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MC seeks control of Dalhousie road
Pathankot, September 2 The council authorities have maintained that the Trust authorities were illegally retaining the control of the road that was leading to illegal constructions and revenue loss to the council. The Amritsar-Pathankot road that is popularly known as Dalhousie road is the lifeline of the city. It passes through the middle of the Pathankot city and property around it has the highest value in the area. The road was handed over to the Improvement Trust, Pathankot, in 1971 for implementing a development scheme in the area. As per Section 55 of the Punjab Town Improvement Act 1922, instructions have been issued time and again that that the old development schemes of the Trust should be handed over to municipal councils concerned after five years of the announcement of the award. As per the said rule and directions of the Punjab Government, the Amritsar-Pathankot road should have been handed over to the municipal council in 1976. However, despite the fact that the municipal council has passed resolutions many times, the control of the road has not yet been handed over to the council by the Trust authorities. The council authorities, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, told that the scheme had not been handed over to them despite specific directions by the local government in this regard. The council authorities in their resolutions have also maintained that while they were maintaining the street lights and carrying out other maintenance work of the road, the revenue earned through it was being pocketed by the Trust authorities. The road has become the bone of contention between the two local bodies here primarily due to the value of land around it. Recently the Improvement Trust authorities allowed the construction of a shop right in the middle of the road. The SDM of Pathankot got the area on which the shop was constructed measured from the revenue officials after which it was found that 15 feet area of the road had been encroached upon. The SDM then directed the Improvement Trust authorities to demolish the illegal structure. However, till date no action has been taken by the Trust authorities in this regard. The sources available here told that the SDM was now going to write to the Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, who has power under the Municipal Act to revoke the resolution of the Trust through which the construction of the shop had been allowed. The council was also planning to object to the new proposals of the Improvement Trust to allow the construction of commercial establishments along the road.
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Harbhajan to join anti-drug campaign
Jalandhar, September 2 Harbhajan has also appealed to all religious, social and political organisations and NGOs to transcend barriers and make a joint effort to make Punjab a drug- free state. He has also promised to rope in ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and other cricket stars in the campaign. It is estimated that more than 66 per cent youths of Punjab have fallen prey to drugs and that the state’s once-rich cultural fibre has virtually been destroyed by intense drug-abuse, particularly in border areas. The PPCC campaign against drug-abuse was the brainchild of the PPCC general secretary, Mr Parminder Singh, and has been kick-started by the PPCC chief, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo. “ By initiating a campaign against drugs and by exhorting leaders of all political parties and other people, Mr Dullo and Mr Parminder Singh have not only transcended party barriers, but have acted as statesmen. I wish that the campaign should be above party level and all Punjabis, irrespective of their affiliations, should make their efforts to get Punjab rid of drugs,” said Harbhajan Singh.
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Seminar on prevention of foeticide
Ropar, September 2 He said as per the Act, a committee, including the Civil Surgeon and social workers, should be constituted in each district. He said there was a need for political will to spread awareness among doctors and strict action should be taken against those involved in such heinous crime against society. The SSP, Mr Kapil Dev, said only few such cases came to light as this crime was committed with the mutual consent of parents and doctors. Appreciating the Deputy Commissioner of Nawanshahr, Mr Krishan Kumar, for his efforts to root out female foeticide, he said it was the joint responsibility of law-enforcing agency, doctors, NGOs and citizens to launch a campaign against the social evil. Other speakers at the seminar on female foeticide organised by the Rotary Club were Dr R.S. Parmar, president, IMA, Ropar, Dr H.S. Sharma (Civil Hospital), Ropar, and member of the IMA, Dr N.S. Bawa. The Chetna Manch, Chamkaur Sahib-based NGO, presented a play highlighting the need for a change in the attitude of people towards the girl child.
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Virk positive on anti-crime drive
Phillaur, September 2 The circular included “avoid brutal violence in police stations, innocents should not be harassed, work fearlessly without yielding to political pressure or money power, genuine citizens should be provided due regard in police stations and anti-social elements should be dealt with firmly and yardsticks for punishment may be applied uniformly”. The DGP said he was working only on the point of stern punishment to the guilty and respect to the citizens. Asked about the possibility of revival of terrorism in the state, the DGP replied to the contrary. However, he said about 12 splinter groups were active abroad for their own vested interests. Mr Virk said the police was actively working to curb organised crimes like hawala, sale of drugs, land grabbing, check the activities of smugglers and bogus travel agents. He said another detailed instructions had also been circulated to all SSPs of the state to declare a war against drug menace, violation of human rights and problems related with social tensions. He said death in police custody would not be tolerated in any case. He said a joint meeting of DGPs of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan would be held in Bathinda on September 7 to make a strategy against drugs smugglers.
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Medical service providers resent govt apathy
Sangrur, September 2 They are of the view that they have offered their services on a contract basis because at the time of their appointments they had thought that the government had adopted a policy to appoint the employees on a contract basis only and all such appointments would be made on this basis in future. They also wonder when regular appointments have been given to teachers and jobs are being offered on a regular basis to other officer cadres, why only they are being discriminated against in the case of appointments on a regular basis? The service providers also feel that there are not ideal working conditions for them in the rural dispensaries on account of several reasons, including insecurity, interference of local sarpanches, zila parishad members and other influential persons in their functioning, besides inadequate facilities in the dispensaries. Talking to TNS here today, Dr Aslam Parvez, state president of the Rural Medical Service Providers Association
(RMSPA), Punjab, said several cases were coming to the RMSPA where influential persons were compelling the villagers and sarpanches to file false affidavits against them. He said conflicts were taking place and these would increase with the passage of time. In such conditions when mental pressure was so much on them, they would not be able to deliver to the best of their abilities, he added.
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‘Probe’ poor construction of
waterworks
Abohar, September 2 Mr R.L. Koltar, Superintending Engineer, and Mr S.K. Grover, Executive Engineer, today visited the villages to inspect the quality of construction. They later met Mr Jakhar and assured that the discrepancies would be removed. Mr Jakhar also desired that the repair/expansion of the rural waterworks at Punjawa, Khuikhera Rukanpura, Dhingawali, Shergarh, Maujgarh, Dalmir Khera and Kandhwala Amarkot be taken up on a priority basis as the state government had released a grant of Rs 55 lakh for these besides Rs 26 lakh for Killianwali village near here. He said the government was keen on assuring potable water supply to all villages. Mr Jakhar told the PHD officials to prepare a separate plan for enhancing capacity of the water supply system at Khuiyansarwar village which had attained the status of a sub-tehsil now.
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Life term for wife’s murder
Ropar, September 2 The accused, a truck driver, was also fined Rs 2 000. In case of default of fine, he has to further undergo two-year rigorous imprisonment. The incident took place on April 20, 2002. Harvinder Singh harassed his wife, Surinder Kaur, demanding money to buy liquor. When his wife refused to do so, he poured acid on her. She was admitted to the Civil Hospital, Ropar, but later referred to the PGI. On April 24, she succumbed to her injuries.
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Modernise police infrastructure: Jagat
Phillaur, September 2 Earlier, Mr Jagat took the salute from 488 trainees passed out from the academy. DGP S.S. Virk and academy Director R.S. Gill were also present. In his address, Mr Jagat asked the trainees to adopt training at every stage of their career. Praising the struggle of the Punjab Police during the militancy days, he expressed concern over the declining conviction rate. He stressed the need to modernise infrastructure and advised policemen to change their behaviour according to changing needs. Earlier, a cultural programme was presented by trainees and academy employees. Mr Jagat also released a book, “Demeaning the Sikh Traditions”.
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10-month-old boy kidnapped
Sangrur, September 2 He introduced himself as a relative of Mr Sharma and asked the family members about the whereabouts of Mr
Sharma. Considering the unidentified person as their relative, the mother and wife of
Mr Sharma offered him tea. During this the 10-month-old boy of Mr Sharma woke up and started weeping. The person took the boy in his arms while the wife of Mr
Sharma went inside to keep the utensils in the kitchen and the mother outside the house to visit a
neighbour. Mr Grewal said this was the time when the person disappeared from there with the baby. When the wife and mother of Mr Sharma started tracing the boy and the alleged relative, someone told them that a man and a woman on a motor cycle had taken the boy with them. After that the matter was brought to the notice of the police, he added. Sensing the seriousness of the incident, Sangrur SSP Harinder Singh Chahal, SP (D) Surjit Singh Grewal, and Sunam DSP Shamsher Singh Boparai along with police parties visited Shahpur village to take the stock of the situation. Mr Grewal said as many as10 police parties had been dispatched to various places to trace the kidnapped boy. He said the police would register a case against the accused
under Section 364 of the IPC.
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BDS students hold rally
Patiala, September 2 Students alleged that due to this negligence of the university only 56 per cent students could clear the examination, which was the lowest percentage in the history of the university. They alleged that questions carrying 22 marks in anatomy, 21 in physiology, 15 in biochemistry and five in dental material were out of syllabus. Students leaders alleged that despite various representations by students, no action in this regard was taken by the university forcing the students to hold the protest. They said even the routine five grace marks were not given in a uniform manner. Later on, a deputation of agitating students met the Vice-Chancellor of the Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences in the office of the Principal, Government Medical College, and submitted a memorandum. The Vice-Chancellor assured the deputation that all grievances of the students would be considered sympathetically.
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De-addiction counselling centre
Amritsar, September 2 According to a press note, the university medical committee has recommended that psychiatrist from Medical and Mental Hospital, the project director of the Punjab Red Cross De-addiction Centre of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and clinical psychologists from the Psychology Department of the university will be contacted in this regard. A ‘Helpline’ will also be started on drug abuse.
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