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Thick blanket of smog envelops Malwa region
Pb home guards to leave for Gujarat on Divali night
Spurious sweets’ fear brings sweet success to Milkfed
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In Muktsar dist, only 2 cracker-sellers get NOC from fire dept
Khoya samples fail quality test
SAD leader’s ashes immersed
Cycle rally promotes green Divali
SDM Vipul Ujwal (sporting sleeveless shirt) leads a cycle rally in Abohar on Sunday to motivate people
to celebrate pollution-free festival of lights. A Tribune photograph
Adulterated sweets destroyed
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Thick blanket of smog envelops Malwa region
Faridkot, November 11 Agricultural scientists and environmentalists are of the view that farmers in the state should vie for green prosperity and a more sustainable future by discontinuing the practice of burning crop residue and making big cuts in carbon emission. The farmers in Punjab burn 196 lakh metric tonne of wheat and paddy straw every year. "Burning of one tonne of straw releases 3 kg of particulate matter, 60 kg carbon monoxide, 1460 kg carbon oxide, 199 kg ash and 2 kg sulfur oxide in the environment," said Dr Ramanjaneyulu GV, executive director, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad. Besides the heavy emission of greenhouse gases in stubble burning, the state loses 38.5 lakh metric tonne of organic carbon, 59,000 metric tonne of nitrogen, 2,000 metric tonne of phosphorous and 34,000 metric tonne of potassium every year, said Dr Ramanjaneyulu. The micro-organisms are also getting destroyed because of this. Farmers are burning the wheat and paddy stalks just in order to save a few hundred rupees. These shortsighted misadventures are going to take its toll in terms of money, time, environmental health and ecosystem, said Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), a voluntary organization dedicated to the cause of sustainable and chemical-free agriculture in Punjab. "Countless friendly living forms are being affected. These living forms actually rejuvenate and energise the soil," Dutt said. "For Punjab, it is one of those defining moments when we can choose to go for green prosperity and a more sustainable future or do nothing about climate change leaving an enormous price for the future generations to pay," said Kavitha Kuruganti, an associate of KVM and Greenpeace India. "What are we achieving with these unnecessary fires in our fields? We are burning wheat crop residue in more then 5500 square kilometers and rice crop residue in 12,685 square kilometers every year," said Dutt. These large-scale burning of stubble releases trace gases along with sub micron-sized aerosols, which are known to aggravate lung and respiratory diseases. There is a sudden increase in the number of patients with complaints of irritation and burning sensation in the eyes, in November every year when the paddy stubble is burnt, said Dr Raman Goyal, an ophthalmologist in
Faridkot.
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Pb home guards to leave for Gujarat on Divali night
Ferozepur, November 11 As per the information available, around 12 companies comprising more than 1250 PHG officials, volunteers and support staff, have been deputed to perform sensitive election duties in poll-bound Gujarat. However, the timing of their movement has not gone down well with the jawans but they are still raring to go. On earlier occasions also, PHG jawans have been entrusted with election duties in insurgency infested states like Jammu and Kashmir besides Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Rajasthan and West Bengal. "On all previous occasions, the PHG jawans earned a lot of appreciation for the effective discharge of their duties," said PHG officials. PHG officials added that the jawans have been given adequate training in coordination with military authorities to handle extreme situations. The officials further said the jawans have been equipped with SLRs, body protectors, helmets and walkie-talkie sets. It is pertinent to mention here that till some time back, the PHG volunteers had been using the archaic .303 rifles which had been phased put by all other security agencies. However, they have recently been equipped with SLR rifles which have been reportedly provided by the BSF authorities. While PHG jawans and officials looked excited about their new assignment, the timing seemed to have upset some of them. PHG officials regretted that they do not get sufficient coaches in the special train because of which the jawans face a tough time during the journey. "We have not been provided sufficient coaches as per our requirement," said a PHG official, adding that it was imperative to ensure a comfortable journey for the jawans so that they get proper rest before their arrival in Gujarat. When contacted, Railway officials said they were trying to make the best possible arrangements for the movement of the forces. However, due to the rush of passengers on account of the festival season, they had limited options at hand. "We are always concerned for these men in uniform. But they also have to understand our limitations at times," said another official pleading anonymity.
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Spurious sweets’ fear brings sweet success to Milkfed
Faridkot, November 11 Over 1.50 lakh packets (each of 800
gms) of 10 varieties of sweets have already been sold and the Milkfed's total sweets sale this Divali is nearly 25 per cent more than last year, said the general manager of the Milkfed Verka plant in
Bathinda, Roopinder Singh. At a time when the health department is confiscating the substandard and spurious sweets across the state, the educated customers prefer to rely on a trusted brand. This is the reason why 90 per cent of Milkfed's sweets stock was sold off early because of the high demand, said Roopinder Singh. In the last few years, after the adulterated sweets started flooding the markets in Punjab on
Divali, Milkfed has increased its sweets business. On Divali in 2007, the total sale of Milkfed sweets fetched the cooperative department just Rs 6
lakh. The amount increased to Rs 10 lakh in 2008. But in 2009, there was a manifold increase with a sale of Rs 1.5
crore. In 2010, the figure touched over Rs 3 crore and last Divali, Milkfed sweets fetched over Rs 4
crore. Earlier, most Milkfed sweets customers were based in Mohali and Chandigarh and the Milkfed sold and prepared sweets at these two stations. But this year, due to high demand, two other Milkfed sweet manufacturing units came up at Jalandhar and
Patiala. "Now because of the high demand, we have started preparing milk-cake in
Bathinda," said Roopinder Singh. "While Milkfed sweets are not available after
Divali, we want to continue with the milk-cake variety in Bathinda till Lohri due to its high demand among the consumers," he said. |
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In Muktsar dist, only 2 cracker-sellers get NOC from fire dept
Muktsar, November 11 Except for these two dealers of Killianwali and
Malout, all other dealers in Muktsar district are selling crackers in violation of the law and a majority of them are doing a brisk business in the residential areas, putting the lives of others at risk. As per the rules, the storage and sale of crackers in residential areas is banned and all dealers have to get the licence issued from the Deputy Commissioner, who directs the fire safety office to issue an NOC after inspecting the site to ensure that the area is non-residential and in case of a mishap, the fire tenders can easily reach
there. Chaman Lal Sharma, Fire Safety Officer, Muktsar, said, "As of now, not even a single application has come before us for granting an NOC on the sale of crackers." "Earlier, every year, the Deputy Commissioner's office sent us the applications along with the maps to examine the site and issue the
NOC. But this year, the situation has worsened," he said. Similarly, Sukha Singh, Chief Fire Officer,
Gidderbaha, said, "Neither any dealer nor the district administration has so far approached us to give NOC on sale or storage of fire-crackers to anybody."
Narinder Singh, Chief Fire Officer, Malout, said, "We have issued NOCs to two dealers of Killianwali and
Malout. But except for them, no one else has so far sought NOCs from us." Sources said last year, a shop was sealed in Muktsar town by the district administration after its owner was found selling crackers without obtaining the
licence. But this year, the situation is different. "Every year, during the festival season, some fire incidents get reported, but the officials are hand in glove with the fire cracker dealers. As a result, the illegal activity is rampant," said sources. |
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Khoya samples fail quality test
Fazilka, November 11 "The health authorities had collected the samples of seven quintals of khoya two weeks back from a cold storage in
Ferozepur. Of this, two quintals have failed the quality test at the state health department laboratory in Chandigarh," disclosed Dr YK Gupta, District Health Officer and the officiating civil surgeon for Fazilka and Ferozepur districts, here today. "The owners of the stored khoya would be given a chance to get it tested from another government-run laboratory. Thereafter, they would be dealt with as per the law," said the civil surgeon. Giving details regarding measures being taken to check the sale of adulterated sweets and other eatables, Dr Gupta said so far, 35 samples have been collected in Ferozepur and Fazilka districts in the last two weeks. "Besides, the district health authorities have also seized two quintals of spurious sweets this week," he said. Gupta said a court in Ferozepur has awarded a six-month jail sentence to a sweet seller two weeks back after he was caught bringing seven quintals of adulterated sweets from Shahkot about three years back. Besides, the additional district magistrate has slapped Rs 1.5 lakh as penalty under the Food Safety Act 2006 on three persons selling spurious eatables.
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SAD leader’s ashes immersed
Ferozepur, November 11 Tarmala (57), who was Lambi circle president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had died under mysterious circumstances at his house in Dhaani Telianwali in Muktsar on Friday. The family members of Tarmala, including his wife Updesh Kaur, his sons Harvinder Singh and Navrinder Singh, SAD leaders including Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Hari Singh Zira and Joginder Singh, both MLAs, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Commitee (SGPC) members and hundreds of party workers were also present. Later, Badal attended the "paath" organised at Gurdwara Nanaksar at Harike. Badal had earlier rushed to Tarmala's native place to express condolences to the bereaved family. He had also cancelled his two-day Sangat
Darshan programme in the Lambi Assembly constituency.
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Cycle rally promotes green Divali
Abohar, November 11 SDM Vipul Ujwal flagged off the rally that culminated at the Sunbeam. The participants hung jute bags to dispose of waste and exhorted the citizens to bid adieu to polythene carry bags that are considered responsible for blocking drains. Morning Club president Anil Sethi, project in-charge SP Madaan and Consumer Movement chief Satpal Khariwal appealed to the people to revert to the use of bicycles for short rides as it will help bring down pollution level besides keeping them healthy. Social activist Praveen Kathuria, district scouts and guides training officer Darshan Lal Chugh, Meera Nursing Institute chairman Dr GS Mittal and former senior medical officer Dr Shrawan Kumar listed the diseases that could be prevented by cycling in open spaces.
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Adulterated sweets destroyed
Barnala, November 11 Sandhu said that the sweets, which had been destroyed, were unfit for human consumption.
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To motivate the people to celebrate a pollution-free Divali, a cycle rally was organised today by the Morning Club.
SDM Vipul Ujwal flagged off the rally that culminated at the Sunbeam. The participants hung jute bags to dispose of waste and exhorted the citizens to bid adieu to polythene carry bags that are considered responsible for blocking drains.
Morning Club president Anil Sethi, project in-charge SP Madaan and Consumer Movement chief Satpal Khariwal appealed to the people to revert to the use of bicycles for short rides as it will help bring down pollution level besides keeping them healthy.
