Ludhiana, July 15
The maiden Sangat Darshan held by the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Pradeep Aggarwal, at the Zone A office turned out to be a damp squib. Residents, who attended the programme, returned dissatisfied as their grievances were either not heard or the disposal was not to their satisfaction.

Started as a weekly affair (to be held every Tuesday), the interaction aims at providing the residents with a forum where they can raise civic problems on the spot.

Aggarwal made it clear at the outset that issues which NGOs and RTI activists kept raising regularly would not be permitted to be discussed in the meeting and residents could raise only specific complaints regarding civic amenities and local taxes.

Fifty residents from different parts of the city attended the session which lasted nearly three hours. Several complaints regarding encroachments on government and MC land, violation of building bylaws, sewerage and water supply, assessment of house tax and delay in approval of building plans and issuance of TS-1 (ownership record) were raised by those present at the meeting.

Some of the complaints were resolved on the spot. Directions were issued to officials to redress the other problems in a time-bound manner.

Kimti Rawal, head of a city-based NGO, created a furore when he was earlier not allowed to present a complaint of unauthorised digging made by a telecom company in front of his house and then again when he was stopped from interjecting some remarks when the Commissioner was speaking to an official of the building and roads branch. He threw up some papers and left the venue in a huff, said some eyewitnesses.

Parminder Mehta, spokesperson for Congress councillors, maintained that routine work in the MC office had come to a complete halt due to the interaction as all senior MC officials were attending the programme. He said elderly persons and a few physically challenged residents found it difficult to make it to the venue on the second floor of the MC zonal headquarters.

Mehta said: “If the MC workers perform their duty diligently and problems of the people are addressed on time, there will be no need for such sessions which hardly serve any purpose.”

Ludhiana, July 15
High drama was witnessed near Mall Road after a hidden camera was found in a changing room of a garment shop today.

In her statement to the police, Kiran Makkar said she picked up a few dresses and went to the trial room.

When she came out, her husband Narinder Makkar, former general secretary of the District Youth Congress, spotted a spy pen camera in the changing room.

The couple got furious. Narinder pulled out the camera and entered into a heated argument with the owner and staff of the shop.

Soon the Division No 8 police arrived at the scene and started investigations. Investigating officer Ajaib Singh said they had registered a case against Rohit Kumar, owner of City Style Cloth Shop, and had recovered the hidden camera that was rolled in a tape.

Rohit reportedly feigned ignorance about the matter and allegedly told the police that some of his employees might have done it.

Narinder Makkar and controversies go hand in hand. Nearly two years ago Makkar had pulled out a revolver allegedly in “self-defence” after a group of youngsters (law students) tried manhandling him over a petty issue outside Panjab University’s extension library. However, the matter was resolved.

Ludhiana, July 15
After remaining underground for a few months, the notorious free ride gang is at it again. The gang members offered a ride to an elderly woman and swiftly removed her gold bangle.

Narrating the incident, Nirmala Jain (80), a resident of Haibowal, said she had gone to a temple in the morning along with her son.

While she was returning home, three persons, including two women, who were in a car, offered her a lift till Haibowal.

Nirmala told her son, whose scooter was stuck in a parking lot, to follow the vehicle.

When the vehicle reached Prince Hostel, one of the women sat on Nirmalas lap.

When she objected to it, the women started arguing with her and asked her to alight from the vehicle.

Nirmala got down and was shocked to find her gold bangle missing. She raised the alarm and shouted for help. One of the commuters asked for her sons mobile number and narrated the incident to him. Soon the police also reached the spot.

Investigating officer Ajaib Singh said the thieves were in a white Maruti Alto.

He said a case had been registered against three persons, including two women. Several cases have been reported in the past, but the gang has always managed to give the police a slip.

The free ride gang operates during this time of the year and then goes underground. 

Ludhiana, July 15
The police have booked two persons for killing 23-year-old Honey, whose body was recovered from a canal in Moga on Sunday.

Yesterday, Honey’s relatives held a protest outside Atam Nagar Chowki and blocked traffic at Gill Road.

Honey, a resident of Manjeet Nagar near Model Town, went missing on July 9. Honey’s body was fished out from a canal in the Dharamkot area near Moga on July 13.

After failing to find Honey, the family reported the matter to the police on July 10. On July 13, Honey’s dead body was found. Sarabjit Singh, victim’s brother, told the police that Honey’s friends Bharati and Sonu had kidnapped him. After killing Honey, Bharti and Sonu dumped his body, said Sarabjit.

The police rubbished the claims of Honey’s relatives that the victim was having an affair with a girl (minor) living in the locality.

They said it was not a case of honour killing.

Gurdev Singh, Station House Officer, Model Town police station, said, “The girl’s family is not involved in the murder.” Residents said Honey, along with his friends Sonu and Bharti, had gone to bathe in the canal.

The police have recorded the statement of Sarabjit and registered a murder case against Bharti and Sonu under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Ludhiana, July 15
There was mad scramble for Aadhaar cards at the Suvidha Centre today. Fans and air-conditioners at the UID Aadhaar Card Hall were of little help as tempers ran high.

It was raining chaos at the newly constructed hall. Long queues of applicants were witnessed outside three counters. Those who had come to get affidavits attested had it the toughest.

Earlier, the forms were attested at the rear of Bachat Bhawan. The applicants had to wait till 1 pm. The staff had a tough time dealing with the heavy rush of visitors.

Some applicants alleged that lawyers work was being done while they were made to wait.

Gurmeet Singh, a visitor, said, I have been waiting for the past two hours. The staff at the counter did not say a no to the lawyers. There is nobody to check them.

The place is stuffy. I will meet the higher officials and file a complaint against the staff. We have been standing in long queues since morning, said another visitor.

Jarnail Singh, administrator-cum-public information officer, Suvidha Centre, said, We have made adequate arrangements. The centre has just opened. Everything cant be perfect. Lawyers too were made to wait. It will take us a day or two to streamline the system.

Ludhiana, July 15
The Health Department puts in efforts to collect food samples, but these often prove futile. First, the samples are sent for testing and then it is a long wait for officials. It takes lab staff 15 days to prepare a report.

In 2014, 287 samples were collected, out of which, 47 failed the purity test. Those found guilty are penalised and let off. District Health Officer Dr Abnash Kumar said: “The samples that fail the test are divided into four categories — sub-standard, misbranded, expired and unsafe. “A wrongdoer is asked to pay anything between Rs 10,000 and 50,000. A case is also registered against him.”

When asked about a follow-up, the official said: “An advisory is issued on a regular basis to keep a check on the quality of food.”

RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal said he had filed a complaint with the Health Department that substandard food was being sold at the bus stand. “Three samples failed the test. After a few days, I went to one of the eateries there and found that nothing had been done to improve the quality of food. When I brought the matter to the notice of the health officials, they said they had already registered a complaint in this connection,” he said.

Sabharwal said the officials did not act against eatery owners. “It appears as if the authorities have given them a licence to sell substandard food,” he stated.

A member of the Indian Medical Association said the department’s exercise was not of any help as the guilty were not dealt with sternly. “The food laboratory is in Chandigarh and it takes the staff 15 days to test the samples and prepare a report,” he said.

Samrala, July 15
Farmers of the area fed up of poor power supply protested in front of Xen grid office, Ghulal, and blocked traffic for some time on Ludhiana- Chandigarh road. Led by Avtar Singh Mehlon, State vice-president, BKU Lakhowal faction, the protesters raised slogans against the state government and demanded proper supply of power.

Due to traffic blockade the commuters had a harrowing time. In his address, Mehlon alleged that the Punjab State Power Corporation and Punjab Government were deceiving the farmers on the name of free power and the farmers are forced to spend huge amounts on diesel.

Union leaders threatened that they will block state roads if the power supply is not restored immediately. The farmers continued their dharna for about two hours and later resorted to traffic blockade when the XEN Ghulal refused to come out to receive memorandum on dharna site.

The farmers lifted the blockade after an assurance of XEN that they will took this matter with senior officials immediately. Union leaders Sher Singh Mushkabad, Pal Singh Palmajra and others also addressed the protesters.

Kanwalpreet Singh Sidhu, XEN, Ghulal, said the farmers belonging to BKU Lakhowal were demanding 8 hour power supply. He said they are providing 6 hour power supply but the farmers are demanding more. He said they had forwarded memorandum to the higher authorities given by union workers. 

Ludhiana, July 15
Bharti Kisan Union, Punjab, (Lakhowal), has alleged that the proposal of center government to interlink the rivers of the country is against the interests of Punjab.

Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, President, Bharti Kisan Union and Chairman, Mandi Board, stated that the proposal of BJP led Centre government to interlink the rivers is a conspiracy against the Punjab. The Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal ) will never allow anybody to loot the river waters of Punjab.

Punjab is an agrarian state and we dont have enough water to irrigate our land. How can we give water to any other state? The Centre Government had been planning to loot the water of Punjab from last several decades. The Satluj Jamuna Link (SYL) canal was part of this conspiracy, said Lakhowal.

It is an election stunt of Congress led Haryana Government that the SYL will be completed to give water to Haryana, said Ajmer Singh Lakhowal.

He also demanded from state government to pass a resolution in Punjab assembly to save the water of state. Lakhowal also warned Union Government to not try to take water of Punjab.

Ludhiana, July 15
Rotary Club, Greater Ludhiana, today organised a dengue awareness rally in Ram Nagar area, Mundian. The club members along with the president Amanpreet Singh Arora and Project director Dr Arvinder Nagpal went for a door to door campaign in the area and apprised general public of the measures to be taken to prevent mosquito breeding and there by prevent dengue.

This was informed by club president, Amanpreet Singh Arora and club secretary Dr Bharti Uppal. They further informed that by keeping areas in and around free of water logging can help in prevention the of the dengue.

Doraha, July 15
The first foundation conference of “All India Kisan Federation” (AIKF) will be organised from August 31 to September 2 at Kisan Bhavan, Chandigarh.

In order to make the conference a success, a meeting of the state committee of Kitir Kisan Sabha was organised at KK Kaushal Memorial Bhavan. Lakhwinder Singh Buani, Secretary, Kirti Kisan Sabha, Punjab, said the preparations for making the foundation conference of All India Kisan Federation a success had been completed. Detailed discussions were held and many positive suggestions were given by the members. The State Committee declared the central budget as anti-farmer as there is nothing in it that can solve the problems faced by the farmers and the agriculture.

Two hundred delegates will participate in this conference. A strategy for consistent struggle will be chalked out to fight against the autocratic rule of the government and the anti-farmer policies.

In a resolution, the state committee demanded a special package for the farmers to fight the draught like situation in the state due to less rains, minimum support price for all crops to be fixed as per Swaminathan Commission and also demanded the implementation of the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission. 

By displaying an entire product range on a common platform, Arise One will provide an experience to the consumers that will enable them to have a first-hand look into the products and thus make an informed buying decision. Avinash Jain, MD Arise India Ltd while addressing a press conference here today said, “With “Arise One”, we were redefining the next generation of the three way brand-channel-consumer interaction. 

Today, the consumer and channel interaction with the brand has changed and to keep up with the times we also have to change our business model. Over the years, Arise India has found acceptance not only in the trade channel but in millions of households across the length and breadth of the country. It 
is this acceptance that we would seek to build upon through our new trade initiative.” — TNS

Ludhiana, July 15
Various teachers organisations of the city opposed the change in school timings announced by Education Department, yesterday. Gurbachan Singh Libra, president, Math Teachers Association stated that the teachers are confused with the change in timing.

“As per the new timings, the teachers have to teach the students of same school as per two separate time tables. How the teachers will reach at the schools 
far from their residence at 7:30 am. It is too early and unjustified,” said Gurbachan.

Rajesh Monga, a teacher, said Education Department did not upload the information about the change of timing on department’s website. “The teachers got information from media reports. The department should announce it a day before the implementation,” said Monga.

“The timings of middle, high and senior secondary should be same and timings of primary schools should be different from middle and high schools. So that teachers don’t have to face inconvenience,” said Ranjit Singh, another teacher.

Gurbeer Singh said, “We urged Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema to revise the timings so the teachers do not feel harassed.”

This was decided at the recently-held 32nd group meeting of the All-India Coordinated Research Project on vegetable crops at Indira Gandhi Krishi Viswavidhyalaya (IGKV), Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The annual meet is organised to discuss results of field experiments. The experiments are conducted to identify improved crop cultivars suitable for different regions of the country. The chosen varieties were tested for three years across the country. 

Dr BS Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, and Dr SS Gosal, director of research, congratulated vegetable breeders for their achievement. Dr MS. Dhaliwal, tomato breeder and head, Department of Vegetable Science, said Punjab Ratta tomato has oval and medium sized firm fruits that are rich in lycopene. Besides, it is suitable for processing. He highlighted that till date, the department has developed 155 varieties/ hybrids of vegetable crops, of which 33 have been identified at the national level. Dr AS Dhatt, brinjal breeder, said the brinjal hybrid is early maturing, high yielding and has long, attractive purple fruits in clusters. — TNS

Ludhiana, July 15
The strike by students of the College of Fisheries at GADVASU entered 44th day. Members of the Trade Union met GADVASU authorities in this regard.

According to DP Maur, secretary, Joint Council of Trade Unions, Ludhiana, nine members from trade unions and NGOs met the varsity registrar and Dean, College of Fisheries. Maur said members apprised the university authorities of the concerns of students.

Khushwinderjit Singh, one of the striking students, said students would continue to strike till they get a satisfactory answer from the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister and government jobs are assured to them. He said they have been sitting on hunger strike for the past one month.

The striking students have refused to discontinue their strike. Our demands should be accepted first, said a striking student. 

Ludhiana, July 15
The Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA) will review the constitution of body before the elections in a general body meeting on July 17. The PAUTA elections are scheduled to be held on July 22.

The rival group of incumbent group on PAUTA raised the question on the fifth term of Harmeet Singh Kingra, incumbent president of the PAUTA. According to the rivals, Kingra can’t contest for the election this time as the constitution allows only three terms as president or secretary of the association.

Dr Sukhpal Singh, returning officer for PAUTA elections, said, “Earlier the tenure of PAUTA used to be of two years. But a few years ago, the constitution was amended by the General House. Now, the PAUTA conducts elections every year. The condition for tenures of presidentship has not been revised yet. Moreover, the funds collected from members have also not been revised. I think that the constitution should be revised at the earliest.”

Kingra said, “I will obey decision of the General House, come what may.” 

Ludhiana, July 15
Hot and humid weather continued to haunt residents today. Erratic power supply has added to the residents’ woes in many parts of the city.

The meteorological department reported a maximum temperature of 37 degree Celsius and a minimum of 30 degree. The humidity level, meanwhile, has gone up to 59 per cent.

The department officials said the prevailing sultry weather was an irregular phenomenon. They said sky was expected to remain cloudy with a possibility of thundershower in Ludhiana and adjoining areas in the coming 24 hours.

“It is expected to rain in the city on July 17 and 18, while some parts of the city may receive scattered rainfall tomorrow. It will bring much-needed relief from sizzling temperature that has prevailed in the city in the past several days. Monsoons generally get late by a day or two, so people need not to worry. The existing sultry weather was an irregular phenomenon,” said Dr LK Dhaliwal, director, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University.

Doctors are advising people not to go out in the sun and take proper precautions when it comes to children.

“We are hoping for the monsoons to come soon and give us relief from the hot and humid weather,” said Shalini, a city resident.

Ludhiana, July 15
Along with the dip in mercury, the monsoon brings with it humidity. Ayurveda texts state that “agni” (literally, fire; but figuratively, digestive power) which gets reduced in summers diminishes further when it starts raining. This affects “doshas” (the three fundamental bodily humors that if in balance ensure a person’s health) that are sensitive to weather changes.

To maintain health in the monsoon, ayurveda recommends undergoing “panchakarma” treatment.

“Vital sources get unstable during rainy season and a person should be extra cautious during this season. Eating habits and lifestyle need to be taken special care of during monsoons. One should avoid eating out and prefer consuming light food with fixed daily routine. In addition to this, light cotton clothes should be preferred with strict no to synthetic clothes as they can cause skin allergy,” says Dr Ravinder Vatsyayan, a city-based ayurveda practitioner.

The diet during this season should comprise old grains, old rice, wheat, barley, soup of pulses, thin supernatant water of curds and honey. Also, food having sour, sweet and salty taste should be preferred. An ayurvedic drink made by adding a pinch of salt, pepper, long pepper and ginger is ideal to improve digestive power. Adding ginger and green gram to daily diet helps too.

Bitter and hot food items that cause imbalance between vata and pitta (two of the “doshas”) should be avoided besides frozen food and oily stuff that are difficult to digest. 

Ludhiana, July 15
The collector rate for industrial plots has been fixed. Noting that being an industrial town, the city needed separate collector rate for industrial plots, the Deputy Commissioner has created a new category for such plots.

The DC, Rajat Aggarwal, said demarcation of a separate industrial category was a long-pending demand of various organisations, as commercial rates are too high.

Also, rates of Ludhiana (East) and (West) have been made equivalent.

Rates of all colonies that have come up on agricultural land have been fixed after proper survey and feedback, said Aggarwal. — TNS

Ludhiana, July 15
A team of experts from Engineers India Limited (EIL) today focused on safe disposal of dairy waste from dairy complexes in Haibowal and Tajpur Road as a part of a project for cleaning Buddha Nullah.

Members of the team visited the two dairy complexes and discussed the related issues with dairy owners as well as officials of the municipal corporation and Punjab Pollution Control Board.

A team of four engineers from the company, which has been entrusted with the task of cleaning the stream and making it pollution-free, is in the city on a four-day visit.

Sanjoy Mukherji, deputy general manager (infrastructure), said the waste disposal from dairy complexes as well as toxic waste of dyeing units located in the vicinity were the main pollutants of Buddha Nulla and the Sutlej.

“All related issues were discussed in detail with dairy owners and MC officials so that a lasting solution could be found,” said Mukherji. He said the biogas power plant set up in the dairy complex was also inspected to devise ways and means for safe disposal of waste and also explore the possibility of expansion of its power generation capacity.

The experts also visited a non-operational disposal point in the dairy complex from where sewage and disposal from dairies was manually treated and thrown into Buddha Nullah in the past. The engineers said the disposal point could be made functional with installation of a small treatment plant.

Ludhiana, July 15
An ice-cream vendor was allegedly kept hostage and assaulted by his employer. The victim, whose legs were badly injured, visited the Police Commissioner’s office today and demanded registration of case against his employer.

The vendor, Lallan Prasad, said his employer got angry at him when he asked for Rs 1,000.

Following this, the employer kept him hostage and physically assaulted him, he said. 

Ludhiana, July 15
After getting a raw deal in the Union Budget, the industry has now pinned its hopes on the state Budget to be announced tomorrow.

Speedy disposal of value added tax (VAT) refunds remains the major issue concerning the local industry. Industrialists have been demanding faster tax refund process, reduction in taxes, power sector reforms and upgrading of industrial zones to boost the state’s industrial growth.

“We want the state government to give top priority to speeding up VAT refunds, as the long delay is hurting the state’s industrial sector,” said Gurmeet Singh Kular, president, Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisation (FICO).

The state government had presented a vote-on-account in March this year. Industrialists said that despite the state government setting up a separate refund account, there has been an inordinate delay in tax refunds.

“As per our assessment, VAT refund to the tune of Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore is still pending with the department,” said Badish Jindal, president of Federation of Associations of Small Industries of India.

Bicycle Research and Development Organisation president Manjinder Singh Sachdeva said the state industry had sought reduction in VAT on auto and bicycle parts to provide impetus to these key industrial sectors in the state.

“The state government should bring VAT on auto parts from 12 per cent to 4 per cent and on bicycle parts from 6 per cent to 2.5 per cent. This move will give fresh lease of life to these sectors,” he said.

Ludhiana , July 15
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has changed the timings of district and sub-division level courts.

As per the notification, the courts will start working at 9.30 am, instead of 10 am, from tomorrow.

With a half-an-hour lunch break at 1 pm, the courts will close at 4 pm. Judges and their staff will handle their official work till 5 pm.

In lieu of the enhanced working hours (30 minutes daily), courts will remain closed on every fourth Saturday of month, in addition to the second Saturday.