Ludhiana, July 21
Downpour during the past 24 hours has thrown the normal life out of gear with the municipal corporation and the city police struggling hard to clear inundated roads, over-flowing sewers, road blockades caused by uprooting of trees and vehicles stuck in the traffic.

A major portion of a road caved in near the Clock Tower Chowk, under the elevated road today morning, just a few feet away from the site where the road had caved in after the rains a few weeks ago. The Punjab State Electricity Board’s office near Chowni Mohallah was flooded and employees had a tough time saving the official records.

Regular caving in of the road under the elevated road has increased concern about the safety of the pillars on which the elevated road stands.

The downpour since midnight, accompanied with high-velocity winds, uprooted a large number of trees and damaged many houses. A roof a building in Dal bazaar collapsed as well. The trees apart from causing road blockades damaged several vehicles.

A car and three motorcycles were considerably damaged when a tree fell on them on the Mall road. A woman who had just come out of the car escaped unhurt.

Though the water got accumulated on all roads of the city, areas like Filed Gunj, Gill road, Samrala Chowk, Domoria Bridge and old city streets were the worst affected.

Residents of Field Gunj staged a demonstration at the Jagraon Bridge after sewer water from the overflowing gunda nullah flooded their streets and even entered many houses in the low-lying areas. Resident led by area councillors Sanjay Talwar and Rakesh Prashar alleged they had apprised the municipal council of the problem on numerous occasions but it had not cared to clean the sewage drain on regular basis.

Commuters on the Gill road and the Samrala Chowk received an early morning shock when a few vehicles got stuck in over three-foot water on the roads. The water got drained after few hours but the roads were flooded again in the afternoon as fresh downpour lashed the region.

Ludhiana, July 21
The local industry, while resenting the weekly offs imposed by the PSEB, said the industrial production would decline.

Owners of induction and furnaces, who will face two weekly offs now, said they would have to increase their daily working hours from 12 to 20 now to meet production demands.

"Due to scrap shortage, we were operating for 12 hours in a day. For things to stay normal, we will have to operate for at least 20 hours. Supply is likely to reduce by at least 25 per cent," said K.K. Garg of the North India Induction and Furnace Association.

The PSEB imposed two weekly offs for induction furnaces and re-rolling units while one-and-a-half day shut down was decided for industrial units that get supply from category two feeders.

Industrialists rued that they were already facing enormous problems on account of poor power supply.

Condemning the board for its failure to deal with the power crisis, they said increase in the number of compulsory weekly offs for the industrial sector were uncalled for.

The PSEB is not taking enough measures to bridge the demand-supply gap. On one hand, it is imposing weekly offs and on the other, it is sanctioning bulk electricity connections, commented Joginder Kumar, president of the Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India.

Two weekly offs for nearly 150 induction and furnace units here, each one of which records an average of 50 tonnes of production, could spell troubles for steel-consuming units like cycle and parts manufacturers and other engineering enterprises, that have already been suffering on account of fluctuating steel rates.

Industrialists demanded that the PSEB should resist from issuing any new connections. "Only the existing units should get extension in load and the board should not issue any new connections till the situation normalises," added Kumar.

Doraha, July 21
The recent crackdown on chemist shops selling intoxicating drugs seems to be more than usual for those whose primary business thrives more on selling restricted drugs than on life-saving ones.

More than half of the chemists shops at Sahnewal and Doraha are doing brisk business by restricted drugs such as sleeping pills (Luminol), cough syrups (Corex), muscle relaxants (Spasmo proxivon and Parvon), Fortwin injections, Gardinal (drug for epilepsy) and other anti-depressant drugs, pain killers.

A surgeon who resides in the area revealed that majority of the chemists and RMPs practising in surrounding villages are freely trading in these restricted drugs. All these drugs are a controlled item and supposed to be sold only at the written prescription of a qualified doctor. Moreover, the record of its sale and purchase has to be maintained at all costs, he added.

According to residents of Doraha, their are three chemist shops in the town where life saving drugs can be in short supply but there is no dearth of intoxicating drugs. They tell that earlier these chemists used to reluctantly sell these drugs in open but now this is being carried out in open. Migrants, boys and even kids can be seen making a beeline at these specific shops since early in the morning.

Dr Gursaran Sidhu revealed that drug addicts literally flood his hospital in order to shun addiction, which they feel at one particular stage, has made their lives baseless. “Many of them have already lost their precious lives, others are struggling between life and death and an innumerable number is being coaxed to take such intoxicants either by their companions or by these chemists who first allow them to taste such drugs and then make them their permanent customers”, the surgeon added.

Not even a single village along the Sahnewal-Doraha belt has remained aloof from this menace. The worst affected are adolescent boys, whose parents, driven crazy by the “male-child hysteria” overlook such things. A resident of Ramgarh village says, “The property rates throughout have increased manifold due to which even small land holders can now rest assured for many generations to come, on the other hand, have taken to deadly drugs.”

Dr Jagmohan Singh, President, IMA (Sah-Doraha), views ‘Young boys especially in Punjab have practically no work at hand since all is being managed by migrants. These youth are easily led astray and ruin their lives by getting involved in the dangerous intake of deadly drugs, thus giving rise to a number of anti- social elements. Not only this, their inabritrated condition makes them indulge in unsafe and illegal sex which is one of the major causes of the rapid increase of AIDS cases in the state. Not only this, such intoxicated youth indulge in rash driving and ruin many lives. Further, the physical and mental pain they inflict on their family is all more dangerous for society’s health.”

A retired teacher of Doraha feels “A qualified youth is always on is look out of white-collar job, which if he doesn’t get makes him an easy prey to drugs. Also, the regular family feuds resulting in maladjustments and break ups, is today another reason of drug addiction. Even the school and college-going students, torn apart by the gruesome demands of the competitive world, start taking drugs”.

Sahnewal, July 21
Two books, ‘Alop Ho Riha Baba’, written by Telu Ram Kohara, and ‘Sat Bachan’, written by Harjit Dhillon, were collectively released by Jagdev Singh Jassowal, founder and patron of the Prof Mohan Singh Foundation at a function at Government Senior Secondary School, Dhanansu, today.

The chief guest appreciated the efforts of the two writers to handle a subject like child literature and said they had successfully tried to delve deep into the innocent minds.

While Kohara has already written two fiction-based books, ‘Rang Badalde Mausam’ and ‘Shahar Ate Samunder’ , ‘Sat Bachan’ is the fourth book of Harjit Dhillon ,the earlier ones being’ Dard Di Raushani’, ‘Ahsaas Dian Partan’ and ‘Supnian Di Mahak’.

An upcoming writer, Jaswinder Dhanansu, dwelt on his book, ‘Lok Tamashe Rang Te Roop’.

Ludhiana, July 21
The Punjab government has finally appointed the presidents and vice-presidents of the newly-constituted Industrial Development Boards in the state. Inderjit Singh Pradhan, president, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings, Ludhiana, has been appointed president of the Punjab Small Scale Industry and Development Board. Vinod Jain, a local industrialist, has been appointed vice-president of the same board.

Satish Dhanda, leading bicycle exporter of Ludhiana, was installed vice-president, Medium Scale Industry and Development Board. The third board known as the State Industrial Development Board was also constituted with the Chief Minister as its chairman.

These boards were constituted on April 15, but the installation was delayed because of the model code of conduct during the panchayat elections, followed by the elections to the municipal councils and nagar councils.

Inderjit Singh Pradhan has been serving the small scale industries for almost four decades now. He is a selfless leader of the industry and has been crusading against corruption in the departments of industry, PSEB and Pollution Control Board. The latest achievement of the chamber is to have recognition from the Chamber of Commerce (international) with its headquarters in Paris. Pradhan has assured the industrialists that he would fight for their rights with the state and the Central Governments.

Dhanda has also served as president, Export Promotion Council (EEPC), Government of India, and as president, Northern India, Engineering Export Promotion Council.

Vinod Jain was the president of the Punjab State Industries Export Corporation (PSIEC) during the previous term of the SAD-BJP government. 

Ludhiana, July 21
Employees of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) here have urged the management to stop appointing assistant accounts officers (AAOs) on contractual basis. The employees said they did not oppose the appointments of five retired Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) employees as AAOs earlier as nobody from the university was found eligible for the post.

But now at least nine employees have been found to be eligible and they should be promoted as AAOs. The five PAU employees should be relieved, they added.

Talking to The Tribune, Anil Sabharwal, president, GADVASU non-teaching employees union, said when university was established none was eligible for the post. "Since nine university employees, now, fulfill the eligibility criteria of working as superintendents for one year, promotions must not be denied to them", he said adding that these five PAU retirees were appointed for six months initially but were given an extension of another six months. "Their contract expires on September 18 and we will not allow it to be renewed."

Union’s general secretary Mahinder Singh Khanna said there were nine AAOs post and the five working presently, were hired on contract salary of Rs 10,000 per month.

"They are above 60 years of age. If varsity promotes us, a lot of money could be saved. We will get a promotion and an increment of approximately Rs 400 only whereas varsity will save at least Rs 45,000 a month", said Mahinder Singh.

The employees said the appointments for any post must be made as per 75: 25 (outsiders) per cent ratio. Even if "outsiders" were to be accommodated, the university must advertise the posts in paper. "Proper procedure should be followed as per norms. Applications must not be invited on plain papers as earlier", said Anil Sabharwal.

GADVASU’s registrar Dr S.K. Jand, however, said he had no such proposal of giving extension to present AAOs. "Appointments, extensions will be made as per varsity norms. It is, too, early to say anything on the issue", he added.

Ludhiana, July 21
Following a call given by the Punjab state committee of MCPI (U), its Ludhiana district unit held a protest dharna here today against the policies of the Central and state governments, especially the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, ever-rising inflation and poor power supply in Punjab. The protesters even raised slogans. A dharna was organised from 11 am to 2 pm despite heavy rain.

Addressing the dharna, speakers expressed serious concerns over the fact that Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA government was more concerned in pushing the anti-national Indo-US nuclear deal than controlling inflation even as the poor were being crushed under the weight of rising prices.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 21
Likelihood of violence between Dera Sacha Sauda supporters and Sikh organisations, here, following Dabwali incident, kept the police on its toes for the third day today. This part of Malwa has a sizeable population of Dera Sacha Sauda and a few radical Sikh organisations’ activists.

As two of the four “naam charcha ghars” in the area are located on the link roads leading to the epicenters of the trouble; the police had to deploy extra forces to avoid any possible violence. Besides searching all vehicles passing through the area the police conducted random raids at several places in the vicinity of the town.

As senior office-bearers of a few radical Sikh organisations, including Damdami Taksal, had been active at religious places situated in this part of Ludhiana and Sangrur districts, the police has taken extra precautions.

Notwithstanding appeals by religious leaders of both sects a few radical Sikh organizations had threatened to launch an agitation and some had even called for a bandh on Wednesday. Sangrur SSP directed his staff to take out flag marches in the district. 

Vehicular pollution in the city has become a serious matter. As we know that smoke being generated through the burning of petrol and diesel can cause diseases like that of asthma, brain tumour, cancer etc. Now, time has come to introduce compressed natural gas i.e. CNG as a substitute for gasoline (petrol).

CNG is considered to be more environmental friendly as it's lighter than air and can disperse quickly as and when leaked or spilled than petroleum products.

Moreover, it's stored and distributed in hard containers, at a normal pressure of 200-220 bar (2900-3200 psi) usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes. Many countries had adopted CNG technique.

In order to compete with the rising prices of fuel and to reduce the alarming level of pollution as well as emission of smoke, it's necessary for our government to regulate guidelines to make its use mandatory for at least public transport system.

Ravi Chander Garg, Ludhiana

Readers are invited to mail letters (not more than 200 words) at "ludhiana@tribunemail.com" or post the same to The Tribune, 1, 2 Improvement Trust Building, Badaur House, Clock Tower, Ludhiana.

AGRICULTURE

Ornamental fish culture a lucrative enterprise,  says scientist
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 21
Monthly meeting of the Innovative Fish Farmers’ Association (IFFA), GADVASU, was held recently at College of Fisheries, GADVASU. Fifteen fish farmers from various districts of Punjab attended the meeting.

Technology of rearing and seed production of ornamental fish was demonstrated to the farmers. Dr Asha Dhawan, scientist (fisheries) and technical co-coordinator of the IFFA, informed the farmers about this lucrative and upcoming enterprise, which can be a source of income for the rural community, especially for women as backyard business.

She informed that as 85 per cent of the trade of ornamental fish was from north-eastern states and rest was from south, there was a lot of scope to establish rearing and seed production units of the fish in Punjab.

Dr Vaneet Inder Kaur, assistant scientist (fisheries), demonstrated the rearing and breeding technology of two ornamental fish varieties - gold fish and koi carp. She also gave tips to identify different fish species, disease diagnosis as well as treatment methods.

Dr S.K. Kansal, co-ordinator of IFFA, encouraged the fish farmers to take up this venture as a small-scale enterprise.

Ludhiana, July 21
Members of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner here today demanding rationalisation of the education system in the state.

Arun Lomash, district president, said the condition of government schools in Punjab was miserable.

The primary and secondary education system needed overhauling and for this, sincere efforts were needed by the government.

He said Syndicate and Senate members in all the three universities must be elected in a democratic manner.He said the mushrooming of PTU Learning centres must be stopped immediately as they violated all the norms in the absence of a proper check. Parishad members stressed the need to hold student elections in colleges so that much attention was paid on their students’ welfare.

They also said that the parishad would oppose sex education in educational institutions.

Chandigarh, July 21
After starting 48 courses and six institutes this year, Panjab University is now set to concentrate on educating the rural children.

The university is going to start a regional campus for rural children in Nathwana near Moga very soon.

The first of its kind, regional centre will have a university institute of basic and professional courses. Both bachelor and post-graduate courses would be offered. The campus would spread over a sprawling 16 acres land given to the university by a 90-year-old NRI Harcharan Singh Brar from Canada. A society formed by Harcharan Singh will be funding the construction of the building and would bear the recurring expenses of the centre for next three years, including the cost of infrastructure, equipment, staff and other expenditure.

Though the land deal is yet to be signed, the PU vice-chancellor said that as soon that was done, the building would be constructed within nine months. “Hopefully, by next session, the centre would be operational,” he said.

To work out on the modalities, the university has formed a committee, which includes S. S. Virdi, Anil Sahijpal, Lalit Bansal besides others. The committee is expected to submit a report on the project by the end of August this year.

Vice-chancellor R. C. Sobti said, “We are very concerned for our youth in the villages. They are equally talented as the urban children. They only need right guidance and opportunity to prove their mettle. So we are going to provide them with a platform where they can choose from a variety of courses”.

It is pertinent to mention here that PU has conducted counseling session for rural toppers of four districts of Punjab last month, which drew a huge response from students. Taking it a step ahead, this time, the university has decided to extend the counseling facility to all the rural students in the month of October. 

Ludhiana, July 21
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered the owner of 
M/s Surya Infotec, Model Gram, Ludhiana, to replace a defective computer besides paying Rs 1,500 as compensation to the consumer.

The orders were pronounced by president of the forum J.S. Chawla and member Daljit Singh Bakshi, while deciding the complaint filed by Baljinder Singh of Nanak Nagar, Ludhiana. The complainant had submitted before the forum that he had purchased a computer from M/s Surya Infotec on December 4, 2006 for Rs 20,075.

In September 2007, the computer developed some snag. He immediately approached the dealer from whom the computer was purchased. But the latter failed to solve his problem. Aggrieved with this, he sent a legal notice to the dealer who did not reply. He then filed a complaint with the forum.

Despite issuance of summon by the forum, the dealer did not turn up. After appreciating the evidence on record, the forum asked the dealer to replace the defective computer.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 21
Showing concern over the increasing incidences of heart diseases among Punjabi youth, noted cardiac surgeon Dr Kishore C. Mukherjee has called upon office-bearers of the social, educational and constitutional organisations to launch a coordinated movement to educate masses about causes and consequences of cardiac ailments.

While talking to the office-bearers of a few organisations of the area Dr Mukherjee divulged that majority of heart patients undergoing surgery were between 25 and 35 years of age. Irregular food habits and the lack of physical exercise were cited as the main reason behind this trend.

“In fact changed lifestyle of Punjabis, mainly due to their prosperity, has resulted in increasing incidences of cardiac diseases. They have shunned manual labour on one hand and started relishing fat-rich junk foods on the other hand,” said Dr Mukherjee.

He laid emphasis on the need of community programmers for the recognition and prevention of heart ailments. Dr Mukherjee suggested that people should assist health authorities in spreading knowledge about prevention of heart diseases among masses. Claiming that the prompt and specialised medicare was vital for management of cardiac attack Dr Mukherjee stated that the major hindrance in its management was the denial or inappropriate medication at home that often led to late arrivals of patients in hospitals. For this, he said, there was a need for proper community awareness programmes in which even students and volunteers could be trained to extend basic life support measures.

He advised patients to avoid smoking, drinking, and stress and strain. Exercise and meditation were said to be other measures to keep one’s heart healthy. 

Ludhiana, July 21
The District Hockey Asociation (DHA), Ludhiana, will organise trials at the Prithipal Singh Memorial AstroTurf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University here tomorrow at 4.30 pm to select the district team (senior) for the forthcoming Punjab State Hockey League slated to begin on July 27.

The selected players will represent Ludhiana in the league to be organised by the Punjab Hockey Association simultaneously at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Badal.

Four matches will be played at each venue, according to DHA honorary general secretary Ajay Pal Singh Roomi. Ludhiana play its inaugural match here at the PAU ground on July 27.