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July 3, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Villagers live in fear of canal breach Ballowal (Ludhiana), July 2 Besides the already prevailing weak spots along the canal, there is continuous erosion along the banks of the canal that could lead to a potential inundation of scores of villages in the area. Though the banks of the canal are being continuously eroded in many villages, the canal management authorities are yet to wake up from their slumber. Villagers of this area have also sent SOS calls to the authorities concerned, but to no avail. They are fearing that with the first heavy rain of the season, their village would be flooded. Intriguingly there are many weak points in the banks of the canal which can be washed away anytime by the strong and fast currents of the water flowing through the canal. A Tribune survey of the villages situated alongside the canal revealed that the roads lining the banks of the canals were being eaten into by the swift flow of the water in the canal. At some places, the earth had caved in to such an extent that the road was converted into a narrow trail where even the cars could not pass. At the entry point of Ghwaddi village, the road lining the canal was eroded badly. A breach can develop at the place anytime if the water level in the canal rises. Near Rara Sahib village, a similar condition was witnessed. Residents of Ballowal village had written a letter to the authorities asking them to order an inquiry into the repair work taken up by the department last year. They had stated that the bank had developed cracks and the area which was laid with bricks was giving way to water. They had demanded that the department should fix responsibility into the alleged irregularities. But nothing came of it. At many places, both banks of the canal passing through Dehlon were getting weakened due to various reasons, but no repair work was being undertaken by the authorities. Are they waiting for a tragedy to get into action? The villagers living along the river said they were having sleepless nights due to the perpetual fear that anytime the pressure of water could rise in the canal and result in the weak banks being washed away. They say that the local administration also does not have adequate flood-fighting equipment. While a metalled road protects the canal from breaching in the southern bank, making it comparatively less prone for a breach, the sensitive points like the Jandiali bridge and Khatra bridge can give way anytime with water gushing into the villages. The bricks of almost all wharfs have since been washed away by the water current. A major portion of the metalled road between the railway crossing and canal bank near Gurdwara Damdama Sahib is also in a bad shape. The Same holds true for the road near the Khatra bridge. It is not less than a deathtrap. Water has once again started eroding the soil under the surface, which can prove hazardous keeping in view the heavy flow of traffic from this bridge. The northern bank of the canal is in the worst condition. Water can seep in any moment and lead to an open breach. People say that the condition of this side of the bank can deteriorate further because the residents keep excavating the earth from the exterior and sand from the interior of the bank in the absence of any action by the department concerned. Officials of the Irrigation Department were not available. Mr Rajinder Singh, XEN, Irrigation, said the canal falls in the area of the Sirhind circle with head office in Bathinda. He added that he had the responsibility of the Sidhwan canal and not the Bathinda branch. |
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Illegal
telephone exchanges busted Ludhiana, July 2 The police and officials of the Vigilance Wing of DOT have confiscated expensive equipment after conducting raids on three illegal telephone exchanges. Disclosing this to the media, Senior Superintendent of Police Narinderal Singh said the revenue loss to DOT, the BSNL and the MTNL had been estimated at over Rs 2.5 crore since November, last year, when the three companies started operations in the city. The cost of the equipment seized is around Rs 80 lakh. Seven persons, involved in the racket, have been arrested. Explaining the modus operandi, the SSP said the companies, located on the Mall road here, were receiving calls from foreign countries using voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) on a leased line provided by the Emmtel Internet Service Provider (ISP). These data calls were converted into voice calls and forwarded to desired destination throughout the state using the existing DOT and cell phone infrastructure. Sophisticated switching equipment was used in the process. Mr Narinderpal Singh said though Internet telephony had been declared legal in India since April 2002, but Internet telephony for phone-to-phone
communication was illegal. Senior Manager (Vigilance) of the BSNL G.M. Sharma also accompanied police parties in the raids on the companies, Paramjot Associates, Shuku Infotech Services and BES / KVP Infotech. He said this was one of the largest illegal operations detected in the country and definitely the biggest in Punjab till date. According to the prevailing arrangement for international calls, all incoming and outgoing calls from overseas are to be routed through the international long distance (ILD) operator, who shares the revenue with foreign operators for both incoming and outgoing calls, said police officials. But by bypassing the ILD, the three companies were depriving the ILD in India, including the BSNL and the MTNL, of revenue amounting to crores of rupees. The police now plans to conduct investigations to ascertain the extent of involvement of various illegal companies doing similar business elsewhere. The operation was headed by Mr Gurpreet Singh and the raiding party by Mr Malkit Singh, DSP (D). Those arrested include Satish, Sunil, Naveen, Mohit Bansal, Ranpreet, Rajinder and Amit. The three companies had illegally put up 68, 24 and 16 line exchanges, respectively, for forwarding calls, the SSP said. The police has been able to track the records of the companies for the past few months but only investigations will reveal how long these had been operating. The operation was based on secret information and a case under Sections 420, 379 and 120 B of the IPC and Sections 20, 21,21A and 25 of the Indian Telegraphic Act has been registered. Internet service providers will be allowed to provide Internet telephony without paying an additional licence fee since April,1, 2002. But this revised ISP licence prohibits ISPs from offering the following services: voice communication from anywhere to anywhere by means of dialing a telephone number (PSTN/ISDN/PLMN) as defined in the National Numbering Plan; originating and terminating a voice communication service from and to a telephone in India; establishing a connection to any public switched network in India; dial-up lines with outward dialing facility from nodes; and interconnectivity between ISPs who are permitted to offer Internet telephony services and the ISPs who are not permitted to offer them. |
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Heavy rush for Reliance
phones Ludhiana, July 2 Giving details of the scheme, the official claimed that there was an overwhelming response to the scheme with thousands of customers queuing up outside Reliance Infocom showrooms. It was difficult for the company officials to handle the crowds as the word spread about the new scheme. He said that several thousand sets were sold on the first day of the scheme in Ludhiana alone. All the showrooms ran out of stocks as there was a heavy rush. The rush was understandable as people thought it cheap to go mobile for just Rs 500 only. Amarjit Singh, a Model Town resident, disclosed that he was passing through Badaur House when he saw rush of people outside the Reliance showroom. After learning that the company was providing WLL connection for Rs 501 only, he joined the queue. He had to fill the form and show his driving licence to get the mobile telephone. He pointed out, it was worth the price as “you can never have phone cheaper than this”. |
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Fee hike affects admissions Ludhiana, July 2 Mr V.P. Gaur, Principal, Government College for Boys, said,” From tomorrow we will start admissions for BA I and B.Com I. We will charge hiked fee from the new session. In spite of the fee hike, we have a lot of students seeking admission to B.Com I. The college has 140 seats, but it has received 900 applications for this course. But the old fee structure will be applicable to BA II and III and similarly B.Com II and III. However, the entrants to MA courses will have to pay according to the new fee structure.” But it is the private-aided colleges that are in a quandary. Ms Avinash Kaur Bansal, Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, says, “We will have to charge Rs 365 per student instead of Rs 63 in the past. The colleges will have to calculate the money per student and pay the Government the total amount, or else, they will deduct the money from the grants. Hence, we will have to charge the hiked fees. This, however, is affecting the admissions as students are finding the fee rise very steep. The girls joining MA are not willing to pay high
fees. The fee hike should have been gradual.” Ms Harmeet Kaur, Principal, Ramgarhia College for Girls and Panjab University Senator, also says,” Since our students are from the middle class, parents are finding it very difficult to shell out Rs 4,000 as compared to Rs 1,000 earlier. The parents are not willing to spend so much money on their daughters’ education. We have to charge the new fee on the lines announced by the government, but we are confused as no clear-cut guidelines have been given to colleges and secondly the Senators will meet on July 6 and give the final decision.” She further said the college had reduced Rs 700 to 800 from the admission funds to give some relief to parents but the high fee had affected the admission. Another Principal said even if the Senate allowed the colleges to stick to the old fee structure, the problem still
remained. As the government had announced that the share that it would charge from colleges had been calculated on the base of the hiked fees, if the colleges charged old fee, they would have to pay from college fund to the government. Mr B.D. Budhiraja, Principal of Kamla Lotia SD College and the management say that they will not hike the fees as the college is not aided. The Principal said the institute would observe the 5 to 10 per cent fee hike as prescribed by Panjab University. |
‘Stonewalled’ man gets relief from PHRC Ludhiana, July 2 The corporation has been directed to take appropriate steps to redress the grievances of the complainant. The case would come up for hearing before the PHRC on October 22. Having failed to evoke any response from the civic administration for the past several months over his demand for the demolition of the “illegal” boundary wall, the harassed resident had approached the PHRC, seeking its intervention over violation of his human rights as a result of unlawful building activity by his neighbour and the failure of the MC to take action against violation of building bylaws. According to Dr Gurkirpal Singh, the owner of the adjoining property had raised the height of the boundary wall up to the roof level of the ground floor and subsequently four feet above the first floor level. As a result, there was great diminution of light and air to the house lying next, which was a direct encroachment upon the rights of the adjoining property owners. The ambiguity over building control between the MC and the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), prevailing till a few days back, was also standing in the way of proper enforcement. The two bodies had been allegedly passing the buck in cases involving encroachment and violation of building norms. However, with the building control activity of the colonies, developed by LIT and later transferred to the MC for maintenance, having been reverted back to the MC, there was no escape for the civic body to scrupulously enforce building bylaws. Earlier, after repeated complaints by the affected house owner, the state government had asked for a detailed report from the MC through the Deputy Director, Local Government, here. At that time, the report submitted by the MC authorities to the Chief Secretary had hovered round the plea that building control was being retained by the LIT and so the enforcement was also the liability of that body. Dr Gurkirpal Singh had pleaded before the PHRC that his neighbour had not only raised the boundary wall in an unlawful manner but had also made an opening of 7 feet by 4.6 feet on the first floor level of the said wall, which was tantamount to direct trespass into the open yard of the adjoining house. “If the ‘unlawful’ boundary wall of the adjoining house is not demolished, it will take a staggering sum of Rs 15 lakh to remodel my house so as to restore the air and sunlight which have been blocked for the time being.” |
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Rights panel’s notice on security withdrawal Ludhiana, July 2 In his complaint, Dr Ranu has alleged that he being the national chief of a political party, was provided security cover in December, 2002, by the then ADGP (S), Mr S.P. Bhatnagar, due to the threat perceptions from banned terrorist organisations like the International Sikh Youth Federation, Dal Khalsa and other fundamental groups to drop the religious issue of Sehajdhari Sikhs at a time when his party was fighting for securing voting rights for them. He further alleged that his security was abruptly withdrawn without assigning any reasons on March 31 following which he made a representation to the Chief Minister, who, in turn, forwarded his request to the ADGP(S). When no action was taken, he approached the commission with a prayer to call upon the reports of the Intelligence Department and the Police Department, and the state government be directed to file an affidavit that there is no threat to his life. |
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PSEB staff stir from July 9 over unbundling Ludhiana, July 2 Mr M. S. Bajwa, president, PSEB Engineers Association, said here today that its stand was clear that the present integrated system of generation, transmission and distribution must be retained as it was the most economical and beneficial to the consumers. In a letter to the Chief Secretary, Punjab Government, the association has urged the state government to maintain the status quo for three years at least. Mr Bajwa disclosed that there was a provision of retaining the integrated system in the electricity Act passed by the Central Government and the Bill moved by the Punjab Government in the Vidhan Sabha. Mr Bajwa said in the face of high and low frequencies, the PSEB was availing of zero cost energy under the present system. He claimed that the systems operation of the PSEB was the best in the country because there was complete coordination between the three segments — generation, transmission and distribution. The systems operation control was being operated from Patiala and in case of separation of the three wings, separate control systems would have to be provided at all stations which would be uneconomical. According to Mr Bajwa, the system of unbundling the state electricity boards in seven states of the country had failed including Delhi. Delhi could not reduce the transmission losses by even half a percent whereas “we are reducing our losses by one and a half per cent because of better planning and integration.” The association has sounded a note of caution that the steps towards the unbundling of the PSEB should not be taken in haste as this involved “high risk and irreversible process” and a cautious approach should be adopted. Mr Bajwa said the PSEB was a well-maintained board and had contributed in the Green Revolution and industrial development in the state. Meanwhile, the PSEB Engineers Association has decided to continue with the policy of negotiations and would not resort to any agitational methods for the time being. The association will participate in a seminar being held in Chandigarh tomorrow by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development. The association will put up its point of view in the seminar while the state government is organising a seminar on the agenda of Punjab fiscal reforms in Chandigarh today with a major emphasis on power reforms. Mr K. R. Lakhanpal, Finance Secretary, Punjab Government, who is spearheading the fiscal reforms, maintains that the unbundling of the PSEB would benefit the consumers the most because there would be competition among various companies which would be registered under the corporation. Open access to the system would be a major mark of this reform. Privatisation would be only selective, he said. The Joint Action Committee of the employees would organise protest rallies all over the state against the unbundling of the PSEB. |
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Autorickshaw
men protest against police ‘repression’ Ludhiana, July 2 Addressing the well-attended rally, presidents of various autorickshaw stands in the city alleged that three-wheelers were not allowed to be parked even at designated stands, indiscriminate challans were being issued and vehicles were being impounded in a bid to push the three-wheeler drivers out of business. Denying allegations of local bus operators that traffic police personnel were in league with the three-wheeler drivers, the union leaders maintained that it was rather the other way round and held the bus operators responsible for the intimidation by police personnel. Asking the district administration to intervene and put an end to the alleged high-handedness of police, the speakers at the rally threatened that with no other alternative, the autorickshaw unions might be forced to adopt the path of agitation and confrontation. The union also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, focussing on the problems being faced by the three-wheeler drivers. Prominent among the speakers at the rally were Mr Madan Lal, Mr Balbir Chand, Mr Bhajan Singh, Mr Jeeta Ram, Mr Kartar Singh, Mr Rattan Singh, Mr Tirath Ram, Mr Sanjay Kumar, Mr Sanjeev Kumar, Mr Major Singh, Mr Prem Kumar, Mr Amar Singh, Mr Lal Chand, Mr Gurmit Singh and Mr Mohinder Singh. |
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Depression
among kids on the rise Ludhiana, July 2 Till recently, it was believed that children do not suffer from depression but if city-based clinical psychologists are to be believed, the kids in severe circumstances do become victims of acute depression. The experts who receive a number of such ‘disturbed’ children blame the parents for causing psychosomatic disorders among their wards. Dr
Krishnanand, Professor and Head, Department of Clinical Psychology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, says that the parents of the disturbed children need treatment. “The city residents lead a strange lifestyle. Children accompany their parents to late night parties. Their sleep pattern is disturbed. The late night television serials are creating another problem. The children are not checked from watching horror shows, emotional soap operas promoting extra-marital affairs, divorces, separation etc, which ultimately block the development of the child, thus making them emotionally weak.” He stresses that he has treated more than 2,000 city children just by stopping them from watching TV serials after 8 pm. He says, “It is sad to treat kids less than three years of age passing through a depressing phase. The depression can be seen in the form of delay in speech learning, throwing tantrums, refusing to eat etc.” Dr Krishnanand stresses that the problem is not with the children but with the parents, who have made them like that. Parents should try to analyse what is good or bad for their children. They should behave in a friendly manner and avoid being dictatorial. Their feelings should not be suppressed. Modern school work is very difficult and 99 per cent of the students do not enjoy studies. “The children are always under pressure and the studies have turned out to be necessary evil creating bad environment for them.” Dr Rajiv Gupta, another psychiatrist, says that depression has become a harsh reality and created havoc, which could wreck the young minds. The depressed children can become victims of estranged families, loneliness, drug abuse, academic failure and sadness. They start losing self-confidence and tend to become more aggressive. Parents should offer them unconditional friendship and support. They should listen to the child patiently and spend time with him/her. They should o not unnecessarily advise or lecture them but talk about things which are good, helpful and encouraging for them. |
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‘Cong committed to rural development’ Ludhiana, July 2 This was stated by Dr Gurcharan Singh Rajajung, Vice-Chairman of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, kisan cell, in a statement here today.
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Delhi businessman booked for fraud Ludhiana, July 2 BSNL cheated Another case of alleged fraud was registered at the same police station under Sections 420, 379, 120-B of the IPC and Sections 20, 21, 21-A and 25 of the Telegraphy Act, 1985, on a tip-off against Rohit Bansal, a resident of Lal Bagh, Patiala; Anand Kumar, a resident of Bihar Nagar, New Delhi; Birbal Parshad, a resident of Hyderabad; Harmit Kumar, a resident of Housing Board Colony, Ludhiana; Backet Ram Radiko Lingapondi, a resident of Himand Nagar, Hyderabad; N.K. Reddi, a resident of Karim Nagar in Andhra Pradesh; and Satish, a resident of Kothapet in Hyderabad. The police claimed that the accused had been making international telephone calls on duplicate numbers, thus cheating the BSNL. No arrest has been made so far. The Division No 8 police yesterday registered a case under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC on the statement of Mr Amit Kapur, a resident of Sector 8, Panchkula, against Sanjiv Vij and his wife Kiran Vij, residents of Sant Isher Singh Nagar, Ludhiana. The complainant had alleged that the couple, who were in his employment, prepared forged documents and misappropriated money. No arrest has been made so far. The Salem Tabri police yesterday registered a case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Urban Estate on the Chandigarh Road, against Subash Soni and Mohinder Kumar, residents of New Shiv Puri. The complainant had alleged that he had paid Rs 40,000 to the accused in lieu of a plot. But the accused neither gave the possession of the plot nor returned the money, thus committing a fraud on him.
Beaten The Civil Lines police yesterday registered a case under Sections 353, 186 and 323 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Rajinder Kumar, a bus conductor working with the Haryana Roadways, against Satish Chopra, a resident of Punjab Mata Nagar. The conductor had alleged that while he was on duty, the accused interfered in the discharge of his duty and also beat him up on Tuesday. The accused was arrested on the spot. The Sarabha Nagar police yesterday registered a case under Sections 451, 566, 323 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Ms Rani, wife of Mr Malkit Singh, a resident of Barrewal village, against Mohinder Singh, his wife Preetam Kaur and Bhalla, residents of the same village. The complainant had stated that the accused had beaten her up on June 29 and also threatened her. No arrest has been made so far. The Haibowal police yesterday registered a case under Sections 324, 323, 566 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Loveneesh Kumar, a resident of New Tagore Nagar, Haibowal Kalan, against Appa Chubi, Saurabh and Vibhu, residents of the same locality. The complainant had alleged that the accused beat him up when he demanded house rent from them. The accused were arrested, said the police. A case under Sections 452, 324, 323 and 341 of the IPC was registered at the Focal Point police station on the statement of Mr Harvinder Singh, a resident of MIG Flats, Jamalpur Colony, against Taran Sharma, Saran Sharma and Rajesh Kumar. The complainant had alleged that the accused forced their way into his house on the morning of June 29 and beat him up as a result of which he was injured. No arrest has been made so far. The Shimla Puri police yesterday registered a case under sections 323, 324 and 34 of the IPC on the statement of Mr Sanjiv Sharma, a resident of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar on the Barota Road, against Balbir Krishan, alias Bunty, a resident of the same locality and some other unidentified persons accompanying him. The complainant had alleged that the accused had beaten him up and injured him on Tuesday night. No arrest has been made so far. |
Industrialists rue lack of basic amenities Ludhiana, July 2 Industrialists said they were asked to pay the development charges and were not even provided with basic amenities like roads and drainage system. They said they had dug up their own soakage pits for draining out the water. Mr D.V. Saharan, who had recently set up a unit, said that it was the beginning of the rainy season and the roads were already inundated with water. A visit to the area revealed the miserable condition of the roads with pits filled with water. Due to this, accidents were also taking place in the area. Industrialists said they had constructed soakage pits inside their complexes but could hardly do anything about the roads. An industrialist from the area said they were earning foreign exchange and giving employment to so many people but the government had not bothered to provide them with minimum basic facilities. He said it was embarrassing when businessmen from foreign countries visited the area. The industrialists regretted that no politician or representative in the municipal corporation had cared to visit the area. Moreover, no allocations had made to improve the condition of the roads. “The government expects us to strengthen the economy and is not even providing us with the basic amenities,” Mr Saharan said. |
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Programme
on customer service Ludhiana, July 2 Mr Jangwal and the chairman of the State Bank of India Staff Association (Railway Station, Ludhiana Unit), Chairman Mr Shiv Kumar Gupta and secretary, Mr Rakesh Thapar gave also assurance to customers, pensioners and senior citizens that they would be provided best services.
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