AGRICULTURE

VC hails decision
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 27
Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, has welcomed the decision of the Central Government to defer the repayment of loan installments by the farmers.

Stating this in a press note, Dr Aulakh said that this was an important step in view of the farmers’ poor economic condition which had been worsened by the present drought-like conditions. Due to such conditions, the agricultural production and consequently the income of the farmers was likely to be reduced considerably and this step of the government would provide them relief. Dr Aulakh also expressed concern over the depletion of underground water in Punjab.

Computer awareness week concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 27
Prize distribution ceremony for winners of multimedia presentations, quiz, declamation, models and chart-making contests marked the concluding day of computer awareness week at Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, here today.

Students from classes III to XII participated in the quiz contests. Among students from classes III to V, Rohan of class III stood first, followed by Anubhav of class IV and Jasleen Singh of class V. Among participants from classes VI to VIII, the team of Suranshi, Rahul and Gurtej were declared winners. Among participants from classes IX and XII, the team of Sonal Gupta, Ayush Munjal and Ravijot got the first prize.

First prize for multimedia presentations was bagged by Ritika and Reena, second prize went to the team of Dilpender, Prateek, Jaspreet and Arush, and third prize was won by Esha, Aanchal, Pallavi and Karma. For website designing, Akhilesh got the first prize, Ichpuneet and Surbhi Garg were declared second and Manam stood third.

The first prize winners for chart-making contest were Tamanna Malhotra from class III, Roohan Pal from class IV, Amiteshwar from class V, Sanchita and Ahsaas Chawla from class VI, Aanchal from class VIII, Harleen Bawa, Navjot and Alipreet from class IX and Rasleen from Class X.

Similarly, the first prize winners for model making contest were Arjun Bajaj from class III, Udit and Sagar from class IV, Arush and Kanwarbir from class V, Bavneet from class VI, Jasnoor, Shruti, Puneet, Garima, Mehak, Ravish and Neha from class VII, Ajaypal and Ankit from class VIII and Arjun and Preetkanwal from class IX and Akhil and Nikhil from class X.

Exhibition, quiz contests in KVM
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 27
Various models and craft items prepared by students from primary and middle sections were displayed in an exhibition held at Kundan Vidya Mandir here today.

The exhibition by primary section students was inaugurated by Mr Prem Aggarwal, manager of the school. Students of Classes I and II prepared candles and wall hangings. Class III, IV and V students displayed models and charts on igloos, terraced fields, chipko movement, healthy surroundings, food habits, pollution, Rock Garden, historical monuments and from other topics from social studies, science, mathematics and languages.

The exhibition by middle section was inaugurated by Mr V.K. Goyal, member of the school committee. Various models on science and social studies were on display. These included ‘Jewellery of Harappa culture’, ‘Environment and its protection’, ‘Tomb of Sher Shah’, ‘Qutb Minar’, ‘Village panchayat’, ‘Drug addiction’, ‘Water cycle in nature’ and other topics based on health, food and nutrition and balanced diet.

On the same occasion, a quiz contest was organised by the Senior Humanities Forum. Six teams participated in the brain-storming session which included topics from literature, history, sports, entertainment and science. Besides, there were personality audio and visual rounds. The team of Vivek, Kshitiz and Sandeep from Patel House was declared first, Mandeep, Ankusha and Ishaan from Subhash House were declared second and Manish, Jatin and Sahil were declared third.

Ms Neena Khanna, Principal, congratulated the winners and gave them the prizes.

BCM school toppers honoured
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 27
The management and staff of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School organised a ‘Toppers’ Day’ to honour the top position holders of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examination and other entrance tests.

The students of the school included Ish Garg who had topped in plus two (medical stream), got sixth position in the Punjab PMT, 16th in Christian Medical College entrance test, 33rd in Benaras Hindu University entrance test and 395th in the CBSE PMT, besides getting selected for the AFMC. Manmeet Chhabra was honoured for securing second position in plus two and selection in the CBSE- CET. Kunjan Sood had also stood second in plus two examination.

Ruchi Gupta was felicitated for standing first in the city in humanities group. Devay Gupta topped in physics with 97 per cent marks. He was also selected in the CBSE-CET, the DCE and cleared the Reliance Engineering Group test. Vijay Kumar was honoured for standing first in mathematics with 99 per cent marks. Besides, he had cleared the IIT, the CBSE-CET with third rank in the Punjab CET, the Reliance Engineering Group and DCE.

Inderpreet Kaur stood first among city students in economics with 97 per cent marks and Anureet Gill had topped in home science among the students here with 94 per cent marks. Niharika Agarwal was honoured for topping in Class X and securing 100 per cent marks in mathematics, Deepti Sharma stood second and Aditi Sood was declared third. Khushboo was also given prize was getting 100 per cent marks in mathematics.

On the occasion, a short cultural programme was also arranged in which plus one and two students presented an English chorus ‘Jamaican farewell’. A group song titled ‘Aao hum padhein likhen, desh ko sanwar lein’. Mr Satyanand Munjal, president of the school management, was the chief guest. Ms Paramjit Kaur, Principal, congratulated the prize winners. 

Principals meet minister
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 27
A deputation of the representatives of an association of the affiliated schools of the Punjab School Education Board led by Mr Rajinder Sharma, president, met the Education Minister, Mr Khushal Behl, yesterday at Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, to apprise him of various problem faced by the principals.

Stating this, Mr Sharma said that the board should withdraw its circular regarding seeking permission for creating new sections for different classes. He said that no such circular had been issued to government schools and the authorities of affiliated schools felt that they were being given a step-motherly treatment. Mr Sharma appreciated the efforts of the board in giving them permission to run Classes X and XII in school buildings within 2-km from the main building.

Charge of power theft quashed, refund ordered
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 27
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed the charge of power theft against a local industrialist and has further directed the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to refund the amount of Rs 22,477 to the complainant within one month along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of deposit. In his complaint to the forum, Mr Surinder Kumar, who was running an industrial unit in Focal Point area, here said he had a power connection with sanctioned load of 5 KW which was surrendered on August 24, 2000 and the meter removed on the basis of a permanent disconnection order on August 28, 2000. At the time the meter was removed, both the seals and the meter glass were intact. The meter showed a reading of 28,999. However, the PSEB authorities claimed later that when the meter was sent to ME Lab on Oct 19,2000, one ME seal was found missing, another broken and the meter glass tempered with. Taking it as a case of power theft, the consumer was slapped with a demand notice of Rs 22,477 and bill sent to the complainant on this account showed meter reading of 32,890 for the period August 28 to October 28, 2000. Presiding Officer of the forum, Mr Hardial Singh, in his judgement questioned the meter reading of 32,890 showing a recording date of October 28, 2000, in view of the fact that the meter had been removed from the premises of the complainant on August 28 when the meter reading stood at 28,999. He ruled that the demand was wrongfully raised by the PSEB on the basis of fictitious reading and the charges on account of cost of meter were also uncalled for in this case. The forum further observed that the consumer could not be held responsible for any damage to meter after it was removed. While ordering the refund of the amount recovered from the complainant on account of meter reading at 32,890, theft of power and cost of meter along with interest till the date of actual refund, the forum provided relief to the respondent (PSEB) to the extent that it could recover any difference from the consumer upto the meter reading of 28999, which the meter showed at the time of removal from the premises .

One gets life term for murder
A Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 27
Mr V.B. Handa, Sessions Judge, Ludhiana convicted Ranjit Singh, alias Chhotu (39) of Chakkar village, Jagraon, on the charge of killing Chamkaur Singh of same village and sentenced him to undergo rigorous life imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs 2000.

Delivering the verdict, Mr Handa said the prosecution had succeeded in proving its case against the accused. “Keeping in view the nature and gravity of the offence committed by the convict, he is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment of life,” observed the Judge, while declining the pleas of leniency raised by the accused. An FIR was registered against the accused on February 8, 2000 at police station Jagraon, under section 302, IPC, on the complaint of Mukhtiar Singh, father of the deceased. Father of the deceased had stated to the police that on February 8, 2000, accused came to their house and asked Chamkaur (deceased ) to come with him and have liquor. His son accompanied the accused.

After a few hours, when he, along with his elder son Darshan Singh, was standing near the tubewell of Saudagar Singh in Chakkar village, the accused and the deceased were also standing at some distance. The accused started abusing his son and threatened him that he would teach him lesson for demanding back the money given and inflicted knife blows in his son’s stomach and other parts of his body, added the complainant. Thereafter the accused fled away from the spot and the injured died due to injuries. The accused pleaded not guilty and claimed false implication, but the court awarded severe punishment.