EDUCATION

School building project in rough weather
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 30
A project to renovate the building of Government Middle School, Dholewal, with financial help from the parents of the students, seems to have come to a halt.

The parent-teacher association of the school had launched a project in the first week of December to renovate the school building at a cost of Rs 3 crore collected through donations. As per the plan, a triple storey, 45-room complex had to be constructed after demolishing the old building. An underground eight-room set of this complex had to come up by March 31, according to the target set by the PTA at the time of launching of the project. Construction of not a single room is over in the stipulated time. The old complex, housing 10 rooms, declared unsafe by the PUDA, is yet to be demolished. These rooms are being currently used by the labour, involved in the project.

The students do not have any place to sit and study. The open space used earlier by the students and teachers can no longer be used because the entire verandah is full of construction material or the soil dug out while constructing the underground complex.

The examination results will be declared tomorrow, following which classes for the new session are to commence. Some teachers revealed that in the past few months, they were forced to take their classes in the unsafe building as there was no other alternative. ‘‘Since there was no other way out, some of the students took their annual examination inside the rooms of the old complex. But we were always scared that the building may collapse at any moment,’’ said the teachers.

Mr Hira Singh Gabria, MLA, actively involved in the project, said the project had to be stopped for some time as the contractor who was working on it was not keeping good health. ‘‘After prolonged illness, he died. Now we are tying up with a new contractor and the project will again come into operation,’’ he said.

Asked about the use of unsafe building by the students and the labour, Mr Gabria said, ‘‘Since there is no other space for them, there must have been no other option. But we will make sure that the new complex is set up quickly and the normal functioning of the school is resumed by next month.’’

COURTS

Phone consumer to get Rs 4,000
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 30
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the telecom department to pay Rs 4,000 on account of deficiency in services to Mr Suresh Kumar Jain, a resident of the Civil Lines area. The forum further directed the department give the rent rebate to the complainant for the period during which the telephone remained disconnected i.e from May 15, 2000 to October 31, 2000.

According to the complainant, Mr Jain received a bill of Rs 2,398 on April 8, 2000, but he did not deposit the same in time. But he deposited the same along with penalty through a cheque. The complainant stated before the forum that the cheque was debited in the account of M/s Dhanpat Rai Waaiti Ram. After that he received a message on the telephone in first week of May, 2000 that the bill had not been paid and in case of non-payment of the bill, the telephone would be disconnected, the complainant added.

The complainant stated that when he approached the officials, he was told that the amount of Rs 2,468 was outstanding. Mr Jain got issued the duplicate bill payable by May 10, 2000 and he made the payment on May 9, 2000, he added. The complainant further stated that on checking of the previous bill, it was found that the bill issued on March 18, 2000 for Rs 2,468 had already been paid and in order to avoid the double payment of the bill, he asked his bank to stop the payment of the cheque issued on May 9, 2000. The complainant pleaded that this act was bona fide.

The complainant alleged that despite payment of the bill his telephone was disconnected on May 15, 2000 without any notice. It was alleged that he met the officials of the department and showed them the documentary proof of the payment, but nobody listened to him. The complainant stated that he made a written representation, but no action was taken.

The department pleaded that the complainant had not informed the department regarding the payment of the bill which was necessary as per the instructions printed on reverse of the bill. The respondent stated that the complainant made the payment second time on May 9, 2000 at its own will. The respondent further stated that when he realised his mistake, he stopped the payment and due to dishonouring of the cheque the telephone was disconnected. It was denied that a telephonic message was given to the complainant. The department maintained that there was no deficiency in services as the telephone was restored on October 18, 2000.

The forum observed that the telephone remained disconnected for quite a long period and it was not restored even when the payment was brought to the notice of the opposite party. The forum further stated that when the payment was made on April 29, 2000, the opposite party must have received confirmation regarding the same. The forum held that there was a clear deficiency in services and accordingly directed the department to pay compensation.

CULTURE

Badal releases Choorian
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 30
Choorian, an audio album by folk singers Mander Brothers was released by the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at a simple ceremony last evening.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Badal appealed folk singers to sing the songs based on the rich cultural heritage of state and desist from singing vulgar songs. He appreciated Mander brothers’ role in highlighting the Punjabi culture through good songs.’

Mr Davinder Singh Chhina, Chairman , Punjab Cultural promotion Council, said all folk singers should adhere to traditional folk singing as was being done by Mander brothers.

Mr Nirmal Jaura also appreciated the style being adopted by Mander brothers.

Also present on the occasion were Dr Satnam Singh, Paramjit Mangat, Daljeet Singh Jassal, bhangra stars Jassa Sekhon, Bhupinder Vicky and Gurcharan Singh.

In Choorian Mander brothers have sung songs on the bhangra beat and Ranjhnan Yaad Karan Shahar Ludhiana, Choorian Tote Nawen Nawen, Kiddan Bhuloon Munde Pind De, and other songs.