Sukhbir Singh Badal : 2011 to be year of fructification

Chandigarh : Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said 2011 would herald the fructification of the infrastructure projects as well as administrative reforms in the state. In a statement here, the Deputy Chief Minister said the coming year would showcase the development projects initiated by the government during the past four years so that people of the state could enjoy the fruits of development and governance reforms. Expressing personal satisfaction over achievement of milestone mission of initiating governance reforms in all departments, Sukhbir said he would be the happiest person over the completion of total computerisation of land records that could not be completed by any government during last 63 years. He said that till date 79 Fard Kenders had been fully computerised and by March 31 next year land records in all 154 Fard Kenders would be put on web. The Deputy Chief Minister said that establishment of Outreach Centres at each Police Station, Suwidha Centres in Urban Areas, 154 computerised Fard Kenders at the sub-tehsil level, 3116 E-Grams at village level, public friendly amendments in archaic Revenue Acts besides computerisation of DTO offices was set to change the perception of public regarding working of government offices. Sukhbir said that the year 2011 would witness the completion of the Rs 20,000 crore Bathinda Refinery besides dedication of five thermal plants with a combined cost of Rs 62,000 crore that would put Punjab on a higher pedestal of growth besides opening new vistas of employment for the Punjabi youth. He said this year would also witness linking of every important city with 4/6 lane roads besides completion of 33 ROBs / RUBs initiated at the cost of Rs. 7073 crore. Promising to continue the development agenda for the state of Punjab, the Deputy Chief Minister said that he believed in focusing on development rather than on petty politics of destructive thinking, regressive opposition to every development project and hoped that the SAD BJP government would be successful in making every Punjabi living in Punjab or abroad as a equal partner in over all development of the State.

Parkash Singh Badal : Will raise issue of subdivision for Morinda

Morinda : A day after promising division status to Ropar within next 15 days, Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal asserted to raise the matter of according sub-division status to Morinda in the next cabinet meeting here today. Making the announcement, Badal said apart from raising the issue for sub-division status, augmentation work on roads, sewerage and drinking water supply in the city would also be undertaken. Badal also distributed Rs 2.85 crore grant to 40 village panchayats and Morinda as residents gathered to redress their grievances on the spot. “Morinda will be given a facelift soon. Better facilities, in terms of better water supply, sewerage system and efficient road network at a cost of Rs. 30 crore would be provided to the town. Work on these components will be complete by November next year and also sub-tehsil complex at Morinda will be constructed,” he asserted. Badal said the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) was given the responsibility to carry out sewer, drinking water and other development works in Morinda city. He called the GMADA officials and asked them to get these works completed as soon as possible without compromising on quality. He also instructed his adviser Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema and deputy Commissioner Parveen Kumar to visit village Saheri. The village belongs to one Gangu Brahman, who was an advisor to Guru Gobind Singh. Area residents appraised Badal that the house of Gangu Brahman was in shambles. Residents demanded that Gangu’s house should be declared a historic monument. ADC (development) Sukhminder Pal Singh Mrar is scheduled to visit the village on December 3. During the Sangat Darshan at Gharuan, Badal distributed grants of Rs 2.50 crore to 35 villages of the area. He also distributed cheques of Rs 1.65 lakh to the beneficiaries of the shagan scheme. A separate grant of Rs 30 lakh was given for laying drains of Gharuan village. An announcement regarding upgrading the primary health centre to community health centre was also made.

Now, rains send potato prices soaring

Sirhind : Sporadic rains have halted the harvesting of potato crop. Shortage of potato in the market has led to an increase in its price to almost double, from Rs 250 per quintal, now potatoes are being sold at a price of Rs 400 per quintal. Farmers had begun harvesting the early sown varieties of potatoes in mid-December. This harvesting will continue till end of February. However,the rains have halted potato harvesting. Potatoes are harvested using tractors, which do not move in waterlogged fields. “As potatoe supply in markets has stopped, its prices are likely to increase in the next few days. Farmers, who have already harvested their crop, are making profits by selling it at an increased price of Rs 400 or more for every 100 kilogram,” said farmer, Jaspal Singh from Rajpura. Manjit Singh, a potato grower from Fatehgarh Sahib said he had deployed labourers to drain out water from fields so the potato crop could be saved. “Potatoes will perish and may become disease-prone if water is not drained out of the fields,” he said. Farmers are praying for the rains to stop. Increased rainfall will spell havoc for potato growers and damage the recently sown wheat crop. “Rain has been useful in lifting thick blanket of fog, which is good for wheat, potato, and other crops and vegetables”, said Ripudaman, another farmer at Amloh. Potato growers said the crops got respite from tella (aphid infestation) after the rain. Rainwater has washed away tella that attack potatoes when temperature decreases in fog. While Fatehgarh Sahib recorded a maximum rainfall of 28 mm, Bassi Pathania block recorded 15 mm, Amloh and Khamano recorded 12 mm each. Department officials said area under potato cultivation in Fatehgarh Sahib was 5100 hectare and horticulture department gave four-quintal different medicines, on subsidy, to farmers to get rid of fungal disease attack on potatoes. Agriculture department officer, Jaswinder Singh said rain, during these days were good for wheat, vegetables and sugarcane but water should not accumulate for longer in the fields. Water logging tends to invite diseases, which harms the crop.

New technique to remove kidney stones

Ludhiana : Two children in the age group of 4-6 were operated upon for kidney stones by Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh, professor, urology and head transplant, DMCH, recently. Percutaneous technique (key hole) was used by the doctor. Earlier, the removal of kidney stones in children required open surgery, but now with the availability of technological innovations and expertise, these stones can be removed through key-hole surgery. According to Dr Aulakh, in children its is difficult to visualise the kidney system, as it is difficult to put dye into the kidney through retrogradic technique. Hence, ultrasound is done and a needle puncture is made in the kidney through which a guide wire is placed in the kidney system. After placing the wire, a 0.5mm tract is made. Through this tract, stones are removed with the help of a special camera. In children, stones are usually found in the bladder. Symptoms of kidney stones are pain in belly or back, blood in the urine (hematuria) and nausea or vomiting. However, some children, do not show symptoms. These are silent stones which can cause long-term damage to the kidney. Dr Aulakh said children who have had kidney stones in the past, had the highest risk of developing a stone in future. Similarly, not drinking enough water or other fluids could also be a major risk factor. Other risk factors were diets that included a small amount of carbohydrates called ketogenic diets and congenital (from birth) abnormalities in kidneys, ureters or bladder.

MC to lodge FIR against encroachers

Ludhiana : Gearing up to check the mushrooming of encroachments where these had already been removed, the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities have decided to lodge an FIR against those who encroached on land even after the illegal structures had been cleared by the civic body. This decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the encroachment monitoring committee comprising Senior Town Planner (STP) Balkar Singh Brar, Assistant Town Planners (ATP) of all four zones and non-official members. The efficacy of the civic body in dealing with encroachments came in for criticism. They said they would lodge FIRs against such people, for which recommendation must come from committees constituted under Zonal Commissioners. In another significant decision, Senior Town Planner Balkar Singh Brar asked the Municipla Corporation to remove the alleged encroachment by the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on 2,500 sq metres of land after the verification of facts. The non-official members also criticised the tehbazaari branch for not being able to check the growth of temporary encroachments. Inaction by the Municipal Corporation against building bylaw violators was also raised and criticised by the members of the committee. The Municipal Corporation officials faced a difficult time in replying to the queries of the non-official members. Most of their responses were reportedly not satisfactory.

Sporadic rain raises minimum temp

Ludhiana : With the region being lashed by intermittent light to moderate showers along with icy winds sweeping it during the past 12 hours, the minimum temperature rose to 8.5 degrees Celsius from 1.5 degrees two days ago. However, the weather in the city remains the coldest with Patiala and Amritsar registering higher temperatures.According to weather experts the minimum and maximum temperatures almost invariably increase. Surinder Pal, director of the meteorological department, Chandigarh, told the Ludhiana Tribune the minimum temperature in Ludhiana had today increased to 8.5 degrees C after the rains. “In Patiala the minimum temperature recorded was 8.7 degrees and in Amritsar it went up to 10.2 degrees. In the next 24 hours light and moderate thundershowers are expected in the region", he added. The intermittent rain, which began at about 1:30 am Wednesday night, disrupted normal life in the city with most residents preferring to stay indoors. Revellers are crossing their fingers over rain playing spoilsport with their New Year bashes. Nidhi Garg, a college student, said her family and friends had planned to have a “rocking time” at a club. “However if there is rain our plans for dancing in the open will go for a toss,” she added. Meanwhile, the tea stall vendors were having a field day as their sales had doubled. Chhotu Ram, a tea vendor with his stall near Bhadaur House, said he used to make about 100-150 cups of tea every day but due to the cold weather his sales had more than doubled. "Shopkeepers, rickshaw pullers and auto rickshaw drivers keep on sipping tea to beat the chill", he remarked. Due to the rain smog has been reduced in the city.

Majithia urges youth to work unitedly

Sahnewal : “The youth of the state should rise to the occasion and contribute positively towards making Punjab a fit example to be quoted by the neighbouring states”. These words were uttered by Bikram Majithia, patron of the Youth Akali Dal, while addressing the youth Akali leaders and workers at Jifco resorts here today. Addressing a gathering in Sahnewal, the patron of the Youth Akali Dal, congratulated Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, in charge, Sahnewal Assembly Constituency, on organising such a huge rally at a small town like Sahnewal. Accusing the Congress government and lauding the achievements of the Akali-BJP combine at the same time, he said, “It was a period of retarded growth for Punjab during the rule of Capt Amarinder Singh”. Blaming the Congress, he said, “While the Opposition generally sits and views the things from a high pedestal, it is the alliance that believes in reaching out to the common man.” He added that Parkash Singh Badal had left no stone unturned to make Punjab the most prosperous state. Majithia said not a single unit had been added to power generation in the state during the Congress regime. “But we have ensured a 24-hour supply to all houses, tubewells and industry.”

He said there had been practically no sphere left unattended and untouched by the government. “If one compares the 15-year rule of the Congress government at the time when it was the same government both at the state as well at the Centre with our three-and-a-half year time period, one will be able to make out the difference.”  He rued that the Centre had always meted out a step-motherly treatment to Punjab. Criticising the Congress-led UPA government, he said the government at the Centre, with its lopsided economic policies, had made the life of poor people a hell, as they were forced to live in a state of utter penury. As a patron of the Youth Akali Dal, he exhorted the youth to make the party strong so that the Akali government could eradicate social evils like drugs, dowry and female foeticide. He asked them to channelise their energies in a proper direction and work for the common good and general welfare. He said Bathinda refinery should not be closed at any cost and no such strategy of the Opposition, which could prove detrimental for the public health, should be allowed to see light of the day. Majithia said the SAD with the support of all Punjabis would scuttle the design and conspiracy of PPCC president Capt Amarinder Singh to pledge the panchayati and farmers’ land to Ambanis.

Majithia announced that he would request the party president to give 33 per cent representation to the youth in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections. He said Sukhbir Singh Badal had already given due representation to the youth in Lok Sabha, zila parishads and municipal committees. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, in charge, Sahnewal Assembly constituency, said once the sewerage, water supply, street lighting and road construction projects were accomplished, the town would bear an entirely new look. “It is the sincere effort of the government to provide people of the town with all such basic amenities of which they have been sadly deprived of by the Congress government,” he added. Darshan Singh Shivalik, in charge, Gill constituency, said the development which had taken place in the constituency had been stupendous and people could clearly differentiate between the non-functional governance of the Congress and the target-oriented regime of the Akali Dal. Manpreet Singh Ayali, chairman, zila parishad, Santa Singh Umedpuri, president, District Akali Dal, Tarsem Singh Bhinder, councillor, municipal corporation, Ludhiana, Suirnder Singh Grewal, media in charge, Youth Akali Dal, Sharanjit Singh Garcha, member, zila parishad, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary, Akali Dal Ludhiana, Rupinder Singh Benipal, Inder Mohan Singh Kadian, Jagjiwan Singh Kheernia, Pupinder Singh Grewal, senior Akali leader, Ajmer Singh Dhillon, chairman, Milk Plant and Pawan Kumar Tinku were among those who were present.