Bathinda, March 9
After the railway authorities flatly refused to bear the burden, the state government has initiated the construction of the railway overbridge (ROB) located on the Bathinda-Badal road, paying the cost to be incurred on it from the state exchequer.

It is reported that the construction of the ROB, nearly 1.25 km long, would cost nearly Rs 25 crore out of which Rs 4.5 crore is to be spent on the construction of the 35metre area above the railway tracks.

But the railway authorities, after assessing the road traffic and its requirement, had refused to bear the expenses, on the ground that the flow of traffic did not suggest any requirement for such an expensive ROB.

The controversy kept the project hanged fire for a couple of months and delayed it much behind the schedule.

It was said that the ROB was planned not to focus upon the requirements of the common man but because the road led to the native village of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

However, the state government cited a number of reasons like the upcoming projects in Ghudda village, located en route the Bathinda-Badal road, as the reason behind its necessity.

Finally, the state government has now agreed to bear the total cost of constructing the ROB and asked the PWD (B&R) officials to start the construction on the portion above the railway track.

It may be mentioned that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had directed the authorities concerned to modify the initial plan of developing a two-lane ROB by expanding it into a four-lane one.

When this order had been issued, out of the total ten pillars, seven had already been constructed that put the officials and contractors in a dilemma.

The proposed change had also created fresh trouble for the officials as it would have required fresh acquisition of land located adjacent to the ROB.

Meanwhile, officials of a Panchkula-based construction company, to whom the contract was allotted, suspended the work.

The government finally decided to stick to the earlier plan of a two-lane ROB.

Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R), Baljeet Singh said, "Crossing all hurdles, we have now initiated the construction of the ROB. The company, which has been allotted the contract, has been asked to complete it by August this year."

He added that as the work over the railway track had been initiated, people would have to take diversions to reach their destinations.

Bathinda, March 9
The heat of the violence that took place after the Dera-Sikh controversy in Dhalleke village of Moga on Monday was also felt in Bathinda district.

Tension kept simmering throughout the day in the villages falling under the Talwandi Sabo sub-division of this district.

To avert any untoward incident, police remained on its toes and converted two villages Sangat and Teona Pujarian into a virtual fortress.

After receiving a message that some followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda had allegedly assaulted the head of a Kirtan Jatha belonging to village Malkana (Bathinda), Baba Joga Singh, in Moga on Monday in which his vehicle was also damaged, the situation turned volatile in Talwandi Sabo on Tuesday.

A large number of radical Sikhs assembled at the Baba Deep Singh chowk in Talwandi Sabo and attempted to burn the effigy of the Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Though the police foiled their bid, the Dera followers were left fuming.

Taking a serious note of the radicals' action, a number of Dera followers staged a dharna outside the Talwandi Sabo DSP's residence and started their Naam Charcha (religious discourse).

They announced that it would be carried on till the police arrested all the accused who had attempted to burn the effigy of the Dera chief.

Handling the situation cautiously, police assured them of fair action and managed to persuade them to lift their dharna.

Sources informed that the situation had again turned tense after someone, using the public address system of a gurudwara in Sangat village, appealed to the Sikhs to remain ready to counter the “anti-Sikh” acts of the Dera followers.

Acting upon the basis of this information, police visited the village to trace the person who had made the announcement but reportedly failed in its attempt.

However, sensing the gravity of the situation, a strong police contingent was deployed in the village to keep tab over all activities. Meanwhile, messages were flashed that the Dera followers had started assembling at Teona Pujarian village.

As the village is known for a majority of its population being affiliated to the Dera and where some incidents of Dera-Sikh stand-off had taken place in the past, police hurriedly cordoned it off. To build pressure, police even carried out a march in the village streets.

Though tension gripped the sub-division during the day, DSP Talwandi Sabo, Surinder Pal Singh informed that no untoward incident had taken place and things were under control. The DSP also assured that nobody would be allowed to violate law and order.

Mansa, March 9
Taking a stride in the direction of providing quality technical education to the wards of police personnel at concessional rate, the state police have reached an arrangement with a Polytechnic College located in Mansa district.

In a press release issued here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Police said that the management of the Universal Polytechnic College, Borewal (Mansa) has offered to provide quality technical education to the wards of police personnel in computer, electrical, mechanical, civil, electronics and communication engineering. The fee will be nominal.

The spokesman informed that the deserving candidates recommended by the district police chief would be provided education in this institute and the fee from them would be charged keeping in view the financial status of the concerned police personnel.

Besides, a special concessional fee will also be offered to the wards of police personnel killed at the hands of militants as well as the wards of BC/SC category of the employees.

The spokesman further said that a communiqué in this regard from the Director General of Police, Punjab, has already been sent to the zonal IGs, range DIGs and SSPs to publicize this initiative so that the maximum number of employees in Punjab Police could avail of this unique offer.

Ferozepur, March 9
The issue connected with the death of a clerk of the local DAV College for Women under mysterious circumstances, whose body was found yesterday, took a new turn.

A case under section 306 of the IPC has been registered against the college principal Pushpinder Walia and superintendent of the college Anu Khanna at the police station cantonment for forcing him to commit suicide on the statement of Anita Bisht, wife of the deceased clerk Bharat Singh Bisht.

The body of Bharat, who was missing under mysterious circumstances since February 21, was found in one of the storerooms of college premises, yesterday. Postmortem was done by a panel of doctors in the local civil hospital, today. SSP Kaustab Sharma said a thorough investigation would be carried out. So far, no arrest has been made.

Ferozepur, March 9
Yellow rust disease and Aphid attack has started appearing prominently in the wheat fields in different pockets of this district. It has triggered a wave of fear among a large section of farmers, who suspect that the yield might get affected due to this during this season.

Yellow rust disease, which has already been noticed in the sub-mountainous districts including Gurdaspur, Ropar, Hoshiarpur, has started spreading its tentacles in the border district. If corrective measures are not taken on time, the yield of wheat, which has been grown in an area of 3. 94 lakh hectares in the Ferozepur district, will fall significantly.

BS Chahal, Chief Agriculture officer (CAO), Ferozepur, confirmed that isolated incidents related to attack on wheat crop by Aphid and yellow rust were found in the district. He said the field staff had been directed to advise the farmers about needed steps to save their crops from such attacks.

Yuvraj Singh Pandha, Assistant Professor (Plant Protection), Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ferozepur, said he had been receiving two to three complaints in connection with the attack of Aphid and yellow rust on the wheat fields from different pockets of the Ferozepur district. He added that during a survey conducted in Ferozepur, Guru Harsahai, Fazilka, Abohar and Ghal Khurd blocks, the incidents connected with attack of Aphid and yellow rust on wheat crop were also noticed.

The district agriculture authorities had also been informed about the situation. “Aphid multiplies very fast as it reproduces parthenogenetically. Adults and nymphs of Aphid suck the sap from leaves and of developing grains in tillers which leads to discoloration and yellowing of leaves resulting in economic loss and drastic reduction in yield,” he pointed out.

Yellow rust disease caused by airborne fungus, reduced the food making capacity of leaves of wheat plants by affecting the contents of chlorophyll into the same and hence, it ultimately affect the yield.

He said the affected farmers must use those measures only to control these diseases, which were recommended to them by the officials of the Agriculture Department.

Faridkot, March 9
District Magistrate of Faridkot Balwinder Singh carried out surprise raids in the government offices on Wednesday. Two employees of the Water Supply Department were found to be absent on duty. He has asked the senior authorities of the department to initiate departmental action against them as per the service rules.

While talking to The Tribune, Singh said he has asked the district heads of all departments to maintain movement registers in all the offices and ensure that all employees report on duty in time. Later, he checked the primary school at Chotiwala and elementary school at Machaki Khurd villages and talked to the students and teachers.

He asked the school heads to keep the school premises clean and plant trees on the boundaries. He also checked the mid-day meal, which was satisfactory and ensured that cooking gas would be supplied to the school on priority basis. Balwinder Singh also reviewed the ongoing works under NREGA at Chotiwala, Sadhuwala, Sadiq and couple of other villages.

“At Chotiwala, village, development works worth Rs 11-lakh were going on. At Sadhuwala, construction work on the Community Centre was going on at a rapid pace,” the DM claimed.

The DM accompanied by the senior officials of the Rural Development Department asked them to ensure that all the ongoing works in the villages should be completed within the stipulated time.

Sriganganagar, March 9
The Burhani Foundation recently launched the Save Our Sparrow (SOS) campaign, sponsored by the United Nations Organisation (UNO), in West Rajasthan.

During the centenary celebrations of the great visionary Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin at a mosque, the Foundation announced that 52000 bird feeders will be distributed exhorting people to hang these outside their houses or balcony and see the birds fly in for a snack.

While handing over the bird feeders to senior members of the community, special guest Puran Chand Kishan lauded the Burhani Foundation (India) for taking up the project in collaboration with Nature ForeverSociety. He said this will be one of the biggest conservation initiative projects. Lok Sabha member Tara Chand Bhagora hoped the campaign will surely boost the dwindling house sparrow population.

Abohar, March 9
The new series of 52 free eye check-up and operation camps in the memory of former chairman of the IFFCO, Surinder Kumar Jakhar, will begin from the border village Bareka on Sunday.

Legislator Sunil Jakhar will inaugurate the first camp. Senior Area Manager, IFFCO, RK Upveja informed today that the globally acclaimed cooperative organisation has resolved to cover each nook and corner of Abohar, Fazilka and Balluana segments under its Netra Jyoti campaign that was launched by the former chairman, last year.

Recently, 450 patients were examined and 50 cataract surgeries were performed by eye specialists Dr SL Chalana and Dr Gagan Chalana during the Surinder Kumar Jakhar Memorial Mega Eye Camp here. The camp was jointly organised by friends and followers of the former chairman.

Upveja added that about 7,000 patients were treated during the 22 camps, sponsored by the IFCCO Kisan Seva Trust in the past while 451 cataract surgeries were successfully performed.

Abohar/Sriganganagar, March 9
Different competitions were organised during the International Women’s Day celebrations in the 199 Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) at Abohar and at sector headquarters in Sriganganagar.

Dr Jaspal Kaur was the chief guest for the function organised by the 199 Battalion. Kulwinder Kaur, in-charge, Women Para Force, conducted the proceedings.

At Sriganganagar, 300 women from different BSF battalions based at Srikaranpur, Anoopgarh and Raisinghnagar participated in the competitions in rangoli, dance, flower decoration, snacks preparation and declamation.

Wives Welfare Association chairperson Raju Meena gave away the prizes to the winners. The students of Murti Devi Memorial B.Ed College (Sadulshehar) held an awareness rally.

Bathinda, March 9
Taking serious notice of a reported proposal that the Punjab government is also going to implement the ‘Shagun scheme’ for girls belonging to backward classes (BCs), the General Categories Welfare Federation, Punjab, today asked the state government to grant the benefit on the basis of economic criterion even to the girls belonging to general categories.

A spokesman of the federation Harbans Singh Sidhu said the move was being opposed as it would increase the gap between various castes and communities.