Bathinda, April 26
Almost all grain markets and purchase centres dotting various districts of the Malwa region are getting choked to their capacity due to the arrival of wheat in a huge quantity, coupled with its slow lifting by the agencies concerned.

The situation in Mansa, Muktsar, Bathinda and Ferozepur districts has reached a point where the farmers have started unloading their wheat crop on the roadsides as they could not find space in the grain markets and purchase centres. The wheat bags, which are yet to be lifted by the agencies concerned, can be seen lying even in front of schools and religious places.

The acute shortage of migrant labourers, transportation vehicles and space in godowns to store the procured wheat has also played a role in the current situation in the grain markets. During a visit to various grain markets and purchase centres, the TNS found that they were facing the problem of plenty and if the corrective measures are not taken by the authorities, the region would face a glut-like situation.

Though senior functionaries of the state government have been making repeated claims that lifting of procured wheat was going on smoothly, in some purchase centres, the farmers are unable to find space to use even machines to clean their wheat crop before it is put for auction.

Gurdeep Singh of Jandwala village said, “For the last four days, I am waiting for the availability of space at the local purchase centre to unload the produce, lying in tractor-trailers, parked in my house.”

Jagmeet Singh, another farmer, said for want of space in the purchase centre, he had to unload his produce on the roadside. “Now it is up to God to save it from the vagaries of weather,” he said.

Jarnail Singh, a farmer of Bibiwala village, who has been sitting at Ganga village purchase centre for the last 10 days, said the agency could not arrange adequate number of gunny bags that has resulted in slow procurement of wheat.

The farmers alleged that in some purchase centres, procurement was being done on alternate days. They said they also found it difficult to get their procured stocked weighed same day due to inadequate arrangements. At present, five state agencies, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and private traders were buying wheat from grain markets. Their procurement operations failed to satisfy the farmers so far. Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal said necessary action was being taken to quicken the lifting of procured wheat.

Moga, April 26
Farmers have demanded that the Punjab government should grant relaxation in the time period for developing paddy nurseries from May 1 onwards instead of May 10, which is legally binding. The state government had promulgated the ‘Punjab Preservation of Sub-soil Water Act’ in March 2009, which binds the farmers not to sow paddy nursery before May 10 and not to transplant paddy before June 10 keeping in view the depleting underground water table, power shortage and dry weather condition during this period.

Nirmal Singh Manuke, district president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), while highlighting the problem, said it takes at least 35 days to develop paddy seedlings that delays the transplantation period by one week affecting the quality of grains at the time of harvesting. He claimed that due to delay in transplantation of the PUSA-44, which is grown in 55 per cent of the total area under paddy cultivation, the grain quality is affected with the advent of cold weather and humid conditions at the time of harvesting. “Based on the practical problems, we asked the government to allow the farmers to develop nurseries from May 1 onwards, which will solve the issue,” Manuke added.

After withdrawal of the PAU-201 variety of paddy by the government, the PUSA-44 variety has replaced it, which takes at least 15-20 days more to mature as compared to other normal varieties like PR-118, PR-116, PR-111, PR-114 and others. It may be mentioned that PUSA-44 despite being grown in a large section of the irrigated area has not been recommended by either the Punjab Agriculture University (Ludhiana) or the state government as it consumes more water than the above mentioned other normal varieties.

Meanwhile, senior vice-president of the ruling SAD party and former education minister Jathedar Tota Singh has claimed that the SAD has already discussed the issue in its core committee meeting a few days back.

Party president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was apprised of the problem likely to be faced by the farming community at the meeting. It was unanimously decided at the meeting that the state government would issue a new ordinance allowing the farmers to develop paddy nurseries from May 1 onwards that would solve the problem, he claimed. However, the agriculture minister Sucha Singh Langah, while talking to The Tribune, said he was not aware of any party decision in this regard but if anything comes to his notice ‘officially’, he would look into it.

“For the time being, the government has no plan to bring in a new ordinance keeping in view the larger interest of the state, that is the depleting underground water table, which is a great concern for the country.” On the other hand, Dr Narankar Singh, joint director of the Agriculture Department, Dr Ravi Kumar Sabarwal, chief agriculture officer of Moga and Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, agriculture development officer, advised the farmers to transplant paddy after June 10 and go for the economically viable basmati cultivation, which consumes less water than PUSA-44 (non-basmati), which is not recommended by the PAU (Ludhiana).

Bathinda, April 26
Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal held a meeting with the civil administration officials at the Circuit House here today to review the development works being carried out in the towns and cities of this district.

While reviewing the works, Sukhbir told the officials to complete works in three months. He said he would conduct a surprise checking of the works. In case of negligence, the official concerned would not be spared, he added.

During the review meeting, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister.

Sukhbir Badal also asked the officials to use good quality material while laying sewer lines, constructing roads and installing lights.

Sukhbir Badal also sought information regarding development works underway in Goniana Mandi, Bhuchho Mandi, Kot Fatta, Rampura Phul, Raman Mandi and Talwandi Sabo.

Among those present included DC Dr S Karuna Raju, DIG Paramjit Singh Grewal, SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill, SDM KPS Mahi, Bathinda DTO Amandeep Bansal, Chief Administrator of Bathinda Development Authority Ravi Bhagat, Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Uma Shanker, area in-charge of the SAD for Bathinda (Urban) Assembly constituency Sarup Chand Singla and ex-MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon. — TNS

Bathinda, April 26
To extend his party's support to the agitation of unemployed linemen, national president of the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) Balwant Singh Ramoowalia today visited the agitating unemployed linemen and Ranjit Kaur (62), mother of state president of the Unemployed Linemen's Union Pirmal Singh, whose fast-unto-death entered its eighth day outside the Mini-secretariat here.

The LBP chief was of the view that Ranjit Kaur's health was deteriorating, which was a matter of concern.

The protesting unemployed linemen have been demanding jobs for themselves and unconditional release of their jailed colleagues.

Ramoowalia said everyone has the democratic right to get his demands accepted through peaceful methods, which was being followed by the unemployed linemen. He also asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take serious notice of the fast-unto-death being observed by Ranjit Kaur since April 19 in favour of the unemployed linemen. Expressing his anxiety, Ramoowalia said it would be unfortunate if a tragedy were to take place.

While making an appeal to the Punjab government to hold talks with unemployed linemen, Ramoowalia termed the on-going attitude of the state government as adamant. He asked the state government to explain that if it did not pay heed towards their demands and their agitation methods like dharna and fast-unto-death, then what should they do?

Ramoowalia said there was no difference between the previous Amarinder Government and the present SAD-BJP government as both had adopted similar methods for suppressing the agitations by force. But the LBP was with the agitating unemployed linemen and extended its support to their April 28 rally and demonstration in Bathinda, he added.

Meanwhile, on the directions of the administration, senior medical officer (SMO) of local Civil Hospital Dr Vinod Garg sent Dr Ramesh Maheshwari to examining Ranjit Kaur this afternoon. Dr Maheshwari stated that her condition was not serious. However, the leaders of the protesters refused to provide blood and urine samples of Ranjit Kaur for testing purposes, he added.

Mansa district president of the Unemployed Linemen's Union Darshan Singh Bareh said the fast-unto-death by Ranjit Kaur and the agitation by them would continue till the government accepted their demands. 

Bathinda, April 26
The farm sector in Punjab would get assured electric supply for eight hours during this paddy season. This was stated here today by KD Chaudhary, chairman-cum-managing director of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) while addressing senior officers of the Powercom.

He said power purchase agreements had been signed with various sources to import electricity from other states so that the farmers and other consumers do not face inconvenience during the summer. He said 1.5 lakh agriculture pump set users have been converted into high volt ampere resistance and 1,500 into mega volt ampere resistance with a view to improve power supply and reduce transmission loss.

The anti-power theft drive had resulted in increased the metered sale by 2.5 per cent.

Chaudhary said almost all tubewell feeders had been separated from domestic ones so as to ensure round the clock electric supply to all villages in Punjab. This would also provide round the clock drinking water supply in the rural areas.

About 30,000 overloaded transformers in the urban and rural areas have been de-loaded to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers.

Abohar, April 26
The joint inspection team of the Rajasthan and Punjab irrigation officials, who visited Gang (Bikaner) canal today, is confident of completing the major repair work with a budgeted cost of Rs 2.39 crore by the end of the month.

This would facilitate enhanced supply of water during the next month for cotton sowing.

The Rajasthan government has already given its nod for supply of Bt cotton seed to the selected manufacturers.

The officials in the twin districts of Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh have also been asked to ensure sowing of cotton in over four lakh hectares of land to keep the production up. Some elected and nominated representatives of the farming community including Shameer Singh, chairman, Gang Canal Users Committee along with Major Singh and Sukhdev Singh joined the officials during the inspection to ensure transparency. The visiting team expressed satisfaction over the work.

Mansa, April 26
The Mansa police unearthed a factory manufacturing fake arms, being sold to people in Punjab under the garb of genuine ones by the members of the gang running that racket, in Uttar Pradesh.

Though the police authorities concerned are tightlipped over the development, according to information gathered by the TNS, about 48 pistols and revolvers, which were about to be sold in Punjab under the garb of genuine ones by unscrupulous traders, were also seized.

The machines and other tools being used by the accused for manufacturing fake arms had also been taken into custody. A racket pertaining to the sale of fake arms, known as ‘katta’ in this region, as genuine ones, was busted by the local police a few days ago.

The members of the gang have been minting money in this business by selling fake arms at the rates ranging from Rs 70,000 to Rs one lakh after purchasing it at the rates ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30000. The police authorities had also come to know that some of the fake arms, supplied by the members of this gang, whose three members were arrested, had also reached members of various Maoists organisations.

Information gathered by the TNS revealed that so far the police had collected more than 100 arms, which were sold to unsuspecting customers by the members of the gang.

About three persons were arrested in connection with this racket, so far. The sale transactions of about 12 gun house of this region were being scanned by the police to extract more information in connection with fake arms racket.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said the police authorities would investigate the matter. No one involved in the racket would be spared, he added.

Mansa, April 26
Five commandos of the Punjab police, who were deployed for the personal security of Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Paramdip Singh Gill, sustained serious injuries after the vehicle by which they were travelling hit a tree near Dhaipi village on the Mansa-Sunam road, this afternoon.

It is learnt that the driver of the Gypsy carrying the security guards lost control over the vehicle after it was hit by a speeding vehicle coming from the opposite direction. The Gypsy then hit a tree. The injured guards were identified as Satnam Singh, Tehal Singh, Ashok Kumar, Sukhdev Singh and Harpreet Singh.

Police sources said the driver of the vehicle that hit the Gypsy of the commandos was taken into custody and legal action was being taken against him. — TNS

Bathinda, April 26
Cutting across party lines, leaders of various political parties, social and religious organisations, today paid tributes to Harpal Kaur Sidhu, wife of the area in-charge of the SAD for Talwandi Sabo Assembly constituency Amarjit Singh Sidhu, at the ‘Antim ardas’ held at Dhan Singh Khaana village in this district.

Prominent among those who paid tributes or expressed sympathy with the bereaved family, included Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, CPI leader Hardev Arshi, BJP leader Kamal Sharma, Lok Bhalai Party president Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Lok Janshakti Party state president Kiranjit Singh Gehri, Sikander Singh Malooka, Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Congress MLAs Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, Makhan Singh and Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu.