B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Water supply in canal to be suspended
Abohar, November 29
Supply of water in the Gang (Bikaner) canal that originates at Ferozepur head works will remain suspended for 40 days. The Regulation Committee took the decision at a meeting held at Sriganganagar today.

Now EGS-ETT teachers pitch tents in Gidderbaha 
Gidderbaha, November 29
Two days after the ETT teachers and the Guest Faculty Lecturers (GFL) disrupted the normal life in Gidderbaha by staging state-level protest marches and the lecturers started their indefinite dharna in the center of town, today it was Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS)-ETT teachers who assembled in Gidderbaha from all across the state to start their agitation.
Teachers holding a candlelight protest march in Buttar Bakhuha village of Gidderbaha on Tuesday evening. A Tribune photograph

Retail traders fight a lonely battle against FDI 
Faridkot, November 29
While the row over FDI in retail continued to disrupt the functioning of parliament but despite the impending assembly polls in Punjab, the issue is not seems to be caught in competitive populism.

Water supply in canal to be suspended
Our Correspondent

Abohar, November 29
Supply of water in the Gang (Bikaner) canal that originates at Ferozepur head works will remain suspended for 40 days.

The Regulation Committee took the decision at a meeting held at Sriganganagar today.

Water Resources department, superintending engineer (SE), Amarjit Mehrada confirmed that the meeting presided over by District Collector Ambrish Kumar recommended that the canal should remain closed from April 1 to May 10, 2012 to take up long-awaited lining and renovation work besides construction of 8 head works.

Rs 24 crore had been earmarked for construction of head works. To compensate the farmers, additional water supply from Ferozepur head works will be arranged for three weeks preceding the closure and after completing the renovation work.

After reviewing the experience, it was decided that no work be allotted to small contractors, as they did not have adequate infrastructure. Big contractors will be allotted at least 2-km length work. The process for tenders must be completed by end of March to ensure that work, on war footings, is started by April 1, 2012.

Agriculture marketing minister Gurmeet Singh Kunnar said all ranks of engineers from other districts will be shifted temporarily to Sriganganagar for six weeks to monitor the work.

Now EGS-ETT teachers pitch tents in Gidderbaha 
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Gidderbaha, November 29
Two days after the ETT teachers and the Guest Faculty Lecturers (GFL) disrupted the normal life in Gidderbaha by staging state-level protest marches and the lecturers started their indefinite dharna in the center of town, today it was Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS)-ETT teachers who assembled in Gidderbaha from all across the state to start their agitation.

Gidderbaha is emerging as a new venue for the disgruntled unions to stage rallies against the state government.

While the GFL have already pitched up their tents in front of the judicial courts in Gidderbaha, starting their chain-hunger strike, today it was EGS-ETT teachers who also staged a massive protest march in the streets of Gidderbaha, organised a protest dharna in the cotton market in the town and then joined the GFL, erecting a separate tent.

The EGS-ETT teacher gave one-week ultimatum to the state government to concede their demand of appointing them as ETT teachers or they would start intensive campaign against the SAD(B) in the upcoming elections.

Pritpal Singh, the state president of EGS-ETT teachers said after the closure of EGS Centers in Punjab, the state government had promised us to appoint as a regular teacher if we complete our Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) courses. Though 3,000 teachers completed their ETT courses but they were not given appointment, he said.

On the other hand, the Guest Faculty Lecturers have already started the campaigning against the SAD(B) in Gidderbaha villages, holding meetings and taking out protest marches. On Monday evening, the lectures organized a protest march in Husnar village and today they reached Buttar Bakhuha village for similar protest.

The lecturers are demanding increase in their salaries. “Though we have matching qualification to the permanent teachers in colleges but our annual average salary is just Rs 4,500 per month and the salary package of the permanent teachers is up to Rs 90,000 per month,” alleged the lectures.

Retail traders fight a lonely battle against FDI 
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, November 29
While the row over FDI in retail continued to disrupt the functioning of parliament but despite the impending assembly polls in Punjab, the issue is not seems to be caught in competitive populism.

While 25 small-scale trade unions in Punjab are strongly opposing the FDI in retail sector and have given a call to observe a complete bandh on December 1, the Congress and SAD(B) are preferring to be in silent mode on FDI in Punjab.

As it is the Congress led UPA’s decision to allow foreign equity in retail, so the Congress leaders in Punjab prefer not to make any comment on FDI. But as SAD(B) has also supported the Center's move, saying the initiative would offer big benefits to the farmers and the PPP is still weighing the ‘pros and cons’ of FDI in multi-brand retail, it is only the SAD(B)'s alliance partner BJP and PPP's alliance partner left parties in Punjab which are advocating protectionisms. But BJP's protectionism is also of very low pitch.

Though the BJP local leaders are supporting the small traders and retailers but they are avoiding any vocal criticism of the SAD(B) or the Congress on the FDI in retail.

On Tuesday, when Chamber of Commerce and Industries, a union based on 25 small scale traders, in Kotkapura town of Faridkot convened a meeting and gave a bandh call for December 1 for all trades, the BJP leaders supported the move but they were non-committal on the stand taken by the SAD(B).

Parveen Gupta, Faridkot District BJP president said the party will leave nothing unturned to make December 1 bandh a complete success. About SAD(B) supporting the FDI, Gupta said on some points there could be differences of opinion among alliance partners.