Ludhiana, March 6
With approval of the forest department coming through, decks have been cleared for the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) to axe over 900 trees for the widening of the busy Ferozepur Road.

The foundation stone for the eight-laning of the road was laid by Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal last year. At that time, the project, estimated to cost Rs 40 crore, was expected to start in September, 2010 and finish by March, 2011.

However, the work was delayed after the forest department and the union environment ministry raised objections to the felling of around 900 trees for the proposed widening of the road.

Subsequently, the ministry stipulated that the project would not go ahead until land was provided to them to compensate for the felling of trees by carrying out plantation on it.

As a consequence, the project failed to kick off. However, due to pressure of the state government, GLADA purchased 32 acres in Gurdaspur for afforestation after spending Rs 1.92 crore, thus clearing the way for starting the project.

GLADA has now invited tenders for the axing of trees. These will be be opened on March 14.

Similarly, tenders for the road widening work will be opened on March 27. The work on the ambitious project is expected to kick off within a month of the allocation of work. RK Sharma, Superintendent Engineer, GLADA, said they had got the consent of the forest department and the environment ministry to carry out the work on the project.

He said after cutting down the 900 trees, they would start the work on road widening. The road has strategic importance as it joins the city with a major part of the Malwa region, including Moga, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Faridkot and Muktsar districts. Similarly, the road also leads to the Indo-Pak border at Hussainwala and even to Rajasthan. However, owing to heavy flow of traffic in the city, congestion has been witnessed on the road.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 6
Officials entrusted with the counting of heads during the census seem to have ignored a large number of homeless wandering in the streets of the town every day. This is perhaps the reason why they have come across just two homeless persons in the entire town of 31,000 people.

The town’s population has risen by over 10 per cent, besides the literacy rate.

The enumerators, on the other hand, maintain that they have tried to contact heads of all family units residing in areas falling under their jurisdiction.

Investigations reveal that only two out of many homeless persons have been contacted by enumerators deputed for the 2011 head count in the town, that ended yesterday. This, despite the fact that a large number of beggars and nomad stay at deserted places and public places here.

The enumerators have apparently overlooked dharamsalas, gurdwaras and the railway station, where the homeless can often be seen, during their drive.

Raghu, a youth who along with his family stays near the railway station, says none of the enumerators have contacted him for recording information about his family.

Observations further reveal that the town has recorded a population growth of over 10 per cent despite the shrinking of the area under the municipal limits.

While the population was over 28,000 during the last census, the figure rose to over 31,000 this time. Had Hargobindpur (Mini Chhappar) village not been separated from the town, the population growth could have been higher by 20 per cent.

Despite having a handsome Muslims and migrant population, the town has recorded a literacy rate of over 75 per cent.

The number of graduates and postgraduates has multiplied manifold during the past years, observe the enumerators. However, men lag behind their counterparts in education.

Ludhiana, March 6
Setting their wheels in motion for the start of the much-awaited City Bus Service, Ludhiana City Bus Service Limited (LCBSL) has initiated the process of recruiting staff to run the service, which is expected to kick off from April 1.

According to sources, the LCBSL is expected to run around 200 buses on 23 routes shortlisted by it. For the purpose, the LCBSL is expected to employ a staff of around 1,000 persons, including bus conductors and drivers, apart from others.

The sources add that in the first phase, the LCBSL will run 40 low-floor AC buses on three important routes in the city. For this, it has started a drive to recruit around 120 drivers and conductors. Applications have already been invited by the authorities.

As the initial response to the applications sought for drivers and conductors was lukewarm, the LCBSL officials have now extended the date of receipt of applications, the sources say.

They add that as 40 low-flour buses are expected to come to the civic body authorities by March 30, they are planning to complete the recruitment drive before it so that the services of the staff can be utilised to run the buses in two shifts.

With pressure from political leaders building on the civic body to start a bus service to fulfil their promise of giving better public transportation system to the city residents, the MC officials are on their toes to start the service, add the sources. MC Additional Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LCBSL Mahinder Pal Gupta confirmed that they had invited applications for running the buses from April 1.

In the first phase, the service will be started on three routes — bus station to Chandigarh Road; bus station to Jalandhar Bypass; and bus station to Delhi Road.

However, on extending the date of receipt of applications, he said it had been done on the demand of general public and to ensure fair competition amongst candidates.

Jagraon, March 6
Notwithstanding the state government’s claims of providing police assistance to woman complainants at their doorsteps, an elderly widow of Pabbian village near Jagraon is forced to make rounds of the police stations to get justice.

Disappointed over inaction on part of the police, the 80-year-old widow, Gurmail Kaur has now sought help of the Human Rights Commission and women cell to get justice.

In her complaint to the Human Rights Commission, Gurmail has alleged that family members of her daughter-in-law, Yadwinder Kaur have been threatening her, but the police has taken no action so far in spite of repeated requests.

According to Gurmail, on August 20, 2010, Yadwinder, along with her parents and some unidentified persons came to her house in a truck and a car and forcibly took away a number of utensils. When she objected, the accused beaten her up and snatched her gold earrings.

Following this, Gurmail lodged a report against Yadwinder and her family members at the Chaunkiman police post. But the police has not yet registered a case. All requests of Gurmail seem to falling on deaf ears.

When contacted, Chaunkiman police post in charge SI Mohammad Jamil said he was not aware of any such complaint. SSP Ludhiana (rural) Gursharan Singh has said he would look into the matter and take action according to the law. He also said strict action would be taken against police official concerned if he was found guilty of neglecting his duty.

Ludhiana, March 6
Keeping in view mind the increasing cases of road accidents involving vehicles crossing the National Highway- I (NH-I), diagonally, to enter Khanna town, the state government finally gave nod to one flyover, three vehicular underpasses and a passenger under pass in Khanna.

This was a long-pending demand of the residents, who complained that the city was divided into two parts due to the construction of expressway at NH-I from Panipat to Jalandhar. The residents complained that no elevated road or passenger underpass had been approved for Khanna, which had led to increase in accidents.

Sensing the hazard, a delegation led by Dr Kamaljeet Soi of Punjab State Road Safety Council, held a meeting with the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, and pressed upon the government to approve the construction of bridges over the expressway.

These vehicular underpasses will be constructed at Malerkotla Chowk, Grain Market and Civil Hospital, Khanna . The width will be 11.9 ms and height will be 5.5 m. Soi said the demand was the construction of an elevated road through Khanna to facilitate traffic and A strong lobby of traders of Khanna grain market had also launched a massive agitation against the government for not constructing any elevated road to connect both sides of the city.

Ludhiana, March 6
At a time when the city is fast turning into a concrete jungle due to haphazard growth, the municipal corporation’s plans to organize a flower show may provide a temporary soothing effect to the eyes of long suffering residents. However, taken in the wider context the exercise appears to be an eyewash as civic officials have hardly done anything to maintain the green lungs of the state’s industrial hub.

Shabby parks, dried up plants, potholed streets, massive construction projects where building bylaws are openly flouted, billboards in green spaces and illegal liquor stores sprouting all over the city are ample proof of the poor functioning of the civic body.

The apathy of MC officials in maintaining the city’s green cover, that acts as its lungs apart from providing other benefits to residents, can be well judged from the fact that except for some of the bigger ones almost all the parks are in a shambles. Of the 783 civic parks about 324 are supposedly being maintained by park management committees that were set up by a former MC commissioner, SS Sandhu, during his tenure about a decade ago. However, his successor has been largely indifferent to the initiative as a result of which the park committees have been rendered virtually ineffective.

These days the committees are struggling hard to get judicious help from the civic body to maintain green covers in park due to which drive for green city had suffered a lot. Not only had civic officials been insensitive towards the park committees but on their part also they have never bothered to keep a check on proper utilization of funds meant for ensuring green belts due to which allegations of its misuse have often been leveled.

Over the past three years the city has never seen any sort of plantation drive being carried out in city by the MC for encouraging city residents to plant trees. The most unfortunate thing is that despite of their all tall claims the civic officials have not been able to keep any effective check over the illegal axing trees in the city, which is further depleting its green cover.

Even the drying up of plants on main roads of city clearly reflects that civic body authorities are merely bothered about getting their photographs clicked by posing around such flower shows rather then chalking out some concrete strategy for ensuring green cover in city. The result is that the city is turning into a vast concrete jungle with its green cover dwindling by the day.

However, residents cannot shrug off responsibility and blame the civic authorities for the mess as they have contributed little to maintain the city’s green cover. The planned flower show appears to be only another effort by civic officials to gloss over the harsh reality, which is that they have failed to deliver.

While the municipal corporation’s move to organize a flower show in the city has evoked a good response from residents, the latter feel civic officials have paid scant regard to maintain the city’s green cover and should take immediate steps to rejuvenate parks and other open spaces. Manvinder Singh speaks to participants and visitors at the show.

Ludhiana, March 6
The flower show organised by the MC got a massive response as in the two-day show the civic body received around 980 entries from various participants. But the baby show proved to be a damp squib as only 60 entries came for it.

In the flower show, there were three different sections, which included amateur section, school and colleges section and that of public institutions. In each section, prizes for eight categories were given by the MC and in total 208 prizes were distributed by the MC officials to various participants. The major public institutions that bagged major prizes were Milkfed, Ludhiana, War Museum, Ludhiana, Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) and Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar. Being the chief organiser of the show, the MC, Ludhiana, did not participate in the function.

The show also got a big boost from general public as a large number of residents turned up to see the show organised by the MC for the first time after the year 1999. Meanwhile, Hira Singh Gabria, Cabinet Minister of Punjab, along with MC Commissioner AK Sinha distributed the prizes to the winners. The MC had kept a budget of Rs 3 lakh to be spent on the show.

Ludhiana, March 6
The physical fitness test for recruitment in the Punjab Police went off peacefully at SCD Government College here, conducted by the Punjab Police Commissionerate, Ludhiana. A large number of candidates, who aspire to be in the Punjab Police, participated in the test for which elaborate arrangements were made by the police administration.

College principal Jasbir Kaur Makkar told the police administration maintained strict discipline during the physical fitness test and cooperated with the college administration to maintain the sanctity of the institution.

“There was no complaint by students regarding any untoward incident. We are happy that many passouts also participated in the test. Police team led by DCP Yurender Singh and ADCP Harsh Bansal were also present during the fitness test,” Makkar said.

Refuting allegations levelled by a TV channel about “destroying” the grounds during tests, Makkar said the college and its grounds belonged to the Punjab government and its use by the police administration was within the purposes for which these grounds were meant. — TNS

Ludhiana, March 6
A new Board of Governors (BOG) constituted under the Medical Council of India has proposed modifications to the existing undergraduate medical curriculum (MBBS) under “Vision-2015”, suggesting reduction in the duration of MBBS course from existing five-and-a-half years to five years. Also, some of the existing medical subjects like ENT, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, dermatology, forensic medicine and toxicology are proposed to be made optional.

The document prepared under “Vision-2015” declares that forensic medicine can be effectively taught during gynaecology and obstetrics (rape, assault), surgery (injuries) and pharmacology (toxicology). It says legal experts could be called for medico-legal issues. And further, forensic medicine skills can be acquired during internship such as documentation of medico-legal cases of alcoholism, suicide, homicide, rape, assault and injury case.

Teaching faculty of medical colleges has expressed their concern about the proposed change in medical teaching.

According to Dr Gautam Biswas, professor and head, department of forensic medicine and toxicology at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Indian doctors are doing well in the country and abroad because of the time-tested and excellent medical education in the country. “If subjects of ENT, ophthalmology, forensic medicine and the likes are made optional, medical practice will get severely compromised and will lead to poorly trained qualified doctors.”

He apprehended that if forensic medicine was disintegrated in the manner suggested in the curriculum, there would be a deluge of cases like Arushi case, Jessica Lall case or Nirupama Pathak case, which had suffered because of the lack of proper forensic training and facilities in the country. Moreover, if there was no awareness of the forensic subject during MBBS, the number of postgraduation admissions in forensic medicine will be reduced, which will ultimately result in even lesser number of forensic medicine experts in India to handle medico-legal cases with the required expertise and knowledge.

Dr Biswas recalled that in 2007, an expert panel headed by former Chief Justice of India Hon’ble Justice Venkatachalaiah had prepared a draft on “revision of undergraduate medico-legal curriculum”, which had emphasised the need for giving more importance to forensic medicine in the training of a medical graduate. “How can BOG, which intends to bring in reforms lose sight of recommendations of an expert committee,” he wondered.

He concluded that in the current scenario of consumer awareness and medical negligence litigations, Vision-2015 document was a retrogressive step.

A general practitioner ought to be properly trained during the MBBS course to enable him to discharge basic medico-legal duties.

“A limited group of experts cannot decide the fate of medical education. An issue of such a magnitude should have a national debate and a consensus of the majority of the medical fraternity before any change is recommended or carried out,” he added.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 6
Deficiency diseases are more in villages than in cities, observed a team of doctors at a camp organised jointly by the Rotary Club and Victoria Public High School at Lehra village near here.

Dr Bhupinder Singh Bedi inaugurated the camp and SP Sofat presided over the concluding function.

Dr Narinder Dhawan, chairman, community services, said ignorance and illiteracy was the root cause of deficiency diseases, including anaemia. Referring to information gathered from about 300 persons examined at the camp, Dhawan claimed that rural people were not aware of various nutritional components of food.

“Their stress on quantity resulted in malnutrition leading to various deficiency diseases in special groups, including expectant and lactating mothers and growing children,” maintained Dhawan.

While haemoglobin content of a majority of the students fluctuated around 10 mg, none showed ideal haemogram.

The organisers provided free medicines to the patients, besides arranging diagnostic tests.

Ludhiana, March 6
A deputation of the Association of Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Affiliated Schools met education minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan under the presidentship of Rajinder Sharma, along with association chief patron NK Bangia and appreciated the step of the government to conduct cheating-free examination.

The deputation discussed the issue of shifting controller of the examination in affiliated schools from government schools and vice-versa.

Rajinder Sharma said the association agreed with the government’s decision to conduct cheating-free examination by deputing the controllers of the examinations in the affiliated schools from the government schools and vice-versa.

Sekhwan said he was satisfied with the working of affiliated schools, which were sharing the burden of government by providing quality education to lakhs of students. But some government/affiliated schools’ controllers, along with staff deputed in their examination centre are involved in copying by collecting a huge amount of money from the students.

He further said the Punjab government had imposed duty on the DEO of every district to depute the controllers in their district, according to the policy of the government without any political pressure. If there is any sort of cheating in any district, the DEO of the district concerned will be held responsible.

The question papers will be in the custody of both controller of the examination and head of the institution.

All members assured the minister to conduct the cheating-free examination. They said they would join hands with the government and Punjab board to eradicate the stigma of cheating in the examinations.

Ludhiana, March 6
A seminar on the Union Budget 2011 was organised by the Ludhiana Branch of NIRC of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India here today. Eminent Scholar and Chartered Accountant Dr. Girish Ahuja from New Delhi who is a well-known tax consultant and has also authored a large number of books on taxation was the keynote speaker for Income Tax and Ashok Batra from New Delhi who is an eminent CA and author of various books was the guest speaker for service tax.

Batra delivered a talk on the topic of recent amendments in service tax. He shared with audience that how the revenue-wise service tax was regularly increasing since its introduction in 1994.

He said that after 1998, the provisions for Prosecution had been re-introduced so strict compliance with service tax laws had become more important.

He enlightened the following points in detail.

He further said that up to now service tax was payable on a receipt basis and now it was being made payable on the basis of issue of invoice and provision of service though payment of service may not have been received by the service provider. Moreover, maximum penalty for late filing of service tax return has been increased to Rs 20,000. Credit of service tax rules has also been rationalised.

The session was very interactive and various queries of the audience was responded by Batra.

In the second session, Dr. Ahuja discussed at length the important implications of Union Budget 2011 with reference to direct taxes. He took clause-wise analysis of proposed changes in the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Sharing his analysis and providing his perspectives on the Budget, he explained its implications for individuals, the salaried class and for the business community.

He also discussed the relevant aspects of direct tax code also and answered the queries of audience.

Jagraon, March 6
Two groups of migrant labourers clashed with each other for the sake of money at Kaunke Kalan village near Jagraon yesterday afternoon.

One person from each group was injured during the clash. One of the injured has been admitted at Civil Hospital, Jagraon, while the other one, who was admitted to a private hospital at Hathoor was discharged from the hospital after treatment.

In his complaint to the police, Pooran Singh, son of Rupinder Yadav of Kaunke village, has alleged that Rajinder Parsad alias Raju accompanied by seven unidentified persons attacked him when he was coming back from Jhoraran village after collecting money. On his way back to Kaunke Kalan, where he presently lives, Raju and his accomplices attacked him and beat him. They also snatched Rs 35,000 from him, which he had collected after completing construction in a farm house, he alleged.

On the other hand, Rajinder Parsad has registered a complaint at Kaunke Kalan police post alleging that Pooran Singh and his accomplices beaten him and also snatched his motor cycle.

Confirming the development, Jagraon Sadar Police Station SHO Rachpal Singh Dhindsa said that the police had been investigating the matter. According to Dhindsa, during the primary investigation a dispute for money was the reason behind the clash. He further said that appropriate action would be taken against the guilty after verifying all the facts.

Ludhiana, March 6
Though city residents may view him as just another security guard stationed at the office of a firm located on Mall Road, little do they notice that instead of a baton or gun he holds a paintbrush. If you thought this modestly dressed youth was only giving vent to his creative impulses, you would be in for a surprise. For this artist-cum-security guard earns more than a B-school graduate by selling his paintings, which most of the buyers residing abroad.

Meet Jasjit Singh of Raikot, who picks up his brush almost every night and continues to paint till the break of dawn. “Give me a picture and I can paint it for you,” says the 28-year-old, who is a bachelor by choice.

Jasjit, who has so far drawn close to 700 sketches of different people, including singers like Babbu Mann, earns nearly Rs 40,000 from the sale of his works abroad.

“I opted to be a security guard in order to stay awake the entire night. Fortunately I landed a job with a cellular service provider as a guard at the cash depository machine in its office. The cubicle is a suitable place for to paint. I spend the whole summer there as an airconditioner is installed in it.”

Jasjit decided to work as a security guard as the power supply in his area is frequently disrupted at night and invertors and generators do not last for over four hours. “Here (office) there’s no problem of power cuts. I complete my art work till midnight and at the same time I discharge my duty,” he says.

It was Jasjit’s younger brother, Inderjit Singh, who saw the artistic talent in him. The latter, who is settled in Melbourne, Australia, looks out for people who want their images painted on a canvas. He send their photographs to Jasjit, who paints their pictures on a canvas and then couriers them to Australia.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 6
Recognising his exceptional caliber in the field of teaching of mathematics and administration, the Best Citizens of India Publications, New Delhi, has chosen Dr Balbir Singh Dhami for the Best Citizens of India Award.

Dhami, a former principal of Shanti Tara College, Akbarpur Chhanna, and GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar was earlier presented the Eminent Educationist Award by the National and International Compendium, New Delhi, and the Shiksha Rattan Puraskar by the India International Friendship Society, New Delhi.

Presently director of the Aryabhata Group of Institutes at Barnala, Dhami was selected for the award in recognition of his contribution towards teaching mathematics, education and business administration.

Acknowledging the achievement as an increase in the quantum of responsibility, Dhami said welfare, progress and prosperity of students would remain his priorities.

LUDHIANA: In a programme to provide useful tips to farmers on baby-corn cultivation, PAU scientists of department of plant breeding and genetics are recommending baby-corn hybrid variety “Parkash” and composite variety “Kesari”.

Dr Sukhchain said baby-corn crop takes about 60-65 days to yield the cobs and added that the remaining plant could be used as fodder for cattle.

Referring to the PAU recommended variety, the expert said the yield of “Parkash” was about 7q/acre, while “Kesari” yields about 5.7q/acre. Hybrid “Parkash” was more suitable than “Kesari” because of the higher yield of uniform and good quality baby-corn ears, he added.

Educating farmers about baby-corn cultivation, Dr SPS Brar said the crop can be sown any time between April and August. Dr Brar stressed that plant spacing between the lines and within the line should be kept one foot and eight inches, respectively.

Advising to use 16 kg seed for an acre, he told farmers to apply 24 kg nitrogen in two equal splits, first split at sowing and the second split when the crop is knee high.

He emphasised to take only two or three picks per plant for it is important to remove the tassel before complete emergence in order to prevent pollination and deterioration of quality.

Jagraon, March 6
The Ludhiana rural police has arrested four proclaimed offenders from different places. Those arrested were declared proclaimed offenders by a local court in separate cases.

Following a tip off, a team of the CIA Staff arrested Gurbax Singh, alias Tanni, and Shinder Singh of Abupura village, near Sidhwan Bet, from Kishanpura Road yesterday.

They were wanted in a criminal case registered against them five years ago. A local court had declared them proclaimed offenders in February, 2010. Both accused are brothers, it is learnt.

In another incident, the police arrested Baldev Singh, alias Debu, of Khurshaidpura village from his residence yesterday. According to CIA Staff in-charge Tehal Singh, Baldev was wanted in a criminal case registered against him in January, 2007.

He was declared a proclaimed offender by a local court in December, 2010. Tehal Singh added that Baldev Singh had moved to Uttar Pradesh after he was booked.

He had come to meet his family members two days ago. He was arrested when he was preparing to leave for Uttar Pradesh.

Another proclaimed offender, identified as Jaswant Singh of Purain village, near Mullanpur, was arrested by the police from his house this morning.

He was wanted in a case registered against him under the NDPS Act at the Humbran police station in 2002.

He was declared a proclaimed offender by a local court last year.

Ludhiana, March 6
Following The Tribune report highlighting the use of performance-enhancing drugs by players during the ongoing Shaheed-é-Azam Punjab Games, a team of the National Anti-Doping Authority (NADA) officials visited Guru Nanak Stadium and conducted 20 dope tests late last night.

The team, led by NADA drug control officer Birinder Singh, visited the stadium last night and took the samples of eight kabaddi players, seven athletes, including four men and three women, and two basketball players.

As the news of NADA team visiting the games venue spread, the coaches of the sports department swooped into action and informed all medal winning athletes to arrive at the stadium by evening.

The NADA team arrived the stadium at 10.30 pm yesterday and conducted the test on random bases till midnight.

Confirming the development, Pargat Singh, director of sports, Punjab, said: “So far we have conducted 17 dope tests on random bases. If need be we would conduct more tests. Our motive is to keep the games clean and there should be no use of drugs.”

He added that strict action would be taken against those found guilty of using performance enhancive drugs. Sources said the winner of the event would be stripped off his/her medal if found positive in the dope test.

Gurmail Pehalwan, senior vice-president of the Punjab Kabaddi Association, hailed the development and said NADA should conduct such test on frequent bases to discourage the use of drugs in games.

Fear was written large on the faces of some athletes as they were seen drinking water frequently, while coaches were telling the players to relax. The results of the tests would be announced after a week.