Bathinda, October 5
Five out of 14 units in the three state-owned thermal plants have been shut down following the coal crisis. These thermal plants are left with only four-day coal in their stock as PANEM has stopped the supply of coal.

PANEM has been in agreement with the PSPCL to supply the coal from Pachwara coal block, Jharkhand but, however, it has not supplied the coal since September 19. The state could face power crisis soon if the coal is not supplied to these power plants leaving their shutdown.

Probably as relief in power crisis, the private TSPL (Talwandi Sabo Power Limited) Banawali Power plant has started the production of power and would contribute about 614 MW in state’s pool from today. Out of three units of the TSPL (660*3) a single unit has been started while the other two are under construction. Earlier, the plant used the commissioning coal of one lakh tonnes but the coal under agreement remained a distant dream for the TSPL. It is just few days ago that the coal under the agreement has started landing in the plant following which the production has initiated in the TSPL.

In the three state-owned thermal plants, the two units, each of 210 MW, in Ropar Thermal Plant and two units of 120 MW in Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda, had completely shut down due to coal shortage while the other units are running at low load producing half of the electricity.

All the 14 units own total capacity of 2640 MW out of which Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant Bathinda is having capacity of 460 MW, Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant Lehra Mohabbat 920 MW, and Ropar Thermal Plant 1260 MW at present.

All the three thermal plants in Ropar, Bathinda and Lehra require 40,000 tonnes of coal that calculates about 11 rakes daily out of which PANEM is supposed supply around 6 rakes that calculates about 20,000 tonnes of coal daily. At present, around four to five rakes are being received from the CIL (Coalfield India Limited).

As per the agreement, PANEM is supposed to supply 70 lakh tonnes of coal annually (about 6 lakh tonnes monthly) to the PSPCL thermals in Punjab but it had supplied every year less than the commitment. In 2013, PANEM supplied only 59 lakh tonnes of coal. During the first five months (April to August) of 2014-15, it supplied 6.8 lakh tonnes of coal at Ropar, 5.5 lakh tonnes at Lehra and 2.2 lakhs tonnes in Bathinda. Thus, a total of only 14.5 lackh tonnes of coal was supplied that counts only a 50 per cent of 29 lakh tonnes of coal which PANEM was supposed to supply during the first five months as per agreement.

PSPCL (Punjab State Power Corporation Limited) that entered into a joint venture agreement March 21, 2001, with a private party, M/s Eastern Minerals & Trading Agency (EMTA) to form a JV company (M/s PANEM coal mines ltd.) for development and operation of a coal mine. The PSEB (Punjab State Electricity Board) was allocated Pachwara coal block in Pakur district in Jharkhand state by the Ministry of Coal, the Government of India in 2002. PANEM has signed a Coal purchase agreement (CPA) with the PSPCL, earlier known as the PSEB, on August 30, 2006 for 30 years to supply coal from this mine to the PSEB thermal plants. The mine is in operation since 2006 by PANEM.

Allocated to the Punjab government, the Pachwara coal block is one among the 214 coal blocks declared illegal in a recent decision of the Supreme Court and now the PANEM would supply the coal only up till March 31, 2015.

Bathinda, October 5
After residents of Goniana Mandi, now, residents of Sangat Mandi are raising their objections against extending the limit of the Municipal Council or Wardbandi.

A section of former councillors and former president Nachhattar Singh are among the others who have raised their objections over extending the limit of the Municipal Council.

Area residents said earlier, the Municipal Council of Sangat Mandi had nine wards that comprised five wards of Sangat Mandi and four from the area included from Sangat Kalan.

“These wards were carved out by keeping in mind the public interest but now these are reconstituted and now six wards are in Sangat Mandi and three are in Sangat Kalan,” said Gurbax Singh.

He added that apart from facing the problem of change in address, the area residents are also upset over incorporating the scheduled caste areas into the general category areas.

The deadline for raising objections against the new wardbandi was October 5. Apart from the written representations, the area residents have also brought the problem to the notice of the local political leaders as well.

Most of the residents have demanded that their wards should not be changed and the old model of segregating the area into wards should be followed.

The local leaders fear that the influential politicians have kept their vote bank in mind while carrying out the task of the wardbandi.

Gurjant Singh, a resident of Sangat Mandi, and former municipal councillor stated that his residence was earlier in ward number 8 which has now shifted to ward number 9.

“Ward number 8 had the maximum number of general category families which is now included in reserve category ward number 9,” Gurjant said.

He said apart from raising the objections, a representative of the locality has brought the problem to the notice of the senior local bodies’ officials as well.

“We will fight tooth and nail to keep the old system of the wards instead of the rescheduling of the same which will create more problems for us,” he said.

Bathinda, October 5
This Diwali, the city is switching over to healthy gifts, in which people are going for dry fruits, fruit baskets, juices, gift packs, biscuits instead of traditional sweets. In a drift from the tradition of offering and exchanging sweets to friends and guests, people seem to prefer dry fruits and other useful items.

The reason behind people going for dry fruits is that the prices of almond, cashew, raisin and pistachio have remained stable since last year, whereas sweets have become a lot more expensive. Owing to the rising demand, eminent stores and grocery shop owners have already stocked a huge quantity of dry fruit packets for their customers.

Rajiv Kumar, an owner of a dry fruit shop, said, “Though the trend of buying dry fruits instead of sweets was witnessed last year too but this year, people are asking for healthy options.

Rajni Sidhu, a city resident said, “We cannot risk anyone’s health on such a happy occasion. So this year, they have decided to gift dry fruits and some other useful items instead of traditional sweets and more over it is more convenient and also good for health.”

Satnam Singh, a shopkeeper, said seeing the trend of the people changing, even this year, they have brought the dry fruit and gift packs stock and are making sweets in quite less quantity. “As earlier, we used to start preparing sweets 15-20 days ahead of Diwali,” he said.

While there are many sweet shop owners who fear losses this season, they stated that they have prepared sweets as per last year as this is the only season time of their business. They are hoping that this is tradition to distribute sweets, so people will buy it.

“We don’t want to take any chances during the festive season and have decided to gift dry fruits, biscuits and juices to our employees, instead of sweets,” said Gurmit Singh, an entrepreneur.

The companies, too, are making the most of the changing trend and have come up with attractive gift hampers of chocolates and dry fruits. The trend of gifting chocolates and dry fruits has gained momentum in the last three years following cases of adulteration in milk and milk products. During the festive season, people avoid purchasing sweets and milk products. Instead, they prefer branded chocolates and dry fruits.

Bathinda, October 5
A dead body was found from the Behman bridge of the Sirhind canal in Bathinda on Sunday. The body was recovered by volunteers of an NGO, Naujwan Welfare Society, Bathinda, in the presence of the police officials. The volunteers claimed that the deceased had drowned while immersing the idol of Durga in Sirhind Canal, on Dasehra.

As per the information, a person had gone missing during the immersion of idol of Durga on the banks of Sirhind Canal. They found the body and informed the police officials. The deceased has been identified as Birju Kaper, a resident of Dhillon Colony. — TNS

Bathinda, october 5
The Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) is scheduled to inaugurate the Dadi Poti Park by Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal on the occasion of Children’s Day—the birthday of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Renovated at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, the park will have a library, eating joints, modern play stations and refreshment points.

Situated in one of the posh localities, Model Town, Phase III, the park will have play stations which have been purchased by the BDA for Rs 12 lakh. Spread in an area of 2.25 acres, the authorities are giving final touches to the pending work.

Three rain shelters are also being made at the park and the width of the pavement area for walking has already been increased from 6 feet to 10 feet.

A statue of an elderly woman and a child sitting near her feet is also being procured by the authorities from Mumbai.

The statue, built at a cost of around Rs 6 lakh, will be installed in the centre of the park by removing the non functional fountains. On the lines of the music system in the Rose Garden, the same is likely to be introduced in this park as well.

The officials said the park is developed with an aim to provide an atmosphere to the city residents where they could spend their morning and evening hours for fitness and play with their children.

“We have decided to allot two kiosks to Verka Milk Plant in the park where all Verka products could be purchased by the visitors. The play stations are installed in a manner so that maximum children could play at one point of time,” said the Chief Administrator of the BDA, Varinder Sharma.

XEN, MP Singh, said the modalities in this regard have been finalised and children’s play station is likely to be installed in a day or two and the library is almost ready.

The library will have two separate sections comprising children’s play room where toys will be provided for kids and a separate room will be offered to the elderly to read newspapers.

The play station includes slides, see-saw and rollers where 20 to 30 children could play together at one point of time.

“Our aim is to provide an economical place to children for recreational activities not aiming only for the children but all age groups. Children will surely pester their parents to come again at the park once it is completed and inaugurated,” said Varinder Sharma.

Though Sharma did not disclose the name of the political leader who will inaugurate the park but sources in the BDA said that MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal is likely to inaugurate the park before October 15.

Bathinda, October 5
Five days after announcing boycott of the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda (MCB) election from their ward number 38 and 31 of Lal Singh Nagar to protest of inadequate supply from the water works in their area, the Nagar Sudhar Committee of the area has started a campaign against the state government by distributing pamphlets appealing the residents to boycott the upcoming elections.

In the pamphlets, they have stated that it has been a long time and a day would come when they will get clean water supply from the water works, but their this dream has been shattered by their leaders.

They had also written that every day to keep themselves up they tell them the new excuses and assure them that their work would be done soon.

They appealed that now, the time had come when they had to unite and corner these leaders have to raise our voice demanding basic amenities for their areas. Even the District Water Supply and Sanitation Department had also tested the groundwater and have declared the groundwater of the area as not fit for consumption.

Lal Singh Nagar’s Nagar Sudhar Committee leader, Sudhir Sahni, and other residents, in a letter to the Chief Minister, have demanded that Lal Singh Nagar was constructed 45 years ago, but still, the residents of the area do not have clean water fit for human consumption.

He said the present SAD-BJP government has completed nearly eight years but residents of the area have not got anything except for false promises by the leaders. Due to this, residents of these wards have decided to boycott the coming MCB elections in the city.

Residents of the area stated that groundwater in the area is highly contaminated and even the District Water Works and Sanitation Department had termed it as not fit for consumption.

Officials of the department had stated that there is a large quantity of chemicals in the water. So, this water is not fit for consumption even by the animals and it is also leading to various diseases among the local populace.

Seeing the high graph of diseases in the area, they had written a letter to the Chief Minister hoping that soon their issues will be resolved and they can live here without any risk to their lives.

SAD leader Khet Singh Makar from ward number 38 said he had raised the issue at each and every meeting of the Municipal Corporation to provide clean water in this ward but no one listened to his demands and grievances.

The MCB officials said, at present, work on laying sewerage pipelines is going on in this area. The issue has been brought to their notice, and clean water will soon be provided to them.

Bathinda, October 5
Increasing vegetables prices have put extra burden on the common man’s pocket. Inflation has added to the suffering of the people as it has now become difficult to make both ends meet. Every consumer is looking towards the government for a relief from hard hitting inflation.

Cauliflower costs Rs 50 per kg while beans and potatoes have crossed the Rs 40 mark. Ginger and peas cost Rs 120 to 150 per kg.

Consumers are highly worried over the rising food prices, especially of vegetables. Many of them have forgotten the word ‘savings’.

“A fear remains in our mind about vegetables going costlier every day. What would be the future of our children if prices of vegetables continue to rise like this? We are left with no other option,” said Surinder Kaur, a housewife.

The budget of the common man has suffered a jolt in the last few months. Inflation has not gone down to a substantial extent. Consumers have no other option but to look towards the government, which projected a dream of “arrival of good days in future”.

Solanki Devi, a middle-aged woman from a middle class family, said she was helpless as there was no respite from inflation and her kitchen budget was hit hard.

Numerous consumers like her are worried and facing difficulty to manage the household.

“Even the vegetables of daily use are going out of the common man’s reach. The prices of pulses and cereals had already crossed the limits. Tomatoes are still at Rs 40 but onions have given a sigh of relief — being available at Rs 25 per kilogram. The government should take necessary steps to check the rising prices or the income of people should be raised.” she said.

• Cauliflower costs Rs 50 per kg while beans and potatoes have crossed the Rs 40 mark. Ginger and peas cost Rs 120 to 150 per kg
• Consumers are highly worried over the rising food prices, especially of vegetables. Many of them have forgotten the word ‘savings’

Bathinda, October 5
A book called ‘Sohni’, penned by late Professor Karam Singh and published this month, was dedicated to the public by well-known literary personalities today.

The first edition of the book was published in 1997 while the second edition was dedicated to the public today by the literary personalities.

Professor Karam Singh belonged to Bhundar village in Bathinda and passed away on July 1, 2007. A number of his books in Punjabi on the literature, culture and heritage of Punjab are famous among the public.

Some of his famous titles include ‘Mallah Diyan Gallan’, ‘Dhaddh Sarangi Wajjdi Malwe’, and ‘Ranga Rang Di’, which is an autobiography of Karam Singh.

The book ‘Sohni’ depicts the complete story of ‘Sohni- Mahiwal’, a tragic love story, which overturns the classical motif of Hero and Leader.

The literary personalities shared their views about the book and late Professor Karam Singh.

Famous literary writers and personalities, including Gulzar Singh Sandhu, Amarjit Singh Hayer and Jeet Singh Joshi among others were some other guests. — TNS

Bathinda, October 5
The local unit of the Tarksheel Society, Punjab, today organised a seminar ‘Scientific Thought and Intellect’ to mark the birth anniversary of martyr Bhagat Singh at Teachers’ Home here today. A meeting of the society members preceded the seminar.

Delivering the keynote address, Rajpal Kotkapura, said, “Every person should adapt himself to the latest developments and innovations in the unstoppable world of scientific growth. We might have got answers to problems such as small pox, however, we are still very far from getting any suitable treatment for dreadful diseases such as cancer.”

Representatives from as many as 16 zones of the state participated in the seminar. The session saw important inputs from the office secretary, Hem Raj Steno, and members of the state committee, Bhura Singh Mehma Sarja and Avtar Godara.

Bathinda, October 5
A child fled after stealing Rs 20,000 from a retired employee of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Amarjit Singh. The Kotwali police have nabbed the child and registered a case against him and his accomplice.

As per the information, Amarjit Singh, a resident of Amarpura Basti, was returning home after getting his pension from the bank. While he was on his way, the child succeeded in stealing the money.

Immediately, Gurwinder Sharma, who works in that area, chased the child and with the help of bystanders, succeeded in nabbing him.

Later, on searching, Rs 20,000 was recovered from him and the child was handed over to the Kotwali police.

Assistant station house officer Harjiwan Singh said the accused child lives in a slum area.

He has been released on bail but had not told anything regarding his accomplice, he said.

The SHO said investigation in the case was on as Aamrjit Singh had registered a complaint against unidentified persons.