Ludhiana, August 15
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that the acute power crisis faced by the state would continue for at least two years until the four thermal plants being set up in various parts of the state start functioning. Only then would the wide gap between demand and supply be bridged.

He said this after unfurling the Tricolour at the Independence Day function here. Once the thermal plants of 7,000 MW capacity and 22 biomass co-generation plants of 1000 MW would be in place, Punjab would become a surplus power state.

He said the state was facing a crisis as it was producing 6500 MW while the demand exceeded 9000 MW. They were unable to buy power from other states as they were also facing a crisis. “We know people feel harassed, but we cannot buy power from Canada or the US. We have to face this till we become self reliant,” he said.

He said the government had initiated a programme for Rs 1,280 crore to provide drinking water in 739 villages and 2,422 partially covered villages, besides renovating ponds in 1,000 villages and providing sewerage in another 100 villages. To deal with the problem of cancer in the Malwa area, 5,000 affected villages would be provided with potable water through the RO system and ultra filtration system within the next two years.

The government was all set to implement administrative reforms in the state, including setting up of suvidha centres for a cluster of every six villages in the state.

About revamping the irrigation system, he said the 14,500-km canal network in the state was the oldest in the country and had outlived its utility. The government had initiated a Rs 3,469-crore project for revamping the irrigation system, he added.

Earlier, 11 residents of the city — Vivek Bakshi, Master Harpreet Singh, Naveen Sharma, Jaswinder Singh Bilga, Kamal Jit Sohi, Bhola Nath Mehta, Jagdish Bajaj, Pankaj Sharda, Surinder Pal Singh, Dr HK Singla, and Rajvir Singh Libra — were honoured with commendation certificates for their services in various fields.

Ludhiana, August 15
There have been rising incidents of complaints against Verka milk from across the city. Alleging that the anomalies in the 500 ml milk packs of Verka have been rising, Jagroop Singh, a resident of BRS Nagar, said: “We have been getting milk packets with advanced manufacturing dates, which is shocking.

Today, I got three packets with “N 09 Aug 09”, “N 10 Aug 09” and “N 16 Aug 09” written on those. What am I to make of these dates when there is no mention on the packet if these are manufacturing dates or something else?

“In any case, the packets with dates 09 Aug 09 and 10 Aug 10 are clearly over five days old,” he added.

Sushma Sharma of Bharowal also complained that Verka milk packaged about four-five days ago was being delivered often at her house, which she returned to the vendor. “Many times, I have noticed that milk packs bear advanced dates,” she said.

Ajmer Singh Bhagpur, chairman of the local Verka milk plant, said a lot of cases of misunderstanding among consumers were being reported, but these had been well taken care of by the Verka authorities.

About the packets bearing old dates, he said: “This is shocking. Any such incident should be reported to me. I would surely look into it.”

He said it could be a mistake on the part of the selling agent or the work of some anti-social elements out to “malign Verka’s image”.

Jagraon, August 15
The mob gathered at Gandhi Nagar on the Raikot road, Jagraon, went berserk yesterday and disrupted the vehicular movement on the Jagraon-Raikot road for more than four hours.

The mob wanted the civic body president, Baldev Krishan Telu, to pass through the stagnant water in the street bare feet and have a glass of contaminated water.

Residents of Gandhi Nagar protested outside their colony. When MC officials got a hint of the protest, they reached there and tried to remove the stagnant water from the streets, but failed.

DSP Mukhtiar Singh reached the spot and when the mob gheraoed the president and started misbehaving with him, the police resorted to a mild canecharge.

Nathowal (Raikot), August 15
Families of martyrs at Nathowal village have been ignored once again on Independence Day. None of them got any invitation to attend the celebrations at the state or district-level functions.

Subedar Surjit Singh, sarpanch, rued that earlier they used to get invitations a couple of days earlier, but now they have been forgotten. The SDM, Jaspal Singh, however, refuted the allegations, but said he would inquire why the invitation had not been delivered at the village. The sarpanch is said to have received the invitation around 7.30 pm last evening and was told to inform the villagers orally.

The village boasts of the largest number of Army men as well as martyrs. The village comprises about 500 families which have at least one member in the Army. At present, 150 men of the village are serving in the Army. The village has produced 15 martyrs and six freedom fighters.

However, the village lacks basic amenities like potable water and sewerage. Despite several requests, no monument to martyrs has been sanctioned by the government. The senior secondary school at the village has no teachers.

Ludhiana, August 15
Independence Day was celebrated at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) with fervour today. PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit Singh Kang unfurled the Tricolour, took the salute from NCC cadets and inspected the parade. Deans, directors, officers, faculty, employees and large number of students attended the celebration.

Extending his Independence Day greetings to all, Dr Kang said, “I salute the nation builders, defence personnel, national stalwarts and farmers, who had made great sacrifices to see India free.”

He said the future of agriculture would depend upon “our resolve to implement the earmarked programmes”.

Quoting Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s exhortation, “Everything else can wait, but not agriculture,” Dr Kang said, “We must make a paradigm shift in our ‘action for delivery’ to put Punjab on the path of sustained agricultural growth.”

On this occasion, Geetika Sheemar, project assistant in the department of vegetable crops, was honoured for her act of exemplary honesty. She had returned a bundle of Rs 50,000 to the PAU authorities that she had found lying on the campus. The money was later returned to the rightful owner. The VC honoured her by awarding a certificate of appreciation, a memento and a cash prize of Rs 1,100.

Independence Day was celebrated at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, with great enthusiasm.

Dr VK Taneja, vice-chancellor, GADVASU, unfurled the National Flag at 8.35 am on the university premises. He also inspected the NCC cadets and paid rich tributes to all those who fought for the country’s freedom.

The Jagrity Association of Deaf and Dumb celebrated Independece Day with zeal at Government College for Women here today. An inter-school entertainment competition was organised on the occasion.

Enthusiasm and vigour marked the celebrations at Ryan International School. District attorney Mitter Sain Goyal and Bharat Bhushan Thapar, nephew of martyr Sukhdev Thapar, unfurled the Tricolour.

Vardhman International Public School, Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Kundan Vidya Mandir and students of Kids Zone Play Way School also celebrated Independece Day.

Mandi Ahmedgarh: Independence Day was celebrated with lots of enthusiasm at MGMN Senior Secondary School here today. Schoolchildren presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion. But, the programme presented by the students of Lal Bahadur Shashtri Public School and the Janta College for Women was the highlight of the function.

Rajnish Sharma, president, Vidya Parcharak Sabha, and Ravinder Puri, group leader, unfurled the National Flag. Two minutes silence was observed for paying tributes to freedom fighters and the martyrs.

Tek Chand Diwan, freedom fighter, Harinder Singh, SHO (City), and Shruti Zakhmi topper of BDS examination conducted by Baba Farid Health University, were felicitated on the occasion. 

Jaspal Singh Jassie, Raikot SDM, and Neeru Katyal, Payal SDM, hoisted the Tricolours at functions organised at the subdivisions level. Usha Rani Sood, president of the municipal council, unfurled the Tricolours at Town Hall and the Bhagat Singh Chowk.

Ashok Kumar Aggarwal presided over function organised by Dayanand Adarsh Vidyala. Dr Sukhwinder Singh Kehal was the chief guest and Malwinder Singh Cheema was the guest of honour.

Similar functions were organised at Kennedy High School, Guru Nanak Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Anand Isher Senior Secondary School, Maya Devi Public School, Green Valley Public School, Jain Muni Shri Kundan Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Victoria Public School, Guru Har Krishan Senior Secondary School Phalewal and GHG Khalsa Senior Secondary School.

Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, chief parliamentary secretary, unfurled the Tricolour at a subdivisional level function at Khanna.

Khamano: SDM Inderjeet Kaur Kang unfurled the National Flag at the local grain market. Students from the government and non-government schools presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion. Kang along with MLA Jagjiwan Singh Khirnian honoured freedom fighters and distributed sewing machines among the needy women. DSP Anil Kumar, naib tehsildar Manjeet Singh, nagar panchayat president Gian Chand and market committee chairman Gurdeep Singh Ghuman were also present on the occasion.

Ludhiana, August 15
Having been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, Raji (13) could not move her legs, as there wasn’t any sensation below the waist.

The doctors termed the disease inflammation across the tissue of the spinal cord that resulted in the loss of its normal function to transmit nerve impulses up and down.

There was no improvement in Raji’s condition despite efforts made by her parents to get her best medical help.

Dr Santhosh, head of the physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) department, Christian Medical College Hospital, then took up her case. The department deals with ill, injured or physically challenged patients with the aim of restoring the normal health and function or to prevent the disability from getting worse.

She started working on the patient in unison with the physiotherapy department of the CMCH.

The team, including Suman Arora and interns, managed to put Raji back on her feet within two months.

Raji has now resumed her studies and is able to walk with the help of bilateral lower limb orthosis (splint\caliper).

Ludhiana, August 15
In the wake of increasing gap between demand and supply of power in the state, and overall demand for the electricity touching a new high, the Punjab State Electricity Board has further tightened the regulatory steps with the introduction of harsher penalties for violating the restrictions which will become effective from yesterday.

Through its commercial circular (26/2009) issued on August 13, the PSEB has laid down that industries running on small power and medium supply from the category II feeders will be required to meticulously observe three compulsory weekly offs. “Industrial units found to be violating these regulatory measures will face disconnection for a day for the first violation, three days for the second violation and power supply to defaulting units will be shutdown for a week in case of the third violation on this account.”

Similarly, large supply consumers would follow peak load restrictions, weekly offs and will, in no case, exceed 25 per cent of the sanctioned load at any time. If such units are found to be violating any of these restrictions from the consumption record, they will also face disconnection of power supply on the same pattern as for the small power and the medium power consumers in addition to being liable to pay stipulated penalty.

Though the arc and induction furnace units and re-rolling mills will be allowed to operate for 12 hours on five days in a week as before but their working hours have been changed from the previous 4.30 am to 4.30 pm. Henceforth, these units will operate from 5.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Meanwhile, the Ludhiana Machine Tools Manufacturers Association has sharply reacted to the new restrictions, including three-weekly offs, imposed on the industrial sector.

A meeting of the governing body of the association, held here today, under the presidentship of Kirpal Singh Sagar observed that the industry was already reeling under the adverse effects of global recession and the situation had been compounded by erratic power supply, cuts of long durations and curtailed operating period.

The association was of the opinion that the industry could not run on generators for three days in a week and the new power regulatory measures will lead to loss of production while even when not working due to want of power, the industrial units had to pay wages to their workers.

The financial crisis being faced by the industry due to scarcity of power could lead to mass unemployment of industrial workers, which will have serious repercussions on the overall national economy.

The proposed upward revision of power tariff also came in for strong criticism at the meeting.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 15
Accusing authorities in the Central Bank of India of allegedly depriving thousands of youths of their right to appear in probationary officers’ examination conducted by it, a group of aspirants, claiming to have applied for the post, have urged the higher authorities to impress upon the management of the institute to postpone the written examination scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Refuting charges, the bank authorities said eligible candidates whose applications, complete in all respect, were received by the due date had been issued roll numbers for appearing in the examination. Claiming that roll number slips had been dispatched to all eligible candidates the authorities said the duplicate roll number slips would be issued to those who had not received the same so far.

“We have arranged to issue duplicate roll numbers to those who have not received slips by now. These candidates should bring passport size photograph and their identity proof and designated officers will issue the roll number slip after verifying other particulars on the spot,” said an official during a telephonic conversation with this reporter yesterday.

A group of youths led by Sahil Gupta of the Pakhowal road area (registration number (46842) and Amit Bansal (ID No. 569831), who along with thousands of other youths had applied for about 800 posts of probationary officers advertised by the Recruitment and Promotion Division of the Human Resources Department of the bank have urged the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, the Union Government of India to impress upon the authorities in the Central Bank of India to postpone the examination till the fate of their applications was decided on basis of evidence submitted by them.

“Though we had completed all formalities besides depositing the required fee at designated branches of the bank by the due date, they did not issue us roll numbers. On calling the bank’s head office at Chandigarh we were asked to reach Chandigarh office and collect the roll numbers personally. 

But when we reached there they told that our applications, along with three thousand aspirants had been rejected,” said Sahil Gupta alleging that the authorities had assigned no reason for rejecting the applications. 

Ludhiana, August 15
RS Model High School quelled a strong challenge from RS Model Senior Secondary School and managed to scrape past 9-8 to win the title in the girls’ section of the 4th Junior Ludhiana District Baseball Championship for boys and girls being held at Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Gujar Khan Campus, Model Town, here yesterday.

The final turned out to be a keenly contested affair with both the teams trying to stamp their superiority. Eventually, RS Model High School emerged champions.

For the winners, Rekha and Neha chipped in with two scores each while Suman and Rozy, with two scores each, fought well for the losers.

Earlier, in the first semi-final, RS Model High School, Shastri Nagar, faced a stiff challenge from Teja Singh Swatantar Senior Secondary School before romping home victorious with a thin margin of one score (11-10) in which Smridhi and Neha contributed two points each for the winners.

In the second semi-final, RS Model Senior Secondary School, Model Town, also survived many anxious moments before managing to squeeze past BCM Club with a wafer thin margin (6-5). Harjot Kaur accounted for two points for RS Model Senior Secondary School, which helped them to cruise to home as victors and set up the title clash with RS Model High School.

Matches in the boys’ section were played today in which eight teams participated and RS Model Senior Secondary School, along with Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School, recorded victories in semi-finals to set up the title clash. The final will be played tomorrow.

In the first semi-final, Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School drubbed BCM Senior Secondary School 8-1. The main architects of their win were Sanjay and Vikram who contributed two scores each.

In the second semi-final, RS Model Senior Secondary School pipped RS Model Club 2-1 to secure berth in the title clash match. Abdul and Devi chipped in with one score each for the winners.