Bathinda, February 10
With four out of the five MLAs not attending the meeting convened by Varinder Kataria, observer, AICC, here today, an effort to unite the warring factions of the party in the Malwa heartland received a setback.

Except Harminder Singh Jassi, all other MLAs of this district were conspicuous by their absence at the meeting held to work out the party’s strategy for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

Kataria said the MLAs were absent unintentionally, as Jeet Mohinder Singh was in Delhi, Ajaib Singh Bhatti’s wife was unwell and Makhan Singh was also out of town. However, the meeting was useful as a large number of party activists put forth their viewpoints, he added.

When contacted, MLA Makhan Singh said he was out of the town, adding that MLAs Gurpreet Kangar and Ajaib Singh Bhatti were also out of station.

It may be recalled that the absentee MLAs had been supporting the candidature of Raninder Singh, son of former CM Amarinder Singh, for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat.

While talking to media, Kataria denied any factionalism in the party. Naming three main stalwarts of the state Congress, Amarinder Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Mohinder Singh Kaypee, he said they were sharing the dais at public meetings.

About the contenders for the Bathinda seat, he said, “Everybody has right to stake their claim for the ticket. I don’t have received any names so far.”

“I am well aware about the difference of opinions among the party leaders here. So, I will ask them about their grievances soon and would make efforts to redress the same,” said Kataria.

Lashing out at the SAD (B), Kataria said, “It has been two years that the party is in power. And they had been rhetoric about making development in the state. But no tangible result has come out so far except the publicity that the party had received.”

Bathinda, February 10
Rain accompanied with thunderclaps greeted the residents of Bathinda and the adjoining areas today morning as the activated western disturbances in the Punjab and nearby places intensified. Some areas in the region also experienced hailstorm.

While the intermittent rain disrupted normal life in the areas, the mercury fell sharply making the residents relive the January-like conditions in mid-February.

The minimum temperature climbed considerably and recorded 8.0 degree Celsius, 2.6 degree higher than on Monday. The maximum decreased altogether 9 degrees from yesterday and settled at 13 degrees as the sun did not appear due to overcast conditions.

According to the Agro-MeT advisory services, PAU Regional Station, Bathinda, the region experienced 9.2 mm rainfall till 4 pm.

Today, the weather, however, worked in contrast for the rural and the urban areas. While the rain coupled with high wind-speed disrupted normal life in the city and the adjoining places throughout the day, it brought cheers back on the faces of farmers who were having anxious moments for quite sometime due to northwardly movement of the mercury.

Talking to The Tribune on Tuesday evening, the director of PAU, Regional Station, Bathinda, Dr Gurmeet Singh Buttar, said the weather conditions were beneficial for the Rabi crops, including wheat, as it would prolong the winter in the region.

According to the weather forecast made by the IMD, Chandigarh, for Bathinda region on Tuesday and received by the Agro-MeT advisory services here, the weather may continue its behaviour on Wednesday also. The intensity, however, may be less, the weathermen added.

The weather is likely to remain dry and clear on Thursday, the weathermen said, adding that there, however, is a possibility of cloudy conditions in some pockets of the region on Friday as a feeble system for the same may develop on the day.

Bathinda, February 10
Setting a precedent, the fifth general house meeting of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) here today took just an hour to fanalise all the 17 items listed in the main agenda.

No member, barring Congress councillor Jagroop Gill and some others, raised any objection. Krishan Kumar Garg, a BJP councillor who was suspended, and is known for his blunt observations, remained silent.

Five other items in the supplementary agenda were also approved.

All proposals related to fire brigade, developmental works, filter media, regularisation of sweepers, dismissal of a clerk, cleanliness drive, open air theatre, minimum price fixation for Blue Fox land and furtherance of lease of Public Library were passed.

The meeting even approved the pending case of Arjun Nagar, where people were demanding the regularisation of their houses. The general house sanctioned allotment of house tax numbers in the locality. A revised rate list of development charges for regularising those living in unauthorised colonies mentioned in the list of 1993 notification, was also approved. 

After the meeting, KK Yadav and Amit Dhaka, commissioner and joint commissioner BMC, informed the councillors about the camps for the public works, slated from February 12-14 and on February 20.

They urged them to communicate to the people to come forward for assistance in works related to licence, pensions etc.

Moga, February 10
Controversy that arose because of the procurement agencies and rice millers during the last procurement season on the paddy variety PAU-201, that the rice is brownish in colour, seems to be over.

The agriculture department here has claimed that the tests conducted by it have proved that the rice of this variety is normal and white in colour after milling and polishing.

It may be mentioned that during the last procurement season, almost all the procurement agencies had initially refused to purchase this variety raising doubts over its quality.

It was purchased only after the intervention of the state government when farmers across the state raised a hue and cry over the non-purchase of this variety by the agencies.

Agriculture development officer of Moga Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, while talking to The Tribune, has revealed that he has conducted tests on this variety, which testified that the rice and bran made out of this variety is better in quality and quantity.

He said that the quantity of oil coming out of the rice bran from this variety of paddy is more than in the other varieties. "We have observed that 17 per cent of the oil comes out from this variety as compared to an average of 15 per cent from other varieties," he said.

Even the quantity of rice that came out after milling from PAU-201 has weighed at least two kg more than the other normal varieties per quintal, he said.

Dispelling all the doubts over its brownish colour, Brar said after polishing, the colour of the rice has come out white like all other normal varieties of rice.

This variety was promoted by the state agriculture university and agriculture department in the year 2007 after the state decided to delay the sowing of paddy in Punjab as the variety matures faster than the other varieties like PUSA-44 and PR-118, otherwise, popular in the state.

Even as the millers have been claiming that they require extra effort to polish this variety, but during the tests conducted by Brar and his team-mates, the department found that the millers are gaining Rs 50 per quintal more from the rice bran of this variety as compared to other varieties. 

Fazilka, February 10
The global meltdown and prevailing recession has shown its effect on the auction of residential plots by the Municipal Council in Fazilka town today.

The council had proposed to conduct the auction of 282 residential plots for different sizes in around its already existing localities. But the entire auction fizzled out as there were no bidders. Not even a single plot could be auctioned despite much publicity by the council.

Only six persons deposited a security deposit of Rs 20,000 each for participating in the auction but they too did not offer any bid.

The Municipal Council had proposed to auction 52 residential plots near the Sacred Heart Convent School and 230 plots near the thickly populated Dhobi Ghat locality.

The reserve price of a plot measuring 36 x 80 feet was Rs 14.40 lakh, plot measuring 35x50 ft was fixed at Rs 8.75 lakh, 32x70 ft was fixed at Rs 11.20 lakh and that of 32x65 ft was fixed at Rs 10.40 lakh per plot.

Similarly the reserve price of plot measuring 30x60 ft was fixed at Rs 9 lakh per plot, for the 170 plot of 33x66 ft in Dhobi Ghat locality the price was Rs 7.62 lakh per plot and reserve price for another 60 plots measuring 22x60 ft was fixed at Rs 4.62 lakh per plot.

Ten per cent development charges for all the plots were to be levied extra. Besides, the bidder would have also shell out another about 9 per cent towards registration of sale deed.

A bidder Deepak Bawa told this correspondent that the reserve price fixed for the plot is exorbitant.

MC Executive Officer Tilak Raj Verma said the reserve price was fixed in accordance with the government norms. He, however, added that fresh date for the auction would be fixed after discussing the matter at the civic body meeting. 

Bathinda, February 10
The heavy rain and chill notwithstanding, rural medical officers, under the aegis of the Rural Medical Services Association (Punjab), today came up with a new novel idea to send across their demands to the deaf ears of the Akali-BJP government.

In reply to the stone-laying spree of the father-son duo, CM Parkash Singh Badal and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, the rural doctors planted an imitation of foundation stone in front of the mini-secretariat depicting in black humour the state of affairs of the incumbent government for its ‘false promises and flawed policies’.

Dr Aslam Parvez, president, RMSA, said the ‘mass contact programme’ of the RMSA with the people of Punjab was surely and steadily gaining impetus. “All the RMOs of the district have started distributing awareness posters and ‘think & act’ pamphlets along with the prescription slips of the patients,” he added.

Parvez said the ‘rural relay rallies’ aimed at awakening the rural masses would start from February 14.

The chain hunger strike of the doctors entered its sixth consecutive day today.

Meanwhile, the day-long showers along with hailstorm, second in past six days, again drenched the agitators sitting on a dharna. The doctors were seen shivering.

Bathinda, February 10
Taking a cue from the Ram Sene’s statement following the recent Mangalore incident, a group of Shiv Sena volunteers here have warned some restaurant owners and florists of dire consequences if they allowed the youth to celebrate the Valentine’s Day on their premises.

According to the details available, around 25 youngsters, led by Vijay Singla, district president of the Shiv Sena, and Sanyogita, state vice-president of its Mahila wing, visited and cautioned a number of restaurateurs and florists in the city against allowing boys and girls to celebrate the day at their places. They asked the florists not to sell roses on the day.

Talking to media, Singla said, “We have taken the step in order to maintain the Hindu culture in the country. We will not allow celebrations of the Valentine’s Day in Bathinda.” He warned that if caught, the couple would have to either get married or the girl would tie a rakhi on boy’s wrist. He added, “If any shopkeeper did not follow the instruction, he would himself be responsible for the consequences.”

The act of Shiv Sainiks has led to resentment among the restaurant owners. They blamed the administration for the menace. Some of them, seeking anonymity, said the police was now unable to maintain law and order and “we have to bow in front of such miscreants”.

One of the restaurateurs, Arun Kapoor of Kapoor Chinese Corner, said, “We are left with no other option but to follow their orders.”

When SSP Ashish Chaudhary was contacted, he said, “Till now, I have not received any formal complaint in this regard. However, I assure that any activity meant to disrupt the law and order would not be allowed.”

Abohar, February 10
Braving inclement weather, the Rajputana Rifles' camel safari reached its last destination in village Kala Tibba near here today.

Dr Parminder Sharma, principal, staff and students of Bhag Singh Hayer College for Women accorded the team a warm welcome.

The team in-charge Captain Pradeep Sheokand had a nearly two-hour interaction with more than 1100 students to update their knowledge about the Indian Army besides enlightening them on employment avenues in the forces.

The students led by Gurwant Kaur put a volley of questions during the session.

While sharing his experience, Captain Sheokand said the safari had achieved all the objectives.

Captain Sheokand said the team apprised ex-servicemen of the benefits of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) besides other welfare schemes launched by the Central government. War widows were honoured. 

Abohar, February 10
Seven teams of the Income Tax department conducted a "survey" by storming all the offices of the liquor magnets of the region here today.

As per sources, the local officials of the department were also involved in the operation that was still in progress at the time of the filing of the news. The businessmen in question had reportedly formed a syndicate with a variety of active as well as sleeping partners and were learnt to be having a similar business in Haryana and Delhi also. They were termed as successful bidders in most of the semi-government auctions related to prime property that included decades old complexes. They were also running finance companies as per information provided to the sleuths in the Income Tax department.

The outcome of the survey is yet to be known, sources added.

Mansa, February 10
One person was killed in a road accident on the night of February 9 near Bhaidesha on the Mansa-Bathinda road. According to sources, a jeep was coming from Mansa to Bathinda and the accident occurred around midnight.

The vehicle had a flat tyre and its driver was checking the reason for it when another vehicle hit the driver who he was killed on the spot.

The deceased was identified as Jagtar Dass, a resident of Kularan village of Patiala. Police said the vehicle which had hit the driver, fled from the spot. — OC

Bathinda, February 10
Over 100 tiny-tots appeared in the interviews for admission in LKG in the Lord Rama Public School, Bathinda, on Tuesday.

Today’s affair was the second phase of the admission process for the class for the session 2009-10, said Suraj Setia, principal of the MSD Senior Secondary Public School. He said nearly 100 kids were selected in the first phase of the admission process held on January 20.

The results of interviews held today would be out on February 12, he said. — TNS