The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

MPLAD Funds
Kaypee lambasts officials for not keeping him in the loop
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 23
Member Parliament Mohinder Singh Kaypee today minced no words while lambasting the officials for not reporting to him the status of various ongoing works through the MPLADS (MP Local Area Development Scheme) funds. The MP pulled up one BDPO after the other for not keeping him informed about the starting, completion or any problems related to his discretionary works being executed in various blocks. “None of the BDPOs have ever had the courtesy to meet me, call me up or even write to me about the current situation of the project”, he said at the start of the Vigilance Monitoring Committee meeting which went on for more than two hours.

“Time and again I have asked them all to plan inauguration functions but no one has paid any heed. The scheme entails that I go to the sites and lay foundation stones there. But none of you have ever invited me either at the start or at the completion of any work”, he went on. “I have got to know that works to the tune of Rs 2.61 lakh have been completed but utilisation certificates of works to the tune just Rs 60 lakh have been received”, he asked the reasons for the same from each BDPO.

Kaypee read out a list of various works which he said had been rejected owing to the fact that the actual expenditure came out to be Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000 over an estimated amount. “This is no ground to reject a work. If that is the case, you can always get back to me and ask me to sanction a little more amount. Or else at your own end you could have even got it started with the given amount, leaving a small part of work undone in the given budget”, he was after an XEN from the Panchayati Raj Department.

He also pulled up the MC officials for “undue delay in getting tenders for various works in the city areas”. The Congress leader asked an MC XEN about the poor condition of the road leading to the dairy complex in Jamsher. “Why has the road not been constructed for so long?” he quizzed.

On getting the reply that there was no response from contractors, Kaypee shot back saying, “I think it is a deliberate attempt on your part to delay certain works done for which I show any concern. If you do not want to work on my projects, kindly let me know. I will rather get the works done from other civic agencies like the PUDA or the PWD”.

Kaypee was after the MC officials for not being able to check insanitary conditions in the dairy complex. “The MC has failed to set up a poly clinic for hundreds of milch animals there. No veterinary doctors have been appointed either. You already have set up a sewerage treatment plant at the site and are now planning to have a solid waste plant. Are you after the life of villagers around that place?” he questioned.

A member of the committee, Manoj Arora, asked the MC officials for not providing shelter to slum residents of Abadpura despite having conducted a survey of 58 deserving families under the Centre-sponsored scheme. “Now I am being told that Abadpura is not a slum. Can you please define for me what a slum is and why we jointly conducted the survey?” he too showed aggressiveness like his mentor Kaypee.

Replies the MP got

As Kaypee asked each BDPO the reason for a delay of the projects, almost everyone came with a common reply, “We need just 15 days more.” On being asked about having not sent utilisation certificates, everyone said, “We have already sent copies. We will sent duplicate copies on Monday.” For new works not getting started, Monday again was announced as the day of starting work. Kaypee was a bit astonished at common answers and asked, “You all will start work on Monday?”

DC’s take:

During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti asked all the officials to provide sent him an updated status of all works being executed in various blocks and sub-divisions. “You all have 15 days. I need a detailed and tabulated report with photographs of all completed works”, he issued instructions.

PPCB issues notices to 24 industrial units
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 23
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has issued notices to 24 industrial units in Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar, that were found violating the provisions of environmental laws.

The board’s Chief Environment Engineer, Birinderjit Singh, said all these industrial units were given an opportunity to explain things.

He informed notices were served on stone crushers, brick kilns, service stations, plywood manufacturer, hot mix plant, rice sheller and others. Some of the industries were operating in a non designated area without the consent of the board.

As many as 14 industries, which were found major violators, would be sealed or closed. Three units with minor violations were allowed to operate after they gave assurance to comply with the norms. The rest seven units were brick kilns, which were found using waste rubber tyres as a fuel during surprise checks in the recent past. These were directed to submit undertaking in form of an affidavit to the effect that they would never use waste rubber in future as a fuel.

Channi Death Case
Tractor-trailer driver arrested
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 23
The police today arrested the tractor-trailer driver, accused in the Chanpreet Singh Bhatia death case.

Accused in a case of rash and negligent driving, Jeeta, a resident of Boparai village, was booked by the police on September 18.

Chanpreet, alias Channi, son of Kamaljit Singh Bhatia, Senior Deputy Mayor of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation, was crushed to death under a rear tyre of the tractor-trailer being driven by Jeeta in the Avtar Nagar area.

Jeeta was absconding after the accident and a case under Sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC was registered against him at the Bhargo Camp police station.

He was later released on bail.

Dengue threat from Pakistan
Samjhauta Express, buses to be fumigated
Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 23
After reports of dengue outbreak in Pakistan, the local health authorities have decided to resort to fumigation inside Samjauta Express, Delhi-Lahore Bus and Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus on their arrival from the neighbouring country.

The department has already initiated screening passengers coming from Pakistan on train and buses, for symptoms of dengue.

Talking to The Tribune, Civil Surgeon Dr Avtar Singh Jarewal said, “There have been reports from Pakistan about the spread of dengue. In view of the threat, we have decided to go for fumigation in train compartments and buses.”

He added that small fumigation machines would be used for the fogging of passenger from Pakistan. “Our teams deputed at the Attari check post are screening each and every passenger. However, no dengue case has been reported till now,” added Jarewal. Earlier, the health department had deputed its workers for administering polio drops to children coming from Pakistan.

The Civil Surgeon informed that fogging at Attari railway and bus stop would become operational in two to three days. The fogging would kill any mosquito or dengue larvae inside these ferries, he added. Apart from visitors having ‘On Foot’ visa, Attari witnesses the arrival Samjhauta Express twice a week -- Monday and Thursday. Additionally, two separate buses ferry passengers across border on all days except Sunday. Sources said the number of persons travelling from across the border varies from 700 to 1000 per week.

Sidhu lays foundation stone of road work
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 23
Local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu laid the foundation stone of 3.5 km stretch on Mehta road here today. The road was a long-pending demand of residents of Maqboolpura locality.

Construction of the road, that would cost Rs 5.32 crore, is expected to be over in two months, said Sidhu while addressing a gathering of residents and party workers.

Sidhu said PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa has played a key role in getting the grant for the road.

Of the total amount, the Amritsar Improvement Trust would give Rs 2 crore, said Sidhu.

The residents said the road was last repaired more than seven years ago. “Residents and commuters had trouble in commuting on the road because of potholes,” said Shaminder Singh, a resident.

The road is important from the business point of view as well. It connects the city with the vegetable market at Vallah. Even the hub of industry, Focal Point, is located on this road, besides the office of Department of Industry.

Police asked not to book ‘couples’ during raids
PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 23
The Punjab State Commission for Women has directed the police not to register a case against young couples, who are caught during raids on hotels, restaurants or cinema halls, until and unless proper investigations takes place in such cases.

Informing this, Gurdev Kaur Sangha, chairperson, Punjab State Commission for Women, said, “Such incidents involve future of young girls and utmost care should be taken while handling these cases.”

There had been instances where the police had registered cases against innocent boys and girls, she added.

“Keeping this in mind, the commission has recently passed instructions to the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, asking him to direct police authorities to register FIRs only after foolproof investigation,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sangha heard 40 complaints which the commission received from various complainants from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Moga. Majority of cases were from Gurdaspur and Amritsar - 16 each.

Among others who were present in the programme include Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, member of the commission.

While interacting with the media, she said the commission has received majority of case of dowry, property dispute, illicit relations, molestation and domestic violence etc.

Civil Surgeon appears before Women’s Commission

Dr Avtar Singh Jrewal, Civil Surgeon, today appeared before the Punjab State Commission for Women regarding the complaint filed by one Satnam Kaur, warden working at Civil Surgeon office.

Satnam Kaur, who originally belonged to Dr Vidya Sagar Mental Institute and had been shifted to Civil Surgeon’s office more than a decade ago, complained about the alleged harassment being meted out to her over an inquiry in an alleged rape case happened on the hospital premises in late nineties.

Dr Jrewal was appointed the inquiry officer when he was a medical superintendent of ESI hospital. Later, he was transferred as Civil Surgeon, Amritsar, and was again entrusted with the inquiry in the case.

Satnam Kaur said she had urged the authorities concerned to transfer the probe to another officer while alleging that the civil surgeon misbehaved and harassed her.

However, Dr Jrewal refuted the allegations and said it was Satnam Kaur which misbehaved with him and members of staff of Civil Surgeon office.

“All the allegations levelled by the complainant were baseless and I have given my statements before the commission,” said the Civil Surgeon.

Mother of three burnt to death
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, September 23
Pinki (33), wife of Neeraj Kumar of Mohalla Ranjit Nagar, succumbed to her burn injuries at the local Civil Hospital, yesterday.

After her death, the Model Town police added Section 304 B of the IPC to a case already registered against Kumar under Section 498 A of the IPC.

According to the police, Kumar was a habitual drunkard and used to harass and beat Pinki, the mother of three girls, for bringing Rs 5,000 from her parents.

On September 13, he came to the house in an inebriated state and began to beat Pinki. Two of their daughters, who were present there, left the house under fear.

The third one went to her maternal grandparents’ house.

After beating his wife, Kumar sprinkled kerosene on her and set her ablaze and fled from the house.

The neighbours came to rescue Pinki and later admitted her in the local Civil Hospital.

Mass marriage solemnised
Our Correspondent

Nakodar, September 23
Marriages of five poor girls were solemnised by the Baba Farid Social Welfare Society here on Friday at Fakroowal village in Shahkot. All expenses of the marriages were borne by the welfare society headed by Palwinder Singh Turna.

Five couples were blessed by Jathedar Charan Singh, Prabhjot Singh Turna, Jagtar Tari, Lakhbir Singh Jheeta. The brides were provided with necessary household articles.