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Govt employees work entire night to ‘please’ Badal Bahu
Ex-jathedar, son booked in assault case
Majithia shown black flags, 4 booked
Modern facilities for border villages soon, says Badal
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Cong alleges CEO held secret meeting with Saini; writes to EC
Makhan is BSP candidate from Anandpur Sahib
CPM workers protest
Suicide: Family blames school, to protest outside campus today
Election duty norms relaxed
SDM to probe police lathi charge on farmers in Amritsar
Investors won’t contribute to cancer fund
9 revenue officers to join PCS
‘Shobha Yatra’ held amid tight security in Sunam
NRI brothers accuse SAD leader of land grab
The three NRI brothers in Khamano on Tuesday. Tribune photo
Epidemic threat looms large in Bassi Pathana, residents cry hoarse
Govt readies charge sheet against former DC Garg
Unpaid for 9 months, college teachers boycott classes
The body of the leopard in Moga on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph
HC flays state for arbitrary dismissal of patwari
Armyman, kin get 10-year jail for dowry death
Heroin worth Rs 50 cr seized in Attari
Five held for theft of batteries
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Govt employees work entire night to ‘please’ Badal Bahu
Bathinda, February 25
Apart from the district administration, the employees were from the Red Cross Society, Bathinda Municipal Corporation and Market Committee. They reportedly worked under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamal Kishore Yadav at the District Administrative Complex meeting hall. Women staff, however, were spared the “ordeal”, an official said. Whereas Yadav was not available for comment, other officers refused to speak on the issue. Harsimrat, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s daughter-in-law, distributed the cards at various places in the constituency today. With the ministerial staff on pen-down strike, the district administration found it tough to depute other employees for the task. DC Office Ministerial Staff Union president Kewal Bansal said, “We too were being pressurised to call off our strike and help in completing the work but we refused. We are not here to appease anybody… We will continue to protest for our rights and fight till the end.” The work continued even during the day today. The employees of the local Suvidha Centre were called in to the DC office to complete the remaining cards. The field employees, including junior engineers and patwaris, have also been put on the job. The district administration officials said they, however, would not be working tonight. “The rest of the cards can be prepared later,” an official from the SDM office said. There are around 90,000 beneficiaries under the scheme in the district, of whom 18,000 are in Bathinda city alone.
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Ex-jathedar, son booked in assault case
Amritsar, February 25 The Chatiwind police have booked the jathedar and others under Sections 323, 506, 447, 148 and 149 of the IPC. However, the aggrieved party is not satisfied with the police action. Kashmir Singh, president of the 1984 Sikh Riots Victims Sangharsh Committee, said they wanted the police to register a case against Giani Puran Singh and others under Section 452 of the IPC (house trespassing) as they attacked the residents in their houses. He said they were holding talks with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police. The incident took place at Tarn Taran road here. Kashmir Singh had accused the jathedar, his son and gunmen of thrashing Harpal Singh, a resident of their colony, after hitting his motorcycle with their four-wheeler. He had alleged that they had also manhandled the local residents, including women, who had come to Harpal Singh’s rescue. The incident occurred within days of the colony residents starting a hunger strike seeking evacuation of the land belonging to the colony, a part of which was allegedly under illegal occupation of the former jathedar. Kashmir Singh attributed the incident to their protest, which, he alleged, had irked the former jathedar. Ajai Singh was recently deported from Canada after serving a 90-day sentence in prison for sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl last year.
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Majithia shown black flags, 4 booked
Begowal (Kapurthala), February 25
Demanding the arrest of Jail Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur's son Damanvir in the Rs 6,000-crore synthetic drug racket, they waved black flags and threw pamphlets at the minister's cavalcade. Majithia was at Talwandi Chaudhrian, 40 km from Kapurthala, to lay the foundation stone of an administrative complex. Sabha leader Kulwinder Singh claimed they gheraoed the minister's vehicle and were cane-charged. Another leader Ranjit Desal said: "The initial plan was to gherao Majithia at the helipad. We had to change our strategy as the minister came by road. We intend to hold a statewide protest tomorrow." Talking to The Tribune at the house of Bholath legislator Bibi Jagir Kaur later in the day, Majithia downplayed the issue. "A small group of protesters, carrying black flags, mistook me for Ranjit Singh Brahmpura," he claimed. Accusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of working on the dictates of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, Majithia said: “We had Jagdish Bhola, the kingpin of the racket, arrested after chasing him for eight months. All recoveries have been made from Congress-ruled states of Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The Congress is misusing the ED.” If summoned, he would appear before the ED, the minister said, adding that the manner of the agency's functioning made it amply clear that it was "dancing to the tunes of the UPA Government”. Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner DS Mangat said as soon as the minister's convoy left, the protes ters resorted to stone-throwing, injuring Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Lakhwinder Singh. "Four protesters, Sukhwinder Singh, Lovepreet Singh, Randhir Singh and Amarjeet Singh, have been arrested and booked under Sections 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from doing his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of duty) and 149 of the IPC," he said.
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Modern facilities for border villages soon, says Badal
Gurdaspur, February 25 He was addressing a gathering during the Sangat Darshan programme at Kotli Surat Malhi near Dera Baba Nanak today. Badal directed the Deputy Commissioners (DC) of all border districts to undertake a comprehensive survey in villages in their respective districts in a month to know about people’s problems. “After the survey is complete, a plan will be formulated to ensure that the residents of the border districts are provided with modern facilities. The SAD-BJP combine assures the people that the government would leave no stone unturned to develop the border districts,” he said. Making a pitch for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Badal said: “Once Gujarat Chief Minister Modi becomes the Prime Minister, unprecedented development will be witnessed in the entire region.” The able leadership of Modi was required for the county’s overall development, the Chief Minister said, adding that inexperienced and political novice Rahul Gandhi was hardly a match for him. “A strong Modi wave will rout the Congress from the Centre. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul will be defeated from their bastions.” When asked about the Manpreet-Singh-Badal-led People’s Party of Punjab (PPP)’s decision to be part of the Third Front, the Chief Minister said the former Finance Minister was desperately making attempts for his political survival. “Manpreet’s efforts are futile as the people of Punjab will never forgive him for leaving his parent party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), that gave him many coveted posts. The wise voters of Punjab will never support any person who betrayed his party,” Badal claimed. To another query, Badal rejected Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu’s allegation that he was opposed to Sidhu’s claim for the party ticket. “I will be the first person to campaign for the MP, provided the BJP fields him from Amritsar,” he added.
Survey ordered * The CM directed the DCs of all border districts to undertake a survey in
villages to know about people’s problems * After the survey is complete, a plan will
be formulated to ensure that the residents of the border districts are provided modern facilities *
He asked the officers to encourage panchayats to install tube wells on vacant land to enhance their income
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Cong alleges CEO held secret meeting with Saini; writes to EC
Chandigarh, February 25 VK Singh and Saini allegedly met three days before the former submitted a report by the state Home Department on the allegations levelled against Saini. Attempts to contact the CEO proved futile. His cellphone remained switched off. He did not respond to SMSes sent on his number. In his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Sukhpal Khaira, a former MLA from Bholath, has said that the CEO visited the DGP's house in Sector 16 on the evening of February 17 and the meeting lasted almost two hours. "This shows that VK Singh is going all out to protect the interests of the DGP under instructions from his political bosses. The fact that this meeting took place at a crucial time, when the DGP stands accused of partisan behaviour apart from being chargesheeted in a criminal case, is akin to a judge secretly visiting the house of an accused," Khaira has stated. He has alleged that the secret meeting between the CEO and the DGP, is part of the larger quid pro quo arrangement between the SAD-BJP government and the CEO. "It has put a question mark on the integrity, credibility and ability of an officer supposed to be impartial. “VK Singh is on record making statements that the DGP is not covered under the transfer guidelines of the EC and that the instructions only apply to junior field-level officers, which clearly indicates his partisan attitude," Khaira has said. "To ensure free and fair elections, it is imperative that the EC checks VK Singh's antecedents, seeks a detailed explanation from him about the secret meeting and summons the call records of both the officers for a fair view," Khaira has demanded.
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Makhan is BSP candidate from Anandpur Sahib
His candidature was announced by BSP’s national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Narender Kashat at a workers’ meeting at Phase 6 today. BSP state president Parkash Singh Jandali was also present. Kashat said the party leaders had unanimously decided to choose Makhan for the poll. “Makhan is popular in rural and urban belts. The party has a base of around 1.25 to 1.5 lakh voters in the constituency. We hope to give a tough fight to the rival candidates in the elections,” said Kashat. Kashat further said the party would hold several rallies in the state in the next few days. Makhan had joined the BSP along with hundreds of his supporters at a rally in Nawanshahr on February 9. Makhan, who had been residing in Surrey in British Columbia, was born in Shankar village in Nakodar. He is married and has two sons. Makhan was baptised a Sikh in April 2013. His albums include Glassi, Billo, Muskan, Yaar Mastaane, Good Luck Charm and James Bond
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CPM workers protest
Tarn Taran, February 25
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Suicide: Family blames school, to protest outside campus today
The 16-year-old Class X student of Gems Cambridge International School had allegedly committed suicide at his house here on Sunday. “Kulraj appeared disturbed. Six classmates had beaten him up and humiliated him outside the school on Saturday,” his father Vishal Bedi alleged, . A case of abetment to suicide was lodged yesterday against the six students, among them the son of a Punjab Congress general secretary. The minor’s parents agreed for the cremation only after an assurance by the administration that stern action would be taken against the accused. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the crematorium as a sobbing Vishal Bedi performed the last rites and lit the pyre in accordance with Hindu tradition. Kulraj’s mother and sister were seen crying profusely while other family members were yet to come to terms with the tragic loss. School Principal Ismat Ahmed and several other teachers were present to pay homage to Balraj. After the cremation, the bereaved relatives vented their ire at the school management, accusing it of being “equally responsible” for the death. Demanding stern action against the school too, they said they would be protesting outside its campus tomorrow. Tikshan Sud, BJP leader and an adviser to the Chief Minister, also supported the demand. “The school management was aware of the fact that Balraj was being harassed by the accused. It preferred to turn a blind eye. My world has come crashing down. I do not know how I will cope up with the loss,” said an inconsolable Vishal. A school spokesman, however, claimed Kulraj had never made any such complaint. Additional Deputy Commissioner Harminder Singh met the family members of the deceased last night and persuaded them to cremate the body.
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Election duty norms relaxed
Chandigarh, February 25 A spokesman for the Chief Electoral Officer said various state governments had apprised the EC of difficulty faced by them in implementing the directions in so far as officers indirectly connected with elections were concerned as this would involve large-scale transfers. The spokesman said the EC thus amended the said clause as "no officer connected directly with the election should be allowed to continue in the present district of posting".
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SDM to probe police lathi charge on farmers in Amritsar
Amritsar, February 25 Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said SDM Vimal Setia would investigate the incident. Earlier, the Chief Minister held a meeting with Kisan Sangharsh Committee leaders. Talking to mediapersons after the meeting at the Circuit House, committee general secretary Sawinder Singh Chutala said they had demanded a magisterial probe and the release of arrested leaders, besides action against the "erring" police officials. Chutala said they would hold a meeting with other farmers' organisations and announce the future course of action after the ‘bhog’ of the farmer who was killed in the lathi charge. Earlier in the day, activists of various organisations staged a protest outside the DC's office against the ‘brutal lathi charge’ last week. Leaders Satnam Singh Ajnala and Datar Singh said the “anti-farmer policies of the state government will have dangerous repercussions”. They blamed the policy of liberalisation for the woes of small farmers and farm
labourers.
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Investors won’t contribute to cancer fund
Chandigarh, February 25 Official sources told The Tribune that many of these investors had signed memorandums of understanding with the government after the new industrial policy was announced in December last year. They have asked the government to lower the mandatory contribution to the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Treatment Infrastructure Fund by almost half. These investors have reportedly maintained that the contribution is too high. The contribution has to be made before a letter of eligibility is issued to the investors. The matter is now pending with the Department of Industries, which is likely to agree to the investors' demand. Since the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, the state has received a good response from investors. Officials in the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion told The Tribune that the state had already received 30 firm business proposals, entailing an investment of
Rs 4,000 crore. Besides MNCs like Infosys, ITC and Cargill India, several Punjab-based industries, including Nahar Group, Garg Acrylic and Nasa Agro, have committed huge investments. Among other projects, an artificial lake with a wave pool along with several restaurants and a banquet hall in Doraha near Ludhiana by V Company, entailing an investment of Rs 300 crore, has been cleared by the bureau. Clearances from various state government departments have already been granted to 25 projects, whose progress was discussed at a meeting of the bureau held here this afternoon. "Barring the contribution towards the cancer fund, most of these 25 investors have fulfilled all other criteria. Once the matter (of cancer fund) is decided, the projects will take off," said an official.
Hitting a roadblock * Under the new industrial policy, the government has made it mandatory for investors to contribute to the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Treatment Infrastructure Fund *
The contribution is 1 per cent of the fixed capital investment * It has to be made before a letter of eligibility is issued to the investors *
At least 25 investors have raised an objection * The matter is pending with the Department of Industries, which is likely to agree to the investors' demand
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9 revenue officers to join PCS
Chandigarh, February 25 Sources in the Personnel Department said the file on their induction was pending with the Chief Minister for final approval. The appointments will help fill the vacancies in the PCS cadre. Of the cadre strength of 288, only 128 officers are working in the state. Thirty officers were recently inducted into the PCS. With nine more to join, the state will no longer need to re-employ retired PCS officers. As of now, 30 retired PCS officers have been re-employed and their term will end in June. Independent charge The Punjab Government has given IAS officer RK Chaudhary independent charge of the Jails Department. He has been appointed Secretary, Jails. The Public Relations Department has transferred 28 Public Relations Officers and Assistant Public Relations Officers. They have served three years in a district.
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‘Shobha Yatra’ held amid tight security in Sunam
Sangrur, February 25 Additional Public Prosecutor Mahesh Goyal said the counsel for the accused, Surinder Singh alias Pappu, Hardeep Singh alias Deepa, Manjit Singh alias Kuku, Kulbeer Singh and Manjit Singh, had filed their bail applications. Thirteen more persons arrested under Sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC were produced before the SDJM, Sunam, They were sent them to judicial custody till February 28. The managing committee of Shree Neelkantheshwar Ram Mandir, Sitasar Dham, Sunam, today held a "Shobha Yatra” in the town amid tight security. Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu said 700 police personnel were deployed at various points to ensure the yatra passed off peacefully. A group of protesters, opposing the re-installation of uprooted poles and decorative flags near the Sitasar Dham, had clashed with the police yesterday. At least 22 persons, including seven police personnel, were injured.
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NRI brothers accuse SAD leader of land grab
Khamano, February 25 While addressing the media, Sardool Singh, Jasvir Singh and Baljinder Singh, residents of Khamano, said they were five brothers and owned about 100 acres of land in the village. They alleged their two brothers Joga Singh and Sukhminder Singh had grabbed the land with the support of a local Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
unit leader. They said they along with their families had settled in America about 30 years ago and Joga and Balamjit had been cultivating their land. The three alleged when they asked their brothers to hand over the land, they refused on one pretext or the other. They claimed the NRI wing and the state government had failed to come to their rescue. The SAD leader, however, refuted the allegations and said the matter was being investigated by the police and the NRI wing.
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Epidemic threat looms large in Bassi Pathana, residents cry hoarse
Bassi Pathana, February 25 They said the scenario was dismal during rains as the drains got flooded and dirty water that mixed with the drinking water through leaks in the pipes. Social worker Ashok Tulani alleged the water samples taken by the Health Department had failed the test several times. He said the administration and the officials of the Sewerage and Water Supply Board failed to
pay heed to their pleas and change the location of the pipes. Moreover, he said the water pressure in Chaudhary Colony and its adjoining areas was very low. Women living on the upper floors had to fetch water from the ground floor for their household chores. Tulani said the tank in the area did not function as it leaked. He said the tank constructed over two decades ago developed leaks just few months after it became functional. He alleged the officials had not been able to stop the leakage despite several attempts to do the same. Bassi Pathana Municipal Council executive officer Ajit Singh said the Sewerage and Water Supply Board would soon repair the leakage in the overhead water tank in Chaudhary Colony. On changing the location of water pipes passing through drainage, he said he would soon order a survey in the town and initiate necessary steps in
this regard.
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Govt readies charge sheet against former DC Garg
Chandigarh, February 25 Official sources said the charge sheet, prepared by the IAS branch of the Personnel Department, had been sent to the Chief Minister. The latter, after going through it, will send the same to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), New Delhi, for seeking sanction to prosecute the officer. In 2012, Garg, then posted as Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, had allegedly facilitated the sale of 6,000 sq yards of government land to a private person. During three inquiries conducted by the state government, Garg had maintained that the land was a private property, allotted to Kanwar Barjinder Singh, and there was no illegality in its sale. A Vigilance probe was ordered against Garg in July 2012. He was accused of dereliction of duty and failure to prevent loss to the government. He was also indicted by Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar. Later, an inquiry by Financial Commissioner (Revenue) NS Kang too held him guilty of facilitating the sale of government land. Originally, the charge sheet against Garg was prepared in Punjabi. The VB has been asked to translate it into English before it can be forwarded to the DoPT. Sources in the VB said the process would take a few days.
In the dock * State will seek Centre's approval to prosecute officer * In 2012, Vikas Garg, then posted as Patiala DC, had allegedly facilitated the sale of 6,000 sq yards of govt land
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Unpaid for 9 months, college teachers boycott classes
Chandigarh, February 25 Dr PS Gill, president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Union, said at least 1,600 teaching, 2,000 non-teaching and 100 principals had not received their salaries since June 2013. He said the union representatives had met the state education and finance ministers a number of times urging them to release grant to the colleges, but they got nothing except false assurances. He said the first quarterly grant (March to May) was distributed in November and the remaining were yet to be released.
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Leopard injures 3 in Moga village, shot
Moga, February 25 The injured, Jaspal Singh, Mukand Singh
and Tejinder Singh, were admitted to the district hospital.
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HC flays state for arbitrary dismissal of patwari
Chandigarh, February 25 Admonishing the government for showing apathy towards an employee, Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa also quashed the dismissal order of patwari Jagjiwan Singh nearly five years after it was passed. He was accused of making wrong entries in the jamabandis. The inquiry officer in his report submitted in October 2003 held him guilty before he was removed from service. But the Appellate Authority directed the setting aside of the order removing him from service. He was, however, not allowed to join duty on the pretext that an appeal was to be filed. His initial petition for joining duty was disposed of with a direction to the appellate authority to decide the State appeal. The Financial Commissioner, Revenue, then imposed the extreme penalty of dismissal
from service. Taking up the matter, Justice Dhindsa asserted: This Court would also have no hesitation in holding that the chain of facts emanating from the record would reflect a clear bias against the petitioner…. “For reasons best known to the official respondents, he was picked up in isolation. An inquiry was conducted against him alone and no proceedings were initiated against the other patwaris who had served in the concerned Halqa…. “The petitioner has been proceeded against in a pre-determined mind…. Arbitrariness on the part of the state government in the manner in which the petitioner has been dealt with is writ large”. Justice Dhindsa added: “In the impugned order of dismissal, passed by the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, it has been stated that after filing the appeal, the file remained pending in different offices due to different reasons. This would reflect complete apathy by the state government towards an employee who succeeded in statutory appeal preferred by him and still was not allowed to enjoy the consequences of the order passed by a competent authority. “The sordid story does not end here…. On one side, summons was being issued for his appearance before the Financial Commissioner. On the other, even a copy of the appeal against the order was not supplied to the petitioner…. “It has not only been admitted that the copy of the appeal had not been supplied to the petitioner, but rather a stand had been taken that there was no need to supply the copy of the appeal. Such course of action smacks of arbitrariness and is in clear violation of the principles of natural justice…. The impugned order even suffers from a jurisdictional error”.
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Armyman, kin get 10-year jail for dowry death
Gurdaspur, February 25 His parents, who conspired with their son to create circumstances that forced their daughter-in-law to end her life, were given seven years’ imprisonment. They were charged under Section 304-B (dowry death) of the IPC. The main accused — Barinder Singh, an Armyman — and his parents, Jasbir Singh and Narinder Kaur, had been harassing Ranjit Kaur for brining more dowry. “The convicts had committed the heinous crime of torturing and harassing the victim, Ranjit Kaur, by continuously raising the demand for dowry and this created horrible circumstances in the house which compelled the poor and helpless girl to take her life,” dditional Sessions Judge Baljinder Kaur Sidhu recorded in the order. The order further read: “The offence of the victim’s husband, Barinder Singh, becomes all the more grievous because it was his pious, moral and legal duty to save and protect the life of his wife. He deserves no leniency as he rather actively participated in the crime and also conspired with his parents to do away with his wife.” The victim’s father said justice had been delivered. Ranjit ended her life on March 3, 2008 — 13 months after she had married Barinder of Ball village near Batala. She was provoked to commit suicide when her in-laws demanded a car from her father, who was unable to meet the demand. Harassed, Ranjit consumed insecticide and later died at the Batala Civil Hospital. Last week, the same court had sentenced a man and his parent to seven years’ RI in a similar case.
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Heroin worth Rs 50 cr seized in Attari
Amritsar, February 25 The seizure was made during the rummaging of a train after it arrived from Pakistan. The heroin was concealed in a cavity under a wagon. Gurdev Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Customs, said the heroin was kept in 10 plastic packets weighing a kg each. Sources said the contraband was attached with the wagon through a magnet. They said it was probably for the first time that heroin was smuggled in this manner so that the magnet could be easily detached. In January, the Customs officials confiscated two China-made pistols and four magazines, besides 30-40 gm of opium. In December last, they had seized 20 kg of heroin, a pistol and 22 live cartridges.
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Five held for theft of batteries
Hoshiarpur, February 25 On a tip-off, the police raided the grain market and arrested the accused — Manmohan Singh of Jalandhar, Ranjit Singh and Angrez Singh of Amritsar, Sandeep Singh of Hoshiarpur, Kuldeep Singh of Jandiala Guru (Amritsar), Ramji of Uttar Pradesh. They were booked under Sections 399 (making preparation to commit dacoity) and 402 (assembling for purpose of committing dacoity) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Inspector Satinder Kumar, who is the in-charge of the Tanda police station, said the accused used to steal batteries from the mobile phone towers and were about
to steal one at the time of the arrest.
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Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ordered a magisterial probe into the police lathi charge on farmers protesting outside the PSPCL office here last week, leading to the death of a farmer.
Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said SDM Vimal Setia would investigate the incident.
Despite the state government’s assurance of protecting the interests of people living abroad, three Non-Resident
Indian (NRI) brothers are moving from pillar to post to allegedly get their land freed from an
Akali leader. While addressing the media, Sardool Singh, Jasvir Singh and Baljinder Singh, residents of
Khamano, said they were five brothers and owned about 100 acres of land in the village.
In Bathinda, several government employees were allegedly forced to work the entire night until 5 am yesterday to ensure Member of Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal was able to distribute Atta-Dal scheme blue cards to beneficiaries today.
The Punjab Congress has been demanding that Saini be removed from his post as he has been charge-sheeted in a criminal case (kidnapping). It fears that the police chief, who is close to the Badals, will not allow Lok Sabha elections in Punjab to be conducted fairly. 
Mohali, February 25
Hoshiarpur, February 25
Till the time this matter is decided, the government will not be able to give a final nod for the projects. 
Residents of ward numbers 1, 9, 5, 12, and other areas under the municipal council allege that despite their repeated pleas, the authorities have not changed the location of the pipes.