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Dasehra celebrated with fervour
Seechewal starts cleanliness drive on Dasehra
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GT Road stretch a pain for commuters
Administration throws safety norms to the wind
Milk samples collected
Resort owner among 12 booked for manhandling, abuse
Girl missing in Australia
Students showcase exhibition at Virsa Vihar
From Schools and colleges
Surjit Hockey Tournament
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Dasehra celebrated with fervour
Jalandhar, October 13 Gigantic effigies of 10-headed Ravana and two other demons were set aflame amidst the bursting of crackers in many parts of the city. Many small effigies of the demons were also set on fire at residential colonies and clubs across the city. I am coming here for the past so many years to watch the Ravana dahan along with my family and friends. This is something which connects us with our rich heritage and we all enjoy the festive fervour attached to it, said Deepak Gupta, a spectator at Burlton Park. The Dasehra celebration here is one of the oldest, going back to more than 80 years.
Many Dasehra committees had even used latest technology to impress the visitors. The Upkaar Dussehra Committee at Adarsh Nagar used the aero model of a helicopter to do 3-D videography of the event. This is the first time in the city that still and videography of Dasehra celebration has been done through an aero-model. We have recently launched a website and we will be shortly updating all pictures on it. Anybody who could not come to grounds due to heavy rush or any other reason can enjoy it on the Net all through the year, said Brijesh Chopra, chief organiser, Upkaar Dussehra Committee. Markets have also started to respond well during the ongoing festive season. While markets were badly affected in the months of August and September, the stabilisation of rupee and price of gold over the past few weeks only added to the high festive spirits amongst the people. Many people booked their jewellery orders for Diwali on Sunday. I have booked around 15 pieces to deliver on Diwali, said Karan Singla a jeweller at Urban Estate, Phase 1. Apart from jewellery, automobiles, electronics and realty segments also witnessed a surge on Sunday. Dasehra was also celebrated at Government Training College, Nivia ground of the Industrial area, Ladowali road, Sai Dass school and many other residential colonies and clubs of the city.
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Seechewal starts cleanliness drive on Dasehra
Jalandhar, October 13 He said given the current situation the world finds itself in, pollution poses one of the greatest risks to the human race. He said only concerted efforts can ward off pollution. In the cleanliness drive started at the local railway station, areas like Prempura Mohalla, Railway Colony, Mandi Road and their vicinity were cleaned. During the drive, doctors, lawyers, social activists and other groups from the city participated. Notably, for the past two and a half months, every Sunday, cleanliness efforts are being carried out at Sultanpur Lodhi by activists and volunteers led by Sant Seechewal. During the cleanliness drive at the local railway station, former minister Upinderjit Kaur also participated in the campaign by sweeping floors. On the occasion, SDM Kuldip Singh Chandi also played a role by weeding out Congress grass by wielding a sickle. ant Amrik Singh Khukhrain Wale oversaw the cleanliness efforts. Mediapersons also participated in the effort. Sant Seechewal also planted saplings in all the areas where the drive was carried out. Residents told the environmentalist that lack of proper cleanliness in the area for a long time was causing them to live in bad conditions. Railway station master, poet Ram Singh Insaf, former nagar council chief Rakesh Dhir, councillor Simmarjit Kaur, former councillor Naseer Singh, Surinder Singh, Gurdwara Singh Sabha president Ranjit Singh, Dr Harjit Singh, advocate Rajinder Singh Rana, Sukhwinder Singh Dhanjoo, jathedar Balwinder Singh Saroopwal, Ravinder Rocky, among others, were present on the occasion.
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3 killed as tanker hits bike
Jalandhar, October 13 Sandeep (19), Sunita (22) and the cleaner of an oil tanker were killed when the tanker hit the motorcycle which was being driven by Sandeep. The mishap took place near a school. Sandeep, a resident of Kot Kalan, had gone to bring his sister Ruby from the Big Bazaar outlet where she worked. At the time of the accident, Sandeep, Ruby and Sunita, Rubys friend and a resident of Dhannowali were driving back together when their motorcycle was hit by the tanker from the rear. While Sandeep and Sunita died on the spot, Ruby sustained injuries and was admitted to the local Civil Hospital. While the tanker overturned after hitting their vehicle, the cleaner of the tanker also died during his attempt to jump out of the vehicle. Sandeep used to bring his sister back from work every night. Ruby's condition was said to be serious.
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GT Road stretch a pain for commuters
Jalandhar, October 13 The dilapidated road has not only been leaving a bad impression on foreign tourists but also hampering the tourism industry. While the SAD-BJP alliance has been claiming to have undertaken various development works in the state, the grassroots realities are different. The badly damaged PAP-Rama Mandi stretch of the GT Road presents the actual picture of the development works undertaken in the district. Tall claims of the Punjab Government to reduce traffic congestion at various intersections on the busy GT Road seem to have fallen flat, with the widening and repair work of this section hanging in balance for the past many years. The stretch that falls under the Jalandhar municipal limits and is a gateway to the city has turned an eyesore for tourists who come from across the world to visit holy shrines in Amritsar and Jammu and Kashmir. Though the widening of the GT road could not be carried out because of a tug-of-war between the National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) and the Union Defence Ministry over the transfer of land for a long time, the steep rise in the construction material following the ban on mining has further come a major blow to the company, to which the contract for the widening of the road was allotted. Unable to execute the project because of court cases and steep hike and non-availability of construction material, the company was reportedly forced to abandon the job. This rainy season further worsened the condition of the road, as huge pits have developed on its surface and the layer of bitumen is missing at many places. The unfinished widening of the road has further made travelling on the stretch a cumbersome job. The volume of vehicles has increased many folds in the past decade and the rate of fatal accidents has also reached new heights. The "killer" stretch has claimed many lives in the past, but the state government and the officials concerned seem to have no heart towards the frequent loss of human lives, claimed Surinder Mittal, a New Green Model Town, who commutes to Phagwara daily. Mittal pointed out that providing basic civic amenities, including roads to the public, is the duty of the government towards which it has turned a blind eye. He warned to file a public interest litigation (PIL) in the court if the road was not repaired for public convenience. The city police, however, claimed that the shortage of staff had been hindering the traffic regulation, as a large number of policemen often remain busy in escorting VVIPs, VIPs, bureaucrats and politicians daily. Officials of the local civic body were unavailable for comments.
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Administration throws safety norms to the wind
Jalandhar, October 13 Most of the shopkeepers in Cracker Market, storing highly dangerous explosives, do not have fire-extinguishers inside their shops. No arrangement of sand and water is to be found near the market. Shockingly, fire officials with just one fire-tender at the site, on whom the whole market is relying in case of any eventuality, accept the fact that they would be unable to handle any fire outbreak with little resources and no back-up. Also, with no check by the administration, many crackers with no noise level mentioned have been put on sale at the market. We have a fire-tender stationed in the market. But that is insufficient to tackle any fire outbreak in such a big market, where fire will spread very fast. Also, some of the shopkeepers have displayed crackers outside their shops and were bursting them there only to lure the customers, which could prove very dangerous. We have advised them not to do so, said Jagmel Singh, sub fire officer. However, the assistant district fire officer Kashmir Singh confirmed that the back-up was in place in case of any fire outbreak in the market and he could move all 14 fire-tenders in the fire station within no time, but he failed to give a suitable reply as to how would meet the timeline to control a fire which could engulf the market in no time! Also, the ground where the market is established is being used for the parking of cars by the visitors. The administration should have banned the parking of cars inside the market ground, as the fuel inside the cars could prove dangerous in case of any fire outbreak! Surprisingly, it seems the district administration did not conduct any reality check before issuing the licence to these shopkeepers. None of them were found following any safety measures prescribed by the Deputy Commissioner himself. Ironically, the shopkeepers said that they were running this market for the past so many years and there was no need to take any safety precaution at an individual level. There is no need for us to take any individual safety measures once we have a fire-tender stationed here in the market. This market is running for the past so many years. No untoward incident has happened so far. Moreover, we are paying so much money to the administration as ground fee and other taxes. They should provide us arrangements like sand and more fire tenders at the spot, said Rakesh Bahri, president, Crackers market Association, Burlton Park. Also, many shops were found to be selling crackers with no noise level mentioned as prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which is 125 (DBA 1) and 145 (DBA C). One of the most popular crackers, King of Kings by Sivakasi was not having the noise level mentioned on it. Also, the kids' favourite Automatic Robo by Vadivel Pyrotechs also does not have any pollution level prescription written on its pack. Most of the crackers have mentioned the noise limit in technical form like Class 7, Div 2(2)', which is unable for a common man to understand. We get truck loads of consignment at one time. Although we ask the manufacturers to provide us crackers which are under the prescribed limit of noise pollution, it is very difficult and practically impossible to check every single pack for specification. Also, the customers are interested in the sound and display of the cracker and not in the pollution limit. It is a futile exercise by the administration as they do not conduct a ground reality check for it, said a shopkeeper. It seems the administration has issued directions as per the routine norms only without considering the safety aspects of hundreds of people, including children, visiting the market every day.
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Milk samples collected
Jalandhar, October 13 A team led by District Health Officer Balwinder Singh and Food Safety Officers Harjot Pal Singh and Sukhrao Singh conducted the raids. Two soya milk samples one from a packet bought by a consumer and another from the bakery itself were taken. Health authorities informed that the said soya milk comes from a factory based in Brring. Consumer Gurpreet Singh, on whose complaint the health authorities acted, said, My children bought soya milk packets from a shop at the Mithapur Chowk area. My son opened and consumed milk from one of the packets, which was fine. But the second packet, which my daughter opened, had very foul-tasting milk. She must have taken a sip or two when she hurriedly threw it aside and began vomiting. I tasted a bit of it and it tasted sour, foul and totally inedible. We immediately took my daughter to the doctor. Incidentally, the packet was well within the expiry date. he said. Singh said he shall be lodging an FIR in the matter tomorrow.The samples had been taken to a Chandigarh lab and the report would come in a fortnight. Commenting on the further plan of action on the issue, Civil Surgeon, RL Bassan said, We have ordered sampling from the said shop. We shall only be in a position to conduct future raids at any factory when the present samples reports show adulteration or contamination. Meanwhile, the regular inspections and sampling is on. Notably, the health teams had also collected milk samples from milk ferrying vehicles on October 11. Samples had been taken from Model Town, Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar, Jamsher Road, Cool Road and Urban Estate.No adulteration racket in the city has been established so far.
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Resort owner among 12 booked for manhandling, abuse
Phagwara, October 13 SSP Kapurthala Inderbir Singh confirmed the development and told that a team of the Excise and Taxation Department was on duty to check the irregularities. Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Sarojini Gautam Sharda said two department Inspectors Navjot Bharti and Bhupinder Singh went to Haweli Heritage for checking and met Haweli’s accountant Kulbir Singh who immediately informed his boss Satish Jain who rushed to the site and first indulged in a confrontation, manhandled the employees and refused to provide any record. The victim, Inspector Navjot Bharti, alleged that Jain brought an envelope containing currency and tried to bribe him forcibly. Bharti told the police that he ran away from the office in panic, but Jain and his other accomplices caught him, near his official car number PB-09N-7551 and Haweli manager Siddiqui started preparing their video film with bribe money. He said, “I and my colleague Bhupinder were mercilessly beaten up by Jain and his staff and were kept as hostages in the complex.” Meanwhile, a police party led by SHO Sadar Sarwan Singh Bal also reached there and investigated the matter. SSP Inder Bir Singh said violation of rules would not be tolerated at any cost.
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Girl missing in Australia
Phagwara, October 13 She was allegedly being tortured by her husband Sandeep, said Prof Radha Krishan, father of the girl. He told the scribes that his son- in-law, Sandeep, told him on phone from Australia that he dropped Natasha at university campus on October 4, but she never returned. OC
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Students showcase exhibition at Virsa Vihar
Jalandhar, October 13 With a total of 50 paintings put up on display, the three-day exhibition is an artistic representation of the feelings, concepts and philosophies envisioned by artists, mostly amateurs. The exhibition deals with themes like villages, rustic life, poetry-based compositions, religious portraits, classical dance themes, landscapes, abstract art, and poignant photography. The artists participating in the exhibition include Varinder Kumar, Gayatri, Jatinder Kumar, Chetna Joshi, Jaspreet Kaur, Jaswant Singh, Vicky Gharu, Meena Rana, Mandeep Kaur, Vishakha Sharma, Paramjit Kaur, Sunaina, Ravinder Kumar, Kulvir Kaur, Kamaldeep Kaur, Jyoti among others. While the college students had also formerly showcased an exhibition under the banner of the group Prayas at the Virsa Vihar, Jalandhar, this time, all the students represented their college. The exhibition was inaugurated on October 12 and shall be on till October 14.
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From Schools and colleges
Jalandhar, October 13 Dasehra celebrations Students of Ivy World School, Jalandhar, celebrated
Dusehra, the festival of victory of good over evil with pomp and show. A special assembly was organised to mark the occasion and a skit showing the final fight between Lord Rama and Ravana was depicted. Lord Hanuman and the Vanar
Sena took every ones breath with their devotion to Lord Rama.The students brought the scene alive with their wonderful acting and commanding stage presence. Since the theme was the victory of good over evil, the children presented a poem and words concerned with the same. S
Chauhan, principal, encouraged the students to believe in the goodness of the heart and deed. Annual function The annual function of classes 1-3 was organised on October 11 in the schools auditorium. Gundeep Kumar, Hockey Olympian and Anup Kumar, professor,DAV College, Jalandhar ,were the chief guests.The theme of the function was to respect and preserve the five elements of nature ie earth, sky, fire, air and water. Students gave this message through their different enactments. They performed water mime, earth dance, school song, sky dance and various other items.
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Gurpreets hat-trick helps Bharat Petroleum register win in pool-D
Our Correspondent
Jalandhar, October 13 During the first day of pool- D matches, last years runners up Bharat Petroleum, Punjab, defeated Punjab State Power Corporation, (PSPCL) Patiala, by 6-1 whereas Indian Oil, Mumbai, beat Punjab Police by 3-1 in pool-A. Experienced Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, played an attacking game right from the beginning. They earned their first penalty corner in the 8th minute of the game but their shoot out specialist Ajay Sahoha missed the target. Oilmen got the lead in the 13th minute when their forward Tushar Khandekar scored excellent goal, after dodging passed there defenders of the powermen. After taking the lead, oilmen did not stopped their attacks and earned 6 more penalty corners but their custodian and deep defenders did not allowed the petroleum men to increase the lead. At half time, the oilmen were leading by 1-0. After changing over, Bharat petroleums forward started their attacks from the left flank and managed to get the eighth penalty corner in the 37th minute. This time Sher Singh made no mistake to increase the lead by 2-0. In the 47th minute, inside right of oilmen Ravi Pal received a parallel pass outside the striking circle, which dodged passed two defenders of the powermen and after entering into the striking circle, sounded the board 3-0. After trailing by 3 goals, powermen made some good attacks on the oilmens defence. In the 53rd minute of the game, outside right Rupinder Singh reduced the margin by scoring a field goal. But the joy was short lived as BPCL again managed to increase the lead in very next minute through their centre half Gurpeet Singh (4-1). In the 62nd minute of the game, umpire Varinder Kumar awarded a penalty stroke in favour of Bharat petroleum when their inside right Ravi Kumar was intentionally blocked by rival custodian Gurpreet Singh of PSPCL to score the goal. Gurpreet Singh of oilmen converted the panality stroke into a goal. In the 62nd and 64th minute of the game, Gurpreet Singh again scored 2 goals in a row and completed the tally at 6-1. The second match of the day was played between Last year’s champion Indian Oil, Mumbai, and young and spirited former champion Punjab Police. After changing over, oilmen earned their first penalty corner in the 36th minute of the game and their international player Sunil Yadav sounded the board through a brilliant field goal (1-0). After trailing by a goal, policemen started planned attack and managed to equalise the score in the 43rd minute when their Olympian Rajpal Singh converted the penalty corner into a goal (1-1). In the 64th minute of the game, oilmen again got their 5th penalty corner and this time Harman Preet Singh sounded the board at2-1. Meanwhile, the Pakistan's women's hockey team today arrived through Wagah border to participate in the tournament.
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Dasehra was celebrated with great fervour, zest and happiness in the city today. People across the city also celebrated Ram Navmi and Shastranavmi today.
Gigantic effigies of 10-headed Ravana and two other demons were set aflame amidst the bursting of crackers in many parts of the city.
Giving a call to battle the demon of pollution, environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal began a cleanliness drive at the local railway station here today.
Filling potholes with loose soil and pieces of bricks on the congested stretch of PAP Chowk to Rama Mandi Chowk on the GT road has become a routine affair for the district administration. Instead of providing relief to the road users, the administration is complicating their problems for the past over five years.
In another callous attitude shown by the district administration, it has issued licences to around 96 shopkeepers of Cracker Market at Burlton Park without verifying the safety measures taken by them.
