Booze lovers have a field day

A liquor vend displays discounted price list to attract buyers on the Kotkapura road in Muktsar town on Thursday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 31

It was the day of booze lovers as liquor vends today offered up to 40 per cent discount on all brands.

A large number of people, defying the norms, bought liquor beyond the prescribed limit and excise officials remained mute spectators.

Further, in some villages liquor was sold by making public announcements on tractor-trolleys and canters. In towns, banners and hoardings offering discounts were seen displayed outside liquor vends.

Tipplers wait for this day every year when the term of liquor vends expires with the end of the financial year and they offer discounts to clear their stock. On being asked whether they were flouting norms by offering discount and selling liquor beyond the prescribed limit to a buyer, he said, “The quota can’t be carried forward to next year so this is the only option to clear the stock at discounted price. We are only following the directions of the contractor.”

However, as per the rules, only those people can buy liquor in bulk who have the L-50 licence from the Excise Department.

Ranjit Singh of Gurusar village said, “A canter full of liquor boxes came to our neighbouring Lundewala village yesterday, offering liquor at cheap prices. The stock was cleared in 45 minutes.”

Inder Mohan, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Muktsar, said, “It is against norms to offer discount on liquor. I will immediately send my team for inspection.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

10 months on, Malout blood bank yet to be operational

Health team yet to inspect building

• The PWD (B&R) department had handed over the building to the Civil Hospital authorities in June last year
• The Health Department team which has to inspect the building and give permission to run it has not made a single visit so far
• Presently, the building is being used as a blood storage unit
• A blood bank provides facilities like donation, instant blood transfusion. But, in the blood storage unit, the blood can only be stored

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 30

The blood bank building at the Civil Hospital in Malout was completed 10 months back, but it is yet to become functional. The Health Department team which has to inspect the building and give permission to run it has not made a single visit so far.

Notably, the PWD (B&R) department had handed over the building to the hospital authorities in June last year, where the hospital authorities had earlier shifted homeopathic department and TB department.

Presently, the building is being used as a blood storage unit, as per the Civil Hospital staff. The blood storage unit and blood bank serve different purposes. The blood bank provides facilities like donation, instant blood transfusion. But, in the blood storage unit, the blood can only be stored.

A doctor posted at the Civil Hospital said earlier, the hospital lacked a pathologist to run the blood bank, which was proving to be a major hurdle. “Though the post was filled twice, no one joined here. Now, a doctor has been posted and we are hopeful of making make the blood bank functional within a short time. Once the blood bank is opened, it will prove beneficial to a large number of people, especially the road mishap victims,” said the doctor.

Dr Ram Lal, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, said, “The inspection team from Delhi is expected to come next week. All the formalities have been completed now.”

Meanwhile, Dr Gurjant Singh Sekhon, a social activist, said, “This blood bank is a major requirement of the area. Those concerned must take up this issue seriously.” Presently, the hospital has a blood storage facility but the blood donation facility is not available here. The blood units are brought from the blood bank in the Civil Hospital of Muktsar.”

Some social organisations too approached local MLA Harpreet Singh in the past to make the blood bank operational soon.

Courtesy: The Tribune

In poll mould, Badal govt to spruce up 72 Lambi villages

Rs 3.5 crore being spent on streets, drains, ponds in each village

Work on concrete floor streets in progress at a village in Lambi. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 28

With the Assembly poll early next year, the cash-strapped state government is preparing to give a new look to all 72 villages in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's constituency Lambi. 

On an average, Rs 3.5 crore is being spent on each village for carpeting streets, laying drainage lines and de-silting ponds, says Nawal Kumar, District Development and Panchayats Officer (DDPO), Muktsar. 

These works, underway in 30 villages, will be taken up in 42 more villages in the next phase. The Punjab Mandi Board, the Rural Development Department and the PWD (B&R) are the executing agencies. 

In Kangan Khera village, 82 houses are being constructed for poor families at an estimated cost of Rs 3.31 crore. “The works will be completed in four months and these villages will turn model villages,” says Nawal Kumar.

In contrast, other Assembly constituencies are to get Rs 25 crore each, which is not more than Rs 30-Rs 35 lakh per village, as announced by Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in February.

At his Sangat Darshan functions in the Lambi constituency, the CM sanctions huge grants for various works such as gyms, drains, panchayat ghar and repair of schoolbuildings. He is scheduled to hold a series of such functions next month.

While the CM has officially adopted Rattakhera Vadda, Rattakhera Chhota, Kangan Khera in Lambi for development, his daughter-in-law and Union Minister Harsimrat Badal has adopted Mann village. Their native village Badal already wears the look of a town having a number of educational institutions, government buildings and wide roads.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too has turned its focus on Lambi, much to the alarm of local Akali leaders.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Look again, that’s Jagmeet Brar

Look again, that’s Jagmeet Brar

Muktsar: Since the Aam Aadmi Party leaders have started flexing their muscles in the state, all politicians seem to be trying to pose themselves as commoners. If SAD chief-cum-Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal celebrated Holi with his personal staff in Delhi, IYC chief-cum-MLA of Gidderbaha Amarinder Singh 'Raja Warring' played volleyball with villagers in his constituency on Saturday and within no time posted pictures on his Twitter account. Earlier, former CWC member Jagmeet Singh Brar had uploaded his picture on Twitter of harvesting wheat crop with a sickle in his hand. SAD’s Muktsar constituency incharge Kanwarjit Singh 'Rozy Barkandi' too was not behind, with a photo session while having lunch with aides amid fields.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

Good, no? Lambi police station, after all

Muktsar: It’s a prestigious posting being the Chief Minister's constituency, and the refurbished office of the Station House Officer at the Lambi police station too gives that important look. The multi-coloured office also has two "special" wooden chairs, used by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan programmes in Muktsar and adjoining districts. If a former controversial SHO got these chairs made, the incumbent SHO got the office renovated. Till a short time ago, the office looked more suave than that of the Muktsar SSP. Seemingly inspired from his junior, the senior cop too got his office renovated.
Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

2 councillors’ husbands attend Muktsar MC meet

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 21

The husbands of two councillors attended the budget meeting of the Muktsar Municipal Council on March 18.

Harpreet Singh ‘Gola’ Sodhi ‘represented’ his wife, Ripjit Kaur, councillor from ward 19, while Ladi Batra, husband of Rupinder Batra (ward 7), was also present.

When contacted, Ladi Batra said, “My wife and me both attended the meeting.”

Sodhi said, “I know that a councillor’s family members can’t attend the House meeting. But my wife was unwell, so I came on her behalf. Besides, I had to raise some important issues concerning the town.”

The MC, which has 31 councillors, passed the annual budget for 2016-17 of nearly Rs 16.7 crore. During the meeting, unruly scenes were witnessed when councillors of the ruling SAD-BJP combine alleged that corrupt practices were taking place in the MC.

They also accused MC president Harpal Singh Bedi of having a biased approach. Bedi refuted the allegation. The councillors also demanded that the recently allotted tenders for development works should be recalled.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Pet words of Punjab politicians

On Facebook, Bhagwant Mann most popular

On Facebook, Bhagwant Mann most popular

Muktsar: Satirist-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann, who is the AAP MP from Sangrur, is Punjab’s most followed politician on Facebook, with 13,79,098 followers. SAD chief-cum-Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal is second at 9,84,475. Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s Facebook page is followed by 4,62,146 people, while PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh has 4,19,426 followers. Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia has a Facebook following of 1,76,624, while former PPP chief-turned-Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal’s Facebook page has 1,32,185 followers. Even IYC chief and Gidderbaha MLA Amrinder Singh ‘Raja Warring’ has 1,24,888 Facebook followers. But does it really matter? Difficult to say yes, difficult to say no too.

Contributed by Archit Watts
Courtesy: The Tribune

We won’t start the fire, not if you out of office

We won’t start the fire, not if you out of office

Muktsar: Indian Youth Congress chief Amarinder Singh 'Raja Warring' may have earned for himself the image of being a firebrand politician with a penchant for leading fierce protests, but he seemingly does make sure that his energy performance does not go waste or unnoticed. A few days ago, for instance, he called up a senior officer asking whether he was in office before proceeding with a protest. The officer was at a loss for words. So are we.
Contributed by Archit Watts

Courtesy: The Tribune

‘Shoddy’ work comes to fore as new waterworks crumble

A view of the waterworks with a partially damaged wall and platform in Muktsar. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 14

Two years after the inauguration of waterworks on the Tibbi Sahib road here, the wall of the water storage tank has started caving in. This speaks volumes about the standard of the construction material used in this Rs 6 crore project.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had inaugurated this water scheme, with a capacity of 75 lakh litre, on January 31, 2014. It provides potable water to about one third of the population of this town.

A visit to the waterworks complex reveals that not just the side wall of the water storage tank, but the platform too has collapsed. The cracks are increasing, making it risky to walk along the pathway.

An employee of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department said the wall had collapsed during the rains last week.

Jagjit Singh Fattanwala, a Congress leader, who visited the waterworks, said, “The state government should mark a Vigilance probe and take action against guilty officials. A huge amount was spent on its construction just about two years ago, but the water storage tank has developed a number of cracks. It shows that the quality of construction material was compromised upon.”

Repeated attempts to contact Amrik Singh, Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Muktsar, proved futile. He was not even available at his office.

Earlier too, a number of such projects developed snags soon after their completion. For instance, some residents of Mann village had sought a probe into the construction of waterworks in their village, as it was leaking. Similarly, residents of Raniwala village had raised their voice alleging that the water pipes laid in the village were leaking. The poor condition of a community hall at Gaggar village which was constructed a few years ago has also raised questions over the utilisation of funds.

The road leading to the CM’s residence in Badal village too has caved in a number of times. Further, in 2012, the then Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, had found that for the construction of toilets under the Sulabh toilet project, sub-standard construction material was being used.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Post-rain, farmers wary of increase in input costs

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 14

The recent spell of rain, accompanied by hailstones and high-velocity winds, has not just caused damage to the growing wheat crop, fodder, vegetables and fruits, but also increased their input costs.

Farmers say that they would get less yield of wheat crop as nearly 30 per cent of the crop has flattened. Besides, the combine harvester owners would also charge more this year.

“We had paid Rs 800 per acre for harvesting the wheat crop last year, but this year due to the flattening of crop, the combine harvester owners will charge Rs 1,200 to 1,400 per acre,” said Harjit Singh, a farmer, who had come to the district agriculture office here today.

“Further, the wheat grain of this year won’t be of a quality that could be used as seed for the next crop. The wheat stalk to be used as fodder for animals would also be of black colour,” he added.

Dr Beant Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “The charges of combine harvester would definitely increase this year as manual harvesting would not be possible. I have toured the area and assessed that the damage to the growing wheat crop is about 15 per cent in Muktsar district. Mainly those farmers have sustained losses who had irrigated their fields despite the forecast of rain in the last three days.”

He further said the wheat crop of ‘2967’ variety had suffered huge losses, whereas the wheat crop of ‘1105’ and ‘3086’ varieties was still standing in the fields.

The Chief Agriculture Officer said the recent rains and the dip in temperature would have no effect on the next cotton crop.

Courtesy: The Tribune

1,900 Lambi families in party fold: AAP

Sukhbir reaches Badal village

• As soon as the AAP’s Parivar Jodo campaign for the day concluded, SAD chief-cum-Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal arrived at his Badal village residence in the evening. He reportedly gathered reports from the SAD leaders of the area about the activity of AAP volunteers.

AAP volunteers during the Parivar Jodo campaign at Badal village in Lambi (Muktsar) on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 13

Declaring that victory from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home turf Lambi is on the top of their agenda, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership today sent 72 teams of its nearly 1,000 volunteers to similar number of villages in this VVIP constituency and claimed to have brought nearly 1,900 families into the party fold under the Parivar Jodo campaign.

The AAP had launched the Parivar Jodo campaign in this constituency on February 9. So far, nearly 23,000 families have joined AAP in the Lambi Assembly segment alone, claimed Neel Garg, AAP’s zonal media in charge, who is actively campaigning in this area.

The AAP leadership has further claimed that at least 150 families from the ruling Badal family’s native village – Badal – have come into the AAP fold.

Meanwhile, some villagers sitting near the CM’s residence, on being asked about the response to the AAP’s campaign, said they only saw AAP volunteers roaming in their vehicles, but nobody approached them.

A resident of Badal village, having his residence opposite the CM’s residence, said, “Some people may have made their minds to vote for AAP in Badal village, but nobody will paste stickers or posters of AAP at their residence here.”

The AAP leaders said each team of nearly 20 volunteers, which included some locals, covered one village from about 9 am to 4 pm today.

Gurlabh Singh Mahal, AAP’s legal cell in charge of the Bathinda parliamentary constituency, said, “Nearly 100 advocates accompanied the teams, which campaigned in Lambi today. We were afraid that policemen or SAD leaders may confront us. A large number of policemen were deployed in the area today.” Mahal claimed that in Kolianwali, the village of SAD district president Dyal Singh Kolianwali, nearly 200 families joined the AAP.

Under this campaign, the AAP volunteers explained the achievements of the AAP government in Delhi, their plans for Punjab and how the SAD and Congress “looted” the public exchequer. Some AAP volunteers said today’s exercise was just to give a message to the Chief Minister.

“If AAP is able to take nearly 8,000 people into the party fold in just one day and that too from Badal’s Lambi segment, where people are afraid of the state rulers and their henchmen, the scenario in other parts of the state can be well gauged from this response,” said AAP volunteers. On the authenticity of the figures of those joined AAP, they said the contact number of those agreed to vote for AAP was noted down and there was no manipulation of figures.

“A large number of people told us that they are fed up from the cluster in charges of the SAD, thus they are joining the AAP. Some people even complained to us about the corrupt practices adopted by the ruling party leaders in the area. We have assured all of them to redress their grievances once the AAP comes to power in the state,” said AAP volunteers.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Class X, XII exams: 173 cases of unfair means reported

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 11

In the ongoing PSEB examinations of Class XII and Class X, as many as 101 and 72 unfair means cases (UMC) have been reported across the state, respectively.

Sources in the PSEB informed that in the Class XII exam, 42 cases were reported on March 2 in the papers of History, Chemistry and Business Economics and Quantitative Methods-II. Further, 19 cases were reported on February 23, 14 on February 26, 13 on February 20, eight on March 8, three on March 1 and two on March 5.

Similarly, in the Class X exams, 51 cases were reported on March 8 during the English exam and 21 cases on March 4 during the Science exam.

Jaspal Monga, Deputy District Education Officer, Muktsar, said, “No UMC case has been reported in the district.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

PU regional centre gets land; session to start next year

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 9

There is good news for those studying in the Panjab University Regional Centre (PURC), Muktsar, or aiming to get admission here.

The PURC building, which is in a shambles, will soon get a new lease of life. It is expected to run from a new place, close to the Government College from the next academic session in July.

Dr PS Dhingra, Director, PURC, said, “The state government has handed over five acres to the varsity for the construction of the PURC building. The tender for construction of boundary wall of the land has already been floated. Besides, the vice-chancellor and registrar are trying their best to make the centre operational from next academic session by setting up a prefabricated structure as the permanent structure will take some time to come up.”

The PURC is presently functioning from a rented building on Tibbi Sahib road which was declared unsafe about four years ago. Besides, a portion of its roof had also collapsed during the rains.

Started in 1998, this prestigious centre offers education to 520 students in various courses, including LL.B, MCA, M.Phil (Punjabi) and MA (Punjabi, English, Political Science and Economics).

However, it took 17 years to get land from the state government.

The PU authorities are planning to set up 20 classrooms, library, canteen, common room for girls, staff room, director’s office, teachers’ offices, storerooms and lawns in the new complex. All the expenses on construction work, running the centre will be borne by the university.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Muktsar’s own Munna Bhai MBBS

Muktsar’s own Munna Bhai MBBS

Dr Sumeet Jarangal, a 2009-batch IAS office, who was promoted Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, last month, is viewed as “Munna Bhai MBBS” by the locals. If Sanjay Dutt in the Bollywood blockbuster had his “jadoo Ki jhappi” (magical hug) to help people, the young officer, an MBBS, has almost a similar approach to solving people’s problems. Nobody needs to send in a slip inside or seek appointment to meet him. Cordial and kind, he offers tea to all. He has developed a software to keep a record of all complaints. This has endeared him to the residents who address him as “puttar”  and “veer.” 
Contributed by Archit Watts

Courtesy: The Tribune

Falling enrolment: Education dept to identify schools

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 5

Worried over the decline in students’ enrolment in government schools, the education departments has asked all district education officers (DEOs) to identify five primary, middle, secondary, senior secondary schools witnessing this trend in the past five years.

Besides, the heads of such schools have been told to give the reasons for the same. The DEOs have been also asked to give their viewpoint so that the matter can be discussed at the highest level.

As per a letter issued by the office of Director General, School Education (DGSE), the information has to be provided by March 15.

Sources said that the government may even plan to close some schools after the feedback is received. Besides, there is a possibility of transfer of the staff in such schools, the sources added.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Muktsar govt school markets itself to attract students; Teachers launch poster campaign, go door-to-door to get enrolment

Muktsar govt school markets itself to attract students

Teachers launch poster campaign, go door-to-door to get enrolment

A poster put up by staff of Government Primary School, Sotha village, in Muktsar district. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Sotha (Muktsar), March 4

Claiming that government schools are as good as private schools, teachers of Government Primary School at Sotha village here have pasted posters at all prominent locations to get maximum enrolment of students in the next academic session beginning April 1.

The school currently has 150 students and 46 students appeared in Class V exams. The school will be left with just 104 students in the next session.

Thus making a joint effort, they got nearly 300 posters printed, highlighting the facilities being provided by the state government.

Ram Singh, headmaster of the school, said, “The state government is providing free-of-cost education to all students. Besides, it is giving free-of-cost uniforms, nutritious mid-day meal and textbooks as well. The teachers are also well educated. We are appealing to the village residents to send their children to this school.”

“We have printed these posters on our own. Besides, we are also going door-to-door urging parents to send their children to this school,” added Ram Singh.

The school has currently six teachers, including the headmaster.

Jaspal Monga, Deputy District Education Officer, Muktsar, said, “This is really a good step taken by teachers. Other government schools should also follow this practice. The infrastructure and staff of government schools is as good as private schools and parents should send their children to government schools.”

Sources in the Education Department, however, said the teachers started this practice fearing rationalisation of staff due to decreasing number of students.

Mostly such practices are adopted only by private schools to attract students.

Courtesy: The Tribune

WOMEN’S WEEK FROM MARCH 7 TO 13: ‘Pink card’ for parents with only daughters

WOMEN’S WEEK FROM MARCH 7 TO 13

‘Pink card’ for parents with only daughters

Special treatment

• These cards will give them a unique identity and help them in getting special treatment at government offices as they need not stand in queues to get their work done
• Initially, these cards will be issued in 20 villages that have low child sex ratio in the district. Thereafter, it will be implemented in the entire district
• The idea is to make the girl child feel special, said the DC

A sample pink card to be issued to those parents who have only girl children in Muktsar district. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 3

After the Modi government’s #SelfieWithDaughter social media campaign to promote its flagship “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” programme, the Muktsar district administration has now come out with a novel idea of issuing “pink cards” to those parents who have only daughters to honour them.

These cards will give them a unique identity and help them in getting special treatment at government offices as they need not stand in queues to get their works done.

Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Sumeet Jarangal said, “Initially, these cards will be issued in 20 villages that have low child sex ratio in the district. Thereafter, it will be implemented in the entire district. These cards will be issued to only those people, who have one or more daughters and not a son.”

Giving credit to Sakshi Sahni, Assistant Commissioner (Grievances), Muktsar, an under trainee IAS officer, the DC added, “The basic idea is to make the girl child feel special and motivate them to achieve their goal.”

Notably, the district administration for the first time is celebrating the women’s week from March 7 to 13.

Besides, the administration has also decided to organise a marathon for the fairer sex — “Pink Run for Women Empowerment” – this week.

Nearly 1,500 T-shirts have been printed for this event and schools and colleges approached, seeking participation of girls in this 4-km marathon.

Further, the administration has identified nearly 400 girls, who had to give up their studies due to the poor financial condition of their families, and admitted them in schools.

Similarly, the bank accounts of 101 girls of neighbouring Thandewala village will be opened under the Sukanya Samridhi Yojana.

Similarly, a seminar-cum-training camp is being organised on March 8 (International Women’s Day) to make women sarpanches and panches aware about their rights.

Later, a camp will be organised to impart vocational skill training to women at Bhuttiwala village. An exhibition of products made by women self-help groups will also be organised at Malout. Special medical check-up camps for women will also be held in all four blocks of the district.

Last year, the district had organised ‘Beti Janam Utsav’ on the occasion of Rakhar Punia in villages that have low child sex ratio.

IAS couple working hard to improve child sex ratio

Fazilka DC Isha Kalia, wife of Muktsar DC Sumeet Jarangal, during her tenure as ADC (General), Mansa, had launched project “Udaan - Live your Dream for One Day”.

She had invited proposals from young girl students to spend a day with officers they aspire to be.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Education Dept struggles to check fake certificates

Illegal practice

• November 3, 2015: Sandeep Singh's Class XII certificate sent by SSP, Sangrur, to PSEB for verification declared fake
• January 25: Gurmeet Singh's Class X certificate sent by Colonel, Director Recruiting, Army Recruiting Office, Ferozepur, for verification found fake
• February 10: Jagjeevan Singh’s Class X certificate sent by CRPF Ajmer for verification declared fake
• February 10: Navtej Singh’s Class X certificate sent by Economic Offences Wing of Muktsar Police PSEB was found to be fake
• February 23: Harjinder Kaur’s Class X certificate sent by Deputy Commissioner Tarn Taran for verification declared fake

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 3

With the submitting of fake Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) certificates for employment becoming a regular feature, the authorities concerned as well as employers are getting apprehensive about the trend.

Sources in the Education Department said a huge network was involved in making fake certificates in the state, but it remained to be unearthed.

They, however, claimed that the illegal task was not possible without the involvement of insiders as some officials of the board had been caught in the past for allegedly issuing fake certificates.

As the PSEB authorities struggle to check the sale of fake certificates, the employers are not leaving anything to chance. They are getting certificates submitted by applicants verified from the relevant authorities.

To discourage the practice, the PSEB had earlier started issuing printed certificates rather than filling up the columns by hand. Later, it started printing photograph of the candidate on the certificate. But all these steps seem to a little bearing on the sale of fake certificates.

A government teacher, who has served in the state Education Department for 20 years and is now a part of the district education office, said: “If the state government orders verification of certificates of all its employees, nearly 30 per cent would prove to be fake.”

Gurinderpal Singh Bath, Secretary, PSEB, said: “The board is taking steps to make certificates foolproof. But, some people are still able to make fake certificates. A hologram is also used on the certificate to give it a unique identity. Further, if someone approaches us we verify whether the certificate is genuine or fake.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Cops to get UAV for better surveillance

What is a drone

• A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle. It can fly autonomously through software in conjunction with the global positioning system. It can also be operated by a remote

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 2

In view of the Gurdaspur and Pathankot terror attacks, the Punjab Police have decided to buy an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for better surveillance.

The drone that may cost around Rs 25-30 lakh will help the police in scanning sensitive and crowded areas. The police have floated tenders, inviting quotations from bidders.

The UAV can operate from 400 metres above the ground, have a line of sight of about 4 km and can fly for a period of 40 minutes.

Besides, it will be equipped with some failsafe features like return to home in the event of loss of connection. It can work during night as well. It can operate between temperatures of -10 and 50 degree Celsius.

Further, it will be drizzle resistant. The device will also be able to work with Google maps or other available open-source maps. Gautam Cheema, IGP (Operation), Punjab, said, “This will be the first UAV of the state police.”

The state police will also buy 200 lightweight body protectors (providing total body protection against stone throwing, other projectiles, lathis, chemicals, etc), 200 polycarbonate shields, 97 full face gas masks, 70 high impact resistant shields, three Vajra (riot control) vehicles and two water cannon vehicles.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Violating norms, halqa incharge disburses funds

SAD leader Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozy Barkandi’ (centre) hands over a cheque to the Muktsar MC chief. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, March 1

Against the norms, SAD’s Muktsar constituency (halqa) incharge Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozi Barkandi’ yesterday handed over a cheque of Rs 1.56 crore to local municipal council president Harpal Bedi. Halqa incharge is not a constitutional post.

Barkandi, who is also the Youth Akali Dal’s Malwa zone-1 incharge, said the state government through the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) had sanctioned Rs 6.3 crore for the development of the town under its Urban Mission. Kulwant Singh, ADC (D), Muktsar, was also present on the occasion.

This is not the first time that a halqa incharge, who is not an elected representative, has interfered in the functioning of the district administration. Even arms licence applications are “verified” by them before being handed to the district administration, said sources.

Chief Minister Parkash Sigh Badal during the last Budget session reiterated that the post of halqa incharge didn’t exist in the SAD constitution.

Courtesy: The Tribune