Bathinda, January 13
During the scrutiny of the nomination papers filed by the candidates of various political parties and the independents in the six Assembly constituencies of this district, namely Bathinda (Rural), Bathinda (Urban), Talwandi Sabo, Maur, Bhucho Mandi and Rampura Phul, as many as 23 nomination papers were rejected by the returning officers (ROs) today. Most of the nomination papers were rejected as the same were filed by the persons as covering candidates of the candidates of political parties.

As many as 90 nomination papers were filed in the district. After the rejection of 23 nomination papers, now 67 candidates have been left.

However, the actual number of candidates, who will remain in the poll fray, will become clear after Jaunary16, the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

According to information available, during scrutiny from Bhucho Mandi Assembly constituency, the nomination papers of five candidates (out of total 15 candidates) were rejected today. The five candidates were reportedly covering candidates.

From Bathinda (Urban) constituency, five nomination papers (out of 18) were rejected. Four of them were covering candidates while one was an independent candidate whose papers were rejected on account of her conviction and sentence in a court case.

From Maur constituency, three nomination papers (out of 13) were rejected, of which two were of the covering candidates while one was rejected due to incomplete papers.

From Bathinda (Rural) constituency, nomination papers of two covering candidates (out of total 10 nomination papers) were rejected.

From Talwandi Sabo constituency, four nomination papers (out of 14) were rejected. Three were rejected as they were of the covering candidates while one was that of an independent candidate. The nomination of the latter were rejected due to incomplete papers.

Out of 20 nomination papers filed from the Rampura Phul constituency, four were rejected.

All these were filed by covering candidates.

Bathinda, January 13
Considering the safety of children going to school in buses and vans, the police and the District Transport Office have directed all the schools to fall in line with the rules and regulations.

“Keeping in view the Ambala tragedy wherein school children were killed in an accident, we have issued instructions to all the schools to ensure that all safety norms are being adhered to. All the school vehicles will have to follow the Supreme Court guidelines and anyone found violating them would be penalised,” said District Transport Officer (DTO) Bhupinder Singh.

The most important thing is to ensure that children are not overloaded in the school vehicles. “To make quick bucks, most of the bus operators resort to using platforms that increase the seating capacity of their vehicle leading to overloading. Buses and vans should have children sitting in them and not in a standing position,” the DTO pointed out.

During a recently held meeting of school principals, bus operators and school van owners, the DTO had directed that parents should also be sensitised to ensuring the safety of their children.

Following the orders, schools have started issuing circulars to the parents apprising them of the guidelines and orders.

As per the guidelines, the school buses should be painted yellow and the words ‘school bus’ must be mentioned on the front and the rear of the bus. In case it is a hired bus, the words ‘on school duty’ should be mentioned on it. The bus should be equipped with a first-aid box. Further, the bus should be fitted with a speed governor of specified standard. Besides, horizontal grills should also be fixed in the windows for the safety of kids.

It is mandatory for all schools buses and vans to have a fire extinguisher. The bus should bear the name of the school and its telephone number and its doors should be fitted with reliable locks.

Strict guidelines for the driver and the bus attendant have also been issued. There must be a qualified attendant in the bus; the driver should have at least five years of experience in driving heavy vehicle; and the driver who has been challaned more than twice in a year for offences like red light jumping, violation of lane discipline cannot be employed.

An unauthorised person cannot be employed as a bus driver. A person who has been challaned even once for any of the offences such as over speeding, drunken driving and dangerous driving etc, cannot be employed.

Bathinda, January 13
The money spent on modifying a Mahindra jeep for the SAD candidate Sarup Chand Singla's poll campaign, would now be accounted in his election expenditure.

The Returning Officer for the Bathinda (Urban) Assembly constituency, SDM Harjit Singh Kandhola, today issued a notice to Sarup Chand Singla stating that the money spent on modifying the vehicle would be considered as a part of his poll expenses which have an upper limit of Rs 16 lakh.

Kandhola specified that the modification was not a violation of the model code of conduct. However, the expenses incurred on the modification of the vehicle were liable to be included in the statement of the election expenditure of the said candidate.

The District Transport Officer (DTO) has been requested to intimate the Returning Officer about the approximate expenses that have been incurred on modifying the jeep. The DTO office has also been requested to take an appropriate action against the owner of the jeep for violation, if any, under the Motor Vehicle Act.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Bathinda Tribune highlighted the issue in its columns today.

Bathinda, January 13
The residents of Paras Ram Nagar today staged a dharna against a blocked sewer that was laid recently.

Area residents of Ravidass Gali raised slogans against the authorities of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, accusing them of not laying the sewer properly. Sewer pipes were laid in the area at the cost of Rs 1.5 lakh.

"Before starting the new sewer, it has been plugged for technical reasons. This plugging was removed in the morning and sewer was made functional. The matter has now been resolved," said area municipal councillor Vijay Kumar.

Bathinda, January 13
A boiler of thermo fluid mixer caught fire at the Bathinda Chemicals Limited (BCL) today affecting the equipment worth Rs 1 crore. The workers working on the spot escaped unscathed.

Five tenders from the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, fire brigade and one ach from the NFL and the GNDTP were pressed into service to douse the uncontrolled flames. It took around three hours to extinguish the fire.

Managing director of the BCL, Rajinder Mittal, said the oil leakage in equipment was detected at around 8 am, following which the fire brigade was informed.

Fire officer Baldev Singh said the flames were doused using foam.

It is worth mentioning here that in September 2011, the same section had caught fire due to leakage in the oil pipeline. Then, a loss of Rs 3 crore was reported.

Mittal said it was a mere coincidence that the same section caught fire again. “The equipment affected now was replaced just three years ago. This equipment costs Rs 1 crore, but it is not known yet as to how much portion would have to be replaced and how much has become defective,” he said.

An inside view of the Best Price, a modern wholesale store, opened in Bhucho Kalan on the Bathinda-Barnala road on Friday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Fact file

• The Bharti-Walmart opens its first store in the region, at Bhucho Kalan.
• Provides jobs, directly and indirectly, to over 600 youths.
• Dedicates nearly 25 per cent of its space to local products.
• The store has over 4,500 items ranging from vegetables to IT products to home care items.

Bathinda, January 13
Severe cold wave conditions accompanying frost in the morning continued in the region in the last few days as the mercury failed to surpass the two degrees Celsius mark in the morning hours.

Moreover, the weathermen also do not see any breather in the next 36 hours. The mercury, however, may relent a bit after Saturday. The residents of the city are likely to witness other vagaries of weather as there is a possibility of rain and thundershowers after Saturday.

Mercury, which remained hovering around two degrees Celsius, again dipped today to touch the freezing point.

As per the Agri-met Department of the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) regional station, Bathinda, the temperature recorded at 7 am today was 0.6 degrees Celsius.

The day’s high was 20.4 degrees Celsius as mercury continued its northward mode in the afternoon. The wind speed was recorded at two kilometre per hour.

As far as the weather forecast is concerned, there would be no respite from the chill and the frost in the next 24 to 36 hours in Bathinda and its nearby places.

The temperature may also be low, capable of causing frost during the period.

The weathermen, however, predicted that there are possibilities of light rain and thundershowers after 36 hours. The night temperature may also increase during the period.

Bathinda, January 13
Dr Jagjit Singh Bahia, working as Associate Professor at the Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR), Bathinda, will be honoured for his contribution to the society and representation in the national and international conferences.

On February 14, the Indian International Friendship Society will honour him with the Rashtriya Gaurav Award along with the certificate of excellence.

In a press statement issued on Friday here, Dr Bahia stated that the Indian International Friendship Society is a well-known non-governmental organization (NGO), which was established in New Delhi and has been honouring various eminent personalities who have made their contribution to society such as Mother Teresa, Dr Naresh Trehan, Dr S K Sama, Dhanraj Pillay, Sunil Gavaskar, Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand, former CBI Director Joginder Singh and many more.

Dr Jagjit Singh Bahia has given 10 years of his service to treat the needy and poor people.

He was also honoured by the Mata Chintpurni Welfare Trust and Naujawan Welfare Society, Bathinda.

The gesture of the NGO is honouring the Adesh teacher has been appreciated by the teaching and medical fraternity.

Bathinda, January 13
The Baba Farid College of Management organised Lohri celebrations at the Baba Farid Group of Institution’s campus.

Punjabi singer Kulwinder Billa performed on the occasion. Students Jaspooran and Gulrej Khan too performed with him. Many other cultural programmes too were presented in the function.

The students of the college presented bhangra, giddha, choreography, solo dance and songs.

Choreography depicted social evils such as female feticide. Malwai Giddha presented by the school kids was the centre of attraction.

Meanwhile, Lohri was also celebrated at the GRDIET. The students came prepared for the colourful festival.

Chairman of the institute S. Harbhajan Singh was the guest of honour.

Chinderpal Singh, Satpal Singh, Dr HS Sandhu and Daljit Singh were also present. Dr Sandhu and Daljit Singh informed the students about the importance of the festival, which is about the victory of the good over the evil.

Bathinda, January 13
“Every thought expressed before its time has to pass through the stages of ridicule, opposition and the acceptance. Purity, determination and labour, these three things I want to see in every youth,” these thoughts of Swami Vivekananda were discussed at the Rose Garden recently to pay tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary. The members of the Swami Vivekananda Study Circle would launch a drive in the city to awaken people about their right to vote.

A public meeting is being held on January 22 at 4 pm to have a face-to-face discussion with all the candidates of the national parties in the fray in the coming assembly elections and to know their health and social agenda for the city. — TNS