Fazilka, June 9
A liaison meeting between residents of border villages and senior officers of Border Security Force (BSF) was held at headquarters of the 20th battalion here today.

BSF DIG V.K. Sharma, along with commandant of the 20th Bn Rajiv Sinha, deputy commandant S.B.Mukherjee and assistant commandant MS Randhawa were present at the meeting.

About 100 farmers from different border villages in the Fazilka sector attended the meeting to discuss their problems and government’s viewpoint on their demands.

The main demand raised by the farmers was related to the relocation of barbed wire fencing at a distance of maximum 50 meters away from the international border.

It would enable the farmers to make optimum use of their agricultural land. At present the fencing is located at varying distances ranging up to a kilometer or even more at certain places.

On the other hand, the DIG maintained that the BSF were totally aware of this problem but the barbed wire fencing could be fixed only at a minimum distance of 150 meters as per the international laws governing the borders and accords reached between India and Pakistan.

According to these provisions, no construction including fencing could be raised within the stipulated 150 meters.

The villagers led by Mehar Singh, Darshan Ram, Kala Singh and others demanded that their pending applications for the installation of tubewells across the fencing should be cleared immediately and the present entry and exit timings from 8 am to 3 pm should be altered to 7 am to 7 pm.

The procedure of entry of farm labourers with farmers for cultivation across the fencing should be simplified. Besides, the villagers also sought permission to cultivate cotton crops across the fencing.

The farmers rued that the government had stopped compensating for crops, which was Rs 2,500 per acre, for those whose fields fell across the fencing, for the last seven years.

The then Vajpayee government had allowed compensation on the recommendations of a standing committee of Parliamentary Affairs on Defence on the account of not allowing them to cultivate tall crops due to security reasons, and to prevent intrusion and smuggling.

The farmers also pleaded that the compensation scheme be restarted and this amount should be raised to Rs 5,000 per acre in view of the rise in price index during the past seven years.

The DIG said that considering their demands, the farmers could cultivate Bt cotton variety across the fencing, which has a maximum height of about two and half feet.

The DIG revealed that with a limit of 150 meters on raising fencing, the farmers would benefit, instead of 494 acres say for an example in village Gatti number 1 in the Fazilka sector.

Citing another example near BOP Bachitar, the land across fencing would be reduced from present 332 acres to 85 acres.

He said keeping in view of the paddy season from June 10, the entry gates of fields across the fencing would remain open between 8 am to 5 pm and all applications for tubewell connections would be cleared within a fortnight.

In the end, villagers wished for such meetings every month to sort out their problems periodically.

Ferozepur, June 9
A scam of fraudulent capturing a piece of more than 60 acres of land belonging to the railways has come to light near Laluwala village in Zira sub-division of the Ferozepur district.

Some persons in connivance with the employees of the revenue department had tampered with the revenue records.

The divisional commissioner of Ferozepur, when requested by the railway authorities, had asked the deputy commissioner to look into the matter and send a detailed report as per the revenue records.

As per the details available, in the year 2005, one Harbans Kaur, wife of Gurmeet Singh, took possession of the agricultural land in question.

Later, she managed to get the registration done on her name with the help of senior officials and the employees of the revenue department.

Realising that the railways authorities could take back the possession of the land, Harbans sold it further to as many as 14 persons thereby earning good profits.

Sources revealed that some of those, who purchased the land, further leased it to State Bank of Patiala (Moga branch) to get a loan of over Rs 20 lakh in order to purchase a piece of undisputed agricultural land from local farmers.

When a senior official of the railways, posted in the divisional headquarters at Ferozepur, came to know about the fraud, he wrote a letter to the divisional commissioner requesting to investigate the matter and return the possession of the land to the railways.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the matter had also come to the notice of senior administrative officials at the Northern Railways’ headquarters in Delhi and they had sought a detailed report in this regard.

After the scam, it is learnt that the railway authorities are looking into the possibilities of preparing a fresh data of their land lying along the railway lines in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, falling under the Ferozepur division.

As per a rough estimate, the railways have more than 50,000 acres of land along the railway lines and railway stations at various places in the area.

“There is a possibility of encroachments and illegal possessions by the people because our lands are spread in vast areas and it is not possible to keep them under daily check,” revealed a senior official of the railways.

Bathinda, June 9
One step forward, followed by two steps back! The Punjab government that had ordered the restructuring of the Public Health Department for efficient working, on Monday caved in under workers’ pressure and issued notices to cancel the same.

Talking to The Tribune from his office on phone, J.R.Kundal, Principal Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation, said that he had passed the order to stay the implementation of the department structuring plan after health minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla asked him to do so.

The minister, in her recent statement, had told the workers’ delegation that the government would not implement the plan considering their problems.

Kundal said that the decision to rescind the restructuring of divisions and sub-divisions was taken by the minister, after consulting chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

According to official sources, the government’s decision to revert to the old system is aimed at making the workers happy.

It will also help to ward off any ‘negative effect’ on electoral fortunes of Shiromani Akali Dal in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, say observers. But, the move for reforms and a new system has become an exercise in futility now.

Sources also reveal that the government had ordered a merger of several existing divisions and sub-divisions to streamline their functioning, and the implementation was already in process.

However, the agitated workers had prevailed upon the minister to prevent the change that would “adversely” affect them.

Bathinda, June 9
As the election scene for the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections is hotting up, two Congress heavyweights and hopeful contenders for the Mayor’s post, Jagroop Singh Gill and Ashok Kumar today filed nomination papers at Mini-Secretariat here.

Gill is former president of Bathinda Municipal Council whereas Ashok Kumar is president of the District Congress Committee (Urban).

Hailing from village Bangi Nihal Singh Wala in the district, Jagroop Singh Gill (56) is a law graduate from Agra University and has thrice been a member of the Bathinda Municipal Council, in 1989, 1992 and 1997.

This year also, he will once again be contesting from ward number 44 of the city. He was also president of District Bar Association from 1982-84.

Observers informed that Gill is one of the most hopeful contenders for the post of city Mayor.

It is also pertinent to mention here that during the last municipal council elections in 1997, the then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had specially come to address an election rally in Parsram Nagar in favour of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) candidate, but still Gill managed to win the elections from there.

Speaking to TNS, Gill informed that if he wins the election, his first priority would be to get a separate water supply and sewerage system for his ward.

“In my ward, some areas are low lying and some are high. These problems of water supply and sewerage are a major cause of concern in my ward. Moreover if there is a separate system in place, the water supply of rest of city would also improve,” he said Ashok Kumar Pardhan is the president, DCC (Urban) and will be contesting from ward number 21.

He said, “In my ward, the water supply pipes are very old and that is why, water supply is in a bad shape. It can be known from the fact that for the last one week, there has been almost nil water supply. Even the sewerage system remains choked most of the time.”

“After winning the election, I would make sure that new water supply and sewerage pipes be installed on priority basis,” he claimed.

Bathinda, June 9
Altogether sixteen candidates filed their nominations for the forthcoming first elections to Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday which was the first day for filing nominations. Out of 16, a majority were Independent candidates.

Observers felt that the reason behind the low-turn out of the party candidates on the first day was the wait-and-watch policy adopted by them.

A number of candidates were waiting for the next move of their opponents as the SAD was yet to announce names of its eight contenders while the Congress had 23 in pocket and the BJP was yet to allot nine tickets, observers said.

The huge response of Independents candidates on the first day has fuelled the speculation that they would participate in large numbers.

As per information, SDM Bathinda, who is RO for ward number 1-12, received two nominations, one from Anup Singh from ward number 8 and another from Lachman Singh of General Samaj Party from ward number 11.

DTO Bathinda, RO for ward number 13-25, received nomination papers from Harmader Singh Master of Congress from ward number 15 and an independent Karamjeet Kaur also of ward 15 and one more candidate from ward number 22 filed their papers.

Secretary Zila Parishad, who is RO for ward number 26-37 received seven nominations of Sukhchain Singh of ward number 26, Tek Singh Khalsa of SAD (B) from 27, Lakhwinder Kaur from 34, Raj Pal Kaur from 34, Shanti Devi from ward number 35, Darshan Singh also from 35 and Shawinder Singh from ward number 36.

Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, RO for ward number 38-40 entertained four nominations from Jagroop Singh Gill belonging to Congress from ward number 44, Ravi Kumar from ward number 44, Sandep Kumar and Vinod Kumar both filed nominations from ward number 50.

During the nomination filing, presence of staff from district education office was remained a matter of talk. When asked, one of them said that they had come to support Harmander Singh Master, who recently took retirement from the DEO office.

Harmander Singh was in competition with Jagmohan Makkar, kin of SGPC chief Avtar Singh, for SAD ticket for ward number 15.

But being the close to Sarup Chand Singla, area in-charge of SAD, he managed to get the ticket.

Bathinda, June 9
The Congress party issued a second list comprising a total of 22 candidates late in the evening today.

According to today’s list, ward number 28 and 42 has been left for the Communist Party of India (CPI). After today’s list only one ward, number seven, has been left, candidate for which would be decided later on.

As per MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon, convener, Campaigning and Candidate Selection Committee, Mona Chauhan will contest from ward number 1, Manohar Lal Bansal from ward number 6, Shiv Lal from ward number nine, Usha Shastri from ward number 10, Girish Jindal from ward number 12, Jatinder Kaur Waraich from ward number 13, Amrit Pal Singh from ward number 14, Asmat Bano from ward number 16, Kanchan Bindal from ward number 19.

Jatinder Rai Khattar from ward number 24, Kamaljeet Kaur from ward number 26, Mohinder Singh from ward number 27, Balwinder Kaur Sidhu (CPI) from ward number 28, Gurdarshan Arora from ward number 30, Radhey Sham from ward number 32, Amar Singh from ward number 33, Mathura Dass from ward number 35, Krishan Chand from ward number 36, Rajinder Kumar from ward number 41, Bhupinder Singh Soni (CPI) from ward number 42, Kamaljeet Kaur from ward number 43 and Jasvir Singh Jassa from 47.

Abohar, June 9
The CM’s brother, Gurdas Singh Badal, who had once represented the Fazilka parliamentary constituency, arrived here today along with minister for jails, Hira Singh Gabria, to sort out the reported differences over seat-sharing in municipal council elections.

They held a closed-door meeting with former BJP MLA Ram Kumar Goyal, sources said. The outcome was not made public.

According to the available information, the city unit of the SAD (B) had in a meeting asked aspirants to submit applications from 15 out of 31 wards and collected some applications last month.

The party had put up its candidates from four wards in 2003 and only one of them could register a win.

The alliance partner BJP had put up candidates from the rest of wards but could win only two seats.

The BJP leaders had made it clear recently that the SAD (B) had no logic to stake its claim for 15 wards.

The BJP was going to complete its first round of ward-wise meetings in the old city on Tuesday.

Mandal president Ravi Setia along with general secretary Navneet Jaiswal, Mahila Morcha president Mona Jaiswal, Yuva Morcha president Sonu Phutela and Payal Chaudhary, district vice- president of the OBC cell, addressed well attended meetings in ward number 11, 13 and 27 during the past 24 hours.

Ravi Setia claimed that many Congress workers related to former council president Tulsi Ram Dhaulia, released recently from the sub-jail, had joined the BJP.

Reacting to it, Dhaulia and another councillor Ganpat Ram said the saffron party leaders were playing gimmicks.

Those who had “joined” the BJP were not the Congressmen but BSP workers, and they had supported BJP candidate Ram Kumar Goyal during the last Assembly elections too.

Meanwhile, the Congress had to cancel its maiden election meeting that was scheduled for today.

Local TV channels reported that MLA Sunil Jakhar had been advised rest due to high fever, so the meeting was cancelled.

Mansa, June 9
The elections for new panchayats formed after April 1 and some panchayats, whose election was rejected due to various reasons, will be held on June 22 in Mansa.

District electoral officer-cum-deputy commissioner Surjeet Singh Dhillon said in a statement here today that in Mansa district, elections for Fatehpur, Jhuneer and Nanadgarh of the Jhuneer block, Bappiana, Bhupal and newly-born Bhupal Khurd of the Bhikhi block, and Andianwali of the Budhlada block will take place on June 22.

The nomination papers for these elections will be received from June 9 to 12. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on June13 and the last date of withdrawal is June 14.

Bathinda, June 9
Remembering those killed in the Operation Blue Star, 1984, including Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Bhai Amrik Singh and General Subeg Singh, the Akali Dal 1920 organised a convention here today to discuss the incident’s religious and political effects on the Sikh community.

The convention that was attended by a number of Sikh hardliners openly blamed CM Parkash Singh Badal, BKJP eader Lal Krishna Advani and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Bhai Mohkam, convener of the Khalsa Action Committee, Jasbir Singh Rode, Inderjeet Singh, Darshan Singh Mand, Boota Singh Ran Sinh, Kanwar Pal Bittu (Dal Khalsa), Gurdev Singh, Baldev Singh Nawa Qilla, Baba Sukhchain Singh Dharampura, Ishwar Singh, son of Jarnail Singh, Mohammad Zameel-Ur-Rehman Malerkotla, chief of the All India Milli Council, and Ravi Inder Singh, chief of the Akali Dal 1920, were among those present on the occasion.

At the convention, some leaders shared the moments that they spent with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and spoke at length about him, terming him a great “visionary.” They informed that Jarnail Singh had foreseen the incident nearly a year before it took place.

Pointing at the chief minister, the leaders alleged that at present, Sikhs have become the enemies of Sikhs.

They alleged that despite Lal Krishna Advani’s acceptance that he persuaded Indira Gandhi to attack the Akal Takht, Badal was still in political alliance with him.

Speakers said the observance of the Ghallughara Divas reminds everyone of the injuries inflicted on the Sikhs and would be observed till the community survived.

Those present at the convention passed an edict that to promote the martyr movement, the Anandpur edict would be followed peacefully.

They demanded that the central government should apologise for the 1984 incident in parliament.

Bathinda, June 9
As if the erratic power supply was not enough to make the life of the city residents difficult in this hot summer, water scarcity has come to add to their woes. And this has exposed the indifferent attitude of the authorities towards public grievances.

More importantly, the present water crisis is being considered as having the power to influence the mood of voters in the forthcoming Bathinda Municipal Corporation elections which is just round the corner.

According to sources in the Municipal Corporation, there was some ‘minor’ fault in the supply line of the water tank with a capacity of 5 lakh gallons situated near the Rose Garden, which caters to the need of a major part of the city.

Due to alleged complacency of the authorities concerned, water in the tank got empty and supply to the city got disrupted from Friday evening and could not be restored even on Monday.

Known as ‘backwater’ in this region, this area is also ‘infamous’ for its contaminated underground water. In the absence of any other source of safe water, residents have been left high and dry as not even a drop of water is being received by the residents here for the past three days.

Meanwhile, the issue has got a political colour as grabbing the opportunity amid the ongoing poll season, the Congress and Independent candidates have started blaming the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for these problems.

A housewife on the Bibi Wala road, Harpreet Kaur Bhullar, rued, “Water supply has become erratic and all taps in my house have dried up, but the department concerned seems to be in a deep slumber.”

Deepak Kumar of Naamdev Nagar said he had been complaining to the MC officials about the suspension of water supply for the last three days but he had been receiving the same answer, “Work is in progress.”

When contacted, the executive officer of the BMC, Kamal Kant, said, “We are aware that people are facing a lot of problems but it was a technical fault as the sluice wall, which controls the water supply, had become free. Repair work is going on and attempts are being made to restore the supply till evening.” Till then, politics will continue to rule the roost.

Bathinda, June 9
With the rise in mercury, the residents of Railway Colony fearing drinking water crisis have lines of worries etched out on their faces.

Will there be enough water to fill the veins of the colony residents this summer? The authorities say they were ready with new tubewells to make up for the shortage.

But sadly, there is no water coming from these new installations and the old ones are not working properly.

The residents have already started raising the voices of dissent. They demanded their basic right to water in front of the Railways superintendent’s (water works) office two days back.

As for the facts, for nearly 500 houses in the colony, there are only a total of 350 water connections.

The Railway Colony residents rue that the stench from the garbage around the tubewells explains how safe the water supplied from the new tubewells would be.

“We have no other option than to install hand pumps, as the installation of Tullu pumps is banned in the colony complex,” said residents.

The contrast is glaring: residents of posh areas in the city have plenty of water to flood their gardens with timely cuts everyday, while the colony residents have no water at the peak of summer.

Railway sources say that enough water is available, but the fault lies in the motors of the tubewells.

Rajesh Arora, superintendent, water supplies, said the motors of some tubewells were not functioning, as these tubewells were over 20 years old.

He said spare parts of these faulty and outdated motors were not available in the market. Somehow, workers were at the job to find out a remedy to put the motors in working order. The water supply would be restored in a day or so, he added.

Abohar, June 9
Scores of farmers and trade union workers today gheraoed the Khuikhera police station located on the approach road that linked Bodiwala Peetha village to the Abohar-Fazilka road.

The protesters, carrying banners of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Krantikari, raised slogans and staged a dharna outside the police station for allegedly implicating its activists in a murder case.

BKU district secretary Jagjit Singh Gill, while addressing the gathering, alleged that the in charge of the police station had connived with a senior BJP leader to implicate three senior BKU activists in a murder case.

Elaborating, he said the families of two farmers, Madan Lal and Lachhi Ram, clashed over a water dispute in Jhumianwali village on May 13. Later, Madan succumbed to his injuries.

The police implicated BKU activists, Pohla Ram, Gopal Chand and Om Parkash, besides Lachhi Ram’s family in the case to settle scores.

Gill claimed that the family of Lachhi Ram had confessed in the panchayat meeting that the BKU activists were not involved but the police had booked them also.

In fact, they had spearheaded an agitation against the police after the infamous Choohriwala Dhanna incident, he alleged.

Mansa, June 9
Congress MLA from Sardoolgarh, Ajitinder Singh Moffer, has criticised the state government for suspending the OYT (Own Your Tubewell) scheme.

He termed the suspension as an injustice dealt to the farmers. “Many farmers have purchased the material and deposited the security under the scheme but they feel exploited now,” Moffer said.

The suspension of the scheme had already started taking its toll as a farmer in Bathinda district had committed suicide.

He had also applied and purchased electricity material for a connection under the scheme, Moffer informed while demanding compensation for the farmer. The Congress leader also demanded that the scheme be resumed immediately.

Mansa, June 9
The Phoenix Coaching Centre defeated the Khalsa Club to win the cricket tournament which was organised by the Punjab Police in association with the Chemists’ Association and other social organisations.

The tourney concluded at Nehru Memorial College, Mansa, on Sunday evening. Altogether 32 teams of the area took part in the tournament.

To mark the occasion, a seminar on ill effects of drugs was held. Jatinder Kumar Jain, DIG of Faridkot range, was the chief guest on the occasion. Pargat Singh, director, sports, presided over the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Jatinder Kumar Jain lauded the efforts of Mansa police against the drug menace. He said the whole society was responsible for rising trend of drugs.

Pargat Singh informed that the sports department had 400 coaches and 100 coaches had been received from the Punjab police on deputation.

Deputy Commissioner Surjeet Singh Dhillon said that drug de-addiction camps were being held in the villages.

He admitted that there was a lack of sports facilities in Mansa district. SSP Mansa M.F. Farooqi emphasised the importance of sports in eradicating drug menace.