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New Delhi, April 8

Two former top officials of Italian aerospace and defence group Finmeccanica have been convicted by a court in Italy for corruption in the sale of 12 VVIP choppers to India for Rs 3,727 crore.Giuseppe Orsi, former CEO of Finmeccanica, and Bruno Spagnolini, former head of AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica subsidiary) were yesterday sentenced to over four years in prison, PTI reported.All eyes are now on the CBI, which had registered a case against 13 persons and six firms. Former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi and two Chandigarh-based firms are among those booked by for alleged bribery. — TNS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with British Prime Minister David Cameron before a meeting at the Nuclear Security Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington on April 1, 2016.— AP/PTI

Washington, April 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his British counterpart David Cameron here on the sidelines of Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), during which the two leaders discussed defence co-operation and Make in India issues.

“My meeting with PM David Cameron focused on defence cooperation, make in India and other key issues,” Modi said in a tweet before he left for Saudi Arabia after two days of engagement with world leaders during the NSS here.

Briefing reporters, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup said during the meeting yesterday both leaders recalled Modi’s visit to London last year, during which India and the UK had signed deals worth 9-billion pounds and inked a civil nuclear pact.

Modi said that ties between the two countries had become “richer and deeper”.

Defence cooperation came up for discussion and Prime Minister Modi mentioned that Britain could be a partner in the ‘Make in India’ initiative, especially in the defence sector.

Visa issues also came up for discussion, Swarup said.

Both the leaders also reviewed the decisions that had been taken during Modi’s visit to Britain last year in particular the decision to launch rupee bonds at the London Stock Exchange.

Cameron expressed happiness that it was proceeding very well.

“He also said that we need to increase our partnership in defence. Prime Minister said that high-tech defence production has now been opened up to 100 per cent FDI, India had skilled manpower, cheap labour was also available and as such UK can become very important partner in the Make in India initiative particularly in the defence sector,” Swarup said.

The two leaders discussed some of the other pending issues between them including terrorism.

“Prime Minister also raised the issue of Tier II visas for IT companies. He said skilled professionals should not find it difficult to come to work in the UK. And, in this context the recommendations made by the migration advisory committee could caste a negative light,” Swarup said.

“Cameron promised to take a look at it. He said we do not want to disadvantage bonafide IT companies, but at the same time we would also want to ensure that the UK system is not misused,” the spokesman said. — PTI

Recruits during a passing-out parade on the outskirts of Srinagar. Tribune Photo: Yawar Kabli

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 29

Over 140 youth from the state were inducted in Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) regiment at a colourful passing out parade on Tuesday.A defence spokesperson here said: “143 recruits successfully completed strenuous training regime of 11 months at the JAKLI Regiment Centre at Rangreth.”“The passing-out-parade was attended by over 2,500 parents and relatives of the young soldiers from the state along with a number of civil and military dignitaries. The parade was reviewed by Major General BK Jain,” the spokesperson added.Major General Jain congratulated the young soldiers for their immaculate parade and impressed upon selfless service towards the nation.He also praised their contribution towards encouraging more and more youth from J&K to come forward to join the security forces and also highlighted the vital role played by the parents in motivating their wards to join the noble profession.Major General Jain also presented awards to the meritorious recruits, who excelled in various facets of training, said the spokesperson.Shabir Ahmed of Reasi received the Chewang Rinchen Medal. He was adjudged ‘best in firing’. Iftikar Beigh of Jammu was conferred the Bana Singh Medal for being ‘best in drill’.The JAKLI Regiment came into being as Jammu and Kashmir Militia in 1948 when the volunteers rallied to the clarion call given by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah from the historical Lal Chowk for fighting the Pakistan-backed raiders.

The Baglihar dam on the Chenab in Doda district. Tribune file Photo

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 28

Scanty rain and less snowfall are set to compound electricity woes of Jammu and Kashmir this summer as the state continues to generate only 50 per cent of its total power generation capacity due to low discharge of water into all major rivers.“The generation capacity of the state is 770 MW. Generation has come down drastically to around 400 MW due to low discharge into rivers. We have been running only two turbines of 150 MW capacity each of BHEP-I due to low water level in the Chenab. The generation capacity of other projects has been affected in view of low discharge into rivers,” said a senior official of the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).The 450-MW BHEP-II is yet to be put on generation fully despite its inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With its functioning, the energy generation capacity will go up to over 1,200 MW.The JKSPDC runs 21 power projects, including the 900-MW BHEP (BHEP-I and BHEP-II with 450-MW capacity each) in the state.The state requires 2,500 MW to meet energy requirements. The state purchases power from the Northern Grid and other resources to meet its power demand.“At least eight small power projects being run by the JKSPDC with an aggregate generation capacity of around 35 MW have been shut due to low discharge. Generation has been affected by scanty rain and snowfall in the upper reaches of the state,” said the official.He added that the current electricity demand of the state was nearly 2,000 MW, which was being met by purchasing power from outside the state.Ajay Gupta, Executive Director (Electric), JKSPDC, said they had been running only two of the six turbines of 150-MW capacity each of BHEP-I and BHEP-II due to low discharge of water.“Other turbines will be made operational only after snow starts melting, which will increase the water level in the river,” he said. He added that day-to-day power generation depended on the availability of water.To a query, he said less snowfall and scanty rain “could affect the overall power scenario” of the state in the coming summer.“The availability of water in rivers is not in our control. Power generation is dependent on discharge of water into the river, snowfall and melting of glaciers. It is a natural phenomenon and the prevailing scenario can disturb the power scenario,” Gupta said.The estimated hydro power potential of the state is 20,000 MW, of which 16,480 MW has been identified. Of the identified potential, only 2,458 MW (about 15 per cent) had been exploited so far.It consists of 770 MW in the state sector from 21 power projects, 1,680 MW from four power projects in the Central sector and 17.5 MW from two private-sector projects.

Kochi, March 26

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today assured Lok Sabha MP K C Venugopal that CRPF would hold an inquiry into the alleged disrespect shown by the paramilitary force to the body of one of its jawans, who died in Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh.The Alappuzha MP told PTI that the body of Anil, hailing from Harippad in the district, “was treated with utmost disrespect by the CRPF authorities.””Anil, a native of Chingoli panchayat, died in a drowning accident on Thursday at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. But when the body reached Alappuzha, it was found naked, not embalmed and covered in a plastic sheet,” he said.His shocked relatives protested and refused to receive it.Local police then took the body and kept it at the mortuary of a nearby hospital for autopsy.Venugopal said he wrote to Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, seeking an inquiry into the ‘disrespect’ shown by CRPF authorities.”The Home Minister telephoned me today. He told me that he has directed the CRPF Director General to conduct an inquiry into the incident,” Venugopal said.He said Anil’s agitated relatives were pacified after the Home Minister’s assurance and received the body for cremation.”As a civilised society, it is a common gesture that the body of a person be treated with utmost respect and dignity,” he said.He said those responsible for the ‘disrespect’ must be severely punished. — PTI

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 25

The Jammu and Kashmir Government is mulling over giving Tragbal meadows in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district to the Army for setting up an artillery firing range in lieu of the Tosa Maidan field firing range.Taking into consideration the damage which could be caused to flora and fauna, the government has dropped the plan to hand over land at Tulail in the Gurez area of the district to the Army and is instead thinking over giving the higher reaches of Tragbal, adjacent to Razdan Pass, for a field firing range.“The Army is in possession of over 200 hectares at Tragbal. It would be proper that the Army expands its possession there so that we could assuage public anger,” said an official of the state Home Department.The proposal to hand over Tragbal came after the state government faced public criticism for allowing the Army to set up an artillery firing range at Bajpathri in Budgam district or at Tulail in Bandipora district.The Army had sought notification of the Bajpathri meadows for setting up a field firing range after the previous government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to extend lease of the adjacent meadow of Tosa Maidan for its use as a firing range on April 18, 2014.However, the move was opposed by civil society, separatists, opposition National Conference and Save Yusmarg Movement, saying the firing range will adversely affect the biodiversity of the area.Even the National Green Tribunal, in January this year, raised voice against handing over the Bajpathri meadow to the Army for undertaking field firing drills.Later, the Army moved a proposal of Tulail in Gurez for setting up a firing range. However, the move has been opposed by the people of Gurez, saying it will affect the human habitation, besides the flora and fauna.More than 60 civilians have lost their lives due to the explosion of shells in Tosa Maidan, which was under the Army’s control for more than 50 years.In September last year, the state government had agreed to examine the Army’s demands for notifying land for setting up an artillery firing range in lieu of Tosa Maidan.A high-level committee of the state Home Department and the Army has been mandated to look for an alternate and feasible place for a firing range.Officials say the Army is yet to submit the denotification letter on the Tosa Maidan meadow.Chief Secretary BR Sharma said the process to provide land to the Army against the Tosa Maidan field firing range was yet to be concluded. “We are considering several options, but the final decision is yet to be taken,” Sharma said.

Firing range likely in Bandipora

• The proposal to hand over the Tragbal meadows in Bandipora district to the Army for a field firing range came after the government faced criticism for allowing the Army to set up an artillery firing range at Bajpathri in Budgam district or at Tulail in Bandipora district
• The Army had sought notification of the Bajpathri meadows for setting up a field firing range after the government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to extend lease of the adjacent meadow of Tosa Maidan for its use as a firing range on April 18, 2014

Raman Mohan
Like everything else that is overexploited, the SYL Canal row too is subject to the law of diminishing returns. For some 20 odd years, this controversy did give a decisive edge to the party that succeeded in raising passions of the populace over this issue. But the ill-fated project lost that potential a long time ago.

DSP Rajpura R S Sohal briefing the anti-riot police deployed along the SYL canal near Rajpura. A public notice has been put up by the police after the Supreme Court order on maintaining status quo, thus barring any activity on the SYL canal Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal appears intent on riding the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal horse in order to romp home in the next assembly poll due in about a year. Towards that end, he has taken on the Supreme Court even by refusing to accept its order to maintain status quo on the land acquired for the construction of the canal through a resolution passed by the legislative assembly. That shows his resolve not to let go of the canal row under any circumstances till the 2017 election. Having spent a life time in politics, the senior Badal may well be risking all in what could turn out to be his last bid at the office of the Chief Minister of Punjab.  Ever since Haryana came into being in 1966, the canal issue has been used by politicians of both states for electoral gains. For some 20 odd years, this controversy did give a decisive edge to the party that succeeded in raising passions of the populace over this issue. But the ill-fated project lost that potential a long time ago.The last time this issue was tested for its political potency was in 2004. In June that year, the apex court directed Punjab to complete the work in its territory. However, on July 12, 2004, the then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had the Punjab Assembly pass The Punjab Termination of Agreements Bill, 2004, thus terminating its water-sharing agreements, and effectively stopping the construction of the canal in Punjab. But, this did not improve the chances of the Congress in the next assembly poll in 2007. The Congress lost and the Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine came to power. Since then, the canal as a political tool had been gathering dust till it was suddenly rescued from oblivion by the Punjab Chief Minister as his weapon of choice for the impending electoral battle.So far as the people of Haryana are concerned, the issue of the canal is no longer an issue that will decide the fate of an election. The SYL Canal issue lost its emotional and political potency with the eclipse of the maverick Devi Lal, former Deputy Prime Minister. The last time the people of Haryana attached importance to this issue was in 1985, after the Rajiv Gandhi-Harchand Singh Longowal accord was signed. The late Devi Lal, who was in political wilderness then after being completely outplayed by that master practitioner of realpoltik the late Bhajan Lal grabbed the chance offered by the accord and launched an agitation which swept him to power in 1987. That was the last election in which the SYL Canal issue had played a decisive role, so much so that months before the election the then Chief Minister Bansi Lal took panches and sarpanches to SYL project sites in Punjab to see the progress of construction.In the 1991 elections, the failure of the Devi Lal clan to run a government for a full five-year term was the main issue not the SYL Canal or other territorial disputes. Similarly, in 1996, the people put their faith in Bansi Lal mainly due to his promise to ban liquor in Haryana. Since then, the people of the two states have attached little importance to the SYL Canal. This indifference towards the project is more pronounced in Haryana than in Punjab. Psychologically, the farmers of Haryana appear to have resigned to their fate. Streetwise as they are, they know by now that whatever their chosen politicians say about the canal, the project is not going to materialise. A farmer put it succinctly: We are not losing something we had. So, it is a lesser loss considering the lost asset was never in our hands. In Punjab, there is a subtle psychological difference. By and large, farmers know that they stand to gain nothing should Punjab abandon this project. Already they are utilising whatever is available from the rivers. Additionally, they are pumping out underground water at an alarming rate. So, the Punjab farmers do not stand to gain substantially from abandoning the project. There are several other reasons why the SYL Canal figures nowhere in the list of priorities of the voters in Haryana. The change in the demographic pattern has a lot to do with the relegation of this issue to the back burner. In Haryana, over 65 per cent of voters are under the age of 35. The SYL Canal is an issue they have just heard of. They have heard politicians cry themselves hoarse over this issue but this generation does not relate to the issue in the same way as their elders did. Besides, the new generation is losing interest in agriculture itself. They are more interested in jobs rather than in more water for their already fragmented land holdings. Demographic patterns and land holdings have changed in Punjab too just as much as in Haryana. Rampant corruption, unemployment, the problem of drug addiction, financial mess and lack of industry and infrastructure are far more important and closer to voters in Punjab than the SYL Canal.  As a result, the SYL Canal issue is now close to the hearts of political parties and their leaders only not the man on the street. No wonder then that Badal’s moves have failed to evoke any reaction among the people of Haryana which could have provoked a reaction from the farmers of Punjab much to the glee of Badals. Of course it is different for politicians and political parties. Haryana politicians, including Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, reacted meekly at first and then stridently in a bid to outdo rivals. That is likely to continue until the issue is once again buried. As against this, people in Delhi attach more importance to the project for the simple reason that that the formal death of the canal project would end all hopes of an improved supply of drinking water there in the near future. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has, therefore, erred by opposing the construction of the canal. The prospects of his party winning the next assembly poll in Punjab have obviously weighed on his mind more than the needs of the people of Delhi. He could well end up annoying voters in the national capital.Nevertheless, the political death of the canal issue does not diminish the importance of the project for Haryana at least. The water is crucial for the thirsty fields and parched throats in several districts of Haryana. The only way to come to an amicable settlement is to sit across the table, forget politics and just keep the interests of the people of the two states in mind. The leaders should keep in mind that had there been no division of Punjab, river waters would have been shared equitably among all areas. A boundary and a new name are hardly any reason not to share natural resources. If politicians of the two states can share space in Chandigarh, why not river waters? The writer is a veteran Haryana journalist.