Bathinda, November 10
Not even a single Non-Resident Indian (NRI) has been registered as a voter in Bathinda district so far.

Around two years ago, the Punjab State Election Commission (PSEC) had passed orders stating that NRI votes can be made in Punjab. The initiative did not find favour with the NRIs, as so far, just one NRI applied for his registration as a voter in Bathinda.

The response would prove to be a dicey affair for all the political parties, who are holding campaigns in NRI-habited pockets of the world seeking vote and support. Election tehsildar Harphool Singh, who joined two months ago, said no application for NRI vote had been received so far.

However, sources in the District Election Office said former civil surgeon Dr Bawa Ram had submitted his application under this category. "Dr Bawa has been living abroad for past several years and wanted to get himself registered as a voter. However, it is not clear whether he was registered or not," added the sources.

Interestingly, Ludhiana district has got 17 such applications, Ropar district has got only two while Nawanshahr has got only one such application so far.

As per the directions of the PSEC, eligible Punjabi NRIs need to be first registered as voters at their place of residence in India. The amendment of the Representation of People's Act states that in order to get eligible to be registered as voters in India, every overseas elector, who is not present at his place of ordinary residence in India due to employment, education or other reasons and has not acquired citizenship of any other country and who is not included in the electoral rolls, has a right to get registered in the electoral roll of constituency. It is allowed only at the NRI's place of residence as mentioned in his passport.

In terms of the rule 8A of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, every NRI, whose place of residence in India is located in the state of Punjab and who has completed 18 years of age as on January 1, 2011 and wants to register his or her name in the electoral roll, should submit a claim application in the Form 6-A.

The Form-6A can either be submitted directly to the registration officer of the constituency concerned or sent to the official by post along with necessary documents.

Bathinda, November 10
The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh master, was celebrated with fervour in the city with a large number of devotees paying obeisance at gurdwaras and taking holy dip there throughout the day.

Sikh religious bodies organised religious programmes in local gurdwaras to mark the occasion. The gurdwaras were also colourfully illuminated. Residents lit candles at the gurdwara in the evening. Residents decorated their homes with lights.

Hundreds of devotees swarmed Gurdwara Qila Mubarak to pay their obeisance on the pious occasion. Langars (free food) were organised on the occasion.

Some local political leaders were also seen expressing their gratitude and congratulating people.

Meanwhile, traffic movement in the city went haywire before noon as hundreds of people left their homes for gurdwaras. Traffic moved at snail's pace outside the Gurdwara Qila Mubarak. As if narrow lanes outside the gurdwara were not enough to hinder the smooth movement of traffic, there was no traffic policeman to regulate the traffic there.

Outside some gurdwaras, their management had blocked the road to ensure smooth flow of traffic. At the Bibiwala Gurdwara, which is located on a narrow road, traffic from both the sides of the road was blocked.

"During such events, the district police should ensure that devotees do not suffer. If we do not block the road, huge rush can lead to mishap," said the gurdwara authorities.

Bathinda, November 10
For the fourth time, since August, the district election office has asked for details of government teachers for assigning them election duties. The teachers have given these details in writing thrice earlier but this time a soft copy has also been asked for.

In a letter issued to all the schools on November 8, the principals of senior secondary, high and middle schools have been directed that the data be fed into the software of the NIC for the 2012 assembly elections. The teachers were given a deadline to feed the data by November 9.

However, many schools could not do so owing to the ongoing semester exams and other non-academic work given to the teachers. They have decided to seek an extension.

The in-charge of super clusters (a super cluster includes six clusters) has been entrusted with the job of uploading the software in the respective computer labs. "Since August, this is the fourth time that we have been directed to provide such data. We have already given our photographs and all details thrice as hard copy to the election office in Bathinda," said one of the principals.

The letter even mentions that every teacher should provide their respective vote number and serial number in the voters' list. The teachers said that the voter's I-card does not have these two specifics mentioned on it. "We would have to approach either the booth-level officer or the municipal councillor of the area concerned to get these two details. With elections round the corner, no one has the time to provide such details on phone. We will especially have to go to the homes of these two people to get our numbers," added another teacher.

The schools have been directed to provide the entire data in the form of a CD, which would be submitted at the district election office for compiling similar reports from all over the district.

It has been directed that the data on class IV employees and those who are retiring by March 31, 2012, should not be uploaded.

Bathinda, November 10
Chairman of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) S Roy Choudhary and CEO-cum-Managing Director of the HMEL Prabdass today visited the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery to review the marketing process of the refinery.

Sources said the refinery officials have set December 31 as the deadline to complete the Rs 20,000-crore project.

The sources added that since the project was nearing completion, the chairman along with the other members of the board of directors came to work out the marketing of various solid and liquid products produced at the refinery.

The completion of the project is likely to boost the economy of Punjab, especially the Malwa region.

The Punjab Government claims that apart from the auxiliary units, people of the state would also be able to get jobs in the refinery.

The HPCL chairman held meetings with refinery workers and other senior functionaries and took stock of the units on which the work has already been completed. They said efforts were on to complete the project before the set deadline.

Though the refinery officials did not confirm the chairman's visit, sources said the officials also visited the recently-built township where around 350 houses were built for the refinery staff. The township also offers health services and other facilities.

The chairman and the CEO interacted with the refinery officials for around six hours. Sources said the work of refinery was at its final stage and the marketing of eight liquid and three solid products were discussed by the officials. They added that work on 25 out of 40 units had been completed and the rest would be finished soon.

More than 50 per cent of the workforce has already left after completing different sections of the project. Once the GGSR is commissioned, only about 2,000 employees would be left behind to run various operations and administrative works there.

Bathinda, November 10
As many as 3,500 capsules were recovered from the pillow of an inmate, who returned today after taking one month leave from the Central Jail here. Interestingly, the inmate is undergoing imprisonment for 10 years in connection with smuggling of narcotics.

The accused has been identified as Wazir Singh who was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment by a local court in 2009 after banned contrabands were recovered from his possession.

Jail officials said Wazir returned today and the police officials at the entrance of the jail checked his luggage and recovered the capsules.

Officials grew suspicious while they were inspecting the pillow, as they found it a bit heavy. On opening it up, they recovered about 3,500 capsules.

In this connection, a fresh case under various sections of the NDPS Act has been slapped on the jail inmate, at the Civil Lines police station.

Bathinda, November 10
There is a steep rise in the number of theft incidents in Bathinda city but the police remains unmoved to the development.

Apart from lifting of vehicles, there are many incidents wherein thieves decamped with costly material. Everyday, about two or three thefts are reported from various parts of the city.

Area residents said the theft incidents were increasing in view of the large-scale sale of drugs going unchecked.

"Drug addicts leave no opportunity to steal vehicles and even do not leave the inexpensive items kept outside the homes," said Iqvinder Gill, a resident of the Ajit road.

Apart from the theft incidents reported to the police, a large number of incidents go unreported.

"An iron cage in which a generator set was installed outside my house, was stolen last month and the matter was brought into the notice of the police. But it failed to take action and also refused to lodge a case in this regard," said Swaranjeet Singh of Bibi Wala road.

A resident of Model Town Phase-III said his bike was stolen by two youngsters who were even identified by his tenant but the police failed to initiate any action in this regard.

"After a couple of days, we managed to trace the culprit from near the Power House road and handed him over to the police," said K Saluja, a resident of Model Town.

He pointed out that the police let the thief go saying that he was suffering from dengue. "We contacted the police officials again, but they said they were now busy with kabaddi matches," Saluja said.

Cantonment police station SHO Jaskaran Singh said it was yet to be ascertained whether the accused traced by the complainant was the actual culprit or not.

"We are still investigating the matter. The accused would be questioned once he recovers from the ailment," the SHO said.

There are other theft victims in the city, who too flayed the apathetic attitude of the police officials.

Rajinder Singh, a resident of Model Town Phase-I, said his Trax jeep was stolen from outside his house few months ago but the police failed to trace the stolen vehicle.

Bathinda, November 10
The number game has begun. And this time, it is not just limited to the celebrities but has percolated down to the hoi polloi, who marvel at its uniqueness and are timing their purchase and child births accordingly.

The mesmerising numeral, 11.11.11, has caught the fancy of the people and is keeping the hospitals and hotels in the city busy.

Many expectant mothers have specially opted for the delivery of their baby tomorrow following the importance that the date holds. Dr Rupinder Kaur Romana, a leading gynaecologist, said she has one appointment tomorrow for delivery.

"One of the expectant mothers was keen on delivering her baby on this date. She was due for child birth early this month. Then we decided it was okay to go ahead with the caesarean section. It is her second baby and she is perfectly healthy to undergo C-section," Dr Romana said.

Similarly, senior gynaecologist Dr Usha Madaan said she has got two optional caesarean sections for tomorrow. "Call it superstition or a fad people are opting for such optional deliveries. One of the women even said that the date would ensure good luck for her child. In both the cases, the women will have their second babies," added Dr Madaan.

Most of these women have preferred to keep their identities under wraps. "It was not my decision alone but that of my husband and in-laws as well. We decided that with the help of the latest technology, we can gift a child his or her unique date of birth," added one of the women.

It is not just the hospitals, but even the hotels and restaurants in the city that are busy hosting marriages and engagement ceremonies. "There is an unprecedented rush. We have got a lot of people who are in a rush to get married or engaged on this historical day. Interestingly, we also have a handful of people who want to hold functions to name their new-born babies on the same day," said the president of Bathinda Hotel, Restaurant and Resorts Association, Satish Arora. Many other marriage palaces in the city are also likely to have a busy time tomorrow.

The excitement of 11.11.11 is not limited to just babies and marriages. People even want to buy new automobiles tomorrow.

A leading caterer of the city, Ashwini Malhotra said his family plans to buy an Activa scooter tomorrow at precisely 11 am, 11 minutes and 11 seconds.

"On July 7, 2007, I had opened a restaurant named Tadka, which the then deputy commissioner had inaugurated at 7 pm, 7 minutes and 7 seconds," added Ashwini Malhotra, who has a penchant for such numbers.

Ashwini's friend, advocate Anmol Sekhon too has decided to buy his new car tomorrow.

Even those people, who had decided to buy their vehicles today on the occasion of Gurpurab, have re-scheduled their purchase for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, astrologer Budh Ram from Paras Ram Nagar said the date does not hold much significance in terms of astrology. "But it is a good day," he said.

Bathinda, November 10
The number of fever cases in the city has reportedly come down by 50 per cent during the last one week. As per the details, since November 3, 50 patients suffering from fever, have been undergoing treatment daily at the local civil hospital while earlier in October 100 patients had been getting treatment daily.

The patients included suspected as well as confirmed dengue cases.

A total of 25 survey teams, jointly formed by the Health Department and the Bathinda Municipal Corporation, have also been finding a less number of fever cases during the door-to-door survey these days.

On November 8, the teams surveyed 1,313 houses in the city and found only eight fever cases, besides detecting mosquito larva, from only a house.

On November 9, the teams surveyed 1,172 houses and found only six fever cases.

Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of the Civil Hospital Dr Satish Goyal said, “There were 35 patients, suffering from fever (including 19 rapid card positive cases and a confirmed dengue positive case) in the hospital, this afternoon. He said earlier in the morning 20 fever patients had been discharged.

The SMO said, “Almost all the new fever cases, coming to the civil hospital now, were rapid card positive, the preliminary test for dengue, but their Mac Elisa test was yet to be done.” Due to change in the temperature, new dengue fever cases were on decline these days, he added.

Dr KK Goyal, a medical specialist at the civil hospital, said, “He admitted two patients today with 80,000 platelets and 22,000 platelets.

As per the official information, as many as 691 confirmed dengue cases have been reported from the Bathinda district so far, this season.

Of these, 691 cases, 591 cases were from the city only while remaining 100 cases were from other parts of the district, including 51 from the Talwandi Sabo block, 20 cases from the Goniana block, 13 cases from the Sangat block, and seven cases from the Nathana block.

Bathinda, November 10
Religious organization Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) held a prayer assembly for the people who died in the Haridwar stampede.

The members of the VHP and others from Bathinda prayed for the salvation of those who died during the mayhem at the anniversary function held at Shantikunj in Haridwar. The prayers were held at the Bangale Wali Dharamshala.

Bathinda November 10
The National Highway-64 extension, called GT Road or Guru Kashi Marg, which passes through the heart of the city, always remains marred by temporary encroachments. The cars or scooters parked outside the block of shops on the pavements and the rest of the area is occupied by the shopkeepers for keeping their articles, leaving no space to walk for the pedestrians.

The Bathinda-Dabwali national highway starts from the Rose Garden and extends till Dabwali. In the city, the road crosses all the heavy traffic-prone areas such as all the roundabouts, traffic lights (Teen Koni Chowk and Hanuman Chowk), bus stand, hospital, Mini-secretariat and other educational institutes such as schools and colleges. Due to the temporary blockade of footpaths, the pedestrians are forced to walk on the road, where every type of traffic moves.

The authority of the road is under the Bathinda Municipal Corporation.

Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Uma Shankar said, “We have tried a lot to solve the problem. At times, we have even penalised the shopkeepers for blocking the area in front of their shops. Things become normal temporarily. However, they again start practising the same.”

The NH was constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD), which has a joint responsibility with the BMC for the management of the road. Daljeet Singh, XEN, PWD, said, “Though certain instructions are given to the shopkeepers as well as people who park their vehicles on the pavements, no Act has been formulated against the temporary encroachments as it is for permanent encroachments. The temporary blockades are unavoidable as people usually avoid listening to the instructions.” He added, “Moreover, there is no proof of temporary encroachments as one can take away their property, if the authorities object. The chaos or rush on the sides of the road would slow down gradually when the bypass outside the city gets constructed.”

The sides of the roads or the green belts are under the Forest Department, which works to grow plantation there. When the national highway falls within the limits of the city, its management comes directly under the Municipal Corporation. However, in this case, the pavements have been constructed by the PWD after taking the NOC from the Forest Department. The dividers on the roads are also under the authority of the Municipal Corporations and it can grow plantation for the beautification of the road.

District Forest Officer (DFO) Kannan said, “The chief secretary of the High Court has directed that the actions against encroachments can be taken jointly by the municipal corporations and the PWD. Till the area on the sides of the road is without any construction, it comes under the ownership of the Forest Department. However, its responsibility is shifted to the MC in case any construction is done on the road.”

Bathinda, November 10
In protest against the non-issuance of notification regarding the already accepted demands of the medical laboratory technicians by the CM, the Medical Laboratory Technicians Association (Punjab) has decided to paralyse the emergency services in the government hospitals and health centres for 24 hours on November 14.

District general secretary of the Association Resham Singh Jalal said, "If the state government does not issue notification even after the 24-hour strike, their strike would continue till September 17. On November 18, the laboratory technicians would take mass casual leave to participate in a state-level dharna to be held outside the office of the Director, Health Services, Punjab, at Chandigarh on the same day. — TNS