Ludhiana, December 12
There is good news for city residents reeling under four to six hours daily power cut for quite some time now. From today onwards, all category-I feeders serving predominantly residential areas and a large number of small and tiny industrial units located in the mixed-user areas, will have power cut for just two hours.

But at the same time, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has increased power cut on category-II feeders (exclusively for the industry) from the prevailing 24 to 34 hours every day.

The new schedule has been approved by the PSEB authorities with immediate effect.

Confirming this, the engineer-in-chief, Ludhiana (Central) told The Tribune that under the new schedule, the category-II consumers (units located in designated industrial areas) would have to observe weekly off for 34 hours as against 24 hours at present. However, consumers in mixed-use areas, which include a large number of industrial units, will benefit from the new schedule of two- hour power cut every day.

While the officials refused to comment on the background of the revised schedule, it is learnt that cabinet minister Hira Singh Gabria, who represents Ludhiana rural Assembly segment, had intervened and prevailed upon the PSEB authorities to grant some relief to the small and tiny sector in the wake threat to launch an agitation from December 12.

Even though the industrial associations had put off their agitation after the minister and the senior PSEB officials announced the reduction in power cut on mixed feeders with immediate effect in a meeting held here last evening, a few industry leaders were made to face an embarrassing situation over increased power cut for category-II consumers. The industrial units located in designated industrial areas were terming the new development as a “sell out and betrayal”.

A few representatives of engineering and knitwear industries alleged that some industrial leaders had betrayed their cause and withdrawn the call for agitation just to remain in the good books of the minister.

“The fact remains that the PSEB has imposed more burden on a large section of industry while reduced power cut for category-I will benefit only a small percentage of small and tiny units.”

Ludhiana, December 12
Giving a severe blow to some SAD councillors who were allegedly involved in the streetlight maintenance contract, municipal commissioner G.S. Ghuman has cancelled the tenders which were submitted on December 10.

According to information, the commissioner gave directions today to the officials concerned to cancel the tenders and invite them again. The tenders worth Rs 8 crore had been invited for the maintenance of streetlights of the whole city and the work has been divided into 11 groups.

Talking to The Tribune, Ghuman said, "I have told the officials to follow the whole process again and maintain complete transparency in the procedure as there had been several complaints about it."

The matter "Streetlight maintenance contract: Political pressure to fore" was highlighted on Thursday by The Tribune that the tenders which were pooled in had involvement of some SAD councillors and everything was pre-planned about the allotment of tenders. Besides, the tenders which should have been opened on Wednesday itself were postponed till Thursday.

However, due to house meeting yesterday once again tender cell in charge SE Dharam Singh failed to open tenders and the time period of more than 36 hours was more than enough for tender tampering, which some contractors had been already alleging.

Besides, earlier too highly placed sources in the municipal corporation had revealed that there were irregularities in form-giving process and many contractors had alleged that they were not being given tender forms even on the last day i.e. Monday.

Interestingly, the issue of tender policy was also raised during the house meeting yesterday where MLAs and the municipal councillors had levelled various allegations on SE Dharam Singh and other senior officials for tender-tampering.

Ludhiana, December 12
After facing the wrath of MLAs and municipal councillors yesterday during the municipal house meeting, the municipal officials, including joint commissioners, and assistant commissioner had to face ire of municipal commissioner G.S. Ghuman and mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura, here today.

In a meeting held at the municipal corporation's zone-A office, Ghuman and Giaspura directed the officials to mend their ways.

According to sources, the meeting that went for around an hour was attended by joint commissioner M.P. Gupta, B.K. Gupta, Kuldeep Singh and assistant commissioner Vinod Sharda. Adopting a casual attitude, joint commissioner Kuldeep Singh once again reached the venue when the meeting was almost over.

Giaspura asked the officials to pull up their socks or resign if they were not willing to work. He warned the officials that it was their last chance to set the things right, otherwise, an action would be taken against them.

Ghuman said the repeated reports of corruption and public grievances had been coming to him about them. Besides, the work allotted to you is not being completed on time which is shameful,” he said.

He further said, “The municipal corporation is losing faith of public, which is not a good sign because the department has been running with their help only.”

Ludhiana, December 12
In yet another development, members of the IMA’s executive body today submitted their resignations following the allegations of misappropriation of funds, levelled by former district president.

Its vice-president Narotam Dewan, organising secretary Satish Nahuria, Hardeep Singh, Satish Ohri and Harpal Singh in a letter addressed to chief election officer Iqbal Ahuja and president Arun Mitra submitted their resignations.

Their resignations came as a bolt from the blue as these doctors had recently proposed Arun Mitra’s name for resolving the differences and wanted ‘unanimous’ election of the executive body to be chosen by the panel of senior doctors headed by L.S.Chawla.

Contrary to their earlier proposal, Dewan and his associates alleged Mitra for not having taken prior approval from the executive body for any expenditure. “No details for the purposed expenditure and money spent was discussed properly in the executive or the IMA general body meetings.

Those signing the cheques were taking decisions,” alleged the doctors. The doctors further called upon the election commission to issue instruction for convening a special general body meeting and ask those managing its accounts to present the detailed account of the money spent during their tenure from 2006 onwards. The election commission should, also, immediately disqualify the candidates concerned from contesting the elections till they obtain no dues from the IMA general body, Ludhiana, added Dewan.

Ludhiana, December 12
The sealing of the five star hotel, Park Plaza, was deferred today as the hotel management claimed to have got a stay on the municipal corporation’s sealing notice, here today.

The hotel claimed that the High Court had issued a notice of motion to the MC for January 29, 2009, and stayed the operation of the Show Cause Notice 1047/ATP-D dated December 5, 2008, issued by the MC, Ludhiana.

They said the hotel had filed a civil petition No. 20951 of 2008 in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh against the notice.

The hotel contested that they had taken full care of the parking bye-laws and there was no violation. They also challenged the notice from the MC that it would seal the hotel after three days for non-compliance of the parking laws or with the original draft that they had submitted before the construction of hotel.

The said petition came up for hearing today before the Division Bench consisting of Justice K.S. Grewal and Justice Jitender Chauhan. 

Ludhiana, December 12
Court of Additional Sessions Judge M S Virdi has sentenced Sunil Singh of Badripur village, Payal, to undergo imprisonment for five years on the charges of abetting suicide to his newly wedded wife Jaswinder Kaur.

Pronouncing the verdict, the court held that the prosecution had succeeded in proving the charges levelled against the accused. He was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs 5,000.

According to the prosecution, at the time of marriage, the accused was doing the job of labour. But after the marriage, he used to remain sit idle. Her wife tried to persuade her for doing work as the family was undergoing financial constraints.

The accused had started maltreating and beating the woman. Several times, the family of the woman also intervened in the dispute. But he did not stop. Feeling disheartened with the ill-treatment, the woman committed suicide by taking insecticide.

However, the accused had claimed false implication in the case. But after appreciating the evidence on record and convinced with the submissions of additonal public prosecutor R S Sibia, the court found him guilty and sentenced accordingly.

The accused was booked under Section 306 of IPC at Payal police station on October 1, 2003.

Ludhiana, December 12
The realty sector, after a long period of boom in the city, is now feeling the pinch of economic slowdown with no buyers for land or built-up properties simply because of worst ever liquidity crunch.

There has been a virtual lull in the real estate sector for quite some time even though the land prices, both for residential and commercial properties, have not dropped significantly. But there being no funds left with investors and speculators, no deals have taken place during the last month or so.

The knowledgeable circles in the property market maintain that the land prices in the industrial hub of the state had gone up in an unrealistic manner since early this year and a correction was already due.

However, in the wake of serious liquidity crisis prevailing as of now, and no improvement being in sight in the near future, the prices might drop to the other extreme even if the people start recovering from the shock of dwindling stock prices.

Says Kamal Chatley, president of the Ludhiana Property Dealers and Colonisers Association, “Till now, there is no significant change in the land prices but all major transactions in the property have been put off. It seems that both buyers and sellers have adopted a wait and watch policy to assess the market trends and it will take some time before the clear picture emerges.”

Other property dealers in different parts of the city as well as some of the booking agents of major real estate developers express similar views saying the entire real estate sector is in a state of shock.

“Even as no significant downward trend in land prices is visible, it is only because no major deals have been struck since the stock market hit the rock bottom. A clear picture will emerge only after buyers come out in the market and sellers quote prices for the properties held by them,” they remarked.

Some of the prominent property developers are almost unanimous over the fact that the unrealistic hike witnessed in land and property prices, particularly in the prime residential and commercial areas, including those of Ferozepur Road, Sarabha Nagar, Mall Road, Pakhowal Road, Chandigarh Road and Model Town Extension, are set for reversal once the activities resume in the realty market which is going to take some time if the situation prevailing at present is any indicator.

Ludhiana, December 12
The presence of DC Sumer Singh Gurjar before the speaker, Vidhan Sabha, remained inconclusive yet again as complainant MLA Sohan Singh Thandal could not be present.

Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon has now asked  the DC to come on  December 17.

Talking to The Tribune on the phone, Kahlon said no decision on the complaint against Gurjar could be taken as Thandal was busy with a function at Jalandhar.

Kahlon said he had summoned the DC yet again as the complainant was required to be present so that allegations and counter-allegations could be heard at the same time and reached a conclusion.

He added that he was also looking into the complaint by deputy speaker Satpal Gosain levelling allegations of corruption against the DC.

‘‘We will soon be through with the inquiry after speaking to all parties at the same platform,’’ said Kahlon.

The DC was summoned by Kahlon after he had failed to attend a meeting of the SC Welfare Committee constituted by the Vidhan Sabha to monitor the state of the SCs in the state. Thandal was the chairman of the committee.

The committee had reached Ludhiana a few months ago and asked the DC to make them abreast of SC welfare schemes going on in the district. Gurjar, however, failed to go there or send any representative. This invited the ire of the Akali MLA who took up the matter with the speaker.

Ludhiana, December 12
Renouncing the world may sound unusual but it certainly is a gratifying moment for saints and sadhvis attaining “diksha” as was evident from the serene look on the faces of Prashansa Jain and Savita, who attained “diksha” today at Jain Bhagvati Diksha Samroh.

A large number of people from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and other neighbouring states were present on the ceremony. The ceremony was a must to watch young girls from some affluent families of Ludhiana who are followers of the Jainism.

For Prashansa (28), hailing from Udaipur, the world was nothing but a myth as she practised vairagya under Dr Vijayshri, a senior member in the group of Acharya Shivmuni Ji Maharaj.

Prashansa was dressed up as a bride during her last worldly procession but she was relieved to take over the white robe, adding, "I have always wanted to do this as by renouncing the world I am merely absolving myself from pains and miseries of the material world."

Similarly, Kavita (20) was not deterred from the ceremonies that set her apart from the rest of the world.

When asked about “Kesh lunchana” (plucking of hair), sadhvi Dr Puneet Joshi said it came naturally to all sadhus and sadhvis as they didn't use machine to remove their hair after attaining “diksha”.

Mothers of both girls when asked about the decision said this was what the girls wanted. "It was only after undergoing a severe test that these girls were absorbed into the group as renunciation is attained not forced," said the mothers.

Learning yet practising simplicity is the most important principal with which the sadhus and sadhvis abide throughout their life. Walking barefoot, eating in patras(wooden bowls), drinking from claypots are among 47 other austerities followed by sadhvis and sadhus.

Doraha, December 12
Human Rights Protection Mission organised a function at Queens Flower Resort Neelon in order to celebrate the Human Rights Day, here yesterday.

Dr D P Sharma, Masters in Philosophy in Human Rights, was the chief guest. He was accorded a warm welcome by the stage organiser, Satinder Kaur Jawanda, president, Women Cell, Punjab. Sharma emphasised on the modern degrading human values and the need to preserve those rights and responsibilities which boosted the morale of humanity at large.

Dr Raju Singh Chhina, MD, head of the gastrology department, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, spoke on the ill-effects of alcohol on liver. Dr Rajesh Bansal, MD, brain specialist, DMC, deliberated upon the problem of brain strokes.

Mangal Dhillon, actor and director of the film industry, stressed on the urgent need for drug de-addiction among the youth.

S.S. Guron, president, Human Rights Protection Mission, Avtar Singh Hara and Navneet Kaur Shergill, chairman and Sonu, vice- chairman, were also present.

Ludhiana, December 12
The BJP will hold a torch-light procession against terrorism here on December 16 to impress upon the union government to adopt a pro-active role against the cross-border terrorism. State president of the party Rajinder Bhandari will lead the procession from Clock Tower Chowk to Division No 3.

This was stated by district president of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Sandeep Kapoor, while addressing a preparatory meeting of party workers at Circuit House here today. Rajiv Katna, secretary of the district unit of the BJP, and Jeewan Gupta, vice-president of the state unit of the BJYM, among others, attended the meeting.

Commenting on the terrorist attack in Mumbai, Kapoor described it as a challenge that must be rebutted. He said since Pakistan had outrightly rejected the Indian request to hand over the masterminds behind the continuing terrorist attacks, the government ought to initiate stern steps to curb "jihadi terrorism" having its roots in Pakistan.

The BJYM chief and other speakers announced that the party (BJP and its front organisations) will extend all possible cooperation to the government in all such steps that were taken to effectively curb the acts of terrorism, secure the Indo-Pakistan border and bring to book the masterminds of jihadi terrorism.aKapoor said India should immediately suspend the peace process with its neighbour, enact stern anti-terrorism laws, undertake a total overhaul of intelligence network, establish a federal security and investigating agency under a comprehensive law, initiate long overdue police reforms, strengthen security along the coast line and set up a code for the media to be followed during national emergencies.

Ludhiana, December 12
In the age of nuclear families where both parents are working, day-care centres are proving a boon. Rearing children have become a burden for the families today especially where the couple is working. As soon as the child is born, discussions for his/her quality rearing start up.

The day-care centres are a benefit for the working parents as in these centres the child learns to relate to other children and develop social and cognitive skills. Earlier during joint family system, grandparents helped in taking care of the kids but today everybody being busy, the children are sent to the day-care centres.

"With the number of children going to the day-care centres it should be reassuring to the parents that their kid is in a good day-care environment so that the children can thrive and continue to grow and develop appropriately. It is therefore important to choose the day-care centre that provides a healthy and safe environment," adds Divya Sabharwal, a mother whose child goes to the day-care centre.

There are a variety of options available if one requires someone to help care for the children. One may choose in-home care, in which the caregiver comes to home. This offers the benefit of the child having individual attention.

"It is the warmth and love giving through various activities that help in the child's overall development. Concept-oriented activities in these centres help in the overall development of the child. The day-care centre should be chosen by the parents very cautiously," adds a city-based psychologist. 

Ludhiana, December 12
The Democratic Teachers Front, Punjab, organised a rally against the alleged highhanded and vindictive attitude of the district education officer (Secondary) in the mini secretariat here today. The teachers raised slogans against the DEO and sought her transfer.

Mahinder Singh, president, Democratic Teachers Front, alleged that Sudesh Bajaj, DEO (Secondary), had adopted a vindictive attitude towards the teachers and was victimising them. He further charged the DEO with adopting corrupt practices and was never available in the office.

Mahinder Singh also alleged that Akali leaders were supporting the wrong acts of the DEO and warned that they would have to pay a heavy price in the parliament elections. Later, the demonstrating teachers marched to the residence of Harish Rai Dhanda, chief parliamentary secretary, and submitted a memorandum against the DEO, demanding inquiry against her. The Democratic Teachers Front had also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister at sangat darshan at Ludhiana and demanded that an inquiry should be held against her.

Sudesh Bajaj, DEO (Secondary) denied the allegations and said a small section of teachers was raising a bogey against her. She stated that this rally was ill-timed as the December exams were going on in the schools. She had issued show-cause notice to organisers of the rally and asked them to explain their conduct within 15 days, failing which action would be taken against them under the Punjab government service conduct rules. She would also report to the higher authorities about their conduct. She claimed that the schools were functioning normally in the district.

Doraha, December12
The team of Government High School, Rampur, has secured ninth position in the district-level science congress, which was organised at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, recently. Out of the 11 teams, this team was selected to perform in the state-level congress, shortly scheduled to be held in Nagaland.

This was especially organised in the junior and senior categories for the rural students, in which the Rampur school team comprising of team leader Harmeet Singh along with Balraj Singh, Iqbal Singh, Gurkirat Singh and Manpreet Singh under the guidance of the science teacher, Pal Rani Kaur and headmistress Gurdip Kaur brought laurels to the school.

“The team is going to represent the district in the state level competitions, which is further going to boast the morale of these students, who otherwise get fewer chances to exhibit their talent,” Pal Rani Kaur, the science teacher, said. — OC

Khanna, December 12
The Khanna police has recovered the boy who was kidnapped by a woman. The boy was picked up by an unidentified woman from his house on Lalheri road.

The motive behind the kidnapping, as per police, was to provide a child to a childless couple relative of accused.

She took away one of the three children playing in the house on a rickshaw. The two-and-a-half-year-old boy, Sonu, son of Babu Ram, was taken to Ludhiana by the woman.

The woman has been identified as Arti. She was married to Vicky, a resident of Ludhiana, two years back. Her parents were residing on Lalheri road. Arti reached Khanna on Thursday to take away baby of some poor family to hand it over to her nephew of her mother-in-law.

She took the child on a rickshaw and then boarded a bus to reach Ludhiana. She told the childless couple that the boy could be adopted them as she has brought it for them after completing all formalities at Khanna.

While the parents of Arti at Khanna got panicked after watching a large number of police on the Lalheri road immediately after the kidnapping. Sister of Arti was suspecting her sister's involvement in the kidnapping as she was discussing about the problem of the childless couple with her.

The police immediately swung into action and raided the house of the childless couple at Ludhiana and recovered the boy from there.

Khanna SSP Arunpal Singh said the child was recovered at around 1 am and was brought to Khanna. The main accused in the case had been arrested and would be produced in court. The child, he said, was safe and was enjoying the hospitality of the kidnappers and the couple at Ludhiana.

Mullanpur Dakha, December 12
A fraud case has been registered against two. Kulwant Singh of Khaira Bet village near Humbran has accused that Jai Inder Singh, alias Dimple of Rangarh Nangal village in Gurdaspur district and Sheikh Ram has lured him to send his son, Jagraj Singh, to the USA. He had taken Rs 13.6 lakh from April to June in installments.