Blood donation camp for thalassaemic patients
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
The Punjab Thalassemics Welfare Society in association with the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital organised a two-day blood donation camp, which was inaugurated at the Guru Nanak College for Girls here today.

Dr Praveen Sobti, Reader in the Department of Paediatrics, DMCH, and in charge, Punjab Thalassemics Welfare Society, in a press statement said that the main aim of organising such camp was to arrange adequate blood for the thalassemic children, whose number was increasing.

“Currently 103 patients are getting treatment in the thalassemia unit of the DMCH and 100 to 120 units of blood are required every month to carry out their blood transfusion. Their lives depend on the availability of blood. To encourage the youngsters for voluntary blood donation, Novartis India has also sponsored a gold medal for a student and a trophy for the college having maximum voluntary donations in one year”, added Dr Sobti.

It may be mentioned that the DMCH has been helping the society for this noble cause. One unit of blood normally costs Rs 800 but the DMCH has been helping patients by providing blood at the nominal rate of Rs 300 through the District Red Cross Society.

Dr Sobti disclosed that 3-15 per cent of Punjabi population has the thalassemia trait but there is no awareness regarding the disease among the masses. Many of these patients die due to non-availability of blood. Similar camp will be held at the Government College for Boys tomorrow, said Dr Sobti.

Dental conference on Aug 26
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
The state unit of the Indian Dental Association will organise a one-day certificate course on oral and maxillofacial surgery on August 26 here.

SPORTS

Punjab throwball championship
Our Sports reporter

Ludhiana, August 24
The Punjab State Throwball Championship for senior boys and girls will be held at Sargodha Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School, Gurdwara Kalghidhar Road, on August 26, according to a press note issued by Mr Varinder Singh Virdi, President, Punjab Throwball Association.

More than 400 boys and girls representing 17 districts are expected to participate in this one-day championship. The competition would start at 8 a.m. The winners would be given prizes, the note said.

ADMINISTRATION

Bill without power connection
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
Mr S.S. Uppal, a resident of BRS Nagar, has complained to the Chief Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), alleging that he was being wrongly charged for using excess load. He has also complained that the Dispute Settlement Committee of the board was not constituted as per rules and his submissions by way of affidavit have been completely ignored.

In his complaint, Mr Uppal said that while his house was being constructed, on December 14 last year, he was visited by PSEB officers who charged him Rs 12,775, including Rs 7,000 as penalty for using excess load. As per the report prepared by the officers, the consumer was using excess load up to 20.413 KWs against a sanctioned load of Rs 15.240.

Following the report, Mr Uppal complained to the board that since the house was under construction and the load was non-functional, the penalty should be cancelled. The Executive Engineer, Model Town, ordered another visit to the house to check the facts. An SDE was assigned to state the position against the first report of the PSEB. The SDE reported that the customer was using sanctioned load and the unauthorised load was not being used. He further reported that the electric fitting was complete but it had not been energised. Since the construction work was going on at the first and second floors and the owner was not in a position to occupy the house, the SDE reported.

In his complaint, Mr Uppal said that since the second report had absolved him of charges made earlier, he should be exempted from paying the penalty. He alleged that while the facts were brought to the notice of the presiding officer of the Dispute Settlement Committee, they were ignored. Mr Uppal had also written that despite sending written requests, no decision and no copy of the minutes were sent to him, thus, denying him of taking the matter further. While presenting the complaint, Mr Uppal had also asked the Chief Engineer for a personal appointment for the hearing of his grievances. 

DM bans use of loudspeakers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
Following several complaints from the public, the District Magistrate, Mr S. K. Sandhu, has banned the use of loudspeakers in the district at any hour without prior permission.

Stating this in a press note, Mr Sandhu said the order would not be applicable to the police personnel home guards, military and paramilitary personnel in uniform on official duty or the persons to whom the order is issued by him or the sub-divisional magistrates. He said the order shall remain in force till October 20.

The DM said information about the violation of the order could be given at the nearest police station or the control room (phone number 100).