Jalandhar, May 18
Shan Goyal of St Joseph’s (boys) School Cantt has topped in the ICSE 12th board exams. A student of the medical stream, Shan has bagged 88.5 per cent marks in the exam.

Tushaar, a student of the same stream, has bagged 87.25 per cent marks.

While a total of 38 students appeared from St Joseph’s Boys School, the school had 100 per cent pass percentage. Meanwhile, Shan, who has also bagged a number of prizes in various contests, has had a history of wins in the past as well.

Speaking to The Tribune, he said, “I got the 14th rank in the NSTSC exam and first position in the regional exam (Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh) of the national essay writing competition of the ICSE. I bagged other prizes in various contests as well, but the joy of this one is special.”

Goyal’s father Satinder Goyal is an inspector in the Customs and Excise Department and mother Monika Goyal is a housewife. He said, I give credit of my success to my parents who have backed all my decisions and always stood by me.”

Talking about his study schedule, he said, “At least 14 to 15 hours are needed to study during the exam days. I studied as much all through. While there was a lot of pressure in the beginning, with time, things start getting interesting, especially if you are interested in your subject.”

While Shan is keeping his options for MBBS open, his ultimate dream is to make it into atomic research.

I appeared for the AIPMT exam and other medical entrance tests, but I would like to do the integrated M.Sc course in atomic research. That is my ultimate dream. I shall also appear for the NEST exam for that on May 31.

Meanwhile, Tushar Matta from the same school bagged the second position in both the medical stream as well as the school, with 86.5 per cent marks. Both friends and classmates, they have been though class, contests and academies together. While Tushar had stood first in the plus one exams, he said this time also he was aiming for the top slot. “But my friend has bagged it. I am happy for it. Ours has been a positive competitive spirit and I choose to learn from it.”

Son of a businessman, Tushar, who got 87.25 per cent in the exam, has bagged the 22nd position in the recent NIIT contest and also won his school’s Blooming Buds talent hunt competition.

His father Ashwani Matta is a steel manufacturer and mother Radha Matta a housewife.

“Besides, my physics and chemistry was strong and I find the medical stream very interesting. Students should opt only for the streams which they are interested in. Then, study for nine to 10 hours a day to keep the marks flowing,” he said.

Tushar plans to become a doctor and has appeared for the MBBS entrance test. “The immediate plan is just to get in a good college for the MBBS exam.”

At St Josephs School, in the non-medical stream, Jarnail Singh has stood first, with 86.5 per cent marks and in the commerce stream, Sahil Jaggi has stood first with 78.5 per cent marks.

At the Seventh Day Adventist School, 31 students appeared for the exam. In both Seventh Day Adventist and St Josephs, the average percentage of students was impressive.

Jalandhar, May 18
The body of eight-year-old boy Prem who had mysteriously disappeared from his house in Basti Danishmanda yesterday was recovered from a canal in Nala village today.

Suspecting no foul play behind his death, the police division No. 5 has initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Cr PC.

Tension had gripped the village after some passersby noticed a floating body in the canal. They immediately raised an alarm and informed the police.

Police sources said the boy had reportedly jumped into the canal to find coconuts, but was drowned.

Jalandhar, May 18
Call it lack of awareness or the ignorance of farmers, the unhealthy and dangerous practice of stubble burning continues in Jalandhar areas.

After the harvesting was over, many farmers started burning wheat stubble. The state government as well as the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) have been asking the farmers not to burn stubble, as it not only adversely affects soil fertility but also leads to several health ailments among humans.

People face a tough time in breathing due to the smoke emanating from stubble burning. This practice can lead to the elimination of a farmer-friendly insect, beetle (Zygogramma bicolorata). Notwithstanding the directions to farmers, the menace of stubble burning continues.

According to sources in the Agriculture Department, in a majority of the villages where illegal encroachers are occupants of shamlat land, the tillers usually do not wait for the natural drying of the moisture in the soil after the crop is harvested. “Instead, these tillers usually burn the crop which solves two purposes. It burns the moisture content and also saves their cost of removing it.”

The PPCB authorities said now the Agriculture Department was providing machines to tackle the menace at subsidised rates, which could help farmers use left-over stubble in the fields as a fertiliser. “Now even left-over stubble can be used for producing power. Therefore, farmers should desist from burning it and look for alternative useful use of straw and stubble,” said PPCB officials.

Speaking to The Tribune on the issue, Dr Suttantar Kumar, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jalandhar, said, “Creating awareness is our duty. Rotavator farming equipment is being provided at 25 per cent subsidy by the Agriculture Department which is most suitable for the removal of stubble sugarcane, wheat, banana and cotton etc.”

A farmer from Ahmadpur village, Gurvinder Singh, said Rotavator had failed as an alternative of burning the residues. Even with subsidy, it costs thousands of rupees to farmers, which cannot be afforded by all farmers.

He said the government must come with some other alternative. Farmers don’t want to adopt this, but left with no choice, they have to take to this practice. Another factor is that the farming equipment is getting very expensive. The government has come up "plough system" as an alternative to burning yet this costs a farmer lakhs of rupees.

Fact file Due to stubble burning, the organic matter required for the growth of a crop gets destroyed and it also leads to the deterioration of soil fertility By ploughing paddy straw in the fields, a farmers gets at least 1 quintal more yield of the next crop harvest Stubble burning generates poisonous gases, which not only pollute the environment but can also lead to health hazards It depletes the red blood cell (RBC) count in humans. It adversely affects the oxygen carrying capacity in the body Burning stubble in the open fields produces many obnoxious gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, methane, particulate matter, fine particulate matter, which causes many diseases like asthma, cough, lung cancer, bronchitis, the cure of which requires medication for entire life It causes pollution in the form of the suspended particulate matter (SPM)

Jalandhar, May 18
To protest the failure of the Government Railway Police (GRP) in nabbing those who abetted the suicide of local industrialist Chandar Mohan Arora, the victim's kin, along with city residents, today organised a candlelight march in front of the GRP station.

The victim's wife Parveen also threatened to sit on a hunger strike outside’s the office of Chief Minister of Punjab if the police failed to arrest the accused in 72 hours. Her kin were also accompanied by members of several city based NGOs and local industrialists. Launching a scathing attack on the police, the protesters alleged that the police seemed to be working under some political pressure. Even after over a week, the police have failed to nab the persons accused of abetting Chandar’s suicide, they said.

They raised slogans against the police for their failure to nab the accused. Several residents alleged that senior police officials should take notice of the same and should intensify efforts to nab the culprits.

On May 7, industrialist Chandar Mohan Arora, owner of PN Metals, a pipe-fitting factory, had allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a train. On the basis of the suicide note, a case of abetment to suicide was registered against Yograj Puri, Neeraj Puri, Davinder, Naresh Sharda, Ramesh Sharda, Harish Verma, Sudesh Sharda and Rajesh Verma. All accused are at large.

The victim's son Sahil said had the police acted swiftly immediately after the suicide, all accused would have been behind bars today.

Meanwhile, SHO, GRP, Davinder Singh assured the protesters that the police would arrest all the accused in 72 hours.

Jalandhar, May 18
The District Transport Office (DTO) and the traffic police seem to be keeping their eyes wide shut when it comes to keeping a check on the illegal auto-rickshaws. As per an estimate, the city has more than 10,000 auto-rickshaws and a majority of them are being illegally plied. Despite the tall claims of the traffic police having tightened the noose around such autos, the violations galore continue .

Informed sources said the traffic police have not issued too many challans to autos violating the norms of the Motor Vehicles Act in the recent past. Last year, they had challaned as many as 771 vehicles (including autos) for ferrying excess passengers. But this year, traffic police sources said very few challans have been issued for such violations in the last four months.

These illegal autos are not only violating the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act. Rather, they are also putting the lives of commuters at risk. These diesel-run autos are also a major source of pollution. As per the rules, an auto can ferry five or six passengers at a time, but the drivers usually carry more than 10 passengers or schoolchildren at a time. Auto drivers do not adhere to other safety guidelines. A majority of the autos carrying schoolchildren have not even taken proper security measures. Most autos in the city are in a run-down condition. Neither the transport authorities nor the city traffic police pay much attention to these vehicles.

More than 15-year-old autos on road

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, a vehicle that is more than 15 years old cannot run on the road. But in Jalandhar, there are hundreds of auto-rickshaws that have been plying on the road for over 15 years. Even the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Dalbir Singh said 15-year-old autos cannot be plied on the road as they are liable to be confiscated. He claimed that recently, someone challenged this provision in the court after which the court issued a stay order. Apart from this provision, if any auto is in a dilapidated condition that may endanger the lives of the commuters, the traffic police has the right to confiscate such vehicles, he said.

Auto pullers care two hoots for traffic rules

As per the rules, auto-rickshaws can carry only four passengers but no auto adheres to these instructions in the city. Auto-rickshaws contended that they cannot earn if they ferry only four passengers. Due to the adamant attitude of the auto-rickshaws, the city witnessed several accidents in the past in which many people lost their lives. On Wednesday, a woman, Kulwinder Kaur of Hussainpur, lost her life after she fell off an auto-rickshaw on Nakodar road. The accident occurred because the auto-rickshaw driver was handicapped and lost control over the vehicle. Even in February last year, a 10-year-old boy had died after the auto-rickshaw he was riding, collided with a mini-truck. The child, who was sitting next to the driver's seat, fell down on the road after collision and was crushed.

Auto-rickshaws still overcharging from commuters

In 2010, when the city commissionerate police cracked the whip on overloaded autos and started challaning them, the auto unions promised the administration that they would adhere to the traffic norms and would ferry only four passengers at a time. In lieu of their promise, the auto drivers increased the passenger fare from Rs 5 to Rs 10. The practice of ferrying four passengers had worked well for only two months. Afterwards, the auto drivers again started loading excess passengers and continued to charge Rs 10 as fare from the passengers. It is surprising that the district administration did not try to discourage the auto drivers from overcharging.

City bus vs auto-rickshaws

The bus operators have been constantly facing opposition from the auto-rickshaw drivers. The auto drivers have often held demonstrations against the bus operators for ruining their business while the bus operators have been claiming that the administration had failed to check the illegal plying of autos and their illegal movement till Kartarpur, which otherwise cannot take place beyond the city limits ending at Bidhipur railway crossing. Bus operators are of the view that most autos running on city roads are not in a good condition. "These autos are more than 15 years old. They do not pay taxes and have no pollution and viable certificates. These are also lacking in safety parameters," said a representative of the city bus operators.

MC plan to introduce fleet of 128 buses irks auto drivers

The plan of the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar to introduce a fleet of 128 buses has irked the auto drivers. They thought it will have a negative effect on their daily earnings. Sources said the MC is planning to introduce 40 AC and 88 non-AC buses. Apart from this, there would be 25 big buses, including 13 AC and 12 non-AC buses, 62 medium-sized buses, including 16 AC and 46 non-AC, 41 mini-buses, including 11 AC and 30 non-AC buses. Ramesh Kumar, an auto driver, said if the MC introduces these buses in the coming months, it will diminish their daily earnings. All routes on which the auto drivers are earning, will be then captured by these city buses.

Sources said these routes include Rama Mandi to Kartarpur, Railway Station to Rama Mandi, ring route from the bus stand to Garha Road, bus stand to Kishangarh, bus stand to Kartarpur, bus stand to the Verka Milk Plant, bus stand to Jandu Singha, bus stand to LPU, bus stand to Jamsher, bus stand to Lambra, bus stand to St Soldier College, Basti Danishmandan, bus stand to the LPU via Paragpur, Lyallpur Khalsa College and Rama Mandi to Jalandhar Kunj. "All these routes are considered as profitable from where the auto drivers earn their daily bread. If the MC will launch these buses, we might have to leave this profession," said Arun Singh, an auto driver.

No takers for CNG autos, only a few LPG autos

It seems that the city is yet to get respite from the diesel-run autos, which leave behind a trail of black smoke, a common sight in Jalandhar. Auto pullers said there is only one LPG filling station in Paragpur due to which the city has only a countable number of LPG-run autos. Sources said on the basis of a writ petition filed by some activists in 2009, the Punjab and Haryana High Court imposed a ban on the registration of diesel-run autos. But it was lifted after the state government took the plea that there was no other mode of transportation in the city and that the facility for CNG fuel was not available.

DTO refused to provide figures of registered autos

District Transport Officer Paramjit Singh, when asked to provide the figures of the total registered autos with the District Transport Office, expressed his helplessness in providing data saying he was at home and could manage it only during the office timings. He also did not give a satisfactory reply on the numbers of illegal autos (without mandatory registration) running in the city.

Jalandhar, May 18
Jalandhar district, which is considered to be the stronghold of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), because of the predominance of the Dalit community in the region, seems to have retracted from the party policies.

The results of the 16th Lok Sabha election have proved that the BSP has been losing its credibility in the region. The performance of Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, BSP candidate from Jalandhar, came as a shock as he not only forfeited his security but also saw the lowest ever turnout. He feels that perhaps it is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) factor that has created problems for the BSP owing to its immense popularity in Punjab.

Analysing the condition of the BSP in Jalandhar district as compared to the 2009 results, it has emerged that the BSP has come down by 46,679 votes from 93,592.

While going deep into the assembly segments, it has come to light that the BSP has given its worst ever performance, poor than in the last Lok Sabha election. The BSP has lost its vote share in Adampur assembly segment too, which is the home town of Kotli, from 15,236 in 2009 to 8,617 in 2014.

Kotli said he felt disappointed with the party's performance not only in Jalandhar but in the entire state.

"Our premature analysis is that the AAP has affected the BSP the way they have affected the other parties too in Punjab. The kind of issues raised by AAP were used to be raised by the BSP too," said Kotli.

He said no doubt the results have been disappointing for the BSP, which he personally feels was the worst ever. Still, all the facts behind such a performance are being considered. “We have got all the details of the results down to the booth level," he said.

"After analysing all the factors, we will try to improve our performance. We will go to every village and hold meetings with workers," he added.

Jalandhar, May 18
Newly-elected Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Santokh Singh Chaudhary, today visited his native village Dhaliwal Quadian along with his family members where he was given a rousing welcome by the entire village.

He paid floral tributes at the memorial of his father Master Gurbanta Singh and mother Sampuran Kaur. It may be mentioned that Master Gurbanta Singh who started his political career as the sarpanch of village Dhaliwal Quadian later on he became a CPS in united Punjab in 1946 before independence and remained a Cabinet Minister in Punjab till 1977. He was elected to the state assembly unopposed in 1972.

Former Cabinet Minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Chaudhary Surinder Singh, former Chairman of the Zila Parishad, Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, President, Punjab Youth Congress, Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary, Shveta Raj Chaudhary and his grand-daughter Sukhmani Chaudhary were also present on the occasion.

Jalandhar, May 18
Prof Balbir Singh Kaith, Registrar, Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jalandhar, was given the Fellow Award by the Him Science Congress Association (HSCA) during the second annual national conference on "Science: Emerging Scenario & Future Challenges –II" yesterday at Shimla.

Dr Kaith was awarded the award for his contribution to science and technology for the last 25 years. He also chaired the inaugural session, including the keynote address, during the conference. Dr Kaith has more than 160 research papers in reputed international journals to his credit.

The research group of Dr Kaith has won many best paper awards and also the Young Scientist Award. He has visited many countries including Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, France, Switzerland and Malaysia.

His research group is working on bio-degradable composites and the impact of biodegradable components on the fertility of soil. His research group is also working on pH, temperature and electrical stimulus sensitive smart polymers and sustained drug delivery systems/controlled release of insecticides, pesticides, fertilisers, hormones and micronutrients for plants in an eco-friendly way.

One of his students received the Young Chemist Award at the 14th Asian Chemical Congress held at Bangkok (Thailand).

Dr Kaith is reviewer to about 20-30 international journals including those of the RSC. He has also organised many short-term courses, conferences and workshops.

In 2013, Antoine Barillec, the student of Prof Alexandre Mège-Revil at École Centrale de Lille Laboratoire de Mécanique de Lille, France, worked under the supervision of Prof Kaith at the NIT, Jalandhar, for the development of bio-material based brake-pads for his internship.

On June 23-25, Dr Kaith is going to participate in the Indo-French work being organised by the École Centrale de Lille, France.