Muktsar, February 16
With an aspiration that the villagers in the cancer-hit ‘Malwa’ region would soon get rid of the highly contaminated groundwater for consumption, five villages of Gidderbaha block in Muktsar district have now been equipped with the reverse osmosis (RO) water purification plants, with 48 more to be set up by March end.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would formally inaugurate the commissioning of these micro plants at Kotli and Kauni villages in Gidderbaha on February 18.

The Muktsar district administration had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an non-government organisation (NGO), the Naandi Foundation, for the commissioning of such plants in 53 villages of Gidderbaha earlier this year.

Besides Kotli and Kauni, three other villages where the RO plant has begun functioning were Bhunder, Ablu Kotli and Kot Bhai.

The remaining 48 villages would be equipped with the plants by the end of March, regional manager (Operations) of the NGO, Sandeep Kapoor, informed TNS.

The villages of Gidderbaha tehsil had been identified for the RO treatment project as the water samples collected from the area contained high fluoride and nitrates, which caused cancer and other diseases, said a senior official of the Public Health Department.

The purified water would cost Rs 2 per 20 litres to the villagers, and this money would contribute to the operations and maintenance of the micro units, according to the MoU.

The Rs 3.22-crore project, the first of its kind in Punjab, would have the villagers’ participation as the panchayats would provide groundwater for the treatment at the micro units, apart from a piece of land measuring 500 square feet.

The state government’s department of planning has allocated Rs 2.5 crore
for the project.

As per the pact, the workforce to be selected as plant operators and other required skills would preferably be from the Gidderbaha area. For the purpose, the NGO would provide necessary training to the personnel.

Abohar, February 16
The district and sessions court in Sriganganagar has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of a retired DSP of the Punjab Police in a 34-year-old case, sources said today.

He was posted as head constable at the Khuyiansarwar police station of the Abohar sub- division at the time of the registration of the case.

The case might be an eye-opener for other cops still indulging in preventing farmers from transporting their produce for a remunerative price to the neighbouring areas from this part of Punjab, located close to the Rajasthan border.

According to the information available, one Gurdev Singh, a resident of village Bhagsar, was going to Sriganganagar on August 19, 1974, carrying 25 bags of wheat on a camel cart as better price was offered there.

He was allegedly intercepted by three policemen, from the Khuyiansarwar police station, at Gumjal barrier on the Abohar–Sriganganagar road (NH-15), who allegedly demanded Rs 1,000 from him to facilitate the sale of wheat as the Punjab government had banned its export to other states.

Gurdev Singh further alleged that he, along with his camel cart, was taken to the police station where a case for attempt to “smuggle” only eight bags of wheat was registered against him while 17 bags of wheat were misappropriated.

He filed a complaint in the court against head constable Harbhajan Singh, constables Charanjit Singh, Rameshwer Lal, Mani Ram, Veer Singh and Lekh Raj Lehri, superintendent of the department of taxation.

The superintendent of police, while entertaining the plea forwarded by the complainant farmer on August 24, 1974, had directed the police station to initiate proceedings against the “erring cops” and convert the FIR into FR (false report).

Gradually, the proceedings against head constable Harbhajan Singh and others went on as per their convenience, but the court proceedings continued.

Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh had retired as deputy superintendent of police and settled in village 9PS in Raisinghnagar area of Sriganganagar.

As the accused had not appeared in the trial court for a long period, warrants were issued against them.

Retd. DSP Harbhajan Singh had moved an application in the district and sessions court seeking an anticipatory bail, which was rejected on Friday, sources added.

Bathinda, February 16
The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on Saturday sought to clear the air over the scarcity of LPG cylinders in the city.

In a press release issued today, the public sector undertaking has maintained that the hardship with regard to LPG cylinders for domestic use has eased out and has also listed the reasons for the crisis.

The unexpectedly long winter and the enhanced consumption pattern along with some misuse and illegal use of the LPG leading to diverson of cylinders by some persons, including the distributors’ network of the company have been listed as factors behind the LPG crisis, by the company.

The BPCL also pointed out that a section of the distributors have a fake set of customers to whom they release supplies on regular basis. Such customers are conduit for them to make the product available for illagal usage to unauthorised persons in automobiles, hotels, dhabas, caterers and for unauthorised filling of small cylinders.

This results in blackmarketing of domestic LPG, the company said, adding that action is in progress to inspect the customer database of each distributor for blockage of such unidentified fake customers.

The BPCL also said that unscrupulous persons have been appointed by a section of the distributors to deliver the cylinders to the customers.

These delivery staff are paid the minimal amount on per cylinder basis, who in turn, indulge into pilferage of the product and undestined deliveries.

Explaining that the supply of domestic LPG is covered under Essential Commodity Act, the company has appealed to the people to cooperate to check the problem and bring the distributors or their delivery persons to book.

Consumers affected can bring their problems to the respective company officials: Vikram Gupta (Moga, Faridkot), phone number: 9872829106; Kawaljeet Singh (Bathinda, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Mansa), phone number: 9878007205

Senior BPCL officials who would be available for grievance redressal are: Mahesh Goyal, Territory Coordinator (Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar) phone number: 0164-2430134; and, L.N. Nagar, Territory Manager, phone number: 0164-2430136.

Bathinda, February 16
Anyone who dreams to share the pedestal with the business tycoons like L.N. Mittal, Ambanis and others, may get tips from the students of the Commerce stream of the Army School, Bathinda.

The class XI students, Anushka, Avinash and Akhil, have compiled the 15 easy-to-follow tricks to achieve great heights in business and they elaborated it through a power-point presentation during the Art and Craft Exhibition organised on the school premises today.

Students of the school from class I to IX and class XI exhibited their creativity during the daylong exhibition, which also saw Srishti and Aakansha creating awareness on consumers’ rights.

There were altogether six sections for the participants to show creativity in science, social science, economics and commerce and art and craft and the participants exhibited their artistic bent of mind through their creations, including paper napkin flower, soft toys, paper jewellery, photo frame and several others.

Students of the junior wings also got applause for their hand-made daily useful articles like cards from the chief guest, vice-president Chetak AWWA, Rama Katoch.

Students of science section also exhibited their scientific temper. The anti-collision devise to prevent train mishap made by Ankesh was one of the attractions.

Harleen and Amrit made an electronic eye while Navjot and Garima created a double intensity lamp. The Power Supply System by Tejinder Singh Sidhu, which has been selected for the Inter-Army School Science Exhibition and Competition, was also on display.

Vibhor and Dhawal made the AIDS model while Sugam Preet Singh and Satya left no stone unturned to make a solar cooker.

Principal of the school, Rupinder Kaur, vice-principal H. Pandey, teacher of economics Ranjodh Singh, teacher of SUPW Harpreet Kaur Walia, teacher of art and craft Sonia and other teachers encouraged students for their splendid work.

Bathinda, February 16
An Army artillery gun was damaged while two motocyclists including a girl sustained injuries in a road mishap at the Bathinda-Bajakhana road here this evening.

Sources said that an Army truck was pulling the cannon that was on its way to Bathinda from Pathankot.

The truck hit a motorcycle near village Balhad Binju and in an attempt to save the motorists, the driver of the truck applied brakes suddenly.

The Army personnel immediately rushed to help the injured. Meanwhile, a Tata Sumo (RJ31C-2035) hit the cannon attached with the Army truck from the rear.

The impact of the collision was so great that the cannon was damaged. The persons in Tata Sumo managed to flee.

Soon after receiving the information, SHO Nahianawala police station, Boota Singh reached the spot and sent the injured man and his daughter to the civil hospital. Police was investigating the matter till the filing of the report.

Moga, February 16
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) detected over 50 cases of power theft here today. In a major detection of power theft, a private rice mill was found drawing electricity from a 70 metre long cable.

Interestingly, the owner of the same firm had earned Rs 17 lakh penalty for stealing power at its plant located at Focal Point on January 18.

Confirming this, Mahinder Singh Brar, XEN, PSEB, said that the offender had laid an underground cable drawing power directly from the transformer.

He said in order to detect the accurate loss, data would be collected through electronic meter installed at the mill. The electronic meter had the capacity for retaining seven-month long memory.

He informed that data elicited from the meter would be fed into a computer and subsequently; penalty rule would be applied for offenders.

Besides, he said that as many as 50 cases of power pilferage from domestic users were found in the Dagru sub-division.

Earlier, the PSEB had found cases of electricity theft ranging from 50 in Kot Isse Khan, 40 in Bhinder Kalan to 70 in Dharamkot.

Abohar, February 16
Concerned over the inadequate supply of water through the Indira Gandhi Canal Project, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) would gherao the office of the superintending engineer at Sriganganagar on Monday.

Announcing this after a meeting today, BKS district president Satya Narain Godara and secretary Kirpal Singh said the mustard crop had almost been damaged by frost during the last six weeks, and the affected farmers in some villages preferred to uproot the plants.

Now, the green fodder too needed canal water but the authorities had imposed a blanket ban on using water for irrigation.

It has been officially notified that water from the canal would be exclusively supplied to drinking water reservoirs in the region for the next fortnight. This would be fatal for the standing green fodder crops, they said.

The farmers would assemble on February 18 at 11 am to hold demonstration at the office of the superintending engineer and gherao it.

Mansa: The farmers today staged a dharna in front of the office of XEN, canal department, Jawaharke, and demanded water supply for the canal named 'Kotla branch', that passed through this area.

Addressing the dharna, district president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) Ram Singh Bhainibagha said it had been a month since water had been supplied to the canal. Due to this, the farmers of Mansa, Maur and Talwandi Sabo were facing problems in irrigating their respective fields.

The district president said that the canals here were without water, power supply was not available and the extremely cold weather added to the woes of farmers.

However, the superintendent of the canal department assured the farmers that water would be supplied to the canal on February 22.

Moga, February 16
The festive mood on the opening day of Kabaddi tournament turned gloomy when two groups clashed at Budh Singhwala village in Baghapurana block, near here today.

Following the conclusion of day’s proceedings, two groups clashed. And one of them opened fire leaving five persons injured.

According to police sources, Inderjit Singh and Bittu Singh of the Budh Singhwala village along with Nikka Singh of Rode village clashed with another group headed by Budh Singhwala’s Sarpanch Major Singh. Injderjit Singh reportedly opened fire.

Apart from Major Singh, Binder Singh, Kulwant Singh, Ajmer Singh and Mithu Singh, who is stated to be serious as he received bullet in chest, sustained injuries.

The injured were rushed to the civil hospital at Baghapurana and were later shifted to the civil hospital here except Ajmer Singh.

Muktsar, February 16
Senior academician of the National Council for Teacher Education P.K. Yadav, delivered his extension lecture at the Dasmesh Girls College of Education, Badal, today.

He said that self-assessment and teaching with novel ideas could help the teachers reach the level of 'reflective teaching'.

He said that a teacher should evaluate his role, communication skills, behaviour and feedback. S.S. Sangha, principal of the college thanked Yadav for the lecture.

Bathinda, February 16
On the concluding day of the 55th annual sports meet of the Government Rajindra College here today, Parmanand and Geeta were adjudged best athletes among the boys and girls categories, respectively.

The players of Shaheed Nand Singh house won most of the events at the meet. As many as 150 players of six houses had participated in the two-day event.

A bhangra performance by the college students was the highlight of the day that drew applause. Besides, much to the delight of the spectators, the students of the Police Public School exhibited their gymnastic skills.

Sukhdeep Singh Bhinder, additional advocate-general, Punjab, was the chief guest at the morning session.

Ikattar Singh Jeeda and Mukhtiar Singh were special guests on the occasion. Deputy commissioner Rahul Tiwari was the chief guest at the evening session.

In his address, B.S.Rattan, retired IRS, who presided over the evening session of the sports meet, advised the budding sportsmen to “work hard as that was the only key to success.”

The winners of different events at the meet were awarded prizes today. Final results:

Boys’ category:

100 m: (1) Lakhbir (2) Ranbir Singh (3) Ranjeet Singh

400 m: (1) Lakhbir Singh (2) Parmanand (3) Balwinder Girls’ category

100 m: (1) Jyoti (2) Geeta (3) Sandeep Kaur

200 m: (1) Jyoti (2) Angrez Kaur (3) Geeta

In the musical chair race (staff members and guests), Sarabjeet Kaur and Darshan Singh, both professors, and principal R.K. Banger picked up the first, second and third prizes, respectively.

Bathinda, February 16
The SSD Girls College and SSD W.I.T. held its annual athletic meet prize distribution ceremony here today.

Rahul Tewari, DC Bathinda and Shinjini Tewari, excise and taxation officer, were the chief guests on the occasion.

Manohar Lal Gupta, president of the SSD Sabha, Anil Bansal, president of the SSD College, Darshana Bansal, principal of the SSD College and Parminder Tangri, principal of the SSD WIT, welcomed the guests.

The prize distribution function followed where the chief guest awarded mementos to the winning athletes. Heena, Sarabjit, Rinki, Sharnjeet, Harpreet, Manpreet, Aarti, Amrit, Neha, Lochan, Madhuri, Mamta and Parmeet were the main winners from the SSD College.

Preetika, Neha, Parminder, Jasmit, Shibali, Geetika, Shikha, Richa, Kiranjeet, Jasveer, Raureet, Sheemu, Princi and Priyanka were the prominent winners from the SSD WIT.