Bathinda, December 26
The Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) authorities have assured the Pollution Control Board authorities that they will tackle the problem of air pollution fully by the end of 2009.

The local Pollution Control Board authorities had directed the plant management to submit in writing a concrete time-bound plan for checking air pollution and the steps taken so far in this regard.

Abiding by the direction of the PCB, the GNDTP authorities submitted a detailed plan assuring that the third and fourth units of the plant would be renovated by the end of 2009 and modern pollution control devices would be in place. The plant authorities also informed that the first and second unit of the plant have been renovated and are working with 250 MW capacity and the ESPs (electrostatic precipitators) are functional. Regarding the third and fourth units, the authorities said that ammonia flue gas conditioning technology has been made operational to bring down the pollution level and unit–III would be shut down for repair in another three to four months and the renovation of unit-IV would be taken up after the third unit is restarted.

The repair and renovation of both these units would be completed by the end of 2009 and air pollution caused by fly ash and smoke would be reduced considerably.

The thermal power plant has become a permanent source of air pollution in Bathinda and surrounding areas and the situation becomes worse due to smog during the winter.

The residents of colonies in the vicinity of the power plant are agitated over the increase in pollution and have constituted an action committee to take up the matter. Their protests and reports in the media drew the attention of the authorities concerned and both the Pollution Board and the district authorities served notices on the plant seeking its response.

The plant authorities are under pressure to act due to the tough stand taken by the local administration and the Pollution Control Board authorities but the residents would have to bear with the problem for two more years, if the GNDTP keeps its promise.

Bathinda, December 26
It proved to be a bumpy ride for the traffic cops in the district who issued slightly more number of challans but collected less fine than in the previous year. The traffic police chart suggests that the number of challans increased only after June, but during the first six months, the ratio in comparison to that of the previous year was just its 20 per cent.

Despite the number of challans, the fine imposed remained less in comparison with the previous year. Justifying their statistics, the traffic cops say that earlier, challans for heavy vehicles and gas kits were also issued and the amount of fine was also higher. But this year, such challans were not issued.

In 2007, the post of DSP (Traffic) went to Parminder Pal Singh, who made repeated attempts to train the traffic cops by arranged lectures. The results are awaited.

The details provided by the traffic police show that cases related to 220 accidents, 403 injuries, 331 hospitalisation, 116 first aid provision and 66 deaths were reported during highway patrolling.

The traffic police issued a total of 8,788 challans which was 8,432 in 2006. The total imposed fine in the year 2007 till November was Rs 17,89,500, while last year, it was Rs 42,99,950.

Meanwhile, other crimes like theft, assaults, rape and unnatural offences went up. In fact cases of deaths during house trespass and breaking at night were reported to be nil in the previous year, but this year, five such cases were registered. The total number of registered cases was at 2,299. It was also reported that the police department has around 2000 personnel. New vehicles were also added to the cavalcade of the district police this year so that there is no problem of resources.

Bathinda, December 26
Hundreds of Bathinda teachers boycotted the refresher camps and organised protest rallies against the policies of the government.

They burnt the effigy of the state government and raised slogans against the privatisation of education.

Various leaders including, Sukhdev Mitak, Karam Singh and Kuldeep Singh said that students in the schools did not have sitting facilities, but the government was investing crores of rupees on refresher camps across the state.

They warned that if the government did not change its policies, then the whole teacher community would intensify the struggle.

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, December 26
Her name is Suxam which means small, but with the 18 gold medals that she has won in judo, she has now grown in stature. With the mannerisms of a boy evident in her frequent ‘karta hoon,’ remark, the judo champion was modest enough to go and even fetch a glass of water for the thirsty interviewer. “ I think every girl should learn judo for self-defence,” she remarked.

Recently, Suxam won a gold medal in judo at the 53rd National School Games in the 44 kg weight category at Mizoram, in which 28 states had participated. She has been winning medals ever since she started the martial art. By the time she reached 10 years of age, Suxam came under the tutelage of Vishnu Dass at the Police Public School. Later, coach Dev Singh Dhaliwal took her under his wings at the indoor stadium in Bathinda. And the bud bloomed into a lovely flower.

At the national level, Suxam has won a gold at the National Open School Games in 2003, Public School National Games held at Gwalior in 2005, CBSE National School Games in 2005, National School Games held at Poona in 2006 and a silver in National Open Games in 2004. At the state level, she has won around 12 gold medals. “Even I do not remember the number of medals that I have won,” she exclaimed.

About her experience in Mizoram, Suxam said that the national games always provides an opportunity to compete with the best players and winning a gold there is a special feeling.

She once cried after she had lost, but now, has learnt the nuances of tackling her opponents. Coach Dhaliwal has high hopes from his “hardworking shishya” and said, “ We are now planning for the junior level.”

And it is not just sports. Suxam is also good at studies. She is equally conversant with algebra and physics as she got 82 per cent in her class VIII exam. Ask her about any change that her new-found status has brought about, and she says, “ My friends now view me with respect, but friends are still friends.” The judo champion also loves to read detective stories and is a big fan of reality TV.

Suxam is now preparing for the next season, which will start in June. After that, the National Open Games and the CBSE school games will follow, but her aim is the Olympics. Like Sania Mirza and Tendulkar, she can’t take up the sport professionally as it is not paying, but says her parents support her.

Bathinda, December 26
The Sarav Bharat Naujwan Sabha and the All India Students Federation today organised a convention at the Teachers’ Home here.

Giving details of the convention, the speakers said that it was being organised under the title of ‘Shaheeda Da Sankalp Te Vartman Samsyava’. Kashmir Singh, state president, Sarav Bharat Naujwan Sabha presided over the convention.

The student leaders spoke about motivating the students for building up a new society following the principles of Bhagat Singh. They also laid stress on physical education and employment for all.

Bathinda, December 26
A delegation of students today met the additional deputy commissioner, Bathinda, with their list of demands in the context of the lathicharge on ITI students that took place here on December 20.

The delegation stuck to its demand for strict action against the transporters and the police officials involved in the incident and bus pass facility on all the buses.

The representatives of ITI students issued a press release stating that the meeting was to be presided over by the DC but as he was reportedly out of the city, so the ADC conducted it.

Ruing over the alleged futility of the meeting, the students said that some transporters were also present but the ADC assured that the matter would be settled after the DC returns. The students have threatened to intensify the stir if their demands are not accepted.

Bathinda, December 26
Sukhdev Singh, former chief of Govind Nagar Mandir Colony, died of cardiac arrest while driving a car in the NFL Colony here on Tuesday night.

The incident, which occurred near the shopping complex of the colony, resulted in a mishap that caused serious injuries to three persons, including Sukhdev’s wife Daljit Kaur and his grandson Aman, who were along with him in the car.

The third injured was a girl, a pedestrian.

According to sources, Sukhdev along with his wife and his grandson was travelling in a car. All of a sudden, he had a severe heart attack and lost control over the car that collided with the wall of a house after hitting the girl.

The members of the Naujawan Welfare Society brought the injured to a hospital. Daljit has been referred to the CMC, Ludhiana, while the girl, Rajni, has been referred to a private hospital.

As per the wish of the deceased, his relatives donated his eyes. 

Bathinda, December 26
The managing director of the hotel Sepal, Som Chand Katia, on Tuesday, alleged that officials of the Improvement Trust had trespassed on his land and also entered a room after breaking the lock.

In his petition to the DIG, Faridkot range, Katia sought registration of criminal cases against the executive engineer (EO) Gora Lal and the junior engineer (JE) Gujraj Singh (JE) of the Improvement Trust and also against ten other persons.

He stated that the accused trespassed in his land situated at Bathinda-Barnala road and entered in a room after breaking the lock.

Katia told the TNS on Wednesday that he owned a land measuring six bighas 13 biswas near Thana Cantonment at Bathinda-Barnala road. He further said that the officials of the Trust tried to get possession of his property, despite the fact that they had no right to do so.

As earlier a case in this regard was filed and the court passed a judgement in his favour, restraining the accused in question, from taking possession of more than the acquired land that too after the demarcation, he said.

Katia said that he was on his way on Tuesday when he witnessed the accused raising the boundary wall and when he tried to prevent them from doing so, they threatened him not to interfere in the process.

Showing the decree passed in his favour, he stated that as per the notification, under the 49.5 acre scheme, only three bighas three biswas of a piece of land in the name of Katia, towards the city on Bathinda-Barnala highway, was acquired vide order no.1 of 1994-95, decided on August 29, 1996, for which the amount was to be paid to him. He is yet to get the amount. He further said that even the Land Acquisition Collector had not taken the possession.

When contacted, the administrator of the Improvement Trust, K.K. Yadav expressed his ignorance about the issue. He, however, said, “It would be contempt of the court if any of our department will interfere in the land against the order of the court.” He added that he would look into the matter. 

Abohar, December 26
About 800 teachers today burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Major Surinder Parsad Chowk close to the official residence of the sub-divisional magistrate after taking out a protest march under the banner of “Sarkari Sikhia Bachao Manch”. The organisation had been recently formed during a meeting of 18 teachers’ organisations at Jalandhar.

Those who led an impressive march included District Democratic Teachers Front president Sunil Dhawan, Prem Kumar, Naresh Midha, Rajinder Brar, Sukhdev Singh, Bhagwant Kumar, Dalip Ram, Harbhajan Singh, Parminder Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Des Raj, Mohan Lal Kudal, Shinder Singh and Darbara Singh representing different organisations. They shouted anti-government slogans.

While condemning the SAD (B)-BJP government for pursuing anti-education policies, Sunil Dhawan said that holding seminars during vacations was an unwise step. The government had backtracked on its promise in starting regular recruitment of teachers, bringing Zila Parishad-run schools under direct administrative control of the state education department and regularising services of computer teachers. The rally demanded an end to the process of privatisation of education and contractual system in recruitments. The organisation gave a call to government teachers to boycott teaching work after re-opening of schools after Christmas vacations.

The teachers would mark presence in the attendance register and then stage a dharna in all government schools next month, the rally resolved.

Barnala: To lodge their protest against the privatisation of education, a score of teachers’ union under the banner of the Sarkari School Sikhia Bachao Manch burnt the effigy of state government here today. The union leaders held a demonstration in the city raising anti-government slogans. These unions were also criticising the state and central government’s move to hold teaching and refresher camp during vacations. It also decided to boycott such camps.

Harcharn Singh Channa of Democratic Teachers’ Front alleged the misuse of the Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan fund by the state government. He said in order to provide benefit to private school concerns; the state government is unnecessarily harassing the teacher’s community.

Computer teachers union and ETT teachers union also joined the demonstration.

Meanwhile, the teachers also blocked the traffic before Senior Secondary School for Boys at Dhnaula for a short period and burnt effigies. — OC

Mansa: On the call of the Government School Education Manch, thousands of teachers from district Mansa burnt the effigies of the state government.

They held rallies and marches in the city. They raised slogans against the privatisation of the government schools.

They demanded that the schools falling under the Zila Parishad should be handed over to the education department. The teachers protested against the system of contractual appointments.

Among those who addressed the rallies were Hardep Singh, Balwinder Singh Bhikhi, Jugraj Singh, Sikander Singh, Atma Singh, Lachhman Singh and Chranjit Singh. — OC

Moga: Protesting against the education policy of the state government, as many as six teachers’ associations under the Adhyapak Ekta Manch burnt effigies of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in front of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan centres here today.

Surinder Singh, district secretary of the Democratic Front, said that teachers staged protest and burnt the effigies of the Chief Minister in front of Bhimnagar School, Government Girls School on main road and Mission School on Moga-Ferozepur road where Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan has its centres.He also condemned the holding of seminars during winter holidays.

The district secretary also flayed the privatisation of education. — TNS

Fazilka: Hundreds of teachers attending the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan Camp during winter break took out a protest march today under the banner of the “Shiksha Bachao Front”. The protesting teachers raised slogans against the Punjab government and criticised the government for holding seminars during winter break. Teacher’s leaders Hans Raj Thind, Ram Krishan Dhunkian, Gurdev Singh, Darshan Singh Taneja and others alleged that by organising seminars the government had deprived the teachers of their vacations. They also alleged that the government was squandering lakhs of rupees on organising such seminars which were otherwise useless. They urged the government to utilise the funds on strengthening the basic infrastructure in the government schools. — OC

Mansa , December 26The Commumist Party of India (CPI) today held a political
 conference on its 82nd anniversary at Bareta. Former MLA Buta Singh presided over this function.

Addressing the conference, Joginder Dyal, member of the national executive of the CPI, said the party had fought for the freedom of the country and had sacrificed for the rights of the poor people. He further said since 1991, the government had been implementing the policies of privatisation and globalisation due to which the gap between rich and poor had widened.

About the situation in Punjab, Dyal said that all works and plans of development were defunct due to the wrong policies of the Akali-BJP government. CM Parkash Singh Badal had been making efforts to make his son CM, he alleged.

Addressing the rally, Hardev Singh Arsi, national council member of the CPI, criticised the Punjab Congress for not playing the role of the opposition in the interests of the people. — OC 

Barnala, December 26
Gopal Singh Dardi, district public relations officer of Nawanshehar and native of Barnala , has set an example before the society by observing the birth anniversary of his daughter, late Gurpreet Kaur, for the last 10 years.

On the occasion, a cultural programme dedicated to Punjabi folk was organised where many Punjabi singers mesmerised the audience. Dardi distributed shoes, and uniforms to poor girl students of a school where his daughter used to study. He prevailed upon the masses to curb female foeticide. — OC

Abohar, December 26
Congress MLA Sunil Jakhar plans to move a privilege motion during the next session of the Vidhan Sabha over distribution of pension cheques and development grants in his constituency by political activists. He indicated this at a crowded press conference here.

Speaking to news persons here today, Jakhar took strong exception to distribution of cheques to widows through BJP workers on behalf of the social welfare department. This is yet another violation of the assurance given by Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura, Minister for Panchayats and Social Welfare, during the recently adjourned session of the Assembly, he averred.

He also disapproved distribution of cheques received from the Central government under the border area development scheme by the SAD (B) MP Zora Singh Mann in this assembly segment to persons who were not elected sarpanch of their respective villages.

Mann had been assisted by some political workers in distributing cheques worth Rs 4.58 crore recently.

Even the Vidhan Sabha speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon was reported to have stated that this should be the prerogative of the legislator, irrespective of political affiliation to distribute cheques under all welfare schemes and development grants in the respective constituency, Jakhar informed.

Regretting that the treasury benches preferred to get nine important bills passed in just four hours during last day of the Vidhan Sabha session Jakhar feared the amended Police Act might be returned for review as efforts had not been made to follow the guidelines given by the apex court. On the proposed acquisition of 2500 acre of land for a thermal plant in the Balluana assembly segment here, to facilitate the project in the private sector, Jakhar blamed the government for adopting “anti-farmer” policies. 

Abohar, December 26
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has decided to investigate into the allegations made in a complaint, supported by affidavits, from some women including a young widow against the conduct of one of the block primary education officers (BPEO) here and a clerk. The commission has asked the DGP to submit facts and information on the action taken on the allegations with a warning that summons would be issued if reply was not received within the stipulated time.

The complainants had been engaged for cooking meals in the nearby village Balluana. One of them, a young widow, alleged that one BPEO in this sub-division visited the government primary school and asked her to stop cooking at once and meet the clerk in the office next day. According to the contents of the six-page complaint (facts of which were yet to be verified), the clerk asked the complainant to grease his palms or fulfill “other” demands which she did not think fit to elaborate.

The BPEO was informed but she ignored. Later, the young widow and some EGS teachers made complaints. Even the CM’s office did not take any action on complaints about alleged malpractices in the office of the BPEO here. Besides, there were complaints of some teachers working in rural schools and managing posting on deputation in the block primary education offices for months. But they were never found working there. — OC

Muktsar, December 26
The animal lovers will have an opportunity to display the might of their pets at the beginning of the annual ‘Maghi Mela’ as the district administration would organise a show in this regard from January 10 to 12.

Besides the traditional bullock cart race, the other animals ranging from sheep and goat to the horses, even the cocks, would compete for which the masters of the winning pets would get cash prizes worth Rs 25 lakh on the last day of the three-day event.

The event is being organised for the first time to coincide with the week-long ‘Maghi’ fair when thousands of devotees throng the historic Muktsar town every day from across Punjab and other states.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would distribute prizes to the winning masters of their pets on January 12, DC Vikas Garg here said.  The traditional ‘Ghorea Di Mandi’ (horse fair) on the occasion of the ‘Maghi Mela’ would remain a separate affair as usual, the DC clarified.  Meanwhile, the DC today also held a review meeting to take stock of the ongoing preparations for the ‘Maghi Mela’, in which the devotees would pay homage to the 40 martyrs of Muktsar.

Moga, December 26
The mounting debt and the medical expenses of brother drove Gurdeep Singh (47) of Takhanwad village, nearly 15 km from here, to commit suicide today.

Unable to pay off the debt, Gurdeep, a father of three, consumed pesticide at his residence. His family members rushed him to a nearby private hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The villagers said that he had taken a loan of Rs 6.50 lakh from a private financier to buy a truck about three years back.

However, since he could not pay the instalments regularly, the debt increased to Rs 10 lakh.

Besides, his brother, Darshan Singh, was suffering from a serious ailment and a lot of money was spent to pay for his medical bills and medicines, they added.

Fazilka, December 26
The city police here has claimed to have unearthed a gang by nabbing four thieves and recovering articles worth thousands of rupees from their possession.

DSP Rachhpal Singh said sub-inspector Balkar Singh, on a tip-off, nabbed four thieves from a locality near TV tower. Four sets of colour TVs, three fans, two CD players, one sound system, 18 kg of PVC wire, three large bags of detergent, two boxes of soap, one electric iron and one churning machine were recovered from their possession. The accused have been identified as three real brothers — Bhajan Lal, Ranjit Singh and Dharampal — and one companion. The police has registered a case. — OC