Bathinda, April 24
To charm voters in the forthcoming municipal corporation elections, the ruling party is going all out to present to the city a revamped Bathinda-Goniana highway. To complete the assignment within the stipulated time, the Improvement Trust officials are leaving no stone unturned.

The Rs 11 crore project aimed at giving the Bathinda-Goniana road a makeover was launched in March last and is expected to be completed in August.

As per the plan, the 4.8 km stretch of the road, from Rose Garden to ITI Chowk, will have five-feet broad pavements on both sides with interlocked double coloured tiles. Both sides of the road would also facilitate parking for vehicles. Maroon and grey colour tiles would work as frame line for every vehicle. It would be 6 inches above the metalled road.

The main attraction of the road, the 155 illumination poles of a new style, have been purchased from Kolkata. Keeping the future plan for a local bus service in mind, bus lanes are also being constructed.

The centre of the road, which was having a bit of greenery, is now being demolished and a new concrete divider is being constructed in its place. As per the plan, a two feet iron grill would be raised for separating both sides of the road.

At a distance of 18-feet, on the footpath, at least one tree of around 15-feet height would be planted on both sides of the road. There is also provision for benches and traffic posts on the roadsides.

The project has also a provision for the speedy flow of drainage, especially during the rainy days. These channels would be connected with the main sewer line existing under the road.

The work of utility ducting is also going on, which would carry all wires of BSNL phones and the electricity department.

Confirming details, administrator, Improvement Trust, K.K. Yadav said, “It is project worth Rs 11 crore, out of which Rs 6.75 crore is for civil works while Rs 2 crore is for electrical works. Rs 2.18 crore has been sanctioned for the PSEB out of which half the money has already been deposited with the department concerned for the underground wiring. After this, the B&R department will also work on the road.”

When asked about the controversy that had erupted with the forest department claiming that both sides of the national highway are part of a green belt and any construction in it could not be permitted without the prior approval of the union government, he said, “It has been resolved as we have filed a reply saying there is no tampering with the green belt. We have sent them the project file according to which 1,000 trees would be planted on the roadsides.”

Moga, April 24
The Adani Agri Logistics (AAL) in association with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had begun purchasing wheat directly from the farming community of Moga district by giving them a premium of Rs 19.75 per quintal over and above the minimum support price of Rs 1,000 per quintal fixed by the union government.

Breaking the stronghold of middlemen in the purchase of foodgrain, this seemed to be an initiative to give financial benefits directly to farmers.

Initially, the AAL had started giving this financial benefit to those farmers who were bringing in wheat directly at their storehouse located near Dagru village in the district but in the years to come, this facility could be extended to the doorsteps of the farmers, revealed an official of the AAL.

The AAL in association with the FCI had already constructed a state-of-the-art steel silo storage plant near Dagru having a capacity of about 2-lakh metric tonne of foodgrain. It had been linked with the three field depots located at Chennai, Coimbatore and Bangalore.

Out of a total capacity of 2 lakh metric tonne, around 1.25-lakh metric tonne of wheat produced by the farmers of the district would be stored in this silo storage plant, while the rest of the 0.75-lakh metric tonne procured from other parts of the state would be brought here for storage by the FCI.

This plant was recently built on a build-own-operate (BOT) basis by the AAL on a 20-year guarantee for which the FCI would pay the company at the rate of Rs 200 per quintal per annum. This ultra-modern storage plant was expected to minimise the losses of foodgrain under storage and ultimately, would not only be economically beneficial to the FCI, but to the nation as a whole.

Besides, the entire handling of foodgrain — receiving, cleaning, drying, storage and transportation to the field depots — had been planned to be carried out in bulk to minimise the storage losses.

This project had marked a new era in the storage of foodgrain, remarked R.C. Nayyar, principal secretary of forest department, who visited many grain markets in the district on Thursday to review the procurement process of wheat. He was appointed as a special observer by the state government for Moga district to look after the procurement of wheat.

He said that this ultra-modern storage plants had the provisions of temperature and moisture control. It would also help in maintaining the specified quality of foodgrain without any risk of live infestations, he added.

The commission agents (arhtiyas) of Moga district were not happy over the direct purchase of wheat by the AAL. Ranvinder Singh Lali, president of the Arhtiya Association, Moga, said, “The AAL should not bypass us in the purchase of wheat, rather, it should involve us in the process of purchase in order to avoid all confusion."

Another arhtiya told The Tribune that some farmers, who had taken huge amounts in advance as loans from them, had started selling their produce directly to the private company to avoid paying back the loan amount. "This may spoil the relations between the arhtiyas and the farmers," he feared.

District magistrate of Moga, Satwant Singh Johal, revealed that only 35 per cent of the total arrival of wheat in the grain markets of the district had so far been lifted by the FCI. "As much as 2.90 lakh metric tonne of wheat has arrived in the grain markets of the district till this afternoon, out of which, only 1.80 lakh metric tonnes have been lifted, so far," he revealed.

He said that the main problem in lifting wheat was the delay of one week in the beginning of the process of purchase, which has resulted into sudden arrival in bulk in the past couple of days. "We have pumped in all our resources to tackle the problem and hopefully in the next two days, the problem will be solved," he hoped.

Bathinda, April 24
A large number of truck operators from Punjab, including that of Bathinda, Barnala, Sangrur and Mansa districts, have shifted their base to Haryana, reportedly due to considerable difference in permit fee and overloading charges in both the states.

Truck operators have alleged that due to harassment at the hands of district transport officers (DTOs) and higher charges, they were shifting to the neighbouring state. Balbir Singh, coordinator, state-level truck operator associations of Punjab, claimed, “Truck operators in the state are passing through a very difficult phase due to bureaucratic procedures of the transport department and higher charges.”

For instance, he said, in Punjab operators had to wait for more than a month to get the registration number for trucks from DTOs and had to pay Rs 6,250 as permit fee. But in Haryana, registration was done within a day or two and the permit fee was just Rs 3,000. Due to the shifting of truck operators, he claimed, the state government was also losing a hefty amount every year. The Bathinda Truck Operators Association claimed that around 150 local truck operators had already shifted to Haryana.

“Why should we continue our business here when the state government and especially its transport department is bent on ruining our trade? a truck operator asked.

Insiders point out that in Haryana, the DTOs charge a fixed amount of Rs 2,000 per tonne for overloading, but in Punjab, there is no upper limit of fine and DTOs charge up to Rs 5,000 for one tonne of extra load. It may be mentioned that under the Motor Vehicles Act, up to 9 tonnes of weight can be loaded in a normal truck. However, most of the truckers load up to 15-17 tonnes.

According to information available from the state transport authorities of Punjab and Haryana, 98,643 trucks were registered in Punjab as against 28,144 trucks in Haryana by 2005-06. But during the next two years, new truck operators of Punjab preferred Haryana and other neighbouring districts for registration.

“DTOs in Punjab are forcing us to get registration in the state. In case of trucks bearing Haryana registration numbers, they impose Rs 1,000 as additional fine for a minor offence,” said Balbir Singh.

He said to save the business in the state, a policy in consultation with major truck operators’ unions should be evolved. “Due to stiff competition from the railways and with the entry of new operators, the margins in the trade have gone down. The state government should intervene as the business is providing employment to lakhs of people and making significant contribution to the state exchequer.” 

Fazilka, April 24
Taking a serious note of the recovery of an undeveloped foetus, suspected to be of a girl, found during a raid at an unauthorised clinic in Fazilka, the health department has demanded the registration of case against the accused under different sections of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971.

Following the campaign against female foeticide, launched by state health minister Laxmi Kant Chawla, the civil surgeon of Ferozepur, S.S.Walia, arrived here to take stock of the situation and monitor the action against the accused involved in the suspected female foeticide at the unauthorised clinic.

Senior medical officer Y.K. Gupta of the local civil hospital disclosed that the Health Department has asked the police authorities to register a case under sections 4 and 5 of the MTP Act against unqualified doctor Saroj, wife of Ashok Kumar and a resident of Shajrana village, and Sandeep Abrol, a resident of Dead House Road here.

The two are allegedly accused of illegal termination of pregnancy.

Gupta informed that Parkash Kaur, a resident of Jandwala Mirasangla village of this sub-division, who had allegedly got her pregnancy terminated, was examined at the local civil hospital by Kavita Singh, who confirmed the abortion. An ultrasound examination of Parkash Kaur confirmed bulky uterus indicating pregnancy which was terminated shortly prior to examination. The urine examination of the patient also tested positive, indicating that the woman was pregnant and her pregnancy was terminated.

The SMO said the seized foetus was sent to Government Medical College, Faridkot, for sex determination.

Narinder Sethi, medical officer of the civil hospital, who was also a member of the seven-member panel conducting the raid, in his observation report, stated that some instruments along with the undeveloped foetus, believed to be that of a female, were recovered from Ashu Josan Nursing Home, Dead House road, here. During the raid, some medical equipment and injections were also recovered.

The demand of the health department to include sections 4 and 5 of the MTP Act against the accused along with other sections of the IPC and the PNDT assumes significance as both the accused are absconding. That the unqualified lady doctor Saroj, allegedly involved in conducting the abortion, managed to escape just before the raid, has also raised many eyebrows.

Fazilka, April 24
Civil Surgeon, Ferozepur, S.S.Walia, accompanied by senior medical officer of the civil hospital, Y.K.Gupta, visited the local sub-jail. They assessed the sanitary conditions and the health of the jail inmates. They also checked the quality of food being served to the undertrials.

The civil surgeon directed the deputy superintendent of the sub-jail to arrange vital drugs, oxygen cylinders and other apparatus.

He also directed to ensure the supply of routine medicines in jail. The civil surgeon checked the kitchen and barracks.

Gupta said that a medical officer and a pharmacists were regularly visiting the jail for a check-up of the inmates. Besides, specialists doctors would also conduct the weekly check-ups of the undertrials.

Abohar, April 24
The officials of the local municipal council (MC) and the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA), who have been posted here during the last five-six years, have come under the scanner after the council pasted a public notice, regarding 28 illegal residential colonies in the MC limit, on its board.

The persons named in the notice were not available on phone. These are Amritpal Singh, Ravi Makkar, Kuldip Singh, Chander Mohan Sethi, Vinod Jain, Sita Ram, Sudhir Kumar, Amit Mittal, Des Raj Singla, Gopal Sethi, Vishnu and Atul Kumar.

The public notice was based on a survey conducted recently by the council, officials said, confirming that a copy of the report had been despatched to the higher authorities in the PUDA also.

Experts say it is the legitimate duty of the engineering wing in the council and local officials of the PUDA besides the civil administration to keep an eye on the creation of illegal colonies and take legal action against the developers.

Interestingly, most of the colonies were developed by using the arable land on the outskirts of the sub-divisional town.

If probed thoroughly, the case may lead to exposure of the alleged nexus between the administration and the real estate developers, who have mushroomed recently.

The council accepted that the developers had not sought any permission for more than two-dozen colonies. The council couldn’t provide such illegal colonies with facilities like drinking water and sewerage etc, an official said.

But a visit to the colonies by newspersons indicated that the Punjab State Electricity Board had given electricity connections and even streetlight poles existed in most of the colonies.

The developers hadn’t fulfilled even other conditions like growing trees, developing parks, religious places, ensuring drinking water and sewerage disposal.

The total area under these colonies is 107 acres.

Abohar, April 24
A team led by Ajay Kanwer, chief vigilance officer, attached to the department of the local self-government, raided the municipal council again today to investigate the allegations.

According to information available here, the department had received complaints alleging malpractices during the previous five-year rule of the Congress. The complainants included BJP councillor Suversha Narang, state BJP vice-president Ram Kishan Mittal, SAD (B) councillor Vijay Nagpal and a former council president Babu Ram. SAD (B) press secretary, city unit, Baldev Raj Makkar, today lodged a similar complaint with the team on the spot.

It has been alleged that Rs 8.50 lakh was given in advance to the Abohar Azad Cooperative Labour and Construction Society for the renovation of the Nehru Park allegedly in violation of all set principles. It was widely publicised that a local industrialist Ram Dayal had got fire brigade tankers repaired freely at a cost of Rs 9.63 lakh, but the same amount was withdrawn from the council also. The council had received Rs 36 lakh for the construction of a sports stadium in the Azeemgarh locality, but only Rs15 lakh were utilised for this project, and the rest of the funds were used for other purposes. The complainants objected to the allocation of land to one Gurditt Singh, here in exchange of a small piece of land used for creating a new road.

The department had received references from the chief minister also in this regard, sources said.

The team first examined the records in the council office and then visited the Nehru Park, fire brigade complex and stadium in the Azeemgarh locality. BJP south mandal president, Geeta Chaudhary, former BJP councillor Suversha Narang and Baldev Raj Makkar were also present at these locations to brief the investigating team. Notably, the team had visited thrice in the past after the formation of the present government for the same purpose.

Bathinda, April 24
The doctors of Bombay Clinic and Multispeciality Hospital here on Wednesday removed a 12-kg tumour from the abdomen of a 45-year-old woman, Darshna Devi, a resident of Gidderbaha.

According to Dr O.P. Mittal, the patient had been complaining of abdomen pain for the last two years. She was diagnosed with a massive tumour in the abdomen.

Dr Mittal conducted a three-hour-long surgery and extracted the tumour. It weighed around 12 kg. His wife Dr Saroj Mittal and Dr Zya, an anaesthetist, assisted him.

Dr Mittal said that such a massive liposarcoma of the abdomen, was rare. He described it as a highly malignant growth, usually derived from soft tissues. The patient is fine and recovering well at the hospital, the doctor said. Such symptoms should not be neglected and the patient should immediately seek expert medical advice, he added.

Barnala, April 24
The battle for supremacy in the truckers’ union took a furious turn today with one group, reportedly headed by Malkeet Singh Keetu, allegedly attacked a truck driver belonging to the other group just a day prior to the elections here.

Iqbal Singh, who was working as a driver on a truck belonging to Harjinder Singh Calcutta Wale of Sanghera, was beaten mercilessly by about a dozen goons at Pharwahi village about 15 km from here today. He received serious injuries on his left leg and right arm.

He was admitted to the civil hospital, Barnala. But till the filing of the report, neither police action was taken against the accused nor a first information report (FIR) registered.

Iqbal Singh, while talking to reporters, said that when he was unloading the truck at Pharwahi village, suddenly, about a dozen goons attacked him with rods and pipes.

He was seriously injured in the incident. Singh added that he was able to identify Kulwant Singh Kanta, son of former MLA Malkeet Singh Keetu and president of truck operators’ union, Barnala, who was heading the attackers.

He was accompanied by Surinder Pal, Mangu Singh of Hameede ke, Janta Singh, Dayal Pindi and Darshan Singh Jagal, among others.

One of the truck operators, Jora Singh, lamented that this group had beaten up the driver in broad daylight, still the police was not taking any action against the guilty. He alleged that this incident was intended to influence the operators in the elections.

Mansa, April 24
District secretary of CPI (ML) and state secretary of Mazdoor Mukti Morcha, Bhagwant Singh, today threatened that if the government did not accede to the demand for providing plots to the labourers, the Morcha would start a campaign for occupying the samlat (common) land in villages and distribute them among labourers.

The statement was issued after officials from the district administration assured them at the Dalel Singh Wala village that their demands would be considered. On Wednesday, the block development and panchayat officer assured the labourers that after panchayat elections, plots would be given to them for construction of houses.

Bhagwant said following the assurance, the Morcha had postponed its campaign till the elections.

In a separate statement issued here today, the Morcha said that the Punjab government had made a mockery of labourers by giving them a low increase in wages. Bhagwant demanded that the wages of labouerers should be increased to Rs 200 per day.

Abohar, April 24
Only one measurement book (MB) had been found missing from the local municipal council, sources said.

A former municipal president Babu Ram had in a complaint made to DC, Ferozepur, had reportedly alleged that MBs bearing serial numbers 267 to 295 were missing from the MC’s office. It was further alleged that the MBs used by the municipal engineer and junior engineers, had “willfully” been misplaced to cover the “malpractices”.

However, the DC in a letter addressed to Babu Ram had said the complaint was investigated by the deputy director of the local bodies department and according to him only one MB No. 284 was missing. The police had been asked to register an FIR, sources said today. The allegation had also figured in half a dozen other complaints made by different persons to the state government during the last six months. — OC

Abohar, April 24
Lajpat Rai Setia DAV Senior Secondary School, while celebrating its Foundation Day, today here honoured the students who had won gold medals and other prizes in the GK, painting and quiz competitions, organised by the Pro.com group recently for educational institutions at national level.

They were given prizes by former municipal council vice-president Faquir Chand Goyal, Arya Samaj president Sohan Lal Setia, city BJP president Ravi Setia and social activist Saroj Miglani.

Principal Kusum Khungar in her speech recollected how the institution excelled during the past decades. — OC