R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

• He turned ‘kallar’ into fields of fortune

• Mountaineering course for youth

• 300 gm tumour from brain removed
  
  

TWO DIE: An unidentified old man died of heart attack at the local railway station here on Monday. In another incident, Ashok Kumar (5), was hit by a speeding Maruti car at Jai Singhwala village on Monday. He succumbed to injuries at the Civil Hospital. Police sources said a case had been registered under Section 304-A, IPC.

FEROZEPORE
KILLED: One person and 150 sheep were killed and another 55 injured when the truck carrying them overturned near Kalu Kheme Ke, 5 km from here, on Tuesday. According to sources, the truck coming from the Fazilka side overturned while saving a jeep from a head-on-collision. One of the persons sitting in the truck also died on the spot while another was injured. The driver of the truck, Jeor Khan of Jodhpur, has absconded. A case under Sections 304, 279, 337 and 427 has been registered.

HOSHIARPUR
LOOTED: Three Sikh youths looted gold ornaments and Rs 25,000 in cash from Mrs Simran Kaur wife of Mr Sohan Singh, when she was alone in her house at Bassi Hassat Khan village on Tuesday. The Hariana police has registered a case.

DEAD: Surjit Kaur (14) of Khanpur Thiara village died in a private hospital at Adampur on Tuesday while her friend Sukhraj Kaur of the same village was still under treatment. According to police sources, they consumed some poisonous substance and fell unconscious on Tuesday. They were admitted to hospital where Surjit Kaur later died.

LIQUOR SEIZED: The Tanda police has arrested Ram Lal of Budabar village and seized 27,550 ml of illicit liquor from his possession. A case under Section 61/1/10 of the Excise Act has been registered.

CHOWKIDAR KILLED: About six armed persons attacked Nirmal Singh, a chowkidar of a construction company, at Rapur village on Monday night. They also beat up another chowkidar Tarlok Singh and a boy, Sonu, before locking all of them in separate rooms. The miscreants fled away in a truck loaded with tyres. Later, Tarlok Singh was found dead in the room. A case has been registered under Sections 460 and 458, IPC.

OPIUM FOUND: About 100 gm of opium was found on Tuesday from the stepney of an unclaimed scooter parked in the PSEB complex located between Hariana and Bhikhowal villages. A case has been registered.

LIQUOR SEIZED: The Mukerian police has arrested Maya, wife of Gopal Dass, of Ghasitpur, and seized 6,750 ml of illicit liquor from her. A case under the Excise Act has been registered.

KHANNA
DEGREE COURSES: The Panjab University has given permission to start three new degree courses to A.S.College, Khanna, in the coming academic session. The Principal of the college, said in a press note that an inspection team of the university visited the college recently and given the permission to go ahead with the new courses. The Principal said these courses are: Master of Commerce (M.Com), Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA) and e. commerce.

RAJEWAL’S STATEMENT FLAYED: Condemning the statement of Mr Balbir Singh Rajewal, national general secretary of the BKU, in which he criticised procurement agencies for demanding money for procurement of wheat, the Arhtiya Association, Khanna, said no officer of any agency had demanded money. Mr Sadhuram Nanda , president, Mr Bharpur Chand Bector, general secretary, Mr Nirmal Parkash Sofat and Mr Ranbir Sood , press secretary of the association, said in a joint statement that the allegation was politically motivated. They said that they had given in writing to the local SDM, Mr S.S. Gill, that in the Khanna mandi no official had demanded money from the commission agents.

KHARAR
CROP DESTROYED: Standing wheat crop in four and half acres of adjoining villages, Radiala and Bhajauli of Kharar block, was reduced to ashes by fire on Wednesday. According to Mr Karam Chand, Sub Officer, Fire Brigade SAS Nagar, they received the information about at about 11.30 a.m. and immediately a fire engine was sent there. He said wheat crop in three acres of Mr Baldev Singh of Radiala village and in one acre of Mr Rajinder Singh and Mr Karnail Singh and ½ acre of Mr Gurbachan Singh was destroyed.

ONE DEAD: Mr Jagjit Singh, who was driving a car (PB-03F-2900), was killed and another Mr Naveen Kumar was seriously injured in a road accident near Rurki village on Kharar-Morinda road on Wednesday. According to the police the injured has been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Kharar.

GRANTS: Mr Nagar Singh, Chairman, Market Committee, Kharar, gave cheques of grants amounting to Rs 1,40,000 to nine thresher victims. Mr Rajbir Singh, Vice-President of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, and many other prominent workers were present on this occasion. At this the commission agents complained about bad condition of roads and sheds in the Grain Market, Kharar. Mr Nagar Singh promised to deposit an amount of Rs 7 lakh with the Punjab Mandi Board for necessary repair of roads and sheds in the grain market.

ANIMAL LOADING: Sarpanches of villages Daon Majra, Radiala, Sahoran and Ghataur and about fifty residents of Daon Majra village, in a lettet sent to the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, and other senior officers have demanded that the alleged illegal loading centre of animals for slaughter houses in UP from Daon Majra village should be closed down immediately. The letter has recomendations from Ms Daljeet Kaur, MLA, Kharar, also. They said loading centre was creating so many problems for the residents of the villages, as they were spreading foul smell and there was always danger of epidemic.

LUDHIANA
WATER SHORTAGE: Nearly 10,000 residents of the Qila Mohalla locality falling in Ward 63 are up in arms against the Municipal Corporation as there is no water supply in the locality for the past several days. According to Mr Sunil Mehra, councillor, a tubewell was inaugurated on Saturday by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Satpal Gosain, and the Minister for Technical Education, Mr Jagdish Garcha. However, the water pipes reportedly got blocked and the supply was also stopped. Mr Mehra said he approached various officials. However, no measures have been taken so far and the residents continue to suffer. He has served an ultimatum to the department that in case the supply was not restored within 24 hours, he will launch a dharna.

RESIDENTS’ PLEA: Members of the All-India People’s Party on Tuesday called upon Mr S.S. Sandhu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, and the Senior Town Planner to build the storm water sewer near the Middha chowk in such a way so as to ensure uninterrupted flow of the water without any obstacle. The general secretary said the sewer was being laid in an unscientific way as a number of bends and twists existed in the plan. He said the structure built in the middle of the chowk should be demolished so that sewer pipes could be laid in a straight line in contrast to the present twists and turns. He also accused the corporation officials of turning a blind eye to the problem.

WEB SITE: Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic has become the first polytechnic of the state which has launched its own website depicting all required information about the oldest polytechnic in the region. The website www.gndpldhedu.org was launched here on Wednesday. It has been prepared by six students namely Kuljot Singh Grewal, Rajbir Singh, Navtej Singh, Harshvir Singh, Harpreet Singh and Gurbir Singh under the project coordinator, Mr Kulwinder Singh Mann. Regarding the purpose of the website, Mr Sikander Singh Gill, Principal of the college, said, ‘‘Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic is providing diplomas in electric, mechanic, automobile and computer trades. Well- qualified staff, labs and workshops are available, besides good infrastructure facilities.’’ All this information has been provided on the website.

PENSIONERS’ BODY: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Northern Railway Pensioners Welfare Association: Mr Sher Singh — president; Mr Surinder Mohan Sharma — senior vice-president; Mr K.K. Kapur — vice-resident; Mr K.L. Chitkara — general secretary; Mr D.P. Bhatia — secretary; Mr Durlabh Singh — cashier; Mr Janak Raj — organising secretary; and Mr P.L. Ahuja — press secretary.

WTO TREATY: Activists of the Lok Sangarsh Samiti led by Mr Tarsem Joda took out a procession on Tuesday seeking scrapping of the WTO treaty as it was against the interests of the farmers and workers. The procession started from Chhatar Singh Park in Model Town and culminated in a rally at the mini secretariat. The protesters were carrying banners and holding placards opposing India’s entry into the WTO regime. They were also shouting slogans against the government for its abject surrender before the world powers. Addressing the rally Mr Joda expressed grave concern over the economic situation in the country, particularly after the WTO regime came into force. He apprehended that this may give rise to widespread unemployment across the country. Among other who addressed the gathering were Mr Jagjit Singh Berkan, Mr Rajeshwar Singh, and Amar Nath.

MEMORANDUM: The local unit of the Labour Wing of the SAD (B) has submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, here on Tuesday against the illegal termination of nearly 40 workers by the management of KSC Exports, Ludhiana. According to the memorandum, the company has terminated the services without any notice, chargesheet, or inquiry. The union of workers has also sent a telegram to the SSP, the DC and the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ludhiana.

FIREMAN PROMOTED: Mr Joginder Pal, a fireman in the local Fire Brigade, has been promoted following the judgement of Mr B.K. Mehta, Senior Civil Judge, Ludhiana, and a resolution passed to the effect by the local Municipal Corporation. An order to this effect, issued by the Joint Secretary, Local Government Department, Punjab, was received here on Tuesday.

MALERKOTLA
BOOKS DISTRIBUTED: The Sarv Bharatiya Nojawan Sabha, organised a book distribution function at the municipal committee office at Ahmedgarh. According to the patron of the sabha, Mr Jatinder Bhola, 400 books were distributed among the needy students.

MANSA
MEMORANDUM: Workers of Budhlada Co-operative Sugar Mill submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday. They have been demanding their salaries since the closure of the mill. Mr Beant Singh Kainth, president of the union, threatened indefinite agitation if their demands were not accepted till May 1.

LIQUOR VENDS: Illegal liquor shops have come up near wheat purchase centres in the district. The Deputy Commissioner is claiming to visit these centres regularly. The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) has demanded immediate closure of these vends.

PLAN: To prepare a plan to fight natural calamities and accidents, a district-level meeting was held here on Tuesday under the chair of Ms Raji P. Shrivastva, Deputy Commissioner. A sub-committee consisting of SDMs, Civil Surgeon, executive engineers, district revenue officers and executive officers was constituted at the meeting.

SAMRALA
HAILED: Dr Balwant Singh Chahal, President, Sikh Budhijivi Council, and the Additional Secretary, Nankana Sahib Public School Samrala, hailed the decision of the high court in acquitting Ranjit Singh Talwandi in a murder case. He congratulated Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President SGPC, for this.

HARYANA

NPA DEMANDED: The Haryana Civil Medical Services Association has urged the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala to order granting of the non-practising allowance (NPA) on the Central pattern and equal to 25 per cent of the basic pay to all government medical officers. The president of the association, Dr D.B. Rawal, told mediapersons here on Wednesday that the new formula announced by the state government for granting the NPA to doctors was not in accordance with the earlier announcement of Mr Chautala.

He turned ‘kallar’ into fields of fortune

BUT for want of an extra pair of trousers, B.S. Verma, recipient of the recently announced Aspee L.M. Patel Farmer of the Year Award 2000, would have ended up as a “babu” in a government office. Strange, but true.

Born in 1944, Verma, like most young men of those days, opted for college after matriculation. However, soon after joining college, he started feeling like a misfit, mainly on account of the socio-economic status of his small land-holding family. With a twinkle in his eyes he says: “I had only one pair of trousers which was just not enough to see me through college”.

Happily the prospective loss of “babudom” — the ultimate destination of college-educated Himachali youth of the early sixties — turned out to be an invaluable gain for small farmers of not only Verma’s village and district but also areas in the neighbouring states as well.

Undeterred by inadequate economic support, the college drop-out soon dreamt of charting out more gainful approaches to hill farming. Having little option, the gritty lad decided to turn his family’s sparse land holding of a mere 1.5 hectare of rocky, mostly barren (kallar) land on the eastern slopes of the limestone-studded Barog Hills, into fields of fortune.

He started first with excavating limestone from his land and later putting the money earned by its sale into converting the mined land into terraced fields. Last year, Dr M. J. Wilson, Director of Extension, Union Ministry of Agriculture, during a visit to Verma’s farm observed: “B.S. Verma is perhaps the first Himachali farmer to have turned wasteland into productive fields”.

Today Verma is hailed as one of the most progressive farmers in the state. Besides owning the country’s best kiwi orchards, he is credited with having evolved highly innovative farm techniques and implements. He holds the world record of having produced 117 kg of cauliflower seed per bigha.

Dr A.S. Kashyap, scientist who is in charge of Parmar University’s Regional Horticulture Research Station at Kandaghat, near Solan, says that Verma’s research, leading to the extension of the off-season tomatoes from the traditional period (June-August) to June-November, had revolutionised the economy of the region.

Verma proposes to give an annual cash award of his own to the best farmer of the state from the interest earned from the Rs 1 lakh award conferred on him.

Mountaineering course for youth

The Punjab Police Adventure Sports Club recently organised a simulated demonstration of search and rescue operations during mountaineering.

The president of the club, Mr P.M. Dass, who is DIG at Punjab Armed Police HQ, said youth had been trained and fully qualified in the basic, advanced and special mountaineering course.

It was primarily done to train young adventurers to rescue those who had lost their way or got injured. The techniques shown were Alpine standing and lying rescue, Himalayan style piggy-back descent and ascent, Alpine style piggy-back, Tyrolean traverse, Tyrolean traverse (sitting) with iceaxe, and Alpine clutch system.

Talking about his experience as a mountaineer and trekker, Mr Dass said the techniques taught were basic but for more rigorous training, one had to attend an advanced course.

The adventure sports club was popular among youth. It was difficult but required sustained effort and would be useful for high-altitude climbs.

300 gm tumour from brain removed

In a rare neurosurgical procedure, a Patiala surgeon, Dr Arun Bansal, has removed a brain tumour weighing 300 grams and measuring eight centimetres in diameter (see photo) following a six-hour operation carried out at Amar Hospital.

Amar Kaur (52), who used to suffer severe headaches besides bouts of vomitting and fits, is a changed woman now following the surgery, the first in Patiala.

“The patient only had slight memory problems following the surgery which are likely to end once the swelling in the brain subsides,” Dr Bansal disclosed.

Patiala has till now been lagging in the field of neurosurgery with emergency cases, specially those involved in road accidents, being shifted to Ludhiana or Chandigarh, in case brain or spinal surgery is needed. Treatment of head injury patients, whose condition is serious, often causes mortality.

Now a well-equipped neurosurgical infrastructure, including operative microscope and ventilator, had come to Patiala.

The intensive care unit at Amar Hospital has provision for post-operative care besides trained neuro-anaesthesists. Dr Bansal said poor and deserving cases were also being handled.

Contributed by Romesh Dutt, Ashok Sethi and Jangveer Singh