Bathinda, May 22
Amid objections, the General House of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) today passed its Rs 50.11 crore budget for the fiscal year 2009-10.

Of this, the authorities have proposed to collect Rs 30.40 crore from VAT, Rs 2.40 crore from Octroi, Rs 3.45 crore from house tax, Rs 6.95 crore from water supply and sewerage facility and Rs 2.20 crore from excise duty. In the proposed budget, a hike of 25 per cent has been recorded in comparison to the expected income during the previous year (2008-09), which is Rs 40.22 crore.

Reacting to the objections of the MCs, the income from house tax was increased to Rs 4.75 crore from the proposed Rs 3.45 crore.

On building fees, some councillors proposed that all commercial buildings being developed in the residential areas should be converted into fully commercial premises so that more tax can be collected from it.

Expressing his grievances, a councillor, Khem Singh Makkar threatened to resign if the BMC authorities failed to provide water supply to his locality, Lal Singh Basti.

The objections raised by BJP councillor Krishan Kumar Garg put the BMC authorities in the dock when he accused the officials of requisitioning the services of BMC sweepers at their residences. Earlier, he objected to the agenda for the meeting not been provided with a file cover, over which other councillors backed him.

SAD councillor Rajan Garg narrated his plight saying the sweepers and contractors did not bother about the councillors as they were not accountable to them. He proposed that the contractors, who were accused of creating a nuisance in the area by choking the streets and drains, should be asked to get a certificate from the councillor concerned, before getting their bills cleared.

Shortage of water remained the hottest topic at the meeting and discussions stretched for about an hour. Congress councillor Jagroop Singh Gill put forward many queries over which the authorities and Mayor Baljeet Singh Bir Behman were seen the buck.

Congress MLA from Bathinda Harminder Singh Jassi also participated.

It may be mentioned that like many of the councillors and the acting BMC Commissioner Moneesh Kumar preferred to remain tightlipped while executive officer Kamal Kant fielded the queries.

Bathinda, May 22
The handling of the rakes at the Barnala railway station has been suspended for a week. The decision to this effect was taken by the Barnala district administration today evening following the ‘failure’ of talks between the protesting residents living near the station who have been demanding shifting of unloading of coal rakes from station, and the railway officials concerned.

Earlier, the rail traffic on the Bathinda-Barnala-Dhuri section remained disrupted almost throughout the day as hundreds of residents of the Akalgarh Basti, adjoining the Barnala station, blocked the rail tracks demanding suspension of the unloading of coal at the station.

The protesters left the tracks late in the evening when the district administration issued order concerning suspension of the handling of rakes at the station for a week. In the meantime, an amicable and permanent solution to the dispute could be reached at.

“Although the train services were resumed at 7.20 pm, handling of the coal rakes has been suspended,” railway sources said.

The protesters said the unloading of coal at the station had been a reason for pollution in the areas leading to health hazards for the populace. They said they had been demanding suspension of the practice since long and had also staged stir in this connection on 15 of this month.

Residents of colonies, including large number of women, seeking stoppage of unloading of coal – meant for the Trident Company — squatted on the railway tracks at the station in the morning. Demanding shifting of unloading process of coal to other place, the residents sought immediate stoppage of the practice, the sources said, adding that movement of at least four trains were disrupted while the route of one was diverted.

Barnala deputy commissioner R.L. Mehta held a meeting with protesters and railway officials in the evening to arrive at a consensus but no headway could be made, the sources said.

Senior district officials, SSP Barnala, the SDM and officials of the Trident Company were also present at the site.

ATM Bathinda Sher Singh, RPF Bathinda post commander M.K. Panwar and other officials concerned reached the spot following the information regarding the agitation.

Bathinda, May 22
Ten students of the local RBDAV Senior Secondary School got their names listed in the merit list of the school after the result for the 10+2 CBSE was declared on Wednesday. A total of 435 students of the school had appeared in the examinations, of which 97 per cent were successful. Total 11 students have scored more than 90 per cent.

In non-medical, Arushi Khanna stood first with 93.6 per cent marks, Deepak Sachdeva ranked second with 92.8 per cent and Mohit Aggarwal came third by securing 91.4 per cent marks. In medical stream, Shivani Garg bagged the first position by securing 92.4 per cent, Simmi Jindal came second with 91.8 per cent and Khushpreet stood third with 89.2 per cent marks.

In commerce, Sidaq stood first with 91.2 per cent marks, Saurabh and Lipsy came second with 88.4 per cent marks while Harish stood third with 88 per cent marks.

Bathinda, May 22
With the CBSE declaring the class XII result on Wednesday, class X students also started visiting cyber cafes across the city to check their results as there were talks about it being published today.

School principals across the city stated that the news of Class X results supposedly being declared today had spread but it had not come out so far. “We are still waiting for the results since morning,” Neelam Verma, principal of the Silver Oaks School, said.

Sources also said that the CBSE website has put Class X result on its website but has not activated it.

Rohit Garg, a cyber café owner in the city, said, “Students have been coming in for the last two days and have taken my phone number. My phone has not stopped ringing since morning as students are enquiring about their results. I have been keeping a close tab on the results but nothing has been declared by the CBSE yet.”

Parents seemed more edgy than the students as they were seen visiting the cyber cafes more than the students.

Sources from various schools stated that they have been getting continuous calls since morning about the Class X results.

TD Garg, principal of KV 1, said the general trend is that class X result comes two days after the class XII results. But on Wednesday, the CBSE had declared class XII results of only some regions. “Some regions declared their results on Wednesday and some today, so the cycle of class XII results got completed today,” Garg said.

Students had become so excited and nervous about the results that they paid cyber café owners in advance to get their result as and when it appeared on the website. Cyber café owners had a busy day attending phone calls of the students and parents.

Bathinda, May 22
A dhoop factory-cum-residential premises belonging to a 1984 riot victim, located in Guru Nanak Pura Mohalla, was gutted this afternoon.

According to information, a short-circuit led to the fire which engulfed the whole building within minutes. Seeing the leaping flames, people in the locality rushed to make efforts to douse the flames. It took over three hours and six fire tenders to control the fire.

The neighbours carrying out the rescue operations broke open the walls of the factory from the rear and one side to insert the hose pipes of the fire tenders. Material kept inside the premises was brought out. A Bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was also saved. In the factory, there was a huge stock of combustible goods like packets of match boxes, chemicals, sticks, cardboards etc.

The owner of the premises, Amarjeet Singh, said the factory, under the aegis of Shiv Pooja Chemical Works, was dealing in manufacturing and repackaging of dhoop and incense sticks, since 1987. He claimed that there was commercial stock worth around Rs 10 lakh in the premises. Singh also said he was not present when the fire broke out.

DSP (City) and SHO Kotwali police station inspected the spot. SHO Harmeek Singh Deol said, “We are taking into account a number of factors like which chemicals were being used, whether the owner had the licence for running the premises and whether any fire extinguisher was installed there? Moreover, we have recovered four domestic LPG cylinders while the owner was authorised to have only two.”

Bathinda, May 22
The district police today arrested two of the accused involved in the firing at the convoy of Baba Balbir Singh, chief of the Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal, in which he had a providential escape on Janaury 13. The Baba was proceeding towards Muktsar to attend the Maghi Mela celebrations when the attack took place.

Though reliable sources in the police confirmed the presence of the arrested two at the CIA staff police station, SP (D) Ajay Maluja, head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed for the case, confirmed only one arrest.

“During the investigations, we arrested one Babu Singh of village Ramgarh Bhunder from village Kotfatta on the banks of the Lisada drain. He would be presented in the court to get police remand for further interrogation,” Maluja said. When asked about the second arrest, he parried the query.

It may be mentioned that in this case, the SIT had earlier arrested two, namely, Bhajan Singh of Sardulgarh and Jugraj Singh of Hansu village.

As per the details, the Baba had escaped unhurt, while one of his followers was injured in the firing that took place at village Bhagi Vandar near Talwandi Sabo in the district.

Baba Balbir Singh, who was in his bulletproof black Scorpio, was going to attend the Maghi Mela celebrations, at around 9.15 am in a convoy of seven cars. When the convoy reached village Bhagi Vandar, a white Zen bearing the number HR 51G 1296 came in front of the cavalcade. All of a sudden, some persons opened fire at the convoy from the right side. In the firing, police sources said, over 25 rounds were shot of which five-six hit the Baba’s bullet-proof SUV.

The vehicle carrying Baba Balbir Singh and three other cars in the convoy managed to flee. But the rest of his Nihang followers, who were in other vehicles, were caught in the firing. They too opened fire in retaliation, but could not target any of the assailants. In this incident of open firing, one Sewadar of the Baba, namely Paranjeet alias Kala, received a bullet injury in his left hand. A buffalo nearby was killed in the firing.

At that time, Baba Balbir Singh had said the Surjit Singh group was behind the attack. The group had, however, refuted the allegation.

Abohar, May 22
The new UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh is determined to carry out its old agenda of involving more than 20 per cent farmers in allied business, IFFCO chairman Surinder Kumar Jakhar  said here today. This was necessitated under the diversification plan.

Speaking during a reception organised by the cooperators and businessmen in the new grain market here to felicitate him on unanimous election for the fourth term as chairman of IFFCO, he advised the farming fraternity not to get misled on the availability of chemical fertilisers but in the same breath, advised them to use fertilisers and insecticides strictly as per recommendations of the agricultural scientists.

Excessive use may adversely affect your budget besides, the environment, he cautioned.

Claiming that the IFFCO was going to emerge as global leaders, he informed that the society had done a record business of Rs 32,933 during the past financial year whereas the target under Vision-2010 was just Rs 15,000 crore.

He complimented the IFFCO MD U.S. Awasthi and his team for this achievement.

He said the units based in Kalol, Kandla, Phulpur, Aonla and Paradeep had produced 71.68 lakh MT fertiliser  materials while the previous best was 70.12 lakh MT in 2006-07.

Against the previous best in urea production quoted as 39.63 lakh MT in 2007-08, the production of urea was 40.68 lakh MT during the year.

The sale in fertiliser had gone up from 93.24 lakh MT to 112.33 lakh MT.

The highest sale of urea was recorded at 58.49 lakh MT while it was 54.29 lakh MT in 2007-08. 

Mansa, May 22
Newly elected MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said that her priority would be to expand the "Nanhi Chaan" campaign in the whole country with the cooperation of newly elected women member of Parliament.

Speaking to the media at Jogga, she said that female foeticide and environmental pollution are the cause of concern for the whole nation, so it was necessary to propagate "Nanhi Chaan" campaign in other states as well.

In this regard, a meeting would be held with the Prime Minister soon, she added. She stressed upon the joint efforts by all the members of parliament from Punjab for the development of the state. Harsimrat said that to uplift the status of women in society, their economic and educational status needs to be improved. She demanded an industrial package for Punjab because the state has been facing a shortage of industrial units in comparison to the other states.

On being asked who would be the leader of the SAD parliamentary party, she said the party president and senior leaders would decide.

All the party workers, particularly women, had played a key role to ensure her victory with a big margin. She assured all sincere efforts would be made for the development of the Bathinda constituency.

Following her thanksgiving tour, Harsimrat visited different villages of Mansa incuding Aklian, Burj Dhilwan, Jogga, Bhupal, Hero Kalan, Dhalewan and Sammaun. Ex-MLA Sukhwinder Singh Aulakh, Parmjit Singh Sandhwan and Manjit Singh Bappiana also addressed the gatherings. 

Mansa, May 22
The district administration today got the panchayat land vacated which was occupied by the labourers in different villages of Mansa.

Following the move, some leaders of the CPI (ML) and Mazdoor Mukti Morcha were arrested yesterday. Some labourers were arrested today in this connection from Khiala, Dalel Singh Wala, Tamkot villages and the district courts, Mansa.

The police also raided the state head office of CPI (ML) Baba Bujha Singh Bhawan Mansa. Labourers of Khiala village alleged that the material which was used in the construction of houses was taken away by the people after the administration removed the encroachments.

Meanwhile, DC Kumar Rahul said the administration was getting the land vacated from labourers. This work would be completed by late in the night, he added. Talking about the agreement with the labourers on May 19 during a rally, he said the agreement was breached by the labourers. They had not implemented the status qua position and they continued their campaign to take forcible possession of panchayati land in the villages, the DC added. 

Abohar, May 22
The Sadar police that had tried to dispose of a case related to the death of a housewife under mysterious circumstances at village Alamgarh on May 2, has not made any arrests, even when the in-laws of the victim had been later booked under section 304-B of the IPC on the basis of the special investigation conducted by the CIA staff in-charge Darshan Singh.

As per details available, the in-laws of Harpreet Kaur had on May 2 lamented that she got electrocuted in the bathroom of their house at village Alamgarh located on the outskirts of the town. The in-laws had quickly cremated the victim without taking the parents into confidence, her parents alleged.

Harpreet's brother Mukhtiar Singh had taken a strong exception to the way the Sadar police handled the case allegedly under political pressure during the campaign of LS polls. He made a representation to the DSP, who promptly ordered fresh investigation through the CIA staff.

Darshan Singh, in-charge of the CIA staff, is believed to have indicated in his findings that Harpreet Kaur was allegedly strangled and then burnt in the bathroom, sources said. Notably, the bathroom was reportedly demolished to destroy the evidence, however, some blackish bricks have now been recovered. Though a case has been registered but no arrest has been made yet in this regard.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, May 22
Most of the roads in different parts of the district Sriganganagar wore a deserted look as the region continued to sizzle as mercury rose to 47 degree Celsius. Dusty wind last night resulted in fire in some of the brick kilns, as the dry fodder stacked as fuel caught fire. The region had always been the hottest in Rajasthan, weather records indicated.

Divisional Commissioner Pritam Singh along with the cabinet secretary Lalit Kumar in-charge of the district held a meeting with the heads of department during a daylong visit and discussed measures to minimise the affect of the soaring mercury.

They advised the local administration to get all water tanks in the rural as well as urban areas cleaned latest by June 30. 

Hanumangarh/Abohar, May 22
The district town of Hanumangarh experienced some relief from the scorching heat as clouds covered the sky for half an hour after which showers followed. Most of the streets were inundated bringing the routine life to a grinding halt.

Even when the rain water entered the houses in nearly 12 localities, inmates enjoyed the downpour. The district had been reeling under the heat wave for more than a fortnight forcing people to remain confined to their houses from 12 noon to 4 pm.

Some of the NGOs, including Khawaja Gharib Nawaj Welfare Society, had been running mobile rehris to serve potable water to hundred of visitors.