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City gets a ‘groomed’ Mayor in Sunil Jyoti
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Solar power plant to be new attraction in Science City
School health programme gets a push with new postings
Cops get tips on road safety measures
Nadira comes to town with ‘Yaar Bana Buddy’
Man dies of burns while lighting bidi
Ex-policeman killed in hit-and-run case
Labourer falls off moving train, injured
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City gets a ‘groomed’ Mayor in Sunil Jyoti
Jalandhar, September 25 Jyoti remained attached with Rathour like his shadow since the past five years, accompanying him to all his political engagements the day through. Jyoti also accompanied Rathour during the latter’s routine evening visits to the MC office and closely observed his style of working. It was this experience that made him fully verse with the system and functioning of the office. In lieu of imparting this hands-on training, the Ward 5 councillor Jyoti extended his support to Rathour in managing and silencing the opposition in his favour, owing to which the previous Mayor did not face any major resistance from the Congress or even within his team during any of the meetings in the past five years. Besides, Jyoti had been a member of the Finance and Contracts Committee for two tenures wherein he enjoyed the power to accept or reject any bids proposed by contractors. The relationship between Rathour and former Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia had remained strained almost throughout. Kalia, who held the portfolio at the time of Rathour’s appointment five years ago, was instead favouring the appointment of his confidant Ravi Mahendru. Mahendru and Rathour had also been on loggerheads over the issue of formation of hand tool cluster for which the MC was to offer some land. It was for such reasons that Rathour never wanted Mahendru to take the seat he was leaving. Sidelights
The names of candidates chosen for the posts of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor were kept secret by the parties till the last moment. It was almost half an hour before the announcement of the names that Manoranjan Kalia and Ravi Mahendru seemed a bit gloomy and things seemed to have gone out of their hands. On the contrary, KD Bhandari and Jyoti were seen exchanging smiles with one another. Kalia remained on the scene till Jyoti was made to sit on the throne but he did not hog limelight unlike
Bhandari. Local Bodies Minister Bhagat Chunni Lal remained neutral throughout the Mayoral polls, not showing his favoritism for any of the candidates. Before the ceremony, a breakfast meeting was held at Kamal Palace where all leaders counselled the councillors to maintain their cool and adhere to the orders of party high command even if they do not get the post they have been expecting. In the MC office, the arrangements were much better than during such ceremonies in previous years. Nobody was allowed without frisking. Two ADCPs were present with a heavy posse of the police. In the meeting hall, the councillors were made to sit ward wise. The seats were numbered after wards 1 to 60. This helped officials know as to which councillors were still to come. Ward 59 councillor Darshan Lal was the last to come when the oath ceremony of all other councillors was over. He was about half an hour late. Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar administered oath to him separately. Raminder Kaur Dhindsa reached just in the nick of time. There were 11 councillors of the SAD, 19 of the BJP and six MLAs who participated in the election. These included Bhagat Chunni Lal, Manoranjan Kalia, KD Bhandari, Pargat Singh, Pawan Tinu and Sarwan Singh Phillaur. This made a total number of 36 out of 60 in favour of the
SAD-BJP. Jyoti’s name was proposed by Pargat Singh, that of Kamaljit Bhatia by KD Bhandari and of Arvinder Oberoi by Manoranjan
Kalia. Other senior leaders from the ruling alliance who attended the elections were Manjit Singh Rai and Sewa Singh
Sekhwan. Sunil Jyoti was hugged and congratulated by two ex-Mayors – Rakesh Rathour and Suresh Sehgal, both of whom attended the function. Arguments ensued between the SAD and BJP leaders during the throning ceremony of
Jyoti. Jyoti paid obeisance at Devi Talab Temple and Annapurna Temple. His Priority list
Listing out his priorities, Jyoti said, “On the top, it will be cleanliness of the city. Secondly, it will be to improve the administration and regular attendance of the staff. I will visit the MC office at random hours to ensure the same. Starting solid waste management project, of course with consents of the unions, will be the next point on agenda. Furthering Chandan Nagar RUB will be the next issue.” He added, “Requesting schools to lend their grounds to students to play in morning and evening hours too would remain high on my agenda”. He said Rathour had set very high standards for him to follow and he just hoped he could match those. Similarities with his predecessor
Like his predecessor, the newly-appointed Mayor Sunil Jyoti too is an industrialist and a passionate cricket player. While the previous Mayor, Rakesh Rathour, owned a valves factory, Jyoti owns a factory manufacturing parts for conveyor chains used in sugar mills. His factory Trived Industries is situated close to his residence at Vij Nagar near Doaba Chowk. While Rathour had played in the Ranji Trophy, the 54-year-old Jyoti used to play cricket under a club ARS Sports Society wherein BJP MLA KD Bhandari was his teammate. “That is where we initially came into each other’s contact,” said Jyoti, while interacting with mediapersons at his place this evening. On his Mentor
A graduate, Jyoti termed local leader Harish Sally his mentor. “Had I not come across that man, I would not have joined the BJP. It was his style of working that impressed me and changed the image of a politician I had in my mind at that time. Sally is currently in the United States of America”. |
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Solar power plant to be new attraction in Science City
Kapurthala, September 25 PGSC Director General Dr RS Khandpur said, “The 100-KW solar power plant will be opened for the general public after its formal inauguration by Punjab Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh on Thursday.” Khandpur further stated, “The power plant is a real-life demonstration for the use of non-polluting solar energy. This plant is designed in such a way that it directly feeds power to the main grids and does not make use of battery bank. So, no cost will be incurred in future in maintenance of this power plant.” The plant has been set up with a cost of Rs 1.5 crore out. The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has contributed Rs 40 lakh as subsidy. Khandpur said, “The state-level energy education and awareness park has been set up in PGSC to create awareness and motivate people to use renewable sources of energy. The Energy Park derives its total power requirement from the already set up 20-KW solar power plant. The Energy Park was sponsored by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.” The PGSC DG further said, “The Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) has recently approved a grant of Rs 10 lakh to the Science City for educational games in the Energy Park under PCRA scheme ‘Learn While You Play’.” The PCRA is an organisation working under the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Claiming that the PGSC is putting up lot of efforts to create awareness in society about the use of renewable energy, Khandpur said, “The Science City is shortly opening a unique theatre on climate change which will have multi-screen, multi-object and multi-effect features.” The ‘Climate Change Theatre’ gallery will provide a one-of-its-kind experience to the visitors. This multi-screen theatre will outline serious and contemporary challenges posed by climate change. The show will take visitors around the globe to explore the implications of a warming planet. The aim is to enable visitors have a better understanding and appreciation for the latest climate science and the issues surrounding the human role in climate change. “A few months earlier, a ‘Panorama - Life Through Ages’ was added to the Science City which is providing an insight into the evolution on Earth and subsequently life on it,” he said. The panorama has been divided into 16 sections, demonstrating the major events from Big Bang, origin of life, multi-cellular animals/plants, dinosaurs and pre-historic man to modern man through 2D, 3D models, background paintings along with landscaping, providing a wide-angle view of the event. Each section defines an important event in the development of life on Earth.
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School health programme gets a push with new postings
Jalandhar, September 25 Even as the clinic’s OPD services have resumed after ages, the school health programme has a lot of catching up to do. The dispensary had no District Dental Officer for two years. School health staff said there were 2,10,202 schoolchildren in the entire district. The student strength for the urban programme (52 schools which are directly catered to by the School Health Clinic) stands between 12,000 and 15,000. There are many visible patterns of problems among schoolchildren and the health department machinery certainly needs an aggressive approach to counter various ailments haunting the young generation. Distribution of spectacles
Under Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, the target for distribution of spectacles among schoolchildren as per the National Blindness Control Programme is 5,019. But so far, only 1,280 spectacles have been distributed in the district this year. Out of these, 478 spectacles have been distributed in August. Among the urban schools, only 239 spectacles have been distributed this year and among these too, as many as 213 were distributed in August alone. Given the stats, the staff has to meet quite a hefty target in the coming months. Also, of the two ophthalmic officers asked to report at the dispensary (each has to report for three days of the week), only one (Dr Sushil Kumar) has begun reporting so far. Tetanus toxoid vaccinations
The clinic is also way behind in meeting tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination targets. TT vaccines are administered to all children in the ages 5, 10 and 16, in the district. In the entire district, only 783 (for children aged 10), 1,131 (for those aged 16) and 351 (for those aged 5) TT vaccines have been administered so far in August. In the remaining three months, the school programme staff has a lot on its hands. Psychological disorders
There is a total lack of foresight on the part of the government as far as handling the ailing mental health of the youth is concerned. Schools do not have counsellors despite desperate need. Doctors and schoolteachers in general report rise in addiction and hence the need for psychological counselling for schoolchildren across the district. Especially, an increasing number of students in Class 10 and above have been falling prey to addiction. School health staff said they had referred plenty of children to the psychiatrist at the Civil Hospital. While some have duly visited the doctors, problem is posed by a number of children who do not visit a psychiatrist despite a referral. Incidentally, the school clinic got a post of an ARSH Clinic doctor (Dr Simranjeet) only a year ago. Anaemia
School health doctors said malnutrition and anaemia are also a growing cause of concern as far as ailments tormenting schoolchildren are concerned. While 2,917 anaemic children have been referred for treatment across the district, 591 of these come under the urban (52) schools covered by the School Health Clinic. Dental troubles
Now that the school clinic has started functioning, a daily OPD should have started. But it’s OPDs are held only on Thursdays. Though doctors say the OPDs will soon start functioning and patients have already started arriving at the clinic. Also, the compressor for the dental chair at the clinic hasn’t been working. Dental Officer Dr Jatinder Kaur said, “We have written to the Civil Surgeon’s office and we hope to get the compressor repaired soon. Patients have begun flowing in and in fact we are also going to make sure the dental troubles of the adults in the neighbourhood are also addressed.” Medical Officer Dr Anirudh said, “Work at the dispensary had begun and supplies had been arranged. Now that the staff strength is complete, we hope to bring great results this year.” Grey areas
Rising addiction; running behind targets in Tetanus toxoid vaccinations and distribution of spectacles Against the target of 5019, only 1,280 spectacles have been distributed in district so far. Dental chair also non-functional due to pending repair work |
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Cops get tips on road safety measures
Jalandhar, September 25 The workshop, which was held in association with the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), highlighted the “Road Safety (RS) 10” pilot project. As many as 40 police personnel from various police stations and traffic police in the city took part. The workshop was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and facilitated by World Health Organisation (WHO) and GRSP. The purpose of the workshop was to provide support to the ‘Enhanced Enforcement’ programme to check drunken driving and accidents on Indian roads. Police personnel were given special tips on traffic enforcement and road safety measures by Des Myers, an International trainer on traffic enforcement from Russia. Interacting with the media, Myers said the police-public partnership was a must to minimise road accidents. He felt the police should utilise its force and equipment in a good manner. He also urged the public to follow traffic rules and cooperate with the police on roads. Police Commissioner Gaurav Yadav said WHO had chosen Hyderabad and Jalandhar for road safety project in 2011. The project had shown good results in the last two years. While releasing data of numbers of fatal accidents which caused deaths, the Commissioner said in 2010, 177 road mishaps took place in which 185 persons lost their lives. In 2011, 79 mishaps took place and 80 persons lost their lives. The Commissioner further said till June in 2012, only 44 deaths have been reported in the city. “Decreasing number of road accidents and deaths clearly shows that RS 10 project is being implemented in good spirit by the city police,” he added. He further revealed that the police was also sternly dealing with drunken driving as about 3,000 challans had already been issued by the city police since April.
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Nadira comes to town with ‘Yaar Bana Buddy’
Jalandhar, September 25 Marked by a cast comprising Bollywood actors Yashpal Sharma, Sajjad Khan and Rajesh Balwani, the play talked about how material interests dwarf relationships in the greed-ridden lives that we lead today. Jaydeep Wankhehde (Khan), Mithilesh (Sharma) and Kartik Kothari (Balwani) play the three ‘yaars’. Wankhede’s loved Rs 1-crore artistic wonder – a pot he brought from Japan – becomes a bone of contention that slowly causes a rift between him and Mithilesh. Disagreement leads to animosity and slowly the friends even stop talking to each other – all over a pot from Japan. But the seemingly simple-minded Kartik then slowly acts as a bridge between the two, reminding them of the bonds shared. The both are finally pacified and the pot, finally, is kept as a token to remind them of the cause that got them apart but finally brought back together to share a relationship that is way more strengthened than before. Sharma’s act was loved by the crowds. Lapped up by the LPU crowds, the play saw Babbar’s first visit in the university. The play was written and directed by Babbar. Talking to The Tribune on why she chose this very play for her Punjab visit, she said, “Since it is based on the relationship between friends, I thought it is an international theme which will certainly be loved by the modern youth. The response of the LPU crowds was certainly amasing.” When asked about what should people like cities like Jalandhar do to keep theatre alive, given the relative lack of exposure here, she said, “The most important thing is to keep on doing theatre. Coming up with new themes and keeping at it.” When asked where she thought Indian theatre stood at this point of time, she said, “Theatre in India has certainly improved, but we are still have a lot to work on. Growth is there, but not as much as one would expect. And for that matter India is lagging behind on many counts in other artistic fields too.” Responding on queries regarding lack of craze for theatre as compared to films, among the public in general, she said, “Government grants to uphold theatre and performing arts is a must. Theatrical subsidies and promotion of culture is the need of the hour.” Wife of film actor Raj Babbar, Nadira Babbar has been known for the legendary productions she has doled out for Indian theatre aficionados with her Ekjut Theatre Group. A 1971 NSD pass-out, she later went to Germany on a scholarship. A Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner, she has also worked with legendary theatre persons Jerzy Grotowski and Peter Brooks. Staged to perfection
The play was written and directed by Babbar Marked by a cast comprising Bollywood actors Yashpal Sharma, Sajjad Khan and Rajesh Balwani, the play talked about how material interests dwarf relationships in the greed-ridden lives that we lead today Lapped up by the LPU crowds, the play saw Babbar’s first visit to the university. |
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Man dies of burns while lighting bidi
Jalandhar, September 25 The moment he tried to light his bidi, his clothes caught fire and he sustained serious burns. The deceased was identified as Man Bahadur (75), a native of Nepal. Deceased’s wife Shanti Devi claimed on Monday night, her husband, who had consumed excessive liquor, was sitting on a cot at his room. In an inebriated state, he attempted to light his bidi with a match stick, but unfortunately his clothes caught fire, she said. After hearing his screams, she went to the room and found him engulfed in fire. “I immediately informed our neighbour about the incident who took the victim to the Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead,” she said. Acting on the statement of the deceased’s wife, the police initiated the inquest proceeding under Section 174 of the CrPC. |
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Ex-policeman killed in hit-and-run case
Jalandhar, September 25 The deceased, identified as Satnam Singh, a resident of Mota Singh Nagar, was returning home on his scooter when he was hit by a speeding car from behind, police sources said. The impact of the collision was huge. He sustained serious head injuries. Satnam Singh got retired from the Punjab Police as head constable. The errant driver fled after the accident. Sources said passersby took the victim to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The police has started an investigation. Fatal end
Satnam Singh, a resident of Mota Singh Nagar, was returning home on his scooter when he was hit by a speeding car from behind. The car driver flees He had retired as head constable from the Punjab Police |
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Labourer falls off moving train, injured
Jalandhar September 25 The victim was identified as Des Raj, a native of Bihar. He told the Government Railway Police (GRP) that he had come to drop his relatives at the railway station, who were to board a train for Bihar. “When the train arrived, I started putting my relative’s luggage in the train. In the meantime, the train received a green signal and started moving. When I attempted to get down from the train, I lost balance and fell,” the victim told the police. Meanwhile, 108 ambulance was called and the victim was rushed to the hospital. His condition is stated to be out of danger. |
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Jyoti, who was elected Mayor here today, during Rakesh Rathour’s tenure as Mayor paid him well and helped him succeed on the post.
A new attraction in the shape of a solar power plant will soon be added to the Pushpa Gujral Science City
(PGSC), which has already attracted over 24 lakh visitors since its inauguration in March 2005.
The posting of staff at the School Health Clinic, Basti Gujan, a month back has brought back cheers to the languishing school health activity in the district.
Even as the clinic’s OPD services have resumed after ages, the school health programme has a lot of catching up to do. The dispensary had no District Dental Officer for two years.
School health staff said there were 2,10,202 schoolchildren in the entire district.
Noted theatre person Nadira Babbar on Wednesday delighted the crowds at Lovely Professional University as she brought her zany play
'Yaar Bana Buddy' for the university audience.