B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

PUDA-Approved pvt colony in Faridkot
Coloniser flouted rules, reveals inquiry
Faridkot, August 10
After voicing its support for a private coloniser before a court saying he had fulfilled all terms and conditions in raising a colony, the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) officials have now changed their stance in the court after an inquiry conducted by the SDM, Faridkot, on the directions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), found that rules had been violated.

Widening of Kotkapura-Muktsar road
Adjacent buildings face demolition
Kotkapura, August 10
The widening of the 30 km Kotkapura-Muktsar road, from the existing 23 feet to 33 feet, may well lead to the demolition of many commercial and residential buildings on this stretch which forms part of state highway No. 16.

Civic woes in Abohar
Irate residents begin protests outside BJP councillors’ houses
Abohar, August 10
To protest against their failure to ensure basic civic amenities, people today started organising demonstrations at the houses of the ruling BJP councillors. One such demonstration was held in ward number 19 of Nai Abadi locality.

Dalit woman killed in Abohar village
Abohar, August 10
A woman belonging to a Dalit family was axed to death even as her family members were asleep in the same compound in village Sukhchain of this sub-division today.

Drive against drugs
Centenarian Fauja asked to chip in
Ferozepur, August 10
Senior Akali leader Vardev Singh Mann has invited veteran athlete of Indian origin Fauja Singh to come to Punjab and become an ambassador for the drive against drug abuse which has assumed gigantic proportions in the state.


Vardev Singh Mann with Fauja Singh in London.

PUDA-Approved pvt colony in Faridkot
Coloniser flouted rules, reveals inquiry
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 10
After voicing its support for a private coloniser before a court saying he had fulfilled all terms and conditions in raising a colony, the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) officials have now changed their stance in the court after an inquiry conducted by the SDM, Faridkot, on the directions of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), found that rules had been violated.

The NHRC ordered the inquiry after a news report, “Hanging wires, private colonizers much to blame”, appeared in this newspaper on February 23 this year.

It was reported that even in colonies approved by PUDA, where underground power distribution lines are mandatory, private colonisers have violated the terms of agreement to save money. There was a huge difference in the cost on underground and overhead transmission lines. Therefore, the colonizer preferred the overhead lines.

Interestingly, before this inquiry on the directions of the NHRC, the PUDA officials had time and again, given reports in favour of the coloniser, claiming the PUDA guidelines had been followed. Many a time, the coloniser used these reports in the court cases to buttress his claim of having committed no wrong.

But after the NHRC ordered an inquiry which found many glaring lapses and the Deputy Commissioner, Faridkot, sent a copy of this report to PUDA for taking corrective steps, the PUDA changed its earlier stance, fearing action for giving false reports.

Earlier, in many documents produced in the court in connection with a case concerning the Park Avenue Colony in Faridkot, PUDA never found anything lacking.

But after the NHRC order, PUDA officials have listed many shortcomings and faults with the civil work, water supply, sewerage, storm water, plantation and power supply in the colony.

Though the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had raised serious objections earlier over the disposal of solid waste in the colony in the absence of a septic tank, PUDA had given a clean chit to the coloniser, alleged Parshotam Lal, a complainant in a court case against the coloniser.

After the inquiry on the directions of the NHRC found many lapses, the PUDA officials have changed their stance fearing adverse reaction, said Parshotam Lal.

Widening of Kotkapura-Muktsar road
Adjacent buildings face demolition
Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service

Kotkapura, August 10
The widening of the 30 km Kotkapura-Muktsar road, from the existing 23 feet to 33 feet, may well lead to the demolition of many commercial and residential buildings on this stretch which forms part of state highway No. 16.

After getting instructions from the PWD (B&R), the Municipal Committee, Kotkapura, has served notices to the owners of 80 buildings in the town who have residential and commercial buildings in the area that will be included to widen the road.

The Municipal Committee (MC) has asked the owners of the building to vacate the area within seven days or face demolition. The area in which the buildings are to be vacated falls in the range of 3 feet to 11 feet.

A company, Supreme Infrastructure India Ltd, has been awarded the contract for the construction of Kotkapura-Muktsar Road on build, operate, transfer (BOT) basis.

Besides the demolition of the buildings, many electric poles on both sides of the road would be shifted to widen the road, said Karamjeet Singh Bhaluria, SDO, PWD (B&R), Kotkapura.

It is alleged that among the 80 owners who have buildings in the area, some have raised the buildings after encroaching upon the government land.

Subhash Joshi, executive officer, MC, Kotkapura said notices were issued to 80 persons and their response was being awaited. “If they do not vacate the land themselves, we have to use force,” he said.

Sources revealed that over 1550 trees on the 30-km Kotkapura-Muktsar road would also be axed to widen the road.

Civic woes in Abohar
Irate residents begin protests outside BJP councillors’ houses

Abohar, August 10
To protest against their failure to ensure basic civic amenities, people today started organising demonstrations at the houses of the ruling BJP councillors. One such demonstration was held in ward number 19 of Nai Abadi locality.

The residents regretted that the council run by the BJP had not addressed the sewerage and drinking water problems for last four years. The de-silting machines donated by a private trust and others owned by the council were still lying on the roads contrary to false claims made by the MC president, the protesters alleged.

Circle BJP president Rajinder Chaudhary approached the protesters and facilitated their conversation with the MC president Shivraj Goyal over the phone. The protesters informed him that the sanitary inspectors and subordinate staff too were not performing their duties adequately.

The dharna was lifted after Goyal assured that the grievances would be addressed in the next few days. — OC

Dalit woman killed in Abohar village

Abohar, August 10
A woman belonging to a Dalit family was axed to death even as her family members were asleep in the same compound in village Sukhchain of this sub-division today.

As per the available information, the bed on which Maya Devi was sleeping, was surrounded by beds occupied by her husband Satpal, sons Sandeep Kumar and Gian Chand and daughter Savita.

As Savita woke up, she found her mother crying and in an injured condition. It seemed that someone had attacked her with sharp-edged weapons.

Family members immediately shifted her to the Community Health Centre at village Seetogunno but she succumbed to her wounds.

SP Virender Singh Brar, Balluana DSP Gurpreet Singh Dhindsa, Wahabwala SHO Kuldeep Sharma visited the house on receiving the information. Although no clue was immediately available, Maya Devi’s husband Satpal, who got a case registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC, suspected that a fellow villager might have killed Maya Devi over a land dispute.

Forensic experts have been called in to assist the police in investigations. — OC

Drive against drugs
Centenarian Fauja asked to chip in
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, August 10
Senior Akali leader Vardev Singh Mann has invited veteran athlete of Indian origin Fauja Singh to come to Punjab and become an ambassador for the drive against drug abuse which has assumed gigantic proportions in the state.

Talking to The Tribune, Vardev Singh Mann, who had especially gone to meet Fauja Singh in London, said Fauja Singh has proved that “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going,” adding that the kind of perseverance, stamina and mental toughness Fauja Singh has exhibited all these years, is a testimony of the spirit of Punjab- the state which is recognized as the land of bravehearts all over the world.

Mann said the youths of Punjab, once known for their daredevilry, were today increasingly falling prey to drugs due to which it was imperative that a massive awareness drive be launched, especially in the remote border areas where the problem was much more severe.

Mann further said the SAD-BJP government in the state was determined to root out this menace for which concerted efforts were already being made.

During his visit to UK, Vardev also participated in the England Kabaddi Championships. He invited the kabbadi players of the UK to come and play matches in Punjab.