Punjab: The week gone by

On the security front, Punjab is still facing terrorism threat from Pakistan. Reportedly, the Punjab Police has warned of terror attacks during the Commonwealth games.

Besides, arrest warrants were issued against Kings XI Punjab owners by a local court in Chandigarh.

Also, the state government escalated the fees structure for MBBS and BDS courses.

Monsoon triggers price increase
Monsoons, besides causing huge destruction in the states, have also led to surge in prices of vegetables and fuel in the region.

The prices of most of the seasonal and all-time vegetables like lady finger, cauliflower, leafy vegetables and tomato surged.

Haryana horticulture, joint director, Dr Arjun Singh Saini informed, “Over 20,000 hectare in the states is under tomato. Fresh seedlings are being given to farmers and we expect new crop to arrive from next month.”

These prices are expected to fall in August.

Punjab CM seeks compensation
Chief Minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking immediate compensation under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) and asked a minimum relief of Rs 10,000 per acre from the central government.

He discussed about the loss and damaged caused to the people by floods in the state. Badal also appealed to the PM to revise the rates of the compensation, which has not been done for the past few years.

The CM even requested Singh to check the dams and embankments under a 'national project' as 60 percent of the flood in the state was due the river 'Ghaggar' that flows in Haryana.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spokesperson stated, “It is necessary to channelise the river in order to increase its capacity to 50,000 cusec. The cost for this in Punjab territory would be around Rs.1,175 crore and would require construction of embankments, other flood protection works and remodelling of cross drainage works across the Ghaggar in Punjab and Haryana.”

Pakistan’s ISI spreading terror in Punjab
The Director General of Police (DIG) in Punjab, P.S. Gill, after presiding over the high level meeting in Amritsar said that terrorists are being paid handsome amount of money by Pakistan and are undergoing a special training for the use of RDX, manufacturing of bombs, hand grenades, different kind of rifles and pistols in Pakistan.

Asserting Pakistan's involvement in pushing terrorism in Punjab, Gill stated, “Yes, Pakistan and ISI are trying to push them into Punjab. But there is no cause of worry, Punjab Police is fully equipped to handle the situation."

He further added that there are many incidents that have shown the involvement of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) for spreading terror in the state.

Besides, the Punjab cops have also warned about the suspected attacks during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

According to an insider, they have intercepted pamphlets saying Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) terrorist Harinder Singh Neeta has appointed three members of the KZF to carry out terror attacks.

Actions for development in health sector in State
In a conference with Punjab Chemists Association in Ludhiana, Punjab Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla announced stringent steps to be taken to develop the health sector of the state.

She revealed that civil hospitals of the state will soon be equipped with CCTV cameras, dialysis machines and 'Emergency Mobile Rescue Service' vans for road accident victims.

The State health minister also announced the appointment of 35 new drug inspectors in order to control the drug smuggling in the state.

Kanta said, “The Akali-BJP government seized drugs worth Rs 9 crore ever since it has come to power in the state. However, the Congress government could seize drugs worth Rs 58 lakh in the span of five years. We are planning to increase the target of drug inspectors for the future.”

State government increased fees for MBBS, BDS courses
The state government announced the increase in the fees structure of MBBS, Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS), Ayurvedic and Homeopathy courses.

The revised rates will be applied from the next session.

As per the revised fee structure, the reserved seats for non-resident Indians (NRI) have been hiked from $75,000 to $100,000 for the entire MBBS course.

Similarly, the fee for existing 50 percent government quota seats in various medical colleges for MBBS courses has been increased from Rs.115,000 to Rs.150,000 annually.

For BDS courses, in the same in quota, the fee has been raised from Rs 63,250 to Rs 150,000 annually. Further, in management quota seats, the fee has been increased from Rs 300,000 to Rs 400,000 annually.

However, the fee for management quota seats for BDS course has been slashed from Rs 230,000 to Rs 150,000. In case of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and Bachelor of Homeopathy courses, the fee will be Rs 80,000 annually.

Bailable warrants against Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman
Bailable arrest warrants were issued against three owners of Indian Premiere League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab--actress Preity Zinta, industrialist Ness Wadia, and businessman Mohit Burman on Saturday by a local court in Chandigarh.

The warrants were the result of owners’ failure to attend the hearing on a case filed by Registrar of Companies (ROC), for not submitting its balance sheet and annual returns as required under the Companies Act.

No arrest warrant was issued against the fourth owner Karan Paul as his counsel had appeared before the court. This decision was announced by Chief Judicial Magistrate J S Sidhu.

The next hearing fixed by the court is Oct. 4 and will require the presence of all the four owners. However, Preity Zinta falsified the issuance of warrants against her and blamed the media for miscommunication.