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Breach in Abohar canal
branch yet to be plugged
Vow for green Divali
trips in celebration mode
Finds Few Takers: One of the greeting cards distributed to motivate people to celebrate pollution-free Divali
in Abohar. A Tribune photograph
No major mishap reported in Ferozepur
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India emerging as destination for proprietary biotech products: Expert
Jan Aushadhi service not in pink of health
Foggy weather
Low visibility due to smoke from
stubble burning
Welfare Projects
DAV College wins national style kabaddi title 18th time in row
3 of family among four killed in road accident
Padyatra in Ferozepur on Nov 24
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Breach in Abohar canal
branch yet to be plugged
Abohar, November 6 The irrigation department authorities have made repeated requests to almost all the civil works contractors, enlisted with it, to plug the breach. However, they have flatly refused to do as they are angry with the department
for defaulting in making payments for the civil works executed by them in the past three years. “As
we have failed to persuade the civil works contractors to take up the work so
far, things have come to standstill and flow of water in the Bhagsar minor has
been stopped,” pointed out a functionary of the irrigation department
pleading anonymity. He disclosed that no payment of works connected with repair or desilting of irrigation channels, which had been done in the past three years, had been made to the contractors concerned so far by the department. This was the main reason why they had to work hard to find out a suitable contractor to execute the work. “We
have engaged civil works contractors to remove hyacinths from the irrigation
channels by pressing their men and machinery into service during the last
monsoon by promising them that they would be given payment immediately.
However, we failed to fulfill our promise as no money has been made available
to us by Punjab government,” pointed out another functionary while speaking
to TNS on the condition of anonymity. “Now, we have lost the confidence of
these contractors in us,” he claimed. Meanwhile, Amrik Pal Singh, sub-divisional engineer
(SDE), irrigation department, who was manning the Bhagsar minor, said width of bank of the minor, where the breach had taken place, was around 14 feet and the level of water flowing into it was about one foot down than its top bank. In such a situation, there was no possibility of a breach in the minor and hence, it was suspected that the breach had been caused by mischievous elements. He claimed that one civil works contractor had been engaged and he would start the work of plugging of the breach on war footing tomorrow. |
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Vow for green Divali
trips in celebration mode
Bathinda, November 6 After the sunset, buildings wore festive look as twinkling lights came up on them while rangolis of flowers welcomed visitors at many houses. Residents also put decorative diyas and designer candles to celebrate the festival of lights. However,
in the celebration mode, the vow for a clean and green Divali tripped in
almost all the areas as since morning sound of crackers kept on breaking
the silence. And as day went further, the intensity and frequency
increased reaching a climax between 9 pm and 10 pm. Raj Sadosh writes: Millions of rupees are believed to have been
spent on the purchase of crackers from over a hundred stalls that had
punched the sprawling grounds as well as spectators' galleries (stands)
in the Nehru Stadium located in the heart of the town and close to the
main bus stand. Since the administration had not banned manufacturing
and sale of ‘Sutali’ bombs this year, noise pollution too haunted
most of the localities even after 12 pm. Many account holders were last
evening found returning dismayed as currency was not available with the
ATMs of some banks. Inquiries made at some leading sweets sellers
indicated that they had prepared less quantity as compared to the last
year apprehending a fall in sales this time. Only a few had unsold stock
that was found displayed today. Share market investors were normally
buoyed over heavy profits made on the day of festival. Consumer
Movement chairman Sat Pal Khariwal, who also heads the district unit of
the Punjab RTI Activists Association (formed by noted HC advocate HC
Arora), said the campaign launched by the health department to check
adulteration in ghee and sweets was just symbolic. “The department had
not so far provided details of the seizures (from sweets shops) made
during the 2009 Divali,” he said. Khariwal regretted that the weights and measurement department made no efforts to prevent confectioners from weighing the packing box along with sweets. Kaju barfi was sold at Rs 400 per kg and 150 gm box, in which it was packed, thus cost Rs 60, he resented, adding that no shopkeeper was ready to issue the bill due to the
festival-day sales. |
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No major mishap reported in Ferozepur
Ferozepur, November 6 The sale of different commodities including sweets and crackers, which was slow till two days back, picked up in the past 48 hours. Besides, lighting up their dwellings with Chinese lamp strips, the residents of different towns of this district burst crackers till late at night. Most of the shopkeepers managed to dispose of their entire stock by Friday evening. As per the information, at least five cases related to injuries suffered by people due to firing crackers were treated at the local civil hospital last night. All the injured were safe and discharged from
the hospital after being given medical treatment. Sources said Naresh, Prem Lal, Sohan Lal and Sukhdeep from village Piarana were brought to the hospital after they suffered injuries following a brawl over a trivial issue in the village during Divali celebrations. Another incident was also reported from the cantonment area where two neighbours had a scuffle over bursting of crackers. Two minor girls also suffered injury in their hands while bursting crackers and they were also given treatment at the local hospital. Kanwar Jit Singh Kakkar, civil surgeon, when contacted, said no hospital of Ferozepur district received any patient with serious injuries due to firecrackers
or related with any violence on the eve of Diwali. Kaustab Sharma, district police chief, said barring one or two sporadic incidents related to fire and scuffle between two warring groups at Khuian Sarwar, no other untoward happening was reported. |
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India emerging as destination for proprietary biotech products: Expert
Khatri was here recently to deliver a guest lecture at the Central University of Punjab (CUP), Bathinda. During the lecture, he informed about the development of recombinant vaccines for infectious diseases, non-vaccine therapeutic proteins and innovative product development leading to improved access to biotechnology products at affordable price to masses. Khatri started his talk with whole human genome sequencing showing its advantage in curing various infectious diseases with the development of reverse vaccinology and by enabling a new age of personalised medicine. During the speech, he stressed upon the new micro-organisms with novel characteristics. He presented his experience of development of some recombinant DNA technology based products at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), a premier Institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India), Delhi, and Bharat Biotech International Ltd.(BBIL), Hyderabad (India). Speaking on the issue, the scientist said this was the first biotechnology product from India to be patented in many countries across the globe (125 countries). Patents had already been granted in several countries including the US. This recombinant protein was developed at the IGIB and is being marketed by Bharat Biotech as ‘Regeb-D’, he informed. He also talked about another non-vaccine recombinant therapeutic protein, human epidermal growth factor, which has been launched successfully for treatment of diabetic foot ulcer as well as for burns and skin grafts. Khatri also discussed about a simple technique leading to development of a vaccine candidate from their genome sequence using anti-genomics approach. The talk was appreciated by vice-chancellor Prof Jai Rup Singh and Dean Prof P. Ramarao. The spokesman of the CUP informed that Dr GS Khatri also visited the campus and showed keen interest in the proposed DNA sequencing facility, which was being created soon in the campus. |
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Jan Aushadhi service not in pink of health
Barnala, November 6 The centre is being run by the Indian Red Cross society and is directly being monitored by the DC, who is president of the society, and also the secretary of
IRCS. Sources said even as the government got a Jan Aushadhi centre opened in civil hospital
(Barnala) on October 1, 2009, the nexus of doctors and private medical shop owners here is out to scuttle the move of the government. “There is a nexus between doctors and private medical store owners outside and everyone knows about it. If they prescribe the drugs available at the Jan Aushadhi centre in the hospital they will get nothing. But if they prescribe the same drug with the same salt but of inferior quality available with the private medical stores, they earn Sources said almost all the drugs of standard quality, including government of India undertaking, are sold at the Jan Aushadhi
centre. Besides a purchase committee constituted by DC Arshdeep Singh Thind also buys some medicines from the market and sells those at a cheaper rate at the
centre. They said unfortunately, of the 100 patients examined at the hospital, as many as 40 are prescribed drugs available with private medical stores and only 40 per cent patients are asked to get it at a cheaper rate at the Jan Aushadhi
centre, that too after strictness shown by the authorities. Sources added that about three months ago, a doctor posted at the maternity and child health centre at the The incident was highlighted in the media prompting secretary, health, to issue show-cause notice to the doctor. Secretary,
IRCS, Barnala, Dr Raj Kumar Jindal said though doctors prescribe drugs available at Jan Aushadhi centre to 40 per cent of patients but still they ask 40 per cent patients to get medicines from private medical stores. He added that the remaining 20 per cent are given drugs free of cost from hospital supplies. He said they calculate the percentage of the patients to whom doctors prescribe drugs from the Jan Aushadhi centres by calculating the total number of patients coming to the hospital and those getting medicines from the
centre. However, he refused to comment on the nexus between the doctors and store owners. He termed it as baseless. |
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Udyan Abha Express may be temporarily suspended in Dec
Raj Sadosh
Sriganganagar, November 6 While resenting the plan, Gurparsad Bansal, member of the Bikaner Division Railway Users Consultative Committee, Hanuman Dass Goyal, vice-president of the Railway Passengers Association (North Zone) and Madan Lal Bhalothia, member of the Ambala Division Railway Users Consultative Committee, said the railway booking offices had recently suspended reservation facilities for the train from Sriganganagar to New Delhi for a period of three months beginning from December 24. This indicates that the train will be run only as Toofan Mail between New Delhi and Howrah. This had been happening for the past few years putting passengers in the region to great inconvenience. They will have to pay 100 per cent more than the fare to avail of night bus services. The passengers associations recall that the express train was introduced following untiring efforts made by the then Lok Sabha speaker Bal Ram Jakhar. It was named as Udyan Abha to acknowledge that Abohar, now a region of udyans (orchards) was initially known as Abha Nagari in the 14th century. However, the train later lost its shine following merger with the Toofan Mail and was better known as ‘Late Lateef Express’, since it had seldom reached its destination as per schedule. Two years back, former Union minister for home and railways, Buta Singh had forced the authorities to cut its suspension period from 90 to 45 days. Former Rajya Sabha member Virendra Kataria said, “Sriganganagar MP Bharat Ram Meghwal and I had approached Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee and also had meetings with the Railway Board chairman to plead that this train should be put on monitoring and night devices be provided to ensure its running during the foggy weather, but regretfully nothing had been done. “We had also urged them to replace its rake and provide more AC coaches. Unfortunately, no other night train will be available from Sriganganagar and Abohar for the national capital,” they said.
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Low visibility due to smoke from
stubble burning Our Correspondent
Fazilka, November 6 Four persons traveling on two separate motorcycles sustained injuries in a road accident today as the drivers could not see the road properly due to the smoke emanating from the burning straw in the nearby fields and their motorcycles collided with each other. Daulat Ram (35), who was admitted to the local civil hospital said he along with his companions Waryam Chand (38) and Jagdish Kumar (28) were coming towards Fazilka from their village Jhok Depolana. On the way, there were thick clouds of smoke, emanating from burning straw near village Burjwali in Fazilka sub-division. Since he could not Besides, these three motor cyclists, another motorcycle rider Kala Singh (45) was also injured. All the four injured were admitted to the local civil hospital. The motorcyclists said they had a narrow escape in the accident. They have demanded action against the farmer who had burnt the straw in his field.
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Women crusade for tobacco-free village
Sriganganagar, November
6 Each house will also be provided with plants at the entrance. The organisers of the green clean village campaign have decided to plant saplings of Washing Tonya, Bottle Palm, Acoma gory on all sides of water reservoir while
Ashoka, Bottle Palm, Molsari, Gulmohur are to be planted on both sides of the roads that link the village with the main
road. Sarpanch Nirmal Kaur and her husband Nazar Singh said all the streets had been widened by removing encroachments by persuasions. The boundary walls of all the houses are being given light green paint coating. Earlier hundreds of women led by the sarpanch had staged day-long dharna and gheraoed the liquor shop. Notably, they had initially approached all the shopkeepers in the village to get the sale of tobacco products stopped for ever. While adopting a soft posture to ensure that the shopkeepers do not face economic loss, they had purchased the entire stock of such products and later set the heap afire at the ‘chaupal’ (common place of meeting). Scores of men had also extended support to the drive. The sarpanch and other activists claimed that soon, the tourists visiting this village after a few months, would witness a remarkable change in the environment. |
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Anganwari tips sought from Gujarat CM
Our Correspondent
Abohar, November 6 Talking to the media here, she said the Anganwari project in Gujarat had achieved the listed objects magnificently while it had not come to the expectations of the people in Punjab. “We wish to seek valuable guidance from the Gujarat CM on such social welfare projects to give maximum benefits to the people,” she said. Revealing that the Board had received Rs 50 lakh to check female child foeticide, she said that the funds would be utilised in the district, which had reported high incidence of this evil. Books worth Rs 50 lakh had already been distributed among the needy students, she said. “Women will be imparted training in computers by opening centers across the state. The Board, she claimed, had got 33rd position in the country in carrying out social welfare activities,” she claimed To a question on creating new district within Ferozepur, she said the leaders, who were spearheading agitations on this issue are not aware of the fact that no district can at this stage be created under the delimitation rules in Punjab.
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DAV College wins national style kabaddi title 18th time in row
Bathinda, November 6 Notably, the DAV team remained unbeaten throughout the match when it defeated eight teams fighting for the championship. Principal of the college, Dr JS Anand informed that five players of the DAV team were selected for inter-varsity contests and they would attend the university camp. Dr Anand congratulated the staff for their untiring efforts to bring this victory as a Diwali gift for the college and announced a cash prize of Rs 500 for each player. Speaking to the TNS, Dr Anand said the DAV College, Bathinda, was the nursery of kabbadi and had produced international players like Manpreet Manna, the star striker of Busan Games. He claimed that the DAV players were also part of the Indian kabbadi team which played several matches against Pakistan.
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3 of family among four killed in road accident
Barnala, November 6 Sources said Principal S. Ram Verma of Kaithal in Haryana, his wife Janak Bala and father-in-law died on the spot whereas his two sons Sumant and Archit Verma and a relative, Sat Paul, were seriously injured when their car bearing number AS 01F-8594 in which they were travelling from Abohar to Sangrur hit a tree after the driver lost control over the vehicle. They added that immediately after the accident, police shifted the seriously injured to the Civil Hospital in Dhanaula from where Sumant and Archit were later referred by the doctors to a hospital in Patiala. In another accident, barely 4 km from the spot where the previous mishap took place, Lovejinder Singh (20) of Bhaini Mahiraj, who was on way to his village died on the spot after his scooter bearing the number PB08-1364 was hit by an unidentified vehicle, near Badbar late last night.
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Padyatra in Ferozepur on Nov 24
Abohar, November 6 District Youth Congress president Sandeep Jakhar, who reached here after a four-day participation in the yatra, said hundreds of workers would welcome and join the yatra in this district. Inspired by the AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Punjab Youth Congress leaders had decided to travel 1050 km in 45 days to highlight the inefficiency of the SAD-BJP government in Punjab beside other issues like female
foeticide. |
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Festivity reigned supreme in Bathinda city and its nearby places
throughout the Divali day on Friday. Amid sparkling lights and
thunderous sounds, residents exchanged wishes, sweets, dry fruits and
gifts, which included from crockery to home appliances, from mementos to
electronic goods.
Gurusar Modian near Sriganganagar is being developed as an ‘adarsh gram’ (model village). It will soon reportedly have a unique variety of ornamental trees.
A comprehensive campaign was launched to develop greenery in the village this weekend by planting Alfa gulcheen saplings. Architect and landscaping expert Kuldeep Singh and Mohan Lal informed that 3170 saplings would be planted in and around the village to give it a picturesque look.
Bathinda, November 6