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June 24, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Admn ill-equipped to check floods? Ludhiana, June 23 The generators were supposed to be maintained by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation and were bought specifically for utilising them during floods. However, they lie abandoned. Officials of the municipal corporation, however, said they had 25 generators and all were in working condition. They added that they would not be able to provide these pump sets to the administration for fighting floods in rural areas but these could be used for the purpose within the municipal limits only. The present Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, has directed the SDMs to personally check the functioning of the flood fighting equipment at the tehsil offices. While the SDM (East), Mr Harjinder Singh, is yet to submit a list on flood fighting equipment to the DC, sources said the administration had six motor boat engines, 20 aluminium boats, 412 tents, 62 oars, 50 oar locks and 50 life jackets. Some divers have also been contacted and told to be ready in case of any emergency. Mr Harjinder Singh said he had already prepared a list of such equipments and would be submitting the report to DC soon. |
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Discontent
simmers among Cong councillors Ludhiana, June 23 The bickering among the Congress councillors was going for quite sometime. In particular, first timers have been persistently complaining of being ignored in the allotment of development projects to their wards. Sensing the mood of the councillors and apprehending that widespread resentment against the administration might come out in the open in the forthcoming general house meeting, Mr Gill has convened a meeting of his own party councillors here on June 25 for another round of discussions to smoothen the ruffled feathers. Information gathered by Ludhiana Tribune from a number of Congress councillors revealed that most of the first-time councillors were wary of being discriminated against with regard to the allotment of funds for different kind of development projects. In few cases where development projects had been duly approved and even the tendering process was complete, the delay on the part of the contractors to start the work was being resented by the councillors. Some other councillors asserted that the data being given by the corporation for public consumption did not reflect the true picture. “There are instances where the quota register of the councillors or ward-wise lists for development works show the execution of works worth an amount several times more than the actual work carried out physically in such wards.” The protesting councillors were sought to be silenced through jugglery of figures and words, alleged a councillor requesting anonymity. Many of the councillors were particularly sore about the delay in the projects which were planned several months ago for augmentation of water supply and were supposed to be completed before the onset of summer. Many of the localities were experiencing erratic or inadequate water supply due to the non-completion of projects and the councillors were made to face the wrath of the residents for no fault of theirs, observed another councillor. The affected councillors were under so much of public pressure that a woman councillor, who is also an office-bearer of the PPCC, had to sit on a dharna in front of the corporation headquarters to highlight the problem of water scarcity in her ward. |
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Sewerage
board scam spills over to MC Ludhiana, June 23 The projects were handed over to the Municipal Corporation six months ago. However, early this month, the quality of the work done was exposed when the Vigilance Bureau unearthed a scam of Rs 4.5 crore allegedly committed by the board employees and contractors. Glaring irregularities were found in the work as proper procedure was, it is alleged, not followed. The material used in the pipe-laying work was also inferior. According to sources, the Vigilance Bureau is scrutinising the role of some officials of the Municipal Corporation who should have pointed out the irregularities in the work handed over to them. The sources said the work related to about 20 tubewells. It was carried out by the Sewerage Board and handed over to the Municipal Corporation. It is being scrutinised by the Vigilance Bureau. These tubewells were on the Radha Swami road, New Janata Nagar, Gurpal Nagar, Samshan Ghat in ward no. 22, Ambedkar Colony, Basant Nagar, Prabhat Nagar, Division No. 6, New Aman Nagar, Langar Hall in ward no. 27, Baba Nam Dev, Gobind Nagar, Vishal Nagar, Green field, Manjit Nagar and Block J and D of the colony. Some of these areas have more than one tubewell. Vigilance sources said the list of tubewells was provided by the Municipal Corporation in response to a query by the Vigilance regarding the projects approved by the Municipal Corporation. Mentioning the Rs 4.5-crore scam, the Vigilance had asked the Municipal Corporation authorities, if they were satisfied with the work conducted by the Sewerage Board. And if not, why did they approve it? The letters were aimed to put the Municipal Corporation in a catch-22 situation. The Municipal Corporation cannot say it was satisfied because of the scam exposing the inferior quality of work. It cannot say it was not satisfied because then, the Municipal Corporation was supposed to take some action. The sources said the Municipal Corporation officials had come clean in replies sent to some of the queries made by the Vigilance. The Municipal Corporation had mentioned the list of tubewells regarding which the Sewerage Board had completed some work. The Municipal Corporation officials said they had got complaints from the public regarding the improper working of the projects carried out by the Sewerage Board. They have also mentioned news reports regarding the problems faced by the public. Most of the complaints are regarding the over-flowing sewerage, blocked sewerage or improper working of the sewerage. Municipal Corporation officials stated in the reply that they had written letters to the Sewerage Board regarding the complaints received from the public. The Vigilance sources said the Bureau had already exposed the irregularities committed by the sewerage board. They were now probing how the projects were approved by the Municipal Corporation. The sources said the investigations had not found discrepancies in all the projects of the sewerage board. Thus several of the projects handed over to the Municipal Corporation would be in order. The probe would scrutinise the quality of work and the role of the Municipal Corporation officials. |
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Ramesh Kumar
is Sahnewal MC chief Ludhiana, June 23 Mr Harjinder Singh, SDM (East), who was appointed Returning Officer by the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, has conducted the election of office-bearers. These elections were necessitated with the resignation of earlier president of the Municipal Council. Mr Malkiat Singh Birmi, State Minister for Jails, Urban Development and Housing, who is the MLA from Ludhiana rural constituency also attended the meeting as ex-officio member. Mr Birmi appreciated the cooperation of all members in making the election unanimous. Mr Birmi said the state government was fully committed to proving basic amenities to the cities and towns of the state and released grants amounting to Rs 145 crore during a short period of one year. |
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PCR squad to be fine-tuned Ludhiana, June 23 A high-level meeting of senior police officers under the new district SSP, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, today decided to improve and intensify the supervision over the PCR squad, which has 105 motor cycles patrolling the city day and night. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune , Mr Narinder Pal Singh, revealed that after joining as police chief here, he had heard a lot about the police control room squad, both in favour and against them. He said though there were allegations but he found that the PCR squad was quite useful. He said in order to fine tune its working, he had decided to allocate them the work of removing traffic congestions too. This would be the new
The SSP also revealed that in order to keep a better check on the squad, he has added an additional Inspector in the supervisory squad besides deputing some non-gazetted officers in the same wing. The wing would maintain strict vigilance and surveillance on the squads to mitigate the complaints of corruption against them. Inviting people to complain immediately against any PCR cop found indulging in corruption or misusing his authority, the SSP said such complaints could be made at telephone number 100 and inform the police control number about the complaint. He said he had devised a system where the complaint would be brought to his notice immediately. The PCR squad was being hailed for increasing the presence of police in the city. It also enabled the police immediately reach the
crime site. They were credited with catching several criminals. However, some PCR squads were accused of forcing people to bribe them. They had also started challaning people which was not in their power. There were several complaints of harassment against the squad members also. |
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Child labourer
rescued, 2 held Ludhiana, June 23 According to the FIR, 15-year-old Mohammad Rasil was working as a helper in the auto dealers’ shop for the past several months. The employers got angry at him for some reason and locked him in a room. The child was beaten up and not given anything to eat. When his relative,
Alamuddin, approached the Division No. 6 police, a police party raided the shop and rescued the child. The victim had several injury marks on his body, which suggested that he was beaten up. |
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Unauthorised travel agencies mushroom in city Ludhiana, June 23 According to railway officials, there are only five authorised railway travel service agencies (RTSA) in different parts of the city. These include Friends Travels at the local railway station, Ghai Travels at the Gill road, Nanda Travels at Bhadaur House, Dhir Travels at Jalandhar bypass and Surya Travels in the industrial area. Railway officials maintained that the purpose of appointing agents in different areas was to ensure that the passengers did not have to travel to the railway station. They said the RTSAs were uniformly spread over the city and their areas of operation were specified. “One RTSA cannot operate from the area assigned to any other RTSA. Moreover, one agency can run its business from only one place and there can never be more than one booking offices or counters of any agency,” they added. However, there are some agencies that have opened more than one offices. One such agency has set up a booking counter in Bhadaur House although there is already an agency existing there for the past 10 years. According to the Railways rules, there cannot be two RTSAs at the same place. It is learnt that the agency was not attracting good business in its area, so it decided to open another counter at Bhadaur House, in violation of the Railways guidelines. The agency has also put up signboards and banners in the area. Officials of the Railways feigned ignorance about the existence of such unauthorised agencies. However, they asserted that in case they received any complaint or found any such agency operating in an unauthorised manner, it would be asked to close down. |
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Congress
launches mobilisation drive Sahnewal, June 23 The block-level meeting of Ludhiana-I was attended by Mr Malkit Singh Birmi, MLA, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mayor MC Ludhiana, Mr Avtar Singh Brar, senior vice-president, PPCC, Mr Ishar Singh Meharban, general secretary, PPCC, Mr Harmohinder Singh, president Ludhiana (Rural), Mr Jasminder Singh Sandhu, former president, Punjab Youth Congress, Mr Jewan Kumar Kapila, former president, Nagar Panchayat, Sahnewal, Mr Kawaljit Singh Boparai, Mr Swaranjit Singh Karwajke, Mr Surinder Breta, Mr Ajmer Singh Dhaliwal and other party workers. Speakers who addressed the gathering talked at length about the policies and programmes initiated by the Congress government. They demanded the support of the public in the panchayat elections. They elaborated upon the recent campaign against corruption launched by the party. They also talked about the development schemes initiated by the party for the weaker sections of the society. Various suggestions proposed by the public were also accepted for approval. |
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Truckers
threaten stir Ludhiana, June 23 Meanwhile, the truckers have warned the government of an agitation if it did not initiate measures to end
harassment of truckers by the District Transport Officers and the traffic police in the state. At a meeting held presided over by Mr Charan Singh Lohara, chairman of the association, the members voiced their concern at the corrupt practices adopted by the DTOs and the police which was adversely affecting their business. Those present pointed out that the challaning by the police starts at 6 a.m. and continues till late at night. The cops demand for money and in case someone resists, they are handed out challan slips which have been filled beforehand. The state government should lower the fine for overloading from Rs 20,000 to Rs 500. In case of overloading the
challaning officer should get the truck weighed and then challan him rather than fill in the excess load as per his discretion. In many cases, the officials arbitrarily register the excess weight from one tonne to three tonnes. Similarly, the cops should only challan those trucks which use pressure horns within the municipal limits of the city and not at random even outside the city since there is no ban on such horns on the highways. |
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Development
pace to be stepped up Ludhiana, June 23 He was addressing a rural conference organised by the block Congress at Tibba village, 20 km from here, today to educate party workers on the policies and programes of the state government as part of the campaign launched by the PPCC. The minister claimed that during the past one year the financial condition had substantially improved and the state was all set to undertake big development projects. He said under a project to be launched shortly repair of roads would be done at a cost of Rs 215 crore. Mr Birmi said state government had arranged funds amounting to Rs 920 crore to implement welfare programmes for the poor. Mr Avar Singh Brar, former minister and vice-president, PPCC, while addressing the conference said it was during the tenure of the Congress government in Punjab that development work had taken place. |
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City greets
pre-monsoon showers Ludhiana, June 23 The showers continued for well over an hour and even longer in many localities which saw the low lying areas and many major roads in the city submerged. As a result, traffic movement was disrupted in the morning in several residential localities and busy commercial areas which included Gill Road, Focal Point, Basti
Jodhewal, Sunder Nagar, Industrial Estate, Industrial Area-A extension, old DMC Road, Maharaj Nagar, Gobind Nagar, Pakhowal Road, Model Town. According to MC sources, the drainage system had improved as compared to previous seasons. |
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Tributes
paid to Sanjay Gandhi Ludhiana, June 23 Paying tributes to the late leader, Mr Sharma said, Mr Gandhi had worked very hard to strengthen the party under difficult circumstances. He urged the Congress workers, particularly the youth to learn from his sacrifice and hardwork and work for the party.
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Residents’ problems highlighted
Ludhiana, June 23 In order to save the public from inconvenience, the society urged the administration to adopt the system for spot payment of fine for traffic challans. Mr Pawan Kumar, its president, observed that those booked for violation of traffic rules had to undergo a lot of harassment in the courts. Focussing on the encroachments and alarming level of pollution in the city, the memorandum urged that a drive be continued to clear the encroachments, particularly from below the flyovers and congested commercial centres. OC
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Riot victims hold meeting Ludhiana, June 23 The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mr Manjit Singh Chawla. The long-pending demands of the victims were discussed at the meeting. The demands included the allotment of residential flats at subsidies rates. |
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Ashok Garcha
Improvement Trust chief Ludhiana, June 23 Ms Rakhi Gupta Bhandari, the then Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), was appointed Administrator of the trust.
TNS |
450 kg of poppy husk seized Ludhiana, June 23 According to the press note, issued here today by the police Mr Dharam Pal, SHO, along with Mr Jasbir Singh, ASI, and Mr Jaswant Singh, ASI, had arranged a ‘naka’ at the bridge
distributary of Gure village. They spotted a truck coming from Chowkiman and signalled it to stop but its occupants tried to flee. They were arrested by the police. They were identified as Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha of Rattowal, Lachhman Singh, alias Lachhu of Kotli Kulan and Mangal Singh, alias Mangi of Kotli. The police recovered 450 kg of poppy husk from 15 bags they were transporting in the truck for sale. The police has impounded the truck also registered a case under Sections 15, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act. H.S. Grewal, JMJC, Jagraon, has remanded the three accused in police custody till June 25.
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Killed
for teasing woman Ludhiana, June 23 Sources said the incident took place late at night. The woman complained to his husband, Ram Jawahar that Ram Bali had teased him. The man took his brother-in-law Inder Singh with him to settle scores with the accused. Hearing the noise, several other labourers living in the vicinity reached the site of the crime and caught the two persons red-handed. They were handed over to the Focal Point police. |
Hoteliers seek industrial tariff on power Ludhiana, June 23 The tourism and hotel sector was declared as an industry in 1996. However, it is yet to get the benefits in the shape of various concessions granted to the industry by the government. In a memorandum submitted to the Chairman, Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mr R.S. Mann, the president of the association, Mr Nanda, regretted that the hotel industry had been denied its due all these years. He pointed out that according to the new policy, hoteliers should be charged industrial tariff of electricity instead of commercial tariff on a par with other industrial units. He said, all hotels were registered with the Director of Industries as small scale industrial units and they had all been issued registration certificates. Mr Nanda said that the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had agreed in principle that the hotel and tourism industry would be charged industrial tariff subject to the approval of the PSEB Regulatory Commission. He said hotels had been asked to pay Rs 750 per kw as transformation charges on total loan in case they do not install their own transformer which was quite unjustified. He demanded that the transformation charges should be charged on extended loan and not on the total load. Mr Nanda suggested that the air conditioners and geysers should not be counted together. He pointed out, while the ACs were used in summer only and the geysers in winter only. As these were not operated simultaneously, the load of ACs should be counted in the summer season and that of the geysers for the winter season separately. |
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PNB opens branch Ludhiana, June 23 Mr U.S. Bhargava, General Manager, PNB Punjab zone, said the bank had made an ambitious plan to interconnect 2,000 of its branches spread across the country, thus setting up a largest CBS network. So far, 157 branches spread in 28 centres have been interconnected. In Punjab zone, 19 branches spread in four cities have been interconnected and every week five to 10 branches are being added in the system with an aim to reach 500 mark by March, 2004 and 1,500 by March, 2006. Mr A.K. Loomba, Senior Regional Manager, said customers of the branch would also avail themselves of Internet banking facility soon. Mr S.K. Malhotra, Mr Raju Thapar, Mr H.L. Arora, Deputy General Manager, Mr V.K. Gupta, Deputy General Manager, Mr Chand Singh, Deputy Zonal Manager, Mr K. Vijay Kumar, Chief Manager, and customers of the bank were present. |
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‘Scratch
and Win’ draw out Ludhiana, June 23 The second prize of Sony Ericsson mobile T 100 handset was won by Enbee Education Centre, while the third prize of Panasonic CD player was given to M/s P.P. Logistics. The fourth prize of Titan watch, one each, was won by Sood Sanitary Store, Khanna, Rajeshwari Kalamandir, Ludhiana, and Big Ideas Inc, Ludhiana. The prizes will be given to the winners very soon. The scheme, which was launched about two months ago, has received a phenomenal response with the volume of classified advertisements going massively up. Besides the bumper draw, the advertisers also received hundreds of on-the-spot prices which they won after scratching the coupon which was provided to them at the time of booking of the advertisement.
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