The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

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TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Grape farming takes a backseat
Bathinda, July 15
Malwa, which once accounted for 80 per cent of the state’s total grape production, is now losing its status. Pre-monsoon showers, absence of marketing facilities and the high MSP of other crops, are all factors that have played a role in making farmers uproot the grape vines and go for other crops. During a visit to some villages in the area, the TNS team today found farmers uprooting the grape vines with spade and other tools. These farmers said they were suffering losses every year.

Farmers uprooting grape vines in Poohla village of Bathinda district on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

‘Provide infrastructure to schools’
Bathinda, July 15
Seeking streamlining of education system in the Punjab, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP), Bathinda unit, has written a letter to the chief minister Parkash Singh Badal demanding immediate steps from his government to give a boost to education in the state.

Outplaying social evils

Artistes performing nukkad play “Masoom” to create awareness in the Malwa region against social evils like dowry and female foeticide at Guru Nanak Dev Public School in Bathinda on Tuesday. The programme has been arranged by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Punjab. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

Here, I go!

Beat the heat: Finding no respite in the scorching summer, a boy is seen jumping into the cool waters of the Sirhind canal to cool himself in Bathinda on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

Unhygienic pickle factory unearthed
Just the tip of an iceberg
Abohar, July 15
Unearthing of a pickle factory being run under an unhygienic cattle shed in Sunder Nagari here yesterday was just the tip of an iceberg, well informed sources said. The health department team had sealed containers, but there was no provision for sealing the under-ground tank that contained about 50 quintals of sub-standard stinking pickles, the officials were quoted as saying.

Developing drug-free zone
College seeks help from traders
Abohar, July 15
In an unprecedented move, the new principal of DAV College, B.B. Sharma, today invited all shopkeepers, who are doing business on both sides of the road that links the campus with state highway, over a cup of tea and sought their sincere co-operation in developing an environment free of drugs.

Polls for Zila Parishad chairman
HC orders stay on elections
Mansa, July 15
The election for the chairmanship of the Zila Parishad, Mansa, which was scheduled to be held on July 16, has been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court today.

Jail inmate dies of TB
Bathinda, July 15
An inmate of the Central Jail Bathinda, Mahinder Singh (60), undergoing life imprisonment, died of tuberculosis here today.

Youth killed in road mishap
Bathinda, July 15
In a tragic car-bus accident, one person was killed while another sustained severe injuries on the Talwandi Sabo road, near Bathinda on Tuesday.

Mobile hospital holds second camp
Bathinda, July 15
The Sewa Bharati, Bathinda, which recently started mobile hospital, organised its second camp today at Dhobiyana Basti and Gurdwara situated at Beant Nagar. Gurdev Singh inaugurated the camp.

Body of youth found in Sirhind canal
Bathinda, July 15
Volunteers of Naujwan Welfare Society, an NGO, today found the deposed body of Mandeep Singh (24) of village Dhandra in Ludhiana district from Sirhind canal in Nathana police area.

Van Mahotsav
Nightrider group clinches top award
Abohar, July 15
Venita Singh, officiating principal of the DAV College of Education here, exhorted the ETT students to help develop pollution free environment in their respective locality and plant ornamental saplings to enhance greenery wherever it was possible.

ETT students celebrating Van Mahotsav in the DAV College of Education, Abohar, on Tuesday.
ETT students celebrating Van Mahotsav in the DAV College of Education, Abohar, on Tuesday. Photo: Raj Sadosh

PYC goes hi-tech
Mansa, July 15
The Punjab Youth Congress (PYC), Mansa, has launched its own website. General secretary of the PYC, Bikram Singh Moffer, inaugurated the website.

50-year-old run over by train
Moga, July 15
A 50-year-old man was crushed to death under a train here this morning. The victim has been identified as Krishan Kumar, a resident of Mathra Nagri of the town, and was reportedly mentally disturbed for the past few months due to his poor financial condition.

	Vigilance Bureau sleuths strike SBI chief manager held on graft charges Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Muktsar, July 15 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) today nabbed the chief manager of the State Bank of India, Muktsar, Sukhwinder Singh, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a local firm. As per the details available, Binder Pal Singh, proprietor of a company, Bhai Lalo Woodworks, had a credit limit of Rs 5 lakh in the SBI. He used the credit facility within limit but when he fell on bad days and could not repay the loan, the bank gave the contract to recover the money to a Ludhiana-based firm and take possession of his property. After selling off the property, the amount due to the bank was to be deposited back along with firm's commission which was also to be deducted from the amount gained by sale of Singh's property. After being pressurized by the recovery agents, Binder Pal deposited Rs 1,95,000 in the bank account. Further, one Rajinder Kumar, his relative, deposited a cheque worth Rs 4,26,344 in the bank account on April 18 this year, which was dishonoured. Further, while depositing the money with the bank, the complainant had paid Rs 10,000 to the chief manager as bribe on that day. But despite shelling out the bribe money, the credit limit was not renewed. Then, on the suggestion of a field officer, he approached Sukhwinder Singh, who ready to settle the matter on a further payment of Rs 10,000 as bribe. As per the settlement, he was called today with Rs 5,000 and an application for the renewal of the credit limit. The complainant reported the matter to the Vigilance Bureau officials, who today caught the chief manager red-handed with the Rs 5000 in cash recovered from his office. At the time of the arrest, the police had arranged two official witnesses, namely, Rakesh Goyal, medical officer, civil hospital, Muktsar and Bikkar Singh, agriculture development officer, Muktsar. Confirming the details, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Vigilance), Muktsar, Talwinderjeet Singh said, "The accused has been booked under sections 7, 13(2)88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. A case has been registered with the region's VB head-office in Ferozepur. The accused will be presented in the court on Wednesday."
	Rains good for paddy, but not for cotton Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 15 The monsoon, which arrived 20 days in advance in Punjab and parts of northern India, is proving to be beneficial to agriculture. However, Gurmit Singh Buttar, Director, Regional Research Centre, Bathinda, said that in some parts, the rainfall might not excite cotton growers and those depending on particular food items. This particularly will boost the paddy crop cultivation in the state, Buttar added. According to PAU experts, the distribution of rain in the month of June was fairly even with most parts of the northern India, especially the Punjab, receiving above normal rainfall in the month. Buttar said with the occurrence of rainfall, the significant increase in relative humidity was observed. The mean relative humidity was near about double during that particular period, that is 83 per cent against the normal of 46 per cent. After that, in the first week of July, both the maximum and minimum temperatures were below normal by nearly six degrees Celsius and two degrees Celsius, respectively. Besides paddy, he said, the rainfall will also be good for sugarcane and horticultural crops. However, all these might not excite cotton and some vegetable crops. He advised the farmers to drain out excess water from their fields and spray the crops only during clear days. He said that in view of the normal monsoon expected this season, the paddy yield was likely to increase. The transplantation of paddy would be helped with the current rainfall. Buttar further informed that the fall in temperature would benefit the paddy sowing and the standing crops. The rain will also benefit the standing fodder crop in the state, he added. As per the official estimates, about 84 blocks in Punjab had been seriously affected due to declining water levels. However, the experts predict that if the monsoon continues like this, the farmers can surely expect a bumper crop with around 500-600 mm of rainfall. “Early monsoons coupled with increase in minimum support price for normal grade paddy by Rs 105 to Rs 850 per quintal for this year, announced by the government last month, is expected to give a boost to paddy production,” Buttar said.
	Cops sheltering culprits, say kin of slain ASI Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Ferozepur, July 15 Family members of a former assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the police, who was murdered four weeks back following a row over property at village Nazamiwala, had alleged that the local police was not investigating the case properly and was sheltering the alleged culprits named in the FIR, besides, trying to implicate the son of the deceased on charges of murdering his father. ASI Jaswant Singh was allegedly shot two firearm bullets on the abdominal part of his body when he was sleeping on the intervening night of June 17 and 18 this year. The local police, on the complaint of the family members of the deceased, had lodged a case of murder against Harbans Singh, his wife Rajwant Kaur, Kulwinder Singh alias Babba, Arjan Singh, Kala Singh, Kashmir Singh and Lakha Singh, but no one has been arrested so far. Barjinder Bir Singh, son of the deceased, had moved a petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging that the SHO of Makhu police station, Ashwani Kumar, was trying to implicate him in the case of the murder of his father by manipulating with the accused and demanded a fair probe by the CBI or any other independent agency. The case would come up for hearing before the High Court on Wednesday. Barjinder Bir Singh, while talking to The Tribune, said that he met the SSP, DIG and DGP of the police demanding the arrest of culprits as the rest of his family members also feared a threat to their life from them, but no one took to his request seriously. Therefore, he was forced to move the high court demanding CBI investigation into the whole episode. He further alleged that the local police also picked up his servant from their house and forced him to give a statement that I murdered my father. "I moved the high court immediately to release my servant from the illegal detention of the police and a warrant officer was appointed for this, but minutes before this officer could reach the police station, the servant was asked to run away," he added. His mother Harbhajan Kaur said, "I have already lost my husband and the police was trying to snatch my son by implicating him in a fake case." The old woman also demanded immediate transfer of the local SHO and demanded an independent probe.
	Grape farming takes a backseat Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 15 Malwa, which once accounted for 80 per cent of the state’s total grape production, is now losing its status. Pre-monsoon showers, absence of marketing facilities and the high MSP of other crops, are all factors that have played a role in making farmers uproot the grape vines and go for other crops. During a visit to some villages in the area, the TNS team today found farmers uprooting the grape vines with spade and other tools. These farmers said they were suffering losses every year. Sharing their experience, the farmers said that Malwa used to produce 80 per cent of the total grapes in Punjab. But this time, untimely rains and storms resulted in losses for them. Because of the changing climate, 90 per cent of the total standing grapes have become rotten. Replying to queries, they said that for the past some years, the contract rate of the plain fields had become higher, because due to the losses, no one was willing to take grape vines on a contract basis. The farmers also blamed the attitude of the government department concerned for the present condition. Atma Singh of village Poohla, who had removed grape vines from his farm last year, rued, “The government never paid attention to the sale of grapes due to which we suffered a lot. This attitude of the government has forced me to convert the grape farms into wheat yielding farms.” “I had planted and nursed the grape vines in four acres of land, but in the absence of proper marketing facility and its perishable nature, I did not get a good response. It would be better if the government takes interest in its purchase and helps in delivering it to either distilleries or markets markets outside,” said Jeevan Singh of Tungwali village. Agriculturists and horticulturists say that the hot and dry spell of Malwa region had proved to be beneficial for the grape producers. But untimely rains and storms have turned their dreams sour. When contacted, director, regional station, Punjab Agriculture University, Bathinda. G.S. Buttar, said, “Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala and Sangrur were the districts of Malwa where around 1000 hectares of the total 1200 hectares of the state’s grape farms exist. But now, the market and weather both have been creating problems for the cultivators resulting in huge losses. As far as the reason for taking up other crops is concerned, factors like the high MSP of other crops like wheat, paddy and cotton can not be ruled out.”
	‘Provide infrastructure to schools’ Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 15 Seeking streamlining of education system in the Punjab, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP), Bathinda unit, has written a letter to the chief minister Parkash Singh Badal demanding immediate steps from his government to give a boost to education in the state. A 15-member delegation of the organisation led by district convener Ashutosh Tiwari, today met Bathinda additional deputy commissioner Upjiit Brar at his office and handed over the letter comprising a 21-point charter of demands. Talking to TNS, Tiwari said that education system in the state was in shambles and needed measures from the state government which had promised several steps in this regard at the time of Assembly elections. He said that the organisation demanded that instead of giving Rs 5 crore to Adarsh schools, the government should provide basic infrastructure to all the existing government schools. In the election manifesto, the chief minister had promised to increase the scholarship for SC/ST students by 100 per cent, and the promise must be fulfilled soon, Tiwari said and added that hostels for SC/ST students should also be opened in the state. He further said that steps towards privatising ITIs should be stopped, instead basic infrastructure should be provided to ITIs. The parishad’s other demands include status of Central University to the Panjab University, scrapping of ban on the students council elections, check on mushrooming of Punjab Technical University centres, an end on the possibility of giving recognition to private universities in the state and check on a private university opened in Jalandhar. The ABVP district convener also said that the organisation would stage a dharna in support of their demands in front of the DC office on July 30. He threatened to launch an intense agitation if the government adopts an indifferent attitude towards their demands. The delegation included city president Rajesk Kumar and other activists of parishad, namely, Sanny Bhatia, Jatin Sharma, Rommik, Illu, Deepak and Vikash Pandey.
	Unhygienic pickle factory unearthed Just the tip of an iceberg Our Correspondent Abohar, July 15 Unearthing of a pickle factory being run under an unhygienic cattle shed in Sunder Nagari here yesterday was just the tip of an iceberg, well informed sources said. The health department team had sealed containers, but there was no provision for sealing the under-ground tank that contained about 50 quintals of sub-standard stinking pickles, the officials were quoted as saying. For stern action, there would be a long wait for lab tests reports, sources added. There were six more such pickle units in the sub-division, informed sources indicated. According to information gathered from different sources, the health department had been evasive to scores of representations mailed by consumer activists, NGOs, besides the comprehensive reports that media carried during the outgoing summer season. The reports alleged that the officials were hand-in-glove with the elements that had been manufacturing ice candies, ice-cream, kulfi, ice balls on large scale using sub-standard material not only in slum areas but in villages too. The sale of such adulterated material had again shot up following reopening of educational institutions through rehris, consumer activists rued. The department is yet to reveal whether such small-scale units were ever subjected to checking. The officials had confirmed that potable water was not being supplied in urban and rural areas. Then how could products based on water be fair?

Developing drug-free zone
College seeks help from traders
Our Correspondent

Abohar, July 15
In an unprecedented move, the new principal of DAV College, B.B. Sharma, today invited all shopkeepers, who are doing business on both sides of the road that links the campus with state highway, over a cup of tea and sought their sincere co-operation in developing an environment free of drugs.

Sharma said neither sale nor use of tobacco-based goods or alcoholic substances would be permitted near the campus. The students or strangers should not be allowed to stand under the sheds of any shop. The students would be prevented sternly by college staff from indulging in unethical activities and non-students would face the music, he made it clear. The college would also be seeking assistance from administration to fight against smokers and eve teasers. The Apex Court and central government had issued specific instructions in this connection and the same should be implemented in letter and spirit, he said.

The principal also desired that shopkeepers should remove all kinds of temporary encroachments that cause hindrance in smooth flow of traffic. The display boards outside the shops should be put closer to the shutters and dustbins must be used to ensure cleanliness near the campus.

The shopkeepers, while welcoming the gesture, said only today had they felt that they too were a part and parcel of the DAV campus and would sincerely cooperate in developing a drug-free zone besides adhering to cleanliness in the area.

Polls for Zila Parishad chairman
HC orders stay on elections
Parmod Mehta

Mansa, July 15
The election for the chairmanship of the Zila Parishad, Mansa, which was scheduled to be held on July 16, has been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court today.

This stay was given by a bench of Justice K.S. Garewal and Justice Daya Chaudhary.

MLA Sardoolgarh, Ajitinder Singh Moffar, had filed a civil writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the state of Punjab through secretary, rural development and panchayat, director, rural development and panchayat, Punjab State Election Commission, additional deputy commissioner (general) Mansa, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, former minister, Dilraj Singh, son of Balwinder Singh Bhunder.

According to the petitioner, the reservation categories for the office of chairman Zila Parishads was finalised on May 14, 2008.

In accordance with this notification, the office of chairman of Zila Parishad, Mansa, was reserved for women, but on May 29, the office of the chairman Zila Parishad, Mansa was changed from women to general category. This change was kept a secret which was not disclosed till now.

Jail inmate dies of TB
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 15
An inmate of the Central Jail Bathinda, Mahinder Singh (60), undergoing life imprisonment, died of tuberculosis here today.

As per the details available, he had been convicted in a case of murder. The case was registered on May 13, 2003, at the Kotbhai police station in Muktsar district under sections 302, 148 and 149 of the IPC. He was a resident of village Chotiyan in Muktsar district.

Jail sources said that he was arrested in a case of murder which took place in a land related dispute along with 10 convicts in the case. He was sent to Ferozepur Central Jail on August 18, 2007 from where, on February 23 this year, he was sent to the Central Jail in Bathinda.

He was suffering from TB and had acute respiratory problems for which he had been undergoing medical treatment. On Sunday, his condition became critical and on Monday he was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, where he breathed his last at 3.30 am on Tuesday.

After conducting the postmortem under the supervision of executive officer Karnail Singh, the body was handed over to the family members of the deceased. Confirming the facts, Jail Superintendent L.S. Jakhar said, “He was suffering from the disease that was chronic and we had been providing him with proper medical facilities.”

	Youth killed in road mishap Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 15 In a tragic car-bus accident, one person was killed while another sustained severe injuries on the Talwandi Sabo road, near Bathinda on Tuesday. As per the details, the two were going in their Zen car, when all of a sudden, the car rammed into a Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) bus coming from the other side. Then the car hit a tree and Shamsher Singh (30) of LIG flats, Model Town, died on the spot. Meanwhile, Balwinder Singh (19) of the MIG flats, Bathinda, sustained severe injuries. According to sources, due to the accident, the beehive on the tree was hit and bees attacked Balwinder causing him severe injuries. The deceased and injured both were taken to Civil Hospital Bathinda, where after conducting the postmortem, body was handed over to the family members. Family members of the deceased said that he was recently engaged for wedding. The police has registered a case against the driver of the bus. It may be mentioned that wheels going berserk has become a common feature in the state and its adjoining areas including Bathinda.
	Mobile hospital holds second camp Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 15 The Sewa Bharati, Bathinda, which recently started mobile hospital, organised its second camp today at Dhobiyana Basti and Gurdwara situated at Beant Nagar. Gurdev Singh inaugurated the camp. Speaking on the occasion, chief of the organisation Arun Midha said that such camps aimed at providing health facilities and services to the people living below poverty line (BPL). General secretary of the organisation, K.K. Garg informed that the hospital would be organised again on coming Friday and the camps would be held on every Tuesdays and Fridays. Gobind Maheswari said that third camp of the mobile hospital would be organised at Janta Nagar. The mobile hospital will provide medical care to the people six days in a week. The camps would be organised at Udham Singh Nagar on Mondays and Thursdays, at Dhobiyana Basti and Beant Nagar on Tuesdays and Fridays and at Janta Nagar on Wednesdays, he said.
	Body of youth found in Sirhind canal Tribune News Service Bathinda, July 15 Volunteers of Naujwan Welfare Society, an NGO, today found the deposed body of Mandeep Singh (24) of village Dhandra in Ludhiana district from Sirhind canal in Nathana police area. According to the NGO volunteers, soon after receiving the information about the body, they rushed towards the spot and pulled it out of the canal. The body was taken to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, where after enquiring about his whereabouts, his parents were called up. Family members of the deceased said that he along with his friend had left home on July 8 for pilgrimage to Hemkunt Sahib. Till July 12 he was in touch with the family but later, his mobile remained switched off. After the postmortem, Nathana police initiating the inquest proceedings.
	Van Mahotsav Nightrider group clinches top award Our Correspondent Abohar, July 15 Venita Singh, officiating principal of the DAV College of Education here, exhorted the ETT students to help develop pollution free environment in their respective locality and plant ornamental saplings to enhance greenery wherever it was possible. She was speaking during the Van Mahotsav that was celebrated by the students to make the campus beautiful. A competition in flower decoration was also organised among six teams on the occasion. The competing teams cleaned every corner of the campus before decorating the same aesthetically. The Nightrider group bagged the first prize in the contest while the Seven-star group secured the second place.