Jalandhar, July 21
The Punjab government’s plan to allot 17,053 acres near the Harike barrage lake to its unauthorised occupants has been opposed by the Forests and Wildlife Preservation Department. The area falls in the jurisdiction of the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, where birds of rare species have been being sighted for some years. The Harike wetland also finds mention in the list of Ramsar wetlands of international importance. Recently, endangered water-based mammal, Indus river dolphin, was spotted in the Harike sanctuary.

Opposing the allotment of land in the lake area, the Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, has written to the Deputy Commissioners of Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Kapurthala that the 86 sq km of Harike pond area in Amritsar (now in Tarn Taran), Ferozepur and Kapurthala was declared Harike Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, vide a notification issued on September 8, 1992.

The DCs had settled rights of land etc of people falling in the jurisdiction of the pond area before the issuance of the notification.

The warden has also requested the Financial Commissioner, Forests and Wildlife Preservation, to take up the matter with the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) in this regard.

The DCs have been informed that the “decision of the state government to allot the pond area land falling in the sanctuary to unauthorised occupants will be contrary not only to the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, but also a judgment of the Supreme Court. The state government cannot alter boundaries of a sanctuary without the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife”.

The Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation has acted after Congress MLA from Bholath (Kapurthala) Sukhpal Singh Khaira took this issue up with the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. In a letter to the ministry, Khaira had urged it to direct the state government to stop allotment of land to unauthorised occupants in the lake area.

Responding to Khaira’s letter, AK Goyal, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry, wrote to the Punjab Forests and Wildlife Preservation to redress the concern shown by the MLA.

The Punjab government framed a policy to allot land to unauthorised occupants in February this year. Some unauthorised occupants have been allotted land. But that is only 250 acres. A senior official of the department said, “We are trying to find whether the allotted land falls in the notified sanctuary or outside it”. In case it had been allotted in the notified area, then the issue would be taken up at the appropriate level in the state government, he said.

Madaarpur (Moga), July 21
Environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal this morning took over work initiated by the district administration to plug breach in the Sutlej here which occurred on August 14 night 2008 due to the floods caused by widespread rain in upper catchment areas of the river causing damage to life, agriculture and property in Moga and Ferozepur districts.

The state government has not released funds to plug the breach even after one year of the floods, but District Magistrate Satwant Singh Johal by arranging funds from the accounts head of the Drainage Department has initiated this work.

“We have called Baba Seechewal to launch this work by motivating people to plug the breach,” the DM said. He said villagers had decided to organise langar for labourers working on the project.

Baba Seechewal has appealed to people to plug the breach. Akali leader Tota Singh, present on the spot, also sought people’s help in this task.

The district administration had prepared priority flood protection and drainage works to be executed before the onset of monsoon two months back demanding Rs 6.5 crore, but the state government released only Rs 37 lakh, which was inadequate to complete the works.

The district administration had demanded Rs 12 lakh for filling up the breach at RD-28250/L of Gidderpindi bandh, Rs 2.06 crore for bundhs, Rs 40 lakh for advanced bundh, Rs 5 lakh for design section of 5-L bundh, Rs 88 lakh for construction of stone studs on 5-L bandh, Rs 48 lakh for repairing of spurs and Rs 35 lakh for desilting of Kishanpura drain, Rs 75 lakh for Moga drain, Rs 25 lakh for Bassian drain, Rs 15 lakh for Tihara link drain, Rs 3.5 lakh for Attari drain, Rs 18 lakh for Dagru drain, Rs 31 lakh for Badhni drain and Rs 19 lakh for Butter drain.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 21
Panicked over reports of damage to paddy crop in Malwa due to overflowing drains, farmers of the area have urged the authorities concerned to get all drains cleared immediately before the monsoon gains strength.

They have also demanded restoration of the drains, which were constructed in the sixties to prevent water logging and floods but were encroached upon by influential farmers.

Investigations by The Tribune revealed that a majority of drains were either choked by wild growth or had long since lost their existence due to encroachment on these by influential farmers. The farmers feared a flood-like situation in case a swift action was not taken soon.

Accusing officials in the Drainage Department of being unconcerned towards interests of farmers, the farmers, led by Punjab Kisan Sabha leader Baldev Singh Latala, urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to get the drains cleaned on a war footing.

Farmers regretted that successive governments had failed to get drains cleared of encroachments. Though office-bearers of civic bodies feel that the restoration of the encroached drains will help fight the menace of overflowing ponds, water logging and frequent floods, nobody has taken a stand on the issue, for the obvious reasons of losing votes.

Besides Lasara and Mahpur drains, which had cause havoc in the area recently, Latala, Rachhin, Panj Grayian, Badesha and Pakhowal drains need immediate clearing.

“Fights over diversion of rainwater by breaking roads and banks can be averted through timely preventive measures by the government authorities”, said Amrik Singh of Chhappar village.

Chandigarh, July 21
Estimate on the fall in paddy production in Punjab, due to scanty rain imply national food crisis. As farmers in the state struggle to save paddy plantation, which has less area under cultivation compared to last year, the Centre so far has failed to intervene to provide more electricity or water to the state.

Sources in the government said compared to 27.35 lakh hectares under paddy in the state last year, this year till date paddy had been planted in 24.75 lakh hectares. This is nearly one lakh hectares less than this time last year. Hoping more rain in the coming weeks, it is expected that paddy plantation will improve slightly, but not touch last year’s figure.

In the absence of sufficient canal water and barely six hours of electricity in paddy plantation season, yield is expected to fall short of 167 lakh tonnes of last year. Farmers have gone for basmati, which consumes less water. Paddy yield too is expected to drop from the 40.50 quintal per hectare level.

According to data from government agencies, Punjab had 57 per cent less rain this year compared to last year. Till date Punjab has recorded 70 millimetre (mm) rain compared to 160 mm last year till today. Other states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana too had deficient rain .

Cultivation in UP, for example, has been 33 per cent less in comparison to last year. Cumulative effect of lower yields could be serious on the national food security. In other crops, Punjab is facing the heat. Output of maize, pulses like urad, moong and oilseeds would also drop as farmers have opted for crops requiring less water.

So far, cultivation of maize has been much less than expected 1.40 lakh hectares. It is unlikely that farmers will now be able to catch up even if the next four to six weeks have adequate rain.

Punjab has been urging the Union government for more power. The Union Secretaries for Power and Agriculture are in touch with the Punjab government on agriculture situation in the state. It is learnt the Centre has given additional 100 MW power for paddy sowing to Punjab, but the state is demanding more.

Though the state Agriculture Department is not giving details of the shortfall, they are certain of decline in the kharif production. A meeting will be held on July 30 to prepare a detailed estimate.

Ludhiana, July 21
There was an exceptional thrill in store for Surinder Kingra, a retired doctor to drive the world's cheapest car from Ludhiana to Ferozepur. Not that he had not driven a car or he could not afford a costlier car. But only because he wanted to be among the first to drive the car that had created a sensation the world over. Kinra, along with Puran Chand Talwar, an octogenarian from Ludhiana, were the lucky winners to get the car in the draw taken out during the maiden launch of car in Punjab at Dada Motors today.

On his way back to Ferozpur, Kinra said over the phone that it was a pleasure driving the car. “I am driving at a speed of 80 km an hour and the pickup is really great. What is more exciting is that people on the road are showing keen interest by pointing fingers at the car. Both my sons are settled far and this small car is more than sufficient for me and my wife," he said.

Naveen Talwar, a local businessman, had booked the car for his 84-year-old father Puran Chand Talwar. This was certainly a gift worth the wait. "We have four more cars, but my father had a desire to buy Nano, meant for the common man. It is a cool car and quite comfortable. Since the father can not drive, he will move around in the car with a driver," Talwar remarked.

He said in no way did it look as if it was a small car as everybody who sat inside did not feel uncomfortable.

Rishi Dada, Managing Director, Dada Motors, said both senior citizens were on cloud nine while receiving the keys of Nano today. He said as planned by the company, the deliveries of cars in different towns and cities of the country started in July and Punjab had its first launch in Ludhiana today. "We too feel proud to hand over the first keys in the region in Ludhiana,” he said.

Amritsar, July 21
National BJP president Rajnath Singh has reportedly directed the state leadership to resolve stalemate between BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and chairman, Amritsar Improvement Trust, Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina.

However, state leadership, including president Rajinder Bhandari, Manohar Lal, organising secretary, Balbir Punj, in charge of party affairs in Punjab, and Manoranjan Kalia, Local Bodies Minister, who had earlier met senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Arun Jaitley, were silent on the development.

Meanwhile, the SAD was also feeling the heat of the conflict in the BJP as by-elections in three Assembly constituencies , Kahnuwan, Jalalabad and Banur very near. The issue reportedly came up at recent meetings of senior leaders of the party at Amritsar.

Office- bearers of urban and rural units of the BJP had offered to resign their posts to show solidarity with the BJP MP. Meanwhile, a senior party leader left for New Delhi to submit resignations to national president of the party, it is learnt. Barring district general secretary Tarun Chug almost all office- bearers had submitted resignations to district urban president Col Amrik Singh at a meeting held at the residence of former mayor Subhash Sharma.

Even national leaders of the party have resented the state leaders having ignored Sidhu while appointing Chhina chairman of the Improvement Trust. They said views of the local party leaders should have been taken before appointing a person to the plum post.

According to party sources, Sidhu had hardened stand on resignation till his grievances were removed. Pressure is was being built on the state leadership to demand resignation of Chhina from the chairmanship, it is learnt.

Amritsar, July 21
For the first time in 40-year existence of Guru Nanak Dev University, a visiting Professor under the Fullbright-Nehru Scholarship programme from West Chester University in Pennsylvania (US) will teach students of sports medicine for over four months. Associate Professor in Exercise Physiology, Sheri Melton has started teaching the students of the department.

Under the five-month programme, she had devoted first fortnight of the programme attending an orientation programme in Washington DC.

The head of Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy Department at the local university, Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu, said she would deliver eight lectures in a week to the students of exercise physiology and nutrition and applied exercise physiology.

There are only two reputed sports medicine centres in India, one at Army Sports Centre, Pune, and the other at the university here. She selected the latter for pursuing her scholarship. Students of the department were cheerful at the chance of getting international exposure in the academics at the university itself, he added.

Besides supervising works of research students of postgraduate department, Sheri has been teaching at West Chester Varsity since 1998. She has also taught at James Madison University, Virginia, for a year. About her stay in the university here, she said: “The students have really gone out of their way to make me comfortable”.

She said it was her third visit to India and would be the longest one. She had brought bags full of latest journals and textbooks on various topics of sports medicine with her and would donate those to the department.

She said in the US, sports medicine had courses on athletic trainer, exercise specialist and exercise physiology, etc, which were developed to help players of various games attain excellence. Exercise regimens were different to develop a particular muscle group in players depending upon the game they were associated with, added Sheri.

Gurdaspur, July 21
Election observer of the Kahnuwan assembly segment RK Chaturvedi today sought from Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, Karamjit Singh Sra details of visits of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and their relatives to that area for campaigning of party candidate Sewa Singh Sekhwan after the model code of conduct came into force.

Sources said Chaturvedi had also sought information in connection with sanctioning of about 159 power connections for tubewell motors in the segment on June 29, 2009, the day when the Election Commission of India announced the schedule of the byelections.

Though Chaturvedi refused to make any comment on this issue, the sources said he took this action on a complaint lodged by Fathe Jung Singh Bajwa, Congress candidate.

Bajwa has sought a ban on the entry of the Badals and their kin Bikramjit Singh Majithia in the segment, alleging that they had been pressurising the civil as well as police officials of the area.

He alleged during his visit to the segment on July 18, Sukhbir threatened public servants to ensure the victory of Sekhwan by hook or crook. Voters were being threatened that if they did not vote in favour of Sekhwan, all facilities, including ration cards for subsidised foodgrain and pension, would be withdrawn.

Partap Singh Bajwa, MP and elder brother of Fathe Jung Singh Bajwa, said they apprehend that prominent Congress leaders would be implicated in false criminal cases on the eve of the election, hence they would approach court to seek blanket bails.

Meanwhile, KD Chaudhary, member distribution, PSEB, said power connections for tubewell motors were allotted before noon while the election code of conduct came into force in the afternoon on July 29.

Chandigarh, July 21
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president today demanded immediate disbanding of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

Elaborating on the reasons for disbanding, the president said the BBMB had failed to judiciously distribute water from Bhakra and Pong Dam reservoirs to member states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and was releasing more water to Congress-ruled Rajasthan.

He demanded that the control of the BBMB be handed over to Punjab, the parent state.

Speaking at various rallies in the Jalalabad constituency according to a press statement here, Sukhbir charged the Union government of using every trick to rob Punjab of its legitimate share of water and pressurising the BBMB to dance to its tunes.

He further added that Rajasthan was released extra 2.6 lakh cusecs of water from May 1 to 20, this year, from the Pong Dam reservoir.

Sukhbir claimed this extra supply to Rajasthan that too during the peak summer, caused adverse effect on standing crops of Punjab, resulting in great loss to Punjab farmers. He said the depleted level of Pong reservoir was resulting in low generation of power, causing severe power shortage in Punjab.

It may even lead to unprecedented power crises even during winter.

Chandigarh, July 21
Traffic chaos prevailed on roads as the Bharti Kisan Union blocked the road for over three hours near Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here this afternoon in support of their demands.

The disgruntled farmers from across Punjab flayed the state government for its failure to ensure eight hours of power supply to the fields. Not only this the government had enhanced the fee for increasing the power load in the fields for electric motors from Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,800.

The agitated farmers put the Chandigarh police on the back foot, which had fortified the area by setting up barricades since morning. Defying the police pickets, the farmers, who were adamant on staging a rally on the road, blocked the traffic. Unable to convince the farmers to take their dharna to the Rally Ground in Sector 25, the police began making arrangements for talks between the union leaders and the government authorities.

Around 3 pm, ASP (Central) Madur Verma and DSP (East) Jasbir Singh Cheema managed to placate the farmers by ensuring them that Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah would come to take their memorandum.

Trouble mounted up again for the police, when a joint secretary of the department concerned came instead of Langah to take the memorandum. The farmer gave an ultimatum to the police that they would march towards the Civil Secretariat and president of the union Balkar Singh Dakoda insisted on handing over the memorandum to some higher functionary of the government.

The police contacted the government officials following which the OSD of Chief Minister came to the rally venue and took the memorandum.

The farmer asked the government to roll back the enhanced fee and ensure 12 hours of power in the fields, allotting new connections to the small and marginal farmers besides other demands.

The protesting leaders of the union announced that in case the government fails to meet their demands they would decide the further action in the meeting scheduled for August 1.

Kharar, July 21
A gatka academy will soon come up at Ropar to impart gatka skills to budding talent at district level.

The Punjab Gatka Association will also open many more gatka academies in the state. The association today constituted Martial Arts Research And Training Board that would offer financial aid to research scholars to pursue research in gatka at PhD or MPhil level.

The association also organised a special three-day refresher course-cum-seminar at Shaheed Kanshi Ram College, Bhagomajra (Kharar).

This camp was meant for gatka officials like referees, judges and technical advisors, to conduct competitions in the state. Punjab Gatka Association president and SP (vigilance Bureau) Harcharn Singh Bhullar said special aide would be extended to the scholars who do research on the topic.

Standing committee under the chairmanship of HS Grewal has devised course contents for this refresher course-cum-seminar.

Chandigarh, July 21
The Punjab government has given sanction for purchasing 100 new buses to add to the existing fleet of Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC). Punjab Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal said last year PRTC added 202 ordinary and 50 AC buses in its fleets.

He said during the current finance year 300 ordinary and 60 AC buses would be added in the fleet of the PUNBUS. Besides, outdated buses (about 600 in number) would be replaced by new ones. He said Rs 15 lakh would be spent on the repair work of Pathankot Bus Stand. Traffic rules would also be implemented effectively to check road accidents, he added.

Hoshiarpur, July 21
Following a clash between two groups of delinquents at Bal Sudhar Ghar (juvenile home), Ram Colony Camp, yesterday, the Sadar police has registered a case against the two groups.

The police has booked leader of one group Kulwant Singh, alias Kranti, and his supporters Simarjit, Monu, Sandip Sharma, Mohinder Pal, Gurmej Singh, alias Maili, Prince and Laddi and the leader of the second group Gurjant Singh and his supporters Vikramjit Singh, Gurjatinder Singh, Gurways Singh, Sarabjit Singh and Parwinder Singh on charges of attempt to murder. This is the third incident of violence that has occurred in the Bal Sudhar Ghar this month.

According to the investigation officer, eight inmates were injured in the brawl. Of them Gurjant Singh and Kulwant Singh had been hospitalised and medical treatment to the remaining was provided by the Civil Hospital. The cause of the clash is claimed to be domination by both groups on each other.

Expressing anguish over the functioning of the Bal Sudhar Ghar, Deputy Commissioner Megh Raj said there were 92 inmates in the home. Out of the total number of inmates, only five had been sentenced and the remaining were undertrials in various criminal cases.

Interestingly, though the juvenile home is meant for children below 18 years of age, there were at least 27 adults living in the home.