Ludhiana, January 20
Residents of the Islam Ganj area are receiving contaminated water from their taps.The water gets contaminated due to mixing of potable water with sewage. Municipal Corporation employees assured them that they would rectify the problem soon but nothing has been done.

The houses in Islam Ganj started getting yellow and stinking water from their taps on Friday morning. They complained to the ward number 43 councillor Laxmi Devi whose brother-in-law, Dinesh Kumar conveyed it further to the junior engineer. A water tanker was sent to the area on Friday.

The employees did not bother to check the problem and went back saying that most of the water connections were through drains and they could not find out where the mixing was.

They left saying they would come on Monday.

The residents continued to get stinking water on Saturday and today posing a threat to their health. ‘‘We do not know what to do. The stink did not go even after boiling the water. We had to buy bottles to drink it. But we could not have bought water for doing dishes or for washing clothes. ’’ said Jug Raj, an area resident.

He added that they needed water for many household chores and if that was only contaminated they failed to understand what to do.

‘‘They told us that they could not do anything if the system had developed a problem on a weekend. The MC employees too washed their hands off the problem quoting weekend. That does not mean that we should be left to drink this water. Is this the state of this country where we are forced to drink this water? I am disappointed that they are not responsible, ’’ he said.

Dinesh Kumar said he could not do anything as the JE concerned had told him that the team would come on Monday only. It was only due to my efforts that a tanker was provided to these residents on Friday. Later nobody picked my phone. What shall I do? ’’ he asked.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 20
A large number of sports enthusiasts converged on the sports stadium at Gujjarwal village for witnessing thrilling events on the concluding day of the annual rural sports fair today.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was the chief guest and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, MP, presided over opening session.

Sports enthusiasts, who had been converging on the stadium since morning, for witnessing the bullock cart races and kabaddi, were disappointed as the organisers could start the first event only after 2 p.m.

There was embarrassing moment for organizers when at least three out of eight bullock carts, during the first two heats on the concluding day, collided with a eucalyptus tree. The jockeys saved their lives by jumping from the running carts.

Though kabaddi matches started after the chief guest left the venue, players of the host team were introduced to the Chief Ministry by calling them inside an enclosure.

A large number of dignitaries, including social workers and eminent doctors were felicitated. Former SAD minister Jagdish Singh Garcha, senior vice-president of the SAD Mann Singh Garcha and Jarnail Singh Narangwal were also present on the occasion. 

The public relations department had a tough time dealing with mediapersons at Gujjarwal. Owing to tight security arrangements, locals, including mediapersons, were not allowed near the stage.

Members of the electronic media staged a protest, arguing that they had been unable to film the event. All seating arrangements for the public were made across the security D. Cameramen too were kept at bay.

They complained that they could not capture the event from such a distance.

Though the chief minister was in the village for over two hours, mediapersons were not allowed to interact with him. He answered a few queries across the barricade.

Security personnel keep a vigil on vacant chairs arranged on stage at the rural sports fair before the arrival of the chief minister at Gujjarwal on Sunday. 

Ludhiana, January 20
Cries of a baby melts even the strongest of hearts. And when a three-year-old girl cries "Papa ne mummy nu maar ditta" at the side of her murdered mother on the banks of a canal, the picture becomes more tormenting.

This scene, first viewed by Balbir Singh Lambardar of Jaspal Bangar village on the evening of June-4, 2002, not only gives him goose bumps but is also tormenting the city police.

Five-and a-half years thereafter, the case remains unsolved. The murdered woman, aged between 25 and 30, is still unidentified. Her husband is untraced and the girl, now about eight years, is said to be in a children's home, whose address the cops don’t want to disclose.

According to the case file, Balbir had informed the police about the murder. He did not run away when the cops told him the case would be lodged at his statement.

The only evidence that the woman was killed by her husband is based on the statement of Balbir. He had picked the baby in his arms who in broken sentences revealed the killer. Unfortunately, the child was incapable of telling anything more.

The woman had deep and fresh cut on her neck inflicted by a sharp-edged weapon. The police circulated the picture of the woman and the girl but no one identified them.

The case was declared untraced on February 9, 2004. Since then, it has been in the cold storage.

Ludhiana, January 20
It is not the routine sweaters, jackets or long coats that the city women are going in for this winter. Woollen kurtas are the latest rage among Ludhiana women, especially the younger generation. 

These kurtas look chic and elegant when teamed up with a pair of body-hugging jeans, slacks or even churidar for an Indo-western look.

A visit to any party or a casual get-together, and you would come across majority of women sporting these. Reason is simple and clear: the fabric and cuts of these kurtas are elegant as well as comfortable.

With range varying from Rs 650 to Rs 3,500, the knee length kurtas are available in pure wool, angora wool, viscose, jamavar and many more.

These are easily available in the major shopping malls of the town, including Mall road, Rani Jhansi road, near Bharat Nagar Chowk, Model Town market and BRS Nagar.

Not only this, these kurtas come in different styles for different occasions. The ones with embroidery, embellishments, heavy bead work, sequences, laces and ribbon work are perfect for a formal look and are available for Rs 1,500 onwards.

The plain varieties come for anything between Rs 650-Rs 1,400 with stripes and checks, depending on the fabric.

City girl Reena, who loves to change her style with changing trends, thinks these kurtas look elegant, are different from the regular sweaters and jackets and can be worn for a formal occasion. "A pair of body-hugging jeans worn with a woollen kurta and scarf, is not only a comfortable outfit but also gets you loads of compliments,” she opined, adding that her wardrobe boasted of three such pieces already.

Navneet, a garment storeowner, said initially he was reluctant to stock these kurtas in his store but their demand was so high that he had to add fresh stock every second day.

Khamano, January 20
The people of nearly two dozen villages surrounding Khamano and Khanna are facing a power crisis because the establishment of the new 66 KV substation power grid has run into rough weather due to political reasons.

In 2002, the Punjab government had launched a scheme to ease the load on power grids. During that time, about 43 power grids were approved in the state. Out of these, a power grid of 66 KV was also approved at Kheri Naudh Singh village. At that time, officials of the electricity board had visited the proposed site, the map of which was also approved and tenders invited. But sarpanch Harbhajan Singh of Kheri Naudh Singh village had affiliation with the Akali Dal while the Congress was in power at that time.

Harbhajan Singh alleged that the site for the grid was shifted from his village due to political reasons. Later, new sites were explored at Kalewal and Dholewal villages. However, Hargana village was selected as the final site for the grid.

Harbhajan Singh alleged that people of 24 villages were facing hardships due to vendetta of the Congress government. He said two other grids of Baho Majra and Nandpur Kalaur villages were also approved along with this grid in 2002 and were to be completed by 2004.

While the grids at BahoMajra and Nandpur Kalour became operational two and a half years back, the one at Hargana was still non-functional.

At Hargana village, the building is ready and the petition for fitting the machinery is also ready but the work on the grid has not started yet even after the completion of nearly a year of the Akali-BJP government.

During elections, the project was the main issue but it is still incomplete. Village sarpanch Ram Singh said he was unable to understand why the work was being delayed.

Chief parliamentary secretary Bikramjeet Singh Khalsa said he would take up the matter with the officials concerned and it would be completed soon.

Substation chief engineer H.S. Brar said the work of the grid was pending due to some technical problems which would be solved shortly and the work would start soon.

The municipal corporation has earned notoriety for working for VIPs so much that whenever a cleaning spree is on in the city, people start asking who is visiting? Again the Ferozepore Road, Mall Road and the road under Damoria bridge is being spruced up. Two residents were heard asking who was visiting the city? They were yet to get an answer when another resident chipped in, ‘‘Whosoever is coming, at least the city is getting a cleaner look.’’

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 20
Accusing naib tehsildar, Koomkalan, of exploiting his official position to harass activist of his party, Sukhdev Singh, a local SAD leader, has urged the district administration to either transfer the official or suspend him till investigations into allegations and counter-allegations levelled by the two were completed.

In a communication addressed to the higher authorities, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and DC Ludhiana, Sukhdev Singh had demanded immediate removal of Rupinder Manku, naib tehsildar at Koomkalan from his present posting as, according to him, he would affect the outcome of the inquiry that had been initiated by the Koomkalan police.

“As the official had threatened to teach me a lesson for guarding interest of common people, including activists of our party, it will not be in public interest to allow him continue working at his present post. By using his position as naib tehsildar of Koomkalan, he can coerce and allure some persons to give false statements also,” argued Sukhdev Singh in his application.

Terming allegations levelled by Manku against him as a bundle of lies, Sukhdev Singh denied having abused or pointed a revolver at him on Wednesday. Reiterating his earlier allegations the SAD leader accused Manku of demanding money from him, for doing genuine work.

In statement recorded at Koomkalan police station, Rupinder Manku, naib tehsildar, had alleged that Sukhdev Singh had misbehaved and threatened to shoot him with his revolver, at his office on last Wednesday. Sukhdev Singh, denying the charges leveled against him, accused the revenue official of accepting and demanding bribe.

A few activists of the Patwari union and the deed-writers union had organised a dharna at sub-tehsil complex on Friday. They had demanded action against the SAD leader and his associates.

Gurmel Singh, investigating officer, had recorded statements of both parties and sought opinion from legal authorities in the department.

Ludhiana, January 20
A patent awareness workshop was organized by the Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology (LCET) in association with the Patent Information Centre (PIC), Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh, with the support of the Technology Information Forecasting Assessment Council (TIFAC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, on its campus here today.

The workshop was 27th in its series and was aimed at giving an overview of what is a patent, what can be patented, how to patent any innovation. A large number of persons from a few academic institutions, trade organisations, consultant agencies and industry of the city and its adjoining areas attended the workshop. Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology chairman Vijay Kumar Gupta welcomed the chief guest and others.

Centre for Post Harvesting Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) director Dr R.T. Patil lighted a ceremonial lamp for opening the workshop. Additional director (Environment) and in charge of the PIC Neelima Jeerath acquainted the audience with the basics of patenting, telling them that simple innovations like safety pin, sewing machine needle, turmeric powder etc could be patented if original. He urged the Indians to lead in number of patents which was must for the financial as well as social development of the country.

MD Cheema Boilers, Mohali, H.S. Cheema, chaired the first technical session of the workshop and persuaded those present to at least have one patent to their credit so that the industrial technological growth could be catalyzed manifold for expanding in the competitive world.

TIFAC senior scientist Suresh Kumar talked about perspectives in patenting and examiner of patents and designs, patent office, Government of India, New Delhi, P.P. Singh presented an insight into patent system in India through written application and e-filling.

Technical advisor, Emson Gears, chairperson of the technical session (II) S.K. Sharma and CIPHET senior scientist S.N. Jha discussed the technology management and patenting with special reference to the questions which should be answered by the applicant satisfactorily before acquiring a patent for his invention.

Dean, LCET consultancy, training and placement cell, S.P. Sharma and PIC scientist Gurharminder Singh presented a vote of thanks. 

Ludhiana, January 20
Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) would soon open nine new branches in Punjab. Chairman and managing director of the bank Alok K. Mishra, who was in city today, said the bank would open as many as 85 new branches and 58 new offsite ATMs across the country.

The bank, he added, was expecting a business of Rs 132 crore by the end of this financial year. “Among the other facilities that we will soon come out with for our customers are internet banking and online broking. Expansion in rural areas is also on the cards and we have planned to start mobile ATMs to cater to the rural segment.”

Mishra said the mid-corporate would remain a key focus area and OBC would open 50 specialised branches for this segment, including one branch in Ludhiana.

“This is a sector that has high growth potential and we would concentrate on making credit facilities available for this segment.”

Elaborating on the bank’s initiatives for rural area, he said OBC Rural Development Trust had been set up with a view to establish rural training centres at different locations. Four such training centres at Sriganganagar, Jaipur, Ferozepur and Dehradun were already operational. OBC was the lead bank in the districts of Sriganganagar in Rajasthan and Ferozepur in Punjab, he added.

Under 100 per cent financial inclusion, the bank has so far opened more than 3,10,850 ‘no frills accounts’ and adopted 496 villages in the country. In Punjab, OBC has 248 branches and 73 ATMs.

The bank has availed itself of a licence to open branches in Qadian (Amritsar), Sardulgarh (Bathinda), Sultanpur Lodhi (Jalandhar), Chahheru (Jalandhar), Talwandisultan (Jalandhar), Hambran (Ludhiana), Dehlon (Ludhiana), Khamanon (Patiala) and Bhadoson (Patiala).

Ludhiana, January 20
N.S.Nanda, a prominent figure in the social circuit in the city, has pledged to donate his body after his death to the anatomy department of Dayanand Medical College here.

Nanda said the decision had been taken by him as per his own will with the objective that his mortal remains may be used for the benefit of mankind and furtherance of medical education.

"Not only this, I want that all other organs of my body including eyes and kidneys, which can in any manner be of benefit to other human beings, be removed and transplanted on the deserving poor persons," Nanda added.

Making it known that he was deeply moved by the process of breaking up of families and the weakening social fibre in society, he remarked that almost without exception, every person in the India, including all nears and dear ones of an individual, had become selfish and opportunist. "In such a situation, it is absolute wastage of time and money to organise bhogs or for that matter prayer meetings for the deceased persons at religious places."

He wanted no such ceremony to be performed after his death since all this had become a farce and means of seeking undesirable publicity. If the family members of a person really want to perpetuate the memory of the departed souls, they should rather donate the money spent on such wasteful ceremonies to educational institutions or extending genuine help to needy or poor people, he suggested.

Nanda made a fervent appeal to the masses to come forward and donate their dead bodies or other body parts after death so that the corneal blind persons, or those suffering from life threatening diseases like renal failure, could be cured and lead a better quality of life.

He announced that he was quitting all cultural, literary or professional bodies and instead, would donate all his lifetime to the religious cause, and particularly for the welfare of poor and downtrodden people of society. "My first and foremost priority will be to work and spend my time with deserted elderly people, who are being ignored and turned out by their children."

Amloh, January 20
Lok Sabha elections would be conducted after delimitation of constituencies, said deputy speaker Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Attwal here today.

He was here to attend the marriage ceremony of former SGPC member Jassa Singh Ahuluwalia’s daughter.

The matter will be finalised after the approval of the President of India.

The matter of package to the industry on the pattern of other states had been taken up with the Centre to save the industry of Punjab, which is shifting to other states, Attwal added. He criticised the Central government for its discriminatory policies.

Lok Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Libra, Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti, youth Akali Dal president of Fatehgarh Sahib Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, social worker Manmohan Kaushal, deputy advocate general of Punjab Tejinder Singh Salana, All-India Bajigar Cell president Makhan Lal Lalka, Karmchari Dal president of Punjab Karamjit Singh Bhagrana, former minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal were also present.

Ludhiana, January 20
Over 250 patients, including 100 children, were examined at a free dental check up and alternative systems camp organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad (Tagore branch) at Radhakrishan temple in Railway Colony numbers 10 and 11 here today. The patients were also given free medicines and follow up advice.

Dental surgeon Dr Sunil Dhami, ayurveda expert Dr Sandeep Chawla, homoeopaths Dr Sanjeev Mehta and Dr Ritu Gupta examined the patients at the camp. Dr Dhami, along with his staff, conducted the dental examination of nearly 100 students of government school in the colony. The students were also given tips on oral hygiene and dental health.

President of the parishad Vijay Lakshmi Kapoor and secretary Neelam Gupta coordinated the activities at the camp. Prominent among others present were Balraj Bhatia, Yoginder Gupta, Ashok Marwaha, Ramesh Gupta and Yash Pal Gupta.

Ludhiana, January 20
A pioneer in the field of blood diseases and medical director of Cangene Corporation, Canada, Dr Maurice G. Genereux, delivered a lecture on the causes and cure of thrombocytopenia (blood disorder caused by low platelet count) at Dumra Auditorium in Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here last evening.

Thrombocytopenia, he said, was a disorder caused due to the presence of relatively few platelets in blood. It happened when platelets were lost from the circulation faster than they could be replaced from the bone marrow where these were made.

"This condition is sometimes associated with abnormal bleeding. Common symptoms include: bruising, nose-bleeds or bleeding in the mouth or rash (pinpoint red spots). Occasionally, other symptoms may be present as well, depending on the cause of the condition whereas it can also occur without symptoms."

Discussing various conditions causing thrombocytopenia and various treatment options for such patients, Dr Genereux specifically mentioned the role of intravenous Rho D immunoglobulins for the treatment of such cases.Thrombocytopenia, because of unknown causes, was a common disease seen in the children and adults. Another common ailment seen in this part of the country was dengue fever.

The visiting doctor further quoted clinical trials in which anti-D immunoglobulins had been effectively used to treat the low platelets of the dengue patients. He advised that a healthcare provider should be immediately consulted if a patient experienced unexplained bleeding or bruising.

Professor and head of medicine at DMCH Dr Sandeep Puri said that patients with dengue fever frequently had low platelet counts and needed platelet transfusion. The therapy being given to patients with thrombocytopenia could also yield better results in dengue patients.

Ludhiana,January 20
Ludhiana bagged 66 medals, including 36 gold, 16 silver and 14 bronze, to emerge overall champions in the 19th Punjab State Roller Skating Championship held at Patiala, recently. Amritsar and Sangrur districts finished at the second and third place, respectively. 

This was stated by the Ludhiana District Roller Skating Association J.S.Dhaliwal.

A 48-member contingent from Ludhiana district took part in the event and the position holders are as follows: Boys (8 to 10 years): Harshbir Singh; (10 to 12 years):Surya Kaplish and Gurjot Singh Gill; (12 to 14 years): Bandul Hans, Kanwar Bhuvan, Shiva Gupta, Kanwardeep Singh and Preetraj Singh; (Under-6 years):Gurbir Singh and Sankalp Sharma; (6 to 8 years): Vatandeep Singh and Kanwar Vaibhya;(14 to 16 years):Sukhjinder Singh and Gulrej Singh;(above 16 years):Varun Vaid, Harkiran Singh and Jaspreet Singh.Girls (10 to 12 years): Taranjit Kaur, Savleen Kaur Grewal and Appar Kaur Grewal; (12 to 14 years):Alisha Puri; (14 to 16 years): Jasmine Puri, Gurmanpreet Kaur and Jaspreet Kaur; (above 16 years): Inderpreet Kaur Gill and Yashdip Kaur; (under-6 years):Saruchi Garg; (6 to 8 years):Varleen Kaur;and (8 to 10 years):Jasmeet Kaur.

Ludhiana, January 20
Students of Saraswati Modern School, Civil Lines branch, Ludhiana, gave a stupendous performance to win nine medals, including six gold in the second Indo-Nepal Budo Kai-Do Karate Championship held at Modern Secular Public School, Dhuri, from January 17 to 19, according to a press note issued by the school authorities here today.

A 13-member team from Ludhiana district, including 10 students of Saraswati Modern School and three from Khanna, participated in this championship and reaped a rich haul of medals.

The winners are: 12-15 kg weight category: Aman Chopra — gold; 27-30 kg weight section: Shivam Gulati — gold; 33-36 kg weight category: Vidhu Anand — gold; 50-55 kg weight category: Tarun Sharma — gold; above 40 kg weight caegory: Dishu Diwan —- gold; 30-33 kg weight category: Mehak Sharma — gold; 24-27 kg weight category: Harsh Sareen — silver; above 40 kg weight category: Manraj Singh — silver; 27-30 kg weight category: Mansi Chouhan —- silver; and above 40 kg weight category: Puru Mittal - bronze.

Principal of the school Neelambra Sharma congratulated the students, their coach Shambu Sagar and manager of the team Silky Sharma on their success.

Jassowal, January 20
Top ranked junior tennis players from Pakistan’s Syed Zohair Raza and Syed Abbas Raza are honing their skills at the Harvest Tennis Academy in Jassowal village near Ludhiana. The duo is here for past eight days and overwehlemed by the international facilities provided by the academy.

Syed Zohair it is currently rank no 1 in Pakistan and 28 in Asia in Junior under 16 age category. The month-long training is being provided free by the academy. The duo had to shell out just Rs 15,000 as a travel expenses and rest of the expenses is being bore by the Academy.

The duo are getting specialised and scientific tennis training form a team of professional international coaches like director, Coaching, Gurvarinder Sahota, who had worked for Australian Open Tennis Academy; Director Technical Development Gaston Touzet, who had worked for Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, the USA, senior coach Peter Skoda from Canada; Todd Clark from Sydney, Australia, and many more international qualified coaches both in tennis and fitness.

Elated with the facilities, Zohir said, “This is like a dream come true as the training is provided free of cost here and that too from the coaches of international repute.”

He further said,” we would have to shall a huge chunk of money if We want to get same kind of training in America.”

Elder brother Abbas, who has just completed his matriculation recently said, “The standard of tennis in Pakistan is quite low and the game is restricted to social clubs only.”

He further said, “I consider my self fortunate that I am training at the best court available in association with the world class coaches.”

Harvinder Harvy, Director of the adacemy, said, “It is our endeavour that the standard of tennis should grow not only our country but also in our neighbour country.”

In 2006 also, the Pakistan team had visited the academy, for the International Tennis Camp hosted by the Academy. This is the best junior team of Pakistan, who are National and International ranked players in their respective age groups. Syed Zohair Raza is also playing in the Pakistan Juniors Davis Cup Team.

Gurvarinder Sahota, Director of the coaching academy, said that the academy is working hard to produce world class Tennis facilities in India. The main objective of the academy is to produce best players from India and from the Jassowal village in particular, to come up at the international arena.