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NGT to check ground reality
Agriculture has become a polluting industry: Expert
Panel summons health officials for denying info under RTI Act
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Neeru’s wishlist: Woman-centric, author-backed roles
‘I wish Prateik doesn’t have to struggle the way I had to’
Clampdown on dairies
Violence over trivial issues on the rise
PTUGZS campus student beaten up
Army expedition flagged off
STR teachers submit memorandum of demands
Welfare schemes for ex-servicemen reviewed
Workshop on CCE curriculum held for teachers at Jaitu school
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NGT to check ground reality
During a hearing at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on July 24, the complainants in the case, Captain Mal Singh and others, presented photographs showing that no work has been initiated on the site despite orders passed by the tribunal. Taking a serious notice of this, the NGT appointed a local commissioner, advocate Ritwick Dutta, who will visit the place on Saturday to study the ground reality. Though the NGT has not barred the MCB from continuing with the work on the site till the local commissioner visits, the complainants raised objection to the ongoing work and tried to stop it today. Captain Mal Singh claimed that the corporation was not abiding by the NGT orders and was making alterations at the site. However, the municipal commissioner, Uma Shankar Gupta, counterclaimed that the NGT had not barred the corporation from working on the site. "The photographs submitted to the NGT have been taken from a wrong angle. Since the last orders of the NGT to take certain measures at the site, we have scrapped the garbage heaps, are done with the boundary wall and have taken up plantation work at the site. The complainants have clicked photos of the heaped garbage and are trying to mislead the NGT," he claimed. He said the MCB had bills, photos and complete record of the mud spread on the garbage, the bills of disinfectant sprayed and other measures taken. The entire records would be shown to the local commissioner. Gupta added that the complainants today tried to stop a government official from discharging his duties at the site as well as threatened him. The MCB has lodged a complaint at the Vardhman police post. However, till the filing of this report no case was registered. Meanwhile, the appointed local commissioner, Ritwick Dutta, has been asked to see if the corporation has taken steps for proper and scientific dumping of the municipal waste at the site in question; whether the photographs depict complete and correct state of affairs or not; whether the municipal waste was being properly dumped after segregation; whether there is proper layering for composting the waste; and whether it is covered by polythene, or mud or clay layers have been fixed. He has also been directed to see whether disinfectants have been sprayed in the entire area or not. The local commissioner has to submit his report before the next date of hearing, which is scheduled for August 19. If the applicants are found to be wrong on the projection that they intended to make through photographs submitted with the NGT, they shall be liable to pay the local commissioner's fee, which has been fixed at Rs 25,000. |
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Agriculture has become a polluting industry: Expert
Bathinda, July 25 A former principal scientist with the ICRISAT and a World Bank consultant on sustainable agriculture, Dr Om Prakash Rupela stated this while talking to TNS here today. In the city to attend the natural farming and environmental festival beginning from July 26, Dr Rupela said the excessive use of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) had leached out the soil fertility and seeped into the aquifers. In Punjab, farmers are adding 240 kg of urea in a hectare of land with the hope of improving the soil fertility and getting more yields. As per the rules, this figure should be 120 kg per hectare. "Agriculture has become a polluting industry, which everyone should realise. The excessive use of fertilisers has adversely-affected the soil, which is slowly dying not only in Punjab but in fields across the country," he said. Dr Rupela laid emphasis on the need to educate farmers and lay guidelines for the use of fertilisers and pesticides. He said in developed countries, one has to have a certificate to buy and use agrochemicals. "Sadly enough, the agriculture extension services across the country have failed miserably. For want of information, the farmer is dependent on money-driven market forces. Even state agriculture universities have failed to align their courses with the practical difficulties that farmers face in fields," he added. Elaborating on the organic farming, which he has been promoting across the state, Dr Rupela said chemical-free farming does not mean organic farming. It also means managing the organisms that keep the soil alive and ensuring that all 30 nutrients are present in soil in their elemental form. The scientist deplored the increased usage of vermi-compost (compost made by using earthworms) and the practice of externally adding earthworms to loosen the soil. "Every soil has its own set of organisms that maintain its health. Adding earthworms mean bringing aliens into an old family and the same holds true in cases of other organisms as well," he said. He added that in Punjab, organic farming was doing wonders. However, the organic wheat growers were reaping lesser yield. "This is because the wheat is watered more than what is required. Farmers should realise that neither the fertilisers are needed from day one, nor the pesticides are needed the moment you notice a caterpillar nesting in your fields," he said.
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Panel summons health officials for denying info under RTI Act
Bathinda, July 25 In his application filed under the RTI Act, the president of Noujawan Welfare Society, Sonu Maheshwari, had sought information on the rules and regulations for revealing the identity of the donor and the recipient in case of an eye donation. "The donor's family is often curious to know that who has received their family member's eyes. We don't know whether disclosing the identity of the recipient is allowed or not and that's why we raised the query under the RTI Act," he said. Since the PIO of the Health Department refused to divulge information on the issue, Maheshwari approached the first appellate authority, the Director, Health Services, but he too did not respond.
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Neeru’s wishlist: Woman-centric, author-backed roles
Bathinda, July 25 At the same time, the actress has a category of woman-centric films. "Some films which tackle a serious issue end up looking like documentaries. I don't wan to do such films. I am more in favour of films like Vidya Balan's 'Kahaani' which had a woman as a central character and was hugely entertaining. That's the kind of roles in the films directed by some top-notch director, that I would love to do," she clarified. The actress was in the city today to promote her upcoming film "Naughty Jatts'. In 'Naughty Jatts', she plays the role of Simmi who wishes to be a grade-A singer and wants to sing duets with top singers. Simmi is pursued by three naughty Jatts played by Arya Babbar, Roshan Prince and Binnu Dhillon. When asked if the theme of three boys trying to flatter one girl doesn't sound similar to several Hindi films, she said, "The audience would know the difference when it watches the film. One may point out that Punjabi films are similar to Hindi films, which are in turn similar to South Indian or Hollywood films. The argument can go on." While 'Jatt and Juliet 2' released a year after 'Jatt and Juliet', this year Neeru seems to be doing back-to-back films. "I prefer quality over quantity. Luckily this year, I got some really nice films to do and that is why I have so many releases this year," she said. Interestingly, the actress fumbled for the name of the cast of her next film, which is scheduled to release in October. When asked why the producers were choosing to cast B-grade Bollywood actresses in Punjabi films and not tapping local talent, she said, "I wonder why that is happening. I think Punjabi girls, whether they are living in India or abroad, are very talented and beautiful. It is high time the producers and directors here began looking for actresses closer home."
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‘I wish Prateik doesn’t have to struggle the way I had to’
Bathinda, July 25 Interestingly, Aarya had lashed out at Prateik two years back for dropping the Babbar surname and for referring to Abhishek Bachchan as his elder brother. Sweeping aside all rumours of there being tension between the siblings, Aarya said, "I watch all of Prateik's films. I am waiting to watch his film 'Issaq' which will release a week before mine." He also added that since he belonged to a family with strong Bollywood connection, he always watched his sister Juhi and father Raj Babbar's films as well. When asked if he appreciates the kind of work that Prateik is doing in the Hindi film industry, he said, "I keep a track of what he is doing. He has been getting some really good roles and has begun to show his calibre. I just hope he doesn't have to struggle much." A couple of months back, Aarya had announced that he was keen on sharing the screen space with his father Raj Babbar. When asked if the plan had materialised, he said, "We have a couple of scripts that we are going through. But we are yet to decide which one to give our nod to. We are sure that if we come together in a film, it would be something that the audience would remember." Aarya, who has been doing a balancing act between his second lead roles in Bollywood and full-fledged lead actor roles in Punjabi films, was also quite vocal about his love for Punjabi cinema. "If you ask me my preference, without batting an eyelid, I would say I prefer Punjabi films over Hindi films since these give me a chance to enact several emotions in one film." |
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Clampdown on dairies
Bathinda, July 25 With the advent of monsoon, city is facing problem of water logging much of which is due to decreased capacity of sewer pipes. Most of these pipes are silted due to waste, other than sewage, being dumped into it. Corporation will continue with the campaign till all the dairies located within the municipal limits in residential areas are not checked. Corporation officials are laying emphasis on directing the dairy owners to construct separate septic tanks to collect animal waste and ensure that under no conditions does the animal waste mix with sources of water meant for human being. Earlier on Tuesday, the MCB team has visited 12 dairies and snapped sewer connection of two. It had visioted the areas of Guru nanakpura, Sivian Wala Mohalla, Bhuleira Mohalla, bhola COloler Wali Gali and Ranjit truck Wali galli. While two connections were cut off, rest of the dairy owners were warned to get their tanks built as soon as possible. During the last public grievances hearing held on July 16, residents of the bhola Coller Wali Gali had alleged a dairy owner of dirtying the area and caring two hoots for the repeated objections area residents raised. The sewer connection of this dairy was also snapped.
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Violence over trivial issues on the rise
Bathinda, July 25 Police said most of the people who committed such crimes acted after sudden provocation as they lack tolerance. Policemen who investigated such crimes said the heated arguments took an ugly turn and people involved in such crimes then repent for the rest of their lives.. "A majority of quarrel incidents reported these days are the outcome of behavioural problems which could have been averted with a little more patience," said the investigating officer deployed at Sadar police station, pleading anonymity. He said the recently concluded Panchayat elections had created a rift among families and friends in many villages which was seen as a large number of cases are reported following the elections. "There were many instances when people were actually angered over casting vote for opposite party but they vent their ire in some other way and fought with their opponent over other issues. For instance, a man who had a tiff with his cousin for supporting someone else had fought with his uncle over sharing common water," the policeman said. He added that the actual bone of contention was the elections but the two parties fought over common water. A man battered his wife to death in Guru Ki Nagri as the woman was nagging her unemployed husband in April this year. In December last year, a woman was shot dead by her husband outside the District Courts for dragging her husband to the court. A woman, in September last year, murdered her husband in Teona village over a trivial issue. Police also booked three persons last week for beating up a resident of Mohalla Sirianwala few days ago.
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PTUGZS campus student beaten up
Bathinda, July 25 One injured in brawl
A person was injured in a brawl in Adarsh Nagar area. In his complaint lodged with the Thermal police, Beant Singh from village Gillpatti stated that he was sitting at a
shop in Adarsh Nagar area solving some dispute when Baldev Singh from the same village
attacked him with a sharp weapons. Police has registered a case. Man held with illicit liquor
A man was held with 12 bottles of illicit liquor near village Jaga Ram Tirath. Police arrested Baljinder Singh, a resident of
village Jaga Ram Tirath and confiscated 12 bottles of Mota Santra liquor from his possession. 9 kg poppy husk recovered
The Raman police arrested two people and recovered 9 kg poppy husk from their possession. Police arrested Baljinder Singh and Balwant Singh, both residents of village Bangi Nihal Singh Wala. The two were arrested with nine kg of poppy husk from near village Tarkhanwala while they were travelling on a motorcycle.
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Army expedition flagged off
Bathinda, July 25 The team will commence its trek from Lamayuru (Leh) after acclimatisation. The 227 km long trek will take the team up to an altitudes of 16,000 feet and through the difficult Zanskar Range and will terminate at Dharcha near Manali. The 20-day expedition will provide an excellent opportunity to the team to explore nature, visit monasteries, interact with the locals in remote areas and educate them about the Armed Forces. The expedition by the Army will also help the soldiers improve their survival techniques in difficult and inhospitable terrain.
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STR teachers submit memorandum of demands
Bathinda, July 25 Arguing that if the government thinks that the STR scheme does not hold any relevance now, all the teachers employed under it should be given regular jobs in schools, in commensurate with their qualifications. They have also been demanding that they be given all the job benefits which were given to the regular teachers working in schools under the Education Department. The STR teachers argued that although they were to be given Rs 3,500 per month, they were given Rs 2,625. They were assured that the deducted 25 per cent of their salaries would be given to them according to their performance. Teachers of some of the district have not been given salaries for the past five-six months, they resented.
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Welfare schemes for ex-servicemen reviewed
Bathinda, July 25 In the morning, he addressed the ex-servicemen on a radio programme aired by All India Radio, Bathinda, and explained the welfare activities undertaken by the department for the ex-servicemen and their dependents. Later, he also inaugurated a library constructed in the memory of martyr Naik Mohinder Singh, at village Bhunder. The family of Naik Mohinder Singh was also honoured at a function held on the occasion. He lauded the thought of naming a library after the brave soldier who laid down his life for the country. He also said the library would not only emerge as a centre for learning but also as a forum where future generations will get inspiration from the sacrifice made by Singh. Brig (retd) Manjit Singh added that nations which honour and remember their martyrs always prosper. He appreciated all those individuals who contributed for the construction of the library. DSWO, Bathinda also donated books for the library. The director also distributed sewing machines to the wives of ex-servicemen and assured that the department was committed towards the welfare of ex-serviceman and their dependents. Cdr (retd) Baljinder Virk, DDSWO, Bathinda, Darshan Singh senior assistant, Hony Capy Gurmail Singh, staff of DSWO Bathinda, Bant Singh, president of the library society, Ranveer Singh, Nirmal Singh, Ujagar Singh, Balkarn Singh, Gurtej Singh, Bikar Singh sarpanch, Mangal Singh were among those present.
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Workshop on CCE curriculum held for teachers at Jaitu school
Bathinda, July 25 The trainer, Sumit Bhardwaj, updated the teachers about the pattern of the CCE system which is already in use in these schools. Principal of the Gurukul International School, Dhawan Kumar, said, "If the child is not learning the way we are teaching, then try teaching the way the child learns."
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Riding high on the success of her romantic-comedy film "Jatt and Juliet 2", actress Neeru Bajwa wishes to do women-centric and author-backed roles. "Although all my Punjabi films till now have been comedy films, I want to do woman-centric film which deals with a serious issue," she said,
After nearly a month of staging a protest in the city and burning an effigy of the state government, a deputation of the Special Trainer Resourceperson (STR) teachers submitted their memorandum of demands with the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda. Before meeting the DC, they assembled at the Teachers’ Home and discussed their demands.
Bathinda, July 25
