B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Industrial focal point to be revived in Abohar, finally
Abohar, October 21
The state government has decided to revive the Industrial Focal Point (IFT) here that the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) had not been able to develop for more than two decades.

As noose tightens, addicts move to de-addiction centres
Faridkot, October 21
Days after the police tightened the noose on drug peddlers and restricted the sale of synthetic drugs at chemist shops, the shortage of intoxicants is forcing many addicts to approach the de-addiction centres and psychiatrists in the area to get rid of the habit.

Cong MP comes to rescue of civic body
Abohar, October 21
Former union minister and Rajya Sabha member Ashwani Kumar has agreed to allocate grants from his MPLAD fund to help the cash strapped Abohar Municipal Council arrange for hand-pulled trolleys to improve sanitation in the town. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar informed this during a meeting with Jalalabad Sub-Divisional Magistrate Paramjit Singh at the canal rest-house.

Two bikers killed in road mishaps
Abohar, October 21
Mohinder Kumar (50) of Haripura village was killed after he lost control over the motorcycle he was driving near Alamgarh village, 5 km from here, on Sriganganagar road. He was trying to avert hitting a stray cattle on the road, eyewitnesses said.

Industrial focal point to be revived in Abohar, finally
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, October 21
The state government has decided to revive the Industrial Focal Point (IFT) here that the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) had not been able to develop for more than two decades.

The focal point was initially planned some 30 years back. The state government acquired land next to the new grain market but failed in raising the basic structure. Later, the land was used for setting up co-operative spinning mills under the aegis of the Spinfed. The mills, however, had fallen prey to alleged corruption, unrealistic policies and malpractices as the employee unions observed. The land in question was later transferred to PUDA that is yet to develop the colony.

Again, the then government led by Beant Singh planned an industrial focal point by acquiring more than 25 acres of prime land located on the National Highway-15 facing the Alamgarh bypass. As per the official version, Rs 2.50 crore was spent on construction of water supply system, roads and streetlights. But the complex was not developed further during the last 15 years. As a result, trees have grown up to block the roads.

Streetlights have been switched off due to non-payment of bills. A family has been occupying the lone quarter in the abandoned water pumping centre and lives without electricity. They have to fill pitchers for personal use from a hand-pump. Unwarranted growth of shrubs had covered even the huge signboard of the PSIDC.

The government has modified the pattern to revive the focal point now. Well placed sources said today that some land for a school has been earmarked and residential plots and industrial plots will be put on auction to raise funds for development. The forest department has been told to remove the wild shrubs, plant saplings on the land that had been used to block sewage water that overflowed from the main disposal works. As the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board has linked the disposal works by cement pipes with the Sayeedwala drain, the overflowing of sewage stands checked paving the way for the development of the focal point now.

As noose tightens, addicts move to de-addiction centres
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, October 21
Days after the police tightened the noose on drug peddlers and restricted the sale of synthetic drugs at chemist shops, the shortage of intoxicants is forcing many addicts to approach the de-addiction centres and psychiatrists in the area to get rid of the habit.

With the increase in arrest of drug peddlers -- 1722 between September 1 and October 10 in the state-- the Faridkot Central Jail is also witnessing an increase in load of prisoners and inmates.

The strength of inmates in Faridkot has increased from 1,800 to 2,250 in recent times after the state police launched a special campaign to nab the drug smugglers. As Muktsar and Moga sub-jails also come under Faridkot Central Jail, there has been an increase in the arrival of new inmates, particularly drug peddlers from the neighbouring districts to Faridkot jail.

To strictly check the flow of drugs, the Faridkot jail authorities have now put up a four-point checking/frisking system. Even an X-ray machine has been installed in the jail to check every eatable or other item minutely before it enters the jail, said Kulwinder Singh, jail superintendent, Faridkot. To provide treatment to all addicts in the jail, a full-time psychiatrist has been posted in the jail hospital, he said.

With the lopsided supply and restricted availability of drugs after the strictness shown by the police, the increased prices of drugs have forced many middle-class and low-income group addicts to the de-addiction centre and psychiatrists. "While some are coming with their parents, others are taking the help of some rehabilitated addicts to control their craving for drugs," said Ranbir Yakhmi, a senior psychiatrist in Kotkapura town of Faridkot district.

Dr Harish Arora, head of psychiatry department in Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital and in-charge of the 20-bedded de-addiction centre in the medical college said due to the heavy rush of drug addicts, there is a long list of addicts waiting in queue for their turn for treatment.

“We have made temporary arrangements, by adding some beds in the centre but it is not possible to take more than 25 patients at a time as we have to achieve lasting sobriety after rehab which is a long process,” said Dr Harish Arora.

Another fact that has emerged is that while the middle-class and addicts from the low-income group, hooked to synthetic drugs, are rushing to the doctors and de-addiction centres, no such trend is visible among the addicts of cocaine, heroin and other powerfully addictive drugs which are highly priced. 

Cong MP comes to rescue of civic body
Our Correspondent

Abohar, October 21
Former union minister and Rajya Sabha member Ashwani Kumar has agreed to allocate grants from his MPLAD fund to help the cash strapped Abohar Municipal Council arrange for hand-pulled trolleys to improve sanitation in the town. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar informed this during a meeting with Jalalabad Sub-Divisional Magistrate Paramjit Singh at the canal rest-house.

Notably, Paramjit Singh had been given the additional charge of administrator for the Abohar Municipal Council and Improvement Trust but he could visit Abohar only once a week due to heavy workload in the high-profile constituency (Jalalabad) represented by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The SDM assured Jakhar that he will monitor the situation here for the next three days. MC executive officer Ramesh Kumar, engineer Rohtas Garg, Naib Tehsildar NS Brar and Punjab Water Supply Sewerage Board engineer Ram Singh were present at the meeting. The SDM also assured that fire tenders will be provided to the local council temporarily for Diwali.

Jakhar informed that the railways had initially approved the proposal for a railway underbridge on Sriganganagar road here but was yet to get the NOC from the Deputy Commissioner. In compliance of the directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a PIL, the state government has finalised a Rs 66-crore plan to renovate the sewerage system with the assistance of the Central Government but the MoU needs to be signed by the local municipal council for further action. 

Two bikers killed in road mishaps
Our Correspondent

Abohar, October 21
Mohinder Kumar (50) of Haripura village was killed after he lost control over the motorcycle he was driving near Alamgarh village, 5 km from here, on Sriganganagar road. He was trying to avert hitting a stray cattle on the road, eyewitnesses said.

In another incident, Manga Singh of Arniwala villag was killed and his pillion rider friend Surjit Singh was injured as the bike they were riding reportedly slipped on the Arniwala-Azamwala link road. Both were shifted to the Civil Hospital here.