Bathinda, April 15
Though the Punjab Cabinet gave its nod for the unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), today, more than 87 per cent of the total employees deployed in the west zone of the PSEB, remained away from duty as part of their pre-decided strategy.

The west zone of the PSEB, which comprises six districts, namely, Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar, caters to more than 200 grid sub-stations with different capacity.

According to details collected, out of the 13,157 sanctioned posts, about 4161 seats were already lying vacant. Adding pain to the injury, 7901 employees, participating in the strike, today preferred to avoid going on duties and only 1035 (including senior officials and engineers) marked their attendance on duty.

However, the officials, with their best efforts, somehow managed to provide power supply at normal pace by engaging a large number of apprentices and contractual labourers having know-how about the electricity system. Moreover, services of the retired officials of the PSEB were also availed.

Further, electricians and engineers of major industries like National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL), Ambuja Cement and employees of the engineering branches of the Air Force station, Bhisiana and Army cantonment, Bathinda, were also urged to lend support.

Taking the task as a challenge, senior officials, including the chief engineer of the west zone, were witnessed rushing towards the spots, where faults occurred in the system.

Though the protesters had already announced they would not create any law and order problem, taking precautionary measures, the district officials had imposed section 144 of the CrPC around the PSEB's infrastructure.

To make the security arrangements fool proof, besides the district police, a large number of commandos and six companies of the paramilitary forces (CRPF) were put on duty. Further, Theekri Pahras (patrolling by villagers) were also carried out in all villages at night.

Speaking to this correspondent, officials of the PSEB and the state police termed Bathinda district as the most susceptible among all six districts falling in the west zone (PSEB), as two thermal power plants were located here.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, out of the four companies of CRPF allocated for Bathinda, one each (80 jawans) were deployed to man the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda and Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant, Lehra Mohabbat.

Confirming the facts, chief engineer, west zone, VK Dua said, "A large number of employees were on strike but with make-shift arrangements, we succeeded in removing all of them with the best possible efforts."

On the other hand, volunteers of the joint committee (formed by 22 organizations of farmers and labourers) lodged protests at the village level. They wore black badges and hoisted black flags at their houses and tubewells and raised anti-establishment slogans.

When contacted, Inspector General of Police, Bathinda Zone, Rohit Chaudhary said, "In the absence of any untoward incident, none of the protesters was rounded up till evening."

Bathinda, April 15
Terming the Right to Information (RTI) Act as a revolutionary measure, the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of the State Information Commission, Punjab, Ramesh Inder Singh today said that due to the implementation of this Act, openness and transparency would prevail in the country in the years to come as barring some types of information, like those which affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, nothing was confidential nowadays.

The CIC appealed to the vice-chancellor (VC) of the Central University of Punjab Prof Jai Rup Singh to develop the university as a model for openness as the university had the required infrastructure. He also asked the VC to initiate steps in this direction from day one.

Ramesh Inder Singh was here today in connection with a seminar on Right to Information Act, organised by the university in association with the State Information Commission at its campus here. The seminar began with a welcome address by Prof Jai Rup Singh while Ramesh Inder Singh delivered the inaugural address.

Ramesh Inder Singh imparted basic information about the Act to the participants. He also told the participants that there were grounds, like security of the state, foreign affairs, security of another citizen, in the Act under which information could be withheld or denied. He said even that personal information, which did not involve public interest, could be withheld or denied.

Speaking on the role of judiciary" regarding the RTI Act, professor of Law and Registrar of Punjabi University, Patiala, SS Khehra told the participants that in a case, the High Court had stated that no Public Information Officer (PIO) could simply reject the request of information seeker without giving reasons. He also said that no court could interfere in the order, passed under the Act.

Professor of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala, Sucha Singh Gill, who spoke on "Social aspects of the RTI Act", said the RTI Act provided right to get data as it asked the government departments to computerise the records. He also said only 15 per cent people were aware about the Act in the country.

An IPS officer, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, while speaking on "Misuse of the RTI Act" said there were examples of blackmailing and extortion of public servants in the name of the Act. He said sometimes, applications seeking information were filed just to settle scores or disputes.

Later, an open house discussion was also held. Professor in School of Bio Sciences, Central University of Punjab, P. Ramarao proposed the vote of thanks.

Bathinda, April 15
As many as nine incidents of fire outbreak, including three caused due to electric sparks, were reported today at different places in the district.

The first fire was reported at about 5.20 am at Siviyan, when one Pal Singh informed the fire brigade, Bathinda, about a heap of harvested wheat crop turning to ashes.

Then at about 12.15 pm, a fire took place in a wheat field located at Sangat-Nathana road but before the fire tender could reach, people controlled the fire and the tender returned midway.

Further, at about 1.15 pm, fire was reported at Shergarh village, but acting swiftly, people doused the flames.

Just two minutes later, at about 1.17 pm, an electric spark led to a fire in a 2.5 acre wheat field owned by Jagat Pal and Lakhwinder Singh. Reaching the spot, firemen controlled the fire but failed to save the crop.

At about 2.35 pm, another incident was reported to the fire brigade.

This time, four heaps of wheat belonging to Bhola Singh at Mansa road near the cardboard factory, turned to ashes. Though firemen reached the spot, they could not ascertain the reasons for the fire.

Soon after, an electric spark gutted the wheat crop on two acres and ten 10 kanals of land belonging to two farmers, Kaka Singh and Pitam Singh of Bibiwala village.

At about 3.46 pm, a fire took place in a two acre wheat field of Gurditt Singh of village Mehma Kothe.

Just four minutes after, at about 3.46 pm, firemen received another call from village Kot Shamir about a fire in a house but it was controlled, before the fire tender could reach there.

At about 4.15 pm, an electric spark ignited a fire at Peori village, which was doused by fire brigade officials only after it burnt the crop completely.

Bathinda, April 15
The heat wave conditions prevailing in Bathinda and nearby places for the last seven days intensified today as the mercury touching a new high climbed up to 43.2 degrees Celsius, around 1.5 degrees higher than on Wednesday.

The day's low was 20 degrees Celsius, as per the Agro-met advisory services, the PAU regional station, Bathinda.

The minimum and the maximum temperature has been around 8 degrees Celsius above normal in the region during the last week. The mercury’s behaviour was on expected lines as the weathermen had predicted it on Tuesday. Absence of activation of western disturbances is being considered as the reason behind the weather conditions.

Abohar, April 15
Physically challenged sports person Sanjeev Kumar of village Telupura has now become eligible to participate in the Sri Lanka Open Badminton Championship-2010 slated for April 25-30, thanks to aid offered by Balwant Kaur Gill, an Abohar born NRI.

While handing over the amount that was to be deposited as entry fee for the championship today, she offered to bear the expenses on coaching too, Gill said at her native village Panjawa located close to the international border.

“I had come to know about the financial problem faced by Sanjeev through a news report that was published by a newspaper last week and decided to sponsor his visit to Sri Lanka. The sub-division needs such shining stars. He would bring laurels for this area,” she hoped.

Sanjeev had been asked by the Badminton Sports Association of India for Challengers to deposit 50 per cent of the entry fee of Rs 25,000 by April 15.

Now, he can participate in singles and doubles (men) events in BMW-3 category especially earmarked for the physically disabled persons who would be permitted to use wheelchairs to play badminton.

Gauri Shankar Mastana, a social activist, who had also earlier mobilised support for Sanjeev to facilitate his participation in the national events said that Balwant Kaur Gill, daughter of Panjawa Nambardar late Gurcharan Singh, had settled in the UK after her marriage.

She had also sponsored the first ever rural sports festival in her native village during her visit here last year and played a key role in getting the land earmarked near the Government Elementary School of the border village in coordination with the village panchayat.

Abohar, April 15
The PSEB employees carrying banners of the Technical Services Union organised a demonstration at the 33 KV sub-station on the first day of the state-wide strike today.

They took out a protest march that culminated at the main bus stand after shouting anti-government slogans. The rally was addressed by circle leaders including Baldev Singh, Balwinder Singh, Bhanwar Daan and the state unit cashier Shankar Dass. Heavy police force followed the protest march to prevent mischief. Streetlights were not switched off by the technical workers today resulting in a financial burden for the MC. — OC

Ferozepur, April 15
In protest against the unbundling of the state electricity board, the joint action forum comprising various employee unions including PSEB Employees Federation and Technical Services Union held a demonstration in front of the sub-urban office here today.

The employees from the urban sub division besides sub-division Cantonment 1 and 2, Sher Khan, Mudki, Jhoke Harihar, Jhoke Tehal Singh, Mamdot also participated in the protest which went throughout the day.

The employees, while protesting the decision of the state government to implement Electricity Act 2003, stated that the performance of PSEB was ranked better than the other boards, so there was no need to break up the same.

Surinder Sharma and Ashwani Kumar said the repercussions of giving power in private hands will be far reaching which the government of the day was not realizing today.

The employees said that Guru Nank Dev Thermal Plant and other plants in Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat have been awarded for producing more power than the set target. So, there was no need to take this drastic step. The union leaders said the protest would continue, however, law would not be taken into hands.

Abohar, April 15
Cancer patients can avail of free rail travel facility for treatment and regular check-up from April 20 onwards as per the provisions made in the rail budget, informed Lalit Bohra, chief PRO of the north western railway. They were entitled to 75 per cent concession earlier.

As per details provided by him, the free travel facility would be available in third AC and second class sleeper only.

Those interested in travelling by second class/first class, AC chaircar, first class AC or second class AC coach would get 75 per cent concession in fare.

Their attendants too would be given similar concession. However, concession would be 50 per cent for attendants in second/first AC coach. Those who had got their seats booked earlier cannot claim refund, the PRO clarified.

Fazilka, April 15
A large part of the RCC slab to be laid upon the pillars across the Gang canal could not be placed on the pillars and instead it fell in the canal near village Bodiwala Pitha, 16 km from here.

On the canal bridge, the Fazilka-Abohar railway track is proposed to be laid on it. The slab was being lifted with cranes but it suddenly fell into the Gang canal. No one was injured.

As a result of the slab falling into the canal, the water flow was disrupted. Sensing the gravity of the matter and to prevent the Gang canal from overflowing its banks, the water flow was immediately reduced.

Dalip Kumar, an official of a Delhi-based construction company present on the site said the mishap occurred as the jacks underneath caved in. He said the RCC pillars are, however, intact. The official further said that cranes and mechanical equipment have been pressed into service to remove the slab from the Gang canal. The slab that fell down constituted nearly 80 per cent area of the bridge on the canal.

Fazilka, April 15
In a bizarre incident, Bhoor Singh, 70 years old, was arrested by the local police today after he allegedly made an attempt to rape a minor girl, hailing from Scheduled Caste (SC) community, at village Aawa on April 6.

However, the girl was saved by her parents, who reached their house in time. Though the accused made an attempt to rape the minor on April 6, the case under sections 376 and 511 of the IPC could be registered at the Sadar police station here on Wednesday due to the pressure put on the parents of victims by a section of influential people of their village to hush up the matter.

Baljit Singh, SHO, Sadar police station, said that a case was registered against Bhoor Singh on the complaint lodged by Gurwinder Singh on Wednesday.

He added that the victim also narrated the whole incident to him.

The accused had been arrested today and would be produced before the judicial magistrate, he said.

Guru Har Sahai (Ferozepur), April 15
Naveen Rani (name changed), a married woman was kidnapped and subsequently gang-raped by her brother-in-law and his associates at village Basti Maghar Singh Wali of this area, on April 12.

Police sources said that Rani, hailing from the Rai Sikh community, who now lived in Fazilka, went to Basti Maghar Singh Wali on April 12 in the evening. When she was at her house, Gurbax Singh, her brother-in-law entered her house. Before the victim could know that Gurbax Singh has entered her house, she was forcibly taken to another room by Gurbax Singh where the accused Gurbax Singh, Bittu , Surjeet Singh and Gurdeep Singh committed the crime. She was also beaten up by the accused when she resisted.

After the crime, the accused threatened her not to disclose the incident to anyone or police. However, the victim managed to reach civil hospital, Fazilka. The civil hospital authorities informed the police. The medical report confirmed that she had been raped. Police sources said a case had been registered in this regard. The efforts were on to nab the culprits, who had fled away, the police said. — TNS

Bathinda, April 15
The Aggarwal Sabha held its sixth annual function and general body meeting at the Teachers' Home recently.

Chief guest on the occasion was Dr Sanjay Garg of the Delhi Nursing Home, Bathinda. The meeting passed resolution on not giving more than Rs 500 to eunuchs on marriages and birth as decided by district administration. — TNS