Ferozepur, December 31
The prestigious project connected with the relining of Sirhind feeder and Rajasthan feeder canals is expected to start by March next year.

Both Sirhind feeder and Rajasthan feeder are considered as lifelines of Malwa region of Punjab and northern parts of Rajasthan, respectively. Both these canals have been failing to cater the needs of farmers as a huge quantity of water is lost due to seepage as its slopes and beds have got damaged extensively at many places. Besides, canals have been chocked at many points due to thick wild growth.

Official sources said the project worth about R 1300 crores was sanctioned by the union government for the relining of Sirhind feeder and Rajasthan feeder canals running parallel to each other and originating from Hari Ke headworks.

Sources added that under the project, brick lining of slopes and beds would be replaced by concrete lining of six inches and five inches thickness, respectively, in about 100 km of length of each canal and it would save substantial water, which would be used for irrigating thousands of acres in Punjab and Rajasthan, where availability of water for irrigation was less or negligible.

"The specification and design of relining is being finalised by the Irrigation and Power Research Institute, Punjab, located at Amritsar," said Anil Sud, Executive Engineer (XEN), Rajasthan feeder adding that it would be for the first time that beds of both Sirhind feeder and Rajasthan feeder canals would be made nude ever since these canals were constructed in late fifties and early sixties.

He added that due to check on seepage from the beds and slopes, about 80000 hectares of area, mostly falling in Muktsar district, which was waterlogged, would become fit for cultivation. The work would be done in a phased manner and was expected to be completed by 2014 if all went well.

He said that funds for executing these projects were being awaited from the union government and if funds were made available in time, the work would start by March 2010 in all likelihood. About R 952 crores and Rs 489 crores would be spent on Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind feeder, respectively.

The relining of both the canals would be taken up together and most of the work would be done during the scheduled closure periods of these canals. To execute the project in fixed time, the canals could be closed for a longer period than their scheduled closure period.

During the closure period of Rajasthan feeder, Rajasthan would be given 2000 cusecs of water by Punjab through Bhakra Main Line (BML) and Sirhind feeder canals. He added that for the first time, the pressure release blabs (PRB) would be used to minimise damage to slopes and beds after relining. 

Abohar, December 31
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has warned the agitating workers that they would face the music under the "no work, no pay" formula if they continue the stir and abstain from duty for organising rallies and demonstrations.

Senior XEN Gurbux Singh, while conveying the warning, claimed that none of the 400 workers/employees working under the Abohar division could establish that any genuine grievance was not redressed. He advised the workers not to get misled by some disgruntled leaders who were fighting the battle of dominance of the various 
warring factions.

Meanwhile, the Technical Services Union (TSU) during a meeting, presided over by Bhanwar Daan, today resolved to organise yet another dharna at the divisional office on January 7 to press the authorities for revocation of suspension orders as well as the FIR that had been registered on the complaint of SDO Surinder Singh Behal against five TSU leaders alleging that they had given the officers corporal punishment by forcing them to keep standing within the circle drawn by them.

TSU secretary Nirmal Singh said an effigy of the XEN would be burnt during the demonstration on the same day at the divisional office. 

Abohar, December 31
The Railway Board chairman SS Khurana has asked the officer on special duty (OSD) to put the Udyan Abha Toofan Express train on regular monitoring besides redressing other grievances of the passengers.

The much awaited action was taken following a meeting that Virendra Kataria, former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and former Member of Parliament had with the chairman today.

Kataria informed this correspondent over the phone in the evening that he had apprised Khurana of the ground realities about the train that had been running late by hours even when its route was confined to Sriganganagar-Delhi.

When informed that one has to wait for a fortnight to get reservation in the three-tier air-conditioned coach, the chairman assured that one more two-tier A/c coach would be added soon.

The officials concerned will be directed to improve the status of amenities by next month, he said.

When told that the air-conditioned chaircar attached to the Sriganganagar-New Delhi Intercity Express train, being decade old, causes noise and scare among the passengers, the chairman reportedly agreed to get the same replaced by a brand new coach soon.

Kataria said the other problems of the passengers of the region will come up for discussions in the next meeting that is likely to be fixed before the end of January. So, some hope in New Year! 

Moga, December 31
Criminal activities in Moga district soared to new heights in the year 2009 that witnessed sensational murders, atrocities against women, involvement of policemen and politicians in heinous crimes.

A five-year-old girl Prabhjit Kaur found her biological father Harnek Singh Ramuwala, a local Congress leader, through a DNA test during the course of a legal battle bravely being fought by her mother. Unfortunately, she could not get his love as he landed in jail.

Paramjit Kaur, a Dalit woman of Ghal Kalan village, who was raped and attacked with acid, was unlucky as the sessions court acquitted all the youth who allegedly had raped her.

However, consolation came for her when another court sentenced three youths to two-year imprisonment who attacked her with acid.

She and her daughters faced many ordeals throughout the year as the administration failed to provide her with medical aid and rehabilitate her.

A Canadian resident Jagdev Singh surrendered before a local court in the 18-year-old murder case of former Congress MLA Nachattar Singh Gill father of Paramdip Singh Gill, the DGP of Punjab. He faced many problems in the form of a couple of new cases registered against him after Gill became the DGP of the state, early this year.

The Tribune looked at some of the heartbreaking incidents of crimes that rocked the Moga district putting a question mark on the poor functioning and lack of administrative skills of the police.

Cops in crime: Many policemen were arrested and suspended from the service after being found involved in heinous crimes.

Some cops were arrested in the infamous passport scam, two cops sexually abused a deaf and dumb girl, two cops were arrested for drug smuggling in Madhya Pradesh, a Station House Officer (SHO) Rajesh Hastir was dismissed and some others suspended for their alleged connivance with drug peddlers. At least 20 other cops were suspended from service for their involvement in various crimes and negligence in duty during this year.

Sensational murders: One Kulwant Singh killed his wife Paramjit Kaur with sharp-edged weapons on January 22 at Madoke village. A Sarpanch of Hariewala village Kuldip Singh was brutally killed by his rivals on February 18. A milkman Darshan Singh was killed on February 19 at Bhagike village.

A 60-year-old woman was murdered with sharp-edged weapons on March 8 near Daulewala village. A drug addict Gurdev Singh killed his wife Sarbhjit Kaur with a sharp-edged weapon on April 13 at Indergarh village.

A 40-year-old person Inderjit Singh was murdered on May 20 at Chuhar Chak village.

A night watchman Lok Ram was murdered on June 8 at Dharamkot. A Dalit farm labourer Gurpreet Singh was murderd in the first week of June at Badhni Kalan.

Two unidentified youths were murdered on June 27 at Charik-Gholia road near Baghapurana. One person identified as Ajaib Singh was murdered on June 29 at Landeke village. A woman killed her two children and self on October 22 with poisonous substance at Khukhrana village.

A 45-year-old man Sohan Singh was killed by his brothers on November 15 over a property dispute at Khosa Pando village.

In a heart-rending tragedy, a drug-addict maternal grandfather killed his 18-month-old grandson on November 24 at Badhni Kalan village. A 35-year-old labourer was murdered on November 25 at Lopo village.

Sexual abuses: A minor Dalit girl, a student of Class V and a resident of Ghal Kalan village was allegedly gangraped and then sold twice by some youths belonging to the upper caste in January and February.

A shocking incident of sexual abuse of a 13-year old minor Dalit girl by the wayward sons of some influential families came to light on April 16 at Ramuwala Kalan village. The girl gave birth to a baby girl but the police closed the case without providing justice to the victim.

An 11-year-old minor Dalit girl was raped on June 27 at Samalsar village. Another 11-year-old minor Dalit girl was raped on July 5 at Himmatpura village. A 13-year-old minor girl was raped by a Bihari migrant on July 12 at Badhni Kalan.

A 30-year-old widow was raped and looted on March 19 by unidentified persons. A young woman Rajni was forced to commit suicide on May 17 by her in-laws over dowry in Moga town. 

Bathinda, December 31
Bathinda police had a very hectic schedule in 2009 as with half of the strength, suffering from one or the other ailment, besides probing into about 2500 cases, the cops had to serve VIPs, including Badals, during their "routine" visits.

As per a medical report, out of 1609 cops, only 929 have been found medically fit. Another report says that around 150 cops, ignoring the orders of senior police officials avoid the tests, fearing diagnose as "drug addicts."

While 319 cops were found obese, 220 were suffering from hypertension. Besides, 72 were diabetic, 96 suffered injuries and 66 found inflicted Hepatitis B and C. Meanwhile, 28 policemen have been detected as patients of back ache, 15 were suffering of the anxiety neurosis and nine were patients of spondylitis.

In this backdrop, the cops had to investigate as many as 50 murder cases, 176 burglaries, 70 murder bid cases, 33 kidnappings, 31 rapes, 319 theft cases, 234 cheating cases, 252 cases of NDPS Act, 118 of Gambling Act, 36 cases of Copy right Act, 28 of Arms Act, 83 of Excise Act, registered in the district in the year.

Despite such constraints, the district police claim of getting success in their attempts. Police in the annual report have claimed of solving six blind murders as their major achievement.

As per the annual crime details, during the anti-drugs drive, 312 accused were held while recovering list included 15 kilograms of opium, 14 quintals of poppy husk, 1691 injections, 840 liters habit forming syrups, 230 grams smack, 13.96 lakh capsules and tablets and 127 grams of powder.

Under the Arms Act, police arrested 33 accused and recovered 27 weapons and 55 cartridges. Under the Excise Act, cops seized 10 country made burners and about 6000 liters liquor. Meanwhile, police recovered Rs.10.75 lakh from 250 persons arrested under the Gambling Act.

As many as 72 Proclaimed offenders (POs) were arrested while 12 criminals gangs, involved in thefts, snatching, vehicle lifting and dacoity were also busted. In the theft cases, police claimed to have arrested 317 accused and recovered about Rs.91 lakh. Nabbing 53 persons under the Copy Right Act, police seized 12088 CDs and DVDs. Besides, the district police referred the case of seven alleged smugglers, who had collected the property worth Rs 87.78 lakh, to the competent authority in New Delhi for further action.

Confirming the details, SP (D) Ajay Maluja and SP (H) Sukhdev Singh Bhatti claimed that despite all odds, the police would continue to put their best in 2010.

Bathinda, December 31
Tragedy struck the postal department, Bathinda division, on the eve of New Year when Superintendent Post TC Goyal died reportedly of massive cardiac arrest just an hour before retiring from the service.

Sources in the postal department told The Tribune on Thursday evening that while disposing of some important files on the last day of his service, a visibly content Goyal complained of uneasiness and chest pain at about 3 pm. The postal staff immediately called a doctor who recommended consultation with a heart specialist, sources said, adding that Goyal was soon rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

The entire postal fraternity in the division, who had made an elaborate arrangement to give a grand farewell the department chief, was in utter grief and shock with the turn of event as celebrations turned into sorrow in no time.

Sources also said that the family members of Goyal had also planned celebrations for congratulating him for successfully completing an illustrious career and also to celebrate his birthday that fell on January 1. Goyal's house at Basant Vihar colony in Bathinda was also decorated to mark both the occasions. But fate had something cruel in store, said postal staff.

Postal officials from several circles had started reaching the Head PS here where a farewell function was held. As per sources, the Postmaster General, Punjab Region, Chandigarh, Jaswinder Singh, had recently hailed Goyal for his exemplary work through a letter. Goyal is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, sources said.