Bathinda, December 19
Tragedy struck late on Sunday night when nine people, including four women and a child, believed to be nearly two-and-a-half-years-old, died when a Bolero jeep collided head-on with a school bus belonging to the Rajindra Public School, Panjuwana, in Sirsa district of Haryana. Over 30 others were injured in the accident, some of them seriously.

The mishap took place past 11 at night on the Goniana road near the Delhi Public School, in Bhokra.

Volunteers of the Sahara Jan Sewa, Naujawan Welfare Society and Adarsh Welfare Society rushed to the site of the accident after getting the information and pressed their ambulances into service to lift the bodies and ferry the injured to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

It is learnt that that school bus from Sirsa, with 35 kids on board, had gone to Amritsar on December 17 on a trip and was on its way back. The Bolero, which too had around 5-6 passengers, was on its way to Goniana from Bathinda. The driver of the Bolero was killed in the accident. NGO volunteers supervising the rescue operations, informed that an identity card had been found from the pocket of the deceased Bolero driver which revealed his name as Kuldip Singh of Kotkapura.

It was also learnt that there was another school van accompanying the school bus and was trailing it when the ill-fated bus met with the mishap.

The exact cause of the accident could not be ascertained at the time of going to the press as NGO volunteers and police were busy with relief and rescue operations but eyewitnesses said the scene at the site of the accident was heart-rending with the injured crying out for help.

Bathinda SDM KPS Mahi also visited the Civil Hospital at night for a first-hand account of the situation. 

Ferozepur, December 19
As many as 500 khair and 11 sheesham trees were felled by a group of about five dozen people in the Gatti Hari Ke (forest area of Punjab government) belt in the district with the objective of clearing the land for carrying out agricultural activities over the same.

A case in this connection has been registered against 22 identified and some unknown persons under sections 379, 447, 427, 511 of the IPC and sections 32 and 33 of the Indian Forest Act at the Makhu police station on the complaint of the Range Officer.

Information revealed that the accused who allegedly enjoy the patronage of a section of politicians belonging to the ruling alliance in state also set the elephant grass on fire in the forest area.

The accused pressed four tractors and a JCB machine into service to clear the forest area. Rajinder Singh Pannu, DFO, Ferozepur, said that the accused, 22 of whom had been identified, carried out the clearing operation last week. He said that matter was immediately reported to the DGP, Forest Minister, Punjab, and other authorities concerned.

He said Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav along with SP (Headquarter) Surjeet Singh and a large number of policemen reached the spot after being informed about the incident. After seeing the situation himself, the DC asked the SHO, Makhu police station, to take legal action against the culprits.

He pointed out that the accused had cleared a piece of land measuring about 23 acres out of a total of 108 acres of land in Gatti Hari Ke belt, which belonged to the Forest Department and which was under forest cover. The videography of the damaged forest cover was also done.

Those against whom the case has been registered included Kuldeep Singh, Balbir Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Nishan Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Manjeet Singh, Kashmir Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Surinder Singh, Jasvir Singh, Salwinder Singh, Ronak Singh, Dolat Singh, Nishan Singh, Hira Singh, Karaj Singh, Daljeet Singh and Ranjeet Singh, Labhu Singh, Suba Singh and Mukhtiar Singh. 

Sriganganagar, December 19
Arjuna awardee athlete Jagseer Singh from Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan has clinched gold in the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games that concluded today. Distribution of sweets amidst bursting of crackers and folk dance by the youths marked celebrations in his village Fatehgarh as he shared the news with his family last evening.

People kept thronging his residence to congratulate his father Pritam Singh. At the Dronacharya hostel in Hanumangarh town, his friends were also found celebrating. The athlete, who was born on July 16, 1987, informed that some 2,512 athletes from 41 countries as well as 1,286 team officials, 1,096 technical officials and 2,558 media persons took part in the event.

India ranked 15th with one gold, two silver and nine bronze medals till yesterday. Jagseer has won gold in men's triple jump on Saturday while a day earlier, he had bagged silver in high jump. He has qualified for participation in the World Athletics Championship to be held in January in New Zealand. He has become the first para athlete from India for participation to take part in the 2012 Para Olympics. Another athlete from the region, Sandeep Mann, has bagged silver in the 400 metre race.

Notably, Jagseer and Sandeep had been getting coaching from the Dronacharya award recipient RD Singh, who is in charge of the sports wing in Nehru Memorial Law College at Hanumangarh. "I am feeling amazed and wish Jagseer and Sandeep good luck," he said.

Jagseer is studying in first year. Principal Dr Vimlendra Tayal, vice-principal Virender Mathur and coach Iqbal Singh also conveyed their greetings to their families.

Abohar, December 19
The Punjab Government is still allowing 1500 cusecs of water to flow to Pakistan by denying Rajasthan its due share, alleged Captain Subhash Sehgal (retd), chief spokesman of the Rajasthan KisanSangharsh Samiti, who led a deputation of farmers to conduct an on-the-spot study across the canal system in Muktsar and Ferozepur districts today.

Speaking to this correspondent here on way back to Sriganganagar on Sunday evening, he said the deputation had found that 1.5 to 2 feet water was flowing in the drains identified as Abulkhurana, Chanderbhan, Khippanwali and Jandoke even when rainy season was over. Such drains finally merge into the Sutlej river that flows across the international border.

On the other side, the Gang (Bikaner) canal that passes through the Abohar-Fazilka area was carrying 1500 cusecs of water against its capacity of 3500 cusecs. This discrimination had deprived many sub-canals in Sriganganagar of water for irrigation and drinking for the past three weeks, Capt Sehgal said, adding that this has hit the crop season. The situation may worsen towards the end of the month when the Punjab goverment would suspend water supply to all the canals in the region for a major cleansing operation.

Captain Sehgal said the Hari Ke barrage had today recorded a receipt of 14,000 cusecs of water whereas it was 13,000 cusecs on Saturday against the demand listed at 16,700 cusecs as per a meeting held in the past with the Bhakra and Beas Management Board.

It appears that the irrigation officials have not been able to check siphoning of water besides seepage in the Rajasthan and Ferozepur feeders, he said and regretted that a cut made in the Rajasthan feeder at Burji number 311 to divert water to Sirhind feeder in the Muktsar area has not been plugged till now even when CM Parkash Singh Badal had assured that the cut would be filled by October end.

The Punjab officials had said the cut had been made temporarily to facilitate the repair of escape gates of Chanderbhan drain. A visit to the site indicated the work was unlikely to complete even by January.

“The Punjab government is grabbing Rajasthan’s share through this cut,” he lamented.

Ferozepur, December 19
Engaged in the cremation of unidentified bodies, a local NGO, Ferozpur Welfare Club (FWC), has been rendering yeoman’s service to humanity and has till date performed the last rites of over 900 unclaimed bodies.

Most of these unknown bodies were those of beggars or migrants. They are referred to this NGO after postmortem by the GRP or the Punjab police personnel. Prthvi Raj Monga, FWC president, said the bodies are cremated as per the rituals in the presence of the members of the club. “Every year we go to Haridwar to immerse the ashes of those cremated by us,” said Monga.

The entire expenditure from cremation to performing last rituals is borne by the club. Arun Sharma, the NGO’s secretary, said the club has also constructed rooms outside the place where the postmortem is conducted for the convenience of the families of the deceased. “Also, cemented benches have been constructed outside the Civil Hospital for people in general,” he said.

Today, this NGO has two ambulances for the use of poor people besides deep freezers for preserving dead bodies and a vehicle to carry the bodies to the cremation ground.

It was donated by the Wadehra family of Jalandhar. An ambulance was provided by S R Ladhar, the former Deputy Commissioner, at a subsidized rate of Rs 21,000.

Another one was donated by the Dev Raj family.

Established in 2000, the NGO also provides relief to the accident victims. During the accidental blast of balloon filling cylinder on Basant last year, which claimed several lives, this NGO remained in the forefront and evacuated the victims to the nearby hospitals. Last month, during the bus accident involving Ahmedabad residents, in which 23 people died, this NGO helped the victims.

Monga said the NGO planted more than 1000 trees in and around the cremation ground besides on the main divider of the Mall road in the city.

While talking to The Tribune, the members rued that while in some other states, the government provides money for cremating unknown bodies, there is no such fund in Punjab.

“We do not know whether the RPF or the municipal authorities are allocated some funds, but at least we are not provided any monetary help by the government due to which we have to contribute ourselves. We depend on the monthly donations from the local residents” said Sanjeev Kataria, Chairman, FWC. 

Abohar, December 19
While there are scores of farmers who regret using Bt cotton seed, one Gurtej Singh of village Hakuwala has scripted a success story even when he generally ignored the technical advice of the agricultural scientists.

A team of experts led by JS Sandhu, AGM, Krishak Bharti Cooperative (Kribhco), who visited the farms along with some media persons, took about half an hour in counting the balls that had flourished on a Bt cotton plant. Each of the 275 balls weighed about four grams.

Other farmers of the village confirmed that Gurtej Singh was picking cotton balls for the second time and would be able to sow wheat next month while most of the farmers had finished sowing wheat early this month. The AGM was assisted by two senior area managers, PR Chaudhary and GS Cheema from here, the first being an expert in seeds.

Informing that he had used Kribhco Raja Bt seed, the farmer Gurtej Singh told the media that he had sown two packets of seed in each field covering only two acres of land in the middle of May.

Using a machine for sowing, he kept each plant at a distance of above two feet. Flowers started developing after 80-85 days and the height of plants was above six feet.

To check mild attack by white fly and tobacco sundi (worms), he sprayed Confider, Pride and Acetified brands of pesticides.

Interestingly, the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) scientists as well as agricultural officials had cautioned that these insecticides won't save the crop from pest attacks.

Gurtej Singh said he had poured a bag of DAP and two bags of urea in each acre of land besides a growth promoter product. The average yield per acre may go up to 15 quintals whereas other farmers were able to get 8-10 quintal at the maximum.

Feeling delighted over the results, Kribhco AGM JS Sandhu said, "We were hesitant during the first trial and offered 25,000 Bt cotton seed packets for sale to the farmers of the Malwa region. But now, 1.5 lakh packets will be made available next year. The farmer has gifted a full blooming plant for exhibition and research."

Sandhu hoped that an increase in the total area under Bt cotton crop would take place by next season and that others would emulate the success of Gurtej.

Fazilka, December 19
Fazilka desi jutti (traditional footwear), is likely to make its presence felt in every nook and corner of India with the Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) decising to set up a Desi Punjabi Jutti Cluster at Rampura village, two km from here.

The foundation stone for the cluster, being set up a the cost of Rs 80 lakhs, was laid by Kumud Joshi, chairperson, KVIC and former Governor, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday. Within a few months, over 700 artisans of Fazilka and Abohar subdivisions will be using the common facilities, being set up in the cluster, to make their products competitive and attractive.

About 200 families, which migrated from Pakistan in 1947 from Kasur and other areas into Fazilka, have been in this profession for decades and have now spread their business to other towns. However, almost all these families have failed to make progress and are surviving on bare minimum.

As Fazilka jutti has been liked by people across the globe as the same were exhibited in Australia, the US and the trade fair in Delhi, the KVIC found it fit to set up a cluster here so that artisans, most of whom earn a meagre income, could enhance their income by producing good quality products.

In the past few decades, the Fazilka Jutti has carved a niche for itself in Punjab and its neighbouring states. Many political figures, Bollywood stars, bureaucrats and landlords have developed a strong liking for it.

Paramjit Singh, Director, Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Chandigarh, which is the implementing agency for the cluster, said that the first juttis produced in the cluster, would be marketed in India and would then be taken abroad. He added that the Indian Institute of Rural Management, Jaipur, would provide technical support for the project.

Singh disclosed that about 116 jutti maker had also applied for loan to start small units under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme. About 115 artisans would be covered with insurance in the initial stage. The programme was started by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The artisans would be trained in product designing, management and marketing skills.

Pakki Tibbi (Muktsar), December 19
While the Punjab government makes great claims about the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, students of the Government Primary School at Pakki Tibbi village in the district, are forced to sit on uneven brick floor and bear the shivering cold every morning.

The school, located on the Malout-Abohar road, is running without any infrastructure expect for five rooms of which one is permanently locked and three others are in a dilapidated condition. The classes are sans chair, bench and mattress.

The school is being run by only one Sikhya Karmi recruited under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. He holds all five classes in a single batch.

The boundary wall and the lavatories in the school have already collapsed. After getting a petty grant from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal a couple of months back, the villagers had installed a Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant in one of the classrooms. But ever since, it is non-functional as the school is sans power supply connection.

The education volunteer deputed there had made a temporary arrangement at his personal level by getting a power connection from a house in the school's vicinity but the connection provider withdrew it some months back.

Observing the pathetic condition of the school, a majority of children of the village have been studying in private schools at Malout and Abohar towns, which are situated about 15 kms away from the village. The total strength of the school is 14 and reportedly all of them belong to the Dalit community.

It is learnt that to keep the school functioning, the Sikhya Karmi posted there ferries five children of Pakki Tibbi village in his own car.

When contacted, the District Education Officer (Elementary), Muktsar, Dharam Pal claimed he was unaware about the condition.

“I hold the dual charge of DEO, elementary as well as secondary. My whole day gets wasted in attending meetings only. But as the issue is very serious, I will personally visit the school and get a first- hand account of the situation. Whatever is possible, that we shall do for the school,” he assured.

Bathinda, December 19
Lodging a dramatic protest against Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, activists of the Youth Congress (Bathinda Urban) washed the foundation stones of the proposed international cricket stadium and a five-star hotel with milk, here today.

President of the Youth Congress Ashu Thakur said, “The protest was a reminder to Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, who is always on a stone-laying spree but never bothers about their fate.”

Earlier also, the Youth Congress activists had burnt an effigy of the Deputy CM and later, immersed the ashes in a Thermal lake. 

Bathinda, December 19
Delhi Public School, Bathinda, organised a Winter Carnival today to mark the celebration of the winter season in general and Christmas in particular.BS Wander, Superintending Engineer (Operations), Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda was the chief guest on the occasion while Ramesh Talwar, Pro Vice-Chairman, DPS Bathinda, was the guest of honour.

A number of competitions for recitation, fancy dress, music and dance were organised in which leading schools of Bathinda such as the Blooming Buds, the Little Kingdom and the New Era participated.

The Children of Strawberry Field performed a special group dance. Cultural items were also presented by the Tiny Tots of the DPS.

Stalls for games, food, potter and rides for horses and camel were made especially available. A large number of people from in and around the city took part in the carnival. — TNS

Artificial limbs provided

Fazilka, December 19
Free artificial limbs were provided to the physically challenged at a prosthetic camp held here today by the NGO, Social Welfare Society (SWS).

The prosthetic camp was sponsored by Ram Krishan Mittal of Mumbai in memory of his parents. RL Handa, in-charge of Artificial Limbs Centre, Ambala, with his team members affixed artificial lower limbs, distributed caliper to polio victims and crutches to the handicapped at the third prosthetic camp organised by the SWS with the co-operation of Lala Durga Charan Artificial Limbs Centre and Parvati Devi Trust, Ambala Cantt.

SWS president Raj Kishore Kalra said 15 physically challenged were provided artificial limbs. Besides, 21 calipers, three crutches and a walking stick were also provided by the special guests, philanthropist Raj Krishan Thatai, Improvement Trust Chairman Mohinder Pratap Dhingra, Istri Arya Samaj patron Sudesh Kumari Nagpal, Sarhad Social Welfare Society president Rakesh Nagpal, Artiya Association president Om Parkash Setia and industrialist Mohan S. Bidani. — OC