Jalandhar, May 19
Finally, the district administration today came to the rescue of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit farmer from Danewal village, and his family, whose four children reportedly tried to commit suicide by jumping before a train on May 15. Though three of the children were saved by villagers, the farmer’s 12-year-old daughter, Simranjit Kaur, was crushed to death under the train.

The Shahkot SDM, Mr Bakhtawar Singh Shergill, today visited the family and assured that the district Red Cross and the villagers would help construct a house for the family on a plot owned by the Wakf Board. Gulzar Singh’s land was washed away by the Sutlej sometime back and had lost the roof of his one-room house in the May 9 storm.

His five children, who had taken training in leather tannery, would now be given sewing machines by the Red Cross to make leather products.

The SDM though claimed that as per investigations, the cause of the death of Simranjit Kaur was due to an accident.

Some days back, the Pendu Mazdoor Union had approached the Punjab State Human Rights Commission and the district administration seeking help for the family and demanding punishment for those who did not help the family.

The union had held the state government responsible for taking the family to such precarious conditions.

It had claimed that no help had reached the family in the aftermath of natural disasters, even after the announcement of guaranteed free loans, a roof and vocational training.

Gulzar Singh had said that he was working as a labourer and his wife as a domestic help.

Four of his six children had left school to work at a brick kiln.

Kapurthala, May 19
A former SAD (B) minister and district President of the party, Mr Raghubir Singh, today alleged that the Suvidha Camps in the district were issuing fictitious ration cards.

Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that the ration cards were being issued without following the proper norms and to “help the ruling party in the forthcoming elections”.

On another issue, Mr Raghubir Singh alleged that no action had been taken against the Chairman of the Kapurthala Zila Parishad, Mr Harjinder Singh Khalsa, even after an affidavit had been submitted by complainants claiming that Mr Khalsa had not refunded over Rs 5 lakh which they had given him to get the decision of the court of ADC (Development), Kapurthala, turned in their favour.

On May 8, four farmers of Chakoki village had alleged that Mr Khalsa had not refunded the money given to him for getting a favour from the ADC (Development), even as he could not do the needful. However, Mr Harjinder Singh Khalsa denied the charges.

Chandigarh, May 19
If your musk melon is not sweet enough this year, blame it on the winds blowing across the region. Experts say that intermittently blowing easterly winds, in the region for the last five months not only stunted the grown of musk melon vines but had also impeded the sweetening process of the much likened summer fruit.

Compared to the westerly winds -- which normally blow across the region during this period -- the easterly winds are relatively warmer. They affect not only growth of vines especially leaves thus hampering the fruiting and its size. Quality as well as yield of musk melon has also been hit because of a viral disease. " Musk melon is not hard enough this year. Water content in its edible portion is very high and consequently the fruit is not as tasty as it should be in normal course", said a PAU expert while talking to The Tribune.

The easterly winds, result in withering of the leaves and setting of the fruit. Melon fruit draws its sugar content from the leaves of its vines. It may be recollected that a early draft of the easterly winds had caused a drop in the yield of wheat.

Musk melon grown in Punjab has made inroads in the national market. In fact, it has become so popular in Delhi and other big cities.Traders from far away places come to Punjab to buy musk melon, which is called "Kharbuja" in local parlance, in May and June. It is being supplied to big hotel chains across the country. For the past few years, the musk melon has become a most cherished fruit for the middle and upper middle class. The Namdhari variety musk melon known as Namdhari Seeds( NS)-7455 is grown most in the state. It is green from inside. It is a hybrid variety. Besides this Punjab hybrid, a variety developed by the PAU is also popular in the state. Punjab Sunheri, Abhijit are among other varieties grown in the state.

A progressive farmer, Mr Harnek Singh, of Khokh village near Nabha has been growing melon in a vast area. And Jangpura village, at a short distance from Banur in Patiala, has emerged as a most popular destination for musk melon buyers. Besides it, Khanhar, Buta Singh wala, Bassi Ise Khan are the other villages near Banur popular for growing musk melon.

It is grown in Patiala and Kapurthala districts in plenty. Unfortunately, this year, a viral disease has hit the musk melon crop in a big way. Obviously, farmers have suffered huge loses because of the disease. Horticulture experts of the Punjab Agricultural University say that easterly winds, which have been blowing across the region for the past four months, affected the melon vines hugely.

Mr Bikramjit Singh Of Jangpura village told The Tribune that one can earn up to Rs 30,000 per acre from a single crop of musk melon provided vines are healthy. He says that seed of musk melon is very high. Certain varieties of musk melon seed sell at Rs 10,000 per Kg. " We buy seed mostly from Ambala at a rate varying between Rs 9,500 to Rs 10,000 per Kg required for one acre", says Mr Bikramjit Singh engaged in musk melon farming. " It growers are happy because it has a ready market and sold quickly", says Mr Kaka Singh, an other farmer of this village.

Jalandhar, May 19
Taking a serious note of delay in effecting mutations and other revenue work by certain officials, Mr Anurag Verma, the Deputy Commissioner, has directed Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars to address the grievances of common people on priority basis.

The DC has also asked the Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars to plan their tour programmes in such a manner that their respective areas were covererd by them at least twice a month.

During a recent inspection of certain patwaris, the Deputy Commissioner had found that the mutation work was pending for more than two-three months, whereas the norms specified that such work should be completed within a time frame of one month.

Similarly, even some 5 to 10 years old inheritance- related mutations were also registered recently, despite the fact that a special drive to register pending mutations was initiated by the Punjab Revenue Department, wherein patwaris were asked to register mutations on the basis of birth and death registers maintained by village chowkidars.

Keeping in view such delays, Mr Verma has directed revenue officials, including, CROs, to get certificates from all patwaris with an undertaking that they have registered all inheritance-related mutations up to April 30.

The Deputy Commissioner said directions had been given that relevant village records should be verified through Lambardaars. He added that if any Lambardaar failed to cooperate or if he was suspected to be taking sides, the issue should be brought to his notice through the SDMs.

“If any person has any complaint against any revenue official, he could meet me any time,” Mr Verma said.