The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Poor quality gunny bags for paddy Old gunny bags in bad condition being supplied for storing the crop in grain markets of Moga district Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Moga, October 30 Facing a shortage of gunny bags in the ongoing paddy season in Punjab, the union government has allowed the central and state procurement agencies to utilize one-time used old gunny bags made of jute but the quality of empty bags being supplied by the rice mills of Baghapurana and Dharamkot sub-divisions in Moga district is said to be poor. Old gunny bags, underweight and torn, could be seen lying in the Baghapurana, Kot-ise-Khan and Dharamkot grain markets, which may cause damage to the produce after being stored in the rice mills. It may be mentioned that the procurement agencies were facing a shortage of gunny bags in Moga district. The state agencies had allowed the rice mill owners to supply old gunny bags, confirmed Gulbahar Singh, the District Food and Supply Officer of the district. "These are the same bags which were used by the procuring agencies last year," he said. However, a visit to the Baghapurana grain market revealed that in connivance with the procuring officers, many rice mill owners were using gunny bags that had been repaired beyond their capacity. Sandip Bansal, who owns Garg Rice Mill, and a commission agent firm Tej Ram/Raj Kumar and Sons, said he has supplied more than 60,000 old gunny bags to Punsup as desired by the state agency. However, he did not comment when asked about the quality of the bags being used by his firms. Punsup inspector Sukhdev Singh Bhatti, however, plainly denied that he has allowed Bansal's firm to use old gunny bags. Similarly, old gunny bags were also extensively used by Satyug Enterprises, the commission agents. Markfed is the procurement agency for this firm. Most of the paddy purchased at this centre was being sent to Shankar Rice Mills, also owned by this commission agent. A new gunny bags costs somewhere between Rs 36 to Rs 42 in the wholesale market whereas one-time used old gunny bags costs around Rs 22 to Rs 26. But an insider in the rice mill industry revealed that the bags used by the millers do not cost more than Rs 10 in the market. Sunil Puri, district manager of the Markfed, said his agency has not yet fixed the price of the old gunny bags, which would probably be adjusted at a later stage in the bills of the rice mills. It indicates that the old gunny bags were being purchased without fixing the price which could lead to corruption. KC Yadav, Under Secretary, Central Government, in his orders dated October 26, laid down the specifications for the use of old gunny bags. "Gunny bags in question should be free from any fungal growth, cuts, holes or tears, sun fading etc. Grains should not bleed out and the seam should be intact. The weight of the 50 kg bag should be not less than 500 grams." The centre has fixed the responsibility for any loss to the crop due to storage in old bags on the state government.
	Keetu’s death creates void in local politics Sushil Goyal Tribune News Service Barnala, October 30 The void in SAD politics in Barnala district, caused by the death of ex-MLA and the area in-charge of SAD for the Barnala Assembly constituency, Malkit Singh Keetu, who was allegedly murdered by his nephews at his residence at Bilaspur village in Moga district yesterday, would be difficult to fill. During his stint, no one in the Akali circles had dared to challenge Keetu's leadership here who had established himself as the supreme leader in local Akali politics in a span of nearly 10 years. Even his opponents in the SAD feel no party leader in Barnala Assembly constituency has a following that could match his. Some people are of the view that it will be difficult for the party to find a new incumbent. However, the names of SAD leaders like SGPC member Paramjit Singh Khalsa, a former chairman of the Improvement Trust Inder Pal Singh Chahal and Kulwant Singh Kanta, the adopted son of Malkit Singh Keetu, have been doing the rounds. However, there is another name floating, that of the founder of the Trident Group, Rajinder Gupta, who has recently been appointed advisor to deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. However, many people of the area are of the view that the writ of the SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa will prevail in getting the next leader from Barnala Assembly constituency anointed. They are of the view that only the leader on whose name Dhindsa concurs will finally get to step into Keetu's shoes.
	Price of white gold yet to head north Raj Sadosh Abohar, October 30 Even as cotton arrival picked up after three days of holiday in the new grain market here today, the price for the “white gold” remained unchanged at Rs 4,000-Rs 4,080 per quintal. The arrival was today recorded at 1500 bales, about 30 per cent more than the average but growers had no option other than to sell the produce to the private traders as the Cotton Corporation of India stuck to token purchase, offering Rs 3,800 per quintal. Additional Deputy Commissioner Charandev Singh Mann did speak to the head of the Punjab zone of the CCI but he reportedly expressed his helplessness in going beyond the guidelines issued by the CCI headquarters. The total arrival in the cotton yard here has crossed the 80,000 quintal mark. Ninety nine per cent of it was purchased by private traders. As most of the textile mills were reportedly facing a tough situation, the demand has been at the receiving end. Experts said the strange demand-supply scenario and the ever changing cotton policy of China, EU and the US always becomes a cause for a setback in the prices. An architect of the benchmark cotton index had estimated global fibre surplus in the new cotton season, beginning in August, by 55 per cent more and as a result of which cotton futures rapidly declined from the peak of three months. Bangladesh and India had imported around 30,000 bales of cotton from Pakistan because of a possible drought. According to the Karachi Cotton Association, around 160 ginning factories in Sind and West Punjab had resumed operations by the end of July and the daily production was about 18,000 to 20,000 bales. During the first month, around 300,000 bales were ginned which is a record for Pakistan's cotton market. In Indian Punjab, the state government could not ensure round-the-clock power supply to ginning and pressing factories, this year again. Arhtia Association president Pramil Kalani said waterlogging had affected a major chunk of the area under cotton and kinnow in some villages. Besides, price incentive for growing guar besides lesser consumption of canal water for irrigation, prompted the young traditional growers to bid adieu to cotton. Sowing was affected as the irrigation authorities were unable to ensure the supply of water as per needs, said Gagandeep Singh, a farmer from Balluana segment. Since the farmers had to spend Rs 500-Rs 700 on each quintal of produce as labour charges for picking besides the insecticides, the cost per quintal comes to around Rs 4,000, said Gurdev Singh, another farmer from the Khuyiansarwar area. Abohar can no more enjoy the status of “Manchester" of North India” as decline in cotton production might be 40 per cent less. Adverse climate too played a spoilsport this year, said another farmer, Raghunath. Some farmers still have to unload their vehicles in the yard to expose the produce to the sun. Pleading anonymity, a cotton grower conceded that he and his acquaintances suffered losses by hoarding the produce expecting that the price may cross the Rs 7,000 per quintal mark. Some of the affluent farmers were still keeping the stocks at their farmhouses expecting better prices but that is possible only if the CCI and the Markfed effectively enter the market. Markfed has kept its hands off for the last five years to avert losses that appeared inevitable, said agricultural experts.
	Bank officials alerted over fake currency Our Correspondent Ferozepur, October 30 Alarmed over the spurt in incidents related to circulation of fake Indian currency notes (FICN), Deputy Commissioner S Karuna Raju has instructed the bank officials to remain vigilant and adopt precautionary measures in coordination with the police officials. At a meeting held here, the DC said the bank officials should ensure that CCTV camera are installed at ATMs and cash counters besides other strategic locations in the bank. The DC said that all banks should provide currency detectors to their staff and arrange training sessions for those handling these machines. He further said that if any fake currency is found in ATM, the bank officials will be held responsible. The DC also said that if any fake currency is detected by the bank staff, than the police should be informed and if five or more fake currency notes are recovered, then the bank manager should get an FIR lodged immediately.
	Change in timing of retreat ceremony at Sadiqi JCP Our Correspondent Fazilka, October 30 The Border Security Force (BSF) has advanced the timing of the beating retreat ceremony (lowering of national flag) to 5 pm daily at the Sadiqi Joint Check Post (JCP) with the onset of the winter season. "As the duration of the day decreases during the winter season, the time of the ceremony has been changed accordingly, so that it could be performed before the sunset, said DIG, BSF, AK Sharma. The retreat ceremony is held at Sadiqi JCP daily. Along with the Hussainiwala joint check post in Ferozepur district, Sadiqi JCP is among the two places in the Malwa region where the retreat ceremony is performed. A large number of visitors from different parts of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana and other states throng the post through out the year to witness the exercise being carried out jointly by jawans of BSF and Pakistan Rangers.