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MC puts bridge project on hold
Well Connected Three bridges already exist on the Budda Nullah in Chander Nagar within a short span of 600 sq ft. The proposed bridge was to connect Chander Nagar diagonally to the other side.
Ludhiana, June 16 Municipal Commissioner AK Sinha said today that the work had been put in a cold storage for the time being. The civic body would look into the matter and find out whether the bridge was needed on the spot or not. He said Mayor Hakam Singh Gyaspura and Senior Deputy Mayor Parveen Bansal took the decision following an inspection late last evening. They said the bridge was not needed, as three bridges already existed within 600 square feet over the nullah. “After their insistence, we thought we would look into the details. Now, we want to ensure that the bridge is actually the requirement of the day. Otherwise, we will not waste public money,” said Sinha. The Municipal Corporation was all set to issue the work order for the project, when Senior Deputy Mayor raised the issue yesterday and opposed it tooth and nail. Following his opposition, a few Congress councillors led by Raju Thapar of ward No. 29 staged a dharna. While the bridge falls in the area of councillor of ward No.31, Rupam Malhi, Thapar has been claiming that the bridge was needed as many patients coming from Jalandhar used the already existing three bridges to reach DMC hospital while travelling alongside the Budda Nullah from the Jalandhar bypass. He said a few patients had died on the way after getting stuck in traffic on the three bridges that were known as choke points. ‘‘The bridge was got approved in the quota of Malhi, but I, too, go with her on this issue though we belong to the opposite parties. Still we are together on the issue for the sake of public,” added Thapar. Senior Deputy Mayor Bansal said when they inspected the bridge last evening; there was no traffic in the area at all. ‘‘It is not needed. The corporation is already cash strapped and wasting money on this project is not worth,” he said.
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Illegal lottery racket still going strong
Ludhiana, June 16 Sources say the so-called Deshawer gang has joined hands with local traders to operate the illegal ‘darra satta' lotteries with the reported backing of a senior politician based in Delhi. Police said the gang’s four partners - Amarnath Bajaj, Roshan Lal Verma, Yogeshwar Dayal Pandit and Rajiv Anand alias Raju - were running the racket spread over 10 states. It is learnt their income from betting in Punjab alone was over Rs 24.5 crore a day. Senior officials said it was almost impossible to put an end to the problem as these lotteries were popular among the lower strata of society. "There is a sizable chunk of people in the city who have lost everything - their savings and even their homes - because of their addiction to gambling. They pay scant regard even if their children go without food," said a senior cop while expressing the police’s helplessness in curbing the menace. The Clock Tower, said to be the hub of the city’s lottery trade, witnesses hectic activity from dawn to dusk with lottery addicts thronging the place. These fortune seekers, most of whom are autorickshaw drivers, try their luck in the lottery bazaar. ‘Darra satta’ is quite popular among those living in the localities around Gyaspura Road, Sherpur Chowk, Jawahar Nagar, Simlapuri, Salem Tabri and Vishwakarma Colony at Focal Point. Most of the residents eke out a living by doing menial jobs. They come to play the lottery with all their earnings but most go away disappointed after losing all their money. Another illegal lottery form that was run on the lines of single-digit lotteries became quite popular among migrant labourers. Called ‘kachi parchi', a paper slip indicating the time of the lottery and the number of tickets for which it was valid was given to buyers. This trade was said to be largely based on trust and the money earned through 'kachi parchi' used to go straight into the pockets of a lottery agent. However, the Punjab government’s recently imposed ban on computerised lotteries automatically put an end to the 'kachi parchi' racket. However, many feel the end of computerised lotteries and ‘kachi parchi' has further encouraged the illegal single-digit lottery trade. Meanwhile, the police has compiled details of 350 businessmen who were working for the Deshawer gang’s four leaders.
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3-yr-old booked for fraud, gambling
Ludhiana, June 16 Amongst the 22 accused booked by the police for running the betting ring, the police “accidentally” booked a three-year-old boy identified as Bhavesh Bajaj. The supplementary statement issued by Amarnath Bajaj stated that the he had mistakenly named his grandson Bhawesh as accomplice, while his son Manu was operating the trade along with him. The goof up was the fallout of a credit war going on amongst the cops, who were staking claim on busting the gang. A cop intentionally leaked the information to the media that the three-year-old child was allegedly booked. Following the revelation of the gross error, the police officials went into a shell and everyone associated with the case refused to give statement. It was during the evening that ACP Bhupinder Singh clarified the whole issue. He said the accused Amarnath Bajaj made the mistake and had issued a supplementary statement to rectify it. |
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Ludhiana, June 16 As per an official release issued from the office of deputy chief engineer (suburban circle), the consumers can get in touch with the control rooms of their respective divisions for any information or complaint regarding power supply at Mandi Ahmedgarh (01675-243520), Adda Dakha (0161-2878014), Jagraon (01624-223264), Lalton Kalan (0161-2806058) and Raikot (01624-264044). |
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Young Entrepreneurs-I
Ritu is busy extracting maximum benefits from her Apis Melliferas. Apart from manufacturing honey in different flavours her company has also made a foray into making chips, sauces, squashes, ketchups, pickles and jams. A few of these products are also sold with private labels as well. A qualified fashion designer, Ritu joined her father in their family business. “I was 14-year-old and in Belgium with my dad when he asked me to sell brochures of the company. This was the first responsibility my dad gave me,” she said. For the outer world she had her father’s name beckoning her but the challenges started in her own company from the day one she joined. “Everybody thought I was a small girl so I had double the responsibility of proving myself and living up to the expectations of my father,” she adds. Profile in
Brief Designation: Director, Kashmir Apiaries Pvt Ltd Age: 24 Marital Status: Single Qualification: BBA, Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and Management, fashion designing from NIFT Success mantra: Believe in yourself Lucky charm: Doing Art of Living course. My daily routine Day starts with meditation that gives me energy. Brisk walk with my pug Zooms to office after breakfast. On occasions, attends a lecture of Art of Living Home time is reserve for nieces and nephews. Weekends are either spent watching movies or clicking on the shutterbug. “It was not that I just walked in as the director. I first joined as a human resource executive and got involved in restructuring the company. I used to interact with the labour class, listen to their problems and undertook all non-product related issues at work. It was much later when I felt confident enough to take on the tough task of being the director,” she adds. Ritu recently won the “Apimondia Honey Queen” title at the Apimondia International Beekeeping Conference held in Montpellier, France. It was one of the beauty contests where not looks but knowledge mattered. “The competition was not tough for me as I have grown up among honey bees. It was based on the idea of how well a participant knew about honeybees,” she chuckles. Ritu owes her success to her father, Jagjit Singh, and mother, Parvinder Kaur, who has always encouraged her to follow her heart’s calling. Her company has been the largest exporter of honey for the past six years and has also found its place in the Limca Book of Records for sending an exclusive train with 91 containers of honey to be exported all over the world. “I am an example in myself. Living in a small town like Doraha we have become the largest producers of honey. My father was from a non-agricultural background. He took training in bee keeping from the PAU and then there was no looking back. There is a lot of talent in the country but one needs to capture it,” she adds. Awareness is the key to improve Punjab’s economy. Punjab is an agricultural state so farmers need to be made aware of the new techniques. “Today, agriculture is not limited to growing paddy and wheat. Apart from this people can also undertake small-scale business direct from their homes. I am also imparting training to rural women to undertake bee keeping and become self reliant,” she adds. Ritu has various talents in her kitty but has no definite plans about her future. Bubbling with enthusiasm she adds, “Who knows I may become a fashion designer, designing ethnic designer wear for men, or I may become an aspiring Art of Living teacher, or even launch a beauty line using honey”. “Whatever I do will be on my own terms, I may take a loan from my father for starting my own business but will repay him because only then will be able to nurture my new business as my own baby,” signs off the queen bee. Featuring Tomorrow: Sonica Malhotra and Monica Malhotra, Director and Senior Director of MBD Group, respectively. |
Drug Menace Award for 3
cops Rajwinder Singh, Balbir Singh and Inderjit Singh, SHOs at Jagraon, Sidhwan and Jodhan police stations, have been chosen for special prizes by DIG Dr Jatinder Jain for their outstanding service during anti-drug addiction movement launched from June 5 to 15. They will be felicitated with a citation and cash award
Ludhiana/Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 16 Certain wholesale drug dealers and retailers at Pindi Gali Market Ludhiana, Jagraon, Ajitwal and Raikot, besides Ahmedgarh, have been identified as major suppliers of scheduled pharmaceutical preparations being exploited as psychotropic drugs and narcotics. Also, the SSPs of Ludhiana, Khanna, Barnala and Sangrur have been asked to launch a coordinate drive against drug-peddlers active in their respective areas. Investigations by Ludhiana Tribune revealed that the police has identified members of some organised gangs who have been supplying drugs and narcotics among farmers, labourers and youth. After the police tightened its noose around drug stores and unauthorised clinics running in rural areas, these gangsters started supplying banned products through grocers, dhabas and PCOs. Harnam Singh of Gujjarwal, who was arrested by the Jodhan police with around 2,000 scheduled tablets and a large quantity of cough syrup bottles, divulged that he had brought the consignment from a wholesaler of Pindi Gali, Ludhiana. Investigations by a police team led by Inderjit Singh revealed that certain wholesalers had dumped their stocks at drug stores in Jagraon, Ajitwal, Raikot and Ahmedgarh. Some peddlers preferred lifting drugs from these localities, with intent to decrease the risk of being caught on the way. According to Ludhiana (rural) SSP Harinder Singh Chahal, the investigation teams had identified some drug store owners, who had been supplying certain scheduled drugs through their conduits. Though the police had been registering cases against these conduits and dealers for many months, main suppliers had gone scot free. “Now we have initiated a process for seeking their warrants after completing the formalities. Ludhiana DIG Dr Jatinder Jain, after being informed about the modus operandi of these anti-social element, has also written to the SSPs of adjoining districts to launch a coordinated movement against the menace in their respective areas,” said Chahal adding that the movement launched against smugglers had yielded good results in his district.
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Jagraon police station leads the way
Jagraon, June 16 Instructions had been issued to felicitate top three officers and initiate departmental action against non-performing officers prior to the drive. During the campaign, the police registered 20 cases under the NDPS Act and seized 127.6 kg poppy husk, 75 gm opium, 27,815 tablets, 753 capsules, 453 injections, 149 cough syrups and 255 gm drug powder. Besides, 16 cases under the Excise Act were registered and 368.4 litre illicit liquor was seized. The Jagraon police station topped among the seven police stations — Jagraon Sadar, Jagraon city, Raikot, Jodhan, Sidhwan Bet, Sudhar and Dakha — involved in the drive, registering seven cases under the NDPS Act and eight under the Excise Act. Sidhwan Bet and Jodhan police station followed it at second and third place, respectively. He claimed that the police had approached 35 villages to aware them about the drug menace.
— OC
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Tantrik returns cash, goods after society’s intervention
Jagraon, June 16 Najar Singh and his family had started visiting the tantrik, Baba Kewal Singh, and his wife Paramjit Singh of Kalarh village, now residing at Pohir village, near Mandi Ahmedgarh, following some domestic problem. During the past couple of years, the baba and his wife not only extorted huge amounts in cash in the name of “freeing” them from evil spell but also took away their truck, 100 gm gold, silver ornaments and other household goods. The family, however, did not get any relief and it took them some time to understand that they had been exploited by the baba and his wife. Having lost lakhs of rupees, the family approached Jaswant Singh and Dr Jaswinder Singh, workers of the Ludhiana branch of the Tarksheel Society. They along with others visited the place of Baba Kewal Singh and confronted him. Finding himself trapped, Kewal Singh confessed to cheating Najar Singh and scores of others in the area. He confessed that he neither knew black magic nor had any supernatural powers to cure any problem or disease. He said he used to take advantage of gullible people. He returned the goods taken from Najar Singh and promised to return the remaining belongings or make requisite payment. He also promised to return cash and goods obtained from other clients. The police was also present at the scene.
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Blood donors make noble cause a mass movement
Ludhiana, June 16 Unlike in the past when a very few, or at times nobody, turned up at the blood donation camp, more and more volunteers are now coming forward to donate blood at the camps as well as to meet emergency requirement of blood for critically ill patients in the city. For Sudhir Mudgal (46), donating blood almost quarterly is a commitment to society, which he intends to carry on for a long time to come. Having donated blood for 102 times in the past 26 years, he says a family tragedy was the main inspiration. Mudgal says, “My brother-in-law was killed at the hands of terrorists amidst the bloodshed in Punjab during those dark days. I decided to donate blood to save lives. That was my way of getting even with the militants, and I have never looked back.” Then there is a father-son duo of blood donors, or rather trio if another member of the family is also taken into account. Balram Mehta, an accountant by profession, and a regular blood donor, has done it for 26 times, while his son Armaan Mehta, a 10+2 student, having just turned 18, has donated blood for the first time. Ashwani Mehta, Balram’s brother has also joined the club of donors with a score of 20. Balram says, “I was three years of age when I fell sick and my father saved my life by donating blood in good old days when donating blood was rather unheard of. When I grew up and learnt about the illness and donation of blood by my father, I decided to do for others what my father had done for me.” If voluntary blood donation is almost at the verge of becoming a mass movement, especially among the youth here, Salaam Zindagi Foundation -- an NGO -- takes the cake. Set up a little more than two years ago, the body has till now held 26 blood donation camps -- one every month -- on a fixed date, and as many as 4,315 units of blood have been collected and given away to blood banks of local medical institutions. Manjit Saini, a medical representative, and the man behind the NGO, has his own story to tell. “I have had a serious road accident in 1998 and 27 units of blood were transfused to bring me back to health. Most of the blood came by way of voluntary donations by my fellow medical representatives. It suddenly struck me that there might be thousands of others, in need of blood, who might not be as lucky as me.” Saini adds, “The idea of setting up an NGO to motivate people for voluntary blood donation went down well with most of my professional colleagues. I owe most of the success to the cause to Punjab Medical Representatives Associations and our next objective is to spread the movement of blood donation to other parts of the state.”
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Paddy Transplant
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 15 The demand came after some labour organisations started demanding Rs 2,500 per acre for transplanting paddy and the farmers announced to boycott the labourers affiliated to these outfits. Meanwhile, timely intervention by the police prevented a clash among activists of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha on one hand and Kissan Union on the other hand at Hairike village in Sangrur district yesterday. Punjab Kissan Sabha general secretary Baldev Singh Lalta and Zamhoori Kissan Union president Mohandas Singh Seelon regretted that the farmers were forced to shell out extra amount for getting the paddy transplanted in their fields during the peak season. Terming the ultimatum given by certain labour organisations as unwanted instigation of innocent labourers, the union leaders urged the state government to intervene in the matter and fix wages for transplantation. Appreciating the role of the Sherpur police in preventing the situation from turning ugly, Latala and Seelon apprehended consequences of the tendency if remained unchecked would be disastrous for peace and economy of the state. Investigations revealed that office-bearers of the Mazdoor Mukti Morcha had threatened to impose Rs 5,000 as a fine in case the labourers charged less than Rs 2,500 per acre for transplanting paddy. Besides distributing handbills and pasting wall posters, the office-bearers used public announcement system to make the announcement to the affect. The situation had turned hostile in Hairike village where farmers led by sarpanch Jasbir Singh took a strict stand and refused to pay more than Rs 1,100 per acre and deployed labour from outside their villages. This infuriated union activists, who staged a dharna opposite the police station, for allegedly giving protection to the labour thereby violating their ultimatum. However, timely intervention by SHO Darshan Singh and social leaders, including Mika Singh, Keerti Singh and Gurmit Singh Rureke, prevented the situation from turning violent. The labourers agreed to transplant paddy at the rate of Rs 1,350 per acre and the farmers accepted their demand to provide food for them and fodder for their cattle.
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Reinstatement of retrenched BSNL workers
Ludhiana, June 16 The relay fast of BSNL’s casual and contract workers, which started on April 5, entered 73rd day today. The workers are agitating as about 250 casual and contract workers working with the BSNL, Ludhiana, through outsourcing, were retrenched in March. After a number of meetings and negotiations through a committee appointed by the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, under the chairmanship of the ADC (D), the management and contractors had agreed to reinstate the retrenched employees in the meeting held on May 13. But the management failed to fulfil its commitment and the process of reinstatement was delayed. As a result, many workers and their families are suffering as they have no income. In order to express solidarity with these workers, many trade and other social organisations extended their unconditional support to the cause. Moulder and Steel Workers’ Union, Ludhiana, and Mazdoor Union, assured the retrenched workers their support.
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Shifting of examination centre
Ludhiana, June 16 The PSEB has decided that for semesters, students will have to appear for their exams at examination centres in other schools. This move of the board has not gone down well with the affiliated schools who rue that the step would be a hindrance for many students. They said the move would be a burden on the financial resources of parents, apart from being inconvenient for students, especially for those from rural areas. The members of the association held a general meeting in the city under the presidentship of Rajinder Sharma to discuss the matter. The members condemned the decision of the board and demanded its revocation. Sharma said if the PSEB would not reconsider its decision then the association would be forced to protest. He also mulled formation of a committee for lodging the protest. He added that members of the PTA and parents of the students, too, had assured support to the association in their protest. Sharma disclosed that the association had requested to the chairman of the Punjab School Education Board to cancel the decision and implement the previous policy of centre creation. The members unanimously decided to meet the Chief Minister of Punjab as well as the Education Minister of the state to seek help. Others present during the meeting included IM
Dutta, vice-president of the association, NK Bangia and representatives from various districts of the state.
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Non-implementation of revised pay scales
Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 16 The members will stage a dharna opposite the DPI’s office in Chandigarh on Thursday. Members of the unions led by Vinay Sofat alleged the officials had been deliberately delaying the implementation of the revised pay scales. Despite taking up the matter with the authorities a number of times, nothing has been done so far. “According to the notification released by the Punjab government on September 2, 2009, the fixation is to be done as per formula of the Sixth Central Pay Commission and reference should be made to revised CCS (RP) rules-2008,” said Sofat. He threatened to intensify the agitation, if their demands were not met. Meanwhile the Punjab Federation of Universities and College Teachers has also supported the demands of the GCTA and PCCTA. Dr Jagwant Singh, general secretary of the federation, said the alleged adamant attitude of the DPI officials had arnished the image of the state government.
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Institutes spin web around flunked students
Doraha, June 16 When this correspondent called up at the given number, the attendant said there were various institutions which were giving a second chance to such students, along with admission to next class. He further invited the former to his institution. “Even if a student appears in the exam, he or she can only be promoted to the next class only after clearing the examination. I don’t understand why students as well as their parents allow themselves to be cheated so easily. Students should not get entrapped so easily,” said Jaswant Singh Gill, former principal and director of GNN College. “Proper verification of all such centres that are flouting the norms is a must. Such institutions have ruined the career of several students. Despite the media blowing the lid off such rackets many a times, students and parents continue to fall prey to such beguilers,” he added.
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Talent showcased
A summer camp concluded at HVM Convent School, Karan Sar Colony, here on Wednesday. A colourful function marked the closing ceremony of the camp. Principal Santosh Bakshi welcomed the guests and presided over the function. The event comprised items like karate performance, bhangra, songs and dances. Students also displayed their art and craft talent at an exhibition. The karate and dumbbell show was the highlight of the event. The chief guest gave away prizes to the students for their excellent performances. Camp concludes
The summer camp being held at BCM Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh Road, since June 1, concluded here on Wednesday. Students performed dances, songs, judo, yoga and martial arts. Parents of the students were also invited to witness their wards’ excellent performances. Host principal DP Guleria exhorted the students to actively participate in such camps. The event came to a close with the National Anthem. Tie-up
Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management, affiliated with Panjab University, Chandigarh, has introduced an ‘Integrated Education Management System’. The college has tied up with software company Revolution Next for the development of this software. This is an Internet-based software, which can be accessed anywhere by a student or his/ her parent. It has been developed to provide a comprehensive reporting system to the parents on real time basis and to provide online information to the parents and students regarding their attendance, internal examinations, class tests, home assignments and announcements from the college. It also offers a complete package to the teachers and administrative departments to manage their daily assignments.
— TNS
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Accidental gunfire triggers scare
Ludhiana, June 16 He was on his way to the factory unit owned by his maternal uncle near Sangit Cinema. According to the police, the bullet suddenly went off. The gunshot created panic among the passersby who were seen running for cover. The police also reached the scene. It detained the man and took him to the police station. He was released after interrogation.
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157-litre liquor seized
Jagraon, June 16 The Sidhwan Bet police recovered liquor from three different places. Mohinder Singh of Bhode village, near Bilga, was arrested with 26.2 litres of liquor from Kot Umra village, near Sidhwan Bet, yesterday during patrol duty. The police recovered 76.6 litres of liquor from Hujra village, near here, while 43 litres of liquor was recovered from the bridge near Bhundri village yesterday. In both cases the accused managed to flee from the spot. In all four cases, the police registered cases under the Excise Act against the accused.
— OC
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Swimming trials today
Ludhiana, June 16 The selected boys and girls will represent Ludhiana in the 26th Sub-Junior and 35th Junior Punjab State Swimming Championship to be held at the Punjab Sports Department Swimming Pool, Ropar, from June 18 to 20. Interested players can contact Ajay Sharma, joint secretary of the association.
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Ludhiana, June 16