Bathinda, September 22
The distributors of LPG cylinders in the city have got directions from their respective agencies over the capping of cylinder supply per household to six every year only.

Indane as well as HP, have directed their distributors to convey the same to the consumers also so that no confusion prevails. Manoj Kumar, a distributor of HP gas agency, said starting from September 14 this year to March 31, 2013, every family would be entitled to three subsidized LPG cylinders only. Any number of cylinders bought till September 13 would be counted as three. "This means that a consumer, who has bought even six to eight cylinders, would be assumed to have bought only three cylinders," Manoj added.

The seventh cylinder would be available at commercial rate. Sukhminder Singh Laddi, a distributor of Indane, added that as per the latest statement of the Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, the government will give a subsidy of Rs 140 on the seventh commercial cylinder, which would slash down its rate from Rs 895 to Rs 750.

"However, any notification regarding this is yet to be issued. So, we cannot say anything unless and until the agency directs us to," he said. These cylinders would be termed as commercially exempted cylinders that would also be made available to the temples, schools, colleges etc.

Meanwhile, some agencies will start distributing a two-page form from Monday onwards in order to start rolling the three-cylinder norm, which will include all kinds of details such as ration card number, passport number, details of the person in whose name the . gas connection has been issued. The forms will be available at the respective distributor's outlets as well as with the delivery boys.

"Once the form is submitted, the agency will issue a coupon to the consumer, which would track the three subsidized cylinders bought till March 31, 2013. If any subsidized cylinder is not traced, the distributor shall be held responsible and will have to compensate the agency for the lost subsidy," added another official.

However, confusion prevails over the look and weight of the subsidized and non-subsidized cylinders and the ways in which these would be made available in the market.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) supply cooking gas to households in the city. When combined together, these have around one lakh connections within the city.

Non-availability of cylinders in the winter is expected to dent the market for LPG-run geysers, which are in high demand.

It would also affect the working of such geysers that are already in use.

More side-effects of the capping would come to fore during the marriage season when marriage palaces and eateries openly use subsidized LPG cylinders for commercial purposes.

Bathinda, September 22
Private schools in the state have been asked to submit an undertaking in connection with the Right to Information (RTE) Act 2009 by October 12 this year or else, face closure.

In a letter issued to all the district education officials in the state, the Director General of School Education (DGSE) has strictly asked them to ensure that all pre-primary, primary and upper primary schools submit affidavits with the DEO office, mentioning that they fulfill the terms and conditions required under the RTE Act that makes education the right of every child.

The schools have been directed to fill form number 1 given for seeking affiliation. The schools that do not abide by the rules and regulations will not be allowed to run after March 31, 2013. Schools, that have already submitted these forms, will undergo the verification process.

President, Recognized and Affiliated Schools Association (RASA), Ravinder Singh Mann said all schools, the affiliated, recognized and the associated, will be covered under the exercise.

"As of now, students up to the middle classes only are brought under the ambit of the RTE. The exercise is applicable only till upper primary schools," he said.

After the schools submit their undertakings, they will have to undergo verification tests. In form 1, schools will have to give an undertaking about the infrastructure, building, labs, sports equipment, teacher-taught ratio and stipend given to weaker sections of society. Any school making claims, which does not stand true at the time of the verification, will face action by the department.

The government had undertaken a similar exercise in April-May wherein the claims of all the schools were verified. After the verification, schools were given ample time to overcome their shortcomings.

During the second round of inspection, to be conducted after October 12, the team will also monitor if the laxities pointed out earlier have been removed or not.

Based on the April-May verification drive, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) had withdrawn association from ten schools in Bathinda district.

These schools included the Guru Gobind Singh Public School, Sheikhpura, BND High School, Maur Mandi, Updesh Public School, Sandoh, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Public School, Nehar Talab, Rajdeep Public High School, Pucca Kalan, Sunrise Public Senior Secondary School, Bhai Rupa, Nalanda Public School, Lelewala, Tapacharya Hem Kunwar Jain Girls Senior Secondary School, Raman Mandi, Baba Tapa Ram Public High School, Jaidan, and Tarun Public School, SAS Nagar.

These ten schools were among the 117 associate schools in the state that lost their association with the PSEB.

Bathinda, September 22
Lawyers would continue to boycott the evening courts and the court on Saturdays. This was stated by the secretary of the District Bar Association, Gurwinder Singh Mann, in a press release issued here today.

Mann stated that the presidents and secretaries of all the Bar Associations in Punjab and Haryana held a meeting at the Law Bhawan, Chandigarh. The meeting was presided over by the chairman of the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, Lekhraj Sharma.

Secretary, Bar Council, Amreek Singh Kalra, Additional Advocate General, Punjab, Harpreet Singh Brar and Ranjit Singh Jalal, president, also attended the meeting.

It was unanimously decided by the lawyers that they would continue to boycott the evening courts and the courts on Saturdays in Punjab for an indefinite period. It was decided that a charter of demands would be submitted next week to the newly appointed Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Arjun Kumar Sikri.

Chairman, Bar Council, Lekh Raj Sharma said if their demands are not met, then 70,000 lawyers of the Bar Associations in Punjab and Haryana would be forced to surrender their licences.

Members of the Bar Associations would hold a meeting to chalk out their future strategy at the next meeting to be held on October 6 at the Law Bhawan in Chandigarh.

Bathinda, September 22
It seems that the city traffic police has limited its job to issuing challans rather than catching those violating the traffic rules, who are actually responsible for road mishaps that take place in the city almost every day.

Even as the traffic cops held a special drive to issue challans, there is no respite from the rising number of accidents occurring in the city.

Area residents and volunteers of local NGOs said instead of creating awareness among commuters and reducing the number of traffic violations, the city traffic cops aimed at filling the coffers of the state government by way of issuing challans.

The majority of mishaps that took place on the city roads in the recent past had involved two-wheelers. Many lives had been lost while several persons sustained injuries.

Those riding two-wheelers without wearing helmets are prone to receiving fatal injuries in accidents. Those driving four-wheelers too do not bother to wear seat belts. Those at the wheels are many a times seen listening to mobile phones.

"The challans should be issued with an aim to reduce the number of traffic violations. The city cops lay a naka on roadsides and stop youngsters to check the documents required for driving. The cops should only stop and penalise those commuters who are violating the traffic rules," said Rajeev Sood, a city resident.

The traffic cops claim that by issuing challans to violators, they have brought down the number of accidents occurring due to wrong-side entries, the city residents believe a lot still needs to be done in this regard.

Manveer, who resides on the Mansa road, said he met with an accident during a naka laid by the traffic police near a traffic light in the city. "While the cops were busy examining the documents of vehicles, a car jumped the red light and hit his bike before fleeing from the spot. The cops did not chase the violator and went on with checking documents. Their seniors, who were sitting in a jeep, turned a blind eye to the violation and remained busy issuing challans to those who did not have complete documents," he said.

City Traffic Police in-charge Bharpur Singh said the aim of issuing challan was to reduce the number of traffic violations in the city. "The number of violations has reduced to a great extent after traffic cops tightened the noose around the violators," he said.

Bathinda, September 22
Even though the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) is trying its best to provide maximum facilities to the residents, yet the facilities provided in the past are not proving to be beneficial for the residents. For instance, the footpaths constructed on the city roads are not serving any purpose just because of the encroachments.

The pedestrians are still forced to walk on the roads, as the footpaths have been converted into a place for parking vehicles or putting their belongings on it. The situation is similar in every part of the city and worsening with every passing day.

If one takes a walk on any road in the city, hardly any space is available.

A resident of Paras Ram Nagar, Gurmeet Singh, said, “It is really disappointing. that the shopkeepers have encroached upon the footpaths. The MCB is taking innovative steps to facilitate the commuters, but the negative approach of some people is not allowing the commoners to avail of the benefits.”

“The shopkeepers must clear the encroachments so that the pedestrians can avail the benefit of the footpaths,” he added.

Similarly, an octogenarian, Sushma Goyal said, “If the MCB has constructed footpaths, then these must be utilized. The shopkeepers should remove the encroachments. They must understand its worth and clear the encroachments so that old persons like me can avail of its benefit.”

Bathinda, September 22
A special programme was organised at Baba Farid Group of Institutions (BFGI) on the occasion of Baba Farid Aagman Purb.

BFGI chairman Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal welcomed the chief guest, Ferozepur commissioner Raminder Singh, keynote speaker Amarjit Singh Grewal and other guests.

Dhaliwal said more than 8500 BFGI employees and students would get involved in campaign to help preserve the earth.

As many as 400 units comprising students and BFGI staff have been formed, who will work towards using natural resources wisely, creating awareness against social evils and about the importance of environment conservation, plant trees in their surrounding areas and hold other social activities.

On the occasion, Amarjit Singh Grewal threw light on the life of Sufi Saint Baba Sheikh Farid. He said how Baba Farid's verses were significant for the modern society.

The chief guest Raminder Singh appreciated the efforts of the BFGI towards creating social awareness under its Live Green Campaign. Later, Baljeet Singh from Baba Farid College and Kanwar Grewal from the Punjabi University, Patiala, performed during sufi mehfil.

Those present on the occasion included BFGI vice-president Dr Sardool Singh Grewal, director Sukhdev Singh Pakka, director (public relations) Gurmeet Singh, director (administration) Paramjit Kaur Dhaliwal and director (finance) Paramjit Kaur Gill besides deputy directors, principals, heads of the departments, teaching and non-teaching staff of all colleges and schools under the BFGI.

Bathinda, September 22
The Civil Lines police yesterday booked four persons of a private company registered at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district for allegedly submitting forged surety bonds in the court of additional sessions judge to secure bail.

The police said Ganesh Kumar, the owner of the Shri Ganesh Trading Company, along with three persons had submitted forged documents in the court to procure bail. However, the documents were found fake.

A complaint in this regard was made to the Economic Offences Wing by the court, acting upon which a case was registered under Sections 177, 420 and 120-B of the IPC at Civil Lines police station, the police said.

Those named in the FIR included Ganesh Kumar, Naresh Kumar, Mithu Singh and Jatinder Singh.

Bathinda, September 22
The Superintendent of Central Jail, Bathinda, yesterday recovered a mobile phone from inside the jail.

As per the complaint lodged at the Civil Lines police station, a jail inmate, Tarsem Kumar of Sangrur, was found carrying the mobile phone on the premises of the jail.

Bathinda, September 22
Harvinder Singh has been elected as the president of the Bathinda block of the SSA, RMSA and CSS Teachers' Union.

Elections for the office-bearers of the Bathinda block of the union were held at the Teachers' Home here today.

Other office-bearers elected today were Manpreet Kaur as the vice-president, Baltej Ram as the treasurer, Dimple Verma as the press secretary, Balraj Singh as the secretary and Gurvinder Kaur as the Bathinda cluster in-charge. — TNS

Bathinda, September 22
A seven-year-old boy and a motorcyclist received injuries when the latter rammed his bike into the kid near Model Town area last night.

The motorcyclist has been identified as Ram Singh and the child as Sonu.

On getting the information, volunteers of the Sahara Jan Sewa rushed to the spot. The injured child was got admitted to the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital.

The motorcyclist had reportedly received minor injuries in the mishap.

Bathinda, September 22
A motorcyclist received injures in an accident that took place near Bibiwala Chowk here.

The injured, identified as 19 years old Gagandeep Aggarwal, a resident of Bibiwala village, was shifted to the Civil Hospital by volunteers of the Sahara Jan Sewa, a local NGO. The family members of the injured were informed by the volunteers.

Onlookers informed the police officials that a speeding car had hit Gagandeep's bike. — TNS