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Lehra thermal plant's coal reserves hit rock bottom
Purified water finds few takers in rural Malwa
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Sangrur MP to fund RO systems in 16 schools
Non-payment of house tax
Sealing drive: Traders to observe bandh today
Manual to help victims’ kin
Another Hindu family leaves Pak for good
Pak peace delegation arrives
Fatehgarh Sahib varsity gets acting VC
34 to get state award on I-Day
Colleges missing I-Day meetings face action
5 ETT students climb atop water tank in Sangrur
Power crisis hits orchardists
Teachers oppose rationalisation
Health scheme for BPL patients
Ramdev’s show a mere circus: Katju
Can’t pay interest on gratuity: HMT to HC
Court rejects ‘untraced report’
182 kg poppy husk seized, 3 arrested
Student held for snatching mobiles
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Lehra thermal plant's coal reserves hit rock bottom
Bathinda, August 13 Accusing Panem of indulging in arm-twisting, the plant authorities alleged that the company altogether stopped supply on August 6 when they brought to its knowledge that the coal being provided to them was sub-standard. The plant engineers had conducted tests on the supplied coal to substantiate their claim.
Gain for Punjab Govt The expose resulted in losses to the coal company, but saved crores for the state government, something that did not go down well with Panem. The payment to the company is made according to the grade of the coal supplied. "Grading of coal is done on the basis of its calorific value. Higher calorific value means better grade. Grade 'A' is the best coal whereas the worst quality is labeled under Grade 'G' category," said Lehra plant officials.
No supply after Aug 6 After August 6, not even a single rake of coal was provided to Lehra plant until yesterday whereas the supply remained interrupted to Bathinda and Ropar plants. Today, one rake was diverted from Ropar to Lehra Mohabbat plant after the authorities raised a hue and cry in view of the dwindling stock. Each rake carries 4,100 metric tonnes of coal. At present, the plant is left with only 2 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of coal, which would last another 14 days. In case the supply is not resumed by then, the plant would face a shutdown. The plant management has already sent an SOS to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) apprising it of the depleting supply. Since 2006, the PSPCL has been meeting 60 per cent of the coal requirements of the three thermal plants from Pachwara coal block in Pakur district of Jharkhand. The coal supply agreement was signed with Panem.
Joint-testing of coal From time to time, joint testing of coal is done at various plant sites by PSPCL and Panem officials. Panem has posted its representatives at all the three thermal plants in Punjab. However, the Lehra Mohabbat plant management took a serious note of reports regarding alleged discrepancies and manipulation in testing of coal and deputed a group of engineers in March 2012 to supervise the process. "The exercise, which is still going on, brought out shocking results. The grade of coal supplied to the Lehra Mohabbat project was inferior as compared to other plants," an official said. From April to July, 341 rakes were supplied to the plant. Of these, only six were found to be of Grade 'C' whereas 107 were of Grade 'D', 196 of Grade 'E' and 32 of Grade 'F'. The thermal plant at Bathinda also followed the Lehra example and formed a similar group in June to supervise random coal testing. It found out that of the total 19 rakes supplied to it in June and July, only one was of Grade 'C', seven were of Grade 'D', nine of Grade 'E' and two of Grade 'F'.
No complaint in Ropar But, no special testing was done at Ropar. As such, of the 344 rakes supplied to the plant from April to July, 81 have been found to be of Grade 'C', 191 of Grade 'D' and 92 of Grade 'E'. "Not even a single rake has been found to be of Grade 'F', something that has come as a surprise to the officials concerned," an official said. As a single change of grade makes a difference of lakhs of rupees per rake, Lehra plant officials managed to save a huge amount for the Punjab Government. But in the process, they ended up annoying the coal provider.
PSPCL order unheeded "Having failed to influence Lehra plant to tow its line, Panem stopped supply on August 6. Of the total 15 rakes supplied over the last five days, 13 have been supplied to Ropar and two to Bathinda. This, despite directions from the PSPCL for diverting 50 per cent of the total supply to the Lehra plant," he said. The coal stock with the Bathinda plant would last 25 days while the Ropar plant can make do for another 18 days. Lehra Mohabbat plant chief engineer MR Parihar said the discrepancies detected during the testing of coal had been reported to the higher authorities. PSPCL director (generation) GS Chhabra today directed the chief engineers of the three plants to submit reports on coal quality as well as the prevailing shortage. Panem had also been told to speed up the supply, he said.
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Purified water finds few takers in rural Malwa
The rest 86 per cent, comprising 2.50 lakh households, in the Parliamentary constituency of SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal do not subscribe to purified water. About 15 per cent of rural households in Bathinda use RO water even though it is supplied at a cost of Rs 2 per 20 litre. In Mansa villages, RO users comprise less than 1 per cent of the households. Lack of awareness among villagers and distance from the water plant are cited as the main reasons. Out of 508 villages in Bathinda and Mansa, about 250 villages have less than two per cent users of purified water. The purpose of installing RO plants has been negated due to dismally low number of users. Besides, villagers continue to use groundwater that has been termed unfit for human use. Groundwater is contaminated even at a depth of over 500 ft as revealed by a recent sample test conducted by the government. The latest example is Dullewala village of Bathinda where samples drawn from a depth of more than 500 ft failed. Bhaini village in Bathinda is the worst performer with none of the 502 households using RO water. Groundwater in this village has high uranium content. Other worst performing villages are Pathrala with 1.3 per cent users, Mehma Bhagwana 3.7 per cent, Gurusar Senewa 2 per cent and Jeeda having just over 1 per cent of RO water users. Chotian and Burjmansa villages are the best performing with 90.61 and 81.63 per cent RO water users, respectively. In Mansa, the worst performing village is Kahangarh with just 22 of the 774 households subscribing to RO water. Khokha Kalan village has 15 of the 642 households using purified water. Jasbir Singh, a resident of Pathrali village, which has a low number of RO users, said distance from RO plant was one of the main hurdles. "It will be better if water is supplied through pipes. At present, only households located near the plant use RO water". Rajneesh Garg, SC, Public Health, said a massive campaign about safe drinking water was launched. "The government has been spreading awareness. Media, NGOs and social workers can help more". Interestingly, gender issues are also behind lesser number of users in the rural areas. While men in urban Bathinda and Mansa can be seen fetching RO water, those in rural areas are reluctant to take up the responsibility. "Fetching water from well or other sources has always been the duty of women. One is used to see women carrying pitchers and cans. While women face difficulty in carrying a can of 20 litres of RO water, men find it humiliating," said Dr Ravinder Singh of
Mansa.
Sangrur MP to fund RO systems in 16 schools
Sangrur, August 13 The MP said he had already taken up the matter with the Union Government to get more funds so that people in his constituency could drink potable water. Singla urged the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) of these 16 schools to send him letters with regard to maintaining the RO systems after their installation. Meanwhile, Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr HS Bali said he would send letters to the DEO (Secondary) and the DEO (Elementary) in a day or two to ensure supply of potable water in all the schools. The 16 educational institutions, whose water samples could not pass the test, are located at Bhawanigarh, Cheema, Sangrur, Sunam, Satauj, Bhullan, Kila Hakima, Bhasaur, Madevi, Meemsa, Sultanpur, Jakhepal and
Ratoke.
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Non-payment of house tax
"The actions, which can be taken for recovery of tax, as given in Section 138 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, do not authorise sealing of the property due to non-payment of house tax or recovery of house tax," Justice Ranjit Singh asserted while clarifying the law. The significant assertion came even as the petitioner in the case, Dr Ranbir Singh, sought the court's permission to withdrawn his petition filed against the State of Punjab and other respondents. Taking note of the irregularity in the civic body's action, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted the grievance raised in the instant petition was that the petitioner's property had been sealed for the recovery of house tax. Justice Ranjit Singh added counsel appearing for the petitioner had stated before the Court that he wished to withdraw the present petition. "But I find that the respondent Municipal Corporation apparently has not acted in accordance with law". In the detailed order, Justice Ranjit Singh asked the Municipal Corporation to act in accordance with law. If the property is still sealed, the same shall be unsealed, he asserted. At the same time, Justice Ranjit Singh made it clear to the corporation that it could proceed with the matter the legal way. "However, this (the order) will not be a bar for the Municipal Corporation to recover the house tax in a legal and proper manner as authorised by law," Justice Ranjit Singh concluded while disposing of the petition.
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Sealing drive: Traders to observe bandh today
Patiala, August 13 Gupta said the decision to give the bandh call was taken by the committee members unanimously here today. Committee general secretary SP Goel said protesting shopkeepers would greet Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal with black flags when he would be in the city on August 15 to preside over the state-level Independence Day function. After staging a dharna at the Rajpura Road bypass from 10 am to 12 noon, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal vice-president Nirmal Malhotra said, “At 8 am on Tuesday, all the shopkeepers will gather at the Sheeranwala Gate. From there, we will start a procession, which will cover each and every market and main areas of the city.” During today’s protest, shopkeepers also blocked traffic on the Rajpura Road for Meanwhile, a delegation of the shopkeepers today met Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur at Moti Bagh Palace. During the meeting, traders and shopkeepers explained the entire matter in details. In response to their demands, Preneet assured them of all possible help. Since the sealing orders have been issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Preneet said, “I assure you that I will take up the matter at the highest level with the Union Government.” The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Capt Amarinder Singh, in a statement stated that the Patiala Municipal Corporation (MC) should file a review petition in the high court against the sealing orders. “In case the Patiala MC fails to take this initiative, then the Congress party will approach the HC,” he stated, while, extending his support and sympathy with the affected shopkeepers. He regretted that the Patiala MC had taken the matter casually, forcing people to come out on streets. Security beefed up In view of Tuesday’s bandh call, security has been strengthened in the entire district. The police has started special search operations and nakas have been set up in main areas and markets of the city. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurpreet Singh Gill said “We have made elaborate arrangements and will not allow anyone to disturb the peace in the city.”
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US shootout
Jalandhar, August 13 Director of the United Sikhs Jatinder Singh said: “Though the highly trained emergency response team in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, addressed individual concerns of victims’ families, there are many who still continue to suffer in silence.”
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Another Hindu family leaves Pak for good
Amritsar, August 13 Another family crossed over through Attari today while saying “goodbye” to Pakistan. Unlike several other Hindu families that arrived for a pilgrimage, this family raised voice against the alleged atrocities and harassment being meted out to Hindus in the neighbouring country. The family claimed that they had given a written undertaking that they would return to Pakistan. “But, we will not return. I have sold all my property and now I want to permanently settle in India,” said an emotional Mukesh Kumar, who used to run a grocery store in Sibi district of Balochistan province. He along with his wife and two daughters arrived in the Samjhauta Express. “I had no choice but to leave Pakistan. I know my relatives will have to face a tough time following our migration to India. They will be harassed. But, that is what happens there. Armed assailants kidnap Hindu boys for extortion and when their demands are not met, they are killed. There are several families who want to leave Pakistan for good,” he said. Mukesh plans to go to Indore to meet his relatives. Tears rolling down his cheeks, Mukesh said, “I urge the Indian government to allow us to settle here.” 300 pilgrims arrive A 300-member group of Hindu pilgrims arrived on Monday through the Attari-Wagah land route. The pilgrims will be visiting various temples at Amritsar, Haridwar and Indore. They denied that Hindus were being targeted by fundamentalist groups in Pakistan. PM should intervene: Cong Chandigarh: The Punjab Congress has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to raise the issue of alleged atrocities and forcible conversions on Hindus in the neighbouring nation with his Pakistani counterpart.
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Pak peace delegation arrives
Amritsar, August 13 Faiza Malik, member, Punjab assembly in Pakistan, said India and Pakistan were fighting a common enemy - terrorism. She said both countries should fight this battle together.
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Fatehgarh Sahib varsity gets acting VC
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 13 Dr Dharminder Suingh Ubha, principal of Khalsa College in Patiala, has been given additional charge of Director of Education, SGPC. The appointments were made by Makkar. Talking to The Tribune, Makkar said the appointments were a must as only then the university could pursue its case for affiliation from the University Grants Commission. He said during the next academic year, various degrees of professional and other courses had to be handed over to students by the university. "So, getting affiliation from the UGC is mandatory for awarding degrees," he said. Makkar said with the appointment of a competent educationist as acting VC, he hoped the university will get affiliation soon. He said in order to run the affairs of SGPC Directorate of Education, Dr Dharminder Singh Ubha had been given the additional charge of Director of Education, SGPC, until a new appointment was not made. Dr Walia said he will join tomorrow and his priority would be to get affiliation as well as to "improve" the academic atmosphere in the university.
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34 to get state award on I-Day
Chandigarh, August 13 Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said five persons namely Rajender Kumar Verma, Simarjit Singh, Baljinder Singh, Jasvir Singh and Bhupinder Singh Sandhu would be awarded for exemplary bravery shown by them on different occasions. Balwinder Singh Bhinder, Parkash Chand Kumar, Bhan Singh Jassi, Dr Sukhwinder Dass and Dr Rashmi Vij would be conferred with the state award for superb services rendered by them in the field of social service. A total of 17 persons, who would be honoured with the state award for the excellent services rendered by them in their respective profession, include Sukhpal Singh, Dr Harminder Singh Sekhon, Major Manmohan Singh Verka, Pritpal Singh, Pardeep Gandhi, Naib Subedar Parmjit Singh, Rajwant Kaur, Kamal Singh, Sant Ram, Abninder Singh Grewal, Hardeb Kaur Kang, Davinder Singh, Jaswinder Singh Dhaliwal, Dr Gaggandip Singh, Dr Manisha Gupta, Hardip Singh and Kimmti Lal. Kulbhushan Rai, Sanjeev Thapar, Malkiat Singh and Narotam Dass Sharma will be awarded for remarkable contribution in the field of education. Iqbal Gharu, Harwinder Singh Khalsa and Dr Mohammad Jamil will also be honoured with the state award for their outstanding services in the field of literature.
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Colleges missing I-Day meetings face action
Jalandhar, August 13 These colleges are Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV), Doaba College, Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women, DAV College and BD Arya Girls College. Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti has asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police to take action under the Prevention of Insult to National Honour, 1971 and other applicable sections. Additional Deputy Commissioner Praneet Bhardwaj said he had sent notices to the colleges on July 24, asking them to participate in a meeting to discuss preparations for I-Day celebrations the next day, but no one from these colleges turned up. "These institutions did not even respond to the notices issued to them for abstaining from the meeting," he said. The action came after two local colleges and a school today failed to reach the PAP ground for a full dress rehearsal. Even students of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV), Hansraj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya (HMV) and Guru Amar Dass Public School (GADPS) reached the venue much later than the time allotted to them. The teams were not allowed to perform. An official said: "We know that the colleges are not sending their best teams for the event, sparing them for youth festivals and other events. But now the action was imminent". Deputy Commissioner of Police Sarabjit Singh said he had received the DC's recommendation. "I am examining it from the legal point of view before acting on it," he added. The colleges, on the other hand, claim that there is no violation on their part. KMV College principal Atima Sharma said: "We had attended the meeting. So, we did not get any notice. Even today, our students were late by just five minutes". Doaba College principal Naresh Dhiman said: "We got a notice and responded to it. I could attend the meeting as I was away for an interview. Our students are taking part in the programme".
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5 ETT students climb atop water tank in Sangrur
Sangrur, August 13 The five girls, who are students at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) remained on top of the water tank for more than two-and-a-half hours. They came down once the administration assured them of accepting their demands. The agitating students demanded that they should be sent for teaching practice to schools situated near their villages. The government on the other hand has a fixed criterion of sending ETT students to schools that lie within an eight-kilometre radius of the District Institute of Education and Training. Earlier, before climbing the water tank the girls along with other members and activists of the union gathered at the local bus stand and raised slogans. People witnessed a high voltage drama as the girls carrying bottles of petrol stayed atop the water tank. The local Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), a senior police official, the District Education Officer (Secondary) and the principal of the District Institute of Education and Training reached the spot and convinced the agitators to climb down the overhead water tank. District president of the AIETU, Charanjit Kaur, said the names of five girls, who climbed the overhead water tank, were Reena, Rimpi, Jaswant, Sandeep and Nirmala. She said two girls had even tried to pour petrol on themselves. According to Charanjit Kaur, DEO (Secondary) Paramjit Kaur spoke to the Director-General of School Education (DGSE) over the phone. The girls climbed down the tank once they received assurances from the DEO and the administration that their demand would be accepted, she said. Once the girls returned to their institute, they were informed that DGSE had not accepted their demand. Charanjit Kaur said that the girls, persuaded by their teachers, had agreed to go to schools situated within the eight-km radius for the time being.
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Power crisis hits orchardists
Amritsar, August 12 Several horticulturists based in Patiala, Abohar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Tarn Taran had followed the government’s advice. These farmers suffered as they were denied adequate power supply to irrigate their fields. It was also not economically viable to purchase or hire generator sets to run the tube wells. Narinder Singh Samra, who owns a 6-acre orchard at Birbarpura village near Amritsar, repented over sowing pears in his fields. Due to the continuous disruption in power since April 23, his crop dried up for want of water. “Hiring a genset would cost me at least Rs 1000 for irrigating one acre. The pears need to be watered at least five times. It would cost me over Rs 30,000 to irrigate my field and that is just too costly,” he complained. Facing a similar crisis, Mahinder Singh Verka (retd), had planted sunflower, pulses, peas and pears on his land, located at Phirawariyan village, 22-km from here. He said that the power supply lines were so poorly maintained that even the slightest wind would disrupt the supply for days together. Arjan Singh, who owns a 17-acre farm near Chabaal road said, “On the one hand the government offers lucrative subsidies to those who switch over from sowing traditional crops to fruits and vegetables, while on the other hand it does not amend its obsolete power policies.” Officialspeak: Dr Gurkanwal Singh, Joint Director, Punjab Horticulture department, Chandigarh: The power schedule should be adjusted in such a way that special supply can be extended to particular feeders which supply power to horticulturists. As an immediate measure, I recommend that the farmers should adopt drip technology for irrigation wherein water is passed through pipes with many holes in them. Baaj Singh, Deputy Director, Horticulture wing: The disruption in electricity supply is ruining the vegetable, pulses and fruit crop. The power policy needs to be reviewed. SS Sandhu, Chief Engineer, Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPC) Border Zone: I admitted that horticulturists face such practical problems but says they are trying to supply them with electricity for at least four hours daily. The power supply schedule can be exceeded only if the crop proportion constitute to over 60 per cent, whereas orchards’ share comes out to just 1-2 per cent.
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Teachers oppose rationalisation
Chandigarh, August 13 Balkar Valtoha, president, Government School Teachers Union, said: "The move to club classes is a smart way to reducing the number of teachers. The number of children per class is being increased unreasonably. Teachers in many schools are handling more than 100 students against the prescribed norm of 60". Hakam Singh, president, Government School Lecturers Union, said: "We are not against shifting of staff where the deployment is unjust or where fake student strength is shown. We are only demanding a fair distribution of work and not punishment postings in the name of rationalisation. School work involves holding of examinations, evaluation and other activities, besides just classroom attendance". Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said: "The government is taking corrective action to streamline the education system. The department is prepared to tackle any opposition. Transfers and increased working hours are part of the rationalisation process. There is no violation of the service rules." Kahan Singh Pannu, Director-General of School Education, said: "The department is facing unreasonable demands by the teachers".
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Health scheme for BPL patients
Chandigarh, August 13 A formal approval in this regard has been accorded by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The scheme has also been extended to one district each in Gujarat and Odisha. Raji P Srivastava, Managing Director of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, said the state had 4,50,000 BPL families. This category of beneficiaries were largely daily labourers who would not stay in hospitals so the state pursued its demand for taking care of the OPD patients, as well. A total of 185 private and 147 government hospitals were empanelled for the original scheme, Raji said. — TNS
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Ramdev’s show a mere circus: Katju
Chandigarh: Press Council Chairman Markandey Katju has called Baba Ramdev’s “show” and subsequent arrest at Delhi on Monday a mere circus which will not have any impact on corruption in the country. Katju said the main reason for corruption in India was its evolving society. This trend was likely to continue for another 10-15 years and would stabilise only after that. —
TNS
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Can’t pay interest on gratuity: HMT to HC
Chandigarh, August 13 Gopi Chand and other retired employees had earlier moved the high court against the HMT Limited and other petitioners. In their petition placed before Justice Rajesh Bindal, the petitioners had sought direction for the release of retirement benefits. As the case came up for hearing before Justice Bindal, counsel for the respondents submitted that the company was declared a sick industrial unit in terms of the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985. He also told the court that a rehabilitation scheme, earlier prepared, was now ‘under implementation’. Referring to Section 22 of the Act, he contended that the proceedings against the company could not continue till the scheme was being implemented. He further submitted that “on account of financial difficulties, the gratuity has been paid only after receiving package from the Government of India. As the company is still under debt, the payment of interest may not be possible”. Taking up the petition, Justice Bindal asserted it was not in dispute that the amount due to the petitioners has been paid by the company during the pendency of the writ petition, though after a delay of one-and-a-half year. “After hearing learned counsel for the parties and considering the fact that the amount of gratuity has been paid to the petitioner though after delay, and the respondent company has been declared as sick industrial unit, in my opinion, no further orders are required to be passed for payment of interest. The petition stands disposed of,” Justice Bindal concluded.
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Court rejects ‘untraced report’
Chandigarh, August 13 Among other directions, the trial court had called for the preliminary inquiry report into the matter after noting that the registration numbers of vehicles used for carrying fertilisers were initially found to be not of trucks, but scooters, motorcycle and cars. Rejecting the “untraced report”, the trial court had also called for the statements of registration authorities or their clerks regarding the registration numbers. “In case untraced report submitted by the Vigilance Bureau is found to be false on this aspect of the case, the Vigilance Bureau should get a thorough probe conducted in the entire matter,” the trial court had observed. The orders were brought to the notice of the high court through a petition filed in public interest by the Consortium of Indian Farmers’ Associations, through its president Satnam Singh Behru. In the petition filed through advocate Charan Jit Sharma, directions were sought to the State of Punjab and other respondents for handing over the probe into the fertiliser scam to the CBI “to brought to the book all the accused persons irrespective of their political, economic and muscle power”. Going into the background, Sharma contended the scam involved embezzlement of “crores of rupees by the persons having strong political, economic and administrative clout. It involves leaders across political parties and the bureaucrats as well”. He added that the Vigilance Bureau was considered “efficient investigating agency”, but in the present fertiliser scam it was “acting against the public interest and favouring the accused persons by presenting time and again cancellation reports or untraced report in three FIRs”. He added the cancellation reports have time and again been discarded by the court of law and “many times doubt over the conduct of the “Department of Vigilance, through its Director” has been expressed. An FIR in the matter registered on the allegations that a firm obtained subsidy from the government by showing bogus sale of fertiliser. Bags of fertilizer were shown to have been sent to dealers on 532 trucks. Since 66 trucks pertained to the other states, the inquiry focused on 466 trucks. It was found that registration numbers of 160 vehicles were of motorcycle, scooters and cars. Inquiries from the dealer also revealed that the firm had received subsidy by showing bogus sale of fertilisers.
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182 kg poppy husk seized, 3 arrested
Patiala, August 13 In another case, the Rajpura police has arrested Ramandeep Singh, a resident of Abohar, and recovered 7 kg poppy husk from his possession. The accused, who was travelling in a bus, was arrested at a naka, said the police. Meanwhile, the police has recovered 260 gram smack from Shekhar Kumar and Rajinder Kumar, both residents of
Mai-da-Sara area.
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Student held for snatching mobiles
Bathinda, August 13 Civil Lines SHO Gurdev Bhalla said Shubham had been detained in Class XI for many years as he could not pass despite repeated attempts. He got hooked to smack and to get money to buy the drugs, he resorted to snatching mobile phones from women and elderly, who appeared to be soft targets, Bhalla said. He said Shubham's accomplice Rajinder is also a habitual offender and had already been booked by the police for snatching mobile phones and intimidating people.
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government of providing clean drinking water in the state, particularly in the cancer-hit Malwa region, data from the Department of Public Health reveals that only about 14 per cent of rural households in Bathinda and Mansa districts use RO water.
Intensifying their agitation, shopkeepers, affected by sealing drive, have once again decided to observe bandh in the royal city tomorrow.
Patiala Beopar Bachao Sangharsh Committee president Rakesh Gupta said all shops and commercial establishments would remain closed on Tuesday to express their resentment against the state government.
Amritsar, August 13
The state government has failed to safeguard those farmers’ interests who have dared to switch from sowing wheat and paddy to sowing fruits, vegetables and pulses.
The government has been repeatedly advising farmers to break away from the wheat-paddy cycle.
Bathinda, August 13
Chandigarh, August 13