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| Wednesday,
December 18, 2002, Chandigarh, India |
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Japan to assist in city rail project Ludhiana, December 17 Under the Indian Japan Infrastructure Working Group, the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) had submitted a proposal to the Japanese Government for setting up rapid transport in various cities across the country. However, the Japanese Government is learnt to have accepted only three proposals for the cities of Kolkata, Pune and Ludhiana. Called as the Multi-Modal Public Transport Plan for Ludhiana, the project, if approved, will solve most traffic problems. The new transportation system, besides being rapid, will be environment-friendly and relatively cheaper. It will be undertaken by the RITES in cooperation with the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation S.K. Sharma has already been invited to Delhi for discussions on the project. The project comes under “mutual cooperation between India and Japan in infrastructure development with special terms for economic partnership”. Ludhiana is said to be the most congested city in the country. The ratio between the number of vehicles plying on roads and their length is said to be the highest here. There is no effective public transport system in Ludhiana. The Multi-Modal Transport plan is understood to provide fast connectivity between various parts of the city. Moreover, the pollution level in Ludhiana is believed to be the highest. The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation is learnt to have prepared a plan in this regard. Under the mutual development plan, while maximum finances will be provided by the Japanese government, matching grants will have to be arranged by the local Government and in this case it will be the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. Sources in the corporation said it had chalked out a plan for mobilising resources and funds would not come in the way of the project being approved by the Japanese. Sources pointed out, despite massive losses in the corporation only six months ago, it has cash reserves of over Rs 12 crore. In case the project is approved, the corporation will seek the cooperation of the general public, will mobilise additional resources and also save from the existing sources so that Rapid Transport system becomes a reality. As in Delhi, the Ludhiana project will also be handled by the RITES alone. The project, if approved, will be completed in a specific time period. |
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1,000 trees axed for highway Ludhiana, December 17 The number is likely to increase as the four-laning is yet to be completed. Several of these trees were not even fully grown. They had been planted a few years ago only to augment forestation in this part of the state. The already-depleting forest cover of the state has been affected in the process. The Forest Department sources said that several of these trees were planted after the previous widening of the road, and now they have been cut again. The general practice is that when some trees are cut for such development works, a double number of trees are planted near the place or elsewhere. Due to continuous cutting, the whole idea is defeated. The Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway was widened because of the large number of accidents occurring on the road. The project was cleared by the Ministry of Environment. Divisional Forest Officer Jarnail Singh admitted there was a huge loss to the environment but said that there seemed to be no alternative. The roads would be widened and thus trees would be cut. He confirmed that at least 1000 trees were cut in the past few months only. The widening work is on and more trees can be chopped off. The trees cut were sheesham (talhi), eucalyptus, kikkar and fruit trees as well. The forest officer said the cutting down of trees was unavoidable because of the pressing need of development. The government gives us land and money to plant the double number of trees near the site or
elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Forest Department sources revealed to TNS that the plantation policies were short-sighted. The department plants trees with plans for next 10 to 15 years. Such widening projects hamper all plans. DFO Jarnail Singh said the department had changed plans in the recent past. ‘‘We plan to plant ornamental trees in the front row along the road, then small trees in the next and large trees in the last row. This will help in the future widening of the road,’’ he hoped. |
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GURDWARA FIRE PROBE Ludhiana, December 17 The incident had led to a blame game by the warring factions of college management committee. The factions involved in a bitter litigation, civil as well as criminal, for the control of the prestigious college pointed accusing fingers at each other for the blasphemous act. An akhand path was held as atonement. Apart from the police and the SGPC, the organisation too had constituted a five member committee to inquire into the incident. However, the management did not cooperate and it took two months to be completed. Ms Inderjit Kaur of the organisation said the college authorities did not allow them inside the college on the pretext that the keys of the room where the incident had occurred were with the police. The cops were contacted who said that “no person has been named in the FIR, nor any person been taken into custody. The fire broke out due to sparking from a fan kept near the Granthi due to a short circuit. The SGPC officials spotted the burnt fan and sent samples of burnt material to the Guru Nanak Engineering College for testing. “The GNE report confirmed that the fan was burnt due to a short circuit. Now the fan is in possession of the police. The police did not lock the room. A cop was present when the committee took away the fan and other samples away from the room. The cushion for the granthi and the silken cloth (Ramala) on the ‘bir sahib’ caught fire quickly, but not the thick carpet,” the cops added. The views was endorsed by SGPC chief K S Badungar, when he was contacted by IHRO chairperson D S Gill. The committee summed up its findings observing: “The warring factions of the college management blew the incident out of proportion and it led to a controversy. The rigid stand of both parties politicised the incident. It seems that the offensive attitude of one group invoked the wrath of those in power and due to this, allegations and counter-allegations started flying thick and fast.” “At times, they (the management) lied to us regarding the key of the room where the incident had occurred; thus, they tried to jeopardise the investigation. Initially, it seemed that they had a lot to hide as they remained adamant not to allow the entry of the team into the college and the place of occurrence. “But circumstantial evidence does indicate that a member of the managing committee besides some other members/friends, including relatives of the staff, used rooms close to the gurdwara in college for drinking liquor, in
“Since the gurdwara is situated on the campus, it was not possible for any outsider to come inside without permission. Also, the allegation that the management burnt the bir has no ground as in no way can it benefit from it. The odd behaviour of the college authorities and political gimmicks of the warring faction had actually culminated into the controversy and confusion. “ The team appealed to the management to “maintain the sanctity of religious scripture.” |
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Tangri remanded in judicial custody Ludhiana, December 17 The prosecution yesterday sought police remand on the pretext that a .32 bore pistol allegedly given by Mr Tangri to Sundar Bhai Patel in Ahmedabad had to be recovered. It also claimed that the arms allegedly supplied by Mr Tangri in Ahmedabad had to be recovered. The defence counsel argued that on the instruction of higher police officials, his client was being harassed unnecessarily to make sure that he would not come out of jail. “The investigating officer kept on sleeping for about eight months after the registration of the case. But now suddenly he woke up, when the accused was going to be released on bail in another case, as the High Court had granted him bail”, the defence counsel said. The defence counsel claimed that on the application of the Superintendent, Intelligence, Amritsar, a case was registered in which it was alleged that Mr Tangri was selling kirpans, trishuls and knives to Shiv Sainiks in Ludhiana, in his shop situated in Gur Mandi. Hence, there was no allegation regarding the sale of arms to be used in the Godhra riots. Alleging that the prosecution would continue to seek police remand till its request was not denied, the defence counsel prayed that Mr Tangri be remanded in judicial custody. After hearing both sides, he was remanded in judicial custody.
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Awaiting
police action for 1 year Ludhiana, December 17 Even as the arrest warrants against the accused were issued by a Ropar court three months ago, none of them has been arrested so far. only one of them has got bail while the rest have not got a bail also. To add insult to injury, the accused are moving scot-free and have even visited the complainant’s house in order to harass him. Amarjit Singh, a resident of Ropar was married to Paramjit Kaur of Ludhiana. The families of the couple had met through matrimonial ad. Paramjit Kaur was allegedly married earlier but not divorced. However, she claimed that she had been divorced in a court and marriage was solemnised in 2001. The marriage lasted about two months only. According to Amarjit Singh, he discovered that his wife was not a divorcee and he had been cheated. He filed a complaint with the Ropar police but no action was taken. He went to sangat darshan programme of the previous government but had to return empty-handed. Ultimately it was through a Ropar court order that his complaint was heard and the police was directed to take action. However, no follow-up action was taken. The accused family, meanwhile, petitioned in a court that the case should be transferred to Ludhiana, which was accepted. The court also issued arrest warrants against the accused. Since then the family is having a first-hand experience of how the police can by-pass the law. Amarjit Singh reveals through documentary proof that SHO Division No. 5, Shankar Dass had been directed to comply with the arrest warrants but nothing was done. The police officials could not be contacted for comments. The complainant then went to the court. This time the court directed the senior officers to comply with the orders. Amarjit Singh claimed that he could not even meet the senior officers. ‘‘They are moving freely in the courts, police station, police offices and no one is arresting them,’’ he said. According to the documents, the accused are Paramjit Kaur, Gurbachan Singh, Surinder Pal Singh Laddi. Jagjit Singh Jaggi and Surjit Kaur. SP (City-1) Harish Kumar, however, denied that there was any laxity on the part of police department. He said police was trying to find the accused but had not been successful so far.
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Bus shelters will add to traffic woes Ludhiana, December 17 According to officials in the engineering wing of the Municipal Corporation, any bus shelter on a major road should be ideally placed at least 75 to 100 metres away from the inter-section. But in most cases, this norm has been thrown to the winds. Firms or advertising agencies, which have been permitted to put up bus shelters at their own cost, are doing so in a whimsical manner, with utter disregard traffic flow. For example, a bus shelter under fabrication a little away from Punjab Extension Library opposite Session Courts towards Fountain Chowk is located 50 feet away from the chowk, which, being a junction of six busy roads, is already a problem area for vehicular movement. This road often witnesses traffic jams and long queues of vehicles at peak hours. Once the bus shelter goes operational, it could have an adverse effect on the flow of traffic, with mini buses stopping close to the inter-section for commuters to board or alight. That the bus shelters are being allowed to be put up in such a manner, if at all permission has been granted for this purpose, amply makes it clear that there is a definite lack of coordination or communication among different departments of the corporation. The engineering wing feigned ignorance on the matter and directed the officials concerned of Zone D to order shifting of the bus shelter away from the inter-section. Enquiries made by Ludhiana Tribune from several different departments of the MC failed to establish whether the bus shelter at Sessions Court Road was being erected with due permission of the civic body. Certain officials said on condition of anonymity that in the absence of a clear policy due to directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on display signboard and advertisements on roadsides, some “opportunist” advertising agencies tended to take advantage of the situation. Lack of coordination among different departments of the corporation further served their interests. |
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Missing
girl still untraceable A pall of gloom continued to engulf Lala Lajpat Rai Nagar. Family members said they had received a call from Moga that a girl of similar description was seen there. Family members and a police party is learnt to have gone there, but no success was achieved. Mr Mulk Raj, grandfather of the girl, said the family did not suspect anyone. He said the girl could not have lost her way as she was very intelligent. She remembered all phone numbers, including his father’s mobile number. He said the girl was playing with friends outside her house. She was last seen at around 7.30 pm on Sunday when she had come to her house to have water. The family lodged a complaint next morning. A case of kidnapping was registered. Police sources said senior police officers were supervising the search operations. A wireless message has been sent across the state. No report of accident or any untoward happening with the girl has been reported so far from the region. The sources said if the girl was kidnapped, a ransom call should have been made. The police has also inquired from her classmates at BCM School.
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Just one from city in PU Syndicate Ludhiana, December 17 A majority of local college teachers and principals feel that since they have not got enough local members in the Syndicate this time, they would not be able to plead their problems well with the university authorities. They also said their long-pending demands might not be considered and placed well from now onwards. They said the representation did not justify the need of thousands of students, teachers and administrators from over 30 colleges here. In the previous term, the city was represented by Prof Rajinder Bhandari from Arya College, Prof Amarjit Singh Dua from the Government College for Women, Principal Tarsem Bahia from AS College, Khanna, and Principal Harmit Kaur from Ramgarhia Girls College. However, complying by the common decision to allow rotation of the term, none of the old members contested this time. Discussing the outcome of the elections, Prof Satish Sharma, Senator, said he was disappointed with the results this time as contrary to the general belief of the localities here, the representation had gone down. He said the teachers and principals were bound to face certain problems due to this. He, however, said he also felt satisfied as majority of the members in the new Syndicate were from his group. Similarly, Prof Rajinder Bhandari, the outgoing Syndic, too agreed that the Syndicate had inadequate representation. He said he felt that the results were unfair this time. He, however, said he was much pleased with the recent announcement made by Lala Lajpat Rai regarding allocation of Rs 1 crore from his MP fund for setting up of regional centre in Panjab University Extension Library. The MP made this declaration a day before the elections. Ms Madanjit Kaur Sahota, Principal, Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, said she too wondered as to why the representation was too low this time. |
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According to the ancient Indian wisdom, goddess Sarswati and goddess Lakshmi are always at draggers drawn with each other. Sarswati is the goddess of knowledge, while Lakshmi rules the wealth, implying that knowledge and wealth do not necessarily go together. And probably this holds perfectly true about Ludhiana. Ludhianvis’ affluence is claimed to be unmatched in the entire north. People do not mind making its unabashed display. Ludhiana boasts with all pride and vanity the presence of showrooms of leading and luxury brands of cars, including the Mercedes and Toyota, exclusive garments stores, fashion malls, jewellery shops and everything where wealth is lavished and regretfully still there are not many good bookstores in Ludhiana. Despite the existence of one entire market for books called, ‘Kitab Bazar’ in Chaura Bazar, the book lovers find themselves at a loss in the city, except the age-old Lyal Book Depot that seems to cater to the appetite of the voracious readers. American Jat Recently, Ludhiana witnessed a spectacular Food Expo organised by a local event management group. The expo encapsulated a variety of items related to food, food processing and the food industry together. Eminent experts from the field of food technology attended the expo. Among them was the regional head of the American Soya Association (ASA) Mr Virgil D Miedema. ASA is a conglomerate of over 5 lakh American soyabean growers, working across the world to explore market opportunities for soyabean. Mr Virgil is himself a soyabean farmer with over 5,000 hectares of land. When he introduced himself as an ordinary farmer from America who had come to sell his product in India, somebody aptly remarked in typical local idiom, “American Jat”, as the Punjabi farmer is known as a Jat. It was conveyed and explained to Mr Virgil, who liked it and pronounced himself: “So, I am an American Jat”, much to the delight of people around.
Unique encounter Recently Amateur XI played a cricket match with the Borstal Angels, the cricket team of the inmates of the Borstal Jail of Ludhiana. Most of the inmates are in their late teens or early twenties. While about 100 of the 325 inmates are convicts serving sentences ranging between a year to 20 years for different crimes like assault and murder, there are some undertrials also. It was a welcome break for the inmates as they watched their cricket team playing and thrashing the amateurs. And most of the inmates, including the convicts, came out to witness the match. They cheered, shouted, hooted and applauded the players on the field. But for their destiny, they are as good or bad as anyone else. Not ironically one of the inmates watching the cricket match was serving 20-year term for having hit a rival player with his bat over a dispute on the cricket match itself. And that was the costliest hit of his life that would cost him 20 long years of the prime of his youth. There are so many like him, who are not in a position to regret their action. Like Anil Kumar, another inmate serving 20 year term, they can only long to complete their term. Anil Kumar’s term will complete probably next year.
Head and helmet Recently the traffic police in Ludhiana started challaning the girls riding the two-wheelers without wearing a helmet as a follow-up of the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The girls had been exempted from wearing the helmet following resistance from the people belonging to a particular faith. In fact certain sections of society have once again appealed against the High Court order making the wearing of helmet mandatory for girls. With all respects to the faith and religious sentiments of people, some people have been pointing out as to how could the traffic police exempt the girls and women adhering to a particular faith exempt while challan others. After all the wearing of helmet is mandatory only for the safety of the person. How should it hurt the sentiments of people, they ask, while pleading that this issue concerns the safety of the people, particularly women.
Beggars back Stalls on the road Many a times, it has been observed that many companies put up tents on the side of the busy roads like National Road, Jhansi Road to promote their newly launched product. They display their products for days on end. Needless to say crowd collects out of curiosity. This worsens the traffic problem specially during rush hours. It is very amazing that the Municipal Authorities give such companies space on main roads, causing a lot of inconvience to the commuters The problem is already compounded with cart sellers selling their wares. — Sentinel |
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Sack minister: roadways staff Ludhiana, December 17 Addressing a rally, several trade union leaders denounced the government for its “adamant” attitude. Speakers cautioned the government against attempts to disband any depot of Punjab Roadways. They called for supply of adequate bus spare-parts, grant of due promotions to the clerical cadre and clearing the backlog of reservations. Prominent among those who addressed the rally were Mr Avtar Singh Aitiana, general secretary, Ministerial Staff Union, Mr Manjit Singh (AITUC), Mr Gurcharan Singh (INTUC), Mr Khushi Mohammed, state president, CITU, Mr Bhagwan Singh Bhopal, president, SC/ST Union, Mr Avtar Singh Grewal, Roadways Employees Union, Mr Devinder Singh Chahal Workshop Union, Mr Gurmukh Singh Katani, general secretary, CITU, Mr Sandeep Singh, convener, and Mr Gurcharan Singh Dugga, general secretary, Joint Action Committee.
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‘Khula
manch’ held Ludhiana, December 17 The MC Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sharma, City Mayor Nahar Singh Gill and senior civic officials attended the meeting. Mr Sharma observed that residents had not so far fully realised the purpose behind the forum. Most complaints or representations related to demand for development projects or expansion of civic services, which obviously could not be decided at the spot. “The real motive of the MC behind holding the ‘khula manch’ at the zone level is to deal with individual complaints on civic amenities, which are not dealt with on time by the branches and departments heads concerned.” The ‘khula manch’ sessions are scheduled to be organised every Monday of each month at the zone level. The next ‘khula manch’ session will be held on December 23 at Zone D office, Sarabha Nagar. “In case of Monday being a gazetted holiday, the session will be shifted to the next working day,” Mr Sharma said. |
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Pensioners’ Day organised Ludhiana, December 17 Mr B.R. Kaushal, president, Retirees Welfare Association, Ludhiana, while speaking on the occasion, demanded that the government should enhance fixed medical allowance to Rs 500 per month; defray the expenses incurred on various aids such as spectacles, hearing aid and dentures; and cent per cent reimbursement on expenses incurred on chronic diseases. He also demanded that the pensioners, who retired before January, 1996, should be brought on a par with post-January, 1996, pensioners by revising their pension up to 50 per cent of the grades of the last post held. He urged the Centre not to lower the rate of interest on bank deposits and small-saving postal schemes. Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, in his presidential address, assured the pensioners to redress their grievances at the local level. He promised to render full financial assistance by arranging additional funds to ensure the completion of the Pensioners’ Information Centre. A charter of demands was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner for forwarding it to the state government.
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Award for
injured Forest Dept staff Ludhiana, December 17 Two other employees of the department who were injured along with the officer will also be honoured by the department. They are guard Karamjit Singh and driver Gurnam Singh. They were injured when an angry mob of farmers protested against the Forest Department's move to occupy hundreds of acres in Kot Umra village. The officials were attacked but risked their life to save forest property. The incident took place on Friday evening. Mr Jarnail Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, said here today the State Food Supply and Forest Minister, Mr Harbans Lal had announced the award. |
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Markfed
staff holds protest Ludhiana, December 17
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Training
programme for youth Ludhiana, December 17 The action plan for the events of 2003 was prepared on various topics such as community development training, growth and development, business and management etc. The zone was divided into four regions. Addressing the zone officers, Mr Jasminder Singh, president of the host chapter, stressed upon the need to curb the misuse of drugs. |
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Cane charge
condemned Jagraon, December 17 |
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Engineering student dies in bus Ludhiana, December 17 Woman injured in acid attack:
Thefts:
The Shimla Puri police has registered another case of alleged theft against unknown persons on the statement of Mr Joginder Pal, a resident of Daba. The complainant alleged that the unknown burglars broke open the lock of his house and decamped with some gold ornaments and a mobile phone. He had suffered a loss of about Rs 23,000, he added. Boy injured:
Three hurt in accidents:
The Division Number six police has registered a similar hit-and-run case against an unknown car driver on the complaint of Mr Raj Kumar, a resident of Mehmoodpura mohalla. The complainant had alleged that the accused had hit his brother, Sonu, who was undergoing treatment at the CMC hospital. Youth dead:
Beaten:
Another case under Sections 323,324 and 34 of the IPC was registered at the same police station on the complaint of Mr Dharmender Kumar, a resident of Dr Ambedkar Nagar, against Mohammad Allaudin, a hair-dresser, The complainant , who is a cable operator, had alleged that when he went to charge the cable fare from the accused, the accused beat him up and also injured him with a scissors lying in his shop. Booked:
Held for noise pollution:
The arrested persons were Mahinder Kumar, a resident of Cheema Chowk, Phool Chand, a migrant from Azamgarh now living in Vishwakarma Colony, Pre, a resident of Vishwakarma Colony and Harvinder Kumar, a resident of Parbhat Nagar. All accused were booked for playing their stereo decks at a volume beyond the permissible limit. Arrested:
Eve-teaser booked:
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BSNL cellular services inaugurated Jagraon, December 17 Mr Julka talking to the press, said 9,000 connections had been issued in Ludhiana, whereas 3,000 connections would be released in Jagraon. Admitting difficulty in the cellular service, he assured the best to the consumer in the near future. The connections would be allotted within 24-36 hours to the consumer for pre-paid service. The dealers had been appointed by the BSNL at Jagraon and Raikot apart from Ludhiana. |
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‘STG
among top 3 IT companies’ Khanna, December 17 Mr Jain said the STG had reached an agreement with information technology company Infosys under which the company had to computerise more than 300 branches of Punjab National Bank in the
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Ludhiana, December 17
After about a month of police crackdown on the beggars, they have slowly started to return to the city. The issue is assuming importance as a public interest litigation has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the rehabilitation. There is another organisation, People for People’s Society, working for the welfare and rehabilitation of the beggars. The issue needs to be viewed in a sympathetic and humane manner. Beggars cannot be treated as criminals. Particularly when donating alms is considered to be a noble thing and is widely encouraged. Instead of indiscriminate arrests the beggars need to be rehabilitated so that they do not have to be on the roadsides and crossings which can cause accidents, thus endagering the lives of others as well as their own.
