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TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Arrangements in place for paddy procurement
Ferozepur, February 17
After burning their fingers in the previous procurement seasons of wheat and paddy crops when the farmers had to resort to traffic jams and dharnas to make the agencies lift their produce, the SAD-BJP combine government of Punjab has been leaving no stone unturned to make it hassle free in the coming wheat procurement season.

Run-up to Rail Budget
Direct train from Bathinda to Ludhiana sought
Bathinda, February 17
Another Rail Budget is around the corner and like every year Malwaites have again come up with their several decade old demand — a direct train between Bathinda and Ludhiana. Residents of Bathinda and its adjoining areas have been demanding a direct train between these two stations via Rampura Phul, Barnala and Dhuri.

Dalit woman strangulated to death, in-laws booked by cops
Bathinda, February 17
In yet another incident of dowry death, a Dalit woman, Gaganjeet Kaur (23), was allegedly strangulated to death by her in-laws, who then hanged the body from a ceiling fan at Khemuana village this morning.

Funds allocated to create awareness on diseases due to iodine deficiency
Bathinda, February 17
Under a Centre-sponsored scheme, the “National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme”, the department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, has allocated Rs 10,000 each to all districts of the state for executing activities related to information, education and communication during the current financial year.

Teaching skill contest held
Ferozepur, February 17
Dev Samaj College of Education for Women today hosted Punjab University inte r-zonal competition in skill-in-teaching and on-the-spot preparation of teaching aids. In this competition, 45 colleges of education affiliated to Panjab University participated.

Illegal abortion comes to light through hotline
Mansa, February 17
The health department, Mansa, has detected a case of illegal abortion which came to light through community hotline service. Civil surgeon, Mansa, had also written to the director national of Rural Health Mission, Chandigarh, Deputy Commissioner and the SSP for further action.

Farooq Abdullah to visit Muktsar
Bathinda, February 17
The 14.5 MW biomass power project at village Channu in Muktsar would formally be inaugurated on Friday by Farooq Abdullah, union minister for new and renewable energy. Abdullah would also lay foundation stone of another integrated biomass power project of 10-MW capacity at village Binjon in Hoshiarpur. — TNS

	High Court returns Blue Fox to BMC’s kitty Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, February 17 After two years, the Blue Fox, a multi-crore property once transferred to the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) with the intention to sell it at a higher price, returned to the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court announced the verdict today. Now, the fate of the Blue Fox would be decided in the general house of the BMC. The Blue Fox, a piece of land (21,261 square yard) located on the national highway near the Rose Garden, was auctioned on March 12, 2007. Terming it as a prime land for commercial purposes, its reserve price was fixed at Rs 50,000 per square yard and the eligibility fee was fixed at Rs 1 crore. On the day of auction, the PIDB authorities had initiated the bid from the reserved price of Rs 50,000 per square yard. The bids could reach just Rs 60,000 when news reached that the High Court had stayed the auction. Though it was unconfirmed, the auction committee withdrew the auction floating an excuse that the bid was much below than the expected amount. Later, the BMC got an advance loan of Rs 40 crore from the PIDB for development projects in the city. It was said that the loan amount would be deducted from the income generated out of the sale of the property. After spending the amount of Rs 40 crore on city roads, footpaths and lights, etc, the BMC needed some more loan, for which, following a condition of the High Court, they had submitted an affidavit mentioning their needs related to sewerage system, water supply, roads etc, where the amount would be spent. Meanwhile, BMC officials had a communication with the PIDB that they wanted to get the property back after repaying the debt. Getting a nod from PIDB officials, the BMC officials had filed an affidavit with the High Court stating that they could fetch more money if they sold the property on their own. Confirming the details while speaking over phone from Chandigarh, BMC Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said, “Going by our request, the High Court today allowed us to get the property back and left its use on the BMC’s discretion.” “We will put the item on the agenda of the next general house meeting, where the councillors would decide the fate of the property. We have to repay the advance taken from the PIDB but how and when the BMC will repay the debt will be decided in the meeting,” he added. BMC Mayor Baljeet Singh Birbehman said, “We are under a debt of Rs 40 crore, which can be repaid only through selling the Blue Fox property, as the BMC has no other source. Moreover, we require more funds to execute the proposed development works.”
	On graft trail, DCs at the receiving end Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, February 17 Only humour of the dry variety is expected in Babudom. But the recent directive of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to the deputy commissioners in Punjab to personally put a check on the rampant corruption in tehsils has left the officials with sweet-n-sour experiences, bringing a funny aside to the dreary realm of administration. Acting upon Sukhbir’s direction, the DCs handed over performas to the officials concerned to fill up specified details related to property, buyers and sellers, along with the amount of transaction and the stamp duty. These details are to be sent to the DC office every evening. After scanning the details in it, the DCs call up the buyers at random and inquire about their experience, while going through the land registration procedure. Many of the DCs (bowing to Sukhbir’s directive) have initiated the practice but have been going through a hilarious experience that comedy apart, could dampen their zeal to keep the practice going. One of the DCs posted in the Majha region said, “I called up a man in a humble way but immediately after hearing my designation (DC), he said: If you are the DC, I am the CM. Don’t try to befool me, have fun with somebody else. After finishing his sentence, he put down the phone and did not take the call again.” One of his counterparts, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “The first call I made was attended by a middle-aged woman (as it sounded). I had just completed my introduction and the lady said (in Punjabi): Janab main taan munde nu rokya cee, oh manya hi nahi… It was all that she could utter and then she started crying. She did not even give me a chance to explain the purpose behind the call and finally I had to put down the phone.” “I rang up a man a few days back. He gave vent to his frustration saying: Hun yaad ayi tuhanu, saare chor mile hoye ho. Don’t waste my time by calling up again. Saying this, he disconnected the phone,” a DC posted in the Doaba region said while speaking of his experience. “Those words are still in my mind. Every evening, when I plan to call up people, I get apprehensive thinking the experience might get repeated,” he added. One of the deputy commissioners in the Bathinda parliamentary constituency said, “The man I called up on Monday did not even listen to me and started flaunting his proximity to the Badal family. Before I could make him understand the purpose behind the call, he said to me: Je koi kam hove, taan kehna, main Sukhbir nu sifarish kar devanga” “There are lots of experiences which we can not speak of but we have to go through the motion as it is the order of the Deputy CM who is very particular about it,” he said. However, two DCs in Malwa (said to be good friends) termed it as an enjoyable experience. “Calling up property buyers is a new experience, which sometimes proves to be very humorous. Every evening we call up each other to share the experience and have a good laugh,” they added.
	Arrangements in place for paddy procurement Chander Parkash Tribune News Service Ferozepur, February 17 After burning their fingers in the previous procurement seasons of wheat and paddy crops when the farmers had to resort to traffic jams and dharnas to make the agencies lift their produce, the SAD-BJP combine government of Punjab has been leaving no stone unturned to make it hassle free in the coming wheat procurement season. To send the message to right quarters that Punjab government means business, the civil officials of each district have been conveyed that any laxity on their part will not be ignored and any officer found negligent in carrying the procurement process in smooth manner will have to face the consequences. Darbara Singh Guru, principal secretary to the CM of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, who has been reaching out to every official, who are supposed to be deployed for procurement duties, has been conveying the seriousness of the state government towards the coming procurement of wheat. “The farmers must not suffer on any account in the grain markets and other purchase centres where they will unload their produce after March 31, 2010. The wheat must be procured, lifted and stored without any delay and payments to the farmers must be made within 48 hours after the procurement of his produce,” said Guru while directing the deputy commissioners and other civil officials of Ferozepur, Moga and Faridkot districts here today. Taking to media persons, he said arrangements were being made to create enough space for storing the wheat, which would be procured in the coming season. The wheat stock, which had already been lying in Punjab, was expected to be moved out by the agency concerned before March 31, 2010. He added that field staff had been asked to identify new spaces where the wheat could be stored. They had been directed to make foolproof arrangements for vehicles for transporting the procured wheat from markets to storage point without any problem, he said.
	Run-up to Rail Budget Direct train from Bathinda to Ludhiana sought Sudhanshu Verma Tribune News Service Bathinda, February 17 Another Rail Budget is around the corner and like every year Malwaites have again come up with their several decade old demand — a direct train between Bathinda and Ludhiana. Residents of Bathinda and its adjoining areas have been demanding a direct train between these two stations via Rampura Phul, Barnala and Dhuri. “Our demand carries genuineness,” residents say, “as the Bathinda belt, considered as backwaters of Punjab certainly deserves better and fast connectivity with Ludhiana - one of the most industrialised and commercialised belts of Punjab - for rapid development.” “It is high time for the railway to link these cities which are just 140m km from each other to give an impetus to socio-economic development of the area which would also see new thermal plants and a refinery in near future,” residents added. The president of the Daily Passengers Association, Rampura Phul-Barnala, Rajinder Garg said that their repeated plea for a direct train on the route was yet to find any taker in the Baroda House. Garg said that a train on the route would serve the purposes of businessmen, patients, students and pilgrims. There was no train to Ludhiana-Jammu or Ludhiana-Amritsar side from Dhuri and train on the route was also needed because of the fact that there are so many places of religious importance like Malerkotla, Amristar, Beas, said Garg, who is also associated with the Sri Shiv Lehri Kanwar Sangh. The Chairman, Daily Passengers Association, Rampura Phul, Jasvir Singh, echoing similar sentiments said that he had written letters to the Railway Ministry and the officials concerned seeking direct train on the route. He found no reason for the railway not running a direct train between Bathinda and Ludhiana via Rampura Phul-Dhuri. The vice-president, Rail Passengers Association, Northern Zone, Hanuman Dass Goel, said, “By not heeding to this demand, the railway has been showing its attitude towards the region.” He demanded that Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee should make provisions for introducing a direct train between Bathinda-Ludhiana via Rampura Phul, Barnala and Dhuri to cater to the needs of students, patients, business community and pilgrims.

	Dalit woman strangulated to death, in-laws booked by cops Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, February 17 In yet another incident of dowry death, a Dalit woman, Gaganjeet Kaur (23), was allegedly strangulated to death by her in-laws, who then hanged the body from a ceiling fan at Khemuana village this morning. Villagers informed that Gaganjeet was married to Mandeep Singh, an Army jawan, about three years ago and the couple had no kids. After some time, Mandeep and his family started seeking dowry from Ganganjeet’s family, which became a cause of frequent quarrels between the couple. Getting frustrated, once the girl went back to her paternal house at Maesarkhana but with the intervention of panchayats of both villages, the girl returned to her in-laws’ house. About two days back, the villagers had again held a meeting to work out a compromise between the couple. Receiving the information about the girl hanging from a ceiling fan this morning, villagers assembled at their house. Meanwhile, the brother of the deceased and the police were also informed. Earlier, the police took it as a case of suicide but the brother of deceased, Harjinder Singh, accused her in-laws of regularly pressurising her for dowry and accused the family of beating up his sister many times. In a statement to the police, Harjinder alleged that his sister Gaganjeet used to complain to him that her husband had illicit relations with a girl named Soma. Showing some injury marks on the body of the deceased, Harjinder lodged a complaint against her husband Mandeep Singh, mother in-law Ajmer Kaur, brother-in-law Ram Singh and Soma Rani. He alleged that his sister was strangulated to death and then hanged to fan to evade a legal action. Acting upon the statement of Harjinder Singh, the police booked all the four accused under section 304-B of the IPC (dowry death). Later, the police sent the body for post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of the death. Sources in the village said all the accused had been rounded up but the police did not show their arrest yet.
	Funds allocated to create awareness on diseases due to iodine deficiency Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service Bathinda, February 17 Under a Centre-sponsored scheme, the “National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme”, the department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, has allocated Rs 10,000 each to all districts of the state for executing activities related to information, education and communication during the current financial year. The state authorities have asked the Civil Surgeons of the state to initiate activities at the district, tehsil and block levels for creating awareness against iodine deficiency in human beings by organising exhibitions, cultural shows and folk media activities, displaying posters and distributing pamphlets among common masses. District health officer Dharampal Singh Sekhon said here today that deficiency of iodine in human beings created several diseases among people, due to which there was a dire need to create awareness in this regard in a big way. He said due to iodine deficiency, people suffered from hypothyroid while pregnant women gave birth to mentally-retarded children. Sometimes, they also delivered deaf and dumb children due to iodine deficiency, he added. Dr Sekhon said though they had yet to receive funds (Rs10,000), they had made a plan to prepare posters and paste the same, especially in the villages. He said they would also organise cultural shows and other activities as per needs of the local areas concerned to educate people about iodine deficiency among human beings. The state programme officer has asked the civil surgeons to send the report of the activities and about the utilisation of the funds by April 10. Two photographs of each activity have also been sought by the officer.
	Teaching skill contest held Ferozepur, February 17 Dev Samaj College of Education for Women today hosted Punjab University inter-zonal competition in skill-in-teaching and on-the-spot preparation of teaching aids. In this competition, 45 colleges of education affiliated to Panjab University participated. Prof. Jasbir Kaur Chahal, dean, Faculty of Education and Fellow, PU, Chandigarh was the observer. Besides, there were 21 other judges from university to conduct the competition and adjudge the best teachers. Prof. Jasbir Kaur Chahal gave away the prizes to the participants who were adjudged first, second and third, respectively. — OC
	Illegal abortion comes to light through hotline Our Correspondent Mansa, February 17 The health department, Mansa, has detected a case of illegal abortion which came to light through community hotline service. Civil surgeon, Mansa, had also written to the director national of Rural Health Mission, Chandigarh, Deputy Commissioner and the SSP for further action. As per the information, Kulwinder Kaur, a resident of Alisher Kalan, had got the abortion conducted at a private nursing home in Bhikhi. Balwinder Kaur had conducted the abortion in her nursing home at Bhikhi. Civil Surgeon Mansa Dr Pritpal Singh said they had received a complaint in this regard through the hotline. After an inquiry was conducted in the case, it was found that abortion had taken place after more than four months of pregnancy that is considered illegal according to the law.