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J A L A N D H A R E D I T I O N

Wildlife Warden Firing Case
Week on, no FIR lodged
Hoshiarpur, December 18
Large scale poaching in Mehngrowal forest in the home district of Arunesh Shakir, Punjab Forest Minister, came to limelight last week when unidentified poachers fired gunshots at a team of wildlife employees.

Nature lovers: Bridge on Beas will endanger dolphins
Tarn Taran, December 18
A nature lovers group of the district ‘Prem Sena’ has called the idea of constructing a bridge over the Beas as a death blow to the dolphins living in the river. The proposed bridge is to be build over Beas from Karmuwal village, Tarn Taran, to Kabirpur village, Kapurthala.

13-yr-old boy kills self
Tarn Taran, December 18
A 13-year-old boy, Angrej Singh, resident of Jandoke village, died on Saturday after consuming poison.

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	Poachers fire at wildlife team in Mehngrowal December 12, 2011
	Poachers fire at wildlife team in Mehngrowal December 12, 2011
	Jumbo controversy: Experts conduct DNA test on circus elephant December 11, 2011
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	CM lays two stones for bridge over Beas December 9, 2011

	Wildlife Warden Firing Case Week on, no FIR lodged Tribune News Service Hoshiarpur, December 18 Large scale poaching in Mehngrowal forest in the home district of Arunesh Shakir, Punjab Forest Minister, came to limelight last week when unidentified poachers fired gunshots at a team of wildlife employees. Wildlife Warden Gurwinder Singh and forest guards Harjinder Singh and Rajpal Singh were injured when they tried to intercept the poachers. Even after a week, the wildlife department and the police seem to be in a deep slumber. The police has not registered first information report (FIR) and has failed to make any breakthrough in the case. The warden made written complaints to DIG, IG (Jalandhar Zone), Deputy Commissioner, SSP, chief wildlife warden and the forest minister Arunesh Shakir. The SSP, however, marked the complaint to the DSP (city) but nothing has been done in this regard as yet. Divisional Forest Officer (wildlife) Satnam Singh was not available for comments. The attitude of the authorities has not only discouraged the wildlife lovers, who voluntarily come forward for conservation of wild animals and birds across the state, but also created an atmosphere of insecurity among the existing employees of the department.
	Nature lovers: Bridge on Beas will endanger dolphins Gurbaxpuri Tarn Taran, December 18 A nature lovers group of the district ‘Prem Sena’ has called the idea of constructing a bridge over the Beas as a death blow to the dolphins living in the river. The proposed bridge is to be build over Beas from Karmuwal village, Tarn Taran, to Kabirpur village, Kapurthala. Dr Sunny Sandhu, an MBBS from AIIMS and head of the group, said dolphins would be harmed severely during the construction of the bridge. Construction of the bridge would lead to noise pollution that was bound to affect the dolphins and the environment. Dr Sandhu said last years seismic testing of the Bramhputra basin by an oil companies was deferred after an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) stated it to be harmful. The main reason was noise pollution that would adversely affect the river dolphins. He said in a study conducted by the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) it was observed that even a pontoon bridge was harmful to river dolphins. An EIA of this bridge was essential in lieu of the rarity of river dolphins. A total population of 30 river dolphins had been mapped in the Beas, he said. There were only four dolphins in the Karmowall village in Tarn Taran district as noted by Prem Sena during its last field visit. Dr Sandhu said as per the government should promote ecotourism, research and conservation projects in the area. The way forward for the Tarn Taran district was to work towards ecotourism and natural education activities.
	13-yr-old boy kills self Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 18 A 13-year-old boy, Angrej Singh, resident of Jandoke village, died on Saturday after consuming poison. The father of the deceased, Pargat Singh, died about six years back. Angrej Singh’s mother, Manjinder Kaur (37), returned to her parental village, Jatta, after her husband’s death. Angrej Singh’s paternal grandmother, Piar Kaur, was looking after him in Jandoke village so long. A few days back Manjinder Kaur brought her son to Jatta to live with her. Angrej allegedly consumed some poison there. He was soon admitted to a private hospital where he breathed his last. Piar Kaur in her statement to the police alleged that her daughter-in-law gave poison to Angrej. The police said postmortem was conducted at the local Civil Hospital today and viscera have been sent for medically examination.
	Lab technicians to resume work Phagwara, December 18 People will heave a sigh of relief, when 1,250 lab technicians belonging to the Punjab State Medical Laboratory Technicians Association, who were on mass casual leave till today, will resume their normal work from Monday. This was confirmed by Association state press secretary Jhirmal Singh Bhinder while talking to newsmen here today. He said the protesters will organise a state-level rally in Giddarwaha on December 25 in support of their long pending demands. He alleged that government is ignoring their agitation and not fulfilling their promises made by the Chief Minister. — OC
	50 organisations form Samaj Bachao Morcha Our Correspondent Phagwara, December 18 More than 50 social organisations of the state have formed ‘Environment and Samaj Bachao Morcha’ to make the political parties answerable to society about their initiatives to save environment. ESBM aims to provide a pollution free environment. A core committee of 31 members was constituted for smooth functioning of the ESBM in its first state-level meeting held at Amritsar. Environmentalist Gurmit Palahai, an active member of the Core Committee of Samaj Bachao Morcha, while talking to newsmen here today said that the ESBM will approach Akali stalwarts Parkash Singh Badal and Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee President Captain Amarinder Singh to include their these two core issues in their respective election manifestos. Palahai said the ESBM will organise six ‘Save Environment Conferences’. The first conference will be organised in Jalandhar on January 7, then in Bhatinda on January 15, Mohali on January 22, Ludhiana on January 25, Patiala on January 29 and in Amritsar on January 31. The conference will urge people to come forward to force the politicians to work for the environment.