Thursday, November 26, 1998
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P U N J A B | |
Thursday, November 26, 1998 |
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spotlight today's calendar |
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Transfer
sugar mills' case to CVC: counsel |
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 Woman murdered by tenant BATHINDA, Nov 25 — Fear gripped the thickly populated Jogi Nagar locality of the trans-railway area of this town after a broad daylight murder of Baldeesh Kaur today. Plan
to manage medical waste |
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Maruti car
with fake number impounded Two
field officers suspended "Protest
day" by lawyers today Warning
to petrol station owners Programme
to check sub-soil water pollution Gujral
visit today Shifting
of TB patients resented Two
arrested for killing stag |
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CHANDIGARH: For the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) recurrence of religio-political crisis is neither new nor unexpected. Its leadership is said to be deft at creating a crisis where none exists. Something similar is happening again, making it appear as if Akali politics, ever fractured and faction-ridden, is at the crossroads once more, the SAD has staved off such crisis, either of its own making or thrust upon it, in the past. The present impasse seems to be a temporary one; it shall pass. Each crisis, however, leaves behind an indelible scar on the Akali leadership and bruises the Sikh psyche. Whenever such religio-political crisis unfolds or are engineered, placing the leadership at the crossroads, conflicting, contradictory and confusing signals go out raising apprehensions in the mind of ordinary Sikhs and putting the leadership itself in bad shade. The tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa are barely six months hence. Formal celebrations began on Sunday last when the foundation stone of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex was laid at Anandpur Sahib. While the occasion should have been used by the leadership for "introspection" and for "appraisal" of Panthic affairs and for applying "correctives" for the future course and direction as the world moves into the next century, a new crisis of sorts had knocked at the door of the SAD and the SGPC, largely due to the ego hassles of the leaders concerned, who must be apportioned the major part of the blame for this. While actual work on the complex is yet to start, the Executive Committee President, Mr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation, a government boby, has submitted his resignation. In his salvo he has aimed at both Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the SAD President, and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the SGPC, President. Also in the firing range of Mr Barjinder Singh is Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh. While Mr Parkash Singh has
had a long meeting with the Rajya Sabha MP, who got a
berth with the SAD-BJP support; the Lok Sabha MP, Mr Prem
Singh Chandumajra, a protege of SGPC President, today
sent a stinker to Mr Barjinder Singh in the the form of a
two-page letter, which, inter alia, accuses Mr Barjinder
Singh of being a Congress stooge "conspiring"
to harm and hurt the Panthic interests.
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Hamdard ‘trying to extract a
price’ CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 — The Akali MP, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, today released copies of his two-page letter written to the Editor of daily Ajit, Mr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, by way of reply to his resignation letter addressed to the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. In the wake of the controversy over the tercentenary celebrations and Anandpur Sahib Foundation, Mr Hamdard has resigned from the presidentship of the Executive Committee of the foundation. Talking to newsmen here today, Mr Chandumajra charged that the resignation’s timing showed there was a "deep conspiracy" between Mr Hamdard and the Congress since the resignation had come after the November 22 function at Anandpur Sahib and on the eve of the Adampur byelection to the state Vidhan Sabha. Several questions have been raised and allegations hurled at Mr Hamdard. The refrain of the letter seems to be in support of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who has been painted a villain in Mr Hamdard’s letter. Mr Chandumajra said it appeared that the close link and working together of Mr Gurcharan Singh and Mr Parkash Singh was "unacceptable" to Mr Hamdard, who was trying to "extract" a price for his past support to Mr Parkash Singh. The letter questions as to why he did not attend the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex being Chairman of the Executive Committee. While Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, had given reasons why he would stay away Mr Hamdard has not given any reasons, thereof. Mr Chandumajra felt that the work of the complex should be entrusted to a "kar sewa" Baba. The same could be completed at half the price in half the time. Against Rs 160 crore announced by Mr Parkash Singh let the government give just 50 per cent of the amount to a "kar sewa" organisation and the complex would be ready in six months. "I will talk to Mr Parkash Singh on this", he added. The letter questions the role of the foundation all these months. The MP demanded that the letter of resignation of Mr Hamdard be accepted at once. Mr Hamdard, he alleged, was trying to "weaken and divide" the SAD. He wanted Mr Parkash Singh to convene a meeting of the party’s working committee to discuss the issues involved. What Mr Chandumajra said
today and the letter are at a tangent to the reported
efforts of Mr Parkash Singh to persuade Mr Hamdard to
withdraw the resignation. Clearly there is sharp division
between Mr Parkash Singh and Mr Gurcharan Singh. |
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Hamdard
not
to withdraw resignation JALANDHAR, Nov 25 — Mr Barjinder Singh Hamdard MP has declined to withdraw his resignation from the presidentship of the executive committee of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation. Mr Hamdard said today that
although Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and several
other leaders had urged him to reconsider his decision to
quit the foundation, the circumstances which led to his
resignation had not changed. The reaction of the SGPC
chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, describing the
resignation as a "stab in the back of the Akali
Dal" had particularly hurt him. The statement of Mr
Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP, a protege of Mr Tohra, in
Chandigarh today stating that the resignation should have
been submitted much earlier and should be accepted
immediately clearly indicated that his decision to quit
the foundation was correct. |
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Transfer
sugar mills' case to CVC: counsel CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 — The Ganna Utpadak Sangharsh Committee of Dasuya urged Mr Justice Swatantar Kumar, a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to transfer the case on the sale of three Punjab sugar mills to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) for further investigation and prosecution of high and mighty bureucrats and politicians of the State. Counsel of the committee told the court that only three agencies — the CBI, the High Court and the Supreme Court — had shown the courage to catch master — criminals involved in white -collar crime. The state police had so far not got any high-level official convicted. He told the court that the investigation of the case had progressed well until October, 1998, when the Chief Investigating Officer had submitted his report implicating all suspects in the case on the basis of official records and answers to the questionaire supplied to them. Counsel revealed to the court that at this stage the Additional Director-General of Police (Crime) wrote a letter to the Inspector-General of Police saying that he was sending the investigating report submitted by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for evaluation. Although the IG failed to rebut any of the facts stated by the AIG he quoted a few High Court rulings and gave his finding that the conclusions drawn by the AIG were incorrect. He had not conducted any investigation. Nor had he proved that any of the witnesses he had examined was not correct. Counsel stressed that except two officers, Mr P.S. Bajwa and Mr Karl Reddy, the IG had given a clean chit to all other suspects. He contended that when it was clear that the investigation had been scuttled by senior officers, it would be only fair to entrust the investigation of this case to an independent agency which is not under the state government's control. Counsel revealed to the court that all officers who were involved in the sugar mills sale were back in their old position and were in a position to considerably influence police officers. Counsel was still arguing
the case, when the Judge adjourned it to December 2 for
clarifying certain points. |
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Woman
murdered by tenant BATHINDA, Nov 25 — Fear gripped the thickly populated Jogi Nagar locality of the trans-railway area of this town after a broad daylight murder of Baldeesh Kaur today. The police said Baldeesh Kaur, who was alone in her house, was allegedly murdered by her tenant Uttam Kumar hailing from Bihar between 10 am to 2 pm. Uttam Kumar who was working at a Tent House here has absconded. Mr Hardeep Singh, SP(O) who along with the city SHO, Mr Dinesh Sharma reached the spot told TNS that the accused had used a sharp-edged weapon to cut the throat of the deceased. He said the police had got a vital clue about the accused and the parties had been sent to nab him. The accused was living in the house here for the last two years and there was a dispute between him and Mr Balwant Singh, husband of the deceased for vacating the room rented out to the accused. He added that about one-and-half-year ago, Balwant Singh had beaten the accused. Mr Balwant Singh said he was away to his tailoring shop and his two sons were also on their jobs. Her two daughters who were away to the Roomiwala dera with some neighbours came to know about the murder when they opened the lock of inner room and found their mother in a pool of blood. The police could not found any belonging of the accused from his room. The bed and bedding were given to the accused by Mr Balwant Singh. A case has been registered
and the body had been sent to the local civil hospital
for post-mortem examination. |
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Plan
to manage medical waste LUDHIANA: The Punjab Health Systems Corporation has initiated a training programme for the hospital staff with regard to health care waste management. The programme which covers doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and class IV employees will fill a serious gap in the health services in the state, according to Mr S.S. Channy, Managing Director of the corporation. The first batch of health officials has already been trained at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences at New Delhi. Waste management is a part of the routine hygiene and maintenance activities of a health facility, Mr Channy points out. Basic requirements such as reliable water supply, sanitary facilities disinfection procedures and equipment are vital to keep a health facility clear and at a satisfactory level of hygiene. Medical waste should be carefully managed — from the point of generation to final disposal. Inappropriate management of medical waste could cause transmission of HIV/AIDS virus, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C virus. This could happen through injuries caused by syringe needles or sharp instruments that are infected by contaminated human blood. In addition to these risks, hospital water sewerage could also transmit some diseases such as cholera to the surrounding neighbourhoods. Medical waste may be produced in hospitals, at health centres, in clinics, nursing home laboratories, research institutes, veterinary clinics, midwifery and other medical care conducted at home. About 85 per cent of medical waste are non-hazardous wastes, 10 per cent are infectious and around 5 per cent are non-infectious but hazardous wastes. The amount of waste generated varies by type of a facility. In developed countries, waste generated from general hospitals is estimated to be 2.4-4.5 kg per bed day, while in Latin America it varies from 1.0-4.5 kg per bed day. A recent study estimated medical waste generated at hospitals in Bombay, Delhi and Madras to range from 0.85 to 2.25 kg per bed day. Mr Channy says that the Health Systems Corporation is implementing a World Bank project to upgrade secondary-level health care facilities. "We plan to establish an effective health care management system in the hospitals of Punjab. As a pilot project, we have initiated the system in some hospitals of Ropar district and at district hospitals in the remaining districts. The main stress is on segregation of health care waste. We are also in the process of hiring consultancy services for developing a feasible and comprehensive health care waste management plan for the state. We are very hopeful that once we have the system in place, we will be able to protect the people from the hazards of infectious hospital waste. Terms of reference for hiring consultancy have been approved by the World Bank and notice for shortlisting consulting firms was published in papers in July. The corporation has received 36 proposals which are in the process of being finalised. As regards the final disposal of health care waste, says Mr Channy, there is a lot of controversy over the technology to be adopted. While incineration is being discouraged and criticised, other technologies like microwave, hydroclave etc. have prohibitive costs. The outcome of consultancy services will help the corporation in finalising the technology for the final disposal of the health care waste. "However, on pilot basis, we will instal some equipment in pilot district, Ropar. For this purpose, the corporation has organised presentations from 12 companies in the presence of experts from the PGI, Chandigarh." Meanwhile, the corporation
has procured and supplied to different hospitals 1500
dustbins and 600 wheelbarrows which constitute the basic
necessities for the most vital aspect of hospital waste
management i.e. segregation and transport. |
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Maruti
car with fake number impounded ABOHAR, Nov 25 — The district police yesterday claimed to have busted a gang involved in preparing fake motor registration books. An official spokesman said the police intercepted a Maruti car (DL-3-CG-5326) near Arifke village. During a search of the vehicle, some stamps and documents used for preparing fake motor registration books were found. The police recovered a .38-bore revolver, a .315-bore pistol with some cartridges from the possession of the occupants of the car. They revealed that they had reportedly hired the car owned by Bodh Raj Khurana, a resident of Solan. As they were heading towards Solan Bodh Raj was strangled and the registration number was changed from HP-02-5778 to DL-3-CG-5326. The culprits were arrested under sections 379, 411, 467, 468, 471, IPC, and sections 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act. Another police party
intercepted a Maruti car (DL-4-CH-099) near the Malout
bypass here and seized nearly 5 kg of gold ornaments and
Rs 3 lakh in cash. Preliminary interrogation revealed
that the gold was being carried for sale in Abohar which
was emerging as one of the prime markets for the yellow
metal. |
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Two
field officers suspended CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 — The Punjab Markfed has placed Mr Himmat Singh and Mr S.K. Chaudhary, field officers of Bassi Pathana centre under suspension for alleged irregularities in the procurement of paddy there. A Flying Squad from the
head office, Chandigarh, was detailed to Bassi Pathana
centre in Fatehgarh Sahib district, where the officials
had reportedly delayed the lifting of paddy/payment
though sufficient funds were made available by the head
office. The District Manager, Markfed, Fatehgarh Sahib,
who failed to exercise proper control, has also been
charge-sheeted, according to a press release issued by
Markfed. |
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"Protest
day" by lawyers today ROPAR, Nov 25 — Punjab and Haryana advocates will observe November 26 as a "protest day" to press the Central Government to implement section 30 of the Advocates Act 1961. Mr N.S. Sitta, honorary secretary of the Punjab and Haryana Bar Council, said the central government had failed to get this section implemented. Section 30 enabled advocates to appear before all courts, tribunals and persons legally authorised to record evidence. The appearance of advocates was currently restricted due to the non-implementation of the section. Advocates would wear red
badges to express their resentment. |
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Warning
to petrol station owners LUDHIANA, Nov 25 — Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner here has directed the owners of petrol stations and gas agencies to stop charging 1 per cent infrastructure cess with immediate effect. These directions were given during a meeting of dealers of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas and officers of oil companies here today held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner. Mr Goel warned the dealers of strict action if found defying the orders. He said that there were a large number of complaints from public regarding adulteration and of less measurement of petrol, diesel and kerosene oil and of underweight gas cylinders. He said a checking campaign was being launched in the district. He said a reading team
consisting of officers of the Food and Civil Supply and
Weight and Measurements Departments headed by a
Magistrate had already been formed which would take
samples from petrol stations and check measurements. |
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Programme
to check sub-soil water pollution LUDHIANA, Nov 25 — An awareness programme for the protection of ground water of Ludhiana city was organised by the Central Ground Water Authority of the Ministry of Water Resources in association with the Department of Soil and Water Engineering and the Department of Agriculture at PAU today. Dr DK Chadha, chairman of the authority, presided over the function, the CGWA has chosen the Ludhiana city for conducting this programme as it was the most polluted city of Punjab, informed Dr Chadha. He said that of the 1311 units of Ludhiana, 104 released pollutants which resulted in the break-out of several diseases. Mr Chadha informed that the Central Ground Water Authority would start some projects to check pollution of water. He said that the CGWA would bring out literature and release cassettes on ways to control pollution. Mr Arun Goel, Deputy Commissioner, lauded the CGWA for its efforts. He expressed concern over the decline in ground water level in the city, Mr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Municipal Commissioner, said that the Municipal Corporation, the CGWA and experts of PAU would formulate a plan to control the pollution of ground water. Dr SK Sharma, member of
the CGWA, Mr M Mehta, Regional Director, Mr HS Sekhon,
Dean College of Agricultural Engineering, PAU and Dr
Gurcharan Singh, Joint Director of Agriculture also
spoke. |
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PHAGWARA, Nov 25 (PTI) — Former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral would visit Phagwara tomorrow. He would attend silver jubilee year function of Fine Group of Industries according to SP Sethi, MD, Fine Switches Pvt Ltd, Phagwara. Meanwhile during his two-day state tour Mr Gujral would attend some functions in Jalandhar and Nawanshahr districts. He would inaugurate 60th All-India Sikh Educational Conference at Guru Nanak Hospital, Dhahan Kaleran on the Phagwara-Banga road on November 27. Union Minister Surjit
Singh Barnala will preside over the inaugural function. |
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Shifting
of TB patients resented GURDASPUR, Nov 25 — Resentment prevails among residents of the district against the Health Department's decision to shift tuberculosis patients from TB Hospital, Jiwanwal Babri, to the local civil hospital. The decision was taken by Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Health Minister, during his visit to the civil hospital. General patients told this correspondent that they might be exposed to tuberculosis infection. The hospital authorities, however, are ensuring that tuberculosis patients confine themselves to their ward. The authorities said that though they ensure that tuberculosis patients kept aloof some of them spit here and there which caused the spread of germs. The TB Hospital, Jiwanwal Babri, was located in open surroundings with 17 acres of land attached to it. According to experts the isolation of tuberculosis patients is not necessary. They need personal care which can only be provided at home or at places where such facilities are available. They favoured the shifting of patients to the civil hospital. Insiders say that the building constructed for tuberculosis hospital has been got vacated under a calculated plan by "influential" politicians who have their eyes not only on the building of the hospital but also on the land attached with the hospital. A majority of people of
the district favour the re-shifting of the patients from
the civil hospital back to the Jiwanwal Babri Hospital. |
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Two
arrested for killing stag ROPAR, Nov 25 — The Chamkaur Sahib police has arrested two persons Gurdip Singh of Sultanpur village and Prem Singh of Behrampur village for allegedly killing a stag with sharp-edged weapons in the Mand area near Sultanpur village, and has recovered the skin and horns of the stag from them. Mr Sukhwinder Singh Uppal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Ropar, said that the SSP here Mr Ranbir Singh Khatra, got information that stag, who was trapped in marsh, had been killed by some persons with sharp-edged weapons. In a swift action, the SSP ordered SHO Chamkaur Sahib, Sohan Lal Sandhu to visit the spot and arrest the culprits. Mr Uppal said that the
police registerd a case against them yesterday under
Section 9-51 of the Wild Life Act 1972. |
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Daler
Mehndi show at SAS Nagar CHANDIGARH, Nov 25 —
A professional group of entertainers based at Hoshiarpur
will hold the Daler Mehndi Rock Show at the Dasehra
grounds of SAS Nagar on December 5. |
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