Bathinda, October 10
The case pertaining to the Bathinda Development Authority’s (BDA) Phases IV and V has been adjouned for two weeks.

BDA chief administrator Uma Shankar Gupta said the case came up for hearing today wherein the Supreme Court made some observations and directed the BDA to submit a map specifying the disputed area and the total area of the project.

It may be mentioned here that applicants for plots in these two phases of the BDA are eagerly awaiting for the court hearing as the draw for these plots have been put on hold in December last year.

The BDA's phases I, II and III had received good response and being well-planned areas, most of the property in these three phases is considered amongst the prime properties of the city. Banking on that experience, the BDA had set up phases IV and V.

The draw for 220 plots in these two phases was scheduled for December 16 last year but had to be postponed on December 12 when the owners of this land moved the Supreme Court over the issue of land acquisition.

Since then, over 14,500 applicants are awaiting the fate of the court case.

Most of the applicants had deposited the earnest money by borrowing loans from banks.

While the BDA could not perform the draw of plots owing to the court case, people are paying interest on the money borrowed.

The delay in draw of lots has irked many applicants, who are now unable to pay the interest amount.

The project has remained mired in controversies ever since its inception.

On August 19 last year, the BDA had acquired 43 acres of land and flattened cotton crop on 16 acres amidst protest by farmers — most of whom were the owners of the land. Some unscrupulous elements had fired gunshots even as the police was present.

Now, applicants have their eyes fixed on the next hearing in the case, which is to be held after two weeks.

Bathinda, October 10
The private garbage collection company, entrusted with the task of collecting and disposing of garbage in 18 urban local bodies (ULBs) of the Bathinda cluster, has not been paid 70 per cent of the amount spent on the collection of waste and tipping.

Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) has paid around 45 per cent of its tipping, Maur has paid more than 90 per cent of the amount and the local bodies of Malout, Talwandi, Budhlada, Goniana and others have paid more than 80 per cent of the amount.

But the Abohar and Tapa ULBs have not paid even a single penny since January this year when the JITF Urban Waste Management Limited started collecting garbage.

It is learnt that the company has even partially suspended garbage collection in the urban areas of Moga district that lies under the Ferozepur cluster owing to the non-payment of long standing dues. "If the situation persists, JITF will not be able to take up the garbage treatment plant project in Jalandhar, which was awarded to it a few months ago. In the coming weeks, which coincide with the festive season, services would be affected in Bathinda city too," said an official of the local bodies department.

Though the JITF officials are tight-lipped about the issue, it is learnt that the matter has taken an ugly turn with the company officials sending repeated requests for payments, while the in-charges of respective local bodies are dilly-dallying on releasing the money.

Till now, the company has invested around Rs 28 crores for garbage collection in 18 local bodies under the Bathinda cluster, generating employment for around 800 people. Since it started working in January this year, the company has lifted more than 55 lakh tonnes of garbage at an average of 9000 tonnes every month. In Bathinda alone, it has lifted more than 22,000 tonnes of garbage.

During a meeting convened on August 24, the secretary, local bodies, Suresh Kumar had strictly directed all the ULBs to make payments timely - an order that has not been complied with. Municipal commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta, who is also the in-charge of the Bathinda cluster, has also directed the local body officials to clear the payments, but the orders have not been followed.

"Because of this funds crunch, it would become difficult to run the project for the next 25 years, as committed in the agreement signed with the state government," added an official.

Municipal commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta said only the last three months' tipping payments are pending with the MCB. "We have paid the rest of the amount. During the meetings of the cluster, we direct all the local bodies to pay their fees timely," he said. 

Bathinda, October 10
On the eve of the World Sight Day, eye-specialists and ophthalmologists in the city advised people above 40 years of age to undergo yearly vision test so that glaucoma, a common eye problem, could be detected at an early stage.

A member of the Optometry Council of India and a governing board member of the Indian Optometry Federation, Harjeet Singh, said despite considerable efforts, there was an increasing brigade of visually-impaired persons.

"Glaucoma (kala motia) is the most common problem that results in visual disability and found in parts of Bathinda and around. Glaucoma patients approach us only when they have lost nearly 60 to 70 per cent of their vision," said Dr Amrit Sethi, a renowned eye specialist in the city.

He added that glaucoma was usually asymptomatic and even literates could not know that they were suffering from the disease.

Harjeet Singh said those suffering from diabetes, hypertension and poor vision (shortsighted and longsighted), and those changing their eye glasses frequently were more vulnerable to glaucoma after the age of 40 years.

In northern India, it is a common problem for diabetics and the most common cause of blindness after cataract.

Dr Amrit Sethi added that glaucoma cannot be prevented and the loss of vision incurred could not be recovered.

"Though loss of vision can be recovered in case of cataract, it is a permanent factor in case of glaucoma. Early detection and subsequent start of treatment are the only ways to control glaucoma," he added.

The doctors said that owing to their diet pattern and sedentary lifestyle, people from urban areas report more cases of glaucoma rather than those living in rural areas. The ailment attacks men and women alike and has no set pattern.

Harjeet Singh pointed out that in India, most of eye care delivery system and eye care management revolve around ophthalmologists only; other professionals like optometrist, eye care managers etc were deliberately kept away from their active participation even as they were equally qualified.

In fact, optometrist ophthalmic assistants and ophthalmic officers are working in rural area where eye care services, even after more than 65 years of independence, are almost negligible; some of them have spent more than 25 to 30 years of their services in rural areas, he said.

"Their contribution is never documented and there is no charm for these cadres to upgrade their professional future. Almost more than 95 per cent of the money is spent on upgrading the skill of ophthalmologists only.

“However, most of ophthalmologists leave government set up and start their own practice in urban areas after having attained proficiency in few years," he said.

Harjeet Singh suggested the detection of refractive errors in children at the school level itself to arrest glaucoma in the later stages of life.

Bathinda, October 10
World Mental Health Day was observed at the district courts today wherein people were made aware about the legal rights of people with mental disabilities.

The civil judge (senior division)-cum-secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kawaljit Singh presided over the function. Addressing the gathering, Kawaljit Singh spoke in detail about the Mental Health Act, 1987, Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity) Protection of Rights and Full Participation Act, 1995, National Trust

Act, 1999, Legal Services Authority Act and the National Legal Services Authority (Legal service to the mentally ill persons with disabilities scheme, 2010).

The civil judge said that the mentally ill people have all the rights and basic freedom and it was the duty of every able citizen to ensure that such people are not mistreated. Such people have the right to treatment and basic health facilities.

Singh added that under section 20 of the Mental Health Act, a magistrate can issue orders to send such people to a nursing home or hospital for the mentally ill for treatment. Under section 91 of the Mental Health Act, such people deserve free medical treatment.

He said the district legal authority observes October 10 as the World Mental Health Day every year. 

Bathinda, October 10
Police have booked a man four months after he fired gunshots at his brother over the trivial issue of drawing water from a canal.

In a complaint to the police, farmer Gursewak Singh of Fullomithi village said he was attacked with a .12 bore rifle by his brother and was lucky to have dodged the two bullets fired at him. While talking to TNS, the complainant said his brother Gurtej Singh argued with him over the issue of drawing water from a channel passing through his fields.

"I asked my brother not to use the water channel passing through the agricultural farm. My brother, however, abused me and ran into his house to bring out the gun and fired at me," said Gursewak Singh.

He hid under the tractor used to pump out water and the bullet hit the engine of the vehicle. The second bullet fired at him pierced the rear lights.

"I crawled into my house and went into hiding till the next morning," he said.

Gursewak got himself admitted to a hospital and the matter was brought to the notice of the police. However, the police did not record the statements and the matter continued to hang fire for over one-and-a-half months.

"I ran from pillar to post to get a case registered against the assailant who continued to haunt me. The case was finally registered after four and a half months," he said.

Investigating officer in the case Sarban Singh said the two parties tried to reach a compromise but failed. "Despite arriving at a compromise, the complainant was bent upon sending his brother to jail for the deadly attack over a petty issue," Sarban Singh said.

He said the case lingered as the relatives and the panchayat tried to make them patch up but failed.

The accused has been sent to judicial remand after the arrest, he said.

A case under sections 307, 506, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the accused at the Sangat police station.

Bathinda, October 10
Baba Farid College emerged winners in the inter-college zonal cricket tournament organized by the Punjabi University, Patiala, at the Police Lines cricket stadium.

Baba Farid College hosted the tourney wherein the chief guest was the institute's chairman Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal. Ten teams participated in the zone D tournament.

The final was played between Baba Farid College and Khalsa College, Patiala. Khalsa College scored 150 runs in 20 overs for the loss of five wickets. The BFC achieved the target in the 19th over.

Captain Maninder Mani was the star performer scoring 36 runs in 25 balls which included one six and seven fours. Sherbaz scored 30 run with 3 sixes and one boundary while Amandeep scored 21 runs in 10 balls hitting two sixes and one four. BFC won the final match by 4 wickets.

Dhaliwal congratulated the team on its victory. He appreciated the efforts of coach Rachhpal Singh, team manager Ajitpal Singh and physical education in-charge Jasvir Singh.

Deputy Director (Academics) Dr Pardeep Kaura and the principals of different colleges as well as the faculty members also congratulated the winning team.