Bathinda, April 5
Two days of rains and strong winds have caused about 20 per cent damage to the standing wheat crop in several villages of the district. Farmers and experts are worried that another spell of rains accompanied by winds or hailstorm can spell doom for them.

Echoing the worries of the farmers, Tarlok Singh, a farmer of Joganand village, near here, said that while a substantial portion of his crop was completely damaged, he was actually worried about the condition of the remaining crop. “The quality of the standing crop will be seriously affected as the moisture content in the grain will grow. Moreover, if the crops are discoloured, the produce would not fetch the desired price.”

A survey of a number of villages in the district by TNS here today has revealed that there has been an all-round damage to the wheat crop, which was nearing maturity at several places. Most of the damage has been suffered by those farmers who had irrigated the crop during the last two or three days. In these watered fields, the wind and hailstorm had resulted in flattening of the crop.

The survey also revealed that panic prevailed among the farmers of these villages who said they would be ruined if the weather gods did not show mercy on them. “We had a sleepless night yesterday. We were all praying for the safety of our crops. We have been suffering time and again due to the policies of the government but this time we were happy that at least this produce will not let us down,” rued Paramjeet Singh of Gilpatti. Reportedly other crops has also been damaged.

The damage to wheat crop has been reported in villages, including Behamdhiwana, Joganand, Gilpatti, Pokhar, Deon, Mehmasirja and Buladhewala, Gilpatti and Buladha experienced hailstones though the damage was not much owing to the comparatively smaller size of hailstones.

Ferozepur, April 5
The Punjab government has completed all arrangements for uninterrupted and smooth procurement of wheat in the state for which 1,600 purchase centres have been established, said Janmeja Singh Sekhon, irrigation minister, while presiding over a meeting of the officials from various procurement agencies.

Sekhon took stock of the preparedness of the agencies for the procurement drive at the meeting and told them to purchase wheat within 24 hours of its arrival in the markets.

Sekhon said that 145 lakh MT wheat was expected to arrive in the markets for which the state government had demanded Rs 11,500 crore from the Reserve Bank of India so as to make instant payments to the farmers, out of which Rs 8,500 crore had already been received.

Sekhon said that various procurement agencies like PUNGRAIN, FCI, Punsup, Markfed, Punjab Agro and Warehousing, had been given specific targets by the state government.

He said strict instructions had been passed to deploy adequate staff in the grain markets and ensure proper facilities like drinking water, lights, gunny bags and shelter for the farmers.

Sekhon warned that any official found indulging in unethical or corrupt practices during the procurement drive would not be spared and stringent action would be initiated against them.

He also informed that flying squads had also been deputed to visit the markets. They were asked to submit their daily report to the district headquarters.

On the occasion, DC Megh Raj informed that 184 purchase centres had been established in the district where 11.51 lakh MT wheat was expected to arrive in the markets.

The DC said that all SDMs had been directed to keep a check on the procurement drive and submit their report on a daily basis.

Bathinda, April 5
Despite the avowed thrust by the government to make Bathinda the most developed town of Punjab in the next five years, it will be some time before residents here find their demands for basic amenities like roads, water, electricity and sanitation, fulfilled.

While there has been talk of a plan to construct a four-lane road connecting Bathinda with Chandigarh, the condition of roads within the town call for urgent steps for repair and improvement.

The damaged roads with potholes and choked drains not only make the drive hazardous on bumpy roads, but are also a nightmare for the pedestrians.

Nair Singh, a resident of Sanjuana Basti, said, “The priorities of the MC are difficult to understand. Some of the roads repaired recently are being done up again while a good number of roads, which have become virtual death traps, continue to escape the attention of the authorities.”

The Teen Koni road and the 100-feet (Sau Futti) road in the heart of the town were repaired recently and are being metalled again, indicating probably the lack of coordination between different wings of the civic body. As a result, the roads are dug up time and again for various purposes, like laying of sewer lines or water pipes. Sources informed that to metal a one km stretch of road with pre-mix costs around Rs 10 lakhs.

Municipal Commissioner K.K. Yadav claimed, “A sum of Rs 40 crore is being spent on the improvement of civic services which includes repair and maintenance of roads. The areas where sewer lines have already been laid are being metalled while other will be taken up after the sewerage line is laid.”

The repair works hasve started in 12 wards and on Goniana road, he added.

The residents here also face the problem of smog during the winter, dust and pollution during summer and water-logging in the rainy season. Besides, massive power cuts, irregular water supply, heaps of garbage and poor condition of the roads make their life miserable round the year.

“The town is facing the problems of air and water pollution and has a large number of patients suffering from cancer and other respiratory diseases,” lamented Gurnail.

Ironically, the town, which is supplying power to the entire state, is subjected to the frequent power cuts. “The local PSEB officials are helpless as the electricity generated from the thermal plants is added to the grid and distribution is centralised with no special consideration for Bathinda,” said a PSEB official requesting anonymity.

However, the harried residents have not yet given up on hope and feel that Bathinda will become a ‘dream city’, by surmounting all odds.

Ferozepur, April 5
“The Punjab government has decided that all the doctors and teachers working under the zila parishads would henceforth get salary and honorariums from respective BDPOs instead of zila parishad offices located at district headquarters,” informed Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, rural development and panchayat minister, while speaking to media persons at Fattuwala village here today. He was here on a private visit to attend a function.

On granting powers to the panchayati raj institutions, the minister said sarpanch could keep a check on the functioning of service providers, like doctors and teachers, and submit complaint, if any, to the government.

“The government has also decided that the pensions would be disbursed by banks. Due to political rivalries in villages, cases have been reported where aged pensioners, especially those from politically rival camps, were subjected to harassment while getting pensions,” he said.

The minister also informed that banks had been directed to open accounts of the pensioners and provide every kind of assistance to the illiterate beneficiaries in opening their accounts.

Brahmpura said, “The centre-sponsored NREGA scheme has been started by the state government from April 1, under which minimum 100 days of employment would be ensured to at least one member of each family living in villages.”

On the occasion, Zora Singh Mann, MP, Hari Singh Zira, ex-minister, Gurdev Singh director of rural development and panchayats, Baldev Singh Fattuwala, Ravinder Singh ex-chairman of Markfed were also present. 

Mansa, April 5
The Punjab Employees Struggle Committee today burnt the copies of the terms of reference released by the Punjab Government about the pay commission recommendations. The employees of different unions assembled at the Thikriwala roundabout here today, and burnt the copies. Addressing the gathering, the committee leaders said the terms of references had recommended an assurance policy to replace medical allowance.

An alternative was also sought by way of 4-9-14-promotion scale for which employees have been fighting for long. J.S. Kokhar and S.S. Dhaliwal of the Democratic Employees Front, Dsaunda Singh of Kathra Employees’ Federation, B.S. Makha of Ajnala Employees Federation, A.S. Atma of Dhilon Employees Federation and Sukhwinder Sharma of Pharmacist Association flayed the state government for its “anti-employees” policies. — OC

Mansa, April 5
Expressing deep concern over the breach in Bhakra main Branch Canal that took place at Fatehpur head recently, general secretary of the SAD (B) Balwinder Singh Bhunder said, “The canal breaches can become a reason for loss of life and property any time.”

Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh have been using the water but they do not provide funds for the repair of the canal, he added.

Bhunder informed that in this connection, the Central government had been doing injustice to Punjab because while the state required water for its crops, much of the water had been going to the other states.

He demanded that the Central government should ask the other states to provide funds for the repair of canals.— OC

Moga, April 5
Vijay Inder Singla, president, Punjab Youth Congress, on Friday presided over the function held at Moga to install Manjit Singh Mann as president, District Youth Congress, Moga.

Singla applauded the work of the outgoing president Hari Singh Khai and also highlighted the contributions made by Mann in strengthening the Youth Congress.

In his address, Singla said the Congess had justified its slogan of “Congress Ka Haath, Aam Aadmi ke Saath” by granting numerous sops to the people of Punjab despite being there an opposition rule in the state.

The hike in the MSP of wheat by Rs 250 was unprecedented and also the quantity of wheat for the poor families had been increased from 3,000 to 10,000 ton per year. Apart from this, the Central Government had announced an IIT and a central varsity for Punjab, which would turn out to be a boon for the youth, he added.

He further said that the Central budget had kept the interests of all sections of society at heart and the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) had been extended to all the districts of India.

Singla exhorted the youth to hold corner meeting in all blocks so that people-friendly policies of the Congress could be taken to every nook and corner of Punjab and people can be made aware of the UPA programmes and their implementation.

Darshan Singh Brar, MLA, Joginderpal Jain, MLA, Col. Babu Singh, president, District Youth Congress, Moga, Dr Malti Thapar, ex-minister, Akshay Bhanot, general secretary, PYC in-charge Moga, Kamlesh (Bobby), chairman sports cell, Moga and Rupinder Singh (Laly) Ramuwala were also present at the meeting.

Faridkot, April 5 
A person was killed while his two fellow pillion riders sustained injuries, when their motorcycle rammed into a wall near Zeere Wala village here today. The deceased was identified as Bunty.

Meanwhile, in another accident at near Tahni Kaler village, a woman was killed and her three fellow passengers were injured.

All of them were travelling in a car. However, the vehicle rammed into a tractor-trailer overloaded with husk.

Bathinda, April 5
Panic broke out in the localities near the Rose Garden and thermal power plant here, when flames engulfed a shopping mall under construction in Green Avenue area, here this morning.

Eyewitnesses said the fire broke out at 11:15 am, which triggered panic among workers at the site and residents in surrounding areas. The fire brigade was informed and three fire tenders rushed to the spot. Initially, firemen attempted to douse the flames through water cannons, but later had to used foam to bring the flames under control.

The reason behind the fire was reportedly a spark that fell over the glass wool lying in the basement while the labourers were engaged in welding. Director of the mall, Jeevan Bansal said no loss of life or property was reported.

Fire officer Baldev Singh said, “No fire extinguisher was installed at the mall, which is a precautionary measure. We used six jars of foam to control the fire.” MC executive officer Kamal Kant said, “The building is approved by the department of local bodies and the MC. The height of the building is approved up to three times the length of the structure.’’

Bathinda, April 5
The district administration today invited media persons to join the magisterial inquiry ordered into the incident that took place at the Civil Hospital here on March 27 in which media persons were roughed up by policemen after they intervened when the cops let loose their wrath on protesting women Anganwari workers.

The presence of the media persons has been sought by the ADC conducting the inquiry on Monday.

However, misgivings have arisen in the minds of media persons concerned about the outcome of the inquiry as the memorandum addressed to the Governor of Punjab, submitted through the DC, on March 28, 2008, has reportedly not reached Raj Bhavan.

At the time of accepting the memorandum addressed to the Governor, the DC had assured of forwarding it to the Governor. But after the receipt of a letter issued by the ADC, Upjeet Brar, to media persons to join the magisterial inquiry on April 7, when TNS enquired about the status of the memorandum, the DC said he was not quite aware.

When asked about the dispatch number, he said, “It would take so much time and I am 99 per cent sure that it was marked to the ADC as he has been carrying out a magisterial inquiry in the case. If the ADC, using his wisdom, has sent a copy of that to the Governor, then I am not aware of it.”

Clarifying his position, ADC (General), Upjeet Brar, said, “The memorandum was marked to me only for use in the magisterial inquiry. So, I was not supposed to send it to the Governor anyway.”

Mansa, April 5
The Netradaan Samiti, Bareta, is proving to be a blessing for the visually challenged as about 258 of them had gained eyesight through the efforts made by the Samiti during the past three years.

President Babu Ram said the Samiti had been serving the blind for past three years with 40 members, who voluntarily worked for the welfare of blind. For that, they had visited places like Bathinda, Mansa, Pakka Kalan, Dirba and Balianwali. — OC