Bathinda, September 10
After the hullabaloo over the ill effects of radiation emanating from mobile phone towers, while the Department of Telecom (DoT) claimed to have implemented a new policy regulating electromagnetic radiation from September 1, no such effort is evident in this part of Punjab that already has a high incidence of a disease like cancer.

The new policy of the DoT envisaged reducing the amount of radiation from the mobile towers to 1/10th of their previous level. But efforts aimed at reducing the level of radiation from the mobile towers are yet to be seen in Bathinda.

While there is no official study about the high radiation created by the field mobile towers, most people living in the vicinity of the clusters of mobile towers are also unaware of the radio frequency (RF) radiation they are exposed to.

While impaired motor function, reaction time and memory, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, insomnia are among the most common symptoms experienced among those living near the cluster of mobile phone towers, it is the pregnant women and young children who are more prone to the adverse effects of such radiation, said Dr Amar Singh Azad, a senior paediatrician.

But these days, the cluster of mobile towers is erected not only in the residential areas but also close to the hospitals and maternity homes, thus pushing the newly-born children into a high-risk zone.

A radiation measurement in some areas where there is cluster of two to three mobile towers, erected in close vicinity, is quite high.

On Mall Road in Bathinda, two mobile towers were erected in close vicinity of three hospitals. Besides the patients in these hospitals, there are thousands of others who live within a 100 feet distance from these towers and keep absorbing the high radiation round-the clock.

Children should be kept at a distance from the cell phones, say doctors. But besides making high use of mobiles for chatting, playing games, music and sending SMSs, many children sleep with the mobile phones beneath their pillows, not realizing the health hazards, said Dr SG Kabra, a senior epidemiologist.

It is common to see mobile towers mounted on the rooftop of residential and commercial buildings. As per the records of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation, the town has 136 mobile towers and many of these are in thickly populated areas. The mobile companies erect the mobile towers in such a way that mobile phones are able to transmit and receive enough signal for proper communication up to a few kilometers.

Bathinda, September 10
Experts in agriculture have advised the farmers not to spray unnecessary agro chemicals on the paddy and cotton crops these days. The two crops are under attack from various insects and pests.

Experts at the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) Extension Counter, Bathinda, said farmers have been told to refrain from the unnecessary use of chemicals on their standing cotton and paddy crops as it will add to their financial burden and will be of little help to the crops.

While the cotton crop has been under attack from the tobacco caterpillar, the paddy crop is being infected by the rice stem borer in Bathinda district.

Experts said farmers have been making enquiries about the use of chemicals on their crops.

Dr Amarjeet Sandhu of the PAU extension counter said the moth leaf folder on paddy crop is found in abundance these days and farmers have been making rounds of the market to purchase some agro chemical or the other.

"Actually, there is no need to spray any chemical as the moth is the grown up stage of the leaf folder which does not harm the paddy crop at this stage," Sandhu said. He said the leaf folder bug is the early stage of the moth which affects the paddy plants by eating its leaves and affects the per acre yield.

Dr Jatinder Brar, in-charge of Farm Advisory Service Scheme (FASS), said in a release that the tobacco caterpillar has also affected some crops in the area. The common varieties, hybrids and BT cotton (boll guard-1) do not provide protection against the tobacco caterpillar. The insect may cause severe damage to the cotton crop in September if it is not controlled on time. The larvae of the insect makes holes in the leaves which affects the per acre yield of the cotton crop. Farmers have been advised to use Larvin 250 G, or Rimon 150 ml, Sumipleo 300 ml or Coragen 60 ml per acre after seeking the advice of the experts.

Brar said bacterial blight is also affecting the cotton crop and its symptoms are lesions on the leaves appearing as minute water soaked angular spots which subsequently turn brown and then transform into black angular dead lesions on both sides of the leaf.

The bacterium also infects the young developing bolls of the cotton and causes small round water soaked spots in the centre.

For control of the disease, experts prescribe the use of Blitox, Agrimycin and Streptocycline in consultation with the experts. Spraying the chemicals twice or thrice a day will suffice, said Brar.

In paddy, Brar said the rice stem borer is affecting the crop. The larvae of these insects bore into the stem and cause damage to the crop. The affected young plants show dead hearts (yellowing and drying of central shoot) whereas the old ones produce empty ear heads which turn white and stand erect.

For control of this disease, experts say the crop should be sprayed with 350 ml Sutathion or 560 ml of Monocil or one litre of Coroban/Dursban in 100 litres of water per acre. These insecticides may also be used to control the rice leaf folder, he said.

Bathinda, September 10
Barring the police and the health departments, no other department has informed the authorities concerned about the challans issued to the violators of laws like the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules - 2008 and the Tobacco Control Act during the month of August in Bathinda.

The district health authorities have no knowledge whether any other department has issued challans as 24 departments from the district have not reported about it so far.

Assistant nodal officer for Tobacco Control Act, Bathinda, Dr Ashok Monga said they issued 62 challan books to 26 departments for penalizing those found smoking at public places like bus stand, office premises, railway station, parks, hospital complexes etc. However, barring two departments, no other department reported to them about the issuance of challans during August, he added.

Dr Monga, however, appreciated Hakam Singh, a sub-inspector, posted at Raman Mandi, for doing a commendable job. He said a majority of the challans issued by the policemen to the violators, had been issued by Hakam Singh.

Dr Monga also said smoking in public places had been banned from October 2, 2008 after the introduction of Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules - 2008.

During the month of August, the police and the health officials had issued 115 challans, of which 97 were issued by the police officials. An amount of Rs 16,255 was collected as fine from the 115 violators of the Rules for smoking in public places. Of this amount, the policemen collected Rs 15,650 as fine from 97 violators.

It may be mentioned that from January to August 2012, as many as 329 challans were issued in the district, of which 115 were issued in August alone. During the first eight months of the year, the authorities collected Rs 30,550 as fine including 16,255 in August alone.

Bathinda, September 10
Bathinda, once called a city of sand dunes, is emerging as a favourite tourist spot, not only for the locals but also for the residents of surrounding towns like Gidderbaha, Malout, Abohar, Muktsar and Kotkapura.

The magnificent view of the thermal lakes on the outskirts of the city and the shopping malls, their eating joints, multiplexes, Chetak Park, water park, Rose Garden and the Qila Mubarak, attract a large number of people everyday to the city.

A visit to these places, especially on weekend, highlights the fact that the residents of nearby towns are getting attracted to the shikara ride, water scooters and the recently opened mall opposite the lakes.

Parents were seen walking on the lake side holding the hands of their little ones and enjoying the scenic beauty.

A newly-wed couple from Malout, who was found savouring Chinese food at an eating joint near the lake, said, "Watching the sunset in the lake is a lovely experience. Many a time, we come here to enjoy the moment. It makes the atmosphere romantic."

Similarly, a visitor from Muktsar, Amit Khunger said, "I love this place and since the lakes have been developed into a tourist spot, I along with my friends come here every Sunday. After a hectic week, it feels great to enjoy a ride in a boat."

"First, we go to a multiplex to watch a movie and then spend some time here to relax the body and the mind," he said.

Many others hailing from the nearby towns said there was no other town like Bathinda in the region, where they can go and spend their free time to relax. Apart from the lakes, the water park and Chetak Park located on the Chandigarh road, also attract a number of visitors.

Similarly, Dhobi Bazaar and Mall Road also attract shoppers from the nearby towns, where they come and buy apparels and other articles of their choice.

As per the reports, witnessing the increasing footfall of visitors in the city for recreational purposes, a number of multi-national companies are all set to arrive with their ventures to tap the consumer potential that this city presents.

Bathinda, September 10
Protesting against the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned to look into their demands and problems, more than 300 garbage collectors in the city today went on strike. Garbage was seen littered near the Gol Diggi due to the absence of garbage collectors.

The daily wagers raised their voice against the attitude of officials of the company that had hired their services. They announced to continue the strike in view of their pending demands and unresolved issues. They staged a protest outside the office of the Mayor and the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB). The workers, however, denied to have littered garbage near the Gol Diggi. They said the garbage dumping vehicle of the MCB failed to find a space to dump the garbage and it got littered around the road.

Though assistant commissioner Kamal Kant Goyal held a meeting with the workers but the protesters refused to budge and announced to carry on with their protest.

Ram Babu, one of the protesters, said some of their demands were met during the meeting but workers were yet not clear whether their company would issue ESI (Employees State Insurance) cards to them, increase their daily wage from Rs 165 to Rs 200 and provide them with proper identity cards or appointment letters.

The protesting workers said the demand of four weekly offs in a month was met but some demands were still pending.

"Some of the workers agreed to get back to work but others are still reluctant," Ram Babu said. He said they were working under the company for the past 10 months but still promises made during the initial days were not fulfilled.

The workers also demanded that the expenses incurred on repair of their rehris should be recompensed.

The workers said there was no provision for medical treatment of workers who fall sick while working and so far, nothing has been done to provide them with shoes, gloves uniform and other basic amenities.

The workers said they have given a week's ultimatum to the authorities concerned to fulfill their demands. Otherwise, they would intensify their agitation.

Bathinda, September 10
The police has booked a resident of Tarn Taran district for raping and cheating a girl residing in Arya Nagar here.

In her complaint to the police, the girl alleged that Gurbhoj Singh of Bhikhiwind in Tarn Taran district raped her at a place in Nai Basti over the pretext of marrying her.

The girl accused the boy of keeping her at the place from April 24, 2012, to April 26, 2012.

Bathinda, September 10
An extension lecture was organised for the students of BEd and MEd at the Dasmesh Girls College of Education, Badal, here today.

Renowned educationist Dr Dev Raj Vij, who was the resource person on the occasion, delivered an inspirational lecture. He interacted with the students and teachers and held them spellbound with his recital of Urdu couplets. He inspired the students to be true to themselves and exhorted them to be good, dedicated and sincere.

Principal Dr SS Sangha along with his the staff members thanked and honoured Dr Vij.

Bathinda, September 10
The Baba Farid Group of Institutions (BFGI) dedicated the year 2012 to "Live green: Step towards better living". Under the movement, more than 250 schools were covered making students aware of social evils and the importance of environmental conservation. The BFGI has now started its social awareness campaign by planting a tree in the Bharat Nagar area.

BFGI chairman Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal said the campaign not only focused on promoting greenery and increasing plantation but also on adopting nature-friendly practices like conservation and making wise use of natural resources.

As many as 400 units comprising the students and the staff of the BFGI have been formed that would plant trees in their surrounding areas.

Bharat Nagar Welfare Society president Sushil Goyal, Vatavaran Chetna Manch president JD Goyal, Patel Nagar Welfare Society president Gurcharan Singh and local residents appreciated the initiative.

The municipal councillor from Bharat Nagar, Iqbal Singh Dhillon, thanked the BFGI dignitaries and assured them of cooperation required for the ecological cause.