Ludhiana, October 17
The Local Bodies department, Punjab government, is planning to terminate the services of a joint commissioner in a demolition case pertaining to a marriage palace hall at the local Link Road in which the corporation had carried out demolition despite the fact that a court injunction restraining the demolition was pending.

Sources in the department revealed that top officers had prepared a case of termination and sent it to local authorities for their reaction. The corporation is studying the case closely and an action is on the cards.

A senior official on the condition of anonymity said the papers had arrived in the local office. The matter was being discussed.

The officials had landed in trouble for demolishing a marriage palace hall on the local Link Road despite restrictions imposed by the court. In view of this, the Supreme Court had recently directed the corporation to reconstruct it.

The Supreme Court had directed the department to recover the cost of reconstruction from the salaries of officials responsible for the illegal demolition. The directive came on a complaint that corporation authorities had arbitrarily demolished the hall after issuing vague notices to its owner Hira Devi, who had had died, and a court injunction restraining the demolition was pending.

The SC had held that authorities were wrong in claiming that the third notice issued by them in 2001 was final, as Hira Devi had died in 1998. Interestingly even after her death, the corporation issued her yet another notice in 2001. The property was transferred to her grandson Inderjeet Singh by that time.

The municipal authorities were supposed to issue fresh notices to Inderjeet Singh and not to Hira Devi. They, however, did not do that and went on to demolish the structure.

The municipal officials were preparing to pay lakhs of rupees from their pocket as the Supreme Court had directed for recovery from their salary. Before they could do so the case of termination came from the local bodies department.

Besides the joint commissioner, an inspector, a retired Area Town Planner and a former building inspector were being held responsible for the major goof up that had caused corporation to face embarrassment in the Supreme Court. 

Ludhiana, October 17
The district health department has termed the dengue epidemic as “alarming” after the number of confirmed cases are constantly increasing.

The authorities have called upon the hospitals across the district to keep the department updated with every dengue case (confirmed and suspected).

District epidemiologist G.P.Mangla while giving the details of confirmed cases said the number of dengue patients had risen to 1,092 as compared to yesterday’s number of 1,011. In addition, 467 patients who are undergoing treatment at city hospitals for dengue are from Jalandhar, Batala, Patiala and Sangrur districts.

Similarly, the number of suspected cases, too, has gone up to 284.

Mangla, who is also the in charge of the Red Cross blood bank said their team had seen to the availability of blood for all the dengue patients coming to the civil hospital. "We are regularly organising blood donation camps and would ensure blood to every patients at any cost," he added.

DMCH and CMCH are constantly receiving patients with symptoms of dengue and are accommodating as many patients as possible.

CMCH authorities said the hospital was admitting the patients irrespective of their platelet count. They are being accommodated on additional beds in the general wards.

However, a senior health official expressing concern over the growing number of dengue cases said only one tenth of the patients could afford to go for the test as these costs between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200. A large number of patients are undergoing treatment following the symptoms at nursing homes and hospitals in villages and towns.

Ludhiana, October 17
In the wake of increasing dengue cases and the district administration and the local municipal corporation failing to take any concrete steps, various social organisations staged a protest rally in front of the mini secretariat here today.

Moulder and steel workers mahasabha, Ludhiana, along with the Punjab roadways employees union, lok ekta sangathan, democratic teachers front and numerous others raised slogans against the local authorities for failing to tackle the menace.

The leaders of various organisations said the city population was around 30 lakh and majority of them were labourers.

They rued that despite having such a major chunk of labourers the city had only one 100-beded civil hospitals. "The increasing cases of dengue and water-borne diseases have still not set the alarm bell ringing for the administration," they alleged.

They said the municipal corporation had failed to clean garbage dumps that were found on every nook and cranny of the city. Even a child knows that garbage means invitation to various diseases but the corporation authorities had not paid any heed to it till date, they added.

Demanding fogging at various colonies occupied by the labourers, they said, "We need a guarantee from the administrators that they would be taking care of us too." The authorities should assure us that every labourer would get potable water and clean surroundings. 

Machhiwara, October 17
Officials the local Verka milk plant have unearthed a major scandal wherein milk supply being taken from the city to Delhi was found to be adulterated in Murthal village in Ludhiana.

The vehicle drivers carrying the milk are in hands in glove with those involved in the business of milk adulteration. Chairman of the milk plant Ajmer Singh Bhagpur said the drivers used to sell Verka milk illegally.

Thereafter, to compensate for milk taken out, either water or other chemicals were added to the containers.

Bhagpur said this illegal activity had been going on since long.

Not only the truck drivers carrying milk, but DMC center, Delhi, employees were involved in the scam, who purchased adulterated milk.

When the matter was brought to the notice of Bhagpur, he decided to nab the culprits himself. He along with directors Jaspal Bhatia and Gurbaksh Singh Gujarwal followed these vehicles yesterday.

They caught a man red handed while he was buying milk from these drivers in the Murthal area of Haryana.

The team also caught Ali Jam, an employee of Deepak Dhaba, and confiscated the truck. The Murthal was informed and called on the spot.

Haryana police has booked drivers of three milk trucks, Ali Jam from Deepak Dhaba and Bittu in this context.

Only Ali Jam was arrested while other are absconding.

Ludhiana, October 17
Thanks to rise in demand triggered by the onset of festival season prices of sweets have started rising. Rates of most of the items like “burfi” and “rasgullas” have increased from 20 to 25 per cent in the past few days.

This trend is expected to continue, as demand would further go up in the coming days, said sweetmeat shop owners. They added that hike in rates of milk and other raw materials used by them had added to the quantum of this rise.

In city markets, “burfi”, that was priced around Rs 125-135 per kg is now available for Rs 140-160 whereas “rasgullas” have seen a rise from Rs 50-60 to Rs 60-70 per kg. “Kalakand”, that was priced at Rs 130 per kg is priced is being sold for more than Rs 150, while there has been an increase of around Rs 20 per kg in the rate of “cheena murki”, now available for Rs 150, Rs 10-15 in price of the milk cake which is now priced at almost Rs 140.

Owners of sweetmeat shops said rates of all raw materials particularly milk had risen significantly in the past few months making the hike unavoidable.

"Demand is finally looking up as festival season has arrived. The increase is a little more than routine on account of a significant hike in the prices of input material like the milk," said Balwinder Singh, a sweet shop owner.

Shop owners said they were now waiting for Diwali when demand would multiply.

Ludhiana, October 17
A two-day homeopathic seminar with Dr. Prafull Vijayakar, populary referred to as the father of classic homeopathy on utility of miasmatic philosophy, started today at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan. Dr. S.A. Katekari from Chandigarh inaugurated the seminar.

Dr. Tejinder Pal Singh, director, Guru Nanak Homeopathic Medical College, Ludhiana, Dr. J.B.D. Castro from Chandigarh, Dr. S.M. Singh from Allahbad, Heera Lal Jain founder president Lord Mahavira Homeopethic Medical College, Ludhiana along with leading homeopaths of the country were present at the seminar.

Dr Vijaykar gave a presentation of different cases wherein patients with terminal and chronic illness were successfully treated by predictable homeopathy. 

Ludhiana, October 17
The local District Consumer Forum has finally got a regular president with the appointment of T.N. Vaidya after a gap of approximately nine months after the last president vacated the seat. Earlier, Vaidya was posted as president of the Muktsar Forum.

This post had fallen vacant after the retirement of A.S. Narula in January 2008. Since then, no regular president was posted here.

The forum kept on functioning with part-time presidents. In a make-shift arrangement, two officers posted at other consumer forums had been deputed here. One make-shift president attended the forum office only for three days while the other one occupied the office for remaining two working days of a week.

The vacant post of one member of the forum has also been filled recently with the appointment of Pooja Dewan. She had also worked here as member till November 2007. After that, this post remained vacant for a period of about one year.

Non-filling of this post had adversely affected the working of the forum, causing much embarrassment to the litigants as well as lawyers. As per the norms, for deciding any matter, there should be quorum of at least president and one member or two members in case of president’s absence. Whenever either the president or the only member happened to be on leave, the cases fixed for the final hearing were adjourned for months.

In May 2008, president of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission had recommended the name of Vaidya for appointment at Ludhiana. But the file remained pending with the ministry of food and civil supplies.

T.N. Vaidya was given a warm welcome by the District Bar Association president Parupkar Singh Ghumman and other office-bearers of the association at a function held at the court complex yesterday. Vaidya assured full co-operation to the lawyers.

Several lawyers pointed out to him that several times, the arguments advanced by the losing lawyer were not properly incorporated in the judgements of the forum. Due to this, they faced problems with their clients.

The forum president assured them to resolve the problem soon. 

Ludhiana, October 17
Taking a serious note of various complaints received during his sangat darshans, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has decided to get estimates of various works reviewed by an expert committee.

According to the sources, the estimates of various departments, including the municipal corporation, would be reviewed by the expert committee before initiating any work.

The sources said a high-level committee had been appointed to check the figures prepared by the municipal corporation to ensure that there was no embezzlement. It would take around three days to examine the data after which tenders would be invited for various projects. They revealed that all departments had to submit their estimates by October 24.

"All facts and figures along with the complaints received by the Chief Minister would be reviewed at a meeting to be held on October 25," the sources added.

The meeting would be attended by various local officials and municipal councillors, including deputy commissioner, municipal commissioner and senior deputy mayor.

The convention announced by the Chief Minister in Chandigarh on October 25 is being seen as a ray of hope by the residents because all major works, including re-carpeting of roads, sewerage system, boring of new tube wells, etc. would be done after the estimates are passed.

The CM, who held sangat darshans on October 10, 11 and 15, had received several complaints wherein residents had alleged that no development was taking place in the city. Government employees were not working properly and were harassing the public, they had rued.

Talking to The Tribune, senior deputy mayor Parveen Bansal said: "If the CM has planned to get estimates inspected by the experts, it would help to bring transparency in the work." Besides, it would help to keep a check over tainted officials, he added.

Doraha, October 17
The the Diamond Jubilee Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival Ludhiana Zone-A commenced today at Dr Ishwar Singh Memorial Hall of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha.

President of the College Managing Committee Roop Brar lighted the sacred lamp.

Cabinet minister Jathedar Heera Singh Gabria was the chief guest. He exhorted the participating students to be truly devoted towards the rejuvenation of their rich cultural heritage rather than being misled by the western glamour. Gabria also announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the college.

Stressing the role of co-curricular activities in students' life, Harish Rai Dhanda, chief Parliamentary secretary, local bodies, Punjab, and the chief guest for the evening session, said: "These festivals are organised to polish the finer sensibilities of the students and enable them to face their victory and defeat with an open heart." He also announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh to the college.

A formal welcome was accorded to the chief guests and other dignitaries by principal of the college Dr Narinder Singh Sidhu.

MC chief Inderjit Singh Kala and principal of Doraha College of Education Kiran J. Gera were among others present on the occasion.

As many as 15 colleges participated in on-the-stage events such as shabad/bhajan, group singing (Indian), light music i.e. gazal/geet and folk song, classical music (vocal) and off-the-stage events such as collage-making, clay modelling, poster-making, cartooning, rangoli, etc.

Results: Group shabad/bhajan: 1 GNN College Doraha-1; 2 GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana, and SCD Government College, Ludhiana; 3 Arya College, Ludhiana, and Gobindgarh Public College, Alour.

Shabad/bhajan (solo): 1 Devinder Singh, GNN College, Doraha; 2 Harvinder Singh, GNN College, Doraha; Deepika of Arya College, Ludhiana; and 3 Jaikaran Singh of SCD Government College, Ludhiana.

Mandi Ahmedgarh: More than 200 students from 19 education colleges of Ludhiana Zone-B, affiliated with the Panjab University, Chandigarh, enthralled spectators during the opening sessions of the Diamond Jubilee Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival held at GHG Khalsa College of Education, Gurusar Sudhar, near here, today.

Besides competitions in creative writing, poster making, collage making and quiz, students gave thrilling folk dance performances.

The event was inaugurated by Jalandhar IG Sanjeev Kalra yesterday. K.J. Singh, assistant commissioner, income tax, and Harish Rai Dhanda, chief Parliamentary secretary, chaired the morning and evening sessions, respectively, today.

Manjit Singh Gill, president, governing council, Dr H.S. Brar, principal, host college, and Dr Swaranjit Singh Deol, principal, degree college, gave away prizes to the winners.

The host college bagged first prize in shabad, bhajan, classical music (vocal), group singing (Indian) and instrumental music.

Results

Geet/gazal: 1 DM College, Moga; 2 Satyam College, Moga, 3 Moga College of Education.

On-the-spot painting: 1 Malwa Central College of Education, 2 Moga College of Education, 3 DM College of Education.

Still life: 1 Bhoomika of Malwa Central College of Education for Women, Ludhiana; 2 Priyanka of DM College of Education, Moga; 3 Jaspreet Kaur of GHG Sudhar.

Poster-making: 1 Maninder Kaur of Partap College of Education; 2 Rohini of DM College of Education, Moga; 3 Amanpreet Kaur of Malwa Central College, Ludhiana.

Cartooning: 1 Amrita Kaur of Malwa Central College, Ludhiana; 2 Inderjit Kaur, Satyam College, Moga; 3 Baljit Kaur of SDS College, Lopon.

Folk song: 1 Babita Devi of GHG College, Sudhar; 2 Hardeep Kaur of SDS College of Education, Lopon, Harpreet Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial College of Education, Dhudike, Moga, and 3 Gagandeep Kaur Malwa College of Education Ludhiana. 
Students bring laurels

Ludhiana: Students of Ramgarhia Girls College brought laurels to the institution by winning a large number of prizes in the Panjab University Diamond Jubilee Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival held from October 12 to 16.

The college bagged the first position in various events like mehndi (Gagandeep Kaur), poem writing (Shivani Arora), essay writing (Nisha Rani), vaar (Gurlez Akhtar), gazal (Arshpreet), classical vocal (Sharandeep), classical dance (Chandni Rana), group dance, group song and quiz. The second and third positions were won in the events like group shabad, folk song, orchestra Indian (group and solo), orchestra folk, mime, drama (individual) and folk instruments.

S. Ranjodh Singh, president, and Jasbir Kaur, principal, appreciated the tireless efforts of the prize-winners and teachers.

Ludhiana, October 17
A couple from Germany wanted to meet their friend in Kerala and they chose an adventurous way of doing it. Out on Indian roads all the way from Germany in their truck, the couple reached the city today.

Bureaucratic hurdles and huge paperwork notwithstanding, a German resident, Daniela, with her engineer husband Uwe, modified the German army truck and prepared a suite at the back of the truck.

Uwe said, “My wife promised her Indian friend that she will visit her hometown and give her a surprise. Both of us decided we will make this journey a memorable one and decided to travel by road.”

The couple started their journey two-and-half-month ago. Uwe said it took them three months to take government approval to travel by road. "It has been a pleasurable ride ever since it started. We met different people and closely observed their cultures, which changed with every terrain we crossed,” said Uwe.

The couple was all praise for the special treatment meted out to them in Pakistan and now in India. After spending seven days in Pakistan, the couple entered India through the Wagah border yesterday.

Ludhiana, October 17
Karva Chauth was celebrated in a traditional way at Lodhi club. There were mehndi and bangle stalls for the women members of the club, where they got mehndi applied and got bangles matching with their outfits. Dressed in their best the members enjoyed the evening till late. Pinky Gurjar, wife of deputy commissioner Sumer Singh Gurjar, was chief guest.

Maple Bear Canadian Playway and Nursery School, Udham Singh Nagar, celebrated Karva Chauth with traditional gaiety and fervour. Girls were dressed in traditional dresses and were wearing bangles. Teachers applied mehndi on their hands.

Veena Aggarwal, centre head, explained the importance of the festival and its place in Indian culture to the kids. The kids were shown a movie on the projector. The school campus was tastefully decorated with flowers giving a feeling of the rich heritage and culture of Punjab.

Ludhiana, October 17
With an aim to choose a smart investor from all over the country, Zee Business yesterday conducted a hunt in the city.

The three finalists from Ludhiana were Pradeep Goyal, Vipin and Vishal Gupta. They went through a brainstorming question-answer round where Pradeep emerged the winner.

They were selected through a preliminary round wherein the participants were asked to make a plan of how to invest Rs 5 lakh in such a way that there was minimum risk.

According to information, the channel would select 30 participants from various cities. 

Ludhiana, October 17
Genesis-2008 was inaugurated by SGPC member Harsurinder Singh Gill at Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College here today.

Various events organised during the fest included paper presentation, youth Parliament, CAD design, product design and marketing. Jaskanwal was declared the best speaker of the youth Parliament while Manmohan Singh was adjudged the best convener. Santosh Kumar took the title of most-informed participant.

Samrala, October 17
The Samrala police yesterday nabbed three jeep-borne youths, who did not stop at a naka, after chasing them for more than two hours.

Earlier in the day, a naka was laid by Samrala DSP Ravinder Loomba near Government Girls School on the Khanna road. While checking vehicles, the cops signalled an open jeep to stop, but instead, the youths in the jeep increased the speed. They even hit two gunmen of the DSP, who were chasing them on their motor cycle. Both gunmen fell from the motor cycle and received minor injuries.

The DSP himself, SHO and other policemen chased the jeep for about two hours. The three youths were overpowered while the fourth one managed to escape. The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh, Nitin Sharma and Mohit Kumar, all residents of Samrala. The Samrala police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 427 of the IPC.

Ludhiana, October 17
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s wife Surinder Kaur Badal today called for promotion of sports in schools. She, along with Punjab minister for education Dr Upenderjit Kaur and chief Parliamentary secretary Mohinder Kaur Josh, was in town today to give cash awards to the winners of the 52nd and 53rd National School Games at a function organised by the Punjab education department at Guru Nanak Public School. All three congratulated the winners for their grand victory.

Dr Upenderjit Kaur said Punjab had jumped from the seventh position to the third position in the 53rd National School Games. In the 52nd National School Games, Punjab had won 41 gold, 33 silver and 51 bronze medals while in the 53rd National School Games, Punjab has won 71 gold, 67 silver and 72 bronze medals.

Prabhjot Kaur and Manpreet Kaur of Kapurthala, who had represented Punjab in kabaddi in the 52nd National School Games, told this reporter that they were happy to receive the cash award for winning the gold medal.

Parminder Kaur, a student of HMV School, Jalandhar, too, was overjoyed on receiving the cash award. She was a member of the kabaddi team that won the gold medal in the 53rd National School Games. 

Ludhiana, October 17
In a battle of nerves, Jarkhar Academy today managed to prevail over Sangrur Academy by a solitary goal to secure a berth in the semifinals while DAV Academy of Chandigarh outclassed Singhu Academy of Delhi 3-1 to advance into the last four stage of the 9th All-India Mata Surjit Kaur Hockey League being held at the Mata Sahib Kaur Stadium, Jarkhar, about 15 kms from here.

Boys of DAV Academy of Chandigarh proved their mettle against Singhu Academy of Delhi. They shot into an early lead when Mohit Partap Thakur scored a superb field goal. In the 41st minute, he struck again to enhance the lead to 2-0.

Balram Singh of Delhi reduced the margin in the 59th minute while Mohit completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute which also sealed Delhi Academy boys’ fate 3-1.

In the second match, Jalandhar district edged out Ludhiana district 4-2. The issue was resolved through a tie-breaker since the two sides were locked two-all at the end of the regular period.

During the stipulated time, Mandeep Singh and Parambir Singh struck for Jalandhar while Charanpreet Singh and Agyapal Singh found the target for Ludhiana.

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 17
The role of NGOs in the formation of a healthy society is very important said deputy commissioner Sarjit Singh Dhillon, who was chief guest on a prize and certificate distribution function organised by Nishkam Kirtan Sewa Society at the community centre, here today. He awarded certificates to 110 trainees who have qualified sewing training at the three free sewing centres run by the society. The trainees presented a colourful programme and were given mementos by the chief guest.

Guest of honour Daljit Singh Rana, DSP, appreciated the performance of the society in the service of mankind which has not only solemnised the marriages of poor couples but has also organised blood donation and free medical camps on different occasions. 

Ludhiana, October 17
Cricket fans here celebrated Sachin Tendulkar's rare feat of surpassing Brian Lara’s world record of 11,953 runs in the Test.

The fans were keenly waiting for the second Test between India and Australia to begin at the PCA stadium, Mohali. As the hosts won the toss and elected to bat, the cricket fans glued to their television sets to watch the Men in Blue, especially the Master Blaster.

When the little master arrived at the crease after the departure of Virender Sehwag, people virtually stuck to their TV sets.

He needed just 14 runs to break the previous record, but went on to score 88 runs before falling to Haddin. Celebrations broke out with people dancing to the tunes of dhols and distributing sweets. At the Sutlej Club, members, along with their dependants, celebrated the feat. G.R. Chopra, a veteran member of the club, expressed his pleasure over Sachin's achievement. "The youngsters should emulate the great Indian batsman.

They should learn from this great player who made the whole of country proud," said Chopra. Krishan Kumar, Yogesh Bansal and Simarjit Lota endorsed Chopra's views and asked the young generation to follow the footsteps of 'heros' like Sachin Tendulkar.

"It was a great day for the Punjabis as Sachin achieved the feat on the soil of Punjab," they added.