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Passport to chaos, thanks to tiff between RPO, BJP leader
All for Assembly seat: Funds diverted towards cantt
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Public inconvenienced due to BSNL, pvt mobile operators spat
Gold worth Rs 2.5 lakh stolen
1 killed in mishap
Suvidha Centre reopens as staff ends strike
Untrained surgeons suggest total-knee surgery, says doc
I-T surveys: Jewellers surrender Rs 7.8 cr
Bad roads, sewerage affects business of PPR Mall shopkeepers
Safai karamcharis’ strike from today
from colleges
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Passport to chaos, thanks to tiff between RPO, BJP leader
Jalandhar, October 3 This was followed by a peaceful dharna by the members of All-India Passport Employees Association
(AIPEA) on the premises of the Passport Office. The dharna was supported by the Regional Passport Office, Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar and the members of All-India Travel Agents Association. President of the AIEPA Passport Office, Jalandhar unit, Purshottam Padam, said that they were forced to adopt the path of protest, as the district police was yet to arrest Kishan Lal Sharma. “The work of the Passport Office is being affected and scores of passport applicants and seekers have been standing here since the morning. We will definitely try to open the office and clear the backlog”, he added. Meanwhile, perturbed over this issue, the district BJP unit today distanced itself from Kishan Lal, stating that he is not associated with the party anymore. The BJP party workers clarified that he was not holding any position of authority in the district. It needs to be mentioned here that on October 1, Kishan Lal Sharma had barged inside the office of the RPO, Perneet Singh and misbehaved with him, insisting that he should entertain him first owing to his position in the BJP. Earlier in the day RPO, Perneet Singh along with his father Swarn Singh, a senior IAS officer today met Commissioner Gaurav Yadav regarding this matter. Swarn Singh Singh said, “Following our meeting, the police has registered a case under Section 186, 586 and 451 of the IPC against Kishan Lal Sharma”. Public has tough time
official speak Looking at the seriousness of the matter, even the passport offices at Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar will support our union in this issue from tomorrow onwards. It is important that the police takes timely action to help bring this issue to an end — Perneet Singh, Regional Passport Officer At present Kishan Lal Sharma is not holding any position of authority and neither does the BJP shares any relation with him. Whatever he did with the Passport officer was at his own level. It was three years back that he worked as the BJP (youth wing) president — Subhash Sood, District President BJP
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All for Assembly seat: Funds diverted towards cantt
Jalandhar, October 3 While the rulebook says that the funds coming to the committee have to be divided on the basis of population in each block of the district, the Chairman managed to get development works worth Rs 21.55 lakh out of the total of Rs 71 lakh cleared only for the Jalandhar Cantonment constituency. With the Assembly elections around the corner, the District Planning Committee has recently got this year’s allocation of untied funds to the tune of Rs 2.22 crore to be spent on various development projects. Since today was perhaps the last of the quarterly meeting of the committee prior to the elections, Channi managed to get authorisation from the members for sole discretion to earmark the funds for this year. The amount received this year is almost three times more compared to the last year’s allocation, which was just Rs 71 lakh. The members claim that yet another grant is in the pipeline. The list of works done in the constituency last year include Rs 8.96 lakh for road in Gurmeet Nagar in Ward 57, Rs 2 lakh for road laying in Ravinder Nagar in Ward 57, Rs 5 lakh for setting up a community centre in the Division No 6 police station in Ward 55 and Rs 5.55 lakh for the TV Tower locality near Wadala Chowk in Ward 60. The diversion of funds for Jalandhar Cantonment does not seem to have gone down well with the certain members of the committee, including those from within the ruling party. “We are members of the committee, but we hardly know where the untied funds are being allocated,” commented SAD leader Iqbal Singh Dhindsa, when asked about the issue. Channi, when asked about the issue, said, “I allocated more works for this area as Jalandhar Cantonment has been the most neglected of all. The area’s MLA Jagbir Brar had left the seat midway with no one to take care of it. So, I had a soft corner for the area.” Asked about his plans of contesting from the seat, he said, “Yes, I am trying for the party ticket.” DC Priyank Bharti, when contacted, said the committee members were competent to authorise the Chairman. “The members even have the right to raise objections, but there has been none on the issue from any side even when review of last year’s works was done,” he said. Asked if there was any criteria for allocation of funds population-wise, he said, “It is there but the committee members are the ones who clear all the proceedings.” |
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Public inconvenienced due to BSNL, pvt mobile operators spat
Jalandhar, October 3 All private mobile connections holders, for the last few days, have been unable to connect to all emergency numbers, including that of police (100), fire brigade (101) and ambulance (108). Until the issue is resolved, only BSNL connection holders can avail the services of these emergency numbers. A majority of mobile users in the state use the services of private mobile operators, so the general public is the worst sufferer. They will not be able to avail such services in emergencies like accidents. Due to this, the recently launched 108 ambulance service in Punjab has been the worst hit as numbers of daily calls for help have declined heavily. Jasbir Singh, Operational Manager 108 Ambulance Punjab, revealed that they have 190 such ambulances in the state and per day per ambulance on an average, they used to receive three calls. The number has now declined to around one or two and sometimes to zero. Sources said, their department has urged the higher authorities of BSNL to at least resume services to this emergency number for the welfare of the public. Until the services of private mobile operators are not resumed for 108, they have issued another alternative number for the public which is 73074-75522 (control room) Amritsar and in case of any sort of medical emergency, as their executive would immediately inform the Ambulance operator of the concerned area. Gurmandeep Singh, the in charge 108 ambulance service, Jalandhar, said that if the situation continues, the faith and trust of 108 ambulance which was built up by their Department in the public may get eroded and later it would be difficult to retain the same in future. To tackle this situation, they were in touch with the local police stations and local hospitals, where they have given personal mobile numbers of their 108 Ambulance staff and people in emergency can use these numbers to contact them. Similarly sources revealed that daily calls on 100 (police) and 101(fire) also declined heavily, hence causing inconvenience to the public. Even the landline number of the fire brigade here was of BSNL, hence restraining private users from availing the service. The ADCP Rajpal Sandhu was also concerned about the problem and agreed that the public at large was being getting affected due to this. He urged the public who own private mobile connections than BSNL to call on these numbers of control room till the problem gets solved. Numbers are 99157-16100, 95929-18501/502/503 and police would reach out for their help. BSNL General Manager Consumer Fixed Access (CSA) Punjab Circle Chandigarh Kamal Kumar though agreed that public has been facing huge inconvenience but as per the rules it was not possible to resume emergency number services for private mobile operator in isolation till the issue gets resolved. Asked about the expected time of resuming services, he was eager to add that nothing can be expected till the arrears were cleared by the private operators. For an emergency
Until the services of private mobile operators are not resumed for 108, the alternative number for the public is 73074-75522 (control room) Amritsar. In the case of any medical emergency, as their executive would immediately inform the ambulance operator of the concerned
area. |
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Court: Restore original position of Jallow Khanna
Jalandhar, October 3 The 64-page judgement was pronounced by Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) Amrinder Singh Shergill on August 16, but its copy has been made available on Saturday. The judgement came on a civil suit filed by Tikka Shatrujit Singh against his father Maharaja Brigadier Sukhjit Singh in 2002. The plaintiff Tikka claimed himself as owner in possession of the Jallow Khanna complex on the basis of a royal edict and also sought a permanent injunction restraining his father from selling the Jallow Khanna and also sought the setting aside of the power attorneys, agreements to sell and sale deeds executed by Maharaja Kapurthala himself and through his attorneys. The court also directed Brigadier Sukhjit Singh and other 73 defendants to restore the original position of the Jallow Khanna to the maximum possible extent by removing all the encroachments of any nature over the property to preserve its historical and respectful place as per the law contained in the Shahi Farman dated 20 Magh Samvat 1981 that is on February 13, 1925. The judge also declared Brigadier Sukhjit Singh a limited owner of the Jallow Khanna complex during his lifetime as per the royal ‘farman’ issued by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh. Shergill further held that Maharaja Sukhjit Singh, being a limited owner, has got no right to sell any portion of the Jallow Khanna claiming it as his absolute property which is against the spirit of the royal edict. The court issued directions to remove all the structures raised by over 60 persons on the portions sold by Brigadier Sukhjit Singh. The court further stated that the purchasers can recover the money from the vendors by filing separate suits in the due course of law. Located in the heart of Kapurthala city, the current value of Jallow Khanna complex is not less than Rs 50 crore. In the shahi farman, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh had bestowed distinct status to the Jallow Khanna complex from his other private properties, keeping in view its historic character and respect connected to it. Further, he also ordained in the farman that each succeeding heir would become the owner in possession of this complex so that the lamp of the Ahluwalia dynasty was lit in this structure perpetually. Maharaja Kapurthala got the Jallow Khanna complex vacated from Punjab government after fighting a legal battle right up to the Supreme Court and started selling the said complex through the power of attorneys and agreements. The direction issued on case filed by Tikka Shatrujit Singh against his father Maharaja Brigadier Sukhjit Singh (retired), Jallow Khanna was once the residence of Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, the founder of the erstwhile princely state of
Kapurthala |
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Gold worth Rs 2.5 lakh stolen
Jalandhar October 3 The owner of the house, Balwinder Singh, said that they were sleeping in the ground floor on Sunday night and the burglars first gave a poisonous substance to their dog and when the dog fell unconscious, thieves barged into the house and later broke open the locks of the almirah where gold and cash was kept. They also took away the LCD and VCD players available in the room. Sub-Inspector Satpal Singh, of the police division number one also
took stock of the situation and started investigations into the case. |
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1 killed in mishap
Jalandhar, October 3 The police said, the victim died on the spot. A case against the errant driver, identified as Kulwinder of Dasuha, has been registered under Section 304 of the IPC. After arresting the accused driver, his truck was also impounded by the police.
— OC |
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Suvidha Centre reopens as staff end strike
Jalandhar, October 3 There were many like Harpreet Kaur from the Akbarpura area who claimed that she was to get copies of her marriage certificate countersigned, but to no avail. “I have come here so many times, but the office was closed. Even today, I could not get the certificate,” she complained. Physically challenged Balwinder Singh, a resident of Dosanjh Kalan village, said he, too, had to make several rounds to get his documents countersigned. “I have applied for power connection for a tubewell in my farm under a new scheme for small farmers. The Power Corp officials want certain documents countersigned, which are still due,” he claimed. However, Ramesh Kumar, vice-president of local unit of the Punjab State Suvidha Employees Union, said the contractual staff could again go on strike if the demands, including their
regularisation and raise in salaries, which had been agreed to, are not
honoured. |
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Untrained surgeons suggest total-knee surgery, says doc
Jalandhar, October 3 Dr Singh said that over 30 per cent of the patients, who are under going total-knee replacement, do not require it as only a portion of the knee is damaged.
Merely resurfacing the damaged portion will ensure that the knee works for coming 20 years, he added. Dr Singh said that surgeons in India, barring a few, are not trained in half-knee replacement surgery. In USA, only 20 to 23 surgeons are trained for this type of surgery. In Europe, nearly 40 surgeons are qualified for this. He added that the surgery is technically very difficult and requires precision as well as proper surgical training.
It can be a disaster if done by untrained or partially trained surgeon, he said. This surgery involves smaller incision, quicker mobilisation, no blood loss, less stay in hospitals and less antibiotics. Moreover, one can save the original bone and cartilage up to 66 per cent, the doctor added. In the Western countries, half-knee surgery has 98 to 99 per cent success rate, even after 20 years of the operation. The success rate of half-knee surgery is higher than a total-knee surgery, he concluded. |
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I-T surveys: Jewellers surrender Rs 7.8 cr
Jalandhar, October 3 The surveys were a huge success since the jewellers surrendered of Rs 7.80 crore as their total additional income. The defaulting firms are - Daulat Ram Faqir Chand (Rs 6 crore), Amar Jewellers (Rs 55 lakh), Jagan Jewellers (Rs 45 lakh), Kalra Jewellers (Rs 45 lakh) and Shivam Jewellers (Rs 35 lakh). Suri said the operation was carried out by 10 officers and the other support staff under the supervision of Shalini Kaushal, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax. These are the first surveys after he took over and first in the current fiscal, he added. Commenting on the reasons for such a big sum being surrendered he said although Apra as a small place but had remained a centre for golfd purity and quality ornaments for the past many decades. Being located in the NRI money flush Doaba belt, there are huge volumes of sales when the NRIs visit their native places. Not only NRIs, but prominent families of the region have been patronising these business men for decades they acted as veritable family jewelers for many, he said. He urged assesses to pay their income tax correctly and as per their actual scale of business and income. More such exercises shall be carried out in the coming months as the departments is aware about many illegal business activities where huge investments have been made in the construction of complexes, malls, even posh residential houses while the income being shown or tax being paid by such people is not commensurate with the amount being spent or the turnover and sales being shown in their income tax return, he revealed. Similarly, many assesses have stocks worth crores despite declaring meagre sales and very small income from their businesses, he added. |
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Garha road to be relaid: Some relief for commuters as MC starts patch-work
Jalandhar, October 3 None of the two authorities, PUDA and the MC, had promised to reconstruct the road since they had been blaming each other. The two authorities met today to sort out the issue. The road connects the stretch from the bus stand to the Urban Estates, Chhoti Baradari, Pholariwal, Mithapur and other areas. The issue regarding handing over of Urban Estates-I and II from Jalandhar Development Authority was also taken up. It has been decided that the cleanliness of the colonies would be done by the Jalandhar Development Authority for the next two months. The maintenance of parks, sewage works and streetlights have been passed onto the Municipal Corporation, Chief Administrator JDA Parveen Kumar and the area councillor SD Chugh confirmed this. |
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Bad roads, sewerage affects business of PPR Mall shopkeepers
Jalandhar, October 3 A shopkeepers said, “The roads leading to the mall are very bad and the problem is especially big in the rains. There are puddles of water all over the road and at places even inside the complex.” Two more shopkeeper said, “The road from Urban Estate to Andh Vidyalaya is under the MC, but after that the PPR Group is responsible for taking care of the stretch. The approach road is broken and is filled with water during the rains. There are no bathrooms in the complex and we have to struggle a lot with the water supply too. Due to these problems, there are very few customers and it is our own efforts that bring us the few that still come.” “There are also no adequate sewerage facilities. Some of us had to get our own sewerage lines connected to the main pipe, because the existing one was too insufficient. There are regular blockages. That’s not all, the residents at the back of the mall have also been complaining of stink emanating due to sewerage problems at the mall establishments. There’s a jungle on the service lane next to the mall. While maintenance charges are regularly taken from us, there is no chowkidar and the lights don’t work in the evening,” the shopkeepers added. “There have even been written complaints from Cheema Nagar residents to the mall owners. The complained of garbage and sewerage smell, smoke from generators and labourers urinating in the open. After that we were told to keep our generators on the roof. The sewerage problem is actually the mistake of our owners. If they would have made sewerage facilities available, we would not have been confronted with the trouble. We have spent a fortune to set up shops here and these problems are making our lives difficult,” they said. Rajkumar, manager of the PPR Mall, Cheema Nagar, when contacted, said, “Once we have sold or gave on rent a land, it is for the tenants to deal with the problems. We do not have any role to play in the sewerage line since the government had already laid one here. However, I do agree that the Mithapur Road sewerage line sometimes stays blocked for two to three days together at a time. The 120-foot road line is better and some people have even connected their line to it but then these things are not in our hands.” “As far as the roads are concerned, all roads in the vicinity come under PUDA and they are responsible for their upkeep. We have even requested PUDA formally to connect Cool Road to the stretch of the road between Urban Estate, Phase II, and Innocent Hearts School. But so far it hasn’t been done,” he added. “He denied charges about there being no bathrooms at the complex. One side already has bathrooms on every floor and they are coming up on the other side. We did receive complaints from residents about generators too and they have been shifted to the roof now,” he said. Estate officer, PUDA, Ganesh Kumar, was not available for comments. The MC authorities said they would check under whose jurisdiction the roads of the area fell. |
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Safai karamcharis’ strike from today
Jalandhar, October 3 President of the Safai Mazdoor Union, Chandan Grewal, said that when they had gone on strike last month, they had been given an assurance by Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sood that he would arrange for their meeting with the Chief Minister. “But ever since, no meeting has been arranged. So, we are going on strike, demanding the cancellation of the solid waste management project and regularisation of employees working under Mohalla Sanitation Committees”, Grewal announced. |
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from colleges
Jalandhar, October 3 Literacy camp
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Gandhian Studies Centre of the local Kanya Maha Vidyalaya of Gandhi Jayanti organised a one-day literacy camp at village Randhava Masanda near here. On this occasion, lectures were delivered on the importance of educating girls, significance of personal hygiene and much more. Books and stationery items were also distributed among the children. CT- Nite Blare
The local CT Group of Institutions, Shahpur Campus, celebrated Hostel Night ‘Nite Blare 2011’ in which various folk dances were presented by the students. The event was followed by dinner and a DJ party for all the hostellers and guests. |
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