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

OPERATION BLUESTAR ANNIVERSARY ON JUNE 6: Deputy CM meets Sikh leaders, calls for peace

OPERATION BLUESTAR ANNIVERSARY ON JUNE 6

Deputy CM meets Sikh leaders, calls for peace

In view of the Operation Bluestar anniversary, security personnel take out a flag march in Jalandhar on Friday. Tribune Photo: Malkiat Singh

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Badal (Muktsar), June 3

Three days ahead of the 32nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal today met a five-member committee of Sikh radical leaders at his residence at Badal village here.

Sukhbir said: “I have appealed to the committee members to maintain peace on June 6 during the observance of Operation Bluestar anniversary.” He said the delegation did not have any grouse against the state government.

The committee comprised SAD (A) leaders Jaskaran Singh Kahansinghwala and Prof Mohinderpal Singh and UAD leaders Bhai Mohkam Singh, Gurdeep Singh Bathinda and Wassan Singh Jaffarwal.

They handed over a four-page handwritten memorandum, which they drafted on the spot, to the Deputy CM seeking a ban on the deployment of SGPC taskforce and policemen in civvies at the Golden Temple complex.

They also sought an assurance from the government that the three parallel jathedars won’t be arrested during their address to the Sikh sangat from Akal Takht. They also demanded the release of political Sikh prisoners, referring to fasting Surat Singh Khalsa’s struggle.

“We are awaiting Sukhbir’s reply over the memorandum given to him. He has assured us in the morning that he would discuss the demands with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,” said Kahansighwala. Bhai Gurdeep Singh said they had told the Deputy CM that they wished to address the sangat at the Golden Temple on June 6. "We also informed him that the Sarbat Khalsa Organisation is against the deployment of heavy forces in Amritsar," he said.

He said the deployment of a large number of security personnel in uniform and in plain clothes not only created panic among the community but also sent a wrong signal across the globe.

"We have no hidden agenda. We do not want to disturb the hard-earned peace of Punjab. All we want is to address the public on June 6," he added.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Govt takes measures to ensure potable water in Muktsar, Fazilka

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 30

The state government has directed the Superintending Engineer (Water Quality), Mohali, to change his base to Muktsar in an effort to improve the functioning of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department in waterlogging-affected Muktsar and Fazilka districts.

The government wants to ensure that residents get a potable water supply.

As per the orders issued by Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, the Superintending Engineer would look after the works in Muktsar, Malout and Abohar divisions.

Sources said the order had come on the directions of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who, during his Sangat Darshans, was not satisfied with the replies of some local officers.

Notably, this area is the worst-affected from waterlogging and most of the residents do not get a potable water supply.

Further, a large number of works have been sanctioned and are underway to ensure a quality water supply to every house.

An executive engineer said the move would prove to be beneficial as the workload would be divided and they would be able to keep a close watch on every project.

Besides, the state government has also directed Chief Engineer, Drainage, PS Ghuman to set up his office in Gidderbaha and function from there on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday till July 30.

The step has been taken to supervise the anti-waterlogging works and flood protection during the monsoon season.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Lambi all set to be renewable energy hub

Two projects take off today

• A solar power project of 28 MW is scheduled to be inaugurated on Friday
• Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Minister for Renewable Energy Bikram Singh Majithia are scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a 150-MW power project at Banwala village

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lambi (Muktsar), June 2

The home turf of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal — Lambi Assembly segment — is all set to become the hub of renewable energy production in the state with some new projects coming up in the near future.

This VVIP constituency already houses a 19 MW solar power project at Panjawa village and a 14.5 MW biomass power project at Channu village.

Further, a solar power project of 28 MW commissioned at a cost of Rs 202 crore is scheduled to be inaugurated tomorrow. It is split in two parts — 24 MW at Killianwalli village and 4 MW at Bhitiwala village.

Further, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Minister for Renewable Energy Bikram Singh Majithia are scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a 150 MW power project at a total commissioning cost of Rs 798 crore tomorrow at Banwala village.

This project is split into five parts having 50 MW in Lambi, 50 MW in Fazilka district and 50 MW in Bathinda district.

Notably, Azure Power is the lone company investing in solar power projects in Lambi Assembly constituency.

HS Wadhwa and Preet Sandhu, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of the company, said, “We have the highest market share in solar power generation in the state with a total capacity of 225 MW under various stages. In December last year, our company had secured 150 MW out of a total tender capacity of 500 MW for which bids were submitted by 18 companies.”

Besides, Muktsar district houses two solar power projects of 2 MW and 1.5 MW at Bhagsar village, a 2 MW solar power project at Lakhewali village and a 1.5 MW solar power project at Bhuttiwala village. The district also houses two biomass cogeneration power projects of 5 MW and 12.5 MW in the industrial units.

Amarpal Singh, Chief Executive Officer, PEDA, said, “Once the 150 MW solar power project is commissioned, it will provide electricity to nearly one lakh houses or 340 villages. This plant will be equivalent to planting 13 lakh trees.”

He said that Mansa district was leading in solar power generation with 211.53 MW power projects already commissioned, followed by 88.1 MW in Fazilka district, 69.3 MW in Bathinda district and 53 MW in Muktsar district.

Courtesy: The Tribune