Patiala News - Patiala
June 14th, 2013
Santhi Soundrajan, the famous middle distance runner who was abodenednd from her medal of Asian Games after she failed a Gender test and quit work as a laborer, will be able to make her dreams come true very soon. She wanted to become a qualified coach for athletics and she will become one soon.
The pain and the suffering through which she has gone will soon turn out to be a thing from the past for her as the Sports authority of India have offered her an opportunity for pursuing a Diploma Course in athletics from the National Institute of sports, Bangalore.
The Sports Authority of India has written a letter to the state government of Tamil Nadu for funding the expenses of the athlete during the commencement of her course.
“Santhi will be taking up a Diploma course from National Institute of Sports, Bangalore for becoming a qualified coach. She has been given an accommodation for her stay at the institute, Patiala where she had been admitted originally for pursuing her course, but now upon her request, we are moving her to Bangalore, as it is more close to her hometown which is in Tamil Nadu,†the DG of the Sports Authority of India, Jiji Thomson said.
“She will be given a room outside the complex of the hostel while she will pursue her Diploma course for 2013-14 which will begin from 3rd July,†He said.
He also told the Sports Authority of India is awaiting a response from the government of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Secretary Ms/ Sheela Balakrisha on the plea of funding Santhi’s course.
“I wrote a letter to Sheela last week. We are still awaiting a response from her but we are also hoping that the government of Tamil Nadu will initiate in funding the expenses of Santhi.†He added.
It has been a tremulous journey for Santhi by far. She had become the cynosure of the people when she had won the silver medal in the year 2006 in the Doha Asian Games. But after she fails a Gender test, post the victory, she was soon stripped of her medal. She later on was made to work as a laborer in brick kiln in the state of Tamil Nadu.
In 2012 the country and the government woke up after hearing the news of a twenty six year old Santhi slogging an hour’s shift in the burning heat for earning a sum of just two hundred rupees a day.
The union government has taken cognizance of the issue and has promised Santhi that she will be given a seat in the National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
Another official of the Sports Authority of India has informed that she will be spending approximately ten months at NIS complex, Bangalore.
“Her Gender verification has been exposed for her admission for a Diploma course at NIS but some other terms and conditions for the admission will be followed. The DG of SAI, in March, this year, took up the case and protested against the idea of a Gender test and granted her permission for admission to the course in Patiala after him seeked advice from the Union sports minister.†An official told.
Santhi has been banned by the federation of Athletics of India from playing in any national or international competition after she failed the test in 2006.
June 13th, 2013
The tall claims by Punjab government of the state being power surplus fell flat on Monday, the terribly initial day of the paddy-sowing season, as the Power Corporation obligatory power cuts within the state starting from four to eight hours. The ability demand in Punjab rose by 1,000 MW on the primary day of the beginning of eight-hour power provide to the agriculture sector.
Against a requirement of 1,888 large integer units, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited managed to produce only 1,781 large integer units on Monday. The ability demand increased by 254 large integer units on one day and is about to more increase in the returning days. It touched a figure of 2,000 large integer units on Tuesday morning.
As the Nathpa Jhakri hydro power-station in Himachal Pradesh was out of production, the ability state of affairs in Punjab remained bleak on Monday. Punjab gets 4000 MW from this station.
The demand saw a steep hike attributable to operation of tubewells, and also the provide cut short by 400 MW thanks to the Nathpa Jhakri station. Thus, we were left with no alternative possibility however to impose cuts starting from eighty large integer units to one hundred twenty lakh units, explained an influence official managing power distribution in Patiala.
The PSPCL official admitted to imposing cuts starting from 30 minutes to one hour in cities, 3 to four hours in business, and 4 hours in rural areas, however the particular cuts are way more as residents of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Patiala  claimed power cuts for 5 to eight hours.
Sources said the PSPCL is additionally troubled concerning the irregular coal provide to its thermal plants, and isn’t running its thermal comes on full capacity, whereas hydro units are manufacturing additional power than that of previous year.
Meanwhile, rain on Tuesday afternoon in Patiala, Amritsar and some other areas relaxed the power demand, because the demand went down by 600 large integer units.
June 13th, 2013
Shiromani Akali dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann has been acquitted in an exceptionally offense case for the sixty fifth time. In the cases registered against him, as well as those of offense, it has been the eighty fifth case against the previous IPS officer, wherever he has been acquitted.
In this case, he had been blamed of calling Bhagat Singh a terrorist, one thing that the prosecution did not prove within the court.
Civil choose (junior division) Ranjeev Pal Singh Cheema in Patiala explained the judgment as the prosecution did not prove its case, thus Mann is clean-handed.
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Mann even explained that the judgment has cleared that Bhagat Singh was a terrorist and not a martyr.
Mann was reserved and inactive in 2007 for terming Bhagat Singh a petty terrorist. Throughout the trial, the prosecution tried to provide a number of freedom fighters, however they did not support the police’s read by claiming that they’d not given any statement to the police.
Mann, who left the police service when Operation Bluestar, said his acquittal was another blot on the Indian state.
Now, Mann faces solely 2 cases, one in all offense, registered at Bassi Pathana, and therefore the alternative of violation of Section 144 of the Criminal procedure Court unfinished at Sangrur
In Patiala Mann explained how the prosecution, within the past thirty years, has did not prove a single case against him. He do not recognize the exact variety, however it’s a minimum of sixty fifth offense case he actually have been clean-handed in. he also said that politicians and police have registered false cases against him and placed him in jail from time to time.
In Patiala Mann’s counsel Birjinder Singh Sodhi explained that when finishing the trial in the 2 remaining cases, wherever Mann was incorrectly involved, he would move the upper court for penalizing those officers who had registered false cases against his client.
June 13th, 2013
This Tuesday the Punjab Congress continued their complaint against Education.
Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, dharna was staged by party workers from Patiala district at the Sector 10-11-15-16 round about and raised slogans of shame, shame for Maluka who is responsible for the infamous ‘book scam’. Sandeep Hans, joint principal secretary, chief minister residence was given a memorandum.
Starting from Congress Bhawan in sector 15 Chandigarh the protestors marched to general hospital chowk. The Chandigarh police stopped the protestors when they started to walk towards the residence of the chief minister Punjab. The protest march was led by Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi, President DCC(rural) Patiala, Vice President PPCC, Tarlochan Soond MLA and others.
Maluka had violated all norms and ethics as Parampal Kaur, the daughter in law of maluka was brought on deputation by maluka from rural development department to the Education department and was given all administrative powers.
Channi doubts the involvement of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as he was defending the corrupt minister and had shown his moral impoverishment. He even expresses that if Maluka is innocent and he has not done anything unlawful then the Chief Minister should not be scared of impartial inquiry into the book scam.
The continuation of Maluka in office was leaving wrong impression on the school children at this character building age and teachers too find it difficult to explain to children why a minister who misused funds meant for their books is still continuing.
The Congress leaders conjointly submitted a memo to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal wanting strict CBI inquiry into thieving to the tune of crores of rupees within the central funds beneath Sarb Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), by the Education Minister.
The Congress leaders claimed immediate release of Maluka because of the text book scam in Patiala, otherwise the Congress would still raise the Chief Minister same time period and again why he was shielding the corrupt men in his cabinet
June 13th, 2013
City residents got a respite from soaring heat because the thick clouds enveloped town on Wednesday morning from 5:45am to 6.20am. However, the relief was transitory like simply 6.8 millimeter of downfall; Patiala became a pond of rain and exposing the sufferings of people and ill preparation of the municipal corporation (MC).
Though the municipal corporation has spent crores of rupees constructing new sewerage and drainage system, elevated declaration of the municipal corporation fell flat as the problem of water logging was informed from several areas. People suffered badly as the water level increased with the increase of downpour. All the people of Patiala are disappointed by such problems even before the arrival of monsoon. This small downpour have almost paralyzed their normal life.
Rainwater had sweptback into homes and have settled in the low-lying areas and tiny water puddles were seen all across town. Even before the arrival of monsoons, a quick spell of rain has exposed the municipal corporation’s seriousness and commitment towards making certain correct emptying of rain.
Some resident even explained how the problem of water logging has been persistent within the town for ages and now they have stopped relying on Municipal Corporation. Every year, rains bring along miseries for town. And now they create their own preventive measures to protect their belongings from rain.
In the low-lying areas, the Municipal Corporation has created new roads with square measure on top of the ground level, leading to rain getting into homes of individuals.
Heavy rains sometimes carry garbage into colonies, flood the homes with contaminated water resulting in happening of the many diseases and peoples of Patiala said this is the worst problem they had to face.
The meteorological department has foretold that for next four days short spells of rain with cloudy forecast.
June 13th, 2013
A week after presentation of a brand new industrial policy in Patiala, the authorities is all set to create the method of obtaining new power connections simple and trouble free. The new system of on-line applications, opening from june fifteen, will ensure that customers area unit ready to save time and efforts in obtaining clearances for an influence association.
At present, the customers got to monitor in person the progress of their application. Currently a consumer-friendly service of accepting on-line applications for brand new power connections and approval of electrical schemes of residential and commercial complexes beneath a single-window system will be started by The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The PSPCL also will ensure the delivery of service in a very time-bound manner.
KD Chaudhri, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, PSPCL, mentioned applications for a no objection certificate and approval of electrical schemes would be processed below a single-window system and disposed of within specific time. He even said that this application will be benefit all the people of Patiala.
A senior PSPCL official explained that the aim of this policy is to cut back paper work, bring more transparency, avoid delay caused as a result of shifting of files from one work place to different and prompt issue of secret agent and approval to the electrical schemes.
The applications may be submitted on PSPCL web site with requisite documents which is able to be checked by the officers involved. A final approval will be given by the chief engineer. The complete method can be done online.
Chaudhri mentioned about the software developed that would additionally send automated SMS/e-mail to the customers on the position of their application.
Some information are given below –
- From July fifteen, the PSPCL will begin accepting on-line applications for power connections and approval of electrical schemes of residential and commercial complexes in Patiala.
- The entire method of obtaining varied clearances is going to be done underneath a single-window system
- The PSPCL also will make sure the delivery of service in a very time-bound manner
June 13th, 2013
The Punjab Congress today continued the protests against the education minister Sikandar Singh Maluka as the party workers from the district of Patiala staged a strike near the office of the party here. They had also submitted a memorandum to the office of the chief minister demanding for a CBI enquiry in the scam of the books.
The Congress workers from the district of Patiala protested against the Education minister Sikandra Singh Maluka in the city of Chandigarh on Tuesday.
The Congress workers marched from the Congress bhawan in sector fifteen in Chandigarh to general hospital chowk. They were restricted by the Chandigarh police as they began to walk towards the residence of the Chief Minister. The leaders of the party including the vice president Charanjit Singh Channi and Tralochan Soond and Hardayal Kambojh the MLA led the march.
Channi said Maluka was morally as well financially corrupt and also accused him for prompting his daughter in law Parampal Kaur into the education department. He claimed that the director general of school education KS Pannu was side tracked for making way for Parampal.
Channi even accused the chief minister Prakash Singh Badal for shielding the corrupt Minister.
In the Memorandum which was submitted to the chief minister by Hardayal Kambojh and Madan lal Jalalpur they said that maluka had embezzled the fund of the centre and demanded for a CBI enquiry for the matter.
June 12th, 2013
With the upcoming season of the transplantation of paddy, the PSPCL (Punjab Power Corporation Limited) will be making all the arrangements but in reality it is only the good Monsoon which can save the state of Punjab from any electricity cuts during summers. Punjab has not been able to add even one unit of power in the few years, in spite of all the claims made by the SAD BJP.
However, the reason to be worried is that the state has the capacity of supplying electricity up to eight thousand and five hundred mega watts and the load is already going to touch around seven thousand three hundred mega watts, and this is all without any supply for the agri sector, which is starting from 10th June. The government of Punjab offers free power to the agricultural sector and has also assured a nonstop eight hours supply of power this season of paddy.
During the present season, twenty seven point five lakh hectares would go for the cultivation of paddy against the twenty eight. One eight lakh hectares of the last season.
According to the estimates of PSPCL, it would have a shortage of twenty three percent power during the coming season of paddy.
PSPCL has purchased electricity worth rupees sixteen hundred crores for the season of paddy. Out of the total power procured, one thousand nine hundred and fifty mega watts will be purchased for a shorter period, while three thousand three hundred and fifty mega watt power will be procured for the long term arrangement.
A senior official of PSPCL told us that as against the capacity of eight thousand five hundred mega watt of power supplied in the state, PSPCL is prospecting of crossing a load of ten thousand mega watt after the tube wells will start operating. Therefore, it is only the good Monsoon which can save the state. Otherwise the power cuts are imminent.
Even though the government of Punjab has installed a capacity of three thousand and seven hundred mega watts, it’s producing approximately three thousand to three thousand three hundred mega watts of power on a regular basis. It can get electricity up to five thousand two hundred and fifty mega watts from outside. Therefore, it will be able to supply just eight thousand five hundred to eight thousand seven hundred mega watts of electricity. The north grid officials have become quite strict this season due to the grid failure of last year.
June 12th, 2013
The mayor of Patiala Mr. Amarinder Bajaj claimed today that a resolution has been passed by the General House giving the owners having illegal businesses a time period of ten years for shifting out of the residential sectors. Bajaj said that the Government is also being asked for giving a substitute site for the relocation of these businesses.
“A verdict has been passed and the administration will take the concluding say on this matter.†he added.
Meanwhile Congress and SAD BJP are combining today has got in a fix claiming for the decision.
While SAD BJP claims it to be their brain Child, Congress has said the combine was due to a pressure for taking a decision.
Brahma Mohindra the MLA of Congress (Patiala) attended the meeting of the General House and also asked the counselors for ensuring the shopkeepers who have been affected by the decision.
“The administration must be a little sympathetic for shopkeepers because the majority of these shopkeepers work from the current places for a couple of years.†he added.
Congress is criticizing the Government for its failure for drawing the Road Map for providing substitute locations for such illegal businesses.
June 12th, 2013
After the President of the Punjab congress visited US and the former President of State congress Capt, Amarinder Singh away from Patiala, the new combinations are taking place in the Punjab congress as the senior officials of the party like Rajindra Kaur Bhatal, Lall Singh and Brahma Mahindra organized a closed door meeting on Sunday here.
In the two hours meeting, the house of Mahindra, the three officials discussed about the demoralization of the cadre of the party and their strategy for galvanizing the party.
The meeting is being considered very important politically as the Vice president of the State Congress Mr. Lal Sing has some reservations against the appointment of Mr. Bajwa who is being appointed as the President of the State Congress, while Mr. Bhattal and Mahindra are the arch competitors of Capt Amrinder.
The friendship of Lall Singh and Mahindra is the latest dimension in the politics of Patiala as both of them are not in good terms with the local minister of parliament Preneet Kaur. Prannet is facing a very tough innings after her son Raninder Singh was defeated from Samana.
During the maiden stay of Bajwa in Patiala after he became the Chief of the state Congress, Lall Singh accused Prenit for not giving an invitation of the event to Capt Amrindra Singh.
Prenit opposed ticket to Mahindra from rural Patiala, a seat which was wanted for Raninder, her son, in the elections of the assembly.
Lall Singh did not name any person but still blamed openly saying that some forces tried defeating him in the elections of the assembly last time.
Although Prenit Kaur is making a lot of efforts for winning over the leaders and she even visited Mahindra’s house a few days back.
After the meeting got over and attending the function, the 3 leaders met over lunch at the residence of Lall Singh, where the former Mayor Mr. Visnu Sharma also joined.
June 12th, 2013
The former Chief Minister of Punjab Amarindar Singh and the Union minister Preneet Kaur asked the State government today to ensure the rehabilitation of all traders who have been affected by the order of the high court for directing commercial establishments to be removed from the residential colonies in the city.
Condemning the direction of the municipal corporation of Patiala for evicting those during the commercial work from the residential colonies without offering any substitute arrangement for them, Amarinder said, while he himself and his party honored the verdict of Punjab and Haryana High court, it was the responsibility of the Government for ensuring that the people who have been affected were not deprived of their livelihood.
Both the leaders have alleged that the State Government has failed to secure the interest of the thousands of family members of over six hundred shopkeepers whose establishments might shift out of the city by the corporation.
The local Minister of Parliament Preneet Kaur said in a release that the decision of the municipal corporation of Patiala about shutting the commercial establishments which are operating in the residential colonies of the town until and unless proper substitute for rehabilitation are put in place for the people who will be affected.
Amrinder pointed out during his tenure that the local kabri market was moved out of the town and all the shopkeepers have been given locations on the out skirts of the city of Patiala at very concessional price of Rs.1400 for a yard only.
A very similar dispensation is being required in this matter also, he said while saying that it’s the responsibility of the Government for ensuring that the people are not denied of their livelihood.
June 11th, 2013
In a huge embarrassing situation for the police of the district, the officials of the forest here found policemen with stolen wood from the forest today.
The policemen caught told the police officials that the wood which they stole was for kitchen of the police lines.
The trolley which was loaded with the forest wood was confiscated by the officials of police but they were not able to catch the accused that ran away.
According to the sources, the policemen who stole the wood were forcing the officials of forest to negotiate and close the matter.
The sources also said that some of the police officials from the police lines were seen, cutting down a full grown huge tree which stood tall in the forest.
However, the divisional forest officer Mr. Satindra Sagar, saw the whole matter and instantly alerted all his staff officials who reached the spot.
The officials of police told the officials of forest that the wood branches were suppose to be used in the kitchen of the police lines and also that they had taken permission from their senior officers.
The officials of the forest told the police officials that the forest from where the trees were axed is owned by the Department of Forest and they cannot steal the wood like this.
“The loaded trolley has been taken to the nearest office of forest as the DFO has strictly given orders to do soâ€, a forest official told.
Sagar also confirmed that he had given instructions to the Range officer for enquiring the matter and for taking necessary actions.
June 11th, 2013
The Municipal Corporation of Patiala is being expected for discussing the shift of the commercial businesses out of the residential places in the meeting of the general house on Monday.
The workers of Congress have started criticizing the Government for their failure for providing substitute sites to these business establishments which are being moved.
The affected business establishments too are aggressively opposing the decision and will go on a strike from Monday. As per the sources, six hundred and thirty one establishments have been short listed by the municipal corporation which will be shifted.
There are a few SAD BJP counselors also who are backing the establishments who have been shortlisted in the process.
“One thing that disturbs all of us is that the administration has not been capable of offering a alternate to the set ups that are being moved,†said the official.
June 11th, 2013
The run up of Sukhvinder Singh on the crease was very slow. Still, the way he played on his right foot at such a critical moment for extracting the bounce, from surface shows how fast he wished for wrapping up the innings of Ludhiana.
After a few over’s, Sukhvinder was smiling proudly. His 6 wicket haul (six for seventy eight) helped him and Patiala for winning the U 19, Dhruva Pandov Trophy by making Ludhiana loose by one innings and three twenty three runs at Dhruva Pandov Stadium on Monday.
Patiala wanted to make Ludhiana loose comprehensively for logging maximum points. While seven points were grabbed from match, Chandigarh finished the game with 3 points for securing the second position.
The team of Patiala was served quite well by Sukhvinder but the whole credit goes to Prabjot, Anmolprit and Sanbeer who hit centuries helping hosts to post a big total for guiding Patiala for the title.
After they posted a grand total of six hundred and forty four for eight in the 1st innings Ludhiana was restricted by Patiala to 1st innings a total of one hundred and eleven runs. A follow on was enforced on the team of Ludhiana and thereafter bundled them for two hundred and one in seventy nine point one over.
Nimith Malhan scored the maximum for Ludhiana with forty six runs, while Sandip played well and made forty five runs. While these two players played quite well, the other player did not rise up to the occasion and crashed like a pile of cards.
For Patiala, Sukhvinder was picking by the bowlers as he played quite well for finishing the 6 wickets for seventy eight in the 2nd innings. He was also very strongly supported by the left arm spinner Karn Kaila who came back with the figures of four for fifty in 2nd innings.
Brief scores:
Patiala : First innings- six forty four for eight in one hundred and fifty three over’s, Ludhiana in the first innings got one hundred and eleven out of forty two point one over’s and in the 2nd innings two hundred and ten in seventy nine point one over’s.
Chandigarh was heartbroken as they were able to collect only 3 points from the match which they played against Mohali.
Mohali after resuming from an overnight game of sixty without any loss, posted a total of three hundred and thirteen for five in one hundred and twenty two over’s. With no view of the result, the captains of both the teams agreed for a draw. Due to their lead in the 1st innings. Chandigarh managed to gather 3 points.
Earlier, the openers like Karn Agarwal and Harshrup Singh made one hundred and fourteen runs for the 1st wicket for Mohali in sixty two point three over’s much before Karn left after his game of fifty six runs from one hundred and seventy six balls. Karn smashed 5 boundaries while his stay on the crease. Harshrup also came back to pavilion after a score of two hundred and thirty two from fifty five balls which had 9 boundaries.
Pukraj Sing and Anmol played quite well and gave one hundred and sixteen runs for 1st wicket much before Pukraj was battled out by Talwinder. Pukraj hit 9 boundaries during the game.
June 10th, 2013
A drastic reshuffle of the Sports authority of India has resulted in a powerful voice of the dissent amongst the officials, with most of them questioning the decisions behind the transfer of the key administrative officers while the Long Term Development Programme (LTDP), Patiala was merged with Teams division.
After Jiji Thonpson has taken the charge of the SAI DG 3 months ago, when the second trip of transfers happened, a few more administrators also exchanged positions. These include Roqe Das, Radhika Sreeman, Sanjeev Sharma, SC Sharma and Dr. Prem Kashyap. All these administrators have either been transferred or moved to the new departments with an immediate effect in order to make the SAI more proactive and result oriented.
The Director General of SAI, Patiala, Mr. Jiji Thomson said that it is a process of restructuring the SAI so that the organization can be made active and more result oriented. Some of the administrators who were posted in New Delhi have been moved to the different centers of SAI in Patiala, whereas some of them have been moved to some new departments.
He said that a few more changes are also being planned up. The first trip of the changes was made in North East and now it is the second round, he added. According to him, a few more administrators will be moved while some other will be given new departments.
The explanation given by Thomson has not been quite satisfying for most of the office bearers of SAI(Patiala) who are questioning the reason behind the changes.
SC Sharma has not even completed six months of his service as a director in Patiala and has been made the coordination in charge. Karam has not even completed one month of his tenure as a Deputy Director in Aurangabad and is being transferred to Patiala.
On the condition of unanimity, an official said that Manmeet Singh who was promoted as the Director of NIS Patiala has not even completed 3 months and has been called back as the Director for equipments support and has also been given an additional charge of the Karni Singh shooting range.
The two major administrators Dias who was the Regional director of LTDP as well as Radhika, who was the Regional director of the Teams division, are being moved to Bhopal/Sonepat at the time when the junior level players are starting to bring medals to the country like the weightlifters.
Another administrator said that with the merge of the division of LTDP with the division of Teams, the future ambition of the Vision 2020 programme is in jeopardy.
Dias is being moved to Bhopal. The former Director General, Mr. Desh Deepak Verma started this programme. It is still in its beginning stage. Also the decision of transfer of Dr Kashyap from the Stadia division to operations won’t invoke any confidence, the officials believe.
However Mr. Thomson has justified his list of changes, which was prepared by him after his visits to the centers of SAI in country and also the views of regional Administrators.
Thomson said that the changes were made on the basis of the directive of CVC. Some of the changes were necessary as the guidelines of CVC need to be followed.
June 9th, 2013
The transferring of approximately 523 doctors has completely disrupted the functioning of the government hospital in Patiala. This hospital is very popular among the people in Patiala for the child and mother care facilities.
On one hand, Punjab government is putting stress on the institutional deliveries as well as spending large amounts of money on promotion whereas on other hand the government is transferring the eight out ten gynecologists to other parts of the state from Patiala. This issue has completely disrupted the normal working of the gynecology department of the hospital. In remaining two health experts only one of them is specialized in the gynecology whereas the other doctor is MBBS doctor.
There are hundred of the female patients which will suffer because of this chaos. According to records there are approximately twelve deliveries per day in hospital and 350 to 400 deliveries in one month. Besides these there are many women who come to this hospital for a checkup in Patiala. Last year, the number of deliveries in the year was 4300.
This government hospital was started only a few years back and according to the facilities provided if any women who get her baby delivered in this hospital were given Rs. 1000 in Patiala. Additionally, the government paid Rs. 200 as the transport charges for bringing the women to the hospital timely. In addition to this an additional amount of Rs. 700 was given to the women who belonged to the reserved categories.
However, on contrary, women are paying approximately Rs. 5000 for the normal delivery along with the Rs. 20,000 for the cesarean in private hospital in Patiala.
June 9th, 2013
The thermal Plant Rajpura is now all set for going to the steam in December this year, on the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Prakash Singh Badal’s Birthday (8th December). It was his dream to make Punjab Power a surplus in the year 2013 which will now be fulfilled. The Deputy CM of Punjab, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal has expressed their satisfaction after the review of the construction and the report on progress on the fourteen hundred mega watt capacity of Rajpura’s thermal plant which is being constructed at a cost of nine thousand Cr in a high profile meeting with the officials of PSPLC and NPL.
Badal also mentioned that he was quite happy with the way by which the officials of L&T have shown their commitment. L&T is constructing the thermal plant of Rajpura. The first unit of the plant will be inaugurated on December 8th and the second will be inaugurated on the day of Baisakhi in 2014.
The Nabha thermal plant’s officials told the Deputy Chief Minister about the working of the Thermal plant and also told that the work of the plant will be finished much before the deadline. They told that almost ninety percent of the work of the seven hundred mega watt unit is complete and the second unit’s work is eighty percent complete. The railway line from the Sarai has also been completed.
The officials said that the supply of coal has also been agreed by Coal India. The transformers have been installed, the Cooling tower has been completed, the reservoirs for the storage of water for twenty one days with a storage capacity of 24 L quebec meters are also ready, and the turbine which has been set up for the first unit is ready. The hydro test of the boiler has also been done.
The officials also told that the chimner, the pile foundation, switch yard foundation, building of the control room, building of STG, raw water reservoir embankment/ excavation works of plant are complete while the ash dyke, ash silo, plant for handling coal, siding railway, erection of the boiler, laying down of water pipes, plant roads, water systems RCC, building service, DCT, mill bay, are all under the advanced level of completion.
The officials also told that the world of the laying down of the power line of four hundred KV for each unit is done for the first unit while for the second unit; the work is being done in full swing.
The irrigation officials, who attended the meeting, told that the work of widening the thirty one kilometers area of the distributory of water from the Bhakra Nangal canal to the power plant is also over.
The Nabha thermal plant officials told the CM about the four hundred KV Rajoura Nakodar, four hundred KV Kanodar Dhuri, and four hundred KV Rajpura Dhuri transmission lines for the evacuation of electricity are being made by PSTCL.
The CM said that without indulging in any kind of arguments with the critics. He believes in delivering promises, as his work talks louder than his words.
CM’s gift to Punjab
- The initial entity of the Ropar thermal facility will be kicked off on December 8, the 82nd birth anniversary of Punjab’s Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal
- The second unit will start functioning on Baisakhi 2014
- As per officials, 90 per cent and 80 per cent work for the initial and second entity, respectively, is finished
June 9th, 2013
Since the Patiala state’s power corporation ltd, also known as PSPCL has failed to increase the generation of power in Patiala state in past few years, the Power Engineers are accusing management for being a puppet in the hands of the private players. The association of the engineers of PSEB announced on Saturday that the management’s attraction towards the pvt companies in terms of generation of power has a threat on the state’s development and growth in the long run. The management of PSPCL has been suffering a lot from the paralysis of policy and was also shying from reaching any proactive or right decisions.
The president of the association Mr. Baldev, while presiding over the meeting called for all the engineers’ power, said that even though the association has been giving continuous warnings, the whole programme of the power generation additional capacity in Patiala was handed over to the private players. The results of which can be seen by everyone. None of the three plants which are upcoming is being expected to target the schedule of the commissioning. Also the price of power which is rising due to the insufficient supply of coal is quite uncertain and the private companies are being solely held responsible for it.
He also stated that the Patiala government, after considering the arguments from association in October 2011 gave a green signal to PSPCL for construing a one thousand three hundred and twenty mega watts thermal power plant with the state sector’s aid. However, the management of PSPCL has not been able to execute this crucial project with adequate seriousness and the approach adopted by it was a go slow one. The president claimed that the situation of the state might have become a little comfortable if the state would have planned two or more thermal power plants, under the aegis of the public sector.
The president of the association also said that the Association has been constantly raising this matter since past so many years in front of the government of Patiala. The latest software for billing which was given to SPANCO and also the charge of the issue related to coal were some other failed attempts of the PSPCL’s management.
It has been now decided by the association that the agitation will be resumed from the coming week, which was suspended due to an assurance given by the management of PSPCL in March in order to settle the matters which were raised by Association. The General Secretary of the Association said that June 2011 onwards, the engineers Power of Punjab will be wearing Black badges to signify the ongoing protest. Later on a few rallies will also be held.
He also mentioned that it is quite ironic that when the power engineers are focusing on offering round the clock supply of power to the people during the summer or paddy season, they have been pushed to the road of agitation by the management. It is a very strange phenomenon and also an injustice being done to them.
June 8th, 2013
The health services in approximately 1,186 health centers as well as in 582 veterinaries are falling under the zila pashads in the whole state including Patiala. However, all of them are completely filled with the class 4 employees and pharmacists. However, now all of them are boycotting their services from June 1. The main reason behind this is the demand of the regularization of their jobs. According to them they are giving their services for the last seven years and since they are not being regularized by the government.
Moreover, according to the reports, these class 4 employees and the pharmacists are working on contract basis in dispensaries and health centers since 2007 and till date there is not policy formulated in order to concrete their regularization.
These employees were selected by the rural medical officers in June 2006 by the walk in interviews in Patiala along with several other parts of state and were paid according to the RMO’s discretion. However, the average salary paid to these employees were Rs. 5000 and when these health centers came under zila parishad the salaries were enhanced up to Rs. 7000.
However, Punjab government regularized the RMO’s in 2011 and promised that the class four employees and the pharmacists will also be regularized very soon but the government has been increasing the contract every six months since that time.
According to the records, these pharmacists are handling approximately ninety percent of the dispensaries in the state and according to the contract they are supposed to maintain the records of medicine. In addition to this the maintenance of the medicines is also one of the duties of these employees. In spite of these duties they have to work for the salary of Rs. 7000 per month.
Now, these pharmacists in Patiala are demanding the equal salaries to their counterparts which are approximately 10,300 to 34,800 and 800 to 4200. This hike in their salary will bring their salaries up to Rs. 30,290. Similarly, the class four employees are also demanding to enhance their salaries from Rs. 3000 to Rs 15000 which is the salary of their counterparts.
According to the sources the government proposed these pharmacists in Patiala for the open merit completion in order to regularize their services. However, in this examination they will also have to compete with fresher.
However, the president of the association completely disagreed with this proposal saying that they already did their course ten years ago and at that time the merit was not that high as today. Therefore, they will not compete with such criteria.
June 8th, 2013
It is a quite evident fact the PSPCL (Punjab State Power Corporation) administration has failed to augment the power generation in state from approximately last six years. However, for this issue the power engineers are blaming the PSPCL for the power fiasco. The engineers association of PSEB in Patiala has claimed that the inclination of the management towards the private firms for the generation of the power was putting adverse effects on the condition of state. The association also claimed that the PSPCL administration was also suffering from the policy paralysis therefore was avoiding taking proactive and right decisions.
The president of the Association, Baldev Singh who was supervising the meeting said that despite of warning the PSPCL, all of the power generation programmed was also given in the private hands and the result of which is in the front of everyone. These private firms are still not able to achieve the targets which were scheduled by the commission in Patiala. In addition to this, the price of the power because of inadequate coal supply is also very uncertain and the private firms are responsible for this chaos.
He also added that after the protests of the association the PSPCL was instructed by the government to construct the 1320 megawatt thermal plants in the Patiala sector however the organization has completely failed to execute this important project. He also said that the PSPCL was not taking the project seriously and was adopting a go slow process. He also added the state has also planned to add two more thermal plants in order to compensate the power requirement in the state.
The president of the association further added that their association was protesting for a very long time in order to prevent the outsourcing of the core business activities since it can be very harmful for the state in the long run. According to him the other failures of the organization included the software which was awarded to the SPANCO plus the issue of handling of coal since the organization was showing a very soft approach towards the companies because of their vested interests.
The association confirmed that they will resume their agitation from the next week which was suspended in March by the assurance of PSPCL to settle down the issues which were raised by the organization. They announced that all the engineers will wear the black badges from June 11 as the mark of their protest.
