Tarn Taran, March 3
The ambitious project of the internationally famed environmentalist Baba Sewa Singh of planting trees on different roads leading to the historic town of Khadoor Sahib has suffered a jolt as anti-social elements were stealing tree guards.

Baba Sewa Singh of Kar Sewa sect Khadoor Sahib, who had launched a movement to grow trees for the last more than 10 years with the cooperation of various social organisations, residents and NRIs settled abroad.

The Baba, while talking to The Tribune, expressed shock at the tree-guards installed around the trees going missing.

More than 500 tree guards have been stolen till date, he said, and added that the sect has already suffered a loss of Rs 3 lakh due to this reason. He said the followers of Kar Sewa have brought to his knowledge that the accused often comes in a four wheeler (mini truck) during the late night hours and takes away about 20 tree guards at a time.

Baba said followers tried to capture the vehicle on Friday night but due to dense fog in the area the accused managed to escape. He said the matter has been brought to the notice of the police.

The chief of the Kar Sewa sect said similar incidents had been reported about two years back and the accused were later identified as defense personnel who later apologised for the move besides returning the tree guards by installing them around the trees.

He further said this act of the anti-social elements has posed a serious threat to the ambitious project of the Kar Sewa sect, which had planned to plant about two lakh trees on both sides of the roads in the area falling under the district.

He said the district administration and the other donors, while appreciating the Kar Sewa sect for planting the trees, had also donated these tree guards. He urged the residents of the area to be vigilant during the late night hours so as to nab these mischievous elements. 

Nawanshahr, March 3
The police, in collaboration with an NGO “SAATH” (Society for Accident Aid and Traffic Help) has started implementing a traffic regulatory plan here to give relief to road users in the town.

Under the arrangement, new traffic channels have been made between Ambedekar Chowk and Chandigarh Chowk using plastic cones. Besides, traffic police officials have been deputed to ensure a smooth flow of traffic on the route. The traffic officials are using public address system to educate commuters about the new system.

Interestingly, with an increase in the traffic volume, coupled with temporary and permanent encroachments, has been leading to major traffic chaos. “Accidents have become a common sight in the area. Political leaders and administration officials have been making promises to solve traffic chaos, but nothing has been done so far.”

Keeping the gravity of situation in mind, SSP Shash Prabha Diwedi had invited Naresh Mehta from Khanna, a traffic expert with “SAATH”, to study traffic in the town and chalk out a plan. Naresh visited various roads and prepared a blueprint. He suggested installation of traffic lights at Ambedkar Chowk and Chandigarh Chowk.

Talking about the plan, traffic police in charge Surjit Kumar said the new traffic lanes were very helpful as they were channelling the traffic in a smooth manner. However, he said due to the absence of parking facility in markets like vegetable market bottleneck traffic was still there.

DSP S.S. Bhangu and SHO Rakesh Kumar had convened a meeting of shopkeepers and rehriwalas to seek their assistance for making the drive successful. The shopkeepers have been asked to remove encroachments in order to make arrangements for parking vehicles.

Nawanshahr, March 3
In an image-building exercise, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has instructed the party’s district units to organise a “sangat darshan” programme to address public grievances. In Nawanshahr, the “sangat darshan” would be held on the first Monday of every month at the district party office.

Disclosing this, district SAD chief Mohinder Singh Hussainpur said at a press meeting here on Monday the grievances of the people would be heard and send to the officials concerned for immediate redress. The exercise would help the party to be strengthened at the grass-roots level as well as to ensure responsive and transparent governance.

Though the SAD-BJP government has completed one year in office, the common grievance prevailing among workers is that they are not being given due honour in the government offices, lamented Hussainpur, adding that under the new image boosting exercise, the party office-bearers and workers would pursue the grievances/complaints received at the “sangat darshan”.

If the officials concerned would show laxity in redressing these grievances, the matter would be brought into the notice of Sukhbir Singh Badal and CM Parkash Singh Badal.

Hussainpur advised the SAD MLAs to ensure a rapport with the party workers and the people at the grass-roots level. Harprabh Mahil Singh, senior vice-president, All-India Youth SAD, Sucha Singh Malpur, MD, Nawanshahr Central Cooperative Bank, Jai Singh, acting district president, SAD, among others, were present on the occasion.

Hoshiarpur, March 3
Mahilpur residents under the leadership of municipal councillors Tarlochan Vir and Faqir Chand staged a dharna in front of the nagar panchayat office, Mahilpur near here, today. The protesters were protesting against the nagar panchayat for not recarpeting the stretch which links the civil hospital to Phagwara Road.

Tarlochan said the road was damaged more than four years back and being an approach road to the civil hospital, patients had to suffer a lot. Besides, the shopkeepers on the road were facing troubles as the damaged road had affected their business.

He warned the authorities to immediately start the work, failing which the shopkeepers would observe a strike tomorrow.

However, official sources revealed that the nagar panchayat had allotted the work of recarpeting to a contractor who failed to carry out the work.

Later, it was assigned to Kandhala Jattan Cooperative Society which also failed to start the work. — OC

Jalandhar, March 3
Seven Hindu devotees from the city, led by Prannath Sharma, feel proud on being part of a jatha of 170 Hindus drawn from all over the country which is going to Pakistan to pay obeisance at the famous Shiva Temple in Katasraj in view of Shivaratri. 

Several religious organisations gave them warm send off at the Geeta Mandir Central Town here yesterday. Apart from Prannath Sharma, some other devotees who have gone to Katasraj from Jalandhar included Rajrani Narula, Indu Rakheja, Virendra Narula, Satish Batta and Karam Chand. Brahman Sabha president Manmohan Kalia said the jatha would return to India on March 11 in an Indo-Pak train after the nine-day visit.

Speaking on the occasion, founder chairman of Geeta Jayanti Mahotsava Committee Kewal Krishan Sharma said “most of the religious places of Hindu in Pakistan are neglected. The Indian government should take up the matter of renovation of different temples located in the neighbouring country with Pakistan.”

Similarly, committee president Ravi Sharma and chief of Hind Sewa Samiti Sunil Sharma said, “The Pakistan government should allow a committee of Indian Hindus to look after the renovation of temples.” — TNS