 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Public dealing comes to standstill
Ludhiana, September 29 Nationalised banks remained closed whereas there was no public dealing in LIC and general insurance offices, BSNL and even in post offices. Work started late in offices of district administration and mini secretariat due to confusion among employees about the strike. However, work resumed in those offices and there was no sign of strike there. The industrial sector, however, witnessed a partial strike as members of the Congress-backed Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and another trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Morcha did support the call. There was no public dealing as employees of public sector banks observed strike. On a call given by the United Forum of Bank Unions against the policies of the Central Government, the Punjab Bank Employees Federation and the All-India Bank Officers Association striked work and held a rally. Addressing the rally, Mr Sudesh Kumar, chairman, PBEF, condemned government’s policies on privatisation, mergers and hike in FDI. He said banks represented public’s savings and had deposits worth over Rs 18 crore. Observing that the government’s policies were having an adverse impact, he said: “These resources cannot be frittered away and must be ensured to be utilised for economic development.” The employees demanded that public sector should be expanded and more rural branches be opened. They said efforts to increase rural credit should be undertaken and interest rate on rural and agricultural credit should be reduced. The union also demanded that privatisation of banks and disinvestment of government’s share in public sector banks be stopped forthwith. Public sector banks should not be merged and wilful default be declared as a criminal offence, they said. The United Forum of Banks Unions (UBFU) also held a rally outside the State Bank of India zonal office here. Meanwhile, trains were delayed on account of strike by railway employees. Between 12 noon and 3 pm trains were stopped by protesting employees, causing inconvenience to general public. Punjab Roadways employees also observed strike and roadways buses did not ply between 12 noon and 2 pm. Employees of the Non-executive Employees Union of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited gathered in front of the General Manager Telecom’s office. A rally was also held at Bharat Nagar Chowk where employees raised slogans against Central policies. Mr Balbir Singh, circle secretary of the union, claimed that the strike of the non-executive staff was total. He said the union would also organise statewide demonstrations on September 30 against the non-issue of Customer service centre, cash counters remained closed. The employees demanded no disinvestment or privatisation of the BSNL and the MTNL. They condemned FDI hike in the telecom sector, withdrawal of ADC, unbundling of local loop and outsourcing and contract system. The All-India Postal Employee Union and the Class II, Postman/Group D and ED Union participated in the strike. Mr Ramesh Kumar Kakkar, divisional secretary, presented a 16-point charter of their demands, including hike in interest rate on general provident fund and setting up of the sixth pay commission. The Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Ms Manisha Bansal, however, claimed that all 47 post offices in the city were functional. She said staff was diverted to ensure regular postal deliveries. The vice-president of the General Insurance Employees Association, Mr Som Nath Devat, said non-settlement of wage revision, forced implementation of transfer and mobility policy, forced cut in casual leave, outsourcing of office works and a moratorium on employment on compassionate grounds were unjust steps. Members of the North Zone Insurance Employees Association also observed strike and held rallies and demonstrations in front of their respective branch units. The employees registered their opposition to an increase in FDI in the insurance sector, privatisation of pension funds, dilution of public sector character of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, said divisional secretary of the union Mr Amarjit Singh. Addressing a rally on the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) campus, Mr D. P. Maur and Mr Amrit Pal criticised the policies of the Centre and state governments. The PAU Employees Union alleged that it was being deprived of pension benefits. They condemned the lowering of PF interest rates and said the labour laws being amended were anti-employees. Union leaders further alleged that the government was doing all this in a planned manner so as to privatise public sector undertakings by declaring them inefficient. They also criticised the government for selling out PSUs that were earning profits and contributing to national development. “The Indian ruling class is doing all this on the directions of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation,” the union said. There was no lifting and unloading of grain as employees of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the city and villages around Ludhiana observed strike and held gate rallies. The employees condemned government’s policies pertaining to privatisation. Members of the Democratic Employees Front held a rally at Mini Secretariat and met the Deputy Commissioner. The members, who condemned privatisation, apprised the Deputy Commissioner of their demands, including filling of vacancies, and withdrawal of the move on the privatisation of pension fund. The rally was addressed by leaders of various unions, including Mr Amarjit Singh Pandher, Mr Vijay Kumar, Mr Tek Chand, Mr Dalip Singh, Mr Vijay Marjara, Mr Gurmel Singh, Mr Harcharan Singh, Mr Darshan Kumar Sharma, Mr Dayal Singh and Mr Jung Jasvir Singh. Response to the strike call in industrial units was partial as members of INTUC and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh did not participate in it. |
|
Strike throws life out of gear
Jagraon, September 29 Some of the unions participating in the protests were the Kul Hind Kisan Mazdoor Sabha, Pendu Mazdoor Union, Naujwan Bharat Sabha and Rehri Mazdoor Union. Other unions which took part with vigour were Cooperative Sugar Mill Union, Anganbari Union, DEF Punjab, PSEB, LIC, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd Employees Union and Banks Employees Union. About 300 workers had blocked the traffic on Jagraon-Ludhiana G T Road from 12.00 noon to 2.00 pm against the repressive policies of the government. The blockade caused inconvenience to the passengers and the near-total strike threw life out of gear as traders could not transact any business. Addressing the gathering, the union leaders flayed the government policy of privatisation, They said the NDA government had earlier faced an exit and now it was the turn of UPA government. BSNL leader Budh Ram said the privatisation would endanger the very independence of the country. The prominent among the speakers were Vikas Kumar, Nahar Singh, Amrik Singh Meeka, Bhupinder Singh, Ravi Shankar, Tejinder Noni and Jaswinder Singh.
|
|
|
Bank employees observe strike
Samrala , September 29 Later, the bank employees staged a demonstration in front of the Punjab National Bank and held a rally which was addressed by Mr J.P. Singh, secretary of the Punjab Bank Employees Federation.
|
|
|
Report indicts MC, PSEB officials
Ludhiana, September 29 In what is considered the final word in the investigation of such incidents, the report has held the MC and Electricity Department authorities responsible for violating provisions of the Indian Electricity Rules Act, 1956, and under Section 181 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The report is, however, silent on the role of Irrigation Department officials. It would be difficult for the MC to reject this report. Under the Act, investigation report of the Chief Electrical Inspector and Assistant Electrical Inspector will be binding on all departments concerned. The Act also states the CEI as the appropriate authority to investigate the matter as per provisions of the Electricity Act. The report has further maintained that the fatal accident could have averted, had the civic body and the PSEB authorities taken precautionary measures. Mr Nirmal Singh, Chief Electricity Inspector, and Mr S. P. Singh, Assistant Electrical Inspector, PSEB, Patiala, had conducted the investigation. According to the report submitted to the higher authorities, including the Secretary, Punjab State Power Department, the maintenance and supervisory staff of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, had violated the provisions of rule 61 and 29 of the Indian Electricity Rules by not efficiently and effectively connecting two distinct and separate earth electrodes and erecting and maintaining street light steel tubular pole in a safe condition. Similarly the maintenance and supervisory staff of the The feeder has not been approved by the office of Chief Electrical Inspector which is mandatory under rule 63 of the same rules. The investigating team had concluded that the 11 KV line, on touching the steel tubular pole, did not trip as earth fault current level was not sufficient to operate protective system. Physical inspection of the site revealed that the concerned JE had taken the job of shifting of a tilted pole casually. It is pertinent to mention that Section 161 of the Electricity Act, 2003, empowers the Chief Electrical Inspector to conduct inquiry into similar accidents. The Subsection 3 of the Section provides powers of civil court under the Code of Civil Procedures for the purpose of enforcing attendance of witnesses or presentation of evidence concerned with fatal electrical accidents. The probe by the SDM (West) had also indicted the officials of the MC, the PSEB and the Irrigation Department. The MC had rejected the probe saying it was not based on facts. This has questioned the authority of the District Magistrate.
|
|
Rash driver convicted
for killing boy
Ludhiana, September 29 "The convict deserves no leniency as he has caused death of an innocent child while driving his car rashly and negligently on a public way," remarked Mr Verma while declining the plea of the accused to release him on probation. A fine of Rs 1500 was also imposed upon the accused. An FIR was registered against the accused, under Sections 279, 427 and 304-A of the IPC, at Division No:6 police station on August 8, 1999, following the complaint of Dr Nirmal Nayyer, father of the deceased child.
|
|
Four factories sealed
Ludhiana, September 29 A team of MC officials, including Mr Rakesh Adya, Superintendent, House Tax and two inspectors, ordered the sealing. Another factory on Gobindgarh Road in Dhandhari, owed Rs 19,000 to the MC while two others on Chandigarh Road owed Rs 28,000 and Rs 19,000 as house tax. These were also sealed.
|
|
Man found dead on rail line
Khanna, September 29
|
|
Passing Thru
Since you have come to Ludhiana after a long time , how do you find the
city ?
I find the city has grown more beautiful on the outskirts but the interiors of the city are very dirty. The roads in the walled city are bad and traffic is quite chaotic. What I do not understand is why are the city people encroaching on the roads and pavements and causing confusion. I did my schooling and my college studies here and I have very fond memories of the city. Now that you have settled in Mumbai and involved in acting and playback singing, what difference you find between Ludhianvis and
Mumbaikars ? I feel there is innocence in people of Ludhiana which is rare. But the funny thing is they think themselves to be very smart.I will trust people of Ludhiana any time but will not trust people of other cities. — Asha Ahuja |
|
‘Undemocratic ways’
of MC flayed
Ludhiana, September 29 The residents are in particular sore over the fact that the Municipal Corporation authorities are not bothering about the plight of the town and the general house meetings are adjourned without any discussions of the important and serious issues. The People’s Awareness Forum has taken a serious view of the way the general house meetings of the Municipal Corporation have been conducted during the past few months. Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor, former pro-Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University and president, and Prof Gurcharan Singh, general secretary of the forum, yesterday assailed the attitude of the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation and other senior functionaries for conducting the meetings of the general house in a dictatorial manner. The municipal authorities, they said, were acting in an undemocratic manner as the Opposition was not allowed to speak on the burning issues facing the town. Prof Kapoor and Prof Gurcharan Singh maintained that Ludhiana town had been in the grip of a severe gastroenteritis and daily a number of cases were being reported in local hospitals. Besides a number of deaths due to the ailment had also taken place. The town was full of garbage and huge dumps of garbage indicated as if there was no civic administration to look after the health of the people. The city was getting contaminated water supply and all these problems called for exhaustive discussions in a positive manner. They further alleged that the municipal authorities did not seem to be interested in the welfare of the residents and were only interested in their own welfare. The forum leaders warned that if the municipal authorities failed to change their attitude, the residents would be forced to rise against them and it would be difficult too for them to face the wrath of the people. It was the right time that they mended their ways and listened to the voice of the people. They also called upon the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, to think about the welfare of Ludhiana town which was contributing the highest revenue to the state. The Chief Minister will have to shun his attitude of favouring a few officials of the Municipal Corporation at Ludhiana.
|
|
Spectacular show by IAF aerobatics team
Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 29 This was part of the Air Force Day celebrations, which will conclude on October 8. The spectators were mesmarised by the manoeuvers of nine indigenously built Kiran II aircraft. The best part was the low flying
manoeuvers. Sqn Ldr Bhavna Mehra, team administrator, was the commentator for the show while Wg Cdr S. Bansal, Commanding Officer, Wg Cdr K. Ramesh, Wg Cdr Prajual Singh, Sqn Ldr S.
Sadashivpeth, Sqn Ldr Kunal Shah, Sqn Ldr Akshay Phadke, Sqn Ldr J. Cruz, Sqn Ldr Sharad Pasricha and Sqn Ldr Rahul Lilani coordinated their aircraft in various formations for around half-an-hour. Talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, Sqn Ldr Mehra said the formation aerobatics team was constituted in 1996. The team includes highly skilled technicians who keep the aircraft in immaculate condition. “We have been given the Chief of Air Staff Unit Citation at Air Force station, Palam, last year,” she said. Cdr Rajwant Singh said the another show would be held Air Force station, Barnala, while the final demonstration would be organised at Air Force station, Palam, New Delhi.
|
|
|
Residents flay PSEB over encroachments
Ludhiana, September 29 The officials of LIT, including SE Manmohan Singh, and ADE R.D.
Awasthi, and PSEB, including XEN Kuldip Singh and JE Narinder Sharma, were present on the occasion of the inauguration of development work of a park and laying of a road in H-Block of SBS Nagar here yesterday. The residents of E-Block told the officials that they had written to the authorities against the jhuggies cropping up in the area many times and despite assurances by the trust, no action was taken to remove them. Mr Arvind Sharma and Mr Japnam Singh, both residents of E-Block, said they had protested a number of times outside the trust office but nobody paid any heed to redress their grievances. They added that officials, even after announcing the time of removal in advance, never turned up on the spot and the residents were kept waiting for them. They said the jhuggi dwellers were drawing electricity through kundi connections but no action was taken against them. Both accused the authorities of being “hand in glove” with the alleged encroachers and lacking in will to remove them. The officials, however, assured them that action would be taken against the jhuggi dwellers. The residents also accused the officials of meting out a step-motherly treatment of E-Block as no development project was taken up in their area. However, the residents of H-Block honoured the officials and thanked them for inaugurating the development works in their block.
|
|
|
Park being used for private purposes
Ludhiana, September 29 Though many other residents had been protesting against the move, no action was taken against the erring residents, who had, of late, put iron gates on the demolished patches on the park wall. The residents claimed that MC officials, instead of taking action against them for damaging the public property, were helping them by plastering the demolished wall and leaving the passages intact. The passages, that had been constructed to enter the park from the houses only, mock at the orders of the Commissioner painted on the wall. The role of various teams, that had visited the area a number of times and came back without erecting the wall, has also come under a scanner as they returned following mild protests by the erring residents. Not only these residents had broken the walls they had also been pruning some trees that were blocking their entry to park through their gates. Some residents had been complaining against them for the past many months but to no avail. Some MC employees, who had gone to construct the patches, had also returned without taking up the repair work. Later on, these residents even put up iron gates also on the demolished patches due to the MCs inaction. They had demolished seven-foot-high wall of the park, being maintained by the MC and had started using it as their backyard. They further alleged that while the demolished patches served as additional entry points to the park, they were using it for dumping garbage and discharging waste water here. The residents alleged that it was not for the first time that they had done so. They were allegedly habitual offenders and the MC had specifically painted a signboard at this site, warning the residents against this activity. Despite the warning board, the boundary wall was once again demolished last month. The residents said though they had requested the MC to reconstruct patches on the demolished wall, it had just done the brickwork filling some gaps. They demanded that the entire patches should be filled with bricks so that the public park may not become the private property of any individual.
|
|
|
Factory mishaps claim 3 lives
Amloh, September 29 He was reparing a furnace of the factory at 3 am today when it collapsed leaving him buried under the debris. His body was taken out after four hours. His brother Danesh Kumar, working in some other mill here, was informed about the incident at 6 am. The police has taken action under Section 174 CrPC. Two other mishaps took place yesterday. A 'mistri', Darshan Singh (45), resident of Kukar Majra, Mandi Gobindgarh, was repairing leakage of a pipe at a height of 30 feet in Jain Steel Industries when he met with an accident and died. The mill owners have given
financial aid and also promised a job to a member of the deceased's family. Another mishap took place at Panesar Mill on Bhadla road yesterday when Jai Kishore, a migrant labourer from Bihar, was killed while working in the mill.
|
|
|
Poll process starts for 5 panchayat seats
Amloh, September 29 Today was the last day of filing
nomination papers. Scrutiny will be held on September 30 at 11.30 a.m. Withdrawals can be made till 3 p.m. of October 1 and the election will be held on October 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Candidates from Majra Manna Singhwala have stated that a competent authority (Tehsildar/SDM) issue the caste certificate.
— OC
|
|
Shaheed Bhagat Singh remembered
Doraha, September 29 Addressing the gathering they recounted the great contribution of Bhagat Singh in the independence movement. They said the India of today once again required such men of courage, indomitable spirit and unflinching willpower. Mr Hardeep Singh Boparai, Mr Santokh Singh and Mr Anil Bhanot were among those who garlanded a statue of the martyr. Mr Jandeep Kaushal, chairman of the forum, resented the role of news channels that gave no importance to the birth anniversary of the great hero of Independence struggle. He said, “For the entire day it was the birthday of Lata Mangeshkar that occupied the news scene on various important TV channels but the grand occasion of the birthday of Bhagat Singh, whose contribution towards freedom struggle was immense, was sadly missed out by them.” Mr Kaushal also criticised the municipal authorities of the town, which in spite of repeated reminders had not bothered to renovate the statue of Bhagat Singh till date.
|
|
Traffic hazard at Doraha
station
Doraha, September 29 “The situation has turned from bad to worse with the passage of time,” complain residents. Several people have been crushed to death and others have received injuries while crossing the G T Road. This is mainly because the vehicles ply at tremendous speed and the gaps only add to the risk of pedestrians, who are trying to cross the road, being run over. To make matters worse, buses halt in the middle of the road, further restricting traffic. Mr Jagjiwan Pal Singh Gill, a resident of Doraha, says, “It is risky for schoolchildren and the elderly who have to cross the road.” Mr Jandeep Kaushal, a social worker, says the barricades installed by the traffic police are a major obstruction on the national highway. The buses rarely stop at their earmarked place. The traffic needs to be regulated at the spot at peak hours. The residents have demanded an alternative route. Mr Kaushal said it should be conveyed to the National Highway Authority of India with the support of the municipal council that a subway or a flyover should be constructed here. A zebra crossing, regular pruning of grass and the installation of reflectors and indicators would also help in the meantime, says Mr Lakwinder Singh Buani, general secretary of the MCPI.
|
|
Hindi Pakhwara ends
Ludhiana, September 29 The policy servicing section of the Ludhiana divisional office, Dugri, bagged the first prize for communicating maximum through Hindi during this fortnight. The competition in Hindi essay writing, Hindi translation and memory check were also conducted during the fortnight. The following were the winners: Hindi essay writing — Alka Sehgal 1, Akhilesh Chander 2 and Harjit Singh 3; Hindi translation — Shashi Bhushan Jain 1, Shanti Lal Yadav 2 and Kulbhushan Sharma 3; Memory check — Ashma Saxena 1, Vikas Sharma 2 and Kirti Sharma 3. Ms Nirupma release the 13th edition of Hindi magazine, Malvodaya, on this occasion.
|
|
Residents getting turbid water
Ludhiana, September 29 Mr Udra Ram, a resident of the street, said the water was so dirty that they had to wash their water storage-tanks with soap and water. Otherwise they were not able to use that water for any purpose. Rani, another resident, said water was smelling bad and they were not able to drink it. Kuldip Kaur, another resident, said the sewerage in their area was leaking for the past many years but the civic body had failed to do anything for the rescue of residents. Mr Hem Raj Aggarwal, Councillor, said he had received the complaints yesterday and he had reported the matter to MC authorities. He added that they had filled water samples from the area and repair work was taking place in the colony.
|
|
|
Snake in water supply
Ludhiana, September 29 His father, Mr Sukhdev Singh, said as they had been supplied with dirty water from the tap for the past two days they had kept the bucket under the tap to see whether water was clean. ‘‘Thank god! I did not drink water directly from the tap, ” said Mr Tejpal Singh.
|
|
NRI booked for fraud
Jagraon, September 29 But Apar Apar Singh neither managed to send him abroad nor refunded the amount. In another incident Bhan Singh and Devinder Singh, have been booked under Sections 406 and 420, IPC, for committing breach of trust on the complaint of Balram Kumar of Mohalla Chawla, Jagraon. — OC
|
| 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 | |
