Jalandhar, June 28
Rains played havoc with the ongoing construction work of the six-laning of the Jalandhar-Panipat road on the National Highway-1 here on Sunday, which led to hours-long traffic jam creating great inconvenience to commuters.

It has been over four days since the commuters coming to and from Amritsar, Jammu to Ludhiana, Chandigarh and New Delhi are facing long traffic jams on the NH-1. Such is the extent of inconvenience that the commuters now remain stranded in the traffic jams for around three to four hours daily.

The worst affected are daily commuters, including students and patients going towards Phagwara and Ludhiana, who are bearing the brunt of the traffic jams. And since during morning and evening hours the volume of traffic is even more, commuting on the NH-1 has become a nightmare.

Even today the traffic remained disrupted, following which the Punjab Roadways and private bus operators turned their route and came via Jalandhar Cantonment. The major problem lies with the stretch near Big Bazaar on the NH-1 where one of the under-construction road has broken due to downpour on Sunday and the road was filled with water and got huge potholes.

Later, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) brought a suction pump to drain out water from the NH-1, which took a lot of time, leading to a long wait for the commuters.

Earlier on Sunday afternoon, the traffic remained disrupted for more than three hours in the rains and on Monday once again the commuters had a tough time as they were stranded for around four hours. “It took more than an hour for me to reach Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, from Rama Mandi on Monday, whereas it usually takes hardly 10 minutes to reach the campus,” a student said.

The majority of local traders maintained that they had to change their plans owing to the long traffic jams on the NH-1. “We had been badly stranded on the Jalandhar-Phagwara stretch on Sunday for more than four hours and after that we decided not to commute on the highway until the bottleneck is cleared, said Balwinder Singh, a local shopkeeper, who was commutes to Ludhiana from here.

Among those who bore the brunt of traffic jam on Sunday were many job aspirants as well. Many students who were to appear in the Central Excise Taxation Department and Punjab Gramin Bank exams had a horrible time reaching their respective examination centres in Jalandhar.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Lakhwinder Singh Khaira said, “Taking note of the huge inconvenience to the commuters we have deployed a special 15-member traffic police team with additional PCR teams on NH-1. We have also deployed an Inspector from the traffic police to help ease the traffic on the highway,” he added.

The ADCP also maintained that he had directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials to take care that no casualty or accident took place due to the broken road. “We have told them that in case any accident or casualty took place due to the traffic jam and delay in the six-laning project, they will he held responsible. In fact the project has been moving on a snail’s pace, which led to this problem for the commuters,” he said.

Nakodar June 28
Finally the authorities has awaken from deep slumber and started the repair work of Moga Road (NH 703) near Model Town at Shahkot. Even a little rain used to submerge the road in knee-deep water.

The road had been offering hell-like experience to the commuters and local residents for the last few months. Many times loaded vehicles were seen stuck in potholes on the road, but authority didn’t pay heed to the same. The slush caused hardships for the commuters and the students going to their schools.

When the Executive Officer (EO), Muncipal Committee, Shahkot, Ramesh Kumar, was asked about the situation, he said it was the duty of the PWD to repair the road. When asked about the leakage of sewer line laid by the committee and problem of water collecting on the road, hence damaging the road, the EO hastened to add that road was very low and the PWD should up its level to prevent water-logging problem.

The Tribune had highlighted the plight of the road in these columns. Now, the PWD has started stone and mud-laying work on the water-filled road. When asked, Revenue Minister Ajit Singh Kohar said it was the duty of the Central Government to issue funds for road renovation and he had already written to the department concerned and even sent reminders.

The JE, PWD, Sukhwinder Singh, who is supervising the work, said the stone-laying work had already begun and around 60 truck loads of stones would be laid on the road and within a few days commuters would enjoy a smooth ride on the road.

He blamed the Municipal Committee and said only water logging had damaged the road even now the committee was not paying heed to clear standing water. He said he had many times wrote to the committee and Deputy Commissioner and apprised them of the situation and even sent many reminders, but in vain.

He said if the Municipal Committee cleared the standing water, the road could be relaid within a few hours.

Sources revealed that the water pump of the Municipal Committee needed repair and could not be put to work.

Jalandhar, June 28
While the Central Government’s Kisan Call Centre has failed to serve the interests of farmers due to its inaccessibility, a relatively recent SMS service, initiated by the state government, is a ray of hope for the farmers.

The government has started an SMS service, updating farmers with information like weather forecasts, warnings against crop diseases, pesticides available to deal with them, suggestions and other important informations.

Gursewak Singh Sandhu, Joint Director, Agriculture (Extension and Training), Punjab, and State Nodal Director, Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), said, “It’s a PTP (private-public participation) service. The state government signed an MoU with the Info Plus company as per which the company sends messages to farmers free of cost. The messages are not sent daily but depending on what information is needed when. As many as 12,000 farmers have been chosen from 12,000 villages in Punjab who receive these messages. It started about two months ago.”

“Some months before this, another practice has also been started. Officers in every district, depending on the district’s special needs and practices, have been sending messages to farmers on agricultural suggestions and warnings. Depending on the need, 10 to 15 officers per district have been provided with mobile phones to send messages to farmers and they are paid Rs 300 to 500 per month for these additional services,” Sandhu added.

Discussing further plans, Sandhu says, “If the service is received well, we might make additions. A group of progressive farmers across the state, called farmer friends, will be sent information, which they will put on noticeboards that the government will set up in villages for the other farmers to share the information.”

Dr Naresh Gulati, Field Project Officer, Agriculture Department, Jalandhar, says, “The government had asked us to provide a database of farmers who would be sent messages. We are just through with the work, the farmers have not started receiving messages but they will soon. Farmers from about 950 villages in Jalandhar have been chosen.”

Jalandhar, June 28
Alarmed at the non procurement of the 1121 basmati variety by various agencies in the past few years, the commission agents have urged the farmers not to sow this variety in the ongoing paddy season.

Another reason is that the minimum support price (MSP) for this variety has never been declared by the Centre ever since it was sown in Punjab.

They claimed that owing to the negative publicity against this variety by the foreign media, a majority of exporters had stopped procuring the variety as a result of which payments worth crores of rupees were being withheld by the former.

Ravinder Singh Cheema, president of the Arthiyas Association, and Vice-Chairman, Punjab Mandi Board, said, “The European and American media wrote extensively against 1121 basmati following which we started facing problems. The foreign media highlighted the use of pesticides by the Indian farmers in such a way that it was portrayed to be unfit for human consumption.”

Cheema said, “The exporters are yet to pay Rs 150 crore outstanding dues from the previous paddy season to us. In view of the huge losses to us, we have decided that we will not supply anything to the farmers on credit. They will have to pay in cash for everything (fertilisers, pesticides, seeds, etc) they buy from us,” he added.

The MSP for 1121 basmati too should be declared to ensure its procurement, since the farmers were totally dependent on millers and exporters for its sale, he said.

He also lambasted the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for delaying the Rs 50 bonus on wheat, which was announced by the Centre.

“If this continues for long we will not sell any basmati variety to the FCI in this paddy season. Similarly, departmental action should be taken against FCI officials for delaying the bonus to the farmers till date,” he said.

“We will also completely boycott the FCI from this paddy season,” he warned.

Jalandhar, June 28
It was a fun-filled day for lovers of the Punjabi film industry in Jalandhar this Sunday as the stars of the upcoming Punjabi film, ‘Yaar Anmulle’, descended at the Regent Park Hotel here.

The occasion was interesting. While the success of the Jimmy Shergill and Neeru Bajwa starrer 2010 hit, ‘Mel Karade Rabba’ was being celebrated, the production house Batra Showbiz announced the launch of three more films, ‘Yaar Anmulle’, ‘Jinney Mera Dil Lutteya’ and ‘Pure Punjabi’.

‘Jinney Mera Dil Lutteya’ is slated for a July 29 release and the shooting of ‘Pure Punjabi’ will begin in August.

‘Yaar Anmulle’, which is currently under production, is the story of three college friends, played by Arya Babbar, Yuvraj Hans and Harish (of Na Aana Is Des Meri Lado fame).

While Rajan and Kapil Batra of Batra Showbiz have produced all three of these films, they have been joined by Vivek Ohri in producding ‘Jinne mera Dil Lutteya’ and Rohit Chaudhari for ‘Yaar Anmulle’.

As the cast and crew of the film ‘Yaar Anmulle’ arrived at the hotel right after their shooting session at the Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, The Tribune caught up with them.

Here’s what they had to say:

Anurag Singh: Director of the film and has been earlier associated with Bollywood project ‘Raqeeb’.

On Punjabi film industry: It is a happening place right now.

Punjabi vs Hindi film industry: There was a lot of gap between the two earlier, but now the gap is reducing. Punjabis are getting more money and the standard of cinema is going-up.

Lack of serious Punjabi cinema: Right now Punjabis are used to these kinds of films. There is a cultural difference between the Punjabi and Hindi cinema and there are some things, which Punjabis will not tolerate, like skimpily clad women or explicit sequences.

Arya Babbar: Raj Babbar’s son. His first Bollywood film ‘Ab Ke Baras’ was a dud. He was also seen in smaller roles in films like ‘Guru’ and ‘Jail’. However, ‘Virsa’ was his first Punjabi film and with ‘Yaar Anmulle’ he will make the second Punjabi outing.

Punjabi vs Hindi film industry: They are the same. The picture quality, treatment and scripts are all the same.

On Yaar Anmulle: It is a fun film. It talks of masti, dosti and a range of emotions.

Upcoming projects: Five Hindi films.

Yuvraj Hans: Hans Raj Hans’ son. ‘Yaar Anmulle’ will mark Yuvraj’s debut in the Punjabi film industry.

On Punjabi music industry: There is a lot of vulgarity happening right now. I would like to change all that when I get to sing. I have an album in the pipeline.

On acting vs singing: I like both, but right now I feel I am going the right way.

On choice of films: I like serious cinema. ‘Guzarish’ is my current favourite.

Jividha: We got to see her as Aishwarya’s constant companion in Taal. Debuted in Bollywood as a heroine with the film, ‘Yeh Dil Ashiqana’. Made some special appearances in TV serials. Was first seen in Punjabi films in Mini Punjab.

Hindi vs Punjabi film industry: No difference. Punjabi cinema, though generally underestimated is doing well and stuff here is at par with Bollywood these days.

On her roots: Was born and brought up in Amritsar. Was at Delhi when acting happened. I am based in Mumbai, but I am a Punjabi at heart.

Jalandhar, June 28
The number of theatre productions being doled out in the city have sure picked up in the recent months. There is an increase in efforts to connect and wake up the city audience through theatre. But there’s a flip side - despite months of heightened theatre activity, the occasions when the city is fed quality theatre are very rare.

Though the groups work hard and put in their best shot, Jalandhar’s stage is still ridden with cliches, desperately looking for a new tale or a chord that will connect them to a larger audience.

Neeraj Kaushik’s latest productions “Kalpana Ke Ghorey” and “Ek Sawal”, presented at Saigal Memorial Hall this Sunday, are cases in point. Like many other productions staged in the city recently, the plays made one edgy as one sat through them.

While “Kalpana Ke Ghorey” reminded one of “Baccha Hai Bhagwan”, “Ek Sawal”, the previous staging of which had resulted in a disappointment, failed to impress this time too.

The basic themes or thoughts of both the plays were not bad. In fact they can be called intelligent and talked-about issues that need to be addressed in today’s society, but what Kaushik made out of them is a cause for concern.

“Kalpana Ke Ghorey” advocated a very valid cause - the cause of children’s lost dreams. Despite the films and awareness campaigns in the recent times, parents have not desisted from wanting to create winners out of their children, even at the cost of their dreams and imagination. Kaushik talked about one such disheartened kid who is rescued by a fairy just when he is about to give up on his dreams, fed up by his elders’ constant expectations.

The culmination of the play - the dialogues between the child and the fairy - were stagy and forced. Rather than reflecting heart and imagination, the dialogues reflected rote learning. It is important to let kids dream - the play failed to back this very thought with conviction.

Talking of “Ek Sawal”, anyone who has seen the first performance of the play would say there was nothing different about this one. The characters, here too, were melodramatic. The actors presented laborious performances and subtlety and an efficient presentation of conflict, which have been fortes of Kaushik, were nowhere to be seen. A not-so-bad script, was ruined due to the lack of ingenuity.

Though the plays left the audience dissatisfied, there was something special about the occasion. The event saw Channi G.S. Takulia, office secretary of Virsa Vihar, one of the speakers, admitting that people had been talking of “weaknesses” at Virsa Vihar and he was willing to do something about it.

Kaushik’s next production would be a play based on a story by Mohan Rakesh.

Jalandhar, June 28
The Congress has demanded contempt proceedings against the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues for getting their pictures published on auction advertisements issued by the Public Relations Department.

The party urged the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo moto action against the government for violating its own undertaking submitted to the court regarding its policy on state sponsored advertisements.

Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira said it is an example of cheap politicking when senior leaders like the CM display their photographs on auction of plots by the Improvement Trust, Jalandhar. Taking a dig at the CM, he said at first glance it appears as if these leaders are up for auction.

“We demand an apology from the CM and withdrawal of instructions to officials to put up their photos for such sponsored ads and at the same time demand stringent action against erring officials for violating the court orders,” he added.

Jalandhar, June 28
The GNA Institute of Management and Technology (GNAIMT), Phagwara, organised a day-long seminar and career counselling on “Multimedia & Animation” at a local hotel in the city.

Jalandhar, June 28
The city’s original claim to an amusement park — the Nikku Park — situated in the heart of the city, has just become all the more fun for kids.

Recently spruced up, the park now has more rides and play systems for the little ones.

A jogging track and more trees also come as good news for the adults.

While other elaborate amusement parks in the region are costlier and farther from the city, Nikku Park’s the preferred place both in terms of convenience (located in the plush Model Town area) and economy (just a 10 Rs entry ticket), making it the most loved amusement park for children and adults. Park manager Radhe Shyam says, “As far as the current spruce up plans go, the park’s recently got four swings, one see-saw, one merry go round, four 4-way play systems, one climber, a Santa train, 40 lights, as many benches and a jogging track.”

“Another new kangaroo ride lies defunct and has to be replaced,” he adds.

“Some trees have already been planted and plans are on to plant many more,” says Shyam.

The wrought iron victorian lamp posts give the park a dreamier look on the summer evenings while kids have fun at the climbers and play systems with slides, decorated with vibrant flowers and butterflies.

“About 1,000 people come to the park daily, so we need to keep repairing and adding stuff. Many benches and lights are still to be added. The park’s own parking was also added with the rest of the rides this time,” Radhe Shyam quips. 

Situated in a 5-acre area, the Nikku Park was set up in 1983. Over the last few decades, it has seen a lot of changes. In its early days, the park had an elaborate swimming pool with a decorative tunnel (which kids flocked in the evenings), a springed bench, a springed climber, a little zoo at the back and a beautiful miniature Punjabi village (with little mud huts and wells), most of which are gone now.

While the basic structure of the pool stays, it’s now sadly dry with a little children’s train running around it. Unfortunately, the village, too, is gone, and is missed by the old-timers who think glimpses of Punjabi heritage at an amusement park were a great idea.

In 1998 the park got the Columbus ride, following which more rides were gradually added to it. It slowly dropped its diversified and traditional themes (zoo, village etc.) concentrating on a more modern and amusement-oriented pattern.

The only features that still stay are the soothing duck ponds and the cafeteria.

Radhe Shyam, says, “While rides like the columbus, cups-and-saucers, break dance, baby train and jumping frog had been added earlier on, many swings and play systems were added after I came five years ago.”