Battling waterlogging, 2 Muktsar villages set example for others...

Officials of the Agriculture Department at Rattakhera village in Muktsar. Tribune photo

Efforts of the state government bear fruit

• The government first broke the hard crust of the land, affected by waterlogging, using a sub-soiler and then irrigated it with canal water.
• Thereafter, several farmers could grow crops
• The production of milk has improved sharply
• Farmers, who supplied 45 litres of milk per day to Verka, now supply 300 litres

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Rattakhera (Muktsar), March 29

Rattakhera Vadda and Rattakhera Chhota villages in Lambi Assembly segment that were adopted by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in October, last year, are fast developing into model villages. Since early 1990s, most farmers have not been able to grow crops due to waterlogging. Even the bio-drainage technique of growing eucalyptus did not achieve any results here.

However, with the concerted efforts of the state government, this year, a large number of farmers have been able to grow crops. Though the quality of the produce is far from satisfactory, the farmers are elated to see some results.

Moreover, the production of milk has improved sharply with a number of farmers adopting dairy farming. Farmers, who supplied 45 litres of milk per day to Verka, now supply 300 litres.

The government first broke the hard crust of the land, affected by waterlogging, using a sub-soiler and then irrigated it with canal water.

Rambir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (development), Muktsar, said, “At an estimated cost of Rs 23 crore, Rattakhera Vadda and Rattakhera Chhota villages are being developed into model villages. We are trying to make people self-reliant. We are financing projects related to agriculture, dairies, fisheries, piggery, etc. The authorities are also training the youth.”

He said, “Crops have begun growing on nearly 60 per cent of the total land that had become barren.”

A visit to these villages revealed that several works were on in full swing. The authorities were laying drainage lines and concrete streets; installing pipeline to supply canal water; building a community hall, etc.

The government was also exploring the possibility of setting up prawn farms in the villages. Dr Amarjit Singh Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) and Dr PK Uppal, Animal Husbandry Adviser to state government, visited the village on Wednesday to review the ongoing works. The Chief Minister has also been reviewing the work.

Moreover, the district administration was taking steps to provide jobs to women. Eighteen per cent of the boys and 15 per cent girls in the village are unmarried since families here are in high debt.

Elated over the efforts of the state government, Karaj Singh, sarpanch of Rattakhera Vadda village, said, “Our barren land has begun improving. If the officials concerned continue their work for the next few years, we hope to successfully tackle waterlogging.” Karaj, however, said that the existing sub-surface drainage system didn’t work properly.

Muktsar prisoners shake a leg on bhangra beats

Prisoners learn bhangra at the Sub-Jail in Muktsar. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 22

The authorities at the sub-jail here have started teaching bhangra to jail inmates. The sub-jail has 130 inmates, including 70 convicts and 60 undertrials.

“Our move to teach Punjabi and English to the inmates has been successful. Now, we have begun teaching them bhangra. It will keep them fit and relieve their stress,” said Kulwant Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Sub-Jail, Muktsar.

He said the prisoners were being taught bhangra daily on jail premises from 3 pm to 4 pm. “The class has got a good response. They readily dance to the tunes of Gurdas Mann,” he said. The prisoners also do farming, cooking and administrative work. In the coming days, the jail authorities are going to introduce volleyball on the premises.

The authorities claimed their motive was to reform the inmates, so they channelise their energy in a positive way once released. Recently, the local magistrates had checked the jail and found the conditions satisfactory.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Badal’s residence has 29 ACs, Governor’s 49: RTI

Splurging on luxury

• Rs 11.1 lakh was spent on buying air-conditioners for the Chief Minister's residence
• For the maintenance, an estimate of Rs 2.3 lakh is prepared every year

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 19

The state government may be advising the residents to save power, but it has installed 29 air-conditioners at the CM’s official residence in Sector 2, Chandigarh. This has been revealed by information obtained under the RTI Act.

There is not a single desert cooler installed at the CM’s residence. A sum of Rs 11.10 lakh was spent on buying the air-conditioners, but all of these were not installed in one go, says Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation-I, Mohali.

For the upkeep of these air-conditioners, an estimate of Rs 2.3 lakh is prepared every year.

Sources said the government was splurging on luxuries at a time when the state is reeling under huge debt.

Similarly, 49 air-conditioners have been installed at the official residence of the state Governor, Punjab Raj Bhavan, Sector 6, Chandigarh. These air-conditioners were purchased and installed by the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation.

The information reveals that seven desert coolers too have been installed at the Punjab Raj Bhavan. The power bills are paid by the PWD (Electrical Division). The expenditure on maintenance of ACs and desert coolers is too borne by the same department.

Country's first NCC training academy in financial straits

The NCC Training Academy on the outskirts of Malout town in Muktsar district. A Tribune photo

Facing rough weather

• It is the country’s first NCC Training Academy for girls inaugurated on the outskirts of Malout in September 2012 by CM Parkash Singh Badal and then Union Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju
• The bills submitted to the state government of nearly Rs 30 lakh in the financial year 2014-15 are yet to be cleared and those who supplied goods to this academy are making numerous rounds to get their money

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, March 17

The country’s first NCC Training Academy for girls inaugurated on the outskirts of Malout town in September 2012 by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and then Union Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju is facing rough weather due to financial constraints.

The bills submitted to the state government of nearly Rs 30 lakh in the financial year 2014-15 are yet to be cleared and those who supplied goods to this academy are making numerous rounds to get their money. However, the management of the academy has nothing to convey except sooth their nerves by repeatedly saying that the bills had been submitted in time to the state government, which was expected to be cleared within a short period.

However, with the current financial year about to end in a fortnight, the situation has turned worse to such an extent that the academy officials after facing continuous wrath of private suppliers have sent a junior commissioned officer (JCO) to the state headquarters in Chandigarh, so that the bills could be cleared within this financial year.

Sources told The Tribune that in the present financial year, the academy had purchased 400 mattresses, 400 cots, food warmers, inverters, deep freezers, tea campers and water campers, but the bills of these items were yet to be cleared.

Furthermore, the NCC academy, which at a time provides training to nearly 600 students, is not even having a reverse osmosis (RO) water plant. Though the Chief Minister had in principle approved a RO water plant for this academy in July last, it could not materialise due to the “shortage of funds”. As a result, the academy officials fetch purified water from the RO water plant of a nearby village.

At a time, a batch of nearly 600 students attends the training camp of 10 days here. The session begins in July and lasts till February in this academy. A senior official of the academy said it was not even having proper beddings for the students coming to get training here. “Students have to bring their own quilts, bed sheets, as the academy is not having such items. Even the mattresses were purchased a few months ago,” he said.

He said the proposal to purchase a large number of things required in daily routine was submitted a few months ago but the reply was awaited. The academy officials, however, praised the Deputy Commissioner and the local SDM for providing their maximum assistance.

A Beniwal, Commanding Officer, NCC Training Academy, Malout, too admitted the fact of shortage of funds, saying, “The academy is facing shortage of funds. The money is not being released on time by the state government. Since the last six months, we are running after the officials concerned to get the bills cleared. Now we have sent an official from the academy to the office of the Principal Secretary, Finance, so that the bills are cleared.”

“In the past, some correspondence has been done with the higher authorities in the state government but the district treasury office is yet to clear the bills,” Beniwal said.

However, Narinder Singh, District Treasury Officer, said, “The bills of nearly Rs 13 lakh are being cleared today as per the instructions of senior officials and the remaining too will be cleared in next few days.” He further claimed that the bills were not sent to the treasury office on time.

Courtesy: The Tribune