Bathinda, June 28
Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna today gave a clarion call to the people of the state to save at least a litre of water daily if they wanted to protect the state and the next generations from severe water crisis. He also emphasised on recharging water in houses, villages and cities saying “by doing so, we can do a great service to the humanity”.

Speaking on behalf of his Hoshiarpur-based NGO, the “Bhoomi”, here today, Khanna said there was a dire need to sensitise the people to this issue, as such efforts could only stop the depletion of water.

“About 90 per cent of rain water goes wasted. If we start recharging it, water crisis could be avoided,” he added.

Khanna also disclosed that he had chalked out a plan to encourage the inmates of Punjab jails to save at least a litre of water daily. He said for this purpose, he would visit all jails. As a part of this campaign, he visited the Bathinda jail today. He said he would also make efforts to get water recharge system started in all jails.

The senior BJP leader said he had given a slogan “Each one, teach one to save a litre of water a day”.

Regarding shortage of water in the villages of Punjab, Khanna said in 1980, there had been a shortage of water in 3,712 villages while in 1990, the figure rose to 6,287. In 2000, it was 8,518 villages and in 2006, 11,849 villages faced shortage of water. There were about 16,000 villages in Punjab. He said it meant that now about 90 per cent villages of the state were facing water shortage.

Khanna also appealed to the people to use water in less quantity while brushing the teeth or cleaning a small utensil. He said he had also made efforts to persuade the maid servants not to waste water while doing works in houses.

He also said he would also take up the matter with the state government not to pass the map of any residential house, which would not have a water recharge system.

Khanna was accompanied by Harjit Singh Grewal, chairman of Information and Communication Technology Corporation Limited, Punjab; BJP senior Kisan leader Satwant Singh Punia; and district president of the BJP Sham Lal Bansal. 

Bathinda, June 28
In the infamous land grabbing case of Rama Mandi, Bathinda deputy commissioner Gurkirat Kirpal Singh today recommended the district police chief to lodge a criminal case against eight persons, including one advocate.

Further, finding three government officials, including one Naib Tehsildar, allegedly involved in the crime and causing a loss worth more than Rs 20 lakh to the revenue department, the DC forwarded the investigation report to their higher authorities to know whether they should be booked in criminal case or a departmental action should be initiated against them.

Receiving a complaint from one Anil Kumar of Rama Mandi against one Yogesh Kumar and several others of making a major discrepancy in the official revenue record and getting fake registry of a land measuring 10 kanal six marlas, the DC marked an inquiry to the SDM Talwandi Sabo.

Meanwhile, the SDM proceeded on leave and sensing the gravity of the issue, the DC marked the investigation to the ADC (D) C Sibin.

After a detailed investigation, the ADC (D) found that the accused managed to get the location and the measurement of land altered in the official records. In the findings, the ADC (D) observed that an advocate Sanjeev Singh Lehari of Rama Mandi also played a role in the alleged scam.

The report suggested that the then executive officer (EO) of the municipal council Rama Mandi, Surinder Kumar Garg, without even verifying the details, issued public notice of the altered measurement of the land. Further, the investigation officer observed the next EO Bhupinder Singh Sra and a dealing clerk Beant Singh ignored the applications for rectifying mistake and helped the accused.

During the investigation, major fault was reported on the part of the Naib Tehsildar Talwandi Sabo, Harkirat Singh, as he did not even verify whether the seller of the land was an owner of the property or not.

The investigations revealed that mentioning the location of the property at some address, where the collector rate of the land was Rs 550 per yard against its actual collector rate of Rs 4,400 per yard.

The “mischief” caused the revenue department in a loss of over Rs 20 lakh by evading the actual registration fee and stamp papers.

Concluding his report, the ADC (D) mentioned that all 11 persons including an advocate and three government officials were jointly involved in the crime.

Acting upon the report, Bathinda DC Gurkirat Kirpal Singh today recommended to the SSP to lodge a criminal case against Yogesh Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar and Ajit Singh, all of Rama Mandi, one municipal councilor Avtar Singh of Rama Mandi, advocate Sanjeev Kumar Lehari of Talwandi Sabo, Sukhwinder Singh of Gaatwali and one Suresh Pal of Bathinda.

Before taking action against the Naib Tehsildar Talwandi Sabo Harkirat Singh, the former EO Rama Mandi, Bhupinder Singh Sra and a clerk Beant Singh, the DC sent report to their departments concerned to know whether they all should be booked in criminal case or the officials would initiate departmental action against them.

Bathinda, June 28
Due to shortage of staff, the functioning in the Horticulture office of the Bathinda district has been affected adversely as the majority of the important posts in the district have been lying vacant.

Not to talk about other posts, even the post of the deputy director (DD), Horticulture, who heads the office in the district, has been lying vacant since January this year. In the absence of a regular DD, the DD, Horticulture, Muktsar, has been given an additional charge of the Bathinda district’s office.

Besides, another important post of assistant director has also not been filled so far. It is lying vacant since April last year.

Though the district has 11 posts of the Horticulture Development Officer (HDO), but eight of these are lying vacant since 2007. The post of the HDO is important as in the absence of a regular HDO the work in the field gets affected in a big way.

Besides the posts of the officers, five posts of gardener and a post of the ‘beldar’ are also vacant in the district.

The shortage of the staff in the office is being attributed to the government’s alleged policy against filling up the vacancies. Sources said when an officer or an employee retired, the government did not initiate steps to fill the post turned vacant. This was the reason that one HDO had to look after the work of two or more blocks in the district, due to which technical guidance to the fruit growers and vegetable growers is badly affected.

On the other hand, the staff recruited on contract basis by the National Horticulture Mission has also been demanding enhancement in their wages to equal that of their counterparts in Haryana. The contractual staff also wants regularisation of their services.

Bathinda, June 28
Against the tall claims of ruling leaders of the state about receiving an overwhelming response to the reverse osmosis (RO) water scheme in villages, a survey report of 40 villages of Gidderbaha (Muktsar) - the home turf of finance minister Manpreet Badal - revealed that people were still far away from subscribing to the paid RO water.

Releasing the report, young activists of the Dr Sadhu Ram Memorial Sports and Welfare Club, Bhalaiana, informed TNS that out of total 32,000 households in the Gidderbaha constituency, which was badly affected due to contaminated groundwater, only 7,400 were consuming RO water, which comes to just 23 per cent.

However, activists of the club informed that the Hyderabad-based private firm, which had the contract of installing and running the RO plants in the area, had claimed to have counted a total of 22,500 households, among which 12,630 were consuming RO water.

The club members said their investigation revealed that most of the RO plants installed in villages usually remain closed due to frequent power cuts. It was also stated that the water cans, which were compulsorily sold to the consumers, were poorly designed and created problem in maintaining hygiene.

The report suggested that despite being well aware of the high content of fluoride in the groundwater, only five to 20 houses in each village on an average had RO systems.

Taking a dig over the poor condition of the state water works, the activists said 15 out of 40 villages in Gidderbaha were even without a boundary wall. As of result, the huge water reservoirs were posing as death tanks for stray animals.

It was also reported that potable water supply was still a distant dream for a number of villages in the area.

President of the club Jaspreet Singh Bhalaiana informed that they had collected 10 water samples from each village and the test reports revealed that majority of these had total dissolved solids (TDS) between 800-2,500 parts per million (PPM) while the samples collected from villages Doda, Bhutiwal, Sukhna Ablu, Chak Giljewala, Bharu, Lundewala, Vadiyan and Bhaliana showed an alarming percentage of TDS between 2,500-4,000 PPM.

On the other hand, the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) suggested that water containing TDS more than 500 PPM was not fit for consumption, said the club youth.

Further challenging a report of the district health office, the club activists said the health officials claimed to have recorded 1,074 deaths caused due to cancer in the district during 2001-2009, while the number was much high. They asserted that villages located in the Gidderbaha constituency only had seen 6,300 deaths during the period.

Highlighting the harmful affects of the poor water facilities, members of the club mentioned two renowned personalities of the district, Surinder Kaur Badal (wife of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal) and Muktsar MLA Kanwarjeet Singh alias Sunny Brar, who were undergoing treatment for cancer in the USA.

Among other members of the club, Harcharan Brar, Ranjeet Singh, Daljeet Singh, Sukhmander Singh and Gurpreet Soni urged their constituency representative Manpreet Badal to pay attention towards the problem.

Fazilka, June 28
Congress workers and other functionaries will organise a traffic blockade at Malout Chowk of this city tomorrow for hours together to lodge their protest against implication of Congressmen into false criminal cases by the local police under the ‘diktats’ of their political masters.

While announcing this at a press conference here today, former Congress MLA Mohinder Singh Rinwa, said that time had come when the Congressmen would have come out on streets to save themselves from the 'wrath' of police officials.

Before addressing the press conference, Rinwa held a meeting of Congress leaders and workers at the local grain market to work out the strategy to deal with the situation. The meeting was attended by Surinder Kalra, former chairman of Improvement Trust, Hari Chand Kamboj, former president, municipal council, a number of municipal councillors, youth Congress leaders and other office bearers of different organisations of the party.

"False cases are being registered against Congressmen. Law and order situation has been deteriorating day by day," he pointed out, adding that they were left with no other option than to lodge their protest so that people could come to support them against the injustice being done to them.

Rinwa alleged that affairs of Fazilka city, one of the oldest sub-division of pre- partitioned India, was being managed by a section of individuals, who had been indulging in land grabbing of government land and private land, corruption and other manipulations to mint money.

"This is my warning to those policemen and those individuals, who have been harassing the commoners and Congress workers that they should stop it immediately otherwise they will be taken to task whenever Congress comes to power in Punjab," he said.

The police functionaries must follow rule of law instead of becoming puppets in the hands of few individuals, who claimed themselves as they mattered most in the SAD-BJP combine government of Punjab. The police must take everyone, who violated rule of law, to task and prosecute him as per law of land.

He said that if SAD-BJP government led by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal really believed in corruption-free rule then a high level probe must be ordered into the malpractices prevailing in various departments.

He said that Congress party always advocated for democracy and hence tomorrow's agitation would be held in democratic and peaceful manner. 

Ferozepur, June 28
The internal functioning of offices of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) located in Ferozepur, Moga, Muktsar and Faridkot districts of Punjab was affected adversely after its server of dot-soft machine developed snag few days ago.

Though the engineers of HCL, which has been engaged by the BSNL through its annual maintenance contract (AMC), have been pressed into service, the fault could not be rectified in the past 72 hours.

This is for second time in the past four months, the BSNL authorities of Ferozepur Secondary Switching Area (SSA), have been finding it difficult to run its internal operations smoothly due to development of snag in the server.

Earlier, in March 2010, the server remained non-functional for about 23 days together.

Information gathered by TNS revealed that due to snag in the server, the BSNL authorities had been rendered unable to collect the bills of its subscribers of landline telephones and consumers of other products within stipulated period through computer procedure.

On the other hand, the subscribers had been left with no other option than to stand in the line for hours together under the blistering sun in front of the collection window of BSNL offices to deposit their bills through manual procedure.

“We have extended the last date of depositing of bills of telephone from June 26, 2010 to June 30, 2010 in the interests of consumers.” said Chander Hans, general manger, BSNL, Ferozepur, adding that as server was a machine and hence snag in it could develop any time. He added that there was no need of launching an inquiry into this thing as the server had not developed snag due to human error. He said that there was no hanky panky of any official in this thing.

Ranjan Maini, SDE, BSNL, who supervised the operations of server, said that external services being extended to the customers by BSNL had been going on smoothly. 

Ferozepur, June 28
The issue connected with the use of contaminated water by the residents of villages located near the banks of zigzagging river Sutlej flowing in the close vicinity of Indo-Pak border, highlighted repeatedly in the media, seems to have started working and may bring much needed relief to them.

Becoming sensitive to this issue, the district administration has decided to take the samples of water being supplied to the residents from the water works and being drawn by them from underground through hand pumps.

Today, a team led by district health officer, Dr Rakesh Sikri made a round of about 12 villages including Bhanewala, Tindiwala, Jallo Ke and Gatti Rajo Ke and took samples of water from different sources.

Ever since the country got independence, the residents of villages falling in border pockets of this district have been complaining that successive state government have denied them basic amenities including roads, street drains, potable water, sewerage facilities and health facilities.

Though most of them exercise their right to franchise in the elections, they are feeling dejected over the maltreatment meted out to them for the past more than six decades. They alleged that though polluted and heavily contaminated water of river Sutlej had also polluted the underground water, they were forced to use the same in absence of supply of potable water to them by authorities concerned.

"The officials of district health and public health department have been deployed to take samples of water from each village situated near the border and having problems in connection with its quality," said K. K. Yadav, deputy commissioner, adding that he hoped the exercise would be over within 15 days.

The water samples would be analysed to ascertain that whether the water was fit for human consumption or not. If the water samples of water works were found contaminated, the authorities concerned would be directed to take steps to make the same fit for human consumption, he pointed out.

"In case, it is found that water being drawn from underground through hand pumps is not fit for human consumption, the people will be advised to uproot the hand pumps and efforts will be made to make arrangements for alternative source of potable water for them," he said.

As such there was no proposal to make a comprehensive plan to ensure supply of potable water to those villages where the water samples would fail the laboratory tests. But once the report came, the proposal would be made and efforts would be started to provide the residents with potable water, he said.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, June 28
A carpenter was killed while his helper sustained injuries in an explosion that is believed to have occurred during the construction of a hall in the military station at village Sadhuwali near Sriganganagar on Monday afternoon, sources said.

As per details, the work on laying false ceiling was in progress in the recently constructed hall when some substance reportedly exploded at about 3 pm today resulting in death of Raju (27) of village 11-Z while his helper Jeet Singh (26), a resident of Purani Abadi area sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the Military Hospital located near the Military Station.

A team headed by Dr Suresh Rinwa was preparing to do a major surgery of Jeet Singh at the time of writing of this report. His brother Sukhdev Singh, posted in crime branch of Sriganganagar district police, had reached the hospital by the evening.

Sources said additional SP, Rajan Dushyant along with Jawahar Nagar police station in-charge, Jagdish Vohra and ASI Parkash Delu, have reportedly been permitted to enter the military station for on the spot investigation.

The army officials were tightlipped over the mishap and did not readily respond to the newsmen who were waiting outside the main gate of the station.

Preliminary investigations indicated that some persons picked up the explosive substances from the military exercise sites and sold it out to junk dealers or dropped on the way. However, the explosion inside the military station is believed be first of its kind. 

Bathinda, June 28
Punjab National Bank, Bathinda circle, has, so far, distributed loans worth Rs 580 crore under several schemes, said Bathinda circle chief R.S. Kalaria while addressing media here today.

Kalaria claimed that farmers had been given more loans than the target. He added that now farmers were given credit cards for five years.

He also said that there were 29 ATMs at 79 branches in the five districts of Bathinda circle. Twenty more ATM would be installed in the current fiscal, he said.

Kalaria said that all the urban and semi-urban braches of PNB in Bathinda circle had been computerised and air-conditioned.

AGM MC Rastogi, chief manager SP Singh and others were present on the occasion. 

Bathinda, June 28
The Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), one of the leading public sector banks of India, opened its 1524th branch office at village Malwal (Ferozepur) on Monday.

Inaugurating the branch, regional manager, Bathinda, SK Dhall said that the OBC, founded in 1943, was a strong public sector banks of India, with a total business of over Rs 2,00,000 crores. He said that this branch had been opened for the benefit of the rural people.

Lead district manager, Ferozepur, Harpal Singh, ARM S.S. Dagar, manager of the branch, Sushil Arora, and others were present on the occasion. — TNS

Bathinda, June 28
The selection trial for participating in the state-level Open and Junior-level Athletics Meet, which is scheduled to be held on July 3 and 4 in Sangrur, would be organised at Sports Stadium in Bathinda on June 30.

The trial will begin at 7 am, said district sports officer SS Buttar today, adding that aspirants have to present there with original birth certificate.

Buttar added that members of the selection panel include athletic coach Kulwinder Singh Sidhu and DPI Talwandi Sabo Jaskaran Singh. — TNS

Abohar, June 28
The hosts of the three-day drama festival-cum-theatre workshop, Sparsh Theatre Society, staged Swadesh Deepak's best known play 'Court Martial' at the DAV College auditorium here during the valedictory session last night.

The event, fourth in the year, was sponsored by Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy.

The chief guest, legislator Sunil Jakhar complimented celebrity stage artiste Prof Gaurav Vij for organising the unique event besides directing the play. He made special mention to excellent performance by Tushar Narang who had played villain's role along with Sonu Babbar, Ruby Sharma, Sahil Wadhwa, Aman, Ishan Setia, Vikram, Ajay, Aman, Sumit Chagti, Chiragh Khanna, Ravi Chhabra and Mayang Juneja in other roles.

DAV College principal Dr BB Sharma observed 'Court Martial' is an engrossing display of theatre for social awareness. Later, Sparsh secretary Ashish Makkar informed that 130 budding artistes, including some from Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar and Fazilka, participated in the workshop that concluded simultaneously at the LRS DAV Senior Secondary School.

Important tips on acting, direction, script-writing were given by Punjabi films actress Anita Shabdish and her husband Shabdish, Prof C L Arora, thespian playwright Prof Pali Bhupinder Singh, Tony Batish and Arvind from Kapurthala. — OC

Abohar, June 28
Manil Bajaj of Abohar, has been selected as one of the probables for the Punjab state for the up-coming Domestic Cricket Season 2010-11. M.P. Pandove, honorary secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) confirmd it.

The news brings cheers not only on the wrinkled face of Manil’s grand mother here but also to all the members of the Abohar Cricket Welfare Society.

Dr Rajinder Girdhar, secretary of the Society, recalled that Manil had thrilled thousand of fans during one of the semi-finals in the Nehru Stadium here with splendid performance as wicket keeper-batsman of Sirsa-based Shah Satnam Ji Academy team.

Girdhar thanked OD Sharma, secretary District Cricket Association, Bathinda for recommending Manil as probable.

Abohar, June 28
Aks, a theatre society here, has won second prize by staging Prof Pali Bhupinder play “Srijan” during the annual drama festival that was organised recently by the All India Amateur Artists Association at Shimla, president Mangat Verma said in a press release on Monday.

Surinder Narula was adjudged the second best director, Navdeep Kaur second best actress while Aastha and Kiran Jit Kaur were given special prizes. 

Abohar, June 28
The Technical Services Union (TSU) made it clear that agitation against the bifurcation of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has not been abandoned.

Speaking during a protest rally at the sub-division number 1 office complex here on Monday, president Balwant Singh said service rules/terms and conditions for the PSEB staff were being tampered with after constituting Powercom. Circle secretary Balwinder Singh criticised the government for pursuing anti-consumer/staff policies.