Ludhiana, April 23
The much-awaited Budha Nullah ecological economical restoration project was inaugurated on its banks at Haibowal Kalan here today. Union minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh inaugurated the Rs 16-crore project, named ‘In-Situ Sewage Treatment with Bio-remediation’, by releasing four pots of microbial culture into it.

“The project will be closely monitored by the Environment Ministry and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), but local bodies will have to own responsibility for effecting execution of fencing and other vital functions of the project,” he said.

The CPCB had identified seven firms for carrying out bio-remediation projects in open drains, especially drains adjoining the Ganga. The Budha Nullah was one of the drains selected for demonstration of the bio-remediation technology.

This was the first and largest project of the ministry, where bacteria were being used for cleaning water bodies. There were five places across the country where such bio-remediation projects had been launched. The results of the project would be seen within a year.

Giving credit to Manish Tewari, local MP and national spokesperson of the Congress, Ramesh said the constant persuasion of the MP had resulted in the acceleration of the project. Asked about the ‘diversion’ of funds given to the state government for cleaning various drains, Ramesh said projects would be immediately stopped if the the funds were diverted or misappropriated.

He hoped that the state government would implement the projects, as had been promised to him by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal when they met him in New Delhi.

Ludhiana, April 23
With bright sunshine and an increase in the temperature, the arrival of wheat has started picking up in Ludhiana district. About 32 per cent of the total expected wheat (Ludhiana district) has already arrived in the mandis. Maintaining its tradition, Khanna mandi has recorded the maximum arrival of wheat to date. Though farmers have expressed their satisfaction over the procurement process, many feel that due to the strict specifications, FCI officials were dilly-dallying in making purchases compared to other state agencies.

As per data, in Khanna mandi alone, 55,734 metric tonnes of wheat had arrived till last evening. In Ludhiana district, 26,7378 metric tonnes of wheat had arrived, out of which 25,3124 had already been sold to procurement agencies. Apart from Khanna, 28,328 metric tonnes of wheat had arrived in Macchiwara, 27,445 in Doraha, 20,123 in Maloud and 19,385 in Raikot.

“The temperature has increased and farmers are trying to harvest maximum produce both manually and with combines. We can say that the peak season has started, but we expect the maximum arrival in mandis in the next four-five days. Payment is being made to farmers after 48 hours as per government instructions,” said Rajpal Singh Dhaliwal, district mandi officer.

Gurpreet Singh, a farmer of Lalton Kalan, near here, claimed that while state procurement agencies like Markfed, Agro, Warehouse and Punsup were lifting wheat, the FCI was adopting dilatory tactics. “Procurement by the FCI is still slow. It adheres to minute specifications. This happens every year and we are used to it,” he said.

Agro-meteorological experts had asked farmers to do maximum harvesting in view of sunny days. “Harvesting could not start near Baisakhi due to unpredictable weather and intermittent rain. But now when the temperature has seen an increase, farmers can harvest maximum crop,” said Sharanjit Singh Mehlon, general secretary (administration) of the Bharti Kisan Union (Punjab).

Ludhiana, April 23
A day after the Ladhowal police registered a case of extortion, against persons yet to be identified, for making threatening telephone calls to a schoolteacher, students of Green Land School levelled counter-allegations against the teacher of implicating them in an extortion case.

The police yesterday registered a case of extortion after Rajwant Kaur complained that unidentified persons demanded Rs 25 lakh as ransom from her. According to her, they had threatened to throw acid on the her face if she did not comply. Six class XI students claimed that they were being implicated by the teacher, who wanted to settle scores with them.

Relatives of the students said they had an argument with the teacher outside the school a month back, following which the students and their parents had tendered an apology to the teacher, but she was not satisfied and demanded a criminal case against the students.

“This led to an argument between the teacher and the school director. The teacher did not come to school following the incident. We came to know yesterday that the police had registered a case of extortion on the teacher’s complaint. We are suspecting that the teacher is adamant on ruining the future of our children,” said one of the parents.

Ladhowal police station SHO Jatinder Singh said, “The mobile phone numbers from where the calls were made had been procured by submitting fake identities.” He added that the police had not named anyone and the case was being investigated from all angles. Police sources said a case was registered after scanning mobile phone details and location, which proved that the students were playing a prank on the teacher.

Shivani Bhakoo/TNS
India contributes highest number of human deaths due to rabies every year. As per National Multi-centric Survey, about 40,000 humans die in India every year due to rabies. In Punjab, the maximum number of rabies cases are reported in Ludhiana.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr BS Sandhu, associate professor, Vet Pathology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) said the percentage of dog-bite incidence was much higher than being reported to authorities due to lack of awareness, callous attitude of society and less laboratory facilities available in other districts.

As per a survey conducted by Rabies Research-cum-Diagnostic Laboratory, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), out of total suspected cases, 53.22 per cent were found positive for rabies. Among the various species of animals, the maximum rabies cases were found in dogs (42.10 per cent) followed by buffaloes (33.68 per cent), cows (17.89 per cent) and other wild animals (6.31 per cent).

Dr Sandhu further informed that maximum dog-bite cases were reported from January to July each year. Since the period was breeding season of dogs, large number of dogs moved in groups. They became hyperactive and hostile. “One rabid animal usually bites another and the incidence increases. Though we get maximum number of suspected cases of rabies, still hundreds of other cases are never even reported,” said Dr Sandhu adding that due the close association between dogs and people, an increased incidence of rabies in dogs could result in an increase in exposure of human beings to rabies.

Till recently, the diagnosis of a rabid animal was done by taking sample of its brain tissues, but now the infection could be determined by an animal’s tears, hair-follicle or saliva.

Dog-bite cases are often reported in various sections of media. As per estimates, the city has about 20,000 stray dogs and the Municipal Corporation had taken the task of sterilising these dogs. However, nothing concrete has come so far from the Doggie-Lane project.

Meanwhile, the Vet Club Ludhiana celebrated World Veterinary Day today. Dr BS Sandhu, associate professor, department of pathology, delivered a lecture on “Recent developments in rabies: prevention and control” and queries of the public and field veterinarians were answered.

Ludhiana, April 23
The delay in the construction of a concrete Lakkar Bridge has been causing inconvenience to area residents, shopkeepers and visitors to the Bhadaur House locality.

While the minor crossing from the Domoria bridge to the Bhadaur House has been blocked to complete the ramp of the bridge, the way towards Arya School remains blocked due to frequent traffic jams.

According to the project plan, one-way commuting on the road was scheduled to begin in April but with columns yet to be raised, the putting of roof over the railway line is still a long way ahead.

As the Bhadaur House road and Lakkar Bridge road have been closed on account of construction, the place is being used as a parking lot.

It has become increasingly difficult for motorists to reach Chaura Bazaar. It takes half an hour to reach the destination on a four-wheeler during peak hours.

Arshbir Chawla, a shopkeeper at the Bhadaur House, who claims to have suffered losses in business due to the project, said: “Earlier there used to be space to cross the road but now that crossing has been closed. It has made it difficult for people or customers to get through this way. It should be opened as soon as possible. The authorities must ensure minimum inconvenience to people while undertaking such projects.”

Senior Deputy Mayor Parveen Bansal said: “Our (municipal corporation) part of work has almost been completed. The part of work being undertaken by the railways is causing the problem. We will initiate construction work with the help of the railways soon.”

He added that he would order the clearance of mud and other construction material from the space near the Bhadaur House, to make it convenient for motorists.

Doraha, April 23
The municipal council and health officials today sprang into action following the news of the outbreak of jaundice in the town carried in these columns today.

According to Payal SMO Dr Walia, health officials had been asked to survey the town to assess the situation. “Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the residents have been asked to use boiled water apart from keeping their surroundings clean.”

He added that the municipal and health officials would pay special attention to those areas where there was a problem of persistent waterlogging. The officials would visit the town on a regular basis, he added.

Municipal council president Inderjit Singh Kala said in spite of cleanliness drives launched by the council from time to time in various wards of the town, the problem of waterlogging persisted.

“As there is a problem of proper drainage in the town, waterlogging kept recurring. However, with the outset of summer, the council authorities will remain on their toes,” he said.

He urged the residents to cooperate with the civic authorities, as private water connections were a major cause of leakage, which resulted in the mixing of drinking water and sewage. He said such connections would be removed immediately.

Over 100 cases of jaundice have been reported in the past 15 days in the town due to the alleged mixing of sewage and drinking water. As a result, residents are being forced to drink contaminated water.

The sewerage, being narrow, gets choked very easily. Poor sanitation and little access to clean water is being attributed to be the main cause of the spread of jaundice, especially infective jaundice i.e. hepatitis E.

Ludhiana, April 23
Municipal employees from all over the state, who are up in arms against the arrest of the Zonal Commissioner by the Vigilance Bureau on graft charges, have formed a 15-member joint action committee (JAC) for getting the case against the officer revoked.

Members of the Punjab Municipal Employees’ Association met yesterday and criticised the Vigilance Bureau for arresting their colleague. They even accused the Vigilance Bureau of terrorising officials who are serving the people in an efficient manner. They demanded that an FIR registered against Zonal Commissioner AS Sekhon and other municipal employees be revoked at the earliest.

They announced that the employees of all municipal councils across the state would wear black badges while performing their duty till the FIR is revoked. The association also announced that they would meet Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia and ask him to get the case revoked against their officials.

They thanked Mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura and a few councillors for supporting Sekhon. A 15-member panel was constituted under PS Ghuman to pursue the Sekhon’s case with the government. However, members seem divided when a few officials demanded that such meetings should be held on regular basis.

Ludhiana, April 23
The Christian community living across the city observed Holy Thursday on April 21, Good Friday on April 22 and is now set to mark Easter Sunday tomorrow.

Preparations for Easter prayers and rituals are in full swing across Christian homes and at all churches across the city with special arrangements for mass prayers and services scheduled to be held before the break of the dawn.

“Members of the Christian community will light candles and offer prayers across various churches in the city to mark Easter. Others, too, will join in the celebrations as the congregations will sing Easter hymns and Easter songs during prayers in order to remember and thank the Almighty for this life and His blessings. Elaborate Easter breakfasts will also be organised,” says NM Peter, a senior member of the community.

Christians exchange greetings, organise family luncheons and dinners and pray together on the occasion. As part of the celebrations, egg painting and egg hunt competitions for kids are also held as they enjoy hiding and finding Easter eggs, which are symbolic of life.

“Contrary to the popular belief, Easter is not about pomp and show as is the case with Christmas. However, Easter is the biggest festival for Christians across the globe as Easter Sunday is the central religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. It is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless,” says Nina S, a senior member of the Christian community and city resident.

Merchant navy engineer Novin Christopher, another member of the local community, adds: “According to Christian scripture, Lord Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. Easter is the strongest pillar of Christian faith and the most important event of the history.”

“Easter gives spiritual power to work, accept the discipline, and make sacrifice,” adds Novin’s father Nelson Christopher, a retired customs officer.

The senior Christopher says Easter is an occasion of thanksgiving, sacrifice and recommitment to the teachings of Christ. “Easter is the most important festival of Christians because this is the day on which Jesus reappeared from death and established the fact that he is above death,” he avers.

He adds that Easter boosts the belief in Christ, as on the day he showed that he is above death and life. “The belief that we have in Christ is that God himself landed as a human being,” he remarks.

“A sunrise mass is held before the break of the dawn on Easter morning at churches to mark the resurrection of Christ. This mass is well-attended and is followed by a regular mass which is conducted by the highest authority of the church. Later, festive food is also served in the church,” Novin says.

Dr Sophia Jeremiah says: “Easter is a great occasion for all Christians as after 40 days of fasting, it is on this day that we open our fast and partake of the festive food. The day starts with the sunrise mass followed by luncheon with friends and family and a grand party in the evening, which usually extends till late night.”

Christopher adds: “The most important part of Easter is that every Christian takes Holy Communion on this day. It is about accepting Christ in your body and life and believing that we are part of the family that will be resurrected.”

It is a fact indeed that time never stops. Whether its movement is circular or spiral or like a stream is another question. Once past it cannot be recalled. Keeping in view this aspect, Mirza Ghalib told his beloved that she could call him whenever she was in a pleasant frame of mind as he was not like the past time that could not be recalled.

Shadma hoke bulalo mujhe chaho jis waqt.

Main gya waqt nahi hun ke phir aabhi na sakun

What is, however, weighing on my mind is the phenomenon as to when the time stops for individuals in peculiar circumstances. Ordinarily, it does not stops when the sleeping beauty snatches more winks than necessary. She can make up for the loss of time by speeding up the process of her make-up.

At present I have in my mind civil rights activist, Dr Binayak Sen, who was put behind bars for nearly four months. For him the time stopped when he was arrested as the routine of his life was disturbed. Now, when he has been released, he cannot recall the time past. It is in fact not the case of recalling time as the time stopped for him for the period he was in jail. There he was in a state of limbo, more or less metamorphosed into a bird whose wings have been cut.

The same is the case with Gopal Das who was 25-year-old when he was arrested in Pakistan on charges of spying. Now, back home after 27 years, he finds himself suddenly catapulted to his village that had not faded in his memory.

Now he finds himself nonplussed due to the long time that stopped for him in a foreign land. He exclaims- “There used to be so much water in the Beas. The girl driving her scooter expertly, in and out of the traffic jam, is smaller than her scooter. At that time there were no traffic jams. Moreover, there were no cars in his village when he resided there.”

Heart-rending is the case of national-level volleyball player Arunima Sonu Sinha who lost her leg after being pushed off a moving train. On April 11, three men tried to rob her when she was travelling to Delhi, in the Padmavat Express, to appear for an examination. For her the time stopped suddenly when she was lying wounded on the railway track. Now she is bereft of consolation even when she is being treated at the AIIMS, New Delhi. The reason being the time lost cannot be reclaimed at all.

In my own case the time appears to have stopped for me since I met with an accident on the roadside in December last year. But in a solemn mood I recall that our freedom fighters spent long spells of time in jails. For them too the time stopped as they could no longer carry on their activities for the liberation of their motherland. Some of them mounted the gallows while raising slogans like Inquilab Zindabad.

In their case the time is still waiting for them.

— NS Tasneem

Ludhiana, April 23
The agitated relatives of a class IX student, who was suspended for carrying a mobile phone to school, gathered at the Police Commissioner’s office here today and sought action against DAV Public School principal RS Patial and a teacher Kiran Sood for casting aspersions on the character of the girl.

Anil, father of the girl, claimed that the school authorities had concocted a story that his daughter had threatened to consume phenyl. “The school authorities planted a fake story after I told them about the condition of my daughter who is undergoing treatment for depression from a psychiatrist,” he said.

“I admit that my daughter should not have taken the phone to school. But is it such a grave crime that she was barred from school for 15 days? When my wife and I went to the school to apologise, the principal cast aspersions on her character. She heard it and was very depressed,” he stated. He also claimed that he had been falsely booked for vandalising the school premises.

“Before leaving the school I told them that I will drag them to court. But I was shocked to know that the school authorities implicated me in a false case. If I had vandalised the school and manhandled the teacher, why did they not call the police? I went to the school in the morning, but they filed a complaint against me in the evening,” he said.

The principal, however, slammed the allegations of the girl’s father as baseless. He said after being caught on the wrong foot, the girl’s father was trying to malign the image of the institution. “The girl was caught with a phone and disciplinary action was taken against her according to rules,” he said.

The incident occurred on April 20 when, during a surprise check, a teacher of class IX found a mobile phone in a bag. Instead of handing over the phone to the teacher, the girl hurriedly gave it to a classmate to hide it in the bag. This enraged the teacher who took the girl to the principal, who suspend her for 15 days.

Ludhiana, April 23
Irked over the non-lifting of the wheat from grain market farmers met former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal to apprise her of their problems.

A delegation of farmers led by leaders- Vicky Sekhon and Ram Gopal Goel- met Bhattal during her visit to the city yesterday. They rued that the state government was not lifting the wheat crop from the city due to which farmers were facing a lot of hardship. They requested Bhattal to accompany them to the grain market to take stock of the situation.

Bhattal along with former minister Rakesh Pandey went around the grain market at Ayali Khurd and inspected the arrangements made for the farmers. The farmers and labourers present in market rued that they have been deprived of the basic facilities. Accusing the state government of ignoring the interest of farmers, Bhattal assured them that she would take up the matter with authorities concerned.

Jagraon, April 23
Wheat crop has started arriving in the local grain market, which happens to the second largest in Asia, as soon as the weather cleared after remaining unpredictable for the past several days. Though the arrival of wheat crop is less as compared to previous seasons, yet it has come as a relief for farmers who have been spending sleepless nights due to bad weather conditions.

The untimely rain and cloudy sky has played a major role in delaying the ripening of the wheat crop. This has further delayed the arrival of wheat crop in the grain market by two weeks.

The data collected from the local market committee’s office reveal that 1,90,010 quintals of wheat crop has arrived at the local grain market till April 23. Last year, it was 7,55,420 quintals till the same date. This means, just 25 per cent of wheat has arrived this year as compared to the last year.

However, out of 1,90,010 quintals of wheat that has arrived in the grain market till April 23, 155,850 quintals have been procured by various government agencies.

Local market committee secretary Nachhatar Singh Gill said the arrival of wheat had been low as compared to past several years. “But now the arrival of wheat has picked up. Wheat crop will be lifted from today onwards,” Gill said.

“There is neither any shortage of labour nor any problem with transportation,” he added.

Ludhiana, April 23
Hindi teachers of the state have demanded that the Punjab government should speed up the process of promotions of Hindi lecturers and master cadre serving in the secondary schools across the state.

The teachers have also demanded that in place of the current system of holding four periods for classes VI-VIII, the system of conducting six periods should be introduced. This would benefit the students in the long run and improve the results of the schools as well, they added.

A delegation of Hindi Shikshak Sangh of Punjab met the political advisor of the Punjab Chief Minister, Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, at his Chandigarh residence and gave him a memorandum of demands.

The delegation included Sangh president Munish Kumar, chief secretary Manoj Kumar, treasurer Pritam Kumar and member of the SC working committee of SAD Trilok Bhagat. Dr Cheema assured the teachers that their demands would be taken up to the Chief Minister and fulfilled at the earliest.

Ludhiana, April 23
A district-level meeting of recognised and non-recognised schools was held here on Thursday to discuss the issue of associate schools.

The meeting was attended by representatives of various school associations, including the Association of the Recognised and Non-Recognised Schools, district chapter.

The members discussed the issue of the declaration of private middle schools (from Class I to VIII) of the state as associate schools by Punjab education minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan recently. They also discussed the norms regarding associate schools, which would be formed on April 28.

Ludhiana, April 23
Ninety per cent of patients who have been advised bypass surgery and angioplasty cannot even afford the cost of treatment in municipal hospitals forget private hospitals. For them chelation (ACT) and external counter pulsation (ECP) are the cost effective and non-surgical cardiac treatments. This was stated by Dr Pratiksha, founder and chairperson of the Institute of Preventive Cardiology, Mumbai.

While speaking on the stress, one of the major causative factor for various cardiac problems, Dr Pratiksha said Bollywood stars, directors and film producers in Mumbai get preventive healthy heart packages before the film-shooting assignment and release of new movies to take care of the built up stress levels.

She said the Institute of Preventive Cardiology was trying to awaken fellow Indians from the ignorance of heart disease, educate them on prevention and early detection of heart disease and provide cost effective, non-surgical cardiac treatments.

Ludhiana, April 23
Pankaj XI scored 246 runs and then contained National XI to 116 for seven on the first day of the two-day match of the Hot Weather Cricket Tournament (u-16) being organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) on Satish Chander Dhawan Government College campus ground here today.

The tournament is being conducted among three teams — Mashajan Juniors XI, Pankaj XI and National XI — to provide match practice to the probables, chosen for the regional coaching centre run by the LDCA here at Arya College. On the basis of their performance during the tournament, the Ludhiana district team will be finalised for the upcoming Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Championship (u-16) for the ML Markan Trophy scheduled to be played from second week of May.

Pankaj XI won the toss and opted to bat first. They scored 246 runs in 58.2 overs. Their innings revolved around Sumit Sood (79 runs), Sher Bahadur (28), Gurjot (29) and Viren Singh (20). For National XI, Manan was the most successful bowler, grabbing six wickets for 46 runs, while Jagdeep Singh claimed one wicket for 13 runs.

National XI began their reply on a dismal note and were struggling at 116 runs for the loss of seven wickets at the draw of stumps. Krishan scored 21 while Manan was at the crease with 27 runs against his name. For Pankaj XI, Arashdeep captured three wickets for 21 runs and Kunwar Makkar took two wickets for 29 runs to put brakes on the National XI innings.