Bathinda, December 5
A consignment of palm oil being transported in a tanker today spilled over for many kilometers near Sangat Mandi which lead to a series of accidents involving more than 20 two-wheelers and over a dozen four-wheelers.

Around 20 persons received injuries after the palm oil wreaked havoc on the Dabwali road. The truck carrying the material overturned on Tuesday night at around 1.30 am and the situation could be brought under control only by noon today with the help of the villagers and the workers of an NGO.

"The police failed to extend any help to the commuters who kept slipping on the road as only two traffic constables were deployed at the site of the accident. The police could have told the commuters to slow down or should have spread a word of caution among the drivers approaching the place of the accident," said Pali Mashana of the NGO Sangat Sahara that helped in administering first aid to the injured.

A local scribe in Sangat Mandi, who was on a two-wheeler, was also injured after his bike slipped on the road and he narrowly escaped coming under the front wheels of a speeding bus. A long queue for up to 20 kms was witnessed on the road between Jassi Baghwali and Sangat Kenchiyan due to the overturned tanker. An ambulance of the NGO was also damaged in the chaos.

The commuters said the vehicles skidded on the road due to the palm oil that had spread for kilometers. The tyres of the vehicles passing on the road spread the palm oil on the highway.

Three cranes from Bathinda were pressed into service to lift the overturned tanker. The workers of the Bathinda-based factory where the consignment was headed for, also arrived to collect the leaking material.

"Though we applied sand and dry soil on the road with the help of the villagers using tractor-trailers, it was hardly of any help as the vehicles continued to skid. The accidents would continue till the oil is removed from the road," said Bhupinder Brar, a resident of Sangat. Brar said the oil is bound to spread again if it rains as a similar accident was reported at Pathrala village near the Doomwali barrier around six months ago.

The driver of the oil tanker said he noticed stray cattle on the road before his truck overturned.

Sangat SHO Harbans Singh said no case has been registered against the truck driver as the accident took place naturally.

"No case has been registered against anyone so far as I am busy because of the visit of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal," the SHO said.

Sources, however, said that the truck was coming from Kandla (Gujarat) and was supposed to reach the Bathinda Chemicals Limited factory in the city

Bathinda, December 5
The Anganwari centres have been given a new lease of life by the Central Government. Aiming to bring about a change in the way the Anganwari centres have been working, the Centre has decided to increase the amount earmarked for the diet of the children and women at these centres. Besides, the buildings of these Anganwari centres will also be given a facelift.

According to the notification, orders have been given to re-constitute the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS).

While earlier, Rs 4 was earmarked for the daily diet of children in the age-group of 6-72 months, the amount to be spent on their daily diet has now been increased to Rs 6.

Children in the same age-group but with less weight were earlier given a daily diet of Rs 6. The amount has now been raised to Rs 9.

The annual medical reimbursement of these Anganwari centres has also been increased from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000. The medical reimbursement of the mini Anganwari centres has been increased from Rs 300 per year Rs 500 per year.

The Anganwari centres were earlier given Rs 1,000 for the pre-school education kits. This amount has also been increased to Rs 3,000. The mini Anganwari centres will now be given Rs 1,500 instead of Rs 500, for the pre-school education kits.

Appreciating the announcements, Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, director of the Child Development and Social Security Department, Punjab, said the step will be beneficial for the Anganwari centres and will help in raising the quality of help that these centres were extending to the children and women.

A grant of Rs 4.5 lakh may also be released soon to upgrade the buildings of the Anganwari centres. It was also notified that 75 per cent of the total cost incurred on the facelift of these buildings will be borne by the Central Government while the remaining 25 per cent will be paid by the state government.

In addition to this grant, every Anganwari centre will also be given a grant of Rs 2,000 per year for the maintenance of the buildings.

Bathinda, December 5
The night shelter constructed by the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) is lying unutilised as the homeless seem to be showing preference for spending the night out in the cold, ostensibly because it gets them aid in the form of blankets, which they further sell off to buy liquor.

On any given day, there are not more than 3 to 4 people at the night shelter built on Mal Godam Road near the post office.

Even on foggy nights, beggars are found bundled up on the roadside trying to brave the winter. Taking advantage of the soft corner people have for them, these beggars accept blankets as alms and further sell them off to buy liquor.

"Instead of using the night shelter, which is covered from all the sides and has provision for beds too, the beggars prefer to sleep on the roadside. This is because during the winter, many people donate blankets to the poor and needy. Most street urchins take these blankets and sell them off to get their regular supply of liquor," revealed the president of the NGO, Sahara Welfare Society that works for the downtrodden in the city.

Staying at the night shelter dims their chances of getting blankets as alms and therefore, they prefer to lie down in the open.

An old octroi post on Mal Godam road was converted into a night shelter last year after the Supreme Court directed that such homes be built for the destitute.

Earlier, in a survey conducted in 2010, the corporation had found 41 homeless people.

During a meeting held earlier on January 6 this year, it was decided that land be taken from the railways for the night shelter. In a letter to the corporation, the senior divisional engineer II, Northern Railways, Ambala, refused saying its vacant area would be utilised for future expansion.

The corporation then zeroed in on an old octroi post, which now houses a three-room night shelter.

People said that installing signboards that mention the direction and location of the night shelter can also prove to be instrumental in popularising it.

Bathinda, December 5
The deadlock between the special trainers and the Punjab government is far from over. While the Special Trainers Teachers Union (STTU) claimed that the Education Minister has promised to take all the 900 ousted special trainers back in job, it has refused to discontinue the hunger strike.

Special trainer Jasbir Kaur, who was on hunger strike and was whisked away to the Civil Hospital on December 3 because of her deteriorating health, has continued with the stir. Another special trainer, Paramjit Singh, is also sitting on hunger strike with Jasbir Kaur.

The president of the union, Davinder Singh Muktsar, said that at the meeting held with Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka today, it was promised that all the 900 ousted special trainers will be taken back.

Two years ago, the education department had appointed 1896 special trainers in the state to impart education to those children who do not study in schools. These children lived in hutments, colonies of brick kiln workers and other daily wagers. However, this year, the Punjab government introduced some changes in the scheme and relieved 900 of these trainers.

Since then, the STTU has been agitating demanding that the ousted teachers be taken back in the job. STTU leaders said the hunger strike would be called off only after the government issues the notification to take back all the trainers. "The government has promised to take back 500 trainers first and 400 trainers in the second batch," he said.

The union is also demanding an increase in the salary of the trainers. Currently, special trainers in Punjab are drawing Rs 3,500 per month whereas their counterparts in Haryana are drawing Rs 10,000 per month.

Today was the 41st day of the stir. STTU leaders said that the government is busy portraying itself as one that promotes development but it has been issuing pink slip to the teachers. 

Bathinda, december 5
Established 15 years ago, the industrial growth centre, located on the Mansa road and having 35 to 40 small scale units, has, ironically, recorded a stunted growth.
Without a proper sewerage system, parks and drinking water facility for the past 15 years, the centre speaks volumes about state government’s commitment to encouraging industry in state.

Apprising the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation Limited (PSIEC) managing director of the issues being faced by the centre, the Industrial Growth Centre Owners’ Association has sent him a representation.

President of the association, Kapil Goyal, said the government developed this area in 1998 and sold plots way back in 1999. 

“The internal sewerage lines were laid, but for the past 15 years these have not been connected with the main sewer. We are unable to use the sewer facility,” he said. 

The association had taken up the matter of sewerage earlier ws well, but was told that the sewer could not be connected with the main sewer as the line had to be taken from under the railway line on Mansa road, which was not possible. 

To overcome the sewer problem, the association has proposed that a sewer treatment plant be set up within the growth centre.

Last year, association had also conducted a meeting with the chief minister, who had directed the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation Limited to release funds of `60 lakh for this purpose as the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) did not have funds to complete this project. 

Despite the instructions from the CM, no tenders have been floated as yet.

Three months back, the association members also met the minister for industry, Anil Joshi, who ordered that a drinking water RO be installed at the centre to provide clean water, but nothing has been done on this front too. Although the indutrial growth centre has three parks to boast of, none of the parks has boundary walls. 

Industrial Growth Centre Owners’ Association members feel that the government is not developing the centre as it does not have any interest in promoting small scale industries in the state.

Internal sewerage lines were laid, but for the past 15 years, these have not been connected with the main sewer line.

After a meeting with the Industrial Growth Centre Owners’ Association last year, the chief minister had directed the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation Limited to release funds worth `60 lakh for this purpose. Despite the instructions from the CM, no tenders have been floated as yet. 

Bathinda, december 5
The health department today conducted a surprise checking at two shops in street number 7 and street number 8 of Naruana road.

Headed by the district health officer (DHO) Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa, the team checked the food on sale and destroyed the products that had reached their expiry dates. 

The team included food safety officer, Amritpal Singh, Ram Kewal, Surjit Singh and Darshan Singh.

The team conducted checking at Chaudhary Store where tobacco products were displayed, which is not allowed. The shopkeeper was directed not to display the products. Five-day-old bread packets were also recovered from the shop and destroyed. 

Besides, the team destroyed bottles of cold drinks that had crossed their expiry date. Some bottles, whose expiry date was today, were spared. The shopkeeper was directed to destroy those bottles if they were not sold by evening.

DHO Dr Randhawa suggested that a separate crate, labelled as “not for sale”, should be used for disposing off expired food products to avoid any confusion while selling the products.

He said the owners of the grocery stores usually bought things without bills and hence, the expiry date of certain eatables could not be ascertained. Also, the shopkeeper did not have the licence as is mandatory under the Food Safety Act. 

Dr Randhawa appealed to all the other shopkeepers to get licences issued as the last date for it was February 4. After February 4, it would be illegal to run shops without licences.

Mintu Store in the same area was also raided and its shopkeeper was also directed to get the licence.

Bathinda, december 5
Members of the Bathinda unit of the Punjab Government Pensioners Association held a meeting under the presidentship of Darshan Singh Bajaj in the city today.

During the meeting, it was announced that a grand ceremony will be hosted at the Pensioners’ Bhavan in the city on December 17 to celebrate Pensioners’ Day.

Talking about the celebrations, Darshan Singh Bajaj said members of all the units of the union from across the district would be invited to attend the ceremony.

It was also decided that the union will try and invite one of the top officials of the district administration as the chief guest at the ceremony.

The members also voiced their concerns over the government’s announcement that 30 per cent of the outstanding dues of the pensioners would be paid only in June 2013. 

Bathinda, December 5
People consuming liquor by the roadside in the city and rural areas has become a common feature despite repeated complaints and reminders to the police and officials of the Excise Department.

The space outside the eating joints offering non-vegetarian snacks and food items, on the GT Road, have become the favourite night time spots for those who want to eat, drink and make merry. Many can be seen consuming liquor openly outside these eating joints.

It is a matter of small wonder that owing to this, a number of such eating joints have come up by the roadside.

City residents, upset with the menace, said the casual approach of the city police has led to an increase in the problem.

Ravinder Joshi, a private typist at district courts said that he had brought the matter to the notice of the police many times but nothing had been done in this regard so far.

“People can be seen consuming liquor outside the non-vegetarian eating joints near three cinemas on the GT Road, near Ghorewala Chowk, bus stand, railway station, rose garden, near thermal plant lakes and adjoining the Bibi Wala Chowk almost every evening,” Joshi said.

“Once I even called up a city SHO and informed him about the chaos and ruckus that was being created by people consuming liquor at open places. The SHO, however, demanded a written complaint in this regard to take action,” said Ajitpal Singh, a resident of Bhagu road.

He said it is the duty of the police to take action against those who consume liquor openly in public places and also against the eating joints who were providing eatables to people sitting in their cars outside these eateries.

Though the police today registered a case against four persons for offering eatables to drunkards without any licence, the city residents, however, said more action was required to get rid of the problem.

Police today booked Harbans Singh, Jalour Singh, Mukesh Kumar and Pardeep Kumar for selling and consuming liquor at an open space.

A case under the Excise Act has been registered against them.

Volunteers of the city-based NGO Sahara Jan Sewa said they get many phones calls in the evenings and at night informing the volunteers about people lying by the roadsides after an overdose of liquor.

“We either inform the family members of the drunkards or get them admitted to the Civil Hospital,” said one of the volunteers of the NGO.

City residents also pointed out that the menace was also giving rise to many other problems.

“After consuming liquor at these places, many people indulge in rash driving and cause road accidents. The presence of such people outside the eating joints also makes these places unsafe for women and children and there may be many anti-social elements doing lurking in the area,” said Harkanwaljeet Singh, a resident of Dhobiana Road.

Bathinda, december 5
Urging the students to remain focused on their studies to achieve success in the competitive world, MLA from Bathinda Rural, Darshan Singh Kotfatta, today said those who manage their time and energy always excel in life.

The MLA was speaking at a function held in Jhumba village to distribute bicycles to the girl students of class 12 under the Mao Bhago Scheme of the state government.

Sharing his experience, Kotfatta said the state government was making efforts to provide educational and supportive facilities to the students.

Deputy District Education Officer (Secondary) Dr Amarjit Kaur, while interacting with the staff of the school, appreciated the efforts being made to improve the school infrastructure. She also interacted with the school students and inquired about the quality of mid-day-meal and sports facilities.

Bathinda, december 5
Members of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha today demanded plots for the poor in the villages.

Addressing a press conference, the members of the morcha said as per the promises made by the government during the time of elections, 10 marla should be given to the poor.

They also demanded that the poor should also be given 150 days of work under the MGNREGA with `300 per day as wage.

The members said they would soon intensify their agitation to make the poor aware of their rights. They also said they would launch an awareness program from December 10 to December 20.

State president of the morcha, Bhagwant Singh said they had decided to submit copies of the memorandum to all the village panchayats so that they could pass a resolution to give plots to the poor people.

Pointing out a flaw in the system, the members of the morcha said that although the plots of land were distributed to the poor, it was done only on papers. They added that the plots of land, meant to be distributed among the poor, had been encroached upon by the rich and influential people.

Bathinda, december 5
In a bizarre case of theft, copper was stolen from the transformers installed in the fields of farmers in Pucca Kalan.

In his complaint to the Thermal police, Chhinderpal Singh, a resident of Pucca Kalan area, accused Rajdeep Singh alias Raju and Gurpreet Singh alias Hari from Pucca Kalan and Sukhchain Singh alias Sunny from Romana Ajit Singh village of stealing the copper from the transformers.

Police have registered a case against them.