Ludhiana, July 8
Two residents of Tran Taran were sedated and robbed of their cash and mobile phones at Transport Nagar here today. The victims have been identified as Kashmiri Lal and his nephew Sanjiv Kumar. They were found unconscious in their truck here this evening.

The incident came to light when Rashpal Singh of Bhatti town went to meet them.

"As soon as I opened the truck, the door of the truck, I was shocked to find them lying unconscious. I immediately called the 108 Ambulance service and took them to a hospital. The cabinet where they used to keep their cash and other documents was ransacked,” said Rashpal Singh.

Kashmiri Lal and Sanjiv Kumar were operating a truck and used to visit Transport Nagar for goods.

Today, they were relaxing in the truck after unloading material at a godown of a transporter.

The substance used for sedating the duo in the truck is not known yet.

One of their accomplices, Mohan Lal, is also missing from the spot. The police has not ruled out his involvement in the incident.

"The entire picture will become clear once the duo regains consciousness," said the investigating officer.

The families of both Snajiv Kumar and Kashmiri Lal have been informed about the incident.

The sedating incident has led to an outrage in the area. Transporters lambasted the police for the rising number of crime incidents in the area. They said Transport Nagar was turning into a den of anti-social elements.

They have demanded that the security arrangements in the area be beefed up to prevent such incidents in the future.

Ludhiana, July 8
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has failed to start its dog sterlisation project in the city. Incidentally, a city resident was bitten by a stray dog in the Gandhi Colony area near the Kochar market here today.

On January 30, the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) had passed a proposal for the sterlisation of stray dogs, but the project has failed to take off.

The F&CC had stated that tenders would be floated for the sterilisation of 25,000 stray dogs and the total cost of the project would be Rs 2 crore.

The MC now plans to prepare another proposal, which it claims, will be better than the one passed on January 30.

Stray dogs roaming freely is a common sight in the city. Even though the MC claims that not many dog bite incidents are reported every year, the fact is that such incidents often go unreported because a majority of the victims prefer to take treatment at nearby hospitals or clinics.

Earlier, a Rs 1.5 crore project for the sterilisation of 25,000 stray dogs was started by the MC in May 2010, but after the sterilisation of around 3,000 stray dogs, the project hit a roadblock. A private company was given the target of sterilising 750 stray dogs every month and for the sterilisation of one male dog, the MC paid Rs 550 and for a female dog, it paid Rs 650.

After running for some months, the project came to a halt in 2011 and the civic body started scouting for another company. Tenders were floated for the purpose, but the Animal Welfare Board of India raised questions over the technique the MC was planning to use for the purpose.

The MC had also decided to set up its own operation theatre, but it required around Rs 60 lakh for the purpose. The plan was shelved due to a shortage of funds.

MC Joint Commissioner AS Sekhon said they were reworking on the dog sterilisation project. "We will present the new project plan before the F&CC and once it is approved, we will implement it. The new reworked project will be better than the present one," he said.

Ludhiana, July 8
In another incident of dog bite, a stray dog bit a person in the Kochar Market area this morning. The victim, Rakesh Kumar, is a sanitation worker.

The incident took place early this morning when Rakesh Kumar tried to remove the carcass of a pup that had died in a road accident on the street. A dog attacked Rakesh Kumar and bit him on his leg. The dog attack has created fear among residents of the area.

Chander Shekhar, a resident of the locality, took Rakesh Kumar along with him and provided him first aid. According to residents, the same dog had earlier attacked a number of people in the area.

Jagdeep Singh, an eyewitness, said, "At around 8.30 am, some residents asked Rakesh to remove the carcass of the pup from the street. As Rakesh tried to take away the carcass, a dog attacked him and bit him on his leg."

"We have apprised the area councillor of the dog menace several times, but she did not show any concern. The situation is getting worse," Chander Shekhar alleged.

Ludhiana, July 8
A woman has been arrested on a charge of killing her 50-year-old mother-in-law at Bazigar Basti in the Salem Tabri area. The police today arrested Amarjit Kaur for killing her mother-in-law and make it appear like a robbery killing. The police has also recovered Rs 1 lakh from the possession of the accused. A domestic quarrel has been stated to be the reason behind the killing.

The victim, identified as Mahinder Kaur, was found dead in her house on May 4. From the beginning, the police was suspecting her daughter-in-law Amarjit Kaur's involvement in the murder. Amarjit Kaur tried to mount pressure by claiming that she would set herself on fire if the police tried to question her regarding the case.

She told the police that two youths came on a motorcycle and barged into the house. They stabbed Mahinder Kaur.

2 missing children rescued

The city police has rescued two children who went missing recently. In the first incident, the Jodhewal Basti police rescued a seven-year-old boy, Rajan, who had gone missing from the Focal Point Railway Colony area. The Haibowal police also rescued a 17-year-old boy, Harpreet Singh, who had fled the house on June 17. 

Ludhiana, July 8
The working of the engineering wing of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has come under the scanner for allegedly giving a long rope to contractors entrusted with the work of constructing multi-storeyed residential flats in 2006 in a residential colony, Sukdev Enclave, on Humbran Road here.

Information obtained under the Right to Information Act by city-based activist Kuldeep Singh Khaira revealed that the LIT had invited bids for the construction of 84 LIG flats, 144 EWS flats, 170 MIG-I flats and 60 MIG-II flats in August 2006. According to the terms and conditions of the notice inviting tenders as well as the work orders issued to the contractors, the work was to be completed within two years.

However, one of the contractors, who was awarded the work of constructing 84 LIG flats through a work order issued on August 8, 2006, moved an application before the engineering branch of the LIT after 10 days seeking to modify the flooring option of the flats with the plea that skilled workers/masons for chips flooring were not available. He wanted the flooring option of marble or vitrified tiles to be exercised in the flats.

The then Superintending Engineer of the Trust allowed marble flooring to be laid in the flats through a file noting made on August 22 and September 19, 2006, without assigning any justified reason. The officials concerned felt no need to ask the contractor as to why he had offered the bid for chips flooring in August 2006 and why did the construction agency now want the flooring option to be modified.

The reason given by the LIT for the over five-year delay in the completion of the project is also vague and evasive. Even as the allottees of the flats, having paid the initial deposit for more than seven years now, have been waiting to get the possession, the contractors are taking it easy with LIT officials also not going beyond giving them oral warnings.

"If the information provided by the Trust is any indication, the LIT has not taken any action against the defaulting contractors, nor has it imposed any penalty on any of the construction agencies for the delay," said Khaira.

Charging LIT officials with dereliction of duty and failing to provide complete information of the project, Khaira filed an appeal before the State Information Commission, Punjab.

The commission awarded a compensation of Rs 5,000 to the appellant for the harassment caused to him due to a delay on the part of the LIT and also for incomplete information provided by the Trust. In its subsequent orders passed by SIC Narinderjit Singh on June 27, 2013, directions were issued to the Public Information Officer of the Trust to provide complete information to the appellant within three weeks.

Ludhiana, July 8
Four of the eight water samples collected from the Jawahar Nagar Camp area have failed the purity test. The samples were collected after cases of diarrhoea were reported from the area.

The department had collected these samples on June 28 after three cases of diarrhoea were reported from the area. Residents of the area had complained that the water supplied by the municipal corporation was contaminated. Dr Avinash Kumar, District Health Officer, said, "We had collected eight samples from the Jawahar Nagar Camp area of which four failed the purity test. We will write to the MC to provide clean potable water to the residents."

Ludhiana, July 8
A day after thieves struck at a shop on Raikhy Cinema Road near the railway station and decamped with 150 expensive digital cameras worth nearly Rs 45 lakh, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and two PCR policemen were "in the firing line" for dereliction of duty.

ASI Kesar Singh, who is due for retirement, and head constables Amarjit Singh and Vijay Kumar, who were deployed in the PCR branch, were taken to task by Commissioner of Police PS Gill.

The Commissioner of Police visited Gupta Studio and assured its owner Neeraj Gupta that the accused would be arrested soon and the stolen cameras recovered.

Sources said Gill had earlier ordered departmental action against the three policemen, but later during the day he reportedly softened his stand and sought a report asking the trio why action should not be taken against them.

It is learnt that ASI Kesar Singh was on night duty at the Kotwali police station and PCR policemen Amarjit Singh and Vijay Kumar were deployed at the railway station. It is suspected that the thieves spent nearly half an hour committing the crime, but they went unnoticed.

According to the police, the thieves entered the shop after breaking its locks. Six CCTV cameras installed in the shop were not working at that time. The owner told the police that they used to switch off the CCTV cameras while closing the shop for fear of a shot circuit as recently a shop in the area had caught fire.

The watchman also did not report for duty. During investigation, it was found that the thieves had stolen only those cameras which were on display and not those kept in boxes.

The police checked CCTV cameras installed outside other shops on the road to gather evidence.

The police suspects that the thieves came on a truck and parked it in front of the shop to evade suspicion.

Ludhiana, July 8
Hafiz Tehsin Ahmed, member of Minorities Commission, has expressed gratitude to the state government, as it had agreed to relax certain norms for the Muslim convicts and undertrials, lodged in the jails of Punjab, during the month of Ramzan, which is starting from July 10. Ahmed was in the city today. In the coming three days, he will be visiting Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Malerkotla, Sangrur, Nabha, Patiala, Bathinda and Ferozpur jails, where about 566 Muslim convicts and undertrials were lodged.

Talking to the mediapersons at the Circuit House here, Ahmed said they had recently met Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and had requested the government that Muslim convicts must be kept together during the month of Ramzan. Besides, they must not be given difficult work to perform as majority of them kept the fasts for about one month.

“We have asked the government to provide them Sehar (things to be eaten during fasts) in jails. The Chief Minister has instructed that in case there was scarcity of funds in jails, these could be arranged from the CM’s fund. They must be allowed to perform Namaz for two times, which is at 2:40 pm and 6 pm. We are thankful to Punjab government, which has agreed to all our demands,” said Ahmed.

The member also visited the Central Jail here and assured the Muslim convicts/undertrials that they would be taken care-of by the authorities during the month of Ramzan . 

Khamano, July 8
In a show of strength, Akali Dal, Khamano circle, organised a function here to honour the newly-elected sarpanches and panches. Local MLA Nirmal Singh, a retired justice, was the chief guest on the occasion. Kahmano Akali Dal circle president Surjit Singh said as many as 50 panchayats supporting Akali Dal participated in the function. 

MLA Nirmal Singh in his address claimed that majority of the panchayats belonged to Akali Dal adding that the Congress had done poorly in the recent panchayat polls. He honoured the village panchayats, specially five panchayats, that were elected unanimously, and announced a grant of 1 lakh to each such panchayat. 

The unanimously elected panchayats are from the villages of Bathan Khurd, Raipur Majri, Kotla Masood, Kotla Ajner, Bhattian and Prempura.

The MLA claimed that the Akali Dal’s victory was due to people-oriented policies of the Akali Dal-led government in Punjab. He appealed to the village panchayats to work for the development of the villages without any political differences and solve some minor disputes among themselves rather than going to police stations.

Meanwhile, area Congress leader Harbans Singh Pandher, when contacted said, more than 30 panchayats of the area belonged to the Congress supporters.

Ludhiana, July 8
The very saying by Robert H Schuller: “Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait, be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come,” sounds very good. Perhaps this is a suggestion for all old people who lose patience and land at any old-age home after misunderstandings with their children. In this fast moving world, when families have gone nuclear and all are busy, the expectations of old people have increased manifold. All this leads to depression, aggression and even constant source of irritation among the old people.

It has been observed that minds of old people who have enough time, but lack good company, remains crowded with negative thoughts. A living example of this is Nishkam Sewa Ashram, Daad, which keeps receiving such persons from time to time. While talking to the Tribune, Sharwan Kumar, founder of Nishkam Sewa Ashram, said: “Old people who lose their patience very quickly, fight with their children on petty issues and land up at our Ashram. Their first complaint to us is that their children do not take care of them, do not respect them and even do not give them food of their choice. They stay with us for some days withholding grudges against their own family members. I counsel them not to lose patience. We call to their children here to arrange a meeting and send them back to their respective homes.” 
Sharwan said: “At times some children are too greedy and want to take away everything from parents. Also, they do not want to take care of them. But most of the time it is the parents who are at fault, who do not try to understand circumstances and dreams of their own children.” The children should also spend some time with their parents, he added.

Dr Rajiv Gupta, a city-based psychiatrist said: “In old-age , expectations of parents increase. The brain starts shrinking and they suffer from dementia which gets irritable. They become demanding and suspicious.”

He suggested that old persons should make groups of their own friends, where they may spend their time by sharing their experiences with each other when their children are away to work.

Latala/Ludhiana, July 8
Accusing the SAD-BJP government of violating code of conduct during panchayat polls on last Wednesday, office bearers and activists of various political and trade organisations alleged that innocent villagers, including newly elected sarpanch of this historic village had been falsely implicated in a case after being thrashed by the police and the SAD activists.

Demanding cancellation of the case, the activists threatened to launch coordinated stir and seek justice in court in case arrested youths were not released soon. Addressing mediapersons, District Congress Committee, Ludhiana (Rural), president and former legislator Malkiat Singh Dakha, former MLA Jasbir Singh Khangura, senior Congress leader Jagpal Singh Khangura, CPI( M) general secretary Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon and secretary Amarjit Singh Mattooo alleged that innocent villagers had been thrashed by the police and the SAD activists after being dragged out from their houses and fields on the Wednesday night.

Though the counting for the post of sarpanch and panches had been completed by 7 pm and results for the 9 posts of panches were declared, yet the polling staff acting on behalf of the SAD leaders staggered while announcing the result for election of sarpanch. Had the villagers not resisted poll staff's move to declare the SAD candidate winner illegally, the Congress supported candidate could have been declared a looser.

“The polling staff was so scared of the SAD leadership that they tried to forcibly send polling agents of the Congress supported candidates outside the booth,” said Dakha and Khangura. They alleged that the circle officer at Dakha had also asked the agents to leave the place if they wanted to escape from police action.

They appreciated the poll observer’s move to announce the result after being appealed by the villagers. Dakha and Khangura alleged that the police and the SAD leaders could not digest the fate of government sponsored candidates. They attacked villagers, who were waiting for the announcement of the poll results.

Referring to decision taken in the meeting held here, Ranjit Singh Mangat, an office bearer of the youth wing of the Congress, said the villagers led by an action committee would gherao Jodhan police station on Thursday in order to impress upon the authorities to get the matter probed. Those implicated in the false case registered under Section 307 would also seek justice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said the activists. 

Ludhiana, July 8
With the gaming industry booming, more and more students are opting for multimedia courses. "Although it is fun to develop and animate, learning graphics and animation should not be taken lightly as it requires a lot of patience and talent," said Sachin Sachdeva from Arena Multimedia.

"Be it movies or Internet advertisements, visual effects are used everywhere,"said Sachdeva.

Popular softwares that are a part of animation and multimedia courses include Adobe's Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver, Premiere, After Effects and 3D Max, Maya, Z Brush and Motion Builder.

Sachdeva said Z Brush was used for high-end gaming and detailing. "Motion Builder is used for advanced motion capturing and motion animation techniques. Softwares and game engines for programming are also required," he said.

"There are many specialised roles in the gaming industry, particularly in the large game development firms.

The field of animation can have great returns for students who are doing fine arts as they are well-versed with sketching and shading," said Sachdeva.

He said, "Students must learn graphic designing and animation."

Gurpreet, who is working as an animator, said there was no dearth of opportunities in this field.

"The industry is offering good pay packages," Gurpreet stated. 

Ludhiana, July 8
Local hotel and restaurant owners have decided to move the High Court against the service tax. They are enthused by the Kerala High Court judgement pronouncing the service tax on food as invalid.

The hotels and restaurants are paying a 4.94% tax whereas banquets are paying it at the rate of 10.2%. The hotel industry pays nearly 28 types of taxes. Said Manjit Singh Nagpal, president of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Punjab, "Ludhiana is not a tourist-friendly city. Still, we are burdened with heavy taxes. The existing conditions have crippled the industry.

A restaurant owner, Jaskiran Singh, said ," We have been demanding the industry status to the hotels. But nothing has been done. Taxes are heavier in Punjab than in Himachal and Jammu, which also tourist-friendly destinations," he said.

Ludhiana, July 8
Candidates, who lost the gram panchayat elections, have sought recounting of votes. They visit the returning officers, SDMs and other election officials everyday. The officials said they had received over 100 such requests.

One of the senior officials in the district administration said that to date he had been receiving complaints.

He said, "The candidates are not satisfied. We keep telling them that the counting had been done in a transparent manner, still they want us to recount the votes. We have taken up the matter with the returning officers."

The returning officers maintained that they had counted the votes a number of times, but the candidates were not listening to them.

The official said for the recounting of votes in their respective villages, the losing candidates needed to move the Tribunals and file an appeal. "It is not possible to recount the votes at this stage as the ballot papers have been sent to the Central Jail (where these are kept under proper supervision)," said the official. 

ludhiana, july 8
A state-level function will be held at Rabbo Ucchi on July 12 to pay rich tributes to the great martyr, Baba Maharaj Singh.

Vidhan Sabha speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal asked the officials from various departments and the police to make all the necessary arrangements for organising the function. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will also be present. — TNS

Ludhiana, July 8
A ban has been imposed on the gathering of five or more persons near all examination centres in the district by Additional Deputy Commissioner Neeru Katyal.

No one will be allowed to enter except for students and officials on duty, within the 200m radius of the examination centre.

“Ban has been imposed after the Joint Secretary, examinations, PSEB, brought to notice the disturbance caused by certain miscreants near the examination centres,” she said. The orders will be imposed from July 10-17. — TNS

Ludhiana, July 8
Residents of the Chander Nagar area today accused the Municipal Corporation of re-carpeting a road while it was raining. The road is being re-carpeted near Chiti Kothi, Street No. 2, Chander Nagar. The residents said the workers had completed 50 per cent of the work yesterday. Today, they were seen re-carpeting the road.

A resident said it had been raining since morning. Though it was not a heavy rainfall, still it would have affected the quality of work being carried out by the civic body, he said.

Amarjit Singh, another resident, said the MC was wasting public money.

“How can the civic body compromise on the quality of work," he said.

A resident said the MC should not have let the workers resume the work when it was raining.

“The road can cave in anytime as a thin layer of bitumen has been laid on it," he said.

Dr Sumit Jarangal, MC Additional Commissioner, and in charge of bridges and roads branch, assured the residents of doing the needful. “If sub-standard material is being used, the officials concerned will be taken to task," he said.

Ludhiana, July 8
Taxpayers, who are facing problems in getting income tax refunds and tax computations, will now get a unique acknowledgement number with an assurance that their complaint will be resolved within two months.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has asked all Chief Commissioners across the country to ensure that taxpayers avail the facilities.

"On filing a rectification application online or by post, the receipt counter of the department will issue a special and unique acknowledgement number to a taxpayer. The taxpayer can quote the number in any further communication with the department," said a senior I-T official.

The CBDT has also asked the I-T department to inform the taxpayer after solving his or her problem.

In cases of e-filing of tax returns that reach the Central Processing Centre of the department in Bangaluru, the same procedure will be followed and in case, the CPC is unable to do so, it will immediately inform the assessing officer of the taxpayer to take remedial action.

The department has also been directed that all such receipts of rectification applications from taxpayers will have to be updated in an online rectification register, which can be inspected by supervisory officers. In case of postal complaints, these should be compulsorily recorded in the official diary maintained by the I-T authorities. 

Ludhiana, July 8
The enforcement wing of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation today pulled down an illegal building in the Kailash Nagar area, Sherpur. The building had come up in violation of the building bylaws.

MC officials said the building was constructed on a piece of land which was declared a public street in 1986.

Assistant Town Planner Monica Anand said the encroacher had constructed a two-storeyed office and had also extended a portion of the gate.

"His neighbour had complained about the violations a number of times. The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the MC to demolish the building, following which the drive was carried out." 

Ludhiana, July 8
The United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association (UCPMA) is gearing up for the elections. The association has 2,200 members. Of the total number, 1,500 are small-scale manufacturers, 400 are big industrialists while 300 belong to big corporate houses.

Since Ludhiana is a hub of the cycle industry, the elections are much talked about here.Meetings have begun taking place for the elections which will be held in September.

The term of the executive committee is for two years. Gurmeet Singh Kular is the president of the body.

He has been winning the elections since 2011.

While some groups have finalised their candidate for the post of president, the others are yet to do the same.

Gurmeet Singh Kular said they were yet to decide on the candidate and would chalk out a plan in a day or two. Charanjit Singh Vishivkarma, who was elected the president of the association in 2009, said they had finalised the candidate.

"I will work for the welfare of small-scale manufacturers," he said.

The name of DS Chawla is also being proposed. Chawla was the first president to resign from the post of president in 2011. He has served as the president in 2000 and 2003.

"I resigned from the post of president in 2011 as I was unable to bear the political pressure. Though my resignation was not accepted, after three months, they elected another president. If my group wants me to contest the elections, I will definitely do it and will work for welfare of the cycle makers," he said.

Ludhiana, July 8
Architects want to work under a separate ministry of architecture. This was stated by city-based architect Sanjay Goel, joint secretary, Indian Institute of Architects, Chandigarh.

"The reason why Chandigarh has flowered as the most beautiful city in the country is that an architect was given the power and free hand to design the city," said Goel. If more power is given to the architects, through the creation of separate ministry of architecture, there can be a better coordination with other departments at all levels, and much better planning can be done at all levels. It will also curb unplanned and haphazard development which is leading to urban mess," he said.

"Architects have to work under other departments and every department or ministry is concerned with its own development and betterment. As a result, infrastructure development takes place in a particular area," he said.

"Take the master plan of Ludhiana for instance. The master plan of the city has been changed so many times. If some minister or industrialist complains or requests, it is changed again," he said.

He has written a letter to MP Manish Tiwari regarding the proposed creation of the ministry. 

Ludhiana, July 8
Although the allowance per student for the mid-day meal expenses borne by schools has been increased, the school authorities seem unhappy.

The allowance has been increased from Rs 4.65 to Rs 5 and from Rs 3.11 to Rs 3.34 for students studying in primary classes.

District manager, mid-day meal, Tarsem Banga said the menu would remain the same.

"It is good that the allowance per student has finally increased, but it should have been more," said a government schoolteacher. "How can a student have food in just Rs 5?" he asked.

Teachers said the quality of food had improved as the authorities had done away with the centralised kitchen.

Ludhiana: Students of Gobindgarh Public College participated in a youth leadership camp organised by Panjab University, Chandigarh, at Student Holiday Home, Dalhousie, from June 29-July 6.

Students were imparted training on leadership techniques, communication skills, lifestyle education, personality development, trekking and rock climbing.

Programme

A three-day faculty development programme on the use of technology in education was held at the Doraha Institute of Management and Technology (DIMT).

Teachers from various institutions of Punjab attended the programme.

Teachers were trained in synopsis writing and questionnaire designing which are considered important in doctoral research process. — TNS

Ludhiana: A one-day research and extension specialists' workshop for soil and water conservation was organised at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Monday. The workshop was organised by the PAU Directorate of Extension Education in collaboration with the department of soil and water conservation, Punjab. It was based on the theme 'Newly Developed and Researched Technologies Proposed for Conservation and Recharging of Water in Non-Kandi Areas of Punjab'. Soil scientists from the Krishi Vigyan Kendras and PAU regional research stations, officers and representatives of the department of soil and water conservation, university deans, directors, additional directors, heads and staff of various departments attended the workshop.

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, was the chief guest. He laid emphasis on the conservation of air, water and soil health for posterity. "Due to rice-wheat monoculture in Punjab, there has been overuse and misuse of agro-chemicals, degradation of soil health and depletion of underground water table," he pointed out. "There is an urgent need to focus on the management of natural resources (soil and water) for farm sustainability," he said. He advised experts to lay stress on the propagation of micro-irrigation, which saves water and increases output, and mulching technology. Stating that climatic variations and agro-ecology of India differs from other countries, Dr Dhillon called upon the farm experts to come up with new ideas and innovative agri-technologies to address various farm-related issues of the country. Ajit Singh Sahota, conservator of soil, DSWC, Punjab, expressed concern over soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, low rainfall, brackish groundwater, least groundwater recharge and declining soil health. He said the depleting water resources had increased the cost of cultivation. Dr JS Dhiman, additional director of research, Natural Resource and Plant Health Management, said the PAU had recommended various resource conservation technologies such as laser land leveller, drip irrigation in potato, direct seeding of rice and tensiometer-based improved irrigation scheduling in rice.

Dr Dhiman said at present, more than 6,000 laser land levellers were operational in the state. Earlier, Dr RS Sidhu, Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, and the officiating Dean, College of Agriculture, welcomed guests. He said the agriculture sector in the state was facing multi-dimensional problems. Dr MS Gill, director of extension education, said all types of irrigation systems such as drip, sprinkler and micro-irrigation systems required special focus. He said timely dissemination of farm knowledge to farmers was vital. During technical sessions, the experts discussed the status of water table depth in central districts of Punjab, micro-irrigation system for enhancing resource use efficiency, solar photo-voltaic pumping system-an alternate source of power for irrigation, water management in field crops, rational use of saline/sodic water for irrigation and soil conservation strategies.

MoU signed

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Monday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with International Panaacea Limited (IPL), New Delhi, one of the leading manufacturers of bio-fertiliser, bio-pesticides and other bio-products. Dr SS Gosal, director of research, PAU, and Kundar Singh Bisht, director of IPL, signed the MoU. Vice-Chancellor of the PAU Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon said the trichoderma harzianum was a biological control agent which was eco-friendly. "Its use will solve the problem of pesticide residue," said Dr Dhillon. Dr Gosal said the MoU would be beneficial for farmers. Dr Pushpinder Pal Singh, head, department of plant pathology, said foot rot was a serious disease in rice. — TNS 

Health officials educate people on hygiene

On the directions of the Deputy Commissioner and Civil Surgeon, the officials of the Health Department today visited Transport Nagar, Samrala Chowk and adjoining areas and made people aware about the outbreak of water-borne diseases during monsoons. Dr Ajit Singh, medical officer, said people were educated about some simple facts they generally tend to ignore. “One should wash hands before and after having meals, eat freshly cooked food, eatables should always be kept covered to protect from flies and water should be boiled before drinking,” said Dr Ajit.

Meanwhile, Senior Medical Officer, Parwinderpal Singh Sidhu from Primary Health Centre, Sahnewal, also organised a medical camp at Baba Deep Singh Nagar, Sherpur, in which the area residents were educated about the personal hygiene and water-borne diseases.

Camp for artificial limb distribution

Bhagwan Mahavir Sewa Sansthan is organising a camp for distributing artificial limbs to the needy on July 10 at Jian Sathanak from 10 am onwards. Tricycles, wheel chair, artificial limbs, hearing aid machines would be distributed free of cost to the needy, said Rakesh Jain, president of Bhagwan Mahavir Sewa Sansthan.

Trust celebrates environment awareness campaign

Rameshwar Welfare Trust along with Punjab State Council of Science and Technology celebrated National Environment Awareness Campaign 2013. The aim of the campaign was to save bio-diversity and save the earth. An essay writing and painting competition for children was held along with a seminar in which Dr Surjit, Manpreet Kaur and Tajinder Kaur motivated the people to save earth so that disasters like Uttrakhand did not recur in future. Participants were also given medicinal plants on the occasion.

Shahi Imam asks brethren to see moon today

Shahi Imam and president of Ruate Hilal Committee, Punjab, Maulalna Habib-ur-Rehman Sani Ludhianvi from Jama Masjid, Ludhiana, appealed to Muslims to see the moon today in the evening to mark the beginning of Ramzan-ul-Mubarak. First Roza for Ramzan would be on July 10 if the moon is seen on the previous night. He said if any devotee sees the moon, he should inform the mosque clergy on telephone. Otherwise, the first Roza would be observed on July 11. Imam said: “This is a very pious month. In this month Allah brought the pious Quran Sharif to the world. All Muslims should recite Quran Sharif, do good deeds, help the poor and Namaz should be offered six times a day during this month. He said the sixth Namaz called a ‘Tarahveeh’ should be read at night after the completion of the Roza.

Tubewells not getting enough supply

Only four to five hours of electricity supply is being given by the power corporation to farm tubewells, instead of the promised eight hour supply. The BKU has called for the meeting of farmers to protest against power corporation on July 10. State president of the BKU Avtar Singh Mehlo and general secretary Ajmer Singh Gill disclosed this in a statement released today. 

Jagraon, July 8
Some unidentified thieves broke into a house in Malak village, near Jagraon, and allegedly decamped with jewellery and cash worth lakhs of rupees. The incident came to light today morning when the family members living in the house, targeted by the thieves, woke up and saw the jewellery and cash missing from the cabinet.

As per the information, the theft took place at the house of Balwinder Singh, who works in a Jagraon-based rice mill. Balwinder Singh was not present in house at the time of incident as he was working on a night shift in the mill.

In his complaint lodged with the police, Balwinder said some thieves broke into his house and stole jewellery and cash.

“It was only my wife and children in the house when the incident took place last night. They were sleeping and failed to hear any sound made by the thieves due to the noise of a cooler. I came to know about the theft today morning when my wife called me and told me about the incident,” stated Balwinder Singh.

The thieves stole 50 grams of gold jewellery and cash worth Rs 20,000, said Balwinder.

A police team led by Jagraon Sadar police in charge SHO, Rachpal Singh Dhindsa, reached the spot along with a dog squad and started investigating. “We have registered a case against unidentified persons and the investigation is on. We have found some important clues from the spot which will be helpful in solving this theft case,” said SHO Dhindsa.

The theft cases have been on the rise in the villages surrounding Jagraon for last few months. This is the seventh theft case in Jagraon area during last two months. 

Jagraon, July 8
The local police has arrested an alleged woman drug peddler and seized half kg opium from her possession. The police has also impounded a Honda Activa on which the accused used to sell the contraband, claimed the police. The woman has been identified as Pal Kaur, a resident of Akkuwal village, near Jagraon.

As per the information, the accused was arrested by a police team from CIA Staff, Jagraon, following a tip off. Giving the details of the recovery, CIA Staff In charge Inspector Prem Singh said the police had been keeping an eye over the activities of the woman since an informer passed on information to the police about her involvement in drug peddling some time back.

“We were patrolling the area near Bhaini Arayian village last evening when we saw a woman riding a two wheeler with her face covered with a cloth. On seeing the police team, the woman panicked, which made us suspicious. We stopped her and on searching, we recovered half-kg opium from a packet kept in the vehicle following which we arrested the woman,” said Prem Singh.

The inspector said the police had registered a case under the NDPS Act against Pal Kaur and started the investigations. During the preliminary inquiry, the accused confessed that she had been involved in drug peddling for a last few months. She disclosed that she received drug consignments from Rajasthan, where she had come in contact with some drug peddlers following her marriage.

According to the police, the woman was married in Rajasthan, where she developed contacts with certain people involved in opium smuggling. “Pal Kaur disclosed to the police that her husband deserted her within one year of her marriage due to some disease following which she came back to her village and got involved in drug peddling. She has been arrested for the first time by the police,” said Inspector Prem Singh.

“Pal Kaur used to present herself as an educated and up to date woman to avoid the police. She often used to supply opium to her customers on the two-wheelers we have impounded from her possession,” added Prem Singh.

The police is now trying to trace the drug peddlers, who used to supply opium to Pal Kaur. 

Ludhiana, July 8
The police has booked five persons under Sections 4, 8 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The accused, identified as Sultan, Lal Mohammad, Harshad, Irfaq and Chander Shekhar, hail from Uttar Pradesh. The police said the accused were transporting 15 buffaloes and 11 calves for slaughtering them.

They were nabbed from Dholewal Chowk during a naka.

5 booked for fraud

The police has booked five persons, including a woman, for duping a resident of Tarn Taran.

The accused have been identified as Rajwant Kaur, Sarandeep Singh, Gurdip Singh, Deepak Kumar and Ajit Singh. Vikramjit Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, said he had purchased a plot from the accused in September 2007. But they had failed to register the land in his name. A case under Section 420, 120B of IPC has been registered against the accused.

Car stolen

Thieves took away a car belonging to a resident of Sunil Park on Ferozepur Road. The theft took place on the night of July 3. The complainant said he had parked the vehicle outside his house. Another vehicle was stolen from the Sabzi Mandi area.

3 booked for defrauding banks

The police has booked three persons, including a woman for defrauding two banks. The accused have been identified as Tejinder Kaur, Harvinder Singh and Surjit Singh, all residents of Pahkowal Road. They had mortgaged their property with two banks.

Madan Kumar Dev, chief manager, Bank of India, Pakhowal Road, said the accused had taken loan from there bank by mortgaging a house. A case under Sections 420 and 120- B of the IPC has been registered.

Two booked in cheating case

The police has booked two persons, including a woman, for duping a person on the pretext of sending his son abroad. The accused have been identified as Shalni Sharma and Gopi Sharma, residents of Mundian Kalan. Sadhu Singh, a resident of Shaheed Bhagat Singh village, said the accused had asked for Rs 9 lakh and took Rs 4 lakh as advance. A case under Sections 420-120B IPC 24 Immigration Act has been registered against the accused. 

Ludhiana, July 8
Punjab is all set to host the fourth World Cup Kabaddi Tournament in November. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, said all formalities had been completed. He said 25 teams would be participating in the championship.

In a press release issued from New Delhi, Sukhbir Badal stated that strict NADA anti-doping guidelines would be followed in the tournament. He said the state was promoting kabaddi in Europe, Africa, Australia and the USA as well. He said the government was taking up the issue with the International Olympic Committee for making efforts to include the game in the 2020 Olympics.

Badal said Rs 91 crore had been allocated in the current budget and Rs 13 crore had been earmarked for the development of playgrounds in 1,233 villages. He said 2,200 sportspersons would get scholarship of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per month.

Badal stated that the Punjab Government had already finalised the plan to establish Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Centre of Excellence in Sports at Mohali with four regional centres at Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar. "An amount of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the project. As many as 2,000 budding sportspersons will be selected for training," he said. He said the government had introduced 3 per cent sports quota in government jobs to attract the Punjabi youth towards sports.

Ludhiana, July 8
Seven budding swimmers today left for Hyderabad to participate in the 40th National Junior Swimming Championship to be held from July 10 to 14. The swimmers will represent the state in the national championship.

There are a total of 25 swimmers. National medal winners Manavdeep Singh and Prabhdeepk Singh will participate in the U-17 category while Sahib Singh Sidhu and Anmol Jindal will slug it out in the U-14 category.

Ajay Sharma, general secretary of the Punjab Amateur Swimming Association, said, "The swimmers are talented and have been trained by Visakha Singh. Manavdeep Singh and Prabhdeepk Singh have bagged medals in the nationals and have been performing well."