Ludhiana, October 7
The much-hyped master plan for the city, which has been approved by the Punjab government, is still not ready.

According to sources in the department of planning, Chandigarh, the master plan was hurried up just to meet the deadline fixed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, i.e. August 28.

There are still certain objections in the master plan to be chalked out and drafted.

The sources added that it would take few more days for the plan to be completed and that was the reason why no official in Ludhiana had a copy of approved plan.

The fact also came to the fore when the city municipal corporation and the district administration, which are enforcement agencies for the plan, were asked about the copy of the master plan. They said they only had the copy of notification.

Talking to The Tribune, deputy commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar said: “We had
just received a copy of notification issued by the government and are awaiting
the passed plan.”

Similarly, municipal commissioner G.S. Ghuman said: “The municipal corporation has yet to receive a copy of the passed master plan and other directions related to it.”

The idea of master plans was mooted during the hearing of a case regarding Buddha Nullah in the High Court.

Touted as Punjab’s first city plan, Ludhiana master plan has been made with a projected population of 48 lakh by 2021 and is being seen as a major way for the growth and development of the city.

It has been prepared under the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development (Amendment) Act, 2006 and will cover an area of around 1271.22 sq km.

It will cover 301 villages falling in the notified local planning area, Ludhiana, Sahnewal, Doraha, Mullanpur and Phillaur.

Ludhiana, October 7
The district court complex has become a happy hunting ground for unscrupulous elements to settle their score with rival.

With many entry and exit points and elderly police personnel deputed at the
police post to man the complex, it gives an easy passage to criminals to
perpetrate crime and escape.

The yesterday’s shooting at the district court complex by three brothers — Inderjeet Singh, Bhagwant Singh and Jasvir Singh — of Sehjad village, notorious for their criminal activities, has revived the memories of the Ninder murder case that had taken place in May last year.

Incidentally, accused of the Ninder murder case, Gurpreet Singh, Sudarshan Singh and Charanjit Singh, were present in the court at the time of yesterday’s shooting.

At first, when gun shots were fired, every one thought that both groups had clashed yet again, as they did on every hearing.

The police took preventive measures and locked all accused in the prisoners’ cell.

It was later that the police realised that it was the group from Shahjad village that had shot three bullets at Manvir Singh and escaped without much trouble.

Gurpreet Singh Pahalwan, an undertrial in the Ninder murder case, while talking to The Tribune said: “Before every hearing we have to prepare ourselves mentally to fight, as supporters of the Ninder group come in huge numbers carrying weapons. Every time, we have to fight our way through to attend the hearing.”

A supporter of Ninder group said: “We are just doing what they did to us. They killed our brother in this very court complex. What are they afraid of now?”

“Yesterday when the shooting took place, I was barely 100 metres from the scene. I took shelter, as I thought supporters of the Ninder group had opened fire at us,” said an undertrial who had been brought to the court.

A jail inmate said: “Every time we enter the court complex, we have a fear in our mind that one of us will die as the rival groups come prepared to attack us and take advantage of the lax security arrangements at the courts.”

Ludhiana, October 7
City lawyers today observed complete bandh in the courts in order to lodge protest for lack of proper security arrangements in the district court complex, which led to a firing incident here yesterday.

The District Bar Association (DBA) was planning to install CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points of the court complex for security of lawyers as well as litigants.

Sessions Judge G.K. Rai also took up the matter with Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, a judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was also the administrative judge of Ludhiana Sessions division.

He is learnt to have conveyed the resentment prevailing amongst the legal fraternity for the want of proper security arrangements.

Meanwhile, the district police today deployed commandos in the court complex. Metal detectors were installed at several entry point of judicial complex, where the commandos were seen frisking the visitors.

A meeting of general house of District Bar Association was held today.

Showing concern over the incident, DBA president Parupkar Singh Ghumman said, “The police has assured us to chalk out plan for effective security arrangements within ten days. Till then, the commandos will look after the security arrangements.”

The Bar president said if the police and administration fails to provide satisfactory security arrangements in the next 15 days, lawyers would go on indefinite strike.

The general house also recommended the name of advocate Naveen Sharma for gallantry award for his daring attempt to nab the person who fired bullet shots.

He said decision for observing strike was in the interest of lawyers as well as litigants. If such type of incidents kept on happening it may cause serious threat to the life of litigants too, he added.

SP, city (I), Rupinder Singh, along with DSP, Sarabha Nagar, Bhupinder Singh, today visited the court premises to review the security arrangements.

He held a meeting with the president of the DBA and other office bearers in order to chalk out the strategy for making foolproof security arrangements.

Ludhiana, October 7
Continuing its drive of removing illegal hoardings, the municipal corporation removed seven structures and advertisement hoardings at Jagraon Bridge here today.

The team was led by joint commissioner Kuldeep Singh, who is also the advertisement in charge.

Interestingly, the move led to confrontation between corporation employees and
an advertiser, Vicky Sharma, who alleged that he had receipts for all hoarding
displayed by him.

According to sources, the confrontation between Sharma and officials was just a way to show that there was no nexus between MC officials and advertisers.

Humbran (Ludhiana), October 7
In a real life parallel to honouring the girl child on the occasion of “Kanjkaan” tomorrow, Kaushalyadevi Pahwa Charitable Hospital here gives a token amount of Rs 500 to each girl child born there.

The child also gets a green card, making her eligible for free medical consultancy and healthcare in future.

Launched in December, 2003, the hospital has registered 211 female child births under its indigenous “Celebrated Female Child Scheme”.

The hospital works without any government aid. It came up in the memory of Sohan Lal Pahwa, who dedicated his life towards providing health care to rural population, particularly the girl child.

Director Onkar Singh Pahwa said: “My father used to travel widely in the rural
belt. He always expressed concern over poor healthcare for women and
condemned female foeticide.”

As one enters the hospital complex, one is struck by a poem, “Mai ni mai” (My mother), penned by Punjabi poet Gurbhajan Gill, capturing the beauty of growing under mother’s tutelage.

“Ma da Rutba” (stature of a mother) penned by Jasmel Singh Dhaliwal too shakes the human conscience seeking attention towards taking care of the girl child.

Onkar said the hospital received no government aid and was run on donations from
good Samaritans.

At the moment, Christian Medical College is associated with its running. Experts come here for special sessions.

The hospital issues a green card to parents of girl child for future health benefits.

The hospital has got feelers from certain health institutions for collaboration to spread the message against female foeticide from different quarters in the city.

A senior worker said: “We have heard and read about different government initiatives on the issue of female foeticide. However, the results are not very encouraging at the moment. Newspapers are full of health centres facilitating female foeticide. Here, we hold counselling sessions for parents of newborn girls.”

Besides general consultancy, the hospital provides specialities in gynaecology, dentistry and orthopaedic care.

Power supply is one of the biggest problems faced by the hospital. On a weekly off for industry in the area, the hospital too receives no power throughout the day, thus inconveniencing patients.

Onkar said: “I have approached different authorities for a solution but to no avail. My only argument is that hospital power should not be linked to industrial supply.”

Ludhiana, October 7
Durga Ashtmi was today celebrated throughout the city. Heavy rush was witnessed at temples as people came in large number to pay their obeisance to Goddess Durga.

Almost every Hindu family worshipped small girls as they are considered the embodiment of Goddess Durga. Most of the people ended their fast while few would be ending tomorrow on Ram Navmi.

Navratras(nine nights) are regarded as the auspicious days of Goddess Durga. Each day is dedicated to one of her nine forms or incarnations.

“We will stay safe, if we live in harmony with nature. This is the essence of Navratras. The timing of the celebrations corresponds to the autumnal and vernal equinox, which is also the time when seasons and we harvest, a crop that adds to the glory of these celebrations,” a pujari said.

Small girls today had a feast time as they were worshipped and prashad was
served to them.

“Throughout the year, I wait for this time as prashad is served to us and gifts are also given by the families who perform puja,” said Mehak, an eight-year-old girl.

Girls had a feast time with puri, channe and halwa given to them as prashad. In addition to this, gifts further lightened up their faces.

Ludhiana, October 7
Activists of the Shiv Sena (Hindustan) today took out a march from Jagraon bridge to the office of the deputy commissioner in Mini Secretariat here.

They demanded a legislation to hand over control of all Hindu temples to a representative body of the community on the pattern of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Waqf Board, which looked after the management of gurdwaras and Muslim shrines, respectively.

Led by state president Krishan Sharma, general secretary Amar Takkar and district president Anil Singla, the party workers submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the district administration.

This demand is against the prevailing practice of indirect government control through trusts or private managements of historic temples and shrines of the Hindu community in different parts of the country.

The memorandum observed that huge money collected through offerings in cash and kind at the Hindu shrines either went into the government treasury or personal coffers of the management committees.

“Little or no funds are spent by temple management committees of trusts to promote Hindu religion or renovation and beautification of the temples or shrines,” said a Sena member.

The Shiv Sena maintained that when other communities could have control of their respective religious institutions through legislative support then it was only logical that a Hindu temple management board be set up and management of all temples and shrines be handed over to this body.

Khamano, October 7
The people should elect their representatives to assemblies and parliament without criminal background to save the standard of these institutions.

This was stated by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal at Ganga Filling Station near here. He was here to honour kabaddi player Kinda Kakrala who won laurels during kabaddi tournaments at Canada.

He said it is the responsibility of the people to keep away the criminals from politics. Only educated and deserving candidates should be given chance to lead.

While talking about terrorism he said that the international community should fight this evil to save several precious lives.

He said that now foreign countries were taking this matter seriously.

He also condemned the attacks on Christians in Orissa and appealed people from all walks of life to remain calm and keep communal harmony.

He stressed that the liberty of life and expressions was the right of every citizen
of the country.

Akali leaders Iqbal Singh Bali, Rattan Singh, Jimmy Sharma, Jasmel Singh
Bondli, chairman, PADB, Samrala, and some other local leaders were present
at the occasion.

Ludhiana, October 7
Reestablishing their acting skills, Baby Zoya, and Baby Jannatpreet from Ludhiana have bagged new roles in forthcoming productions on silver and small screen.

A Class V student in Sargodha National Senior Secondary School, Jannatpreet, started acting classes in school of Nirmal Rishi, a television and Punjabi film artist.

Having got her first break in ‘Kis desh mein hai mera dil’ on Star Plus, Jannat, is now shooting for mega serial on Sony television 'Kirpan'.

The serial is being shot in and around Chandigarh and Jannat having got a day off from her shooting came to visit her family in Ludhiana for a day.

At the age of ten, Jannatpreet, shares the confidence of a seasoned star as she puts with conviction that it’s her dream to become a Bollywood star like Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Rao.

From her role as Babu Mann's younger sister in recent Punjabi film 'Hashar' to her role as the granddaughter of Subedar in serial ‘Kirpan’, Jannat is all set to prove her versatility through her diction and dance.

Similarly, Baby Zoya, a student of Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, after her winning performance in 'Nagara -Nagara' in Bollywood blockbuster ‘Jab We Met’ is shooting for her next release in Rajasthan.

Zoya is playing a meaty role in Imtiaz Ali's forthcoming venture starring Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone.

Ludhiana, October 7
During his visit to Punjab Agricultural University here, Tarlochan Singh Virk, general secretary of Leicester-based Punjabi Listeners’ Club said that people connected with Punjabi were making efforts to see that it flourished well.

He said people settled in the UK with a farming background were keen to have information related to agriculture which was generally not available there.

He added that through better communication, knowledge gap needed to be bridged.

Virk suggested that PAU, which was the epicentre of the Green Revolution in India, should try disseminating its agriculture related activities and information to worldwide Punjabi and English media for its wider coverage to people living abroad.

During his interaction with faculty of the Centre for Communication and International Linkages yesterday, he said Punjabi and agriculture were the two areas in which Punjabis living abroad were interested most.

He said Punjabi had been given the status of second spoken language in England.

Virk said that although people spoke English in day-to-day professional communiqué, at home and in society they made efforts to see Punjabi got adequately promoted.

He said the music also played a positive role in this direction. The gurdwaras were playing a major role in teaching Punjabi to younger generations.

He further added that the government schools in the UK had started allowing Punjabi to be taught during the school time.

Khamano, October 7
A cleaning drive camp was organised at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sanghol, by New Star Club with the help of Nehru Yuwa Kender, under the supervision of school principal, Surinder Kaur.

The camp was inaugurated by the block samiti president, Avtar Singh Ria, by planting a sapling.

School students Alka, Navneet Kaur and Raman Kaur presented their views on the importance of trees.

Mandeep Singh NSB, Nehru Yuwa Kender, presented the report of club activities. Club volunteers along with their president, Jeeta Ram, cleaned the school ground by taking out congress grass.

Later, the students and participating campers were honoured.

Khamano, October 7
DSP Khamano, Balwant Singh, held a meeting of private schools of the area at Police Station Khamano in which principals and drivers of about 20 schools participated.

DSP Khamano at this occasion appealed the principals of the schools to keep trained drivers on their buses and minibuses to save unexpected accidents.

He appealed them to keep conductors also with the buses to ease the tiny students to board buses.

He told them to keep complete documents of their buses and keep their buses passed by competent authorities.

DSP directed the school principals not to send students without proper verification. He also directed the drivers to obey traffic rules.

BBA second year winners of the junior wing overall trophy, bagged 11 prizes.

Ludhiana, October 7
The students of Amrit Indo Canadian Academy, Ladian, organised an exhibition at the time of parents-teachers meeting.

Displaying their creativity, the students prepared models highlighting environmental problems, global warming, changes in social set up in India after Independence, Jalian Wala Bagh massacre scene, impact of World War I and II, population concerns and mathematics modelling.

The arrangement and preparation of models were highly appreciated by the visitors, where the latter praised the work of students and guidance of teachers.

The president of the School Managing Committee, S.Harminder Singh, appreciated the efforts of staff and the students.

Principal Jaskiran Kaur emphasised that learning by doing is the best way to make education effective and it was a step towards achieving the aim.

Ludhiana, October 7
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited today launched the festival offer under which all new broadband subscribers will be given 20 per cent discount on rental for six successive billing from the date of activation.

Promotional scheme on mobiles would include one month free GPRS on new pre-paid general plans, Punjab pre-paid plans, and student power plan.

The offer is valid till October 30, S.K. Aggarwal, general manager, telecom, said in a release issued here.

Private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics are mushrooming in the city. The need to have a proper parking system is overlooked by these medical establishments.

Mall road that was once regarded as one of the best roads has haphazard parking lots. Other than nursing homes, showrooms are also adding to traffic congestion.

Most of the space meant for pedestrians, is encroached by the vehicles. And thus increases the chances of accidents.

Similar traffic chaos can be witnessed in Model Town hospital and other parts of the city as well.

When traffic police raids them, hospital staff set things in order but the very next day, they park the vehicles in the same manner resulting various traffic problems.

H S Lamba, 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.

Jagraon, October 7
A girl died and two youth were injured in an accident at Chowkiman last night. The deceased was identified as Meenu (27), a resident of Basti Jodhewal.

Two youths Mandeep Singh (28), alias Tinku, and Kapil Bansal (27), alias Ashu,
were the injured.

Both the injured, residents of Moga, did not regain consciousness till writing of this report. The ill fated car was going to Moga from Ludhiana.

As per the statement of Rajinder Kumar, father of Kapil, Mandeep runs a business of old two-wheeler.

He took Kapil at around 8 pm last night to strike a deal of motorcycle for him. After that what happened is not known to him.

However, Meenu’s father said her sister was married at Moga and she was
going to visit her.

Parents of both the injured said they had no knowledge of the girl and her relatives.

Meenu was sitting on front seat while Mandeep was driving the car (PB 29 B 5447).

The accident took place just after crossing the bridge of the drain in front of
the Badshah dhaba.

The said dhaba is the favourite eating joint for truckers and they usually park the truck on the road itself. The car seemed to have hit a truck.

However, neither the dhaba owner nor the police has any knowledge of the accident. Police chowki is not more than 50 yards from the accident spot.

A legal notice was served on the accused calling upon him to make the payment of the dishonored cheque.

He failed to make the payment. However, the accused had claimed false implication.

But after appreciating the evidence on record, the court found him guilty.