 |
|
|
Bathinda airport still caught in turbulence
Rainwater inundates low-lying areas in city
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No relief from costlier vegetables; burden continues on common man
Labourer kills farmer
Patwari held for taking bribe
Better
bathinda: civic amenities
National Nutrition Week
Seminar on ill-effects of drugs on Sept 10
Intel opens first e-learning lab at Maluka village
|
|
Bathinda airport still caught in turbulence
Bathinda, September 6 During the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, Sukhbir Badal had lambasted the UPA government for not starting the airport at Bathinda and claiming that once the NDA government came to the power, the airport will see the light of day. Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal separately met the Union Civil Aviation Minister after the government was formed regarding the starting of this domestic airport at the earliest and claimed that the Union minister has assured that the Bathinda airport would be made operational in two-three months. A high-level delegation from the Air India also visited Bathinda and Pathankot domestic airports and it was expected that the airport would be functional by the second week of August. But now, it seems the incentive to open the airport has failed to take off. The domestic airport at Bathinda is awaiting its inauguration for the last two years. Many private airlines visited the site but did not show interest in it fearing non-availability of passengers. Suneel Dutt, Director, Airport Authority of India (AAI), who is supposed to oversee the operations at the airports in Amritsar and Bathinda, while speaking over the phone from Amritsar, said a team of Air India officials had visited in July but after that, they had not received any communication. He said the airport was ready but it was up to the airlines to come and operate flights. He also stated that they had not received any communication regarding the inauguration of the airport. According to the Airport Authority of India (AAI), they had informed the government before August 15, 2012 through a letter that the airport was ready. Even private companies like Spicejet had shown their interest but later backed out fearing the operations would not be viable as there is not much industry in the Malwa region. To attract the companies, the state government even announced deduction in VAT on fuel surcharge but it failed to bring about results. The first airport of the Malwa region is lying idle for the last two years after its completion, waiting for the flights to start. "It is worth mentioning that the civil airport has been built at a cost of Rs 25 crore with the state government acquiring and providing 40 acres of land belonging to village Virk Kalan. The airport is adjacent to the defence air base at Bhisiana and has no runway of its own. It will use 9,000 feet of the runway at the Bhisiana airbase. The airport has been constructed as per the conditions required for two 50-seater aircraft (ATR) to operate at the same time. The building, which is a fabricated structure made of glass and steel, is called a pre-engineered structure, that houses a VIP lounge, two check-in counters, a 30-seater fully air-conditioned security hold, two conveyer belts and other standard infrastructure required for a domestic airport. As the airport has been constructed on sand dunes, the AAI is giving due importance to the environmental issues. The AAI is also making efforts for proper landscaping around the aviation terminal. Keeping in mind the further provision for expansion, the airport will have a parking space for nearly 25 cars in the first phase. It is worth mentioning that a catchment area of at least 100 km radius has no air facility for the civilians as of now. Besides the overall development of the region, the Rs 20,000 crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery and Banawali thermal plant are the major push factors for the project. President, Bathinda Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association, Satish Arora said the hotel industry is facing a huge loss due to delay in making the Bathinda airport operational. He said they have met and also written to the Deputy Commissioner many a time requesting him to start the domestic airport, but they have not received a positive response so far. Arora also said that they have also written to tourism minister Sohan Singh Thandal saying no steps have been taken as of yet. He demanded that the airport should be made operational as soon as possible as this will provide to boost to the region in terms of development. |
|
Rainwater inundates low-lying areas in city
Bathinda, September 6 A visit to the vegetable market
situated behind the Government Rajindra College revealed that vegetable
sellers were sitting beside the stagnant water. “We have no other
option but to sell the vegetables like this only,” said Ram Parsad,
one of the fruit sellers in the market. Mosquitoes and other creepy
crawly insects were seen over the jute bags in which the vegetables were
kept in the morning today. Shankar Singh, the president of a retail
vegetable market association, said that the issue of waterlogging was
brought to the notice of the market committee officials umpteen times
but nothing has been done in this regard so far. The shopkeepers said
though the repair of work worth Rs 73 lakh was approved by the state
government, the project work was still in the pipeline. “The work will
bring some respite from the water filled pot holes, but the problem of
waterlogging is a serious issue. Also, the rising cattle menace in and
around the vegetable market has lead to numerous problems,” said
another Gurmeet Singh. He said that today, a bull that entered the
market created chaos which led to minor injuries to the vegetable
buyers. The situation worsens in the low-lying- areas where people
battle the problem of waterlogging. “The accumulation of water has
not only made the streets muddier but also made it a perfect place for
the breeding of mosquitoes. Apart from human beings, the problem of
water logging is posing many problems for the cattle as well,” said
Mohan Singh, a resident of Dhobiana Basti. He said that four youngsters
and two children from their locality have fallen ill and people suspect
the reason for it to be the waterlogged streets and surroundings. |
|
No relief from costlier vegetables; burden continues on common man
Bathinda, September 6 “Don’t talk about saving. We are happy after getting all the necessary eatables. The fear remains in our mind about the vegetables becoming more costlier everyday. What would be the future of our children if we continue to spend more on basic needs like food. There is, however, no other option,” says Kushalya devi, a housewife belonging to the lower middle class. The budget has been disturned for the common man making it difficult for them to manage. The rising prices are not coming down. Thus, consumers have no other option but to look towards the government that projected the dream of good days coming soon. Prices of a number of commonly used vegetables have gone up while the prices whereas some others have witnessed no change. Simarpreet Kaur, a middle-class housewife, said her budget had been hit hard with no hope of inflation coming down. Many consumers like her are worried and facing difficulty in managing the household. “Commonly used vegetables have now gone out of reach of common man. The prices of pulses and cereals have already crossed limits. Now, I avoid using tomatoes in vegetables mostly
and it is no more seen in our salad that we used to eat earlier. The government should take necessary steps to check the rising prices or the income of people should be raised,” she says. Tomatoes had thus came down from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 50 but not given a sigh of relief to consumers while onions are stable at Rs 35 per kg. Cauliflower has gone up to Rs 80 from Rs 60 per kg in one week. Shopkeepers and hawkers too are finding
it difficult to manage with the prices rising as their profit margin has decreased. “The vegetables that were effectively used on a daily basis are now no more a daily demand because tomatoes, potatoes and onions are priced between Rs 35 to Rs 55 per kg. The prices of vegetables like capsicum and cauliflower had gone up to Rs 80 from Rs 60 last week. Cucumber can behad for Rs 50 per kg, while peas have gone up to Rs 120 per kg from Rs 100 in the last one week.” |
|
Missing student found, handed over to parents
Bathinda, September 6 DSP Gurjit Singh Romana said Harshit Grover went missing on September 1. He had gone for his tuition. When he did not return home, his parents started searching for him. When the police received a complaint about the missing boy, they started tracing him. Meanwhile, the missing boy met a TTE at the Mathura railway station, who made him speak to his
parents. Harshit said he was under the pressure of studies and wanted to free himself from it. He said he thought of paying obeisance at Shri Amritsar Sahib, but by mistake, he boarded a
Ferozepur-bound train. When he was returning, he boarded a train for Mumbai and reached there. When he reached the Ahmedabad station from
Mumbai, he was caught by a TTE who made him speak to his pa rents. He also said that when he reached
Mathura, his parents and the Bathinda police had reached there. He also stated that the student had written timing of the trains in his diary. He also stated that after running away from home, he realised his
mistake. Harshit was handed over to his father, Manoj Grover, and mother, Geeta
Grover. DSP Gurjit Romana also appealed to the teachers that they should also keep in mind the mental level of the students, so that they do not feel burdened or are under pressure. |
|
|
Labourer kills farmer
Bathinda, September 6 The Bailianwali police station have registered a case against the accused and have started searching for him as he is at large. As per information, Happi Singh, a resident of Nandgarh Kotli village, was working as a farm labourer at Darshan Singh’s house. Happi is an alcoholic and due to this, his landlord, Darshan Singh, used to admonish him. On Friday, when Happi and Darshan Singh were in the fields, they entered into a verbal duel over the issue that turned into a fight. Losing his temper, Happi hit Darshan with a sharp-edged weapon on his head, due to which Darshan Singh died on the spot. While investigating the matter, SHO, Balianwali police station, said they had registered a case on the basis of the statement of Gurdev Singh, father of the deceased, against Happi Singh. |
|
Patwari held for taking bribe
Bathinda, September 6 As per information, Kulwinder Singh, a resident of Kalyan Sukha village, complained to the Vigilance Bureau that Sukhwinder, the accused, had been demanding Rs 100,000 as bribe for the work. The matter was settled and when Kulwinder Singh gave Rs 50,000 to patwari Sukhwinder on Saturday, the Vigilance Bureau team nabbed him red-handed. A case under Sections 7, 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered in this regard by the Vigilance Bureau.
— TNS |
|
Better
bathinda: civic amenities Gurdeep Singh Mann Tribune News Service
Bathinda, September 6 Apart from facing a shortage of drinking water, these areas are still bereft of a proper sewerage system. The railway station situated in the heart of the city has numerous rail tracks which bifurcate the city into two parts. With the increase in the population, a large number of people have constructed houses across the railway lines. “Sewerage water can be seen overflowing in these localities leading to various health-related problems among the elderly and children,” said Joginder Singh, a resident of Lal Singh Basti. “The trans-railway area is divided into ward 37 to 45 and ward 31 to 34. Out of the total 2.76 lakh population of the district, nearly 69,000 people reside across trans-railway areas,” he added. “Due to the lack of sewerage system, people dump waste water into the open plots or onto the streets, Joginder said “Some families have dug up pits and potholes just outside their houses and throw the water out on the streets or roads on a daily basis. Those who have made no provision to release their polluted water earn the ire of neighbours and enter into heated arguments and brawls,” said Inderjit Kaur of Sanjay Nagar. “Despite the dense population, hardly 25 to 30 percent have got the sewerage facility. The localities where sewerage pipes have been laid, are not being de-silted in time,” said Harpreet Singh of Sanjay Basti. The rainwater pipes laid in some localities, including the Alam Basti, to carry the rain water is now connected with the sewerage water as well which lead to overflowing of polluted water. In some localities, sewerage water accumulates at one place and turns into a virtual pond. There are ponds in these localities where people have fallen in the past and lost their lives. Though the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) has installed a few water pumps to drain out water from the waterlogged areas, these remain only temporary arrangements. A Parasram Nagar resident, Amandeep Singh said water had not been drained out from the Parasram Nagar main road following rain for the last two days. “Also, the polluted water from the sewerage pipes got mixed with water in Mata Raniwali Street. The problem was resolved in street number 4 and to some extent on the main road after local residents staged a protest some time ago”, said Harkrishan, a resident of Parasram Nagar. The civic authorities take the plea that the railway lines, including Bathinda Bikaner, Bathinda-Delhi and Bathinda-Hisar, becomes a bone of contention while laying the sewerage pipes. While the corporation authorities level counter allegations at the public for non-cooperation saying that there are a number of dairy farms in these localities and animals waste too is released into the sewerage pipes following which it chokes and leads to more problems. “Repeated requests and special campaigns launched to make the residents aware have failed to yield results and people continue to act against the repeated pleas of the authorities,” said officials of the Municipal Corporation. “The dairies in the city, should have been shifted to the outskirts at a specially earmarked area on Goniana Road but nothing seems to have materialised in this regard,” added the officials. “There are many low-lying areas in Sanguana Basti, Amarpura Basti and Lal Singh Basti which are still full of sewerage water,” said Harshaminder Singh of Amarpura Basti. The authorities claim that a majority of the area is equipped with the sewerage pipes but residents said the ill maintained and thin pipes for the purpose had failed to provide complete facilities. Sewerage pipes have been laid in Parasram Nagar, Partap Nagar, Surkhpeer Road and some areas of Lal Singh Basti. The residents said the underground pipes too are faulty at many places with many engineering faults. “These pipes are laid against the natural slope and the low lying areas are the worst-affected during the monsoon season,” said Jaswinder Singh of Multania road. Finding
a solution
Former councillor Jagroop Gill said 97.6 acres of land of the Irrigation Department near Bir Talab had been encroached upon by a section of families for the past many years. “A proposal to convert this land into dumping of sewerage water was made in 2005. But neither was the land vacated nor anybody took interest in executing the plan afterwards”, said Gill. He pointed out that 97.6 acres of land was meant to adjust extra waters of Sirhind Canal during floods before independence. “At present, neither has any provision been made to adjust the extra water nor has the land been utilised for any other purpose,” added Gill. “The sewerage of the entire trans-railway line area is pumped out using electric pumping machines. Instead, the natural flow of gravity should be introduced by either purchasing extra land or getting the encroached 97.6 acres land vacated for the purpose.” said Jagroop Gill. |
|
|
40 per cent of kids below 5 die of malnutrition, say doctors
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, September 6 While doctors claim malnutrition can be overcome only by creating awareness among the masses, collective efforts on the part of society and governments, both at the Centre and the states, is required in the form of different schemes. National Nutrition Week is observed each year from September 1 to 7 to give people tips on good health and well-being. Through the National Nutrition Week campaign, people from all over the world can be educated to maintain their looks and feel better. According to the doctors and paediatricians, a healthy diet should include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fat-free milk or milk products, meat, fish, nuts and seeds. The objective of the National Nutrition Week is to enhance nutritional awareness among the people of the community through training, timely education, seminars, competitions, road shows and other campaigns and to create a healthy nation. The one-week campaign involves daylong training, preparing nutritious food with healthy stuff, an exhibition by the students of Home Science, comments on wheat and soya bean to let people know about their nutritious value, various competitions and lecture on nutrition to mothers besides arranging road shows and seminars Dr Satish Jindal, a pediatrician, said, "We celebrated this week at the Women and Children Hospital and our main objective is to create awareness among the masses as about 40 per cent death of infants or children below five years of age takes place only because of malnutrition whereas there are 70 per cent children who fall prey to anaemia." "Some other objectives of the National Nutritional Week is to review the frequency of problems in various diet and nutrition in the communities, to evaluate appropriate techniques to prevent and control the nutritional problems through deep research, to monitor the condition of the country for diet and nutrition, to perform operational research in order to plan and implement the national nutrition programme and to make people aware through the orientation training about health and nutrition," he added.
|
|
Seminar on ill-effects of drugs on Sept 10
Bathinda, September 6 Divisional Commissioner VK Sharma would be the chief guest during the event that would be held at the Community Centre, Model Town Phase III, at 4 pm. Presiding over a meeting held to oversee arrangements for the event, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Sonali Giri, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sumit Jarangal said the main motive of the seminar is to create awareness on personal, social, psychological and other effects of drug addiction. During the seminar, besides lecture by experts, school students will present a skit, debate and other items.
— TNS |
|
|
Intel opens first e-learning lab at Maluka village
Bathinda, September 6 The lab was inaugurated by Panchayat Minister Sikander Singh
Maluka. While addressing a gathering, Maluka said to provide students an approach towards research and generate their interest in studies, Intel is working at a higher level to set up an e-learning lab under the Easy Education Scheme.
|
|
|
Stray cattle problem unchecked in city
Bathinda is now facing the menace of stray animals, especially stray bulls. Earlier, the city was facing the problem of pigs which it has now got rid of. Residents of Bathinda suffered a lot when pigs were instrumental in causing road accidents. Now, residents of the city are facing the same threat from stray bulls. Rampant accidents are taking place due to stray bulls. It is surprising that the municipal authorities are unable to control the problem. The administration should look into the problem and handle it judiciously. It had earlier done a remarkable job by controlling the menace of stray pigs. Now, I hope the administration will do a great job by tackling the problem of stray cattle. Shiv Kumar
Dhemla, Sports lovers disappointed
The Chief Minister of Punjab laid the foundation stone of an international-level cricket stadium on December 8, 2007, at village Jodhpur Romana on Dabwali Road, Bathinda. It was proposed to be built in an area of 25 acres at an approximate cost of Rs 80 to Rs 100 crores. The project was to be designed and developed by the Sports Department, Punjab, and the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) and completed within two years. Seven years have passed since then and the project continues to exist only on paper, much to the disappointment of cricket lovers. Shockingly, this land has now been allotted for setting up a fish market, a part of which has already started become operational. Sportspersons in general and cricket lovers in particular are feeling cheated. The Punjab Cricket Association and the Government of Punjab are requested to honour their commitment at the earliest to boost sports in the region. Prof NK Gosain, |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
