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| Sunday,
July 13, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Chaos at centres for voter I-cards Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 12 In the absence of proper security arrangements, the staff deputed at the Town Hall centre faced problems. Today being a working day, most of the voters wanted to get themselves photographed as early as possible. A heavy rush was seen at both centres. Although it was somewhat convenient for those who had received the notice slips, others had to shuttle between their homes and the centres. Many had to bring the identity cards of their other family members to establish their identity and facilitate finding their voter numbers. As ward demarcation has been done many times, residents were also confused about the centres. Though a large number of staff members had been deputed to distribute the notices, many voters complained that they had not received any notice. The serving of notices on card-holders added to the chaos. They had to come to show their identity cards. Mr Hakam Singh showed his card bearing No. PB-10-081-066192 and said, “When I have my card with me, why should I be put to inconvenience?” He also showed the identity cards of his family members. Mr Balwinder Singh was one of those voters who had been photographed earlier but had not received the card. Sources at the MC office said voters were not certain about their voter numbers as per different constituencies. Notices had been served according to ward demarcation for the Assembly segment whereas most of the residents remembered their house numbers and ward numbers according to Municipal Council constituencies. The deputation of local staff at outstation booths was cited as another reason for the chaos that prevailed at local booths. The photography team at Gandhi School Centre was reported to have reached only in the afternoon. Around 2,000 voters were photographed till 4 pm. |
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Abandoned
by their own Ludhiana, July 12 An official of the GRP stated that on July 6 the children were found from platform No. 2. “We found them sitting all alone and they appeared scared. We tried to find out the names of their parents but they could not answer our queries. The eldest amongst them is a four-year- old boy, who could only tell that their father was accompanying them. The other two are sisters ,two and a half year old and six month old.” The three children were first referred to SOS, Rajpura. Mr Jagdeep Singh, who is associated with SOS said, “The organisation had no provision for three children and we never wanted to separate them. So we referred them to Talwandi Ashram.” |
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BSNL subscribers a dissatisfied lot Ludhiana, July 12 Subscribers, especially those from the Bharat Nagar exchange, have been receiving pre-recorded calls threatening disconnection for non-payment of bills, while a majority of the subscribers under the exchange have not received any bills this time. One such subscriber who did not wish to be identified due to fear of reprisal from the department, said outgoing calls on her phone had been barred without any warning. Officials of the BSNL’s accounts department said, “If a subscriber has paid the bill, he should show the payment receipt to avoid disconnection.” Some subscribers of the Mata Rani exchange have complained that they have been receiving recorded calls saying that their phones would be disconnected even after they have paid the bills. A subscriber even produced copies of phone bills paid at the Indian Bank, Clock Tower, for which he had received warnings. Similarly, some persons have been trying to get their dead phones restored for days, but to no avail. One office in Bhadaur House has been unable to use two of its eight phone lines for the past many weeks because the fault has not been detected. Subscribers are complaining that no senior officer is available either in person or on the phone. Residents have demanded that the BSNL should start a round-the-clock customer care counter on the pattern of private operators that can receive complaints and answer their queries at all times. Meanwhile, the BSNL has announced that it would offer a Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) mobile phone for a mere Rs 20 by the end of August to city residents. In an attempt to retain its customer base, the BSNL has decided to come up with a scheme to allow subscribers to get phones restored in cases where phones were disconnected for non-payment of dues. |
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Colleges
desperate to get seats filled Ludhiana, July 12 Since there have been very few admissions in colleges, many of them have relaxed the eligibility criteria for admission to fill seats. All colleges have reduced their cut-off percentage, making admission easier. While till the previous year, the cut-off percentage for admission to courses such as BA and BSc was never less than 75 per cent, this year it has gone down to 45 per cent even in some highly reputed colleges of the city. Entrance tests to courses such as MSc, MTech, MBA and MCA have become mere formality as they are designed in very simple pattern so as to accommodate most of the candidates. Students who appeared for the entrance test to MBA and MCA conducted by the Punjab Technical University (PTU) said the test was very easy. This is also reflected from the fact that of the 1,675 students who appeared for the test, 1,633 were able to get through. Even the qualifying percentage in such tests has fallen extremely low. In the entrance test to advanced courses such as MSc in biochemistry, microbiology, genetics, physics, chemistry, botany and zoology, conducted by the university four days ago, the qualifying percentage was as low as 15 per cent. Interestingly, the rules of PTU have been relaxed so much that it has directed all colleges that in case they fail to fill their seats completely, they can even take such students who have not appeared in the entrance tests. In such cases, entrance tests have become a farce. In view of this trend, many students do not even appear for the test and prefer taking direct admission to 15 per cent seats in the management quota. The seats of this quota can be increased if they are not filled otherwise. In a startling revelation made by students, many colleges are approaching students on the telephone to convince them to take admission to their courses. A student who had applied for admission to BBA at a college in Model Town revealed that
The student said the first call was made by a female staff member, asking her to come to the college immediately or else she would not get a seat. Since the girl had already taken admission to a college in Civil Lines, she was not interested. Then she received a second call from a male staff member, telling her that some reserved seats had been dereserved and she still had a chance. And then there was yet another call from the college and this time they told her that there still were three seats left and that she should hurry up. At this the girl was infuriated and she gave the caller a piece of her mind. |
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‘No senior cop involved in VCD expose’ Ludhiana, July 12 This is contrary to the fact that some of the non-gazetted policemen had admitted in the video tape that a part of the bribe went to the top. They had also discussed in detail how the police manipulated facts and recovered narcotics in order to nail some persons or to teach some people lesson. However, the inquiry by the SP(D), Mr Gurpreet Singh, has not found any evidence so far against any senior official. This was confirmed to Ludhiana Tribune by the city SSP, Mr Narinderpal Singh. He said the investigations would continue but as far as the name of any senior official was concerned there was no lead provided by the policemen booked in the case. The investigations have also
Investigation into this aspect was the only ray of hope about busting the racket in the police. The two satta operators — Subash Katty and Bittu Chawla — had allegedly misused the VCD expose. The duo had exposed policemen taking bribe from them. Their motive was to draw some personal benefits from the expose. While no one shed tears for the two as they, as per the evidence, were indulging in criminal activities, the police would have won more hearts had it brought before the public some of the senior officials who were involved in the racket. The government also played its part in suppressing the controversy. The government had initially announced that the ADGP (crime), Mr K.K. Attri, would head a special investigation team to probe the racket. The state Vigilance Bureau had also started a probe initially but it was discontinued. Bureau officials had demanded details from this correspondent. The Tribune was the only newspaper that had concentrated on the police-criminal nexus as exposed by the VCDs. The news report was made the basis of the Vigilance inquiries, but it was discontinued. The Internal Vigilance Department of the Punjab Police had also announced that it was conducting investigations into the racket but the investigation reached nowhere. |
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Firm assures better services on NH-1 Sahnewal, July 12 The company seems to be filled with new vigour. Toll authorities had been facing severe criticism for the past one year as the commuters had expressed dissatisfaction at the “negligent services” being offered by the toll collection staff in lieu of “exorbitant” toll tax. It may be recalled that the toll scheme was launched in June last year at every 80 km from Panipat to Jalandhar at three different places viz — Doraha, Shambhu and Karnal. For first 96 km to 206 km, vehicles such as car, jeep and van are charged Rs 50, light commercial vehicles are charged Rs 90, truck and bus are charged Rs 175, while heavy commercial vehicles are charged Rs 375. Similarly, from 206 km to 272 km, the rates are Rs 30, Rs 55, Rs 105 and Rs 225, respectively. Also, from 272 km to 372 km a sum of Rs 45, Rs 80, Rs 160 and Rs 340, respectively, is charged. At Doraha, the rates are being charged for the category covering 272 km to 372 km. Two-wheelers and three-wheelers along with Defence, VIP, police, fire brigade, ambulance, hearse, post and telegraph office and state vehicles have been exempted from paying the toll tax. Monthly passes have however been issued to the local residents after a threat of a stir. The pre-requisite for the toll authorities is to improve the quality of roads and to check unauthorised cuts besides providing help to accident victims, removing dead animals and accident vehicles from the road and providing breakdown service. Although during the past one year the NHAI has repaired broken road, fixed railings near towns and at risk areas, attached fences near the fields, the committees seem to be dissatisfied by such meagre facilities against such “high rates”. Much against this, people complain that the toll authorities have never been readily available for providing services either to accident victims or accident vehicles. A motorist complains: “My car has broken down on the
NH-I on several occasions but no mobile service van of the NHAI has ever come to my rescue.” Another motorist contends: “Accident victims die for want of aid. Dead animals lie on the highway for hours together. Repairing the road, a little here and there, does not solve our purpose. Mobile vans should be employed to provide speedy help.” Mr Manish Dubey, manager toll, PNC Agra, when contacted said: “We shall work with our full might to keep the highway operational. Accident-prone areas from Panipat to Jalandhar shall be surveyed and faulty designs shall be replaced.” He also provided a detailed description of the various patrol routes and their mobile numbers: Route Patrol No. 1 —
Karnal-Panipat-Pipli-Karnal: 9896311069 Route Patrol No. 2 —
Shambhu-Pipli-Shambhu: 9896355069 Route Patrol No. 3 — Shambhu-Sirhind-Shambhu-0-9815602769 Route Patrol No. 4 — Doraha-Sirhind-Doraha: 9815603769 Route Patrol No. 5 — Doraha-Jalandhar-Doraha: 9815606769. He further added: “This information is for the commuters who commute between Jalandhar and Panipat and require emergency services. These mobile vans consist of four-wheel drive, a gas cutter and first aid equipment. These can also contact with the police station concerned. Mr
S.K. Mishra, the manager (IMS), can be contacted anytime at 9896311669.” Another official from PNC, Mr Mradul Garg, said: “We have introduced latest software with the help of which we can submit our day-to-day report to the NHAI on the basis of which a generalised report can be prepared by the authorities.” “If people pay their toll tax honestly, avoid bypasses and stop evading tax our work shall become much easier and people friendly.” |
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Talwandi lashes out at Badal Raikote, July 12 He observed that Mr Badal had left Punjabis with no option but to bring back the Congress to power. He said: “It is a tragedy that people of Punjab had to vote the Congress to power as Mr Badal had proved to be worse than the Congress”. He said on July 19, the original Akali Dal would be revived that would have only those leaders who were true and sincere to Panthic agenda. Reacting to the charges of Mr Badal that the Akali Dal was the creation of the Congress, Mr Talwandi remarked: “He (Mr Badal) used to say same things about Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra and his Sarb Hind Akali Dal... and now he has aligned with him”. Mr Talwandi, however, maintained a silence over the corruption charges being levelled against Mr Badal. There was a commotion at the conference venue with people resenting the remarks of a former MLA, Mr Baldev Singh, when he alleged that Mr Badal had taken Rs 25 lakh each for allotting Assembly tickets. Others present at the conference included Mr Ravi Inder Singh, Mr Mal Singh Ghuman, Mr Jasbir Singh Rode, Mr Baldev Singh and Sant Mitha Singh. |
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Badungar
invites PCCTU’s wrath Ludhiana, July 12 According to a press note issued by Prof Kanwaljit Singh, a day earlier a meeting of delegates of SGPC-run colleges was held in Ludhiana and was attended by teachers from Anandpur Sahib, Droli Kalan, Moga, Garhshankar, Patiala, Budhlada, Garhdiwal and Kotan. The meeting condemned the recent decision of the SGPC to discontinue 1 per cent reservation for the wards of teachers teaching in SGPC-run institutions on the plea that they were not their employees. The meeting also urged the SGPC to regularise salary, ensure uniform DA for all college teachers and senior selection grade for unfilled posts. It was also impressed upon the SGPC to establish a directorate in Chandigarh on the lines of DAV institutions to coordinate and streamline the system. |
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Youth Cong backs anti-corruption drive Ludhiana, July 12 A meeting of the IYC was held here today under the chairmanship of senior vice-president of the Punjab Youth Congress, Mr Pawan Dewan. Others who attended the meeting included Mr Jarnail Singh Grewal, chairman of the PYC (urban development cell), Mr Nirmal Singh Kera, chief of the Seva Dal, Ludhiana, Mr Navneesh Malhotra, general secretary of the PYC (urban development cell). Mr Dewan said the anti-corruption campaign launched by the Chief Minister had received wide support from the public as had been proved during the recently concluded panchayat elections in the state. He said the corruption during the previous Akali-BJP regime had broken all records Mr Grewal said corrupt practices of the previous regime had already been exposed and the false and baseless allegations made by Mr Badal against the Chief Minister were unlikely to create any impact anywhere. “People know it well who is corrupt and who is honest,” he remarked. |
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Poor planning creates
traffic chaos Ludhiana, July 12 For instance, one of the busiest inter-sections, Fountain Chowk in Civil Lines locality, has a high volume of traffic throughout the day. Even after the installation of traffic lights (which never became functional) the traffic police were at their wits’ end and have failed to deal with the situation. Whenever there is a traffic jam, the traffic policemen close one road temporarily, thereby further adding to the woes of the people. A little ahead towards the Mall, a small platform in the centre of a road divider
(Chhatriwala Chowk) is a classic example of unimaginative traffic planning on the part of traffic police and the civic administration. The road divider has been broken at this place to allow traffic coming from the Sutlej Club side and the lane on the opposite side adjoining Sessions House. This obstructs the flow of traffic and is an accident-prone zone. Moreover, the lane on the Sessions House side being a little away from the chowk, motorists have to travel on the wrong side of the road for some distance and then take a turn. In a similar case the divider on the Dandi Swami road has been broken again although the Municipal Corporation had got it rebuilt to provide access to a sweets shop just opposite Old Dayanand Hospital. Surprisingly, no side lane joins the main road at this point. Vehicles parked in front of the shop coupled with others taking a U-turn at this point have made it a permanent traffic bottleneck. The Domoria Bridge road from the Gole Market chowk to the next point, where it forks out towards Old Sabzi Mandi and Deepak Cinema, is yet another section which has remained unmanageable. Even though having realised where the problem lies the traffic police or the MC have failed to take even simple measures like one-way traffic. |
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Villagers
want bundh reinforcement Kasabad (Ludhiana), July 12 They claim that a breach can appear anytime in the bundh, as it has been weakened by sand miners over the years who had been ferrying sand from the place without reinforcing it. A visit to the bundh revealed that it demanded attention, as an increase in water pressure could lead to breach in the bundh. Sand miners had also removed a lot of sand from there. Villagers said a breach in the bundh could cause floods in Ludhiana city and want it to be reinforced. Reminiscing the floods in 1988, Mr Inderjit Singh, former Sarpanch of the village, said at that time also a breach had taken place in the area and the river water had inundated many villages and areas adjoining Jalandhar bypass in Ludhiana. Officials of the Drainage Department owed the lack of repairs to the non-availability of funds. They said no funds had been released by the state government this year for the purpose. |
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Mayor promises better amenities Ludhiana, July 12 Speaking on the occasion, he reiterated the commitment of the civic administration to provide better amenities and to strive for overall development of the city localities without any discrimination or political consideration. He said the move to hold ‘khula darbar’, which would be a regular feature now, was initiated on the directions of the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Harwinder Singh
Hanspal. Prominent among others present on the occasion were Mr Jagmohan Sharma, District Congress Committee (Urban) chief, Mr Kuldip Singh, Joint Commissioner, Mr
B.K. Gupta, Assistant Commissioner, Mr Ashok Kumar, Superintending Engineer (B&R) in the Municipal Corporation, and Mr Rahul
Bhandari, Additional Deputy Commissioner. Members of the trading community from Saban Bazar and adjoining markets like Chaura Bazar, Sarafa Bazar and Gur Mandi raised several issues, including the lack of proper drainage facility for rainwater, contaminated water supply, non-functional streetlights, clogged sewerage and encroachments in the markets. The Mayor assured the shopkeepers that remedial measures would be taken on priority basis. He approved the starting of a round-the-year ‘chhabeel’ for visitors to the market and the installation of a submersible pump. He said all non-functional streetlights in the markets would be repaired within three days and the demand for additional streetlights would also be appropriately considered. On the issue of abnormally high road level of the main road in Chaura Bazar that caused accumulated rainwater to enter shops and damage stocks, Mr Gill invited the shopkeepers for a meeting with engineers and other civic officials during next couple of days to sort out the matter and take action accordingly. The Mayor sought the cooperation of the traders in dealing with the menace of encroachments in these congested commercial centres. He said the MC, at times, had to take stern actions that were resented by the affected persons, but removal of encroachments was necessary for allowing easier access to the markets and ensuring smooth flow of traffic.
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Municipal Corporation acts quick
Ludhiana, July 12 According to Mr Jai Narayan Jaiswal, president of the sabha, the commissioner listened to the problem of the residents patiently and took no time in issuing directions to the officers concerned to rectify the problem. The functionaries of the sabha and other residents of the locality have expressed gratitude to the civic administration in general and the MC Commissioner in particular for being responsive to their grievances. — OC
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Writers
flay ‘pick-and-choose’ policy of critics Ludhiana, July 12 Prof N.S.Tasneem, winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award, condemned the attitude of critics who ignored merit and promoted mediocre writers. The critic should be open-minded, he said, while making an assessment of the creative writings that followed different trends in literature. In his presidential address, Prof M.S. Cheema drew the attention of the audience to the “rampant pollution” that was taking place in the today’s Punjabi literary criticism. He said worthless literary works were sometimes given undue importance at sponsored seminars. Eminent writers such as Dr Amarjit Singh Gorky, Prof Ravinder Bhathal and Gursharan Singh Narula. Dr Kulvinder Kaur Minhas Principal, Prem Singh Bajaj, Prof Kulwant Jagraon, Prof Mohinderdeep Grewal, Pritam Pandher, Surinderjit Kaur, Darshan Singh Darshan and Budh Singh Neelon participated in the discussion. |
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He was never a loser in life Sahnewal, July 12 A renowned physician, a noted educationist, a dedicated social worker and an active politician — Dr Ishwar Singh was a versatile personality. He was born on August 21, 1921, in the family of Dr Randhir Singh. He completed his initial studies at Delhi, Nasrali and Kartarpur. Clearing his F.Sc. from Khalsa College, Amritsar, he graduated in medicine from Government Medical College, Lahore, in 1945. The same year he married Bibi Bhagwant Kaur. Dr Ishwar Singh worked as a house surgeon at Dayanand Medical School and Lady Irwin Hospital till 1947. Then he came to Malhipur village , near Doraha, and eased the pain and suffering of thousands for about half a century. He was also a member of the Municipal Council of Doraha for 45 years. Being a staunch Akali, he
underwent imprisonment several times as part of Akali movement. He was the founder president of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha and Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha. Being an educationist to the core, he was the president of the Non-government Affiliated College Management Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh. He was also the chairman of the joint action committee formed to protest against the alleged anti-education policy of the government. As a dedicated social worker, he worked for the cause of the down-trodden, women and handicapped children. He represented many medical associations. He remained President of Rotary Club, Doraha, for several years. Cutting across party lines, thousand attended his cremation. Others will gather to pay tributes to the departed soul tomorrow. |
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Three arrested for
carrying poppy husk Ludhiana, July 12 Another such case was registered against Binder Singh, who lives near the Jagraon railway station. According to the police, the accused was arrested with 7.5 kg of poppy husk. Bhandari Gupta, a migrant from UP, was booked by the Sahnewal police under the NDPS Act. He was allegedly nabbed from Nichi Mangli village with eight kg poppy husk. The police also booked Sunil Kumar Singh, a resident of Transport Nagar area, under the NDPS Act. The accused was nabbed with one kg of opium near the Cheema chowk. Pirated CDs seized:
According to the police, the accused used to deal in pirated CDs of Hindi movies and porno movies. The police also seized 13 pirated CDs of Hindi films, along with 10 CDs of porno movies. Rape alleged:
The woman had alleged that the accused had raped her on the evening of July 5 in the village. No arrest has been made so far. Injured:
Beaten up:
The complainant had stated to the police that while he was passing through Chander Lok Colony on the night of Friday, the accused intercepted him on the road, beat him up and injured him. The accused also threatened him before going away, added the complainant. No arrest has been made so far. Eve-teaser held:
Liquor seized:
The Division Number 2 police arrested Nand Kishore, a migrant from Bihar now living in Islam Ganj, on Friday and seized 12 bottles of country liquor from his possession. Harbans Singh, a resident of Housing Board Colony, Phase I,
Dugri, was arrested by the Model Town police with 47 bottles of country-made liquor from his possession. All three were booked under the Excise Act. Sahnewal
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Judge’s
Reader held on graft charge Ludhiana, July 12 A case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. |
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