Bathinda, April 27
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opened a front against its ally the Shiromani Akali Dal (B) over the issue of seat allotment in the forthcoming rural bodies’ elections.

The members of the district BJP today even threatened to boycott the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD leaders at all functions if they fail to fulfil their demands.

The BJP leaders even came out with the statement that if needed, they would contest the elections independently on the party symbol and show their strength to SAD.

At the meeting held under the headship of the district president BJP (rural), Dial Singh Sodhi, it was stated that the BJP had given an ultimatum to SAD to consider their “due” demand in allocation of seats, till April 28.

Member of the district body of the BJP formed for the elections, Mohit Gupta, while talking over phone, said, “We have initiated the topic with the SAD leaders but every time they showed their dilly-dallying attitude.”

Gupta added that they had claimed 72 seats out of 141 for Block Samiti and 7 seats out of 16 in Zila Parishad. He said the list of the tickets claimed with the names of candidates had been sent to the party high command.

When the matter was discussed with the SAD district president, Sikander Singh Maluka, he said, “The BJP members have submitted a request for only one seat and that too is for Zila Parishad. About the rest of the demands, I am unaware. At my level, I can say that they are welcome to contest on all seats from where they contested last time Moreover, the final decision wouild be taken in Chandigarh.”

It may be mentioned that the last time, the BJP did not contest on its party symbol.

Taking a serious notice of his statement, Gupta out at him saying, “If he can issue such statements, then we can also say that the leaders of SAD who fell flat twice in the recent elections, even in Assembly polls, must give up their seats to the BJP.”

It has also been reported that BJP has been claiming the support of Dera Sacha Sauda followers in the rural bodies’ elections, which is slated to take place on May 12 as the party feels that the followers are unhappy with both the SAD and the 
Congress. 

Bathinda, April 27
An unexpected bus stop has come up at the Hanuman Chowk here, courtesy the bus drivers, who stop their vehicles to pick up passengers on their routes. However, the unrecognised bus stop has become a source of trouble for the shopkeepers in the vicinity as buses and the waiting passengers obstruct the entrance to their shops. They rued that despite several complaints, the authorities concerned seem to be least concerned about the problem.

A few metres away from the city’s main bus stand, at the Hanuman Chowk on the Bathinda-Goniana national highway, the bus drivers have virtually formed an unauthorised bus stop. The stop is nothing but an invitation for accidents as it lies just near the traffic lights. At the same time, it irks the shopkeepers in the area, as waiting commuters obstruct the entrance to their shops, thereby affecting the sales.

Narrating his plight, Lakhvir Singh, owner of an automobile shop in the area, said: “The passengers waiting for their buses enter my shop and if I object, they unite in defence.”

Manmohan Singh Kochar, another shopkeeper in the area, lamented, “The entrance to our shops get blocked when buses queue up at the stop, leaving no space for our customers and thereby impairing our business. Many a time, even our company executives have complained about it.”

“The practice, if it continues, may put at risk the patients and their companions entering my clinic because commuters and buses virtually choke the entry gate,” rued Dr Rajinder Gupta.

The shopkeepers said they had made several complaints about the unauthorised practice to deputy commissioner (DC), senior superintendent of police (SSP) and district transport officer (DTO).

Giving a copy of one such complaint to TNS, they alleged, “The authorities might be waiting for some untoward incident to occur before taking action on the issue.”

When contacted, DTO Manish Kumar expressed ignorance about it. However, he assured, “I will send an assistant district transport officer to check the menace. The inconvenience to the shopkeepers would be removed soon.”

Bathinda, April 27
Though Sukhbir Singh Badal, president, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) had announced recently that this cotton belt of the state would be developed as the power hub of the state, the existing thermal plants in the district, one at Lehra Mohabbat and another at Bathinda are facing problems. The extent of the problem is such that if the problem is not rectified soon, the whole cotton belt might reel under huge power crisis in the upcoming paddy season.

At the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), Bathinda, one of the two 132/66 KV 50 MVA (Mega Volt Ampere) transformers is not in order for the last one month.

“This transformer was installed when the GNDTP came into existence, some 35 years back. On the one side, Sukhbir is boasting of converting this area into the power capital of the state and on the other, no heed is being paid to the problems faced by the existing thermal plants,” experts at the GNDTP feel.

Even the unit III of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP), Lehra Mohabbat, is not producing power as it has been shut down because the coal bunkers had got empty.

According to highly placed sources at the GNDTP, “The 50 MVA transformer at the thermal plant is out of order for the last one month and only one 50 MVA transformer is working at present. Even the Chief Minister, during his last visit to the city had spoken to the chairman of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), to change the transformer that was not in order. But nothing has been done till date.”

The sources further said, “Last summer, the two 50 MVA each transformers at the GNDTP were overloaded and were working at a load of 110 MVA. So, we had written to the PSEB for getting another 100 MVA transformer installed so that it could reduce the burden of the existing transformers. Instead of getting another transformer installed, they did not even get the out of transformer replaced.”

When A.S. Mokha, chief engineer, GNDTP, was contacted, he said, “For this purpose, we are having a meeting soon at Bathinda and very soon, this out of order transformer would be replaced.”

But sources feel that the PSEB is taking time in replacing this transformer because they don’t have a new transformer with them.

Speaking on phone from New Delhi, Y.S. Ratra, chairman, PSEB, said, “I am aware of the problem and very soon, this transformer would be replaced.”

Barnala, April 27
The controversy regarding the release of compensation cheques for 376 acre of acquired land does not seem to be ending as cheques worth Rs 27 crore against the original land price are still pending with the state treasury. The court of additional sessions judge Vivek Puri has fixed May 10 as the date for disbursing the cheques as the district administration could not complete the paper work on Saturday. As a result, about hundred farmers returned empty handed, without getting the compensation cheques.

The order only agitated farmer unions. So now, farmers have postponed the victory rally scheduled to be held on April 30 at Fatehgarh Channa village.

In a press communiqué released here, Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) state president Joginder Ugrahan alleged that the state government was making unnecessary delay in releasing the cheques to the affected farming families.

He informed that earlier the government had fixed April 5, then April 19 and April 26 as the dates. Now, May 10 had been fixed as the date for releasing the cheques. The continuous deferment of the date showed the government’s indifference towards the farming community.

Ugrahan informed that the families whose entire land had come under acquisition had no other means of livelihood. In the absence of  payments, they had been leading a miserable life for the past two and a half years.

It is pertinent to mention that in June 2005, the state government held an agreement between farmers and Trident management to give compensation to the farmers with an enhanced 70 per cent cost. The management had already deposited the money of the original land price worth Rs 27 crore with the state treasury. Now, it was the government’s duty to deliver the cheques to the farmers.

Ugrahan alleged that since the money was lying with the state treasury for over one year now, it had already reaped Rs 30 lakh as the interest money. In order to earn more interest, the government was dilly-dallying in giving the farmers their dues.

Bathinda, April 27
The long pending issue of “illegal” car and two-wheeler market located in the parking area belonging to the Improvement Trust shopping complex on the Bathinda-Goniana road, reached an agreement after the Improvement Trust authorities today floated a proposal for shifting them to Transport Nagar on the Goniana road.

Initially, the situation turned tense when the Improvement Trust authorities reached the market with the recovery vans and tried to tow away two-wheelers in the vans. The dealers expressing their resentment, staged protest. Sensing the situation, the authorities called up the police.

Meantime, the dealers called up Sarup Chand Singla, junior vice-president of the SAD (B) seeking his intervention. Later on, he arranged a meeting of the dealers with the Improvement Trust authorities at the trust office.

At the meeting, the matter was resolved after the dealers were assured of the allotment of shops in Transport Nagar.

Giving details of the offer, Gursewak Singh, president of the car dealers’ association, said, “They have assured us of allotting 15x75 plots, while the two- wheeler dealers will be given a plot of 12x30. The price would be fixed around Rs 4,200 per square yard. They would allot only land, the building is supposed to be constructed by us.”

It has been reported that the authorities have taken two-and-half months’ time for the allotment. Meanwhile, the dealers have been allowed four months to run their business on the existing place but with the condition of Rs 10 per vehicle as parking charges. The installments will have to be paid within three years.

When contacted, the administrator, Improvement Trust, K.K. Yadav said, “Though we had publicly announced the orders restraining them from the illegal use of land but we took this step to resolve the matter. After completing the formalities advertisements would be published after which interested parties will have to submit applications.”

It may be mentioned that there was resentment among the dealers. Alleging police for the loss, which they suffered today, many of them said, “Police threatened our customers who left the place and we earned nothing today.”

Bathinda, April 27
Mushrooming of pathology labs has not really improved the quality of medical tests, as many cases of wrong diagnosis have come to light. Though, many a diagnosis may not be harmful, but some like in the case of Mansi, could prove fatal.

Mansi was directed by a physician to take a renal function test. The test, conducted at a well-known laboratory, showed all values of the test within normal limits. Suspecting the result, the doctor advised her to repeat the test at another laboratory. The second test confirmed that she was suffering from chronic renal failure.

A city resident, Parveen Goyal, always thought his blood group was O negative. For the renewal of his driving licence, he was asked to get his blood group tested again. It turned out to be O positive. The third laboratory again showed it to be O negative. Frustrated, Parveen Goyal got it tested at the local civil hospital and finally found that it was O positive. Such cases are endless, with private labs giving wrong results. Areas like Mall Road and G.T. Road within the city are full of many such laboratories, which conduct blood, urine and stool tests.

Every laboratory should have an MD in biochemistry, an MD in pathology and an MD in microbiology under one roof. But even the good laboratories have only an MD in pathology and part-time technicians, who work in the hospitals or have left the jobs, to do biochemistry and microbiology tests. Proper facilities for these tests exist only in medical institutes like the PGI, Chandigarh, DMC and CMC, Ludhiana. The pathologists do not conduct histo-pathology tests.

The simple haematology test, which include HB, TLC, and DLC are crucial for the diagnosis of serious diseases like cancer and thalesemia. It is not possible for a pathologist to see more than 20 slides. But they see more than 40 slides. Errors occur due to pressure of work.

The Vidal test for typhoid should be done by dilution method and it takes 24 hours. In some labs, the test is done by the slide method. Even when the patient is suffering from influenza, the slide shows strains of typhoid. The report is given within half an hour. The doctor, going by the report, starts strong antibiotics, which may lead to renal failure or death.

Even blood culture is done under aseptic conditions.

Doctors are dragged to courts for wrong diagnosis, but the laboratories responsible for the wrong test results go scot-free. Dr Amrit Sethi, former president, Indian Medical Association, has urged the government to exercise control on the working of these laboratories.

Moga, April 27
The Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy here started a project to conduct research and prepare a drug that would minimise the risk of heart problems among the diabetics.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under its research promotion scheme, patronised by the University Grants Commission, had approved the research project titled ‘Implication of Renin Angiotensin system in Diabetic Cardio-myopathy’ this month and had also sanctioned an amount of Rs 19.87 lakh for the same.

Informing this to TNS, Praveen Garg, chairman of the managing committee of the college, said Dr Manjit Singh, working as director, Academics, in the college would be the principal investigator of the project.

An expert in pharmacology, Manjit had written over 125 books and research papers for various journals. During his long career in the field, he also bagged several prestigious awards like NS Dhalla Award, OD Gulati Prize, PP Suriya Kumari Prize, Uvnas Prize and G Achari Prize among others.

“This is for the first time that such a prestigious research project to formulate a new drug has been sanctioned to any private pharmacy college of north India,” Garg claimed.

A research associate, associated with this project, claimed that Renin Angiotensin system and its end-products may be involved in diabetes induced Cardio-myopathy.

However, experiments were required to establish this theory, which would help to develop drug therapy for diabetic Cardio-myopathy, he said. The research would broadly be based on the affects of Angiotensin converting enzymes in Cardio-myopathy.

It may be mentioned that diabetes had of late become one of the major health problems across the country, particularly in north India, which often leads to Nephropathy, Neuropathy, Retinopathy and Cardio-myopathy. And, among these symptoms, Cardio-myopathy was more dangerous as it directly relates to heart problems, and often leads to the death of the diabetic patient if the patient does not take precautionary measures.

If successful, the research project would mark a new era in the drug therapy of this disease and would help in saving millions of lives every year in the country.

Ferozepur, April 27
Non-government organisations (NGOs) were playing a vital role in eradicating social evils like female foeticide, drug addiction and dowry system from the society, for which they need encouragement and support from the government, stated Sukhpal Singh Nannu, chief parliamentary secretary ( revenue), while presiding over the installation ceremony of the office-bearers of the citizen welfare club here on Saturday.

On the occasion, he lauded the significant contribution of the club in promoting communal harmony and bringing awareness about various social evils like drug abuse.

He even announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh from his discretionary quota for the club.

Nannu said his aim was to bring revolutionary development in the border town, especially in rural segments that had remained neglected over the years.

Dr Nirmal Joshi, Surinder Sharma, S.P. Jakhu, H.S. Bawa, M.S. Besi and other members of the club were present on the occasion. Schoolchildren presented a beautiful cultural programme at the function.

Bathinda, April 27
The brother of a prospective bridegroom was allegedly thrashed by the family members of the girl after he refused to marry her, here on Saturday.

Police sources said that Shakun, a resident of Harpal Nagar, working with a bank in Delhi, complained that he was standing outside his residence, when six people came to him in a car and beat him up. They then took him along. After driving for half an hour, they dumped him near the Civil Lines police post.

Meanwhile, the Civil Lines police said that Ram Lal, the father of the would-be bride, also lodged a complaint saying that Shakun’s elder brother had refused to marry his daughter just a few days back which had led to loss of face for them in the city.

The marriage was fixed for April 28 but after the boy refused, his daughter had suffered mental shock. He also demanded action against the boy and his family members.

On the other hand, Shakun was not ready to disclose the reason for the incident, but the investigation officer said that proceedings had been initiated to ascertain the facts.

Ferozepur, April 27
The Ferozeshah Anglo-Sikh War Museum, constructed in memory of the valiant Sikh soldiers who died during the Anglo-Sikh wars of 1845-46, today portrays a picture of apathy and neglect. The museum today stands alone on the actual war site where the two Anglo-Sikh wars were fought in the nearby villages of Sabraon, Mudki and Ferozeshah.

Located on the banks of twin canals near Ghal Khurd village on the Ferozepur-Moga road, this memorial now looks neglected amidst a sprawling 4.5 acre of lawns with dried grass and defunct fountains. It seems as if the successive governments at the state and Centre have escaped responsibility in a similar fashion, as did the Sikh generals, who deserted their brave soldiers during the Anglo-Sikh wars.  

The moment you enter this monument, you discover two antique cannons with broken wooden wheels standing guard on the main gate. Much to your amusement, inside this neglected building, one finds priceless collection of murals and wall paintings depicting battle scenes and portraits by renowned painters like Kirpal Singh and Jaswat Singh.

Huge portraits of Maharani Jinda, Sham Singh Attariwala, Faquir Azizudin, Diwan Mool Chand, Lord Hardinge, Lord Gough and Lord Dalhousie add grandeur to the walls. The condition of all these priceless Sikh war artifacts is equally bad.

In the absence of any guide, the embossed writings on the walls guide the visitors, who visit this monument rarely. Many of the priceless pistols, out of the huge collection of weapons and arms used during the war, are reportedly missing for a long time. 

In the year 2006, a team from the Archaeological Survey of India

(ASI) had visited this site and some other memorials of immense historical and architectural importance in Ferozepur.

The team which comprised director (conservation), National Museum, New Delhi, superintending archaeologist, Chandigarh, and some other members, had admitted that this monument had a lot of heritage value and needed immediate efforts for the maintenance and conservation, but nothing has been done till date.  

An IAS officer, Kulbir Singh Sidhu, who was posted here as DC and later as commissioner in 2006, did try and make some efforts to preserve this marvel of Sikh history but without any tangible result.

Ferozepur, April 27
BSF sleuths apprehended two persons and recovered 10 kg of heroin from their possession which was being smuggled into the Indian territory on Saturday.

Sources in BSF informed that the jawans of 03 battalion, BSF, posted at Amarkot, recovered the contraband worth Rs 10 crore in the international market from the area near BOP KS Wala on Saturday.

BSF officials said the smugglers had adopted the “conceal and clear” method to smuggle the drugs under which Pakistani agents from across the border concealed the consignment at designated place in the fields, which was later cleared by their Indian counterparts.

The arrested persons have been identified as Gurlal Singh and Lal Singh, the labourers who worked in the fields of Bikar Singh, purportedly the main person behind the scene.

The sources said Bikar managed to escape just before the BSF jawans recovered the contraband hidden inside a bullock cart.