Ludhiana, November 18
Taking a strong notice of the failure of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to take action against the Civil Hospitals guilty of violating Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has ordered the PPCB to take immediate action against the erring hospitals.

In violation of the Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, the Civil Hospitals in the state were found guilty of disposing of biomedical waste in the open, thereby subjecting people to "health hazards".

Also, the annual reports submitted by the Civil Hospitals in Bathinda, Mansa, Ludhiana, Moga, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib and Faridkot did not have complete records of the waste generated in the past 10 years.

It is mandatory for the hospitals to maintain and send a detailed record of the waste generated under various categories, including non-infectious, infectious, non-infectious sharp, infectious sharp and anatomical waste, to the PPCB.

The Anti-Corruption and Crime Investigating Cell, an NGO, in information procured under the RTI Act, pointed out that the Civil

Hospitals in the above districts had failed to give complete records of the segregated waste to the PPCB. But no action has been initiated by the PPCB against any of the hospitals.

Rohit Sabharwal, president of the NGO, then forwarded a complaint to the

CPCB regarding the violation of Biomedical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules by the Civil Hospitals in Punjab and pointing towards the nonchalance of the PPCB.

Some Civil Hospitals do not even have the authorisation from the PPCB, which is mandatory for every healthcare institution generating biomedical waste. The authorisation has to be renewed after a stipulated time, but the hospitals are carrying on with their "expired" authorisations.

A senior environmental engineer, PPCB, had stated that Lord Mahavira Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, was throwing biomedical waste outside the hospital and the plastic from it was being sold in the scrap market.

The biomedical waste, if not disposed of properly, transmits infections, particularly HIV, Hepatitis B and C and tetanus, to the

people who handle it or come into contact with it.

The letter by the CPCB was addressed to the member secretary, PPCB, Babu

Ram, who when contacted by The Tribune said, "I cannot comment on the issue as I am busy in a meeting." Thereafter, he did not respond to the telephone calls.

Chandigarh, November 18
Congress spokesperson and MP from Ludhiana Manish Tewari has alleged that the Punjab government has failed to respond to the Centre’s directive to the Punjab government to provide a blueprint so that measures could be explored to assist the state in getting out of the current fiscal mess.

Stating this in Parliament in a written reply to questions raised by him, the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Namo Narain Meena, said, the estimated debt and other liabilities of the government of Punjab as on March 31, 2010, were to the tune of Rs 68,986 crore as these were projected to be Rs 71,086 crore at the end of the fiscal 2010-11.

The minister said that Punjab was one of the three general category states identified by the 13th Finance Commission as being in revenue deficit. The commission recommended and the Union Government accepted that the aggregate debt-GDP ratio of states be brought down to comply with the target of 24.3 per cent by 2014-15.

However, Meena said, none of the three states had provided a blueprint to ameliorate indebtedness. The minister made it clear that only upon receipt of such blueprints could the committee explore ways to assist the states as provided in the committee’s mandate.

Chandigarh, November 18
Concerned over the set back to the party’s image, causing bad blood after the expulsion of Manpreet Singh Badal from the party, the core committee of the SAD has asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take charge of “Operation appease all”. In the same context, the core committee has recommended the launch of a “mass awareness campaign” to mobilise people ahead of the next general election.

The campaign will be aimed at educating the masses on what the committee perceives as “conspiracy of a segment of the rich corporate world to defame the pro-poor and social welfare policies of the Punjab government in order to perpetuate their exploitation of the poor”.

The campaign will also mobilise the Sikh masses to force the Centre to announce the SGPC general elections at the earliest. It will in addition focus on the back-breaking price rise under the UPA regime. The preliminary outlines of the campaign will be announced tomorrow.

Further the core committee demanded a bonus of Rs 150 per quintal from the Centre on the paddy purchased during the current Kharif season.

The Core Committee lashed out at the opponents of pro-poor policies of the Punjab government, especially those aimed at providing help and relief to the deprived sections of society through the desperately needed subsidies. “Those opposing the subsidies are backed by the rich tycoons of the corporate world who wanted to exploit the poor masses and swell their coffers though unethical means. The party is proud of the SAD-BJP government’s clear and firm stance on subsidies.”

A resolution passed at a two and a half hours’ meeting of the party’s Core Committee here this morning declared that the party would “fully expose the Centre resorting to hypocritical means to confuse the people on the issue of the debt waiver to Punjab. The Centre is still refusing to categorically state whether an offer to waive Rs 35,000 crore out of the total debt was ever made to Punjab but was instead resorting to diversionary replies.”

The Core Committee described the 2-G scam involving the top guns of the ruling alliance at the Centre as the “mother of all scams” and said that the stunning magnitude of the 2-G, Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Housing Society scandals had shocked the world and lowered the image of the country abroad.”

The Core Committee demanded that the debt against Punjab be waived unconditionally as it was the direct outcome of the difficult and brave war waged by the Punjabis for the unity and integrity of the country.

The Core Committee was chaired by party President Sukhbir Singh Badal and attended, among others, by the party patron and Punjab Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal. Others present at the meeting included the party Secretary-General Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Senior Vice-President Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Gurdev Singh Badal, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Jathedar Tota Singh, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal and Daljit Singh Cheema. The SGPC President, Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar, and the Chief Minister’s media adviser, Harcharan Bains, also attended the meeting.

Jalandhar, November 18
Former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal will meet former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh tomorrow at Patiala. Confirming the meeting, Manpreet Singh today said he would discuss various political, social and economic issues with Bir Devinder Singh, known for his oratory.

However, there are reports that Manpreet Singh will invite Bir Devinder Singh to join the “Jago Punjab” movement, which will be launched from Faridkot on November 24. While announcing his agenda for Punjab on November 14, Manpreet Singh had declared that he would visit all 117 constituencies in the state in the next few months under the banner of “Jago Punjab”, a movement launched to interact with people on various issues confronting the state. Bir Devinder Singh has also confirmed his meeting with the former Finance Minister tomorrow. “There is a definite and decisive new turn in state politics. It will prove good for the future of Punjab”, said Bir Devinder Singh talking to The Tribune on the phone.

Of late, Bir Devinder Singh, who had recently quit the SAD, had supported Manpreet Singh on various issues.

Manpreet Singh has already started building his support base in the countryside. He is in the process of identifying eminent persons, having credibility and integrity, in each constituency of the state. 

Ropar, November 18
The local Jan Aushadhi centre, a generic drug store, launched with much pomp and show, has fizzled out. Lack of staff needed to run the centre and unavailability of drugs have resulted in the early demise of the venture.

Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla had inaugurated this generic drug store last December. At its inception, the Health Minister had claimed that the store would cater to the needs of patients in and around the civil hospital. Ropar Jan Aushadhi centre is among the several such centers opened across the state. While the Health Department claims that a similar centre in Amritsar is a great success, and earns Rs 4.75 lakh, the Ropar centre presents a dismal picture.

Chawla had claimed that these centers would have all 310 types of medicines, listed by prominent hospitals like Apollo Group and AIIMS, by March 31, 2010. More than a month ago, the civil surgeon had written to the Deputy

Commissioner, Ropar, expressing his inability to continue with the operations of this center citing lack of adequate supply of medicines and staff shortage as the main reason.

The government had advertised posts of three pharmacists, one assistant, one computer operator and one helper to run the store. But presently there is just one pharmacist who runs the entire show. Doctors at the civil hospital point out that the supply of medicine has never been adequate. “At times it happens that we prescribe medicines with particular salt, but the same is not available at the store,” pointed out a doctor on the conditions of anonymity.

The Jan Aushadhi store also faces stiff competition from the chemist shops situated around the civil hospital. These shops have customers that have been buying medicines for the past couple of years. “Moreover, these chemists, at times, offer medicines on lesser rates to its regular customers or even waive off a large amount of money,” said the health officials.

Also, the government offers a pharmacist just Rs 5,000 per month, which is too low for a person who holds a diploma in pharmacy. 

Patiala, November 18
The Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Laxmi Kanta Chawla today paid a surprise visit to Mata Kaushalya Hospital here. While inspecting the Hospital, which comes under the Punjab Health System Corporation, Chawla took stock of the OPD, Photo-Therapy Unit and Surgical Ward. She also interacted with the patients and the doctors attending to them.

Chawla took everyone by surprise when she reached the hospital at 8.45 am and stayed in the hospital for almost one and half hour. It is learnt that some of the patients have complained to the Minister that some class IV employees ask families of the newborn for token money on account of the birth of the child. Taking cognisance of this, Chawla instructed the Medical Superitendent of the Hospital, Dr Jatinder Kaur, to ensure that such complaints were not received in future.

Chandigarh, November 18
The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) today announced that former Gurdwara Judicial Commission Chairman Kashmir Singh Patti would be the party’s candidate for President of the SGPC even as it called for the formation of a third front to ensure Patti’s elevation to the top post.

Addressing a press conference here, AISAD President Jaswant Singh Mann said the party had appealed to the Akali Dal (Longowal), the Akali Dal (1920) and the Akali Dal (Delhi) to form a common front to defeat the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the elections scheduled for early next year.

Mann said he had already met Akali Dal (Longowal) former head and Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and asked him to lead the front. “Barnala sahib has agreed and will be coming to Punjab once his tenure as Governor ends on January 31 next year”, he added. The AISAD leader also claimed that he had held talks with Akali Dal (1920) President Ravi Inder Singh and Akali Dal (Delhi) head Paramjit Singh Sarna on this issue. “I am hopeful all of them will support Patti’s candidature”, he added.

The Akali leader claimed that the common front once formed would be prepared for the adoption of an all-India Gurdwara Act, cooption of 15 members from outside India and formation of separate gurdwara management committees in all states and countries which would, however, be bound by a central apex body.

Meanwhile, AISAD leader Manjit Singh said the party would form a “third alternative” which would be opposed to both the Congress as well as the SAD-BJP combine so that a total review and change of the existing administrative and economic policies could be effected. 

Jalandhar, November 18
Urging the Centre to “play tough” against certain TV channels, dishing out vulgar and lewd stuff in the garb of reality and comedy shows, the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) today said that it would start a campaign against firms and companies, sponsoring sleazy shows on the electronic media.

The BKU president, Balbir Singh Rajewal, said once the firms and companies stopped sponsoring such shows, the TV channels would automatically fall in line. He said “Bigg Boss” and “Rakhi Ka Insaf” were not the only objectionable shows, but there were also many others that needed to be monitored constantly.

“Vulgar shows and TV serials loaded with steamy stuff were spoiling the atmosphere in the urban and rural areas and affecting the youth in a big way,” said Rajewal.

Chandigarh, November 18
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Ludhiana DC to look into the alleged stamp duty evasion scam in a time-bound manner.

The direction came on a petition filed in the public interest by Nasib Chand Doabia against the State of Punjab and other respondents. He was seeking directions “for issuing a writ, order or direction” to the state and three other respondents to conduct an inquiry into the “stamp duty scandal at Ludhiana”.

Going into the reasons behind the prayer, the petitioner had contended the probe was required to be ordered as “revenue of crores of rupees was being misappropriated by the land mafia”. The entire operation was carried out by registering undervalued sale deeds.

Taking up the matter, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ajay Tewari asserted: “The petitioner has already made a representation to the authorities, including financial commissioner (revenue), Punjab, and Ludhiana DC, by way of legal notice dated July 19, 2010, complaining against under valuation of the property than the collector rates”.

The Bench said the petition stood disposed of “with a direction to the Ludhiana DC to decide the legal notice of the petitioner dated July 19, not later than 10 weeks from the date of receipt a copy of this order by passing a speaking order”. 

New Delhi, November 18
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will go into the validity of the Punjab Government’s notification permitting the SGPC to have 50 per cent reservation for Sikh students in educational institutions run by the committee.

A Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar referred to Chief Justice SH Kapadia the petitions filed by the SGPC and the Punjab Government challenging the December 17, 2007 judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The HC had struck down the Punjab Government’s notification and declared as null and void all actions taken in the wake of the notification.

On May 16 last year, the SC, however, stayed the HC ruling that Sikhs were not minorities in Punjab and as such could not claim minority rights. The SC Bench said the petitions required to be considered by a Constitution Bench as the issues involved interpretation of constitutional provisions, including Articles 29 and 30.

The HC had ruled that the definition of Sikh under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, could not control the concept of Sikhs for the purposes of Articles 29 and 30. Further, there was no material to substantiate that Sikhs were a non-dominant group in Punjab, it had opined. 

Hoshiarpur, November 18
Six juvenile delinquents, aged from 16 to 18, including one from Bangladesh, fled from the local Bal Sudhar Ghar (juvenile home), Ram Colony Camp, this afternoon.

According to Hoshiarpur SP (Detective) Randhir Singh Uppal, the juveniles, who along with 58 others were housed in the local Bal Sudhar Ghar, fled from the home at about 1:45 pm today. They broke three iron bars of the grill of the home and came out one by one.

When the security guards and attendants of the home noticed it, they informed the police. Uppal along with other police officials reached the home. After preliminary investigations, security guards Gurbachan Singh, Ajit Singh and Sohan Lal were suspended due to “negligence” in performing their duty and new guards were deployed in their place. All police stations in and around the district were informed and provided with identification of the juvenile delinquents to arrest them. Police parties led by SHO of city, Sadar and Model Town police stations and Inspector, CIA Staff, were dispatched to locate them.

SSP Rakesh Aggarwal said an FIR had been registered in Sadar police station in this connection. DC Dharam Dutt Ternach said following the incident, the state government had suspended the District Social Security Officer, Jagdish Mitter, who had dual charge of the juvenile home. Besides, a magisterial probe by the SDM, Hoshiarpur, had also been ordered. — OC