J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Hard-pressed PowerCom faces paddy challenge
Pathankot/Gurdaspur,  June 9
With little or no material lying in its stores, Powercom officials fear for the worst as they have to provide uninterrupted power supply to the agriculture sector during the paddy sowing season starting from tomorrow. Senior officials admitted that the power utility will be hard pressed to provide eight hour continuous power supply to the farm sector if the stores do not have the requisite material.

Forum slaps Rs 1.25 lakh fine on doc, institute
Faridkot, June 9
In a case of medical negligence in which a doctor implanted a plate meant for demonstration in the left arm of a road accident victim, the Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held the doctor and a dental science and research institute of Faridkot guilty.

Hard-pressed PowerCom faces paddy challenge
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Pathankot/Gurdaspur, June 9
With little or no material lying in its stores, Powercom officials fear for the worst as they have to provide uninterrupted power supply to the agriculture sector during the paddy sowing season starting from tomorrow.

Senior officials admitted that the power utility will be hard pressed to provide eight hour continuous power supply to the farm sector if the stores do not have the requisite material.

The state government has promised 3 phase 8 hour supply from June 10 when the sowing of paddy commences. This uninterrupted supply will be provided by Powercom till September 30.

J.S Nanowalia, Secretary, Powercom Council of Junior Engineers, claimed that neither the Central store at Pathankot nor the two outlets at Dhariwal and Batala which fall under the jurisdiction of Gurdaspur Powercom circle have the material through which the power utility can sustain itself if there is technical glitch during paddy sowing.

He added that important materials like poly rope, thimbles, PG clamps, 11KV fuse wire and discs, MS nuts and bolts, cables and male and female contacts of transformers were not available in any of the three stores. "Powercom officials have promised on many occasions that they will provide us spares but to no avail. This will affect the quality of power to be supplied to transplant paddy. A thimble costs a mere Rs 45. If it is burnt and power supply is affected for just one hour, Powercom will have to face a loss of Rs 4 lakhs. Officials should understand this and provide us with thimbles and other material," said Nanowalia.

"Work on maintenance of 11KV and low transmission lines (LT), where electricity lines have to be straightened on a regular basis, will be hit due to lack of material. If lines can not be straightened then uninterrupted power can not be supplied. Our officers should understand this and make arrangements for procurement of material from the Powercom's head office at Patiala," claimed a senior Powercom engineer.

When contacted Jasbir Singh, Deputy Chief Engineer, Gurdaspur circle, admitted that there was a shortage of material in all the three stores falling under his jurisdiction, including the Central store at Pathankot. "However, I have requested the Chief Engineer, Border Zone, Amritsar, to make alternative arrangements to ensure that farmers get proper and quality power supply during the paddy season," he added.

Power-less

• Paddy sowing to commence today
• With material stores empty, PowerCom may not provide uninterrupted power supply

Forum slaps Rs 1.25 lakh fine on doc, institute
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, June 9
In a case of medical negligence in which a doctor implanted a plate meant for demonstration in the left arm of a road accident victim, the Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held the doctor and a dental science and research institute of Faridkot guilty.

During the orthopaedic implants on the victim, the doctor used a demo plate that is generally available for surgical practice, staff instruction and client demonstration. Even this plate was not sterilised before it was implanted in the arm of the patient.

The commission has directed the doctor and the hospital to pay Rs 1,25,660 to the victim for the pain he suffered and the money he spent on his treatment. In a complaint to the Commission, Surjit Singh, a resident of Bir Bholu Wala village of the district, accused Dr Harnit Singh and Dashmesh Institute of Research and Dental Sciences of medical negligence.

Surjit alleged that he suffered a fracture in the lower part of the left arm and was operated upon by Dr Harnit Singh at the institute. The doctor used a metal plate to provide strength.

But after some days, Surjit had acute infection in his operated arm. Doctors at the dental institute were unable to control the infection and the patient was sent to the Civil Hospital where it was diagnosed that the plate led to the infection. The patient was then referred to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, where the plate was removed.