Bathinda, October 11
Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal has been in the eye of a storm following his stance over the Centre’s offer for debt waiver. The issue which has threatened to tug at the very fabric of the ruling Akali Dal in general and the Badal family in particular has also found an echo in the cyber world with geeks posting their views on Manpreet’s page in the social networking site Facebook.
While the district presidents of SAD have rallied around party president and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, indirectly targeting Manpreet by seeking “penal action against anyone who violates party discipline,” the Finance Minister’s fans have come to his support in the virtual world.
The Facebook account of Manpreet is now flooded with posts—encouraging him to move ahead and relieve the state from a huge debt burden, which is seen to be creating a hurdle in the state’s growth.
With over 4,000 friends on Facebook, Manpreet finds it to be an easy and straight way to ascertain the public opinion about his moves.
A majority of his friends are full of appreciation for his speech stating that it has ignited a positive debate on the issue, which is related to the welfare of the whole state. A number of “emotional” well-wishers are also there, who finding that his ‘enemies’ have become quite vocal against him, have urged him to leave the party.
One of his well-wishers, Peter Bassi writes: “Manpreet, we all know you take stand on what is best for state of Punjab. We need people like you to understand the long-term economic growth rather than short political gain.”
Further, one Jasdeep Grewal says: “You have the support of millions of overseas Punjabis, who want welfare of Punjab. Carry on the good work.”
Another of his Facebook friend Kumar Karun Krant went ahead saying, “Andhera lakh raushan ho, Ujala phir ujala hai” (However much be the depth of the darkness, light shines through).
Punjab is the birth place of the greatest philosophy on earth, ‘Mat uchi, sir neeva” but in the past few decades ‘Mat neechi par sir uccha’ has become the truth. You are the only hope.”
Meanwhile, some people like Rabinder Cheema and Karambir Hundal state, “It’s time to say bye-bye to Akali Dal.”
The different suggestions or posts have started an intra-account (Facebook) debate over the issue Taking all this in a positive way, Manpreet posted his comments on Facebook on Sunday: “Thank you all for your support. It truly means a lot to me. Your faith is what gives me the strength, courage and resolve to keep going.”
Bathinda, October 11
The entry of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in the market has brought a smile on the faces of cotton growers as they are assuming it to be a sign of accelerating competition among the purchasers.
Notably, finding the prices of white gold (cotton) to be much higher than the minimum support price (MSP), the CCI has entered at the commercial level, which means its officials would also purchase the crop competing with the private buyers.
The CCI has shortlisted 22 purchase centres throughout the state. It is worth mentioning that all the 22 purchase centres are in the Malwa belt.
Seeking anonymity, an official posted at the state office of the CCI in Bathinda, informed that Bathinda, Goniana, Bhuccho, Sangat, Rama Mandi, Maur, Rampura, Mansa, Sardulgarh, Budhladha, Bareta, Barnala, Tapa, Lehragaga, Sunam, Kotkapura, Jaitu, Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha, Fazilka and Abohar are the purchase centres, which have been selected for the purpose.
However, the official mentioned that the CCI had just planned and not finalized whether it would purchase from all centres or not, as all would depend upon the economic viability.
According to details collected, the CCI officials had started purchase from the Maur purchase centre of Bathinda district, where they bought about 500 quintals of cotton on Saturday and about 400 quintals on Monday.
Being one of the competitors, the CCI has purchased the crop on prices varying from Rs 3600-Rs 4310 per quintal and the officials calculate an average of about Rs 4310 per quintal.
When asked about the ceiling level of price and quantity of the purchase, the CCI officials said it would keep varying everyday and they would just implement the decision coming from the national headquarters at Mumbai.
During a visit to various cotton markets of the district, The Tribune today observed that the private buyers were purchasing the crop at prices varying from Rs 4100-Rs 4360 per quintal.
However, sources in the Mandi Board informed that an unusual jump in the price was recorded on Saturday, when some buyer purchased a heap of white gold (cotton) at the rate of Rs 4560 per quintal, which had surprised all.
Mansa—regarded among the most backward districts of Punjab—now has a reason to smile. The district has been adjudged the best among the total of 25 commissionerates/districts of the state in a police performance test.
At the same time, Bathinda—a district which takes much pride in being addressed as the adopted turf of the ruling Badals —stood just a step away from the bottom by securing 24th rank in the list of 25 commissionerates/districts.
Issuing an e-letter, the Director General of Police, Punjab, recently announced the results of the performance appraisal report of the commissionerates/districts for the period from July 1-September 30 this year.
The test was of 100 marks, out of which Mansa scored 66.4 marks, followed by another backward district Barnala which got 63.5 marks.
The report is not worth flaunting for the police of Shaheed Bhagat Nagar (Nawan Shahar) district as they could score only 46 marks and remained at the last position.
Meanwhile, Bathinda and Tarn Taran stood at 24th and 23rd position, scoring 47.2 and 47.6 marks, respectively.
There were 20 factors in the test, which not only the senior police officials of the state but also a private agency considered, for the above said period.
According to information, crime control, detection, investigations, preventive measures, detection of old cases, public services like passport verification etc were among the main points on which the performance of the cops was minutely monitored.
Besides, custodial deaths, custodial torture, violation of human rights, were also the important points considered before awarding points to any police district.
Speaking to The Tribune, an elated SSP Mansa, Hardial Singh Mann said the district police would do its best to maintain the position as it was a matter of pride for all of them.
“I will now recommend to the DGP, Punjab, to issue appreciation letters to all gazzetted rank (GO) officials. Besides, I will write for the awarding of commendation certificates class-I to all SHOs, Class-II for all NGOs and Class-II for the other ranks,” the Mansa SSP said.
Bathinda, December 18
With three biomass power plants set up in this part of Malwa region — known as cotton belt of the state —the cotton growers are a happy lot as they are earning a handsome amount for their agro-waste.
The cotton stalk (agro residue), which was earlier hardly of any use to them is now being sold to biomass plants, which use it as fuel for generating electricity.
Thanks to the close competition among those running the biomass plants, farmers are getting payments on time. At some places, the residue is being booked in advance.
To allure farmers, the plant authorities have set up cluster-wise purchase centres across Bathinda, Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozepur districts. Each centre caters to about 10 surrounding villages.
Besides, trading in cotton stalk has emerged as a fresh business. The cotton stalk is procured from farmers, stored and then sold to the bio-mass plants at a higher price.
They are hiring large chunks of lands in different villages on lease to store the agro-waste.
During a random survey, The Tribune observed that the normal price for a quintal of cotton stalk was fixed at
Rs 70. It means an average trolley-load of 35 quintals helps a farmer earn Rs 2,450. Further, chipped stalk is being purchased at about Rs 120 per quintal.
“One might be surprised to learn that selling the crop is a hectic process but selling the residue is comparatively a quicker and effortless job. We go to a purchase centre, get the trolley weighed, unload it, collect a slip and receive the cash the very next day,” claimed Gurdas Singh, a farmer from Dhunike village.
Acknowledging his views, one Parkash Singh of Ghudda village said, “While selling cotton crop, we face harassment as we have to wait for a couple of days in mandis. We sometimes even stage dharnas and block roads to build pressure upon the government for smooth and speedy purchase but selling residue is a more smooth process.” Cotton stalk was earlier used as fuel by households in rural areas.
An elated farmer said, “Gone are those hassles. Availing of subsidies, we have installed bio-gas plants at our home, from which we get free cooking gas. In addition, we sell stalk at handsome rates.”
According to information available, there are three biomass power plants in the area, all in the private sector.
The plant located at Channu village (Muktsar) has a capacity for 15 MW power generation while the other two situated at villages Gulabewala (Muktsar) and Gadda Dob (Ferozepur) have a capacity for 7.5 MW and 8 MW generation.
Dinesh Bhardwaj, manager of the Malwa Power Private Limited, Gulabewala, said, “As the plants require hundreds of tonnes of agro-residue everyday, we are purchasing it to the best of our capacity. We open a purchase centre wherever there stalk. is available. We collect as much stalk as possible.”
Bt cotton seeds
Muktsar admn swings into action against
black-marketeers
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service Muktsar, April 9
The complaint regarding black-marketeers of Bt cotton seeds enjoying a free run in his home district (Muktsar) that reached the CM Parkash Singh Badal on Friday, has landed the district administration here in trouble. A group of farmers complained to the CM about the district administration being indifferent towards their problem and also accused some officials of being hand-in-glove with the seed traders.
Taking serious notice, the CM warned the officials to check the menace or be ready to face the music. Fearing action, the district staff of the agriculture department hurriedly swung into action and launched a special drive.
A team led by Chief Agriculture Officer Darshan Singh Sandhu, conducted raids at six seed shops in Gidderbaha sub-division last evening. During the raid, suspecting foul play, the teams seized the sale-purchase records. Meanwhile, finding evidence of mischief, the team restricted the total sale of two shops till further orders.
The agriculture department staff again conducted raids at various shops today and nabbed a shopkeeper of Gidderbaha selling non-permissible seeds brought from Gujarat to a farmer. Suspecting that the dealer was in possession of a large stock of spurious seeds, the team called the police and handed him over to them to ascertain the facts related to his source, godown etc.
“We were already conducting surprise checks but after the matter reached the CM, the drive has been intensified,” said Sandhu.
Refuting the allegation of being hand-in-glove with the black marketeers, Sandhu said, “We are taking the sale-purchase record of all those suspected to be involved in overcharging and selling fake seeds of Bt cotton. After an in-depth probe, the guilty will have to face action.”
Bathinda, April 2 
Bringing permanent relief to the cotton factory and ginning mill owners, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced the reduction of 1 per cent in the market Fee levied on cotton purchase in the state. The Rural Development Fund (RDF) cess imposed on cotton purchase has also been reduced by 1 per cent.
Earlier, accepting the demand of the Punjab Cotton Factories and Ginners’ Association the state government had temporarily slashed the Market Fee and the Rural Development Fund (RDF) from 2 per cent to 1 per cent (each) in October 2010 for up to March 31, 2011. After the decision, both taxes are now at 1 per cent.
The CM urged association members to put 0.25 per cent of the total cotton purchase amount in the state government’s recently-created fund for the Cancer patients’ help as a goodwill gesture.
Finding no unanimity among the association members, Badal said: “I am not compelling you so if you all reach an amicable decision, do inform me later on.”
The CM added that major cotton madis of Malwa will be provided with well-equipped fire-brigades to counter any fire tragedy during the cotton arrival season.
Badal added, “I wish this region which is known as Cotton belt of the state to be developed a hub of textile mills. If it happens, people will enjoy the benefits of value addition.”
Bathinda, November 28
A railway station where no train stops! Sounds strange but it is a fact that Karam Garh, Sardar Garh and Daula Kotebhai are villages on the Bathinda-Malout rail route, which is facing discriminatory behaviour from the railway authorities.
Karam Garh and Sardar Garh villages were provided with a common railway station, with the name ‘Karam Garh Sardar Garh.’ In the late 60s, the villagers unitedly approached the railway authorities with the request that passenger trains should halt at their village station. Accepting the demand, the railway authorities granted them the facility.
The story was the same at village Daula, located at a distance of four kilometers from Sardar Garh village.
During a visit to these villages, the TNS team found that buildings at the village station (waiting room, ticket counter and office) were in bad shape. The railway time-table and board displaying the name of the station were telling a tale of apathy.
Said Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Karam Garh village, “Earlier, there were two trains on the up and two down route which halted at the station. Later, the authorities concerned totally ignored the villagers and banned the stoppage of trains over here. In this regard, we have met with the higher officials, but did not get any favourable response.”
Harmander Singh of the same village added, “It is not the one village, but two villages Karam Garh and Sardar Garh, that were availing of the facility. But as of now, we have to board a bus or tempo to reach Bathinda or Gidderbaha to catch the train for further journey.”
At Daula Kotebhai, the reaction of the villagers was similar as they discussed their problems resulting from the closure of the station.
Balwant Singh, a ticket vendor at Daula railway station, rued, “The authorities seemed to be looking for an issue to stop the halting of trains here. The basic requirement was to have an income of Rs 2,500 per month, but at that time, we were collecting Rs 6,000. But the authorities then passed the order that a minimum of 40 tickets should be sold every day to allow trains to halt there. When they found that the requirement was not being met, they sealed the station.”
The villagers said the words that labourers working in the villages now have to be dropped at either Bathinda or Gidderbaha railway station, so that they can board trains leaving for their hometowns.
They also informed that they have submitted requests to the railways authorities at Delhi, Ambala and Bathinda many times in this regard. The villagers accused the political leaders of the area with just making verbal promises to console them and doing nothing to meet their demands.
An elderly man at village Daula Kotebhai said, “Everyone knows that the area is cancer-prone. So, the patient who has to go to Bikaner for treatment faces a problem as now no train stops here.”
When contacted, ATM railways, Bathinda, Sher Singh said, “It is the policy of the railway department that the station that does not meet the minimum fixed target, is closed.” He parried queries relating to any plan to revive the status of these stations in the near future.
