Tarn Taran, November 17
“The organisation of livestock shows has been proving to be very helpful for the rural folk, particularly the livestock owners in the state,” said Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, while addressing a gathering on the concluding day of the three-day zonal livestock show and milking competition, here today.

Prizes were given to winners of different competitions by the minister on the concluding ceremony. The show was organised by the Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab in which large number of owners of animals like buffaloes, cows, bulls, dogs, horses, hens, cocks etc. participated.

Besides Tarn Taran, it was the show of five districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.

Brahmpura said though animal breeding is an additional profession of the farming community, it may be taken up as a singular profession if modern technique is adopted in it.

He added that the state government is adding foreign breed milch animals which give about 70 litres of milk a day.

The minister called the farming community to adopt dairy farming and other additional agriculture based professions to increase their income.

The winners (owners of the animals) of the competitions who were awarded with a cash award of Rs 20,000 each, include Baldev Singh (Nukra horse), Rabinder Singh (Nukri mare), Gurdial Singh (horse Marwari), Harpreet Singh (mare Marwari), Sarabjit Singh (Murrah bull), Gurwinder Singh (Neeli Mavi buffalo) and Paramjit Singh (Neeli Mavi bull). Some other winners were also given prizes worth Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000.

Others who addressed on the occasion include Dr. Dalbir Singh, MLA Verka, Alwinder Pal Singh Pakhoke Chairman Punjab Ware House Corporation, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, former Chairman Markfed while SSP Sukhdev Singh Brar, Inder Yash Bhatti, ADC were also present on the occasion. 

Amritsar, November 17
Sir Paul Stephenson, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis London, said the diversity of the race system was a great boon for London and added that he received tremendous support from the ethnic communities, which have made England their home.

Talking to newsmen on his maiden visit to the holy city recently, Paul said the London police was ready to share intelligence inputs on global terrorist activities.

The Police Commissioner, along with a 15-member delegation, had come to participate in a high level security meet to be held in Mumbai and was invited to visit Punjab at the behest of the Sikh Forum International to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. The commissioner said he had great regard for the vibrant Sikh community settled in England and added that he had received a lot of love and affection and was here to visit the Mecca of Sikhs and other places of interest in Amritsar. He said he was amazed at the beauty of the temple and added that it gave him a lot of spiritual strength. Later, he witnessed the beating retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah check post. — OC

Amritsar, November 17
Punjab has emerged as a major market for designer fashion, as with the media boom, the fashion conscious people of the state have grown more aware about the latest trends and designs. Reputed fashion houses in the country have made a beeline to the state to cater to the varied tastes of the burgeoning middle class who want to flaunt their riches.

It is perhaps for the first time that leading designers from Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, including Rashi Kapoor, who had assisted Bollywood star fashion designer Manish Malhotra, showcased their collections at Design Weekend, a brainchild of SVAASA group.

Others designers included Kavita Bhartia, Siddhartha Tytler, Gaurav and Ritika, Neeta Bhargava, Narijis, Ritu Uberoi, Suket Dhir and Dev ‘r’ Nil, who are a big name in the Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata fashion weeks.

A first of its kind, the two-day exhibition opened to a huge response which exhibited extensive range of Indian, Indo-western and western garments. Varied garments such as tunics, kurtis, salwar-kameez, sarees, lehngas, gowns as well as men’s wear were purchased by shoppers.

Designs boasting dabka, mokaish, gota, embroidery, sequins and embellishments in various styles, cuts, colours and fabrics gave an ample variety and oomph to the city.

Youth in Delhi and Mumbai have easy access to such designer garments but the smaller towns usually don’t any brand label and they have to move to metro cities to have their choicest designer cloths. But with such exhibitions, youth in smaller towns would be able to have their choicest collections coming to their hometowns.

“The main idea was to bring in the designers and their collection to people of Amritsar and adjoining cities, who are now more aware and desire to possess a designer wardrobe,” said Vishal Chand Mehra, a fashion enthusiast and alumni from the Central Saint Martins, London and organiser of the two-day exhibition.

The exhibitors got encouraging response with visitors querying for next the exhibition, he claimed. He said the fashion market of Punjab is growing rapidly but need more shows for its development and the best way for it is bringing international names here, who would guide people about fashion.

Rashi, who was born and brought up in the holy city, said, “I was born and have been living here for the past 16 years, but today when I came here with my collection, I was amused finding a big change and awareness about fashion”.

A graduate from the Bangalore University, she had designed clothes for Karishma Kapoor, Konkana Sen, Kajol, Rani Mukharji, Amisha Patel, Shabana Azmi, Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone.

Another designer Suket Dhir, who showcased his men’s collection said, “Most of the people of Punjab want to become trendy but they don’t know what type of clothes suit their personality best. We are here to give them what suits them.” 

Amritsar, November 17
The city is gearing up to host the five-day Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) -2009, which would start on December 2 and is expected to draw nearly two lakh people, traders, customers from several countries of the world and the country.

In all, 230 stalls would be set up in the pandal out of which 50 would showcase merchandise from international companies.

Jaideep Singh, Convener, PHD Chamber, Amritsar Zone, said 100 members of Lahore Chamber of Commerce apart from several industrialists and traders from Pakistan had confirmed their participation.

He said the International Trade Fair, which is held every year at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, would conclude on November 27 and a number of its participants are expected to join this trade expo here.

He said setting up of a pandal and for making other arrangements the project has been contracted to a Delhi-based company, which would start working from November 18.

He informed that it would cost nearly Rs one crore to the PHD Chamber of Commerce to provide parafernalia to the industrialists and traders to display their items and convenient to the customers.

He said undoubtedly Chandigarh and Ludhiana had more commercial viability in comparison to Amritsar but the Punjab government’s insistence to hold it in the holy city had made it to host the PITEX for the third time.

Amritsar, November 17
Parking of air-conditioned and video coach buses by private transporters at old vegetable market outside Gandhi Gate, popularly known as Hall Gate, has aggravated the traffic chaos.

Importantly, it was after a protracted struggle that the government had freed the land, which was earlier used to be a vegetable market, by shifting the market on the outskirts of the city at Vallah.

Manjeet Singh, a resident of Majitha road, who commutes daily on the road to visit Golden Temple, rued the situation is getting worse with each passing day. “Whenever they visit the bridge, they invariably get caught in a traffic jam,” he said adding that the buses come and exit from the unofficial bus stand resulting in frequent and prolong traffic jams on the road.

The road from Bhandari Bridge leads to Golden Temple apart from connecting the walled city to the Civil Line area. Keeping in view vantage location of the bridge it receives maximum volume of traffic. Apart from general public, VIPs and VVIPs visiting the Golden Temple also travel through this road.

However, the vacant land has been used as a “bus stand” by private public transporters catering to high-end passengers. Majority of the buses play between Amritsar-Chandigarh, Amritsar-Delhi and Amritsar-Jammu-Katra.

Another resident Kishore Mehra said the situation turned to worst whenever a bus arrives and passengers start trickling out of it one by one. In order to grab the customers, autos and rickshaw pullers swarm around the bus, which ultimately block the road. A stream of vehicles could be seen halted from down to top 
of the bridge pressing horns collectively which results in a cacophony.

It has been alleged that there is a nexus among influential private transporters and politicians, MC officials and traffic police. Due to which there is hardly any action against buses which violate rules, said sources.

D.P.S. Kharbanda, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said the vacated land was Nazool land.

He said the corporation had given the land on contract to a private player for a year after auction.

He said it was the duty of the traffic police to watch that no traffic rule was violated.

As per the new law framed by the SAD-BJP coalition government ownership of Nazool land rests with the state government while the Municipal Corporation would act as custodian.

When contacted, SP (Traffic) Surinder Singh Sidhu said the department was seized of the matter. He said after taking up it with all the departments concerned including the MC and District Transport Office, the decision would be taken in this regard.

Amritsar, November 17
As many as 21 more Agriculture Service Centers would be opened in the district to provide necessary infrastructure and know how to the enterprising farmers of this area.

Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu made this remark while presiding over the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) meeting here recently.

He said there was tremendous need to mechanise farming as modern technology requires more funds and training centers would be set up, which would acquire new machinery and would be given on rent to progressive farmers who are willing to absorb new methodology.

He said training centers can become profit-making ventures and would help hard working farmers to deploy these machines and utilise them to the fullest of their potential.

Meanwhile, 20 progressive farmers have applied for the setting up of agriculture service centers in this area. Pannu said the government would provide Rs 4 lakh subsidy for the purchase of modern machinery, which would cost Rs 12 lakh. He added that only those farmers can qualify under this scheme who had more than 10 acres in land holdings.

He said to save paddy stubble, which is generally burnt by peasants, the government has procured four machines on priority basis due to which 200 acres of stubble was saved from burning and machines were used to make bales out of the standing remnants of the crops. 

Amritsar, November 17
Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, has released an information brochure pertaining to welfare schemes for rural areas prepared by the district administration.

He was in the city to attend a party organised by Bikram Singh Majithia, MLA and patron, Youth Akali Dal, in connection with his wedding on Sunday.

Appreciating the initiative of the district administration, Badal said with sufficient knowledge at the doorsteps of every rural household, in the form of an information brochure, hopefully the benefits of the government schemes would percolate to the lowest strata.

Deputy Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu informed that the administration felt that often people from rural areas failed to avail themselves of the benefits of government schemes because of lack of awareness, therefore, the administration took the initiative to compile the information regarding the various union and state government-sponsored schemes for rural areas in the form of a brochure and distributed it among every panchayat, so that people might reap the benefits of the schemes.

He said the brochure contained information pertaining to schemes run by 27 different departments of the district, including Health, Labour, District Rural Development Agency, Sainik Welfare, Punjab Backward Classes Corporation, Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy, Animal Husbandry, Soil Conservation, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Sports, Industries and Punjab Energy Development Agency.

The brochure contained detailed information regarding the various schemes, eligible beneficiaries, ways and means of availing the privileges extended under the schemes and even information had been incorporated to make the ruralites aware of farm forestry, Domestic Violence Act-2005, procedure for getting the new ration card, facilities extended on ration card, etc.

Parneet Bharadwaj, ADC (D), and Paramjit Singh, ADC (G), also accompanied the Chief Minister.

Amritsar, November 17
As many as 4 crore people in the world suffer from epilepsy across the globe, which is 1-4 per cent of the total populace, while the number is estimated to be 55-76 lakh people in the country.

The number is enough to explicate the gravity of the situation, but the government has yet to take concrete steps to spread awareness regarding this neurological disorder, said various neurological experts.

According to a recent study, the incidence of epilepsy is 49.3 per 1, 00,000 population in the country and half a million new people are being reported affected with the disease each year, said Dr. Rajnish Sharma, neurologist at the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here.

Quoting some data, he said in about 50-60 percent of patients suffering from epilepsy, the symptoms begin before the age of 16 years. In adults, approximately 60-70 per cent of all epilepsies are idiopathic while in the remainder, seven percent were alcoholic and three percent were due to head injury.

In about 15 per cent cases there were vascular causes and in the remaining five per cent the cause were head tumors, he added.

Dr. Sharma said in children, the prevalent rate of epilepsy was 5.59 per 1,000. Febrile seizures, head injury and a positive family history in epilepsy are risk factors. Prenatal birth damage is responsible for epilepsy in about 50 percent cases, he said. He said 70-80 per cent of patients can get fully cured of this disease with 3-5 years of anti-epileptic drug treatment.

However, he rued that lack of awareness among people was a major hindrance in the proper treatment of patients. He said people ran after quacks and tantriks for the treatment thinking it was caused due to an evil spirit or was a form of madness, instead of going to a neuro-physician or epileptologist.

Meanwhile, a medical check camp was organised at neurological department of the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital to mark the occasion in which a large number of patients were examined with various neurological disorders. 

First aid in epilepsy

Prevent injury by ensuring there is nothing within reach which could harm the person

Make the person as comfortable as possible

Help the person lie on the floor, placing him or her on their side

Do not hold the person down or try to restrain him or her

Do not put anything in the person’s mouth

Do not give the person water, pills or food until fully alert

If the fit lasts for more than five minutes, call for help 

Amritsar, November 17
With an objective to lay deadly situations like heart failure (Arrythmiya) and its diagnosis threadbare and in order to create awareness among physicians about the advancements in the pharmacological and implantable device therapies in cardiology, “Cardio Rhythm”, a programme on cardiology, was organised by the Fortis-Escorts hospital here today.

Dr. TS Kler, Executive Director, Cardiology from Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, said, “Heart failure is the only major cardiac disorder that is increasing in prevalence. It is estimated to have been afflicting approximately five million Americans alone and many lakhs in India as well. This number is expected to double within the next five years with more than 5,50,000 new cases of heart failure being diagnosed in the United States alone each year.”

Elaborating further, Dr. Arun K. Chopra, Consultant Cardiologist and Electro physiologist, Fortis Escorts Hospital and Scientific Director of Cardio Rhythm said, “The past few years have seen significant advancement in the medical management of Cardiac ailments. The underlying cause of the cardiac problem provides the basis for selecting the best treatment.”

He further added, “The main objective of the summit is to create awareness on different rhythm problems and thus help physicians to make timely diagnosis, thereby offering optimum medical treatment.”

Dr. Deepak Kapila gave insight into another major cardiac problem, sudden cardiac arrest. “SCA is a major health problem and kills more Americans than lung cancer, breast cancer and AIDS combined, can. Of the 450,000 Americans who suffer from SCA each year, an estimated 95 percent die before reaching the hospital,” he added.

Dr. Rajnish Juneja, Professor Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, New Delhi giving further insight on one of the major cardiac problems, Supraventricular arrhythmias said, “Arrhythmias is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening. When the heart rate is too fast, too slow, or irregular, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. Lack of blood flow can damage the brain, heart, and other organs,” he said.

More than 450 leading physicians from across North India attended this symposium, which was also addressed by Dr. HP Singh, Medical Superintendent of the local Fortis Escorts Hospital and briefed them about the objective of first symposium on arrhythmia and heart failure.

Tarn Taran, November 17
Mangat Ram Pasla, president of the Center of Trade Union(CTU), Punjab has asked the people to unite to oppose the alleged imperialistic policies of the Union government as well as the anti-people and undemocratic policies of the Parkash Singh Badal Government.

Pasla was addressing a rally here today organised by the Joint Platform of Mass Organisations (JPMO) in which large number of workers, peasants, youths and women folk participated from different parts of districts.

“Mass movements can not be suppressed by police atrocities and through bullets of the governments perusing anti-people policies. The working class would resist all such brutalities of the government in a befitting manner,” said Pasla while condemning the district police for resorting to severe repression on the peaceful demonstration of workers here on September 15, which left several injured.

Pasla while lambasting the policies of globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation stated that the state and the union governments have been perusing these policies relentlessly where as these policies are directly responsible for the unprecedented price rise, growing unemployment in the country and deepening of the agriculture crisis. He also condemned the skyrocketing prices and dis-bundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

The other who addressed the rally include the leaders of the Zamhoori Kisan Sabha, Dehati Mazdoor Sabha, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Naujawan Sabha Gurnam Singh Daud , Rattan Singh Randhawa, Dr. Satnam Singh Ajnala, Kulwant Singh, Jaswinder Singh , Arsal Singh.

In a unanimously passed resolution, the leaders demanded the withdrawal 
of the alleged false case against 21 workers of the JPMO on September 15, who were demonstrating against the dis-bundling of PSEB.

A memorandum was also presented to the district civil authorities in this regard. The workers marched in the bazaars of the town by shouting slogans against the anti-people policies of the governments.

Amritsar, November 17
The winner of third Frankfin Mr Singh International, to be selected here on November 28, would participate in a live show along with Miss Universe, Miss World and Mr World in Tokyo on December 12.

Chief of Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj (APKF), which is organising the event, Jaswinder Singh Advocate, also member SGPC, said the APKF had received invitation from a Japan-based channel - Nippon Television Network (NTV).

He said the invitation also mentioned that Miss Universe, Miss World and Mr World have also been invited for the event. As many as 30 contestants, after passing through the preliminary rounds of Mr Singh International, held at Raipur (Chhatisgarh) on November 8, are currently undergoing a two-week-long rigorous training session.

The finalists are drawn from various parts of the country and the world - Italy (1), UK (2), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Delhi (3), Kolkatta (2) besides 12 from Punjab and Chandigarh. 

Amritsar, November 17
As many as 250 patients availed the medical facilities in the free multi-speciality camp jointly organised by the All India Women Conference (AIWC) in collaboration with Mata Kaulan Mission Hospital hereon Monday.

The medical camp was held at the premises of AIWC. As many as 11 doctors of Mata Kaulan Mission Hospital checked the patients and gave out prescriptions.

The medical experts who diagnosed patients were Dr Gurwinder Singh (Medicine, Cardiology and Diabetology), Dr Harpreet Singh (Chest-Diseases and Tuberculosis), Dr Rajan (Orthopaedic), Dr Sunil Sharma (Laproscopic Surgeon) Dr Rohit Sharma (Ear, Nose, Throat), Dr C.M Seth (Eye Diseases), Jaskirat Kaur (Diet and Nutrition), Dr Neera Kirpal (gynaecologist), Krishna Beri (Homeopathy), Dr Rajeev (Ayurvedic medicine), Dr. Amrik Singh Arora (General Surgeon).

Besides, an AIDS expert Dr Rakesh Bharati delivered a lecture on HIV-AIDS prevention. ECG and various other tests were done free of cost for the patients.

AIWC president Rajni Bhrany said the AIWC was committed for the upliftment of women and girl child and invited other organizations to come forward to help them in this endeavour. — TNS

Amritsar, November 17
There seems to be no godfather for ward number six, which consists of one of the posh localities of the holy city - Ranjit Avenue - besides housing slums of Faizpura and Navi Abadi. It also houses the Housing Board Colony.

A phenomenon which currently haunts the locality is the rising number of snatching incidents, which apparently occur due to the slum area of Faizpura which falls just next to it.

Residents of the locality, while expressing their grievous concerns, said the conditions of roads are no better and need urgent repairs. The green spaces, neglected by the Improvement Trust, also present a pathetic picture.

Residents of the Ranjit Avenue allege discrimination, “Authorities had been busy making tall claims and gave more stress on maintaining a single road with a number of hotels, markets and malls rather than the remaining residential areas which have been crying for immediate attention.” Gurdev Singh, executive member of the E-block Welfare Association, while talking to Amritsar Plus, said wild grass has damaged roads and poorly-maintained green belts bear testimony to it.

He said residents prefer to remain indoors due to the high incidence of snatchings and it is unsafe for women to venture out alone. He said even the extent to which green belts and spaces are maintained, is a result of preservation by residents themselves.

“I have been living in the E-block for the last five years. I have not seen anyone cleaning and repairing roads,” said Gurdev.

Harbhajan Singh, another resident of the C-block, pointed out that some of the green spaces, for want of maintenance by the Improve trust, have now become dumping grounds.

Fiazpura, which came up on the land belonging to the Improvement Trust, as a slum colony, is now under the Municipal Corporation. There are about 3,000-4,000 residences in this slum area.

Karam Singh, a resident of the locality, said although the corporation has laid sewerage pipes, the congested kacha lanes and non-availability of proper drinking water is a massive problem.

He said they had to contribute for laying sewerage pipes in their areas. He said during rains life becomes hell for them besides the danger of spreading of water-borne diseases loom large in the area due to stagnant water.

Panjawar Singh, another resident said although the lanes were cemented in several parts, there was an acute shortage of proper water supply. He said a tube well which was to be installed in the area by the corporation, was shifted to another place owing to failure to finds a proper place for setting it up. 

Amritsar, November 17
The focal point industrial area covering over 125 acres of land on the main GT Road is crying for urgent attention as the foul smell of sewage and the non-existent roads makes it a sore point for the 435 big and small units situated in the industrial area.

The who’s who of the city’s enterprising entrepreneurs have been fighting tooth and nail seeking the attention of the government and the corporation to immediately gear up for providing modern civic infrastructure so that the industrialists do not have to wade through knee deep water and the sewerage system which have collapsed in the industrial area expansion scheme.

A leading industrialist and eminent social activist, Arun Kapur who has set up his fertiliser unit in 2001, said it is indeed pathetic, specially the non-existent road infrastructure which makes the entry into the area very dicey. He lamented that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who wants to make the industrial area a showpiece after announcing a grant of Rs 5 crore after large number of representations and personal pleas with the government.

The chairman of the focal point industrial area, Harminder Singh Freedom said they had made numerous rounds of the corporation after the industrial area was handed over the maintenance to the civic body a few years ago but nothing had been done to uplift the roads, sewerage, water supply and street lights in the area.

D.P.S. Kharbanda, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, however pointed out that although they have received the funds for building up modern infrastructure at the focal point and pointed out that the engineers were giving final shape to the estimates to the road building and other important components.

He hoped that the tendering process would commence within next 15 days and the work would be allotted soon after. He added that the focal point would get a new look within next six to eight months after the completion of work 
in phases.

The industrialist of the area pointed out that they were paying house tax and other taxes to the government for last several years but later have totally neglected the area, which was carved out into a modern industrial belt 14 years ago in the outskirts of the city on GT Road. They said they find difficult to reach their factories at night without any streetlights and with big potholed on the roads. Interestingly the district industry centre is located in the periphery of the focal point but no action seemed to have taken to build a modern industrial area.

Amritsar, November 17
Banking on protecting the interest of the girl child, the Punjab National Bank has initiated to open accounts of newborns under the project Nanhi Chhaan.

The Nanhi Chhaan Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation, run from Golden Temple, which works with the objective of empowering the rights of the girl child, promoting woman empowerment and protecting the environment by preserving trees.

KR Kamath, Chairman and Managing Director of the bank said, “It is a unique initiative from our side to secure the future of the girl child in Punjab. About 800 accounts have already been opened.”

In town, soon after assuming office as Chairman of the bank, Kamath said Punjab has been viewed as an affluent state and the bank has always been keen on starting new ventures in the state. The bank has also launched an ambitious “Project Namaskar”, to reach to the marginalised sections hailing from the remote areas of Punjab.

“We have identified 1 lakh touch points in villages without banks to extend the bank’s outreach and create a larger customer base. This milestone has been targeted to achieve by 2013,” told Kamath.

Farming is the other sector, which finds top place in the bank’s list of agenda items. Out of a total of 541 branches in Punjab, around 74 are in the rural and semi-urban areas.

“Punjab is seen as a prosperous state and the direct agriculture and SME advances would be our thrust areas. We have been frontrunners in extending financial assistance to rice-shelling units in the state besides supporting hosiery units in Ludhiana and Steel units in Mandi Gobindgarh”, he said, while adding “Around Rs 5,000 crore has been extended as loans to farmers.”

When asked about suicides committed by Punjab farmers for not paying back the debt amount, Kamath claimed that there has not been a single case of this sort with farmers who are their clients.

“The reason is that we have set a policy and give special incentives under various schemes, specially designed for farmers. We give amounts of up to Rs 3 lakh at just 7 per cent rate of interest. They get trapped when they approach mediocre agents, who earlier allure them for easy processing but later deceive them with hidden risk factors and charges,” he said.

Kamath said the bank has started a pioneer missionary project ‘PNB Farmers’ Welfare Trust’ which is totally committed to the development and progress of the farming sector. Under this trust, eight farmers’ training centres have been established which provide free training pertaining to the banking process to farmers, rural women and unemployed youth. Recently, one each such centre has been opened at Shamsher Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Mehraj, Bhatinda, which has trained around 45,000 persons. 

Amritsar, November 17
Children’s Day was celebrated at the Mehak Bal Sambhal Creche of Guru Nanak Dev University.

Dr. Sarvjit Brar, wife of the Vice Chancellor of the University AS Brar, was the Chief Guest. The tiny tots of the creche, between the age group of one to five years, participated in a fancy dress competition. Children also performed a number of dances.

Dr. Brar presented prizes to children for their performance.

Dr. Satinder Kaur, Secretary of the creche, informed that it has been 20 years since this creche came into existence. She said it was equipped with the latest furniture, equipment and toys, required to make it a contemporary creche and presently its strength was nearly 140 children.

Students of the BBK DAV College for Women went to the primary and middle schools of Qilla Jiwan Singh village. The college students explained the importance of the day to the school students and distributed sweets among them. The visiting college students also held a special class on English.

Pre-primary and primary sections of the Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School presented a folk dance, a solo Punjabi song, a Haryanvi dance, Punjabi and English dances on Children’s day. Students of the Amritsar Public School presented a stage show “Journey of Independence”.

Students of Spring Dale Senior School visited charitable homes, including Mother Teresa’s Home, All India Pingalwara Charitable Society, Central Khalsa Orphanage, and Citizen’s Forum Vidya mandir. They distributed gifts and entertained them with their song, dance, skit and Gatka presentations. — TNS

Amritsar, November 17
The four-day CBSE National Chess Championship organised by DAV International School concluded here recently. The teams from Chennai won the honours in five events. More than 400 students from different schools of the country participated.

Results: Under-19 Girls

1) Vidya Mandir Secondary School, Chennai, 2) Chettinad Vidya Ashram. Chennai, 3) DAV International school

Under-16 Girls

1) Vidya Mandir Secondary School, Chennai, 2) Chettinad Vidya Ashram. Chennai, 3) Lawrence public School New Delhi

Under-14 Girls

1) Bhavans’ BP Vidya Mandir Nagpur, 2) Carmel Convent Senior Secondary school, 3) Varanasi Public School

Team event

1) D P S Dhanbad, 2) Shrishti Vidya Ashram Senior Secondary School, 3) Nalgonda Public School

Under-14 Mixed Chess

1) Maharishi Vidya Mandir Senior School, Chennai, 2) Modern Senior Secondary School , Chennai, 3) Jawahar Vidyala Senior Secondary School, Chennai

Under-12 Mixed Chess

1) Jawahar Vidyala Senior Secondary School, Chennai, 2) Bhavan’s Varuna Trikkakara, 3) Sunbeam English School, Bhagwanpur

Under-19 Mixed Chess

1) Jawahar Vidyala Senior Secondary School, Chennai, 2) DPS R K Puram, Delhi, 3) Chettinad Vidya Ashram, Chennai. — OC

Amritsar, November 17
International sewerage drain known as Tung drain, also Tung Dhab or Tung Bai drain, is an eyesore on the topography of the growing city. It is known as Hudiara drain after it enters Pakistan from Rajatal border village of India.

Repeated studies by international and acclaimed research organisations have found serious repercussion on human beings, flora and fauna residing along the drain. However, it has failed to move the authorities concerned to address the concern.

Experts are not aware about exact location of origin of the drain as some believe it to be Batala and others think it is in Amritsar. The open drain is clearly visible from Majitha by-pass, which moves along the road to Fatehgarh Churriyan and Ajnala by-passes and then proceeds towards Naraingarh and finally on the Amritsar-Attari GT Road.

The drain carries industrial effluents and sewage from the industry and residential colonies.

The matter of concern is that a number of approved and unapproved colonies have sprung up on either side of the drain. It has made them victims of health hazards and loss of valuable items owing to toxic gases emanating from the nullah.

Gurwinder Singh, a resident of Guru Amar Das Avenue, near the drain, said lifespan of all kinds of electronic gadgets especially air conditioners and refrigerators was abysmally low. They become ineffective within a couple of years.

Area Municipal councillor Gurjeet Singh Aujla said potable water was available at 300 to 400 feet deep on either side of the drain. He holds the Municipal Corporation, Improvement Trust, colonies, factories along the drain responsible for releasing untreated effluents in the drain.

The Genetics Department of Guru Nanak Dev University had confirmed DNA damages among the residents of Mahal village, which falls close to the drain. The research studies stated that women living in the areas close to the Tung drain, specifically Mahal village, suffer from DNA damage which could lead to dangerous diseases. The problem threatens to become an international with Pakistan on many occasions pointing out that India was polluting the Ravi through effluents. As ultimately the drain joins river Ravi on the outskirts of Lahore city.

The experiments performed by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, had confirmed that the quantity of heavy metals in the soil exceeded the quantity certified by the WHO.

Earlier, milch animals especially buffalos, were exposed to health hazards as they used to wallow in the contaminated water of the drain. However, presently as the drain carries dense form of waste, even animals do not try going in.

The city has many small-scale industries, notably textile processing, woollen clothes, dyeing, electroplating, iron foundries, pulp and paper mills, glass and plastic ware.

The effluents of industries are discharged into two drains --- the Verka drain and the Gumtala drain. Both the drains fall into Tung Dhab drain. Mahal and Ghanupur Kala villages were some of the most affected villages.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), India, in collaboration with Aquatic Biology Laboratory of Guru Nanak Dev University had carried out a study titled “Addressing Environmental and Pollution Concerns across International waters through Strategic Partnerships” with special focus on Hudiara Drain. The project was funded by the United Nations Development Programme. Anish Dua from Aquatic Biology Laboratory, was also a part of the research team. He said Tung Dhab drain was a tributary of Hudiara drain. However, the study had found evidence of eye and skin ailments, endocrine disruptions, cancer and congenital defects in the region caused by the evil effects of the drain. It also indicated that drain’s water was unfit even for irrigation purposes.