Jalandhar, March 11
The rain god turned ecstatic all of a sudden. Seemingly at cloud nine, he blessed thousands of music lovers with “ Baarish Ka Paani”, but sans any “Kashti” which, could take them away from the sea of music.

They braved spatters of rain and chill to savour the nectar being poured by their idol-ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh. None of them moved until the drizzle turned incessant and their clothes soaked. Still they wanted more, but, Jagjit had to wind up when rain started trickling in through the makeshift roof of the open -air stage, facing about 20,000 music lovers on the Lovely Professional University campus, where his concert, “Siqaafat” (culture) was organized by the university authorities.

Crowds, consisting of youngsters and oldies, burst into applause when Jagjit, who, was accompanied by his wife Chitra and noted lyricist Sudarshan Faquir, took off on his flight of music with his popular number, “Ye Daulat Bhi Le Lo, Yeh Shohrat Bhi Le Lo, Bhale Cheen Lo Mujh Se Meri Jawani, Magar Mujh Ko Lauta Do Bachpan, Who Kagaz Ki Kashti, Wo Baarish Ka Paani.” He seemed to be imploring the rain god with “….Woh Kagaz Ki Kashti… Wo Baarish Ka Paani” and the drizzle started. But it failed to move the music lovers. They took out their umbrellas, covered their heads with jackets and polythene bags as Jagjit continued to render ghazal after ghazal. Judging the mood of youngsters, Jagjit touched a different note with a beautiful ‘aalap’, “He Na Na…”and then graduated to his ever green number, “Chulle Agg Na Ghare which Paani, …….Laara Lappa, Laara Lappa Laayi Rakhdi.” Which, earned rich applause from one and all, particularly, from the women dominated enclosures. He then went on to render,” Hazaaro Kwaahishen…”, followed by ,” Saare Pind Wich Puade Paaye,” and ,” Dhai Din Na Jawaani Naal Chaldi Kudti Mal Mal Di.”

While Jagjit refused to care about growing intensity of rain and continued with rendition of his numbers in his sonourus voice, Ashok Mittal and Ramesh Mittal, the chancellor and chairman of Lovely Professional University ,respectively, were seen making emergency arrangements , which, partly proved to be a spoilsport.

“ Jalandhar is known for two things in Mumbai. One ,K.L. Saigal and the other Sudarshan Faquir,” said Jagjit, who, was seemingly overjoyed over the response of Jalandharites to the concert.

Hoshiarpur, March 11
Resentment prevails among the transporters, private bus, three-wheeler operators, taxi owners and farmers regarding the imposition of higher toll tax by two private companies on build, operate and transfer (BOT) roads on the Balanchaur-Dasuya and Hoshiarpur-Tanda roads. The orders came into from March 6, 2007.

Hoshiarpur Harminder Singh Tohra of Express Bus Transport Pvt Company, Tarlochan Singh Parmar, President, Private Truck Transport Union, Punjab, Tarlochan Singh of Azad Bus Transport, Shiv Dev Singh of Doaba Roadways and Parminderjit Singh of National and Rajdhani companies, had called for the withdrawal of these toll-fees and threatened to launch state-wide agitation against the move.

When we are paying their taxes (road and passenger) during the time of registration of vehicles they why the government is levying toll-fees. With the imposing of toll-tax per trip, we have to bear a monthly loss of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000.

They submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur on Friday.

Under the 17-year agreement, the Punjab government had authorised Rohan Rajdeep Tollways Limited and P. D. Aggarwal Infrastructural Company to charge and recover toll-fee from motorists with effect from March 1, 2007.

The Rohan Rajdeep Tollways Ltd has set up three toll-collection centres at Mazari (Balachaur), Nangal Shaheedan (Hoshiarpur) and at Mangarh (Dasuya) on Balachaur-Dasuya road whereas P.D. Aggarwal Infrastructural Company has installed toll-plaza near Lachowal on Hoshiarpur-Tanda road.

As per the charges levied, a car owner needs to pay Rs 138 from Dasuya to Balachaur for 105 km stretch, whereas to travel 32-km road of Hoshiarpur to Tanda, Rs 45 will be charged.

The Rohan Rajdeep Tollways has fixed Rs 44 per trip (one side) as toll for light vehicles including tractor-trolley, Rs 88 for bus, truck and road-roller, Re 134 for heavy lorry and Rs 168 for articulated-trucks for crossing each toll-plaza. Besides, the firm gives 20 per cent discount on purchasing 20 tickets at a time.

The rate fixed for the Hoshiarpur-Tanda stretch is Rs 42 per trip (one side) for light vehicles including tractor-trailer, Rs 84 for bus, truck and road-roller, and Rs 128 for heavy lorry.

Jalandhar, March 11
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal praised Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner Krishan Kumar in an informal chat with Jalandhar division Commissioner Dr. Swaran Singh and Deputy Commissioner A. Venu Prasad here on Wednesday.

Soon after his maiden press conference at the district administrative complex here after becoming Chief Minister for the fourth time, he said while looking at A.Venu Prasad sitting on his left side “I have heard the praise of DC Nawanshahr. (DC Nawanshahr di bari tarif suni e)”.

Nodding, Dr. Swaran Singh who was sitting on the Badal’s right side, replied “He is pro-active (Aam loka nalo tej challan wala e)”.

Badal further asked “Haiga ta imandaar e na’ (After all he is honest)”. Both Dr. Swaran Singh and A. Venu Prasad agreed.

Krishan Kumar is known as a crusader against femicide. He started a campaign in the district in the mid 2005 with the help of NGOs and village panchayats. As a result the declining sex ratio of girls is gradually coming to normal.

When he took over the child sex-ratio stood at 775 girls per 1000 boys in the district.

Following his efforts, the child sex-ratio has gone to 925 per 1000 boys . He keeps data of each pregnant woman of the district in his personal computer in order to check femicide.

In a recent survey Jullana Majra village has recorded 970 girls against 1000 boys between the age group of 0-6. Giving its credit to the village Panchayat, Krishan Kumar said for this the Panchayat was given a prize of Rs. 3 lakh by the state government.

Known honest civil servant, Krishan Kumar also took several steps to provide corruption free and speedy services to residents.

Now residents don’t have to bribe officials for copies of mutation (pharad). These documents are sent to them through courier.

Similarly he has set up computerised public grievances redressal system, e-governance and woman empowerment schemes in the district.

On Badal’s praise, he expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for recognising his work.

Before joining as Nawanshahr DC, Krishan Kumar was Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation and SDM in Jalandhar and the residents of the city still remember him for his simplicity and efforts to make the system corruption free.

Phagwara, March 11
Activists of the Rashtriya Sewa Sangh saved 60 cows and buffaloes that were being brought by eight persons in five trucks from Subhanpur in Kapurthala district for slaughtering near Phagwara-Mehli bypass last night.

Sangh activists Bharat Verma and Sanjeev Duggal told that they spotted five trucks carrying cows and buffaloes near a dhaba in Jalandhar Cantonment.

They got suspicious and raised an alarm. The cattle smugglers fled the spot and were chased by sangh activists and residents of nearby villages.

While, the Nawanshahr police impounded two trucks in Banga, the villagers intercepted the other three trucks at the Phagwara-Mehli bypass by putting the tyres on the road as the sangh activists had sounded their counterparts in Phagwara and Nawanshahr. It was also reported that smugglers tried to shoo villagers by showing knives.

Six cattle smugglers were handed over to the Phagwara police and 36 buffaloes rescued. The Nawanshahr police also arrested two smugglers and recovered 24 cows from their other two accomplices.

The cows were being taken to slaughterhouses in Saharanpur in UP. The six accused were handed over to Nawanshahr police as the area from where the trucks were intercepted, falls in Nawanshahr district jurisdiction.

Jalandhar, March 11
The district police nabbed seven persons on the charge of betting on a cricket match yesterday. The accused were arrested near local bus stand after a tip-off. Police recovered Rs 23,985 from their possession. Mohinder Singh, SHO of police division number 6, said that it was being verified whether they had already bet on a match or were planning to bet.

The police registered an FIR under Sections 13 A/ 3/ 67 of Gambling Act.