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Health Up In Smoke
Over 30 Corex bottles found in DD office toilet
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Phagwara MC awaits funds for sewerage overhaul
‘Illegal’ travel agent nabbed
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Here no-tobacco day is a farce
Intoxicant a stone’s throw from educational institutions; vendors thrive on young clients Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, May 30 The very presence of the vends providing the aforesaid in-toxicants adjacent to the educational institutions clearly reflects the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned, who appear to have done nothing so far in tackling the ever-increasing menace. A number of vendors selling tobacco, gutka and packs of cigarettes can be seen standing outside Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mandi Fantom Ganj and Cantonment Board Elementary School at Rama Mandi Chowk. Interestingly, these vendors are present there for more than three years now. The staff and students of Fantom Ganj School had earlier given a representation in this regard but to no avail. A cigarette and tobacco vendor standing along the walls of the gate told The Tribune that while a majority of his customers were labourers or bus passengers, a few children, probably hooked to gutka, are also his customers. In major violation of the State Excise Policy 2004-05, a liquor vend, belonging to the influential Ponty Chadha group, is being operated from the building of Cantonment Board Elementary School on National Highway No. 1 for the past many years. According to the policy, liquor vends shall be located at a reasonable distance from educational institutions or religious places. However, this vend shares a common boundary wall with the campus. Seeing no other way out, the school authorities have closed the school gate next to vend and instead use other gate for the entry and exit However, the parents feel strongly concerned over the alarming issue. Deepak, father of a primary schoolchild, said, “autorickshaw drivers and rickshaw-pullers, who come to pick children, buy liquor and tobacco products from the stalls outside the school gates. Obviously, school students get exposed to such products and yearn to consume these.” Sukhbir Singh, grandfather of another child, has said that all such temporary establishments must be removed from the vicinity of the school. He said that students were innocent and could be easily misled by their friends, rickshaw pullers and other employees, who were already addicted to the intoxicants. Even though the district administration and police authorities have been organising rallies, lectures and debates on the issue, it appears that no practical work to eradicate the menace has been done till date. Deputy Commissioner, Ajeet Singh Pannu, could not be contacted.
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Over 30 Corex bottles found in DD office toilet
Jalandhar, May 30 The incident came to light in the afternoon when a press conference was being held on DD premises. The press photographers found the empty bottles of cough syrups, including Bronolax, Corex and other brands, lying in the tank of men’s toilet near the studio. Since such expectorants are already in short supply in the market and they cannot be easily purchased without a proper medical prescription, the recovery of large number of empty bottles of these syrups raises many questions. Director Doordarshan A.R. Rehman said he would inquire into the matter. He said the cough syrups were most likely being consumed by singers who came to the studio for various programmes. “Expectorants and alcohol are taken to soothe throat and toilet is the most convenient place to do so. I don’t think our staffers are involved in it,” he added. Drug inspector Amit Duggal said under the Drug and Cosmetics Act these cough syrups cannot be purchased without proper prescription. “Since the syrups have been found on DD premises, checks would be conducted at nearby shops to detect the source,” he said. |
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Phagwara MC awaits funds for sewerage overhaul
Phagwara, May 30 Notably, the reports of jaundice outbreak in the town had stirred the government into action. Badal had summoned a high-level meeting of local bodies minister Manoranjan Kalia, principal secretary D.S. Bains and other senior officers. He had even rushed his OSD Parveen Kumar to Phagwara for taking stock of the situation. When contacted, SDM Amarjit Paul confirmed that no amount had been received. He, however, said the state government had sent Rs 15 lakh for cleaning of drains. Meanwhile, the MC has purchased a JCB machine worth Rs 21 lakh and one de-silting machine for Rs 5 lakh. The latter will prove to be a great help in cleaning the choked sewerage. The de-silting machine was handed over to the engineering branch by the MC president Malkiat Singh Ragbotra in a brief function held on the council premises here today. Executive officer Paramjit Singh and executive
engineer Pawan Sharma were also present on the occasion. — OC |
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‘Illegal’ travel agent nabbed
Kapurthala, May 30 He was nabbed at Bhawanipur village bus stand, said Kotwali police division SHO Parminder Singh. He said as many as 19 passports and other documents were seized from him. “He was working as an unauthorised travel agent and has been booked,” said the SHO. To a query, he said the police was yet to verify whether the passports were fake or not. Further in reply to a question, the SHO said Satish had told the police that he was working for the Congress MC. The police would verify whether he was running an authorised travel agency, otherwise he would also be booked, he added. When contacted, Billu said Satish Chander had been falsely implicated in the case as he was working for his agency which was registered with the Union Government since 1984. “Satish was going to Jalandhar in connection with an interview of passport holders,” he added. |
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