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PSEB cuts power connections Controversy over ‘sale’ of lottery by police continues Flouting ban orders on plastic bags |
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Contract for garbage collection Babus blocking development,
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PSEB cuts power connections Jalandhar, April 9 Some of the affected families here claimed that they had not paid the bills since they thought they were getting free power. But the PSEB officials here claimed that the board was only cutting connections of those consumers who had outstanding bills. Over 2,000 connections in the region have reportedly been cut for alleged nonpayment, despite announcements and notifications by the Punjab government. The promise of free power is part of the state government’s campaign to highlight its achievements in the past four years of governance. The Punjab government first announced free power up to 100 units with 300-watts consumption slab to Dalit families. It was found to be impractical: using a bulb and a fan ate up 300 watts. The slab was then raised to 500 watts and free power increased to 200 units. While the new slab was created in November last year, a formal notification of its implementation was issued only on March 1 this year. Families who believed in the government’s promise are now going without power. According to sources, figures by the PSEB show that between 2,600 and 2,700 connections were removed for nonpayment in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr districts. The figure in border areas was even higher, they added. After a small survey of Doaba region, it was found that the connection of one Tarsem Singh from Parjian Kalan village was snapped 15 days back, despite a load of 400 watts only. One Ram Lubhiaya from Aujala village whose power consumption had touched a load of 300 watts, and one Sheesh Ram from Bilga village with a similar level of power consumption, too, received notices from the PSEB. At many places, the affected reportedly countered the efforts of PSEB teams, which had come to cut several power connections. Residents of Bullowal village opposed such a team and as a result, 400 connections were reportedly reinstalled. In Sohal Jagir village, the residents narrate a similar story. |
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Controversy over ‘sale’ of Jalandhar, April 9 The Punjab Police authorities, it was learnt, had been instructed “from the top” to sell the lottery tickets and earn 15 per cent commission generated by such “sales”, that would go to the Police Welfare Fund. But what had kicked up the controversy was the way bundles of lottery tickets were “pushed down” by senior police officers to the police stations and the manner in which these were further sold “forcibly” by lower rung police officials and at various nakas in the state. Though admitting that the way these tickets had trickled down to the police stations was “wrong”, a senior police officer here claimed that the concept and the objective behind the move did not violate any norms or ethics of policing. “What is wrong if some amount, generated by way of commission from the sale of lottery tickets on voluntary basis, comes to the Police Welfare Fund?”he asked. However, several officers in the department said the way these tickets had been sent to Station House Officers (SHOs) at some places was not acceptable. “Actually, the tickets were sent to senior officers on the condition that they should sell these tickets at personal and individual levels,” a senior police officer said. He also claimed that no sale targets were fixed for any of the police officials. The controversial orders, it was learnt, were given a quiet burial following objections raised at different levels. Meanwhile, the state unit of the BJP has seemingly decided to use the issue from a political point of view. “Instructions of the state government to the police to sell lottery tickets is a serious issue,” Mr Vijay Sampla, the General Secretary of the BJP, Punjab, alleged. “We have already written to the President of India and the Punjab Governor about this act of the state,” he claimed. |
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Flouting ban orders on plastic bags Jalandhar, April 9 These bags are finding way to vegetable markets, fruit shops, juices, confectionaries, dairies, ice cream vendors and sweet shops where these are being used to pack eatables, posing a threat not only to the environment but also to the health of thousands of consumers. This is happening despite the fact that the previous District Magistrate, Mr Ashok Gupta, on March 10, had imposed a ban on use of recycled plastic and plastic carry bags with thickness less than 20 microns. He had said that the order would remain in effect till April 30. But from the way things have been functioning, it seems that the order was passed without taking note of the subsequent implementation process. Huge stacks of recycled plastic bags in dull blue, pink and yellow colours are still on display outside all wholesale shops on Jail Road, Saidan Bazaar and Mandi Road near the railway station. Interestingly, in one of the shops on Mandi Road, the bags were kept under a poster of a Plastic Bag Dealers’ Association, mentioning their resolution of “not selling such bags, as these lead to environmental hazards”. A dealer in the bags on Jail Road, said, “Officers keep on passing orders. Who cares? No one has ever come here and checked our stocks.” When asked as to what compelled him to sell the bags, he answered, “These bags have maximum demand since these are cheap. The brown paper bags, on the contrary, are almost eight times more expensive. They tear fast and allow free seepage. So, their demand and supply is low.” Mr Ashok Garg, SDO, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Jalandhar, said compliance of the orders was to be dealt by the Municipal Corporation (MC). Mr S.S. Johl, Commissioner, MC, said that he was out of station and could not comment. Mr Ved Vyas, Assistant Commissioner, said he had not come across any complaints of the sort. The new Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Verma, could not be contacted for his comments. |
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Contract for garbage collection Phagwara, April 9 Besides, the contractor would collect Rs 15 a month from every house and shop, including the areas coming under the Improvement Trust schemes, to keep the city clean by collecting the garbage from the doorsteps, a council official said here today. Mr Tarsem Lal, the contractor, while talking to The Tribune, said the company would employ around 80 persons for this purpose. “We will purchase 60 new rehris for this new mission and provide uniforms to our employees twice a year, besides shoes and soaps,” the contractor added. |
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Babus blocking development, says NRI Phagwara, April 9 He claimed that none of his messages to the local SDM and Nagar Council President apprising them of his plans for the town’s improvement, particularly regarding pollution, were reciprocated. Mr Walia, settled in Toronto for the past 20 years, said he was ready to undertake several projects, including laying of sewerage, clean drinking water and recreational facilities in his native village Panchchat in Phagwara sub-division without any official contribution. He would entrust work on these projects to a committee of villagers in his absence. |
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