 |
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| Wednesday, February 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India   |
BJP factions fail to brief PM
Toxic effect of effluents Four killed in hooch tragedy Coop chief's election stayed 20 pc rise in ST collection Akal Takht Jathedar deputes team |
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Amarinder
unfazed by defamation case Bhattal blames Akalis for fiscal
crisis
First Assembly segment to use EVMs Civil hospital staff on strike March against ban on
“Water” shooting Rape case: multi-party rally
threatens action Dara Singh is not Sikh: Akali
leader Murals by children Tributes paid to Kairon Team
for solving traffic problems BBMB staff demand promotion
District
attorneys seek promotion
Fake Indian currency seized 2
die in mishap Bonded
labourers attacked
Dr
Harbans Singh Sidhu Free
education for children of Kargil YPS
farewell party
Pollution
NOC period to be reduced Despite
shortage, telecom dept earns more
|
BJP factions fail to brief PM JALANDHAR, Feb 8 — The Tandon and Mittal groups in the Punjab unit of the BJP did not get an opportunity to apprise the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, of their respective positions on the corruption charges levelled by them against the party’s state President, Mr Daya Singh Sodhi, and a senior party Minister, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, during Mr Vajpayee’s brief visit to the city on Sunday. However, a BJP MLA, Mr Jagdish Sahni from Batala, made an attempt to project a good image of himself when he announced a contribution of Rs 3 lakh for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund (Shakti). Mr Vajpayee and the party General Secretary in charge of Punjab affairs, Mr Narendra Modi, spent about 50 minutes at a lunch after a function held here on Sunday, but neither camp members who were present could get a hearing from Mr Vajpayee, sources said. Mr Sahni and the Ludhiana MLA, Mr Sat Pal Gosain, who publicly levelled corruption charges against Mr Sodhi and Mr Tandon during a press conference at Ludhiana on January 2, were served show-cause notices by the party’s state president on January 16. Both have since sent their replies, which were discussed at the party meeting held here on February 3. Mr Gosain, in his three-page reply, stuck to his charges, adding, “We (Sahni and Gosain) are in possession of solid proof in respect of the charges which can be produced only at the time of inquiry”. Both Mr Sahni and Mr Gosain have demanded that an inquiry into the corruption charges against Mr Sodhi and Mr Tandon be done by an “independent agency or some senior office-bearer(s) of the party from outside Punjab, as the allegations are against the state president and the leader of the legislature group” (Mr Tandon). Mr Sodhi, after the February 3 meeting here, had, however, rejected the demand for an inquiry, claiming, “I am clean and the high command has not asked me about the allegations”. While also giving a clean chit to Mr Tandon, Mr Sodhi admitted to corruption in the Local Bodies Department when he said that it was at his (Sodhi) behest that the Department Director, Mr Mandeep Singh, was changed following allegations of corruption. Regarding the second charge, Mr Sodhi dismissed it on the ground that Mr Sahni had changed his statements relating to it. Mr Sodhi said Mr Sahni had first alleged that he (Sodhi) had not accounted for the Rs 3 lakh out of the total of Rs 7 lakh received as election funds during the Lok Sabha poll last year. Later, Mr Sahni alleged that the Rs 4 lakh taken by Mr Sodhi for a certain appointment in the Local Bodies Department had been returned when the issue was raised by Mr Panna Lal Nayar, a member of the five-member disciplinary committee of the Punjab BJP. But reliable party sources told TNS that the return of the money to a candidate who had since been appointed as an executive officer had been recorded on an audio cassette and that was being touted as “solid proof” by the two BJP legislators. Both Mr Sahni and Mr Gosain, in their replies, have not retracted their charges and instead appealed to the party’s state president to withdraw show-cause notices served on them. Mr Gosain, in his reply of January 27, claimed that he and Mr Sahni had raised the corruption issue in the party before making it public in the media. But, they said, “when no attention was paid to our voice being raised against corruption, we were left with no option and the matter was thus flashed in the press with a heavy heart...”. He also took exception
to the publication of the show-cause issued to him in the
Press first before it actually reached him by post. |
Toxic effect of effluents CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 — Toxic effluents from industrial towns and flowing into rivers, cheos and drains have become a chronic problem for the people living close to these natural water channels in Punjab. The Budha nala of Ludhiana is notorious for the toxic contents that it carried from industrial units in that city. The Gandha Nala (sullage drain), near Khadola village, a short distance from Rajpura, is another major carrier of effluence. This nala takes industrial effluents and sullage from SAS Nagar and the residents of Nadiali, Jangpura, Khadola, Jansli, Jansla, Alampur, Chamaru, Nepra and other villages on its sides suffer the consequences. According to Mr Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Jansua village, the polluted contents of the Gandha Nala have been spreading different kinds of skin diseases in the villages. The churning effluents in the nala near Dankanshu bridge generate toxic froth which the wind blows to the adjoining areas. The stink that it spreads is often unbearable. A few months ago the Haryana and Rajasthan governments had asked the Central Pollution Control Board to take action against Punjab for polluting the Ghaggar which flows into Haryana and Rajasthan with its toxic contents. Acting on this complaint, a Central team had taken samples from different waters bodies, including the Gandha nala that join the Ghaggar. The report of an analysis of these samples is not known, nor is known any action that the Central Government might have taken on its basis. An official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board said there had been no intimation from the Centre about the results of the samples taken by the team. The Haryana and Rajasthan governments had also alleged that the pollution created by Punjab in various water bodies had become a big health concern for these states. An outbreak of jaundice in parts of Rajasthan close to the Punjab border was attributed to the polluted water of the Ghaggar. Even in Punjab, the question of pollution of various water bodies was raised in the last session of the Vidhan Sabha by Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, MLA from Sardulgarh, which is affected by the Ghaggar. The government had then promised to control the pollution but there has been no respite from it. But the most serious question which has not attracted adequate attention of scientists and others is the use of this toxic water for growing vegetables and other food crops. Is it safe to eat vegetables grown with the use of toxic water? Tests carried out at the PAU Ludhiana on vegetables grown with such water have revealed the presence of toxic substances in the vegetables beyond the permissible limits. According to an official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, 31 pumps have been installed on the Gandha Nala by farmers to draw water for irrigating their vegetable and other crops. A farmer gave a straight
answer when asked about the pollution in the Gandha Nala.
“Tusi sanu Mohali ton nale rahi gandh-mandh bhejde
ho, asin tuhanu sabzi rahi wapas bhejde hain (You send us
sullage and faeces from Mohali through the nala. We send
these back to you in the shape of vegetables.) |
Four killed in hooch tragedy BHUCHOKHURD (Bathinda), Feb 8 — At least four persons have died since Friday (January 4, 2000) in this village allegedly after consuming illicit liquor made from the ‘spirit’ supplied by a local medical practitioner. Though the deaths were reported on Friday last, the matter came to light when one section of the villagers informed the police today. Those who have died after consuming the illicit liquor have been identified as Jeeta Singh (30), Bhappa Singh (27), Inderjit Singh (45) and Sadhu Singh (45). Jeeta Singh and Bhappa Singh, who died yesterday morning were working with a private contractor while the other two deceased were doing labour and farming respectively. Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, who visited the village today said a case under Section 304 of the IPC had been registered against the medical practitioner, Harbans Lal, who allegedly supplied ‘spirit’ and told the formula of making illicit liquor to the deceased and Bishan Singh, ration depot holder. Police sources said Harbans Lal, medical practitioner, who was running a shop in the village, had been absconding since yesterday after the death of Jeeta Singh and Bhappa Singh. Mr Karan Singh, Member, Panchayat said he had repeatedly informed the sarpanch, Mr Daula Singh, about the activities of medical practitioner, Harbans Lal but Mr Daula Singh did not take any action. He disclosed that Harbans Lal had made about 100 residents of the village addict to the illicit liquor and now these persons were carrying out illicit distillation of liquor at secluded places. He said that illicit distilled liquor was being sold in the area and called “Kargil”. Mr Raghbir Singh, chowkidar, said relatives of the victims were so shocked that they failed to hospitalise the victims in time. Mr Jangir Singh, father of the deceased Bhappa Singh said that his son was working with a private contractor and he used to leave home early in the morning return in the evening. He added that no member of his family was aware of the fact that Bhappa Singh had been consuming illicit distilled liquor. He added on Monday, Bhappa Singh was feeling uneasy. By the time doctor was called he was dead. He added that he had lost a earning hand and now he had been finding it difficult to take care of two small children of the deceased. Similarly, Jeeta Singh is survived by three children and a widow. His father, Mr Golu Singh admitted that his son used to take liquor. However, he was not aware of the fact that his son was consuming ‘spirit’ supplied by the local medical practitioner. The residents of the
village told TNS that few days ago, the police rounded up
five persons for indulging in illegal activities. They
were fared after some time. They alleged that a section
of the villagers was protecting those who were carrying
out illicit distillation of liquor. |
Coop chief's election stayed CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the election of president of Phul Cooperative Agriculture Service Society in Bathinda district. The election was slated for tomorrow. Mr Justice HS Bedi and Mr Justice A S Garg, who handed down this order, also issued notice to the Punjab Power Minister, Mr Sikander Singh Malooka, for March 8 on a petition preferred by Mr Kaka Singh, a resident of Phul town. The petitioner stated that he had earlier approached the High Court with a prayer that an independent observer should be appointed as he apprehended that his nomination papers were likely to be rejected. The High Court had directed the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, and Bathinda's Deputy Commissioner to ensure that elections were held in a proper manner without extraneous influence. He said the elections of the members was held on January 4. Out of nine members, five were aligned to the petitioner while four belonged to the opposite group. He said that he was also aspirant for the post of president of the society as he commanded a majority in the committee. Mr Kaka Singh stated that when the elections of the committee were held, Chottian village was part of the electoral constituency of the committee. However, the respondents now produced an order that this village did not fall within the electoral constituency of the Phul society. He obtained a copy of the order purported to have been issued by the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Bathinda, on October 13, 1999. The petitioner alleged that this order appeared to have been "passed at some subsequent stage with the connivance of Mr Sikander Singh Malooka, a Cabinet colleague of Mr Parkash Singh Badal." Mr Kaka Singh stated that it was not possible to delete, bifurcate or tamper with that constituency subsequent to election process having started. If it was permitted, it would amount to a mockery of the entire election process. Reasons sought on plea withdrawal The Punjab Government filed an application in the High Court yesterday seeking operation of the judgement quashing the appointment of Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, and today sought to withdraw the application. When the application came up before a Division Bench consisting of Mr Justice G S Singhvi and Mrs (Justice) Bakshish Kaur, the Bench asked the Deputy Advocate-General why the government wanted to withdraw this application. The Deputy Advocate-General disclaimed any knowledge. He merely told the Bench that he had received instructions from the office of the Advocate-General. Speaking for the Bench, Mr Justice Singhvi then asked the Deputy Advocate-General to tell the Advocate-General to appear in his chamber tomorrow and let the Judges know the reasons. The application moved by the government stated that the middle class examinations of the board were to be held in March. The government was likely to take some time to appoint the Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board. In the absence of the Chairman work would suffer. Therefore the operation of the judgement quashing the appointment of Dr Kehar Singh should be stayed. The application said: "Note: No affidavit is necessary." The appointment of Dr Kehar Singh was questioned by Mr K C Sharma on the ground that it was violative of Section 6 (B) of the Education Board Act. This Section laid down that the person to be appointed Chairman should have 20 years' teaching experience, including five years as Head of Department in a university. Dr Kehar Singh had worked as Head of Political Science Department at Punjabi University only for one and a half years. Therefore, he did not fulfil the statutory conditions. Notice
to SP (D) on police raid Mr Justice T.H.B.Chalapathi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notice to the state of Punjab, S.P. (Detective), Ludhiana, ASI in charge of Simlapuri police post, Ludhiana, for April 17 on a criminal writ petition filed by Sub-Inspector Sakattar Singh alleging that the S.P. (Detective) raided his house at the instance of Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, a Punjab Minister, who was inimical to him and his family and was getting false complaints registered against him. The petitioner alleged that the enmity with Mr Garcha started in 1975 when he was posted as Head Constable at Dehlon police station and an FIR under Sections 302, 307, IPC, was registered against Mr Garcha and his brother, Mann Singh alias Manna. He further alleged that four more FIRs had been registered against Manna, a history-sheeter of Dehlon police station. In 1998 Mr Garcha was elected M.L.A. and got brother's name deleted from the list of history-sheeters. On January 21, the S.P. (D), Mr Gurkirpal Singh, assisted by 30 police officials raided his house. They manhandled and insulted his wife, Kashmir Kaur, and his daughter-in-law. While leaving they took away Rs 40,000 in cash, 15 tolas of gold ornaments and documents pertaining to court cases. The police threatened to teach them a lesson for opposing the Minister. They threatened to liquidate them. They took away his son, Bikram Singh, and tortured him. The petitioner prayed
that the government should be directed to register a case
against the S.P. (D) and other policemen and the
government be directed to ensure that the petitioner and
his family were not harassed. He prayed for transfer of
S.P. (D) and for a C.B.I. inquiry into the incident. |
20 pc rise in ST collection LUDHIANA, Feb 8 — With the coming up of the information collection centres and the subsequent intensified internal checking on tax evasion, the Sales Tax Department has registered an increase of more than 20 per cent under the Punjab General Sales Tax Act and above 40 per cent under the Central Sales Tax Act at the end of the last quarter. In its drive against tax evaders, for the first time ever the department unearthed the nexus between transporters and traders for large scale tax evasion during a rain on the offices of two tranporters at Transport Nagar recently. A spokesman of the department today informed that the two transporters were carrying goods for traders without proper bills by charging at least four times the actual freight charges. He informed that the modus operandi used by them was to submit bogus bills in the name of non-existent firms at the information collection centre. During the raid, as many as six bill books in fictitious names were seized and out of these bill books, bills worth more than Rs 1 crore had been issued. The department has already registered police cases against the owners of these transport companies. Officials of the department also cited cases of impounding of several private buses which were carrying electronic goods worth lakhs of rupees and without bills. Four deluxe buses carrying electronic goods were impounded. The department has also
come down heavily on traders transporting goods through
railways and evading sales tax, mainly the hosiery
industry. |
Akal Takht Jathedar deputes
team AMRITSAR, Feb 8 — Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht, has reportedly sent a fact-finding team to Muktsar to have first hand report regarding the presentation of a siropa to the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur. Talking to TNS here today, Baba Mangal Singh Satlani, Acting President, Gurmat Gurbani Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj, confirmed that the Akal Takht Jathedar had sent the fact-finding team to Muktsar. He said the team would submit its report to the Akal Takht Jathedar shortly. Baba Mangal Singh said the controversial Nanakshahi calendar had now become an non-issue as the entire SGPC executive had appeared before the Akal Takht Jathedar seeking pardon for implementing the calendar. The certified copy of the hukamnama could not be delivered to the SGPC chief as she had gone to “ekantvas” for the past two days. According to information
available here, senior religious and Akali leaders have
been persuading Bibi Jagir Kaur to present herself before
Akal Takht for sending a positive signal at the time of
Nawanshahr byelection. |
Amarinder unfazed by defamation
case PHAGWARA, Feb 8 — Sticking to his guns, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President, Capt Amarinder Singh, today reacted lightly to reports that four Akali leaders had served a legal notice on him for alleged defamation by making allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Talking to newsmen at the local JCT Mill guest house, where he is camping these days, the PPCC chief stuck to his stand and asked Mr Badal to explain as to how he had now allegedly amassed crores when his land holdings totalled to just 80 acres 50 years ago. He said it was not clear why the four Akali leaders — Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr Zora Singh Mann and Mr Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, had yesterday served a notice on him for withdrawing his February 3 statement, in which allegations were levelled against Mr Badal and not the four leaders. Why does Mr Badal not speak up, Capt Amarinder Singh asked. To counter the Akali
move, the PPCC chief has asked legal experts in the
Congress to launch defamation proceedings against Mr
Badal for his allegations that the previous Congress
regime was corrupt and responsible for the present
financial mess. |
Bhattal blames Akalis for fiscal
crisis PHILLAUR, Feb 8 — Former Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has alleged that the SAD-BJP government did nothing for Punjab and Punjabis despite the BJP government at the Centre. Addressing election rallies at Naura, Sujan, Bheen, Malpur, Arhka and Rusulpur villages in favour of Congress candidate Parkash Singh Saini in the Nawanshahr Assembly constituency yesterday. Mrs Bhattal blamed Akalis for the present political, financial and religious crises in the state. She criticised the state government’s decision to auction government property to control fiscal crisis. She alleged that the corruption was being overlooked and the government properties were being sold to Mr Badal at one-fourth of the actual price. Mrs Bhattal claimed that Akalis would not be able to win the Nawanshahr poll. She urged the Chief Election Commissioner to prevent the Akalis from misusing the government machinery. She alleged that
traders, farmers, industrialists, teachers, were being
forced to adopt agitational path due to wrong policies of
the SAD-BJP government. Former PPCC chief Santokh Singh
Randhawa and ex-minister Darshan Singh Brar also
addressed the gathering. |
First Assembly segment to use EVMs NAWANSHAHR, Feb 8 — With the voters going in for electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the forthcoming byelection, this constituency will be the first in the state where the EVMs will be used for the assembly poll. Though these machines were used in Faridkot and Tarn Taran constituencies during the previous Lok Sabha polls, it is for the first time that a similar exercise is being undertaken during the assembly poll. The EVMs will be used in all 178 polling stations to be set up in 129 villages and two cities of Nawanshahr and Banga. The district administration, as a precautionary measure, has requisitioned about 400 EVMs to enable it to replace them in case of a snag. According to official sources, officials deputed at the polling booths and workers of various political parties would tell voters how to use these machines. The Congress party has already initiated efforts in this direction by getting dummy EVMs made. There are a total of
1,50,130 voters in this assembly constituency and out of
these 78,328 are males and 71,807 females. There has been
an addition of 6602 votes to the voter list this time. |
Civil hospital staff on strike GIDDERBAHA (Muktsar), Feb 8 — Staff members, including the doctors of the local Civil Hospital, have been observing strike since January 7 following beating up of a doctor, Sudershan Singla and an employee of paramedical staff, Mr Jaipal, by an attendant of a patient, Gopal Singh. Official sources said that staff members of the hospital were on strike in protest against the police’s failure to arrest the culprit who had beaten up Dr Sudershan Singla and Mr Jaipal on the night of January 6. Dr Singla, who had lodged a complaint with the police, alleged that Gopal Singh brought a patient with a stabbed wound in the abdomen on the night of January 6. When he tried to give treatment to the injured, Gopal Singh started abusing him. On this, Mr Jaipal, an employee of paramedical staff, tried to pacify Gopal Singh but Gopal Singh started beating him up. Dr Singla added that he tried to inform the police on phone but could not do so as Gopal Singh snatched the receiver from him and hit it on his head. Then Gopal Singh started beating him up. He said a policeman, who was brought on the spot by another doctor, also failed to stop Gopal Singh from abusing. Police sources said
Gopal Singh had been booked under Sections 353, 186, 471,
506 and 427 of IPC. The accused has absconded. |
March against ban on
“Water” shooting AMRITSAR, Feb 8 — A joint silent march led by Mr Sarabjit Singh, IAS (retd), Prof Harish Puri, Mr Harbhajan Singh and Dr Parminder Singh was organised by various organisations of artistes, writers and poets in protest against the hurdles being placed by the Sangh Pariwar in the way of shooting of film “Water” by Deepa Mehta’s who belongs to Amritsar. Members of the Janvadi Lekhak Sangh Natak Ghar, Punjab Istri Sabha, Democratic Women’s Organisation, Folklore Research Academy (regd), Association for Democratic Rights, and All-India Youth Federation were among those who participated in this march. The marches passed through Hall Bazaar, carrying placards seeking restoration of the right of expression and condemning the RSS. They said stopping the shooting of the film was a condemnable act as it was a direct affront to the freedom of expression and artistic creation. By doing so, the Sangh Pariwar had not only clamped a virtual ban on the film, but has also attempted to impose its “sectarian understanding” of Indian history and culture. The RSS had attempted to throttle any attempt to interpret India’s historical and cultural past. The administrative response of the Uttar Pradesh government was “anti-democratic” as it had come out openly in support of the Hindutava agenda of the RSS and has merely used the law and order situation as a ploy for justifying the ban on the film, they alleged. Those who participated
in the march included Talwinder Singh, Bhupinder Singh
Sandhu, Parminderjit, Panchhi, Mukhtiar Singh, Jagdish
Sachdeva, Narinder Pal. |
Rape case: multi-party rally
threatens action TARN TARAN, Feb 8 — Hundreds of the CPI, CPM and the Congress workers today organised a march and staged dharna in front of the office of local SSP demanding arrest of ASI Gurbachan Singh and a Head Constable against whom a case under Section 376 of the IPC (rape) has been registered at Verowal police station about one and a half months back. Mr Rattan Singh
Randhawa, CPM, District Secretary, Mr Kanwalpreet Pannu,
Mr Pargat Singh Jamarai (CPM), Mr Sawarn Singh Nagoke, Mr
Gurdial Singh, Mr Surjit Singh, Mr Surjit Singh Khela
(all of the CPI), Prof Gurwinder Singh, Mr Amritpal Singh
Jaura (Congress) addressed the workers. They extended the
ultimatum for arresting culprits by two weeks and
threatened action against the administration. A
memorandum was also submitted to the police officials in
this regard. |
Dara Singh is not Sikh: Akali
leader AMRITSAR, Feb 8 — Mr Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, MLA, senior Vice-President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann), in a press note, has condemned the media for using the name Dara Singh for the prime accused in Graham Staines murder case last year in Orissa. He said the real name of Dara Singh was Rabinder Kumar Paul and Dara Singh was only a nick name. The use of this name had
created an impression among the people that Dara Singh
was a Sikh. The authorities had made no effort to set the
record straight, he alleged. |
Murals by children AMRITSAR: A week-long exhibition of sculptures and murals concluded here recently. It was organised by students of St Jude’s School. Sculptors Gurinder Singh and Gurdeep Singh guided the students. Principal Jude Desa said students in the age group of 10 to 16 worked for six months without a break under the guidance of the two sculptors. The workshop gave the students a sense of freedom to shape the clay according to their imagination. The younger lot created murals and the order ones three dimensional art objects. At the end of the workshop the students had a sense of accomplishment. Among the murals — “Serenity”; “Parenthood” and “Vanraj” made their presence felt. “Parenthood” showed the protectiveness of parents for their children. In “Serenity” a woman has restrained emotions, a face of a person at peace with herself. “Vanraj” shows a lion superintending tiny human figures. It brought out arrogance of the brute. Children jointly created a sculpture titled “Togetherness”. In “Stupor”, Tortoises piled up one on the other generated a feeling of lethargy and slumber. “Bosky” (Regal, as in Bengali) a village woman with a pitcher gives a feel of pride in womanhood. The exhibition was
inaugurated by Narinderji Singh, Deputy Commissioner. |
Tributes paid to Kairon TARN TARAN, Feb 8 — Mr Surinder Singh Kairon, former MP, observed the 35th death anniversary of his late father Partap Singh Kairon, former Chief Minister of Punjab and architect of modern Punjab at a separate programme organised today at Kairon village and attended by Mr Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Excise and Taxation Minister and a grandson of Partap Singh Kairon, and a large number of Akali leaders and workers. Partap Singh Kairon allegedly committed torture on Akali leaders and workers to foil the morchas launched by them on the demands of Punjab. SAD leaders, including SGPC members, paid tributes to him and remembered the development works done by him. The Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Mr Narinderjit Singh, and other officials were present. The younger son of the
late Chief Minister, Mr Gurinder Singh Kairon, who has
contested Lok Sabha elections twice from this
constituency on the Congress ticket, observed the death
anniversary at Amritsar two days ago. |
Team for solving traffic
problems PATIALA, Feb 8 — While the Municipal Corporation here has engaged a private traffic management team from New Delhi to recommend a solution to the traffic problem in the city, nothing is known about the fate of the recommendations made by one such expert from Mumbai early last year. Last year, Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation had roped in Mr Viswanathan, a traffic regulation expert from Mumbai. This year his successor, Mr K.S. Kung, invited a private firm Rites from New Delhi to study the traffic problems and suggest recommendations to solve these. The team today left for Delhi after spending three days here. It observed and recorded traffic snarls and jams. It would submit its report to the corporation after finalising payment of its services, municipal sources said. They said the team wanted Rs 7 lakh, while the corporation was willing to pay between Rs 2 and 3 lakh. Doubts persist over the utility of any such drive as recommendations made by Mr Viswanathan about the traffic menace have not been implemented. Mr Viswanathan had suggested one-way traffic orders at various points, removal of encroachments from the crowded old bazaar, shifting of rehris and construction of pedestrian over-bridges near the Kali Devi temple and the bus stand. Many of the recommendations were already on the agenda of the corporation. It had tried one-way traffic and shifted rehris the but the drive was not followed regularly and the traffic problems continued. The Kabari Market in the old walled city still continues to thrive at the old place. Recommendations for constructing parking places also hang fire, though the corporation has announced their implementations several times. Mr Kung said the deal with the Rites team had not been finalised as the corporation could not pay Rs 7 lakh to the team. He said the team had been invited to use professional expertise in traffic management but stressed the deal would be struck only if new and concrete suggestions were given. He said he had no knowledge of the fate of the earlier recommendations made by the expert from Mumbai. Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu
who, along with the district administration, had roped in
Mr Viswananthan, did not wish to comment on why his
recommendations had not been followed in toto. He said
being no longer in the corporation, he was not in a
position to comment on the fate of the recommendations.
He added that the corporation had paid Rs 10,000 to Mr
Viswanathan. |
Phone subscribers’ plea
to GM PATIALA, Feb 8 — A number of telephone subscribers in the city have urged the General Manager, telecom circle, to change the last date of submission of telephone bills and to ensure smooth and speedy repair of faulty lines. The subscribers said the Telephone Department had for strange reasons put the last date of the month as the last date for submitting telephone bills. They said this had caused immense inconvenience to the subscribers, as no money was left for making payments on the last dates. The subscribers said most of the city residents were government servants and they could pay the bills only by the 5th of any month. The subscribers urged the General Manager to change the last date to the 5th of the month in which the bill is due. In a separate representation, the subscribers have complained of the slow process of repair work of faulty lines. Mr Inderjit Singh of Dasmesh Nagar said he had lodged a complaint of dead telephones on Friday in the computerised complaint facility but till date no mechanic had turned up. Similarly, Mr Sarbjit
Singh, a student of Rattan Nagar, said though his
telephone was working the voices were not audible as
there was too much disturbance in the line. |
BBMB staff demand promotion NANGAL, Feb 8 — Members of the Punjab Irrigation Clerks Association in a complaint submitted to the Chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board alleged that a number of employees of the BBMB had been left without promotion due to negligence of some officials in the Bhakra Dam circle here. The association has demanded an action against the officials concerned. The Chief Engineer,
Bhakra Dam, however, when contacted said the lists of all
clerks had been sent to the department concerned. |
District attorneys seek promotion CHANDIGARH, Feb 8 — The District Attorneys Association has urged the Punjab Government to order promotions of Deputy District attorneys to do away stagnation in their ranks. Many of them were promoted as Deputy District attorneys in 1985 and since then they are in the same cadre. A representative of the association said that as many as 12 posts of the district attorneys were vacant for several months. Such posts should be filled by promoting the Deputy District attorneys. The most disappointing aspect of the deputy district attorneys was that their services had not been regularised so far although they were promoted as DDAs in 1985 and earlier. The file for
regularising the services of these officials is awaiting
clearance in the Home department he said and added that
the Punjab Chief Minister, should take up the matter
immediately. |
Fake Indian currency seized AMRITSAR, Feb 8 — Following intelligence reports regarding circulation of fake currency notes from across the border, the Customs authorities at Attari railway station yesterday seized another consignment of fake Indian currency notes valued at Rs 34,200 from three persons, including Hanif of Merrut, who had boarded the Samjhauta Express from Lahore on February 7. In the past one week this is the third seizure by the Customs authorities. Indian currency valued at about 1.5 lakh has been seized in the denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 100 during these seizures. Besides currency notes, on February 4 the Customs staff also retrieved three pistols with empty magazines from the sewerage pipes of the toilets located on the platform of Attari railway station. The pistols appeared to be of Pakistan origin and two of them were heavily rusted. Mr Amresh Jain, Deputy
Commissioner, Anti-Smuggling, Customs, said investigation
was under way and the identities of the arrested persons
would be established shortly. |
Bonded labourers attacked JALANDHAR, Feb 8 (PTI) — A leading forum fighting against bonded labour in Punjab today alleged that its office in Phillaur and two bonded labourers, who had taken shelter there, were yesterday attacked by their employer and some miscreants. Jai Singh, President of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Bonded, Child and Migrant Labour, told reporters here that Charan Singh and Amar Singh of Nabha tehsil in Patiala were working as bonded labourers at the fields of one Harbhajan Singh when their case was taken up by the forum. He said Harbhajan and his associates last evening accosted Prabhjot Kaur, daughter of Jai Singh, when she was going on a scooter with Amar Singh, the bonded labourer who had taken shelter with the activists. “They beat up Amar Singh but he ran and reached the office of the vigilance committee near Phillaur kila (fort). Harbhajan and his men chased Amar Singh but when the activists present in the office confronted them, they ran away in a jeep,” he said. He claimed that the
Phillaur police was immediately informed and the number
of the jeep was also given to it. However, “the
police failed to take action even though it was at the
highest alert because of the Governor’s presence in
the Punjab police academy in Phillaur,” Jai Singh
said. |
2 die in mishap LUDHIANA, Feb 8 — Tarlok Singh and Parminder Singh were killed in a road accident near Basti Jodhewal Chowk in a head-on collision between a scooter and a truck. According to
information, both died on the spot. The police has
arrested the driver of the truck. |
Free education for children
of Kargil PATIALA, Feb 8 — Dubbed as the Eton of Patiala, Narain Public School, housed in a sprawling building on Sanaur Road, will start classes from the next academic session. Announcing this at a press conference in the school building here today, Mr Arora said the school would give free education to children of Indian soldiers who achieved martyrdom while fighting insurgents in Kargil last year. Claiming that the school
would aim at not merely imparting knowledge but also
endeavour for overall development of an individual, he
showed a swimming pool, a synthetic track lawn tennis
court, a badminton hall, a basketball court, horse-riding
grounds and a volleyball court. |
Dr Harbans Singh Sidhu AMRITSAR, Feb 8 —
Dr Harbans Singh Sidhu has been appointed as Head, Punjab
School of Economics, Guru Nanak Dev University, by the
Vice-Chancellor, for a period of three years. |
YPS farewell party PATIALA, Feb 8 — Puneet Jain and Devna Mangla had their memorable day during the last days in Yadavindra Public School here. Booth were adjudged Mr YPS and Miss YPS in the farewell function organised by plus one students and the school management for the shortly passing out students of class XII. A cultural function was also organised. However, Gunnetinder of the arts stream and Neha Goyal of the commerce stream stole the limelight by being chosen the best-dressed students on the occasion. Mr A.S. Jawanda,
Principal, gave away the awards. He exhorted the students
to spread light of knowledge when they passed out. |
Pollution NOC period to be reduced PATIALA, Feb 8 — Under a proposed policy, upcoming heavily polluting industries will have to take pollution under-control certificates every two years. Polluting industries under the orange category will have to take pollution consent after every three years and those in the non-polluting green category will be given simplified no-objection certificates (NOCs) every five years. The new policy, which will be implemented in two months, makes a major departure from the past when all no-objection certificates were issued by the state Pollution Control Board for 15 years. With the reduction in the period of pollution-consent certificates, Punjab has fallen in line with other states, none of whom were giving NOCs for more than five years. Disclosing the new policy in an interview with TNS, the newly appointed Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Chairman, Mr Ashok Kumar Mahajan, said a simplified consent procedure had been framed in accordance with norms framed by the Central Pollution Control Board. He said under the new rules, application for consent would be processed within 30 days of submission of the application. He said the period for disposal of the application for ‘’consent to establish’’ would be 60 days. Mr Mahajan said a list of non-polluting industries would be prepared in the category of small and cottage industries for grant of simplified consent. The process of application was also being made simpler with only one form taking care of air, water and hazardous waste aspects. The PPCB Chairman said it was still to be decided whether industries which had been issued no-objection certificates by the board would be taken in its ambit after the launch of the new policy. The frequency of inspections in case of small industries would be one month to 12 months for heavily polluting industries, one to three years for polluting industry and one to three years random checking for non-polluting industries. He said in case of large and medium-scale industries, checking would be undertaken every one month to three months for heavily polluting industries, one to six months for polluting industries, and one month to 12 months in case of non-polluting industries. Mr Mahajan said applicants would have to disclose whether effluent collection, treatment and disposal system had been provided by the authority concerned or alternative arrangements were being made by them. With regard to waste water aspects, information regarding water consumption and whether it got polluted or became toxic would have to be revealed. On air emission aspects, fuel consumption and quality of fuel gas emissions and process emissions would have to be revealed. Industries would also have to disclose whether they were developing a green belt on their premises. Mr Mahajan said the
annual consent fee to be charged by the board for red,
orange and green industries with less than Rs 5 lakh
investment would be Rs 1,500, Rs 1,000 and Rs 500,
respectively. |
Despite shortage, telecom dept
earns more LUDHIANA, Feb 8 — There has been a 36 per cent increase in revenue earnings of the Ludhiana telecom district which increased from Rs 116.5 crore during 1996-97 to Rs 180 crore during 1998-99. This was stated by the General Manager, Telecom, Mr J.C. Aggarwal, in a press note here yesterday. He informed that the Ludhiana telecom district was served by 111 electronic exchanges (29 urban and 82 rural), with a total capacity of 2,63,296 lines, with 1,69,000 lines in Ludhiana city alone. Of the 2,15,755 subscribers in this telecom district, 1,56,113 were in the city. Mr Aggarwal said there had been a tremendous improvement in all spheres of the telecom district during the past two years. He said 71,109 subscribers were provided with new telephone connections since April, 1997, and the exchange capacity had been expanded by 72,296 lines since April,1997. He said there had been a sufficient improvement in fault per 100 telephones from 22.60 per cent to 19.20 per cent, the trunk efficiency had shot up from 82.7 per cent to 97 per cent and the call completion rate performance had also improved from 53.3 per cent in 1997 to 59.4 per cent now. A total of 1,941 STD PCOs and 212 local PCOs were provided to unemployed youth during this time, he said. Mr Aggarwal conceded that there was an acute shortage of staff in comparison with the national average of 25 per 1000 lines and said that there were only eight officials available per 1000 lines in Ludhiana. The General Manager said that during the current year, there had been a slight increase in some pockets due to increase in rates of road reinstatement charges by the Local Bodies Department and said they were working out alternatives to overcome the situation and reduce the waiting time. Mr Aggarwal also
informed that the length of cable laid to provide new
connections during 1997-98 was 1,79,583 km and during
1998-99 was 2,63,632 km. |
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