Moga, November 18
Garbage piling up at various places in the district headquarters here poses serious health hazard to the residents of this town. Most of the locations in the town do not have underground drainage system. Poor garbage clearance system, poor condition of the roads, stray cattle and many more woes add to the troubles of the residents.

Due to the lack of garbage collection bins, people are forced to dump their waste material on the roadsides or in the open plots. Sometimes, garbage lies uncleared on the roadsides for several days.

Senior officials of the Municipal Council (MC) admit that there is a shortage of garbage collection bins in the town besides the carriers to collect the solid waste from various locations.

The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules- 2000 with regard to the door-to-door garbage collection are not being implemented properly in the town. The municipal authorities give more stress on certain areas of the town only. They never think of the outer areas, particularly the newly-added areas within the local body limits that are inhabited by over 45 per cent of the total population of the town.

The number of garbage disposal bins within the municipality limits of the town is limited and there is no proper monitoring of the collection of garbage from these bins. On most of the occasions, the garbage is set ablaze leaving the residents gasp for breath.

The garbage is burnt in blatant violation of the Supreme Court guidelines on the matter, which not only fills the air with smoke and ash but also causes breathing problems particularly for old people and children besides those suffering from respiratory diseases.

The poor garbage clearance has also worsened the sanitary conditions in the town. Mounting garbage on streets and roads poses a serious health hazard.

Sources in the health department revealed that there was a continuous rise in the cases of viral infections and skin diseases every year, particularly due to the mosquitoes that breed on open garbage dumps.

Thought the district magistrate had already invoked epidemic diseases act throughout the district but the same has not been enforced properly. The MC authorities hardly keep a check on open garbage dumps by clearing it from the dumping sites daily in a routine manner or spray insecticides to prevent the breeding of dangerous insects.

The fogging machines available with the MC are lying unused for past many years.

Executive officer of the local body Brij Mohan Jhamb says that the fogging machines are not working properly and they would soon decide on whether to purchase new ones or repair the existing machines.

Meanwhile, during a visit to various locations in the town, this correspondent also found leakages in many drainage pipes releasing foul-smell in and around the residential areas.

Initially, it appeared to be merely a civic problem. But now, it seems that it has acquired the proportions of a major health hazard. Yet, nothing much is being done to end the menace.

Hanumangarh/Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 18
Even when most of the prominent candidates of the Congress, BJP and BSP in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts had visited the Dera Sacha Sauda during a congregation at Sirsa last week and the Sadh Sangat’s political committee completed its second pulse-searching exercise, well-placed sources in the Dera today indicated that no word has so far been given to any party or individual.

Senior political functionaries endorse the speculations that the Dera followers, if maintain the solidarity shown during the visit of the members of the political committee, can tilt the balance in about 50 Assembly segments during the December 4 elections.

As per information available, some high-profile dissidents in the Congress as well as in the BJP by filing nomination papers as independents are mounting pressure on the respective high command to change the pre-announced candidates before the last day for withdrawal of nominations.

However, they ignored the frantic telephone calls made by the top brass for changing their decision and quipped at their rallies, “Who cares for the high command, which had not respected the sentiments of the grassroot workers.”

In Sriganganagar, Seema Periwal, chairperson of the Urban Improvement Trust, and her husband Mahesh Periwal, transporter Gajender Singh Bhaati and senior political activist Jaideep Bihani sprang a surprise by filing nominations on the last day. Bhaati’s wife is vice-president of the BJP Mahila Morcha.

In Sangria, the procession led by a Congress dissident, Gurdeep Singh ‘Shahpeeni’, not only raised alarm bells for the official nominee Param Navdeep but also for her BJP rival Damyanti Beniwal as many senior activists of the saffron party, including Rajinder Godara, joined Shahpeeni.

Meanwhile, state president of the traders’ cell Sita Ram Somani inaugurated Shahpeeni’s office and some of Param’s close relatives were also found raising slogans against the Congress nominee.

Significantly, Pawan Aggarwal, chairman on the Hanumangarh municipal council, inaugurated the office of the dissident contestant at Tibbi today.

There was dissidence over allocation of tickets by the BJP and Congress in Nohar and Raisinghnagar constituencies also but the dissidents preferred to be silent spectators rather than earning the wrath of the party high-commands by filing nominations. Consolidated list released by the Hanumangarh DC, Mugdha Sinha, today revealed that 79 candidates had submitted their papers in the district. This included 19 in Sangaria, 8 in Hanumangarh, 28 in Peelibanga and 12 each in Nohar and Bhadra constituencies.

The DC today directed all returning officers (ROs) to check violation of the code of conduct, including screening of the video recording of the rallies and processions organised by the candidates at the time of filing of nomination papers yesterday. She asked the ROs to issue notices to all such contestants.

In another interesting trend, supporters have discarded ‘laddoos’ for weighing the candidates as today, they were found using apples and bananas instead.

Mansa, November 18
“Though the area under cotton crop has decreased by nearly 15 per cent in comparison to the previous year, the average production has shown a rise of up to 15-20 per cent,” claimed officials of the Punjab Mandi Board.

According to the officials, cotton arrival in the state markets was, however, 20 per cent less than the previous year. The reasons that the officials pointed out were the late harvesting of the crop and that some farmers had transported their produce to the markets in neighbouring Haryana.

Nevertheless, they expressed the hope that it would go up in the coming days so as to come at par with the last year’s arrival.

Nearly 26.12 lakh quintal of cotton have arrived in the markets of Punjab till now.

Out of this, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has purchased about 15.22 lakh quintals while private traders picked up nearly 10.9 lakh quintals. The officials expected that nearly one crore quintals of cotton would arrive in the markets of Punjab during this season, which would continue till March.

Meanwhile, the markets of Mansa witnessed 31 per cent less arrival of cotton this year.

About 5.8 lakh quintal of cotton arrived in the markets of district. With regard to paddy, there was a rise of 13 per cent with over 4 lakh tonne paddy been brought to the markets here.

Out of this, nearly 3.9 lakh tonnes of paddy was purchased by government agencies. The officials informed that the purchase of paddy would be closed in two or three days.

Bathinda, November 18
Despite the best efforts of the health department, the authorities here have still not been able to prevent the spread of dengue in the district.

With five fresh cases of dengue reported at the hospital, the records of the Civil Surgeon's office, Bathinda, show that the number of confirmed cases of dengue is 255, besides the 150 suspected cases. But the record does not list a large number of patients who have been undergoing treatment at private hospitals.

Meanwhile, in a fresh development, a four-member team including Dr Sawinder Singh from the regional office of the Union Ministry of Health, today, along with the local staff of the health department, conducted a joint inspection of various colonies in the city.

The team visited Bhatti road, Barnala road, Railway colony and Mehna Chowk. During the visit, insect collectors today found mosquito larva at Bhatti road, at the makeshift huts of slum dwellers on Barnala bypass -pass and at the Railway Colony quarters.

While talking to the TNS, Dr Sawinder Singh said, "Following directions from the department, which runs under the control of the Union government, we conducted an inspection in the city. After inspecting the preventive measurements adopted by the Civil Hospital, here, we found everything in place."

"But from the larva of the dangerous dengue mosquito that we collected today, it is quite evident that people's participation and cooperation in the drive is still missing. The department will have to boost up the awareness campaign."

About the issue of deaths of dengue patients, the team said though two dengue affected patients had died, medical reports said they were suffering from other diseases too.

Denying any clear case of dengue deaths, Dr Malkit Singh, District Malaria Officer, said, "A policeman, Gurcharan Singh of Kaljharani, tested positive for dengue but the reports of the DMCH stated that he was also suffering from liver problems like Hepatitis C which could have caused his death."

"A lady, Satya Devi of Power House road, was also suffering from dengue, but she too had other ailments related to heart and liver. One Darshan Singh of Hazura Kapura colony died at a local private hospital, from where we got the report of extreme downfall in his platelet cells as the cause of his death. But if the relatives come up with a request, we could go for an investigation in the case."

According to information received from the blood bank, more than 400 units of blood have been donated by various organisations including Asra Welfare Society, Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force Wing, United Welfare and Naujwan Welfare Society.

Speaking over the issue, H.S. Saran, in-charge, blood bank, Civil Hospital, Bathinda said, Around 850 units of plasma have been released from here for dengue related cases."

Bathinda, November 18
The education department had started refresher camps for the teachers after conducting a survey of the calibre of school-going children in the state. The survey revealed that some students of class V were unable to read and write properly.

The government, therefore, started the refresher course in the form of camps for the teachers. Such camps are conducted at regular intervals in government schools. But the camps may not be serving their purpose with trainers reluctant to don the mantle at these camps.

A teacher attending a camp at a government primary school in the city pointed out, "We come here at 9 am and remain here till 5 pm. At times, no trainer comes to conduct the camp and if somebody comes, he is not trained enough to teach. It is more of a get-together than a refresher camp for us,” she added.

The students have to suffer unnecessarily as they do not get the desired attention that they deserve. The government adopted a new teaching policy to improve the performance of the students. But the government should have trained those first who were appointed to conduct these camps.

Jagmeel, headmaster of Government High School, Lehra Baiga, said, "We have spoken to the DEO many times but to no avail. At present, out of 12 teachers, four are left to attend five classes and the rest have gone to attend the camp, which is being held from November 17-22. Some teachers have been sent to organise a sports meet being held in Bathinda. One teacher is taking two classes at a time. The whole state is facing the same problem and the ultimate sufferers are the students, who yield no benefit out of these camps.”

The camp takes place for five days at a stretch. The students come to school but go back home because there is no one to teach them, another teacher added. Raj Kumar, general secretary of Democratic Teachers' Front, said, "We have been speaking to the authorities concerned about these camps. But we are told that this is for the benefit of students. Teachers are forcibly sent to conduct these camps and they have no choice.”

Sources stated that the government wants to privatise all schools in the state. The government would sell off these schools to private contractors. Keeping this in view, meagre grants are being given to the existing government schools and colleges. The government gives good grants to private institutions comparatively.

Sources revealed that a grant of Rs 4,28,22,680 was given to schools in the year 2007-08, out of which 66 per cent was contributed to private schools. Around 371 schools in the state were given grants out of which 252 were private institutions. Sources added that in Bathinda, Eastwood International School, whose owner belongs to village Badal, managed to get Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister on February 4 this year and Paramjit Kaur Gulshan (MP, Bathinda) chipped in with Rs 5 lakh.

“The government is spending on new schools but no effort is being made to improve the situation of the existing schools. Most students are in a state of neglect, deprived of basic facilities as well, "Raj Kumar rued.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 18
Fourteen nominations in six segments of Sriganganagar district have been rejected during the scrutiny, said DC Bhawani Singh Detha today. However, most of them were covering candidates.

With rejection of the nomination of BSP candidate Mamta Rani and covering BJP candidate Samandeep Singh today, 16 candidates have been left in Srikaranpur constituency.

In Raisinghnagar, Jaikaran (CPI), Rajesh Kumar (SP), Raju Ram and Kishan Lal, both independent candidates, are out leaving eight contestants in the fray.

In Anoopgarh, nominations of some covering candidates were rejected leaving behind 12 candidates. In Sadulshehar, papers of covering candidates Baldev Singh (BJP), Ajay Singh and Subhash Chander (Congress) were rejected leaving 19 in fray.

In Suratgarh, papers of Rai Sahab (Lok Shakti Party) and Hazari Lal, a covering Congress candidate, have been rejected. Now, 22 candidates are in the fray here. However, papers filed by all 18 candidates in Sriganganagar constituency were found to be correct. — OC

Abohar, November 18
Responding to a call given by the state struggle committee, the members of the Technical Services Union organised a rally and burnt an effigy of the PSEB during a demonstration here today.

State committee member Shankar Dass and others flayed the management for its failure in recovering arrears, running in billions, from the government departments and other well-placed consumers. It led to steps like restrictions on withdrawal of GPF and cancellation of travelling allowance for the employees, the speakers regretted.

The union warned that the agitation would be intensified if the orders against these facilities were not withdrawn.

Bathinda, November 18
The Ex-Servicemen Welfare Union organised a meeting which was presided by Capt H.S. Bhatti (retd) to protest against the non-implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission (SPC). It was unanimously accepted that the benefits should be given to the ex-servicemen like in the case of serving soldiers. A protest rally was planned to press the Central government for the early implementation of the SPC recommendations. Sub Balbir Singh Sidhu, secretary general of the union, appealed to all ex-servicemen of the state to take part in rally. — TNS