Bathinda, August 21
Villages around Bathinda city as well as colonies in trans railway line areas will soon get 20 mini buses that will run under the label of city bus service.

Already 10 long buses are plying in the city catering to the needs of commuters. The Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) will fund the project, whose detailed project report (DPR) is yet to be passed by the state government. While MCB will buy the fleet of 10 buses, the Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) will operate them.

PRTC Bathinda depot manager Vinod Jindal said at present, 10 low-floor buses are plying as a part of the city bus service project. Students, employees and other daily commuters are taking benefit of the facility. Being long in structure, the buses cause traffic chaos in narrow areas like railway station and are impossible to ply in areas beyond the railway lines.

With the introduction of 20 new mini buses, lack of mass transport in peripheral villages and trans railway lines areas will be solved. The new buses are expected to solve traffic chaos which is a major concern for people.

New buses will tentatively run on the routes, including Rampura-Chauke via Khokhar (19 km), Talwandi to Sardulgarh via Koroana (55 km), Bathinda to Bhucho via Tungwali (23 km), Bhucho to Rampura via Mehraj (25 km), Rampura to Ballo via Jethuke (18 km), Talwandi to Maur via Nawan Pind (32 km), Bathinda to Bhucho via Chak Fateh Singh Wala (25 km), Bathinda to Gobindpura via Nathana (21 km) and Bathinda to Maur via Kotfatta (42 km).

MCB Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta said Rs 4 crore would be used on the buses whose DPR was yet to be passed. “Once the DPR is passed, it would take at least three to four months to buy the new fleet,” he added. While the corporation had earlier bought 10 buses under the project on its own (at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore), the 20 mini buses will be bought with the help of the Centre Government. “Of the Rs 4 crore required for project, the state and Centre Government will share 50 per cent each. We will not bear the entire expenses on our own,” he added.

Bathinda, August 21
According to the Punjab Health Department, the identity of an eye donor cannot be revealed. This information was obtained in a response to a query filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

President of a local NGO, Noujawan Welfare Society, Sonu Maheshwari, had put a query on the issue under the RTI to the Health Director, Punjab.

However, the Health Department refused to give an answer to it stating that there was no provision in the RTI under which such information could be asked from the department.

Thereafter, Maheshwari approached the Punjab State Information Commission seeking its intervention in the issue and filed an appeal. The information commissioner, Chander Prakash, then directed the Health Department to submit the information, which could not be concealed.

The answer filed by the Health Department states that under the National Programme for Control of Blindness of the Government of India (GoI), the records of eye donors and recipients should be kept confidential. No eye bank can publicise the identity of the donor or recipient.

Maheshwari, however, added that it was a common practice amongst the eye banks to take recipients at the death anniversary congregation of their donors and make the information public. “Now that we have a complete information on the issue, we can object to such practices of the private eye banks and inform health officials about offenders,” he added.

Bathinda, August 21
The Central University of Punjab (CUP) is all set to initiate a second round of admissions to fill seats for some of the disciplines. This process, conducted by the CUP, will target the local candidates to fill the seats which will be left vacant after the central admission gets over.

The entrance examination for all disciplines-Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) 2013-was conducted by the University of Rajasthan on the behalf of all central universities of the country.

The entrance examination was followed by interviews which were conducted by a panel of subject experts. After the process, the university has begun releasing lists of candidates who managed to clear both the rounds.

Several seats for various disciplines will lay vacant at the Central University of Punjab this year as well.

The university has released the list of aspirants who have been selected for the admission to some of its courses, but the number of students chosen for the admission is less as compared to the number of seats available with the university.

As against 25 seats for MSc Biosciences, only 11 aspirants have been chosen and there is no waiting list. As many as 13 students have been chosen for the admission to MSc in Environmental Science and Technology while there are 25 seats for the discipline.

For 10 seats in the MSc in Medicinal Chemistry, only seven candidates have been chosen. The university has 20 seats for M Pharma in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Medicinal Chemistry), but it has chosen only seven candidates.

Of the lists of candidates chosen for admission to certain disciplines released by the CUP, the only course wherein the seats have been filled and there is a waiting list as well is LLM in environmental law. Against 10 seats, the university has chosen eight students of general category and two from the scheduled caste category and there are waiting lists for both the categories as well.

Speaking to Bathinda Tribune regarding the same, Prof P Ramarao, Dean (Academics) CUP, said, “Only those candidates who meet the admission criteria at the CUP were chosen. We are still in the process of receiving lists of candidates who have been chosen for admission to various courses.”

Talking about the fresh round of admission process, he said, “The Central University of Punjab is going to advertise regarding the initiation of another round of entrance examinations and interviews. This will target the students of the region. While earlier candidates were chosen through a central process, this time, the entrance examination and interviews will be conducted by the CUP.” 

need of the hour The Central University of Punjab will conduct a second round of admissions to fill seats for some of the disciplines. The varsity will target the local candidates to fill the seats which will be left vacant after the central admission gets over. The university has released the list of aspirants who have been selected for the admission to some of its courses, but the number of students chosen for the admission is less as compared to the number of seats available with the university. The only course wherein the seats have been filled and there is a waiting list as well is LLM in environmental law. Against 10 seats, the university has chosen eight students of general category and two from the scheduled caste category and there are waiting lists for both the categories as well.

Bathinda, August 21
A mechanic was seriously injured while working under a bus. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Sandeep Singh, son of Gurvinder Singh, the mechanic who died, said his father was working with the New Guru Kashi Bus Service and was entrusted with the job of repairing the buses.

On Tuesday, at around 10 am, Gurvinder Singh was underneath one of the buses repairing it. Suddenly, the driver Charna Singh from village Jhunir in Mansa, started the bus negligently. Gurvinder Singh was seriously injured in the incident. He was rushed to a private hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Former municipal councillor Balwant Rai Nath and others reached the hospital and demanded compensation for Gurvinder who is survived by three daughters and a son. Gurvinder was the only earning hand in his family and had been working for the bus company for the last many years.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case against the driver Charna Singh under section 304 of the IPC.

Bathinda, August 21
Gurpreet Singh Maluka, the son of education minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, was unanimously elected as the chairman of Zila Parishad today during a meeting attended by the 24 members of the Zila Parishad.

ADC (General) Rajiv Prashar was the observer for the elections and was accompanied by ADC (Development) Mohammad Tayyab.

Member of Zila Parishad, Gurjit Singh from Bangi Ruldu, proposed the name of Gurpreet Maluka as the chairman, which the member, Gurdeep Singh from Kotshamir, endorsed.

Speaking on the occasion, Gurpreet Maluka said problems like lack of drinking water in villages, cleanliness and sewerage will be taken up on priority basis. He added that substantial reforms will be introduced in the hospitals and schools run by the Zila Parishad.

Taking over the charge today, Gurpreet Maluka was accompanied by his father Sikandar Singh Maluka and mother Surjit Kaur, MLA from Bathinda rural constituency, Darshan Singh Kotfatta, MLA in charge of Talwandi Sabo, Balvir Singh Sidhu, district president of the youth wing of SAD, Balkar Singh Brar, district president of the women's wing of Shiromani Akali Dal, Dr Puneet Kaur Deol, executive member of the SGPC, Mohan Singh Bangi, member, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sukhdev Singh Bahia, district press secretary Dr Om Prakash Sharma, and others.

At the end of the function, Gurpreet and Sikandar Singh Maluka planted a sapling each under the Green Mission campaign of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member of Parliament from Bathinda.

Bathinda, August 21
Students should be administered folic acid tablets only 30 minutes after taking the mid-day meals, directed Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni today at the medical check-up camp held for the students of Government Adarsh School, Canal Colony.

He distributed folic acid tablets to the students from classes VI to Plus One. None of the children were reported to have felt any discomfort after taking the medicine. School principal Surinder Nagar said the students in these classes are given iron tablets every Wednesday.

District school health officer Dr Kundan Pal asserted that the iron tablets being given to the children do not have any adverse effect. He added that the district education officer has been asked to ensure that the children are given iron tablets only half an hour after the mid-day meals.

The information will also be mentioned on the notice board of the schools, the officials said.

Bathinda, August 21
The district unit of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), Bathinda, today held a meeting on the Civil Hospital premises under the district president Dr Beant Singh Mann.

Dr Beant Singh Mann said as some of the district committee members had been selected for the postgraduation MD/MS courses, the working committee meeting of the PCMSA, Bathinda, was held to fill the posts left vacant.

Dr Jagroop Singh who was the general secretary, was replaced by Dr Gurmail Singh. Dr Ajay Gupta will hold the charge of finance secretary previously taken care of by Dr Arun Bansal. The post of vice-president Dr Ravi Kant will be managed by Dr Shital Jindal.

The changes have been made as the previous office-bearers, Dr Jagroop Singh, Dr Arun Bansal and Dr Ravi Kant, have been selected for the post-graduation courses.

BANGO members call on Deputy Commissioner

Members of the Bathinda Association of NGOs (BANGO) have once again taken up cudgels against the China-made kite strings.

The members of BANGO today met the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Kamal Kishore Yadav, and submitted a memorandum asking the district administration to impose a ban on the sale and use of the string.

BANGO demanded the imposition of a ban to avoid the purchase of the deadly string by retailers or wholesalers. The DC assured the BANGO members that within two days, a notification will be issued to the officials concerned.

The issue has given rise to concern earlier also and representations were made to the authorities concerne d several times in this regard.

Present during the meeting with the DC were Ramneek Walia, Rajan Garg, Kailash Garg, Ramesh Mehta, Sonu Maheshwari, Rakesh Narula, Hitesh Arora, Avtar Singh Goga and others.

Bathinda, August 21
The St. Xavier's grotto was inaugurated by the principal of the school, Father Eulalio Fernandes. The grotto is right at the entrance of the school reminding every student about the need to uphold their dignity and work hard.

The principal said the grotto serves as an inspiration to all the students of the school and will remind them of the legendary missionary St. Francis Xavier who preached love for all irrespective of their caste, colour or creed.

The principal also honoured the young budding singers who brought laurels to the school in the singing competition held at the Public Library on August 9 in which 40 students competed for the prizes.

In the category for seniors, the first prize was bagged by Abhinav. In the category for juniors, the first prize was bagged by Tejaswar Singh while Ayush Arora was awarded the consolation prize.

Bathinda, August 21
The Dyalpura police in Bathinda district have booked two residents of Amritsar for duping a resident of village Burj Ladha Singh Wala in the name of sending them to Canada.

In his complaint lodged with the police, the complainant Amarjit Singh stated that last year, the accused took Rs 5.59 lakhs from his son Gurpreet Singh in the name of sending him to Canada.

Neither did Gurpreet Singh go to Canada nor did the accused return Rs 5.59 lakhs taken from the complainant in installments. Amarjit Singh then approached the police in February this year and an inquiry was marked to the economic offences wing (EOW). An inquiry was conducted by the DSP (Detective) into the episode.

Acting on the directions of the DSP (D), a case has been registered against Gurvinder Singh, Bhagwan Singh and Mohan Singh, residents of ward number 33, Kot Khalsa, Amritsar.

No arrests have been made so far. Further investigations into the case are on by the police.

Bathinda, August 21
The women's cell of Bathinda police has booked a family from Jaipur, Rajasthan, for demanding dowry. In her complaint lodged with the women's cell, Anshu Sharma, a resident of Mata Rani Wali Gali, Bathinda, stated that she is married to Manish Narain, a resident of Jaipur. She alleged that Manish and his mother Ratnama used to torture her for dowry and have taken away her gold. Police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.