Ludhiana, April 21
The Municipal Corporation officials claim the toy train service at Rakh Bagh, which was discontinued by the authorities in 2005 after the tracks developed some snag, will chug off once again. The MC plans to repair the train and the tracks in 2010, 2011 and in early 2012 failed for one reason or the other.

"For the first time, experts have been called from Delhi to prepare estimates for repairing the toy train. The children of Ludhiana will be able to get a joyride in the toy train once again. We visited Rakh Bagh and the experts inspected the old tracks. They have prepared an estimate of about Rs 22 lakh for repairing the train and laying new tracks. The train will run on electricity and new tracks will be laid," said Dr Sumit Jarangal, Additional Commissioner, MC, who accompanied the experts.

When asked how long it would take to bring the toy train on the tracks, Dr Jarangal said it would take the experts around three months to finish the job.

"The House has to approve the proposal, decide on its funding, float tenders and only after all that work order will be placed. Since MC Commissioner Shruti Singh is eager to relaunch the train for the children of the city, the experts were specially called from Delhi," said Dr Jarangal.

The train service was discontinued in 2005 after the tracks developed a snag. Though the contractor maintaining the park (that time) had announced the relaunch of the service, the MC authorities had categorically decided not to give a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the contractor till the time the tracks were fully repaired.

It has been a long demand of the residents to resume the toy-train service for children.

Chhat Bir (Banur), April 21
Abandoned by their mother in fields near Ludhiana, two female kitten of a leopard cat, an exotic species of the wild cat found for the first time in Punjab, are now the "blue-eyed babies" of employees of Chhat Bir Zoo.

The Punjab Wildlife Department is leaving no stone unturned to rear these kitten belonging to an endangered species after a DNA test, conducted on the kitten at the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, confirmed their species.

Being home to this rare and endangered species of wild cats, Punjab now figures on the international map of places having this species.

For the upkeep of the kitten, the zoo authorities have virtually converted a room at the zoo hospital into an incentive care unit (ICU). Nobody except the veterinary doctor and caretaker is permitted to enter this room. The authorities have made provision for coolers to maintain a conducive atmosphere in the room.

Apart from feed and tonic, the kitten are also relishing non-vegetarian delicacies such as broiler, mutton, beef, liver and soft meat six days a week. Friday is a fasting day for them.

Munish Kumar, Field Director, Chhat Bir Zoo, said the kitten were found abandoned by a farmer in his fields near Ludhiana in June-end last year. The farmer informed the Division Forest Officer who then called the Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab, Dharindra Kumar.

Following Kumar’s directions, the kitten were shifted to Chhat Bir Zoo. Though they were small, weighing about 250 gm each, and were not accepting milk, the veterinary staff at the zoo was surprised that the kitten liked meat, said Munish Kumar.

The zoo authorities were in a quandary about the species and after consulting wildlife experts, blood samples of the cats were sent to the laboratory at Hyderabad. The confirmation of the species spread a wave of happiness among the staff of the Wildlife Department.

Zoo vet MP Singh said apart from these female cats, the zoo had two pairs of leopard cat brought from the North-East a couple of years ago.

“The kitten have grown healthy and weigh nearly 600 to 700 gm each now. They will be reared in the hospital room for nearly a year more and then shifted to a new enclosure for public display,” said MP Singh.

The leopard cat is a small wild cat of South and East Asia and lives in tropical evergreen rainforests and plantations at the sea level in subtropical deciduous and coniferous forests in the foothills of the Himalayas, said Gurmit Singh, a former Additional Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab.

It is a carnivorous animal that feeds on a variety of small prey, including mammals, lizards, amphibians, small rodents, birds and insects, he said.

Ludhiana, April 21
A 30-year-old tipsy man died under mysterious circumstances while he was attending a function at his friend's house in Shimlapuri here last night.

The deceased has been identified as Angad (30). According to the police, Angad, along with his family members, had visited the house of his friend Rakesh Kumar in Shimlapuri. Rakesh was recently blessed with a child and had thrown a party to celebrate the occasion.

Dinesh Kumar, a relative of the deceased, said Angad consumed a lot of liquor at the party. He fell while dancing and suffered injuries. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Ludhiana, April 21
Despite warnings, contestants in the Lok Sabha elections continue to deface public properties with impunity. In the absence of the names of publishers and printers on the posters and banners, law-enforcing agencies feel helpless to initiate action against the violators.

An official of the Municipal Corporation said the MC had removed more than 20,000 such posters and banners from public properties and of these more than 13,000 posters were of the ruling SAD-BJP candidate. "We can not take action as the candidates say it was being done by their opponents to defame them," said the official.

Many candidates were taking the help of businessmen and industrialists in this regard. The owner of a leading dyeing unit in Industrial Area has asked his workers (around 150) to paste posters of a particular candidate (to whom the dyeing Industry has extended support) during the night.

Srinath (name changed), a worker, said teams of six labourers each were constituted. Each worker is given Rs 300, meals for two times and a T-shirt by the owner. "After the factory hours, we have to paste the posters outside factories, shops, main roads, houses, etc. We have to be very cautious while pasting the posters as it is illegal," said the worker.

One can find posters of candidates from all parties and Independents in every nook and corner of the city.

Dr Sumit Jarangal, Additional Commissioner, MC, said the employees of the civic body removed the posters pasted on public properties. "In every area, the workers are removing such posters and the authorities are taking note of these violations. Complaints are being made to the officials concerned on a regular basis," he said.

Ashok Makkar, president of the Dyeing Association, said he was not aware that industrialists were asking labourers to paste posters of a particular candidate.

Makkar added: "Supporting a particular party or candidate is solely the choice of a voter but support like this is not justified.”

“We should not do anything against the law and if someone is doing such an act, it should be condemned,” said the president of the Dyeing Association.

Ludhiana, April 21
Residents of New Asha Puri Canal Enclave are up in arms against the opening of a liquor vend in the residential area.

One of the residents, Amarjit Singh Bhullar, said a liquor vend was coming up on Canal Road, which is a residential area. The back gates of both the universities, Punjab Agricultural University and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, open on this road.

"The opening of a liquor vend on this road will lead to an increase in anti-social activities," said Bhullar.

Another resident said fatal accidents had occurred on this road. "The opening of a liquor vend will increase the chances of accidents on this road. There is no proper fencing along the canal. It will be in the good interest of society if this liquor vend is not allowed to open here," he said.

Bhullar said the department concerned should take stringent action against the opening of liquor vends in the residential areas. It becomes difficult for women and children to venture out in such areas even during daytime.

Residents have also complained to the Municipal Commissioner, Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner in this regard.

Ludhiana, April 21
The recently constructed portion of Pakhowal Road caved in today. Soon after the construction of the road, a private company carried out digging without taking permission from the Municipal Corporation.

A portion of the road caved in as deep as seven feet. Passers-by said two Junior Engineers of the MC got it repaired in no time to “cover-up” the poor quality of construction. Arvind Sharma, an RTI activist, said: “They got the pit filled. Now, the road will be constructed again. Digging carried out by the private company damaged the road. The MC officials were not even aware that the company had not taken permission for digging the road”.

Sunil Sharma, Sub-divisional Officer, Bridges and Roads, had admitted the MC had no idea that digging was being carried out without MC permission. Sharma had said he would request his seniors to lodge an FIR against the company.

Ludhiana, April 21
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, claims and counter-claims by party leaders and candidates are on in full swing. Former minister and senior Congress leader Tej Parkash Kotli today alleged that the “anti-people” policies of the SAD-BJP had adversely affected the trade and industry in the state. He said the Congress would ensure all-round development of Punjab.

However, SAD-BJP candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali criticised the Congress, calling it a party that had “failed on all fronts”. He claimed the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi could provide a strong and stable government at the Centre.

While Independent candidate Simarjit Singh Bains, while appealing to the voters, said he would address the problems of the constituency, Congress leader Amarjit Singh Tikka questioned the moral right Bains had to seek votes as an Independent.

“In the Assembly sessions, Bains had gone overboard praising Parkash Singh Badal. Bains is hand in glove with the Akalis,” said Tikka.

To raise the poll pitch for the Aam Aadmi Party, party candidate HS Phoolka, while promising that AAP would bring about a positive change in the state, alleged that the established politicians of Punjab had furthered their own interests at the cost of the public interest.

Ludhiana, April 21
Congress nominee Ravneet Singh Bittu today interacted with the legal fraternity at the District Courts Complex.

Bittu trained his guns at his opponent Simarjit Singh Bains, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections as an Independent, for allegedly declaring to extend support to Narendra Modi after elections.

He said Bains was not trustworthy as he had earlier ditched the people of his constituency by joining hands with the SAD on getting elected.

Recalling his grandfather Beant Singh’s association with the local legal fraternity, Bittu promised to provide housing society to lawyers.

Earlier, District Bar Association secretary Rustam Pal Singh, vice-president Gurdeep Singh Salh and other office-bearers accorded Bittu a warm welcome. Various lawyers including Dharamjit Singh Khera, Ashok Bhakri, PD Sharma, BK Rampal, Amrit Varsha Rampal, JB Khanna, Ramesh Lakhanpal, Kamaljit Sharma and Raman Kaushal extended support to him.

Former minister Malkiat Singh Dakha, KK Bawa and Amarjit Singh Tikka were also present on the occasion.

Ludhiana, April 21
With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, the city police conducted a surprise check at the railway station this evening.

The station house officer of Division No. 1 constituted four teams with 60 police personnel to search the trains, platforms and surrounding areas.

The SHO, Jatinderpal Singh, said, “As the elections are round the corner, senior police officials have instructed us to conduct regular check public places for anti-social elements. We checked the area and frisked suspected persons.”

Ludhiana, April 21
Talking to Ludhiana Tribune today, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal denied that there was any Modi wave in the state. The "ouster" of Punjabi farmers from Gujarat would go against Modi, said Bhattal.

"The people of the state will not vote in favour of Modi as they know that the Modi government in Gujarat has been unfair to Punjabi farmers," she said.

Charging the BJP with being "anti-minority", Bhattal said it had failed to win the public trust. The BJP is adept at raking up issues that fan communal passions, she said.

Bhattal said the BJP was facing internal dissensions. Training her guns on Modi, Bhattal said he did not enjoy the support of his party leaders, with the exception of Rajnath Singh.

She said the public resentment against the Akali-BJP government in Punjab was working in favour of the Congress. She said her party was poised to win in the Parliamentary polls.

"Day by day, the Congress is gaining ground in the state," she said.

Asked if anti-incumbency will affect the Congress-led UPA government, she said the electorate, particularly in Punjab, was more concerned with state-related issues.

"The anti-incumbency factor operates more in case of the state government as compared to the Centre," she said.

Claiming the Congress was united, she said the difference of opinion should not to be construed as differences among the party leaders.

"The Congress stands united. The (party) stalwarts are either contesting or campaigning to ensure the party's win," she said.

Doraha, April 21
No project will be put on hold, delayed or left in the lurch if Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister. This was stated by SAD candidate from the Fatehgarh Sahib constituency Kulwant Singh while addressing a huge gathering at Chhamat village today.

Accusing the UPA government of not cooperating with state ruled by Opposition parties, Kulwant Singh said if Modi became the prime minister, the gap between the Centre and Punjab would be bridged and the state would be able to avail itself of schemes launched by the Centre.

Pointing to the development in Payal sub-division under the Speaker, Charanjit Singh Atwal, he said, “Only the SAD-BJP government was capable of thinking about welfare.”

Addressing the rally, Jagjiwan Pal Singh Gill, who has recently returned to the party, said: “Unlike other parties, the ruling alliance has never rued financial problems when it comes to launching new schemes and projects.”

“As the public has entrusted faith in us, we have tried to come up to their expectations. The Akali-BJP combine will never woo voters by crooked means as being followed by other parties,” said Inder Atwal, former MLA and son of Charanjit Atwal.

Rallier were also held at Ucchi Daud, Uksi, Lehal, Chapran and Dhaul Khurd.

Ludhiana, April 21
The Health Department, on the directions of Civil Surgeon Dr Subhash Batta, collected 12 food samples from different villages.

Samples of curd, cottage cheese, turmeric powder, dried lentil dumpling (badi) and mustard oil were collected from Gill village under the supervision of District Health Officer Dr Avinash Kumar.

Samples of curd and cottage cheese were collected from Rania village while samples of ghee and curd were taken from Saren village.

The team comprising food safety officers Ravinderpal Garg, Manoj Khosla, Harpreet Kaur and Yogesh Goyal also collected samples of sharbat from Sangowal village and a sample of water from Palam Kalem.

The samples have been sent for testing to a laboratory at Chandigarh. — TNS

Jagraon, April 21
The market developed by Jagraon Municipal Council (MC) at the old grain market has been lying unsold since it was constructed several years ago. Though, the civic body tried to sell the shops available in this market through open auction many times but none of the shop has been sold so far.

As per the information, crores of rupees have been spent on the construction of this market by the civic body. Though, the MC made three bids to sell the shops located in this market through open auction during the recent past but to no avail.

According to sources, in the past one year two auctions have been arranged for the sale of shops but it had to be abandoned due to different reasons. “First time, the auction of the market was abandoned due to the death of the father of former MC president Baldev Krishan Dhir whereas the second auction held a few months back was also abandoned due to lack of bidders,” said an MC official requesting anonymity.

Though there are several traders and shopkeepers who are willing to purchase these shops but the hefty reserve price of the shops and lack of proper infrastructure makes the interested buyers hesitant to purchase it.

Apart from hefty base price of the shops, lack of cleanliness and absence of proper water drainage system in the old grain market area have been considered as the major obstacles this market. The area surrounding the market is dirty with huge heaps of garbage lying near it.

Besides this, the old grain market is located quite low as compared to the other parts of the town. Therefore, most of the times the market is filled with water during the rainy season. In absence of proper drainage system, the water remains accumulated in the market for long time and it often enters the shops located in the market thus causing a lot of problems to the shopkeepers.

The traders in the market have suggested the civic body to lower the reserve price and improve the infrastructure to enhance the sale of shops.

Jagraon MC Executive Officer Davinder Toor said the MC would hold another auction to sell the shops.

Ludhiana, April 21
Several schools in the city are lacking even the basic infrastructure besides the claims made by the ruling SAD-BJP government to uplift the school infrastructure in the state and that of the UPA led Central Government to get the credit of Sarav Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and other such schemes for the improvement of education sector.

There is a government primary school near Samrala Chowk, which has been running at a dharamshala from the past 30 years. Around 100 students of Classes I to V attend the school at Mohalla Ravidaspura Dharamshala. There are only two rooms and a hall for five classes. The Education Department has failed to find any appropriate accommodation for the school in the last three decades. During marriages and other parties at the dharamshala, the students have no option but to go home.

Not only this, Government Primary School, Chawani Mohalla, was upgraded 20 years ago as Government Middle School but more than 350 students of the primary and elementary school were forced to study in a triple-storied congested building. The classes were continued even after the three rooms of the building were declared unsafe for students. Now after so many years of continuous plea, the Education Department has got the construction of building sanctioned from the government. Also, another government primary schools have been running in dharamshalas at Kundanpuri.

Meanwhile, Government Primary School, Field Ganj, has been running without a roof from last several years. The case of school land is sub judice and the Education Department doesn’t want to leave the claim. Here, the classes are decided by the teachers as per the weather conditions. The students have to leave the school during rains.

The primary and middle school at Basti Abdullapur and Government High School, Engine Shed, have been running in congested buildings. A number of school buildings in city have been declared unsafe but the authorities have no alternative accommodation for classes.

Not only buildings, a number of schools do not have furniture, black boards, fans, lights, water cooler, water purifier and boundary walls.

Ramanjeet Singh, from Democratic Teachers’ Front, said, “The teachers are not a part of the planning committee for the school infrastructure. The politicians and bureaucrats are directly responsible for all. Even after 66 years of independence the students have been sitting on ground. The money is spent where politicians intend to spend it, not where it is required.”

Sukhdir Singh Sekhon from Nav Chetna Bhalai Manch said, “All government schools get a minimal amount for repair and maintenance. But, the schools which run at a dharamshala do not receive any grant for the same. Apart from government and Education Department officials, the school authorities are also equally responsible. School heads do not put the case properly.”

Ludhiana, April 21
With the admission season in full swing at Punjab Agricultural University, hundreds of students visit the campus to buy the prospectus for the BSc (Agriculture) and other courses at the varsity.

Visitors, however, are having a tough time locating the office where the prospectus is available.

A security guard on duty said, “The authorities should at least give proper signposts for the people visiting the university for buying prospectus.”

Ludhiana, April 21
Parents of the students studying at Bal Bharti Public School, Dugri, led by Parents’ Association staged a protest against the school management for fee hike on Monday morning. The office-bearers of the Parents’ Association alleged that the school had increased 40 per cent annual and monthly fee. However, the school management denied the accusations and claimed that the school had increased only 12 per cent fee. Sixty parents protested outside the school and demanded roll back of fee hike.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 21
The local police have arrested two youths of Sawaddi village and recovered 2,050 litres of kerosene oil being smuggled illegally and the vehicle used in the crime.

The suspects, identified as Amandeep Singh and Satvir Singh alias Satpal, have been booked under Section 7 of the Essential Commodity Act.

The police are yet to ascertain the modus operandi of the accused and the exact source of supply and recipient of the stock.

On receiving information about the alleged diversion of fair price shop kerosene from Malerkotla to Ludhiana cops led by SHO City Harvinder Pal Singh intercepted Tata 407 Tempo (PB 07 B 2882) and succeeded in nabbing the occupants of the vehicle after a brief chase.

It was found that the suspects had collected 10 barrels of kerosene oil from various places and were going to supply the same to hoarders at various localities of Ludhiana.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had been involved in black marketing of essential commodities which were supposed to be supplied to ration card holders through fair price shops.

As Ludhiana is inhabited by large number of migrant labourers these daily use commodities are sold easily on premium price.

It is yet to be ascertained if the stock was to be distributed to woo voters by supporters of some candidate contesting election for Lok Sabha segment of the region.

Ludhiana, April 21
Rain played spoilsport as no match could be played during the ongoing Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Tournament (U-16) for the ML Markan Trophy here at Satish Chander Dhawan Government College ground on Friday. The two-day match was to be played between teams from Ludhiana and Ferozepur.

Heavy rain resulted in accumulation of water in the playing area. The organisers, Ludhiana District Cricket Association, made attempts to dry out the field but failed to do so. After inspecting the ground several times, the umpires decided to cancel the match.

Both the teams shared one point each. Ludhiana had defeated Kapurthala by an innings and 43 runs to earn 7 points.

In the next match to be played here on April 22 and 23, Ludhiana will take on Bathinda.