B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Ghudda farmers fume as CUP blocks water channel
Ghudda(Bathinda), March 22
A number of farmers of this village have been left high and dry after the Central University of Punjab (CUP) authorities blocked a water channel, which was the only source of canal water for the farmers. The university building is under construction after acquiring nearly 500 acres of agricultural land through which the channel passed.

Sukhbir takes a dig at Cong’s mock Assembly
Budhlada, March 22
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the staging of mock assembly by the Congress legislators was an outcome of their frustration following their humiliating defeat in the Moga byelection and senior partymen deserting to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Special trains on martyrdom day
Phagwara, March 22
The Railways will ply over 10 special trains between Ferozepur and Hussainiwala on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on March 23.

Jain appears before court
Faridkot, March 22
A week after the judicial magistrate, Faridkot, issued the arrest warrants for his wife, two sons and daughter in a criminal case, Moga MLA Joginder Pal Jain appeared before the court in Faridkot today.

Kin booked for killing 12-year-old girl
Barnala, March 22
The Barnala Sadar police today registered a case against Ajaib Singh, a resident of Nangal village, under the IPC for allegedly “murdering” a 12-year-old girl Gurpreet Kaur.

 Ghudda farmers fume as CUP blocks water channel
Jupinderjit Singh/TNS

Ghudda(Bathinda), March 22
A number of farmers of this village have been left high and dry after the Central University of Punjab (CUP) authorities blocked a water channel, which was the only source of canal water for the farmers. The university building is under construction after acquiring nearly 500 acres of agricultural land through which the channel passed.

A farmer shows the blocked water channel at Ghudda village. A Tribune photograph

Though the state irrigation department has not approved of the blocking of the water channel in writing, it is contemplating providing an alternate channel to the farmers to settle the dispute amicably. However, as the construction of the channel is dependent on funds and the availability of land, it seems the farmers will have to spend thousands of rupees on boring tubewells.

Farmers allege the university authorities and the irrigation department were not even willing to listen to their grievances.

Karmajit Singh, an affected farmer, said nearly 12 acres of agricultural land were directly affected by the blocking of the water channel, "We were told during the acquisition of our land that the irrigation department would provide us with an alternate route. Till then, water would be provided through the channel. Though the land was acquired three years ago and the construction of the boundary wall began soon thereafter, the flow of water has been blocked only this year."

The university authorities were not available for their comments despite repeated attempts. Executive Engineer, Irrigation, RK Garg said the university has sought water supply but he wasn't aware that the water channel had been blocked. “The university owns the land now. We are looking into the possibility of providing an alternate water channel for the farmers subject to the availability of land,” he said.

The farmers are not much hopeful. "The officials make such statements to the media but in reality, we are not getting water. We are spending money from our own pockets by boring tubewells. Everyone is familiar with the condition of the groundwater in the region,” said Karamjit Singh.

Interestingly, a spokesman for the university said the water supply from the channel had not been blocked, "As per the land given to us by the government, we have constructed our boundary wall. We are no one to block the flow of water."

However, the boundary wall has clearly blocked the channel as revealed by a visit to the spot. Also, the channel with the premises has been broken and levelled near the wall.

 Sukhbir takes a dig at Cong’s mock Assembly
SP Sharma
Tribune News Service

Budhlada, March 22
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the staging of mock assembly by the Congress legislators was an outcome of their frustration following their humiliating defeat in the Moga byelection and senior partymen deserting to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Sukhbir, who was here to initiate several development projects in Mansa district, said the Congress was not interested in taking up the genuine grievances of the people on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha and was therefore staging a mock assembly outside.

He said the Congress was holding mock assembly now and after the Lok Sabha elections next year, they will organise mock Parliament sessions as the Congress will be wiped out because of its anti-people policies.

Sukhbir criticised the Congress-led UPA Government for misusing the CBI against its allies to keep its flock together and said such dirty tricks by the ruling party has reinforced the demand of the people to give total autonomy to the CBI.

After inaugurating the Rs 30 crore railway over bridge (ROB) and laying foundation stone of the Sadar police station, Sukhbir said the UPA was using a carrot and stick policy to force Mulayam and Maya to continue their support to the UPA.

He said the Punjab government was seized of the problems being faced by the people in the registration of properties in certain areas. The matter would be settled once the government introduces in the assembly a bill on Monday to regularize the illegal colonies.

Earlier, addressing a gathering at the local grain market, Sukhbir pointed out that in the budget, the SAD-BJP government had focused on the development of the poor and underprivileged sections of society by launching unique health insurance scheme besides ensuring quality education for poor children and girls opting for professional courses.

He said a Rs 9,000 crore plan had already been launched to provide world class civic infrastructure in the urban areas of the state in the next three years. He said the state government has also decided to set up PUDA colonies in each city of the state to showcase its urban development model.

  Special trains on martyrdom day

Phagwara, March 22
The Railways will ply over 10 special trains between Ferozepur and Hussainiwala on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on March 23.

The trains would facilitate convenient travel to people who want to pay tributes to the trio at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Hussainiwala, officials said. — TNS

Jain appears before court

Faridkot, March 22
A week after the judicial magistrate, Faridkot, issued the arrest warrants for his wife, two sons and daughter in a criminal case, Moga MLA Joginder Pal Jain appeared before the court in Faridkot today.

While the court had allowed exemption from personal appearance to Jain,a nominated accused in the criminal case, as he was busy contesting the Moga by-election, it had issued arrest warrants for his family members on March 14 in a six-year-old criminal case registered under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, for their failure to appear before the court. The Jain family is facing criminal charges for raising an unauthorised residential colony in Moga. The case was registered on August 26, 2007 at the Mehna police station of Moga district. After the court issued warrants, Jain's family approached the sessions court in Faridkot for anticipatory bail. While the court is yet to decide on the anticipatory bail, the MLA appeared before the court today.

The next date of hearing for the anticipatory bail has been fixed for March 23. — TNS

  Kin booked for killing 12-year-old girl

Barnala, March 22
The Barnala Sadar police today registered a case against Ajaib Singh, a resident of Nangal village, under the IPC for allegedly “murdering” a 12-year-old girl Gurpreet Kaur.

Ajaib Singh, the victim’s ‘fuffa’ (husband of father’s sister), is yet to be arrested. Barnala Sadar SHO Navdeep Singh said a case had been registered on the complaint of Sher Singh, the deceased’s uncle, who stated that he had come to know from residents of Nangal village that his niece had been mercilessly beaten up by Ajaib Singh, due to which she died on March 17. The SHO said Gurpreet Kaur, who was originally from Chauhanke village, was a student of class VI and had been living with Ajaib Singh and his wife at Nangal village as she had lost her mother in the past. The SHO said on March 18 the deceased was cremated at Chauhanke village by her father and relatives as they had been told by Ajaib Singh that the girl had died after falling from stairs. — TNS