Ludhiana, February 21
Continuing with its drive against building bylaw violations, the building branch of the Municipal Corporation today sealed the VLCC outlet on Malhar Road and a showroom on Gill road here.

Despite being a holiday on the occasion of Guru Ravidass Jyanti, the MC team started its operations from VLCC falling in Zone D of the city.

Tejpreet Singh, ATP, Zone D, said VLCC had not got its land use approved from the MC. The complex had come up on a residential plot. He added that though the land use change was allowed on Malhar road, the owner did not feel the need to get this done from the authorities.

Moreover, the building did not provide enough parking space. The outlet was issued a notice also to get the land use changed. It would be sealed till the owner gets the building declared commercial by following the proper procedure.

Another two-storey commercial building on Gill Road, India Crane, selling various machines, was sealed by the MC. The authorities said the land was meant for a residential building and the owner was using it for commercial problems.

There was a problem with the parking also. Not enough space was provided for the parking. The building was also sealed till indefinite period.

The owner of the shop, however, protested against the move. He said all shops in his neighbour were not allowed commercial use but the MC was resorting to selective action.

He said he was going to meet the city mayor Hakam Singh Gyapsura and put his point across. Sources said a meeting was going on with the mayor on this point. No word was, however, received from either of the parties as the meeting was going on till the filing of this report.

The MC squad had demolished a 400-500 square feet wall at Barewal Road. ATP Tejpreet said the wall was razed as it was an encroachment in the road. Yet another structure in front of PAU's gate number 2 was demolished by the squad as the authorities said the owner had not got any site plan approved for the shop.

Last evening, the MC had sealed a shop on Rajpura road belonging to a BJP leader Bittu Bhullar. The MC was said to have acted despite political pressure amidst protests from the shopkeepers of selective action. 

Ludhiana, February 21
The Punjab Agricultural University website www.pau.edu.com is offline due to "non-payment of dues". The PAU authorities have rubbished the allegations by Anoop Gupta of Cyberframe Solutions that a payment of Rs 37,000 stood against PAU - charges of Rs 27,000 till February 18,2008, and Rs 10,000 as annual maintenance charges.

The authorities claimed that the university had made a payment of Rs 15,000 for web-hosting for the year 2007-08 to the vendor vide invoice number 1038 dated March 22, 2007.

Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, Prof V.K.Sehgal, said it was wrong to say that the PAU website was blocked for non-payment of dues. He said the vendor had confirmed that M/s Cyberframe Solutions had "received all payments against services provided to PAU up to 2007-08 and that nothing is due".

Said VC Dr Manjit Singh Kang on learning about blockage of the website: "The blocking of PAU website without any basis is tantamount to attempting to tarnish the image of the university in the eyes of the public."

"It appears that the entire story is concocted by Anoop Gupta to get his contract extended for next year".

PAU has sent a telegram to Gupta which reads: "You have already charged us for web-hosting for 2007-08, meaning thereby up to March 31, 2008, vide your invoice No.1038 dated March 22, 2007.

The website was blocked last evening showing the message "Website is blocked due to non-payment of bills".

Ludhiana, February 21
The PRTC has constituted a committee to probe yesterday's accident in which a PRTC bus mowed down several vehicles killing two and injuring six persons.

Managing director of the corporation Manvesh Singh Sidhu said in a press note that transport minster Master Mohan Lal had announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of deceased. The PRTC would bear all expenses of indoor treatment of the injured.

He further announced that Rs 50,000 would be immediately released by the PRTC and the remaining amount be paid by the Punjab State Road Safety Council.

He also visited the site of accident to ascertain the reason. He also visited the injured at Guru Teg Bahadur Charitable Hospital at Ludhiana.

Ludhiana, February 21
The functioning of the police control room (PCR) motorcycle squad has been hit owing to the drastic cut in its fuel supply. This squad, considered the best deterrent to crime, has been rendered ineffective. From unlimited petrol supply six years ago to seven litres last year and finally three litres now, the motorcycle fleet is forced to stand more on the roadside than patrol city roads.

The very purpose of the squad is defeated owing to the resource crunch faced by the police department. City SSP R.K. Jaiswal said the recent hike in petrol prices was the main villain. " But PCR is my top priority. We are trying to do something to make it more mobile."

Banks and other financial institutions are largely dependent on this fleet. PCR bikers have instructions to be around banks at a certain time in the day. Informed sources said the squad is facing the worst times. Out of a fleet of about 100 bikes, only half are roadworthy.

The squad is now seen standing on the roadside with the vehicles parked. Sources in the fleet said 50 per cent of the bikes were old. With three litres of petrol per day, the squad could patrol up to 70 km-75 km area only.

PCR squad was the pride of the Ludhiana police known for reaching the crime spot in 3 minutes.

When eight undertrials escaped from outside central jail late on Saturday night, four PCR bikes reportedly tried to chase the fugitives but in vain as they ran out of fuel.

Ludhiana, February 21
Jassi Khangura, MLA, Congress, has sought a third ''people-friendly" Shatabdi train from Ludhiana to Delhi as Ludhiana constitutes 45 per cent of the inbound Shatabdi traffic to Delhi together with 30 per cent of the outbound traffic from Delhi.

In a letter to Lalu Prashad, railway Minister, he has stated that although Ludhiana is well-served by the existing two Shatabdi trains that ply on the Delhi-Amritsar route, there is strong justification to start a third Shatabdi from Ludhiana.

He has further pointed out that with the current Shatabdi trains departing from Ludhiana to New Delhi at around 7 am and 7 pm, a third train departing from Ludhiana around 9 am and returning from Delhi around 2 pm will be a well-timed addition. At these times, there would be no need to have full meals to be served. The proposed Ludhiana Shatabdi should be non-stop in both directions. Current passenger statistics do not warrant third Shatabdi being extended to Amritsar or Jalandhar, Jassi has maintained. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 21
Families of as many as 52 state government employees have threatened to start a relay fast in case services of their bread winners were not regularised soon.

The Municipal Corporation Ludhiana, where these employees were working on deputation, had relieved them three weeks ago, with directions to join their parent department, the Punjab Urban Development Agency (PUDA). But they have not been allowed to join duty there since then.

The PUDA authorities have forwarded the representation of the protesting employees to the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, for action. Badal is ex-officio chairman and minister of the department.

Families of as many as 52 PUDA employees, owing allegiance to the SAD-backed Punjab Raj Mulazim Dal, have threatened to start a relay fast in case their heads were not allowed to perform duties with immediate effect.

According to Inder Jit Sharma, chairman, Punjab Raj Mulazim Dal, the authorities at the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana had relieved these employees, who had been sent on deputation by PUDA, a few years ago. They were asked to report for duty at the office of their parent department at Mohali. But despite joining, they were not allowed to perform their duties.

“The irony is that the bureaucracy, instead of implementing employee-friendly policies of the SAD government, has been harassing them for no fault of theirs. Though the Chief Minister had said that these employees would be regularised according to their seniority, the authorities, allegedly acting at the behest of certain Congress leaders, have unsettled their lives by bringing them on road,” rued Sharma.

Sharma said R N Goel, secretary, PUDA, had forwarded the case to the Chief Minister.

Samrala, February 21
Kin of late Girdhari Lal Sharma, a freedom fighter of Palaudi village, having agreed to shifting of his statue from Machhiwara Chowk, the civil administration has initiated the process to install the memorial at a more suitable place. Besides controlling the accident rate, the move will facilitate residents pay floral tributes to the freedom fighter according to their convenience, claimed the authorities.

Meanwhile, the administration has sought cooperation of the social organisations in relocation of historical monuments installed in the subdivision.

The statue of Girdhari Lal Sharma will be installed to a more suitable place near telephone exchange. The decision was taken at a meeting of office-bearers of various social and political organisations convened under supervision of S S Mahal, SDM, Samrala, yesterday. The shifting will allow the administration initiate process for installing traffic lights at the chowk.

Observations by the Ludhiana Tribune revealed that incidences of vehicular accidents had increased due to uncontrolled traffic at Machhiwara on Ludhiana-Chandigarh road during past years.

As the project could not be initiated without shifting the statue from the chowk, the administration invited the office-bearers of various organisations of the area and kin of the freedom fighter, to find a solution and ultimately succeeded in convincing enthusiasts that shifting of the statue would be in interest of all sections of society.

Surinder Bhalla, a contemporary of the freedom fighter, held that it would be more convenient for residents to pay tributes to the freedom fighter. He suggested that a committee should be constituted to look after maintenance of the statue.

Ludhiana, February 21
Activists of the All-India RMS and MMS Employees Union and the National Union of RMS and MMS Employees today organised a dharna at railway station here to press for implementation of their pending demands, which were conceded during the strike on April 19, 2007.

Addressing the dharna, trade union leaders of the two unions, including divisional secretary Balram Kumar, M.N. Sharma and Dharam Singh, demanded immediate revision of overtime allowance rates as the existing ones were lower than the minimum wages, filling of all vacancies of group C and D, promotions to fill vacancies of lower selection grade, higher selection grade I and II strictly on seniority basis.

The protesters further wanted more chances to group D employees for appearing in LGO examination and revision of norms for computerised registration centres, express post parcels and speed post collection centre which were fixed in an arbitrary manner.

Among others Gian Chand, Hari Krishan, Dalbara Singh and Harpal Singh addressed the protesting employees.

Private schools admit children in pre-nursery classes at the age of two years onwards. If you take into account nursery, LKG and UKG classes, within these three-four years, parents have to spend lakhs of rupees on their lodging, boarding, tuition fee etc. It is unaffordable even for the middle class families However, in government schools, this is not so. As the actual education of tiny tots begins from Class I onwards, children ought to be admitted to Class I directly in private schools at the age of three years.

With this, parents will save lakhs of rupees till their children reach Class I and children will be able to get their graduation degree at the age of 19-20 years, apply for better jobs and help parents financially before getting married in time.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 21
The Ludhiana (Rural) police has initiated a departmental inquiry against three policemen of the Humbran police.

The policemen had been suspended a fortnight ago for allegedly facilitating theft of timber on the forest department land on January 20.

Circle officer, Raekot, has been deputed to find facts and suggest punishment for the tainted cops.

Narinder Singh Ruby, DSP, Raekot, had initiated a departmental inquiry against ASI Harbhajan Singh and constables Malaggar Singh and Kashmira Singh, who were suspended for allegedly helping certain persons in the theft of timber.

Action was taken on the recommendation of Paramjit Singh Goraya, DSP, Dehlon, who conducted an inquiry into the case.

“Though normally such cases are closed after the losses borne by the department are made good by the suspects, we have decided to conduct a departmental enquiry as we want to rule out the possibility of involvement of some other employees. As the erring cops have tarnished the image of our department, I have directed the inquiry officer not to show leniency towards them,” said Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, Ludhiana (rural) adding that punishment would be given after receiving the report of the inquiry.

Officials of the forest department had spotted the policemen helping some persons in felling three trees in the Khaira bet area on January 20.

As the suspects deposited Rs 11,300 as penalty on directions of the forest department, no criminal case was registered against them.

Former chairman of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust Ashok Singh Garcha had also alleged that some policemen were hand in glove with timber thieves.

Ludhiana, February 21
A coloniser and his son, booked earlier by the Vigilance Bureau for fraudulently selling government land, has been now booked for the same crime by the city police on the direction of additional deputy commissioner Priyank Bharti.

The Division No 5 police has booked accused Jora Singh and his son Jagpal Singh on the complaint of ADC Bharti. He alleged that the duo had prepared forged documents of government land worth crores in Dhandra colony and sold it off.

Jora Singh was already in judicial custody for the same crime after the local Vigilance Bureau booked and arrested him.

Ludhiana, February 21
“Congress on insect science: Pest management in global context”, the two-day conference organised by the PAU department of entomology, was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr M.S. Kang, at Wheat Auditorium here today.

In this conference, entomologists from different states of the country as well as from Pakistan and Kenya have come to participate in discussions on pest management in contemporary agriculture.

In his inaugural address, Dr Kang said insect pests were responsible for eating up nearly one-third of the total produce, worth Rs 50,000 crore, annually.

He said the burgeoning human population was responsible for generally negating the developmental efforts, adding that by 2025 AD the global population would be nine billion, which will necessitate tripling of food production.

He explained that this would require either enhancing the area under cultivation or refining crop husbandry practices wherein management of pests and diseases would have a major role.

Dr N.S. Butter, head, PAU department of entomology and president of the Indian Society for the Advancement of Insect Science, PAU, said the first congress on insect science, organised in December 2005, was a success. This time, the society had received 197 extended abstracts pertaining to original research and 12 invited status papers had been received from eminent scientists. "This reflects the overwhelming response the society has got from fellow scientists", he said.

Dr Anjum Suhail, professor, department of agricultural entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, said it was unfortunate that farmers still relied heavily on chemicals to control pests in Bt cotton as they were easily persuaded by the commercial advertisements of pesticide 
companies.

On this occasion, the Indian Society for the Advancement of Insect Science, conferred fellowships on 21 entomologists from within the country and abroad in recognition of their contributions to the science of insect pest management. 

Ludhiana, February 21
The district magistrate, Ludhiana, today banned the burning of crop residues in agricultural fields close to the Ammunition Depot, Baddowal.

DM Sumer Singh Gurjar said he had learnt that farmers were resorting to residue burning in their fields near the depot and were also indulging in construction activity. It could harm the Army and the depot.

He had banned the practice under section 144 of CrPC.

In yet another order the DM has banned throwing of garbage into Sidhwan canal. 

EDUCATION

BCM college hogs limelight in PU zonal contests
Lovleen Bains

Doraha, February 21
The Panjab University Zonal Level Skill In Teaching and On-the-spot Teaching Aid Preparation competitions in the subjects of commerce, social studies and economics were organised at Doraha College of Education, Doraha, yesterday.

The competitions were organised especially for education colleges of Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Hoshiarpur. Dev Samaj College of Education, Govt. College of Education, Chandigarh, DAV College of Education, Hoshiarpur, BCM College of Education and DD Jain College of Education, Ludhiana, Gobindgarh College of Education participated in the competitions.

Electronic devices like OHP, LCD projector and laptops were used by pupil-teachers to deliver their model lessons. In teaching aid preparation competition, the students made creative and aesthetic models on global warming, rock formation, price determination, layers of atmosphere, etc.

The observer of the competition was Dr Ravinder Kaur, principal, Malwa Central College of Education. Harmit Kaur, principal, Ramgarhia Girls College, Ludhiana, was the chief guest for the valedictory function. The results of the competition are as follows-

Skill in-teaching:

Social Studies: Anupinder - BCM College of Education, Ldh- 1. Kanika - Dev Samaj College of Education Chd -2, Preetinder - Rayat Institute of Education - 3.

Commerce: Amarpreet - DD Jain College of Education, Ldh- 1.

Economics: 1. Suchi - GMT College of Education 2. Baljeet - Dev Samaj College of Education 3 Monika - BCM College of 
Education

Teaching Aid Preparation:

Social Studies: Harpreet - Rayat Insitute-1. Monika - DAV Hoshiarpur- 2. Jaswinder - BCM College of Education-3

Commerce: Rajni - Dev Samaj College Of Education-1.

Economics: Hem Lata - Dev Samaj College Of Education-1, Poonam DD Jain College-2, Sukhwinder - Gobindgarh College of Education - 3.

Ludhiana, February 21
M.G.M. Public School organised the Prince Charming and Princess Charming Contest -2008 for the tiny tots of Class I.

Students came dressed in colourful and vibrant dresses and catwalked smartly. Parents were also invited on this occasion.

They lauded the efforts of the school in organising the show. The director of the school, G. S. Thind, crowned the winners and appreciated the teachers for their hard work.

The principal of the school, Mona Singh, said in future more such events would be organised to instil confidence in the students.

Nitin Bawa was crowned as Prince Charming while Eknoor Lalli was crowned Princess Charming.

Ludhiana, February 21
Ryan Institute for Market-Driven Education (RIMDE), in collaboration with the Wide World, developed at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Wide World), has started an online course on multiple intelligence. 

As many as 115 teachers of Ryan School have enrolled for this programme and more than 20 teachers of Ryan International School, Ludhiana, have enrolled themselves for the second batch.

This online course comprises 12 weeks of professional development and will involve many teacher from institution all over the world.

They will be working in school teams and will join study group led by Wide World coaches. These teachers will complete course assignment that will be base on what they have learnt in their classroom settings and discuss on the outcomes with their teammates and study group colleagues.

An awareness on the multiple intelligence theory will stimulate the teachers to find more ways of help students in their classes. The course will help the teacher find different methods of teaching.

The teachers from China, Canada, the United States, Iran, Nigeria and Turkey will be communicating, interacting and sharing ideas with Indian teachers.

Ludhiana, February 21
It was a big day for the trainees of the Ludhiana Badminton Academy (LBA) being run here at Shastri Hall, near Guru Nanak Sports Complex, when T.P.S Puri, vice-president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and chairman, selection committee, and Sanjeev Sachdeva, chief national coach (juniors), visited the centre.

They were much impressed with the training being imparted to the young and budding shuttlers. The visiting officials gave valuable tips to the players.

The chairman advised the young players to be disciplined and dedicated to become good players. "Through discipline, punctuality, hard work and dedication, one could overcome shortcomings and be successful in life," he said. He also congratulated organisers of the academy for producing state, national and international-level players.

Addressing the budding players, Sanjeev Sachdeva appreciated the efforts of the academy coach, Mangat Rai Sharma, who toiled hard to enable the trainees to make their presence felt at the state and national-level tournaments.

Sanjeev added that the Ludhiana Badminton Academy was the one of its kind where free training was given to the players at a very young age. He said that academies generally take established players only. Puri and Sachdeva assured all kinds of help and guidance to the organisers in running the academy.

Anupam Kumaria, honorary general secretary, Ludhiana District Badminton Association, thanked Mr Puri and Mr Sachdeva for sparing time to visit the academy. He said their interaction with the youngsters would definitely do a lot in improving their game.

About 40 players along with their parents were present on this occasion. Mohinder Kumar Chopra, president of the LBA, coach Mangat Rai Sharma were among other office-bearers of the academy who were in attendance there. 

Ludhiana, February 21
The Punjab squad (visually-impaired and physically-challenged) that was selected for taking part in the National Athletics Meet for the physically-challenged left for Faridabad yesterday. The event is slated to be held from February 21 to 24.

Those selected for the squad are: Gurpreet Singh Machhiwara, Balwinder Singh, Harmanpreet Kaur, Tripatpal Singh, Gurbinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Bikrampreet, Vivek Monga, Anu Monga, Sandeep Kaur (all visually- challenged), Sukhwinder Singh of Hoshiarpur, Manjeet Singh of Nawanshahr, Gursahib Singh of Taran Tarn, Mahabir Singh of Ferozepur among others.