Mitigating water woes

Abohar: The National Informatics Centre and Water Resources Department have come up with a website and twin apps relating to the Gang Canal, allowing farmers who connect to the portal to share problems with officials pertaining to canal water. They will be given information about release of canal water, bringing transparency in its distribution. Information in the apps is available in Hindi, Punjabi and English languages. This is the brainchild of Rukmani Riar, Gurdaspur-born IAS officer. Riar is the second officer from Punjab to serve as district collector of Sriganganagar, also called “Punjab of Rajasthan”.

Badals’ old ties with Pak PM

Muktsar: While former PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has cordial relations with Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Badals have ties with new PM Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. For instance, Shehbaz, during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab province, along with his family, had visited the residence of then CM Parkash Singh Badal in 2013. He was invited as a chief guest for the closing ceremony of the Kabaddi World Cup in Ludhiana. Further, the Badal-led government had spent nearly Rs 3.5 crore for the development of Shehbaz’s ancestral village Jati Umra in Tarn Taran. In 2012, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had taken a delegation to Pakistan and gifts were exchanged between Sukhbir and Shehbaz. Political experts feel those enjoying good relations with bigwigs in Pakistan politics can use their influence to improve ties between both countries.

Industry lends helping hand

Sangrur: The initiative by Sangrur SSP Mandeep Sidhu to donate money from his salary to finance the study of children of deceased farmers under a “Parhda Punjab” drive is gaining strength. Local industrialists have also decided to fund the study of all 3,184 students of classes IX to XII in government schools. Dhuri-based Ricela Foundation has decided to pay the fee of government schools students in the Dhuri Assembly segment, which is also the constituency of CM Bhagwant Mann. Foundation’s chairman SSP Sidhu and local industrialist AR Sharma handed over a cheque for Rs 26,05,322 to principals of 13 government schools.

Pitching in for birds

Abohar: In a novel initiative, 1,029 pitchers were distributed among members of a congregation to help birds beat the heat. As part of the foundation day celebrations of a religious outfit, the organisers during an event at Budhrawali village gave a call to the members to hang pitchers at public parks, educational institutions and at rooftops. They also asked them to ensure these were filled with fresh water and feed at all times. Ration kits were also distributed among 229 needy families.

Leading by example

Ferozepur: After the CM launched a helpline to report corruption at government offices, some of the officials had banned mobile phones in their offices. Leading by example, Ferozepur Range DIG Inderbir Singh allowed visitors to carry mobile phones with them in his office. Earlier, the CM had asked people to record videos of officials demanding bribe and upload these on the anti-corruption helpline. The DIG’s move has been lauded by people from all walks of life in this border district.