J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Nod for setting up Borlaug Institute in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, September 30
Punjab is set to get its first international research institute for wheat and maize. Named as Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), the institute would come up at Ladhowal village in Ludhiana district.
                                      Norman Borlaug

Two hospitalised after consuming adulterated flour
Hoshiarpur, September 30
A mother and her daughter fell ill after consuming adulterated buckwheat flour (Kuttu Atta) and both were admitted to the local Civil Hospital yesterday.

Garhshankar Naib Tehsildar suspended
Jalandhar, September 30
Garhshankar Naib Tehsildar Kulwant Singh has been suspended by the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner for causing losses to the exchequer.

3 dengue cases reported
Hoshiarpur : Three dengue patients, including two children, had been identified in the area. The Senior Medical Officer, Anil Mohindra, said the dengue patients, identified as Dharambir (60), Navjeet Kaur (3) and Vasu (8), had been admitted to the hospital and the latter had been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Nod for setting up Borlaug Institute in Ludhiana
Puneet Pal Singh Gill
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 30
Punjab is set to get its first international research institute for wheat and maize. Named as Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), the institute would come up at Ladhowal village in Ludhiana district.

A First Named as Borlaug Institute for South Asia, the institute will come up at Ladhowal village Two satellite centres will come up at Pusa (Bihar) and Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) The research carried out at the institute will help the country meet food security challenges

Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) had submitted a proposal for setting up this institute.The proposal was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, today.

The main centre of the institute would be located at Ladhowal (Ludhiana) while two satellite centres would come up at Pusa (Bihar) and Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh).

Named after Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, also known as the father of the Green Revolution, the institute will help the country to meet food security challenges. Punjab Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, said: “The institute will benefit our state to a large extent. Wheat is our main crop and maize can help check the depleting ground water table because it is a good alternative for paddy.”

Former VC Dr Manjit Singh Kang said: “The delegation came in August last year and we showed them the land in Ladhowal. They had some issues concerning pollution in Ludhiana, but I was able to remove all their doubts.”

The institute will come up on the government land adjoining the PAU Research Station at Ladhowal. 

Two hospitalised after consuming adulterated flour
Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, September 30
A mother and her daughter fell ill after consuming adulterated buckwheat flour (Kuttu Atta) and both were admitted to the local Civil Hospital yesterday. According to the Senior Medical Officer of the hospital, Anil Mohindra, a woman pharmacist of the local ESI Hospital, Paramjit Kaur, and her 18-year-old daughter, Parbaz, fell ill after consuming flour to end their Navratra fast.

Civil Surgeon, Dr Yash Mitra, said he had ordered the District Health Officer to take samples of the flour to check the adulteration. He had instructed the Karyana merchants not to sell old stocks of Kuttu Atta.

With the implementation of the new Food Safety and Standards Act from August 5, 2011, as many as 31 samples of sweets, cheese, tea, spices and cold drinks had been seized in the Garhshankar subdivision.

Altogether 464 samples of various edibles had been seized in the district from January to September, this year. The state government Food Laboratory announced 27 out of the 464 samples, including seven of milk and one of Desi ghee samples, to be adulterated.

Under the said Act, the Additional Deputy Commissioner and designated District Health Officer are authorised to fine the defaulters up to Rs 5 lakh.

The District Health Department had sent a proposal to the state government suggesting to form seven teams for seizing samples of sweets and other edibles during this festive season.

He appealed to the people to avoid sweets during this festive season and to consume only home-made sweets. He also appealed to the halwais and restaurant owners to maintain hygiene at their workshops. 

Garhshankar Naib Tehsildar suspended
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 30
Garhshankar Naib Tehsildar Kulwant Singh has been suspended by the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner for causing losses to the exchequer.

The Naib Tehsildar, during his posting at Banga, would register documents even beyond the office hours (5 pm). Naib Tehsildar Kulwant Singh was charge-sheeted on the basis of a report from the Nawanshahr DC, stating that he had done so “out of greed”.

The Nawanshahr DC has been asked to take strict action against the Banga patwari and deed writer too for alleged connivance. The action follows a complaint by one Surjit Singh Basra.

The complainant brought to the notice of the revenue authorities that the Naib Tehsildar, while posted at Banga, had registered the sale deed of half an acre of land for Rs 35 lakh, showing that the per acre rate was Rs 70 lakh. The same day, he had registered a sale deed for five acres of land for just Rs 90 lakh (Rs 18 lakh per acre). At the market rate of Rs 70 lakhs per acre, the sale deed should have been registered at Rs 3.5 crore. Had the Naib Tehsildar done so, it would have fetched the government a stamp duty of Rs 28 lakh. 

3 dengue cases reported

Hoshiarpur: Three dengue patients, including two children, had been identified in the area. The Senior Medical Officer, Anil Mohindra, said the dengue patients, identified as Dharambir (60), Navjeet Kaur (3) and Vasu (8), had been admitted to the hospital and the latter had been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Dharambir and About a dozen patients are under suspect. Dr Yash Mitra, Civil Surgeon, appealed to the people to remove stagnated water in old tyres and pits, which are the breeding places of dengue mosquitoes. — OC