Bathinda, November 6
In a measure against the menace of waterlogging in various villages of Malwa region of Punjab, the state government in collaboration with Centre is laying sub-surface drains in the depressed agricultural fields to evacuate the excess water from the soil.

According priority to the home turf of state chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, the drainage department has started Rs 14.29 crore worth AWG-07 plan of NABARD in 14 villages of Muktsar district. The plan will cover Ghagga, Smagh, Enna Khera, Channu, Banwala Annu Ka, Tapa Khera, Bhai Ka Khera, Fatta Kera, Deon Khera, Bhullar wala and Pakki Tibbi villages.

Further, seven more villages of the district, namely Husnar, Phula Khera, Bhai Ka, Khi Khera, Shajrana, Midhu Khera and Gidderbaha are also in the pipeline to be covered up under the sub surface drains project.

It is learnt that the CM Parkash Singh Badal had earlier too taken such an initiative but it was all put on backburner when the SAD (B) lost the assembly polls in 2002.

According to details available, the sub-surface drains are meant for evacuating the excess water in the upper crust of the fields, so that the land, which was lying abandoned for being waterlogged, could be used for agricultural purposes.

During a visit to village Pakki Tibbi, located on Malout-Abohar road, this correspondent witnessed the under process project of laying sub-surface drains in agricultural fields. Huge trenching machines along with other supportive machinery like excavators and bulldozers were being used to lay collectors and laterals beneath a specific level of earth.

Giving details about the plan, Executive Engineer KK Singla, who is the in-charge of the project, said that the laterals pipes wrapped with geofabric filters were being laid at a distance of 100 feet from one another. The laterals had small holes to collect the extra water in the soil, which would further go to the linked broad pipes called collectors.

After collecting the drainage effluent from laterals, the collectors would discharge it in sump wells, from where it would be finally pumped out to a surface drain.

Hailing the effort of the government to bring a smile on the faces of farmers, Jaswant Singh Bhullar, who owns 78 Acre of land, at village Pakki Tibbi said, "Out of our total land, about 65 acres were affected of water logging from past 11 years. This project will surely give positive results as the project is yet to be completed the water level has already started coming down. It made us enable to plough our fields, after a period of more than a decade."

Anticipating the positive results of scheme, the drainage department has sent a proposal to cover about 47 more villages, falling under Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts, which would cost around Rs 80 crore.

On the other hand, seeking anonymity, some officials said that the process was slow. They said that at some villages even after the completion of construction work, the project could not become functional as the PSEB is delaying to give power connections.

When contacted, GK Nayyar, Superintending Engineer (drainage), Gidderbhaha circle, said, "Formalities have been completed and soon the project will start functioning in all villages."

Ferozepur, November 6
The president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) and Lok Sabha member Mohinder Singh Kaypee, has stressed upon the union government to revise the recent hike in minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by at least Rs 100 from Rs 20 that was announced a couple of days back. The MSP of wheat has been announced to Rs 1,100 from the last year's Rs 1,080 per quintal.

Speaking to The Tribune here today, he said the farmers were facing many problems due to low returns as against the high inputs in agriculture.

In reply to a question, the PPCC president said he would soon take a delegation of the Congress MPs and MLAs of the state and meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of ground realities, the farmers were facing.

Meanwhile, Parminder Singh Pinki, general secretary of the PPCC, refuted the allegations of the CM Parkash Singh Badal that the Congress-led union government had adopted anti-farmer policies.

Claiming that the UPA government had increased the MSP of wheat, paddy and other crops during its last tenure by over 40 per cent in a phased manner, he said the union government would reconsider its recent decision and revise the MSP of wheat from Rs 20 to Rs 100.

Bathinda, November 6
To create a dent in the Malwa belt, the BJP organizing secretary of Punjab, Ajay Jamwal, today held a meeting of senior party functionaries here to strengthen the party and also to oversee the exercise for holding organisational elections.

BJP leaders of all nine districts falling in the Malwa belt were present at the meeting. State general secretary Kamal Sharma, vice-president Manjeet Singh Rai and president of the youth wing Vivek Modgil also addressed the local activists.

Jamwal, who was recently appointed organizing secretary of the BJP, urged party men to enroll fresh members before the deadline to strengthen the organisation.

He said that similar meetings would be held at Ludhiana and Jalandhar tomorrow.

It is worth mentioning that a large number of party activists have been complaining to Jamwal that the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was not giving due attention to the BJP that had brought the former to power.

They are also learnt to have complained that certain ministers belonging to the BJP were lukewarm towards the problems brought to their notice by party activists. This was a demoralizing factor among the party rank and file, they claim.

Malout, November 6
The Punjab Technical University (PTU) is organising its 8th Zonal Youth Festival at Malout Institute of Management and Information Technology (MIMIT) on November 7 and 8.

Teams of PTU affiliated colleges of eight districts — Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Barnala, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Moga and Sangrur — will take part Dr Iqbal Singh Brar, Coordinator disclosed that 26 items including dance, music, literary and theatre competitions will be held. — OC

Ferozepur, November 6
The ongoing 51st Panjab University Inter-Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival being organised on the campus of Dev Samaj College for Women has turned out to be a magnificent showcasing of Punjabi heritage, particularly the folk dances, Bhangra and Gidha, besides the other presentations.

On the second day, the function was attended by the president of (PPCC) Mohinder Singh Kaypee also an MP, general secretary of the PPCC Parminder Singh Pinki, Dr SM Kant, Director, Youth Welfare Department of the PU, in a gathering of hundreds of local and outside students who had come here from different parts of the state. — TNS

Bathinda, November 6
As many as 10 students of the Government Senior Secondary School, Bhucho Kalan, suffered minor injuries today when an acid container burst in the science laboratory of the school.

According to details available, the blast took place, when students of class VIII were doing experiment work. The drops of acid and the broken glass of the container scattered all around causing injuries to students and also their teacher.

The injured were rushed to a private hospital, where they were given first aid. All were, later, discharged after the treatment. — TNS

Bathinda, November 5
Sleuths of Vigilance Bureau (VB) today arrested the in-charge of Primary Health Centre, Bajakhana, red-handed for accepting bribe from a physically challenged person for issuing a medical certificate.

Sources in VB, Bathinda said that the complainant Tarsem Singh of village Lambwali said that he had to apply as a laboratory attendant under physically handicapped quota. As per the condition, he was required to submit a medical fitness certificate along with the application, which should be issued from some nearby health centre.

Tarsem accused the in-charge of Primary Health Centre, Bajakhana, Dr Parveen Mohindroo of demanding Rs 3,000 for issuing the certificate. Later, the matter was settled at Rs 1,500. Meanwhile, the complainant informed the VB officials. A team headed by DSP Des Raj laid the trap and nabbed the doctor red-handed with three currency denominations of Rs 500.

Confirming the details, SSP VB, Bathinda range, Chaman Lal said, "The doctor has been booked under sections 7, 13 (2) 88 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and further investigation is going on." — TNS

Bathinda, November 5
Continuing the special drive to save ecology, the district police on Thursday evening booked 10 more farmers for burning paddy stubble.

According to details available, the booked farmers belong to Bambiha, Gill Kalan, Pitho, Ballo, Kehar Singh Wlaa, Chanarthal, Kotfatta, Lelewala and Sandoha villages.

Agri-loan defaulters held: Two accused defaulters of the non-agricultural loan owed to the Punjab Agricultural Development Bank (PADB), got arrested today. — TNS

Hanumangarh/Abohar, November 6
The Rajasthan Journalists Association has expressed shock at noted journalist Prabhash Joshi’s death. During an emergency meeting at the district headquarter, senior journalist Bal Krishan Thareja said Joshi's death has left a void, which would be difficult to fill. He informed that Joshi (72), former chief editor of Jansatta, complained of chest pain while watching Thurday night’s thrilling India-Australia one-day match and was rushed to a private hospital in New Delhi where he was declared dead.

The scribes observed two minutes silence to condole the demise. The Abohar unit of the Chandigarh-Punjab Union of Journalists Union during a meeting presided over by Shyam Sunder Sachdeva, member of the national council of Indian Journalists Union, also expressed deep grief and sorrow over Joshi’s death, describing him a pillar of Hindi journalism. Press Club secretary Shiv Garg said Joshi had emerged as torchbearer, who led language journalism to new heights and respect. — OC