Police to buy modern security equipment

Tenders ‘floated’

• Top sources in the police said the security wing had floated tenders for the purchase of portable door frame metal detectors, fixed door frame metal detectors, telescopic/extension inspection mirrors, dragon lights, prodders, under-vehicle visual search kits, non-linear junction detectors, X-ray baggage machines, binoculars, night vision devices etc.

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 30

After the recent ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (congregation of Sikhs), where the demand for Khalistan resurfaced, the Punjab Police have decided to purchase a number of ultra-modern gadgets to protect VVIPs, VIPs and thwart any kind of attempt to disturb peace in the state.

Top sources in the police said the security wing had even floated tenders for the purchase of 100 portable door frame metal detectors, 18 fixed door frame metal detectors, 40 telescopic/extension inspection mirrors, 10 search/dragon lights, 10 prodders, nine under-vehicle visual search kits, six non-linear junction detectors, five X-ray baggage machines, five binoculars, four night vision devices, four deep search metal/mine detectors, three explosive detectors, two density metres (contraband detectors) and one crash rated road blocker including boom barrier.

Sources said binoculars would be capable of long tactical distance observation, surveillance and recce at a minimum 2-km distance. Similarly, the density metres (contraband detectors) would be able to detect abnormal variation in density of objects especially pipes, tyres, car doors, fuel tanks etc. The deep search metal/mine detectors would be able to work in temperatures ranging between 5 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius. The monocular night vision device would have a range in star light (without moon) to detect human being in a 400-m radius. The portable door framed metal detector can detect all metals - ferrous, non ferrous, alloys and ferrite. The focus of search light would be 800 m or more.

However, when contacted, Parmdip Sandhu, Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Security, said, “There is nothing special in the purchase of these gadgets. The demand was made over a period of time.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Govt cancels teachers’ childcare leave for 3 months

Claims women employees misusing it | Teachers allege govt ignoring service rules

What rules say

• Women government employees are entitled to get childcare leave for 730 days in continuation or in parts, subject to their need
• Childcare leave is granted to that woman employee, whose child is below the age of 18

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 29

After getting reports that women teachers were “misusing” childcare leave, the state Education Department has denied them of this right for the next three months. As per a letter issued by the Education Department (in possession of The Tribune), no childcare leave will be sanctioned to any woman employee till the end of February.

“Teachers have been denied childcare leave in December, January and February. Even no district education officer (DEO), school principal, head teacher will send recommendation in this regard. If someone defies these orders, disciplinary action will be initiated against her,” reads the copy of the order.

Women government employees are entitled to get childcare leave for 730 days in continuation or in parts, subject to their need.

A government teacher said the childcare leave was granted to that woman employee, whose child is below the age of 18. She said, “This can be availed after filling a pro forma, mentioning the exact reason of leave required. The higher authorities sanction it after some recommendation is given. It can be availed in case your child is ill, child’s examinations, sports activities, coaching purposes and other matters where the child needs his/her mother.” She further alleged, “The department has ignored the service rules by issuing such an order.”

Jaspal Monga, Deputy District Education Officer, Muktsar, said, “As per the order, no fresh childcare leave will be sanctioned to any woman employee of our department for the next three months.”

On the reason behind taking the decision, he said, “It had come to the notice of top officials that some teachers were misusing childcare leave.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

Work on cattle pound moves at snail’s pace in Lambi segment

The fencing of cattle pond under way at Ratta Tibba village in Muktsar district. A Tribune photograph

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 29

Despite stray animals claiming a number of lives on district roads, the construction of a cattle pound being made by the state government on 25 acres of land at Ratta Tibba village in Lambi Assembly segment is going at a snail’s pace.

Even the fencing of the land, which was decided to be completed by September at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, is still under way.

The work on the construction of a shed and developing a place for the grazing of animals is yet to be done. Besides, the cattle pound has to be divided into five blocks to house cows, bulls, injured animals, young cattle and milching animals.

Notably, this cattle pound will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore and will house nearly 2,000 animals. The Rural Development Department is the executing agency.

When contacted, Parveen Gandhi, Executive Engineer, Rural Development Department, Muktsar, said, “The fencing work of the land is nearly 70 per cent complete. The funds had come after some delay but the work was started immediately.”

He said after the completion of fencing, more funds would be required and the pace of work would depend on that.

Courtesy: The Tribune

Nearly 2 years on, railway overbridge not built

A file photo of Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal laying the stone of the railway overbridge on Maal Godam Road in February 2014.

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 25

The construction work of the town’s maiden railway overbridge on Muktsar-Jalalabad road is yet to begin even though Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal laid its foundation stone on February 28, 2014.

Neither the railways has given permission to use its land on lease, nor the encroachments removed for the project. Even the project and estimate charges of Rs 16 lakh were paid to the railways after a long delay.

As per an estimate of the PWD (B&R) officials, the state government would have spent nearly Rs 24.31 crore on this project. The overbridge would have provided relief to commuters, who are mostly stuck in traffic jams at railway crossings.

A number of local residents allege the stone was laid in a hurry before the enforcement of the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections so the ruling alliance could get support for Sher Singh Ghubaya, party’s candidate from Ferozepur parliamentary constituency.

Jaspreet Vermi, Sub-Divisional Officer, Muktsar, said, “We have written to the railways several times, seeking permission to use their land on lease, but to no avail.”

Project stuck in red tape

• Neither the railways has given permission to use its land on lease, nor the encroachments removed for the project 
• Even the estimate charges of Rs 16 lakh were paid to the railways after a long delay
• As per an estimate of the PWD (B&R) officials, the state government was to spend nearly Rs 24.31 crore on the project
• The overbridge would have provided relief to commuters, who are mostly stuck in traffic jams at railway crossings

Courtesy: The Tribune

12 ambulances for 10 lakh people in Muktsar district

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 22

There are only 12 ambulances in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home district Muktsar that has a population of nearly 10 lakh. This means that there is only one ambulance for over 80,000 people. The district also has the state’s highest average of 136 cancer patients per 1 lakh people.

Records reveal that five of these ambulances are owned by the state government, six are run under the ‘108’ emergency service and one is private.

The district administration recently held a detailed meeting regarding road safety and decided to impound all other ambulances running illegally.

The administration found out about a large number of private ambulances running illegally when someone complained that a private ambulance owner charged him Rs 11,000 for a trip from Muktsar to PGIMER in Chandigarh.

Presiding over a meeting, Kuljit Pal Mahi, Additional Deputy Commissioner (general), Muktsar, said the officers concerned had been directed to take action against the offenders. The shortage of ambulances makes matters worse with most patients referred to Faridkot, Ludhiana and Chandigarh from the district. There is no major hospital in Muktsar.

Hardeep Singh, District Transport Officer (DTO), Muktsar, said, “Apart from government-run ambulances, there is just one ambulance registered in the district. No other private ambulance is registered. I have told the traffic in charge to impound all illegal ambulances.”

“Before getting the registration certificate, an ambulance needs a clearance certificate from the Chief Medical Office.”

Courtesy: The Tribune

SADBHAVNA RALLIES: Facing public ire, SAD leaders scramble for show of strength

SADBHAVNA RALLIES

Facing public ire, SAD leaders scramble for show of strength

Notwithstanding Friday’s attack on Maluka and threats of disruption, SAD is firm on going ahead with its programme

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 20

Even as SAD chief-cum-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has announced to hold the “biggest” political rally in the state — Sadbhavna Rally — in Bathinda on November 23, party leaders are facing public wrath in villages.

SAD leaders visiting villages to mobilise people for this first major political event of the party after sacrilege incidents in the state are being shown black flags by public. For instance, black flags were shown yesterday to Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy Dhillon’ at Buttar Shrin village here. Dimpy is SAD’s Gidderbaha constituency in charge and an aide of Sukhbir.

Earlier, black flags were shown to Rural Development Minister Sikander Singh Maluka at Kothaguru village in Bathinda on November 17, where he had gone to mobilise masses for the rally.

Some Congress activists were arrested yesterday at Nawanshahr when they tried to show black flags to Sukhbir there. Notably, Sukhbir had gone to the Doaba region to hold a party workers’ meeting regarding Sadbhavna Rally in Jalandhar on December 4.

On November 17, when he visited Sarawan village in Faridkot district, some people were arrested before they could show him black flags. Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mantar Brar, who is Kotkapura MLA, too has been once shown black flags by some protesters in his home district Faridkot.

Four cabinet ministers of SAD — Sikander Singh Maluka, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Surjit Singh Rakhra and Daljit Singh Cheema — faced the ire of Sikhs during the state-level function to observe the death anniversary of Sant Fateh Singh at Badiala village in Bathinda district on October 30.

Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder witnessed farmers’ anger at a Kisan Mela in Bathinda.

Now, workers from 5 districts to attend rally 

Though initially Sukhbir had announced that party workers from three districts — Bathinda, Mansa and Faridkot — would attend the rally on November 23, now workers from Muktsar and Fazilka districts too are being told to come in large numbers to make it a successful event. SAD leaders, including Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozy Barkandi’, Parambans Singh ‘Bunty Romana’ and Satinderjit Singh ‘Manta’, held meetings with party workers in these two districts

1,000 vehicles in Sukhbir’s cavalcade 

It is learnt that Sukhbir will come to the rally venue with a cavalcade of nearly 1,000 cars, jeeps and motorcycles. These vehicles will accompany him from his residence at Badal village in Muktsar district

YAD, SOI activists to be on guard 

Keeping in view the protests against SAD leaders, not just the police but activists of the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) and Student’s Organisation of India (SOI), too, have been told to keep an eye over suspicious elements in the rally

SAD arranging special T-shirts for workers 

The SAD is arranging special T-shirts with the party logo for the event. Besides, youth activists would be wearing a ribbon of the party colour on their forehead and turbans

Courtesy: The Tribune

Unrest: CM ‘shying away’ from Sangat Darshan

No meet in 3 months

• The last Sangat Darshan was held in Lambi on August 18 and 19
• Badal has now said after the SAD’s first “Sadbhavna” rally in Bathinda on November 23, he would resume his public meetings

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, November 19

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has always given top priority to his Sangat Darshan programmes, terming it the best way to redress public grievances. But in the wake of the ongoing crisis in the state, not a single such programme was held in the last three months.

The last Sangat Darshan was held in Lambi on August 18 and 19. Badal has now said after the SAD’s first “Sadbhawna” rally in Bathinda on November 23, he would resume his public meetings.

Sources say he is most likely to begin with his home turf Lambi, an area considered safe for Akalis than any other part of the state. At many places, SAD leaders have already faced the wrath of Sikh activists.

A source in the Chief Minister’s office said the sangat darshan programme would be finalised in two days.

Ever since the crisis hit the state, Badal has not even visited his native village, Badal, or his Lambi Assembly segment.

Courtesy: The Tribune