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Cholera rears its ugly head in city again
‘Admn must clean up slums’ Physicians in the private health sector said the district administration should “do something” to improve the poor sanitary conditions in the city’s slums. “As most of the men living in ‘jhuggis’ (shanties) are labourers and the women work as domestic help, they come in constant contact with people thereby becoming carriers of diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and other seasonal diseases”, they observed.
Ludhiana, July 14 However, it is the four cases of cholera reported at a privately run hospital that have got doctors worried. A senior gastroenterologist in the city said the disease had been wiped out years ago and fresh cases should be taken seriously. “Cholera is highly contagious that spreads faster than other diseases”, he noted. District health officials have however not confirmed the cases stating only tests conducted by health & family welfare department “experts” would ascertain whether they were of cholera. Many residents of low lying and unauthorised colonies located at Tibba Road, Samrala Road, Giaspura and other areas are said to have contracted diarrhoea and mild gastroenteritis after drinking contaminated water. More than half a dozen people living in slums at Sherpur Chowk, Kundanpuri, Giaspura and Dabba Lohara died after an outbreak of gastroenteritis last year. However, but learning little from past experience, the district administration has failed to evolve a foolproof system to ensure safe drinking water supply to city residents. Laying the blame squarely on the municipal corporation, Sudhir, a resident of Giaspura, said though the administration makes promises to clean up the sewerage system every year it never fulfils them. "Gastroenteritis has taken the lives of several children, adults and elderly people in this area. MC
officials have failed to take care of pools of stagnant water and mixing of water from sewers into water supply pipelines”, he rued. Meanwhile, confirming the death of a Shankar colony resident, district health officer Dr DS Kochar said: “The patient was brought dead to the Civil Hospital. After visiting the area he was residing in our team dispensed chlorine tablets and ORS (oral rehydration therapy) sachets and advised people to drink only boiled water. Those with symptoms of mild diarrhoea have been given medicines. Arrangements to take severely affected patients to the hospital have also been
made”. “Besides these steps 30 teams with 3-5 members each, including doctors and paramedical staff have been mobilized in all the gastroenteritis prone areas in the city.
They are disseminating education on water borne diseases and preventive measures against the diseases," Kochar added.
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MC halts construction of ‘illegal’ building
Ludhiana, July 14 The master town planner, Hemant
Batra, said the map of the building had been sanctioned by the MC. “It verifies that it is private land, but a complaint has been lodged and we want to be sure about it. We have asked the revenue department to provide us with fresh records so that there is no confusion. Till then, the construction has been stopped,” he said. The joint secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress
Committee, Davinder Sharma Bitta, in a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner and the MC Commissioner, alleged that the building was being constructed by “well connected” people illegally and in connivance with certain senior officials of the civic body. “The particular piece of land is along Ganda Nullah which is public property. Such encroachments on government land should not be allowed. Strict action must be taken against erring officials who helped these influential persons in getting the maps sanctioned. An inquiry must be conducted into the matter,”
he said. Parminder Mehta, a councillor, said this was a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. “If land is encroached like this, there is no point in removing old encroachments along the nullah,” he stated. |
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Widow hacked to death
Ludhiana, July 14 The police suspects the hand of some relatives behind the murder as nothing was found missing from the house. “Probably some relatives, who would have benefited financially from Gurdev Kaur’s death, are behind her death as she had no immediate family member after her husband died,” said ACD Narinderpal Singh Ruby. Meanwhile, the body was sent for the autopsy and a case of murder had been registered at the Sadar police station against unknown persons. |
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BCom
Ludhiana, July 14 She said yesterday, the counselling was to be held for reserved categories till 2 pm, after which the remaining seats were to be opened to the general category students. “But counselling got delayed and finished at 6 pm. After that, we took up the general category,” she remarked. Meanwhile, students and parents continued to blame the college authorities for mismanagement and for “unnecessary delaying the process”. RP Singh, a parent, said: “We came from Jagraon at 9 am yesterday, hoping things would wrap up before 2 pm, but the college authorities took their own time.” “Such delay was uncalled for. I don’t know what the authorities were doing. Parents were agitated, but kept quiet for the sake of their wards,” another parent, HS Brar, stated. Yet another parent complained that they had to go without food. “No one went out for refreshments as they did not want to miss their turn,” he said. The principal, however, denied the allegations. “We did not delay anything. Students and their parents refused to co-operate with us and many of them protested last evening, thereby delaying the session. The police had to be called in to control them,” she said, adding that the college canteen and cafeteria remained open till late into the night. |
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Feeling spited, PAU research head quits
Dr Minhas was handed over his relieving letter on June 8 without any prior notice by the varsity administration, following which he submitted a representation to the PAU board of management (the appointing authority). Thereafter, the board gave him three months more to continue in office. Minhas, who was earlier assistant director-general, irrigation & water management, at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), was appointed as PAU research director in January 2007 for a period of four years. Earlier, PAU vice-chancellor MS Kang had accused him of a “lack of commitment” and “misbehaving” with subordinates and had also complained in this regard to ICAR. Minhas is accredited with having coordinated an operational research programme on saline irrigation techniques. He is also the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Indian Agricultural Research Institute's Su Kumar Basu Award for 1997-98, ICAR's Hari Om Ashram Trust Award for 2002-03 and the 2004 CSSEI Excellence Award on Soil Salinity & Water Management, instituted by the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal. Calling the PAU board’s three-month extension as "no consolation" for what he termed the humiliation meted out to him, Minhas told The Tribune today: "The decision (to relieve me) was completely arbitrary on the part of Dr Kang as he had no valid complaint against me. Even then he went to the extent of complaining against me to ICAR as well as to CSRI, Karnal where I had applied for the position of director”. Speaking about streamlining the research work at PAU, Minhas stated he had volunteered to formulate projects with the aim of utilising funds that had never
been used for research development in the varsity. "Taking personal interest in the matters which had never been taken up ever since the inception of the varsity, I volunteered to lead the department heads in compiling basic documents followed by making research programs," he added. "What has hurt me the most is the unprofessional approach of the varsity officials as they not only humiliated me but publicly embarrassed me by writing against me to other science research institutes," Minhas averred. |
Power Reforms Booking of complaints In the wake of mounting complaints of consumers related to disruption in power supply due to rainy season and difficulty in booking of complaints at the call centre, the Powercom chief engineer has issued instruction to 12 nodal offices all over the city to register complaints of consumers. The service can be availed at following numbers: Fountain Chowk (Civil Lines) 9646112085, 9646112091, Old Sabzi Mandi 0161-2742588, Model Town 9646112090, Phullanwal 9646112089, Daresi Road 9646112051, CMC division (Cheema Chowk) 9646112057, 9646112058, Aggar Nagar 9646112-83, Haibowal 9646112093, Janta Nagar (Gill Road) 9646112087, Focal Point 9646112055, Sunder Nagar 9646112060, Estate division
(Giaspura) 9646112092
Ludhiana, July 14 Addressing mediapersons here, he said the project envisaged replacement of PVC cables, upgrade of substations, underloading of transformers and installation of new equipment to ensure better electricity supply to consumers. The project will take three years for completion. Under a related project to bring about qualitative improvement in local distribution system and provide better services to the consumers, services of an IT company — Spenco — have been hired at a cost of Rs 275 crore for IT applications for system improvement. “The project, proposed to be completed in 18 months, will entail computerisation of local distribution system and delivery of other customer-related services like meter reading, billing and cash collection. The company will also set up 150 new cash collection centres in different parts of the city with the facility of online payment.” According to Gill, work had been undertaken at several levels to meet the increasing demand of power in the city and elsewhere in the zone, and to minimise, if not altogether do away with technical faults, unscheduled cuts, system failure or load shedding. The existing 66 kV substations at Ferozepur Road, Pakhowal Road and Gausgarh are being upgraded to 220 kV, while new 66 kV substations are being set up at Bahadarke Grain Market and Tajpur Road in the city. He claimed that eight-hour uninterrupted power supply was being provided to tubewells and relief like relaxation of weekly offs and withdrawal of power cut had been given to the industrial sector. “Work is on to improve the power supply in rural areas as well. Of the 113 feeders identified for this purpose, 46 feeders in the rural areas have already been converted from three phase-four wire to three phase-three wire, work is in progress on 37 others, while work will be taken in hand soon on the remaining feeders as well,” he stated while adding that in pursuance of improvement in rural power distribution system, the central zone would get funds to the tune of Rs 88 crore for setting up pillar boxes, installation of small capacity additional transformers, which, on completion, will benefit some 3.65 lakh rural consumers.
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60 shanties removed
Ludhiana, July 14 “We are happy that the shanties have been removed. Under the influence of drugs and liquor, these people, including women, used to misbehave and use foul language. We had lodged several complaints against them,” Tarlochan Singh, a vendor, said. The building branch also removed encroachments at Gandhi Market today. Shopkeepers had been given prior warnings to remove extended portions. “Many of them had already demolished the extensions. About 30 permanent extensions were removed today,” she said.
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Staff Crunch
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 14 Though the administration claims that the move will streamline the education system, parents of students studying in middle, high and senior secondary classes have apprehended further deterioration in education standards. Terming the move an attempt to torpedo promotional channel of head teachers and block primary education officers, office-bearers of various teacher unions have urged the government to review its decision to club lower schools with higher ones. Investigations by Ludhiana Tribune revealed that the education department had initiated the move to overcome staff shortage at primary and elementary schools. Lower schools which are either running near some high or senior secondary school or accommodated in same building, will be clubbed with higher institutes for period adjustment. It was learnt that a large number of primary schools were running near campuses of middle, high, secondary or senior secondary schools or at times on the same campus. At times, lower schools reeled under staff crunch, whereas there was adequate staff at higher institutes,” stated a government communication, arguing that human resources were not being utilised optimally. According to latest directions, Government schools running within one boundary wall will have one head only. Head of parent institute will be responsible for preparing timetable, convening morning assembly, making period adjustments and maintaining attendance record. Teachers of primary as well secondary schools will be adjusted in any of the classes according to need and availability. All DEOs have been directed to prepare lists of targeted schools falling under their jurisdiction. Office-bearers of a few teachers unions led by Sikandar Singh Jartoli, state president, Government School Teachers Union, alleged that the government was trying to evade its social and constitutional responsibilities. It was trying to torpedo promotional channel of primary school teachers. Leaders of the unions threatened to launch an agitation in case the decision to club schools was not reviewed.
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Govt Schools
Sahnewal, July 14 With monthly tests round the corner, a majority of seminarians have termed it a wastage, as the classes have already begun and the syllabus is yet to be finished. Hakam Singh, president, and Sukhdev Singh Rana, general secretary, Government School Lecturers Union, Punjab, has termed it a futile exercise. “When teachers have not taught anything, how will students be able to take tests? This is a serious lapse on part of the government and needs to be checked,” Hakam added. “Resource persons appointed to deliver lectures during these seminars belong to the master cadre of these schools itself. Hence, they don’t have much to deliver. Moreover, the use of audio-visual aid and printed matter provided by them, too, is of no help. Teachers have been instructed to make use of techniques, taught during the seminars, in classrooms as well, failing which they would have to face action,” shared seminarians. Teachers attending the seminars have urged the government to depute college or university teachers to impart training to them. As schools have re-opened, students have no alternative but to while away time playing or sitting in class. I am already weak in English. “As our English teacher is busy attending seminars, God knows how are we going to perform in our tests,” said one of the students. “An idle mind is a devil’s workshop, so students having nothing substantial to do, just create nuisance. Either the seminars should be organised during vacations or after school,” said a teacher.
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‘Livelihood should depict country’s growth’
Ludhiana, July 14 KNS Kang, general secretary, Ludhiana Management Association, said growth of the country should not be defined by statistics, as they only depicted the superficial growth. The growth should be depicted by the status and livelihood of people of that very country. He further explained that the level of education followed by openness in ideas would definitely help the country grow. He said India would be bustling with energy, entrepreneurship and innovation. Success would be largely defined by India’s education system. MJ Akbar said 8 to 9 per cent growth in the economy depicted the growth of 10 per cent people in the country. This growth had created a cozy environment for India in which one had forgotten the suffering of people from poverty, hunger and malnutrition, he added. He said about eight states of the country had 41 per cent of poor people. “We have to face the reality and think seriously to uplift the common man from shackles of poverty and hunger,” he added. He said, “Modernisation is defined by four main pillars-political equality, where all parties and segments of society are given equal treatment at political front, secularism, which in India means right of every faith to be exercised without interference and criticism, gender equality, which is the most important development in India, where women are given equal rights in law, profession and economic equality, where every part of the country is developing equally without any discrimination on the basis of area, caste and religion.”
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Students bask in scenic beauty of Leh
Ludhiana, July 14 Students visited Rohtang Pass, Baralachla Pass, Sarchu, Nakeela Pass, Lachungla Pass and Tanglanglaa Pass (17,856 ft) which is second highest road in the world. After crossing these famous passes, students entered Leh. They also paid a visit to Thiksey Monestary, Shey Palace, Shanti Stupaa, Indus Valley and Indus River, Stok Museum and local markets of Leh. Students were also taken to Pangong Tso Lake, where last scene of the movie 3 Idiots was shot. About one-third area of the lake is in India and rest of the two-third is in China. Khardungla Pass which is the first highest road (18,380 ft) in the world was also visited. Khardungla Pass is the gateway to Siachin Glacier and Nubra Valley known for white sand deserts with double hump camels. On return from Khardungla, students visited Hall of Fame situated near Leh airport. Hall of Fame has a vast collection of Indian martyrs who lost lives in the battle of 1965, Kargil war and other wars with China and Pakistan. Besides, it arouses a sense of internal patriotism while watching the activities of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force working at such high altitudes in J&K. Col PS Choudhry, GM (education and administration), SACCM, urged teachers and students to organise such trips in future also.
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From Schools and Colleges
Ludhiana: On the occasion of World Population Day, Bal Bhartians expressed their deep concern over the growing population. A special assembly was held to draw the attention to growth in population and its social economic impacts.
Gulnaaz of Class V briefed everyone about the history of the day. Siddheshvar of Class II enlightened everyone with the poem “Mera Paigam”. Students of Classes II and III threw light on various problems like unemployment, illiteracy, deforestation, poverty and pollution. A Punjabi skit on overpopulation was staged. The event ended with a group song through which students tried to motivate audience to lend their hand in saving the world from the dangers of hazardous monsters of increasing population. Principal Poonam Dogra appreciated teachers and students for spreading the message in a dynamic manner.
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Conserve resources, says expert
Ludhiana, July 14 He said groundwater needed to be managed through resource conservation technologies, which included rice transplantation with low evaporative demand period, growing shorter duration varieties, irrigation through the use of tensiometer, direct dry-seeding of rice and mulching in wheat.
— TNS
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Master town planner shifted
Ludhiana, July 14 Batra said he would join only after receiving the orders. A senior official of the civic body said the anti-encroachment drive initiated by the body in the city might get a “setback” with the transfer. “We had planned everything accordingly and results had been positive. There is no doubt about the other official’s capabilities but everything will have to be planned afresh now,” said the official.
— TNS
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Wife’s illicit relations drive man to suicide
Mullanpur Dakha, July 14 The victim, Sukhwinder Singh, of Bhundri village, near here, had set himself ablaze over the illicit relationship of his wife Baljit Kaur with Rachhpal Singh of the same village. The couple had been married for over seven years and had two sons and a daughter. The victim had been trying to convince his wife not to have relationship with the man but to no avail. The couple often had altercation over the issue. The victim set himself on fire after pouring kerosene on himself when he was alone at home. He was taken to the DMCH, Ludhiana, and later referred to the PGIMR, Chandigarh, in critical condition, where he succumbed to his burn injuries yesterday. All this while, the family kept maintaining that Sukhwinder Singh had been upset and had taken the step under the state of depression. However, victim’s mother Gurmail Kaur brought the matter to the notice of the Sidhwan Bet police. On her statement, the police later booked both the accused.
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3 held for selling kerosene on black market
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 14 A police team led by Jodhan SHO Inderjit Singh arrested the three when they were going to deliver a consignment of four barrels of kerosene to a trader of Jodhan village. The arrested suspects were identified as fair price shop owner Mulakh Raj of Narangwal and currently living at Vishal Nagar, Punjab Mata Nagar, Ludhiana, Gurdeep Singh of Narangwal and Paramjit Singh, the driver of the vehicle carrying drums. Surinder Kumar, alias Babli, of Jodhan, who was to receive the consignment was at large. Investigations revealed that Mulakh Raj had been routing essential commodities, received on his fair price shop, in the open market at a premium. A large number of ration card holders, registered with his depot, had been using liquefied petroleum gas in kitchen for years together and were least interested in purchasing kerosene procured on their behalf. The depot dealer used to sell a major portion of the quota to commercial organisations by charging extra price. A case under under Section 7 C of the Essential Commodities Act 1955 has been registered against four.
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Two held with opium
Jagraon, July 14 The police said the accused, identified as Jagtar Singh, alias Tari, was sitting under a tree near a brick kiln. On seeing the police he tried to flee, but was nabbed. The police recovered 1-kg opium from his possession. In another incident, the police arrested a women near Bhaini Gujjaran village and recovered 1-kg opium from her. The accused has been identified as Baljit Kaur of Parjian Biharipur village, near here. A case under Sections sections 18, 61, 85 NDPS Act has been registered.
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AITA Meet
Jagraon, July 14 Qualifier Suraj Beniwal also reached the semifinal, ousting third seed Arvind Vishnu Bestha 6-1, 6-3. Also, Digvijay Singh Mehta defeated eighth seed Kshitij Kamal 6-4, 6-3 in the same section. GP Prajnesh continued his brilliant run to beat Vishwesh Sinha 6-0, 6-2 and make to the semifinal. In the women’s section, top seed Shweta C Rana was taken to three sets by Gundeep Kaur. Shweta finally won 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. The others to reach the semis are second seed Nupur Kaul and wild card entrants Sharmada Balu and Bhuvana Kalva. Today’s results: Men’s singles (quarterfinal): Saurabh Dilip Patil (Mah) (6) b Gurinder Singh (Pb) (1) 6-2, 6-0; GP Prajnesh (TN) (WC) b Vishwesh Sinha (Mah) (WC) 6-0, 6-2; Suraj Beniwal (Har) (Q) b Arvind Vishnu Bestha (AP) (3) (Q) 6-1, 6-3; Digvijay Singh Mehta (Chd) (LL) b Kshitij Kamal (Dli) (8) 6-4,6-3. Women’s singles (quarterfinal): Shweta C Rana (HP) (1) b Gundeep Kaur (Pb) (7) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; Sharmada Balu (Kar) (WC) b Natasha Palha (Goa) (4) 6-2, 6-2; Bhuvana Kalva (AP) (WC) b Rajbir Kaur (Pb) (WC) 6-1, 6-1; Nupur Kaul (Mah) (2) b Ambika Pande (TN) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Men’s doubles (quarterfinal): Sagar Manjanna (Kar) & Rashein Samuel (Kar) b Kamal Surana (Kar) & Veera Vasanth Venkatesh (Kar) (1) 0-6, 7-6 (11-9), 10-7; Prosonjit Paul (Jha) & Deepinder Singh Bains (Pb) (4) b Arvind Vishnu Bestha (AP) & V Pranav (Kar) 6-1, 7-5; Surya Pavan (AP) & Jatin Dahiya (Har) (3) b Digvijay Singh Naruka (Chd) & Rishabh Dev (Pb) 4-6, 6-4, 10-4; Ajay Yadav (Har) & Gurinder Singh (Pb) b Vishwesh Sinha (Mah) & K Pradeep Reddy (AP) 6-3, 6-2. Women’s doubles (semifinal): Nupur Kaul (Mah) & Saadgi Rajani (Guj) (1) b Natasha Palha (Goa) & Bhuvana Kalva (AP) 6-2, 6-1; Shweta C Rana (HP) & Sharmada Balu (Kar) b Rimpledeep Kaur (Pb) & Jaspreet Kaur (Pb) 6-3, 6-1.
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Ludhiana, July 14