The Tribune – Experts to study water-logging: Ashwani

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 5. The Planning Commission has set up a high-level expert group under its member Mihar Shah to study the problem of water-logging in Punjab and suggest remedial measures. Minister of State for Planning, Ashwani Kumar said today that the group had been set up since the 12th Plan envisaged to bring about 20 per cent efficiency in the use of water in the country over the next five years.

The areas selected for the study include Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar and Bathinda. There are reports that at least four lakh acres of land in the state is critically waterlogged due to the rise in the water table (within 2 metres of land surface in some parts).

The 11-member group includes former Planning Commission member Dr Vaidyanathan, Dr Tushar Shah, Senior Fellow, International Water Management Institute, and Prof Karan Singh of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.

The minister said he had repeatedly drawn the government’s attention to reviewing water management in Punjab along with related initiatives such as rainwater harvesting and crop diversification.

He said the group would offer suggestions, including avenues for resource mobilisation to implement policy initiatives.

The government would need to find a solution to this critical problem in the border state of Punjab, the country’s food bowl.

The minister said he had also constituted a team to hold a field study in Fatehgarh Churian and Dinanagar in Gurdaspur to identify projects for social and physical infrastructure in border areas.

The team was expected to start work this month, in consultation with the local administration and people’s representatives, the minister added.

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The Tribune – 5 Nihangs injured in clash

Gurdeep Singh Mann, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 17. In yet another clash between two groups fighting over the headship of the Budha Dal, five Nihangs were injured at Talwandi Sabo this morning. Heavy police force was deployed at Talwandi Sabo and the Civil Hospital, Bathinda, where the injured were brought. A case has been registered against eight persons.

Talwandi Sabo SHO Paramjit Singh said those hospitalised were being treated for splinter injuries. They were identified as Jeet Singh of Karnal, Mehal Singh of Sangrur, Sukhwinder Singh of Nagra village near Sunam, Baba Bahadur Singh of Boparai village near Ludhiana and Harjinder Singh of Amritsar.

Those booked are Jaspal Jassa of Talwandi Sabo, his brother Sukhwinder, their father Jugraj Singh, Baldev Singh of Dhoti village near Amritsar, Darshan Singh of Patiala, Arjun Dev of Mehma Sirja village in Bathinda, Chamkaur Singh of Seka village in Barnala and Dinesh Rai of Rewari in Haryana.The incident occurred near Gill Dhaba that is owned by a Nihang.

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The Tribune – Bathinda court summons Dera Sacha Sauda chief

Gurdeep Singh Mann, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 2. The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate today summoned Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a case of allegedly hurting Sikh community’s sentiments by wearing clothes similar to Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

A case was registered against the dera head on May 20, 2007 at the Kotwali police station on the complaint of Rajinder Singh Sidhu, president, Khalsa Diwan Gurdwara Singh Sabha.

Taking cognisance of the case and not agreeing with the earlier cancellation report of the FIR filed by the police, CJM Harjeet Singh summoned the dera head to appear before the court on May 10. Heavy police force was deployed around the court complex and in the city in the wake of dera chief’s case hearing today.

Sidhu said he was satisfied with the decision of the court which came after four years of long wait. He said it was now up to
the dera head to respond to the court orders.

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The Tribune – Cause of concern; Bathinda sees alarming rise in HIV cases

Sushil Goyal, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 27 Steps taken by various agencies to spread awareness about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) have failed to deliver the desired results in Bathinda, something that can be gauged from the sharp rise in the number of cases in the district.

While 150 HIV positive cases were detected in the district last year, the count has reached 210 in 11 months this year.

According to information, 179 HIV positive cases were detected at the Integrating Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) in Bathinda. Twenty-four cases were detected by the ICTCs situated at Rampura and Talwandi Sabo. The rest were reported to the ICTC by various hospitals and health centres situated at Bhucho, Nathana and Goniana.

Six deaths of HIV/AIDS patients — three each reported by the ICTCs at Bathinda and Rampura — have also been reported this year. The figure stood at five last year.

Meanwhile, sources said there may be more HIV cases in the district, which could not be detected so far as they were not facing any health problems. These undetected cases would come to the fore once they are referred by medical practitioners for the diseases after their blood samples are tested.

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The Tribune – Won’t use chopper for canvassing, car will do: Manpreet

Sushil Goyal, Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 28. President of the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) Manpreet Singh Badal said today that “for the formation of a credible alternative in the ensuing assembly elections, we are open for talks with other parties, including the BSP and the SAD (Longowal)”. But he clarified that as of now, the PPP was not holding talks, either formal or informal, with any party, except for the CPI and the CPM. Regarding talks with the Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) for a poll alliance, his answer was “no”.

On the possibility of issuing an invitation to the BSP or the SAD (Longowal) for an election alliance, Manpreet said: “We can’t send an invitation to these parties through newspapers. However, if I get an opportunity to meet any of the leaders of these parties, I will approach them on the issue.”

Manpreet was here to inaugurate a blood donation camp organised by his party to celebrate the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Bibi Wala road. Manpreet was among those to donate blood.

As many as 26 units of blood were collected by a team of the blood bank of the local civil hospital.

Regarding seat sharing with the CPI and the CPM, Manpreet said a meeting of the PPP, the CPI and the CPM leaders would be held on October 5 where everything would be decided, including the common minimum programme.

The alliance would contest all the 117 seats, he added. Manpreet said he would not hire chopper for canvassing in the elections as his car would do. He said he would bring disgruntled persons from other parties into his party fold.

When told that a former SAD minister was interested in contesting the elections on his party ticket, Manpreet said he should approach the PPP leadership for the purpose.

Regarding the selection of candidates, he said the candidates would be selected by committees, formed on the pattern of the Green Light Committees, which were constituted in a few foreign countries to select candidates. Such committees had retired judges and VCs as members, he explained. Regarding clemency to Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, Manpreet said the government should understand and respect the sentiments of the people of the state.

After his exit from the SAD, Manpreet said he was enjoying every moment of his life as he was now free to speak his mind and do whatever he believed in.

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