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Teachers’ Eligibility Test
Coal shortage: Thermal plants produce less power
Clean chit to SAD triggers blame game
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AAP candidate drubbed in her own village
public amenities
NOTA gains popularity among voters
Over 120 students, faculty members donate blood
Students create environmental awareness during NSS
camp
Seven booked for molestation
NFL Bathinda celebrates 41st foundation day
Illegal slaughter houses mushroom
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Candidates handed out wrong question booklet
Nikhila Pant Dhawan Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 25 A look at the question booklet series 2 (PP19) and code 219318 revealed that while pages 5, 6, 7, 8, 41, 42, 43 and 44 were missing, pages 9, 10, 11 and 37 were repeated. The booklet, however, had the full count of 48 pages like all the other question booklets. Parnita Rani, one of the aspirants who got the wrong question booklet, said, “As per the rules and regulations of the paper, a candidate can ask for the question booklet to be changed within the first 10 minutes of the examination. When I complained to the superintendent, he stated that he was helpless in the case and that he could not change the booklet.” Parnita, who had appeared for the examination at the SSD School located at Gol Diggi, added that there was another candidate in her room who had complained about the problem. She had appeared for the examination in the second session meant for the B.Ed candidates. She added that the future of several candidates was at stake since the Education Department had not given any clear-cut directions to the superintendents at the centres regarding the action to be taken in case complaints were raised against the question booklets. B.Ed and ETT passed 8,936 teachers today appeared for the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) at 26 centres in Bathinda today. The examination was held in two parts —morning session (10:30 am to 1 pm) and afternoon session (2.30 pm to 5 pm). As many 452 candidates remained absent from the examination.
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Coal shortage: Thermal plants produce less power
Bathinda, August 25 With the shortage of coal, the Ropar thermal power plant, which has been left with only three days of coal, has been producing power below its normal capacity. It has the capacity of producing 302 lakh units every day whereas on Sunday, it produced 279 lakh units while on Saturday, it produced about only 255 lakhs units. The Ropar thermal plant has six units of 210 MW having a total capacity of 1,260 MW, but it is producing an average of 1,190 MW of power for the last three days, adding to the woes of consumers facing power cuts. The farmers are facing an acute power shortage against their demand for eight hours of supply for irrigation. The state government is already purchasing power from outside sources to meet the demand. The state government is already purchasing power worth Rs 49 crore daily from outside sources at a cost of Rs 4.5 per unit approximately. The state-run Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant Lehra Mohabbat and the GNDTP Bathinda power plant have coal stock for four and five days, respectively. Sources maintained that if the shortage continues, it can hit the power supply demand. The power from the state-owned three thermal plants is generating power worth more than 2,530 MW daily out of the 2,640 MW of total power daily. Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Bathinda, having a capacity of 460 MW is producing 440 MW, Guru Gobind Singh Thermal Plant Lehra Mohabbat (920 MW) is generating 900 MW and Ropar Thermal Plant (1260 MW) is producing 1,190 MW daily at present. Gurwinder Singh, a farmer, said, “Farmers are not getting eight hours of power supply across the state and there are long power cuts in the urban areas too. The government had by the day increased the power tariff and put load on the consumers. Against the promise, the government is supplying only six hours of power but sometimes we don’t get even four hours of supply. There is no need to boost power plants in Punjab by giving the farmers land if the government can’t get power from these private power plants at cheaper rates than it purchases from the outside sources. The government should run its own power plants so that the consumers in Punjab could get power at cheaper rates besides providing employment to the youth.” “The Haryana state during the last five years has added three new thermal plants at Yamunanagar (600 MW), Hissar (1,200 MW) in state sector and Jhajjar (1,500 MW) Joint Venture with NTPC and Jhajjar (1,320 MW) CLP in private sector. Now, it is planning 660 MW at Yamunanagar and 660 MW at Panipat apart from nuclear power plants in central sector near Fatehabad. “The Punjab government, in comparison to it, has done nothing besides giving farmers land to private thermal plants,” said an urban consumer Baldeep Singh.
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Clean chit to SAD triggers blame game
Bathinda, August 25 The Bathinda Deputy Commissioner has sent three reports regarding the Rama Mandi firing incident, attack on AAP candidate at Jaga Ram Tirath village and on the stopping of the Congress agent by the Chief Election Officer (CEO) VK Singh in Chandigarh. Surprisingly, when the Bathinda Tribune asked Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg regarding the report on the issue of the presence of Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Sikander Singh Maluka at Talwandi Sabo on the day of polling, he said that he had sent a reply on the issue as well but he didn’t know at present. In the firing incident at Rama Mandi, the SAD has been given a clean chit and has stated that shots had been fired by the security officials of the Congress candidate Harminder Jassi. While in the incident of the attack on the AAP candidate in Jaga Ram Tirath village, the administration has said the father of the AAP candidate Darshan Singh was responsible for it. Congress candidate Harminder Singh Jassi alleged that both the SSP and the Deputy Commissioner were hand in glove with the SAD. He stated that if anyone proves that his security men had fired the shots, he would quit politics. He again reiterating his demands and said this incident should be probed by the CBI. AAP candidate Baljinder Kaur alleged that the district administration has totally played into the hands of the ruling alliance, prior to and after the elections. The AAP workers who were supporting her had been beaten and threatened in various villages. She said that so far, even the police have not taken any action against the accused involved in the incident. She said that even on the day of election, repeated complaints were made to the SDM and the Deputy Commissioner regarding the rigging and booth capturing on the day of polling, but no action was taken by the Election Commission officials.
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AAP candidate drubbed in her own village
Bathinda, August 25 The poll results vouched for the fact that the AAP has been losing sheen in the state too, despite the fact that four of its candidates won in the Lok Sabha elections held in April this year. It is pertinent to mention here that senior leaders of all the parties, including Bhagwant Mann of AAP, went to Jaga Ram Teerth to campaign in favour of their respective candidates. The Aam Aadmi Party also lost by a wide margin at all the five polling booths pertaining to which the party’s spokesperson HS Phoolka had demanded a re-polling. Of these, at polling booth number 81, the SAD polled 658 votes, the Congress polled 76 votes while 83 votes went to AAP.At booth number 107, SAD polled 322 votes, Congress got 72 votes while AAP got a mere 48 votes. At booth number 115, AAP got only 50 votes as compared to SAD’s 448 votes and the Congress’ 149 votes. At booth number 118, compared to the 504 votes of the SAD, the Congress got 132 votes and the AAP got 64. At booth number 129, AAP fared slightly better than the other four disputed booths. Here, the party got 153 votes, while 334 votes went to SAD and 170 votes went to the Congress. Immediately, after the polling came to an end on August 21, AAP had issued a press statement alleging large-scale booth capturing and claiming that “unscrupulous people belonging to the Akali Dal forcibly entered various polling stations, took control and indulged in massive vote rigging.” The party also accused the ruling alliance of using ways to threaten and intimidate the electors to vote in favour of their party’s candidate and restrict the entry of workers and supporters belonging to the other parties, thereby, affecting the orderly conduct of the elections. The party had demanded that owing to the complaints of rigging and booth capturing, repolling should be done at some of the booths of Talwandi town, Kelabander and Chathawala villages.
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21 public toilets in city, not even one usable; women worst to suffer
Gurdeep Singh Mann Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 25
Two of such facilities are exclusively owned and run by the Sulabh International and the remaining nine are run by the MCB. While men find places to ease themselves along the walls and in other areas, it’s the women of all age groups who are the worst affected. Shopkeepers in the commercial areas of Dhobi Bazar, Sports Market and nearby pockets demand that more toilets should be constructed, but no one wants them to come up near his shop. The MCB has not been able to clean even its own house with the toilet located adjacent to MCB’s building stinking badly. While the MCB claims to run its own toilets on pay and use basis, a visit to the toilets at Bibiwala Road, Fire Brigade and Gandhi Market revealed that there was no pay and use system in place. Of all the toilets in commercial areas, only the Subhash Market has facility for women to use toilets. All other toilets are too dirty to be used and have been vandalised. The worst affected areas are those located beyond the railway lines such as Pratap Nagar, Paras Ram Nagar, Gopal Nagar, Lal Singh Basti etc where there are no public toilets at all despite the fact that these areas constitute more than one-third of the city’s population. “At the pay and use toilets, some workers like us have been deployed who have been asked to collect the payments and clean the toilets. However, not everyone using the toilets pay for the facility. Most of the people start quarreling with us when asked for money. When we don’t have enough money, why would we clean someone else’s filth,” explained a worker deputed to clean the toilets. In the absence of proper maintenance, the toilets have turned into a haven for drug addicts and anti-social elements, who haunt the place and steal the fittings in the toilets. For the six toilets under the NGO Sulabh International, the MCB pays only a measly amount of Rs 4000 per toilet per month. Besides, the NGO runs its own built toilets near the Rose Garden and on grain market road, on the land provided by the MCB. Around a year ago, the MCB had decided to bring in toilets-on-wheels facility wherein toilets would be available in units of 4 to 6 mounted on wheels. Aesthetically designed, these would not be an eyesore and would have mechanisms to be less smelly. MCB Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh said that while the corporation was trying to improve the condition of toilets, people can also contribute by being responsible citizens and not damaging public property in the city. |
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NOTA gains popularity among voters
Bathinda, August 25 Nearly 580 voters in the Talwandi Sabo bypoll opted for NOTA while 382 voters went for this option in the Lok Sabha polls held in May earlier this year. The apex court had given the path-breaking verdict last September, holding that the voters have a right to reject all candidates contesting the polls in a constituency by pressing the NOTA button. It is a safe option for those who do not want to choose candidates with a criminal background. Those having a strong conviction that politics should be a clean game, can choose NOTA. The criminal background of certain politicians has always been a stumbling block when it comes to a healthy democracy. It is worth mentioning that it has attracted more voters despite no efforts being made by the Election Commission to make the voters aware about NOTA in Talwandi Sabo as it was done during the Lok Sabha elections. Naresh Garg, a voter who opted fo NOTA, said he did not find any candidate fit for the MLA’s job. An independent candidate said, “It was surprising that voters in the Bathinda urban constituency had opted for NOTA in such a high number. It will affect the candidates who are in a close fight.” “The option was not rejection of votes, it was just that you have voted for nobody,” he said. It is pertinent to mention that during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the Election Commission of India had highlighted, advertised and created awareness among the voters regarding the NOTA, due to which around 5,000 voters opted for NOTA.
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Over 120 students, faculty members donate blood
Bathinda, August 25 The camp was inaugurated by chief guest Dr RS Randhawa, District Health Officer, along with Dr Inderpreet Singh Saran, Blood Transfusion Officer who was the guest of honour. Campus director Dr Jasbir Singh Hundal encouraged the students to donate blood. He welcomed the guests at the event and also motivated the young donors by donating blood. NSS in-charge Ranjeet Kaur Johal also donated blood on the occasion. The director said education is incomplete till it makes the students socially responsible. He urged the students to take part in activities such as blood donation camps and tree plantation drives. Eighty boys and 20 girls got themselves registered before the beginning of the camp but the actual number of donors crossed 120, which also included the faculty and staff of the college. Programming officer and co-in-charges of the event were Rajesh Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, Kalyan Roi, Balwant Singh, Tejinder Singh, Sukhjinder Singh and Pritpal Singh Aulakh. A new club in the name of ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Club’ was also formed by the students of the college by taking initiative to donate blood not only in Bathinda but also in the nearby cities. Student conveners of the event were Akash Maheshwari, Ajay Paudyal, Guriqbal Singh, Vikas Rahi, Pankaj Mangla and co-ordinators were Rahul Arora, Lucky Goyal, Arshdeep Singh and Rahul Sharma. — TNS
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Students create environmental awareness during NSS
camp
Bathinda, August 25 Students of BFCET attended the camp under the supervision of faculty members Amandeep Singh, Mamta, Sartaj and Simran. Jagmeet Bawa, head of the PTU NSS camp, inaugurated the camp. He detailed the organisational structure of the NSS, its motto, objectives and different activities to be undertaken by volunteers during the seven-day camp. “Awareness is the basic tool for protection of the environment. The programme aims at creating awareness among the general public and different segments of society for minimising and controlling pollution,” he added. Issues like road safety, meditation, cancer awareness, first-aid, plantation and cleanliness were discussed at the camp. NSS volunteers also planted saplings at Harike Pattan and Nirmal Kutia in Sultanpur Lodhi. The volunteers were involved in projects such as cleaning the Ghat Road at Nirmal Kutiya, painting, cleaniness of Nirmal Kutiya and planting saplings. Experts delivered lectures on health awareness, national integration, communal harmony, environmental science and awareness. Some lecturers also highlighted the problems being faced by our country such as terrorism, unemployment, poverty, AIDS and cancer among others. |
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Seven booked for molestation
Bathinda, August 25 Investigating officer Krishan Kumar said they had registered a case under various sections of the IPC against the seven accused and had started investigations. No arrests have been made so far in the case. 5 gm of heroin recovered
The Kotwali police have arrested a person with five grams of heroin during a checking near Hotel Bahia Fort in the city. The accused has been booked under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. |
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NFL Bathinda celebrates 41st foundation day
Bathinda, August 25 DS Ahuja congratulated the employees and their families on the occasion. He lauded the efforts of the employees towards achievement of sustainable development and overall progress of the company. The company produced 36.36 lakh MT of urea during 2013-14 with energy-consumption norms within the limits. Highlighting the achievements of the unit, Ahuja said the unit had won several national and state-level safety awards and national productivity awards. Besides, many employees were conferred Shram Veer awards and Kirt Veer awards for their suggestions in industrial safety and process improvement. The unit was committed towards conservation of environment and has a green cover of around one lakh trees in and around the factory, he added. The company has been executing its corporate social responsibility through various schemes and programmes aimed at development of surrounding areas, empowerment of women and children and financial assistance to the needy. He elaborated upon the role of the Bathinda unit in ushering green revolution in the region. The company produces nitrogenous fertiliser with the brand-name Kisan Urea. A message from the company’s chairperson and managing director, Neeru Abrol, conveying her best wishes to the employees and their families, was also read out. Cultural items comprising solo dance and solo songs by wards of employees, skit and Malwai Gidda by members of Sukriti and Sanjeevani Mahila Manch and by the employees of the unit were presented on the occasion. National Fertilisers Limited is the largest central public sector undertaking in the fertilizer sector with a market share of 16 per cent. The other four units of the company are at Vijaipur-I, Vijaipur-II, Panipat and Nangal.
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Illegal slaughter houses mushroom
Jalandhar, August 25 Interestingly, even the MC officials admit that only a countable numbers of meat sellers have taken licence to run shops. A majority of them are running meat houses in residential areas, causing a big nuisance to the residents. Due to inaction by the MC, Health Department and the police, no concrete action is being taken against the meat shops. As per a rough estimate, there are over 300 meat shops or butcheries dealing in mutton in urban areas of Jalandhar alone, about 40 to 50 butcheries selling pork and over 1,000 chicken shops/butcheries across the district. Thousands of outlets across the district procure/cull or sell various animals, flouting various laws such as Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976; Punjab Animals Slaughter Control Act 1963; Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001. Apart from posing health hazards to the consumers, they have also made the lives of common man hell, as animal waste, blood and refuse is mostly disposed of on the streets or in dumps around these butcheries. The concentration of these units in the district is mainly near the bus stand, Garha Road, Gurunankpura, Maqsudan, Transport Nagar, Focal Point, Buta Pind, Bashirpura, Wadala Chowk and Bhur Mandi, among other areas. Sources said due to less checks by the officials, the meat of the diseased, infected, injured and unhygienic animals are also being sold at many shops and in the absence of checks, people are consuming such meat by the loads. In the rural belts, slaughter houses have been opened by the roadside in Shahkot, Nakodar, Mehatpur and Lohian etc and these units are not at all adhering to the “sale of meat bylaws”.
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The Bathinda unit of National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) celebrated the 41st foundation day of the company on Saturday. General manager in-charge DS Ahuja was the chief guest on the occasion. The function started with the lighting of the auspicious lamp by DS Ahuja, his wife, Raj Kumar, president of Employees Union, RS Goli, president of Officers’ Association and DN Ratwaya, president of SC/ST Association.
