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Danger wide open: City manholes left gaping
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Wake-up call for MC
... and blame game begins
Police runs out of fuel
Govt dispensary not in pink of health
Maqsudan-Bidhipur road commuters’ nightmare
Drug controller sitting over 232 cases
MC to buy truck-mounted power vacuum sweeper
Litigants suffer as Bar assn observes ‘no work day’
Slovakian man’s body kept in village morgue
GND varsity wins AIU youth fest
Woman booked for murdering her kids
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Danger wide open: City manholes left gaping
Jalandhar, November 26 CVO VP Singh along with vigilance officers Neeraj Bhatti and Rakesh Singla visited the site at Kutcha Kot locality on Basti Peer Daad road and found pieces of the broken cemented manhole along the road. The team met shopkeepers of the Kot Kutcha locality, who reportedly told them that the manhole cover was damaged by a road roller about two months ago, but it was not replaced. The frame of the manhole cover was also missing. The team then visited the house of BJP councillor Kirpal Singh Buti to take his version record on the issue. They even went to the zonal office of the MC to record the statements of junior engineer Rajesh Puri and SDO Ravinder Singh. The vigilance officials took the version of B&R executive engineer Chaman Lal as the manhole was on the road which is under construction for the past nearly six months. The CVO officials took the one-month details from the MC complaint centre regarding missing and broken manhole covers in the city. The register had over 25 complaints from different areas, including Madhuban Colony, New GTB Nagar, Basti Sheikh, Garha, Ladowali Road and Urban Estate. The CVO, who was posted as SE (O&M), MC, in the city about a year ago, said: “I will submit my report to the Director and the Secretary of the Local Bodies Department within two days.” Covers in councillor’s residenceInterestingly, as the CVO team visited the residence of area councillor Kirpal Singh Buti, they found manhole covers lying at his place. When contacted, Buti said the covers were often stolen by drug addicts. “I have kept these in my house so that these can immediately be replaced. The manhole cover was intact three days back at the site of mishap,” he said. MC swings into action
Even as it was a holiday on Saturday, the MC staff from the O&M wing remained on toes, visiting the site along with the CVO and resorting to preventive measures. The MC will start zone-wise patrolling in different areas of the city to ensure that no manhole is left uncovered. Moreover, the civic body will circulate phone numbers of all junior engineers and SDOs of the eight zones and even the SE of the O&M wing so that residents can inform about the missing or broken manholes. |
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Wake-up call for MC
Jalandhar, November 26 The incident has opened the eyes of the authorities who had been sleeping over the complaints for quite sometime. Jalandhar Tribune team found that manholes were lying uncovered on roads in certain localities, including Upkar Nagar, Ajit Nagar, Gandhi Nagar and Lamma Pind, all falling in Ward number 8. Residents of the area claimed that it was risky passing through the death traps, especially at the dawn and the dusk. Residents said they had met the officials concerned several times, but to no avail. Nav Kumar, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, said it has been over a month since the manhole covers were broken in his area, but MC was turning a blind eye to the problem. “We do not let our children walk along the lanes alone for fear of any untoward incident,” he said. Vikramjit Singh Vicky, a resident of Lamma Pind, complained that he too had registered the complaint regarding open manholes in the area a number of times, but to no avail. “Even as the residents of the area are aware of the sites that have uncovered sewers and remain cautious, it can be dicey for a first time visitor,” he added. Congress councillor Nirmal Singh Nimma said he had met the Commissioner on this issue and had even got sanction for covers in six localities of his ward, including Jaimal Nagar and Vivek Nagar, but there has been no action till date. “The biggest concern is the main sewer line which is 25 metres deep. The sewer in the area where the incident occurred yesterday was 8 metres deep and the body could be taken out easily. In my area, things can be worse,” he added. “It is too difficult a situation for me as it is me who has to face the ire of area residents. My ward is the most neglected one since I represent the opposition. The residents often pass remark saying that I was incapable of getting the manhole covers laid,” he said. MC Commissioner BS Dhaliwal said he had pulled up the officials concerned asking them as to why the complaints on manholes were not being addressed instantly. He said the SEs already have a discretionary power of spending Rs 40,000 a month for any immediate concern. I fail to understand as to why they have not done anything in this regard. I have held a meeting with the staff and asked everyone to immediately get into action.”
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... and blame game begins
Jalandhar, November 26 Residents of the area blame it on BJP councillor of Ward No. 42 Kirpal Singh Buti with whom they have been at loggerheads for the past over two months. However, the councillor blames it on the Almighty, claiming that he did not want to pinpoint at anyone. All city councillors, including those from the Opposition, have blame officials for it. The officials are instead blaming residents of the area for not acting as responsible citizens and coming up with complaints in time. The feud between residents and the councillor had even come to fore on November 19 when they, upset over the poor development of the area, had not allowed Buti and Mayor Rakesh Rathour to lay a foundation stone. While the stone on Basti Peer Daad road had been laid, they blocked the way where the inauguration of streetlights and tubewell was scheduled. Even after the last evening’s incident, the residents had shown anger and had even gheraoed the All city councillors have shown solidarity with Buti on the issue. Congress councillor Kuljit Singh Babbi aimed it directly on the MC staff. “How can a councillor be blamed for the lapse? What are the JEs, SDOs and other officials being paid for?” he said. The SDOs and XENs said: “Residents have to respond on such matters. It is they who are affected by it.” |
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Police runs out of fuel
Jalandhar, November 26 Police sources confirmed that due to the Kabbadi World Cup matches, consumption of petrol and diesel had multiplied. “Consumption was high as a majority of city police vehicles were engaged in VIP duties and many were deployed at different places for security reasons,” said a police official. Another police official said: “Whenever any minister or a VIP visit the city, the burden of filling petrol and diesel in their vehicles falls on the city police petrol pump. This leads to shortage of fuel for our vehicles. The government should make alternative arrangements to relieve the police pump from such a burden.” The Jalandhar Commissionerate police have 16 police stations and each gets minimum of 290 litres of petrol/diesel per day and when the vehicles engaged with VIPs, daily consumptions multiplies. The state police has allotted Rs 2 crore to the city police to purchase petrol/diesel in a year and on quarterly basis, police can only spend Rs 50 lakh on fuel, sources revealed. One of the police officials said: “If the consumption in one quarter surpasses Rs 50 lakh, the city police will not be allowed to use the remaining funds to buy petrol/diesel and police vehicles will have to arrange fuel on their own.” A Station House Officer of the city police said: “From the past one week, our vehicles are not getting petrol/diesel and we are told to arrange the same on our own expense. The that stock available with the city police has been consumed due to the Kabbadi World Cup, but government did not make any alternative provision to overcome the shortage.” Another inspector said that due to shifting of the Jalandhar Central Jail to Kapurthala, the consumption of petrol/diesel has also multiplied. “Earlier, we had to travel only a few kilometres to ferry undertrials from the Central Jail to the court complex, but now our security vehicles have to travel 40 kilometres up and down,” he said. |
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Govt dispensary not in pink of health
Jalandhar, November 26 Situated at the rear of a damp room, which happens to house a tubewell in the area, the building’s entrance and courtyard both have a number of depressions in the broken floor which are filled up either with garbage or black sludge. Only two staff members - a sweeper and a class IV employee - were present when The Tribune visited the dispensary this morning. The dispensary has seen no doctor since the previous one was transferred from here on November 4. Moreover, there is no pharmacist at the dispensary. Presently, only three ANMs are posted at the dispensary, none of whom are regular and they were too not present today as the peon said one of them had come in the morning but left because she had some important work at home. The building is supported by damp walls with plaster chipping off as water seeps into rooms during rains. The store room is full of used medicine bottles. Medicines are kept in damp almirahs. Patients pour in, but are turned away since no one is present to give them medicines. Today, a five-year-old boy with an allergy on his foot, a woman who complained of worms in her son’s stomach and another woman with severe abortion complications had to be turned away since there were no doctors or nurse present at the dispensary. Talking to The Tribune, the peon said on a day when a nurse is present, the dispensary easily gets 20 to 40 patients.Area residents said they were forced to visit quacks as there were no doctors in the dispensary. Sources say there are 10 quacks for a single certified doctor in the area and the usage of wrong medicines causes further complications in many cases. “Since the area has many drug addicts, injuries due to fights are common. While the area is in a dire need of medical facilities, the state of health facilities is as bad as it can get and the government is doing nothing to address the problem,” said a local doctor. The Civil Surgeon said: “The post has fallen vacant for the past 15 days. We keep on sending vacancies to the higher authorities. It’s for them to recruit doctors. As soon as recruitments are done, someone will be deputed. The ANMs must be on duty somewhere else.” Life in untrained handsA screaming, crying patient grabbing her belly was brought to the dispensary by her friend. While the class IV staff looked on, the patient refused to go to any hospital. The complication had arisen due to a pill she took from a quack for an abortion. Her nervous friend exhorted the peon to administer an injection to her. While the peon refused in front of The Tribune team, residents said it was a common practice for peons to administer injections, even in undiagnosed cases. “If a patient is almost dying and begging for a “tika” (injection) or medicine, the untrained staff swings into action. For patients, any kind of “tika” means an end to their pain or problem,” an area resident said. State of affairs
Dispensary sans doctor, pharmacist Three ANMs found absent Residents say peons administer injections and give medicines Building in a dilapidated condition Many patients being turned away daily Ignorant patients falling prey to quacks |
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Maqsudan-Bidhipur road commuters’ nightmare
Jalandhar, November 26 Since half of the road along the edges has got worn out, only one lane of each of the side is being currently used on the busy highway leading to Amritsar. Residents of the colonies along the road say three fatal accidents have alresty taken place on the road in the past four months. The worst affected is the part in front of Issa Nagar and Suranussi where the road in the central part had been dug up for the construction of divider a few months ago. The patch has become accident-prone since the divider is yet to come up. Heavy vehicles ply on this road as it connects to the Ordnance Depot of the Army. The city bus going right up to Kartarpur also has to follow this rough patch. Educational institutes, including CT Public School, CJS Public School, Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology and DAV institutions, are also located along this road. Besides, Sacred Heart Hospital is also situated on the same stretch. Residents of colonies falling on either side of this road, including Anand Nagar, Ravi Dass Nagar, Janta Colony, Guru Nanak Nagar and Arra Mohalla, are the worst hit. Councillor of the area representing Ward number 1 Paramjit Kaur Jassal said the work for repair of the road and construction of the divider had been started eight months ago, only 20 per cent of it had been completed till date. “I have repeatedly told officials to get the work expedited, but to no avail,” she added. Mayor Rakesh Rathour said the contractor had been going slow on work. “I have held a meeting with him and asked him to speed up and finish the project in two-three weeks,” he said.
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Drug controller sitting over 232 cases
Jalandhar, November 26 In his communiqué, Verma has pointed out that there are 232 cases pertaining to Jalandhar Division on which the State Drug Controller has failed to take any action. He expressed his anguish mentioning that 30 cases were pending for more than three years. The official has mentioned that the District Drug Inspector had conducted raids on various chemist stores in 2008 and had sent their details to the State Drug Controller for taking action. In 13 of these cases, the State Drug Controller issued notices to the chemists concerned but did not take any action thereafter. In 17 remaining cases, the Controller did not even bother to issue a show cause notice. Similarly, 35 cases pertaining to 2009 and 89 to 2010 have remained unattended, he has written. Verma has even directed the DCs of all eight districts falling in Jalandhar division to direct their District Drug Inspectors to go to the office of the State Drug Controller and get their pending cases processed on single file system. He has asked for exemplary action against those chemists who have been found to be committing illegalities time and again. He has even directed the DCs to send him the progress report in this regard on the 1st and 16th of every month. About a month back, Verma had written to the Principal Secretary, Health, regarding the pending cases of Jalandhar district. As a result, licences of 15 local chemists had been suspended. Verma had circulated the list of the suspended licences to the Commissioner of Police as well as the SSP Rural requesting them to direct the local police officials to check that these chemists do not open in violation of the suspension orders. He has even asked public to come forward and give information against chemists selling drugs to the youth so that deterrent action may be taken against them. Apathy or inefficiency? District Drug Inspector had conducted raids on 30 chemist stores in 2008 and had sent their details to the State Drug Controller for taking action In 13 of these cases, the State Drug Controller issued notices to the chemists concerned but did not take any action thereafter. In 17 remaining cases, the Controller did not even bother to issue a show cause notice. Similarly, 35 cases pertaining to 2009 and 89 to 2010 have remained unattended
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MC to buy truck-mounted power vacuum sweeper
Jalandhar, November 26 A grant for the same sent through the Solid Waste Project of the Central government has been lying with the office for quite some time. The office already had a machine of the kind earlier but it has been lying non-functional and unfit for use for the past few years. The officials from the O&M branch had taken demonstration of the machines of two companies recently and had suggested that the specifications of the one to be supplied by a Pune-based company were the most suitable. As per the requirement, the machine is equipped with water sprinkling nozzles provided suitably to avoid dust dispersion in the atmosphere while sweeping. The machine would be able to sweep in an area of 2.3 cubic metre in one sweep with a capability of lifting leaves, pebbles and stones upto 4 cm size. In all 126 proposals were mooted during the meeting, of which 124 works pertaining to roads, tubewells and other development works were finally cleared for an amount of Rs 24 crore. The proposal to have an additional generator set and transformer has been kept pending while another one for construction of community centre with staff quarters at Charanjitpura has been rejected.
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Litigants suffer as Bar assn observes ‘no work day’
Jalandhar, November 26 A number of litigants and witnesses saw themselves at the receiving end as the District Bar Association (DBA) decided to observe no work day for facilitating lawyers to participate in the cremation of its senior member Advocate HS Sandhu (87). Suffering from various diseases, he had passed away on Friday evening. Sandhu remained an active member of the DBA and was also elected its president for nine times. He was cremated at Model Town crematorium on Saturday evening. While most of the lawyers preferred not to attend the courts today, however some lawyers were seen attending the courts in connection with their important cases. Meanwhile a litigant Satbir Singh said, “There is already a huge backlog of cases. And observing no work day further affects litigants.” Earlier also, hundreds of litigants and witnesses had to suffer when DBA had observed ‘no work day’ on August 24 for facilitating lawyers to participate in the cremation of its senior member Chaudhary Darshan Singh, also a veteran Congress leader. Meanwhile, DBA president GK Agnihotri said, “No work day was observed so that advocates could attend cremation of advocate HS Sandhu, who also remained DBA president several times. The lawyers were free to appear in the courts for urgent cases.” Lok adalatA total of 2,888 cases out of total 3,544 cases were settled in a mega lok adalat here on Saturday.
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Slovakian man’s body kept in village morgue
Jalandhar, November 26 Dushan Simko’s girlfriend, Yana, who also sustained serious head injuries in the mishap, was operated upon in a private hospital and is out of danger. Balkar Singh, ACP, said the police has faxed copies of all documents, including passports, of the victim to the Slovakian embassy at New Delhi. The embassy has informed the family members of Simko and his girlfriend Yana about the accident. Meanwhile, the police have initiated inquest proceedings in the Dushan Simko death case. The Slovakian couple, on a motorcycle, were going to the Golden Temple in Amritsar from Ludhiana when their vehicle met with a fatal accident at the PAP Chowk here on Friday morning.
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GND varsity wins AIU youth fest
Jalandhar, November 26 The host team was declared the runners-up. As many as 700 youth had taken part in the festival. The events held today included guitar harmony, fusion dance from the south and north, display of martial arts, fusion of blind dance, b-boying and Indonesian dance.
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City boy shoots gold at national level
Jalandhar, November 26 He scored 566 points out of 600 and became the new national champion of this event. Ajitesh also won four bronze medals in 50 meters free pistol (individual), 25 meters standard pistol (individual), 50 meters free pistol (senior team) and 25 meters standard pistol events in this championship. The budding shooter has now been selected by the National Rifle Association of India
(NRAI) for the 12th Asian Shooting Championship to be held at Doha from January 10 to 21. A student of DAV College,
Chandigarh, he gets scholarship from Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited
(ONGC). He has also been given a year long sponsorship by a Mumbai-based NGO, Lakshya Group, for undertaking shooting training at Balewadi Shooting Range,
Pune, as he was selected by ace shooter Gagan Narang for his academy- ‘Gun for Glory Shooting Academy’. He joined the academy in June this year. Talking to Jalandhar Tribune over the phone from
Pune, Ajitesh said he was lucky enough to have got a chance to train in Gagan Narang’s academy. “At the academy, we have around 15 plus shooters including boys and girls in both junior and senior categories from across the country. We have foreign coaches who along with other support staff train us in this sport. Beside this, Gagan Narang also practise with us,” he added.
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Woman booked for murdering her kids
Jalandhar, November 26 Family members and residents of New Baba Budha Ji Nagar bid a tearful adieu to the kids. Meanwhile, kids’ mother
Pooja, who also consumed poison, is said to be stable. The police has registered a case of murder and attempt to suicide against
Pooja, at Rama Mandi police station. Barjinder Singh, SHO, Rama Mandi, said the police will interrogate the woman after she would be able to give a statement. |
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Jalandhar, November 26
Nitin Khanna came to the district court to get his statement recorded in connection with a case fixed for today. His statement could not be recorded as the case was adjourned. His case was not an isolated one.
The team from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, emerged as the overall winner of
Virsa, the five-day North Zone Youth Festival, of the Association of Indian Universities that concluded at Lovely Professional University today.
