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Rising pollution threatens to choke Sirhind canal
Bathinda, August 22
The Bathinda branch of the Sirhind canal is filled to its capacity and is posing a threat to its sensitive and weak embankments. Grappling with the problem of overgrown weeds, thick vegetation and pollution, the canal is in immediate need of de-silting and clean up.

The Sirhind canal is full to its brim. Increasing pollution has reduced its capacity to carry water and the localities on its banks run the risk of getting flooded in case of a breach The Sirhind canal is full to its brim. Increasing pollution has reduced its capacity to carry water and the localities on its banks run the risk of getting flooded in case of a breach.
A Tribune photograph

Busy in SGPC polls, SAD overlooking flood crisis, allege Cong leaders
Moga, August 22
The Congress has alleged that the ruling SAD leadership is busy in the SGPC elections while the people living in flood affected villages along the Sutlej river are facing a tough situation.

EARLIER STORIES

	DC stops registration of unauthorised colonies August 22, 2011
	Flood fury: Residents asked to evacuate August 21, 2011
	Mansa men found suffering from breast cancer August 20, 2011
	No new thermal plant before 2012 August 19, 2011
	Another Manpreet aide returns to SAD fold August 18, 2011
	Patriotic fervour marks I-Day celebrations August 17, 2011
	Tailor-made for patriotism August 15, 2011
	Gross neglect: Elderly not paid pension for 4 months August 14, 2011
	GZSCET likely to turn into PTU regional centre August 13, 2011

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TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Farmers construct ring bandh on their own
Ferozepur, August 22
At Basti Ramlal, the farmers are constructing a ring bandh on their own ahead of the advance flood protection bandh to protect their crops against Sutlej's fury. Sarpanch of the village Nishan Singh said the farmers of this village have pooled their resources and were working round-the-clock to safeguard their fields.

3 killed, 7 hurt as car collides with truck
Bathinda, August 22
Three pilgrims, including a girl child, were killed on the spot while seven others were injured when the car in which they were travelling, collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction near Gehri Butter village on the Bathinda-Dabwali road this afternoon.
The mangled heap of the car lying on the Bathinda-Dabwali road. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Worker’s death triggers protest at refinery
Bathinda, August 22
The death of an employee at the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery here last evening triggered protests by the labourers today. The protesting labourers, working for Larsen and Toubro (L&T), demanded compensation for the family of the deceased who has been identified as Mukesh Chandravarsi (22), a resident of Jharkhand.

Date with deity: Devotees thronged the Krishna temple at the Chaitanya Gauria Math in Bathinda on Janmashtami that was celebrated on Monday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

‘More MPLAD funds for urban areas’
Bathinda, August 22
Member of Parliament from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, has so far released a grant of Rs 1.32 crore for Bathinda district. The information was procured by a Bathinda resident under the Right to Information Act.

Residents seek supply of potable water
Abohar, August 22
The residents of Friends Colony located on the old Fazilka road here have expressed resentment over supply of non-potable water for drinking. At a meeting presided over by Banwari Lal Garg today, they regretted that the Municipal Council had not responded to the complaints lodged during the past six months in this connection.

	Rising pollution threatens to choke Sirhind canal Megha Mann Tribune News Service Bathinda, August 22 The Bathinda branch of the Sirhind canal is filled to its capacity and is posing a threat to its sensitive and weak embankments. Grappling with the problem of overgrown weeds, thick vegetation and pollution, the canal is in immediate need of de-silting and clean up. The situation is so alarming that even light showers can lead to the flooding of the areas situated along the canal such as Balla Ram Nagar, parts of the Thermal Colony, the National Colony and the Janata Nagar. The Bathinda branch originates from near Manpur in Doraha where it gets 2,600 cusecs of water. Till the time it reaches Bathinda, the canal carries a mere 800 cusecs of water. The irrigation department has written to the state government demanding funds to the tune of Rs 90 lakh for the cleaning up of the canal from the Bibiwal head works to the Teona head. Despite repeated requests, the government is yet to give a nod to the project. Pleading anonymity, officials of the irrigation department said there was an impending danger of the canal banks getting damaged due to excess water. For this reason, they had been sending repeated reminders to the Bathinda district administration as well as the government. The canal was cleaned more than 15 years ago. "But even then, cleaning was not a major project. Over the years, pollution in this water body has increased. People have started dumping non-biodegradable waste in it, which neither disintegrated over time nor was it carried forward along with water," said the drainage department officials. With increasing pollution, especially in the urban pockets, the canal's capacity to carry water has also decreased. Clean-up likely to begin from Oct 10 Bathinda: Chief engineer, Irrigation, Punjab, Amarjit Singh Dullat said the government had asked the irrigation department to go ahead with the clean-up project. "The water supply to the canal needs to be suspended to begin the work on the project. Being paddy and cotton seasons, we cannot stop the water supply at present. In view of this, the clean up operation will be started from October 10 onwards in tandem with the crop cycle. The demand for water falls after October 1," Dullat added. — TNS
	Busy in SGPC polls, SAD overlooking flood crisis, allege Cong leaders Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, August 22 The Congress has alleged that the ruling SAD leadership is busy in the SGPC elections while the people living in flood affected villages along the Sutlej river are facing a tough situation. After visiting the flood affected areas in the Ferozepur and Moga districts, former health minister and senior Congress leader Dr Malti Thapar said the SAD leadership should take care of the residents affected by the floods rather than drawing strategies to win over the religious sentiments of Sikh masses in the ensuing SGPC elections. She said many villages in the Dharamkot tehsil of the Moga district and other adjoining villages of the Ferozepur district are surrounded by the flood waters. "The local administration has not provided any help to the affected people," she claimed. She said the local people of flood affected villages have informed her that the administration has not provided them with boats, fodder for cattle and medicines. She met the sarpanches and panches of a few villages and inquired about their problems. "I would send a detailed report of your problems to the Union Government through a proper channel for immediate relief," she assured the people. Dr Thapar said the state government should deploy medical veterinary and officers for 24 hours in the flood affected areas with regular supply of medicines to check the spread of dreadful diseases. Adding that the people were suffering from many kinds of skin ailments and viral fever, she alleged that the state government has not provided adequate medicines for them. She also demanded the government to order a special 'girdawari' for evaluating losses to the crops. "The local people have told me that over 1000 acres of standing paddy crop has been damaged in the floods within the embankment areas of the Sutlej," she added. It may be mentioned that a majority of the people in these area were allotted lands either belonging to the weaker sections of the society or displaced persons during the 1947 partition of the country. Dr Thapar was accompanied by Vijay Dhir, ex-chairman, Market Committee, Kot-ise- Khan, Sadhu Singh, vice-president, district party unit and local sarpanches and panches.
	Farmers construct ring bandh on their own Our Correspondent Ferozepur, August 22 At Basti Ramlal, the farmers are constructing a ring bandh on their own ahead of the advance flood protection bandh to protect their crops against Sutlej's fury. Sarpanch of the village Nishan Singh said the farmers of this village have pooled their resources and were working round-the-clock to safeguard their fields. An elderly farmer Samma Singh stated that they were working overnight for the last week to construct the bandh, which has saved the fields from getting submerged till now. "If the water level in the Sutlej further rises, all the efforts may prove futile," he added. However, they just hope that the situation does not deteriorate further. "The cost of around 2500 acres standing crop was around Rs 10 crores and if we can save our fields by spending Rs 3-4 lakh, our effort would not go in vain," said Nishan Singh. "We do not expect out MLA or MP to extend any help, however, if the DC can sanction some funds, it would be of great help to us," he added. Gurdev Singh, another farmer pointed out that they had engaged a JCB on rent for which Rs 700 per hour was being paid by the farmers. Besides, tractors, diesel and other expenses were also being contributed. Jagroop Singh, Sarpanch, Kale Ke Hithar, said their fields were situated around seven kilometers ahead of the bandh due to which they were vulnerable to the floods. He demanded that an advance bandh should be constructed here so that they have some protection against the ravaging Sutlej. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sukhpal Singh Nannu said he has taken up the matter with the Drainage officials to construct advance bandh in the area.
	3 killed, 7 hurt as car collides with truck Bathinda, August 22 Three pilgrims, including a girl child, were killed on the spot while seven others were injured when the car in which they were travelling, collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction near Gehri Butter village on the Bathinda-Dabwali road this afternoon. The injured were admitted to the Civil Hospital. The occupants of the car were returning to Barnala after paying obeisance at Gugga Marrie, a religious place in Rajasthan, when the mishap took place. The truck was reportedly on its way to Dabwali from Bathinda. The deceased were identified as Amar Singh (55), his wife Krishna Devi (50) and their three-year-old grand-daughter Khushi (daughter of Vikram Singh). Those injured were identified as Raj Kumar (37), his wife Seema Rani (35) and their two sons, Varun Kumar (12) and Tarun Kumar (10); Vikram Singh (30), his wife Sunita and son Anmol (1). Seema Rani, who was among those injured, said Amar Singh had been driving the car when the mishap took place. ASI Darshan Singh from Sangat police station, who was investigating the case, said the police was yet to record the statement of the injured. Only after that will a case be registered against the truck driver, the ASI said. However, he confirmed the death of three persons in the accident. President of a local NGO, Sahara Jan Sewa, Vijay Goyal said three ambulances were rushed to bring the injured to the Bathinda Civil Hospital. Medicines also had also been provided, he said. — TNS