J A L A N D H A R

Dec 1 Deadline
Move to rein in cable operators
Jalandhar, November 19
All cable operators will have to regulate the charging and billing procedure to follow the new telecommunication (broadcasting and cable) services (second) tariff (eighth amendment) order, 2007, from December 1, issued in a notification recently by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

Badal govt has been a total failure: PPCC chief Phagwara, November 19 Addressing a press conference at the residence of former Congress minister Joginder Singh Mann, PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal claimed that the SAD-BJP government would not complete two years in office. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal

Science lessons on board, spl train to chug into city on Nov 24
Jalandhar, November 19
The wait for a science express is going to end soon for the Jalandhar residents as the mobile exhibition train is expected to chug into the city on November 24. So if you want your kid to catch up with some science lessons, ask him to head straight to the railway station as the department has made special arrangements for the event.

Cool Kaler

Punjabi pop singer Kaler Kanth performs at Dasehra grounds in Jalandhar. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Scanning of pregnant women
ID proof of husband, attendant valid too: Chawla
Hoshiarpur, November 19
Minister for health and family welfare Laxmi Kanta Chawla has agreed to amend the previous order of the government, asking the scan centres to check identity or voter’s card of the pregnant women undergoing an ultrasound examination.

‘Public sector banks need to be strengthened’
Jalandhar, November 19
The joint conference of the All India Central Bank Employees Federation and the All India Central Bank Officers Association concluded here today.

Prisoner dies in civil hospital
Jalandhar, November 19
An inmate of the Central Jail died in the civil hospital here on Monday. He had been referred by the jail authorities for treatment, reportedly after severe chest pain.

Dec 1 Deadline
Move to rein in cable operators
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 19
All cable operators will have to regulate the charging and billing procedure to follow the new telecommunication (broadcasting and cable) services (second) tariff (eighth amendment) order, 2007, from December 1, issued in a notification recently by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

As per the new regulations, every cable operator of multi-system operator or broadcaster will have to give to every subscriber the bill for the charges due. The new regulations further state, “Every bill shall contain all relevant details, including the total number of pay and free-to-air channels provided by cable operator. Every cable operator, along with the first bill given to the subscriber after December 1, must give a list of pay channels and free-to-air channels being provided to the subscriber.

“Subsequently, written information about any changes in the pay channels or free-to-air channels being provided to the subscriber shall also be given along with the next bill given after such changes. Operators must also acknowledge all payments made by the subscriber by issuing a receipt duly signed by him.”

Even the charges to be levied on the subscriber have been fixed. An operator transmitting up to 20 pay channels and minimum 30 free-to-air channels will be taking an amount of not more than Rs 160 from A-1 and A class cities, Rs 140 from B-1 and B-2 class cities and Rs 130 from other areas. For those relaying 20 to 30 pay channels and minimum 30 free-to-air channels, the charges will not be more than Rs 200 in A class cities, Rs 170 in B class cities and Rs 160 in other areas.

Similarly, if operators transmit 30 to 45 pay channels and minimum 30 free-to-air channels, the charges will not exceed Rs 235 in A class cities, Rs 200 in B class cities and Rs 180 in other areas. Operators relaying more than 45 pay channels and minimum 30 free-to-air channels have been allowed to take an amount not more than Rs 260 from A class cities, Rs 220 from B class cities and Rs 200 from other areas. If an operator transmits only 30 free-to-air channels without any pay channels, the amount to be levied shall be Rs 77 only.

More importantly, it will be mandatory for all cable television networks to transmit or re-transmit minimum 30 free-to-air channels. The notification also mentions that the maximum amount of charges payable by a subscriber for his second and subsequent television connections on his premises shall be mutually agreed upon between such subscriber and cable operator.

But most cable operators in the city are not prepared to follow the new regulations. Anil Dutta, a cable operator, said it would be extremely difficult for the operators or commission agents to follow the new system till everyone up to the top, including the broadcaster and the channel companies, reduce their charges.

“How will we be able to give lower packages if the broadcasters continue to levy the same charges? If they follow the new guidelines, we will automatically cut down our charges or else we will have to bear the brunt of our subscribers, many of whom will refuse to budge,” he explained.

Badal govt has been a total failure: PPCC chief
Our Correspondent

Phagwara, November 19
Addressing a press conference at the residence of former Congress minister Joginder Singh Mann, PPCC chief Rajinder Kaur Bhattal claimed that the SAD-BJP government would not complete two years in office.

She said it was unfortunate that the phone calls by BJP minister Tikshan Sood had been ignored by a bureaucrat, and alleged that the SAD-BJP government was being dominated by the bureaucracy. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should resign on moral grounds after this episode, Bhattal said after presiding over a state-level function organised by the PPCC to celeberate the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at Shri Nath Palace here.

The PPCC president said the government seemed to have failed at every front, including law and order. She said the SAD-BJP alliance made several promises during assembly elections but forgot all the promises after coming to power.Answering a question about Punjab BJP president Rajinder Bhandari’s allegations that the Congress could not play a constructive role and the BJP had to play the role of opposition, Bhattal said the BJP had admitted that it had conflict with the SAD. She said the Congress was playing a constructive role as opposition.When asked about reconstitution of the PPCC, Bhattal said the process would be completed by January next.

Asked about the Congress allegations of “vendetta policies” of the Badal government, Bhattal said a state-level committee, headed by PPCC working president Mahinder Singh Kaypee, was working on the agenda and would submit its report within the next 15 days.

Talking about Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati’s policies, Bhattal said the BSP chief had started following the Congress agenda which was launched by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. She disclosed that AICC President Sonia Gandhi would visit Punjab in January or February.

Kaypee said a delegation of the Congress would soon meet the Governor to apprise him of the real picture of the state, including more than 350 false cases registered against Congress activists due to vindictive policies of the Badal government.

Joginder Singh Maan alleged that nothing constructive was being done by the Akali MP and the BJP MLA from Phagwara and both seemed to be indulging in passing responsibilities to complete the projects of the Satnampura railway overbridge, Mehtan bypass, a flyover and the new bus stand.

National Safai Karamchari Commission chairperson Santosh Chaudhry, Congress leaders Avtar Henry, Gurwinder Singh Atwal and DCC president Sukhpaul Singh Khera were among those who paid tributes to Indira Gandhi.

Science lessons on board, spl train to chug into city on Nov 24
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 19
The wait for a science express is going to end soon for the Jalandhar residents as the mobile exhibition train is expected to chug into the city on November 24. So if you want your kid to catch up with some science lessons, ask him to head straight to the railway station as the department has made special arrangements for the event. The train would be in the city till November 26.

The science express, flagged off jointly by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Chancellor of Germany on October 30 from New Delhi, comprises 13 exhibition coaches on different thematic modules. They include big bang, cosmos, creation of life, working of mind, the world of senses, technologies of future, sustainable development, space traveller and our home in cosmos. Besides, there is also a chemistry lab for kids.

The train would arrive at Amritsar railway station on November 20 and will remain there till November 23. There is no fee for entry into the science express and visiting timings are from 10 am to 6 pm.

There are 30 guides travelling with the science express to explain and guide the different exhibits fitted in the train. It has been manufactured by the Rail Coach Factory and is set-up by the Max Planck Society of Germany along with Archimedes.

Railway sources said it was for the first time that a science exhibition train had been set-up on rails and would travel all over the country.

Scanning of pregnant women
ID proof of husband, attendant valid too: Chawla

Hoshiarpur, November 19
Minister for health and family welfare Laxmi Kanta Chawla has agreed to amend the previous order of the government, asking the scan centres to check identity or voter’s card of the pregnant women undergoing an ultrasound examination.

The minister declared that any ID proof like bank passbooks, ration cards, driving licences, vehicle RCs, BPL cards, red cards and blue cards issued by the government to the people, including of those accompanying the patients, would be valid for getting a scan done. Chawla gave this assurance at a meeting with the members of the IMA and doctors running ultrasound centres at the mini-secretariat here on Monday.

Former president of Punjab IMA Dr Kuldeep Singh and chief of Hoshiarpur chapter Dr Keshav Sud presented a memorandum to the minister highlighting the problems being faced by the doctors of the scan centres. — OC

‘Public sector banks need to be strengthened’
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 19
The joint conference of the All India Central Bank Employees Federation (AICBEF) and the All India Central Bank Officers Association (AICBOA) concluded here today.

Member of Parliament D Raja and CPI national secretary were the chief guests and among others were AIBEA secretary N.K. Gaur and AIBOA general secretary R.J. Sridharan. During the conference, the delegates from all over the country unanimously adopted a report presented by C.H. Venkatachalam and S Nagarajan. The resolutions adopted included starting of a struggle to demand pro- people policies by the government that was following imperialist guidelines.

It was also resolved to stop the increasing privatisation in the banking sector and improvement of customer services in the banks.

The delegates said the public sector banks should be strengthened to meet the stiff challenges posed by the private banks.

Prisoner dies in civil hospital

Jalandhar, November 19
An inmate of the Central Jail died in the civil hospital here on Monday. He had been referred by the jail authorities for treatment, reportedly after severe chest pain. Assistant superintendent of jail Lalit Kohli said prisoner Paramjit Singh of Phagwara was lodged in the jail a few months back. He was facing trial in connection with a case registered against him under the NDPS Act, jail sources said. — TNS