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Maximum garbage, maximum stink
36 shops to be auctioned by JIT on Oct 14
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NHRM workers’ strike: Rural medical
services gasping for breath
Lab technicians strike: Patients pay the price as govt looks away
Earning a livelihood in the shadow of danger
Life threat due to high tension wires
Apni mandis losing meaning in Jalandhar
Wadali trio’s new offering, Naina De Buhe
Two-day PTU conference inspires upcoming engineers
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Maximum garbage, maximum stink
Jalandhar, October 8 All the city roads were converted into huge garbage dumps. With no lifting of garbage for the past five days, the stench coming out of the heaps has made lives of residents and commuters miserable. There are huge piles of garbage in front of hospitals, eateries, market areas, parks, bus stand, railway station and all public places where people venture out. The worst is the condition of people living around vacant plots as such sites have become most affected by the problem. Parmod Gupta, a resident of Golden Avenue, said, “There is a huge plot at the backside of our house. Almost everyone from the colony has been disposing of waste in this plot for the past nearly a week. We have had to close the windows in the backyard of our house just to avoid this smell. “My major concern is the health of my children who play around in the colony”, he seemed worried. Aruna Arora, a Congress councillor representing the Model Town area, has been time and again demanding action in the form of penalty against those throwing filth. But this time, she too claims helplessness, “What can the people do when garbage is not lifted from their houses for five days at a stretch? Today, I went to a cremation at Model Town. It was such an awkward position for me as everyone stood there with their faces covered because of stench from garbage heap outside”, she lamented. Chandan Garewal, president of Nigam Safai Mazdur Union, claimed that the talks of the officials with union members failed today and they had decided to make their agitation more intense by going on a chain hunger strike from Monday onwards. MC Commissioner BS Dhaliwal, said, “We again have plans to hold talks with representatives of 31 unions at Ludhiana. I am confident that the problem will be resolved there”. |
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36 shops to be auctioned by JIT on Oct 14
Jalandhar, Oct 8 The decision was taken in a meeting of the trustees and officials of JIT with the Mayor and Commissioner from Municipal Corporation here today. Even as chairman of the Trust Baljit Singh Neelamahal claimed the financial situation was too tight and that it would be difficult for him to shell out money for MC, he ensured the authorities that an amount of Rs 15 crore would be made available in two weeks time. In return of the amount being paid, the JIT chairman demanded that the MC authorities should hand over some properties to them. But the MC officials did not give any confirmation on this front. In the proposal put forth by the JIT, it was written, “JIT had paid an amount of Rs 48 crore to the MC on August 14, 2009. Another financial aid of Rs 10 crore had been extended on August 13, 2010. In lieu of this, the MC has transferred some land in Partap Bagh, the market value of which is far low. Apart from this, there has been no land transfer from the MC. Besides, the Trust has also got development works worth Rs 7 crore carried out outside its scheme areas under section 69 of the Punjab Town Improvement Trust Act 1922.” The copy of agenda circulated by the Jalandhar Improvement Trust paints a picture of its poor fiscal condition. It mentions, “The Trust has taken a loan of Rs 175 crore from the Punjab National Bank for the execution of Surya Enclave Extension Scheme. The loan has to be cleared in three year time. In the first year, an amount of Rs 1.71 crore has to be returned as interest which comes to paying up of Rs 5.51 lakh per day. Besides, the Trust is already renovating Guru Gobind Singh Stadium at an estimated cost of Rs 23.47 crore. An amount of Rs 5.03 crore has been already spent and another sum of Rs 18.44 crore would be needed in the next two months. At this moment, the Trust is left with a balance of just Rs 3.20 crore, of which Rs 2.5 crore has been frozen on the orders of courts. The Trust has received nearly Rs 94.86 crore as earnest money from 2702 applicants for 431 plots in Surya Enclave Extension. After the draw, the amount left would be close to Rs 18 crore. Since the draw is yet to be held, the money cannot be used as it is public money. As per the conditions fixed with the bank, the money received under the scheme is to go into escrow account, since 70 per cent of it is to go back as loan and 30 per cent is to be spent on development works in the scheme area. On the basis of these facts, it is clear that it would be extremely difficult for the Trust to pay up Rs 15 crore to MC for development works in the city.” Executive Officer of JIT Jatinder Singh confirmed that shops were being auctioned for generating funds. Mayor Rakesh Rathour said, “The JIT has demanded land transfer
in lieu of development funds but we are yet to take a decision on the matter”. Earlier transfers
JIT had paid an amount of Rs 48 crore to the MC on August 14, 2009 Financial aid of Rs 10 crore had been extended on August 13, 2010 MC has also transferred some land in Partap Bagh, the market value of which is far low. On the anvil
Also plans to auction its other properties including shops near Adarsh Palace on Kapurthala Chowk and a swimming pool site at the Partap Bagh Decision was taken in a meeting of the trustees and officials of JIT with the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner The Trust has received nearly Rs 94.86 crore as earnest money from 2,702 applicants for 431 plots in Surya Enclave Extension
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NHRM workers’ strike: Rural medical
services gasping for breath
Jalandhar, October 8 Rallying in support of their demands, 500 NRHM employees have been on strike since October 4. While a state-level meeting with health minister Satpal Gosain yesterday was expected to bring results, so far all they have got is more promises. Talking to The Tribune, Gurinder Singh, member NHRM Employees Association, Jalandhar said, “Though we had been expecting that notifications with regard to our demands will be issued as early as September 26, nothing was done. In the meeting that happened late in the evening yesterday, the Health Minister promised that he will talk to the Deputy Chief Minister about our demands on Monday. We will wait till Tuesday. If the government doesn’t promise any concrete results, we are planning to sit on a hunger strike from Wednesday on (Tuesday is a gazetted holiday).” The NRHM association members across the state have been struggling to get their demands accepted for the past year. While their prime demand is regularisation of contractual employees, many other demands of theirs lie unaccepted. Principal Secretary, Health, P Chander had assured them (on August 30) that notifications - on issues like provision of 30 to 40 per cent increments on their salaries, Rs 500 medical allowance, 15 casual leaves and 10 extra holidays, provision of six-month maternity leave for the female staff - would be issued to them by the government, lack of any such move by the government has angered them. The ‘alleged’ violence against NHRM employees during their recent dharnas in
Ludhiana, have also angered them. Contractual NRHM employees in the dist: 500 25 per cent of NRHM employees are contractual 75 to 80 patients each reported at OPDs of ayurvedic and homeopathic establishments. The number for allopathic patients is 45 to 50 per day Out of 11 blocks, those like Jamsher and Raipur Farala mostly have contractual employees. A majority of the NRHM staff nurses are also contractual Child delivery schemes - institutional deliveries, Janani Suraksha Yojna and Mata Kaushalya Scheme - are totally dependent on the
NRHM
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Lab technicians strike: Patients pay the price as govt looks away
Jalandhar, October 8 In all, there are total 71 lab technicians in the city (45 regular, 26 contractual) and none of the government establishments can conduct tests in their absence. The doctors at the civil hospital today themselves admitted they had to send many of their patients back due to the strike, since they could not treat them as long as their test reports were available. An assistant at the hospital, working in one of the OPDs, told The Tribune each doctor in the hospital was sending as many 15 to 20 patients back every day because tests could not be done. Heart specialist Dr Kashmiri Lal said, “I got as many as 120 patients today and out of them as many as 45 were sent back because tests could not be conducted.” The labs in the hospital wore a deserted look and those naïve enough to pay a visit, had to return disappointed. Doctors said the worrisome aspect was that many among these patients could also be suffering from serious ailments or conditions which tests might reveal, but nothing could be done about it as long as the technicians weren’t back on the job. Jalandhar president of the lab technicians’ union, SL Bawa said, “The government is incurring losses to the tune of Rs 25,000 to 30,000 due to the strike. Only the emergency and blood bank services are still on, those too will be suspended if the government doesn’t relent till the 12th of October (the day the union has a meeting with the CM).” Demands: Removal of pay anomalies - lab technicians share the same qualification but pay scales have huge differences ranging from Rs 4,000 to 10,000. Regularisation of contractual lab technicians Increase in grade 2 pay band from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,800. Increase in grade 1 pay band from Rs 3,800 to Rs 5,400. Demand for state and district level posts for lab technicians. Demand for risk allowance - direct exposure to fatal infections daily but no allowance as yet. Pen-down strike by 71 lab technicians in distt govt hospitals and dis pensaries causing a lot of inconvenience to patients Civil hospital footfall about 600 to 700, majority of patients returning due to lack of tests As many as 15 to 20 patients being turned back by every doctor, some turning back as many as 45 to 50 The government is incurring losses to the tune of Rs 25,000 to 30,000 due to the strike Only emergency and blood bank services still on, these too, to be suspended if govt doesn’t relent till October 12
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Earning a livelihood in the shadow of danger
Jalandhar October 8 Scenes of neglect have been noticed at Rainak Bazaar, Kachehri Chowk, Gulab Chowk, Plaza Chowk and inside the main market of Phagwara Gate, where these vendors are engaged in various forms of employment. Unaware of the risk of electrocution, they have been being using power transformers as their ‘shelters’. Though nothing untoward has happened so far, but the risk of electrocution cannot be ruled out. In the main market of the Phagwara Gate, Birbal, a tea vendor (chai wala) had set up his tea stall for the past of many years. When questioned him about the risk of electrocution, he was hastened to add “There is a zero per cent risk of electric shocks, as I have been running this tea stall from the past many years, till date, I didn’t face any such problem and am hoping it will be so in the future as well.” He advocated that though during the rains, minor electric bursts have been noticed, but there has never been any serious implications. Similary, in Kachehri’ chowk, a book seller and a shoe shiner boy have set up their temporary selling units from long time. Interestingly, they have been using the power transformer as a shelter for their selling point. Despite clearly visible warning boards hung on the power transformers by the Power Department, these alleged selling points are continued to run without any fear. A kulcha seller at Rainak Bazaar, who set up his selling point next to the electric transformer when asked about the danger of electrocution, said he had no fear of electric shocks as they had been here from long time hence became habitual to these power transformers. S S Sarna, Chief Engineer PowerComm Jalandhar, when questioned on the safety aspect of these selling points hastened to add that their department carried no responsibility if anything untoward occurs as the entire responsibility lies on the vendors. Asked if there was any risk of electrocution, he said, though as such these transformers were safely placed and the wires were safely covered, the possibility of electrocution cannot be ruled out at all. He said, sometimes during rain, leakage of transformers’ oil may start, which was a clear hazard, if it came into the contact of any body parts. “We have placed danger warning boards over the transformers so it is the duty of Municipal Corporation to take strict action against such encroachments beneath the transformers.” |
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Life threat due to high tension wires
Jalandhar, October 8 Another resident, Arpita, alleged that during rainy season they cannot even go on the rooftop as danger of electrocution is always there. “Is the Powercom department waiting for another man’s death?” she quipped.Some residents, as a precautionary measure, have even rolled rubbers or plastic pipes on these wires. Amandeep, a resident, said that these wires are very loose and they might come off during gust or heavy winds. Residents alleged that they have to keep a strict vigil over their children and never allow them to play on the rooftops. They rued that due to this problem the value of property in the area has also decreased. Sources revealed that a few years back, a boy of Avtar Nagar was electrocuted by the high tension wires. The shock was so high that one of his thumbs got destroyed and later had to be removed. Majinder Singh, Councillor of the locality, said they had already written to the Powercom officials in Patiala, through the then Local Body Minister Manoranjan Kalia, requesting to shift these 66 KV wires. SS Parmar, Chief Engineer Powercom, Jalandhar, said Powercom do not carry any responsibility of these wires because these power lines were laid when no houses were constructed and now the residents have to pay a required amount to shift these power lines to other places.
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Apni mandis losing meaning in Jalandhar
Jalandhar, October 8 Nowadays, migrant labourers are putting up stalls at mandis to sell farmers’ produce. The market committees hire labourers and also buy farmers’ produce and make profit out of it. This trend has foiled the basic concept of establishing apni mandis-to provide vegetables at cheaper rates to the consumers. A farmer, Satwant Singh, came from Authaula village to sell potatoes at one of the apni mandis. He said, “Most of the us have stopped putting up our stalls because the commission agents are giving us decent price for our produce and we do not have to sit and wait the entire day to sell our produce.” The consumers pay the price as the farmers stopped putting up their stalls. Farmers sell 50 kg potato at a price ranging from Rs 200 to 250. However, at apni mandis one-kilo potato is being sold at Rs 10 or Rs 25. The sources in the market committee also admitted that 90 percent of the vegetable sellers at apni mandis are not farmers but migrant labourers. A housewife, Renu Sharma, said she buys vegetables at Pratap Bagh mandi on Fridays. She has observed that no farmers sell their produces at the mandis directly. She said the rates here are not even cheap as compared to the open markets. Apni mandis are supposed to offer farmers’ produce at cheaper rates. Renu said the market committee should set up a system to persuade the farmers to put up their stalls as it was done earlier. Apni mandis were established at various parts of Punjab in 1980s during the tenure of former Union Sports Minister, Manohar Singh Gill. Three out of the five mandis in Jalandhar are held under the aegis of the market committee. These mandis are organised every Monday on PAP ground, situated behind Guru Nanak Pura road and at Sat Kartar plot, Kala Sanghia road. On Friday another mandi is organised at Pratap Bagh. The market committee of Jalandhar cantonment organises two mandis: at Urban Estate Phase II on every Wednesday and Saturday and at Kamal Vihar near Model Town on Sunday. About apni mandis Apni mandis were established in various parts of Punjab in 1980s during the tenure of PS Gill in Punjab as IAS officer. The initial concept of mandis was to provide a place for the farmers to set up their stalls on a particular day at a particular place to sell their produce directly to the customers. It was beneficial both for the farmers and consumers. Later, the farmers started selling their produce to vegetable sellers who set up their stalls at the mandis. Five apni mandis held in and around city PAP ground behind Guru Nanak Pura road, every Monday. Sat Kartar plot, Kala Sanghia road, every Monday. Pratap Bagh on Fridays Urban Estate Phase II, every Wednesday and Saturday Kamal Vihar near Model Town, on Sundays |
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Wadali trio’s new offering, Naina De Buhe
Jalandhar, October 8 Mouthing earthy poetry and tales in their characteristic style, they regaled the city press with their rustic wit and humour. Payrelal Wadali’s take on Shrotas (audience) - There are two kinds of audiences, one like the chanani (sieve) and another like the chajj (winnower) while the former takes in the superficial elements and discards the substantial elements, the latter recognises and retains substance, doing away with the noisy, insignificant aspects of a musical package. While the last time we saw an elder Wadali teaming up with Wadali junior, it was just the father son duo of Puran Chand and Lakhwinder Wadali. Whatever bad press they might have had for the absence of Pyare Lal from the picture during recent times, this evening the trio looked snug together, hitting back with witty one-liners and fables for every question shot to them. The Wadali Brothers have an ancient (almost) association with the city. They first got picked for radio in a little 1975 they came to pay their musical tributes at the Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan. Denied a chance on the stage, they instead got picked up for All India Radio by an executive charmed by the spirit of their music. Lakhwinder, too, had a little piece of Jalandhar’s sacred-music-space when he delivered a performance for DD’s Jalsa series at the Dev Talab Mandir, right after Pandit Hariprasad Chaurusia regaled Jalandhar with his flute. Both elder Wadalis are impassioned about their roots-Puran Chand about akharas and kushti (wrestling) and Payarelal Wadali is still known to have an eye on the role of Krishna in the Ram Lila village as they were before their four decade long journey took them to ever new heights. The album they released today has been produced by Ruby of Speed Records and Tiger Style UK. RP Deewana has given the lyrics to the song Naina De Buhe. The album has 9 songs all loaded with the Sufi elements that they celebrate. Other compositions include-“tere ishq nachaya”, “churi, Jugni kehndi hai”, “ishq nai darda maut kolon”, “sambhal rangiye” and “main tan peeni hai” (the title video track). Later in the night, the trio also delivered a mesmerising concert at the Gymkhana Club, Jalandhar.
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NCC annual training camp organised
Jalandhar, October 8 As many as 468 cadets with NCC officials visited the Vajra Aviation Unit and attended the lecture-cum-demonstration. The cadets were briefed in detail about the functioning, usefulness and the role of helicopters in the armed forces. Earlier in the day, doctors from Civil Hospital Jalandhar visited the camp and delivered lectures on AIDS and Female Foeticide to the cadets. A firing event was also organised during this camp in which 280 NCC cadets carried out the shooting practice at the local Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV) firing range during the past two days.
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Two-day PTU conference inspires upcoming engineers
Jalandhar, October 8 Nearly 55 delegates participated in the conference. Around 50 research papers were selected from the conference, which will be printed in different internationally referred journals. About 20 experts from IITs, NITs and other premier institutions and universities delivered lectures on various technical sessions of the conference. Dr Satya Prakash of IIT Roorkee delivered his lecture on ‘Bio-implant materials and its applications’. Dr Abhijeet Mukherjee, Director, Thapar University, inspired the students to do their best to create a new history in the field of engineering. His tribute to Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, inspired the students to do their work with a global approach. Dr Rajneesh Arora, Vice-Chancellor PTU, Dr Satya Prakash from IIT Roorkee and Dr UK Chaterjee from IIT, Delhi, released the international journal of the conference on the subject of ‘Surface engineering and materials technology’. The conference was organised in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Defence Research and Development Organisation.
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There seems to be no end to the people’s woes on garbage disposal as the ongoing strike of the safai karamcharis entered the fifth day today.
As if the strike by lab technicians wasn’t enough, an off-work strike by NHRM (National Rural Health Mission) employees is adding to the worries of the health department as well as the patients in the district. With as many as 500 (contractual) NHRM employees in the district on strike since October 4, the state of the medical services in the rural areas is greatly suffering.
Jalandhar October 8
Residents of Guru Nanak Pura, Avtar Nagar (East) and Bashirpura have been living under the threat of high tension wires for the past many years. What keeps the residents in an alarming mode was the death of Jeet Ram, resident of Guru Nanak
Pura. He was electrocuted to death when he accidentally came into contact of high tension wires passing through the rooftop of his house. The victim was 56 years old and was working with the Punjab State Electricity Board
(PSEB).
Jalandhar, October 8
Wisdom-voiced Wadali Brothers and their precious prodigy Lakhwinder
Wadali-came calling to the city today with the news of their brand new album Naina De
Buhe.
