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TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Farmers advised to use certified seeds
Moga, October 8
To extend latest techniques and farming patterns among the farming community, the agriculture department in association with state agriculture university organised a district-level agriculture training camp here on Tuesday.

BMC General House meet
Councillors want focus back on civic work
Bathinda, October 8
The third general house meeting of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation today more or less confined itself to old issues relating to civic amenities and allegations of officials misusing the services of BMC employees.

Officials of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation, including Mayor Baljit Singh Birbehman and municipal commissioner K.K. Yadav, listening to the views of BJP councillor Krishan Garg at a meeting on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera

Discussions on parking deferred
Bathinda, October 8
The BMC meeting today failed to agree on the most important business listed, the construction of a multi-storeyed parking space, for which the bids have even been opened. The 'dream project' for which the site that houses the fire brigade is being eyed was discussed but since there was no agreement, Mayor Baljeet Singh Birbehman deferred it for Monday.

1,575 kg poppy husk seized in Moga
Moga, October 8
The local police recovered one of the largest consignments of poppy husk brought from Rajasthan for illegal sale in this district. While the two smugglers managed to flee, the police has arrested the driver of the truck carrying the narcotics.

PRTC for hike in bus fare
Corporation will recommend a hike of 10 paise per km
Bathinda, October 8
The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) will send a proposal to the Punjab government soon recommending a hike of 10 paise per km in bus fares to meet the expenses on increased road tax and inter-state barrier tax, besides fare concessions to various categories like freedom fighters and police personnel.

Peeved labourers stage protest
Mansa, October 8
Labourers of village Phaprebhaike today held a rally in the village against the alleged throwing of dirty water in their locality.

Septuagenarian raped in Mansa
Mansa, October 8
A seventy years old woman was allegedly raped in her house at village Narinderpura on Tuesday.

Paddy procurement
Arrangements in place: DC
Barnala, October 8
All the arrangements for the procurement of paddy has been completed, stated deputy commissioner R.L. Mehta. He added that this season, about 6.16 lakh metric tonne of paddy was expected to arrive in Barnala.

Engineer’s suspension draws flak
Bathinda, October 8
The emergency joint meeting of the PSEB Engineers' Association, Bathinda (OP) and Thermal Organisation was held at Officers Club, GNDTP Bathinda, on Tuesday.

	Bank van carrying cash attacked, gunman killed Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Zira (Ferozepur), October 8 A gunman of the ICICI bank was killed while two others got injured when unidentified robbers, in a botched attempt to loot the money, opened fire on the cash-carrying van of the bank near village Talwandi Mange in Zira sub-division of the Ferozepur district this evening. Dinesh Pratap Singh, SSP, Ferozepur, informed TNS that the robbers came on a Tavera car and opened fire on the van from automatic weapons when the gunman and other employees were getting out of it to have food at a dhaba. The gunman, identified as Ramji, died on the spot while two other employees, identified as Avtar Singh, son of Nanak Singh and a resident of village Dakoha (Jalandhar), and Chaman Lal, resident of Dasuha (Hoshiarpur), sustained injuries. The SSP said an ASI of the state police, who was passing by, took out his service revolver and challenged the robbers. On seeing him, the robbers fled from the spot, he added. There were reports that the robbers took along two guns of the gunmen before the arrival of the police officer on the spot. Preliminary investigation revealed that the robbers were chasing the van for quite some time. The van had collected money from the branches of the ICCI bank in Barnala, Moga and Ferozepur districts and was heading for Jalandhar to deposit the same, the SSP said. He added that the van was carrying over Rs 3 crore. The SSP said he, along with DIG Ram Prasad Mittal, reached the spot immediately on hearing the news of the attack. The police registered a criminal case in this regard and a hunt had been launched to nab the culprits, who could be from Moga or Barnala districts. For the purpose, a message was also flashed to the police of the neighbouring districts to set up nakas, he added.
	World Sight Day today ‘Presumed consent in organ transplant a positive step’ Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, October 8 World Sight Day is observed all over the world on October 9 every year to mitigate the sufferings of the visually handicapped and the recent announcement by the Union Health Minister of introducing “presumed consent” in human transplantation is a positive step. Amrit Sethi, past president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and an ophthalmologist, said this while talking to TNS here today. Sethi said that the concept was one of the amendments proposed in the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, aimed at meeting the demand for eye donation and other organs and tissues. He said under the presumed consent, the organs of all brain dead people in government hospitals — starting with the cornea –would be harvested, even without the consent of relatives and would reduce the illegal trade in human organs As per the data collected by the IMA recently, there is a backlog of 1.1 million corneally blind people in India and most of them are children and adults. Every year, 30,000 new cases come up and the annual collection of eyes in the country is about 28,000. “This year, the theme on this day would be ‘Eyes on the Future’,” Sethi added. The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, was framed to provide for the regulation of removal, storage and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs. Under the new amendment of the Act, it is expected that no one could enter a contract for valuable consideration of sale and supply of human organs, Sethi added.
	Farmers cheer as CCI begins procurement Our Correspondent Abohar, October 8 The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) formally entered the Punjab markets today bringing cheers to the growers, who had been blaming the private players for alleged plunder even when the latter shifted the onus on the slump in the international cotton market. V.P. Nagpal, manager, CCI (Punjab zone), confirmed that the corporation started purchasing cotton as per specifications laid down by the Central government at the MSP (minimum support price) of Rs 2,800 per quintal in 17 markets of the state. Out of total arrivals quoted at 40,000 quintal, the CCI today purchased 25,000 quintals of cotton. In the rich cotton belt of the Malwa region, located close to the international border, about 90 per cent of the cotton was purchased by the CCI, reports reaching the state office indicated. Till Tuesday, the average rates for cotton had been varying between Rs 2,325-2,570, brokers in the local market said. Interestingly, even when the CCI had started purchasing cotton at Rs 2,800 in the morning at the new cotton yard here, the representatives of five organisations, including BKU Ekta Ugrahan, BKU Sidhpur, BKU Krantikari, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha and Punjab Kisan Sabha, went ahead with the preplanned dharna and demonstrated outside the market committee office. Later, they shifted to the office of the sub-divisional magistrate. The dharna stalled the auction of cotton for an hour. The leaders were targeting the president of the BKU (Lakhowal), Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, for his failure in pursuing the SAD-BJP government to allow the CCI for direct purchase of cotton from the growers. Lakhowal, who also heads the Punjab Mandi Board, is scheduled to arrive here, sources said.
	Farmers advised to use certified seeds Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, October 8 To extend latest techniques and farming patterns among the farming community, the agriculture department in association with state agriculture university organised a district-level agriculture training camp here on Tuesday. District magistrate Satwant Singh Johal inaugurated the camp, where experts from the state agriculture university, led by Navdeep Singh, interacted with the farmers. They stressed upon the need to adopt latest techniques to boost the agro-production. The DM along with Gurdev Singh Gill, joint director of the agriculture department, and Palwinder Singh Aulakh, district agriculture officer, jointly visited the agro-exhibition put up by the agriculture department along with its allied departments. While addressing the farmers, the DM stressed upon the need to use best quality seeds and fertilisers so as to boost the yield. He asked them to go in for soil testing before the beginning of this rabi season so as to explore the possibilities of diversification of crops. The joint director also revealed that the state government had arranged 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of DAP fertiliser and 12.5 lakh metric tonnes of urea fertiliser this rabi season.
	BMC General House meet Councillors want focus back on civic work Tribune News Service Bathinda, October 8 The third general house meeting of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) today more or less confined itself to old issues relating to civic amenities and allegations of officials misusing the services of BMC employees. At the four hour long meeting, many items listed on the agenda were deferred. Moreover, except for a few, most councillors present there were largely silent on these issues. The councillors also took up issues relating to water supply, sewerage, streetlights, cleanliness and metalling of roads, which were discussed at the previous meeting. The BMC councillors were ruing that nothing had been done on these issues despite their having raised their voice at the last meeting. Rajan Garg demanded cleanliness of waterworks reservoirs in Model Town. Councilors including Mithu Ram Gupta, Tek Singh, Jagroop Gill, Basant Bhatia, Krishan Kumar and others demanded the proper utilisation of fogging machines. Santosh Mahant alleged that the BMC had paid no heed to public demands. The proposed reverse osmosis plants also came up for discussion and it was remarked in jest if it would mean going back to the old times when women carrying pots on their heads had to fetch drinking water. However, the Mayor and others kept quiet over the issue. Rajinder Kaur Brar said people came to her accusing the BMC officials of not paying attention to demands. Jagroop Gill asked about the Rs 40-crore worth project and demanded a copy of the plan. It was also demanded that there should be a microphone in front of each councillor as they had to plead to get mike from each other. Two important items, developing the Rose Garden as a tourist destination and getting funds for water supply and sewerage project from the MIDF and Improvement Trust, were approved unopposed at the meeting.
	Discussions on parking deferred Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, October 8 The BMC meeting today failed to agree on the most important business listed, the construction of a multi-storeyed parking space, for which the bids have even been opened. The 'dream project' for which the site that houses the fire brigade is being eyed was discussed but since there was no agreement, Mayor Baljeet Singh Birbehman deferred it for Monday. BMC commissioner K.K. Yadav appeared to be keen to get the approval but this was in vain as most of the councillors said they were not even aware about project details. Business number 15 listed on the agenda mentioned that the already existing fire brigade complex would be shifted to some other place and the land would be given to some private company. It was mentioned that the land, measuring 3207 square yards, would be given on a 90 years lease on a design, build, operate and transfer policy. Facilities for parking 250 cars would be provided. Moreover, 1000 square feet area on ground floor would be given to BMC, where the already existing shopkeepers would be adjusted. Yadav explained that the project would be economically viable as the upfront amount would be Rs 5,21,00,000 and the BMC would get annual concession fees as 10 per cent of the amount. The terms stipulated that after every three years, the amount would be increased to 15 per cent. He said that bids had been invited on an international level and the highest bidder was CHD Developers Limited, New Delhi. The first objection was raised by senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal, who said the lease time should be reduced to 30 years as the land was costly and the deal might mean a financial loss. It was supported by Jagroop Singh Gill and his Congress colleagues. BJP councillors Mithu Ram Gupta, Parshotam Gargi, Krishan Kumar, Basaant Bhatia and Raj Kumar Sood said they needed time to study the proposal.
	1,575 kg poppy husk seized in Moga Tribune News Service Moga, October 8 The local police recovered one of the largest consignments of poppy husk brought from Rajasthan for illegal sale in this district. While the two smugglers managed to flee, the police has arrested the driver of the truck carrying the narcotics. The in-charge of the narcotics cell of the district police, Jaspal Singh, in a statement issued here today, said that under the directions of Gurdarshan Singh, DSP Dharamkot, the truck bearing registration number RJ-13GA-2624 was stopped at a check-post late on Tuesday night. However, as soon as the truck stopped, Kala Singh of Amiwala and Balbir Singh of Mehatpur ran away. On checking, the police found 45 bags, each weighing 35 kg, of poppy husk in the truck. The total value of the contraband is estimated at Rs 13 lakh. A case under sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the accused, who managed to flee, and the truck driver Bohar Singh of Bhoipur. During the interrogation, Bohar revealed that the consignment belonged to the two persons who fled from the spot. The narcotics were purchased from Rajasthan to be distributed in Moga district for illegal sale, he added. Further, investigations were in progress and a hunt had been launched to nab the duo.
	PRTC for hike in bus fare Corporation will recommend a hike of 10 paise per km Anil Jerath Tribune News Service Bathinda, October 8 The Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) will send a proposal to the Punjab government soon recommending a hike of 10 paise per km in bus fares to meet the expenses on increased road tax and inter-state barrier tax, besides fare concessions to various categories like freedom fighters and police personnel. M.S. Sidhu, managing director, PRTC, said while talking to TNS on phone from Patiala here today. He said an increase of 10 paise per km in the fare was in view of the deficit being faced by the PRTC. He claimed that the deficit would be covered by March, 2009. He disclosed that the PRTC has also planned to add 200 new buses to its fleet of about 975 buses by the end of March, 2009. It has also decided to recruit 150 drivers on a contract basis, he added. Sidhu further said the PRTC would go in for a loan from the banks for purchasing 200 buses. He expressed the hope that 20 new buses would be included in the fleet during the next two months. Bus stands at Bathinda and Patiala which were in bad shape, would be renovated soon, he added. PRTC sources said that at present it has 1,200 drivers against its required strength of 1,400 drivers. Due to unavailability of the drivers, many buses, though officially approved to ply, remain parked in various bus stands. One such transporter under kilometre scheme of Bathinda district, requesting anonymity, said his bus remained stranded for two days as there was no driver. He said many of the 100 buses have faced similar problems. Sources in the PRTC revealed that after every 10 buses, the PRTC has to recruit 13 drivers but the present availability is far less. This figure has been calculated keeping in mind the permissible working hours and rest of the driver. The transporters alleged that the PRTC was not following in toto, its promise of providing more than 400 kilometres of travel daily by each bus. They say the buses can only run in profit if they achieve this target daily but so far, most of the buses have only been less than 300 kilometres. Sources said the PRTC had written to the state government to check the illegal plying of buses by private operators.