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Govt mortgaged property worth Rs
2,000 cr in 8 months
WHO shifts road safety project outside Punjab
42 years on, 1971 POW’s wife awaits husband’s return
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Moga clash: No sign of truce; police on alert
Kidnapped engineer back home
Tight security for Kabaddi Cup at Chohla Sahib
Hi-tech system to replace radar at Amritsar airport
Revenue officials in soup over property dispute
Villagers wade through water
body to connect to mainland
With pvt plants using imported coal, power tariff may stay high
RinGside view
Fazilka residents recall battle of Beriwala
Indian-origin couple found dead in UK
Re-examine patient’s plea, forum told Meet to showcase world-class cuisines on December 5
30% children in cities obese
Sangrur MC employees not paid dues
Demand not met,
rice millers mull strike
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Govt mortgaged property worth Rs
2,000 cr in 8 months
Bathinda, December 1
Government property worth crores has been mortgaged in cities to collect loans amounting to Rs 2,000 crore from five banks (in two installments) in the last eight months. It is common knowledge that the state is reeling under huge debt. The Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) has mortgaged valuable land in 14 cities. The plots were transferred to PUDA, which sold them further. An RTI (Right to Information) query has revealed that PUDA started taking bank loans on March 18 this year. In March alone, it took a loan of Rs 1,000 crore. The second installment of Rs 1,000 crore was received in August, September and October. The Canara Bank gave a loan of Rs 750 crore in two installments on March 18 and August 23. The Bank of India gave Rs 500 crore loan on September 30 and October 15. The Punjab and Sind Bank gave a loan of Rs 400 crore on March 28, the Bank of Baroda Rs 250 crore on March 28 and the Andhra Bank Rs 100 crore on March 26. The land was sold under the Optimum Use of Vacant Government Land (OUVGL) Scheme. Sources say this is apart from the loans that the PUDA has borrowed on its properties. Even the PUDA Enclave in Budhlada and in Jagroan have been mortgaged. At both these places, PUDA had developed colonies on the land of old sugar mills, which has now been mortgaged to the Canara Bank. The latter has also mortgaged Patiala’s Devigarh division office, Rajpura Colony and Public Health site (opposite Fountain Chowk). Similarly, Ludhiana’s old court complex, Patiala’s Chhoti Baradari site and Amritsar’s canal rest house have been mortgaged to the Bank of India. The Punjab and Sind Bank has mortgaged Ludhiana’s Green Park Enclave (canal colony), Jalandhar jail site and Amritsar Mental Hospital site. Amritsar’s Ranjit Avenue site is with the Andhra Bank whereas Jalandhar’s old DC and SSP office sites and Gandhi Vaneeta Ashram site have been mortgaged to the Bank of Baroda. PUDA chief administrator Manvesh Singh Sidhu said they had got Rs 2,000 crore loan for the state government by mortgaging its properties. All the loans have to be paid over a period of 10 years. Besides, the state government has sold property worth Rs 1,533 crore from April 1, 2007, to August 31 this year. The money was used to complete 127 big and small projects in the state. In Bathinda zone falling under Bathinda Development Authority (BDA), government sold property worth Rs 360 crore.
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WHO shifts road safety project outside Punjab
Jalandhar, December 1 “The project was not doing well in Punjab. Because of some unavoidable circumstances that I cannot reveal as of now. It has been shifted to Andhra Pradesh,” said Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. The Road Safety-10 project has been initiated by the UN in collaboration with several international agencies like the WHO, John Hopkins University and Global Road Safety Partner (GRSP). It is being implemented in 10 countries, including India. “As of now, we don’t have any activities planned for Punjab” said Dr Amrita Kansal, Road Safety Consultant, WHO, New Delhi. The UN seems to be upset with the lackadaisical approach of the state government. It has not mentioned Punjab’s performance in its global report on RS-10 project (2012-13) but has lauded the efforts by the Hyderabad police, saying that “it has increased enforcement and penalties for drink-drive plus introduced re-education programmes for offenders.” What went wrong
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42 years on, 1971 POW’s wife awaits husband’s return
Hoshiarpur, December 1 “I do not know whether he's alive, but I wish to see him once before I die. I will not be able to recognise him, but seeing him once is my life’s only wish,” says Manjit Kaur (67), wife of Petty Officer Har Kishan Singh (popularly known as HK). At her home in Kurangna village, about 5 km from the district headquarters, she hopes against hope. The Petty Officer (equivalent to that of a subedar in the Army) was aboard a ship, F-149
(Khukhri), to attack a Pakistani naval base in Karachi on December 9, 1971, when it was torpedoed by a submarine of the neighbouring country.
Manjit recalls the day when they had reached Bombay (now Mumbai) after being transferred from New Delhi on December 6, 1971. The next day, Singh was ordered to leave for the front. "On December 9, 1971, Pakistan drowned ‘Khukhri’ that had many soldiers, including my husband, on board. It was after three days, I came to know about the incident from a wife of a soldier living nearby,” she says. “The news shattered me. That was the seventh year of our marriage,” Manjit said, wiping her moist eyes with the corner of her veil. “With my two sons and a daughter, I came back to my in-laws’ house. The government gave me a pension of Rs 280 per month and it was later raised to Rs 720. After a few years, Rs 27,000 was given as
ex-gratia grant and service benefits. This is all I got from the Navy,” she recalls. There was a ray of hope when one day, Manjit heard Har Kishan on Pakistan radio saying his name, address, names of members of family and assuring his well-being, and that he was in Pakistan, she said. “I told my neighbours about the announcement on the Pakistan radio. They said they too had listened to HK on Pakistan radio broadcast from Karachi,” Manjit said. And then started the long wait of his return that still continues. “Since the announcement, we have been organising akhand path every year on the day he went missing (December 9). There is still hope that he will return," Manjit said. In 2009, the family had met human rights activist Ansar Burney and told him about Har
Kishan. Burney assured them he would look for him, but he did not get back, Manjit said. She did not re-marry to tend to her children, but her two sons married sons live separately in
Kurangna. Her daughter, whose husband deserted her, look after her mother who once had a paralytic attack. “A petrol pump, a gas agency and many similar promises were made but not fulfilled. I have no regret, but only one wish to see my husband once," Manjit says with her throat choked.
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Moga clash: No sign of truce; police on alert
Faridkot, December 1 While a heavy police force has been deployed in Baghapurana and Moga in view of the monthly congregation
(naam charcha) of dera followers in Sadhanwala village of Faridkot, some radical Sikh groups organised their annual assembly
(diwan) today. Some days back, dera followers of Sadhanwala village had submitted a memorandum to the district police, demanding it be ensured that nothing disrespectful was said about their head by those attending the three-day diwan at a village
gurdwara. The police is keeping a close watch. The village has witnessed several clashes between dera followers and radical Sikh groups in the past. The dera followers claimed while there was no bitterness among local residents, “radical Sikh leaders from outside are inciting the people with their blasphemous utterances against the dera head.” Sikh radical Baljit Singh Daduwal is to visit the village tomorrow. During his visit to Dhudike village yesterday, he had alleged that the state government was patronising the dera followers to garner votes in the coming Lok Sabha elections. “We will start a state-wide agitation against the ruling
SAD-BJP alliance if the government does not cancel the cases registered against over 80 persons, including Sikh leaders,” he had warned. At the congregation in Moga yesterday, the dera followers discussed their next course of action if the police did not arrest Akali leaders and others allegedly involved in the Dhudike
violence. Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kamaljeet Singh
Dhillon, said: “We have shifted some police officials from Dhudike for dereliction of duty. The situation is under control,” he added. The Akali leader, Jathedar Tota Singh, has been making hectic efforts to broker peace between the warring parties.
Trouble persists
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Kidnapped engineer back home
Sangrur, December 1 Dharam Pal alleged four-five persons with their faces covered kidnapped him by intercepting his car near Kakkarwal village. They covered his face and drove him away in his car. They told him to make a phone call to his family and tell them to pay ransom for his release. They then took him to an undisclosed location, he alleged. He said he told them that he and his family had nothing to give them. He also heard them saying they had kidnapped him by mistake, so they dropped him near Sunam last night, he said. SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said investigation was on.
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Tight security for Kabaddi Cup at Chohla Sahib
Tarn
Taran, December 1 Rajjit Singh Hindal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), said 400 police personnel and a number of gazatted officers had been sommoned from other districts for the occasion. Double barricades had been erected around Sri Guru Arjun Dev Sports Stadium. Popular Punjabi singer Barkat Sidhu would entertain the audience. Balwinder Singh
Dhaliwal, Deputy Commissioner, took stock of the arrangements this evening.
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Hi-tech system to replace radar at Amritsar airport
Amritsar, December 1 The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is set to install the ADS-B, a new generation avionics system fast replacing radars at airports across the world, at Srinagar and Kargil airports in the hill state while it has already deployed the same at the Amritsar Airport. But, it is awaiting operational clearance from the Director General of Civil Aviation. AAI chairman VP Agrawal, who was recently in Amritsar, shared that installation of the ADS-B ground station at Srinagar and Kargil airports had been approved and these would be done next year. The data from ADS-B station at Srinagar will be made available to Amritsar. Maximum range of each ground station is about 250 nautical miles (500 km) and it could conveniently capture the movement of aircraft flying in Pakistan and China, besides remote parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The new generation avionics systems are also proposed to be installed at Jaisalmer, Dibrugarh, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Trichy, Vijayawada, Jamnagar/Kandla, Paykong, Agathi, Aurangabad, Behrampur, Belgaum, Pantnagar and Ranchi. The ground station systems have already been installed at 14 airports, including Amritsar. It is anticipated that ADS-B will become the main surveillance tool and existing RADAR systems will act as stand-by. Benefits of ADS-B over conventional RADAR include increased accuracy and very less cost of equipment and its maintenance. India will be among very few countries like Australia, Indonesia, China and the US where ADS-B is replacing radar for air traffic control purposes. This will result in fuel savings to airlines and delays will be reduced. Airlines' operating cost would come down apart from reducing carbon emissions, leading to environmental benefits after direct routings.
About ADS-B device
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Revenue officials in soup over property dispute
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 1 The land had been registered in the name of three people in spite of it being declared mutnaza intekal (disputed) by the Sub-divisional Magistrate
(SDM) and the matter has been pending in court. The DC has ordered an inquiry after deceased’s brother Gurpreet Singh of Reuna Newan village in the district filed a complaint in this regard. The inquiry officer, SDM Pooja
Syal, said the investigation was on and action would be taken against the officials, if found
guilty. Gurpreet, in his complaint, had said that his brother Harbans Singh was living with their father Jagdish Singh for the past 30 to 35 years and his family took care of him. He claimed that Harbans had, on February 2, willed the land in his favour and two brothers Ishwar Singh and Rajwinder Singh. After the death of Harbans on February 28, officials of the revenue department allegedly registered the property in the name of deceased’s fourth brother Harchand Singh. The complainant claimed that though the court had given a stay on the case on October 30, Harchand in connivance with treasury officials sold the land to three people on November 1. Of the total land, one Paramjit Singh Brar had purchased 25
kanals, while Shingara Singh and Harmail Singh had bought 12 kanals, and 21 kanals and 8
marlas, respectively, Gurpreet said. He alleged that three buyers had fired to take the land’s possession and, as a result, Ishwar received bullet injuries. A case was registered under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC on July
25. Tehsildar Mandeep Singh Dhillon said that if land was declared mutnaza
intekal, it could be registered in the name of the buyer after mentioning that the property was disputed.
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Villagers wade through water
body to connect to mainland
Hoshiparpur, December 1 The sufferings of more than 5,000 residents of villages situated around Dholbaha dam seem to be endless. They have been seeking construction of a road to connect their villages to the mainland for years. But all their pleas and complaints have fallen on deaf ears. The villagers thus have to wade through the 13-km-long Kukanet Khud (a brook of
Kukanet) originating from the Shivalik hills for connecting to the outside world. “Though private mini-buses run between Hariana and lower Kukanet area, there is no public transport service. Even the private buses stop short of upper Kukanet area. So people either have to wade through the water channel or they have to take services of private vehicles like tempos and tractor-trailers,” said Kimti
Lal, a resident of Kukanet. Surveys have been conducted time and again for the construction of a road through the water channel. But, nothing concrete has been done so far to give it a practical shape,” he said. Dr Jasbir
Dosanjh, a skin specialist, who owns a farm at Kukanet village, said a number of villages of Kukanet or upper Bari Khud area remained cut off for days from the mainland during the rains. “The khud overflows and takes shape of a small river during the monsoons. Under such circumstances, people are forced to stay confined to their homes for days together,” said Dr
Dosanjh. He said it seemed that the area was not part of Punjab which boasted of its all-around development. Since the situation turns nightmarish during the rains, the lone government school in the area remains inaccessible. “It is risky for the children to venture out of their homes during the rainy season. The government must act immediately to provide relief to the people of the area,” said Kishan Sharma, a resident of Bari
Khud. Victims of neglect
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With pvt plants using imported coal, power tariff may stay high
Patiala, December 1 The state expects the commissioning of a unit each at two thermal plants by this year-end while three plants would get fully operational by mid-2014. The three projects, coming up at a cost of Rs 23,520 crore, would add 3,920 MW to the state’s annual generation capacity. While state-owned plants have ample supply from the mines allotted to them, private players do not enjoy the luxury. As such, they will pass on the cost of imported coal to the consumers. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has signed agreements with Coal India Limited for procuring 6.6 million tonnes of coal from captive mines in Panchwara - mined by Panem. The state also has at its disposal additional 13.6 tonnes, which it can buy from Coal India Limited when need be. The state government-owned Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Plant uses 19,000 tonnes of coal daily while the requirement at Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant is 5,300 tonnes. With private thermal plants have been importing 30 per cent of the coal they use, it would mean a minimal rise of over 30 paisa per unit in their production cost. PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director KD Chaudhari said the power tariff may witness a minimal hike next year. But the consumers could expect relief in the subsequent years, he said. “The relief will be on account of sale of excess power available with us,” he said. Upcoming thermal plants in private sector 1,980 MW, Talwandi Sabo
1,400 MW, Rajpura
540 MW, Goindwal Sahib
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Memoir of WW-II Sikh veteran released
Vancouver, December 1 Jauhal and other Sikh war veterans, who had served the British Empire during World War II, were denied entry into the Legion on the occasion of Remembrance Day. The legion officials insisted that they could be allowed in only after removing their turban as rules forbade veterans from entering the club with a headgear. This was despite the fact that English women were allowed to attend with their berets on, says the book. Jauhal shot into prominence for fighting against this prejudice and became the face of the Sikh struggle against racism in Canada. He wrote a protest letter to the Newton Legion detailing the sacrifices made by South Asian soldiers during World War II in a bloody fight against the Nazis. He also wrote to the Queen of England who is the constitutional head of Canada. Following the support he received from mainstream allies, including the former British Columbia Minister Penny Priddy, the Legion apologised and amended its policy. Priddy, who was present at the controversial Remembrance Day event, had walked out in protest after the Sikh veterans were not denied entry. She was at the book launch that was organised at Newton Library. In her speech, she acknowledged that this “heroic fight’’ of Jauhal ensured equal rights to the Sikhs in Canada. “He did not accept the status quo’’. An emotional Jauhal hugged her and said he couldn't have won the fight without her support. Jauhal also received threat letters and calls from white supremacists for raising the issue. The book reveals how his wife suffered a cardiac arrest and died during those difficult times. His honour was restored when the Legion was relocated to White Rock where he was invited years later to make a speech. He was also given a seat on the podium along with the Legion president. Jauhal, who walks with a stick, came to the book launch with relatives. His ageing voice cracking, he read out from the book prologue and recalled how racists would call him names and taunt him saying “Paki go back’’ when he migrated to Canada in 1980. He received a standing ovation. A few among the audience even raised religious slogans. Among other prominent figures present on the occasion were MLA Sue Hammell, MP Jasbeer Sandhu, former MLA Dave Hayer, President of the Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver Sohan Singh Deo, author Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra and Satwinder Kaur Bains, Director of the Center for Indo-Canadian Studies, University of the Fraser Valley which has published the book.
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RinGside view The warmth that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has for his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Badal was evident at the inauguration ceremony of the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant. Calling Harsimrat as his daughter, the CM said that as she represented the Bathinda parliamentary constituency, his son and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal did not have the courage to turn down her request. “Main vee ohda kehna nahin mod sakda. Meri taan oh dhee hai,” (Even I can’t turn her request. She is my daughter). Wish that everyone would follow the CM and start paying due respect to their daughters-in-law. This would bring to an end most marital disputes. The unstoppable fan Fans can be a nuisance too. Not only for the tinsel town celebs, but for politicians as well. At the inaugural ceremony of the Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant, just as Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal was to start his speech, one of his ardent supporters began to raise slogans in praise of the dignitary. An amused Sukhbir tried to pacify him, saying, “Tainu chairman bana davange. Hun bas kar.” (We will make you chairman. Now please stop). Later, the man in a yellow sweater was found standing among the policemen backstage. When the Punjab Police does not allow even a cellphone inside the VVIP enclosure without checking, wonder how this man could make it, and with a sound system too. The real boss The Punjab CEO (as Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal likes to be addressed) may not be the boss at home. He is not only in awe of his father, CM Parkash Sjngh Badal, but also his wife, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur. At a recent press conference, Badal Junior said that the party was yet to finalise candidates for the Lok Sabha seats. When reminded that a day earlier, his father had announced at Talwandi Sabo that hi s bahu had done exceptional work in her constituency and should be voted back to power with a thumping majority, Badal Junior insisted that the party had not finalised any candidate yet. "But don't write that Hatsimrat Badal's candidature is uncertain. Mere ghar ladai hi jayegi! (there will be a fight at hime) Badal Sahib (CM) is supreme and if he has decided something, it will be done by the party,” he said. The colour bias The craze for a fair skin is not just restricted to the hoi poloi. Even the thinking class and the political class seem to be in awe of the fair- skinned. This was evident during a press conference to announce the World Cup Kabaddi, When mediapersons asked if “black” Kenyans or the slightly fairer Indian Kenyans would comprise the Kenyan team, the Deputy CM replied: “ Pure black from Kenya, though even the Indians settled there are almost black,” amid laughter. A significant
advance There has been a sea change in the official publications of PUNMEDIA, particularly Advance, that is headed by a team of talented journalists. An effort has been made to reflect different hues of Punjabi life. Columns on the rumblings in the bureaucracy with contributions by officers and Editor Donald Banerjee’s Last Word make an interesting reading. Editor-in-Chief Ajay Bhardwaj’s team is trying to incorporate a healthy mix of events (kabaddi), history (Ghadar Movement), literature and lifestyle. Interestingly, Editor Donald Banerjee, Deputy Editor (Hindi) Ashok Malik and Deputy Editor (Punjabi), Ashok Sharma all retired from The Tribune publications. A royal encounter Dr Kamaljeet Soi, Vice-Chairman, Punjab Road Safety Council, and recipient of the Royal Certificate of Excellence on Road Safety, could not have asked for more. He had the the privilege of an audience with Princess Astrid from Belgium at a dinner in New Delhi on November 24. An alumni of Hasselt University, Soi apprised the visiting Princess, on the “accident rate in Punjab and the apathetic attitude of the Centre in ensuring that traffic rules were strictly implemented on the ground”. Tribute to sports stars The statues of legendary athlete Milkha Singh and hockey wizard Dhyan Chand will be installed at Jarkhar village, on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road. Organisers of the Jarkhar Sports Festival, popularly known as Modern Rural Olympics, and Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Club have decided to install statues of these sports stars at the gate of the main stadium. A club spokesperson said the statues would be ready by mid- December. Milkha Singh would attend the installation ceremony. The statues of eminent sportspersons Prithipal Singh and Surjit Singh Randhawa, former captains of Indian hockey, are already installed at Jarkhar. CM’s Kabaddi Cup A year after Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal announced at Doda on December 5 that he intended to hold Chief Minister’s Kabaddi Cup between civil and police officers, and that too before March 2013, no step has been taken in this direction. Elated at the response of kabaddi fans, Sukhbir had said that the traditional sport would be further promoted and that Chief Minister’s Kabaddi Cup would be played at the zonal and state level. “At the zonal level, officers in the rank of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) will lead the police team and Divisional Commissioners will captain the civil administration team. At the state level, the DGP and the Chief Secretary will lead the teams,” Sukhbir had said. He had also announced to organise a wrestling tournament with teams from India, Pakistan and Iran. But nothing has happened so far. Of turban colour The colour of the pagri (turban) matters. While supporters of the Shiromani Akali Dal are known to don blue turban, those of the Congress sport white headgear. Of late Congress leaders Capt Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa have been seen in more vibrant colours like purple and green. With the Lok Sabha elections approaching, those visiting Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal or the Deputy CM make sure they are in a blue turban. Some arriving from remote areas make a stopover at Mohali to change their headgear. An Akali leader was heard asking a small-time party activist who came to see him: “Did you change into a blue turban at Mohali? I have information that you did.” The poor man was speechless. He smiled sheepishly as he made a hasty retreat. — Contributed by Gurpreet Singh, Megha Mann, Ruchika Khanna, Sanjeev Singh Bariana, Anil Datt, Archit Watts
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Fazilka residents recall battle of Beriwala
Fazilka, December 1 Pakistan had launched a determined attack in this sector to capture Fazilka town on December 3, 1971. Pakistani forces, led by Major Sharif, had advanced in the Indian Territory beyond the first defence line across the strategically important Beriwala bridge. The B company of 4 Jat Regiment of the Indian Army led by Major Narain Singh was assigned the task to stall the heavy Pakistani invasion and recapture Beriwala bridge. In the ensuing battle, both Major Narain Singh and Major Sharif were killed after displaying exemplary bravery. Pakistan honoured Major Sharif with its highest gallantry award Nishan-e-Haider while Major Narain Singh was conferred with Veer Chakra. “Their tales of rare act of bravery continued to do rounds in the Indian and Pakistan circles for a long period,” says octogenarian Mohan Lal Paruthi, the founder general secretary of 1971 Indo-Pak War Memorial at Asafawala. He had witnessed the collective cremation of 82 martyrs of 4 Jat Regiment, including Major Narain Singh. The cremation was held at Asafwala village by area veterans where the memorial was later built. “During the exchange of bodies after the ceasefire, Pakistan army personnel had saluted the mortal remains of Major Narain Singh”, says Paruthi. Significantly, Pakistan Major General Muqueen Khan in his book equated the bravery of Major Narain Singh with Major Sharif. The memorial raised by Fazilka residents is a place of obeisance and pilgrimage, says Urmila Bhatiyal, the widow of Major Narain Singh, whose bust has been installed at the memorial. Urmila and her son Dr Narinder are frequent visitors to the place. Dr Narinder says: “I am proud of my father Major Narain Singh whose name lives on. If I get a chance to serve the country I will not miss the opportunity.”
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Indian-origin couple found dead in UK
London, December 1 Sanjeev Kumar (36), also known as Satbir Singh, was found hanging while his wife, Poonam (35), lay dead at their residence on Western Road on Friday. According to Scotland Yard, post-mortem examinations have revealed that Poonam had been killed by "compression of the neck", while her husband died of "suspension caused by hanging". Kumar's death was not seen as suspicious from the start, implying a suicidal act. “Officers were called at approximately 3.10 pm on Friday to an address in Priory Way, Western Road, Southall following concerns for the welfare of residents there,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said. “Officers attended and discovered the bodies of a man and a woman, both aged in their 30s. They were pronounced dead at the scene,” the spokesperson said. The couple's next of kin have been informed and the police have confirmed that they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. Officers from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Major Crime Commandare are investigating the woman's death as a murder. According to local media reports, Kumar may have strangled his wife before taking his own life.
— PTI
Crime scene
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Re-examine patient’s plea, forum told
Chandigarh, December 1 The District Forum had in September dismissed the case of the 16-year-old daughter of Randhir Singh of Alipur village who sought compensation for harassment on account of wrong medication. The girl visited the Sadhbhawna Medical and Heart Institute, Patiala, in April earlier, this year, suffering from ‘severe’ pain in the upper part of the abdomen. When there was no improvement in the clinic, the patient was referred to Dr Harminder Singh for psychological check-up. He reported ‘no psychological or neurological problem’. Her father then took her to Dr Parmod Mittal of Mittal Liver and Gastroenterology Centre, Model Town, where a ‘stone was detected in the gall bladder’. Dismissing the complaint, the forum in its order had noted that “the patient was diagnosed with benign Paroxysmal Vertigo. On the basis of past history, there is nothing to show that the medicnies prescribed by the clinic had not worked”. However, the commission in its order pointed out that “the actual problem was the gall bladder stone, which was discovered by chance during the investigation of unrelated conditions”. The commission has referred back the case to the district forum “with the direction to issue notice of the Sadhbhawna Medical and Heart Institute and then hear both the parties and decide the complaint on merits”. The counsel for the complainant will appear before the forum on December 19.
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Meet to showcase world-class cuisines on December 5
Chandigarh, December 1 The meet is being organised as part of “CII Tourism Fest 2013” hosted by the Chandigarh Tourism and aimed to promote tourism, travel and the hospitality sector and also establish a road map for inclusive and seamless tourism in the region and across the globe, a CII official said here today. Themed as 'Celebrating the Taste', the international chef meet will also have a culinary exhibition and food festival, where the residents of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali will get a chance to tickle their taste buds with numerous regional, national and international cuisines, he said. —
PTI
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30% children in cities obese
Jalandhar, December 1 A combination of reduced physical activity and lengthy syllabi is destroying children’s health. The over-use of computers, video games and TV are making things even worse. Alarmed, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry is mulling a ban on the sale of junk food in school canteens, to begin with. To assist the ministry in its proposed drive against junk food, the Indian Academy of Paediatricians (IAP) at Mumbai has set up a national-level Task Force. “ Affluent states including, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, are facing double trouble. On the one hand, those residing in rural pockets and city slums are facing malnutrition and on the other obesity is on the rise in the lower and upper-middle class families, both in rural and urban areas,” says Dr Anil Sud, one of the members of the IAP’s Task Force on “Control of Lifestyle Diseases and Obesity”. The situation has deteriorated in Punjab and Haryana in the past one decade. Close to 10 per cent school kids were obese 10 years ago. “This figure has crossed 30 per cent now,” says Dr Sud. Frozen food, noodles, burgers, French fries and pizzas are much to blame, he says. He says the Union Health Ministry has now formed a high-powered committee to fix the problem. A study conducted by Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, three years ago had revealed that more than 20 per cent schoolchildren in Ludhiana were obese. Studies by the IAP have found that most children hooked on junk food cannot recognise vegetables or pulses. “Close to one-third of the children’s population in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi is grappling with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart ailments,” says Dr Sud. Food For Thought
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Sangrur MC employees not paid dues
Sangrur, December 1 Sources said the MC had yet to pay Rs 50 lakh to its about 14 retired employees on account of gratuity and leave encashment while Rs 10 lakh is to be paid to the families of deceased employees. Besides, the council is yet to pay about Rs 40 lakh as arrears (30 percent) of the revised pay scales to its employees. The sources said the council had also not paid Rs 70 lakh to 31 employees (serving and retired) of the municipal fire brigade and water supply wing from 1998 to 2008. The employees said the council had not even deposited Rs 45 lakh already deducted from their salaries in their PF accounts for five months.
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Demand not met,
rice millers mull strike
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 1 The association took the decision during its state-level meeting, chaired by its National President Tarsem Saini, held here today. It seeks relaxation in norms pertaining to milled rice. The millers said that till their demands were met, they would not mill the
paddy. Association Press Secretary Nakesh Jindal told the media that the state government had taken up their demand with the Centre, but it did not pay heed. The state government has said that paddy procured by the state agencies could not conform to prescribed specifications of 67 per cent yield, 25 per cent broken, 3 per cent damage and 3 per cent
discolouration. The specifications needed to be amended, the government said, adding that it would not be possible for the state to get the procured paddy milled and then deliver the entire stock of custom-milled rice.
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All she wishes for is to have a glimpse of her husband, a 1971 Prisoner of War (POW), before she breathes her last.
“I do not know whether he's alive, but I wish to see him once before I die. I will not be able to recognise him, but seeing him once is my life’s only wish,” says Manjit Kaur (67), wife of Petty Officer Har Kishan Singh (popularly known as HK).
In the absence of a road, a shallow water channel serves as the lifeline for people of more than 12 villages of Kukanet-Bari Khud area of the district.
The sufferings of more than 5,000 residents of villages situated around Dholbaha dam seem to be
endless
The appointment of General Raheel Sharif as Pakistan army chief has revived memories of the 1971 Indo-Pak war with special reference to Fazilka. General Sharif perhaps may be unable to forget the bitter memories of one of the fierce man-to-man battles as he had lost his elder brother Major Shabbir Sharif at the hands of Indian Army Major Narain Singh in the Fazilka sector.
Owing to lack of coordination among three state departments — Health, Traffic Police and Transport — the World Health Organisation (WHO) has shifted its pilot project on road safety, “Drunken Driving and Wear Helmet”, from Jalandhar to Vizag in Andhra Pradesh. Thus slighted, the state Transport Department is now bringing out its own policy on road safety.
Though Punjab aims to become power-surplus by next year, it may not mean any relief on the tariff front to consumers. The power is likely to remain costly, courtesy the use of imported coal by private thermal plants in the absence of supply from indigenous mines.
Kids in Punjab are getting flabby. Over 30 per cent of those aged between four and 18 years are obese, primarily because of the readily availabale junk food in school and college canteens.