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HC issues contempt notices to Local Bodies Department
Gurdaspur, February 12
The Punjab and Haryana High Court slammed a contempt of court notice for February 15 to the Director of Local Bodies, Punjab, Deputy Director of Local Bodies, Amritsar, and the Executive Officer of Gurdaspur Municipal Council for not paying pension and provident fund (PF), dues amounting to nearly Rs 2.5 crore, to its retired employees.

Twelve govt depts owe PSPCL Rs 11.53 crore
Gurdaspur, February 12
It is a double whammy for the mandarins of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). On the one hand there are 12 government departments which have failed to pay their outstanding dues and on the other hand the PSPCL is not allowed to adjust the money it generates through levying electricity duty (ED) against outstanding dues of these departments.

One killed in road accident
Pathankot, February, 12
A man was killed in a road accident near Simble chowk on Pathankot-Jalandhar road here on Saturday.

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HC issues contempt notices to Local Bodies Department
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, February 12
The Punjab and Haryana High Court slammed a contempt of court notice for February 15 to the Director of Local Bodies, Punjab, Deputy Director of Local Bodies, Amritsar, and the Executive Officer of Gurdaspur Municipal Council for not paying pension and provident fund (PF), dues amounting to nearly Rs 2.5 crore, to its retired employees.

A petition had been filed by Ramesh Gupta, General Secretary of the Punjab Nagar Palika Karamchari Mahasangh and President of the Gurdaspur Municipal Council Employees Union. In the petition he stated that the MC was not depositing the pensions and PFs of its employees despite court’s order.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on April 4 had directed the officers concerned to deposit the amount within four months.

“The MC cannot say it does not have money as it has recently earned a revenue of nearly Rs 2.5 crore. It has received Rs 45 lakh from Excise Duty and Auction Proceeds, Rs 1 crore from the sale of library building (the auction of which was held in April last year) and proceeds received from PUDA authorities amounting to Rs 68 lakh. Despite getting this money, the MC sat on the case and disobeyed the Court’s order,” said Ramesh Gupta.

He added that due to the negligence of the MC, pensioners and retired employees were left in the lurch. “This carelessness on the part of the MC forced me to knock the doors of the High Court,” added Gupta

When contacted, Executive Officer of the MC, Hardev Singh, said arrangements were made to pay the retired employees as soon as possible.

Twelve govt depts owe PSPCL Rs 11.53 crore
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, February 12
It is a double whammy for the mandarins of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). On the one hand there are 12 government departments which have failed to pay their outstanding dues and on the other hand the PSPCL is not allowed to adjust the money it generates through levying electricity duty (ED) against outstanding dues of these departments.

The main defaulters are Gurdaspur Municipal Council that has to pay Rs 2.65 crore and Ranjit Sagar Dam which owes PSPCL Rs 3.54 crore.

The other departments are Punjab State Tubewell Corporation (Rs 60.86 lakh), Punjab Police (Rs 13.20 lakh), Water Works of Batala, Dhariwal, Gurdaspur and Pathankot (Rs 3.14 crore), Public Health (Rs 48.59 lakh), SDM offices of Batala and Pathankot (Rs 2.63 lakh), hospitals and dispensaries of Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts (Rs 71.18 lakh), Forest Department (Rs 2.86 lakh), Municipal Council (Rs 2.73 crore) and Pathankot BDO office (Rs 39,000).

The total dues of these departments are Rs 11.53 crore. Sources said despite using various methods they have failed to convince these departments to cough up the money.

Jasvir Singh, Deputy Chief Engineer, Gurdaspur Circle, said the worst offender is the Gurdaspur Municipal Council. He added that the PSPCL collected octroi from consumers and adjusted it against the outstanding dues of the MC. However, he said this amount came to just 10 per cent of the total dues. “After adjusting octroi, 90 per cent of the MC’s bills still remain unpaid.

A senior officer, requesting anonymity, said the PSPCL collected electricity duty (ED) at the rate of 13 per cent of the total bill amount from the consumers. “However, due to a state government order, this amount has to be collected from consumers and paid directly to the coffers of the state government. Things could be better off if we were allowed to adjust the ED against outstanding bills of these departments. About a year ago we were allowed to adjust the ED but now the government has asked the PSPCL to stop the adjustments and directly pay the amount to the government.”

Jasvir Singh added that since the MC had stopped paying bills for the past several months they have the option to disconnect power supply to street lights and water works. “If we go ahead, the public will suffer. Why punish the residents for the mistakes committed by the MC?” he said.

One killed in road accident
Our Correspondent

Pathankot, February, 12
A man was killed in a road accident near Simble chowk on Pathankot-Jalandhar road here on Saturday. Police said an unidentified vehicle hit Bawa Ram (65), resident of Gugran village, when he was returning from a wedding function. He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The body was handed over to his family after conducting postmortem.

Earrings, purse snatched
Our Correspondent

Batala, February, 12
Motorcycle-borne two youth snatched gold earrings from Kashmir Kaur near Gurudwara Sat Kartaria on Sunday.

In another incident, two people snatched a purse containing Rs 30,000, a mobile and a gold chain from Madhu Sharma. The victim along with her daughter was returning home when the incident took place.

Printing press, shop burgled
Our Correspondent

Batala, February, 12
Thieves burgled a shop on the Jalandhar Road and took away electrical items and Rs 3,000 cash on Saturday.

A printing press was also burgled on the same day. Thieves decamped with computer, scanner, printer, television set and some other articles from the printingpress. SSP Gurkirpal Singh today said police officers have been deployed to scan the areas and to do vigorous patrolling.

He appealed to the public to help police in tracing the criminals.