Gehri Devi Mandir (Bathinda), August 6
It is difficult not to meet the family of Naseeb Kaur and feel empathy for her. One of Naseeb’s son and her four grandchildren have lost one eye each. The reason is not far to seek, at least in the Malwa region. Contaminated water, seen as the prime factor behind the dreaded scourge of cancer, is so widespread in the area.

Naseeb, the mother of four sons, lost her husband, Gurdev Singh (66), in February this year. Gurdev was suffering from throat cancer. During a recent visit to her house in Gehri Devi Mandir village in Bathinda district, this correspondent came across three children who have lost one eye each. Meanwhile, a four-year-old girl came in rubbing one of her eyes, which was badly swollen. The fluid coming out of her eye was a testimony to her pain.

While talking to this correspondent, Naseeb could not stop her tears. It was painful when her eldest son, Raj Singh (43), lost his one eye in childhood. At that time, doctors in Patiala had advised them to get the eyeball removed as it was affected with cancer.

The life of the family had been smooth for a couple of years, but when her sons were blessed with children, the trouble reared its head again. Raj Singh, who himself was blind in one eye, was blessed with two sons, who are luckily normal.

Her second son Darshan Singh lost his son to eye cancer when he was three years old. He has two daughters, Kiran Deep Kaur (10) and Amrit Pal Kaur (4), who also had the same problem. A class IV student, Kiran Deep, had her eye removed while Amrit Pal is still suffering from the problem of extra skin, covering her eyeball.

Her third son, Joginder, has a son, Harman Deep Singh (11), a class VI student, whose eyeball was removed when he was one-year-old. Fortunately, the eight-year-old daughter of Joginder, Avneet Kaur, has not been affected by the disease.

The youngest son of Naseeb, Jagroop Singh, alias Motha, has two children, but his seven-year-old daughter Amandeep Kaur was also born with the same disease and one of her eyeballs shrivelled up when she was just one year old. Gratefully, his one-and-a-half-year-old son has not been affected.

Showing a huge pile of medical reports, issued from various private and government hospitals of Jalandhar, Patiala, Delhi, Bikaner, Amritsar, Faridkot and Chandigarh, she said despite all efforts, nothing had worked.

The members of the family said despite repeated representations to various parties, no leader had lent any help. Jagroop Singh said they had spent lakhs on the treatment of their children, but in vain. The land of the family has also been pledged to the banks and moneylenders.

Lohara (Moga), August 6
Hundreds of fresh cases of diarrhoea came to light on Wednesday at Lohara village, near here, where an alarm was sounded by the district administration after the death of a local resident during treatment in the district hospital on Monday night.

The senior medical officer of Kot-ise-Khan, Dr Ajay Kumar Jhanjhi, while talking to The Tribune, said that 176 patients were checked up to 5 p.m. in the special medical camp set up in the village today. Out of this, 17 patients, suffering from acute diarrhoeal infections, had been hospitalised for treatment.

More than 150 patients suffering from mild diarrhoeal infections had been given oral treatment, he said.

Nearly 250 patients were checked in the camp on Tuesday, out of which 27 were hospitalised during the daytime, while three were admitted in the hospital late in the evening.

A person, identified as Bachan Singh (50), had died in the district hospital during treatment on Monday night, following which an alarm was sounded by the district administration.

During a visit to the village this morning, it was found that a special campaign was going on to clean the open drains and potable water was being supplied through tankers to the residents.

The newly elected sarpanch of the village Surjeet Kaur told The Tribune that most of the people who had reported of diarrhoeal infections belong to the lower castes and live in the “Dalit basti” of the village.

She alleged that it was more a social problem than a health hazard because 100-odd households of the “Dalit Basti” were facing acute shortage of potable water being supplied through the pipelines by the public health department and a local religious organisation for the past over two months.

The Dalits had complained to the former sarpanch a number of times to look into the problem and ensure regular supply of clean water, but their problem was not addressed by the panchayat, she said.

The woman sarpanch further said that due to low pressure of water in the water pipes, people living in the “Dalit Basti” had dug pits to lower the level of their connections in order to catch water even under low pressure for household purposes.

While adding that the open drains flow on the same side of the village streets on which water pipes had been put down, she said there was every possibility of potable water having got mixed with the sewerage water, leading to health problems.

“I have brought all these problems to the notice of the district magistrate Satwant Singh Johal, who visited the village this morning to monitor the situation,” she added. She demanded from the district magistrate to ensure regular supply of potable water at fixed hours and provide fixed water connections to all those residents who had stolen connections from the main supply lines.

Meanwhile, the SMO revealed that during preliminary investigations it was also found that chlorination of water was not being done in the supply channels by the authorities concerned of the public health department. 

Bathinda, August 6
While residents of the town have ben facing problem of high-level of air pollution due to soot emission from Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), the government is going ahead with setting up two more mega thermal power plants around here.

Living in high-level of pollution for 34 years, residents of the town find no reason to rejoice at the announcement of Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal chief(SAD), Bathinda would be made a power generation hub.

The new thermal power stations, coming up at Talwandi Sabo and Gidderbaha, will be of 2,000 MW capacity each, more than double that of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) at Lehra Mohabbat. Sukhbir Singh, however, claimed the new thermal plants would be pollution free. A thermal power station is already functional at Lehra Mohabbat, near here.

“As if one thermal station in the town was not enough to cause respiratory problems for the residents, the SAD government has finalised two more of such plants for the area”, said Avtar Singh, a trader.

Residents of the town say a clear blue sky here has been a rare phenomenon ever since the GNDTP came up.

The plant, generating 440 MW of power , had been functional without any pollution-control device for a long time. Recently, two of the four-generation units have been provided such mechanism for Rs 192 crore. The two other units are waiting to be modernised to cut emission levels.

The pollution level of the Lehra Mohabbat plant, which has the capacity to generate 920 MW of power , will be known only when its generation reaches the optimum level. One of its 250 MW units will be commissioned by October-end.

The residents, particularly living in the localities around the plant, including, Vishal Nagar, Panchvati Nagar, Green Avenue, Tagore Nagar and New Shakti Nagar, have formed a joint action committee to pressure the government to take steps to save people from fly ash puffed out by the plant chimneys. Thick layer of ash settles on clothes and other household articles in these areas when the plant generates power.

The GNDTP consumes more than 6,000 tonnes of coal every day while the three units of the GHTP burn 9,000 tonnes of coal daily. The coal consumption of the GHTP will shoot up to 12,000 tonnes daily in October when the fourth unit goes on stream.

On a recent visit to the thermal plant, union minister of state for power Jairam Ramesh said although the new thermal power stations would have inbuilt mechanism to control pollution, it could’t altogether be prevented when high quantity of coal is burnt.

Not only the GNDTP, but the town also has a big unit of the National Fertilisers that too was contributing to pollution. A Rs 18,000 crore refinery is also coming up near here.

Ironically, the Pollution Control Board set up here was insensitive to the issue of pollution. Sometimes ash is dumped in the open and near rail tracks around the town.

Chandigarh, August 6
Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is back in the driver’s seat with him being made the chairman of the Congress campaign committee for the coming parliamentary elections.

The fact that the party has opted not to appoint anyone to the post of Pradesh Congress President after taking away the position from Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who will now continue as Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader only, is itself an indication that he has been more than adjusted in the party. In fact, the appointment makes it clear that the Congress high command is aware of his vote-catching abilities and wants to portray him as the face of the party in the fight against the Akalis in the parliamentary elections.

The high command has also done Capt Amarinder Singh a favour by retaining backward class leader Mohinder Singh Kaypee as the working president. Kaypee is known for his balanced approach. The high command has also mollified the Bhattal camp by not giving the PPCC president’s post to Capt Amarinder Singh. Meanwhile, Kaypee welcomed the move, saying that the entire party would now work together to take on the Akalis.

Amarinder’s supporters are upbeat. They claim that their leader will be PPCC president in a few months as the present decision has been taken to bridge the huge gap that has been created between him and Bhattal. Capt Amarinder Singh, when asked why the party has not appointed anyone as PPCC president, told The Tribune “perhaps they want the campaign committee in charge to be given importance”.

The former Chief Minister indicated that he would be enlarging the scope of his responsibilities. “I cannot be chairman of the campaign committee alone”, he said, adding that he would work closely with Kaypee. He said his immediate task was to rebuild the morale of the party workers and strengthening the party’s block and district units. He said even though seven Congress workers had been killed in violent attacks and cases registered against 6,000 others, the party had not done anything. But, the party would now counter Akali “misbehaviour” aggressively.

When asked about Bhattal’s role, Capt Amarinder Singh said she would look after the legislature party. Asked whether he would work in conjunction with Bhattal, he said: “We will use her in the campaign” and went on to say that he would bring everybody onboard to work as a team”.

Bhattal’s son, Rahul Sidhu, while reacting on behalf of his mother, who is on her way back from Italy, said she welcomed the move and that it was a good development. He went on to say that his mother had already made it clear that she stood by the one-person-one-post policy and that the PPCC should work unitedly.

Amritsar, August 6
Socially aware persons foresee dismal scenario about rivers in Punjab, which are getting polluted due to heavy inflow of industrial waste.

Noted environmentalist and water conservation activist Rajinder Singh stated this to The Tribune at Bhagat Puran Singh Memorial National seminar jointly organised by the All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society and Guru Nanak Dev University on the 16th death anniversary of Bhagat Puran Singh on the university campus. Rajinder Singh, a Magsaysay awardee and fighting a battle to conserve the Yamuna, said Punjab, which gets its name from five rivers, was facing serious water crisis, as these rivers had virtually become lifeless with poisonous chemicals flowing through these. He said religious shrines which earlier had the duty to to keep rivers clean are responsible for pollution, as they had not installed waste water treatment plants in their areas.

He said time had come for sadhus to lead for the conservation of water and ecology of the state otherwise, there would be cancer and congenital defects due to large-scale and indiscriminate use and abuse of chemical fertilisers pesticides, he added.

Chipko Movement founder Sunderlal Bahuguna said it was very important to plant more and more trees and create green areas to maintain the ecosystem, as the water level was receding at an alarming rate.

Bahuguna said unwarranted migration from the rural areas must be stopped as it was eating into precious resources while retaining the natural habitat of the agricultural farmlands in the villages.

Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, who has gained eminence for cleaning Kali Bein, while squarely blaming the state government for the present state of degradation of river water system, said it must come out with effective legislation to prevent the industries from polluting the natural resources. He said though the industries were an integral part in the development the natural resources were the life-givers.

Earlier inaugurating the seminar, health minister, Laxmi Kanta Chawla appreciated the All- India Pingalwara Society, and the university for steps for environmental conservation.

Agriculture campaigner from the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad, Kavitha Kuruganthi, explained the environmental impact of intensive farming systems, and the social cost being borne by Punjab farmers. 

Amritsar, August 6
Even as Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti was removed from the post of Granthi, Golden Temple, as well today, he started meetings with rival Akali leaders in a bid to mobilise opinion against the ruling SAD and the SGPC.

The former Jathedar held a three-hour meeting with Manjit Singh Calcutta, a veteran SGPC member and bete noire of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, at latter’s residence here.

Meanwhile, the SGPC locked the Akal Takht Secretariat to prevent the entry of the former Jathedar and his confidants. Prithipal Singh Sandhu, personal secretary to Vedanti, said the office was locked after their (Vedanti and Sandhu) visit yesterday. This step was taken by the SGPC so that the former Jathedar could not lay hands on official files and important documents. It is learnt that the former Jathedar had kept some explosive information/record in the secretariat to be used against the Akali Dal and SGPC.

The SGPC has deployed its task force on the Akal Takht premises to prevent any untoward incident tomorrow to during the installation of Giani Gurbachan Singh as officiating Jathedar.

Some radical Sikhs also met Vedanti at his residence in the Golden Temple complex. It is learnt that Vedanti told Calcutta that he had offered Parkash Singh Badal on July 24, 2006, to step down as Jathedar when the latter pressurised him to withdraw edict against the RSS. The secret meeting, held on July 23, 2006, was held on the premises of local Guru Ram Dass Medical College and attended by BJP’s MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, SGPC chief and senior official of the RSS.

Meanwhile, Dr Amarjit Singh, director of “khalistan” centre DC offered Vedanti “political asylum” in the USA for supporting the demand of a separate sovereign Sikh state.

The UK-based former adviser to Vedanti, Dr Jasdev Singh Rai, has said the Sikh diaspora might not recognise Giani Gurbachan Singh as Jathedar because they were not taken into confidence before unceremonious removal of Vedanti as Jathedar of Akal Takht.

On the other hand, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee is contemplating moving the Supreme Court against the unceremonious removal of Jathedar Vedanti.

Senior Congress leaders from Majha have criticised the SAD leadership for Vedanti’s removal.

Samrala, August 6
Otalana village, at a short distance from here, has a different and inspiring story about girl child. The girl child is held in high esteem in the village. Before starting a new work, blessings of the girl child or unmarried girl, are sought by all families in the village. “ Whenever we wear new clothes , we first touch feet of the girl with clothes”, says Darbara Singh, a village elder. “ It is a custom in our village”, he adds.

At the main entrance of the village, huge “ darwaja”( an arch- shaped gate) has been bult in the memory of a girl, who, it is said, had preferred ending life for her and village’s honour four centuries ago. “ Khera -dhee-dhiani( village of girl) has been inscribed in Punjabi on the front arch of the structure. “ Dhee-dhiani in Punjabi is used to give respect to a girl”, says Behari Lal Saddi, a retired teacher and writer of the village.

“Long back our elders constructed 12 such structures in the village. Six of them are intact and others are in a poor shape. We have decided to reconstruct all those again”, says Shamsher Singh, a retired police official of the village. “ The main entrance structure had also collapsed but its roof was recently replaced”, adds the police official.“ When the main entrance structure was partially rebuilt sometime back, first brick was laid by seven village girls and Prito, who is an old woman now called “ bhua” by the entire village”, says Dr Harbans Singh, sarpanch of the village.

All these structures are dedicated to girls. Centuries ago, it is said, Nawab of Sirhind had taken a village girl away with the intention to marry her. However, she refused. Before ending her life, she called her brothers and told them to give a message to all people in the village to hold girls in high esteem. Since them, it has become a tradition to seek blessings of a girl before starting a work. Each year, in the last week of August a festival is held in the village in the memory of that girl. On that day community kitchen of sweets is held.

No marriage party of the village boy leaves for bride’s place without paying obeisance at the memorial raised for the girl at the main entrance of the village.

On female foeticide in the village, Dr Harbans Singh said he had not heard about any case so far in this regard. “ Our village appears to be above board in this regard”, he adds. Every village can become Otalana provided an initiative is taken by wise men of the state in this regard.

Chandigarh, August 6
The Punjab police says SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, at the current stage, is not required in any case registered by it.

As its application for setting aside an earlier order directing the issuance of seven days notice in writing to Mann came up for hearing before Justice H.S. Bhalla, the state counsel made it clear his apprehensions were ill-founded. 

Taking into consideration the statement by the state counsel, Justice Bhalla modified the previous orders and granted Mann the liberty to approach the court in case of fresh apprehension. In an application filed before the High Court, the state had earlier stated the order was passed without issuing notice to it, or granting it the opportunity of hearing. Mann had earlier sought blanket bail and had asked for seven-day notice in case he was to be arrested.

Sangrur, August 6
In the case registered against a mob of about 150 persons in connection with an alleged attack on the local Singla Surgical Hospital after the death of Neeru Goyal in the hospital on July 12, the local police has arrested four persons, residents of Sherpur village. Neeru was married to Gauri Shankar of Sherpur.

Local DSP Pritpal Singh Thind said today that the police had arrested Kulwant Rai Garg and Mahavir Kumar the previous day while both were today produced in a local court, which remanded them in police custody for one day. Two more suspects, Akish Garg and Yogesh Garg, were arrested today. All four persons had been arrested in the case registered on July 12 under Sections 307, 452 and 427 of the IPC.

On a call of the local unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the chain fast by a group of five doctors entered its third day. They have demanded the arrest of all miscreants involved in the attack on the doctor couple, Dr K.G. Singla and his wife Dr Renu Singla, and damage to the property of their hospital.

Meanwhile, the Punjab unit of the IMA partially withdrew its Punjab medical bandh call for August 7. According to finance secretary of the local IMA Vinderpal Garg, the medical bandh will now be observed tomorrow only for two hours from 9 am to 11 am through out the state.

He said during these two hours the doctors would hold protest rallies at all district headquarters in the state and would submit memorandums to the respective deputy commissioners.

Fazilka, August 6
BSF jawans of the 20th battalion seized 10 packets of heroin at Lakha Asli check post on the Indo-Pakistan border in the Fazilka sector today morning after an encounter.

According to DIG V.K. Sharma, on Tuesday night, a BSF patrol led by assistant commandant-cum-adjutant Manmohan Singh Randhawa, noticed some movement across the barbed wire fence. The patrol saw some packets being thrown.

The patrol challenged the intruders, who opened fire. Members of the patrol returned the fire. The patrol included company commander Naveen Singh and six jawans.

The encounter continued for five minutes near the border pillar no. 240/13. Later, the intruders fled. On a search of the area by the patrol found 10 packets of heroin each weighing 1 kg and said to be worth Rs 50 crore in international market.

A Chinese-made pistol, five cartridges and a magazine were also found. Blood stains were also seen at the encounter site, indicating some intruders were injured, said DIG Sharma.