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| Saturday,
March 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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Dr Borlaug recommends bed-type
planting Sudhar (Ludhiana), March 9 Dr Borlaug, who arrived on a day’s visit to Punjab Agricultural University, visited the farm of Principal Bhagwant Singh to see the experiments on bed type planting being conducted by the Punjab Agricultural University. Dr Borlaug said that he favoured the adoption of this technique as this was being tried in Pakistan and China at the moment. “We have got good results under this technique at CIMMYT, Mexico”in the International Centre for Maize and Wheat Development. The bed planting system has many advantages and you can cut the cost on fertilisers, seeds and conserve water, he added. Dr Borlaug, who was accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, Vice-Chancellor, designate, Dr K.S. Aulakh, and Dr M.S. Bajwa, Director Research, made querries from the group of farmers who had assembled in the fields of Mr Bhagwant Singh about the success of the new system. Principal Bhagwant Singh and Mr Gurdev Singh, said they had adopted the bed type planting technique only last year and they were satisfied with the results so far. They said that they had saved on pesticides, fertilisers and seed with high profitability. Dr Borlaug suggested to Dr Kalkat that it would be beneficial if the PAU conducted experiments on soybean, too, under the bed planting system. He said that rabi crop was sown late in some parts of India and Pakistan and there was rise in the temperature, with the result that the yield “goes down”. If experiments on soybean were successful, the same would be more profitable. He was of the view that the minimum yield of soybean should be 2½ or 3 tonnes per hectare. Dr Borlaug also suggested that the university should develop a rice planter as had been done in the case of wheat sowing under the bed planting technique. He commended the entrepreneurship of the Punjabi farmers when he remarked “You know much more than I do”. He was asked to give a word of advice to them by Dr Kalkat. Dr Borlaug also made enquires about the use of wheat straw and was told that it was used as a dry fodder by farmers whereas rice straw was burnt. Dr M.S. Bajwa stated that 81 per cent of rice straw was burnt while 10 per cent of wheat straw was burnt. Dr Borlaug told Dr Kalkat that he had discussed with the Planing Commission alternative crops in Delhi yesterday which could replace wheat and paddy. He said that high-quality maize could be sown as an alternative crop which could be used as animal feed. Soybean could fill the real purpose. Minimum of 2 to 3 tonnes of production per hectare would be the right answer and would be profitable to the farmers. The marketing must also be ensured. Mr Gaurav Singh, farmer of Sudhar village, complained that the government was not serious on providing marketing of soybean and other alternative crops and unless this was done, they would not be able to take up the same. Dr Borlaug also emphasised on the need for having intensive agronomic practices as he felt that something was wrong on this aspect in Asia. In the USA, farmers are getting even 5 tonnes of soybean per hectare. Dr Borlaug pointed out that with the rise in the prices of petroleum products and naphtha, the cost of nitrogen would go up. However, with the cultivation of soybean “you will have nitrogen.” Bed planting is done on row or two with a planter developed by PAU and nor manufactured by a private company too. According to Dr Sukhraj Singh Dhillon of PAU who is coordinator of the bed type planting project, there are about 1000 acres under wheat under the new technique. The results of research have shown 30 per cent saving in water and 33 per cent seed saving and the lodging of the crop has also been low. These results have been achieved under the irrigated crop. Dr Borlaug Ludhiana Tribune that the world food situation was ok and there was adequate food buffer in many countries of the world. However, the sub-Saharan countries were facing food deficit despite the fact that they had lot of potential. These countries lacked infrastructure. In India, he said, too there was massive stock of 45 millions tonnes but there were many people who were not getting sufficient food to eat because of lack of enough purchasing power. He called for the diversification of agriculture in surplus states like Punjab. Earlier, on arrival at the Ludhiana railway station, Dr Borlaug was received by Dr Kalkat, Dr Aulakh, Dr Bajwa and other senior officers of the Department of Punjab Agriculture and the Punjab Agro technocrats. |
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Holi goes modern this
time Ludhiana, March 9 From the available trends in the market with regard to colours and pichkaris, Holi was celebrated in a most smart and modern manner this time. Gone were the days when people celebrated the festival of colours in a traditional way with one or two colours. The ‘self-conscious’ people in the city preferred using imported colours instead of desi ones. The markets were today flooded with bright colours like red, orange, green, blue and yellow, but this time all the colours were in the form of sprays, creams, perfumed ones and coloured glasses. “This time people, especially young girls, were very much worried about their
skin. They did not want to do any kind of experiment with it. So they preferred the imported colours, which are costly as compared to Indian colours”, said Happy, a shopkeeper at the Dandi Swami road. A dermatologist in the Model town area said that some of these colours were high toxic, which could be harmful to the eyes and skin. He said people should go for light colours as they had comparatively less strong chemicals. Due to so much awareness in the younger generation, some of the shopkeepers had made their own natural colours like mehndi,
haldi, besan and maida. The manufacturers of these colours said that earlier people were always scared while using these colours. “It is due to public demand that we made these natural colours”, said one of the shopkeepers. Almost all the leading shops in the city had a variety of snow spray colours. Its range starts from Rs 50 to Rs 80. The perfumed colours range between Rs 75 to Rs 90. The most attractive are the coloured glasses. One glass costs about Rs 5 and these are available in each shade. The colours are also available in cream form. The tubes are available at Rs 10 (per tube). The soft colours are available at the rate of Rs 50 per kg. Small little sachets were also in demand this year. The
pitchkaris were a centre of attraction for children and small kids. There were designer pitchkaris which kids bought in bulk. There were bags available for kids, which are handy and useful. The bags range from Rs 150 to Rs 250. |
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Ludhiana to be developed as
model city: Tandon Ludhiana, March 9 Giving details of the meeting, Prof Rajinder Bhandari, general secretary of the BJP said that the maintenance of street lights in the city had already been handed over to private hands with a penalty clause for non-functional street lights. Similarly, the maintenance of garbage containers, placed all over the city, was also being done by private contractors. The results of privatisation were encouraging, Mr Tandon claimed, saying that the government intended to extend the system in many other major towns and cities in Punjab. Besides city Mayor Apinder Singh Grewal and Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Dr S.S. Sandhu, Lala Lajpat Rai, Member Rajya Sabha, district president Mr Harbans Lal Sethi, general secretary Prof Rajinder Bhandari, group leader of BJP councillors, Mr Pran Bhatia, Mr Parveen Bansal, Mr Rajiv Katna, Mr Harish Tandon, Mr Sunil Mehra and Mr Surinder Sharma, councillors attended the meeting. While expressing his satisfaction over the implementation of various development plans in the city, Mr Tandon directed the MC administration to take up the development works to make available basic civic amenities to the residents of undeclared areas and slum localities. The minister showed his concern over the slow pace of work for the construction of roads on both sides of budha nullah and issued instructions for completion of the work by April 30, 2001. The controversial issue of elevated road project, proposed to be constructed over the existing old G.T. Road from Jagraon Bridge to Chand Cinema in the city was also discussed in the meeting. Conceding the persistent demand being made by the BJP councillors, the minister asked the MC officials to call for suggestions from the public. The matter should also be discussed in the general house of the MC if the majority of the councillors so desired. |
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Air Force recruitment rally Khamano, March 9 Candidates born between September 1, 1982 to September 1 1985 were eligible and they must have passed 10th class examination with minimum of 45 per cent marks. The height of the candidates should be 152.5 cm and weight according to height. Capt Kesar Singh, District Sainik Welfare Officer, Fatehgarh Sahib, has informed that Sqn Ldr. Ravi Bhargav, OC No 1, Airman Selection Centre, Ambala Cantonment with his team is visiting Patiala to conduct the recruitment. He appealed the youths to make best use of this opportunity so that maximum aspirants can join the Indian Air Force and serve the nation. |
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BOTTOMLINE Ludhiana, March 9 Earlier, mainly due to lack of education and misplaced faith in the police, the number of such compromises was quite high. What normally happened was that after a fight between two individuals or groups, both of them rushed to the police station. The parties were told that it would be a case under Sections 107 and 151, CrPC which took years to end with a compromise. So why not arrive at one with police as witness. At the end of it all, both parties parted with some cash and kind favours. But with the spread of education, people started realising the foolishness involved in the whole exercise that was beneficial for the cops only. Since people do not prefer any police role in their personal quarrels anymore , they are being framed in flimsy cases by the compromise mafia which is fast gaining hold in the city. There is no dearth of unscrupulous police officials in the various police stations and chowkies of the city who give two hoots to scruples and upright conduct. And the city is full of touts who have no qualms in framing even their close friends and acquaintances in false cases, the sole purpose of which is to extort the maximum possible money from the parties. Needless to say, the corrupt cops and their touts share between themselves the spoils of the joint venture. These touts enjoy a lot of clout in their respective areas as their police connections are well known to the people. These touts comprise area councillors, other political figures, petty criminals, professional touts, and, of course, numerous friends and relatives of cops. The cops never say no to a prospective partner in an extortion racket. In fact, they suggest various ways, some of which are quite novel, to bait a particular party. Various extortion rackets are planned and executed depending upon the paying capacity of the prospective target. To pay up a sum of say Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 just to avoid a bit of beating by the cops and other hassles associated with them is considered rather cheap. It is matter of great relief for the relatives that their man is back home before midnight without being physically roughed up at the police station. Money fades into insignificance before these general considerations among the city folk. The money is paid up in two instalments. First a couple of hundreds or more to a havildar to ensure that the man is not ''touched''. Later at the time of compromise, it could be anything upwards of Rs 2,000. In numerous cases, persons who wants to take revenge on his rival for business or other reasons approach these touts for the purpose. Well when the first party has arrived the other cannot be too far either. The man seeking revenge is told to pick up a fresh quarrel on the basis of which the target could be brought to the police station. No entries are made in the relevant registers as required by the law. After the compromise, when the money has been paid and signatures affixed on a plain paper, both parties are expected to leave for their homes and forget about fighting. But a murkier case has come to light in which not only money was extorted from an uncle of a youth taken to Vardhman police post a few days ago on flimsy grounds but in which the boy was picked up minutes after the 'compromise' from the road and taken back to the post for a beating by four cops at the same time. Sources say the other party must have paid some extra money for getting the boy thrashed as well. The greed of the cops knows no bounds. If you have the money, you can get any body beaten up by the police, add the sources. |
Hike in edible oil prices
flayed Ludhiana, March 9 The rates of popular refined oils in the market have been increased by Rs 2-10 per litre. The shopkeepers are selling the old stock at the increased rates as they are expecting that the next stock will be available at the increased rates. A leading seller of the refined oil, when contacted to know the prices of edible oil, said hesitatingly: ‘‘The rate of Gagan pouch has been increased from Rs 480 to Rs 530 per 20 litre in the past week. It means Rs 2.50 per litre increase in price. Similarly, the market has witnessed an increase in the price of Savikar brand from Rs 42 to Rs 46 per litre.’’ He added that since we have some old stocks, we have not enhanced the rates. According, the supply prices which will be certainly higher. The rate of Safola sunflower oil brand has been increased from Rs 140 to Rs 148 per two litre pack. It may be mentioned that the FM had hiked the custom duty on crude palm oil from 25 per cent to 55 per cent for all vanaspati units, except for sick units who have to pay at the old rates. Duty on all other crude oils have risen from 35 per cent to 75 per cent. The duty on refined rapeseed and mustard oil had been enhanced from 45 per cent to 75 per cent, thus pushing up the prices in the market. The duty on sunflower, coconut and all other oils had been increased to 85 per cent plus special additional duty. The traders in the market fear that the increase in prices will depress the market in the market. Mrs Renuka Verma, who was purchasing ration, said, ‘‘The government has reduced the rates of cars and other commodities used by the rich people, but the prices of day to day commodities has been increased.’’ Market analysts say that the increase in edible oil prices may affect the consumers to some extent. However, it will benefit the farmers in the region who had started shifting from oilseeds to
foodgrains. |
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Parking complex remains
under-utilised Ludhiana, March 9 The multi-storey parking complex was inaugurated by the Minister for Local Bodies, Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, on June 18, 2000. The parking complex has a capacity of 450 cars and about 650 scooters. But, according to the officials manning the complex, most of the space remains unutilised. So far the corporation has not given the space for parking on contract. The auction is likely to be held next week. Although about nine months have already passed since the inauguration of the parking complex, electricity or water is yet to be supplied to the complex. The complex had mainly been constructed with a view to providing parking space to the shopkeepers and people visiting the bazar and the surrounding areas. However, not many of them seem to be utilising the services. Most of the shopkeepers prefer to park their vehicles, including cars and scooters, on the roadside. All the roads, lanes and bylanes remain choked and even pedestrian movement becomes almost impossible in these lanes. The inaction on part of the traffic police officials compounds the problem. However, the shopkeepers have also been giving their own reasons for not parking their vehicles in the complex. So far the elevator has not been made functional. A shopkeeper said it is very difficult for anyone to go to the sixth or seventh floor of the complex. At present only three floors remain occupied. The same is the case with two- wheelers. The corporation charges Rs 5 for a four-wheeler and Rs 3 for a scooter for six hours. On an average the corporation has been earning about Rs 2,000 a day. But the revenue is likely to increase once the elevator gets operational. Moreover, the traffic police also needs to ensure that the vehicles are not parked on the roadside. This is possible only by persuasive and punitive methods only. In order to make it attractive, the corporation had also made the provision of a restaurant. That restaurant is also yet to start. The top floor of the complex provides a panoramic view of the entire city, as it is probably the highest structure in the city so far. |
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Satluj Club clarifies on
fee Ludhiana March 9 Mr Sandhu said all this was being done to get undue publicity. He said no single office-bearer of the club, by virtue of any post whatsoever, had any authority to revise rates followed by the club and only the executive committee of the club could take such decisions. It may be recalled that the campaign for the elections, scheduled for March 11, to the various posts of Satluj Club is in full swing. |
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ACHIEVERS Ludhiana March 9 Harpreet Singh is a student of B.Sc Agriculture (Hons.) from PAU. His passion is motor racing. He finds motor racing challenging and exciting, in spite of the dangers that it presents. Being a lover of sports, he participated in the University Wrestling Championships and then the racing bug bit him. He has two bikes a Yamaha and a Shogun. The adventure and the thrill motivated him to participate in SJOBA — The Thunderbolt Sub Himalayan Motor Rally 1995-96 and in 2000, he raced from Chandigarh to Chahal. His appetite for racing was whetted after the race, and he participated in the tough, Castrol Mountain Challenge Motor Rally from Delhi to Shimla for a couple of years. The toughest and gruelling rally Raid-de-Himalaya Event 2000, held for seven days, presented an extremely rough terrain. The race was very tough as they raced from Kufri to Manali to Kaze to Pang and then back to Manali through boulders and travelled in hostile weather. For his driving skill, he was adjudged the Best Novice Biker. His ambition is to earn name and fame in national and International events in motor sports. Financial constraints limit him from participating in this exciting sport and financial assistance would be welcome, as the last rally alone, had cost him Rs 35000. Anandita Chhabra is a student of GCW studying for Psychology (Hons) in the final year. She has been an outstanding student right from her school years. In BA II, she scored the highest percentage in Panjab University. She believes in all round development for a perfect personality and hence has been taking part in various co-curricular activities like quizzing, acting, poetry writing, declaming and has been winning prizes in all these competitions. Being creative and possessing a flair for language, she has been engaged in freelancing for Ludhiana Dispatch and Ludhiana Newsline. Six of her poems have been published in newspapers. She is the Vice-president of Manojigyasa, the ‘psychology association’ of the college. The list of prizes that she has won in declamation, creative writing competitions, poetry recitations, extempore speeches, paper reading contests and essay writing competitions is mind boggling. Anandita finds a lot of ‘Anand’ in engaging herself in all these co-curricular activities and is always smiling and extends a friendly hand to one and all. Another enterprising student of the same college, Sangeeta Vaid is 5ft. 10 inches and in the final year of graduation. She is a national level athlete. Recently, she was selected to participate in the Republic Day Camp at New Delhi and was declared the ‘Best Cadet’ from among Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. She was chosen as Prime Minister Stick Orderly and All India Camp adjutant. She was excited to walk on the Rajpath with other NCC cadets in the Republic Day Parade as the right marker. Her joy knew no bounds when she was asked to attend a Paratrooping Camp in November, 2000, at Agra. She was the only girl from this region and earned the coveted Para Wing after attempting three successful jumps from Indian Airforce Plane-AN-32 from a height of 2,500ft. After a lapse of eight years, she was the person selected from Ludhiana and had the distinction of being the Best Cadet for the year 2001-2002. Her grace and charm won her the title of Miss Fresher in the college competition and also the title of Miss Farewell. |
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The soldier who participated in many
wars Ludhiana, March 9 Born in Devidass village near Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district, the tall and well built Mukhtiar Singh joined the Indian Army in 1961 as a sepoy. Since then he worked as a driver for the armed forces. In the same year he was sent to Goa where he fought the Portuguese. In the following year he was deputed to Nathala to counter the Chinese aggression. In 1965 when war broke out with Pakistan, he was posted at Wagah sector. After a temporary reprieve of few years he was sent to Dhaka for the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. He retired from the armed forces in 1974. Army always remained his first love. He again joined the civil duty in Army in 1982. The duty was relaxing when compared to tough and tiring schedule during his first tenure. But when Kargil war broke out, he volunteered again to be deputed there. “I remained side by side with other soldiers”, he revealed, “I was feeling like taking a gun and wearing my uniform again”. The soldier’s spirit still persists in Mukhtiar Singh. A number of times he had close encounters with death. But he was never unnerved. “For a soldier will never be afraid of death. He is only afraid of cowardice”, he reveals and adds of his experience, “a successful soldier is always a successful man in life”. He believes that the discipline soldiers learn in Army helps them to live a better and successful life. Although Mukhtiar Singh remained a driver all through his life, his children made him feel proud. Two of his three sons are doctors, while the third is an electronic engineer and is now settled in France. His only daughter is happily married and his son-in-law is working in the Indian Railways. However, he gives the credit of his success to his wife, Ms Pritam Kaur. “While I remained busy in the Army, she took care of the home and the children and made them to work hard”, he said. While his sons are settled at different places Mukhtiar Singh is relaxing in his native village. The success has not changed anything in him. He still remains a modest God fearing man making himself busy in his four-acre farm. He also takes some time out of this routine to visit his relatives. Looking back, he feels, no job is big or small, the only thing is that you should have faith in God and yourself and everything works in order. |
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The spring is still at its glory and offering a great deal of delight with its myriad flowers and delightful odours. Man is not far behind and is trying to fill his life with green, yellow, red, pink and even bright purple ‘gulals’ for Holi. ‘Pitchkaris’ of different shapes, sizes and colours offer great attraction to children. Balloons are used as missiles on unsuspecting passers-by. It is heartening to note that environmental awareness is dawning on people and they are preferring herbal colours. Imported ‘gulal’ is in the market also. Some people are using home-made colours like adding flour to haldi and similarly flour with powdered mehndi. There is a lot of hanky panky going on over the examinations for the students of Class V. The paper got leaked and the examination was postponed. Just think of children who know the meaning of unfair means, deceit and cheating at this age. What ideals will they follow in future? Finally, after a long wait and a great tug-of-war with the censors for release,
Chori Chori, Chupke Chupke has seen the light of the day and has been released this week. The trio Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta make a cute combination. The theme is contemporary. A couple unable to have a child hire a surrogate mother, who would carry the child for the couple. The movie is a thriller but of different kind without a villain or the usual stuff. Another movie
Vatsyayana Kamasutra has been released too. It is India’s official entry in international film festival. CCCC was in the eye of the storm and so will draw the audience, whereas Kamasutra will intrigue the audience. Have a nice colourful, but safe Holi. People are advised not to use harsh colours which may damage the skin or eyes. Go ethnic. Play Holi Brij style with flowers and flower petals.
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Cases against
3 for fraud Ludhiana, March 9 A case was registered at the Division Number 1 police station under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC on the complaint of Raghunath Nayar, a partner in Hindok Exports at the Industrial Area. The case was registered against Raj Kumar, Anil Kumar, Anubhav Jindal, Ajay Kumar and Ashok Kumar, all residents of Ludhiana. The accused had issued a cheque that bounced. The Focal Point police registered a case of fraud against Pardeep Cycle Store of Faridabad on the complaint of the General Manager of Avon Cycles for dishonouring a cheque. A case of fraud was registered by the Sahnewal police under Section 420 of the IPC on the complaints of Kirtan Singh and Gurpreet Kaur, residents of Dharon village, against Dalwinder Singh, a resident of Katani Kalan village. The alleged fraud was regarding the sale of a plot. Liquor seized The Division Number 5 police registered a case under the Excise Act against Sonu Vastav, a resident of Kochhar Market, for keeping nine bottles of illicit liquor. The accused was arrested. The Sadar police arrested Amrik Singh, a resident of Chitti Colony of Bhatian Bet, and seized eight bottles of illicit liquor from him. The Jodhewal police registered a case under the Excise Act against Sawraj, a resident of Tibba Road of Mayapuri. The accused was arrested and 10 bottles of illicit liquor were seized from him. Stereo stolen Knife seized SAHNEWAL Man duped Manjit Singh, a resident of Vishkarma Colony in Ludhiana, has lodged a complaint against Lakhvir Singh of Mangli Nichi village and Anil Kumar a.k.a. Dimpi of Shahabad who has promised to find him a job in Italy. Lakhvir and Anil had allegedly taken Rs 3 lakh from Manjit Singh. Rs 1 lakh was paid in advance. A year after the deal, when Manjit Singh asked for his money back, he was threatened, following which, he lodged the complaint. A case has been registered against the accused under Section 420 of the IPC. One hurt |
Traders hail decision on
IT Ludhiana, March 9 In a press note issued here today, Mr V.P. Chopra, chief of the federation, said the decision would save
assesses from harassment, agony and wastage of time. Mr Chopra said income tax receipts had increased substantially from the Budget estimates of Rs 31,509 crore to Rs 35,271 crore for the year 2000-01. He said the lowering of tax rates and relief from harassment had led to an increase the tax receipts. The decision of the Centre to get the research conducted by the Chief Commissioners would also reassure assesses, said members of the federation. Traders would always welcome such policies, said Mr Chopra. |
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FTSI flays 16 pc excise duty Ludhiana, March 9 He said the duty should be withdrawn in order to save the tiny units. |
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