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| Thursday,
May 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Akalis seek Jacob’s help
in halting ‘excesses’ Chandigarh, May 8 Seeking Governor’s intervention on the matter, Mr Manpreet Singh sought action on five issues — stoping registration of false criminal cases against Akalis not only in Gidderbaha but all over the state, sending instructions for quashing all such
FIRs, ensuring the state electoral machinery was not obstructed or obfuscated so that all voters, no matter which political party they belonged to, exercised franchise, instructing police and revenue departments not to torture Akalis and ask for bribes from them in lieu of sparing them from torture and passing orders to the revenue, police and general authorities to ensure there was no dispossession of land of poor rural farmers. To the seven-paged letter was appended a gist of the cases registered along with photocopies of the FIRs. Mr Manpreet Singh told TNS that he had forewarned the state that if the political vendetta did not stop, there could be a backlash. The letter also refers to rampant corruption in the district administration. It however, supports the campaign against corruption. A similar letter is addressed to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, running into six pages. The letter is soft on language and hard on facts. “I request you as Chief Minister and a gentleman to kindly acknowledge my letter and inform me about the remedial and corrective measures taken by your government with reference to the matters raised above,” the letter concludes. Mr Manpreet Singh told
TNS: I have given only an illustration of 38-odd cases in the Gidderbaha constituency alone. But the scene elsewhere is no better. I want the Press to visit the villages where people are being disposed of their land and implicated in false cases.” |
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PUNJAB SCAMS Chandigarh, May 8 The purchases were mainly of cotton gloves, cotton gauge, cotton bandages and other such materials which were made through a Bathinda-based supplier. The total purchases were worth almost a crore of rupees. For example, the purchases for the Amritsar medical college were for Rs 18 lakh. Purchases were also made for Government Medical College, Patiala, and the Faridkot medical college. Preliminary investigations reveal that the standard or approved weight of a particular cotton product was 400 gm but the corresponding item supplied to the three colleges weighed only 142 gm. The quality of the items purchased last year were tentatively around 30 per cent of the specifications. “The supplies are substandard. They have been procured from Jaipur and supplied to the three medical colleges in violation of the purchase norms. Purchases have to be made direct from the manufacturers,” sources said. The orders for these purchases were made by the Director, Medical Education and Research. “We are looking into the details before a case is registered. All relevant documents and records are being summoned,” the Additional Director-General of Police-Chief Director, Vigilance bureau, Mr A.P. Pandey, told TNS this evening. Ravi Sidhu case While the bureau would ask for a fresh police remand for Dhira in the recruitment scam, both Prem Sagar and Paramjit Singh are also likely to be formally arrested in the second case (FIR no 24 registered at the Vigilance police station, Patiala), tomorow for further interrogation. The hunt is on for both Shamsher Singh, a pharmacist, and G.S. Manchanda, a banker-turned-hawala agent. Both are absconding. The Vigilance Bureau is also on the lookout for Mrs Pritpal Kaur, mother of Ravi Sidhu, in both cases. Pressure is being mounted on the three major suspects to surrender. It was Dhira who revealed information about the recruitment of at least 46 PCS (Executive Branch and Judicial Branch) officers during Ravi Sidhu’s chairmanship of the commission. While the names of 32 of these serving officers were released at a press conference by the Additional Director-General of Police-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, a high court order by Mr Justice K.S. Garewal, prevented the publication of the remaining 14
names. The interim order was vacated by a Division Bench of the high court today. The bureau has already started questioning these “tainted” officers after two rounds of prolonged questioning of the previous Secretary of the commission, Mr Pritpal Singh. The bureau mainly focussed on procedural details and minute details about the recruitment norms and practices followed by the commission during the past five years. Bureau officials said that a former Senior Superintendent of Police of Ferozepore had been summoned for questioning in the recruitment scam. He was being summoned like all others who faced allegations of having given money for recruitment through the PPSC, they said. |
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PPSC to amend procedure rules Patiala, May 8 In a meeting held here which was attended by all members of the board, except Mr R.C. Gupta, it was also decided to make the rules of procedure more detailed on the issue of the conduct of various examinations by the Commission as well as to ensure that no loophole was left under which they could be misused. Disclosing this here, Amarjit Singh Chawla, member, said the fact that the
members had asked Mr Sidhu to amend the rules of procedure was brought on record as also the fact that the Chairman did not pay any heed to them. Mr Chawla said it was felt that the Commission did not have sufficient guidelines on the conduct of examinations with the rules only stating that “the Commission will conduct examinations”. He said this was likely to be changed now as it was being felt that the Chairman was able to take the whole system for a ride because the rules of procedure did not restrict him from taking many steps which he did. He said it would take some time to make the guidelines because the members did not want to take any hasty step. |
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Vigilance probe against ex-MD Chandigarh, May 8 The Chief Minister has given permission for this purpose, it is reliably learnt. According to informed sources, a preliminary inquiry by the Examiner, Local Funds Account, prima facie had found Mr Dhami responsible for grave financial irregularities. The same was ratified by an inquiry by Mr Karl Reddy, an IAS officer. The government withdrew the powers of Mr Dhami on December 3, 1996. Again the then Joint Secretary, Mr Mandeep Singh, held Mr Dhami responsible for the financial loss in his report of December 14, 1997. The then Chief Minister placed Mr Dhami under suspension on March 3, 1997, and ordered an inquiry by a former Commissioner, Ludhiana Corporation, Mr S.P. Singh, who also found him guilty in his report of November 15, 1997. Thereafter, for 10 months the inquiry went from table to table and finally it was proposed to reinstate Mr Dhami as the proceedings against him ‘’do not appear to be resulting in any major punishment’’. Again the Chief Minister’s attention was drawn to the case by the then Special Principal Secretary on October 10, 1998. The then Chief Secretary was asked to appoint an inquiry officer. After Mr S.S. Brar declined to hold an inquiry, the job was given to Mr C.S. Srivastava, who in his report on June 18, 2001, exonerated Mr Dhami. In between the file was submitted to the Chief Minister for orders on May 6, 1999, but no further details about the orders passed by him are available in the notings. Though the then Principal Secretary, Local Government, disagreed with Mr Srivastava, the Directorate agreed with Mr Srivastava. The Department of Vigilance is reportedly still probing some charges and so is the
Commissioner, Enquiries, Mrs Sujata Das. The Secretary, Local Government, is reported to have in his note to the Minister, Ch Jagjit Singh, emphasised that Mr Dhami should be brought to book. He recommended that the case should be entrusted to the Vigilance Bureau, with all inquiry reports and proceedings, for the registration of a criminal case against Mr Dhami. The Minister and the Chief Minister have given their approval. |
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Municipal poll: expense limit up Chandigarh, May 8 A decision to review the limit was taken by the State Election Commissioner, Mr Chaman Lal Bains, today on the plea that the existing limit, set in the early 90s, was far from realistic. No one could even contest a gram panchayat election within the ceiling. A candidate for the State Assembly elections can spend a maximum of Rs 6 lakh while the limit for a candidate in elections to the Lok Sabha from any Punjab
constituency is Rs 15 lakh. Mr Bains told TNS that the State Election Commission had also revised upwards the maximum election expenses to be incurred by candidates for municipal council elections depending upon the class of the council. The new expenditure limits for candidates in municipal council elections are Rs 1.30
lakh, Rs 80,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 for class I, class II and class III councils and nagar panchayats, respectively. The previous ceilings were Rs 40,000 for class I, Rs 30,000 for class II and Rs 25,000 for Class III municipal councils. For nagar panchayats, it was Rs 20,000. In all four municipal corporation towns, the average number of voters in a ward is between 10,000 and 12,000. According to tentative figures, there are 5,88,900 voters for the Amritsar Municipal Corporation elections where the number of wards is 60. For the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation elections, there are 5,50,000 voters for 55 wards. The maximum number of voters are in Ludhiana where they number 9,69,000 and the number of wards, too, is the highest, 70. In Patiala, where municipal corporation elections are being held for the first time, the number of voters is 2,23,000 and the number of wards 50. To ensure smooth, fair and free conduct of the elections, Mr Bains said four observers had been appointed. The state government was asked to recommend a panel of names from which these observers had been appointed. The observers were Mr Sukhpal Singh Gill (Ludhiana), Mr S.K. Sandhu (Amritsar), Mr S.S. Rajput (Jalandhar) and Mr Roshan Sunkharia (Patiala). Mr Bains said that anyone who had any complaint could contact the State Election Commission. All guidelines would be strictly enforced. The fee for the filing of nomination papers was Rs 200. Mr Bains said that the total budget for holding the municipal corporation elections this time would be around Rs 75 lakh against Rs 56 lakh five years ago. The increase in the budget was primarily because of the addition of Patiala and the increased number of wards in three municipal corporation towns. |
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Army helps govt disburse relief Ferozepore As the Army was mobilised to the frontier areas along the border in the aftermath of the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament, its deployment affected the local population as bunkers and minefields sprung up over tilled land overnight. Residents of these border villages of Punjab, however, in the interest of the nation took their losses in their stride and extended unflinching help to the Army, but now as there seems no immediate solution to the crisis, they have begun to find it difficult to make both ends meet. The Standing Parliamentary Committee of Defence, headed by Mr Madan Lal Khurana visited these border areas of Ferozepore and Amritsar on February 18 this year to assess the problems of the residents of the border villages whose fields have been spoiled due to installation of mines and construction of bunkers by the Army. This committee submitted its report to the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister following which compensation to the tune of Rs 11,000 per acre was announced by the government as relief to farmers. For the hundreds of affected villages, the government sought a compensation of Rs 176 crore from the Ministry of Defence out of which a grant of Rs 36 crore was released as the first installment. But after interaction with farmers of the border segment it was realised that due to procedural wrangles, the relief amount announced had not reached them. The assessment of claims of farmers was carried out by the Army with the assistance of district revenue officials and the task of disbursal of money taken up by the Army. For the purpose, different committees were set up comprising officials from the Army, the State Revenue Department and representatives of the villages concerned, including sarpanches and panchayat members. According to an Army press note till date out of Rs 7.64 crore received by the district administration in Ferozepore, an amount of Rs 1.68 crore has been distributed as interim relief, which is 22 per cent of the total amount to be distributed. Similarly, in Patti area of Amritsar district, Rs 1.46 crore has been distributed till date as interim relief to farmers, which is 21 per cent of the total amount. Residents of border villages who were up in arms against improper distribution of grants have welcomed the involvement of the Army in fair and correct assessment and disbursal of relief. According to senior Army officials stationed here, the Army, in coordination with the district administration, will ensure that all those affected due to its deployment in forward areas are adequately compensated. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.K. Tiwari, had earlier ordered an inquiry into disbursal of relief after reports of bungling in the distribution of these grants came up. But with the Army taking an active part in this process of distribution of relief amount, the farmers are hopeful that this amount will reach deserving hands alone. |
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Cong leaders vie for RS berth Chandigarh, May 8 The election to fill the Rajya Sabha seat from Punjab will be held on May 30. The seat was declared vacant by the Election Commission following the resignation of senior Akali leader, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder. He quit the Rajya Sabha following his election as MLA from Sardulgarh in February. Informed sources said 14 leaders are in the race to secure the berth. Among the frontrunners are Mrs Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder, a former union minister, Mr H.S. Hanspal, a former member of the Rajya Sabha, Mr Mohinder Singh Gill, a former President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Sant Ram Singla, a former member of the Lok Sabha, Mr Ashwani Kumar, an advocate from Punjab in the Supreme Court. The Congress nominee is certain to be elected to the Rajya Sabha as the party has a majority in the Punjab Assembly and also the support of number of Independents. All senior leaders are camping in Delhi for the past many days to do the leg work to secure the nomination. Sources said the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and his wife will host a private dinner tonight at Kapurthala House for the Congress MPs and ministers from Punjab. The President of the All-India Congress Committee, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and other senior leaders of the party high command, have also been invited for it, it is learnt. Informed sources said the issue of appointing the Acting President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, will be kept pending for some more weeks. The PPCC is at present headed by Capt Amarinder Singh, who has requested the party high command to appoint an acting president as he was not able to devote much time to organisational matters. Sources said only after the elections to the block samitis and zila parishads, the party high command would appoint the Acting President of the PPCC. The rumours are also doing rounds in the corridors of the Punjab Secretariat with regard to the possible expansion of the Punjab Cabinet in coming days. According to sources there are a number of MLAs, who are pressuring the party high command into including them in the Cabinet. However, informed sources in the party said no expansion was expected in coming weeks. There could be appointment of senior leaders as chairpersons of various government organisations such as corporations and boards. |
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PSERC proposals unacceptable, says Captain New Delhi, May 8 Reacting to reports published in a section of the press for the revision of tariff on power and electricity charges, he said these rates were “unequitable and would be an unjust burden on the poor, both in the rural area, as well as in the urban areas”. A Punjab Government pressnote said the state government would oppose these proposals. |
BJP units revolt over ticket distribution Patiala, May 8 All office-bearers of both units today put in their resignation papers to BJP state president Brij Lal Rinwa. They claimed that they were resigning due to the ''destructive'' activities of Mr Bhupesh Aggarwal and Bhai Paramjit Singh who were “misusing” the name of RSS Nagar Sanchalak Kasturi Lal. Eastern Mandal unit office-bearers, including its president Sanjeev Pandey, general secretary Brij Bhushan Manju, secretaries Rajan Goyal and Dheeraj Kumar Arora and cashier Kamla Jain while resigning from their posts said the BJP Urban Committee as well as the Election Committee had not solicited their views on the selection process. They added that the unit president was denied nomination from Ward Number 12 in favour of a candidate who had applied for both the Congress as well as the BJP ticket. Meanwhile, the South unit office-bearers including president Chiman Lal Singla, senior vice-president K.K. Sharma, vice-president R.D. Sharma, general secretary Kulwant Rai Garg, secretaries Rajesh Sidhu and Deepak Gupta, also tendered their resignations. They said it was surprising that both the mandal president and general secretary, who were aspirants from Ward Numbers 35 and 50, had been ignored for others. |
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SAD to oppose stopping of free
power facility Chandigarh, May 8 The Akali Dal would take the issue to the people, he added. |
Jacob flays misuse of Red Cross emblem Ropar, May 8 The Governor is also the President of the Punjab State Red Cross Society. The Governor also remembered the services rendered by Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross movement. The Secretary, Red Cross Society, Punjab, Mr Rajdeep Singh Jaiya, speaking on the occasion said the society was planning to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhai Ghanayia as Red Cross Day. The Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Ms Seema Jain, welcomed the Governor. Earlier, the Governor inaugurated a blood donation camp and a dental health care exhibition organised by the local Red Cross branch and the DHAS, Panchkula. He also flagged off a rally comprising local students to spread awareness regarding AIDS. On the occasion, 40 tricycles, 10 wheelchairs and 21 hearing aid machines were also distributed to the needy. Later, the Governor also inaugurated the official website of Ropar district in the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The Director, Health Services, Punjab, Mr D.P.S. Sandhu, and the Civil Surgeon, Ropar, Mr Rana Harinder, were also among those who attended the function. MOGA: Deputy Commissioner G. Romesh Kumar on Wednesday urged Red Cross workers, NGO activists and others associated with Red Cross welfare activities to check the misuse of the Red Cross emblem. He was speaking at the World Red Cross Day function organised on the Civil Hospital premises. |
HIGH
COURT Chandigarh,
May 8 In their petition taken up by the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Sud, Mansa district-based Punjab Panchayati Union and two sarpanches had earlier sought directions to the state for quashing Section 209 of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act of 1994 which enabled the state government to direct the holding of general elections of panchayat members at any time even before the expiry of the five-year period. They
had added that the Section was ultra vires of the Constitution as it
was violative of Article 243-E. Counsel for the petitioners had added
that the provision was further liable to be quashed as it was also
violative of Article 14 of the Constitution because it did not lay
down any guideline for exercising powers under the Section. Admitted Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Sud of the High Court on Wednesday admitted an appeal filed by the Commissioner of Income Tax at Patiala against Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. The appeal was filed against the orders passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. In their petition, the Commissioner had stated that an assessment was made for 1988-89 after making certain additions. Aggrieved by the orders of the assessing officer, the assessee filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) who allowed the same. Dissatisfied, the department filed an appeal before the Tribunal which was decided in favour of the assessee. File
sought Taking up a petition
filed by Jalandhar’s municipal councillor alleging that a notice was
issued to him for preventing him from contesting the forthcoming
corporation elections, Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice
N.K. Sud of the High Court on Wednesday, directed Punjab’s
Additional Advocate General to produce before the Court the file
pertaining to the issuance of notice. The case will now come up for
further hearing tomorrow. In his petition, Joginder Singh’s
counsel had contended that the petitioner, an independent candidate,
had been issued the notice for depositing compromise fee for
unauthorised construction to deny him the opportunity of filing
nomination papers. He added that the notice was vague as the
particulars of the property in question had not been specified. Notice
of motion On a petition filed by Dushinder Kaur of Kapurthala district, who had applied for the post of clerk in response to an advertisement issued by the Subordinate Staff Selection Board but was not issued an appointment letter, a Division Bench of the High Court on Wednesday issued notice of motion to the state of Punjab and other respondents. Arguing
on her behalf, Mr Kapil Kakkar had claimed that even though 76
candidates were appointed in the fag end of the previous year, she was
told that the appointment letter could not be issued as the model code
of conduct was in force. Even after the formation of the new
government, the letter was not issued, he had added. |
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Lawyers begin agitation Phagwara, May 8 A meeting of the Bar with Mr Shashi Aggarwal in Chair endorsed the action of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association and demanded that the tainted judges should be divested of their work. Mr Lalit Chopra, General Secretary of the local association said the members did not take kindly to the interim order of Mr Justice K.S. Garewal slapping a blanket ban on the release of information to the media about investigations in the Ravi Sidhu recruitment scam. Members said an eight-member committee should be constituted to probe the involvement of some judges in the scam. They also demanded action against those who had allegedly indulged in hooliganism in the court complex at Moga to browbeat an advocate. BATALA: A meeting of the local Bar Association was held under the presidentship of Mr Raghbir Singh Sandhu on Tuesday. Members stressed that the image of the judiciary must be saved. The Association appreciated the stand taken by Bar Association, Punjab and Haryana High Court. KAPURTHALA: The district Bar Association, here, has supported the resolution passed by the Bar Association of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, with regard to involvement of judicial officers of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the alleged recruitment scam of the Punjab Public Service Commission. A meeting of the general house was held on Wednesday under the presidentship of Mr Raghbir Paul Singh Bajwa, president of the association. Mr Manjit Paul Singh, General Secretary of the association said the members were of the view that it was need of the hour to stem out corruption from judicial system. |
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Probe Coop Dept scams: Chandumajra Chandigarh, May 8 He said the number of scandals was so high that it would not be possible to handle these without the setting up the special cell. He said there was a large number of deals of Markfed and other Cooperative organisations such as recruitment in cooperative banks, various purchases and other matters pertaining to the department which required a probe. He said it would be in the interest of the people of the state, if the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, freed the Cooperative Department and its various organisations from the control of the bureaucrats. He alleged that by and large bureaucrats were responsible for playing havoc with the various cooperative organisations in the state. He said Capt Amarinder Singh should direct the department to call the meetings of the shareholders of the various cooperative organisations and all details with regard to various suspicious deals and scams should be explained to them. He said earlier cooperative organisations like Sugarfed used to give dividends to farmers and other shareholders in Cooperative mills. But now these mills were running into a loss worth several
crores. The responsibility should be fixed. Why Markfed, which had shown a profit in its balance sheets, had not given dividend to its shareholders. He said the expansionist policy adopted by certain bureaucrats in Markfed and other cooperative organisations proved dangerous for these organisations. Mr Chandumajra said a probe should be held to inquire into the installation of six rice mills by Markfed recently. He said mills were a part of the primary industry which had already over 25,00 units in the state. Markfed should have gone for the secondary industry like processing of rices as was the case in Japan and other rice-producing major countries, he said. He said on the issue of the transfer of Chandigarh, river waters, corruption, the SHSAD would extend support to Capt Amarinder Singh, he said former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh
Badal, did nothing in the past five years for the state. He said the panchayat elections should be held without political interference. He opposed the decision of sending Punjab police to violence-affected Gujarat. |
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5 docs, 10 pharmacists found absent Sangrur, May 8 In a press note issued here, Mr Paramjit Singh Grewal, SP (Vigilance) Patiala, said four doctors were found absent from duty at Malerkotla Civil Hospital while one doctor was found absent at Subsidiary Health Centre, Serwani Kot near Malerkotla. The doctors who had been found absent from duty were Dr Sunita Modi, Dr Sital Jain, Dr Sanjiv Goyal and Dr Meenakshi Goyal, all from Malerkotla Civil Hospital, and Dr Mandip Singh from Serwani Kot, he added. Mr Grewal further stated that the Vigilance team also found the Veterinary Hospital at Rajomajra village, locked. He said in the rural hospital at Cheema village, the X-ray machine was not being used and maintained. |
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SMO, 12 docs found absent Gurdaspur, May 8 The raids were conducted on the directions of the state Vigilance Bureau to check absenteeism. It may be mentioned here that Dr Bhupinder Singh resides at Pathankot and commutes to Gurdaspur daily to attend to his duty. The hospital where he is posted at has an official residence for Senior Medical Officer. |
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Veterinary vaccination fortnight from
May 13 Chandigarh, May 8 Disclosing this here today, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, Animal Husbandry, Diary Development and Fisheries Minister, Punjab said adequate steps would be taken to control these diseases among animals. Expressing concern over the tremendous economic loss to diary farmers in the state, he said besides this these ailments were also acting as a potent non-tariff barrier in the export of animals and animal products. Giving the schedule of the campaign, Mr D.S Jaspal, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Punjab, said the campaign will be inaugurated by the minister at Marauli Kalan village in Ropar district on May 13. Veterinary vaccination would be taken up on May 15 in Patiala and Kapurthala, on May 16 Sangrur and Amritsar, in Mansa and Gurdaspur on May 17, in Bathinda and Gurdaspur on May 20, in Muktsar and Nawan Shahar on May 21, in Faridkot and Jalandhar districts on May 22, in Ferozepore and in Ludhiana on May 23, in Moga and Fatehgarh Sahib on May 24 and finally on May 27 all tehsils would be covered under this extensive vaccination campaign. The government has also formulated certain schemes in order to achieve its target of making Punjab a disease-free zone, said Mr Jaspal. He also said agriculture in Punjab had already reached a saturation point and there was a need for quick diversification and livestock sector offered a viable alternative. Countries free of these diseases enjoy access to the world markets but countries endemically or sporadically affected by FMD suffer productivity losses within their territory and their opportunities for export trade are reduced, said Mr
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Man abducts wife on way to court Bathinda, May 8 Jaisse, 19-year-old handicapped girl and a local resident, was married to Bikkar Singh of Khuddian village about two-and-a-half months ago. Yesterday when she, along with her brother Gora Singh and cousin Harbhagwan Singh, was going towards the courts to file a case against her in-laws, six persons, including her husband, abducted her. Gora Singh and Harbhagwan Singh were allegedly beaten up by the abductors and they received injuries in head, legs and ribs. They were admitted to the local Civil Hospital where their condition is stated to be critical. Ms Baljeet Kaur, mother of the victim, while talking to this correspondent at the local Civil Hospital alleged that her daughter had come to stay with her as her in-laws harassed her. She alleged that even the brothers of Jaisse’s husband would harass her. She said the husband of her daughter, along with five others, came in a vehicle in the local Jhujjar Nagar and abducted Jaisse. She feared that the life of her daughter was not safe. She said they had informed the police, which would visit Bikkar Singh’s village to look for
Jaisse. |
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Punjabi doctor’s rare feat Chandigarh, May 8 He has introduced a new technique by implanting the first ever “Combo device”. This device implant is a path-breaking surgery in the field of cardiac medicine wherein, the life of many patients can be saved. Explaining about Combo device, Dr Kler told TNS that it is a high tech gadget implanted in the body, which serves a dual purpose of a bi-ventricular pacemaker and an ICD to counter both heart failure and a sudden cardiac death. He says heart failure and sudden cardiac deaths ( SCDs) claims more lives than AIDS or cancer. In fact, SCDs remain the single largest cause of natural deaths in the world and its incidence is four-fold in India. This technique has been first introduced in the USA where it costs about Rs 25 lakh. In India it would cost about Rs 8.5 lakh (including device’s cost of Rs 8 lakh). The first patient to get it fixed is Mr Mehar Singh from Yamunanagar. Dr Kler, who worked in the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and also in Rajindra Hospital at Patiala, is now the Head of the Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology at Escorts Heart Institute and Reserach Centre, Delhi, says: “to treat both heart failure and sudden cardiac death, the Combo device provides electrical stimulation to the heart and at the same time keeps monitoring the electrical activity of heart for any potential fatal rhythm abnormality. When it detects such an abnormality, it delivers an electric shock to the heart which brings the heart rhythms back to normal thus saving the patient’s life”. Heart failure is a condition in which the muscles of the heart are weakened. Consequently the heart needs to work harder to keep the blood flowing through the body. The earlier technique pertaining to the implanting of bi-ventricular pace maker and the ICD was useful for the functioning of the heart but it can’t prevent sudden death while new technique prevents sudden death. Dr Kler has been also the first to start the ICD programe and bi-ventricular pacing in the country. |
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People’s help sought to check crime Sangrur, May 8 On the occasion, Mr Rai emphasised upon the need for the participation of people to check female foeticide. He asked the people to tell the police about their problems. He also asked police officers to do their duty honestly and sincerely and build confidence of the people. Dr I.D. Gaur from Panjab University stressed upon the need to reduce the gap between the police and the common man. |
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Mann flays CM’s remarks on N-plant Sangrur, May 8 Talking to this correspondent over the phone, Mr Mann said the setting up of the plant in the state was important as the state neither had hydroelectricity potential nor enough coal to run its thermal plants. He said the nuclear power was the only solution to power shortage in the state. |
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Stampede led to cows’ drowning Samana, May 8 The police was able to get to the bottom of the case only after the arrest of eight persons who disclosed that they had taken permission from the gaushala yesterday morning before bringing the cows in the late afternoon from two villages in the subdivision. Meanwhile, a protest march was held in the city and a call was given for a complete bandh in the town tomorrow. DSP Jaspreet Sidhu, when contacted, said eight persons had been arrested in the case. The arrested persons Vir Singh, Bahadur Singh, Mahinder Singh and Kapoor Singh belonged to Kot Kalan village, under the Nabha Sadar police station, while Gurjant Singh, Kulwant Singh, Avtar Singh and Arvind Kumar belonged to Fatehgarh Bhadson, under the Bhawanigarh police station. A case had been registered against them under Section 11 for committing cruelty to animals besides Sections 295 (a), and 429, IPC. Sources disclosed that all arrested persons had claimed that they were herding about 65 cows to the local Aggarwal Gaushala here when a stampede occurred near Dhaintal village when some stray dogs went after the cows. Meanwhile, gaushala head Pawan Shastri has claimed that there was a conspiracy to spoil the peaceful atmosphere in the town. It was not possible for so many cows to end up in the canal following a stampede, he added. Mr Shastri also led a protest march from the gaushala to the office of the DSP and the
SDM. |
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Demand for power increases Ludhiana, May 8 Inquiries made by this reporters today revealed that the demand for power consumption in the state had risen to 825 lakh units daily during the past few days. One unit each of the Bathinda and Ropar Thermal Plants is closed for maintenance and all other units of the three thermal plants are generating 378 lakh units of power daily. Similarly, hydel power generation is also satisfactory with the rise in the inflows of water. Punjab is getting about 120 lakh units of power from the Bhakra Beas projects and 98 lakh units from its own hydel plants, including Anandpur Sahib 25 lakh units and 30 lakh units from one unit of the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The PSEB is purchasing 232 units of power from the central projects daily to meet the needs of the state. The inflow of water in the Gobindsagar reservoir was reported at 24,000 cusecs against the release of 14,500 cusecs, in Dehar reservoir-2400 cusecs against the release of 500 cusecs, and in Ranjit Sagar 5800 cusecs against the release of 4,600 cusecs. Inquiries further show that the PSEB has assured cotton belt farmers that adequate power supply will be provided for sowing cotton and at present rural areas are being subjected to six-hour power cut. The urban areas do not face any cut these days. |
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PSEB gearing up for staff strike Patiala, May 8 The board has further directed the officers in charge to check attendance strictly and mark as absent the employees not reporting on duty. The management will strictly enforce ‘no work no pay’ policy and the employees participating in the strike will not be entitled for pay for the strike period. Mr Sudhir Mittal, Chairman,
PSEB, has directed the respective officers to ensure normal working of all board offices and its cash counters to avoid any sort of inconvenience to the public. He has also advised the employees not to resort to pressure tactics. |
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PSEB restrained from new power pacts Chandigarh, May 8 The board was further directed to hear the NTPC before proposing any new agreement by resorting to what was described by the commission as an “escrow arrangement”. A senior official of the commission, explaining the “escrow” arrangement, said that it was a technical term about the signing of any agreement with a particular party by ensuring payment to it by diverting funds from one head to another. The restraining of the PSEB from any new purchase agreement may lead to a power crisis. The peak power consumption season (June to September) is approaching fast. The PSEB will have to arrange power supply from various sources outside the state to cope with the demand during the peak season or it will have to resort to major cuts on power supply to the domestic and industrial sectors. The Union Power Ministry has become strict and it has directed organisations like the NTPC to supply power henceforth only on a “cash-and-carry basis”. It has also asked the NTPC to build up pressure on defaulter states to clear the outstanding dues. Various states owe about Rs 30,000 crore to power generating organisations functioning under the control of the Union Power Ministry. Punjab is counted among the minor defaulters. The commission passed the orders pertaining to the restraining of the board on a petition filed by the NTPC stating that the board had not been making payment to it and there had been a huge shortfall in payment every month. As on August 31, 2001, the board owed the NTPC Rs 204.99 crore, including surcharge, for electricity supplied in the past. Further, the board had signed or is in the process of signing power purchase agreements with other organisations. Objecting to the new agreements, the NTPC pleaded before the commission that such arrangements would seriously prejudice its (
NTPC) interest in regard to the payment of outstanding amounts as well as of the amount that would become due because of further power supply to the board. The PSEB presenting its viewpoint before the commission, submitted that it had been making every effort to clear the dues of the NTPC. However, it admitted that it was unable to make payments to the NTPC after April, 2001. |
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Jail inmate dies ‘for want of medical care’ Ferozepore, May 8 Darshan Singh, a resident of Kandhan Wala village in Fazilka tehsil, had been sentenced to two years of imprisonment last month under the NDPS Act. Manjit Kaur, wife of Darshan Singh, alleged that the inhuman treatment meted out to her husband by the jail authorities led to his death. She has demanded a probe into the death by the CBI. Talking to TNS she said: “I visited the jail three times in the past 20 days to meet my husband but was allowed only once to do so. He was physically very weak and said the jail authorities made him do hard work in the scorching heat and did not even allow him to take rest during the day.” She said he sought medical care for his recurring chest and stomach pain but in vain. When contacted, Dr Anoop Singh, a doctor posted at the jail, denied allegations of any irregularities by the doctors. However, he said the government did not provide specific medicines or funds to purchase these during an emergency. So far medical bills of more than
Rs. 3.5 lakh are pending, he said. The Deputy Superintendent of the jail Mr Kaushal, said he had purchased medicines worth more than Rs 35,000 by spending from his own pocket or through other means in an emergency in the past six months but the bills had not yet been reimbursed. Dr Kashmir Singh, another doctor posted in the jail claimed that he and his colleague, Dr Anoop Singh, were both overburdened with work. Since January this year, the figure of OPD check-up has crossed 20,000 in a jail of 1,350 prisoners and undertrials. The doctors posted in the civil hospital have not even examined more than 15,000 patients since January. The doctors said there was no sanctioned facility of indoor treatment, though with their own efforts they had managed to provide the same to the inmates. Despite their repeated requests, the jail authorities had not sanctioned even a single post of male or female staff nurse in the dispensary, they claimed. Interestingly, the Sessions Judge of Ferozepore recently inspected the jail and gave a positive report. The building of the jail, constructed in 1926, needs renovation. No funds have been released to renovate the building since the past five years. Despite repeated attempts, the Jail Superintendent, Mr Bhajan Singh, was not available for comment. |
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Dalit JE’s death: rally
by engineers today Bathinda, May 8 Mrs Majeet Kaur, wife of deceased Lal Chand, alleged that her husband suffered a massive heart attack when he was terrorised and his signature were taken forcibly by some persons at the instance of the MLA, Mr Bhatti on the forms for the registration of new voters for Panchayat elections for which polls rolls were revised recently. She alleged that her husband was kidnapped from house on by certain residents of Dautrianwali village and he was threatened to enrol new voters according to their wishes. She added that before this incident, MLA Bhatti had also called her husband to his house and directed him to make new genuine or ingenuine votes according to the wishes of his supporters. Mr Bhatti had also threatened him with dire consequences if he did obey his supporters. She added that when her husband met SDM, S.S. Gujjar, the SDM told him that work according to the wishes of the MLA, Balluana, Mr Bhatti. She added that her husband died on May 3, 2002. She also demanded legal action against the MLA. Mr Amrik Singh Bedi, Press Secretary, the Diploma Engineer’s Association, said that association would intensify the agitation after meeting the Chief Minister, Punjab and the Irrigation Minister, Punjab. He added that M.D, PSTC had already written to the D.C. Ferozepore recommending action in the matter. He added that the agitation would continue, till the case was registered against the MLA and other official and suitable compensation given to Mrs Manjeet Kaur, widow of Lal Chand. A rally would be held at Abohar tomorrow. Mr Bhatti, denying the allegations of Mrs Manjeet Kaur, alleged that he was being victimised by his political opponents, who wanted to defame him and his party. He added that he would meet Mrs Manjeet Kaur to clarify his position as Lal Chand was his friend and both belonged to same village. He said that there was no point in terrorising any one connected with the revisions of poll rolls for Panchayat elections. He claimed that Mrs Manjeet Kaur had been misled by his political opponents. Mr Gujjar when contacted said that there was no truth in the allegations by Mrs Kaur as the deceased Lal Chand had already suffered two massive heart attacks. He also claimed that though no complaint from Mrs Manjeet Kaur was received by him, an informal inquiry by him also proved that the allegations were false. |
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Gram sevak embezzled Rs 2
lakh: villagers Budhlada (Mansa), May 8 They alleged that though a case of corruption had been registered against Gurjant Singh and 13 others, he still had charge of 13 villages. Though Ms Raji, P. Shrivastva, a former Deputy Commissioner of Mansa district, wrote to then Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, Mr J.S. Kesar, for transferring Gurjant Singh out of this district several complaints had been lodged against him by several panchayats, he remained unaffected. Gurjant Singh, when contacted, said he was not transferred since he was not found guilty in any inquiry following complaints of panchayats. He added that in connection with the complaint of residents of Ramgarh Shahpurian and Kulrian, he had spoken to a close aide of Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, who looked after Moti Bagh Palace. He added that even the ADC (Development), Mr Parkash Singh Lahme, had also conducted an inquiry into these allegations and nothing was found against him. Mr Alok Shekhar, Deputy Commissioner, said ADC (Development) who was conducting an inquiry into these complaints had been transferred and the new ADC (Development) had joined who would conduct an inquiry and submit a report. An action would be taken on that report. |
SOS village to celebrate Bal Mitra Utsav Patiala, May 8 The utsav will provide a platform for people of the state to meet the children from the SOS village. A large number of schoolchildren and citizens are expected to participate in various activities being organised during the four-day event from 10 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Lt-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), Governor of Punjab, will grace the occasion. The four-day utsav will include painting, flower arrangement,
rangoli, and talent competitions and crafts workshop and school folk dance. On each day of the utsav there will be guided tours of the Children’s village, SOS Children’s Villages of India exhibition and screening of a movie on the SOS Villages of India. |
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DISTRICT DIARY Mansa The main city having markets, the Civil Hospital, nationalised banks, the girls’ college and a number of schools are situated on one side of the railway station area while on the other side are the district courts, the boys’ college and the bus stand. People going to the courts, the bus stand and other areas have to go via the level crossing. A number of passenger and goods trains pass through Mansa with the result that the level crossing barrier remains closed most of the time. Sometimes there are scuffles and heated arguments among people wanting to go to the other side. Many people do not bother to wait for the opening of the barrier and go across, risking their lives. The Deputy Commissioner, has sent a proposal to the Punjab Chief Minister for constructing a flyover on the main Mansa-Sirsa road at an estimated cost of Rs 895.5 lakh. If the plan is implemented, the congestion at the level crossing will decrease. *** The railway station at Mansa lacks basic facilities. There is no shed on platform numbers 2 and 3 and passengers have to wait for trains in scorching heat and biting cold. There is also no reservation counter. In the case of the Punjab Mail only two seats have been allotted to the railway station. No reservation can be done for the Janata Express, running between Ferozepore and Mumbai, and the Udhyan Abha Express, running between Sriganganagar and Howrah. *** A new district administrative complex has been built. It was inaugurated by the former Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Work on the judicial complex has also been completed. However, basic facilities for those visiting the district offices and the courts are lacking. Chambers have not been built for advocates. Proper accommodation has also not been provided to persons working in the complex. They have to make their own arrangements, mostly in tin sheds without any power connection. *** Government Nehru Memorial Postgraduate College, which came into existence in 1964 with the efforts of Mr Des Raj, a former Punjab Minister, was taken over by the then Congress government headed by Beant Singh. The building of the college was declared unfit for use by the Public Works Department. Initially, a grant of Rs 86 lakh was given by the state government for the construction of a new building. Recently, certain persons filed a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court which issued directions to the government to release Rs 47 lakh for the completion of the building. There is a demand for the introduction of BSc and BEd classes in the college, which is a premier educational institution of the district. |
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Health Dept seminar Gurdaspur, May 8 |
DC: Rs 10 lakh grant for disabled Jalandhar, May 8 This was stated by Deputy Commissioner-cum-President of the District Red Cross Society K. Siva Prasad at World Red Cross Day function at Red Cross Bhavan here yesterday. Mr Prasad said the District Red Cross Society in collaboration with the Bharat Vikas Parishad organised 319 welfare camps covering more than 1000 villages across the district for disabled in the rural areas last year. The society provided 316 upper and lower artificial limbs, 435 hearing aid sets and 95 tri-cycles to the disabled. A special awareness campaign in rural areas regarding the availability of facilities so that disabled children from far flung areas can approach the society had been launched, he said. Later students of the Red Cross School for Deaf presented a skit “Chidian da Chamba”, which elicited thunderous applause from the audience. |
Doc booked under PNDT Act Jalandhar, May 8 The Senior Medical Officer of Primary Health Centre, Dhilwan, Dr Raman Trehan, stated here that he had received information on April 15 that Dr S.P.Goel was conducting pre-natal diagnoses on pregnant women, most of them belonging to rural areas of the district, at his clinic in Begowal town. The matter was brought in the notice of the then Civil Surgeon Dr Niranjan Singh, who along with other senior medical officers raided the clinic. |
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Robbers confess to crime Bathinda, May 8 This was stated in a press note by the police. Darshan Singh and Kulwinder Singh, alias Kinda, residents of Manu Ke village, were booked under Sections 399 and 402 of the IPC at the Baghapurana police station in Moga district on March 21 this year. Both were members of a gang of desperadoes and had fled to Uttar Pradesh to evade arrest. They were later declared proclaimed offenders. The police said a team was sent to Uttar Pradesh and both were arrested on April 26 from Panderan village under the Faridpur police station in Bareilly district. During interrogation, they confessed to having collected Rs 60 lakh through robberies committed during the past two years. |
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Man held for selling
spurious liquor Bathinda, May 8 He said the equipment required for manufacturing the liquor, including 100 litres of spirit and containers, were seized from his house. He said 250 litres of spurious liquor had also been seized. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against him in the city police station. In another case, Bhawar Lal, who was indulging in “satta”, has been arrested and Rs 29,250 seized from him. A case has been registered against him. |
Teachers who “sub-let” posts to be dismissed Chandigarh, May 8 Besides starting criminal proceedings, the teachers would be dismissed from service, he warned. The Government has already taken action against teachers found absent from duty at the time of a raid conducted by the vigilance Bureau in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur and other districts. These teachers have been transferred to far away places. Disciplinary action would also be taken against them. The government has directed District Education Officers and Deputy District Education Officers to set up committees for regular checking of attendance of teachers and submit a report to the government on a day-to-day basis. |
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Teachers resent govt ‘threat’ on grants Chandigarh, May 8 The principals, members of the Federation of Principals’ Association of Affiliated Colleges, Punjab, and lecturers through the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union, are planning to submit representations to the Punjab Government seeking scraping of the clause relating tuition with grant-in-aid. They reason that while they back the government in its endeavour to check tuition and raise the standards of education, the government will have to take back its “threat” pertaining to withdrawal of grant-in-aid to the college, rather than punishing the culprit. Says Mr Tarsem Raj Bahia, Principal of AS College, Khanna,” How can they penalise the entire teaching community and put the reputation of an entire college at stake just because a particular teacher is not going by the rules laid down in the book? “Why should an entire college suffer for a wrong committed by an individual.” argues Dr AC Vaid of SD College, Chandigarh. The PCCTU general secretary, said the linking of grant-in-aid to tuitions is uncalled for”. Managements of privately managed colleges, at a meeting held recently, decided to ask their lecturers to submit affidavits on non-judicial stamp papers stating they were not taking tuitions. |
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Kapoor is Dean, Students Welfare,
Pbi varsity Patiala, May 8 Dr Kapoor known for his forthright views, served as Director, Public Relations, for some time during the tenure of Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, the ousted Vice-Chancellor. |
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