Bathinda, January 2
The Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) at Lehra Mohabbat in Bathinda district is in a spot again. Last night, when the commissioning of the unit I of stage II was underway, a hydrogen explosion that could have caused damage to the unit as well as loss of lives, was averted.

Highly-placed sources in GHTP said, “During the commissioning last night, when the generator testing was being done after rolling the turbine at 3,000 rpm (revolutions per minute), hydrogen temperature in the generator increased to a very dangerous level. Because of that, the generator as well as the turbine tripped. Had it not tripped, there would have been a big explosion.’’

Hydrogen, a highly explosive gas, is used to keep the generator cool. “On investigation, it was found that the cooling water lines linked to hydrogen coolers, that are used to keep the temperature of hydrogen gas under control, were not connected as per the drawings.

“There was no flow of water in the hydrogen coolers that caused the hydrogen gas to heat up. In fact, both the inlet and outlet lines of all the coolers were connected to the same cooling water header. Ideally, both the inlet and outlet lines are connected to the water header separately,’’ sources informed.

Sources further added, ``Now the cooling water lines are being corrected to have another go at synchronising the unit on HFO and LDO oil. It is learnt that there are a lot of things still incomplete and the unit is being put at risk just to please the political bosses. The present PSEB chairman, who was appointed by the Congress government has been granted one-year extension by the present CM Parkash Singh Badal, in spite of the fact that not even single MW of power generation has been added during the five-year tenure of the chairman. Even the decision to hand over the construction of two units of 250 MW each at GHTP stage II to the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) was done without calling competitive tenders. This decision was taken during the tenure of the present chairman in spite of the reservation from experts and engineers.’’

``BHEL is overburdened caused by the announcement of subsidy by the Central government for projects completed within the Tenth Five-Year Plan, that too after a lull of many years when no new project was allowed in the public sector. Engineering of the project was delayed due to long chain of clearance of design involving the PSEB, its consultant TCE, BHEL and its consultant Fitchener, sub-vendors of BHEL and their consultants, resulting in a cumbersome and time consuming process for the clearance of drawings and design memorandum,’’ sources added.

Two days ago, when the commissioning of the plant was going on, strainers (filters) of two Condensate Extraction Pump (CEP) also got damaged and the strainers of unit II of stage II were being used.

GHTP stage II, which consists of two units of 250 MW each will produce 1.2 crore units daily. As per the original schedule, unit I was to be synchronised on oil by October 27, 2006.

Its coal firing was scheduled to be done by November 27, 2006 and after stabilisation and commercial run, this unit was to be handed over to the PSEB by December 31, 2006. Unit II was to follow the above schedule with a gap of three months. 

Bathinda, January 2
Activists of a religious-political organisation reportedly damaged two trucks at the Bibi Wala Chowk here on Wednesday evening. The activists of the groups were suspicious that the trucks carrying cows were going to slaughterhouses for delivering the same.

The Civil Lines police rounded up the two alleged leaders of the group from the spot, while rest managed to escape.

Sources said the activists of the group, intercepted a truck bearing number PB-10 AY-6213 and when the driver asked for the reason, the activists snatched the keys and tried to pull him out. The driver clarified that he was carrying potatos and was on his way to Ahmedabad for giving delivery. The activists without paying heed to him, started hurling stones on the truck, resulting in damage to the windowpanes.

Sources added that the activists received a phone call that a truck bearing number RJ-19G-2944, which had also reached there, was carrying cows. The activists, stopped the truck and did the same. On the request of the owner of the cattle, some of them checked the truck and found buffalos on the truck.

In the meantime, police reached the spot and rounded up two so-called leaders of the group, namely Raju Baba and Sukhpal Saran.

At night, when SHO, Civil Lines, was contacted, he said that a case in connection is yet to be registered.

Bathinda, January 2
“The Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) has chalked out an elaborate plan for the development of the city keeping in mind the next 25 years. It already has Rs 750 crore for the purpose,” said Sarup Chand Singla, halqa in-charge SAD (B), Bathinda, while unveiling the plans, here today.

“The Chief Minister has been giving funds for the development of the city as he had promised to transform the city into a ‘new Bathinda.’ During his recent visit, Rs140 crore has been granted, which includes Rs 40 crore for the roads and dividers and Rs 100 crore for the underground wiring of electricity,” he added.

Disclosing the development strategy for the New Year, Sarup said, “The BDA has prepared plans for colleges, factories, roads and other infrastructure to be raised in the city and surroundings and all the infrastructure will be state-of-the-art.”

The SAD (B) leader also assured that the city would soon be connected to the hotline for power supply, which would ensure round-the-clock power supply to the residents.

He said that all four flyovers in the city would soon be completed. He said that many outer and link roads have been marked for carpeting and increasing of width. He said that recarpeting plans for the roads leading to Bhucho-Jassi Pau Wali and Jassi Pau Wali-Dabwali have been approved. The width and length of these roads would also be increased and Rs 11 crore has been sanctioned for it. The scheme is under the NABARD. The Bathinda-Goniana GT road will also be re-laid and dividers will be constructed to beautify the city, he added.

When asked about the sewerage and water supply problems, he said, “The matter has been brought to the notice of the minister concerned and it would be solved within two months.” “The residents have to pay as much as Rs 9 crore for sewerage and water supply bills, which everyone is being urged to pay,” he added.

Replying a query relating to the international cricket stadium, he said, “The stadium will be managed by the BDA but there will be a collaboration between the BDA and the Punjab Cricket Association.”

When Singla was asked about the long-pending public demand for changing the Executive Officer of the Municipal Corporation, for his alleged misbehaviour, he parried the query to avoid any controversy.

Bathinda, January 2
The civil hospital in Bathinda launched a rally today in connection with the pulse polio campaign, on January 6.

Civil Surgeon Maninderjeet Singh flagged off the rally in which nursing students, health workers, social organisations, para-medical staff, the district programme officer, local senior medical officer, district TB officer and the additional civil surgeon participated.

In the pulse polio programme, 1,84,323 children will be administered polio drops through 742 booths (534 in towns and 208 in villages), manned by 3,000 workers. There will be 33 transit and 40 mobile teams to administer medicines at bus stands, round-abouts, slums and markets. —TNS 

Abohar, January 2
The Kisan Suvidha package policy was launched at a function here today.

Claiming that the policy had been conceived and designed considering the insurance requirements of the farmers, Surinder Kumar Jakhar, the Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative (IFFCO) chairman and the founder president of the insurance company, said the IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Company Limited (ITGI) was committed towards the farming community and hoped to further strengthen the commitment with the launch of the policy.

The policy covered risks against fire, burglary, personal accidents and critical diseases. In addition, it insured the stock of farm produce against fire and allied perils besides tractors, he added.

Informing that the ITGI had been promoted as a joint venture by the IFFCO and the Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire, leading insurance company of Japan, Jakhar said that IFFCO’s share in the joint venture was 74 per cent while the latter made 26 per cent contribution through a group company, Tokio Marine Asia Private Limited.

Till November 30, 2007, the ITGI had settled 6,740 claims amounting to Rs 39.35 crore in India that included 338 claims, amounting to Rs 2.63 crore, made from Punjab alone, he added.

Those present at the function included local legislator Sunil Jakhar, IFFCO director Balwinder Singh Nakai and M. Ogawa, director (strategy), ITGI.

N.K. Kedia, executive director (marketing), ITGI, while giving details of the Kisan Suvidha policy, said that the small farmer would have to pay only Rs 226 for an insurance cover of Rs 25,000 against fire, earthquake and burglary along with personal accident.

The farmer would also have the option of covering 10 critical diseases, including paralytic stroke, cancer, renal failure, coronary artery disease, major burns, multiple sclerosis and coma besides major injuries.

The sum insured could be increased up to Rs 5 lakh with an upper age limit of 65 years, he informed.

The ITGI was committed to pay the claim within 7-10 days after the date of information that could be given on the toll-free call centre number, he said. ITGI consultant S.S. Anand said surveys indicated that 56 per cent of the rural population had been procuring loan for the treatments in multi-facility hospitals and remained indebted for the rest of their life.

Besides, other insurance companies had little access to the rural areas, he added.

Having a widespread network with 170 offices across the country, the ITGI plans to open an insurance centre in Abohar soon, he informed.

Fazilka, January 2
The health department has geared up for pulse polio programme to immunise children up to five years of age to eradicate the disease.

Senior medical officer Y.K.Gupta and nodal officer Hans Raj said all arrangements for administering polio vaccines to about 11,500 children have been made. About 31 teams have been formed to administer polio vaccines across the town on January 6. Besides, two transit teams and two mobile teams have been constituted.

About 120 students shall help the health department teams in the pulse polio programme. These teams shall administer the polio vaccine in 12,000 houses of the town.

A polio eradication awareness rally led by SDM Rajiv Prashar will be organised on January 4. The volunteers shall be trained on January 3 and 4 on ways to administer polio vaccine drops. — OC

Ferozepur, January 2
An estimated sum of Rs 484.83 lakh would be spent on all-round development of the villages belonging to the six blocks along the India-Pakistan border, stated Zora Singh Mann, member of Parliament, while presiding over a meeting of the border area development committee at deputy commissioner’s (DC’s) office here today.

The meeting was attended by DC Bhagwant Singh, SP (HQ) Harjinder Singh, DDPO Baljit Singh, Bachittar Singh besides the representatives from various government departments.

In today’s meeting, Mann took stock of the various development works presently being executed under the border area development programme (BADP).

He said Rs 17 crore had been earmarked during the current fiscal to complete the pending works under BADP.

He instructed the officials to prepare estimates for various pending works under BADP scheme so that the funds could be released.

Mann further said that an amount of Rs 200 crore would be spent on widening of roads in four border districts of the state.

Ferozepur, January 2
Beginning the new year on a successful note, the police here arrested four members of a gang responsible for thefts and other heinous crimes in the area on Tuesday.

Giving details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dinesh Pratap said the police received secret information that some unidentified culprits were planning to commit heinous crime in the area of Dangger Mandi on College Road at Zira.

SI Major Singh, along with a police team, rushed to the spot and arrested four members of the gang, identified as Faqiriya alias Madrasi alias Vakil, a resident of ward number 23 of Vishkarma Colony at Moga, Mangat Ram alias Baba alias Mangal, now resident of Dana Mandi Naushera police station, district Tarn Taran, Raju Ram alias Kalia, a resident of Bhudder Wali police station, Matili district, Sriganganagar (Rajasthan) and Arjun of Gurdevpura police station, Mukerian, now village Bareke.

The SSP said one accused who managed to escape had been identified as Piara Singh alias Leelu of Gurdev Pura police station, Mukeria.

He further informed that two .12 bore DBBL guns along with 11 cartridges, and one country made .315 bore pistol with three cartridges were recovered from the accused.

The SSP said during a preliminarily interrogation, the accused admitted to having committed various crimes in the area. They had stolen gold and silver ornaments from village Bhinder under Dharmkot police station in district Moga. They also stole one DBBL gun from a village near Dhabha on Zira-Talwandi Bhai road, stole gold ornaments and cash from village Kolkrian on Zira-Makhu road, stole brass ornaments and liquor from a place in Moga district, besides some other cases.

A case has been registered at the Zira police station.