Bathinda, March 16
If all goes well, the overflowing garbage containers and filth scattered all around emanating foul stench — a major threat to the health of the people — will be cleared on Thursday, as the state government has reportedly negotiated with the safai karamchari over their demands, today.

Speaking over the phone from Chandigarh, BMC Commissioner Uma Shankar said the state government had accepted the various demands of the safai karamchari union of Bathinda in pursuance of which they had been observing a tool-down strike since March 7.

"After discussing the issues at length in a special meeting chaired by Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal at Chandigarh, a number of demands, like regularization of 90 part-time sweepers, DC rate wages for 381 sweepers working under the Mohalla Safai committees and taking positive and speedy steps to promote their members, have been accepted," said Uma Shankar.

The BMC Commissioner further said, "As the decisions taken at the meeting were in favour of the union we are hopeful that the staff would join duty and do its best to clean the city from Thursday morning."

On the other hand, feigning ignorance about the state government's decision, president of the Safai Karamchari Union of the BMC, Veer Bhan said, "I had informed the Deputy CM of all our demands and he assured me of taking a positive decision. As of now, I am not aware if the government has really accepted our demands."

Meanwhile, Veer Bhan maintained that the BMC Commissioner had called him up and said that he would announce the decision regarding the meeting in morning.

"If our demands have been accepted, we will do our best to clean the city at the earliest possible. Otherwise, the protest will continue," Veer Bhan clarified.

It may be mentioned that two days back, finding that the agitators were not relenting, Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Dr S. Karuna Raju had attempted to take the help of the social volunteers to clean the city, which was foiled by the representatives of the sweepers' union.

Bathinda, March 16
Twenty-six units of blood were collected at a blood donation camp held at Goodwill centre, Paras Ram Nagar chowk, here today. The camp was organized by the Goodwill Society in association with the State Bank of India (SBI).

The chief general manger of the SBI (Chandigarh circle) SK Sehgal along with his wife Kavita Sehgal, chairperson of the Ladies Club, Chandigarh circle of the bank, inaugurated the camp. The AGM, SBI, Hameer Singh and the chief manager of the Kikkar Bazaar branch Jaskaran Singh were the special guests. President of the society, Vijay Bareja, read the welcome note.

Sehgal handed over the pulse oxy-meter machine to the society donated by the Kikkar Bazaar branch of the bank. Later, interacting with the media, Sehgal also informed about the various policies of the SBI to facilitate the self-help groups and farmers. — TNS

Ferozepur, March 16
Yet another pension scam has surfaced at village Chok Hari Har of the district due to consistent efforts made by one of its residents, who fought a relentless battle against the misdeeds of its sarpanch Beant Singh, for the past many months.

Lakhbir Singh, a resident of village Chok Hari Har, on whose complaint a case under different sections of the IPC was registered against Beant Singh, sarpanch, at Kulgadi police station, took the help of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to unearth the scam, which had allegedly been running for the past one and a half years.

The issue connected with such scams had rocked the state legislative assembly a few days ago also and the minister failed to give satisfactory reply to the MLA 
concerned.

In his complaint made to the Secretary, Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Punjab, Lakhbir Singh alleged that Beant Singh had been misappropriating pensions in various names by using fake thumb impressions of the beneficiaries. Besides, some of the beneficiaries had been given double pension under the same scheme.

Police sources said a case under sections 409 and 420 of the IPC was registered on the basis of the report of Deputy Director, Pensions, Punjab, who had conducted the inquiry into the allegations levelled by Lakhbir Singh in his complaint, which was moved to the secretary of department concerned by him.

Lakhbir Singh, while talking to TNS today, said Beant Singh was cheating on the state government’s exchequer by withdrawing pensions under old-age pension scheme, widow pension scheme and handicapped pension scheme by forging documents for the past one and a half year.

The accused had misappropriated lakhs of rupees of the Punjab government by withdrawing pensions in the name of about 150 fake beneficiaries every month under different welfare schemes.

The accused had also facilitated the payment of double pension to six beneficiaries every month. He alleged that the police authorities concerned did not arrest the accused due to patronage given to him by a section of ruling politicians.

Notably, the case was registered against Beant Singh on being found guilty in the inquiry. The inquiry was conducted by the senior functionary of the Punjab government.

Gurpiar Singh, SHO, Kulgadi police station, while confirming that a case had been registered against Beant Singh, pointed out that an inquiry had been entrusted to a DSP-level official by the district police chief in this connection and hence, the accused had not been arrested so far. 

Abohar, March 16
The Railway Board has notified that the 12455/12456 Delhi (Sarai Rohilla)-Sriganganagar tri-weekly AC Superfast Express, providing a convenient overnight service between Delhi and Sriganganagar, will have stoppage at Abohar from April 1 onwards.

The train was flagged off by the Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit on January 4 from Delhi while former MP Virendra Kataria, ex-president, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), had flagged it off at Sriganganagar for the first regular run.

The coordination committee of over two dozen NGOs had detained New Delhi-bound Intercity here by staging a dharna on January 5 to press for the demand to allow the stoppage of the AC train at Abohar. They argued that the town which adds Rs 9 crore to the annual revenue of the Railways, deserved better.

Former MP Virendra Kataria revealed to The Tribune today that owing to only 29 per cent occupancy, he had to struggle hard to ensure that the train is continued without changing its format.

After having a series of meetings with the Railway Board officials including chairman Vivek Sahai, executive director (Coaching) Mukesh Nigam and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, he succeeded in convincing them that the stoppage at Abohar will substantially increase occupancy since a large number of the Army and BSF officials would also prefer to avail of the facility.

The commuters had been facing problem due to long waiting list for the AC coach in 13007/13008 Sriganganagar-Howrah Udyan Abha Toofan Mail train.

He has fixed up another meeting with the Railway Minister when she returns from West Bengal during the last week of this month.

The agenda for the meeting, fixed using the good offices of Trinmool Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhya, includes stoppage of the AC train at Malout and Gidderbaha, tri-weekly run of 12485/12486 Sriganganagar-Nanded Sahib Express, clearing decks for introducing a train service from Abohar and Fazilka and notifying Sriganganagar-Bathinda section as the main line instead of branch line to improve the train services.

While welcoming the notification, Pramil Kalani, coordinator of the NGOs Action Committee, said befitting welcome will be accorded during the first stoppage of the AC train on April 1. He lauded the efforts made by the former MP Virendra Kataria in this connection. The Railway Passengers Association (North Zone) and Zila Sriganganagar Road Rail Seva Samiti have also welcomed the notification.

Abohar, March 16
Thousands of women in the rural areas are expected to participate in the Holi Milan functions being sponsored for the first time by the Punjab State Social Welfare Board in different towns. The functions are to be organised by the respective Child Development Project offices.

Board chairperson Vijay Luxmi Bhadoo informed that such function will also be held at village Khuyiansarwar on Thursday to bring the rural folk close to the rich Indian cultural heritage.

Bhadoo said Prema Cariappa, chairpersons, Central Social Welfare Board, will inaugurate the conference hall of the Board complex at Chandigarh on March 27. She will participate in a seminar here next day.

Fazilka, March 16
Dr Uma Sharma, a resident of Fazilka, has been bestowed with the Kesri Woman Award on the International Women’s Day at a programme in New Delhi. She was the only woman from Punjab amongst 48 women selected from all over country out of the 80,263 entries.

Renuka Shah Nawaz gave away the award in the categories of social work to Dr Uma Sharma. Dr Uma Sharma, presently posted as Senior Information and Public Relations Officer in the Department of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, at Chandigarh, got the inspiration to become a social activist from her freedom fighter, poet, social reformer and journalist father Dr Gobind Ram Sharma ‘Hamdam’.

The organiser of the programme, Kiran Chopra, chairperson, Varishat Nagrik Kesri Club Delhi spoke on the occasion. Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, was the chief guest while Kiran Bedi, Sangeeta Jetli and Sonakshi Sinha were guests of honour at the programme. 

Fazilka, March 16
Lump sum tax structure for small traders should be introduced by the state government to save them from exploitation at the hands of the Sales Tax Department officials, demanded representatives of the Beopar Mandal (Fazilka) in a meeting held with vice-chairman, Small Traders Board, DP Chandan at the local PWD Rest House yesterday

A deputation of the Beopar Mandal led by its president Ashok Gulbadhar categorically said the traders are ready to pay the due tax but they are being harassed on pretext or the other.

Beopar Mandal members rued that in a financial year, the department officials conduct trial on scrutiny, assessment and mismatching cases simultaneously, causing harassment to traders. They have demanded that the traders should be allowed to submit self-assessment cases to the department. Submission of self-assessment cases was promised by the department at the time of imposition of VAT, they added.

The traders have also demanded that the minimum turnover limit of a trader should be raised from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for allotting VAT number by the department.

The traders flayed the Punjab government for imposing entry tax on pulses, sugar and other essential commodities and demanded its revocation. DP Chandan assured the traders of recommending their demands favourably in the scheduled meeting to be held between the Small Traders Board members and the Chief Minister in April. — OC

Bathinda, March 16
The district health authorities today collected three samples of the mid-day meal material from the government primary school of Gumti Kalan village in Bhagta block of the district.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr RS Randhawa along with Food Inspector Rajinder Pal Singh today visited the school and took samples of wheat, rice and flour from there.

These samples will now be sent to the Public Analyst, Chandigarh, for quality testing. The health authorities had also collected samples of the mid-day meal from the Government Middle School, Karamgarh Chhatran, and the Government High School, Sardargarh, last month.

Food Inspector Rajinder Pal Singh said the results of samples of the mid-day meal material of these two schools had been received.

The samples had been found to be fit for human consumption. — TNS

Bathinda, March 16
The Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) today held a draw of lots for plots measuring 100 square yards in the under-developed BDA enclave also called phase IV and V of the Urban Estate.

The ceremony was organised at the community hall of the urban estate phase III under the supervision of the BDA chief administrator Ravi Bhagat.

Claiming that it was a completely transparent affair, Bhagat said that before going for the final draw, a sample was arranged in which people verified the transparency of the allotment process.

Giving details, the BDA chief administrator said there were a total of 3,759 applications for the 250 plots of 100 square yards, which were all allotted today.

However, out of the total 250 successful allottees, only 10 were present on the occasion. After the successful completion of the process, the BDA authorities have scheduled the draw of lots for the plots measuring 150, 200 and 300 square yards for Thursday and for 250, 400 and 500 square yards on Friday.

The BDA had received a total of 14,232 applications for all 816 residential plots, with 10 per cent of the total price (Rs 11,000 per square yard) as the earnest money.

“We are planning to hand over the possession of the plots by the end of the year and the work on equipping the locality with all basic amenities is going on a war footing,” said Bhagat. 

Ferozepur, March 16
Thousands of youths of this district led by Vikramjit Gakhar, son of a senior police functionary of the Punjab police, organised a rally at the local grain market to initiate a movement against drug addiction in the state.

Punjabi folk singers were also pressed into service to attract the crowd. The traffic in some pockets of the town remained blocked due to the rush of rally. Addressing the rally, Gakhar urged the youths that if they wanted to make Punjab and India strong, they would have to shun drugs. “The future of the country depends upon us and if we act as responsible citizens, we will be able to make our families, state and the country strong and better,” claimed Gakhar. 

Abohar, March 16
Vijay Kumar Mahar of village Dharampura in this sub-division was among the eight personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF), who were killed in an ambush by a faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland in the Assam’s Kokrajhar district on Monday.

His body would be brought for cremation at the village tomorrow. Sources said the militants of the Ranjan Daimary-led faction used automatic weapons to ambush the convoy of the BSF, when it was patrolling in the remote Ultapani forest area near the Indo-Bhutan border.

Three jawans were killed on the spot while five others succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital. The deceased were identified as Vijay Kumar Mahar, SK Sharma, Arabinda Dere, Bolaram Lamba, Santa Ramthree, Naresh Kumar, Kuber Bora and Hira Singh.

Officials said the patrol party was on way from Bangladoba in Chirang district of Assam to Ultapani in Kokrajhar when it was ambushed. The BSF came under heavy firing inside the Ultapani reserve forest, when it was about seven kilometers from its camp.

While a pall of gloom descended on village Dharampura, the Mahar family headed by Krishan Kumar Mahar felt proud over the sacrifice Vijay.

An alumni of the Government Senior Secondary School at the village, he had joined the BSF three years back and was deployed in Assam.