drug is produced in the state. There are other states which are facing severe drug problem, but unfortunately forces inimical to the state are hell bent on defaming it,” he said.

Asks officers to visit villages

After getting complaints against some officials of the Rural Development Department at Lakhewali village, Badal directed the officers to visit villages. "If I can hold Sangat Darshans in villages, why you people can't visit affected areas. Make it a routine affair," he said.

Farm labourers protest

Some farm labourers, who were not allowed to meet the CM, lodged a protest at Bhagsar village, saying that the state government had not yet compensated them for their last year’s cotton crop loss due to whitefly. They also demanded free residential plots as promised to them.

Not invited: BJP leaders

District BJP leaders said they were not invited to the CM’s event so they did not participate in it. Rajesh Pathela ‘Gora’, BJP’s Muktsar district president, said, “We rarely get invitation for any government function. I was not invited to the Sangat Darshan. I have taken up the matter with senior party leaders.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

‘Udta Punjab’ clicks in Badal’s district

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 17

The much-hyped film “Udta Punjab”, which highlights the impact and menace of drug abuse on society, particularly in Punjab, won hearts on the first day of its release in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home district Muktsar today.

Except the first two morning shows, all other shows remained houseful here. The viewers, mostly the youths, appreciated the film crew for “portraying the true picture of state”.

Karan Kumar, a youth, said, “The film has nothing objectionable as was being said before the release. Though some dialogues are abusive, it is the need of the story and doesn’t look odd. It is a must-watch movie especially for the youth.” Another youngster Prince said, “This movie is close to reality. It has presented the reality of Punjab. The nexus of drug smugglers, cops and politicians have been presented in the movie, which is a fact.”

Meanwhile, Gurjeet Singh, an elderly man, said, “The movie carries message on drug de-addiction. It would have been better if abusive dialogues had been removed from the movie.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Tension over snatching of holy book from Dalits

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 13

Tension prevailed in Shivpur Kukrian village after two Balmikis were beaten up by residents of some neighbouring villages who allegedly mistook them for thieves running away with Guru Granth Sahib.

However, a Ramayana was found from their possession.

The duo, Naginder Singh and Daleep Singh of the village, were bringing the holy book on a motorcycle to perform a religious ceremony following the death of an elderly woman in the village.

A large number of people from the Balmiki community from across the state today gathered in the village and took out a protest march seeking action against the assailants.

They threatened to launch a state wide stir if the assailants were not arrested till Wednesday. A large number of policemen were deployed in the village as a precautionary measure. A case was also registered against unidentified persons in this regard at Sadar police station.

Mandar Singh, whose mother died on Thursday, said, “My nephew, Naginder, had gone to neighbouring Ranjitgarh village yesterday to get a copy of Ramayana to perform a religious ceremony. However, when they were returning, 40 persons from Lopo and Gehri villages attacked them and snatched the holy book after mistaking them as thieves running away with Guru Granth Sahib. They not just injured them but also hurt the religious sentiments of our community.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Patiala operating in Muktsar mode

Patiala operating in Muktsar mode

Muktsar: Going by the current postings of bureaucrats in Patiala district, it seems that the royal city is being run from Muktsar. The key posts of Deputy Commissioner (DC), Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) and Subdivisonal Magistrate (SDM) are held by officers who earlier served in Muktsar district. DC Rambir is a former ADC (D), Muktsar; ADC Kumar Saurabh Raj worked as Assistant Commissioner (under training), Muktsar, and the Gidderbaha SDM; and SDM Harpreet Singh Sudan has also served as Assistant Commissioner (under training) in the CM’s district. All three are IAS officers (regular recruits).

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Addict? Not us, say Akalis

Addicts? Not us, say Akalis

Muktsar: Amid the uproar over the drug menace in Punjab, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has started a damage-control campaign on the social media. Several Akali activists are uploading messages on Facebook and Instagram, such as: “I live in Punjab and I am not a drug addict. Stop defaming us Punjabis.” The idea is to portray a ‘clean’ image of Punjab and Punjabis. Misleading?

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Workers unhappy for 21 yrs, Warring tells Amarinder

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 10

IYC chief and Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh Raja Warring today virtually opened a front against PCC chief Capt Amarinder by saying the party workers were unhappy for the past 21 years.

Addressing workers here regarding the scheduled protest on June 18 in Lambi Assembly segment against the multi-crore recruitment scam, he said, “It has been 21 years since the workers experienced happiness (Nazara ni liya). They are suffering since 1995. The last time they were happy was during the tenure of the late CM Beant Singh. I was kid then but I remember everything,” he added.

Notably, he did not mention even a single word in his speech about the five-year rule of the Congress government under the leadership of Amarinder from 2002-07.

He said, “I respect Capt Amarinder Singh and had introduced a number of schemes for farmers and saved our river waters, but we could not give a befitting reply to the Akalis for their highhandedness in that period.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Irrigation Dept staff gears up to tackle waterlogging

New monitoring system in offing

• The Irrigation Department has decided to implement the Public Works Information Management System from June 15. Under this system, every junior engineer will have to fill a measurement book online, which means the physical verification of all ongoing works will be done online every week and, that too, by uploading pictures of the site. Further, the bills have to be submitted online. KS Pannu, Secretary (Irrigation), said, “This system is being implemented to bring in more transparency.”

Secretary, Irrigation, KS Pannu (centre) and Irrigation Department officials review works in Muktsar district on Friday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, June 10

Senior officers of the Irrigation Department today claimed that they were fully prepared to tackle rains, especially in the waterlogging-affected areas of the south-western state, comprising Muktsar, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Faridkot districts.

The state government is spending Rs 44.83 crore for cleaning village ponds and drains in these districts.

On a two-day tour of Muktsar and Fazilka districts, KS Pannu, Secretary (Irrigation), while reviewing the cleaning work of Wahabwala Drain, said, “We are prepared to tackle rains of up to 40 mm in a day. A majority of the large drains have been cleaned and de-silted. Besides, the village ponds have been cleaned. The remaining drains will be cleaned before the first week of July. I have also directed the Chief Engineer to install lift pumps in waterlogging-prone villages and station heavy excavating machinery there to clear the blockade during the rainy days.”

He claimed that due to their immense efforts under the ‘Roko Sem’ project, the water level had also gone down to six feet in a majority of the waterlogging-affected villages. “The water which was earlier available at the depth of just one or two foot is now available at the depth of nearly six feet in Muktsar district,” claimed Pannu.

Meanwhile, PS Ghuman, Chief Engineer (Drainage), said, “The department has started the construction of a new drain named the Abohar Link Drain. It will control waterlogging in some villages of Fazilka district. Besides, the sub-surface drainage system is being laid in a number of villages. Some new drains including Arniwala Wazira, Phullukhera, Khubban, Saidanwali link drain and Abul Khurana link drain are also in the pipeline.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Drainage dept fails to pay power bill of shallow tubewells; supply cut

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 9

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has disconnected the power supply of 280 shallow tubewells along the Sirhind Feeder canal as the Drainage Department has not paid the bill for the past four years.

The Drainage Department had installed the tubewells to deal with the seepage of water.

The outstanding amount has now gone over Rs 3 crore and the department has requested the PSPCL to transfer the tubewell connections on the name of some farmers.

This move has irked the PSPCL officials who have turned down the request and asked the authorities concerned to first clear the outstanding amount.

These shallow tubewells were installed under the NABARD project at Rs 5.3 crore in 2001 and the department had earlier too failed to pay the electricity bills for a long period.

Even the state government’s high-level panel on water-logging headed by the Chief Minister’s technical adviser Lt Gen BS Dhaliwal (retd) had mentioned this in his report in 2013. The report said, “Initially, these tubewells worked well. But due to non-receipt of maintenance and running expenses, the power connections were disconnected and these stopped working within a year in 2002. These did not work till 2011. Later, 237 were re-energised, but 43 could not be re-energised.”

Gulshan Nagpal, Executive Engineer, Drainage Department, Gidderbaha, admitted that the electricity bills of the shallow tubewells were not paid for 4-5 years.

“The shallow tubewells have no utility now. The water level has gone down by 4 ft. When these tubewells were installed, the water level was high, available on just 1-ft depth from the surface. The state government has mooted a proposal to transfer the shallow tubewells on the name of farmers for irrigation as well as anti-waterlogging purposes,” said Nagpal.

Rajinder Kumar, Executive Engineer, PSPCL, Gidderbaha, said, “The Drainage Department has not paid the electricity bills of above Rs 3 crore for running the shallow tubewells. Hence, we have disconnected the power supply and also turned down their request of transfer of the connections on the name of farmers.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Entire staff of police post transferred

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 9

The Muktsar district police chief recently transferred the entire staff of the Doda police post in Gidderbaha assembly segment.

SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill termed the transfers as routine, but sources said the step followed the allegations that the cops had sought bribe from some persons involved in an illegal activity.

Those transferred on June 6 included six head constables, including a munshi, and two constables. Police post incharge Pritam Singh was earlier shifted on May 31.

When contacted, Rajinder Sharma, the new incharge of the police post, said, “I assumed charge on June 6. I am unaware of the reasons behind the transfers. The action may have been taken on the basis of a complaint.”

The SSP said, “The new police post incharge was told to bring the staff of his choice. That explains the transfers.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

CM wants all PMET centres in state

Not possible, says IT company; varsity in a fix

Short of computers

• The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, has given the contract to conduct the PMET online to Tata Consultancy Services
• The company has conveyed to the university that it will not possible to conduct the examination entirely in Punjab
• It requires around 16,000 computer systems, but the availability in the state is only around 12,000 systems

Archit Watts &

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Muktsar/Chandigarh, June 5

With Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asking the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot to review its decision of making some centres for the PMET in neighbouring states, the university's plan to conduct first ever an online examination is likely to hit the roadblock. The examination is scheduled for June 11.

Earlier talking to the media during Sangat Darshan at Tarmala village, Badal said all centres for the PMET must be set up within the state as "Punjab has an exceptional educational infrastructure". 

"I have discussed the matter with the vice-chancellor over the phone," said Badal.

Sources said TCS, the IT company which was given contract by the university to conduct the PMET online, had conveyed to the university that it would not possible to conduct the examination in Punjab. They require around 16,000 computer systems in Punjab, but the availability was only around 12,000 systems. There was thus a shortage of more than 4,000 computers.  

Talking to The Tribune, BFUHS vice-chancellor Dr Raj Bahadur confirmed that he had received a message from the CM. He said looking at the situation in Haryana, the concern of the parents could not be ignored. He said they were holding meetings to find a solution. "If required, we will go for old system of on paper test," he said.

Significantly, it was for the first time that Punjab had announced to conduct PMET-2016 online. Due to inadequate computers, as many as 3,240 out of the total 15,677 candidates would have to go to neghibouring Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to take the test on June 11. 

Courtesy: The Tribune

Cotton pickers to get relief in their bank accounts

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 8

Bringing the much needed respite to cotton pickers, who are awaiting compensation for their losses due to whitefly attack last year, the Muktsar district administration has decided to transfer the compensation money into their bank accounts directly.

Muktsar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sumeet Jarangal said, “The cotton pickers need not go to any politician to get compensation. We have identified about 60,000 cotton pickers in the district and started the disbursement process in 10 villages on a trial basis. The total compensation of Rs 9.7 crore has to be disbursed among them in the district. The list of cotton pickers includes their bank account numbers and telephone numbers.”

Jarangal added, “Each family involved in cotton picking work will get Rs 1,500 as compensation. We will directly transfer the amount into their bank accounts. It will not just decrease the workload of officials, but also bring in transparency.”

He said just 5 per cent of the affected did not have bank account. They would be handed over compensation through other way.

The district administration first identified cotton pickers by roping in Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs) and thereafter the officials of the Agriculture Department were asked to verify the lists.

Initially, a list of 52,000 labourers was prepared, which later increased to 57,000 and now finally it has reached 60,000.

The Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union had announced to hold protests outside all district headquarters on Thursday to press for their demands, including delay in disbursement of compensation to cotton pickers.

The state government in October last year had announced that the cotton pickers would get 10 per cent of the total money disbursed among cotton growers.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Didn’t go to Darbar Sahib for ‘siropa’, says Badal

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan in Lambi on Saturday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi (Muktsar), June 4

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today tried to downplay the controversy regarding the denial of a “siropa” (robe of honour) to him at the Golden Temple yesterday.

“I go to Darbar Sahib to pay obeisance, not to get a ‘siropa’,” said Badal on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan at Vanwala village here.

On the transfer of two SGPC men, the CM said: “I am not aware of it. Even if someone has been transferred, the order should be cancelled. I have nothing to benefit from it. I have got a big ‘siropa’ (public mandate) of the whole of Punjab.”

Flays R’sthan for abolishing Punjabi teachers’ posts

Badal said he would take up the issue of “hostile attitude” of the Rajasthan government towards the Punjabi language with Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje and seek its early resolution.

“It is unfortunate that the Rajasthan government has abolished the posts of Punjabi teacher in government schools of Punjabi-dominated areas. The state is not even providing Punjabi textbooks to the SC students. It is a serious issue and grave injustice with Punjabis settled in Rajasthan,” he said.

SAD men come to blows

Two warring factions of the Akali Dal created a scene before the Chief Minister. The factions led by Mehna village sarpanch Punnu Ram and former sarpanch Buta Singh first entered into a verbal duel and then came to blows over some road widening work. Badal appealed to both the factions to remain silent, saying, "You people don't even know how to get benefit from the government." The CM left the venue after that.

Courtesy: The Tribune