SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI


THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Driving licence seekers face testing times
Bathinda, February 14
A large number of people who came from different villages to undergo driving test at the Traffic Park in the Rose Garden alleged harassment due to delay in conducting the test. The driving test is conducted by the traffic police and those who clear the test get the licence to drive various vehicles.

Applicants wait for their turn to get driving licence at the Traffic Park in Rose Garden. People in the queue alleged that they had to face delay as just one instructor had been deployed by the traffic police. Applicants wait for their turn to get driving licence at the Traffic Park in Rose Garden. People in the queue alleged that they had to face delay as just one instructor had been deployed by the traffic police. Tribune photo: pawan Sharma

Encroachments removed at three places in city
Bathinda, February 14
The Municipal Corporation Bathinda today removed encroachments from three different places in the city. XEN Tirath Ram said the encroachers did not get the maps of their respective buildings approved.

A team from the Municipal Corporation Bathinda removing unauthorised structures in the city on Tuesday. A team from the Municipal Corporation Bathinda removing unauthorised structures in the city on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma


A man rides a motor-cycle with an unusual number plate that reads Mr Singh, in Bathinda on Tuesday.
Singh is King: A man rides a motor-cycle with an unusual number plate that reads Mr Singh, in Bathinda on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

EARLIER STORIES

The injured at Civil Hospital, Bathinda. Firing at petrol pump, employee injured
Bathinda, February 14
Two youths fired gunshots at an employee of a petrol pump near Diyalpura Mirza village on the Bhagta-Nathana road today in the evening. As per the information, two unidentified motorbike-borne youths arrived at the petrol pump and demanded that the tank of the bike be filled.

The injured at Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

Another Central Jail inmate dies
Bathinda, February 14
An 85-year-old jail inmate, an undertrial, Pritam Singh, died after illness early this morning today. Lodged at the Bathinda Central Jail in a cheating case under section 420 of the IPC, Pritam Singh was a resident of village Kothe Guru Ke. As per the sources in jail, Pritam was unwell since Monday and had been admitted to the jail hospital from where he was shifted to the Civil Hospital here.

Physiotherapist Amanpreet Kaur with a machine to be installed at the new unit in the OPD block of the Civil Hospital on Tuesday. New physiotherapy unit at Civil Hospital starts functioning
Bathinda, February 14
A physiotherapy unit is being set up in the OPD block of the local Civil Hospital. The initiative has been taken under the National Programme for Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE). Several machines, to be used in physiotherapy exercises, are likely to be installed tomorrow to make the unit fully functional.


Physiotherapist Amanpreet Kaur with a machine to be installed at the new unit in the OPD block of the Civil Hospital on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

three-day training programme begins
A training programme organised by PSPCL in progress at the Polytechnic College, Bathinda on Tuesday. Powercom gives tips on franchisee system
Bathinda, February 14
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today started three-day training programme on franchisee system at the Polytechnic College, Bathinda.

A training programme organised by PSPCL in progress at the Polytechnic College, Bathinda on Tuesday. A Tribune Photograph

BFGI to hold Green Tech Fest from today
Bathinda, February 14
Baba Farid Group of Institutions (BFGI) is holding a tech fest at its campus on February 15 and 16.

Guru Kashi varsity holds maiden meeting of academic council
The first meeting of academic council of Guru Kashi University in progress. Bathinda, February 14
Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, held the first meeting of its academic council. It was chaired by Chancellor Dr JS Dhaliwal. Dr DS Hira, vice-chancellor of GKU, explained the existing courses and also discussed the courses which will be started in the next session. Dean, Academic, Dr BS Dhaliwal narrated the rules and regulations.

The first meeting of academic council of Guru Kashi University in progress. A Tribune photograph





Top








 

Driving licence seekers face testing times
Applicants at Traffic Park in Rose Garden allege harassment due to long queues and delay on account of just one instructor
Gurdeep Singh Mann
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 14
A large number of people who came from different villages to undergo driving test at the Traffic Park in the Rose Garden alleged harassment due to delay in conducting the test.

The driving test is conducted by the traffic police and those who clear the test get the licence to drive various vehicles.

Gora Singh of Jeeda village said the driving test is conducted once a week, on Tuesday, and this is his third round in the past three weeks.

"I am among those making rounds of the Traffic Park to get clearance for a driving licence from the traffic police authorities," Gora said.

He pointed out that people are returning from the Traffic Park every week for the last many days without getting their work done.

Amninderpal of Lehra Mohabbat village said the number of candidates for the traffic test increased manifold due to a holiday on last Tuesday and some official work of the traffic department prior to that.

A visit to the Traffic Park today revealed that people were standing in long queues and were pleading before the authorities to get their work done today itself.

Surjit Singh from Ballo village said this is his third trip to the Traffic Park in the last four months to get a driving licence for his niece.

He pointed out that the traffic policemen are unable to conduct practical tests for the licence seekers and sign the papers without much hassle probably due to lack of adequate manpower.

"By doing this, cops fail to impart education to the fresh licence holders who may meet with accidents due to lack of basic knowledge while driving vehicle for the first time on the road," Surjit Singh said.

Sukhraj Singh, the only instructor deployed by the traffic police, said the problem arose today due to a holiday last week and work pressure of the traffic police.

He refuted the allegations that tests were conducted without imparting practical knowledge to the licence seekers.

Sukhraj Singh said though there were 300 participants today. However, he informed them about the rules single- handedly by forming different groups.

They were informed about the advantages of using seat belts, stopping at red light, using low beam in city areas, zebra crossing, yellow line and other rules, he said.

More traffic policemen should be deployed to properly handle the rush and make the people aware of the basic traffic rules.


Lakhvir Singh,
Resident of Tungwali village

My village is 25 km from here and it is my second round to the Traffic Park to seek the driving licence for my nephew.


Gora Singh,
Resident of Jeeda village

It is a herculean task. People stand in long queues and keep waiting endlessly to get signatures and stamps on their applications.


Amninderpal,
Resident of Lehra Mohabbat

The only cop deployed in the Traffic Park fails to properly test applicants and clear their tests by signing and stamping their forms.


Surjit Singh,
Resident of Ballo village

Top

 

Encroachments removed at three places in city
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 14
The Municipal Corporation Bathinda today removed encroachments from three different places in the city. XEN Tirath Ram said the encroachers did not get the maps of their respective buildings approved.

The team demolished the third storey of Narang Children's Hospital for which the hospital authorities had not sought permission. Also, the hospital authorities had not left 12 feet space in front of the hospital as per the building bylaws, said corporation officials.

Similarly, a shop on Bhatti road was razed as the owner had not got its map approved by the MCB. The shutter and floor of the shop was demolished.

On GT road, encroachment was demolished at the Subhash Autos. Corporation officials said construction was being carried out on the upper floor of the shop without seeking permission.

MCB officials added that notices were served to all the encroachers thrice but they did not respond.

Following this, the encroachments were removed today.

Top

 

Firing at petrol pump, employee injured

Bathinda, February 14
Two youths fired gunshots at an employee of a petrol pump near Diyalpura Mirza village on the Bhagta-Nathana road today in the evening. As per the information, two unidentified motorbike-borne youths arrived at the petrol pump and demanded that the tank of the bike be filled.

When the employee, Jaswinder Singh, demanded money for the fuel, the youths tried to flee. The employee tried to catch hold of the fleeing youths who fired at him. The employee was injured in the firing.

The youths managed to flee from the spot and the employee was rushed to the local Civil Hospital by his colleagues and the petrol pump owner. He was treated in the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital when last reports came in. The doctors attending on him said he received injuries in his face.

Police officials including the area SHOs and a DSP rushed to the petrol pump and ordered the cordoning off of the area. Efforts were being made by the police to identify the accused involved in the firing. Police nakas have been set up in the areas adjoining Bathinda.

Police officials said a case in this connection would be registered against the unidentified accused after recording the statements of the victim and the eye-witnesses. — TNS

Top

 

Another Central Jail inmate dies

Bathinda, February 14
An 85-year-old jail inmate, an undertrial, Pritam Singh, died after illness early this morning today. Lodged at the Bathinda Central Jail in a cheating case under section 420 of the IPC, Pritam Singh was a resident of village Kothe Guru Ke. As per the sources in jail, Pritam was unwell since Monday and had been admitted to the jail hospital from where he was shifted to the Civil Hospital here.

He breathed his last at around 2:45 am today. The postmortem would be conducted tomorrow and the body would be handed over to his relatives, said the jail officials. Earlier too, a drug addict inmate had died in the jail. — TNS

Top

 

New physiotherapy unit at Civil Hospital starts functioning
Machines likely to be installed today; unit expects huge rush of patients from the city
Sushil Goyal
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 14
A physiotherapy unit is being set up in the OPD block of the local Civil Hospital. The initiative has been taken under the National Programme for Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE). Several machines, to be used in physiotherapy exercises, are likely to be installed tomorrow to make the unit fully functional.

At this unit, orthopaedic and neuro-related problems will be treated. Orthopaedic problems like knee pain, problems of backbone and cervical, arthritis, shoulder pain and post-fracture stiffness would be tackled here.

Neuro-related problems like paralysis (hemiplegia and paraplegia) and cerebral palsy (neuro problem among children due to which they can not sit or walk up to three to four or more years), would also be able to seek physiotherapy support here.

To run this physiotherapy unit, several machines are being installed. These machines include shortwave diatherapy for giving deep heat to body parts, interferential therapy for pain relief, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pain relief, therapeutic ultrasound machine, stimulators for muscle stimulation, continuous passive motion for relief from knee stiffness, treadmill for walking training and traction for cervical and back pain relief. The total cost of all these machines and other equipment is said to be more than Rs 4 lakh.

Keeping in view the privacy of the patients, separate compartments have been prepared for installing the machines in two rooms on the ground floor of the OPD block of the Civil Hospital.

At present, one female physiotherapist has joined while the male physiotherapist is yet to join. One more physiotherapist is likely to be appointed. Though the physiotherapy unit is yet to start functioning, some patients have started coming to the unit to get treatment from the female physiotherapist.

Bathinda Civil Surgeon Dr Iqbal Singh said the patients above the age of 60 years would get physiotherapy treatment free of cost while patients below 60 years of age would have to pay some nominal charges as fixed by the Punjab Health System Corporation (PHSC) in its hospitals.

The physiotherapist, Amanpreet Kaur, told this reporter that in the private clinics, the patients have to pay Rs 100 on an average per visit.

So, in view of the nominal charges, patients are likely to rush in large numbers to this unit every day as there were many in the city needing physiotherapyy, she added.

When the matter, relating to visit of a large number of patients to the physiotherapy unit daily, was brought to the notice of a district-level officer, he said in case the unit faced a great rush daily, then the health authorities might start even an evening shift for the welfare of the patients.

Top

 

three-day training programme begins
Powercom gives tips on franchisee system
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 14
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) today started three-day training programme on franchisee system at the Polytechnic College, Bathinda.

The programme is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

College principal Yadwinder Singh and XEN, technical training centres, Bathinda, Sukhdev Singh Sohal, inaugurated the programme. Speaking on the occasion, Yadwinder Singh asked students to drive the maximum benefit out of the training camp.

He added that the institute had organised such training programmes for students in the past also. Such programmes tell students about the vast horizon of entrepreneurship opportunities that exist apart from usual jobs.

XEN Sukhdev Singh Sohal said the training programme was being held to encourage the franchisee system launched under the Electricity Act 2003. “In the coming times, Powercom will introduce franchisee system for providing better facilities to the consumers. After completing their education, students can get associated with Powercom and contribute to the development of the state,” he added.

AEE Bishan Kumar from Technical Training Institute, Patiala, talked about the advantages of the system as well as the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme.

The final year students of the electrical engineering wing are attending the programme. Prominent among others present included JE Inderjit Singh, JE Sadhu Singh, Jasvir S Gill, AAE from Patiala Shaminderjit S Gill, Manjit Singh Bhullar, Sanjiv Goyal, Gurinder Pal Singh and others.

Top

 

BFGI to hold Green Tech Fest from today
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 14
Baba Farid Group of Institutions (BFGI) is holding a tech fest at its campus on February 15 and 16.

While addressing media persons today, the Managing Director of BFGI Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal, said the Green Tech Fest was an effort to give boost to Live Green campaign of BFGI.

Live and demo models depicting the theme to reduce, recycle and reuse would be displayed by International Corporate Houses as SUZLON (leader in wind-mill generators), IBM (leader in energy saving computers), Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), Chevorlet, Eco Gas Dispensing and others.

The Indian Army and the Airforce will also be participating in the fest.

Various competitions like painting, model making and best out of waste based on the concept of Live Green will be organised. “This will help students to create useful products by reusing and recycling waste,” he said.

Cash prizes of Rs 11,000, Rs 5,100 and Rs 2,100 will be given to the first, second and third position holders of model making competition.

Cash prizes will also be given to the participants of other competitions.

No registration fee will be charged from participants.

The students from various streams have been invited to participate in these competitions.

The fest will also include cultural activities, entertainment programmes and various stalls offering eatables for the visitors and participants.

Major General Anil Verma, Chief of Staff HQ 10 Corps, will the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony on February 15.

The closing ceremony on February 16 will be presided over by TPS Sidhu, Chief Executive, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA). The entry for the participants and visitors will be free of cost.

Free bus service will be provided to people within a periphery of 60-70 kms.

For all kinds of details and enquiries, call can be made on the toll-free number 1800 4191005.

Fact file

n The two-day fest is an effort to give boost to the Live Green Campaign of the BFGI.
n Various competitions like painting, model making and best out of waste based on the concept of Live Green will be organised during the fest.
n Cash prizes will be given to the first, second and third position holders of model making contest.
n Entry for participants and visitors will be absolutely free of cost.

Top

 

Guru Kashi varsity holds maiden meeting of academic council

Bathinda, February 14
Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, held the first meeting of its academic council. It was chaired by Chancellor Dr JS Dhaliwal. Dr DS Hira, vice-chancellor of GKU, explained the existing courses and also discussed the courses which will be started in the next session. Dean, Academic, Dr BS Dhaliwal narrated the rules and regulations.

Dr Narinder Singh, Director, Campus, spoke about the co-curricular activities.

S. Sukhraj Singh Sidhu, MD, GKU, assured of all support. Dr JS Dhaliwal also declared the result of the first semester. — TNS

Top

 





HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail |