|
|
|
|
Engine derails at Kotfatta, 800 passengers escape unhurt
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rain beneficial to Rabi crops: Expert
Shoppers hop around as sale season sets in
Markfed plans selling potatoes to EU countries
District Boxing Championship Day II A match in progress at the District Boxing Championship being held in Bathinda on Sunday. Tribune photo: Kulbir Beera
BDA’s plot allotment policy comes under scanner
Sukhbir’s ascent hailed
Rain cheers wheat growers
Development council meeting
Abohar Club to house DSP office
Khayali takes up welfare projects
Dera followers resent admn move
Students to get health cover
Ex-chief of MC among five convicted in corruption case
|
|
Engine derails at Kotfatta, 800 passengers escape unhurt
Bathinda, January 18 Railway officers said that the engine and the special luggage room (SLR) jumped the track at 2.35 am. Rescue team was dispatched from Bathinda within the stipulated 45 minutes, they added. However, the team faced difficulties in the rescue operation due to adverse weather condition as the rain started at around 3 am. Rail traffic on the Bathinda-New Delhi section remained suspended for seven hours between 2.35 am and 9.45 am. Meanwhile, the Railway pulled back all the rakes of the train to Bathinda at 7.15 am. The train left for onward journey via Dhuri after making all other necessary arrangements at 7.40 am, sources in the railway said. Volunteers of local NGO Sahara Jan Sewa also chipped in and arranged for tea and snacks for the stranded passengers. Rail traffic was diverted via Dhuri till the track became operational again and trains like the Punjab Mail and Udyan Abha Toofan Express were re-routed. Engineers from the Delhi division reached the spot to supervise the rail traffic restoration works. Investigations are underway to ascertain the reasons behind the accident, railway sources added. |
|
|
Rain beneficial to Rabi crops: Expert
Bathinda, January 18 The precipitation accompanied with thunderclaps started at around 3 am to provide the much-needed relief to the farmers, who were anxious due to increase in temperature, and also to the residents here who had been reeling under intense cold for quite sometime. The sun, however, did not appear till 3 pm. The condition remained pleasant due to moderate temperature as the mercury also repeated its yesterday behaviour and recorded 10.5 degree Celsius, just 0.5 degree less than that of Saturday, as per the Agro-MeT advisory services, PAU Regional Station, Bathinda. The maximum temperature, however, declined by 2 degree Celsius to settle at 18.5 degree. The prevailing western disturbances approaching Punjab and adjoining areas is behind all the current weather-related phenomena. The Director of PAU, Regional Station, Bathinda, Dr Gurmeet Singh Buttar, while talking to TNS on Sunday evening, termed the rainfall as beneficial and sufficient for the Rabi crops. He, however, did not say that the more of it would not be welcomed by farmers. But, Dr Buttar did say that the weather should be clear soon as the cloudy condition accompanied with high temperature was not conducive for potato. As far as the weather prediction is concerned, the weathermen on Friday had predicted overcast condition, rain and increase in temperature in the region till Sunday and clear weather from Monday onwards. They had also predicted that when the weather would be clear, the mercury might also decline considerably. The sources in the Agro-MeT advisory services, also said on Sunday, that weather is likely
to clear from Monday and there might be a fall in the night temperature. |
|
|
Shoppers hop around as sale season sets in
Bathinda, January 18 Shalini, a college student said, “I am new to this place and had thought that Bathinda does not have much to offer but there are almost all brands in this city. The Mall Road and Dhobi Bazaar house them all. You can pick trendiest caps and mufflers from the Burton’s in Dhobi Bazaar. There are good sweaters at the Rage and sweat shirts can be purchased from the Nike.” Pringle, which is otherwise very expensive, is offering discount up to 25 per cent and has a striking winter assortment. Shops are abuzz with customers throughout the day. A shopkeeper in Dhobi Bazaar said, “During this season, the number of customers arriving at our shop doubles and we have to remain open till late so that we could cater to the needs of our customers. This is the most sought after sale.” On the one hand customers said they were looking forward to the ongoing sale while on the other, there were some who lamented that some shops had displayed boards stating discounts of up to 50 per cent but were not offering that much. The boards bearing such information were just to attract the customers. “I had gone to a showroom on the Goniana road and a board stating a discount of 50 per cent was hung outside. But in actual, they were not offering 50 per cent discount, which is wrong,” 25-year-old Manpreet said. Since it is not right to befool customers by publicising wrong percentage of discounts, the customers can report such malpractice to the consumers’ forum. There are big brands offering really big discounts. However, there are some other brands, which have not started offering discounts yet. Simran from Bathinda Military Station said, “I am waiting for Madame to begin the winter sale. It has good stuff and designs are not repeated.” While people were seen busy stocking up for the next winter season but the hope still lingers on that the winters remain here for a bit longer so that the fresh purchase could be flaunted. |
|
|
Markfed plans selling potatoes to EU countries
Bathinda, January 18 M.B.S. Sandhu, chief manager (agri-export zone), Markfed, informed TNS that their case had already been forwarded by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Brussels-headquartered European Union (EU), for administrative approvals regarding export. Once the department gets clearance, they would be able to export potatoes to European countries. Besides, the department also plans to export the commodity
to West Asia, South East Asian countries, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, among others. The Euro Gap Certification is the statutory requirement set by the EU for all fruits, vegetables and food items exported to the European countries. The Euro Gap standard is primarily designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm by minimising detrimental environmental impacts of farming operations, reducing the use of chemical inputs and ensuring a responsible approach to worker health and safety as well as animal welfare. Sandhu said: “We have received Euro Gap Certification for the current potato crop. Once we get approval from the EU, we would be able to export potatoes to European countries,” he added. |
|
|
District Boxing Championship Day II
Bathinda, January 18 Winners of other semi-finals played today are as follows: 28 to 30 kg: Vivek Kumar and Suunil Kumar; 30 to 32 kg: Anandveer Singh and Suraj Singh; 32 to 34 kg: Vicky Bansal and Lakhwinder Singh; 34 to 36 kg: Raju Kumar and Sukhdev Singh; 36 to 38 kg: Sukhjinder Singh and Navdeeep Singh; and in 38 to 40 kg category: Inderjit Singh beat Vijay Parshad while Lokesh Bains prevailed over Harjit Pal. Winners in the 40 to 42 kg category are: Lovepreet Singh and Gagandeep Singh; 42 to 45 kg: Ravinder Kumar and Sanjay Kumar; and in 45 to 48 kg category: Vakil Singh Sandeep Singh; In the 48 to 51 kg category, while Manish Ahuja got the better of Ranjeet Singh, Gurjit Singh lost to Husaninder Singh. In the 51 to 54 kg |
|
|
BDA’s plot allotment policy comes under scanner
Bathinda, January 18 Expressing resentment over the list of beneficiaries, the residents of Shaheed Beant Singh Nagar have accused the BDA officials of contriving to deprive them of the benefit of allotment. They have also charged officials of adopting wrong practices as on allegedly finding theirs houses locked, it was shown as not allotted. Holding a meeting some time back, a 21-member committee of the locality accused the BDA officials for creating a vague picture before the senior officers, during the survey. They said that despite holding a number of surveys, the officials have been allotting 25-yard plots on the basis of more than a decade old survey, due to which a number of deserving persons have been barred from land allotment. General secretary of the committee, Shiv Lal said the BDA had conducted three surveys, in 2004 and 2006. Then, objections were invited through publications in the press. But ignoring the past surveys, the officials have been considering a list in which persons, who have been living in the locality for the past 10 years, are nowhere mentioned. He further alleged that most people in that list have moved to some other place, but their names were still there. “The state government, through various letters, passed instructions to the BDA saying persons who had been actually living there should be considered while makling land allotment. Now, if the BDA is opting for such an old list, it would be termed as a violation of the state government’s directive in the matter,” he added. Members of the committee, alleged in writing that the junior officers mislead their seniors saying that there were a number of 25-yard plots that were lying vacant. In fact, those vacant plots too had been allotted” “It may be mentioned that as per the records of the BDA, there are still 470 quarters, including two lavatories and four parks, which are to be constructed. But the babus have been creating a hurdle in the progress of the scheme,” they added. The committee members said that if corrective steps are not taken, they would be forced to lodge protests. When contacted, KK Yadav, chief administrator, Bathinda Development Authority, said, “Survey for the area (1296 square yard), in question, is not yet complete. We assure that anybody deserving the plot, would not be deprived. Even if anybody has some objection, he should come to us.” |
|
Sukhbir’s ascent hailed
Bathinda, January 18 A meeting of the Sabha that was held under the chairmanship of Dharam Pal Sharma, senior vice-president, at the residence of O.P.Sharma, SAD spokesperson, hoped that the Punjab government would meet the demands of the community. A delegation of the Sabha had recently met Sukhbir Singh here and apprised him of their problems. — TNS |
|
Rain cheers wheat growers
Moga, January 18 The rain had prolonged the chilly weather with the hope of a bumper wheat crop that according to farm experts could exceed the expected target of 15.72 metric tonnes of wheat sown in an area of 3.4 million hectares during the current season in the state. There were reports of rain from almost all parts of the Malwa belt. In Ferozepur, Moga, Faridkot and Jagraon area of the Ludhiana district it has been raining intermittently for the past two days with reports of rainfall from Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda and Mansa also. An official of the agriculture department said that the temperature would remain low for the next couple of weeks due to rain that has brightened the hope of a good wheat crop. A rise in the temperature at this stage could have stunted the growth of wheat crop, he said. He said that the rain had come at appropriate time because the frosty conditions that had prevailed in the past few weeks had affected the growth of mustard, gram and potato crops in the Malwa region but the current rainfall had revived the hopes of damage control to these crops. Dr Ram Chand, assistant director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, who is in-charge of the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of the country while talking to The Tribune over telephone said, "The prolonged frosty or foggy conditions reduce the process photo synthesis that badly affects the health of crops, therefore, the rainfall at this stage of time is a welcome development for the wheat crop". A farmer said that the leaves of wheat crop had started turning yellow during the past few days due to dry and frosty conditions, which if continued for another couple of weeks could have hit the wheat and other crops badly. Moreover, the farmers with whom this correspondent interacted said that they were not able to irrigate their crops properly due to irregular supply of power. The rainfall at this stage has come as a boon for them, they said. Mansa: Farmers are upbeat over the rainfall as it would be beneficial for the crops, including wheat, gram. Farmers, namely Gurcharan Singh of Bhainibagha, Swaroop Singh of Saharna and Sukhdev Singh of Kotlallu said that the rain proved as boon for them because they were using diesel engines for the irrigating their crops. Meanwhile, chief agriculture officer, Davinder Singh said that the rainfall would be good for all the crops and especially wheat. Nearly, 1.65 lakh hectare areas were under the wheat crop during this session. He suggested the farmers to use the fertilisers according to the need of their crops. — OC
|
|
Vagaries of weather
Hanumangarh/Sriganganagar/Abohar, January 18 Jain said that the revenue department was asked to conduct a survey and its findings were cross-checked through the department of agriculture. The affected villages include 10 in Hanumangarh, 16 in Peelibanga, 11 in Sangria and 54 in Tibbi Tehsil. The survey reports pointed damage to crop and property separately. The officials were of the view that the rain would reduce dependence on canal water and advised the farmers not to mount pressure for the compensation by distorting the facts. Legislator Vinod Kumar started visiting the affected villages yesterday to have first hand information, which is to be shared with the district authorities before apprising the chief minister of the factual position. He interacted with the farmers in the village Kohla today. Sriganganagar Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Singh Thakur said that the loss due to heavy rain and hailstorm was not more than 50 per cent in any part of the district as per the survey that was completed last evening. Sadulshehar MLA Santosh Saharan also visited the affected villages along with the district Congress secretary Mahabir Bhadu, agricultural officer Roop Ram, Beopar Mandal president Krishan Singla and block president Sukhwinder Singh Lalgarhia. He said that some villages suffered 30-70 per cent loss of Anoopgarh MLA Pawan Duggal, who visited some border villages in Gharsana area, was shown buckets full of ice cubes that were collected by the farmers during the hailstorm. Reports of damage to mustard crop have also been received from Rawla, Raisinghnagar, Srikaranpur and Suratgarh. Notably, the mustard growers had suffered much due to dense frost last year.
|
|
Development council meeting
Ferozepur, January 18 In the meeting which was attended by ADC Jaskiran Singh, M.P. Singh, T.N. Passi, Charandev Singh Mann, Jasdeep Singh Aulakh, all SDMs besides heads of the various departments, the DC took stock of the various development works. At the meet, the DC instructed the officials to carry out surprise checking of the schools, dispensaries and other offices so as to inculcate discipline among the government employees. The DC further said that this border district was the biggest producer of citrus fruits in the state. He said that a citrus complex was being constructed at village Tahliwala Jatta at an estimated cost of Rs one crore. He said that a new grain market was also being constructed in Mallanwalan at cost of Rs 114 lakh. The DC said that an amount of Rs 5 crore was being spent to construct 212 rooms in various elementary schools in the district. He said that six additional rooms were also being constructed at government schools at village Ghubaya, Ghandi Qadim,
Megha Rai Utar, Makhu and other places at an expenditure of Rs 110.98 lakh. The DC exhorted officials to bring transparency in the execution of various development works and redress the grievances of the public on priority basis. |
|
Abohar Club to house DSP office
Abohar, January 18 The office was to be shifted from the old market committee complex located near the railway goods platforms as the Punjab Mandi Board had sold out the complex in open auction though without fetching the actual market value, as was alleged in the complaints made to the Punjab Governor after the auction. But the police was not finding suitable building for the office. Restoration of physical possession of the Abohar Club after expiry of the lease period prompted the authorities to use the club equipped with conference hall and lush green lawns as DSP office. It is located just at the rear of the municipal rest house being used as official residence of the DSP for two decades. The staff remained busy in shifting the records, furniture and other goods from the abandoned market committee complex to the Abohar Club. The taxation department is still functioning in the market committee complex,
however. |
|
Khayali takes up welfare projects
Sriganganagar/Abohar, January 18 Instead of accepting gifts from school time friends or relatives, he announced to take up several public welfare projects in and around the village by donating 20 bigha (acre) land. Khayali revealed that he has floated the Chaudhary Rawat Ram Memorial Trust to keep alive the memory of his grandfather. He plans to raise a degree college for engineering and medical
science with a budget of Rs 1.25 crore. — OC |
|
Dera followers resent admn move
Sriganganagar/Abohar, January 18 The executive magistrates along with senior police officers deployed by the district administration had reportedly asked the Dera chief to leave the village "within five minutes" as the authorities had limited his stay till last evening only. He along with members of the family and followers had reached the village on Thursday afternoon after about 18 months as the Vasundhra Raje-led BJP government had banned his entry to Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts under alleged pressure from the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Deras in these districts were also not permitted to resume normal functioning. The Federation on Saturday faxed a strongly worded memorandum to the Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot. It said that the state government had given permission to the Dera chief for holding satsang in Kolayat (Bikaner) for two days and allowed him to visit the native village after satsang. All this was based on intelligence inputs and series of meetings by the district authorities. But SP Alok Vashishth ordered the Dera chief to leave the village despite inclement weather within 5 minutes. The YWF said the Dera management had informed the district authorities that the annual function of Shah Satnam Ji Girls Senior Secondary School has been fixed and the Dera chief will be leaving for Sirsa after two hours of the function or latest by 4 am on Saturday. But the administration forced cancellation of the function. The federation had urged the CM to ensure freedom to the Dera chief. |
|
Students to get health cover
Hanumangarh/Abohar, January 18 Speaking as chief guest in the function that was organised to provide uniforms to physically challenged children in Sector-6 community center the DC said that children of only those families who could not afford the expenses of model schools were studying in the government schools, so they need to be guaranteed better health care also. Besides covering them under the HGS, they would also be entitled to free treatment, including major surgeries in case of an emergency, in the super specialty hospital in Bikaner and Jaipur. A sub-committee would be formed to meet the expenses for providing ambulance and other services, he added. Jain informed that the local municipal council and private donors have to share half the expenses incurred under the HGS for which the work plan would be finalised within next 30 days. All the children seeking admission in government schools in the coming session would get a medical diary. He hoped at least 10,000 students would benefit. He had tried the scheme at Rajsamand and was buoyed with the response. After his posting in Hanumangarh, a few days back, he discussed the plan with some social activists who responded well, Jain said. Sunita Jyani from Gurgaon and Krishan Lal Jyani sponsored uniforms for 74 physically challenged children. They included 20 from Sewa
Viklang, 21 from Navjyoti School for deaf and dumb and 33 from the Home based training programme launched under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. The gathering was moved by the prayer and bhajans presented by a visually impaired child Gurpreet Kaur. |
|
|
Ex-chief of MC among five convicted in corruption case
Mansa, January 18 Among those against whom a case was registered included, former president of Mansa Municipal Council Narotam Singh Chahal, Prithvipal, Abhay Kumar, Inder Mohan and Ashok Kumar. The Vigilance Bureau had registered the case under sections 420/409/120B of the IPC in connection with providing tenders about municipal council works. DSP Mukhtiar Singh conducted an inquiry into the case and revealed that corruption played a key role. Additional District and sessions judge J.S. Bhatia awarded the sentence to the accused. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Bathinda, January 18
Bathinda, January 18
Hanumangarh/Sriganganagar/Abohar, January 18
