Bathinda, October 21
As per an RTI reply, the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) does not believe in maintaining records pertaining to the illegal buildings, action taken against such buildings and the record pertaining to the construction of new roads.

In an RTI reply by the MCB it has been stated that the corporation does not maintain the records pertaining to the total number of buildings raised in the city which were without the layout approval. The RTI was filed by one Amrit Lal Aggarwal, a resident of Bibiwala Road.

The reply also states that the record of roads maintained or constructed every month too is not maintained by the corporation.

Aggarwal sought the information from the MCB in view of the rising number of buildings in the city which are being constructed without following the building bylaws.

“There are buildings in the city which are constructed without following the due procedure,” Aggarwal said. He pointed out that some area residents raised a hue and cry over the illegal construction of a building following which the corporation authorities visited and directed the building owner to demolish the illegal portion.

Though the officials noted down the demolishing process in their record but in actual the building owner only begin the demolishing process but did not completed it and the illegal portion remains the same.

There are too many lacunas in executing the orders on papers and in practical, Aggarwal said.

Also, the details provided by the corporation in connection with the collection of money from the property tax it was stated that an amount of Rs 616.45 lakh is collected in the form of property tax in the year 2014 to 2015. The corporation, however, refused to answer where the money is spent.

The MCB in its ambiguous reply stated that tax collected in the form of property tax is a part of municipal fund and the same is spent as per the budget approved by the director local bodies.

The authorities though claimed that their concerned officials had been taking action against the violators but they does not maintain the records of the number of illegal buildings and action taken in this regard.

Bathinda, October 21
Expecting divine blessings on shopping on Dhanteras, today, car sale witnessed more than six times increase in the normal purchases here today. Hyundai showroom in the city today sold 13 cars against normal sale of two to three cars per day. Even the sale of other car agencies also saw a rise in the graph today.

Ram Krishan, an official of the Hyundai showroom said “We also made half a dozen bookings for fresh supplies of cars.”

Even city shops, particularly that of utensils, jewellery and electronic home appliances, were all decked up with range of decoratives. Markets wore a festive look and had transformed themselves into a colourful display of grand extravaganza.

People were seen purchasing gold and silver jewellery besides utensil and electrical home appliances. Idols of 24-carat hallmark gold of Lakshmi-Ganesh and silver coins are the common things that witness great sales on Dhan Teras after utensils. Some also preferred purchasing silver glasses and spoons.

The whole city seemed to be out on the roads for making purchases on Dhanteras as there is a common belief that purchasing on this day would please the God of wealth ‘Kuber’.

For the last one week, people seem to have been thronging city shops. Gold and silver items attracted customers more as they are high in quality. Today also, they had got a great response and gold bangles, chains as diamonds are also being bought for personal utilisation also, said Tarun Jain, a jeweller in hospital bazaar in the city.

President of Punjab the Swarnkar Association, Kartar Singh Jaura, while talking to TNS said the sale is good today but it has failed to keep the expectations of the traders. As this year, rate of the gold was quite low at Rs 26,800 per 10 gms. So expectations were quite high, we can’t call it a bumper sale this year.

Meanwhile, the economic recession and the rising inflation did not have any impact on the purchasing mood of the people as the city residents came out in heavy numbers to make purchases on the eve of Dhanteras.

Apart from this, people are also busy buying other decorative items to make their houses look clean and beautiful on the occasion. Whereas the main entrance is decorated with rangolis, a creative design made out of rice and dry colours, hangings and sparking lights also add a meaningful definition to the festival of lights.

Even though the city police had made elaborative arrangements, the force seemed inadequate to manage the traffic, which continued to swell as evening set in.

DSP (City) Gurjit Singh Romana said near 150 police personnel have been deployed in all major markets in the city.

Bathinda, October 21
Bathinda District Congress Committee president Mohan Lal Jhumba today claimed that Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sarup Chand Singla, who made him drink a glass of juice on late Monday night to help him break his fast-unto-death, had come as a representative of the state government.

Expressing his satisfaction over the fact that Singla promised that SHO Canal Colony police station, Gurpreet Singh, would be transferred, Jhumba refused to call it a personal victory and said, “I am a Congress worker and my victory is party’s victory. Party’s leaders and workers extended their full support to him during the protest and hence, the outcome is the result of the protest staged by everyone, albeit at different levels.”

Decrying the allegation that he broke his fast at the hospital late in the night without letting any of the Congress leaders and workers know. He said since he had full support of his party’s members, he had taken them into confidence before he broke his fast.

Alleging that the Police Department was engaged in misguiding the public, he added that till two days back senior police officials were saying that the SHO could not be transferred since he hadn’t submitted any written complaint. He questioned that if any written complaint is part of the procedure than why has the department now decided in favour of transferring the SHO.

Jhumba also took the opportunity to talk about the impending Municipal Corporation election in Bathinda, he stated that the party would study the wards, problems faced by the residents of the wards and the work done or left pending by the former municipal councilors of the wards.

He further added that the party would give tickets to candidates who are popular in their areas and can assure victory. He also stated that those sitting in the comfort of their houses and not working for the people should forget all about getting MC election tickets.

It is pertinent to note here that under Jhumba’s leadership, District Congress committee had announced on September 10 that it would hold a chain of protests outside the Vardhaman Chowki, located on the Bathinda-Badal Road. A meeting was convened by Jhumba, who had alleged that Rajpal, posted as a reader at a police chowki, had used foul language with him when he called at the chowki. The plan had fizzled out, though.

SHO goes on long leave

SSP, Bathinda, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, stated that the SHO, Civil Lines police station, Angrez Singh, had been given additional charge of the Canal Colony police station. “SHO, Canal Colony police station, Gurpeet Singh, had long been seeking permission to go on medical leave as he has some health issues. His leave has been approved and in the meantime, Angrez Singh has been given the additional charge of Canal Colony police station,” the SSP said.

Bathinda, October 21
Ahead of Diwali, Vigilance Bureau (VB), Bathinda Range, in its ongoing campaign against the rampant corruption, today nabbed a Junior Engineer (JE) of POWERCOM Department in Bathinda. He was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe.

Disclosing here this today, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Vigilance Bureau, Sukhdev Singh Chahal, said Sham Lal, JE, the PSPCL, was nabbed red-handed from the house of the complainant Krishan Kumar at Bucho Mandi.

Complainant Krishan Kumar told that on October 17, JE, Sham Lal, caught power theft by his niece Manoj, who works as a commission agent at Gidhar village. Sham Lal told him that he has to pay Rs 1.83 lakh as a fine. But to keep the matter under carpet, Sham Lal demanded Rs 22,000 from them and both agreed at Rs 18,000.

Krishan Kumar informed the matter to the sleuths of the Vigilance Bureau and when Sham Lal came to take the agreed money at the complainant’s residence, he was caught red-handed while taking the bribe. Vigilance Bureau police station has registered a case against the accused under various Sections. He was station as JE at Sangat sub-division.

Bathinda, October 21
Observing deficiency in service provided by New India Insurance Company Limited, Mall Godown Road, Rampura Phul, the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed the company to pay an amount of Rs 6 lakh accidental claim. A fine of Rs 10,000 has also been imposed upon the company in view of the deficient service and harassment for not releasing the genuine claim of the complainant.

Bathinda, October 21
District Child Security Unit Bathinda, Child Welfare Committee and Children Home, Bathinda, today helped a child, who was lost two months ago, unite with his parents. The seven-year-old child Prince, alias Kokki, had been missing from his home since August 2 and was found in Ludhiana from where he was shifted to Children’s Home Dusarna village in Mohali.

Prince, who had gone missing for the last two months, being handed over to his parents. A Tribune photograph

Deputy Commissioner, Dr Basant Garg, said the Bathinda Children’s Home caters to missing, orphan and helpless children from districts of Bathinda, Faridkot, Fazilka, Abohar and Ferozepur. He added that the child was shifted to the Children’s Home Bathinda on August 17.

Thereafter, the Child Security Unit, Bathinda, started hunting for the child’s parents. While looking for the child’s parents, the team found that the child was a resident of Jaito Mandi in district Faridkot. His father’s name was Charandass, his mother’s name was Koyal Rani and he had been missing from his home since August 2. A DDR regarding the missing child was also lodged at concerned police station.

The child’s parents were contacted over phone and informed about him being kept at the Children’s Home, Bathinda. The child’s parents, grandmother and other relatives came to take him home today. The child was handed over to his parents in the presence of Child Welfare Committee chairman, Ashok Gupta, Child security officer, Ravneet Kaur, superintendent Children’s Home Jagmel Singh, legal-cum-probation officer, Rajwinder Singh, protection officer Khushdeep Singh and Bhola Singh.

Dr Garg appealed to the parents to ensure that their children know house address and mobile phone numbers so that in emergencies like this one, they could easily find their way back home.

Bathinda, October 21
Chinese products flooded the market has derailed the “Make in India” campaign of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city.

In contrast to the PM’s vision of promoting Indian products if one looks at the market it seem Chinese festival is going on, as the city has turned into a veritable 'Chinese market' with every second light and decoration shop selling items with the tag, 'Made in China'.

A large variety of attractive electric lights, sans guarantee though, are flooding the city markets in view of Diwali. The lights in the form of coils, ropes, chandeliers, balls, garden lights, artificial diyas and even in the shape of frames made of small Chinese electric bulbs are available this Diwali.

Not only lights, even Chinese lanterns, diyas, goddess posters and fire crackers are been attracting the customers and there is huge demand of these product this season in the market.

Moreover, there is a wide range of such decorative products are available. The cost of these attractive products starts from Rs 50 while the local lights starts from Rs 200.

A Chinese string of 100 tiny bulbs can be bought in the range of Rs 50 to Rs 70. Lights in the shape of pineapples, pomegranates, rice and net stars, among others, are popular among the buyers

Rajan Goyal, a resident said Chinese lights are so beautiful. Moreover, they do not have a longer shelf-life but their low cost attracts me. We put lights in our home only during Diwali so for one or two days, these lights make for a good buy."

Sajan Kumar, shopkeeper said, people prefer to purchase cheap and attractive products because they only have to use them occasionally and Chinese items fit the bill as it easy on their pocket as locally made products are expensive in comparison with the Chinese made product.

He also stated that cheap Chinese materials sell like hot cakes and have caught the imagination of shoppers belonging to the middle class.

"People use Chinese lights because they are cheap and even the poor can afford to buy them. Also, they consume very little electricity,"

It is pertinent to mention that Modi has launched a Make in India campaigning stating that India would be made a manufacturing base and we provide you with an opportunity to create a market for your product.

Bathinda, October 21
In a bid to encourage plot owners in Model Town Phase IV and V, the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) today announced to clear the paper formalities for the construction of houses within 48 hours.

Chief Administrator (CA) of the BDA, Varinder Sharma, said this after laying the foundation stone of one of the houses in the BDA Enclave Phase IV and V.

It is pertinent to mention here that the plot owners had raised a hue and cry over the lack of basic amenities in the past and had moved to the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum against the lack of facilities.

“Now, almost every basic facility is provided to those who are willing to construct their houses. We have installed the electricity poles, completed modalities in connection with drinking water, sewerage pipes and have also laid the roads,” said Varinder Sharma.

He pointed out that the BDA has carved out 1,549 residential plots on the 185.77 acres. Out of these, 1,022 plots have been sold out through the draw of lots and others too would be sold soon, Sharma said.

The possession of 750 plots is already given to the people and two houses have already begun their construction in the enclave.

The CA claimed that anyone wishing to clear his building layout plan will be cleared by the BDA on priority within two days. The BDA officials stated that the enclave will become one of the prime locations of the city as it is linked with the 100-foot road through the Bathinda-Barnala bypass and is also be linked soon with the Bathinda-Goniana Road.

The BDA also claims to spend Rs 27. 07 crore on the development of the enclave, including the boundary wall, for the entire area to provide security for the people.

Bathinda, October 21
Contrary to the claim of Congress Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Captain Amarinder Singh, mentioning the involvement of the BJP leaders too in the 1984 Anti–Sikh riots, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, HS Phoolka, who is fighting longest legal battle to get justice for victims of 1984 anti–Sikh riots said that only small time leaders of party had then joined the Congress and were involved in anti-Sikh riots whereas the BJP leaders, including former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, senior BJP leader LK Advani, Madan Lal Khurana and others took a strong stand against the riots.

Phoolka, who was here to meet his brother in Bathinda, condemned the duality in Bathinda Member Parliament Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s face for not even once raising the issue of the 1984 riots since its alliance partner BJP has come into power at centre.

“There weren’t any prominent BJP leaders rather they were of very low level leaders in party and most of these leaders having communal mentality had totally dripped towards Congress. Former BJP, MP Ram Gopal, then had fully supported the Congress. BJP leaders had then had taken strong stand against the riots. Top BJP leadership was running against riots and the BJP leaders like Vajpayee, LK Advani and Madan Lal Khurana took strong stand against the riots. For this BJP’s stand against the riots, many communal-minded BJP workers and leaders joined the Congress then.”

Earlier, in February this year, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha and former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had named some BJP-RSS leaders allegedly responsible for the ’84 massacre of Sikhs in Delhi. Along with some congressmen, Captain Amarinder Singh maintained that a total of 14 FIRs were registered “against 49 BJP-RSS leaders for their role in anti-Sikh riots of 1984. Besides some Congress leaders, including HKL Bhagat, Dharam Dass Shastri, Arjun Dass, Lalit Maken and Sajjan Kumar, Captain, who claimed to be the first man to reach victims maintained that he had then heard the names of several BJP and RSS leaders like Ram Kumar Jain, Pritam Singh, Ram Chander Gupta involved in anti-Sikh riots. “In the Infamous Missing Charge-sheet a case against Sajjan Kumar was registered at Nangloi Police station, Delhi in 1987 and in 1992 chargesheet signed by investigative officer and the DCP was made but till date, the challan has not been filed in the court,” said HS Phoolka.

“When the Congress was in power at the Centre, Harsimrat Kaur Badal raised this issue a number of times but since the BJP had come into power, she had failed to raise the issue even a single time in the parliament,” added Phoolka. Phoolka felt that justice to the victims in negligible as around 30 people have been convicted in only 12 registered cases whereas official data of the government reveals about 3,000 Sikhs were killed alone in Delhi.

“Thirty years have passed to the mayhem followed with the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi leaving thousands of Sikhs killed across the country but the Justice to victims of 1984 riots is hanging.”

Phoolka claimed that the victims of 1984 had been given inadequate compensation and that too in bits and pieces. “A compensation of Rs 10,000 was given first in 1985 and then in 1987. In 1996, 97 and 1998, victims were given 3.5 lakh whereas around 70 injured victims got Rs 2,000 in 1985 and among these was a victim with 80 per cent injury and survived. In 2006, after the Nanawati Commission and orders of the High Court some victims were given 1.25 lakh compensation. The Punjab government has totally failed to compensate the ’84 victims’ while the leaders given the task to compensate victims got involved in corruption in providing compensation.”

Bathinda, October 21
Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of the Punjab police at a Commemoration Day function held at Police Lines in Bathinda here today.

Many families of the martyrs put forward their grievances while talking to the TNS that only one day in the year, they are being remembered by the Police Department, while on another days, they keep on running from pillar to post for jobs or some other works, but nobody in the department listens to them.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, said October 21 is observed as the Police Commemoration Day every year remembering for whom duty was more precious than their lives. He added that on this day, many police officers and the jawans of the department laid down their lives while performing duties for maintaining peace, law and order and harmony in the country. DIG Amar Singh Chahal also listened to the problems of martyrs’ widows, children and next of kin.

Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Dr Basant Garg, DIG Amar Singh Chahal and SSP (Vigilance) Sukhdev Singh Chahal paid tributes. They encouraged the officers of the department to perform their duties towards families of the Punjab police martyrs. Families of 46 police martyrs were honored in remembrance of the family members they lost. — TNS