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Despite raids, no let-up in addiction in city
Accumulation of sewage water causes inconvenience
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Garbage collection system in a shambles
Residents to hold dharna today
96 stall owners get licence to sell firecrackers
Union minister slams state govt
Industries chamber backs traders
ANM training school for Phagwara
Sukhraj is new BJP Mahila Morcha chief
St Soldier win champions trophy
Handball: GNE Ludhiana beat Ramgarhia Engineering College
Athletics meet concludes
PU defeat Faizabad varsity
2-day remand for accused in businessman’s kidnapping
Seven held for flesh trade
Two killed in mishaps
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Despite raids, no let-up in addiction in city
Jalandhar, October 20 The ICTC centre at the Civil Hospital has 600 registered patients, with a daily average of 150 to 200 patients (OPD). About 7,000 AIDS patients are registered at the ART Centre of the hospital, of whom 425 are addicts. Of the total registered AIDS patients at the ART Centre, 2,000 to 2,500 are regular and about 10 to 15 per cent of these are IDUs (Intravenous drug users). Notably, these numbers, experts say, are a mere projection. Dr Sanjay Khanna, psychiatrist at the Civil Hospital, said, “Efforts are on to nail the menace. Addiction is widespread but we are working to bring down the number of addicts. Better cooperation from all ends and from the public is needed for good results.” In the month of April this year, a major raid was conducted at Kazi Mandi, the most notorious area in Jalandhar in terms of drug abuse, which witnessed a massive liquor haul. Residents of drug hit areas have repeatedly alleged lack of police action, disinterest by health authorities and a number of addiction deaths which do not reflect in the hospital statistics. Kazi Mandi residents said the anti-addiction centre in the area wasn’t bringing results and for the past five to six months health teams have also stopped visiting the area. A resident of Kazi Mandi area said, “Every few days someone dies. Two days ago a 22-year-old addict died. The deaths are regular but no one takes them seriously.” Regarding police inaction he alleged, “While on the surface, the flow of liquor and addiction has decreased in the area, the truth is different. Of the culprits in the drug haul, only the small timers have been picked up while the kingpins are walking free. One has started selling vegetables while he has established a liquor stall for one of his men. He was caught with intoxicants, the news hit headlines, but he is free. Unless they are nailed, the scare of the drug mafia in the area wouldn’t end. Down the street that I live in, recently two liquor stalls encroaching on the road have been set up.” Residents also allege increase in use of injectables and medical drugs (not falling under the NDPS Act) in the area in the ‘relative’ absence of liquor. Areas like Deep Nagar, Babu Labh Singh Nagar, among others, have been added to the already prone areas of the district like Kazi Mandi, Bhargo Camp, Basti areas, Sant Nagar, Kot Ram Das, Nangal Shama, Jinda village, Industrial Area, etc. |
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Accumulation of sewage water causes inconvenience
Jalandhar, October 20 This is due to the poor drainage system of the area in the place. The accumulation of sewage water does not only create a lot of inconvenience to thousands of commuters who this Ikhari Pulli daily, but also poses a risk to the health of a number of people residing in nearby localities and to passersby. A motorcyclist, Sahil Sharma of Thapran Mohalla, wading through the sewage water, said, “The Parkash Singh Badal-led government is levying one tax after another on urbanities, but it is not paying any heed to providing even basic amenities of clean environment, which is our fundamental right as per the Constitution.” Similarly, Gurbaksh Singh, a resident of a nearby locality, said, “It is very difficult for them to live in hellish conditions, as we
have to smell continuous stink emanating from the accumulated sewage water. One may easily understand our plight as we have also to eat in this stinking atmosphere.” Another resident Parkash Dass said, “This problem is not of today. The sewage water keeps on accumulating here every now and then, as sewage overflows at regular intervals without any rain due to the poor drainage system. We have brought the matter to the notice of the authorities concerned, including the area councillor, several times but to no avail so far.”
'Problem will be redressed soon'
I have come to know about the accumulation of sewage after the overflow in the Ikhari Pulli area from you. I will ask my staff in the building and roads wing to get the problem redressed at the
earliest— Manpreet Singh Chhatwal, MC Commissioner
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Garbage collection system in a shambles
Jalandhar, October 20 According to information, litter is strewn around vacant plots in almost every colony, including PUDA-developed Urban Estate Phase I and II, JIT-developed Surya Enclave and Ranjit Singh Nagar, Master Tara Singh Nagar, Harbans Nagar, Globe Colony, Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Nagar, Rail Vihar Colony and Karol Bagh. Rajat Mohindru, a social activist, blames the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, (MCJ) and other authorities concerned for not having a proper garbage collection system. He said the civic body had failed to provide adequate garbage disposal bins due to which the citizens were left with no option but to throw waste in vacant plots. "PUDA and the JIT had been collecting fee from plot owners for keeping their plots vacant three years after the allotment. It is their duty to make arrangements for the lifting of garbage from these plots," He added. On the other hand, all the authorities, including MCJ, PUDA and JDA have turned a blind eye towards the menace.
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Residents to hold dharna today
Jalandhar, October 20 Joined by Arun Jain, husband of ward number 33 councillor Neerja Jain, residents of the area will be lodging their protest at the dump itself, where they will hold the dharna. Residents of the labour colony area are up in arms against the administration due to the prevalence of a huge garbage dump in the area. While garbage from many of the adjoining areas of Urban Estate is dumped in the said dump, residents complain that the prevalence of diseases, threat of garbage effluents mixing with water or the virtual hell in which they are forced to live due to the smell and dirt, was not moving the administration to act. Ward 33 councillor's husband Arun Jain said, "I have previously also held a dharna at the site. I have been raising this issue for days during meetings, but there has been no action. We are forced to take this step to bring the administration's attention towards the issue." Manohar Lal, a resident of the labour colony, near which the dump is situated, said, "I recently underwent a long and expensive treatment for congestion in my lungs due to the problem. Doctors asked me where was all the muck coming from. We can't step out of our houses. We can't breathe on the road. Since garbage dumps in other neighbouring localities were closed, garbage from at least 15 to 20 areas comes to this place. Water also gets mixed with muck." Garbage from Choti Baradari (both phases), Roopnagar, Golden Avenue, among other areas, comes to the dump.
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96 stall owners get licence to sell firecrackers
Jalandhar, October 20 The police department, however, seems to have issued these licences hurriedly, as some of the fire-safety measures taken by stall owners were still found to be inadequate by this reporter on a visit to the market on Sunday. Some of the stall owners were found to have kept some sand bags and fire-extinguishers ready near their shops to meet any exigency. “We have issued licences to all the stall owners after thoroughly checking their fire-safety precautions. Also, we have allocated parking space outside the market. We are also keeping a strict vigil on them, as a large number of people visit the market nowadays,” said Superintendent of Police Naresh Dogra. This reporter found that some of the stall owners had taken some fire-safety measures, but a large number of them were found to be without it. On being asked about the fire extinguishers, many replied that they had gone for refilling. Also, about the water arrangement, they showed personal water coolers to meet any fire exigency. Some of them were even found to be running the stall without keeping the licence handy. On being asked about the licence from one stall owner, he replied that since wrong name had been written on the licence, it had gone back for renewal. The Police Commissioner, taking a strict note on the news report published in The Tribune last week, had formed an SP-level committee under Naresh Dogra to check the running of 96 illegal fire cracker stalls without a valid licence at Burlton Park. He had also said that strict action would be taken against the stall owners if found guilty. However, on confirmation of the fault by the stall owners, he said that he was taking legal opinion to take the necessary action in the case. The police department, however, had tried to get the things straight by issuing them licences, but seem to have followed a shortcut once again by putting the lives of hundreds of people, including children, visiting the market at risk.
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Union minister slams state govt
Phagwara, October 20 "Grants worth Rs. 12,000 crore were either left unspent or diverted for other purposes. As many 100 hospitals were to be upgraded but that was not done, no new hospital staff was recruited, poor patients were suffering while private hospitals were mushrooming," she alleged while talking to the media in local civil hospital here. Chaudhary said a sum of Rs 50 crore was given for providing free medicines but the state hospitals still lacked such medicines. The minister said a grant of Rs 10 crore to Punjab had been discontinued as the government had not removed the Chief Minister's photo from 108 ambulances. She also expressed disappointment over the pitiable condition of the civil hospitals in Phagwara. The minister said generic medicines should be prescribed to poor patients in order to make health care system more affordable. However, she said since health was a state subject, the Centre could not force states for prescribing generic drugs. The minister also announced that an MoU was signed between the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Human Resources of Hungary for co-operation in the field of traditional systems of medicine.
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Industries chamber backs traders
Jalandhar, October 20 Talking to The Tribune, chamber chairman Narinder Singh Sehgal said members of the chamber would enthusiastically take part in the proposed dharna against advance tax, property tax and delay in the value added tax (VAT) refund. Actually, some representatives of JAC, including industrialist Gursharan Singh, met with those of the chamber a few days ago urging them to participate in the dharna so that the city businessmen might put up a joint agitation. At this, the chamber representatives agreed to his proposal. Sehgal said, “The dharna will be unprecedented one against anti-businessmen policies of Parkash Singh Badal-led Akali-BJP government.” Meanwhile, JAC members Ravindra Dhir, Gursharan Singh and Raj Kumar Sharma held separate meetings with the representatives over a dozen associations to mobilise them for the proposed dharna. Jalandhar Marble Dealer Association president Mohinder Suri, Jalandhar Sanitary Dealers Association chief Krishan Arora and Nakodar Road Shopkeepers Association Gautam Rai assured JAC member of every possible support for making the dharna a big success. Similarly, Gursharan Singh and Raj Kumar Sharma held meetings with representatives of over six associations around Sodal Mandir road for getting their active support for the dharna. |
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ANM training school for Phagwara
Phagwara, October 20 Residents of Hadiabad expressed their anger and told the Union Minister that the Jacha-Bacha Kendra was lying closed since 2006 and the women were facing much inconvenience. She assured the residents to write to competent authorities to restore the facility there. The minister visited Civil Hospital, Phagwara also and assessed the condition of the hospital. She announced to set up an ANM Training School near the Civil Hospital by spending Rs 5 crore by the Union Government. |
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Sukhraj is new BJP Mahila Morcha chief
Jalandhar, October 20 A former mandal president Sukhraj was also a contender for the BJP ticket from ward number two during the last MC elections. Sukhraj said she would spread awareness among masses in general and women in particular against social evils, including female foeticide. The new morcha chief said she would soon announce her team after consulting all BJP MLAs of the city and getting approval from state leadership. She would try to include educated and active workers in the new team, she added.
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St Soldier win champions trophy
Jalandhar, October 20 Painting activity
State Public School Group organised painting activity in its activity hall to enhance and prmote students’ skill in art and painting. Vice- principal Rajib Budhiraja encouraged the students to participate in such activities regularly. — TNS |
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Handball: GNE Ludhiana beat Ramgarhia Engineering College
Jalandhar, October 20 In the women’s final handball inter-college competition, DAVIET College of Jalandhar remained winner and girls of GNE Ludhiana got the second place. It was also a hard fight but DAVIET emerged ultimate winner by a margin of 8-7. Team of MIMIT Malout remained on the third place in the women section. The Chairman of Sant Baba Bhag Singh Institute, Sant Baba Malkit Singh was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. He along with Director JS Dhillon and Director General of SBBSEC HS Sagar, distributed trophies and medals to the winner teams.
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Athletics meet concludes
Kapurthala, October 20 Principal Colonel Sudhanshu Arya, headmistress Sumita Misra and registrar wing Commander Negi were also present on the occasion. |
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PU defeat Faizabad varsity
Jalandhar, October 20 The host team crushed CSK, Palampur, 58-2, JMI, Delhi defeated University of Lucknow 31-28, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana defeated DCRUST, Murthal, 35-29 and Thapar University, Patiala, defeated NIT, Kurukshetra 25-4 while Kumaon University, Nainital and NIT, Jalandhar, got walkover on the first day of the championship. As many as 500 players from 33 universities from across the zone are participating in this four-day championship of 35 general and league matches. On the inaugural day, 13 matches were played on two courts from four pools of the teams while 12 matches have been fixed for today. University Chancellor Ashok Mittal declared the championship open and wished all the best to all participants.
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2-day remand for accused in businessman’s kidnapping
Jalandhar, October 20 ADCP Parminder Singh Bhandal said the matter was being investigated to ascertain the truth.The accused were produced before the Duty Magistrate today. An FIR of kidnapping under various Sections of the IPC was registered at the police station concerned against 11 persons on the directions of court. Bhandal said, “The police had registered a daily diary report (DDR) of Rakesh’s disappearance and was acting on that DDR.” Kanchan, victim's wife, alleged that she had been threatened to pay Rs 1 crore ransom for her husband’s release by the kidnappers.
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Jalandhar, October 20 Acting on a tip-off, a police party raided the house and nabbed Gurpreet Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Neeraj Kumar along with Neetu, a middle-aged woman and three city-based girls. The police said Neetu, the kingpin of the trade, along with Neeraj Kumar, was operating from a rented accommodation for the past some time. She had engaged the girls in prostitution, while Neeraj used to help her in arranging the customers. Today Gurpreet Singh, who runs a shop in Shastri Market, and Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Urban Estate, were nabbed red handed, the police said. A case under provisions of the Prevention of the Immoral Trafficking Act has been registered against them and the accused would be produced in court tomorrow. — TNS
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Two killed in mishaps
Phagwara, October 20 In another incident, a truck driver Balwinder Kumar of Hadiabad was killed in a road mishap near Gohawar village on the national highway last night. Man held with poppy husk The Satnampura police has arrested a drug peddler, identified as Paramjit Singh of Palahai Village and recovered four kg of puppy husk from his possession last night. The accused was nabbed during a nakabandi near Santokhpura rail crossing, the police said.
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Several feet high sewage water has accumulated at Ikhari Pulli which connects many colonies located on one side of the
Jalandhar- Amritsar railway tracks with those situated on the other side of the city.
The 96 stall owners at the firecracker market in Burlton Park have finally got their fire cracker licence issued from the Police
Commissionerate. The police department, however, seems to have issued these licences hurriedly, as some of the fire-safety measures taken by stall owners were still found to be inadequate by this reporter on a visit to the market on Sunday.
Panjab University, Chandigarh, defeated Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University,
Faizabad, 85-16 in a match played on the inaugural of the Association of Indian Universities' North Zone Inter-university Basketball (Women) Championship-2013 at the LPU campus here today.