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Govt continues to spend on illegal colonies
Rising thefts: Question mark on police functioning
Ex Cong minister Henry in fresh passport row
29-yr-old accident victim lies abandoned at hospital
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Solid Waste Management
Ludhiana clinches top spot in quiz
PDFA plans expansion
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Govt continues to spend on illegal colonies
Jalandhar, November 25
The directions for the same had been issued in April last year. But still the new MC House, led by Mayor Sunil Jyoti, has been found to have illegally utilised an amount of Rs 48.75 crore for the development of undeclared colonies, of which Rs 36.41 crore has been used from HUDCO loan and Rs 12.34 crore from the VAT share returned to the MC. This is despite the fact that the state government has been holding camps and collecting money from plot-holders in these colonies, asking them to pay up development charges for getting any facilities in their areas. While many scheme areas and main roads in the city have been crying for repair and recarpeting, the MC has been discretely spending the amount in unauthorised localities. While the HUDCO grant has almost been completely utilised, the one coming from the VAT share got held up in February this year following an objection on the matter by the audit department. An attempt to legitimise the use of this grant was made by passing an agenda in the November 4 House meeting seeking its approval for the same. From February, the further utilisation of the nearly 30 per cent unspent grant for the illegal colonies had been lying withheld. Out of the Rs 36.41 crore HUDCO loan, an amount of Rs 7.85 crore has been spent on unauthorised colonies falling in wards 1 to 3 of Jalandhar (North) at the discretion of the CPS and area legislator KD Bhandari. The various irregular colonies falling in Jalandhar (West) represented by Forest Minister Bhagat Chunni Lal have got Rs 10.77 crore. Jalandhar Cantonment, which has just seven out of 60 wards from the city, too, has got Rs 9.15 crore at the discretion of its MLA Pargat Singh. An amount of Rs 8.68 crore has fallen in the kitty of Jalandhar (Central) MLA and former Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia. In Jalandhar (North), an amount of Rs 1.14 crore has been spent on the streets of Hargobind Nagar, Rs 86.15 lakh on Baba Mohan Dass Nagar, Rs 74.99 crore on Ashok Vihar and Rs 69.66 on Sarabha Nagar. In Jalandhar (West), an amount of Rs 92.62 lakh has been spent on road work of Gautam Nagar, New Gautam Nagar and Kabir Vihar. The roads of Deol Nagar near Wadala Chowk, too, have been paved for Rs 1.75 crore. In Jalandhar Cantonment, an amount of Rs 1.52 crore has been spent on Universal Colony, Guru Ramdass Colony, DC Nagar and Punjabi Bagh. Various other localities in this constituency, including Kalgidhar Avenue, New Kalgidhar Nagar, Officer Enclave and Ranjit Enclave, too, have got a huge amount of Rs 1.15 crore for road construction. In Jalandhar (Central), the HUDCO loan has come as an advantage for the residents of Shaheed Lieut Gurwinder Singh Nagar where a huge amount of Rs 1.53 crore has been doled out by its MLA. The Wazir Enclave locality is another big beneficiary with works to the tune of Rs 1.16 crore done here. The VAT share of nearly Rs 3 crore has gone to each of the four assembly constituencies with a total of Rs 12.34 crore allocated for the purpose. An amount of nearly Rs 4 crore is still lying unspent owing to the audit department’s objections and over the issue of use of inter-locking tiles in the ward of Jalandhar (Central) constituency. The maximum amount from this grant has gone to Ishwar Nagar Colony, Raj Nagar and Raja Garden localities. A total of 54 irregular colonies have been allocated these government funds. Mayorspeak Mayor Sunil Jyoti said nearly Rs 95 crore had been spent on various works in undeclared colonies since his tenure. Of this amount, nearly Rs 46.74 crore had been spent on roads alone, while the rest had been utilised on tubewells and sewage works. Asked why the amount was being spent in such areas despite guidelines on not using funds in illegal colonies, he said, “When the orders of the sort came, a huge amount had already been spent on laying sewage works here using the Centre scheme. Owing to the same, the roads in all such colonies had got completely damaged, after which the government was of the view that the roads be laid. So, we decided to go ahead with the road work also.”
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Rising thefts: Question mark on police functioning
Jalandhar, November 25 Thieves had struck at a house in Sangal Sohal village last night from where they decamped with cash and valuables. House owner Inderjit said all family members had gone to attend a wedding at Bhopur and when they returned home at midnight, they found the whole house ransacked. Thieves, who had reportedly entered the house from the rear side, had decamped with gold ornaments and Rs 25,000. Another theft was reported at Gurbachan Nagar where thieves struck at a gurdwara. Thieves decamped with the cash chest containing huge cash and certain utensils. Gurdwara sewadar Amarnath said last night he had locked the gurdwara and this morning when he came to open it, he found the locks lying broken and cash chest missing. Thieves had also decamped with a gold chain, earrings, mobile phone and Rs 2,000 Over nine looting incidents have been reported in the city in the past few days, but the police have been groping in the dark in all cases. Although an alert was sounded in the city, robbers are still out of the police net.
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Ex Cong minister Henry in fresh passport row
Jalandhar, November 25
The application has been moved in the court of Mandeep Mittal, Civil Judge Senior Division-cum-CJM NRI Court. “By filing an application seeking permission for going abroad, the applicant deliberately omitted and never stated that he is not having any valid Indian passport, whereas he has ceased to be an Indian citizen as his name from the voter list has already been cancelled and for which he has filed revision petition before the Central government which is still pending” Hardyal Grewal, counsel of Gurjit, stated in the court. The counsel also stated that Henry filed application for passport with regional passport officer under the name of Avtar Henry, alias Avtar Singh, son of Joginder Singh, while mentioning his address being the resident of area near old railway road, whereas in his Britsh passport, he has mentioned his name as Avtar Singh Sangera, son of Lakhvir Singh Sangera. “With these facts, he is again misleading the passport officer, while disclosing wrong particulars so as to get renewed his old passport which expired in February this year.” While seeking permission for granting him a renewed passport, he has got no legality to get issued a new passport, as he has ceased to be Indian citizen and is again committing repeated offence, Ajay, lawyer told the court. They urged the court to rectify and clarify that the said order does not in any way grant permission for the renewal of passport of the accused or in any way has an overriding effect over the discretion of the regional passport officer while deciding the application of the renewal of the passport of the accused. Henry’s counsel said by seeking rectification in the court’s order of granting permission for abroad, the complainant has committed contempt of court. We will present our viewpoint before the court to challenge the application of the complainant, he added. Sources said arguments on the complaint would be held on November 29. Avtar Henry had recently applied for a fresh passport. The matter came to the fore after the Regional Passport Office (RPO) sent his passport file for police verification at the police division No. 3.
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29-yr-old accident victim lies abandoned at hospital
Jalandhar, November 25
Although her condition was said to be very critical at the time of her arrival, she is now reported to be out of danger, but is still unconscious. Despite repeated attempts, the police have failed to trace her family and even her “friend” who dumped her at the hospital a few days ago. According to Dr Ashok Kumar, general surgeon at the trauma centre, the woman who had brought her had claimed herself to be the victim’s friend. She told us that she and Rimpy (victim) were friends and jointly owned a beauty parlour in Phagwara. She also informed us that Rimpy was hit by a truck while crossing road. However, later when we tried to contact her, she refused to take her back, said Dr Kumar. He also said that now she had even stopped taking their calls. The hospital administration is now in a fix as to how to inform Rimpy’s family about her situation. The police are also planning to round up Rimpy’s friend for detailed interrogation to find out whether Rimpy was hit by a truck or had been willfully assaulted by someone.
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Dalit workers oppose project
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 25 Kishan Gill, district president, Dalit Dastan Virodhi Andolan, Punjab, said: “If the government is so interested in implementing Solid Waste Management Project, then it should be run by government only and not by any private firm. We only want the jobs of safai karamcharis to be secured.” A Dalit leader Sunil Dutt Bubby said some Dalit leaders and safai karamcharis have been slapped with bogus police complaints owing to their struggle against Solid Waste Management Project. It reflects the hostility of SAD-BJP councillors towards safai karamcharis.
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Ludhiana clinches top spot in quiz
Jalandhar, November 25 An exhibition was also organised at Pushpa Gujral Science City to give practical and interactive knowledge to the students. Dr Jerath said, “The government is giving provision to thousands of students who are studying in government schools to visit Science City. The DGCS office has already taken the initiative and written to all the private and aided schools as well to visit Science City.” Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner of Kapurthala DS Mangat said, “Science City is a temple of knowledge.” Dr Ganguly, director, Institute of Nano-sciences and Nanotechnology, threw light on wide applications in the exciting and rapidly developing field of nano-materials and nanotechnologies in areas ranging from agriculture, medicine to energy and environment. During the competition, first prize has been clinched by Ludhiana, Kapurthala stood second, Hoshiarpur bagged the third prize and fourth prize went to Patiala. Over 500 students participated in the competition.
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from schools, colleges The department of psychology of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, organised a model making and poster making competition titled ‘psychopedia’ in which students of psychology participated with great zeal and enthusiasm. Students presented beautiful and thought provoking models and posters on various themes related to positive thinking. They conveyed their thoughts and messages based on love, happiness, living your life completely no matter what the circumstances are etc. Principal Prof Atima Sharma lauded the competition organised by the psychology department. Bakery workshop The school of hospitality of GNA University organised a bakery workshop on its campus for the students to provide them with an opportunity to gain hands on experience of popular bakery and confectionary recipes. Chef Tajammul Mehdi from Qatar star services, Qatar, conducted the workshop and prepared variety of bakery items such as apple pie, eclairs, profit rolls, baked cheese cake, marble cheese cake, walnut brownie and mixed fresh fruit chocolate cake. Students keenly learnt simple methods of making hot and cold desserts.—TNS
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