 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Work on rly overbridge stops as MC fails to release funds
Ludhiana, July 21 This will further delay the completion of the bridge that was to be completed by April, 2006. Officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) claimed that the work would not be restarted till the civic body released the second instalment of Rs 2.25 crore. Sources in the PWD said the work was stopped around two months ago. Only small works were being taken up by the workers on the bridge. “Unless we are provided the funds, how can we continue with the work. We are only providing our expertise for the bridge. It is up to the MC authorities to provide the money. As per the agreement, they were supposed the release the payments three or four months ago. They did not do it. Who will pay for the labour and other materials?’ said the PWD officials. Mr Ashok Kumar, Superintending Engineer of the MC, said they had already paid Rs 3.25 crore for the construction. The second instalment was due and it would be paid shortly, he said. The PWD officials said the work on the bridge was allotted to them around nine years ago. Till four years ago, the department was at loggerheads with the Railway authorities and finally the work started. While the work was delayed, the prices of construction materials and labour cost rose . They said they had already paid the funds to contractor. The PWD had to pay some money to the electricity board from its pocket. The officials of the PWD said there was a problem with the design of the bridge also. As per the design approved earlier, a leg of the bridge was to be connected to Mata Rani Chowk and the other at Ghanta Ghar Chowk. But at a recent meeting of MC officials, the design was changed and one of the legs was to be connected to elevated road which was also under construction. This has angered the PWD officials, who claim that they would not work on the changed design. At the same time, the MC officials claim that they had changed the design to help the smooth flow of the traffic. “What is the fun if, after spending so much of money, there remains a bottleneck?’’ asked an official. As both the departments are at loggerheads, the delay in the construction of the bridge is causing inconvenience to people. Moreover, the people living in the vicinity of the bridge are paying the price of development as sand and particles of other construction materials enter their houses.
|
|
Fasting ETT teachers fall ill
Ludhiana, July 21 Ms Gurmeet Kaur, an arrested teacher, whose health got deteriorated was admitted to the local Civil Hospital this morning while three other teachers Mr Rupinder Singh, Mr Jaspal Singh and Mr Narinder Singh were admitted to the hospital late yesterday evening. A few teachers who were also not feeling well were being treated inside the jail. At least 150 ETT teachers were arrested on July 9 when they tried to assemble outside the house of the Education Minister, Mr Harnam Dass Johar, to protest against the delay in filling 6,000 vacancies. At least 94 male teachers have decided to go on fast unto death for an indefinite period while the condition of 56 female teachers was not better. The leaders of the arrested ETT teachers are Jaswinder Singh Sidhu, Balraj Singh Ghloti, Gursewaak Machiwara and Jaswinder Vargari. They further said for the past one-and-a-half year, the government had been torturing them instead of fulfilling their demands. “If anything happens to the arrested teachers, the onus will rest on Mr Harnam Dass shoulders and the consequences can be quite serious in that case”, they added. Many organisations and teachers’ bodies have also come out in support of the striking teachers. Inderjit Sidhu, Kulwinder Moga, Arvinder Faridkot, Jasvir Faridkot, Rajiv Mouqa and Paramjit Machiwara have warned the government that they would be writing in detail of the inhuman treatment meted out to teachers by the Punjab Government to the President, Governor and the Prime Minister. |
||
|
Farmers flay hike in petrol, diesel prices
Ludhiana, July 21 Functionaries of Kul Hind Kirti Kisan Sabha, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab Kisan Sabha, Khetibari Kisan Vikas Front and Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) also presented a memorandum to the
district authorities after the dharna demanding among other things, a support price of Rs 760 per quintal for paddy, remunerative prices for all farm produce, uninterrupted power supply for 16 hours and improvement in power transmission system. The speakers at the rally castigated the government for the reported move to scrap the system of government procurement of food grain while making a strong plea for continuation of
the support price regime in the wake of ailing agricultural economy. They further asked the government to strengthen the public distribution system, initiate necessary steps to cut down cost of cultivation, restore facility of free water and power supply to farmers and make arrangements for payment of unpaid bonus on purchase of paddy and arrears of sugar cane growers. Other demands listed in the memorandum included remission of all agricultural loans, slash the rate of interest on fresh farm loans, adequate compensation to farmers for crop losses due to natural calamity, introduction of farm insurance scheme and scrapping the policy of privatisation of sugar mills, electricity board and educational institutions. Prominent among speakers at the dharna were Mr Kuldip Singh, Mr Lakhwinder Singh Buani, Mr Avtar Singh, Mr Mohinder Singh, Mr Baldev Singh Latala and Dr Kulwant Singh Mohi.
|
|
10 fresh cases of gastroenteritis reported
Ludhiana, July 21 According to the SMO of the Civil Hospital, Dr Harwinder Singh, three new cases of gastroenteritis were admitted to the hospital while an equal number of patients were discharged after recovery. The total number of patients under treatment at the hospital was 11. The condition of all patients was stable. Two patients afflicted with diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration from Tibba Colony and Labour Colony were reported at Nauhria Hospital in Jamalpur, Dr Kuldip Nauhria said. Even though the intensity of the attack appeared to have been receded during the past couple of days, a large number of patients from different localities are reported to be under treatment at private hospitals or clinics. Meanwhile, the Health Department has deployed teams for the survey of a few localities from where cases of cholera had been reported. According to district epidemiologist, Dr Ajit Singh Chawla, teams were carrying out a door-to-door survey of the affected colonies and the residents were being advised on personal hygiene and preventive steps against cholera and other water-borne diseases.
|
|
Gang selling fake gold bricks busted
Ludhiana, July 21 The accused have been identified as Gurdarshan Singh, alias Sweeta, Gaurav, alias Gora. Search is on for the other two accused Tarsem Singh, alias Sheesha, and Swaran Singh. They had allegedly cheated Kiran Bala, a resident of Govind Nagar, by handing a fake gold brick on July 17. They also accepted Rs 1.45 lakh from her. Earlier, they had given a piece of gold to her on July 15. When she got the gold examined by a dealer it turned out to be real. When they returned on July 17 she thought they were selling real gold and got trapped in their net. The conmen were arrested and motor cycle recovered from their possession.
|
|
SAD gets assurance from Europe on turban ban issue
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 21 Claiming this, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP and secretary general of the party, said he was assured by the President of the European Parliament that he on behalf of all member countries would impress upon the French Government to review the turban ban issue. "Besides giving a memorandum to the President, I projected the issue in all four meetings attended by representatives of all member countries. They assured me that they would impress upon the government to review the matter by keeping in view the religious sentiments of Sikhs," Mr Dhindsa said while talking to The Tribune. Responding to a question on the demand of removal of members of Sikh Gurudwara Judicial Commission, he said it was the prerogative of the court to decide. "We have a reason to say that the decision to remove Bibi Jagir Kaur has been taken on the behest of the Chief Minister of the state and we will fight the issue in the court," he said. He was not sure if the plaint filed by the party contained demand for the removal of any of the members of the commission. Earlier addressing a party function at nearby Maherna Khurad village, Mr Dhindsa accused Capt Amrinder Singh of acting against the interests of farmers and Sikhs. He apprehended that the state government would not pay any compensation to the farmers whose crops were destroyed due to hailstorm and drought as well. "It is ridiculous that revenue records in connection with the losses have not been prepared yet," said Mr Dhindsa. He presented cheques for grants for various developmental projects at Kup Kalan, Baurhai Kalan, Madevi, Saddopur, Abbaspur, Sangali, Bhudan and Naaromajra villages. Senior Akali leaders Mr Tufail Mohammad, Mr Abdul Gaffar, Mr Jaipal Mandian, Mr Amrik Singh Jandali and Mr Jagwant Singh Jaggie also accompanied him.
|
|
Implement pay panel report, demand railway pensioners
Ludhiana, July 21 Mr Sher Singh, president of North Railway Pensioners’ Welfare Association (Regd), Ludhiana, stated in a press note that in case the recommendations are not to be implemented then what is the use of appointing of such pay commissions. These are two major recommendations i.e. restoration of commutation after 12 years instead of 15 years and 1 per cent increase in pension per year for those who had put in more then 33 years of service. Besides there is also an anomaly for family pension for pre-1996 pensioners which needs to be modified. Mr Sher Singh stated that they were seeking intervention of the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, to intervene so that their demands are accepted.
|
|
Dispute over cremation of minor girl
Samrala, July 21 Meanwhile, a dispute arose over the cremation between the kin and the grandfather of the deceased on the premises of the hospital. The kin of the girl wanted the cremation to be done at Samrala, but the grandfather, Mr Sohan Singh of Ottalan village, wanted it to be performed at his village. Both parties even raised slogans against each other and the kin of the deceased blocked the Samrala-Machhiwara road in protest. The police reached the spot and dispersed the protesters. When the parties failed to find a solution the police cremated the body near the hospital.
|
|
Tributes paid to Oswal
Ludhiana, July 21 Mr H.D. Johar said Vidya Sagar Oswal was the founder of the hosiery and textile industries in Punjab, who struggled hard and led the Oswal group to the heights it at today. He appreciated late Vidya Sagar Oswal’s contribution in the industrial growth of the state and in establishing many educational and health institutions, which were providing excellent services to the society. The minister announced that the road from the Mohan Dai Cancer Hospital, built by the Vidya Sagar Oswal in the memory of his wife, would be named “Vidya Sagar Oswal Marg” as a mark of respect. The Mayor described the late industrialist as a great son of the city, who inspired a large number of entrepreneurs and established big industrial units. Among others present on the occasion were Mr S.K.Sharma Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Mr S.R. Kaler DDLG, Mr Parminder Mehta, Mr Amarjit Singh Tikkar, Mr Gurdev Singh Lapran and Mr Balraj, an industrialist.
|
|
Traffic instructions
Samrala, July 21 Mr Kharia also warned the gamblers to stop their activities. Chemists have also been warned not to sell intoxigations/capsules etc, without the prescription of the competent doctor.
|
|
Three booked for abetting
suicide bid
Ludhiana, July 21 According to information, Harpreet Singh, son, Amarjit Kaur, daughter, and their mother Surinder Kaur of Sujapur village went to the house of Kulwant Kaur and accused her of harming their daughter’s reputation. They also had a scuffle. Feeling wronged, Kulwant Kaur poured kerosene on herself and set herself ablaze. She has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Haran. No arrest has been made so far. Illicit liqour seized:
|
|
3 motor cycles recovered
Mandi Gobindgarh, July 21
|
|
Biz Clip Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 21 Partnership: SifyMax. in, a broadband content site from Sify Ltd, announced its partnership with Sony Entertainment Television for hosting previous episodes of “Fame Gurukul”, live chats with the contestants, as well as exclusive “behind the scenes” videos of the “Gurukul”. Contest winner: Rajinder Singh Litt, a city resident, bagged a Maruti Zen car, first prize of “Airtel ek Sawaal Contest”. The contest was open to pre-paid and post-paid customers.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
