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Dengue cases worry authorities
Health officials find it hard to enforce food safety Act
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Burj Hasan village
VDS for traders announced
Dhillon Kool Drinks, Phillaur declared highest tax payer
Rashi Sharma’s anaesthetist cries negligence
from schools & colleges
Accused in murder case arrested
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Dengue cases worry authorities
Jalandhar, November 6 While usually, post Diwali, a decline in the number of patients has been observed, this year, there doesn't seem to be any let-up in the dengue numbers even after the chill setting in. Even today, there are at least 162 dengue suspects (patients with fever and low platelet count) admitted to the local Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, as per statistics released by the health department, a whopping 87,764 people have also been tested for malaria during the disease season so far, of which 32 have tested positive for malaria. The number of jaundice suspects who have undergone tests is 725, out of whom 50 have tested positive for the disease. As far as cholera is concerned, as many as 600 patients had tested positive for the disease during the outbreak in the Garha area this year. Five lives were lost (one from four cholera, one from jaundice) and over 1,300 people have been hit by diseases related to diarrhoea or gastro disorders in the district this season so far. Given that the health department maintains a silence on diarrhoea, gastroenteritis or cholera cases after the outbreak, the disease statistics have apparently exceeded the numbers recorded since September. Sources say the total number of jaundice and malaria patients across the city are also estimated to be more. Meanwhile, commenting on the dengue cases refusing to die down, district epidemiologist Dr Satish Sood said, "Until some weeks ago we were getting 500 plus cases being referred for lab tests, but the numbers have now come down to 250 or so. So there has been a marked decrease in dengue patients. We are also taking all measures to stall the spread of the disease. In the coming week or so, dengue cases are expected to subside substantially." "Health teams are visiting the homes of the 417 dengue suspects as well as the 69 confirmed patients. While any fever or platelet count decrease patient is immediately being referred to the hospital, teams are also spreading awareness in affected colonies regarding the prevention of dengue and avoiding accumulation of water in the surroundings. Surveys and spraying is also being conducted," Dr Sood added. While doctors say the dengue reportage is scattered in various localities, the areas from where dengue cases pour in include Kartarpur, Sodal Road, New Grain Market, Adarsh Nagar, Mehatpur, Bhagat Singh Conony, Banda Bahadur Nagar, Basti Mithu, Ali Mohalla, Maqsudan, Sanghowal village, Qadianwali in Jamsher Khas, Mehsampur, Mithapur, Saidan Gate, Focal Point, Raipur Araian, Patel Nagar, New Abadi, Gazigulla, Model House, Royal Enclave, among others. |
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Health officials find it hard to enforce food safety Act
Jalandhar, November 6 The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has laid down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Under the provisions of the regulations, the cottage food manufacturing industry, with an annual turnover not exceeding Rs 12 lakh, will have to get registered with the health department, while the big food manufacturing having an annual turnover over Rs 12 lakh must obtain licence from the department. Sources in the department said that a majority of the owners running petty food industry were reluctant to get themselves registered with the department. Moreover, the department has failed to come down heavily on roadside vends and eateries as they are of migratory nature. There are thousands of hotels, dhabas, taverns, roadside vends and rehris catering to lakhs of needy people across the district who are hardly interested in getting them registered with the department, a senior official in the health department said. Talking to The Tribune, district health officer (DHO), Dr Balwinder Singh said that 3,400 units of cottage food industry had been registered, while 1,050 big food manufacturing units from across the district had obtained licences from the department so far. The registration fee is Rs 100, while licence seekers have to pay Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 as per the provisions, he added. The
DHO, however, revealed that the owners of petty food industry and of big food manufacturing houses were showing least interest even though the department had held
different meeting to educate them. |
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City actor Adhvik Mahajan wins accolades for teleserial
Jalandhar, November 6 “We don’t get holidays,” he rues. “It was a lot of work and since we have to shoot daily, there are no offs. But I knew I had to come home this Diwali. So I sort of gave an ultimatum to my team to let me be in Jalandhar and I am loving being back at home,” Adhvik laughs. Having pursued his schooling from St Josephs Boys School, Jalandhar, and MGN Public School, Jalandhar, he began pursuing acting as part of the theatre team of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts - meeting and working with the likes of Kapil Sharma, Amit Prashar, Vikram Grover and Sugandha Mishra. After spending some initial days in modelling after college, he bagged a role in the Ram Gopal Varma film "Contract" receiving his big break. He also worked in Telugu films "Oosaravelli" and "Denikaina Ready" soon after. In 2013 came the opportunity to play the prominent character Soham in the now hit series "Bani - Ishq Da Kalma". The show, which is aimed at taking to people the plight of NRI wives duped by their grooms, has a distinct message, which Soham has been working hard to spread. “A majority of the shows on Colours are message-oriented. Take Balika Vadhu for example. The producers of Bani.. are writers. So there was always a strong sense of concept and message which helped us a lot as actors as well. Brides being duped in the lure for greener pastures is a very common problem in Punjab and I recently received information that there are probably 30,000 such weddings per year. So I feel happy to be part of the team which is spreading the word on such a relevant issue,” he says. Talking about the response, he says, “People are certainly relating to the show deeply. We receive personal mails from fans and audience who say they are happy the issues is being addressed on TV. We can feel the show is affecting a lot of people. We get messages from Italy, Sweden, Canada, Australia and other countries as well. We are hoping to reach many more people because this is an important issue and it needs to be addressed.” On what’s better - TV or the big screen? : It is difficult to differentiate between the two. But I do believe for an actor, TV is a good learning experience. One sees the show being aired daily and learns to identify and work on the flaws. In cinema, that’s not possible. You shoot for 15 days and straight away see the results in theatres. There’s no scope for trial and error. On TV being woman-oriented: TV is certainly woman-oriented and cinema male-oriented. But I am lucky, I have got a strong role which receives ample attention. Punjabi films - I am getting a few offers, but I would like to do something different with my Punjabi outing. I am on the lookout. His long-term aim - Twenty to 25 years later when I come here again, I would like to be this big cinema legend (smiles). |
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Burj Hasan village
Jalandhar, November 6 District Development and Panchayat Officer Avtar Singh Bhullar, too, said the process for the recovery of the land had been initiated. "We are awaiting police help and would take back the panchayati land the same day," he said. A detailed story on the department sitting on the recovery of the land for the past nearly a decade had been carried in The Tribune on October 24. The office of the District Development and Panchayat Officer has been sleeping over its own orders passed nine years ago regarding the eviction of encroachers. Former District Development and Panchayat Officer Jarnail Singh had passed orders against each of the 30 encroachers way back on March 9, 2004. He had also pronounced that an amount of Rs 5000 per acre be recovered from the encroachers from kharif season of 1999 to rabi season of 2003. The department has not just failed to take the possession of the land worth hundreds of crores of rupees but has also not paid heed to recover Rs 4.47 crore for reaping the harvest for the past 14 years. The decision in the case "Panchayat of Burj Hasan village through Panchayat Officer Hardev Singh vs Rur Singh and others" has nowhere been effected and the encroachers have been allowed to continue to reap the benefit for 28 crop cycles ever since. The case had been decided in favour of the panchayat ex parte, as none of the encroachers had turned up despite notices issued against them. Even the execution warrant in the case had been issued way back on September 7, 2007, but to no avail. The department has been sitting on the files even as the respondents have not approached any higher court against the decision. It is now after the arguments between Chief Parliamentary Secretary NK Sharma and Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira got heated up over the issue of the illegal possession of shamlat land in villages that similar cases lying buried across the state are being dug up. The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats had written to all DDPOs across the state to take out all such files and start execution for the recovery of such lands. |
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VDS for traders announced
Jalandhar, November 6 The department has finalised the details of the scheme so that such persons who inadvertently made some mistakes in their returns would still be able to pay up taxes. All those who have been allowed to correct the status of their liabilities include those dealers whose tax has not actually been paid into the state treasury and those who claimed concessional rates for inter-state trade but goods were actually not sent outside. Even those traders who claimed zero-rated sales on account of exports but the exports did not take place or were over-invoiced have been allowed to rectify their returns, it has been clearly spelt out. As per the procedure specified for the same, an application has to be moved before the end of this financial year on March 31, 2014. The officials will process the applications within a month of their receipt for calculation of the additional tax due on the basis of fresh disclosures made, a month after which 25 per cent of the payment will have to be made. The remaining three instalments will have to be paid by the last date of June, September and December, 2014. The scheme has come with certain pre-conditions, the first one being that the dealer will not be able to challenge the amount determined by the officials. There are certain tax payers who will not be able to avail the scheme. These include those who have already been issued notices under Sections 29(1), 28, 29(2) and 29(3) by the officials or those for whom orders for provisional assessment have been issued prior to date of application. Also those traders will not be able to make any corrections at this stage whose inspection of premises has already been carried out by the department or investigation has been initiated for producing books of account. Sarojini Gautam Sharda, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said even as the modalities for the scheme had been finalised, it was yet to be formally launched. Ravinder Dhir, representing the Khel Udyog Sangh, said the scheme is a welcome step but the department should not impose any interest. “Does the department pay up for delayed VAT refund?” he made a point. The officials have decided to take down the record of all entries of cracker consignments made at the check posts of the department at the state borders and tally them with the records of the local cracker dealers. Any variation in the billing would be treated as evasion. As per the records of the department, there is no cracker manufacturing company in Jalandhar. All crackers are manufactured and bought from Sivaskasi, a small town in Tamil Nadu. Sarojini Gautam Sharda Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner said entries at the barriers had already been sought and the concerned Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioners had been asked to keep a track of the big dealers. AETC-II Rajpal Singh said, “We will take records from the wholesale dealers post-Diwali to cross check under-billing and other issues. There are around eight big cracker dealers in Jalandhar-II. We will first verify their records and any shortcomings will definitely be assessed with penalties to be imposed.” |
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Dhillon Kool Drinks, Phillaur declared highest tax payer
Jalandhar, November 6 The company is among nearly 30 other firms from Jalandhar which will be honoured by the department at a state-level function at Chandigarh on November 14 by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.Taking a new initiative, the department has categorised its top tax payers from all districts under various categories for which the Dhillon Kool Drinks is also the maximum tax payer under large scale manufacturers from Jalandhar-1 district. From Jalandhar-2 in the same category, Siel Chemicals, manufacturing chemicals for industrial use on Hoshiarpur Road, has earned the tag of the highest tax payer with an amount of Rs 9.45 crore paid towards the government exchequer. Model Town-based Kapsons Agency too ranks as the highest tax-payer among the traders (other than oil companies, food procurement agencies and company depots). The multi-brand family garment store has paid up taxes to the tune of Rs 6.7 crore for the previous year. Automobile dealers GS Enterprises and Kosmo Enterprises follow in the traders’ category with an amount of Rs 4.61 crore and 3.69 crore paid as taxes, respectively. All three fall in Jalandhar-2 district of the excise department. The traders from Jalandhar-1 trail behind in terms of tax payment. Based at Naya Bazaar, Vijay Batra of Sandhu Glass Pvt Ltd has been declared the highest tax paying trader with Rs 1.99 crore deposited. Ajit Rakheja of Unicorn India and Anil Aggarwal of Aggarwal Sanitations follow on the second and third positions with an amount of Rs 1.63 crore and 1.32 crore paid as excise tax, respectively. Phagwara-based traders lead in terms of payment of taxes in Kapurthala district. Sunderam Auto Components Phagwara has paid dues to the tune of Rs 5.11 crore, Gomti Motors Phagwara has paid taxes worth Rs 2.81 crore and Sangeeta Steel Corporation also of Phagwara has deposited an amount of Rs 2.1
crore. |
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MC chargesheets 3 Asst Town Planners
Amritsar, November 6 The MC has issued separate charge-sheets to three of its Municipal Town Planning Wing officials. They are Assistant Town Planners Suresh Kumar, Banke Bihari (at present posted at Ludhiana) and Ramesh Chhabra (now at Jaladhar), during whose tenure such commercial establishments prospered. Meanwhile, in another development the MC has also deputed a new Municipal Town Planner Raj Kumar in place of Des Raj, who was recently suspended on the insistence of Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi. Des Raj faced graft charges allegedly for issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) for sanctioning building plans. Commissioner, MC, DPS Kharbanda, while confirming the development, said the officials, whose role had come under scanner, had received the chargesheets. “They have been charged for not performing their duties in proper manner. It was during their tenure that such lapses occurred, which led to the mushrooming of illegal hotels, inns and guest houses. They would be given a chance to explain their position for why didn’t they take cognisance of such serious lapses,” he said. Senior Town Planner Hemant Batra said the charge-sheet had been served to them as they didn’t publish the mandatory notification regarding "not to use the premises as hotel or guest house or inn" within stipulated time frame, as per the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high Court. Taking notice of the writ petition filed by an Amritsar resident, Sarbjit Singh Verka, in 2010, the authorities were summoned by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In May 2012, the then Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal had "categorically" admitted that 21 multi-storey hotels/inns/ restaurants did not comply with the laid norms under the MC Building Bylaws and were issued notices. These hotels, some even raised to six storeys on just 50-60 sq yard "residential" plots, never obtained the mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs) either from the Municipal Corporation or the Fire Department. With no alternate fire escape route, there were only "narrow stairs" leading to upper floors. “Barring 2 per cent of them, none of these hotels/inns/restaurants have the mandatory provision of parking lots,” said Kharbanda. Nonetheless, the MC has initiated a survey to check NOCs, licences under the Serai Act and other permissions secured by hotels situated in the walled city. The high court has summoned MC Commissioner DPS Kharbanda and STP Hemant Batra on November 25 to gauge the action taken by the authorities against the illegal construction. “We had constituted three teams, consisting of nine officials, who would prepare a report on the basis of survey, so that we would be able to present the actual picture before the HC Bench”, said STP Batra. |
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Rush makes patients arrange their own beds at Bebe Nanki centre
Amritsar, November 6 The centre has three gynaecology units of 30 beds each. However, the hospital authorities stated that the bed occupancy is around 180 per cent of the available infrastructure. The units were seen stuffed with around 50-55 beds each. During a visit to the centre it was seen that many patients were lying on personal beds brought by them. Patients said they had brought the beds on a rent of Rs
40 per day. The situation has resulted in mushrooming of a new kind of entrepreneurs who give these beds on rent to the needy people. The hospital authorities have also placed extra beds in the units to cater to the rush, but the measures are proving insufficient. “The number of patients has increased many times because of free child delivery service and free medicines. Even due to increase of awareness level among the public, the number of institutional deliveries has increased everywhere else also,” said Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr KS Sidhu. Dr Sidhu said they try to provide medical service to every patient whosoever comes to the centre even if they have to make temporary arrangements for their stay. “We do not say no to anybody even if all the beds are occupied. Sometimes the patients themselves bring folding beds for their need,” said Dr Sidhu. Not only the Bebe Nanki centre, but also all the other institutions under Government Medical College, including Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and ENT Hospital, are facing the problem of huge rush of patients. The infrastructure available with medical college has a capacity to admit around 950 patients at the most. “The bed occupancy is always more than the available infrastructure. Presently, we have around 1,200 patients admitted to various wards,” said Sidhu. The centre was inaugurated in November
last year. The nine-storey building provides medical facilities to mothers and children under one roof. However, the offices on the top floor of the building are yet to be furnished to be used by officials. Sources at the hospital said the Bebe Nanki
centre was created to cater to the rush of patients as assessed at the time when design was being prepared. The design of the building
did not have much scope for its extension. However, the authorities had apprised senior officials of medical education and research about the
situation. |
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Rashi Sharma’s anaesthetist cries negligence
Jalandhar, November 6 “Since she was given all the medication through intravenous (IV) fluids, the reaction, if any, could have been caused immediately after the administration of the drugs. But she developed complications almost 30 minutes later and once the surgery was over, it clearly shows that the fluid has flown into the whole body due to some accidental rupturing of some tissue inside her uterus during surgery,” said Dr MP Sethi, anaesthetist. While narrating the unfortunate moments of surgery, he further revealed that once the
surgery was about to get over, he saw the swelling on Rashi’s body. “I immediately came to know that it is a case of acute emergency. I cried to them to control the inflow of fluid but unfortunately they didn’t have the required experience and equipment which could have prevented or reversed the inflow thus saving her life. We immediately planned her evacuation,” said Sethi. In his statement given to Medical Board, he further added that if ICU facility would have been there in Vardaan Hospital, Rashi’s precious life could have been saved. In the meanwhile, Rashi’s family had moved a request to the Police Commissioner to add Section 302/304 related to murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the FIR. “My daughter has lost her life. Somebody has to be made accountable for that. We have given a written request to the Police Commissioner to add them in the FIR so as to bring the culprit behind bars,” said Anil Sharma, Rashi’s father-in-law. Also on Wednesday, the next hearing in Rashi Sharma’s death case has been fixed for November 21. |
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from schools & colleges
The dignitaries were welcomed by Chander Mohan, president, Arya Shiksah Mandal and college managing committee, Dr Naresh Kumar Dhiman, Principal, Head-Dr Simran Sidhu ,faculty and students. Speaking on the occasion, Deepak Vohra highlighted the existing political, economic, military and cultural trends that are visible today. Chander Mohan emphasised on the need to inculcate a sense of self-discipline and and self-preparedness amongst the Indians to tackle the onslaught of the fast changing global mega trends. Workshop
Computer forum of GND University College, Ladowali Road Jalandhar organised a workshop on Search Engine Optimisation. Munish and Omkar Sawroop from “Sonel Tech Solution Pvt Ltd” were the key speakers. Omkar Sawroop shared his views regarding search engine optimisation which is a beneficial way to promote our websites worldwide and earn more money . Munish imparted practical knowledge and easy techniques to create own websites and blocks and how to promote our existing websites through search engine optimisation. Poetry recitation
Pallavi Khurana of PCM SD College for Women, Jalandhar stood first in poetry recitation, in Zonal Youth Festival of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Her poem in Punjabi titled ‘Rabta Kithee h’ was based on quest for indentity of women, in patriarchal society. Principal Kiran Arora congratulated her. Vigilance Awareness Week
Shiv Jyoti Public School organised a lecture on Role of Media in Good Governance during the celebration of Vigilance Awareness Week under the guidelines of CBSE. Yogeshwar Dutt, Chief Editor, Dainik Bhaskar and Inderjit Walia, senior teacher of the School were the speakers on the occasion. Walia told the students how e-media helps to bring awareness among people. A Role Play was presented by students of 10+2 highlighting the spread of corruption in various departments of Judiciary. Dutt asked the students to come forward not only to eliminate corruption but to be aware of their role in good governance. Vibha Sharda , Principal, extended gratitude to the speakers. |
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Cash, jewellery stolen from house
Jalandhar, November 6 This morning, the neighbours found the main gate of the house locked and called up the owner. Manjit Singh said nearly 80 tola gold, a laptop and Rs 60,000 cash was gone. Division Number 5 policemen said the owner was yet to provide a list of the stolen goods. The police tried to gather clues using fingerprints but to no avail. |
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Accused in murder case arrested
Kapurthala, November 6 The accused, identified as Kamaljit Singh, a resident of Jandi Sham Charausi village, was produced before the area magistrate immediately after his arrest and the court sent him to five-day police remand. The Kapurthala police had already arrested three accused Aarju, Sukhjinder, alias Katta, and Pankaj. According to police officials, Kamaljit has given them some vital clues that may help them nab the rest of the accused. |
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Jalandhar, November 6