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Unsafe factories galore; workers under threat
A factory in a deplorable condition in Amritsar. Photo: Sameer Sehgal
Notorious smuggler Sukhbir escaped through main gate of central jail
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Health matters
Nine years on, PPCB fails to impanel chartered
engineers
Jaitley for reforms in higher education
Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, presents a degree to a student during the annual convocation at Khalsa College in Amritsar on Sunday.
Photo: Vishal Kumar
Senior citizen left helpless as chair of insurance ombudsman lying vacant
GND Hospital shielding accused, allege murder victim’s kin
Official speak
Art exhibition inaugurated
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Unsafe factories galore; workers under threat
Amritsar, April 22 There are no efforts or funds being spared for the safety and welfare of the factory workers. Interestingly, it is the labour department and not the industries department that inspects the industrial units, clears their building plans and keeps a check on the safety measures. These tasks are carried out by the Directorate of Factories, a wing of the Labour
department. However, the data available with the Directorate of Factories suggests that the total number of units in Amritsar is 1,145. Deputy Director Factories MS Beri, who also has the additional charge of Amritsar, said he conducts regular checks on the
implementation of safety measures. He said at least 96 challans for violation of safety measures in Amritsar are pending in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate. He said as per the Factories Act 1948, his department does not have any punitive powers and could file challans in the CJM’s court against the violators. Factories here are scattered all over the city and keeping a tab on them is a mammoth task. Adding to the problem is the fact that these are situated in residential areas like East Mohan Nagar, along GT road, Puttlighar, Islamabad, Verka, Batala road, Majitha road, Batala road, Nawa Kot, Dam Ganj, Kot Khalsa, 22 number phatak and Chheharta. On the other hand, there are 10 big or small designated industrial clusters, including two focal points, an industrial area and an industrial estate. The two focal points are situated at Maqboolpura on Vallah road and another at Mehta road besides an Industrial Estate at Chheharta. In the city master plan, the government proposed to set up of three more major industrial pockets. “Owners of these commercial establishments do not adopt fire safety measures. They cover up and claim that accidental fire can never take place,” said Surjit Sharma, resource person, Disaster Management and also Deputy Chief Warden, Civil Defence. Disaster management requires swift reaction and smooth movement to curtail the loss of men and material. Majority of these buildings do not have smoke detection alarms and sophisticated fire extinguishers, he alleged. He said the employees of these units must be trained to respond and combat any disaster and its aftermath. Keeping in view a large number of industrial units and their scattered presence, he stressed on the need to station Disaster Risk Management Response team. He said many past incidents like bursting of a boiler in a factory on the Ajnala road sometime back should be reminders to take safety measures seriously. He said as per the data gathered by a private company which prepared the Master Plan for Amritsar, 69 per cent of the small scale industries in the district are located within the Amritsar city. These units employ 71 per cent of the workforce. He said there were ample rules to nail the violators the need of the hour is there strict implementation. He said, “The Punjab Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards (Amendment) Rules, 2002, the factory owner shall not undertake any industrial activity unless he has prepared a safely report and has sent a copy to the Chief Inspector Factories at least 90 days before commencing the activity in the unit.”
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Notorious smuggler Sukhbir escaped through main gate of central jail
Amritsar, April 22 Details of his escape stand contrary to the speculations by the jail authorities that he had escaped by scaling the wall of the jail premises. The jail authorities had failed to find any clues or evidence about his mysterious disappearance. Sources said during interrogation Sukha admitted that he had escaped through the main gate. “For this he closely observed the functioning of jail guards keeping an eye at the sole entrance and exit gate of the jail. He might have observed some lapses in their functioning and took advantage of this. Ironically, the jail authorities could not locate him while he was escaping through the 'Deorhi' along the entrance and exit gate," sources add. He then revived his links with Pakistan based smugglers. He also smuggled two to three consignments of heroin smuggled from Pakistan, sources said. Sukha, a native of Bhusse village in Tarn Taran was arrested by SSOC in January 2011 with 14 kg of heroin. However, he escaped from Jail premises in mid of January.
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Youth puff their way to danger at illegal hookah bars
PK Jaiswar Tribune news Service
Amritsar, April 22 With the health department tightening the noose around two of these hookah bars in city, which as per the health authorities are running illegally, an equal number of hookah bars are still involved in such practices albeit secretly. Doctors and hoteliers have demanded shutting down of these hookah bars. Making matters worse, these hookah bars were being run without obtaining any licence from the health department. Civil Surgeon, Amritsar, Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, said no licence was issued to these restaurants to run hookah bars and they were being run illegally. “We have been receiving numerous complaints from people that underage youths are being served hookahs at these bars. As per the law such bars cannot be run and it is up to the law enforcing agencies to take action on such establishments. We can only challan them, that’s what we are doing,” he added. “By allowing hookah bars, we are exposing our children to the danger of cancer. All the authorities concerned should take immediate steps to check this trend,” said Gurbhej Singh, a social worker and an environmentalist. A local hotelier on the condition of anonymity said even young girls can be seen puffing hookah laced with flavoured tobacco imported from the Gulf countries. He said young and teenagers consider puffing hookah as a luxury. “Punjab is fighting with cancer while tobacco laced with nicotine is considered as the major cause of the dreaded disease, the hookah bars are promoting it by making teenagers addicted to tobacco and drugs. Who knows whose son will lured into it and I am really aghast at all these things,” said Dr Naresh Chawla, district TB officer. He urged people to raise their voice against the menace. “The hookah bars will destroy our young generation. We are fighting with the rampant drug abuse in the state while such hookah bars are pushing into the vicious circle besides brining bad name to the local hotel industry. It is disappointing and it hurts the sentiments of the people,” said APS Chatha, general secretary, Amritsar Hotel and Restaurants Association.
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Nine years on, PPCB fails to impanel chartered
engineers
Amritsar, April 22 Raman Gupta, member, PPCB Department Committee, said despite taking up the matter in various meetings of the committee, the impanelment of CEs are yet to see the light of the day. He said on the line of chartered accountants, CEs are supposed to work independently, but under the PPCB’s control. He said the motive was to provide an expert help to the industry where CEs were supposed to offer suggestions to industrialists on environmental issues. “Industrialists find it difficult to divulge all information to the
PPCB, which is also a regulatory body, and there lies the importance of
CEs,” he said. The industrial policy reveals that the Punjab Pollution Control Board was to introduce a scheme of inspection and verification of industrial units for a grant of consent to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, by the chartered engineers. They are to function as per the directions of the board under various acts. However, it also suggested that a committee, under the chairmanship of PPCB Chairman and comprising general manager, District Industries
Centre, and two representatives of local industry association, can order random checking up to 5 per cent of units in each district by an officer, not posted in that district and chosen randomly. It has a provision to take action against the CE for wrong verification and certification. The punishment could be cancellation of his licence as well as blacklisting him for future
authorisation. The CE was to levy service charges from the industries at rates as prescribed by the PPCB from time to time. The term of the enlistment of the CE will be for a period of two years, which may be extended if deemed fit by the board. Gupta said eight years have lapsed since the release of the industrial policy and the department could only issue an advertisement so
far. Pradeep Gupta, Senior Environment Engineer, PPCB, said the process for empanelment of CEs was underway. He said imposition of the code of conduct for the Assemble elections delayed the process, but it would be completed soon. He said the PPCB had received applications from interested candidates after it released an advertisement in this regard. He said candidates with BE (environmental engineering) and ME (environmental engineering) from a recognised university with at least five years experience in the field of environmental pollution control could apply. He said an experience of at least five years in the field of environmental pollution control also applies for an interested
organisation.
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Jaitley for reforms in higher education
Amritsar, April 22 Jaitley said there is no place for mediocrity and only the best can compete in the world. On the occasion, he also released a book, published by the college. "The siblings of big industrialists are failing in their family businesses and sons and daughters of common man on streets are becoming successful all over the world. This is the new world and we need to reshape our education system at the higher level to meet the new challenge," he said.
Khalsa College Governing Council president Satyajit Singh Majithia said,
"Khalsa College institutions take inspiration from the high ideals of Sikh Gurus and believe in imparting value education."
Jaitley lauded the majestic building of Khalsa College and recalled his childhood days when he used to keenly watch the building while passing through the GT Road here and used to think it to be palace of some royal king.
Khalsa College Principal Dr Daljit Singh read the annual report highlighting achievements of the college and narrated major milestones accomplished by this great institution of learning in academics, sports, culture and other related matters, including publication of books, conducting seminars and workshops and setting up new centres of learning.
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Senior citizen left helpless as chair of insurance ombudsman lying vacant
Amritsar, April 21 A former public sector bank employee, Manjit Singh Chinna, who has filed a complaint with the ombudsman, says he is at the receiving end as there is nobody to attend to his problem. Chinna said after retiring from the bank, he and his wife became members of a group insurance plan with a national insurance company. “As per the terms of the contract, we were eligible for a claim of Rs two lakh out of which we could have claimed Rs 1.40 lakh for a major surgery and Rs 40,000 for a minor surgery.” “After some time, my wife had to be hospitalised and her right leg below the knee had to be amputated. Now the company says that it is a minor surgery and not a major surgery,” said Chinna. He filed a complaint with the grievances redressal officer of the company on December 27, 2011. He said his complaint letter has not been acknowledged by the company. Chinna said the office of the insurance ombudsman is the one which can hear such complaints. “I then filed a complaint with the ombudsman on February 7. Later, I came to know that complaints are pending for the past two years as the chair is vacant since December 2009,” said Chinna. He demanded such office should be filled at the earliest so that common people are not fooled by the insurance companies.
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GND Hospital shielding accused, allege murder victim’s kin
Amritsar, April 22 The accused, identified as Jeevan Singh, whose parents live in Maryland, US, was a final year student of MBBS at GMC. He allegedly stabbed his uncle to death at Ranjit Avenue area here on March 3. He later tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrist. He was found by the police in a sub-conscious state on a road. Deceased’s son Manjinder
Singh, his mother Gurbax Kaur and sister Amarbir Kaur, in a press conference here today, alleged the GMC authorities were deliberately not declaring him medically fit. “We have been told by some insiders that Jeevan was fully fit. He has been kept in the special ward at the behest of his NRI parents who has been using their money to save their son. Jeevan’s father is a doctor at Maryland,” alleged Manjinder Singh. However, Dr SS Shergill, Principal, GMC, and Medical Superintendent of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (where Jeevan is under treatment) refuted the charges saying that the patient was kept in the hospital for the treatment following the orders of a court. He suffered from a psychiatric problem when he was admitted to the hospital after the murder. “Until and unless, the doctors attending upon him declare him fit, we cannot discharge him. Moreover, he is serving judicial remand and undergoing treatment following the orders of the court,” said Dr Shergill. Dr PD Garg, head of department of psychiatry, also refuted the allegations. “As far as the condition of Jeevanjot is concerned, it would be unethical to disclose his present mental condition.” he added. Family Speak We have been told by hospital insiders that accused Jeevan was fully fit. He has been kept in a special ward at the behest of his NRI parents who has been using their money to save their son. — Manjinder Singh, Son of Deceased ASI Official Speak Until and unless, the doctors attending upon him declare him fit, we cannot discharge him. Moreover, he is serving judicial remand and undergoing treatment following the orders of the court. — DR SS Shergill, Medical Superintendent, GNDH
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School, college canteens next on health dept’s target list
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, April 22 Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa said canteens in schools and colleges will be checked to know the quality of the food served to the students. “The samples will be collected and those found selling substandard items will be penalised,” Randhawa said. The department officials feel that these canteens are careless when it comes to ensure proper hygiene and cleanliness. Food inspectors will be designated to start checking of these canteens, Randhawa said. The department over the past few months has run intensive campaigns to check the sale of habit forming drugs, substandard foods and quacks, he said.
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Art exhibition inaugurated
Amritsar, April 22 As many as 247 art works selected out of 701 creations from 431 renowned artists from across the country are displayed at the exhibition. These creative art works are paintings, drawings, sculptures, graphics and photographs. A cash prizes of Rs 10,000 each were given to Kamal Nain Bhan of Jammu, Anish Kumar Chaudhary of Gwalior, GC Jena of Kapurthala, Jagdeep Singh of Chandigarh, Sukhpal Kaur of Patiala, Kanu Patel of Gujarat, Mangae Ram Sharma of Delhi, Manuk Prashar of Chandiagrh, Randeep Singh of Chandigarh, Rajeev Semwal of New Delhi, Savtanter Bhart of Kathua and DP Mohanty of Varanasi. The function was presided over by IAFA President Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina.
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Over 20,000 registered industrial units big or small are being run from unsafe structures.
Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said the country needs drastic reforms in higher education to produce the best minds in the emerging competitive world. He was speaking during the 106th annual convocation of the Khalsa College today.
The Khalsa College conferred degrees on 530 graduate and post-graduate
students.
