Ludhiana, March 27
The minister for local bodies, Manoranjan Kalia, today announced that various projects worth Rs 150 crore would be taken up in the city from June.

He said the projects would not be affected due to staff crunch as the government had decided to fill supervisory/technical posts in the MC within the next three months.

Kalia was in the city as chief guest at Arya College and Tagore Public School. He said by June, several development projects would be started. These include construction of the railway overbridge at Dana Mandi and Pakhowal, separator at Jamalpur worth Rs 25 crore and four overbridges across Budda Nullah at a cost of Rs 6 crore.

Besides, five foot overbridges worth Rs 12 crore would be constructed at various places in the city. Two under-paths would also come up at the district courts and Aggar Nagar.

The covering of Ganda Nullah was another demand of residents which was pending for long, he stated. “We have decided to spend Rs 20 crore on covering the nullah. The project will be started from Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran here. Apart from this, Rs 1 crore will be spent on the widening of the Sherpur road,” he said.

These works would not be affected due to staff crunch in the MC. “Though we have limited staff, we are managing. During a recent meeting with the Chief Minister, we decided to fill all posts of JE. All JEs would be required to furnish their diploma in civil,” he said.

Ludhiana, March 27
There was a time when people used to stay away from police stations, but probably for the first time residents have openly come out in support of a police picket and demanded stay on the shifting of the picket which was merged with the DMC police picket following the formation of a new police stations under the commissionrate system.

The residents and the shopkeepers of Kitchlu Nagar heaved a sigh of relief after DCP Parmod Ban put a stay on its shifting. The police picket was to be abolished from yesterday onwards.

It was probably for the first time that the residents took sweets at the police post and congratulated the cops for staying in their area.

Following the Commissioner’s order of shifting the police post from Kitchlu Nagar, Varinder Bhakoo, president, Dr Kitchlu Nagar Residents Association, along with senior vice-presidents Varinder Mehendru, vice- president Rakesh Dhir and other residents went to meet him in the morning.

They acquainted the Police Commissioner with how the establishment of police post has brought the crime rate down in the area.

Bhakoo said the Commissioner’s order of abolishing the police picket from Kitchlu Nagar, had spread panic among the residents. He said the cops told the residents that they would have to lodge their complaints at the PAU police station, which was situated in Raghunath Enclave, over 5km from Kitchlu Nagar.

“It will be difficult for the residents to approach the PAU police station for lodging their complaints and further how will the police ensure the security of the residents by sitting 5km away,” added Bhakoo.

He added Rishi Nagat, Udham Singh Nagar, besides numerous hospitals and educational institution also falls in this area.

“Have you seen anyone offering sweets to cops and congratulating them for staying in the market. The presence of cops has discouraged the thieves from entering the area,” said a shopkeeper.

Ludhiana, March 27
A two-storeyed building at Shastri Nagar, which was being constructed without getting the plan sanctioned by the MC, was demolished here today. Though the owners protested, MC workers demolished the structure with the help of the police.

Assistant town planner SS Bindra said the building was opposite BCM School, Shastri Nagar. “Two JCBs were pressed into service and 20 labourers were hired to demolish the building. Some residents protested, but with the intervention of the area councillor, everything was sorted out,” he said.

Ludhiana, March 27
A newly wed woman died after she was allegedly set ablaze for dowry at Laxmi Nagar market near Chander Nagar here today.

It was at around 11.30 am that the victim, identified as Suman (25), was set afire after pouring kerosene on her. The police has booked her husband and in-laws under Section 304-B, IPC.

According to the police, children studying in a school adjacent the house of the victim saw smoke billowing out of the room and raised the alarm.

In the meantime, neighbours reached the spot and tried to open the main door of the house, but it was bolted from inside. They broke open the door and found her lying dead on the bed. They doused the fire and informed the police.

Relatives of the victim said Suman had eloped with Rakesh Kumar, a painter, four months ago and got married.

Her parents said the couple had strained relations. Rampyari, mother of the victim, alleged that her husband and in-laws used to thrash her for dowry.

Neighbours alleged that even last night the couple had quarrelled over some issue, following which she was beaten up by her husband.

Her husband, however, claimed to the police that she had committed suicide. He said they were away to the market when the incident took place.

“Her body bore burns on hands and legs, which do not seem fatal and could not have result in the death of the victim. Also, the body was lying on the bed while in self-immolation cases, the victims run to open the door or take survival measures,” the investigating officer said.

Doraha, March 27
Even as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has urged the public to observe the earth hour by keeping black out for an hour today, the general public, seems to look the other way.

“Is there any day when we do not face black out and observe the earth hour. The pressure of scheduled and unscheduled power cuts is such that seldom are we able to come out of the black out and see the light of the day. The power crisis has already taken a heavy toll on our personal lives, farming, business, trade and industrial sector, then how can we observe the earth hour in spirit?” expressed a cloth merchant.

“I think the Punjab government and the public of the state does not need to observe any such hour as every hour is an earth hour here and every night is a black night for us”, rued a social worker of the area.

The residents are forced to face five to six hour scheduled as well as unscheduled power cuts, every day. The residents alleged that the unscheduled power cuts had literally given a sudden halt to their daily activities and normal routine. “The situation becomes all the more grim when the power is restored after a gap of nearly four to five hours and goes off again in not more than 10 minutes due to occasional faults occurring in the supply. When will the idea of observing the earth hour be acceptable to any logical mind and rational human residing in the ‘power surplus’ state of Punjab? questioned still another frustrated shopkeeper.

“Although the idea given by the environmentalists is good as far as the checking of global warming and the conservation of earth is concerned but there are many more ways by which we can save earth in a more fruitful manner and send a greater message for the public around. The most significant thing, which needs to be done at this point of time is to save the earth by stopping the merciless uprooting and axing of thousands of trees especially along the national highway. On one hand, we are planning how to save our mother earth and on the other hand in the name of ‘calculated developmental planning’, we are thoughtlessly and ruthlessly cutting trees in large numbers” said an environmentalist.

“Observing just one earth hour is not sufficient, we will have to spend hours together if we really wish to save our mother earth from depletion and reduce global warming in the real sense of the term. Amends can however be made even now if the government, in the wake of serious environmental depletion, apart from making personal efforts, motivate the landed farmers on either side of the national highway to plant such saplings”, expressed a senior citizen of the area.

Jagraon, March 27
In a move against the arbitrary decision of the president of the Jagraon Bar body, at least half of its members have sought a meeting to move a motion of no-confidence against the president.

Expressing discontent against the rampant corruption, a majority of advocates abstained themselves from inspection and the felicitation ceremony held by the Jagraon Bar in honour of Justice Mohantta on March 25.

Investigations by the Ludhiana Tribune revealed that that Bar body president Jyoti Saroop Sehgal had appointed an architect from Chandigarh, who charged high fee and Rs 3,000 per visit, though local architects had offered their services for low fee.

Since becoming president in January, Sehgal had allegedly never taken the Jagraon Bar into confidence while taking decisions.

Thirtyeight advocates of the 70 asked Bar body secretary Vishal Sharma for a meeting. The meeting would probably be held on March 29.

Refuting the allegations, Sehgal said he had never taken any arbitrary decision and had always taken the Bar into confidence.

He charged some advocates with pressurising him not to have relations with the rival group. He said he had arranged for lunch on his behalf and on behalf of Ashwani Atrey.

There was a procedure that the incumbent and to-be presidents organised lunch for the Bar, he said. He claimed that he was being made a victim of factionalism in the Bar.

The Bar body might conduct a mid-term poll after setting aside all commitments. In that case, the Bar would witness a fierce fight between contestants of both groups.

Ludhiana, March 27
Even as the state reels under an acute power crisis, employees of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust have been using room heaters to heat their food.

A visit to the office of the trust an hour before lunch time is enough to witness these room heaters kept in various parts of the office.

While the room heaters are not required in summer, the employees have been making the most of those to have warm meals.

“We do not use those for more than an hour. It is just a way of warming our food. This does not require a lot of electricity. This is not much for a government office,” replies an employee, tongue-in-cheek.

Another employee says the practice continues everyday. “It is strange that they keep tiffins on the upper protective grill. Had they used a cooking heater, it would have required less time.”

The Punjab State Electricity Board appeals to residents every year to save power. Last year, it had directed all government offices to say no to air-conditioners to save power.

When a Ludhiana Tribune lensman tried to capture the heaters switched on, some employees tried to stop him, saying it was not a big deal.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 27
Timely help by passersby and a rescue team of the local police saved precious lives of eight members of a family who were hurt seriously when the Tata Sumo they were travelling in, collided with a truck at Akbarpur Chhanna village on the Malerkotla-Ludhiana road yesterday.

However, one person was killed on the spot. The deceased was identified as Mohinder Singh of Sangtiwal village in the Sunam subdivision.

Gurmit Kaur of Dirba, Mohinder Kaur of Badrukha, Gurmel Kaur Sangtiwala, Bachan Kaur of Changal and Santokh Singh of Sangtiwala and three others were hurt seriously when their Tata Sumo (PB 11 AL 9206) collided with a truck (PB 10 BW 1065) that had intercepted the road suddenly.

Some passersby informed Harvinder Singh Khair, SHO, at the local police station, who immediately pressed a rescue van into operation and got the injured shifted to Civil Hospital, Malerkotla, and other hospitals. Though the condition of the injured was stated to be out of danger by the doctors, they were not declared fit to make a statement.

The victims were returning to Sangtiwala after attending a bhog ceremony at Doraha village, it was learnt. The police has seized the truck but driver and other occupants fled from the spot.

Sukhdev Singh Virk, DSP, Malerkotla, who supervised the rescue operations, said a case under appropriate sections of the IPC would be registered against the accused after the victims were declared fit for making a statement.

Ludhiana, March 27
Strange are the ways of the sports department. It organised the state swimming championship in November.

But now, when the mercury is touching the 40-degree mark, the swimming pool has been closed. The sports department is passing the buck to the municipal corporation for the delay in the opening of the swimming pool.

In the meantime, city swimmers have been feeling the pinch as the corporation has been dilly-dallying on the issue.

Normally, the swimming pool starts functioning in mid-April, but due to the sudden rise in mercury and long power cuts, residents have been demanding that the swimming pool is made functional. Earlier, the mini-swimming pool at the Rakh Bagh used to be opened to the public in the beginning of March, but the civic authorities were still undecided about the fate of the swimming pool.

Professional swimmers are a dejected lot and have expressed their anguish over the attitude of the sports department. “When the time is ripe for swimming, the pool is closed. It will force us to swim in competitions in the winter,” laments a swimmer. MC Commissioner AK Sinha says, “It will not be possible to open the swimming pool in the first week of April. I think that it will be thrown open to the public in the second week of April.”

Ludhiana, March 27
Sirjandhara, a writer's association, today organised a "Satkar Samaroh" to pay tributes to the 14 great Punjabi writers of Ludhiana, who breathed their last in the past two years. This was the first Satkar Samaroh organised by Sirjandhara on the premises of Punjabi Bhawan.

Dr Parminder Singh, Professor Mahinder Singh Cheema, Balwant Singh Noor, Professor Balwinder Singh, Dr Gurdev Singh Pandohl, Inderjit Hassanpuri, Kulwant Jagraon, Professor Amrik Singh Sangha, Jagjit Singh Bedi, Chaman Lal Sukhi, Professor Sunrinder Singh Narulla were amongst the Punjabi writers who were commemorated for their great works in Punjabi language.

Association president Karamjit Singh Aujala expressed his gratitude to the family members of the deceased writers as he said, "It is matter of honour to have the family members of our great writers amongst us. We acknowledge the contribution of each one of the writers towards the promotion of Punjabi language not only in Punjab but at the international level also."

He also said this samaroh would be organised every year to appreciate and honour the great works penned by the Punjabi writers.

Another speaker while expressing resentment on the step-motherly treatment meted out to the Punjabi writers in Punjab said it was rather unfortunate that unlike singers and other artistes, writers were given less importance. "But we here at Sirjadhara have pledged to honour the families, who are elemental in giving the writers a moral support to carry on with their good work," the speaker said.

At the same time, Kulwant Jagraon's family has instituted an award in the memory of Kulwant Jagraon, which will be conferred upon the "Raj Kavi" (sate poet) Gurdial Singh Kanwal. A cash prize of Rs 2,100 along with a shawl and a memento was awarded to the poet. However, Gurdial Singh Kanwal could not attend the function as he is not keeping well.

Ludhiana, March 27
The annual prize distribution function of SCD Government College held today in the Sahir Auditorium on the college campus.

Nearly 300 students in the different fields like cultural, sports, and academics, NCC, students council and NSS were given prizes in recognition of their achievements.

Prof Sohan Lal, Director Public Instructions (Colleges) was the chief guest on this occasion.

Prof Jasbir Kaur Makkar, principal of the College, Prof PS Sohi, Dean, Students Welfare, welcomed the chief guest. A cultural programme was performed by the cultural troop of the college.

While reading the annual report of the college Makkar said during the last year college has achieved commanding heights in different walks of life and the students of the college has excelled in university exams by getting the top positions of the university particularly in MA (Economics), MSc (Mathematics), MA (Geography) and MA (English).

Mandi Gobindgarh, March 27
Gurgaon-based Interglobe Technologies visited the RIMT Group of Institutions, Mandi Gobindgarh, on Saturday to recruit BTech, MTech and MCA student passedout in 2009 and passing out in 2010. The drive was specifically for computer science and information technology streams and was open for all colleges across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

While welcoming the company officials, RIMT Groups vice-chairman Vijayant Bansal said Interglobe was a leading global travel technology company, providing integrated IT and BPO solutions and services to international airlines, large travel agencies and travel technology companies. He offered best wishes to all the aspiring students.

The recruitment drive started with pre-placement talk followed by group discussion, technical and HR interview. With participation of more than 700 students from 32 colleges, 26 students were finally shortlisted and called for final interview at the Gurgaon office. Those selected will be offered a package of 2.2 lakh per annum.

Mullanpur Dakha, March 27
In an effort to uplift the rural infrastructure and provide basic amenities, Manpreet Singh Ayali, chairman of the zila parishad, Ludhiana, yesterday handed over a grant of Rs 20 lakh to Jatinder Singh, sarpanch, and others at Dakha village, near here.

Out of this, Rs 10 lakh would be spent on the construction and repair of streets, sewers and sanitation and the remaining on the renovation of the village pond under the new natural treatment plant system.

Dakha being governed by a Congress sarpanch did not get any major development grant. After Jatinder Singh entered into an “understanding” with Akali workers, the village got the grant for development.

Ayali also promised a grant of Rs 15 lakh more for the village stadium and other pending development work.

Addressing a gathering, he said the opposition was saying that he was distributing grants received from the central government, but he made it clear that Rs 15 lakh had been sanctioned by the Punjab government and only Rs 5 lakh from the central government quota.

Ludhiana, March 27
A man reportedly killed his father following a heated argument at Sahibana village, near Sahnewal, late last night.

The incident came to light this morning, when Swarn Kaur, mother of Charanjit Singh (29), alleged that he killed his father Darbara Singh (55) with an iron rod.

Swarn Kaur said Darbara and Charanjit consumed liquor together, following which they had a heated argument and went out of the house. Ram Bahadur, an eyewitness, told the police that they soon came to blows. In the meantime, Charanjit got hold of an iron rod and hit Darbara’s head repeatedly with it.

Residents reached the spot and separated them. The victim was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The police nabbed the accused.

Ludhiana, March 27
Students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir (BVM) branches at Kitchlu Nagar, Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, Chandigarh road and Dugri have done well at different sports tournaments.

In the newsletter Sports Special 2009-10, issued by the BVM Trust, the achievements of students of these branches have been highlighted with photographs.

Yashi Sharma of Class III and Dhriti Sharma of Class VII had represented the state in the National Table Tennis Tournament in Chennai and the National Schools Table Tennis Championship at Godhra.

Tamanna Sood of Class IV had bagged a gold medal during the National Taekwondo Championship at Gangoh in Saharanpur district and a bronze medal in the under-19-kg category during the nationals in Goa.

Kirti Aggarwal of Class XII had won a silver medal in the Punjab State Table Tennis Tournament at Ferozepur and had represented the state in the National Sports Festival for Women in Bhopal.

Sunny Pandey of Class X was a member of the state cricket team which took part in the National Under-16 Cricket Tournament for the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Kolkata.

Other students to excel were Deepti Gupta, Deepak Jamnal, Sonal, Anirudh, Arjun, Rishabh Mittal, Harpreet Singh, Divyank Jain, Raghav Puri and Shashi Kant (taelwondo); Dasbir Singh (roller skating); Vinay and Mehak (yoga); and Shubhneet Singh, Sudhir Kumar and Munisha Purohit (judo).