Ludhiana, June 2
In a startling development, as many as 300 trees, spread across 2 km along the NH-1 at Doraha, have “disappeared”. The matter came to light when The Tribune got hold of a letter in which a contractor, who got the contract to cut the trees for Rs 13.75 lakh, brought the issue of the missing trees to the notice of the forest department.

As soon as the “anomaly” surfaced, department officials went into a huddle. According to sources, the department compensated the contractor and he was offered an alternative site at the NH-1.

The sources said it had been over two months since the Punjab State Forest Development Corporation MD, Kuldeep Singh, ordered a probe into the matter, but nothing has come of it.

Sources in the forest department said some bigwigs in the department were trying to suppress the matter as it would expose the nexus between corrupt officers and wood traders.

According to a letter dated March 22, the copy of which is with The Tribune, the department issued the contract of the site to the contractor on January 7 for Rs 13.75 lakh. The timber company submitted nearly Rs 9 lakh to the department. On February 15, the timber trader complained to the forest department that there were no trees on the site allotted to him.

Senior officials then swooped into action and asked the forest officer concerned to file a detailed report on when the trees were cut and the money paid to the department.

Kuldeep Singh said he could not comment on the matter offhand. “Let me go through the details. Only then would I be able to speak on the matter,” he said.

Ludhiana, June 2
This year’s performance of students of various government-run schools in this district in the Punjab State Education Board Class XII examinations has come as a big surprise. While some of the schools have fared exceptionally well, there are others which have done very poorly. There is yet another category of schools which have left a lot to be desired.

This year's results have been an eye-opener as in previous years government schools have churned out numerous toppers besides dominating the merit lists.

Students of only two government schools in the city have bagged prominent places in the merit list - Government Senior Secondary Model School, PAU, with five merits and Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Jawahar Nagar Camp, with four merits. A few others have had to be content with one topper each in the merit roll while the majority of schools have none.

Commenting on government schools' performance in the examinations, Ludhiana district education officer Bacchitar Singh said: "Though government schools have lagged behind this year in achieving merits, there are many who have scored a perfect 100 when it comes to the number of pass candidates”.

He added the pass percentage of government school students has been better than the previous years.

"One can’t compare government schools with those that are privately run. There is a world of difference in the facilities available in private schools."

About the schools that have disappointed with dismal results, Bachhitar said, "I’ll get the results of each school in the district and carefully examine them. Those found wanting, will be asked for explanation and suitable action will be initiated accordingly."

He revealed no school in the district was now without basic facilities and infrastructure. "Thus I see no reason for poor performance on that account," he averred, brushing aside the possibility of schools seeking exemption from being penalized for poor performance on that plea.

Ludhiana, June 2
Nineteen-year-old Rahul Duggal's disability has not been a deterrent to achieving academic excellence. The gutsy student of SCD Government College for Boys, who has to depend on a writer to write his examination papers, has proved this once again by topping in the BCA (2nd year) exam among boys in this district with 80 per cent marks.

Rahul, who is no stranger to success, has been an achiever throughout. The teenager was the district’s topper in the Class X and XII examinations held by the Punjab State Education Board. In the BCA (1st year) exam too, he ranked first in the district with 78 per cent marks.

Rahul's struggle began when he was barely nine years old and was studying in Class V. Afflicted with mylites post viral at a tender age, he lost the ability to walk and talk.

"We took him all over the country to get him treated. All doctors had given up hope for his recovery but with his sheer determination and grit he managed to recuperate and regain his ability to talk within six months”, Rahul's mother, Jaya, said.

However, still confined to bed, Rahul had a long struggle ahead of him. Though keen to study he was denied admission by the city's educational institutions. This is where his mother took over the responsibility to fulfill her child's dream. Giving up a flourishing career in teaching Jaya pledged to fight for her son.

"When I said I wanted to study, mummy vowed to make that possible. Together she and I studied till late in the night as she held the book in front of me and solved questions, which I then memorised," reflected Rahul, recalling his days of struggle.

Bedridden, he appeared as a private candidate in the PSEB Class VIII exam and scored a first division. Thereafter, though his condition improved and he could walk with the help of an assistant, he still had to utilize the service of a writer. Yet, he went onto to top the district in the Class X and XII board exams. His winning streak continued in college too.

Rahul has been honoured with 29 awards, including payment of all college fees, by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and an award presented by local MP Manish Tewari, among others. He also has to his credit an appreciation letter by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his extraordinary achievements.

Aspiring to be a software engineer, Rahul credits his success to his mother who, as a single parent, faced tremendous difficulties in bringing up her children.

"My mother and my younger sister Neha are the women behind my success," smiled a shy Rahul, whose best friends are motivational books.

Ludhiana, June 2
Neha Jindal of BBA III, student of Kamla Lohtia SD College, has bagged the third position in Panjab University, Chandigarh. The overall result of BBA III of the college is 100 per cent. Neha Jindal secured 79.9 per cent marks while Binny and Aditi Goyal secured 75.7 and 75.2 percent marks respectively.

In BBA II, the result is 95 per cent. In BBA II, Manish is first in the college with 71.10 per cent marks, while Prabhjeet and Promil have secured 69.44 and 69.17 per cent respectively.

In BCA I, Ishan is first in the college with 77.87 per cent marks while Amit Chopra and Satwinder Kaur have secured 69.62 and 69.37 per cent respectively.

Principal Dr RL Behl congratulated Prof Rajesh Marwaha, head of the department, and other staff members of the Commerce And Management Department. The principal stressed that this was only possible through the teamwork and consistent efforts of the staff members.

President Naveen Mittal and members of the managing committee congratulated the principal, staff members and students on this great achievement.

It is seldom that an engineer or a doctor takes a pen in his hand for some poetic composition or fictional writing, but whenever it has happened, the results have been admirable.

Karamjit Singh Aujla

Karamjit Singh Aujla is a chemical engineer and his creativity in literary field has been applauded. He is a novelist, short-story writer, dramatist, poet, biographer and an essayist. That’s not all he likes drawing, painting and clay-modelling. All this is a result of his conscious attempt.

He was born on 21 December, 1941, at Bhalojala village, near Beas. After his schooling at different places, including Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa High School, Baba Bakala, he went to Benaras Hindu University for BTech. He worked as a technical manager with a multinational firm in Ludhiana in 1977. After his retirement in 2001, he was re-employed by the firm on a special duty. His wife Maninderjeet Kaur is a voracious reader and a social activist.

Aujla joined Flying Club at Hissar during 1961-1962, where he received training at the aircraft Rohini. Later, he could go on solo flights. The person who wanted to fly high in the sky was grounded after 20 years. On September 4, 1983, he even lost his eyesight. As a production superintended he had an accidental exposure to inhalation of cyanide gas. He was operated upon after four months at Shankra Netralya in Chennai. On December 21, 1983, his partial eyesight was restored, but the second operation in May 1984 failed to bear results, rendering the other eye totally blind. Despite all odds, he has been doing a wonderful service to life, literature, Sikhism and Punjabi culture ever since.

Notably, he has contributed seven novels, four short stories books, four prose books, two biographies, one play and several other writings on sundry topics. He is also editing a monthly journal “Seva Lehar”, devoted to Sikhism. In literary circles, he is prominent as a novelist as he is fully conversant with the art and craft of fiction. He wrote his first novel “Aav na Jeevia Jaaye” as well as his first play “Samay Samay de Rung” in 1988. The play was adjudged as best play of the year by languages department, Punjab. His novel “Loha te Agg” needs special mention as it was rated first by the Royal Society of Librarians, UK, on the basis of its readership abroad.

His novels “Koor Phire Pardhan”, “Aapanian de Udeek”, “Uch Neech” and “Chhewan te Satvaan Darya” depict the crosscurrents of social, political and religious issues in Punjab.

A couplet by Isralul Haq Majaz Luckhnavi best defines persons like Aujla who do a lot for others, but refrain from expecting anything for themselves —

“Sub ka to madava kar dala

Apna hi madava kar na sake

Sub ka to girebaan see dale

Apna hi girebaan bhul gye.” (I took care of others, neglecting my own needs. I mended the torn front-garments of others, but forgot to mend my own). — NS Tasneem

Jagraon, June 2
The NGO, Anti Corruption Crime Prevention and Community Oriented Policing Society (ACCP COPS), will plant about one-lakh saplings in collaboration with the Forest Department in the next quarter. The decision was announced at a meeting by Rajesh Jain, state president of the society that was presided over by Varinder Singh Sant, the national president of the society yesterday.

Sant said their drive of planting saplings would be dedicated to Environment Conservation Day. He said they had forwarded a request in this regard to the district forest officer Vishal Chauhan during the meeting and he was stated to have assured the NGO that all possible measures would be taken to meet their demand on priority. Sant also appealed all the NGOs of the area and like-minded persons to come forward for the cause of safeguarding the environment and join hands with them.

Jain said the saplings would be planted village wise through out the Ludhiana Rural area by forming committees in the villages thatwill not only be responsible for the plantation drive but also for taking care of their growth. Davinder Singh, the state secretary, speaking on the occasion said the global warming was actual the result of deforestation. He said only by planting more trees the human race could survive in future.

Ludhiana, June 2
The Sutlej Club is organising the "All Izzz Well" Summer Camp, from June 6, 2010, to June 20. The club has been holding summer camps during the vacations for school/college-going children of the club members.

Sanjeev Dhanda, general secretary of the club, while informing about the camp said some spectacular events would be part of the summer camp this time.

Tarla Dalal, who streamlined the eating habits in India and pioneer in the field of cookery, will be at the summer camp from Mumbai.

"Her books are best sellers even today and she has authored highest number of books during last three decades. Chefs from Taj group of hotels, Ista group of hotels, Nestles, Bector's Cremica are also participating in the events," he said.

President awardee Anees Siddiquie will take workshop on calligraphy on how to improve handwriting, different styles of writing, artistic pen craft and designing on handmade cards.

Dhanda further stated that the club was holding seminars and invited VLCC, Lakme, Shahnaz Hussain and Venus Blossom to give tips on make-up, facials etc.

Doraha, June 2
A 15-day long workshop on 'Bhangra and other folk dances of Punjab' commenced at Saraswati Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha, today.

Principal DS Gosain said the workshop was meant for one and all .He also said that all participants were showing great interest in the workshop as it was their vacation time and they could easily devote time to such activities, which were essential for their all round personality development.

“This workshop is organised every year to teach the kids as well as the grown ups the importance of Punjabi folk dances and at the same time discourage the increasing attraction of students for the western dances, under the influence of which the Punjabi children are adopting artificial living standards and moving away from their roots”, Gosain expressed.

Anish Bhanot, the bhangra coach said many such workshops were organised during vacations, as this was the time that the kids could put in their best .He also said that such workshops were simultaneously being conducted in various schools and colleges so that the students could learn folk dances apart from spending their vacations fruitfully. Apart from developing self-confidence, these budding youngsters get a platform to exhibit their talent and shun their hesitation in front of their learning counterparts”, the coach added.

Ludhiana, June 2
Inspirational leadership, sustainable customer value, excellence in results, inspiring high performance, continuous improvement and innovation are key factors for excellence in business, said Anil Kumar, executive director, Shreyans Group of Industries, in a lecture to the members of the Ludhiana Management Association.

Dr KNS Kang, general secretary, Ludhiana Management Association, VK Goyal, president, LMA, and Sachit Jain, vice-president, Ludhiana Management Association, along with businessmen and members of the association were also present on the occasion.

Kang said, “There is no end to excellence in this highly dynamic and competitive environment. The quality standards set by the organisation 10 years back are no more relevant in the present times. To be competitive, organisations have to continuously redraft and realign their targets and excellence parameters to remain challenging and competitive.”

Kumar, while addressing the members, said that reaching excellence meant aiming high, enjoying our work and doing what we believed in and believe in what we did. He explained that passion is fire; thirst and obsession that linked with action help you to achieve top position in life. He highlighted that we need excellence because customers have become demanding, expect performance, Innovation in products, features, design, delivery, maintainability and customer service, quality and price.

While highlighting the characteristics of excellent companies, he said that excellent organisations were those who were successful in choosing markets against any competition regardless size and money spent. Such companies have control over their competitors and they struggle to emulate their success. 

Ludhiana, June 2
Steel industry that is reeling under scarcity and ever increasing prices will heave a sigh of relief as it is expected that the production of steel will almost double by 2012.

Virbhadra Singh, Minister for Steel, said by 2012 the production of steel in India would go up from 59 million tons to 115 million tons which will help in decreasing its prices. The minister also informed that the regional office of the Steel Authority of India would be opened at Chandigarh.

A delegation of the Punjab Chapter of Federation of Associations of Small Industries of India met Steel minister in Chandigarh.

“The ever-increasing prices of steel have become a cause of concern for the industry. Steel users in Punjab and elsewhere are up in arms due to irrational prices and the steel producers are operating in a cartelized manner,” said Badish K Jindal, chairman of the association.

The delegation told the minister that the industry was suffering due to the fluctuating steel prices and the industry was also facing the scarcity of the flat steel products in Punjab.

Members of the association said, as the steel prices were cheap in China as compared to India, so a steel price regulatory authority should be constituted in India.

“The large steel consumers are getting the material at lower cost as compared to small steel consumers, which is giving a tough time to the small steel consuming sector,” said Jindal.

They also urged him to restart freight equalisation policy. The minister assured them that a quarterly price policy would soon be formed. This would help in controlling the fluctuating steel prices.

Jagraon, June 2
While people at large look for some respite from the intense heat wave conditions prevailing in the region, there is a section that feels it should continue for a little while longer.

It is the latter’s profession that makes them desire for a longer spell of summer. They are the cultivators of muskmelon and watermelon crops.

Mohie, a dusky village located a little off the state highway joining the Ludhiana-Bathinda state highway, boasts of cultivating around 400 acre of muskmelon crop.

The sweetness of muskmelons is directly proportional to heat. However, the arrival of rains will spell double loss for them.

On the one hand, the crop will get damaged, on the other consumption of muskmelon will dip with the apprehension of outbreak of gastroenteritis.

The muskmelon of Mohie village is quite popular within Punjab and even outside, but improper marketing means the farmers fail to reap optimum profit.

Most cultivators don’t own land and raise the crop on leased land.

The farmers simultaneously grow potato crop on the land. Darshan Singh, who has grown the crop on 10 acre, says melons aren’t so sweet for them. Inadequate power supply has hit the irrigation of fields and also the production. Moreover, early summer this year has affected the growth of this fruit crop, leading to its production.

He adds that the crop usually matures in early May and lasts till monsoon. The gains from the crop rest on sheer luck and this year they don’t expect it will cover the cost incurred.

Jasminder Singh, a farmer, says the unregulated market is hampering their business, as they have to sell their produce locally. The quantity lifted by local sellers is also not much.

The other option is the Ludhiana mandi, but there they have to sell their produces at the mercy of the middlemen.

Najar Ram, another farmer, says with the cultivation of the crop, many households get employment as they need the services of at least 10 persons per five acre to collect the ripe fruit and manage it.

Besides, cart owners earn enough by selling the crop in villages to feed their families the whole year.

Ludhiana, June 2
Residents of Prem Nagar, Brindaban road, have alleged that the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation instead of spending a few thousand rupees on recarpeting of about 20-foot lane, where the water gets accumulated in just 10 to 15 minutes during the rainy season, has dug up more than 200-foot for “levelling” the area.

People, thus, are passing through a lot of inconvenience not only because of the huge amount of money being spent on it but also due to the on-going digging work.

A few residents felt that the level of the road was being altered (3-foot lower than the existing one) to benefit one of close relatives of an area councillor residing in Prem Nagar.

Rajesh Sharma, a resident of the area, said, “We have been commuting on this uneven road for the past 20 years, but never faced any problem. There is just 20-foot wide stretch where the water gets accumulated that too for just 15 to 20 minutes. Things can be solved if the drainpipes are properly fitted and potholes filled. The reason for digging the entire 200-foot lane is unjustified. The money could have been utilised for some other purpose.”

Residents are being put to a lot of inconvenience just to benefit a close relative of the councillor. Executive Engineer (Zone D- B and R) Brij Pal Singh, who visited the area, said yesterday that the road was uneven and “we were levelling it”.

Meanwhile, Raju Thapar, area councillor, told The Tribune that that the residents were demanding this since long. “We are lowering the road level to fill the potholes so that the water never gets accumulated here. These are mere allegations that one of my close relatives was getting the benefit. Moreover, the residents have appreciated the move,” he said.

Ludhiana, June 2
The changed summer timings at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has evoked a mixed response from the faculty and the non-teaching staff. A large section has welcomed the decision while others have given a representation to the university to roll back its decision and carry on with previous timings.

The regular working hours at the PAU are from 9 am to 5 pm, which now have been changed to 7.15 am to 2.15 pm till July 31.

The employees at the PAU feel that 7.15am is too early to start work at the university adding that it is a problem for people coming from nearby villages to reach on time.

"The class IV employees have to report an hour early i.e. at 6.15 am and for people coming from outside Ludhiana, the day starts at 5 am thereby leaving no time for their breakfast. But what is worst is the missing lunch break which gives them no time to have a full meal till they leave the university at 2.15 pm," pointed a senior non-teaching employee working at the PAU.

Expressing resentment, another employee said that he had to perform double duty as the university did not have enough staff to deploy for security purposes to fill the gap from 2.15 pm to 5 pm. “I am dead tired as after finishing off with my work as I have to guard the blocks of the building till the watchman reports in the evening," stated a messenger at the PAU.

The Beldaars are in a tight spot, as they have to work from 8 am to 5 pm with the hired field labour. "There is no time for refreshment which leaves us drained out," rued a Beldaar.

At the same time the PAU faculty is elated with the changed timings as they feel it is best to start early and wind up early in summers. "Coming early when the sun is not hot saves a lot of energy and we are able to perform better. Moreover, we are free after 2.15 pm which gives us a lot of time to rest and spend time with our children," said a senior teacher at the PAU.

Ludhiana, June 2
Water table is depleting at an alarming speed and since the municipal corporation (MC) has not been able to cater to the water needs of residents, the latter have started installing submersible pumps. Raising concern, environmentalists feel that due to this, the water table will go further down. They urged farmers to adopt new technologies and change the crop pattern so that less water is used.

“This will further deteriorate the situation. Farmers in the region need to change the crop pattern or adopt the latest technology through which less water is consumed. People have been installing water pumps as the government has failed to cater to their basic needs,” Prof SS Johl, former VC of the PAU, said.5

As per a survey by The Tribune, a majority of residents in almost all localities, including BRS Nagar, Sarabha Nagar, Aggar Nagar, Rani Jhansi road and Gurdev Nagar, have installed submersible pumps at their houses. As the residents are not being asked by the MC to pay for disposal charges, people do not mind spending a few thousand rupees to make their lives comfortable during summer.

“We are left with no option. There is no electricity and no water. We cannot lead miserable lives. Nobody can object to it. Had the MC or the government provided us with facilities, there would have been no need for it,” Baljinder Singh,a resident of BRS Nagar, stated.

An official of the O and M cell of the MC said disposal charges were levied on commercial users. Dyeing units and other commercial establishments paid disposal charges as they used huge quantity of water. “Residents use water for daily needs and in limited quantity. There is no rule on the installation of submersible pumps by the residents,” the official said.

Ludhiana, June 2
Cricket fever may be over for the country after the Indian Premier League (IPL), but the frenzy around the gentlemen’s game is catching up fast yet again with a handful of city youths bringing Ludhiana Premier League (LPL) to the city. Two businessmen Shivam Mahendru (27) and Daman Dhillon (26) joined hands together, chalked out a plan and developed Ludhiana's own premier league with nine teams vying for the trophy as the matches start from June 4 onwards.

A farm house in South city is being readied to host the league, a pitch has already been prepared and stands are being erected for spectators. An air-conditioned VIP lounge has also been set up. “After the IPL, we thought of starting a night cricket tournament in the city. It was just an idea that struck me and I shared it with Daman. The next moment he was at it. We called up our friends and everybody was ready to sponsor the city’s own league,” said Shivam while talking to The Tribune here today.

No stone would be left unturned to make the league a hit, said the businessmen.

‘‘City’s businessmen selected the teams and are sponsoring these as well. We have roped in cheerleaders from Spain and an anchor from ESPN, Joe Batth,” added Shivam.

About 300 guests from all over the city are expected to view the event, being looked forward to by the residents. ‘‘We are conservative as far as guests are concerned. It is strictly on the basis of invitations. We have received confirmations from 300 spectators for the VIP lounge and ordinary stands,’’ said Shivam.

The winning team would walk away with a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 51,000. The runner-up and man of the league would get Rs 25,000 each.

Ludhiana, June 2
Patiala, after struggling at 121 for 5, made a fine comeback to score 346 for 8 in the first innings on the first day of the final of the Punjab State Inter-District U-22 Cricket Tournament being organised by the Punjab Cricket Association at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, today.

Patiala's decision to bat first after winning the toss, appeared to be a miscalculation one as they found themselves on the backfoot with five batsmen back into the pavillion with only 121 runs on the board.

However, Preet Kamal and Robin Dhillon batted sensibly to help Patiala to advance towards a defendable total. Preet Kamal was unbeaten on 119 runs while Robin contributed 45 runs. Other useful contributions came from Amrinder (25), Vikram Ditt (25) and Kunal (14).

For Ludhiana, Baltej Singh and Deepak Bansal claimed two wickets each after conceding 77 and 88 runs, respectively while Bharat Malhotra captured one wicket for 26 runs, Rahul Singla grabbed one wicket for 51 runs, Jashan Sidhu consumed one wicket for 60 runs and Gagandeep chipped in with one wicket for 41 runs.