Bathinda, December 3
City is facing an acute shortage of LPG cylinders.

Owing to the use of domestic cylinder for running gas geysers and domestic supply being misused for commercial purposes, consumers in the city have to wait for days together to get their LPG cylinders refilled.

Sources said gas agencies had registered a backlog of 15 to 20 days giving sleepless nights to the consumers. Braving odds and chill, consumers queue up at the depots of gas agencies early in the morning to get their cylinders refilled.

"Consumers of the BPCL and HPCL are the major suffferers. Since HPCL mainly deals with commercial supplies, its domestic supply gets affected," said one of the gas agency owners in city.

In Bathinda city, around 60 per cent connections are under the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which is known to have a LPG supply backlog of four to five days.

"Most of the consumers in the city have multiple gas connections. Since the HPCL and the BPCL do not have regularised supply, the entire burden shifts on the IOC, which disrupts the LPG supply," added another gas agency owner.

One of the gas agencies in the city is reportedly indulging in gas cylinder diversion. The agency sells domestic cylinders even to the commercial consumers at "slightly" higher prices. While the domestic cylinder is sold at the subsidised rate of Rs 420, the cost of commercial cylinder is around Rs 1364. "This is clear violation of the market disciplinary guidance laws," said the IOC officials.

Meanwhile, domestic cylinders are also being openly used at commercial establishments like roadside dhabas, restaurants and hotels. A renowned motorcycle manufacturer has even specially designed one of its vehicles for milkmen. These vehicles run on cylinders weighing two kg.

"Though the oil companies do not allow refilling of two-kg cylinders, these are available in the market. The need of the hour is not only to combat the shortage of LPG supply at the level of oil companies. Even the government has to keep a check on the misuse of LPG cylinders. For instance, while the use of LPG to run geysers is not allowed, the market is flooded with LPG-run geysers. Why doesn't the government ban the manufacturing of such geysers when the genuine consumer is suffering," asked a LPG consumer Jagjit Singh of the Bibiwala road.

Not only motorcycles, domestic cylinders are also being used to run cars in violation of the Motor Vehicle Act.

Sources said since elections were around, the police as well as gas agencies had been asked to "adjust" and should not stop anyone from using domestic cylinders for commercial purposes.

Manager of the IOC (Bathinda zone) and the district coordinator of oil companies, Suresh Kumar Sharma said the IOC had been conducting random checking of its own gas agencies and have found things in place.

District Food and Supply Controller (DFSC) Gulbahar Singh said the officials of his department were busy with paddy procurement season.

"We have just got free and from the next week onwards, we will start conducting surprise raids to check the misuse of domestic supply of LPG," he added.

Bathinda, December 3
The district education department has sought utility certificates from the Red Ribbon Clubs working in government school under adolescence education programme.

In a letter issued to 150 government schools of the district, the utilisation details of funds allotted under the programme to these schools have been sought. For the year 2009-10, 50 schools have been asked to submit these details, while for the year 2010-11, details have been sought from the 100 government schools in this district.

The adolescence education programme runs in government schools to impart adolescent education to the students of classes IX to XII. Red Ribbon Clubs formulated in these schools help the students discuss their adolescent problems with the teachers designated as nodal officers in each school. A male and a female teacher is designated as the nodal officer in order to deal with the problems of male and female students, respectively.

Earlier, these schools were given grants amounting to Rs 1,500. These grants were given to hold various activities under these clubs that included debates, declamation contests, photo exhibitions, drama, writing competitions, rallies, quiz, role plays etc.

Schools have been directed to submit their utility certificates along with the cuttings of newspapers highlighting respective activities to the office of district science supervisor by December 12. Schools could also collect the new grants as cheques.

"We would be given a cheque of Rs 500 as grant. Instead of giving such a small amount as cheque, we should have been given cash. The village schools have accounts in the banks at their respective villages. While getting the cheque encashed, Rs 35 are deducted as a transaction charge, which becomes difficult to be mentioned in the utility certificates," said one of the teachers at a government school.

Other teachers pointed out that it was not possible for all school's report to be carried in the newspapers. "On one day, many schools hold same kind of function and it is impossible for all the schools' functions to find place in newspapers," said a teacher adding that newspaper cuttings substantiated that event was held in the school.

Some of the schools claimed that they had already submitted these utility certificates.

"Since we cannot produce these certificates again, we would write to department stating that grant given has been used for the purpose it was meant for," added another teacher.

Bathinda, December 3
The malls in the city have become favourite places for the vehicle lifters as a large number of vehicles are being stolen from outside these malls.

Police officials, admitting the rise in number of theft cases, said that lack of parking space, security arrangements and hefty charges by the parking contractors led to the rise in the theft incidents.

Kuldip Pandey, a cashier-cum-security guard of a Mall on the Goniana road said that vehicles were stolen from outside the Mall everyday.

"I joined around eight months ago and since then 150 to 200 motorbikes and 20 to 25 cars have been stolen from the parking area," he said.

He added that in a bid to save Rs 20 (for car) and Rs 10 (for bike) people park their vehicles without taking the slip from the parking contractor. "Despite our repeated requests customers refuse to accept the slip in lieu of parking vehicles," Pandey added.

Rohit Bansal, a resident of Bhagu road said that his bike was stolen from outside a Mall near Haji Rattan, last weekend. He pointed out that he had parked his bike only for few minutes and even then somebody took away his bike.

Kotwali SHO Jagdeesh Lal admitted that large number of vehicles were stolen from outside the Malls. He said that four persons who were arrested by him, few days ago, confessed about stealing bikes from outside the Malls.

He also said that people should purchase ticket in lieu of parking their vehicles or else it was sure to be lifted by the thieves who have become quite active these days despite continuous patrolling in the area.

Bathinda, December 3
The World Disabled Day was observed at the Mahant Gurbanta Dass School for Deaf and Dumb situated on the Bathinda-Goniana road here today. A programme was organised to mark the day in which Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Bathinda, Dr Abhinav Trikha was the chief guest while the executive manager of the Pearls Group, Avtar Singh Samagh, was a special guest. Over 180 students of the school took part in the programme.

ADC (D) Dr Trikha lauded the achievements of the school and appreciated the Rangoli, made by the school students. The students also presented a cultural programme.

The chief guest gave away fruits and dry fruits to the special children. He also distributed tricycles among needy disabled persons.

The special children, who got first two positions in the Rangoli competition and the children who participated in the cultural programme were honoured with mementoes.

Chairman of the National Handicapped Welfare Council Gulzari Lal Sharma explained to the chief guest the problems that are being faced by disabled persons. On this, the chief guest assured him that all the problems would be resolved.

Secretary of the District Red Cross Society JR Goyal spoke about the importance of the World Disabled Day. He said everyone should come forward to help the disabled persons.

Among those who participated in the programme today included Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Vinod Garg, staff of the school and some disabled persons.

Principal of the school Maninder Kaur Bhalla proposed the vote of thanks. The school is being run by the District Red Cross Society.

Bathinda, December 3
On the call of the state unit of the Multi-purpose Health Employees Union, members of the district unit of the union under the leadership of district president Gagandeep Singh today staged a dharna and held a rally in front of the Blood Bank at the Civil Hospital here.

In this dharna and rally, male and female multi-purpose health workers and supervisors took part for three hours from 11-00 am to 2-00 pm.

Later, a deputation of 10 members of the union went to the office of the area in-charge of the SAD for Bathinda (Urban) Assembly constituency Sarup Chand Singla here to hand over the memorandum to him for forwarding it to the state government. However, Singla was not available in the office, so they gave it to the office in- charge of Singla. Gagandeep said they would now meet Singla tomorrow to urge him to present their case before the state government. They were demanding hike in the grade pay of the multipurpose health workers and the supervisors. They said at present the multipurpose health workers were getting Rs 2400 as grade pay while their demand is Rs 3600.

Likewise, they were demanding Rs 4600 as grade pay, in place of existing Rs 3200, for the multipurpose health supervisors

Their other demands include hike in the medical allowance from Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per month, hike in the annual increment from three per cent to seven per cent, regular salaries to the health workers getting salaries under 2211 Head of the Health Department, regularisation of contract employees.

They were also demanding that the posts of block extension educator in the Health Department should be filled through promotions in place of direct recruitment.

The dharna was addressed among others by district president Gagandeep Singh, general secretary Karamjit Singh finance secretary Jaswinder Sharma, press secretary Rajwinder Singh, Gurnam Kaur and Rani Devi. 

Bathinda, December 3
The China made ‘sub-standard’ string used for flying kites is in great demand in the market. However, it can pose harm to its users, particluarly children.

As per the information available, many people have suffered serious injuries due to the use of the Chinese strings being used to fly kites.

A visit to the shops selling China made strings revealed that these strings are in great demand.

“Apart from the Indian made strings, the China made is also in demand which costs Rs 60 per piece as compared to the Indian made string, which starts from Rs 80 and its price goes up to Rs 150,” said a shopkeeper near Gol Diggi.

On being asked about he dangers to the commuters especially the bike and bicycle riders, the shopkeeper said they cannot do anything as customers demand the China dor (string used to fly kites).

The China made string is made of plastic, which is stronger than the Indian made strings.

Amit Saxena, a resident of Power House road said that there have been many incidences when people have sustained cuts around their neck, nose, lips and even eyes.

Besides, many birds have also become victims of the China made strings, he added.

The residents of the area including Jeet Singh, Amit Saxena, Rahul Brar, Manwinder Sekhon, Joginder Singh, Inderjit Kaur and Ram Piyari have demanded immediate ban on the sale of the China made strings as it poses serious threat to the people and particularly kids.

Bathinda, December 3
A meeting of the government teachers was held under the Educational Satellite (Edusat) programme of the Education Department today.

In-charge of 25 each Satellite Interacting Terminals (SITs) and Receive Only Terminals (ROT) were imparted information about the equipment installed in their respective schools.

The meeting was conducted at the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School Mall Road, wherein the Edusat supervisor told teachers about the equipment available at respective centers. The Edusat centers are being run in 50 senior secondary schools of the district. It is meant for imparting lectures to the students from classes ninth to plus two about various aspects of their syllabus. The lessons are relayed from the Edusat Studio situated at the office of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) at the SAS Nagar. All the centers have been provided with the science lab assistants (SLAs), who operate these equipment while the in-charges are teachers, who have volunteered themselves for supervising the works.

In-charges were informed about the ways to look for the information of equipment received and importance of tabulating the entire data. The edusat had been launched by the ISRO to facilitate education at the national-level.

Besides, educating students, the edusat is also utilised for teachers’ training programme.

It supplements the curriculum based teaching training, provides greater community participation, increases access, strengthens education efforts and provide access to new technologies.

Bathinda, December 3
Four people including two women have been booked by the police for looting a resident of Lal Singh Basti.

In his complaint to the police, Jagjit Singh said that he helped two women by offering them lift on a bike while he was going towards Udham Singh Nagar.

The complainant alleged that the women looted him of Rs 15,000 besides a mobile phone with the help of two other men.

The accused have been identified as Karamjit Kaur of Kotkapura, Meeti, a resident of Bathinda, Angrez Singh and Bhola Singh of Ratia.

A case in this connection has been registered against the accused. However, no arrests have been made in this regard so far. Probe is on in the matter.

Some valuable items worth more than Rs 25,000 were stolen from the house of Purshottam Singh on the Bhagu road.

In his complaint to the police, Purshottam stated, “I reside alone in the house. I had gone to meet my daughter in Delhi. One of my neighbours called me up and apprised me of the theft.”

As per the details, the valuable items stiolen from his residence include a cash of Rs 2,500, a colour television, two LPG cylinders, clothes and electronics goods.

A case in this connection has been registered at the Civil Lines Police station on the complaint of Purshottam Singh . Investigation is in progress in the case.

Bathinda, December 3
A motorcyclist received serious injuries after a vehicle hit him near the Hanuman Chowk here today.

One of the legs of Amarjit Singh (58) of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar was badly injured in the mishap and he was shifted to the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital by volunteers of the Sahara Life Saving Brigade.

In another mishap, a senior citizen sustained injuries when a car hit the scooter he was riding upon on the Bhatti Road here today. The injured has been identified as 65-year-old Balvir Kumar. Receiving the information about the accident, volunteers of the Sahara Life Saving Brigade reached the spot and rushed the injured to a hospital. — TNS