Bathinda, April 12
Region witnessed the wayward mood of mercury on Sunday when it created a record by touching the 42 degrees Celsius mark—- about 9 degrees Celsius above normal, besides leaving Bathinda and its adjoining areas reeling under heat wave conditions.

As per the weathermen, the behaviour of mercury, currently being witnessed here, had never been a phenomena in the first quarter of April. “The normal temperature of the region is around 33-36 degrees Celsius during the period,” as per the Agro-met advisory services of the PAU regional station, Bathinda.

Moreover, as the temperature has been hovering above 40 degrees Celsius during the last three to four days – the region recorded 40 degrees Celsius degrees on Friday and climbed to 41.2 on Saturday, it not only left the region sizzling but also caused heat wave conditions to add to the summer woes, almost 20-days before its normal schedule.

Apart from this, mercury has also sprung a surprise when it hovered around the minimum level during the last few days. The mercury has been recording around 21 degrees Celsius – 6 degrees above normal. Furthermore, it reached a new high on Monday at 23.3 degrees Celsius. The day’s high, however, was 38 degrees Celsius.

Weathermen have been attributing inactivation of western disturbances (WD) as the reason for the rise in temperature and the present weather conditions.

As far as the effect of such a high temperature in the April is concerned, experts said that it might be “horrible” for people living in the urban areas. For the farmers, clear and dry weather might be a sort of help at the time of harvesting of wheat crop.

They, however, said that vegetable crops may require irrigation. 

Bathinda, April 12
In a satirical manner, local resident Ranjit Singh has dealt out a handbill announcing several ‘prizes’ for drug addicts and liquor consumers. The handbill titled ‘a golden opportunity for drug addicts and liquor consumers’ has been distributed not only in the city but also in the towns and villages of this district.

Ranjit has called upon drug addicts to consume drugs and intoxicants, ‘beeri’, cigarette, ‘jarda’, tobacco, smack, liquor, poppy husk and opium in a big way and win ‘prizes’ that include damaged kidneys, liver and lungs, cancer and tuberculosis (TB) diseases, three quintals of wood for cremation, 2.75 metre of white cloth as ‘kaffan’ (shroud). He has announced seven ‘prizes’.

The coupons for the ‘prizes’ are available at all shops selling ‘beeri’, cigarette and ‘Paan’ besides liquor vends. The handbill read that the ‘prizes’ would be distributed by “Dharamraj”, the death God.

Meanwhile, Ranjit has also warned every person not to consume liquor or drugs as these carry ‘death warrant’. He also appealed to the readers of the handbill to get the handbill printed and distribute it in their respective areas to create a ‘drug-free’ society.

Talking to TNS over the phone this evening, Ranjit Singh said he wanted that the handbill be read by thousands of persons. For this, he had got over 10,000 handbills printed in the first phase and had distributed the same in various towns and villages of the district. He also desired that youth should come forward to disseminate the message for a drug free society and save the coming generations from the ill-effects of drugs and other intoxicants. 

Bathinda, April 12 
India clinched the World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2010 by a margin of 58-24 defeating arch rival Pakistan at Ludhiana. But the excitement and fervour was witnessed even in Bathinda villages also where elated kabaddi lovers not only burst firecrackers but also started firing in the air.

People calling up from villages in Raman Mandi, part of the Talwandi Sabo sub-division, informed that they heard the sound of firing at about 10.40 pm. But when they rushed outside, they saw people firing bullets in the air to celebrate India's victory.

Listening to slogans on TV, people were also heard shouting 'Chak De India', 'Khed Kabaddi Hundi Bai Punjabi Sheraan Di' and 'Kabaddi Shaan Punjabian Di,' etc.

Fire crackers were heard in various localities of Bathinda including Vishal Nagar and Tagore Nagar also.

SSP Bathinda, Sukhchain Singh Gill denied having received any such information, adding that he could comment only after confirming it from his subordinates.

Abohar, April 12
The controversies over the state government’s decision to attach villages to the police stations of the respective Assembly segments fail to die. The agitation launched by the political parties and NGOs at Fazilka against some changes made in this regard on administrative ground has evoked another controversy.

Notably, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was quoted as having assured the agitators in Fazilka that their demand would be partially accepted.

Sarpanches of many villages and some SAD activists today submitted a memorandum to Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, MLA Balluana, to give it to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Welcoming the state government’s decision to attach their villages to Abohar Sadar police station instead of Fazilka, they demanded that these villages should also be transferred from Fazilka to Abohar sub-division for administrative purposes.

They argued that their villages had already been included in the Balluana segment following delimitation of Assembly constituencies and Balluana has got proximity to the Abohar sub-division.

The state government has reportedly resolved to appoint a separate DSP for Balluana constituency who would be stationed at Abohar. “We can no more afford to traverse long distance for getting administrative work done at Fazilka, get our villages attached to Abohar,” the deputation asserted. 

Abohar, April 12
The Technical Services Union (TSU) has geared up a mobilisation campaign to ensure a complete strike on April 15 against the proposed unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

The TSU during a meeting held at the PSEB sub-divisional office at village Khuyiansarwar on Monday, said the state government had launched a misleading media campaign to harass the workers/employees.

“Undeterred, we would organise a peaceful demonstration and rallies in all the sub-divisions on April 15,” TSU president Khushal Chand and secretary Jagan Nath said.

No worker would indulge in any subversive activity that may affect the supply of electricity during the strike, they clarified.

The TSU cautioned that privatisation of the PSEB would burden the consumers including the farming community besides harming the interests of the workers. 

Abohar, April 12
Sanjeev Kumar, a handicapped boy hailing from village Telupura of this sub-division, has added another feather to his cap after he was selected for Sri Lanka Open 2010 Badminton Cup to be held from April 25-30 at Colombo.

Working as Inclusive Education Volunteer (IEV) with Sarv Sikhiya Abhiyan (SSA) at the Government Primary School, Khuiansarwa, he was the only boy from Punjab, who has been selected for this prestigious championship.

With his right leg non-functional, Sanjeev Kumar has participated in a number of state and national level championships in the past three years and always got positions in them. Last year, he made the state proud by winning a gold medal in the National Para Championship held at Bangalore.

Though Sanjeev was selected for the World Cup championship held in Korea and German Badminton Open Championship in the past two years, he could not make it as he could not arrange enough money to fund his trips.

Sanjeev, who has passed XII, is the son of a class IV employee, Varinder Kumar, working at the Government Senior Secondary School, Khuiansarwar. Once he managed to win the second position in a shooting championship held for handicapped persons in Delhi. He has also participated in half marathon race.

“I have been concentrating on my game and want to become the champion in the Sri Lanka Open Cup,” he said while talking to TNS, adding that he might be forced to miss the championship as he would not be available to arrange for enough funds to go to Sri Lanka.

He added that he had moved an application before the SDM, Abohar for financial assistance from the district administration. Kamal Kishore Yadav, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Ferozepur, said that required financial help would be extended to Sanjeev for his participation in the Lankan championship. 

Fazilka, April 12
The agitation, which was launched more than a week ago by the representatives of various organisations to lodge protest against the reduction of territorial jurisdiction of this sub-division, was suspended today till April 30.

The decision to suspend the agitation was taken in a meeting here following the assurance given to them by the local MLA Surjit Jiyani.

The agitation started when about 48 villages of this sub-division were attached to Arniwala police station of Jalalabad sub-division and Abohar sub-division in the reorganisation of police stations carried out by the state government in the recent past.

Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, had already ordered attachment of Arniwala police station with this sub-division. About 12 villages, which belonged to this sub-division, were still attached with Abohar sub-division.

Shushil Gumber, president, Bar Association, said that if the state government failed to undo the injustice done to this sub-division, agitation would be started from May 1, which was celebrated as Labour Day throughout the world.

He said that till April 30, all the representatives and activists of different organisations would wear black badges as a mark of protest against the maltreatment meted out to this sub-division.

Within these two weeks, people living in nook and corner of this region would wear black badges, he said.

Jiyani said the SAD-BJP would not do any injustice to this sub-division, which would be elevated to the district in due course of time.

He added that 12 villages of this sub-division, which were still with Abohar, would be given back to Fazilka sub-division and demands of the people would be fulfilled. 

Bathinda, April 12 
More than 100 progressive farmers participated in the farmers’ school held to make them aware about the “relay planting of wheat in standing cotton” field at Jodhpur village in the district. 

The school was organised by the authorities of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Regional Station, Bathinda, in collaboration with the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) project. 

Director, regional station Bathinda, Dr GS Buttar highlighted the research work being done at the station and exhorted farmers to adopt improved techniques in kharif crops to conserve soil and water.  

Project coordinator, CSISA, Dr HS Sidhu elaborated the activities of the project along with objectives behind the new technology. He also called for comprehensive feedback from farmers in order to improve the technology.

Among other experts, Dr KS Sekhon, Dr JS Brar and Dr Naveen Garg were prominent who stressed upon the need of balanced use of fertilisers in kharif crops. On the occasion, farmers themselves operated the machine specifically designed for direct sowing of wheat in standing cotton.  

The authorities claimed that by adopting the technology, farmers could reduce the yield losses caused due to delayed sowing of wheat after the cotton crop was harvested.

After visiting the experiment on relay planting of wheat in standing cotton at the research farm, farmers showed willingness to adopt this technology at their own farms from next year.

Bathinda, April 12
The protesters, who have been holding an agitation since March 29 here against the non-acceptance of their demands, feel that the district administration has been adopting dilly-dallying tactics to demoralise them and get their agitation failed by presuming that their agitation will die down itself with the passage of time. However, the protesters are adamant to continue their agitation till their demands were accepted.

The protesters, belonging to local Mehna Basti and Amarpura Basti, have been demanding adequate compensation and allotment of 100-yard plots in lieu of their land acquired by the government for a bypass. The indefinite dharna by the protesters today entered its 15th day while the indefinite hunger strike by Malkiat Kaur entered its 13th day. The protest is being held outside the Mini-secretariat here.

The protesters, led by founder of General Samaj Party Suresh Goyal, today took out a protest march around the Mini-secretariat here. They also raised slogans against the government and the administration.

Talking to TNS, Suresh Goyal said the local Tehsildar and the local SHO today met to the protesters and took their leaders along for talks with the deputy commissioner (DC). But instead, they were asked to talk to the additional deputy commissioner (ADC) as the DC was not available.

Goyal claimed that after hearing their case, the ADC said the issue could not be resolved at his level, so he would talk to the DC on the issue. He said this showed that despite knowing everything, the administration was not serious to resolve the issue as it had been adopting dilly-dallying tactics to demoralise the protesters for past some days.

He said the administration should not think that it would succeed in getting their agitation failed by adopting such tactics as the protesters were adamant to continue their agitation till the acceptance of their demands.

Meanwhile, Malkiat Kaur has been losing weight daily and today, she seemed to be unable to sit even.