Ludhiana, September 23
At a time when the cash-strapped MC is not even able to provide basic amenities within its limits, it is being burdened by the proposal to include some villages falling in the constituency of MLA Darshan Singh Shiwalik.

Sarpanches of around 45 villages falling in Shiwalik’s constituency met here today to chalk out a plan to convince the Punjab government as the Ludhiana MC was not taking the issue seriously.

The MLA said the inclusion of villages in the MC limits had been proposed many times and it had been approved twice. “However, I fail to understand why the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner have not come up with a decision,” he said.

A resolution was brought during the MC house meeting in July through a supplementary agenda, but no decision had been taken.

“The new sewer which is being laid is passing through villages and if this rural belt is added to the MC limits, houses could be connected to this sewer. Also, if there are dump yards in these villages why can't they be included in the MC?” he asked.

Investigations reveal that last month, a four-member panel comprising Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura, senior deputy mayor Praveen Bansal, SAD councillor Pal Singh Grewal and STP BS Brar was formed to discuss the matter. Though blueprints of how the MC limits could be extended had been forwarded to the committee members, no formal meeting had been held till date.

Sources in the MC revealed that the inclusion of territory would be a “white elephant” as the areas would not generate any income. “We would be spending on roads, sewers, water supply, etc. Above all, our finances don’t allow us to include these residential areas. Even the BJP is going to oppose it,” a senior MC official said.

Ludhiana, September 23
The arrangements for the procurement of paddy in the state have been completed and official agencies have been allotted the quota of procurement.

The procuring agencies are all set to enter the mandi from October 1. The state is set to achieve the production level of last year despite the failure of rain in the state. The state government has fixed the target of procuring 140 lakh tonnes of paddy this year against 132 lakh tonnes last year.

Inquiries by The Tribune shows that the area under basmati has almost doubled this year from 3 lakh hectares to 5.5 lakh hectares. The production of basmati rice may cross 15 lakh tonnes against 10 lakh tonnes last year.

Since basmati is a high value variety, no minimum support price has been fixed by the Centre. Last year it was sold between Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per quintal.

The union government had fixed the MSP for paddy at Rs 950 per quintal this year for the common variety and Rs 980 per quintal for grade A variety.

According to information, agencywise allocation of paddy procurement is -- Pungrain-30 per cent, Markfed and Punsup-20 per cent each, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation-12 per cent, Punjab Agro Corporation-8 per cent and FCI-10 per cent.

According to sources, nearly 12 lakh tonnes of paddy procured last year is still lying in godowns of rice millers for milling.

Ludhiana, September 23
With the MC approving the final design of the Lakkar bridge that is going to be constructed by the PWD and the railways, the project would soon begin to shape up.

The layout of the Lakkar bridge.

The final design of the bridge is in a Y shape with the tail starting from the Civil Lines and the arms ending at the Central Post office and the other at the Reiky Cinema chowk.

The total length of the bridge would be 933.162 metres and the traffic would flow one way.

Municipal corporation XEN HS Khaussa said: “If a person climbs Lakkar bridge from the Civil Lines, he would reach the old city area via the AC Market road down ramp and to go back to the Civil Lines, he would need to climb the Reiky cinema up ramp.” He said the bridge would not be connected to the flyover joining the Jagraon bridge and old sabzi mandi.

To ensure that there was no traffic jam, Khaussa said: “We would be installing traffic lights near Mata Rani Chowk to streamline the movement of vehicles. The downward ramp would be constructed on one side of the road that is adjacent to the market where the distance between the ramp and the market would be around 6 ft.”

After the completion of the project, even roads beneath the bridge would be one way to avert traffic chaos. The Rs 60-crore project is likely to take around two years.

Khamano, September 23
A clerk working in the SDM’s office has been suspended by Fatehgarh Sahib deputy commissioner for usurping nearly Rs 1.30 lakh meant for granting pension to terrorist victims.

At least 52 beneficiaries of villages falling under the Khamano block approached officials concerned after they didn’t get their pensions. “Initially we thought that the government might have delayed the pension.

These beneficiaries, from different villages of the Khamano block, get Rs 2,500 per month from the state government.

SDM Inderjit Kaur found that only Rs 11,000 was lying in the account and nearly Rs 1.30 lakh were missing. She found that Harpal Singh, a clerk, took the entire money away after forging SDM’s signatures. Only Rs 11,000 were left in the department’s account. The account was sealed after the fraud committed by the clerk was noticed.

Department officials said the entire money was misappropriated within 10 days. Though the clerk initially misappropriated pension for three months. But, he deposited the two months amount later on, the officials added.

The SDM then brought this into the Deputy Commissioner’s notice. He ordered immediate suspension of the clerk. The deputy commissioner also marked a detailed inquiry to the District Revenue Officer in this regard.

Deputy Commissioner said the clerk had been placed under suspension since yesterday. His five years of service would be scrutinised. Action will be taken against him after the completion of enquiry, he added.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Manch chairman demanded a detailed enquiry and registration of case against the culprits.

Khanna, September 23
The local police yesterday arrested a man posing as a contractor and duping petrol station owners of the area. Accused Karan Singh, a resident of the Chakktera in Ganganagar, had duped people into giving him Rs 43 lakh. He was wanted in seven cases. However, the police said many more cases were pending against Karan.

Posing as a contactor dealing with building and road construction works, Karan used to influence the petrol station owners, dupe them by taking hefty cash, petrol and diesel.

He had taken diesel worth Rs 6 lakh from Hindustan Petroleum petrol station at Dhilwan village in Amritsar, Rs 10 lakh worth diesel from IBP petrol station at Jalandhar, Rs 11.50 lakh worth diesel from Gill Fuel, Samrala, diesel worth Rs 2.50 lakh from HP petrol station at the Phagwara road, Jalandhar, Rs 4.50 lakh worth diesel from petrol station at the Kapurthala road, Jalandhar, Rs 8 lakh worth diesel from HP fuel station, Kapurthala, Goindwal Sahib road, and diesel worth Rs 70, 000 from HP station at Dasuha. He has been booked under Sections 420, 406 and 120 B of the IPC.

Ludhiana, September 23
Sukhbir Singh, son of Ward No. 1 councillor, Rattanjit Kaur Sebia, who was facing molestation charges, is in trouble again for allegedly kidnapping the same woman when she was returning home from college here today.

The victim, a resident of Salem Tabri, alleged that Sukhbir, along with his friends, waylaid her at Model Town and asked her to withdraw the molestation complaint filed against him.

When she refused, they kidnapped her and took her to the district court complex, where he forced her to sign an affidavit, stating that the complaint had been withdrawn.

She said when they were busy procuring the affidavit, she managed to free herself and called her parents.

Later, both families lodged a complaint at the Division No. 5 police station. The victim’s father, Jaswinder Singh, alleged that the accused was constantly following his daughter and pressuring her to withdraw the complaint, the inquiry of which was being conducted by the SP (city-II).

On the other hand, Sukhbir’s family alleged that the woman was making false allegations to tarnish the image of Sukhbir, who was on bail.

They further alleged that all this was being done at the behest of a local politician who wanted to settle scores with them.

Confirming the development, Harsh Bansal SP (city-I) said they had received the complaint and had started investigating the matter.

Earlier, Sebia’s husband, Randhir Singh, had been arrested for allegedly molesting a woman who visited his house to fill a form for the allotment of an LPG cylinder.

Jagraon, September 23
The rural labour union yesterday postponed their agitation against the police inaction in cases related to poor labour class of the society and framing them in frivolous cases.

Earlier, the unions had planned that after taking out a protest rally at a local municipal park in Rani Jhansi Chowk, they would take out a protest march through the busy city markets up to the local police station where they would stage a dharna and chain fast protest for an indefinite period.

Worried over the offensive mood of the labour union, the police administration moved at once and DSP Jagraon city Mukhtiar Singh was entrusted by Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP Ludhiana (rural), to pacify and satisfy the protesting labours. The DSP listened to the grievances of the protesters at length and assured an appropriate action in all pending cases within one week.

Rural labour unions of the area were protesting against the police inaction in their cases due to either corruption or political interference.

Avtar Singh Rasulpur and Sukhdev Singh Manuke, general secretary and district president of the association, said their association didn’t want to adopt protest as a measure to get justice, but the callous attitude of the police had left them with no other option.

They even warned the higher authorities that in case their demands were not met within a week they would start their agitation, as it was scheduled in front of the SSP Jagraon office.

Machhiwara, September 23
Vasectomy of an unmarried youth during a camp at the Samrala Civil Hospital has opened a Pandora’s box, exposing the functioning of the health department.

Parents of a youth from Humaunpur village in Rajpura, in their complaint to the police yesterday, alleged that a reported doctor of Behlolpur village had lured their son into undergoing vasectomy.

The camp was organised by the health department on Friday wherein 271 persons turned up to for the operation, while 228 went under the knife.

Jaspal Singh, son of Iqbal Singh, a resident of Humaunpur village in Rajpura, had come to meet his relatives at Behlolpur village, near Machhiwara, from where he was lured by a local RMP, Jagjit Singh, to the camp.

According to the police officials investigating the matter, Dr Singh, when called to the police station, failed to produce any degree or documents to support that had studied medicine. “The RMP first said he had done his degree from Delhi. Later, he claimed that he had studied from Jalandhar. On further interrogation, he said he did not hold a degree in medicine and was instead practising on behalf of his brother, who was a doctor,” said a police official at Machhiwara police station.

Under the norms, only health workers are authorised to bring patients for vasectomy at the civil hospital. These workers are given Rs 200 as motivation fee. “Jagjit seemed to be mentally unstable, making him an easy target for undergoing this operation,” the police added. Jagjit was found roaming at the civil hospital during the camp and his parents were informed.

The parents reached the hospital and enquired about their son’s operation. They then approached the police.

Machhiwara SHO Rajesh Kumar confirmed that Iqbal Singh, father of the youth, had lodged a complaint in this regard. “We will scrutinise the documents of the civil hospital and register a case if any discrepancy is found,” he said.

Ludhiana, September 23
Every year, thousands of artisans and craftsmen descend on the city during the festival season to bring to life images and idols of deities.

They toil hard to carve the image of deities for devotees and make both ends meet. However, these artisans are happy with their lives and love being close to God.

With festivities under way, the city has become abode to scores of artisans from other states. They specialise in making idols and effigies.

Sohrabh, an artisan hailing from Bihar, arrived in the city a few days ago and is already busy making Goddess Durga idols.

Selling the idols by the roadside on the Sherpur Chowk, Sohrabh spends the entire day carving, painting and giving finishing touch to his creations.

“Ludhiana is like second home to me. I come here during festival season every year and earn some money,” he says while working on an idol of Goddess Durga.

Another artisan from Rajasthan, Gopal Chand, adds that while people spend lots of money on ogranising pooja at their homes, they usually haggle a lot when it comes to buying idols.

“We make some extra money only during this time of the year, otherwise the profession doesn’t pay much,” says Chand who settled down in the city a few years ago.

However, they feel blessed being part of the profession as it pays to be close to God. “God has showered blessings on us as we work close to His image most of the times,” they feel adding that they are able to eke out a living due to their “proximity to God”.

“We always thank God for whatever we have in our lives,” says a group of artisans working on the Ferozepur Road.

Ludhiana, September 23
Led by activists of the Punjab Kisan Sabha, farmers staged a dharna at mini secretariat here today, demanding payment of bonus both by the central and state governments on paddy crop besides accepting other demands of the community.

Addressing a gathering, Kartar Singh Buani, state secretary, and Surinder Jalaldiwal, district chief of the sabha, sought adequate compensation for farmers who had been hit by drought-like conditions and acute power shortage in the state during paddy season.

The leaders further criticised the government for lending a deaf ear to the outstanding demands of farmers to link minimum support price of produce to wholesale price index as traditional farming was no longer economically viable.

“In the absence of remunerative support price, farmers may shift to crops other than wheat and rice, which can have serious repercussions on the food security of the country.”

On the skyrocketing prices and scarcity of essential commodities, the speakers said the government had failed to curb rising prices and its total inaction against profiteers and hoarders had created a situation in which opportunist traders and hoarders were holding people to ransom to earn profits.

The sabha activists reiterated the demand for grant of liberal loans to farmers and farm workers at four per cent interest and remission of all old debts of farmers as promised by the government at several platforms.

Ludhiana, September 23
Daily commuters along with residents of Dugri, Flower Enclave, Basant Avenue and other localities along the Dugri double road are a harried lot as they have been forced to wade through deep potholes dotting the main road.

Residents of several localities in the area complain that even road berms have been dug, making these unusable by anyone.

The main road as well as a large number of other roads and lanes in the “posh colony” are in complete neglect, testing the nerves of those trying to use these.

The condition of other roads within the Dugri Urban Estate, Phase I and II, is no better. Top coat of several roads has worn off and, almost without exception, the inner roads are dotted with deep potholes and depressions.

Dugri residents Tarlochan Singh Makkar, Amrit Pal Singh, Sanjeev Malhotra, Karanpreet Singh and Rohit say the land alongside the double road belongs to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA).

Residents have brought the condition of the road and berms to the notice of PUDA officials without evoking any response so far.

Residents have submitted a memorandum asking senior officials to visit the area.

Ludhiana, September 23
Activists of the District Youth Congress (DYC) today undertook a plantation drive in Ward No. 60 of Dugri to mark the National Environment Day.

Led by district president Dimple Rana, area councillor Gurdeep Kaur and ward president Pawanpreet Shanu, workers planted saplings in LIG Colony on Dhandra Road. Addressing the workers, Rana announced that the drive had been launched under the guidelines of Rahul Gandhi, secretary of All-India Congress Committee.

Under the directions, the party had chalked out a programme for taking up public welfare measures in each ward in addition to plantation of saplings, which would go a long way towards improving environment and cutting down pollution.

According to DYC president, they had been directed to undertake mass contact programmes all over the city to propagate policies and programmes of the central government aimed at providing relief to the common man.

“The party activists have been asked to undertake welfare activities like medical camps, awareness drives and lend assistance to people in government offices.”

Ludhiana, September 23
The Punjab School Education Board has directed all private schools affiliated to it to file an affidavit giving details of the teachers employed and the salary paid to them. They have also been asked to give information regarding the mode of paying the minimum basic salary fixed by the state government.

Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon, chairman, Punjab School Education Board, told The Tribune, yesterday that in 2006, an issue about the private schools not paying the basic salary to the teachers and even exploiting them was raised during question hour in Parliament.

This issue was discussed in the Rajya Sabha as well. The state governments were asked to probe into the matter and ensure that minimum basic salary was paid to the teachers employed by the private schools.

Dr Dhillon further said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had also directed the board to file an affidavit in the court to the effect that the private schools were making payment of minimum basic salary to the teachers in response to a petition.

He said the next hearing of the case would be held in October. Dr Dillon said there were about 3,500 schools affiliated to the board.

Earlier, a large number of complaints about their alleged exploitation by the managements of such schools were reported. It was alleged that though the teachers were being paid meager salary but the managements were forcing them to sign on receipts of higher amount. 

Ludhiana, September 23
Ludhiana branch of NIRC of ICAI in association with committee for members in Industry of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India as a part of its diamond jubilee year celebrations today organised a campus placement drive for qualified chartered accountants at ICAI Bhawan, Pakhowal road, Ludhiana.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Ludhiana branch of chartered accountants chairman CA Sanjeev Gupta. As many as 20 CAs participated in the drive.

Ludhiana, September 23
Dr Manjit Singh Kang, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, has proceeded on a three-week official tour to the US from September 21. The tour is aimed at strengthening the collaboration with various universities on research and teaching.

Dr Kang told The Tribune before leaving for the US that during his tour he would be visiting the Ohio State University with which PAU has the longest collaboration.

PAU was established on the Ohio state University model. This would be followed by his visit to Colorado State University with which PAU has also signed MoU. The international MoU with Colarado University was meant to strengthen research and teaching programme.

Dr Kang would also visit University of Wisconsin with which they have on going MoU for research in entomology.

One scientist of PAU is already having one year training in vegetables. One more scientist would be sent for training in pesticides. At the Kansas State University, Dr Kang would meet Dr Bikram Gill, Internationally known wheat geneticist, where they would discuss the programme of wheat geno-sequencing.

They have facilities for wheat sequencing, he said.

Dr Kang said they had submitted one project to National Science Foundation, US. He would also meet the officials of the Karl programme in the US, which extends funding for the farmers training in the US. He would try to seek some help for the Punjab farmers too. Dr Kang would be back on October 12. — TNS

Ludhiana, September 23
Jails minister Hira Singh Gabria inaugurated “Zonal Youth and Heritage Festival” at Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujjarkhan campus, here today.

Classical music, shabad, bhajan, group songs, ghazals and folk songs were the attraction of the day. Audience was mesmerised by the student performers who lightened the environment with their performance.

A quiz was also organised on the occasion. The festival will continue for five days till September 27. Various competitions, including presentation of various forms of music, recitation, presentation of mimes and skits, creative writing, mehandi and handloom.

Ludhiana, September 23
Dr Manjit Singh Kang, PAU Vice-Chancellor, has launched a drive so as to provide better facilities to those visiting the campus.

The main aim is to provide facilities to those who prefer to walk in the morning and evening besides the visitors, said Gurkirpal Singh, estate officer-cum-chief engineer of the university.

There was a plan to provide facilities like roadside benches, drinking water and landscape along major roads, Gurkirpal added.

To mark the official beginning of the drive, a bench was formally placed along the road in front of the PAU library by the vice-chancellor.

Dr PPS Lubana, director, students welfare, said even the private sector was ready to join hands with the PAU.

Dr Gurkirpal Singh said the placement of benches would benefit elders, who frequently visited the PAU for a morning walk.

Sahnewal, September 23
University Grants Commission seems to be making all efforts to curb the ragging menace. This is indicated by the fact that every candidate taking admission in any institute is supposed to give an undertaking against his or her indulgence in any act of ragging on the college premises.

Students are supposed to sign a performa, especially designed by the University Grants Commission which states that a candidate or a student has carefully read the copy of the UGC regulations on curbing the ragging menace and that he or she will not indulge in any behaviour or act that may come under the definition of ragging.

Also, the student has to affirm that he or she will not participate in or abet or propagate ragging in any form and hurt anyone physically or psychologically or cause any harm. The undertaking specifies that if found guilty, the student may be punished as per the provisions of the UGC regulations or as per the law.

This is followed by a reaffirmation by the parent or the guardian as well. A fresher of a local college expressed that this move by the UGC is particularly going to help freshers a lot. “Ragging menace aggravates their woes, as it is their personal prestige and self-esteem, which they believe is at stake and sometimes compels them to take harsh resolutions and resort to extreme measures,” she said.

“UGC has on one hand tried to tighten the noose on the guilty and on the other hand come to the rescue of the victims in most encouraging way. If implemented, it would be a check on those educational institutes which despite of receiving a compliant from the aggrieved, seldom take any action against the defaulter,” opined a college lecturer.

Monika’s (identity concealed) mother, said she could now have a sigh of relief as: “The recent disturbing news and the hyper-sensitive nature of my only daughter was stopping me to get her admitted to a college,” she articulated.

“This concrete step shall provide check to the unabated indulgence of senior students in abusing and tormenting their juniors,” she further added.

Ludhiana, September 23
A title of professor emeritus of sociology was bestowed on Dr Harnek Singh, who retired as the professor, Department of Economics and Sociology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, on September 14.

The former don would teach students for two years. Decision in this regard was taken at the 238th meeting of the PAU Board of Management.

Dr Singh has been actively engaged in research in the rural sociology for years together. Besides professor emeritus Shiksha Rattan Purskar was also bestowed on him.

Dr Harnek Singh has taught and formulated need-based courses in the rural sociology and has guided about 24 PhDs and nearly 100 MSc students.