Ludhiana, January 23
The traffic police today cracked the whip on those who pose as VIPs to escape challans. They also initiated challaned underage drivers outside Guru Nanak Public School and Convent School in the Sarabha Nagar area.

A team of the traffic police, led by Vinod Kumar, SHO (Traffic), issued 30 challans during the two-hour drive. The police said most challaned persons were underage school students and women. The police also issued challans to those who had fixed fake “VIP name plates” on their vehicles.

A person, who claimed to be the general secretary of the District Congress, was challaned even after he made the police officer speak with his political bosses.

Another person, who had fixed the name plate of “District Secretary of Youth Akali Dal, Barnala”, was also challaned. The police also checked the identity proofs of persons posing as reporters during the drive.

During the drive, most people made the police officers speak with influential persons while many were seen arguing with the officers. A few tried to bribe the policemen.

Vinod Kumar said: “Everyone tried to escape challan by making the officers speak with influential persons. We do not compromise on the rules and law”.

Talking about the trend of fixing name plates with political designations, He said: “Most of such persons failed to prove their designation. They do so to avoid a check at ‘nakas’. Today, we have challaned many such persons”. 

Ludhiana, January 23
The Municipal Corporation, which generally announces its budget in March, will present it on February 21 as the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections can come into force anytime. Though the final budget will be announced only after deliberations during a meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (FNCC), expected to be held on February 6, the officials and councillors expect the budget amount to be higher than the previous one.

While most senior officials in the MC have been tight-lipped about the budget amount, they have indicated that it should be on higher than the previous budget and efforts were being made to "squeeze" expenditure. The officials have indicated with the regularisation of colonies and imposition of property tax, things have improved for the "cash-starved" MC.

There is also an indication that after the Lok Sabha elections, the MC will get strict on installing meters on water-connections. Sincere efforts are being made to introduce LEDs in the city as the total expenditure on streetlights has reached close to Rs 6 crore per month. But this will be possible only if the state government gives its nod to the proposal, the officials said.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has reportedly been asked to look into finances and take two or three days' time before submitting the final details to the higher officials.

Meanwhile, councillors hope enhanced funds will be sanctioned for the development of their wards.

Councillor of the BJP Inder Aggarwal said the fund of Rs 50 lakh (per councillor) needed to be increased for the betterment of the residents. "We deal with the public and need to address their issues," said Aggarwal.

Spokesperson for the Congress councillors Parminder Mehta, however, said the MC needed to provide water and sewerage to all areas, including the slum colonies. He said in 2011-12, the total budget of the MC was Rs 801 crore but it was decreased to Rs 741 crore in 2012-13. "But we expect this year's budget will see an increase as many development projects need to be completed in 2014," said Mehta.

Ludhiana, January 23
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will honour 10 persons at the Republic Day function to be held on the SCD Government College ground. Of them six are from Ludhiana district.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Neeru Katyal Gupta said: "The eminent persons to be felicitated include Harbans Singh and Indira Bali, both representatives of Dr Diwan Singh Kalpani Trust; Dr Maghar Singh from Deep Hospital, Sangrur; and Dr Pankajpreet Singh from Patiala. The remaining six are from Ludhiana district.

They are Dr AG Thomas, Director of the CMCH, Ludhiana; Dr Vivek Saggar, dental surgeon; Ravinder Arora, president of the Samvedna Trust; Trishneet Arora (for helping in check cyber crime); Sudarshan Sharma, social worker from Jagraon; and Balbir Singh Bulala from Doraha Mandi."

They are being honoured for their meritorious services to society and in their respective fields.

The Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, Dr Subhash Batta, said: "Both Dr Vivek Saggar and Dr AG Thomas are very competent. I am happy that both of them will be honoured on Republic Day."

Dr AG Thomas, who has played an important role in setting up the Microsurgery Department of the CMCH, Ludhiana, said: "I am grateful to the Government of Punjab for recognising my services."

The young achiever, Trishneet Arora, an ethical hacker, said: "I am getting this award for encouragement and inspiration I got from my parents and brother." 

Ludhiana, January 23
Abortion pills, which many women take to avoid unwanted pregnancy, can cause complications. Disclosing this, Dr Tapasaya, Professor of Gynaecology at the Christian Medical College and Hospital, said: "Many women and some unmarried girls take these pills for abortion and later on land in the hospital with some complications."

Dr Tapasaya said: "Sometimes abortion is not complete and patients get anaemic due to too much bleeding. Incomplete abortion also leads to infection in the uterus."

She said instead of using regular methods of contraception, people have developed a tendency to use these pills time and again. In some patients, a regular use of these pills also leads to irregular periods and fertility problems. "If a woman has undergone a C-section, chances remain that by taking abortion pills the scar may burst during abortion. So, one should use these pills only under the strict supervision of a gynecologist or medical expert."

Dr Neelam Sodhi, a city-based gynaecologist, said: "It is absolutely right. People should not take these pills as contraceptives."

Ludhiana, January 23
The police authorities had decided to provide 300 policemen to the Municipal Corporation to conduct anti-encroachment drive. Adhering to the High Court directions, MC plans to remove over 1,650 encroachments from all the four zones of the city. The High Court had asked in its orders dated January 17, 2012 that encroachments had to be removed by authorities in the city.

A written request was made by the MC to the Chief Secretary demanding police personnel to conduct the drive. They stated that without enough police force it would not be possible to conduct the exercise smoothly.

An MC official said notices will be served on the encroachers before the drive so that they can not complain that they were not informed about the demolition drive.

A meeting of all the Assistant Town Planners (ATPs) and other officials was chaired by Commissioner MC Rahul Tiwari today. The officials were briefed to carry out anti-encroachment drives in their respective zones and the first such drive will be conducted on January 31.

The officials however rued that drives could not be conducted smoothly as political leaders start putting pressure to save their vote-bank. While the High Court has asked MC to remove encroachments within a stipulated time, the politicians come in the way to stop the drives. Now Lok Sabha elections can be announced anytime, more pressure will be put on officials to stall the drive, said a senior official of MC.

"Whenever these encroachments drives are conducted the MC officials, police force and other employees of the administration have to face the wrath of public and political leaders. On one side, the leaders condemn MC for not taking any action against encroachments while on other hand, they come in-between whenever these drives are carried-on. In all the recent major demolition drives, task could not be accomplished as leaders put pressure on authorities", rued one of the Assistant Town Planner (ATP) here.

At the same time, the officials in MC believe since these were the orders of the High Court, encroachments had to be removed at any cost.

The maximum numbers of encroachments were in Zone A, which comprises the interior parts of the city. There are about 755 encroachments in Zone A, which includes Karimpura Bazaar, Kamla Nehru Market, Gur Mandi and Talaab Bazaar Road. In Zone B there are about 600 encroachments. Apart from that Zone D, which comprises posh areas of the city have 240 encroachments. In Zone C there are only 65 encroachments. 

Ludhiana, January 23
On the 4th day of their ongoing mass movement, the activists of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal on the issue of illegal mining and black marketing of sand and gravel at the mini secretariat here today.

During the meeting, the DC assured the district president of CITU Jatinderpal Singh and former legislator Tarsem Jodhan that officials of mining department, along with the police force, will be deployed to check illegal mining and black marketing of sand and gravel.

The district authorities also assured that a complaint against certain officials of the mining department for forcing closure of brick kilns would be looked into and necessary action will be taken against guilty officials.

The CITU leaders were further told that complaints regarding irregularities in implementation of MGNREGS will be received directly at the district headquarters and provisions for 100 days guaranteed employment would be scrupulously given effect.

According to CITU functionaries, on the issue of direct benefit transfer scheme for payment of subsidy on cooking gas cylinders, the deputy commissioner pointed out that the matter pertained to the union government who had devised the revised scheme for payment of subsidy directly to the beneficiaries. However, an assurance was given by the authorities to install more machines and set up more enrolment centres for Aadhar cards in order to streamline the mechanism.

Later, the CITU workers held a rally where the trade union leaders announced to continue the agitation for acceptance of 14-point charter of demands. These include CBI probe into drug trafficking and nexus between police, drug smugglers and political leaders, restoration of rule of law in the state, reduction in power rates and effective action against politicisation of police force.

Ludhiana, January 23
Former health minister of Punjab, Sat Pal Gosain and chairman of “Bharichatachar Mitao Morcha” Punjab today asked the Excise And Taxation Department to submit the enquiry report into the alleged Rs 12,000 crore bogus VAT refund at the earliest failing which they will launch a protest agitation against the department.

“Few months back we met DETC and he had formed a three member enquiry committee to investigate the matter.

While the enquiry committee was carrying out the investigations, one of the officials received life threatening calls from the alleged offenders,” he said. Security should be given to the officials who are conducting the enquiry. “We demand that enquiry into the matter should be conducted by the CBI,”he added. — TNS

Ludhiana, January 23
Today was the last day of the pulse polio drive which started on Sunday. A total of 65,627children were administered polio drops during the drive. Dr Sanjeev Hans, district immunisation officer said teams visited 1,40,239 houses on the final day of the drive.

Civil Surgeon, Dr Subhash Batta while giving information about the pulse polio drive said a certification committee from New Delhi was in the city from the last few days and had been visiting various parts of the city to compile a report on the status of polio in the city.

"After compiling reports from the entire country, it will be submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO). The South-East Asia Regional Certification Commission is scheduled to meet in New Delhi in the last week of March 2014.

If the Commission is convinced that there is no wild poliovirus case in the region and the surveillance quality is good enough to pick up any wild poliovirus then it will certify the South-East Asia region of WHO as polio-free," said Batta.

After Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Punjab was in the list of perilous state as a large number people from Bihar and UP resides here.

According to information available, oral polio drops will be replaced by inject able IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) next year in the high risk states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and Haryana.

This will subsequently be followed in the rest of the country.

India completed three years without any new polio case on January 13, 2014.

Last case of polio was reported on January 13, 2011 from West Bengal.

"Three years is the gestation period for the WHO to declare a country polio-free. Although the three year period has ended the World Health Organization certification will take a month or so," added civil surgeon.

What is polio?

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine.

Who is most at risk?

Polio mainly affects children below 5 years of age.

Can polio be cured?

There is no cure for polio, but it can be prevented. Polio vaccine (drops), given multiple times till the age of 5, protect a child for life.

How many oral polio drops does a child need?

A child should get four doses of oral polio vaccine in the first year with supplementary doses till the age of five.

Ludhiana, January 23
A speeding car heading towards the Canal Bridge bumped into a divider at the Thapar Hall Chowk on the premises of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today.

The car rolled over thrice and the woman, who was driving the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

The car has been reportedly damaged from the front side.

According to an eyewitness, Jannakpreet Singh, “The front tyre of the car got totally damaged when it first hit the divider and then it rolled over thrice. It is fortunate that the driver of the car did not suffer major injuries, as the impact of the accident was quite big. ”

Police officials from the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) police station visited the spot.

“The car owner has not filed any complaint yet as the accident occurred due to her own negligence,” said the investigation officer.

Ludhiana, January 23
Parents of the eight-year-old deceased Pushpa urged the Police Commissioner, Ludhiana, to take a strict action against the murderers of their daughter today.

According to information, the victim had gone missing on April 22, last year, from New Shastri Nagar area in Jodhewal Basti. The badly mutilated body of the eight-year-old was later found in a vacant plot at New Shakti Nagar on May 10.

Father of the victim alleged police inaction and said perpetrators were roaming freely.

He said a strict action should be taken and the accused should be put behind the bars at the earliest.

One held with 10 gm of heroin

The city police nabbed a person and recovered 10 gm of heroin from his possession on Wednesday. The accused has been identified as Rohit Saggar, a resident of Kundanpuri. The Station House Officer (SHO), Sadhar, Amandeep Singh Brar, said the accused was heading towards Dhandhra Road in his car when he tried to reverse the vehicle after seeing a check post installed near Manakwal on Dhandhra Road. Police officials grew suspicious about his behavior and nabbed him on the spot.

5 gm of smack recovered

The Shimlapuri police have recovered 5 gm of smack from a youth on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Gurjant Singh, a resident of Malaud. Investigation officer Jaspal Singh said the police had set up a check post at Quality Chowk and the accused was arrested during a routine check.

Thieves break open ATM, walk away with Rs 2 lakh

Khanna: Some unidentified persons struck at an ATM and decamped with over Rs two lakhs in cash near AS College, Khanna.

As per the investigating officer, ASI Jaswant Singh, the accused broke open the doors of the ATM office and decamped with cash. The matter, however, came to light in the morning when the manager of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch, Khanna, found the ATM office open and the ATM machine broken. He then reported the matter to the police.

The bank was sans a security guard. “We had repeatedly asked the bank personal to keep guard for safety purposes but the bank officials did not oblige to the same,” said the ASI.

The police have registered a case under the relevant sections in this regard. Further investigations are on.

Ludhiana, January 23
Patients suffering from Osteoprosis experience more pain and stiffness in their bones and joints during this climate as the person is not able to intake the required amount of Vitamin-D owing to the chilly weather. This was stated by renowned orthopaedician and former principal of DMCH, Dr SC Ahuja.

With Osteoprosis the bones lose density and become weak and brittle, thus increasing the chances of bone fractures.

Dr HS Gill, senior consultant and coordinator, department of orthopaedics, SPS Apollo Hospitals, said, “Early symptoms consist back pain, which, if neglected can lead to multiple fractures of the lumbar spine thus leading to kyphosis (hunch or round back). Osteoporotic fractures are difficult to treat.”

Calcium intake should be high especially in the first 20 years of life. An individual must consume as much as milk and milk products during that period of life.

Ludhiana, January 23
For the past 28-odd years, ‘Hot Pot’ has rightly earned a stationary spot in the food map of the city.

Bringing the food scene alive at Rani Jhansi Road, near Khalsa College for Women, the place was one of the first to introduce Chinese food to the city, says cook Ram Chander, who started as a cook with this very place.

Brij Mehra, who started the mobile van, said it was a new concept to start the food culture in a vehicle, but since its inception the clientele has been the same. “We have high profile people as our clients. Several ministers order food from here. It is all because we do not compromise with the quality of food,” said Mehra.

Charanpreet Singh, a businessman said, “I have been coming to this place for several years now. The quality of food is very good.”

I enjoy my evenings having food at this place, said Gitansh, an engineering student.

Ludhiana January 23
To inspect the functioning of the Mid-day Meal Scheme, a team from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) conducted surprise inspections at various schools of the district here today.

District Education Officer (DEO), secondary, Paramjeet Kaur said the team would inform them about its findings upon completion of the inspection process.

As per information, the inspection will continue for the next few days.

The team will hold a meeting with the DEO (secondary) and DEO (primary) Ranjit Singh Malhi tomorrow.

Sources in government schools said a majority of schools were facing scarcity of funds in the scheme.

It is learnt that the teams from the MHRD often conducted surprise inspections to check the functioning of mid-day meals in schools.

Meanwhile, the team will also inspect the existing infrastructure, funds and other aspects of the scheme. 

Ludhiana, January 23
A three-day training course on “Cultivation of Kharif crops keeping in view crop diversification” was organised at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

The course was jointly coordinated by the directorate of extension education, PAU and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust. Addressing farmers, Dr TS Riar, course coordinator, exhorted the participants to adopt PAU-developed farm technologies for increasing income. He urged them to embrace agriculture as their profession and make maximum contribution to the nation’s foodgrain bowl. Another course coordinator, Dr Rupinder Kaur, called upon trainees to pass on agricultural technologies, developed by PAU, to other farmers as well.

Ludhiana, January 23
Rudra Veena player Baha’ud-din Mohiuddin Dagar and Pakhawaj exponent Chitrangna Agle Reshwal enthralled students at Ramgarhia Girls College today. The programme was held under the aegis of Spic Macay.

It was a special treat for the students of the music department to see the maestros perform before them. Apart from getting acquainted with the styles of these two maestros, the students also got an opportunity to have a glimpse into their musical journey.

While addressing the students, Rudra Veena player Bahauddin Mohiuddin Dagar, said, “Rudra Veena is an ancient instrument considered dear to Lord Shiva. The instrument is rarely played today. I will be really pleased if youngsters show an interest in this age-old instrument,” he said.

Chitrangna Agle Reshwal was barely 10 years old when she expressed a desire to be initiated into the world of Pakhawaj. However, she was discouraged by her father Pandit Kalidas Pant.

She used to lurk around in corners whenever her father taught her brothers to play Pakhawaj and learnt every note. One day, her father caught her practicing. He later trained her with her brothers during the practice sessions. 

Ludhiana, January 23
A group of 34 M.Ed students of the Partap College of Education organised a health guidance and awareness programme at Malakpur village today. The village sarpanch along with residents of the village attended the programme.

College students Poonam, Balwinder Singh, Manisha, Isha, Vandana and Neha discussed various diseases affecting the people, besides their preventive measures.

The students also held interactive sessions with the villagers.

Ludhiana, January 23
The Animal Disease Research Centre, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, issued an advisory for cases of nitrate poisoning in cows and buffaloes. Animals suffering from nitrate poisoning show symptoms of difficult respiration, sub-normal temperature and muscular tremors. In acute poisoning, mucous membranes rapidly go brown and frequent urination is common with respiratory difficulty.

The affected animals may die suddenly without appearing ill, or after a clinical course of 12 to 24 hours or longer. Dr Amarjit Singh, head of department, Animal Disease Research Centre, said farmers had been advised to use fertilisers with less nitrogen content such as urea in green fodder crops viz. berseem, toria, sarson etc. Due to cold climatic conditions and dense fog, plants uptake more nitrogen from the soil, which is converted into nitrate in plants.

The advisory stated that farmers had been asked not to irrigate fodder crops with sewerage water. They have also been advised to mix wheat straw with green fodder before feeding it to the animals. Farmers have also been asked to test the soil samples for nitrate content from the nearest soil testing laboratory before adding urea to the soil.

Farmers have also been asked to get cows and buffaloes vaccinated against Haemorrahagic septicemia and foot & mouth disease. The vaccination can be conducted at the nearest civil veterinary hospital every six months. “The farmers should ensure that separate syringes and needles are used for each animal,” reads the advisory.

Sheep and goat owners have been advised to get faecal samples checked at the nearby veterinary polyclinic laboratory at their respective district headquarters or at GADVASU to detect coccidiosis and worm infestation and accordingly de-worm their animals. As per the advisory, farmers should change the de-wormer every six months to avoid anthelmentic resistance. 

Ludhiana, January 23
Officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) will conduct the inspection of dyeing units from Monday onwards again.

This was stated by the chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board, Ravinder Singh, during a meeting with industrialists here today.

Ravinder Singh said the defaulters will not be spared this time and no excuses will be entertained, as the board had already given the owners of the dyeing industry enough time to do the needful.

Ludhiana, January 23
As many as 62 joint replacement surgeries were performed on underprivileged patients in the third edition of the philanthropic event, Operation Walk III-2014, at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

The surgeries were performed in a time period of three days in association with a team of specialists from the USA.

With advanced physiotherapy and pain management protocols, patients diagnosed with advanced disabling arthritis of the hip and knee joints were able to walk a day after the surgery.

The secretary of the Managing Society, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said the facilities were provided free-of-cost to the patients.

“Free-of-cost meals were also provided to the patients on the occasion. And during follow-ups, all the medical tests including X-rays will be carried out without any charges,” said the secretary of the Managing Society, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.

Ludhiana, January 23
Responding to a call given by the PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC), employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) held a protest and burnt an effigy of the management at the Grid Maintenance Division.

While addressing the protesters, divisional president Rachpal Singh focused on the anti-employees policies of the PSPCL.

Rachpal said the already accepted demands are yet to see the light of day. He alleged the authorities to have adopted a dilly-dally attitude in this regard.

“Till the time pending demands such as removal of anomalies in revised pay scales, regularisation of adhoc and contractual workers, creation of new posts and filling up of all vacant posts were not accepted, employees will continue with the stir,” said the divisional president.

The patron of the divisional unit, Nirmal Singh, served an ultimatum to the PSPCL management to implement the pending demands without any further delay.

Protesters alleged that even sub-station employees were not given their share of payment for working overtime. On an average, a sub-station employee works for over 100 hours extra every month, said the patron.

Doraha, January 23
Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) (Jails) Shashi Kant today gave a clarion call to youth of the area to build a drug-free state.

The DGP also urged the government to initiate a time-bound CBI probe into all drug rackets.

The former DGP invited various social organisations to come forward to the aid of youth. “If this menace is curbed, hundreds of families will be saved from devastation. The need of the hour is to nab and punish those who are running the illegal trade. The drug mafia should be dealt with a strong hand,” said the crusader. — OC

Ludhiana, January 23
After the reduction of value added tax (VAT) on steel from 4.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent, the steel-consuming industry is demanding the same package because failing which it will prove to be a big discrepancy in procedure and taxation.

Steel is the base raw material for the engineering sector and the difference between the slabs will affect the system.

The most affected will be the MSME sector.

"It is a fact that 90 per cent of the bicycle and bicycle parts, fasteners, sewing machines, auto parts produced here are sold out of the state at 2 per cent CST whereas just 10 per cent are consumed within the state.

This huge difference in value added tax on steel and its products will force the market to work more in grey economy," said Badish Jindal, president of Federation of Small Industries of India.

Jindal further said the traders will prefer to show the fake in house production to avoid the VAT refund process which will create harassment for both the traders and department.

Industry demands that Punjab government should reduce VAT on bicycle and parts, fasteners, sewing machines and auto parts.

The industry will be free from the process of value added tax refunds and will also help the state in abolishing the bogus transactions, added Jindal. 

Ludhiana, January 23
The Municipal Corporation has agreed to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) to the industrial units operating in mixed land use areas of Ludhiana.

A meeting of Industry representatives was held on the issue with the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Rahul Tiwari here today.

The MC authorities agreed to issue no objection certificates, provided that industry fulfills the conditions, including that there was no property tax due for payment, water and sewerage charges were fully paid by the industrial units and submission of a self-attested declaration on letter head of industrial unit by the Industrialist that unit was established before 2008.

The Commissioner directed that for issuing on-the-spot no objection certificate, a special help desk will start functioning from 10 am onwards on January 24 at Zone C office of the Municipal Corporation.

The meeting was held for the industrial units operating in mixed land areas of Shimlapuri, New Janta Nagar and 73 other such colonies in Ludhiana, which have been permitted to operate up to 2018 as per policy of the state government.