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Big fish let loose, claim staff
Ludhiana, December 19 The financial irregularities in the blood bank accounts were detected in the course of an audit conducted by a team led by the Finance Controller of Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) Limited in June. On the basis of the findings, Sham Lal, a cashier with the hospital, was placed under suspension. It was learnt that the PHSC had issued show-cause notices to the SMO, pharmacists Satish Kumar, Jagsir Ram and Malkiat Singh and cashiers Victor and Shankar. They have been directed to file their reply within a month. The report of the audit team is said to have established that the employees were charging Rs 300 for each unit of blood when only Rs 30 was deposited with the hospital. A number of employees, requesting anonymity, said by taking action against just the
pharmacists and cashiers, the PHSC was letting the “big fish” escape. “Without the complicity of certain higher-ups, this kind of misappropriation cannot take place and continue for an indefinite period,” they said. They said a full-scale inquiry by an independent agency could bring out the truth. Sham Lal said he had been made a scapegoat to save those who were accountable for keeping records, cash transactions and maintaining accounts.
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Faulty voter ID card holders a
harassed lot
Ludhiana December 19 Mr Kartar Singh
'Gharib'[69], a resident of B-1/97, Civil Lines, and his son Mahinderjit Singh, 43 (same address) got the photographs clicked in the month of October. Both were issued wrong I-cards showing photograph of Mr Mahinderjit Singh on both the cards. "Despite repeated rounds at the office, nothing has been done so far", said Mr Kartar Singh. Mr Amir Chand, another resident of Rani Jhansi Road, got his family's I-cards made in October but all the four I-cards had wrong address. He said if the duplicate I-cards were not issued in time, the family will not be able to exercise their voting right. Ludhiana Tribune talked to Mr Hukam Singh, tehsildar (elections) on the issue, who said that those issued wrong I-cards had to fill a form ( Form Number 8) along with a fee of Rs 25 to get their duplicate I-cards made. The forms were easily available at his office, he said. Meanwhile, Mr
S.R.Kler, Additional Chief Administrator, PUDA, and Mr M.S.Kundlas, AETC, Ludhiana, have been the Election Returning Officer
(ERO) and Assistant Election Returning Officer (AERO), respectively, of 57 number Ludhiana (North) constituency, while Mr Jasvir Singh, Deputy Director, Local Government, and Mr Inderpreet Singh Kahlon,
DRO, Ludhiana, are the respective ERO and AERO of Ludhiana West (58) constituency.
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Molestation: ‘Erring’ Principal to be
transferred
Ludhiana, December 19 A team of officials of the department, led by Dr Anil Sandeel, Administrative Officer, visited the school. The team talked to the representatives of the agitating villagers. The committee members reportedly assured them that the acting Principal would be transferred from the school. A departmental inquiry would also be conducted against him. Mr Darshan Singh Kuhli, a member of the villagers' committee, said they were convinced with the assurance of the department officials. Consequently, they allowed the school to function normally. He said they were assured that a strict action would be taken against the Principal.
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Manmohan's Halwara visit cancelled
Ludhiana, December 19 Well-placed sources disclosed that the trip to Halwara was cancelled since the Union Cabinet had not approved the airport project so far. Due to some objections raised by the Defence Ministry, the final approval has been delayed for the time being. Despite a lot of lobbying by the state government for expediting the approval to the project, the Defence Ministry is understood to be not convinced so far. It is believed to be questioning the setting up of the civil airport near the defence airbase. |
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Digging for sewerage causes cracks in houses
Ludhiana, December 19 The digging has caused cracks in the walls and roofs of several houses. The damage is so extensive in some cases that some families were forced to shift to rented accommodations in other colonies. The residents rued that the board had done digging up to 30 feet that had affected the foundation of some of the houses. “It has been over four months now since the road in our lane was dug up,” said Mr Gogana, a resident. He was also forced to live in a rented accommodation and had returned only a few days ago after getting the repairs carried out in the house. Though the board had assured the residents they would be given due compensation for the damage caused to their houses, nothing had been paid to them so far. Mr Rajesh Kumar, another resident, said digging was on but the laying of pipes and the filling up of the trench had been delayed for several months.
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Tohra loyalists yet to find foothold
Ludhiana, December 19 There are three senior leaders in Ludhiana who had sided with Mr Tohra when he parted ways with Mr Parkash Singh Badal in 1999. All of them were sitting legislators. They include Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, who represented Ludhiana west, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, who represented Ludhiana rural and Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, who represented Dakha between 1998 to 2002. Mr Harish Rai Dhanda is as good as having got the party nomination from the Ludhiana west. He has virtually started the campaign in the area with posters carrying his picture and the party symbol dotting the whole of the constituency. Mr Grewal is understood to have been assured party nomination from Payal. The SAD supremo, Mr Badal, continues to remain non-committal and ambiguous over Ludhiana rural and Dakha segments. While Mr Hira Singh Gabria remains a frontrunner among the Akali aspirants from the Ludhiana rural segment, some other leaders have also started staking claim for the party nomination from here. Prominent among them includes the sitting Ludhiana MP, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon. He is believed to be keen on going to the Assembly with an obvious intention of making it to the ministry in case the SAD forms the government. Moreover, he also claims the credit for the outstanding party show at Moga, which was organised under the banner of Youth Akali Dal. Mr Dhillon is the president of YAD. There is a strong group within SAD consisting of Mr Dhillon, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha and the SGPC president, Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, who are opposed to Mr Gabria. It is this group which is believed to be projecting the name of Mr Dhillon from the Ludhiana rural Assembly segment. It may be difficult for Mr Badal to ignore the candidature of Mr Gabria, who enjoys huge clout in the constituency. At the same time there is a widespread perception that Mr Badal has not forgiven all those who had "betrayed" him and joined Mr Tohra. Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa is also uncertain about his nomination from Dakha, where Mr Darshan Singh Shivalik happens to be a potential aspirant. His supporters have been asserting that he has always remained loyal to Mr Badal. Mr Khalsa is reportedly being asked to contest from some other constituency. Mr Badal will have to do a delicate balancing act, at least, in Ludhiana to ensure that the Tohra loyalists are not alienated and antagonised. The Tohra loyalists do enjoy good clout in the city. Antagonising them could cost the party dear in few seats in Ludhiana, which Mr Badal would not like at any cost. Given the close fight that is likely going to take place in the elections, each seat will count at the end.
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BJP mahila morcha to hold rallies from Dec 25
Ludhiana, December 19 Disclosing this here today, the national vice-president of the morcha and in charge of Punjab and Chandigarh, Ms Rakesh Sharma, said ever since the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government took charge at the Centre, the prices of all essential commodities began rising. Today these are beyond
the reach of the common man. Ms Sharma said, the Congress had claimed, "Congress ka hath aam aadmi kay sath...and the aam aadmi is the worst sufferer". She said, there was a lot of resentment among the masses over the rising prices. The Mahila Morcha leader claimed that the Akali-BJP alliance was comfortably placed in the state and it would "storm to power with landslide victory". She claimed
that the Congress Government had failed to come up to the expectations of the people in the state and they wanted a change
now. She said from December 25, protest rallies would be held all over the state for one month to focus on the rising prices of essential commodities.
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Flyover issue: shopkeepers meet Cong leader
Ludhiana December 19 According to a press note issued here, Mr Tiwari listened to their problems and assured that he would take up the matter with the city Mayor, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, and the Corporation Commissioner, Mr Vikas Pratap. He said the construction of the previous flyover. He said before the start of the work, residents and shopkeepers would be taken in to confidence.
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Halwara: Cong leaders lose poll plank
Ahmedgarh, December 19 Though officials remained tightlipped about the developments leading to the last minute cancellation, it is believed that the clearance for the airport has been held back owing to the elections in the state next year. This development has, however, frustrated Congress leaders as they would now lose an agenda to woo voters. The preparations had come to a halt with the sudden withdrawal of the SPG. “As the process is being taken up by the Airport Authority and the civil administration, we can not divulge details,” the PRO of the station said.
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MC staff stage dharna
Ludhiana, December 19 Addressing workers, the trade union leaders alleged that the safai workers were being exploited by the civic body officials. They said the officials were indulging in whimsical hire and fire policy, weekly holiday was denied to them and the sanitation staff was burdened with extra work without payment of overtime. They targeted the nexus of certain officials and elected representatives, which, they alleged was siphoning off huge funds from the money disbursed to the Mohalla Sanitation committees. The alleged racket needed to be investigated by the Vigilance Bureau, they emphasised. The Sangharsh Committee, while demanding immediate release of funds for th payment of overdue salaries to safai workers, further reiterated other pending demands which included regularisation of adhoc employees. Prominent among others present at the rally were Mr Inderpal Chauhan, Mr Om Parkash, Mr Sat Pal Taak, Mr Sham Behl, Mr Bittu Dulkach, Mr Dimple Bhumbak, Mr Mange Ram, Mr Ashok Kumar, Mr Surinder Kumar, Mr Jatinder Fauji and Mr Ramesh Dhingan.
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Alleged police excesses raise hackles
Ludhiana, December 19 The protest was part of the series of rallies by the front across the state. Demanding action against the police personnel, the members said that over 90,000 vacant posts in various departments should be filled. The members also sought regularisation of contractual employees and promotions in cases where they were due. The rally was addressed among others by Mr Jasvir Singh, president, and Mr Ramanjit
Sandhu, district secretary of the front.
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Gupta elected Focal Point
Assn chief
Ludhiana, December 19 The meeting was chaired by Mr Joginder Kumar, chairman of the association. The association discussed problems being faced by the industry at the meeting. Mr Gupta also highlighted achievements of the association like laying of a new sewerage , construction of roads etc.
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