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Public Transport
Ludhiana, July 21 Sample this: For around 1,500 LPG-run autorickshaws, which still are one of the most commonly used public transport vehicles in the city, there is only one LPG filling station. This is not only resulting in harassment to those who have purchased the autorickshaws, but is even leading to the misuse of LPG cylinders, which some of the autorickshaw owners are using to run their vehicles. There are more than 30,000 diesel-run auto-rickshaws in the city, which are often blamed for traffic congestion and pollution. The District Transport Office is presently not registering diesel-run autorickshaws, but even then they ply freely on the roads. Petrol pump owners rue that not many people are coming forward to run LPG filling stations because of a long and cumbersome process of getting no-objection certificates (NOCs) from various government departments. "This is acting as a deterrent for setting up LPG filling stations. Many people, who already own a petrol pump, have showed interest in setting up LPG filling stations. But when they apply for the same, they are asked to take all kinds of NOCs. I don't understand when someone is already running a petrol pump, and had got all the NOCs and clearances at the time of starting his business, why does he have During summers, Sachdeva’s filling station sells 3,000 litres of LPG daily, and during winters, the demand increases to 7,000 litres per day. Ashok Sachdeva says that keeping in mind the number of LPG-run vehicles in the city, there should be a demand of at least 20,000 litres per day. Surinder Singh, owner of an LPG-run autorickshaw rued that he lives in the Basti Jodhewal area and for getting LPG filled in his vehicle, he has to go specially to the lone LPG filling station, which is on Ferozepur Road. Getting NOC a hurdle
Petrol pump owners lament that not many people are coming forward to run LPG filling stations because of a long and cumbersome process of getting no-objection certificates from various government departments
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‘High-end’ call girls game for local industrialists
Ludhiana July 21 Shocking it may sound but senior police officials candidly admit that such immoral activities continue in the city and they remain "mute spectators" due to political clout enjoyed by the clients of “high-end” prostitutes. Some startling facts
* Call Girls from USA, UK, Australia are paid the highest by local industrialists -- Rs 50,000 and more The senior police officials on the condition of anonymity say that about 60-70 per cent of local industrialists and businessmen visit prostitutes on a regular basis. As the elite class has no dearth of money, arranging call girls both from India and abroad has never been a problem for them. As the police always buckles under political pressure and money power, the immoral activities continue unabated in the industrial city. Giving some startling facts, one of the senior official in the police department, on condition of anonymity disclosed that a majority of the “well-off” businessmen were customers of “highly-paid” sex-workers, who came all the way from Chandigarh, New Delhi and even abroad to please their regular clients. According to sources, these well-connected industrialists arrange for call girls from foreign countries by paying hefty amounts for their “week-end” parties, which are held at their farmhouses on Pakhowal Road, Ferozpur Road, South City etc and Hambran Road etc. Besides, the parties are often held at Chandigarh, New Delhi and Kasauli. The “beautiful-fair sex workers” are arranged from countries like Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Romania, Russia, Thailand and Singapore by paying up to Rs 50,000 and their “trusted” men are trained and given the job to do the “needful”. “These girls are actually given between Rs 4,000-10,000 per client, whereas, the pimps or the middle-men get the maximum monetary benefits (upto Rs 50,000 or even more). They mint money by arranging call girls for local elite customers. Some of the call girls are
even graduates from Delhi University, who get into the business due to lucrative returns. Due to closure of dance bars in Mumbai, the bar dancers are also easy available options for local clients”, said the police official. On asking as to why the police was not taking action to stop the practice, the official said, “We are too small to catch the big fish. They are not just well connected but to save their skin, they can spend endless amount. Secondly, the business is being done in smooth and sophisticated manner, which do not involve many persons”. Apart from the elite class, flesh-trade is flourishing in the periphery areas, including Phillaur, Phagwara, Khanna, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur and
Malerkotla.
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SS Chauhan is new Police Commissioner of city
Ludhiana July 21 Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Dr SS Chauhan, who was posted as IG Headquarters, Punjab, said his priority as Commissioner would be to bring down the crime rate, maintain law and order and to establish the Commissionerate system. "There is a problem of staff crunch in the department, which needs to be taken care of. Besides, deficiency in staff has to be tackled so that people have all faith in police," he said, adding that the perception of public towards police needs to be changed. He also stressed that corruption among police officials will never bo tolerated. Dr Chauhan will take over the charge tomorrow. Dr Chauhan had also been posted as ACP Ludhiana, Phillaur and Bathinda. An experienced IPS officer, he also remained DIG PPA Phillaur, DIG Vigilance Bureau and DIG Bathinda range, Jalandhar range and Ludhiana range. During his tenure at the headquarters, Dr Chauhan pursued about 170 promotion cases of police officials pending with the High Court, which were speedily settled with his efforts. Besides, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Yurinder Hayer has also been transferred from Ludhiana. Hayer has been replaced by Ashish Chaoudhry, an IPS officer.
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Outgoing top cop Ishwar Singh remained above controversy
Ludhiana, July 21 It was only once that he landed in a controversy during the fag end of his tenure after Health Minister, Satpal Gosain began gunning for him and demanded his transfer. Otherwise Ishwar Singh largely remained non-controversial throughout his stint as a Commissioner. It was not a smooth sailing for the first commissioner of the city, known for its crime, as he had to practically work with a strength of just 2,500 cops providing security to a population of around 30 lakh. Ishwar Singh, who was popularly known for making his personal mobile number public so that people could directly contact him for lodging a complaint, was towards the end forced to defend his force and himself after Gosain termed him inefficient and held the commissioner responsible for the soaring crime rate in the city. While the police boasts of the improvement in security scenario, the growing cases of snatching and car lifting had left much to desire. Further, the growing trend of gun culture in the city had also pointed a finger at the working of police. The broad day light killing of noted Namdhari supporter Avtar Singh in a shootout in Katani Kalan and Kumar Ravinder (30), son of an arm dealer who was injured in a shooting incident had caused a major dent on the reputation of police. The candid admission of police commissioner Ishwar Singh, sums up the whole issue. “Yes we are short of six officers and nearly 600 cops. I salute the station house officers
(SHO) and lower run officers, who selflessly dedicated to a cause. They are working on the trot from early morning till late night. I am concerned at their situation but at the same time it an honour for me to work with men who are sincerely working to maintain peace and prosperity in the city,” said the commissioner. Achievements The opening of CPRC counter, resource centre and special counter for mobile theft, a big relief The opening of central police resources centre has brought major respite for the city residents. From general inquiries, obtaining no objection certificates, passport verification counter, weapon license counter, victim relief counter, foreign counter to address the complaint of NRIs and Right to Information Counter has been thrown open under one roof, so that residents could avail the opportunity under one roof. Now the police is going one step ahead and soon going to open police resource centre (PRC) for effective policing. Recently, the police has established a special counter to address the complaints exclusively of mobile phone thefts. Introduction of helplines The commissioner also did an Anna act and appeal to the residents urging to eradicate the menace of bribery. He earned accolades after he launched a helpline to register the complaint of bribery in office. The persons who fall prey to corrupt cops could contact helpline numbers 95929-14700 and 98761-67900. The helpline including - for traffic- 1073, for crime- 100, 1090, woman helpline 0161-2414933, 1021, also received encouraging response. SUVs to Bicycles to all for policing From fast and furious sports utility vehicles to street smart eco- friendly cycles, commissioner had been instrumental in bringing change in the mode policing. The town got 14 new Tavera vehicles fitted with the latest GPS system, which responds to the calls of the people. The police control room was modernised with latest technology. Besides, 80 PCR motor bikes with trained officer on top had been put on duty to patrol congested areas of the city. Further 50 bicycles gifted by a local cycle manufacturer had been put to use for security in Chaura Bazar area. Traffic Woes Traffic was one aspect which constantly niggled the first commissioner and all efforts to bring the growing traffic under control had fallen flat. Singh had blamed it to the snail pace development projects to be the cause of growing traffic chaos. “Effectively we have one Ferozepore road which is catering to the entire traffic, while in rest of the city development projects are underway, which is resulting in serious traffic chaos. We hope that as soon as these projects would complete it would solve the traffic problem,” opined Ishwar Singh on the issue of traffic woes. Singh even initiated a much hyped sticker challaning driver, according to which a challan sticker would be pasted on the vehicle offending parking rules. However, the drive was discontinued reason
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Ishwar Singh a good IPS officer: Gosain
Ludhiana, July 21 Though Gosain's gunning for Ishwar Singh did not yield anything as the transfers are part of a routine departmental reshuffle, the Health Minister seemed to have buried the hatchet when he today remarked, "Ishwar Singh is a good IPS officer. I did not have any problem with him. It was the junior staff which did not work efficiently. I don't want to comment more than that". Gosain had alleged that under Ishwar Singh’s tenure as Commissioner, the crime graph in the city had seen an increase, and had then gone on to demand his transfer. Later, several prominent city residents had intervened and effected a truce between the duo. Ishwar had gone to Gosain’s house to meet the health minister. Ishwar Singh had joined Ludhiana in the rank of DIG on December 25, 2006. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Ishwar said, "It was great working here in Ludhiana. During my tenure, I tried to do justice to the job entrusted to me".
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Vidhan Sabha panel to probe Shagun scheme irregularities
Ludhiana, July 21 The team comprising 13 state MLAs being led by Dr Dalbeer Singh (Verka), an MLA from Amritsar district, will visit the city tomorrow to inquire into the scam and into allegations of misappropriation in other schemes. An amount of Rs 3.6 lakh, which was to be given to 24 beneficiaries as Rs 15,000 each, was allegedly siphoned off. Out of the 24 beneficiaries, 20 never existed and four never received any funds. Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Darshan Singh Shiwalik, MLA from Ludhiana, said, ”The Vidhan Sabha committee will meet all the concerned officers of the district administration to probe into who listed these 20 beneficiaries who existed only on paper and were never |
Eleven dengue cases reported
Ludhiana, July 21 Dr Sandeep Puri, medical superintendent of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said: “We have 11 patients in our hospital who are suffering from dengue. Out of these two -- Anita from Jamalapur and Shri Ram from Ishwar Nagar -- are from Ludhiana city.” The other nine patients are from Hoshiarpur and Mukatsar districts. Sources revealed that two patients were also
under treatment at Christian Medical College and Hospital. However, Dr Nitin Batta, deputy medical superintendent of the CMCH, denied the report saying, “We do not have any dengue patient in our hospital.” Following the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari, the district health department has already started “Chetna Lehar” for making people aware about preventive measures against dengue and other diseases which spread in rainy season like malaria, gastroenteritis, cholera etc.
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In the footsteps of Nek Chand
Ludhiana, July 21 On the grounds of Government College for Women, he has been creating a couple of sculptures for the past few months. “We are going to make them into nice sculptures symbolising feminity, natural beauty, freedom and reinvention,” says Praveen Kumar, lecturer of fine arts at the college. “At the start of the new academic session, the principal of the college wanted a nice work of art in the institute. So it was decided that we go the Nek Chand way,” says jubilant Praveen. “We are going to make eco-friendly sculptures with the use of recycled material. Waste ceramic and bangles would not only give the sculptures an expression, but also a natural colour that needs little maintenance.” This is only the beginning, as principal Gurminder Kaur is keen on beautifying the college, he says. Praveen has been trying to sensitise people about environmental issues through his art for years. While others are busy bursting firecrackers, Diwali and other events are occasions for him to create art for humanity. With messages about global warming and renouncement of crackers, he created a 16-ft globe using waste material. He made a 500 sq feet rangoli with similar messages on the previous Diwali. He’s working on a photographic project about the state of Buddha Nullah and the condition of children who work in its vicinity. Apart from holding solo shows, he has been working as part of the group of local artists holding art exhibitions under the name of ‘Dastak’. Talk to him about his handicap and he laughs it away. “It has been with me since childhood. It is a handicap in the eyes of others, but not for me. I work as well and as much as anybody else,” he says. “Nothing is a hurdle in front of strong will and hard work,” he adds. y Praveen has been trying to sensitise people about environmental issues through his art for years. While others are busy bursting firecrackers, Diwali and other events are occasions for him to create art for humanity. With messages about global warming and renouncement of crackers, he created a 16-ft globe using waste material.
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Dreaming of a future, they come to college
Gurvinder Singh
Ludhiana, July 21 The auditorium at the Government College for Women was jam packed as more than 500 young girls were seeing the college for the first time. They seemed to be absorbing all the nuggets of wisdom and advice that the "professors" were giving away. Chief guest Hira Singh Gabria, Cabinet Minister for Cultural Affairs, Jail and Stationery, welcomed the young scholars and showered accolades on the institution. "Kudi government college to padhi hai" (The girl has studied in government college) was an achievement and added qualification in itself. The toppers and achiever "seniors" were being honoured on the stage for bringing laurels to the college. At the end of the assembly the deluge of excited chirps, chats, smiles and discussions comes out and fill the campus only to mingle with the waiting seniors. "Leaving school, then deciding between colleges, courses, subjects following advice of friends, family and your own interests are the days of restlessness and finally its all over and it's our first day, we're excited," says Disha Kansal, who has joined B.Com. "Apart from getting a sneak peak into the course syllabi, I spent my last month preparing for college and shopping. I have got a new phone, new Activa, new dresses and new accessories", concurs beaming Ridham Chaudhary, another from B.Com "After wearing uniform suits for years at school, it's time for jeans, new tops, sandals and matching accessories" Ramanpreet Kaura, a BA final-year student being a counsel member is busy advising the new lot who are new to the atmosphere of college. "I had similar emotions when I joined. So I'm guiding them about the lectures, rules, regulations and timetables. I feel sad and excited at the same time as this is my las year in college." Saloni Dhawan from BA second year says, "We're going to welcome them soon with a nice freshers party. We are going to have interactions with them modelling and dancing" At the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women too preparations for the fresher's party is on as that is the time when freshers will interact with seniors.
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Affair proves costly for youth
Ludhiana July 21 Last night, Sukhminder Kaur called up Ranjit Singh to her house at Basti Jodhewal. After reaching her home, Ranjit was allegedly beaten-up by the father and brother of the girl. But the girl's parents called-up Ranjit’s parents and informed them that their son had come to their house to loot valuables and they had allegedly held him hostage.Following which, Ranjit 's parents went to the girl's house and found Ranjit in a serious condition. He had reportedly slipped into a coma and was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital. The police is investigating the matter and no case has been registered. — TNS
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Ludhiana, July 21 The team included Dr Anil Verma Malaria Officer, Manoj Khosla Food Inspetor and Harpreet Kaur. The team took samples of laddu, barfi, patisa, matri, gur, dal moong, sugar, salt etc from, Nanaksar, Kaunke Kalan, Mulanpur, Lohat Badi and Athur. — TNS
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238 examined at medical camp
Mandi Gobindgarh, July 21 Medicines were provided free of cost.Most patients were suffering from gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, leucorrhea, diabetes, joint pains, low-eye vision, skin disorders, anameia etc. Laboratory tests were performed free of cost.
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MC razes 50 illegal structures
Ludhiana, July 21 Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Kamaljit Kaur informed that some of the residents had constructed small rooms for keeping their power generators outside their flats on the street. “We had received several complaints in this regard and that is why the encroachments were removed today. In total, around 50 encroachments were razed. Some people had also installed grills outside their houses, which were also demolished,” stated the ATP. The residents rued that they were not given any prior information about this drive. But MC officials stated that they were warned before carrying out this drive. “One person had also kept a seven feet by five feet silent generator, used commercially, outside his flat. This had led to shrinkage of 20 feet wide road to 13 feet and people were finding it difficult to move their vehicles from there,” the ATP added. MC officials warned the owner of the generator and told him to keep it at some other place where it did not encroach the street. The owner called a crane and got the generator shifted to some other place. MC officials also demolished an under construction building in the Haibowal area. “The owner of this building had not got any permission from the MC, nor did he get the building plan approved. If any person is found guilty of encroachment we would take strict action against him,” warned ATP Kamaljit Kaur.
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Parking lot contractors fleece us, say residents
Puneet Pal Singh Gill Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 21
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35 unions to meet on July 31 in Ludhiana
To seek reinstatement of suspended officers Our Correspondent
Amloh, July 21 He made it clear that the officers were removed because the director had refused to withdraw the affidavit from the high court, so that 5,000 students admitted illegally by 51 unauthorised institutions should be allowed to sit in the ETT examination. It was alleged that the paper-leak drama of second semester's, paper VIII was hatched by the education minister and additional secretary (examinations) Sanjay Popli and a perusal of 100-page inquiry report had no mention from where the paper was leaked, who was responsible for the paper leak, who benefited from it? It is crystal clear that the paper was not leaked at all, Aulakh maintained. Earlier, the unions held a meeting on June 12, 2011, in Ludhiana and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to apprise him about the back ground of the suspension of three innocent officers. The circle education officer (CEO), Nabha, had relinquished the charge from Chandigarh on April 18 and had no link with the conduct of examination on May 11. Another meeting of 35 unions was held in Chandigarh on June 22, 2011.Then 3,000 employees and social workers across the state participated in a dharna on July 19, 2011 in Chandigarh and the Chief Minister's OSD Sukhjeet Singh Sidhu received the memorandum on the stage and assured an early meeting with the Chief Minister. The Government Teachers’ Union state chief Prem Kumar Kakkar, Government Lecturers Union state chief Sham Lal Sharma, SC,BC Teachers Union Baljit Singh, Aanganwari workers state secretary Harjit Kaur Panjola, ETT students union chief Kulwant Kaur, Kirti Kissan Union chief Prem Bhangoo, Advocate, Punjab DIET's chief Hussan Lal, ministerial staff chief Harnek Singh, Teachers Front representative Novneet Singh, Hakim Singh Khanora and other leaders have given assurance to intensify the stir, if suspension was not revoked and the time for meeting with the Chief Minister was not fixed, added Aulakh.
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School protests inaction against liquor vend
Ludhiana, July 21 According to Rudhra, the minister had summoned the district authorities and ordered immediate closure of the vend. Thereafter, the Punjab Education Minister had also passed similar
orders, but no action had been taken.
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Vanmahotsav celebrated
Through the photographs the students expressed their concern towards the devastation caused to Earth by pollution. Kirti House bagged top honours in the competition followed by Jyoti House and Jagriti House. In the individual category, Himani, Rishab and Abhinav stood first. Hanny, Sonakshi, Saurav and Gaurav shared the second prize while Rishav, Omesh and Gifty stood third. Hindi poem recitation contest
To enhance the recitation skills of children and to make them enjoy their mother tongue, a Hindi poem recitation competition was held for the students of Classes I and II of Kundan Vidya Mandir in the school auditorium. The function was presided over by principal Navita Puri. The judges were Kiran Kapoor and Sarita Maini from the KVM (city campus). RESULTS Class I: 1 Shivam Gupta, 2 Diya Sareen and 3 Pranika; Class II: 1 Anusha Sharma, 2 Nishtha Jain and Maleeza Thakur and 3 Reetanshi Kharbanda. — OC
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Gabria under fire
Former District Congress Committee president Krishan Kumar Bawa has asked Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to order a probe into allegations of amassing assets disproportionate to known sources of income against his cabinet colleague Hira Singh Gabria, which were levelled by SAD councillors. Addressing a worker meeting in Atam Nagar area, he said it would be prudent if Gabria offered to quit, declare property and other assets acquired during the past four-and-a-half years, and face an inquiry from an independent agency. He said if the Chief Minister or the minister concerned failed to take necessary action to bring the truth before the people, then it would be presumed that they had something to hide. Employment opportunities
The Indian Ex-Services League, headed by Col Bhag Singh, has been entrusted with the task of registration of all power consumers in Punjab, which is to be carried out by private sector company Spanco. For this purpose, the IEL would recruit thousands of educated youth, wards of ex-servicemen and retired junior engineers and linemen on July 25 and 26. The interviews for recruitment would be conducted at Bhai Randhir Singh Academy in BRS Nagar from 10 am to 2 pm, and preference would be given to ex-servicemen and their dependents. Dubai court’s decision hailed
Shahi Imam of Punjab Maulana Habib-ur-Rahman has hailed the decision of a Dubai court to commute the death sentence of 17 Indian nationals against their offer for blood money. In a news conference, he claimed that he was among the first persons and organisations to make a fervent appeal with the UAE Government and the Dubai court in April last year to consider the offer of blood money by the Indians facing death sentence as provided in the “Shariat” law. ‘SAD-BJP govt a failure’ District Congress Committee president Pawan Dewan on Thursday said the people of Punjab had made up their mind to make Capt Amarinder Singh the next Chief Minister of Punjab after defeating the corrupt SAD-BJP government. Addressing a public meeting in ward number 46 in Manohar Nagar area, Dewan said the Akali-BJP alliance had promised moon to people, but had failed to deliver even a penny. He said this government was surviving merely on the grants coming from the flagship programmes of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. — OC
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Two gangs of vehicle thieves busted
Malauadh, July 21 The suspects have been identified as Pritpal Singh of Ramgarh Sardaran village, Hardeep alias Happy of Goslan, Manjit Singh alias Gandhi of Roshiana , Avtar Singh Tari of Somal Kheri and Manjit Singh of Jhammat village in Ludhiana district. According to Dinesh Partap Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Khanna, the police had received information that some gangs of vehicle thieves had been active in the area for a long time. On receiving the information, DSP Payal Rattan Singh Brar, constituted an SIT headed by Ashok Kumar Sharma, SHO, Malaudh, to keep vigil on the activities of anti-social elements, including snatchers and thieves. Acting on the secret information, the police succeeded in nabbing the kingpin of one of the gang, Happy, and arrested three other members of his gang from different places. Four cars, including one Octra, three Maruti car and one Zen were recovered from their possession. Investigations revealed that the suspects had stolen these cars from various localities of Ludhiana city recently. They used to open locks of cars parked on roads and streets. A truck that was stolen from the outskirts of Jhammat village was recovered from Manjit Singh.
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Gang of robbers nabbed
Khanna, July 21 The alleged accused have been identified as Gurdeep Singh, Jatinder Singh and Amrik Singh, all residents of Madnipur village, and Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Mangewal village. The police has registered a case against them under Sections 458 and 459 of the IPC. The police also claimed to have recovered one dagger, one iron rod, one kirch and one motorcycle from their possession.
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Councillor held with 25 kg poppy husk
Khamano July 21 According to Rajpal Singh, SHO, Khamano, a police party of Khamano Police with the help of a narcotics team raided the tea stall of Amarjeet Singh Billa, present councilor of Ward no. 7 in the morning and recovered 25 kg poppy husk from his tea stall that was kept in a plastic bag. He was booked under the Narcotics Act and was presented in the court. He was running a tea stall near the gate of grain market for the past several years.
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Baseball trials
Ludhiana, July 21
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Ludhiana: In the course of Vanmahotsav week celebrations, students of Classes VI to VIII of Green Land Senior Secondary Public School (Jalandhar bypass) carried out a plantation drive. Palm saplings were planted in and around the school premises and an inter-house photography competition was also held.
