Fazilka, April 16
Prime municipal land in the vicinity of Fazilka town has been auctioned at a throwaway price due to non-payment of loan secured by the Municipal Council in 2001.

The land evaluated at over Rs 10 crores has been auctioned for just Rs 2.51 crores by the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) on verdict of Debt Recovery Tribunal.

According to available details, the Municipal Council had borrowed a loan of Rs one crore on March 26, 2001 from the OBC, Fazilka branch for the construction of canal-based drinking water project in Fazilka.

The council had then mortgaged its 53 acres (423 canal 1 marla) of precious agricultural land on the outskirts of Fazilka town on Senia road near slum localities.

The erstwhile BJP-led Municipal Council which had worked out the ambitious canal-based drinking water project to meet the long standing requirement of Fazilka people to provide them fluoride-free drinking water. The subsoil water in Fazilka area contains alarmingly high fluoride contents detrimental for the health of human beings.

After securing the loan, the Municipal Council failed to pay the regular instalments. As a result, the initial amount of loan of Rs one crore grew to Rs 2.80 crores. The OBC served several notices on the civic body for recovery of the loan. Thereafter in 2005, the MC assured the bank that upon auction of its other land, the council would deposit one third of the bank load and would relinquished the entire loan by September 30, 2006.

The Congress-led MC during its tenure from year 2003 to 2008 did not fulfil the assurance and deposited only a paltry sum of R. 49,55,000 in July 2007.

Sensing inability of the civic body to repay the loan, the bank took up the matter with Debt Recovery Tribunal, Chandigarh. The tribunal while delivering its verdict about two months back announced auction of about 53 acres of land. It also fixed the reserve price of Rs 2.5 crore against due bank loan amount of about Rs 2.80 crores.

As per decision of the tribunal, the bank conducted the auction of the municipal council land today. Surprisingly, no one from Fazilka town showed any interest in the auction. Naresh Bansal and company of Muktsar were present for auction and submitted earnest amount of 25 per cent of the reserve price. As none other turned up, the Bansal and Co offered bid of R. 2.51 crores. The bid was accepted in presence of senior manager of OBC Rajinder Singh and law officer Satyam Bharti from Bathinda Regional Office and Sandeep Sukhija, a representative of Debt Recovery Tribunal, Chandigarh.

Ironically, none of the officials of the MC Fazilka was present at the time of the auction even as it is believed that the MC was served a notice of the auction.

On the other hand, MC president Anil Sethi maintained that the auction had been conducted in an improper manner. He said that legal recourse would be adopted to redeem the prime municipal land.

There are two more aspects of the "auctioned" land. First, that property dealers evaluate the cost of the land to be about more than Rs 10 crores and secondly, some patches of land have been allegedly encroached upon by people.

Bathinda, April 16
Nem Chand, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, today filed his nomination papers in a simple but impressive road show. His wife, Honey Jain, filed her papers as covering candidate.

A rally was also organised in this regard at the BSP office on the 100 Feet Road. While addressing the rally, BSP state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri, came down heavily on the SAD-BJP combine and the UPA government.

According to an affidavit submitted to assistant returning officer, Upjit Singh Brar, Nem Chand possesses cash worth Rs 15,000, bank deposits of Rs 21,705 and has no vehicle. He also possesses 70 gram of gold worth Rs one lakh and weapons, including, .12 bore gun, .315 bore gun and .32 bore revolver worth Rs one lakh.

As per affidavit submitted to the ARO, he also possesses LIC policies worth Rs 25 lakh and moveable and immovable property worth Rs 60 lakh.

No criminal case was pending against him in any court. After filing the nomination papers, Nem Chand urged people to vote to power the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) at the Centre to check poverty, unemployment and rising prices and alleged that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leadership had hatched a conspiracy against BSP leader Mayawati before the Lok Sabha (LS) elections.

His wife, Honey Jain, has Rs 15,000 cash and bank deposit of Rs 4011. She possesses jewellery worth Rs 2.80 lakhs.

Bathinda, April 16
As Congress candidate for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat Raninder Singh was visiting the villages during his campaigning, memories of two Congress men who were brutally murdered, as alleged by the villagers, were brought alive in Ghasso Khana village today. The villagers said Hargobind Singh and Swaran Singh were murdered by SAD activists on May 29 last year.

The angry villagers expressed helplessness when asked about why the matter was not taken up by the police. They said nothing has happened and the offenders were roaming about freely. Hargobind Singh's daughter Gagandeep Kaur, who studies in Class VII, could not stop herself from crying as Raninder hugged her.

Gagandeep narrated the incident with moist eyes. "I saw my father's lifeless body and did not know what to say. I could make out that something had happened because my father's body had deep cuts and blood was coming out."

Swaran Singh's daughter was too small to react and did not know what had happened.

Swaran was the only son and his father Gurbaksh Singh was clueless on how he would handle things without Swaran. Villagers said their men were killed and the police, backed by SAD, did not even register an FIR. It showed the deaths as a road accident but after the villagers sat on a dharna, an FIR was registered and an inquiry initiated. The inquiry report also stated that it was nothing but an accident.

A youth requesting anonymity, said the Akalis took them away to show how Congress panchayat is made. Later, they came to the village and said that Hargobind and Swaran had died in a road accident.

Bathinda, April 16
Teachers of local schools and colleges told TNS that the deputy commissioner of Bathinda, today announced that the second rehearsal for polling would be held on May 3.

The teachers stated that the combined entrance examination of the Punjab Technical University (PTU) was also scheduled on May 3 due to which teachers would have problems in attending the rehearsal. The rehearsal and the CET test start at 10 am on May 3, sources said.

According to sources, around 2100 students are to appear in MHR School, DAV College and Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology (GZSCET) centres. The number of students appearing in Bathinda is much more than 2100.

The teachers also felt that the rehearsal can take place on May 3 but its timing should be changed. DC Rahul Tewari, when contacted, said, “We will keep the rehearsal timings in such a way that they do not collide with CET timings.”

Bathinda, April 16
Two brothers after duping people in the city of crores have sold their property and fled along with their families. The Kotwali police booked the duo but most of the victims are not willing to be exposed, as the money they lost was "black."

According to details available, the thugs, Sanjay Kumar and Ravinder Kumar of Navi Basti, were running a mobile shop in Dhobi Bazaar. Meanwhile, they had been operating a monthly chit-fund lucky draw scheme, in which various personalities of the city had invested.

The whole scheme went on smoothly for a couple of months. In good faith, people started investing heavy amounts in it.

Even after finding that the duo had disappeared from the city, the victims kept dithering. Only one person, Dhiraj Kumar, lodged a complaint with the Kotwali police of being duped of Rs 1.78 lakh. He mentioned that he had deposited the sum in installments of Rs 10,000 per month.

According to police sources, though the formal complaint has been lodged by only one person, but there were many who had invested a heavy amount.

It has also been learnt that the Kotwali police, after getting the information, had contacted the Himachal Pradesh police, where the accused are suspected to be. Police kept on waiting for the complainants but victims preferred to keep the matter under wraps due to potential tax problems.

A victim, seeking anonymity, said, "I was duped of around Rs 11 lakh but since it was black money, I have nothing to show it on record. I have been consulting my taxation lawyer. If no legally valid way out is found, I will be left with no other option but to bear the losses."

Sources said that a renowned jeweller, who is kin of a ruling party leader, is also among the duped.

When contacted, SHO, Kotwali police station, said, "A case has been registered against the two brothers under section 420 of the IPC but the facts are yet to be ascertained.”

Bathinda, April 16
The costly cast iron grills installed on the centre verge on all main roads in the city has started to disappear, even before its complete installation. During a random visit, it was observed that near Liberty Chowk, a long stretch of grill had disappeared.

As with past record in cases, it might be the job of drug addicts, requiring money to fulfil their need.

Though no official is ready to disclose the actual cost of the installed grills but at the time of installation, the previous administrator of the Improvement Trust, KK Yadav, had said it would be costly.

It may be mentioned that at the time of installation, apprehensions had been voiced about such a probability.

Moreover, the central verge has courted controversy also because greenery was removed to construct the cemented divider.

To confirm the loss, attempts were made to contact the executive engineer, Improvement Trust, Gora Lal, but in vain. ADC (Development), Sibin C. expressed his ignorance saying he did not take charge of the department.

DC Rahul Tewari said the charge is with the ADC (General) Upjeet Singh Brar but the details can be taken from KK Yadav, now posted at Ferozepur.

Despite repeated efforts, Yadav could not be 
contacted. When contacted, senior police officials said that no such case had been lodged.

Mansa, April 16
Whatever the SAD and the Congress may be claiming about their respective roles so far in the overall development of entire state, Mansa district, which sans industries, would not only be belying their claims but also presenting a picture of neglect by the several governments.

Absence of industries and the consequent lack of avenues for the youth are seen as one of the main reasons for problems like unemployment and drug-addiction here.

A few years back, a sugar mill and a cotton mill were established in Budhlada and in Mansa respectively. But these units are now proving to be white elephants. Although farmers of this area had pinned high hopes on these units, the mills failed to live up to their expectations.

CPI candidate for Bathinda seat Hardev Singh Arsi said that Punjab Spinning Mill and the Punjab Cooperative Spinning Mills of Bathinda had been closed due to the wrong policies of the SAD and the Congress parties. Nearly 200 small mills of cotton yarn had also been closed.

Expressing concern over the closure of the industries in Bathinda and Mansa areas, Arsi said machinery of Budhlada Sugar Mill which is of worth rupees crores had became white elephant.

According to sources, Mansa Cotton Mill which was sold sometime back and a residential colony was constructed on the same site.

Leader of the Radical Peoples Forum Jaspal Kokhar and women leader Rekha Sharma said that lack of industries was the reason for high rate of unemployment in the region.

District Commerce and Industry Association is of the view that there is no raw material and lack of transport and marketing facilities are the main reason for under development of the area.

Farmers leader Ram Singh Bhainibagha said Mansa was one district that had potential for setting up industries relating to agriculture but indifferent attitude of state governments was responsible for lack of industrialisation in the district.

When state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal was contacted in this regard he assured that government was creating basic infrastructure in Bathinda region which would become helpful in setting up the industries.

Abohar, April 16
Two senior executives from Tokyo (Japan)-based Arysta Life Science Corporation (ALSC), the world's largest privately held crop protection and life science company, visited the farms of progressive Indian farmers in Alamgarh, Sayeedwala, Sappanwali, Nihalkher and, Khuyiansarwar villages of Abohar sub-division and Mahuana in Fazilka on Thursday.

They were feeling amazed and their faces turned red as Sunil Periwal, leading social activist and expert in insecticides trade, and his brothers offered them Rajasthani pagris during a brief reception here. “Really, it is fascinating,” remarked Kazuya Kolzumi, production development manager for Asian region and Tony Zatylny, an expert in herbicides from Alberta, Canada.

During an interaction with this correspondent, Kolzumi said an entrepreneurial provider of 150 crop protection and life science products in more than 125 countries worldwide, the ALSC specialises in marketing and distribution of respected crop protection brands and life science products in harmony with the needs of global partners. It has focused on helping its customers cultivate business growth in the global agri-science and life science marketplace through the development, marketing and distribution of high quality chemical solutions.

Responding to the changing needs of today's dynamic market place, the ALSC is keenly sensitive to the responsibilities that come with delivering needed and valuable products around the globe. "Our Japanese heritage and supporting network of manufacturing and distribution partners positions Arysta Life Science to lead the market in the delivery of innovative chemical solutions," the experts said.

Speaking about the challenges being faced by the Indian farmers in the global marketing of grains, vegetables and fruits, the visiting experts said the government of India and state governments should educate the farming community, forming 70 per cent of the total country population, on balanced use of chemical fertilisers and insecticides. Repeated spray without consulting the agro-scientists obviously enhances poison content in commodities of human consumption. Lack of education and awareness can be effectively checked by involving NGOs also in the countrywide drive. People are becoming more health and hygiene conscious and prefer quality, this need to be understood well.

They visited wheat farms to have first-hand information on effect of weedicides which cause loss ranging from two to 15 per cent and suggested remedial measures during the discussions.

Ferozepur, April 16
Principal secretary to CM, Darbara Singh Guru, today took stock of the ongoing procurement drive in this district. Guru alongwith Commissioner B S Sudan, DC Megh Raj and officials of the various procurement agencies visited grain markets in Mudki, Talwandi Bhai, Zira, Shahzadi, Vada Bhai Ka, Ratta Khera, Makhu and other places. While issuing warning against any lapses or negligence during the procurement, Guru said that any dereliction of duty on part of the administration or procurement officials would be seriously viewed.

He instructed that the wheat produce coming to the markets should be cleaned and purchased within 24 hours of its arrival in the market. Otherwise, action would be initiated against the commission agent and mandi board officials concerned.

In Zira grain market, Guru ordered suspension of the license of M/S Bhushan and sons as there were complaints regarding improper cleanliness of wheat.

Abohar, April 16
The reported tussle between Guruharsahai MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and Congress candidate Jagmeet Brar over sharing a seat with Amarinder Singh in the latter's car during the road show in Ferozepur yesterday and other unpleasant happenings, including removal of welcome gates in Fazilka, are believed to have come under discussions during the meeting that Ranbir Singh Mohindra, the AICC observer, held here today while beginning his tour of the state, sources indicated.

Mohindra, had a long meeting with senior party functionaries here at the residence of local legislator Sunil Jakhar. District youth Congress president Sandeep Jakhar and Kotkapura MLA Ripjeet Singh were also present.

Sources said, Mohindra also discussed ways and means to check re-occurrence of such incidents.

Bathinda, April 16
An unidentified youth was found murdered in a hotel located opposite the railway station here on Wednesday night.

Receiving the information Kotwali police reached the spot. Hotel authorities informed police that the youth accompanied by two others had come to the room to attend Baisakhi celebrations. After finding no movement for the past two days, they peeped into the room and found the youth dead. The room smelled foul due to vomitting. Three wine tumblers were also found. Police sources said the hotel register had a fake address of the youth. After conducting the postmortem, the body was handed over to Sahar Jan Seva and police started inquest proceedings.