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| Wednesday, October 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India    |
Badal plans foreign
tour Police to restrict plying of tractors Death in minister’s house: probe begins Remand for Harpreet
case accused Selection not as per rules:
candidate Govt to transfer 104 acres to PUDA |
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| Third World docs for reuse of
disposables AMRITSAR, Oct 24 — Despite the warning “one-time use only” on disposable medical instruments, a vast majority of the doctors in third world nations prefer to reuse disposables while performing operations.
Jathedar flays Bibi’s
supporters Indiscipline: Aliwal
seeks action
Alarming rise in pollution Erratic power supply
irks border farmers Unemployed nurses
block traffic Tension continues
in Alike Mahant of dera
gets bail IA seeks permission to sell hijacked plane Net service
for Hoshiarpur soon BSP activists burn Mayor’s effigy Ex-minister acquitted in
Tricolour case Pay farmers
before Divali: Mittal Paucity of medicines in hospital Checking
intensified Iqbal Shamin
regales audience NFB to
observe protest day Census: second phase
from Feb 9
Two arrested
for graft Coop societies official
held for graft Gang of vehicle
thieves busted, 6 held Chief chemical
examiner held
Transfer of school lecturers
condemned Academic exchange
programme Syndicate deprecates alleged arson ‘Chetna march’ by
schoolchildren
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Badal plans foreign
tour CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — A race is on among Chief Ministers to go abroad with the projected “objective” of developing their respective states into modern ones. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is back from a week-long tour of Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Chandrababu Naidu, is at present touring China to study various aspects of social, economic and industrial development there. Now it is the turn of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to go abroad. He is slated to leave the country on November 1 to visit Canada for about 10 days. His earlier programme to visit that country was cancelled in the last week of September because of the chaos on the paddy procurement front in the state. After the liberalisation of the economy in the country, Chief Ministers are obviously actively trying to promote their states as destinations for foreign investors. A cut-throat competition is going on between the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The same trend is emerging in this part of the country. Informed official sources told TNS today that Mr Badal would first go to British Columbia, where he would be a guest of Mr Ujjal Dosanj, the first Punjabi Premier of that state. He will address the Provincial Assembly of British Columbia and also visit a number of constituencies from where Punjabis
were elected in the last poll to the assembly. He might also visit the constituency of Mr Herb Dhaliwal, Minister in the Federal Government of Canada. Mr Badal has also a number of business activities on his agenda. He would inspect the special “train machines” used in Canada to build roads at a phenomenal pace. Sources said that the PWD Secretary, Mr Mohinder Singh, would go a few days before the departure of Mr Badal to Canada to tie up with the manufacturers of the machines. Mr Badal would also study the model of highways in Canada as the Punjab Government was going to make a very heavy investment of about Rs 2,000 crore in the road and bridge sectors. To motivate Canadian industrialists and multinationals, Mr Badal will interact with representatives of the Canadian Chambers of Industry and also address a meeting in this connection. Canadian companies have offered to make a investment in the new township of Anandgarh and also to build the township on their own as a modern city. He will also visit the Ontario Science Centre, one of the biggest such centres in the world. Sources said that Mr Badal wanted to see the centre to shape up the Science city in
Jalandhar on those lines. Mr N.S. Tiwana, Executive Director of the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, will accompany Mr Badal to Canada in this connection, it is learnt. Though there is no proposal to go to the USA at the moment, sources said that some US-based NRIs had requested Mr Badal to visit them. The Governor of Wisconsin state had also reportedly made a request in this connection. When he came to Punjab last year, he had extended an invitation to Mr Badal to visit his state. Sources said that if the programme to visit the USA was added to the schedule, Mr Badal would also meet some of the leading NRIs associated with the information technology industry. |
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Police to restrict plying of tractors JALANDHAR, Oct 24 — Under its ongoing traffic management programme, the local police has launched a drive to discourage the commercial use of tractor-trailers in order to improve the traffic situation in the city. Under the programme, which is part of a Rs 1,000-crore plan to modernise the state police force, as many as 200 tractor-trailers which were being used in the city for commercial purposes have already been challaned by the traffic wing of the local police. Their use in narrow lanes and bazars of the old city often resulted in major traffic bottlenecks. To prevent such situations, the traffic wing has decided to allow their use only for agricultural purpose, strictly in accordance with various provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the recent directions given by the Inspector-General (Traffic). Similarly, steps were being taken to prevent violations of traffic rules, such as the unauthorised use of red lights and black films by some persons on their vehicles. For the purpose, every SHO and DSP has been directed to conduct surprise checks by spending a minimum of an hour a day on the road in their respective areas according Mr Gaurav Yadav SSP. The SHOs and DSPs have been asked to file daily reports as to how many traffic violators have been challaned by them. To cope with the increasing burden on the traffic wing, the district police authorities have urged the DGP to provide an officer of the rank of DSP and to double the strength of the traffic police personnel to ensure better management in the city. At present, the traffic wing has 70 officials and two DSPs have been assigned traffic duties on rotation basis. Besides this, the district police is contemplating to procure speed radars and breath analysers to curb menace of drunken driving and overspending. Mr Yadav said the municipal corporation authorities were also involved in the process of traffic management by way of monthly meetings between officials of the traffic wing and the civic body to ensure better coordination between the two in problematic areas like encroachments and lack of parking lots. |
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Death in minister’s house: probe begins LUDHIANA, Oct 24 — The Punjab Human Rights Commission has begun an inquiry into the death of Karam Singh, a 45-year-old labourer of Jaitu Mandi at the Faridkot residence of the Punjab Agriculture Minister, Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, where his son Sube Singh and his family resides, earlier this year. The commission has issued notices to the Principal Secretary, Home, IGP (Litigation), Punjab, and Mr Harish Khanna, President of the Punjab Janata Dal (Secular), who has lodged the complaint with the commission. The commission has set the next hearing of the case in Chandigarh on November 16. In his complaint, Mr Khanna said the death of the labourer, who also practised ayurveda, took place on the night of May 8. The death occurred in mysterious circumstances in the guard room of the palatial house of the Agriculture Minister and was being termed as a suicide. The matter was not being allowed to be probed thoroughly, allegedly under pressure from the minister. “There is definitely something fishy behind this case and the truth can only come out if an impartial inquiry is held in the matter”, he said. It may be recalled that Mr Sube Singh, son of the minister was last year charged with the rape of a girl from Ludhiana. |
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Remand for Harpreet
case accused PATIALA, Oct 24 — Special CBI Magistrate Jaspinder Singh Heyer today extended the judicial remand of the five accused in the Harpreet death case to November 7. While landlord Paramjit Singh, maid servant Satya Devi and servants Harwinder Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar had been remanded in judicial custody on October 10, Dalwinder Kaur, owner of Jasdil Mansion in Phagwara, was brought from Delhi by the CBI and presented before the court here on October 19 and had been remanded in judicial custody till today. The accused were brought to the CBI court in Chhoti Baradari here under tight security cover. All accused had muffled their faces to avoid the posse of photo journalists. Surprisingly the number of supporters of SGPC President Jagir Kaur, who have been attending the court hearings to lend moral support to the accused, were less than before. |
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Selection not as per rules:
candidate BATHINDA, Oct 24 — Even as Mr Amarjit Singh of the Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology (GZSCET), secured 71 per cent in the diploma of electronics and telecommunication engineering and has the experience of about 17 years in this field, he has been placed fifth on the merit list prepared for the post of senior technician (electronics) in the Department of Electronics of the GZSCET. Mr Amarjit Singh is also a Bachelor in Arts. However, another candidate who has secured only 67 per cent in the electronics and telecommunication diploma and has an experience of only nine years, was placed third position on the list. In a letter written to the Principal of the GZSCET, a copy of which was sent to the Registrar, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, Mr Amarjit alleged that the college
authorities did not prepare the list according to the qualifications of the candidates. He alleged that a preliminary selection committee was not constituted for the scrutiny of applications, adding that the Office Superintendent (non-technical) scrutinised the applications. He said members of the selection committee nominated by the Principal were not from the field of electronics and even the list of the candidates appearing for the interviews was not displayed on the notice board. He said committee did not conduct written and practical test for the post which was necessary according to the rules of the Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training. Mr Narinder Singh, Principal, GZSCET, when contacted said the candidate concerned was making false allegations and the selection process was according to the rules. He said Mr Amarjit Singh had specialised in the field of radar and he did not have the knowledge of the subject which was necessary for laboratory. He added that during the interview the candidate did not perform well. |
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Govt to transfer 104 acres to PUDA JALANDHAR, Oct 24 — The Punjab Government has decided to hand over 104 acres of the 204-acre Dams and Irrigation Research Institute at Mallikpur village near Pathankot to the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) for utilisation under its Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Land scheme. The institute, belonging to the Irrigation Department, Punjab, had played a vital role during the construction of dams, but has been lying almost non-functional for a couple of years. According to a decision taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and attended by the Urban and Housing Development Minister, Mrs Upinderjit Kaur, and the Irrigation Minister, Punjab, in Chandigarh on Friday, of the total 204 acres belonging to the institute, 104 acres, which are free from any dispute, would be transferred to PUDA at the moment while the decision to transfer the remaining land would be taken later, highly placed sources in PUDA said. The meeting was also attended by the PUDA’s Chief Administrator, Mr K.B. S. Sidhu, and the Principal Secretary, Mr A.K. Dubey. After the formal transfer of the land in the first phase within a fortnight, PUDA has proposed to utilise it for setting up a full-fledged urban estate owing to its proximity to Pathankot city and strategic location being on the Pathankot-Jammu national highway. “We are expecting to generate about Rs 40 crore from the sale of developed land which the government wants to spend on the construction of district administrative complexes (DACs) at Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Amritsar,” said a senior PUDA officer on condition of anonymity. The Chief Minister is reportedly anxious to complete the DACs before the expiry of the term of his government and has already directed the authorities concerned to expedite the process. |
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Third World docs for reuse of disposables AMRITSAR, Oct 24 (UNI) — Despite the warning “one-time use only” on disposable medical instruments, a vast majority of the doctors in third world nations prefer to reuse disposables while performing operations. Taking part in a debate “Reuse of disposables by urologists in Third World countries” on the concluding day of the three-day urological conference, a majority of the participants felt that in Third World countries like India where a vast majority were economically not well-off, disposables could be reused. This would help in cutting the medical costs for patients who could not afford the cost of the disposables that a hospital or a surgeon purchased for every new operation. However, sounding a word of caution, the participants in the debate recommended a selective use of disposables, that is, as long as these are technically feasible to re-use. The participants also warned that for reusing disposables, hospitals should be equipped with the best methods of sterilising and disinfecting disposables so as to prevent infections from being passed on to patients. The disposables that the participants referred to were stents, guide wires, catheter, teflon dislator and a number of others which urologists normally use. Surgical blades, syringes and blades which too fall in the disposables category were not referred to in the debate, as the surgeons observed that these were only meant for one-time use and cheap to purchase. Taking part in the debate, Dr Ashok Sharma a urologist from Kota in Rajasthan, opined that in Third World countries where the majority were poor, re-use of disposables helped in cutting down the medical costs of patients. But surgeons had a duty to properly check each instrument so as to deem it fit for reuse, he added. Presenting certain figures he compiled after a study, Dr Sharma said 100 per cent of the people from the low income group that he had interviewed in the country favoured re-use of disposables. Likewise, the figure in favour of reuse of disposables amongst the middle income group was 43 per cent and in the high income group it was just 8 per cent. Dr Sharma claimed that multi-national companies had put the label “one-time use only” on disposables just to sell these and earn profits. These companies were not interested in poor patients but only the rich, he added. Supporting Dr Sharma’s viewpoints, Dr Anil Elhence gave a very simple example of the use of disposable baby diapers in India. The majority used diapers only for social occasions in India because they could not afford to stuff the baby with a diaper at home, he added. Dr Elhence opined that a surgeon or doctor was the best judge of his instrument and he should know when to discard a disposable. In Third World countries the patient was an ordinary person who may not be entitled to medical re-imbursement facilities and “one-time use of disposables’ would only add to his difficulties, he observed. However, countering the diaper theory of Dr Elhence, Dr Rajesh Ahlawat pointed out that the word disposable meant “use only once”. Likewise a disposable instrument cannot be used again as this would only increase the transmission of diseases and even cause acute infection, Dr Ahlwat opined. Dr Ahlawat said the reuse of disposables would increase the risk of such infections as HIV and the surgeon would be responsible for this. By reusing a disposable, the surgeons own reputation was also at stake because the patient stood the risk of being infected by another person’s disease, he added. Supporting Dr Ahlawat, Dr Anurag Yadav from Agra observed that the aulo-claving and other methods of sterilising medical equipment were not the best in most hospitals of the country. Anything that is manufactured had a life-line and should be discarded as per the specifications, he opined while calling upon doctors and the hospital managements to cut their own costs rather than passing these on to patients. |
Jathedar flays Bibi’s
supporters PHAGWARA, Oct 24 — Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary and former Acting SGPC President Jathedar Sukhdev Singh Bhaur today flayed Bibi Jagir Kaur’s supporters who had yesterday called on Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti demanding the summoning of Bibi’s opponents and Kamaljit Singh at Akal Takht. Talking to newsmen here, Jathedar Bhaur wondered that those who had denigrated Akal Takht and unceremoniously dismissed two jathedars of the Takht were now invoking it in the name of Sikhism and the Panth. Jathedar Bhaur alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had defied Akal Takht hukamnamas in the past. They have now no locus standi to raise this demand. On Mr Badal giving a clean chit to the Bibi in the Harpreet case, Jathedar Bhaur alleged that Mr Badal was shielding criminals. If Mr Badal says that mere mentioning of a name in FIR can’t lead to an arrest of a person, then how come that five co-accused in the Harpreet case had been arrested by the CBI but the main accused like Bibi and her security guard Nishan Singh were not touched at all, he asked?” Since Mr Badal was also the Home Minister, he should restore rule of law and should not strengthen politician-criminal nexus, he said. He alleged that Mr Badal and the police were shielding Bibi and Nishan Singh. |
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Indiscipline: Aliwal
seeks action CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The leadership of the youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal has approached the President of the party, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, to take action against certain leaders who have been making statements against the top brass of the wing. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal, president of the wing, said he had met Mr Badal to bring to his notice the indiscipline created by certain activists. He claimed that Mr Badal had given an assurance that he would take action as indiscipline could not be tolerated in the wing. Mr Aliwal said he had been appointed the president of the wing by Mr Badal and would step down when directed to do so by him. It had come to light that certain activists of the wing were also on the rolls of government departments. “Such activists have been told to resign from the wing”, Mr Aliwal said. He said he had requested Mr Badal to absorb youth wing office-bearers who had attained the age of 40 years in the SAD. Meanwhile, he said the wing would organise an “educational and economic awakening” camp at Anandpur Sahib from November 10 to 12. It would be inaugurated by the Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh. Mr Aliwal claimed that except for a few persons, all others were present at the meeting of the wing’s office-bearers here today. It passed a resolution thanking the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for giving a suitable package to Punjab’s paddy growers and also the Chief Minister for securing such a package. |
Alarming rise in pollution BATHINDA: The heartland of the Malwa region of Punjab is now reeling under pollution. Although Bathinda is not a big industrial city but the air pollution levels are nonetheless alarming. The National Fertilisers Limited, the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), small-scale industries, recycling units, not to forget the massive caravan of vehicles belching smoke all through the day and night, are the main sources of air pollution. According to health officials, cases of TB and other respiratory diseases are rising. Even children are nowadays coming with problems like persistent cough and allergic condition of the lungs, the sources added. It seems that the civil administration and most non-government organisations (NGOs) have turned a blind eye to the problem. With the rising population, the number of vehicles are showing a corresponding rise and of the approximately one lakh registered vehicles in the city not more than 25 per cent have no-pollution certificates, as per a rough estimate. Although the Supreme Court has ordered that new vehicles in the metros must comply with the Euro-I and Euro-II norms, no such laws are in force here. Lead-free petrol is one of the tools to reduce the lead content in the air but with the free availability of leaded petrol and bare minimum awareness in the masses it is practically useless. Lead is one of the main causes of lung cancer while carbon dioxide, sulpher dioxide, nitrogen dioxide are the main causes of acid rain. The burning of paddy straw by farmers and the burning of used mobil oil and tyres by automobile workshop owners in the winter worsens the situation. The roads of the city bear testimony to the alarming rise in the suspended particles in the air. The open trucks and tractor-trailers carrying bricks add to the already high level of dust in the air. The transport system — both road and railways — and now the coming festival of lights is all set to cause further damage to our environment. Mr Rajinder Singh, District Transport Officer, Bathinda, admitted that the pollution was increasing. There were about four pollution check centres but all of them were private and there was no government owned and operated pollution check centre. The Railways had no authority over them. He stated that certain vehicle owners manage to get the no-pollution certificates even though the emissions of their vehicles were high. “We are taking stern action against the defaulters”, asserted Mr Rajinder Singh. Mr Kulwant Singh, environment engineer with the local branch of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, said the air pollution level had crossed all limits. The thermal plant and the NFL were both being run without valid pollution control devices. The burning of paddy straw and used mobil oil and tyres was also grave. “We are helpless and the only way to control the situation is to educate the masses”, he observed. The coming festival season and the burning of crackers and other materials would have an adverse impact on the air quality. “We are trying to educate people to be concerned about the environment”, he added. |
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Erratic power supply
irks border farmers FAZILKA, Oct 24 — Erratic power supply and low voltage during the day has affected farmers who have lands along the Indo-Pak border and are not allowed to go there for cultivation after sunset by the BSF. Despite an assurance of an eight-hour power supply during the day by the PSEB to over a dozen frontier villages, the farmers from near the Sadqi area continue to complain against erratic supply and low voltage. The farmers had earlier mounted pressure on the authorities for uninterrupted power supply in view of the security restrictions. The problem pertains to villages which have agricultural lands across the security fencing raised to prevent infiltration from Pakistan. Although the matter was taken up by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, with PSEB officials last year, residents of Pakka Chisti village allege that the situation remains the same. Kashmir Singh of Pakka Chisti laments that the farmers continue to suffer on account of erratic power supply and low voltage. Hakam Singh, another farmer, says they are already suffering due to security restrictions and threat to their crops from wild animals. “Erratic power supply has added to our woes”, he says. While the Fazilka SDM, Mr S.K. Singla, admitted that this was a problem some time ago, however, no one had approached the administration with a fresh complaint. He said the PSEB had assured the villages to provide eight hours of power supply. They were asked to complain in case of any problem. The PSEB Superintending Engineer, Mr S.N. Chopra, said he would look into the matter before giving a comment. The PSEB was providing eight hours of power supply to the frontier villages, he said, adding that there could be a possibility of erratic supply in some areas due to load shedding. He said the power situation would improve after two 66 KV power stations were established in Karnikhera and Kheowali. |
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Unemployed nurses
block traffic KAPURTHALA, Oct 24 — About 200 unemployed nurses from all over the state today blocked traffic on the Kapurthala-Sultanpur road in front of local Civil Hospital in protest against the failure of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to conduct interviews for the posts of staff nurses. The blockade was, however, lifted on the intervention of the police. The protesters gheraoed Mr G.S. Aulakh, ADC (Development), and SMO of the Civil Hospital. They went in a procession to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr V.K. Singh, and apprised him of the “harassment” caused to them. They said the CMO had postponed the interviews and had asked the candidates to appear for a written test on November 30. The Deputy Commissioner assured them that he would look into the matter. The protesters said they had come for interviews in response to advertisements in newspapers. They said 295 candidates had come for the interviews and the CMO postponed them because of the large number of candidates. The protesters allegedly smashed the glasses of three cars in the hospital and sat on a dharna at the entry gate of the hospital. |
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Tension continues
in Alike ALIKE (Bathinda), Oct 24 — The situation in Alike village of the district became serious when a crowd reportedly pushed an attendant of a religious place, who was appointed there by the administration on Monday following a dispute among villagers and other residents over his appointment. People of the village are not being allowed to enter the religious place for prayers and the administration has sent police personnel to control the situation. The villagers has raised tents in front of the religious place to express their resentment against the administration. Sources said the situation in the village became serious yesterday when a former sarpanch of the village, Mr Jugraj Singh, allegedly placed Gurdial Singh, an attendant of a religious place, in the religious place with the help of the administration against the wishes of the villagers. The villagers said that Gurdial Singh had been living here for a long period and declared himself the owner of the religious place and did not allow them to open a school in a part of the religious place. They added that Gurdial Singh also approached the court which also had declared him as the granthi of the religious place not the owner. The sources said after the granthi of the court Gurdial Singh had left the religious place and the villagers had appointed Arjun Singh as the attendant. The sources added that yesterday Arjun Singh was allegedly pushed by men of Jugraj Singh. Now the villagers do not want Gurdial Singh as the attendant. Mr Jatinder Kumar Jain, SSP, said action would be taken against those who pushed off the attendant said Gurdial Singh had obtained the stay orders from the court. |
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Mahant of dera
gets bail KAPURTHALA, Oct 24 — Mr Gurdev Singh, Sessions Judge, today allowed bail to Mahant Purananand, the head of Dera Mahant Parkashanand at Kahlwan village who was arrested by the sadar police on the charge of attempting to rape Mrs Rani of the same village. The judge has allowed the release of the Mahant on his furnishing a bail bond with two sureties of Rs 50,000 each. Meanwhile, Mr V.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, told newsmen that he had made a recommendation to the Home Secretary, Punjab, for the withdrawal of the case against the Mahant on the basis of an enquiry report made by Mr Tulsi Ram SP (D). A large number of residents of Kahlwan village and its adjoining area assembled in the district courts to know about the outcome of the bail application. Mr Hira Lal Dhir, a senior leader of the BJP Punjab, demanded strict action against those persons who were instrumental in the registration case against the Mahant. |
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IA seeks permission to sell hijacked plane PATIALA, Oct 24 — Indian Airlines today moved an application in the court of the Sessions Judge requesting for permission to sell the ill-fated Airbus which had been hijacked to Kandahar in December last year. The Sessions Judge, Mr S.N. Aggarwal, issued notice to the accused for reply in the case on November 2. All the accused in custody — Abdul Latif, Dalip Bhujbal and Yusuf Nepali — were brought to the court for the hearing of the case under tight security. While moving the application Indian Airlines said it was decided by its Board of Directors on December 30 to sell the aircraft as it was nearly 23-year-old and needed a thorough overhaul. The application said subsequently a tender was called by the organisation which did not get any response. The latest tender had evinced response from a United Kingdom firm which had agreed to buy it at a price of 23.75 lakh dollars and had also paid earnest money of 1.17 lakh dollars. In view of this it should be allowed to go ahead with sale of the aircraft which had been taken into possession by the CBI after it returned back from Kandahar and was later released on a surety. It is presently a case
property. Counsel for the accused, Mr Brijinder Singh Sodhi, said he would oppose the application as the aircraft was required for purposes of cross examination . |
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Net service
for Hoshiarpur soon HOSHIARPUR, Oct 24 — The Telecom Department will provide Internet service here within next month. This was disclosed by Mr Mohan Lal, General Manager, Telecom, Hoshiarpur here today. Presently Internet service is being provided through the Jalandhar exchange. He said wireless in local loop (WLL) and mobile services would also be provided very shortly. In order to improve the STD/ISD services, the capacity of EIOB DTAX had been increased from 1,500 lines to 4,800 lines. Optical fibre transmission media had been inducted. Out of the 90 exchange, 45 had already been connected with optical fibre transmission media. He said in order to avoid the frequent digging of roads and expedite the work of cable-laying, the construction of cable ducts at Hoshiarpur, Tanda, Mukerian, Mahilpur, Dasuya and Balachaur had been undertaken. |
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BSP activists burn Mayor’s effigy PHAGWARA, Oct 24 — Activists of the BSP, Phagwara Block, today burnt effigy of Suresh
Sehgal, Mayor of the Jalandhar Corporation, in protest against the move to demolish Dr
B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagwan Balmiki chowks of Jalandhar, according to a press note issued here. A senior leader of the party, Mr Ashok
Sandhu, led the protesters who blocked traffic on the GT road between Chaheru and
Khajurala. They moved in march to the boundary of the Jalandhar Corporation. A demonstration and a rally were held over there. Protesters threatened a
Doaba-level dalit andolan in case the chowks were removed. Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal was asked to rein back the mayor. |
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Ex-minister acquitted in
Tricolour case PHAGWARA, Oct 24 (UNI) — Former Congress Minister Joginder Singh Maan and two party councillors — Manmohan Sharma and Kusum Sharma — among others were today acquitted by Judicial Magistrate Harbhagwan Das in the national flag-hoisting case registered against them on August 15, 1997. The judge, in his decision, said hoisting the national flag on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day was no offence. When Mr Maan and others unfurled the flag in the local municipal office in the absence of Municipal Council President K.L. Gauba on Independence Day three years ago, Mr Gauba had lodged a complaint against them alleging disrespect to the national flag and a case was registered against them on his
complaint. |
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Pay farmers
before Divali: Mittal CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The Punjab Food and Supplies Minister, Mr Madan Mohan
Mittal, has directed all paddy procurement agencies in the state to make payments for the paddy procured till October 18, before
Divali. Mr Mittal, who reviewed paddy procurement at a meeting of field officers, in a statement said delay in payments would not be condoned. He urged the officers to persuade rice millers to enhance their share of paddy procurement. The FCI has been told to increase its share to 40 per cent. Over 65 lakh tonnes of paddy had been procured in the state till last evening. |
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Paucity of medicines in hospital PATIALA While the authorities are not ready to give explanations as to why no medicines were purchased last year, sources disclosed that the Directorate of Research and Medical Education (DRME) was in the process of purchasing medicines, including life-saving drugs, for the hospital this year. However, even in this case there are no explanations as to why medicines which were to be purchased in the current financial year have not been purchased till October end. The hospital, which caters to a vast area of Patiala,
Fatehgarh Sahib and Sangrur districts and offers specialised services, as it is attached to a medical college has been, meanwhile, reduced to the status of a beggar. ‘’In case of any major accident we are reduced to begging from the district administration or various voluntary organisations to provide medicines which are needed on the spot’’, said a doctor on emergency duty. It is the hospital emergency which has been worst affected by the shortage of life-saving drugs. As the Medical Superintendent has a discretionary budget of Rs 500 for purchases under the medicine head every year , there is little the authorities can do to on their part. It is left to the Red Cross and various voluntary organisations like the Sewa Bharti and the Dedicated Brothers to chip in with funds to buy essential medicines whenever needed. Doctors said the common life-saving drugs always needed in the emergency were antibiotics, pain killers, antiseptics, anti hypertensive, steroids and specialised drugs for poison cases. Similarly gauges, syringes and surgical gloves were never in stock. They said in most cases the patients had to arrange for the drugs themselves, with voluntary organisations coming out to the help of needy people. Most say it is a wonder that the Emergency Department of the hospital was running at all, saying social organisations were playing a major role by taking up the responsibility of all accident cases besides extending other help. For the patients, it is a betrayal of trust. ‘’When they raised the fee of all hospitals attached with government colleges, we were told that the services would improve tremendously as the enhanced fee realised from the patients would be used exclusively on the hospital and its improvement’’, said Ram Kumar who had come from Bhawanigarh with a patient. He said while there was little improvement in infrastructure. It was a shame that even life-saving medicines were not readily available in the Hospital Emergency. Hospital sources said there had not been a visible increase in the hospital infrastructure besides improvement in the facilities offered because a large chunk of the money earned by it following the enhancement in the fee structure since May 1999 had not come back to it. They said facilities could be improved only if these funds were released to the hospital. Doctors said it required only around Rs 25,000 per month to maintain essential medicines in the emergency but that even this amount was not available with the hospital. However, doctors disclosed that the administration was in its own way tackling the issue of paucity of funds by prioritising areas where funds needed to be concentrated. They said due to this there had been an improvement in the Emergency Department, which had been provided new mattresses and bed sheets. Besides, efforts were on to provide bed sheets to various wards. |
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Checking
intensified PATIALA The order has already been conveyed to the general public through the print and electronic media, loudspeakers and cable TV. The use of seat belts will help in reducing injuries to the driver and the front seat passenger when brakes are applied suddenly. Strict action will be initiated against erring drivers, according to a press note issued by the police. |
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Iqbal Shamin
regales audience PATIALA The ghazal singer was accompanied by another artiste, Rajan
Narula, who was on the tabla.They recited ghazals composed by Jigar
Jalandhari. One of his ghazals, Hamne dekha hai zamane ko badalte hue
yaro, par ye badalte hue tever nahin dekhe jate, received a big applause from the audience. Another ghazal well received by the audience was Apna dil ya apni wafa pesh
karun, kuchh samajh nahin aata tujhe kya pesh karun. The evening was hosted by the Mehak Cultural Forum and Jigar Jalandhari appreciated the hard work put in by Dr Naresh Raj General Secretary of the forum. Former DGP Sube Singh was the chief guest. NFB to
observe protest day CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) said today that it would observe International Disabled Day as protest day in Punjab. Prof Rajesh Mohan, general secretary of the Punjab unit of the NFB, said the state government was not following the proper procedure to fill vacant posts reserved for visually handicapped persons. He said the posts had not been advertised in accordance with the job identification list circulated among all departments by the Personnel Department. For instance, he said vacancies of driver and patwari were advertised for visually handicapped persons which was contrary to the job identification list. At certain places interviews were postponed and
cancelled. He alleged that against some posts meant for the visually handicapped persons belonging to other categories had been appointed. |
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Census: second phase
from Feb 9 HOSHIARPUR, Oct 24 — After the completion of the first phase of census, the second phase, population enumeration, will be carried out from February 9 to 28 next year. This was stated by Mr Inderjit Singh, Director, Census Operation, Punjab, while addressing a district-level conference of Census Officers here yesterday. Mr Iqbal Singh Sidhu, Deputy Commissioner, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, subdivisional magistrates, tehsildars, block development and panchayat officers naib tehsildars and master trainers were present in the conference. The director said about 50,000 enumerators and supervisors would be visiting nearly 42 lakh households for covering an estimated population of 2.40 crore in the state. In Hoshiarpur district alone, nearly 3,400 enumerators and supervisors had been deployed, he added. |
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Dharna by Left
parties’ workers KAPURTHALA, Oct 24 — Workers of five Left parties organised a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner yesterday on the failure of government agencies to purchase paddy and the refusal of commission agents to issue J-forms to farmers on the purchase of their paddy. The blockade was lifted on the assurance of Mr V.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, that paddy would be purchased as per the policy of the state government. |
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216 teams to revise
electoral rolls FARIDKOT, Oct 24 — The local administration has constituted 216 teams to complete the special revision of electoral rolls in the district. Under the plan the work will be started from November 2 and finalised by December 30. This was disclosed by Mr A.Venu Prasad, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, here today. Claims and objections would be received throughout November, he added. The teams would also visit the polling stations in rural areas on November 11, 12, 25 and 26 to accept the claims and objections. The final lists would be published on January 2 next year. |
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Journalist bereaved SAMRALA, Oct 24 — The mother-in-law of Mr Nirmal Sandhu, Chief Sub-Editor, The Tribune, Chandigarh, died here last night. She leaves behind two sons and two daughters. Several reporters, lawyers and professors attended the funeral. |
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Chinmaya Mission chief stresses
on peace AMRITSAR, Oct 24 (PTI) — Swami Tejomayananda, world chief of the Chinmaya Mission, today said that peace, love and trust in society was decreasing as human beings were working only for valuables and compromising on their values. He said man considered success only in terms of material gains. He was becoming more individualistic, resulting in the break up of family. Addressing a gathering at BBK DAV College for Women today on the topic of “Secrets of success”, he said quick steps to become rich would not bring joy. |
Two arrested for graft KAPURTHALA, Oct 24 — The vigilance police yesterday arrested the project officer and a peon of the District Industries Centre on the charge of accepting bribe from an unemployed girl for clearing her loan. Mr Vipan Choudhry, DSP (Vigilance), said the arrested were Gursharan Singh, project officer, and Sukhjit. The project officer allegedly demanded Rs 1,500 from the girl for clearing her loan of Rs 1 lakh under the Prime Minister’s Employment Scheme and a deal was settled at Rs 1,000. The officer demanded that the amount be handed over to Sukhjit. The vigilance police recovered the money from Sukhjit. |
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Coop societies official
held for graft FEROZEPORE, Oct 24 — A Superintendent at the office of the Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Vijay Kumar Dhawan, was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau while allegedly accepting a bribe from Mohan Lal of Jalalabad here today. Mohan Lal, whose election as a Kubhaya Society member was stayed earlier, had charged Dhawan of demanding Rs 700 from him for vacating the stay order. Subsequently, a team of the bureau headed by Mr Sukhdev Singh, DSP, laid a trap at Dhawan’s office and caught him while accepting the bribe. His attempt to conceal the amount was foiled by the flying squad, according to the SP (Vigilance), Mr Hardayal Mann. |
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Gang of vehicle
thieves busted, 6 held AMRITSAR, Oct 24 — A six-member gang involved in the theft of two-wheelers from religious places has been arrested by the local police. The members are Karmjit Singh, Sukhdev Singh, alias Tota, Rakesh Kumar, alias Rinku, Mohan Singh, Amandeep Singh, alias Monu and Balvinder Singh, all local residents. Disclosing the modus operandi, Mr Kewal Kumar, SP, City, said the gang members worked in pairs and kept a watch on devotees entering religious places. They unlocked their vehicles with the help of master keys and used fake number plates to ply the two-wheelers in the town. Six vehicles, four scooters, one motor cycle and a TVS scooty, and a .12-bore countrymade pistol, have been recovered from them. An FIR has been lodged under Sections 379 and 411, IPC, and under 25/54/59 under the Arms Act, against the arrested persons.
Chief chemical
examiner held PATIALA, Oct 24 — The Punjab Chief Chemical Examiner, Dr O.P. Goel, has been arrested by the Vigilance Bureau on the charge of accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 for submitting a favourable viscera
report. The Vigilance Department Superintendent of Police, Mr B.K. Uppal, said here today that Dr Goel had been arrested after being caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from one Ajaib Singh at his residence in Tripuri yesterday. The Chief Chemical Examiner had demanded Rs 5,000 from Ajaib Singh for submitting a report in his favour in a case involving the alleged murder of his brother whose viscera examination was pending with
him. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Ranjit Singh Dhillon, had led a party which laid the trap. Two neutral gazetted officers formed part of the team. The hands as well as pockets of the suspect had been washed following acceptance of the bribe money and that the bribe money was also recovered from the cupboard of the suspect at the instance of the Vigilance Department. |
Transfer of school lecturers
condemned ABOHAR, Oct 24 — Mr Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, a former minister and president of the District Congress Committee (DCC) today lashed out at the Education Department for transferring science and commerce lecturers from Government Senior Secondary School Maujgarh village to Ladhukas along with their posts. Mr Jakhar belongs to Masujgarh village. In letters to the Education Minister and the Secretary of the department, he alleged that the SAD-BJP government was upgrading schools in other areas but continued to abolish posts of professional subjects, teachers in rural senior secondary schools of this secondary schools of this subdivision due to political vendetta. The present state government was gradually abolishing posts of Sanskrit Hindi, Science and Commerce lecturers under a conspiracy. This would further create unemployment and resentment among the
youths, he alleged, Mr Jakhar said the transfer were illegal and demanded that it should be withdrawn immediately. |
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Academic exchange
programme PATIALA Six foreign students, two boys and four girls, arrived here on October 16 under the cultural-cum educational exchange programme. The programme was aimed at enabling the young students to interact with their counterparts here, besides gaining an insight and making an endeavour to understand the Indian culture and traditions. Rowland Jones of New College, who is also the coordinator of the programme, said that the whole school assembly concept was new to the students of New College. “The morning assembly where all students gather at the same platform imbibes a sense of togetherness”, he said. However, the British education system provided a wider choice of subjects and also more practical-oriented courses, Jones said. Linsay Grant, a Class XII student of New College, said that the atmosphere of the educational institutions here was more strict than in the British schools. The British education system was more informal and interactive, she said. Robin Belts and Richard Boffey, said that the spicy Punjabi food and the rich colourful traditions were quite refreshing for them. Mr
A.S. Jawanda, Principal of the YPS, said that the school and the students had organised a host of cultural programmes and goodwill matches to entertain the foreign guests. |
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Syndicate deprecates alleged arson PATIALA The Syndicate felt that such acts of arson involving burning of shamianas erected as part of the fair were deprecable even as a reaction to the so-called police lathicharge on students on the same day . The body urged for an expeditious investigation into the case while calling the incident a “conspiracy” by certain elements . Few shamianas had been burnt on the university campus following use of force by the police to prevent students from gate-crashing into the residence of the Vice-Chancellor In another decision , the Syndicate adopted the University Grants Commission ( UGC ) scheme for the appraisal of teachers by students so that they could be held accountable . It said there was a request for starting this scheme from various varsity student bodies . The Syndicate also approved the projects of the Advanced Institute of Information Technology to be set up on the campus by multinational company Optimos of the USA which would provide guaranteed placements and job avenues in multinational companies in India and abroad to students doing special courses from the institute . The proposal of the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, for setting up of the new Department of Environmental Sciences to study global problems of endangered ecology was also accepted by the Syndicate . In another decision, the Syndicate terminated the assignment of a dictionary project given for a period of three years and extendable for another two years to Prof Gurkirpal Singh Sekhon at a monthly emolument of Rs 13 ,000 . The Syndicate opined that the assignment was illegal and contrary to university statute. Dr Sekhon had been given the assignment during the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor, Dr J.S. Puar. At the pressing of the Vice-Chancellor , who also presided over the meeting , the Syndicate also decided to refer to the Punjab State Council of Higher Education the directive of the UGC for a UGC observer at each selection committee meeting under the career advancement scheme. ‘Chetna march’ by
schoolchildren NAWANSHAHR, Oct 24 — Schoolchildren took out ‘chetna march’ in the town today to
create awareness about drug abuse and road safety measures. The march was flagged off by the SSP, Mr Ishwar Singh, at the R.K. Arya College grounds. The march concluded at the ITI grounds. The SSP said anti-drug and friends of police groups comprising school and college students would be formed in the district to combat drug addiction and assist the police in traffic management. |
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