Ludhiana, February 9
The audit department has pulled up the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) for not recovering dues worth Rs 24.48 crore from allottees of residential, commercial and institutional properties, a major portion of which pertains to the period prior to March 2007.

A copy of the internal and external audit report of GLADA for the year 2010-11 obtained under the RTI Act by the Council of RTI Activists states that the estate office failed to take timely and effective steps to recover the dues against residential, commercial and institutional sites allotted in various schemes developed by PUDA/GLADA.

The report noted that the outstanding amount against the allotment of houses of various categories at the end of March 2011 was Rs 1,456.85 lakh and Rs 328.40 lakh against residential plots. Default amount against commercial properties was Rs 272.42 lakh while allottees of institutional sites owed GLADA Rs 101.53 lakh. Under the sites allotted or sold under the “optimum use of vacant government land scheme”, the outstanding amount was Rs 287.40 lakh.

While the outstanding amount under the allotment of houses and sale of residential and commercial plots had recorded a slight decrease as compared to the previous financial year, it had gone up in cases of allotment of institutional sites and land sold under the OUVGL scheme.

The audit report had made an observation that as per the general terms and conditions of allotment of houses and plots, the allottees had to deposit 25 per cent of the total cost (including earnest money) within 30 days of allotment while the balance 75 per cent was required to be paid in instalments along with the interest.

In an interim reply to the audit objection, the GLADA authorities have stated that efforts were being made to recover the dues. “Notices as per the terms and conditions of the sale or allotment of the sites have been issued to the defaulting allottees and the process for the recovery of the dues is on,” officials maintained.

Ludhiana, February 9
Taking suo motu action over the reported harassment faced by the public due to some officials coming late on duty at the Sub-Registrar’s office yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari today reprimanded revenue officials for dereliction of duty.

The Deputy Commissioner said: “Negligence in duty will not be tolerated. Either the tehsildar or the naib-tehsildar should have reported on duty on time so that hundreds of people coming from far-off areas for getting their land deals registered were not caused inconvenience unnecessarily.”

In a report published yesterday, The Tribune had highlighted that hundreds of people who had visited the Sub-Registrar’s office had to face inconvenience as both the tehsildar and naib-tehsildar reached the office two hours late.

The other staff members at the office also refused to provide them with tokens for queues.

Ludhiana, February 9
Jumping in the controversy of imposing a ban on bullock-cart races, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, said strict action would be taken against those found using bulls during any event at the Kila Raipur rural games.

A communique issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ashish Choudhary, read: “It has come to my notice that in the periphery of the Police Commissionerate Ludhiana, bullock-cart races are held during the rural sports at Kila Raipur and the animals suffer much cruelty. The Government of India has already banned it by issuing a gazetted notification in July 2011.”

Meanwhile, in response to the bull races planned to be held at the Rural Olympics in Kila Raipur from February 9 to 12, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has sent letters to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, and Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, for imposing a ban on bullock-cart races.

Ludhiana, February 9
Department stores in the city are flouting norms by not displaying the rate list of essential commodities outside their stores. Some big stores selling general goods also refuse to sell small quantities of items like pulses and oil.

A survey in the city revealed that a majority of retail department stores do not display the rate list. As a result, the shops are selling goods at varying prices.

The district food and civil supply department seems to have turned a blind eye to this practise. Jagtar Singh, a resident of Kabir Colony, said although it was mandatory to exhibit a rate list of essential commodities like pulses, rice, sugar, ghee and tea, most shopkeepers were not doing so. Even the authorities were not taking any action against them.

Some shops are not selling loose commodities as they are packed.

“I went to a shop to buy 250 gm of rice, but I was told that they do not sell it loose and have a packing of 1 kg, 2 kg and 5 kg rice. I earn less and cannot afford to buy large quantities of rice. I have to buy ration from shops located in other areas. Shops in posh localities do not sell commodities loose,” said Deena Nath, a daily wage earner.

“The prices should be pasted outside the shops and the department should regularly check the list,” said Balbir Kaur, a resident.

Ludhiana, February 9
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has issued a notification regarding the speedy disposal of income tax refunds. A notification issued by the CBDT lists steps to clear the backlog.

An official from the department said in all returns (ITR-1 to ITR-6), where the difference between the tax deduction at source (TDS) claim and matching TDS amount reported in Form No. 26 (AS) data did not exceed Rs 1 lakh, the TDS claim might be accepted without verification. If the TDS did not match the claim of the assesse, the credit shall be allowed only after verification. However, in case of returns of ITR-1 and ITR-2 forms, credit might be allowed in full, even if there was zero matching if the total TDS claimed was Rs 5,000 or lower.

But if there were TDS claims with invalid TAN, TDS credit would not be allowed. 

Ludhiana, February 9
Cocking a snook at the orders issued by Commissioner of Police Ishwar Chander, prohibiting the overloading of vehicles ferrying schoolchildren, several auto-rickshaw drivers and school vans continue to carry children much beyond the stipulated seating capacity.

Even the death of Gagandeep Singh, who died on January 6 after falling from an overloaded auto-rickshaw, has failed to change things. More than a month after the incident, the practise of overloading carries on unchecked.

Thirtyfive children travelling in a school van were injured in an accident near the jail road on December 22.

The High Court ruling that auto-rickshaws can ferry only six children at a time is being violated blatantly. An average auto-rickshaw has a seating capacity of seven to eight children, but often, as many as 15 children are seen in the three-wheelers.

Several ingenious drivers have created extra room for children by making them sit where luggage is supposed to be kept. Some others make small children sit in the laps of bigger students or make them sit on a narrow board on the side, forcing them to hang out of the vehicle. Such children face serious risk due to heavy traffic on the city roads.

It is not just overloading, but also rash driving that makes the journey of the schoolchildren unsafe. In summer, it becomes suffocating for tiny tots who return home in stuffed vans.

Such vehicles can be seen passing the mini secretariat, Police Lines, Fountain Chowk and Clock Tower. But the police present at these intersections does not take action against the auto-rickshaw drivers and school vans.

Ludhiana, February 9
Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by district president Rajeev Katna, organised a dharna at the Jagraon Bridge here today.

Addressing the protesters, Health and Family Welfare minister Satpal Gosain demanded the arrest of those who attacked district vice-president Sanjay Kapoor on January 30 during elections.

Ludhiana, February 9
In an attempt to promote artisans, the Union Ministry of Rural Development will organise the 12-day Saras mela at the Government College For Women from March 10.

Artisans from about 28 states will take part in the event and exhibit their products while artistes from the North Zone Cultural Centre will present cultural items.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari convened a preparatory meeting with officials at the Bachat Bhavan today.

He said Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Pradeep Aggarwal would be the regional mela officer and SDM (East) Ajay Sood the assistant regional mela officer.

Tewari said, “Announcements are being made through various channels so that people from rural areas come to witness the event.”

He added, “The administration is making arrangements for the stay and security of artisans. Departments have been entrusted duties to make the event successful.”

Aggarwal said stalls of eatables from various states and swings for children would be put up during the mela.

Fashion show
The department of dance, home science, fashion designing and cosmetology, Ramgarhia Girls College, Miller Ganj, organised the annual fashion show here today. Students of the department performed to enthral the audience. Principal Narinder Sandhu extended a warm welcome to guests.

Two-day workshop
A two-day workshop on various techniques of water and acrylic colours was started for undergraduate fine arts students at the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, here today. Rakesh Kumar Sen from the Lucknow Fine Arts College enthused students to involve deeply into art of life and life of art. Highlighting the importance of art he guided the students about various branches of fine arts. — TNS

Ludhiana, February 9
The book fair organised at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is attracting a number of students.

Students are flocking to sections comprising books pertaining to technical subjects like nanotechnology, biotechnology, and genetic cyber crime and other in future technologies. Many students and bibliophiles admitted that, book fairs are the best places to seek real knowledge.

Avreet Kaur, a student of PAU, said: “I have attended a number of book fairs but I am surprised to see the collection of books here. Book sellers from across the country are selling books on various stalls. A good collection of advanced technology books is attracting researchers.”

“Foreign editions of some special books are good. These books are not easily available in the market,” said Harmeet Singh, another student.

“Though one can browse through online content and journals, but the experience of book fairs is unique. Good books in paper form are the best for doing study and research for long than browsing online,” says Radhika.

Dr JK Sangha, Librarian, PAU, said, “Such an occasion is always looked forward by the academic community and book lovers. Books on subjects such as food processing, organic farming, mass communication, food and environment security, business management and engineering have been displayed in the fair.

Doraha, February 9
To encourage the efforts put in by students of Green Grove Public School and promote their talents, an exhibition was organised at the school today.

Students showcased their projects and models for parents. The budding scientists presented creative ideas.

Various informative models, charts and projects were prepared. The visitors were absorbed in the creative and attractive working models of science.

These included ‘Modern Method of Irrigation’, ‘Burglar Alarm’, ‘Solar Cooker, Water Level Indicator’, ‘Congruence of Triangles, ‘Quadrilaterals’, ‘Prime Numbers’, ‘Highways of India’ and ‘Soil Profile’.

There were other interesting projects like ‘The Journey of English Language’ and stories depicting ‘Fox and the Grapes’ and ‘The Thirsty Crow’.

The art exhibits included ‘Glass Painting’, ‘Tile and Clay Work’ and ‘Doll House with Ice-Cream Sticks’.

Ludhiana, February 9
The three-day annual cultural event ‘Ectopia-2012’ kicked off at the Dumra auditorium of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) 
here today.

During the festival, undergraduate medical students would participate in various talent hunt competitions.

The first day witnessed competitions in painting on the theme ‘Fantasy’ and face-painting. The students were seen enthusiastic about the event.

They came up with vibrant ideas on the theme. The preliminary round of a quiz was also organised. The cultural programme would conclude on February 11.

Ludhiana, February 9
Thieves struck at a sanitary shop located in the Saelm Tabri area and fled with sanitary goods, cash, mobile phones and recharge coupons worth Rs 2 lakh.

The incident came to light here this morning when Bharti Sood, owner of Model Sanitary Shop, opened the shop and was shocked to find it ransacked.

He further informed the police about the incident. In his complaint, Bharti stated that the thieves trespassed into the shop by breaking the door located on the rooftop and fled with goods.

Ludhiana, February 9
Thieves struck at a gurdwara located on the premises of jail guards residential quarters near Central Jail on the Tajpur road here today.

The theft came to light in the morning when jail officials visited the gurdwara before a change of duty.

Dilbag Singh, president of the Punjab Jail Guard Association, said the thieves entered the gurdwara after breaking the locks. They fled with cash after breaking open the donation box at the gurdwara.

Dilbag Singh said the loss could have been more if the thieves had struck on Monday.

“We had collected the cash lying in the donation box on Tuesday. The thieves might have got away with only a few hundred rupees,” he said.

The incident has again brought to the fore the fact that the area surrounding the jail is unsafe and infested with anti-social elements.

Phillaur, February 9
Manjit Kaur allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison at her in-laws’ house in Mau-Sahib village past night. Sukhdev Singh, her brother, alleged that her sister was being tortured physically and mentally by her husband for dowry. Her husband Amrik Singh refuted the charge.