Bathinda, June 9
Terming the cost of upkeep of animals and birds as exorbitant, a ‘financially-stressed’ state forest department is now knocking the door of industrial houses, societies and non-government organisations (NGOs) to elicit financial support for wildlife conservation and adoption of animals in zoo.

About a few months back, the Animal Adoption Scheme (AAS) was launched for all five zoos and deer parks located in the state, namely Mahindra Chaudhary Zoological Park at Chhatbir, Ludhiana Zoo at Ludhiana, Bir Motibagh Deer Park at Patiala, Deer Park Bir Talab at Bathinda and Deer Park at Neelon (Ludhiana). Rates were fixed for the adoption of per animal/bird. Various privileges were also offered to allure people to lend financial support.

Since it could not achieve substantial results, senior officials of the forest department are now personally urging big industrialists, societies and NGOs to support the cause. The forest officials lament, “With the management changing its objectives and frequent interventions of the Central Zoo Authority and courts as well as NGOs working for animals’ welfare, the cost of upkeep of animals and birds has risen. We urge you to share financial responsibilities for the proper upkeep of animals through the AAS.”

Just a day back, Bathinda Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) SP Anand Kumar claimed to have visited a multi-crore Guru Gobind Singh Oil Refinery here and urged refinery officials to promote the AAS.

It is not only the refinery officials, various major industries and NGOs located in Bathinda and neighbourhood are also among those short-listed whom the forest officials would be making a request.

According to the AAS, people can adopt animals of their choice in all the zoos and deer parks of the state by meeting the specified expenses that are incurred on the adopted animal’s food and upkeep of its houses on annual/monthly basis.

To adopt an animal, one has to select the animal of his/her choice; choose a level of support one wishes to give; fill up a form; and submit it to the zoo authorities. In case the animal of one’s choice is already adopted, his name would be put on waiting list. He would be informed as and when the animal becomes available.

Facing a poor response from the public, the forest department also offered privileges to allure adopters. These included display of the adopter’s name near the animal’s enclosure, free entry passes for the adopter’s family, invitation to the adopter as a special guest during celebrations related to wildlife and a certificate of adoption from the director of the zoo. Further, the policy stated that the receipt of the financial aid may be used to get relief/exemption under the Income Tax.

Besides, those interested in feeding animals on special occasions such as marriages, birthdays or days of religious significance, were also invited to contribute towards special feasts for the animal of their choice.

Teja Rawela (Fazilka), June 9
At last, the SAD-BJP government of Punjab understood its responsibility as it started taking steps to provide basic amenities to the residents of villages Teja Rawela and Dona Nanka, who have been living in hell-like conditions for the past many years.

The residents of these two villages had no option left but to consume polluted water being drawn through handpumps and other unhygienic sources in the absence of adequate supply of potable water and hence, they have been suffering from various ailments.

The officials concerned of different departments remained absolutely indifferent and insensitive towards their problems despite the fact that they have been raising a hue and cry about their plight and their villages fell into the high profile assembly segment of Jalalabad represented by the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

A team comprising SDM Ajay Sood, XEN, public health, AK Dubey and a section of doctors moved from one corner to another in these two villages for the whole day on Tuesday and listened to the grievances of residents. Sood said it was suspected that the underground was being polluted by heavily contaminated water flowing in the nearby Ladhu Ka drain. Moreover, only 80 families had been getting water from the waterworks and rest were deliberately using the water drawn through hand pumps.

There were no proper drains to drain out waste water and hence the 
same would accumulate in the streets creating unhygienic conditions permanently.

“We are planning to close all the handpumps installed in these two villages. A team from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has also been asked to take the water samples from different sources from these villages today and submit the chemical examination reports of the same at the earliest so that steps could be taken accordingly,” said Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, KK Yadav.

A proposal to install Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants in these two villages had been sent to the Punjab government and it was hoped that sanction for the same would be accorded at the earliest. The installation of RO systems would almost solve all the problems of the residents of these villages.

Meanwhile, the Fazilka health authorities had been directed by Sood to organise medical check-up camps at regular intervals in these villages to treat the patients, majority of whom were suffering from skin diseases. 

Bathinda, June 9
Taking a notice of the news about the activities of some doctors posted at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, which appeared in The Tribune today, Deputy Commissioner Gurkirat Kirpal Singh has sought a detailed report from the Civil Surgeon.

The news titled “For ‘better’ care, govt docs route patients to their homes’ mentioned that the orthopaedists of the Civil Hosopital had deployed their personal staff outside their cabins to distribute visiting cards to patients with a “free” advice to meet them at their residence if they want better treatment.

The TNS had observed that some youth were allegedly assigned to distribute the visiting cards of doctors to approach the patients even before entering the orthopaedic section, while some were helping the doctors inside the cabin. On being asked, most of the youth disclosed their identity as personal staff of the doctors.

One of them had said, “I am a sweeper here but after performing my official duty in the morning, I come here and help the doctor as I know how to plaster fractured and dislocated limbs.” Downplaying his statement, the two doctors, present there, had said, “We take the help of these non-official persons just to cope with the staff crunch.”

It was also highlighted that various doctors of the Civil Hospital had said that the orthopaedists in question usually blamed each other for “grabbing” their patients.

Talking to TNS, the DC said, “Sensing the gravity of the matter, I have directed the Civil Surgeon to launch a probe at his own-level and submit a report within two days. If the report submitted to me finds any discrepancy at any point, I will take a strict action against the guilty, irrespective of designation.”

Bathinda Civil Surgeon ID Goyal said, “I have already initiated an investigation. All the three doctors of orthpaedic section, who are in question, have been asked to file their versions in writing. Moreover, I have called all of them along with the senior medical officer (SMO) on Thursday. If their answers to my queries are not satisfactory, I will put them under watch and all their activities will be regularly scrutinised, but secretly.”

Speaking over phone from Delhi, administrative secretary of the health and family welfare department Satish Chandra said, “As soon as I return to Chandigarh, I will issue show-cause notices to all in question.”

Meanwhile, some social activists have sent copies of the news item to the Punjab State Human Rights Committee (PSHRC) with a request to take up the matter with higher authorities as the issue was directly related to poor and needy patients, who were being “fleeced” by the doctors at the Civil Hospital.

Moga, June 9
The additional sessions judge of Moga SK Aggarwal today sentenced a drug peddler to 10-year imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on him.

As per details, Gurdev Singh, son of Bhagwan Singh, a resident of Daulewala village was arrested by the police in 2007 and 52 kg of poppy husk was recovered from him.

An FIR under sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered against him at the Kot-ise-Khan police station on March 2, 2007. 

Moga, June 9
In the aftermath of the arrest of Balram Luthra, drug inspector of Moga, last week, lightning seems to have fallen on officials of the state Vigilance Bureau, who were in any way related to the controversial arrest.

Embarrassed over the circumstances surfacing after the controversial arrest, the top brass of the Bureau, on the defensive, has flexed muscles to clean the set-up.

In another development, the directorate of the Bureau has transferred SS Cheema, SP of the Ferozepur range and 
asked him to join at the headquarters in Chandigarh immediately.

It was learnt that the SP has been transferred in view of the statement of Amarjit Singh Matwani, the then DSP of the Bureau posted at Moga in the FIR lodged against the drug inspector at Ferozepur, in which, the DSP has mentioned that he took into confidence his senior bosses before laying the trap to nab the drug inspector. Senior officials of the Bureau were of the view that the SP could also have been involved in the alleged manipulation of the arrest of the drug inspector.

It may be mentioned that Matwani, who caught the drug inspector red-handed while accepting a sum of Rs 5,000 as bribe, has already been placed under suspension on the charge of administrative lapses in handling the case, particularly, for not following the rules and regulations.

Late in the evening, the directorate issued another order, in which, Banarsi Dass has been transferred as the new DSP of the Vigilance Bureau at Moga, who would conduct a regular inquiry into the drug inspector's arrest. 

Ferozepur, June 9
A pall of gloom descended on village Shahzadi of this district, 10 kilometres from here, when the body of a youth Manjinder Singh reached here from Himachal Pradesh, where he along with his friends was on pilgrimage, today.

Hundreds of people reached the cremation ground when the body of Manjinder was consigned to flames this noon. Manjinder was the only son of his parents.

While the mother and sister of Manjinder were inconsolable, Resham Singh, his father, said he had to accept what god had done to him. Perhaps Manjinder’s end was destined while on pilgrimage, he said. An eerie silence prevailed in the village.

Manjinder Singh, who along with his nine friends belonging to village Shahzadi, was on pilgrimage to Shri Hemkunt Sahib (a Sikh religious place) in Uttaranchal, died after a stone, which fell from the hilltop, hit him directly on the head, about two days ago.

All his friends along with Manjinder were going to Shri Hemkunt Sahib from Shahzadi village on motorcycles and the accident took place about seven kilometres from Mandi Sahib Gurudwara while they were on their way to Mani Karan Sahib Gurudwara.

Vakil Singh, who was riding the pillion, said it was raining and they were driving at a slow speed. Suddenly, a heavy stone came down and hit Manjinder in the head.

Though Manjinder was taken to the nearby hospital immediately, he was declared brought dead, he added. He said they informed the family of Manjinder about the mishap immediately after he was declared dead. Manjinder’s body was brought here by his family members.

Moga, June 9
A case of sexual abuse of a Dalit woman by a local level self-styled spiritual guru has come to light in Moga. The sub-inspector Bhupinder Singh, who is investigating the case, revealed that a married woman was allegedly raped in her house by Baba Avtar Singh after giving intoxicating substance to her husband and other family members. The family members fell unconscious while the Baba raped the woman, the SI said.

The police official said the incident occurred on the intervening night of June 4-5. After conducting a preliminary inquiry and establishing the facts by conducting a medical examination an FIR under section 376 of the IPC has been registered against the culprit at the city police station (south), last night. However, the Baba was yet to be arrested by him. “I have carried out raids at his residence in Ferozepur but he has left the house. Hopefully, he would be arrested soon,” the SI added.