Ludhiana, March 18
With 326 patwaris of the revenue department going on mass protest leave in the district, the public work in the department is suffering.

The worst sufferers are the contenders for the panchayat elections belonging to the scheduled castes as the last date for filing the nomination is March 27 and they have to submit an SC certificate to contest for reserved seats.

Besides the work of registration of sale deeds in six tehsils, including Ludhiana (east), Ludhiana (west), Jagraon, Payal, Khanna and Samrala, is suffering due to patwaris protest.

In both offices in the city, the work of registration of sale deeds has come down to 70 per cent only. The patwaris had gone on a strike on March 13 to press for their demands, including promotions, appointing senior kanungos as DRAs and absorbing relative of a dead employee on compassionate grounds.

According to Kuldeep Mann, an officer-bearer of the Revenue Patwar Union, all these demands were agreed in principle by ADC Kamalpreet Brar during a meeting held on November 12 last year. But nothing has been done for far.

The agitators would continue their protest. There would be three holidays due to Holi and weekend. On March 24, they would sit on a dharna.

The SC panches, who are to file their nominations by March 27 are worried that if they would not be given the SC certificate, to be attested by their area patwari, they would not be able to contest elections.

Many of them, who were in the city today to get a certificate, said their certificate was to be signed by a patwari, then a kanungo, a naib tehsildar and finally and the SDM. If the certificate could not complete the step one how would it move further, asked the panches.

There are 6412 panches in the district and one third of them are SCs. They demanded an alternate arrangement for their works from the administration.

Khanna, March 18
The police foiled a bid to grab a prime piece of land by some local residents who tried to install a portrait of Guru Ravi Das in the Vinod Nagar locality and erect a temple in his name to get hold of the land.

The police had received information that some persons were trying to erect a temple in the name of Guru Ravi Das allegedly in an attempt to grab the prime piece of land. The police immediately reached the spot and stalled the work. The persons told the police that the land belonged to them. However, the police asked them to produce the related documents by the next morning and till that time asked them to stop the work. They could not produce the papers.

Ludhiana, March 18
As many as 1.5 lakh houses belonging to under-privileged sections of society will get sewerage facilities in the city as the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission has approved the detailed report of projects to be undertaken by the municipal corporation.

Under the project, the city is all set to get the Rs 241.39 crore.

Vikas Pratap, commissioner, MC, said after receiving the grant they would enhance the coverage of sewerage facilities in the city as well as augment the sewerage treatment plants being put under the Satluj Action Plan.

The MC will lay new sewers out of which 34.72 km would be trunk sewer and 638 km will be the branch and lateral sewers.

Ludhiana, March 18
Dismissing the complaint filed by a consumer, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered him to pay compensation of Rs 10,000 to the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) for un-necessarily dragging the institution into litigation.

Pronouncing the verdict, president of the forum J S Chawla and its member Daljit Singh Bakshi observed, 'If such like litigation is not checked, litigants or public will unnecessarily harass government agencies like Improvement Trust etc. by putting them in unnecessary litigation'.

The orders were pronounced while dismissing the complaint filed by B R Bhardwaj of Manjit Nagar, Ludhiana. The consumer had filed the complaint seeking direction to the LIT for handing over him the possession of a plot allotted to him about 20 years back in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

It was submitted by the complainant before the forum that he had applied for plot under the government's discretionary quota in any development scheme in 1983. The Punjab government sent its approval to the LIT for allotting him a plot measuring 125 sq yards. Thereafter, he was alloted a plot in the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar scheme in 1987.

He was instructed to deposit Rs 13,750 in lump sum or instalment of Rs 3,437. Then he wrote a letter to the LIT for handing him over the possession of the plot and wait till then for depositing the amount. But the trust officials told that the land was under litigation and there was stay on land, to deliver the possession. So, he did not pay the price of the land. Later he was informed that his allotment had been cancelled for not depositing the amount, added the complainant.

On the other hand, the officials of Improvement Trust pleaded that as per clause 2(a) of the allotment letter dated April 29, 1987, the complainant was bound to deposit the total sale price of plot within 15 days or in the alternative 1/4 amount in 15 days and rest in six montly instalments. But the complainant failed to do so. Now after 20 years, when the prices of the plot have gone up in city, he had approached the forum.

The consumer forum remarked that the complainant failed to comply with the initial terms and conditions of the allotment and he knew very well that the allotment would stand cancelled for want of all this.

Ludhiana, March 18
On the occasion of Consumer Day, a consumer awareness rally was organised by GMT Public School here today. 

Ludhiana, March 18
Raju (14), a city resident, has been admitted to the Paediatrics Ward of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for the past 10 days. His father Ashok Kumar is a washerman and has set up his pushcart for ironing of clothes in Labour Colony on Gill Road.

According to treating doctors, Raju is undergoing treatment for "aplastic anaemia". It is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient new cells to replenish blood cells. The approximate duration of treatment is one year with an expenditure of Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh on medication.

On behalf of Raju, the DMCH authorities have made an appeal to the kind-hearted people for providing financial help to the family in great distress. All those willing to help can either contact the office of the medical superintendent (0161-4687504) or PRO Office (0161-4687514, 094178-06606) at DMCH. All donations should be made in favour of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and “Treatment for Raju (C.R. No 21581, Admn No 7674)" written on backside of the cheque/DD or on the covering letter.

Ludhiana, March 18
Employees of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) observed a day-long fast here today. The employees observed the strike in protest against the "management's inaction" on the issue of five promotions given to non-executive employees of the organisation.

Raising the "long-pending" demands of the employees, Balwinder Singh, district secretary, BSNL Employees Union, said there should be no discrimination between the executive and non-executive employees and promotions should be given with effect from October 1, 2004.

Paramjit Singh, district president of the union, also addressed the protesting employees.

Ludhiana, March 18
The Ludhiana Management Association (LMA) will conduct a lecture on industrial security for its members here tomorrow. Ishwar Singh, deputy inspector general of police (Ludhiana range), will address the members on the subject, said K.N.S.Kang, general secretary of the association.

Kang said industrial security had become an all-pervasive management function of asset protection, loss prevention and crisis management and was a subject of deep concern today both for the central and state governments.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 18
Over 250 students of GHG Khalsa College, Sadhar, were felicitated for distinguished performance in various fields during their annual prize distribution function organised at Nihang Samsher Singh Hall yesterday.

Principal of the college, Dr Swaranjit Singh Deol presided over the function and Dr R. Sharma, director Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala, was the chief guest.

Addressing the students, Dr Deol exhorted them to acquire excellence in their respective fields of education. He asked them to adopt scientific temper in order to meet the challenges of the modern era.

Appreciating achievements of the college, the chief guest said the college was one of the pioneer institutions engaged in rural education. Dr Deol, besides passing a vote of thanks, highlighted the achievements of the students in various fields. According to Gurdev Singh, in-charge of the event, Sharanjit Kaur Shampy of MA I was declared best sportspersons of the college. Besides an elaborate cultural program a slideshow about the annual report was also exhibited. — OC

Ludhiana, March 18
Palvee, Sunil Sharma, Sanjoy, Prakriti and Ramit, all MBA final year students (batch 2006-2008) of Punjab College of Technical Education have got international placements in Technology Blueprint, a UK based company.

Talking about the company, Dr K.N.S. Kang, director PCTE, informed that Technology Blueprint is a software house specialising in software solutions for the property industry. These students would spend first six months of training in Gurgaon office and will be shifted to UK after that, informed Dr Kang. He also said PCTE has started with the second round of placements and 38 students of current batch of MBA (2006-2008) have got two offers in hand at better packages. The second round of placements started at PCTE from March 7 and is still on. 

Khanna, March 18
The A.S. College of Education organised an impressive function to celebrate its first Annual day, which was presided over by Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, chief parliamentary secretary, here today. SDM Sukhwinder Singh Gill was the guest of honour.

Students of the college presented a colourful programme to mark the occasion. Various items including group song, sarswati vandana, individual songs, skit, choreography giddha, bhangra etc were put on show.

Members of the A. S. educational society lauded the efforts put in by students and faculty members of the college. The also motivated the students to participate in extra-curricular activities as these help in overall personality development.

Principal Dr Neena Aneja read out the annual report of the college.

Ludhiana, March 18
The local branch of National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) and ‘AASHA TB Project’ today jointly organised an awareness lecture on tuberculosis (TB) at Hariom Knitfab Hosiery in Shivpuri. The lecture was held to mark ‘World TB Day 2008’ to be observed on March 24.

Speaking on the occasion, NIMA secretary and president of AASHA lifeline project for TB Dr Dr Surendra Gupta said the World TB Day aims at building public awareness because tuberculosis causes the death of several million people each year, mostly in the third world countries including India.

He said those with cough for more than 3 weeks, low grade fever, loss of weight, swelling in lymph nodes (painless nodules in neck, axilla, groin region, or in abdomen), or blood in sputum, should get themselves tested for TB and if tested positive to get free "Directly Observed Treatment under Supervision" (DOTS), which is readily available in every private and government dispensary and hospital. He said NIMA and AASHA is planning to organise awareness lecture campaign in association with other NGO's and service organizations as well.

NIMA president Dr Rajesh Thaper said the global plan to stop TB, launched by WHO, had set forth a roadmap for treating 50 million people and enrolling three million patients who had both TB and HIV on antiretroviral therapy over the next 10 years, saving about 14 million lives. By 2015, i aimed to halve TB prevalence and deaths compared with 1990 levels.

Mandi Gobindgarh, March 18
The Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Sewa Samiti, Mandi Gobindgarh, here today organised a blood donation camp during which a number of students, faculty members and other people donated blood. 

This was the 19th camp that was organised under the aegis of Vivekananda Samiti and Civil Hospital.

While inaugurating the camp, Dr Zora Singh, chairman of Desh Bhagat Institutes, lauded the role being played by Swami Vivekananda Sewa Samiti, Mandi Gobindgarh, in organising such camps. He also appreciated the blood donors and encouraged more people to come forward for this boble cause.

The camp was conducted by a medical team led by Dr Ranjit Singh, SMO, Civil Hospital, Mandi Gobindgarh. 

Ludhiana, March 18
Indian Airlines and Air India, who topped their respective pools, and Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited secured berths in the semi-finals of the 5th All India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being organised by the Ludhiana Sports Welfare Association at the Prithipal Singh Astroturf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University, here today.

On the fourth day of the tournament, the first match played between Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala was keenly contested in which the former squeezed past 4-3 to advance into the last four stage. Ravi Paul of BPCL found the target in the 17th minute to put his side in the lead. RCF scored the equaliser in the 25th minute through Simrandeep Singh. Three minutes later, BPCL men again gained the lead when Gurpreet Singh converted a penalty corner and a few seconds before the break, RCF restored parity through Gagandeep Singh.

Within two minutes into the second session, Gurpreet Singh again struck to help his team to surge ahead. He added another goal in the 44th minute to complete his hat-trick (4-2). RCF reduced the margin in the 50th minute when Gagandeep Singh sounded the board. The final score read 4-3.

In the second match, Air India proved too good for Punjab National Bank and edged them out 4-1.

PNB players shot into an early lead when Banmali X scored a field goal in the 6th minute. The equaliser came off Len Ayappa's stick four minutes later. He struck again in the 61st minute to make it 2-1.

Air India pumped in two more goals through Gaurav Tokhi (65th minute) and Sachin Kumar (67th minute), which sealed PNB's fate 4-1.

In the third match of the day, Indian Oil Corporation, Limited beat Punjab Police 3-0 to assure themselves a berth in the semi-final. Prabhjot Singh (13th minute), Didar Singh (33rd minute) and Deepak Thakur (58th minute) scripted IOCL's easy win.

The last match of the day was played between Indian Airlines and Air Force, Chandigarh, in which the former came out victors 8-1.

Sandeep scored three goals while Parmod Tirkey accounted for two goals. Pawan Kumar, Dilbagh Singh and Kulbhushan contributed one goal each to complete the rout. The lone goal for the losers came off Sanwar Ali' stick.

Tomorrow's fixtures

Semi-finals: Indian Airlines vs Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited at 2.45 pm and Air India vs Indian Oil Corporation Limited at 4.15 pm.

Ludhiana, March 18
It was moment of pride for young budding players of cricket nursery, Centre of Excellence, being run here at the Punjab Agricultural University campus ground when former cricketer Balwinder Singh Sandhu visited the centre yesterday and gave some useful tips to the trainees.

Sandhu, who played a pivotal role in India's historic title win the 1983 World Cup in England, appreciated the efforts of Amrik Singh Nagra, organiser of the center, in providing latest training to youngesters.

The former pace bowler watched young cricketers during net practice and gave them useful tips, which could help them improve. He told trainees about the importance of loading of front arm, run-up, rhythm and proper action for the bowlers, besides head stability, back-lift, stance and weight transfer for 
batsmen.

He was impressed with the abilities of some of the trainees including Anmol Jain, Yuvraj Singh, Harman Minhas and Adarshpreet Singh.

Arjuna awardee (basketball), Sajjan Singh Cheema, Amrik Singh Minhas, president, Ludhiana Sports Welfare Association, and Sukhwinder Singh, a prominent sports organizer, were also present on the occasion.