The

P U N J A B

Thursday, July 9, , 1998

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'Criminal' monkeys to have new home
PATIALA, July 9 — The monkeys caught for outrageous behaviour from Punjab and kept at the Deer Park and Bir Moti Bagh here for the past few years will soon have a relatively better and larger place of dwelling as the Central Zoo Authority of India has agreed in principle to set up an orphanage for such problem animals in one of the "birs" (forest) surrounding the city...
When will dam be completed?
GURDASPUR, July 8 — The work on the Ranjit Sagar Dam can be completed by September, 1999, only if the work on the project is taken up on a war footing immediately...
Punjab postal staff not to join stir
AMRITSAR, July 8 — The Punjab circle unit of the Bharatiya Postal Employees Union (postman and class IV categories) has decide..
PSEB staff stage demonstration
PATIALA, July 8 — On a call given by the PSEB Employees Struggle Committee, board workers held a demonstration in front of the PSEB head office here today...

Charitable hospital's dental wing opened
LUDHIANA, July 8 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Member of the Rajya Sabha and President of the SGPC, called upon voluntary organisations and managements of private hospitals to strive to ensure cheaper treatment of deadly diseases to poor patients...
Reception for peace marchers
AMRITSAR, July 8 — Fifty youth, including two women from Maharashtra belonging to the Pune-based "Bande Matram" and "Sarhad" organisations, who are on their way to Jammu and Kashmir on a peace mission, were honoured...
Health dept raids on chemists, RMPs

'Criminal' monkeys to have new home
From Jupinderjit Singh
PATIALA, July 9 — The monkeys caught for outrageous behaviour from Punjab and kept at the Deer Park and Bir Moti Bagh here for the past few years will soon have a relatively better and larger place of dwelling as the Central Zoo Authority of India has agreed in principle to set up an orphanage for such problem animals in one of the "birs" (forest) surrounding the city.
Other animals nabbed from the state would keep company with these "violent" criminals at the orphanage. A survey for the orphanage site has begun and it is most likely that the "Bhunerheri bir" would be given the nod for the prject. This would provide more than 50 acres of forest land.
The orphanage would also serve as a treatment centre for other animals. Handicapped, injured and sick animals would also be kept in separate enclosures from these animals. Public entry would be restricted. However, animals from other wildlife parks, zoos and sanctuaries can be brought here for breeding purposes.
According to officials of the Wildlife Department and the Central Zoo Authority of India, it has been decided in principle to develop one site for four zones in the country. For the northern zone, forest land around Patiala is the favourite as the officials with the Deer Park here have considerable experience in handling these "criminals". This park is the only place in the entire world so far which has kept such animals in detention.
Officials also disclosed the attention of the Central Zoo Authority was drawn towards the peculiar cases of these criminals monkeys after a report — "Simian criminals behind bars" — was published in the columns of The Tribune way back in September 1996. The report highlighted that it was not man alone who was arrested for breaking peace but animals found guilty of outrageous behaviour who were a threat to law and order were also being caught.
Apart from the fact that these animals should be given better surroundings so that their behaviour could improve another reason for setting up the orphanages is the difficulty faced in detaining the "criminal" monkeys in deer parks or mini zoos along with other animals. At the Deer Park here, the officials said at present there are 15 monkeys detained in enclosures meant for only two normal monkeys. The over population puts the wildlife officials in a quandary as it is very difficult to clean up the enclosure regularly. The delay in cleaning emanates a foul smell, discouraging the visitor to the park. The sweepers have received injuries a number of times while shifting the animals to clean the cages.
Further, dangerous animals should be kept in the non-exhibit area of the park or the zoo. But this is not possible in parks made for the public.
The hot-tempered monkeys enclosed together are a menace as they keep fighting with each other.
According to available figures, there are more than five lakh monkeys in India. Out of these 50,000 are in Punjab. Such a high number of monkeys in the state also favours the plan for the orphanage site in the state.
Each "criminal" monkey kept under tight security here has his own history sheet of the nuisance it has created. A dangerous pair was nabbed from the Punjab School Education Board building at Mohali after it created panic by attacking the employees and snatching away their belongings, mostly tiffin boxes and purses. Another interesting tale is of a naughty monkey caught from Dhuri in Sangrur district. This monkey attacked a magistrate who then filed a suit against the district administration for its alleged failure to keep such "criminals" at bay. The matter was settled only after the wildlife officials here nabbed the "culprit" and brought it here.
Another Simian which spread panic in Dana Mandi, Sunam, is also cooling his heels at the Deer Park here. There are incidents galore of monkey menace in Patiala also. The hostel at Rajindra Hospital here was one of the favourite areas of operation of these ferocious siminas. Some others were nabbed from Model Town and Ragho Majra.

When will dam be completed?
From Tilak Raj Gupta
GURDASPUR, July 8 — The work on the Ranjit Sagar Dam can be completed by September, 1999, only if the work on the project is taken up on a war footing immediately. The target of generating power when the Chief Minister inaugurated the powerhouse building and released Rs 650 crore to complete the dam was targeted to be June, 1998.
Mr Gian Chand Loomba, president of Intuc says parts of work which should have been completed long back have just been started. He also said that gates of reservoirs should have been installed before penstocks and line work, but it has happened vice versa.
For power generation, the reservoirs for stocking water should be filled. If the work on this starts during this rainy season, it will take this rainy season and another three months to fill them, he adds. But since work on the reservoirs is yet to be done, they cannot be filled during the current rainy season.
Mr Loomba says that an army of officers, including a general manager, four chief engineers, 14 SEs, 60 XENs, 100 SDOs, 450 JEs and 3000 clerical staff and 15000 work charged staff have been posted on the project. Mighty dams like the Bhakra Dam and Pong Dam were completed within the stipulated period and with much lesser staff. For example, only one chief engineer was posted on each project.
Mr Loomba says the contract for 3 penstock was given to a private company for Rs 18 crore and was to be completed by December last. The party was given an advance of 70 per cent of the total payment according to agreement of the contract but the work remains incomplete till today.
Mr Loomba further says a three-to-four foot gap between penstock liners and roofs of tunnels which has to be filled with concrete to make it airtight has been completed but he alleges that the gap has not been filled properly.
This will lead to leakage and may damage the penstock liners and roofs of tunnels.
Mr Beant Singh , the then Chief Minister inaugurated diversion gates inside the tunnels more than four years ago but when water was released recently, it leaked from gates. On verification, it was found that a liner had not been installed along with the gates.
Meanwhile, there are many retired personnel of the project who have not been given pension till today. Residents of Ucha Tharra Labour Colony are provided polluted water, leading to various water-borne diseases among the labourers.

Punjab postal staff not to join stir
AMRITSAR, July 8 — The Punjab circle unit of the Bharatiya Postal Employees Union (postman and class IV categories) has decided not to participate in the proposed nation wide strike from tomorrow.
The circle secretary, Mr Mukhtiar Singh, said here today that vide its notification no 23-8/97/PE-I (PCC) dated July 3, the Union Ministry of Communication had already accepted the demand of granting the required pay scales.
Meanwhile, Mr R.K Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, today appealed to the postal staff of Amritsar division not to strike in the larger public interest and to await the outcome of the efforts of the Minister for Communication, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, for settlement of their grievances.

.PSEB staff stage demonstration
PATIALA, July 8 — On a call given by the PSEB Employees Struggle Committee, board workers held a demonstration in front of the PSEB head office here today.
While addressing the demonstration, Mr H.S Minhas, Mr Mukhwant Singh Sidhu, conveners, accused the board management of repeatedly backtracking from the agreements signed with the struggle committee.
The leaders alleged that while implementing the report of the wage formulation committee, the board management had distorted many agreed principles. It was agreed to revise the pay scales of work charged staff simultaneously with the regular staff, but the pay scales of work-charged staff had not been revised yet. They alleged that the PSEB management had also not given the promotional scales already granted to the employees after January 1, 96.
The board had withheld the payment of arrears citing the reason of financial crunch, they said.
The two leaders said no meeting of the wage formulation committee had been convened for the past two-and-a half months. Only one meeting was fixed which was also postponed without assigning any reason and without fixing any further date.
They alleged there had been large scale transfers of trade union leaders at the instance of ministers. They said the board was implementing two tier system in other circles, which had miserably failed in the Ludhiana circle.
They said the management instead of improving the board's efficiency chose to privatise generation projects by signing agreements with multinational firms. The works of civil and transmission were also being done through contract system.
Black flag demonstrations would be held against Chairman and members of the board from August 1 they said adding that if their demands were not accepted one lakh workers would observe a one-day strike on August 19.

Charitable hospital's dental wing opened
LUDHIANA, July 8 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Member of the Rajya Sabha and President of the SGPC, called upon voluntary organisations and managements of private hospitals to strive to ensure cheaper treatment of deadly diseases to poor patients.
Mr Tohra was addressing the annual function of the Nursing Institute of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Charitable Hospital here today after inaugurating a newly constructed Rs 30-lakh dental wing with latest equipment.
He advised the nursing students to adopt the profession with a spirit of service to the suffering humanity. He announced a grant of Rs 2.5 lakh out of his MPs Discretionary Quota for the construction of the building of the hospital.
Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Medical Education, Science and Technology and Environment Minister, Punjab, said that to boost and medical sciences in Punjab, the State Government had decided to launch the Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences. It would include wings for all medical sciences, including allopathic, ayurvedic, homoeopathic, unani system, nursing training, radiography, diagnosis, physiotherapy etc.
The minister announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the medical equipment in the hospital.
Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, State Health Minister, said that the government was committed to bringing about a qualitative improvement in the health services to the weaker sections and announced a grant of Rs 31,000 for the nursing institute.
Mr G.K. Walia, Principal, nursing institute, read out the annual report and highlighted the academic achievements of the students.

Reception for peace marchers
AMRITSAR, July 8 — Fifty youth, including two women from Maharashtra belonging to the Pune-based "Bande Matram" and "Sarhad" organisations, who are on their way to Jammu and Kashmir on a peace mission, were honoured at a civic reception organised at Sant Singh Sukha Singh Khalsa Senior Secondary School here today.
Mr Anna Hazare, prominent social worker, Mr Sanjay Nahar, president, "Bande Matram" and Mr Sanjay Aher, chief organiser, Sant Sufi Sandesh Yatra, were presented with "siropas" and "kirpans" on behalf of the residents of this holy city by the Mayor, Mr Subhash Sharma, Mr R.L. Bhatia, former Union Minister, Mr Satya Pal Dang, veteran CPI leader, Mrs Luxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA, Mr Dilbir Singh, former secretary of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Mr Vijay Mishra, veteran CPM leader, Mr Jaspal Singh Kapur, Janata Dal leader, and Principal Jagdish Singh, Director of the host school.
The leaders lauded the peace marches organised by the two organisation during the peak of militancy in Punjab and experessed the hope that they would be able to convey the message of peace to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hazare said by channelising the energy of the youth, many problems could be resolved and the country could make rapid progress in all spheres.
Expressing serious concern over corruption at all levels, he said the malaise was the main hurdle in the path of development of the country. The youth should launch a drive to eradicate the evil.
Mr Nahar and Mr Aher also spoke.
Earlier in the day, they visited the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir. They also visited Jallianwala Bagh to pay homage to the martyrs. They witnessed the retreat ceremony at the Wagah border. They will visit the samadhi of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru at Hussainiwala tomorrow and will leave for Jammu on July 10.

Health dept raids on chemists, RMPs
JALANDHAR, July 8 — The district Health Department has launched a drive against chemists and registered medical practitioners selling drugs in this area.
Nobody in the Health Department is revealing the number of HIV positive cases.
The Civil Surgeon, Dr C.P Bansal, has admitted that the raids are on. He said the Health Department in collaboration with the central government Field Publicity Department will hold a drive from July 14 to 18 in Bhogpur block and organise a rally to educate the people of the area about AIDS. Seminars will also be organised in different villages in this connection.
The Civil Surgeon has appealed to the senior police officers in the district to help in the crusade against AIDS by arresting the miscreants who are selling drugs and using needles on teenagers. He said information regarding AIDS and treatment can be obtained at the various government health centres.