Jalandhar, October 11
Following the arrest of four persons, including a property dealer and his wife, two months ago in a case pertaining to the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT), the Vigilance Bureau (VB) is zeroing in on another alleged scam in the Trust regarding the allotment of two plots in the posh Surya Enclave area to the attorney holders of a dead person in the category for locally displaced persons (LDPs).

The matter was taken up after an RTI activist and complainant in the case, Ajay Sehgal, lodged a complaint with Chief Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary Vigilance Department Rakesh Singh on September 20. He has levelled allegations against former chairman of the JIT Baljit Singh Neelamahal and staff of the Trust that two plots of 250 sq yards had been allotted to an LDP Mewa Ram even though there were no whereabouts of him and the latter’s special power of attorney (SPA) holder Ram Lal Gupta had died many years ago.

On November 9, 2010, Balbir Singh and Pritam Singh, both SPA holders of Ram Lal Gupta, had sought a claim on a 500 sq yard plot in JP Nagar, which was due to be given to Mewa Ram way back in 1979 following the acquisition of his 1 kanal 16 marla land for the JIT scheme. They did this while concealing the fact that Gupta had died in 1998. The fact that both the SPA holders, who are residents of Jalandhar city, got it registered from Adampur had further raised many eyebrows.

On the chairman’s order, the staff got a public notice issued on November 15, 2010, for the allotment of two plots in Surya Enclave instead and got allotment done in 42 days at reserve price. The fact that the addresses of Mewa Ram and Ram Lal Gupta had not been made public in the notices further raised a question mark. Even the possession of both plots 647-A and 670-A for just Rs 73,353 was given in February, 2011, with letter addressed to Mewa Ram through Balbir Singh.

Sehgal said that even when Balbir Singh further sold off the plots on March 11, 2011, the JIT authorities did not even check as to whether Mewa Ram was alive or that his legal heirs had authorised the SPA holder to further sell off the properties.

Former chairman Baljit Singh Neelamahal said he was not aware of any such case against him being investigated by the VB. He feigned ignorance on any illegality happening in the case, saying even if he was a signatory to the matter, the files must have been put up by some dealing hands. Chairman of JIT Vinay Bublani said the matter was not in his knowledge. ASI Sanjeev Bhandari, inquiry officer of the VB, confirmed that investigations into the matter were on.

Jalandhar, October 11
Lawyers and petitioners at the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum are an aggrieved lot, as they have alleged that they are not being dispatched certified copies of judgments for the past sometime.

The forum, it is learnt, is running short of postage stamps and stationery for the past few weeks, as the budget for the same is yet to get sanctioned.

As per the Consumer Protection Act, the petitioner as well as the respondent is to get a certified copy free of cost, for which the cost is to borne by the forum itself.

KC Malhotra, a counsel, said it was much of a problem for the litigants who have been running around to get copies of the order even days after the decision had been announced. “For all those cases where the complaint is upheld, the implementation of orders is to be done within a month from the receipt of the orders. When the orders are getting delayed, the implementation time too is getting prolonged,” he pointed out. “Even in case a person intends to file an appeal against the orders with the State Commission, he cannot do that till the time he gets a copy of the same.”

A forum member confirmed that there was a problem. “It persists elsewhere and even in the State Commission. I am sure it will get rectified at the earliest,” he said.

Jalandhar, October 11
Two shuttlers Jeevesh Khanna and Parth Soni have brought laurels to the city as they have been selected in the Punjab under-13-sub-junior badminton team.

Jeevesh and Parth will represent Punjab in the four-day National Badminton Championship, scheduled to be held in Cuttack of Odisha from November 13.

Students of local APJ School in sixth and seventh respectively, Jeevesh and Parth are the only two boys from the state who have been automatically selected in the state team by winning doubles in the u-13 in Punjab Badminton Championship held at Mukandpur in Nawanshahr from October 7 to 9.

Interestingly, Parth won the gold by bagging the first position and Jeevesh got the silver by remaining runner-up in the singles in the u-13 in the championship.

Meanwhile, the joy of Parth’s parents Monika and Akshay Soni and Jeevesh’s mother Rubina and Puneet Khanna knew no bounds on their sons’ achievements.

Badminton is in Jeevesh’s blood, as his grandfather Irwin, Irwin’s younger brother Rakesh and his uncle Ritin Khanna also remained national badminton players during their time.

On the other hand, Parth is the maiden member of his family to play this game. He did not even think of becoming a champion when his mother Monika encouraged him to play badminton about three years ago just to save his vision from deterioration as he used to watch TV a lot.

Both Parth and Jeevesh have never looked back since they started playing badminton a few years ago by getting coaching from Ratti Badminton Academy where they spend nearly three-hours both in the morning and evening to pursue their passion. The shuttlers did not forget to express their gratitude to their coaches Sachin and his brother Gagan Ratti.

Earlier Parth bagged several gold medals by winning various championships, including north zone singles in March and inter-district tournament in August this year.

Similarly Jeevesh also won several gold medals in different champions. He also remained the u-10 state champion in both singles and doubles in 2011 and the u-13 singles and doubles in Lining open championship in 2012.

Jalandhar, October 11
With the festive season in full swring, the market for adulterated and substandard materials has also grown in the city.

While the word doing rounds in the food and health fraternity is that "shielded" units happily go on with their shady businesses due to low punitive action, only a small amount of the adulteration going on in the market makes it to the official records.

However, in the past three years, 78 food samples have failed in the district, out of which nine were unsafe foods and the rest 69 were substandard.

In the year 2011, a total of 363 samples had been taken, out of which 22 failed. In 2012, a total of 266 samples were, taken out of which 41 failed and this year, so far, (till September) 208 samples have been taken, out of which 15 failed.

In October, an additional 61 samples have already been taken.

In 2012, 50 samples were taken from wholesalers (of which 10 failed) and 216 from retailers (of which 31 failed).

Of the 107 samples taken (July onwards) in 2011, one was unsafe, while the rest were substandard. Of the total 56 samples failing in 2012 and 2013, total of eight were unsafe (four, each, were unsafe in both years), while the rest were substandard.

Incidentally, while a whopping 78 food samples have failed in the past three years, nine of which were unsafe, not a single one of the unsafe units from where samples were taken has been sealed or even invited punitive action.

As per the health department sources, while for the substandard samples, a fine of Rs 1 lakh is supposed to be levied (since the past two to three months), before that, the fine was Rs 30,000 per failed (substandard) sample.

Moreover, for the unsafe samples, the owner of vends or units from where the samples has been taken is liable to a sentence ranging from three to five years, based on the trial court’s decision.

DHO Dr Balwinder Singh said, “We have been regularly carrying out sample surveys and especially in the present month, more than 50 raids have been carried out already. We are instructing vendors and shopkeepers to keep the food they are serving to clients clean. We are also ensuring that proper checks are ensured and notices are issued to any units in which unhygienic conditions are found to be prevalent.”

Civil Surgeon Dr RL Bassan said, “So far two teams have been constituted in the district to carry out checks and inspections at various units, but soon the number will be increased to two. We have already started inspecting wholesale units as well. Two godowns were also inspected today. But so far things have been found to be satisfactory.”

Speaking about the low punitive action regarding units selling unsafe food in the city, the Civil Surgeon said, "Law shall take its own course, but we are trying to ensure adequate measures to prevent unsafe or substandard foods from making way to residents."

Fact file 837 food samples taken in past three years 78 failed the test, 9 unsafe, rest substandard Official records of failed samples very low compared to facts. Punitive action very limited More teams to be constituted to fight festive food adulteration menace

Jalandhar, October 11
A major fire broke out at a junk dealer's shop in the Basti Sheikh locality this evening. While the exact cause of the fire was not known, 12 fire-tenders were pressed into service to put out the flames which had not been controlled till the filing of this news item.

There was no report of any loss of life, yet there was a huge loss of material stored in the shop.

The police is investigating the matter.

Jalandhar, October 11
The farmers of the state are a harassed lot as due the extreme weather conditions prevailing for the past one month; the moisture content in the paddy crop has gone up to 30% from the normal 17%. Due to this, agencies are not buying the crop hence wedging the payments of the farmers. The farmers now want the Central Government to provide some relaxation in the parameters of paddy purchase so as to ease the burden on the farmers who now want money to sow the wheat for which the season has already begun.

“Consistent rains would have further destroyed our left-over crops and also we did not have any open space for it to dry. Also, the time to sow the next crop was approaching fast and the fields should be vacated for that. The government should relax the parameters a little to felicitate the selling of paddy in the state,” said Avtar Singh, a farmer from Quadian Village. The farmers are getting hauled everywhere for bringing moistened crop into the grain market.

Also, the deadlock between the rice miller and the state government is troubling farmers a lot due to the delay in their payments. However, on Thursday, the government did approve 24 rice mills to stock paddy in the state. Though, this news has brought cheers to the debt-ridden farmers a while but the continuous drizzling every second day is adding up to their woes.

“I am waiting here for the past six days. Three days ago, my crop has recorded 30% moisture due to the harsh weather. It will take months to get the moisture down to 17% in this weather. How would I grow wheat with so much high cost of diesel and electricity without getting the holdover payments?” said Sukhpal Singh, a farmer from Dhanaal village.

Unfortunately, the state does not have the ultra-modern technologies to combat this yearly problem of the farmers in the state. A maize dryer was installed in Gad Shankar recently but unfortunately this type of technology was not available for paddy or wheat drying.

“The Central Government should temporarily revise the parameters of paddy procurement. It should raise the moisture level of paddy from 17 to 19% and the discolour content from 3 to 5% to provide some relief to the farmers in the state,” said Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Chairman Mandi Board, Punjab.

Unfortunately, the already moistened crop is getting more damaged by lying openly on the roads due to the shortage of storage area thus adding more woes to the already- suppressed farmers.

Jalandhar, October 11
As residents here are already waiting endlessly at Tatkal counters for getting tickets, their problems are being further aggravated by several unauthorised agents (karindas) active at city railway station.

Deepak Kumar, who went at reservation counter at 5.30 am yesterday and today to get a Tatkal reservation done for Lucknow had not got the same, said, “A number of karindas are active at railway station. We have failed to get tickets despite standing in queue for hours but they may easily make any Tatkal ticket available by paying some extra money allegedly in connivance with some railway employees.”

Interestingly, when contacted, chief reservation supervisor (CRS) Gursharan Singh also admitted presence of some unauthorised agents at city railway station. At the same time, he said, “I ask the policemen present at the railway station to take those agents away as and when we find anyone.”

When asked whether he had lodged an FIR against any such agent, he said, “No, we did not file any FIR against any such agent.”

Contrary to Gursharan Singh’s confession, city railway station superintendent Naresh Kumar said, “I have not found any agent active at city railway station. If I get any complaint, I will get the matter probed.”

Jalandhar October 11
Indian Air Force Delhi and Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi earned three points each after beating their rivals Punjab Police, Jalandhar by 4-2 and Punjab State Power Corp Patiala by 7-1 respectively in quarter final league matches of the 30th Servo Indian Oil Surjit Hockey Tournament at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.

In Pool A Indian Air Force played combined hockey. In the 2nd minute of the match Air Force boy Prabhakar earned first penalty corner, thus sounding the board (1-0). In the 7th minute of the play, Punjab Police equalised through penalty corner conversion by Avtar Singh (1-1). After that Indian Air Force took the command of the match, their Harwant Singh scored in 11th minute, Lovedeep Singh in 25th minute and Verendra in 31st minute of the play (4-1). Till lemon break Indian Air Force was leading by 4-1. After changing ends Punjab Police made many attacks. They earned penalty corner in 52nd minute, Avtar Singh reduced the margin (2-4).

In Pool D, Punjab and Sind Bank, Delhi, thrashed Punjab State Power Corp Ltd, Patiala by 7-1 to earn three points from first outings.

In the first half of the game PSPCL boys gave tough fight to the bankmen but in the second half bankmen gave no chance to powermen to return to game. At half time, Punjab and Sindh Bank was leading by 1-0 which was scored by Karamjit Singh in 11th minute. (1-0). In the second half Sarwanjit Singh scored in 42nd minute, Karamjit Singh in 44th minute, Manjinder Singh in 48th minute, Varinderjit Singh in 50th minute, Parvinder Singh in 62nd and 64th minute of the play. For PSPCL Patiala Sukhjit Singh scored in the 56th minute of the play (7-1). 

Jalandhar, October 11
To make the district tobacco-free a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, Varun Rujam, was held here today. Dr Rakesh Gupta and Dr Surinder Surila from the state headquarters, along with health, education, police and NGO personnel were also present at the meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner gave a call to make the district tobacco-free by December 25. Civil Surgeon, RL Bassan, talked about the necessity of tobacco prevention. He said more challans and awareness being spread about tobacco-related diseases among the public shall be the prime motive of the Health Department. The Deputy Commissioner said tobbacco prevention boards should be put up at public places like bus stand, railway station, schools, offices, etc. 

Jalandhar, October 11
A blood donation camp was organised by NSS department of GNA-IMT, Phagwara, in association with Hindustan Welfare Blood Donors Club. The camp was inaugurated by Gurdeep Singh Seehra, president, GNA IMT and CEO GNA Duraparts Limited along with other officials of the institute.

While addressing the students, Gurdeep Singh Seehra stressed on the participation of youth in such social causes.

Jalandhar, October 11
Slamming the SAD-BJP government and its departments for allegedly encroaching upon 16 industrial training institutes, Punjab Congress Spokesperson Nimisha Mehta said it shows the real face of Parkash Singh Badal-led government in safeguarding the future of the youth. Lambasting the various departments and particularly the police chief of Nawanshahr, SSP, Dhanpreet Kaur for allegedly encroaching upon the ITI’s meant to impart technical education to the youth of the state, he said it is going to severely affect the future of the youth.

“The ITI’s are meant to impart technical training to the students. By encroaching upon the institute and with the presence of the government officials especially the police force, it will not only affect the training but also hamper the mental growth of the students,” said Nimisha, in a release issued here today.

Jalandhar, October 11
A two-day workshop on adolescence was held at a local school here to ensure doling out of adolescence education lessons to students by government school teachers.

As many as 400 teachers of the district received training during the workshop.

The initiative was started as per the instructions of the Population Cell of the State Science Education Organisation, Punjab, under District Education Officer, Neelam Kumari, and District Science Supervisor, Baljinder Singh.

As many as 400 nodal officers in the city received training to dole out lessons to government school students in view of increasing addiction among adolescents, to make them more aware about the mental and physical changes experienced during adolescence.

Two teachers each, from a 100 senior secondary and a 100 high schools received training.

Deputy CMO, Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, Aruna Sharma was present as the chief resource person. Workshop resource person Sanjiwan Singh Dadwal Headmaster, Government High School, Patara, presented solutions and ways to educate adolescent students about sexually transmitted diseases.

Resource person, lecturer Charanjit Singh talked about the challenges of adolescence while Kulbhushan Rana talked about its changes.

EDUSAT coordinator Jagtinder Sohal, Rajiv Handa, physics lecturer, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Vishal Gandhi, Parvinder Singh,were among others present on the occasion. 

Jalandhar, October 11
Police DAV Public School is hosting VI Sub-junior Tchouk Ball Championship and Federation Cup from October 11 to 13 organised by State Tchouk Ball Associaton affiliated to Indian Tchouk Ball Federation. In the opening ceremony, Sarwan Singh Phillaur (Minister for Prisons) was the chief guest. He was accorded a warm welcome by principal Rashmi Vij. As many as 20 teams from across the are country are participating in the championship. A march past was carried out by the participating teams. The oath-taking ceremony was performed by Punjab team captain Rajveer Kaur and Divakar.Bhangara was presented by the students of Police DAV Public School.