Army Captain booked for job fraud on Bathinda resident

An Army captain has been booked by the police under Section 420 of the IPC for cheating a resident of Haji Rattan, Bathinda. Captain has been identified as PP Chauhan, who was earlier posted at the Field Workshop at Bathinda Cantt and now posted at 31 RR battalion, Udhampur.

In his complaint to the police, sewadar of gurdwara Haji Rattan Lakha Singh alleged that the Captain took money in lieu of giving job to his son in the Military Engineering Services (MES), for which the posts were advertised in 2010.

In his complaint to the police, Lakha alleged that the Captain visited gurdwara Talwandi Sabo in 2009 where he was deployed as sewadar.

“After making a round of gurdwara enquiring its history, the Captain offered to help me in any of the works related with the Army or the Bathinda cantonment. He offered the official and residential address and told to meet sometime,” said Lakha. 

Read More:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110901/punjab.htm

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Abolish post of Lambardar, says HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that it wants the “ornamental” posts of lambardar to be abolished in the states of Punjab and Haryana. Justice Alok Singh minced no words to say lambardars were involved in identifying imposters substituting for dead or real landowners; and were a burden on the state exchequer.

“It has come to the notice of this court that nowadays lambardars are involved in different criminal cases for identifying imposters for the dead or the real landowners to grab their valuable land.
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Name of sitting Akali MLA’s wife in FIR

As investigation into the infamous textbook scam could see many heads roll, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) authorities are in a fix over the name of Pavitar Pal Kaur, a former Secretary in the board and the wife of a sitting Akali MLA, figuring in the FIR registered by the police.

Pavitar Pal Kaur, at present Deputy Director (Field Programme), was Secretary of the board when the Rs 65-lakh textbook scam was detected in 2009.

The then Vice-Chairman of the board in his report sent to the police had mentioned that officials of the board had released payment of lakhs to two publishers, Bharat Offset Printers, Noida, and SB Printers, Noida, without getting the required number of textbooks of different classes. PSEB Chairman Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon was not available for comments.

The payment was released on the basis of tampered documents submitted by the printers in connivance with certain board officials.

The case pertains to printing order of textbooks pertaining to academic year 2008-09, wherein two Noida-based printing firms were given the order to publish the same.

One of the firms supplied 40,000 less textbooks of maths (Punjabi medium) for Class VI. In one of the cases, the board has already released payments for the books that were never supplied, resulting in loss of lakhs of rupees.

Read More: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110901/punjab.htm

Test processing of crude oil begins at refinery

The high-profile Guru Gobind Singh Refinery (GGSR) here is inching towards formal commissioning with test processing of crude oil beginning today.

This is a major component of the refinery that has been put to test.

A top functionary of the refinery said several tests of the plant and equipment were underway to stabilise the nine million tonne refinery.

After initial hiccups, crude oil reached the refinery on August 10 through the 1014-km-long pipeline between the Mundra port in Gujarat and here.

Senior officials of the railways visited the refinery last week to assess the rail linkage with the GGSR that would produce value-added products, including aviation turbine fuel (ATF), coke, food grade hexane, mineral turpentine oil and polypropylene besides LPG, petrol and diesel.

Read More:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110830/bathinda.htm

PUNJAB POLICE ‘KEEPING TABS’ ON GOVT RIVALS

Vspb2010@gmail.com is the email ID that the Punjab Police is using to gather intelligence inputs on the political opponents of the ruling alliance, just as Punjab gears up for the SGPC and Assembly elections.

The techno-savvy Punjab Police has relegated to the trash can the system of compiling hard copies of reports gathered from its “agents” in different towns and areas and has logged on to the new programme. However, this move can land the government in trouble with the Election Commission. Under the rules, the police cannot work in tandem with its political bosses for furthering its interests in the elections by providing them with intelligence inputs.

At the most, the intelligence wing of the police can maintain a vigil to pre-empt violence or booth-capturing during the elections. Available information suggests that the Punjab Police has established an “election cell” on the fifth floor of the police headquarters in Sector 9. It is believed that another cell, manned by three senior Punjab Police officers, has been functioning from the same floor for keeping telephones of political opponents and their supporters under surveillance.

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Badal to address 46 election rallies in suport of SAD-Sant Samaj candidates

Shiromani Akali Dal Patron and Chief Minister Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal would address more then 46 rallies from august 29th to September 11th in favour of SAD-Sant Samaj combine candidates.

Disclosing the tour programme in a statement released from the party headoffice here today , party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that apart from canvassing in different areas of Punjab S. Badal would also address thre rallies in Haryana at Kaithal, Ratian and Kalianwali on September 11th. Dr. Cheema  said that S. Badal would address election rallies on August 29th at Dhudike, Dharmakot, Kot Ise Khan and Moga. On August 30th he would visit Draouli, Baghapurana and NihalSingh Walal in Moga district. On August 31st, he would campaign in Ferozepur district where he will address 4 election rallies at Lakhoke (Mamdot), Aafrke, Ferozeshah and Ferozepur city.

Read More:http://punjabnewsline.com/content/badal-address-46-election-rallies-suport-sad-sant-samaj-candidates/33068

Punjab population touches 2.77 crores

The population of Punjab has been recorded as 27,704,236 (2.77 crores) out of which 17,316,800 (17.31 crores) are rural and 10,387,436 (10.38 crores) are urban according to Provisional Population Totals of Census 2011. As such, 62.51% of the population in the State is residing in rural areas and 37.49% in urban areas.

Releasing district level provisional totals on rural-urban distribution of population of Punjab for Census 2011, Mrs. Seema Jain, , Director Census Operations, Punjab said that the share of urban population has increased to 37.49 per cent in 2011 as compared to 33.92 per cent in 2001. 

During 2001-2011, urban population in the State has recorded a growth rate of 25.72 per cent which is more than three times that of the rural growth rate of 7.58%. Of all the districts in the State, Ludhiana (59.14%), SAS Nagar(55.17%), Amritsar (53.64%) and Jalandhar (53.18%) are predominantly urban having more than one-half of their population living in urban areas. Every fifth (19.86%) urban dweller in Punjab is residing in Ludhiana district. SAS Nagar (55.17) is the second most urbanized district in the State.

Read More:http://punjabnewsline.com/content/punjab-population-touches-277-crores/33062

PU Student Council elections on September 2 Police to come down hard on bad hats

Sending a clear signal of zero tolerance to violence on the campus ahead of the elections to the Panjab University Campus Student Council, the UT Police today issued bailable warrants against 12 student leaders who failed to appear before the SDM yesterday.

This list does not include the names of 14 students who have already submitted affidavits separately, assuring non-participation in any act of violence during polls. The police has already initiated the process of regular communication with the student leaders concerned.

Acting on the recommendations of a report prepared by its special wing, the UT Police has decided to come down hard on the habitual troublemakers to make student elections violence-free.

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New thermal plants to raise the level of pollution in Malwa

With new thermal power plants coming up in the Malwa region, residents of the area are bound to witness the air pollution level further going up as more than 80,000 tonnes of coal would be burnt every day to generate electricity.

While two thermal plants here are functional, four others in the private and public sector have been sanctioned by the state government.

The government had last year formulated the Power Generation Policy to transform Punjab from a power deficit to a power surplus state and to facilitate thermal power plants in the private sector.

Residents of the main town of Bathinda are already crying due to the high level of air pollution being caused by the 440 MW Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) for the past 36 years. Although engineers of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) claim that the smoke emission of the plant was within the prescribed limits, people take this claim with a pinch of salt.

Read More:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110827/bathinda.htm#2

Only one MLA attends district Cong committee meeting

Three Congress MLAs, namely Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Makhan Singh, from this district failed to turn up at a meeting of the District Congress Committee (Rural) held at its office here today in connection with the preparations for the party’s September 2 ‘morcha’ at Bareta (Mansa) opposing the land acquisition for the Gobindpura thermal power plant. The only MLA who participated in the meeting was Ajaib Singh Bhatti (Nathana). The meeting was held under the presidentship of the party’s district president (Rural) Narinder Singh Bhaleria.

In the September 2 programme, Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh and CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal will also take part.

When asked about the absence of three MLAs, Bhaleria said Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu was mobilising the people in the villages of his Assembly constituency for the September 2 programme while Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Makhan Singh had gone to Chandigarh to attend a meeting.

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PROTESTING FARMERS LATHI-CHARGED

At least 12 persons were injured when in a pre-dawn swoop, the police cane-charged and chased away farmers sitting on an indefinite dharna outside the district office complex here to protest against the “forcible” acquisition of agriculture land in Gobindpura village for a thermal power plant in the private sector.

Some elderly farmers were among those injured. By noon, farmers from Bathinda and Mansa districts assembled in strength in Bahaini Bagha village, 8 km away, and began to march towards Mansa to resume the dharna.

The police deployed in strength at the highway equipped with riot control vehicles did not stop the farmers who re-assembled at the district office complex and resumed the dharna.District police chief SPS Parmar denied that the police had resorted to a lathi charge. He said the police suspected that some mischievous elements had joined the protesters and could create trouble. Hence, the police had been deployed in strength in the area.

An elderly farmer, Teja Singh, who had come from Sangrur to join the dharna, showed his bloodstained pyjama and said he had sustained injuries on his leg when beaten up by policemen. Another farmer Joginder Singh had a bandaged leg. Jagraj Singh said the police reached the dharna site in strength at 5.30 am and started beating the farmers without any provocation.

http://www.punjabmailonline.com/Punjab%20News_news2.aspx#52578

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OVER 60% PUNJAB POPULATION RESIDES IN RURAL AREAS

Over 60 per cent of the population in Punjab resides in rural areas although the share of urban population has gone up in the last one decade, according to official data.

"Of the 27,704,236 people living in Punjab, 17,316,800 (62.7 per cent) live in rural area whereas 10,387,436 (37.49) are in urban places," Census Operations Director Seema Jain said. She said the share of urban population has increased to 37.49 per cent in 2011 as compared to 33.92 per cent in 2001. The literacy rate in the state also increased from 69.65 per cent in 2001 to 76.68 per cent in 2011, Jain said.

http://www.punjabmailonline.com/Punjab%20News_news2.aspx#52589

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PCS exams now to begin from Sept 14

The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has postponed the main examination of the Punjab State Civil Services (PCS) Combined Competitive Examination-2009 from September 2 to September 14. A decision in this regard was taken by the PPSC today.

As per the PPSC orders, now the main examination would start on September 14 and conclude on October 10. The datesheet has been released and also uploaded on the commission website.

Meanwhile, candidates appearing in the main examination apprehend the process may not be conducted in a transparent manner, with the wards of some PPSC members also appearing.

“How can we expect that candidates who are the relatives of PPSC members will not use their influence to get through,” they said. The candidates have demanded that either the examination be held under the supervision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court or some outside agency be entrusted with the responsibility to conduct the exam.

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Numbers in villages shrink- Cities growing 4 times faster than rural areas: Census report

The population in Punjab cities is growing almost four times faster than that in the villages.The population has touched 27,704,236 (2.77 crore) of which 17,316,800 (62.51 per cent) live in the rural areas and 10,387,436 (37.49 per cent) in urban areas, according to the census data released officially here today.

Alarmingly, the population in urban areas has grown by 25.72 per cent as compared to an increase of only 7.58 per cent in rural areas over the last decade.This indicates rapid migration from villages to urban areas. This is likely to have an impact on the voting pattern in urban areas.

Director, Census Operations, Seema Jain, said the share of urban population had increased to 37.49 per cent in 2011 as compared to 33.92 per cent in 2001. Ludhiana district recorded the highest growth at 59.14 percent, followed by SAS Nagar (Mohali) at 55.17 per cent, Amritsar 53.64 per cent and Jalandhar 53.18 per cent.

Every fifth urban dweller in Punjab is living in Ludhiana district.

Mohali’s growth is linked to its proximity to the state capital of Chandigarh and availability of better civic amenities. Jalandhar and Amritsar have apparently grown on account of migration from small towns and villages. Tarn Taran, that has 12.63 per cent of the state’s population, is the least urbanised district.

Punjab literacy rate has touched 76.68 pe rcent as compared to 69.65 per cent in 2001. Rural literacy for males has gone up from 71.05 per cent in 2001 to 77.92 per cent in 2011, an increase of 6.87 per cent, and the literacy rate for females has increased from 57.72 per cent in 2001 to 66.47 in 2011.

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2nd Annual Punjabi Mela Aug -27 ,2011

Unlike PU, colleges have no offices for student leaders

One long-pending grievance common to student representatives across most city colleges is their struggle to get a formal office or a meeting room inside the college campus. Unlike Panjab University student council members, who enjoy the luxury of separate offices for each council member, including the president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary, in city colleges, however, boasting of a room meant for student activities is a rare privilege for the student council.

The issue of a separate office for council members has even led to brawls and unrest in colleges in the past. In one such case, members of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) whose candidate won the post of the president at DAV College, Sector 10, last year, insisted on having a room allocated for student activities. Later, certain representatives of a rival student organization, H.S.A, objected to this and the room was left in shambles following a fight between the members of the two sides.

Read More:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110825/cth1.htm#10

Punjab Gramin Bank gets RBI nod to open branches in urban areas

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given green signal to the Punjab Gramin Bank (PGB) to open branches in the urban areas as well. While interacting on the sidelines of a function here, SK Goyal, who has recently taken over as the chairman of the PGB, informed that the licence to open such branch at Abohar has been received and the next branch would be opened at the new district headquarters Fazilka.

Having a network of 180 rural branches covering 13 districts in the state at present, the bank plans to open 15 new branches during the current financial year.

Taking a leap towards making banking services available in the rural areas, the PGB has initiated the process for opening kiosks in 93 villages. These would be equipped with the state-of-the-art voicemail machines that would inform the customer about the amount drawn by them besides displaying the information on the screen.

As many as 375 Farmers Club have so far been sponsored in the villages to bring awareness among the people, 12 new clubs were inaugurated by the chairman during the function held at Arorvansh Bhawan here. Regional manager Yogesh Sharma, district coordinator Dinesh Sharma and APS Brar, state president of the Punjab Gramin Bank Officers Association were also present.

Read More:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110825/bathinda.htm#7

Food & civil supplies officials suspended

Two inspectors of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Bathinda, and assistant food and supplies officer (AFSO) have been suspended following their alleged connivance in the sale of rice worth Rs 4.96 crore by the owner of a rice sheller in Gumti Kalan village.


The police had registered a case on June 6 wherein it was alleged that Daljit Singh, the owner of the sheller, had sold the rice brought for shelling. The police booked him and his wife in this regard. The police said the wife seemed to have nothing to do with the sale of rice, as she was not found guilty in the preliminary investigation.


The police had registered a case under various sections of the IPC and also included some concerned officials of the department, who were interrogated during the investigation.
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BRAR: NEW VOTERS TO BE REGISTERED TILL SEPT 2

The Gurdwara Election Commission has announced that new voters for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections will now be registers till September 2.

Earlier, the commission had announced that the new votes would be made till a day before the elections (September 18). Chief Commissioner of the Gurdwara Election Commission, Justice HS Brar, said the date has been advanced due to administrative reasons.

In a circular to the returning officers, the commission has said that anyone trying to cast a bogus vote or found to have given a wrong declaration on being a “keshdhari Sikh”should be arrested at the polling booth. This, he said, would send out a strong message and prevent “non-keshdhari” voters from trying to cast their vote.

Justice Brar said the commission had appointed 28 secretary-level IAS officers from Punjab and Haryana as poll observers. Punjab had 19 observers from Haryana, Haryana would have seven and both Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh one observer each. Officers from Punjab had been deputed out of the state and those from Haryana in Punjab.

Read More:http://www.punjabmailonline.com/#52534

PPCB CONDUCTS RAIDS ON INDUSTRIAL UNITS

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) tightened its noose around the industries which are located along Lissara drain and raided four industrial units.

Four teams headed by Senior Environmental Engineers raided Nabha Paper Mill, Dhuri, Vishal Paper Mill, Malerkotla, Abhishek Paper Mill Dhonula in Sangrur district and Sukhraj Agro Tapa Mandi in Mansa Distrcit, PPCB Chairman K S Pannu said in release here.

He said that these industries were located along Lissara drain. The effluent samples of these industries had been collected and sent to laboratory for analysis. If any industry was found violating the effluent standards prescribed by the board the action would be initiated against the defaulting industry immediately, he added.

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