Jalandhar, May 26
To bridge the institute-industry technology gap, Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) here has launched a skill-development programme for the local sports goods industry by way of which the human resource is being trained in manufacturing moulded polymer products.

The programme, sanctioned by the Department of Science of Technology, Government of India, aims to enable the sports industry of Jalandhar make world-class goods from natural and synthetic polymers. These are fast replacing traditional sports goods like stitched balls and wooden items in the global market due to their uniform quality and low prices.

Since little traditional skill is required to make sports goods, countries like China export their polymerised products to the international market replacing the products of traditional clusters like Jalandhar.

Due to bulk supplies of more durable items at cheaper rates from China, the local manufacturers, in the recent past, had been finding it hard to compete in the international market.

Realising the situation, the NIT faculty has started a training programme under which entrepreneurs and supervisors from the sports goods industry along with students interested in the trade are being imparted knowhow in polymer-moulding technology.

The programme also aims at fulfilling the demand of several sports good manufacturers who want to hire youth skilled in the art for training the unskilled labourers engaged in sports goods manufacturing.

Giving details, Dr Moin Uddin, the NIT Director, and Dr P.K. Chatley, NIT Dean, Research and Industrial Liaison, said the project had got a good response from the industry.

They added that the institute had been interacting with Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Sports-Forum, Jalandhar, in connection with the project proposal on “Technology gap study and possible remedial measures for select sports goods”.

NIT had submitted the proposal to Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi.

The proposal, outlining the objectives and methodology, had earlier been presented before a TIFAC-constituted group for small and medium entrepreneurs-industry-academia at New Delhi. The TIFAC group has already recommended commissioning of the study, in principle, with the NIT.

The study would be conducted in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr Chatley added.

He said that earlier the institute had conducted a “Technology-Industry Meet” for rubber industrialists in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Indian Rubber Institute.

Jalandhar, May 26
After a surprise inspection of four ice factories in the city, the Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mr Anurag Verma, today told the factory owners that the receptacles used for making ice must be rust-free and clean. He also ordered them to keep the area free of insects, webs and other sources of contamination.

Mr Verma carried out checks at R.K. Ice and Cold Storage on Ladowali Road, Chopra Ice Factory on Hoshiarpur Road, Chopra Ice and Chemical Mills and Shiva Ice and Milk Products on Pathankot Road.

The Assistant Commissioner (Grievances), Captain Karnail Singh, Civil Surgeon, Deputy Director, Factories and District Health Officer accompanied the DC.

Though Mr Verma did not clearly specify the exact conditions prevailing in these ice factories, he said that he had directed all the factory owners to keep the receptacles covered and employ only those workers who had a fitness certificate from a doctor authorised by the Civil Surgeon.

He also directed the factory owners to keep original copies of the certificates in the factory premises so that these could be checked any time. The DC added that the workers should be asked to maintain personal hygiene and also ensure that the handling and transportation of ice was done under hygienic conditions.

The DC cautioned that violation of the orders would be punishable with imprisonment up to six months.

He asked the Civil Surgeon to constitute teams to undertake checking of ice factories after 10 days and ensure compliance of the orders.

The checks were conducted in the wake of an incident of ammonia gas leakage at an ice factory at Rama Mandi some months back.

The DC also ascertained whether the mandatory face masks were available in the factories. He questioned the workers as to whether they had been trained in using the these masks. 

Jalandhar, May 26
There are plans to set up a prepaid taxi stand in the Jalandhar Railway Station on the lines of metros like Delhi.

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ferozepur Division, Mr V.K. Gupta, today said the proposal was now at the discussion stage. “We shall require the state government’s contribution in the project,” he added.

He said the prepaid taxi service would save the passengers from being overcharged.

The proposal, at a nascent stage now, would soon be put up before the state government, Mr Gupta added. “At present the modalities are being worked out,” he said. The DRM was here to inspect arrangements at the railway station.

The DRM said the aim of the proposal was to bring in passenger security and deal with traffic chaos at the railway station.

He has called the Divisional Engineer and the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager to discuss the proposal.

If approved, the prepaid taxi stand would have registered vehicles like autos and taxis for hire. The authorities running the taxi stand would record the drivers’ identification and details like residencial proof.

A booking counter would also be set up with the help of the state Department of Transport. The department would provide vehicles like autos and taxis. 

Kapurthala, May 26
A committee of the Finance Commission, Punjab, headed by Mr Ajit Singh Chatha, would visit the town of Kapurthala to study the 24-hour water supply facility being provided to the local residents by the Municipal Committee.

This was announced at a meeting convened by the local MP, Rana Gurjit Singh, and attended by Municipal Councillors, Improvement Trust officials, Municipal Commissioners and representatives of various social organisations.

The visiting committee would study how the Kapurthala Municipal Committee had managed to providing round-the-clock water supply to the town’s residents so that the model could be extended to other towns and cities of the state, Executive Officer, Mr Raj Kumar Mittal, said.

Meanwhile, Rana Gurjit Singh presented a cheque of Rs 1.23 crore to the Municipal Committee during the meeting. He said Rs 5 crore would be spent on improving the basic facilities in the town. He said committees should be constituted in the district to check drug addiction.