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Farmers ignore PAU advice, sow paddy early
Ludhiana, June 4 Transplanting paddy before June 10 means that the farmers had sowed it in early May, contrary to the advice. Many farmers have planted varieties that have not been recommended. This despite the fact that the water table has gone down and in some area it has been recorded as low as 350 feet. Incidentally, Ludhiana falls in the grey blocks where more water is being drawn than is being replenished. Experts had time and again advised the farmers to transplant paddy only after June 10-15 to avoid the problems of glut due to higher moisture content and reduction in pressure on water and power supply. The PAU experts had appealed to the farmers to cultivate late varieties of paddy to get the maximum yield with low moisture content. A survey of some villages, including Mahitpur, Sidhwan Bet, Kishanpura, Gaur Sianh Karim Bakht, Salempur, Bhundri, Hambran, Issewal, Birmi and Jhammat revealed that many farmers were transplanting paddy and many had already completed it a week ago. Mr Rajinder Singh, a farmer of Salempur village, said he was aware of the depleting underground water but he was unable to do anything. Pointing to the transplanted fields around him, he said: “I cannot fight this problem alone. I am not the only one who is transplanting paddy. I cannot relax when others are doing it. “ He also said the level of water was going down and he and other farmers had to increase the depth of tubewells almost ever year. Almost all farmers, Ludhiana Tribune spoke to were aware of the depleting water table and the directive by the university yet they were transplanting it regardless. The experts at the PAU said it was after many years of research that the university had directed the farmers to sow only late varieties of paddy. They said if the farmers were not listening to them, they would be in for trouble in the coming years and would find the situation irreversible. They said the PAU had come to a conclusion that the late varieties produced more yield, required lesser amount of water and were much more resistant to diseases. They added that only after obtaining positive results from research had the scientists asked the farmers to cultivate such varieties and transplant the pods after June 15.
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Vendors hamper traffic
Ludhiana, June 4 Officials of the tehbazari wing of the local municipal corporation swoop down on the area now and then and take away some carts and so on. This drama is being enacted for a long time now. The same carts are back at their respective places within a couple of days. Roadside business around Ghanta Ghar Chowk — the hub of commercial activity in the old city — simply cannot be halted. Inconvenience to the public and unclean surroundings do not seem to matter at all. In the summer season, the number of persons selling juice and other summer favourites around Ghanta Ghar is rising with the passing of each day. The result is that the entire open space in front of the Guru Tegh Bahadur Market has been hijacked by these unauthorised vendors . The cluster has become so dense that a pedestrian has to literally squeeze through the mess. Anyone on his or her maiden visit to the city, soon after ambling out of the railway station, wants to visit Ghanta Ghar, the icon of the city. The century-old monument is perhaps the only spot in the city having some tourism value. The need to preserve it amidst a clean environment has been highlighted time and again. An ambitious plan to beautify the area around it was also drawn up about five years ago. According to the plan, the area around Ghanta Ghar Provisions were also made in the plan for the rehabilitation of roadside vendors by earmarking small booths for them. A fountain was also proposed to be built close to the monument . But the plan was derailed under the influence of the encroachment mafia that could not afford to lose a substantial income and its hold on the area. The plan has been gathering dust since then. Over to Mr S.K. Sharma, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, and Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mayor of the city. |
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PSHRC order leaves father heartbroken
Ludhiana, June 4 Mr N.M. Hansi, a local resident has been fighting the case for the past two years. The latest order has dampened his spirits, He was hopeful of bringing those guilty of creating the circumstances for his son to commit suicide, to book. In its order, the commission has maintained that the required action with regard to investigation of the crime has been initiated by the police. However, the investigations can further be streamlined if the police makes indepth inquiry from the telecom department. ‘‘In such a situation, the commission can take no action and would like to make a recommendation to the SSP, Ludhiana, to proceed with further investigation in the matter,’’ the PSHRC states. Mr Hansi has been stating that his son had received an SMS on his mobile phone and that the BSNL authorities have been allegedly trying to shield the subscriber. The BSNL authorities, however, have been saying that the mobile number through which the incriminating SMS was sent to his son, belonged to the customer care centre of the BSNL. They claimed that it was not the number of any subscriber and no SMS could be sent from this mobile. In his petition before the Mr Hansi has urged the CBI chief to hold an inquiry into the matter. He said his son had committed suicide on February 20 and in the suicide note he had written that ‘‘he was feeling too pressurised’’.
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Soaring mercury, depleting water level, regular power cuts
Ludhiana, June 4 The usual hustle and bustle in the markets has disappeared as people prefer to remain indoors. But the frequent power cuts have again added to their misery and they have to depend on generators. There is a general outrage among the public over power cuts despite the earlier assurances by the government that the power situation would be better this year as there was sufficient rain and snowfall. In the countryside it is far worse. Reports from the adjoining villages reveal that the power cuts are for longer durations. With paddy transplantation having started, the villagers have to remain content with a few hours of power supply. While the relatively rich people have managed to instal generators, those who cannot afford have to bear the intense heat of the summer. To complicate matters, both in the rural as well as the urban areas there is acute scarcity of drinking water. The increased temperature has led to a fall in the ground water level. According to sources in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, which is responsible for supplying water in the city, during the summer the water consumption increases manifold. On the other hand the water reserves get depleted leading to shortage in the supply of water. In some areas, people have even started purchasing drinking water. The water supply is quite scarce even in the posh areas like Gurdev Nagar and Sarabha Nagar. The residents have been demanding that they should have assured water supply even if it is for shorter duration. Moreover, there should be coordination between the Punjab State Electricity Board and the MC so that there is no power cut during the time the water is supplied.
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Jail inmates without water
Ludhiana, June 4 Sources reveal that the inmates have not taken a proper wash due to acute shortage of water. The breakdown could not have occurred at a worst time for the inmates. A jail inmate is also learnt to have shot off letters to some newspaper offices and the senor officials. Inquiries reveal that the jail authorities require Rs 50,000 for the repair of the tubewell and have sought money from the state prison department. The funds, however, have not been cleared by the government. The jail officials claim that two tubewells were installed early this year to meet the demand in summer season. They claim that Mr Malkiat Singh Birmi, Minister of Jails, had specially cleared the funds. The officials also claim that there was no shortage of water.
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Pak MLAs enjoy equal freedom,
says Razia Sultana
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 4 In an exclusive interview with The Tribune after her return from Pakistan, she said women legislators in the neighbour country enjoyed privileges, equal to, if not more than, those being given in our nation. “As there was a qualification bar for election to legislative assembly in Pakistan, the women were equally aware of their rights as representative of the people. Contrary to the normal trend of husband exercising the powers of their better halves here, the women legislators and other functionaries interacted with people themselves in Pakistan,” she explained. Commenting on the mindset of the people of Pakistan, she claimed the majority of the citizens like those in our country wished to live like brethren with the nationals of the other country. “Even on the point of most sensitive issue of Pak Occupied Kashmir, they preferred friendly relations to a war,” said Ms Razia. Recollecting her experiences with Muslim masses in Pakistan, she pointed out that they felt concerned about the wellbeing of Muslims living in India. “When we told them that Muslims were enjoying freedom of religion and culture in our country, they felt satisfied and most of them expressed their desire to visit their friends and relatives here,” she said. During the recent peace mission, Ms Razia enjoyed a special status of being the only Muslim legislator to visit that country. She was felicitated at various functions organised at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The delegation also impressed upon the Pakistan authorities to release Punjabis from Pakistan jails to which they responded positively, she said. She said the agenda of the delegation was to promote peace between the two countries, adding that the peace progress by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf should continue.
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Cops working in field ‘dissatisfied’
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 4 Comparative studies revealed that district police officials were more satisfied than those working in the field. Twentyfive percent of the district officials said they were content and 14 per cent of them were very satisfied. Twentytwo per cent of district officials were satisfied and 5 per cent were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Twenty per cent of the field staff was over satisfied, 35 per cent satisfied and 18 per cent just satisfied. Seven per cent were rated as very dissatisfied. Similarly, district non-gazetted officers were more satisfied than other ranks. Thirtyfive per cent of these officers were satisfied as compared to 35 per cent of other ranks. Among the gazetted officers, 60 per cent of the total strength were over satisfied and 30 per cent were satisfied. Social status, and good salary and accommodation made them content. Among personal factors, poor job satisfaction was important. Analysis of the results showed that lack of entertainment, poor promotion facilities, workload corruption and discrimination were responsible for overall dissatisfaction. Cynicism was also due to overambition. To improve the working in the police, the officer has suggested amending the recruitment system by making aptitude test compulsory for the aspirants. Fixed working hours and periodic holidays would enhance efficiency, he feels.
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Seminar for beauticians
Khanna, June 4 Manav Rangi, a trainee of Kishor Thakar Mumbai trained beauticians at the seminar. He taught beauticians about skin treatment, hair treatment and hair care. Thirty five beauticians attended the seminar. Mr Ashok Sharma and Mr Anil Pandey organised the seminar.
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Free ration
Ludhiana, June 4
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Four held for looting vends
Amloh, June 4 Mr Gurdyal Singh, SHO, Amloh, admitted that the persons involved in the looting the vends have been arrested but refused to divulge any detail.
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Poppy husk seized
Jagraon, June 4
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