Bathinda, November 6
With an eye on the coming Lok Sabha elections, the state government today asked its local leadership as well as the police and the district administration to immediately sort out the issue of disparity between the BJP and Akali leaders following the attack on District BJP Yuva Morcha (Rural) president Kantesh Singla.

Apart from deploying a large contingent of security force in Maur town, additional security has also been provided to the injured BJP leader, Kantesh Singla, at Max Hospital and also at his residence.

A meeting of the rural and urban units of the BJP was called by senior police functionaries and they were pacified and offered every possible help without any bias.

Kantesh Singla, the district president of the BJP Yuva Morcha (Rural), was attacked by goons allegedly patronised by an influential political leader on Diwali night at Maur Mandi.

Singla was attacked with iron rods and other sharp-edged weapons after he objected to eve-teasing by the goons who according to the local residents, are close to an influential politician. Kantesh Singla had already lodged a formal complaint against these elements around ten days back.

Following bullying by the boys, the residents of Maur Mandi stood by the BJP leader. They raised slogans against the Akali leaders and demanded immediate arrest of the eve-teasers.

Sources said top district police officials are now treading the path safely, after a brawl in Maur Mandi, which has resulted in public outrage against the government following the BJP leaders' anguish over the beating up of their leader in front of cops.

Apart from registration of a case against Maur SHO Kulwinder Singh, stringent action against DSP Jaspal Singh has also been sought by the BJP leaders. Senior policemen, including an SP and DSP, have been stationed at Maur Mandi till further orders, and seven of the accused were arrested by the police today.

"Now, we are satisfied with the police action taken after the public uproar, the arrest of the youths and the registration of a case against the SHO," said Mohit Gupta, state BJP youth president. Mohit admitted that they also demanded action against the Maur DSP as well.

Mohit Singla, along with other local leaders of the BJP rural, today held a meeting for more than two hours with Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ravcharan Brar to discuss the modalities so that such incidents do not recur. Meanwhile, tension failed to ebb in Maur town as a section of the villagers from Chhoti Maur decided to protest in support of the arrest of the youths. The protest, however, was scuttled by the administration by deploying heavy police force.

District president of the BJP (Urban) Parminder Goyal said he too had gone to meet the SSP Bathinda but the meeting could not materialise. "There are certainly issues pertaining to ill-treatment and lack of respect and it would be taken up during Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's visit to Bathinda on November 9-10," he said. 

Bathinda, November 6
The Health Department has issued notices to five private practitioners for providing "misleading" information on dengue in the city. The notices have been issued today by the department to Dr Mohan Lal Garg, Dr Mohinder Singh, Dr KK Nauharia and Dr Ashwani Mittal.

Earlier, Dr JS Bahia from the Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR), was issued a notice for his study conducted on the outbreak of dengue in the year 2011, which was also presented at an international conference by the Australian and New Zealand Critical Care Society (ANZICS/ ACCCN) held in October.

Confirming this, District Health Officer Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa said a meeting was conducted in August this year with the Bathinda branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wherein all the private practitioners were told that dengue was a notified disease.

"As per the government guidelines, no patient can be declared dengue positive unless and until he or she has not undergone the McElisa confirmatory test, which is only conducted in government hospitals. Till the report does not confirm, the patient is said to be suffering from acute febril viral illness," he said.

Dr Randhawa added that despite the appeal made to private practitioners, they have been giving misleading information on dengue, which does not go down well with the people. Following this, the practitioners have been issued notices to explain the reason behind misinforming the people.

The president, IMA, Punjab, Dr Manoj Sobti from Ludhiana, said these guidelines are being followed strictly in Ludhiana. "No private practitioner here gives any information about dengue. It is up to the district health authorities to talk," he said.

President of the Bathinda chapter of the IMA Dr Shiv Dutt Gupta added that the IMA doctors in Bathinda too were sent this circular. "I am not aware of the notices issued to the private practitioners. I will look into the matter and discourage the doctors from making any comment on the disease until they are sure about it," he said.

Meanwhile, medical superintendent, AIMSR, Dr Gurpreet Singh Gill said his office had received a letter on Dr JS Bahia's study on dengue from the health authorities. "Dr Bahia has been asked to respond on the issue," he said.

Dr Bahia said he had reported cases of an illness like dengue and the information that the health department had asked for had already been provided to it.

The Health Department has issued notices to Dr Mohan Lal Garg, Dr Mohinder Singh, Dr KK Nauharia and Dr Ashwani Mittal. Earlier, Dr JS Bahia from the Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR), was issued a notice for his study conducted on the outbreak of dengue in the year 2011. District Health Officer Dr Raghubir Singh Randhawa said a meeting was conducted in August this year with the Bathinda branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wherein all the private practitioners were told that dengue was a notified disease. As per the government guidelines, no patient can be declared dengue positive unless and until he or she has undergone the McElisa confirmatory test, which is only conducted in government hospitals. Till the report does not confirm, the patient is said to be suffering from acute febril viral illness, the DHO said.

Bathinda, November 6
A Rampura doctor has been penalised by the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum for performing neurosurgery, despite having a degree in Master of Surgery (Orthopaedics), upon a 20-year-old girl.

Dr Gurinder Singh Mann, an MS in orthopaedics at the multispeciality centre and hospital near Railway Crossing, Rampura, now proprietor of Apex Hospital, Factory Road, Rampura, has been accused by 20-year-old Rukmani, a resident of Gopal Nagar, of performing surgery without being qualified for the same. Rukmani was suffering from acute pain due to caries spine of vertebrae D3 and D4 and went to seek opinion from Dr Gurinder Singh Mann in Rampura.

The counsel for the complainant Harbhupinder Chauhan said the patient was admitted to the hospital in June 2010 after she was assured of a complete cure by the doctor after conducting a surgery for the replacement of vertebrae with a metal implant.

The girl was informed that a neurosurgeon from PGIMER, Chandigarh, would come to operate upon her.

Chauhan said as per the hospital attendants, no surgeon from Chandigarh came. Instead, the doctor, an MS in orthopaedics, conducted the operation.

Despite paying Rs 44,000 for the surgery and more than Rs 2 lakhs on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), medicines, laboratory tests and others, there was no help to the patient. Instead, her condition deteriorated and she was confined to bed for life at a young age. The girl was able to walk prior to her surgery but now she is unable to, claimed the counsel for the complainant.

The complainant alleged that contrary to the claims of replacing vertebrae D3 and D4, the doctor used an oversized thread for stitching the wound which resulted in non-healing and the stitches opened leading to swelling and other complexities.

The patient's family members took her to the doctors at another hospital in Bathinda and the medical college at Faridkot who advised them to go for another surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

The opposite party, after appearing before the Forum, said the patient was suffering from caries spine or TB spine, and accused her of wasting precious time before starting the treatment.

The doctor's lawyer also denied assurance from a neurosurgeon from the PGI to operate upon her and also denied claims of implantation of vertebrae by the doctor.

The opposite party stated that instead, a wedge osteotomy was done on a complainant by Dr Praveen Garg, who is an orthopedic spine surgeon and ex-senior resident at Government Medical College, Chandigarh. Garg was paid Rs 10,000 for the surgery and his name was duly entered in the records of the hospital.

The counsel for the doctor also accused the complainant of not visiting regularly as per the medical advice and said she only visited once after the surgery. The allegation that the stitches had not healed was also repudiated.

The Forum, after listening to the arguments and claims of both the parties, observed that if for argument's sake, it is believed that an orthopedic spine surgeon Dr Praveen Garg had assisted the MS Ortho doctor, then has the name of the doctor not been entered in the discharge summary.

Moreover, the name of Dr Praveen Garg has been disclosed to the complainant before the surgery. The opposite party also failed to prove it with documentary evidence that for operating the spine, he (Dr Praveen) is a qualified doctor. No record of medical qualification of Dr Praveen Garg has been placed on file, the Forum observed. Also, there is no pre-operative or post-operative note given by Dr Praveen on file.

The Forum also observed that the patient was suffering from caries spine i.e. TB and if her vertebrae D3 and D4 was completely damaged and replacement was not advisable in the case, then it is the duty of the opposite party to seek the opinion of other doctors specialised in the field before conducting surgery.

The forum, while observing negligence on the part of the Multispeciality Medical Centre & Hospital near Railway Crossing, Rampura Phul, and Dr Gurinder Singh Mann imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakhs which includes the cost, compensation and expenses incurred upon the patient's treatment.

The patient's counsel, however, regretted that the Rs 1.5 lakh compensation is too meagre for rendering a patient's body motionless for the rest of her life.

Dr Gurinder Singh Mann, an MS in orthopaedics at the multispeciality centre and hospital near Railway Crossing, Rampura, now proprietor of Apex Hospital, Factory Road, Rampura, has been accused by 20-year-old Rukmani, a resident of Gopal Nagar, of performing neurosurgery surgery without being qualified for the same. Rukmani was suffering from acute pain due to caries spine of vertebrae D3 and D4 and went to seek opinion from Dr Gurinder Singh Mann in Rampura. The counsel for the complainant Harbhupinder Chauhan said the patient was admitted to the hospital in June 2010 after she was assured of a complete cure by the doctor after conducting a surgery for the replacement of vertebrae with a metal implant. The girl was informed that a neurosurgeon from PGIMER, Chandigarh, would come to operate upon her. Chauhan said as per the hospital attendants, no surgeon from Chandigarh came. Instead, the doctor, an MS in orthopaedics, conducted the operation. Despite paying ~44,000 for the surgery and more than ~2 lakhs on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), medicines, laboratory tests and others, there was no help to the patient. Instead, her condition deteriorated and she was confined to bed for life at a young age. The girl was able to walk prior to her surgery but now she is unable to, claimed the counsel for the complainant.

Bathinda, November 6
Giani Zail Singh Punjab Technical University (GZS PTU) campus will now house a modern residential school for poor meritorious students on its campus.

Under the Punjab government's coveted project of setting up six residential schools for poor meritorious schools in the state, one of it is coming up on 10 acres of land on the premises of GZS PTU campus.

Of the 157 acres of land of the GZS campus, 10 acres towards the Bathinda-Badal road, located near the railway track, has been earmarked for setting up the school. The land has already been demarcated and pillars have been installed, separating the campus from the proposed school.

DPI (Secondary), Punjab, Kamal Garg said the school is meant to cater to the needs of meritorious students who do not have enough means to continue their studies after matriculation. "We will educate the Plus I and Plus 2 students here who secure more than 80 per cent marks in the class X exams conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB)," he said.

Director principal, GZS PTU, Dr Jasbir Singh Hundal, whose institute has been designated as the third party quality control agency, said the prestigious school will also roll out deserving students that can easily be admitted to polytechnic and engineering colleges. "We have often seen intelligent students from a poor background being unable to continue their education. This institute will be a boon for such deserving children," added BS Bath, the registrar.

Apart from Bathinda, similar schools are coming up at Patiala, Amristar, Jalandhar, Mohali and Ludhiana. The Bathinda and Patiala school projects have been given to the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (Punjab Mandi Board).

XEN, Mandi Board, Bathinda, Jaswinder Singh Mann said tenders of project have already been floated. "The building will come up at a cost of Rs 28.23 crore. We have been strictly directed to get the school ready before the next academic session so that students can be given benefit as soon as possible," he said.

The school has 20 classrooms, hostels for girls and boys, residence for the principal and wardens, racing track, basketball and football grounds.

Earlier, the government had toyed with the idea of sharing infrastructure between the school and the college. There were plans to allow the proposed school and the GZS College to share the basketball grounds, track and other sports facilities. However, during the deliberations, it was felt that neither of the entities should interfere in the other's working.

The 10 acres of land had been lying unutilised since the inception of GZS College in 1989. Around 400 kikar trees stand here, which will be axed to make way for the school. This patch of land has an uneven topography and is low-lying. Punjab Mandi Board will construct schools at Bathinda and Patiala. Building and Road construction department will construct schools at Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana while the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) will construct the school at Mohali.

Bathinda, November 6
The mild showers today washed off post-Diwali smoke from the atmosphere giving some relief to people suffering from cough and nasal irritation but brought worries for farmers.

With the basmati crop standing ripened in fields, the rains may diminish hopes of the farmers. “Rains are not favorable for the basmati, which stands ripe in fields. The winds and rains may flatten the crop affecting yield per acre,” said farmer Jagtar Singh Brar from Sivian village.

The farmers, who have already sown wheat, too are worried as the rains would form thin crust of earth on the seeds sown. “This year the wheat seeds are expensive. Those who have already sown it may have to re-sow if the rains continue,” added Brar.

Dr Jaspal Gill, director regional research station Bathinda, said the rains are not favorable for the cotton plants. “The rains will drench the cotton plants affecting its quality and market turnover. Though most of the cotton picking has been done, only 10 to 20 percent was remaining in district. The rains will result in the cotton plant turning yellowish,” he said.

Meanwhile, ENT specialist Dr BS Khippal said the rains are beneficial for the patients who are suffering from nasal congestion. “Rains have settled the smoke arisen out of Diwali and paddy stubble burning. It will give great relief to such patients,” he added.

Talwandi Sabo, November 6
Indian Army organised a recruitment seminar at Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, today, wherein 650 students from Yadwindra College of Engineering and Technology, Baba Farid College of Engineering and Technology, Guru Ram Dass College of Engineering and Technology, Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology and Guru Kashi University participated.

DSP Talwandi Sabo Shiv Dutt Sharma inaugurated the seminar. Lt Gurwinder Singh and his team gave information about the recruitment process of officers in the Indian Army.

Training and placement officer of the university Karanjeev Singh stated that under this pool placement scheme (UES-24) launched by Indian Army, selected candidates from these colleges will be eligible for recruitment as lieutenant without appearing in written examination.

Recruitment will be direct on the basis of group discussion and aptitude test followed by an interview.

Principal of Guru Gobind Singh College of Engineering and Technology Dr BS Dhaliwal said group discussion and aptitude test followed by interview will be held at the Guru Kashi University. Director, campus, Dr Narinder Singh and registrar Satish Goswami were present on this occasion.

Bathinda, November 6
With the deadline for regularisation of illegal colonies without penalty ending on November 5, the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) has decided to stop holding camp facilitating people to get their structures regularised.

Municipal Commissioner Vipul Ujwal said camps will not be held tomorrow onwards. “The batch of genuine people, who wanted to get their structures regularised but did not know how to do it, have already been covered. At the camps we have covered around 50 percent of the affected population. Now those people are remaining who either have not come up voluntarily or remained ignorant about the procedure,” he said.

With the conclusion of camps, a large number of field staff employed at these camps will now be put on developmental works. MCB already faces staff shortage and a large number of officials got busy at these camps affecting other works.

In order to facilitate the remaining population, the corporation will set up additional counters at its office. At these counters, expeditious work will be ensured so that people do not have to make multiple trips to get their structures regularised.

Vipul Ujwal said if a section of residents wanted camp at some particular place for few days, corporation will accede to their demand. “If people require a camp again at a particular locality, we may hold it. For this residents have to give us a representation,” he said.

Bathinda, November 6
Trials for Punjab State Rural Games were held today. Around 350 female players of under-16 age group turned up for the Punjab State Rural Games trials for 13 events. Trials for athletics, basketball, kabaddi, kho-kho, handball, wrestling, volleyball, judo and football teams of the district were conducted at multipurpose stadium today.

Hockey trials were held at the hockey stadium at Government Rajindra College and boxing trials were held at Khalsa Senior Secondary School in Talwandi Sabo.

The selected students will participate in competitions to be held at Ludhiana and Jalandhar. While competitions for boys in the under-16 category will be held at Ludhiana between November 9 and 11, competitions in the girl’s category will be held at Jalandhar between November 14 and 16.

Jalandhar, November 6
Aggravating the dengue situation in the district, the number of suspected patients has risen to 417.

While the pre-Diwali degue suspects numbered 377, the post Diwali number of suspects has registered a dramatic rise.

With the rise in suspects, the number of confirmed dengue patients has also risen to 69 in the district.

While usually, post Diwali, a decline in the number of patients has been observed, this year, there doesn't seem to be any let-up in the dengue numbers even after the chill setting in.

Even today, there are at least 162 dengue suspects (patients with fever and low platelet count) admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

Meanwhile, as per statistics released by the health department, a whopping 87,764 people have also been tested for malaria during the disease season so far, of which 32 have tested positive for malaria.

The number of jaundice suspects who have undergone tests is 725, out of whom 50 have tested positive for the disease.

As far as cholera is concerned, as many as 600 patients had tested positive for the disease during the outbreak in the Garha area this year.

Five lives were lost (one from four cholera, one from jaundice) and over 1,300 people have been hit by diseases related to diarrhoea or gastro disorders in the district this season so far.

Given that the health department maintains a silence on diarrhoea, gastroenteritis or cholera cases after the outbreak, the disease statistics have apparently exceeded the numbers recorded since September.

Sources say the total number of jaundice and malaria patients across the city are also estimated to be more.

Meanwhile, commenting on the dengue cases refusing to die down, district epidemiologist Dr Satish Sood said, "Until some weeks ago we were getting 500 plus cases being referred for lab tests, but the numbers have now come down to 250 or so. So there has been a marked decrease in dengue patients. We are also taking all measures to stall the spread of the disease. In the coming week or so, dengue cases are expected to subside substantially."

"Health teams are visiting the homes of the 417 dengue suspects as well as the 69 confirmed patients. While any fever or platelet count decrease patient is immediately being referred to the hospital, teams are also spreading awareness in affected colonies regarding the prevention of dengue and avoiding accumulation of water in the surroundings. Surveys and spraying is also being conducted," Dr Sood added.

While doctors say the dengue is scattered in various localities, the areas from where dengue cases pour in include Kartarpur, Sodal Road, New Grain Market, Adarsh Nagar, Mehatpur, Bhagat Singh Conony, Banda Bahadur Nagar, Basti Mithu, Ali Mohalla, Maqsudan, Sanghowal village.

Amritsar, November 6
Following the reprimand of the Punjab and Haryana High Court about unregulated growth of hotels, inns and guest houses around the Golden Temple, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has initiated the process of tightening the noose around its officials.

The MC has issued separate charge-sheets to three of its Municipal Town Planning Wing officials. They are Assistant Town Planners Suresh Kumar, Banke Bihari (at present posted at Ludhiana) and Ramesh Chhabra (now at Jaladhar), during whose tenure such commercial establishments prospered.

Meanwhile, in another development the MC has also deputed a new Municipal Town Planner Raj Kumar in place of Des Raj, who was recently suspended on the insistence of Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi. Des Raj faced graft charges allegedly for issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) for sanctioning building plans.

Commissioner, MC, DPS Kharbanda, while confirming the development, said the officials, whose role had come under scanner, had received the chargesheets.

“They have been charged for not performing their duties in proper manner. It was during their tenure that such lapses occurred, which led to the mushrooming of illegal hotels, inns and guest houses. They would be given a chance to explain their position for why didn’t they take cognisance of such serious lapses,” he said.

Senior Town Planner Hemant Batra said the charge-sheet had been served to them as they didn’t publish the mandatory notification regarding "not to use the premises as hotel or guest house or inn" within stipulated time frame, as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high Court.

In May 2012, the then Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal had "categorically" admitted that 21 multi-storey hotels/inns/restaurants did not comply with the laid norms under the MC Building Bylaws and were issued notices.

These hotels, some even raised to six storeys on just 50-60 sq yard "residential" plots, never obtained the mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs) either from the Municipal Corporation or the Fire Department.

With no alternate fire escape route, there were only "narrow stairs" leading to upper floors. “Barring 2 per cent of them, none of these hotels/inns/restaurants have the mandatory provision of parking lots,” said Kharbanda. Nonetheless, the MC has initiated a survey to check NOCs, licences under the Serai Act and other permissions secured by hotels situated in the walled city.

The high court has summoned MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda and STP Hemant Batra on November 25 to gauge the action taken by the authorities against the illegal construction. “We had constituted three teams, consisting of nine officials, who would prepare a report on the basis of survey, so that we would be able to present the actual picture before the HC Bench”, said STP Batra.