Jalandhar, October 30
The convenience of paying up water and house tax bills at any of the zonal offices of the municipal corporations in the five cities of Punjab, and getting instant online receipts, is likely to come at a cost.

The Local Bodies Department is mulling the idea of levying transaction costs from consumers on the payment of all bills.

This is being done to compensate for the cost being borne by the state government, on the e-governance project, involving installation of software, networking of computers and manpower expenditure.

MC commissioner Viney Bublani claimed that it still was not clear whether the burden would be borne by the consumers or the MC, he added that the issue would finally become clear in a pre-bid discussion to be held in this regard soon.

It is being proposed that zonal offices would act as Suvidha Centres with single window system, for availing all documents, including birth and death certificates, building completion certificates, getting drawings of buildings cleared, settlement and payment of compounding charges.

But the councillors are opposing any additional charges, especially transaction costs on payment of bills. “There is no idea of levying any charges from consumers every month just on the pretext of making payments easier for him. Fee levied for availing certificates or any other service is, however, justified,” said Congress councillor Balraj Thakur.

Another councilor, Manoj Arora, however, claimed, “The idea of converting zonal offices into Suvidha Centres seems to be too far-fetched, especially when these are hardly functional as of now. There is already shortage of staff. No employee is available especially after lunch hours.”

He suggested, “Ideally, all JEs, SDOs, XENs, ATPs and other officials should sit in their respective zones or divisions, like in Ludhiana, which is not the case here in Jalandhar. It becomes a pain in the neck for residents to get any of the complaints lodged, including those of streetlights not working properly, or excessive growth of grass and plants in and around parks. That is why they find it easier to get all their works done in the main office, where they say that everyone, including officials, and low rung employees, are more accessible.”

Jalandhar, October 30
For those living around Jyoti Chowk, there is a good news. This Sunday, there will be no traffic congestion in the area because Municipal Corporation Jalandhar officials have decided not to allow vendors and hawkers to put up their stalls.

The officials claim that the Sunday Bazaar had started expanding all around the roundabout and even interiors of all nearby markets, making it extremely difficult for the commuters to pass through the busy area on the weekend.

They also claim that since the shopkeepers of Rainak Bazaar were busy renovating their shops after the recent marking and notices issued by the building branch of the MC, the Sunday Bazaar could become a hindrance in their ongoing process.

Assistant Commissioner DP Bhardwaj said there would be nakas across all entry points in the market prohibiting anyone from coming in the area with the saleable goods.

He said there would be adequate police force to ensure strict implementation of the orders. He said a similar move last Sunday had come quite effective and the drive would continue for several consecutive weeks.

Bhardwaj further claimed that he had done over a 100 challans of hawkers for illegally parking in their carts in the MC land. He said that even some shopkeepers had been challaned for allowing these hawkers to stand in front of their shops.

Phillaur, October 30
Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil has asked the police to encourage girls to join the force.

Speaking during the 11th convocation of the Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, yesterday, he said women should constitute at least 33 per cent of the force.

On the issue of raising the status of the academy to Police University, he assured that all necessary steps would be taken to pursue the matter.

Patil said with growing responsibilities, the police requires well-trained, well-equipped and motivated personnel.

DGP Punjab PS Gill said the Punjab Police had been changing according to time and crimes.

Earlier, 65 students were conferred degrees of MA in Police Administration.

Nawanshahr, October 30
SSP Narinder Bhargav exhorted the NGOs to come forward to launch a crusade against the social evils like drug addiction, female foeticide and corruption at the Jagriti Mela, organised by NGO Helping Hands Charitable Trust at Baradari Garden here today.

Bhargav said though there were laws to tackle these evils but these could be eradicated completely by bringing a change in the mindset of the people. A number of artistes and students of various educational institutions presented cultural programmes on the social evils. Blankets were also distributed among poor and needy on the occasion.

Meanwhile, DCM Industries in collaboration with the district NGOs Coordination Society - Upkar and village panchayat, Asron organised a programme to create awareness against social evils here on Saturday.

The artistes of 'Pragti Kala Kendra, Landheran" staged plays highlighting the ill-effects of drug addiction and female foeticide. — OC