Bathinda, September 10
The water sample, taken from a reverse osmosis (RO) plant by the Sangat SMO (senior medical officer) at Rai Ke Khurd village of this district, was found unfit for human consumption during the test, conducted by the State Public Health Laboratory, Chandigarh. However, the organisation concerned, contested the report saying it had also got the water tested by a laboratory which had declared its RO plant's water fit for human consumption during the same month.

As per information, the Sangat SMO collected water sample from the Rai Ke Khurd village's RO plant on July 29 last which was tested at the State Public Health Laboratory. During the test, it was reportedly found unfit for human consumption. On this, the district health officer (DHO), Bathinda, on August 20, wrote a letter to the organisation concerned, issuing instructions to improve the quality of water and inform his office about it so that water samples could be collected again and tested. Besides, the use of water from this source for drinking purpose be stopped till the water was retested, the DHO added.

In reply to the DHO's letter, the organisation concerned wrote to the Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, demanding a copy of the test report of the water, sent by the State Public Health Laboratory. It also mentioned that it had also got a test of the water of RO plant conducted in July by a laboratory, which had clearly mentioned that the water was fit for human consumption.

Talking to TNS here, DHO Dr R S Randhawa said that on receiving a letter from the organisation, his office had sent a copy of the test report of the State Public Health Laboratory on September 7 to the organisation concerned, mentioning that it should conduct chlorination of the water immediately. His office should then be informed about it so that water samples could be collected again for testing.

The DHO said that the Health Department got bacteriological test of the water conducted from the State Public Health Laboratory for detecting presence of any pathological bacteria which might be harmful for human consumption. He said as per the test report, bacterial contamination had been found in the RO water due to which it had been declared unfit for human consumption.

He further said as per the test report, submitted to his office by the organisation, it had got the water tested from the laboratory for detecting only TDS (total dissolved solvents) in the water, whereas the Health Department got bacteriological test conducted to determine the purity of water.

Bathinda, September 10
The first suspected case of dengue this season came to light today after a patient was admitted to the Civil Hospital here yesterday. During the 'rapid' test for dengue, conducted on him today in the morning, he was found to be weakly positive while as per the Elisa test report of the patient, he had tested negative for dengue today itself in the afternoon.

Despite the weakly positive report in the rapid test, the health officials here are not ready to consider it as a dengue case as they say that Elisa test is a confirmatory test for dengue as per the Health Department's guidelines,

The 26-year-old local youth was admitted to the Civil Hospital here with fever. He had a history of fever for four to five days and complained of weakness.

The doctors started his treatment yesterday. Today in the morning, he was examined fully and the doctor on duty got him tested for platelets count.

As per the doctor on duty in the emergency ward of the hospital, the patient's platelets count was 9,000 in the morning while it rose to 13,000 in the afternoon. He said his condition was now stable. Three units of platelets rich plasma (PRP) had been infused into him besides other relevant medication.

The doctor said according to the patient, he was a software engineer in a Noida-based company and had suffered from fever on Saturday last for the first time. He came to Bathinda with fever on Sunday and then got treatment from some doctor here for a few days.

When contacted, District Malaria Officer Dr Malkiat Singh Gill said this evening that they did not consider the patient as a case of dengue as he had tested negative in the Elisa test. He said only the Elisa test was a confirmatory test for determining dengue. However, he admitted that during the rapid test for dengue he had tested weakly positive for dengue today.

Abohar, September 10
Senior leaders of the farming community from Sriganganagar who visited the region today indicated that the diversion of water from the Rajasthan feeder to Sirhind feeder in an ‘illegal manner’ might lead to contention between the neighbouring states.

Interestingly, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had recently stated that Rajasthan and Haryana would be asked to pay royalty for using the resources of the state for carrying the canal water.

Ahead of the scheduled visit of Rajasthan minister for Irrigation Mahipal Singh Maderana to Sriganganagar to discuss the issue, a deputation visited Burji no. 313 of Rajasthan feeder today where the Punjab irrigation department effected a cut in October last year to divert the water to the Sirhind feeder.

Speaking to the media, Beniwal and Sant Lekha Singh, who had led the protests during the farmers’ agitation at Gharsana a few years back, said Rajasthan irrigation chief engineer TK Parmar had categorically stated that “Punjab officials had not taken us in confidence before effecting the cut under the pretext of repairing damaged escapes of Chaderbhan drain. They had promised to restore the old position within a short span. Again, they promised to start the work on plugging the cut within 15 days recently.”

The farmers said a high-level meeting of the farmers’ bodies would be soon convened to decide the line of action. — OC

Bathinda, September 10
To counter the allegations, levelled at a rally here on September 8 by the Congress MLA from Bathinda Harminder Singh Jassi and other Congressmen against the state government, the area in-charge of the SAD for Bathinda Assembly constituency Sarup Chand Singla today interacted with the media here and termed the allegations as “beyond facts and truth.”

At the rally, Jassi and others had protested against the sale of government property, especially in Bathinda, alleged non-performance of the government, and “indifferent attitude” of the government and local authorities towards the basic needs and demands of the local residents.

Singla questioned Jassi as to where he was during the past three years and said the Congress had claimed that the SAD-BJP government had sold property worth Rs 239 crore in Bathinda district, but the fact was that this government had spent Rs 460 crore only on Bathinda for constructing ring road, overbridges, RO systems and community centre, and renovation of police stations. He said the water and sewerage charges had been hiked in 2005 by the Congress government, whose arrears were still pending, so all such allegations were baseless. He also said the Congress-led government had sold government properties including Bathinda spinning mill, Tapa spinning mill. Despite this, no major development had occurred in the state, he added. — TNS

Bathinda, September 10
The additional deputy commissioner (Development) C. Sibin today entrusted an inquiry to the deputy chief executive officer (deputy CEO) of the Zila Parishad (ZP) on a memorandum, submitted to him here today by the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union (PKMU) in connection with the issues, related to NREGA workers.

The memorandum was submitted to him by a deputation, led by state president of the PKMU Jora Singh Nasrali. On the occasion, a large number of NREGA workers from various villages, including a number of women, were also present in the premises of Zila Parishad here.

Talking to TNS, the ADC (D) said that deputy CEO of the ZP had been asked to complete his inquiry and submit report within 15 days.

In the memorandum, the PKMU had claimed that it had investigated the NREGA works in some villages and had found that the persons concerned had not paid wages to the workers to the tune of about of Rs 2.16 lakh in eight villages. — TNS

Moga, September 10
The district Bar Association of Moga today filed a complaint against the state government through the district collector, president, executive official of the local municipal council and the authorities concerned of the public works department in the court of Rakesh Gupta for issuance of mandatory injunction directing the defendants to ensure basic civic amenities in the court complex.

The court has issued a notice to the defendants to file a reply by September 22, the next of hearing in the case. The Association has also demanded to punish the defendants under sections 268, 269, 270 read with section 109 of the IPC.

Fazilka, September 10
Municipal Council, Fazilka, which had no executive officer (EO) for quite sometime, has surprisingly got two executive officers as of today. Interestingly, both the executive officers have valid posting orders for the same post.

Former executive official Tilak Raj Verma, who had been under suspension, was reinstated by the principal secretary, local government, SS Rajput on September 3. He immediately assumed the charge. Verma was surprised when Sukhdev Singh, executive officer, MC, Goniana Mandi, came to join as executive officer, MC, Fazilka, on Thursday with transfer orders issued by the director, local government, SK Sharma on September 6. He too was taken aback on seeing Verma, who had already joined as executive officer. — OC

Faridkot, September 10
The Gurdwara Godri Sahib Baba Farid Society, Faridkot, under the chairmanship of Inderjit Singh Khalsa has declared that the Baba Farid Award for Honesty will be conferred on S. Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Commandant IRB, Ladda Kothi, Punjab.

The award consist of Rs 1,00,000 in cash. The award for ‘Service to Humanity’ is has been jointly won by Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal for his exemplary concern for protection of environment and Capt. Dharam Singh Gill of Faridkot, a well-known figure of Faridkot. They will be awarded Rs 50,000 each. These three awardees shall be honoured at a function on occasion of Baba Farid Aagman Purb celebrations at Gurdwara Godri Sahib on September 23. — TNS

Ferozepur, September 10
An inmate of the local Central jail identified as Massa Singh, son of Bhag Singh, a resident of village Nehianwala in Bathinda, died after he was taken to the civil hospital as his health in the jail deteriorated.

As per the details, he was sent to the prison on August 28 last to serve one year imprisonment term. Jail authorities said Massa Singh was allegedly addicted to drugs and was undergoing treatment at the de-addiction centre of the jail.

However, his condition deteriorated today in the morning following which he was referred to the civil hospital where he died. Superintendent (Jail) Capt. LS Jakhar said the kin of the deceased were informed about his death and necessary action was being taken as per the procedure.