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3 ex-Civil Surgeons, others indicted
Ludhiana, June 12 The Vigilance Bureau here, in its report, has recommended the registration of a case of fraud and cheating, besides under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, against the officials. Senior officials say the amount can swell to several more crores as records of all heads of expenditure have not been provided to the bureau despite reminders. The internal audit report has also raised serious questions on the manner of purchases and the alleged misappropriation of funds. A common contention is that all rules governing purchases have been ignored or circumvented. On many occasions, prices of items like bathtubs for newborns quoted in purchase records are five times the prices in the market. The report of the bureau has also indicted the officials of violating rules of the purchase committee, which require that the committee meets every three months and tenders are decided by the committee. The bureau has also found that the officials have not given actual details of the budget and the expenditure. The officials have shown the budget as Rs 2 crore in one case whereas the budget and expenditure is Rs 6 crore. The report of the bureau has stressed this has been done to match the purchase records with the expenditure while the remaining amount is misappropriated.
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Protest against housing scheme
Ludhiana, June 12 Led by BJP leader Satpal Gosain and SAD leader Hira Singh Gabria, the residents threatened that they would not allow the trust to go ahead with the scheme. They submitted a memorandum to the chairman of the LIT, Wg Cdr Paramjit Singh Sibia (retd). The residents of various colonies, including Onkar Vihar, Guru Ram Dass Nagar, Ashiana Onkar Vihar and Bhola colony, said there were hundreds of houses already existing in the area and the LIT had woken up to develop a residential colony by razing these houses. Stating that they had spent their life savings on constructing the houses, the residents said they would oppose the move and knock at every possible door to demand justice. Raising slogans against the LIT authorities, the residents and their leaders said they were being removed from the colonies to provide houses to other people. Quoting a judgement by the Supreme Court of India, the residents said the SC had held that the constructed areas should be avoided while acquiring the land, particularly when public purpose sought to be achieved by acquisition was similar to an existing one. “People have constructed houses by generating loans after pawning their belongings. Now the LIT has woken up and wants them to evict. They should have planned in advance so that the poor residents did not have to face the axe. I have told all these things to Mr Sibia and he has assured us to consider the case sympathetically,” said Mr Gosain after handing over a memorandum to the chairman. He added most of the residents belonged to poor strata of the society. Hundreds of people were living in per acre of the area. They claimed that the colonies were developed more than 10-12 years ago. The Municipal Corporation had even passed the house plan. The Punjab State Electricity Board had provided power supply to the area. There was water supply also and the streets were brick lined, they added.
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Farmers agitation against land acquisition
Ludhiana, June 12 Their main plea is that they are not against the farmers becoming entrepreneurs and promoting their interests and they want them to have a good living standard but not at social costs. They would not like the farmers to become landless tillers rather they would want them to become partners in ventures of private industrial houses who are now interested in making investments in agriculture in Punjab. There are major corporate industrial houses like Reliance and Bharati Telecom and Anil Ambani who are having their plans to invest in the agriculture in Punjab. The organisations of the farmers engaged in the different modes of agitations in Punjab are kisan sabhas led by the CPI and CPM, CPM Pasla-Zamindar Kisan Sabha and CPI-ML-Kirti Kisan Union and All-India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha. There are different organisations of the Bharati Kisan Union-namely BKU (Ekta-Pishora Singh), BKU (Ekta Ugraha), BKU (Ekta-Ruldu Singh) and BKU (Karantikari-Phool). The other group comprises- BKU (Lakhowal) and BKU (Rajewal) respectively. Mr Manjit Singh Kadian, working president and his two general secretaries, Mr Puran Singh Shahkot and Mr Bhupinder Singh Maheshri Lakhowal) maintain they are for the welfare of the Punjab farmers but not at the cost of their social status. They argue that private companies can buy or acquire land with the help of the state government and what is the guarantee that they will not sell the land after a few years. They have strong fears that the private companies can turn real estate owners resulting in making the farmers landless. They strongly feel that the state government should get land for such companies on lease for 20 years. The rent for the lease should be double the market rent. The BKU leaders have strong apprehensions that the private companies will make benefits from the real Mr Manjit Singh Kadian points out that the state government is misusing the Land Acquisition Act for the benefit of the private companies. The land needed for the public interest purposes should be acquired only. The government instead of involving itself in the process of acquisition should allow the companies to have direct negotiations regarding the land rates and other formalities. There should be no coercion. Mr Manjit Singh Kadian alleges that the private companies make undue advantage of government favours. He cites the example of giving three hundred acres of land to a cellular company on cheap rent at Ladowal seed farm with the condition that the company will not raise any pucca structures. But the company is going ahead with the construction of pucca structures. Moreover, the lease is initially for three years. Punjab Agricultural University authorities had sought Rs 15,000 as lease money per year but the government had given the land at a throwaway price, he alleges. The BKU leaders are also opposed to giving panchayat lands to the private companies by coercing the panchayats. Mr Manjit Singh and his colleagues have suggested that the state government should set up a special park comprising 400 acres for vegetables and fruits on the main railway line for direct loading and unloading on the pattern of Delhi sabzi mandi. They also asked the state government to return 20 acres of Mandi Board land at Mohali as it had claimed that the same was not required. The land should be returned to those farmers whose land was acquired by the Mandi Board and should not be given to the Reliance group. They warned that they would not allow Reliance to have its possession if it was given to it. They also pointed out that earlier there was a trend to set up IT parks around Chandigarh and Mohali and now lately the trend was to acquire land of farmers at cheap rates. These steps would prove suicidal for the farming community, they warned. They also criticised the government for registering false cases against farmers who are agitating against the highhandedness of certain private companies. Mr Manjit Singh emphasised that the BKU (Lakhowal ) had launched ‘Pagri Bachao-Zamin Bachao’ agitation for the past two years and they would intensify the same to foil all wrong moves of the government. The BKU leaders, however, were appreciative of the steps taken for the smooth procurement of wheat and paddy in the state by the government and also waiving loans of the farmers.
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Probe against clerk
in fake claim case
Ludhiana, June 12 Sources in the administration said the clerk, Paramjit Kaur, was issued the charge sheet and a departmental inquiry was ordered. The sources said the SDM (east) was directed to inquire into the matter and if found guilty, her case would be referred to the police and departmental action would be initiated against her. The action follows after a recommendation of legal action against the clerk by the District Attorney, Ludhiana. He had recommended the registration of a case under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468 and 120-B of the IPC against the clerk and her husband. The DA had written to the DC that prima facie they had committed an offence punishable under these sections. Paramjit, who was entrusted with handling the applications of riot victims, had prepared a fake red card of her husband Jaipal Singh by herself signing as a witness on his affidavit claiming him to be a riot victim along with an application seeking the card. The case had come to light after Paramjit had submitted an application for the compensation of Rs 2 lakh. When the application was scrutinised by SDM (E), Ms Amrit Kaur Gill, she found that the clerk’s husband, now a resident of Narangwal village, had migrated from Bihar 7-8 years before anti-Sikh riots and not following the riots and his family was not affected with the riots in any way.
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No action in fraud case even after 3 weeks
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 12 A perusal of records Indicting the sarpanch, the Subdivisional Magistrate had recommended her dismissal, and acting on the report, the Deputy Commissioner wrote to the Senior Superintendent of Police on May 22. In her inquiry report, Dr Indu, Subdivisional Magistrate, had held that Ms Ranjit Kaur had duped pension beneficiaries of a substantial portion of their monetary benefits. Mr Dharam Singh, Panchayat Secretary, who had handed over the withdrawn money to the sarpanch, had also acted irresponsibly, Dr Indu had mentioned in her report.
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Administration turns more responsive
Ludhiana, June 12 Sources in the local administration disclosed that he had also ensured presence and regularity of other officials in the Mini Secretariat. The result is that most of the officials remain available in their offices and people do not have to turn around from table to table and return disappointed at the end of the day. In order to ensure regularity and punctuality in the offices he has also been conducting surprise inspections. In some cases where officials were found absent, action has also been recommended. He is said to have asked his officers to ensure that people who approach them are properly heard and their grievances are proper redressal. This has encouraged more and more people to visit the Mini Secretariat. Moreover, he has made it a point that the officers attend all meetings and do their homework properly prior to replying to various queries. In one case he called for instant explanation of a senior officer for being absent from the meeting. The message also seems to have gone down well. He has given directions that all the developmental works, particular under the Punjab Nirman Programme are completed in a time bound manner and any delay would invite serious action. The Deputy Commissioner is also learnt to have kept it open for ‘anybody anytime’ for meeting people. As long as he remains in the office he remains available to the general public whosoever comes to him with any problem or a grievance, the officials said. Some of the people visiting the Mini Secretariat disclosed that of late they had found the officials more responsive and less delaying, Mr Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Bajra village said. Moreover, officials are mostly found present at their places. Except for rare occasions, most of the officials remain available for full duty hours. Even the office complex at the Mini Secretariat is set for a facelift. In order to decongest the front portion of the main building of the Mini Secretariat, the district administration and the Transport Department have started an exercise to cleanse it of all vehicles so that the space remains open. Otherwise it is difficult to move in front of the main building. Alternate arrangements are being made for the parking of vehicles also.
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Villagers living under insanitary conditions
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 12 Mr Kuldip Singh Mangewal, secretary of the youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has accused the local MLA of discriminating against the local
residents and ignoring the village. Sources close to village sarpanch Karnail Singh maintain that development works are under progress and will be completed soon. A majority of streets in the village require immediate repairs and stagnant water has become a regular feature. Pointing to flooded streets on the outskirts of the village, Mr Mangewal apprehended the outbreak of an epidemic. He accused the village sarpanch of acting at the behest of certain Congress leaders, who were ‘bent upon teaching a lesson to villagers’ for supporting SAD leaders. “Though the authorities have claimed to have disbursed substantial grants for desilting the pond, only a part of the work has been done and the polluted water has covered the streets nearby”, alleged Mr Mangewal. The situation would worsen after the onset of the monsoon, he apprehended. He alleged that the authorities had not taken notice of the warning given last year. The Centre had declared the Malaudh block malaria-prone, but no remedial action was taken then, he claimed. “Even now, the authorities are waiting for the situation to go out of control and are taking no action regarding the breeding places for vectors”, stated Mr Mangewal. Mr Amarjit Singh, a former sarpanch, Mr Amar Singh, president of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Mr Harinder Singh, Mr Kimat Singh Sodhi, Mr Tek Singh, Mr Baljit Singh and Mr Jasbir Singh urged the authorities to resume work on desilting the pond.
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Extensive cleanliness drive launched
Ludhiana, June 12 Mr S.R. Kaler, Deputy Director Local Government, formally inaugurated the campaign, which would continue till June 30. The ward-wise cleaning schedule has already been chalked out. The drive would ensure lifting of garbage, clearing of drains, fogging of all wards and chlorination of water. Giving details, Mr Kaler said all Executive Officers of the Municipal Committees had been directed to ensure the active involvement of the Mohalla Sudhar Committees and to constitute new committees. He said during rainy season many summer diseases, including diarrhoea, malaria, gastro and other water-borne diseases spread every year. To check these, the drive with a special emphasis on clearing garbage and choked drains was launched. Besides, the breeding of mosquitoes would also be discouraged by spraying insecticides. The DDLG first launched the drive in a slum colony of Sahnewal and reviewed the progress of development works. Mr Davinder Singh, Executive Officer, Mr Ramesh Pappu, president, MC, and local councilors were also present. Mr Pappu informed that the MC had received Rs 81 lakh for different development works, which would be utilised efficiently. Mr Kaler then launched the drive at Doraha. Reviewing the progress of development works, he asked officers to expedite the works and ensure the quality also. He informed that the work on community centre being constructed in the town for Rs 10 lakh was all set to be completed. Mr Surjit Singh, EO, informed that the project of drainage water costing Rs 5 lakh was near completion. Later, Mr Kaler attended a function at Khanna. He also reviewed the progress of the ongoing development works with the officers and councilors at the office of the Municipal Committee. He informed that the government had launched a new project costing Rs 20 crore to provide 100 per cent sewerage and drinking water facilities in Khanna. He also directed the EOs to dump the garbage at the earmarked places and to put one inch thick cover of earth on the garbage daily. He directed him to shift the garbage in the covered vehicles to avoid the stinking smell in the areas along the roads. Mr Kaler also directed the EOs concerned to ensure that all parts of the towns were properly covered during this drive. He said after the completion of drive, he would personally conduct surprise checks and warned of strict action if any lapses were found.
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Jugiana cries for attention
Sahnewal, June 12 Industry has entered the village and the tight grip of factories seems to have closed all doors for the villagers. The chemical waste of these factories has got mixed with the subsoil water, which has been rendered unfit for human consumption. The rural water supply from Nandpur village is irregular and remains suspended for days together. Villagers have also complained of leakage of water pipes. No sewerage system has been laid in the village. Dirty water flows into
nullahs, which often overflow, turning streets into pools of water, emitting a foul smell. The village pond has outlived its capacity of absorbing waste and there is no outlet to the pond. Garbage enters houses even after a mild shower. The pond is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. The arrival of flogging machines is still awaited. No cleanliness drive has ever been launched here. The village has been under municipal limits for the past between seven and eight years. The authorities have failed to rise from their slumber. Sweepers provided by the municipal authorities have been ignoring the ever-growing heaps of garbage. No drums for the collection of garbage or vehicles for cleaning have been sent here till date. Migrant labourers pay little attention to personal hygiene. Streetlights have been made available only in the periphery and the village remains in darkness, making it unsafe. Ms Sukhbir Kaur Garcha, councillor of the area, says the estimate of a project for clean drinking water, sewerage and roads has been prepared and sent to the Chief Minister.
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Police records on line now
Khamano, June 12 Mr Verma disclosed that the computer was directly attached with the Intelligence Bureau, Punjab, and all records of the police station, including FIR, court orders, would be stored in this computer. It would help bring transparency in daily work. The SSP appealed to panchayats to settle minor cases in their villages on their own. He appealed to the chemists not to sold drugs without doctors’ prescription and keep their account up to date. He honoured two persons for helping the police. Some police DSP Khamano Satinder Pal Singh welcomed the SSP at the police station. Mr Harbans Singh Pandher, chairman, Block Samiti, Khamano, apprised the SSP about the difficulties faced by residents of the Khamano area. Nagar panchayat president Harbhajan Singh, Janakraj Singh Uppal, Gurdev Singh, president of the Ahrtiya association, Dr Jagdeep Rana, Dr Ram Singh, and Dr Charanjeet Singh and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
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Good Samaritans help save heart patient
Ludhiana, June 12 Dr Bedi explained that Harjinder had a rare heart disease called severe sub-aortic stenosis. “This condition basically comprises an obstruction to the flow of blood. Consequently, not only is the body deprived of pure blood but also the heart is put at an immense strain, as it is unable to push blood past the obstruction. In Harjinder’s case the obstruction created almost a pin hole like opening”. According to Dr Bedi, Harjinder’s heart was failing rapidly when he was brought to the hospital. He was previously examined at various institutions in Chandigarh and Delhi where an early surgery was advised. However, the problem was that his parents had no money at all for the expensive surgical treatment. Even though Dr Bedi and his team had offered to waive all hospital charges and operation fee, but still a substantial sum was required. After the plight of the young boy and his family was highlighted in Ludhiana Tribune on June 1, various philanthropists of the city and surrounding areas had come forward with donations towards the treatment. However, before the required amount could be collected, Harjinder heart started to fail rapidly. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Dr Bedi then decided to go ahead with the surgery. During the marathon procedure, all obstructed area was resurrected after putting the patient on a heart lung machine and stopping his heart, which was kept in ice. Dr Bedi said he had learnt this particular technique of repairing this defect at the Children Hospital in Australia where he had previously worked. “During my more than 15 years of cardiac surgery practice, this is only the fifth such case of this particular disease, which I have treated,” commented Dr Bedi. Harjinder made remarkable recovery and was now doing well. The other members of the surgical team were Dr B.S. Sengar, Dr C.S. Sohal and Dr Vandana. Dr Bedi, along with Dr B.S. Sekhon and Dr Harjeet Singh, Directors of the hospital, expressed gratitude to the media, which played a pivotal role and helped raise the charity giving a new lease of life to Harjinder.
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Power lifter’s bee farm
destroyed in fire
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 12 Like many other unemployed youths he had ploughed in all his returns in the colony and had been shifting the boxes from one place to another in search of food for the honeybees. Presently, the colony was stationed under a canopy of eucalyptus trees along the Ludhiana-Dhuri railway
line. Pawandeep, a youth from a 1984 riot hit family, was shocked to learn from a friend that more than 50 lakh bees had been killed in a fire that turned around 100 boxes to ashes yesterday. Though there was no eyewitness to the incident, it is suspected that some unidentified miscreants had put the colony on fire for reason not known. “The fact that more than 40 metallic stands had been missing, suggests that some unidentified persons with an ulterior motive had put the colony on fire during daytime,” said
Pawandeep. Charred bodies of thousands of bees spread over the entire area further supplements the suspicion that the fire had engulfed all boxes simultaneously. The loss was estimated to be around Rs 1.5
lakh. Pawandeep did not rule out this to be a handiwork of some professional rival. “It can be ruled out the bee keeper, after stealing the bees, set the boxes on fire to destroy the clue. Otherwise he could be caught easily”, apprehended
Pawandeep. As the area is used as a resting place by addicts, one of them might have tried to try his luck by frisking away bees by smoking. “The fire produced for smoking might have engulfed the boxes destroying them completely. Obviously the miscreant would not dare to put off the fire he had ignited to steal wooden boxes and metallic stands,” argued. As both Punjab Police and the Railway police have datelined to register a case, Pawandeep is in a fix which door to knock at for seeking rehabilitation of the burnt bee colony.
Pawandeep had won gold medal for India in world power lifting championship held in South Africa in 2004. Presently, he was preparing for next championship scheduled to take place in Holland.
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Centre flayed for petrol price hike
Jagraon, June 12 Addressing a gathering here, Mr Avtar Singh Rasulpur, Mr Sukhdev Singh Manuke and Mr Madan Singh, general Secretary, district president and district secretary of the union, respectively, criticised the Central Government for the increase in the petrol prices and decrease in the quantity of wheat through the PDS. “Workers are already suffering due to the adverse policies of the Centre. They demanded the withdrawal of the increase in the petrol prices and 50 per cent subsidy on articles being supplied under the PDS”.
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Sarpanch remembered
Khamano, June 12 While addressing the mourners, PPCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo appreciated the role of the sarpanch in social and sports activities. He announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the construction of the memorial to Happy. He said the Congress would stand by Happy’s family. He also asked the police to arrest the culprits. The MLA, Samrala, Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, said he would also give Rs 5 lakh in the memory of Happy.
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Rally against child labour
Ludhiana, June 12 The rally was flagged off by Mr Harbhajan Singh Dang, a councillor and SAD leader. After starting from Dr Ambedkar Nagar, the rally reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office who welcomed the children and appreciated their efforts. Addressing the rally, Mr D.R. Prashar, Regional Director, CBME, Chandigarh said child labour was a burning issue which required public attention. He added that they were out to sensitise the masses against the menace of child labour.
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Woman killed in mishap
Jagraon, June 12 Man killed in collision: 1 held with poppy husk:
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LMA to celebrate annual function
Ludhiana, June 12 The LMA will also present annual awards for ‘manager of the year’, entrepreneur of the year’ and ‘young innovative entrepreneur’ of the year. According to the president of the association, Mr Mahesh Munjal and general secretary, Mr Kamal Wadhera, the awards are being sponsored by the Hero, Vardhman and Trident Group of Industries. “The awards recognise and reward excellence in managing private and public organisations. These reflect the innovating and enterprising professionals succeeding in enriching the economy,” said Mr Munjal. Dr Ishwar Hegde, Chief Economist, Essar Group shall be the keynote speaker on the occasion, said LMA. Dr Hegde specialises in international trade and business, WTO and trade policies and applied macro economic analysis. He would speak on “India – the ladder of growth and opportunities”.
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