Bathinda, July 17
Former chief minister and the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal today demanded that a CBI probe be instituted into the bunglings being made into the recruitment of teachers through the teacher eligibility test (TET).

Bhattal, who was here to attend a social function, claimed that the arrest of a person — running a racket in connection with the recruitment of teachers by promising the job seekers to get their TET cleared — by Sangrur district police, was a strong indication of bunglings made in the recruitment of teachers.

The former CM said that if the SAD-BJP alliance government failed to get the matter probed by the CBI, the Congress, when it comes to power, would do so. She alleged that some members of the ruling combine were involved in the racket.

Bhattal also said that an apolitical person with a good reputation, must be appointed as the chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC). She added that politicisation of PPSC must be avoided at all cost.

Bhattal, who was extended a warm welcome by a section of the Congress leaders, who enjoyed close proximity to the state Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, said that only the SAD-BJP government led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was responsible for the Hansi-Butana canal row.

The present government never bothered to tackle the Ghaggar river problem. It absolutely ignored the project initiated by the previous Congress government to tame the Ghaggar, Bhattal alleged.

Making a veiled attack on DGP, Punjab, Paramdeep Singh Gill, she said that the law and order situation in Punjab had deteriorated day by day because police functionaries were showing more interest in politics instead of fulfilling their official responsibilities.

"Any official, who wants to indulge in political activities, must quit his job first. The Congress is not in favour of nominating any government official for any election immediately after his or her retirement,” she claimed, adding that she would make efforts to get more party tickets for youths and women for the next assembly elections.

The leader of the opposition claimed that Badal was enacting a political drama by spending nights in the villages. Instead of solving any problems of the people, Badal had been wasting the taxpayers’ money on making arrangements for spending nights in the villages.

Even the government buildings where the CM spent the night, were being damaged to ensure his comfortable stay.

Bhattal declared that she would make efforts to get party nomination for senior Congress leader Sukhdev Singh Chahal from the Talwandi Sabo segment in the next Assembly elections.

Muktsar, July 17
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said if the SAD (B) would enter into electoral alliance with another party for the next assembly elections, it would be done with the prior consent of the leadership of the BJP, which was its permanent ally. Badal made the statement while addressing the media after holding his Sangat Darshan function, the second in the past four years, in this historical town, today.

Badal said the SAD-BJP alliance is so strong that it could neither be diluted nor compromised by any party for any consideration. Hence, whatever political moves are made for the next assembly elections would be made after both the SAD (B) and BJP leaderships agree to it.

Claiming that the SAD-BJP government had succeeded in winning the faith of people of the state for carrying out huge development in all spheres of life, the CM said people would stand by it in the next assembly elections as well.

Dubbing the construction of a toe wall alongside the left bank of the controversial Hansi-Butana canal by the Haryana Government as an instrument to trigger off a wave of destruction in various parts of Punjab including Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa districts, Badal said the Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh had promised him that he would look into the matter.

He said he had apprised the PM about the ill-effects of the Hansi-Butana canal project during a meeting with him yesterday. The people of Punjab were expecting a lot from the PM in this regard, he added.

The CM said it was unfortunate that though farmers of Punjab had been making a mark in the country by making a record production of foodgrain, agriculture itself as a profession has become a loss making proposition due to unjustified hike being made in the prices of diesel, fertilisers, insecticides and other things by the Central government.

Another factor, which had been making farmers suffer losses every year, was that the Central Government had not been making corresponding hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of various foodgrain items by taking the cost of inputs into consideration.

“To supplement their income, the farmers must use agricultural machinery by borrowing it from the cooperative societies instead of purchasing it on their own by spending a huge sum. They should also adopt allied activities,” the CM suggested.

The Chief Minister, who distributed grants to the tune of about Rs 6 crores to 69 villages of Muktsar assembly segment, left the residents of the town disappointed when he did not announce any project for it.

Some people even questioned that when Badal had been holding frequent Sangat Darshan functions in the Lambi assembly segment then why had he been ignoring his home district town of Muktsar in this regard.

Abohar, July 17
With an eye on the next Vidhan Sabha elections, the ruling SAD leaders have started winning over the Dera Sacha Sauda activists.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Gurtej Singh Ghuriana addressed a meeting at the residence of senior Dera volunteer Hardev Insan at village Gobindgarh near here.

He distributed new ration cards to 900 persons, inaugurated development works worth Rs 10 lakh, exhorted different communities to rise above petty considerations to strengthen harmony and peace.

Ghuriana offered to get 132 KV powercom grid sub-station sanctioned if the village panchayat earmarks five acres of land for the project.

He also assured that all the village streets would be constructed by releasing substantial funds.

Notably, tension had mounted in the village as the local Gurdwara management had refused permission to a Dera follower to organise a function when his father died last year.

Reacting over it, the Dera followers, enjoying a dominant position in the village, had elected a colleagues as the sarpanch of the village panchayat.

Bathinda, July 17
As one enters the local railway station, one comes across hundreds of people sitting or lying on the floor in the area where the ticket windows are located.

A few yards away, people can be seen sitting or lying on the foot overbridge (FoB). The scene is no different at platforms where hundreds of passengers could be seen scrambling for space on benches.

An inadequate number of benches coupled with leaking sheds at the platforms show that the local railway station, which caters to thousands of commuters including high-ranked officials of the Army, the Air Force, corporate houses and businessmen, has been abandoned by the authorities concerned.

Non-functional ceiling fans at a number of sheds, absence of toilets on almost all platforms except for one or two and inadequate sheds only add to the miseries of the passengers.

Says Pardeep Kumar, a daily passenger: "The touch-screen installed at the gate of the railway station to obtain information about the arrival and departure of trains is out of order for many months. But the authorities concerned do not seem to be bothered about it."

Surinder Singh, another daily passenger, said the commuters had to wait for their train under the open sky, as the available sheds were always jam-packed during the day time.

About 68 trains — 32 mail express and 36 passenger — pass through this station, which came into existence during the British era and has also been catering to the needs of one of the Asia's biggest cantonment. There are seven platforms and 18 tracks at the railway station that sends train to six directions. Most of the platforms are dotted with potholes and cracks.

MR Khan, inspector, Passengers Amenities, claimed that as the Railway authorities had planned to convert it into a model railway station in a few years, need-based improvements were being done.

He added that the site plan of the model railway station had been sanctioned and the number of benches installed at different platforms were adequate as per the official norms. He said platforms were being renovated.

Bathinda, July 17
As many as 50 eye surgeons of the region attended the guest lecture delivered by eminent eye surgeon Daljit Singh on the role of Fugo blade in glaucoma surgery and oculoplasty, here late last evening.

"The advent of Fugo blade has revolutionized the results in eye surgery," said Daljit Singh, a renowned eye surgeon of the country.

He highlighted the role of this magic plasma knife in glaucoma surgery and oculoplasty procedures.

"The neat and bloodless surgery has reduced the complication rate in ptosis and glaucoma surgery," he claimed while presenting a large number of cases. He also showed his deftness in handling bleak and difficult situations in intractable glaucoma.

Amrit Sethi, President, Bathinda Ophthalmological Society, said that the lecture was organized by the Bathinda Ophthalmological Society. Dr Jai Rup Singh, Vice-chancellor, Central University, Punjab, was the guest of honour.

More than 50 eye surgeons from Bathinda and the surrounding areas benefited from the experience of Daljit Singh, Sethi added.

Glaucoma, it may be mentioned, is an eye disorder in which the optic nerves are affected resulting in damage to vision.

Bathinda, July 17
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has directed the Bathinda SSP to send it a report before October 7, the next date of hearing in a case relating to the alleged beating up of a man and his wife by policemen in Kotwali police station at Bathinda on June 6.

The Commission has issued the direction to the SSP on the complaint of Ved Parkash Gupta, general secretary, Punjab Human Rights Committee, Bathinda. A copy has also been sent to the principal secretary, Home, and the additional DGP. — TNS

Bathinda, July 17
Even after the passage of more than one year and eight months, the Red Cross District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC), Bathinda, is still awaiting sanction of a project for the welfare of disabled persons under the scheme “Assistance to disabled persons for purchase/fittings of aids/appliances” and grant-in-aid of Rs 1.63 crore for the project from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

It may be recalled that in 2009, the then Deputy Commissioner (DC)-cum-President of the DDRC had sent the project to the Department of Women and Child Development (Social Security branch), Punjab, while it forwarded the same to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, in October 2009, seeking grant-in-aid of Rs 1.63 crore.

Member secretary of the DDRC Sadhu Ram Kusla told TNS that the DC-cum-President of the DDRC had recently sent a reminder to the Ministry for the approval of the project and the release of the grant in-aid of Rs 1.63 crore. Earlier, a couple of reminders had also been sent to the Ministry in this regard, but to no avail, he added.

According to information, under the project with a grant-in-aid of Rs 1.63 crore, 489 artificial limbs, 2616 calipers, 2035 tricycles, 498 wheel-chairs, 902 crutches, 124 walking sticks and 1149 hearing aids will be purchased for supplying it to the disabled persons.

The DDRC is being provided grants by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for paying salaries to the staff and procuring equipment etc.

It may be mentioned here that out of 10 posts, six have been lying vacant in the DDRC so far. The posts of prosthetic engineer, speech therapist, clinical psychologist, mobility instructor, ear mould technician, and messenger are yet to be filled.

Senior physiotherapist at the DDRC Manas Ranjan Sethi said they provided physiotherapy of every kind, including orthopaedic and neurological, to the patients. He said 10 to 15 patients visited this centre daily for treatment while about 15 new patients joined the centre every month.

Ferozepur, July 17
In the absence of any hustle and bustle, the city bus stand, which was constructed in 2002 at an expenditure of over Rs 3 crore, now portrays a picture of apathy and neglect.

The building of the bus stand, which also houses the office of the GM (Roadways), wears a desolate look with a handful of people coming here to board a bus. Despite being situated in the heart of the city, most of the bus passengers prefer to take buses from the cantonment bus stand rather than the city.

While the roadways authorities maintained that most of the government buses start from here and even the buses from other roadways depots also make it a point to come here, the residents feel that the bus drivers, to save time and avoid the hassle of rail crossings, bypass the city route.

Sources said many private transporters have already surrendered the route from the cantonment to the city bus stand in connivance with the transport officials and are operating buses from the cantonment only as they save both time and money.

Nek Chand, station superintendent at the city bus stand, said after the creation of the cantonment bus stand and its subsequent conversion into fare stage, people prefer to board buses from the cantonment. He said the city bus stand has better facilities than the cantonment bus stand. Still, people take an auto-rickshaw to go to cantonment and some take buses from Malwa Chowk. Satish Kumar,Traffic Manager, said things would be in place if the passengers start using this bus stand.

Out of a dozen odd shops here, only one shop has been rented out as a tea stall and the rest are lying abandoned. Deepak Kumar, who runs the tea shop here, rued that he was hardly able to fetch any revenue in the absence of the passengers.

Though the upkeep and maintenance here has been outsourced to a private party who also collects the ‘adda’ fee, the bus stand needs proper sanitation. Social worker Inder Singh Gogia said the issue regarding the city bus stand has been taken up with the authorities concerned many times but to no avail.

Gogia said a few buses do come here in the morning. However, later, the bus drivers refrain from coming to the city and the passengers have to take either an auto or a rickshaw to reach the city.

Ashok Bajaj, social activist, demanded that the bus service between city and cantonment bus stand should be revived, which had been started earlier when the railway bridge was under construction.

Bajaj also demanded that the night bus service to other cities should be started.

Fazilka, April 17
The long-pending demand of the Fazilka residents is going to be fulfilled with the introduction of a new AC bus service from Fazilka to Haridwar. The bus would start plying from Fazilka on July 18.

Transport Minister and local MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani would inaugurate the new bus route at 6.30 am. In a press note released here, Jyani said in view of the frequent visits of the residents to Haridwar, the Transport Department has decided to run the bus.

On the demand of the residents, the department has also decided to run a bus for Salasar Dham in Rajasthan. Notably, last month, direct air-conditioned bus services from Fazilka to Chandigarh and Jalandhar had also been initiated at the behest of the Transport Minister.

Fazilka, July 17
The canal-based drinking water project set up at a cost of about Rs 5.5 crores a few years back has now been causing problems to the residents in the absence of proper infrastructure and due to a large number of vacant posts.

Barbed wire fencing erected around the big water storage tank has been broken and damaged at many places. Every one can have access to the tank. There is no proper arrangement for cleanliness and heaps of garbage can be seen lying near the tank from where the canal-based water is supplied to the residents after passing through different stages. The place has become a haven for the stray cattle. There is imminent threat of children falling into the 10-feet deep tank as they play near the tank ‘unchecked’.

The area has become mishap prone as well. Three persons including a father and daughter had allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the water tank recently. Earlier too, there have been reports of isolated suicide cases here.

Moreover, dead fish were also found in the water tank a few months back. The nearby localities of Anni Dilli and Khatikan Mohalla residents, Madan Lal, Neela Ram, Satnam Singh and others have demanded that a watchman should be deployed round-the-clock. The Council has been facing difficulty in maintaining the project due to a shortage of staff.

Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Fazilka, Sukhdev Singh has admitted the shortage of the staff. As per the official sources, there are only four employees posted to run the project against the required posts of a dozen.

He, however, maintained that the Council would construct a wall around the project soon and repair the fencing, the resolution for which has already been passed in the House.

Moga, July 17
The state Agriculture Department has stressed upon the farmers to adopt hi-tech the automatic paddy transplanter to overcome the shortage of labour, minimise the cost of cultivation and increase the production of the crop.

With farm workers migrating to works offered under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar, thereby creating a shortage of workers for this labour-intensive crop, paddy cultivation can now be done by two persons by making a one-time investment on the machine, said Dr Ravi Kumar Sabbarwal, chief agriculture officer of the district.

Adding that the farmers are showing interest in adopting technologies, he said the Agriculture Department has started promoting mechanised paddy transplantation, which has started receiving response from the farmers. The government provides subsidy to farmers for purchasing paddy transplanters, he said.

While giving a demonstration of the machine at the Manawan village near here for transplanting basmati this week, Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, agriculture officer, said two persons can do paddy transplantation in 10-12 acres a day. "Thirty per cent more yield can be expected, if mechanised transplantation method is adopted," he claimed.

He said 33 plants (as required) on an average are transplanted by the machine in one square metre area as against an average of 18-25 plants by manual transplantation, which increases the production. In late sowing basmati varieties, 40 to 44 plants are required in one square metre area, which can be possible through mechanised transplantation, he said.

Significantly, farmers can also save money on the seeds as those required in mechanised paddy transplantation is 15-20 kg an acre while the requirement is around 30-35 kg under manual transplantation.

At the same time, water consumption is reduced by nearly 40 per cent as compared to the manual transplantation. Both Sabbarwal and Brar feel that there is a scope for mechanised paddy sowing in the state to increase the production by reducing the water consumption.

It may be mentioned that paddy transplanting machines were introduced in a big way last year in the state but at most places the farmers rejected the machines as they faced problems in growing paddy nursery in a scientific way, which is a requirement to transplant paddy with machines.

“This year, we have educated the farmers to grow mat type nursery for paddy transplantation with machines. Proper mat type nursery and field should be properly laser levelled for transplanting,” the agro scientists added.

Muktsar, July 17
Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital has achieved 100 per cent result in the second, third and fourth year result of BDS conducted by the Baba Farid University.

Prabha Chaudhry, Karamjot Kaur and Amandeep Kaur Budel of third year bagged the top three positions. Gagan Dhawan, Haryadwinder Singh and Dilpreet Kaur of fourth year and Harpreet Kaur Sidhu, Navneet Kaur Brar and Jaswant Kaur of second year also bagged the top three positions.

Chairman Dr Zora Singh and chairperson Tajinder Kaur congratulated principal Neeraj Mahajan, administrator Gurmail Singh Agroa and the teaching faculty.

Abohar, July 17
While conceding that the canal system in the Ferozepur district, which also benefits farmers in the neighbouring areas of Rajasthan, urgently needed a major renovation work, the Punjab Irrigation Department has demanded Rs 5.25 crore from the neighbouring state.

The officials told the visiting Rajasthan Marketing Minister Gurmeet Singh Kunnar that the Rajasthan Feeder carries Ravi-Beas waters exclusively for Rajasthan carries from the Harike Headworks. It has a capacity of 18,500 cusecs.

However, the head regulator of the canal has a capacity of 15,000 cusecs, which is sufficient for supplying the allocated quantum of Ravi-Beas waters to Rajasthan. — OC

Abohar, July 17
About 450 patients turned up at the 26th free eye camp organised by the IFFCO at village Shergarh, Manager (Agriculture) RL Sethi informed. District Youth Congress president Sandeep Jakhar was the chief guest on the occasion.

He lauded the IFFCO Kisan Sewa Trust for giving relief to 9,437 eye patients so far in the sub-division. — OC