Bathinda, September 23
With the aim of making a fast buck, the Punjab government has once again announced the auctioning of its prime properties worth Rs 289 crore in Bathinda on September 30 and October 1.

These plots are situated on Amreek Singh Road, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Patel Nagar, Keshav Dairy Development Scheme, Blue Fox site near Rose Garden, Tagore Nagar, Urban Estate Phase-II and Urban Estate Phase-III.

Though the government believes it to be a perfect venture to make fast bucks, there seems to be little response from the public to purchase the sites which have a reserved price ranging from Rs 10 lakh and Rs 73 crore.

The properties include 22-square yards booths (unconstructed), residential plots of 100 yards to 500 yards, commercial plots, SCOs, SCFs and a site for hotel. The 22.68 square yard booths are among the ‘cheapest’ offers with a reserved price of Rs 10 lakh and the most expensive site is for a hotel (4561.58 square yard), the reserve price of which is nearly Rs 73 crore.

These properties are presently under the wings of the Improvement Trust and the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA). Despite the claims, a handful of buyers, due to slump in the market, the officials have inserted advertisements to ‘allure’ the buyers.

A section of prospective buyers who are planning to stake a claim by participating in the auction while talking to the TNS said the actual price of these properties would increase at least by 25 per cent in the auction.

“But in view of its high prices, genuine buyers fail to make any purchases. Either those who afford to pay monthly installments along with the down payments make the purchases or those having black money”, said Bhupinder Singh, a corporate employee residing Bharat Nagar.

Dharmjeet Dhillon, A property dealer, said the basic objective of the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) was to provide houses to the needy and it has now changed completely.

“Now, anybody who is in need of a house is nowhere except for the businessmen,” Dhillon said. He pointed out that anybody, who has already purchased or have been allotted plots, continues to purchase the same and further sells by pocketing considerable profit. The much-hyped BDA flats on Power House Road, too, failed to evoke any positive response from the public as only a handful of applications have been received in this regard and the skyrocketing prices for the other plots too fail to prick anyone’s conscious.

Dhillon alleged that if the prices of plots increase marginally then the authorities would cancel the auction and reschedule the same for selling the same at exorbitant prices. The 85 different plots of various sizes of the BDA worth Rs 34 crore are to be auctioned on September 30 and the plots of the Improvement Trust worth Rs 255 crore are schedule to be auctioned the next day.

Varinder Sharma, Chief Administrative, the BDA, having additional charge as Chairman of the Improvement Trust, said they are in no hurry to sell the government land in Bathinda and Mansa districts which are worth nearly Rs 400 crore.

He refuted the allegations of selling the land at exorbitant prices and said: “Our prices are equivalent or even less that the market prices. Some of these sites are not being sold due to the overall market slump.”

Bathinda, September 23
The Municipal Corporation of Bathinda (MCB) is facing staff crunch as its 168 posts are lying vacant, due to which the employees who currently working there are feeling over burdened with the work.

It is learnt that the MCB is facing shortage of staff because there has been no recruitment have been conducted by the concerned authority for a long time.

Due to which employees have been given additional work of vacant posts as well. On the one hand, employees are overburdened with work while on the other, public work is also affected.

As per the figures, 168 posts of the municipal corporation are lying vacant, in which 32 out of total 76 clerks and junior assistant posts are lying vacant. With a large number of clerical posts lying vacant, the work of corporation has been highly affected.

Even 40 posts of safai sewaks, daily wage drivers five posts, regular driver 17 posts and 11 ‘baledar’ posts, 10 gardener posts, eight fire men regular posts, work supervisor five posts, watchman two posts, assistant corporation engineer two posts, inspector four posts have been lying vacant.

In the MCB office, there are only one or two provisions of some posts but no official or employee have been deployed. As there is one post of each superintending engineer, MTP, planning officer, head draftsman, personal assistant, leading fireman, legal advisor (part time), account clerk, survivor, care taker, laboratory technician, system manager-cum-programmer, all these posts are lying vacant. Likewise, junior engineer horticulture has two posts, driver (PESCO) has three posts and five sanctioned posts for data-entry operator, but these all the posts are also lying vacant.

Bathinda, September 23
The Rice Millers’ Association of Bathinda has expressed its helplessness in milling the rice in view of the 14 per cent moisture content in the paddy.

District president of the association, Narain Garg, said during the last season, this value was 15 per cent with Value Cut. Garg alleged that under the political and other pressures in the grain markets, paddy having 21 per cent moisture content is also being procured against the permissible 17 per cent.

Narain rued that since the paddy with extra moisture content is procured by the agencies and is brought at the rice shellers, they fail to extract rice from the paddy after milling. This leads to a delay in milling for which the mill owners have to pay from their pockets in the form of fine.

In their memorandum, submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, the millers demanded that the moisture content of their milled rice be increased from the existing 14 per cent to 15 per cent.

Bathinda, September 23
Eleven government employees would be awarded the President of India 2011 Census Medal Award for their exemplary work during the Census.

The officials include the then Bathinda Municipal Corporation’s Commissioner Ravi Bhagat, now posted as the Deputy Commissioner Amritsar, corporation employees, Nazar Singh, Deep Kaur, Narinder Pal, Kishore Chand, Sukhpreeet Kullar, Jasvir Singh both from the Education Department, the CDPO Sukhwinder Kaur, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant employee, Sukhwinder Singh, the NFL employee, Gian Chand and Shanti Rani.

A communiqué has been received from the Joint Secretary of the Directorate of Census Operations, Punjab, to the concerned government departments.

The letter states that the government employees were instrumental in successful completion of both the phases of the Census 2011. The President of India Census Medals and Certificates of Honour are being given to them for their exemplary work done during the census.

The award giving function is being organised on September 24 at the Law Auditorium of Panjab University, Chandigarh. — TNS (See also P2)

Mansa, September 23
Former Mansa Sub-Divisional Magistrate NS Brar, who is now working as the District Transport Officer in Faridkot, has been selected for the President of India 2011 Census Medal. The award giving function will be organised tomorrow (September 24) at the Law Auditorium of Panjab University, Chandigarh.

The medal will be given by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on behalf of the President of India.

The medal is given to all those officials who do excellent work during the census conducted by the Government of India after every ten years.

NS Brar was working in Mansa in 2011, when the census was being conducted. He had performed his duty well.

Brar, besides serving as SDM Mansa, held six additional charges, including that of district revenue officer, SDM Sardulgarh and district transport officer, among others. 

Bathinda, September 23
The three-day Regional Youth Festival began today at Gian Jyoti Girls College, Gurhthadi, near Sangat Mandi of Bathinda district. About 59 colleges from the Bathinda zone will participate in the festival.

Director, Youth Welfare Department, Dr Satish Verma, inaugurated the youth festival. Competitions, including rangoli making, folk singing, giddha, group singing and group shabad gayan, were held.

Mata Sahib Kaur Girls College, Talwandi Sabo, bagged the first position in the giddha competition while the girls’ team of Government Rajindra College claimed the second position in the contest.

Speaking at the felicitation ceremony, Rajinder Rubi, director, Gian Jyoti Girls College, Sangat Mandi, said, “The festival will be held for three days. Participation in the youth festivals adds to the confidence and skills of students. About 59 girls’ colleges from the Bathinda zone that covers Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Moga and other districts will be participating in the festival.”

However, space shortage left the students, audience and the participants in a difficult situation. Folk singing competition, giddha competition and Shabad gayan were being held close to each other, which created a little chaos.

In the quiz competition, Yadvindra College of Engineering bagged the first position while Government Rajindra College remained at the second position.

In the landscape competition, Government Brijindra College bagged the first position while DAV College, Bathinda, got the second position.

In the rangoli making competition, DAV College, Bathinda, got the first position while Baba Farid College, Deon, got the second position.

In the clay modelling event, Punjabi University Regional Centre, Bathinda, got the first position while DAV College, Bathinda, remained at the second position.

Bathinda, September 23
The district administration today handed over the lost one and a half-year-old child to specialised adoption agency in Faridkot after getting his medical test conducted.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg said the baby boy was found alone crying at around 1:30 pm at a secluded place near platform number 2 at the Bathinda railway station.

He said the child was wearing a light purple coloured shirt, had a locket tied in black thread around his neck, held a black thread in his hand and was suffering from fever.

Dr Garg said Kamla Devi, Shinder Kaur and Suman, residents of ward number 12, had found the child. After completing the formalities at the Maur railway police station today, the child was handed over to specialised adoption agency in Faridkot.

If anyone gets the information about the child’s parents, he should reach the district child security officer in room 278, first floor, District Administrative Complex or can contact at 0164-22214480. — TNS

Bathinda, September 23
On the eve of the birth anniversary of Baba Sheikh Farid, a sahit sabha was organised at Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo.

Among students, Jagsir Singh was elected as president, Amandeep Kaur as vice president, Veerpal Kaur as general secretary and Karandeep and Ramandeep Kaur were designated as cashier of the sabha.

Associate Professor Balwant Singh Sandhu from the Department of Punjabi was the convener.

Dr Jagwinder Singh Jodha, head of the Punjabi Department, said we could make our lives rich and happy with moral and spiritual values by following the teachings of Baba Farid.

Vice Chancellor Dr NS Malhi lauded the efforts of the Punjabi Department for organising the sahit sabha. He said the teachings of Baba Farid could bring about the holistic development of students.

Registrar Satish Goswami and Dr Ram Niwas, Deputy Dean, were also present on the occasion. 

Bathinda, September 23
The Bathinda regional centre of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) will organise a kisan mela on September 27. Director of the regional centre, Dr Jagdish Grover, said the farmers would be given information on adopting improvised seeds, decreasing input cost and increasing produce.

He said Member of Parliament and former agriculture minister of the state, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, would be the chief guest at the event.

The Finance Commissioner (Development) and Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Punjab, Suresh Kumar, would be the special guest on the occasion. Vice-Chancellor, PAU, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, would preside over the mela.

Farmers visiting the mela would be provided the latest technical knowledge so that they can reduce their input cost and increase income, he added. Besides, exhibitions would also be put up during the event. — TNS

Maur, September 23
Tension mounted in Ghuman Kalan village when the skeleton of a woman was found while digging land for building a new house. The skeleton has also unravelled the secret murder of a village resident who had gone missing some 18 months back.

The skeleton was exhumed by the police today and will be sent for DNA test to confirm and identify it and also for the density test.

DSP, Jaspal Singh, said Paramjit Kaur, wife of the Jeeta Singh, a resident of Ghuman Kalan village went missing last year. He said at that time, a woman named Saroj Rani entered into illicit relationship with Jeeta Singh and Paramjit Kaur used to protest. After this, Jeeta killed his wife and buried her body in his house only.

Amrik Singh, brother of the deceased, said to conceal the murder, Jeeta had filed a fake complaint at the Maur police station stating that Paramjit Kaur had fled taking away gold ornaments and cash.

Sometime ago, Jeeta sold off his ancestral house, while his three sons and one daughter lives with him. When the new owner of Jeeta’s house started building a new house, a skeleton was found, which has been taken into police custody.

Investigative officer, Gurdip Singh, said on the statement of the brother of the deceased, they have registered a case against the accused Jeeta Singh and Manjit Singh of Ghuman Kalan village under Sections 302, 210 and 120 of the IPC at the Maur police station.

Bathinda, September 23
A 22-year-old woman, a resident of Jogi Nagar in Bathinda today alleged that the sarpanch of Balluana village, Gurmail Singh, molested her.

She alleged that the SAD sarpanch had wrong intentions. He used to make her husband drink at night and would sit at their house till late at night. She added that he even stopped her while on her way and molested her but she opposed and ran away from there. After that, he instigated her husband against her, upon which her husband beat her up badly. Now, he is asking for divorce.

The victim has also sent a complaint to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Pancahyat Minister Sikander Singh Maluka seeking justice. She has also threatened that if she doesn’t get justice, she will end her life by setting herself ablaze.

The victim, along with her relatives, today met Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, and filed a complaint against her husband Jagsir Singh, father-in-law Ajmer Singh, mother-in-law Palo and Gurmail Singh, sarpanch of the village. She demanded registration of a case against the accused person for torturing her.

In her complainant, she stated that she got married to Jagsir Singh three years ago and has a three-month-old girl. Her parents solemnised the marriage and gave dowry as per the status of her family. But her in-laws were unhappy with it.

She alleged that a few days after her marriage, her husband and in-laws started torturing and harassing her demanding dowry, they even used to beat her up mercilessly. She also stated that two months ago, her husband beat her up and tried to hang her with a dupatta, but she was able to save her life after running away. After coming back, she registered a complaint at the Canal police station, but till now, no action has been taken by the police. The police has received a complaint and started investigations.

Bathinda, September 23
Jagapal Singh, a resident of Mandi Kalan village, has accused his father Hargobind Singh and his brothers Sardul Singh and Gurpreet Singh of beating him up and throwing acid on his face on the night of September 21 at around 9 pm.

The Bailiawali police have registered a case against the accused Hargobind Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Sardul Singh under Sections 326 B, 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code on the basis of the statement given by the victim. No arrest has been made so far in this regard.

The police said they were investigating the incident, which they have called a family dispute.

Bathinda, September 23
The Sangat police have booked two persons for assaulting and firing at a resident of Doomwali village.

In a complaint, victim Parkash Singh has stated that on the night of September 21 at around 9.30 pm, he was attacked by accused Jasbir Singh and another person with sharp-edged weapons.

When he tried to flee from the spot, the accused opened fire on him, he added.

The police have registered a case against the accused on the basis of the statement given by the victim under Sections 323 and 324 of Indian Penal Code and Section 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the Sangat police station.