Sunday, December 8, 2013

All arrangements in place for Narendra Modi's rally: Parkash Singh Badal

Assembly Polls: Parkash Singh Badal describes Congress' show as "trailer" for Lok Sabha polls

MALOUT: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said all arrangements had been made for the rally of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the state on December 21. 

"The decision of the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal ( Amritsar) to oppose Modi's visit to the state show these parties are opposed to democracy," he told reporters here. 

All arrangements to make the rally, organised by the SAD-BJP at Jagraon, a success were in place, Badal said after addressing gatherings during the Sangat Darshan programme in his Lambi assembly segment here. 

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address a rally at Jagraon in Ludhiana district on December 21, a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader said here on Thursday.

The rally will be organised jointly by the ruling SAD and the BJP. SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the rally, which was earlier to be held in Moga, would now be held at the sugar mill ground in Jagraon.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: ਕਾਠਮੰਡੂ ‘ਚ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਨਾਨਕਮੱਠ ਵਿਖੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਪੱਧਰ ‘ਤੇ ਮਨਾ...

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: ਕਾਠਮੰਡੂ ‘ਚ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਨਾਨਕਮੱਠ ਵਿਖੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਪੱਧਰ ‘ਤੇ ਮਨਾ...: ਕਾਠਮੰਡੂ - ਨੇਪਾਲ ਦੀ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਕਾਠਮੰਡੂ ਸਥਿਤ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕਮੱਠ ਵਿਖੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡੇ ਪੱਧਰ ‘ਤੇ ਮਨਾਇਆ ...

The NRI Post: The Community Kitchen at the Golden Temple Feeds u...

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: The Community Kitchen at the Golden Temple Feeds u...: Amritsar -  Free kitchen in Punjab, India run at the Sikhs’ holiest shrine produces 200,000 flat breads       ( Fulke) and 1.5 tonnes o...

Punjab to promote Medical tourism in big way: Sukhbir

Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal at the CII
gathering at New Chandigarh
Chandigarh, November 14, 2013 (PNW) Punjab Government would promote medical tourism in the state as this sector had a great potential to boost the state's economy, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Thursday.
Mr. Badal said the planned Medicity would be developed on 300 acres of land at New Chandigarh, with top-notch hospitals being established. He was speaking at an event organized by CII to present the Human Achievers Awards.
He said that New Chandigarh has the potential to emerge as the Medical Hub of North India as the state has already equipped with first-class infrastructure in the health sector comparing to the other states.
Mr. Badal also boasted that Punjab was already equipped with superlative health sector infrastructure as compared with other states of India. He added that previous governments had not paid attention to create medical facilities for the needy in the state. He also called on NGOs to come forward and save the girl child.
The deputy CM also used the occasion to honour 198 highest taxpayers as well as warn tax evaders, saying that the government would not only recover taxes but also register cases against tax evaders.
Speaking on the topic, he said, "We will not only recover the tax but also register cases against those evading tax."
During the past financial year of 2012-13, the state government collected Rs 14,544 crore tax revenue from nearly 2.35 lakh registered traders and manufacturers.




Thursday, November 14, 2013

Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal honours top tax-payers

Chandigarh, November 14
Punjab Government today honoured, traders, businessmen and top corporate houses in the state for paying taxes regularly and, thus, being partners in the state’s growth.
As many as 198 tax-payers were honoured by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was honoured for being the highest tax-payer in the state, with the company contributing Rs 2,367 crore as VAT. The award was presented to Sudeb Gupta, executive director, IOC.
The top 10 tax-payers were Indian Oil Corporation (Rs 2,367 crore), Markfed (Rs 458 crore ), HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (Rs 375 crore), Bharat Petroleum (Rs 211 crore), Hindustan Petrolium (Rs 162 crore), Mahindra and Mahindra Commercial Vehicle (Rs 123 crore), TATA Motors Commercial Vehicle (Rs 120 crore ), Ambuja Cement (Rs 113 crore), Hindutan Lever (Rs 104 crore) and Samsung India Electronics (Rs 102 crore). State BJP president Kamal Sharma and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sarup Chand Singla also addressed the gathering.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Nepal allows Gurpurb in Kathmandu gurdwara

Chandigarh, November 6
The Nepalese Government has agreed to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Guru Nanak Math, a 400-year-old gurdwara in Kathmandu, on November 17. Pilgrims from all over the world will be allowed to take part in the event.
The government has also accepted the demand of the Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust -- headed by SPS Oberoi -- about the installation of Guru Granth Sahib and implementation of the Sikh code of religious conduct at the gurdwara in the presence of Akal Takht chief Gyani Gurbachan Singh on November 15.
Interestingly, the land of the 'math' still stands in the name of Guru Nanak Dev. Oberoi said that in 1516, the then Nepal King Raja Jai Jagat Malla of the Malla dynasty had donated 1,600 acres for religious service to the first Sikh Guru.
“As there was no one to take care of the 'math', various encroachments have taken place. Presently, only 34 acres are in the possession of the shrine. However, with the help of the local population and officials, we managed to get access to the original papers signed by the then ruler under the official seal. To ensure no dispute arises about the donation, the king had made his son the witness,” he added.
A delegation of Indians headed by Oberoi had been in touch with Nepal’s Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai for past few months to restore the 'maryada' of the gurdwara.
Oberoi said that after a Nepalese court accepted the land donation, the government has, in principle, agreed to allow restoration work at the gurdwara. It has been entrusted to the Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust, which has a registered branch in Kathmandu, and to the local people.
Oberoi said that the Trust had signed an MoU with the Guthi Sansthan of the Nepal Government for the celebrations and the Akal Takht chief would personally monitor those.
A 300-year-old handwritten bir of Guru Granth Sahib (about 1,554 pages) is lying in a cupboard of the gurdwara just like any other book. “We will also try to install Guru Granth Sahib there,” he added.

ROYAL GESTURE
The land of the 400-year-old Guru Nanak Math still stands in the name of Guru Nanak Dev. In 1516, the then Nepal King Raja Jai Jagat Malla of the Malla dynasty had donated 1,600 acres for religious service to the first Sikh Guru.

Trainee IAS officer killed, 4 hurt in road ccident


Chandigarh/Moga (PNW) - A trainee IAS officer from Bihar, Nishant Kumar (26), died and four others were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident on Moga-Barnala road, around 15 km from here, near Daala village, early on Wednesday.
The accident took place when driver Raj Kumar, who was among the injured, lost control of the car. The vehicle first hit a railing, then a tree and overturned.
Moga Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwaljit Singh Dhillon said: "The speedometer recovered from the spot showed the vehicle was being driven at 110 km. Also, it was a bit foggy at that time. We regard overspeeding as the cause of the mishap."
Others injured are Shashi Ranjan, Harsh and Ajit, all IAS trainees. While Harsh is from Kanpur, Ajit and Shashi Ranjan are from Bihar. "They were returning from a party thrown by an officer in Jalandhar," said a source.
The impact of the crash was such that the engine of the Innova car, which carried a red beacon, flung out and landed in nearby fields. Nishant died on the spot.
"The four were going to Takhtupura village. They had come to Moga for training," said Amit Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner.
There were different stories over who was driving the vehicle. While Dhillon hesitated and said: "I am not aware of it," Singh said "the driver was driving it".
Sources, however, said: "The driver has denied that he was driving. On the other hand, the injured officers are claiming that the driver was driving. But the driver has not got any injuries despite the fact that the front of the car got badly damaged."

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਤੇ ਧਨੌਲਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਰਕਲ ਸੜਕਾਂ ਲਈ 54 ਕਰੋੜ ਖਰਚੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ- ਪਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੀਂਡਸਾ

ਸੰਗਰੂਰ, 5 ਨਵੰਬਰ (PNW)- ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਤ ਤੇ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੀਂਡਸਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਤੇ ਧਨੌਲਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਰਕਲ ਸੜਕਾਂ ਉੱਪਰ 54 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਖ਼ਰਚ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ | ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੜਕਾਂ ਨੰੂ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਮੁਕੰਮਲ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਵਿਉਂਤ ਬਣਾਈ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਸ਼ਹਿਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਖ਼ਾਸ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਦੁਕਾਨਦਾਰਾਾ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ | ਵਿੱਤ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਨਵਾਂ ਮਸਤੂਆਣਾ (ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਰੋਡ) ਤੋਂ ਰਾਜ ਹਾਈ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਸੈਕੰਡਰੀ ਸਕੂਲ ਤਕ ਮੁੱਖ ਸੜਕ 33 ਫੱੁਟ ਚੌੜੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ | ਸਕੂਲ ਤੋਂ ਵਾਇਆ ਰਣਬੀਰ ਕਾਲਜ ਤੇ ਗਊਸ਼ਾਲਾ ਰੋਡ ਮਹਾਵੀਰ ਚੌਕ ਤਕ ਚਾਰ ਮਾਰਗੀ ਰੋਡ ਬਣੇਗੀ | ਸੜਕ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਵੇਲੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਦੁਕਾਨਦਾਰ ਦਾ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵਾਂਗਾ | ਪੁਲਿਸ ਲਾਈਨ ਤੋਂ ਪੈਟਰੋਲ ਪੰਪ ਬਡਰੁੱਖਾ ਤੱਕ 33 ਫੱੁਟ ਚੌੜੀ ਸੜਕ ਬਣੇਗੀ | ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਦੀ ਇਸ ਸਰਕੁਲਰ ਰੋਡ ਉੱਪਰ 30 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਲਾਗਤ ਆਵੇਗੀ |
ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀਪ ਢਾਬਾ (ਧਨੌਲਾ) ਤੋਂ ਬਾਈਪਾਸ ਧਨੌਲਾ ਮਾਨਾ ਪਿੰਡੀ (ਸਿਟੀ) ਤੱਕ 33 ਫੱੁਟ ਚੌੜੀ ਸੜਕ ਬਣਾਈ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ | ਸੜਕ ਦੇ ਆਲ਼ੇ-ਦੁਆਲੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੇ ਨਿਕਾਸ ਲਈ ਬਕਾਇਦਾ ਡਰੇਨ ਬਣਾਈ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ | ਬੱਸ ਸਟੈਂਡ ਨੰੂ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ | ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਾਜੈਕਟ ਉੱਪਰ 24 ਕਰੋੜ ਰੁਪਏ ਲਾਗਤ ਆਵੇਗੀ |

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Punjab to have single-stage VAT regime

Chandigarh, October 22
In a major relief to traders, the Punjab Government has decided to remove the multiplicity in Value Added Tax (VAT) on all commodities by imposing it right at the manufacturing level. The move will not only simplify the taxation procedure, but also eliminate the practice of doing business without proper accounting of sales.
The decision to implement the single-stage taxation regime was taken by the state Cabinet yesterday. It decided to bring a Bill to this effect in the forthcoming session.
Once cleared by the Assembly, the government would ask all major manufacturers selling their goods across the state to charge entire VAT component from the distributor itself. The simplification of tax structure is the main thrust of the new trade policy, which would be announced on November 14.
Of the 2.25 lakh registered VAT dealers in Punjab, only 900 pay more than Rs 1 crore as VAT in a year. A large number of dealers do not pay any VAT, by not accounting sales in their books.
With the new taxation structure in force, Punjab will be amongst the few states to have brought in a single-stage taxation regime. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the step would go a long way in ensuring that all trade in Punjab was accounted for.

Simplifying Things
* The new taxation regime will provide that VAT is imposed right at the manufacturing level;

* The manufacturers will pay the entire VAT and then collect it from the remaining people in the supply chain (ie distributors, wholesalers and retailers etc.);

* Besides simplifying the taxation procedure, it will also eliminate the practice of doing business without proper sales accounting.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Gurdaspur district’s stone crushers a bane for rivers


Gurdaspur, October 15
When things get bad, they really do. This, in essence, sums up the pollution scenario in the border district of Gurdaspur where two lifelines, Ravi and Beas, are being choked by stone crushers. Officially, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials may paint a rosy picture and claim the rivers are pollution-free. Unofficially, they admit that despite the stringent mechanism put in place by the board, things will not improve till industrialists, particularly those owing stone-crushing units, ‘discipline’ themselves.
“Till that happens, which is highly unlikely, pollutants will continue to flow into the Ravi and Beas," said Manjit Singh Dala, a Gurdaspur resident who lives near a polluted drain that flows in front of Abul Khair gurdwara.

Main violators
The economy of Pathankot is based on stone-crushing. The town is situated in the foothills where the Chakki, Ravi and Beas enter the plains and deposit boulders. There are 211 stone-crushers in and around the town. Though the PPCB authorities claim that these units are not allowed to operate till they get ‘air and water pollution consent’ certificates, yet many flout norms with impunity. Earlier, a majority of them were located near the Chakki river near Mirthal. Now these units have shifted to the banks of the Ravi.
A senior PPCB official admitted that in the past one month, seven crushers had been sealed. But sources claimed that this step was a mere eyewash as 50-odd units were still polluting the Ravi. Environmentalists say rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and non-sustainable development have led to the establishment of a number of industries and commercial complexes which, in turn, have aggravated the problem of water pollution.

Urban water pollution
Shocking, but true. There are nine municipal councils (MCs) in this border district. Barring one, the rest are not in a financial position to install sewage treatment plants (STP). Lack of STPs is leading to water pollution in almost all major towns of the district. The PPCB has now initiated the process of issuing notices to erring MCs. Paramjit Singh, Executive Engineer, PPCB, said that industrialists flouting pollution norms were not being spared.
“The PPCB is very strict as far as enforcing norms are concerned. We are not allowing effluents to be discharged into the Ravi, Beas, Chakki and Ujh and anybody found to be violating rules is being issued notices,” he claimed.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Kabaddi palyer Talwinder Singh had died in a freak accident

Bathinda, October 14
Kabaddi palyer Talwinder Singh had died in a "freak accident" caused by leakage of electric current from a streetlight pole, according to a preliminary inquiry by the Municipal Corporation.
"There was no dereliction of duty or negligence on the part of any of our employees," said municipal commissioner Vipul Ujwal. "It looks like a freak accident," he said.
Talwinder's parents are too shocked to react to their son's death. His coach Harjinder Singh alleged sheer negligence on part of the MC authorities that caused the death.
Talwinder Singh was the only child of his parents, who make a modest living. "The family had pinned its hopes on Talwinder's rising kabaddi career," said Harjinder Singh.
The preliminary investigation refers to checking of streetlights in the city as a part of maintenance works. A day before the incident (October 10), the light point had been checked. The department report did not point to the need for any repair.
The incident took place around 10.30 pm on October 10, when Talwinder, a young kabaddi player from Bhawanigarh, touched the live wire while trying to cross the road. The pole is installed at the divider on a 100-ft road and is frequently used by students.
"The choke was out of order. So, the wires were live. Despite the fact that it is a fenced area, people continue to use it and put their lives in danger," said Ujwal.
Coach Harjinder recalled the sequence leading up to the tragedy. He said the same day another junior class student of Dasmesh School too had received a shock from the same pole. "The school guard told us that the current was leaking from the pole," Harjinder said, adding it would seem the MC authorities did nothing. His statement is also a part of the report that has been given to the municipal commissioner.
Harjinder said as soon as the DSP (detective) Ranjeet Singh was informed about the incident, he reached the hospital and called the SDO of the power department. "The SDO checked the pole and found current running in it. The SDO then said that the pole fell under the MCB. Thereafter, the DSP directed the SDO to disconnect mains connection so that more lives could be saved," he said.
DSP Ranjeet Singh said that police was yet to receive the report from MCB. "We will decide about the FIR lodged in this case only after receiving a copy of the report," he said.
Promising career cut short
On October 10 - the day Talwinder died - his team from Sangrur stood second in the Punjab State School Games in the under-19 circle kabaddi events. The player was staying at Dasmesh School along with his team mates. Following his death, the police has registered a case of death due to negligence under Section 304 (A) against Municipal Corporation officials.

SLIET student dies as vehicle overturns on campus

Sangrur, October 14
Mahesh Kumar (20), a student of Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Longowal, died while 14 SLIET students got injured when the tractor-trailer they were travelling on overturned on the college premises this evening.
SLIET Public Relations Officer SS Punia said the mishap occured when these students were returning to the campus in the tractor-trailer. They had gone to immerse the idol of Goddess Durga in the Harigarh canal near Longowal.
All the injured were admitted to the civil hospital where Mahesh Kumar was declared brought dead.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Indu Malhotra, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu and Civil Surgeon Dr Subodh Gupta rushed to the civil hospital and supervised the arrangements.
The SSP said all the injured students were around 20 years old. He said three of the 14 injured, Parveen Kumar, Subodh Kumar and Alok Kumar, were in a critical condition and had been shifted to Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

IIT Ropar’s new campus gets approval

The Main Building of the Transit Campus of IIT Ropar situated in Rupnagar
Ropar, October 13
The students and staff members at Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar can hope for better facilities on campus as the IIT Board of Governors has approved the master plan of the new building that is to be set up on nearly 475 acres. The first phase of construction is likely to begin within the next 6 months
The management has already finalised the consultant and the construction company for building the four-storey building that will have a provision for vertical expansion.
IIT, Ropar, the first in the region, was set up by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development in 2008. The classes for academic session 2008-2009 were held at IIT, Delhi before it started functioning at its temporary campus in August 2009, earlier occupied by Women's Polytechnic, Ropar.
While the master plan is supposed to accommodate 10,000 students, the academic block will be set up for 2,500 students in the first phase. A total of 2,15,739 square metre area of the campus comprising academic and administration blocks with accommodation for staff and faculty along with sports and hostel facilities will be developed.
While three 450-bed hostels for boys will be constructed in the first phase, a 250-bed hostel for girls will also be built. Similarly, 350 flats measuring between 600 and 1,800 square yards will be built for faculty and other staff members.
The institute offers degrees in Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

Phailin hits 90 lakh people; 23 dead, lakhs of hom...

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: Phailin hits 90 lakh people; 23 dead, lakhs of hom...: 9 lakh evacuated from path of Cyclone Phailin Tropical Cyclone Phailin in the Bay of Bengal. Gopalpur - Cyclone 'Phailin' on...

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Sangrur tops in wheat production

Sangrur: Sangrur district has topped the country for the second consecutive year in wheat production with a per hectare yield of 5,170 kg, the district deputy commissioner informed officilas of the National Food Security Mission who were here to monitor the progress of NFS mission. He attributed Sangrur's success to the untiring efforts of the chief agriculture officer and his team.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

PGI's Sangrur centre to focus on liver, kidney diseases

SANGRUR - The satellite centre of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), whose foundation stone would be laid by union minister for health and family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad in Sangrur district on Thursday, would focus on special treatment of liver and kidney diseases.

As per sources in the PGIMER administration, besides normal specialities, emphasis will be laid on establishing superspeciality departments of hepatology (liver diseases) and nephrology (kidney diseases). "The decision has been taken done in view of high prevalence of alcoholic liver diseases and kidney diseases. The facilities will be augmented as per requirements," said Manju Wadwalkar, spokesperson for the Chandigarh-based premier institute.
The Punjab government has allocated 25 acres to the institute for setting up the satellite centre. The centre would have a 300-bedded hospital in the first phase with an outreach community health services programme in a predominantly rural population. The centre would have key medical and surgical departments with provision for residential quarters for faculty and staff.
According to the District Human Development Report 2010 of the United Nations Development Programme, the common causes of mortality in Sangrur district are respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, skin-related diseases, hematological diseases, ophthalmic diseases, diabetes, hypertension and cancer.
A population-based cancer registry (PBCR) has already been initiated by the PGIMER in the district in partnership with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
There will also be the provision of 24-hour emergency services along with out-patient (OPD) and in patient services (ward care).
According to a press release of the institute, the Sangrur centre will serve as a referral centre for health services in adjoining districts as well as to the PGIMER. Training of health staff and consultancy services to state health services would also be provided.
Presently, Sangrur district has one district hospital, three sub-divisional hospitals, six community health centers, 39 primary health centres and 68 subsidiary health centres, including rural dispensaries and 194 sub-centres.
According to the PGIMER, the satellite centre would fulfil the need for a specialist teaching and training health institution in the area.
 
Chief guest
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would be the chief guest at the satellite centre's foundation stone-laying function at Ghabdan village in Sangrur district. Minister of state for health and family welfare Santosh Chaudhary and Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla would be the guests of honour.

The foundation stone of a satellite centre of the PGI is scheduled to be laid at Sangrur on 10 October, Thursday.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Punjab announce new film policy, set up rural cinema halls

New Delhi, September 28
Punjab will come up with a new film policy within two months that will enshrine the concept of rural cinema halls claimed to be first of its kind in the country.
Aimed at providing entertainment facilities to villagers, the state proposes to set up cinema halls in villages having one or two screens with a capacity of 100 seats.
"It will help entertainment of rural masses at low costs and provide impetus to production of more Punjabi and other languages films in the state," said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal while deliberating on the film policy for Punjab drafted by the National Film Development Corporation.
Chaired by Sukhbir, the meeting was attended by Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Principal Secretary (Tourism) Geetika Kalha, besides corporation chairman Ramesh Sippy and its Managing Director Nina Lath Gupta.

Sangrur, Faridkot, Barnala get new DCs

Chandigarh, September 28
The Punjab Government today issued the transfer orders of seven IAS and 15 PCS officers. A spokesman said IAS officer Kumar Rahul had been posted the Director General of School Education.
Indu Malhotra has been made Sangrur Deputy Commissioner, Gurlovleen Singh Sidhu of Barnala and Mohammad Tayyab of Faridkot.
Joram Beda has been posted the ADC, Mansa, and Sonali Giri the ADC (D), Bathinda. The services of Vipul Ujwal have been placed at the disposal of the Department of Local Government for posting as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Bathinda.
Other postings are: Baldev Singh, ADC (D), Ludhiana; Rajeev Prashar, ADC, Bathinda, and Secretary, RTA, Bathinda and Ferozepur; Gurpreet Singh Khaira, ADC, Kapurthala and Secretary, RTA, Jalandhar; GPS Sahota, SDM, Patran; Poonamdeep Kaur, SDM, Sangrur; Gurpreet Singh Thind, DTO, Patiala; Damanjit Singh Mann, SDM, Bathinda, in addition to DTO, Bathinda, and SDM, Maur; Sikha Bhagat, AC (General), Jalandhar, and Amarjit, AC (General), Ajitgarh.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Three held with Rs 2.52 lakh fake currency

Sangrur, September 25
The district police today arrested three persons and claimed to have busted a gang allegedly involved in circulating fake currency in the market. They also seized fake currency worth Rs 2.52 lakh.

The accused reportedly were in contact with a Bihar resident and exchanged Rs 70,000 of genuine Indian currency with fake currency worth Rs 1 lakh.

Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sangrur, said the arrested persons were Gurdit Singh and Rajiv Kumar, both residents of Laad Banjara village (near Dirba), and Krishan Chand of Brahampura village. They had confessed to circulating fake currency worth Rs 25 lakh in the market so far, the SSP said. A case has been registered.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Farm tourism scheme launched in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: In a bid to attract tourists to the villages, the Punjab government has launched a Farm Tourism Scheme in Punjab aiming at providing an interesting and relaxing rural tourism to the visitor and also ensuring them adequate exposure to local community life besides enjoying the pure Punjabi cuisine. The focus on Farm Tourism would also bring back the people especially the younger generations of non-resident Indian Punjabi families to the basic Punjabi cultural values and ethos. Detailed information in this regard could be sought from the official website of Punjab Tourism department i.e.www.punjabtourism.gov.in.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab government said that detailed guidelines have already been chalked out to rope in progressive farmers and farmhouse owners across the state of Punjab. Under the scheme, a farmhouse owner would play the host and guide to the visitors. Those enrolling under the scheme would have to provide clean, hygienic environment, equipped with modern facilities that meet the standards defined by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board, she said.
Giving details, she said the farmhouse owner would provide home cooked food, comfortable accommodation and tell the visitors about the local agricultural practices like floricultural, harvesting bee-keeping and dairying. Besides the farm experience, visitors would also be exposed to local festivals and marriages. The quality of services offered by the farm owners would be verified by the district authority as well as the tourism department. The department would also provide mandatory training and technical know-how to the farm owners. Preference would be given to farms which have agricultural land attached and only farmhouses with minimum two rooms would be registered, she added.
Adding further, she said that the visitors could also participate or witness rural games such as wrestling, kite flying and bullock cart rides or tractor rides. Besides this arrangements such as taking bath at the tube well could be another attraction and a unique feature for both adults and children from urban areas. The registration of the farm houses under this scheme would be valid for five years initially subject to periodic inspection by a committee constituted by the PHTPB.
The Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board may cancel the registration in the event of any serious and justified complaint of any nature particularly about standards of service, cleanliness, courtesy, standards of food served etc. The farm houses registered could not be used for any other purpose except tourism, she added.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

NRI Amloh youth killed in US cremated

Amloh, August 24
The body of a youth named Manpreet, who was murdered in US, was brought and cremated at his native village, Majri Kishnewali, today. Manpreet was shot dead at a petrol pump in South Lake Tahoe city. He worked as a clerk at the pump.
Surveillance video showed a thin man, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, shoot Manpreet. The man was wearing a mask. Avtar Singh Bhamarsi, who brought the body from US, said, “Manpreet Singh Ghuman (27) worked in South Lake Tahoe city in El Dorado County in California.”
Non Resident Indian (NRI) Satnam Singh Chahal, North American Punjab Association activist, said, “The Punjabi community in the US was shocked by the incident.”
Former minister Randhir Singh Cheema, SAD vice-president and councillor Darshan Singh Cheema and SGPC member Ravinder Singh Khalsa were present.

Chief Justice inaugurates Gurdaspur judicial complex

Gurdaspur, August 24
Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Sanjay Kishan Kaul today inaugurated a state-of-the-art multistoried judicial complex here.
The complex has been built at a cost of Rs 44 crore and has 17 courtrooms, a spacious library, a canteen and a bank. The foundation stone of the building was laid by Justice Ranjit Singh, the then Administrative Judge, Sessions Division, Gurdaspur, on March 26, 2011.
The project had hit a roadblock following a scarcity of construction material although the authorities kept insisting that the construction was being delayed due to "technical reasons".
Those present on the occasion included 12 judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, besides Gurdaspur District and Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar Garg, Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Trikha and members of the District Bar Association.
Later, the judges' entourage moved to Pathankot where Chief Justice Kaul inaugurated a similar judicial complex. Pathankot District and Sessions Judge Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Chief Judicial Magistrate Randhir Verma, Deputy Commissioner Siben C and Senior Superintendent of Police SK Kalia were present.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Punjab Govt. will give legal aid to Gujarat’s Sikh farmers: Badal

Asks officers to show due respect to elected panches
Patiala, August 4
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said he would meet national BJP president Rajnath Singh over the issue of eviction of Sikh farmers from their land in Kutch. He said he had already formed a delegation under Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to take up the matter with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the swearing-in of the newly elected sarpanches and panches here today, the Chief Minister said his government was serious on solving the problems of the Sikh farmers in Gujarat.“Our government will ensure free legal aid to these farmers who are fighting their case in the Supreme Court. I will meet Rajnath Singh to get some respite for them,” he said. Expressing concern at the rising trend of migration from villages to cities in Punjab, Badal said he had instructed officers to acquaint themselves with the problems being faced by village residents. He said he had issued instructions to the officers to interact with elected representatives and solve the problems of the people. “The growing trend of migration from villages to the cities needs to be checked and the foremost step in this direction is to provide basic amenities in rural areas on a par with those in urban areas,” he said.
Surging crowds
  • The police had a tough time controlling the gathering with kin of the sworn-in panchayat members vying for a seat in the front row
  • The lure of laddoos almost led to a stampede
  • The CM was handed over a cheque for Rs 51 lakh by Kali Mata Mandir Committee for rebuilding the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand
The Chief Minister assured Rs 1,700 crore for rural roads and Rs 1,607 crore for drinking water. Addressing the newly elected sarpanches and panches, he directed the officers to give them due respect. “Any complaint of misbehaviour with the representatives of the people will be dealt with strictly,” he warned.Badal alleged that the UPA Government, instead of helping Punjab in crop diversification, was creating hurdles in the way. “The Union Government is not helping Punjab by denying minimum support price (MSP) and support mechanism to alternative crops like maize and sugarcane,” he said. Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mantar Singh Brar and other local leaders accompanied the Chief MinisterLudhiana: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that by not transferring Chandigarh to Punjab, the Centre had done grave injustice to the state. He was in city to administer oath to the newly elected panches. He, however, said: “We can't launch a morcha for every demand of ours.” He alleged that the UPA Government had ruined the state's industry by giving incentives to neighbouring states. Badal said the Punjab farmers were reeling under a huge debt of Rs 30,000 crore owing to the “wrong policies” of the Centre.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Uranium found in water of 57 villages in Sangrur

Sangrur: The Malwa belt continues to battle with the deadly uranium as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has detected uranium in the groundwater at 57 villages of four blocks -- Dhuri, Malerkotla-1, Malerkotla-2 and Sherpur -- of this district.

In its report, the BARC has stated the presence of uranium in water. A total of 189 samples were taken of which the water of 132 villages was declared safe from uranium.
The World Health Organisation says 30 microgram (one microgram is one-thousandth of a milligram) of uranium per litre of drinking water is the permissible limit. But in this latest report, the uranium has been found above the tolerable level in these villages.
Uranium creates diseases like cancer and genetic problems among humans.
In Dhuri block, the water at Banganwali, Bararwal, Benra, Bhojowali, Bhuller Heri, Daulatpur, Dhura, Dohla, Harchandpur, Hasanpur, Kandhargarh, Kanjla, Kanjli, Kheru, Ladda, Manna, Meerheri, Mimsan, Natt, Palasaur, Punawal and Rajjo Majra villages has failed the tests.
In Malerkotla-1 and 2 blocks, the water at Badshahpur, Chanunda, Dolwal, Hathan, Hathoa, Jalalgarh, Khanpur, Narike, Police quarters, Albelpura, Bhutan, Bir Imamgarh, Burj, Kup Kalan, Madeui, Manki, Mohali Khurd, Mubarakpur, Nau Dhrani and Qasba Bharal villages was affected.
The water samples of Malerkotla government college, police quarters and the court complex, Malerkotla, were also declared affected with uranium.
In Sherpur block, the water of 12 villages -- Alal, Badhi, Badshahpur, Dhandiwal, Ghanaur Khurd, Kala Bula, Kaleran, Mahmad Pur, Mulowal, Punnawal, Rangian and Wajidpur -- also failed the tests.
All 189 samples were taken from a depth of 400-500 ft.
An official said that after the report, the administration had recommended the installation of reverse osmosis systems in these villages. The official said the government had been sounded about the report and the process of installing ROs had been started.
Experts claimed that the government should go in for some other technique to decontaminate the water as the RO system could not neutralise the effect of uranium and other heavy metals.

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: Ludhiana-Delhi Shatabdi via Sangrur to run seven d...

Ludhiana-Delhi Shatabdi via Sangrur to run seven d...: The bi-weekly Shatabdi train between Ludhiana and Delhi will run seven days a week, Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said in Ro...

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: Sangrur students selected to visit Nasa

Sangrur students selected to visit Nasa: SANGRUR: Six students of a Sangrur village school have been selected to visit NASA(US). The students of Tara convent school of Malerkotla ...

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Former Batala SP wanted for abetting suicide arrested in Zirakpur

SP alleged abetting 23-year-old Loveleen Kaur's fatal jump from his flat in Zirakpur

Derabassi, June 27: Superintendent of police (SP) Mohan Lal was finally arrested on Wednesday for allegedly abetting 23-year-old Loveleen Kaur's fatal jump from his flat in Zirakpur on May 17. A 50-year-old married man, Lal is alleged to have kept the Gurdaspur woman at his flat and raped her after a ‘fake’ wedding and the promise of a police job.
Police said Lal gave himself in near a resort around 1 pm, having arrived in his private vehicle and civil clothes.
Posted at Batala at the time of the crime, Lal was booked on Monday on the complaint of Loveleen’s father Lakhwinder Singh, a head constable who worked under Lal when he was posted at Batala. Lakhwinder had initially caved under the officer’s pressure but fleshed out the allegations after a human rights organisation also backed him.
Dera Bassi SP (detective) Balwinder Singh Brar, who heads the special investigation team (SIT) in the case, said the arrest became possible after the police “mounted tremendous pressure by conducting raids at the possible hideouts of SP Mohan Lal in Rajpura and surrounding villages”. Brar said that Lal, who was transferred from his post as SP (headquarters) at Batala to the Punjab Police crime branch HQ in Chandigarh after the suicide, was on leave since. “We will now seek his remand from the court tomorrow (Thursday),” Brar said.

As for the addition of charges of rape, assault and evidence-destruction, Brar said that would be done after getting the forensic report of Loveleen’s viscera and interrogation of Lal. Sources have said the accused SP or his wife thrashed Loveleen before she jumped and they removed bloodstains from the balcony as they fled.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Four-laning of Zirakpur-Bathinda highway in limbo

The Zirakpur-Bathinda National Highway

Centre terminates contract, says start process afresh

Chandigarh, June 24
The four-laning of the Zirakpur-Bathinda national highway is set to be delayed by a year as the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways has decided to terminate the contract of the project given to two private companies.

"Ministry officials have conveyed to us at a meeting in Delhi to prepare for fresh tendering, which will take at least six to nine months as the process to terminate the existing contract has been set in motion," said Ashok Singla, Chief Engineer, PWD, Punjab.

The Rs 2,500-crore contract for four-laining of the 215-km-long highway, considered a lifeline for connectivity of the core Malwa region, was allotted in March last year.

"At the meeting, officials of both the companies informed the ministry that they would not take up the work on this project due to escalation in the prices of raw material used for road construction and unnecessary delay in getting various clearances," said Singla.

A decision on whether to forfeit Rs 50-crore security of both the companies would be taken by the ministry officials concerned. However, the companies have taken the plea that their security should be refunded. The PWD has been handling the project on behalf of the Union Ministry and the National Highway Authority of India.

To make a fresh beginning, a consultant would be appointed in a few days. "Immediately after appointing the consultant, a detailed project report will be prepared. Fresh financial model of the project will be prepared and the traffic load on the highway will be assessed afresh," said Singla.

After this, the project report would be sent to the Private Public Participation Appraisal Committee of the Union Government for clearance. "We are sure to prepare a fresh project report by July-end. Finally, this project will go for approval to the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, headed by the Prime Minster," he said, adding: "We hope to start the work early next year."

Hits Roadblock 

  • The Rs 2,500-crore contract for four-laining of the 215-km-long highway was allotted in March last year
  • Contractors had refused to take up the work due to escalation in the prices of raw material and undue delay in getting clearances

Punjab sends relief material for Uttarakhand victims


Rishikesh, June 25

Punjab Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab, Navjot Kaur Sidhu today reached Rishikesh  along with 6 truckloads of relief material, including medicines, eatables, blankets, clothes and other necessary items.
She also offered voluntary service for pilgrims.

Jathedars from Amritsar and Jalandhar are accompanying her. They also received stranded pilgrims being rescued in helicopters and buses in Rishikesh.

Dr Sidhu said she intended to distribute the relief material among flood victims, but was appalled at the local administration's apathy as nobody came forward to either get the material unloaded or ensuring its proper distribution to the needy.

She said they themselves unloaded the material and kept it at Paramarth Niketan Ashram where they were provided rooms for the purpose. She said the situation at the ground level was grim as the administration was nowhere in the picture while the flood victims were crying for help.

She met Parmarth Niketan chief Swami Chidanand Muni and apprised him of the Punjab Government’s help to the affected people of the state.

She also attended aarti at the Parmarth Niketan Ganga ghat and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Punjab hires pvt chopper to evacuate pilgrims from Hemkunt Sahib

Chandigarh, 20 June 2013 - The Punjab government has hired a private helicopter to airlift the pilgrims stuck at Hemkund Sahib and its surrounding areas in Uttarakhand following flash floods, cloudbursts and landslips, triggered by incessant 340-mm downpour.

On the directions of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who despite being on a visit abroad is continuously monitoring the current situation, the Punjab government has also constituted a four-member team of senior officers that has already left for Dehradun to monitor the ongoing rescue operations and ensure the safe return of the Sikh pilgrims, who had been trapped at Hemkund Sahib due to bad weather, causing road blockades at several places.

The team would further visit Joshimath and Hemkund Sahib to minutely observe and coordinate the rescue operations. Punjab Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, along with his officers, is keeping constant liaison with Uttarakhand administration to provide all type of help and support for this massive rescue operation at war footing.

Two days back, Badal had directed the Chief Secretary to extend all help and support to the Uttarakhand government in launching a massive operation to rescue the victims, who had been stuck on the way to Hemkund Sahib due to heavy rains and road blockades at several places.

The Chief Minister had also directed the state government to take immediate necessary measures to ensure the safe homecoming of the Sikh pilgrims. Thousands of pilgrims had been trapped as Hemkund Sahib had been cut off from rest of the state due to bad weather followed by floods. Acting on the Chief Minister’s direction, Chief Secretary and Ropar MLA Daljit Singh Cheema had established a contact with the Uttarakhand government.

“The Punjab government is providing all type of assistance to the Uttarakhand government as rescue operation was going on at war footing,” claimed a state government spokesperson. A team, led by Special Secretary Education K S Pannu and DIG Khubi Ram and assisted by other police officers, has left for Dehradun to monitor the entire ongoing rescue operation.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

SAD ‘solidly’ behind BJP: Badal

Phagwara, June 16
On a day when the JD(U) severed its ties with the NDA, the BJP-led coalition's key partner Shiromani Akali Dal's patron Parkash Singh Badal today said his party was "solidly" behind the BJP and did not believe in “interfering” in their internal matters.

The five-time Chief Minister asserted, “Akalis were with BJP solidly and will continue to be so.” Badal claimed all will shake hands with BJP after the general election. “Though every party, including the JD(U), has its own interest uppermost in its mind, yet all will shake hands with BJP after the general election,” he told reporters at Khatti village here.

“The real combinations will emerge after the Lok Sabha poll," the 85-year-old Akali veteran said. His reply came when reporters asked to comment on the JD(U)-BJP rift, besides its implications on the NDA prospects.

The veteran Akali politician claimed the BJP will emerge as the single largest party after the next Lok Sabha elections as “voters will reject the Congress”. "Voters will prefer throwing their votes in 'khuh' (well) rather than voting for the Congress,” he said. He also did not see much possibility of emergence of a Third Front.

On whether he had approached the JD(U) or other BJP allies in the wake of recent developments within the NDA, he said, “Although I want that all the NDA partners should go along cordially, I haven't approached any ally..."

When asked that clouds of “disintegration” of the NDA had started looming large after the BJP anointed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the party's election campaign chief, Badal said "the SAD was with the BJP solidly and will continue to be so". He said that neither the BJP nor the SAD has ever interfered in each other's internal matters, which has further cemented the alliance between the two.

To another query, Badal said building a memorial for terrorism victims could disturb the state’s hard-earned peace. He was reacting to a demand by the Congress for having a memorial for those killed in Punjab during the dark days of terrorism.

On regional parties being brought under the purview of the Right to Information Act, he said he was not against the idea “but the process will complicate the situation”.

Badal refused to agree with the Congress’ contention that panchayat elections would disturb the schedule of the farmers during the paddy season. He also said neither he nor his deputy Sukhbir Badal will intervene in the elections.

AICC reshuffle: Capt rehabilitated, Jagmeet snubbed

Party high command also chooses to rely on young guns by elevating Sekhri and Nagra as secretaries

Chandigarh, June 16
The Congress high command today rehabilitated former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh by making him a permanent invitee to the top decision-making body of the party — the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

The CWC reshuffle also saw Ambika Soni, senior leader and Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, becoming a major power centre. She has been appointed as the general secretary in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and will also be the general secretary in charge of the Congress president's office.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC), however, has delivered a snub to former MP and senior leader Jagmeet Brar, who no longer remains a CWC member. Besides being a special invitee to the CWC, Brar was also in charge of a few states. The Congress has also put its faith in youth leaders, two of whom have been appointed as secretaries in the new-look AICC.

Sources said though the party had rehabilitated Amarinder Singh, who was in a limbo for a brief span after the elevation of Gurdaspur MP Partap Bajwa as Punjab unit chief in March, it stopped short of giving him a more effective role despite speculation that he would be adjusted as a general secretary.

The AICC reshuffle is bad news for Jagmeet Brar, who earlier lost the race for the Punjab Congress Committee (PCC) chief’s post to Bajwa. The senior leader had become active in the state recently. Party sources are reading Brar's ouster as a signal that the party wants to strengthen the new PCC president at this crucial juncture.

The Congress high command has also chosen to ignore other senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, and has shown faith in the youth. Prominent Hindu leader and three-time legislator Ashwani Sekhri and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's loyalist and Fatehgarh Sahib legislator Kuljeet Nagra have been made secretaries.

The party has also chosen to appoint Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee as special invitee to the CWC. By doing so, the party has chosen to give due representation to the Dalit community in the AICC.

Party observers said besides rehabilitating Amarinder, which was necessary keeping in view that the former CM still wielded considerable influence in the state Congress, the reshuffle has Rahul Gandhi's stamp all over it. According to a formula that has been much discussed, the party has gone in for a Dalit, Jat Sikh and Hindu combination while choosing Kaypee, Nagra and Sekhri. The three also represent a generational shift in Punjab politics, which, sources said, has been supervised by Rahul Gandhi.

After the reshuffle, Amarinder Singh expressed his gratitude to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for inducting him into the CWC.

Rs 1,900-crore Amritsar-Bathinda highway project set to take off

Chandigarh, June 16
The Public Works Department (PWD) is gearing up to initiate work on the four-laning of two important national highways allotted to it by the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways. These are Amritsar-Bathinda national highway via Verka-Tarn Taran-Mudki-Kotkapura-Baja Khanna-Jida and Jalandhar-Moga-Barnala-Khanuri (Sangrur).
"We have completed most of the paper work and the process is on to acquire land for widening the 175-km-long Amritsar-Bathinda highway, a project worth Rs 1900 crore. Documents have been submitted to seek mandatory clearances from the authorities concerned in the Centre. The project will have a bypass at Nehurashara Pannua, Zira, Harik, Talwandi and Kotkapura," said Ashok Singla, Chief Engineer, PWD.
He said: "We have set the timeline to allot the tenders in September. The work on the Jalandhar-Moga-Khanuri highway is expected to start by the end of this year".
"We have planned the widening of these highways in such a manner that these would actually become expressways. There will be flyovers, railway over-bridges (ROBs) and bypasses to overcome traffic bottlenecks," said Singla.
"The Jalandhar-Moga-Khanuri (Sangrur) highway will extend up to Jind in Haryana. However, the PWD will deal with the portion falling in Punjab. These projects will be toll based and constructed under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode".
Most of the highways are constructed under the supervision of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). However, in Punjab, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has allocated three highways to the PWD.
As contractors have been facing problems in getting raw material for widening roads and other development works, the government is likely to issue short-term permits for mines, which they would have to identify themselves to extract sand, gravel etc.
"We have a policy to lease out mines, but the person(s) concerned has to pay the average auction price to take a mine on lease," said a senior official of the Industry Department. He said at present, there was a policy to give short-term permits to brick kilns.
 
Smooth Drive 
  1. The process is on to acquire land for widening the 175-km-long Amritsar-Bathinda highway
  2. Documents have been submitted to seek mandatory clearances from the authorities concerned in the Centre
  3. The project will have a bypass at Nehurashara Pannua, Zira, Harike, Talwandi and Kotkapura
  4. The tenders are most likely to be floated in September
  5. There will be flyovers, railway over-bridges and bypasses to overcome traffic bottlenecks

Rain hits Agri Dept’s diversification plan

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 16
The Agriculture Department’s plan of encouraging farmers to diversify and grow maize may not see the light of day. Heavy rainfall in the district has made it difficult for farmers to prepare the fields in time for the monsoon that is likely to arrive early.
The department had set a target of facilitating the cultivation of maize on 4,500 hectares. It was to provide subsidy of Rs 40.5 lakh on 900 quintals of maize seed worth Rs 1.62 crore.
Concerned about the depleting water table in the district, the department had been holding seminars at villages, urging farmers to grow other crops.
This had started yielding results as many farmers had assured officials of sowing maize that offered better remuneration.
Gurdev Singh, a farmer, said those who have sown maize must regret their decision as the recent rain would have harmed their crop.
District Chief Agriculture Officer Jasvir Singh Bains said if it continued to rain for the next few days, farmers would not be able to prepare the land for maize cultivation.

Washed Away Plans
  1. The department had set a target of facilitating the cultivation of maize on 4,500 hectares.
  2. It was to provide subsidy of Rs 40.5 lakh on 900 quintals of maize seed worth Rs 1.62 crore.

Tearful adieu to CPI leader Satya Pal Dang

Amritsar, June 16
The mortal remains of veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang, who was in the forefront of the battle against terror in Punjab, were consigned to flames with full state honours here today.

Hundreds of mourners, including family members, friends, admirers and leaders across political spectrum, bade a tearful adieu to him at the Naraingarh crematorium.

While no senior politician from the ruling Akali Dal was present, hundreds of Communist party workers and leaders, including CPI national secretary Amarjit Kaur, paid tributes to Dang.

Prominent among others present were former Punjab minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla (BJP), Congress leader Rajkumar Verka, former Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Darbari Lal and District Congress Committee chief Jugal Kishore Sharma.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh laid a wreath to pay tributes to the veteran leader on behalf of the state government.

Anil Dang, nephew of the communist leader, lit the pyre as a contingent of Punjab Police reversed arms and fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

The CPI youth brigade, comprising boys and girls wearing red shirts and holding red flags, also attended the funeral. Earlier, a large number of people thronged Dang’s house to pay their last respects. Later, the body was kept in the party office for public to pay homage.

Dang, a firebrand leader of the student movement, died here yesterday after protracted illness at the age of 92. He was elected four times to the Punjab Assembly from Amritsar. He was also the state Food Minister in 1967.

At the height of terrorism in Punjab in the 1980s, Dang was vocal and active against the forces of secession. His wife Vimla Dang, also a CPI leader, died in May 2009. The couple, who had waged a relentless fight for the downtrodden, opted not to have any child as they did not want to divert their attention from people's struggle.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Largest NRI News Portal: Singer Nachattar Gill booked for rape

The NRI Post - Largest NRI News Portal: Singer Nachattar Gill booked for rape: Ludhiana, June 13 Noted Punjabi pop singer Nachattar Gill and three others have been booked for allegedly raping and duping an aspiring ...

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Avtar Henry’s citizenship issue: Notice issued to Centre on PIL

Chandigarh, April 8
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice to the Union Home Ministry on a PIL filed by Jalandhar-based RTI activist Ajay Seghal for becoming party to the revision petition filed by former minister Avtar Henry against the termination of his Indian citizenship. Sehgal had brought Avtar Henry’s citizenship issue under the judicial scanner.

Taking up the matter, Justice RN Raina issued a notice to Union Home Secretary and to Avtar Henry for April 23.

Directing Jalandhar Commissioner of Police to examine the complaint against Punjab's former minister regarding his citizenship, the High Court in December last year had made it clear that an FIR would have to be registered in case the allegations were prima facie found to be true.

The Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain had directed the Commissioner to examine the complaint dated September 27, 2012, filed by Sehgal and to order registration of an FIR against him, if a prima facie case was found to have been made out, within two months.

Sehgal, through advocate HC Arora, had stated that Avtar Henry acquired the British citizenship in 1969 under the name of Avtar Singh. He came to India on the British passport the same year and obtained an Indian passport, which was renewed from time to time. He also registered himself as a voter in the Jalandhar (North) constituency and contested the elections in 1986, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012.

HC notice to UT, Punjab on PIL

Chandigarh, April 8
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Centre and authorities in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on a public interest litigation seeking a ban on cancer-causing agents.

The PIL claimed there was a nexus between government officials and the industry, due to which carcinogens made their way into the consumer market. “The unholy nexus and collusion between the industry and public servants leads to a situation which results in mortality and morbidity of a large number of people, which is no less than cold-blooded murder,” the PIL filed by Hemant Goswami said.

He has sought a ban on “all cancer-causing agents identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)”.

In his petition, Goswami stated: “The WHO and its affiliate IARC has, in its over 50 years of research, identified hundreds of agents (carcinogens)... Despite such carcinogens having been clearly identified, the government does nothing and such cancer-causing agents frequently make way into the market... and are used in various industries to which people are exposed, and thereby it has resulted in increased cancer prevalence in India”.

He also sought suitable arrangements to compensate and provide damages to anyone exposed to carcinogens at his workplace or otherwise.

DPS branch opens in Sangrur

Sangrur, A branch of Delhi Public School (DPS) was inaugurated by Ashok Chandra (a retired IAS officer), chairman of the Delhi Public School Society, New Delhi, on 7th April, 2013.

He assured the gathering that the school would provide high quality education to its students.

He said this would help them become leaders of tomorrow and overcome many obstacles in their lives.

Dr Harish Dhillon, who is the educational advisor to the school, broadly explained the education policy of the school. Dhillon is also the former Headmaster of Lawrence Public School, Sanawar.

Kulwinder Singh, Director (Administration), spoke about the aims and objectives of setting up the school here.

Among others present on the occasion included GS Grewal, former IAS officer, Baldish Singh Toor, president of the school, and pro-Vice Chairman Dr Ravi Sher Singh Toor.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Hola Mahalla

Hola Mohalla or Hola Mahalla or simply Hola is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet which usually falls in March. This, by a tradition estabished by Guru Gobind Singh, follows the Hindu festival of Holi by one day; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi.

The word "Mohalla" is derived from the Arabic root hal (alighting, descending) and is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column. But unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle colored powder, dry or mixed in water, on each other, the Guru made Hola Mohalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles.

Together the words "Hola Mohalla" stands for "mock fight". During this festival, processions are organised in the form of army type columns accompanied by war-drums and standard-bearers and proceeding to a given spot or moving in state from one gurdwara to another. The custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh who held the first such mock fight event at Anandpur in February 1701.

Background
The foothills of the Shivaliks in Ropar district of Punjab's north-eastern region, especially around the historic townships of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib, have, since 1701 been playing host to Hola Mohalla. Recently, the Indian government accorded it the status of a national festival. The military exercise, which was personally supervised by the guru, was carried out on the bed of the River Charan Ganga with the famous Hindu temple of Mata Naina Devi in the Shivaliks as the backdrop.

This annual festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and now replicated at other Gurdwaras worldwide was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, as a gathering of Sikhs for military exercises and mock battles on the day following the festival of Holi at Anandpur Sahib. It reminds the people of valour and defence preparedness, concepts dear to the Tenth Guru who was at that time defending the Sikhs from the attacks of the Mughal empire and the hill kings.

3 days of celebrations
On this three-day grand festival, mock battles, exhibitions, display of weapons, etc., are held followed by kirtan, music and poetry competitions. The participants perform daring feats, such as Gatka (mock encounters with real weapons), tent pegging, bareback horse-riding, standing erect on two speeding horses and various other feats of bravery.

There are also a number of Darbars where the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is present and kirtan and religious lectures take place. On the last day a long procession, led by Panj Pyaras, starts from Takhat Keshgarh Sahib, one of the five Sikh religious seats, and passes through various important Gurdwaras like Qila Anandgarh, Lohgarh Sahib, Mata Jitoji and terminates at the Takhat (Keshgarh).

For people visiting Anandpur Sahib, langars (voluntary community kitchens) are organized by the local people as a part of sewa (community service). Raw materials like wheat flour, rice, vegetables, milk and sugar are provided by the villagers living nearby. Women volunteer to cook and others take part in cleaning utensils and other manual tasks that need to be carried out. Traditional cuisine is served to the pilgrims who eat while sitting in rows on the ground. (Pangat)

The Festival of Hola Mahalla
An enlightened person has no identification. Their values are universal and in tune with the timeless state of existence. This timeless state of existence can be given any name like Akal Purukh, God, Raam, Rahim, Hari, Parmaatma etc. But these names point to the same ultimate truth. It is useless to worship any name unless it becomes your own experience.

In our own times, developing countries like India have brought tourism into the forefront, owing to the twin advantages of employment generation and capacity to earn foreign exchange. Recent studies, however, have also pointed out the negative effects such as the cultural erosion (of ones own identity), materialism, increase in crime, social conflicts, overcrowding (of the tourists?) and environmental deterioration, which have not only proved counter productive in some cases but have also led to strong opposition, especially in the case of the sexual based-tourism as has developed in Tailand and other under-developed countries, including even India (which involves profit seeking adults enslaving the young and innocent children of many 'third world countries". The only remedial measures to this is the strict adherence to the development of community/religious tourism and its allied branches.

In this brief paper an attempt is made to study the prospects and impact of community/religious tourism and its potential to develop and prosper. The case study is related to the Sikh community's celebrations of Hola Mahalla at Anandpur Sahib (the birth-place of the Khalsa in 1699) in Punjab, an event that coincides with the Indian festival of Holi celebrated all over North India. This study concludes that community oriented tourism, such as ones similar to Hola Mahalla, can bring economic benefits while promoting partnership with others even as we protect the unique Sikh cultural heritage. The paper briefly discusses the history of Hola Mahalla festival, which has been declared a State festival by the Government of Punjab. It also analyses the importance of community tourism and its impact on economic and socio-cultural environment vis-a vis the host community and tourism development.

Details
Hola Mahalla or simply Hola is a Sikh festival, which takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet, which usually falls in March. This follows the Hindu festival of Holi; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine noun Holi. Mahalia, derived from the Arabic root hal (alighting, descending), is a Punjabi word that implies an organized procession in the form of an army column accompanied by war drums and standard-bearers, and proceeding to a given location or moving in state from one Gurdwara to another.

This custom originated in the time of Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) who held the first march at Anandpur on Chet vadi 1, 1757 Bk (22nd February, 1701). Unlike Holi, when people playfully sprinkle colored powders, dry or mixed in water, on each other the Guru made Hola Mahalla an occasion for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles. This was probably done forestalling a grimmer struggle against the imperial power following the battle of Ninnohgarh in 1700. Holla Mahalla became an annual event held in an open ground near Holgarh, a Fort across the rivulet Charan Ganga, northwest of Anandpur sahib.

The popularity of this festival may be judged from the fact that out of five Sikh public holidays requested by the Khalsa Diwan, of Lahore in 1889, the Government approved only two - Holla Mahalla and the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Hola Mahalla is presently the biggest festival at Anandpur. It will be appropriate here to discuss briefly the town and the participants of this festival.

Anandpur
Anandpur (lit. City of Bliss) is situated on one of the lower spurs of the Shiwalik Hills in Ropar District of Punjab and is well connected with the rest of the country both by road and rail. It lies 31 Kms north of Rupnagar (Ropar) and 29 Kms south of Nangal Township. Being one of the supremely important pilgrimage centers of the Sikhs it has been reverently called Anandpur Sahib. It was here at Anandpur that on Baisakhi of 1699, Guru Gobind Singh gave birth to the Khalsa and baptised the the original Panj Piare and inaugurated the order of Saint-Soldiers (holy warriors) who pledged their dedication to defend, not only Sikhs, but thir fellow countyymen and their religious rights as well, in the tradition of one of India's greatest Martyrs Guru Tegh Bahadur who gave his life in the defense of the Hinduism on behalf of the Pandits of
Kashmir.

The order of the Khalsa, at the wish of Guru Gobind Singh's would henceforth be distinguished by five symbols, called the Five ks, viz. kes (uncut hair), kangha (comb), kachcha (a pair of shorts), kara (a steel bracelet) and kirpan (sword) so that they could easily be recognized by anyone under attack. Sikhs were further instructed to live to the highest ethical standards, and to be always ready to fight tyranny and injustice.
Holla Mahalla festival

Having been the abode of the last two human Gurus of the Sikhs for for more than 20 years, Anandpur Sahib was witness to many momentous events of Sikh history, including the Hola Mahalla festival, which is an annual feature. The festival has now lost much of its original military significance, but Sikhs in large numbers still assemble at Anandpur Sahib on this day and an impressive and colorful procession is taken out in which the Nihangs, in their traditional panoply, form the vanguard while parading their skill in the use of arms, horsemanship, tent-pegging, and other war-like sports.

Warlike sports of the Nihangs
Originally known as Akalis, the Nihngas or Nihang Singhs are endearingly designated as Guru's Knights or the Guru's beloved. They still carry the military ambience and heroic style that was cultivated during the lifetime of Guru Gobind Singh. Nihangs constitute a distinctive order among the Sikhs and are readily recognized by their dark blue loose apparel and their ample, peaked turbans festooned with quoits, insignia of the Khalsa and rosaries, all made of steel. They are always armed, and are usually seen mounted heavily laden with weapons such as swords, daggers, spears, rifles, shotguns, and pistols.

The word Nihang can be traced back to Persian nihang (alligator, sword) or to Sanskrit nishanka (fearless, carefree). In the former sense, it seems to refer to the reckless courage members of this order displayed in battle. In Guru Gobind Singh's writing, Var Sri Bhagauti Ji 47, it is used for swordsmen warriors of the vanguard. Whatever may be the origin the word Nihang, it signifies the characteristic qualities of the clan- their freedom from fear of danger or death, readiness for action and non-attachment to worldly possessions. During the eighteenth century, one of the confederate armies of the Dal Khalsa, constituted of the Nishanvalia misl chief, Naina Singh, whose style of tightly tied tall turban with a dumala gained currency and those who adopted the style were called Akali Nihangs.

The self-discipline and privilege they gained of convening at Akal Takht general assemblies of the Khalsa, brought the Nihangs into importance far out of proportion to their numbers or political authority. In the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the Akali Nihangs maintained their independent existence. Their leader Phoola Singh Nihang, then custodian of the Akal Takht, was the voice of the religious and the moral conscience of the State, and at times he even censured and chastised the sovereign himself.

The Nihangs are today divided into several groups, each with its own Chaoni (cantonment), but they are loosely organized into two Dals (forces) - Buddha Dal and the Taruna Dal. These names were initially given to the two sections into which the Khalsa army was divided in 1733. Buddha Dal has its Chaoni at Talvandi Sabo in Bhatinda District, while the main Chaoni of the Taruna Dal Nihangs is at Baba Bakala. in Amritsar District.

The week long festival of Hola Mahalla concludes at Gurdwara Holgarh Sahib (which stands on the site of Holgarh Fort), one and half Km northwest of town across the Charan Ganga rivulet. It was here that Guru Gobind Singh introduced in the spring of 1701 the celebration of Holla on the day following the Hindu festival of Holi . Unlike the playful sprinkling of colors as is done during Holi, the Guru made Holla an occasion to demonstrate skills in simulated battle, which is presently carried out by the Nihangs.

The Nihangs assemble in thousands at Anandpur Sahib in March every year to celebrate Hola Mahalla. On this occasion they hold tournaments of military skills, including mock battles. The most spectacular event at the Hola Mahalla is the magnificent procession of Nihangs on horses and elephants and on foot carrying a variety of traditional and modern weapons and demonstrating their skill in using them. The Hola Mahalla festival is unique and distinguishable from other festivals in that the Nihang have tried to preserve the traditional form and content as established during its inception, and strictly observed by the Akalis for more than three centuries.

The martial arts exhibited by the Nihangs provide a picture of their skills and traditions to the visitors as well as the tourist. Because of its great historical, socio-religious and military significance, the Hola Mahalla festival can impressively contribute to a greater awareness of Sikh heritage as well as foster sustainable development of community tourism.

Hola falls on

2013 28 Mar
2014 17 Mar
2015 6 Mar
2016 24 Mar
2017 13 Mar
2018 2 Mar
2019 21 Mar
2020 10 Mar