Jalandhar, October 30
The municipal corporation will soon make it mandatory for the owners of the newly-constructed buildings to get them assessed from an approved architect or engineer before occupation.

The proposal for the step, which perhaps has been taken with a view to enhance the income of the municipal corporation and lighten the burden of the staff, was passed during an MC house meeting held more than a month back.

MC commissioner Vinay Bublani said, “The step would come into force a fortnight after we issue a public notice in this regard. We are almost through with the draft. We have added a clause that anyone who does not voluntarily get the assessment done and directly occupies the building will have to end up paying 10 times the normal compromise fee.”

The officials of the building branch revealed that it was a common practice among the building owners to violate the MC bylaws by not caring a damn to apply for the completion certificate or occupation certificate.

They said the problem has gone out of bounds ever since there has been a spate in construction projects and there is a shortage of staff to check the anomalies.

There were several other proposals passed by the MC house in the same meetings, a nod for which is expected soon from the state government.

“Normally, an approval comes from the government 21 days after we forward the proposals and we hope that we get it soon”, said the commissioner. Since the meeting was held on September 26, many believe that the approvals have got a bit delayed.

The MC house had given a nod to certain unpopular, harsh resolutions including imposition of fines for ensuring better traffic regulation, cleanliness and strict implementation of environment-friendly laws in the city. The house had called for the imposition of Rs 200 fine against the owners of two-wheelers, Rs 300 for three-wheelers and Rs 400 for four-wheelers parked along the roadside in any of the three tow-away zones in the city.

The other decisions include imposition of Rs 5,000 penalty per day on those dumping building material and scrap outside their boundary walls, levying a mandatory Rs 2 lakh refundable security from owners of a new commercial building, reduction of development charges from Rs 5,500 per marla to Rs 2,250 per marla, collecting the charges during camps by officers in 300 undeclared colonies and starting of single-window-system for getting birth and death registration certificates. 

Jalandhar, October 30
Amidst a lot of fanfare and patriotic fervour, the 17th annual 'Mela Gadari Babeyan Da' began at the local Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall here today. President of Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Committee, 102-year-old Baba Bhagat Singh Bilga inaugurated the event in the open air theatre along with other trustees.

An annual event, the three-day-long mela brings with it a strong message against the prevailing social evils through various cultural events. Apart from this, it also raises the need to bring awakening and revolution in the society.

Assistant secretary of the trust, Amolak Singh said this time the celebrations of the mela would continue for the next five years. "As we are celebrating the anniversary of the Gadar party, the celebrations would continue till November 1, 2013. During this period we would initiate a campaign in every village of Punjab and preach the message of social awakening through songs, poems and plays".

The trust has also decided to especially raise the issue of Jalianwala Baagh and its historic upkeep.

“It is wrong to change this place of historic importance into a tourist place and the Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall Committee would raise this issue during the anniversary celebrations.”

Meanwhile, talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the mela, the icon of this annual event Baba Bhagat Singh Bilga shared his views about the prevailing problems in the country and the generation next. "We have different political parties with diverse ideologies but it is very important for them to understand the need to unite for a common cause for the sake of the country. Lectures by politicians alone cannot do anything. There is a dire need to for an uprising among the youth and work as a united force against social problems.”

Expressing concern over the present turmoil in Mumbai he said, "India is a secular country. Nobody can divide this nation on the basis of religion. But it hurts to see Indians fighting against Indians. And if this scenario continues for long the day is not far away when India would be divided and ruled by others.”

On being asked about his message to the people and youth in particular Baba Bilga maintained, “I am hopeful that a big change would definitely come one day. Even the British could not rule upon us though there was little hope left. Punjab has lived with revolutionary Gadar ideologies and we would sure bring a change soon.”

On the other hand, the first day of the mela witnessed talent from across Punjab and other far flung places. The participants came from various educational institutes from different parts of Punjab including Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Nawashahr, Tarn Taran and Amritsar. In the singing competition, students were divided into two categories - junior (below 15 years) and senior (from 16 years to 25 years of age). In senior (solo) category in singing competition, Preetpal Singh of Virasat Kala Manch (Goindwal Sahib) secured first position while Manpreet Kaur of Guru Amardass Senior Secondary School (Bhalaipur, Tarn Taran) and Sunny Salim of Lyallpur Khalsa Senior Secondary School (Jalandhar) were declared second and third, respectively.

While the senior (group) singers included, Ramandeep Singh and his group from MGSM Janta College (Kartarpur) who bagged first position, Kanak and her group from Dayanand Model School stood second and the third position was bagged by Sarabjot and the group from Satyam Management and Technology College (Nakodar). In the junior solo category Jyotika of Indo Swiss International Convent School (Nakodar) stood first while Jagtaar Singh Panesar of S.V.S. School (Garhshankar) was ranked second and Nirmal Kaur of Virasat Kala Manch (Goindwal Sahib) jointly with Paras of Dayanand Model School (Jalandhar) bagged third position. The students of Montgomery Guru Nanak Public School were declared first in the junior group song category. Sahibzada Ajit Singh Public School (Amritsar) stood second while Manav Sehyog School (Jalandhar) was third.

Jalandhar, October 30
The Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, has won the Guru Nanak Dev University zonal youth festival trophy again this year. The event was held at Amritsar from October 24 to 27.

The Apeejay students stood first in painting landscapes, clay modelling, installation, rangoli, quiz, creative dance, classical vocal, classical instrumental, non-percussion, semi-classical, vocal, shabad bhajan, vaar singing, group song, western group song, folk song, mime, histronics and skit.

The students got second position in cartooning, poster making, fresh flower arrangement, debate, gidda, classical dance, classical instrumental persussion, folk orchestra, shabad, bhajan, geet ghazal and mimicry. In Phulkari and western vocal, the college students stood third. Principal of the college Dr Sucharita congratulated the students and the faculty on their victory. — TNS