Few takers for Police Colony

The unoccupied residential quarters of Police Colony for years are causing a huge loss to the state exchequer. Besides, the condition of such houses are getting deteriorated with the each passing day.

Built about 18 years ago in a serene environment outside Tarn Taran town at the Amritsar road, the colony houses 72 quarters for the NGO rank officers (ASI to Inspector), 330 for the OR (constables and head constables) and 18 for the fourth class employees. Initially, there was much craze among the employees to get the quarters. There have been instances when some of the employees approached higher officials to pressurise the local officials get them quarters.

At present, 151 of the total 420 quarters are lying vacant which include 17 NGOs' quarters, 118 ORs' and 16 for fourth class employees. The number of vacant accommodation is increasing every year.

ASI Kulwinder Singh, in charge of Police Colony, said most of the employees in the district had constructed their own houses and also new recruitment hasn't been done for quite long. Due to it, several quarters are vacant.

Meanwhile, the families residing here rue lack of repair works. They say that no renovation, such as whitewashing, has been carried out since 2003. Also the locked quarters are being ignored as cleanliness is being carried out.

Insiders say that the government should make a provision to allot the vacant quarters to employees of other departments.

Ravinder Kumar, DSP, Headquarters, said he couldn't comment on the quantum of grant released by the department for the repair of the colony.

Preetinder Singh, head clerk, said he had no record of the same.

Mass marriages, blood donation

The Kar Sewa sect, Sarhali Sahib (Tarn Taran), organised a mass marriage programme for 50 couples in memory of Baba Tara Singh and Baba Charan Singh, the founders of the sect. During the programme, as many as 150 volunteers donated blood. Baba Sukha Singh and Baba Hakam Singh said the sect donated 1,000 units of blood every year. The couples, who participated in the mass marriage programme, were given items of daily use. The sect has also come up with a drive to plant saplings alongside roads in the area. The sect also runs educational institutions in the rural areas.