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Coal scarcity key factor
Rise in brick prices hits construction biz
Bathinda, September 14
The booming construction industry here faces a crisis, as brick prices have witnessed unprecedented rise in the last few months. Industry players apprehend that "uncontrolled" hike can affect the industry adversely.

Happy ride
Luxury taxi system in the offing
Bathinda, September 14
Commuters of Jalandhar, Mohali, Ludhiana and Amritsar have heaved a sigh of relief as it has been decided that a luxury taxi system would be introduced in Punjab within the next two months in the first phase.

Over 1200 blood donors honoured in Bathinda
Bathinda, September 14
Over 1200 donors were honoured and close to 250 persons donated blood at the festival titled ‘Mela Khoondaniyan Da’ organised by the United Welfare Society here today.
A choreography on female foeticide, ‘Mainu Kukh’ch Na Katal Karo’ in progress at Mela Khoondaniyan Da in Bathinda on Sunday. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

‘Murder mystery solved’
Bathinda, September 14
With the arrest of the three out of the six accused including a kabbadi player and recovery of the articles used in crime, the Bathinda CIA staff today claimed to have cracked the mystery shrouding the murder of Gurpreet Singh of Dialpura, who was shot dead three months back.

Ferozepur feeder in need of repairs
Sriganganagar/Abohar, September 14
The Ferozepur feeder that is known as lifeline” of thousands of farmers in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts was found damaged at about 300 points, Rajasthan Kisan Sangharsh Samiti spokesman Subhash Sehgal said.

Ganpati Bappa Morya... Amid the chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Agle Baras Phir Jaldi Aana,” city residents bidding adieu to Lord Ganesha on Sunday, bringing an end to the ten-day long festival. Devotees in large numbers took part in the idol immersion ceremony that took place at the Sirhand canal in Bathinda. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

Makhan thanks voters
Moga, September 14
Youth Akali leader Barjinder Singh Brar alias Makhan Brar, son of senior party leader Jathedar Tota Singh, who is all set to become the president of the local body thanked the local residents for voting the SAD-BJP alliance to a landslide victory in the elections held here today.

Senior citizens felicitated
Bathinda, September 14
The Upkar Vriddh Sewa Samiti felicitated senior citizens of the city during a ceremony, which included a musical programme, held here today in the evening.

Sarpanch killed in road accident
Barnala, September 14
Sarpanch of village Jungsar Kothe under Shaina block was killed in a road accident today. According to sources, the mishap took place in the afternoon when the deceased, Ghanshyam Das, along with his brother Harichand was going somewhere on a motorcycle.

Trauma relief measures for flood victims
Abohar, September 14
“The Bangalore-headquartered Art of Living Foundation headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has, through its volunteer network throughout the country, mobilised relief materials worth Rs 10 crore for the victims of floods in Bihar.

SAD sweeps Badhni Kalan nagar panchayat polls
Badhni Kalan, September 14
The SAD has won nine out of the 11 seats in the nagar panchayat elections of this township that were held today. The polling in two wards was cancelled following reports of alleged booth capturing.

	SAD, BJP sweep Moga, Muktsar local body polls Large-scale violence in Moga; Polling in ward 4 countermanded, repoll on Tuesday Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, September 14 The municipal council (MC) elections of this politically sensitive town held today might have been marred by unprecedented violence but the results have provided the ruling SAD-BJP alliance with reasons to rejoice. The SAD has won 18 seats while the BJP and the independent candidates got eight and four seats respectively, out of the total 31 wards. The polling process at the ward number 4 has been cancelled following reports of violence. Violence on a large scale was reported in this ward where Gulwinder Singh, son-in-law of the SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar, was in the fray. Hundreds of youths, led by Inderjit Singh alias Dimple and Tejinder Pal Singh alias Sony, both sons of the SGPC chief, allegedly ransacked the polling camp of Surinder Singh Goga, the rival candidate. They thrashed him and his son and opened fire in air before capturing the polling station forcibly. The presiding officer Jagtar Singh and assistant presiding officer Iqbal Singh were also beaten up while the police force on duty stood as mute spectators. Jagtar suffered a mild heart attack and fell unconscious. He and his colleague were admitted to the district hospital. However, they were reported to be out of danger. The youths beat up Tarundeep Singh, son of Goga, with revolver buts. He was hospitalised and was out of danger, stated a family member. It may be mentioned that Goga had already filed a petition in the High Court fearing threat to life following which the state government provided him with security. But his security personnel also remained mute spectators. Eyewitnesses said local SDM Lakhmir Singh, who was the returning officer, was also not allowed to enter the polling station and was roughed up by the youths. However, an official of the local administration denied any such incident. Both the sons of Makkar, along with the youths accompanying them, roughed up media persons also and snatched their cameras. The matter was reported to the district magistrate Satwant Singh Johal, who had marked a magisterial probe against them. When contacted on phone, Makkar admitted that his sons were present on the spot because his son-in-law was fighting the elections but denied that his sons indulged into any kind of violence. He said that as per his knowledge, Goga and his supporters had fired shots in the air. “My sons are in no way involved in the incident of firing,” added the SGPC chief. The DM along with SSP Ashok Bath reached the spot over an hour after the violence broke out. He countermanded the polling to this ward, which would now be conducted on September 16. When DM reached the spot, the main gate of the polling station was locked from inside. The SSP had suspended seven cops for negligence of duty and initiated a departmental inquiry against them. Johal also asked the SSP to lodge an FIR in the whole incident of violence. Electoral malpractices were also reported from few other wards of the town. Intimidation of voters and polling officials by armed goons, prevention of voters from exercising their franchise and incidents of mild cane-charge were also reported from different parts of the town. However, the DM claimed that barring ward number 4, the process of polling was peaceful in the rest of the town.
	Official manhandled, repoll in ward 22 Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Muktsar, September 14 Amidst allegations of rigging and throttling democracy, the SAD-BJP coalition grabbed 21 Municipal Committee seats, losing one to an independent candidate backed by the ruling SAD. Meanwhile, due to the allegations of booth capturing and scuffles, the election for one ward has been countermanded. It may be mentioned that on September 4, the day of filing nominations, Congress workers had accused the area in-charge of SAD and a member of Zila Parishad of using muscle power and tearing off their nomination papers. They had also alleged that the policemen present at the spot were mute spectators. Due to this, they had announced the boycott of the polls. After the declaration of 19 seats bagged by the SAD-BJP combine unopposed, the elections for the rest of the four wards (ward number 8, 16, 20, 22) were held here today. During a random survey of the booths, it was observed that the voters were complaining that their votes had already polled been by someone else. As per the information available, the ruling alliance candidates and their senior leaders tried their best to wrest these remaining seats through an internal settlement till last night. Sources disclosed that ward number 8, which was allotted to the BJP candidate, Jaswinder Kaur, has been lost to an independent candidate, Usha Rani, who reportedly had SAD backing, just due to the pre-settlement. Meanwhile, it was informed that in ward number 20, the fight was between an independent and a BJP candidate. The independent candidate bowed out due to the pressure from the party in power. Due to a complaint from ward number 22, where supporters of Manohar Lal (BJP) allegedly thrashed an independent candidate Manish Dua and his kin including females, the elections were countermanded and a repoll would be held. Ironically, a Naib Tehsildar, deputed as assistant returning officer, was also manhandled in the process. Karanveer Singh, an independent candidate, who lost from ward number 16, alleged that senior police officers were hand-in-glove with SAD (B) activists. He further alleged that they were forced to leave the booths as SAD musclemen, coming in groups, were frightening them. results: Ward number 1: Harpal Singh (SAD), Ward 2: Harjeet Kaur (SAD), Ward 3: Narinder Kumar (SAD), Ward 4: Shashi Wadhwa (SAD), Ward 5: Preet Kamal (SAD), Ward 6: Jagdeep Singh (SAD), Ward 7: Rajinder Singh, Ward 9: Ram Singh (SAD), Ward 10: Mitt Singh (SAD), Ward 11: Charanjeet Kaur (BJP), Ward 12: Sukhdev Singh (SAD), Ward 13: Jaswant Rai (SAD), Ward 14: Lachhmi Devi (BJP), Ward 15: Gurinder Singh (SAD), Ward 17: Satpal Pathela (BJP), Ward 18: Sushil Kumar (BJP), Ward 19: Reena Rani, Ward 21: Surjeet Kaur, Ward 23: Divya—all unopposed Today’s results: Ward 20: Randeep Kumar Kamra (BJP), Ward 16: Dalip Singh (SAD), Ward 8: Usha Rani (Independent).
	Coal scarcity key factor Rise in brick prices hits construction biz Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, September 14 The booming construction industry here faces a crisis, as brick prices have witnessed unprecedented rise in the last few months. Industry players apprehend that "uncontrolled" hike can affect the industry adversely. According to industry sources, prices of bricks have risen sharply in the last couple of months. A load of bricks comprising 3,000 that cost Rs 6,000 four months ago now stands at Rs 9,000. This is an all-time high. "The brick prices go unchecked and this will not augur well for the industry. Six months ago when we started a housing project the price was just Rs 5,600," says Piyush Mittal of Ansal Mittal Constructions. Prem Narang, who had just started construction work of his house, feels that brick rates were all set to rise further with the brick kiln owners in the state contemplating ways to deal with increased coal prices due to floods in Bihar. Coal rates have been rising continuously for the last couple of months. The ongoing shortage is expected to fuel the hike further as Bihar floods have affected transportation. Around two months ago, coal was available for Rs 5,200 per tonne and the price has now increased to Rs 9,500. "We have now learnt that the rates would increase to Rs 11,000 per tonne. If we get coal at such a high price when we re-start operations in November, we will have to increase brick prices also to Rs 2,700 per thousand," said K.S. Lali, secretary of the Punjab Brick Kiln Owners Association. Over 2,500 kilns in the state had stopped operations a month in advance this year and also delayed their schedule of re-opening by more than a month on account of coal shortage. The problem of shortage has only increased in the past few months with increasing demand coming from furnaces and users of hard coke as well. Decline in production at Coal India hit coal-consuming industry badly. Besides, supplies from China, too, had slowed down due to the recent concluded Olympic games at Beijing. Worried over the grim scenario, owners of kilns fear the situation would worsen when kilns in various states, including Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, restart operations. In Bathinda and other adjoining districts of the state, brick kiln owners have also decided to stop sale of bricks for three days from September 23. "We are worried we may not be able to function smoothly this time. In the past, we have been unable to effect a proportionate increase in brick rates. But now, if supplies and prices do not show a favourable trend, we will have to take a decision on another hike in prices," says Lali.
	Happy ride Luxury taxi system in the offing Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, September 14 Commuters of Jalandhar, Mohali, Ludhiana and Amritsar have heaved a sigh of relief as it has been decided that a luxury taxi system would be introduced in Punjab within the next two months in the first phase. After successful launch of these cabs in these cities, these taxis would later be introduced in Bathinda, Patiala and Faridkot. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held at Jalandhar between state transport department officials and taxi operators. The idea is to have air-conditioned as well as non-AC petrol-driven taxis equipped with radio communication within the state. The modalities for this are being worked out. Also, it has been decided in principle that the existing taxis should be allowed free movement in the state subject to certain stringent standards, which would ensure that these are pollution free and environment friendly. Talking to TNS on phone, H.S. Sran, RTA, Jalandhar, said the Punjab government had decided to take a number of steps to tackle the issue of congestion in major cities of the state. With this, the four cities will have the cheapest metered taxi service in the state. The cabs will charge Rs 15 for the first kilometre and Rs 12 for the subsequent kms travelled. A to Z Company of Gurgaon and Mega Cab Company, Delhi, have been given contract to ply these AC taxis for five years. These companies would start its services within two months in the four cities in the first phase and each company will operate at least 50 cabs. All taxis would be driven by uniformed drivers and would also be equipped with GSM/ CDMA/landline network in order to facilitate communication between the driver and the control room of the operators. To ensure proper security and safety of the service users, the taxis would also be equipped with global positioning system (GPS), whereby their locations will be monitored by their respective control rooms. Later on, radio connectivity and credit card facility will also be introduced in these cabs. Motor cabs would be available 24 hours and the service can be availed of by calling the telephone number of the company or by hiring the taxis from the designated locations.
	Over 1200 blood donors honoured in Bathinda Harbinder Singh Tribune News Service Bathinda, September 14 Over 1200 donors were honoured and close to 250 persons donated blood at the festival titled ‘Mela Khoondaniyan Da’ organised by the United Welfare Society here today. Most of the donors hailed from nearly 25 villages of this district and had been donating for the past over five years now. This is probably the only society in north India that had been honouring the blood donors by organising a special function. A team of doctors from the Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, collected about 150 units of blood while one from the local civil hospital collected as many as 100 units at the function venue. Kaka Ram Verma and Satpal Bansal received special honours on the occasion. While Verma had given first aid training to over 1000 school students, 60-year-old Bansal was honoured for he had made as many as 136 donations and had been working for creating awareness at state-level regarding blood donation. Bansal, while talking to TNS, said, “I made my first donation in 1965. Since 1981, I had been donating four times a year.” He felt that donating blood was much easier than offering water to a thirsty person. “There is a great need to create awareness in society about the noble cause.” Bansal says he is on a mission to spread the message in any manner, be it seminars, lectures or quiz contests. Jitender Jain, DIG, Faridkot range, one of the special guests at the festival, honoured hundreds of donors with mementoes besides Bansal. Remaining donors were awarded souvenirs by V.K.Puri, secretary of the Punjab Red Cross, civil surgeon Neelam Bajaj, mayor Baljit Singh Beer Behman, Vikas Mittal and Rajinder Mittal, all special guests. Hardeep Singh, one of the donors and a physically challenged, received a big round of applause from those present after they came to know that he had donated blood 56 times. Three families were also honoured for donating the complete body of the deceased persons. On the occasion, Master Gurjinder Singh presented choreography on patriotism while Somi Tunghwalia and Beeba Kamaljot presented songs on importance of blood donation. Artistes from the Lok Kala Manch, Zira, enacted a play on drug abuse ‘Mitti Rodhan Kare’ besides presenting choreography on female foeticide ‘Mainu Kukh’ch Na Katal Karo’. President of the society Vijay Bhatt informed that the society had a target of creating a blood donor in every house. Naresh Pathania, district training supervisor with the local unit of the Red Cross, informed that about 20-25 donors reached here from Rampura Phul on foot chanting “long live blood donors”, on the way. The society also presented two tricycles to the handicapped. A compact disc titled ‘Khoondaniyan Nu Pranam’ (A salute to blood donors) was also released at the function.
	‘Murder mystery solved’ Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, September 14 With the arrest of the three out of the six accused including a kabbadi player and recovery of the articles used in crime, the Bathinda CIA staff today claimed to have cracked the mystery shrouding the murder of Gurpreet Singh of Dialpura, who was shot dead three months back. Giving details of the modus operandi, in-charge, CIA staff, Ranjeet Singh said after the investigation, it came to light that the murder was committed due to a triangular love story. As per the details made available, Gurpreet Singh was picked up by five persons from his village on June 8 this year in an Indica car. At that time, Gurpreet is believed to have told one of his friends, Harbans Singh, that he was going with persons known to him. The next morning, his body was found in the grain market of the village with shot in the head. During the investigation, the police came to know that he was having illicit relationship with two girls and had also been booked in cases of smuggling and fake currency. It was revealed that another person, Gurpreet Singh alias Jagtar Singh Hawara of village Bhodipura, also had a physical relationship with one of these girls. Both used to ask each other not to have any relationship with the girl. Hawara was also in the police record as he had been booked a number of times for lootings and snatchings. To nab him, police spread a net in Punjab and Haryana and arrested him from a room in the fields of village Desu Malkana in Haryana. He was in possession of a home made .315 bore pistol and bullets and later, the Indica car, which was used to abduct Gurpreet. During the interrogation, he named his other accomplices, Lakhwinder Singh of Jagmalwali (Haryana), a kabaddi player, Rajveer Singh, Gurdheer Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Prem Jeet Singh. All of them, except for Rajveer Singh, had a criminal record. The in-charge of CIA staff, Bathinda, Ranjeet Singh said they had arrested Lakhwinder, Rajveer and Hawara. Meanwhile, the police sought orders from the court for the interrogation of Gurdheer Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Prem Jeet Singh as they had been imprisoned in Kalawali jail in Haryana.

Ferozepur feeder in need of repairs
Raj Sadosh

Sriganganagar/Abohar, September 14
The Ferozepur feeder that is known as lifeline” of thousands of farmers in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts was found damaged at about 300 points, Rajasthan Kisan Sangharsh Samiti spokesman Subhash Sehgal said.

Informing that a team of the samiti had completed survey of the canals on Saturday, Segal said farmers around six towns besides the district headquarter have to draw 2700 cusecs of water from this canal. The construction of canal was completed in 1962. It was designed to carry 11192 cusecs originally out of which the Gang (Bikaner) canal had 2700 cusecs while 1800 cusecs of water was diverted to the Hanumangarh-based Bhakra system.

The survey indicated that from Burji No. 55 to the Mallanwala headworks 6400 cusecs water should flow as per the preliminary plan out of which 2700 cusecs was earmarked for the Gang Canal. The team noticed that the feeder was drawing 4468 (instead of 6400) cusecs of water out of which 2468 cusecs was being supplied to the canals that fed Punjab area. Supply to the Gang canal thus fell short by 700 cusecs.

Sehgal further informed that the superintending engineers of Ferozepur and Sriganganagar during a joint inspection conducted on July 27, 2007 found that the canal was lying damaged at 86 points. No efforts were, however, made to repair the canal while the samiti kept on sending representations with short intervals. Now, on September 9, it was officially confirmed that the Gang canal was carrying 2100 cusecs of water which got reduced to 1560 cusecs now.

The visiting team of the samiti on September 10 noticed that lining in between Burji 90-92 was lying damaged at other 6 points.

The samiti urged the state government to revise budget provisions to renovate the Ferozepur feeder lest crops in over 8 lakh acres area should face serious threat next year.

Chief Minister Vasundahra Raje during her recent visit to Sriganganagar announced a bonanza for the people but there was no reference to reconditioning of the feeders.

Makhan thanks voters
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, September 14
Youth Akali leader Barjinder Singh Brar alias Makhan Brar, son of senior party leader Jathedar Tota Singh, who is all set to become the president of the local body thanked the local residents for voting the SAD-BJP alliance to a landslide victory in the elections held here today. Brar was elected unopposed from ward number 1.

The 37-year-old Brar graduated from Government College for Men, Chandigarh, and did a degree in Law from the Panjab University, Chandigarh. He is the senior vice-president of the Youth Akali Dal and had remained director of the Markfed for five years besides chairman of the Marketing Board of Nihalsinghwala. Brar also practiced law in the High Court for few years before entering politics.

While expressing deep concern over the incident of violence and manhandling of the media persons in the ward number 4, he claimed that no resident of the town was involved in the incident. He said both the candidates of the ward had brought their supporters from Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

Brar promised to carry out all the proposed and pending development works in the town and also stood by the promise of upgrading the local body into a municipal corporation.