Bathinda, August 10
Bathinda, the cotton producing belt of Punjab, has seen a major transformation since the 1970s due to the setting up of two thermal plants with an aggregate capacity of 1360 MW—the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant at Bathinda being of 440 MW capacity and Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant at Lehra Mohabbat of 920 MW capacity.

But the transformation has had a rather serious impact. In the absence of proper rules and regulations to monitor the environmental impact of ash ponds made to dispose of fly ash emanating from the thermal power plants, serious health problems have been on the rise in the region.

Experts have stated that the waste in the ash ponds of the thermal plants carry hazardous materials like uranium into the groundwater, making it unfit for drinking.

Ash ponds are used to store fly ash, a waste product resulting from the process of burning coal. Fly ash along with the bottom ash is disposed of in the ash pond in the form of slurry (ten parts of water to one part of ash).

The water is either decanted or allowed to seep into the ground. This seeping has contaminated the water to such an extent that even RO plants used by the government have failed to purify the water, said Dr G.S. Dhillon, who has been associated with the Punjab Irrigation and the Irrigation Research Institute at Amritsar for 14 years.

Dr Dhillon also stated that it would be better if the surface water is treated with RO plants and made fit for drinking rather than the groundwater which is severely contaminated now.

Most types of coal contain uranium and thorium as well as potassium 40, lead 210 and radium 226 and coal is used in thermal power plants. These elements emerge from power stations in the form of light fly ash. In modern power stations, 99 per cent of the fly ash is buried in ash ponds.

Uranium gets deposited on the surface of ash particles during combustion. This surface bound uranium is more concentrated and is prone to leaching into the ground and resulting in contamination of groundwater.

Dr Dhillon added that by-products made from fly ash like bricks or blocks, additive to cement and concrete, results in severe health hazards. This is one of the main reasons why people get skin and eye allergies and other diseases where fly ash is strewn around.

A study conducted at the Kolaghat thermal plants in West Bengal ash ponds stated that there was a significant danger to health of those who were living around the ash pond.

Unfortunately, even after so much of hue and cry over the presence of uranium in Bathinda and surrounding areas, the government has not taken any significant step to conduct a detailed study on what is contaminating the water present in this region and from where is the uranium coming.

Bathinda, August 10
Taking a serious note of the irregularities at various renowned industries in Bathinda district, the Legal Metrology (weights and measurement), Punjab, conducted a surprise raid and issued a number of challans to those found guilty.

Ironically, the Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited popularly known as MILKFED Punjab, which had come into existence to provide quality milk and milk products to consumers at reasonable rates has also come under scanner.

The team raided the MILKFED’s Verka Milk Plant, Bathinda, where it was found that pouches of milk were being dispatched without the last recommended date for consumption. The team issued two challans against the plant.

Among others, Ambuja Cement Ltd. and Bathinda Chemical Infrastructure Ltd. Were also issued challans for one reason or the other.

Giving details, the Controller, Legal Metrology (weights and measurement), Punjab, stated that they continued the raid for two consecutive days and issued 21 challans to various industries.

As per the information available, the team raided the Ambuja Cement Ltd. and found the cement bags deficient of about 300 grams. Sealing all the underweight bags, the officials directed the staff concerned to check and refill all bags. When the weighing machines were checked, some discrepancies were observed for which the officials issued four challans.

Further, the team inspected the Bathinda Chemical Infrastructure Limited, where the pouch and 15 litres packing of edible oil were found to be underweight. The automatic filling machines were found lacking the seal of the weights and measurement department. Moreover, the team found the factory having no certificate as registered packers, so three challans were issued to them.

Meanwhile, a fuel pump, Jagir filling station located at Bajakhana road, some jewellers in Dhobi Bazaar, two edible oil factories, Goyal Industries and NK Industries of Rama Mandi and some sweet shops were also challaned, either for less weight in packing or for discrepancies in the weighing machines.

Bathinda, August 10
In an alleged case of gang war, some unidentified persons armed with weapons, assaulted a history-sheeter Gurdeep Singh Bhaati and his friend at Bibiwala Chowk, here this evening. It may be mentioned that Bhaati was out on bail in a criminal case recently.

Ironically, a number of cops, present there, remained a mute spectator. They swung into action only when the miscreants fled after challenging the police to nab them.

As per details, the miscreants, who were apparently waiting for Bhaati at a liquor vend there, suddenly assaulted Bhatti when he reached there.

Sources informed that one of the accused pointed a pistol at the chest of Bhaati but it could not fire a shot. They then started assaulting Bhaati with swords and sharp-edged weapons. His friend also sustained injuries but the police did not confirm it. The assailants, sitting in two vehicles, a Lancer and a Safari, left but before leaving, damaged the Alto car of the victim.

Turning their vehicles towards Rampura road, they challenged the police to nab them. When they disappeared, other cops including the in-charge Civil Lines and DSP (City) reached the spot. The injured Bhaati was then rushed to the Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, officials attributed it to Bhaati’s rivalry with other group of criminals. — TNS

Ferozepur, August 10
If you are receiving any unwanted calls or SMS from your mobile service provider, you can knock the doors of the Consumer Forum. Recently, the district consumer forum penalised Reliance Communications Limited, directing them to pay an amount of Rs 55,000 for sending unwanted calls and SMSs to the complainant Neelam Rani.

Sanjay Garg, president and Tarlok Singh, member of the forum, in a significant judgment, stated that the mobile service provider has no right to disturb its customers by making them untimely repeated computer generated calls and sending messages even if the consumer has not opted for 'Do Not Disturb' facility.

He said if the customers receive such calls due of lack of knowledge, it was observed that mobile service providers deduct some amount from the consumer's balance.

Neelam Rani, the complainant had filed a case against Reliance Communication Limited for deducting charges for subscribing to various services like, 'Caller Tune', 'Jokes pack' and 'R-World' facility while she had never requested for any such paid service.

Taking stringent view of the matter, the Consumer Forum directed Reliance Communication Ltd. to pay the above said amount, out of which Rs 5,000 will go to the complainant Neelam Rani and rest of the amount of Rs 50,000 has to be deposited with the Consumer Legal Aid Fund maintained by the Forum.

Garg further said though the Telecom Regularity Authority of India (TRAI) controls the functioning of telecom service providers. If still, the consumer is aggrieved due to unfair trade practice or deficiency in service on the part of the service providers, the consumer can institute a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act to the Forum, he added. 

Sriganganagar/Abohar, August 10
The state of Haryana has been grabbing its share of Rajasthan from Ghaggar canal by storing 45,000 cusecs of water in the illegally constructed Ottu headworks, alleges Captain Subhash Sehgal, chief spokesman of the Rajasthan Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. The neighbouring states had thus deprived Rajasthan of .5 million acre feet (mfa) of the canal water during the past nine years.

Claiming that no state had the right to erect any dam without the consent of neighbouring states as per tripartite agreement on waters, Sehgal further alleged that the Irrigation department officials in Rajasthan were keeping the chief minister in dark by reaching a secret agreement withy their counterparts in Haryana.

The latter was also conspiring to grab the share of Punjab from Bhakra canal by constructing Hansi-Butana link canal. In its report sent to the chief minister Ashok Gehlot recently, the Samiti said the twin districts of Hanumangarh-Sriganganagar, better known as food bowl of the state, may not achieve targets in paddy and wheat production this year.

Rainfall was poor as compared to previous year and most of the canals were running at half of the capacity due to callous attitude of the neighboring states. As per the report, Ghaggar enters Haryana after covering a distance of 100 km in Punjab.

The Ottu headworks is located at a distance of 190 km from the originating point i.e. Shivalik hills. Its water covers 160 km area in length before entering Pakistan through the Jhinjhora check-post.

But Rajasthan farmers had not received water from this source even when crops were drying up.Intriguingly, the Flood Control Centre based at Hanumangarh was not aware of the fact that level of water stored at Ottu headworks was six feet. The Centre was giving nil report to higher officials, sources add.

The Samiti has urged the chief minister to take up the matter with the Haryana chief minister, who too belongs to the Congress party.

Amritsar, August 10
Jasvir Singh (Roll No. 22777), a resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Bathinda, stood first in the state-level BEd entrance test-2009 conducted by GND University for admission to the BEd course on August 2, the result of which was declared on Sunday.

Test Coordinator MS Hundal said a total 26,935 candidates appeared in this test, while the results were available on the university website http://www.gndu.ac.in. Students could download the Result Card-cum-Counselling Form from the website. The counselling would start from August 16.

Kirti Rani (Roll No. 20356), resident of Maya Devi Bhawan, Barnala, bagged the second position, while Amarjyot Kaur (Roll No. 50376), resident of New Green Model Town, Jalandhar, secured the third position.

The test was conducted in colleges affiliated to GND University, Amritsar, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala, and Lovely Professional University, Phagwara. — TNS

Mansa, August 10
Environmental conditions are suitable for the cotton crop during the current season in comparison to last year, claimed the chief agriculture officer, Mansa, Davinder Singh, while talking to this correspondent.

Rainfall has been beneficial for the cotton crop this year. He informed that 43.3 mm average rainfall was noted in Mansa during the month of July, which has been beneficial for cotton and paddy crops.

Last year, 34.6 mm rainfall was noted during the month of July, which was less as compared to this year. However, in the month of June this year only 1.95mm rainfall was recorded while last year it was 78.8mm in June.

Heavy rainfall during the month of June last year destroyed the cotton crop, which was in the earlier stage and this year deficit rainfall has been beneficial for the cotton though it was not suitable for the paddy during the month of June, agriculture officer said.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Butta Singh has demanded more water supply in the canals so that farmers could save themselves from facing the high charges of diesel engines. 

Ferozepur, August 10
Senior authorities in the police department seem to be protecting the deputy superintendent of police Bahadur Singh, sub-inspector Tilak Raj and head constable Om Prakash Handa in a multi-million scam of fake bills of diesel and petrol by making wrong entries in the log books and accounts of the vehicles that were not in the working condition in the police lines in this border district.

Even as an FIR under section 409 of the IPC had been registered against these three police officials on July 19 this year no departmental action has so far been taken against them.

No matter, the high court had stayed the arrest of the Tilak and Handa till August 17 but the DSP was eluding arrest and reporting on duty daily as usual. The police department appears to be giving him undue opportunity to get relief from the court by passing the time, which could ultimately dilute the case.

In the preliminary findings made by a special committee headed by SP (D) of Muktsar, an embezzlement of more than Rs 25-lakh through fake fuel bills had already been detected, on the basis of which, the FIR had been lodged against them.

As per the FIR, fake bills for 77,071 litres of diesel and 952 litres of petrol were passed in the MT section during 2007-08 by making wrong entries in the log books of as many as nine standing vehicles that were not in working condition. Besides, fake bills for Rs 11,179 were also passed against repair works of vehicles that were not in working condition.

This scam first came to light on July 2008, when a constable Jagir Singh posted in the MT section complained to the higher authorities about the embezzlement of state exchequer through fake bills.Soon after this complaint, the whistleblower constable was permanently transferred to Moga district and since then he has not been given normal duty.

Presently, he is on private security duty attached with a builder and liquor baron in Delhi. It was learnt that further investigations in the scam had been put on halt and no efforts were being made to check the records of the previous years.

Meanwhile, the whistleblower constable Jagir Singh, while speaking to The Tribune alleged that his family members still living in the Police Lines here were getting threats to life from the DSP, who was also exerting pressure on him to give a statement in his favour so that he could get some relief from the court. 

Abohar, August 10
The Teachers Club has opposed the move to make computer education compulsory for class VI to X. Captain SK Dutta (retd), chairman of the representative body of the teachers of the sub-division, said the decision of the State Education Department was not above board.

Having served as principal of the Government Senior Secondary School and district education officer and chief of the Teachers Selection Committee, Captain Dutta questioned the propriety of the decision as the entire state-run schools are sans proper infrastructure besides the teaching and non-teaching staff.

Earlier too, the department had made bulk purchase of the computers allegedly to amass under-the-table payments from the manufacturers. There was no security for the existing computer rooms in the government schools. The miscreants had decamped with computers and accessories repeatedly but no arrest was made.

Notably, the department had decided to make computer education compulsory in all the schools from class VI onwards. Clarifying that he was not against computer education, he suggested that it should be implemented in a phased manner, from class VI onwards. Neither genuine books are available, nor the syllabus has been fialised yet. Who will provide computer labs, he questioned. 

Abohar, August 10
Even when the politicians continued to debate ups and downs on the Indo-Pak relations after recent foreign tour of the Indian Prime Minister, there has been no decline in the enthusiasm over celebrating the annual Sawan Mela (fair) that recently concluded at the Dargah of five Peers (saints) of Multan (West Punjab) in Abohar.

Muslims also performed namaaza-e-jumma near the Dargah complex.

Thousand of devotees including women and physically challenged persons irrespective of caste, creed and religion had thronged the mazaars to pay reverence and made offerings.

Notably, the Archaeology Survey of India had last month slapped 15-day notices for eviction on more than 300 persons, who had erected pucca houses by making encroachments on the Mud Fort.

The union minister of the State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanaswamy too referred to the Mud Fort of Abohar, while telling the parliament recently that there were several instances of illegal encroachments at centrally protected monuments due to factors like rapid urbanisation, increasing pressures on the land and commercialisation.

The barefooted devotees claimed that the Peers had fulfilled their wishes besides curing chronic diseases. Some had come even from remote areas of Haryana and Rajasthan to take up fresh 'mannats' (commitments) for getting their problems solved.

The caretakers of the Dargah had warned the citizens against making residential constructions near the tombs but colonies including Panjpeer Nagar and Dharam Nagari had come up courtesy corruption that prevailed in the administration.

People were still busy in removing sand around the Dargah complex resulting in further reduction in its width and breadth.