Bathinda, October 5
Metering of water will be introduced in Bathinda city to check the wastage of water as well as charge the users for water usage.

The draft policy will be produced before the General House of the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) scheduled to meet on October 8 to discuss various issues.

The metered water connection aims at decreasing the cost of operation and maintenance, increase revenue, ensure round-the-clock supply of water, check the depletion of underground water and make funds available for the other projects.

Besides, the MCB will address the problem of colonies and areas where the maps of new constructions are not being passed. A few months ago, the Punjab government had released a list of unauthorised and illegal colonies in Punjab. The new maps of these enlisted colonies were not being passed, leading to panic among the residents there.

Addressing the issue, the government has issued a notification withdrawing the earlier one and has fixed development charges for these areas that will allow the passing of the maps. The move is expected to bring a major relief for the people.

The General House of the MCB will also discuss the new revised list of licence fees for various professionals. Following the state government's ban on tobacco and its products, the licence fees imposed on tobacco dealers has been replaced with a complete ban.

Also, user rates for garbage collection and lifting have been fixed. The Corporation has been repeatedly pulling up JITF Urban Waste Limited for its poor performance in the city. The JITF officials pointed out that they were not paid the tipping and collection fees on time due to which they were unable to run their operations smoothly.

A sub-committee appointed has revised the user charges and presented it for final approval.

Bathinda, October 5
Members of the 17 kisan mazdoor organisations today blocked the Bathinda-Rampura-Barnala road for over four hours to protest the hike in the price of diesel and the failure of the Central Government to check the spiralling inflation. The farmers also accused the SAD-BJP government of imposing penalties and increasing power tariff that have affected them adversely.

Hundreds of farmers accompanied by women and children gathered at the Ram Bagh today in the morning from where they took out a protest rally and then blocked the Bathinda-Rampura-Barnala road. The farmers blocked the traffic at 1 pm and lifted the dharna only at around 5 pm.

The farmers also squatted on the Bathinda-Patiala railway line and raised slogans against the Central Government.

The farmers, while marching through the main markets, asked the shopkeepers to close their shops. Some shopkeepers, however, re-opened their outlets once the farmers reached the GT Road. Earlier, the farmers had taken out a flag march to encourage the residents and villagers in surrounding areas to participate in the dharna.

State president of the BKU (Dakaunda) Buta Singh, state vice- president of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) Jhanda Singh, Shingara Singh Mann, Mithu Singh Ghudda and Joga Singh of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union were among those who addressed the agitating farmers. The leaders said they were forced to protest against the diesel price hike, power tariff hike and the increase in the overall cost of inputs for various crops, vegetables and fruits.

The marginal and small farmers were already under immense pressure due to the rising cost of inputs and low return on their crops, they said.

"Instead of declaring Punjab a drought affected state, the Centre announced a hike in the price of diesel which would be opposed tooth and nail by the farmers," the protesters said.

Meanwhile, commuters had a harrowing experience during the blockade and the traffic police had a tough time navigating the flow of heavy vehicles. DSP Phul, Tehsildar Phul, SHO Balianwali, SHO City Rampura and SHO Sadar Rampura were among the officials present at the dharna site.

Bathinda, October 5
The Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) today knocked down eight unauthorized shops in the North Estate area as well as the boundary wall of the Daawat banquet hall situated behind the multi-purpose stadium.

SDO Gupreet Singh said the Corporation received a complaint from a resident, Ranjit Singh, who alleged that there were eight shops situated opposite his house. "No commercial activity is allowed in the residential area and hence, the shops were built without any permission," he said.

The shops had also occupied around 2.5 feet of the road. Only one of the shops was occupied where a woman had started her tailoring business a couple of weeks ago. The remaining shops had not been occupied. The MCB team also demolished the boundary wall of the Daawat banquet hall. Daawat is being run in a shop-cum-flat (SCF) and as per rules it has to leave the front portion of its premises for parking.

But the banquet hall owners had constructed a hall in the parking area. The MC team spared the office of the banquet hall that had expensive fabrication following an assurance by the owner of hall that he would remove it on his own.

Bathinda, October 5
The court of the district and sessions judge SK Aggarwal has awarded life sentence to a man for killing his wife.

The accused, Dharampal Singh, a resident of Baba Deep Singh Nagar, had killed his wife Rani Kaur on September 19 last year. In his complaint to the police, Rani Kaur's father Gurmail Singh, who is from village Selbra, stated that 36-year-old Dharampal had illicit relations with a woman living in his area. Ranu objected to this relationship and the two often used to quarrel.

On September 19 2011, when Gurmail went to meet his daughter, he saw Dharampal pulling her with a dupatta tied around her neck and a sharp-edged weapon in another hand. Dharampal had strangulated Rani and had injured her using a sharp-edged weapon as well.

The couple has an 11-year-old son. Deposing before the court, Dharampal pleaded for a lenient view of the court stating he had his old mother and son to support.

However, the court awarded him life sentence and a fine of Rs 7,000. In case he fails to pay the fine, he will further have to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one more year.

Bathinda, October 5
The district-level sports meet of different schools concluded here today. Students of the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, presented "shabad gayan" during the cultural programme held on the occasion. SDM Ramvir congratulated the winners.

The chief guest at the concluding ceremony was Mayor Baljit Singh Birbehman. In his address, the Mayor exhorted the children to give their best in the events they participate. The special guests on the occasion were Dr Ravinder Singh Mann and Kishan Kumar Jain. District Education Officer (Secondary) Hardeep Singh Taggar, AEO (Sports) Pavittar Kaur and AEO Dr Amarjit Kaur were also present.

Meanwhile, in the volleyball under-19 category for boys, Goniana Mandi zone came first followed by Mandi Kalan at the second place. In the under-14 category for boys, Goniana Mandi stood first and Bhagta came second. In the under-19 category for girls, Talwandi Sabo stood first and Sangat came second. In the under-14 category for girls, Bhagta stood first and Bathinda-II came second.

In kabaddi under-19 category for boys, Bhucho Mandi stood first and Bathinda-I was second. In the under-17 category for boys, Bhucho Mandi won while Maur Mandi was the runners-up. In the under-14 category for boys, Talwandi Sabo stood first and Bhagta stood second. In the under-19 category for girls, Mandi Kalan stood first and Talwandi Sabo occupied the second place. Similarly, in the under-17 category for girls, Mandi Kalan stood first and Bathinda-II came second. In the under-14 category for girls, Mandi Kalan stood first while Talwandi Sabo came second.

In the badminton under-19 category for boys, Bathinda-I stood first and Talwandi Sabo came second. In kho-kho under-19 category for boys, Bhagta stood first and Talwandi Sabo came second. In the under-17 category, Talwandi Sabo stood first and Bhagta Bhaika came second. In the under-14 category for boys, Talwandi stood first and Sangat Mandi stood second.

In kho-kho under-19 and under-17 categories for girls, Talwandi Sabo stood first and Mandi Phool secured the second place. In the under-14 category for girls, Talwandi Sabo secured the first place and Bathinda-II came second.

In basketball under-19 category for boys, Bathinda II defeated Bathinda-I. In the under-19 category for girls, Bathinda II won and Bhagta was the runners-up. In the under-14 category for boys, Bathinda-I won over Bathinda-II. In the under-14 category for girls, Bathinda-II won over Bathinda-I. In the under-17 category for boys, Bathinda-I won over Bathinda-II and the same pattern was repeated in the girls section. In the under- 19 boys section, Talwandi Sabo won over Bathinda II. In the under-19 category for girls, Sangat won over Maur Mandi. In the under-14 category for boys, Bathinda-I won over Bathinda-II and in the under-16 girls' category, Bathinda-II won over Mandi Phool.

In hockey, in the under-17 category for boys, Bhucho Mandi won over Bathinda-I. In the under-19 category for girls, Sangat defeated Bathinda-II. In the under-17 girls' category, Mandi Kalan defeated Sangat and in the under-14 section, Sangat defeated Mandi Kalan.

In football, in the under-19 category for boys, Bhagta defeated Mandi Phool and in the section for girls, Mandi Kalan defeated Mandi Phool. In the under-14 category for girls, Bathinda-II defeated Maur Mandi.

In netball under-19 category for boys, Bathinda-II defeated Bathinda-I. In the under-17 category for boys, Goniana defeated Bathinda-II. In the under-14 section for boys, Bathinda-I was the winner while Goniana was the runners-up. In the under-19 section for girls, Bathinda-I was placed first followed by Bathinda-II. The same victory pattern was repeated in the under-17 and under-14 categories for girls as well.

In wrestling, Maur Mandi stood first followed by Sangat at second place in the under-19 category for girls. In the under-19 section for boys, Talwandi Sabo stood first and Bhagta came second.

In the under-17 category for boys, Goniana stood first and Bhagta came second.

In the tug-of-war, Maur Mandi stood first and Bhagta stood second in both the under-19 category for boys and the under-19 category for girls. In the under-19 category for girls, Talwandi Sabo was the winner.

Bathinda, October 5
The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) cluster XV inter-school kho-kho tournament started at Lord Rama Public School here today.

Around 42 teams comprising boys and girls in the under-19 category from various schools of Punjab and Haryana are participating in the event.

The chief guest on the occasion was Mayor Baljeet Singh Birbehman while district education officer Hardeep Singh was the guest of honour. School principal Suraj Setia, president of the school management Chiranji Lal Garg and secretary KK Garggave accorded a warm welcome to the chief guest.

The chief guest unfurled the sports flag of the CBSE and balloons were released in the sky to mark the occasion. Today's match was played between Guru Teg Bahadur School, Patran, and Vishwas Public School, Bathinda, wherein the Patran school won 12-7. The matches would be held till October 9. — TNS

Bathinda, October 5
DAV College bagged two running overall trophies in the Punjabi University Zonal Youth Festival held at Rampura. A spokesperson for the college said the bhangra team won in the fest. The college students also topped in classical dance, cartoon making and poster making competitions and bagged the second position in folk orchestra, quiz and skit.

The play "Leeran di Guddi", penned by Pali Bhupinder, was adjudged third. In elocution also, the college bagged the third prize. All these participants will now take part in the inter-zonal youth festival at Patiala. — TNS

Bathinda, October 5
A couple along with one more person has been booked by the police for cheating a resident of Phoos Mandi of Rs 12.5 lakhs. A complaint was lodged with the police by Devi Dayal and the matter was investigated by the economic offences wing (EOW).