Jalandhar, May 12
An ultimatum given by environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal on curbing the effluent discharge from 12 residential and industrial colonies into the Kala Sanghian Drain has made the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities tizzy.

The deadline falls on May 18. On the case of the MC not meeting the deadline, the environmentalist, backed by villagers, will install a bundh across the drain to manually stop the sullage from flowing into it.

Officials of the MC, who had been discharging the sullage from the Bhagat Singh Colony and Guru Amar Dass Nagar localities via pumps into the drain stopped doing so sometime back. Instead, they installed pipes to carry the discharge further towards the sewer channels to be taken to the main disposal further.

However, this system failed to get the desired result. Since the channels were already running to their full capacity, the discharge started flowing backward towards the colony areas deluging the roads with dark, smelly water.

After the residents raised hue and cry on the matter, the MC authorities again started resorting to pumping out the sullage into the drain. Seechewal’s team, armed with hi-tech gadgets, measured the volume of discharge at the points a few days back and concluded that the MC had again started pumping untreated sullage from the colonies into the drain.

Mounting the pressure on the authorities to adhere to the deadline, a message was sent to the Commissioner’s office to get the problem rectified well in time.

Caught in a fix, the officials who have no concrete solution to the problem owing to faulty designs of the sewer systems have now planned to get away with the situation temporarily by installing pumps at the points where the water is discharged into sewer channels so that it does not flow back into colonies. “This is the only way out to calm down the residents as well as the villagers along the drain being supported by Seechewal and his team,” claimed an engineer from the O&M Wing of the MC.

Harbir Singh, Executive Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, said, “Initially there were 12 outlets, of which eight were to be closed in the first phase. The MC and the sewage board have managed to tackle just five of the first phase and the remaining three, including those from the Industrial Area and Focal Point, would start as soon as the second 25 MLD treatment plant at Pholariwal gets power connection.”

He added that the remaining four outlets, including that of Basti Bawa Khel and leather complex, which were to be taken in the second phase, were also likely to be closed soon. A grant to the tune of Rs 236 crore for the purpose was expected from the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) soon after which a 50 MLD plant would be set up on Kapurthala Road to put an end to the problem.

Seechewal, during a meeting held last month with Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti, had demanded that the flow of sullage be stopped into the drain since it carried water to the Sutlej and further to the Harike Headworks where from drinking water supply goes to parts of Malwa region and Rajasthan.

Jalandhar, May 12
Claiming that the polluted water of the Kali Bein has led to increased prevalence of cancer and other life-threatening disease in several district of Rajasthan, the Suratgarh MLA, Gangajal Meena, has requested the Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner (DC) to stop the flow of polluted water into the Kali Bein, which drains into the Sutlej and eventually flows to Rajasthan through the Indira Canal from the Harike Headworks.

In a letter written to the Deputy Commissioners of both Jalandhar and Ludhiana, Meena said the residents of several districts of Rajasthan were dependent on the waters of the Indira Canal.

“However, the toxic effluents and domestic sewerage waste, being discharged in the Sutlej through the Kali Bein, is causing cancer and other grave diseases in such districts,” said Meena. Similarly, the Buddha Nullah is another source of pollution in the Sutlej, he added.

Earlier, calling attention to the grave threat posed by the polluted water of the Indira Canal to the flora and fauna of villages of Hanuman Garh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Ganga Nagar districts of Rajasthan, an eight-member delegation from these districts had also given a memorandum to the Jalandhar DC in this regard.

They urged that the flow of toxic effluents into the Kali Bein should be immediately stopped.

Jalandhar, May 12
Jalandhar - the hub of hockey - got another feather in its cap with the inauguration of the Union Sports Ministry-sponsored international-standard hockey astroturf at Punjab Armed Police (PAP) Complex.

The DGP, P.S. Gill, inaugurated the astroturf during the inaugural day matches of the Federation Cup-2011 Hockey (Men & Women) at PAP here this evening. The Federation Cup will be held from May 12 to 17.

This is the seventh astroturf in the state, which would equip the players with better training facilities.

The astroturf at PAP, also known as the nursery of sports, is the result of the efforts of the Punjab Sports Department and the Union Sports Ministry. It was after a series of meeting conducted by the ministry officials with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) authorities that the construction work finally began.

Built at a cost of Rs 3.34 crore, the astroturf project was started in June last year, after a memorandum of understanding was signed between the SAI and the PAP authorities. The funding of the project was done by the Union Sports Ministry.

Chairman of the organising committee Surinder Singh Sodhi said the full-fledged international-level astroturf would have a seating capacity of around 4,000 spectators. “We are yet to install electronic board and fencing, while the work on the spectators gallery will be completed later,” he said, adding that the work on this would begin soon after the Federation Cup.

For the time being, the PAP astroturf had been equipped with a temporary fencing. In the absence of a proper spectator’s gallery (however, the stairs had been made), the PAP authorities had made special seating arrangements for the spectators with covered tents and fans.

He said with this it had become easy to conduct the higher-level hockey tournaments at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium and the smaller-level tournaments at PAP. “Even we are conducting the Federation Cup men hockey matches at the newly laid PAP astroturf and the women matches at the Surjit Stadium. This has come up as a boon for the sports city,” he added.

The budding hockey players expressed happiness over the starting up of the PAP astroturf and said earlier it was difficult for all the players to practice in the lone Surjit Hockey Stadium’s astroturf. “Now even the budding as well as experienced hockey players will get ample chances to hone their skills,” said a hockey player.

Jalandhar, May 12
The Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya Alumnae Association along with the Skill Development Centre organised it 10th alumni meet “Punarmilan” on May 11.

Jalandhar ADC (Development) Sarojini Gautam Sharda was the guest of honour and described the college as a temple of learning and a nursery of principles ideal for education. The function was attended by more than 100 members.

Among others present on the occasion were Dr Rashmi Khurana, Programme Executive from All-India Radio, Dr Kumud Pasricha, a gynaecologist, Dr Sarita Verma, Principal of B.D. Arya Girls College, Jalandhar Cantonment, Dr Usha Kapoor, Principal of GND Varsity College, Jalandhar, and many others.

Principal Dr Rekha Kalia Bhardwaj highlighted the importance of social networking sites like Facebook, yahoo.com as a tool of communication, which helped in bringing the former students together.

Nakodar, May 12
Fast depletion of sand and decrease in the level of embankment on the Satluj banks have left villagers of Fathepur Bhangwa in Shahkot tehsil a worried lot. They fear that this embankment won’t last long and there is every chance of floods in the rainy season.

Villagers accompanied by Dr Navjot Singh Dhaiya, in charge of Shahkot constituency of the People’s Party of Punjab, alleged that from the last two years, embankment level has gone down and in the coming rainy season, speeding flow of water may breach the main bundh near the villages.

Amrik Singh, sarpanch of the village, said authorities had adopted lackadaisical approach toward this problem and villagers may have to bear the brunt in future. Villagers Chamkor Singh Fathepuri, Sukhchain Singh, Kewal Singh, Foja Singh and Lashman Singh said the problem still persists despite repeated requests to Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar and written complaints to the authorities.

“If main bundh is destroyed, water would damage our crops and around 15 villages adjoining the rivulet may also submerge in the water,” villagers alleged.

Shahkot SDM Iqbal Sandhu said every year before the start of rainy season, the government authorities concerned do regular inspections of embankments and bundhs and if they find any breach anywhere, they take necessary steps. He urged the villagers if the problem still persists anywhere, villagers should write to the Canal Department and action would be taken up accordingly.

Jalandhar, May 12
Innovation, path-breaking concepts, style and glamour - the Interior and Fashion Week in Jalandhar, held recently at the Radisson Windsor Hotel brought all this and more.

The exhibition was special, owing to a lot many reasons.

Prestigious designers like Amit Kashyap and Ankur Sen debuted and little-entrepreneurs-turned-big brands impressed one and all.

The exhibition had a lot of unique stuff to offer. Widest was the range of clothes - a huge amount of designs in bridal wear, casuals and ethnic wear.

It also offered garden furniture (Trendz furniture), concept glass (De Cristal), brass clocks (Home Naaz Décor), home decoration, bed linens, jewellery, home automation systems (Ateis) and a tarot card reader for those interested in the matters of destiny. The exhibition was full of special people but The Tribune take a look at people who made it big despite the odds.

Jalandhar, May 12
To provide an alternative in the BJP and Congress dominated national political arena, more than 15 socialist groups and parties of the country have come forward to launch a party with socialist outlook under the banner of the Socialist Party of India.

Balwant Singh Khera, Vice-President, National Socialist Party, which would be the major constituent of the new party, said the first delegate session of the party would be organised on May 28 to 29 in Hyderabad.

In a press conference organised here, Khera said the new party would also reach to various groups of Punjab to float a third front in the state.