Ludhiana, October 1
Even as the vigilance wing of the Local Bodies Department has initiated a probe into the illegal change of land use by shop-cum-flat (SCF) owners in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Colony, developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust, similar violations by owners of SCFs in the Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar locality, also carved out by the LIT and now transferred to the municipal corporation, have come to light.

In a complaint filed with the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, the Council of RTI Activists has alleged that a majority of the owners of SCFs in F Block of Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar had violated building bylaws and had also resorted to illegal change of land use.

Rohit Sabharwal and Arvind Sharma, president and secretary, respectively, of the council, have said that most of the flats in the said SCFs were being put to commercial use in the form of showrooms, restaurants and other establishments in blatant violation of the terms and conditions of the allotment.

"Change of land use of a building, meant for residential purpose, for commercial activity is not permissible under the rules governing the allotment of these properties, but almost 95 per cent of the owners of the SCFs have violated these provisions whereas some 75 per cent have also transgressed the building bylaws by increasing the height of their buildings and adding floors over and above the permissible limit," the functionaries of the council alleged.

The complainants said information obtained by them under the Right to Information Act from the building branch of the MC had revealed that allegations of illegal change of land use and violation of building bylaws were established during a spot inspection carried out by the field staff of the MC.

"The building branch had issued show-cause notices to the defaulting owners of SCFs for alteration in the standard design and layout and conversion of SCFs into completely commercial establishments in June this year. However, no further action, as provided in the terms and conditions of the allotment, has been taken till now," they maintained.

The functionaries of the council have urged the state government to fix responsibility of the field staff of both the LIT and the MC under whose tenure the CLU was unlawfully changed and the building norms were violated.

"The colluding employees as well as the owners of the SCFs ought to be proceeded against as per the rules for flagrant violations and dereliction of duty," the complaint said.

Ludhiana, October 1
The fate of 263 "associate schools" in Punjab, which do not fulfil the conditions laid down by the Punjab School Education Board, hangs in the balance as Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka has asked the board to take necessary action against the schools. The file pertaining to the issue was recently moved to the board by the Education Minister.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Maluka said the 263 associate schools, scattered all over Punjab, did not fulfil even the basic condition of the minimum land requirement. "Schools constructed on less than 500 sq yards are not to be given affiliation by the board. There are 767 such schools in Punjab. The file pertaining to the issue has been sent to the board, which will take an appropriate decision soon," said Maluka.

According to the norms of the board, a school must have a minimum of 500 sq yards to get affiliation. Though the number of schools in the state having land below 500 sq yards is 767, 263 schools have been constructed on less than 200 sq yards. The list of all such schools was sent by the respective district education officers to the department recently.

Time and again, the associate schools have been asked to fulfil the conditions of the board, but the schools have reportedly taken the issue lightly and are trying to buy time from the board. However, the board has decided to act tough against the 263 schools, while the remaining defaulting schools will be given time to upgrade their infrastructure.

Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board Tejinder Kaur Dhaliwal said the board had not received any document from the Education Minister so far. He said once the file was received, a decision would be taken within two days.

Minister orders action

Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka has asked the Punjab School Education Board to take action against 263 “associate schools” in Punjab, which do not fulfil the conditions laid down by the board.

Ludhiana, October 1
Shopkeepers of Mata Rani Chowk today held a protest by downing their shutters and blocking the road leading to the Zone A office of the MC here in protest against an anti-encroachment drive of the municipal corporation. The shopkeepers alleged that they had been forced to hold a protest because the MC was confiscating two-wheelers parked outside their premises, that too within the yellow line.

MC officials said if the shopkeepers had any problem with the anti-encroachment drive, they should give it in writing so that the issue could be discussed properly.

An area shopkeeper, Mohinder Aggarwal, said the MC had marked a yellow line in front of their shops so that vehicles could be parked inside it. “A few days ago, a senior MC officer’s vehicle got stuck in a traffic jam in Mata Rani Chowk after which the drive to confiscate vehicles parked within the yellow line started. We have even agreed to park our vehicles in the MC parking located nearby so that vehicles of our customers can be parked within the yellow line. However, MC officers are in no mood to listen to us and are harassing us unnecessarily,” said Aggarwal.

MC Additional Commissioner Davinder Singh claimed that the anti-encroachment drive was being carried out in all parts of the city. “Besides Mata Rani Chowk, such drives are also being conducted in other parts of the city where the problem of traffic congestion exists. Residents are supporting us in this drive. Only a handful of shopkeepers have an objection to it. I have asked them to submit their grievances in writing so that we can discuss the issue with our seniors,” he said. 

Ludhiana, October 1
A large number of youngsters and party members turned up for rallies organised by the Youth Akali Dal today. Termed as the "chetna rally" at Pakhowal Road near Bhai Wala Chowk, "lalkaar rally" at a wedding resort and "hamla bol rally" at another venue, Majithia visited the three spots to prepare the ground for the next Lok Sabha elections. He hit out at the Opposition. Shiromani Akali Dal leaders were also in the city for the rallies.

Youth Akali Dal leaders, including Gurpreet Singh Babbal, Tanvir Singh Dhaliwal and Tarsem Singh Bhinder, had organised the three rallies. Party leaders, including PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and MLAs Manpreet Singh Ayali and Ranjit Singh Dhillon were among those who addressed the gathering.

Migrants also turned up for the rallies, though many of them did not know much about the leaders who were to address the rallies. Pramod Kumar, who works as a labourer in the Shaheed Bhagat Singh area, got attracted after seeing a crowd and a large fleet of vehicles lined up outside the resort where the rally was organised by the Youth Akali Dal. "I don't know who all have come to the city. All I know is that they are our gods, in whose hands lies our future," said Naveen Kumar, a migrant.

Ludhiana, October 1
Five persons of a family had a miraculous escape after the Tata Indica car they were travelling in got stuck in an open drain near the Jalandhar bypass today. The incident took place this morning when Lakhwinder Singh (27) of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar in Amritsar, along with his wife Simranjit Kaur (23), son Karandeep Singh (2) and two relatives, was heading back home from Delhi.

Lakhwinder Singh said as soon as he reached near the Jalandhar bypass, one of the tyres of his car burst after which the vehicle hit the road berm on which "delineator poles" were installed.

Lakhwinder Singh said he lost control over the vehicle and the car got stuck in the drain. Fortunately, no one travelling in the vehicle sustained serious injuries.

People rushed to the spot and rescued Lakhwinder and his relatives. The incident caused a traffic jam on the highway. Angry commuters criticised the road construction company for "playing with the lives of commuters".

"It is indeed a miracle as none of the persons travelling in the vehicle sustained serious injuries. The way the car got stuck in the drain, anything could have happened. I do not know for how long the road construction company will keep on playing with the lives of innocent commuters," said Saurabh Gupta, a bank employee.

No ambulance or recovery van of the toll collection agency reached the spot to help the accident victims.

"Be it Ramma Mandi Chowk in Jalandhar or Samrala Chowk in Ludhiana, residents are suffering and cars are getting damaged due to the dilapidated condition of roads. The company has a collection of over Rs 24 crore in a month as toll tax. However, instead of constructing a road, the company has created death traps. Had these open drains been covered by placing cement slabs, the accident could have been averted," said Charanjit Singh.

Later, Lakhwinder Singh got his vehicle towed to Amritsar. "My car has been damaged badly. I do not know whether the insurance company will pay for the losses," said Lakhwinder Singh.

Open drains pose danger

The purpose of the drain was to keep the road dry after rain. Though drains have been constructed, these have not been covered and are now "serving as ponds". Two children had died in the Dhandari area nearly three years ago after falling into a drain filled with rainwater. Protruding iron bars in these drains also pose a threat to commuters.

No lessons learnt

The accident, allegedly caused due to the poor condition of the road, has yet again highlighted that the road company, SOMA-Isolux, has not learnt any lessons from the tragic incident of July 31 in which nearly 40 passengers were drowned after a Punjab Roadways bus fell into the Sirhind canal.

Ludhiana, October 1
Against the “anti-education” policies of the government, the Government School Teachers Union held a protest outside Mini Secretariat here today. The teachers raised slogans against the government and alleged that the teachers of Punjab were being given a “step-motherly” treatment.

General secretary of the union Praveen Kumar and Patron Charan Singh Sarabha said the main demand of the union was to provide them with DA, pending since January 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013. All the teachers on contractual basis must be regularised at the earliest. The schools, which have been given to panchayats and zila parishads, must be brought under the Education Department.

The teachers also said that for 30 students, one teacher should be employed and this ratio format should be considered in government schools. The departmental promotions should be given. The proposals to make “Adarsh” schools should be scrapped and improvement should be done at the ongoing government schools. Besides, teachers must not be asked to do other duties than teaching, demanded the agitating teachers.

Ludhiana, October 1
To mark National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, the Punjab Medical Representative Association (PMRA) conducted a blood donation camp at the Punjabi Bhawan. As many as 104 units of blood were collected at the camp. Teams of doctors from the DMC&H and Deep Hospital made the camp successful.

The camp was inaugurated by Rajesh Kaul, State General Secretary, Punjab Medical Representative Association.

Mandeep Rawat, secretary, PMRA, Ludhiana unit, said blood was required for cancer patients, chronic diseases, road accident victims, and patients suffering from thalassemia and other blood disorders. As compared to the demand, voluntary blood donation was very less. So, there was an extra responsibility on such associations like the PMRA to participate in voluntary blood donation.

Manjit Saini, president, PMRA, thanked the blood donors and greeted them with the certificate of appreciation.

Parveen Bhardwaj, Manoj Sharma, Manoj Gotam, Deepak Malhotra, BS Nagi, Dharminder, Satish, Balkar, Japjot Singh, Amit Datta, Kanvarjeet, Raj Kumar, Sudhir K Ahuja, Ranveer and Rajesh Bharti were among those present. 

Jagraon, October 1
The demand of converting Jagraon from a tehsil to a district gained momentum today when the representatives of several non-governmental organisations and leaders of various political parties joined hands and vowed to launch collective efforts to realise the demand.

The decision in this regard was taken during a joint convention of officer-bearers of various non-governmental organisations and leaders of different political parties held at the College Road here today. The representatives of over 12 non-governmental organisations, sarpanchs of several villages and workers and leaders of various political parties were present during the convention.

Cutting across the party lines, the leaders of different political parties, including ruling alliance SAD-BJP, Congress and People's Party of Punjab agreed to raise this issue at the highest level and vowed to make collective efforts for this long pending demand of the area residents.

"There is an immediate need of creating Jagraon as a district. The people from far-flung villages face difficulties in visiting Ludhiana for getting their district-level works done. The creation of Jagraon as district will provide them with the much needed relief,” said Congress leader Pritam Singh Akhara, while addressing the convention.

“Despite being the birth place of legendry freedom fighter Punjab Kesri Lala Lajpat Rai, Jagraon has been neglected till now. The residents of this area have been demanding to promote Jagraon as district for a long time but no attention has been paid towards this so far,” said Mohinder Singh Sidhwan, president, NGO Virsa Sambhal Manch.

Akali leader Amandeep Singh Khaira, who is considered close to Jagraon MLA SR Kaler, was also present during the meeting. “MLA Kaler was willing to attend this convention but he could not arrive due to his busy schedule. But he is ready to extend every possible help for this common cause,” said Khaira. A decision to constitute an 11-member joint committee to chalk out the future course of action was also taken during the convention. 

Ludhiana, October 1
For generating awareness amongst city residents about property tax, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation will organise a mega training camp for them at Guru Nanak Bhawan tomorrow. This camp will be attended by a large number of industrialists, NGOs, Bar associations and the general public.

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation will start its recovery drive of Property Tax from tomorrow. Since this tax is based on self-assessment method, a residents can calculate the amount they will have to pay as property tax. The MC officials will also help the public in assessing this tax.

Joint Commissioner of the MC PS Ghuman said the MC had formed 42 teams of officials who would visit each and every property for creating awareness regarding this tax and they would also help in filling the self-assessment forms. "For an easy payment and complete information regarding property tax, one can also log on to www.mcludhiana.gov.in and get essential information. The department will also upload the forms on the website and citizen can fill the forms online. The online payment facility will also be launched shortly," said Ghuman.

The residents can inquire about tax and calculation method through helpline number 97800-22410. Residents who would not pay their tax by November 30 will not be given 10 per cent rebate up to December 31. After December 31, they would have to pay tax with 25 per cent penalty and those who would not clear the tax amount by March 31, 2014, would have to pay 50 per cent penalty and 18 per cent interest.

The training camp will start at 3 pm.

Properties, persons exempted from tax

* Religious places, cremation grounds, cow sheds, historical buildings, registered charitable institutions (those are already exempted from income tax under the 1961 Act), government schools and colleges, including government schools availing themselves of government grant, government hospitals and land being used for agriculture.

* Freedom fighters who are getting pension from the Central or state governments.

* BPL families (having ID cards).

* Widows will get the annual rebate of Rs 5,000 in their total property tax and physically challenged (who get benefit under section 80 U of the Act) would also get Rs 5,000 rebate in property tax.

CALCULATion FORMULA

(a) Residential buildings:

* 50 square yards (construction 450 square feet) Rs 50 (lump sum)

* 100 square yards (construction 900 square feet) Rs 150 (lump sum)

* In case the square feet is more than 450 sq ft 0.5% of ARV for 50 sq yards property and more than 900 sq.ft for 100 sq.yards property

* From 101 sq yds to 500 square yards 0.5% of the ARV

* Above 500 square yards, 1% of the ARV

* For buildings on rent (residential), 7.5% of annual rent.

(b) Non-Residential Buildings

* Self-commercial building: 3% of the ARV

* Rent Commercial Building: 10% of annual rent

* Vacant plot: 0.20% of total AR

ANNUAL RATEABLE VALUE (ARV)

* 5% of cost of land + 5% of cost of construction - 10% of depreciation (to the cost of construction only)

* Cost of land: Square yards of the unit multiplied by collector rate of property

n Cost of construction: Covered area in sqft multiplied by cost in sqft

* Cost in sqft: Rs 500 for pucca construction, Rs 300 for semi-pucca and Rs 100 for kutcha construction

* For multi-storey buildings, cost of land will be calculated as basement 20% of collector rate, ground floor 100%, upper basement 75%, lower basement 75%, first floor 60%, second floor 30% and other floors 30% of collector rates

Ludhiana, October 1
While the railway authorities have failed to remove the posters pasted by the railway employees unions on the walls of the Railway station around six months ago, members of one of the unions have put up party flags on every inch of the station ahead of the annual general meeting (AGM) of the union.

Ironically, more than 10 days after the AGM and "shaheedi programme", neither the railway authorities nor the union have bothered to remove the flags.

The Northern Railway Men's Union (NRMU) has observed the shaheedi programme at Pathankot on September 19. The union organised the annual general meeting the same day. According to the office-bearers of the NRMU, they have displayed the flags on the station to welcome the union delegates, who arrived from Delhi and other areas.

Paramjit Singh, NRMU divisional leader, said: "We have displayed the flags to welcome our delegates. It is a tradition in our union".

When asked why they did not remove the flags after the function, Paramjit Singh said: "When the authorities will get the station whitewashed, workers will remove the flags".

The general secretary, Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU), ML Prashar, said: "We often paste posters and display flags at the railway station during elections and on other occasions".

Meanwhile, the officials concerned refused to comment on any issue related to the railway unions. 

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 1
Students of the RIMT, Maharaja Aggrasen Engineering College, bagged the third position in the PTU Inter-College Basketball Tournament, which was held from September 20 to 24, by defeating SVIET, Banur, by 2 points. Chairman of the RIMT group Vijayant Bansal congratulated all the team members, Zeeshan Rasool, Anoop Khajuria, Ankit Joshi, Tribhuv Agnihotri, Rajat Singh, Gaurav Martolia, Sukhjeet S Gill, Rahul Rampal, Kulwinder S Sekhon and Sorav Manhas, at a function here today.

Ludhiana, October 1
Sarabjit wouldn't be able to let a week pass without having butter chicken or tandoori chicken. But of late, he has turned completely vegetarian. He says having gone vegetarian is better for him, for it is a healthier diet for him, he says.

People in the city have started turning vegetarians.

Simrat Kathuria, a city-based dietician, says some of her clients have turned vegetarian. Although she says choosing to have more of vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods has its pros and cons, but about 10 per cent of her clients have turned vegetarian.

Although it is not proven, but many people believe that vegetarian food gives you better peace of mind, she says.

Many people have started going for meditation and meditative courses, where vegetarianism is generally promoted, says Rohit, who attends meditation courses.

Anvita Chatwal, another dietician, says if people are taking care of protein content in their meals, it is all right to turn vegetarian.

"I believe that vegetarian food is easier to digest," says Harinder, another resident. "The trend towards vegetarianism is on the rise. People are choosing to go completely vegetarian," says another resident.

"I don't take non-vegetarian food is not because of religious reasons, but because I don't want any animal to be killed just for my diet," says Nitin, another resident. If nothing else is available on a foreign visit for instance, then it is different, he says.

Ludhiana, October 1
The Punjab Sports Department has selected 122 women players from the district to participate in the Punjab State Women Games scheduled to be held from October 3 to 5 at Bathinda. These players will represent the district in 12 separate games ie athletic, basketball, badminton, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, handball, gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, lawn tennis and volleyball.

As many as 20 players will participate in athletic events, 12 players in basketball, four players in badminton, team of 16 players in hockey, team of 10 players in kabaddi, team of 12 players in kho-kho, team of 12 players in handball, seven players in gymnastic, nine players in swimming, four players in table tennis and 4 players in lawn tennis players in team of 12 players in volleyball.

The Sports Department has issued the list of participating players.

Athletics: Ramandeep Kaur, Shivdeep Kaur, Rajni, Amandeep Kaur, Abhiti, Sukhbir Kaur, Kulwant Kaur, Sandeep Kaur, Manmeet Kaur, Neelam Kaur, Veerpal Kaur, Rupinder Kaur, Daljit Kaur, Lakshami Chauhan, Yogita Rani, Parminder Kaur, Prabveer Kaur, vipanjeet Kaur, Sukhbir Kaur and Sikhpal Kaur.

Basketbal: Nagma Mirja, Rajveer Kaur, Jasdeep Kaur, Nirmal Kaur, Satvir Kaur, Navdep Kaur, Sandhya, Kirandep Kaur, Kulwindr Kaur, Baksho, Ranbeer Kaur and Susuma Rani.

Badminton: Rajwant Kaur, Harlovleen Kaur Bhatti, Arashpreet Kaur and Kajal.

Hockey: Sukhdeep Kaur, Aarpita, Simranjeet Kaur, Harista, Avantika, Gurpreet Kaur, Rajani, Harpal Kaur, Kumari Babita, Sukhvir Kaur, Joti, Pritpal Kaur, Amandeep Kaur, Mohini, Lovepreet Kaur, and Gurpreet Kaur.

Kabaddi: Manjit Kaur, Paramjeet Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur, Davinder Kaur, Jatinder Kaur, Ramandeep Kaur, Harveer Kaur, Hem Lata, Jasanpreet Kaur and Tripat Kaur.

Kho-kho: PArven Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur, Harpinder Kaur, Kamalpreet Kaur, Jaspreet Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Sunita, Jaspreet Kaur, Kamaljeet Kaur, Beant Kaur, Sukhjeet Kaur and Manjeet Dhillon.

Handball: Harvinder Kaur, Rekha Kumari, Joti Banga, Mandeep Kaur, Kiranpreet Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Harpreet Kaur, Kulwinder Kaur, Anchal, Shaveta, Avtar Kaur, Manjeet Kaur.

Gymnastics: Manju, Pushpa, Sonia, Dimple, Chetna, Nandni, Ravi.

Swimming: Kawalpreet Kaur Ishpreet Kaur, Shubkarman Kaur, Mani Mehtab Kaur, Anant Virk, Sharman Grewal, Jasman Grewal, Tamana and Aarman .

Table Tennis: Nirdosh, Bhoomika, Navdeep Kaur, Anmoal Kaur

Lawn tennis: Rajbir, Pooja, Neha, Simran

Volleyball: Salma, Sonai, Harpreet Kaur, Saveta, anjali, Manju, Ankita, Suneh lata, Sumanpreet, Parvinder Kaur, Sahllu and Rajveer Kaur.

Ludhiana, October 1
The controversy involving the Knitwear Club has been going on for the past three months and none of the groups is ready to step down. Amidst all this, the worst sufferers are the employees of the club as they have not got salaries for the past few months.

An employee of the club said he held no grudge against any member but still he was suffering as he had not got his salary because of this controversy among the two groups.

"The premises of the club has been locked and none of the groups is ready to open it. The industry is left with no place to hold discussions and seminars as the club remains locked," said a member of the club.

Darshan Dawar, president of the Knitwear Club, said the club had five employees and they had informed all of them to join the club's new premises on Mall Road. But, only one of them have joined duty at the new premises while two others have resigned from their posts and taken advance, so the club has no dues pending towards them. One more employee resigned yesterday and her dues will be cleared in a day or two. The status of the remaining one employee is not clear. He has not signed his joining letter so far. 

Ludhiana, October 1
Under pressure after being pushed to a corner over the issue of politico-police patronage given to Gurjot Singh Garcha, the main accused of the yesterday shooting incident, the police today conducted raids at various places to nab the prime accused.

Vikram Sharma and Gurjant Singh of Kanech village near Sahnewal had sustained leg injuries after they were shot at by Gurjot. The shooting incident took place in full public view opposite to the Ram Sharnam building, near Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), at Tagore Nagar yesterday.

Sources said the police has exerted pressure on the parents of youths who were accompanying Gurjot. The police wants to save their skin by showing some arrests in the case as it is highly unlikely that Gurjot

"We cannot rule out the use of country-made weapons. We have recovered empty shells from the spot and are sending them for testing,” said Sub-Inspector Pawan Kumar.

“It is a planned strategy to glorify Gurjot so that the latter could be used for illegal activities,” said the police sources.

Sub- Inspector Pawan Kumar, investigating officer in the case, said: “Gurjot hails from Dhandari village and is the son of an NRI couple settled in the US. They send money to their son. He also enjoys a luxury lifestyle and owns a Ford Endeavour SUV.”

Gurjot has been behind several firing incidents taken place recently but not even once he was taken to task by police this emboldened his confidence and led to yesterday broad day light shooting incident.

Despite, entering into student politics at Panjab University he was also trying spread his influence in the city colleges.