Bathinda, December 2
Members of the Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) have charged the state government with harassing the industrialists by postponing the date of interview for the allotment of the plots.

They also accused the authorities concerned of causing monetary loss to them as they had deposited the earnest money for the plots under the “off the shelf scheme”, some months back.

Blaming the government, the BCCI representatives gave it in writing that after the grievances of the industrialists were published in The Tribune, the date of interview was fixed for November 18. But just three days before from the fixed date, the applicants were informed about the postponement of the meeting for December 3-4 at Chandigarh.

Accusing the department of adopting a “dubious attitude”, the members lamented that again on November 28, it had been intimated that the meeting regarding the allotment of plots had been postponed indefinitely.

While narrating the grievances, BCCI president Raman Watts alleged that the state government’s attitude had resulted in loss worth lakhs for the industrialists who even months after depositing the earnest money for 45 plots, could not get a single allotment till date.

In the details of applicants made available, there were 12 firms in the 5000 square yard category, 11 in 2500 square yard category, 14 had applied for 1000 and eight for 500 square yard industrial plots.

It had been a couple of months since they had deposited the earnest money to the tune of Rs 2.1 crore to the Udyog Sahayak by way of demand drafts, but in vain. Neither a single allotment was made nor the department stuck to the date for the interview of entrepreneurs, the BCCI members alleged.

Presenting a copy of the notification of the department of industries and commerce Punjab, M.R. Madaan, industrial consultant, said that in the “off the shelf scheme”, the Governor of Punjab had mentioned that to accelerate the pace of growth of the industry in the state and for quick availability of land to the entrepreneurs, he had notified the policy.

But the state government has ignored the word “quick availability”, as the Bathinda industrial growth centre has 400 vacant plots of various sizes measuring 250, 500, 1000, 2500 and 5000 square yards. There were only a few small-scale industrial units running while the rest all was lying vacant since 1998, he added.

Raman Watts rued that the state government keeps on stressing that NRIs and entrepreneurs from other states should come to Punjab for setting up industrial units for growth of industry and also assures quick availability of land. But on the other hand, the state minister for industries, Manoranjan Kalia, had been taking no pain to ensure the allotment of plots to the applicant entrepreneurs of his own state.

When this correspondent attempted to contact the minister, he did not attend the phone call. On being asked, General Manager, District Industries Centre, Bathinda, Ram Singh, said, “It is not in our hands. The ministers have to decide on the matter. Earlier, when the matter was at the district level, such a situation had never been created.”

Bathinda, December 2
The animal husbandry department of the state is all set to organise a three-day animal fair under the banner of “Khetri Pashudhan Show-2008”, which would start from Friday at Goniana Road, Bathinda. In the fair, there would be competition among 48 categories of animals, for which prizes worth Rs 10 lakh have been announced.

Giving this information, deputy director, animal husbandry, Punjab, Surender Kumar Singla said the fair would see participation from five districts, namely, Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepur.

To attract the cattle rearers, the department, besides announcing the reward money, has decided to bear all to-and-fro charges if the participants come from a distance beyond 30 km.

Those who would transport their animals from 30-50 km would be given Rs 400, who come from a distance ranging between 50 and 100 km would get Rs 600 and animal rearers who come from beyond 100 km would be given Rs 600 as transportation charges. Besides, the department has arranged boarding and food also for them.

It has been informed that SAD (B) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Gulzar Singh Ranike, minister for animal husbandry, would distribute the prizes on the concluding day.

Talking to TNS, officials of the department said that the aim of the fair is to create awareness amongst the cattle rearers and to motivate them to upgrade the breed of animals. They also said the state government had been taking such steps to motivate farmers to take to animal husbandry as the second main occupation of the state.

When asked about the efforts of the department, excluding this fair, they mentioned that the department held three kinds of camps on a regular basis namely, grassroots level camp, sterility and infertility camp and farmers’ training camps, where veterinary officers educate all those who are interested.

Replying to a query, officials said they never get any specific funds for purchasing medicines. Whatever they need, they have to collect from the state depot through a proper process.

They disclosed that there were 88 veterinary hospitals and 88 dispensaries in the state. All dispensaries were in the radius of 3-5 km from the hospitals. They mentioned that out of this, 51 hospitals are under the Zila Parishad’s administration.

When asked about the problem of “good breed” cattle draining from the state, they said that though the problem is there, still Punjab retains a good status.

It may be mentioned that in the list of guests, all names belong to Shiromani Akali Dal (B) and interestingly, five of them had lost in the recent Assembly polls. No one from the BJP, an ally of SAD, and the winning Congress MLAS, have been listed as guests. When asked about the reason, the deputy director parried the query saying he was not entitled to speak on the issue.

Hanumangarh/Sriganganagar/Abohar, December 2
Even when much publicity had been given to the proposed visit of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bollywood actress-turned-parliamentarian Jaya Prada through print media and loudspeakers fitted on scores of vehicles, the turnout at the party rallies on the last day of campaigning in Sangria and Suratgarh segments was not in tune with the expectation.

None of them was found as a helicopter landed near the site of the rallies. Only the party MP Akhilesh Yadav stepped out. Addressing the meetings, he equally blamed the Congress and BJP for adopting wrong policies. In both the meetings Punjabi singers kept the small gathering busy till landing of the chopper.

Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda while speaking at a rally in Bhadra segment in favour of Sanjiv Beniwal lambasted the INLD chief Om Parkash Chautala for playing political gimmicks in Rajasthan too.

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje addressed rallies on Tuesday at Chabra, Kishanganj, Anta, Mangrol and Dewali. She was full of emotions while claiming that her family believed in not making any personal gains out of politics except affection and blessings of masses. In the same speech, she raised volume of her voice to counter the Congress propaganda alleging corruption in her government.

"For last 20 days, they are crying themselves hoarse over corruption. Let them do some introspection. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had lauded us for development. How can he deny the BSNL scam exceeded Rs 51,000 crores under his rule? We provided employment to 10 lakh persons in government and non-government institutions and plan to give jobs to 20 lakh more in next five years. We are committed to releasing Rs 51,000 to each girl aged above 21 years under women’s empowerment plan. We have fulfilled 98 per cent of the promises made in the last poll manifesto", she claimed.

Most of the party candidates in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts today were busy in a show of strength by organising processions, one held by Congress candidate Ganga Jal Meel surpassed others. Participation of women even when a majority of them opt to remain in veil was wonderful. Groups from Punjab carrying leaflets and election symbol were also found canvassing door-to-door in Sangria and other segments. Children living in muddy houses and huts had been roaming around the election offices and small meetings of the candidates for the last fortnight to collect decorative caps besides flags and badges and had plenty of bananas when the candidates were weighed. But they looked dismayed as campaigning came to an end at 5 pm today. Meanwhile, Dera Sacha Sauda followers in Anoopgarh segment have also come out in favour of Congress candidate Kuldeep Indora after a meeting. 

Abohar, December 2
Home Guards from different states will be reaching New Delhi on December 4 to stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar in support of their long pending demands. A decision to this effect was taken here during a meeting at Nehru Park today. National vice-president of All India Home Guard Welfare Association Roshan Ali presided over the meeting.

Briefing newspersons, Rakesh Sharma secretary of the organisation said this evening that the delegates from different areas paid homage to the jawans and civilians who sacrificed their lives in Mumbai terror strike and observed a two-minute silence praying for peace to the departed souls.

The meeting regretted that none of the national leaders had referred to the sacrifice made by a Home Guard in the Mumbai firing. The Maharashtra CM had regretfully announced that compensation to the kin of the soldiers who lost life in the terror strike would be sanctioned in accordance with their rank. The meeting demanded that all ranks should be treated at par since their life was equally precious for the families as well as the nation.

While presiding over the meeting, Roshan Ali and state president Salamdeen said that the Union Home Minister on December 18, 2006 had assured that the recommendation of a committee of parliamentarians on revision of pay-scales for home guards would be honoured besides adjusting them on permanent posts. But action was still awaited.

Abohar, December 2
The Railway Passengers Association has urged the Chief General Manager (CGM) of Northern Railway to get a complaint against the Railway Protection Force (RPF) thoroughly probed.

A scribe Bal Krishan Soni had in his complaint informed the CGM and the DRM on November 18 that the RPF allegedly deprived him and his friend of right to use berths 71 and 72 in the coach number S-1 in 2138 Punjab Mail as they boarded it on November 15 for Delhi. They were to catch a Bangalore-bound train the next day.

As per the complaint, the said berths were occupied by some other persons.

When asked to vacate, they called the uniformed RPF personnel who snubbed the complainant claiming that the berths were permanently used by the protection force. The complainant said that he and his friends were forced to travel in a standing position. No TTE checked the compartment.

The association regretted that the passengers were allegedly harassed by none else than the RPF men.

Bathinda, December 2
To make the students aware about the ill-effects of the growing environmental pollution level, the Gulmohar Eco Club of Des Raj Memorial Government Secondary School here on Tuesday observed the National Environment Day under the National Green Corps scheme of the state government.

On the occasion, a chart-making competition was held, in which nearly 25 students of the school took part in juniors and seniors category.

Jasbir Singh, in-charge of the club, sensitised the students to the ill effects of all types of pollution, including air, water and noise. Besides, volunteers of the club supported by Ashok Bindra, master trainer, cleaned the park on the school premises.

Results of the chart-making competition:

In juniors category, Kamal Kumar, Rahul Roy and Pradeep Singh won the first three positions respectively. Among the seniors, Lakhwinder Singh, Gurpanth Singh and Bunty Singh were adjudged first, second and third respectively.

Bathinda, December 2
Despite repeated requests, cash prizes and strict orders, the district administration is not getting the desired cooperation from the schools to curb the menace of waste polythene.

Earlier, opting schoolchildren as the best source to spread the message and collect polythene, the district administration had launched a polythene drive in January this year.

Under this, schoolchildren were motivated to collect the waste polythene bags from their homes and streets and put the same in the dustbins at their respective schools.

The weight of the waste collected by each child was noted down and prizes were planned to encourage the practice.

Intriguingly, due to lack of interest from the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and councillors, the scheme had been losing its sheen.

Many schools are least interested in the polythene collection drive. According to details available, six schools of the city did not collect the polythene waste in the November report. Nine schools are reported to have collected the waste and the average collection per student has remained below 10 gm.

In an attempt to give the drive a boost, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari, BMC commissioner K.K. Yadav, joint commissioner Amit Dhaka and executive officer of the BMC Kamal Kant today honoured three schools for collecting polythene on per capita average basis.

St. Joseph's Convent School (95 gm per capita), Summerhill Convent School (92 gm) and Bathinda Public school were rewarded with cash prizes of Rs 2,100, Rs 1,100 and Rs 500, respectively.

Officials disclosed that in November, 273.5 kg of polythene was collected by schoolchildren.

Meanwhile, a representative of the Baba Farid School claimed that the official list carried a wrong number of its students. In reply, the DC said that to arrive at the per capita weight, the number of students was the one that the school provided officially.

Further, the DC and Yadav urged all to cooperate with the administration in checking the menace.

Abohar, December 2
Serial bomb explosions in different parts of the country and the terror strike in Mumbai prompted the theatre group AKS to restage globally acclaimed Atamjit's play “Rishtiyan Da Ki Rakhiye Naam” based on globally revered Pakistani writer Saadat Hasan Manto's story "Toba Tek Singh" during the past two nights at the DAV College auditorium here.

Director Surinder Narula said that AKS had staged the same play in 1994 when most beloved Raju Nagpal took over as its president. He died young last year and it was his wish that the AKS decided to respect by staging the play again.

The artistes who staged the play included Satish Patel, Mangat Verma, Anjum Gulati, Anshuman Gandhi, Vikram Kamra, Deepak Kamboj, Rakesh Sain, Roop Singh, Ashwani Miglani, Jaspal Singh, Bobby Sandha, Parshant Patel, Sarthak Narula, Tarun Bathla and Manchita Verma. Kuljit Singh Bhatti composed the background music.

Abohar: A group of stage artistes led by Bhupinder Utreja staged a play last evening in Yamunanagar under the banner of NATRANG during the Words AIDS Day programme organised by the Cap Foundation. The play scripted by Bhupinder Utreja is based on the life of a truck driver. It was directed by Vikas Batra. Puneet Watts, Hunny Utreja, Amit Kumar, Vishnu Narayan, Ajay Kumar performed besides the writer. — OC

Mansa, December 2
There are nearly 2.90 lakh milch cattle in Mansa district and these produce around 6 lakh tonnes of milk. Arround 60 per cent milk is used for domestic purposes and the consumption of milk in Mansa is 870 gram per person while in Punjab it is 
790 gram.

This information was given by the deputy commissioner, Kumar Rahul, while presiding over a meeting of the district advisory committee. He said that nearly 155 milk cooperative societies have been working in the district.

The Dairy Department provides financial help to those people who are in the business of milk.

The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the people to take to the dairy business because this was a profitable venture. In the meeting, Baljeet Singh Sandhu, ADC and Davinder Singh, chief agriculture officer, were also present. 

Bathinda, December 2
The swearing-in ceremony of the Rotary Club, Bathinda, took place on Monday evening. The secretary of Rotary Club, Shiv Jindal, presented the report of the last year. Sanjay Mittal took over charge as the new president of the club from Ram Avtar Aggrawal.

Mittal pointed out that the main focus of the club would be on preventing female foeticide, drug addiction and eradicating other social evils.

In addition to it, effective efforts would be made in the direction of blood donation, pulse polio, eye donation, traffic control, medical check-up and to cater to the basic needs of poor children.

Governor of the Rotary Club district 3090 A.S. Rathor appreciated the work done by the club members and assured Sanjay Mittal of his cooperation towards the welfare activities of the club.

A.K. Bansal, who presided over the programme proposed the vote of thanks.