The Tribune – Qadian-Beas rail project approved

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, 13 December. The Union Railway Ministry has finally conceded the 80-year-old demand for connecting Qadian with Beas in Punjab’s border belt. The proposed approval, says Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress MP From Gurdaspur, is part of the supplementary demand for grants made by Ministry of Railways.

The supplementary demands were introduced today in Parliament during the ongoing winter session. The 39-km long rail link is estimated to cost Rs 205 crore. It has been proposed to start the work immediately. The Qadian-Beas rail link, says Bajwa, was first sanctioned in the pre-independence era in 1928-29. However, for over 80 years, it did not see the light of the day.

This new broad gauge rail line earmarks a “socially desirable new line project” connecting backward areas, adds Bajwa.

Currently, Qadian and Beas are connected through a 100-km-long circuitous rail route via Amritsar and Batala. The Qadian-Beas rail link would provide a direct and shorter route, reducing travel time between these two places separated only by 39 km.

The extension of the railway line from Qadian to Beas connects the region directly to main Amritsar-Delhi line.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111214/punjab.htm#19

The Tribune – Dump yard key environmental issue here

Perneet Singh

The Amritsar (South) constituency has voted for change in all the four assembly elections held in the past two decades.

However, the 2008 byelection was an exception with the voters backing the late MLA Raminder Singh Bolaria’s son Inderbir Singh. It will be a litmus test for Inderbir as he seeks a re-election on his performance in the past four years.

He began his tenure on a positive note as the SAD left no stone unturned to ensure his victory with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal camping in the city for days ahead of the byelection.

Inderbir’s election then was a matter of prestige for the Akalis since it was the first electoral challenge after the party’s win in the 2007 poll.

Promises and Projects: Various development works like the eight-laning of the Taranwala bridge, covering of the Ganda Nullah, beautification of Sakatri Bagh and installation of 19 tubewells to boost water supply are underway in the area.

The major unresolved issue in this constituency is that of the city’s main garbage dump yard at Bhaktanwala. The plan to set up a solid waste management plant to get rid of the garbage has been hanging fire for quite some time now. To tide over the problem, Bolaria opted for raising the boundary wall of the dump yard. His promise to provide relief to the residents by setting up a waste management plant remains unfulfilled.

Sultanwind, which was included in this constituency following delimitation, is grappling with sewerage problem, with water bodies being used for waste disposal. Though a plan to commence work on the storm sewerage system for the area exists, the constituency was excluded from the multi-crore sewerage upgradation project which was to be executed with aid from Japan. His rivals are talking of his unkept promises in Bhaktanwal and Sultanwind.

Vox Populi: The opinion on Bolaria’s performance is divided. People in areas adjoining the main roads like the Tarn Taran road are content with the work undertaken during his tenure, but those living in the interior areas like Anngarh, Chhabal road, Sultanwind and Gujjarpura are not too happy.

A section of voters also question the timing of these works as they have taken off at the fag-end of the SAD-BJP government’s tenure. “What has he been doing all these years? The works were either done at the time of the 2008 by-election or now when the assembly elections are approaching,” they say.

There is a section of voters disillusioned with both the Congress and the SAD, contending that successive governments have done great injustice to the constituency. “We are still struggling to get our basic needs like sewerage and drinking water fulfilled,” said a local trader.

Looking Back: The Congress and the SAD have alternatively represented the assembly segment in the past two decades.

In 1992, the seat was won by Maninderjit Singh Bitta, former AICC president, and in 1997 the seat went to former SGPC secretary Manjeet Singh Calcutta (SAD). In 2002, Congress’ Harjinder Singh Thekedar won the seat but lost it to the late Raminder Singh Bolaria (SAD) in the 2007 elections.

Voter strength: The constituency has 1.32 lakh voters, out of which 70,305 are men and 61,829 women voters.

HRD Barometer: No major initiatives have been taken to wean away youth from drugs or to generate employment opportunities. The dump yard is a key environmental issue in the constituency. (TNS)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111214/punjab.htm#11

The Asian Age – Lokpal Bill, CBI upset over panel proposal

Pramod Kumar, Asian Age Corespondent

New Delhi, 14 December 2011. The CBI officials have expressed their disappointment over the proposal to create an independent prosecution wing under the general control and superintendence of the Lokpal as recommended by the parliamentary standing committee in the Lokpal Bill.

Sources in the agency said, “Separation of prosecution from the investigation agency may result in sharp decline in conviction rate as has happened in various states of the country.” The parliamentary committee has proposed creation of an independent prosecution wing under the Lokpal.

One of the main strength of the CBI is the involvement of law officers in advisory capacity since the beginning of the investigation till its finalisation and subsequently in the conduct of trial, sources added. “This is the one of the reasons for its consistently high conviction rate of 70 per cent,” they said.

The agency officials are also not happy with multiple agencies having general superintendence over the CBI. The agency officials are of the view that there should be only one agency to exercise general superintendence over CBI which can be the Lokpal, sources added.

Besides, the agency in a letter to the DoPT expressed its disappointment over the non-inclusion of the proposal of constituting a panel — comprising the PM, the Leader of the Opposition and any other constitutional authority — for the selection of the agency’s director in the standing committee’s bill.

The selection committee for the post of CBI director should be reconstituted to include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and any other constitutional authority, they added.

Sources further said, “The agency has also raised its objection over the proposed amendment in section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), as recommended by the parliamentary committee”.

http://www.asianage.com/india/cbi-upset-over-panel-proposal-171

Belgium, Ieper (Ypres) commemoration of World War I soldiers 11/11/2011

Meensestraat, Menenpoort (Menen Gate)
Ariana Barku, Internationaal Comite, Hasselt

 Meensestraat, Menenpoort (Menen Gate)

 Meensestraat, Menenpoort (Menen Gate)
Amrik Singh, Sukhvinder Kaur, Ajay Singh and Harman Kaur

Menenpoort (Menen Gate)

To see more Ieper pictures go to :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157621976532703/ 

More Ieper pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Clean water their sole demand

Balwant Garg, Tribune News Service

Faridkot, December 13 The pain and suffering of thousands of families in the district who have no access to safe drinking water seems to be losing in the electioneering din with no party speaking about the issue.

“The election issues being raised by various political leaders do not touch our lives. The politicians are only interested in attacking their rivals,” said a rather disappointed Tarsem Lal of Kaler village.

“They speak of reviving agriculture, providing employment, healthcare on the doorstep, free power and water, flour at Rs 4 a kg and pulses at Rs 20 a kg. If this is not enough, they promise to make your city as beautiful as Paris. Election after election, its the same promises,” said a bitter Shamsher Singh, a teacher.

In Faridkot, water, the elixir of life, is spewing diseases like cancer and hepatitis. Safe drinking water is the upmost demand of about 1,71,000 voters in the Faridkot assembly constituency.

“In their speeches, leaders do not touch core issues which impact our everyday life,” said Kartar Singh of Kameana village in Faridkot.

“Clean drinking water has been our main demand for the past many years. Elections come and go…. the promises remain unkept,” said Manjit Singh of Kameana resident.

“Releasing the manifesto is a mere formality. Copies of manifestos are seldom available at the election offices of political parties”, said advocate Ashu Mittal.

With the ground water containing high fluoride contents, Faridkot residents are forced to solely rely on the Sirhind feeder-the canal that has gained notoriety for its water carrying industrial effluents.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111214/punjab.htm#9

Dawn – Gilani asks envoys to safeguard Pakistan’s interests

Islamabad: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said Pakistan would not accept flagrant transgression of its territorial frontiers and there can be no compromise on sovereignty, dignity and national honour.

Addressing the concluding session of two-day envoys’ conference of Pakistan’s ambassadors and diplomats here at Foreign Office, the prime minister said the aerial attacks on Pakistan’s Army border posts on November 26 constituted a huge setback to the prospects of much-needed cooperation between all important stakeholders.

Referring to some of the bold decisions taken by the government following the Nato attacks, the prime minister said a broad-ranging review of cooperation with US/Nato/Isaf was ordered and the two-day envoy’s conference was part of this exercise.

Gilani said the National Security Committee of the Parliament has been mandated to undertake a detailed study of the 26/11 attacks and to make recommendations on the terms of cooperation with US/Nato/Isaf.

These will be considered by the Joint Sitting of the Parliament, he added.

The prime minister said Pakistan was compelled to take these steps to safeguard its interests.

“As a responsible state, Pakistan will do whatever we can for stability and peace of our region but we will never allow anyone to undermine our legitimate interests,” he said.

Referring to future relations of Pakistan with United States, he said the cooperation with US/Nato/Isaf was based on respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said, “We expect the US/Nato/Isaf inquiry that is being undertaken to come out clearly with the facts and provide answers to the disturbing questions that our own investigations have raised.”

Gilani said “at this particular point in time, it is imperative that all efforts should be directed for promoting durable stability and peace in Afghanistan.”

The prime minister said all principal stakeholders must be on the same page.

“We have continued to seek clarity and advocated the need for coherence, coordination and cooperation,” he added.

Gilani said Pakistan’s foreign policy is based on immutable principles.

He said, “The Charter of the United Nations, norms of inter-state conduct and international law provide the framework for our endeavours to ensure peace and security – both in our own region and the world.”

The prime minister said Pakistan has been making sincere and consistent efforts to reach out to immediate and distant neighbours to develop the best of relations.

“Sovereign equality, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation have been the hallmark of this approach,” he added.

Quoting the example of Afghan refugees, the prime minister said hosting of millions of Afghan refugees for over three decades and enormous sacrifices in the war against terror amply illustrate Pakistan’s commitment to the noble values that are intrinsic to belief and national ethos.

He also appreciated the continued efforts of the Foreign Office in ensuring that the diplomacy has the resilience and efficacy to overcome all challenges posed by a complex global and regional environment.

He said, “I have every confidence in the ability and professional expertise of our ambassadors and diplomats to safeguard Pakistan’s interests.”

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/13/gilani-asks-envoys-to-safeguard-pakistan%e2%80%99s-interests.html