B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Bariwala residents forced to drink unhygienic water
Muktsar, June 13
Thanks to the "unwillingness" of any department to run the waterworks at Bariwala town in Mukstar district, the whole populace, numbering nearly 10,000, is forced to consume highly contaminated water that is directly affecting their health.

(Left) The foundation stone, which was laid by the CM Parkash Singh Badal, promising hundred per cent water supply in Bariwala; Bariwala waterworks, which was commissioned in 1979. Photos by writer

Surprise checking: Govt officials caught on the wrong foot
Ferozepur, June 13
In another round of surprise checking of various government offices which was conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Gurmail Singh today in the morning, 54 officials and government employees belonging to various departments were to be found absent or late for their duties.

Over 3 quintals of poppy husk seized
Fazilka, June 13
The CIA staff in Fazilka district received a shot in the arm when they succeeded in seizing 3.50 quintals of poppy husk in the district. The three occupants of car in which the poppy husk was being smuggled, manage to flee.

Train engine catches fire
Ferozepur, June 13
Hundreds of passengers travelling by the 341 Up Ferozepur-Delhi Passenger train had a narrow escape today in the evening when the engine of the train caught fire near Kotkapura.

Residents want train to halt at Ladhuka Mandi
Fazilka, June 13
Hundreds of enraged resident and members of the Sangharsh Samiti of Ladhuka Mandi stopped a Fazilka-bound train coming from Ferozepur at the Ladhuka railway station today for half an hour.

Cow slaughter: Punjab Mahila Cong demands judicial probe
Bathinda, June 13
Punjab Mahila Congress today demanded a judicial probe in the slaughtering of cows at Joga in Mansa district. In a press statement issued here today, vice-president Nimisha Mehta stated that the officials responsible for the lapse should be immediately suspended and strict action should be taken against them.

Bariwala residents forced to drink unhygienic water
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, June 13
Thanks to the "unwillingness" of any department to run the waterworks at Bariwala town in Mukstar district, the whole populace, numbering nearly 10,000, is forced to consume highly contaminated water that is directly affecting their health.

In this waterlogged town, neither the Water Supply and Sanitation Department is authorised to run the waterworks, nor is the local Nagar Panchayat willing to take over the water project. As a result, the residents here are at the receiving end.

Surprisingly, the officials concerned admitted that they were aware of the problem but have enough reasons to justify their point.

The funds sanctioned by the NABARD amounting to Rs 2.75 crore for the maintenance of this waterworks have been returned without utilisation because the waterworks is no more under the authority of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department.

Still, the department, at a gap of few days, supplies it to the town but without caring whether it is potable or not.

The locals here allege that the water supplied from the waterworks is even unfit to clean the utensils or wash clothes, as it is highly polluted and contaminated.

"We get water supply once in 15 days. Still, it is not fit for consumption as the waterworks is too old and the tanks and filters are in a poor shape," said Jaspreet Kumar, a resident.

Yadwinder Singh, Executive Engineer of the Water supply and Sanitation Department, said, "I have brought the matter to the notice of the higher-ups a number of times. But no one seems to be ready to sort out the matter."

Giving further details, he said, "Basically, it is the duty of the Nagar Panchayat to run the waterworks, as our job is to provide safe drinking water to the rural populace. But the Nagar Panchayat officials here have refused to run the waterworks citing the acute shortage of staff."

"So, at present, we are supplying the same water, which we directly get from the canals. The water filters here have choked and the condition of the water storage tank is also very bad. It has outlived its utility in the last 32 years. The water pipes have also cracked at a number of places," maintained Yadwinder.

Asked whether the water was fit for human consumption, he replied, "No, it is not. But we don't have any option. It may lead to the outbreak of diseases here. The senior authorities of the local bodies department should immediately intervene so that the waterworks could be handed over to the Nagar Panchayat."

On the other hand, Gursewak Singh, Executive Officer (additional charge) of Bariwala Nagar Panchayat, said, "The Water Supply and Sanitation Department has approached us to take over the waterworks, which we will do within a short time. A proposal in this regard would be put up at the meeting of the newly-elected members of Nagar Panchayat. Only after that would the decision be taken."

Surprise checking: Govt officials caught on the wrong foot
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, June 13
In another round of surprise checking of various government offices which was conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Gurmail Singh today in the morning, 54 officials and government employees belonging to various departments were to be found absent or late for their duties.

Last week also, during a similar exercise, the ADC had found 95 officials missing from their seats during his visit to Zira and Talwandi Bhai areas.

While giving the details, the ADC said that several employees were absent from their offices when he conducted a check today morning regarding which a show-cause notice has been issued to all them.

He said if their reply is not found to be satisfactory, the matter shall be taken up with the concerned departments for further disciplinary action.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner said 22 persons in the Chief Agriculture Office were found absent and late to office besides five in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, three in horticulture department, five in fisheries department, seven in forest department, five NREGA employees in BDPO Khal Ghurd office and another seven in the BDO office were found missing from their duties during the checking today in the morning.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner said as per the instructions of the state government, the checking of various government offices shall continue.

All official or government employees found coming late or absent without any information will be strictly dealt with, the ADC added. 

Over 3 quintals of poppy husk seized
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, June 13
The CIA staff in Fazilka district received a shot in the arm when they succeeded in seizing 3.50 quintals of poppy husk in the district. The three occupants of car in which the poppy husk was being smuggled, manage to flee.

Fazilka DSP Sukhdev Singh Brar said the police has tightened noose around the narcotic peddlers in view of its rising demand in the Malwa region.

During the campaign, the CIA staff led by district in-charge Veer Chand and sub-inspector Darshan Singh had laid a trap on the bridge of the Gang Canal near village Jandwala.

The police party intercepted an Accent car with the number Pb-15-E-6183. The driver and two other occupants of the car managed to flee leaving behind the vehicle.

After the search, the police recovered 14 bags of poppy husk from the car, weighing nearly 3.50 quintals, worth about Rs 5 lakhs in the market.

It is learnt that the contraband was being brought from the neighbouring Rajasthan for distribution in the region through an established network, as the area from where the poppy husk has been seized, is quite near to the Rajasthan border.

Later on, during the investigation, the occupants of the car were identified as Joginder Pal Singh, the driver of the car, and Joginder Singh Soni, both resident of village Dhippanwali, and Jagga Singh, a resident of village Raniwala.

CIA in-charge Veer Chand expressed the hope that the accused would be arrested soon. All the three accused have been booked under the NDPS Act.

Train engine catches fire
Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, June 13
Hundreds of passengers travelling by the 341 Up Ferozepur-Delhi Passenger train had a narrow escape today in the evening when the engine of the train caught fire near Kotkapura.

Railway officials said that the generator of the engine caught fire following leakage in some valve which later spread on to other parts of the engine.

Sources said that the driver of the train with help of other persons doused the fire and prevented it from further flaring up to the rest of the train.

Meanwhile, all the passengers were evacuated safely.

When contacted, Railway sources at the divisional headquarters, confirmed the incident.

Rail official said that the incident happened at around 18:15 hours between Kotkapura and Romana station under Faridkot district.

Official said that since the engine of the train got damaged in the fire, the train was halted there itself, and another power had been sent from Ferozepur to clear the section.

Residents want train to halt at Ladhuka Mandi

Fazilka, June 13
Hundreds of enraged resident and members of the Sangharsh Samiti of Ladhuka Mandi stopped a Fazilka-bound train coming from Ferozepur at the Ladhuka railway station today for half an hour.

The agitators have been demanding that the stoppage of the proposed express train between Ferozepur-Sriganganagar via Fazilka and Abohar should be ensured at the Ladhuka railway station for the convenience of the passengers. It is learnt that no stoppage has been proposed in the railway time-table.

The Union Railway Minister had announced an express train from Ferozepur to Sriganganagar after opening the Abohar-Fazilka rail track in the previous rail budget.

Due to inordinate delay, the Fazilka-Abohar rail link seems to have opened a Pandora’s box even before its formal inauguration. The residents of Fazilka and Abohar are already on hunger strike for the last two weeks. Now, the Ladhuka resident have also started a hunger strike two days back demanding the stoppage of the proposed express train at the Ladhuka railway station.

“We shall stop more trains in future if our demand of stopping the express train at Ladhuka Mandi is not acceded,” warned Kashmir Lal Chhabra, president, Sangharsh Samiti, Ladhuka.

The train was allowed to leave the station after the intervention of the Fazilka administration and the railway authorities. — OC

Cow slaughter: Punjab Mahila Cong demands judicial probe

Bathinda, June 13
Punjab Mahila Congress today demanded a judicial probe in the slaughtering of cows at Joga in Mansa district. In a press statement issued here today, vice-president Nimisha Mehta stated that the officials responsible for the lapse should be immediately suspended and strict action should be taken against them.

"Suspending the SSP does not serve any purpose. The officials of the Punjab

Pollution Control Board (PPCB), industry and health departments should be taken to task. The slaughter house was being run with the complete support of the government machinery," she demanded.

The operators of the transport company, that ferried the animals, should also be booked and action be taken against them. Mehta also pointed out that the Punjab Gau Raksha Board, which is headed by a BJP leader, too has chosen to remain silent on the issue. — TNS