ADMINISTRATION

DC warns of stern action for flouting PNDT Act
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 25
The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal, today warned the diagnostic and ultrasound scan centres in the city of stern action for violating the Pre-Natal Determination Test (PNDT) Act.

Addressing a meeting of the officials of the Health Department and designated authorities under the Act here, he said all scan and diagnostic centres had been directed to maintain a record of tests conducted on women and send the report pertaining to pregnancy cases on monthly basis to the office of Civil Surgeon, failing which appropriate action would be taken against them.

He further said health workers had been asked to enumerate all expectant women between the age of 15 and 45.

Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, informed that Civil Hospitals at Ludhiana, Khanna, Samrala, Jagraon and primary health units at Payal and Guru Sar Sudhar were the appropriate authorities under the PNDT Act to deal with complaints regarding ultrasound centres.

Mrs Rakhi Gupta Bhandari, Additional Deputy Commissioner, and representatives of several NGOs also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the governing council of District TB Control Society, was held here today under the chairmanship of Mr Aggarwal. The short course therapy under the revised National TB Control Programme was discussed.

Dr Harvinder Singh, District TB Officer, told that under this programme, seven TB units at the ESI Hospitals, Ludhiana, Jagraon, Khanna Samrala, Sudhar and Sahnewal had been set up. The medical officer in charge for these TB units have been trained. A training programme for medical and para-medical staff would be undertaken soon.

Mr Aggarwal said there certain TB cases had been reported from local jails, which called for screening and treatment of all TB cases.

Children’s park case: SDM records statements
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, March 25
On the directions given by Mr Vikas Partap Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Raghbir Kaur Khera, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Amloh, has recorded the statements of municipal authorities and members of the Jymkhana Club in connection with the alleged demolition of a dividing wall between children’s park and the club.

The ruling group of the MC had alleged in their statements that the wall was brought down due to a conspiracy by club members. On the other side, the club members refuted the charges and alleged that their political opponents had conspired to defame them.

Mr Jassa Singh Ahlowalia, district general secretary, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD), and Mr Subhash Singla, district general secretary, BJP, had given a time of one week to the district administration to take action into the matter. They have threatened to launch an agitation if no action was taken. They stated that Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President SHSAD, had laid the foundation stone of the children’s park in 1998.

Mr Sukhwinder Singh Bhambri, president, Mr Dharampal, vice-president, councillor Rajinder Kumar Teetoo, Mr Lachhman Singh Saini, executive officer, and Mr Deepak Sapra all from Municipal Council; Mr Harinder Singh Sidhu, Mr Subhash Singla, district president and general secretary, respectively, of the BJP; Mr Hukam Chand Bansal, former president of the club, Mr Raj Bansal, industrialist and club member, and Mr Krishan Singla recorded their statements with the SDM. The final report is expected within a few days.

Jamalpur to have new dairy complex
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 25
In the wake of hundreds of unauthorised dairy units, operating in a dozen localities here, the Municipal Corporation has decided to develop a dairy complex in the Jamalpur locality. An area of 40 acre has been earmarked for the complex.

The MC Commissioner, Mr R.L. Kalsia, today moved a resolution to this effect in the general house meeting of the civic body. The resolution was unanimously approved.

According to Mr Kalsia, hundreds of dairies were functioning in colonies like Guru Arjan Dev Nagar, Jagdish Pura, Kailash Nagar, Subhash Nagar, Salem Tabri, Issa Nagri, Chander Nagar, New Chander Nagar and Asha Puri. Orders have been issued under Section 343 (1) (c) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, declaring these areas as ‘no cattle zone’.” Moreover, dealing with a petition filed by some of the residents of the affected colonies, the Punjab Human Rights Commission had also directed the MC to take measures for shifting the dairies away from the city.

He said the civic body would provide basic infrastructure in the new dairy complex. As many as 194 plots will be carved out for sale to dairy owners at a reserve price of Rs 1200 per square yard on ‘first come first served’ basis. The development of the complex was estimated to cost around Rs 6 crore whereas the sale of plots to the dairy owners in this complex would yield nearly Rs 12 crore.