Jagraon, November 30
A class VII student of a private school was seriously injured when the gate of a private eye hospital fell on him during an eye check-up camp organised in the hospital.

The incident took place at around 11 am today. The injured has been identified as 14-year-old Depinderdeep Singh, a student of a private school at Mullanpur Dakha. Deepinderdeep hails from Changal village.

Sources said Deepinderdeep received critical injuries on his head. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Ludhiana from where he was referred to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

Sources in the DMCH said the condition of Deepinderdeep was critical and he was put on a ventilator in the ICU of the hospital.

Victim’s grandfather Darshan Singh said the school authorities informed them about the incident.

"Deepinderdeep has been put on a ventilator and is unconscious. The doctors told me that Deepinderdeep’s condition is critical," said Darshan Singh.

Ludhiana, November 30
The cash-strapped Ludhiana Municipal Corporation may not have funds to clear the dues of contractors carrying out development works in the city, but it is spending lakhs on the fuel that their official cars consume.

The MC Commissioner, Joint Commissioners and other officials are wasting public money as their vehicles are consuming more fuel than their prescribed limit of 290 litres per month.

Information procured under the RTI Act revealed that many senior MC officials exceeded the prescribed limit of 290 litres, which had cost the civic body Rs 2.65 lakh.

In a letter issued by the Accountant General (Audit), Punjab, it has been stated that the excess expenditure should be recovered from the officials concerned.

Ludhiana, November 30
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has accused the management of a religious place in Sarabha Nagar of encroaching upon a portion of Guru Nanak Public School Road.

The matter was brought to the notice of the civic body’s building branch by a resident of the area. MC officials visited the spot and urged the managing committee of that religious place to stop the illegal construction.

However, the managing committee of the religious place termed the construction legal. The committee members said they were renovating the structure and claims made by the MC building branch were baseless.

When contacted, Subhash Duggal, president of the committee managing this religious place, refuted the allegations and said they were renovating the structure. “Some area residents have been harassing us. The building branch officials had visited the spot yesterday to inspect the structure. We told them that the construction would go on as we were not flouting rules. Moreover, if MC officials think that there is encroachment on the road, they can come and take measurements,” claimed Duggal.

A building branch official said the managing committee members had submitted a building plan in 2008. “But it could not be cleared because the plan was not as per the building bylaws. We had gone to inspect the spot yesterday evening, but the managing committee members challenged and said they would not stop the construction,” said the official.

Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said for him, all religious places were same. “If any religious place in Sarabha Nagar is involved in illegal construction, it must be stopped. If the managing committee members should get the building plan sanctioned,” added the Mayor.

Ludhiana, November 30
At last, the Northern Railway authorities have put in motion the process for reopening of the refreshment room at platform number one which is lying closed for the past more than 10 months.

Barring any procedural hiccups, the refreshment room might become operational again in January and passengers can look forward to have freshly cooked meals and snacks at moderate prices.

Senior railway officials said that tenders inviting bids for refreshment room at the Ludhiana railway station along with Amritsar and Jalandhar (all Category-A stations) have been invited from catering contractors. The bid documents and detailed tender notice have been uploaded at the railway website. The bids will be received till January 4, 2013, and opened immediately thereafter, the officials said.

However, going by the rates of meals, snacks and beverages sold at the refreshment room, which are fixed by the railway authorities, the annual contract amount for Ludhiana at Rs 15.60 lakh seems on a high side, feel some of the prospective bidders. Requesting anonymity, a former railway contractor said the previous contractor, who had been running the refreshment room for several years, had quit after persistent losses as he was unable to recover even his input cost when the monthly lease money was around Rs 30,000.

“With almost four times hike in the lease money, the chances that someone would come forward to run the refreshment room are thin unless a proportionate increase in sale prices of food items and beverages are allowed, the contractor said.

The railway officials, however, justify the increase in the yearly contract amount. "We shall keep our fingers crossed and wait till the closing date of bids. The matter will be reviewed, if required, once the bids are received."

As the refreshment room is closed for the past several months and the food plaza set up at the main entry gate of the railway station being too far away for passengers and other visitors to the railway station, they have no other choice but to turn towards the railway vendors who at times resort to overcharging and also sell poor quality of eatables.

Commuters and other regular travellers badly miss the meals and snacks which used to be served at the railway refreshment room. "Although a variety of food items and snacks are available with the vendors at the railway platforms, one still longs for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as other snacks and beverages served at the refreshment room," said a regular visitor to the railway station.

Ludhiana, November 30
Putting an end to the issue involving six houses allotted to riot victims, which had become a bone of contention between two parties of victims, the Supreme Court today dismissed the case and ordered the present occupants to vacate the houses by January 1, else face eviction by the district administration.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari was asked to appear personally at the hearing today.

The six houses, allotted by GLADA at Dugri, are occupied by Surjit Singh and his associates, where they also run shops and offices. The houses were allotted to six other riot victims. When they went to take the possession of the houses, they found that Surjit Singh and others had already taken the possession, following which they moved the High Court.

The High Court ruled in favour of the original allottees, but Surjit Singh and others moved the Supreme Court in July-August against the High Court’s decision.

Speaking from New Delhi, Tiwari said, “We told the court that out of the six present occupants, five were eligible and the arrangement of alternative houses was also made in favour of these five occupants by GLADA and the district administration.”

Ludhiana, November 30
The district health department is all set to start the cancer survey in Ludhiana district from tomorrow. For this month-long survey, the department has roped in 3,787 volunteers.

Assistant Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr Kaushal Saini said: "We have deployed 1,826 volunteers in rural areas, who will be going door-to-door to make people aware of cancer symptoms and collect data about patients. In urban areas, students of 26 nursing colleges of Ludhiana district along with ANMs and male health workers of the department have been deputed.”

In rural areas, however, the health department might face some problems as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are reluctant to conduct the survey on the plea that they are being paid very less.

An ASHA worker said: "Even a daily wager gets Rs 166; but the health department will pay us only Rs 200 for two weeks. This is a very meager amount."

Dr Saini said: "We have also received reports that some of the ASHA workers are reluctant to work. However, there is nothing to worry, as we will get this survey done with the help of ANMs and other staff of the health department."

Each volunteer will have to cover 25 to 30 houses in a day. Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr Subhash Batta said: "The volunteers will collect data about all those cancer patients who died in the past five years. They will carry a page of questionnaire with 12 questions related to cancer patient, and will also make people aware about symptoms and treatment of cancer."

District Immunization Officer, Ludhiana, Dr Sanjeev Hans appealed to the public to cooperate with the volunteers and provide accurate information.

Ludhiana, November 30
Members of the State Bank of India Officer's Association (SBIOA) held a demonstration in front of the zonal office of the SBI at Fountain Chowk here today.

The protestors accused the chairman of the bank of adopting dictatorial attitude in exercising the Rule 19(3) of SBI Officer's Service Rules at the time of retirement of officers, especially the office-bearers of the association.

"Normally, this rule is applied to the retiring officials against whom some disciplinary or departmental inquiry is pending and the same cannot be concluded till the retirement of the official. The officer is, therefore, retired under the rule without giving him any terminal benefits. Misusing this rule, the bank recently retired the general secretary of the SBIOA, Mumbai Circle, and today the rule was applied on the circle presidents of SBIOA, Bhopal and Bhubaneshwar Circles,” said JP Kalra, zonal president.

The allegation against these officials is that on August 8 they held demonstrations against the chairman for declaring that the bank will remain open on all the seven days of the week without having any discussions with the association.

Ludhiana, November 30
Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari has appealed to the masses to raise their voice against food adulteration.

"People are requested to immediately inform the concerned officials in case they come to know about spurious food products being stored or sold in the market. Informer's name will be kept secret," stated the DC in a press release

Information can be provided to Rishipal Singh, additional deputy commissioner, on 9872290882, Subhash Batta, civil surgeon, on 9815486786, or Jasbir Singh, district health officer, on 9814178569.

Ludhiana, November 30
Pandit Shubhendra Rao, renowned composer and sitar maestro, performed in the city today. Rao captivated the music lovers at Delhi Public School, and later at Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Model Town.

It was Rao’s third visit to Ludhiana. Rao appreciated the love of Punjabis for classical music.

"Punjabi have always been a great audience and some of the local musicians have won accolades all over the world," said Pt Shubhendra Rao.

Rao called Gurbani and religious hymns as the pure form of classical music. While emphasising on the promotion of classical music, Rao said "There is a need to make a musical environment at our homes. Individuals, institutions and governments should all work together for the promotion of classical music.”

He also emphasised on the use of technology. "We have to take advantage of technology. I use tanpura application on my phone. I also have presence on social networking sites and Youtube,” he said.

Ludhiana, November 30
Kirti Kisan Union launched the "Save Small Farmer" campaign outside the Mini Secretariat here today.

District president Tarlochan Singh said that small farmers of the state were facing a crisis situation as big farmers were using their power and influence to avail subsidies and other facilities meant for the small farmers.

The small farmers appealed to the government to provide them with free-of-cost irrigation facilities, and waive the debt.

Ludhiana, November 30
In yet another incident of carjacking, four armed assailants kidnapped a banker on gunpoint, and later drove away with his Chevrolet Magnum car leaving him at secluded place near Dehlon area here last night.

The victim identified as Dinesh Kumar, who is a relationship manager with IndusInd Bank, was returning home from work.

The victim said that when he stopped his vehicle near Sidhwan Canal in Shimlapuri area to answer nature’s call, four youths who were travelling in Hyundai Verna car stopped and alighted from the vehicle.

"They told me that I had banged into their car and told me to accompany them to Dugri police station. I thought they were policemen. I sat in my car and told them to follow me. However, one of the youths trained a pistol on me. Then three of the youths sat in my car and told me to drive the vehicle. I was scared as they threatened to kill me. When the vehicle reached near Dehlon, they told me to alight from the vehicle, and drove away in my car," Dinesh reported to the police.

He said, besides the car, the carjackers took away his gold chain, gold rings, two mobile phones and Rs 40,000.

It was after covering a distance of over 5 kms that Dinesh could spot a roadside eatery and established contact with his family and the police.

Ludhiana, November 30
The students from Guru Ram Rai Public School, Ludhiana, emerged as the overall champions at the two-day Idea Junior Championship League 2012 that concluded at the Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

Participants from over 30 schools from across the state took part in seven disciplines, including track events, long jump, shot put, javelin throw, volleyball, hockey and judo.

Anish Roy, chief operating officer, Idea Cellular, gave away prizes to the winners. Guru Ram Rai Public School pocketed a cash prize of Rs 20,000 in addition to the mementoes.

"The winners in all the events will be imparted training for six months by the coaches of Punjab Sports Department to prepare them for national level tournaments. This unique programme was conceptualised with an aim to recognise the talent of young sportspersons who could be prepared for future competitions," said Roy.

An impressive cultural programme was the highlight of the closing ceremony.

Ludhiana, November 30
With the arrival of England women's kabaddi team here this evening, the ball has been set rolling for the third Kabaddi World Cup slated to begin tomorrow. The team from Malaysia is expected to arrive around 10pm.

Kartar Singh Sehmbey, district sports officer, Ludhiana, informed that all the arrangements for a comfortable stay of the visiting teams have been made.

The teams will be travelling to Bathinda to take part in the opening ceremony of this sports extravaganza tomorrow. — TNS