Bathinda, October 5
The residents of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar and Dhillon Colony are up in arms against the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB), and a private mall coming up in the vicinity. The MCB has given a sewer connection to the mall, which will be connected to the sewer line of the residential area. The residents have raised an objection to this.

A group of area residents had moved an application in the Bathinda courts demanding a stay on the sewer work in their area. “Since the judge in whose court our case lies pending got transferred, the stay got delayed. Taking advantage of the situation, the MCB gave mall authorities a go-ahead to lay the sewer,” said Navdeep Singh Jeeda, the counsel for residents.

On Friday evening, the MCB dug trenches near the mall in street number 13/6 of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar. MCB superintendent Harbans Lal supervised the work.

“The mall’s sewer is being connected to the domestic sewer line that has a limited capacity. Once the mall becomes functional, it will surely lead to sewer blockades in our area,” said Gurlal, one of the area residents.

Earlier, the residents had moved court on July 18 against the private mall coming up near Dhillon Colony. On July 21, they had submitted an application seeking that the MCB should also be made party to it. However, the judge dismissed the plea on September 3. The application seeking stay on the work came up for hearing on September 28, but the judge had been transferred by then. The next date of hearing the arguments on the stay has been fixed for November 14.

“The MCB officials are hand-in-glove with the mall officials. Taking advantage of the time gap between the court hearings, the MCB has allowed the mall authorities to lay sewer pipes,” alleged Shamsher Singh, a resident of the area. On June 23 also, residents had protested against digging up of the road in the same street. The workers of contractor had dug up the entire road, which was laid three years ago, in a bid to lay a sewerage pipe connecting the sewer of the under-construction mall with that of the residential area of Dhillon Colony. The work was stopped after people protested against it. Then, the mall officials had not sought permission from the MCB.

Former municipal councillor Rajinder Singh Sidhu said Dhillon Colony was a residential area and its sewer cannot bear the burden of a commercial establishment. “Technically, a broader pipe should be laid, connecting it to the main sewer on the Green Palace road,” he said.

Assistant commissioner Kamal Kant Goyal said the mall officials have paid around Rs 48 lakh for the connection. “We are not laying an extra wide pipe for it. We don’t expect the sewer to choke as gushes of water will push the filth forth,” he added.

Bathinda, October 5
Bathinda today won the distinction of being placed at number eight out of the eleven district which won points in different championships during the 39th Punjab State Games for Women. A total of 20 districts participated in the tournament which concluded today.

While the overall trophy went to Jalandhar with 33 points, hosts Bathinda managed to gather only four points to be ranked eighth in the tournament. Bathinda team won three points in hockey and one in lawn tennis. The team was placed second in the overall hockey championship.

Interestingly, while Bathinda is projected as the hub of kabaddi and the opening ceremonies and several important matches of kabaddi world cup are held here, Bathinda team couldn't score any point in the sport during the tournament.

President of the Bathinda District Athletics Association, KPS Brar, attributed the dismal performance to the lack of training facilities for the players in Bathinda. "The entire belt comprising of Mansa, Bathinda, Muktsar and Fazilka districts is backward when it comes to sports. The basic reason behind this is the lack of training facilities," he said.

"While in Patiala, there are four synthetic tracks for athletes, Bathinda doesn't even have one. For an athlete to train well, synthetic track is a must. The government spent crores on building the stadium in the city but has not been able to spend a few lakhs to provide basic facilities to the players," Brar added.

He also pointed out that the track at the stadium was better when he used to train here. "I used to train in the stadium in the 80s and the track at that time was better than the one at present. Instead of upgradation, the stadium has seen a decline in terms of facilities and conditions," he said.

District Sports Officer, Bathinda, Karam Singh Sandhu said, "The lack of coaches is another major problem for the players in Bathinda. Right now, we have coaches only for swimming, hockey, volleyball and athletics. Since I have been a boxer, I sometimes train the players in the sport."

"While the old coaches retired over the years, new coaches were recruited for Bathinda. Till the time the Sports Department doesn't pay proper attention towards bringing in coaches for all the disciplines, the city's performance at sporting events will remain dismal," he added.

Bathinda, October 5
Two insurance firms have been penalised by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum for not releasing insurance claim for three years over flimsy grounds.

The firms, the United India Insurance, Talwandi Sabo, and the National Insurance Company, Bathinda, have been directed to pay a sum of over Rs 11 lakh along with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum besides a fine of Rs 30,000.

Bikramjit Singh, a hotel owner and a resident of Birla Mill road, said his Tata Winger, which was insured by the United India Insurance Company, met with an accident on the Barnala road. He said the procedure to claim the insurance amount was initiated by handing over documents, including copies of the registration certificate (RC) of the vehicle, driving licence, DDR, verification of driving licence and the original receipt issued by the crane service pressed to shift the accident vehicle.

Through his counsel Naresh Garg, Bikramjit alleged that the insurance firm officials sent a local surveyor to inspect the accident-hit vehicle. Another surveyor from Ludhiana estimated the cost of insurance as nearly Rs 10 lakh on the IDV (Insured's Declared Value). Later, an investigator from Kurukshetra was sent by the insurance company who suspected that the driver at the time of accident was not the one whose name figured in the DDR. The investigator suspected that the vehicle was used for commercial purpose.

The complainant said the name of the driver was Baljit Singh, who was also known as Rana Ji. One of Bikramjit’s employees had informed the investigator that the driver was Rana Ji and he took this plea to further delay the release of insurance amount. The complainant vehemently rebutted that the vehicle was used to ferry passengers.

The Forum opined that first of all, it was not appropriate for the opposite party to depute another surveyor to investigate the matter without the approval of appropriate authority when the spot and final report were already submitted by the surveyors declaring the name of driver as Baljit Singh.

The Forum stated that the complaint was accepted with Rs 25,000 as compensation and cost towards delay in the payment by the insurance firm. The opposite party was directed to pay Rs 6,68,600 to the complainant along with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum with effect from July 25, 2012.

In another case, Mandeep Singh of Bhaini Bagha village of Mansa, whose case was earlier dismissed by the Mansa District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum on jurisdiction issue, filed a complaint against the National Insurance Company, Bathinda. His counsel Ashok Gupta said his client had purchased a Mahindra Bolero around three years ago and it was insured from April 16, 2010 to April 15, 2011. The jeep was stolen from SAS Nagar on October 11, 2010. The opposite party was informed about the theft and claim for insurance amount was lodged by depositing all the necessary documents.

The insurance company officials told the Forum that since they failed to get the RC of the vehicle, the complainant was denied the claim. The complainant, however, stated that his vehicle was stolen before the office of the DTO issued the RC.

The Forum directed the insurance firm to settle the matter on non-standard basis and the company should pay 75 per cent of the IDV to the complainant. The company was directed to pay Rs 4.56 lakh besides Rs 5,000 as fine. The payment has to be made within 45 days and any delay thereon would attract interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum.

Bathinda, October 5
With just two days left to get illegal colonies, houses and plots regularised, only four colonisers and 1,639 plot holders have filed applications with the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB).

Assistant commissioner Kamal Kant Goyal said the department had collected Rs 4.13 crore as regularisation fees. Of the four colonies, three applications were received during the MCB camp held at Lal Singh Basti and one was received at the camp organised in Prajapat Colony. Further, The 1,639 applications pertain to plot holders as well as owners of houses.

MCB officials said while individuals were more willing to get their fixed assets regularised, colonisers were shying away from accepting the illegally colonies as their own and have preferred to keep quiet.

Of the 65 colonies (habitations) declared illegal within the municipal limits, only four colonisers have applied for regularisation, which is too meagre a number.

It has been more than 43 days since the state government allowed regularisation of illegal colonies, plots and houses. October 7 is the last date for receiving applications in this regard.

Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav today called upon the colonisers as well as the holders of plots and houses in such colonies to get their assets regularised. He cautioned that the Punjab Government did not have any plan to extend the last date for regularisation of properties. Stern action would be taken against the defaulters, he said.

Sewer, drinking water and electricity connections of the plots and houses, which were not regularised, will be snapped. Yadav said those residing within the municipal limits should apply for regularisation with the MCB while those residing in colonies outside the MC limits should approach the Bathinda Development Authority.

Bathinda, October 5
Divisional Commissioner VK Sharma today visited the villages at Deon and Buladhewala to inspect the ongoing work on upgrading of voters' lists in the district.

Sharma also visited the booth at Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School at 100 feet road. He spoke to the block level officers about the new voters registered, deletion and amendment of votes and forms received for the transfer of votes from one booth to another.

At the polling booths that he visited, Sharma also spoke to the people who had come to get their votes registered or amended.

Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav, ADC (D) Sonali Giri and SDM, Bathinda, Damanjit Singh Mann accompanied him.

At the villages, people told him that work regarding the registration of voters was being popularised through the public announcement system.

The block level officers told him that 252 forms have been received at village Deon for registering new voters, amending existing voters' list, deleting the names of voters and changing the booths.

Similarly, from village Buladhewala, 125 such forms have been received. He also took stock of the work going on at the booth located in Guru Nanak Dev Senior Secondary School.

Bathinda, October 5
A Kisan Mela was organised to impart technical assistance to farmers for the rabi season. Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajeev Prashar was the chief guest at the mela. Prashar interacted with the farmers and in his address, urged them to bring paddy to the grain markets as per the standards of the procurement agencies.

He also asked the farmers to make the optimum use of happy seeder, zero till drill, bailer and chopper so that the pollution in the environment could be reduced to some extent. He directed the agriculture department officials to hold exhibitions to make farmers aware of the advantages of such machines.

Prashar also handed over cheques of subsidy to the farmers for the purchase of rotavator and wheat sowing machine.

The farmers also purchased various seasonal crop seeds and others during the exhibition and interacted with the agriculture department officials and discussed their problems to find a possible solution to them and help them in their venture.

Bathinda, October 5
The State Bank of Patiala (SBoP) organised a loan mela here today. The five-day mela was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Kamal Kishore Yadav and the managing director of SBoP Achal Kumar Gupta.

SBoP deputy general manager, SP Shrimali stated that during the mela, some of the biggest names in the property industry in Bathinda will offer discounts and schemes to the customers who can book flats and property. — TNS

Bathinda, October 5
Competitions in circle kabaddi and basketball for the Under-19 category for girls and boys will be held in Bathinda as part of the 59th Punjab State School Games. The competitions will be held from October 7-11. This was stated by Assistant Education Officer, Pavittar Kaur, during a meeting held at Teacher's Home today.

The meeting was presided over by the District Education Officer (Secondary) Harkanwaljeet Kaur and was attended by Mahinderpal Singh, Amardeep Singh, Nazar Singh, Harcharan Singh and principals, teachers and physical education teachers of various schools.

The AEO announced the allotment of duties to the committees formed for the opening ceremony and providing refreshments, accommodation and other facilities to the players.

She also announced that MLA Bathinda (Rural), Darshan Singh Kotfatta, will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony. She added that while the basketball matches of girls will be held at Khalsa Seniro Secondary School, the kabaddi matches will be held at St Xavier's School. Competitions for boys will be held at DAV College and the Multipurpose Sports Stadium. — TNS