Jalandhar, October 7
Bowing to the “command” of Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) today decided to auction its prime properties to generate Rs 50 crore for the Municipal Corporation to be spent on development works ahead of the Assembly polls.

The decision was taken in an emergency meeting today evening when the Chairman of JIT, Baljit Singh Neelamahal asked the officials to prepare a list of the properties that can go under the hammer to generate funds at the earliest.

A meeting of the trustees and officials of the JIT as well as the MC has been called at the residence of Neelamahal in Kalia Colony tomorrow morning.

The funds so available will be doled out to MC and then put at the discretion of the local MLAs so that they can decide as to which development works are to be done at priority in their respective areas. KD Bhandari, MLA, Jalandhar (North), had been long pressing for the grants.

Badal, during his recent visit to the city had committed that the funds would be arranged through the JIT.

The JIT Chairman had, however, refused stating he did not have enough funds for the purpose. Insiders said Bhandari met the CM in this regard at Chandigarh on Wednesday, following which the JIT Chairman called an emergency meeting.

The trustees disclosed that the properties immediately available for auction included shops near Adarsh Palace on Kapurthala Chowk and a swimming pool site near Partap Bagh. The pool had been lying in a dilapidated condition for the past few years. Initially a site owned by the MC, it had been later transferred to the JIT. Trustees Shiv Dyal Chugh, Gopal Mian and Buta Singh Sachdeva and Executive Officer Jatinder Singh, who attended the meeting, confirmed the developments.

Jalandhar, October 7
It was a special homecoming for Rahul Sharma, the right-hand leg spinner, who returned home after winning the Irani Trophy at Jaipur, on the occasion of Dasehra.

Rahul has been included in the Indian team for the first two One-day Internationals against England beginning on October 15.

As soon as he landed in the city, the schedule of the rising star remained busy -- meeting old pals, dear ones and receiving congratulatory calls. Rahul Sharma’s parents had specially gone to receive him at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar.

Said a jubliant Rahul’s younger brother, Rohit Sharma, said, “Dasehra was no less than Diwali for us. We met him after a fortnight and I was so excited to know his reaction to such a wonderful development. His life changed within this 
short period and I wanted to enjoy these moments with him.”

His brother added that although they wanted to make it a grand occasion, but it was Rahul who insisted them to wait for a grand celebration post the England tour. “He is a very reserved person and maintained his calm even in these hours of glory. Although we had a wonderful celebration time yesterday, but we are waiting for his successful return after the One-Day International at England. Then it would indeed be a grand celebration,” he added.

Even Rahul’s coach Davinder Arora said he could not meet him (Rahul), but spoke to him over the phone. “All we want is see him rise to the glory,” he said.

The history

l The Surjit Hockey Tournament is held every year in the memory of former skipper of the Indian Hockey team Olympian Surjit Singh Randhawa in Jalandhar. He had died in a car accident on January 7, 1984, on his way back from Gurdaspur after meeting experts for a benefit match. The match was to be held between India and Pakistan.

l After his sudden demise, his close friends and fans held a match on the day of his bhog ceremony and the then began the saga of Surjit Hockey Tournament, which is one of the leading hockey tourneys of the country.

Jalandhar October 7
Hundreds of vehicles impounded by the city police have been dumped on the premises of police stations. Due to the lack of proper space, majority of the vehicles are lying in a sad state of affairs.

The vehicles, involved in the cases of accidents, cheating, thefts and other crimes, have been impounded by the police and made case properties. The police have to keep these vehicles in its custody as long as the trial goes or until the court grants permission to release them.

On a visit to the Division No 7 police station, it was found that impounded vehicles, including scooters, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws and cars, were rusting and lying upon each others. It seemed that they have been gathering dust for the past many years. Same is the case with other police stations of the city.

When asked about the procedure of the disposing of impounded vehicles, ADCP Raj Pal Sandhu said it was a very cumbersome procedure and sometimes it took years.

He said the police had three sorts of impounded vehicles. First, those which are required as a part of investigations. Second, unclaimed vehicles impounded under police Act and third, vehicles impounded under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Earlier, the power to dispose of unclaimed vehicles was with the Deputy Commissioner and now the Police Commissioner, after publications of notice, could hold auctions of these vehicles.

About the reason of piling up of these vehicles, the ADCP said in many cases the owners of vehicles never turned up for years but the police had to keep them in custody till the court orders.

While quoting an example, he said, in case the accused was declared a proclaimed offender (PO), then it was the duty of the police to keep the vehicles recovered from his possession for 50 years.

In the cases of the vehicles being impounded under the NDPS Act or other serious crimes, it became very difficult for the owner to get the vehicles released.

Many times owners never turn up because the penalty was higher than the market value of the vehicle and in some accidental cases or deaths, owners never want to take back their vehicles as they consider it useless, Deputy Commissioner of Police Yurinder Singh said.

In other cases, despite the finishing of the trial, majority of the owners never turn up to stake claim for the vehicle. Sources in the Police Department revealed that the police had still been maintaining custody of some vehicles, in which the accused had been acquitted or trial finished.

Separate Malkhanas for impounded vehicles

As the traffic remained blocked, even the 108 Ambulance got stuck up in the jam. All those motorists, who tried to find way from any side, were also not allowed to move on.

Dasehra melas leave a trail of filth

The Dasehra melas held at scores of venues have left behind a trail of filth along the city roads. Wrappers of ice-creams, eatables and other stuff were today seen lying dumped all along roadsides by residents who attended the events. The ongoing strike of the safai karamcharis has made the condition even worse. All roads and all nooks and corners of the city had huge piles of garbage today, making lives of residents a hell.

MC office filthy

It was extremely difficult for the staff of the Municipal Corporation to work today with the office not cleaned for the past four days. The corridors had garbage bins overflowing. Waste papers were seen strewn all around. The toilets were stinking badly. The contractual staff appointed for the building have been demanding regularisation of their services and supporting the Nigam Safai Mazdur Union.

Meeting at Ludhiana

MC Commissioner BS Dhaliwal said a meeting of the representatives of the unions of safai karamcharis was scheduled to be held at Ludhiana at 7 pm. “Minister Hira Singh Gabria is to attend the meeting from the government side. The issue may gets resolved today,” he hoped.

Demonstration of road-sweeping machine

As the union strike went on, MC councillors SD Chugh and Sunil Jyoti oversaw the demonstration of road sweeping machines in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar today. The office is contemplating on mechanising the work by buying machines working on the vacuum-cleaning mechanism.

Jalandhar, October 7
A day before the Air Force Day, parasailing was held at the Adampur Air Force Station for the benefit of air warriors and their families. The Air Force Day will be celebrated tomorrow.

The event was conducted with the help of Senior Division Air Wing NCC cadets of Patiala. A treasure hunt was organised for the Warranted ranks, SNCOs, Airmen and their families.

The aim of this event was to inculcate a competitive spirit among the participants as well as to widen their general awareness about the Indian Air Force in general and the Air Force station in particular.

A total of 140 people in seven teams, each comprising 20 members, took part in the events.

The first prize in the event for the Warranted ranks, SNCOs, Airmen and families was bagged by the team from Administration Support Group, whereas, the team from 223 Squadron bagged the second prize.

In the event for officers and families, the first prize was won by Squadron Leader MS Sandhu and his wife. Squadron Leader A Dhopwakar and his wife and Squadron Leader A Hakim and Flight Lt MK Pandey stood second and third, respectively.

Jalandhar, October 6
The District Sainik Welfare Board will organise a pre-recruitment training for the candidates aspiring to join as women constables in the Punjab Police from October 10.

Deputy Director of the Sainik Board Lt-Col Manmohan Singh (retd) said the Punjab Police had advertised 2,000 posts of women constable. “Interested candidates should report at the District Sainik Board on October 10. We will conduct the medical examination of the screened candidates on October 12,” he added.