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Mercury breaks 30-yr record, city hits 0.2, Adampur -2.2
Over 250 vehicles with pressure horns challaned, drive to go on
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MP to (mis)use govt land for son’s reception
Sukha case: Congress activists threaten to resign en mass
Metered taxis to ply on city roads soon
Information Cell set up
Sayin’s body to arrive on Dec 18
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Mercury breaks 30-yr record, city hits 0.2, Chill is bad news for crops The cold spells bad news for crops like mustard, barley, wheat, gram, and sugarcane and also the vegetable crops like potato. While low temperatures could stunt their growth the vegetables could contract some diseases, the Chief Agriculture Officer Mr B.S. Kahlon said. Doctor’s advice Docs too sound word of caution for the common man. Dr. Sanjiv Sharma says exposure to hot and cold temperatures must be avoided at any cost. Dry cough, throat infections, viral fever, may be contracted. Children and the aged must take extra care.
Jalandhar, December 14 In Jalandhar city, the minimum recorded temperature was 0.2 degrees, which is the lowest in the last 30 years. Amritsar, on its part, too maintained the same level of mercury as in Jalandhar, though traditionally the former has always been colder than the latter. However, Adampur, which is the coldest place in the region, registered a huge drop from normal and recorded minus 2.2 degrees. Temperatures have never been so low even in Adampur for the last 30 years in the first fortnight of December. In 1984, minus 4 degrees was recorded in the second fortnight of the month. Jalandhar city too has not had such a cold December 14 in recent memory. The normal temperature here is 3.5 degrees during this time of the year. At 6 am today, it stood at a freezing 0.2 degrees. The temperatures are likely to remain at the same levels or may fall even further over the next three to four days, the Met Office said this evening. While the residents remained behind closed doors from early morning onwards due to the cold, the Agriculture Department expressed concern that many crops are likely to have stunted growth because of the chill. Yet the morning in Jalandhar was bright and sunny, the maximum temperature being 20.1 degrees. Yesterday’s temperatures recorded by the Air Traffic Control for the city stood at a minimum of 2.1 degree Celsius, the maximum was 20.6 degrees Celsius. Two days back, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 2.1 degrees and a maximum of 21.4 degrees. On December 11, it was 2.4 degrees Celsius and the maximum 21.4 degrees. The highest temperature recorded for the day for Adampur was 20.6 degrees. The Adampur Air Force Station recorded the years lowest temperature so far at 6 in the morning while the maximum temperature for the day was recorded at 5:30 in the evening, says the Met Department officials. The lowest temperature recorded on December 12 was 0.8 degrees while the highest was 21 degrees. The lowest temperatures plummeted the very next day as lowest temperature was at minus 0.8 degrees yesterday while the maximum temperature recorded was 20.6 for December 13, recorded at Adampur by the Air Force Met Office. The temperatures in the region have been decreasing over the past two three days because of the intensifying cold wave conditions in the region. Met Office Adampur officials said the cold conditions were because of the North West dry and cold winds. |
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Over 250 vehicles with pressure horns challaned, drive to go on
Jalandhar, December 14 The special drive was kick-started after directions from the Supreme Court asking all state governments to take action against those establishments and individuals who contribute in the increasing noise pollution in the country. This drive, launched on directions of the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Gupta, has led to the challan of more than 200 commercial vehicles, including buses and trucks, that were found using pressure horns. Similarly, nearly 50 light vehicles, such as cars and jeeps, were also challaned for the same offence. The ongoing drive is a joint venture between the office of the Secretary, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and the Traffic Wing of the Jalandhar Police. “Each of these vehicle owners, who had installed pressure horns, has been slapped with a fine of Rs 1000,” Mr Vinay Bublani, Secretary, Regional Transport Authority (RTA), said. “We even got the horns removed on the spot.” The Transport Department had asked the entire field staff to carry out the Supreme Court orders in toto. At a meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner last week, it was decided that the Transport Department officials and the Traffic Wing of the Jalandhar Police would be participating in a special drive to curb the noise level in the district. “Though the guidelines were elaborate, we have implemented only that part which concerned us,” Mr Bublani said. “We also want people’s cooperation in this. But at the same time, I want to warn all offenders that nobody would be spared if found using pressure horns during the
ongoing drive, which is to be intensified in coming days.” Meanwhile, when The Tribune team visited some of the intersections, the impact of the drive was visible. However, more than 50 per cent of the vehicles here use pressure horns due to laxity on part of the traffic police. Interestingly, drivers of commercial vehicles were blatantly using pressure horns in front of hospitals on Bhagwan Mahavir Marg, hardly caring for the “No Horn Please” signs erected in front of schools. |
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MP to (mis)use govt land for son’s reception
Jalandhar, December 14 The cards extended to various media offices today from Rana Gurjit Singh, the Member of Parliament (MP) from Jalandhar, and his sister-in-law, Ms Sukhi Rana, an MLA from Kapurthala, for the reception of the MP’s son, Rana Inder Partap Singh, mentions the venue of the function as “Punjab Technical University Campus Ground (near Science City, Kapurthala).” The card also bears under the RSVP heading, the name along with the mobile number of Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Minister for Local Bodies, Punjab: a move to probably highlight the Rana family’s political clout. A stamp saying “No shagun please” is printed on the invitation card. Rana Gurjit Singh could not be contacted for his comments on the issue of the (mis)use of government land for a private function since his cell phone was switched-off. His sister-in-law, Ms Sukhi Rana, when contacted, had a prompt reply. “Sarkari zamin ute function rakhya tan ki hoya? Asin wi taan sarkari bande haan. Do ghante layee hi tan than chahidi hai. (What is wrong if we are holding a function on government land? We too are people from the government. We just need the site for two hours.)” But suddenly realising that she had said something politically incorrect, Ms Rana then started repeating, “Aseen university walian to permission layee hoi hai. (We have taken the permission from the university authorities.)” When asked as to how Rana Gurjit Singh could be contacted, she said it would not be possible as his cell phone had been lost and he was away somewhere. Meanwhile, the PTU Vice-Chancellor, Dr S.K. Salwan, when contacted, said he was not aware whether the MP had taken any permission for the purpose. He said the Registrar, Dr M.S. Grewal, was authorised to grant permissions for the usage of the site. Dr Grewal could not be contacted as he did not answer the phone call. Also, the Secretary, Technical Education and Industrial Training, Mr J.B. Goel, said he too was not aware of the issue and was unable to comment. |
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Sukha case: Congress activists threaten to resign en mass
Phagwara, December 14 The leaders, in a joint statement here today, pleaded with the Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, and PPCC President, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, to expel Mr Sukha from the Congress for “tarnishing” the image of the party with his activities. The entire matter had been brought to the notice of DCC President, Mr Navtej Singh Cheema, the leaders said.
Meanwhile, the episode took a new twist when Mr Sukha managed to procure a CD showing him being thrashed by the police here on December 8. He had presented the CD to the IG, Zonal, Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon, who was enquiring into the case. It may be mentioned here that a case under sections 353 and 186 IPC was registered against Sukha on December 9 for criminal assault on and obstructing a public servant from discharge of his duty. |
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Metered taxis to ply on city roads soon
Jalandhar, December 14 The policy in this regard, he added, was almost final and the state government would soon launch metered taxis in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda and Ludhiana. “The step was taken as an amendment to the New Transport Policy, whose financial viability is under assessment.” In another announcement, the minister said the state-owned Punjab Roadways was going to have 300 more buses. “This will take the total strength of the fleet to 1,591.” Mr Kaypee added that Rs 25 crore would be spent on the up gradation of the roadways from the next financial year. “This amount is separate from the loans which will be taken from other financial institutions for upgrading the roadways.” The Transport Minister ruled out any moves to privatise Punjab Roadways. Instead, he said that the 2,700 posts lying vacant with the roadways would soon be filled up. The project for the renovation of main bus stands in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Ludhiana would be undertaken on the basis of the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) system, Mr Kaypee said. The minister was in city to inaugurate the first Hakoba showroom of the Hakoba Lifestyle Venture. Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Mr Manoj Arora, was the guest of honour. |
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Information Cell set up
Jalandhar, December 14 To implement the Right to Information Act, 2005, the police department have set up an Information Cell in the District Police Office. The cell comprises SP Headquarters Mr Opinderjit Singh Ghuman, DSP Sarwan Singh, In-charge CPRC, SI Paramvir Singh Sahota, In-charge litigation Cell Nirmal Singh as members. SP HQ. Mr Ghuman has been appointed as the nodal officer of the cell. |
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Sayin’s body to arrive on Dec 18
Phagwara, December 14 The body of the Sayin would be brought to the village on December 19 for a ritual burial in the tomb inside the Roza Sharief complex which he himself had built a year ago, said his brother Balwinder Singh. It may be mentioned that Sayin had gone to the UK for getting treatment for his heart ailment but he breathed his last there on December 5. Sayin Bhajan Shah Qadri had succeeded his guru and maternal uncle Sawar Data Ali Ahmed Shah Qadri. |
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