Bathinda, July 23
Bathinda and its adjoining districts today faced unscheduled power cuts affecting the lives of the people whose daily routine was affected by the outages.

Long unscheduled power cuts were observed in the towns of Bathinda district including Maur and Goniana. Mansa and Barnala too witnessed power cuts that affected the major industries besides the residents.

The urban areas witnessed power cuts of about four to five hour duration. The rural areas witnessed power cuts for a long duration. Under the Category 1 feeder, the 66 KV grid of Maur, Goniana, Mansa and other areas stopped power supply for 3.5 hours while Sangat and Talwandi Sabo, having a partial feeder, gave six hours of supply to the farmers. Power supply to the farmers in Mansa, Bathinda and Barnala could be maintained only for four hours against the average supply of six hours.

“The main cause of power cuts is unknown but the shutdown of three units of the thermal plant in Ropar is one of the reasons for this. We have been given instructions only about the supply and demand. Yes, the demand is increasing due to the paddy season but power cuts are controlled by the Controller, Punjab," said PK Singla, senior engineer, Power Grids, Bathinda and Mansa.

The coal is reportedly wet at the Ropar power plant that leads to the shutdown of the three units. All the three power plants of the state have only 8 to 10 days of coal supply against the need for 21 days.

In Bathinda district, a 220 unit of the thermal power plant at Lehra Mohabbat too has been shut down since July 6 and it is expected to be operational only by July 27.

The shutdown of the 220 MW unit of Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant, besides increasing the frequency of power cuts, had put the load on the exchequer with the state government purchasing more power from outside to meet the demand. The state government is already purchasing power worth Rs 49 crore daily from outside at the cost of Rs 4.5 per unit approximately.

A unit was closed due to a fault that occurred in it and it would soon be operational, said Baldev Singh Sran, president, Engineers' Association

Against the demand for 10,500 MW daily, the state is supplying only 8,800 MW to the consumers. Punjab is capable of providing only 3,300 MW of power from its own hydel and thermal power plants and is purchasing 5,300 MW of power at an average rate of Rs 4.5 per unit.

The power from the state-owned three thermal plants is generating 2,300 MW daily out of the 2,640 MW of the daily installed capacity. Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), Bathinda, having a capacity of 460 MW is producing 420 MW, Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat (920 MW) is generating 710 MW and the Ropar Thermal Plant (1260 MW) that was producing 1,130 MW daily had now lost half its generation capacity with three of its units shutting down.

Gurdial Singh of Goniana town in Bathinda district said, "The power cut today tested our patience. There was no electricity since morning. Power supply was resumed only for short periods. We are fed up with the claims of the government of making Punjab a power surplus state. It seemed a blackout had taken place in Punjab and the state had failed to meet the demands of its own people despite facing problems like cancer and other ailments being caused by pollution from the thermal plants.”

Under the Category 1 feeder, the 66 KV grid of Maur, Goniana, Mansa and other areas stopped power supply for 3.5 hours while Sangat and Talwandi Sabo, having a partial feeder, gave six hours of supply to the farmers. Power supply to the farmers in Mansa, Bathinda and Barnala could be maintained only for four hours against the average supply of six hours. 

Against the demand for 10,500 MW daily, the state is supplying only 8,800 MW to the consumers. Punjab is capable of providing only 3,300 MW of power from its own hydel and thermal power plants and is purchasing 5,300 MW of power at an average rate of Rs 4.5 per unit.

Bathinda, July 23
Amid claims of regular patrolling by the police, the incidents of theft are on the rise. The police have also failed to trace the people involved in major thefts in the city. On July 16, some thieves had struck at Friend’s Medical Store in Hospital Bazaar. They tried to set the shop on fire and when they failed to do so, they stole Rs 5,000 from the shop. The police started the investigation immediately but failed to nab the culprits.

In another incident on July 10, thieves decamped with watches worth Rs 2.5 lakh from a shop near the Kotwali police station. Around 60 expensive watches were stolen from the shop. The police have no information about the thieves till now.

On July 3, thieves struck at a readymade garment shop on Mall Road and stole material worth more than Rs 2.5 lakh. But the police failed to achieve any breakthrough in the case.

On May 22, thefts were reported at three shops in Hospital Bazaar. Goods worth lakhs of rupee were stolen. However, even after two months, the police is clueless about the thieves.

Similarly, furniture and other items worth lakhs were stolen from two government schools at Gehri Buttar village on July 3. But, the police is still groping in the dark.

Meanwhile, several residents expressed concern over the rising theft incidents. They said the police should identify and arrest the accused as soon as possible. They alleged that a majority of theft cases remained unsolved and the role of the police was limited only to registering FIRs.

Bathinda, July 23
The company involved in the construction of the modern Cental Jail near Gobindpura village has failed to accomplish a major part of the work even after nine months.

At present, the construction of the boundary wall and the prisoners’ cell is in progress. As per the contract, the construction work will have to be completed in 18 months. Officials of the PWD B&R Department said due to shuffling of the staff in the company, the work was delayed.

XEN Neeraj Bhandari said he recently visited the under-construction jail and found that a major part of the work was yet to be completed.

“The department has passed strict orders and the company will have to comply with the orders. We will adopt stringent measures in case of unprecedented delay,” Bhandari said.

The jail will have modern facilities and security arrangements. A number of deaths has been witnessed at the present jail.

“Apart from prisoners’ deaths, everyday bickering and the loopholes in the security arrangements are troubling the jail authorities,” said a jail official. Department officials said the officials of the construction company had been called by the Chief Engineer of the department to discuss the construction work in Chandigarh today. “If the company failed to speed up the work, penalty would be imposed. The amount, as per the agreement, will be deducted from the bills of the company,” said another senior official.

He added that the task of imposing fine was tedious and cumbersome and it would take some time.

The officials said that the construction company would be given 15 to 20 days to expedite the work and if it failed to do so, action would be taken against it.

Bathinda, July 23
Various organisations have condemned the Punjab government for passing the Punjab Prevention of Damage to Public and Private Property Bill, 2014. They feel that the Bill has a hidden agenda and it will affect the people’s right to protest against any injustice or the failure of the government in providing basic amenities.

The bill is likely to become law in a week’s time after the assent of Governor and after that anyone committing damage to public or private property can be imprisoned up to two years with a fine up to Rs 1 lakh.

Under the bill, the term damaging act means an act, dharna, strike, demonstration, procession, agitation or protest resulting in damage to any public or private property.

Resham Singh, a leader of the Democratic Teacher s’ Front Union, said this bill will affect the right to protest, as SAD, after the debacle in the Lok Sabha, is making an attempt to stop people who were coming to roads against the anti-public policies of the government. He also alleged that the Bill is nothing new as these days the police has been arresting protestors in fake cases of damaging public property. BKU leader Shingara Singh Mann was arrested by the police and is in jail for the last two months under a damaging public property case. But how can he dig the road without any equipment, he was arrested while protesting in minor rape victim’s case.

Jagtar Singh Mahinangal, general secretary of the Unemployed Lineman Union while condemning the Act, said the government was on the backfoot as people’s resentment is increasing. People are coming out on the roads against them. In a clever move to stop them by implicating them in false cases, the government has done what was earlier done by the British government when India was ruled by them. He also stated that this directly violates the right to protest, as our fundamental right, we have been given the right to protest. How can the government go against our constitution?

A member of the ETT Teachers’ Union, Rajinder Singh, said this shows the system has collapsed, as the government should provide basic amenities to the public and during the elections in 2012 it had made many tall promises, which they had failed to fulfill.

Now, the government is trying to suppress the voice of protestors who are demanding and raising their genuine demands against the government.

Bathinda, July 23
Family members of Gurdeep Singh, who died in Central Jail, Bathinda, recently staged a protest near the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office today demanding justice in the case. They also announced that if justice is not meted out to them in the next fortnight, they will block the traffic on the GT road in protest.

Gurdeep Singh's wife Kuldeep Kaur, daughter Asha Rani, son Darshan and AAP leader Yadwinder Singh from Jaito, besides others, sat on dharna near the SSP office. Workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Faridkot also took part in the protest.

Family members of Gurdeep Singh said they had met the Deputy Commissioner, Civil Surgeon and the SHO, Civil Lines, among other officials, but justice had not been done to them and they were being made to run from pillar to post.

So, they were forced to come to the court complex every day. There was only one earning member in their family who had already died after he was falsely implicated in a case.

Gurdeep Singh's kin stated that they the Deputy Commissioner had marked the complaint to the jail superintendent. Asha Rani, the deceased's daughter, alleged that her father had died due to the carelessness of the jail superintendent and the doctor.

She also charged them with negligence in the treatment of her father. According to her, had the doctors been informed when her father was in pain, he could have 
been saved.

Asha Rani also demanded that the statements of other inmates who were present with her father inside the jail at that time, be recorded in front of them and an impartial inquiry be held.

Darshan and Asha also met the former chief minister of Punjab, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, who was in Bathinda today.

They requested her to help them in the case. Bhattal, it is learnt, assured them that she would take up the matter with the DGP.

Bathinda, July 23
The Bathinda police have failed to arrest its three policemen booked for assaulting a youth outside Mittal Mall on Sunday.

It is pertinent to mention that four police officials- SHO’s driver Sapinder Singh, ASI Jaswant Singh , constable Singh Sartaj and Sandeep Singh-were booked by the police on the statement of the victim, Lakshay Jindal.

As per the information, Lakshay Jindal, the grandson of former president of the Beopar Mandal had have gone to the mall along with his friends at around 10.30 pm when the drunk cops thrashed them with sticks. When the youth protested, the cops abused him and took him to the police station. When the family of the victim got information regarding this, they, along with other traders of the city, went to the Kotwali police station and staged a protest outside the police station.

The police said the accused would be nabbed soon. “The action will be taken as per the law,” the police said. — TNS

Bathinda, July 23
A larger number of girls have applied for admission to Special Residential School for Meritorious Students in Bathinda. The fact came to light on the first day of the counselling today. While the counselling for medical and commerce streams was held today, the counselling for non-medical course will be held tomorrow.

Of the 22 students who applied for the commerce stream, only seven were boys while the rest were girls. Of the 41 students who sought admission to the medical stream, 34 were girls and seven were boys. The counselling of 202 students who applied for admission to the non-medical stream will be held tomorrow.

The merit list of all the students who had applied for admission to the schools for for meritorious students and had given preference to the Bathinda school was prepared by the Education Department. As many as 53 Bathinda students had preferred the school. Due to the delay in the dissemination of information about the counselling for the six special schools in the state, several students from far-away areas such as Fazilka came to Bathinda in a hurry.

Gagandip Kaur, Nazia, Rupinder Kaur, Harshdeep Kaur, Sakshi and Harwinder Kaur came from Fazilka. Gurjit Singh and Narinder Singh, fathers of two of the girl students, said, “We boarded a bus from Fazilka at 6.30 am and reached here much before the time. Had we known that the counselling was to be held in all districts, we would not have wasted the entire day.”

Some of the parents and students expressed concern over the incomplete hostels on the school premises. “While the academic block is complete and furniture has also been placed, the construction of the hostels will be completed in a month. The bathrooms, one of the basic facilities, are still under construction. Cupboards are yet to be fixed. The classes will begin on August 4 and we are worried how the students would live here,” said one of the parents. 

Mansa, July 23
To redress the grievances of the people, the district administration is working vigorously. Parveen Kumar Thind, Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, said 610 applications received from January 1 to June 30 have been disposed of. Moreover, all the 278 complaints received by the administration have been addressed. The Deputy Commissioner added that two complaints related to the Punjab Human Rights Commission, and the Scheduled Castes Commission had been addressed. He said 35 references received from the Punjab Government had also been disposed of. Of the 74 references received through the online system, 52 have been disposed of.

The Deputy Commissioner claimed that the complaint cell established at the district level is helping a lot in providing fair service to the people. “Of the 279 complaints received over the telephone, 220 have been adressed. Some people are lodging complaints in person, which are being handled cautiously. Of the 230 complaints received in person, 22 have been addressed,” the DC said.

While directing all district heads of various departments to ensure the quick redressal of the complaints, the Deputy Commissioner said, “Government officials should attend to the complainants of the public immediately. Suwidha-cum-revenue camps are also being organised in the district to analyse the problems of the residents closely. Three Suwidha-cum-revenue camp have already been held successfully and the fourth one will be organised on July 24 at Moosa village. Anyone can avail the facility apart from approaching the complaint cell at the District Administrative Complex on the phone (01652-216216),” Mansa Deputy Commissioner Thind added.

Mansa, July 23
To bring the blue revolution, the Punjab Government is providing subsidy under various schemes. Any farmer willing to excavate a fish pond on his land will be given a subsidy of Rs 1.20 lakh per hectare. This subsidy is being provided under the Financial Assistance for Development of Fisheries in Saline Affected and Waterlogged Areas scheme. Apart from this, for the first year, a subsidy of Rs 20,000 will be given for fish feed and other inputs.

Some of the progressive farmers in Mansa district, who are already exploiting the potential of fish farming on a large scale, are Manjit Singh of Burj Dhilwan village and Harbhajan Singh of Khialan Kalan village. By adopting fish farming, they have come out of the wheat-paddy crop cycle.

The state government is providing incentives for the renovation of fish ponds. The farmers have brought more than 500 acres of the land under fish farming.

Manjit Singh started fish farming after completing his studies in 1990. He took the village pond on lease for the purpose and in a few years, he succeeded in his venture. Later, he brought 50 acres under fish farming and now he owns fish ponds on more than 300 acres in various districts of the Malwa, including Bathinda and Muktsar. He has fish ponds in Haryana and Rajasthan too.

Manjit Singh said, “The achievement has inspired other young farmers. Many farmers come to us for knowledge and have decided to adopt fish farming. It is beneficial for the farmers who take care of their cows as the water used for the cleaning of animals is not wasted. However, the shortage of water troubles us many a time.”

The Mansa farmers have a strong marketing network in Delhi and several other states. They provide employment to a number of unemployed youths besides adding to the revenue of the panchayats in their area.

Harbhajan Singh of Malakpur Khiala village had started fish farming on nine acres but now he has brought 70 acres under it.

Parveen Kumar Thind, Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, said fish farming was beneficial for farmers. Thind said if any fish farmer wanted to install an aerator (oxygen booster) to increase the production, the government would provide subsidy under the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY).

“A subsidy of Rs 23,000 on four-pedal wheel aerator and Rs 18,000 on two-pedal wheel aerator will be provided by the government. For this, a five-day training is also being given. Interested farmers can contact the Assistant Director, Fisheries, in the District Administration Complex, Mansa,” he added.

Thind further added that a sum of Rs 15,000 per hectare was also being provided as a subsidy for the renovation of existing village ponds under the National Fishries Development Board (NFDB) scheme. “The progressive farmers should come forward and contribute to bring the blue revolution.”

Bathinda, July 23
District and Sessions Judge Tejwinder Singh inspected the children’s home in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar this afternoon. He also checked the services provided to the children there.

Tejwinder Singh interacted with the children and asked them about their problems. He instructed the superintendent of the children’s home to arrange outdoor sports meets for the children.

He said the principal of the school where the children were studying could be contacted to hold a special games period for the children. He applauded the working of the children’s home.

However, a part-time helper working there complained that he had not received salary for the past two years. The superintendent of the children’s home said even he had not received his salary for the past two months and there was delay in the approval of grants, forcing them to arrange money from some social organisations.