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Pollution should be tackled soon: Badungar
RTI not binding on me, says Vedanti
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State-of-the-art de-addiction centre to come up in Moga
Hussainiwala border should be re-opened, says Mann
Crime cases rising; new ones make their debut
Seminar on old age pension
Dharna In Janata Nagar
Farmers vent their anger at bank officials
Bhadaur Gurudwara Clash
Flesh trade racket busted, 5 arrested
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Pollution should be tackled soon: Badungar
Bathinda, November 19 ``These three things find a special reference in Gurbani. So, a Sikh residing anywhere in the world should not pollute them,’’ Badungar said. He was speaking on the occasion of a seminar on his book, ‘Gurmat Vichar and Sikhi Jeevan,’ at Punjabi University Neighbourhood Campus, Rampura Phul. The book includes a collection of 35 articles written by Badungar on Sikh history. Badungar also said that to keep pace with the emerging world, latest educational courses would be introduced in SGPC-run educational institutions across the state. ``We have already introduced nanotechnology course at our engineering college in Fatehgarh Sahib. Biotechnology is also the need of the hour and has also been introduced in SGPC-run colleges. At present, SGPC is running 22 colleges, two engineering colleges, two polytechnic colleges, one medical and dental college each and 26 schools in Punjab.’’ On the Dera issue, he said, ``It was a very unfortunate event in the history of this country. To tackle this issue, the SGPC has chalked out a comprehensive plan in which SGPC representatives will meet and inform people across the state about Sikhism. If anyone wants to adopt Sikhism, that person should not be forced because forcible conversion has no place in Sikhism.’’ Other speakers who participated in the seminar included Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, Surjit Singh Bhatti, principal, Punjabi University Neighbourhood Campus, Rampura Phul, Jagbir Singh from Delhi University, Balwant Singh Dhillon from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and some SGPC members. |
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RTI not binding on me, says Vedanti
Bathinda, November 19 Jathedar Vedanti’s foreign trips are already generating much debate with many of his visits coming under the scanner recently. Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti was on a visit to the Punjabi University Neighbourhood Campus at Rampura Phul in Bathinda district today to attend a seminar on the book written by former Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar today. Baldev Singh Sirsa has submitted an application under the RTI to know the exact dates, months and years of Vedanti’s visits to foreign shores, including US, Canada and other countries from the day he was appointed in 2000. He has also sought information regarding names, addresses and designations of persons accompanying him on each visit, how much amount was spent on air tickets of the members of each delegation, total amount spent on the delegation, including costs incurred on boarding, lodging and other such information. Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti further said, ``Even if someone has sought information under RTI ACT, let me get the notice in writing. I will reply only after that.’’ However, SGPC president, Avtar Singh Makkar recently said that no one has the right to demand details of foreign tours of Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, under the RTI ACT. On his choice of SGPC president, who will be elected on November 23 at Amritsar, Jathedar Vedanti said, ``All are equal for me. I am not in anyone’s favour nor do I oppose anyone.’’ |
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City residents cry pollution, GNDTP begs to differ
Bathinda, November 19 Air pollution from the plant is nothing new but the reported increase in the level of gases and dust particles has compelled the residents to unite and compel the authorities to take effective steps to solve the lingering problem. The Joint Action Committee formed by the residents has urged the authorities to take stringent measures under the provisions of section 22-A (1) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1881 against the power plant. The residents are sore over the fact that the state government has also adopted an indifferent attitude and all their pleas to check air pollution have gone unheeded. Air pollution is the main cause of several pulmonary diseases and no wonder the incidence of such However, the plant authorities claim that adequate safeguards have been taken to ensure that the pollutants are not discharged in the air. A.S. Mokha, Chief Engineer at GNDTP said that the guidelines of Punjab Pollution Control Board are being adhered to and Unit -I and Unit –II have been upgraded and are working with the installed capacity of 250 MW. Renovation of these units would reduce smoke pollution. Further, plantation of over 3,000 trees has also been undertaken to make the air clean, he added. R. K. Sharma, Deputy Chief Engineer, GNDTP, informed that ammonia is being used to reduce the smoke emitted by the plant as it restricts the gas from going into the air. He said the authorities are equally
concerned about the health of the people and pollution from the plant has decreased considerably during the past three years. The smoke being moisture laden in winters, it sends a deceptive message regarding the increase in pollution, he asserted. The authorities at the pollution control office in Bathinda said that the two new units are helping in meeting the prescribed standards and the thermal plant has spent around Rs 200 crore on the renovation and modernisation of these units. The authorities at the GNDTP also said that the third plant, which has become old, would be shut down for renovation next year and pollution would be reduced further. 150 to 200 acres of the area is used as the ash deck, where the pollutant is diluted and flushed out, they added. Ironically, the people of Bathinda are complaining of air pollution and are also facing severe power cuts. |
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State-of-the-art de-addiction centre to come up in Moga
Moga, November 19 The centre will be part of the Red Cross Multi-Service Project scheduled to be constructed at Jhaner village, some eight km from here, on the Moga-Amritsar road. Satwant Singh Johal, deputy commissioner, said that he had sought permission from the state government to visit the Bangalore centre, one of the best in Asia, along with officials of the departments concerned to study its functioning. Agreeing that the menace of drug addiction was rampant, he said it needed to be addressed accordingly. The Red Cross Multi-Service Project would also house an old-age home and adult education centre. For this ambitious
project, Jugraj Singh Gill, former chairman, Mandi Board, has already donated 16 acres of land. Drug addiction is rampant in the Malwa region. Over 2,450 persons had been detoxified out of the 3,573 persons admitted to the Red Cross Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre, that runs in a small building. It started functioning in 1999. The officials here felt that a sharp rise in the number of addicts was also the outcome of a fast changing lifestyle and the crumbling of the joint family system. For this reason, counselling of families has also been introduced. Psychologists and special invitees deliver lectures to streamline their thoughts and convince them to prepare for their life ahead. Even experts from professional courses, including fishery, vermiculture, dairy farming and bee-keeping, with the active support of the district agriculture office, arrive at the centre to teach them nuances of their fields. The District Industrial Centre also organises lectures of a similar nature and even tells them about the availability of loans. Religious, spiritual, meditation and yoga sessions are a must for each inmate to develop faith in themselves to overcome addiction, the experts said. |
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Hussainiwala border should be re-opened, says Mann
Ferozepur, November 19 Mann, who was talking to media persons at the PWD rest house here today, also demanded the opening of the Sulemanki border in Fazilka. He said that the opening of these two borders would not only revive the shattered economy of this region, but also help in fostering peace and people-to-people contact. Mann said that earlier also, his party played an active role in starting trade from the Attari-Wagah sector for which a representation was sent to President Pervez Musharaff through various foreign units. He said that the Hussaniwala route, if opened, would facilitate rapid industrialisation and economic growth on both sides of the border. Mann also demanded easing of visa restrictions for pilgrims on both sides. He said that Ferozepur and Khemkaran should be connected through rail link, which would not only help the populace of this border area , but would also suit defence requirements. While addressing the media persons, Mann also raised the issue of providing better infrastructure in rural sector. He also appealed to the Union government to ban death penalty, where the culprit is hanged. He said that in most countries, death by hanging had been banned as it was against humanitarian principles. Mann further demanded that stringent action should be taken against politicians responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat for the riots where a large number of members from the minority community were reportedly killed. |
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State has 139 registered opium consumers
Bathinda, November 19 So this clearly shows that most of the opium consumed in Punjab is bought illegally from drug peddlers. Sources in the excise and taxation department informed that many years ago, these licences were made of 3000 such persons but this number is decreasing at a fast pace. ``These licence holders are distributed opium through the state health department and is bought by the excise and taxation department. On the fourth day of each month, opium is distributed from the civil hospitals to these persons and these licences are renewed every year,’’ sources informed. In Punjab, Malwa is considered the hub for the consumption and smuggling of opium as more than 62 kg of opium was seized by the Punjab Police in Bathinda, Faridkot and Mansa this year. 27 kg of opium was seized in Faridkot, 21 kg in Bathinda and 14 kg in Mansa. The World Drug Report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also said that the availability and consumption of drugs have increased in Punjab in the recent years with cities like Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Patiala emerging as hotspots. Sources in the excise and taxation department said on the condition of anonymity, ``There were 257 registered opium consumers in Punjab in 1995, in 1995 there were 164 such persons, in 2006, this number went down to 142 and at present there are 139 registered opium consumers. This year, a total of 14 kg opium was bought from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh by the excise and taxation department for distribution to these persons.’’ Jaspal Garg, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Bathinda said, ``Based on the total number of registered users in the district, we send our opium requirement to our head office every month. In 1988, there were 61 registered opium consumers in Bathinda. This number reduced to 17 in 2001 and in 2004, 13 were left. Now this number has reduced to five.’’ |
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Crime cases rising; new ones make their debut
Bathinda, November 19 Figures available with the police department show a significant rise in incidence of crime. Incidents of theft, cases of assault, abductions, rape and unnatural offences have gone up while crimes like attempt to murder have seen a decline comparatively. One notable feature of the report is that cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Excise Act have registered a decline. As per the details provided by a senior police official, Bathinda district has a good number of policemen to keep a check on the crime graph. Regarding methods that should be adopted to check the crime graph, police officials were unanimous. “The rise in crime can be contained if people become more vigilant and shed their indifferent attitude. For success, everyone’s cooperation is essential,” they pointed out. “The police should perform its duty with diligence and honesty. Until we keep a check on crooked police officials, the crime rate cannot come down. Senior police officials should keep an eye on their juniors,” said Bhushan Garg, a businessman. “Politically soft attitude towards the wicked elements, history-sheeters and other criminals should be condemned by one and all. Politicians who shelter these elements, should be voted out,” said Rajesh Narula, president, Bathinda Vikas Manch. On his part, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda, Naunihal Singh said, “The rise in some crimes can be due to social factors like the increase in population and change in perception but the department is increasingly keeping a check on crimes that can be controlled. “But there are crimes over which no official can have control.” The data secured, however, gives details about the cases registered in the district during the period from January 1 to October 31, 2007 as compared to the period between January 1 to October 31, 2006. |
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PU Youth Fest
Abohar, November 19 Rajwant Kaur of the winning college was also declared best in the individual category in gidha whereas Mandeep Singh of the same institution won the first prize in bhangra in the individual category. The Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College,
Ludhiana, clinched the trophy in bhangra competition. Dr S.M. Kant, director, youth welfare department, Panjab University, handed over trophies to the winners. Rajneesh Ahuja and Iqbal Singh
Godara, chief patron and president of the Lok Kala Kendra, gave a cash prize of Rs 5,000 to each topper in gidha and
bhangra, while the runners-up received Rs 3,000 each. |
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Seminar on old age pension
Moga, November 19 He was addressing a seminar on the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) and other social security schemes organised by the Social Security Department to mark the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi here today. He informed that the national old age pension scheme has been changed to Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme under which beneficiaries, already getting old age pension under the state social security scheme, could avail of the benefit of the new scheme and get Rs 200 per month as pension. Johal said that about 33,000 locals were getting pension under the social security scheme of which 2,000 eligible pensioners, had already been rendred benefits under it. |
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Dharna In Janata Nagar
Bathinda, November 18 Representing the residents, ex-minister Chiranji Lal Garg apprised the officials that the under-bridge has become a matter of concern for the residents as water remains clogged there and the situation gets worse especially during the rainy season turning the place into a pond. The residents of Janata Nagar, made the DC aware of the problems being faced by them in their day-to-day life due to the accumulation of water under the railway bridge and the overflow of sewage. The DC ordered MC officials to install a pump for the proper drainage of water. The residents rued that the chocked water blocks the way and as a result, Janata Nagar, Gopal Nagar, Dubey Nagar, Arjan Singh Nagar and the surrounding villages get affected. The DC further assured the residents of a permanent solution to the problem. He directed the officials concerned to submit an estimate of expenditure for the levelled road and also for the over-bridge. Makhan Singh and Harbans Lal, convener and president of the Sangharsh Samiti also spoke of other problems like poor streetlights and stagnant water drained from dairies in the locality. The DC ordered the MC to install tubelights on the road. Assistant Commissioner (UT), Amit Dhaka, SDM Talwandi Sabo Anil Garg, EO Municipal Corporation, Kamal Kant, were also present on the spot. |
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MC frowns at illegal building in Minocha Colony
Bathinda, November 19 The owner of the building, Shamsher Singh, said, “The building has been constructed as per the guidelines of the Municipal Corporation. The demolition took place as a result of the vested interests of the neighbours who stoked the flames. The JCB machine and the workers demolished the steps and a window of the building.” On the other hand, Municipal Corporation EO Kamal Kant said, “The owner has violated the rules. Sources said the police had to intervene in the matter to keep the situation under control. The demolition work has been stopped on the orders of the deputy commissioner and the owner has been asked to show the documents on Tuesday.” In the evening, owner of the building Shamsher Singh said TNS over the phone that he had dropped his plan to construct a banquet hall in the building and he did not want any further dispute on the matter. |
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Farmers vent their anger at bank officials
Bathinda, November 19 The farmers rued the attitude of the bank officials who were delaying the process on the ground that there was a shortage of staff. Said Gurdas Singh of Gobind Pura village, “I have been visiting the bank for the past ten days but till date, I have not received the loan. Everyday, the manager and the clerks use the same excuse and ask us to ‘come tomorrow.’ I am badly in need of money so that I can purchase DAP.” Jeet Singh of village Har Rang Pur, said, “I have been here since 10 am but have not got any positive response.” Bank manager Balwant Singh Brar said, “I have full sympathy with the harassed farmers. I am also helpless as I have only three members in my staff. The four of us manage the quantum of work that would require at least nine people.” |
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Bhadaur Gurudwara Clash
Barnala, November 19 Thanks to media reports, at last, Rekha Masih, wife of Rubin Masih, got the job of a clerk at the deputy commissioner’s office. She has joined the Sukhmani Suvidha Centre. DC R. L .Mehta and MLA Balbeer Singh Ghunus were present today on the occasion. Rubin Masih had died during the Bhadur gurudawara clash in October, 2006. After the death of Rubin Masih, the Bhadaur Gurudwara Kand Virodhi Committee was constantly demanding a job for his wife. A sustained struggle for about 13 months by the residents of Bhadaur village and the action committee ensured a government job for Rekha Masih. |
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Flesh trade racket busted, 5 arrested
Barnala, November 19 Addressing a press conference here today, SSP Parmjeet Singh Garewal said that the police worked on a tip-off. CIA in-charge Sanjeev Goyal conducted a raid at the Descent Hotel situated near the grain market in Barnala. When the police raided the hotel premises, the whole staff of the hotel fled. During the search, two couples were learnt to have been found. The police arrested the couple and one Meenu Arora from the hotel. During the investigation, Arora said that they use to hire a room for two hours for Rs1, 000. But when the hotel records were investigated, no entry was found in their name. During the raid, blue films, a bottle of whisky and some dresses of women were also seized from the hotel. A case under the Immoral Trafficking Act has been registered against the hotel owner and the five accused, SSP informed. |
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