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voices that matter
Prolonged heat wave may spell trouble for farmers, believe experts
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Rape case registered after two months
Mass Transfers
Convention held in memory of riot victims
Forum levies penalty on trading firm
NGOs to observe black day
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voices that matter
Bathinda, June 8 The government introduced Change of Land Usage (CLU) charge as well as External Development Charges, which includes charges levied on road, sewer and other infrastructure, for the marriage palaces. Besides, the owners have to pay a number of taxes and get no-objection certificates (NOC) from different departments such as fire safety and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) or the state authority, to operate. The marriage palace owners argue that the law should be applicable only on establishments that came up after 2007. "Since the CLU charge was introduced in 2007, the government should exempt the establishments that came up earlier," Arora said. He added that as per the new policy of the government, marriage palaces should dedicate 50 per cent of their area for parking and the main hall should have lanes running on its three sides with space enough for a fire tender to move around. "The palaces in cities cannot fulfill these guidelines. We want that only one-third of the total area should be dedicated to parking of vehicles. Also, there are a number of sophisticated fire fighting equipment available that a fire brigade vehicle need not move around," said Arora. Members of the association said around 200 families were directly or indirectly dependent on each marriage palace. By levying heavy charges and taxes, the government was also affecting their source of livelihood. The association has also filed a civil writ petition (CWP) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC). The court had granted stay on the CLU charge and the next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 22. Meanwhile, the administrator of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), APS Virk, said those marriage palaces, which have not sought permission under the law, would be closed down. "We are bound by the directions of the HC. Those palaces, which have not been authorised and regularised, will have to face a closure," he said. Virk said over 100 applications were received for regularisation and those who have not applied with the department have already been served notices. The BDA has also written to respective deputy commissioners and the Town Planning Department heads apprising them of the erring palaces. Fact file
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Prolonged heat wave may spell trouble for farmers, believe experts
Bathinda, June 8 Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO) Rajinder Singh Brar said, “Although the intense heat wave has not damaged crops so far, the farmers might be a worried lot if similar weather conditions prevail for two more weeks.” “The vegetable growers also need to be careful. The farmers who have sown cotton need to be careful and ensure proper irrigation of fields so as to avoid burning of plants due to excessive heat,” he added. Elaborating on how the prolonged heat may affect the farmers, he said, “The paddy transplantation is expected to begin in a couple of days. Rains are good for the activity. If it does not rain in the next couple of days, the farmers will have to use groundwater to a large extent.” He also pointed out some of the good effects of the heat. He stated that the intense heat wave dehydrates the eggs, pupa and adult insects in the soil. Meanwhile, in its weather forecast for the next four days for the region, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a partly cloudy sky on Sunday and Monday. The IMD has also predicted that the region may experience thunderstorm and rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Power outage
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Rape case registered after two months
Bathinda, June 8 The court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Phul, Sucheta Ashish Dev directed Bhagta Bhaika Station House Officer (SHO) to register the case. The police has also been directed to investigate the matter and present the report before the court on or before June 14. On Thursday, the police registered a case under Sections 376, 366 and 506 of the IPC against Balwinder Singh of Bhagta Bhai Ka. The victim is a resident of Sahu Ke village of Bagha Purana in Moga district. In her petition, the woman, a widow, said she wanted to purchase a house in Bathinda by selling her property in Bagha Purana for which she contacted a property dealer, who gave her the accused's reference. Balwinder called up the woman many times over her cell phone and insisted her to come over and see some properties to strike a deal. The woman reached Bhagta Bhaika on March 17 in her car and contacted the accused to see the properties. After driving one and a half kilometers, the accused purchased a cold drink and allegedly mixed it with some intoxicant. After consuming the drink, the woman went semi-conscious and the man raped her on the roadside. The victim said the accused fled from the scene leaving her alone. On regaining consciousness, she went to Bhagta Bhaika police station where the munshi, Mohinder Singh, recorded her statement but did not refer her to a hospital for medical examination. The victim, however, went to the government hospital at Bhagta Bhaika on her own but no lady doctor was available there. The next day, she went to the Civil Hospital, Bathinda where Dr Ritu conducted a medico legal examination. The woman said the examination confirmed rape. The woman was called to the police station the next day where she was allegedly made to sign some blank papers on the pretext of recording her statement but no FIR was lodged against the accused. The victim alleged that the accused was an influential person in the area due to which the police did not take action against him. On March 20, she submitted her representation with the Bathinda SSP. Despite the SSP assurance, no FIR was lodged. In her petition, the woman alleged that the accused was threatening her with dire consequences if she pursued the matter against him. Bhagta Bhaika SHO Mahinder Singh said he was not aware of the earlier investigation which was done by ASI Gurdeep Singh. "The earlier investigation found the complaint to be false. We are re-investigating the matter with reference to the medical examination report and the fresh statement of the complainant", the SHO said. The investigating officer in the case, Kulwant Singh, said the accused was a farmer, who went into hiding after the case was registered against him. "The accused had told the police that someone had a property dispute with him who sent the woman as bait to malign his image," the investigation officer said. |
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Mass Transfers
Bathinda, June 8 The decision was taken at a meeting of the PCMSA held in Ludhiana today. The press secretary of the PCMSA, Bathinda, Dr Gurmel Singh, said in the name of strengthening the hospitals, the government was harassing the doctor fraternity. He said the doctors should have been taken into confidence before the mass transfers, which should be done in February or March in consonance with the academic session so that their children do not have to suffer on account of studies. The PCMSA said of the 100 medical institutes, 76 would be closed following transfers. There would be no OPD or medico legal work, no post-mortem or VIP duty at the hospitals during the two days of strike, the PCMSA has decided. However, the doctors will attend to delivery cases, C-section cases and emergency cases on humanitarian grounds. The doctors said they might announce an indefinite strike following the arbitrary decision of the government. |
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Age no bar for learning, NGO shows the way
Bathinda, June 8 The NGO president, Rakesh Narula, DK Garg and a teacher with a private school, Pardeep Sharma, teach as many as 25 women. The youngest of the group is Sunita Devi, who is 35 years old, while the eldest of the lot is 68-year-old Bhagwani Devi. These days, the women students are getting familiar with Hindi and English alphabets and counting. “We want them to first learn to write their names and then progress to be able to read newspapers. More than the men, the women need to be educated enough to read and write,” said Narula. “Some of the women also want their husbands to attend the classes so that they could also learn to read and write. Many of them have also complained that their husbands are addicted to habit-forming substances and they want to wean them away from the addiction,” he added. The NGO plans to conduct the classes for four months. The NGO has also provided stationery to these elderly students. |
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Convention held in memory of riot victims
Bathinda, June 8 It was unanimously decided during the convention that the movement would take help from all quarters and fight for the genuine cause and problems of the people. It was also decided during the convention that the fight against the present system would be intensified to ensure justice to all and to provide equal educational rights for all. It was also demanded that laws should be enacted to protect the social, religious and cultural rights of the people. The speakers also demanded the release of political leaders including Balwant Singh Rajoana and Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind and demanded that the decision to hang Devinderpal Bhullar be revoked. President of the movement, Bhai Mohkam Singh said the organization would fight as per the spirit of the Anandpur Sahib resolution. General secretary of the Janata Dal (United) Arun Srivastava supported the demand for more rights to the states. Baba Buta Singh Gurthari Wale and Baba Kahan Singh Sewa Panthi, among others, were also present on the occasion. Fact file
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Friday Restaurant defeat Back Benchers by 5 wickets
Bathinda, June 8 Friday Restaurant won the toss and elected to bowl first. Although the team's bowlers Rahul and Sukhmandar managed to hinder the flow of runs, Friday Restaurant piled up a score of 167 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. While Naveen remained the highest individual scorer for his team, with 61 runs in 34 balls, Mohna came a close second with a 51 knock of runs of 18 balls. The Friday Restaurant batsmen came to the field determined to win the match. The team succeeded in scoring 171 runs in 19.3 overs for the loss of five wickets. The highest individual scorer for the team was Rahul who scored 42 runs in 34 balls. Back Benchers' Sukhi took three wickets in four overs for his team. Rahul was adjudged the Man of the Match. While Sachin of the Friday Restaurant team was given the Catch of the Match award, Naveen and Mohna from the Back Benchers were presented the Fifty of the Match award. |
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Forum levies penalty on trading firm
Bathinda, June 8 The oil was manufactured by Shree Balaji Trading Company, Awa Basti, Bathinda. The complainant said that the next morning, when he tried to use the oil, it was found that the oil was frozen and looked like wax. Facts on nutrition were written on the bottle and the date of manufacturing was given three months in advance.
— TNS |
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NGOs to observe black day
Bathinda, June 8 He said the government was not serious regarding blood donation campaigns and the last time a state-level function was held on the day was in 2004. "After that, the government has never held any state-level function to talk to the voluntary blood donors and donate them," he said. — TNS |
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