Ludhiana, November 27
Although expected to provide a big relief by way of qualitative improvement in power supply in many city localities once it becomes operational in about a month, the work for the upgradation of the 66 KV Ferozepur Road sub-station of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) here is causing great inconvenience due to prolonged shutdowns on the 220 KV Humbran-Ferozepur Road transmission line (TL).

A large number of city localities, fed from the 220 KV Humbran sub-station, are experiencing power shutdown for many hours for the past three days starting from 9 am till 5 in the evening when work for laying the 9-km-long TL from Humbran to Ferozepur Road is carried out.

"The laying of the new TL will take a couple of days more and supply from the Humbran sub-station has to be cut off during the period the work goes on. We are trying to restore power supply on a partial basis from the 220 KV Lalton sub-station but the entire areas cannot be fed simultaneously from one sub-station and rotational shutdowns have to be imposed," say PSPCL officials.

Residents of several city localities, especially those along Ferozepur Road like Rajguru Nagar, Sarabha Nagar, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, Professor Colony, South City, Sukhmani Enclave, Civil Lines, Udham Singh Nagar, Haibowal, Rishi Nagar and Kitchlu Nagar, are having a tough time due to erratic supply and unscheduled shutdowns all through the day. "The outages start as the day begins and continue till evening, with the result that normal life has been thrown completely out of gear," says Ashwani Khullar, a college teacher and a resident of BRS Nagar. "The worst part is we are completely in the dark as to duration of shut down or the time when power supply will be restored," he regretted.

Several residents of localities in Civil Lines echoed similar views. Says Neelam Jain, a home-maker, “It is good that the Ferozepur Road sub-station is being upgraded, which will ensure a better supply to people. It is also admitted that the supply has to be cut off during the period work for laying new transmission line goes on. But at least the officials can announce tentative period of shutdown in advance so as to enable people in affected areas to alter their routine accordingly.”

According to PSPCL officials, the upgradation of the Ferozepur road sub-station is being carried out at a cost of Rs 15 crore, and once it becomes operational, it will take a lot of load off from the existing 220 KV sub-station on Humbran Road. To support the new transmission line, 36 towers have been erected from Ayali to the existing Ferozepur Road sub-station. The work for laying the new TL is in progress which is expected to be completed in next couple of days.

Ludhiana, November 27
Fraudulent practices of the gas agencies supplying domestic LPG have for long been a cause of inconvenience to the consumers, but the case of Skatar Gas Agency, Dugri Road, Model Town, has brought to the fore the rampant corruption existing in the distribution system.

In a recent case, the district food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department, having received written complaints from customers of Skatar Gas Agency, raided the premises to find violations of Essential Commodities Act.

Senior department officials from Khanna conducted the raid in Ludhiana who, in their report, pointed out that the gas agency was allotted to Ranjit Kaur, who lives abroad. The power of attorney is in the name of Manjit Kaur, but her husband ASI Sukhwant Singh was operating the agency since 1992.

District controller (west), department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs Rakesh Bhaskar clearly mentions in his report dated October 26, "Manjit Kaur has been unable to produce any records before Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)."

The notice issued by BPCL to the gas agency reads, “Customer service standards are not being adhered to, cylinders are not being weighed at customer’s premises, there is always a backlog followed by frequent complaints of refill delay and non-booking of cylinders.”

It was also alleged that Sukhwant Singh was selling cylinder of Skatar Gas Agency to another dealer named Arun Gas Agency at higher rates.

The District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) also pointed towards other violations and called upon the Ludhiana police commissioner to arrange for the registration of an FIR against the operator of the agency under various Sections of the EC Act.

The DFSC also requested the police commissioner to order an investigation to verify the NRI status of the actual owner of Skatar Gas Agency.

The police has registered an FIR against Manjit Kaur on the complaint given by Shamsher Singh, a resident of Dugri Road.

Manjit Kaur, following the registration of the FIR, applied for bail in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, who rejected the bail application.

Ludhiana, November 27
DJ-ying is much more than just mixing and re-mixing melodies on the console. It's about striking the right chord with the audience and pleasing them, opines Brit-Indian DJ Sanj.

"For me, DJ-ying is passion though I am more into production, which also happens to be my first love," says Sanj, adding that Dj-ying happened by accident.

"Music is so very instinctual. I have no formal training in it still I am here," he remarks.

Sanj concedes that no one in his family is into music. "But I was always attracted to it. So, after university, I got into it full time and the rest, as they say, is history," he smiles.

Born Sanjeev to Punjabi parents from Jalandhar, the stylish DJ was brought up on foreign shores but has remained close to his Punjabi roots.

"I speak Punjabi, sing Punjabi and am completely in love with Punjab," says Sanj, known the world over for his super hit Punjabi numbers.

"Well, I was born in the UK and moved to Toronto (Canada) with my parents very early on in life. I also worked in Dallas, Texas, before moving back to the UK to pursue a career in music. Since then, I have been roaming around the world," he tells you about his globe-trotting experience.

"However, no matter where I live, Punjabi remains my love, and why only me, the world loves it and I can say that from my vast experience," the DJ says matter-of-factly.

He goes on to explain, "I play more Punjabi in Britain than I play in India which speaks volumes."

A self-confessed hip-hop fan, Sanj plays around with a variety of music. This King of British Bhangra has numerous chart-buster albums to his credit, the most popular perhaps being "American Desi", "Asian RnB" and "Bollywood Punk".

Closer home, Sanj has made waves with hit Bollywood numbers like "Twist", "Chor Bazari" and "Aahun Aahun" in Imtiaz Ali's Love Aaj Kal and "Ullu Ka Patha" in Tere Bin Laden besides songs in Omkara, Aladin and Raat Gayi Baat Gayi.

“Oh! I love Bollywood. It’s so vibrant and so full of talent. I certainly want to continue working in Bollywood and Bappi Lahiri is one music director I look forward to work with,” Sanj reveals.

Dj Sanj signs off but not without a word of invaluable piece of advice for upcoming DJs. “Be the best entertainer. Play for the people, not yourself. I think that’s something a lot of the DJs now seem to forget, they just play what they want and focus too much on their DJ skills,” he says.

Meanwhile, the city got a taste of the biggest and most electrifying party - Wodka Gorbatschow Bollywood Night with DJ Sanj and singing sensation Dolly Sidhu at Lodhi Club.

DJ Sanj mesmerised the city residents and kept them on their toes with his amazing mixes from this widely known album American Desi. 

Ludhiana, November 27
A Labrador dog became a victim of a landlord-tenant dispute, when it was allegedly picked up by the police, after an NRI in Gurdev Nagar here complained at the NRI police station against it this morning.

The nine-year-old dog, Laibu, was allegedly picked up by two cops, following the complaint even as its owner Kulvinder Singh, the tenant, raised a hue and cry.

The NRI, Surinder Nath Jolly and Kulvinder Singh have been embroiled in a year-long property dispute over a prime piece of land in Gurdev Nagar.

The latest complaint was made to the police today when Kulvinder allegedly let loose his dog to scare his landlords soon after his son arrive from the UK, police said.

The police allegedly picked up my 70-year-old father, Gurmukh Singh, in the morning. I went to the police station to get him freed. When I told them that my father was not keeping good health, the cops set him free. But then two cops came to my house and forcibly took away my pet. I overheard them saying they would push him under a running train,’’ alleged Kulvinder.

A hapless Kulvinder immediately called up several animal rights activists in the city, who have demanded release of the dog, failing which they have threatened to agitate.

While Kulvinder alleged the two cops took the dog away, NRI police station in charge Bhupinder Singh said they were unaware. “Kulvinder must have left it somewhere. Now he is trying to get back on us. Kulvinder had recently agreed to hand over his dog to someone else. But he did not do so. Last night, when the NRI’s son arrived, he refuse to him. The complaint came to us this morning,” said Bhupinder Singh. 

Ludiana, November 27
A father and son duo was nabbed by the city police for running fake District Transport Office (DTO) at Hargobindnagar here today. An imposter DTO Harmeet Singh along with his father Inderjeet Singh was arrested by the police for duping a number of people not just from the city but from other districts and states as well.

Giving details about the culprits, Police Division Number 6 SHO Gurinderjeet Singh said that both father and son were running a furniture shop at Hargobindnagar and they operated the racket from the shop itself." A large number of fake documents, including RCs, empty RCs, stamps, permits etc, were found from the duo’s possession during the raid by the police. They had been operating the racket in a smooth manner for more than a year from their shop-cum-office", informed the SHO.

The SHO said that procured documents suggest that they had duped plenty of people from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. When asked as to how they got into the police trap, Gurinderjeet Singh said that police had got some secret information on which they took action. Both father and son have been sent to two-days police remand. A case under Sections 420-465-467-468-471-120B of the IPC has been registered.

Ludhiana, November 27
Led by activists of the BSNL Employees’ Union (BSNLEU), employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited today held an angry demonstration demanding prosecution of all those involved in the 2-G spectrum scam.

Balbir Singh, union’s circle secretary, termed the irregularities in 2-G spectrum allotments as mother of all scams and added that it caused a loss worth Rs1.76 crore to the nation.

“The BSNL employees have been raising their voice against the fraudulent manner in which 2-G spectrum was sold at throwaway prices in 2008 by then Union Communication Minister A Raja. The BSNL employees stand vindicated, as the CAG has pointed an accusing finger towards the dubious dealings of the minister who resigned recently. Apart from massive loss of public funds, Parliament is also facing a deadlock over the issue of a joint parliamentary (JPC) probe,” he remarked.

The trade union leader demanded that the FIR registered by the CBI last year should be vigorously followed up and none allowed to escape from being prosecuted. “The culprits should be prosecuted and also asked to make up for the loss incurred by the exchequer,” the trade union leader added.

Avtar Singh Jhandey, union’s assistant secretary, ridiculed the government for appointing PJ Thomas, a bureaucrat, as the Central Vigilance Commissioner. Thomas was under a cloud for his role as the secretary in the ministry of communication when the spectrum allotment took place. “How can a person of doubtful integrity perform the Central Vigilance Commissioner’s duty as diligently and what signal such an appointment will send to the people,” he asked.

Ludhiana, November 27
Thai Magoor, which has been declared unfit for human consumption, is being openly sold in the local fish markets. Thanks to the lackadaisical attitude adopted by authorities concerned a large number of people, especially the migrant population has been consuming it due to its easy availability and cheaper rates.

Fish farmers of this region are incurring huge financial losses due to unchecked sale of Thai Magoor. As Rohu, Katla and Marak are costly; the migrant population prefers to get Thai Magoor, which is priced between `45 and ` 60 per kilogram in all fish markets of the city.

Ranjodh Singh, president, fish farmers’ club, GADVASU, said this variety was coming from other districts of Punjab. Migrant population was culturing it in village ponds in an unhygienic manner. “But the smuggling of banned variety of Thai Magoor is giving tough competition to the fish farmers, who are unable to get desired rates from customers. Earlier, the department had tried to put a curb on defaulters but now the exercise has been stopped,” he added.

The fisheries department, Ludhiana, had also tried to curb its sale by destroying the variety and punishing the defaulters. More than 700 to 800 quintals of Thai Magoor was destroyed by it so far.

Most of are coming from Moga, Patiala, Sangrur and Bathinda districts. But for the past five to six months, no action has been taken against those selling it openly in markets.

Kanwaljit Singh Sidhu, president, fish farmers’ association, Punjab, said they were ready to extend support to the department of fisheries in this regard. “The sale of this variety had dipped due to the raids. But, now, it is once again being sold in open as it suits the poor man’s budget,” Sidhu added. 

Ludhiana, November 27
Participants of hosts Ludhiana team, along with Amritsar shared honours, on the penultimate day of the 22nd Punjab State Roller Skating Championship being organised by the District Roller Skating Association, Ludhiana, at Leisure Valley, Sarabha Nagar, here today. Skaters from Ludhiana bagged four titles while those from Amritsar clinched three titles.

In road race II (inline), Ludhiana's Suruchi Garg won top position in the girls’ 8-10 group. Another competitor from the city, Harsh Veer Singh came out triumphant in the boys’ 10-12 years category and Surya Kaplish of Ludhiana finished ahead of others in the boys’ 14-15 years group, while Savleen Kaur from Ludhiana piped her immediate opponents to romp home in the 4-16 years group.

Amritsar skaters who won gold medals in the boys’ section for their city included Jaipreet in the 8-10 years group. In the road race II (inline), Keshav Soi (12-14 years) and Swapnil Mishra (above 16 years). Navroop Kaur from Sangrur bagged gold medal in the girls’ section (12-14 years) in the road race-II (inline) event.

Results

Boys’ (8-10) - road race-II (inline) - 1st Jaipreet of Ludhiana, 2nd Narayan Sharma of Ludhiana and 3rd Aaryan Chugh, (10-12)-1st Harsh Veer Singh of Ludhiana, 2nd Bhavjot Singh of Ludhiana and 3rd Sahaj Preet Wadhawan of Amritsar, (12-14) - 1st Keshav Soi of Amritsar, 2nd Saurabh Sharma of Ludhiana and 3rd Shubham Devgan; (14-15)- 1st Surya Kaplish, 2nd Sagar Arora of Ludhiana and 3rd Rajkaran Singh Batra of Amritsar; above 16 years- 1st Swapnil Mishra of Amritsar and 2nd Amar Singh of Ferozepur.

Girls’ (8-10)- 1st Suruchi Garg of Ludhiana, 2nd Jaap Kaur of Ludhiana and 3rd Aditi Puri of Amritsar; (10-12)- 1st Gurnoor Kaur of Ludhiana; (12-14)- 1st Navroop Kaur of Sangrur, 2nd Shefally of Sangrur and 3rd Gurman Kaur of Ludhiana; (14-16)- 1st Savleen Kaur, 2nd Taranjit Kaur of Patiala.

Ludhiana, November 27
Sonia, a student of Class IX, SDP Senior Secondary School, Basti Jodhewal, won 100m sprint to emerge as the fastest runner in the annual athletics meet of SDP institutions that concluded at SDP College for Women here today.

A large number of boys and girls drawn from SDP Senior Secondary School, Hazuri road, Basti Jodhewal, and Quilla Mohalla branches took part in the meet.

Balraj Kumar Bhasin, president of SDO Sabha, and educational institutions gave away prizes to the winners, principal of all the SDP school branches, members of management committee, teachers and students were present.

Results

Girls

Slow cycling: Kamalpreet 1, Komal 2 and Priyanka 3; shot put- Navneet 1, Sajida 2 and Sanjna 3; long jump- Alisha 1, Sonia 2 and Navneet 3; discus throw- Alisha 1, Sajida 2 and Neeru 3; 100m race- Soni 1, Chandni 2 and Tamanna 3.

Boys

Long jump (U-16) - Jaspreet 1, Malkit Singh 2 and Vikram 3; long jump (U-19) - Sanjeev 1, Ravi 2 and Sukhdev 3; javelin throw- Shiva Bhatti 1, Rakesh Tadav 2 and Sukhdev Singh 3; discus throw- Gurwinder Singh 1, Vikas 2 and Rahul 3; 800m race- Nitish 1, Simranjeet Singh 2 and Gurwinder Singh 3; shot put- Ankit 1, Ravi 2 and Arihant 3.