Jalandhar, July 10
The Jalandhar industry has shown a mixed reaction to the Union Budget announced by the NDA government today. While some industrialists have hailed the announcements made by the Finance Minister today, others have said that it has failed to meet any of their expectations.

City residents glued to TV sets during the telecast of the Union Budget in Jalandhar on Thursday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

A section of industrialists has welcomed certain steps being planned for infrastructural developments in cities and allocation for skill development in youth, saying it will give an indirect impetus to business. Others have said that excise duty exemptions that were being expected were nowhere to be heard of today.

Kamna Raj Aggarwalla, owner of GDPA Fasteners and a prominent business woman of the city, said, “I find the budget very positive, especially since there has been much thrust on infrastructure development, including roads etc. The tier-2 cities which have seen much stagnation in growth and development are also likely to get a good push which encourages more investment and attracts buyers. An allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for start-up micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is also appreciable. The most sensible part is that the budget does not promise too much raising high expectations. In all, I term it as a feel-good budget.”

Surinder Anand, a chartered accountant, said, “The enhancement in the tax slabs has come as a major reprieve for almost all sections of society. The FM hinted at the simplification of taxation by making a point on removing administrative hurdles. I will have to study this aspect in the detailed budget report. One very good step has been the announcement of making the forfeiture of advance money for sale-purchase of property taxable, which was earlier exempted and had become a way out for many for converting black money into white.”

There were others who had completely divergent views. Narinder Sagoo, president of the Focal Point Association, and a water pump manufacturer, said, “The biggest demand of manufacturers here was increasing of the slab of Rs 1.5 crore on 14 per cent central excise duty to Rs 5 crore. Since morning, I am glued to TV and trying to find out if this demand had been included. But it is nowhere to be seen. The cost of raw material has gone up and so is the cost of products for the last few years. Correspondingly, even the slab should have moved up.”

Gursharan Singh, president, Jalandhar Chamber of Industries and Commerce, “There is no feature in the budget to make the small industry smile. There neither has been any excise relief for us nor any subsidy on freight. The sea port is 200 km from Jalandhar and shipping proves too costly for us. There also was a rate equalisation scheme earlier as per which all iron and steel industry got the raw material at the same price. This scheme, too, has not been restored, making us in Jalandhar highly incompetent in the trade.

‘Level playing field for sports manufacturers’

The Union Budget has evoked a mixed response from the sports industry here. The government’s announcement to reduce excise duty from 12 per cent to 2 on some of the sports accessories has enabled the manufacturers to play a level game with their counterparts who have their manufacturing units in the excise-free zones. “For long, we were waiting for the disparity between the excise duty of various sports goods to end and this budget has taken the final plunge by reducing the excise duty on sports gloves from 12 to 2 per cent, bringing it at par with other sports goods. This will indeed give a boost to some of the units in the region,” said Rakesh Kharbanda, managing director, Nivea Sports.

Although some manufacturers have called it a industry friendly budget, a few have termed it as a budget that lacks vision towards the development and the promotion of the regional sports industry. According to Ramesh Kohli, director, Beat All Sports, “We are happy that the budget has ended the disparity on the excise duty, but it would have been better if the government had ended the excise duty on all sports goods. The industry presently is in doldrums, lacks skilled manpower, does not have any research and development facilities and also faces shortage of raw material. The government needs to offer more measures to bring the industry back into the game.”

Failure to get AIIMS disappointing: Cong

Slamming the state government for its failure to get the Central Government’s nod to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Punjab in the Union budget-2014, PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira has said that the SAD-BJP government has misled the public by making fake announcements about a project that actually never existed in the Union Government’s Budget. “I don’t understand why the Punjab Chief Minister announced to set up an AIIMS, when the Centre was in no mood to set up one in Punjab. The whole exercise was an eyewash and it has left the people disappointed,” said Khaira. He further said that since Punjab did not get a new AIIMS, now the state government should try to upgrade the existing Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to that of the AIIMS standard and should provide world-class health facilities to the people of Punjab.Notably, in June, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal had announced to set up an AIIMS in the state that would help the state government to curb drug menace, besides providing ultra-modern facilities to the people. Later, Badal had also announced to give 200 acres land and necessary infrastructure to the Union Health Ministry for AIIMS. Besides, it was also announced to have identified four different sites in Kapurthala district to set up an AIIMS.

Jalandhar, July 10
The Union Budget dashed the hopes of the hand-tool industry in the city. About a month ago, various industrialists of the region had sent recommendations to improve the condition of the industry to the Finance Minister and the PM.

“The election speeches of PM Narendra Modi had given the hope that better days were ahead for the small-scale industry in the country. Today’s Budget speech did not have any good news for the small-scale industry in Jalandhar or across the country,” industrialists said.

Charanjit Singh Maingi, general decretary, Jalandhar Chamber of Industries and Commerce, said, “We were expecting the implementation of a uniform sales tax across the country. We were expecting that the central excise exemption limit would be increased and there would be reduction in central excise duty from 12 per cent to eight per cent. But, nothing happened.”

“For a progressive India, small-scale industry has to be strengthened as it generates the maximum employment. The Budget read like an ornamental document, high on headlines and low on substance. No scheme for the mordenisation of the industry found mention in the speech. There are days of crisis ahead,” he added.

The MD Victor Tools, Sukhdev Raj said, “While sops to big industries were abound, small industries have been left untouched. About 99 per cent of the hand-tool units in the district are small. There is no increase in the rate of interest for exporters either. Besides, Jalandhar is over 1,200 km away from the sea. At least, a freight subsidy scheme was expected. Our vat refunds are already stuck with the state government. Now, the Union Government has failed to do something for us.”

Ashwini Singh, general secretary, Hand Tool Manufacturing Association, said, “Now, the Modi government is giving a wholehearted fillip to FDI. When the BJP was in Opposition, they cost the exchequer crores while opposing FDI. What was that? Investment allowances on investment of one crore to three crores were made 10 years ago. We were expecting that the limit would go up to at least 10 crore. The Budget has no hope for the poor or small-scale entrepreneur.”

Gursharan Singh, president, Federation of Jalandhar Industries and Traders Association, said, “Neither the state government listened to us nor the Centre seems interested. A freight equalisation scheme was implemented 10 years ago, then withdrawn. The 50,000 income tax relief isn’t much for an entrepreneur. We were hoping for bigger income tax exemptions.”

MK Bhandari, MD Ambika Overseas, said, “The hand-tool industry is already facing recession and the Budget dashed our hopes. Big industries in the region are already shifting to other states. The small-scale industry can’t even do that.”

Jalandhar, July 10
After almost about a week of extremely sub-standard mid-day meals being fed to the students of the city, Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema finally took cognisance of the abhorrent state of the food being served at government schools in the district.

Media reports this morning had flashed big photographs of insect-ridden curries being served at Government Elementary School, Kot Ram Dass, as well as Chugitti (notably water samples from a school in the same area - Chugitti - had also reported failed recently).

The Education Minister has asked circle education officer Hukam Chand to submit a detailed report on the issue before July 15.

In a statement issued today, the minister said the negligence in serving food under the mid-day meal scheme would not be tolerated.

He said necessary action would also be taken against the erring staff, if found guilty.

Meanwhile, CPS Pawan Tinu also expressed regret at the quality of food being served at these schools. The city MP and CPS pointed out that since the time the contractual system had been introduced in the city, daily stale, insect-infested food was being served in schools.

He said local staff and officials were responsible for supervising and ensuring the quality of the food from the place where it was made (contractual kitchen at Lambra) to the various schools where it was served.

He said he had a conversation with the Education Minister today and strict action would be initiated against the contractors under whom the meal had been made and any staff members. He said the circle education officer had been instructed to supervise the mid-day meal arrangements and initiate strict action against any erring officers.

Tinu also added that the issue would be brought to the notice of the CM as well as the Deputy CM.

Parents protest

Staff at Elementary schools at Kot Ram Das received insect-ridden food yesterday. The chapattis were burnt and dal and vegetables were either stale or filled with insects. Parents protested at the Kot Ram Dass School yesterday over the issue and eventually reached the DEO office. Parents have warned of a protest if the mid-day meal was not found to the proper in future.

Insect-ridden mid-day meals have been found served at over 10 schools in the district in the past few days. Sub-standard food has been served in over 60 schools. Given the contractor for 200 schools is the same, it can be assumed the remaining schools are also getting similar food. 

Jalandhar, July 10
Secretary, Science, Technology and Environment, Seema Jain today told the city based leather and electroplating industrialists that the state government had chosen to have zero tolerance towards the discharge of polluted water from the factories into Sutlej via Kala Sanghian Drain.

She told them to act responsibly or face harsh consequences. Specifically pointing to the owners of tanneries, she said, “Nearly 50 per cent of your units have been shut down as of now. Devise ways out to have minimal discharge of water and adopt pre-treatment measures or else you would end up getting 25 per cent more units closed. I want all of you to prosper but only after proper compliance of the directives.”

The Secretary, who had come along with Ravinder Singh, Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, and engineers of the department, started her day in the morning and continued holding meetings till the evening. She took a round with them along the entire stretch of the Kala Sanghian drain from Raowali village to personally check the points from where treated and untreated water of the tanneries made way into the water body.

She was told that the volume of the discharged water was much more than the capacity of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant, which treated 5 MLD water. For the same reason, the chairman had last month got half drums of all tanneries sealed, over which the owners today lodged a protest.

SPS Virk, who owns a tannery, said, “I started my business here in 1993 with four drums. The PPCB engineers cannot find a single violation in my premises, but they have sealed my one drum. There are others running as many as 16 drums, have numerous violations and are still allowed to run eight drums. Despite glaring violations, they have been doing much better business than me.”

The tannery owners said they were paying Rs 40 lakh a month to the Punjab Effluent Treatment Society (PETS) managed by Steven Kler, brother of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander, who was responsible for proper treatment of the sullage. At this, Jain told Kler to pull up his socks and ensure the proper management of the discharge from the tanneries. She also told him to get the non-working CETP with 1.5 MLD capacity into operation.

She told the tanners that CM Punjab had told her to deal with the matter on a priority basis. There are about 100 villages along the 45 km drain where cases of cancer, hepatitis B and genetic disorders are much prevalent.

The Secretary also met representatives of electroplating industry. The industry, represented by Gursharan Singh, demanded that 23 electroplating units, which had been closed, be opened without being required to go to the National Green Tribunal. Jain said Section 33 of the Water Act stipulated that the units could be opened only after a trial in the NGT. “I do not think I can help you in the matter, but still I will take legal opinion on this,” she said.

Jain was also asked to bypass the requirement of obtaining the site plan, saying some units were being run from a single room. But she did not concede to this demand either as she said, “I will ask the architects approved by the Director, Factories, to charge nominally from the electroplaters involved in the matter.”

She did not agree to yet another demand. She was asked to exempt the industrialists, falling in the mixed zone, from taking various departmental NOCs as they were required to move to industrial zones by 2021 to which she did not offer any relaxation. 

Jalandhar, July 10
A 23-year-old youth, Nanku, died of rabies here on Tuesday. One of the two sons of Ajay Kumar and Rajni, he succumbed to a two-and-a-half-month-old bite from a rabid dog in the Avtar Nagar locality of the city.

Nanku’s is the second case – in the past 15 days – in the district, of a person dying due to rabies.

A resident of the Lasuri Mohalla at Basti Danishmandan, Nanku was working at a factory and was going to be wedded on September 3 this year.

Speaking to The Tribune, his father Ajay Kumar said, “There was celebration at home and no one had thought that this would happen.”

On Monday while bathing, he reportedly expressed a fear of water. It was only after being repeatedly asked by his parents that he confessed that a dog had bitten him.

“We took him to a private doctor who said he had been bitten by a rabid dog. Until then, he kept denying it. He told us he had been bitten two-and-a-half months ago,” Kumar said.

His parents said, given the festivities for his imminent wedding, Nanku mingled with a number of relatives, neighbours and friends in the past couple of months. “All of us – at least 40 to 50 in all – have got raid shots to ensure the safety of the rest of us. Our son is gone, but we have to be careful about those surviving now, said a tearful Kumar, who also works at a factory in the lather complex area.”

Meanwhile, Ajay Kumar also reported that their own area also has a big population of stray dogs, which bark and attack any passerby. People on motorbikes and bicycles are chased by them. Nanku’s brother Somnath (21-years-old) is the only surviving son of the family.

Fact file

• Second incident in the past 15 days
• Nanku was bitten about two months ago
• Had taken no preventive vaccination
• Was to be married this September 

Jalandhar, July 10
The failure of the Municipal Corporation to check the use of illegal water connections and the absence of a proper garbage disposal system in Gandhi Camp has caused a diarrhoea outbreak in the area.

While the corporation, till late in the evening, was making futile attempts to locate the point of contamination in the main supply line, one of the supply lines openly laid at the ground level (GL) was found to have more than 100 illegal connections, kept open by the residents. Some had even complained of dead snakes and rats coming out of the GL supply line when water pressure was high. Many people, mostly children, are suffering from acute abdominal pain including bleeding in stools and some of them were even admitted to the hospital on Thursday.

"The illegal connections, especially in the GL pipe, are the main reason for the repeated contamination of potable water in the area. Although the MC has laid the supply line, it never bothered to curb the illegal water connections in the area. People have broken the pipe everywhere and not even fixed a tap on the openings. Many a time, dead snakes and rats were found coming out long with the water pressure. During the monsoon, the condition may worsen," revealed Sudesh Kumari, a resident. She informed that many children, less than five years of age, are suffering from consistent diarrhoea for the last one year. When asked why she had gone for an illegal connection from the pipe, she revealed that due to numerous open outlets in the pipe, water pressure gets reduced by the time it reaches her home. "I don't have a choice but to break open another water outlet near my main door," said Sudesh Kumari.

Residents near the Kabir Mandir area revealed that most of the time, the potable water supply comes with sand particles and even small insects. "I am staying here for the last 15 years and always use a tea strainer to fill the potable water from the fresh supply line," said Kamlesh, another resident.

On being contacted, Satinder Kumar, Executive Engineer, MC, agreed that the problem existed and informed that illegal openings from the GL pipe would soon be closed and action would be taken against the defaulters. Meanwhile, the Health Department has again taken water samples from the area and distributed chlorine tablets to the residents.

Jalandhar, July 10
Even as the traffic cops have been issuing challans to polluting vehicles, there has been no check on the 15 city buses which have been shuttling across the city emitting black clouds of smoke.

The bus service, which was to be renewed on August 16 last year, has been continued with the vehicles that are in an extremely bad condition plying passengers on the four routes in the city.

Even as the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation had floated a plan to introduce 128 new buses on 13 routes and even issued tenders in March, the officials have not been able to go ahead with it owing to a litigation pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the installation of a CNG pump in Jalandhar between GAIL and the Jay Madhok company.

Mayor Sunil Jyoti said he was helpless in the matter till the case is decided. "Since there have been directions that the new service be run only on CNG, we have not been able to purchase the buses. However, we have now put up an application before the High Court demanding that we be allowed to purchase a few buses to be run on diesel till the case is decided. We are awaiting a response from the court", he said. 

Jalandhar July 10
Enmity with the assailants is believed to be the reason behind the attack on an elderly woman in Shakti Nagar locality.

Although police officials are mum on the issue, a police source, requesting anonymity, said the attack was orchestrated due to old enmity. A police official said the force was just awaiting the statement from the woman who survived in the attack. "After we get the statement from Madhu Seth, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital, the police will take the necessary action," he added.

It may be recalled that the woman Raj Rani and her daughter-in-law Madhu Seth were brutally injured by some unidentified youth who barged into their house at Shashtri Nagar on June 30.

Following the attack, Raj Rani succumbed to her injuries while her daughter-in-law sustained serious injuries and was undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Sources said during the investigation, the police worked on various theories and the CCTV cameras installed in the house opposite the victim's house proved to be of great help.

Sources said as per the CCTV footage, a cycle-borne miscreant was noticed roaming around the house.

Jalandhar, July 10
It is a tale of two self-employed cousins-- Sukhjit Singh and Karamjit Singh (name changed) — who fell into the deadly trap of drugs even after being a part of one of the largest (135 members) and most reputed joint families of Bilga.

Belying the general belief that substance abuse is directly related to unemployment and nuclear families, particularly with dual career couples who spend most of their time away from home, the duo became addicted to drugs within a short span of one year. They are presently admitted to the de-addiction centre at the ESI hospital in the city and are slowly overcoming their addiction to drugs.

"We were happily married and satisfied with our business, earning from our mini- truck. We fell prey to the 'white powder' and didn't even realise how we became addicted to drugs," revealed 22-year-old Karamjit Singh.

Unfortunately, the very first dose of snuff steered life towards a dead end. What started as an attempt to taste the drug soon became a habit with a daily burden of Rs 3,000 on the pocket. With expenditure increasing on the 'white powder', their contribution to the family income decreased making the family members suspicious about their addiction to drugs. In a period of six months, financial crunch forced them to sell the vehicle from which they eked out a livelihood.

Their family is primarily into agriculture and allied activities as well as agro forestry. Their father along with 10 other brothers and their families constituted an extra large family of 135 members and is highly reputed.

One of their uncles is a member of the panchayat and the other is a Nambardar. The family is in social service and has organided two medical camps and rescued 65 young men from drug addiction. Never in the worst of their nightmares could they have thought that their sons would turn addicts. Ultimately, when the duo admitted there folly to the family, they decided to give a second chance to them and brought them for treatment to the de-addiction centre at the ESI hospital.

Now, after undergoing treatment for 12 days, they were feeling better and hoped to get well soon. Sharing their experience, they urged the others not to taste the 'white powder' out of thrill or curiosity as the very first dose of snuff lead to a dead end, making an U-turn a Herculean task.