Indo-Pak border (Ferozepur), April 14
Toxic discharge of tanneries situated at Kasur in Pakistan is polluting the Sutlej, which has affected the health of crops, aquatic and human lives on the Indian side in the border villages along the river belt.

Before independence, few tanneries were working in the Dingarb area on the banks of Rohi Nullah in Kasur but in the recent times the tanneries have started spreading over a wider area South of Sutlej in Kot Molvi, Abdul Qadir Niaz Nagar and Yonus Nagar areas. With over 400 tanneries, Kasur is now the biggest tanning concentration in Pakistan.

Since, this town is situated close to the Indo-Pak border, the effluents of the tanneries and sewerage of the town is discharged into a big tributary of the Sutlej, which enters India on the outskirts of Kaluwala village. The normal flow of water in this tributary is estimated at more than 100 cubic metres per second.

Besides this, many small drains also pour into Sutlej in the Pakistani side as the main river also crisscross into the other side at several places between Ferozepur and Fazilka areas.

No matter, Pakistan has installed a water treatment plant at Kasur but many tanneries situated outside the vicinity of the town on the Ferozepur road directly pour their discharge into the drains that mix with the main tributary.

The local people of Kaluwala, Nihalewala, Dulchi and other border villages in the Indian side say that the polluted water has badly affected the aquatic life of the river as the quantity of fish has decreased in the river during the past few years, besides, posing health hazards to them.

According to an estimate, the average daily input of all tanneries in Kasur, is estimated to be over 250 tonnes of wet salted weight, comprising some 8,000 hides (cattle and buffaloes) and between 12,000 and 15,000 skins (sheep and goats) per day.

At least, 10,000 cubic meters of heavily polluted tannery waste is discharged from the tannery clusters per day. About 5000 cubic meters of the above tannery effluent together with domestic sewage is discharged into the Rohi Nullah that finally pours into Sutlej.

Tanneries have also polluted the subsoil water reservoirs by discharging both organic and inorganic substances harmful for human, animal and aquatic health. They discharge fatal elements including arsenic, chromium, sodium chloride, fluorides and sulphides, as a result of which underground water reservoirs have been contaminated to an alarming proportion.

The chief medical officer of Ferozepur Dr DP Godara when contacted said that he has asked the authorities concerned to collect samples of water from the tributaries of Sutlej entering the Indian side and the main river to ascertain the level of pollution of the river water.

Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), April 14
Fervour and gaiety marked the Baisakhi celebrations as lakhs of devotees thronged the Takht Damdama Sahib here today to pay obeisance. They also took a holy dip in Sarovar and partook of langar organised at the main langar hall on the Gurdwara premises.

Under the banner of Nanhi Chhaan, a joint venture of Impact group, SGPC and forest department, hundreds of plants were distributed as ‘Boota Parsad’ at the fair. Much to the excitement of kids and youngsters, various swings and daring performances like ‘death well’ were also arranged.

The fair being directly connected with farmers, various companies had displayed their products, including tractors, agricultural tools and seeds among other agriculture-related things. To promote their products, few companies were offering special schemes.

‘Ghota’ and ‘Bhaang’, the favourite drinks of Nihangs, were being prepared at various places and some of them were even selling it on the road.

Meanwhile, despite heavy deployment of police force called from various districts of the state, traffic troubles were witnessed in and around the town. All roads leading to Talwandi Sabo were dotted with political stickers and flags bearing vehicles.

Other main attractions at the Takht were the rallies organised by various political parties.

Bathinda, April 14
Although the political parties and candidates are not leaving any stone unturned in wooing the voters for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, it seems that they have failed to strike a chord among the youth.

The youngsters, most of them barely 18, voiced their views about the polling process in the country. While many were all praise for the poll code of conduct and the democratic way of electioneering, some were cynical about the way democracy had suffered at the hands of selfish people. While some do not want to cast their vote, others were not much interested in elections. A majority of them are not even aware of the number of candidates and political parties that are in the fray.

The Tribune spoke to a cross-section of first-time voters and youngsters and found some surprising facts.

Suresh Kansal, a youth from Model Town, said he was enthusiastic for his opinion was also being considered worthy in the formation of the government. He was happy for some well-educated candidates were in the fray this time, which meant that the politics was no more left to the ruffians. Calling it a good trend, he said such people should be encouraged, as they would help in steering the nation in the right direction.

Ruchi Sharma (20), another first-time voter, did not know the number of candidates in the fray from her city. “Ek Advani ki party hai aur ek Sonia ki,” she giggled. When asked about the date of polls, she said, “Yahan May mein hai.”

Another noticeable fact with the youngsters was that they too believed in family lineage towards a particular party. Most of them said that since their father has been casting vote for a particular party, they will also follow the practice. “Politics ke bare mein to papa ko hi pata hai. He knows the best,” was the common reply.

Rohit, a student of Rajindra College, maintained “Elections or no elections. Nothing is going to change here. Look at the condition of roads, streetlights, potable water, health facilities and government schools. Is anyone bothered to work for the common man?”

Poonam Raina, a resident on the Power House Road, said she did not use her right to franchise because she was disillusioned with the voting system as well as politicians. She said the candidates visit them only when it is time to seek votes. Sonia Verma said, “I will vote for the one who is really concerned about the commoners and their problems.”

Some of the youngsters even said there should be an option of “no vote” as well so that the politicians should come to know their actual worth.

Bathinda, April 14 
Politics and weather do not have any connexion. But the two are seemingly intertwined, at least in Bathinda, if their behaviour pattern is anything to go by.

The most keenly-watched constituency in the country is generating heat—above normal — politically as well as atmospherically.

With the beginning of the filing of nomination papers, political activities are also intensifying here. Yesterday, SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal took the plunge by filing her nomination papers. Today, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was here to canvass for party candidate Raninder Singh.

When all this was happening, the mercury also shot up to a record level. As per the Agro-met Advisory Services, PAU Regional Station, Bathinda, the maximum temperature recorded on Monday was 36 degree Celsius while the minimum was 18.5 degrees. On Sunday, the mercury even touched the 38 degrees mark, above the normal. Interestingly, before that, it was below normal.

The weathermen say that prevailing conditions will remain dry, the mercury may even head further north.

As per the weather forecast made by IMD, Chandigarh and received by PAU regional station here, the weather is likely to remain clear and dry and there is a possibility of rise in temperature. In the political slugfest too, the temperature is set to rise with Raninder Singh set to file his papers later this week.

As to whom the prevailing political conditions will benefit, Harsimrat or Raninder, it is too early to say. But agro scientists claim for sure that the rise in atmospheric temperature at least, would certainly benefit the wheat farmer as it would decrease the moisture content in wheat.

Bathinda, April 14
In a written statement, Lachhman Singh Jaura, the General Samaj Party (GSP) candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, today alleged that his vote has been deleted from the voters’ list illegally.

He said in the past all elections, he had a valid vote along with the voter’s identity card. However, when he approached the assistant returning officer today to get the nomination papers, his name was not found on the voters’ list.

He said the matter had been reported to the senior authorities.

Bathinda, April 14
Hariram Kirad, president, Kabir Dharamshala, Kanhaya Nagar, joined the Punjab Pardesh Dhanak Samaj (Indaura Group) along with his supporters, a press release issued here today said.

They all assured to lend their support to Raninder Singh, the Congress candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat.

Moga, April 14
The SAD-BJP candidate for the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, as part of her election campaign, visited the Moga town today and held a series of street corner (nukkar) meetings to woo the voters.

On her arrival, the Students Organization of India (SOI), a frontal organisation of the SAD, held a gathering of its members in which the president of the SOI, Gurpreet Singh Raju, youth SAD leader and president of the local Municipal Council Barjinder Singh Brar, chairman of the Improvement Trust Yogesh Goel and many other local leaders of the SAD were present.

Gulshan while claiming that the SAD-BJP would win the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in the state said the Congress was playing with the sentiments of the people for its own vested political interests but the people of the state were well educated and would never listen to their propaganda against the state government.

Barjinder Brar highlighted the achievements of the SAD-BJP government and said that the Lok Sabha elections were solely based on the agenda of development.

Yogesh Goel appealed to the people to vote for Bibi Gulshan and strengthen the organization. Students Organisation of India leader Raju announced to form committees of its organization at the block level to carry out the election campaign of the women candidate in the district.

Ferozepur, April 14
The Congress-led UPA government has miserably failed on all fronts as squalor, illiteracy, terrorism and inflation has ruled the roost during the last five years of its misgovernance, alleged Balbir Punj, MP and BJP general secretary while interacting with the media here today.

Punj was accompanied by Kamal Sharma, general secretary of the Punjab unit of BJP, DP Chandan, vice-chairman, Small Traders Board, Manjit Singh Rai, Krishan Narula and Narinder Mukhija, besides others.

Punj alleged the Congress had received kickbacks worth Rs 600 crores in a defence deal with Israel right before the announcement of general elections. While terming Manmohan Singh as weak PM, Punj said Singh was working as per the whims and fancies of Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.

Ferozepur, April 14
Congress candidate from Ferozepur, Jagmeet Singh Brar is learnt to have filed his nomination today. His wife, Amanpreet Kaur, filed nomination papers as a covering candidate. Though Brar's camp claimed that he would file his nomination papers tomorrow in the presence of Captain Amarinder Singh, he quietly filed his papers today which came as a surprise and created some confusion.

Sources said that Brar quietly filed papers today ostensibly due to some astrological reasons.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has always used religion to pursue its political interests whereas the Congress has always played divisive politics to retain power at the state and Centre, stated SAD (Amritsar) candidate for the Ferozepur parliamentary seat, Bhai Dhian Singh Mand, before filing his nomination papers in the office of DC-cum-District Election Officer Megh Raj here today.

Mand was accompanied by senior party colleagues Jaskaran Singh, Jathedar Gurdip Singh, Bhai Gurnam Singh, Gurbachan Singh, Gian Singh Mand and others.

Mand who had defeated Jagmeet Singh Brar to win this parliamentary seat in 1989 has been consecutively contesting elections from this seat since then on SAD (A) ticket. Mand exhorted the people to snub both, Congress and Akali (Dal), as they were promoting dynastic politics.

Manoj Kumar of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Shiv Sena also filed his nomination papers today.

Hanumangarh/Abohar, April 14
Even when initial reports had suggested that the sitting MP Nihal Chand Meghwal had high hopes on retaining the Sriganganagar seat while recontesting as the BJP candidate, attendance less than expected in the meeting addressed by him have rung alarm bells, observers feel.

Meghwal was accompanied by former minister Dr Ram Partap and senior BSP leader Jaspal Singh who had recently joined the saffron party. They campaigned in a dozen villages including Kishanpura, Arayianwali, Chohilanwali, Joravarpura, Lakhuwali and Mainawali.

Asked to comment, a senior worker said, "People are busy with harvesting and NREGA works. They are obviously more concerned about earning money than attending to the leaders."

Moga, April 14
Taking a serious note of the incidents of attacks by stray dogs on children, the Moga district administration has decided to launch sterilisation programme for stray dogs.

A 14-year-old child was devoured to death by stray dogs at village Samadh Bhai in the district last week. In the same village, on Sunday, a nine-year-old boy was also attacked by stray dogs. The boy was presently battling for life in a hospital.

The District Magistrate Satwant Singh Johal who visited the affected village on Monday told The Tribune that he had created a special fund by putting in Rs 51,000 for this programme. A total estimated sum of Rs 15 lakh would be required and the sterilisation process costs Rs 250 per dog, he said.

“Initially, we will select five most affected villages from each block and then extend this programme,” the DM said. Johal said that there were no funds available from the state government; therefore, funds would be raised at the local level from NRIs, donors and NGOs for this purpose.

Moga, April 14
The District Magistrate of Moga Satwant Singh Johal has launched an awareness campaign, 'Jago' by sending 10 teams to various locations in the district, which will distribute pamphlets highlighting environmental concerns and hold talks at the panchayat level to educate the farmers against setting the wheat straw on fire after harvesting the crop.

He said that the burning of the straw raises a thick black clouds of smoke in the sky, which causes air pollution and adversely affects the fertility of the soil, besides, posing health hazards.

It may be mentioned that during the past few years, it has become a common trend to burn the wheat stubble left behind by combined harvesters and other harvesting machines in the field..

Although a portion of the wheat straw is used to make dry fodder for the cattle by the farmers but the remaining straw is now habitually put on fire for a quick disposal in order to prepare the fields for the paddy season.

Johal said the farmers were adopting a wrong practice by burning wheat straw because in the process, the bio-mass of cultivable land gets destroyed affecting the fertility of the land.

He cautioned the farmers against the fire hazards as burning of straw poses a threat to other farms in the vicinity. There have been instances in the recent past when fire from burning straw moves out to nearby fields with standing crops destroying the entire produce without giving any chance to save them. The crop at the harvesting stage is like a highly combustible material and even a spark is enough to destroy an entire field.

Moreover, the thick black smoke that comes out from burning fields is rich in hydro-carbon particles which not only cause irritation to the eyes but also lead to some serious ailments including nasal allergies, skin problems and respiratory disorders as it reduces the oxygen layer in the natural environment.

The DM further said that stern legal action would be taken against those burning the straw under relevant laws.

Mansa, April 14
Wheat standing in nearly thirteen acre of land was burnt at village Jawaharke on Monday.

According to information available, wheat crop of Bachiter Singh, Darshan Singh and Uttam Singh were gutted. The reason of fire could not be ascertained. The farmers controlled the fire by making their efforts.

Meanwhile, concerned farmers and Bhartiya Kisan Union demanded compensation for the farmers. Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul said that action would be taken in this regard.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, April 14
A housewife Bhawna (22) reportedly consumed celphos after serving the same to twin daughters, Bhavya and Bhoomi (2), in the Purani Abadi area of Sriganganagar late last evening. They were rushed to the district hospital but died at about 11 pm, sources said.

SHO Dhirender Singh said the first information was received in the evening on Monday. Mamta's parents in Ludhiana were informed immediately besides getting the victims shifted to the hospital where the end came late at night.

Her father-in-law Parkash Chander Swami, an employee in the agriculture department, said he was on duty in his office when the information came. Her husband Rohit Kumar had gone to Delhi on a business tour. Additional District Magistrate Rajinder Sharma has initiated an inquiry.