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Hour of rain in city brings misery
Cantonment councillors seek ground from Army
Construction of overbridge hangs fire
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Youth consumes ‘poisonous’ drug, dies
US-based NRI ‘duped’ in name of insurance
Infant malnutrition, deaths linked to bad feeding methods
Road near Gurunanak Pura in bad shape
Woman seeks arrest of son’s killers
LPU introduces major, minor system
Tanya tops in LLB (Honours)
Front to hold convention on Aug 4
Doctor moves from pillar to post to get retirement dues
Another accused sent to judicial custody
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Hour of rain in city brings misery
Jalandhar, July 15 Just an hour of rain left many areas of the city flooded. While many of these areas have been battling the problem of sewerage overflow or clogged streets already, the rains made the situation even worse. Areas like Basti Bawa Khel, a stretch of the Kapurthala Road, 120-feet Road, Baba Budha Ji Nagar, Ekta Nagar, Gujja Peer Road, Sodal Road, Railway Road, stretches of Central Town, Pathankot-Amritsar Bypass among others, remained flooded. Heavily potholed roads like Ladowali Road, bus-stand, Garha Road and New Hargobind Nagar posed an entirely different kind of problem to the commuters, as the potholes made life difficult for them in the area. A resident, who passes daily through the Garha Road, said, “I travel on a bike and it is different to pass through the area without getting one’s clothes soiled. There are huge potholes on the road and it is a nightmare to pass through this place during the monsoons.” The people in the low-lying areas of the city complain that their problems have gone unadressed for the past many years despite the fact that they are the worst hit whenever it rains. Kamaljit Singh, who resides near the 120-foot road, said, “We cannot go out during the rains as the streets are flooded. Even a 15-minute rain means water will remain clogged for days in the area. Mosquitoes and insects are an added ‘bonus’ during the rains for us. The MC budgets come and go, but our woes are never addressed.” “Now they are making a road parallel to the 120-foot road through which they say commuters will be able to pass when the main road is inundated. But it is at the same level as the previous road. I fail to see how it will solve our problems.” Palwinder Singh of the Baba Budha Ji Nagar area in the Rama Mandi area said, “Our area was already battling sewerage problem and now the rains have made our lives all the more difficult. Our councillor hasn’t yet taken oath, so he says he can’t help us. The MC hasn’t yet solved our problem either. Our area has seen two deaths due to an outbreak earlier. A disease threat looms over the area again.” |
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Cantonment councillors seek ground from Army
Jalandhar, July 15 A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the GOC-in-C of Western Command, Lt-Gen Sanjiv Chachra, and president of the cantonment board-cum-Sub Area commander, Brigadier Arup Sen. The councillors pointed out that the ground was B4 land and had been used by the cantonment residents for the past many decades to celebrate Dasehra and other religious functions. The elected members had also sought time for a meeting with the GOC to sort out the issue ahead of the upcoming religious functions. “A deadlock in the uninterrupted use of the ground for the celebration of the festival and other such functions was existing with Sub-Area Commander due to which all elected members of the house along with the MLA Pargat Singh had to stage a walkout from the Cantt Board meeting held on May 23,” the councillors maintained. It was highlighted that Dasehra ground fell in the B4 land category and came directly under the control of the Defence Estates Office, Jalandhar Cantonment. “When the land does not come under their jurisdiction, the Army cannot stop us from using the ground for religious functions. It has been years since the cantonment residents had been holding Dasehra festivities and many other religious functions with prior approval from the Army,” they added. Under Section 257 of the Cantonment Board Act 2006, the powers of B4 land lie with either the Chief Executive Officer or the Defence Estates Officer. Last year too, the Army and civilians were at loggerheads over holding the Dasehra fair at the ground. MLA Pargat Singh, who met the GOC yesterday in this regard, said, “I discussed the issue of the Dasehra ground and we are hopeful of a positive response.”
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Construction of overbridge hangs fire
Jalandhar, July 15 The delay has not only been causing inconvenience to the motorists and the commuters but also adding to the pollution levels and the number of fatal accidents here. Sources in the department revealed that the PAP Complex premises and the boundary wall of the defence area, right from the Rama Mandi chowk till the PAP Chowk, had emerged as two major bottlenecks in the widening of the GT road in Jalandhar district. A recent study by the Punjab Pollution Control Board experts even suggested immediate completion of the flyover at PAP Chowk, which would not only help in reducing vehicular pollution but also avoid traffic congestions. Sources revealed that an under-construction portion of the overbridge, adjacent to the PAP premises, needed sufficient space and for the purpose, the existing boundary walls of the PAP premises and the Defence area were to be shifted to almost 30 to 35 feet behind. While the issue of the shifting of the Defence area’s boundary wall is lying with the Defence Ministry and the Ministry of Surface and Transport, the NHAI haD taken up the issue of the PAP’s boundary wall with the Punjab Government. Sources in the department said to provide space for the overbridge, the PAP authorities had already demolished a residential building adjacent to the PAP Chowk, while three guard rooms, three gates, eight search posts and certain other structures were yet to be demolished, besides the boundary wall. The PAP authorities, however, have approached the PWD (B and R) authorities for the constructions of buildings to accommodate the demolished structures. BS Tuli, Executive Engineer of the PWD (provincial), said, “The new buildings on the PAP Premises will come up at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore. There is no pendency from the department side. The work will be executed soon after getting a go-ahead from the higher-ups.” |
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Youth consumes ‘poisonous’ drug, dies
Jalandhar, July 15 The deceased was identified as Vikas Chopra, son of an advocate Sikandar Lal Chopra. Police sources said the deceased was suffering from joint pains and he was consuming medicine in routine. The sources said on Saturday evening, he accidentally consumed some wrong drug and fell ill and breathed his last at a hospital. Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPc were initiated by the police and further investigation into the case was on, the police added. |
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US-based NRI ‘duped’ in name of insurance
Jalandhar, July 15 The commission has also directed the company’s officials to appear before it on August 22 to present their side of the story. NRI Jagmohan Singh Rana, in his complaint, had alleged that Yogesh Khetrapal, the manager of the Ludhiana branch of the Bharti Axa Life Insurance Company, contacted his aged India-based father with a purpose to get a cheque of Rs 5 lakh from him for the renewal of his old insurance policy. But at the time of taking the cheque, Khetrapal had “fraudulently” taken two cheques from his father and issued another insurance policy on his own even as the second policy was never solicited. Jagmohan Singh Rana alleged that the second policy contained payment of a premium of Rs 25 lakh per annum for a period of 20 years. He (the complainant) had never intended the said policy which, was forced upon him in a “fraudulent” manner. He had never sent any proposal form. When the insurance company was asked to cancel the said insurance policy and refund of the amount, the company refused to do so. The insurance company, according to Jagmohan Singh, presented the second cheque taken from elderly father in his Ludhiana-based HDFC bank branch and it was cleared by the HDFC bank authorities without any notification to him. Subsequently, the Bharti Axa Insurance Company issued him a second policy number: 5004320635 even as he already had his previous policy no. 5003737714. Surinder Panwar, the attorney of the complainant, who was asked to produce relevant documents appeared before the commission and pointed out that the Bharti Axa Life Insurance Co had not provided any documents in relation to the said insurance policy. This Commission, according to its Chairperson Justice Arvind Kumar, felt that the policy which carried a premium of Rs 25 lakh per annum to be paid for 20 years, was never intended by the complainant nor he had submitted any proposal form for getting the said insurance policy. He was of the view that some of the communications made by the Bharti Axa Life Insurance Company and annexed with the complaint also led to nowhere. “This Commission feels an intervention. It would be appropriate that before the matter be referred to the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, let the notice be issued to Bharti Axa Life Insurance Company based at Ludhiana and Chandigarh to appear before this Commission on the next date of hearing to take stock of the situation,” the order of the commission said. |
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Infant malnutrition, deaths linked to bad feeding methods
Jalandhar, July 15 According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) report, 38.4 per cent children, under 3 years are stunted (too short for their age), and 46 per cent are underweight (too thin for their age); wasting (abnormally low weight for a child?s height) affects 19 per cent of children under the age of 3 years; and 79.2 per cent of children (under age three) are anaemic. The report also reveals that barely 23.4 per cent of children are breastfed within one hour of birth; only 44 per cent of breastfeeding children (6-23 months of age) are fed the minimum recommended number of times per day (twice a day for children 6-8 months and thrice a day for children 9-23 months of age). Given the high levels of malnutrition prevalent among Indian infants, the infant mortality rate stands at one of the highest levels globally - 47 per 1,000 live births or, computed annually, 1.25 million infant deaths, the report says. Rekha Sharma, president, Indian Dietetic Association, in a communication with The Tribune, revealed that despite the bleak scenario, a simple, affordable and apt solution - breastfeeding - could reduce infant malnutrition and mortality rate to a great extent. Referring to the NFHS-3 report, Rekha Sharma revealed that a majority of the women breastfeed infants unsatisfactorily, which results in malnutrition and deaths. She said only 69 per cent Indian infants (below two months) receive exclusive breastfeeding. Between 2 to 3 months, the exclusive breastfeeding falls to 51 per cent and declines further to 28 per cent between 4 and 5 months of age. The decline occurs because mothers supplement milk with plain water initially, and later with bovine milk (cow or buffalo). Studies carried out in India indicate that premature introduction of top feeds is practised primarily by using diluted cow’s milk without knowing its drawbacks and side-effects. In the dilution process of the cow or buffalo?s milk with water, there is a high risk of contamination and adulteration. Water was found to be the most common adulterant in milk, which lowers its nutritional quality and even poses serious health hazards when contaminated water is used, which is most often the case. Worse, pesticide residues, heavy metals and even detergents have been detected in cow’s milk, she added. “Exclusive breast feeding for new born infants is mandatory as it is the ideal food for the baby. Mother’s milk boosts immunity and is most hygienic. Bovine milk, on the other hand, does not have the ideal composition for the baby and can also become unhygienic, if the bottles are not sterilised and receiving and storage of milk is not proper. It is best to consult the family physician about a safe alternative, if due to some reasons the mother’s milk in not adequate or she is unable to breast feed due to some other reason,” she claimed.
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Road near Gurunanak Pura in bad shape
Jalandhar, July 15 Just a few hours of rainfall today further added to the problems of the commuters. Residents who commute through the road said the Municipal Corporation had failed to initiate patch-up work on the road from the past few months and they were being forced to have a bumpy ride. Residents of the area said two-wheelers often skid on the road leading to accidents. They said the road often turns more dangerous during rains. “Last week my bike got skidded off the road and I sustained injuries on my legs,” Gaurav, a student and a resident of Gurunanak Pura locality said. Arpita Sharma, a resident of the locality, said a few months ago, a small stretch of road had been laid by the corporation and a few days after only, the road started developing potholes. Due to large potholes, traffic always remains struck on the road. “The proximity of the road to the railway level crossing has added to the commuters’ woes. The road is badly potholed which leads to slowing down of traffic. The closing of railway crossing at the time of arrival of trains often leads to huge jams,” Surinder Mohan, a shopkeeper, said. Meanwhile, the MC authorities recently laid interlocking tiles on the streets of Gurunanak Pura (West) locality, but the recent rain has badly damaged these.
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Woman seeks arrest of son’s killers
Jalandhar, July 15 “The accused have been roaming freely in the village, but the police is not showing any courage to arrest them,” the mother of the deceased said. “Recently, they have also written to the DGP, Punjab, and the Punjab Human Rights Commission for justice,” Venus said. “We will stage a protest outside the SSP Office, Kapurthala, if the accused are not arrested in the next two weeks,” Venus, who was also accompanied by representatives of the Dalit Jabar Virodi Sanja Morcha, Punjab, said. On the intervening night of December 20 and 21, the youth was found in unconscious state on the GT Road and he was bearing severe head injuries. The victim succumbed to injuries while he was being taken to a hospital. — OC
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LPU introduces major, minor system
Jalandhar, July 15 Under this system, LPU students will be able to choose a specialisation in ECE, CSE and management, in addition to the core area of their study. Presently, LPU offers eight specialisations in engineering - ME, CE, nanotechnology, biotechnology, CSE, IT, ECE, EEE. To specialise, a student can go for two specialisations - one major and another minor. For this, an electronics and communication engineering student can take ECE as major and computer science as minor. Similarly, a mechanical engineering student can choose ME as a core subject and, additionally management or IT as minor. — TNS
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Tanya tops in LLB (Honours)
Jalandhar, July 15 3 students get placements
As many as three B.Tech (Computer Science Engineering) students of DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology bagged placement with Tally Solutions at an annual package of Rs 6 lakh. The selected students include Kriti Kaur, Samridhi Gupta and Vinay Sharma. Annual journal released
The Postgraduate Department of Commerce and Management of the local Prem Chand Markanda SD College for Women released its annual journal “ALMANAC 2012” on “Inflationary Tendencies in Indian Economy and Its Impact on Growth”. The journal includes 61 research papers, which were contributed by distinguished scholars and professors from different universities and colleges. KMV toppers
Simranjeet Kaur, a student of B.Sc-I (biotech) of KMV, bagged fourth rank in GND varsity and secured 80.1 per cent marks, while Payal Bajaj secured 9th position with 78.7 per cent marks in aggregate. HMV toppers
Simranpreet Kaur, Mandeep Kaur and Jyoti Kapoor, all three students of BA Sanskrit (Honours) - III of HMV, bagged first, third and sixth position in GND varsity, respectively. |
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Front to hold convention on Aug 4
Jalandhar, July 15 The Bijapur killings in which 20 Adivasis, including children, were killed at Chhattisgarh will be condemned during the convention. Violation of rights and the case of Adivasi woman Soni Sori, false registration of cases against rights activists Seema Azad and Vishwa Vijay and other similar issues will also be taken up on the occasion. Dr Parminder Singh, co-convener of the front, while speaking to the media on the issue, said: “Dr BD Sharma, a renowned activist, who has been working with various issues concerning Adivasis in the Adivasi areas, and acclaimed intellectual Himanshu Kumar will be present on the occasion.” It was also announced on the occasion that a regional convention will be held at Abohar on July 22 to oppose the lodging of false cases against the tillers of Nihal Khera village whose lands, which they had been tilling for the past some decades, were snatched and their fundamental rights violated.
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Doctor moves from pillar to post to get retirement dues
Jalandhar, July 15 Fed up with the dilly dallying tactics of the officials concerned, Dr Tajinder has now sent his representation to the principal secretary, Punjab Health and Family Welfare, in this regard on July 9. In his representation, Tajinder said he did not get his leave encashment of Rs 2,24,820 despite his case for the same having been forwarded by the medical superintendent of the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, to the director, Health Services, through letter number Estt. 1-09-7397 on November 13, 2009. Tajinder, a resident of the Industrial Area in Jalandhar, further said he had made numerous representations to the director, Health Services, in this regard, but he did not even get any reply. The eye specialist requested the Principal Secretary of the Punjab Health and Family Welfare to instruct the director, Health Services, to sanction leave encashment to him as over five years had already passed since he opted for premature retirement. Tajinder said he had also filed an application under the RTI Act to the director, Health Services, on March 30, 2011, to know about the status of his case of leave encashment, but he did not receive any information even under this Act.
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Another accused sent to judicial custody
Jalandhar, July 15 Buntu was produced in the city court after the completion of his two-day police remand. He was arrested on Friday. He is the seventh accused arrested in this case. Two accused are still absconding. One of them, Jaskaran Singh, alias Jassa, already flew to Australia. Yannick, a student of Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar, was attacked by a group of local youths at his rented accommodation at Dashmesh Nagar on April 21. He is in coma since then and is getting treatment at a private hospital in Patiala.
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Unlike past many years, the city hasn’t experienced a monsoon deluge this year. Heavy rain for 40 minutes or one hour (in a day) is the most the city has had so far.
Jalandhar, July 15
