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| Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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MC, temple body lock horns over auction of land LUDHIANA, The issue of the auction of land, adjoining the temple, was raised by the BJP councillor, Mr Sunil Mehra, in the last general House meeting, He apprehended that the move might create communal tension in the locality. The Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, had announced that the sub-committee, comprising the area councillor and MC officials, will visit the site and discuss the matter with the managing committee of the temple. A deputation of the temple management, led by Mr Tarlok Bhagat, today held a meeting with the Mayor, which was also attended by the Senior Deputy Mayor, Mr Jagdish Prasad Loomba, Mr Pran Bhatia, Mr Sunil Mehra and Mr Surjit Singh Ahluwalia, all councillors, the Joint Commissioner, Mr Harjinder Singh and the Assistant Commissioner, Mr O.A.K. Sondhi. Mr Bhagat lodged strong protest with the civic officials over the auction of the land, which he claimed was owned by the temple. However, the temple management had no documentary evidence to substantiate the ownership claim and merely asserted that the temple was constructed more than 20 years ago and the land adjoining the temple was a part of the temple complex. The representatives of the temple management vowed that they will not allow any one to interfere with the possession of the land. Without going into further details to substantiate their claim of being the lawful owners, they said there were encroachments on MC and government land all over the city. While the MC had failed to take any notice of these encroachments because these were potential sources of underhand income for MC employees, the temple had been singled out and charged with encroachment over the civic body land. The Mayor, as well as the other councillors, agreed that the MC had no legal or moral right to auction the land, if it really belonged to the temple. They said they would visit the site and ascertain the claim of the temple managing committee. In the meantime, the temple management should also arrange to produce the documents pertaining to ownership, the MC administration told in no uncertain terms. Later, the MC Joint Commissioner, Mr Harjinder Singh, while talking to Ludhiana Tribune, confirmed that the temple managing committee had failed to produce any documentary proof of being the owners of the land and if such evidence was produced at any stage, the MC will take due notice of the same. “However, the MC can not forgo its rightful claim over the land just like that and unless irrefutable documentary proof was produced by the temple management, the MC will have to give possession of the land to successful bidders, who had already deposited 25 per cent of the bid amount.” |
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PU not to raise tuition fee in colleges: VC LUDHIANA, Feb 12 — The Panjab University has decided not to introduce any hike in the tuition fee of its affiliated colleges till the next session. However, there may be a marginal increase in examination fee and other charges levied by the university. This was stated by Professor K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of the university, who was in the city as the chief guest at the annual convocation of Ramgarhia Girls College and the Khalsa College for Women. He said the tuition fee of the university was already higher than that of the other universities of Punjab and, therefore, the university had decided not to increase the fee charges for at least the coming session. Regarding the merit-cum-promotion policy based on annual confidential report (ACR), Professor Pathak said that it was an integral part of the university policies and now when the lecturers of government colleges have opposed it, we would reconsider the policy. The VC also said that the university had decided to add two seats in all BBA and BCA colleges for which no fee would be levied. The seats would, however, be reserved for the candidates who belong to rural areas and secure good positions in Class X and XII examinations. Regarding the increasing adhocism in colleges, he said the university had decided to take up the issue with the Punjab Government. He said as the teachers were not being adequately paid a, it was affecting their performance in the colleges. Over the 40-hour rule in colleges, he said that the
teachers must cooperate as the rule had several benefits. He said that during a longer stay, they could prepare their lectures and even attend queries of the students. Professor Pathak also awarded degrees to the students of Ramgarhia Girls’ College, Millerganj, and the Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines. Nearly 405 students of Ramgarhia Girls’ College were awarded degress. These included 272 BA students, 112 B.Com students, 15 MA (music) students and six BA (honours) students. Besides, roll of honour and college colour were also given to the students for their performance in academics, sports and cultural activities. At the Khalsa College for Women, over 500 students were awarded degrees for the various graduate and postgraduate courses. Nearly 100 students received the roll of honour and college colour. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) met Professor K.N. Pathak, vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, and asked him to look into the case of under-payment of teachers of the Khalsa College for Women. Professor K.B.S. Sodhi, president of the union, said the VC ensured them that a committee would be constituted soon and the university would come up with its decision within a month. |
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Industrialists’ rally on Feb 24 LUDHIANA, Feb 12— In an apparent bid aimed at direct confrontation with the income tax department, various industrial organisations have planned a rally in the city on February 24 against the alleged harassment by the income tax department. The rally is being organised against the raids conducted by the department in the last few
days. The industrial organisations will “not provide any cooperation to the IT department in the organisation of awareness camps to fill income tax returns”. The names of corrupt officials may be announced if the raids are not stopped immediately. This was announced by Mr D.S. Chawla, president, United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, at a press conference here today. He warned the IT department officials about the ‘harassment’ of industrialists through raids. He said, “The industrial organisations would not tolerate the harassment of innocent industrialists. A six-member action committee has been formed to launch a struggle against the IT department raids. A rally will be organised on February 24 as the first part of the struggle.” Mr Jagmohan Sharma, president, Punjab Pradesh Vyapar Mandal, announced the names of the members of the action committee. The members of the action committee are Mr D.S. Chawla, Mr Jagmohan Sharma, Mr Ajit Singh, Mr Balwant Rai, Mr Shakti Sharma and Mr V.P.Chopra. The next course of action will be declared in the rally. He said, “The names of the corrupt officials in the IT department would be announced in the rally. These officials were blackmailing the industrialists through raids and wanted to make money.” It may be noted that the IT department has conducted raids in the premises of about 15 industrialist units in the last few days. More raids are expected in the next few days, as the department sources say that they have specific information about some industrialists who were not furnishing the right information about their income. These sources say some of the industrialists were trying to pressurise the department through rallies and dharnas, though some of the leaders participating in the agitation were themselves involved in the income tax evasion. An income tax official said, “We are trying to create awareness among the income tax assesses about the payment of tax on their own. No complaint has been received so far about the harassment of any person at the time of raids. These raids have been conducted on specific information.” The official said that the department has information about some industry leaders also who were not paying the income tax according to their income. |
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Forum
penalises car agency LUDHIANA, Feb 12 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Sandhu Automobiles, Link Road, Dholewal Chowk, Ludhiana, to pay Rs 26,000 along with interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum to Mr Mandeep Singh Mann. The forum further directed the Sandhu agency to pay Rs 500 as the cost of litigation. Mr Mandeep Singh, a resident of Chandigarh, had purchased a Fiat Uno car from M/s Sandhu Automobiles, on July 15, 1998. The complainant stated before the forum that at the time of purchase, the dealer of the company had assured that if he would purchase a car in July, 1998, he would be given free items worth Rs 26,000, namely a Philips DC-383 stereo two-in-one music system with four speakers, one remote controlled central door locking system and power windows for all the four doors. He was also told that the advertisement regarding the scheme had already been given in The Tribune on July 17, 1998. The complainant alleged that he had requested the dealer of the company several times to deliver the said items. But the dealer failed to do so. The Sandhu automobiles had taken a plea that the said items were to be given by the Premier Automobiles as per the advertisement given in The Tribune. The forum observed that there was no mention in the advertisement that said items were to be supplied by the Premier Automobiles. The forum further stated that it was mentioned by the Sandhu Automobiles that whosoever would purchase the car in July,1998, would be given the said items. The forum held that there was a clear liability on the part of Sandhu Automobiles and directed it to pay Rs 26,000 along with 18 per cent interest from July 17, 1998 till the date of actual payment. |
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PAU seeds were pilfered: panel LUDHIANA,
Following a report in The Tribune on September 20, the university had constituted a three-member committee headed by Dr J S Kolar, Director, Extension Education. Interestingly, the PAU authorities at the time of publication of the report had denied the report and claimed that the “commercial seed production and its supply to the farmers is not the mandate of the university”. After the committee submitted its report the Director of Research issued a circular listing various guidelines as recommended by the panel to various heads of departments on January 23. The committee considered various events in the development of a variety and came to the conclusion that it was “very difficult to pin- point the stage at which the pilferage can occur”. The committee, according to the Director, suggested that to minimise the chances of pilferage the seeds of the new genotype may be mixed with other varieties as general produce and this mixing may be done at the level of the Director of the Seed Farm/ in charge of the conduct of the trials”. It further said, “The seed may be bulked at the proposed level when it goes for adaptive research and for multiplication at the Regional Research Stations/Seed Farms. The multiplication at the farm may also be kept under the direct supervision of the Director of the Farm and the Director (Seeds) should ensure the complete secrecy and supervision of sowing, harvesting, threshing, grading, bagging and transport to the campus”. According to the report a new seed variety passes through various stages from development to the production and supply to the farmers. And the process takes a few years, besides moving from one place to another, thus making it difficult to pinpoint the exact stage where pilferage occurs.
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Biopesticide centre recommended LUDHIANA The conference was jointly organised by the Society of Biopesticide Sciences, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology and the Indian Ecological Society. Prof S. Kannaiyan, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, delivered the keynote address. The plenary session was presided over by Dr A.S. Atwal, founder president, Indian Ecological Society. More than 150 delegates from different parts of India and abroad participated in the conference. According to Dr G.S. Dhaliwal, chairperson, BET-2001, and president, Society of Biopesticide Sciences and the Indian Ecological Society, this was the first conference exclusively devoted to indepth analysis of problems and potential of biopesticides in developing countries. Dr Gary Elzen, an entomologist with the US Department of Agriculture, Texas, discussed the impact of lethal and sublethal dosages of pesticides on natural enemies. Dr Itamar Glazer, Director, R and D, Volcani centre, Israel, dwelt upon strategies for genetic improvement of entomopathogenic nematodes. Dr Nadia Dimetry reviewed the status of biopesticides in Egypt. Dr Amerika Singh, Director, National Centre on Integrated Pest Management (NCIPM), Dr S.P. Singh, Director, Project Directorate of Biological Control (PDBC), Bangalore, and Dr S.N. Puri, Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, Maharashtra, discussed different aspects of biopesticide research in India. Representatives of leading biopesticide manufacturers presented their views on various problems being encountered to promote the cause of biopesticides. A book titled, Phytochemical Biopesticides, by Opender Koul and G.S. Dhaliwal, was also released on this occasion by Prof. S. Kanniyan. The book has been published by the Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdan, The Netherlands. It provides an overview of phytochemical
biopesticides, covering behavioural, biochemical and molecular aspects, and their role in integrated pest management. The conference recommended that proper cataloguing and region-wise surveys of natural enemies should be conducted to determine their biodiversity. It also urged the authorities concerned to streamline the biosafety regulatory mechanism. Registration protocols need to be established for all major groups of biopesticides, which should be less stringent than the conventional insecticides. The establishment and implementation of quality control standards in biopesticides need to be ensured. Biopesticides should be promoted as a cottage industry involving rural youth. Extension agencies should be geared up to popularise biopesticides among farmers as an integral part of integrated pest management. According to Dr Dhaliwal, a directory of biopesticide research workers in India would be prepared by the Society of Biopesticide Sciences, for quicker dissemination of information among scientists. |
Sukhbir’s nomination to RS flayed LUDHIANA , Feb 12 — Charging the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal with betrayal of the electorate, corruption and nepotism, the former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Harnam Das Johar, said the countdown for the ouster of SAD-BJP government in Punjab had begun. He was addressing a public meeting organised by the District Youth Congress (DYC) in Manjeet Nagar here today.Mr Johar said nomination of Mr Sukhbir Badal, who had lost the Assembly election, for the Rajya Sabha seat by the Chief Minister was ample proof that old and dedicated workers in the SAD (B) were being sidelined. He said the coalition government had failed to fulfill even a single poll promise, made during last assembly elections and the anti-people policies of the government had led to resentment among people. Speaking on the occasion, the DYC president, Mr Parminder Mehta, said “While on paper, the SAD-BJP government was in power, the entire government working was dictated by the son and wife of the Chief Minister.” Holding the Badal family responsible for unabated corruption, at all levels in the state, he said on one hand the government was selling properties at throwaway prices, while the Chief Minister’s family was making benami deals to corner both the government and private properties.  |
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Transporters allege harassment LUDHIANA In a press note issued here yesterday he alleged that the ST Department officials had all information at the ICC centres and the transporters were just the carriers of the material. There was no rationale in detaining the trucks and harassing the truckers. He said, ‘‘The officials of the ST department often stop the trucks and would demand bribes from the drivers without any reason. In case they do not pay the money, trucks were detained for two-three days. Even if they have to check the material, it should be checked at the Transport Nagar where the goods are loaded and unloaded.” Mr Harbhajan Singh, Chairperson of the association, said, “The officials of Municipal Corporation also harass the truckers in the name of octroi checking. However, it is the transporters who have to pay for the delay and wear and tear losses. The MC and the ST officials should check the goods at the place of loading and unloading or ICCs.” A meeting of the association was held recently at Transport Nagar in which Mr Satpal Gosain, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha also participated. The association asked Mr Gosain to impress upon the MC and the government to stop the harassment of the transporters who were already passing through recession. Mr Jagdish Chander alleged that the DTOs in Punjab were challaning the transporters on a large scale without any
reason. The government was interested in collecting money instead of creating awareness among the drivers about traffic rules. The association also urged the MC to repair the roads and the streetlights in the Transport Nagar. Mr Gurjit Singh and Mr Sarabjit Singh also participated in the meeting. |
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CITY SCAN GEOGRAPHICAL
location of a region combines such elements of nature as made a forest at one place and desert at another. Our Malwa from Bathinda to Ludhiana provides elementary index. What an oasis is to a desert, is a garden to a civilised human settlement. Most of the birds have wings to fly. Some of the men have flight of imagination. As civilisation advanced, their imagination leapt forward. With a mud house on earth as a dwelling, they conceived an imagery of heaven. Paradise had Adam and Eve amidst Garden of Eden. Human imagination provides all that it lacks in real surroundings. Real workers take a practical road. They create part of heaven on earth. Those who lack good sense make hell also. Natural forests led to the stage of bagh. Ludhiana has its forest cover, part of it ended in baghs. Later, several gardens came up and were lost in time. Modern parks have their prelude as agricultural land. The traditional commercial hub of the town of history, Ghas Mandi, Gur Mandi, Nimak Mandi, Anaj Mandi, Saban Bazar and Talab Bazar, retain a decodable name, Bagh Wali Gali, throws light on Bagh Bootey Shah, Bagh Khazanchian. The said street linked baghs. The place had enough space for resting under shade and basking in the sun, exercising and bathing. The Talao Wala Mandir had a tank, also a grove of fruit trees. Again, Gulchaman Gali is not a mere name, it had in its vicinity orchards. Not away from the street was the well known Naulakha Bagh. Though it was personal property, people had free access to most of it. Besides the fruit trees, it had huge trees and creepers with a strong fence and a good looking enclosure with a gate. It provided a good site. Another important landmark in the landscape of yesteryears was Soofian Da Bagh. A vast tract of land between Dholewal and the present Kidwai Nagar had patches of lush green groves. Huge and healthy trees provided direction to foot-travellers, relief to campers and a permanent sanctuary to birds. At the ambrosial hour the chirping of the birds provided music to the mystics. Disillusioned with the world, a person looked within and turned a sufi (mystic). He took water from the well and licked a piece of rock-salt. He was popularly known as noon-chutt ( Noon in Malwai for Loon (common salt). Advocate Saif-ur-Rehman, of the sufi family, made lot of money through supplying of caps and uniforms to the Army, made lot of money. He built Lal Kothi and further developed Sufian Da Bagh. Old timers point out that there were baghs of different sizes near the present Dhuri railway line, Ramgarhia institutions and Miller Ganj. The taste of desi ber was fine, the dried-bers formed a gift item. Close to the present Campa Cola Chowk was the site called Bhadaurian Dian Samadhan. It had lush green shady trees and a well to supply water. The real landmark of gardening which historically provides a link between the medieval and the modern is Bagh Sita Ram Singh. The Thapars of old Ludhiana made their contribution to the making of modern Ludhiana. With roots in distant Kabul, it is a rare tribe of progressive Aryans with deep insight which balances material riches with spiritual insight. The bagh provided functional accommodation for relief and rehabilitation works concerning refugee in 1947. The office of the D.P.I. (Punjab) was temporarily housed here. In the close neighbourhood was Bagh Nauharia Mal Jain. It had its walled enclosure, an assortment of fruit and shady trees with working wells. An orchard existed around the Gajjan Singh Samadh, near Bharat Nagar Chowk. To the northern side of Ferozepur road, the Rakh Bagh was the biggest green belt providing free oxygen to one and all. One of the oldest, Roshni Bagh existed close to Daresi and the fort. It was a place of importance. The people congregated in huge numbers at the grave of Pir Roshan for Urs. The present day Civil Lines, in revenue terms Mahal Baghat, has its interesting phases of historical expansion. It had quite a few gardens. The family of Khazanchian did manifest its instinct for gardening in the modern localities such as Patel Nagar, Cemetery Road, Malerkotla House, etc. The Basant Road had Basant Garden by it. A big chunk of land opposite Government College and Jaur Sarak is known as Sant Nagar. Seth Saran Sant Dass, a rich advocate with residence near Clock Tower, raised a big garden (Sant Garden), which ended as Sant Nagar due to population pressure. Retd. Coming to the present time, it is difficult to convince the new generation that residents of Civil Lines and passersby witnessed the peacocks dancing on house-tops, parks of kothis, several open spaces, particularly the green campus of Government College! The committee bagh with its space and fountain is lost in the dust of time. Reverting to our days, we saw appearance and disappearance of grape cultivation near Salem Tabri and the bypass. Government College retains its botanical garden, the chakotras and phalsas are nearly gone. We appreciate such
public minded residents as develop their parks of the area, some are coming up fine in Model Town, Civil Lines, Sarabha Nagar, Lajpat Nagar etc. Let us all salute Dr M.S. Randhawa, who gave us Rose Garden. |
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Sikhs unsafe in J&K: Talwandi LUDHIANA Mr Talwandi, returned to the city this morning, after attending the bhog of Sikhs killed in Srinagar. He said the Union Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, who had also attended the ceremony, had assured him, as well as the Sikh families that the government would take all possible steps to provide security to them and dispel the fear psychosis prevailing at the moment. The SGPC chief observed that the entire Sikh Panth was at the support of the Sikh families in the valley and efforts were on, to ensure safety of their lives and property. He cautioned that if the migration of Sikhs from Jammu and Kashmir took effect, it would be unfortunate for the country and would be a morale booster for anti-national forces. Mr Talwandi said he and other senior leaders had made an appeal to the Sikhs not to migrate. |
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Parishad in service of the handicapped LUDHIANA Jeevan, a polio victim, has been given a job of making paper envelopes and binding of books, enabling him to earn for himself. His tricycle has also been got repaired by the Viklang Centre. Similarly, Reeta, another polio victim, has been given an artificial limb. Reeta says, "I do not feel helpless any more. I learn computers. I have started earning money by doing office work of this centre. I feel very good at the centre for we feel we are at home." Raju, who is dumb and physically challenged, works on a spinning machine. Babita, came to know of this centre from some source. She said, "Due to polio, I used to crawl and felt very demeaned and humiliated. But after an operation at Patiala, I came to this centre and was fitted with a limb which has enabled me to pick up a job at the centre and made me financially independent. I have got my dignity back." The yeoman service for the rehabilitation of handicapped people is being done by the members of the Bharat Vikas Parishad. Ms Nilam Gupta, an executive member of the parishad, devotes most of her time in the centre. The centre came into existence in 1996, but it was formally inaugurated by Ms Maneka Gandhi, Minister of Social Welfare and Empowerment, and Mr Parkash Singh Badal in 1999. The main aim of the organisation is to make such persons self-dependent. The trust is a non-religious and non-political body and runs on charity. The secretary of the organisation, Mr B.R. Maria, is the coordinator of the two institutes of the parishad, one in the Civil Lines and other in the old city. He said, "Our motto is sampark, sehyog, sanskar, sewa and samparan. We run our institutes on donations. The district Red Cross Societies also pool in. Our 120 members take care of the expenses of this rehabilitation centre. We have sent Rs 1 lakh for the earthquake victims. On their birthdays, wedding anniversaries or marriages, our members donate two limbs to the needy. We wish more people will follow suit and we urge them to save some money out of the expenses on festivities to donate for the handicapped. One limb costs Rs 1500 only." Ms Nilam Gupta said that Ms Maneka Gandhi inspired them to rehabilitate handicapped persons by providing them with limbs and jobs because without jobs, their lives will lose meaning. Twenty eight persons have been provided jobs like making of shoes, candles, paper bags, chalks, dusters etc. These are sold at various schools and stalls of candles etc are put up at fetes and other places. The latest venture has been a plant nursery which is being looked after by a handicapped mali. The centre at Ludhiana has been declared the best centre in India. It is well equipped with modern equipment to manufacture and fix calipers, lower limbs (popularly known as Jaipur foot) and upper limbs. It has also developed certain attachments which enable a person to lift heavy things, work in workshops and farms, to carry a water bucket, etc. Mr and Ms Madan Mohan Trehan, two other executive members, also spend time looking after the functioning of the centre. The thing that pulled the chords, the strings of heart, was the statement made by a handicapped woman in tricycle, Charanjit, mother of two children and wife of a blind man, who earns by stitching clothes, wanting to adopt an orphan from Gujarat. All the physically challenged people have voluntarily contributed one-day salary for the relief fund. The Rajya Sabha member, Lala Lajpat Rai, has given a van to the centre from his discretionary quota. So far the centre has fitted 14434 limbs. The major problem that the parishad faces is of finances. |
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Accidents on the rise MANDI GOBINDGARH According to the information available, a cyclist Vijay Kumar was hit by a truck yesterday. He died in the hospital. Earlier, Gian Chand, manager of a local firm, was also killed on the spot, while the scooter by which he was going to Sirhind was struck by a truck while coming out of the truck stand. In another accident a truck, en-route from Ludhiana to Delhi, with pilgrims on board collided with a crane. Mr Kuldip Singh of Ludhiana was killed on the spot while two injured, Sukhdev Singh and Raghbir Singh, were admitted to the hospital. In the fourth accident, an unidentified cyclist was run over by some unknown vehicle, which resulted in his death. In another accident, a cyclist, Mr Harbans Singh, was injured in a collision with a tempo. The police has registered cases against the alleged accused drivers. |
Autorickshaw drivers booked LUDHIANA , Feb 12 — The Kotwali police station today registered a case under Sections 240 and 506 of the IPC against three autorickshaw drivers on the statement of Mr Sanjay Parsad, a resident of Joshi Nagar, near Shiv Mandir Haibowal Kalan, Ludhiana.The accused, namely Kuldeep Singh Katani, Rattan Singh Fozi and Tirath, forcibly issued a union membership card for Rs 150 and had been threatened Sanjay. No arrest has been made so far. 6 booked for gambling In the other case, Sadhu Ram, Sonu and Ganja were arrested and Rs 760 and a set of playing cards were recovered from them. Poppy husk seized Dowry case
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