Bathinda, October 20
To protest for the acceptance of their demands, including hike in the minimum support price (MSP) of cotton and paddy to Rs 4,000 and Rs 1,300 per quintal from Rs 2,800 and Rs 900 (including bonus of Rs 50) respectively, the members of the district unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) blocked the traffic on Bathinda-Ferozepur and Bathinda-Sirsa railway track for three hours i.e. from 12 noon to 3 pm, at Goniana and Rama Mandi here today.

While Shingara Singh Mann, district president of the BKU led the protest at Goniana, Mothu Singh Kotra and Gurcharan Singh Lelewal headed the same at Rama.

The call for the state-wide rail-roko was given by five farmers’ associations, namely Punjab Kisan Sabha (Tagadh), Punjab Kisan Sabha (Samber), Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, Kul Hind Keerti Kisan Sabha besides BKU Ekta (Ugrahan).

Speaking to TNS on phone, Mann said the governments at Centre and the state both had disappointed farmers yet again. Besides, giving low MSP for cotton and paddy, permissible moisture content on the paddy had been brought down from 18 per cent to 17 per cent while the same had been introduced this year for cotton at the rate of 8 per cent.

He said the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) had offered to pick up the cotton directly from the farmers provided the state government approved the same. The CCI had also offered that the out of the 2.5 per cent commission that the arhtiya used to charge, 2 per cent would be waived off if the crop was sold directly to the CCI. Mann alleged that the state government did not approve the same.

Talking about the MSP for cotton and paddy, the district president said the farmers demand Rs 4000 and Rs 1300 as MSP for cotton and paddy respectively.

He informed that considering the rising prices, the Commission at the centre had recommended MSP of Rs 1050 per quintal for paddy. But the Centre passed only Rs 850 for the same. “The Centre’s bonus on paddy had made a mockery of the farmers,” he pointed out.

“The state government has been unfair to the farmers in comparison with the governments in other states as far as taxes are concerned,” Mann said. He demanded that the government should do away with the two per cent cess on cotton at the earliest in order to bring some relief to the cotton growers.

The farmers’ other demands included the permissible moisture content of the paddy should be raised to 22 per cent and the farmers’ produce should be lifted from the grain markets within 48 hours of its arrival.

Moga: Hundreds of farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) today protested on the main railway station here and blocked the rail traffic for over three hours. They were demanding increase of bonus on paddy, easy lifting of paddy by the procurement agencies from the grain markets, increasing the permissible moisture content in paddy from the standard 14 per cent to 22 per cent due to recent rainfall and immediate release of payment to the farmers against selling their produce.

They raised slogans against the union as well as the state government accusing both the governments of lackadaisical approach towards the farming community. There were reports of such protests from other parts of the district also. 

Ferozepur, October 20
Jagjit Puri, secretary ,Tourism and Culture, who has been appointed as the special observer to oversee the procurement process in the district, has revealed that more than Rs 750 crore has been paid to the farmers, against the purchase of 10,41012 MT paddy in this district.

Puri along with DC Megh Raj toured grain markets in Basti Vakilawali, Arifke, Mallanwala, Kamalwala, Fathehgarh Sabran, Ratta Khera, Talwandi Bhai, Mudki, Bhai Ka Vara, Shakoor, Zira, Makhu and other areas.

The DC said that 96 per cent payments have been made till now, and 88 per cent purchased stock of paddy, has been lifted from the markets.

Later, during a visit to the grain market in the village Barke, the DC imposed fine on certain commission agents for misleading the farmers during the weighing of paddy. He also fined rice millers and arhtiyas for bungling during the paddy purchase.

Mansa, October 20
The Punjab State Electricity Board has restarted the OYT (own your tubewell) scheme, which was suspended on May 29 this year. The scheme would be available only to those farmers who had got demand notices from the board before the scheme was suspended and have purchased some electricity material for the purpose.

The PSEB had issued 15 days notice to the farmers, who fell under this category. During the period, they could submit purchasing bills of material to the sub-divisional officers (SDO) concerned.

H.S. Brar, member, distribution, PSEB, said that nearly 25,000 farmers would get the benefits of the OYT scheme. He informed that from now, the farmers could purchase the electricity material from the board.

The OYT scheme was suspended on May 29 this year because some marginal and poor farmers had complained of being exploited by the private firms, which were supplying electricity material at exorbitant prices. Some farmers, in their complaint to the PSEB chairman, had objected to the high rates charged by the private companies.

Nearly 90,000 farmers of the state had applied under the OYT scheme and around 34,000 have succeeded in getting the tubewell connections. About 26,000 farmers received only the demand notices and 30,000 did not get any intimation from the board. First, the process of supplying connections to the 26,000 would be completed and then the remaining 30,000 cases would be reviewed, Brar said. He assured that later, the scheme would be open to all.

It is notable that the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, was enquiring into the irregularities and corruption in the implementing of this scheme. Under this, farmers were to get tubewell connections by depositing Rs 25,000.

Mansa, October 20
Hundreds of farmers blocked the railway traffic at Mansa today, following the state level call of five farmers’ organisations Activists of different kisan outfits staged a dharna on the track near railway crossing in Mansa city. Workers of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), Punjab Kisan Sabha (Samber) and Punjab Kisan Sabha (Taggar) participated in the dharna staged today.

State leader of Punjab Kissan sabha Hardev Singh Arsi, district president of the BKU (Ugrahan) Ram Singh Bhainibagha, vice-president of Punjab Kisan Sabha, Butta Singh and kisan leaders as Bakshish Singh, Mahider Singh Romana and Inderjeet Singh Jhabar addressing the farmers criticised the government for not taking care of kissan problems.

During the dharna, the farmers raised their demands that the rate of paddy should be increased to Rs 1,300 and the amount of bonus should also be increased.

They demanded that the cotton should be purchased by the government agencies at the rate of Rs 4,000.

They said the quantity of moisture should be up to 22 per cent in the purchasing of the paddy.

They demanded the supply of DAP fertiliser through co-operative societies.

Abohar, October 20
While jamming rail and road traffic on two strategic points the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) activists equally blamed the Congress-led UPA government and the SAD-BJP alliance in the state for “ruining” the farmers’ community that had 70 per cent share in country’s whopping population.

Different factions of the BKU supported by leftist organisations did not allow trains and buses etc to cross manned railway level crossings on Seetogunno road and Sriganganagar road for about three and two hours respectively.

Hundred of passengers traveling by a train that was halted near the rail crossing had to make it on foot carrying children besides luggage to catch rickshaws for onward journey through the municipal bus stand.

Branding the state and central governments led by different political parties as “chips of the same block” the BKU activists alleged that the Punjab government took two months to take a decision on the request of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), for allowing direct purchase from cotton growers.

Finally, the so-called “messiah” of the farmers succumbed to pressure from the powerful lobby of commission agents and other traders and ordered that the cotton should be purchased by the CCI through commission agents, they alleged.

The activists also questioned the propriety of not assigning the purchase of the cotton to the state agencies like Markfed.

Those who participated in the sit-in (dharna) on the rail track and made scathing attack on the governments included district president Guranditta Singh Bhagsar, state committee member Puran Singh Doda, block president Sukhmander Singh Bazidpur Bhoma, district general secretary Gurbhagat Singh Bhalaiana (BKU Ekta Ugrahan), Jagjit Gill (BKU Krantikari), Kulwant Kirti (Jamhoori Kisan Sabha) and Wazir Chand (Punjab Kisan Sabha).

They lambasted the administration for making false claims on streamlining purchase and lifting of paddy.

Chandigarh, October 20
The mass rapid transport system (MRTS) for Amritsar is inching towards reality. A team of Reliance Energy Limited (REL) was in Amritsar to prepare a feasibility report of the project.

A part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, REL, had offered to build and operate the MRTS for Amritsar city and submitted a proposal to the  Punjab government.

“The REL team has visited Amritsar twice and started work on the technical study,” said  Dr S.S. Sandhu, MD, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB).

He added this Rs 1,600-crore project would be underway soon .“REL has routed the project through the Swiss Challenge. The company has been recognised as the original project proponent and would now submit detailed project report to us. The final proposal will then be put up for reverse bidding to see if anyone can better the Reliance’s offer,” said Sandhu.

Reliance has also deposited bank guarantee of Rs 4 crore with the PIDB as per rules of the Swiss Challenge. “The technical report is also being prepared by the company at its own cost,” said Sandhu.

REL has proposed the MRTS for Amritsar city be built keeping the Golden Temple as the epicentre of the city. The system would ensure easy access to the temple for outstation visitors and the local residents.

The system could be a metro rail, a light-rail transit system, a monorail or a rubber tyre-based transit system, depending on results of the feasibility study. The MRTS for Amritsar would be made operational either on the build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis or build operate and own (BoO) basis, added Sandhu.

“The district administration is assisting the REL team,” said K.S. Pannu, deputy commissioner, Amritsar.

The possibility of an alignment along the road connecting the Rajasansi airport to the walled city via the railway station would also be considered. The proposed station for the system near the Golden Temple will be at a walking distance from the temple. The entire alignment will be elevated and have at least 10 stations.

REL is the only company in the private sector which has been awarded such projects in India. It is developing 12-km elevated such system along the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor in Mumbai. 

Bathinda, October 20 
India has the maximum number of blinds in the world. The most common cause of blindness is cataract. There are new emerging threat vision like diabetic retinopathy (the damage caused to retina by diabetes) and retinopathy of pre-maturity (ROP), because of the change in lifestyle and availability of modern healthcare.

A.S. Sethi, former president of the IMA (Punjab), presided over Continued Medical education at the Brar Eye Hospital in Kotkapura on Sunday. Its aim was to spread awareness regarding timely screening and intervention to prevent blindness by these silent killers of the vision.

P.S. Sandhu, principal, professor and head of the Eye Medical College, Faridkot, was the chief guest on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Sandhu motivated the audience to work with zeal to eradicate the menace of blindness.

In his speech, M.R. Dogra, professor of retina at Advanced Eye Care Centre, PGI, Chandigarh, emphasised upon the role of physicians and paediatricians in examining the retinas of diabetics and making them aware about the impending loss of vision. Ajay Kapoor, in-charge, vitreo retina services at the Brar Eye Hospital, Kotkapura, elucidated about the complicated cases, managed and treated successfully.

P.S. Brar, medical director of the hospital, declared that such CMEs and workshops will be a regular feature aimed at ameliorating blindness from this belt. He also thanked the participants.

Moga, October 20
The Punjab State Ayurvedic Medical Services Association has demanded from the state pay commission to enhance their salaries at par with the doctors practising allopathy and give non-practice allowance, which have already been implemented by the Central government and recommended by the state government to the state pay commission.

The state pay commission has convened a meeting on October 24 in this regard with the representatives of the doctors practising Ayurveda.

Talking to The Tribune Navdeep Singh Brar, state general secretary of the association, revealed that the state government after holding a meeting with the representatives of the association had already accepted most of their demands and recommended to the pay commission for consideration.

The state government had recommended enhancing the salaries of ayurvedic practitioners in accordance with the salary structure of the Central government.

It had also recommended to the state pay commission to enhance the travelling allowance, grant special leave for pursuing post-graduation studies, special increments for doctors with higher qualifications, academic allowance of Rs 500 per month and 25 per cent of the basic pay as non-practice allowance.

Brar was of the view that since the state government had recommended their demands to the pay commission, the commission should give its nod accordingly.

He said the doctors practising Ayurveda held officers’ rank (Group-A) and work in remote areas of the state where even basic amenities like good accommodation, clean drinking water, proper sanitation, regular power supply and good education for children were not available. On the other hand, other officers like PCS, PPS and IAS falling under the same category work in urban areas equipped with all facilities. “Therefore, we should be given reasonably high pay-scales to maintain good living standards,” he demanded.

The doctors’ body had also demanded from the state government to fill up the vacant posts and provide adequate medicines in the dispensaries, besides improving the infrastructure in the rural dispensaries.

Ferozepur, October 20
The health authorities here have confiscated around 8 quintals of adulterated sweets, which were supposed to be supplied to local sweet shops.

According to the information, a team of health department comprising Rakesh Sikri, District Health Officer (DHO), Kamalpreet Singh, food inspector and others were checking vehicles on Ferozpur-Fazilka road near village Jiwa Arai, when they spotted a Qualis with registration number HR-18 2853, coming from Abohar side.

Sikri said they signalled the vehicle to stop and when they checked, they recovered 8 quintals of Milkcake and Burfi allegedly made of tainted material.

Sikri said that with the festival season round the corner, their department was constantly getting reports that adulterated sweets were being supplied in the district from Ganganagar and other adjoining areas. He said that following specific information today, they started checking of vehicles on this road so as to nab the offenders.

The District Health Officer further said that the material has been sent to the food laboratory for medical report, following which the case will be registered against the suppliers.

The person driving the Qualis has been identified as Ramesh Kumar son of Desh Raj, resident of Gobind Nagari, Abohar.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, October 20
The poll atmosphere in the Hanumangarh Assembly segment has begin to simmer as the Congress and the BJP intensified their respective campaigns on Monday.

Congress MLA Vinod Kumar visited village Dholipal located on Abohar-Hanumangarh road today. He has intensified his election campaign after receiving green signal from the party high-command. On the other hand, his archrival Ram Partap (BJP) was greeted during a rally held near the railway track by “Dr Ram Partap Brigade”, a local outfit.

Meanwhile, additional district magistrate R.C. Gupta said the meeting to discuss the law and order situation had been preponed from October 24 since the Election Commission has convened an urgent meeting of the district returning officers at Jaipur on the same date. District magistrate Mugdha Sinha would preside the meeting at Hanumangarh on October 22.

The DC today directed heads of all the departments against implementing the transfer orders of the employees as the model code of conduct for election was in force, sources said.

Talwandi Sabo, October 20
Celebrations on the concluding day of the 300th Gurta Gaddi Divas marked by Shatabdi Sandesh (speeches) of the dignitaries, remained a low-key affair as far as the gathering of devotees at the Deewan Hall of the Takht was concerned.

Moreover, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Gurbachan Singh and various other Sikh leaders, after addressing the gathering, did not bother to remain present at the bhog ceremony of the three-day long Shri Akhand Path Sahib.

In comparison to the second day of the programme, when Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Sukhbir Badal had launched the "Nanhi Chhaan" scheme for the betterment of society and environment, the venue today was lacking in hustle-bustle. Intriguingly, CM Parkash Singh Badal after completing his speech, left following which some religious leaders and a large number of devotees present also moved out.

The instances only highlighted the fact that the people were more interested in political leaders than in listening to religious leaders or in attending religious ceremonies.

When asked about the thin gathering, Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "One can not force anyone to remain present but we performed our duty."

When asked why he had left and did not attend the conclusion of Shri Akhand Path Sahib, he parried the query and went inside the residence of Jathedar Balwant Singh Nand Garh located in the Shri Takht Sahib complex.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said, "Everybody has his own engagements. So the persons who left without attending the Bhog ceremony only can answer the query."

About the thin attendance at the Shatabdi Sandesh ceremony in comparison to the Nanhi Chhaan event, he said, "Actually the area of the hall is bigger than yesterday's venue. So, the gathering looks thin. Otherwise, we can arrange gathering in lakhs."

Bathinda, October 20
"Nanhi Chhaan" is not the first initiative to check female foeticide in Punjab. The earlier effort in this direction made by the Akal Takht in April 2001 when the five head priests issued a "hukumnama" preaching excommunication of those involved in this heinous practice had so far failed to cut ice resulting in a steep decline in the sex ratio in the state.

The impact of the "Nanhi Chhaan" launched by Harsimrat Kaur Badal at the Gurdwara Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo on Sunday remains to be seen. The SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar had earlier launched the socio-religious campaign at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on August 25. Such initiatives have miserably failed in the past because of the half-hearted approach of doctors and the officialdom that was supposed to strictly implement the legal instruments including MTP Act, 1971 and PNDT Act, 1994. Not only this, but initiatives taken by the NGOs and also at the government level to remove other evils from the society have fallen flat particularly in the Malwa belt because of the non-serious approach of the officials concerned. As the menace of female foeticide goes on uninterrupted, the sex ratio has nose-dived to 876 females per 1000 males that could in the days to come prove disastrous to the demography of Punjab.

The situation in the Bathinda district, which is the nerve centre of the Malwa belt, is going from bad to worse with the falling of the sex ratio to 870 during the 2001 census from 884 in 1991. The Ferozepur district has also witnessed a decline of sex ratio to 885 in 2001 from 895 in 1991.

Several private hospitals and nursing homes here and in other towns of Malwa were thriving on sex determination tests that are legally banned. Interestingly, some top leaders of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) that has now launched the "Nanhi Chhaan" were reportedly trying to get dropped cases under the MTP Act and PNDT Act registered against certain private practitioners. The SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the government was concerned about the evil of feoticide and infanticide that was affecting adversely the demography of the state.

It is worth mentioning that while the state government was concerned about the growing incidence of drug addiction, the Malwa belt has become a haven for boozers. Rules pertaining to even dry days were being observed in contempt. Several vend remained open and many restaurants here served liquor to customers during the recent birthday of Mahatama Gandhi when it was a dry day throughout the country. However, when contacted, the local excise officer, Yashpal Garg, feigned ignorance and said he did not receive any written complaint in the matter.

On one hand, the "Nanhi Chhaan", also emphasises protection of green cover, but on the other hand, a large number of fully-grown broad leaf trees were being axed in the name of development. The dividers here on the main road where plantations had started growing due to the efforts of the NGOs have been chopped off and replaced by a concrete wall.

Talwandi Sabo, October 20
Thrashing Punjab, Haryana lads bagged the titles in both categories (open and 50kg) in kabbadi competitions (Punjab style) on the concluding day of the three-day celebrations of the 300th Guruta Gaddi Divas at Mata Sahib Kaur girls College in Talwandi Sabo, here today.

After releasing balloons and hoisting the flag to inaugurate the contest, CM Parkash Singh Badal, SGPC chief Avtar Singh and SAD (B) general secretary Balwinder Singh Bhunder enjoyed the contest.

Sikander Singh Maluka, president of the Punjab Kabaddi Federation, was seen taking stock of the arrangements.

The first chance to “raid” in the open weight category, was given to the Haryana players but their opener lost his stamina when the Punjab players nabbed him.

Till half time, Haryana was at 19 points while Punjab had 15 points. The match concluded with Haryana at 39 points and Punjab 31. In the same way, in the 50 kg weight category, Haryana won the fight securing 30 points, whereas the Punjab players could manage only 12 points.

Honouring the winners, SGPC chief Avtar Singh presented Rs 1 lakh as prize money to the Haryana players and Rs 75,000 to Punjab in the open category. In the 50 kg category, Haryana received Rs 51,000 as cash prize while Punjab players got Rs 31,000.

The spectators were seen observing the matches with passion. The presence of sturdy players coupled with the tangy commentary added taste to the contest.

Meanwhile, Maluka alleged that the Haryana players had rubbed a lubricant on their bodies to make it slippery escape the tight hold of Punjab players.

Bathinda, October 20
A 19-year-old local college student, Mandeep Kaur, committed suicide, reportedly after getting depressed with her bad performance in the computer examination. She allegedly consumed a poison to end her life. Mandeep Kaur was a resident of Hazoora Kapura Basti in the city, and a final year student.

The Civil Lines police said that Sukhmander Singh, brother of the deceased, who is a conductor in PRTC, reported to them that his sister was upset on Sunday night, as she said that she could not do well in the computer applications exam. Fortunately, her mother was with her at home at that time and she consoled her.

Later, she consumed some poisonous substance due to which her condition started deteriorating. Observing her condition, the family members rushed her to a private hospital on the Bathinda-Bhucho road, where she succumbed this morning. Civil Lines police further said that the deceased has two siblings, a sister and a brother.

After conducting the postmortem, the body was handed over to the family members. Police has registered a case under section -174 of the CRPC, and initiated the inquest proceedings.

Exam stress and the fear of failure is known to drive students to take extreme steps and helplines have become common in many cities. With this incident, time has probably come to explore its possibility in Bathinda as well.

Bathinda, October 20
Despite of being an old power plant, all the four units of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) here have been running continuously for the past 25 days now i.e. September 25 to October 19, which was a record in itself, a press release issued here on Monday said. Earlier, the plant ran continuously for 24 days during 1997-98.

Gurtej Singh Sra, member, generation, PSEB, said presently, the plant load factor was 88.2 per cent which had been achieved following the renovation and modernisation of the plant. He added that the plant had generated 3008 MUs during the 
fiscal 2007-08, which was the maximum generation in a year since the inception of the plant.

Meanwhile, the two 210-MW units of the stage I of the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP), Lehra Mohabbat, are also running continuously for 52 days now and are generating more power than their capacity. The units achieved highest-ever generation of 304 MU at a plant load factor of 100.53 per cent during September.

While the unit III of the GHTP is running at the full load of 250 MW, the unit IV would run to its full capacity within the three next weeks. Presently, the unit IV of the GHTP was running on 130 MW, the press release informed.

Moga, October 20
A rape victim and unmarried Dalit girl of nearby Mehna village gave birth to a baby boy in the district hospital on Monday. She was allegedly raped by one Sukhpreet Singh, a youth belonging to the upper caste, early this year.

The police had registered an FIR against the accused at the Mehna police station following which he was arrested and produced before a local court. However, at present, Sukhpreet was out on bail.

Barnala, October 20
To lodge their protest against the privatisation of the PSEB and the ITIs besides the problems of farmers, including the low MSP for paddy, various farmers’ unions staged a dharna in the local grain market and blocked the railway traffic for three hours, between 12 noon and 3 pm, here today.

Hardeep Singh Tallewal of BKU Ekta (Ugrahan) said the state government failed in catering to the interests of the farming community. The farmers were already under debt and the privatisation of the PSEB would shatter the community as once the board went into private hands the farmers would not get the electricity free of cost. — OC