Bathinda, October 14
With the five-year term of the SAD- BJP government in Punjab nearing completion, the city is witnessing a flurry of developmental activities.

Those who had been complaining of lack of basic amenities, poor roads and infrastructure are now seemingly content with the fast pace of repair, maintenance and construction work going on in the city.

"One can clearly see the difference now. Earlier, people used to approach the political leaders and now it is just the opposite. It is they who visit us to enquire about our problems and demands," said Manjit Singh, a resident of Dhobiana Basti.

He said the pending works, which can bring respite to the people, are being completed on a priority basis in the area. Those areas, which wee left untouched in the last five years, are suddenly seeing projects being executed at a fast pace. Tenders have been floated to carry out the construction of roads, streets and the laying of sewerage pipes.

"We had been complaining of damaged street for the last many years but no one bothered. Now, the local leaders keep sending one official or the other to look into the problems of the residents of the area," said Ram Piyari, a resident of Cantonment road, near Dhobiana.

Earlier, the area had been witnessing heated arguments and quarrels over an issue like inundated streets. Now, people hope to get respite as machines were used for levelling the street and paving it.

Interestingly, in the last few months, the number of tenders floated by the Bathinda Municipal Corporation has increased. "The construction work, be it roads, streets, maintenance and the other basic amenities being provided by the government, has indeed witnessed an increase in the city in recent months as the number of tenders floated has increased," said a local contractor, JS Brar of Model Town, Phase-II.

Eyeing the polls, the government and the local administration is leaving no stone unturned to usher in development for the benefit of the people, he added.

Similarly, the residents of Model Town, Phase-III, where the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) is re-carpeting the road network said, "Even those roads which were in good condition are being re-laid. This is being done after a gap of more than four years," said Jaswinder Singh of Model Town, Phase-III.

Also, shopkeepers in the Dhobi Bazaar said potholes on the roads, which were damaged for a long time, have been filled.

Bathinda, October 14
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has sought a report from the Director, Health Services, Punjab, regarding the quality of water samples that failed tests in Bathinda.

The PSHRC action came on the basis of a complaint filed in this regard by the Member of Parliament, Avinash Rai Khanna, in connection with a news item, published in The Tribune on September 14, '26 per cent water samples fail test in Bathinda'. The rights panel has sought the report by January 17, 2012.

According to the complaint, filed by Khanna with the PSHRC, The Tribune highlighted in a report that 26 per cent of the water samples, collected by the Bathinda health authorities in eight months, have failed the bacteriological test during the first testing.

The testing was conducted to check the presence of the E. Coli bacteria at the State Public Health Laboratory, Chandigarh.

In their order, the members of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, KK Bhatnagar and LR Roojam, have stated that after examining the contents of the complaint, the Commission prima facie takes cognizance of the matter and calls for a report under Section 17 (1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 from the Director, Health Services, Punjab well before January 17, 2012, on which date the case shall come up before the Commission for further consideration.

The Tribune had also added in its report that the health authorities collected 393 water samples from various parts of the district during the first eight months of this calendar year, of which 96 samples (about 26 per cent) failed the test. However, the results of 20 samples were awaited at that time.

After the failure of the water samples, the health authorities got seven domestic water sources (three in Bathinda and four in Chughe Kalan village in Goniana block) closed during the first quarter of this calendar year.

The water samples were collected from the water sources of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Department (RWSSD), local bodies, government and private schools and others, including RO plants, hand-pumps and ice factories. 

Bathinda, October 14
Mobile phone towers hog the city’s changing skyline. The city is flooded with 160 towers under the Bathinda Municipal Corporation and around 100 under the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), located in the residential areas.

With no specific policy exercising control over the increasing number of these structures, the towers continue to emit radiation putting the health of the residents at risk. Lenient rules and policies allow easy installation of towers on the rooftops in the residential areas. Since there is no policy over the minimum distance between the two towers, at many places, multiple towers are situated in the same locality.

As per the rules applicable within the municipal limits, people keen to get mobile phone towers fixed atop their houses, have to seek simple permission from the Bathinda Municipal Corporation. The BMC charges an annual fee of Rs 5000 and a sanction fees of Rs 10,000 while installing these towers. In rural areas, it is the respective panchayat that allows the installation of these towers. “We just have the local bodies’ guidelines, which are silent on the technical aspects of mobile towers and its radiations. We just have to give building safety certificates, which are easily issued. Beyond this we do not have any role in installing towers,” said the BMC officials.

With te swelling number of subscribers to various companies in telecom sector, the cellular companies multiply thenumber of antennas or mobile towers, in its bid to provide deep reach to their subscribers. “In the telecom sector, everything is dependent on the signal. The stronger the signal, better the services and to ensure round-the-clock network, telecom companies are madly installing towers without caring two hoots for the people,” said the local dealer of a cellular company near the Gole Diggi market.

The owners of buildings, atop which towers are installed, are unaware of the health implications. Jostling to get free monthly income with nil inputs, these people get between Rs 5000 to Rs 20000 per month.

A few cellular companies even offer one to three years of advance payment and free power supply for owners in order to get best locations.

Bathinda, October 14
Taking advantage of the arrest of almost all senior state-level leaders of the Computerised Land Records Employees Welfare Association, Punjab, the local police today swung into action and got the tent removed, which was being used for staging a dharna by the striking employees of the Farad Kendras since September 26 outside the Mini-secretariat here.

Along with the state-level leaders, 100 other employees of various Farad Kendras from different parts of the state were also arrested by the police here, last night.

As per the details, the names of the top arrested leaders include state president of the Association Harpreet Singh, vice-president, Gagandeep Singh, general secretary, Devinderpal Singh, media adviser, Gurpreet Singh and a member of the core committee Naresh Kumar.

On being asked as to on whose order the tent had been removed, Bathinda Tehsildar Avtar Singh Makkar said they had received orders from the government to do so. In the tent, the striking employees had been staging dharna in support of their demand regarding regularisation of their services. They were earlier adamant on not leaving the tent until the acceptance of their demand. However, as their leader was not present today, the cops forced them to vacate the tent and leave the dharna site. Notably, less than 100 striking employees, including 25 girls, were present. They succumbed to the police pressure and left the dharna site.

On the occasion, Bathinda Tehsildar Avtar Singh Makkar, SHO of Kotwali Jagdish Lal and Civil Lines police station SHO Jaspal Singh along with some cops were present. They called the owner of the tent house and instructed him that in future he should hang a plate, carrying his phone number and name, at the site of the tent. They also instructed him to remove the tent soon.

Talking to the TNS over the phone today, SHO, Thermal police station, Darshan Singh said the police arrested 108 striking employees of the Farad Kendras, last night.

Among those arrested were 28 employees, who had climbed the overhead waterworks near the Rose Garden here in the afternoon on Thursday and got down late in the evening.

The SHO said the police had registered a case against 28 employees (who had climbed the water tank) under Sections 309, 427 and 452 of the IPC.

He said they had been produced in a local court today that remanded them in the judicial custody till October 28. The SHO further added that the remaining 80 employees, who had been arrested under Sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC, they had been remanded in judicial custody by the executive magistrate till October 24. 

Succumbing to police pressure, the striking employees vacated the tent as they remained leaderless 

28 employees, who climbed water tank, remanded in judicial custody till October 28

As less than 100 striking employees, including 25 girls were present, they could not  bear the pressure of the police and left the site of the agitation 

Bathinda, October 14
The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) would confer Dr VR Khanolkar Oration Award for the year 2010-11 on Dr Jai Rup Singh, vice-chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.

The award would be given to Dr Singh at the 51st annual conference of the NAMS to be held from October 14-16 at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Bhubneshwar. Dr Singh would also give a presentation on the ‘Genetics of congenital contract: From phenotype to genotype’ on October 16 during the presentation session by the NAMS awardees.

The varsity spokesperson said Dr VR Khanolkar Oration is a prestigious award that the NAMS established in 1987 in the memory of the first president of academy and till now it has been awarded to only ten medical scientists. The oration includes a cash award and a commemorative medal. The award has been given in recognition to Dr Singh's outstanding contributions in the field of medical genetics.

Oration and Awards Committee of the NAMS has applauded his contributions towards the prenatal and postnatal diagnosis of the genetic disorders in human population from the Northern India.

Prior to his joining the CUP, he was the vice-chancellor of the Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar). An internationally recognised scientist, Dr Jai Rup Singh is amongst the pioneers of human genetics in India and has done path-breaking research on genetics of eye diseases, diabetes and population disease profiling.

He has been a visiting professor to many foreign universities and has delivered over 60 invited talks internationally and is represented on many academic bodies.

Bathinda, October 14
The non-teaching staff serving under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) today continued its pen-down strike for the fifth day.

The agitating employees sat on dharna outside the office of the District Education Officer (Elementary) on the call of their state body.

President of the SSA Union Ankush Bansal and vice-president Beant Kaur said there are 62 non-teaching staff members in the district and 2,314 employees in the state.

They were appointed in the year 2002 on contract basis. They have been demanding regularisation of services and the benefits associated with it. Bansal said the employees deserve better treatment and salaries after serving the department for over nine years.

He claimed that non-teaching work of the SSA has been adversely affected due to the pen-down strike.

The union members threatened to continue their strike if their demands are not accepted.

Bathinda, October 14
The Government Rajindra College's staff today felicitated the students, who participated in the regional youth festival of the Punjabi University (Patiala) and bagged the trophy.

Principal Vijay Kumar Goyal congratulated the youth coordinator Gurjit Singh Mann, in-charges of various teams, committees, staff members and the students for the achievement. Vijay Kumar distributed certificates to the winners.

The college won the overall trophy in giddha, music, theatre, creative skills, folk orchestra, quiz, western group song and group shabad and theatre. Ramandeep Kaur Mann was awarded as the best actress.

Besides, the college students also registered victory in the classical vocal, classical instrumental (percussion), western solo, cartooning, debate, declamation, skit, drama, ghazal, classical (non-percussion) and mime.

Meanwhile, a three-day 'Akhand Path' concluded today at the Punjabi University College Ghudda. Principal Dr DK Madaan and the faculty members organised the path. SAD leader Darshan Singh Kotfatta and secretary to the Deputy CM Avtar Singh were also present. They lauded the efforts of the college management.

Bathinda October 14
 new trend can be seen emerging among the residents of the city on Karva Chauth, an all-time favourite festival of women, which brings a heavy rush to the markets. In gift shops and jewellery show-rooms, the women seemed excited in choosing their diamond and silver gifts with their spouses in tow.

Shivangi Garg, a housewife from Gidderbaha, was spotted in the market buying stuff for the festival. "It is an emotional feeling. It is my 17th fast after my marriage and my husband always give me a gift on the occasion. The last time, he gifted me a gold pendant set. However, this year, I am expecting a diamond gift," she said.

Another housewife, Veena Gupta, was also expecting an item made of diamond from her husband. "No doubt, gold ornaments are the traditional gifts. However, women these days go by trends and not tradition. Hence, we opt for our best friend, i.e. diamond."

Rajveer Singh, the owner of Maharaja Jeweller, said, "The husbands demand silver and diamond gifts for their wives. Last day, a diamond pendant of Rs 50,000 was sold to a buyer, who bought it especially for Karva Chauth. Also, silver anklets are becoming a favourable choice for women."

"Although, gold has good re-sale value, even then, people are not purchasing it. Perhaps, because its rate keeps fluctuating every day," he added.

Henna is the other passion of the women on Karva Chauth. There is barely any space in the Dhobi Bazaar as the mehendi artists have occupied every corner. The henna artists from other states such as Rajasthan and Agra have come especially for the occasion.

"The women demand traditional heavy designs for this day. Also, we shoot up the rates on these days. Nobody goes for tattooing. Rather, they love full arm length designs,” said Anil Kumar. Satish Rathore, who is from Rajasthan, said, "We prepare over 300 mehendi cones for the occasion.”

Bathinda, October 14
The common people visiting the government offices were at the receiving end today as a large number of women employees were found “missing” from their respective seats.

A visit to the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) office and the Mini-secretariat revealed that many women employees were either absent today or had left for the day before the lunch hours.

“Tomorrow is Karva Chauth, so most of the female employees are unavailable. All important work would now be done on Monday,” lamented the BDA officials while talking to a visitor.

In most of the government offices, it is the women who are deployed at seats where public dealing is done. Being a vital link between the people and the respective department, their absence after the lunch hours pinched the visitors.

One of the senior functionaries in the revenue department refused to comment on the absence of female employees. “I don’t stop women from going on leave. It’s up to them whether they return after the lunch time or not,” he said, refusing to give an official comment. — TNS