Bathinda, November 11
After 15 days, in view of the vehement protests by some shopkeepers following heated arguments and minor clash, the tehbazari wing of the Municipal Corporation is back again on the road to remove encroachments.

This time, they have adopted a strategy to counter the protesting shopkeepers and others by recording each moment of the drive using video cameras.

“We were advised by a section of policemen to follow in their footsteps to avoid criticism and clash with those who encroach upon the public land. Now, armed with a video camera, we first take the video footage of the material spread on the pavement or roads and then take the same into our possession,” said Superintendent Kulwinder Singh.

Kulwinder, along with two clerks and three class III workers of the corporation, are deployed in this wing to check encroachments.

Earlier, the wing was silent over the encroachments in view of the festive season and a clash between a section of shopkeepers of Kikkar Bazar over the issue of removing the material lying at the pavement.

Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Dalwinderjit Singh, said now, they have planned to sustain the drive in larger public interest. “We have firmly decided to sustain this drive in view of the large scale encroachments on the city roads which has even made it difficult for the pedestrians to walk on the busy roads, especially the Dhobi Bazaar,” he said.

Dalwinder pointed out that that all the roads, including Railway Road, Mall Road, Kikkar Bazaar Road, Hospital Bazaar, areas around the Gol Diggi and bus stand would be made encroachment free.

The Commissioner also pointed out that the issue of stray cattle menace is also being discussed at length with the police in view of the protests by the Faridkot residents how are opposing the drive.

It is pertinent to mention here that the corporation officials had entered into an agreement with a gaushala in Faridkot to shift the stray animals from Bathinda to Faridkot but some protests in Faridkot lead to discontinuation of the scheme.

As per a rough estimate, there are over 2,000 stray animals in Bathinda city and a mere 270 have been removed by the authorities in the much-hyped drive, which was discontinued only last week.

The stray animals have wreaked havoc on the public and 12 people have lost their lives because of them in opver two years.

The corporation officials said the issue of tackling stray cattle is a Herculean task and was posing a serious danger to human lives. It will also be tackled efficiently in the same manner like the anti-encroachment drive carried out by MCB.

Bathinda, November 11
Researchers at the Centre for Biosciences of the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, have discovered a new bloom-forming species of large endemic green seaweed off the west coast of India having the quality to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The discovered specific algae is named as ‘Ulva Paschima Bast’.

It is worth mentioning that earlier, the same team had discovered two species of algaes from the coastal states of India in June 2014 also.

An article authored by Dr Felix Bast, an assistant professor at the Centre for Biosciences of the Central University of Punjab, co-authored by his two MPhil students, Aijaz Ahmad John and Satej Bhushan, have been published in October 2014 in international journal PLoS One.

The researchers collected tubular ‘Ulva’ species from various locations in west coast of Goa, Karnataka and Kerala over a stretch of 600 kms, and used morphometry and DNA sequence data to compare evolutionary legacy of three seaweeds with other known seaweeds species. Further, the research concluded that this bloom-forming algae species can capture carbon dioxide from the environment and use it to produce feed.

This quality of ulva species to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere can help to reduce carbon dioxide level from the atmosphere which is responsible for the global warming. Bloom-forming seaweeds are also important for biofuel production, as these seaweeds can easily be cultivated in open ocean in a natural condition without major human efforts.

The study was supported by INSPIRE Faculty Award from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, awarded to Dr Felix Bast.

Bathinda, November 11
A 35-year-old woman was brought by an ANM in Civil Hospital, Bathinda, on Tuesday for proper check up and treatment of her body as she is about to give birth to her eighth child. Her haemoglobin was found to be very low following which the health authorities have come into action.

Under the Mother-Child Tracking System, the ANMs (Auxiliary Nursing Midwives) have been assigned the task to look and follow thoroughly the cases of pregnant woman. In this particular case, the health authorities have taken a serious noother of six daughters and a son.

The couple lives in Beant Nagar of Bathinda city and was brought to hospital by ANM Jaspreet Kaur who had already been following the case of thirty five year old NeeNagar of Bathinda city and was brought to the hospital by ANM, Jaspreet Kaur, who had already been following the case of 35-year-old Neeraj, an expectant and mother of seven. Her husband Sheeshpal (40) is a Rikshaw puller.

“I have been looking into the case thoroughly and providing her all the knowledge and necessities as per instructions. I had also counselled after her recent delivery around 2 years ago when she delivered a male child. I tried to convince her about the precautions of being pregnant after her seven children as her body could also be hurt but she was unwilling about the family planning,” said, Jaspreet Kaur, who was standing at the Civil Hospital along with the couple.

Sandeep Grover, HMIS Divisional Coordinator, said, “Our ANMs are working round-the-clock for such patients. This case has been taken seriously by the department. Her haemoglobin was found to be 3.7 gm whereas about minimum 9 gm is needed for delivery of a child. She is under care of the para-medical staff and doctors. People are taught about the family planning but we cannot force anyone to abide by such plans.”

Bathinda, November 11
The auto-rickshaws plying across the city seem to have cluttered the traffic around every stretch, almost choking the roads and in the new menace the auto-rickshaws have flouted nearly all the norms set for parking as well as plying.

Drivers of most of the auto-rickshaws run without operating meters, park their vehicles at their whims and fancies. Commuters pass through these roads in utter frustration while the traffic policemen have literally turned a blind eye to the menace which has gained alarming proportion.

The road near bus stand and railway station is practically ruled by these auto-drivers. They keep blocking the smooth flow of traffic on a very narrow road. The policemen standing on the road seem have turned a blind eye to this menace. The cops are busy apprehending two-wheelers who are rushing to their office, school or college to check their documents, licence etc so that they can make a fast buck if they do not possess the necessary documents.

In an effort to regulate the chaotic traffic condition, the district police had come up with a new traffic regulation plan and had restricted the movement of heavy vehicles to tackle the serious problem of traffic congestion in the town. But auto-rickshaws appear to be openly violating the traffic norms as they are parking at restricted areas but at the various auto-rickshaw stands located in the town.

Auto-rickshaw drivers are also flouting norms by ferrying up to 14-15 persons at one time, instead of five as mandated by the traffic regulations. Carrying so many passengers at one time could cause the vehicle to topple over, posing a serious risk to the lives of the passengers.As per the data collected from the district transport office,

the Bathinda Tribune has learnt that only close to 30 per cent of the auto-rickshaws plying on the city roads are registered with the department. It had also been learnt that while a large number of autos applied for registration, very few applied for seeking permit.

Considering that by flouting the red light, over speeding, overcrowding and overtaking other vehicles on main roads, the drivers not only their passengers’ lives, but also pose a threat to the lives of other commuters, especially the pedestrians, it is high time the administration tightened the noose around these drivers.

Shikhar Goyal, a city resident said that traffic police has turned a blind eye towards the auto-rickshaws, while they keep on harassing the common man driving on two wheelers in the city. Law is equal for all so police should not discriminate in it.

Traffic policemen said they do penalise drivers of auto-rickshaws whenever they find them violating any traffic rules as nobody is above the law.

Bathinda, November 11
A prisoner was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside the Central Jail, Bathinda, today.

As per information, Hardev Singh (60), a resident of street number 9, Namdev Nagar, was arrested in 2010 in a case under Sections 376 and 511 of the IPC. Later, in 2011, he was convicted in the case and since then he was lodged in the Central Jail. He was found dead this morning and was immediately taken to the Civil Hospital.

Investigation Officer Ranjodh Singh said in the post-mortem report, the doctor had stated that he died due to heart attack. Gurjant Singh, son of the deceased, said his father died due illness as he was not well for the past many days.

Bathinda, November 11
One person has been booked for setting his own house on fire after a quarrel with his wife on November 9.

A complaint in this regard has been filed by his wife Santosh Rani, in which she stated that her husband Hardeep Singh set their house on fire as he wanted divorce from him and hhe was not agreeing to it.

They entered into a heated argument over the issue following which her husband set the house on fire. Both have been married for 12 years and have three children.

A case under Sections 436 and 511 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Balliawali police station.

Investigation officer, Manjit Singh, said on the statement of Santosh Rani, they had booked her husband. He said the accused used to beat his wife often and on November 9 night, the duo quarreled over the issue of divorce.

Bathinda, November 11
Tension prevailed at a branch of Cooperative Bank, located at the grain market in Bathinda, when bank officials directed farmers to open savings bank accounts to avail the bank facilities, especially the loan offers.

Fuming over the fresh directives, the farmers, who had reached the bank to apply for the loan, began raising slogans against it and some farmer leaders threatened to gherao it on Wednesday if the bank did not changed its decision.

As per the directives, a farmer seeking loan against two acres will have to spend Rs 1, 500 on the opening of a savings account and will get Rs 1 lakh insurance cover. Those seeking loan against three to seven acres will have to spend Rs 3,000 and will get Rs 3 lakh insurance cover while those seeking loan against eight or more acres of land will have to spend Rs 5,000 on the opening of the accounts and will get an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh.

Buta Singh, a farmer of Gobindpura village, said they used to get loan from the bank against their land and repay the loan after selling their produce. He added that today when he reached the bank to apply for a loan against seven acres of his land, the bank officials told him to spend Rs 5,000 on the opening of a savings account.

Another farmer, Sukhmander Singh, said his loan of Rs 50,000 was approved earlier and he had come to the bank to collect the money but he was asked to spend Rs 3,000 on the opening of a savings account.

President of the Cooperative Societies Employees’ Union Jaskaran Singh accused the bank of cheating on farmers. He said it was wrong to impose the insurance scheme on farmers and if the bank went ahead with its plan, they would be left with no other option but to protest. Bank manager Darshan Singh said they had directed the farmers to follow the orders passed by senior bank officials. He further said that in the absence of any written proof pertaining to the orders, he could not pacify the farmers who launched a protest as soon as they were apprised of the new directives.

Bathinda, November 11
The district administration and the Health Department will organise a rally and a candlelight march under the Beti Bachao Campaign on November 14.

At a meeting today, District Family Welfare Officer Dr Ravanjit Kaur said on November 14, a rally would be organised in the trans-railway line area. Starting from Government Senior Secondary School, Paras Ram Nagar, the rally will pass through several areas of the city. It will spread the message of saving the girl child. Schoolchildren will take part in the rally.

She added that the administration would install white boards at different places in the city besides holding a signature campaign. She said the aim of the rally was to urge people to give equal rights to their daughters.

On the same day, at 6 pm, a candlelight march will be taken out from Qila Mubarak, wherein members of various non-governmental organisations, Indian Medical Association, Bathinda, and others will participate. Starting from Qila Mubarak, the rally will pass through Sikri Bazar, Hospital Bazar and culminate at Fire Brigade Chowk. 

Bathinda, November 11
The Punjab Ayurvedic Medical Services Association (PAMSA) expressed concern over the views expressed by Dr OPS Kande, chairman of the Legal Cell Committee of the Punjab Medical Council (PMC), about the jurisdiction of the Punjab Medical Council.

“Notably, the BAMS doctors registered with the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani System of Medicine, Punjab (BAUSMP ), are authorised to practice the modern system of medicine (allopathic) within the meaning of the Drugs and Cosmetic Act,1940, and the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules,1945.

The BAMS doctors were not violating any provision of the Medical Registration Act. So, the recommendation of the Registrar of the Punjab Medical Council regarding the registration of a case under Section 420 of the IPC and Section 23 of the MRA against two BAMS doctors is uncalled for,” said Dr SS Romana, adviser and member, State Coordination Committee, PAMSA. 

Bathinda, November 11
Around 25,123 quintal of modified varieties of seeds were distributed among Bathinda farmers.

In a press statement issued here today, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Rajinder Singh Brar stated that the target was to distribute 5,000 quintal of certified seeds in the district. Keeping in view the demand of wheat seeds in the district, the Agriculture Department had cancelled Saturday and Sunday offs of its employees to ensure that seeds were distributed on time. Now, farmers can take seeds on Saturday and Sunday as well.

Till now, 30,170 quintals of seed have arrived in different blocks of the district. The seeds were sold at Rs 650 per bag. Of the 27,170 applications received for the seeds, 20,645 applicants have been given 25,123 quintal of seeds. Besides, seeds received from Punjab Agro, Kribhco, PAU and IFFCO have also been distributed.

Dr Brar said there was no dearth of seeds in the district. He urged the farmers, who are yet to get seeds, to deposit their forms within two-three days so that they could be given seeds on time. The new forms should be filled and handed over to the block authorities. He added that the department would not be responsible if some farmers did not get seeds on time.

Bathinda, November 11
Jalandhar became the champion of the 60th Punjab School Games (under-19 cricket tournament), which concluded at Police Public School today.

The final match of the tournament was played between Jalandhar and Patiala. Patiala won the toss and elected to bowlfirst. Jalandhar scored 129 runs at the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs. Chasing the score, Patiala lost its wickets on 126. They lost the match by three runs.

To motivate the players on the final day of the tournament, SP (Headquarter) Jasvir Singh and Gurpreet Singh Kingra, SHO, Bhucho Mandi, were present on the occasion. District Education Officer (Secondary) Amarjit Kaur Kotfatta was also present during the function.

For the third and fourth places in the tournament, Amritsar and Bathinda locked horns. Amritsar won the toss and decided to bowl first. Bathinda lost five wickets on 124 runs in 20 overs. Harjinder scored 50 runs in 20 just balls.

Chasing the score, Amritsar achieved the target in just 11.2 overs at the loss of four wickets and secured the third place in the tournament.

Bathinda, November 11
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) today observed National Legal Services Authority Day at Punjabi University Regional Centre. Addressing the LLB students, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority Tejwinder Singh said the day was observed to apprise the common man of their rights and duties.

The chairman also spoke on various legal issues. He said to usher in a change in society, all should change themselves. Encouraging the students to become paralegal volunteers, he said by becoming the volunteers, they could serve society and be able to settle petty disputes. Jasbir Kaur, CJM and the Secretary, DLSA, told the students about the laws related to women. She said it was the right of every working woman to avail maternity leave.

Bathinda, November 11
Students of Government Rajindra College brought laurels to the college by winning separate sporting competitions. During an inter-college championship, organised by Punjabi University on its Patiala campus from Novembr 7 to 9, a team of Gurvinder Singh (BA-III), Prabhjot Singh (BA-II), Bhupinder Singh and Manavadeep Singh (BA-I) participated in the 10m air pistol shooting and 10m rifle shooting championships and secured the second and third positions, respectively. 

Bathinda, November 11
A resident of Shakti Vihar has been booked on molestation charge. In the complaint to the police, the victim alleged that November 10, her neighbour Amit Sen entered her house with an evil intent.

Seeing her alone, he allegedly molested her besides threatening to kill if she shouted.

The police have registered a case against the accused under Sections 452, 354, 323 and 506 of the IPC at the Thermal police station.

SI Jaswinder Kaur said on the statement of the victim they had started the investigation.

Bathinda, November 11
The Maur police have booked five persons for attacking a woman of Kotbhara village. In a complainant to the police, Sukhjit Kaur stated that Jagtej Singh, Amrik Singh, Jaswant Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Baldev Singh of Kotbhara village entered her house on October 22 and attack her with sharp-edged weapons.

The police have registered a case under Sections 452, 427, 323, 506, 148, 149 of the IPC. No arrest has been made by the police so far. — TNS