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Glut-like situation
Farmers’ unrest at Gobindpura |
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CPI asks Cong to clear its stand on land acquisition
Punjab Gramin Bank gets RBI nod to open branches in urban areas
Protesting NRHM staff prevent departure of mobile vans to villages
Food & civil supplies officials suspended
Gangster arrested in Barnala
Two bus passengers electrocuted
Gastro conclave at Adesh
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Glut-like situation
Bathinda, August 24 Farmers blame the lack of export policy of the government, shortage of processing units, marketing problems and others issues for their loss. “Apart from the government’s flippant attitude, the yield of potato also increased this year which led to a glut- like situation,” said Jagtar Singh Brar, general secretary of the Bathinda Horticultural Association. Jagtar has been cultivating potato on his 50 acres in Mehma Sarja village since 1977 and this time, he grew it on 30 acres along with his brothers. “A similar situation was witnessed in the past as well, but it’s terrible this time,” he said, adding that the arhtiyas (commission agents) were not ready to get the crop delivered at their doorstep. He said farmers sell potatoes at a cost of Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 per kg in the wholesale market that is further sold for Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg by the retailers in the open market. Harcharan Singh Dhillon in Mahraj village said he grows different varieties of potatoes on 250 acres. Manjit Singh of Haripur village in Amloh block of Fatehgarh Sahib said farmers pay Rs 90 to stock a quintal of potatoes in cold storage. They also pay for transportation as well as bags to store the crop, he added. Farmers who had sold this crop earlier fetched about Rs 300 to Rs 500 per quintal but now they were facing losses. This year, the yield per acre was 120 to 150 quintals while it was 100 to 120 quintals during the previous season. Better climate led to better yield this time, farmers said. Horticulture development officer Dr Narinderjit Singh said lack of marketing strategy for potato crop had led to the glut-like situation. He said the area under the crop reduced this season from 5,580 hectares to 5,080 hectares. However, the yield had increased, he added. |
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Farmers’ unrest at Gobindpura
Bathinda, August 24 Sukhdev Singh, general secretary, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) said a final decision on accepting the offer for talks by the CM will be taken at Amritsar tomorrow when the leaders of all farmer unions will meet. Simultaneously, the indefinite dharna outside the offices of the deputy commissioner at Mansa, Jalandhar and Amritsar will continue. TNS adds from Mansa: Farmers protesting against land acquisition at Gobindpura and BDA Enclave in ward number 5 of Bathinda today blocked the roads leading to the offices of the Mansa Deputy Commissioner and SSP for two hours. More police force was deployed around the protesting farmers when they decided to block the roads leading to the office of the senior district officials. Meanwhile, the functioning of various government offices and police station remained disrupted the whole day today due to the protest. The farmers have organised community kitchen (langar) wherein they are serving tea and snacks to the protesters since Monday morning. |
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CPI asks Cong to clear its stand on land acquisition
Bathinda, August 24 During 2002-07, the Congress Government had forcibly acquired 376 acres of agriculture land near Barnala for a private industrial house, the Trident Group, by using police force on a large scale and committing ‘atrocities’ on the agitating farmers besides sending them behind the bars. Stating this today, a member of the national executive of the CPI Dr Joginder Dayal said it was a good sign that the Congress was now fighting against the forcible acquisition of lands of the farmers of Gobindpura village and was going to launch a morcha from September 2, demanding scrapping of the acquisition. He said if the Congress had really changed its policy regarding forcible acquisition of agriculture land, then it should make it public. Dr Dayal also strongly condemned the SAD-BJP Government for ‘adopting’ repressive measures against the agitating farmers of Gobindpura village and turning the village into a police fortress thereby preventing people from visiting the village. He said on the one hand, the SAD-BJP Government was talking about the civil rights and on the other hand, it was working like ‘broker’ in land acquisition. He asked why the Badal Government had deployed security forces in Gobindpura area for the past some weeks if it was pro-farmers in real terms. He said the Gobindpura thermal plant was being developed by a private company after signing a MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the government. He said the CPI was of the view that instead of signing the MoU, the government should have called tenders. The MoU did not mention the price that the consumers would have to pay for the power to be generated at this thermal plant. Dayal also urged the Centre to table the Land Acquisition Bill in the Parliament at the earliest. He added that the Bill should contain a provision that if the government wanted to acquire lands in the larger interests of the public for establishing government projects, it would not acquire fertile and multi-crops lands. The Bill should also provide for the rehabilitation of farmers, education facilities and jobs to the displaced families. He further said the CPI also strongly opposed the proposed closure of Bathinda thermal plant as it would lead to shortage of electricity in the state. He said there were no reasons to dismantle the thermal plant as it was still able to serve the state for another 15 to 20 years. |
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Changing Times: Few Pak women seen in burqa at The Retreat
Hussainiwala border (Ferozepur), August 24 They did not hesitate removing the burqa when the ceremony started in the evening, this despite the growing influence of fundamentalists in Pakistan. Most of them, along with the menfolk, cheered for the Pakistani Rangers while making angry gestures at the BSF personnel. Women in the Pakistani pavilion were seen clicking pictures of the ceremony. A woman cop was also seen among them. It is an eyeball to eyeball contact among visitors on both sides with only a thin white line dividing the Indian and the Pakistani pavilions. The 25-minutes ceremony begins at 6 pm everyday. While the Indians wave the Tricolour and chant “Bharat mata ki jai,” the Pakistanis retaliate with the “Pakistan zindabad” slogan. There is great excitement when a BSF soldier and a Pakistani Ranger march into each other’s territory to lower their national flags. The Tricolour is lowered near the Pakistani flag post, while the Pakistani flag is wrapped on the Indian side where para-military personnel carry the flags to their respective sides. The Rangers now wear black shoes instead of the Peshwari sandal. Rajesh Gupta, DIG, BSF, said a sum of Rs 16.39 crore had been sanctioned for building a new pavilion with a seating capacity of about 2,750. The CPWD would shortly begin work on the pavilion. The existing pavilion can accomodate 1,000 persons. The Pakistanis have built a new double-storeyed pavilion with separate space for women. Deputy commissioner Karuna S Raju said that the Shaheed Smarak of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev would be given a facelift. A large number of people visit the memorial everyday to pay respect to the martyrs. |
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Punjab Gramin Bank gets RBI nod to open branches in urban areas
Abohar, August 24 Having a network of 180 rural branches covering 13 districts in the state at present, the bank plans to open 15 new branches during the current financial year. Taking a leap towards making banking services available in the rural areas, the PGB has initiated the process for opening kiosks in 93 villages. These would be equipped with the state-of-the-art voicemail machines that would inform the customer about the amount drawn by them besides displaying the information on the screen. As many as 375 Farmers Club have so far been sponsored in the villages to bring awareness among the people, 12 new clubs were inaugurated by the chairman during the function held at Arorvansh Bhawan here. Regional manager Yogesh Sharma, district coordinator Dinesh Sharma and APS Brar, state president of the Punjab Gramin Bank Officers Association were also present. Loans amounting Rs 12 crore were also distributed to 423 customers drawn from eight branches of the area. Chairman Goyal said the facilities such as ATM and core banking facilities including RTGS/NEFT cheque books would also be provided to the customers in the rural areas bringing a sea change in the present concept of banking. The PGB had been rated first among all the rural banks across the country last year and now has set a record of 87 percent achievement in advances whereas the national average was only 40 per cent. The achievement in the agricultural sector advancing was 76 against the national per cent of 18 per cent, he added. “We are determined to involve each family in rural areas in banking,” Goyal said. |
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Protesting NRHM staff prevent departure of mobile vans to villages
Bathinda, August 24 An MMU van visits a village daily. Due to non-departure of two MMU vans from the local Civil Hospital, the residents of two villages of the Sangat and Ballianwali blocks today could not avail medical services at their doorsteps. Each MMU unit contains an X-ray machine, a laboratory, an ECG machine and medicines while a contingent of eight staff members, including two doctors, radiographer, laboratory technician, pharmacist, staff nurse and helper, are also part of an MMU. Under the banner of the NRHM Employees Association, Punjab, the staff of the NRHM has been observing agitation since August 8 in support of their demands, regularisation of services, formulation of service rules, and implementation of pay scales, recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission, Punjab. District president of the association Narinder Kumar said that after the unsuccessful talks, held between the government and association representatives on August 23, the association had decided to burn effigies of the state government at the district headquarters and submit memorandums, enlisting their demands, to the deputy commissioners. He said as the Badal Government was not accepting their demands, the families of the NRHM employees would show their strength to the candidates of the SAD-BJP combine in the ensuing Assembly elections. There are over 5,300 employees of different categories, working under the NRHM throughout the state, who have been observing agitation since August 8. These categories include auxiliary nursing midwife (ANM), staff nurse, computer operator, block statistical assistant, information assistant, district accounts officer etc. |
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Food & civil supplies officials suspended
Bathinda, August 24 The police had registered a case on June 6 wherein it was alleged that Daljit Singh, the owner of the sheller, had sold the rice brought for shelling. The police booked him and his wife in this regard. The police said the wife seemed to have nothing to do with the sale of rice, as she was not found guilty in the preliminary investigation. The police had registered a case under various sections of the IPC and also included some concerned officials of the department, who were interrogated during the investigation. Gulbahar Singh, Director, Food and Civil Supplies, today ordered the suspension of inspectors Rajan Gupta and Jagwinder on account of negligence. Both are presently deployed at Rampura Phul. The police said the owner of the rice sheller was absconding and will be arrested soon.
— TNS |
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Students take out rally in Anna Hazare’s support
Fazilka, August 24 The procession was taken out under the banner of the Talmail Committee, Fazilka. The committee has been initiating a relay hunger strike at the local Clock Tower which entered its ninth day today. The rally started from Sanjeev Cinema crossing and after passing through Gaushalla Road, Cycle Bazaar, Shastri Chowk, Sarafan Bazaar and Waan Bazaar was terminated at the Clock Tower, the venue of hunger strike. While addressing the gathering at the Clock Tower crossing, convener of the committee Raj Kishore Karla exhorted the students to lead life honestly to wipe out corruption. |
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Gangster arrested in Barnala
Barnala, August 24 Even as Kala along with his one accomplice Harpreet Singh aka Bugal was arrested, four of their accomplice identified as Dharminder Singh, a resident of Manderkalan, Babi Cheema of Mehal Kalan, Deepa, a resident of Bhadalwad and Karamjit Singh of Payal, managed to flee from the spot. DSP Barnala Rupinder Singh Bhardwaj said Kala Dhanaula, who is already facing 29 cases under serious offences, majority of them relating to gang war, was arrested with a .315 bore rifle and 30 live cartridges after a tip-off in this connection. He added that the police have launched a hunt for his absconding accomplices. The DSP added that the cops would seek police remand of Kala Dhanaula and subject him and his arrested accomplice to sustained questioning for doling out the facts related to his role in various crimes. |
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Two bus passengers electrocuted
Bathinda, August 24 The bus slowed down after crossing Lehra Mohabbat village at around 7 am, as a herd of cattle obstructed the way. Some boys sitting on the roof of bus tried to drive away the cattle by shouting. However, 18-year-old Gurjivan came into contact with live wires when he raised his hand to shoo away the animals. Another passenger, Harbans (45), who was sitting near the door of the bus, alighted barefoot and came into contact with electricity. Both died on the spot.
— TNS |
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Gastro conclave at Adesh
Bathinda, August 24 Chief guests on the occasion would be Vice-chancellor of the Central University of Punjab Dr Jairup Singh and Vice-chancellor of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) Dr SS Gill.
— TNS |
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Farmers, who had stored potato crop in cold storages, are incurring losses these days due to the high storage costs and good yield, which lowered the price of the crop.
Farmers store the perishable crop in the month of March up to November.
