Ludhiana, November 18
Raising questions about the functioning of the municipal corporation, the finance department’s audit branch has brought out financial irregularities amounting to about Rs 150 crore in the civic body’s accounts.

Information obtained by a local Right to Information (RTI) activist, Rohit Sabharwal under the act has revealed the MC resorted to irregularities while maintaining accounts of public funds. Details of the finance department’s audit report for fiscal 2008-2009 have pointed out irregularities worth Rs 1,49,28,71,392 of which ` 1,38,52,27,269 are miscellaneous serious irregularities.

Similarly MC officials made irregular payments worth Rs 3.71 crore along with those of Rs 5.42 crore that could have been avoided or saved, the report said.

Another strange fact is that the civic body is yet to recover a whopping amount of 
Rs 1.01 crore from defaulters, whereas funds amounting to Rs 32.28 lakh have been misused. In the same manner the Audit branch has also found irregularities worth ` 17.89 lakh in the MC’s stores.

Sabharwal alleged the audit branch’s report “clearly revealed the state of affairs in the civic body. “MC officials hadn’t bothered to keep records of Rs 150 crore spent from the public exchequer. The officials have in fact embezzled this huge amount due to which they aren’t submitting any records. They have spent a large part of this sum without any statutory sanction just to appease their political bosses and extend largesse to their blue eyed contractors" he added.

Reiterating the demand for an inquiry into the matter by the police’s vigilance cell Sabharwal asserted: “It would clear the haze on the whole affair. It’s not possible that the MC officials had forgotten to submit the records. The reality is they don’t have any records of the embezzled funds."

Meanwhile, MC additional commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar refuted the allegations of misuse of public funds by asserting that “irregularities pointed out by the audit branch were only “because MC officials hadn’t submitted records of various payments to various parties. Moreover these irregularities pertain to a three decade old period for which they are filing replies”. 

Ludhiana, November 18
Farmers of Gill village are an agitated lot. For 150 acres of their fertile land is being acquired by the government for the construction of a missing link road between Ferozepur Road to Malerkotla road.

The farmers say they will continue with their struggle till the government withdraws its notification of acquiring their land.

Staging a protest outside GLADA office here today, hundreds of farmers condemned the state government and GLADA authorities for coming up with a proposal to build a link road at the village.

BKU president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said farmers were with the government on various development projects but the step was against the interest of farmers.

“Why are we being penalised? The construction work on four-laning of Ferozepur Road to Sidhwan canal is already in full swing. There is no need to come up with a new road or colony or shop-cum-offices (SCOs) at Gill village,” said Lakhowal, adding that there were technical errors in the map of the proposed road.

There was no uniformity in the width of the road. At some points, it was 200 to 450 feet wide, while at other, it narrowed down to 100 feet. The width had been deliberately increased to acquire 55 acres of land of farmers.

Avtar Singh Mehlon, president of the district unit of the BKU, said farmers could not be ruined like this.

“Farmers are already suffering and cannot bear the brunt of losing their land. If the government is adamant on constructing the missing link road then it can acquire 90 to 100-ft-wide land near the drain. We will not raise any objection to it. But we will not allow it to acquire our fertile land,” said Mehlon.

Ludhiana, November 18
Residents of the city, facing the problem of traffic congestion, could heave a sigh of relief as the ambitious project of constructing a rail-over-bridge (ROB) at the Lakkar Bridge could be completed before April 2011, the deadline set by the municipal authorities.

A meeting to speed up the work on project was held at Municipal Commissioner AK Sinha’s office. The meeting was also attended by Municipal Joint Commissioner MS Jaggi, executive engineer HS Khosa and XEN (Railways) William Jeet Singh along with other officers of both departments.

The municipal officials showed their resentment over the slow pace of work being done by the Railways and asked them speed up the work. They also told the railway officials that ` 18.47 crores had already been submitted as against the total payment of ` 21.97 crores to be given to the Railways for the project. They also told the railway officials that the state government wants to inaugurate the project by April 2011 so the work on project should be expedited.

Ludhiana, November 18
A day after Punjab police constable Jarnail Singh was sentenced to death by a local court in a triple murder case, involving two brothers and a vegetable vendor, the parent of the two brothers are planning to abandon their house fearing threat to their life.

Sexagenarian couple — Harbans Singh and Malkit Kaur — had lost their two sons on July 4, 2004.

Harbans fears that Kulwinder Singh, younger brother of Jarnail Singh, who is a proclaimed offender in the case, will try to settle a score with them.

Ludhiana, November 18
A head constable, later identified as Manmohan Singh, put the entire city police force in a spot of bother after he alleged his son was “illegally” confined at the Model Town police station for two days in connection with a theft. He said when he brought the matter to the notice of senior cops his son was booked in the case.

On the other hand, the Model Town police, which dismissed his allegations as baseless, stated two people, including Manmohan’s son, Karanpreet Singh, were arrested on Wednesday in connection with a theft case. The two were held following a complaint by Narinder Singh, a resident of Model Town Extension, who claimed his servant Mangnu and driver Karanpreet Singh stole two gold ornaments worth nearly ` 2 lakh from his home.

Narinder stated he went out with his wife to attend a wedding a few days ago. “On returning home my wife kept the gold set in a cupboard. On November 13 when she opened the almirah she was shocked to find both sets missing”, he added.

Ludhiana, November 18
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) sponsored a one-day workshop on investment opportunities for farm and non-farm sectors.

Dr RT Patil, director, Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, presided over.

The objective of the workshop was to create awareness about various schemes initiated by NABARD for increasing self-employment in farm and non-farm sectors. Representatives from various NGOs, bank officials and chartered accountants attended the workshop.

Dr RT Patil said there was a need to increase GDP growth rate of agriculture. “If we fail to do so, people from rural areas will start migrating to cities, leading to chaos,” he added. “India is a rich country, but is inhabited by poor people. Having just 2.4 per cent of world’s land, we support more than 15 per cent of the world’s population and 17 per cent of animals,” he said. He added that India was blessed with vast resources and presence of all climatic conditions for growth of crops.

Advocating for setting up of food processing industry in rural catchments areas only, Dr Patil, said presently cities were facing problems like pollution and garbage.

Emphasising that need of the hour was to create awareness regarding benefits of indigenous foods, he expressed concern over increasing intake of unhealthy junk food, especially by youth, under strong influence of advertisements.

“Our food is far more nutritious and healthy,” he said. Floating the idea of setting up a post harvest farmers club in rural areas, he urged local entrepreneurs to maintain cleanliness and integrity in production to win trust of customers.

AK Pasricha, deputy general manager, regional office, NABARD, Chandigarh, stressed the need to make villages self-dependent. “Before Britishers came, villagers used to produce all things and only salt and kerosene were bought from cities,” he added.

Expressing concern over growing infertility rate in Punjab due to excessive use of fertilisers, he said Rajasthan had left Punjab behind, as it was selling dairy products in metro cities, besides unfavourable conditions. He added that Punjab had a lot of entrepreneurial spirit to grow in agro-industry as well. 

Ludhiana, November 18
The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) will soon issue allotment letters of LIG and MIG flats to riot-affected families. The entire process will be completed in next 10 days. At least 250 riot victims, who have opted for MIG flats in their applications, were allotted those meant for the economically weaker sections in the draw of lots taken out on October 12. They will get another opportunity in the next draw.

GLADA Additional Chief Administrator Indu Malhotra stated this while meeting a delegation of the Ludhiana Sikh Migrants Welfare Board here today. Members of the board made a fervent plea for the expeditious allotment of the residential flats to the riot-affected families.

Kartar Singh Patna, chairman of the board, expressed concern over a few unscrupulous elements trying to take forcible possession of residential flats earmarked for the riot victims. He asked the authorities to deal sternly with such persons and restore the rule of law.

While impressing upon the GLADA authorities as well the district administration not to give in to pressure tactics of the self-styled leaders of the riot victims and strictly follow the rules laid down by the government for allotment of residential flats to eligible applicants, Patna said the issue of 1,100 more eligible riot-affected people was being taken up with the administration and the state government for including them in the next list.

“We shall soon be meeting the deputy commissioner to ensure that pending cases of eligible riot-affected families are also forwarded to GLADA for allotment of flats in the next draw. The matter of unlawful and forcible possession of government flats by bogus riot victims will also be taken up with the government,” he added.

Unscrupulous elements were trying to take possession of residential flats earmarked for the riot victims forcibly. Authorities should sternly deal with such persons. The GLADA authorities and the district administration should not give in to the self-styled leaders of the riot victims. They should strictly follow the rules laid down by the government for allotment of residential flats to eligible applicants.

— Kartar Singh Patna, chairman, Ludhiana Sikh Migrants Welfare Board 

Ludhiana, November 18
The Municipal Corporation (MC) has begun efforts on the mono rail project in the city. A team of Tata Consultancy would visit the city next week to conduct a preliminary study in this regard.

MC officials had discussed the project with representatives of the firm during a meeting in Delhi recently. After a presentation by the company about the merits of the project, the MC gave the green light.

It was decided that the mono rail would initially run on a 25-km route, for which work would be undertaken on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. The selected routes would be other than those which would have connectivity with the metro.

Sources said the representatives of the company had a telephonic conversation with the MC Commissioner, AK Sinha, today about their forthcoming visit. He expressed hope that both the metro and mono rail projects would be started soon to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Ludhiana, November 18
Jaspal Bhatti, the noted Punjabi comedian, was once again successful in enthralling the audiences through Nukkad Natak “Kahin Der Na Ho Jaye” in various parts of the city.

The play, staged at the local mini secretariat, was based on the problem of “beast cancer” due to which almost 500 women dies in the Ludhiana district every year.

Written and directed by Anup Sharma of Mad Arts Jaspal Bhatti Film School, the play was the produced by the Chandigarh Breast Cancer Trust.

The students of “Mad Art Jaspal Bhatti Film School” enacted the play at 
Arti Cinema and Ansal Plaza also.

Identified for his tongue-in-cheek kind of humour, Bahtti is famous in the Punjabi populace living in urban as well as rural areas as was evident from the crowd that witnessed the play despite his absence.

The play “Kahin Der Na Ho Jaye” was more of an attempt to sensitise women to shed their inhibitions and consult the specialists even in case of slightest doubt of breast cancer.

Said Harjot Singh, a villager, who had come to the deputy commissioner’s office, “Bhatti Ji te uhna de chele mazak mazak wich bahut wadian galan keh jaande han jo ki dilan nu choo lendiyan han….(Bhatti and his pupil have the talent to depict even the most serious issues in the lighter tones, but whatever is shown is close to the hearts of the public).

Savita Bahtti, CEO, Mad Art Jaspal Bhatti Film School, said health is the most precious gift and the women should not hide any disease but volunteer to consult the specialists. 

Ludhiana, November 18
In complete disregard of labour laws, the administration of the city’s ESIC Model Hospital is not paying the prescribed daily wages to members of the housekeeping staff, currently numbering almost 50. The staff, which is working different shifts, has been employed by a contractor selected by hospital officials.

Repeated reminders by the housekeeping staff to hospital medical superintendent Dr Suresh Kohli to pay them wages according to their prescribed remuneration have been ignored. On October 10 a group of employees then submitted a written complaint to Kohli, but nothing has been done so far.

The employees then brought the matter to the notice of a local NGO, Anti-Corruption & Crime Investigation Cell, which, after looking into the hospital’s violation of labour laws, has filed a complaint with the central labour & employment ministry. Rohit Sabharwal, the NGO’s president, has also forwarded copies of the complaint to the ESIC director general and the chief labour commissioner in New Delhi.

Said a male member of the housekeeping staff: "The contractor is exploiting us as hospital officials are hand in glove with him. Instead of being sympathetic the hospital authorities have threatened to sack us if we complain. But we’ll not be intimidated and will put up a fight against this injustice”.

However, Kohli said the housekeeping staff had been employed by the contractor and the hospital was unaware of any injustice being done to them. “But after receiving a complaint from the employees I’ve already taken up the matter with the contractor, who has agreed to pay the prescribed daily wages to the housekeeping staff. Also, they’ll be given their arrears according to their entitlement per day," he added.

Ludhiana, November 18
The Ludhiana Management Association will organise a lecture on “Global market dynamics” tomorrow.

Harpreet K Kang, senior academic at PCTE Group of Institutes, will be the speaker.

The lecture will be organised under the Sardar Manjit Singh Memorial Lecture series of the association.

Dr KN S Kang, general secretary, LMA, said a major global market change in the recent years was the growth of international competition and increase in free trade among nations.

Japanese manufacturers like Honda, Mitsubishi, and Sony won large chunk of the automobile market pie, TV sets, and other products by offering global consumers better quality products from those of US manufacturers.

Today, manufacturers in countries like China, India, South Korea, and Mexico were producing high quality goods at low prices because their workers were paid less than US workers and because they had evolved to quality concepts from Japanese, German, and US producers.

VK Goyal, president, LMA, said developments in infrastructure, better means of communication, use of technology, opening up of boundaries, abolition of barriers, stable political environment, strong financial markets were some of the factors that made global markets more fast and dynamic.

These facts showed that global trade was a big business today and would grow even more in the times to come, he added.

Ludhiana, November 18
The Youth Red Cross Unit, Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, in collaboration with Sun Pharma organised an awareness programme to make young girls aware of general gynaecological disorders.

Dr Anupma Goel from Raghunath Hospital was the key speaker.

Dr Goel apprised students of the general disorders associated with pre-menstrual syndrome, types and features of dymenorrhoea and polycrystic ovary syndrome.

She added that polycystic ovary syndrome was caused due to an increased level of male hormones in females.

She said the syndrome caused infertility and also affected the health in several other ways. An interactive session was held. Students’ queries were taken up by the resource person. Principal of the college proposed the vote of thanks.

Ludhiana, November 18
Mini Mouse and Donald, Tom and Jerry, Goofy and Pooh descended on Mother’s Pride to wish Mickey Mouse, one of the world’s most famous cartoon characters, a “Happy Birthday”, as this sweetheart of kids turned 82 today.

Tiny tots, sporting Mickey ears, sang and danced and even cut a Mickey cake to celebrate the birth anniversary of the most loved mouse. Teachers, too, looked cute with Mickey ears on as little Mickey and Mini danced hand in hand.

The school campus looked as though this is where Disneyland actually was. Balloons, lolly pops, candies, cakes and bouncies, all had the mark of the birthday boy Mickey as did the tiny tattoos on the hands of the young ones.

Star attraction, however, remained the huge Mickey Mouse bouncy, set up at the school entrance. Children could not hide their excitement jumping with glee on the bouncy, taking a feel of Mickey’s huge inflated arms.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, school’s director Shobhan Soi said celebrating Mickey’s birthday was an endeavour, undertaken at an all-India level by the Mother’s Pride chain of schools and the day was being celebrated simultaneously in all 33 branches across the nation.

“This is an exclusive exercise in India by our group of schools and the idea has been conceived and implemented by our chairperson Sudha Gupta with a view to give kids a feel of Mickey Mouse, who has been ruling the hearts of millions of kids across the globe for the past 82 years," said Soi, who was an active participant in the celebrations.

The day ended on a happy note for all present as kids returned home with Mickey in hearts and Mickey goodies in hand.

Phillaur, November 18
Harsh Sharma of Partap Pura village was killed on the spot while two others — Santosh and Daula — were injured when the motor cycle (PB 37 E 9535) they were riding was hit by a speeding a truck (PB 11 AJ 9945) near Mahal (Goraya) on the national highway last night.

The police has registered a case and impounded the truck.

The body of the deceased was handed over to his family members after a post-mortem examination at the local Civil Hospital.

Both injured were admitted to a nearby hospital, the police said.

Ludhiana, November 18
A man who had killed the alleged paramour of his wife while he was sleeping on the roof of their common house in Golden Avenue Colony on July 18, 2008, has been sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment.

Delivering the verdict, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Mandeep Pannu held that the prosecution had led cogent and convincing evidence to prove that the accused, Amarjit Singh, killed Darshan Singh, alias Darshi.

Amarjit Singh, father of two, walked quietly to the bed of his wife’s alleged paramour, Darshan Singh, and murdered him with an axe.

Both families, along with a few others, live in one house with several rooms that have been rented out. Other tenants, including a brother-in-law of the deceased, Manjit Singh, who were sleeping on the roof heard the cries of the victim and saw Amarjit Singh killing Darshan Singh.

The victim suffered multiple wounds and could not defend himself. The accused fled before he could be nabbed. Police investigation had revealed that Darshan Singh, a daily wage earner, lived with his sister’s family in the house and was unmarried. Soon, he befriended Amarjit and his wife. The accused grew suspicious of the relationship between his wife and Darshan Singh. Neighbours told the police that they would argue often over the issue.

A case under Section 302, IPC, was registered against the accused at the Basti Jodhewal police station on July 19, 2008, following the statement of Manjit Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased.

However, the accused had pleaded before the court that he was innocent.