Bathinda, July 1
Though Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg will hold a sangat darshan at the District Administrative Complex tomorrow, a number of complaints made by the people in previous sangat darshans are yet to be addressed. However, the people will be able to meet the DC after a gap of seven months.

Talwandi Sabo, July 1
It may not be a cake walk for former Congress MLA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, who joined the SAD recently, in the forthcoming bypolls as 10 councillors have revolted against the MC president, asking him to prove majority. Gurtinder Singh Mann, president of the MC, has been openly supporting Jeet Mohinder, which is opposed by SAD workers.

Sidhu denied any information about the development. Mann, too, rubbished charges of opposition to Sidhu’s candidature.

A cross section of councillors openly opposed the municipal council president.

The unrest has been brewing for the past few days and today they submitted an application for the no-confidence motion to lower-rung MC officials as the executive officer was absent.

The copies of the application were also sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Deputy Director (Local Bodies) and other officials.

The councillors demanded to convene a special meeting of the MC under the Municipal Act 1911 so that the president could prove majority in the MC house.

Now, efforts are being made to cajole the SAD councillors. Mann said he was not in the town and the development took place in his absence. The MC president termed the incident as a conspiracy by the Opposition.

“Though these councilors signed the application and moved no-confidence motion in my absence, they would not have done it in my presence," Mann said.

Mann said it is not an easy task to convene the meeting of the MC for the no-confidence motion as the application would have to pass through various government channels.

Ishwinder Kaur, councilor, ward No. 13, and Ranjeet Singh, councillor, ward No. 11 said that they had signed the application for on-confidence motion as the MC president had adopted anti-councillor stance. Former MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh could not be contacted for comments. 

Bathinda, July 1
After rail fares, Narendra Modi-led NDA government has raised the prices of petrol, diesel and an LPG cylinder by Rs 1.69, 50 paise and Rs 16.50, respectively.

The Union Government’s decision has triggered a wave of resentment among the city residents, who said they were finding it difficult to make both ends meet.

The hike in prices is likely to affect prices of essential commodities. “During the election campaigning, Narendra Modi had said that they would bring down inflation. The decision of the Central government had shaken the common man,” said Sanjay Jain, a resident.

Rajiv Sharma, a resident of Model Town, said, “The government has no mercy for the poor. I have other expenses to bear and the hike would hit us adversely. The people of the country are sandwiched between corruption and inflation. The government is least bothered about the plight of the people.”

Vikas Verma , a resident of Veer Colony, said, “I think we should start using bicycles. Oil companies are increasing petrol and diesel every month, putting extra burden on us. The increase in the price of an LPG cylinder would make the food costly.”

Raman Watts, president, Bathinda Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), said,” The hike in diesel prices always put an extra burden on the industry. With an increase in diesel prices, we have to increase prices of products to prevent losses.”

Raman Kumar, a vegetable vendor, said vegetables prices were likely rise due to the hike in diesel prices. The hike will add to the vegetables prices that are already on the higher side. 

What residents said

During the Lok Sabha election campaigning, Narendra Modi had said that they would bring down inflation. The decision of the Central government had shaken the common man. — Sanjay Jain

The government has no mercy for the poor. I have other expenses to bear and the hike would hit us adversely. The people of the country are sandwiched between corruption and inflation. The government is least bothered about the plight of the people. — Rajiv Sharma

Bathinda, July 1
Now members of various non-government organisations (NGO) will keep an eye on traffic police officials and will also help the traffic police in regulating traffic.

The city police have appointed 15 traffic marshals who will work in coordination with the traffic police at main points in the city.

DSP (City) Gurjit Singh Romana said they had shortlisted 15 residents who would represent commuters and give suggestions for the regulation of traffic. The traffic marshals have been given special batches and will be posted according to their availability at key inter-sections in the city.

They will be educated about the traffic norms at a traffic school in Rose Garden. Later, they will visit schools and apprise students of traffic hazards.The DSP said,” A majority of commuters argue with the police over traffic violations. In such a scenario, a traffic marshal will intervene and answer the queries of the violators. They will also keep a tab on traffic officials to curb corruption.”

They will also spread awareness about the traffic norms among the residents and file a report about the reasons that lead to traffic chaos in their locality.

They will suggest solutions to ease traffic flow near school, colleges and busy market places besides helping accident victims. The traffic police is also planning to rope in schoolchildren for the drive. Notably, the traffic marshal scheme was initiated by the state government in all major cities in 2009. However, the scheme was non-functional working for the past some time. The Bathinda police have restarted the traffic marshal scheme by constituting a new traffic marshal team. 

Bathinda, July 1
The Bir Talab authorities are trying their best to maintain the charisma of the mini zoo. After introducing new animals, birds and a toy train, a world-class interpretation centre is in the offing.

They have planned to develop an interpretation-cum- information centre on the lines of the Marine National Park in Jamnagar of Gujarat. “As the Jamnagar interpretation centre is the best in country, we would follow it,” said Divisional Forest Officer Dr Sanjeev Kumar.

Dr Sanjeev is on a training in the United States (US) for the purpose. Around 1,200 people had visited the mini zoo this Sunday. On other days, around 300 people visit the zoo. Moreover, Rs 1.6 crore is being spent on the construction of a veterinary hospital and an inspection bungalow in the zoo. The work is being done by the Public Works Department (PWD).

Visitors will be educated about the importance of wildlife with the help of movies at the interpretation centre. They will be apprised of the behaviour of animals. A souvenir shop and kiosk will also be set up at the zoo where wildlife-related books will be offered for free or at nominal charges.

The authorities said it would be the first zoo with an interpretation centre in Punjab. They added that the plan would be executed as per the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authorities (CZA).

They said a special attention would be paid on the improvement of basic amenities and cleanliness besides setting up a canteen at the zoo. The authorities are also planning to bring some big animals to the zoo. 

Bathinda, July 1
As part of various self-employment schemes, the state government has sanctioned loans worth Rs 70.60 lakh in the financial year 2013-14 to as many as 134 unemployed youth belonging to the Scheduled Caste category aiming to help them in setting up any kind of self employment model.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg said the state government gave the loans to unemployed youth belonging to the Scheduled Caste category under various schemes such as Direct Finance Scheme, National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation Scheme, National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation Scheme, National Handicapped Finance and Development Scheme and Bank Tie-Up Scheme.

“Under the Bank Tie-Up Scheme, the unemployed youth are given a subsidy up to Rs 10,000. Under other schemes, the beneficiaries are given loans on minimum rate of interest. To avail the schemes, the applicant must be a permanent resident of the state and should be in the age-group of 18 to 55 years,” he added

District manager of Punjab Scheduled Caste Development and Finance Corporation, Mahinder Singh, stated that under the Direct Loan Scheme the beneficiaries are given loans ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 Lakh to begin or support an existing business. He added that while the aim was to cover at least 25 unemployed youth in the financial year 2013-14, but 40 youth were covered under the scheme.

He further stated that under the National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation Scheme, the corporation gave away a loan of Rs 95,000. Similarly, under the National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation Scheme, Rs 12.11 lakh were given away as loan to 15 unemployed youth of the district.

While Rs 3.14 lakh was given away as loan to the beneficiaries of the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation Scheme, Rs 3.50 lakh were given away to 35 beneficiaries of the Bank Tie-Up Scheme. 

Bathinda, July 1
Frequent power outages have become a permanent feature of the city throwning life out of gear.

Sources in the Electricity Department said the demand for power was more than the supply. The power cuts were the result of power shortage, they added.

Ankush Kumar, a trader, said power cuts had adversely affected business in the city.

“Due to power outages, we have to use generators. But this option is unaffordable as prices of diesel are going up day by day,” he added.

Shikha Mahipal, a student, said unscheduled power cuts made it impossible for her to plan the day’s work.

“We are unable to use any electrical appliances. Power cuts have made life hell for us,”said Manipal

Powercom XEN (city) HS Sidhu said on Sunday night, 66KV power line broke down. The repair work on the power line was going on due to which a power cut for two hours was imposed in that area, he said.

Despite being announced no-power cut zone in 2009, the city has been facing continuous power cuts after May 1.

Bathinda, July 1
The police today released 30 residents of Bhai Rupa village, who were arrested last month following an agitation over a disputed land. The Bhai Rupa Langar Sewa Committee and the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) are at the loggerheads over 161 acres in the village. The persons who are released today included Baldev Singh Bhairupa, Nahar Singh, swaran Singh, Raja Singh, Nand Singh, Ajmer Singh, Harjinder Singh, Dharam Singh and others.

They said the SGPC had forcibly encroached upon the land with the help of the police.— TNS