Jalandhar, July 29
Removal of uranium present in drinking water is possible through the use of conventional method of storing water in earthen pots. “It is not the radio-active part of uranium but the chemical part, which affects the health of people,” said Professor Atul Bhalla from the department of physics of the local DAV College, who is working on a project of Uranium contamination in water.

The professor is working along with co-researcher Muhanand Alrakabi from the Physics Department, University of Bhagdad, Iraq on ‘low cost-effective and long life technique of purification’.

The research work is being carried under the aegis of the Physics Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Sharing the findings of the research, Professor Bhalla said while holding on to technology, the science community should use non-conventional methods as well.

“Along with the conventional technology like Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ion Exchange System, we should look forward to the non-conventional methods so that social causes are met effectively at the grassroot level,” he added.

Professor Bhalla, along with Alrakabi, took water samples from three villages of Bathinda namely Malkana, Jajjo and Giana where maximum cases of cancer have been reported in the past some years.

It was found that the quantity of Uranium in water varied from 43 to 98 microgram per litre in these three villages.

“In the dosage range of 10 to 30 microgram per litre of water, it is possible to remove more than 90 per cent of uranium in water. And the pottery method can be a real boon in these affected areas,” said Alrakabi.

At present the duo is working on a pilot project ‘slow sand filters’. Highlighting the viability of the pottery method, the duo said the people in affected regions must use drinking water kept in red pottery for 4 to 5 hours before consumption.

“The science community should come forward to disseminate information pertaining to the use of conventional methods of pottery. All that we require is a little awareness in the affected areas,” said Bhalla.

The duo maintained that although 98 per cent of uranium in soluble form is discharged in phases, “It has been found that only a small amount of uranium is absorbed and carried through blood streams, affecting the kidneys over a long time,” they said.

However, with the implementation of the pottery system, both the residents as well as the government authorities can bring about a great change in the society, they maintained.

Hoshiarpur, July 29
The recent rains will certainly improve the yield of paddy crop during the kharif season in Hoshiarpur district.

The Chief Agriculture Officer, Svatantar Kumar Airi, said out of the proposed area of 55,000 hectares, paddy cultivation had been done only in 53,000 hectares during this season.

In June this year only 10.05 mm rainfall was recorded as compared with 181.06 mm during the corresponding month of last year. More than 304.01 mm rainfall was recorded in the current month so far as compared with 94 mm during July last year.

The district had experienced 314.06 mm rainfall during the current kharif season so far and the monsoon was still active. During last kharif season, the district had experienced only 275.06 mm rainfall.

The increased percentage in rainfall would not only improve the yielding capacity of paddy this season but also be useful for the maize and other standing crops particularly in Kandi areas where rains were the only source of irrigation. This would certainly improve the income of the farmers, said Airi.

The level of water in all mini dams constructed in the kandi area of the district to check the fury of floods and to provide irrigation in the areas had also considerably been increased.

According to Executive Engineer Sohan Lal Sidhu, who is in charge of these dams, the water level in the catchment reservoir of the Dholbaha Dam has increased to 1.59 m, Maili Dam to 4.08 m, Damsal Dam to 1.93 m, Chohal Dam to 3.16 m, Saleran Dam to 5.39 m, Patiari Dam to 5.99 m and Thana Dam to 4.41 m as compared with the last rainy season.

The department has recorded 56.5 mm rainfall in the catchment area of Dholbaha, 90 mm in Janauri, 200 mm in Maili, 48 mm in Damsal, 80 mm in Chohal, 230 mm in Saleran, 135 mm in Patiari and 52 mm in Thana Dam.

Amritsar, July 29
Concerned over the developments in the aftermath of the Vienaa incident, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh urged the followers of Guru Ravidass not to sever ties with Guru Granth Sahib in haste.

He asked the leaders of the community before arriving at any final decision they must use their discretion, patience and sincere approach. He said the holy Sikh book contained hymns of great sages and saints who belonged to different sects.

He said entire humanity bow their head before the Guru Granth which contained hymns of Guru Ravidass. Severing ties with the Granth would not be in consonance with the teachings of Guru Ravidass.

Hoshiarpur, July 29
To provide uninterrupted power supply to the students in their schools, the district administration is making efforts to purchase generator sets from the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) funds.

Disclosing this at a meeting of the NRIs Sabha here, Deputy Commissioner Megh Raj appealed to NRI members to donate for the purpose. The DC appealed to them to cooperate in the development works in rural areas for the benefit of the poor.

The president of the District NRI Sabha, Ajwinder Singh, said the sabha was founded on April 27, 2000, in which 465 members were enrolled. Sabha had collected Rs 19,48,417 through its membership fee and provided 833 ceiling fans to 529 primary schools in the district. Besides, it had provided 25 ceiling fans to Bal Sudhar Ghar (juvenile home), Ram Colony Camp, here.

The sabha had received 177 complaints from the NRIs of which 174 had been settled. The remaining three had been sent to the department concerned for settling them.

Vice-presidents of the NRIs Sabha, Punjab, Bibi Sukhdev Kaur and Major Singh Mauji were also present at the meeting.