Sunday, October 30, 2011
ऑनलाइन डिटेल देखें और ईको कैब मंगवाएं
इसका आगाज शनिवार को नगर कौंसिल अध्यक्ष अनिल कुमार सेठी ने मोबाइल पर कॉल करके किया। इसके अलावा ईको कैब के 9 नए कॉल सेंटर स्थापित किए गए हैं और इसकी वेबसाइट भी लांच कर दी गई है। वेबसाइट बनाने में कंप्यूटर्स इंजीनियर छात्र गौतम चौधरी ने मदद की है। नगर कौंसिल के प्रांगण में इसकी शुरुआत करते समय ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन संरक्षक डॉ. भूपिंदर सिंह, प्रधान एडवोकेट उमेश कुक्कड़, सचिव इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा, नितिन सेतिया, परमजीत सिंह पम्मा वैरड़, विशाल कामरा के अलावा ईको कैब के सदस्य मौजूद थे।
ग्रेजुएट्स वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन के सचिव नवदीप असीजा ने बताया कि एंड्रॉइड एप्लीकेशन हैदराबाद के इलेक्ट्रॉनिक इंजीनियर अशोक फेलिक्स की ओर से विकसित किया गया है। एंड्रॉइड एप्लीकेशन को फाजिल्का ईको कैब की वेबसाइट के भी जोड़ा गया है। (लछमण)
ईको कैब ऐसे पहुंचेगी आपके पास वेबसाइट के जरिए फोन करके रिक्शा बुलाने वाले को रिक्शा चालक का आई कार्ड नंबर, फोटो, पता और वह किस क्षेत्र में है और कितनी देर में आप तक पहुंचेगा सहित सारी जानकारी मिल जाएगी। वेबसाइट ww.ecocabs.org पर लॉगऑन करने पर ईको कैब नंबर (100 से फिलहाल 200 तक) लिखकर सर्च करना होगा। इससे ईको कैब सदस्य की पूरी डिटेल होगी। उसके मुताबिक उसे बुलाया जा सकेगा। मिसाल के तौर पर 101 नंबर सर्च करने पर फाजिल्का रिक्शा यूनियन के उपप्रधान मनजिंद्र सिंह की डिटेल होगी और उनका मोबाइल नंबर 95309-98101 होगा। बस कॉल करें और बुलाएं
http://www.bhaskar.com/article/PUN-OTH-1599914-2529893.html
फाजिल्का ने दुनिया भर में मारी बाजी
अमृत सचदेवा, फाजिल्का
फाजिल्का ने मारी दुनिया भर में मारी बाजी.. चौंकिए नहीं, यह सौ फीसदी सच है। दरअसल, पेरिस में चलने वाली मेट्रो गाड़ी की जानकारी लेने के लिए मोबाइल के जरिये प्रयोग की जाने वाली एंड्रायड एप्लीकेशन अब फाजिल्का की ईको कैब (रिक्शा) के लिए भी प्रयोग होगी। मोबाइल से रिक्शा बुलाने के लिए प्रयोग की जाने वाली यह तकनीक शुरू होने से फाजिल्का दुनिया का पहला शहर बन गया है, जिसने इस उच्च तकनीक का इस्तेमाल यातायात के सबसे निचले साधन में किया है।
उल्लेखनीय है कि ग्रेजुएट वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन फाजिल्का के प्रयासों से 20 जून 2008 को डायल-ए-रिक्शा शुरू कर फोन के जरिये रिक्शा बुलाने की शुरुआत की गई थी। तब यह शुरुआत करने वाला फाजिल्का देश का पहला शहर था। 28 अप्रैल 2010 में हाईकोर्ट द्वारा डायल-ए-रिक्शा के फीचर से प्रभावित होकर सुओ मोटो एक्शन लेते हुए पंजाब व हरियाणा के सभी छोटे बड़े शहरों व कस्बों में यह सर्विस शुरू करने के आदेश देना भी फाजिल्का के लिए गर्व का विषय रहा।
उसी आदेश का नतीजा है कि फाजिल्का के फार्मूले पर पंजाब के 22 शहरों में ईको कैब (फाजिल्का में बनाई गई नए फीचर वाली रिक्शा) चल रही हैं। डायल-ए-रिक्शा शुरू करने वाली एसोसिएशन के सचिव इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा ने बताया कि शनिवार को डायल-ए-रिक्शा के संक्षिप्त इतिहास में नया सुनहरी अध्याय शुरू हुआ है। आज से लैंडलाइन से मंगवाई जाने वाली रिक्शा जीएसएम मोबाइल से बुलाई जाएगी। इसके लिए बीएसएनएल ने एक हजार प्री-पेड नंबरों की विशेष श्रृंखला फाजिल्का के रिक्शा चालकों के लिए प्रदान की है। साथ ही कंप्यूटर व मोबाइल इंटरनेट का प्रयोग करने वालों को ईको कैब की एंड्रायड एप्लीकेशन का तोहफा दिया गया है। इस के प्रयोग से रिक्शा बुलाने वाले लोग मोबाइल पर अपने यहां आने वाले रिक्शा चालक की फोटो, उसका रजिस्ट्रेशन नंबर सहित पूरा प्रोफाइल देख सकेंगे।
यह एडवांस तकनीक पूरी दुनिया में यातायात के किसी साधन में सिर्फ पेरिस में चलने वाली मेट्रो गाड़ियों में प्रयोग हो रही है। उसके बाद रिक्शा जैसी यातायात की सबसे छोटी इकाई पर इसे प्रयोग करने वाला फाजिल्का दुनिया का पहला शहर बन गया है। इस तकनीक से रिक्शा बुलाने के लिए फाजिल्का को नौ जोन में बांटा गया है और संबंधित जोन में चलने वाले रिक्शा के नंबर भी एसोसिएशन द्वारा प्रचारित किए जाएंगे।
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क्या है एंड्रायड एप्लीकेशन
कंप्यूटर व मोबाइल पर प्रयोग की जाने वाली इस एप्लीकेशन में उपभोक्ता अपने नजदीकी रिक्शा स्टैंड और वहां उपलब्ध रिक्शा की जानकारी अपने कंप्यूटर या मोबाइल स्क्रीन पर हासिल कर सकता है। मोबाइल पर इसके प्रयोग का फायदा ये है कि एप्लीकेशन के भीतर ही उपलब्ध रिक्शा चालक का नंबर डायल होने की सुविधा दी गई है।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_8417927.html
Fazilka’s dial-a-rickshaw service goes online, gets an Android app
In a function organised in the premises of Municipal Council of Fazilka, its President Anil Sethi formally inaugurated and dedicated the website and mobile application by making the first call.
Anil Sethi and Paramjit Warar took a joint ride after calling Ecocabs at Municipal Council Fazilka.
It allows users to search for Ecocabs call centres nearby, based on the user's location. Available in the Android market for free, the application replicates all features of the website and lets the user look at the complete details of Ecocabs operations, contact details of pilots, directions, passenger information system.
The application can be of great use to smart phone users. Talking about the importance of Information technology tools, Dr Bhupinder, founder of graduate welfare association Fazilka (GWAF) said that such a portal and complied information will help other cities follow the Fazilka protocol of Ecocabs.
Fazilka Ecocabs dial-a-rickshaw service was launched in the month of June 2008 and later it was introduced in various cities of Punjab and Haryana.
"Initially the city was divided into five zones and now based upon the latest demand, the city has been divided into nine sectors with almost 1,500 household in each sector. One dedicated call centre has been established. Bharat Sanchar Nigam limited is the official telecom partner for this project," said Navdeep Asija, founder Ecocabs and Secretary (admin) of GWAF. Ashok Felix, a Hyderabad-based Java Web and Portal Technologies programmer and a consulting Android developer volunteered help to make android application for Ecocabs operations at Fazilka, added Asija. The web portal integrated with the Android application is being designed by a city-based 20-year-old computer engineering student Gautam Chaudhary.
Earlier, Sethi said that soon the rickshaw union will get its office and other new sheds in various zones of Fazilka.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Interesting but Little known/unknown facts about Fazilka
1. "Sanjay Gandhi role in State Politics began when Chief Minister Zail Singh of Punjab invited him to Fazilka. Chief Minister Bansi Lal of Haryana, in his bid to outdo Zail Singh, arranged a bigger reception for Sanjay and Chandigarh. So began Sanjay Journey from Fazilka to Chandigarh to Vishakhapatnam in the south until he had been to the country all over" - V. Vasudeva, Two Faces of Indira Gandhi (New Delhi 1977)
2. Gazal Maestro Mehndi Hassan started to perform at a young age and the first concert of dhrupad and kheyal with his elder brother is reported to have been held in Fazilka Bungla, near present D.C. House/Badha Lake (1935) district Fazilka of Undivided Punjab.
3. From July 23, 1934 to July 23, 1949 generation and supplying of electricity in Fazilka was with Fazilites private company "Fazilka Electric Supply Company Limited" jointly owned by Harbhagwan Nanda and Harcharan Dass. Later Harbhagwan Nanda's Son Rajan Nanda married to Ritu Kapoor Nanda, a daughter of famous bollywood actor Raj Kapoor. Presently Rajan Nanda is a Chairman of Escort Group. Rajan and Ritu Nanda's Son Mr Nikhil Nanda is a presently a Joint Managing Director of Escorts Group and a Husband of Shweta Nanda, son in law of Amitabh Bacchan.
4. Five Fazilite have been awarded with Padma Award, highest civilian honour of the country. Late Kanwar Surinder Singh Bedi awarded twice, Padamshri in 1966 and Padam Bhushan in 1972 for playing an important role as deputy commissioner Amritsar during Two wars with Pakistan. Famous veteran singer and actor Fazilite Pushpa Hans in the year 2007 was awarded with Padamshri. World Famous Neurosurgeon Fazilite Dr Jagjit Singh Chopra was awarded with Padam Bhushan in the year 2008 for their valuable contribution in the field of Medicine and in the year 2009 Bhai Nirmal Singh Ragi awarded with PadamShri.
5. Guru Nanak Dev Ji paid his visit to Fazilka during (1517-1521). His final longest journey (Udassi) lasted over four years towards west mainly Baghdad, Mecca and Medina. Bedi clan at Fazilka is the successor of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Captain M.S. Bedi is 17th direct decedent of Guru Nanak Dev Ji family.
6. Haryana Urdu Academy constituted scholarship to the name of the veteran Urdu poet, Fazilite late Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi 'Sahar', for his outstanding contribution in the field of Urdu literature. He also remained Vice-Chancellor of Taraqqui-e-Urdu Board. In the year 2002, Late Gazal Singer Padam bhushan Jagjit Singh launched a music album title "Forget me not", a tribute to the veteran poet, the late Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi 'Sahar', whose creations constitute eight ghazals in the album. Super Cassettes Industries also announced award in the memory of Kunwar Sahib "Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Award" for the talented, up- coming poet.
7. Two most famous and glamour bollywood actress Mandira Bedi and Malaika Arora Khan have their ancestral route in Fazilka. Mandira is a granddaughter of famous Fazilite Urdu Poet Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi "Sahar". Actress Malaika Arora father Mr Anil Arora born and brought up in Fazilka before joining Merchant Navy.
8. The famous Punjabi dance style "Jhummar" was invented in Fazilka by Baba Pokhar Singh (1916-2002) of Fazilka.
9. Lance Nayak Drugpal Singh of Rajput Regiment was awarded with Mahavir Chakra during 1971 Indo-Pak War in Fazilka Sector.
10. After Saunders murder on 17th December 1928 at Lahore, Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh escaped and reached to Village Danewala of Fazilka Tehsil, where he hides himself.
11. "We walked night and day. There were men and women of all ages and all conditions. Many could not stand the strain. They-mostly women and children-were left on the road. I reached a place called Fazilka, in Indian Territory, and discovered that another refugee column in which my father and other relatives had set out had fared much worse. They had been attacked by Muslim mobs on their way: Only 40 or 50 had survived out of 400 or 500 and even these were in hospitals. My aunt had been killed, more than a hundred girls were abducted, and my father rescued from a heap of the dead. ...While in Fazilka, we saw other refugee columns coming in; one of them he says was 'forty miles long', and in another marched " five hundred women who had been stripped naked.......I saw women with their breasts, noses, ears and cheeks cut........one of them told me how her child was roasted and she was asked to partake of the same.....another was ravished in the presence of her husband who was kept tied to a tree. — Stated under oath by Madanlal Pahwa during the Mahatama Gandhi Murder Trial, part of a seven member gang who wanted to kill the Mahatma Gandhi.
12. Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo served thrice as Speaker of Pakistan-Punjab Assembly during 1985-88, 1988-90 and 1990-93 and functioned thrice as Chief Minister, Punjab during 1993, 1993-95 and 1996; and is presently serving as Federal Minister for Industries and Production is a Grandson of Mian Fazil Watto; Fazilka named after him. Fazilka City Established in Year 1844 By Britisher Mr. Oliver After Purchasing Land from Mian Fazil Watoo (Lambardar) at the payment of Rs. 144/- and Anna Eight, and our city Name is Placed after His Name
13. After partition of India and Pakistan, lovers of Fazilka in Pakistan; to mark their love and affection for the motherland founded "Fazilka Islamia High School" at Pakpattan.
14. Ex. Prime Minister of India Late Smt. Late Indira Gandhi, Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Visited our City in Year 1971, 1977 & 1984 respectively.
15. Fazilka Tilla Jutii is registered as a Geographical Indicator to the Name of Fazilka under Patent Act of India. Fazilka Tilla Jutti was the First Choice of Ex. President of India Late Giani Jail Singh, Ex. Chief Minister of Punjab Late Shiri Partap Singh Kairo, Late Shiri Beant Singh Ji and Late Shiri Darbara Singh. Presently Fazilka Tilla Jutti is the the first choice of Badal Family, and Shiri Sukbir Badal, M.P. Faridkot visit every year Fazilka to buy Jutti. Many Bollywood stars and singers mainly Gurdass Mann, Juhi Chawla likes Fazilka Jutti.
16. Veteran sportsperson from Fazilka Sardar Gurbachan Singh Brar from Fazilka was the Former Indian Hockey Team Captain in the Year 1950.
17. Before Partition Fazilka Was the Biggest Wool Market in the Asia and it was established by British as one of the main trading Town. British named 10 steamer ships to the name of their favorite trading town and they named First Single Cylinder Steam Ship of the World "FAZILKA" in the year 1890 (South Africa).
18. Fazilite Meeran Chadha Borwankar, IPS is the first female Police Commissioner in India at present posted as Commissioner Pune Police. Another daughter of this small town Ms Nitu Bhattacharya (Thatai), Commandant 88 CRPF, Women Battalion, Head of Only Women Battalion in the Country
Monday, October 24, 2011
दोना नानका प्राइमरी स्कूल : मिट्टी जो उगल रही सोना
प्रतिभा मापने का पैमाना क्या हो सकता है, कुछ भी नहीं। वैसे ही जिले के गांव दोना नानका के होनहार बच्चों की प्रतिभा का कोई पैमाना नजर नहीं आ रहा। स्कूल के बच्चों ने ब्लाक स्तरीय पहाड़ा मुकाबलों में पहली से पांचवीं कक्षा तक की सभी 15 स्थानों पर कब्जा करके इस बात को और पुख्ता कर दिया है।
उल्लेखनीय है कि दोना नानका के प्राइमरी स्कूल की दो छात्राएं दो साल पहले पांचवीं कक्षा में पूरे पंजाब में अव्वल स्थान हासिल कर चुकी हैं। इसके अलावा इस स्कूल के बच्चे राष्ट्रीय स्तर तक के पहाड़ा मुकाबलों में बेहतरीन प्रदर्शन करते हुए अव्वल स्थान हासिल कर चुके हैं। आम सरकारी स्कूलों से उलट इस स्कूल में अध्यापकों ने विशेष रुचि दिखाते हुए लाइब्रेरी व कंप्यूटर लैब अपनी तरफ से स्थापित कर रखी है, ताकि बच्चों का सर्वपक्षीय विकास हो सके। स्कूल में सफाई व्यवस्था, बच्चों के बैठने के प्रबंध, स्वच्छ पेयजल का सुचारु प्रबंध स्टाफ ने खुद रुचि दिखाते हुए किया है। यहां तक कि इस स्कूल के बच्चे प्राइवेट स्कूलों की तरह यूनिफार्म पहनकर व सही ढंग से टाई बेल्ट लगाकर आते हैं। यह सब स्कूल के इंचार्ज मास्टर लवजीत सिंह के कुशल नेतृत्व में हो रहा है।
उन्हीं के नेतृत्व में सरकारी प्राइमरी स्कूल में संपन्न ब्लाक स्तरीय पहाड़ा मुकाबलों में दोना नानका के पहली से पांचवीं कक्षा तक के बच्चे शामिल हुए। इस मुकाबले में फाजिल्का शिक्षा ब्लाक दो के कलस्टर लेवल पर जीत हासिल करके आए सैकड़ों बच्चों ने भाग लिया। लेकिन उन सभी बच्चों को पछाड़ते हुए पहली से पांचवीं कक्षा तक की प्रथम 15 स्थानों पर दोना नानका के बच्चों ने कब्जा कर अपनी प्रतिभा का लोहा मनवाया है।
मुकाबले संपन्न करवा रहे अधिकारी गुरदयाल सिंह व अन्य स्टाफ ने इंचार्ज लवजीत सिंह व स्कूल के सारे स्टाफ को इस जीत की बधाई दी व अव्वल बच्चों को सम्मानित किया।
Green Revolution RELOADED : Increasing number of agri-entrepreneurs in Punjab are helping farmers become job creators from job seekers
Friday, October 21, 2011
Punjab and Haryana High Court orders to develop car free zones in Punjab, Haryana
Fazilka: In a bid to save historical heritage sites and control pollution by regulating the traffic system, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed Haryana and Punjab to develop car free zones in all the districts. To check the air pollution, the HC has also asked them to use eco-friendly rickshaws as means of commutation.
Inspired by the adaptation of eco-friendly rickshaws and car free zone at Ghanta Ghar Chowk of Fazilka, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo moto notice of the issue on October 29, 2010, ordered both the states to follow the practice in all districts.
During the hearing on September 23, 2011, the Punjab government had filed an affidavit stating that more than 500 eco-friendly rickshaws are operating in 12 districts of the state and efforts are on to develop car free zones.
Senior Standing Counsel of Chandigarh also updated information about the efforts in the direction of developing car free zones. The High Court expressed its displeasure over the poor efforts of Haryana government in the matter.
http://post.jagran.com/punjab-and-haryana-high-court-orders-to-develop-car-free-zones-in-punjab-haryana-1317028984
HC notice to Punjab govt on floods in Fazilka
FAZILKA: The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking compensation of Rs 75,000 per acre against crop loss due to diversion of excess water from Lambi area in Muktsar, has issued notice to the state government to file its reply.
The case pertains to diversion of excess rain water from chief minister Parkash Singh Badal's assembly constituency to Abohar and Ballauana areas of Fazilka district, during the recent monsoon season. The step was apparently taken to save crops in Lambi.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice RN Raina issued notices for December 12, 2011 to the state government to file a reply.
Incessant rain had caused extensive damage to cotton and paddy crop in Malwa region of Punjab, hitting cotton growers and farmers hard. The rain water had also damaged several houses in the area. It was alleged that the CM, whose assembly segment Lambi falls under Muktsar district, had ordered release of flood water into Abulkhurana drain through Sarawan Bodla and Wahabwala drains, in an effort to assuage the feelings of farmers in Lambi, Giddarbaha and Malout areas.
But this increased volume of water had an adverse effect on about 30 villages of adjoining Fazilka district. Sardarpur, Datarianwali, Rajiawali, Bhagu, Bhagsar, Amarpura, Ram Sran, Bhabwala, Khatban and Tabba Kokrian villages of Fazilka were affected badly due to the draining of water from Lambi and Gidderbaha, leaving the fields marooned and damaging the crops.
Dharmvir, a resident of Fazilka, had filed a PIL alleging that due to release of flood water towards Fazilka area, standing crop worth Rs 11.55 crore was damaged besides an estimated loss of Rs 9 crore, caused to several houses in the area. Holding the state government responsible for these losses, he demanded a compensation of Rs 75,000 per acre to affected farmers.
http://www.anhourago.in/show.aspx?l=33792301&d=502
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
PUDA COLONY IN BADHA LAKE WETLAND: HC issues notices to PPCB, PSSTC, forest dept
Fazilka, October 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a notice today to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) and the Forest and Wildlife Department seeking their reply on the proposed PUDA colony being carved out in the Badha lake wetland area in Fazilka.
Social activist Navdeep Asija had filed a writ petition in the High Court against the upcoming PUDA colony on the plea that the proposed colony could disturb the ecology of the area.
Asija, who was present in the court, said that a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Rajiv Narayan Raina today issued notice to these departments for filing a separate reply. The next hearing is on November 22.
Today, the HC also verified the revenue record of the extinct Badha lake and its adjacent areas. As per the revenue record presented in the court, it was demonstrated that from 1977 to 1995, fish farming was done in the lake and the Badha village panchayat used to earn revenue from it.
During the argument on the affidavit filed by the PUDA stating that there are only a few eucalyptus trees and hence, there has been no axing of trees involved while carving out the colony, the court directed the Forest and Wildlife Department to verify the facts.
It is pertinent to mention here that Fazilka was established by the Britisher Patrick Vans Agnew in 1844 near the banks of the Badha lake. Inspired by the flora and fauna there, he decided to construct a bungalow near the lake.
Till the eighties, the lake was a source of drinking water.
According to sources, due to the activities of vested interests, the natural flow of the river Sutlej, which used to recharge the lake every year, was stopped later on.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Fazilka MC goes online
It has become the only MC in Punjab having a Suvidha Centre and an online facility for the residents, where they can submit bills of water, sewerage, house tax and file complaints from home at the click of the mouse.
Punjab transport and technical education minister Surjit Kumar Jiyani inaugurated the facility. The efforts of MC president Anil Sethi would benefit the people of the area, who would get their civic problems settled immediately, said Jiyani.
The municipal council, which was under debt in 2008, has become self-dependent now.
The civic body is arguably the first city in the country to go car-free. Besides the MC had got constructed 12 ultra-modern toilets in various commercial zones of the city. The authorities had also installed timerbased streetlight system with energy saving equipment.
The 95% work on streetlighting had been complete. The only stadium in the town had been renovated with proper sitting arrangements and state-ofthe-art lighting system.
"At a time when the world was talking about e-governance, we cannot afford to lag behind.
It's is this endeavour that made Fazilka first MC in the state to go online," said Sethi.
Jiyani, who also inaugurated a newly-built conference hall of the MC, said shopkeepers, who were in the possession of the municipal council property, would be given ownership rights by passing a resolution in the meeting of the council.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
फाजिल्का में होगा पर्यटन का विकास
पंजाब टूरिज्म विभाग ने यहां पर्यटन की संभावनाओं को देखते हुए प्रशासन से एक बार फिर से फाजिल्का के पर्यटन स्थल के रूप में विकसित होने वाले स्थानों की सूची मांगी है।
उल्लेखनीय है कि जनवरी 2011 में जब फाजिल्का फिरोजपुर जिले का हिस्सा था तब फिरोजपुर के तत्कालीन डीसी केके यादव ने फाजिल्का को पर्यटन स्थल के रूप में विकसित करने के लिए प्रपोजल भेजी थी। उस प्रपोजल में यहां के विभिन्न ऐतिहासिक स्थलों को पर्यटन स्थल के रूप में विकसित करने की रूपरेखा बनाई गई थी। उन ऐतिहासिक स्थलों में भारत-पाक सीमा की फाजिल्का सेक्टर की सादकी चौकी, आसफवाला समाधि, रघुवर भवन, गोल कोठी, घंटाघर, बाधा झील, विरासत भवन शामिल थे। इन स्थलों को पर्यटन स्थल के रूप में विकसित करने के लिए 75 लाख रुपयों की मांग पर्यटन विभाग से की गई थी।
ये है एतिहासिक स्थलों का महत्व
सादकी चौकी: भारत-पाक सीमा के फाजिल्का सेक्टर की सादकी चौकी देश की उन तीन चौकियों में शुमार है जहां रिट्रीट सेरेमनी (दोनों देशों का झंडा चढ़ाने व उतारने की रस्म) अदा की जाती है। वाघा व हुसैनीवाला के बाद फाजिल्का की सादकी चौकी पर यह रस्म देखने पंजाब, हरियाणा, राजस्थान व हिमाचल तक के लोग आते हैं। इसके लिए शहर से करीब 12 किलोमीटर दूर स्थित चौकी के लिए रिट्रीट सेरेमनी के मौके पर विशेष वाहन शुरू करने, पर्यटकों के लिए सुविधाएं मुहैया करवाया जाना जरूरी है।
आसफवाला समाधि : भारत-पाक युद्ध 1965 व 1971 की दास्तान बयां करती आसफवाला स्थित शहीदों की समाधि में 82 शहीदों की 90 फुट लंबी व 18 फुट चौड़ी चिता जलाई गई थी। यहां देश प्यार व धार्मिक आस्था का अनोखा संगम शहीद स्मारक भी बनाया गया है। यहां हर साल 16 दिसंबर विजय दिवस मौके मेला आयोजित किया जाता है।
रामनारायण घंटाघर : ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य में छह जून 1936 को बनकर तैयार हुए रामनारायण पेड़ीवाल घंटाघर शहर के बीचोंबीच बना हुआ है। घंटाघर इतनी खूबसूरती से बनाया गया है कि आज के आर्किटेक्ट भी दांतों तले उंगली दबा लें।
रघुवर भवन : फाजिल्का के बाहरी क्षेत्र नई आबादी स्थित रघुवर भवन एक सदी से ज्यादा पुराना है। यह भवन ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य, मुगलकालीन व हिंदू भवन निर्माण एवं वास्तुकला का उत्तम नमूना है।
विरासत भवन एवं गोल कोठी : सरकारी माडल सेकेंडरी स्कूल में लेक्चरर पम्मी सिंह द्वारा कबाड़ बन चुकी वस्तुओं में से ऐतिहासिक महत्व वाली वस्तुएं एकत्रित कर स्कूल में विरासत भवन बनाया है। इसमें 1928 से बाद की स्कूल से संबंधित इतिहास के स्मृति चिन्ह व फोटो सजाए गए हैं। इसी स्कूल में ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य में बनाई गोल कोठी भी है, जिसका निर्माण 1913 में किया गया था।
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पर्यटन को बढ़ावा देगा जिला प्रशासन
फाजिल्का : इस बारे में एडीसी चरणदेव सिंह मान ने कहा कि वह प्रपोजल फिरोजपुर जिले के अंतर्गत भेजी गई थी। अब चूंकि फाजिल्का खुद जिला बन चुका है, इसलिए यह प्रपोजल नए सिरे से भेजी जाएगी और फाजिल्का जिले के अधीन आते अबोहर व जलालाबाद के ऐतिहासिक स्थलों का विकास भी किया जाएगा।
को-जेनरेशन प्लांट से रुका पराली दहन
जिले के गांव बोदीवाला पीथा स्थित मिल में लगाए जा रहे 20 मैगावाट को-जेनरेशन प्लांट में बिजली उत्पादन के लिए बायोमास (एग्रीकल्चर वेस्ट, उपले व हर प्रकार का ज्वलनशील ईधन) जलाया जाएगा। हालांकि अभी तक यह प्लांट शुरू नहीं हुआ है, लेकिन प्रतिदिन 400 टन बायोमास की खपत क्षमता वाले इस को-जेनरेशन प्लांट के लिए इसे लगा रही कंपनी ए-टू-जेड इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर ने अपनी सहयोगी कंपनी मल्टी फ्यूल मैनेजमेंट प्राइवेट लिमिटेड के सहयोग से इसमें जलाने के लिए बायोमास एकत्रित करना शुरू कर दिया है। अब नरमे की फसल के बाद बचने वाली बनछट्टियां किसानों से उचित भाव पर खरीदी जा रही हैं। करीब दो हजार रुपये प्रति एकड़ के खर्च से साफ होने वाले धान के खेत से मल्टी फ्यूल कंपनी फ्री में पराली उठा किसानों के हजारों के वारे न्यारे कर रही है।
इस बारे में मल्टी फ्यूल कंपनी के डिप्टी जनरल मैनेजर भूपिंदर सिंह का कहना है कि उनका लक्ष्य 50 हजार टन बायोमास एकत्रित करना है, ताकि छह माह या उससे ज्यादा लंबे समय तक के लिए को-जेनरेशन प्लांट में खपाने योग्य ईधन उपलब्ध रहे। 25 हजार टन के करीब बायोमास कंपनी की ओर से स्थापित तीन हब जंडवाला खरता, बनवाला हनवंता व अबोहर के गांव अजीमगढ़ में इकट्ठा भी किया जा चुका है। डीजीएम ने बताया कि कंपनी खेतों से करीब 50 प्रतिशत धान की पराली उठा लेगी। इसके चलते खेतों में पराली को आग लगाने की नौबत नहीं आएगी। उनके अनुसार पराली में आग लगाए जाने से भूमि की उर्वरा शक्तिसमाप्त होने के साथ आगामी फसल की सुरक्षा करने वाले मित्र कीट भी मर जाते हैं। कंपनी द्वारा बायोमास एकत्रित करने के कार्य में इलाके के दो सौ लोगों को बतौर कर्मचारी व तीन सौ मजदूरों को रोजगार भी दिया जा रहा है। सिंह ने बताया कि को-जेनरेशन प्लांट नवंबर में काम करना शुरू कर देगा।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_8324557.html
Friday, October 7, 2011
India’s second largest TV tower a white elephant
The television and the radio signals from Pakistan, which it was supposed to weaken, are still as strong as ever. Worse, the population, mostly rural, in all areas around 100 kilometres from its location, which it was supposed to serve have mostly switched over either to the cable connection or to the DTH.
The approximately 1,000 ft free standing tower, the second tallest man-made structure in India (after Rameshwaram TV tower, which is approximately 1,060 ft tall), has turned into a white elephant now. Planned as a relay station on lines of Jalandhar Doordarshan Kendra, apart from weakening the signals from Pakistan, the tower now relays only Doordarshan channels. No programmes are made here even though it houses the equipment necessary to create and relay them.
The work on the tower began in 1996, after residents of Fazilka, which shares borer with Pakistan, met former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and urged him to take steps to curb the anti-India propaganda being telecast by the neighbouring country on television and radio networks. The 1 KW TV tower in the area was not good enough to weaken the signals from Pakistan.
"Though the work with a project cost of about Rs 80 crore began in 1996. It was to be completed in two years. However, by the time it was completed in 2007, cable network and DTH connections had reached the border belt," said Leeladhar Sharma, who had led the delegation to meet PM in 1996.
He blamed the delay in construction on financial crunch, non-availability of skilled workers and death of half dozen labourers during the construction.
"The main purpose of tower was to weaken the signals from Pakistan, but even now many villages close to Pakistan get to watch the programmes being telecast by the neighbouring country, courtesy the cable network. Most of the locals watched this year's Cricket World Cup on Pakistani TV channels as the signal from the Indian networks was not good enough to relay the programmes, said a villager, with his home near the tower.
The Fazilka district administration has, in the past, warned the cable operators asking them to stop telecasting the Pakistani channels, but to no avail.
However, Amarnath, the deputy director in the department of telecommunications, Bhatinda region, said: "Our TV tower is still of much use as in many villages in the interiors, people cannot go for cable connection. So they watch the Doordarshan channels, which are free".
In order to make utilise the tower and earn some revenue, the authorities had decided to launch FM radio service. It also plans to start relaying programmes made at the TV station here.
The building to run the radio station is ready for more than a year, but till date the equipment to telecast the programmes has not arrived the from the department of information of broadcasting and telecommunication. The department has not even taken electricity connection of this building for want of funds.
Amarnath , however, said, "Our project (on FM service) is ready and we are waiting for the machinery from Delhi office".
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Relief work hampered by delay in DD power to DC
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Fazilka/Ferozepur, Oct 4
Call it is the procedural bottlenecks or the snail's pace at which the government files movethat even two months after a Deputy Commissioner (DC) was given the full charge of a newly carved district, he has no drawing and disbursement (DD) power to draw the funds from the government treasury and disburse the funds further.
And it looks more amazing when the district is facing problems like the unprecedented floods.
Fazilka, a sub-division of Ferozepur district, was declared as Punjab's 22nd and newest district on July 27. The same day, Basant Kumar Garg was appointed as the full-fledged Deputy Commissioner of this new district. Days after joining as the first DC of Fazilka, over 40 villages of this new district were ravaged by the floods.
There are many regular and emergency funds to combat these unexpected situations. But as the DC Fazilka has no powers to withdraw the money from government treasury and use these funds further for various relief works, so he is relying on his counterpart in Ferozepur to get the funds for his district (Fazilka).
Besides meeting many day to day expenses, the Fazilka DC needed many emergency funds in the last two months, like Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) in the flood affected areas. But in the absence of the DD powers, the DC Fazilka was getting the funds through the DC Ferozepur.
Even at a meeting of the DCs with the Punjab Chief Secretary on September 9, the DC Fazilka, it is learnt, lamented that he has no DD power, thus causing delay in giving relief funds to the flood affected families and the dependents of those who died of drowning.
As per the government norms, the dependents of every flood related death are to get the relief funds within 24 hours and a person who has suffered loss of cattle, has to be compensated within 48 hours.
But as the funds in Fazilka is routed through Ferozepur in the absence of DD powers to the DC Fazilka, so there was delay in releasing the relief funds.
Basant Kumar Garg, Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka, however, said that the delay in getting the DD power did not affect the flood relief work in the district. "Routed through Ferozepur, the funds were reaching on time and did not hamper the flood relief or any other work," he said.
As Fazilka is a new district, so it is a matter of procedue and giving DD power took some time, he said. "I got the DD powers on Wednesday (September 28) and now there is no problem," said Basant Kumar Garg, the Fazilka DC.
PUDA COLONY IN VIOLATION OF NORMS?: PUDA authorities directed to produce revenue record
Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, October 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while hearing the civil writ petition today challenging the carving out of the proposed PUDA colony in Fazilka in the Badha Lake Wetland flouting the environmental norms, has directed the PUDA authorities to produce the revenue record before the court.
The court has directed the PUDA counsel to reply with 'Khasra' plan details on the next date of hearing on October 18.
The petitioner Navdeep Asija, general secretary, Graduate Welfare Association, Fazilka, (GWAF), who was present in the court, said the acting chief justice, while taking serious note of the reply of the PUDA counsel that 'there is not even a single drop of water in the extinct Badha lake' in Fazilka where the PUDA has proposed to carved out a colony, brushed aside the plea and said it is a concern related to environment health and biodiversity of the area.
As per Asija, the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh, has in its affidavit today admitted that preservation of Badha lake in Fazilka is as important as other lakes in the state.
The Council also informed the PUDA authorities to take the necessary approval from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) before moving ahead with the plan for the colony.
Notably, the Punjab Pollution Control Board is the nodal agency under the state wetland authority and responsible for preservation of the wetlands in the state.
Asija said reply by the Town and Country Planning Department also indicates that before proposing the colony, no such approval has been taken from the departments concerned.
As per the information, 552 applicants have applied for 56 residential plots in the proposed colony and have deposited around Rs 6.5 crores as the earnest money so far.
The fate of a large number of plot seekers has been at stake after the filing of the writ petition in the court.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
चली थी अकेले, बन गया कारवां
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जागरण संवाददाता, फाजिल्का
एक महिला ही महिला का दुख समझ सकती है। उससे भी बढ़कर अगर महिला चाहे तो दुखी महिला का दुख मिटा भी सकती है। इसी बात को आत्मसात कर गरीब, जरूरतमंद व बेबस बच्चियों व महिलाओं की सहायता के लिए निकलीं स्थानीय जुनेजा गली निवासी मंजीत कटारिया की पत्नी मोना आज पूरे मोहल्ले की स्टार सलाहकार बन चुकी हैं।
महिला उत्थान कार्य करते-करते खुद ही एक संस्था बन चुकी मोना हालांकि एक राजनीतिक दल के महिला विंग की पदाधिकारी हैं, लेकिन उन्होंने अपने पास आने वाली हर महिला की समस्या पार्टीबाजी को एक तरफ रखकर दूर की है। वह समस्या भले ही लड़कियों की शिक्षा से संबंधित हो या फिर आर्थिक कमजोरी के कारण। मोना एक बार घर से निकलती हैं तो वह समस्या दूर करवाकर ही चैन से बैठती हैं। महिलाओं की किसी भी समस्या को अपनी समस्या मान दूर करने वाली मोना आज उस मुकाम पर पहुंच गई हैं कि आदर्श नगर व राठौड़ा मोहल्ले की कोई महिला नया काम या अपनी समस्या बिना उसकी सलाह के दूर करने पांव आगे नहीं बढ़ाती। अब तक मोना मोहल्ले की कई लड़कियों को सिलाई व कढ़ाई की ट्रेनिंग दिला स्वरोजगार के काबिल बना चुकी हैं। वहीं, आंगनबाड़ी भर्ती के लिए जरूरतमंद महिलाओं को नौकरी दिलाने में अहम भूमिका अदा कर चुकी हैं। मोहल्ले में समय-समय पर अभियान चला संपन्न परिवारों के बच्चों द्वारा पहनना छोड़े गए सुंदर व आकर्षक कपड़ों को मोना कई बार गरीब परिवारों के बच्चों में वितरित कर चुकी हैं। गरीब विद्यार्थियों खासकर लड़कियों को पढ़ने के लिए पुस्तकें उपलब्ध करवाने की मुहिम भी मोना अपने मोहल्ले की महिलाओं के साथ मिलकर चलाती रहती हैं। अपने खुद के परिवार की अनेकों जिम्मेवारियों के बावजूद समाजसेवा के लिए कैसे समय निकालती हैं। पूछने पर मोना कहती हैं कि काम न करने के तो व्यस्तता जैसे अनेक बहाने होते हैं, लेकिन काम करना हो तो बस शुरूआत की जरूरत होती है और वह शुरुआत करने में विश्वास रखती हैं। अच्छे काम के लिए बढ़ाए कदमों को कभी असफलता नहीं मिलती। रही बात परिवार की, तो उनके पति मंजीत भी उनके सोशल वर्क में पूरा साथ देते हैं। उनकी मुहिम में वे महिलाएं भी उनका सहयोग करती हैं, जिनकी कभी उन्होंने सहायता की थी।
Monday, October 3, 2011
भाषण मुकाबले में विक्रम प्रथम, बूटा द्वितीय
मुकाबलों के अवसर पर कार्यक्रम का आयोजन किया गया, जिसकी अध्यक्षता प्रिंसिपल गुरदीप करीर ने की। वोकेशनल इंचार्ज पम्मी सिंह की देखरेख में आयोजित भाषण प्रतियोगिता में विक्रम गिल्होत्रा ने प्रथम, बूटा सिंह ने दूसरा व साजन ने तीसरा स्थान हासिल किया। लेख मुकाबलों में कंवल कुमार ने पहला, सुखविंद्र पाल ने दूसरा व संदीप यादव ने तीसरा स्थान हासिल किया। प्रतियोगिता में विपलेश दावड़ा, नवजीत कौर, पंकज लूना व हरीश भटेजा ने जज की भूमिका अदा की। कार्यक्रम के अंत में प्रतियोगिता में विजेताओं को नगद व शील्ड देकर सम्मानित किया गया। इस मौके पर हरनेक सिंह, संदीप झींझा, दुली चंद, सुमन लता और सुनैना बाला व स्कूल स्टाफ मौजूद था।(लछमण)
हॉस्टल की जमीन पर बनेगा कम्यूनिटी हॉल!
एक तरफ जहां पंजाब में मुख्यमंत्री प्रकाश सिंह बादल की बहू एवं सांसद हरसिमरत कौर नन्हीं छांव मुहिम के जरिये बच्चियों के साथ साथ पर्यावरण संरक्षण का संदेश दे रही हैं, वहीं फाजिल्का में बच्चियों के लिए बनाए जा रहे दो हॉस्टल की जगह छीन ली गई है। पिछले दिनों एससी वर्ग की लड़कियों के लिए बनाए गर्ल्स हॉस्टल पर एसएसपी दफ्तर के लिए पुलिस का कब्जा होने के बाद अब ताजा मामला सरकारी प्राइमरी स्कूल में बनने वाले कस्तूरबा गांधी बालिका विद्यालय एवं हॉस्टल की जगह एक एनजीओ को कम्यूनिटी हॉल बनाने के लिए दे दी गई है।
इसका विरोध कर रहे ब्लाक प्राइमरी शिक्षा अधिकारी ब्लाक दो रामकृष्ण धुनकिया ने बताया कि अरोड़वंश भवन से सटे वर्ष 1952 में शुरू किए गए सरकारी प्राइमरी स्कूल नंबर तीन में बच्चों की संख्या कम होने पर साल 2004-05 में शिक्षा विभाग के निदेशक के आदेश पर राधा स्वामी कालोनी में स्थानांतरित कर दिया गया। उधर, स्कूल की जगह शिक्षा विभाग के कब्जे में रखने के आदेश दिए गए थे। अब तक इस जगह को ट्रेनिंग के उद्देश्य और सरकारी रिकार्ड एवं पुस्तकों के स्टोर के रूप में प्रयोग किया जा रहा है। अब विभाग द्वारा इस जगह पर कस्तूरबा गांधी बालिका विद्यालय एवं होस्टल का निर्माण करने के लिए 7.25 लाख व ब्लाक रिसोर्सपर्सन के लिए मीटिंग हाल बनाने के लिए पांच लाख रुपये की ग्रांट मंजूर हुई है। जब विभाग ने 17 सितंबर, 2011 को उस जगह पर निर्माण शुरू करवाया तो एक एनजीओ ने यह कहकर निर्माण रुकवा दिया कि यह जगह नगर परिषद ने कम्यूनिटी हाल के लिए उन्हें दे दी है। बीपीईओ ने 28 अगस्त को उक्त एनजीओ के लिए केबिनेट मंत्री सुरजीत ज्याणी द्वारा कम्यूनिटी हाल का नींव पत्थर उक्त जगह पर रखे जाने की शिकायत विभाग से कर दी है और शहर के बीचोंबीच पड़ी विभाग की करोड़ों रुपये की जमीन बचाने की मांग की है।
Rickshaw-puller takes to aloe vera farming, earns lakhs a month through exports
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, October 2
When in 1988 Dharamvir from Haryana's Damla village came here from Delhi, where he used to pull a rickshaw to earn a livelihood, he had never thought that one day he would become a successful innovative farmer.
Today, he is into aloe vera farming and earns lakhs of rupees every month. Dharamvir makes aloe vera juice by crushing the peels in a machine which has been invented by him. He prepares a gel mixed with rose petals that is sold in the domestic market as well as abroad for skin problems including acne, pigmentation and blemishes.
Talking to The Tribune, Dharamvir, who had put up a stall at a regional-level exhibition at the Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), said: "This processing machine was invented by me after I visited Ajmer about 15 years back, where I saw persons making amla (Indian gooseberry) ladoos. I resolved to come up with a similar machine and succeeded in doing so.
"One machine costs about Rs 1.35 lakh. I have sold about 55 such machines. The state government provides subsidy on this machine", said Dharmvir. From about 150 quintals of aloe vera, Dharamvir makes 5,000 bottles of aloe vera juice and each bottle is sold for Rs 120.
From the peels, he makes a gel cream and one bottle is sold for Rs 80. "The entire process from sowing to harvesting takes about Rs 25,000. It is a highly profitable business", said Dharmvir with pride.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111003/punjab.htm#8
Skewed gender ratio dips further in Fazilka, Abohar subdivisions
Skewed gender ratio dips further in Fazilka, Abohar subdivisions
Praful Chander Nagpal
Fazilka, October 2
Efforts by the state government and various NGOs to check female foeticide have come to a naught. At least that appears from the skewed sex ratio figures emerging from Fazilka and Abohar subdivisions of the Fazilka district.
Against 1,000 boys, there are 892 girls in Fazilka subdivision, according to the figures of the 2011 Census. The count of females is four notches down from 896 in the last (2001) Census. The total population of the subdivision is 2,78,869.
Similarly, in Abohar subdivision, the ratio of girls was 864 in the 2001 Census, which, too, has come down by four points to 860 in the latest Census. The population of the subdivision stands at 2,52,345. The only consolation in the district is Jalalabad subdivision. Here, the population is 2,56,140. The ratio of girls has gone up from 917 in 2001 to 924. The figures were obtained from the government gazette by the Graduate Welfare Association Fazilka.
"The falling sex ratio puts a question mark over the government efforts to check foeticide, particularly in this border district. It appears that despite imposition of ban on pre-natal sex determination and stringent provisions of the PNDT Act, the tests are being conducted frequently," said PNDT Act Committee (Civil Hospital, Fazilka) member Raj Kishore Kalra.
Civil Surgeon, Ferozepur, Dr Kiranjit Singh, who assumed charge about two months back, said two ultrasound centres, of the total nine in Fazilka, had been sealed recently for after they were found flouting the norms of the PNDT Act.
Meanwhile, several NGOs have been continuously putting in efforts to check foeticide. While Social Welfare Society Fazilka has been organising seminars in government schools, the Sarhad Social Welfare Society has been organising Kanya Lohri Mela since the past 3 years. In this fair, the parents of the girl child are honoured.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111003/punjab.htm#3Saturday, October 1, 2011
Silence of the lambs :: Inter-city rail links have been inexplicably delayed yet the state MPs don’t yell
A TRIBUNE INVESTIGATION PUNJAB PUBLIC TRANSPORT - 5
Silence of the lambs
Inter-city rail links have been inexplicably delayed yet the state MPs don't yell
Punjab Bureau
Chandigarh, September 30
After years of public pressure, the Union Ministry of Railways finally scheduled a non-stop train linking Chandigarh with Amritsar earlier this year. But even as it complied with the popular demand, it introduced one of the slowest of its Duronto trains. The train takes four hours to traverse the 270 kms, just half an hour less than what a non-stop bus would take. The Shatabdi from Chandigarh to Delhi takes 3 hours and 15 minutes for covering almost the same distance despite several stops on the way.
Passengers from Amritsar and Chandigarh are not complaining as the journey is far more comfortable and cheaper than luxury buses. The fare including food is Rs 355 as compared to luxury buses that charge Rs 350 (without food). The private bus transport lobby is obviously not too happy with what they see as a major competitor for their services.
There are complaints that the powerful bus transport lobby has ensured that there are great delays in introduction of rail links between major cities and towns in Punjab. For the past 20 years, the Railways has struggled to establish a rail link between Chandigarh and Ludhiana, a distance of just 100 kms. Started in late 1990, the project has been progressing at a snail's pace with deadlines constantly getting extended.
While the Chandigarh-Morinda segment is complete, work on the vital Morinda-Sahnawal - a 50 km stretch - has been pending for many years. Work is also still on between Sahnawal and Ludhiana section - the third and final part of the rail link. The deadline for the Chandigarh-Ludhiana connection was to be March 31, 2010. But it has been inexplicably extended to March 31, 2013.
The other important missing rail links are between Bathinda and Amritsar, Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib, Barnala-Mansa and Sardulgarh, Gurdaspur to Derababa Nanak and Samrala-Rahon, to name just a few. Work on the Abohar- Fazilka rail link was to have been completed by March 31, 2007 and the train was to be introduced on April 1, 2010.
The rail links are ready but the train service has still not started. The Railways claims that they have been testing the track safety — but that's now over a year already. In the absence of rail links between major population centres, people in Punjab have no choice but to travel by road transport.
What has been most intriguing is the comparative silence of the normally vocal elected representatives from Punjab in the two Houses of Parliament. A study done by The Tribune of the current Lok Sabha, constituted in 2009, reveals just how lackadaisical Punjab politicians have been on the subject of rail links in the state. Punjab CPI leader Joginder Dyal holds the strong road transport lobby, with the backing of political bigwigs of the state, responsible for what he calls "a conspiracy of silence" in Parliament.
While Dyal may be seeing too many demons in the conduct of Punjab Parliamentarians with regard to the non-existent rail links in the state, it is a fact that they have surprisingly not made much noise about it. The Tribune study showed that some of the sitting Punjab MPs, including Congress spokesman Manish Tewari and his party colleagues Vijay Inder Singla, Santosh Chaudhary, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Sukhdev Singh Libra have not even asked a single question pertaining to the Ministry of Railways since 2009.
Incidentally, Manish Tewari, otherwise, tops the list as he had raised 194 questions to his credit followed by 130 by Partap Singh Bajwa, also of the Congress till the end of the Budget session of Parliament this year. Partap Bajwa, however, raised four questions on Railways besides participating in the summing-up debate on Railway Budget this year but didn't make any reference to Punjab.
Harsimrat Badal, wife of Deputy CM of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, who tops the list among Opposition members from Punjab and raised 106 questions, also did not ask too many questions about the Railways' apparent apathy towards Punjab. There are only two questions on Railways to her credit so far.
It is only the Youth Congress chief Ravneet Singh Bittu, who has been frequently raising queries about new train services, including the Duronto train in Parliament. Of the 100 questions raised by him, he asked 10 questions so far related to the railway services to the state. Rattan Singh Ajnala of Shiromani Akali Dal has also been active, raising eight questions about rail links in the state out of a total of 55 questions raised by him. Interestingly, none of the Punjab MPs has during the current session asked a single question about one of the oldest and prestigious projects - Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link.
Rail links for Punjab would be a boon for the common man, especially those from the weaker sections, apart from boosting trade between states and also with Pakistan. Apart from it being a lot safer, it is also economical compared to bus travel and can be far more comfortable. According to Raghu Dayal, a rail expert and former chairman and managing director of Container Corporation of India, the second class mail/express fare was 23.1 paise per km in 2000-01. It remained at 23.2 paise even in 2008-09. The ordinary second class fare has remained low at 14.9 paise per km and suburban travel even lower at 12.9 paise per km. On the other hand, the fare on Punjab state road transport services in 2008-09 averaged 48.37 paise per km which has now gone up to 70 paise per km.
Even if the Railway Ministry raises its fares, which is heavily subsidised for the common man, it will be far cheaper than travel by bus and more environment friendly. Good rail connectivity would also reduce the high fatality rates on Punjab's highways, said to be one of the highest in the country today. Why such rail links have not been established in the past 45 years is the question that Punjab politicians, who control much of the bus transport business, need to answer.
(Prabhjot Singh with inputs from Sushil Goyal, Kulwinder Sandhu, Gurdeep Mann, Megha Mann, Kulwinder Sandhu, Kusum Arora, Puneet Pal Singh Gill, Ravi Dhaliwal, Neeraj Bagga and Pawan Kumar Jaiswar).
For earlier parts of the series Click here
Delayed Rail links
Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto Train (was originally scheduled to be introduced from April 1, 2010). Finally started in August 2011
Abohar-Fazilka (project was origially scheduled to be completed on March 31,2007). Train yet to start
Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link: Started in 1990. Work at snail's pace although distance is just 100 km. Project is delayed much beyond its revised deadline of March 31, 2010. Now scheduled for completion on March 31, 2013.
Rail links needed but nowhere in sight
Bathinda-Amritsar
Barnala-Mansa-Sardulgarh-Sirsa
Patti-Makhu
Gurdaspur-Dera Baba Nanak
Samrala-Rahon
Amritsar - Anandpur Sahib
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111001/main5.htm