Bathinda, September 16
Aiming to give easy access to the parking lot meant for vehicles of the VIP guests, the organisers of the World Kabaddi Cup demolished parts of the common boundary wall of the Astroturf Hockey Stadium and Government Rajindra College. Although the three-day long leg of the tournament, which was to be held at the hockey stadium is over, it has left behind a huge problem for the college authorities.

They have been left to deal with two wide gaping breaches in the boundary wall which is now giving open access to stray animals and outsiders. The college authorities in fact, today submitted a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Bathinda, Dr Basant Garg regarding the same and demanded that the district administration take some steps to plug the breaches.

“The breaches in the boundary wall of the college and stadium are a cause of worry for the college authorities since it jeopardises the security of the college campus and its students. The DC has assured us that the administration would soon arrange for the installation of iron gates at both the places to ensure that stray animals and outsiders don’t enter the college premises,” said principal of the college, Vijay Kumar Goyal.

He also added that the organisers had not even taken the college authorities into confidence before demolishing parts of the boundary wall.

“We have directed the college security guards to keep an eye on the breaches as well to make sure that anti-social elements don’t enter the college premises,” the principal added.

It is pertinent to note here that in the last three years, several instances of violence were registered at the government college and at almost all the times, the college authorities had pointed out that since there was no clear demarcation of the boundary wall for the stadium and the college, outsiders managed to enter the college at all hours of the day and created law and order problems in the college.

Interestingly, the district administration had paid heed to the regular demands of the college authorities for building the boundary wall only last year just before the opening ceremony of the national-level schools games was to be organised at the hockey stadium. And within a year, the boundary all was breached again.

Bathinda, September 16
Despite the state of confusion prevailing over the issue of property tax, city residents continue to pay to avoid any hassles. Though a majority of the residential, commercial and industrial groups are yet to pay the property tax, the people who are afraid of the consequences are knocking the doors of the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) to pay the property tax.

Introduced in April 2013, city residents make a beeline to the MCB office to pay it but after vehement protests, the state government assured to reconsider its key features.

Officials of the corporation said the last date to pay the property tax for the previous year 2013-14 has been extended again till September 30. An estimated Rs 6.16 crore hasbeen collected by the MCB in the form of the property tax for the last year. People are still coming to pay for their last year’s tax. For this year, 1-April-2013 to 31 August-2014, Rs 30 lakh have been collected by the corporation.

A total of 1,321 returns were filed last year (the process is still on to collect the tax for the last year) while this year a total of 151 returns are filed so far.

In view of vehement protests by the residents over the collection of property and exasperating task of filling the forms and submitting the same the state government announce to reconsider the taxes. Those who have to clear their loan cases, sale or purchase of property are paying it.

“Though the state government is yet to reach any conclusion over the issue as the matter is yet to be take up in cabinet meeting, people continue to pay the taxes,” said a corporation official.

He said everyday, 20 to 40 people visit to pay property tax between Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000.

“I have paid the tax to avoid any hassle. But I failed to get any benefit as our neighbours have not paid it. No penalty or fine has been imposed upon them so far,” said a city resident Swaran Singh.

Makhan Lal and Pargat Singh who deal with the property tax said a budgetary target of Rs 8 crore was fixed for last financial year and this year it was Rs 10 crore. Pargat said so far, no penalty has been imposed upon anyone as the last date for submitting the tax has been extended.

Meanwhile, in a press release issued by the MCB Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh said the last date for paying the property tax without penalty or rate of interest for the year 2013-14 has been extended to September 30.

For additional information, people may contact the MCB officials in room number 39, 40 and 42 of the MCB office or reach the officials for any queries by dialling 98145-48423 and 98145-18310.

Bathinda, September 16
Violating traffic would soon cost the violators more with the Central government bringing in the draft Road Transport and Safety Bill, which seeks to tame the traffic violators and habitual offenders, and has proposed manifold jump in fines and jail term.

The draft also states that if you jump a traffic light, drive on the wrong side of the road, refuse to snap on the seat belt or obstruct emergency vehicles, you will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and in the case of school bus drivers, the fine would be as high as Rs 50,000 with a jail term of up to three years. On checking drunken driving, the draft Bill proposes fines between Rs 15,000 and Rs 50,000 depending on the percentage of alcohol detected in the blood.

It is pertinent to mention that this Bill would be beneficial in bringing down the accidents in the city as more than 511 persons had been killed and 419 injured in accidents in Bathinda in the past three years.

As many as 677 cases pertaining to road accidents have been registered with the city police from 2011 to 2013. The main reason behind the spurt in accidents is traffic violations like jumping of red light, drunken driving and overspeeding.

Even in the last three months, more than 150 persons have been injured in various road mishaps in Bathinda. The condition is such that each day on an average, five to seven persons are injured.

Sukhbir Singh, a resident, said there were many factors involved in the rising number of road accidents. Everyone is in a hurry and wants to reach his destination quickly.

He said the driving test should be made compulsory while issuing driving licences for heavy vehicles and a time limit should be fixed for heavy vehicles.

Another resident Amardeep Singh said the Bill is a good move and if executed effectively, can bring the accidents drastically down as a major reason behind the accidents is violation of traffic rules.

It is also worth mentioning that the high number of challans for traffic violations issued by traffic police is for jumping red light in the city each month.

Bathinda, September 16
Protestors of the PRTC Pensioners’ Association today intensified their protest on the seventh day of their protest and started begging at the bus stand counters from the passengers. They also shouted slogans against the SAD-BJP government after their demands were not fulfilled.

A large number of protestors, including women, were present today, in which many women crying speaking out the problems they are facing due to not getting pension for the last many months. They also stated that many disputes have occurred due to this and even they do not have money for their medical treatment.

Angrez Kaur, a resident of Jassi Bagh Wali village, who walks with the support of a walker and is around 70-year-old said her husband, Major Singh had died many years ago. Her one son is working in some private firm due to which it is difficult to run the household, and her pension was the only lifeline and now, for the last many months they have not even received it and have been facing many problems.

An 80-year-old Jaspal Kaur of Kili Nihal Singh Wala village said her husband died some years ago, so this pension is the only source of money with which she runs her household, but for the last three to four months, she is not even getting any pension.

Bathinda, September 16
An announced project to finish the drug menace by establishing a rehabilitation centre along with a de-addiction centre would now soon be launched in Bathinda with its construction scheduled to be completed in six months.

The process for the recruitment of staff for the centre has been initiated while tenders would soon be floated this week. To overcome the drug menace among the youths in Punjab, these centres were to be opened in all the 
districts.

Above 800 applications have reached the Bathinda Civil Hospital for the posts of counsellor, staff nurse and ward attendants, total counts 16. The Central government, earlier in month of July, earmarked a sum of Rs 50 crore as its initial contribution towards the setting up of de-addiction centres in Punjab with a view to addressing the problem of drugs in the border state.

It was announced by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who claimed that nationwide efforts are needed to resolve the problem of drugs. Punjab had earlier sought the help from the Central govt in setting up such centres with drugs seen as being easily available in the state from across the international border with Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had then met the finance minister and asked him to help the state accomplish the task of enabling the youth to shun drugs.

Badal has been alleging that drugs find their way into Punjab due to the porous borders with Pakistan after they are smuggled across from Afghanistan. The CM had, earlier, also raised the issue with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai during his visit to Jalandhar in 2013.

As per plans of the state government to set up de-addiction centres across the state, it had aimed to construct 22 rehabilitation centres — one in each district —to enable drug addicts to give up the habit. After treatment at the centres, those who had been admitted there would be rehabilitated through skill development training in various vocations so as to enable them to find employment.

Sources revealed that tenders for the construction of rehabilitation centre would begin within a week and the de-addiction and rehabilitation centre would be constructed in about six months. The ongoing de-addiction centre at Bathinda Civil Hospital would also be run as usual.

Civil Surgeon, Bathinda, Dr Tejwant Singh Randhawa, said, “The process has been initiated and applications for the said posts reached for which the last date of submission was till Monday.”

Bathinda, September 16
Students of Government Senior Secondary School, Deon and Government High School, Sardargarh, have brought laurels to their schools as the science and maths models created by them have made it to the national-level of the Inspire Awards competition.

Interestingly, last year too, models created by these schools were selected from the Bathinda district for the national level competition.

The models were chosen during a state-level exhibition organised at SBS Nagar in Chandigarh recently. After getting through the district-level competition held in Bathinda, the two models were chosen to be displayed at the state level exhibition where 460 science and maths models were displayed.

As many as 35 models, including the two from Bathinda, have been chosen to represent Punjab schools at the national-level competition.

The science model made by the students of the Government High School, Sardargarh, under the guidance of Ramandeep Kaur, focused on the use of fly-ash, which is a waste product of coal-based thermal power plants.

The model shows how fly-ash, if used carefully, can become a useful resource. It has oxides of silicone, phosphorus, potassium, iron and trace elements like zinc, molybdenum, manganese that are essential plant nutrients.

The model proves how fly-ash has the potential of a fertiliser and by vermicomposting of fly-ash, we can enhance its organic content and save money spent on liming of soil.

The maths model presented by Amanpreet Kaur, a student of Government Senior Secondary School, Deon, under the guidance of maths teacher Sukhdev Mittal, shows how the height of buildings and objects may be measured without the use of any kind of measuring device.

The model prepared makes use of two rectangular plates of wood, a mirror and a piece of rope.

Bathinda, September 16
The boys hostel of Giani Zail Singh Punjab Technical University (GZS PTU) Campus, Bathinda, recently organised an orientation programme for the newly admitted under-graduate and post-graduate students.

The programme was held for the first time to emphasise the importance of amity, brotherhood and good conduct in view of the large number of students admitted in the current session from various states, especially from Bihar, Rajasthan, UP, Himachal Pradesh and J&K.

Dr Rakesh Singla, chief warden, said since the new students had got the opportunity to study at this institute, they should utilise their time by working hard in academic and extra-curricular activities so that they can face the challenges of future professional life with confidence.

Campus director Prof Jasbir S Hundal spoke on the importance of building moral character by giving regards to teachers, maintaining cleanliness and discipline together with hard work in academic and extra-curricular activities.

He opined that a true professional has both academic excellence and superior character.

Dr Devanand Uttam, warden of boys hostel number 1, provided practical and useful suggestions regarding a hassle-free and enjoyable hostel life. He shared his experience as a warden and faculty by highlighting the different aspects of students’ conduct.

The programme was made lively and colourful by cultural performances presented by first year students in which Raviranjan, Dilip Singh, Vishal Pratap, Karan Sharma, Gurpreet Singh, Prashant Sharma and Abhijit Kumar Gupta enthralled the audience.

Bathinda, September 16
Baba Farid College of Engineering & Technology (BFCET) celebrated Engineers’ Day on its campus yesterday. Harpal Singh, deputy director, (F&M) and BD Sharma, deputy director (Activities) were present on the occasion as honorary guests.

Manish Goyal, assistant director (academics), formally welcomed the guests and students. He informed the students about the importance of Engineer’s Day.

Engineers’ Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the birthday of legendary engineer Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. Anmol and Vanshita, students of computer science and engineering, gave a presentation on the life history of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya.

Bathinda, September 16
The District Disability Rehabilitation Centre will hold a four-day camp from September 23 to 26 for distributing free wheelchairs, tricycles, walking sticks, artificial limbs and hearing aids to the disabled.

ADC (Development) Sonali Giri said the aim of the camp was to provide the disabled with free of cost aids they need as per their disability.

“The aim of the government is to ensure that no disabled is left without an aid. It’s a humble attempt to improve the lives of those with special needs,” she said.

The camp on September 23 will be held at the Civil Hospital, Rampura; at Civil Hospital, Talwandi Sabo, on September 24; at Bhagta Government Hospital on September 25 and at Civil Hospital, Bathinda, on September 26.

Those with more than 40 per cent disability are eligible to come to the camp. People are required to bring their disability certificates issued by the government.

“Even those who do not have any such certificate, but are disabled, can come to the camp. They will be medically examined and issued a certificate on the spot,” added Sonali Giri.

The monthly income of the beneficiaries should be less than Rs 15,000 and they must have a mandatory income certificate. They will also have to bring a copy of their ration cards and two photographs showing their disability.

The District Disability Rehabilitation Centre is located at 100-Feet Road near the Punjab and Sind Bank in Bathinda. Here, the disabled are provided physiotherapy, speech therapy, custom made artificial limbs, wheelchairs, tricycles, walking sticks and hearing aid machines free of cost.

Earlier, the centre held similar camps in November, 2013 wherein 856 people received free services.

Bathinda, September 16
To make farmers aware of the latest techniques available under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) for agriculture and allied works for the upcoming rabi season, the district level kisan mela will now be held at Grain Market instead of Kheti Bhawan on September 19.

Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Rajinder Singh Brar said the chief guest at the event would be Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg. Director, Agriculture, Punjab, Dr Mangal Sandhu, will preside over the event.

He said exhibitions would highlight the latest and innovative practices of different departments of agriculture and allied works.

Experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and senior officials from the Agriculture Department will provide information about the rabi crops to the farmers.

The Agriculture Department will also distribute literature about managing paddy stubble and the balanced use of fertilisers. — TNS

Bathinda, September 16
In an example of indifference towards an alleged grudge over issuing of a wrong death certificate of an infant by the health staff, the police seem to have failed to arrest the accused while the health authorities have failed to act on its erroneous staff.

Bathinda, September 16
A resident of Sangrur, Bakha Singh, reported that two youths threw red chillies in his eyes and snatched his bag containing Rs 3.5 lakh.

The victim said that he along with his wife and driver was going to a village in Fazilka district. When they were on their way, their driver stopped the car near Saraswati College for urinating. Suddenly, two youths got out of a white car and threw red chillies in their eyes. After which, one of the accused snatched a bag containing Rs 3.5 lakh from him and fled away. The police have registered a case against the driver Satvir, Nirmal, Manjit, Baljit Gurtej and Baljinder. — TNS

Bathinda, September 16
The police have recovered 108 bottles of illicit liquor from a car bearing the registration number DL6CF 9241 at Maur Khurd village.

The accused have been identified as Sewak Singh and Dharmender Singh, residents of Maur Khurd village. Both the accused have been booked under Sections 61, 1 and 14 of the Excise Act. — TNS