 |
|
|
Misuse of official vehicle goes
unchecked
At two, science city starts two projects
Mayor at receiving end
Councillor’s supporters stage protest
Patwari arrested
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cleanliness drive
400 degrees given
Roop mela organised
Eyes donated
Cyclist crushed
|
|
Misuse of official vehicle goes
unchecked
Jalandhar, March 19 The vehicle (PB-08AM-1705), with the words “Government of India” written in the front and rear number plates, is being reportedly misused by him as it comes to pick him from his home in Harbans Nagar every day. A copy of a CD with a video recording of official using the vehicle thrice a day between his home and office is in the possession of The Tribune. The CD clearly shows that the vehicle covers the distance six times a day. Since the distance between his home and office is roughly 7.5 km, the total distance the vehicle covers in a day comes out to be close to 45 km. The distance covered by the officer in 26 working days of a month comes out to be 1,170 km. This is just 330 km short of his sanctioned limit of commuting across 1,500 km in a month for official purpose. This clearly implies that the fuel expenses meant for the official use are being instead used for personal purpose. In addition, the official is also reportedly drawing a monthly conveyance allowance of Rs 800. The CD reportedly prepared by BSNL employees has been sent to the Chief Managing Director, BSNL corporate office, New Delhi, for taking suitable action. The employees have written that while the officer is responsible for checking misuse in the office, he was himself indulging in malpractice. The officer, when contacted, asked this reporter to repeat the question thrice, remained mum for a minute and then disconnected the call. DGM (vigilance) Manmohan Singh, when asked for his version, said he had been receiving numerous complaints against BSNL employees and he did not remember anything about this case. |
|
At two, science city starts two projects
Kapurthala, March 19 As it gains on years, it’s gaining popularity, especially among schoolchildren. Till date, over 6.25 lakh visitors have visited and learnt the basic principles of day-to-day science. Today the philatelic gallery on science and technology and Renewable Energy Education Park were thrown open to public by the director-general of the science city, Dr R.S. Khandpur. The philatelic gallery has a collection of stamps on general science, physics, chemistry and life science. It has been set up with the collaboration of the Ludhiana-based Philatelic Congress of Punjab. The stamps will be replaced periodically. For the energy park, the Ministry of Non-Conventional Resources has provided funds and technical assistance has come from the Punjab Energy Development Agency. The park is being set up with an investment of Rs 1.75 crore. Gadgets are being installed for the demonstration of visitors. The park has solar power plant of 20 KW, solar water plant, solar streetlights, hydel centre for displaying various turbines, solar home, solar restaurant for exhibiting solar cookers and heaters and a 60-foot-high windmill. Regarding the future expansion plans, Dr Khandpur said four new galleries — Science of Sports, Virtual Reality and Cyberspace, Health and Biotechnology and Aviation and Space — would be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore by next year. The Gallery on Science of Sports will include virtual reality sport shows on cricket, tennis and football, where visitors would enjoy the excitement and challenge of their favourite sports without ever having to set foot on a playing surface and investigate the mechanics of sport around an indoor field. A rock climbing facility would be the added attraction. To give the visitors the real jerks of an earthquake on various measures of the Richter scale, an earthquake simulator would be installed. The Ecology and Environment Gallery would attempt to highlight issues such as global warming and pollution, identifying ways and means to mitigate their adverse effects with the help of models, dioramas, information panels and interactive computer-based programmes. “A dinosaur park is also being set up in an island surrounded by a water body. Dinosaurs will be displayed specifically and we are going to get 45 models of dinosaurs shortly,” the director-general added. To mark its annual day, a booklet on HIV/AIDS was released and Dr I.S. Dua, head of the department of botany, Panjab University, spoke on “Knowing and appreciating life through science”. A number of schoolchildren were invited. Spread over 72 acres, the science city opens from 9am to 7pm from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays and Sundays the visiting hours are from 9am to 9pm. |
|
Mayor at receiving end
Jalandhar, March 19 While councillors representing the opposition blamed him for not issuing work orders of projects for which tenders had been passed long back, the Congress men put before him the list of the long-pending demands of residents of their wards. Trying to keep everyone quite, Mahey said the meeting was called to discuss only budget and the questions in the zero hour be raised over the same issue. But this did not happen and arguments went on and on over the issues related to delay in unveiling the statue of Beant Singh at the BMC chowk, slow progress in the construction of the Domoria Bridge flyover and DAV College flyover and problems of streetlight and stray dogs. The worst was when the mayor proposed that nearly 990 posts of safai workers, sewer men, sanitary supervisors and daily wagers be filled. At this, leaders of the opposition, led by Kuldeep Singh Oberoi, raised a question: “Why is such a proposal being mooted at the fag end of the five years term? Why did you not favour the issue when we had been asking for manpower since long?” The Akali-BJP councillors also pointed out that the issue was being raised as the MC elections were barely a month or two away and there had been a change of power in the state. While the agenda enclosed the budget of Rs 163 crore, an addition of Rs 35 crore was made and finally a budget of Rs 198 crore was passed. While Rs 48 crore will go as salaries, the remaining amount will be spent on development projects, including the elevated road project near the Guru Nanak Mission chowk, the DAV College flyover and the Domoria flyover.
|
|
Councillor’s supporters stage protest
Pathankot, March 19 The traffic jam also created chaos on link roads as motorists avoided the highway and took alternative routes. The protestors were demanding the cancellation of cases against councillor Vijay Kumar Chunni and Raju, who allegedly assaulted school teacher Bahadur Singh and ransacked his house. The clash took place at an examination centre in Daulatpur Dhaki locality. However, the traffic on the highway was restored on the assurance of DSP (city) Karamjit Singh regarding the fair probe. |
|
Patwari arrested
Jalandhar, March 19 According to a press note of the bureau, the patwari demanded Rs 15,000 from Hargobindpura resident Narinder Singh for entering the “intkal”. However, he agreed to take Rs 10,000. Narinder Singh reported the matter to the bureau. A team led by DSP Tarsem Singh laid a trap to arrest the patwari.
|
|
Cleanliness drive
Hoshiarpur, March 19 Painting competitions on environment, baby show and fresh flower arrangement were organised to educate people about maintaining cleanliness. Cultural programmes, fun games and food plaza were the main attraction. Deepak Mittal, chairman of the association, said clean and green drive had been started in association with the Art of Living, an NGO, the forest department, the municipal council, the chamber of commerce and industry and the rotary club, Hoshiarpur, to make the city clean and green. A large number of localities on the periphery of Hoshiarpur had been covered and about 15,000 saplings planted.
|
|
400 degrees given
Gurdaspur, March 19 Dr R.S. Bawa, registrar, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was the chief guest. The principal, Hepesh Shepherd, highlighted the achievements of the college. |
|
Roop mela organised
Nawanshahr, March 19 |
|
|
Eyes donated
Nawanshahr, March 19 The donors were Mahan Kaur of Alipur village; Sudershan Kumar and Dharam Pal of Rahon. The eyes were sent to Punarjot Eye Bank of Punjab, Ludhiana. So far, 23 persons have donated eyes in the district. |
|
Cyclist crushed
Phagwara, March 19 The truck driver fled from the spot. The police has registered a case against the driver and impounded the vehicle. |
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
