Jalandhar, August 2
With MC election just six days away, the flouting of the model code of conduct by candidates and their supporters goes on unchecked.

Civic sense goes for a toss Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 2 With just four days left for the campaigning for the candidates contesting MC poll, the civic sense seems to be missing with them. Nukad meetings and public functions being organised by the candidates, that too right in the middle of the roads, in not only causing a chaos for the daily commuters but also causing inconvenience to the residents. The leftover food, disposable material and other waste items used for serving the voters can be seen littering the roadsides daily. The candidates, who are promising cleanliness and other civic amenities to the residents, seem to be failing in performing their duty as a citizen, keeping the city clean. One such incident was witnessed at the rally of Aruna Arora, SAD candidate from ward number 55. The rally was being held in the Model Town area, in front of former MLA Mahinder Singh Kaypee’s residence. The busy road was half-blocked with chairs, placed for gathering’s convenience. The chairs not only blocked the road, but also caused inconvenience to the residents as well as commuters. Adding to the woes were the cars parked in a haphazard manner around the venue. Interestingly, the candidates were strictly apprehending to the code of conduct and were quite disciplined during Vidhan Sabha elections. But the lenient approach by the administration in MC poll seems to have encouraged the candidates to break the code of conduct indiscriminately.

In a major violation, the Chief parliamentary secretary and Akali MLA Avinash Chander today held an election rally on the premises of Guru Ravi Dass Mandir in Bank Colony near Model House here. Avinash Chander was campaigning for candidate Narinder Kaur of the SAD from ward number 54. The venue was the main hall right in front of the idols of deities even as the code of conduct clearly underlines, “Places of worship such as temples, mosques, churches, etc, shall not be used as forum for election propaganda.”

When this correspondent reached the venue, the chief parliamentary secretary was addressing a gathering of nearly 40 persons in the hall asking them to vote in favour of Narinder Kaur. He also told the voters that SAD acting president Sukhbir Singh Badal would address an election rally at Guru Ravi Dass Chowk tomorrow at 7 pm and that they all must come in large numbers.

Most of the participants of the rally were men working in shoe and shoe frame-making shops located in the same lane. A few women of Narinder Kaur’s jatha were also a part of the rally.

Avinash Chander, when asked for his comments, admitted, “I know it was a code violation but then there is a problem. People here do not have big houses where everyone could just sit for a while. They themselves chose this place for a rally saying that it would be convenient here.”

Interestingly, the blue-colour buntings of the BSP could also be seen right across the gates of the temple, again flouting the code.

Jalandhar, August 2
Pastor Welfare Association and Punjab Christian Intellectual Forum today announced that their members will support SAD candidates from various wards in the MC elections.

Nawanshahr, August 2
With the change in the government, the project of extension and augmentation of sewerage and drinking water facilities in the town also changes.

This process of leaving the project and design prepared by the previous government in lurch and then launching a new project for bringing the town under scheme of providing cent per cent basic civic amenities - sewerage and drinking water - has virtually disillusioned the residents, especially living in the colonies developed on the outskirts.

Now, the town is heading towards third such project under the Backward Region Grant Fund of the centre government-sponsored Jawahar Nehru Urban Renewal Scheme.

The estimates for the same has been prepared and submitted for the requisite sanction under the proposed project.

The SAD-BJP government has given ceremonial burial to the sewerage and water supply project worth Rs 517.37 lakh, launched under the Municipal Development Fund by the previous Congress government in September last year.

Under the Municipal Development Fund, a sum of Rs 168 lakh was spent on laying 4.80 km sewerage pipeline at the Sloh road, Friends Colony, Bakker Khana road, Lakh Data Pir and near cremation ground, Pandora Mohalla areas. Besides, two tube-wells at Ravidass Nagar and Ibrahim Basti were installed and 15 km water supply pipeline was laid in the Vikas Nagar, Friends Colony, Guru Nanak Nagar, Barnala Road and Banga road areas.

As the project has been “abandoned” midway, not only the basic civic amenities have still been proving elusive for the residents, but also it has further aggravated their woes as most of the roads have become difficult to tread.

Earlier, the Congress after assuming power in 2002, abandoned the extension and augmentation of sewerage and water supply project, worth Rs 774 lakh, launched by the previous SAD-BJP government, in December 2000. The design of the project was also changed at that time.

Phillaur, August 2
The Phillaur town witnessed violent clashes between two unidentified groups late last night, which left more than dozen injured. The wounded have been admitted in Phillaur and Jalandhar hospitals.

The clash was sparked off following an eve-teasing of a girl near Phillaur police station. The incident gathered more heat following the intervention of police constable Husan Lal who allegedly misbehaved and used abusive language.

The injured, Denial Masih and his sister Kamla Masih have been referred to Jalandhar hospital, while Kulwant, Sandip, Kewal, Jasbir, Sumit and Harneik have been admitted in Phillaur hospital.

Situation became tense when a mob of unidentified persons entered the civil hospital and attacked the injured and followed it up with ransacking the hospital. Meanwhile, doctors and para medical staff of Phillaur civil hospital today sat on dharna and protested the ransacking of the hospital in which several windowpanes and other valuables were badly damaged.

The protesters lifted their dharna only on the assurances of assistant civil surgeon Dr G.S. Nagi.

Phillaur DSP Harpreet Singh Benepal said constable Husan Lal has been sent to police lines and cases have been registered against several persons responsible for the
violence.

Former Phillaur MLA Santokh Singh strongly condemned the incident and described it as complete failure on the part of civil and police administration.

Unfortunately instead of pacifying the groups, the police personnel closed their gates of station, he added.

He threatened to intensify the stir if normal law and order was not restored in town. He said jungle raj was prevailing in Phillaur town, but nobody seemed bothered.