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No new thermal plant before 2012
Closure of thermal plant?
Horticulture Dept wilts due to shortage of staff
Emergency wing of cancer hospital to be functional on Aug 22
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SAD declares support for Anna’s campaign
India against corruption move
Plea for lenient sentence rejected
Body found near GNDTP
Mystery shrouds woman’s death
Wooing youth
No flood threat in Ferozepur as water level comes down
Reservation: Jats rise in protest
Robbery accused flees from police custody
Patwari robbed of Rs
7 lakh
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No new thermal plant before 2012
Bathinda, August 18 The Union Ministry of Power has said this in a reply to a query by Lok Sabha MP Ravneet Singh Bittu. Union Minister of State for Power, KC Venugopal has stated that as per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the first unit of the 3660 MW thermal plant at Talwandi Sabo will be commissioned on November 18 next year, the second unit on February 8, 2013 and third unit on June 10, 2013. Similarly, the first unit of the 2270 MW thermal plant at Goindwal Sahib will be commissioned on January 31, 2013 and the second unit on April 30, 2013. The Rajpura thermal power plant of 2700 MW capacity will have its first unit commissioned on January 17, 2014 and the second unit on May 17, 2014. "These figures translate into the fact that Punjab cannot be a power surplus state. As all these thermal plants are being set up on build-own-operate (BOO) basis, neither the state government nor the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has spent a single penny on these projects," Bittu said. Challenging Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to an open debate on the present power scenario in Punjab, Bittu said that eyeing the Vidhan Sabha elections, the government had laid its claim on these projects as its achievements and is befooling the people of Punjab. "The SAD-BJP manifesto claims that Punjab would be a surplus state within three years, while none of the plants can be commissioned before the state government's term ends," he said. BHEL has been allotted the Goindwal Sahib plant, SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corporation, China, the Talwandi Sabo power plant while Larsen and Toubro is working for the Rajpura power plant. |
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Closure of thermal plant?
Bathinda, August 18 In a statement issued here today, the Association said it apprehended that vested interests are eyeing the 1700 acres of prime land of the GNDTP and misleading the state government to close the plant. With the decision to close down GNDTP, there is a move to establish private sector monopoly in power generation, the Association alleged, adding that already all new thermal power plants in the state are being constructed in the private sector and not even a single thermal power plant is being constructed or expanded under the state sector. The Association suggested that instead, land available at GNDTP might be utilized to install new 500/ 660 MW supercritical technology units under the state sector. The engineers have decided to oppose the proposed closure of GNDTP tooth and nail and said that the cost of power from this plant is comparable or even less than the upcoming new super critical plants. With the closure of the plant, not only public money will be wasted but also many people will lose their jobs. They said that on the one hand, large amount of funds are being spent on the renovation and modernization (R&M) for extending the life of this plant by another 15 to 20 years and for improving the performance and solid particulate matter (SPM) ash discharged from its chimneys and on the other, its closure is being planned. "PSPCL has already spent Rs 183 crores on the R&M of GNDTP units I and II from 2004 to 2006. Pollution from chimneys of these units after renovation and modernization is well within the permissible limit of 150 mg/m3 set by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB)," the spokesperson said. Contract for R&M of units 3 and 4, which includes augmentation of unit capacity from 110 MW to 120 MW at the total cost of Rs 470 crores was awarded to the Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) in 2006. BHEL has already provided 80 per cent material for the R&M of the units and it has even been paid Rs 285 crores. R&M work on unit 3 is in progress and is likely to be over by November this year while work on unit IV is slated to begin after October. After the R&M, solid particulate matter of all chimneys will be within limits. Moreover, the available modern techniques may be utilized to reduce the pollution level of the existing units |
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Horticulture Dept wilts due to shortage of staff
Bathinda, August 18 For the last few years, the vacant posts of the deputy director, assistant director and horticulture development officer (HDO) have not been filled up. All this has affected the functioning of the department, especially in the horticulture office of the district. As per the information, the HDOs play a vital role in providing technical and marketing guidance to the vegetable and fruit growers so that they earn more from the vegetables and fruits than the traditional crops. But in the absence of the required number of HDOs in the field, not only the diversification of crops is getting affected but the vegetable and fruit growers are also facing problems in getting technical and marketing guidance. The post of the deputy director has been vacant since January 2010 and the post of assistant director from April 2009. So the district office is being run as of now by the government by giving the additional charge to the deputy director (Horticulture) of the adjoining Muktsar district. In Bathinda district, out of the 11 posts of the HDOs, nine have been lying vacant — eight since 2007 and one since February 2011, despite the fact that without a regular HDO, the work in the area gets affects in a big way. There are four posts of HDO in the Bathinda office. But only one HDO has been posted here who looks after the work of these four HDOs also. In addition, he takes care of the work of Nathana and Sangat HDOs as well as these posts too are lying vacant. Likewise, the second HDO, posted in the district, has been looking after the work of HDOs of Talwandi Sabo, Maur, Raman, Rampura and Seed Farm at Harnam Singh Wala. |
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Emergency wing of cancer hospital to be functional on Aug 22
Bathinda, August 18 Two doctors, each on eight-hour duty round-the-clock have been posted there. However, the indoor patient department (IPD) is likely to start functioning only in the first week of September after the installation and commissioning of various equipment like CT scan, X-ray, laboratory and the blood bank in the hospital. Media persons, who were today invited to the hospital for 'on site' briefing, were shown some OPD rooms (ENT and ophthalmology where latest machines have been installed) by the executive director of the Max Healthcare Institute Limited, New Delhi, Dr Dilpreet Brar. Dr Brar also showed the media persons the Rs 6 crore machine, LINAC, for radiotherapy, housed in the basement of the hospital. She said the LINAC was the latest technology in radiotherapy to treat cancer patients. This machine would burn or shrink the cancer tumour with radiation, she added. Dr Brar further said the Max Healthcare had also entered a tie-up with the Bathinda refinery authorities to set up two clinics there, one in the premises of the refinery and the other in the refinery's
township. She said these clinics would probably start functioning from September 15. She said they were also linking this hospital with their Delhi hospital for implementing the telemedicine system. The hospital has also introduced the electronic health record system here for generating a prescription slip through the computer for the medical safety of the patient which would also help the hospital staff in providing proper medicines. The OPD schedule of the doctors would also be available on the computer. So any patient, enquiring about the availability of the doctors, can do so by just making a phone call to the hospital, she added.
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SAD declares support for Anna’s campaign
Bathinda, August 18 Talking to media persons at Kot Bhai village today, Sukhbir asked the Central government to give up its adamant attitude and initiate steps to table the Jan Lok Pal Bill, being prepared by the team of Anna Hazare, in the Parliament. He said the SAD fully supported the Anna Hazare's movement against corruption. So it would organise dharnas in support of Anna Hazare outside the offices of DCs on August 19 from 12 to 2 pm through out the state. Regarding the performance of the SAD candidates in the current SGPC elections, Sukhbir said the SAD would make a clean sweep in these elections as people would reject the candidates to whom the Congress party has extended its indirect The Deputy Chief Minister also announced that a match of the Second World Kabaddi Cup would be organised at Doda village in Gidderbaha Assembly constituency. He also said the ensuing Assembly elections would be fought by the SAD on the development issue. During the visit of Sukhbir Badal, several leaders and workers of other political parties reportedly joined the SAD.
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India against corruption move
Abohar, August 18 Meanwhile, a dharna at the Nehru Stadium by the NGOs continued for the third day here. In Sriganganagar, most of the traders’ unions have consented to join the call for a bandh on Friday. — OC |
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Plea for lenient sentence rejected
Bathinda, August 18 Forty-year-old Ajaib Singh has been sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 8000 has been imposed on him. On June 23, 2010, Ajaib Singh had mercilessly
murdered his wife Rani Kaur at his house in the village Pucca Kalan. In his statement to the police, Rani's father Mithu Singh, stated that Ajaib and Rani were married around 23 years ago and had four children from the wedlock. The couple had strained relations as Ajaib suspected his wife Rani of having illicit relations. On June 26, 2010, the couple had a fight and Rani called up her father Mithu Singh asking him to pursue Ajaib for reconciliation. The couple's eldest daughter is married. The remaining three children went to their grandparents' house. At around 1 am, Mithu heard cries of Rani and saw that Ajaib was hitting her with pestle. The blows proved to be fatal and Rani died on the spot. During the course of hearing, Ajaib Singh pleaded before the court that he be awarded a lenient sentence as he was the only bread-winner of his family and had three minor children and old parents to look after. The court of the sessions judge, however, observed that this was not a rarest of rare case and awarded life sentence to the accused. |
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Bathinda, August 18 SHO Darshan Singh said most of the body parts were in bad shape and only the bones were visible. The place where the body was found is a haven for drug addicts, he said. Inquest proceedings under section 174 of the CrPc has been initiated and further investigation is on, he said. — TNS |
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Bathinda, August 18 She had come to meet her family members on Rakshabandhan. In their complaint to the police, family members of the girl said she was asleep on the cot at midnight but was found missing after 2.30 am. When searched for, her body was found near the Sivia-Gillpatti road. There were visible injury marks on her neck and face. Sadar police station officials said a case in this connection has been registered against unknown people under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC. — TNS
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Wooing youth
Moga, August 18 He was addressing the rural folk at village Khosa Pando in the Moga district while campaigning for his father senior SAD leader and former education minister Jathedar Tota Singh, who is contesting the SGPC polls from here. The Jathedar is an aspirant for the post of the president of the gurudwara management body. Brar said the use of drugs and alcohol has considerably increased in the Punjabi community
for the last few years particularly among the youth. Besides, the youngsters are indulging in illegal activities. The youth leader further said the increased use of alcohol and drugs has caused a variety of social, family, financial and health-related challenges in the community, which could be tackled by changing the lifestyle by learning lessons from the ‘Gurbani’ written by
the Sikh gurus and other scholars. Later, in reply to a question, he claimed that his father was asked by the senior party leadership to become the president of the SGPC but due to political and family considerations, his father refused to accept the post. “Now, my father is a strong contender for this post,” he added. It may be mentioned that Jathedar Tota Singh remained a member of the SGPC for 17 years and also a senior vice-president of the Sikh body for many years besides being elected to the state legislative assembly for two terms. At present, he is the senior vice -president and member of the core committee of the SAD. |
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No flood threat in Ferozepur as water level comes down
Ferozeur, August 18 The officials in the Drainage Department said the water flow upstream of Harike headworks in the evening today has been recorded around 85,000 cusecs, of which around 55,000 cusecs was being released downstream of Harike towards the Hussainiwala headworks. Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Engineer, said there was no threat up to the level of one lakh cusecs provided the Dhussi bandh is not breached at any place. He added that all required precautionary measures were being taken by the department. Gupta said the situation was being reviewed round-the-clock by his department.
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Reservation: Jats rise in protest
Ferozepur, August 18 State president Karnail Singh Bhawra said Jats have been demanding reservation in the OBC category for the last several years. He pointed out that the Central Government had promised to look into their demands regarding reservation for which several round of talks were held between the union ministers and the Jat leaders. However, nothing tangible has come out yet. Bhawra said no promises made by the government were fulfilled. Besides, criminal cases registered against the members of the Sangharsh Samiti in various states have also not been withdrawn. Malik demanded that the Jats should soon be included in the OBC category failing which they would intensify the stir. |
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Robbery accused flees from police custody
Faridkot, August 18 Sarban Singh, a resident of village Palla Megha, was lodged in the Faridkot jail. The case of gold robbery is pending against him in the court of Fatehdeep Singh, District and Sessions judge of Faridkot. Police revealed that Sarban was brought to the Jagraon court yesterday for a court hearing. Instead of coming in a police vehicle, Sarban convinced the cops to take him to Jagraon in a private car as he was not well. On reaching the Jagraon court complex, before Sarban could get down, his accomplice, who was driving the car, sped away from the spot. Senior Superintendent of Police, Jagraon police district, AS Chahal said the local police had lodged an FIR in this regard.
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Ferozepur, August 18 The moment the Patwari and his father reached near village Chattre, some assailants forced them to halt. They snatched the money at gunpoint. SSP Surjit Singh said special police teams have been formed to track the culprits involved in the looting incident. — OC
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President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today flayed the Congress party and the central government for 'crushing' the movement against corruption, launched by the Gandhian leader Anna
Hazare, by using government machinery. He said this step of the Congress party and its government had exposed them that they were tyrant.
