Jalandhar, May 9
Following reports of the discharge of untreated effluents from tanneries, industrial units and municipal waste into the Kala Sanghia Drain in Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts, the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar, here today directed the deputy commissioners, officials of the municipal bodies and the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to take strict action against the violators.

Adopting a stiff posture against the discharge of the untreated waste into the Kala Sanghian drain, Ladhar told the Jalandhar DC Shruti Singh and Kapurthala DC DS Mangat to make sure that stringent measures were taken to stop this unhealthy practice of polluting the drain.

Ladhar issued these instructions while presiding over a meeting on the issue of pollution in Kala Sanghian and Kali Bein.

Prominent among those present at the meeting included renowned environmentalist and PPCB member Balbir Singh Seechewal, Jalandhar MC Joint Commissioner Anupam Kler, Punjab Effluent Treatment Society (PETS) CEO Steven Kler and PPCB Superintending Engineer SP Garg. During the meeting, Ladhar instructed the PPCB authorities to initiate a drive to check whether any industrial unit or tannery was discharging untreated toxic waste into the Kala Sanghian drain.

The Divisional Commissioner further said that strict action should be initiated in case any industrial unit or tannery was found violating pollution control norms.

On the issue of the lakhs of dead fish in Kali Bein at Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala some three weeks ago, Ladhar said a letter was being sent to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Irrigation Department that at least 200 cusecs of water should be released from the Mukerian Hydel Channel into the Kali Bein. According to experts, fish in Kali Bein had died due to the low oxygen level in water on account of the release of less quantity of water from Mukeriam Hydel Channel.

Speaking to TNS, Kapurtha DC DS Mangat said there was some problem in the Kapurthala Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) before he joined office last month. "After my joining, the STP is working properly and treated water was being released into the drain," he claimed, adding that there were some outlets from where untreated waste was being discharged into the drain and suitable action would be taken in this regard.

Briefing the Divisional Commissioner, the PPCB Superintending Engineer SP Garg said necessary action to ensure that untreated waste was not discharged in the Kala Sanghian drain had already been initiated. 

Jalandhar, May 9
The lack of space and/or presence of too many students at some government schools in the city is causing students to miss out on vital Edusat lessons.

Students studying in Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bhargo Camp, Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Gandhi Camp (which also houses Government Girls High School) and Government Senior Secondary School, Model House have been missing Edusat classes owing to the shortage of rooms in their respective schools.

Jalandhar, May 9
Following the withdrawal of nomination papers today, three of the 21 zones of the Zila Parishad elections have gone to the SAD.

The three zones where the SAD candidates have already won unanimously are Balbir Kaur from Behram Srishta, Baljit Kaur from Pholariwal and Harjinder Kaur from Dhandowal. While 91 nominations had been filed for Zila Parishad, 29 papers had been rejected yesterday and 11 were withdrawn. After three candidates declared winners, there are now only 48 candidates in the fray from 18 zones.

For Block Samiti Adampur, there were 59 candidates, out of which 20 withdrew today. One candidate was declared winner unopposed. In Bhogpur, there were 50 papers filed, of which one got rejected and 19 have withdrawn. In Jalandhar (East), two of the 83 papers had been rejected. Today there have been 30 withdrawals, leaving 51 candidates in the fray.

In Jalandhar (West), three of 96 candidates had been rejected. After withdrawal, 57 candidates have been left to contest. Papers of 23 out of 50 candidates of Lohian, 30 of 66 Mehatpur, 20 of 57 papers have been rejected at Nurmahal, 25 of 66 of Nakodar, 25 of 99 of Phillaur, 12 of 41 papers of Shahkot and 30 of 72 of Rurka Kalan were withdrawn.

Kapurthala, May 9
ADC (General)-cum-returning officer (RO) Gurpreet Singh Khaira rejected the Congress objection against the Akali candidate from Lakhan Ke Padde Zila Parishad zone falling under the Bholath Assembly segment after inquiring the matter.

The Congress candidate Satnam Singh Goga sought the rejection of Akali candidate Bikkar Singh's nomination papers, alleging that he had constructed his house on panchayat land.

Former MLA and Congress spokesperson, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, also sent messages for holding his press conference outside the RO's office regarding the matter on Thursday at 11 am.

On the other hand, the RO found the documents provided by the Congress candidate in support of his objection as fake during inquiry. Subsequently, he rejected the objection filed by the Congress candidate.

Meanwhile, 204 candidates have been left in the fray for the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections scheduled to be held on May 19.

DC-cum-District Election Officer (DEO) DS Mangat said as many as 168 candidates withdrew their papers on Thursday.

A total of 39 candidates for 10 Zila Parishad Zones had filed their nomination papers and 18 withdrew their papers on Thursday. Subsequently, 21 candidates have now left in the fray for the ten Zila Parishad zones, he said.

Similarly, the nomination paper of one, out of total 75 candidates for Kapurthala Panchayat Samiti election's was rejected and 34 candidates withdrew their papers on Thursday, he said.

Voting for these elections will be held on May 19 from 8 am to 4 pm, whereas the counting for the votes would be held on May 21. A total of 633 polling stations for 3,52,753 electors would be set up for smooth and fair elections amidst tight security, he said.

Jalandhar, May 9
The post-matric scholarship issue refuses to remain out of the thick of controversy as an activist of the Global Awareness Trust for Awareness today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) regarding the denial of roll number to Amit Kler, a student at Doaba College.

Activist Madan Singh, along with Kler’s parents, today asked the DC that the roll number be released to Kler alleging that it had been withheld even as the student deserved the benefits of the post-matric scholarship scheme.

The activist said he had first met the principal of Doaba College to deposit the examination fee on January 16. On January 24, he wrote to the District Welfare Officer to pardon Kler’s examination fee on the basis of the scholarship scheme.

“On February 15, the principal released a letter saying that the student’s attendance is too low and he has not paid any fee and his name is being struck off the list,” said Singh.

While Kler went to the college to appear for two of his practical examinations, he was not allowed to appear in them due to lack of a roll number and non-payment of examination fee.

“While this issue had been raised in the meeting of 13 colleges summoned by the district administration yesterday and the principal had agreed to release the roll number, they are now asking us to get it from the university. The student has a right to get the roll number,” Singh said.

While the DC marked a copy of the memorandum to the ADC, it was further forwarded to the District Welfare Officer.

Principal Dr Naresh Dhiman said, “The student’s past result has not been declared so far. The university had just allowed provisional admission to him. Neither the student has paid fee nor submitted a form for the scholarship. We cannot allow a student to sit in the examination without having cleared all the requisite formalities.” 

Jalandhar, May 9
With the heat wave gradually intensifying in the region, flora and fauna here has also taken a beating.

Worst is the condition of saplings, planted by the civic body and the forest department along the roads and highways in the absence of any permanent caretaker to water them.

Recently the forest department had planted over 700 saplings, including dates, along with GT road, Jalandhar-Pathankot road and various other main and scheduled roads converging in the city.

Although the department claims to have told the areas range officers to take care of the saplings, a majority of the saplings have started withering due to the rising mercury.

A survey by The Tribune team on the GT road, Jalandhar-Jammu highway, Jalandhar-Nakodar road showed that scores of trees and saplings planted on either sides of these roads had dried up, while some were waiting for their caretaker’s attention. At some places, saplings had fallen prey to stray cattle in the absence of any tree guards and absence of required water. Similarly, the water level in various water bodies have started receding with less oxygen level in them.

Small animals have started shifting out in search of other suitable destinations.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Vishal Chauhan claimed that the date tree had a characteristic that it revived after withering and the trees would be bearing leaves in the month of July.

He, however, claimed that almost 80 per cent of the saplings would survive, as forest officials were continuously monitoring their growth and watering them.

Jalandhar, May 9
The rural police arrested two transporters and recovered a truck stacked with 21 quintals of poppy husk in Kartarpur, near here this morning.

The police also recovered a truck, bearing registration number PB-07-S-4341, parked in a secluded place in Naugaja village at 4 am today. A police party led by the SHO Kartarpur, was returning from a naka this morning, when it spotted a truck laden with 60 sacks of poppy husk.

SP (D), Rajinder Singh said two persons sitting in a truck, Gurmail Singh of Lalian village and Joginder Singh of Naugaja village were about to flee on seeing the police party but were apprehended. A case under Sections 15,25,61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered at the Kartarpur police station.

SP (headquarters), Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar said during preliminary inquiry it had been found that the truck was owned by Gurmail Singh, who alongwith Joginder Singh, used to bring poppy husk from Kishangarh in Rajasthan stashed under other goods meant for transportation. “This time they were bringing the consignment along with cans of refined oil and were to deliver at Shankar near Nakodar,” he said adding the two accused were getting Rs 1 lakh for each delivery and had confessed to have made five such deliveries. 

Jalandhar, May 9
The Division Number 7 police today arrested two travel agents who were reportedly preparing fake degrees of Panjab University and Guru Nanak Dev University for sending students abroad.

The police recovered 24 forged degrees, three fake passports and two original degree certificates from the premises of Seven Overseas company located near the bus stand. The police arrested two co-owners Akash of Saidan Gate Jalandhar and Supreet Singh of Amritsar.

SHO Som Nath said their another partner Mandeep Singh Lucky of Dyal Nagar and technician Munish Kalra of Alipuli Mohalla managed to flee. He said that all four had been booked under Sections 420, 465 and 120-B of the IPC. The police has also taken computer systems into their possession. A major drive against fraud travel agents was carried out three days ago in which raids were conducted on the premises of six student immigration centres. 

PHAGWARA, MAY 9
A man, identified as Om Sharan of nearby Lakhanpal village, was killed when a speeding truck hit him on the Phagwara-Nakodar Road last night. The deceased, an employee of Vishal Mega Mart Show Room, was returning to his village when a truck loaded with stubble hit him and sped away.