Bathinda, November 6
The Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat in Bathinda is again in the news but for rather wrong reasons.

According to sources, during the commissioning of its unit 3, a steel hanger broke, setting back the project by at least a week. Sources cited the reason for this as lack of proper quality control measures by BHEL, that is constructing the new units (3 and 4) at the thermal plant.

To prevent any such event in future, the whole unit will now be checked by ultrasound machines by the PSEB officials themselves, the sources informed.

The commissioning of the plant’s stage II, which includes construction of two new units with a capacity of 250 megawatt each, has already been delayed by over 15 months.

The construction is being undertaken by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The earlier deadline was March 2007 and later, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal set another deadline of June 2007. But due to the slow pace of work, the cost of project has gone up from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,200 crore.

This delay has resulted in a financial burden of more than Rs 700 crores on the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) besides the cost of additional power purchases to the tune of Rs 1,825 crores. Also, an interest worth Rs 250 crore will have to be paid to the Government of India (GoI) on the loan taken as the project has failed to meet the deadline.

Some time back, the PSEB Engineers Association had also presented a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Punjab and complained that BHEL has failed to attend major discrepancies pointed out by PSEB at Lehra.

Highly placed sources said on the condition of anonymity that besides the delay in commissioning, there is no quality control at the plant and even the contracts have been awarded to vendors who do not have the required experience. “BHEL had earlier executed the stage I works at Lehra Mohabbat and was well-versed with all the conditions and there should be no reason for delay. However, BHEL is already over-booked and is not in a position to execute on time the various projects across the country,’’ the sources added.

When contacted, K. V. Tandon, construction manager, BHEL said, “It is not a major fault. And moreover, there are so many joints in the whole project and it is physically not possible to check them all. Our experts are looking into the matter so that we can find out where actually the problem cropped up. Our report will come in a day or two and only then can we find out where the fault occurred.’’

Bathinda, November 6
The private and government buses booked by the Punjab government on the occasion of Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s centenary celebrations at Amritsar in September this year are still awaiting the payment of their dues.

According to highly placed sources in the PRTC, around Rs 60-65 lakh is pending as dues. Dues of other private bus companies are also pending with the state government.

As per the sources, around 900 buses of the Punjab Roadways and 400 of PRTC (Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation) were reportedly booked by the Punjab government to ferry people free of cost to venue of celebrations in Amritsar.

Sources further informed that the booking of buses was done after the official letter sent by State Transport Commissioner. ``For every 52 seater bus of the PRTC, Rs 3,750 per day was fixed as rent excluding diesel charges. From Bathinda depot, 70 buses were booked and an amount close to Rs 9 lakh is still pending with the state government. 50 buses from Faridkot depot, 70 from Kapurthala depot, 50 from Ludhiana depot, 50 from Patiala depot, 40 from Barnala depot, 30 from Budhlada depot and 40 from Sangrur depot were booked by the government.’’

When contacted, General Manager (Bathinda depot), Iqbal Singh confirmed that 70 buses from Bathinda depot were booked by the Punjab government for Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s centenary celebrations in September. `` We submitted a bill of around Rs 9 lakh for our buses to our head office at Patiala two days after the function ended.’’

Baltaj Singh, president, Mini-Bus Operators Union, Bathinda, said, “We have submitted our bills with the DTO office and have still not got any payment for the same.”

Speaking on phone from Patiala, Manvesh Singh Sidhu, managing director, PRTC, said no dues are pending with the Punjab government.

``The bills of our buses for Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s centenary celebrations will be adjusted against the taxes paid by us to the government.’’

Bathinda, November 6
Doctors under the banner of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bathinda, today went on day-long token strike in support of the ten doctors who have allegedly been harassed on various charges under PNDT Act.

A group of about 50 doctors held a meeting with the chief minister of Punjab, Parkah Singh Badal, in Chandigarh. They put forth their demands before the CM.

The CM gave an assurance to the members of the IMA for early action. The CM further ordered Deputy Commissioner Bathinda, Rahul Tewari, to submit a report on the issue.

IMA Bathinda president, H.S. Narang said, “All the members of IMA Bathinda observed a strike today. Some members had been deputed to keep an eye on private hospitals and clinics to check if they were closed.”

Some patients were observed returning home in the absence of doctors at private clinics.

When contacted, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital Bathinda, Charanjeet Garg said, “The strike had no effect on the working of the hospital. Everything was normal.”

Bathinda, November 6
The Bathinda police confiscated firecrackers worth lakhs of rupees from godowns located in residential colonies here. Teams from the Kotwali and Civil Lines police stations last night and today conducted these two raids. Four persons have been arrested for manufacturing and storing crackers without a valid licence.

Last night, a police party from the Kotwali police station conducted a raid at the godown of one Deepak Bansal, a resident of New Shakti Nagar area. SHO Kotwali police station Davinder Singh said, “We have taken crackers stored illegally in our possession and have also sealed the godown. Deepak Bansal, who was earlier booked for the same offence, is still absconding and will be arrested soon. We have registered a case under section 188 of the IPC.’’

A police party from the Civil Lines police station conducted a second raid at the godown of one Roop Chand in the Prajapti Nagar area. SHO Civil Lines Bhagwant Singh said, “We got information from our sources that crackers have been stored at a house in lane number 3 of Prajapti Nagar. “We conducted a raid and have taken the crackers in our possession. The owner of the house, Roop Chand, has been arrested along with three others, who were helping him in manufacturing these crackers without a valid licence. These three include Arjun, Varinder and Bhinder. A case under section 188 of the IPC has been registered against them.’’

Barnala, November 6
The Zabar Virodhi Action Committee has presented a memorandum to Jai Pal Singh, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Tapa for not initiating any fresh inquiry into the Bhadaur gurudwara clash in which one Ruban Masih died and dozens of people were seriously injured last year.

The Bhadaur gurudwara clash took place on October 11,2006 over the demarcation of land between two village gurudwaras.

In the memorandum submitted to the SDM, the members said that the Zabar Virodhi Action Committee has learnt that the SDM Tapa has written a letter to SHO Bhadaur for recording of statements in the case from those affected on October 5 and 6.

But they did not receive any communication regarding any fresh inquiry. If the administration wants to conduct any inquiry, then it should be announced though a public address system for the benefit of the public.

Gurinder Pal Singh Dhanula of Mere Pere Sewa Dal and member of Zabar Virodhi Action Committee told the reporters that in the above case, Ranjit Singh Dhillon, SP (Crime Branch) has already completed his inquiry and recommended the registration of a case against former SSP S. K. Asthana under section 302 of the IPC.

Dhanula alleged that the state government was trying to save its favourite officer and warned that it would not be tolerated.

Bathinda, November 6
Talwandi Sabo police here arrested a couple for allegedly demanding dowry from their daughter-in-law on Monday.

A case has been registered against Nav Gagan Deep Singh, his father Nachatar Singh, his brother Raman Deep Singh and his mother Basant Kaur, all residents of Kotha Guru in the district.

The case was registered on the basis of an inquiry conducted by the crime against women cell, Bathinda, and on the orders of the Senior Superintendent of Police.

Police sources said Manpreet of Talwandi Sabo had married Nav Gagan Deep Singh on July 9, 2006.

Her family had spent nearly Rs 10 lakh on her marriage and her husband had been demanding more dowry from her. Nav Gagan Deep left for Australia but from there too, he kept demanding money from her parents. One day, her parents-in-law threw her out of the house.

The police arrested the parents of the accused on Monday as his accomplice. The court has sent them to police remand till November 8 for interrogation and recovery of the articles related to dowry.

Bathinda, November 6
The body of an unidentified man, in his fifties, was found in a badly mutilated condition on the Bathinda-Ferozepur railway track on Monday night.

On getting the information, the volunteers of an NGO, Sahara Jan Seva, reached the spot and rushed him to the civil hospital where he died some time later.

The deceased has not been identified yet. The body has been kept in the mortuary. Further inquiry in the case  is on.

Bathinda, November 6
Bathinda girl and ace shooter Avneet Sidhu, never dreamt of making it so big in life. Hailing from a family of farmers, she joined Dashmesh Girls College at Badal village in 2001. Not even in her wildest dreams did Sidhu think of becoming one of the best shooters in the country and also earning herself a Olympic quota for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Now she is hopeful of making it big at Asian Shooting Championship to be held in Kuwait in December this year. ``I will definitely win a gold,’’ Avneet, says with confidence. She seems fully prepared to do that. ``These days I am meditating, reading spiritual books, listening to old Hindi classics and even reading novels. Besides I have full faith in God.’’

After a 13-day camp at New Delhi, from November 15 to 24, under the coaching of Laszlo Scuzak, team will leave for Asian Shooting Championship.

She smiles when asked about her fans. ``Its like a dream come true for me and I never knew that people of Punjab would love me so much. Someone has even created my fan club community on social networking site,’’ she tells with a smile on her face.

Clad in brown and white salwar kameez, Avneet, along with her father Amritpal Singh Sidhu, looks confident and it seems as if she has just returned home after winning silver at 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. ``I still remember my father taking me to various shooting ranges, determined to make me a top shooter. He even sent me to participate at Asian Air Gun Shooting Championship at Bangkok in 2005.’’

Avneet hasn’t lost focus of her aim in the midst of celebration of making it to Beijing 2008 Olympics. She says, “My target is not only to participate but also to clinch an Olympic medal for my country. I will definitely beat the Chinese, they are the best.”

But what makes her somewhat sad is the lack of international level sports infrastructure in the country. ``Chinese have 80 world class shooting ranges in their country, but we have only 4-5. Moreover Chinese have 1 coach for two shooters, besides having a massager and mental trainer. We have 2 coaches for more than 50 shooters here and no massager or mental trainer. But still Indians are gutsy people and will definitely score good at Asian Championship as well as Beijing Olympics.’’

Ferozepur, November 6
Under the aegis of the Golden Arrow Division, an Army cross-country championship was held here today.

Six teams belonging to the Army’s regional commands participated in the event. The event was conducted in two categories, 12 km and 4 km, with 24 runners participating in each discipline.

The chief guest on the occasion, Major-General Munish Sibal, General Officer Commanding, Golden Arrow Division, presented the prizes to the winners.

The central command won the overall championship. Rifleman Nemi Chand of western command stood first in the 4 km category clocking 11: 15 minutes while havildar Mukesh Kumar from central command won the 12 km category by covering the distance in 37:13 minutes.

Major-Gen. Sibal said the event was a step towards the motto “Mission Olympics.”

The chief guest said runners selected from this event would take part in various national and international events.

Bathinda, November 6
Due to the imposition of emergency in Pakistan, the cultural function being organised by the Bathinda unit of Sain Mian Mir International Foundation has been postponed. No new date has been decided yet. In this festival, relatives of Sohni, Mahiwal and Ranjha were supposed to participate along with eminent authors, poets, historians and singers from Pakistan.

Besides, Mian Muhammad Akram Bittu (retired judge of Lahore High Court), existing judges, university professors, Neelam Nahid Durrani (SSP Lahore), Deputy Commissioner of Shekhupura, Khadoon Warsi (from ‘darbar’ of Waris Shah), singers from ‘mazaar’ of Baba Bulle Shah and many others were also expected to participate.

Gurjant Singh Grewal, president of the local unit of the foundation, said that due to the imposition of emergency in Pakistan, this function, due to be held on November 7, has been postponed. —TNS

Barnala, November 7
Thanks to the indifferent attitude of the government, the faculty members and the students of the Government Girls’ High School, Barnala are exposed to health hazards.

The areas surrounding the school, which has 40 female teachers and 700 students, have virtually tuned into a garbage dumping place by the locals.

The stink of the littered-garbage and waste is so strong that it becomes impossible to stay on the premises. The situation becomes worse in the rainy season. As a result, the teachers and the students are more concerned about their health than academic matter. In fact some students develop health problems in rainy season but they have no other options, like going to private or public school, than to bear it due to economic reasons.

Absence of boundary wall has made a major portion of school land – the school is spread in more than 5 acre of land - vulnerable to encroachment. Not only locals, but cattle also could be seen roaming freely in the school area.

It may be mentioned here that the school started functioning in present building in 1996. Earlier, it was running in a building declared unsafe by PWD.

The school headmistress, Kiran Sharma said she had been raising the issue before the concerned district authority for the last six years. A school teacher said residents could be seen answering nature’s call surrounding the school during prayer time. To add woes, about 25 kachha houses have also come up in the surrounding areas.

The deputy commissioner, R.L.Mehta, said that demarcation of the actual school land would be made shortly and officials were also being directed to prepare an estimate of the boundary wall to restore the academic and congenial atmosphere at the earliest. 

Bathinda, November 6
An altercation took place at the old grain market in village Goniana under the Nahian Wala police station, today.

Sources in the market said the verbal duel started over the auction price of grain in the market. Satish Mittal, owner of Gopal Cotton Factory, was on the one side while municipal councilor, Goniana, Vinod Dhanod was on the other at the auction. Within a few minutes, a heated exchange of arguments started. They then went to the police station to get the dispute resolved.

Sources at the police station said supporters of both the parties soon reached the police station. Vipan Tandon, son of a SAD(B) leader, also arrived there to settle the matter.

When both the parties were leaving the police station, then suddenly, supporters of Mittal attacked Dhanod.