DC says he has no authority to cancel Sadique’s certificate

Chandigarh, May 17
A month after the SC Commission directed the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana to cancel the Scheduled Caste certificate issued to Mohammad Sadique, the bard-turned-Congress legislator from Bhadaur, the DC has referred the matter back to the Directorate of SC and ST Welfare, Chandigarh.
Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari said the authority to cancel the certificate rested with the state board constituted for the welfare of SCs and BCs.
“The board will conduct an indepth inquiry into the issue. It will issue a show-cause notice to the candidate and give him time to file a representation and appear before the board. If he is found practising Islam as his religion, his certificate will be cancelled,” Tiwari said.
Lakha Singh, Deputy Director, Welfare Department, said they were yet to receive any communication from the DC.
The SC Commission had on April 24 directed the DC to cancel Sadique’s certificate as he was a Muslim and could not be certified as an SC. It had also directed that all such certificates issued earlier be cancelled and the compliance report sent every month.

Sadique won from the Bhadaur (reserve) seat defeating retired bureaucrat Darbara Singh Guru in the recent assembly poll. Guru challenged his election in the High Court, saying that Sadique was not eligible to contest from the Bhadaur (R) seat as he was a Muslim. Interestingly, the commission had directed the DC to cancel Sadique’s certificate despite a set procedure in such cases. Sadique says he is being targeted as he had defeated an Akali heavyweight and a senior bureaucrat. 

Looking back

n The Scheduled Caste Commission had on April 24 directed the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner to cancel Mohammed Sadique's certificate as he was a Muslim and could not be certified as an SC

n It had directed that all such certificates issued earlier be cancelled and the compliance report sent every month

n Sadique, Bhadaur MLA, says he is being targeted as he had defeated Akali heavyweight DS Guru

n Guru had challenged his election in the High Court

Plan panel okays Rs 14,000-cr outlay for Punjab

Planning Commission nod for cancer hospital in Malwa; water-logging, depleting water table to be dealt with
New Delhi, May 14
The Planning Commission today approved an annual plan outlay of Rs 14,000 crore for Punjab for the 2012-13 financial year. The amount has been hiked by 10 per cent as compared to last year's outlay of Rs 12,800 crore.
The plan was finalised at a meeting, attended among others by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in the national capital. The commission also focused on problems plaguing Punjab, prominent among them being cancer, depleting underground water table and water-logging in the Malwa belt.
Union Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar announced the initiatives at a press conference. He said: “It has been decided to provide financial and technical support to the state for setting up a cancer research institute in the Malwa region on the lines of TATA memorial institute in Mumbai.” The rising cancer cases were on the mind of both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, he said.

Kumar said an expert committee headed by Mihir Saha, a member of the Planning Commission, would look into the problems of water-logging, depleting underground water table and poor water quality in Malwa. The team would do a comprehensive review of the situation in consultation with experts and state government officials. The committee would also recommend steps for diversification of agriculture to promote alternate crops such as maize. Paddy requires a lot of water and experts have long held the belief that it was the main reason behind the falling underground water level.
Ahluwalia also asked Punjab to rationalise the use of water resources. Punjab is the second highest extractor of underground water at 33.97 billion cubic metres (BCM) per year. Only Uttar Pradesh, which is 10 times bigger in area than Punjab, extracts more water (46 BCM).
The Department of Bio-technology, Government of India, has proposed to enter into a joint venture with the Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana for advanced research on plant-soil-water ecology, germ plasma, gene bank, bio-technology, bio-fuse and tissue culture, food processing and marketing. The modalities would be worked out in near future.
The commission also okayed building of industrial infrastructure in border districts. The plan panel also gave an in-principle approval to creation of an industrial zone to support ancillary units around the Bathinda refinery.

As Punjab not qualify for several central schemes (norms are more in tune with the states that are tottering), the commission assured of exploring suitable modifications in various plans, including MNREGA, to enable Punjab utilise funds for restoration and revamping of its canal system.

Sikh Seva Foundation’s 1st Annual Food Drive Donates 10,000 Food Items

SURREY – A food drive organised by Sikh Seva Foundation with the support of local Sikh Community and Sikh Organisations for the Month of April donated over 10,000 food items weighing 8126 Pounds to BC Food Banks on Monday May 7.

“We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the community for their generous donations, the response was overwhelming. The community united to donate over 8100 pounds of food. We wantto thank everyone for taking part in 1st Annual Seva Community Food Drive, organized by the Sikh Seva Foundation in association with Food Banks BC. Your selfless service to the community is appreciated,” the organization said in a press release.

The month long food drive was held in April and food items were dropped off at Sikh Gurdwaras and schools in the Lower Mainland.

“We feel so honoured to see the community taking part in such a fundamental project. Food is energy, food is love and food gives hope to those who face challenges in providing nourishment to their families, seniors and others who cannot afford the basics. It is great to see the community stepping up their efforts this year to meet these challenges, to help others and to show how much they care about one another,” said one organizer.

“I feel this is so important. Every day I see people in need and I want to help. This is something I can do,” explains a youth volunteer. “Collecting food for others is just my small way of supporting the community. Everyone should help if they are able to. Whatever you donate, will be helpful.”

The Sikh Seva Foundation is a community driven initiative focusing on volunteering today to help give hope for tomorrow. Their goal is not to have any one person lead or direct; it is to have the entire community work to improve conditions for everyone. The purpose of Sikh Seva Foundation is to be a volunteer bank resource for a wide range of charities throughout the Lower Mainland.

The Foundation’s activities are inspired by the principles of Sikhism, including:

• Equality and fraternity of all human beings

• Selfless service to others, especially any one who is impoverished, disadvantaged or vulnerable

• Diligent and honest work

• Sharing with the community the fruits of one’s labour

• Increasing understanding and acceptance among all human beings

For more information email at info@sikhsevafoundation.com or visit their website www.sikhsevafoundation.com

Punjab seeks better coordination with Canada

Chandigarh - Punjab Revenue and NRI Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday sought better coordination with Canada to redress the grievances and disputes pertaining to Non Resident Indians. Majithia sought this cooperation from Canada when Consul General of Canada, Scot Slessor called on him at his residence.Majithia said that constant and better coordination between Punjab Government and Canadian Government would also create new job avenues for Punjabi youth besides strengthening the ties of both countries in agriculture, business, industrial and skill management and skill training sectors. He also emphasised on the need to initiate joint ventures between young entrepreneurs of both the countries.
He also informed that in view of exchanging agriculture techniques the Punjab and Alberta State of Canada would soon sign an MoU of Agriculture Cooperation. Majithia said that Punjab can play a major role to establish stronger bilateral relations between India and Canada.
He said that Canada was facing a shortage of skilled workers and this problem can be solved by Punjab by providing skilled workers to Canada. He said that Canada should coordinate with Punjab Government to take forward the concept of Twin City for the training of skilled workers.
Slessor invited the delegation of Punjab Government’s officials from departments like Agriculture, Education and Industry to identify the job opportunities for punjabi youth according to requirement of Canadian Government.
He said that the farmers of Punjab can also replicate the modern techniques of farming in Canada here to make farming sector more earning through scientific and environment friendly methods. He also exhorted the Punjabi youths for their hard work and enterprising spirit for further acceleration Canada’s development.

After Kabaddi, Dy CM Sukhbir Badal to promote Horse Racing

Chandigarh, May 10
After kabaddi, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is set to take his passion for horses to a new level by initiating work on an international racecourse in Ludhiana. There will also be a provision for dog races.

Alike kabaddi, the Deputy Chief Minister is set to market the race in Ludhiana as one where the prize money will be highest in the country. The Kabaddi World Cup organised by Punjab offered Rs 1 crore prize the first year, which was doubled to Rs 2 crore the next year.

“We will offer double the prize money being offered by top players in horse racing,” Sukhbir told The Tribune. At present, the Indian Derby offers highest prize of around Rs 2.5 crore in the country.

Sukhbir himself is a horse breeder with his stud farm at Lambi village winning several prizes in state championships. There are over a dozen quality stud farms in the state, including Dashmesh stud farm managed by the family of former Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar and AB stud farm in Patiala managed by Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and Major Brijindra Singh.

The Deputy Chief Minister said tenders for the racecourse would be released within a year. “We want to encourage horse breeding, which is already done in the state, as well as make Ludhiana an international centre for horse racing,” he said.

Once a racecourse came up in the city, more farmers would take to horse breeding, he said, dubbing horse breeding as another form of agriculture.

Sukhbir said Punjab also had a tradition of dog races. He said dog races would be organised as per international specifications and this too would give another earning option to farmers.

CANADA-BASED NRI’S DEATH

It’s a murder, allege kin 

Ludhiana, May 10
A day after the Jagraon police booked four "contract marriage" agents allegedly for forcing 22-year-old Canada-based NRI Amanpal to commit suicide and dumping his body in a canal, Tajinder Singh, victim's brother and other relatives, today claimed that he was killed by the four persons.

Tajinder, a native of Jalandhar settled in Bramption, Canada, met police officials in Jagraon today. He alleged that the police was insisting that Amanpla had committed suicide.

"My brother had told me on the phone that he wanted to return to Canada, but Kulwant Singh, Aman and Karamjit Kaur, alias Kammo, had confiscated his passport. He was not someone who could commit suicide," said Tajinder.

The police has initiated its probe on the suicide theory merely on the statements of the accused even as the dead body has not been recovered so far, he added.

Punjab govt to take action against erring technical institutions

CHANDIGARH: “Punjab Govt. would take punitive action against those erring technical education institutions who admit the students but do not provide the placements. The institution is responsible for not only admitting & educating the students but also to make them employable and provide them jobs. Institute should maintain good educational standards and should ensure that every student of state become employable or start his or her own business”.

 

Anil Joshi, Minister for Industry & Commerce, Technical Education & Industrial Training, Punjab was at “Aryans Mega Job Fest” at PHD Chamber organized by Aryans College of Engineering. 

 

He was addressing representatives of more than 30 companies & hundreds of students & parents who have come to attend Aryans "Mega Job Fest”. The event was presided over by Dr.Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans College of Engineering. Selection letters were also given to the finally selected candidates by minister.

 

On the other hand, 265 Students were selected by around 30 leading companies from the different courses like B.Tech, BBA, BCA, BA, MBA, MCA, M.Tech, Diploma/ITI etc. A total of 2536 candidates appeared in these companies.

Talking to the media, Joshi further said that there are proposals to start new colleges in the state but the main agenda of the government would be to encourage Quality education in order to increase employment opportunities in the state. 

 

The government also constitutes committees to regulate the education parameters in the institutions. Further the colleges have also been instructed to start personality development courses in order to improve communication skills in the students and make them self confident, added the minister.

 

Dr.Anshu Kataria said that the group would target to provide jobs to around 2000 engineering, 1000 Polytechnic Diploma holders & 500 MBA students. For this we have started contacting the Companies those who have heavy manpower requirement in this current financial year. 

 

He further added that Aryans Group is fully committed for the placement of its students at reputed national and international companies. Aryans Group has established its name in terms of placements in such a short span of time of 5 years. More than 150 companies have already visited Aryans Campus last year & Around 250 companies are expected to visit in current financial year. 

 

It is to be mentioned that AEGON Religare, Alma Technologies ,Altruist Technologies, Canam Consultants, Career Plannerz, Competent Synergies, DADA Motors, Dell, DLF Insurance, Dominos, Eureka Forbes, EXIM Enterprises, Google, HCL,HDFC ,Honda, IFBI,IKYA Global, India Dialing, Kocher Infotech, Kotak Mahindra, Max Media Technologies ,Max New York ,Money Ambit, Reliance, Pizza Hut, Solitaire Infosys, Solutions Beyond, Solutions ,Spectra Force Technologies, Sprey House ,Tech Mahindra, Water Berry Participated in this job fest.

Centre to support any Punjab govt project on safe drinking water

GURDASPUR: After visiting the border areas of Gurdaspur district along with MP Partap Singh Bajwa, minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh on Friday said that full assistance would be given to Punjab government if it comes out with any proposal to tackle the uranium contamination in underground water.

Among others who accompanied Ramesh included Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) member Raman Behal, Ashwani Sekhri (MLA ) and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa (MLA).

While admitting that nothing much bad been done to improve the quality of drinking water Ramesh said that his ministry would focus on providing quality drinking water. He also said that an additional budgetary provision was made for the purpose. "We will support any project submitted to the ministry by the Punjab government for providing safe drinking water," he said.

In the recent past, the government had issued directions to install Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifier system in the villages of Tarn Taran district where presence of radioactive material was found in the water samples.

The RO purifying system is a preventive measure against the spread of toxic particles in water that can cause kidney diseases, cancer apart from deadly diseases.

Water samples taken from Sarhali Khurd and Chambal villages of Naushehra Pannuan confirmed traces of uranium after they were tested at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai.

The rural development minister said that his ministry had recently directed the setting up of International Centre for Water Quality in Kolkata. This centre would primarily deal with problems relating to arsenic contamination.

Known as Green Man, Ramesh said that he aimed at providing green cover to the rural India by way of afforestration, water conservation , restoration of water bodies under various schemes.

Ramesh said he had asked Punjab chief minister to make the state 'open defecation free' in next three years time.

12 PCS officers shifted in State

Chandigarh, May 10
The Punjab Government today issued transfer orders of 12 PCS officers in the state with immediate effect.
A government spokesman said Jaipal Singh had been shifted as SDM Dharkalan along with additional charge of Deputy Commissioner (R&R), Ranjit Sagar Dam, Shahpur Kandi and LAC, Shahpur Kandi. He would also have the charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Pathankot.
Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal had been posted as ADC (General), Hoshiarpur, while Vinay Bublani had been made Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar.
Puneet Goyal had been transferred as SDM, Chamkaur Sahib, while Amit Talwar would now function as Manager (Personnel & Admn.), Punsup. Rajesh Tirpathi’s new posting would be as SDM, Malerkotla, with additional charge of SDM, Dhuri.
Likewise, Subhash Chander had been posted as SDM, Lehragagga, with additional charge of SDM, Moonak. Paramjit Singh is the new SDM at Khandoor Sahib while Satish Kumar Singla had been posted as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Phagwara.
Baljit Singh, PCS (Retd), had been posted ADC (G), Gurdaspur, while Ashok Kumar Sikka, PCS (Retd) had been posted Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Patiala. Gurjit Singh, PCS (Retd), goes as SDM, Ferozepur.

Fake encounter: CBI court acquits Moga SSP, 6 others

Chandigarh - A CBI court in Chandigarh acquitted on Thursday seven police personnel, including Moga SSP Surjeet Singh Grewal, in a 23-year-old alleged fake encounter case.
The court acquitted the police personnel by giving them "benefit of doubt". Kulwant Singh's father Tarlochan Singh (73), retired Principal of Khalsa School in Kurali, was fighting to get justice for his son, who was allegedly killed in a fake encounter in 1989.

Tarlochan's only son, 20-year-old Kulwant alias Kid, was allegedly abducted by Punjab police personnel from a rented house at Mohali along with another person and later eliminated in a fake encounter near Sohana in 1989.
Tarlochan did not even get to see his son's body as the police had cremated him in a hurry. Kulwant is shown by police to be a proclaimed offender (PO) till now.
The CBI had named seven Punjab police personnel in the case, including Grewal, who was then the incharge of crime investigation agency staff at Patiala, Nikka Ram, Gurcharan Singh, Chanan Singh, Dyal Singh, Amarjeet Singh and Birbal Das. One of the accused died during the trial.

Timeline

• July 22, 1989: Kulwinder Singh allegedly killed in fake encounter
• April 24, 1995: Court directs CBI to register a case
• 2002: Court frames charges of abduction against Grewal and Amarjit; five other policemen booked for murder
• 2010: Charges of murder slapped against Grewal and Amarjit too
• 2012: All accused acquitted of charges

Anand Marriage Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, May 7
The government today brought before Parliament a Bill to amend the 103-year-old statute that hitherto allowed solemnisation of Sikh marriages but not their legal validation.
The Anand Marriage Amendment Bill:2012, introduced in the Rajya Sabha today by Law Minister Salman Khurshid, amends the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, by inserting a new Section enabling registration of marriages performed as per the Sikh rituals (Anand Karaj).
The amendment Bill defines the Sikh marriage ceremony as “Anand Karaj” instead of “Anand” as in the old law. Once passed by both Houses of Parliament, it will give the Sikhs the liberty to register their marriages separately and will exempt them from registering these under the Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths Act, 1969 (which the government plans to amend to provide for religion neutral registration of marriages across India).
The Sikhs would continue to have the option of registering their marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, as before. It was registration under this Act that had been causing confusion about their religious identity abroad with their marriage certificates describing them as Hindus.
Importantly, the amendment Bill doesn’t provide for divorce among Sikh couples. For a divorce, they would have to use the Hindu Marriage Act.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka, commenting on the matter, said: “Because the amendment Bill serves a limited purpose of giving Sikh religion a separate identity by allowing marriage registration under a pre-existing law, it is not a complete marriage law.
“Any religion to be recognised must have its separate ceremony of births, deaths and marriages. Sikhs didn’t have a separate marriage law so far and they wanted the Anand Marriage Act amended for the purpose. For divorce, Sikhs can use the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.”
The amendment Bill clearly states that “parties whose marriage has been registered under this Act won’t be required to get marriage registered under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, after the enactment of the proposed amendments in this Bill.” “Today we have won the battle for a separate identity as a religion,” said former MP Tarlochan Singh who led the movement for the Bill. “The SGPC is also against any divorce provision under the Anand Marriage Amendment Bill,” he said. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law had approved these amendments in 2007 when Veerappa Moily was Law Minister. “The Bill need not go again to the standing committee and can be simply taken up and passed,” Tarlochan Singh added.

No provision of divorce in the new BillFor seeking divorce, Sikhs would have to use the Hindu Marriage Act. The Union Cabinet had approved amendment to the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, on April 12 this year

Highway horror in Moga; 18 dead

Moga, May 7
Eighteen persons, including six women and five children, were killed in a head-on collision between a Canter and a truck near Ghal Kalan village on the Moga-Ferozepur national highway in the wee hours here today.

The victims hailed from Daulatpura Uchha and Daulatpura Niwan villages of the Moga district. They were returning home in the Canter (HP-73-1054) after paying obeisance at the Nanaksar Kaleran gurdwara situated in the Jagraon subdivision of Ludhiana district.

The accident took place around 2 am. While 14 persons were killed on the spot, four others died in a Moga hospital. No one travelling in the Canter could survive.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the speeding truck (PB-29G-9765) crashed head-on with the Canter while trying to overtake some vehicle. Satpal Singh Bhangu SP (D) said the truck driver fled from the spot leaving behind his vehicle.

A criminal case under Sections 304, 427 and 279 of the IPC has been registered against the truck driver. He has been identified as Sukhwinder Singh of Kotkaror village of Ferozepur district.

Owner of the Canter Pala Singh was also killed in the accident. Eleven members of Pala Singh’s family, including him, were killed in the accident. The other members of his family who were killed included his wife Charanjit Kaur, sons Surjit Singh and Ranjit Singh, daughters-in-law Inderjit Kaur and Ranjit Kaur, grandsons Gurpreet Singh, Taranbir Singh and Ranbir Singh and granddaughters Manpreet Kaur and Sanpreet Kaur.

Another family of Daulatpura Niwan village lost five members in the accident. The two other persons killed in the accident were identified as Jaswant Singh and Surinder Kumar. Moga DM Arshdeep Singh Thind announced that the administration would bear expenses for the cremation of victims.

SSP BURSTS INTO TEARS

Moga SSP Surjit Singh burst into tears while meeting family members of the deceased at the district hospital. “I can understand the pain of losing family members in tragic incidents,” he said.

‘Satyamev Jayate’: Truly Soul Stirring

Satyamev Jayate, a reality show anchored by Khan that dealt with the issue of female foeticide in its first episode, saw huge support from viewers on social networking websites within hours of its broadcast on Sunday morning.

The show, aired on television channels run by Star India Pvt. Ltd, including Star Plus and Star World and other regional channels in the Star bouquet, was among the top five trends in India on microblogging website Twitter.
Satyamev Jayate was also the top search in India on Google Trends.
“I am really touched and emotionally moved with the response,” Khan said. “I am glad people have liked it.”
Satyamev Jayate’s website received 42,000 likes on Facebook by around 9pm. On Twitter, at least 3,800 tweets were posted on the subject.
The debut episode of Satyamev Jayate was made available for viewing on its website soon after the telecast. “Our website crashed twice,” Khan’s spokesperson said.
Star India plans to upload the episodes on YouTube, a video website run by Google Inc.
Viewers lavishly praised the show, which also marked Khan’s television debut, on Facebook, the leading social networking website.
“Great show…and hope lots of other issues of importance would be covered,” said Rajan Sekhir. Another viewer, Ali Akbar Barodawala, said, “Great show and hosted it beautifully Aamir bhai. God bless and we are all with you supporting the cause.”
Satyamev Jayate aims to address India’s socioeconomic issues in 13 episodes, which will be aired every Sunday at 11am. The first episode dealt with the issue of female foeticide. The one-and-a-half-hour episode also featured a song, O Ri Chiraiya, performed by Swanand Kirkire and Ram Sampath.
The song, too, was well received by viewers. “A song that brings tears to the eyes,” Shweta Patil posted on Facebook.
Viewers outside India also praised the show. One such viewer, Ankit, tweeted, “I loved it and so did my entire family with whom I revived the lost Sunday morning tradition of watching TV. Thank you for that Satyamev Jayate.”
“A show which brings tears in our eyes and force us to think upon such a major issue,” another viewer, Raghib Khan, tweeted. “Hats off to Aamir and Satyamev Jayate team.”
Corporate India, social activists, and film and cricket celebrities also joined the praise bandwagon.
Anti-corruption campaigner Kiran Bedi tweeted, “Aamir’s Satyamev Jayate on Star Plus turned an idiot box into collective inspirational seeding, across professional cultural or age differences.”
Neeraj Roy, managing director and chief executive of Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, tweeted, “Stop being cynical and start acting. Watching Satyamev Jayate. Brilliant effort. Well done Aamir Khan and Satya. We can make a difference.”
Khan and his team have left no stone unturned in making sure viewers participate through phone messages. Satyamev Jayate’s tweet said, “Thanks. SMS Y to 5782711 if the Rajasthan govt should set up a fast track court to tackle female foeticide.”
Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle tweeted, “If Aamir Khan provides the action promised, Satyamev Jayate will truly succeed. For that action, we too have to be involved. SMS for a start.”
Shabana Azmi tweeted, “Aamir Khan’s show can bring a revolution. Thoroughly researched, covers all aspects, touches emotional chord n forces us to re-examine ourselves.”
Bollywood actor Preity Zinta tweeted, “Watching Aamir Khan on Satyamev Jayate discussing female feticide. I love this effort from him and thank him as a woman.” Film-maker and actor Farhan Akhtar tweeted, “Satyamev Jayate. A show with a heart.”
Khan is earning Rs. 3 crore to anchor each episode, a record in Indian television, Mint had reported on 21 April.
The broadcaster Star India is betting big on the show. It hopes to earn Rs. 10 lakh per 10 seconds of commercials aired during the show. According to Kevin Vaz, president, advertising sales, Star India, each episode of the show has just 30 seconds of inventory still available for advertisers.
Bharti Airtel Ltd is the presenting sponsor of the show and has paid around Rs. 18 crore, while water purifier brand Aquaguard, another sponsor, has paid some Rs. 16 crore, according to media buyers and channel executives.
The six associate sponsors—Axis Bank Ltd, Coca-Cola India, Skoda Auto India, Berger Paints India Ltd, Dixcy Textiles Pvt. Ltd, and Johnson and Johnson Ltd—have paid between Rs. 6 crore and Rs. 7 crore each.

Despite ban, stubble burning continues in State

Patiala, May 6
Despite a ban imposed on stubble burning, the unhealthy practice continues unabated in Sangrur and Patiala districts. Stubble burning not only pollutes the environment, but it also causes health ailments.
During a visit to villages in Sunam, Sangrur and Lehragaga, it came to light that post-harvest, wheat stubble in most of the fields was burnt to ashes. A shopkeeper in Lehragaga opined that because of stubble burning, dense smoke even engulfs residential areas, thereby causing respiratory problems to inhabitants.
During a visit to areas of Patran, Shutrana, Samana and periphery areas of the city, TNS team spotted numerous farms, wherein wheat stubble was being burnt.
Patiala residents said there was an immediate need to create awareness among farmers on the issue. “Unless and until farmers are made aware about the ill effects of stubble burning, the practice will continue,” said Mohit Kapila, a city resident.
Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital principal Dr KD Singh said stubble burning could cause conjunctivitis. "The smoke emanating from the burning of stubble can lead to several health problems, including bronchitis, respiratory problems and skin ailments," he added.
A physician says stubble burning also depletes the red blood cell (RBC) count and adversely affects the oxygen carrying capacity in the body.
It is pertinent to mention that due of stubble burning, accident cases were also reported from various parts of the state. On October 11, 2011, three children were charred to death when an autorickshaw accidentally overturned at a field where the paddy straw was set ablaze near Mehta village in Amritsar.
Patiala Deputy Commissioner GK Singh said he had spoken to SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill for registration of cases against farmers violating the prohibitory orders against stubble burning. He, however, added, “I feel that solution to the problem can be achieved through spreading awareness among farmers and NGOs can play an instrumental role in this regard.” Sangrur DC Kumar Rahul was not available for comments

Punjab hunts for 5 'fidayeen'

SANGRUR (PUNJAB): A day after the Union government issued an alert on a possible terror strike in four states, including Punjab, intelligence agencies circulated pictures of five suspected fidayeen. Punjab police have access to the photos of suspected fidayeen and going by the threat perception, paramilitary forces have been put on security, officials said.

Central intelligence agencies have alerted Punjab police of probable attacks at oil stations in Sangrur, Jalandhar and the recently-inaugurated Bhatinda oil refinery. Working on these inputs, police have increased security arrangements and have involved CRPF and BSF in manning the oil depots. A company of CRPF has been stationed at the Indian oil depot at Sangur.

Patiala IG Paramjit Singh Gill, DIG L K Yadav and SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar have visited the depots.

NRI from Nagpur help build school for special children in Sangrur village

SANGUR (India): It's not only the NRIs from Punjab are giving back to the state and helping the people.

An NRI from Nagpur, settled in Bad Homburg in Germany, has donated Rs 55 lakh for construction of a school for dumb and deaf children in Thalesa village of Sangrur district.

Prabhu Paramatma, belonging to Nagpur, had attended a school function  in 2010.

When Prabhu attended a function by these children and learned about the lack of basic amenities, he announced a donation to construct a special school for these children without any government help.

Prabhu, who has been working as a coordinator and consultant for Vision 4 Children NGO of Germany, said that helping poor and needy children is the mission of his life and he has been providing help in many countries to needy children.

"Children are a precious gift of God. Children live through us and with us. Therefore, we must help them if they need us," Prabhu told TOI from Germany.

Prabhu went to Germany around 25 years back after completing his LLB from Nagpur.

When this school started in 2006, there were only 16 special children, but now the number of children has grown to 38.

Children from Sangrur, Badrukhan, Ubhawal and many other villages have been admitted in the school and  authorities have been working hard to bring maximum children to their school so that they could help them improve their lives.

Aamir Khan exhorts Sangrur village to shunt out liquor vend

Sangrur (Punjab) - It was a Taare Zameen Par moment for Changal, a village five kilometres from Sangrur city. One of the 50-odd villages which had shot to fame following their panchayat’s resolution to close down liquor vend as part of their fight against growing menace of alcoholism, on Friday got a thumbs up from Bollywood star Aamir Khan, whose crew came down to hold a special video conferencing of the actor with the villagers.

It was in 2009 that Changal decided to say no to liquor during the panchayat elections. In October last year, the crew of Aamir Khan Productions had come down to the villages of Sangrur to shoot a documentary on their fight against alcoholism. Today, the village had a date with the star himself. Village sarpanch Paramjit Singh says he told Aamir that women had assured him their votes during the panchayat elections after he promised to rid the village of the liquor vend.

“On becoming a sarpanch, our panchayat passed a resolution to shut it down. The resolution was forwarded to the department of excise, which was forced to shunt it out in 2009. Again last year, we passed the same resolution and there has been no liquor vend in the village for two years now,” he says.

Alcoholism is one of the many reasons for rising cases of debt in Sangrur villages, which also shares the dubious distinction of being the farmer suicide belt of the state, says NGO, People for Transparency.

“We have been working in Sangrur since 2007. We helped panchayats understand that their decision was binding on the government. Initially, just four villages did so. In two years, the number has gone up to over 50 in Sangrur district alone and over 70 in Punjab,” says Kamal Anand of the NGO.

He points out how government excise policy is the biggest encouragement to rising problem of alcoholism. “The excise quota fixed by the department for this year is 30 crore bottles. Assuming that only those above the age of 18 who are eligible to vote also have a right to drink, the per capita allocation is two bottles a month going by the voter count of 1.7 crore for Punjab. This is both absurd and dangerous,” Anand says.

The fight of the panchayats was as much against the resistance of tipplers as it was with the government as each village vend fetches the excise department revenue between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 core. “No wonder the department had turned down the requests of many panchayats arbitrarily. It took us a fight through courts and right to information (RTI) Act to get the government to accept the verdict of the panchayats,” he adds.

And poll slogans of political parties are no more what Changal is now talking about. It is now just the slogan given by the star, Punjabio jagte raho.

ਨਿਊਜ਼ੀਲੈਂਡ 'ਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਨੇ ਉਗਾਈ 3 ਕਿਲੋ ਦੀ ਮੂਲੀ

ਮਾਸਟਰ ਤਰਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੂਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਮੋਢਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ

ਆਕਲੈਂਡ, 1 ਮਈ-ਨਿਊਜ਼ੀਲੈਂਡ ਵਸੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਮਿਹਨਤ ਤੇ ਲਗਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਇਥੇ ਦੀ ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਨੂੰ ਨਵੇਂ ਅਰਥ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ ਉਥੇ ਕੁਦਰਤ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੰਗ ਰਲਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਹਿਚਾਣ ਬਣਾਉਣ 'ਚ ਆਪਣੀ ਭੂਮਿਕਾ ਨਿਭਾਈ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਕੁਦਰਤ ਦੀ ਮਰਜ਼ੀ ਕਹਿ ਲਓ ਕਿ ਇਕ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵੀਰ ਸ. ਜਸਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੱਲੀਝਿੱਕੀ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਬੰਬੇ ਹਿੱਲ ਵਾਲੇ ਖੇਤਾਂ 'ਚ ਬੀਜੀਆਂ ਮੂਲੀਆਂ 3 ਕਿਲੋਗ੍ਰਾਮ ਤੇ ਕੱਦ 2 ਫੁੱਟ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਲੰਬੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ।

ਕਈ ਦਹਾਕਿਆਂ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ ਦੇ ਠੰਢੇ ਮੌਸਮ ਨੇ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਤੋੜਿਆ

ਪਟਿਆਲਾ, 1 ਮਈ-ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਮੇਤ ਸਮੁੱਚੇ ਉੱਤਰੀ ਭਾਰਤ 'ਚ ਮੌਸਮ ਦੇ ਬਦਲਦੇ ਮਿਜਾਜ਼ ਕਾਰਨ ਇਸ ਵਾਰ ਨਵੇਂ ਹੀ ਤਜ਼ਰਬੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਮਾਹਿਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਮੌਸਮ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਲੰਬੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਦੇਖਣ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਨਵੀਂ ਪੀੜ੍ਹੀ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਵਾਰ ਨਜ਼ਾਰਾ ਦੇਖ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। 
ਮੌਸਮ ਕਾਰਨ ਹੀ ਪਹਾੜਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਟੀਸੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਇਸ ਵਾਰ ਬਰਫ਼ ਦੇ ਪਿਘਲਣ ਦੀ ਰਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਵੀ ਸੁਸਤ ਬਣੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਿਨਾਂ 'ਚ ਮੈਦਾਨੀ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ ਵਧ ਕੇ ਅੰਦਾਜ਼ਨ 35-36 ਦਰਜੇ ਸੈਂਟੀਗਰੇਡ ਤੱਕ ਵਧ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਅੱਜ-ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਇਹ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ ਹਾਲੇ 30 ਦਰਜੇ ਸੈਂਟੀਗਰੇਡ ਦੇ ਨਜ਼ਦੀਕ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਧੇ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ ਕਾਰਨ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਲੂ ਚੱਲ ਪਿਆ ਕਰਦੀ ਸੀ ਪਰ ਹਾਲੇ ਤੱਕ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਨਾਮੋ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਅਸਰ ਸਾਡੇ ਡੈਮਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਝੀਲਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਪਹਾੜਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਟੀਸੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਹਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਕਈ ਖੇਤਰਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਹਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਬਰਫ਼ਬਾਰੀ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਘੱਟ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ ਕਾਰਨ ਹੀ ਬਰਫ਼ ਬਹੁਤ ਘੱਟ ਪਿਘਲ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਅਸਰ ਪਾਣੀ ਆਮਦ 'ਤੇ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਘਟਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਸਾਡੇ ਡੈਮਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਝੀਲਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਚਲਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ 'ਚ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਮਾਹਿਰਾਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਠੰਢਾ ਮੌਸਮ ਵੀ ਅੰਦਾਜ਼ਨ 7 ਦਹਾਕੇ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਦੇਖਣ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ 'ਚ ਅਹਿਮ ਹੈ। 
ਜੇਕਰ ਭਾਖੜਾ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਾਗਰ ਝੀਲ 'ਤੇ ਝਾਤੀ ਮਾਰੀ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਇੱਥੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ ਇਸ ਵੇਲੇ 1557 ਫੁੱਟ 'ਤੇ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਤੋਂ ਅੰਦਾਜ਼ਨ 30 ਫੁੱਟ ਘੱਟ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਡੈਮ 'ਤੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਇਸ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਹਾਲੇ ਤੱਕ 12970 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਦੇ ਹਿਸਾਬ ਨਾਲ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਇਸ ਝੀਲ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ 13800 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਦੇ ਹਿਸਾਬ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ। ਪਾਣੀ ਪੱਧਰ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਸੁਚੇਤ ਹੋਈ ਭਾਖੜਾ ਮੈਨੇਜਮੈਂਟ ਨੇ ਹੁਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਨਿਕਾਸੀ ਵੀ ਘਟਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਅੰਕੜੇ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਿਕਾਸੀ 21 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਕਿਊਸਕ ਸੀ ਜੋ ਹੁਣ ਘਟਾ ਕੇ 14000 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ ਹੋਰ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਨਾ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ। ਗੌਰਤਲਬ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ ਇਸ ਡੈਮ 'ਚ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ। ਅੰਕੜੇ ਦੱਸਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਭਾਖੜਾ ਦਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਪੱਧਰ 9 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ 2010 ਨੂੰ 1516.46 ਫੁੱਟ ਅਤੇ 12 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ 2008 ਨੂੰ 1515. 22 ਫੁੱਟ ਅਤੇ 9 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ 2003 ਨੂੰ 1505.02 ਫੁੱਟ ਮਾਪਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਭਾਖੜਾ ਮੈਨੇਜਮੈਂਟ ਬੋਰਡ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਮਾਨਸੂਨ ਦੀ ਭਵਿੱਖਬਾਣੀ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਝੀਲਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਪਾਣੀ 1688 ਫੁੱਟ ਤੇ ਅਤਿ ਸੰਵੇਦਨਸ਼ੀਲ ਸਮਿਆਂ 'ਚ 1690 ਫੁੱਟ ਤੱਕ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਪਰ 1680 ਦਾ ਅੰਕੜਾ ਪਾਰ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਹੀ ਭਾਖੜਾ ਬੋਰਡ ਚੌਕਸੀ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ। 
ਡੈਹਰ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ ਦੇ ਅੰਕੜੇ ਦੇਖੇ ਜਾਣ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ ਇਸ ਵਾਰ 2923 ਫੁੱਟ ਤੱਕ ਅੱਪੜਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਇਸ ਝੀਲ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ 2929 ਫੁੱਟ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ 5500 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਤੇ ਨਿਕਾਸੀ 7631 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ 5400 ਤੇ 6135 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਸੀ। 
ਸਾਡਾ ਤੀਜਾ ਪੌਂਗ ਡੈਮ ਵੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ 'ਚ ਅਹਿਮ ਹੈ । ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ 1323 ਫੁੱਟ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ 1346 ਫੁੱਟ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ 'ਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ 2063 ਤੇ ਨਿਕਾਸੀ 3525 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਹੈ। 
ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਾਗਰ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ ਦੇ ਅੰਕੜਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਝਾਤੀ ਮਾਰੀ ਜਾਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ 'ਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ 497 ਮੀਟਰ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਪੱਧਰ 509 ਮੀਟਰ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਡੈਮ 'ਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਤੇ ਨਿਕਾਸੀ 9280 ਦੇ ਅੰਕੜੇ ਨਾਲ ਬਰਾਬਰ ਹੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਡੈਮ ਦੀ ਝੀਲ 'ਚ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ 6427 ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਤੇ 7600 ਕਿਊਸਕ ਦੀ ਦਰ ਨਾਲ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਨਿਕਾਸੀ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ। ਜੇਕਰ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਘੱਟ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਅਸਰ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਪਵੇਗਾ। ਮਾਹਿਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਆਮਦ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਨਿਰਭਰ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਮਾਹਿਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖਦਿਆਂ, ਉਸੇ ਦਰ ਨਾਲ ਉਤਪਾਦਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। 
ਬਿਜਲੀ ਉਤਪਾਦਨ ਘਟਿਆ -ਸਾਰੇ ਹੀ ਡੈਮਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਨਿਕਾਸੀ ਘਟਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਬਿਜਲੀ ਉਤਪਾਦਨ ਵੀ ਘਟਿਆ ਹੈ। ਭਾਖੜਾ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਜੈਕਟਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਉਤਪਾਦਨ 124 ਲੱਖ ਯੂਨਿਟ ਸੀ, ਇਸ ਵਰ੍ਹੇ ਅੰਦਾਜ਼ਨ 83 ਲੱਖ ਯੂਨਿਟ ਹੀ ਹੋ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। 
ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣ ਕੀੜੇ -ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਅਫ਼ਸਰ ਡਾ: ਬਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਹਲ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੇਕਰ ਮੌਸਮ ਵਿਚ ਠੰਢਕ ਰਹੇ ਤਾਂ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦੇ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣ ਕੀੜੇ ਸਿਰ ਚੁੱਕ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਅੰਡੇ ਨਸ਼ਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ। ਇਸ ਠੰਢੇ ਮੌਸਮ ਨਾਲ ਮੱਛਰ ਮੱਖੀ ਵੀ ਵਧ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਬਿਮਾਰੀਆਂ ਫੈਲਾਉਣ ਵਿਚ ਅਹਿਮ ਭੂਮਿਕਾ ਅਦਾ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਡਾ: ਸੋਹਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਠੰਢੇ ਮੌਸਮ ਕਾਰਨ ਫ਼ਸਲਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਪੀਲੀ ਕੁੰਗੀ ਦਾ ਹਮਲਾ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਕ ਤੇ ਗਰਮ ਮੌਸਮ ਕਾਰਨ ਨਦੀਨ ਵੀ ਮਰ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਜੋ ਮੌਸਮ ਦੀ ਠੰਢਕ ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਸਿਰ ਚੁੱਕ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਹਨ।