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Hyacinths overrun Kanjli again
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Dignified life at new ‘home’
Gold prices: Consumers face brunt
Top honours for local BCA students
From Paris to ‘Pyare Mohan’
Glad to be a model
C’wealth grant for NIT Prof
Lecturer to attend world
IT conference
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Hyacinths overrun Kanjli again A conveyer belt was installed to weed out hyacinths but the machine has not been used effectively, says Arun Sharma Kanjli wetland in Kapurthala is again brimming with hyacinths these days. This comes just a few months after environmentalist Baba Seechewal cleaned the area and built ghats followed by two shramdaans by the residents of town and adjoining villages last year and in the month April this year. On February 3 this year, on the ‘International Wetland Day’ a conveyer belt costing Rs 10 lakh, was installed to weed out hyacinths but the machine could not be put to use effectively. In fact the wetland, situated on the sides of the Kali Bein, is one of the 17 notified wetlands identified by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for conservation and management. The other two wetlands, out of a total of 14 wetlands in the state which have been notified are at Ropar and Harike. According to information, the 14 wetlands of Punjab cover 225.76 sq km out of the total 5,357 sq km of the state’s total geographical area. Though the Ramsar Convention held at Iran in 1971 raised global attention on conservation and management of wetlands, in India, the importance of wetlands was recognised in the recent past only. Wetlands are among the world’s most productive environments. They are cradles of biological diversity, providing the water and primary productivity upon which countless species of plants and animals depend for survival. They support high concentrations of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrate species. Of the 20,000 species of fish in the world, more than 40 per cent live in fresh water. A survey by scientists of the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana, in the last decade, shows that out of 5,150 hectares under the Kanjli wetland, 209 hactare is covered by swamp or marsh, and 779 hectares is seasonally waterlogged. The lake and ponds cover 9.5 hectare, whereas 29 hectares is covered by oxbow lakes or cut-off meanders, the survey report says. The area under wastelands is 559 hectares, while nearly 123 hectares is under various types of forests. Crop land (double crop) constitute 3,082 hectares, in addition to a seasonally water-logged area of 779 hectares, which is also used for paddy cultivation. Plantations and built-up land cover 66 hectares and 281 hectares, respectively. The scientists have also expressed concerns over the growth of hyacinths in the lake and other parts of the wetland. The report says, “Extensive growth of water hyacinths is posing a threat to the ecological status of the Kanjli lake, as it detracts the migratory avifauna and has replaced the natural aquatic floral and faunal components. In addition to water hyacinths, certain submerged and rooted weeds have become problematic in this lake. It is difficult and perhaps inappropriate to bring these water weeds under control, because it can create disruption in food chain structure”. In addition to hayacinths and water weeds, the lake also faces the danger of pollution due to the washing down of nutrients and pesticides from adjoining agricultural fields. There were two reports of death of fish in the lake in the last one year. Kanjli lake was formed after the construction of a small barrage near Kanjli village four kilometres from Kapurthala in 1870 on Kali Bein which has played an important role in the formation of fertile plains by bringing down large sediments during floods in the past. Kali Bein, which is a permanent rivulet, has proved an important water sponge as the water level in the areas around it has not depleted as alarmingly as compared to other parts of the state.
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‘Mooch nahin to kuch nahin’
‘Mooch nahin to kuch nahin.’ Not quite! Remember Amitabh Bachchan drawling in that impressive baritone “Bhai moochein ho to Nathu Lal jaisi warna na ho.” Well, Nathu Lal has disappeared. Now it is the turn of Jagdish Lal, a doorkeeper with Amar Fast Food in Phagwara, with his more than visible moustache. “The young brigade is not going to grow this hairy attribute,” says Jagdish. Barring middle-aged men, one rarely comes across someone sporting a moustache. Be it the filmi heroes, or real life dudes. Almost everyone prefers staying clean-shaven, opting for that “chocolate-boy” look. So, what makes the moustache “gone in 60 seconds?” Jalandhar Plus tries to figure out what our Phagwara-based students think about moustache. “Who has the time to maintain a moustache?” “Anyway, if you have to have a moustache, better bear a huge, ‘rajah’ type and not the ‘Hitler’ one,” says Saurabh. “The sole reason, why I don’t keep a moustache is the fact that it is not liked by the fashion-conscious lasses,” Neeraj, a BA, Ist year, student, says. Maybe, the fact that girls prefer guys without ‘effeminate’ features is the reason that prompts guys to do away with moustache, which now comes under old-fashion category. “The time when the moustache used to signify manliness in history are long past. It makes the man minus a moustache,” quips Venus. “A man should only sport a moustache if it suits him.” “The fact that it gives pleasure to the guy twirling it, to flaunt his manliness is no reason to have a moustache,” says Jyotsna, a B.Sc IInd year student. But it’s not only the clean shaven, ‘chic’ look that makes the girls go ‘ga-ga’ over the opposite sex, there are a few who think that even the ‘rough look’ creates the same impact. Priyanka chips in, “If given a choice between a guy without a moustache and the one flaunting a rough look, I’ll definitely go with the latter. It gives an impression of being macho and gutsy.”
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Cultural exchange programme
back on track
After a gap of nearly four years, the Directorate of Youth Services today launched a cultural exchange programme. The programme, which had not been held in the previous years owing to paucity of funds with the state government, is now being conducted with the grant from the Central government.
As a part of the programme, 96 students — 48 boys and 48 girls — from six colleges falling in Jalandhar and Kapurthala, were sent to Andhra Pradesh for a 17-day trip ending on June 14. The students, along with four staff members, boarded two Delhi-bound Punjab Roadways buses from DAV College here. They would then move to Hyderabad from Delhi by train. The students, who have proceeded for the programme include those from DAV College, Jalandhar, BD Arya Girls’ College, Jalandhar Cantonment, Hindu Kanya College, Kapurthala, Guru Nanak Premsar College, Nadala, DAV Colleges, Phagwara and Phillaur. The college students, mostly comprising giddha and bhangra team members and folk singers, were much excited on being part of the programme. The students said that they were carrying typical Punjabi dresses and jewellery so that they could aptly represent the true culture of Punjab. Captain I.S. Dhami, Assistant Director, Youth Services, said that he was happy that the cultural exchange programmes had started once again with the support of the Central government. He added that the students would be visiting Hyderabad, Tirupathi, Warangal and Vijayawada. He said that on way back, the students might also be taken to Hazoor Sahib. Captain Dhami said that teams from different districts of the state were going to different places. “While some are going to Himachal, others have moved to Mizoram and Rajasthan. I had deliberately chosen Andhra Pradesh to show the students here as to how the state had progressed after becoming an IT hub. The students would be taken to the offices of multinational IT companies. They will be shown the pearl market, besides the rich heritage of city of nawabs through museums, Char Minar and Hussain Sagar Lake”, he said. Capt Dhami said that the students would be interacting with 96 students of Andhra Pradesh who would visit Jalandhar in November. He said that there would be camp fires in the night, cultural programmes by students from either states and competitions for various cultural and sports activities.
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Dignified life at new ‘home’
Aging is inevitable and no science can deny this. But spending your old age in a dignified manner, along with your near and dear ones, is not everybody’s cup of tea. At this ripe-age, you expect nothing from your children except love, affection and consideration. But many ultimately find these at old age homes. The Jalandhar Plus met a few senior citizens in Phagwara who preferred to spend their last days in these homes, not with their sons, daughters or grand children. With a broken sleep prevailing almost all night long, their days begin before the sunrise. “Once we are awake, we follow a similar routine almost everyday comprising of eating, sleeping and sometimes watching television,” Gurdial Singh of Sarv Dharam Vridh Ashram at Virk village said, as he aimlessly threw a pebble. “Life here is much better since you don’t have to take permission as to what to speak and how much,” Pyari, another resident of the home, added. She had to shift to the old age home after being asked by his son to find other arrangements only a year after his marriage. Disinclination to subject themselves to any discipline or accept advice from elders, indifference towards ethical and moral values could be some of the reasons why a number of parents are forced to shift into old age homes. However, there are some people who have shifted to these homes on their own and seem happy with their decision, Balwant Singh, resident manager of Senior Citizens Home, said.
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Gold prices: Consumers face brunt
Buying gold has never been such an expensive affair. Though Indians love the shimmer of gold and silver, what if this bling bling leaves a big hole in your pocket?
With the prices of gold and silver maintaining an upward trend, this is precisely what is happening. With the marriage season round the corner, this is definitely neither what the common man wants nor what the jewellers are praying for. Stupendously rising prices are attributed to a rise in international rates on account of active buying. “The rise is not due to an increase in demand from consumers, it is big players who are affecting the demand. We are quite surprised to see the trend, it is the highest ever rate in the past 25 years,” said Mr Ashok Bhalla of Bhalla Jewellers. Most blame the price rise on the rising prices of commodities such as oil, while others think the overall inflation is the main factor. In case you are planning to get a ring for your sweetheart this summer, it might just turn out to be a costly affair. Parents of prosperous brides and grooms, too, are concerned, as their budget has also been affected with the price increase. Aisha Kapur, whose daughter is getting married soon, said, “I can’t decide whether to place orders for all the jewellery right now or not.” “Also, with the current high prices, budgeting has been rendered futile, and if the prices go up further, then I will have to reduce the number of items on the list,” says Ms Kapur. The prices this year are at least 15 per cent higher than last year’s. Jasmin Laroya, an NRI from USA, said, “I love the colourful jewellery of India. I am planning to buy something for myself.” “In the US, I will have to pay at least 20-25 per cent more than what I did last year,” she adds. With gold and silver on fire, platinum, pearls and other jewellery items are also following the same trend.
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Market Buzz
Madan Flour Mills has opened ‘Fruits n Veggies’, a mart showcasing a variety of exotic and indigenous fruits and vegetables, along with a food bazaar, at its premises in Jalandhar. The mart has on offer exotic vegetables like the red capsicum, yellow capsicum, iceberg lettuce, cherry tomato, broccoli and baby corn among others. Besides, indigenous vegetables and the organic varieties would also be available under one roof. The owner, Mr Vipan Kumar, said that soon the mart would also have organic wheat, rice and pulses for those who want chemical-free food.
The mart would also make efforts to directly contact the farmers for procuring the fruits and vegetables. The electronic billing system and electronic weighing system had been put in place at the mart, Mr Kumar said. The mart has imported fruits like Kiwi, fuji apples, plums, grapes, on sale here. A food bazaar, with a special section for children, is also there in the complex. Lucky winners From the first week of May, Pepsi team has been doing rounds of the city and looking for the people who have kept two litre of Pepsi at home. Many city residents have won exciting prizes, including microwave ovens, home theatres, sets of six bowls, caps CDs, bags and even diamond pendants during the campaign set for the “arrest of Bubbly”. Ms Rajinder Kaur Bains from Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Mr Hritik Malhotra from Urban Estate Phase-I, Ms Meenakshi Narayan, Ms Vinky Arora and Mr Rajinder Bhanot from Master Tara Singh Nagar, Ms Parveen Dua from Mota Singh Nagar and Mr Surjeet Singh from Urban Estate Phase-II were some of the lucky winners who have won diamond pendants. With the campaign on for another 10 days, till June 10, and many areas still to be covered by the Pepsi squad, there is more chances for the residents to win more prizes.
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Young World
Students from the local colleges have managed to grab the four topmost positions in BCA final year examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University this year. Aparna Seth, a student of Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya, has topped the university with 1944 marks out of 2500. Deepika Matharu of Lyallpur Khalsa College stood second with 1913 marks.
Harneet Dhillon, a BCA third year student, is ranked third in the university with 1907 marks. Fourth position in the university has gone to Shivani Arora of Hans Raj Mahila Mahavidyalaya. Topper:
The students of the Departments of Law, Lovely Institutes, have done their Alma Mater proud by getting topmost ranks in semester I, III and V for the LLB five-year course in the month of December. Amisha Jain scored 73 per cent marks in the first semester, Shampy Chaudhary secured 80.8 per cent in the third semester and Manav scored 81.2 per cent marks in the fifth semester. Mr V.K. Ahuja, Principal, Lovely Institute of Law, has congratulated the students. Mr Ashok Mittal, president, Lovely Institutes, said that the law students had got 28 merit positions in university. Students of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts have proven their mettle by bagging top positions in BBA first year examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University this year. Nancy Dutta has stood first in the university with 476 marks out of 650. Akshay Aggarwal is third in the university with 454 marks. Nazuk Sood stands sixth in the university. Dr Sucharita, principal, has congratulated the students. Students of Prem Chand Markanda SD College for Women have attained top merit positions in the B.Com (professional) Part-II examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University this year. Nitika Bansal has stood second with 610 marks out of 750, Garima Baluja is fourth with 597 marks and Rozy is sixth with 594 marks. Party time: Various stalls of eatables like noodles, pav bhaji, ice candy, bhel puri and drinks were arranged. Ms Ranjana Sud, Principal, Ms Aneela Kinder, headmistress, wished the students goodbye as they left for the summer holidays.
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Indian promotion for Pak kabaddi
The Pakistan authorities have appointed an Indian as the director of their kabaddi team for promoting the game in their country. Mr Santokh Singh Mander has been appointed as the Director International Affairs to assist the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF).
In a letter, Mr Mohammed Sarwar, secretary general, PKF, has said the appointment had been made with immediate affect. The Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Pervez Elahi, is the president of the federation. The PKF has also written to the president of the Shirmonai Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) that Santokh Singh Mander who is also the Secretary General of British Columbia Kabaddi Federation, Canada, and the Director International Affairs, PKF, would look into the visa process and other formalities on behalf of the PKF and would take the 25-member Pakistani Kabaddi team to India. The Pak team has been extended an invitation by the SGPC to play at the Taran Taran Sahib Amritsar on the occasion of the 5th Sikh Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s 400th martydom day next month. Mander has been entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of the entire visa and other formalities of the Pak team to bring them to India for the matches to be played on June 12. Mander has been involved in promoting the cordial relations between the two countries for years through the game of Kabaddi. He was also instrumental in bringing the Pak Kabaddi team to India in 1996. Since then, the teams from both sides have been visiting the countries to take part in various sports events. Mander has done his coaching course from Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala, and has been a Kabaddi coach with the Punjab Sports Department. He also works as a freelance journalist covering major sports
events the world over and is also the editor of the sports magazine, Khed Sansar.
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Satyapaul creations sizzle on
Kaya skins
A near-wet evening sizzled with hot models sashaying on the ramp drapped in backless creations by renowned designer Satyapaul during an event organised by Kaya Skin Clinic in Jalandhar on Wednesday.
The evening saw models Barkha Kaul, Simran Sachdeva and Sucheta Sharma keep the audience spell-bound, showcasing sari collections in three rounds. Choreographer Rasna Behal kept up a pulsating rhythm. The event centered on beautiful backs, saw the maestro of simplicity and elegance playing with colours on abstract prints on saris. Inspired by European artists, Satyapaul played with striking combinations, throwing turquoise, magenta, aqua blue, garnet, in series of three, four and five in one sari. The blouses showed the backs in full, accentuating the sensual element. Satyapaul, who is in the process of opening a shop on the Mall Road in Ludhiana and Amritsar, also brought colour play into accessories. Beads strung long ear-rings and necklaces. They also drapped the saris across the chest as Janeyu. The base of the figure hugging, silk saris was the brocade in the first round. The unusual and striking combinations had the trademark Satyapaul magic. Blouses inspired from swimwear were tied at the back with strings. Satinder Kaur alias Rozale won the contest for her back.
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From Paris to ‘Pyare Mohan’
After spending one-and-a-half-years in Delhi’s fashion industry, she is all set for Mumbai. Waiting for her there is Sucheta’s younger sister, Ruchi Sharma, the face of Mikka’s hot music video “Somethin something”. Sucheta was last seen in the promos of “Pyare Mohan”. She said facing the camera was not that easy for the first time. Sucheta feels the college going girls these days look as attractive as well-groomed model. “There is not much of exclusivity left in modeling now,” she added. Sucheta, a Punjabi, was visiting Jalandhar for the third time. Some of her relatives live here. She said there were no retakes in a fashion show. “And we have to put up our best expressions before the camera. Its challenging.” She said fashion happened to her since she wanted to earn a name for herself. She finds role models in Sapna Kumar and Carol Gracious.
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Glad to be a model
She began her journey on the ramp in her Delhi institute in 2002. Two years down the line, she won the Gladrags contest. Movies are the next stop for her. “A couple of projects are being finalised,” she said. Counting her family as her strength and also her weakness, Simran said the world of fashion had taught her patience and discipline, adding that the perception that models were wooden was changing fast. She has already acted in a few music videos, mostly Punjabi, and has no reservations about working in Punjabi films. Lissome Simran has a passion for sweets and short skirts. “Girls must take care of themselves and be health conscious to succeed in life,” is her advice for the young. Professional to the core, she walked the ramp, despite having a fever.
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C’wealth grant for NIT Prof
An assistant professor in the Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) here has been awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Fellowship under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.
Dr S. P. Singh, teaching in NIT’s Department of Civil Engineering, would now work on “Cement-based concrete composites using recycled aggregates” at the Concrete Technology Unit, Division of Civil Engineering at University of Dundee, Scotland, from October this year to April next year. The professor was in Kuala Lumpur from May 7 to 12 to present a paper on “Analytical investigation on the strength and deformation characteristics of steel fibrous concrete beams” at an international conference on “Concrete Engineering and Technology”.
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Lecturer to attend world
IT conference
Mr Baldev Singh, lecturer, Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, Lyallpur Khalsa College, will present a paper at an international conference on ‘Informing science and IT education’ being organised by the University of Salford, Manchester, UK, from June 25 to 28.
The lecturer’s paper will be based on the study of ‘Managed learning and information technology enabled environment especially in the context of developing countries’.
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Sucheta Sharma in 2004 walked the ramps of Paris as Elite Model of 2004. And she said the differences between here and Paris were none.
Supermodel Simran Sachdeva believes in realising her passions.