The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Stubble still a burning issue Archit Watts Tribune News Service Muktsar, May 12 Even as it is banned as per the prohibitory orders issued by the deputy commissioners in the state, farmers continue to clear their fields by burning the crop leftover. Apparently, the prohibitory orders remain on papers while the officials concerned hardly make any effort to prevent the further degradation of the environment. As the sun sets, one can notice the stubble in the fields along the roads being set on fire. There is hardly any check or vigil by the officials concerned, especially during night. The burning of stubble leads to formation of thick clouds of smoke, which affect the visibility on the roads nearby, consequently putting the lives of motorists and bikers at risk. The illegal practice not only pollutes the environment but also burns away the essential nutrients and friendly organisms present in the soil. During a visit to a number of villages on the Malout-Gidderbaha -Bathinda road, TNS found that almost every farmer had burnt the wheat stubble in his fields. A fuel station owner on the Muktsar-Bathinda road said two days ago, a farmer burnt the wheat stubble in the fields nearby, which posed a great risk to the fuel station and could have resulted in a major tragedy. “The authorities must maintain vigil round the clock if they were serious about checking the illegal practice,” said the fuel station owner. The situation was almost similar on the Muktsar-Malout road. The burning of wheat stubble incinerated a few trees belonging to the forest department as well. The situation was found to be worst on the link roads connecting villages. On the Muktsar-Doda-Gidderbaha road, almost all fields were seen burnt to black. There was hardly any patch where the stubble was not burnt. Even as the burning of stubble causes respiratory problems, the farmers seem not to be in a mood to shun the practice. They term it as the cheapest and the easiest way of getting rid of the stubble and preparing the field for the next crop. Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh said, “I have directed the SSP to challan all those found violating the ban order imposed under Section 144 of the CrPC.” He, however, admitted that no challan had so far been issued to any violator this season and assured to take strict action against the violators.
	Now, notification of TB cases with health authorities a must Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 12 Keeping in view the severity of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the country, the Central Government has made it mandatory for the healthcare providers to notify every TB case to the local authorities, including district health officer and chief medical officer of a district, every month. The entire information about the TB cases, provided by the healthcare providers and the clinical establishments, will be kept confidential by the authorities. A letter in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, on May 7 last. After receiving a copy of the letter a couple of days ago, the Bathinda district health authorities have started proceedings to implement the orders. The Union ministry believes that in order to ensure proper diagnosis of TB and case management, reduction in TB transmission and address the problems relating to emergence and spread of drug resistant TB, complete information of all TB cases was essential. Bathinda District TB Officer (DTO) Dr Ashok Monga said any person found to be suffering from TB during laboratory test or diagnosed clinically as a case of TB, would be notified by the healthcare provider concerned to the health authorities. Dr Monga said with the notification of all TB cases, the data relating to the total number of TB cases, including simple cases and multi drug resistant (MDR) TB cases, in the district, in the state and in the country, would be collected. Besides, the types of the TB disease would also come to the notice in particular areas. The country would also know about the TB burden over it, he added. The DTO said for implementing the order of the ministry on ‘Notification of TB cases’, they had written to the local unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Adesh Medical Hospital, the Max Hospital, all senior medical officers (SMOs), homoeopathic and ayurvedic doctors to notify the TB cases to the health authorities. The district health authorities have also planned to hold meetings with the healthcare providers at the sub-division level and district level so as to create awareness about the notification of TB cases so that no TB case is left unreported to the health authorities.
	Bacchus lovers being overcharged in Moga Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, May 12 Liquor contractors in Moga district are fleecing the consumers by charging more money on account of sale of beer. The maximum rates for the same have already been fixed by the state government in its excise policy. They have made a steep hike in the rates of liquor as compared to the previous financial year and charge more rates for liquor being used in the marriage palaces besides forcing the consumers to purchase liquor from certain specified liquor vends, which is against the rules. Going by the official records of the excise and taxation department, all the groups that have been allotted licences for liquor vends in Moga are politically influential and are controlling the liquor business for the past many years. A local liquor contractor said he had negligible control in the business as a group in power was influential in deciding the rates. “I have very little share in the business,” he said. The Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC) Hardeep Bhamra said the liquor contractors were deliberately dragging the name of politicians, probably to avoid local influential people from disturbing them to negotiate liquor rates. However, the local people allege that the political and business stakes are high; the excise department seems to have no control on liquor vendors as they have started charging higher rates for the popular brands even without displaying the rate list. This correspondent visited various places in Moga town and other places in the district and found that beer was being sold for `90 per bottle to `120 per bottle for both the light and strong brands even as the excise department has fixed the rates at `70 and `75 for light and strong beer per bottle, respectively. Apart from this, the popular brands of IMFL liquor, Blender's Pride, Smirnoff and Royal Challenge, are being sold at `80 to `170 more than the rates per bottle at different places as compared to the last year's sale price. Similarly, the prices of Royal Stag, DYC and Red Knight are being sold at `50 to `100 more than last year's sale price. Investigations revealed that the contractors have pooled together, which has resulted into steep rise in prices. A source in the excise and taxation department revealed that the department officials normally allow them to pool so that the contractors do not suffer losses and revenue collections go on smoothly even as it is an illegal practice. The liquor vends in the districts have gone for `89 crore for the year 2012-2013 as compared to `79.86 crore the previous year, registering an estimated increase of 12 per cent.
	Jyani seeks reopening of ‘golden rly track’ between India, Pak Praful Chander Nagpal Fazilka, May 12 The issue of re-opening the golden railway track between India and Pakistan through Fazilka for trade purposes was raised by the local ruling party leaders before the Union Minister Jairam Ramesh during his visit to Fazilka district on Friday. Fazilka MLA and cabinet minister Surjit Kumar Jyani and other BJP leaders submitted a memorandum to the Union minister demanding revival of the golden rail track between Ludhiana and Karachi dry port via Fazilka for transporting goods. The memorandum mentioned that the rail link was the most viable and the shortest route during the pre-partition days on which trade flourished as Ludhiana and Karachi were industrial hubs. The British regime earned handsome revenue from the route; hence the name “golden track”, said Jyani. All towns and small rural stations along the rail link also contributed to the international trade. Fazilka was one of the largest wool and cotton markets of the northern region during those days. Its trade activities extended up to erstwhile Burma (now Myanmar) and Liverpool in England through this route, he added. “The neighbouring Rajasthan and Haryana would also be benefited with the opening of the track,” said Jyani. The over 950 km-long rail track between Ludhiana and Karachi was set up by the East India Company. The Indian raw material was transported through the rail link to Europe, East Asia and the Gulf countries. With the partition of the country, the rail link was snapped. “It has become necessary to re-open the golden track to improve the economy on the both sides of the border,” said the BJP minister. Besides, Jyani demanded six-laning of the former national-highway No. 10 (popularly known as DHS (Delhi-Hisar-Sulemanki) road) from Fazilka to Delhi and commissioning of the newly-constructed Abohar-Fazilka rail line for the convenience of commuters. He reiterated the demand of tax holidays for industries in the border districts of the state.
	Badal to invite more union ministers to state Archit Watts/TNS Muktsar, May 12 Following the two-day visit of the Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh, who announced a special grant of Rs 800 crore for the development of infrastructure and road links, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said he would try to bring two-three more union ministers to the state to acquaint them with the difficulties being faced by Punjabis. Talking to TNS, Badal said the Union Minister Jairam Ramesh was very cooperative and always thought above the party lines for the country’s development. “When Jairam Ramesh was the Environment Minister, he helped us a lot in taking steps to check the increasing level of pollution. This time again, he did his best. Now, I will try to call two-three more union ministers to the state so that they can have a first-hand account of the problems being faced by the people of our state,” said Badal. The CM further informed that during his recent visit to Delhi, he had met a number of union ministers and discussed the needs of Punjabis at length. “Some of the ministers assured me of solving our problems. We would invite them to our state,” added Badal. It may be mentioned that on many occasions in the past, Badal had criticised the UPA Government for its “wrong” policies and meting out “step-motherly treatment” to Punjab. He had also alleged that the Centre did not give Punjab its due share of funds and the state had been neglected at every front.