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Jalandhar votes 2014
BJP launches parliamentary poll campaign
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Traffic rush bane of PAP Chowk
protesting teachers’ target
Better jalandhar Stray cattle menace-I
FROM SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
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Hoardings spring up in city areas
Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, February 16 With visits of political leaders, including those of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and BJP state president Kamal Sharma, to the city for the past one week, quite a few hoardings have got erected all of a sudden. Hoardings under a national campaign programme of the BJP and Congress too have come up in the city. While the hoardings of the BJP only have the picture of Narendra Modi, the party's prime ministerial candidate, with the slogan "Nayi Soch, Nayi Umeed (new thought, new hope)", the ones put up by the Congress have Rahul Gandhi in the limelight. The slogan on the hoarding reads, "Naseehat nahin, nateeje (meaning not suggestion but results)" with another one-liner "Har hath shakti, har hath tarakki (Power in each hand, progress in each hand)" with party symbol of hand fitting in the background. Such hoardings have come up atop high buildings on highways. The hoardings by various cells of the BJP, including the transport cell and sports cell welcoming Narendra Modi for the Jagraon rally on February 23, too, have already started dotting the city, giving a feeling of high political activity in the city. Meanwhile, residents have said that the Municipal Corporation (MC) must ensure that no poster or hoarding comes up at any illegal site. Implementing the Punjab Outdoor Advertisement Policy 2012, the MC, in its advertisement policy last year, had already fixed 76 slots at 16 designated sites for erecting hoardings with a social, political or a religious message or for promoting government schemes at minimal charges of Rs 100 for a week's time. An advance booking scheme had been started for the purpose at the MC's Suwidha Centre, but there has only been a little response with the authorities not promoting the policy. "Since the designated sites do not at times cover the area where we need publicity, illegal hoardings or use of private properties has to be made," he said. MC Commissioner Manpreet Chattwal said there were more advertisements seen this week as there were four consecutive holidays. From Monday, my staff will be on toes to remove any hoarding coming up at all illegal sites, he said.
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BJP launches parliamentary poll campaign
Jalandhar, February 16 Senior BJP leaders of Jalandhar are also holding a series of meetings to chalk out the schedule for the election campaign. Led by the BJP Jalandhar Mahila Morcha president Sukhraj Kaur, the party’s women leaders and activists went door to door in several areas, urging the electorate "to realise that the Congress-led UPA government has only looted the people of the country". “We want to awaken the masses and that is why the rally was named as Jaago,” said Sukhraj. Apart from this, the BJP workers also took out a donation collection drive in the city. “Every contribution that you make can make a difference. Please contribute generously to the BJP,” was the main punch line, exhorting people to contribute monetarily. Speaking to The Tribune, BJP district president Subhash Sood said the entire rank and file of the party was geared up for an aggressive election campaign. “The morale of the cadre is so high that we decided that it is the right time to kick-start the election campaign. With every passing day, the electioneering will gain momentum,” he added. Sood further said that on February 17, the party’s Kisan Morcha will take out tractor rallies, whereas on February 18, the Scheduled Caste Morcha will hold
a padyatra. BJP leaders further said that the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha would take out a motorcycle rally on February 21. According to the party leaders, the objective behind all the rallies would be to spread the message among the masses to wipe out the Congress in the elections. Meanwhile, the state unit of the BJP (IT Cell) held a meeting at the Circuit House in the afternoon. In charge of the cell Subhash Sharma presided over the meeting. During the meeting, the IT Cell members were briefed about the party’s campaign through social networking sites, mobile SMS, e-mails and other modes of communication. “The main thrust would be to communicate the contents of the speeches being delivered by Modi at different election rallies,” said Sood, adding that the party would soon start meetings at the Mandal level. |
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Traffic rush bane of PAP Chowk
Jalandhar, February 16 Though the project to widen the GT road was initiated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) through a construction company, SOMA Enterprises Limited, with the abandoning of this work midway, commuters are suffering a lot. Being the most filthy and polluted intersection on the GT road and at the entry point to the city, the chowk has been greeting tourists with a shabby look, thus affecting the tourism here adversely. A study by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) two years ago had revealed that the highest levels of respirable particulate matter (RPM) in day time at PAP Chowk was 562µgm/m3, the same as recorded at the ISBT. Kapurthala Chowk, however, recorded the RPM at 466 µgm/m3. The RPM level was 162 µgm/m3 from 1 am to 6 am at PAP Chowk, while it was 192 µgm/m3 and 152 µgm/m3 at the ISBT and Kapurthala Chowk during night, respectively, the study says. Environmentalists had suggested immediate completion of the under-construction flyover at PAP Chowk, which would not only help reduce vehicular pollution, but also ease traffic congestion. Taking a note of the observations, the district administration had widened the roads heading towards Amritsar from Jalandhar City by creating a slip road and similarly another slip road was created on the GT road heading towards Ludhiana from the Amritsar side, adjacent to the PAP Canteen, bypassing the PAP chowk. Interestingly, the slip road (bypassing the PAP Chowk) that was of great relief to long-route vehicles was blocked by the traffic police personnel, making this junction more congested. Surinder Mittal, a city based businessman who commutes to Phagwara, accused the police of blocking the slip road intentionally so that they could stop private vehicles from other states for extorting money. Now, SOMA Enterprises, after piling cemented slabs at the site, had abandoned the work, making the site terrible. |
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After statues, water tanks high on city cops’ security list
Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, February 16 Ever since the death of an infant of a teacher protesting on a water tank in Bathinda put the state government in a tight spot and two teachers' unions here expressed their desire to hold protests in Jalandhar this week, the Police Commissioner yesterday directed the SHOs of all police stations across the city to depute constables on round-the-clock duty around all water tanks in the city. There are nearly 80 water tanks in the city. Each cop has been directed to find out locations of such tanks and ensure that at least three constables remain stationed there. It being rainy and cold yesterday, the cops found it extremely difficult to remain posted and alert. ADCP (Special) Baljeet Singh Dhillon confirmed the special deployment. Elections being close, the teachers have been threatening to hold protests on water tanks. We have been trying to pacify them, but cannot leave anything to chance. We did not want any unsavoury incident to take place here and, therefore, we planned the deployment at all water tanks, he said, adding that instructions had been passed on to the respective SHOs in this regard. SHO Division Number 1 Amarjit Singh said there were nine overhead water reservoirs in his area and cops had been deputed there. Asked if tents had been provided in the night, he said they had been instructed to use the rooms of the operators under the tank. Yesterday in the morning there was a protest by AI teachers, who had tried to get on the tank near the bus stand which was somehow thwarted by the police. Even on Tuesday, the ETT Teachers Union had held a protest at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall wherein 100 agitators had expressed their desire to hold a protest on water tanks. Heavy deployment of police force had been done to contain the protesters by doing barricading. The teachers had that day even refused to budge and refused to give a memorandum to the SDM, who had gone at the protest venue. After the second attempt yesterday, the cops have perhaps become overcautious. Strict vigil
It was for six years that the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar on Nakodar Chowk in Jalandhar continued to get round-the-clock security to check any incident of desecration. Policemen worked on day and night shifts, staying in a tent erected at the centre of the roundabout adjoining the statue. It was only recently that the security was removed. The statue was provided security after the May 4, 2007, incident in which the president of the SAD (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann and chief of the SAD (Zafarwal) Wasan Singh Zafarwal allegedly tried to desecrate the statue of former Chief Minister Beant Singh by hanging a portrait of his assassin around his neck at the prominent BMC Chowk. Since then, the district police had deployed its men for round-the-clock vigil near the statues of Beant Singh and Dr
Ambedkar |
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Better jalandhar Stray cattle menace-I Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, February 16 It has received HC a rap on the issue of the treating of stray dogs and cattle (and also the care of the Pinjra Pol Gaushala in the city, on which matter it was asked to intervene, by the HC). While the stray dog population in the city was at around 3,000 dogs the last time when the sterilisation project was on a few years ago, now it is over 10,000. The sterilisation projects, started in the city, were just for a short period of time. Not more than 100 dogs were sterilized in both these projects. While the city streets are teeming with stray dogs, the MC, much to the chagrin of residents, dog lovers and even the Veterinary Department keeps its animal birth control project suspended. NGOs and residents say when approached with queries, requests on the subject, MC officials treat it as a second grade matter for which none of the officials is willing to take serious responsibility. The last time a dog in the city was sterilised on the MC money was seven years ago -- in 2006. While the dogs caught for sterilisation were earlier being kept at a small facility for the purpose at Burlton Park, that land has now gone to the Sports Hub. Presently there are no takers for the cause. Meanwhile, a team of five to six men stays hired as dog catchers. But neither do they have the proper equipment, nor transportation or purpose left for the same. One of the men on the team himself admitted that the men are just asked to pick up dogs from one place and dropped at another when the clamour from a particular area gets too loud. This too, sources said, had its own hazards. “Sometimes our men have been attacked by irate people who come with sticks and bricks telling us we can’t drop stray dogs into their area,” an official said. So presently, with or without opposition, MC teams are only picking up dogs from one area and dropping them into another. There is no facility where these dogs can be taken or sterilised. People for Animals (PFA)
The only oasis in the stray desert of the city is the People for Animals facility in the Police Lines area where countless injured strays have been healed. The facility makes sure that all strays are sterilised before being left back on the road. Chander Bhushan, who heads the PFA Facility, says, “While the Animal Welfare Board provides us with Rs 25 to 30,000 annually, the MC isn’t allocating any funds to us. Nor is any other state government department sending us any help.” This, even as the PFA is shouldering the major load of treating and healing stray cattle, dogs and also wild animals. While the PFA’s major expenditures get to anywhere about Rs 60 to 70 lakh annually, it makes by donations and submissions -- in kind -- by city do gooders who are associated with the NGO. It is especially ironic considering the NGO is working manifold. It is doing jobs, which is the work of the MC and the Vet Department. “Someone gives us fodder, another feed for the dogs, someone erects sheds. That’s how we make it work. If it wasn’t for donors, we wouldn’t have stayed afloat,” he adds. The PFS presently has 45 to 46 dogs and 125 cattle, which it is taking care of. Veterinary perspective
Interestingly, the Veterinary Department has its own list of grouses and most of them are pretty genuine. Sources in the Veterinary Department say the facilities in the city to handle the stray cattle or dog menace are dismal. “After the pilot project ended about seven years ago, there have been no account of the stray population in the city. While the MC picks up and drops animals from one place to another, it creates imbalances in certain areas. From what we hear, this also being done in favoured areas while others continue to languish. No record of strays or sterilisation is being maintained by the MC. In certain villages, the places where animals are skinned and corpses left in the open, are left for dogs to gorge on. These animals turn ferocious and are a threat. There is no way to handle this either.” Immediate measures should be taken to address these threats. Dr Jaspal Singh Ghumman, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Jalandhar, said, “We are willing to carry out official sterilisation of animals at our Polyclinic at the Ladowali road and pet clinic at Urban Estate. We have asked the MC many times to start the project again but there has been no response. There have been meetings and lip service but nothing happens on the ground level. Even at meets held to address the problem a conclusive solution has not been reached at. Unless the MC puts up a dedicated team of dog catchers and designates a facility where they are kept, how can the problem be addressed? We can provide our own clinics to keep animals during the post operative procedure as well. But someone has to catch animals and bring them to us.” While the HC had instructed the MC to address the matter of the dismal state of cows at the Pinjra Pol gaushalas in the city, the only two gaushalas, which have been keeping stray cattle and receiving the MC aid, the state of the gaushalas has also not been revived despite court intervention. Senior Deputy Mayor Kamaljit Bhatia had been appointed the head of the board consitiuted by the muncipal corporation to oversee the task that the work at the gaushala is streamlined but the same has not been done. After an initial period of enthusiasm, the pace of work at the gaushalas is lax again. In December (last year)n and January (this year) as many as 200 cattle have died at the gaushalas. The blocking of sewerage at the gaushalas is also a recurring problem. It is a grim picture that the MC will have to answer to during the next hearing in March this year. Meanwhile, across the city stray incidents of stray cattle being illegally picked up and ferried by people - in absence of administrative scrutiny - keep on being reported from time to time. Due to the lack of account being kept of strays, the administration has also no record of how many times these strays have been injured due to accidents or plain cruelty by residents. New plan
The MC is presently working on a new project wherein the sterilisation of stray cattle and dogs will be started at a new facility. A land for the same has also been procured but sources say the project has only been envisioned so far and formal work on it is yet to begin. It might take several months (or more) for it to start. Chief Sanitary Inspector Sarabjit Singh said, a team was being constituted for the project and the formal start of the project is under process. Sources said the team to undertake the project includes veterinary doctors on its panel. Interestingly, MC Commissioner Manpreet Chatwal refused to comment on the issue, saying he was in a meeting at 7.30 pm on Sunday evening. Assistant Health Officer, Dr Virender Kalia, could also not be contacted. |
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Pipe fitting industry on verge of closure
Jalandhar, February 16 However, the sudden emergence of the plastic versions of the fittings and cheap Chinese products has caused a big dent on the iron pipe fitting manufacturers business. Galvanised iron (GI) pipes are manufactured by big companies like TATA, Jindal, Prakash etc, but pipe fittings (of different types and sizes), which are used to supply water to the desired destination by joining pipes is manufactured by small manufacturers in Jalandhar only. Two years back, there were around 250 units giving employment to as many as 20,000 workers. Some of them used to work in double shifts, but now the number of units had reduced to just 100. These too are working up to 35 per cent of their production capacity. Describing the reasons, Vinod Mehta, chairman, Jalandhar Pipe Fitting Manufacturer Association (JPFMA), who started manufacturing of pipe fittings in 1959, said, “Entry of cheap plastic pipe fittings, absence of research and development, problem of VAT refund, increasing manufacturing cost and supply of cheap Chinese fittings are some of the problems.” He further lamented, “Government is announcing attractive schemes to invite other new industries in the state, but it is indifferent towards the pipe fitting industry, which has been serving for decades.” Raj Kumar Sharma, president, Jalandhar Traders and Manufacturers Association (JTMA), said, “There has been a complete lack of vision. The products which were in great demand continuously were not being supplied properly by the pipe fitting manufacturers. This opportunity was grabbed immediately by manufacturers of plastic pipe fittings by supplying the same product in bulk. They managed to become more popular.” He said, “Of course, Inspector raj and VAT refund are other reasons. When we have to pay interest on the money borrowed from banks, no interest is being paid to us on the capital deposited by us in the shape of VAT with the Sales Tax Department for years together. We have never been paid any type of subsidy or incentive.” Another manufacturer said position had come to such an impasse that some of the manufactures were thinking about shifting to some other business, which was not so easy. Some others had started doing job work just to keep the factory running and to pay at least electricity bill. A few have started working for only four days in a week, he added. He said manufacturers, who were running after officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for allotment of new connections or for enhancement of power load a few years back, were now planning to surrender the connections as they were unable to pay the minimum charges for the same. Some of the industrialists fear that even if this slump is over and demand of their product increases, they will not find workers as majority have already left for other cities as they cannot sit idle waiting for good times. Dharamjit Mohan, vice-president, Jalandhar Pipe Fitting Manufacturer Association, said just two years back the total annual turnover of the industry was about Rs 600 crore, which had now reduced to around Rs 200 crore. Around 60 per cent of the market share had been captured by cheap Chinese and Indian made plastic fittings, he added. Vinod Mehta suggested that for the revival of the industry, government should lower the interest rates, VAT refund should be given immediately, taxes should be reduced and government should come forward to save the industry, which had been giving employment to so many people. Raj Kumar Sharma demanded some subsidy, incentive for industry and trade and removal of hurdles, which being faced by manufacturers. Allied units also affected
With the closure of so many units and decrease in production of remaining, other people connected with this industry like suppliers of pig iron (raw material made from iron ore used for casting of pipe fitting), furnace oil, zinc, tools, tips, bags, sand, seera and other hardware items etc have also suffered a lot. A resident in Globe Colony, who rented out quarters to factory workers, said, “I used to get rent in advance for one month because of huge demand for quarters, but now I do not insist even if the rent is paid at the end of the month as workers have shifted to other cities and some of my quarters are vacant.” The position of grocery and other shops, situated in the area is also same. |
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Cold wave: ‘Angeethis’ stay put
Jalandhar, February 16 With the persistence of cold weather for a longer duration and electricity and LPG getting dearer, the angeethi sellers concentrated around Kali Mata Mandir in industrial area, have been doing a roaring business this year. Not just the people from the lower strata, but even well-to-do families having roots in villages, are keeping hearths in open spaces of their houses or rooftops so as to impart an ethnic touch to their places. Geeta, resident of Shiv Nagar, said, “For making saag, dal, mutton and other items, which take long time to cook, I use angeethi specially in winter season. I love to cook on angeethi as it imparts an altogether different flavour to the food. On Sundays, I enjoy making parathas or stuffed makki rotis on chullah and serve it hot to my family or guests. Besides, I believe that food cooked on angeethi has a more high nutrient value than cooked on a burner or an induction cooker.” Rajinder Singh, a buyer from the Model Town, said, “I remember old winter days, when my grandmother used to make pinnis of alsi and til and other eatables and we used to stand around watching her. With the advancement in the technology, these traditional things are seem to be forgotten. I chose to buy an angeethi so as to revive old memories.” New version angeethis have come up with a lot of innovation. Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, said he had purchased a modern version of angeethi from the popular Bartan market here. He said, “It is compact and made of iron instead of the usual earthenware stuff. There is a plate beneath for collecting ash so that the place where it is used remains clean. It is portable and we have been taking it for a picnic or even during a family tour. It helps us keep warm in cold weather in hills. We have been using it to savour freshly roasted chicken or fish as well. This winters we made immense use of it at our place.” For the lower strata of society, angeethi has long been the only option for cooking food as the used coal from factories is easily available at nominal prices, which is reused by them as fuel. Even the middle class families opine that instead of using blowers, which consume a lot of power, angeethis’ were a lot cheaper for protection against cold weather. There are so many shops selling angeethis in the city. Kewal Krishan, a shop owner, near Kalimata Mandir on Sodal Road said, “In winter, price of angeethi goes up from Rs 70 to 120 and sale also rises.” He said, “Angeethi, which is runs on wooden boora, a waste of sawmills and carpenting shops available at Rs 2/kg is very popular. With just little amount of money, a family can cook food on it, of course with an extra labour and effort.” |
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Industrial visit
Jalandhar: Postgraduate Department of Economics of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya organised an industrial visit to the institute of Central Handtools, Jalandhar. As many as 76 students, along with six faculty members, visited the institute. Students observed the role of the institute in the development of handtool industry. Information of various training programmes being conducted by the institute was given to the visitors. The process of production of handtools was shown to the students. They also visited production wing, computer lab, training lab of the institute. Principal, Dr Atima Sharma, said such visits were a valuable learning experience for students and helped them in becoming entrepreneurs. She congratulated Indu Bhatt, head of the Economics Department, Amarpreet, Dr Jatinder and Anupam Malhotra for organising the trip. 200 examined at
medical camp
Over 200 patients underwent check-up for heart, abdomen related diseases and respiratory infections. A specialised dental check up was also available at the camp. A majority of patients were found to be suffering from seasonal respiratory infections. Some drug addicts were also given medical check-up and advised proper treatment. Bhupinder Singh Banga, chief administrator of the Guru Nanak Sadh Sangat Charitable Hospital (Kalra), made all arrangements for the camp. Dr Balwinder Singh Saron, Dr Tejbir Singh (Dentist), Parminder Singh, Navreet Kaur and Manpreet Kaur provided their services to patients. The hospital is functioning under the management of Sant Baba Bhag Singh Memorial Charitable Society (Jabar). Workshop on cyber security
A three-day workshop on information security cyber forensics was held at Lyallpur Khalsa College from February 13 to 15. The workshop was jointly organised by the Computer Science and IT Department of the college and Cybercure Technologies. Sangeet Chopra, the resource person of the Cybercure Technologies, made students aware about network security, hacking and password security and management. As many as 150 students participated on the concluding day of the workshop. They were awarded certificates and tool kits. Speaking on the occasion, the college Principal, Dr GS Samra, said awareness regarding cybercrime was the need of the hour. It was a subtle type of crime about which much was not known to general public. Effective ways of dealing with it were still few and not of much use, he added. Prof Manohar Singh, head of the department and other senior teachers were also present on the occasion. KMV’s Gopher-2014 for
IT students
Post Graduate Department of Computer Science and Applications of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, organised Gopher-2014, an intra-departmental IT and cultural event. Programming head of Radio Mirchi, Jalandhar, Nitin Gupta, along with RJ Ikwinder, professional choreographers and theatre artistes Harnam Singh and Paras Bajaj endorsed the event. Principal, Dr Atima Sharma, along with Suman Khurana, head of the PG Department of Computer Science and Applications, were also present on the occasion. The programme was inaugurated by lighting of lamp and an inaugural speech by the principal. As many as 82 students from various IT classes participated in the event. Various events like let’s play with errors, IT quiz, play with colors — Rangoli and pot making — skit, ad mad show, express your emotions, choreography, dance pe chance formed a part of the Gopher-14. Seminar on history, historiography
The Department of History of the local DAV College organised a seminar on history and historiography today. Dr SS Sohal was the chief guest and main spokesperson from the Department of History, GNDU, Amritsar. Principal, Dr BB Sharma, welcomed and honoured the chief guest with a memento. Dr Sohal addressed students and gave a lecture on the history and historiography. History Department head, Dr Rakesh Sharma, Dr Kiranjeet Randhawa, Prof Vipin Jhanjhi, Prof Asha Verma, Prof Manoj Kumar, Prof Raj Kumar and Prof Protima and Prof Neetu were also present on the
occasion. |
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