Ludhiana, January 16
The city got a boost in December 2009 when MP Manish Tewari announced that the Union Ministry of Tourism and Urban Development had sanctioned Rs 3.02 crore for the beautification of major parks and historical buildings.

However, even after a month, the Municipal Corporation has not been able to do anything despite releasing the first installment of Rs 2.41 crore sanctioned by the Centre. Courtesy-The Tourism Department of the Punjab that has failed to release the amount.

Out of Rs 3.01crore, around Rs 2 crore were to be used by the Municipal Corporation for the city’s beautification. This includes Rs 56 lakh and Rs 40 lakh, respectively, for the improvement of Rakhbagh and Rose Garden, both public parks that are in a shambles due to the failure of the civic body to maintain them.

Similarly, historical monument of Ghanta Ghar that is over a century old and is disappearing in the mist of development, too, had got Rs 35 lakh for its restoration. That’s not all. Rs 52 lakh sanctioned for signal and display boards for the assistance of commuters is yet to arrive.

When Municipal Commissioner AK Sinha was asked about the grants, he confirmed that the civic body had not received any money so far.

Investigations reveal that in the past one decade there has been several proposals had been put forth for the beautification of the city but nothing materialised. “The Centre is ready to give funds but the SAD-BJP government hampers it by not abiding by the directions due to their ego clash. Neither the Punjab government is giving money nor allowing us to avail funds from Centre, people themselves can judge where should the civic body go,” said a senior Municipal Corporation official.

“Change in the political and official reigns, too, didn’t prove beneficial. Earlier it was the Congress government with Akali MP that was hampering development and now it’s the SAD-BJP combine with the Congress MP doing the same. We fail to understand why these politicians, due to political rivalries, stop funds. The development of the city is not for politicians but for the public. Till these politicians don’t understand this, they would not be able to make Ludhiana a better place to live,” remarked social activist SS Channa, who retired from the All-India Services.

Discussions with the residents and a random survey revealed that Rose Garden and Rakh Bagh could once again regain their lost glory, if they are renovated by introducing new concepts.

They revealed, “Boating facility in Rose Garden has disappeared, zoo is on verge of disappearance and this old Verka milk booth still stands tall.” Replacement the milk booth with a café along with good sitting arrangement in open, revival of boating by widening the artificial lake and installation of new swings for kids could work wonders here.

Similarly, toy train could be replaced with caterpillar rides, a video game parlour in Rakh Bagh, too, is possible. If the Municipal Corporation makes these places kids-friendly, families would love to throng them, was of the opinion of a few residents.

Ludhiana, January 16
A tragedy was averted after Endeavor SUV overturned due to sudden appearance of a stray dog on the Malerkotla-Ludhiana road near Guru Nanak Engineering College here last night. Though occupants of vehicles following the SUV had to apply sudden breaks sustained minor injuries, no loss of life was reported to the police.

Four occupants of Endeavor SUV escaped with minor injuries after cops led by Jasbir Singh, in charge MERADO police chowki, rescued them by breaking open doors of the vehicle at about 11 pm yesterday. Sarwan Singh of Phase II, focal point area, told the police that the mishap took place due to sudden appearance of the dog when he (Sarwan Singh) along with his associates was returning to his house last night.

Application of sudden breaks resulted in overturning of the vehicle that badly damaged it. On receiving information about the mishap a few cops led by Jasbir Singh reached the spot and rescued the occupants.

Ludhiana, January 16
Armed robbers struck at an electronic appliances showroom near the Kali Mata temple in Haibowal and decamped with 32 LCDs worth over Rs 25 lakh after thrashing a security guard here late last night.

The incident came to light this morning after a watchman saw the security guard Raj Kumar lying unconscious inside the showroom and informed its owner about the incident.

The police was called and the security guard Raj Kumar narrated the entire incident once he regained consciousness. According to him eight to 10 robbers reached the LG showroom on three vehicles and started thrashing him. Later they tied the guard with a rope and gagged him.

The security guard added that the robbers, who were in possession of keys, easily entered the showroom.

Ashwani Kumar, the owner, said the robbers took away 32 LCDs worth over Rs 25 lakh from the showroom.

Meanwhile, fingerprint experts and a dog squad were rushed to the spot. The police is not ruling out the possibility of insider’s involvement behind the robbery as the accused were in possession of the showroom keys. The showroom was opened about a month ago. DSP Raj Kumar and SHO Gurpreet Singh also rushed the spot following the incident and questioned the owner Ashwani Kumar. They also quizzed the security guard for few hours.

According to the police, the security guard could not recognise the accused as their faces were muffled.

Ludhiana, January 16
With several MBBS doctors “renting” their nameplates and boards to quacks in slum areas, the city appears to have become a safe haven for self-styled physicians practising allopathic, homeopathic and ‘ayurvedic’ medicine without being qualified to do so.

Having completed their specialisation, doctors with MBBS degrees are using these quacks as "tools" to make money on the side. The latter, who can be found in old areas of the city, use the nameplates of qualified doctors to entice patients and then charge them a hefty consultation fee. Some quacks recompense the doctors by paying them a "fixed" amount every month, while others refer these patients to the doctors concerned.

Despite the Punjab & Haryana High Court’s directions in 2008 to the state health & family welfare, no concrete action has been initiated against the quacks.

Senior medical officers were asked to prepare a list of quacks in the city and then get cases against them registered with the help of police officials. However, with hundreds of quacks “practicing” in every nook and corner of the city, the department has not been successful in filing cases.

Said a senior city physician: "Some quacks who are related to politicians, cops and even to doctors are being shielded by the police as well as health officials. These quacks are earning more money than even qualified MBBS doctors”.

IMA district president Dr Narottam Dewan, when asked why the association has not done anything about the matter, responded: "We’ll hold a meeting on January 26 to discuss a plan of action to check quackery in Ludhiana district. The association members will extend help in every possible way to the health authorities in initiating action against quacks”.

Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Maninderjit Singh said all senior medical officers have been asked to get cases against quacks registered in their respective areas. "We’ll soon receive new guidelines from the Punjab health secretary to further strengthen the drive against quackery," he stated. However, he added he was unable to provide the precise number of cases filed against quacks in the district.

Ludhiana, January 16
Shopkeepers have started to feel the pinch of beggar menace in the city. Those who run their shops adjacent to Durga Mata Mandir, near Jagraon Bridge, have now asked the administration to intervene and curb the menace.

They have complained that their businesses have been affected due to the presence of beggars near their shops. Beggars often harass customers, driving the latter away.

The shopkeepers have requested the municipal corporation to remove the pavement constructed on the opposite side of the temple.

They allege that the pavement has become a permanent shelter for beggars and anti-social elements. They have sought the removal of pavement and laying of road there.

The association further complains that beggars have become a menace for temple visitors. Not only do they harass customers and devotees but also create nuisance in the area.

They can often be spotted taking drugs. Even policemen prefer to shoo them away or look the other way when they spot beggars taking drugs.

“Sometimes, under the influence of drugs, beggars remove clothes and become a source of nuisance,” said Balkrishan Sharma, a shopkeeper.

He further complained that the area had become prone to accidents due to the presence of children who are forced into begging.

They are not offered food by their parents and are made to remain hungry. The kids often fail to notice vehicles while crossing the road.

Whenever devotees distribute prasad and money, children rush towards them, unmindful of the traffic, leading to accidents.

Members of the Janta Sewak Sangh complain that in spite of various reminders to the administration regarding the menace, little has been done so far.

Ludhiana, January 16
Mega teleserials are being churned in the rat race of the television channels, but are far from being termed as quality production/direction, observed Rajesh Puri, famous television and theatre artiste and a director.

The actor-director is in the city to perform Hindi play “Oye Band Baj Gaya”, under the aegis of Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam (LSS), this evening at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan.

The actor also said daily soap operas were a burden on the production houses wherein the writers and directors were under a lot of pressure to deliver quantity where the quality gets lost.

Referring to his association with the element of humour, Puri recollected his role in the first mega teleserial “Hum Log” in which he played the role of Lallu, which was lauded by the TV audiences. “It was the naivety combined with spontaneity that added weight to the character portrayal of Lallu and was well received by the audience as they could relate to the virtuousness of the personality,” the actor went on to add.

With more than 200 movies and 125 teleserials to his credit, Rajesh Puri has made his mark in directing television serials. “Sonu and Sweety” and “Gun Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge” are amongst his hilarious teleserials, which the director feels are stress busters for the audiences.

Himani Shivpuri, the noted face on television and silver screen, who plays an important role in the play “Oye Band Baj Gaya”, said acting was her passion adding that theatre was and always had been her first preference. “The applause from the audience is the best reward that any actor can get and one can experience during the live performances on stage,” Himani said.

Mouli Ganguly said like any other actor she also nurtured the dream to make it big in Bollywood.

Ludhiana, January 16
The Government Store Purchase Programme, through which small manufacturers can participate in government tenders, has turned out to be a fiasco in Punjab, thanks to the wrong policies of the Punjab State Electricity Board, which has not purchased any material through this programme for the past three years.

The programme has, otherwise, proved to be a boon for small manufacturers in other states.

Chairman of the Punjab chapter of the Federation of Association of Small Industries of India (FASII) Badish K Jindal said under the programme, which has been implemented through the National Small Industries and Export Corporation Limited (NSIEC) — a subsidiary of the ministry of small and medium enterprises, small and tiny manufacturers in the state could participate in government tenders.

Through the programme, manufacturers can get exemption from payment of earnest money, waiver of security deposit up to the monetary limit for which the unit was registered, free issuance of tender and competency certificate in case the value of an order exceeded monetary limit after due verification, etc.

“As small manufacturers are not in a position to participate directly in government purchases due to the lack of facilities and funds, this policy has proved to be boon for small manufacturers of other states. This also helps curb corruption during government purchase, as manufacturers are not directly involved in the purchase process,” said the president.

However, the PSEB has not made any purchase of material through the NSIEC for the past three years, due to which small manufacturers of the state have been forced to sell their material to bigger companies, who are in touch with the PSEB.

He said the FASII had also requested Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to direct the PSEB to follow the policy to give a boost to the industry in the state.

If properly implemented, small manufacturers could also sell their product/material to the PSEB at cheaper rates as compared to bigger companies.

Besides, it would also help eradicate corruption during the purchases made by the PSEB as there was no direct contact with the buyer.

The small and tiny manufacturing sector of Punjab was already in trouble due to location disadvantage and incentives being given to neighboring states. However, if the government paid attention, they could also get benefits, added the industrial community.

Ludhiana, January 16
To boost business ties between India and Canada, a delegation of industrialists from Punjab will visit Canada in the near future. These views were expressed by Punjab’s minister for jails, tourism and culture Hira Singh Gabria at a seminar organised by the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers’ Association here last evening.

Speaking at the seminar on “Indo-Canadian Business Opportunity”, Gabria said Punjab was committed to giving a boost to the industry. He said Punjabis had contributed immensely to the progress of Canada. He asked the NRIs settled there to extend their cooperation for the uplift of their native villages.

Two Members of Parliament — Sukh Dhaliwal and Gurbaksh Singh Malhi — were special invitees to the seminar.

They were honoured by the UCPMA. Malhi said a meeting of the Indian delegates would be organised with the ministry of commerce and industry, Canada.

He also said the Canadian government would organise an exhibition of products manufactured by the industrialists of the city.

Dhaliwal assured that the Canadian government would extend its co-operation to Indian delegates.

He stressed that through such exchange programme, business ties between two countries could get a boost.

Hero Cycles MD Om Prakash Munjal said business in India had seen a vast growth after Independence.

Doraha, January 16
The recent decision of the Punjab government to do away with the board examination of Class V may seem to have relaxed several students, has failed to be accepted and hence termed “improper” by schools, especially private schools.

A head of a local private institute, on the condition of anonymity, said the board was trying to shirk from its responsibility of conducting exams in future. The entire responsibility had now been entrusted upon the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) that would print and distribute the question papers of Class V.

“The decision of the board makes no sense. If the board examination were to be done away with, it will be better if the entire responsibility will be entrusted upon schools,” opined another.

“If the board thinks that it will ensure a carefree atmosphere for children, it is mistaken because the SSA is no less than any outside agency. It will be better if the board continues to conduct exams,” the head added.

A government school teacher said: “The decisions and pronouncements of the board generally arrive late, such decisions should be taken at the beginning of the session, so that the style of the paper could be discussed with students.”

“We are at least aware of the board pattern, for which we have sample papers available and we can guide the students accordingly, but what and how the paper is going to be set by the SSA is still a mystery.”

In an attempt to decrease the drop out rate, the board has forgotten to maintain the standard required by a student.”

Meanwhile, DO Ludhiana Harbhajan Ram had no idea about the recent development.

Ludhiana, January 16
The police yesterday booked six persons, including a woman, of Phillaur for committing fraud with a bank and usurping loan of Rs 15 lakh by submitting fake documents.

The division No. 2 police booked Narinder Kumar, Baldev Kumar, Kulwant Singh, Karamjit Singh, Surinder Kumar, Sunita Rani of Moro and Talwer villages, near Phillaur, following the directions from SSP SS Gill.

According to complainants Anil Kumar and Hardev Singh, both representatives of the bank, the accused had got a loan of Rs 15 lakh from the bank for constructing a house.

The complainants alleged that the fraud came to light when the accused did not pay the installments.

When the bank representative went to the house to collect the payment, it was found that someone else owned it.

The bank officials tracked down the offenders and after an investigation by the police, the accused were book for fraud today.

SHO Harwinder Singh said the accused were on the run.

In a similar incident, the economic offences wing of the police booked a truck driver for taking personal loan from a bank by submitting documents of a truck that had already been confiscated by the bank for default in payment of installments.

Ajit Singh, a resident of Dehlo, was booked for duping the bank of Rs 4.5 lakh.

EO wing in-charge Gurwinder Singh said the accused took a personal loan of Rs 4.5 lakh from Kotak Mahindra Bank but did not pay the installments.

When the bank inquired the matter, it found that the truck, which was financed by some other bank, had been impounded by the latter for non-payment of installments. Ajit Singh has been arrested. 

Jagraon, January 16
The police booked a man for firing at his daughter following a domestic altercation here yesterday.

Investigating officer Nirmal Singh said Ajit Singh, a former Army man, of Kacha Malak Road had been having an old dispute with his wife Amarjit Kaur.

Both used to live in separate rooms in the same house and a divorce suit was pending between them.

Ajit Singh wanted to sell his house but Amarjit Kaur had filed a case against him seeking stay on the sale of the house.

When she obtained the stay order, Ajit Singh got upset and had an altercation with her over the issue.

He lost temper and pulled out a licenced rifle and shot at his wife but the bullet hit his daughter Mohinder Kaur.

Mohinder was taken to the Jagraon civil hospital but the doctors referred her to the DMCH. The condition of the victim was said to be stable.

The police has booked the accused under Section 307 of the IPC.

No arrest has been made so far as the accused is at large. The firearm used in the incident is also missing.

Ludhiana, January 16
Top hockey outfits of the country will vie for honours in the sixth edition of the All-India Guru Gobind Singh Hockey Tournament to be organised by the Ludhiana Sportsmen Welfare Association here at the Prithipal Singh Memorial AstroTurf Stadium of Punjab Agricultural University campus from February 2 to 8.

A meeting of the tournament organising committee was held here today, chaired by the association chairman Amrik Singh Minhas.

After the meeting, association president Prithipal Singh Batala said teams like Indian Oil XI, Delhi; Air India XI, Mumbai; Namdhari XI, Bhaini Sahib; Punjab and Sind Bank XI; Punjab National Bank XI, Delhi; BSF, Jalandhar; ONGC XI, Dehradun; and Bharat Petroleum, Delhi; will be seen in action in the men’s section during this tournament.

In the women’s section, four teams — Railways, Haryana XI, Punjab XI and Chandigarh XI — will battle it out for top honours, he said.

The week-long tournament will be organised under the aegis of the Punjab Rural Sports Promotion Council and has been given grade A by the Hockey India.

The tournament will be held on the league-cum-knockout basis. All matches will be telecast live on Fastway Channel, added Minhas.

The winners in the men’s section will be richer by Rs 1 lakh, while the team finishing second will receive a cash prize of Rs 71,000.

In the women’s section, a cash prize of Rs 51,000 will be given to the winners and the runners-up team will get a cash prize of Rs 31,000.

Among others who were present at the meeting include Dr Kulwant Singh Sohal, Inderjit Phullanwal, Hukam Singh, Tara Singh Sandhu, Parveen Kumar Gorkha, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, Sukhwinder Singh Fauji, Iqbal Singh, Jarnail Singh Malhi, Harinderjit Singh, Gurnam Singh and Bhupinder Singh Dimple.