B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Falling Rupee brings cheer to cotton growers
Faridkot, September 1
The rupee’s continuing downslide against the dollar has brought cheer to cotton growers and spinning mills in Punjab. As the yarn and textile mills are now fetching higher value in rupee terms with their exports, the gain to the textile industry is further travelling to the cotton growers.

Floods in Fazilka courtesy Pakistan, claim farmers’ body
Abohar, September 1
The flood in the border district of Fazilka was triggered as the authorities in Pakistan pushed back 13 lakh cusecs of water that had been diverted through the Hussainiwala headworks to Kasur and adjoining areas during the last two months, alleged Kisan Sangharsh Samiti.

Mansa doc faces sodomy charge
Bathinda, September 1
A doctor deployed at the Civil Hospital, Mansa, has been booked for sodomy and criminal intimidation. Identified as Ajay Singla, the doctor has been booked under sections 377 and 506 of the IPC at Mansa city police station on the complaint of a 17-year-old student. The boy accused the doctor of sodomising him at his residence in the city when he went for a medical check-up.

Moga college, BFUHS join hands to conduct research in pharmacy
Moga, September 1
The Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with each other to collaborate for research and training facilities in medical science, basic science and pharmacy science and new drug formulations.

Speeding car proves fatal
Abohar, September 1
A woman, identified as Munni Devi, was reportedly crushed to death at Alamgarh chowk by a car that was on its way from Sriganganagar to Ludhiana. The police has seized the vehicle and taken the driver into custody.

Eight arrested with narcotics
Abohar, September 1
The police here today arrested eight persons in different localities and seized 20 grams of smack and 52 kg of poppy husk during the search.

Army holds welfare camp for ex-servicemen, veer naris
Fazilka, September 1
The Army organised a welfare camp to commemorate the veterans, ex-servicemen and war widows at the Army cantonment here today.

Taranpreet wins folk dance event
Abohar, September 1
Taranpreet was adjudged as the best in Punjabi folk dance during the annual talent search competitions that concluded at Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College here last evening.

Sikka installed as Rotary Club president
Abohar, September 1
Octogenarian social activist BL Sikka, a former sub-divisional magistrate, was last night installed as the new president of the Rotary Club Midtown here. Past District Governor SL Gandhi administered the oath of office to him.

Badminton tourney: Gurdaspur lift trophy
Abohar, September 1
Gurdaspur district lifted the trophy in the 59th Punjab State Inter-district Badminton Tournament defeating Amritsar.

Falling Rupee brings cheer to cotton growers
Earnings increase as export receipts of yarn go up
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, September 1
The rupee’s continuing downslide against the dollar has brought cheer to cotton growers and spinning mills in Punjab. As the yarn and textile mills are now fetching higher value in rupee terms with their exports, the gain to the textile industry is further travelling to the cotton growers.

After a long discouraging trend in cotton prices, this soft white fibrous substance has witnessed a sharp rise in recent times. Lint cotton is attracting Rs 5,100-Rs 5,200 per maund (37.324 kg) these days against Rs 4,300 per maund that it fetched last year during the corresponding period.

"While the Indian economy is passing through a difficult phase with business activities on the lower side due to depreciation in the value of rupees, the textile and yarn industry exports have surged mainly due to a sharp increase in the value of dollar against the rupee," said Kunal Thukral, the proprietor of UB Steel Ltd in Mumbai, a leading yarn and textile exporter in the country.

In yarn export if earlier, a dollar was bringing Rs 55-Rs 56 to the millers, with the depreciating value of rupee, one dollar now fetches them Rs 68-Rs 69.

With the local currency depreciating against the US greenback, it makes yarn exports cheaper from India in comparison to Pakistan, said IJ Dhuria, Director, Material, Vardhman Group of Textile Industry.

With the value of rupee plunging, there was an increase in the volume of textile and yarn exports in recent times. So, the prices also continue to soar in the domestic cotton market due to the high demand of the raw material, said Dhuria.

"How much the cotton and yarn industry stands to gain from the sliding rupee depends on the reserve stock of the millers but it will continue to keep the cotton prices high in the coming days," said Kunal Thukral.

"With the value of the rupee plunging, the market condition for the man-made India fibre (cotton) will continue to show signs of improvement in the international market and we are hopeful that the demand will pick up in the months to come. With the demand going up in the domestic and international market, we are hopeful that cotton growers will yield profit this season," said Dhuria.

Besides the weak rupee jacking up textile exports, there is another reason to elevate the cotton prices, said IJ Dhuria. “India has a poor opening stock of cotton this year. By the end of September, India would have an opening stock of cotton of only 16 lakh bales. With increased volume of yarn export and high demand of cotton from the spinning mills, the cotton prices will surge further,” he said.

Floods in Fazilka courtesy Pakistan, claim farmers’ body
Neighbouring country pushed back 13 lakh cusecs of water
Raj Sadosh

Abohar, September 1
The flood in the border district of Fazilka was triggered as the authorities in Pakistan pushed back 13 lakh cusecs of water that had been diverted through the Hussainiwala headworks to Kasur and adjoining areas during the last two months, alleged Kisan Sangharsh Samiti.

Subhash Sehgal, the spokesperson of the Samiti and other prominent leaders said at a press conference at Sriganganagar today in the evening that media reports in Pakistan indicate that the neighbouring country is preparing to claim compensation from India against the damage caused in West Punjab province by the recent floods.

Sarpanch Satveer Singh Mohanpura and progressive farmers Manjit Singh and Yadwinder Singh besides former district education officer Jagdev Singh Sandhu and Bhupinder Singh were also present at the press meet.

The Samiti leaders said that according to the bilateral agreement, 14 lakh cusecs of water was to be supplied annually to Rajasthan from Hussainiwala (Ferozepur) headworks through the Gang (Bikaner) canal and other water bodies to feed 7 lakh acres of command area in Sriganganagar and other districts of West Rajasthan.

The Bhakra dam reservoirs had sufficient inflow and the Gang canal was not allowed to run to its capacity even when Rs 200 crore had been spent on its remodelling in Punjab and Rajasthan area in the first phase and Rs 222 crore on the second phase since 2004-05.

The officials in Rajasthan Water Resources Department and the Punjab Irrigation Department had been under fire for not releasing more than 2800 cusecs of water against its designed capacity of 3027 cusecs arguing that they wanted to avert breaches. This nexus had left made sub-canals run dry. The Gang canal lining beyond Sadhuwali headworks on Abohar-Sriganganagar road was weak and nowhere did it have 25 feet wide strip for walking that is mandatory as per the manual.

Water is immediately required for the next 15 days to irrigate the standing crops as temperature has gone up, but is not available.

The Samiti has decided to launch a stir beginning tomorrow to mobilise farmers for a "rasta roko andolan'' in district Sriganganagar slated for next week.

"I will spend nights in the villages for the next seven days to bring awareness among the farmers," Samiti spokesman Sehgal said, adding that the officials of the Water Resources Department will experience the heat of the stir.

Mansa doc faces sodomy charge
Gurdeep Singh Mann/TNS

Bathinda, September 1
A doctor deployed at the Civil Hospital, Mansa, has been booked for sodomy and criminal intimidation. Identified as Ajay Singla, the doctor has been booked under sections 377 and 506 of the IPC at Mansa city police station on the complaint of a 17-year-old student. The boy accused the doctor of sodomising him at his residence in the city when he went for a medical check-up.

The complainant also accused the doctor of using his mobile phone. In his statement to the police, the boy said he escaped from the doctor's house along with the doctor's mobile phone.

The complainant is said to have visited the hospital around 15 days ago where he was diagnosed by the doctor. The boy again visited the hospital a few days ago with complaints of physical weakness and then got himself diagnosed at the residence of the doctor on Saturday night where the incident is said to have taken place.

Cops at the city police station said the doctor came to them at around 3 pm today with complaint of his mobile phone being taken away by the boy. The boy, when called to the police station, revealed a different story and demanded that his medical examination be conducted at the hospital to register a case against the doctor. The police got the medical examination of boy conducted and registered a case late at night.

Sources said the doctor was also brought to the police station for questioning. However, no formal arrest has been made so far.

DSP (City) Sulakhan Singh said the case was registered after an in-depth investigation conducted by SHO City, Balbir Singh. SHO Balbir Singh said the accused would be arrested soon and produced in the court accordingly.

A doctor close to the accused said Dr Singla is reserved by nature and had told his colleagues about his mobile phone being snatched by the boy from his residence.

Civil Hospital SMO Dr Raj Kumar said he was not aware of the incident and would enquire about it tomorrow. He said Dr Ajay had been deputed at the hospital before he had joined, around four months ago.

Moga college, BFUHS join hands to conduct research in pharmacy
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Moga, September 1
The Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with each other to collaborate for research and training facilities in medical science, basic science and pharmacy science and new drug formulations.

The ISF College of Pharmacy is one of the best pharmacy colleges of the country and has a unique modern laboratory for carrying out research in developing new drug formulations with the help of nano-technology, besides other modern facilities like biotech research laboratory, molecular modelling laboratory and centre of excellence for cardiovascular and neuron-psychopharmacology.

It has also developed a government approved analytical chemical laboratory and small prototype pilot plants for solid and parental dosage forms.

It has recently ventured into not only in isolation of bioactive compounds from plants but also in the development and optimisation of poly-herbal formulations.

It is also the only pharmacy institute in the northern states to introduce doctorate in pharmacy course.

Parveen Garg, chairman of the managing committee, said as per the agreement, the students of the university could avail the research facilities in the laboratories and animal house in their institute while the pharmacy students could use hospital facilities for clinical internship and research in the university’s medical college.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has also granted approval for joint research projects, he said.

Moreover, the research publications and other outcome from joint works would be equally shared by both the institutes, besides inviting scientists of both the institutes in each other’s respective institutes for better studies and research.

It may be mentioned that the ISF College has also signed agreements with the Government of Taiwan and Government of Bulgaria, besides many multi-national private drug manufacturing companies for carrying out research in developing new drugs with the help of nano-technology, Garg claimed.

Speeding car proves fatal
Our Correspondent

Abohar, September 1
A woman, identified as Munni Devi, was reportedly crushed to death at Alamgarh chowk by a car that was on its way from Sriganganagar to Ludhiana. The police has seized the vehicle and taken the driver into custody.

In another incident, a speeding tractor-trailer killed the cattle in Indira Nagari while two cattle were injured seriously by another tractor-trailer on old Fazilka road. Both the vehicles were transporting wheat to load it in the special goods train at the railway complex here.

Anguished over the unchecked movement of such vehicles through residential areas, scores of residents staged a dharna and shouted slogans against the local administration.

Eight arrested with narcotics

Abohar, September 1
The police here today arrested eight persons in different localities and seized 20 grams of smack and 52 kg of poppy husk during the search.

Those nabbed included Sukhdev Singh, Kala Singh, Gurcharan Singh (all of Seed Farm), Lakha Singh and Sukhdev Singh (Jammu Basti), Vinod Kumar (Maujgarh), Kripal Singh (Ghallu) and Laddu of Jalalabad. — OC

Army holds welfare camp for ex-servicemen, veer naris
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, September 1
The Army organised a welfare camp to commemorate the veterans, ex-servicemen and war widows at the Army cantonment here today.

As many as 102 ex-servicemen and 47 war widows participated in the camp from different areas. The Army also made arrangements for ferrying the beneficiaries to Fazilka cantonment and back.

Brigade commander RS Dadwal informed the ex-servicemen, veer naris and their wards of the facilities that can be provided to them.

Station commander and the staff concerned also listened to the grievances of the former soldiers and ensured desired action.

Mona Dadwal, chairperson, Family Welfare Organisation (FWO), also interacted with Veer Naris and their family members and encouraged them to come out with their suggestions and assistant required from the Army.

A help desk for documentation and medical problems and a separate counter for war widows was also set up for look into their problems.

Taranpreet wins folk dance event

Abohar, September 1
Taranpreet was adjudged as the best in Punjabi folk dance during the annual talent search competitions that concluded at Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College here last evening.

Toppers in other competitions are Priya, Asmita, Ameesha, Kajal, Ravneet, Manpreet, Ekta, Mukta, Saloni, Tamanna, Krishna, Gurpreet, Shayna, Riya, Teena, Rimjhim, Sanjeeva, Neelam, Shefali, Simarjit and Kamlesh. College principal Dr Neelam Arun Mittu honoured the winners. — OC

Sikka installed as Rotary Club president

Abohar, September 1
Octogenarian social activist BL Sikka, a former sub-divisional magistrate, was last night installed as the new president of the Rotary Club Midtown here. Past District Governor SL Gandhi administered the oath of office to him.

Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg offered the medal of honour and hoped that the club would involve itself widely in social upkeep.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Charandev Singh Mann extended his good wishes. After his installation, Sikka said the Rotarians have been working hard to bring the country off the list of polio-endemic nations. "Indian doctors are providing substantial help in combating it. In India, Rotary has spent $176 million on this and will continue to fund more for other initiatives," he said. The Rotary Club team would work for the uplift of all, he assured. — OC

Badminton tourney: Gurdaspur lift trophy

Abohar, September 1
Gurdaspur district lifted the trophy in the 59th Punjab State Inter-district Badminton Tournament defeating Amritsar.

The winners topped in the Under-17 and Under-19 years category while Jalandhar emerged winner in the Under-14 year category.

Ludhiana, Nawanshahr and Sangrur district teams were declared second runners-up in different categories.

About 300 students from 22 districts reached this remotely located sub-divisional town to participate in the matches.

District Education Officer Sandeep Dhuria gave away the prizes. — OC