Jalandhar, October 15
The family of the farmer who had reportedly committed suicide last year in the grain market of Nadala in Kapurthala district, has thrown a spanner into the SAD’s ad-campaign by announcing that they would sue the party for using, without their permission, the photograph of the deceased in an advertisement issued on Sunday.

The half-page advertisement titled “Congress da Punjab naal dhokha” in a vernacular daily had used the photo of the dead farmer to “highlight the failure of the Congress government” on agricultural front, while also making an appeal to the people to reach Chandigarh for a dharna on October 16 against Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government.

Kapurthala district Congress chief, Mr Sukhpal Singh Khaira, and the deceased farmer’s son, Mr Major Singh, stated in a press conference here today that SAD had not informed the family about using the farmer’s photograph in the advertisement.

Mr Major Singh said they would file a suit against SAD. He added that his father’s photograph had been misused for “cheap political publicity”. The sentiments of the family were hurt, he said.

PHAGWARA: If statistics are to be believed, cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has increased in the town. Till date 65 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act, while in 2005 only 44 cases were registered, indicating a spurt in drugs-related crime.

Snatching cases, involving amount of Rs 36.15 lakh, were reported in 2005, but this year the amount in such incidents increased to Rs 40.18 lakh. Similarly, the number of burglaries has increased to 29 this year from 19 in 2005.

The recovery rate by the police last year was slightly more than 50 per cent of the total criminal cases registered. The recovery rate in snatchings cases was merely 30 per cent, while it was only 10 per cent in burglary cases.

There has also been an increase in the number of fatal accidents, the count is 18 this year, up from 12 last year.

The number of other accidents has also increased from 50 to 58 till date.

The police, however, claims that compared to the past few years, the crime remained fairly under control this year.

It also claims that vehicle thefts in the town have been curbed to a large extent. Only three property-related crimes were reported this year. Also, there has been a decline in the incidents of group clash this year.

Only two police officers were caught by the Vigilance on corruption charges.

The ASP, Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, claimed that the police had been successful in solving two blind murders and several cases of rape within a short span of time.

He added that the increase in the challan amount was due to effective enforcement by the traffic police and added that the police had tried its best to control crime last year and that it was geared up for the coming months.

Jalandhar, October 15
Think before you create air pollution during Divali. The pollution level of a majority of towns of Punjab is getting worse.

Broadly, the pollution comes from the combustion of fossil fuels — petrol or solid fuels — from industry and home fires. Using incinerators instead of uncontrolled burning of garbage in colonies is one simple way to reduce emissions from very high to moderate levels.

A report of the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology says the status of air pollution in four major cities is alarming.

The report, “A State of Environment, 2005”, prepared by the council, is based on facts of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The board monitors the pollution levels regularly in various towns, including Jalandhar, Amritsar and Batala.

According to the report, the presence of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the air in Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar remains high throughout the year, even in residential areas. The maximum values (up to 550 micogram per litre) have been observed in various parts of Ludhiana. The permissible annual average limit is 140 micogram per litre. This could be attributed to the increase in the number of vehicles.

The high levels of pollution trigger respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer.

During the festival season (October to November), the SPM level is high in Amritsar, especially in the Golden Temple area, which is categorised as a sensitive area. Jalandhar also showed high SPM, especially in commercial areas.

In Hoshiarpur, the PPCB recorded the noise pollution level on and after Dasehra this month. It was 140 to 145 decibels on Dasehra in the Bhangi choe area and after the festival it was 92 to 96 decibels.

GURDASPUR: The incapability of the authorities concerned to check the sound pollution can be gauged from the fact that there are no decibel meters in the district to check the violation of sound pollution standards fixed by the PPCB. Not surprisingly, none of persons has been booked for violating the sound pollution in the district.

The thousands of crackers that are set to explode in the coming days would worsen the air quality. Already in areas around Pathankot the air pollution levels are abnormally high due to stone crushers. Over 200 crushers are functioning, with hardly any of them adhering to the air pollution norms.

There is no air pollution monitoring equipment installed in the district.

AMRITSAR: The District Pollution Control Board (DPCB) will educate the people about the environment pollution created due to the use of firecrackers during the festival of lights.

Mr Prabhdayal Singh Randhawa, president, Pollution Control Committee, Amritsar, an NGO, said they had submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard as the apex court had ordered that the noise pollution should not cross the limit of 85-decibel mark, which was harmful to the ears. Besides, it also caused environment pollution, which affects the health of the people, especially the people suffering from asthma and other respiratory ailments.

NAWANSHAHR: The Deputy Commissioner has set up a toll-free phone number (01823-655501) to register complaints regarding noise pollution.

With inputs from Lalit Mohan (Gurdaspur) and Sanjay Bumbroo (Amritsar) and Parmod Bharti (Nawanshahr)