Ex-agri chief meets CM, ‘seeks reinstatement’

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 5

Suspended Agriculture Director Mangal Singh Sandhu, an accused in the pesticide scam that rocked the state last year, today met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Kolianwali village in the district.

Sandhu was present at the residence of SAD’s Muktsar district president Dyal Singh Kolianwali much before the Chief Minister was to arrive there for lunch during his Sangat Darshan programme in the area.

Later, Sandhu held a closed-door meeting with the CM. Sandhu, who got two-year extension after his retirement in 2014, continues to be under suspension. His term will expire on April 30. He is a native of Pakki Tibbi village falling in the CM’s Lambi Assembly segment.

Sources said Sandhu had come to “apologise” to Badal and seek his reinstatement. When asked, Sandhu first declined having met the CM. When reminded about his presence at Kolianwali’s residence, he said: “I met the CM today regarding some development works in my village.”

On the case against him regarding the pesticide scam, Sandhu said: “I am out on bail and the police are yet to present challan in the court.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

The diet that must include Coke

The diet that must include Coke

SAD leaders enjoying Diet Coke

Muktsar: Known to have a special liking for Diet Coke, SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has without realising it become its brand ambassador, with the result that even rural folk in this hinterland feel pride in having a sip of Diet Coke. Following in the footsteps of their boss, majority of the SAD activists even carry Diet Coke cans in their cars. In Sukhbir’s programmes, you can perhaps miss something else in the menu, but not the Diet Coke cans.

Contribued by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Booze lovers have a field day

A liquor vend displays discounted price list to attract buyers on the Kotkapura road in Muktsar town on Thursday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 31

It was the day of booze lovers as liquor vends today offered up to 40 per cent discount on all brands.

A large number of people, defying the norms, bought liquor beyond the prescribed limit and excise officials remained mute spectators.

Further, in some villages liquor was sold by making public announcements on tractor-trolleys and canters. In towns, banners and hoardings offering discounts were seen displayed outside liquor vends.

Tipplers wait for this day every year when the term of liquor vends expires with the end of the financial year and they offer discounts to clear their stock. On being asked whether they were flouting norms by offering discount and selling liquor beyond the prescribed limit to a buyer, he said, “The quota can’t be carried forward to next year so this is the only option to clear the stock at discounted price. We are only following the directions of the contractor.”

However, as per the rules, only those people can buy liquor in bulk who have the L-50 licence from the Excise Department.

Ranjit Singh of Gurusar village said, “A canter full of liquor boxes came to our neighbouring Lundewala village yesterday, offering liquor at cheap prices. The stock was cleared in 45 minutes.”

Inder Mohan, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Muktsar, said, “It is against norms to offer discount on liquor. I will immediately send my team for inspection.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

10 months on, Malout blood bank yet to be operational

Health team yet to inspect building

• The PWD (B&R) department had handed over the building to the Civil Hospital authorities in June last year
• The Health Department team which has to inspect the building and give permission to run it has not made a single visit so far
• Presently, the building is being used as a blood storage unit
• A blood bank provides facilities like donation, instant blood transfusion. But, in the blood storage unit, the blood can only be stored

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 30

The blood bank building at the Civil Hospital in Malout was completed 10 months back, but it is yet to become functional. The Health Department team which has to inspect the building and give permission to run it has not made a single visit so far.

Notably, the PWD (B&R) department had handed over the building to the hospital authorities in June last year, where the hospital authorities had earlier shifted homeopathic department and TB department.

Presently, the building is being used as a blood storage unit, as per the Civil Hospital staff. The blood storage unit and blood bank serve different purposes. The blood bank provides facilities like donation, instant blood transfusion. But, in the blood storage unit, the blood can only be stored.

A doctor posted at the Civil Hospital said earlier, the hospital lacked a pathologist to run the blood bank, which was proving to be a major hurdle. “Though the post was filled twice, no one joined here. Now, a doctor has been posted and we are hopeful of making make the blood bank functional within a short time. Once the blood bank is opened, it will prove beneficial to a large number of people, especially the road mishap victims,” said the doctor.

Dr Ram Lal, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, said, “The inspection team from Delhi is expected to come next week. All the formalities have been completed now.”

Meanwhile, Dr Gurjant Singh Sekhon, a social activist, said, “This blood bank is a major requirement of the area. Those concerned must take up this issue seriously.” Presently, the hospital has a blood storage facility but the blood donation facility is not available here. The blood units are brought from the blood bank in the Civil Hospital of Muktsar.”

Some social organisations too approached local MLA Harpreet Singh in the past to make the blood bank operational soon.

Courtesy: The Tribune

In poll mould, Badal govt to spruce up 72 Lambi villages

Rs 3.5 crore being spent on streets, drains, ponds in each village

Work on concrete floor streets in progress at a village in Lambi. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 28

With the Assembly poll early next year, the cash-strapped state government is preparing to give a new look to all 72 villages in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's constituency Lambi. 

On an average, Rs 3.5 crore is being spent on each village for carpeting streets, laying drainage lines and de-silting ponds, says Nawal Kumar, District Development and Panchayats Officer (DDPO), Muktsar. 

These works, underway in 30 villages, will be taken up in 42 more villages in the next phase. The Punjab Mandi Board, the Rural Development Department and the PWD (B&R) are the executing agencies. 

In Kangan Khera village, 82 houses are being constructed for poor families at an estimated cost of Rs 3.31 crore. “The works will be completed in four months and these villages will turn model villages,” says Nawal Kumar.

In contrast, other Assembly constituencies are to get Rs 25 crore each, which is not more than Rs 30-Rs 35 lakh per village, as announced by Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in February.

At his Sangat Darshan functions in the Lambi constituency, the CM sanctions huge grants for various works such as gyms, drains, panchayat ghar and repair of schoolbuildings. He is scheduled to hold a series of such functions next month.

While the CM has officially adopted Rattakhera Vadda, Rattakhera Chhota, Kangan Khera in Lambi for development, his daughter-in-law and Union Minister Harsimrat Badal has adopted Mann village. Their native village Badal already wears the look of a town having a number of educational institutions, government buildings and wide roads.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too has turned its focus on Lambi, much to the alarm of local Akali leaders.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Look again, that’s Jagmeet Brar

Look again, that’s Jagmeet Brar

Muktsar: Since the Aam Aadmi Party leaders have started flexing their muscles in the state, all politicians seem to be trying to pose themselves as commoners. If SAD chief-cum-Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal celebrated Holi with his personal staff in Delhi, IYC chief-cum-MLA of Gidderbaha Amarinder Singh 'Raja Warring' played volleyball with villagers in his constituency on Saturday and within no time posted pictures on his Twitter account. Earlier, former CWC member Jagmeet Singh Brar had uploaded his picture on Twitter of harvesting wheat crop with a sickle in his hand. SAD’s Muktsar constituency incharge Kanwarjit Singh 'Rozy Barkandi' too was not behind, with a photo session while having lunch with aides amid fields.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Good, no? Lambi police station, after all

Muktsar: It’s a prestigious posting being the Chief Minister's constituency, and the refurbished office of the Station House Officer at the Lambi police station too gives that important look. The multi-coloured office also has two "special" wooden chairs, used by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan programmes in Muktsar and adjoining districts. If a former controversial SHO got these chairs made, the incumbent SHO got the office renovated. Till a short time ago, the office looked more suave than that of the Muktsar SSP. Seemingly inspired from his junior, the senior cop too got his office renovated.
Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune