J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Illegal colonies denied power connection, residents in quandary
Jalandhar, June 6
Hundreds of city residents are in a quandary over the status of their houses that have been denied electricity connections by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

Only link road lies ill, villages cry for help
Pathankot, June 6
The link road leading to villages Gura Kalan, Pangra, Giala, Kabia, Farura and Tanda-Mirthal, falling under the Pathankot assembly segment on the Pathankot-Jalandhar national highway, is in a critical condition.

A day after start, govt team comes for inspection
Jalandhar, June 6
Just a day after issuing ‘notice of commence’ to run Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, a team of the Punjab Government yesterday conducted inspection of the building and hospital facility of the proposed medical college.

1-yr-old raped, neighbour held
Amritsar, June 6
A one-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a neighbour. A daughter of a migrant living in the Krishna Nagar area, the girl, who was bleeding, was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital where doctors confirmed the rape.

Murder mystery solved, three nabbed
Nakodar, June 6
The Nakodar Police, headed by DSP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh, solved the mystery of the murder of a villager Harjinder Singh, who was abducted and murdered on August 23 last year.

Poll for NC vice-presidents: Meeting postponed
Phagwara, June 6
Lack of co-ordination among the ruling alliance partners i.e. SAD-BJP, again became a major hindrance in the election of the Vice-Presidents of the Phagwara Nagar Council and once again the proposed meeting, scheduled to be held on June 7 for the elections of two posts, has been postponed to June 11.

Illegal colonies denied power connection, residents in quandary
Bipin Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service

PSPCL has asked for a strict compliance of the ban on new domestic connection to illegal colonies As per records 400 colonies have come up illegally in the city and its vicinity. Surprisingly, majority of the illegal housing colonies have been provided water connections, telephone connections

Jalandhar, June 6
Hundreds of city residents are in a quandary over the status of their houses that have been denied electricity connections by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

A fresh letter, issued by the Chief Engineer (Central), Ludhiana, regarding ban on the new domestic power connections to housing colonies that have come up in municipal limits and beyond that in the city and vicinity illegally, have created scare among the residents who have invested their hard-earned money on constructing houses in these colonies.

The corporation has asked the Chief Engineer, Jalandhar, for a strict compliance of the ban (imposed a couple of years ago) in his zone.

Vinod Kumar Sharma, Chief Engineer of the power corporation, Jalandhar, claimed that the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) had already imposed a complete ban on electricity connections to illegal colonies. This is a reminder of the old circular by the corporation, he claimed.

As per records 400 colonies have come up illegally in the city and its vicinity. Interestingly, the count of illegal colonies in the city and is periphery is quite high, but the district administration has turned a blind eye towards their mushrooming.

Balraj Thakur, municipal councillor, Ward 57, claimed that majorities of the illegal housing colonies had been provided water connections, telephone connections and even various development works were being taken up with the consent of area MLAs and prominent political leaders.

To strengthen their vote bank, the leaders had been encouraging coming up of illegal colonies without giving a thought about providing basic civic amenities, he alleged.

He pointed out that the municipal corporation had even imposed house tax on commercial establishments in these colonies. In the past, residents were even able to get electricity connections by bribing employees of the department.

Certain MLAs were issuing grants from government funds for the construction pucca streets, laying of water and sewer lines in their respective constituencies, he claimed.

“On the one hand the government has banned power connections to these colonies, while on the other hand development works are being done with government money in the same illegal colonies,” he raised a point. The leader has demanded regularisation of the colonies.

Only link road lies ill, villages cry for help
Our Correspondent

Pathankot, June 6
The link road leading to villages Gura Kalan, Pangra, Giala, Kabia, Farura and Tanda-Mirthal, falling under the Pathankot assembly segment on the Pathankot-Jalandhar national highway, is in a critical condition.

It has been awaiting repairs for a long time. The villagers are without amenities of clean drinking water, health, roads and streets. The only link road leading to these villages has big potholes.

Rawnesh Singh, a farmer who plies a vehicle for a living, said in the rainy season, the link road is hardly visible. He said only assurances were given to villagers by the administration and representatives of the segment. He alleged that many times villagers took their grievances to the local MLA Master Mohan Lal, who did nothing in this regard.

Sandip Kumar, an employee at Pathankot, 16 km from his village, said despite bringing the matter into the notice of the administration, nothing has been done so far for the link road. He said leaders of the Congress and SAD-BJP combine had no right to come for votes and support in future.

The irate villagers alleged that representatives of the area had fooled the villagers by organising a khulla darbar.

Master Mohan Lal said a comprehensive plan has been mooted to re-construct this link road and the work will be started soon.

A day after start, govt team comes for inspection
Amaninder Pal
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 6
Just a day after issuing ‘notice of commence’ to run Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, a team of the Punjab Government yesterday conducted inspection of the building and hospital facility of the proposed medical college.

A five-member team, included three doctors, was constituted by the Department of Medical Education and Research, Punjab. Inspection was conducted before issuance of “essentiality certificate” to the PIMS Medical and Educational Charitable Society.

Dr Jaikishan, Director, Medical Education and Research (DRME), said though the state government issued “essentiality certificate” to society last year, we need it to reissue this year also as medical college could not take off last year.

Dr P.P.S. Cooner, former Joint DRME, Dr KD Singh, Medical Superintendent, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, Dr MS Bal and a representative of both district administration and Public Works Department are member of the inspection team, he said.

Meanwhile, management of PIMS today ‘officially’ started the OPD services in the premises. No representatives of society were available to brief the media regarding the future plans.

1-yr-old raped, neighbour held
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 6
A one-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a neighbour. A daughter of a migrant living in the Krishna Nagar area, the girl, who was bleeding, was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital where doctors confirmed the rape.

The police has arrested Raghbir Chand (40), hailing from Pathankot, and registered a case under section 376 of the IPC at Maqboolpura police station here.

“I rushed to the room of Raghbir after hearing the screams of my daughter and found that she was bleeding profusely,” mother of the victim, who hails from Bihar, alleged. The parents of the victim filed a complaint with the police, who took the girl to the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital. The victim’s father, who works in a chicken shop, was not present at home when the crime took place.

Prabhjot Singh, SHO of Maqboolpura police station, said preliminary investigations and medical board confirmed the rape. He added that the police was waiting for the chemical examination report.

Murder mystery solved, three nabbed

Nakodar, June 6
The Nakodar Police, headed by DSP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh, solved the mystery of the murder of a villager Harjinder Singh, who was abducted and murdered on August 23 last year.

Nakodar SHO Surinder Pal Singh told The Tribune here today that the police arrested three abductors/murderers - identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, Kuldip Singh alias Lal and Kuldip Singh alias Amrit of Lehna Dhadhe village - under sections 365, 302, 201, 120 B of the IPC, while their fourth accomplice Gurpal Singh is still at large.

The SHO disclosed that the deceased had objected to accused Gurpal’s affair, owing to which Gurpal hatched a conspiracy to abduct and eliminate Harjinder. The police has recovered a motorcycle from the arrested accused. The SHO said the accused murdered Harjinder and threw his dead body in a bein near Lohian and the decomposed dead body was found from the bein on August 29 last year, six days after the abduction. — OC

Poll for NC vice-presidents: Meeting postponed

Phagwara, June 6
Lack of co-ordination among the ruling alliance partners i.e. SAD-BJP, again became a major hindrance in the election of the Vice-Presidents of the Phagwara Nagar Council and once again the proposed meeting, scheduled to be held on June 7 for the elections of two posts, has been postponed to June 11.

This was confirmed by Phagwara SDM-cum-Convenor of the meeting Amarjit Paul, while talking to The Tribune here on Saturday evening. Replying to a question, SDM Paul said now the prestigious meeting would be held on next Friday i.e. June 11.

It may be recalled that neither Senior, nor the Junior Vice-President of the Phagwara Nagar Council could be elected even after 11 months of the expiry of the terms of the two Vice-Presidents. — OC