Jalandhar, February 27
Though the state government boasts of providing quality health care facilities at the doorsteps of the residents but here is an example of how these projects, which are launched on a grand scale, become a failure due to the apathy of the authorities concerned.

The 50-bedded community health centre (CHC) project here has been hanging fire since nearly 30 years due to the alleged rivalry of political parties. And in the absence of no construction work, children have virtually converted the vacant land into a cricket ground. The consecutive governments too have done nothing apart from laying the foundation stone and making fake promises.

When The Tribune team visited the spot, it was found that on the name of construction only a boundary wall has been erected on a wide stretch of 24 kanals along with a foundation stone laid by the then Punjab minister for health and family welfare, Ramesh Chander Dogra, on July 25, 2006. The project was to be started in association with the Punjab Health Systems 
Corporation (PHSC).

Despite being a major industrial town of the state, it has only a makeshift mini primary health centre (PHC) in the name of the government-run health facility. At present the PHC is being managed by an auxiliary nursing midwife (ANM) for routine ailments. Even the centre too had come with the monetary help from a Goraya-based NGO, The Young Welfare Association. The PHC has been operating from a single room located in a park since 1993.

The residents rued that they have no other option but to go to civil hospitals or private hospitals situated in Jalandhar or Ludhiana for medical treatment. “Every time there is an emergency, we have to rush to various private hospitals of Jalandhar and Ludhiana for treatment. Above all, it is difficult for a common man to bear the medical expenses at these hospitals,” said Resham Singh, a resident of Goraya.

According to president, Goraya nagar council, Kamaljeet Singh Bittu, “It was in the year 1977 that the then SAD government had announced to set up a 50-bedded CHC. Later on a Goraya-based NRI, Ram Singh Dhillon, donated Rs 3 crore for the purpose in 1992 and an agreement was signed with the PHSC. But the government changed and the Congress took over in 1997.”

He added that it was during this period that they received a grant of Rs 2.85 crore for the construction of the CHC. “Out of this amount we were given Rs 25 lakh to begin the construction work. We started the work in phases in which first of all the plot was levelled and then the boundary wall was constructed. We also met the Jalandhar civil surgeon in this regard but to no avail,” he said.

When contacted, civil surgeon Dr J.P. Singh said, “The funds for the construction of the CHC came through the deputy commissioner at that time. The money released during that time was used for constructing the boundary wall. As soon as we receive the funds the construction work at the site would begin.”

Hoshiarpur, February 27
The Union Rail Budget has brought a little cheer to Hoshiarpur residents. This was stated by former Punjab minister Naresh Thakur and chief of Nasrala Factory Owners’ Association, Chander Mohan Puri, in separate statements issued to the press, here on Wednesday.

“Though the Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has announced various sops, including reduction in passenger fare and goods freight rates and introduction of 53 new trains and 10 Graib Raths, the town and its surrounding areas have been completely ignored in the budget proposals,” said the duo. The station, which not only caters to railway passengers of Hoshiarpur but also of the adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh, has remained neglected since its inception in British regime, they said. Lack of sincere efforts on the part of politicians and railway authorities concerned have added to the misery, the statements further said.

“The passengers are deprived of even the basic amenities at the station.The entire area around the station is covered with wild growth of bushes, require immediate clearance,” said the two leaders. At present, only a diesel multipurpose unit (DMU) was plying between Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar stations. “If the station was linked to Tanda, Phagwara, Dasuya, Jaijon Doaba and Una district of Himachal Pradesh, it would further boost the development of the area and create opportunities for jobless youth,” they said.

Lashing out at former Punjab BJP chief and MP Avinash Rai Khanna, who is representing Hoshiarpur Parliamentary constituency in Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Affairs Ambika Soni, member of Rajya Sabha and district president of the Congress Committee Dharampal Sabharwal and Varinder Singh Bajwa, Rajya Sabha MP, the duo alleged these leaders have failed in delivering goods to their home district. “The present state of affairs and the Railway Budget has greatly disappointed the people of Hoshiarpur and its adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh,” rued Thakur and Puri.

Amritsar: Former state president of youth wing of Bhartiya Janta Party, Tarun Chugh today said the Rail Budget by Union Railway Minister, Lalu Parsad Yadav, has disappointed the people of Punjab. He said a large number of trains announced by the minister in last year’s budget were yet to start while promises to upgrade the railway stations remained unfulfilled. He said it was a budget catering only to the upper class.

Kartarpur, February 27
Controversy marred the election of a nominee for State Agricultural Development Bank (SADB) by the directors of Kartarpur Primary Agricultural Development Bank (PADB) here today.

While a group of three directors claimed that they had elected Ranjit Singh Kahlon as a PADB nominee, a member of the anti-Kahlon group of other three directors alleged that the Kahlon group took away the proceedings register from the bank forcibly to put pressure on other directors to get their signatures in Kahlon’s favour.

In a written complaint submitted to the bank manager, Chajju Ram, the member of the anti-Kahlon group, Harpreet Singh Bhullar, demanded action against the three directors of the Kahlon group for taking away the proceedings register illegally with them. The other two members of the anti-Kahlon group are Amarjit Singh Jhanesarai and Bhupinder Singh Bhinda.

Bhullar told The Tribune that when he reached the bank for attending the meeting, he was surprised to learn that the three directors - Ranjit Singh Kahlon, Dhanna Ram and Jagjit Singh Talwandi - had taken away the proceeding register with them.

At this he submitted a written complaint to bank manager Chajju Ram, who was to be admitted to a hospital after he complained of some heart problem due to the negative development.

While Chajju Ram could not be contacted, assistant registrar of cooperative societies Amarjit feigned ignorance about the happening at the PADB. Amarjit said Chajju Ram would be able to comment tomorrow after getting details from the bank.

He said, “At least two-third votes of the total directors of a bank are required for the election of a nominee of state bank.”According to information, there are eight directors of Kartarpur PADB. While two of them had died and election to their vacant posts is yet to be held, according to set rules, votes of at least five directors are required for the election of a nominee.

When contacted, Ranjit Singh Kahlon denied that he or any of his supporters removed the proceedings register. He claimed that apart from three directors of his group, he had also got signatures of Bhupinder Singh Bhinda in his favour. While Bhinda could not be contacted, Bhullar and Jhandesarai said Bhinda had not signed in Kahlon’s favour. At the same time, they expressed suspicion that the Kahlon group might put pressure on him to sign in his favour.

Kahlon said even if Bhinda had not signed in his favour, bank chairman JS Talwandi supported him and being chairman his single vote would be counted as double in case of a tie.