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Breaches appear in Sirhind Canal
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 15 Besides the already prevailing weak spots along the canal, there is continuous erosion along the banks of the canal that could lead to a potential inundation of several villages in the area. Though the banks of the canal are being continuously eroded, the canal management authorities are yet to wake up from slumber. Villagers of this area have sent SOS calls to the authorities concerned, but to no avail. Acting on the report of Duty Magistrate Mukesh Sharma, Dr Indu, SDM, Malerkotla, has asked the canal authorities to make the necessary arrangements in this regard. There are many weak points on the banks of the canal which can be washed away any time by the strong and fast currents of the water flowing through the canal. These points became visible after the water level in the canal receded during the past few days. The survey of villages situated alongside the canal revealed that the roads lining the banks of the canals were being eaten into by the swift flow of the water in the canal. At some places, including Jandali bridge area, the earth had caved in to the extent that the road was converted into a narrow trail where even cars could not pass. Near Khatra Micro Hydroelectric Plant, the northern bank lining the canal was eroded badly. A breach can develop at the place any time if the water level in the canal rises. Villagers living along the river said they were having sleepless nights due to the fear that the pressure of water could rise in the canal any time and result in the weak banks being washed away. They say that the local administration does not have adequate flood-fighting equipment as this area is otherwise not a flood-prone area. While a metalled road protects the canal from breaching the southern bank, sensitive points like the Jandali bridge and Khatra bridge can give way any time with water gushing into the villages. The bricks of almost all wharfs have since been washed away by the water current. A major portion of the metalled road between the railway crossing and canal bank near Gurdwara Damdama Sahib is also in bad shape. The same holds true for the road near the Jandali Bridge. It is not less than a deathtrap. The water has also started eroding the soil under the surface, which can prove hazardous keeping in view the heavy flow of traffic from this road. The northern bank of the canal is in the worst condition. Water can seep in any moment and lead to an open breach. People say the condition of this side of the bank can deteriorate further because residents keep excavating the earth from the exterior and sand from the interior in the absence of any action by the department concerned. Officials of the Irrigation Department were not available. Referring to a report received from Mr Mukesh Sharma, Duty Magistrate, Dr Indu said she had asked the canal authorities to do the needful.
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Farmers travel 20 km to reach fields
Ludhiana, July 15 To construct a new bridge over the nullah, the district administration had demolished the old bridge around two months ago. Though the old bridge was in a bad shape, its demolition cut off the villagers from their fields. The villagers have to take around 15 to 20 km long route to their fields though these are just a stone’s throw away from the village. These are separated only by the nullah. According to Mr Davinder Singh, Sarpanch of Baranhara, residents of not only his village but from other villages like Aiyali, Barewal, Laddian Kalan, Jainpur and places as far as Jagraon take this route to visit Jalandhar. Now all of them either take the Haibowal route or go through the Jalandhar bypass after crossing Ludhiana. For residents of Aiyali and Barewal, it is a long haul to reach their fields in Laddowal. ‘‘This bridge is going to be a bypass for the residents of all these villages. Earlier also residents had constructed a kutcha bridge with the help of sand and pipes which used to get washed away during monsoon. Then it was with the efforts of these villagers that the district administration gave a grant of Rs 61 lakh and construction started here, ’’ said Mr Jatinder Singh of Baranhara village. Stating that they were happy with the new bridge which is under construction, the residents demanded that the work should be expedited so that their problems could be solved. ‘‘Earlier it used to take us 15 minutes or even lesser time to reach our fields but now it takes us around an hour to reach there. We go from Haibowal after passing through the dairies. It is a big problem. We have to waste a lot of petrol on reaching our fields every day,’’ said Mr Davinder Singh.
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Six fresh gastro cases reported
Ludhiana, July 15 According to doctors at the Civil Hospital, two patients suffering from loose motions were admitted last evening. Four cases of gastroenteritis, one from the Urban Estate and three from Sherpur and Jamalpur Colonies, were under treatment at Nauhria Hospital. Dr Kuldip Nauhria informed that a middle-aged woman brought to the hospital this afternoon was in critical condition. Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, while talking to Ludhiana Tribune, maintained that going by the number of reported cases, there was no cause for concern. At the same time, she stressed the need for safe drinking water supply in the city, which could keep water-borne diseases at bay. At a meeting convened here today, the Deputy Commissioner asked the Municipal Corporation to take all possible steps to check contamination of water, ensure proper chlorination and at the same time fix responsibility so that officers could be hauled up for poor quality of water supply. Addressing the meeting attended by officials of the Health Department, the Municipal Corporation and other district officials, Mr Verma directed the health officials to streamline the system of drawing water samples from the city and other towns and villages on a regular basis. The Health Department was asked to evolve a system for taking water samples on a large scale so that contamination and poor quality of water could be detected well in time and infection from water-borne diseases prevented. The Deputy Commissioner wanted a minimum of 50 water samples taken per month from different localities within the municipal limits in the city and another five water samples from the area of each Municipal Council and rural blocks in the district. Mr Verma asked the civic authorities, both in the city and other towns, to identify slum areas and other localities which were under attack from gastroenteritis. “Special efforts ought to be made to ensure the supply of safe drinking water to these particular localities.” Among other steps outlined by the Deputy Commissioner for supply of safe drinking water in the district were instruction to officials of Public Health (Rural Water Supply) to ensure that clean and potable drinking water was made available in villages. He directed the officials to launch a campaign against illegal water connections and further made it mandatory that a certificate on quality of water supply in villages would have to be obtained from respective Sub-Divisional Officers.
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Colleges ask VC to sanction more seats
Ludhiana, July 15 In some of the reputed colleges, the cut-off percentage has gone up to 75 per cent. Those with less marks, left with no other choice, are forced to join other institutes. Ms Ankita Garg after scoring 73.5 per cent marks has failed to get admission to BA I in a local government college. Her mother said, “When the results were declared, we patted her for scoring good marks. But we were shocked to learn when the college authorities, where she wanted to take admission, refused to consider her application for low percentage. The cut-off percentage was 75 per cent. Now we are depending on the waiting list”, said Ms Garg. According to sources at Government College for Women and SCD Government College, the cut-off percentage remained as high as 75 per cent and 65 per cent respectively for various courses. Ms Manju Chawla, Principal Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, said the cut-off percentage for BCA, BCom, BSc and PGDCA went up to 65-70 per cent. “There has been a lot of competition these days. Even distinction holders find themselves helpless in getting admission to the courses of their choice. We, too, have requested the university authorities to increase the number of seats. Let us see Dr S.M.Sharma, Principal, Arya College, said their colleges could not be compared with the government colleges. “We have given admission to even 58 per cent marks holders. In private colleges, the admission process is slow. We can adjust more students because of our unlimited seats. But in government institutions the seats are restricted, said Dr Sharma.
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Passing Thru
What is the future of Punjabi language and Punjabi folk music?
If love for Punjabi language is going down, it is the Punjabis who are to be blamed. And when the language is not loved, how can the folk music find favour with the public. Parents do not encourage their children to speak their
mother tongue. Instead they want them to converse in English. This attitude is not conducive for the growth of Punjabi and if this continues, I think the future of Punjabi music will be bleak. How do you rate the Punjabi youth as far as their desire to take up music as their profession is any consideration? Punjabi youths are gifted with love for music. But they do not want to practice hard and want to be an instant success, as in other walks of life. They do not do enough ‘riyaaz’. Even their pronunciation of Punjabi words and the lyrics needs to be improved. Do you think Sufi music is getting the recognition it deserves? Almost all singers, to get attention, include a half-baked Sufi song in the album and term it as Sufi songs album. One requires a lot of dedication and spiritualism and it is not every one’s cup of tea. —Asha Ahuja |
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District Youth Cong’s jumbo team
Ludhiana, July 15 Announcing the names of the office-bearers, Mr Rana said, honesty and integrity of workers had been kept in mind. The team was a mixture of old and new. Appealing to those who could not be included in the team in the first phase, he said they would be suitably accommodated in the next phase. The Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary, Mr Pappi Prashar, was present during the function. He said since the time Mr Rana had taken over as district president, he had mobilised the party cadre. Assuring full support of the party to Mr Rana, Mr Prashar hoped that he would steer the party clear of controversies. Jatinder Tony, DK Arora, Deepak Sharma, Ajay Nayar, JP Grewal, Virinder Honey, Sunil Chopra, Rajnish Thakur, Devinder Gopgi, Gulsahn Kumar, Kulwinder Singh, JB Singh Jugnu, Sushil Kapoor, Janseinder Singh, Narinder Gupta, Meenu Malhotra, Sukhdev Sandhu and Rakesh Sharma have been appointed vice-presidents.
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Dharna by 5 farmers’ bodies
Doraha, July 15 The farmers’ organisations demanded lowering of prices of diesel, petrol and electricity, a minimum support price of Rs 760 for paddy, at least 16 hours supply for agricultural land, replacement of overload transformers, grid and conductors, 24-hour supply for domestic feeder, continuation of MSP for farming products, free electricity and river water supply, diesel to be sold on half the price for agricultural purposes and loans to farmers. He also sought that field labourers that be withdrawn and grant given to families of farmers who had committed suicide due to the “wrong” policies of the government. The All-India Federation of Democratic Youth that also supported the farmers organisation. It demanded that charge of fee in the name of computers by educational institutions be stopped and charges for entrance tests and counselling fee be minimised. Among those who spoke on the occasion were Mr Lakhwinder Singh Buani, Mr Kuldip Singh Grewal and Mr Sukhdev Singh from the All-India Kirti Kisan Sabha, Mr Mohinder Singh Neelon, Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Jasvir Jhajj from the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Punjab, Mr Kartar Singh Buani and Mr Avtar Singh Gill from the Punjab Kisan Sabha, Mr Jora Singh from the Agriculture and farmers’ development Front, Mr Darshan Singh and Mr Pritam Singh Jargari from the Bharti Kisan Union (United ) and Mr Jandeep Kaushal from the All-India Federation of Democratic Youth.
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‘Poor material’ used in road
construction
Samrala, July 15 Mr Rajewal alleged that there was a nexus between the contractors and the high-ups. The construction company enjoyed political patronage. Therefore, nobody held an inquiry. Mr Rajewal said if a road was damaged after six months or a year, the administration should immediately start probing the reason behind it. Similarly in the case of the Khanna-Nawanshahr highway via
Machhiwara, an inquiry should be ordered and samples of the material used should be taken in the presence of at least two sarpanches of the surrounding villages.
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100 needy women given ration
Ludhiana, July 15 Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jaggi said the mission was doing a good job by reaching out to the poor. More and more people should endeavour to help others as every religion preached service to humanity. The families were given the essential items needed to run a house. The function was attended by Mr Swaran Singh, president of the local gurdwara. The members of the mission, president Jatinder Singh Galhotra, chairman Parminder Singh Bagga and general secretary Ravi Sharma were seen distributing the ration.
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Temple body poll demanded
Ludhiana, July 15 A meeting of the Krishna Nagar Welfare Society was held under the chairmanship of Dr Satnam Singh here today at which it was decided that in case the elections were not announced soon, they would have no option but to approach the administration to get the needful done. He said they had approached the members of the temple committee to announce the elections but were unable to get a satisfactory reply. It seemed that the members wanted to prolong their tenure further even though the two-year term expired over four months ago, he added. Dr Satnam Singh also said that the elections should be announced at the earliest and at least a week should be given before the polling is held.
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Man searches for missing mother-in-law
Ludhiana, July 15 Gurmeet Singh said the woman was suffering from depression. The Division No 6 police has lodged a report in this regard. ‘‘We have searched for her at every possible place but she is untraceable’’ he said. Seeking the help of the media, he said she was wearing a blue printed suit. when she left her home.
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CM asked to fulfil promises
Ludhiana, July 15 At that time he had promised that he would provide jobs to everyone. But he has been unable to keep his promise and teachers are not only being denied jobs, but also being sent to jails now and then for protesting against the government.
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Rally against contract
system
Jagraon, July 15 They raised slogans against the contract system and later held a dharna for more than five hours under the leadership of Mr Kewal Singh Badal, former MP and state president Khubi Mohammad. They demanded implementation of the agreement was reached during the period of Mr Gurmeet Singh, SDM, Jagraon against the contract system.
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Doraha, July 15
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Booked on dowry charges
Jagraon, July 15 Attempt to murder: House burgled:
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Businessmen exhorted to pay taxes
Ludhiana, July 15 Addressing a joint meeting of the Taxation Bar Association
(TBA) and District Taxation Bar Association (DTBA) here today, he assured that the Department of Income Tax would extend full cooperation and provide friendly treatment to assessees so that the environment of better understanding and mutual trust could be further strengthened. The CCIT expressed the desire that members of bar, trade and industry should help in achieving budgetary targets of the department since only by collection of taxes, the country could be put on the path of further progress. He asked all eligible tax payers to deposit their advance tax and tax deducted at source (TDS) well in time. Mr Ashok Juneja, president of the
TBA, and Mr L.C. Gupta, president of the DTBA assured the CCIT that the members of both the bars would lend their cooperation to all those small new assessees and tax payers who filed their annual returns through bar members. The taxation bar members demanded that all commitments made by income tax officials to the assessee during surveys and while making surrenders should be scrupulously honoured by the department. Mr Pall stated that the Central Board of Direct Taxes had already directed that all the refunds should be issued within four months of filing the returns. As such, all bar members and assessees should provide list of such pending refunds relating to the period prior to March 31. Further lists of pending rectifications and appeal effects applications should also be submitted within seven days to the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax. Giving assurance that grievances of the assessees and bar members would be redressed without any delay, the CCIT said all time-barred scrutiny cases would be decided by December 31 and bar members should expedite and submit the required information in such cases without any loss of time. Prominent among other speakers at the meeting were Mr Kanwaljit Singh, Additional Commissioner, Mr
R.P. Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Mr D.S. Pandher, Mr Ajay Paul Singh, general secretary,
TBA, Mr Sushil Bhakoo, secretary, DTBA, Mr B.R. Kaushal, convener, Study Circle,
TBA, Mr Anup Jain and Mr Ashwani Kumar.
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Spice launches new services
Ludhiana, July 15
The contest, launched by Spice Brand Ambassador Priyanka Chopra, received more than 30,000 entries, the company said.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Siddharth Mehra, Senior Manager Marketing, Spice Telecom, said: “We decided to celebrate the birthday of our brand ambassador with the Spice family of more than 1 million subscribers so as to provide them with the opportunity to convey birthday messages to their favourite actress and even access Priyanka’s memorabilia. “ Fans of the young actress can avail an exclusive opportunity to wish Priyanka on her birthday which falls on July 18 and also participate in a contest through which they stand to win exciting Priyanka Chopra memorabilia. The two services launched for this occasion are on the GPRS and IVR platform. Apart from sending birthday wishes to the actress, subscribers can also participate in a contest and win gifts like DVD players and audio-cassettes. The lucky draw for this contest will be announced on July 20. Spice prepaid and post-paid subscribers will be charged a nominal rate of Rs 6 per minute to access this service.
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BSNL cell services go haywire
Ludhiana, July 15 While the problem persists round the clock, it is the worst during the evening hours. As one subscriber remarked: “It is as good as having your cell switched off between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m”. Even the SMS from or to the BSNL mobile are either not delivered or delivered late — in certain cases as late as by 24 hours. However, the General Manager, BSNL Ludhiana, Mr GS Julka said the problem was of temporary nature. The BSNL was shifting from the Erricson to the Nokia network. He said there was no problem of towers or infrastructure. The problem would be sorted out in a couple of days as the network changeover was in progress. All existing towers were fully functional. Moreover, the BSNL, in order to cope with the massive subscriber base was setting up 50 more towers in Ludhiana alone. Five of these towers were already completed and the remaining were being completed within a month. Mr Julka maintained that the BSNL remained the best mobile service provider in the country and also in the region. It had accessibility all over the country and the charges were also less than other service providers. Moreover, the BSNL connections were readily available. There is general impression among subscribers that while the BSNL is providing mobile connections to unlimited number of subscribers, does not have the appropriate infrastructure.
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