Bathinda, October 3
Authorities of the Bir Talab deer park are celebrating the Wildlife Week (October 3-11) but except for the entry ticket waiver worthy Rs 5, nothing else is on offer as special attraction.

Following the official schedule, the authorities concerned today opened the gates of the deer park for all but due to the scarcity of funds, they found themselves in a piquant situation, when people from the city did not show any interest in visiting the park.

Even on Sunday—the first day of Wildlife Week—it failed to get the desired footfall. Except for children from one or two schools, for whom, taking the students on an educational trip was mandatory, hardly anybody else visited the park.

Ironically, the school kids and their guardians were seen expressing their displeasure after returning.

Speaking to the TNS, staff of the DS Public School, Bhucho Mandi, who had brought about 100 students for the visit, rued, “The deer park here is in shambles. It is not only about the infrastructure, a number of animals caged here seem to be on the verge of losing their lives due to starvation.”

“To celebrate the week, authorities have hung a number of posters in and around the deer park, carrying photographs of lions, tigers, fox, hippopotamus, etc. All this is only to befool the visitors as none of these species is housed here in the deer park,” lamented the school staff.

It was observed that the beautiful log hut in the deer park, which could otherwise become an attraction for the visitors, was also lying locked.

Replying to a query, the staff posted there said they were forced to keep it closed as due to the staff shortage it was impossible to maintain it on a regular basis.

When asked if any special event was planned for the week, they had a one-line answer, “Everything comes with money that we don’t have.”

Acknowledging the people’s complaint, the deer park staff said, “We are aware that people have lost interest as they want big animals like lion or hippopotamus but we are helpless as a number of letters sent to higher officials in this regard are still pending for consideration.”

It may be mentioned that a couple of months back, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had claimed that the deer park would get a facelift but nothing has been done till date.

Bathinda, October 3
Following a tiff over who would cross the road first, an unidentified occupant of a car shot at a passenger of a PRTC bus at village Salabatpura of this district late on Saturday night.

It is learnt that a PRTC bus bearing number PB04L 9902 was plying on the Chandigarh-Faridkot route and on reaching the outskirts of Salabatpura village, the driver slowed down the bus due to potholes on the road. In the meantime, two cars — an Ambassador (HR70 3087) and a Maruti Swift (PB03R 3683) — came from the opposite direction, which resulted in a road block.

The driver of one of the cars asked the bus driver to reverse his vehicle and allow them to pass first. However, the bus driver asked him to cooperate and told him that it was quite difficult for him to move the bus back as it might get stuck in a pothole.

In no time, the argument turned into a verbal duel and both parties refused to reverse their vehicles.

Some of the bus passengers intervened and asked the car drivers to do the needful.

Meanwhile, a man from one of the cars alighted and started hurling abuses at one of the bus passengers, Sukhjinder Singh of Sangatpur village in Faridkot district. In a fit of rage, he pointed his pistol at Sukhjinder Singh and fired at him hitting him in shoulder.

Reacting to the situation as Sukhjinder was now lying in a pool of blood, the passengers rushed out of the bus and tried to catch the occupants of the car. However, the accused managed to flee. Passengers noted down the numbers of both the cars.

On receiving the information, the Bhagta police reached the spot and rushed the injured to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Faridkot. Doctors there succeeded in saving Sukhjinder’s life by conducting an immediate surgery on him.

Acting upon the complaint of bus passengers, the police lodged a case under section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) and initiated further proceedings.

Fazilka, October 3
Taking a serious note of the discrepancies carried out by some commission agents (Arhtiyas) during the commencement of paddy season, the market committee has decided to suspend the licences of eight firms of the commission agents till further orders for allegedly using sub-standard bags and without marking the names of the firms on it for filling paddy.

The notice of suspension would be issued on Monday. Maninderjit Singh Bedi, secretary, market committee while talking to this correspondent said the market committee authorities were informed that some commission agents had been using the old empty paddy bags for filling paddy.

On the basis of these reports, the committee verified the authenticity of the complaints. Bedi said they were served show- cause notice on Saturday. Now, it has been decided to cancel their licences till further orders. They would not be allowed the purchase of paddy.

Notably, district food and supplies controller Lavkesh Kumar during the physical checking of filling of paddy bags today found some discrepancy in the process. 

Fazilka, October 3
A 12 feet wide breach occurred in the Ladhuka distributary between the areas of village Bhamba Wattu and Jamalke on Saturday as a result of which the standing crop of paddy in about 35 acres of land was submerged.

As per the information available, the bank of the Ladhuka distributary could not bear the pressure of the increased flow of water resulting in a breach near pillar number 165.

Jaswant Singh, a farmer, whose land was submerged in the water, rued that the villagers had informed the canal authorities during the night but the rescue work could not be initiated to plug the breach till morning today.

Notably, the Ladhuka distributary had breached twice earlier as well. About three weeks back, a breach occurred near pillar number 64. The standing crop of paddy was partially damaged at that time as well. The farmers have alleged that the main reason for repeated breaches is that sub-standard material was allegedly used during its construction about a couple of years back.

On the other hand, junior engineer, canal department, KL Sharma said the release of water in this distributary has been stopped and the breach would be plugged soon. 

Abohar, October 3
The Netar Jyoti Abhiyan that was launched last year by the IFFCO Kisan Welfare Trust in Abohar sub-division has not only benefitted about 6,500 people in the rural areas but also provided a platform for other multifaceted social welfare activities.

Under the Netra Jyoti campaign, the organisation had availed services of eminent eye specialist Dr SL Chalana, his son Dr Gagan Chalana and their associates to organise 20 free eye check-up camps till Sunday.

Over 425 cataract surgeries were also performed successfully besides lenses were also provided free of charge. Yoga teachers including Yogi Sukhram were also engaged to 
train the rural people about healthcare.

A camp was held at the Good Shepherd School located in the government seed farm colony here today. Sandeep Jakhar, son of the IFFCO chairman, Surinder Kumar Jakhar, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The organisation had planned to cover all the villages of this sub-division, informed IFFCO senior area manager RK Upveja. The staff of the school honoured Sandeep Jakhar. Sandeep, district president of the Youth Congress, said he would also promote tree plantation and general medical check-up in the locality. 

Bathinda, October 3
The Indian Dental Association (IDA), Bathinda branch, in association with the IDA Punjab, held the inaugural function of the golden jubilee celebrations of the IDA Punjab, Utsav, here today.

To mark the event, a dental education programme was held which was attended by about 95 delegates from all over the state. Guest speakers, Dr Yogesh Virmani from Delhi and Dr Poonam Sikri from Amrisar, delivered extensive lectures about the restorative and aesthetic dentistry emphasising preventive and predictable esthetic restorations.

Among others, the event was attended by president, Punjab Dental Council, Dr Vimal Sikri, president, IDA Punjab, Dr BS Parhar, secretary, IDA Punjab, Dr Puneet Girdhar and organising secretary of the Utsav, Dr Sachin Dev Mehta. 

Bathinda, October 3
Due to non-receipt of grant from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, full-time and part-time employees of the Red Cross Integrated Treatment-cum-Rehabilitation Centre (also known as drug de-addiction centre) situated on the Goniana road here have been awaiting salary since December 2009. Some employees allegedly left their jobs some months ago for not getting the monthly remuneration.

The centre, which is being run by the District Red Cross Society, is sponsored by the union ministry. The Ambuja Cement Foundation, Bathinda, is providing financial support to the centre to fulfill its certain needs.

According to information available, four employees of the centre, namely project director, accountant (part-time), sweeper (part-time) and chowkidar, are awaiting salary since December 2009 while two ward boys, a counsellor, a community worker and a yoga teacher (part-time) left their jobs before March 31 last due to non-receipt of salary. In the mid of September, a ward boy also left the centre, reportedly on the same ground.

Sources in the centre said that in September 2009, the Red Cross Society had sent a case to the ministry through Social Security Department seeking grant to the tune of Rs 8.54 lakh for the financial year 2009-10. However, the ministry sent only Rs 1.83 lakh as first installment.

For 2010-11, another case was sent to the ministry last August seeking a grant of Rs 8.54 lakh.

When contacted, an official of the District Red Cross Society confirmed that salaries could not be paid for the past several months due to non-receipt of grant. He said the cases seeking grant had already been sent to the Union ministry through the secretary, Social Security, Punjab, but the grants were yet to be received by the society.

The centre started functioning in 1992 and since then, more than 26,000 patients had been treated here.

Bathinda, October 3
Parmod Mittal and Nand Lal Garg were today elected as presidents of the SSD Sabha and the SSD Girls’ College, respectively. They belonged to the group that came to power after about three decades.

According to details procured from the returning officers, Raj Kumar Aggarwal and Som Nath Baghla, Parmod Mittal defeated his rival Manohar Lal Garg by a single vote. Out of the total 182 votes, 179 were polled for the election of the Sabha president. Two of the votes polled were rejected. While 89 voted in favour of Parmod, 88 votes went to Manohar Lal.

For the post of the SSD Girls' College president, Nand Lal Garg defeated Anil Bansal by 20 votes. Out of the 182 votes polled, 176 were for the election of the president. Among these, 98 were polled in favour of Nand Lal while Anil Garg secured 78 votes.

Meanwhile, the election for the Sabha's other institutions has been postponed to October 11 following an altercation.

Congratulating the winners, some of the Sabha members, namely Roshan Lal, Jaideep Nayyar, Abhay Singla, Kewal Krishan Aggarwal, Narender Mittal, Ramesh Pathak, Sham Lal Maheshwari and NL Mishra, said, “We hope the change that has come in after such a long period will bring positive transformations in the Sabha and its institutions.”