Sarainaga (Muktsar), Septmber 7
Harcharan Singh Brar was a leader of the masses. He gave a lot but never expected back anything other than votes, that too only if one deserved. The development of this region was all due to his fair approach.

These were the commonly observed sentiments of residents of village Sarainaga. "He performed the functions of a court, as during his time, nobody in this village preferred to go to a police station to lodge a complaint. After listening to both parties, he always used to facilitate their reconciliation," said the elderly Pritam Kaur.

Om Parkash Sharma of Muktsar, who was present at the cremation, said, "Clean and away from corruption, he set examples for others. Even after his death, no one can point a finger at him" "He always remained above party lines. It is because of this that the Akali leaders have also come here," said Parkash Chand of Udekaran village. "Harcharan remained supportive to all, even for those, whom the family members would have neglected," said an old and feeble Jamuna Devi.

Karan Singh Brar, grandson of Harcharan Brar said, "The good deeds of my grandfather have earned for us a lot of goodwill as people in the village, recognizing us as his family members, accord us great respect. We can never pay back to the people for being always ready to stand by us."Others also echoed similar sentiments.

Bathinda, September 7
Around 300 teachers of master cadre in Punjab have decided to lock horns with the state government over its decision of putting a condition of being marked at least 50 per cent by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) in the yearly progress report for further promotions.

Jagmail Singh Jathol, who has formed the Result Affected Masters' Front, Punjab, to file a petition in the court, today said that the front would have to pay less for hiring an advocate if more teachers approach the court together.According to Jathol, seven teachers had filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 4 against the "unjustified condition" put by the state government on teachers for being promoted as lecturers.

The decision in this case given on August 26 by Justice Ajay Lamba was in favour of the teachers.

The decision states that directions dated June 9, 2005, of having 50 per cent grading for teachers for further promotion was in contrary to the provisions of the Punjab State Education Service Class III (service cadre) service rules 1978. It has, therefore, been decided to review the case of all the employees who have been denied promotion to the post of lecturers on this account.

Replying to the decision taken by the court, the secretary education, Punjab, gave in writing to the court that the directions on basis of which teachers were denied promotions have been withdrawn.

While explaining the case Jathol stated that every year teachers are graded on the basis of class VIII and X results. The performance of the students under a teacher is taken into consideration while grading teachers. The government had made it mandatory for a teacher to get at least 50 per cent marks for being promoted which left many teachers not getting promotions and juniors being promoted. This created resentment among the teachers and they supposedly lost interest in their profession that was affecting the students. "This decision given by the court would benefit only those teachers who had filed the petition on August 4. We have formed a front because we do not have the kind of money needed to fight a case. So, we all will go to the court together. A meeting would be held at the Teachers' Home here on September 11 where teachers from all over Punjab have been invited," Jathol added.

Bathinda, September 7
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bathinda, under the aegis of the Punjab Medical Council, organised Regional Medical Update 2009 at the Adesh Medical College and Hospital, here today.Eminent physicians and surgeons enlightened the gathering of doctors of the region.

Shiv Dutt Gupta, president of the IMA, Bathinda branch, said the programme was a part of the Continued Medical Education that doctors of the region periodically organize and attend to update their medical knowledge. — TNS

Phulokhari (Bathinda), Septrember 7
Overcoming all odds, finally, the construction of Rs 18919 crore worth Guru Gobind Singh Refinery is now on track. Over 40 per cent of the total construction work of the nine million metric ton oil production capacity refinery has been completed.

During a special visit arranged for selected media persons here, C. Dass, general manager (construction), today said that with 38 contractors and 17,000 workers, the mechanical jobs of all 11 units of the refinery would be completed by early 2011.

Speaking about the status of the progress, senior officials of the refinery disclosed that 92 per cent ordinary and tendering had been completed. All four huge crude oil storage tanks were nearing completion.

Showing the ongoing jobs at the site, Rajiv Parmar, chief manager (construction and engineering), said that crude oil distillation column, which is called the heart of the refinery, was 90 per cent ready and erection would be started soon.

Giving details, officials claimed that laying crude oil pipeline was completed for 237 kms out of the 1014 kms. Raw water reservoirs of 11000 lakh litres capacity had been completed.

During the visit, it was said that construction of captive power plant, buildings, structural work of railway gantry, cooling towers, switch yard, raw water treatment plant, sulphur recovery units, effluent treatment plant, hydrogen generation unit and other equipment was on war footage.

Showing the under construction light cycle oil based 165 MW power plant, officials said it would be sufficient to meet all requirements of the refinery. The plant was being constructed by BHEL. Besides, 35 MW 24X7 supply from the PSEB would be on standby for any emergency, they added.

About pollution menace, officials said it would be a zero bottom plant, where almost all formalities related to liquid and solid waste management had been complied with.

Talking about green belt, it was said that out of the total 1992 acres, about 300 acre was being developed as green belt. Besides development, safety norms were also being emphatically implemented.

Speaking about social and normal responsibilities, Ravi Yadav, HR managerm spoke in detail about the education, drinking water, RO plant, medical facility, transportation service being provided to labour.

Considering the futuristic aspect of the expansion, about 400 acre of land in various corners, has been kept vacant. It was also informed that the refinery would have its 145 acre township nearby, which would have 650 quarters for its staff and construction process had already been started.

Bathinda, September 7
Over 100 students of the Delhi Public School, Bathinda, today took out a cycle rally which aimed at creating awareness about the ill-effects of social evils, including female foeticide, deforestation, water pollution, drug addiction and others.

During the rally, the students urged city residents to wake up against the social evils to ensure progress of society.

Principal and teachers of the school accompanied them in their endeavour for noble cause.

The rally marked the 53rd anniversary of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Members of the corporation also took part in the rally.

The nearly hour-long rally which started from the Rose Garden passed through Tikoni, Amrik Singh Road, Mall Road before culminating at the LIC office here. Children were holding placards carrying messages against social evils.

Arun Jee, principal of the DPS, said that children volunteered to take part in the rally against social evils. "I along with other teachers also participated in the rally for motivating children to make the endeavour a success," he added.Sanjay Bhargav of the LIC appeared pleased with the interest shown by the children. He informed that the LIC celebrates Insurance Week between September 1 and 7 every year.

Bathinda, September 7
Dr Jai Rup Singh, vice-chancellor of the Central University of Punjab here, inaugurated 1413th branch of the Oriental Bank of Commerce at Ghuda village about 25 km from here. Assistant General Manager A.S. Cheema said the office was opened for the benefit of the students of the central university and would also cater to business in the rural part of this area.

J.P. Arya, chief manager, S.K. Garg, chief manager, R.C. Gupta, chief manager, S.S. Dagar, ARM, Mohit Gupta ARM and prominent personalities from the area were present on the occasion. — TNS

Barnala, September 7
Activists of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha and labourers on Monday gheraoed the police station for about two hours at Tapa (Barnala), demanding the arrest of a ration depot holder of Tajoke village and suspension of an alleged 'corrupt' policeman. They also took out a march through the Tapa town, raising slogans in support of their demands.The protesters were addressed among others by a state level leader of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha Gurpreet Singh Rooreke, a leader of Punjab Kisan Union Gurnam Singh Bhikhi, a farmer leader Bhola Singh Samaon, and a leader of Inqulabi Naujawan Sabha Gurpreet Singh Kotduna.Talking to The Tribune over the phone today, Gurpreet Singh Rooreke said that a depot holder of Tajoke village had not been distributing commodities from the ration depot to the people. He said that when Shinder Kaur and Hansa Singh went to the ration depot recently, the depot holder started abusing them by using caste-based words.

He said that when they went to the Tapa police station on August 30 to give an application against the depot holder, a policeman took Rs 500 from them to initiate an action against the depot holder, but he did not initiate any proceedings against the depot holder.Rooreke said that they were now demanding the arrest of the depot holder and suspension of the corrupt policeman. He said that they lifted the dharna on Monday when the SHO gave them an assurance that the police would register a case and arrest the persons concerned soon.When contacted Tapa SHO Balwinder Singh said the protesters had got their statements recorded with the police. Now, the police would verify the facts and after that requisite proceedings would be initiated against the guilty persons, he added. 

Abohar, September 7
Even when the agriculture sector contributes about 17.5 per cent of the GDP, employs 57 per cent workforce and sustains approximately 70 per cent of the population in India, it suffers whopping losses worth Rs 80,000 crore annually due to poor storage and transportation system and inadequate marketing facilities, said Dr RT Patil, director of the ICAR run Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering Technology (CIPHET).

Speaking during the maiden function held on Monday here to transfer technology to Pune based Padmatech Engineering Systems for commercial manufacturing of pomegranate aril extractor and hand tool, Dr Patil said that the next generations will draw inspiration from Dr AK Thakur, who had invented the machine and tool under the guidance of Dr RK Gupta and Dr DB Singh here.

Such a machine, if imported costs Rs 60 lakh, but the Indian model will be affordable-one even for the pomegranate growers. Dr Patil honoured the scientists, who were associated with the research.

There exists a fragmented and inefficient value chain. The low cost processing equipment need to be developed ensuring hygiene and quality. The CIPHET had developed such equipment after comprehensive research and experiments, he claimed.

Dr AK Thakur informed that the machine developed by the CIPHET can extract 4-5 quintal arils from pomegranate fruit per hour. The breaking of pomegranates results 30-40 per cent loss of arils. The hand tool is excellent in domestic use. Padmatech representative Kishor Nawale said that the CIPHET machine surprisingly saves much of power as compared to imported machines and can be marketed at affordable price. It is indeed a life-time achievement, he observed. Dr JS Josan, director, PAU Regional Station was also present. 

Fazilka, September 7
The cricket teams of Chandigarh, Delhi, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra have reached the quarter-final of the Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak National Tournament being organised by the Fazilka Twenty-20 Cricket Association here. The tournament had commenced on September 3 and will continue till September 15.

While giving details, Pankaj Dhamija, secretary of the Association said that 32 teams are participating in this tournament. These teams have been divided into eight pools. The knockout league matches are being played. So far 22 cricket matches have been played in the grounds of the BSF headquarters and MR Government College.

The selection committee of Punjab State Twenty-20 Cricket Association has announced its under-25 Punjab cricket team for this tournament. This will commence its league matches from September 9. Nishant Monga has been appointed as captain of the team. 

Fazilka, September 7 
"The role of the teachers in building of the nation is considered to be very important,” stated Sher Singh Ghubaya, Ferozepur Lok Sabha MP during the fifth teachers' honour programme, organised by the Sarhad Social Welfare Society on Sunday night while celebrating Teachers’ Day.

In the programme, 23 teachers from senior secondary, primary, private and college sections were honoured by Sher Singh Ghubaya and local MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani.

Addressing the gathering, MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani said even after 62 years of independence, the country could not make desired progress in absence of 100 per cent rate of literacy due to lack of infrastructure in education system.

Besides, Zila Parishad vice-chairman Prem Kularia, Market Committee chairman Ashok Jairath, Improvement Trust chairman Mohinder Pratap Dhingra, Block Samiti chairman Ranjit Singh Dhaliwal, SKB DAV Senior Secondary School managing committee chairman RR Nagpal and principal ML Sharma, SAD working committee member Sandeep Gilhotra also honoured the teachers. 

Muktsar, September 7
Irate residents of several colonies of this city have complained of receiving contaminated water for the last one week, following which, water-borne diseases may surface.Hundreds of residents of Guru Angad Nagar and KK Road, where students coming from the adjoining cities and towns stay as paying guests (PGs), have said since long they had been getting sullied water, which was mixed with various pollutants. They claimed that this had been going on for the last several days and despite highlighting their misery in the media on various occasions, nothing concrete hadbeen done by the authorities concerned.GS Gill, a resident of one such colony where contaminated water is being supplied, showed a bottle in which pollutants could be seen by the naked eye. He fumed, “We have complained to the authorities several times. However, all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears and nobody is willing to listen to us.”

A government employee, preferring anonymity, said, “We are paying our water supply bills on time. Then why do we have to get dirty water all the time for drinking?”

He urged the district administration to look into the matter and get the sewerage pipes, which have been broken at various places, rectified at the earliest. Yet another infuriated resident, Hari Chand, complained, “If clean drinking water is not provided to us, our children may be affected by water-borne disease. Who will bear the responsibility?”

Sarban Singh, a retired police employee said, "This has been going on for the last several days but nobody is willing to listen to us. Moreover, this being the chief minister's backyard, some responsibility should have been fixed by now. Are the politicians, who live in glasshouses, really worried about the common man's plight, he questioned?"A PG student, undergoing her diploma in nursing from a local institute, seething with anger over the alleged indifferent of the authorities concerned, claimed, “I have been drinking this polluted water for the last several days. Who will be responsible, if I get sick?” In their defence, the Public Health Department officials said that the rainy season had created havoc as drinking water got mixed up with sewerage water due to leakage of pipes.

However, residents claim that if at all there were any leaking sewerage pipes, they should have been mended immediately. It is not as vexed an issue as the authorities are making it out to be, they added. Civil suregon Dr Tirath Goyal said his department would look into the matter.

Barnala, September 7
Makhan Singh, a farmer from Dhurkot village, about nine km from Tapa, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with a rifle in his field on Sunday.