Bathinda, September 29
Two coal-fired thermal plants already in existence and two more coming up within a radius of 50 km may well churn out a perfect recipe for an environmental disaster of the first order for the residents of this city.

It is a well-documented fact that a coal plant produces fly ash, which is disastrous to human life in general and the environment in particular. Fly ash is a deadly residue generated during the combustion of coal. It generally emanates from the chimneys of the coal-fired power plants and contains substantial amounts of silicon dioxide and carbon oxide. It also contains traces of toxic substances like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and manganese.

Presently, the district has the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP) in the city and the Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP) at Lehra Mohabbat, just 25 km away. In its endeavour to make Punjab a ‘power surplus’ state, the state government has cleared the decks to set up two more thermal plants — one at Gidderbaha, 30 kms away, and one near Talwando Sabo, just 50 km away from the city. “Four thermal plants in a radius of just 50 km may well spell a doom for the city residents,” says Dr Ashish Sukhija, an environmentalist and Chief Administrative Officer of the Muktsar-based Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences.

He adds, “The quantity of fly ash coming out of the Bathinda power plant can be gauged from the fact that cars parked in the vicinity of the plant are enveloped with a thick coat of fly ash every night.”

Recently, the Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal, acting on the complaints made by several organisations against the dangers of fly ash, took up the cudgels on behalf of the residents and urged the Union Heavy Industries Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, to make efforts to check the fly ash menace.

However, residents are not much impressed by her efforts. Gurnam Singh said, “All this is political rhetoric. In the past too, several attempts have been made to nip in the bud the scourge of fly ash, but nothing concrete had been done. Everything remains on paper and in practical, not much headway has been achieved.”

Senior PSEB engineers, however, countered his argument by saying that it was due to the efforts of the government that two cement plants have been set up in Bathinda. One is the Ambuja cement plant near the GNDTP and the other plant, which is owned by the Birlas, has come up next to the Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant.

It is pertinent to mention here that fly ash is used by cement companies to give more strength to their product. Experts disclose that a tonne of cement needs an input of 0.2 tonne of fly ash. Not only is the cost of cement produced from fly ash 5 to 10 per cent lower when compared to cement produced in the traditional manner, it also saves on transportation of a material considered to be dangerous to the environment.

Admitted an environmental engineer, “The waste produced by coal-based power plants is, in many ways, more radioactive than the one generated by nuclear plants. At issue is coal’s content of uranium and thorium - both radioactive elements. In coal, they don’t harm much but when coal is burnt into fly ash, both uranium and thorium are concentrated up to 10 times of their original levels. Fly ash uranium reaches the soil and water surrounding a coal plant thereby affecting crops and, in turn, food.”

What experts opine about the dangers of fly ash is indeed Kafkaesque, but as a resident said, “Construction of cement plants is not the answer. We have to do with the problem of fly ash till somebody bells the cat.”

Bathinda, September 29
Bathinda is all set to witness a revolution in cinema-viewing from this Thursday.

With a tag line “ab BADA mazaa aayega’, the BIG Cinemas would usher the ‘quickly-developing’ district of the state in the multiplex era as it stages a launch at the City Center, a mall near the Mini-Secretariat, on October 1. The show to be screened at the Cineplex on Thursday, however, would be for special invitees. On the next day, it would screen for public ‘Wake up Sid’, ‘Wanted’, ‘Do Knot Disturb’ and ‘Akhiyan Udeek Diyan’.

Equipped with facilities and features unknown to the local movie goers hitherto, the BIG Cinema aims at reinventing the multiplex experience for the city and provide the audience with a world-class movie going experience.

With the features of wall-to-wall screens, Dolby digital sound system, plush rocking seats, 35 degree screen viewing, floor lights and splendid interiors, the fully-carpeted multiplex houses four air-conditioned auditoria with an aggregate seating capacity of 1,080. The projector system is from the Strong, Germany.

The professionals have been hired from New Delhi to ensure the multiplex maintains the service standards.

Significantly, the four-screen multiplex spread across 37,000 sq ft built up area happens to be the only multiplex in the south-west Punjab.

“After success in Zirakpur, Pathankot and Amritsar, we decided to enter Bathinda about two-and-a-half years back when we learnt that the residents of this vibrant city were starved of a good entertainment facility,” said Tushar Dhingra, chief operating officer (COO), Big Cinemas, while talking to The Tribune over the phone from Mumbai.

Targeting the audience between 15-35 years of age, the COO said the offering of numerous facilities at a moderate price was enough to believe it was a viable proposition.

“We will be hitting Ludhiana by January and Jalandhar by February,” he disclosed.

Intending a possible change in the lifestyle of the population here, the BIG Cinemas would be offering a greater choice of films accompanied by flexible show timings. Close to 20 shows would be screened in a day, which would start by 10:30 in the morning and stretch past midnight.

Talking about the security of the moviegoers, the COO said, “Our prime focus is on security and we take more than adequate pains to ensure fool-proof safety and security of our customers. We have fully-trained staff to handle any exigency.”

A three-time security check before one enters the auditorium aims at ensuring an adequate protection to the moviegoers. As far as their safety is concerned, there are smoke and heat sensors, water sprinklers, fire safety equipment and three exit points per auditorium (including an entry point) besides the safety staff.

Ticket booking would be on a first-come-first-served basis and the price of a ticket would be uniform for a particular show. No VIP treatment!

However, the price may vary between Rs 49-Rs 150 for different shows. For instance, the ticket price would be comparatively less during weekdays and morning shows.

The BIG Cinemas claims to be the largest cinema chain in India with 222 screens spread over 66 cities nationwide.

It is a division of the Adlabs Films Ltd and a member of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

Bathinda, September 29
That Punjab has a skewed sex ratio is well-known. Some Zila Parishad authorities blame certain shortcomings in the Pre Natal Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act for this. Shortcomings related to jurisdiction of the authorities, appointment of district appropriate authority for the PNDT Act, registration of nursing homes etc call for amendments in the PNDT Act to make it more effective in curbing female foeticide, these authorities feel.

The first amendment, in their opinion, needs to be done in the appointment of district appropriate authority (DAA). As per the Act, the civil surgeon of the district is the DAA. These authorities are of the view that the district magistrate should be made the DAA because district magistrates work proactively in this area. This would enable effective community mobilisation, there will be a better coordination between health, social security, panchayat and education departments and the DM would be immune to any influence exerted by the doctors.

The Government of India had issued instructions to all states and UTs that the Central Supervisory Board had decided that the DM shall be the DAA for the PNDT Act. These guidelines were not implemented by any state.

Under the Act, there is no one accountable if the sex ratio declines. Accountability needs to be instilled for effective results. There is no provision for registration of pregnancy. If the registration is made compulsory, then female foeticide can be curbed. As per the Act, a district is the jurisdiction of the DAA. According to the rural youth clubs in Bathinda working to curb the menace of female foeticide, there have been cases of women in Bathinda going to Dabwali, Muktsar, Sirsa and Gidderbaha for abortions but these places do not come under the jurisdiction of the DAA of Bathinda.

“There is a need for constant updating of the data of child birth ratio/child sex ratio. Due to census being carried out every 10 years, it is difficult to cover the gap of female birth ratio,” Shashi Tyagi, District Programme Officer for women and child development, had stated recently.

A toll-free number and helpline is necessary to share information with the public at large for creating awareness. The authorities had taken a number 1091 for Bathinda but there is no number given by the Central government.

Registration of nursing homes for better monitoring of illegal second trimester abortions and implementation of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTPA) is necessary. It will also check abortions by quacks. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the doctors have been resisting such a step for long now.

Bathinda, September 29
The Bathinda Deputy Commissioner issued show-cause notices to principals of five colleges, whose representatives skipped the meeting of the district anti-ragging committee held here today.

According to information available, the colleges are Maharaja Ranjit Singh Khalsa Technical college, Bathinda, Sri Chand Ji government college, Sardargarh, Malwa College, Goniana road, College of Engineering at Punjabi University neighbourhood campus, Rampura Phul and Guru Ram Dass Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lehra Bega.

The district administration had recently constituted an anti-ragging committee to check the menace in schools and colleges. However, various schools and colleges have not been taking the committee seriously, sources informed.

Taking the issue seriously, DC Rahul Tewari warned of strict action, if any report of ragging comes to his knowledge. Further, he directed all heads of the institutions to personally attend the meeting, failing which, the complaints would be lodged with the Registrar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

During the meeting, he interacted with freshers and old students, who had come along with the college staff. Besides motivating them, he asked them to feel free in contacting him to inform about a ragging case that they come to know.

The college staff were directed to conduct surprise raids in their institutions through anti-ragging squads and also to redress all letters put in the complaint box.

Abohar, September 29
Even when racist attacks on Indian students in Australia have evoked widespread controversies and condemnation globally, a delegation of the Aus Nirvana Foundation from Melbourne chose to visit the Malwa region of Punjab for charity.

“Our vision is to provide equal opportunities and supportive environment to the students of low socio-economic background for their basic education, health and ecological surroundings,” said Sharon Sai, founder director of the NGO.

Born and brought up in Andhra Pradesh with both tradition and modernisation on her left and right, she had also excelled as an NCC officer in India before migrating to Melbourne to retain the noble profession of teaching in an institution. Interestingly, Sharon has observed a two-day fast on the occasion of Navratra and Vijay Dashmi.

“Our mission is to provide educational scholarships to promising students of low-income families from Australia and India, to encourage, support, and assist on maintaining ecological balance and protect environment by planting trees and to promote cost-effective sporting activities to all age groups like walking, bicycling with intention to have a positive impact on the environment and health of all age groups,” said Neisha Macrae, another member of the fact finding mission. She too teaches in Melbourne.

Both the women along with Trevor Davies, a technical teacher, visited the DAV College campus today to interact with the NCC cadets, who were attending 10-day annual training camp.

They were warmly received by Colonel Dilbagh Singh, commanding officer of the second Punjab Independent NCC company, Captain Dr Iqbal Singh Godara, Captain Sarabjeet Singh, Lieutenant PC Padhey and senior cadets. Davies said in Australia scout training exists but no organisation like NCC works.

The delegation, escorted by Preetinder Singh, director of the Punjab chapter of the foundation, felt immensely pleased to find that 272 cadets including girls from 11 schools and colleges of Abohar and Fazilka sub-divisions had opted for the annual training that included firing at the local range besides drill and tough exercises.

The visitors from Australia mesmerised the cadets by trying their hands successfully at the firing range. Impressed by the parade, the guests awarded Rs 10,000 for distributing sweets and fruits among the cadets. Interacting with The Tribune, the delegation said the foundation plans to offer scholarships to the needy and brilliant students in the region besides arranging teachers to improve communication skills in the engineering students of the Muktsar district.

The visitors were also accorded a welcome by Anil Makkar officiating principal and BS Bhullar, dean of the extra mural activities in the DAV College as they entered the auditorium to enjoy bhangra folk dance by the students.

Lundewala, (Muktsar), September 29
The villagers call it the curse of some unhappy god inflicted upon then for no fault of theirs. They have rock solid reasons to feel under an “unhappy god’s curse because hundreds of acres of their land has been waterlogged for the past more than one decade.

And as they say, all their pleas of checking the scourge of waterlogging have fallen on deaf ears of “insensitive governments not willing to listen to us”.

Here crops have failed with monotonous regularity, where paddy should have been these days, there is just water, water and more water.

Gurjant Singh, who is not such a proud man, despite owing a massive 60 acres of land in the village, said a wall of his house fell nearly seven years ago. However, he does not have even Rs 10,000 to repair the wall till now. And he belongs to the landed aristocracy of this agrarian state.

He said, “Had my 60 acres land been in some other district, I would have been a king.” Kings are no where to be seen in Lundewala as the vagaries of nature have reduced everyone to a pauper.

Ajmer Singh, who along with his two brothers once owed 45 acres of fertile land said, “Governments come and go, politicians make promises never to be fulfilled.

There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. We cannot sow crops as water damages them.

Once we thought of sowing paddy since it requires more water than other crops. However, even that experiment failed and now we have been reduced to forlorn figures of our former selves.”

Shiv Charan Singh Brar, an agriculture expert opined, “The problem of waterlogging has become acute in this village. The construction of drains to remove waterlogging has acquired a political tinge. There have been instances of farmers, close to powers that be, influencing the construction of drains just to save their own fields.

The need of the hour is to waterproof both the Sirhind feeder and the Rajasthan canal since the main cause of waterlogging is seepage of water from both these canals.”

Here the Darwinian theory of survival of the fittest comes into play. Villagers, who maintained good health, despite the ill-effects and health hazards that waterlogging brought with it, survived by finding work in the adjoining towns.

Arjan Singh is just 25 but looks as if he is going on in his 50s. His land has become a vast wasteland and for the last so many years his family has not sowed any crop.

Now, his family has moved lock, stock and barrel to another place after abandoning their home.

Here in Lundewala, politics too rears its insensitive head. Akalis say the present state government, led by Parkash Singh Badal, has done a lot to check the problem and that the government had even invited foreign engineers to solve the problem.

They also reel off statistics by saying that it was due to the initiative of the Chief Minister that the Central government had sanctioned a grant of Rs 1,400 crore to nip in the bud the perennial problem of waterlogging in the entire Muktsar district.

However, Congressmen are quick to rubbish the claims of the Akalis.

A leader, preferring anonymity, disclosed, “The state government has to put in matching amount to what the centre had sanctioned. Does the fiscal health of the state allow for the Punjab government to pump in the matching amount, he questioned?"

Every third household narrated a story of prosperous farmers, who once upon a time wore opulence on their sleeves, being reduced to penury. From kings to paupers is the bottomline of the Lundewala story.

Bathinda, September 29
The procurement of paddy by government agencies began here today after a day's delay but the it remained a low-key affair throughout the district.

Though DC, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari, today formally started the procurement from grain market, Bathinda, out of the six government agencies, only two came forward and purchased just 17 metric tonne (MT) out of the total of 1819 MT paddy that arrived in the district.

As per details, with the hope of selling their crop immediately, after the procurement process began, farmers took about 1154 MT of paddy to the grain markets of the district, today. About 665 MT of paddy was already lying in the market. But the procurement agencies purchased only two heaps-Markfed procured 10 MT at Bathinda and Punjab Agro procured only seven MT at Rampura Phul.

It has also been reported that 200 MT had recently been purchased by some private buyers and a total of about 1602 MT paddy is still lying in the mandis throughout the district.

Earlier, the DC held a meeting with all officials concerned and representatives of Arhtiyas and transporters to review the arrangements for procurement. As per the details, this year, the government agencies have made arrangements for the purchase of 8.42 lakh MT of paddy.

Confirming the details, officials attending the meeting said all agencies have made arrangements for adequate number of gunny bags. All arhtiyas have been directed to ensure proper cleaning of paddy before offering the same for auction. Once the paddy is purchased by government agencies, arhtiyas would do proper filling and stitching of bags. They would further put their mark (sign) on each bag in red colour.

The DMO was directed to constitute dispute settlement committees in all mandis. The DC asked all agencies to ensure payment of procured grain within 48 hours while lifting was to be done within 72 hours.

Moga, September 29
Paddy procurement operations in the Moga district started on Monday. The state government procurement agencies PUNGRAIN and PUNSUP had purchased 38 MT paddy from Dharamkot market while the private traders had bought 20 MT from Baghapurana market till last evening.

The procurement in Moga, the Asia's biggest grain market, had started on Tuesday with formal inauguration by the District Magistrate Satwant Singh Johal

On this occasion, the DM disclosed that due to timely sowing 19,600 MT more paddy was expected to arrive in the district this year as compared to the last year. Last year, the government agencies and traders had procured 11,53,425 MT paddy. This year, the expected arrival was 11,73,045 MT, the DM said.

He said official rate of per quintal paddy is Rs 980 for grade-A paddy and Rs 950 for the common varieties. All arrangements in the existing 99 markets of the district had been made and crosschecked by the officials, he claimed.

He also disclosed that the process of allotment of rice mills is continued and any problem of storage is unlikely to emerge this season. Sufficient staff was deployed in the markets with adequate stock of bags available with the procurement agencies, he added.

During his visit to the Moga grain market, the DM also met the farmers, commission agents and inquired if there was any problem with regard to the purchase of paddy. He assured the farmers that every grain of paddy would be procured on time in a transparent and hassle-free way.

Meanwhile, chief agriculture officer Balwinder Singh Aulakh also confirmed that the yield of paddy would increase this year despite deficient rains. Sunny weather with less attacks of diseases and sowing on time were the factors likely to be responsible for good yield, he said.

Bathinda, September 29
Taking an exception to the recent statements of CM Parkash Singh Badal regarding his inability to solve the severe power crisis in the state, Congress leaders of the district today condemned him for his attitude.

In a joint statement, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, MLA Rampura, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, MLA Nathana, Makhan Singh MLA Pakka Kalan, Narinder Singh Bhaleria, president of the District Congress Committee (Rural) and Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, district president of the Youth Congress, blamed Badal for evading responsibility.

On Badal’s statement that he was ready for power cuts at home, the leaders alleged that he had enough resources to afford generators for 24X7 supply.

Lashing out at the CM for saying—power is not a box of sweets, which he could offer to people of the state—the leaders said, “After harassing the farmers, industrialists in particular and people in general during the summers, the statement is something which can never be expected from a senior politician.”

The Congress leaders alleged, “The father-son duo have made the state bankrupt. The state government does not have funds to pay salaries to the staff. Old widows in the state have been waiting for their pensions for months but the state is running short of funds.”

Referring to the recently awarded six months imprisonment to Gurpreet Singh Maluka, son of SAD (B) district in-charge Sikander Singh Maluka, they demanded that Gurpreet should resign from the post of MD, Co-operative Banks Limited, Bathinda.

Abohar, September 29
The Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) will organise a dharna on Wednesday at the office of the district education officer in Ferozepur, said district president Sushil Dhawan.

The DTF has launched the agitation to press the state government for relief to the students from dual syllabus by abandoning the ‘Padho Punjab’ programme that was being carried through an NGO. Unfair practice of deploying 7,000 experienced teachers as block resource persons, trainers should be stopped, he said.