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Packed autos a risk to students’ lives
budget 2014 |
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High drama over suspicion of poppy husk in revenue official’s vehicle
With around 30,000 sterilisation cases, his mission continues
diptheria death
Panchayat officer caught taking bribe
150 protestors booked for disrupting traffic
Thieves decamp with watches worth Rs 2.5 lakh
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Packed autos a risk to students’ lives
Bathinda, July 10 Though the Motor Vehicles Act states that no more than three adults should travel in an auto-rickshaw, the authorities can permit up to six children. However, most of the auto-rickshaws violate the norms. Auto-rickshaws can be seen ferrying 17-18 children but schools and the traffic police remain mute spectators to it. The auto drivers have improvised their vehicles. The bags of students are kept atop or left hanging in front of it on a specially-designed hook. Such improvisations, however, fail when it rains. Besides auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws too violate the norms. At times, a cycle-rickshaw carries more than 10 schoolchildren, oblivious of the risk involved, thus putting the lives of schoolchildren in danger. 73 per cent auto-rickshaws plying on road illegal
Nearly 73 per cent of the auto-rickshaws run without any permit. As per the record of the DTO office, only 31 three-wheelers have secured permits out of the 91 auto-rickshaws registered this year. Schools fail to check underage driving
A large number of youngsters can be seen driving two-wheelers across without any licence. A visit to several city areas brought the fact to light that the students in the age group of 14 to 18 years indulge in reckless driving, jump red lights and do not wear helmets. Unfortunately, neither their parents nor teachers prevent them from doing so. Police hold parents, schools responsible
A senior traffic police official claimed that underage drivers and overcrowded auto-rickshaws were intercepted but they were pardoned on humanitarian grounds with a warning. He said besides the police, parents were also responsible for giving two-wheelers to their children. He said sometime ago, they had asked the schools to take strict action against the students coming on scooters and motorcycles to the school but no action was taken by the schools. |
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Union Budget evokes mixed response
Nikhila Pant Dhawan Tribune News Service
Bathinda, July 10 As the Union Finance Minister began his speech, the expectations drowned in the din of Parliament and by the end of the Budget speech, mixed reactions started flowing in from various sections of society. While a few city residents praised Union Finance Minister Jaitley for raising the income tax exemption slab by Rs 50,000, others opined that the slab could have been raised higher and the Budget didn’t promise anything new for the common man.
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High drama over suspicion of poppy husk in revenue official’s vehicle
Bathinda, July 10 A senior government official at the DAC had detected the driver consuming poppy husk along with four others at around 1.30 pm this afternoon. The driver admitted before Civil Lines SHO Angrez Singh that he had consumed poppy husk after accepting it from two “unidentified” persons. “I don’t know who they were but they offered me poppy husk and I gave them water from the officer’s vehicle after which they left. The duo had come for a hearing in the court complex,” the driver said. “They opened the rear door of the car and consumed poppy husk by squatting between the boundary wall of the DAC and the vehicle. They had a big packet, probably of 5 kgs, and were transferring the contraband into small packets,” said the official who first spotted them. Suspecting the sale of poppy husk, the official brought the matter to the notice of some scribes who further informed SSP Gurpreet Bhullar. Bhullar immediately ordered the SHO, Civil Lines, Angrez Singh, to reach the spot. The SHO searched the vehicle but failed to find poppy husk. “The vehicle was full of water bottles and other edibles but poppy husk or any other drug was not found,” the SHO said. Government officials at the DAC said it was a common practice among drivers to consume poppy husk or opium. “Neither the police search vehicles nor check the drivers carrying contraband,” said a government employee. SSP Gurpreet Bhullar said that the police would not spare anyone carrying drugs. He assured to look into the matter. |
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With around 30,000 sterilisation cases, his mission continues
Bathinda, July 10 Dr RP Singh Nathana used to visit a number of hospitals to operate
upon patients. He takes stock of his role and performance every year on World population Day, which is observed on July 11 every year. The Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme began observing the day in 1989. “Generally for population control in developing countries like India, we follow a basket approach after the birth of the first child by using various methods like temporary and permanent contraceptive methods,” Dr RP Singh said. “As temporary methods, we avoid intercourse during vulnerable periods, use condoms and IUDs like copper-T and oral pill etc, whereas in permanent methods, male and female sterilisation is done.Usually, temporary methods fail whereas permanent methods have lower failure rate. In 1995, I took up the challenge and started dealing in sterilisation cases. I have performed 30,000 sterilisation cases till today, which is a record in itself,” he added. “I am posted at Nathana. Many cases rejected by my colleagues come to me. I think due to the high failure rate of temporary methods, only permanent methods are dependable. I take myself as a population-control activist and will continue serving the people,” he added. |
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Following child's death, doctors’ team surveys Jai Singhwala village
Gurdeep Singh Mann Tribune News Service
Bathinda, July 10 The doctors confirmed that six-year-old Susmita died last night due to diphtheria. “The child had gone to meet her relatives in Mudki village of Faridkot on July 1. She returned the village next day with high fever," said Dr Rakesh Kumar. The parents took her to a village doctor (RMP) and then consulted a private doctor in Bathinda. As her condition deteriorated, she was referred to the Faridkot Medical College. However, after a day's treatment at Faridkot, the child was further referred to the PGIMER, Chandigarh. In Chandigarh, she was diagnosed with diphtheria and died. The team surveyed the village and identified 18 children suffering from fever or having symptoms associated with diphtheria. “ We advised parents to prevent the sharing of anything among children," said Dr Satish Jindal. He said the swab and other samples collected from the village had been sent to a laboratory for analysis. “We contacted close relatives of the children to identify if anyone was suffering from the disease," Dr Jindal said. "We have distributed antibiotic medicines and will remain in touch with the villagers to prevent the spread of the disease," Dr Jindal said.
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Panchayat officer caught taking bribe
Mansa, July 10 Gurtej had lodged a
complaint against Paramjit Singh, alleging that he had grabbed the panchayat land. Following this, when Paramjit approached the panchayat officer, claiming himself to be clean, the panchayat officer demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000. SSP Vigilance Sukhdev Singh Chahal said, “We have arrested the
panchayat officer under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was caught taking bribe.” |
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150 protestors booked for disrupting traffic
Bathinda, July 10 Rajwinder Singh Raja, president of the Bhai Roop Chand Langar Sewa Society, said they had gone there to hold a peaceful protest but the state government was trying to suppress their agitation. He said the police had support and helped the SGPC for taking possession of their land by brandishing weapons. The police have registered a case under Section 282,341,188, 149 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Punjab Sound Pollution Act. |
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Mobile tower installation irks residents
Bathinda, July 10 Sidhu met the assistant commissioner in connection with the installation of one such tower in the middle of Joggers’ Park located in the colony. Yesterday, workers and officials of a private mobile and internet service provider company reached the park with their equipment to start the work of installation of the tower. When the residents of the area got to know that a mobile tower was being installed in the park, they assembled at the park and protested against the work. Finally, the company workers left the place, Sidhu said. He requested the MCB to settle the issue at the earliest. Members of Vishal Nagar, Phase I Residents’ Welfare Association also reached the MCB office. Protesting against the move, they said a large section of the park was already covered by the public RO plant and installation of the tower would cause health hazards to the residents. They requested the assistant commissioner to provide a permanent solution to the problem and to allocate sites that are away from residential areas. Arguing that various medical had proven that the radiation waves emitted by these towers posed a threat to health of people, the representatives threatened to stage a massive protest if the installation of towers continues in the same old manner. |
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Cancer patients suffer as machines remain defunct
Bathinda, July 10 Sources in the hospital said doctors generally do not recommend the ultrasound test to the patients. Most of the times, they ask the patients to get themselves examined at the nearby private hospitals that are too costly. Patients have to pay huge charges for ultrasound and mammography tests. Many patients cannot afford high prices at private hospitals. The cost of ultrasound test varies from Rs 500 to Rs 900 whereas the charges the Civil Hospital are Rs 150. Similarly, the mammography test costs Rs 100 at the Civil Hospital whereas a patient has to pay around Rs 2,500 at private hospitals. The mammography test is used to detect and diagnose breast cancer. Together with regular clinical examinations and monthly breast self-examination, mammograms are a key element in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. As per health records, there are around 1,300 cancer patients in Bathinda, out of which, 60 per cent are women with most of them suffering from breast and uterus cancer. Concentrating on the high percentage of women cancer patients in the region, a mammography machine was installed at the Civil Hospital in 2012. But just after four months, the machine became useless after conducting 40 tests. City resident Satwant Kaur, a patient, said, “I am a widow and my son is a security guard at a private company and gets a salary of Rs 5,000. I work under MNREGA. We cannot afford to spend huge money for tests. A nearby private hospital demands Rs 850 for ultrasound. The staff at the Civil Hospital says that the ultrasound machine is not working.” The chief medical officer did not respond to calls despite repeated attempts. District health officer Dr RS Randhawa said, “I cannot comment on it. I cannot say when the machines will start operating. The civil surgeon can give a better reply.” |
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Unmarked speed-breakers leading cause of road accidents in city
Bathinda, July 10 While one department constructs roads, the other digs them up to lay telephone or electric lines or sewerage pipes. City residents say the common man bears the brunt of poor vision of the authorities concerned. “The road in front of the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) office was recarpeted a few days ago and two new speed breakers were constructed on it. The speed-breakers largely go unnoticed by the commuters as the white painted stripes are missing,” said Gurcharan Sidhu, who commutes on this road daily. “When my four-wheeler crosses them, it is hit hard. Two wheelers narrowly escape the fall,” said Harvinder Singh, another commuter. He said a child riding pillion nearly fell off from the bike due to the huge hump, which is actually constructed by the authorities to check high speed. Jaswinder Sandhu, a resident of Model Town Phase-III, said the 60-ft road passing through the area was dug up to pave way for the rainwater harvesting structure. “The entire smooth stretch of nearly half a kilometer in front of my house was dug up to lay pipes for the structure around a month ago. Neither the road is being re-laid nor the leftover construction material is removed from the areas where the work had been completed”, Sandhu said. Numerous complaints fell on deaf ears of the BDA authorities who have not removed the debris. The road near the BSNL office adjoining Gol Diggi was dug up a few days ago and has not been recarpeted yet, a resident said. Residents of Parasram Nagar and Partap Nagar too complained about this and demanded immediate refilling of the pot holes. A broken stretch near Jassi Chowk has also led to numerous road accidents. The broken road at the under-bridge near Central University of Punjab (CUP) has become a nightmare for commuters. Shamsher Singh, who has a shop on Bibiwala Road said there was a broken stretch in front of his shop near DAV College, which had not been repaired by the authorities despite regular complaints. “The potholes and the broken stretch is too deadly and numerous people, especially riding two wheelers, have met with accidents,” Dhillon said. BDA’s chief administrator, Varinder Sharma, assured that the material left by the contractor after laying the rainwater harvesting structure would be removed within a day or two. He said they would recarpet the worn out stretch after the monsoon. |
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Unaided staff stage protest
Bathinda, July 10 Addressing the teachers, the state president of the union, Jaspal Singh Gill, said by giving its nod to the recruitment of teachers to fill the 4,445 vacant posts in aided schools in the state, the government had set the stage for taking away the jobs of the unaided staff of these schools. He said if the government wanted, it could have first made sure that the teachers working on contractual basis in these schools were absorbed as permanent employees and would have then begun the recruitment drive to fill the vacant posts left after that. Another teacher, Harpreet Singh, said the government was worried only about filling its own coffers and paying the salaries of to the ministers. He said while the government was ready to pay the bills of expensive cars and other luxury services for its ministers and top officials, it cited fund crunch when it came to paying the salaries to the teachers. While the ministers were taking home fat pay cheques, the teachers were made to work hard and that too at salaries that are equivalent to what a common daily wager earns, he added. |
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Forest Dept launches tree plantation drive
Bathinda, July 10 Sanjeev said the department had initially decided to plant four lakh saplings in the district with the help of private institutions, non-government organisations and religious bodies. The DFO said the demand of two lakh saplings had already been managed from various quarters, including government departments, non-government institutes and different panchayats in the district. Supply of saplings had already begun he said. The DFO said stress was laid on not only planting the saplings but also their continuous care by watering, along with other things. Efforts would be made to provide tree guards wherever required, he said.
— TNS |
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Thieves decamp with watches worth Rs 2.5 lakh
Bathinda, July 10 Shop owner Manoj Bhatia said his shop was located near the railway station and kotwali police station. The name of his shop is Manoj Time Center. He went home after locking his shop last night. When he came today in the morning at around 7 am, he found the lock of his shop broken. He immediately informed the police. He said about 60 expensive watches were found missing and estimated cost of stolen material was around Rs 2.5 lakh. The police have started investigations. Investigation official (IO) Ajaib Singh said the owner of the shop had not got the case registered as yet but they had started the investigation on their own. |
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