AGRICULTURE

Kisan union blocks traffic
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, July 30
The Ludhiana unit of the Kirti Kisan Union blocked the traffic on Ludhiana-Ferozepur road, near bus stand here, on a call given by its state executive committee. Union members raised slogans against the police for resorting to lathi charge at Maisarkhana (Maur Mandi). They demanded that farmers of the state should be exempted from paying debts, the arrested farmers should be released, and the police officials responsible for highhandedness should be punished.

Addressing the demonstrators, Mr Hardev Singh Sandhu, the state unit president of the AIKMS, said since Independence no government had formulated proper policies for the farmers. He said the impact of the WTO would be detrimental to the farmers’ interest. The workers were also addressed by Mr Avtar Singh Rasulpur, General Secretary of the state unit.

EDUCATION

200 students participate in cultural programme
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
The Punjab Sahitya Kala Manch organised a cultural programme in the memory of Sneh Prabha Shukla, who was a well-known social worker and a teacher. About 200 students of 18 schools participated in the programme.

An on-the-spot painting competition on environment awareness was also organised on the occasion. The results of which are as follows:

Junior group: Rajni Sunaja, DAV Public School, 1; Neha Katyal, KVM City Branch, 2; Naman Modi, Tagore Public School, 3; Ankita Tripathi, BCM Arya Model School, Arshdeep Singh, GGN Public School, consolation prizes.

Senior group: Arun Kumar, DAV Public School, 1; Varinder Singh, Guru Nanak International School, 2; Sonika Sidhu, Guru Nanak Public School, 3; Inderjit Singh, Sacred Heart Convent and Ritika Sood, KVM School, consolation prizes.

The results of the fancy dress competition are:

Ritika Jain, KVM City Branch, 1; Ramneek Kaur, DAV Public School; Brinda Bhutani, BCM Arya Model School, Vibhushar, KVM School, consolation prizes.

Maninder Bawa and Renu Bala from the local Ramgarhia College enthralled the audience with their melodious songs. Giddha was presented by the students of RS Model Senior School, while students of Deaf and Dumb School presented a dance item.

A play ‘Janamdin’ written by Dr Faqir Chand Shukla and directed by Mr Pradeep Sharma was also staged. The play depicted the significance of tree plantation and its after care.

Free uniforms were also distributed to about hundred needy students from different schools.

Mrs Sneh Prabha Shukla Memorial Award of Honour was conferred on Dr Kamlesh Uppal, a drama critic, Ms Suvarsha Kalra, a social worker, and Dr G.S. Miglani, a scientist from PAU, for their meritorious contribution in their respective fields.

Dr Faqir Chand Shukla, general secretary, highlighted the activities of the manch. Mr Kuldip Singh, Principal, GGN Khalsa College, was the chief guest of the function.

COURTS

Forum quashes demand for regularisation charges
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 30
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed the demand of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) of Rs 43,000 on account of regularisation charges form Mr Taranjit Singh, proprietor of a Marriage Palace here. The forum has held that the consumer is liable to pay Rs 97,475 for running unauthorised load.

According to the complaint, the board issued a demand notice of Rs 1,40,475 on December 18, 2000, alleging that the consumer was using excess load upto 56.875 KW and from electricity generator set upto 43.00 KW. The consumer stated that the sanctioned load was 49.800 KW, but the allegation made by the PSEB was wrong and baseless.

The complainant disclosed that the board had granted permission to install three generator sets, which had allowed him to install the generator sets of the capacity of 20 KVA, 62.5 KVA and 82.5 KVA. He pointed out that he had installed separate cables for the supply of electricity to the premises from the generator sets and no changeover had been installed, as such the PSEB could not impose any penalty. He maintained that the generator sets were used only when there was no electricity supply.

The PSEB pleaded that on checking the running connection load on the premises on October 17, 2000, in the presence of the manager of the marriage palace and the electrician, it was found that the running connection load was 56.875 KW. It claimed that the consumer was also running the load of 43 KW on generator set.

The respondent pointed out that as per a circular, the running load on the generator was to be treated as unauthorised load and the surcharge of Rs 1,500 per KW for three phase connection was recoverable. It stated that the complainant had not obtained any approval from the competent authority for installation of generator sets. The board maintained that the demand had been rightly raised and the complaint was liable to be dismissed.

The forum observed that the complainant was using excess load of 50.07 KW, as such the demand of Rs 75,105 on account of load surcharge had been raised as per rules. It further stated that Rs 15,300 on account of additional security was also recoverable.

The forum said as per the circular, the fee for regularisation of 100 KVA load was just 1,500, as such the complainant could get the same regularised as per rules. The forum held that the amount of Rs 43,000 had been wrongly claimed as regularisation out of the disputed demand and quashed the said demand.