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Heart-rending scenes at DMC Hospital
Ludhiana, November 5 With swollen faces, blood laced clothes and heavily bandaged heads, the children were moaning with acute pain while doctors and their relatives were trying their best to calm them. Three children were admitted here today afternoon with serious head injuries and bruises all over the bodies. Though oscillating between semi-consciousness and unconsciousness, the children shook with fear the moment doctors or medical staff touched them for dressing the wounds or administering injections. The children included class VI students Amandeep Kaur and Ramandeep Kaur and the latter’s brother Hardeep Singh. They presented a miserable picture mainly due to the swollen heads. The condition of their parents and relatives was
worse. Tears flowed from their eyes while they stood near the children. The parents pleaded to anyone with folded hands for saving the loved ones even if the person was a doctor, para-medico or a media persons. The medical staff at the Emergency Unit of DMC Hospital were trying their best to console the parents and the injured children. The doctors were seen showing X-Ray reports to the parents to satisfy them that the injuries would heal soon. Mr Sheeshan Pal, uncle of one of the injured girl Amandeep Kaur, was talking in a choked voice. Pointing towards the girl in bandages, he said, ‘‘See how haste can ruin the lives of several families’’ He argued that the school van driver could have waited for few moments to prevent such damage to life and limbs. Relatives of an injured brother-sister Hardeep Singh, a UKG student and Ramandeep Kaur, a class VI student lying on separate beds in the emergency unit were shuttling between the two beds to take note of the changes in their condition.
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Garbage dump being removed to ‘benefit’ influential people
Ludhiana, November 5 Sources in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (LMC), revealed that the orders to stop dumping and clear the garbage were passed only to benefit some politicians, influential persons, cops and bureaucrats, who had purchased land on Humbran road near Jainpur at much cheaper prices due to the garbage dump. The sources said as these persons wanted to make huge profits by selling the property at commercial rates, the garbage dump was being cleared from there. Although it had become a nightmare for the residents living nearby, their various requests were not heeded to for the past five years. A senior politician is said to have purchased 60-70 acres of land on Humbran road at the rate of Rs 15-20 lakh per acre. The sources said if the garbage dump would be shifted from there, the land prices would shoot up to Rs 1 crore per acre overnight. “The man would make profits worth crores at the behest of common public,” the sources added. The property was not picking up and plots were being sold at much cheaper rates in the area for quite some time. Some colonisers allegedly sold some plots to these influential persons with a promise that they would get the dump shifted from the place. And finally, the LMC woke up and ordered that the garbage should not only be removed from there but the heaps should also be lifted and carried to another dump at Tajpur village. Interestingly, with the lifting of garbage from the MC land, the civic body would also earn revenue by exploiting the potential of land commercially. Residents of Jainpur village said they were also happy with the announcement as they had been suffering due to stench and insects that were causing many problems to them also. The LMC had yesterday announced that it would get the dump shifted from the place. Claiming this here yesterday, Dr Jaswant Singh, Joint Commissioner, LMC, said that the city Mayor had directed to get the garbage lifted and be dumped at the dumping ground of Tajpur village or the land available with Municipal Corporation in the area of Nurpur Bet village. He said that the MC had purchased 21 acres of land in 2002 for setting up of Solid Waste Treatment Plant conforming to the Solid Waste (Management and Handing) rules notified by Government of India. The state government through PEDA (Punjab Energy Development Agency) has already executed a memorandum of understanding with M/s Sindhia Holding Pvt. Limited, a Canada-based company and it has already done the sample analysis of garbage produced within the city for work. The dumping ground of Tajpur village was being maintained as per the guidelines taken Punjab Pollution Control Board and in the recent past, Municipal Corporation had taken necessary measures to improve the environment of area of garbage ground. A communique by the MC said that Mr S.K. Sharma, Commissioner of Corporation had directed the sanitation staff to stop dumping garbage at Jainpur village. Simultaneously, he also called upon the Town Planning wing to draft a comprehensive proposal ensuring optimum use municipal land situated on Humbran road presently used for dumping of garbage, as the area has the potential of commercial exploitation.
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Religious places flout ban on loudspeakers
Ludhiana, November 5 It is not uncommon to see people wake up as early as 1.30 am when loudspeakers are switched on to broadcast religious hymns and bhajans. Enquiries revealed that the problem is more severe in villages, which have more than one temple or gurdwara. The main violators are such places where loudspeakers, affixed on rooftops or outside, are switched on in the wee hours. The general feeling among villagers is that despite periodic instructions from the administration, little is being done to enforce the directions of the SC banning the use of loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am and the Punjab Loudspeakers Act, 1956, which stipulates that the noise should not exceed 40 decibles in the residential and 60 decibles in the commercial areas. The loudspeakers can be used only between 6 am and 10 pm. Similarly, no loudspeaker can be played in the silence zones, which means any area within 100 metres from hospitals, educational institutions and courts. Ironically, religious places too fall in the same category. Mr Harchand Singh Sidhu of Raqba village and Mr Nachhatar Singh and Mr Gurmukh Singh of Baddowal village, said no one had any right to create noise pollution on religious grounds. The recitation of prayers on full volume by outdoor speakers disturbs the peace and tranquility of the neighbourhood and should not be permitted anywhere, they pointed out. Mr Darbara Singh and Mr Bachan Singh, residents of Dakha, pointed out that no religion permitted disturbance to old, ailing and infirm persons, students or small children. “One should not forget that small babies, old persons and youngsters have every right to enjoy their sleep in a peaceful atmosphere. The ailing persons too need peace and quiet to recuperate. Why should they be disturbed ? The noise pollution in the villages is increasing day by day,” they added. Scores of villagers in the countryside chorus that the sarpanches should be directed to ask the offenders to desist from doing so and also bring the matter to the notice of the authorities for necessary action. “One is rudely awakened by the sudden noise and it is impossible to sleep after that. Since requests to the gurdwara managements committees have failed to have the desired effect and it is now up to the district administration to enforce the law, especially after the SC too gave its decision on this issue. Strict action should be taken against the defaulters. In case of repeated violations, the religious places should be barred from installing loudspeakers, they opined. Residents point out that the noise pollution is taking its toll on their health. Hearing to a loud noise for prolonged spells has caused interruption in sleep, affected communication at large, caused loss of efficiency, and hearing high blood pressure, depression, irritability, fatigue, mental stress and annoyance, they added.
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Bridge for pedestrians
inaugurated
Ludhiana, November 5 Addressing the gathering at the function, Mr Dawar said the overbridge was the main demand of the residents of Janakpuri for quite some time. To cope with the problem of rain water accumulation in the area, he had got an estimate worth Rs 95 lakh cleared from the local government for the storm sewerage project in the area. He added that an old age home at the cost of Rs 6 lakh would also be set up in Kidwai Nagar. Later, he inaugurated the development of two parks at Cheema Chowk and said that footpaths for walkers would be constructed in the parks.
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Planting saplings to set example
Ludhiana, November 5 Baba Bhan Singh, a Gadr martyr, was born and brought up in this village and the residents of the area and activists of the Maha Sabha had pooled resources to construct a memorial in his name. The villagers had been developing it gradually with the help of the common man.
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Natwar must step down: MCPI
Ludhiana, November 5 Mr Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri, national general secretary of party, and Mr Kuldip Singh, state secretary, have said Mr Natwar Singh has no moral right to be a minister in view of his and his son’s name prominently figuring in the Paul Volcker report as beneficiaries in the UN oil-for-food programme scheme in Iraq. Even the Congress is stated to be a beneficiary of the programme wherein over Rs 33 crore was pocketed and millions paid as surcharge to the Saddam regime. The leaders said the Congress, instead of coming clean on the issue, was shielding the minister. They also condemned the attitude of CPM and CPI leadership, who were out to shield Mr Natwar Singh and in a way, trying to please the Congress leadership for narrow political gains. The MCPI has also expressed its concern over the joint exercises by the Indian Air Force with US Air Force in West Bengal, a state being ruled by the CPM. While opposing the decision of the government, the leaders termed as hypocritical the opposition and demonstrations being staged by the by the WB party cadres. People have seen through their ploy since they are supporting the anti-people Congress-led UPA, which is going ahead with these joint exercises totally ignoring our national interests. Moreover, if the CPM leadership is sincere in watching the interests of the common man, it should immediately withdraw its support to the scam-ridden UPA alliance. The party also opposed the closure of Rockman and Highway Cycle units of Hero Group, which has deprived 1,500 workers of their employment. Denouncing the Punjab Government for giving its nod to the illegal closure, the MCPI has called upon the government and factory owners to protect the rights of the workers and safeguard their employment. The MCPI has supported the cause of the agitating workers and expressed its solidarity with them.
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SAD, BJP also seek Natwar’s ouster
Ludhiana, November 5 In separate statements the leaders of these parties alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government was neck deep in corruption. They observed that having a “tainted” person to occupy the post of the Foreign Minister would make India a laughing stock in the international community. A former minister and general secretary of the SAD, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, pointed out, that the same Congress had stalled the functioning of Parliament when the name of some of the close associates of former Defence Minister George Fernandes had figured in the Tehelka scam. Now the same Congress was trying to shield its minister who had been indicted in an inquiry by the United Nations. Mr Grewal said Mr Natwar Singh must come clean off the charges as he was holding a prestigious position. Former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and senior BJP leader, Satpal Gosain also demanded the resignation of Mr Natwar Singh. He alleged that the Congress was adopting double standards and was making the country cut a sorry figure. He also criticized the CPM and the CPI for defending the “corrupt” minister.
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Lajpat Rai clarifies
Ludhiana, November 5 He said he had been wrongly quoted in a section of the media hailing the Punjab Government for setting up these funds. He said the Punjab Government had not set up any such funds. He said he had referred to the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of the Government of India that had set up these funds. He observed that the Punjab Government should take cue from the Central government if it was serious about development. But, he added, he had not much expectation from the Punjab Government as it had failed on all fronts.
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Relief for terror-hit on 84 riots’ pattern sought
Ludhiana, November 5 In a statement issued here today, leaders of the Shiv Sena pointed out that thousands of people had been killed during the decade-long terrorism in Punjab. They maintained that while the payment of handsome relief to the 1984 Delhi riot victims was a welcome step, the government must come out with a similar relief package for the victims of the terrorism. The sena leaders said, the riot victims had been paid relief and rehabilitated earlier also. But there was no such comprehensive package for the terrorist victims. They hoped that the state and the Central governments would adopt measures that would assuage not only the hurt feelings of terrorist victims but also provide them something to survive. They said thousands of households had lost their dear ones who would earn bread and butter for them. Most of these families had been reduced to penury and the government must take some measures for their welfare.
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Akalis raising non-issues: Housefed chief
Ludhiana, November 5 This was stated by Housefed chairman Krishan Kumar Bawa in reaction to the suggestion of SAD general secretary Sukhbir Badal of a debate on development activities in the villages of the state. He said Mr Sukhbir Badal had shown his political naivety by making such a statement since important matters concerning the state are debated on the floor of the House while local issues only are raised in the village panchayats. A politician of all people must know his basic fact, he added. Mr Bawa said people had given their mandate to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and are appreciative of the tough stance taken by him by abrogating all river water accords of the past. Similarly, they have lauded the massive investment, both domestic and international, in the state in this regime. He also warned the Akalis against making irresponsible statements and trying to woo people with false assurances and promises.
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City back to normal after festivities
Ludhiana, November 5 Suddenly, like the switching off of an electric fan, popular markets and bazars of the city, which had been bursting at the seams with shoppers till a couple of days ago, are back to doing normal business. The crowd of shoppers has vanished. With the twin festivals of Divali and Id just over, shopkeepers are more or less busy assessing their respective sales and the resultant profits. “It is very much like this every season, business has again become normal after the festival rush,” said a shopkeeper engaged in selling readymade garments at Chaura Bazar. Now, most of the shopkeepers in the city were looking forward to a chilly spell of winter which would enable them to sell even the rags, he added. The end of the festival season , however, has come as a great relief to commuters who used to face long traffic jams all over the city due to the festival time extensions and the rush of shoppers. Mr Chander Parkash, who lives along the Tajpur Road and cycles his way to his office near Ghanta Ghar everyday, said he was pleased to see normal traffic these days. Since the authorities have once again enforced one-way throughout Chaura Bazar, traffic in the bazar has been running smoothly, he added. There is a sudden lull on the events front as well. No major events are slated in the city in the days to come. It seems that with the onset of the winter, the city is slowly creeping into a hole.
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Scribe assault case: police action sought
Mandi Ahmedgarh, November 5 The police, however, maintained that it had started investigation into the matter and would register a case after establishing the facts. Hakam Singh Dhaliwal, a stringer of a Hindi daily, had complained to the police that a group of miscreants, led by Ranjit Singh, armed with sharp-edged weapons attacked on his residence at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday. “Inebriated miscreants attacked my house when we were preparing to sleep. Besides harming household goods, they threatened to eliminate me in case I dared to write against Krishan Kumar, a Congress leader and a block samiti member, in future,” Dhaliwal alleged. He further alleged that the miscreants acted on the instance of the said leader as he wanted to teach him a lesson for filing stories against him. Meanwhile, various political leaders and journalists, including Jaspal Singh Heran, general secretary, Punjab Union of Journalists, Ravinder Puri, president, Journalist Union Ahmedgarh, Dilbagh Singh Chapra, president, Journalist Union Payal, Jagdev Singh Talwandi, former president of the SGPC, Jagjit Singh, former chairman, Laghu Udhyog, Vijay Jain, a BJP leader, and Rohit Aggarwal, urged the police not to bow under the political pressure and act against the accused.
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Need for flexible working hours for women stressed Ludhiana, November 5 Dr Johal, who was chairing the second day of a workshop on “Economic Empowerment of Women” at Master Tara Singh College here today, appreciated women for carving a niche for themselves in the society by playing an important role in politics, engineering, medical and other fields. At the same time, he demanded for the provision of flexible working hours for women. Prof R.L.Kalsia, secretary, Social Welfare, Punjab, supported Dr Johal's views by saying marriages could become successful only when both men and women played a positive role. Law alone can not settle marriage disputes women needs to play a more significant role, he added. Throwing light on existing laws, Dr Vinay Kapoor said, “Laws are just like traffic lights that give us signals that what kind of situation we will face in the coming times.” She also discussed right to adoption, right to acquire parental property and solutions for removing discrimination. Dr Sushma Jaiswal lauded the organisers of the workshop for choosing the topic. She stressed on the need for girl education. She said education was the key which could open a dozen of locks. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Paramjit Kaur Dhindsa called for inner transformation of the souls to change the mind-set. Dr I.J.S.Jaiswal described that the empowerment of women should begin from home, suggesting that one must visit rural women for their betterment and upliftment. Dr Madanjit Kaur Sahota, Principal of the college, thanked all dignitaries for sparing their valuable time to make the workshop successful.
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FCI staff seek recruitments Ludhiana, November 5 Mr Om Pal Singh, president, North Zone of the FCI Employees Union, who was here to attend a state-level convention of the union told reporters that employees were facing a lot of work pressure due to the vacant posts. He said workers and the management entered into an agreement in 2000. According to it, 67,000 posts at the FCI should remained filled throughout. However, the management had not stuck to the agreement and despite many workers retiring during this period, there had been no fresh recruitments, he said. “The current strength of workers is only 44,000,” he said, adding, “more people would retire in the coming five years, which would mean a tremendous work pressure on employees. The management must begin recruiting more people immediately.” The employees also said the FCI had not fixed specifications for storage loss of food grains. The loss that occurs is deducted from the salary of employees, they alleged, demanding that specification be fixed so that employees did not suffer on its account. The employees also urged the state procurement agencies to adhere to quality norms set up by the union government while procuring paddy and rice.
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LMA to hold seminar
Ludhiana, November 5
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Woman killed in mishap
Jagraon, November 5
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2 booked for assault
Jagraon, November 5
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