Tribune Impact---- Canal water flows again, cotton farmers happy

Tribune Impact
Canal water flows again, cotton farmers happy
Rajay Deep
TNS

(Above) The canal that was dry since May 15; (below) Water flows again in the canal. Photos by writer

Talwandi Sabo, May 28
Restoration of water in the irrigation minors and distributaries linked to the Kotla branch canal today brought smile back on the faces of hundreds of cotton growers of Maur, Rama, Talwandi and Sangat blocks of this district.
Earlier, water supply in Kotla branch canal, which used to feed about 100 villages of Bathinda district, had been running dry since May 15 on account of launching a revamping project.
The paucity of water, amid the cotton sowing season, had left the farmers in the lurch in the area.
Left with no way out, farmers had started cultivating their fields with the unfit sub-soil water, which was reportedly affecting the productivity of the land.
Probing the matter, The Tribune observed that the revamping project, in the name of which the water supply was stopped, had been grappling under litigation at the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the irrigation department had no authority to initiate the work till the court announced its verdict.
Mentioning the facts collected, The Tribune had highlighted the plight of the cotton growers on May 25 under the headline "Cotton growers wilt as canals run dry." Taking notice of the news item, senior officials of the irrigation department released the water supply in the canal from a far located dam, the next day. Running across miles, the water finally reached almost all minors and distributaries including the Talwandi minor, Bangi minor, Jodhpur minor, Mansa minor and Pakka minor, which are linked with the Kotla branch on Thursday evening.
Speaking over the phone, an elated farmer of village Jeevan Singh Wala, Gursharnajeet Singh informed this correspondent about the development, early this morning. To verify the fact, when TNS visited the Bathinda-Talwandi Sabo road, it was observed that almost all minors and distributaries, which were running dry on Monday were carrying water but at a low level.
When contacted, the executive engineer of irrigation department, Gopal Singh said, "Earlier, the supply was suspended on the pretext of revamping project but due to some legal hurdles, it was getting delayed.
On the other hand, farmers were in dire need of water supply to irrigate their fields for cotton sowing. Finally, senior officials of the department decided to release the water supply till the court announced the verdict."

Laying of Mumbai-Bathinda gas pipeline courts controversy

Laying of Mumbai-Bathinda gas pipeline courts controversy
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 31
The much hyped project of laying Mumbai-Bathinda underground gas pipeline has been caught in a controversy. The GAIL authorities were in a piquant situation as the company contracted had camped here with a large of huge machines on Saturday but the farmers, in whose land the 100 feet wide pipe is supposed to be laid, are still not allowing the trenching work to start.
Among others, farmers nurse resentment over the fixation of the allegedly less compensation for using their agricultural land. The farmers have been demanding a compensation of Rs one crore per acre against the reportedly fixed price of Rs 10 lakh.
The controversy erupted on Saturday, when the company contracted was about to start trenching at Gillpatti village from the National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) side. Before the engineers and labourers could start work, farmers of the village assembled and made them leave the place.
The protest gained momentum today, when the company officials again took a chance to start the work but the farmers from nearby villages, from where the pipeline would cross, assembled and started lodging a protest.
Surrounding the machines, they announced that work would be allowed only after the acceptance of their demand.
The hapless officials had to inform the police. Finding the farmers rigid over their demand for compensation, police called the executive magistrate, who listened to their grievances and assured of an amicable solution.
Executive magistrate Karnail Singh Bhullar said, “I tried to convince them that in the process, the company will not get the land transferred in its name and it will remain in the name of farmers in the revenue records. The compensation is paid to bar the farmers from doing any agricultural and construction activity on the land beneath which the pipe is laid.”
“Despite all negotiations, the farmers were firm over their demand. To resolve the issue, a meeting has been fixed with the DC, SSP and GAIL officials who will arrive here on Tuesday,” said Bhullar.

‘By 2035, people will be on Moon & Mars Dr V. Adimurthy

‘By 2035, people will be on Moon & Mars

Dr V. Adimurthy, professor and senior advisor (Interplanetary Missions) at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), who was in Bathinda on Friday to attend a UGC-sponsored national conference on ‘Advanced mathematics and its applications’ organized by the the post-graduate department of mathematics of the DAV College, spoke to Rajay Deep of The Tribune on the steps the ISRO is taking to accomplish India’s mission in space.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Q: How far is the day when human beings will be able to live and work at other destinations within solar system?
Ans: Efforts are on for a mission to Mars and Moon and I am hopeful that by 2035, people will be there.
Q: What is the focus on — Mars or Moon?
Ans: No doubt, efforts are being made for both but the prime focus would be on Mars as it has been observed that the possibility to create living atmosphere there is more than on the Moon. It is easily possible to establish a colony on Mars as on the Moon, the whole supply would be required from the Earth.
Q: Is water available on the Moon?
Ans: There were various studies giving different opinions on the issue but the final report suggests that water is available on the Moon but not in its present form like a flowing river. But its molecules are certainly there and may form into water with the passage of time.
Q: What is ISRO doing to build bio re-generative systems?
Ans: Since the propylene product is not biodegradable, researches are on for green propylene.
Q: What are the steps being taken to develop instruments to measure greenhouse gases, disaster monitoring and climate data records?
Ans: We are aware of the anthropogenic effects caused by the man-made remote sensing satellites. To evaluate and check them, there are many researches going on. Parallel to it, we have to understand that it requires continuous services experimenting upon the soil, groundwater, agro-products etc.
Q: What is the major challenge for space transport?
Ans: As at present the cost of space travel is too high, we need the expandable launch vehicles that can be used and reused, but it requires very high investment. So, nobody has approved it yet.
Q: What proved to be the reason behind the failure of India’s advanced GSAT-5P communication satellite, launched recently?
Ans: Though the first and foremost cause is yet to be ascertained, we have studied that the connections snapped and therefore, the vehicle lost control.
Q: Does the failure of GSAT-5P put any effect on the plans of ISRO to launch three major missions, namely the Resourcesat-2, Youth satellite and X- satellite?
Ans: Undoubtedly. After the unexpected experience, our schedule was mismatched. But we are all working hard to launch them on schedule.
Q: Why does ISRO want to launch the regional navigation satellite system when the Global Positioning System (GPS) maintained by the United States is freely accessible by anyone with a GPS receiver?
Ans: The requirement for such a navigation system is driven by the fact that access to GPS is not at all guaranteed in hostile situations and we have witnessed various uncertainties in it.
Q: What is the ISRO doing for students?
Ans: The ISRO is running a large number of programmes to attract students from various pockets. The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology offers various courses for graduates and postgraduates.

...commuters left high and dry

...commuters left high and dry
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 28

The hourlong jam outside the bus stand here left hundreds of commuters in the lurch, that too in the scorching heat at around noon.
To build pressure on the government for the fulfillment of their demands, the PSSF employees blocked the main gate of the bus stand and disrupted the traffic movement there, apparently ignoring the inconvenience caused to the common people. Not only the commuters but also the bus staff were observed annoyed over the chaos.
Ironically, the police preferred to be a mute spectator and remained indifferent to the plight of women and children who were stuck in the buses in the sweltering heat.
Of late, it has become a regular practice in Bathinda that whenever anyone has a grudge against the government, they find this tactic to be the most suited for them to raise their issues. But in doing so, they always forget about the hardships caused to the others.
"I have paid the bus fair and got the ticket for Patiala where I had to attend a meeting. Now it has been over half-an-hour but I am sitting in the bus helplessly as there is no way I can reach my destination."
"If the cops here are unable to solve the problem, do give us a free hand and we can tackle such nuisance," said Sukhjinder Singh, an irked conductor of a private bus company.
A driver Pritam Singh, frustrated over the jam, said, "Protesters have 'fun' as there is no check on them. But nobody is bothered about our route and timings which have been been affected due to them."Gurpreet Singh, an adda-fee contractor said, "On an average, if the gate is blocked for an hour, we suffer loss of around Rs 1,500. Our haplessness is that as per the contract terms, we have to deposit Rs 14,420 with the PRTC authorities every day, irrespective of the condition."
When asked about the public inconvenience, Kotwali station house officer Harmeek Singh Deol expressed his inability in taking any action.
Commuters stranded in the buses were seen terming the problem as the fallout of Bathinda having become a hot seat courtesy the poll battle between the Badals and Capt Amarinder Singh.

City bus service gets govt nod

City bus service gets govt nod
10 low-floor buses to be introduced; PRTC to operate, maintain the buses
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 30

The realisation of the years-long dream of the city residents to see a local bus service here came closer today after the state government cleared all decks for the introduction of the service.
According to the project details, the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (BMC), will deposit Rs 2.5 crore with the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) to purchase, operate and maintain 10 non-AC low-floor city buses.
Though the modalities are yet to be finalised, it is being planned that the local buses would not only ply within the municipal limits but would also connect the city to the towns located nearby.
The point to start city bus service had been incorporated in the agenda list of the BMC for discussion in the general house meeting many a times, but due to lack of consensus among the councillors, the plan could not materialise.
However, during a meeting held on April 5 this year, the SAD-BJP councillors passed the proposal and forwarded it for approval to the state government.
During a meeting called by the secretary, Local Bodies, Punjab, today, the file was cleared and the BMC officials were allowed to start the service by appointing the PRTC as executing agency.
With the expansion of the city in all directions, the introduction of a city bus service had been the main demand of the residents for past several years. The project was drafted a number of times but could not be implemented for one reason or the other.
About six years ago, the municipal authorities had even completed all formalities to launch the service. Over two dozen bus stops with shelters were also built across the city. However, the scheme could not mature and the bus stops gradually dilapidated.
Speaking over the phone from Chandigarh, BMC Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta confirmed that the government had approved the project. He claimed that the scheme would be operational within two months.
"We will soon deposit the required sum with the PRTC. The PRTC officials have informed that it would take nearly one-and-a-half month to get the delivery of the buses. By the time, we will work out all modalities like the renovation of the existing shelters, building new ones, routes and the bus fare," said the BMC Commissioner.

City bus service a distant dream

City bus service a distant dream
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 28


The dream of the people here, of having a city bus service, has once again turned sour as the state government has ignored this fast-growing town while introducing such service in three other cities of Punjab.
Several people whom this correspondent contacted felt “betrayed” over the government not fulfilling its commitment. They alleged that the department concerned was taking the commuters here for granted and giving them just fake assurances in view of the forthcoming Municipal Corporation elections.
One Deepak Kumar of Naamdev Nagar here said, “The promises are nothing but the ploy to lure the voters in view of the upcoming MC elections.”
Bathinda has been termed as speedily growing city of the state. But in the absence of local buses, people here are forced to commute through rickshaws and private vehicles only. The 28 passenger shelters built across the city a few years ago are in dilapidated condition now as the city bus service was yet to be introduced.
The MC authorities had made promise of introducing a city bus service here. In 2005, the department concerned even prepared the proposal to launch the service but it was put under the carpet as nothing has matured so far.
The department of local government has today inserted a notice in newspapers whereby it has invited proposals from bus operators for financing, procurement, running, operation and maintenance of city buses on specified routes under city bus services project for Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.
In the advertisement, the department has mentioned innovations regarding GPS system, pass system and electronic ticket vending machines.
The people who failed to see the name of their city in the advertisement, have now raised their voice against the alleged ‘ignorant’ attitude of the government.
On his part, the Bathinda MC commissioner, K.K. Yadav, said, “A resolution has been submitted to the principal secretary of our department to launch the scheme here.”
Replying to a query about the repeated promises made to the residents of the city, he disclosed that it would take time as the process was only in its first stage as even the preliminary survey had not yet been completed.”
The Punjab minister for local government, Manoranjan Kalia, when contacted, said, “A survey was in progress to check the feasibility of the project. The bus service would start only if the routes are economically beneficial.”

Breach plugged, but water enters houses

Breach plugged, but water enters houses
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Pakka Kalan (Bathinda), September 13
Insensitive attitude of the district administration towards the 150-ft-wide breach that occurred in the Pakka minor of the Kotla branch canal yesterday has halted the lives of the residents of Pakka Kalan village. The gushing water after damaging hundreds of acres of standing cotton, paddy and chilly crops today entered their houses forcing them to move to safer places.
Though villagers with the help of hundreds of people from nearby villages and dozen tractors and two JCB machines managed to plug the breach in the evening, they could not find way to drain out the accumulated water till the filing of this report.
During a visit, The Tribune observed that it was a flood-like situation in the village. All streets were waterlogged and people were busy draining out water from their houses.

Villagers try to plug the breach in Pakka minor of Kotla branch canal on Monday. The breach occured on Sunday; villagers taking their household goods to a safer place as water entered their houses at village Pakka Kalan in Bathinda on Monday. Photos by writer

Accusing the administration of showing indifferent attitude towards their problem, Joginder Singh,

whose house was inundated, said: “Had the administration did something yesterday, the situation could have been prevented from taking such an ugly shape.”
“When about 200 of us failed to plug the breach, we staged a dharna on the Bathinda-Dabwali road yesterday following which the administration assured us of sending ITBP jawans for help and asked us to lift the dharna, which we agreed to at 11 pm,” said villagers. “However, when the ITBP jawans reached the spot, they refused to help us saying it was not their job to plug the breach, they could just evacuate the marooned villagers if required,” they alleged.
Meanwhile, Bathinda DC Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, along with civil and police officials, reached the spot to assess the situation. However, his visit irked the villagers, who rued that, “When we were making requests on Sunday to send the administrative staff to help us to plug the breach, nobody bothered. But now when all is about to be completed, a team of bureaucrats landed here to express sympathy.”
After observing the situation, the DC ordered a special girdawari to ascertain the quantum of loss. The area in charge of the SAD for the Talwandi Sabo Assembly constituency, Amarjit Singh Sidhu, said he would inform the CM about the situation and urge him to consider the incident as a natural calamity.
On the other hand, village sarpanch Balkaran Singh said: “The administration neither provided us manpower nor any monetary help. The whole expenditure on running the tractors and JCBs is being borne by us only.”

Security breach stuns all

Security breach stuns all 
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Goniana (Bathinda), March 18
Despite the Z-plus security, it was shocking to see a non-medical student Nirmal Singh jumping over the stage, when Sukhbir Badal, the chief of the SAD (B), was delivering his speech.
Not missing a second the security personals rounded him up and took him to the police station Nehianwala.
The mother of the accused, Shanti Devi said, “Nirmal was frustated, as he wanted me to be confirmed in the school as a peon, where I have been working on ad-hoc basis from the past several years.” Adding to that she said her son was desperate to meet Sukhbir Badal personally and to get the application sanctioned. It has been reported that the panchayat members of the village went to the Nehiana wala police station to get him released.
When contacted, the probationer IPS officer P.K.Yadav, he said, “To extract the actual facts, interrogations have been going on”
“Meanwhile a departmental inquiry would also be initiated to find out the cause for the lapse on the part of security and person found guilty would be punished,” he added.
On being asked about the arrest of the youth, Sukhbir Badal said, “Every thing has a proper channel and one must follow the procedure.

Canal breaches farmers’ hopes

Canal breaches farmers’ hopes
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 15
Canal breach has become a very common occurrence in Bathinda district.
On November 1, a distributary of the Sirhind Canal near Bhai Mati Das Nagar overflew its embankments. Its waters first entered the adjoining sewerage construction site and then into Bhai Mati Das Nagar. The breach was reported to be 10-12 feet wide.
A week later, on November 8, a 30-feet wide breach in the embankment of the Sirhind Canal affected several persons as the water gushed into houses and jhuggis on the outskirts of the city.
Again on November 12, a breach in the distributary of the canal outside village Burj Tharod and Dod near Bhagta Bhai in the district, added to the problems. The breach was said to be 15-feet wide, which inundated the nearby agricultural land.
On November 14, several hectares of agricultural were flooded as the waters of the Behman distributary canal breached the embankment. The flow of water was diverted to prevent it from entering NFL Colony.
The authorities have no straight answers for the reason behind the breach. Erosion of land, damaged roots of trees and foul play are all a possibility, they say. But officials of the irrigation department say, albeit on the condition of anonymity, that the department is not getting sufficient funds for the repair of embankments and de-silting that is urgently required.
Farmers in the area say that even when there is not much need, water level in the canal is high. So, the embankments need to be repaired.
Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari said that the inquiry has been marked to the ADC (Development). “But it will take a few more days to come up with a factual report,” he added.
Speaking on phone, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister, Punjab, said, “We have made a master plan which suggests that all the canals and drains in the state are in dire need of repair and de-silting. The plan has already been presented to the chief minister. Now the only issue is of generating funds. As soon as funds are generated, the process of repairing the canals will start on a war-footing.”

Canal water enters Talwandi Sabo

Breach in Distributary
Canal water enters Talwandi Sabo
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo, February 18

Water entered several areas of this holy town early this morning following a breach in a canal distributary.
Though there was no casualty, life was thrown out of gear. Dozens of vehicles, including some heavy ones, got stuck in the mess as the soil beneath recently laid sewer pipes caved in, following which some roads also got sunk.
The canal distributary was breached at a point near Dashmesh Public School under which sewerage board officials had recently laid a sewer pipe.
Adding insult to injury, senior officials reached the spot only when the situation had turned difficult and people were themselves putting in efforts to cope with it.
People termed the incident as a fallout of the hurry shown by sewerage board officials to bring the whole town under a sewer system (a project worth Rs 17 crore) before the Baisakhi Mela to be held here in April.
The district administration has sought a detailed report regarding the breach from the officials concerned.
It is reported that an employee of the Punjab State Electricity Board was the first to notice the breach in the early hours. He immediately called up the police. Some other passersby initiated efforts to plug the breach. They also sought help from nearby villages.
Later, on receiving information that water had gushed into fields adjacent to Takht Damdama Sahib, the administration launched rescue work. With the help of cranes, big vehicles were pulled out.
Officials of the Irrigation Department said the canal distributary was dry when the sewerage board officials laid the sewer pipe beneath it. As per the schedule, they released the water supply in the distributary on Wednesday evening after which the incident took place. They put the blame for the breach on the contractor assigned the job as well as the sewerage board officials concerned who allegedly failed to take proper care to check the joints after laying the pipe.
MS Kang, SDM, Talwandi Sabo, said: “Immediately after receiving information, operations were initiated. All vehicles stuck in the mess were pulled out and traffic was managed”. Replying to a query about the action to be initiated against the guilty persons, the SDM said: “I have sought a report from sewerage board officials, who will submit it by Friday”.

Valentine’s Day becomes vigilante’s day?

Valentine’s Day becomes vigilante’s day?
Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists take to moral policing, manhandle youths
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 14
Despite the tall claims of the Bathinda police of providing a peaceful atmosphere to those celebrating the Valentines’ Day in the city, activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today indulged in hooliganism and manhandled couples celebrating the day.
Calling themselves “guards of Hindu ethics”, the VHP activists slapped boys sitting with girls in parks. The activists did not pay heed to the explanation given by the couples, and forced them to apologise in public.
Leading a group, including activists of ABVP and Bajrang Dal, VHP secretary Sukhpal Sran today pounced upon some couples sitting in the Rose Garden. According to information available, they snatched the cards from the hands of lovebirds and tore it off. Further, they forced the boys to do sit-ups. If a boy objected, he was slapped tight in the face.
When the couples stated that they were just sitting in the park and were not doing anything objectionable, Sukhpal asked girls to give the contact number of their parents so that their marriages could be arranged with the boys they were sitting along.
An advocate from Chandigarh, Babu Ram, was also victimised when he was sitting in the park with his girlfriend. Not knowing about his profession, the activists started thrashing him and asked him to tender an apology.
On reaching the spot, TNS observed that people were trying to get police help but hardly any cop was standing nearby. Meanwhile, some girls accused the group of hurling abuses and misbehaving with them.
However, after some minutes, some cops reached the spot and asked the VHP and ABVP activists to check their behaviour, otherwise, they would be booked. As the cops were listening to the grievances of couples, the activists fled the spot.
SHO Kotwali GS Romana said, “We had rounded up the hooligans but the complainants withdrew their complaints and we released them after a warning.”
VHP secretary Sukhpal said over the phone, “We did not misbehave with any girl but asked them to give their parents’ contact numbers so that they could be married to the boys with whom they were celebrating the Valentine’s Day.”
“We urge people to support us in this cause as the Valentines’ Day is a product of western culture, which is spoiling our youth and invading our culture,” he added.

Non-utilisation of allocated funds worries fisheries dept

Non-utilisation of allocated funds worries fisheries dept
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 22
Lack of interest among farmers of Bathinda to adopt fish farming has become a cause of worry for officials of the fisheries department as they are finding it difficult to spend the allocated funds, besides disbursing the earmarked amount of subsidy and meeting the target of loan assistance. The authorities would have to return funds worth lakhs to the state exchequer at the end of the current financial year.
Sources in the fisheries department disclosed that the district was allocated a sum of Rs 7.82 lakh for the expansion of a government hatchery at Rai Ke Kalan village during 2009-10. However, the department could not even find the official agency to get the work executed.
Further, a sum of Rs 1.97 lakh was allocated to the district for disbursing subsidies for excavation of fish ponds during the current financial year, but the department could not disburse even a single penny till January 31, 2010.
Fearing that the amount will lapse after March 31, the department has now found five farmers for issuing grant of Rs 91,420 as subsidy for excavation, input material and feed.
The Bathinda office of the department was asked to meet the loan assistance target of Rs 15 lakh during this year but till January end, only four cases were assisted with Rs 10.44 lakh. However, the officials are now assisting a farmer with a loan of Rs 2.30 lakh but it is under process.
Meanwhile, if one goes by the statistical details of the fish seed production in this district, it is negligible. The state authorities had fixed this year’s target of fish seed production for Rai Ke Kalan hatchery at 18 lakh but till last month, the authorities could get only 85,000 fish seeds from the hatchery.
However, an official of the department said the plant had produced about 5 lakh fish seeds during the year but more than 4 lakh were transferred to the account of last year to make up for the deficiency.
Replying to a query related to the dismal performance, deputy director of department of fisheries, Bathinda, Sukhdev Singh said, “There is no hurdle from our side. It is just a lack of interest among the farmers to avail of the benefits of government schemes.”
“Though fish farming is a beneficial trade, the high value of land has emerged as the major reason behind farmers shying away from adoptin it as a subsidiary occupation,” he added.

VB initiates probe into city beautification project

VB initiates probe into city beautification project
BMC officials yet to place records before sleuths
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 22
The controversy over the execution of a much-hyped Rs 40-crore worth city beautification project has brought the Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities under the scanner of the Vigilance Bureau (VB), Bathinda range.
Receiving two complaints, one anonymous and other from social activist Ved Parkash Gupta, VB sleuths summoned all details and documents of the project from the BMC officials.
A highly-placed source in the VB, Bathinda range, said the BMC authorities were apparently unwilling to provide the documents as despite receiving the order followed by a reminder, the BMC officials had not come up with the record.
“The delay is increasing our suspicion. We will send one more reminder. Even if the officials do not produce all required details, we are firm on taking action against all officials concerned,” a VB official said.
It may be mentioned that the tenders of the project were opened on January 24, 2008, and the construction work was initiated after Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal and local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia laid more than a dozen foundation stones under the project on February 18, 2008. The project included re-carpeting of almost all roads and main streets, development of parks, work on storm water system, streetlights and beautification of the city.
To execute the project, the BMC authorities, during the tenure of the then BMC Commissioner KK Yadav, had taken a loan of Rs 40 crore from the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB). The controversy had arisen since the day tender was opened as local contractors accused the BMC authorities of doing injustice to them. They had alleged that the terms and conditions of the tender were such that a small contractor could not comply with. Ignoring their allegations and objections, the tender was allotted to a construction company, said to be an outfit of a ruling SAD leader of Bathinda.
Besides the small contractors, city residents and councillors too had accused the authorities of corruption. They even accused the construction company of using sub-standard material in connivance with the BMC authorities.
Taking a step ahead, during a general house meeting, Krishan Kumar Garg, a councillor of the BMC, had openly accused the BMC staff of perpetuating percentage wise corruption in the project.
Confirming the details, SSP Vigilance Bureau, Bathinda range, Chaman Lal said, “We have initiated a probe and are waiting for the BMC authorities to submit the documents. Once the allegation is proved, everybody, irrespective of the designation, will have to face the music.”
BMC Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said, “I have no information about the VB inquiry. Moreover, the tender was allotted before I assumed charge, but I will ensure full cooperation with the VB officials.”

Process to fill up vacant posts in progress: Sukhbir

Vacancies after retirement of staff at 58
Process to fill up vacant posts in progress: Sukhbir
UAE verdict: CM to meet PM tomorrow
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 5

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that recruitment process for all vacancies which had occurred after hundreds of government employee retired at the age of 58 on March 31, was on.
“All departments have been asked to send their proposals at the earliest to fill up the vacancies as we do not want the working of any important department to suffer,” said Sukhbir.
Talking to this correspondent at the sports stadium, Bathinda, where he had come to take stock of the preparations for the semi-finals of the World Cup Kabaddi, Punjab-2010, scheduled for April 10, the deputy CM said he had taken the promotion of kabbadi as a challenge, which he had met by hosting the World Cup.
When apprised that people are taking World Cup as an extravaganza by Sukhbir the ‘showman,’ he said, “No doubt I did my best to make the event successful but it is nowhere concerned with my publicity as I want the game, which is the pride of Punjab, to be promoted worldwide.”
Speaking about the verdict of the UAE courts, under which 17 Indians including 16 Punjabis had been awarded death sentence, Sukhbir said, “It is a very serious issue and only the union government can take up the matter at the international level. Concerned over the issue, the chief minister of Punjab is going to meet the Prime Minister on April 7, where the matter will be discussed at length.”
About the contingency plans to handle the protests if the PSEB is unbundled, Sukhbir parried the query saying, “This is a matter related to the chief minister, so he would be the right person to reply to it.”
When questioned about the fate of his drive to check corruption in the revenue department, the Deputy CM said, “We have gained much success and soon it will be replicated in all major departments of the state government.”
Sukhbir was on a whirlwind tour to assess development projects in Bathinda, during which he even took to task the officials of departments concerned.
He visited various sites of the under construction development projects including railway flyovers and asked the officials to make sure that all projects are completed on the stipulated time. Meanwhile, he warned the officials that dilly-dallying would invite immediate action against them.
“I have been monitoring all the projects, so never try to show your incompetence to others,” he clearly instructed the senior officials, while inspecting an under construction railway overbridge at the Badal road.

Chopper take-off bid creates a flutter

Bathinda: There was panic when the chopper carrying Sukhbir Badal failed to take off twice at the PSEB grounds.
In the first attempt, it gained a little height, but due to some technical hurdle, the pilots had to immediately land it. One of the pilots came out and asked the officials to take away all the vehicles and vacate the ground.
Then the pilots tried to take off but had to land the chopper again. Finally, they succeeded only in the third attempt.
All this made the officials (witnessing it) tense. But after checking with the officials concerned, they said it was due to problem in vision and nothing much, bringing relief all around. — TNS

KAC to honour anti-Dera activists

KAC to honour anti-Dera activists
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 7

“The Khalsa Action Committee (KAC) will honour eight families whose members have played a significant role in the anti-Dera Sacha Sauda drive at a conference to be held at Talwandi Sabo on the occasion of Baisakhi, convener of the KAC, Bhai Mohkam Singh, disclosed this here today.
Speaking further on the issue, the members of the KAC said that during the Baisakhi conference, future strategy on ways to combat the influence of Dera Sacha Sauda would be discussed.
“To lure voters, the Shiromani Akali Dal (B), Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress all have been coming up with the statements supporting the Dera followers, which is a clear violation of the hukumnama issued by the Akal Takht to discontinue all engagements with the Dera followers,” charged Bhai Mohkam Singh.
Lashing out at the CM, the members of KAC said, “The attempt of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to suppress the fourth estate of the democracy has revealed his true belief. The Badal government is not ready to listen to anything against it and if anybody dares to raise his voice, the government tries to seal his lips.”
“The assault on and maltreatment of the protesters are enough to expose the reality of the CM’s slogan “Raja Nahi Seva”. The government is not working in a democratic way,” they alleged.
Condemning the incident that took place on March 27 in the presence of the CM, where the media was treated badly and the women workers of Anganwari were dragged by their hair by the police, members of the KAC disclosed that they would meet the Governor on April 11 to demand action against the administration and the government.
“By issuing a statement about forming its own force to tackle unpleasant situations for the Chief Minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, the ruling party has expressed its wish to impose a ‘mafia rule’. The SAD force will be no less than a ‘goonda brigade’,” they aleged.
Lashing out at the Congress ties with the SAD (B), they said, “It is the cordial relationship between them which got Bhattal a clean chit in the financial scam. MLA from Bathinda, Harminder Singh Jassi, is also a part of the game as he never speaks against SAD because the leaders of the ruling party have allowed him to continue his chairmanship.
During a meeting held at the Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Daljeet Singh Bittu, Bhai Mohkam Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Baba Manmohan Singh and Darshan Singh Jaga Ram Tirath addressed the mediapersons.

Tussle keeps focus on Cong meet

Efforts on to put up a united show
Tussle keeps focus on Cong meet
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 12
The ongoing tussle between the Congress factions owing loyalty to Capt. Amarinder Singh and PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is generating much speculation ahead of the Baisakhi conference here. Supporters of party MLAS, Jeet Mohinder Singh and Harminder Singh Jassi, had clashed recently. So, there is a lot of curiosity on how the two sparring factions will manage to put up a united show.
It is well known that Jeet Mohinder Singh, MLA Talwandi Sabo and Harminder Singh Jassi, MLA Bathinda, do not get along well. This threatens to cast its shadow on the Baisakhi Conference also.
Aware of the ongoing tussle amongst Bathinda Congress MLAs, the PPCC chief had warned them, saying, “No indiscipline will be tolerated at the Baisakhi conference. If anybody commits any wrong, he will have to face the music.”
It has been reported that the PPCC chief ordered all MLAs to mark their presence in a cavalcade. Bhattal herself is expected to reach Talwandi Sabo in a large convoy. Her route has become another contentious point between the Tawandi Sabo and Bathinda. Both the MLAs were trying their level best to convenience the PPCC chief to come via their constituencies.
In the absence of any senior leader from the Centre, many issues, it is believed, may come to the fore, like coordination on stage, raising of slogans, mudslinging and time limit allocated for the leaders of the Bhattal and Amarinder factions.
When contacted, member of the coordination committee formed for the Baisakhi conference, Avtar Singh Brar, MLA Faridkot, said, “All the issues are being resolved. We have been trying to convince all MLAs from Bathinda to cooperate and not to fight overt petty issues.”
When Bhattal was asked about the tussle between the MLAs, she said, “All the leaders will be given a place on the stage and all interested, would be given a chance, in keeping with the decorum.”
Putting an end to the controversy over her route to Dam Dama Sahib, she said, “I will leave from Bhattal village and take the way via Bathinda, as it is shorter. There is no other reason for this.”
About her political differences with Capt. Amarinder Singh, she said, “We could only invite him for the Baisakhi conference and we did that. The rest depends upon him.”
On the other hand, one of the closest allies of Captain Amrinder , Bharat Inder Singh Chahal, while speaking over the phone, on his behalf, said, “Amarinder Singh will definitely come to the conference and would address the gathering .”
“Some people have been spreading rumours that he had spoken of remaining absent from the conference only to gain political mileage,” he alleged.

1100 cops, CCTVs: Security tightened for Baisakhi fair

1100 cops, CCTVs: Security tightened for Baisakhi fair
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Talwandi Sabo, April 12
Sparing no efforts, the district administration has made proper arrangements to ensure that the forthcoming Baisakhi fair, to be held at Talwandi Sabo on April 14, passes off peacefully. The Takht Damdama Sahib area has been bisected into six sectors, where six Block Development Officers (BDOs) and duty magistrates would be deputed.
The administration has called up 16 duty magistrates many of whom are from Mansa and Faridkot districts. At least one duty magistrate will be posted at each conference venue, at the helipad and inside and outside the gurudwara. One duty magistrate will be deputed at the Gurudwara Budha Dal.
For the convenience of visitors, the public health department has installed around 500 temporary toilets and urinals on a make-shift basis. Officials of the market committee and executive officers would be deputed as supervisers.
Keeping the warm weather in consideration, around 200 temporary connections for taps have been made to ensure drinking water supply for those asembled there. In addition to that, about 40 drinking water stalls would be set up by the market committee.
During the fair, a team from the health department will be deployed in each section while nine mobile health teams will also be doing the rounds. Further, there will be four fire-tenders and three recovery vans to deal with any untoward incident that may take place.
To ensure proper security, around 30 CCTV cameras have been installed in all nook and cranny of the gurudwara.
The much-hyped idea of introducing the balloon spy camera was, however, damaged by the storm on Friday night. Now, a camera has been installed at some height, that will keep an eye over the whole gurudwara campus.
Giving details, SSP Naunihal Singh said, “Around 1,100 policemen have been called up for the security arrangements. DSPs and SPs have been called up from other districts of the state also.”
About uprooting barricades, Avtar Singh, president of the SGPC, who was on a visit to Madhya Pradesh, said over the phone, “There was some resentment among the SGPC members over the tight security arrangements, which they lodged with me. I therefore requested the administration to remove the ‘irritating’ tall barricades on the path leading to the Takht Sahib. As they were concerned about VIP security, I told them to keep an entry solely for the VIPs.”
Mela officer, SDM Anil Garg, further said, “The SAD political conference will be held inside the gurudwara campus at the Diwan hall, while four other conferences, including that of the Congress, will be arranged on plots granted by the SGPC within the Takht Sahib premises. But the conference of the SAD (A) has been arranged opposite the bus stand.”