Jalandhar, January 13
Lt-Gen V.S. Tonk, GOC of the Vajra Corps, today said the army did not see any war like situation erupting between India and Pakistan in the near future.

“However, we are ready to face any kind of contingency in case of a war,” he said.

The GOC said the army is competent enough to handle any emergency situation and ready to meet any demands. “Our troops are suitably located as far as any eventuality is concerned. The army is keeping a vigilant eye over the mobilisation of troops across the border. And we are in a perfect position to respond round the clock,” said the Corps commander during an interaction with the media on the occasion of Army Day celebrations at Katoch Stadium in Jalandhar Cantonment.

Talking about the increased mobilisation of the Pakistan Rangers across the border, the GOC said, “There is no doubt that patrolling activities have been observed on the other side of the border but this does not pose any threat to us. But we do not visualise any extreme consequences due to this.”

Answering a query pertaining to the deployment of BSF troops in the past some days, he maintained that deployment of troops was a normal activity. “Even we too deployed troops in the Ferozepur sector in September last year. This is an annual feature in the armed forces,” the GOC said.

“We should not create any hysteria among the public regarding the possible chances Indo-Pak war,” the officer said.

He urged the media fraternity to play a positive role in maintaining peace and report fair information so far as the internal security of the nation was concerned.

Meanwhile, discussing the impact of meltdown on the Indian economy, Tonk said in a lighter tone, “Recession has cast its shadow everywhere but with improved pay package, the armed forces have a bright chance in urging the youth to look for a secure future.”

When asked what steps are being taken to overcome the shortage of army officers, the GOC said, “At present the army is witnessing a shortage of more than 12,000 officers.

However, the Vajra Corps has enhanced many NCOs and JCOs as commissioned officers. “Even the women officers are also doing very well in the armed forces and we keep on motivating the youth to become a part of the prestigious Indian army,” said the Corps commander.

Jalandhar, January 13
Though the state government awarded a contract worth Rs 13 crore for the supply of school steel furniture in various government schools, the private contractors have failed to honour the commitment in this regard despite the fact that the academic session is nearing its completion.

The delay in the supply of furniture deprived the students and teaching staff of the very basic facility required in the classrooms.

DPI (secondary) Harcharan Kaur Brar said a pact on funds for furniture was signed jointly with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the state government.

“This included 90 per cent share of NABARD and 10 per cent share of the Punjab government. The furniture was to be supplied to 351 schools in the state. As far as the present status of the contract is concerned, it is difficult to comment. However, I will look into the matter,” she said.

Sources said the rate of the contract to supply furniture was for a period of one year from January 7, 2008. The contract lapsed recently with the firms failing to provide the furniture in time. Till date they have distributed furniture to the tune of Rs 3.50 crore only.

The DPI (schools) had purchased furniture in May before the beginning of the current academic session last year.

To achieve this target in the current academic year, the controller of stores, Punjab, had signed a rate contract (a copy of which is available with The Tribune) with 17 firms, which include four firms each from Mohali and Jalandhar, two each from Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana, one each from Chandigarh, Sangrur, Khanna, Patiala and Dera Bassi.

According to the specifications in the contract, all the firms were directed to supply furniture within a stipulated period of two months each. It also said in case a firm fails to execute the agreements well in time it might lead to the forfeiture of the firm with cancellation and debarring as well.

This in turn will lead the firm to penal action, says the specification.

The firms were asked to supply dual desks, laboratory and library tables, office and teacher tables, student examination tables, computer tables, centre tables, steel cloth lockers, steel stools and benches.

Sources maintain that most of the furniture supplied so far not only lacked in quality but has also less shelf life.

Even the material used for the manufacturing of furniture is of poor quality. In one such term, the contract says that in case of substandard and defective supply against the rate contract the concerned firm shall have to refund the cost of material with prevailing rates of interest being charged by the PSIDC on term loan.

“Some firms are hands in glove with each other and this in turn has caused a huge loss to the state exchequer. The furniture could easily have been supplied to the government schools within a month if open tenders had been invited. But the vested interests of some firms have denied proper facilities to the students,” said a source requesting anonymity.

Nawanshahr, January 13
An about two-and-a-half-year-old male sambhar, strayed into a nearby village here today. It fell into a muddy pond and died. According to available information, the sambhar fell into the pond due to panic as it was hounded by dogs.

A rescue operation was carried out but the sambhar could not be saved.

Wildlife Conservation Society president Nikhil Sangar, while expressing regrets over the incident, attributed the death of the sambhar to lack of awareness among people coupled with the lack of staff as well as infrastructural facilities with the wildlife department.

“A huge crowd gathered at the site, consequently causing a lot of hindrance in the rescue operation,” said

Sangar lamented that though the police was present there nothing concrete was done to manage the crowd.