Country’s first cotton pre-cleaning unit set up in Malout

Rajay Deep
Bathinda

Setting a bench mark in facilitating the growers of white gold in Malwa region, Punjab government has set up the country’s first cotton pre-cleaning plant in the cotton yard at Malout of Muktsar district.
The plant is expected to give farmers a value added service of getting their cotton crop cleaned, before putting it up for sale, thereby getting better returns for their produce.
The unit would provide this facility to farmers at minimal cost, as learnt. While the machinery itself is worth Rs 1.17 crore, it also has various other equipment, including some related to power supply, which did cost Rs 50 lakh more.
The Market Committee has started it on experimental basis and very soon it would be thrown open to the farmers. With a capacity of cleaning 6 tonnes of cotton per hour, the machinery would weed out leaves etc from the cotton crop and would lessen the moisture content as per requirement thereby improving the quality of cotton fibre, as informed.
The unit has total six machines that would clean the cotton serial wise one-after-another. The isrt segment is named Seed Cotton Dispensing system wherein the cotton picked from fields would be put in. Thereafter the crop would go in hot air generation unit to adjust the moisture content of crop as per need using the hot air gushes. The cleaned crop would then be inserted into machine named vertical floor dryer which would allow the cotton crop to fall off gradually from the machine and lower its moisture content.
The cotton would then go to inclined cleaner where other inert matter is cleared and sends it further to super III stick machine separating the lint from dry leaves and other parts of plant. At last the produce would go into the impact cleaner wherein 12 rollers installed would produce finer crop. Here using two blowers the produce would be brought outside from the machine.
Speaking about the machine, Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh said the clean cotton would positively create a win-win situation for the cotton industry as well as farmers.
Meanwhile, Market Committee Malout Chairman Basant Singh Kang, District Mandi Officer Kulbir Singh Matta, Market Committee Malout Secretary Ajaypal Singh jointly claimed that the cotton growers would be immensely benefited due to this plant

After Deer Safari, now CZA clears Tiger Safari project for Bathinda

Rajay Deep

Bathinda

 

After going through the success of the 30-hectare spread Deer Safari in Bathinda, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has now cleared the path for establishing Tiger Safari here in the area of Bir Talab, adjacent to the existing mini-zoo.

The forest and wildlife conservation department of the state, had submitted the proposal for the project to come up in a natural habitat spread over 20 hectare, to the CZA some months back. Going through the supported documents, the CZA has now given the approval to the layout plan but with some queries.

The CZA has asked the forest and wildlife department of Punjab to first ensure the allocation of budget from the state government, which is reportedly Rs 3 crore, as drafted. Then, the CZA has also asked the department concerned to recruit the staff on its own to run the project.

“These are the conditions which were obvious for the CZA to put on the project but we’ll manage the things to get the project set up in Bathinda,” said Sanjiv Kumar Tiwari, the Divisional Forest Officer.

According to information, the DFO apprised of the conditions to the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who has further directed the higher authorities of the state to discuss all possibilities to arrange funds and meet other conditions imposed by the CZA.

“Though the schedule is yet to come, it is expected that the meeting will be held soon where the modalities will be finalised,” informed the DFO.

The existing zoo-cum-safari is currently spread over 74 hectares of land of which 30 hectares are being used for the deer safari while the tiger safari would be spread over 20 hectares of land, which has been created partially well in advance. The remaining part is all lying with the mini-zoo providing sufficient space for executing the up-gradation plans.

About the tiger couple, the DFO said that it could be brought from the Chhat Bir Zoo near Zirakpur, which would further lead to the further breeding in the safari.

The deer safari, which was inaugurated in December last year, houses hog deer, black bucks, spotted deer and Sambar, over 100 in total as learnt. For the visitors the safari offers ride on a battery operated train and a golf cart.

The project is learnt to be desired by the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who wishes to develop Bathinda as a glowing tourism destination.

Working on the lines, besides the deer and tiger safaris, the department concerned has planned a yet another interesting project at the mini zoo-cum-deer safari here—the interpretation-cum-information centre.

The building for the same is near completion but before taking the next step, the zoo authorities now want the state government to allocate the funds.

The centre is proposed to have dioramas of species of animals including that of tiger, deer present in the safari including black bucks, sambar, spotted deer and hog deer and other animals in the zoo.

Besides this, some touch screen audio-video panels will also be installed at the centre and visitors can get information about the animals from those touch screens also.

The project would be first of its kind in the state, the DFO claimed, mentioning that there would be different sections for flowers, herbivores, carnivores and wildlife to ensure the visitors get proper information on every subject.

Besides, the mini-zoo here is also coming up with an Inspection Bungalow and Veterinary Hospital. Though the building for bungalow has been constructed, the divisional office is waiting for the requisite funds to set up infrastructure inside.

Meanwhile, the department is also working on setting up various more cages to house wild dogs, a pair of hippopotamus, beers and a leopard, all within the zoo premises.

rajaydeep@dailypostindia.com

Finally, VB books DTO Faridkot

Recipient of Prez Medal, the PCS officer NS Brar faces serious corruption charges

Rajay Deep
Bathinda

Finally after complying with the weeks-long departmental formalities, Vigilance Bureau officials of Bathinda Range on Thursday evening booked District Transport Officer of Faridkot Nachhattar Singh Brar for committing fraud with the state treasury by misusing his official position.

The VB officials also found Brar (a 2005-batch PCS officer) accused of issuing fancy registration numbers of the vehicles by making false entries in the official records.

He has been booked under sections 420, 467, 468, 120-B of the IPC along with section 13 (1) D and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It is pertinent to mention that Brar had recently received the President of India 2011 Census Medal from the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

According to information procured from the Bathinda Range office of the VB, after receiving serious complaints, the cops had conducted the record inspection of DTO office in question from November 28 to December2, 2014.

During the preliminary investigations, the VB officials found lot of documents being tampered with. The investigations led to the revelation that the officer had organised a “fake” auction of 138 fancy numbers in Faridkot as the DTO on January 16, 2014, which as per the claims were left out. Probing it, the investigators found that the numbers were sold on the sly, allegedly by agents in connivance with the DTO.

But to a surprise, such numbers were shown as having been sold during the auction. Unmindful of the consequences, the DTO office also dared to enter various names as the participants of the auction, who in fact had not done so. The VB then launched a probe into Brar’s assets and found gross instances of corruption.

The VB officials conducted a random inspection of 10 out of total 72 registers of the office and found various figures mutilated. They also observed that various registration copies were made with the incomplete or wrong addresses given by the applicants. Such applications were processed and the registration done, allegedly for monetary gratification.

During the inspection, the VB also suspected the possibility of several stolen vehicles being registered in Faridkot.

Further, there were various documents, which led the VB officials to learn that the DTO office was issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) to the hypothecated vehicles even before the due payment of the loans was made by the owners to the banks.

Vehicles running on loans in other states were brought to the Faridkot office to get NOCs for some fixed sum of ‘bribe’.

The investigations had also suggested that the DTO was allegedly working in close collaboration with a Mansa-based agent who used to be with Brar most of the time.

It was also ironic to learn that the agent would use Brar’s car to move about and collect applications on his behalf. He used to process the papers and was virtually running the DTO office in Faridkot as a de facto in charge, shared a VB official.

Interestingly, after learning that the VB was in no mood to show any leniency, the DTO had raised a hue and cry. He lodged a complainant with Faridkot Deputy Commissioner and the State Transport Commissioner as well, alleging the VB broke open the record room of his office to procure the documents without even seeking permission for the same and also accused them of snatching the record.

Responding to it, the VB officials denied it saying that they had taken the permission for collecting the records and the inspection was being done in the presence of government witnesses.

However, finding the accused may create any more trouble, the VB Director Suresh Arora asked the range official to dispatch the whole record in their possession to the headquarters at Chandigarh for further inspection.

Finally, the VB officials could ascertain his guilt and sent the file to the office of Chief Secretary for seeking the approval to register a case against the PCS official, who was on the extension, after being originally retired.

Getting nod from the top bureaucrat of the state, the VB Director on Friday asked the Bathinda range officials to register the case on the DTO and his accomplices including some clerks and agents. Following, the officials registered a case at Bathinda office of the VB on late evening.

Confirming the development, Bathinda Range Vigilance Bureau SSP Sukhdev Singh Chahal said, “The case has been registered and the further investigation has been assigned to the Special Investigation Team.”

Repeated attempts made to contact NS Brar for his version turned futile as his phone number was out of reach.

Bird Flu: Samples collected from Harike wildlife sanctuary

Visitors’ entry banned till reports arrive

Rajay Deep

Bathinda

As the bird flu scare has boomeranged in the northern region after finding a positive case of the influenza in Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake and some suspected in Patiala, the forest and wildlife authorities of Punjab have completely banned visitors’ entry to Harike Wildlife Sanctuary.

Taking precautionary measures, the sanctuary officials recently called the veterinary expert from Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts who collected various samples of birds’ dropping to analyse it in their respective laboratories. The experts are expected to take another 10 days to come out with their reports and till the day, the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary will remain close for public, confirmed the Ferozepur Divisional Forest Officer Neeraj Gupa, who also holds the charge of the sanctuary.

During the period, as learnt, the sanctuary staff has been asked to intensify the monitoring of birds in the wetland, spread across 86 square km. The sanctuary occupies the land of three adjoining districts-Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Tarn Taran. And the wetland ecosystem of Harike lies on the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej and the main water body (reservoir) came into existence when a barrage was constructed across the confluence of the two rivers some 60 years ago.

According to the DFO concerned, the sanctuary staff put on the job has been asked to keep an eye over the activities of the birds in their area as not only the death of the birds but also the sluggishness among the inhabitants too would be of great concern. While going into the wetland, the designated staff is supposed to be properly covered to ensure the protection from any kind of suspicion. Apart from it, the sanctuary officials have now strengthened up the liaison with the civil administration of respective districts for the cause, informed Gupta.

Asked about the threat perception, the DFO claimed that there was no incident reported as of now to panic about but as the sanctuary generally houses over 60,000 birds descending from different parts of the country and many from outside the territorial limits of India, the precaution was must. He, however, ruled out the possibility of some affected bird coming flying from Sukhna lake as he claimed that majority of the winged guests of the sanctuary were of long routes and their paths were also very much defined.

Bathinda zoo, lakes also face scare

Though there is no report of influenza detected in Bathinda, the forest and wildlife officials here have taken the requisite precautions well in advance.

According to the information, the enclosure of geese kept in the mini zoo here has been covered from atop to avoid the birds coming in the contact of influenza through the dropping of any migratory bird. Besides, the cautioned zoo authorities have started appealing the visitors not to go close the birds’ enclosures, informed Bathinda DFO Sanjiv Tewari.

However, the widespread lakes of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant, Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant and National Fertilizers Limited are now haunting the authorities.

New Delhi-Bathinda Shatabdi flagged off

Rajay Deep

Bathinda

With the inaugural run of New Delhi-Bathinda-New Delhi Shatabdi Express train on Thursday, Union Minister for Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal claimed to have fulfilled her promise made with the people of Bathinda parliamentary constituency, whom she represents in the Lok Sabha.

The train was formally flagged off from New Delhi railway station in the morning by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu in the presence of Harsimrat and other dignitaries. Later, Harsimrat also attended a ceremony at Bathinda railway station, where she was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Bhunder and Bathinda MLA Sarup Chand Singla.

Before flagging off the train, Harsimrat addressed the people assembled at the station, saying: “I have kept my words and this train will also be an answer to those who were repeatedly propagating that after LS polls Harsimrat had lost love and regard for Bathinda and its people.”

“I have come with a gift (Shatabdi) for the constituency and soon I will ensure the domestic flights too get started from here,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, on one hand she thanked the Union finance minister for approving the train in the NDA government’s first budget, on the other hand she said that she had urged the Union railway minister to attach extra bogeys with refrigeration facility in the passenger train for transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables and processed food items to various parts of the country to give boost to the food processing sector. Responding to the general demand of the region, Harsimrat promised to take up the issue with Railway Ministry to make the train run entire week and also proposed to extend it up to Ferozepur, with mentioning that she would also see the possibilities to make some amendments in the train schedule to ensure it benefits the maximum population of the region.

Failed to convince Christians, VHP cancels the 'shuddhikaran' event

‘Oppose from Akal Takht, threats from ‘own’ community forced them remain away from event’

“Those who had earlier given consent to re-enter Sikhism got feared that if they opted for the conversion through us, they would neither be considered Sikh nor would they remain Christians. So, they all back tracked,” Sukhpal Sran, State Secretary, VHP

Rajay Deep

Bathinda

Despite creating all hype, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders of Punjab failed to mobilise the Christian families to opt for the ‘ghar vaapsi’ (religious conversion) function scheduled to be held in Bathinda on Friday. Left with no option, they had to simply cancel the event.

A demoralised state secretary of the VHP Sukhpal Sran, who was heading the initiative, initially kept on urging the media persons to wait for his message related to the timing and venue for the event but finally in the evening with flat face Sran had to admit that the VHP could not mobilise the Christian families shortlisted for ‘ghar vaapsi’.

The media statement of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, who clarified that no one adopting Sikhism through such ‘ghar vaapsi’ programme of organistations would be considered as Sikh, worked as the major reason behind the failure of the event, as learnt.

“Those who had earlier given consent to re-enter Sikhism got feared that if they opted for the conversion through us, they would neither be considered Sikh nor would they remain Christians. So, they all back tracked,” explained Sran.

It has also been learnt that many among those shortlisted ones had received threat calls to get socially boycotted from all Christians even their close relatives.

Sran also claimed that there was acute pressure on the VHP as well as the persons once willing for conversion that finally led to the cancellation of the move, at least for now.

He, however, made yet another claim: “We, after discussing all the matter with our national leaders, have now decided to chalk out a thorough strategy to organise the same event on January 13, a festival of Makar Sakaranti.”

“The VHP would take the success of the event on January 13 as a challenge and whatever the hurdle comes on the way we would cross it without bothering the consequences,” he added.

The state wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) was earlier scheduled to hold the controversial “ghar vaapsi” (religious conversion) function in Bathinda for Thursday but exposed to different challenges including pressure from different quarters, they had to defer the event for Friday but with no change in circumstances the event was finally cancelled on Friday.

The VHP activists had otherwise planned to perform some rituals pertaining to “shuddhikaran” (purification) of 100 Christian families of Bathinda to ‘bring them back’ to Sikhsim and Hindiusim.

Speaking over phone, State Secretary of VHP Sukhpal Singh Sran said, “Many Hindus were converted to Christianity in the past but now we were scheduled to bring them back to their original religion Hindusim, with no difference between Hindus and Sikhs.”

“For those who were to return to Sikhism, I had to perform Japuji Sahib’s path and for those 20 families going back to Hindusim were to participate in the Yajna performed by a priest,” divulged Sran.

Speaking further, he said, “Once performing the rituals on Friday, we had planned to take all 80 families returning to Sikhism to Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, where they would get baptised,” he added.

While reveling the identity of few who as per him had once given consent to join Hindusim, Sukhpal mentioned that three were the pastors having actively made a number of people adopt Christianity for over two decades.

rajaydeep@dailypostindia.com

Gidderbaha MLA Raja Warring is new Youth Cong president

Rajay Deep

Bathinda

The 37-year-old first-time MLA from Gidderbaha Assembly constituency Amarinder Singh ‘Raja’ Warring has been appointed as the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) President.

The newly appointed IYC president hails from Warring village in district Sri Muktsar Sahib. His appointment, announced on Thursday, has come as a Christmas gift for the Punjab Youth Congress as it’s after 14 years that the Congress high command has selected someone from Punjab for the post.

Earlier, Ambika Soni (1975-77), MS Bitta (1993-96) and Manish Tewari (1998-2000) were the politicians from Punjab who occupied the chair. Now, Warring has replaced Rajiv Satav, an MP from Hingoli (Maharahtra).

Warring stepped in politics in 2000 when the party high command appointed him Block President of Youth Congress from Gidderbaha. Showing his enthusiasm to work for, just after two years Warring was promoted and became the district Muktsar president of the Youth Congress.

It is learnt that he did his apprenticeship under the former Punjab Congress President Jagmeet Singh Brar but once learning the skills, the gap between the two increased with the time, though not ended at an ugly note.

Acknowledging his command over words while delivering speeches, he was then elevated to hold the responsibility of spokesman of the IYC in 2005, which he served till 2008.

He then contested the internal elections to become the president of Punjab Youth Congress which he lost to Ravinder Singh Bittu, grandson of slain Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. Being the first runner up, he was then given the responsibility of Vice-President of the PYC.

A year later, he was then appointed as General Secretary of the Indian Youth Congress, where he remained till 2012.

Having established his strong enough relations with the then IYC chief Rahul Gandhi, he was allotted party ticket to contest Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections in 2012 from Gidderbaha assembly segment. The ticket, as learnt, was given to him from the youth quota of Rahul Gandhi. And it’s just for picking him as the party face the Congress had annoyed many senior leaders including a former MLA from Gidderbaha Raghbir Pradhan.

Further, hurt over the rejection of his ticket claim a known face of the assembly Sant Singh Brar deserted the Congress and joined the Akali Dal as the party had offered ticket to him from the same constituency.

With Warring being the Congress candidate, the contest at Gidderbaha had become a triangular one with the former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal also in the fray as the candidate of his newly created political outfit People’s Party of Punjab (PPP).

As Warring was the choice of him, Rahul Gandhi had himself come all the way to Gidderbaha to hold a political rally to muster support for just few days before the elections. Rahul’s gesture gave tremendous boost to Warring’s campaign as those in the party had some kinds of doubts about his stature in the party got the answers with Rahul’s words from the stage.

Securing as many as 50,305 votes, Warring emerged as the winner with also ensuring the SAD rebel Manpreet Singh Badal remain on the third position in the race with just 31,906 votes. Though his victory had little impact on Sant Singh Brar’s career, it exposed the stature of PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal as it was first ever defeat of Manpreet that too from the constituency, which he was winning for past four consecutive terms (1995, 1997, 2002 and 2007) as Akali candidate.

Being quite vocal in the Vidhan Sabha, Warring within no time started being considered as a vociferous card of the party to play at desired occasions. Just few weeks ago, he was also appointed the party affairs’ in-charge of Bathinda district.

It is also pertinent to mention that the dynamic leader of the Congress had recently landed in a serious trouble for his name being appeared in a drug nexus exposed by Bathinda zone police. A shocked to find himself in the eye of storm Warring was loud enough in claiming his innocence. The matter had even stormed the Punjab Vidhan Sabha after which the inquiry was learnt to be pushed under the carpet without any leakage of the reason.

Besides, he was once made to tender apology to some Hindu organisations for the act (observed as sacrilege) of his supporters during a protest in Muktsar about a year back.

Speaking over phone, an elated IYC President Amarinder Singh ‘Raja’ Warring said, “I will strive to infuse a new lease of life into the organisaiton.”

“I was not a politician but it was the charismatic character of Rahul Gandhi that made me pursue the career in this field of public service,” mentioned Warring.

He also claimed that his immediate priority would be to strengthen the organisation by enrolling youth in large numbers from booth level onwards and expose the dark sides of the BJP-led central government through different programmes.

rajaydeep@dailypostindia.com