Animal welfare camp by farm varsity
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 6
The Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension, Punjab Agricultural University, in collaboration with the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics organised an animal welfare camp at Lilan village recently. The camp was organised in the adopted village under the National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP) run by the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics. The camp consisted of treatment as well as training to the students.

A team of experts including Dr M.L. Mehra, Dr M.P. Gupta, Dr H.K. Verma, Dr S.K. Kansal and Dr Prabhjit Singh diagnosed and treated 153 cases of buffaloes, cows, dogs, sheep and bullocks free of cost. Majority of the cases were of reproductive disorders, 40 cases of medicine and five cases of surgery. Interestingly, a flock of sheep suffering from gastroenteritis was treated in the camp. Gynaecological cases were of repeat breeding, anoestrus, prolapse, kinked cervix and pregnancy check-up in buffaloes.

Few cases of cows having fatty syndrome leading to reproductive failure were also presented and the owner was advised to feed balanced diet rather than feeding only carbohydrates. In medicine cases of worm infestation, mastitis, surra, diarrhoea, skin infections and mineral deficiency were treated. Five surgical cases were also treated.

Farmers were advised to adopt regular deworming, timely vaccination and proper managemental practices in animals . Further, they were advised to give extra care and attention towards the new-born calves, as most of them die during these months due to cold weather.

COURTS

BSNL penalised for delay in providing connection
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 6
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to pay Rs 2,500 as compensation on account of deficiency in services, including cost of litigation to Mr Prithi Singh, a resident of Partap Singh Wala village.

According to complaint, the consumer had applied for a telephone connection on October 22, 1999, and deposited Rs 2,000. Mr Prithi Singh stated before the forum that he had approached the nigam officials for installation of the telephone, but they had been delaying the matter.

Mr Singh said the Mullanpur Telephone Exchange, vide order issued on March 8, 2000, had directed installation of the telephone at his residence, but this work was not carried out. He alleged that there was clear negligence in services on the part of the BSNL. He demanded from the forum that since he had suffered metal tension and agony, he was entitled to recover Rs 20,000 as compensation for deficiency in services and the telephone connection should be provided at the earliest.

The BSNL pleaded that the telephone could not be installed due to the fault of the complainant as he was supposed to provide the authentic address. The respondent disclosed that the advice note was issued on March 8, 2000, for installation of the said connection, but it was returned by the JTC with remarks ‘address is not traceable’.

The respondent stated that after receiving the notice of the forum, the nigam officials made efforts to trace out the location and it was found that actually the residence of the complainant was outside the village. As such line staff was unable to trace out the address, it added.

The forum observed that It was an admitted fact that the consumer had applied for a telephone connection and deposited Rs 2,000 for that on October 22, 1999. The forum further observed that it was also an admitted fact that the BSNL had issued an advice note for installation of telephone connection on March 8, 2000, and the said connection was installed the premises of the consumer on October 17, 2001.

The forum said the BSNL had not placed any record showing that the said advice note was received with the report that the address was not traceable. Moreover, after filing of this complaint, the respondent had been able to trace out the address. If the address could be traced after filing of the complaint, it could be traced even earlier.

The forum stated that the consumer was residing in the village and there should not have been much difficulty for tracing the address. The forum held that there was clear deficiency in services on the part of the BSNL as the installation of the telephone delayed due to the negligence of the respondent.