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Truckers demand third party insurance
Grants for projects
Body found
Honesty is the best policy
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Shortage of staff cripples Vigilance Bureau working
Jalandhar, January 2 The department, which went into an overdrive after the Congress government came to power in the state, is now 40 per cent short of its total requirement of officers. The Bureau cadres are said to be a demoralised lot as they are not being given “free hand” in functioning. The Bureau, which once showed eagerness to net as many corruption cases encouraging officers to join the department, is now not giving them “free hand” to catch the corrupt. Instead, it is alleged that the officers now face increased pressure to let the corrupt elements off, according to sources. The authorities concerned, however, deny the allegations, but statistics of as many as seven posts lying vacant in Jalandhar zone itself speak for themselves. The Bureau has posts vacant in Hoshiarpur, Nawashahar and in Jalandhar districts, which are important stations for the department. The shortage is acute at the level of the deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and some of the officers have also put in their papers requesting for their transfer out of the department, according to sources. The DSP (Vigilance), Kapurthala, Mr Manjit Singh, had requested for his transfer in the month of September last year. Many Inspector-level officers have also requested to be transferred out of the Bureau expressing willingness to work with any of the departments like the IRB or the PAP. Interestingly, no major case of corruption has been registered by the bureau over the past few months. The main reason behind the exodus and the shortage of manpower is said to be the “demoralisation” of the cadres as a result of slacking pace at which the corrupt were now being targeted. The quota of cases to be handled by the officers was not being met with, sources added. A highly-placed officer, on condition of anonymity, said that the Police department, from where the officers are posted in the Vigilance Bureau, was itself facing shortage of qualified officers for such postings. The Departmental Promotional Committee, in its recently held meeting, finalised names of more than 100 officers for promotions from Inspectors to DSPs and the final list is likely to be released very soon. The vacant posts are expected to be filled up soon after the list is released. |
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Surjit Stadium daydreams of being flood-lit
Jalandhar, January 2 Last year, during the same tournament, the Municipal Corporation made a promise to erect floodlights in this stadium at Burlton Park. But the twenty-second year of the national tournament would also pass without any game being played at night. While Chandigarh’s Sector 42 stadium, about to host the Premiere Hockey League tomorrow morning, has got its floodlights, the provision for such a night vision is hanging fire in this city of hockey Olympians. The civic authorities, as usual, blame it on the lack of funds. The promise of floodlights was made last year at one of the formal ceremonies held during the 21st Surjit Hockey Tournament by the state’s Minister for Local Bodies, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh. The Minister had conceded to power the installation of the floodlights with the required funds, but the project remained grounded since the authorities later discovered that putting lights in the sky would cost the Municipal Corporation more than Rs 1 crore. The Municipal Commissioner, Mr S.S. Johal, explained: “Earlier we thought the project should not cost more than Rs 25 lakh, but when the estimates were prepared, the budget started hovering around Rs 1 crore.” He said the Sports Department wanted floodlights with varied specifications, for which the expenses were alarmingly high. “Had the estimates come out to be Rs 35 to 40 lakh, we could still have given it a thought.” The Sports Director of Punjab, Mr Pargat Singh, too cited the same reason— the project was just too expensive. He said lights of 1,000 Luminous Watts costing Rs 1.7 lakh were a must for holding international hockey matches and to ensure good TV coverage. “But it’s hard for the civic authorities to pay that much money. Besides, the Municipal Corporation will also have to bear the expenditure of getting a load connection, installing a transformer, and the recurring charges that would follow the installation.” Mr Pargat Singh, however, said that the number of spectators during the daytime was low owing to occupational engagements, and hockey after sunset would draw good crowds, especially during international-level matches. “The need for floodlights here is growing with every passing night.” The Sports Director said his department would find out ways to get the project moving. “If the Corporation cannot do the needful, we will request the Punjab government to allocate funds for the floodlights.”
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Truckers demand third party insurance
Kapurthala, January 2 Bringing this to the notice of district authorities while addressing a function organised by the District Transport Department to celebrate the road safety week here the union president said it was causing great resentment and insecurity among the truck operators. However, Mr Ashok Kumar Gupta, the development officer of National Insurance Company while speaking on the occasion, said the companies were forced to take this step as these were incurring heavy losses due to compensation given to the victims. He said to cope up with the problem insurance companies had urged the government to increase the rates of premium for the third party insurance. Mr Samir Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, who was presiding over the function, assured the truck operators of bringing their problem to the notice of the Government. He also conceded the truck union’s demand for the allotment of land for parking of their vehicles. He said the land on the Kala Sanghia road had been earmarked for the purpose. He also announced the setting up a children traffic park and a ‘transport nagar’ in town. Addressing the function, Mr Rajiv Ahir, SSP, Kapurthala, disclosed that more than eighty persons died and as many were injured every year due to accidents in the district. During the function, the local BJP leader, Mr Sham Sunder Aggarwal, complained to the SSP against the alleged harassment by the traffic police on the highways, saying “it is prohibited by the DGP, Punjab.” Denying any harassment by the traffic police, the SSP said that there was no such instruction from the DGP that no vehicle would be challaned on the national highways, and it was the duty of the traffic police to take action against the violators of traffic rules. The District Transport officer, Mr Uma Shankar Gupta, advised the truck operators not to carry more than nine tonnes of load as per the directions of the Supreme Court. Mr Gupta said the defaulters would have to pay heavy penalty on the spot and their vehicle would also be impounded. |
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Crackers cause fire in jeep during nagar kirtan
Phagwara, January 2 The nagar kirtan was being taken out in connection with the Avtar Purb of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth master of the Sikhs and the creator of the Khalsa. The Guru’s birth anniversary falls on January 5. The seats and the sheet of the jeep were ripped apart when its diesel tank exploded following the fire caused by crackers. The fire was ignited by a spark of a cracker burst by the devotees. It caused a chain reaction in the bundles of crackers kept in the jeep. Eyewitnesses told this correspondent that the diesel tank of the jeep burst with a bang. The explosion caused panic and pandemonium in the procession. However, no one was injured, as the jeep was moving ahead of the procession. A nearby tubewell proved helpful as its water was used to douse the fire. Fireworks, of late, had become part of all social and religious functions, said a concerned city resident. “Crackers are burst virtually at the drop of a hat. The New Year is heralded, cricket victories are celebrated and the sighting of moon on Karva Chauth is announced with the bursting of crackers,” he added. Crackers are even burst in the wee hours during the celebration of various religious functions. Despite a ban on bursting the crackers at odd hours, the crackers are exploded during late night programmes, particularly marriages, much to the chagrin of the public, especially students, children, and the old and the sick. Several environmentalists, including Mr Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, Mr Gurmit Palahi, Dr Amarjit Chausar, Mr Harbans Lal, have pleaded for restricted use of crackers during functions. |
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Grants for projects
Phagwara, January 2 He also laid the foundation stone of a link road between Bhagana village and its cremation ground. |
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Body found
Jalandhar, January 2 The deceased, Raju Keshi, originally from Nepal, was a resident of Tej Mohan Nagar, the police said. Some injury marks were also found on his stomach along with spots of blood on his T-shirt, even though the police said it might be a case of suicide. |
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Honesty is the best policy
Phagwara, January 2 One Rashpal Kaur, along with her children, boarded a private transport company bus for Ludhiana here yesterday. The lady was in a tearing hurry and shifted to another bus, which was leaving at that time. However, she forgot her purse containing cash and jewellery worth thousands of rupees, besides certain documents, in the Kartar bus. The Kartar Bus Service Adda Incharge Dilbag Singh Zafarwal and his colleague Goldy spotted the purse lying on the seat of the bus. Both opened the purse to find out any clue of its owner. After finding it out, they informed the relatives of the lady. Rashpal Kaur and her relatives rushed to the local bus stand and were handed over the purse. Touched by the honesty, the purse owner gave an award to both the bus staff members. Even the manager of the bus service announced an award for the honest employees. |
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