|
|
|
|
|
PRTC’s economic condition affects its renovation plan
Border farmers seek more time to harvest standing wheat crop
3
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Govt constitutes 13 zones for Zila Parishad elections
Poor seating arrangement upsets visitors at District Administrative Complex
Army showcases its prowess
at exhibition
10 sustain burn injuries as LPG cylinder catches fire in a house
Man ends his life
|
|
PRTC’s economic condition affects its renovation plan
Faridkot, April 30 It is the empty coffers that is perhaps preventing the PRTC from rebuilding this collapsed shed. The plan to re-construct the bus stand figured in the list of "significant achievements" of the SAD-BJP government and it was to be completed before March 31, 2012. But things did not look up and the broken shed of the bus stand still lies strewn around. Over 500 buses enter the Faridkot bus stand every day as the town is a divisional headquarter where thousands of people visit daily for official work. Hundreds of patients visit Faridkot for treatment at the medical college. PRTC sources revealed that because of its crippling debt and the empty coffers, the PRTC did not have enough funds to reconstruct the blown up shed. The PRTC’s economic fightback is patchy and inconsistent, While the state government is pressing the PRTC to pay over Rs 26 crore by way of annual road tax for its 893 buses, there has been no reimbursement of over Rs 4 crore per month which the state government owes to the PRTC for the latter providing free travelling facility to police personnel, the elderly and other beneficiaries as part of the state government’s policies. On December 31, 2012, the PRTC had outstanding reimbursement bills of over Rs 15 crore towards the Punjab government. Rs 13 crore more was added to this on March 31, 2013. The PRTC has over Rs 60 crore by way of pending liability. "The promise of raising the bus stand is just a political gimmick, nothing more," said a senior PRTC functionary while pointing to the condition of the PRTC bus stand in Bathinda. Bathinda was also promised a new modern bus stand three year back but the residents are still waiting for it to happen. On the current trajectory though, the PRTC officials have no hope of reviving the economic edge of the PRTC. However, Managing Director, PRTC, DPS Kharbanda is hopeful that the corporation will fix its financial mess. In the last one year, the PRTC has not only overcome its monthly loss of Rs 2 crore but has also started earning Rs 37 lakh as operating profits, said Kharbanda. |
||
|
Border farmers seek more time to harvest standing wheat crop
3
Fazilka, April 30 "It becomes difficult for us to reap the standing crop by combine harvesters in a short span, from 9 am to 4 pm. Hence, we have to hire the combine repeatedly during the peak harvesting season which means escalation in the cost of input," said Mangat Singh, Sarpanch of Walleshah Hithar border village. The 15 farmers of the village, whose 500 acres of land is situated across the fencing, have sent a memorandum to the higher authorities pleading for the acceptance of their demand. They have also demanded that more women constables should be deployed at the entry points of the fencing gates for frequent frisking of the women. Another problem being faced by the farmers in the border area is that the mobile companies have curtailed the range of mobile phones reportedly due to security reasons and to check the smuggling of contraband on the international border. This has been causing problems to the farmers. "Once, we go across the fencing for agriculture purposes, our link with the world outside is snapped," said another farmer Balwinder Singh of village Walleshah Hithar. The BSF officials maintained that as per the instructions of senior officials, sufficient time is given to the farmers across the fencing and they are there to serve the farmers round-the-clock. |
||
|
Govt constitutes 13 zones for Zila Parishad elections
Fazilka, April 30 Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, District Development and Panchayat Officer said, out of these 13 zones throughout the district, one member would be elected from each zone and they would subsequently chose the chairman of the Zila Parishad, Fazilka. These zones include Hasta Kalan, Jalalabad Rural, Panjkosi (reserved for SCs), Sitogunno (reserved for SC woman), Waryam Khera (backward class), Burj Hanumangarh, Chack Sotrian and Shajrana (reserved for women). Besides, Arniwala Sheikh Subhan, Beganwali, Ghallu and Ladhuwala Uttar has been kept in the general category. Similarly, the list of zones for Block Samiti elections in Fazilka district has also been released. As per the list, 24 zones have been constituted for Jalalabad block, 25 each for Abohar and Khuinsarvar blocks, 15 each for Arniwala Sheikh Subhan and Fazilka blocks. A formal notification for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections would be declared on May 3 and the elections would be held on May 19. |
||
|
Poor seating arrangement upsets visitors at District Administrative Complex
Muktsar, April 30 The chairs placed outside the offices for the visitors are in a bad shape but no attention has been paid to it. The building was inaugurated in 2003 and it seems that hardly any chair has been repaired since then. The situation is worst outside the district transport office and near the office of the assistant commissioner (grievances). There is hardly any chair left that is not damaged. As a result, people have to stand there while waiting for their turn to get the work done. Rupesh Kumar, a resident of Malout, who had come to the district transport office, said, "The officials do not seem to be worried. Not only do the chairs need immediate repair, their number also needs to be increased." Similarly, another elderly man, Gurjant Singh of Aulakh village, said, "It is impossible for a person like me to wait while standing. The authorities must make appropriate arrangements, so that the people who come for work get some relief." The visitors even complained about the unhygienic condition of the toilets. ADC (General) NS Bath, when contacted for his comments, said, "If the public is facing inconvenience, the chairs will be repaired soon." |
||
|
Army showcases its prowess
at exhibition
Abohar, April 30 The aim of the exhibition was to showcase the prowess of the Indian Army and to motivate the youth to choose the Defence forces as a career. About 2,000 students of various schools and colleges of the border district visited the exhibition. General Officer Commanding Amogh Division Maj General NC Badhani highlighted the role of the Defence forces in nation-building and exhorted the youth. Claiming that the profession of the Army is very noble and honourable, he highlighted the various facilities that the Armed Forces do offer. The GOC announced that similar exhibitions would be organised by the Amogh Division in future. During the exhibition, besides interacting with the men in uniform and witnessing the equipment on display, the students were also able to seek information about the various procedures to join the Indian Army. There was immense appreciation on the part of the schoolchildren, teachers and parents towards the initiative taken by the Army.
|
|
10 sustain burn injuries as LPG cylinder catches fire in a house
Barnala, April 30 The fire engulfed the house, leading to injuries to the family members. The fire brigade and the police were immediately informed about the fire. They reached the spot and doused the flames with the help of local residents. The injured were identified as Sri Chand, Prem Rani, Santosh Kumar, Fakir Chand, Prem Kumar, and four children, namely, Ankush, Jatin, Pallavi and Ishika. They were admitted to the local Civil Hospital. President of the Safai Sewak Union Ashok Kumar has urged the district administration to extend financial assistance to the family of Sri Chand. He also asked the administration to provide free treatment to the injured. |
|
Man ends his life
Abohar, April 30 He is survived by his wife and two children. The police shifted his body to the Civil Hospital here for a post-mortem examination. Inquest proceedings have been initiated under Section 174,
CrPC.
|
|
| 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 | |
