Ferozepur, April 19
The procurement of wheat operations in the district, bordering Pakistan, has been adversely affected due to rains followed by hailstorms in various pockets of the region in the past three days.

The state agencies, which have been pressed into procurement operations in this one of the biggest districts of Punjab, have purchased only 24319 MT of wheat till April 18, this year, against the purchase of 7.04 lakh MT wheat (procured by the same agencies), last year.

As per the details, the procurement operations had been hampered in the district, where 206 purchase centres had been set up owing to two reasons.

First, the arrival of wheat in the grain markets and purchase centres started late as the ripening of wheat was delayed due to (low) cold temperature in April.

Another factor included rains and hailstorms, which hit various pockets of the district and also raised the percentage of moisture content in the already harvested wheat and hence rendered it unfit for procurement. The fall in mercury due to rains in the area had further delayed the ripening of wheat crop, still standing in the fields. Moreover, some of the grain markets and purchase centres had been facing problem on account of accumulation of rainwater.

Manjeet Singh Sandhu, District Mandi Officer (DMO), said there were a number of grain markets and purchase centres in the district where not even a single grain of wheat had arrived in the past 18 days since April 1, this year, when the wheat procurement was formally started.

He said as per the directions of the authorities concerned, the wheat produce comprising percentage of moisture content more than 12 per cent could not be procured. He added that the field staff had yet been trying to procure the maximum quantity of wheat by segregating it.

He said motor engine pump had been pressed into Jalalabad grain market, where the water had again accumulated due to rains, which lashed the area last night, to drain it out. He added that for the convenience of farmers, the purchase centres had also been set up in a number of villages, located close to the Indo-Pak border. 

Fazilka, April 19
Following the inclement weather and intermittent spell of rain in the region, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, should give more relaxation in the moisture content during the procurement of wheat, demanded Arhtiya Association (Fazilka) through a memorandum.

The memorandum was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav during his visit to the local grain market here today. He was here to take stock of the present situation of wheat crop and arrangements made in the grain market after the rainfall during the last few days.

Daya Krishan Sachdeva, president, Association, has stated in the memorandum that due to heavy rains, the moisture content in the wheat has increased. Following excess moisture content, the procuring agencies are not keen to purchase the wheat. He has pointed out that as per the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India norms, the wheat containing moisture up to 14 per cent instead of stipulated 12 per cent can also be procured after slashing down the minimum support price (MSP) proportionately. He has demanded that the procurement should be expedited to enable the farmers to sell their produce on time.

While talking to The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav said he would take up the matter with the Ministry for relaxation in the moisture content.

The DC disclosed that standing crop in 15000 acres of land in Zira sub-division of the district had been partially damaged following the hailstorm and heavy rain, which lashed the area. However, much loss has not been reported in the other region of the district, he added.

Abohar, April 19
Kehar Singh of village Chanan Khera emerged as the first seller as Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana inaugurated wheat purchase at the new grain market here on Tuesday.

The purchase was made by the Punsup and Markfed offering Rs 1120 per quintal. Market Committee chairman Baljit Jhajhria and Pramil Kalani, president of Arhtia Association were also present.

Laddoos were distributed on the occasion. The farmers were advised to dry up their produce well to ensure quick sale of the wheat.

Bathinda, April 19
Punjab state agriculture authorities seem to have imposed an ‘undeclared ban’ on the sale of seeds of hybrid variety of paddy to discourage its cultivation in the coming Rabi season.

The farmers in the state would prepare their fields for the cultivation of paddy in the month of June after the current harvesting operations of wheat and other crops are over. Though the state authorities have not issued clear-cut orders to ban the sale of seeds of hybrid variety of paddy, the district-level officials have been asked to prevent dealers from indulging into the sale of such seeds by holding out a clandestine threat of taking legal action against them.

Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Director, Department of Agriculture, Punjab, said no such ban had been imposed in the state and only farmers were being discouraged from using hybrid seeds for paddy cultivation. “The farmers are being advised not to cultivate those varieties of hybrid paddy, which are not approved by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU),” he said.

Sidhu said the state agriculture authorities took the step after a large section of farmers suffered harassment when the Food Corporation of India (FCI) refused to accept the rice produced after shelling of hybrid variety of paddy last year as it failed to meet their specifications. “We are trying to motivate farmers to go for cultivation of only those varieties of paddy in non-Basmati category, which meet with the specifications laid down by the FCI for procuring the rice produced from same,” he said, adding that the step had been taken after Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal asked them to discourage the cultivation of hybrid paddy in the state.

He, however, said if the farmers would still go for cultivation of hybrid paddy against the advice of agriculture officials, they would be responsible for their plight if their produce was not procured in the next 
season.

Meanwhile, a section of activists of different farmers' organisations alleged that the Punjab government was taking anti-farmers steps by imposing an ‘undeclared ban’ on the sale of seeds of hybrid varieties of paddy, which consumes less water and mature early.

They asked that when Haryana, which was another paddy producing state, had not taken such step then why the Punjab government had been discouraging the cultivation of hybrid variety of paddy.

Moga, April 19
The Irrigation Department of Punjab has announced the rotational programme for irrigation in the current kharif season through the canal water from April 20-27, this month.

The channels of the Sirhind Canal System would run on priority basis from the Abohar Branch, Patiala feeder, Bathinda Branch, Bist Doab Canal and Sidhwan Branch, respectively.

The Ghaggar link and its off taking channels- Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group ‘B’ being in the first preference would run to their indent. The balance water supplies available would be utilised in direct distributaries of the Bhakra Main Line in Group ‘A’, respectively.

The Abohar Branch off-taking from the Sirhind feeder and distributries in Group ‘B’ being in the first preference would run to their indent. The balance water supplies available would be utilised in direct distributaries of Group ‘A’.

The channels off taking from upper Bari Doab canal that is Sabraon Branch with its distributaries being in the first preference would run to their indent.

The balance water supplies of the available water would be utilised in Kasur Branch, Lower Main Branch, Lahore Branch with their distributaries, respectively. 

Ferozepur, April 19
Another toddler has fallen victim to stray dogs attack today while he was playing at the Swahawala wheat purchase centre of the Ferozepur district. His parents were at work when the incident took place. He was saved by his parents as they came to his rescue after listening to his cries. He has been admitted to a private hospital.

It may be recalled that a four-year-old toddler Husan Kumar was mauled to death by stray dogs while he was on his way to the Anganwadi centre at 
Chak Garib Sandar village in the Jalalabad sub-division of this district on March 25.

Another six-year-old boy Hasmeet has been battling for life in a private hospital in Jalalabad area after he was attacked by stray dogs near Mojewala village of this district on April 8. He was bitten on his legs, arms, face and neck by the stray dogs.

For the past few years, the menace of stray dogs has acquired alarming dimensions in the entire Malwa region of Punjab as reports pertaining to stray dogs attack have been pouring in regularly from Moga, Bathinda and other parts of Punjab.

Last year, a five-year-old boy Babbu was killed by a pack of stray dogs near the dead animals dumping place of Phallianwala village of this district.

However, a six-year-old girl Nisha, who was also attacked with the boy, managed to escape.

A child was also killed in the Abohar area a few months ago. Besides, the blackbucks, blue bulls and other domesticated animals including milch cattle have also been facing the wrath of stray dogs in the Malwa region. Even 17 sheep and four goats were mauled to death at Mammu Khera Khatawa village in this district on April 14. A nine-year-old boy also sustained injuries during an attack by stray dogs at Churd Khera village of the Abohar sub-division on April 16.

A senior functionary of the Punjab government pleading anonymity said as a complete ban had been imposed on killing of stray dogs by the authorities concerned, the menace of stray dogs had become alarming. He said the sterilisation of stray dogs, which was allowed and supposed to be done by the government agencies, took place rarely. Hence, their population was increasing day by day.

Rajiv Prashar, SDM, Jalalabad, while confirming the fact that two to three children in the Jalalabad sub-division had been killed by stray dogs in the past few months, said the Punjab government had given adequate compensation to the families of the victims.

He said a comprehensive policy was needed to deal with the menace of stray dogs effectively. 

Abohar, April 19
The 150-feet wide controversial cut affected by the Abohar division of the Irrigation Department in September 2009 to divert water from the Rajasthan feeder to Sirhind feeder near village Bhullar in the Muktsar district has been plugged. The delay in plugging the cut (diversion) was resented by the legislators during the last session of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha.

The BJP MLA Radhey Shyam from Sriganganagar said a deputation formed by the former CM Vasundhara Raje met the Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal at Chandigarh last year in this connection. The latter had assured that the cut would be plugged within a fortnight but the work was allegedly delayed to siphoning off more share of Rajasthan.

The irrigation officials here had lamented that the cut was necessitated as escape gates of the Chanderbhan drain had to be repaired. The major repair work has been finished at a cost of Rs 595 lakh. The number of escape gates has been increased from three to six to ensure long-life.

Some of the farmers, who visited the Sirhind feeder and Malukpura distributary originating from the Abohar canal have been informed by the officials that the supply of water would be restored after completion of 10-day closure on Wednesday.

Besides, cranes have also been pressed into service to remove silt that had accumulated in the Sirhind feeder. The water for sowing of cotton would be available in Abohar, Balluana and Lambi segments from April 22 onwards.

Tejwinder Singh Aulakh and KS Sandhu of the Tail-end Farmers Sangharsh Samiti said here today that Rajasthan pattern needs to be adopted to check evasion of the canal water. 

Bathinda, April 19
Ravinder Kaur, principal, Sanawar-an institute for children, Bathinda, has received the Best Educationist Award from Bhisma Narain, former governor of Tamil Nadu, during a seminar organised by the International Institute of Education and Management at New Delhi on April 11.

She has also been awarded with the Certificate of Excellence for her commendable service in the field of education. 

Faridkot, April 19
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has today given approval to recognise the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, under Section 12B of the UGC Act, 1956.

Disclosing this here today, Dr SS Gill, vice-chancellor of the BFUHS, said after accessing the physical and academic infrastructure of the university, the UGC had declared it fit to receive the Central assistance under Section 12B of the UGC Act, 1956.

The university was established in the memory of great Sufi Saint Baba Farid under an Act passed by the legislature of the state of Punjab in July, 1998.

As many as eight medical, 14 dental, 12 ayurvedic, 78 nursing, 11 physiotherapy, four homoeopathic, one sports medicine, five medical lab technology and three BSc Medical colleges are affiliated to this university. — TNS

Fazilka, April 19
The Graduate Welfare Association, Fazilka, (GWAF) would organise the fifth ‘Fazilka Heritage Festival-2011’ from April 21 to 24 with association of the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board at the local Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Park (Pratap Bagh) and at historical Clock Tower.

Association President Umesh Chander Kukar said an annual Art, food and culture festival would be designed on scientific theme ‘Clean and green Fazilka’. Brig Arul Dennis would inaugurate the festival.

The main highlight of the Fazilka heritage festival this year would be special nights dedicated to teachers, children, women and youth. On April 21, the dedicated teachers, on April 22 adorable kids, on April 23 women achievers and on April 24, the youths, who had brought laurels to Fazilka, would be honoured.

The famous Clock Tower would be decorated during the festival. “Besides promoting the vibrancy of the culture of the border town, the event would also help in establishing Fazilka as a brand city,” said GWAF patron Dr Bhupinder Singh and general secretary Navdeep Asija.

During the festival, rock show, Bangla Theatre, sham-e-ghazal, folk dances, shopping, Fazilka virasat bhawan, books and art craft exhibition would be displayed.

Bathinda, April 19
Failing to move the government over fulfilling their demand for employment through staging dharnas and other mechanism, the district unit of the Berozgar ETT Adhyapak Front (Punjab), has now adopted a novel way of protest—nukkad or street-corner meetings and Mashal march (torchlight procession) in villages and different localities of the city.

Demanding that the government issues notification about the promise made to recruit all jobless teachers who have completed their ETT courses, the activist of the Front are seeking support from people.

The activists of the Front go to villages and localities, urging people to come out and listen to them. At the meetings, they expose the “fake” promises of the government and ask people to be vigilant while reading and listening to any of the promise made to them while being lured for votes.

Concluding the Nukkad meeting, the Front activists hold Mashal March claiming that they are determined to get their rights.

The movement is gaining momentum as number of organisations, including the Bharti Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan), Naujwan Bharat Sabha and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Sabha, have come out in their support.

The district convener of the Front, Balkaran Singh, said the state government had reached an agreement with them on January 12 to recruit 8,000 elementary teachers in the state. In the draft notification, it was decided that of the total, 70 per cent seats would go to the candidates, who have done their course from Punjab affiliated institutions while 30 per cent would be for Jammu candidates. “Though the promises were made with great assurance, the government is doing nothing even as three months have passed now. With the simple motive of exposing the tactics of the government and to build pressure, we are trying to make it a mass movement by taking the issue before the people,” he said.

Issuing details about the next programme, the activists of the Front said Lal Singh Basti, Hazoora Kapoora and Sanguana Basti of Bathinda city, would be covered within the next few days.

Bathinda, April 19
With nearly 45,000 fully grown trees and plants axed in the name of development works in Bathinda, the district is heading for a major ecological crisis this summer.

To one’s surprise, the whole amount received against the sale of axed trees and plants was transferred to the account of the Punjab Forest Corporation, with immediate effect, in spite of the state government being reluctant to release the funds for compensatory afforestation, which is otherwise mandatory.

After the government changed in the state in 2007, Bathinda figured in the priority list of the ruling alliance. Being the home turf of the ruling Badals, a number of development projects were initiated in the district.

To give all the projects better connectivity, various works including the widening of roads, construction of overbridges and underbridges were undertaken. And for every development work, trees and plants were axed.

According to sources in the Forest Department, since 2008, the state government carried 16 projects related to the widening of roads and construction of bridges, which cost the felling of nearly 45,000 trees and plants. As per the Forest Department, nearly 39 hectare area of thick forest was converted into plains. In the process, the entire afforestation process has gone haywire.

It is learnt that the Forest Department is bound to compensate for the cutting of trees and plants in a ratio of 1:2 to 1:10 (varying upon the situation). After every cut in the forest, the revenue earned from the sale of wood was deposited in the account of the Punjab Forest Corporation and the divisional office of the Forest Department kept sending demand letters to the state government to release the funds for compensatory afforestation.

Sources said the void created by the removal of 39 hectares of forest can be compensated only if more than 100 hectares are covered with saplings of different species, for which an estimated Rs 1.25 crore is required.

But in the absence of funds, the department is not in a position to plan the activities.

Confirming the facts, Divisional Forest Officer, Bathinda, SP Anandh Kumar said, “We are regularly communicating with the officials concerned and hope the funds will be released soon and immediately after that, plantation drive will be launched.”

Forest Minister Tikshan Sood, when contacted, feigned ignorance about the matter but assured that he would look into it and do the possible to get the funds released at the earliest.

Bathinda, April 19
The state government has provided one-time opportunity to the parents and guardians to get the names of those children entered in the birth records whose birth entry was registered without a name even beyond 15 years.

It is worth mentioning here that earlier, this facility (entry of name in birth records) was available only for the children born during the last 15 years. But it has now been extended to all.

Talking to this reporter here today, District Health Officer (DHO)-cum-Additional Registrar, Birth and Death, Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa said this exemption limit for getting the names entered in the birth records had been given by the government till December 31, 2012.

Dr Randhawa said even if the birth of a child was registered without name in the year 1960, 1970 or 1980, the name could now be entered in the birth certificate by the parents or the guardians up to December 2012 by paying late fee along with the relevant documents.

He said this one-time opportunity would certainly prove beneficial, especially for those who want to apply for passports etc.

Keeping in mind the importance of this exemption limit for getting the names entered in the birth records, the Managing Director of the National Rural Health Mission, Krishan Kumar, recently held a meeting with the DHOs-cum-Additional Registrars, Birth and Death, of the state. At the meeting, he reportedly directed the DHOs-cum-Additional Registrars to disseminate information about this facility among the people in a big way so that they could avail of the benefit of this opportunity.

Bathinda, April 19
The state health authorities seem to be in a dilemma these days over the inauguration of the new OPD (out patient door) block, built at a cost of Rs 3 crore on the premises of the local Civil Hospital here, despite the fact that the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) had handed over the block to the hospital authorities in the last week of January this year.

The main reason behind the dilemma of the health authorities is that they are torn between their choice as to who should inaugurate the new OPD block — the Chief Minister (CM), the Deputy Chief Minister, or the Health Minister. While the Health Minister is their immediate boss, the CM and the Deputy CM consider Bathinda as their political and home turf.

The dilemma of the health authorities could be gauged from the fact that earlier, they had planned to get the block inaugurated on April 16 from a VIP. They had also started preparations in this connection even without knowing the name of the VIP while on April 12, the director, PHSC, Dr Lehmbar Singh, visited the OPD block along with senior officials of the engineering wing to inspect the block, finally.

However, according to sources in the Civil Hospital, the hospital authorities got a call from Chandigarh on April 14, regarding the postponement of the inaugural ceremony of the block proposed for April 16.

Meanwhile, the Civil Hospital authorities have shifted some equipment and machines from the old OPD wing of the hospital to the new OPD block. These are machines related to X-ray, mammography, fully automatic laboratory test and a dental chair. The remaining machines and equipment will be shifted to the new block after the date of inauguration is finalised.

When contacted, an official in the Civil Hospital said that so far, they had no knowledge about the date on which the OPD block would be inaugurated, as it would be decided by the state health authorities.