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23 water samples fail test
Ludhiana, October 8 Twenty-three of the 47 water samples collected by these officials from schools, hospitals and some other private institutions have failed the purity test. The corporation has decided to initiate action against these institutions under the provisions of the Punjab Municipal Act 1976. According to the Municipal Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sharma, the Operations and Maintenance section of the
corporation had collected 47 samples during a random survey of water being provided by the managements of various hospitals, schools and other institutions. Of the 47 samples 23 failed the test. Such institutions included some prestigious institutions. The Commissioner pointed out that people fell ill after consuming water in these institutions but the Municipal Corporation was blamed for it. He maintained that while water supplied by the corporation was ensured to be pure, water of tubewells or submersible pumps being used by people was usually found failing the purity test. The corporation decided to conduct a random survey in order to create awareness among people and also find out whether contaminated water was being supplied privately. Mr Sharma said that the findings were sensational as the samples of some prestigious institutions failed the test. He said while the corporation would initiate legal action against all institutions the samples of which had failed the test, it had asked other institutions, which arranged drinking water through hand pumps, tubewells or submersible pumps, to ensure its purity. Mr Sharma said the sample survey was conducted after there were reports that underground water being used by people in several institutions did not meet the safety norms. He pointed out that it was not difficult to treat water and make it safe for drinking. The institutions, which have failed the purity test, include Jyoti Kender, Humbra Road, Lord Mahavira Hospital, VRTC School, Humbra Road, Sri Ram Sharnam, Humbra Road, KVM School, DMC Road, Arya College, DMC Road, Santan School, Deep Nagar, Sheela Hospital, near DMC, Deep Nursing Home at Bhora village, Simran Kidworld School, Baba Jeevan Singh Nagar, Baba Jeevan Singh School, Baba Jeevan Singh Nagar, Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhavan, Tajpur Road, SAN Jain Senior Secondary School, Daresi Road, SAN Jain Senior Secondary School, Circle Road, Jeevan Model Senior Secondary School, Krishna Convent Secondary School, Daba Lohara, Road, Baba Mukund Senior Secondary School, Daba village, Gurmukh Sweet Shop, opposite ATI College, Gill Road, Baba Nand Singh Senior Secondary School, Azad Nagar, Dashmesh Hospital, Gill Raod, Dr Arjinder Singh’s clinic, Gill Road, and Sai Public Senior Secondary School, Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, Barota Road.
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Grain market tank’s
water samples fail
Rajpura, October 8 District Health Officer Dr V.S. Mohi had taken water samples from the water tank in the grain market here after an outbreak of gastroenteritis related cases among labourers in the market on September 30. More than 180 cases were reported on that day itself following which more cases of diarrhoea were reported the next day. One person — Bharat Yadav died due to this. According to the report received by Civil Surgeon Dr Hardev Singh the water of the tank is not fit for human consumption. The water samples were found to have dirt particles besides an excess of calcium content. The Civil Surgeon has shot off letters to the Mandi Board, Director, Family Welfare and the Deputy Commissioner asking them to take action in the matter. He said after a perusal of the report of the water samples, it was clear that diarrhoea was caused in the area due to contaminated water being supplied from the overhead tank. According to sources, the tank in the grain market was made ten years back. It has a two lakh liters overhead capacity and a three lakh liters underground reservoir. The sources said water is first pumped into the underground reservoir from a tubewell, treated and then pumped into the overhead tank. It supplies water to all the shops in the grain market with many of the commission agents installing taps in their premises. Market Committee Secretary Narinderpal Singh Walia said though the tank was under the Mandi Board, its upkeep was with the Public Health Department. Public Health Executive Engineer Subhash Mahajan said if contaminated water alone was responsible for the diarrhoea cases, many more people in the area would have fallen prey to it. Mr Mahajan said most of the labourers who had fallen ill on September 30 as well as the following day belonged to three shops in the grain market. He said he had inspected the shops and it seemed as if unhygeinic conditions were prevalent there. This he said could be the reason why the labourers had fallen ill. The Executive Engineer also claimed that he had got two samples of water from the overhead tank tested at the Industrial Testing Laboratory at Ghalori Gate in Patiala and that both had been passed by the laboratory. However this is not an authorised laboratory for testing water samples.
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Paddy purchase centres lack amenities
Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 8 According to the information received from the purchase centre the farmers were not being provided even the basic facilities. They had to sit and watch their heaps in the dark as there was no arrangement for electricity at the centre. The labourers of the commission agents were also seen working in the light of candles. One of the commission agents had a makeshift arrangement. He had erected bamboo poles in a paddy heap and installed an electric lamp there. But the light was just enough for a few heaps. Mr Rajinder Singh, a former panchayat member of Maholi Kalan, alleged that the market committee officials had made no arrangements at the purchase centre. "What to talk of providing facilities for the stay of the farmers, they did not even bother to arrange for drinking water. The weighing is being done in the dark and that may help the traders to dupe innocent farmers." Accusing market committee authorities of acting at the behest of commission agents, Amarjit Singh, a resident of Dhulkote village, alleged that the officials had deliberately not made necessary arrangements in order to please commission agents." The commission agents on the pretext of non-availability of power do not fan the produce and clean the paddy manually and this causes massive loss to the farmer by way of extra wastage. During weighing also we are unable to watch the scale of the weighing machine." Mr Jain, Secretary, Market Committee, denied the charges and claimed that sufficient arrangements had been made at all purchases centres. Admitting that there was no power arrangement he said, "Despite our repeated requests to the SDO concerned of the electricity board, the supply has not been regularised." He disclosed that some commission agents at Grain Market, Ahmedgarh, had been issued notices allegedly for weighing more paddy in bags. Mr Saudagar Singh Gill, Additional Superintending Engineer, claimed that supply to all purchase centres was in order. He, however, said that the problems of fittings and fixtures in the yard were not the responsibility of board authorities. "We have to ensure the supply of power up to a certain point only.
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DC visits graveyard
Amloh, October 8 It was alleged that the graveyard land was being grabbed and a sum of Rs 1 lakh granted to the Muslim community by Mr Sukhdev Singh Libra, now Member of Parliament, during his term as Rajya Sabha Member had not been utilised by the panchayat for the boundary wall of the graveyard and it was returned to Deputy Commissioner as “unutilised”. The Deputy Commissioner made it clear that the purpose of the grant could not be changed. Mr Nirbhay Singh, a former sarpanch, asserted that the question of discrimination against the minority community did not arise and there was no question of land grab and that it had been fenced with barbed wire. The village panchayat gave a brief account of the development works completed during the tenure of Mr Nirbhay Singh. Mr Ahluwalia assured the grant would be provided again and advised both the parties to utilise it with mutual consultation. Earlier in the day, National Green Crops (NGC) Day was celebrated at Government Elementary School, Saunti. Mr Ahluwalia planted a sapling in the school compound and 50 other saplings were also planted on the occasion. School Headmistress Ravi Bala, Ms Santosh Rani, in charge of the NCG scheme, Mr Mukesh Sood (Scout Master), Mr Karamjit Singh and members of the panchayat were present on the occasion.
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Khanna police books Ambala cops
Khanna, October 8 While three of the four persons, who were released by the Ambala CIA staff on Thursday evening, have been admitted in the Civil Hospital here, Babu Ram has been referred to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. According to the victims, on Monday 20 police personnel in uniform came to their house in three or four vehicles. They then took them to the CIA office in Ambala. The policemen allegedly questioned them about their quarrel with Samuntra, a resident of their locality. The four were allegedly beaten severely by police personnel at Ambala. Banarsi Dass alleged that they had been kidnapped at the behest of Samuntra, with whom he had an altercation on Friday. He said they had been released only when a relative approached the police. Babu Ram was still unconscious. The DSP, Khanna, said a case against the CIA police party from Ambala and Samuntra had been registered under Sections 341, 342, 323, 506, 148 and 149.
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Focal points: a dream gone sour
Machhiwara, October 8 The deserted focal point in Buraj Powat village in Machhiwara block seems to be making a mockery of the state government’s claim of providing the basic facilities at the doorsteps. Even after five years of the establishment of the focal point, the huge buildings have not been used for any purpose whatsoever. When this correspondent visited the focal point at the village today he saw the deserted building of a proposed government hospital. The hospital complex which consists of seven rooms is still waiting for the doctors to cure the poor. As the building has been lying unused its condition has become pitiable. Labourers working in the mandi of focal point are taking shelter in this complex and were seen cooking on the premises and cattle were seen grazing in the complex. Next to the hospital building, is the community centre. Fortunately, this building is safe enough but instead of organising a common function in it, it is being used as an office and godown of co-operative agricultural society. Seminars and workshops are rarely organised in the centre. The veterinary hospital building too is in a bad shape. No doctor has joined this hospital but luckily there is a pharmacist to look after the animals. The water supply house of the veterinary hospital is deserted as no operator has been appointed there for the past five years. We have never seen this water house working till now,
the villagers added. So much so, the government school of the village which was once supposed to be upgraded to high/senior secondary level is being run by only one teacher. The people of the village want to forget August 28, 1997 when during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the focal point they were promised that they would get all facilities like urban areas by the then Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal and DE, Ludhiana, Mr Arun Goel. They love to forget the dream of getting facilities of post office, gas agency, petrol pump, agricultural office to give loans at easy installments. The people have been able to avail of the services of Mandi, Cooperative Bank and Cooperative Agricultural Society so far but no one has been able to get any sort of self-employment at the focal point.
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Security measures for imported scrap sought
Mandi Gobindgarh, October 8 Claiming that government departments became active only after the occurrence of accidents, Mr Jain suggested that government departments be extra cautious towards security. He demanded that the government ordered the departments concerned to take extra precautions in case of use of imported and artillery scrap
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Fast threatened against disrespect to National Emblem
Ludhiana, October 8 Municipal councillor Atma Ram Bawa of the Congress had allegedly touched with a foot the National Emblem inscribed on a desk while climbing over it during an argument over some matter with Mr Devinder Kathuria at a meeting of the Jagraon municipal council. He was warned by other councillors but allegedly did not move away. City Youth Club has been agitating against the inaction of the administration in the matter. Mr Sanjay Kumar, chairman of the club, alleged that he and other club members had been threatened with “dire consequences” for taking up the issue and also attacked a couple of times. He said that after fighting for justice in vain for almost four months, they had no option but to go on fast. He, along with club president Karamjit Singh Sekhon, joint secretary Amit Joshi and Dhamandeep Singh, president of the DAV College Students Union, would start the fast on October 13. The issue has become a cause of tension in Jagraon as club activists have been putting up posters with pictures of the alleged indiscreet act. Their rivals however, have been removing the posters.
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This vintage jeep is owner’s pride
Ludhiana, October 8 This vintage jeep was acquired by Mr Honey William, a collector, flying bird hunter and a sharpshooter, from his hunter friend His Highness of Ratlam, a few years ago. Regarding his love for unique things Mr William says that as he is a salaried man, he cannot afford to spend too much money, but he is always on a look out for a bargain. Mr Honey William is a Welfare Officer in the Medical Social Welfare Department CMC&H. His passion is collecting antiques and this Ford jeep with some very unique features is his favourite piece. The jeep has split wheels which means that they can come out like a scooter's wheels. These jeeps were used extensively in the Second World War as it has a special socket to hold a rifle. Moreover, it has 12 gears- four in normal travel, four if the jeep gets struck in snow and another four if it gets stuck in mud. Winston Churchill, British premier during the Second World War loved travelling in this jeep. This vintage jeep is being extensively used in advertisements for certain jeans these days. Unfortunately, the Ford Company stopped making these jeeps after 1943. The jeep has concealed headlights which proved to be a boon in the warfield, folding wind screen and the most amazing feature is that it could travel on railway track to avoid detection during war time. Mr Honey William said Ford even manufactured amphibian jeeps during war. As many as 50 persons can stand on it without bending its suspension. Since it was used in war, there is a place for Pulpit from where the priest could conduct a prayer service. The jeep also has a provision for carrying a stretcher. It has a provision for fire extinguisher, search light, brass radiator, and provision for storing jerry cans and water
bottles. Anita Williama, his wife, says that they love travelling in the open jeep with its windshield folded, as it gives an air of freedom and moreover their jeep is the centre of attraction in the city. Their children Akanksha and Anmol say that their father spends all his spare moments and a lot of money on collecting motorbikes, telescopic guns, coins but unfortunately their house in CMC campus is not large enough to display his collection in a proper manner. Mr Honey William also said that he would love to teach shooting to any child interested in learning it free of cost on Sundays.
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All roads lead to Kapurthala, Garhshankar
Ludhiana, October 8 SAD legislators and MPs and SGPC members have been camping at Kapurthala. The government has made it out to be a referendum on its performance. Senior BJP leaders from Ludhiana have been campaigning for the party nominee at Garhshankar. A local BJP leader says the atmosphere is surcharged in Kapurthala, where there is a triangular contest. Communists have been campaigning actively. Local leaders have been making the excuse of not being available. A youth Congress activist has claimed that no senior leader is available in Ludhiana. If a tour of the Chief Minister is scheduled for a particular day, everybody rushes to that place. SAD and BJP workers prefer being in the company of senior leaders to working on their own. A party worker has remarked that they come to score points than to work for the party. It literally appears to be party time for all parties.
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$ 10 m sample orders
for woollens from Moscow
Ludhiana, October 8 "Indian woollen industry can look forward to Moscow as a huge potential market. People who visited the stalls there and saw Indian products , knitwears, shawls, stoles, caps etc. were impressed by the quality of our products. However, currently we are not sending high quality woollens to that country and people there are unaware of Indian products," said Mr Jaidka. He said if the government, by proper dissemination of information regarding the kind of products required by customers in Moscow, could generate more awareness, it would mean huge export earnings from that country. The council had set up a stall at the exhibition which managed to attract more than 100 buyers and agents. Mr Jaidka informed that the council was now planning to send a trade delegation under Focus CIS Programme to Ukraine and Belarus. It is also planning to send a delegation under Focus LAC Programme to Mexico, Chile and Argentina and under Focus Africa Programme to South Africa and Mauritius. Besides, there are also plans to send a delegation to Australia and New Zealand in the current financial year. Wool and Woollens Export Promotion Council will also participate in the Hong Kong Fashion Week, he said.
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Law and order worries industry
Ludhiana, October 8 Expressing its concern over a large number of migrant labourers from various parts of the country and their involvement in various crime incidents, the chamber talked about the decision regarding the requirement to furnish details about identity of servants and tenants to the police. Stating that a large number of labourers were engaged in carrying out various industrial processes, and it kept on changing, the chamber explained the difficulty in furnishing the information every time to the police. According to a press note issued by the chamber, the SSP assured the representatives that industrial units would not be questioned about the information provided by them.
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Biz Clips
Ludhiana Fashion show: Seagram's Blenders Pride Magical Nights presented a fashion show here on Friday evening at Sterling Resorts. With collections created specially for the show, 12 renowned models presented the designs by Shantanu and Nikhil and Aparna Chandra. Mobile ATM:
The State Bank of Patiala launched an ATM van here on Friday, according to Mr S.S. Noorpuri, Chief Manager, Miller Ganj branch. The van was inaugurated by Income Tax Chief Commissioner Sudha Sharma.
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