Jalandhar, September 28
Encouraged by the results of Road Safety-10 project in the city, World Health Organisation (WHO) has extended the project for a periof of four years.

There has been a decline of about 40 per cent in the rate of deaths in road accidents since the WHO-sponsored project was launched in the city in August last year. The project was launched to curb drunken driving, over speeding and spreading awareness on traffic rules.

Diljinder Singh Dhillon, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (special cell), said 3,500 offenders were challaned for drunken driving under the project so far. The rate of deaths in road accidents in Jalandhar city has witnessed a sharp decline of about 35-40 per cent from last year figures, he said.

The project, a brainchild of Michael R Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City and the world’s leading road safety philanthropist, is funded by his NGO. It was launched in 10 cities (where rate of deaths in road accidents was alarming) across the world including Jalandhar.

The city police, the enforcing agency, however has failed to check motorists on overspending in absence of laser cameras. The speed radars have failed to serve the purpose and the drive against offenders indulging in overspeeding had to be suspended.

Phagwara, September 28
Villagers have gone up in arms following the death of 17-year-old boy due to jaundice and several others falling ill to water-borne diseases in Basant Nagar village.

Hundreds of residents of Basant Nagar, led by former minister Joginder Singh Maan and PPCC secretary Kusum Sharma, sat on a dharna before the SDM office for two hours. The protesters submitted a memorandum to him.

After receiving the reports of the acute problem, Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Alaknanda Dayal rushed to Phagwara and visited the affected localities. She met residents and gave them a patient hearing to the problems. Residents pointed out the apathy of departments concerned against a factory, which allegedly releases polluted chemicals that gets mixed with their drinking water. The DC assured them of early action. She also ensured provision of clean drinking water, better sanitation and healthcare facilities to residents as soon as possible. She has also sought an explanation from the departments, including health, rural water supply, pollution board, and local bodies department.

SDM PP Singh said a five-member committee comprising BDPO, XENs of Pollution Board, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Senior Medical Officer, Phagwara, and General Manager, Industries, would investigate the entire matter. Residents even showed the contaminated water filled in bottles.

The DC also instructed officials to take fresh samples of contaminated water and sought early report of the results of the samples. She assured residents free medical treatment to the affected patients suffering from jaundice and other water-borne diseases. The DC said the pollution board had already served a notice to the factory owner and sought explanation by October 3.

17-year-old boy has died of jaundice and several others have fallen ill to water-borne diseases in Basant Nagar Hundreds of residents of Basant Nagar, led by former minister Joginder Singh Maan, stage a dharna before the SDM office Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Alaknanda Dayal rushed to Phagwara and visited the affected localities. She met residents and gave them a patient hearing to the problems She has also sought an explanation from the departments, including health, rural water supply, pollution board, and local bodies department

Jalandhar, September 28
With loose bare wires hanging from streetlight poles, the authorities perhaps have learnt no lessons even after the electrocution of photojournalist Akhilesh Kumar.

Dangling wires from streetlight poles could be seen on dividers on Tehsil Complex road, Police Lines road, Sodal Road and Kapurthala Road.

One such sight of negligence was seen outside the trauma ward of the Civil Hospital posing a risk to the lives of the patients, visitors and staff.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the next of the kin of the deceased photojournalist.

Jalandhar, September 28
A recent order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court fixing the responsibility of the SDMs concerned for mushrooming of illegal colonies is being taken as a big reprieve by the various civic body authorities.

The officials of the Municipal Corporation and Jalandhar Development Authority had been long claiming that since it were the SDMs or tehsildars or patwaris who had the access to details regarding land records and ownerships with them, they should be held accountable.

The JDA employees have been long claiming that even if they knew that some illegal colony was being carved out somewhere, they had to depend on the patwari to know the khasra or khewat numbers and names of the owners. Since such information was not taken on record from the patwari concerned, there have been at least two such instances in the recent past where in a wrong khasra number and land record detail was furnished to the JDA which resulted in dismissal of at least two such cases in the court. By the time, the officials realised the mistake, the coloniser was disappeared leaving the authorities helpless.

Officials of the JDA have also been claiming that they have been spending as much as Rs 8,000 to erect a single board in an unauthorised colony alerting buyers not to purchase land there.

Following the orders, the JDA officials have been quick enough to hand over their lists of illegal colonies to the SDMs concerned for a suitable action. The Municipal Corporation with its usual laidback attitude is still busy preparing reports even a week after the orders.

In a meeting called by Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti last week, the SDMs have been assigned the task so as to ensure that any new upcoming illegal colonies be razed. The SDMs have also sought the support of the civic bodies’ inspectors and field staff for the purpose. The orders came after a decision taken by the court on a CWP 12231 of 2011 titled Ramesh Kumar vs Punjab government and others.

Jalandhar, September 28
The 105th birthday of Shaheed Bhagat Singh was celebrated by hundreds of activists of the Sarv Bharat Naujawan Sabha and All-India Students Association by carrying out a march across the city.

Chanting slogans of 'Inquilaab Zindabad’, ‘Smarajwaad (Capitalism) Murdabaad’, youths toured the city to the beat of the dhol and gathered at the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall here this morning.

Volunteers said understanding Bhagat Singh in the context of the times and threats he witnessed, comparing them to the present-day scenario is necessary to effect a positive change in society.

Hundreds of volunteers dressed in red and sporting red flags marched across the city and used the occasion to raise their voice against the government policies favouring the big corporate houses and against the common people.

On the occasion, Sarv Naujawan Sabha’s Pirthipal Singh Marimegha also announced a rally, which will be taken out on November 17, the Martyrdom Day of freedom fighter Kartar Singh Sarabha.

All-India Students Federation chief Paramjit Dhaban also congratulated youths on the occasion.

Interestingly, women outnumbered men during the congregation.

Jalandhar, September 28
Punjab celebrates the legacy of the legendary Bhagat Singh.

Youth sport his moustache; stick Bhagat stickers on the backs of their ‘tashni’ vehicles, sport slogans by him on their cars, scooters and autos; and gloat on the films that talk about him.

But even as comrades, activists and intellectuals rightly point out that his ‘thoughts’ are what matter rather than a blind aping of what he looks like, The Tribune talks to a cross-section of people who have been inspired by the legendary freedom fighter.

Paramjit Singh, a resident from Khurla Kingra village, was spurred on to a life of love and reverence for Bhagat after he read an article about him in magazine in 1982.

“My thoughts changed. I became a different person. I realised there was more to me than being a Sikh, or a Punjabi or a village guy. I had a larger family and I had to identify it. I began day-to-day experiments implementing Bhagat Singh’s ideals in myself and my life began to get better and better,” says Singh.

Paramjit, who pursues labour and farming as an occupation, is probably more well-read than many of the so-called well-heeled and well-read people around.

“I read, I write and share what I read about the lofty ideals if the freedom fighters with others. What Bhagat wrote at such a small age (a reference to Bhagat Singh’s article – Main Nastik Kyun Haan – Why I Am An Atheist) still holds true even to the present scenario. He was one of the greatest thinkers of all time and I feel sad that he is usually portrayed just as a Sikh or an Arya Samaji or a larger than life freedom hero while his perspective and ideology are conveniently given a miss by the media,” he says.

“By the white or black, Bhagat just didn’t want the country to be looted. That is a pertinent pint that people miss out on today,” Paramjit Singh quipped.

Kunal Kohli, activist of a local group that gets its name from the freedom fighters, sports a Bhagat and Chandrashekhar moustache. He says, “I seek inspiration both from Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad. Both these freedom fighters worked together. I think if we adopt their ideals our society would be a totally different place. No one scared the British like Bhagat did. Such intensity is required in this generation and also the zeal to uplift the poor.”

Varun Gupta, a sales executive, has been inspired by Bhagat Singh since he was a child. “My very life has been driven by him. I believe the contribution of Bhagat to the Indian freedom movement is unparalleled. Since my teenage days, during the birth and death anniversaries of Bhagat Singh, I and my friends used to gather together to deliberate on his contributions to the society.”

“Some years down the line, I would like to help the poor and downtrodden the way he did. He has taught me fearlessness,” he added.

Phagwara, September 28
As many as 164 exporters were awarded and honoured by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal during the Northern Region Award function organised by the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) here today.

Addressing the function attended by more than 400 representatives from the large, medium, and small-scale enterprises, Deputy Chief Minister said the northern region has played a pivotal role in promoting the engineering capabilities of the country in the international market.

He appreciated the northern sector for contributing 26 per cent share in the total export of the country.

Aman Chadha, chairman, EEPC, and Kamna Raj Aggarwal, regional chairperson, EEPC, appreciated the government’s role in boosting engineering exports of the country.

Though they expressed concern for the drop in exports due to the global downturn, they said despite the downward trends, new opportunities were also emerging both globally and in the country.

They stressed the need for team work between the government and the educational institutes.

Several exporters urged the government to amend the policies to promote the export of the country. Punjab Revenue and Information Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Som Parkash were also present at the function.

Jalandhar, September 28
The School of Hospitality of Lovely Professional University celebrated World Tourism Day in collaboration with the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board.

Mini World food Mart was organised on its conclusive day, where display of more than 50 international cuisines was held.

During many competitions organised, students from the School of Hospitality revealed proficiency in different cooking styles, fashions, tastes and other habits existing in the world.

More than 200 students prepared highly appreciated international dishes, including Italian, American, Canadian, British, Korean, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Australian, Lebanese, Nepalese, Indian, and many others.

The event also showcased various tourism destinations through unique fashion shows.

Many of the university’s international students also participated and showcased their food and culture.

The conclusion of the event witnessed prize-distribution ceremony for the best appearances in dance, fashion shows, rangoli, quiz and cuisine preparing competitions.

Jalandhar, September 28
Having lost a stiff battle within the party for the post of Mayor, Ravi Mahendru today said he hailed the decision of the BJP Core Committee in choosing Sunil Jyoti for the post.

“I respect the decision. The party must have felt that he is more deserving. They would have seen some weak point in me,” he said not clearly defining what he thought it could be.

He said there was no division within the party in the run-up to the elections. While Mahendru was dubbed as MLA Manoranjan Kalia’s man, Jyoti was seen on the other side of the camp under MLA KD Bhandari.

He concluded saying that maintaining a true sportsman spirit, he would continue to serve as a loyal soldier of the party and perform whatever task he was assigned.