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Phagwara bypass to adorn more green, colourful
look
Nehru Garden contractor to be blacklisted
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No outstanding music, despite promises
Cantonment airstrip to open for NCC cadets soon
Repair work at Dhussi Bundh
on Sutlej in last stage
CM’s decision on pension hailed
Protesters asked to bring service record
SC teachers to sit on fast from Aug 1
Withdrawal of Civil Services Act
LPU starts special free workshops
2 labourers held with opium
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Phagwara bypass to adorn more green, colourful
look
Jalandhar, July 19 The stretch on the bypass near Konika Resorts, which had undergone the cumbersome four-laning process about five-six years ago, had virtually turned into an eyesore as it was currently laden with wild grass since ornamental trees planted on it earlier had got withered allegedly due to the lack of maintenance by the authorities concerned. The ongoing plantation or beautification drive has been launched on the initiative of PUDA Secretary S.S. Sandhu, who, it was learnt, has emphasised that the stretch should present a more beautiful look as thousands of commuters pass through it daily. Residents of Phagwara were also demanding that the strip should wear a more colourful look. “The bypass is one of the most busiest roads of North India. So, it should look nice,” said Ashwani Kohli, a Phagwara resident. “The plantation drive is going on at a war-footing. Since, we have already planted most of the 3,500 saplings of bougainvillaea, we are about to finish. At the maximum, the exercise will take not more than a day or two. The saplings are likely to grow into full-grown flowering thorny, woody wines by July, August next year as we have planted these in the middle of the most appropriate rainy season,” said PUDA SDO Parmjit Lal Janjua, when contacted by The Tribune team. He said besides providing a beautiful look to the major district road, plants would also serve as a shield against glare of vehicles during night. “The stretch will have a colourful flower-laden curtain for most part of the year,” said Janjua, adding that to complete the work at a fast pace a large number of workforce had been deployed by the PUDA. Each of the saplings of different bougainvillaea species are being planted at a distance of 8 feet. “Only one line of saplings is being planted in the middle of the centre verge so as to avoid the spilling over of the foliage of the shrubs at a later stage,” said a worker. Janjua informed that to ensure proper flowering and quality, the saplings had been purchased from a number of nurseries of the area at a cost of about Rs 4 lakh.
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Nehru Garden contractor to be blacklisted
Jalandhar, July 19 Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljit Bhatia confirmed the development. He said while the project was to be accomplished in October last year, it was now more than nine months and still no work was visible on the site. Barring a boundary wall and a walking path, no other development has taken place except some excavation work. While this is the time of plantation, the park is simply lying dug up, the visitors have complained. Located in the city’s heart, the garden was to be renovated at a cost of Rs 3.27 crore. Rather than becoming a major attraction, the site has turned out to be an eyesore for the residents and passersby. The contractor had earlier started asking for advance payment. The insiders had also alleged that the contract of a prime project had gone into wrong hands. “The contractor should have been a landscapist or a horticulturist but he is actually an interior designer,” they had pointed out. Local bodies meet
The state Local Bodies Department has decided to hold a meeting of councillors, Mayors and officers of all local bodies of the state on July 22 at Bath Castle in Jalandhar. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Local Bodies Minister Tikshan Sud will preside over the meet. A presentation will be shown on various sections of the Right to Service Act pertaining to the works related to the department. The presentation, which will also highlight the achievements of the department, will also be shown to certain select list of bigwigs and opinion leaders from the state. No regular MTP
About three years ago, the MC had three senior officers in the town planning section. These were Senior Town Planner A.S. Tuli, MTPs Murari Dutt Sharma and Tirlok Singh. While Tuli was elevated as the Circle Town Planner and Sharma had met with a fatal accident while on duty, Tirlok Singh has now been transferred. The MTP of Ludhiana, Hemant Batra, has been given an additional charge of Jalandhar. He joined the office today and would be available in the city only on Wednesdays and Fridays. Such a move has sent feelers about the non-seriousness of the government toward the city’s haphazard growth due to mushrooming of illegal colonies. Roads in a state of mess
After a few spells of rain in the past one month, a major part of the city’s road network has got damaged. The roads have got completely washed out at many points in areas around bus stand, in front of gates of the District Administrative Complex, around Cheema Chowk, road connecting Income Tax Colony with Urban Estate Phase-II and Gujja Peer Road in the Sodal area. |
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No outstanding music, despite promises
Aparna Banerji/TNS
Jalandhar, July 19 The fair was kick-started with a seminar on ‘Significance of the Sufi school of thought in the present times’. The shrine premises, flocked by devotees, continually echoed with dhol beats through the day and at night Sufi qawwals lit up a music mehfil at the darbaar. But considering singer Hans Raj Hans, mostly Sufi and less of commercial music claims, the performances were a let down. In the day, experts discussed Sufism during the seminar - the first one of its kind at the shrine. Speaking about the Sufis as a strong influence on society, Professor Nasir Naqvi from the Baba Farid Centre for Sufi Studies, said the Sufis had always promoted human values over communal ones and had constantly been disposed to propagate influence in this direction through the generations. Senior journalist Satnam Manak said in the present times it had become important to put an end to the false notion that a Sufi was essentially a person immersed in addiction, without a hold on his life. Prof Pyara Singh Bhogal, Dr Dharam Singh, Dr Surjit Bhatti and Dr Kuldip Singh Dhir were the other speakers on the occasion. Singers Diljaan and folk singer Nooran’s granddaughters Jyoti and Sultana Nooran also delivered performances. Rounding off the seminar, Hans said in future the fair would be four-day-long and the first day would be marked by competitions for children and cassette releases for talented young singers at the darbaar. The evening concert wasn’t much of a delight, though. Hans had promised that Sufism and classical music would rule, but the audience could only get glimpses of quality performances. The Wadali Brothers did not turn up. The first few performances, by lesser-known qawwals like Karamat Ali, Shana Khan and Javed Akhtar, Shauqat Ali Diwana, were fair by the usual shrine standards but did not match the quality Hans had promised for this year. Saeeda Beghum was the only name that the audience looked up to. Barring her, it was mostly routine stuff.
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Cantonment airstrip to open for NCC cadets soon
Jalandhar, July 19 Major-General Mohabat Singh Virk, Additional Director General (ADG), NCC Directorate Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh said this during his annual visit at the NCC Group Headquarters, Jalandhar, today. Virk said the construction of both the academies was going on in full swing and they would be handed over to the state government by September 30. “The NCC has also planned to revive a small airstrip of Jalandhar Cantonment which will be used for providing flying hours to the NCC Air Wing cadets. A Microlight aircraft will be used for flying by the cadets,” he said. The Jalandhar Flying Club was closed long time back following which the NCC Air Wing cadets had to go to Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala for flying. “Plans regarding revival of airstrip are already in the pipeline and hopefully everything will materialise before the year-end,” he said. Further highlighting the success rate of NCC ‘C’ certificate direct entry scheme to the armed forces, the ADG said this year six NCC students joined the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Virk also highlighted the high demand of NCC ‘C’ certificate holders as security officers in major corporate houses of the country. “It is a matter of pride that leading corporate houses like Reliance, Sahara Group and Tata are looking forward to recruit NCC cadets as security officers at various locations across the country,” he added. The officer also lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in agreeing to allot land for all the NCC units in the state. “It is due to the timely efforts of the Chief Minister that we were able to revive the NCC in a major way across the state. While the Naval Unit at Bathinda has already started working, excellent infrastructure is being built for Remount and Veterinary Squadron in Ghudda at Bathinda,” he quipped.
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Repair work at Dhussi Bundh
on Sutlej in last stage
Nakodar, July 19 The embankment strengthening work started in the first week of June. All vulnerable points along the bundh are being strengthened and replenished with stone boulders covered by iron wire mesh. Initially, the department identified five vulnerable points between Ramey village and Bhanewal, said an official. Though two points has been strengthened, work on three is pending as the department is waiting release of funds from NABARD and they have already written to them, he added. The SDO said three new studs have already been constructed at Thumuall village and repair work of another at Bhanewal village is under process. The bundh is most vulnerable to floods. Last year, crop on a large area was destroyed following rise in the water level in the bundh. Flood contingency plan
The Shahkot administration has released its flood contingency plan. SDM TN Passi said eight flood relief centres have been established at different school buildings at Lohian, Nahal, Kang Khurd, Poonia, Manakpur, Bajwa Kalan, Bagga and Parjian Kalan villages. Six private hospitals and seven NGOs have also been identified for the purpose. The Naib Tehsildar, Shahkot, said they have seven boats, including two motorboats. They have also identified swimmers for rescue operations. He said, in 50 different villages near the bundh, employees from BDPO, market committee, municipal committees of Shahkot and Lohian have been assigned duties for rescue operations. He said anybody could avail the contingency plan. He said the SDM would also instruct owners of gas agencies and petrol pumps to keep reserve stock in case of emergencies. |
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CM’s decision on pension hailed
Jalandhar, July 19 The members of the union, consisting of teaching, non-teaching and retired employees of 484 aided schools of Punjab, said this was one of their long-pending demands, which was suddenly stopped during the regime of the previous Congress government. President of the union Gurcharan Singh Chahal said the decision had been made in compliance with the agreement which the union members had reached with the CM, Finance Minister and Education Minister during a meeting held on November 1, 2010. He added that the agreement was reached on three main demands of the union, namely restoration of pensionary benefits stopped for those who retired after June 1, 2003, release of the 5th Pay Commission grades for working employees from June 1, 2006, and enhancement of pension by implementing the 5th Pay Commission recommendations for pensioners getting pension after having retired before or on May 31, 2003. Manohar Lal Chopra, adviser to the union, said with this decision the CM had fulfilled his promise. “The CM’s decision will benefit more than 12,000 employees and retirees of aided schools in the state,” he added.
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Protesters asked to bring service record
Nakodar, July 19 The authority later convinced them to defer the 14-hour-long strike and fixed a meeting with the minister. Nishan Singh Patti, president of the union, said five members of their union today had a meeting with the Revenue Minister along with the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) at Chandigarh where the minister promised to raise their matter in the Cabinet meeting. The minister and the FCR after a Cabinet meeting asked the union members to bring service records of all the 233 employees of the state on July 21 in Chandigarh to initiate further proceedings of regularisation. “If in the forthcoming meeting no solution emerges, they will again sit on an indefinite fast outside the Revenue Minister’s residence,” the president said. — OC
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SC teachers to sit on fast from Aug 1
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, July 19 A convention in this regard was held at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Bhawan here on Sunday. Committee members said they were forced to sit on a fast unto death as there were no signs of any promotion policy, despite tall claims of the government. The fast would continue until the demands of the Schedule Caste lecturers were met. President of the union Darshan Singh Chandarh said even Education Minister Sewa Singh Sekhawan had been making lofty statements about the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) held on May 10. “Despite repeated reminders and meetings the Education Department is yet to release the DPC list, while the Education Minister claims that he has already promoted around 1,500 lecturers as principals,” he added.
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Withdrawal of Civil Services Act
Jalandhar, July 19 Dr Abdul Majid, state president, said the state government had agreed to withdraw the Act and verbal decision was taken in this regard in the meeting of Punjab Cabinet held on June 17. “The Act has not been withdrawn even after a month of the Cabinet meeting. Moreover, in a recent meeting held between the Punjab Chief Minister and representatives of the associations, assurance was given to take back the Act, but to no avail,” he added. Dr Parshotam Singh, vice-president, PSVDA, said initially all the RVOs were reluctant to accept the regular services under this Act. “However, Rural Development Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmapura had personally assured the PSVDA that rectification in the Act would be issued within a week. But nothing has been done yet,” Dr Parshotam said. He further added that due to uncertainty in the salary structure, no salaries had been given for the past three months and even some rural veterinarians were thinking to quit job. |
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LPU starts special free workshops
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, July 19 The inauguration ceremony was held today with the lighting of the lamp by Pro-Chancellor Rashmi Mittal. Internationally known Dr Hukam Chand from Rohtak will train the students in vocal music, Pritpal Singh from Nangal in folk dance (bhangra), Panna Lal Gangani Ji from Chandigarh in classical dance, R.C. Pathak and Mahipal Singh from Kanpur and Kaithal, respectively, in theatre, Ahmer Saleem Usmani from Chandigarh in Western dance, Rattan Prasanna from New Delhi in guitar and Padam Chand from New Delhi in sculpture-making and painting. Elaborating about the arrangements of many such sessions, the Pro-Chancellor said the workshop would help the students shape themselves well under the guidance of experts to further compete at the national and international levels. Explaining further, she said, “We have arranged these workshops for all those students who have already been attending open elective classes and clubs throughout the year, university performers at various levels, pursuing courses like fine arts and performing arts and those who are availing or going to avail themselves of scholarships on the basis of their cultural achievements.” She also informed, “We are also offering scholarships of great values by inviting new talented students this session. The national and international artistes will be provided with free boarding and lodging, full-tuition fee waiver and even cash reward of Rs 25,000 per semester, depending upon the grade and scale of their participation at the national and international level.” The workshops would culminate on July 30. Survey camp
The civil engineering students of the local CT Group of Institutions attended a 15-day survey camp at Naddi in Himachal
Pradesh. In the camp the students did theodolite traversing, plane table surveying and contouring and in the end they made a topographical map of the area around the Naddi bus stand. Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Public Health Department, Dharamsala, was the chief guest on the last day of the camp. An exhibition of the maps made by the students was also put on display and the best groups were awarded. Chairman of CT Group Charanjit Singh Channi said practical knowledge of the camp would help the students in their professions later. Hindi workshop
Professor Reena Gulati, a lecturer from the department of journalism and mass media of the Kamla Nehru College for Women, Phagwara, has been selected by Central Hindi Directorate, Ministry of HRD, Government of India, for an eight-day workshop on ‘Non-Hindi Speaking Hindi New Writers’ on the basis of her contribution to Hindi literature. The camp will be held from September 27 to October 4 at Hyderabad. Recently Professor Reena also wrote a book on journalism and mass communication titled ‘Pattarkarita, Media Avm Jansanchar’ for Hindi medium students, which was released by former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal at Chandigarh. Doaba College
The students of biotechnology and journalism of Doaba College bagged top positions in the GND University. Ajay Kumar, a student of biotechnology (professional)-II year stood first in the university by scoring 528 marks out of 625 while Manish Kumar secured 526 marks and bagged third position and Manish Dhawan secured 512 marks and stood fifth in the university. Similarly, the students of BJMC (sixth semester), Anuradha Sharma secured 1,805 marks out 2,825 and bagged first position in the university followed by Sumeet Singh who secured 1,763 marks and bagged second position and Gagandeep Kaur who stood third by securing 1,747 marks. Principal Dr Naresh Kumar Dhiman congratulated the students for their achievement. HMV toppers
The students of the local Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya (HMV) brought laurels to their institution by bagging the top positions in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Surbhi Sharma, a student of BSc-I (fashion designing) bagged the first position in the university by securing 819 marks out of 1,000. Sanju Arora, a student of BSc-II (biotechnology) secured 527 marks out of 625 marks. SD College topper
Chitwan Khullar, a student of BSc-I (fashion designing) of SD College, bagged the second position in GND University, Amritsar, by scoring 817 marks out of 1,000. KMV toppers
Simranjeet Kaur of BSc-I (biotechnology) of the KMV bagged the third position in the GND University, Amritsar, by scoring 488 marks out of 625. Jaskirat Kaur stood fourth in the university with 487 marks out of 625. |
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2 labourers held with opium
Jalandhar, July 19 A press note released by the office of the SSP, Jalandhar, Rural, Ashish Chowdhary, reads that migrant labourers Ganesh Kumar and Arjun Sooyia were carrying opium to sell it to their costumers in two districts of Punjab. The police said during preliminary investigations, the duo confessed that Ganesh Kumar used to cultivate poppy at his village and supply it to Arjun, who further sell it to their customers in Punjab. A case was registered against them under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Bhogpur police station.
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adorn a more green and colourful look as the PUDA is busy giving final touches to the plantation of more than 3,500 saplings of varied species of flowering bougainvillea on the 15 ft-wide centre verge of the
four-laned road.
The much-awaited NCC Training Academy for Girls at Malout and NCC Academy for Boys at Ropar will start functioning by the year-end. A small airstrip of Jalandhar Cantonment will soon be used for flying by the NCC Air Wing Cadets.
The ongoing repair work of the embankments of Dhussi Bundh on the Sutlej in Shahkot tehsil is in its last stage and expected to be completed by month end, said Satish Kumar, Sub-Divisional Officer
(SDO) Jalandhar Draining Department.