Ludhiana, November 29
The Municipal Corporation has asked Superintending Engineer (Electrical) SP Singh and Executive Engineer Balwinder Singh to explain why metal halide (MH) lamps were replaced with mercury vapour lamps on several roads in the city.

The Superintending Engineer, in turn, has slapped show-cause notices on two junior engineers and three contractors entrusted with the task of maintenance of streetlights in different parts of the city.

The scam was unearthed during a surprise check by MC Commissioner Pradeep Aggarwal and other officials. It was found that out of some 2,000 streetlight points on highways, a large number of defective MH lamps were replaced with mercury vapour lamps. The contractors had claimed the cost of MH lamps (which is more than double compared to that of mercury vapour lamps). At the same time, they had also claimed higher cost of maintenance of streetlight points.

SP Singh told the Tribune that a detailed report of irregularities committed by the contractors had been submitted to the MC authorities. Junior engineers deployed on Ferozepur Road and Elevated Road had been asked to explain their conduct with regard to lapse on their part as supervisory officials, he stated.

He said the contractors had commenced the work of replacement of mercury vapour lamps with MH lamps on Ferozepur Road and Elevated Road. The field staff was also in the process of conducting inspection of all streetlight points on main roads in the city, and wherever deficiencies were found, the contractors would be liable to rectify them.

With regard to financial loss suffered by the MC on this account, Singh said no payment had been made to the contractors in the past three months. “All their pending bills will be scrutinised and payment will be made to them only after adjustment of the difference between cost of the mercury vapour and MH lamps as well as deduction of higher maintenance charges,” he added.

Ludhiana, November 29
Movie Chaar Sahibzaade not only shows the historical perspective, but also the responsibility the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh shouldered against the tyranny and exploitation.

This was stated by Gurpal Kaur, principal, Ryan International School, Chandigarh Road.

“This is the reason why the school took students to watch the movie,” she said.

Many schools and social organisations have been taking students to watch the movie for the values of courage, responsibility, fight for justice, affection for parents and 
grandparents. “The movie inculcates valour,” said Kaur. Movies that had life-long lessons and inculcate good values among children should be made, 
she added.

Rajesh Rudra, director, chain of Green Land Schools, said the life history of Sahibzaade inspired many to fight selflessly against the dictatorial tyranny and corruption. “Learning a lesson from the movie, today’s generation will follow the path of righteousness and morality,” he added. The school took 2,400 students to watch the movie recently.

Children are also elated at having watched the movie. “I loved the movie. The bravery and sacrifice of Chaar Sahibzaade was inspiring,” said Karan, a Class IX student. “I didn’t know much about this part of history,” he said. Another youngster said, “The movie also shows that one doesn’t have to be big to do great things.”

Another teacher said although many movies were made and even animation movies were produced, movies that inculcated good values and traits in children should be made, said a school teacher, who accompanied the students. Apart from the heroism of four Sahibzaade, the love they had for their grandmother was poignant, a youngster said.

“The movie is an inspiration for film makers who are making vapid films based on vacuous comedy. The state is healthy history-wise,” Rohit, a moviegoer. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, Nov 29
Shiksha Ratan Jaswinder Singh, a lecturer in physics and in charge of the Circle Inspection Team, Nabha, has transformed his personal car into a mobile laboratory which is available on call for schools or organisations to illustrate over 100 practical experiments in the field of science and mathematics.

The main aim of Jaswins Mobile Science Math Laboratory is to develop scientific temper among young students and to persuade them to adopt elements of science and mathematics in their lifestyle.

Though normally Jaswinder Singh utilises Sundays and holidays for popularising science and mathematics among students of government schools situated in remote areas, at times he has to devote his casual and earned leaves for the purpose.

Amarjit Kaur, principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Guram, and Mohit Jindal, manager, State Bank of India, Dehlon, informed that recently Jaswinder Singh agreed to organise free workshop for students and residents of the area on a working day.

Budding scientists and residents were enthused when Jaswinder Singh made them understand otherwise difficult principles and formulas of science and mathematics with apparatuses and models stacked in laboratory on wheels.

It takes about four hours for Jaswinder Singh to demonstrate experiments for illustrating various principles on the roof of
his car.

The experiments are mainly related to classes VI to XII and include the working of solar energy devices such as solar fans, bulbs, geysers, the Archimedes principle, Newton’s law, Pascal’s law, mathematical problems and development of their formulas.

Showing satisfaction over response received from authorities at various schools visited by him, Jaswinder Singh said science teachers had started realising that practical aspect of science subjects was more important than the theory.

“Students too appreciate the significance of practical aspect of science. After we conduct and exhibit the experiments, we invite the students to perform them on their own,”
said Jaswinder Singh claiming the practice raised curiosity among arts students as well.

Recognising his contribution towards development of science and mathematics, many national and state awards have been conferred upon Jaswinder Singh.

Khanna, November 29
Fed up with false assurances of development, residents are protesting against politicos and administrative officials. The angry residents have put up boards in wards number 4 and 5, demanding reasons for their neglect.

The residents said they had been demanding sewerage facility for the past two decades. They said sewage often got collected on the streets, many of which were not even properly constructed.

Social activist Tejinder Singh and former principal Tarsem Bahia said they had sent several written complaints to the officials concerned, but to no avail. The residents said the Deputy Chief Minister, during a visit along with Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi, had assured them of developing the area, but the announced grant of Rs 131 crore was yet to reach Khanna.

The residents said now they were forced to put up boards demanding development of the area. They said due to lack of development in the area, the ruling party would suffer in the upcoming civic body elections.

Executive Officer, Khanna, Charanjit Singh said he was not aware about the issue. He said development works were going on as per the available funds and the remaining works would be completed after receiving grants from the state government.

Jagraon, November 29
With the aim of strengthening its base in rural areas, the Jagraon unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed some rural Sikh leaders on various important party posts.

Balbir Singh Garcha of Hathur village has been nominated for the post of district vice-president of the backward classes’ cell of the party. The party has also appointed Mohinder Singh of Deharka village as the district president of the scheduled caste cell, while Jaspal Singh Chakar and Balvir Singh Vicky have been appointed as its members. These and some other appointments made by the BJP hold significance in view of the increasing bitterness between the ruling alliance partners: SAD and BJP.

If the sources in the BJP are to be believed, these appointments have been made to strengthen the party in rural areas before the next Assembly elections.

The party has also launched a membership drive in various villages of the area. According to party leaders, people are showing a lot of interest in joining the BJP ranks, following its overwhelming victory in the Lok Sabha elections.

“The improved performance of the party in the recently held Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra has further cemented the party’s position. A large number of people from rural areas have joined the party in the recent past,” said Sukhdeep Nahar, district convener of the BJP’s media cell.

BJP leaders say the approach of people towards the party has also witnessed a change. Dr. Rajinder Sharma, district vice-president of the party, said the perception that BJP is merely an urban-centric party in Punjab is obsolete now.

“The party has been reaching out to rural folks and people from every section of society are showing a lot of enthusiasm towards joining hands with the BJP,” said Sharma.

Ludhiana: A students' enrichment programme was organised at Partap Public School, Ludhiana. Spread over three days, the enrichment programme provided rich and varied exposure to thes tudents through many inter-house competitions, including Hindi poetry recitation, Hindi extempore, wall magazine contest, Punjabi poetry recitation, joke enactment, face painting, English poetry recitation and collage making. The contests were held at three layers- intra class, inter class and inter house for students of classes VI to XII. 

Ludhiana, November 29
Even as vast majority of the residents of posh locality of Rajguru Nagar in the city, developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), are turning against the installation of seven illegal gates on public roads and streets, which remain closed all through the day, another section of the residents seems to be bent upon open confrontation with the authorities on the issue.

While the Punjab Government (Local Government Department) has directed the Municipal Corporation vide its memo (5/164/2014(12)2LG/341307 dated November 11, 2014), at least three attempts made by field staff of LIT to get the gates opened during the past couple of days were foiled by stubborn residents living in the close vicinity of these gates.

Gurcharan Singh, a former principal and a resident of the colony, who had lodged complaints with the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, as well as the Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC), asserts that public streets and roads were government property and it was an illegal act to put gates on thoroughfares. The offenders ought to be punished as per the provisions of the law.

Earlier, the PHRC had also forwarded the complaint regarding the illegal gates to the Deputy Commissioner for necessary action as per the law. However, the district administration also failed to take any worthwhile steps to redress the grievances of the residents.

If the LIT officials are to be believed, the resident welfare societies in the colony (who had put up these gates), had been explicitly told to keep the gates open from 5am to 10pm and further deploy security guards during night at each of the closed gates to avoid inconvenience to the residents. However, these directions had failed to make any changes as the gates remain closed even during the day, citing reasons of safety and security.

Gurcharan Singh and other residents of the colony said refusal to abide by the directions of the authorities and preventing government officials from performing their duty was an illegal and punishable act for which criminal cases should be lodged against the offenders.

“Further, these illegal gates violate the spirit of Article 13 (Freedom to Movement) of the Declaration of Universal Human Rights,1948, Article 19(d) of the Indian Constitution (Freedom to Movement) and Section 431 of the IPC which prescribes five-year imprisonment to culprits for blocking roads and passages,” he said while wondering as to when the authorities will wake up from their deep slumber and maintain a rule of law.

Ludhiana, November 29
The Generation Saviour Association, an NGO, has initiated a smoke-free Ludhiana campaign in the district. The NGO will press upon government offices to implement the Cigarette and Tobacco Product Control (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. In its first phase, the NGO will focus only on smoking.

Amiteshwar Kaur, president of the NGO, said with the support of the Tobacco Control Cell, Punjab, they had completed the campaign in 18 districts out of the 22 districts of the state. By now, only four districts of Ludhiana, Moga, Tarn Taran and Pathankot are left.

It would take the help of the District Tobacco Control Societies to make the district smoke-free.

Harpreet Singh, Divisional Coordinator of the body, said: “We are making efforts to implement the Cigarette and Tobacco Product Control Act. We will distribute pamphlets, signboards, Highway boards and other material to societies.

The NGO will also give training to volunteers to implement the act. As per the Section 4 of the Cigarette and Tobacco Product Control Act, initially we will make the district smoke-free.

“As the smoking is prohibited at public places and at government offices and educational institutes, the department concerned will have to install boards displaying ‘no smoking’ at such places. Moreover, they have to take care that filters of consumed cigarettes, lighters, and match boxes should not be found at public places.

Otherwise, the department concerned can be challaned,” he said.

Amiteshwar Kaur, president of the body, said: “Initially, we will make the district smoking-free and then we will start making efforts to make it tobacco-free.” Office-bearers of the NGO met Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal, Supreet Singh Gulati, ADC (development); and Kuljeetpal Singh Mahi, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). The officials assured them to support their campaign.

Ludhiana, November 29
As many as 63 vehicle drivers were challaned during a special naka set up by the district administration and the police near Phullanwal village in the Pakhowal Road area last evening.

The vehicle of the SAD MLA was also challaned as his son was using an Amber-coloured beacon on its top without permission.

The special naka was set up under the supervision of Anil Garg, district transport officer; ADCP (Traffic) Gurdeep Singh; and Inspector, Zone In-charge Traffic, Gagandeep Singh Ghumman; and other senior district administration and police department officials.

Such special nakas are being set up in various parts of the city on regular intervals. Eighteen bottles of liquor were also confiscated from a person at the naka. Fake Press stickers were removed from a car and a person claiming to be a press reporter was also challaned.

Inspector Gagandeep Singh Ghuman said Rs 20,000 was collected as fine from the violators. “Such special nakas will be set up in various parts of the city on a regular basis so that people start following the traffic rules,” Ghuman said.

Ludhiana, November 29
Art Carnival 2014 has about 40 artists that are showcasing their artworks. About hundred works of art in different media, on myriad themes comprise the exhibition being organised by the TAC Art Gallery in association with the Ishmeet Singh Music Institute at the institute. The works include paintings, sketches, sculpture and photography works of the artists that include students, amateur artists as well as accomplished artists.

Harminder Boparai exhibited two of his metal scrap artworks. One of the artworks was his award winning work of a bird having a film in its beak. It won him the national award at the Delhi Internaitonal Film Festival last year. A number of artists had painted Budhha in different positions. Jaswant Singh, an artist, had displayed his work in acrylics. Art works of Amita Gupta that were in abstract were also on display. Kunal Bedi’s work in pen and ink had different perspectives while the portraits of Dolly Randhawa from Ambala were also done with an interesting technique with pen and ink. Muralist Aarti Sehgal Sharma presented her murals. Amrit Pal, a teacher, had made paintings on the theme of Sikh warriors. Works of Shabhana Qadri from Ambala were also on display. She had made works on the theme of figures and animals.

Karuna Mahindra from the gallery said it was an annual exhibition and it was getting a good response from visitors. As artists from different age-groups have come together to participate in the exhibition so it was serving a good platform for them to learn from one another, an artist said.

As murals, sculptures, photographs as well as paintings in different media were on display, it was good exchange of learning, he said.

The eveent is a good exposure for students to learn from experienced artists.

Ludhiana, November 29
An athletics meet was organised by students of SDP Senior Secondary School, Hazuri Road; SDP Senior Secodary School, Basti branch; and OP Gupta SDP Model Senior Secondary School, Quilla Mohalla, today.

Rajinder Soi was the chief guest during the morning session. Balraj Kumar Bhasin, president of the SDP Sabha and institutions, was the chief guest for the closing ceremony. A PT show and bhangra were held on the occasion. The day started with a march past and torch ceremony.

The chief guest gave away the prizes to winners and motivated the athletes to participate in sports to inculcate values like discipline, teamwork and leadership. Bhasin congratulated the winners of different events and laid stress on the need of sports for the all-round development of children.