Jalandhar, March 10
A grand annual flower show and garden competition were organised at Jawahar Garden, Jalandhar cantonment, here today. An annual feature, the flower show is being held for over 68 years.

The event was jointly conducted by station headquarters and cantonment board, Jalandhar, under the aegis of Vajra Corps headquarters. President of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) Manju Tonk inaugurated the flower show.

As many as 200 varieties of flowers were on display in the competition. Various flowers like foliage plant, potted flower, cut flower, fresh and dry flower arrangement were in the competition.

The garden show was divided into two groups. First group was open for all, whereas the second group was open for the serving soldiers.

Gardens from various educational institutions of Jalandhar city, individual gardens, public gardens, terrace gardens and regimental gardens participated in the competition.

The inspection of gardens and roundabout by the judges was carried out from March 4 to 6. Besides this, spot drawing, painting and rangoli competitions for the children were also organised.

Jalandhar, March 10
While the municipal corporation is mulling on a World Bank-financed Rs 239-crore project for road beautification and streamlining of the traffic in the city, there are many who suggest that the officials should first concentrate on offering the basic minimum facilities to the commuters.

One of the major demands of the public is regarding installing inverters for traffic lights. “There is no power back up and the moment it goes off, there is chaos in chowks. Even if a traffic police personnel resumes his duty in the centre of the chowk, he is not perhaps trained enough to handle the traffic well, leading to congestion and delay in movement,” said Virinder Kumar, a resident of Adarsh Nagar.

He said when he gave the suggestion to the MC employees, he was told that they had once installed the inverters but these were stolen overnight.

But Virinder refused to buy this argument saying, “There are ways to check theft. The inverters can come in lockable devices attached at the top of the poles. These may even have attached security alarms. Alternatively, watchmen can be deployed to check their theft.”

SP (traffic) Rajpal Sandhu agreed with the point, “Inverters with the traffic lights are a must.” But he argues on the other issue, “The traffic police have been well-trained to handle traffic. In the manual way, it is natural for anyone standing in the centre of the chowk that he/she will allow the fast moving vehicles to move across before stopping them to give a chance to the other side. This leads to the delay.”

Sandhu said, “In Jalandhar, traffic engineering is a major problem.” Agreed Randhir Singh, a Basti Nau resident, “The dividers and triangular islands for slip roads need proper alignment.”

He cited example of island at Football Chowk from the Basti Nau side. “The vehicles often tend to get scratched from the left side. Also, there are no markings for zebra crossings and stop lines at the lights. The traffic comes half way into the road interrupting free flow of the traffic.”

The residents believe that if the wrong parking is checked, the traffic would automatically get streamlined. “People tend to park their vehicles right at the busy intersections.

There is unauthorised parking outside chemist shops at Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, automobile agency at Ambedkar Chowk, a two-wheeler showroom at Football Chowk and a bank at Chick-Chick Chowk, all falling on Bhagwan Mahavir Marg,” the residents complained.

Further, Kapurthala Chowk remains choc-a-block with three to four buses standing to get passengers for Kapurthala. The MC has added to the trouble by getting a new bus shelter built right there. Virinder Sharma, added to this, “The shelter should have been a little ahead so that at least the chowk does not remain jammed.”

He insisted on working out some solutions such as training sessions for the Jalandhar traffic police from Chandigarh or Delhi traffic police for better manning of vehicles, disallowing high beam lights, banning use of mobile phones while driving and better enforcement by means of on-the-spot challaning.

Jalandhar, March 10
While much is being talked about saving power and the use of CFLs in households, each of the 100 bus-queue-shelters coming up in the city, as a part of the local bus service scheme is being lit up using 72 tubes with a load sanction of 2.7 kw.

Many have objected to the move saying that the number of tube lights that are being fitted inside each under-construction bus shelter could have actually been used to light up as many as 72 rooms.

“The number is too much going by the small space that they are fitted in”, the onlookers opine.

Birinder Sharma, a resident of Kapurthala Chowk, said there should not have been more than a dozen tubes. “Punjab is already reeling under power shortage, such moves would further aggravate the crisis”, he said.

But mayor Rakesh Rathour disagrees, “All bus shelters are a source of income to our BOT partners Laqshya who have been putting up advertisements on flex boards erected all around the shelters. For a good display of advertisements of their clientele, the company needs to illuminate the boards well.”

The PSEB engineers informed that power connections for only nine bus shelters had been taken as of now and the rest were yet to come. They too believe that the number was far too high. “We cannot help it for we are bound to sanction as much load as is required,” they said.

The officials of the B&R section revealed that nearly 50 bus shelters had already come up and as many more would soon be set up. They divulged that earmarking of the sites for construction of shelters had become a very difficult job because residents who owned houses around them strongly objected to it.

The residents have also opposed the construction of the shelters for they have said the number of users was far too low.

“The construction has also led to blocking of footpaths. While earlier the footpaths had been encroached upon for putting up unipoles, now these shelters act as blockades”, the pedestrians said. 

Jalandhar, March 10
Business investors seeking resettlement for themselves and their families in Canada now have a distinct edge and unprecedented advantage vis-à-vis other categories as the Canadian Federal Immigrant Investor Programme (FIIP) is all set to revolutionise the investor-triggered immigration process.

WWICS MD Lt-Col B.S. Sandhu said with shorter gestation periods ranging from eight to 12 months for getting permanent residency status in Canada, the FIIP is rapidly becoming the most preferred and emerging immigration category. Sylvain Payette, president, Renaissance Capital Inc (RCI) flanked him.

He said Canada was extending a warm welcome to prospective immigrants with potential to invest. Under this programme, expeditious processing of permanent resident status applications is guaranteed. With a net worth of Canadian $8,00,000, a prospective investor could apply for PR status and achieve it without any IELTS qualification riders. A minimum pertinent experience of three years in related field is a qualification, he added.

What makes FIIP even more attractive is the proposition of investing a refundable investment of Canadian $4,00,000 with the government which is returnable after five years and the applicant could seek PR status for himself and his family.

An applicant with this much investment potential is sure to make it to Canada with fully guaranteed returns on his investment. This offer is further facilitated by financial back-up extended through Canada-based Renaissance Capital Inc (RCI) which is offering to finance a majority of $4,00,000, informed Payette. — TNS

Jalandhar, March 10
Lauding the efforts made by certain Akali MLAs for raising the issue of quota for Punjabi labourers during the assembly session, the Dal Khalsa slammed the BJP for taking an anti-Punjab stance and the Chief Minister silently buckling under the pressure of the alliance partner.

Contesting labour minister Tiskhan Sud’s argument that any such move would be a threat to national integration, party president HS Dhami and secretary Kanwarpal Singh said by raking up the bogey of so-called nationalism, the BJP has completely undermined the fact that the entry of migrants was affecting the livelihood of labourers from the state.

“The argument by the BJP minister was irrelevant, ridiculous and holds no water as the country hasn’t been disintegrated after the Maharashtra government ordered its industries to give 80 per cent of the jobs in the manufacturing units to 'locals' on a priority basis.”

Reiterating its demand for an ordinance to fix a ceiling on jobs for migrants, barring outsiders from purchasing land and introduction of quarantine measures for migrants who have settled in the state, Dhami said since Punjab is a peripheral region which has a unique and distinct identity and cultural heritage, it would come under serious threat if continual migrations into Punjab are not restricted and kept in check.

Endorsing independent MLA Charanjit Singh Channi’s argument that the rise in crime in the state was due to heavy influx of migrants, the Dal Khalsa leaders said the unchecked and overwhelming influx of migrant labour has brought a whole load of unwanted baggage and social evils into Punjab.

Lambasting Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for maintaining the studied silence on the issue during the session, he argued that the migrants have usurped jobs which Punjabis rightfully deserve.

It is ironical that the Akalis have failed to come out of the complex that their sticking to Sikh agenda would antagonise Hindu voters. Due to their (Akalis) incompetence and weaknesses, the Anandpur Sahib resolution has not seen the light of the day,” said Dal Khalsa leaders.

“We urge the Akali leadership to look for new alliances in the wake of the emergence of regional parties on the national scene to replace the Congress and the BJP,” the leaders added.

The growing importance of the regional parties and decline of national parties was a long-awaited opportunity and the Akali Dal should join the bandwagon to fulfill its goal for federalism as propagated by Badal during his recent speech in the assembly, they added.

Jalandhar, March 10
KMV celebrated International Women’s Day on the college premises. The college management honoured 10 women from diverse fields who played a positive role for the cause of women empowerment.

Tiny tots from DIPS perform  at the meet. A Tribune photo

These include Dr Sushma Chopra, Dr Sushma Chawla, Anuradha Sondhi, Sita Rani, Neerja Mohan, Sudesh Mittal, Manorama Mayor, Kamna Aggarwal, Dr Kamal Gupta and principal of KMV Dr Atima Sharma. The management also highlighted the significant role of women empowerment cell of the college in providing free of cost vocational training to women of weaker sections of society.

The cantonment-based B.D. Arya Girls College and Association of Social Health in India (ASHI) also celebrated International Women’s Day on March 9. Experts from different walks of life spoke at length on the need to empower women for a developed society.

Similarly, Kamla Nehru College for Women, Phagwara, celebrated International Women’s Day and Holi on March 9. SDM, Kapurthala, Anupam Kaler, was the chief guest on the occasion. Students presented choreography on women empowerment.

Golden meet

DIPS, Karol Bagh, organised a golden meet for the tiny tots. The programme was based on the theme of “Love for mother nature.” Students presented a colourful cultural programme. Principal Sarvesh Deol, chairman Gurbachan Singh and MD Tarwinder Singh appreciated kids’ expression of love for mother nature.

Exhibition held

The dress-designing department of the local Prem Chand Markanda S.D. College for Women held an exhibition “Creation Hut” in which students put up various stalls of attires. Designer bedsheets, handicrafts and wall-hangings were the highlight of the event. The exhibition was inaugurated by Joint Director of the UGC Dr Harminder Singh.

Open day

An open day, “The story of story land,” was organised for the tiny tots of the pre-primary wing of Police DAV Public School. The students enacted on some interesting fables of Arabian Nights, Panchtantra, Ali Baba and Forty Thieves, Cinderella, and much more. Eatery stalls were also put up. — TNS

Jalandhar, March 10
The local Lyallpur Khalsa College has bagged Teja Singh Samundri overall trophy for the ninth time in a row. With this achievement, Khalsa College has created a record of sorts in the history of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. The college will be conferred the prestigious trophy during the 39th annual sports prize distribution function in the university.

Talking to The Tribune, principal of the college, Dr. Jaspal Singh Randhawa said the college scored 123 points and bagged the first position.

The college participated in events like hockey, boxing, rowing, badminton, tennis, gatka, volleyball, taekwondoo, baseball, netball, air pistol, water polo and much more.

“Our institution participated in 39 events out of which it secured first posi\tion in 12 events, second position in 15 and third position in 8 events”, he said.

More than 100 players of the college were selected for various teams of the university.

“Out of these, Shamsher Partap Singh won the first position in long jump in All India Intervarsity Athletics Championship which was held in Kerala. Similarly, Amanpreet Singh also bagged first position in air pistol shooting”, he added. The winners would be honoured with trophies and cash prizes.

“The college always remained active in the field of sports and as a result, churned out some of the best players in the country. Recently a MoU was signed with the Hockey Academy of Punjab and Sind Bank to promote hockey in the region. A proposal to lay Astroturf in the college by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is also under consideration”, maintained Balbir Kaur the president of the governing council of the college.

It is pertinent to mention here that the college has won some prestigious honours in the field of sports and enjoys good reputation all over. It has produced a large number of outstanding national and international fame players. These include ace hockey players like Padam Shree Ajit Pal Singh and Pargat Singh, five Arjuna awardees- Surinder Singh Sodhi, Baljit Singh, Jagjit Singh and more than twenty-five international players.