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SSF men give
signatures in blood for SYL Ludhiana, June 17 Led by Mr Gurcharan Singh Grewal, president of the SSF, the activists signed the memorandum in blood and demanded that the water of Punjab should not be given to any other state as the farmers of the state were already facing a shortage of water for irrigation. Addressing the gathering, Mr Grewal said by signing the memorandum in blood, the activists wanted to prove that the water was as important for the farmers as blood was for the body. He gave an incision in his left arm and started the campaign, with blood oozing out of the incision. Taking a cue from him, more activists followed him and signed in their blood. He said that the Central government, keeping in mind the Riparian Act, should not ask the state to give its water to other states. He added that thousands of activists would sign a memorandum in their blood and submit it to the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on June 19. They would leave from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib on the day. He appealed to all political parties related to Punjab to come forward and assist them in taking up the issue. At this sensitive juncture, it was important for all political leaders to come up together so that Punjab may be saved from being converted into a barren land. Stating that the farmers were already facing a shortage of water as the underground water was depleting in the state, Mr Grewal said in these circumstances, it was sheer injustice to the farmers if their water was shared with the other state. He threatened that they would not allow further construction of the canal and would take any possible step to thwart all attempts in this direction. He also said they would chalk out a comprehensive plan to oppose the move tooth and nail after submitting the memorandum to the President. The activists raised slogans in favour of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and vowed that they would not allow anybody to share the water of Punjab. |
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Staff at microhydel plants fear closure
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 17 Prior to his assassination former Chief Minister, the late Beant Singh had dedicated around 12 microhydel plants to the prosperity of the people of Punjab at a function organised at Khatra bridge. The foundation stone of one such plant was laid at this place. Though the construction work was stopped for some time during the Akali regime, it was later resumed with the efforts of political leaders. Sources told Ludhiana Tribune that microhydel plant situated at Abohar, Bathinda, Kotla and Ghaggar branches of Sirhind canal were producing electricity which include Chubki (1.5MW), Narangwal (1MW), Dalla (1.3MW), and Tuggal (1MW) were situated at Abohar Branch, Buani (1MW), Khattra (1MW), Jagera (1MW), Kanganwal (1.3MW) at Bathinda and Dolowal (1.5MW), Suller (1.4MW) Banbhaura (1.3MW), Babanpur (1.3MW) at Kotla branch and Nidampur was constructed at Ghaggar branch of Sirhind canal. OC
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DMCH staff play good Samaritan
to snakebite victim Ludhiana, June 17 Hardev, a poor industrial worker, could not believe that he was still alive when he regained consciousness two days after he was bit by a snake while sleeping in a shared accommodation provided by his employers. It was then that he realised that combined efforts of doctors and staff of the DMCH had snatched him from the jaws of a certain death. According to doctors at the DMCH, Hardev was unconscious and on the verge of death when he was brought to the emergency ICU. He required expensive medicines and treatment immediately, which were out of the reach of his attendants. “When Hardev felt a sting in his finger and saw a big black snake crawling out of the room, he raised an alarm. His roommates immediately made an incision around the spot of snakebite and tied a bandage, thinking that the procedure would work. But it failed to have any effect and after a few hours he started feeling drowsy and lost consciousness. “On sensing a threat to Hardev’s life, his friends and co-workers rushed him to the DMCH emergency. He was unconscious and finding it difficult to breath. The venom had spread in his blood stream. “As the patient was in a serious condition, he required expensive anti-venom injection, ventilator support and critical care and the entire treatment would have cost nearly Rs 35,000,” said Dr G. Awasthy, Professor and Head, Department of Medicine DMCH. At the initial stage of the treatment, when his condition was still sensitive and unstable, his attendants wanted to get him discharged as they could not afford the treatment. Moved at the plight and helplessness of the victim and his attendants, the emergency ICU staff convinced the attendants to stay back as they knew that the patient could be saved. Besides Dr Awasthy and Dr Omesh Goyal, nursing staff of the Emergency ICU worked day and night to take care of the victim. Right from doctors and nursing staff to ward boys in the ICU, everyone came forward voluntarily to donate generously. Mr Satbeer, an exchange operator at DMCH, contacted some NGOs, Dr J. Bindra made donations on behalf the of the Geetanjali Ladies Club and Dr Ashok Puri contributed on the behalf of the Lions Club. Some local business houses also came forward to lend a helping hand. Hardev was at a loss for words to express his gratitude. “A poor person like me, who cannot afford to have a square meal everyday, could not have survived but for the monumental humanitarian gesture of the DMCH staff. I will always remain indebted to my saviours. I had heard a lot about the generosity and compassion of Punjabis but now I have experienced it too,” were his parting comments. |
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PAU signs MoU with foreign varsity Ludhiana, June 17 Giving details, Dr V.K. Sharma, Registrar, said students selected on the basis of merit would be exchanged between the two universities. During the third year of their studies, the students would go to the University of British Columbia and vice-versa. The fee structure would be according to their own university. Other expenditures including boarding, lodging and books, would be charged. After the completion of the studies in third year, the students would join their parent university. Degrees would be awarded by their respective universities. The students would be required to submit a surety bond worth Rs 2.5 lakh to assure their return. He said thesis of all Masters programmes would be evaluated through external examiners. On the basis of reports by these examiners, oral examination and viva-voce would be conducted by the advisory committee and the Head of the department. Meanwhile, Mr Ashish Sexena (M. Sc vegetables) has been selected for Dr B. R. Sharma Medal for 2003. Mr Devasmita Samal (M.Sc. Soils) has been adjudged the overall best student and selected for Dr N S Randhawa Medal for 2003. Dr Sharma further added that with effect from 2004-2005, the admission to M. Sc. programmes would be done in the first semester of the year and admission to Ph.D. in the second semester. The academic council has recommended that with effect from 2004-05, students would be charged summer break charges. The Registrar further added that amended and replanned curriculum of all colleges had been approved. According to the decision of the academic council, extension workers posted at the outstations were required to submit 10 extension publications for their promotion from associate professor to professor instead of five research papers. These extension publications should have been published in a leading journal. Dr Sharma said desirous NRIs could contribute towards buildings, but permission would be given after a formal approval by the academic council and the PAU Management Board. |
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Trustees sore as LIT meeting
put off Ludhiana, June 17 The Chairman had called the meeting at
4 pm today. The meeting was to be held after four months following a request by the trustees who had been claiming that all development works in the city had come to a standstill. Although the trustees were informed by the Chairman an hour before scheduled time that he would not be able to attend it as he had to attend another meeting at Chandigarh, the trustees were present in his office till the evening. While nobody came on record to register his resentment, some trustees said they were pained to see that all the development works undertaken by the LIT had come to at a standstill. They said they had especially impressed upon the Chairman to convene a meeting at the earliest so that the public works did not suffer. The LIT has been mired in controversy for the past three months. Mr Garcha has proceeded on long leave and announced that he would resign from the post on June 23, the day he completes a year in office. He had claimed that he had tried to rout corruption from the trust, but had failed to do so. Accepting his failure, he had announced to put in his papers. But a few days ago, Mr Garcha had, in a section of press, claimed that he would not be resigning and would continue as Chairman. He had convened a meeting today and had asserted that he would reply some question of the trustees who had been asking him to explain the reason for stopping various projects in the city. Though the Chairman had authorised the Executive Officer of LIT to
perform the duties of the Chairman in his absence, the people of the city had not been satisfied with the working
of the trust. The people had been claiming that their works were suffering due to the absence of a chairman in the trust. |
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BJP flays hike in prices of petrol, diesel Ludhiana, June 17 Announcing this at a meeting of office bearers here today, the district president of the party said that workers of the BJP, its youth wing the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the mahila morcha and activists of other party wings would march to Clock Tower Chowk tomorrow to register their protest against hike in the prices of petroleum products and inclusion of tainted ministers in the Union Cabinet. Later, the party functionaries would submit a memorandum to the President of India through the Deputy Commissioner. Speaking at the occasion, the general secretaries of the party Mr Ashok Loomba and Mr Om Parkash Bhardwaj, alleged that increase in prices of petrol and diesel was anti-people and anti-farmers and the step would directly and indirectly affect the prices of all essential commodities. They wondered as to the complete silence by Congress functionaries who were in the habit of holding protest demonstrations and marches on bullock carts and mule carts every time the petrol prices were increased. The BJP leaders further maintained that the party would continue its stir against the tainted ministers till all of them were shown the door. They called upon the party ranks to be prepared for a prolonged but decisive agitation against the anti-people policies of the government. |
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Beopar Mandal flays hike in
oil prices Ludhiana, June 17 In a statement here Mr Jaitwani said the hike would hit the every section of society particularly the middle and lower middle classes. It would raise the prices of synthetic goods and adversely affect the export of country. It would cause inflation by a consequent raise in the price of every article, be it agriculture, industry, trade and domestic consumer. Power plants generating electricity consumed diesel and as a result generation of power would become costly. It would be ultimately consumers who would suffer. The rise in the price of diesel would also enhance the cost of transportation of industrial goods. Mr Jaitwani said that it was high time that the UPA government formed some policy to tide over the crisis. He called upon the government to review its decision and withdraw the hike in the petroleum products.
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Railway staff hold demonstration Ludhiana, June 17 |
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Swindler in police net Amloh, June 17 Villagers complained on June 10 that Kashmira Singh had cheated people to the tune of above Rs 60 lakh. People who had reposed faith in him used to give him money of their loan installments to get them credited into their accounts in Fatehgarh Sahib Central Cooperative Bank at Amloh. But the accused allegedly kept the money with him. With a view to grabbing the money, he hatched a conspiracy and got himself disowned from the family property and even divorced his wife so that the family might be saved from any harassment. |
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10 sacks of poppy husk seized Ludhiana, June 17 Shashi Kant was arrested in the Kirpal Nagar area and a case under Sections 15, 61, and 85 of the NDPS was registered against him.
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Industry expects too much from
Budget 2004 Ludhiana, June 17 The Ludhiana industry appears to be expecting too much from Budget 2004, while remaining too reluctant to give anything. Most of the industrial organisations like the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) and the Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of India have demanded massive relief on excise exemption, tax holiday, labour reforms and other benefits. The representation has demanded that the central excise exemption limit should be raised from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3 crore. The limit was raised to Rs 1 crore during the last year only. It has also sought “unconditional exemption of excise duty up to Rs 3 crore” for the hosiery goods including the readymade garments. The CICU has demanded that the government should provide special tax holiday to Punjab on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal and Jammu and Kashmir. In these states the Central Government had granted a five year tax holiday. It observed that keeping in view the industrial hubs in Punjab at places like Ludhiana and Amritsar it was necessary to provide such benefits here to ensure that the industry did not move out of the state. It has sought that the eligibility limit for the small-scale industrial units for availing incentives and duty exemption should be reckoned from the capital investment of the units up to Rs 3 crore. It added that the subsidised rate of interest for the units in the small-scale sector should be invoked to facilitate the industrial growth in this sector. The CICU has sought a permanent mechanism for maintaining effective control on the prices of steel. It said, in view of the past bitter experience from the unprecedented hike in the prices of steel to the tune of 100 per cent, it was necessary to introduce some safeguards. The Federation of Tiny and Small Industries of Indian has urged the Finance Minister to rationalise the custom duty on iron and steel materials from 15 per cent and 40 per cent to 5 per cent to provide level playing field to the engineering industry. |
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Ludhiana, June 17 After inaugurating the WLL service named as Tarang Sewa. Mr Julka told mediapersons that the service would benefit residents of Jagraon. With the availability of 750 lines for mobile and fixed service, the range of ‘Tarang Sewa’ would be more than 8 km. The call time from mobile to mobile would be 180 seconds from mobile to basic telephone 90-seconds and from Tarang mobile to other mobile of 30 seconds. Detailing about rent, Mr Julka said it would be Rs 200 per month with 50 free calls. OC
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Ludhiana, June 17 Mr Rajesh Gupta, manager of the bank, said the function was attended by a number of villagers and farmers who were educated about various schemes of the bank. The loan sanction letters were distributed by Mr LC Hans, Assistant General Manager of the bank. TNS
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PNB
profit rises Ludhiana, June 17 Mr Kaul said the PNB group recorded a net profit of Rs 1198 crore at the end of March, 2004 as compared to Rs 940 crore as at the end of March, 2003, registering a growth of 27.44 per cent.
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